2022, two years into the pandemic, the after, and this year has looked, well, different? Life has been more consistent, but at the same time there are still fault lines in my life and in the world that keep me up at night. This year has been wild and trying.

Not easy but worth it 2022

December 31, 2022

2022, two years into the pandemic, the after, and this year has looked, well, different? Life has been more consistent, but at the same time there are still fault lines in my life and in the world that keep me up at night. This year has been wild and trying.

I think I've developed a problem–I only want clothes that make my heart swoon. That make me feel the most Sonia like. I've talked about it on the blog before, its probably my number one fashion tip. Hold out for clothes that leave you speechless.

Maia

November 1, 2022

I think I've developed a problem–I only want clothes that make my heart swoon. That make me feel the most Sonia like. I've talked about it on the blog before, its probably my number one fashion tip. Hold out for clothes that leave you speechless.

The timing of the universe is a funny thing. Sometimes you have a plan and then the plan falls entirely apart and then a better one comes together, a portal opens. My portal took me to the streets of Chicago, a place I was entirely unfamiliar with, but felt so familiar once I arrived. If you're looking for a portal check out some affordable vacation packages.  

Talkin bout Chi-Town

September 10, 2022

The timing of the universe is a funny thing. Sometimes you have a plan and then the plan falls entirely apart and then a better one comes together, a portal opens. My portal took me to the streets of Chicago, a place I was entirely unfamiliar with, but felt so familiar once I arrived. If you're looking for a portal check out some affordable vacation packages.  

Happy tenth birthday, Je M'appelle Chanel. I would've never imagined so many years ago that the blog would still be here and still hold such a special and dear place in my heart.

10 Years Later

July 12, 2022

Happy tenth birthday, Je M'appelle Chanel. I would've never imagined so many years ago that the blog would still be here and still hold such a special and dear place in my heart.

I'm obsessed with Gen Z. From their style to their march-to-a-beat-of-their-own-drum-kinda-attitude, there's something about this cohort that's special. I'm especially obsessed with their style. I love that they have found a way to balance comfort and uniqueness vis-à-vis different silhouettes that us millennials tend to stray away from.

Dressing like a Gen Z

June 4, 2022

I'm obsessed with Gen Z. From their style to their march-to-a-beat-of-their-own-drum-kinda-attitude, there's something about this cohort that's special. I'm especially obsessed with their style. I love that they have found a way to balance comfort and uniqueness vis-à-vis different silhouettes that us millennials tend to stray away from.

Life seems to be moving fast again. Between bridal showers, birthdays, weddings, work events, etm. It feels like there's more of a reason to get dressed again. I've been feeling the urge to revamp my wardrobe too. An odd feeling considering its something I haven't thought critically about in a little over two years.

Wardrobe Musings

May 21, 2022

Life seems to be moving fast again. Between bridal showers, birthdays, weddings, work events, etm. It feels like there's more of a reason to get dressed again. I've been feeling the urge to revamp my wardrobe too. An odd feeling considering its something I haven't thought critically about in a little over two years.
During quarantine I got into Top Chef and my obsession with Padma Lakshmi reached a whole new level. Padma wore this jumpsuit during Top Chef All Stars and the moment I saw it I knew I needed it.  This is one of those pieces that was worth losing sleep over. Problem was I couldn't find it in my size. Until I DID. This was a big resale gods shining down on me moment.

This jumpsuit is so versatile. I've worn it with just about everything and everywhere. Plus the CPW (Cost per wear) is $8?!

This jumpsuit deserved a whole photoshoot and then some. 

Marigold and I are having a moment. Can you tell? Peep the marigold slip dress I dreamt about and then manifested.

Aries season is long gone. Taurus season is here. One of my favorite blogs said, "Keep it simple, keep it curious, go forward with heart." I couldn't agree more. Be well, beautiful people. 



Wearing: Frame - Le Flare de Francoise Jumpsuit in Marigold (exact, similar), shoes - Tory Burch (old, but similar), lips - Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella



Photos by Bella Grace Cordero



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Pretending to be Padma

May 1, 2022

During quarantine I got into Top Chef and my obsession with Padma Lakshmi reached a whole new level. Padma wore this jumpsuit during Top Chef All Stars and the moment I saw it I knew I needed it.  This is one of those pieces that was worth losing sleep over. Problem was I couldn't find it in my size. Until I DID. This was a big resale gods shining down on me moment.

This jumpsuit is so versatile. I've worn it with just about everything and everywhere. Plus the CPW (Cost per wear) is $8?!

This jumpsuit deserved a whole photoshoot and then some. 

Marigold and I are having a moment. Can you tell? Peep the marigold slip dress I dreamt about and then manifested.

Aries season is long gone. Taurus season is here. One of my favorite blogs said, "Keep it simple, keep it curious, go forward with heart." I couldn't agree more. Be well, beautiful people. 



Wearing: Frame - Le Flare de Francoise Jumpsuit in Marigold (exact, similar), shoes - Tory Burch (old, but similar), lips - Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella



Photos by Bella Grace Cordero



Similar:

 

Another year around the sun. I got to spend my very special day of life with those I love the most under a full moon in the Big Apple.

But first, gf pizza. 
Not a trip to NYC without Carvel.
A rose in Bellerose
Springing!!!
Hektad after Banksy in Astoria
Full moon in Libra
Old, rare, and NEW
I want you to hold out the palm of your hand. Why don't we leave it at that?
Completely missed this room in MOMA and my cousin Nicole graciously guided me here to take it in. A very special moment.
We made it to LEVAIN!
Perhaps the best cookie I've eaten in my life and not a bad cup of coffee either.
You know how sometimes you have a plan and then the plan goes completely wrong? Well I'm pretty grateful for when the plan goes all wrong, because the universe brings you what you need. In my case that was 72 hours in the city that doesn't sleep with those I love the most in the world. Until next time, beautiful people.

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72 Hours in NYC

April 19, 2022

 

Another year around the sun. I got to spend my very special day of life with those I love the most under a full moon in the Big Apple.

But first, gf pizza. 
Not a trip to NYC without Carvel.
A rose in Bellerose
Springing!!!
Hektad after Banksy in Astoria
Full moon in Libra
Old, rare, and NEW
I want you to hold out the palm of your hand. Why don't we leave it at that?
Completely missed this room in MOMA and my cousin Nicole graciously guided me here to take it in. A very special moment.
We made it to LEVAIN!
Perhaps the best cookie I've eaten in my life and not a bad cup of coffee either.
You know how sometimes you have a plan and then the plan goes completely wrong? Well I'm pretty grateful for when the plan goes all wrong, because the universe brings you what you need. In my case that was 72 hours in the city that doesn't sleep with those I love the most in the world. Until next time, beautiful people.

Similar:

I haven't been on the blog much lately. I've been leaning into what I've decided I want more of right now (As mentioned in this post). More sun on my face, more presence with Mother Earth, and more energy to create. So I've been spending more time outdoors volunteering and doing things that replenish my creative spirit. Like attending an exploring creativity yoga workshop, journaling, arranging and re-arranging flowers, and working on Chane-lo, my email newsletter.


Chane-lo is a great way for me to share all the things these days. How I'm feeling both in written and visual form, what I'm listening to, what I'm gravitating toward in my closet, and poetry that strikes a chord. While at its core Chane-lo is an email newsletter supporting the content of JMC and my musings it feels personal in a way that's different than JMC. I'd been sending it out to a handful of people and now I feel like I'm ready to open it up to any interested, beautiful human! Sign up, here.


It feels like JMC is in an off-season right now and I'm leaning into what that feels like. As I continue to pour back into myself at this very strange time in my life I am excited to see what openings come my way. Aries season unfolds.



Not just love, much love,

S


Photo by Bella Grace Cordero

The Off-Season

April 2, 2022

I haven't been on the blog much lately. I've been leaning into what I've decided I want more of right now (As mentioned in this post). More sun on my face, more presence with Mother Earth, and more energy to create. So I've been spending more time outdoors volunteering and doing things that replenish my creative spirit. Like attending an exploring creativity yoga workshop, journaling, arranging and re-arranging flowers, and working on Chane-lo, my email newsletter.


Chane-lo is a great way for me to share all the things these days. How I'm feeling both in written and visual form, what I'm listening to, what I'm gravitating toward in my closet, and poetry that strikes a chord. While at its core Chane-lo is an email newsletter supporting the content of JMC and my musings it feels personal in a way that's different than JMC. I'd been sending it out to a handful of people and now I feel like I'm ready to open it up to any interested, beautiful human! Sign up, here.


It feels like JMC is in an off-season right now and I'm leaning into what that feels like. As I continue to pour back into myself at this very strange time in my life I am excited to see what openings come my way. Aries season unfolds.



Not just love, much love,

S


Photo by Bella Grace Cordero

Cover FX has always been a brand I've been crazy about. As long as I've known about the brand I've  thought their ability to make beauty customizable was so rad. Plus I have always, always, always wanted to try their Custom Cover Drops. These past couple of years have really been an exploration into my melanin. I've been the tannest I've ever been which has pushed me to need different shades of foundation and concealer. However, instead of taking the plunge and buying a new bottle or product these drops were the cure to years worth of questions. Thus the exploration into Cover FX began. Also, peep my Reformation overalls in the mirror.

Crazy for Cover FX

March 20, 2022

Cover FX has always been a brand I've been crazy about. As long as I've known about the brand I've  thought their ability to make beauty customizable was so rad. Plus I have always, always, always wanted to try their Custom Cover Drops. These past couple of years have really been an exploration into my melanin. I've been the tannest I've ever been which has pushed me to need different shades of foundation and concealer. However, instead of taking the plunge and buying a new bottle or product these drops were the cure to years worth of questions. Thus the exploration into Cover FX began. Also, peep my Reformation overalls in the mirror.
The first full moon of the year came along with so many emotions. Now I'm not one to ever turn away from a full moon, but this Cancer moon came with such intense feelings. The full moon is a time to release control and let go, both things that I struggle with.
My yoga teacher Angela said when you let go it creates space and permit myself to not feel the urge to define or fill up that space. Instead, I should allow myself the freedom to explore that space. Angela then posed the question, what do I want more of?

I don't think I'll ever fully let go of people I love, but filling the space they held with something else in time. Well, that's just beautiful. So often people tell you to let go. It feels so callous. You never really let go of people and things you love, do you? Reframing it and asking what I want more of was such an honest way to acknowledge the space that once was and invite in curiosity. Something new. Something golden.

So, I ask myself. What do I want more of? I've come up with a few things. More sun on my face. More presence with Mother Earth. More time rooting for my friends celebrating their little victories and standing by their sides when things get tough. More energy to create. More trust in the process of life.

So here I am letting go in all the marigolden glory. I didn't think I'd share this post, but it feels inauthentic not to share something that was so big for me. There have been more Dear Diary posts recently and it's something I'm proud of. It's funny the night I wrote this post my aunt Nelu who lives in India sent me a text with an image that said, "When you let go you create space for better things to enter your life."

And this slip dress? I had a dream about it. I was wearing a silk marigold slip dress. It was wonderful. If you know me you know that I take my dreams very seriously. So I searched and searched for a marigold slip dress. I had given up when this one appeared. Silk, in my size from a company named De la Terra, which naturally dyes textiles in California. It was a sign. 


This post is dedicated to the memory of Zane Lee Todd III. 


Photos by Bella Grace Cordero


Wearing: Dress - De La Terra (exact, similar), shoes - Valentino, lips - Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella



Similar:

On Letting Go

March 5, 2022

The first full moon of the year came along with so many emotions. Now I'm not one to ever turn away from a full moon, but this Cancer moon came with such intense feelings. The full moon is a time to release control and let go, both things that I struggle with.
My yoga teacher Angela said when you let go it creates space and permit myself to not feel the urge to define or fill up that space. Instead, I should allow myself the freedom to explore that space. Angela then posed the question, what do I want more of?

I don't think I'll ever fully let go of people I love, but filling the space they held with something else in time. Well, that's just beautiful. So often people tell you to let go. It feels so callous. You never really let go of people and things you love, do you? Reframing it and asking what I want more of was such an honest way to acknowledge the space that once was and invite in curiosity. Something new. Something golden.

So, I ask myself. What do I want more of? I've come up with a few things. More sun on my face. More presence with Mother Earth. More time rooting for my friends celebrating their little victories and standing by their sides when things get tough. More energy to create. More trust in the process of life.

So here I am letting go in all the marigolden glory. I didn't think I'd share this post, but it feels inauthentic not to share something that was so big for me. There have been more Dear Diary posts recently and it's something I'm proud of. It's funny the night I wrote this post my aunt Nelu who lives in India sent me a text with an image that said, "When you let go you create space for better things to enter your life."

And this slip dress? I had a dream about it. I was wearing a silk marigold slip dress. It was wonderful. If you know me you know that I take my dreams very seriously. So I searched and searched for a marigold slip dress. I had given up when this one appeared. Silk, in my size from a company named De la Terra, which naturally dyes textiles in California. It was a sign. 


This post is dedicated to the memory of Zane Lee Todd III. 


Photos by Bella Grace Cordero


Wearing: Dress - De La Terra (exact, similar), shoes - Valentino, lips - Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella



Similar:

One of my goals this past year was to work on my product photography. It's never been my strong suit, but I want to get better so I took a bag of beauty products I love to one of my favorite coffee shops in Kansas City and here we are, friends.

Beauty Faves RN

February 6, 2022

One of my goals this past year was to work on my product photography. It's never been my strong suit, but I want to get better so I took a bag of beauty products I love to one of my favorite coffee shops in Kansas City and here we are, friends.

At the beginning of the year I decided to participate in a project pan. If you're unfamiliar with the concept a project pan is basically where you take a bunch of your beauty products and try to hit the literal pan of the product or use them up completely. I have been really trying to minimize my makeup collection and project pan felt like a step in the right direction.

Project Pan

January 5, 2022

At the beginning of the year I decided to participate in a project pan. If you're unfamiliar with the concept a project pan is basically where you take a bunch of your beauty products and try to hit the literal pan of the product or use them up completely. I have been really trying to minimize my makeup collection and project pan felt like a step in the right direction.

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