alternative fashion – Page 2 – The Big Hair Diaries

Against All Odds; My Long Lost Dress Returns

Published on October 1, 2021 by hellosamanthadear7 Comments

It was 2012 when I wore this coral dream of a dress from Forever 21. I thought it was a charming, cute little thing and I wore it several times that year, but ultimately, I ended up giving it to Goodwill because a) I was a fool and b) I didn’t like the loose fit at the waist (helloooo!!! That’s what belts are for!)

This was me in 2012 wearing it! And this was during a brief period in my early twenties when I actually dressed somewhat conservatively, compared to how I dress now. I was also 10 lbs heavier back then and my hair was FLAT (gasp)! This was during my years working at a law firm. I like to think that the weight I lost went straight to my hair instead.

I don’t know what it is, but I’m infinitely more happy in my thirties than I ever was in my twenties. I mean, good lord!!!! It’s incomparable! I was so negative and easily angered by things in my twenties. Once I got near my thirties and onward, I truly got to know myself and discovered what made me happy in life. And it turns out, what makes me happy is feeling peace towards everyone and everything around me, and most of all, peace within myself. And also drinking caffé mochas and reading “dad books” (did I mention my current read is about the history and functionality of submarines, written by Tom Clancy?)

Also, in addition to my pescetarian diet, I also made the majority of what I eat plant-based and I love to walk and use a stationary bike at home. I have more energy now than I ever have before and in general, I feel way happier in my thirties!

I scrounged through the depths of Poshmark to find this dress again. There was literally only one seller who had it in the size I needed! Fate brought us together again, and I’m much happier with my present day, more eccentric and energetic self putting it on again. ❤️

Choker + Belt from ROMWE // Bows made by me!

See ya next time!!! Have a happy weekend! 💗

Who’s Got Spirit? Remembering the Day Karen Brewer Came to Life

Published on September 25, 2021 by hellosamanthadear4 Comments

It is I who has spirit!!!!! But why, you ask? Well, a couple of reasons. One, I’m usually pretty high-spirited on any given day. And secondly, I finally got myself a cheerleader-style skirt from, of all places, Spirit Halloween! And it’s turned out to be one of my new favorite skirts!

Top: SHEIN // Skirt: Spirit Halloween // Bow: Made by me

Believe it or not, I was actually a cheerleader in elementary school! Here’s the proof:

Ahhhh, yes…the Sierra Vista Vikings (I still have my uniform)! It was the mid-90’s. I remember the complete and utter excitement that came with the yearly cheer competition, where we would meet at a local high school and perform amongst the local elementary cheer squads. Even today, I can still recall the buzz of anticipation when we would meet in the gymnasium at whichever high school was chosen for the event and teams would get ready for the big day ahead! It’d be early on a Saturday morning, and it would be a frenzy of white sneakers squeaking against the glossy gym floor, clouds of aerosol hairspray, hair glitter and high ponytails topped with fluffy bows that would make Jojo Siwa proud. I remember, in-between performances while sitting in the bleachers, I’d look across the gym and admire the other cheerleaders and how pretty their school colors were on their uniforms (ours were blue and gold; I recall thinking the Cedarwood cheer squad had the prettiest uniform colors: white and hunter green, with silver lining).

But it wasn’t just their amazing uniform colors that caught my eye. I remember seeing one particular cheerleader from Cedarwood who looked EXACTLY like Karen Brewer from the Babysitter Club’s Little Sister series, which I read voraciously as a kid. I was secretly flipping out because she had all the looks of Karen, right down to the blonde side ponytail and glasses (Karen Brewer was the first female character from a book that I admired as a kid, so this was totally crazy for my young little brain to fathom!!!).

I remember telling my mom later that Karen Brewer does not live in Stoneybrook, Connecticut afterall but she actually resides in the same city as me and goes to Cedarwood. I recall my mom saying something like, okay sweetie…

Anyway, I only did cheer during elementary school; for the remainder of my school life from middle school onward, I moved on to be the loner weirdo you now know and (maybe?) love! But I never did shed my adoration for the cheerleader look – pleated skirts and big bows – and I never want to. That’s why I’m so happy I found this lovely new skirt at Spirit Halloween, which will be a wardrobe staple for whenever I feel like channeling my inner cheerleader!!!

Although, I like now that I can accessorize the cheer look however I want – including edgy accessories and fun-printed tops that make for a more misfit cheerleader look.

I say: be your own cheerleader in life. In everything you do, every single day! 💝 And to never forget the magical moments from childhood, like when I believed for just a moment that Karen Brewer was a real person. It was like seeing a Disney princess at Disneyland, in my book!

See ya next time!!!

Scream Queen: Valley of the Creepy Dolls

Published on August 26, 2021 by hellosamanthadear5 Comments

In my lavender purple dress and new black belt, I decided to take some outfit photos in a different spot – my room, this time!! Taking photos outside is always better and clearer, as the quality is grainier indoors for some odd reason on my phone camera, but I wanted a little change-up from my backdrop norm.

With my creepy ventriloquist doll in the background, and I myself feel like I give off creepy doll vibes, we make for a perfect pair. I also love the dichotomy between my Scream shirt with the floral skirt!!! 💜

See ya next time!!! 💜

Party Like a Cherub Rockstar

Published on August 11, 2021 by hellosamanthadear11 Comments

Don’t be fooled – I am no rockstar, clearly! I have no musical ability, instrument or singing-wise. And my version of partying is upsizing my Starbucks drink (tall → grande = living it up), putting on a good CD to get into while I drive, and crafting.

But my play on words in this blog title refers to the famous 1993 radio hit by the Smashing Pumpkins, Cherub Rock. That’s exactly the song that popped in my head when I first saw this gorgeous top!!! It makes me think of that song, and also the entire album aesthetic of Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.

Which is why I paired the outfit with this ring I made in 2018, when I went to go see them for their reunion tour in the Bay Area! (One of the best concerts I’ve ever been to!) The Smashing Pumpkins instantly take me back to my childhood and all the nostalgia that comes with it.

Funny enough, this second outfit ALSO reminds me of Cherub Rock in an unexpected way. The mesh top makes me think of the psychedelic, liquid-like colors of the Cherub Rock music video! How about that!!

As the opening lyrics of the song go:

Freak out
And give in
Doesn’t matter what you believe in
Stay cool
And be somebody’s fool this year
‘Cause they know
Who is righteous, what is bold
So I’m told

So go ahead and party like a rockstar, even if your version of partying is upsizing your Starbucks drink for the afternoon, rocking out solo in your automobile, and making new bows to wear in your hair. Which are all my definitions of partying!!!! Also, getting my second dose of the COVID vaccine on Monday made me feel like a rockstar because I felt relieved to have finally gotten it completed. As I exited out the automatic sliding glass doors of the Walgreens, with the evening sun in my eyes, I felt pretty darn good knowing I was done with it. Then I got in my car, put on Cherub Rock like a champ, as the Walgreens grew smaller in my rear view mirror.

See ya next time!!! 💝

Dino’s Day Out: A Photo Diary of Concrete Evidence That Dinosaurs Like High Heels, CD’s and Lattes

Published on August 3, 2021August 3, 2021 by hellosamanthadear7 Comments

The moment my eyes settled on these pink platform Mary Jane’s from Dolls Kill, I knew it was love at first sight. It’s my favorite shade of pink, and the flower cut-outs just scream 70’s. So it was a big yes for me!!!

Then I took a good, long look at my beloved Gene Simmons purse. It’s my favorite purse I’ve ever owned, and I had it custom made to boot. It just needed a little extra something. I realized that something was 70’s-style flower patches. The results were way better than I expected; it added so much more 70’s-teen-girl-obsessed-with-KISS vibes that I can’t get enough of!

Another thing I can’t get enough of is my new dinosaur mesh top from SHEIN! Typically, dinosaurs seem to be geared towards boys anytime I see them on clothing, so that’s why this caught my eye immediately, in all of its pink glory. 💖 The corduroy suspender shorts are from Amazon!

Before leaving for the afternoon to embark on a trip for coffee, I thought, something’s missing. And that’s a little blue dinosaur figurine I own, who’s the perfect companion to my outfit of the day. But I made sure she went out in style, in her own new set of heels and even giving her her own latte while I enjoyed my iced mocha. So this is concrete proof that dinosaurs enjoy nice shoes, café culture, and CD’s. It was a girls day out, and I’ll leave you with a couple of photos from our day!!! 💖

See ya next time!!! 💕

“Think I Could Pull This Off With Shorts?”

Published on July 14, 2021 by hellosamanthadear13 Comments

So!!!! I did something different; I bought myself suspender SHORTS. Now this doesn’t seem like a big deal, right? Alas, for me it was! I don’t think I’ve worn shorts since high school. I always wear skirts and dresses!

While scrutinizing the SHEIN item that my eyes beheld on my laptop screen, I tried to envision myself in them. Could I pull it off????? Maybe. Then I realized, what did I have to lose? BUY ‘EM!

And so I did. I’m actually really happy with them! At first, I felt a little self-conscious but that feeling quickly faded. It’s just because I hadn’t worn shorts out in public in soooooo long…but I dig the whole vintage vibe with these cool buttons!

Funny story about these shoes: I was walking in them the other day and the bottom of the shoe literally flapped open, like a gaping fish mouth. Fortunately, a friend of mine recommended Shoe Goo glue, and boy did it work!!! All fixed and like new! These are my favorite flats. 💖

Second outfit we have here is my beloved teddy bear outfit, which is my favorite as of recently!!! 🐻💕

This top is also from SHEIN! Ain’t it cute?!!? Once I realized it would perfectly match my teddy bear hair clips I own, I knew I wanted to get it!!!

I think it’s fun to try different fashion stuff even if maybe you don’t think you can pull it off. For me personally, I’ve always been a social outcast, so I feel I have the luxury of wearing whatever I feel like, no matter how “out there” it gets.

Believe it or not, I actually used to look completely “normal” (whatever that word even means??? But it’s the only word I can think of) during my junior and senior year of high school. I tried to emulate how the popular girls at school would style themselves, although I never did fit the bill anyway. And guess what? I still never fit in, nor did any boys like me, and people still thought I was a nerd!

And that is why, I literally laugh out loud when I’ve been told, “Maybe if you just tried to not have an extreme style, you’d be seen as more attractive,” or, “Maybe you’d have more friends if you toned your look down a notch.”

Nope! I’ve tested both waters, and I concluded long ago that whether I completely blended into a crowd of people or if I decided to wear a huge orange traffic cone on my head, it would be the same results. I’ve always been one of those people who just never fit in, no matter how I tried to present myself. So I decided I’d just wear whatever I loved to wear, no matter how outdated or out-there it was, because ultimately it has made me the happiest and feel most like myself. And what’s more important than that?

So wear that one clothing item you’re not totally sure you can pull off, and wear it with confidence. 😘

See ya next time!!!