Judgment

Hello, dear Youvies!

Being judged by others is something that all of us face every day, every time we step out of the house. But how do you deal with it? This is something that DeJa is all to familiar with and during our short time on earth we've developed some skills that help us navigate every day life without the judgements of other people weighing us down. Let's get started.

There is one specific instance I can remember that was a turning point for me as I have struggled with having a poor self image after years of being subject to ridicule and a barrage of harsh judgements. It was one lazy Saturday and I decided to go downtown to take pictures. As I was walking around looking at the sights I passed a group of girls that got quiet as I walked toward them and began to laugh as I passed them. Naturally, like anyone else I was worried (and almost mortified) that were judging me for something I was doing. But then I thought "If they are judging me, then what?" Then what? That was the question that really added some clarity. If these strangers were talking about me while I walked by what has changed? Nothing. And I was right. Whether they were talking about me or not, nothing in my life had changed. I had recognized and accepted that people are going to judge you regardless of who you are, what you wear, who you love, what music you like, where you live, etc., etc., etc., and was able to continue the day just as happy and carefree as it started.

Learning to accept yourself is hard work and certainly won't be something you can achieve in a night, but it can be done. A large part of learning how to cope with other peoples' judgements of you is realizing that nobody is perfect and accepting all of your "flaws" for what they are. 

There is no secret trick or 8 minute cure; the way to building confidence starts and ends with you and how you think of yourself. If you're having negative thoughts about yourself, make the choice to think positively. Manually change your thoughts about yourself until it become second nature. It's that simple.

We would like to challenge you all. Everyday for a week wake up, look in the mirror (Put on this week's strut song. Haaayy!) and say something positive about yourself. No matter how small, find the good things about you and focus on them for that moment. And let us know how that impacted your day.

Alright, enough of that, Youvies. Let's get back to the fashion!

Until next time,
Derrick
Hey Deja You! 

Trend Watch: Culottes

Hello again, Youvies!

Spring is officially here and what better way to welcome the sunshine than by rocking one of the latest trends, culottes. We hear your groans and can feel your grimaces, but hear us out! Culottes are back and can be a cool, chic addition to your spring/summer wardrobe. Let's get started.

Quick tips:

• Pay attention to proportions. Culottes are quite voluminous. To make sure you don't look like you're drowning from the calves up in fabric keep the top half more form fitted to balance out the volume of the culottes. Be careful though! If your top half is too tight you'll look like a crust down pizza slice, but not the tasty Pizza Hut kind, the bad fashion kind, and nobody wants that. 

• Keep it simple. Culottes are a statement piece. Keep the rest of your pieces simple and let the culottes do the work to get that effortlessly chic look. 

• Wear pointed or open toe shoes. Pointed and open toe shoes make you look taller, which will help combat against the length and the volume of the culottes.  

• Tuck in your shirts. If you're going to wear a shirt that falls below the waist, tuck it in to help create a more flattering silhouette.  

What did you think, Youvies? Are you ready to run out and buy some culottes? Let us know if you'll be wearing these this spring and summer! 

Until next time, 
Hey DeJa You! 

Spring Time

Hello there Youvies!

Spring is here! After a rather interesting winter of unpredictable and often spontaneous weather, we're back to sun, short sleeves, and sunnies (well, in Cali anyway). And we're here to show you some looks you can implement in your spring/summer wardrobe! Let's get started!

Quick tips:

• Dress in layers- Although the weather is warmer during the Spring, the winter chill hasn't totally left yet. Dress in layers to be able to transition from the chilly mornings to the warm afternoons. 

• Keep fabrics light- Winter was a time for heavy wools and chunky knits, but for the warmer weather stick with lighter, breathable fabrics like cotton 

• Keep it classy ladies and gents- The sun is not necessarily a sign to show off all your bits, pick just one of your sexy features to showcase. 

Things to consider for Spring:

• Color- Try new colors! Welcome the sun with vibrant hues like yellows and blues that can make your wardrobe standout. 

• Cleaning- The changing weather is always a good time to start making some personal changes, right? Clean out your closet to make room for all that spring has to offer. You'll find it not only declutters your closet, but also your mind. Which is good you'll need room to memorize the lyrics to your Spring/Summer playlist. 

• Pastels- Afraid of bright, bold colors? Try welcoming Spring time with beautiful, light pastels. It's a great way to add color without going to far, because sometimes you just need baby steps. We get ya.

Ladies 

Gentlemen 

What did you think, Youvies? What kinds of things do you like to wear in the spring? Let us know! 

Until next time, 
Hey DeJa You! 

Getting the Bang For Your Buck

Hello again, Youvies!

Today we're going to talk about how to get the most bang for your buck out of your wardrobe. If you're anything like us, you don't have the resources to constantly be renewing your wardrobe. That means that the pieces we purchase have to last for a while.

This post is all about how to wear one piece for multiple occasions in multiple outfits and we're starting with leather jackets! Let's get started!

A couple quick tips for everyone:

•  Invest in quality. Buying a more quality piece will help ensure longevity, which will keep you looking good for more than a couple months. We're not saying go out there and drop $300 on a new leather jacket, but to weigh the cost with how much use you'll get out of the garment.

• Keep it simple. Don't get too crazy with interesting patterns and textures. The goal is to get pieces that you can wear with multiple outfits so stick to solid, neutral colors. 

• Stray from trends. Stick with pieces that are more timeless than trendy. Sure that mesh jacket might be cool now, but will you be into it in a years time? Probably not. Opt for pieces that will withstand time and trends. 

Ladies 

Gentlemen 

What did you think, Youvies? Is there a particular garment you'd like us to do for next time? Let us know in the comments below! 

Until next time, 

Hey DeJa You!

#DeJaYou 

Strut Song: Kiesza- "No Enemiesz"

Happy Tuesday, Youvies! 

Today we're bringing you a new artist that we're pretty obsessed with. Kiesza first caught our attention with her music video to her song "Giant In My Heart", which completely demonstrates her compassion and love for everyone. Haven't seen it? Watch it here  

Since at DeJa You we're all about loving and accepting everyone as they are, we felt that "No Enemiesz" would be the perfect Strut Song! It doesn't hurt that it's great to dance to and has a fun video! 

Here's our favorite lyric: 

"If we could all fall in love together 

If we could all fall in love together 

If we could all fall in love together 

We'd have no enemies 

We'd have no enemies" 

We couldn't have said it any better. Check out the video below! 

What did you think, Youvies? Is there a song that helps you conquer your day? Let us know in the comments and we just might use it! 

Until next time, 

Hey DeJa You! 

#DeJaYou 

What I Wore: Mellow Yellow

Good day, Youvies!

Every once in a while I get the urge to try something really out of my comfort zone and this was definitely one of those days. Let's get started! 

Here's what I wore: 

My favorite part about wearing this outfit was definitely how I felt in it. I felt just a little bit cooler than the average college student and enjoyed getting to explore my personal style! That's what it's all about right?

My hat I actually purchased on vacation at some random store we passed by. Now, normally the things you buy on vacation should just stay on vacation, but this was one of those purchases that happened to be a good buy despite my cloudy, relaxed, on-vacation judgment. 

I got my shirt from Cotton On for only $15 at an outlet mall and it's definitely one of my favorites. It's soft, really comfortable, and just as easy to wear as a t-shirt. Living in SoCal is like living in perpetual summer so I always need pieces that keep me cool in the California sun and this shirt fits the bill.

The yellow pants of which this outfit was inspired I've actually had in my closet for a couple years. I got them from J. Crew (again, from an outlet mall) and took advantage of that student discount! At least spending the majority of your days in lectures has some benefits! If my memory serves me well, I believe that these pants were around $30, which considering the brand, is pretty darn good.

My shoes are from Aldo and surprisingly were only sale for only $40! And again, I got these from the same outlet mall. Don't judge. I like outlet malls ok. What I love about these shoes is that the outer shell is denim, which gives them a cool, edgy twist.

What did you think, Youvies? Let us know in the comments! And show us something you wore recently that was out of your comfort zone!

Hey DeJa You!
#DeJaYou 

Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover

Hello again, dear Youvies! 

“Don’t judge a book by its cover”

It’s a saying we’ve heard over and over again since the start of our lives, and yet, it’s one of the hardest to follow.

Why?

Well, the simple explanation is that we are visual creatures. Before we can get to know anyone or anything, we make judgments based upon what we initially see.

Do they appear attractive? Do they appear smart? Do they appear fun? As much as we try to deny the fact, most of us pre-judge others based upon what we see.

So is the case of photographer Haley Morris-Calfiero.

Ms. Morris-Calfiero photographed herself in situations anyone would find themselves in, but the subject in the photos was not herself….it was the people around her. Or more, accurately, the looks she received from the people around her.

It is hard to pinpoint what the exact thoughts of these people are, but it is clearly negative. However, we are not here to fault them. They are reacting upon basic human instinct to judge upon appearance. Understandable? Yes. Acceptable? Well, we’ll let you look at the images yourself and let you decide.

http://cltr.viralnova.com/haley-morris-calfiero/#.VGkBtKMbtdI.email

Tell us your thoughts!

Comment below or email us at teamdejayou@gmail.com

Hey DeJa You!

#DeJaYou