Moda Mama

How Fabulous is Faux Fur?

November 17, 2014
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2 COMMENTS

Faux Fur coat – Zara // Plaid Shirt – Guess // Grey Tee – SheInside // Jeans – Lucky Brand // Boots – Aldo // Belt – AE // Bag – Target // Waterfall necklace – c/o Atterley Road // SKull necklace – Monserat de Lucca // Eagle Ring – Lulus // Etched Ring – Body Blue

Personally, I think it’s so much fin. It adds texture and interest to an outfit immediately. But to me it always has the danger of getting too glam or dressed up, so the fact that this jacket had a hood made it perfect because the hood brings it back down.

There’s a great level on contradiction in the playful, laid back hood, and the luxe, glam faux fur. And contradictions in clothes, and in people, are what adds such kaleidoscopic beauty to life.

Plus, it’s fuzzy.

I Tried Not To Laugh

November 14, 2014
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2 COMMENTS

Kimono – UO // Shirt – Bershka // Hat & Necklaces – I forget (old) // Jeans – Gap // Boots – Aldo

My girl wanted to stand beside me. She was very whiny *she’s still fighting this horrible cold, by the way* and just wanted to be next to me, but also did not want Daddy to take photos of her. Oh the dilemma!

Though I felt bad for her feeling poopy, and I want to take her seriously, I couldn’t help but laugh; her pouty face is just hilarious. Trying to keep a straight face when she’s got her brows furrowed, her bottom lip sticking out, and her thumb in her mouth is really hard. I mean scaling-mount-Everest hard.

Side note, my shirt says “Weekend Uniform” and that’s pretty much what it is to me. Hat, kimono, loose tee, jeans, and boots. Yup, that’s about my casual day in a nutshell. Though, to be fair, most days are casual days so…

Long Live the Monday Morning

November 3, 2014
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2 COMMENTS

Poncho – Love Threads // Corduroys – Gap // Hat & Necklace – I forget // Shoes – Ruche

Gotta say, I love Mondays. I know most people who have a 9-5 hate them, but I love them. All through my life I’ve been a freelancer or shift worker, and the fields that I work in have usually been most active on weekends. So for me, the weekend usually meant work. Monday meant rest.

Now, Mondays are an extra long day for my girl as she has Spanish class right after kindergarten. So now, Mondays are a big day of free space. Space for work, for productivity, for a pamper day if I need it. Mondays are full of opportunity.

Predictable and Fun Coffee Date

October 30, 2014
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8 COMMENTS

Tassle Kimono – SheInside // Top – thrifted // Corduroys – Gap // Boots & Earrings – ThreadSence // Headband & Coat – UO // Backpack – Stela 9

Another nice fall day meant that I could get out with my girl to a coffee date. She of course had her croissant, and I had my coffee. Then came the requisite visit to the playground. It’s a predictable pattern, but I missed it. This was one of the things I wanted to get back to.

We have fun. She loves talking to the lovely people who work at SuperCoffee, even though she gets all shy. My girl and I have great conversations over coffee and croissant, and then she has a blast sliding down the big kid slide at the park. Perfect.

Force Feed Me Pumpkin

October 29, 2014
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14 COMMENTS

Sweater Dress – Ruche // Cardigan – c/o Wallis // Boots – I forget // Tights – gift from Poland // Waterfall Necklace & Bracelet – c/o Atterley Road // Skull Necklace – Monserat de Lucca

Okay, okay, I’ll admit it, Fall is pretty. The colors and the textures are wonderful. But you’re still not gonna get me to like it. I don’t like the dropping temperatures, or the fact that I know Winter is a blink away.

You can tie me down, and force feed me all the pumpkin chai teas, pumpkin pies, muffins, and ciders you can manage *and seriously I encourage you to do so* but that’s still not gonna change my mind. I’m a summer girl. Give me hot winds, blazing suns, and fluttering kimonos any time.

But I’m trying to find the positive in things these days, so….hand over that pumpkin chai already.

Gratitude Greta

October 28, 2014
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13 COMMENTS

Tiered Dress – Ruche // Thermal Top & Thigh High Socks – FreePeople // Boots – Aldo // Fedora – I forget // Jacket – F21 // Bag – Urban Outfitters // Sweater – ThreadSence // Chevron Necklace – I Forget

Following up on yesterday’s post. The mental and emotional journey was staggering over the last month. I spent a lot of time crying, and feeling sad. I was terrified that it would be a chronic or long term condition which had me really blue because all I saw were the things that I wouldn’t get to do.

Then came a point where I suddenly saw my old life (what came before this illness) and what I had, and was incredibly grateful for that. I had so much life, so much freedom, and so much to be grateful for. All I wanted was to get back to that. So once I started to feel better, I was excited that I would get that old life back.

And now, for all intents and purposes, I do. So that makes me happy. I have so much freedom to do what I love and have amazing experiences. But I do feel moments where the old downer thoughts – that I’m not booking enough as an actor or photographer – and the doubts – that I’m not good enough as a person, actor, photographer – try to creep back in. It’s hard. We all have a “Negative Nancy” as my naturopath calls her. And I know we all have our ways of managing her. I’m just trying to figure out a way to hang on to those feelings of gratitude and appreciation, rather than allowing Negative Nancy a megaphone.

How do you stay grateful? And what things do you use to keep Negative Nancy at bay?

I’ll Be Away

October 7, 2014
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15 COMMENTS

Cardigan – c/o Wallis // Top – Ruche // Jeans & Bag – Dittos via Urban Outfitters // Necklace & Earrings – I forget // Shoes – ThreadSence

Hey guys, I’m going to be away for a while, hopefully just a week or two. I’m going through some medical issues right now, and just want to step away from everything I possibly can. It kind of sucks right now to be homebound and feeling like crap, but I have to say the timing of this cardigan was perfect.

It got here just a couple of days before I started feeling really bad, and I got a chance to grab these shots, and since then I’ve been living in it and my fleece pants. Just comforting it up as much as I can.

I really appreciate you understanding why I’m away. See you all as soon as I can!

xoxo
Joanna

Easiest Fall Outfit Ever…

October 2, 2014
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9 COMMENTS

Cardigan – Sheinside // Maxi – Lush // Boots – Aldo // Fedora – I forget // Scarf – thrifted.

…put on a dress, a chunky cardigan, boots, scarf, and hat. Done. It’s really as simple as that. And mix and match as necessary to create ‘new’ outfits.

For the winter, add tights, and maybe another top layer somewhere in there.

Leaves Are Falling….

September 29, 2014
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4 COMMENTS

Kaftan – ThreadSence // Jacket & Hat – I forget, they’re older // Tights – F21 // Boots – Aldo // Necklace – Lulus // Bag – Target

…so we’re firmly into Fall. The layering begins. I do love the golden light that drowns the richer colors. I do love the tones that start to dominate the city. But I deeply lament the end of the warmth. It feels like I’m breaking up with the Sun. It feels like we’re giving each other the parting kiss goodbye.

And I don’t like that. Absence does not make the heart grow fonder. As much as I love the rich hues of Fall, my heart will always lie with the bright and vivid hues of Summer.

Neutrality

September 24, 2014
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2 COMMENTS

Lace Edge Top – ThreadSence // Cardigan – SheInside // Pants & Fedora – I forget // Boots – Aldo // Bag – Target // Scarf – street stand // Sunnies – Lace Affair // Long Necklace – Top Shop // Short Necklace – Vanessa Mooney

Generally I’m against it. I’m against is sartorially, and in a more broad metaphorical way too. It’s non-committal, wishy-washy, and easy.

To dress neutral is a cop out because you know it’s going to look good, you don’t have to think about anything. And by not thinking about things, you never really consider where you stand. You never have to say that you’re this or that – boho, vintage, a pink lover, a hater of florals. You never have to actually risk anything.

I’m always skeptical of and suspicious of people who only wear neutrals – because if you can’t commit and take a stand sartorially *where it’s arguably the easiest since there’s nothing on the line* then where else are you copping out? Politically? Socially? Emotionally?

I know, you didn’t expect that today did you?

*This post has been brought to you by a woman who rarely cops out sartorially, politically, socially, or emotionally….except when she hasn’t slept for six nights and her brain has temporarily turned to mush*

Category :Gray