AUGUST 2025.
a return to conservative values: 1980's prep has taken fashion, what i'm currently wearing, Black trans triple consciousness on Gaza, navigating chaos around the world while trying to create.
Hello Lush Life friends!
It’s been incredibly difficult to muster the strength to write.
Being back on social media has meant that as soon as I have thoughts on something- they feel irrelevant moments later- there’s always something new.
My brain doesn’t always register the “hot take” mindset- I need space and time to think, get my bearings, weigh in and consider- whether it be deciding what to purchase at Neiman’s or what to order from DoorDash- or the realities of the world we live in.
Am I Afraid to Speak Out?
I’m slow- not in a deragotory sense, but just in the pace of responding. I’m slow to respond- and sometimes I really do wonder if I should have these sorts of platforms at all.
I’ve been holding a reality some many of us have been holding: how do we live our lives, right now whilst also watching our friends and fellow global citizens experience genocide in real time? How do I lend my tiny voice to illuminate what’s happening and how do I affect change in a real way?
At the same time, I have been working in fashion- which, while I love creating lovely visuals and creating- is only successful if I can get folks to shop. How unsexy! But alas, it’s true- and so many creatives are spinning around wondering how and what to do- do we shout from the rooftops about product launches? Do we weigh in on what’s happening?
Do I provide escapism for my audience by rambling on about my current obsessions in luxury fashion?
Or do I provide my unfiltered, kitchen table talk only thoughts on what is happening?
I’ve been seeing a lot of commentary on the internet, shaming people for speaking out and speaking up- and I know how complicated it is.
In 2021, when me and my colleagues (fellow nonprofit leaders) spoke up in solidairty with Zahra Billoo who spoke truth to power on what was happening in Gaza, her organization and my organization and others were defunded by America’s favorite denim company + blacklisted from partner foundations and philanthropic partners- and I being outspoken, had a photo on instagram of palestinian activists in the streets- and lost out on 2 brand partnerships with beauty brands and a netflix travel docuseries pilot I was working with at the time.
It didn’t bother me/impact me/feel like a threat to my stability then- because I had other streams of income- but I can imagine that if this is literally your livilihood and how you eat- how scary it must be to speak out on the issues in real time. do you risk lending your voice to a nuanced geo political crisis happening on the other side of the world, thousands of miles away from where you life starts and happens?
it’s the great debate so many are unfortunately having to contend with. i also despise when people say “what they would or wouldn’t do”- because trust me- that slippery slope politic is literally a slippery slope. and you really don’t know until you’re in the situation with all factors to consider- what one would do.
The realities of capitalism are in fact, real, and sometimes you have to be strategic (unfortunately).
But thank goodness the activists have kept yelling into the void- I am seeing so many more people speak out on what is happening.
I hate that it took the deliberate starvation of children to appeal to people’s good will- but people are talking and signaling what is happening and how disgusting it is to see government sanctioned violence in this way.
But I offer in addition, that so many creatives are still figuring out how to speak up- and what role we all play in helping.
Because to be frank- no one has provided a clear answer as to how we help- and I think without a how- are we just asking people to keep screaming? We need a how.
Maybe we don’t have it yet, but we need one.
Today’s musings are jumbled together- I have 80 drafts- and none felt worthy enough to take space in your inbox.
So, I think I’m trying a new format- more scattered thoughts in one giant newsletter for your morning commute scroll- and less frequent emails.
You guys know I love to curate, so let’s put it to the test- and please let me know if you enjoy any of this.
Today we’re chatting my observations from the Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2026 shows and the thread I’m seeing in the fashion zeitgeist.
I also attempt with my rough cut thoughts, to analyze how we may be seeing the iceberg cap of american privilege and the ideology we’ve been married to, beginning to melt.
I’m off to Atlanta for BAACAL’s activation with VIVA VOCE, a beautifully founded plus size boutique pop up in Atlanta (until October).
From there, I will be fundraising in Martha’s Vineyard and Provincetown for my client, The Theater Offensive’s Capital Campaign.
Then, home and then back on the road again.
The past few months have been a rollercoaster- like I literally freaked out on a client for a 2 day late invoice just a few months ago, fearing I was just shy of paying rent in full.
Solopreneurship is quite an experience.
Now she’s on the road- look out world!
And as always, I appreciate you all reading my thoughts, and musings. What started as my private online diary, has grown, bit by bit, to a readership I’m proud of.
I love when you guys send me texts and messages that you’ve read something I wrote- it means a lot.
I’ve turned down offers to write my memoir, simply because so many exist. So many fashion blogs exists too- but I press on.
It means so much to me that you guys support what I put out. THANK YOU.
always,
aria
The Return of 1980’s Prep in Luxury Fashion
Fashion has grown tired of tik tok’s obsession with “Quiet Luxury” and monochromatic beige outfits from Zara, and has decided to reset its palette- setting it sights and sartorial showcases on color blocking and tailoring.
The official Preppy Handbook. Reagononics.
Vibrant [white, east coast, old money + new money] privilege emanating off of yuppies dressed and draped in khakis, color blocked polo shirts, argyle vests, fair isle sweaters, and pastels.
These past season and a half, the designers of the runways around the world have been shifting the zeitgeist towards the codes of 1980’s prep: The Row’s Fall 2025 + Spring 2026 shows leaned into the codes more subtly- and Jonathan Anderson’s DIOR debut was directly inspired by the sartorial expressions of artist Jean Michele Basquiat in his heyday- the height of the 1980’s.
Michael Rider of CELINE for his debut that got us redirecting our attention to Celine as she awoke from her deep slumber- was what made the patterns so prevalent to me.
Equestrian styled handbags- the return of archived handbags from yesteryear being brought back to the masses (fashion’s modern version of music sampling at this point- in a time where so many are counting their coins, brands are strategizing- if it was a hit once before it will be a hit again).
If you pay attention in fashion, you learn nothing is new under the sun, as my grandmother says, and the older I get the more I feel so in sync to that wise saying.
Trends I once swooned over as a kid pre Y2k- like sarongs draped over trousers (a la Dries Van Noten Spring 2026 show: a la David Beckham in 2003) have returned to your social media feeds.
There feels like there’s 2 trend points circulating in fashion- 90’s nostalgia (which never really left), and 1980’s prep and classic american sportswear (indicative of the New England, Yuppie styling, specifically).
Fashion is of course focused more so on YUPPIES and the associations of that, as it works to depart from Gen Z’s obsession with “old money” as portrayed by your influencers in head to toe beige outfits from ZARA, and a bag that eerily looks like it could be a Birkin.
1980’s Yuppies is/has been indicative of new money- think Armani, Rolexes. Cashmere, vacation homes in Amangasset and yacht parties. Velvet buffet tables at more expensive franchise restaurants. Candy paint cars. Practical fantasy- but a touch more visually opulent.
This shift is a distancing from the the past few seasons as so many audiences around the world became obsessed with television shows like Succession, that informally platformed this idea of “Quiet Luxury”, which I like to personally refer to as “the blandification of fashion”.
Like, let’s be real- the focus was not on whispering- or a focus (as a trend) on quality materials- but the optical illusion- head to toe beige, chocolate suede bags, etc.
A return to conservative values as more and more of the country shifted towards more conservative ideals post-COVID- and with a dramatic decline in the economics of the country- more mass layoffs, more rising costs of living and rent hikes, a move away from tenant protections like rent control with more new developments, more jobs being outsourced to foreign countries and now, the advent of AI compromises the ideology of job security as more knowledge based jobs and more service based jobs are beginning to be eliminated earlier than anticipated (the ideology was that service based jobs- uber drivers, restaurant staff and such would lose jobs first due to the self driving cars, and more restaurants reducing staffing by having you order on an ipad- and grocery stores have been aggressively pushing self check out lines in a bid to reduce labor costs with hiring sales staff).
Grocery runs have become luxury content on Tik Tok, tariffs loom or have been in place, there is a new tariff coming from any exports from the European Union (15%), and more Americans have maxxed out their credit cards and over utilized their credit cards than we’ve ever seen in the history of the credit card.
Fashion right now feels like 1980’s young republicans.
Subverted in practical fantasy- romancing the everyday styling without too much theater or too much decadence- but rather a blend of daily uniforms that promote community and status signifiers.
A reminder that The Met Gala’s celebration of Dandyism and Black tailoring is in direct contrast to this wave- when Black people adopt and transform these stylings on our selves- it takes a new political shape- a redirection and a rebellion against the exclusionary mores of those values we chatted on just before.
Ralph Lauren’s focus on Oak’s Bluff and Historically Black Colleges- their capsule collection for summer’s end, and the storytelling of the struggles of the Black elite + upper middle class’ placemaking in Martha’s Vineyard is refreshing (of course I loved it- especially the documentary which goes deeper into the history of Black people migrating and taking place in the Vineyard).
But it’s also affirming a part of this shift in fashion towards Preppy fashion, and in some ways more “conservative” values- as the country’s tone turns more and more conservative.
Beauty Bits I’m Obsessing Over
Shop Aria’s favorites Holy Grail: I’ve paused on Augustinus Bader and anything remotely and absurdly expensive (albeit, worth every penny which is rare), in a return to products that are a bit more moderately priced, that rival their upper echolon beauty competitors, but are incredibly effective.
I’ve spoken at length in a previous musing on my love for Shani Darden’s approach to skincare- simple, 3 steps, each morning and night.
I’ve used these for years, and will now exclusively use SD products in conjunction with products from Clairins I received in a PR box a month ago. (also really good, wanting to use for another month or so before I decide whether to rave or rant about them).
The Caudalie Body Oil is a fig scent- obsessed. I use for elbows, feet and back primarily (i’m a crocodile when I get out of the shower, sadly).
I’m trying Merit’s Tinted SPF moisturizer and so far, it’s not a tinted moisturizer as I initially thought- it’s just tinted SPF which is great. I like it- need more time to use it to see if I LOVE it.
What I’m Wearing Lately
For my plus size babes:
use my code 18FromLushLife for 18% off of your BAACAL purchase. (expires in October).
BAACAL’s Crystal Stone Mesh Dress is the dress I didn’t know I needed, to tick the box I didn’t know was on my list. I’m wearing the smallest size- available to pre-order.
Hand made crystal rhinestone dress. Wow, just wow.
I felt very sexy- I did make it a bit more modest for my comfort by layering with a Skims mesh top in a similar tone. I’m wearing the gold/champagne version.
It also comes in black with opulescent crystals.
Silk Button Ups: I love a silk button up because it’s literally casual elegance personified. I now have 2- one in pink, one in green- both are a weighty silk charmeuse.
You can make it more formal with the right pairings and accessories or more casual (roll up the sleeves, unbotton one extra button, pair with jeans or your favorite trousers or skirts).
On a deep sale (i think up to 70% off).
The Mia Shirt Dress: I’ve been wearing non-stop. I now have 2 colorways (I gifted the more neutral ones to my dear friend C Michael and he’s obsessing now too!). We know I’m a color lover.
I just need to accept that.
For my straight size babes:
Silk Slip Dresses: I’ve been obsessed with DISSH, lately- it’s an Australian brand that uses natural materials (silk, ramie, linen, natural fabric hybrids).
You guys know I love silk, and finally found a modest slip dress I absolutely love. High neck, maxi length, with a touch of sex appeal with a low back. I swan around the apartment in it. Obsessed.
Caftans: as you know, caftans are a staple in the house of Aria Sa’id, darling- but not all caftans are created equal.
I usually shop caftans in the autumn, when they’re on sale- and then wear forever.
I haven’t actually purchased a new caftan since I decided to splurge on the Emilio Pucci caftan of dreams last summer.
She’s finally stepped out of the closet and into the world.
I love Camilla caftans and have been a fan of the brand for years- and the trick is to shop when they go on sale (Australian based, so shop in the Australian off season since their summer is different than ours).
Little Black Dresses: I rarely, if ever wear black and that’s a whole other substack post. But I’m slowly, adding in bits of black in my wardrobe here and there- fashion and function. Mostly for autumn. spied some incredible little black dresses that I’m obsessing over, like this one from ALC is ultimate gown status, and this black jumpsuit with a cape is currently 50% off at Banana Republic.
End of Summer Vibes: I ordered this boat neck dress to give ya’ll Cape Cod and the vineyard all of the vibes, but sadly I don’t think it will arrive to me on time.
I still think it’s stunning and will blend it into my wardrobe, some how.
For the Fellas:
Next month I will be peppering in menswear edits as I now have 2 of ya’ll as style clients and an increased readership of male identified readers who need clothes. Thank you for your patience :)
Until then, try this cologne. I’m obsessed.
Aria’s Playlist:
You all know I exclusively listen to jazz music- but my personal trainer informs me that on social media, it just doesn’t seem to land on the internet so we’ve switched the music selections on instagram to my favorite hip hop artists (J Dilla, Jay Z, Pusha T, Eve, Lil Kim, etc).
But in my real life, it’s jazz- always has been.
I missed out on all the summer jazz festivals this season- just couldn’t swing it this time around.
What has been giving me the feels has been listening to live jazz albums- those live recordings from yesteryear- makes me feel like I’m back in Switzerland or Newport or the Virgin Islands and there, in real time, but from the comfort of my balcony terrace at my home in Houston.
Dizzy Gellespie on The French Riveria has been on repeat.
Our American Privilege Is Showing Right Now
a black trans perspective on american privilege + superiority, america's erosion of global citizenry, Gaza, Sudan, Congo, Ukraine and fundraising for marginalized groups right now.
“It is a peculiar sensation, this double-consciousness, this sense of always looking at one’s self through the eyes of others, of measuring one’s soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity. One ever feels his two-ness,—an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder.
The history of the American Negro is the history of this strife — this longing to attain self-conscious manhood, to merge his double self into a better and truer self. In this merging he wishes neither of the older selves to be lost.
He does not wish to Africanize America, for America has too much to teach the world and Africa. He wouldn't bleach his Negro blood in a flood of white Americanism, for he knows that Negro blood has a message for the world. He simply wishes to make it possible for a man to be both a Negro and an American without being cursed and spit upon by his fellows, without having the doors of opportunity closed roughly in his face.”
- W. E. B Du Bois, Souls of Black Folks
In a world where problems feel overwhelmingly abundant, where chaos appears omnipresent, which ones do we solve?
I recently read an interview with a Lebanese fashion designer who discussed creating her work in the midst of uncertainty- in her native Lebanon, operating a small atelier whilst navigating the worst economic crisis in Lebanon in the past hundred years. “No one has money for gas or to function, but we still have our humanity”.
She goes on- in her interview with Tasman to discuss how both her morale and the morale of her country was impacted by the numerous bombings- and the protests, and of course- the crackdowns on protests and activism. How does one (an artist) create and scale their work in times of political turmoil? economic downturn? government instability? famine in the region?
In contrast, it made me realize that the American privilege- up until the recent election of Do and Trump (can you believe it’s only been 7 months in office?!) is that we don’t often have to- and have not yet had to- contend with abrasive political uncertainty, upheaval and destitution of the country en masse- and still have to work or create for a living.
The American privilege, up until now- has been one where we get to be one of the few countries in the world that doesn’t have to acknowledge the world around us.
We won’t have to study other languages to function in the world or for opportunity- and we certainly don’t have to understand another country’s President or Prime Minister’s foreign policy agenda to ascertain whether it will inadvertently impact our day to day lives.
For example- you probably don’t off the top of your head, know who the Prime Minister of the UK is. You don’t know the name of the dictators ruling Angola or the President of Nigeria and how their foreign policy impacts the global trade of oil.
You don’t know the name of the King of Saudi Arabia and why they would send Trump a plane as a gift. You don’t know the countries that are part of the NATO agreement and what those alliances determine if World War III will commence after the recent bombings in Iran.
And that unfortunately, is the tip of the iceberg for the American way of life. In our defense- our citizenship holds some of the best privileges in the world- and as someone who has traveled extensively across the planet- nothing competes to that blue passport.
Even when I’m acutely aware of being both Black and Trans in a country that continues to push to subjugate and deeper marginalise my existence- that Blue passport, everywhere else- grants me exceptions.
What the rest of the world doesn’t understand is that the American privilege is complicated and nuanced- and it is a mine of perhaps the worst kind- it’s a mine of the mind.
You see, the beauty of America is we can ask 50 people at random- from across the country- and ask them to identify what makes being American so great.
But at the core, we’ll see time and time again just how much of a mine of the mind it is, to be American.
You can be poor in America- dirt poor, but puff out your chest and call yourself “middle class”- and for generations you’ll believe it. Because you can mortgage a house you can’t afford (In Ghana and Nigeria- “credit” doesn’t exist. You pay cash for your home and your car. Otherwise you don’t have one. And if you’re renting- a year’s rent is due upfront, in cash. Imagine if that were the American way?).
You can finance a shiny car that you are struggling to pay for month after month- but you’ve been told that you are entitled to it.
You’re middle class- because God forbid an economist actually pierce the illusion of security and remind us that if we are in fact, going to work every day and struggling- we are in fact, poor.
Time poor especially- but just over broke after all the bills are paid. You’re not middle class my darling- you’re a poor working class worker. If the top 8% of wealth in this country is the owning class/elite- then the middle class would be…………
exactly.
We don’t think on the ways in which superiority in American culture is ingrained in us.
It shows up whether we like it or not- whether it be at the resort in Mexico (that’s where American entitlements are the worst, I’ve seen it with my own eyes)- or when we decide how to be a change maker in the world.
We’re just now seeing that iceberg cap- this sense of American privilege, slowly melt away as we watch how the regime anchors America’s weight as a gloabl citizen- and up until now, we haven’t truly interrogated or observed just how deeply ingratiated we all are in to the ideology of the American dream.
As a professional fundraiser- where organizations hire me on short term to raise money for causes we believe in- I’m always intrigued at how often in my work with the rich and elite - and those true middle class donors with summer homes in the vineyard and a yacht in Palm Beach- just how much Americans love to solve problems they have yet to see in real life.
We work to solve issues abroad like no tomorrow- and we’ll fixate on them.
The world needs an American saviour to come to the rescue.
But that changes once they are no longer exoticized.
No longer part of a foreign conflict.
We love to discuss what is happening in Gaza (genocide and ethnic cleansing) in big part because it feels millions of miles away from home.
This is not to compare in any way- Gaza needs something we actually can provide outside of relief and mutual aid funds- our attention- which is the most lucrative and profound currency we have right now.
The more we talk about what is happening- and understand the nuanced geo-political issues of the region- and begin transformative accountability (as the UN has stated- the discussion can’t be the right for Israel to exist. Israel is a recognized state and global power.
We have to stop talking about its right to exist as a globally recognized country and start talking about how it has abused its power in the name of religion and religious doctrine to annihilate and murder en masse an entire population of people who are also native to that land.
Once we stop asking the stupid question of its right to exist and once we jump past this weird trope that critiquing a state government is anti-semitic because it is a religious state- then we can see change and accountability).
Back to the thoughts: growing starvation in Sudan, genocide in the Congo- the war in Ukraine and pending re-colonization of Eastern bloc countries under Russian imperialism-
But to have American privilege is to also secretly despise other Americans.
Because once someone is American- then suddenly- they can’t in fact be helpless.
No one talks about the crimes of Nestle and the water pollution in Flint, Michigan- that’s so 2015- and yet, the problem has worsened.
We don’t talk about the exploitation and labor conditions of undocumented American farm workers- but when ICE flexes its muscles on the streets of Los Angeles- suddenly we care.
Are we responding to the aggression to the state?
are we in solidarity with farm workers who often have limited legal privileges and therefore are exploited into indentured servitude?
And why is the argument about their rights somehow correlated to how their labor seemingly benefits us? “They pay taxes or who is going to work our fields”. We never seem to get to a place where we ask “how do we actually protect them from exploitation”.
Where is the union for undocumented farmers? When does someone prove they deserve citizenship to a country they help sustain, just like the rest of us.
I once shared to a friend that I don’t believe Americans will support trans-led causes- even as the world watches us get our small rights stripped away- until more of us die.
When I shared on social media that I felt fortunate to finally be in a place where my livelihood isn’t entirely dependent on disparity- that’s what I meant.
Because for as long as I worked in social change- I understood that my profession was inextricably linked to disparity- that without the disparity- I wouldn’t have a job in that field.
Do we ever process how gross that is? How the nonprofit sector employs over a third of the country- and often nonprofits are some of the largest employers in the world.
People critique nonprofits for being reliant on the excess wealth of the 8%- but forget that it was designed exactly that way.
A 501c3 is just another tax classification- a business. Its profit model is that it operates to cure- or rather- alleviate disparity caused by wealth inequality in this country.
That the majority of these social issues has always been a byproduct of America as the playground for the wealthy and elite.
It’s their world, we just live in it.
Being a former sex worker- everything I learned about fundraising, running a company, or championing a cause- I learned from sex work. It was the unexpected education of the world I didn’t know I needed- all the lessons I learned at 18,19,20,21,22- informed so much of how I see the world- good and bad.
People move in their own self-interest, everytime.
We all do it- we make compromises to appease ourselves in the end. Doesn’t matter if the world is on fire- we think of ourselves first.
Doesn’t matter if a hurricane is impacting a region- we get upset that the plane won’t take off because we want to go on our vacation.
Just because I was a street based hooker without a home didn’t mean my tricks cared for me. They paid my rate to get them off.
How Does It Benefit Them?
Ever wonder how everyone on earth has a pussy- but not everyone knows how to use it?
Some people gift it for free- and some of us have learned the art of making money from it. Because there is an art.
There is an art to getting a middle aged white man who’s married with children who hates his job in the finance district to convince him without directly asking to sponsor your rent and buy you a Louis Vuitton bag as a deposit for good times.
And all too often, the secret is reminding him what he has to gain from you. How do I appeal to his ego? An affirmation that his investment will benefit him. Want to feel like a King everyday?
That’s what we’re selling.
People think I’m arrogant but conveniently forget that I spent 20 years in rooms surrounded by people who saw me as the charity, the help, and I had to constantly prove why I was in the room.
I was smarter and more talented than them, but had to affirm their superiority complex to stay in those rooms. That is an art I had to learn to master.
How to be in a room and seemingly be the “black trans we found”, the exceptional one- the one who is well spoken, non threatening- trans and proud but not annoying, not asking where the gender neutral restrooms were- enough diversity to tick the boxes but also the one that overtime “i forget that you’re trans. it must be so hard”. when you have spent as much time as I did in these rooms- you learn that I really was just the help.
But it had to mean something. Or so I thought.
Self-Love, Stillness & Growth (Podcast Episode I’m Listening To)
I was really moved recently when I listened to GOOP’s podcast series, specifically with Jay Shetty- and if you know me, I don’t typically care for podcasts, or vlogs, or anything that is supposed to be seen as unfiltered but ends up being edited and curated (like my blog lol).
But I’ve been thinking on his thoughts on self love, stillness and growth.
I like your writing and your vibe. I like the combo of fashion, social justice and politics. We met once at a Manny’s event in SF.