Best Clothing Pieces of 2016

Jacket

Viktor&Rolf Jacket 

This photo doesn't do the jacket justice but, I have never been stopped so much on the street as I have with this jacket. It really is the perfect jacket to either dress down or dress up. It is really warm which is perfect for walking the NYC streets. I got this amazing find at T.J. Maxx it was on sale for around 150. Being a Viktor&Rolf jacket it is very high end. They only sell their clothing in limited batches at their boutiques so this was really a find! 

Shoes 

Steve Madden 

I got these shoes on a whim because I had a nice coupon to DSW. These Steve Madden shoes were the best thing that I've ever happened to my life. I wore them every day as both casual and dressy. They were sooo comfortable and had a nice little heel. I walked hundreds of miles in New York in these babies and got so many compliments! Best 30 dollars I have ever spent. 

Vince 

When I first got these shoes it took me some time to break in the stiff leather but, I am so glad I did. I have worn them every day in the fall and winter because the color is perfect for the season. Also because the leather is so nice it doesn't let water through. When I was traveling a New York Mets player came up to me in his 3 piece suit and complimented my shoes. Being ignorant of sports I didn't realize who it was until people around me started asking to take pictures with him. Anyways, we ended up having a lovely conversation about his socks and how he was gifted a monthly socks box. Moral of the story... THESE SHOES ARE LUCKY!

Dresses

Forever 21 

This is an amazing piece I bought it at Forever 21 for around 20 dollars. But this dress looks like a million bucks. It is so flattering from the color to the cut. Honestly, every photo I took in this dress made me look like I was a Kardashian. When it comes to nice fancy dresses I really hate spending a lot just because you never wear them twice because people remember the dress. I really recomend going to Forever 21 and H&M for great finds. 

Nordstrom Rack 

This dress, on the other hand, I spent a pretty penny. I had to though because for the event I wore this it was a very specific and I had to dress to impress. This dress was a major winner! I learned a great trick if you are going into an event where you are an outsider really look put together. People will end up giving you compliments and asking about your outfit which is a great way to start a conversation. I love this dress because its right at the knee so it is conservative and is covered in the front. But then the back gives you a nice playful touch. I love dressing in a way that appears to be conservative but then has an edge to it which makes it fun and sexy!

Bathing Suit 

Victoria's Secret 

When Victoria's Secret announced they would stop with their swim line I was completely devastated. I would always buy my bathing suits from there. I loved this suit because it doesn't scream cleveage but it is flattering for my body. Also on the sides of the bottom it has rope which holds it together. It gives it a nice peak a boo style without being overall exposing. 

Fast Fashion... the Curse

First, let us break down what modern slavery is. Modern slavery is when your employer controls you through either mental or physical abuse. It is estimated that there are around 29.8 million slaves in the world. In a variety of industries.

This hits close to home for me because I am from Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan was ranked by the US as a tier 3 country for human rights. In fact, the Global Slavery Index ranks Uzbekistan second after North Korea. Where they stated around 3.97% of the population is in modern slavery. The major violation happening in Uzbekistan is the forcing of citizens as young as 7 to pick cotton during the harvest time.

This is mandatory, during the USSR my parents participated in this while they were growing up. I never knew it was slavery. When they talked about it, they obviously complained about the conditions and quotas, but always made it seem like a summer camp where you hung out with friends. Since the fall of the USSR the conditions have gotten worse in the country, thus the country has become even more dependent on cotton.

Uzbekistan is the 5th largest exporter of cotton in the world. Last year they signed a 1 billion dollar contract to export cotton all over the world. The major consumer of Uzbek cotton is Daewoo. Daewoo is a South Korean company who produces a variety of products ranging from refrigerators to textile. Prior to signing a petition to stop using this cotton major brands like Macy’s, Target, and Zara all sourced their cotton from Uzbekistan.

What has been done in order to end this. 

From the international community putting pressure on the Uzbek government, rules have been in place to limit the amount of children who are forced to work. Unfortunately, not much has happened since. This topic isn’t presented in the media because Uzbekistan is a closed off country. Plus, no one knows where this place is. In fact, when I say I am from Uzbekistan people say Pakistan to which I say no it’s the country next to Kazakhstan or Borat.

The fashion industry has been taking responsibility. They pledged to not only stop using Uzbek cotton but other resources from around the world that were sourced from slave labor. I would ask all of you to think twice before buying something. There are lists online which show companies that source their products from places that use slavery.