Music Is My Best Friend: A New Movement

For those of you that know me well, you know how important music is in my life. I’ve been surrounded by it since birth, and it’s integrated into every area of my life in some shape or form. It’s what motivates me, what helps me unwind, and what helps me see deeper into every corner of life. Before we get into the good stuff, I’ll start this post off with a couple music-related facts about myself you may not know:

Mandy + Music

1. I trained professionally as a singer for most of my life, from high school through college.
2. I live for all things musical theatre.
3. I love creating new mixes of music, from the ancient mixtape back in the 90’s to today, remixing my favorite songs DJ style. Find my playlists on Spotify and Soundcloud and follow along!
4. I love writing lyrics and sometimes even tunes.

Why music?

I’m an artist at my core. I like to integrate uncommon things to tell a story. Music has also been a way to connect deeper with my group fitness students, and a way to amp up a fun night with friends. Anyone else take a moment throughout the day to settle in with your fave song of the moment to reflect and get inspired? I’m talking about those super inspiring daydreams that motivate is to dance around in our PJs at home, or rock out to our own music video in our head. We have ALL been there. That’s where I became inspired to create this new way of sharing inspiration through a collaboration of some of the things I love most: music, fashion, and art. It’s a way to bring that daydream music video into flesh and blood.

This Thanksgiving, I am grateful for so many things, and one of them is music. Like family and friends, it is a best friend to me. Music at its core has always been a way to come together with others on the common ground of love. Now more than ever, we need that in life. This video was a way for me to unite some of my favorite brands that are breaking the mold of modern fashion, to a new kind of collaborative music as showcased by one of my favorite new musical artists, Sofi Tukker. Their original remix of alternative rock vibes and electronic beats inspire me in so many ways, to include the way I look at fashion. Their track Best Friend spoke to me in this way: fashion and music will be a part of my life always and speaks its own special language to me.

Meet the #OOTDnovela

Meet a new way to bring things together: the #OOTDnovela. It’s a collaboration of the things I love most, and I hope this video inspires you to collaborate with others and bring together your own love story across all avenues in life. This will become a new monthly staple on the blog, so stay tuned for more fashion and music collabs later this holiday season! I’ll leave all of you with this: is there a song that inspires you? Something you’d like to see in this style? Email me! Let’s collab.

-xx M

Video filmed by Rachel Radcliffe Photography, music by Sofi Tukker. Video produced and directed by me.

Outfit Details

Blouse: Something Borrowed Shirt, ADAY

Tank: Rose Gold/Aqua Sequin Tank, Forever21

Jacket: Distressed Denim Jacket, Forever21

Leggings: Melrose Legging, Carbon38 (almost sold out, similar here)

Boots: Sabrina Glam in Dusty Rose, Frye x GMG (SOLD OUT, similar here)

Hat: Velvet Cabby Hat, Forever21

Makeup Details

Primer: Perfect Canvas Serum, c/o Ren Skincare

Foundation: Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation, Fenty Beauty in 210

Highlighter: Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter, Fenty Beauty in Lightning Dust/Fire Crystal

Contour: Match Stix Matte Skin Stick, Fenty Beauty in Mocha and Rum

Eyes: Lila Eyeshadow Palette, Natasha Denona

Lips: Lip Color, Tom Ford in Bare Peach

Hair: AIR DRY IT Undone Styling Creme, c/o L’Oreal