ku-layrosas

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I had a little think (okay it was a big think), over the past two weeks about my little "Femininity VS Feminism" series. And I spent one night, with ideas whizzing madly around my head. Name change was on the agenda. So, I have decided to call it "Versus", keeping the comparisons the same but then I can talk about any topic versus another. I hope you like this rebrand...

PLEASE NOTE THAT EVERYTHING IS VERY PERSONAL, I would appreciate it if you respected my opinions and faith, but feel free to ask any questions. And, I am always here for you :). There is ALWAYS someone there.

First and foremost, for a long time I learned to call myself a Christian. Whichever way I look at it, I learned it. But even at the age of fourteen/fifteen, when I confirmed myself as a Christian, I knew I wanted to be one. I always listened in church; okay, I selectively listened until I actually started to want to have conversations about God.

The anxiety battle began in Year 11 - putting that label on it makes it sound dramatic, but for me, at the time, it was dramatic. As everyone who has been through high school knows, Year 11 is the year when you suddenly realise, you spent far too much time joking around the years before. I'm not quite sure if it was obvious; I always used to put on a brave face and go to school - even if I looked, and felt, like a zombie. Like everyone does, I hated telling my teachers at school. I felt like I was failing them, not just myself. I mounted the pressure up on myself, in my head. Looking back, I think it's what we do as humans. We build everything up inside till we are about to burst.

I owe a lot to my mum, my true rock. Although at the time, I put her through so much - I didn't want to disappoint her. But, I was scaring myself. Faith wise, I remember my mum coming into my room and just saying, "say the Lord's Prayer over and over until you fall asleep". A little moment of hope in the darkness.

I got help, but it never really "went away". I learned that nothing can be fixed quickly and in a rush,

During, Year 11, at the back of my mind during all my "anxious moments", I was excited for my school's mission trip to Brazil. After everything that happened that year, I knew I would be going on one of the most precious experiences in my life. During said trip, I actually started to get what God can do. And since then, starting going to youth group and a different church, I feel like I'm learning at the right stage for me.

Life is a battle of self-belief. And since opening up my heart a bit more, to my friends and family, and now on Kulayrosas, I realise I'm just another one with a "story", and it's okay to have a "story". But with faith, no matter what faith you have or even if you don't believe in a God of any kind, you can keep going.

Hello again, feel's like it's been a long time! I hope you enjoy this post, and it helps you to get over the "nearly the end of summer' blues. It's all about embracing the change between Summer and Autumn; keeping you looking cool, but cosy'n'warm (how cheesy of me).

SNEAK PEEK:
Everything folk is on trend for Autumn, which makes me happy because I have two pieces that perfectly fit the trend! Autumn is my favourite season because you can layer, but you can still wear pretty dresses! And, it is the dresses that are the most important this season. Floral dresses always tick fashion boxes, but they do even more in Autumn, when the prints are leafy and in rich, earthy tones. British Vogue have been referring to AW15 as the season of indulgence; so beautiful embroidery in jewel tones looks decadent yet elegant.

TRENDS WITHIN THE TREND:

All the way to the floor
Channel Florence Welch in a floor length floaty dress, in any neutral or brown shade.

British Vogue's Kate Phelan, (Senior Contributing Fashion Editor), describes this AW winter trend:"A move away from heavy shapes brings the body back into play, with fashion that glides over the silhouette." That sounds ever so Coco Chanel - my friend Megan would love it.
When you were little, there was nothing quite like wrapping up in the material that your mum or grandma was about to make into a dress. Embracing that childhood pleasure is something to cast your mind to.

Decadence
There are lots of television programmes showing decadent fashion at the moment; Virginia Wolf's Bloomsbury Group on BBC Two, The Scandalous Lady W (also BBC Two). These dramas, as I quickly learned, aren't for the fainthearted - particularly the latter, as it has been described in BBC's little write up below as "true". The fashion however, even from the trailers, reminds me of all that I learned while studying for my Extended Project Qualification. But, let's take inspiration from the clothes and the way they dress, rather than the lifestyle...
Now, as this season is moving away from the big shapes, it's the colours and the embroidery that I'm falling for. During one scene, both Lady W and Richard can be seen wearing deep green; presumably the costume designers were portraying Autumn. Now, green is one of my favourite colours; it does everything and it goes with everything. It can lift your mood, make you feel good; but soften your mood and keep you calm at the same time.

Pussy-bow blouses
For a long time I really detested these shirts, they were a bit too full on. However, I think once you start to use them in layering they can look really great. I bought one at the same time as I bought the dress above. Also Peacocks, the shirt really stood out for me. It's such a difficult colour to describe, but it goes perfectly with any colour denim jeans. Look to Prada, Dior and Gucci for how to get the preppy style (you got it, future post).

Oh Ye Of Old
Perhaps one of my favourite trends is back! "Folk" fills me with excitement; just thinking about fair-isle knits and chunky boots makes me wish I lived somewhere cold all the time. Both my mum and I, love the "autumn/winter" boots shop! - there's nothing better.

Here's a selection of my favourite folk dresses, featured on: http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/trends/2015-16-autumn-winter/autumn-long-dress-and-skirts-lengths-trend

How I wore the trends:

Apparently, "seventies fringing" is out of fashion for this coming season; but this little suede number isn't going anywhere. My dress is from Peacocks (£18 - I think), but I bought it while on holiday in the Isle of Wight. I love the shape of the hemline on this dress, it's flattering in the right places. Although sheer dress and shirts etc, can be such a pain at time; this works with a camisole underneath or a long-sleeved shirt - however you choose to wear it works.

I hope you enjoyed this post; I have many more to come!

You can keep updated with my little life "escapades" on @ku_layrosas on Instagram.

Love x

I have decided to split this into a few different posts to make it like a series of discussions. This is only part one.

The Debate

"BEING A FEMINIST DOESN'T MAKE ME A MAN-HATER."

"IF NOT ME WHO? IF NOT NOW WHEN?"

"FEMINIST: A PERSON WHO BELIEVE IN THE SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC EQUALITY OF THE SEXES."

*Please note: I may get rather ranty, hopefully you will just recognise this is something important to me.*

All across the media at the moment is the attempt at female empowerment. Movements like "Free The Nipple" aim to overcome the taboo over publicly seeing women's breasts, while men can freely show their "nipples". "He For She" works to exempt women from inequality of all forms, all over the world. In a series of posts entitled "Femininity Not Feminism", I want to discuss the work of both of these campaigns but also a leading feminist in her own right, and my own views on what we could call a debate.

But before we start, I think this diagram below will be helpful.

I wouldn't say I quite agree that you should "reconsider your life choices", but maybe think about it. And remember, not all women feel the need for feminism. And not every woman is a feminist. Feminism is equality. It is NOT women being more powerful or dominant than men. I think it is this that many forget. In all honestly, whoever decided on the word should have stuck with 'equality'.

Two days after my 18th birthday, my boyfriend and I ventured to Liverpool for a day out. We visited Liverpool's Tate Art Gallery and next to one of the pieces was commentary. In said writing, it was mentioned that the artist was looking to promote "femininity not feminism" through her work; hence why I have decided to call this series after this commentary.

When I searched "femininity vs feminism" on Google, the results were mainly Christian based; talking about how a women's identity in God gets lost because of the debate. Whether you consider yourself to be a Christian or not, stay with me a second.

I came across this website called "Jesus Is Saviour", and the link from Google's search results is this: http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Womens%20Page/feminism_verses_femininity.htm
Now, please note that I started off reading this thinking to myself "oh yes, this is great and exactly what I wanted to write about". That was until I scrolled down to the "Here's some wisdom from my pastor..." section:
"You can name anything you want to name, but I am opposed to anything in the world that de-emphasises the line of difference between the sexes. I believe that ladies ought to be feminine and sweet and lovely and charming. I believe men ought to be strong and masculine and decisive. I'm opposed to anything that makes a man and a woman act alike, look alike, dress alike, or talk alike."
Now I'm sorry but I feel like this is a little "twisted". I doubt God really minds whether we dress like a female, or we dress like a male. Women should be who they want, and men should be who they want.

I hope this sparked something in you, whatever you agree, disagree, believe, disbelieve.