Leather Tough

Mango blazer (similar here), thrifted corset (similar here), H&M faux leather pants (similar here), Uniqlo legwarmers, H&M booties (similar here)

Photography by Pedro Morales

Edited by me

We all have that bit of edge in us. Whether we come off as sweet, funny, or chill, we also need some tough skin to get through the daily life struggles. It's easy to be taken advantage of when you're too accommodating and often times we end up sacrificing our own happiness along the way. I try to remind myself everyday that the assertive one gets her goals accomplished while also staying humble and honest. Don't compromise your ambitions to satisfy the needs of others, especially in this competitive industry. Stay tough, stay focused, stay you. Your passion will take you far.

These faux leather pants made me feel so edgy and I thought about how I, too, have that side in me even though I come off shy or introverted. There's a part of me that has this constant drive to push forward and work harder to fulfill my dreams. This outfit made me feel like I could take on so much (figuratively of course because I don't think these leggings can physically do much for me) while looking sexy. I accented the leather bottoms with a bustier corset top to keep the look edgy and contrasted with an oversized chic white blazer. If you get the chance, definitely check out the Mango outlet website because they have amazing deals. I got this blazer for only $17! Since my booties were leather too, I refrained from making the bottom half look like a leather onesie but differentiating with textured legwarmers I wore as socks. I am in love with this outfit and I wish it was warm again to wear it out because it's so urban chic with a tough edge.

Focused and driven,

Mai Sunshine

Style tip: Leather leggings make a statement all themselves so keep the rest of the outfit simple. I chose to work with monochromatic colors so I could play with textures like the corset and socks. 

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