Introducing Viva. Viva Jaden is a journalist with a special focus on fashion and gender-relational culture. Using sociological theory and research, she combines humorous personal narrative with academic findings to comment on gender politics in the modern day. She has written for various publications including UCLA’s Daily Bruin, GFF Magazine, and her high school paper, where her love for journalism all began. Find Viva on substack here! 

Personal style isn’t mass-produced; it’s experimentation and closet-rummaging.

Below are 4 of my favorite styling ideas to ensure a serve without hitting Free People for the third time this week. Let’s make your everyday fit your favorite one yet — I’ll even help you style those aioli-stained sweatpants from when you hit rock bottom last week (Just me? Cool). Let’s combat fast fashion’s environmental impacts and copy-paste trends!

1. Charmed, I’m Sure

Add charms on anything and everything. We’ve seen strings of charms on our bags — let’s take it a step further: the actual fabric of a bag, our shoes, the cuffs of our sweaters. Get adventurous with a rummage through your old jewelry charms or a quick buy off Etsy.

2. “Switch the Kicks” — If It Makes Sense, It’s Wrong

Others call this “the Shoe Rule,” but that could literally mean anything so I call this “Switch the Kicks.” As the rule goes, you construct a cohesive outfit and dress it with shoes that make zero sense with the look. Track pants, sports bra, and a zip-up hoodie? Heels. T-shirt and sleep shorts to grab a quick morning coffee? Fringed boots.

3. Skirt Over Everything

Throw a skirt or wrap on top of your go-to jeans and you’re instantly lax. You could play around with the idea of a dress over jeans, too. It’s up to you not me, babe.

4. Get Busy

Mix prints…I said it! I know it seems scary, but I remember reading in a Seventeen magazine when I was 9 that if you’re a “true” fashionista, you mix prints without fear — so let’s face it! That may have been 2014, but dare I say Seventeen had a point that’s aged like fine wine.

And that’s all for now. Peace babes. Wage love.