#clothing brand Gisele Clothing

[sscieloz]

💭 richgirl!aeri x studentathlete!reader

not proofread j some silly thoughts💕

pt.1 | pt.2

- you were thrilled to know you were going to share a dorm with another international student, specially since you were having a hard time adjusting.

- giselle was a sweetheart from day one, introducing you to everyone and making sure you always felt included.

- she was very classy and noticeably wealthy—you could tell, by her clothes and by the way she carried herself, that she came from money. besides, whenever you’d go out to fancy museums or coffee shops, something would always make your eyes grow big: always amused to your surroundings—yet she’d never bat an eye at it.

- you were given a full ride scholarship, and the only reason you were attending this specific university was due to the soccer coach spotting you at an international club tournament you played in new york and scouting you. you were hesitant, at first, but you weren’t going to get an offer to a university that was that prestigious at home anyway, so you decided to go.

- your parents were still paying for your stay, with much effort, so you tried to spend as little as possible.

- which meant subtly ducking from your roommate’s daily coffees and girl dates.

- giselle actually thought you didn’t like her until she realized you spent most of the time in the dorms because you were quite literally broke.

- it’s an issue she solves quickly enough.

- at first she just bluntly offers to pay for your stuff, but stops herself as you keep denying her efforts, with a flustered face. it’s only when she changes techniques that she starts succeeding in her efforts.

- she’s subtle, then: giselle gifts you clothes she claims that are “thrifted”, makes sure there’s always your favorite drink placed on your desk whenever you return from your practices, buys you the shoes she caught you lurking on the internet for far too long, claiming it’s your birthday present—even though your birthday isn’t until the upcoming months...

- accepting a purse she claimed she’d never used and “was in her closet for ages”. you later get told by a classmate said purse was just out of stock in seoul, even though it had just been announced

- you don’t suspect a thing, keeping her little gifts and dismissing them as just little treats she gives you as a friend. it’s giselle, after all. she was born into luxury, and gift giving is her primary love language.

- besides, you grew tired of rejecting her efforts to spoil you, and you hate to see her so offended when you tell her you just can’t keep that many presents. you hate the faces she does when she doesn’t get what she wants. and it frustrates you to not be able to gift her just the same. you wish you could spoil her rotten, too.

- as you stop telling her ‘no’, giselle becomes more and more confident.

- “it’s what roomies do, Y/n, don’t worry.” she assures you every time you try to give her the gifts back. in reality, giselle loves to see you dolled up in the stuff she chose. being the star player, you quickly gained popularity, so what better way to tell those useless whores who were always ogling you that you belonged to her already? what better way than having her brand all over you?

- she even gave you a friendship ring, as she called it, once you two went to the university’s fall ball, to symbolize how deeply you’ve connected since you started attending uni.

- you were basically either with your teammates or aeri and her friends. she was pretty, outgoing and naturally insanely popular. she dragged you with her everywhere, having you follow her around like a puppy. you didn’t mind, though: her friends were funny enough, and you liked getting to hear the drama and the gossips without being a part of it. they were also always polite to you, too, so you enjoyed hanging out with her and her group. they weren’t your friends, though. you reminded yourself that every now and then. just colleagues.

-

- she loved how shy you got when she touched you, too. it took her much, much patience, but after nearly a whole year, you were finally comfortable enough to be relaxed at her touches.

- an occasional hand on your waist, a kiss on the cheek; hugs that went for perhaps too long, cuddling sessions in the dorm as you watched her turn her buzzing phone off (she had a party to attend when you called her for a movie night. “oh, it’s ok unnie!! have fun.” you told her, but giselle was already sitting beside you and grabbing a hold of the blanket for herself.)

- she insisted on cuddling until you fell asleep too, even though your bed didn’t exactly fit both of you. however, you couldn’t bring yourself to deny her anything, already feeling like you owed her so much. she was the one who was always taking care of you, not only with her little gifts. she was always asking about your practices, if you needed any help with your classes, whether people were being nice and polite to you, since you still struggled with your korean when talking to many people at once. you were truly grateful to have her, so, naturally, you’d do anything for her.

- you’d often find yourself waking up with her hands groping your tits or lingering too close to the hem of your panties, but you’d never think much of it, dismissing it as your friend being just unconscious while sleeping.

- she was possessive, too. you could see the cold stare she gave your teammates whenever you had one of them over to study. funny enough, they never looked at you the same way again, nor did they accept your invitations to host movie nights anymore.

- your only friend (besides aeri) was jini. you were both new to the team and had many classes together. like you, she was shy, lost and very reserved, which was part of the reason you instantly clicked. you enjoyed hanging out with her between classes and practices, even more once you got to know her a bit better: jini was actually quite energetic and bubbly, always talking about her favorite mangas or the new songs she was listening to. you liked to hear how passionately she talked about things, sometimes so immersed she wouldn’t even notice you getting left behind in the sea of people, as you walked through your classes.

- naturally, giselle despised your teammate, always making sure to hug you extra hard and send her hard glances whenever you looked away.

- whenever she felt as if you didn’t have 100% of your attention on her, she’d buy you a fancy gift: an ipad of your favorite color, a watch, new earrings... it kept you clingy for days, entertained with your new stuff; just as she liked it.

- the first time you fucked, the two of you had just returned to another one of her fancy dinners with her friends. you were drunk, hot, and messy, struggling to get out of the small black dress that clung tightly to your body— which, of course, giselle had chosen for you to wear. you asked for help to take it off, but as soon as you felt your roommates long fingers trace your bare back, you lost it: you turned around, kissing her fiercely as the dress fell onto the ground, leaving you completely exposed.

- a wave of wind roamed through the window, hitting your body and making you shiver, feeling your nipples harden and your conscience returning. you took a step back, murmuring apologies and being extremely embarrassed, until you felt her hands on your waist again, pushing you onto your mattress as her body hovered on top of yours.

- she whispered it was ok; her pretty pet was horny, that’s all. she’d take care of it. and so she latched her mouth onto your body, making you moan loudly.

- you woke up still dizzy, with your body filled with bruises. you were still ashamed but deeply satisfied, and aeri brushed your hair as she said you could still be friends or something else, if you’d like.

- from then, you’ve been her girlfriend, though things had hardly changed. only now, she encouraged you to be vocal about the things you wanted her to buy for you, and you had to work for them.

- regardless, you love being her pet ;)

-

bonus: you didn’t realize you were kind of her sugar baby (even though she was only months older) until one of your teammates pointed it out, giving you a whole lot of harsh words and making a show of talking about how you were only with aeri because of her money. you ignored your girlfriend for a whole week after that, until she decided she’d given you plenty of space and confronted you with a serious tone. you started crying and she listened attentively as you explained the filthy words your teammate had said to you and all of her twisted suggestions. giselle nodded and pulled you close, kissing you and reassuring she knew none of that was true. yes, you were kind of a sugar baby since giselle spoiled you so much, but it didn’t have to be like that if you didn’t want it to be. you brushed your tears away, saying it wasn’t that; the girl’s words were just so agressive… the thought of people feeling so sure you didn’t love giselle as much as she loved you was overwhelming, which was why you distanced yourself. she understood, murmuring for you to tell her immediately when such things happened instead of refusing to see her, which you nod as she kissed the top of your head.

the girl gets expelled from your team 2 days after your conversation with giselle. however, you don’t connect the dots, only shrugging and not paying much attention to jini’s words as you walk to the cafeteria.

[dollfacedsl1ut]

Thoughts about ghostface aespa with sprinkles of g!p ?

!ghostface g!p! Aespa let’s talk about it….. this is the !nice fem popular reader version you can ask for the other one and I’d post it maybe..

a/n : ik there’s gonna be some type of typos AND IM SORRRRY SPARE ME PLEASE

content : murder (shocker), panty stealing, yandere themes, smut, mentions of a fivesome, the jock leaves reader for a rando.., unconsenual recording, reader gets leaked to the jock, groping, sexual corruption??, overall idk what this is you don’t either so yeah..

All members of aespa are in college and had their fair share of people they hated and wanted dead it didn’t matter who you were If you did something that angered them you were on the hit list which rounds up to 95% of the school especially the popular kids (they hated them so much) expect you, to them you were a actual person who didn’t care about luxury brands and cars or about drama / who was fucking who’s boyfriend while they were away to them you had a pure and innocent mind which made this attraction to you grow

It started off with stalking and obsessions to breaking in your dorm whilst you’re in classes maybe if they’re lucky enough you’ll be sleeping they stole various of things from miniature accessories you owned to clothing such as panties and bras..yeah you noticed stuff going missing but you just though you misplaced them or they got lost whilst you took trips to the communal laundry mat…

But one day there was a Halloween college party at a cabin in the woods, everyone was invited so everyone was there, the aespa girls took this as a good opportunity to start their killing spree.. the kill started off good they got rid of the people who would be missed by a minimal amount of people they enjoyed hearing their cries and their begs for forgiveness it just drove them too kill more that night but once you arrived it was like a switch flipped in their brains instead of their murderous mood they were more hyper and eager..

Their eyes scanned over your body looking at the way your costume hugged your curves the coils even see the out line of your panties, if they looked close enough they could tell you weren’t wearing a bra. The happy mood they once had flipped again once they seen who you brung, the jock that had the worse attitude and bullied people who didn’t have the latest car model needless to say they were pissed that you brung him out of everyone else on campus he was the worse guy you could’ve picked and they weren’t happy with you they were gonna make sure you never bring someone who isn’t them to another party..

They watched you and the jock the whole time, every single time you giggled, and felt uncomfortable by his sick jokes, but when he dismissed himself to “piss” they knew it was the perfect time for his death as well, the funny thing was he didn’t have too piss he was fucking another girl in the outdoor bathroom although they wanted to kill him there they wanted to make him feel overwhelmed with emotions so that’s when they finally approached you, you were scrolling on your phone drinking out of a red cup, the conversation was the best one you’ve had in years y’all had so much in common which turned you on although they haven’t showed their faces yet it was a turn on to have things in common it was Giselles idea to go to the bedroom to further explore this attraction..

Once y’all reached the bedroom it just felt like your panties were soaked right that minute the way their hands wondered on your body, the soft touches on your plush thighs, although you’ve never had a fivesome before you wanted to make this work the, sensations of them stretching you out felt so good you’ve never came this fast when you had sex but the way their cock filled you up so nicely you overall had the best experience besides the sounds of camera clicks you weren’t sure if that was your imagination or not you were too horny to be bothered with it, your body was sore and tired after it was finished you just wanted to take a quick nap, Karina and winter being the ones to wash you down and Giselle and ningning getting ready to send the videos and pictures of your sexual encounter with them to the jock,..

After you were sleeping soundly they knew it was time to start their next kill The Jock, after the recordings were sent to the jock they left kisses on your face Giselle might’ve left a slap on your ass and Karina might’ve groped your tits but it’s not like you would care much, the burner phone they used to send the pictures to the jock was ringing with messages angry to ones pleading for you to meet up with him so they did just that, He was pacing around in the back yard with his phone in his hand replaying the video just to hear your soft moans ring in his ears, they could tell he just finished fucking yet another girl and it seemed like you were the next, his pants were unzipped as his cock poked from between the hole in his boxers, They stood in the shadows until they eventually pounced on him ningning pinned his hands to ground as Giselle held down his legs, Karina replayed the sex tape over and over as the jock cried he knew they were the ones that fucked you and slutted you out the video replaying in his head even if the phone was no longer in his vision he couldn’t help it but feel blood rush to his dick watching you get fucked by 4 people at once wishing it was him and his friends fucking you instead, abusing your tight holes then leaving you alone crying and sore but he knew he wouldn’t be able to do that anymore to anyone he felt his body going numb as Karina cut into his chest blood gushing on the grass it just made them smile seeing yet another pathetic person being humbled but he wasn’t the first one they needed this to happened too and he certainly wasn’t gonna be the last..

[lyrenminth]

The one who got away

Angst. Fwb situation with Justin.

In another life

I would be your girl

We keep all our promises

Be us against the world.

You didn't know how it began. These dirty feelings for him. The way your heartbeat increases watching him making you a sandwich after fucking the life out of you. It was unnatural, unwanted, unexpected.

It was unreasonable knowing damn well you weren't ready for a relationship. But you enjoyed the way the treated you, how smooth his skin was, how strong he was not having a problem fucking you standing up, how his hips connected with yours and how raspy and masculine his hands felt while touching your body.

And you didn't want to think about the other side. The side it that made your mind betray every rational thought. The side that made you dream of a house with a beautiful garden and little children with blond hair and slint eyes running all over the place. The side that made your heart hurt.

You had your life's plan already and that never include a 6'6 athletic man in the mix, and for once you wanted to follow your path after fighting for a ounce of independence with your family. You could hear Meg voice telling you "don't lose your mind for a dick" and she knew better than you in many aspects.

But you looked at him, all focused cutting the sandwich in a perfect half (like you like it) and pouring grape juice (your favorite) in a tall glass. You knew it was a dangerous territory to have this family dynamics with him, but you couldn't stop.

And Justin looked like he didn't want either. You saw each other at least twice a week, only to undress each other, but everything started when he asked to stay a little more time. Suddenly, you were having deep conversations about football and your deeply dislike of mac-and-cheese. Sharing silly stories from your childhoods, those he would never share with the media.

The mistake of Justin was paying attention to you like he actually care. And you mistake was believe that he actually care.

Now you were pondering in that horrible and hurtful question: are we fuck buddies or something else? And the answer was unclear for you too. Because you can't...you must not like him.

Your dreams were first. You were first. You traveling schedule, your clothing brand, your goal of becoming someone important by your own right. Having Justin in that equation with his almost-celebrity status tainted your purpose. You weren't Gisele Bündchen.

"Here you have" he said, giving you your plate and sitting next to you. He made two sandwiches for himself, you knew how much he liked to eat. He was a big foodie just like you.

You still felt the spams in your core, the emptiness of something missing. It was to early to fuck again? Your libido with him was always high. How annoying.

"Thank you" you started eating avoiding looking at his beautiful face.

"I was wondering if you are going to stay in LA for the next week?" he asked, cleaning his lips with a napkin.

"Yeah, I leave in two weeks" you put your sandwich down, feeling the butterflies in your stomach. You wanted to punch yourself. "Why?"

"Umm" he played with his napkin. Was he nervous? "I got an extra ticket for the game, and if you want it it's yours"

You frowned. How agressive were those damn butterflies?

"Someone in your family can't go?" it must be. It has to be.

"Yeah, something like that" he looked at you, and your eyes went to his lips as usual.

"We say no public sightings" it was a rule he proposed. "Technically, we are not going to be together" he said.

Stay true to yourself. You can deal with a broken heart, you can't live his ways. Stay true to yourself. Love come and goes.

You bit your lip, and lower your gaze. It was your fault for allowing these interactions. The truth was you were scared, you didn't want to lose yourself but you enjoyed his company.

"What do you say?" his tone was so kind and hopeful that made you want to run away and throwing yourself at him in happiness. All at the same time.

You didn't want to know how he felt about you. Maybe he was in love, maybe he wasn't.

You sighed, not hungry anymore. You turned around to face him.

"Justin, I can't" it was the truth, it was the painful truth. "I can't go to your games, and I can't keep doing this" you move your hand between your bodies "I-um...I-" you gasped for air, feeling the knot in your throat "We agree this was something casual"

Maybe in another life. In another moment of your life. But not that night.

"I know" was all he said, frowning.

"Then, let's keep it casual, ok?"

"Yeah" he sounded sad? It was your imagination.

"I mean...I don't want to catch feelings and going to your games and all that stuff" your shake your head "It's going to erase the lines. I need the lines, Justin"

"Okay"

"Maybe we need a time apart too" he laughed without fun at you proposal "I don't want to catch feelings" you repeated "And you have tons of choices, I mean there are girls throwing themselves at you. You aren't going to starve" you joked trying to light the mood.

Then you saw how he closed himself. His expression hardened and you swore his eyes lost all shine.

"If that's what you want" he said, serious.

I don't know what I want, dumbass.

"It's what I need"

He only nodded. Yup, he was mad. But why? He started cleaning the table, you noticed he didn't eat much too.

"I'm going to call an Uber" you stated, understanding he didn't want you there, you started looking for you phone.

"It's too late. I'm gonna take you to your house" he declared.

It's something you liked about him, he could be mad but he wasn't an asshole.

"You don't have to" you find your purse, and took out your phone.

"Don't argue with me. It's late, it's dangerous. I know you don't want to spend more time with me but at least let me take you to your house so I know you're safe" he sounded bitter, and sad.

Wow. You stopped what you were doing only to look at him. He turned around, avoiding your gaze, like looking at you was unbearable.

"Thank you" you whispered.

The car ride was silent. And you were doubting your decisions. Maybe it was too soon? Too harsh? When you building complex appeared in sight you were about to cry. Why? You were the one who asked for it. You looked at his hands, his strong thighs and his stern look...oh.

"Thank you for the ride" you said, clenching to your purse. A heavy energy settle between both. You noticed he was holding tight the steering wheel, his knuckles white.

"You're welcome"

"Thank you for everything" he shook his head slightly at your words. His Adam's apple moving up and down. "Good luck for the rest of you seasons. I truly believe you are a great athlete, and you must be proud of yourself"

He took a deep sigh. "You don't have to do this" he declared, you heart sank "Good night"

And that's how you knew it was over.

"Bye"

In the next month you spend trying to get rid of him. You told your friend to help you to keep your mind free of him. You avoid watching his games, or being closer to anything related to him. It was relatively easy since you never went public with him. But the ache you felt made you sleepless and weak. You cried whole nights, realizing that you miss him. His scent, his dry sense of humor, his warm body, his hugs after sex, how good he made you feel.

Your dreams were the only thing you clinched for dear life. It was the reason you took that decision. Somehow, you didn't find it enough at that moment.

The nail in the coffin was to block his number and unfollow him from social media. After that you become a workaholic, traveling here and there, meetings with others brands, designing new clothes. Efficiency was your second name.

Everything was falling into place, but during some nights you would miss him. The sex, the intimacy. You had to fight against some actions, including stalk him or watch interviews. It was bad because he was a quarterback, face of a franchise. One Subway commercial and you were ready to unblock him. It was pathetic.

You were too stubborn to call him. To admit it. To give a second chance. And you had to learn to live without him.

Because you were the one afraid. The one who got away.

[sunnyrealist]

Chapter 48: Be Vulnerable with Me

The Sun, the Moon, and All Our Stars

Summary and Details…

Previous Chapter Recap/Context: Sebastian and Kate have decided to move in and officially begin their life together. He checked out of the inn where he had been staying for the final time and packed his belongings into a trunk. In this chapter, the two of them unpack, and Sebastian tells Kate all about his family as they view old portraits.

Pairing: 25-year-old, post-Azkaban Sebastian Sallow x 24-year-old Kate Mayflower (my OC), the assistant librarian at Hogwarts

Content warnings: In general, this is rated 18+, so minors should not read or interact with this story. This chapter doesn't have any smut, but there is a discussion about using an excessive amount of potions to sleep/escape trauma and recounting memories of lost loved ones.

Art credits: @hogwartslegacypics provided the screenshot in the background, and @giselsann-opencommissions perfectly depicted these mischievous little munchkins. Giselle is an absolute pleasure to work with and has provided all of the drawings for the story. I cannot recommend her enough if you're looking to commission some art!

The full chapter is available below the cut; it can also be found on AO3 (link is posted below). Please leave some feedback if possible, especially if you like what you read! 🥰

Chapter 48: Be Vulnerable with Me

It’s well past lunch time, and Kate hurriedly puts together a lunch of roast turkey sandwiches with crunchy carrots and cucumbers on the side. At the table, Sebastian absolutely wolfs it all down, and she has to put together an additional serving for him.

“Tomorrow, we’ll go to Feldcroft, yes?” Kate asks. “We’ll visit the cemetery, and perhaps you can show me where you lived.”

A sensation of panic erupts inside of him. “I don’t think we should actually go into Feldcroft. I… I’m not sure that the villagers will be friendly to me. Surely, they all know what happened to my uncle.” He imagines apparating there, watching anxiously as Feldcroft’s inhabitants begin to whisper to each other warily, close their doors quickly, perhaps even summon a local Auror out of fear. His heart couldn’t take it. “We should just visit the cemetery. It’s far enough outside of town that we shouldn’t encounter others. I don’t want to… cause a commotion or involve you in a difficult situation.”

Kate studies him and accepts his suggestion. “I guess we’ll avoid the Floo network and apparate, then.” 

The next few minutes pass in comfortable silence as they finish their meals. 

“Let me take care of the clean-up,” Sebastian offers, standing and gathering the plates.

“Thanks, dear. In that case, I’ll just be outside with the laundry.”

When Kate eventually returns, she finds Sebastian on the loveseat, engrossed in one of the books she had nicked for him from the Hogwarts library. Flicking her wrist to magically turn on the gramophone, she and Sebastian both smile as soft music begins to play. She continues on her way to the bedroom to fold the clothes and put them all away. 

“I’ll help you in a little while. I just want to finish this chapter,” he calls out.

Several minutes later, Sebastian enters the room and finds Kate a bit flustered. It was simple to put her laundry away, but she doesn’t know where to put any of his garments. Together, they conduct a magical extension charm to construct a closet, and Kate transfigures two wooden bowls into doors. He comes to a happy realization - this spell isn’t one that can be taken back, and she hadn’t had any second thoughts about creating the space for him.

Sebastian levitates his trunk into the bedroom, and little by little, everything gets placed in his brand-new closet. Some of his clothing has seen significant wear and tear, and Kate makes a mental note to try to mend some of the items when he is at work next week. 

Though he had previously warned Kate that he didn’t have much, she is still surprised to see that it was not necessary for Sebastian to magically extend it. The bulk of its contents were clothing; the rest, now, are miscellaneous items like his broom, razor, toiletries, a case filled with various potions, several dragonhide-bound journals, a quill and ink pot, and some old photographs, which Kate requests to view later. 

In the bathroom, Kate organizes the potions, adding them to her own store, organized by type. Some are new additions to her potions cabinet: his contraceptive potion, an invigoration draught, and a few antidotes for poisons and ailments. Kate is familiar with but has never seen such a large quantity of Wiggenweld potions, sleeping draughts, and Dreamless Sleep potions. She eyes them curiously as Sebastian enters the room. 

He immediately stiffens upon noticing what is left in his potions case and tries to distract her. “What shall we do for dinner tonight?”

“I’ll decide later,” she answers quickly, then studies his face as she asks, “Sebastian… do you typically not sleep well?”

The chestnut-haired man hesitates, not wanting to admit the truth - that he uses the potions as a crutch to avoid being plagued by insomnia, nightmares, and the phantoms of his past. “Well…”

“We’ve been sleeping together for almost a full week now, and I’ve never noticed you having any difficulties, so why do you have all of these draughts?” His eyes dart around, avoiding her gaze. “Seb… I need to know these things. We’re going to live together now. Someday, we’ll be married.” She takes his hand. “Please tell me. It’s alright. You can be vulnerable with me.”

Sebastian sighs in resignation. “You’re right... I should be honest with you. It’s just… difficult to talk about.” He takes a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. “I struggle to sleep. I have frequent nightmares and night terrors. When I’m alone with my thoughts and can’t fall asleep, I can’t help but relive the past - all of my mistakes, what I experienced in Azkaban, what I’ve had to do for the Kelpies… It’s so hard to manage it all. The draughts are my way of… well, avoiding further misery. I… In truth, I- I rely on them heavily.”

Nodding solemnly, she considers her words carefully. “Anyone in your place might struggle, love. You and I… together, we are going to get you some help from a Mind Healer. Using sleeping potions so often isn’t…” She trails off, unsure of how to say what she means without offending him.

“I know it isn’t healthy,” he admits quietly. “But other than sleeping with you lately, nothing else works. At least my sleep is undisturbed when I take them. I have to be able to function during the day…” He runs a hand through his hair, clearly distressed and starting to panic. His voice becomes shaky, his words spilling out quickly. “Look, K- Kate… I- I understand if you think it’s t- too much to deal with. You don’t have to stay with me - you don’t-”

“Seb, sweetheart - no.” Kate brings his hand to her chest, slipping it under her blouse and placing it over her heart. “Do you feel that - my heartbeat?”

He nods shakily as his fingers tremble. He closes his eyes for a moment, focusing on the steady rhythm of her heartbeat and the warmth of her skin.

Kate gazes into his eyes, speaking calmly and seriously. “My heart beats… for you, Sebastian. I’m here to stay. It’s not too much for me, I promise. We will get help for you. I just need you to be open to the help.”

Sebastian’s shoulders slowly start to relax, but his hand remains over her heart. “I’ll try,” he murmurs, his voice thick with emotion. “I’ll t- try to be open to help. For you. For us. I don’t want to keep living like this. I… really do want to get better.” 

She reaches up to caress his cheek. 

There is a glimmer of hope in his eyes. “Being with you… already makes me feel safer, more at peace than I’ve felt in the past decade.” He inhales and exhales slowly as a calming mechanism. “I- I’ll do whatever it takes to get better.”

“I believe you. Just remember, I’m not going anywhere. You can tell me anything.”

The two of them return to the bedroom and finally move the trunk, still containing various miscellaneous items, inside the closet.

“Now, can you show me those pictures?” Kate asks eagerly, grinning. She settles herself on the bed, sitting up and clutching a pillow against her abdomen. 

“Sure,” he replies, opening the trunk once more to fish out the photographs. He holds them close to his chest, as though they are precious and fragile. Before revealing them to her, he explains, “When I got out of Azkaban, I accessed my parents’ old vault in Gringotts. There wasn’t much there - certainly no money or valuables. Just a few mementos that Solomon couldn’t sell. I found these portraits and some journals that had my parents’ research.” He lays the pictures on the bed upside down, and then goes back into the trunk to retrieve some of the books, also placing them on the bed.

“What exactly did they research?”

Sebastian smiles, exhaling through his nose as he sits down next to his girlfriend. “Just about everything. They were experts in their fields. My da taught Magical Theory at Hogwarts, and my mum taught Defense Against the Dark Arts. They both researched heavily - especially during summers. Before they died, my mum was studying…” He grabs one of the blue notebooks, opening it and flipping through the pages. “Well, her work is quite varied. Healing Muggle children from werewolf attacks, non-traditional teaching methods for nonverbal offensive and defensive spells, and… erm… the Unforgivable curses.” He pauses, clearing his throat. His Adam’s apple bobs.

“So… your mum was also interested in the Dark Arts,” Kate notes.

“It was her job,” Sebastian quickly responds. “She had to know all about them. She… She and my da… they didn’t look at Dark magic as completely bad… just as regular magic is not always completely good.”

Kate nods, feeling as though she’s put him on defense. She tries to make up for it. “I suppose that is true.”

“My da traveled often for his research. He actually… believe it or not, studied reincarnation at one point in India. In fact…” Sebastian’s eyes narrow. “I should read his journals again, now that we know about our past lives. Perhaps I could pick up his research where he left off…” He trails off, looking thoughtful and determined, before continuing on. “My mum and da teamed up at times, too. They focused a lot on defensive magical theory and trying to find an engaging way to teach it to students. They also spent a good deal of effort… researching love as a form of magic in its purest form.” He smiles. “You know… they were… honestly, madly in love.”

Sebastian reaches over to the photographs and flips the first one over. Kate grins, her eyes scanning over every little detail. It’s clearly a portrait of his parents on their wedding day. Sebastian is the spitting image of his mother, who appears to have lots of freckles and soft curls. Her wedding gown is fashionable for the era; she wears a veil and carries a simple bouquet of roses and baby’s breath. His father has dark hair with a mustache and beard, and he holds and gazes at his wife in complete adoration. They look so cheerful.

“I remember how they would read together at night, holding hands,” Sebastian murmurs. “They’d whisper sweet words to each other, and much to my dismay as a young lad, they would kiss often. They supported each other fervently, and they loved working together. Our house in Aranshire was filled with books, and the cellar was their official workspace. Anne and I were told that if they were in the cellar, they were not to be disturbed unless there was an emergency.”

Kate reaches out to touch Sebastian’s hand. “That’s so sweet. How did they meet?”

“At Hogwarts,” Sebastian answers with a grin. “They were academic rivals. My mum was in Ravenclaw, and my da was in Slytherin. They had classes together over the years, and they were always competing for top marks. Supposedly, it all changed when they were assigned to work on a yearlong project in Potions class their seventh year, and they realized how similar they actually were and became friends… and then, it turned into love. When they graduated, they got married straight away. Anne and I didn’t come along until quite some time later.”

“Do you think their Potions professor put them together as partners on purpose?” Kate giggles. “I feel like I would do something like that if I was a teacher… just to see what happens. The drama. But I can’t imagine Professor Sharp, for example, ever doing such a thing…”

Sebastian laughs at the thought. “No way would Sharp do that.”

“What was your mum’s name?” Kate asks.

“She was Selina Ware,” he replies. “She had a brother, but he died in his twenties in a work accident, so I never met him. The entire Ware family line - they all passed away before I was born. That’s why Anne and I were forced to live with Solomon, my da’s brother.” He looks into the distance, stony-faced.

“Hey. Let’s focus on the good.” Kate squeezes his hand. “Leave your uncle out of it. Don’t let the bastard weasel into your happy memories. I’ve heard enough about him to know I would have hated him.” 

Sebastian laughs out loud, surprised by her reaction, and he leans over to kiss her cheek. “You have no idea how much I love you.” 

The next picture is one of Anne and Sebastian as young children, likely around seven years old. Kate grins in delight as she sees their coordinated sailor-type outfits. Both of them look incredibly mischievous - Anne more so than her brother. She has a cheeky smile on her face and a slingshot in hand. Sebastian carries a book - no surprise there.

“Oh gods, you were adorable!” Kate coos. “Look - you were missing a tooth! And your hair was so curly…”

Sebastian huffs out a laugh. “Yeah, my mum could never get my hair to behave. It was always out of control. Honestly, my hair’s always been like that. Now, I just keep it shorter, and it seems to be more manageable that way.”

Kate looks even closer at the photograph, examining the setting. “Where was this taken?”

“In front of our house in Aranshire,” Sebastian answers. 

“Seb… If our children are even half as cute as you were, I’ll never be able to say no to them,” Kate murmurs. “And Anne - what a beauty! And how interesting - her hair doesn’t look curly at all…”

“She took after our da,” Sebastian explains. “My mum never had a problem putting her hair into braids or other styles. It was always my hair that was the issue.”

“Did they put you and Anne in matching outfits all the time?” 

“No. They wanted us to have our own identities outside of being twins,” he says fondly. “We only matched when we were really young, when there was an occasion for it, like posing for a photograph.”

When they view the final portrait, Sebastian puts his arm around Kate. This is a family portrait, and Mr. and Mrs. Sallow appear to be more than a decade older than in their wedding photo. His mum wears her hair pulled back with a hat, and her outfit consists of a jacket, white blouse, and a matching skirt. Sebastian’s father wears a formal suit with many pieces. They stand behind the twins with their hands on their shoulders. Sebastian is wearing a collared shirt with a bow tie, suspenders, and breeches with tall stockings. He is grinning from ear to ear, showing all of his teeth. Anne is wearing a floral dress that flows just past her knees with a bow in her hair.

“How old were you here?” Kate queries, her focus fixed on all of the little details.

“Around ten years old. I remember this was taken shortly before they passed,” Sebastian recounts. “I remember that our parents were so excited for us to get our Hogwarts letters. It was practically all Anne and I ever wanted to discuss. They knew we were going to do so well in school.” His eyes soften. “Since they were professors, they were aware of the curriculum and had us read some of our textbooks in advance so that we could get as much out of our education as possible. I devoured those books - so did Anne. In fact, we sometimes fought over the textbooks. We also knew our way around Hogwarts because our parents would bring us there once in a while during summer.” 

After some time, Kate murmurs, “What a tragedy that such brilliant minds could be snuffed out by a gas leak from a lamp.”

“Yes,” he replies softly. “A silent killer. I… I wish there was something I could have done, but it was too late when Anne and I found them. If… If I had been close by, I might have heard it go silent…” He stops talking for a while, attempting to put aside his typical, go-to negative and unproductive thoughts. Focus on the good. “I… I guess for me, it’s a reminder that nothing is promised. We have to treasure all of the time we are given with our loved ones. And, Merlin, we spent so many happy years together in Aranshire. I miss them so much. All of them.” 

Kate pulls Sebastian close, kissing his hair. 

A sense of warmth and contentment fills Sebastian’s soul as she continues to study the photographs in depth. It’s been a long time since he allowed himself to really reminisce about family - at least, the positive aspects of his childhood. Seeing Kate so engaged and wanting to learn as much as she can about his mum, da, and Anne, a newfound appreciation grows within him. He relishes the moment, nuzzling into her chest as they bask in the comfort of each other’s presence. There is a profound tranquility in their connection - a sense of being understood and accepted completely. He knows their road ahead may not be easy, but he is more sure than ever before that they can overcome anything as long as they stand together.

“Do you… think they would have liked me?” Kate wonders quietly. “Or might they have envisioned someone very different for you?”

Sebastian considers her question for a moment and shifts, sitting up. “They would have loved you, Kate. You embody so many of the qualities my family valued deeply - intelligence, loyalty, an open mind… And your ability to see the best in me is… well, something truly special. They would have recognized your kindness and the way you uplift me. So… yes, I genuinely believe they would have approved of you wholeheartedly.”

Kate doesn’t respond right away, feeling a bit emotional. “I wish I could have known them.”

“I know,” he replies. “I wish you could have known them, too. They would have adored your joyful spirit and your warmth. But maybe… Maybe, in a way, they know you now. Every time we share memories and make new ones, perhaps they are with us.”

A tear slips out of Kate’s eye, despite her attempt to blink it away. “That’s… the best way to think of them, Seb. I’m sure you are right.” She finally places the portraits on the bed beside her. “We should frame these. They should be displayed in our home.”

“You’re right,” he murmurs. “They should be cherished, not locked away in my trunk.”

Kate’s eyes light up with an idea. “Let me pick out frames next week.” She looks into the depths of his eyes. “I know I will never really meet them, but it’s important to me that your family has a place here, too.”

Sebastian’s eyes are locked on her, a mixture of awe and gratitude in his expression. “Thank you, Kate. I… can’t fully put it into words, but it means the world to me that you care so deeply about honoring my family’s memory.” He places a soft kiss on her forehead.

“And we can add our own portraits someday,” she adds. “Did you know that a photographer just opened a shop in Hogsmeade?”

“I wasn’t aware of that,” he replies, his interest piqued. “Did you… have something in mind?”

Kate blushes a little. “I mean… I guess I thought it might be nice for us to pose for a portrait together.” She looks a little pensive - dreamy, even. “I might like to keep a picture of you in a locket, if I may be so bold.” 

Sebastian reaches out to tuck some hair behind her ear, his touch gentle and his smile genuine. “The thought of you keeping a photo of me in a locket… is incredibly endearing, my sun. I dare say I may like to keep a picture of you on me as well.”

“I’d like you to be near my heart always, so that I can feel your presence… especially when you’re on these dangerous missions,” she explains, lifting her hand to his cheek. “You have no idea how much I am going to worry about you.” 

“Trust me, I know your worry is genuine,” he acknowledges plainly. “And I can’t promise you that I’ll be completely safe - not with the nature of my work. But I will always do my best to come back to you in one piece. Carrying  your image with me will be a constant, heartening reminder of what I’m fighting for.”

“I just wish your work was not so dangerous. I wish… you had a choice.” She looks down for a moment, her eyelashes fluttering, before glancing back up at him again. “Sweetheart… we need to get you out of there.”

“I know, but it just isn’t that simple,” he replies, threading his fingers in hers. “The DMLE isn’t exactly keen on letting me walk away. I have a contract to honor, and they have leverage over me… because of my past.”

Kate nods solemnly. “But then… What can we do? How can we end this contract? There must be a way out that doesn’t involve you going back to Azkaban.”

“There are some possibilities,” he says quietly. “But none of them are pleasant. I don’t want to worry you any more than you already are. Just know… I’m exploring every avenue to earn my freedom.”

Staring at nothing in particular, she is silent for several moments. “I trust you, Bash. I know you’ll figure out a solution. The Kelpies must be brought to justice, and I am confident you’ll be the one to do it. You’re… cunning, resourceful, and determined - and I love you for it. You’ll succeed - I just know it.”

“I won’t lie to you, darling. It’s going to be a tough fight. But knowing of your unwavering support and faith in me gives me strength. I won’t give up. Our future together is too important.” 

“Is there anything I could do?” she genuinely inquires.

Sebastian’s heart swells with gratitude at her offer, but his countenance turns serious as he considers her question. “It’s important to me that you stay safe, first and foremost. Really, the most helpful thing you could do, Kate, is simply be here for me, provide a safe haven where I can feel comfort and solace. That alone means more to me than you can fathom.”

“Right,” she responds, looking aside and biting her lip. “I can do that. I just wish I could do more. I would do anything to help you, Seb. Truly.”

Sebastian gently takes hold of her chin, turning her face towards him once more. He leans in to press a gentle kiss to her lips. “Darling, you do more for me than you realize. You give me strength and resolve and hope. And I know you would do anything for me… That’s why I have to protect you.”

Kate leans in and kisses him again, lingering. “I want to protect you, too. You’re everything to me, my moon. It just isn’t fair - I wish I could free-”

She suddenly sits up, hearing a loud tapping coming from the kitchen. “Oh - it must be an owl with a letter.”

Sebastian lets out a small sigh, carefully untangling himself from her embrace. “Stay here, love. I’ll go check it out.”

He makes his way to the kitchen, where, indeed, an owl is perched just outside the window, hooting. After opening the window, he unties the letter from its foot and watches it fly away. The envelope is addressed to Kate. When he flips it over, a flicker of recognition comes across his face as he notices the seal of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

[dojae-huh]

Lucas has to build up his popularity again. Showing his face here and there, attending programmes. After he finds his footing again (psychologically first of all), I think he will be pushed as an actor. His main selling card is his looks and charisma, not performance skills, so modelling/acting/tv-personality is best. A Chinese-Thai Cantonese native speaker promoting in Indonesia in Korean, lol. Will Korean become the lingua franca for the region? It has the grammar/writing system advantage and the soft power of celebs.

aespa are on fire this comeback. Frankly, after many listens I still didn't warm up to "Armageddon", it's my least liked A-track, but the song serves aespa world-building and the transition to the part 2 of the lore. The concept is very beautiful, of course. And pre-releasing Supernova was a super smart move. SM repeated the success of "Illusion" (but this time adding an MV).

aespa members all progressed with dancing and stage precense, even Giselle moves better (the upper body, not legs yet). Now they are ready for global expansion and representing SK. They can show strong live singing, impress with encores, are confident. I agree with the method of starting off with minis and singles. A rookie group needs time not only to gain a fandom, but also to mature as performers. NCT U, aespa, Riize got first songs that serve in hind sight. Black mamba makes sense after the reveal of the lore. NCT started with a now classic track and with the most popular members. Riize - with a difficult daring choreo they are now known for (they repeated it with "Impossible").

The new TWS song is as bland as the previous ones, couldn't finish the MV. I'm actually curious if they will do well (considering Hybe's wealth and socmed platform, affiliation with SVT) or be the victim of fan fatigue. So far they offer nothing new in comparison to TXT and Enhypen.

Dream's "Moonlight" Jaemin gets the best clothes for MVs, heh. That sparky sweater caught my attention during the first seconds of the MV. The song is not for me, but it's very on brand for Dream - optimistic, uplifting, comforting. The MV is nice, light and sparkly, very nice colours. Fitting the concept. I like the white outfits.

Dream for me is the definition of "idol group". They are strong at performing (dancing skills, cohesion of the unit, similar height), every member is different and stands out on his own (it took time, but SM figured out how to highlight everyone and use individual skills), they are good at providing "a good company" (variety, friends, vlogs). Their overarching concept is youthful, optimistic, in parallel to their fanbase (growing up from teens to adults). The unit isn't vocally strong, only Mark is a good rapper, but the lack of technical skills is well hidden by assigning singing parts the members can manage, using Jaemin's deep voice and smiling face instead of trying to make him really rap, uniting voices in a chorus like in this song, etc. Dream sells "good time" and "good company" instead of "art" or "food for brain and ear" (like 127).

[silversiren1101]

Ooooh cool ask meme! How about stillness, day, and alternate (just modern bc im boring)?

Hi Cassy! For Mino and Moro!

stillness: How does your OC act while still? Are they fidgety? Do they have any common gestures or tics? Does their clothing affect how they hold themselves while at rest?

Minovae: Mino is a woman always in movement, whether fidgeting, tapping, pacing, or (the most common) tail movement! Her armor makes her kind of noisy if she is really moving around, so, as most ganzi do, her tail is quite expressive and often speaks her mind for her, even if she doesn't really want it to. Happiness is swaying like a contented cat. Agitation is a rattle at the tip like a snake. Shock has her feathers all bristling and standing on it. Thrashing about for excitement and rage both...

Stillness, though. That's bad. ESPECIALLY if her tail is still, lying on the ground as if deflated... she's in a bad spot. We're talking actual depressive or despair or sorrow, because a dead tail means dead spirits.

Morolai: Claw ticking! Moro can't help but click her claws either against her throne's armrests or against each other. She doesn't otherwise fidget all that much, and even her claw action is a calculated threat, hehe.

day: What does your OC wear on a normal day? Why do they default to those clothes? Do they wear similar things, or do they change it up?

Minovae: Mino is almost always in her armor. She's a Hellknight, that's just what they do. When she's not, though, she wears surprisingly feminine clothing in delicate colors. She grew up beneath the shadows of the Wiscrani aristocracy, seeing those fancy ladies in all their lace and frills and finery. Sad orphan she was, she couldn't help but soothe herself to sleep imagining what it'd be like to wear something nice, that could hide her scales and feathers and tail...

As an adult, she has no desire to hide her ganzi features anymore, but she does indulge in a spot of lace and delicate fabric! What she wears is still quite comfortable and practical, but with some ribbons and feminine accents as a minor indulgence. A gift to the child that no one came for.

Morolai: This queen has an entire room dedicated to just her wardrobe, and she is always commissioning new outfits and pieces to add to her collection. She prefers dark colors with sharp profiles and cutouts that accentuate her own natural features. Practical? No. Elegant and sexy and classy as hell? You bet. She won't be caught dead wearing anything that isn't flattering on her, or something someone has already worn before. Hell, she probably won't even wear the same outfit more than once unless it's to make a point!

alternate: What would your OC's alternate universe look be? If they're a fantasy character, what's their modern look? If they're sci-fi, what's their fantasy look? What AU would you want to see your OC in, and how would they dress themself? Bonus: Prompt an AU!

Minovae: Just did here!

Morolai: CEO and owner of a fashion empire, and fashion model while we're at it. She is a genius and visionary in her designs. She models them herself. She is cutthroat and lethal in the competition. She will insult people to their face saying they don't deserve to wear her brand. I'm talking if Gisele Bündchen founded and controlled Prada and Versace and Armani combined.

This isn't gaudy tacky "accessible" high-fashion like LV or Chanel. This is the subtle true wealth vs 'rich' brand. Her label isn't blazoned across the front of her products, it's stitched into the seam and has only a few immediate-tell markers. This is "if you recognize it you're part of the club" type of fashion.

It's the darkest of colors. It's outlandish but also stylish. It's elegant but slutty as fuck.

She absolutely has assassinated the competition.

From this Ask Game

[arquivonuvem]

Weekly Fashion News Report

Formula 1 driver, Fernanda Alonso joins german fashion brand BOSS as a brand ambassador (WWD)

H&M will be opening their first store in Brasil in 2025 (CNN)

French government will be paying for costumer's clothes repair. The decision was taken to avoid clothes to be thrown away and to support fashion industry workers (The Guardian)

H&M is suing Shein over copyright infringement (Hightsnobiety)

Know for being Phoebe Philo's muse, Daria Werbowy appears in new Gucci High Jewellry teaser campaign (BOF)

After 8 years hiatus, Gisele Bundchen is back in new brazilian fashion brand Colcci's campaign (L'Officiel)

Crystal Palace, becomes the first Premier League team to hire a creative director. His name is Kenny Annan Jonathan and will be responsible for the apparel collection and fashion partnerships (BOF)

[fortressofserenity]

Underpaid

If I'm not mistaken, male models tend to be underpaid. I might also add that many of them aren't as well known as their female counterparts are, Enzo Junior has modelled for photographers before but he's a bit player. If male models are underpaid compared to their female counterparts, in the case with Pietro Boselli they might as well turn to Plan B. A second career to give them supplementary income at that, but not enough to pay for their gym membership especially if they're starting out or something.

Because of how underpaid so many male models are, if a brand were to seek a male representative it would seek out actors and athletes. I suppose if there are any hot male scientists around, then brands will seek them as well and pay them as much as they do with athletes and actors. The other problem is that women's appearances tend to be prioritised more than their actions, so this is also why female models are paid more than women working in say sewing, even though sewing's the more useful of the two jobs.

It's also more looks-agnostic, but when women's bodies are prioritised over women's actions it makes it likelier to objectify them a lot. Okay, I'm dead wrong here as sexual harassment also occurs in garment industries. But when women's looks are prioritised over women's actions, I feel it sends a bad message that the former are more important than the latter. It gets worse whenever it's headed by men, that explains a lot of things.

Along with how profitable women's clothing tends to be, it seems even if male models do exist and get a following themselves they're going to be second fiddle. Pietro Boselli is pretty well-known, but even then he's nowhere as well-paid as Sean O'Pry is who in turn isn't as well-paid as Gisele Bundchen is. It's a good guess to say that many male models are middle class, earning enough to get by in life and buy whatever they want and need. But it is this rare for them to be rich.

[d3adpr1nc3ss]

tag game!! creds: @strawberrymilkshakedoll

fav model: gisele bundchen

fav color: pink obvs

fav beverage: ultra rosa monster energy

fav book: books close by kori jane

fav singer: lana del rey

fav emoji: tounge sticking out with eyes open

fav movie(s): coraline, jennifer's body, death becomes her, i know what you did last summer

fav animal: cat

fav clothing brand: juicy couture!!

fav season(s): spring and fall

fav character: needy, alyssa foley, raquelle, harley quinn

pass it on ! <3

[lolidolli]

thanki♡ @strawberrymilkshakedoll

fav model: vlada roslyakova

fav color: baby pink

fav book: the virgin suïcides

fav singer: lizzy grant, mars argo

fav emoji: 🐇♡

fav movie: sleeping beauty, bambi (1942), old barbie movies, tinkerbell

fav animal: bunnies ♡,cats

fav clothing brand: brandy melville

fav season: winter, summer

fav character: snow white, princess giselle (enchanted), princess aurora , janet webber (girl interrupted) 🧁

🧁tags all moots♡

[jentlemahae]

i’m so happy that aespa have individual fashion ambassadorships now. i always felt like group ambassadorships don’t work with fashion brands (hybe PLEASE take notes, free my fimmies from the evil clutches of louis vuitton) bcs each member has a different style and personality. imo their group deal with chopard works fine bcs idt personal style matters when it comes to jewellery as much as fashion. anw their individual deals work so much better! karina in pravda, winter in polo ralph lauren and ningning in versace, it’s like the stars are aligning, that’s so perfect!!! idk if giselle has an official deal yet but she has been working with acne studios, loewe and ottolinger and honestly all of those brands fit her well so yay!!!

agreeeeeee !!! i really don’t like group gigs when it comes to fashion and fashion/visuals is such a BIG aspect of aespa’s concept so i always thought them choosing the right gigs was really important, so i definitely agree with u :3 and yeah . free lsrfm from lv and their ugly clothes .

[blogmodule2]

2-1 Blog: Under Armour: Where Do We Go From Here?

In the case study article, what market segments were identified and what segmentation strategies were implemented? 

With advertisements that targeted men, Under Armor first built their brand by marketing their products through the "tough guy" and football image (University of Virginia, 2016). University of Virginia, 2016). They achieved this by delivering innovative and modern technical apparel. Under Armor gained $2.3 billion in sales in 2013 but only $500 million came from their women's products, motivating them to expand into the female market (University of Virginia, 2016). As a result, the campaign "I Will What I Want" was created. By using a ballerina, the campaign targeted women who would relate how they were recognized after attending a ballet school because of their lack of body, but continued to pursue their passions and danced for the rest of the advertisement, which was so included in another part of the campaign, famous model Giselle Bundchen (University of Virginia, 2016). In addition to niche segments such as the health club industry, closely targeted activities like Pilates and rock climbing were also highlighted in the case study article. 

Targeting segments based on demographic characteristics was Under Armor's segmentation strategy. Kardes et al., 2020 describe demographic characteristics such as age, gender, income, education, occupation, etc. In marketing, demographic segmentation is more popular since characteristics of consumers can be measured easily and inexpensively. (Kardes et al., 2020). Due to Under Armor selling athletic apparel, segmenting by psychographics would also be a segmentation strategy since niche segments have been mentioned such as health clubs, Pilates, and rock climbing. (Kardes et al., 2020) Psychographic segmentation measures attitudes, values, and beliefs about lifestyle. In addition to behavioral segmentation, there are other segmentation strategies that could have been implemented, such as segmentation based on product attribute or benefit preferences, as well as usage occasion. Sports or workout clothing from Under Armor contains benefits for the occasion. 

What do you believe are four to five key points to remember when implementing segmentation strategies? 

When implementing segmentation strategies, the following four key points should be kept in mind: 

1. Realize that there is no such thing as a "one size fits all". There is no one size fits all approaches to market segmentation (Kardes et al., 2020), and consumers have different preferences. In order to really understand who our audience is and what they want and need, we need to analyze their preferences. 

2. In addition to consumer details, consumer behavior also matters. As well as knowing our audience, it's easy to find out where they reside, what their demographics are, and what their psychographics are by poking through databases like the U.S. census. Rather than asking what consumers are doing with our brand, we should ask what actions they are taking? When they visit our website, what do they do? Do they behave the same way as other customers? (Vilner, 2017) Has this become a trend? (Vilner, 2017)  

3. Beware of the majority of fallacy. During majority fallacy, a company neglects smaller and less typical segments in favor of the large average segments (Kardes et al., 2020). In larger segments, competition tends to be fiercer, and they are not always the most profitable segment, but the small, neglected segments can be much more profitable, especially in an environment with less competition (Kardes et al., 2020). 

4. A company's ability to distinguish products by their characteristics can influence the segmentation of its market (Kardes et al., 2020). A company's efforts can lead to over-segmentation when its products are so similar that they compete. If you are trying to implement segmentation strategies on a product that you already have, you may need to determine if it is like the product, you already have. 

Identify a new market segment that you have noticed recently (during your own shopping experience online, in a commercial ad, or in a secondary resource such as a magazine) that you believe would be a great market to explore. How might you create a segmentation strategy to reach this new market segment? 

The spiritual herbalist community is a new market segment that is interested in exploring belief. Social media platforms are widely used. Plants, herbs, and flowers are becoming increasingly important to spiritual practices, as well as decorating and crafting with them. By researching everything about this new market segment, I can create a segmentation strategy to reach them. Demographics, geography, psychographics, and their behavior as consumers are all things I would like to know. It would then be possible to create a strategy for reaching this segment by researching everything about them. I would choose the following segmentation strategy. As this segment could be classified as lifestyle or niche, I would use a psychographic segmentation strategy. 

References 

Kardes, F., Cronely, M., & Cline, T. (2020). Consumer Behavior. MBS 

Direct. hrtosth/moscirectvitasource.com/b00ks/9781305161689 

University of Virginia. July 27, 2016). Under Armour's willful digital moves. Harvard Business Review; Darden Business Publishing. httpstti//services.hbsp.harvard.edu/Iti/links/content-launch 

Vilner, Y. (2017, December 12). 5 factors to consider when segmenting your customers. Marketo Marketing Blog - Best Practices and Thought Leadership. httpstti//blog.marketo.com/2017/12/5-factors- consider-segmenting-customers.html 

[ashleyyyysstuff]

2-1 Blog: Under Armour: Where Do We Go From Here?

In the case study article, what market segments were identified and what segmentation strategies were implemented? 

With advertisements that targeted men, Under Armor first built their brand by marketing their products through the "tough guy" and football image (University of Virginia, 2016). University of Virginia, 2016). They achieved this by delivering innovative and modern technical apparel. Under Armor gained $2.3 billion in sales in 2013 but only $500 million came from their women's products, motivating them to expand into the female market (University of Virginia, 2016). As a result, the campaign "I Will What I Want" was created. By using a ballerina, the campaign targeted women who would relate how they were recognized after attending a ballet school because of their lack of body, but continued to pursue their passions and danced for the rest of the advertisement, which was so included in another part of the campaign, famous model Giselle Bundchen (University of Virginia, 2016). In addition to niche segments such as the health club industry, closely targeted activities like Pilates and rock climbing were also highlighted in the case study article. 

Targeting segments based on demographic characteristics was Under Armor's segmentation strategy. Kardes et al., 2020 describe demographic characteristics such as age, gender, income, education, occupation, etc. In marketing, demographic segmentation is more popular since characteristics of consumers can be measured easily and inexpensively. (Kardes et al., 2020). Due to Under Armor selling athletic apparel, segmenting by psychographics would also be a segmentation strategy since niche segments have been mentioned such as health clubs, Pilates, and rock climbing. (Kardes et al., 2020) Psychographic segmentation measures attitudes, values, and beliefs about lifestyle. In addition to behavioral segmentation, there are other segmentation strategies that could have been implemented, such as segmentation based on product attribute or benefit preferences, as well as usage occasion. Sports or workout clothing from Under Armor contains benefits for the occasion. 

What do you believe are four to five key points to remember when implementing segmentation strategies? 

When implementing segmentation strategies, the following four key points should be kept in mind: 

1. Realize that there is no such thing as a "one size fits all". There is no one size fits all approaches to market segmentation (Kardes et al., 2020), and consumers have different preferences. In order to really understand who our audience is and what they want and need, we need to analyze their preferences. 

2. In addition to consumer details, consumer behavior also matters. As well as knowing our audience, it's easy to find out where they reside, what their demographics are, and what their psychographics are by poking through databases like the U.S. census. Rather than asking what consumers are doing with our brand, we should ask what actions they are taking? When they visit our website, what do they do? Do they behave the same way as other customers? (Vilner, 2017) Has this become a trend? (Vilner, 2017)  

3. Beware of the majority of fallacy. During majority fallacy, a company neglects smaller and less typical segments in favor of the large average segments (Kardes et al., 2020). In larger segments, competition tends to be fiercer, and they are not always the most profitable segment, but the small, neglected segments can be much more profitable, especially in an environment with less competition (Kardes et al., 2020). 

4. A company's ability to distinguish products by their characteristics can influence the segmentation of its market (Kardes et al., 2020). A company's efforts can lead to over-segmentation when its products are so similar that they compete. If you are trying to implement segmentation strategies on a product that you already have, you may need to determine if it is like the product, you already have. 

Identify a new market segment that you have noticed recently (during your own shopping experience online, in a commercial ad, or in a secondary resource such as a magazine) that you believe would be a great market to explore. How might you create a segmentation strategy to reach this new market segment? 

The spiritual herbalist community is a new market segment that is interested in exploring belief. Social media platforms are widely used. Plants, herbs, and flowers are becoming increasingly important to spiritual practices, as well as decorating and crafting with them. By researching everything about this new market segment, I can create a segmentation strategy to reach them. Demographics, geography, psychographics, and their behavior as consumers are all things I would like to know. It would then be possible to create a strategy for reaching this segment by researching everything about them. I would choose the following segmentation strategy. As this segment could be classified as lifestyle or niche, I would use a psychographic segmentation strategy. 

References 

Kardes, F., Cronely, M., & Cline, T. (2020). Consumer Behavior. MBS 

Direct. hrtosth/moscirectvitasource.com/b00ks/9781305161689 

University of Virginia. July 27, 2016). Under Armour's willful digital moves. Harvard Business Review; Darden Business Publishing. httpstti//services.hbsp.harvard.edu/Iti/links/content-launch 

Vilner, Y. (2017, December 12). 5 factors to consider when segmenting your customers. Marketo Marketing Blog - Best Practices and Thought Leadership. httpstti//blog.marketo.com/2017/12/5-factors- consider-segmenting-customers.html 

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The Ultimate Guide to Womens Nightwear Sets

Women Pajamas Sets

Sleepwear sets for women have long been considered the go-to sleepwear option: they are comfortable, breathable and come in various lengths and fabrics that cater to every taste imaginable - from classic cotton nightgowns to wintry flannel PJs; these sets make an excellent way to achieve an elegant, romantic aesthetic when sleeping soundly. Thanks to responsible brands there's now even more choice.

As well as Lake's minimally designed striped styles and Eberjey's Gisele pajamas (which have quickly become cult favorites), Amazon reviewers love Maison Essentiele's silk 3-piece for its "softness" and "cuteness in a cool Gen Z way." This off-the-shoulder top and shorts pair features temperature regulation while naturally antimicrobial and odor fighting capabilities make this set ideal.

Hill House Home's organic cotton set will keep you comfortable from head to toe! It features a long-sleeve button-up notch collar top and matching drawstring pants with pockets in sizes S to XXL for optimal wear, as well as monogramable bottoms to complete your ensemble in style.

Bhumi offers this short-sleeve organic sateen set as another fantastic option for colder months, crafted with lower impact dyes and made of buttery-soft organic fabric that's both temperature regulating and odor fighting. Plus, its roomy oversized top makes this piece comfortable enough to wear as a robe or wear open as a shirtdress!

Heads-up! Here we've rounded up some of our favorite sustainable brands, like Papinelle--whose designs focus on providing ethically made clothing that makes you feel beautiful. These sets, ranging from floral pajama pants and nightgowns to soft waffle weave jerseys made of bamboo fibers are made in both the United States and Australia from natural fabrics like soft waffle weaves or bamboo-knit jerseys; featuring whimsical prints such as lilac gingham or palm tree bright coral hues!

TAMGA Designs' playful lounge set, constructed using lower-impact dyes and organic sateen fabric for a soft yet breathable fit, may cost $250 but is sure to remain an asset in your drawer for many years to come.

If your budget doesn't stretch to purchasing an elaborate polyester-spandex set, Amazon offers simple polyester-spandex sleepwear in 11 gorgeous hues that ranges from sizes S to XXL and will comfortably fit you year-round - customers love its comfortable fit, and how well it resembles its models' photos when worn by real people! Customers also rave about its timeless comfort; customers praise its comfortable fit for everyday comfort that just looks amazing when worn against themselves as it did their models in photos - guaranteeing year-round cozy experiences; just add slippers and robe for ultimate bedtime bliss!

[earaercircular]

With an import of 28 billion garments per year, European Customs are overwhelmed

Clothes with toxic residues slip past European customs. In retail chains, markets and online, European consumers can find clothing with too much chromium-6, a carcinogenic substance. “We have a strict law, but there is no corresponding effective control.”

First the good news. Europe has some of the strictest laws in the world on chemicals in consumer goods. This is called the REACH legislation[1] and is regularly tightened. "Toxic chemicals that were still permitted on textiles in the 1990s are now more strictly banned," told researcher Stijn Steuperaert from Centexbel,[2] the Belgian expertise centre for the textile industry, to De Standaard.

An exploratory two-year study commissioned by the European Commission shows that Reach usually does what it is supposed to do. The vast majority of our clothes do not appear to contain substances of concern. However, there are gaps in compliance with the legislation. Together with a number of European partners, Centexbel purchased approximately 160 pieces of textiles in various Member States between May 2022 and February 2023. “Both online and in fast-fashion clothing stores, outlets and at markets,” says Steuperaert. About 26 items – or just under 16 percent of the items – did not meet the provisions of REACH. "We are talking about baby clothes, underwear, swimming clothes, pyjamas and regular clothes." This is in line with an earlier study by Greenpeace, which bought clothing items on the Chinese site Shein. 15 percent of them turned out to be defective.[3]

Incentive effect

These small chemical residues are not yet a direct danger to public health, but they do constitute a risk to the environment in the long term. The fact that such items pass through customs can encourage suppliers from outside the EU to be more lax with the strict rules. It also undermines European textile companies. Non-European countries produce about 80 percent of all clothes that come into circulation annually.

In this case, mostly illegal amounts of chromium-6 were detected. That's a carcinogen that shows up in Steven Soderbergh's film “Erin Brockovich”, starring Julia Roberts. Chromium-6 is found in leather and certain orange-red dyes, among other things. Plasticizers (phthalates, which are mainly found on synthetic fibres) were also noticeably often too highly concentrated. Some of these phthalates are also carcinogenic. Several items were found to release too much nickel, which can lead to skin irritation. “The rules for nickel and chromium-6 are difficult to enforce because the test methods are too complicated or have not yet been established at European level,” says Steuperaert.

With an import of no less than 28 billion garments per year, European customs is swamped. Clothing brands therefore require a certificate from their subcontractors in low-wage countries that proves that the REACH legislation has been followed. In countries with a lot of corruption, such a certificate can be purchased or forged.

No shared computer system

“We have strict legislation, but no effective control,” Steuperaert concludes. 'In smaller Member States, customs services lack time, resources or even a laboratory. Other countries waste their scarce resources on irrelevant tests. Each country is tackling it in its own way: more unity is needed.' The advice to European customs services is now to specifically search for items with a 'higher chance of being caught', such as clothing with a print on it, leather, recycled wool, or textile that is water-repellent. More training for customs services and a shared database would also help.

Source

Giselle Nath, Kleren met toxische residu’s glippen voorbij Europese douane, in: De Standaard, 9-11-2023; https://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20231108_96345746

[1] The Regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (REACH) is the main EU law to protect human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals. This is done by better and earlier identification of the intrinsic properties of chemical substances and by taking measures, such as phasing out or restricting substances of very high concern. REACH also aims to enhance innovation and the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry.  REACH places responsibility on industry to manage the risks from chemicals and to provide safety information on the substances. To that end, manufacturers and importers are required to gather information on the properties of their chemical substances and to register that information in a central database in the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). The Agency is the central point in the REACH system: it manages the databases necessary to operate the system, coordinates the in-depth evaluation of the information provided on chemicals and runs a public database where consumers and professionals can find hazard information. https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/chemicals/reach-regulation_en

[2] We, at Centexbel, believe that Europe has a fascinating textile and plastics processing industry and we are proud to be part of it. Every day, we meet passionate people, learn about great companies and discover exciting technologies. We are passionate about our industry and we are firmly convinced that - by developing and sharing knowledge and expertise and by engaging in close and in-depth partnerships - we can contribute to a sustainable future for our companies. https://www.centexbel.be/nl/over-ons

[3] Greenpeace, Taking the shine off SHEIN: Hazardous chemicals in SHEIN products break EU regulations, new report finds, 23-11-2022, https://www.greenpeace.org/international/press-release/56979/taking-the-shine-off-shein-hazardous-chemicals-in-shein-products-break-eu-regulations-new-report-finds/

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 EMILY ALYN LIND. SHE/HER / have you ever heard of VIOLET by hole, well, it describes WILLA DURAND to a tee! the twenty-three year old, and FASHION DESIGN STUDENT + WAITRESS @ THE BLUEBIRD CAFE was spotted browsing through the stalls at portobello road market last sunday, do you know them? would you say SHE is more closed-off or more CREATIVE instead? anyway, they remind me of lipstick-stained coffee cups littered around her bedroom, late nights working on something beautiful, a well of dreams never running dry & fabric dangling over her shoulder, maybe you’ll bump into them soon!

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀𝚃𝚁𝙸𝙶𝙶𝙴𝚁 𝚆𝙰𝚁𝙽𝙸𝙽𝙶 : car accident, divorce, parental death, mental health, anxiety, mental health facilities

 ⸻  𝐁𝐈𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐏𝐇𝐘

Willa Durand has spent most of her life being haunted by the same comparison: her mother, Giselle Durand -- who just so happens to be one of the most popular names in haute couture. No matter if it was her beauty, her ruthless, powerful demeanor in the public eye, rarely ever was she to have a strength that was entirely her own.

While she spent most of her life being compared to her mother, she was loved endlessly by her father. He had always been and would remain her biggest cheerleader up until his tragic death.

Giselle and Edmund, Willa's parents, had an extraordinarily transactional relationship from the moment that Willa was born onward. This effected the way Willa views love deeper than she cares to admit.

Her parents got divorced when she was ten and had 50/50 custody of their only daughter, even if her mother tended to shirk on her responsibilities.

The moment Willa expressed an interest in fashion design, suddenly Giselle cared. Her daughter's career choice soon became about her, and it soon became extremely overbearing.

Willa got her start designing and making costumes for her middle school plays and from there, nothing else made sense but design. This bled into her high school years and throughout her college career has made costumes as an extracurricular.

She was always popular in school, but also made an active effort to hide what was going on at home and just how sad she really was. It is one of her deepest fears that she will burden someone or bring them down into the pit her life has become with her.

When Willa was beginning university in Notting Hill, far away from her parisian hometown -- she got the last call she possibly expected. Her father had been killed in a crash with a drunk driver, and she needed to come home immediately.

Without her biggest cheerleader in her life, Willa spiraled until an anxiety-induced breakdown had her sent by her mother to a mental health facility. Several months later, she was released and is currently preparing to return to school for her final semester of her education.

Very recently began advertising her first collection on Instagram, which has been years in the making. This has gotten her a significant amount of notice on the platform and she currently has nearly 800k followers on the app.

Since her return to Notting Hill a couple of months ago, it's as if Giselle has turned up the pressure on her daughter tenfold, as if it's somehow her fault that she reacted to the situation she was in. While some of her actions are well intentioned, Willa continues to feel suffocated by her mother and her presence but has yet to vocalize it to her.

She continues to grieve her father's loss in private, and has spent every anniversary since his death buying the flowers he used to buy her and having a picnic in the park, something they often used to do together.

⸻  𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍𝐒

Stereotypically has a closet filled to the brim with designer brands. Loves every piece of clothing like it is a child -- think Carrie Bradshaw's devotion to her shoes. That's Willa.

Some of her favorite pieces of clothing, however, are things she's made. She mixes a lot of her personal designs with vintage pieces and has an extensive collection that she's been collecting over the years.

A bit cold/Regina George-esque from afar, but when you really get to know her -- she will be a loyal friend until the end.

Smells like Chanel No. 5 and lavender.

more to come.

⸻ 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐒

TBA