What I Wore: Mind Over Matter

Today's outfit may seem simple upon first glance, but there's a deep and important meaning behind the t-shirt and bangles I'm wearing. Both come from Compassion Brands, whose online shop aims to bring awareness and support to charitable causes through positively messaged fashion. An impressive 33% of the royalties derived from their licensed sales are donated to anti-bullying charities. I reached out to Compassion Brands after discovering them on Instagram and asked if we could collaborate because their cause is extremely important to me and one I closely identify with.

When I was growing up, especially during my middle and high school years, I always felt different and out of place. I never quite fit in with my peers at school, and that made me susceptible to being bullied. Bullying is never easy on anyone, but as a kid who was silently struggling with depression and anxiety, I remember how isolated and hopeless I felt when others tore me down and made me feel badly about myself. As I continued to grow and become more confident, I realized that being myself regardless of what other people thought was always the right choice for me. As long as I loved myself for who I truly was, was being completely authentic, and had the support of my family and few close friends, what other people said about me {and say about me to this day} didn't matter.

Now that I have my blog and am able to reach people all over the world, I am thrilled to be able use it as a platform to promote acceptance and anti-bullying and to let others know that they are not alone. I hope that anyone out there who is being bullied can put mind over matter and remember that who they are right in this very moment is more than enough! <3 Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for supporting my blog and anti-bullying! :)

photos by Pedro Cruz

tank: c/o Compassion Brands

jacket: BB Dakota c/o Shopbop

jeans: 7 For All Mankind

bag: Rebecca Minkoff c/o Shobop

booties: Sam Edelman via Nordstrom Rack

bangles: c/o Compassion Brands

ring: David Yurman

earrings: gifted; similar here