Awhile back, I had a long day and managed to fall asleep without charging my iPhone. To my dismay, I woke up and found the device completely dead. I groaned and reluctantly plugged it in to charge and went about my morning routine.

Later on, I realized how easygoing my morning was. I actually had time to make myself a hearty breakfast and to enjoy my cup of coffee. At first, I was confused at this sudden change of pace, but it occurred to me that not once did I check my phone since I had woken up. My epiphany made me realize how it is really not the end of the world when I don’t check my notifications at a constant basis. In fact, I do not remember the last time I had felt so free and happy to be disconnected from the online world.

Social Media Burnout

Social media has made quite the reputation of itself over the past few years or so. On the one hand, it has become this amazing world-wide technology that allows you to make connections that otherwise would have been impossible. It has initiated a brand new marketing outlet that essentially all companies are participating in. Not to mention, it has opened doors to the growing segment of entrepreneurs and self-starters whose entire living is solely internet based.

Despite all this, it is common to feel overwhelmed from maintaining all of these social media outlets, especially as a blogger where your online presence is the core value of your responsibility. This has a lot to do with the increase in competitiveness on platforms like Instagram where everyone is seemingly trying to compete for more likes or followers. It can be easy to get caught up with the statistics and can feel disappointing when a goal is not reached. Social media stress is a lot more common than you might think, which is why taking a break from social media is healthy!

Vacation from the Online World

If feeling drained from the constant updating and engaging social media requires, consider taking a vacation. Not a physical vacation but simply a short leave of absence from your social media accounts. This is a great way to reconnect with yourself and perhaps regain some mental clarity so you can jump back in with a fresh mindset.

You might feel left out from the news by not logging in, but trust me when I say that this is nothing to stress over. If something important does happen, you will most likely hear it on the news or from friends and family. Aside from that, everything else will be waiting for you after your hiatus.

A Fresh Perspective

Now I make it a point to schedule in social media breaks throughout the year. These mini hiatuses can range from one whole day to an entire week, depending on the situation at hand. Without a doubt, I always come back feeling cleansed. In fact, I find a break is actually beneficial to my blogging because it allows me clear my headspace and approach it with a fresh perspective.

It can be really difficult to step back from this crazy digital world, but logging out, even if just for a little, enhances my wellbeing. With this mindset, you may find there is less pressure to curate this perfect, cohesive feed and more emphasis on the creative process and the joy of taking photos. Is it time for you to schedule a social media hiatus? Let me know your thoughts on this in the comments below!

xo,
Susan
Follow me – Blog Instagram Bloglovin YouTube Facebook SHOP

You Should Also Read:

4 Steps to Hiring Your First Quality Employee
How Journaling Helps When You Feel Defeated
How to Manifest Blogging Success

The post Why Taking a Break From Social Media is Healthy appeared first on Zanita Studio.

I have preached many times since writing on The Studio, that June is a great month to reflect on your accomplishments for the year… It’s time to get real honest!

And to be honest, if you’re not feeling any better about your situation now than you did at the start of the year, things need to change. That starts with your mind. Not long ago, I came across Psycho Cybernetics and it’s completely changed my life – my mindset. It was this book that allowed me to dig deep into my insecurities, obstacles for growth, and change my outlook on life and business. Looking back, I can honestly say that I have ever been more committed to growth – and myself – than I have in the last month.

Do yourself the favor and read the book. But while that’s in the works, I’ll dish out the 5 steps to achieve a growth mindset that’s completely transformed me today.

1: Re-engineer your thoughts

You would think this is common sense, but if it is, too many of us have been missing the mark our whole lives. So much of our limitations are imposed by our thoughts that we don’t even realize it. It defaults to safety through years of conditioning in our upbringing, what we’ve seen/observe, and the people we spend the most time with.

If you don’t start paying attention to your thoughts now, it’s going to be near impossible to experience growth. I’m willing to bet you grew up with the same mindset training I did, i.e. none. Truth is your mind creates a false image of yourself to yourself. The book gets into far more detail about this, but long story short, pay attention to your thoughts – what it says about you to you – and re-engineer it.

2: Set declarations NOT affirmations

I used to be an affirmations aficionado, but I now know that affirmations aren’t the key to success – declarations are! An affirmation states that a result is already happening when it hasn’t, and subconsciously we know it! That means our mind is saying something else. A declaration on the other hand states an intention without assuming that it’s already happening. The difference is minuscule but put it into action and notice how your mind and emotions change!

3: Meditate or Visualize!

I started mediating when I got back from Europe and then fell off the routine and tried getting back into it. Then earlier last month, I started mediating again only to find myself falling asleep each time (does this happen to anyone else)? And then…I started visualizing during mediation and the results have been WOW! I have far more energy and motivation to tackle the day. What exactly do I visualize? Well since acknowledging the power of my mind, I make a conscious effort to re-imagine the successes I’ve had in the past – namely the specific emotions I felt. Then I visualize myself (and feel emotions of succeeding) in future ventures. Sure, I’ve had my fair share of losses, but apparently the mind can’t tell the difference between what’s real and what’s not! So as you’ve heard since childhood, DREAM ON!

4: Journal

Immediately after meditating/visualizing, I let the energy flow into writing. The topic varies on a day to day basis and I only write maybe 6-20 sentences but it’s putting my thoughts onto paper – my declarations and my emotions. I express gratitude and write down everything I want to manifest in my life and then really feel it manifest.

5: Monitor your thoughts

When truth sets in, you’ll learn that bad days happen so you have to monitor your thoughts constantly. I’ve discovered that nothing has meaning unless I give it meaning. From rejections to feelings of defeat, I let them come then let them pass. I only entertain the thoughts that help me grow!

What’s your experience with mindset training? Try these and let me know how it helps!

xo,
Susan
Follow me – Blog Instagram Bloglovin YouTube Facebook SHOP

You Should Also Read:

4 Steps to Hiring Your First Quality Employee
How Journaling Helps When You Feel Defeated
How to Manifest Blogging Success

The post 5 Steps to Achieve A Growth Mindset By Year End appeared first on Zanita Studio.

It’s been a while since we’ve spoken about “the business”, so I thought I’d bring up one of my favorite topics today: mistakes!

As you guys know, I went full-time freelance late October last year, which means my one-year anniversary is coming up. Since we are midway through 2018, I’ve been thinking a lot about what I’ve accomplished and what I can do better. This one thought led me to mull over what I’ve done wrong and how I can avoid it next time. The reality of running a business is that you’re bound to make mistakes. A LOT OF THEM. Unfortunately, the only way to avoid them is to make them.

If you’re new to the start up game or thinking about joining the tribe, I’m going to share 4 costly mistakes I made over the last few months so that you can avoid them too!

1. Under pricing and under valuing myself.

The biggest mistake I made when I first started was under pricing my services. I had no previous experience pricing anything before… Yes, I’ve negotiated salaries for a set job, but now, my roles were all over the place. I defined my hours and honed in on what I wanted to do . Not only that, but I was working with multiple clients. I started out by charging my former hourly wage until I learned about expenses… I assumed they would be minimal, but they added up quickly yet it was already too late! My reason for this was because I was afraid others wouldn’t see my value. I know now that you set your own value and if they trust you, they will pay!

2. Chasing prospects who aren’t worth it.

I’m so glad that gone are the days of chasing people. First off, I absolutely loathe people who run a business and aren’t professional about it. I’ve had so many false hopes dealing with people who agreed to work with me but then they’d flake out at the last minute. Welcome to the world of blogging btw. Zanita truly spoiled me and painted a picture of a perfect blogging world –  unfortunately, I learned the hard way. It’s an extremely flawed industry and now you know too! I was often left disappointed. I’d follow up three sometimes four times, but I know now that that if someone skips out the first time, they’re not worth my time ever.

3. Avoiding self-promotion.

I swear self-promotion is going to be the death of me. I used to think quality work was sufficient… How naive I was. I have the experience, I have the credentials, I have social proof yet I refused to get my ass on social media and talk about it. (Note: I’m still working through this.) But DO NOT do this. If you don’t promote yourself, no one else will. If you don’t show up, how will anyone know you exist? Remember that if you’re creating bad ass content, but you’re not putting it out there, it has no meaning – no value. ZERO. Self promote and have no shame.

4. Not thinking long-term.

To be a writer and in the business of writing are two very different things! I wanted to be in the business of writing yet I’ve been acting like a writer. I was so busy focusing on tasky things that wouldn’t benefit me in the long run. Sure, I went through waves of long-term strategy and visualizing but so often, I’d just let it fall off the radar. It wasn’t on purpose, but it was just so difficult to upkeep content for others and then find the energy to strategize for myself. The struggle is real! I finally hired a writer, which has taken off the load giving me more time to work on long-term things.

Have any of you found yourself in the same position? I’d love to hear about your mistakes – and don’t forget to follow along for more content like this on LE-JOLIE – just revamped it and would love to hear your thoughts!

xo,
Susan
Follow me – Blog Instagram Bloglovin YouTube Facebook SHOP

You Should Also Read:

4 Steps to Hiring Your First Quality Employee
How Journaling Helps When You Feel Defeated
How to Manifest Blogging Success

The post 4 Costly Mistakes I Made As A Freelancer appeared first on Zanita Studio.

In a digital universe where it seems as if everything is oversaturated, duplicated and disingenuous, shines some beautiful women who are seemingly defying social media constructs.

By throwing preconceptions out the window and embracing change, these women are using their online profiles as a form of creative outlet to connect with others and promote the beauty of art.

Here at Zanita Studio, we believe it is imperative we take time to celebrate women that break out of the box. These creatives are certainly not shy in expressing their ideas and continue to approach social media in a way that is bold and emblematic. This month, I am highlighting 6 dauntless women who are defying social media. I love meeting those whose vision is unparalleled to others.

@IsabellaMamas

A carefree youth with an eye for all things ethereal, dreamy and bathed in natural golden lighting. Bella is only 18 years old but is just as experienced and talented as any other photographer/creative in the game. Her ability to capture a model or landscape in a way that is sublime and effortless is immediately apparent upon inspection of her feed. Bella’s Instagram posts range from perfected photoshoot stills, behind-the-scene captures, mirror selfies and iPhone photos that all come together to represent Bella and her unique outlook on life.

@xiaoxi_nancy_zhang

Nancy Zhang is an enchanting painter based out of Berlin. Honestly, her instagram account is unlike anything else I have ever laid eyes on. She has taken the idea of a social media feed and interpreted it into her own visual moodboard that methodically displays her artwork in such an aesthetically pleasing way. She is known for her blend of real photographs with corresponding paintings that showcase the symmetry between life and art. I promise a follow to Nancy Zhang’s account will be a breath of fresh air to your timeline.

@raveena_aurora

One look at Raveena and you can instantaneously see her bright and vibrant personality. She is an Indian-American R&B singer with a voice that soothes the soul. Through her music and visuals, Raveena continually celebrates women of color. Her unique sense of style, self portraits and photographic stills blend together to produce a soft, feminine aesthetic that is addictive and inspiring.

@bae.doe

Behind @bae.doe is Minahil, an unconventional influencer who embraces her body, opens up about insecurities, and isn’t afraid to express it. Body consciousness and the idea of what a “woman’s body” is supposed to look like in society today still baffles me. I love how Minahil is so real and gets right to the heart of it through her powerful, jaw-dropping portraits and witty commentary. It’s so refreshing to hear people bring this to light and she does it in a way that’s so authentic and original.

@christinapaik

If you are familiar with street style, then you are familiar with Christina Paik. A digital mogul that does it all – photography, styling, blogging and more. However, just a couple of years ago, her social media feed was entirely different than it was today. She rarely showed her face, preferring to be elusive and hidden. As she became more confident in herself and her talent, she opened up to the online world more and is no longer shy of being in front of the camera. In a male dominated industry, Christina Paik continues to shine as a street style goddess.

@LaurenTsai

A Chinese-American individual who taught herself the Japanese language that eventually landed her on one of Japan’s biggest reality TV shows, Lauren Tsai is a multifaceted girl who is taking Instagram by storm. As a model and artist, she is not afraid of being herself. Her thoughts and individualistic outlook on life can be interpreted through her traditional and digital art pieces. Lauren Tsai is certainly one to look out for.

Who are your favorite Instagrammers?

xo,
Susan
Follow me – Blog Instagram Bloglovin YouTube Facebook SHOP

You Should Also Read:

4 Steps to Hiring Your First Quality Employee
How Journaling Helps When You Feel Defeated
How to Manifest Blogging Success

The post Meet 6 Women Who Are Defying Social Media Constructs appeared first on Zanita Studio.

It’s the beginning of June – and that means only one thing for disorganised folk like yours truly; the arrival of this seasonal heat is paired with a frantic realisation that I haven’t planned a single aspect of my summer vacation! Urgent meetings with the boyfriend, hours scrolling through Airbnb’s and comparing flights would be the immediate and correct reaction. Unfortunately, my focus is keenly directed towards what sun-visor I will be donning in this yet-to-be-confirmed, mystery location. My ‘failure to launch’ is characterised by more hours than I care to admit, dutifully procrastinating through filling up my virtual shopping cart at the fine digital establishments of Moda Operandi and Revolve with my dream poolside attire – or will it be the beach?! Sigh, a true story of pining for that unrequited summer love. 

As I sift through my dreamy, curated carts, I begin to notice some common themes.  Each swimsuit sparks images of decades gone by – updated of course, sleeker – with more flattering lines and tech savvy materials. Yet – it’s easy to see how most of today’s swimwear is still so heavily influenced by the silhouettes and styles of the past.

Never mind booking the holiday; the most important decision to be made this summer is  whether I want to be decked out (beach pun very much intended) in either Talented Mr Ripley Pastels or a 70’s Farrah Fawcett one piece. 

 I have narrowed down my favourites below – and of course, where you can also get your hands on these show stopping summer costumes.

1950’s Mr Ripley

My digital shopping cart is stacked full of 1950’s style high waisted bikinis. I’m Sophia Loren – with my coiffed lemon drenched hair (I highlight my hair with lemons every summer. Though it’s not that glamorous, the pips get everywhere!) lounging beneath the shade of Neroli trees in Portofino. This decade was all about structure, high waists and off the shoulder styles. This is a most flattering style for a return to the beach from a pasta filled lunch. A+ I say.

1970’s Sun Worshiper

I’m drooling over this She Made Me crochet one piece, speaking true to Jane Birkin in all her natural, braless glory. Swimwear in the 1970’s was laid back, undone and barely there. Bikinis moved with the body and were incredibly comfortable (finally!) with only subtle hints of ‘extra’ in the form of crochet and embroidery. Get down to earth and accessorize with the surprising yet welcome return of seashell jewellery, one of the more bohemian trends you’ll see floating around this season.

1980’s Power Suit

Possibly one of the most daring of decades, swimsuits of the 80’s were simultaneously high rise, low cut and backless. Going one further than hip grazing – the cut of the leg was waist grazing! Yikes! Fortunately, the one piece is an essential summer style to integrate into everyday dressing because of it’s duality, throw on a skirt and rock it as a bodysuit. My personal strategy is straight out of Miami Vice, wearing one under my new baggy beige power suit. All I’m missing is a yacht (and the millions of dollars to pay for it! Haha!) and a brightly coloured jet ski. Way back then – beach bound translated to Over The Top glamour; this demands bold jewellery, broad belts and colour coordinated accessories from your power style swimsuit right down to your oversized beach towel. Radical! 

So to summarise, this ode to procrastination has proven itself a helpful exercise. I’m finally firm in a decision, I’m going to become Sophia Loren – meaning – we need to go to Italia! Book the gondola! Pass the limoncello! Ciao x

Let me know in the comments what your beach inspo is?

The post Retro Revival – How Old Is Your Swimsuit Style? appeared first on Zanita Studio.

To this day, starting my blog is one of the best decisions I have ever made for my career.

I cannot begin to express how grateful I am to have found an extremely rewarding job in this new-age industry. However, when I made the decision to start my own fashion and lifestyle blog, I never thought it would lead to the inception of my own business and career.

Now, everyone can see the rising success of all these bloggers and influencers online, and it is hard not to be enraptured by their seemingly glamorous lifestyle. To be able to make a living as a content creator from the comfort of your own home is undeniably so tempting. Today’s popular bloggers are constantly being jetted off to resorts around the world, donned in all the latest trends. Yet, I want to make it clear that you should not start blogging with the goal of making money and getting internet-famous because doing so can actually be detrimental to your blog.

Here’s why…

Dishonesty Shows

If you start blogging with the singular goal of becoming Instagram famous or receiving boxes upon boxes of PR packages, you are already starting off on the wrong foot. If this is your ending objective, it essentially means the foundation of your blog will be based on material desires. You might not think it, but this could very well be inferred by your audience, therefore discount your ingenuity.

The truth is, the landscape of social media has changed drastically! What worked 10 years ago no longer works today. Some had the luxury of starting early while most of us don’t. Note that this doesn’t discount their talent – and it’s not to say that “making it” is impossible. If you’re not here to authentically serve in one form or another, it’s blatantly obvious. Social media consumers are far more knowledgeable than they’ve ever been; they’ve been watching the landscape for years, and they can’t be fooled. Loop giveaways, F/UF, and S4S – everyone knows they exist.

Think about some of your own favorite online influencers. In addition to their carefully crafted content, chances are you may be drawn to them because of their honest reviews, relatable issues, bubbly personality, in-depth tutorials or all of the above. It is easy to edit out your flaws and cut out the undesirable issues of your day-to-day life, but eventually people will notice you are not being your true, authentic self. That is why it is important to start off on the right foot.

Now, here’s how to do it the right way…

Set Intentions

Instead of focusing on the end game, perform a self-reflection and get to the root of why you want to start your own blog in the first place. I can imagine many of you saying “to release your creative energy, find a community of like-minded people, share your passions, or create an online portfolio”. But intention goes even deeper than this. It’s not just about WHAT you want but WHY you want it. Center yourself with your WHY (why does it matter? why do you care? why is it so important to you?) and then ensure your intentions align with it. After WHY, think about HOW (how can I do this? is this realistic for the time and resources I have at this minute?)

Once you establish your blogging intentions, it will be much more valuable for yourself and your audience in the long run.

Be Yourself

At the end of the day, I promise you are going to be the most satisfied when producing content you feel passionate about and ARE connected to. Find ways to be your most authentic self on and offline because people are looking for bloggers to trust that they will always remain genuine. If you continue to do so, success is more likely to come your way organically and you are more likely to feel proud of yourself for what you have managed to create.

What’s your goal with your blog?

xo,
Susan
Follow me – Blog Instagram Bloglovin YouTube Facebook SHOP

 
Image Credits: Harper’s Bazaar
 

You Should Also Read:

4 Steps to Hiring Your First Quality Employee
How Journaling Helps When You Feel Defeated
How to Manifest Blogging Success

The post Why You Shouldn’t Start Blogging with the Goal of Making Money appeared first on Zanita Studio.

Tis the season – and I’m celebrating – because it seems that my Summer in NYC is jam packed with blissful long weekend getaways – or just your standard weekend getaways. It’s an essential move in the interest of sanity, living in this city ain’t easy.

Dressing up for an escape is about keeping it simple – cos frankly, I do enough planning and consideration during the week. Think classic, a look that could take you from exploring boutiques in a township to having an early dinner at a cute little restaurant.

So with that, here’s a little something I prepared earlier in partnership with the home of high-street classic attire, Banana Republic. Easy-to-wear denim mules, a classic white ribbed tank and a vegan suede jacket – just in case that summer breeze clocks in a little cooler than anticipated.  Pair with a jean that will take you through your whole trip and you’re good as gold. Banana Republic is a one stop shop for effortless pieces that still have the right cuts and details to remain on-trend.

Is this not the true romantic feeling; not to desire to escape life, but to prevent life from escaping you – Thomas Wolfe 

In Partnership With Banana Republic #ad

The post Let’s Hear It For Long Weekends! appeared first on Zanita Studio.

As you move along in your career, there’s no doubt you’ll meet a plethora of people throughout the process. It is inevitable that you will encounter some individuals who you easily get along with and some you may not see eye-to-eye with.

This could be the result of having a different outlook on life or going about solving a problem a different way. Everyone is different. Yet, when you work around the same people on a day-to-day basis, it is important to put these differences aside and work together.

I’m sure you’ve heard of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) by now yet I don’t think people use it enough to harness success in their career. It is essentially a questionnaire developed by Carl Jung that defines your personality type. In the end, you are categorized in 4 different areas: Extroverted/Introverted, Sensing/Intuition,Thinking/Feeling, Judging/Perceiving. If you’re wondering what this has to do with your career… Well, considering every single job involves effort on your part combined with  interaction with other people around you, it has a huge impact on creating success in your career.

Knowing your Myers-Briggs Type will give you a better sense of your quirks, strengths, and weaknesses, and provide insight as to how you can improve a work environment and work better with others. Here’s how.

Know Your Personality

Firstly, you should begin with knowing your own personality type. The 16 Personalities is an amazing resource if you are unsure of your MBTI. The first time I took this questionnaire, I was shocked at how accurate my results were because it literally described me to a tee. I have even taken it more than once just to make sure my results were accurate!

Even understanding how you operate is hugely beneficial to yourself too. For instance, if you are defined as a “feeling” type, it means you tend to use personal values and emotions to make decisions. This is certainly not a bad thing, however, being more aware of this idea helps when you need to make decisions that cannot rely on feeling alone.

For reference, I’m INFJ – the rarest of the personalities! My weaknesses include easy burnout, sensitivity, and private. Knowing this allows me to spend time alone when I can to re-energize myself. It also forces me to try to be more open to others because trust is always a huge part of teamwork. I can also leverage my strengths to find success faster. Funnily enough, one of the strengths of an INFJ is the innate ability to write in an inspiring way. Now you guys already know I’ve turned this into my career!

Understand Differences

What does this have to do with others? Just being aware of the fact that there a multitude of other personality types out there, allows you to be more open and understanding with the people you are in direct contact with on a daily basis. A person with “judging” tendencies naturally needs to be more prepared and have his or her schedule laid out. Whereas, a “perceiving” type is more flexible and open to spontaneity.

Have a Team Mindset

Now that you know your own personality type and are aware of the other options, it is time to put this knowledge to test. Encourage your co-workers to share their own MBTI. With these in mind, it can be easier to do things such as set up meetings and work on projects with your peers. It will also allow you to appreciate diversity and the fact that everyone brings a unique asset to the table. In the end, it can open up new and better ways to collaborate, communicate and increase efficiency as you adapt new ways to interact and work together.

What’s your personality type?

xo,
Susan
Follow me – Blog Instagram Bloglovin YouTube Facebook SHOP

Image Credits: Harper’s Bazaar

You Should Also Read:

5 Steps to Achieve A Growth Mindset By Year End
Why You Shouldn’t Start Blogging with the Goal of Making Money
4 Costly Mistakes I Made As A Freelancer

The post How Knowing Your Myers-Briggs Type Can Create Success in Your Career appeared first on Zanita Studio.

Social media is more than just some pretty pictures.

These 6 women are harnessing the power of the internet to not only share their lives, but to use it as a tool to grow their business and create the life they want. Take them for role models and use them as inspirations in your own entrepreneurial pursuit. With the right attitude and spirit, the following women have really lifted their careers off and have seen a lot of success in posting original content that’s highly engaging content as well as allowing the consumer to connect with the face behind the brand.

@kiitana

A literal radiant queen of social media, Kiitan is a Nigerian beauty, fashion and lifestyle blogger. Her presence is absolutely mesmerizing and certainly an entrepreneur to follow. She recently founded the company, Atarah Avenue, a headwrap company offering up beautiful designs and patterns. Kiitan is a women who can do it all!

@alicealice916

Alice Longyu Gao – if you do not know her by now, there is a chance you might have heard what she produces! Her harajuku-inspired music has reverberated through the walls of shows such as Diesel and Juicy Couture as models stomped down the runway.

She currently resides in East Village but is taking over the city (and instagram) by storm. With her telling bright hair and ethereal makeup that always seems to sparkle in the light, Alice uses her platform as an extension of herself, allowing the world to get to know her through her spunky personality. Doing so, has allowed her DJing career to blossom and flourish like no other.

@meganhess_official

Megan Hess is a force to be reckoned with. As a well known fashion illustrator who has the pleasure of working with talents such as Dior, Louis Vuitton and Givenchy, she has created quite the name for herself. In addition, she is also an author and illustrator of Claris the Mouse, a children’s book about the chicest rodent in Paris. Her career is anything but ordinary and her instagram success and following has certainly propelled things even further as we get a glimpse into her daily life.

@creepyyeha

You know those accounts where you find yourself completely immersed and next thing you know you have scrolled to the end of their feed? That is Yeha Leung’s content to a tee. Her entire aura and the product she produces is so beautiful and intricate. Yeha owns Creepyyeha, a company creating custom, handmade lingerie and leather goods. Yeha has used social media to gain notoriety and position herself as an expert lingerie artisan.

@maryrosenberger

Just by looking, you can tell Mary is a beautiful soul and artist. Based in New York, she has created a name for herself and is currently the creator behind WATERSTUDIOS – a customized handbag company. Mary carefully hand paints these bags with graffiti inspired depictions, capturing the spirit of the city she lives in.

@fisayolonge

Fisayo Longe is a fashion icon, having gained success in blogging and social media, she has used this expertise to start Kai Collective – an affordable clothing line with luxury aesthetics. Fisayo has made social media work for her business because she started out sharing her own personal style and furthered her success from there. Showing no signs of stopping, FIsayo is ready to conquer the world, one instagram post at a time!

Are there any social media biz wiz’s you’re ogling over? Would love to hear all about it!

xo,
Susan
Follow me – Blog Instagram Bloglovin YouTube Facebook SHOP

You Should Also Read:

5 Steps to Achieve A Growth Mindset By Year End
Why You Shouldn’t Start Blogging with the Goal of Making Money
4 Costly Mistakes I Made As A Freelancer

The post 6 Women Using Social Media to Grow their Business appeared first on Zanita Studio.

I have always considered myself to be organized for most of my life – especially when it comes to managing my time.

That was until I started working for myself. Shortly into the freelance game, I realized work was consuming such a big part of my me and that led to poorer eating habits, less exercise, and a horrible sleeping schedule. The result of this was a loss of drive and excitement about my work. So when I finally burnt out, I made the decision to switch things up. Since then, things have improved in work and in life. I’m going to share those few easy ways to improve your time management skills if you’re struggling with it too!

Make note of distractions and refrain from them

Give yourself three days to work as you normally do before switching up your routine. In those days, observe where you’re losing time and why.

You guys know that my work involves writing – and the biggest culprit stealing that time from my work was emails/chatting especially around noon! I had a bad habit of checking my emails constantly, reading Facebook messages, and texting my family. After learning about context switching, I began cutting out those subtle activities that distract me throughout the day. The result: more work accomplished! This does require some discipline, but after about a week, it essentially becomes routine.

Spend an hour to yourself every morning

I know this sounds counter productive but trust me, it’s a huge game changer. Your morning basically sets the tone for the rest of your day and if you wake up in a flurry, your day will end up the same. Meanwhile, if you wake up productive, the entire day will be so. That mean if you need to wake up an hour earlier, do it.

I typically spend 10-15 minutes of this first hour meditating, visualizing my success, and centering myself. It energizes me for the day. Next, I eat breakfast while listening to an audio book for about 20-30 minutes, and this puts me in the right mindset. If you haven’t learned by now, mindset is EVERYTHING.

The rest of the hour can be spent mapping out your to-do list for the day, catching up on emails received over night, or leisure online browsing.

Use technology to your advantage

I’ve been known to have crazy memory, but even I know that you can only remember so much. I’ve learned the hard way not to rely solely on memory alone. Instead, I now make better use of my phone and tech to keep my deadlines and to-dos in check! Apps like Wunderlist, Reminders, and Trello are essential to my workflow – especially when it comes to juggling multiple client work.

Set daily and weekly goals

Setting long-term goals are important but because they’re often so far away, you can lose motivation about them. To combat this, I started setting even shorter term goals daily and weekly, which I find to be more exciting and productive.

At the start of each week, write down 3 things you want to accomplish by the end of the week as well as for each day. Those goals should align with your bigger vision and help you accomplish more.

Set expectations and delegate

The lack of work life balance was mostly my fault since I set the expectation that I’m readily available to work around the clock. I’ve now marked my weekends as time for family and early mornings as busy. This is what’s really saved my sanity! Be realistic and lay out your expectations early on, which means saying NO if you don’t have capacity to do more and be unapologetic about it.

I realize most of you may not have an employee, but if you’re in a place to delegate, do so! You should have a good idea of what you’re able to handle when you start mapping your day out in the beginning. A small cost in the short term always pays off in the long run.

How do you manage your time?

xo,
Susan
Follow me – Blog Instagram Bloglovin YouTube Facebook SHOP

Image Credits: Harper’s Bazaar

You Should Also Read:

5 Steps to Achieve A Growth Mindset By Year End
Why You Shouldn’t Start Blogging with the Goal of Making Money
4 Costly Mistakes I Made As A Freelancer

The post 5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Time Management Skills appeared first on Zanita Studio.

It is time to put that PTO to action and take a well deserved vacation.

For those that have had a trip planned in its entirety for the past year or for those spontaneous individuals who decided to go on a last minute long weekend getaway, there’s one thing you have in common… You still need to decide which outfits to bring. Depending on your packing skill level, it can be quite stressful pre-planning looks and ensuring you do not forget everything. As a seasoned traveler, here are some of my favorite tips for how to plan and pack outfits for a trip like a pro!

Planning

Check the weather

This may be obvious to some, but you would be surprised at how many people just assume what the weather will be like wherever they are going. To their dismay, they arrive at the destination and find the clothing they packed is not necessarily fitting for the situation. So learn from their experience and be never be one to assume. Anything is possible. Be sure to continuously check the weather leading up to the big trip!

Browse Instagram

Thanks to the power of social media, we now have access to a collaborative resource that lets us get a glimpse of where we are headed, even if it is across the world. Take advantage by browsing through the hashtag and geotag of the location in question. Doing this preliminary check will give you an idea of what people are wearing, what the general climate is and even other sights to add to your itinerary. Plus, as a blogger, it is a great resource to scout where the best locations are to shoot photos. This is how I plan my “must-see” sights.

Create a List

The next thing I suggest doing is creating a list. Whether it be on good ol’ fashioned pen and paper or using the notes app on your iPhone, a list is incredibly helpful as you begin the actual packing and process. For me personally, two words: Wunderlist or Trello – those two apps keep me organized like nothing before. It forces you to breakdown every critical item you need to bring with you. Plus, it is so extremely satisfying being able to cross or check things off one at a time.

Packing

Put It All Together

Now that you have done your homework, it is time for the fun part – actually packing your clothes! Gather all the pieces you know you want to definitely bring along on vacation with you – whether that be the things you recently purchased, need to photograph for a campaign, etc. Use those as your foundation and build up your outfits from there. Don’t forget to reference the checklist you made earlier!

Lay It Out

I am a visual person so I try everything on to ensure I build a strong outfit, while also keeping in mind comfort and climate. Sometimes, it even helps to take a photo of the completed looks you can reference it on vacation. Make sure you account for things such as jewelry, shoes and handbags so nothing gets left behind.

How To Pack

For the actual packing piece, I’m a fan of laying things flat (especially the ones that easily wrinkle) and rolling. Also, stuffing things inside of other things, such as socks inside my shoes, irons in my clothes, and beauty products in my pink Glossier pouches. I’m all about compartmentalizing and it has saved me so much time!

Nothing makes me happier when everything seems to come together in organization! Planning vacations can be quite stressful because there is so much prep you need to do prior. However, I hope these outfit planning and packing tips serve as a useful resource as you gear up for your next getaway.

Do you have any go-to packing tips?

xo,
Susan
Follow me – Blog Instagram Bloglovin YouTube Facebook SHOP

Image Credits: Harper’s Bazaar

You Should Also Read:

5 Steps to Achieve A Growth Mindset By Year End
Why You Shouldn’t Start Blogging with the Goal of Making Money
4 Costly Mistakes I Made As A Freelancer

The post How to Plan and Pack Outfits for a Trip Like a Pro appeared first on Zanita Studio.

With the Football (ahem, ‘Soccer’ for our Antipodean and Stateside readers) World Cup finally drawn to a conclusion, I have to confess my personal allegiance has left me lamenting the English boys loss, no ‘Bringing It Home’ this time round! Now the mourning period is over, I’m drawn to reminisce on the many football fashion moments this tournament has inspired. While Nigeria launched a Missoni-esque kit that sold out in minutes with 30 million pre-orders, Virgil Abloh was releasing an Off-White cult jersey just in time for commencement competition. At the same time, we’re seeing the SS18 Versace models sporting team scarves and Prada pairing football socks with kitten heels. It’s fair to say the fashion game is well and truly on – and since we’re talking the ‘World’s Game’, you’re never truly out of season when it comes to this surprising style reference.

Unfortunately there is still a judgement on the relationship between fashion and football – or more significantly – women and football. Despite the fact that 30 million women play football worldwide, in many countries, they’re also excluded, questioned and accused – of being either manly or too feminine – of intruding in what’s considered a masculine domain – and in some places, they are even banned from attending games. Women have a long way to go when it comes to equality in sports, and while it would be very ideal to see even representation, until more women are fans of football and other sports, interest in female athletes won’t represent certain feminist ideals. The first hurdle here is acceptance, women being welcomed in the sporting domain – the antithesis of the kind of harassment endured by female athletes and commentators. Fashion is a uniting and embracing factor.  

I grew up a personal stylist Mum and a Glasgow Rangers loving Dad – so both interests were ingrained in me. I have always thought why can’t we be both? Why can’t my love of sophisticated glamour coexist with my love of the game. One of my aims in styling this editorial was to break down these constructs, shooting with the conviction that an interest in fashion doesn’t minimize one’s ability to love/play football. 

Look 1 – Pyjama Set Sleepy Jones, USA Scarf U.S. Soccer Store, Earrings Uterqüe

Look 2 – Shorts Prada, Real Madrid Jersey Adidas, Raincoat Vintage Burberry, ‘Can We Play’ Scarf K8olo, Shoes Tibi

Championing my very thought is the biannual publication SEASON, the beautiful lovechild of a fashion mag and a football zine. Women who enjoy fashion and football are showcased in everything from editorials, illustrations and even interviews with the likes of FKA twigs’ make-up artist Naoko Scintu and British Vogue‘s Associate Fashion Editor Verity Parker.  

Editor and Chelsea Fan Felicia Pennent spoke to i-D saying “Women like me, who are into fashion and football are more common than you’d think – but we are often overlooked or sexualised in the football landscape. I wanted to document and celebrate female fandom creatively.” 

 Look 3 – Dress Cinq á Sept, Argentina Jersey Adidas, Belt Tibi, Boots Stuart Weitzman

Look 4 – Trousers Pinko, Jacket and Shoes Tibi, Saint Germain Paris Jersey Nike

For the styling of this shoot what got me most excited and inspired was the vibrancy and colour of the South American street football culture,  along with the laidback, boyish style of the UK’s Premier League fans. Mixing feminine details like silk and feathers with relaxed, sporty elements is a fun and easy combination both Z and I are excited to add to our own ensembles. To top it off, having Irish artist and designer K8olo’s scarves included was something significant to the message of the shoot. Blazoned across one side is “Can We Play?”, a frequently asked question and an acknowledgement to how girls are consistently excluded from sport.

Words by Emma Simpson

Look 5 – Suit and belt Tibi, Scarf Club America

Look 6 – Pants Jean Atelier, Crop top & Other Stories, Blazer Reemami, Bag Myriam Schaefer, PSG Socks Nike, Shoes Tibi

Look 7 – Dress Zimmerman, Blazer Tibi, Spain Scarf Adidas, Shoes Adidas Predator Tango

Look 8 – Suit, Belt, Pants, Shoes Tibi, Scarf Club America, Socks Topshop

Shop this Editorial

Photography by Zanita Whittington 

Styling and Concept by Emma Simpson

 Model – Josie @ Next

 Makeup by Shannon Rodriguez

The post Can We Play? appeared first on Zanita Studio.

We all have that one hang up about our personal appearance that we probably need to just chill about – but we can’t – because it defines our identity. Mine is my hair. I chopped it all off during a stressful period of my life (classic move) and haven’t looked back. Wavy, weird and unpredictable – hair imitating life.

While I like to change my hair as often as my personal style, it’s not the most nurturing or practical move. Platinum locks have perhaps been the most popular look I’ve sported in recent times – so I ventured back to Moroccanoil Academy for a an updated reinvention – this time, not TOTAL platinum – but the kind of look that isn’t so gnarly when it grows out… and let’s face it, if you’re going for such a dramatic change, embracing a little regrowth is just rock’n’roll.

So here’s the run down on Moroccanoil’s new Chromatech technology – designed to give you the colour you want without your precious strands paying the ultimate price.

STEP ONE:  Moroccanoil ChromaTech PRIME helps to increase color deposit and equalize porosity for more even results, while gently soothing the scalp to minimize discomfort during a color service.

TRANSLATION: We all know that getting your hair done can occasionally be a painful process – and sometimes you don’t get exactly what you signed up for. Moroccanoil ChromaTech Prime negates those two worries in one fell swoop.

STEP TWO: Moroccanoil ChromaTech POST is a vital post-color treatment specially formulated to both chemically and mechanically repair damaged hair following a color service, sealing the cuticle for maximum color longevity.

TRANSLATION: Like spilling red wine on a sofa, once you colour your hair, your gotta act fast to nourish it back to its original form – and Moroccanoil ChromaTech POST is your ‘dame in shining armour’, charging right in to hold the natural health of your hair tightly to her breast and reignite it with blazing colour.

STEP THREE: Moroccanoil Color Continue Shampoo & Conditioner extend the results of the in-salon ChromaTech services through the continuous repair with each and every use, restoring the quality of hair to better retain color.

TRANSLATION:  There’s a second time for everything – like that time you got your colour done and it looked fine for a week and you’re back in the salon a hot minute later –  like – what the heck??? But Moroccanoil Color Continue Shampoo & Conditioner makes the first time a charm, ensuring your colour has the legs to retain colour between your salon visits. Well worth the investment!

STEP FOUR: Moroccanoil Protect & Prevent Spray is a leave-in conditioner formulated to prevent color fading and brassiness. By acting as a leave-in shield to protect against hair color oxidation, the product helps neutralize free radicals generated by pollution and other environmental stressors while absorbing UV rays.

TRANSLATION: They might be free, but there’s nothing radical about free radicals. You don’t have time for negativity in your life – and you don’t have time for negativity in your hair. Enter Moroccanoil Protect & Prevent Spray – it’s like that one friend who’s got your back even if you’ve kinda done the wrong thing. High five buddy!

So that’s the DL on my new fab look! Thanks so much Moroccanoil for giving me that sorta’ hair confidence that has me skipping down the street and singing songs that no one else can hear…. it’s like no-one’s watching! But with this vibrant blonde, they kinda are…

The post New Vision, New Hair! appeared first on Zanita Studio.

Little shoot I did awhile back with my girl Nadia Fairfax and the delightful Jordana from Bec and Bridge – don’t know why I haven’t shared these earlier! Nadia is one of my favourite subjects and she rocks Bec and Bridge like she’s serving up Christmas.

Zanita xo

SHOP BEC AND BRIDGE

HERE or…

HERE

The post Red Alert!! Nadia in Bec & Bridge appeared first on Zanita Studio.

 

I’m sure you might have established by now – I rarely ever style my hair. I might be the embodiment of ‘I woke up like this’ – just brush it and go. You might call it lazy, I call it, embracing what you got.  It’s why the colour and health of my locks are so valuable to me and why I’m thrilled to be part of Moroccanoil’s Color Complete Collective. I had my hue updated a number of weeks ago and it ha maintained its creamy blonde fabulousness all the way through NYFW. That’s one less worry I’ve had to deal with for what was a totally MANIC week.

So I’ll let these images speak for themselves – You can see how shiny it is – and while yes, I have applied colour filters to these images, I made sure to choose one which doesn’t affect the tone in my hair. Thanks again to Moroccanoil for making 2018 my best hair year ever!

Shop the Color Complete Collection HERE.

The post I Didn’t Know I Needed You Till You Walked Through My Door appeared first on Zanita Studio.

It’s no secret that a good chunk of my career has been built out of instagram. Just a couple months ago, I celebrated 10 years of my blog (here’s my first ever post!)  and Instagram wasn’t really around back then, in fact it wasn’t until four years later that I started to use Instagram really poorly and another couple years until I started to take it seriously… sort of.

I’ve never really found the energy to ‘play the game’ as well as I should have – simply because I refuse to abide by the rules of a popularity contest. This attitude has worked against me in the sense that, I’ll still post images I love – even if I know they won’t rack up the likes. The new algorithm determines that posting this way will lead to newer posts gaining less exposure. Such is life! However, it has ensured that I’ve retained more of my own unique mark on the platform. I’m certainly not re-writing the book – but by refusing to allow myself  sweat over whether my posts get widespread approval, I’ve been able to retain a sense of self.

This mindset has also helped me appreciate my work beyond the platform. I’ve been so involved with using instagram that I have all knowledge to apply the same tropes that have widespread appeal – but I’m always seeking new things, experimenting and doing my best to create work that’s surprising. Sometimes I don’t succeed – but these skills help in other areas of my career. I don’t aspire to be an influencer for ‘influence’ sake but I love working with brands to create cool content – these collaborations and projects provide the means to realise bigger ideas.

Essentially Instagram has become a tool and a learning ground for everything I am today. Lately I’ve met many of my peers who are at a loss for what’s coming next. Types of posts that would go viral just a year or two ago barely make a mark. So what can be interpreted from this change? Instagram demands more. One of the most common interview questions I’ve been asked, especially early in my career – What’s coming next for bloggers and instagram? I’d always give the same answer – it’s just going to get better. I don’t mean that it’s going to be a walk in the park for everyone who embarks on the quest for success, in fact, the opposite. It’s even harder to make a splash – which is better because anything that lifts the standard for content, is a positive change. It elevates the standard and further legitimises the creatives who use the platform for their bread and butter.

While the term ‘influencer’ is much the dirty word – just like the moniker of ‘blogger’ became so and still is till this day – if we look at it on an individual level, there’s much credit to be given to talents who have curated large followings across many genres. I’m talking about artists, activists, sculptors, comedians, poets… Any type of field where you can share an idea, creative work and concepts.

Addiction to social media (and let’s face it – if you’re reading this, you’re probably a bit of a social junkie just like me) can unfortunately leave us feeling pretty depressed, sub-standard, like we aren’t living up to and enjoying certain expectations we might have for our lives. I’ve taken the mindset of being responsible for my own influence, begun to purge my feed of certain inane and formulaic accounts – and filled it with those that are surprising and inspirational. I do my best to put less of my personal and creative value in numbers and likes and more into being new and creative – and leave the rest to fate. As I once heard quotes by our beloved OG social fashionista, Leandra Medine:

“It’s better to be everything for someone rather than something for everyone.”

So there’s alot of reward to be had by being involved in the sharing economy if you just look at it the right way. Frankly I’ve only found success in this way of thinking – my account grows without feeling like I’m forcing it or playing to some kind of strategy that isn’t true to the work I want to create. It also curates my audience to be the type of person with a discerning eye for my interests. So for now, I’ve got Instagram as an integral arm of my career – but if it all falls apart, I’ll have a body of work and a unique point of view that will always have value.

Meanwhile – Enjoy some of my fave accounts to follow across a number of genres on Instagram! These are run by incredibly talented individuals who remind me to keep challenging myself.

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#theOTHERariel ⁣⁣ “Of his bones are coral made;⁣⁣ Those are pearls that were his eyes”⁣⁣ ⁣ i wanted to make this seaweedy headpiece for a while, in an attempt to process an incident last year where i very nearly drowned. my fixation on that moment was becoming a little morbid so i was trying to turn it into something more hopeful or poetic… imagining if i had drowned, but in dying became transformed into some sort of sea spirit… my hair growing into seaweed, my eyes into pearls… by @david_ablehams

A post shared by james merry (@james.t.merry) on Oct 21, 2018 at 9:34am PDT

 

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A post shared by Ivan Alifan (@ivanalifan) on Oct 2, 2018 at 2:21pm PDT

 

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They told me I lived in a fake world of fantasy and I should go back to real life. I say: LOL. I will always live in my magical planet because that’s what I want to create. Don’t let anybody bring you down @newbalancees #nbbetheexception

A post shared by MIRANDA MAKAROFF (@mirandamakaroff) on Oct 21, 2018 at 2:48am PDT

 

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From my book The Universe of Us, available in @barnesandnoble + book stores worldwide. LINK IN PROFILE. #poetry #langleav #bookstagram #barnesandnoble #chaptersindigo #nationalbookstore #kinokuniya #dymocks #amazon #strandbookstore #powellsbooks #bookdepository #periplus

A post shared by Lang Leav (@langleav) on Sep 24, 2018 at 5:02pm PDT

 

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I haven’t graduated yet

A post shared by Ａ ｂｂｙ (@abbyroad) on Jun 10, 2018 at 2:33pm PDT

 

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if you date me, you get both red like the blood and blue like the sea

A post shared by Simon Schmidt (@ownwayofinspiration) on Sep 30, 2018 at 8:23am PDT

 

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40% OFF Everything Today !! Direct link in bio #FramedPrints #framedart #collageart #society6

A post shared by Mariano Peccinetti (@marianopeccinetti) on Sep 23, 2018 at 10:41am PDT

 

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Rhinoceros beetle, death hawk moth, longhorn beetle, Goliath beetle, peacock, and seahorse! Done @tenderfootstudio in Brooklyn

A post shared by Pony Reinhardt Tattoo (@freeorgy) on Oct 18, 2018 at 6:13pm PDT

 

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PELAGIC – 2010 8 feet x 12 feet- detail 8 #multipanel #photoinstallation . #angelomuscostudio #underwater #humanity #blue #underwaterphotography #contemporaryart #photography #details #artgallery #newyork #bruxelles #losangeles #angelomusco

A post shared by -AngeloMusco- (@angelomuscostudio) on Mar 28, 2018 at 4:15am PDT

 

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Life 3.0 – Inspired by a book about AI of the same name. . BIGASSANNOUNCMENT AF BOI I’ve digitized myself. Achievment unlocked. I’m starting a new chapter in my life. After working around the globe in London, Tokyo and Munich with amazing people over at @man.vs.machine @futuredeluxe @aixsponza and @onesal_studio I’m going freelance for good now. It’s been a couple of amazing years. I’m super gratefull for the time spent working with you guys. More to come. . Music by SoundCloud/eash_music . . #c4d #octane #render #cgi #life #future #design #3d #patreon #aftereffects #singularity #ai #cinema4d #animation #motiongraphics #surreal #magic #art #digitalart #photogrammetry #portrait #facetattoo #tattoo #instagram #420 #sexyvideo #real #dream #newborn @thednalife @motiondesigners @love.watts @subfoldr @superchiefgallery @motiongraphics_collective @lucidscreen @bender_acid @xuxoe @artselect

A post shared by Ondrej Zunka (@ondrejzunka) on May 2, 2018 at 5:07am PDT

 

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(Detail) from the Healing Garden: echinacea blossoms, aloe, Roman chamomile, and pansies- all rendered in semi-sweet beet sugar. More show notes below: “Glass Garden Lost & Found: Of Healing & Knowledge” Inspired by the Orto Botanico di Padova, the world’s oldest academic botanical garden in Padua (est. 1545), this work picks from its collection of healing and poisonous plants, presenting them either living or hand-carved from sugar. Representing the original purpose of the Botanical Garden, and where legend has it the Medici’s concocted poisons with which to smite their enemies, artist Maayan Zilberman offers guests a chance to exchange a Roman Chamomile blossom, representing a manifestation of communal healing and growth, for a nectar and edible gold-infused candy Oleander sprig, a lethal plant symbolizing knowledge and awakening. Maayan offers each guest a chance to become one with the theme of the exhibition, replacing one piece of organic material with an edible version of itself, allowing the viewer to help the sculpture installation of edible flowers and plants come to life with each participation. Each day the artist will invite guests to take part in this trade at Glass Garden Lost & Found between 1-3:30PM, the hours we are most alert according to the Circadian Rhythm. #edibleart #maayanzilberman #sweetsaba #botanicals #sugarart #healing

A post shared by SWEET SABA by Maayan Zilberman (@maayan.zilberman) on Oct 20, 2018 at 2:58pm PDT

 

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As the Trump administration soldiers on with its cruel attempt to endanger the lives and identities of trans people I’m reminded of the strength and courage of Jennifer Angelina Petro and so many of our trans brothers and sisters whose simple existence is an act of brave resistance. It is up to non-trans folks to demand safety, dignity and respect. Be like Rev Josh! This is your issue too. It’s on all of us.

A post shared by Liz Plank (@feministabulous) on Oct 22, 2018 at 9:46am PDT

 

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Currently working on hands. I feel so rusty with hands arg! I’ve already resulted them around 3 times. I don’t even know if I’m liking this one and if I should start agaiiin

A post shared by Paloma Smith, nipple expert (@octoplum) on Jun 24, 2018 at 1:07pm PDT

The post A Career Built From Instagram: What Comes Next? appeared first on Zanita Studio.

I officially retired from modelling in the classic sense around 7 years ago – but I don’t need to tell you, I haven’t yet stepped away from being in front of the lens, I just get to decide what I wear, who I work for and how I’m presented. I get to make creative decisions. Models today can harness a certain power over their careers by harnessing the way they are perceived through social media. They can brand themselves and take control through the style of imagery they use to present themselves – it’s why we’re seeing all shapes and sizes come to the forefront of the industry. It’s a beautiful thing. Models who use image curation and messaging to articulate a concise vision can divine their careers within a chosen niche.

I was a commercial model – aka, I did catalogues. The brands and clothing I wore was typically targeted to an older market, I’d often have a small child or a faux husband standing beside me, I wore floral blouses and elasticated slacks – I’d even wear the occasional fake pregnant stomach. It wasn’t ‘fashion’ – but the money is better on that side of the industry. I’d often take home anywhere between 800USD to 3000USD a day – working 5 to 10 days a month. Sometimes I’d go through dry spells but generally, I had what would probably be described as a median income – and that’s something I was very grateful for, because plenty of my friends would end up owing money to various agencies around the world for rent.  I missed being able to do the glamorous fashion shoots I saw in magazines but its one of the reasons I decided to start my blog, so I could take part in it all on my own terms, in some way.

What I hated the most:  Seeing these VERY beautiful women, striving to make careers as models and having their confidence beat down to a pulp. It’s a career where your entire self worth is centred around your physical looks – and it’s not like that’s a skill you can improve on. It’s why they’d starve themselves, not for having an eating disorder in the more commonly known sense, but just to get work – much like a ballerina or a jockey might do so. This is something that hampered my quality of life throughout periods of my career. It’s tough to socialise when you’re eating salad and water – don’t want to invite temptation when your hip pocket is at stake! I remember there were points where my friends and family would be concerned for my well being – and rightly so.

So these gorgeous ladies wouldn’t see themselves as beautiful, they picked apart their faces and bodies with fine analysis – and so did the agents, the stylists, the photographers, the designers – their flippant remarks having more weight than the manner in which they were thrown around. There are so many more models ‘working’ than the regular ones you see in magazines. When I was represented by bigger agencies, they would have hundreds of expendable women on their books – it’s a numbers game, you’re more likely to win if you place more horses in the race…. Racing horses being a uncannily apt analogy for the industry itself.

I remember once while I was working in London, a model friend of mine was measured with a 38inch hip. The max standard was around 36inches. Her agency – which is one of the biggest and very well known – told her to lose weight by eating one chocolate bar a day and drinking diet coke. It was pretty fucked up.

I get the appeal of becoming a model. It’s that initial validation – and outwardly it seems like such a thrill, yes, you’re beautiful enough to make a career simply for how extraordinary your looks are and the people you know find that super interesting and exciting. I often get parents or young girls asking me how to get into the industry.  I wrote another post about that HERE. To summarise, I would never want a daughter of mine to measure herself by that standard.

Another thing I hated – the creepers and vampires of the industry. There’s plenty of them. I experienced my share of totally unprofessional interactions but never thought much of it – fashion sets are so social and interchangeable that I always felt like I’d deal with guys or girls hitting on me like I would in a bar (‘Urrghh thanks – but no thanks!). Obviously I know enough today to not tolerate any of that shit – and I’m grateful that it never went further than the occasional amorous remark or being asked on a date. I was very young and still vulnerable to that kind of behaviour and I’m grateful that today we have an open dialogue that continues to prevent this from being perpetuated in the future. How can you both appreciate the attention, navigate the line between accepting what could just be a genuine compliment – and those statements that make you feel like an object – are most appropriately dealt with through a case by case analysis. It’s also true that what can be appreciated by one is repulsive and triggering for another. We swim through these grey waters everyday in an increasingly progressive and also divisive society.

So I’m maybe repeating myself or even contradicting my past statements here. Navigating this industry as both a passion and a conflict is a unique line to tread and I’m still learning the ways to create inspirational content morally and creatively. It’s only human to feel the duality of these two sides and my goal is to improve my message and take lessons along the way. As always, thanks for sticking around. Zanita x

The post Model Confessions: Things I Hated Most About My Career appeared first on Zanita Studio.

 

When Winter comes round, two things happen to my skin. One, it tends to become so pale white it takes on a not-so-glamourous grey/blue tone. Two, it seemingly ages five years by the end of the day unless I’m discerning with the moisturiser I apply that morning.

As a self appointed moisture aficionado, I’m not willing to compromise. I’m guilty of breaking budgets for the right creams.  I’m also not the most loyal in the sense that I’ll alternate between 4/5 different ones depending on the weather, the time of the month, the texture of my skin, how many late nights I’ve enjoyed/endured.

Enter Olay Luminous Whip.

I was enlisted by Olay to share my experience with this new product and it’s truly unlike anything I’ve come across yet. As a dry skinned individual and a proponent of extremely rich moisture and oils, I was hesitant. I love matte skin, matte lipstick – but unless the quality is stellar I’m often left a dry mess. What makes this moisturiser different, it IS very rich – while still being a delightful velvet matte, a glow sans the shine. Often rich moisturisers don’t work so well under make-up, I need to really wait for it all to soak in before applying – so I’m grateful to find Olay Whips the perfect middle ground solution. Olay Whips is especially beneficial post work being that my usual moisturisers just tend to sit on top of my skin for a near embarrassing amount of time.

I can’t speak for all skin times, but I can see Olay Whip being pretty versatile – and that’s without getting started on the incredible value of the product, sitting in the lower echelon when it comes to pricing, it’s more nurturing to the ol’ hip pocket.

I’m delighted to find this type of product that works for my winter skin. The proof is in the pudding. Olay’s new ‘Active Rush Technology’ means Luminous Whip holds 1000x its weight in moisture. Grateful to have had the chance to share this with you! Thanks so much to Olay for inviting me to try it out.

Paid post for Olay – all opinions are my own.

The post Whip It Good – Extremely Nourished Skin, Minus The Oil appeared first on Zanita Studio.

Breathing an exhilarating and new chapter for CALVIN KLEIN ETERNITY.

ETERNITY AIR is the moment you dare not to describe, thrilling and unexpected. It’s butterflies in your stomach, a glittering sunrise and a breeze that hints of a distant ocean. It’s falling in love with a thing, a time, a new potential. Thanks so much to CALVIN KLEIN for inviting me to share my vision of their new fragrance CALVIN KLEIN ETERNITY AIR.

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Sponsored post for Calvin Klein – all opinions are my own.

The post This Is Eternity appeared first on Zanita Studio.

There aren’t many places that compare to New Zealand. I have to thank my newlywed friends, Nicole Warne and Luke Shadbolt, for creating a great excuse to go there – and the iconic outdoor clothing brand Woolrich for giving me the inspiration to explore.

My boyfriend, Gabriel, and I spend a couple weeks adventuring through the mountainous region surrounding Wanaka and Queenstown in a “Kiwi Kombi”, a mustard yellow 1974 VW Westfalia camper van. I felt quite the part in head-to-toe Woolrich, living simply and practically – cooking on the camp stove in our van or an open fire by our own construction (perhaps my favourite pastime). The entire trip was a meditation in scenic vistas, driving through valleys peppered with waterfalls, through snow capped mountain passes and into valleys with aqua blue rivers, past mirrored lakes and then through rolling golden hills, protect by a mountain’s rain shadow that caused the landscape to drastically change. Driving around each corner would lead us to another scene – unique from the last – gasping for all it’s vast and epic beauty.

Thank you so much to Woolrich for helping us dress the part and giving us the best excuse to create, share and experience one of the most beautiful places on earth.

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Photographer, Director, Editor and Colourist – Gabriel Tick

Some Photography, Styling and  Talent – Zanita Whittington

The post We Found Heaven On Earth appeared first on Zanita Studio.