What is "swag" to me?

I remember reading magazines when I was younger and seeing those double spread pages where 4 or 5 people would be sporting a similar trend and were compared. They would have a big red 'X' if they were deemed not fashionable and/or failed in their attempt to rock the trend or a big green tick if they "dressed well". Not only can I remind you that these people being 'judged' are probably dressed by stylists BUT the people judging them are only placing their own opinion. Who even knows if they can dress themselves? Do THEY have a stylist? Are they even in the position to be judging anyone at all? That made me think, there always seems to be a pressure to conform to the norm and follow trends but where do these norms and trends stem from? Is it not one and/or a few designer(s) that starts a trend? Yes, so why can't start your own? If everyone was born with blue hair, would it be weird and abnormal to have blue hair? No, so why is it that if we see someone with blue hair, we stare a bit longer than if they had brown hair?

Having Jordans (Air Jordans, that is) and Snapbacks (Fitted with a hole and plastic) does not automatically mean you have "swag", it means that money has automatically been taken from your account. Swag is not determined on how much you spend on 'how many' items. Remember the 'Quality over Quantity' argument? Of course, there may be a correlation between quality and money but you don't have to let there be one. It confuses me to see people who have limited funds, buying things that surpass the level of their income, if this sounds like you #PAUSE and re-evaluate what you are doing. Are you buying the latest Retro 3's because you WANT it or because you feel you NEED (e.g to fit in) it? If your answer was the latter then don't buy them. We don't NEED anything so if YOU're buying something, make sure it's because YOU want it! "Work what you got, don't be what you're not 'cause babe that's not hot" (www.bootyfurl.tumblr.com) make your own trend! As well as that little quote up there, I always say "don't follow trends, set them"

I define swag as people doing their own thing, accepting themselves and rocking it! Nothing and nobody's perfect but when I see an African with head-to-toe attired (3 piece and all sorts!) I'm like #WerrrqqqIt. When I see a bootyfurl size 16 woman strutting her stuff and looking comfortable in her own skin I'm like #WerrrrqqqqIt. When I see a natural with a 'fro, I'm like #WerrrqqqIt! When I see people working hard and achieving something in life, I'm like #WerrrqqqIt!

Find YOUR swag. Work it, rock it, be you and flaunt it!

Lalala loveyoulongtime!