New Season, New Look

If you haven't already noticed, there are some changes on my blog. I selected different colors for Genuine Imitation, as I felt it was time for a change. Just like in fashion, every season we see a new set of colors, I thought you'd want a new set of colors to look at. I'm going to start adding a little more music of songs I currently like, there will be more quotes and just an overall re-vamping of the site. But don't get me wrong, fashion will always be the first order of the day! :) I hope you all like the changes and if you ever have a thought, suggestion, opinion, or just want to say hi, feel free to comment on whatever you wish! Thanks so much for reading, it means the world to me! Have a great one! :)

I cannot believe this!

Gas prices are RIDICULOUS!

I'm Done With Undergad!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so excited! I took the last final of my undergrad college career yesterday!!! Words can't express how happy I am....I don't think it has hit me quite yet...not until I walk across that stage!! But I'm still happy! Now it's time for the real world (at least until I start grad school), but I think I'm ready to give it a go! Yaaaaayy!!!!!

Bookworm Mode: [On]

Hi everyone,

I'm in Bookworm Mode. It is finals week and I have 4 in total. I have three tomorrow and one on Thursday so I really don't have any time to post in the next few days unless it is something that really catches my eye and I can't resist. So to all my readers, please bare with me, I will be back soon!

-Jess

PEACE + PATIENCE = WHERE I WANT TO BE

We all eventually, and hopefully come to a point in our lives where we have to stop and think "Which road do I take?" Many journeys lead us to this question and we all choose different paths in life, but it is the journey in getting to these crossroads that I think are the true adventure. Attaining peace within one's self is not an easy task and know exactly what peace is is even harder. We are all individuals, and in turn we all have different understandings, ideologies and perspectives on things. My idea of peace may be different than yours, but as long as YOU know what it is to YOU, that is all that matters. I find peace and calm in daily meditation, but this is different from the peace I find is accomplishing something I have set out to do. It takes a very long time for one to find the peace that is being sought, but the main part and one of the most important things to learn in life is PATIENCE. Learning that things do not happen at the drop of a hat and exactly when you may want them to is key to enjoying a happy peaceful life. Impatience is a curse that will only bring frustration and stress. Some define patience as "Enduring Suffering" but I beg to differ. Patience is once again the journey. The time it takes to get where you want to be and to overcome that obstacle ahead of you requires patience and one does not necessarily need to be suffering to experience it. But beware, too much of a good thing may not always be good. Having too much patience can lead to an apathetic attitude and in turn deter one from attaining set goals. We are all living this life one time, so we must remember to do it right the first time! Have patience when it comes to finding yourself, and I need to definitely take my own advice. I am doing my best to teach myself how to be patient and realize that good things do come to whose who wait, but not too long. Okay, I've done enough analyzing and preaching! Lol. Have a great day, and be patient. Don't sweat the small things.

Very True and Important.....

So I'm at a place in my life where I have some pretty huge decisions to make. I know that everything is going to work out, I have absolutely no doubt that it will, but I do have to admit that figuring it all out can get a little stressful at times. But my dad sent me an email, and it was really very relevant to my situation and I wanted to share it with you all, being that it can possibly help you out too!

"The tragedy of life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach." Benjamin Mays

This quote is so real, and so true! Having a goal is so important and upon the attainment of a goal, a new one needs to already be in place. Having direction is extremely important and if you never reach your goal, I am firm believer that the journey is the most important thing of all. Getting there and the process of doing so is where the satisfaction lies. The puzzle of life has many pieces and it's up to us to figure out where they go and how everything fits together. Good luck!

Having Trouble Pronouncing the Fancy Names?

I know I had trouble with the pronunciation of designers and names of high fashion lines in the beginning of my fashion fixation. However since I immersed myself in the world of fashion I have become much better with the pronunciation of the names. There is a web site I found that is pretty accurate and you can click the audio link to hear the proper pronunciation of the words. Have fun!

So I'm headed to take a bite of the Big Apple!

I'll be in New York for the next week for spring break. This is my first time going, so you know I'm super excited!!! I'll be there for a Fashion Tour, and some fun too of course! As this is my first time there, if any one reading this knows any hot spots that I should definitely stop by, feel free to email me and let me know!! I would appreciate it! :) I'm taking my laptop, so updates shouldn't be completely out of the question, but I will be constantly on the go. Anywho, I'm excited! :)

Sorry about the lack of Updates!

I have not been able to post like I would like to because I've been going non-stop! I was working on wardrobe for a film 12 hrs a day, then I had to interview D. Woods of Danity Kane for Seventeen Magazine, which was amazing by the way, and now to top it all off, this week is midterms! So you can very well imagine just how hectic things are with me right now! There's so much I want to post and share, but I literally have no time!! I will be going to New York on Saturday for Spring Break, and while I'm there, hopefully I'll get some downtime....but I doubt it, as this is my first time to the Big Apple! Thank you so much for reading my blog, and I'm so sorry that it's been sitting idle for some days now. I WILL be back soon, I promise! :)

Thank You!

Thanks to everyone who stops by my blog and checks it out, I really appreciate the support and the comments....you all are great!! xoxo

FEBRUARY 7, 2008 - National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Today is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness day, and like COMMON said "Knowing is Beautiful." If you don't know your status, I highly recommend going to get tested. You could be living with the virus for 5 years before having any symptoms, meanwhile unprotected sex can still spread it. I think this is why it's so rampant among our people. And remember if you get tested and you test negative, wait six months and get tested again, because the virus may not have fully developed and the anitbodies may not yet be present. And remember SAFE SEX!!!! That's one of the few ways to prevent it, and of course the best one: abstinence. Head over to BLACK AIDS DAY for more info, and Wrap it up!!

Go Red for Women

According to the official website:

National Wear Red Day—February 1, 2008— is a day when Americans nationwide will wear red to show their support for women's heart disease awareness. This observance promotes the Red Dress symbol and provides an opportunity for everyone to unite in this life-saving awareness movement by showing off a favorite red dress, shirt, or tie, or Red Dress Pin.

What a fantastic cause, and something we all need to be genuinely concerned with. It's not given enough attention, and often looked over for some of the more prominent, and less advertised than for instance AIDS. Not to implicate that it is not as important, but the media needs to make it that much more important. So stay aware of your blood pressure readings, visit the doctor often and live healthy.

Spring Cleaning.......

So I am headed back to school for my last and final semester of college as an under graduate! Wooohooo! Anyways, I stay @ my Mom's during the long breaks and as one can expect, I accumulate plenty of "things" while I'm here. I just finished doing some packing and I got carried away and cleaned out all of my drawers and some of my closet. A funny thing happened while I was doing so: I realized I'm a dreamer! If you know me you know I'm an optimistic person, and I am completely wishful when it comes to most things.....including fashion. To be a bit more clear, I am hopeful that certain things will come back into fashion, so I keep them. It reminds me of the "Buy, Keep, Store" section in every issue of Harper's Bazaar Magazine. If we truly followed that advice, we'd be drowning in clutter! Which is exactly what I found myself in while cleaning up! I was looking at clothes that I loved so much that I was always saying to myself "that may come back into style, so I should hold onto it." This is a "no-no" when it comes to "things." Granted your one or two favorite pieces, maybe even three do not have to be sacrificed, but where will there be room for all the beautiful new things you will acquire this year of you're holding onto things from four or five years ago? So my message is: LET GO! I have a hard time telling myself this most of time time, and my best friends remind me of it all the time! lol I don't typically make New Years Resolutions, but I think this is a great one, for me at least. If I'm definitely not going to use it, or I have to say "it may come in handy one day," then I need to get rid of it! REMEMBER, you do not have to throw anything away, in fact I highly recommend that you don't! There are so many people who can use your old clothes/shoes/accessories. I personally donate to the mission, which following your phone call will come out to your house and pick up the items you wish to donate, and unlike many other charity places, take everything regardless of wear and tear on the pieces. I know after I clean up, I feel much better so it it not only a cleanlinesses thing, but a overall better feeling about everything. Walking into a clean room after a long day makes everything better....at least for me it does! :)

In My Mind: Precious Moments.....

As many of you are aware, the Holiday is here and it is the season of giving. I am fine with the wonderful holiday we all know as Christmas, but I want everyone to take some time out to truly think about how lucky you are to be here to experience it. This comes at a very sad time, as someone very near and dear to me has passed, and although I knew it before, I find it necessary to reiterate that: LIFE IS NOT GUARANTEED! I am aware that we all know this but I feel like many of us take life for granted and maybe we don't say "I love you" enough or maybe we don't tell those around us how we truly feel. I think that this has been one of the most difficult years for me, however it is one of the most valuable ones too. I have learned so much, more than I could have ever imagined, and I have come to a place where I feel like I absolutely know myself. I know who I am, and I know what I want to become and I feel that in my 21st year of life, I have made the most progress towards that person I wish to become. I do not want to be a downer, but please do not take life for granted, hold grudges, or fight over silly thing that do not matter. I am making it a point to do my best to resolve all issues I have and maybe you should do the same. I am in love with myself and I love myself, and that is what makes it possible for me to love others and allow others to love me back. Here are a few quotes that spoke to me and influenced me to change my ways and who I am and who I want to be:

"The best way to predict your future s to create it" -Unknown

"When seeking revenge, dig two graves - one for your self" -Unknown

"What you ARE is what you have BEEN and what you WILL be is what you do NOW"-Anonymous

In My Mind: Be Thankful

I was just thinking and I would like to touch on the subject of being thankful....especially since the National Holiday of Thanksgiving is vastly approaching. Time flies, it feels like last Thanksgiving was yesterday! Sheesh! I think we all take so many things for granted and it is only natural, however stopping periodically to "smell the roses" and realize just how thankful we all are is essential to our well being. Moving too quickly and "going non-stop" can be detrimental to our livelihood, so I emphasize making time to take time. This may sound a little weird at first, but when you think about it it all makes sense. We need to take time out of our busy everyday schedules in order to make time to "take time" meaning we need a moment to breathe and take in life. Relax, and take it easy. No matter if things are not going your way and you may be having the worst day ever; your peace of mind is what is most important. So know that whatever the problem may be for the day, whatever issues may arise, be thankful to have those issues, be thankful that you are even alive to experience these things. As my mother often tells me: "It could always be worse." In the past year I have learned so much about myself and I am very pleased to say I like me, and I love me....those are two different things. I like who I am, and who I am growing to be everyday, and I also Love myself. When YOU love YOU...that's when life really begins. That is when you can learn to properly love others and learn to become the person you aspire to be breaking all the barriers you once thought existed. In O Magazine earlier in the year, Oprah wrote something that really hit home and is very relative to this. Here it is:

"It makes no difference how many peaks you reach if there was no
pleasure in the climb. I've been so focused on getting to the next
level, I haven't enjoyed enough of the view from where I am. It's
because you live life in the fast lane, you end up speeding through,
just moving to the next thing, doing more and filling your schedule
until there's no time even to think about what you're doing. As we are
all blessed to witness another Fall season here on Planet Earth, I hope
you're reading these words and thinking about your own life on
adrenaline, and about how you, too, can manage with more attention to
things that Matter."

With that said...take some time and just: RELAX!

Maybe I Spoke too Soon......

....when I said I don't like HOUSE OF DEREON. Well let's be honest, at the time I think that was really the case, but with the recent additions that Tina and Beyonce have made to the line, I think it has the potential to sway my opinion. I was browsing "fadedyouthblog.com" and I came across of these photos of Beyonce in some of the line's new arrivals. She is modeling the new dresses in the December issue of Cosmopolitan Magazine. They are not yet available but should be before the year is out. I am really loving the white and silver number along with the blue one even though you can;t see the entire dress. From what I can see, it looks like somebody has been putting a little more time and effort as far as creating pieces that can actually be displayed in the category of high fashion. Whoever talked the Knowles' into taking the line in a different direction from all of the fur, and gold inspired designs: THANK YOU! :) Head over to faded youth to check out the rest of the pics.

Classic Classics: Essential Items for your Wardrobe

A girls (and guys) wardrobe can overflow the closet, the back closet, basement, etc....you get the point. But with all these items, plenty of the time we do not own many of the "essential" classic items that we can keep over a very long periods of time. Also known as "staples" or "basics" in our wardrobe. Harper's Bazaar helps us out with what some of those items include, and provides a list of the various items that we should all have in our closets. They include:

1. LITTLE BLACK DRESS - Be sure you have a little black dress that is both sexy but versatile, strapless is encouraged but not necessary. There are many styles of this dress, but it can always be the default part of your wardrobe when you "have nothing to wear" because it works for just about any event!


2. FLATS - Obviously taking over, and I know our feet are thanking us, are flats. They are a part of almost every casual look, and even some very high fashion ones too. They can be dressed, up or down, and are most important very comfortable. If you don't already have a pair...go and grab some! Pictured are 2 pairs of GAP flats that go for about $40. Not bad at all.

3. PEACOAT - This jacket gets really popular around this time of year, Fall that is. And if you purchase the "right" one, you will only have to do so once. They last long, styles rarely change drastically, and it can be worn with almost anything in your wardrobe. Pictured is a very cute one by CELINE. Whether you are making a fashion statement, or just trying to keep warm, this is the way to do it!

4. GRAY CARDIGAN - I have just recently fallen in love with these! I love cardigans, they add a certain feel to an outfit. I love the baggy cardigan look, but the fitted cardigan is classy too. You can throw a cardigan over a t-shirt and create a whole new look. I just bought about 3 of them from a Vintage store for next to nothing, so I suggest doing this. If you have mounds of cash to spend there are numerous options for you. A very cute one I wouldn't mind spending my money on is the one pictured, from URBAN OUTFITTERS for $48.

5. TANK - This is the last one I'll review, but I thought it was very important for the basics. I think you can just go with a simple white Fruit of the Loom tank for your outfit, but Harper's suggests the MICHAEL STARS tank top. They go for about $40 but you can always head over to your local target and pick up a 5-pack of white tank tops. :)

Heads Up: California Wildfires vs. Hurricane Katrina

This is just mere speculation on my part....maybe. I am completely aware of the disastrous situation that is going on as I write this: the fires are spreading. And among 13 fires barely 3 are contained and firefighters have yet to get control over the other many blazing monsters that ravage the land of California. This has officially been declared a "state of emergency" which opens the door for federal aid, including FEMA which will pay up to 5 million dollars or more if necessary. Personally I just find it amazing that within 3 days of these fires starting and spreading that not only has the governor been to and remained at the site; but the president has been very active in the assistance and attention given to the fires. One of the first areas to catch fire was the very wealthy neighborhood of Malibu, California. Burning in seven counties, the wildfires have destroyed about 1,500 homes and caused more than a half-million people to evacuate since the first fire.

The reason I am amazed is because what is now to be considered the second largest natural disaster for the US, falling second to the Wildfires, did not get such a quick and efficient response from the government. I am not in any way down-playing the danger or the seriousness of this situation but there have been no lives lost here. I am just posing the question(s): What is the difference here? Why was the response to those here in California so quickly granted, while the Gulf Coast is still in shambles? I think that the Bush administration may be trying to make-up for Katrina by paying extra-special attention to the wildfires. As I previously stated, they do need the help, but the comparison of the two tragedies can only leave one to wonder...what's the big picture?

In My Mind: Yaaayyy!!! Fashion Week has arrived!!!

So....I always get excited around this time in October! Fashion week is here! It will be going on until Thursday and I LOVE it! I have mid-terms all week so I prob won't be able to attend any of the shows I want to see. I was a dresser last year and it was so fun! The Heatherette show is tonight @ 8pm in the Main Tent, and other shows I'm looking forward to are Christian Audiger which is tomorrow (4pm Main Tent), TART tomorrow @ 2pm **yaay Tart! I used to work for them!**, just to name a few. Of course I love all the shows, but those are just some that stuck out to me. Unfortunately the event is not open to the public so not anyone can go, but I will be posting pics from the event so you can feel like you were there! :) I posted some pics from LA fashion Week during last Spring. xoxo

In My Mind: Tupac Shakur

I absolutely love this man and the intelligence that he possessed. He was definitely a man beyond his years. Tupac Shakur is definitely in my opinion the greatest, and I still read his book of poetry at least once every few weeks. Even though I already know what's in it, there is just something about them that make me feel at peace. Check out 2 of my favorite. I put his actual entries (handwriting/art) and a translation in case you couldn't read the original. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do! xoxo


In the Depths of Solitude

i exist in the depths of solitude
pondering my true goal
trying 2 find peace of mind
and still preserve my soul
constantly yearning 2 be accepted
and from all receive respect
never comprising but sometimes risky
and that is my only regret
a young heart with an old soul
how can there be peace
how can i be in the depths of solitude
when there r 2 inside of me
this duo within me causes
the perfect opportunity
2 learn and live twice as fast
as those who accept simplicity


I Cry

Sometimes when I'm alone
I Cry,
Cause I am on my own.
The tears I cry are bitter and warm.
They flow with life but take no form
I Cry because my heart is torn.
I find it difficult to carry on.
If I had an ear to confiding,
I would cry among my treasured friend,
but who do you know that stops that long,
to help another carry on.
The world moves fast and it would rather pass by.
Then to stop and see what makes one cry,
so painful and sad.
And sometimes...
I Cry
and no one cares about why.