This is just a little extension of last weeks Fashion is Passion Friday, because I think some of you may have gotten it a little bit twisted. No worries, Imma clarify right quick.

One of my readers was trippin, because she’s saving up for a Louie purse and my post I guess had her second guessing her purchase, or rather, her motive for the purchase. So by the sounds of this (and also because I know her) it seems like she’s a hard worker, but has other financial responsibilities. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with treating yourself with something like a Louie bag, even if you had to save for it. Do you need it? Maybe not. Do you deserve it? Fuhh yeah you do! You’re still a bossy beezy, because you weren’t depending on, or waiting for someone else to buy it for you.

Now what I was saying in my last post, Fake it Till You Make it, was that if you were spending your rent money or you weren’t feeding your kids to buy these things, then that shit’s just wrong. I wanted you guys to fake your mentality to better your attitude, not your baby’s food… you can’t fake food!

Another thing I want to make clear is that there’s nothing wrong with designer brands. Trust me I love luxury goods: the leathers so soft, the fur is soft, I really want it all, these beezys so soft and I go so haaaard.. My bad, thinking bout luxury goods had me feelin like Lil Wayne. But anyways, my only problem with brand names is that people depend on them for “style.” And that’s not the case peeps. Style is not guaranteed, because you got a Marc Jacobs watch on. I’ve been at a bar then happened to start lookin around and every broad (no lie) had a Marc Jacobs watch on. Those bitches looked like clones. That’s not style! That’s some insecure shit if you ask me.

They almost had me feelin like I should have a Marc Jacobs watch on. Almost, but I wasn’t fooled by them clones. Besides those watches were dope like 2 years prior, step your game up, what’s next?! I’d actually feel more insecure, and dumb, if I did have one on. I’d feel dumb for spending so much money to look like everyone else.

Maybe I’m just not easily impressed, is what I’m finding out, I dunno.

If you’re going to spend that much money on something, then it better be worth it. That’s another thing I wanted to clear up. Don’t spend money on the label (unless the actual logo is dope and they put it on a sheik design like Betsey Johnson be doin). Spend that money if those jeans make your ass look perfect, or that bandage dress makes your waste look smaller, or that cardigan sweater makes your muscles look fly. That’s when it’s worth it. Not some random white cropped shirt that you just overspent $40 on. Im just sayin, you could have fixed your hair with that doe.

I don’t want anyone getting offended or feeling guilty about the things they buy. I’m just trying to get you guys to express your own style, because fashion is my passion and that’s what I think it’s about. I get people asking me what to wear all the time and I feel if they just really wore what actually appealed to them, then they wouldn’t have a problem picking things out.

I understand though, there are some rules to the game. Things change so fast in this fashion world  and everyone wants to be “in style.” Even, I sometimes find myself asking if I can wear white pants still or if it’s ok to wear flannel yet. But at the end of the day I just wear whatever I’m comfortable wearing. As long as my smile is on point bitches can’t tell me shieeet.

Don’t be shy to be fly. Peace out.

Mucho Love,

Juelzy G.

“Now you can tell from my everyday fits I aint rich”

My idea of ‘fake it till you make it’ may actually not be the same as yous guyses, because I’m not talkin about “miss high profile caught you shoppin on canal I guess it makes sense it seems phony as your style” – J. Cole

Nah ah.

I’m not sayin go out and buy shit u can’t afford.  I know you’ve seen the girls walkin around with that name brand bag that costs more than what they got in it. And you’ve seen them dudes driving around in cars they can’t afford a damn oil-change on. I’m not talkin about knock-offs either. I don’t know about you, but if I can’t fool myself then I’m not gonna try and fool others. We keep it real around here, you guys know that.

I’m juss sayin that I know what it’s like not to be able to afford name brands, because my parents couldn’t buy them for me and I’m still on my hustle, BUT I like to look good… So I pride myself in making inexpensive old ish look good. Like, I like making Forever21 look like some Guess by Marciano. And I like making Shiekh Shoes look like some Loubitans. NOT because I’m taking a red sharpie to the bottom of them either!, but because I’m simply workin them like they are.

By the way: I swear if I ever see any of yous taking a red sharpie to the bottom of your shoes Imma have to slap u with some sense.

I have to share a quick story about me and my friend. We both have some fashion business backgrounds and education. But basically we have extreme different views when it comes to shopping. I personally think it’s absolutely retarded to buy a plain white cropped shirt for $40 when you can buy one for $14 easy, without a label. She obviously finds nothing wrong with that and furthermore, thinks she’s getting a deal.

One time I was out and about and she mentioned she loved the outfit she saw me in that night. I was completely amused, because finally I could stick it to her and show her first hand what I had been preaching to her about: that you don’t have to spend a grip of money to look good. I proceeded to explain my outfit to her:

I was wearing simple black leggings that my roommate didn’t want anymore: $0

Some gray and black heels from random store online: $18

a black, pleather, studded jacket I got while in Berlin, but the store is equivalent to H&M: $50

an eclectic necklace I got while in Paris, but that you can find in LA Fashion District aka ‘The Alleys’: $20

and a plain white tank top with a minor coffee stain on the boob now valued at: $0

……..And that outfit to her was worth a mention.

The “I told you so” laugh I had: $priceless

It’s not hard to do this. It’s all about confidence and attitude. Because by no means am I impressed or self conscious of the fact that someone might be wearing some Loubitans next to me. Because when all is said and done, they are in fact next to me. That means I’m sippin on whatever they’re sippin on and I’m talkin to whoever they’re talkin to. And my dress may be from the opposite side of Melrose Ave. as hers is, but other than that simple fact, a physical difference isn’t so apparent between that person and myself.

I just don’t feel you need to spend all your rent money to look good. And I feel the people that do, are the ones that depend on those labels for confidence and style. The people that already have that can rock a paper bag better.

To have everyone tell me they’re lovin my $10 dress, because of how I’m sportin it gets me so juiced, because no one even mentioned your Hermes threads.

So when I say fake it. I mean dress with what you have, but act like you’ve ‘made it’ already. In other words, people will most likely react to, not so much what is on the outside, but more so what comes out from the inside. It’s all a matter of how you carry yourself.

Like always: Don’t be shy to be fly.

Mucho Love,

Juelzy G.

Ps.

I wrote this post super months ago and then this song came out. I guess my philosophy stems from growing up in The Bay like Kreayshawn. We’re just not fooled by basic bitches. Yee!.. Sorry Bay thing.. won’t happen again.

Hello mother suckers hey hi how you dering?! It’s Friday… A lot of you are about to step out for the weekend…You’re already thinkin about what to wear.. how you’re about to stunt on people… I can dig it. I’m hoping my post today will inspire some of your styles.

This Fashion is Passion Friday I want to share with you guys a couple of dope documentaries that I’ve stumbled upon recently. You all know I’m a documentary FREAK-A-LEAK and if fashion is your passion as well, then these are a must-see. You can find them both on Netflix, and if you don’t have an account i suggest you get one. It’s only like $10 a month, even my 7 year old niece could afford that, and they have a lot of great documentaries on there.

First up is the documentary on Vogue Magazine‘s influential editor, Anna Wintour, The September Issue. I love learning about people and their journey on how they got to their current position. This documentary takes you into the world of Vogue and the fashion word as a whole. It’s interesting to see the politics goin on, but I can’t say it surprises me.

I actually ended up liking the creative director of Vogue featured in the documentary, Grace Coddington. She’s pretty gangster with hers. The interaction between both ladies is o-so entertaining.

The second documentary is Bill Cunningham New York. This is a such a great documentary on the life of fashion photographer Bill Cunningham who spends his days riding around on his biscycle snapping shots of New York street fashion. He’s captured so many fashionaistas on their daily commute in the city that’s known to never sleep and for their fashion.

He’s such a humble cute old man. I love seeing people that have a genuine passion for something and has strong ideals about a subject. You’ll see what I mean when you peep it. And I don’t want to say too much, but it’s definitely worth watching up until the very end.

Please let me know how you guys liked these documentaries. I appreciate you’re feedback.

Remember, don’t be shy to be fly.

Mucho Love,

Juelzy G.

Ps.

The featured images is yours truly rockin the runway at the Beverly Hills Hilton for Latinos con Corazon Charity Fashion Event. Please check out their link and see how you can get involved with their organization and very good cause. Also check out designer D’Arte Connection for these stylish threads.

“Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion” – George Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

Passion is the journey towards a goal. No one’s to say you’ll reach it, but the main key is to just make sure to enjoy the ride. I could live on this incredible journey and never attain my goal, but that’s much more appealing than to settle for nothing and never attempt to achieve it.

As long as I remain true to my values, I don’t think there’s a lot of room to go wrong. I also have full faith in my journey…. (I know u guys read what I just wrote, but did you understand it??) Trusting your journey is accepting what happens for what it’s worth. It is to go with the flow and understand that even if you didn’t plan things a certain way that it doesn’t mean what you want isn’t going to happen.

Obstacle or other opportunities that present themselves are all meant to build character, because it shows the energy you put in to achieving something. And passion is only driven by energy.

I also feel passion is something you can’t control. For a reason almost unbeknown to you, you have a passion for something. You feel a certain energy towards that something. It’s what makes you happy.

It’s the reason you move across the country. It’s the reason u defied your parents. It’s the reason you don’t take no for an answer. It’s the reason you stay up late at night. It’s the reason you put yourself out there for all to judge.

Plain and simple: you just can’t fake the funk about it!

When someone says “I’m on my hustle” this to me means they’re passionately working towards their goals. I honestly feel this is the only way to live. Like I said before, I’d rather live passionately on my hustle than live bored and settled.

The way I see it is “why not?” What else are you doing that is so important, more than your happiness? Or why don’t you feel you deserve to be living a passion-filled life? I understand many people have reasons that are actually known as excuses, but the truth is that where there is a will there is a way. (You may have to refer back to my Faith post).There are way too many successful people that have beaten the odds to say that something is not possible.

It just depends on how bad you want it.

You definitely can’t get something for nothing. And you can consider that a rule of life. For instance, some people give up time with their family in order to pursue their passion. But if family is one of those values that you just can’t live without, then you’re going to have to give something else.

I love my family tremendously, but spending every moment with them isn’t going to help me or them in the long run. So I know that’s one thing I’m sacrificing and, therefore something that will pay off… and has. And I still have a wonderful relationship with them, which is most important anyways.

Something else I want to mention is that if you think you don’t have a passion, then you’re probably just not being real with yourself. And at the same time it’s never too late to have or develop a passion. I personally think your true passion was probably developed in elementary or middle school. This was an age where your dreams weren’t tainted with reality. So I would suggest you reflect on that time and determine whether you can evolve it now as an adult.  The point is, don’t lose your dinosaur!

Funny thing is I really did know a kid in middle school who REALLY wanted to be a dinosaur. It was as hilarious as it sounds, but who knows, that mofo is probably an archeologists or something now…. that is, if he didn’t lose his dinosaur.

So whatever it is that makes you feel alive, then that’s what you should be doing every waking day. Get on your hustle and enjoy the ride. You’ll be much happier, trust me.

Mucho Love

Juelzy G.

Ps.

So this is a mini documentary my friend Bodega Man did on me, who is also on his grand hustle and living with passion. Check him out and his documentaries of other people living with passion.

It’s kinda embarrassing seeing myself though I aint even gonna lie. Let’s just say I’m glad it wasn’t an interview for Oprah, but I’m glad I’m starting some where!