We officially survived winter, y’all, and that means the summer 2025 style guide has officially arrived.

As you all know, I’m proud to be a Victoria’s Secret VS Partner, meaning I get early access to some of their freshest styles every season — and I’ve been living for these summer collections. From pretty pastels to bratty neon moods and more, here are some of my favorite Victoria’s Secret styles from the summer 2025 collection.

Pretty pastels (and the return of ‘sundress season’)

As soon as I saw this sundress, I lost my ever-loving mind. I ended up wearing it on Easter Sunday, which fell over our vacation to New Orleans. Something about the pale shade of yellow on a silky slip pattern, complete with a feminine bow in the back and little flower appliques, make me feel light, airy, and ultra-feminine while soaking up the sun at a garden party or exploring new cities.

Bold, mix’n’match bikinis

Bedazzled straps? Nineties-inspired leopard prints? Sign. Me. Up.

The mix’n’match archival and classic bikini styles from VS Swim never fail to impress, and with tons of prints, styles, and designs to choose from, there really is something for everyone.

Bratty neon still has its moment

Bright, neon colorways aren’t going anywhere, friends. Similar to the bright pink tennis dress I wore incessantly last season, this season’s VS colorways include a ton of highlighter-tone greens, yellows, oranges and blues, adding an extra, bratty burst of color to your summer style.

So, which styles are your favorite? Shop them all now on my storefront and Victoria’s Secret, both online and in stores.

Xoxo, MM.

I knew my passion wasn’t a finite resource; but my time certainly was — and it showed.

Well, it’s somehow already April, y’all; and that seems a little bonkers? I’ve been thinking a great deal lately about how my parents always told me, “the years get shorter as you grow older,” because it feels like, well, it’s… actually true.

As you all know by now (or, rather, as I’m sure you’ve noticed), I’m a fairly passionate person who enjoys doing all the things, and I’ve spent most of my adult life, well, trying to do all the things. That said, in the last year or so, I started to experience something I’d never quite felt before — a phenomenon I can only classify as the dreaded ‘burnout.’

I know, I know; it’s a buzzword. ‘Burnout’ is talked about like the looming monster in the closet of every adult career-person, creative, or just human being in general with responsibilities that’s essentially anything more burdensome than being an entirely unencumbered toddler — but I fear it’s real, besties, and I’ve experienced it.

So, how did I take back more control of my time (which is still a work in progress, FYI!) and stop caring about things I truly didn’t have the bandwidth or business to care about?

I simplified my life in three simple steps

1. I took back my time: For one, I opened this post with a byline that states something like, “your passion is not a limited resource, but your time is,” and that was a hard pill for me to swallow. Frankly, and as I’ve said, I’m the kind of person who wants to do all the things — but time is not infinite. Your time cannot be recouped, replaced or “made up for” down the line, so eventually… some things have to give. You have to decide for yourself what and who deserve the investment of your time, and you have to stop feeling bad for saying the simple-but-effective word, “no.” It’s a full sentence, babes — use it.

2. I stopped giving so many fcks: Which leads me to… you have to stop giving a damn what anyone thinks. If you’re not hurting anyone else, and not being a genuinely selfish a-hole (which, I’d think you’d know if you were), you can’t fret over everyone’s feelings 24/7. If you say “no,” to something you genuinely don’t have bandwidth for, someone shouldn’t in turn make you feel bad for preserving your own time and energy. You shouldn’t be expected to bend over backwards for everyone 24/7 (though we should of course always help our friends, family and loved ones as much as we can when we do have the space to do so), and your life is your’s alone to live. A book that helped me sort my f*cks to give into categories was “The Magical Life-Changing Art of Not Giving a Fuck“, which gives step-by-step instructions, advice and even visual guides into how to stop caring so much when you genuinely don’t need to.

3. I leaned into what actually matters: Last but not least, with points one and two coming into consideration, you then must decide what actually matters to you. This step should be simple and honestly the most intuitive, seeing as, once you’ve cleared the rest of the clutter out of your life, you should genuinely be able to just feel it out. What lights your soul up? Who are you around when you feel your best? Take those gut feelings, run with them, and don’t ever look back.

I’ve posted many times before about holding space for yourself and boundaries galore, so you all know how important it is to me, personally. That said, I hope someone else needed to read this as much as I needed to write it. Cheers.

Xoxo, MM.

Departed is back and bigger than ever, Philly.

Ben Arsenal and friends’ Philadelphia-underground labor of love, Departed Together, made its return to The Ave Live on Saturday, March 8th, marking the event’s fourth season and first (as they call it) “episode.”

The creators of this live music and art event self-describe it as an, “immersive experience inspiring our higher selves,” and I think that’s a spot-on description.

This season’s kick-off event featured musicians, visual artists, and performance artists from all around the east coast, featuring for the first time ever at Departed DJ Eran Hersh.

The event also featured some familiar faces such as Sage, The Philly Bubble Man (because who doesn’t love bubbles?!), local flow performers, visual art installations, and additional musical performances by Katerina Sky, Fawziyya Heart, and the creator of the Departed movement itself, Ben Arsenal.

Something that always galvanizes me about this event is the pure, energetic vibration that always runs as an undercurrent from when the first DJ mounts the booth to the wee hours of the morning — the crowd of folks who contribute to and attend Departed keep a high-vibrational, zero-drama, expressive energy going for hours on end, and it’s rare to find an event in which a collective group is encouraged to merge together in such a positive way.

I definitely can’t wait for S4E2, and I hope you all join me next time at The Ave Live!

Xoxo, MM.

The 20th Anniversary Edition of Philly Fashion Week brought along with it the season’s latest trends, as well as highlighted local Philadelphia designers that aren’t afraid to think outside the box.

Philadelphia Fashion Week came back bigger and better than ever, celebrating the 20th Anniversary of PFW at various locations throughout the city, with designers from local, Philadelphia-area university students all the way to international fashion houses sharing their Spring/Summer 2025 collections.

I was once again honored to have the opportunity to attend this year’s PFW events, and my experience wearing such beautifully and carefully crafted clothing by local designers and seeing so many other talented individuals highlight their collections was something incredibly special, indeed. Here are some of the top trends I spotted (and what I wore!) at PFW Spring/Summer 2025.

Wednesday: The Trend Show and Student Design Competition

Philly Fashion Week kicked off in earnest with Wednesday’s “Next Up Trend Show and Student Design Competition,” which is always one of my favorite PFW events. The Fashion District partnered with Maison Philadelphia Fashion Week to once again create an incredible opportunity for local student designers and retailers alike, and I myself wore Enki Fashion Studio’s latest leather hot pants to the runway. Two students from the Moore College of the Arts won the student design competition, leveraging materials repurposed from a local Good Will to create avant-garde designs that ultimately won these students a mentorship with lead figures in the NYFW community, as well as a grant of $1,000 to further their design education.

Friday: Runway I at the W Hotel

In the spirit of PFW’s 20th Anniversary season, this year’s Runway I show at the W Hotel Philadelphia brought with it all the heat and opulence one would’ve expected.

I wore a custom designed dress by Brewerytown’s very own Madalynne, and was professionally styled by local hair stylist and MUA Fiona Bowen.

The top trends I spotted for this year’s spring and summer collections seemed to be about a return to true streetwear, with brands like Inna Coma and Illest Club coming through with some of my favorite edgy, ready-to-wear looks this season.

All in all, a magical time was had during PFW, and I can’t wait to see what the next 20 years brings for this incredible event and the community who makes it so special year after year.

Xoxo, MM.

A list of ways to show yourself some romance this Valentine’s Day.

About a year ago, I was chatting with my therapist about how, despite growing older, I wasn’t really feeling any more sure of myself than I had since I was in college — hell, maybe I even felt more sure of myself back then, when the headstrong twenty-something in me gave little to no f*cks about what anyone did, said, or thought if it wasn’t aligned with achieving her goals, or didn’t mirror her principles.

The world can be a mean place; once you get your first “big kid” job, get out on your own (“wow, why are groceries so expensive?”) and get your ego knocked down a few pegs to be sure, but my therapist and I are pretty good at hatching up a plan to help me deal with all of adult life’s hurdles; and one I very specifically needed to overcome was learning to love myself more.

It doesn’t happen overnight, of course — but leaning into self-love and loving us for who we are, even if we aren’t perfect (newsflash — no one is!) seems to be a very foundational, 101-level step in terms of being more confident and assured in the choices you make and where your life is headed.

Though I have a loving husband, family and friends who would do anything for me, leaning into these self-love tips over the last year have created an immense, positive perspective shift for me overall, and during this season of love I wanted to share a few of my favorite tips and tricks.

Remind yourself exactly who you are with daily affirmations

Affirmations (even said or heard robotically; meaning just on repeat in your mind, your headphones, etc.) are one of my favorite, simple and effective ways to point my frame of mind in a more positive direction.

Self-talk dictates far more of our self image than we realize, and positive affirmations that are in alignment with who we want to be or perceive ourselves as are incredibly powerful. It may seem too easy to be true, but let’s put it this way — if I wake up and repeat in my mind, “I am beautiful, I am capable, I can do hard things,” versus talking down to myself every time I look in the mirror, I’m flipping the script on how I speak to myself — which, in turn, interrupts negative, anxiety-spiral type thoughts and replaces them with positive, reaffirming reminders.

Again, it may seem simple — but that’s why it works. You wouldn’t say mean things to your best friend, right? Then stop speaking unkindly to yourself.

Stop giving so many f*cks about what other people think (because who cares?)

T H I S may be the most important lesson I’ve learned on my self love journey — because after spending my entire life agonizing over my every decision and how it would impact other folks’ perception of me, I’ve never felt more free than when I realized 1.) I cannot change how others perceive me — that’s a them problem, and 2.) I know who I am and, in the inverse, who I am not, and that is all that matters.

Basically, don’t be an asshole — but if you’re happy and you’re not hurting yourself or anyone else, you know your intentions and you should stand resolute in them… even if it ruffles some feathers.

Plus, why would you care to be around someone who judges you so harshly for being yourself, or waste your time on someone who doesn’t value your time, perspective, nor insight?

My life has improved ten fold since I stopped worrying what other people think, and moreover since I stopped wasting my precious time (a resource I can never get back, mind you) on folks who don’t value mine — and that’s made all the difference. TL;DR? Losers who can’t see that you’re the prize are not worth your time, energy, nor effort — and some people are better loved and enjoyed from a safe, healthy distance. *shrugs*

Do a bad b*tch photoshoot, because why not?

Have you ever stopped to acknowledge all your body does for you? It is the very vessel within which you navigate this strange little life — and it’s been with you since birth. Why not celebrate it, and its uniqueness? Whether you have spent your entire life fighting a war against your body (which I can relate to, trust me), or you just need a little pick me up… doing a bad bitch photoshoot to celebrate your body’s unique, beautiful features regardless of difference of ability, size, shape, etc etc etc can be a great way to show your body some of the love it deserves, and celebrate it for exactly what it is right now, today — which is, again, the beautiful, unique vessel carrying you through this life.

This one is probably the most difficult. I am in no way discounting how hard it can be to overcome aspects of body dysmorphia, gender dysphoria (which I’ve never personally struggled with, but understand is a very real and serious matter), and other body image related phenomena — but, when you do feel ready (even if you’re a tad apprehensive still yet), I promise you there is nothing wrong with celebrating your body through taking some photos that make you feel like a million bucks.

In the end, I firmly believe we have to love ourselves in order to give and receive the love we truly want (and deserve) in this life. Don’t sleep on yourself during the season of love, and remember — you are your own greatest critic, but also your own biggest cheerleader.

Xoxo, MM.

‘Tis the season to get groovin’, Bonnaroovians.

Okay, that was super corny; however, the Bonnaroo 2025 lineup does drop this Wednesday, and I have been sleuthing the internet (read: the ole’ reliable ‘Roo subreddit) for any ounce of information I can get my hands on regarding this year’s star-studded setlist.

Read on for the internet’s top predictions, and for a refresher on surviving festival season.

Bonnaroo 2025 lineup: what we know so far

Thus far, the ‘Roo Clues that have been dropped have me absolutely convinced of two headliners: Tyler, the Creator and Glass Animals, respectively. For EDM fans like myself, however, a third horse has entered the race, with The Festive Owl and other outlets all but confirming, essentially, that Tipper will also be attending and performing one of his iconic audio-visual sets at ‘Roo ‘25.

If Tyler, the Creator does headline, this will come up right against his CHROMOKOPIA tour (which runs all throughout the summer), with Glass Animals alternatively hitting the iconic Tennessee festival at the end of a nearly year-long world tour, affectionately named A Tour of Earth.

Overall, this would be one of the more mass-appealing lineups ‘Roo has sported in some time, leaning into the pop-culture zeitgeist that is Tyler’s new album amidst the backdrop of GA’s enduring following, who always show strong support for the band’s endeavors. And, we all know Tipper knows how to draw in the electronic folks.

A reminder: Bonnaroo is a marathon, not a sprint

In addition to these quick, top-line headliner predictions, I wanted to float a reminder that Bonnaroo is one of the more challenging, multi-day camping festivals one can attend. The extreme TN heat, five-day length, and miles of open festival ground make it one of the more challenging to endure. Feel free to reference my festival survival guide in the meantime.

So, this was short and sweet — a TL;DR of the in-depth analyses I’ve seen — but I hope informative. See ya’ on The Farm in ‘25, y’all.

Xoxo, MM.

If you’re tired of giving the same old gifts every holiday season (because, seriously, it’s already the holidays AGAIN?), here are some fresh, unique gift ideas to dazzle and delight your friends and loved ones.

Unique, boutique apparel and accessories

Madalynne Intimates (+ the all-new Madalynne x L.Priori jewelry collection)

Where do I even begin? I met Madalynne a while back, when she and her team began doing open calls for local models — the Philadelphia-based lingerie and apparel designer is known for her unique, inclusive and trend-setting pieces, including her “sew-your-own” kits, sewing patterns, and custom lingerie offerings, and now… she also has a jewelry collab with L. Priori!

Whether you’re shopping Madalynne’s ready-to-wear collection (I’m currently obsessed with the ‘Cherry Cola’ November 2024 collection, focused on seventies vibes and beautiful, mesh fabrics in gorgeous jewel tones), attending one her sewing retreats or anything in between, you can’t go wrong with gifting Madalynne to the fashionistas in your life this holiday season!

Dead Threads apparel

SO many folks asked me where I got this specific Philadelphia Eagles sweatshirt (because it’s super cute, duh), and that’s clearly a sign that the fit is fire, girl. I purchased this sweatshirt from none other than Dead Threads apparel, which luckily carry unique, fun designs geared toward nearly EVERY national sports team you can think of, including kids’ apparel, T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies and more.

Most of the designs are unisex, too, which make them the perfect gift for any sports fan in your life — regardless of gender expression.

One-of-a-kind experiences

Dance the night away at Departed Together

You all probably remember my previous posts about Departed Together — at each Departed event guests can expect “(…) a premiere, immersive house music experience bringing global electronic culture, live performance, and world-class DJs to one place” for an evening of total immersion.

Every time I attend a Departed event, I’m personally blown away by the absolute dedication by each artist working to bring together such a cohesive, moving experience. From flow and aerial artists, to large art installations hanging from the ceiling, to the amalgam of DJs collaborating and spinning unique tracks all night long, you will never associate Departed with the word “boring.”

Get tickets to the latest and greatest upcoming Departed events for you and your loved one and celebrate in a big way this holiday season!

Prioritize your health and get stronger at The Wall Fitness

Where would I even be without my good pals at The Wall Cycling and Fitness Studio?! About two years ago, I started on a journey to enhance my physical health and, overall, feel stronger.

The Wall is a place where community comes first, and this inclusive, LGBTQ+ friendly boutique fitness studio is all about uplifting every member in strength, focused on curating a professional and supportive environment wherein people of all levels can celebrate their body through joyful movement.

I personally love the “Spin and Sculpt” classes offered, which focus on cardio and strength, as well as the super fun “No Shower Happy Hour” events the gym hosts monthly.

Another unique holiday gift idea

Rae Books

As I was compiling this holiday gift guide, a friend of mine, Rae (they/them), reached out and let me know they’ve begun selling anarchist, leftist and punk books in the Philadelphia area!

So, if your loved one is a reader, here’s a sneak-peek of the inventory Rae has to offer:

“My name is Rae Shields (@relisel) and I partner with PM Press and Common Notions Press to sell anarchist and leftist books at events.  I can also be contacted direction to buy books.  I have a number of amazing titles ranging from the explanatory “What is Anarchism” to the illustrated “Encyclopedia of Political Record Labels”.  I have anarchist, leftist, and punk titles available and if I don’t have it, I can source it (from my two publishing partners).  I can be reached via Instagram or email ([email protected]).”

Happy Holidays from Miranda Muses!

Would your friends and loved ones appreciate a more experience-led gift this holiday season? Maybe they’d like a departure from traditional socks and sweaters, and want to sew their own custom lingerie? Whatever you choose to gift this holiday season, you can’t go wrong with these unique, boutique gifting options.

Happy holidays!

Xoxo,

MM.

Victoria’s Secret and ‘The Craft’ in one post? They said it couldn’t be done; yet here we are…

Lately, I’ve been digging into my fall wardrobe with great fervor; refreshing any pieces that don’t feel so ‘timeless’ (oof, sweatshirts with cheugy words on them from college, I’m looking at you), and pulling the more classic pieces back out to experiment with styling them in a new way.

I’ve also been diving headfirst into my favorite spooky szn movies, ofc, and I just rewatched 1996’s ‘The Craft,’ which came (back) on my radar at the perfect time — just like magic.

‘The Craft’ inspired a a generation of edgy Gen-X’ers to embrace their ‘witchier’ side, while leaning into the staples of the era; silk slips, choker necklaces, platform boots, etc. etc. etc. And, lo and behold, the looks have come back around!

Here are ‘The Craft’ inspired looks like that are back in style for Fall 2024, and how I style each with my favorite Victoria’s Secret pieces, accordingly.

Silk slip dresses

One of my favorite features Victoria’s Secret has rolled out in recent years is their archive feature, in which they bring back iconic VS pieces from years prior to feature in their online inventory — and this 90’s archival silk and lace slip specifically gives ‘Craft’ coven-y vibes.

Mini dresses with chunky boots

Edgy accessories (without being too Spencer’s Gifts about it)

No outfit is complete without accessories, ofc, and this season I’ve been pulling out all the cat-eye lenses, choker necklaces, and stockings that fit the ~ vibes ~.

So, what looks are you busting out for Fall 2024? Are you feeling all the woo-woo, witchy vibes? Let’s discuss,

Xoxo, MM.

“They’re coming to get you, Barbara.”

Man, oh man — like I said before, I’m ~ trying ~ to be so normal about the fact October is just around the corner, but I’d be lying if I said I haven’t already blown through my summer slasher list published in July.

That said, I thought it’s juuuust about time I revisit some of my favorite “classic” horror films (and, yes, I’m being a tad liberal with the term; sue me, Letterboxd nerds), ranging from the 1960’s to the late 1980’s, mainly.

So, in no particular order, let’s dive in to (IMHO) some of my favorite horror films from the 60’s, 70’s, and *80’s (*excluding the slashers I’ve already given honorable mention to in my previous post!) and where to stream them in 2024.

My 1960’s horror fave and where to stream it

‘Night of the Living Dead’ (dir. George A. Romero, 1968)

Again, I say, “They’re coming for you, Barbara…” This is, hands-down, one of the ~ best ~ horror films of all time. It not only popularized the zombie subgenre, solidifying it as a staple of horror cinema and storytelling from thereon out, the script also never refers to the walking-dead creatures seen in the film as “zombies” — not even once. Isn’t that something? Anywho, pair this film’s insanely creepy practical effects with its 5-star performances from Duane Jones (<3) and Judith O’Dea, and you’ve got yourself a certified horror classic.

Stream it now on Peacock.

My 1970’s horror fave and where to stream it

‘The Exorcist’ (dir. William Friedkin, 1973)

The fact that this film originally released the day after Christmas is a really fun fact that I think about quite often, tbqh. (What an odd time to release a film about d*monic evil possessing a young woman and corrupting her mind, body and spirit — but I digress!) As it were, this film holds its own in terms of storytelling, even more (disgusting!) visceral practical effects, and sweeping, cinematic shots that could bowl over even the most pretentious film snobs, and elevates the horror genre in a way only a handful of genre films had previously. This is definitely a “please watch and see for yourself” situations, so please…

Enjoy it on Max.

My 1980’s horror fave and where to stream it

‘The Lost Boys’ (dir. Joel Schumacher, 1987)

“My own brother! A no good, shit-sucking vampire!” Good lord, if this isn’t just one of my favorite films of all time. You get horror, comedy, camp, 1980’s glam-rock-vampire realness, and the visage of Jim Morrison hanging in the air? Pair that with a star studded cast, a splashy color palette that will make creatures of the night seem brighter than ever before, and you’ve got yourself a chef’s kiss damn near perfect film. Not to mention Kiefer Sutherland was at his absolute best in this era (both in looks and performative capability, IMHO), and you can consider me certifiably obsessed. I’ve watched this film probably a thousand times, as it’s also one of my mom’s favorites, and I can never get enough. It surprises and delights me every time.

Watch it now on Amazon Prime Video.

If you want to watch these titles + the summer slasher series and revisit along with me (horror re-watch film club and chill, anyone?), let me know by contacting me via the email form below, or on any of my social media platforms! And, of course, happy spooky season (however you choose to enjoy it) to all.

Xoxo,

MM.

Never thought you’d hear this from me, huh?

After a summer of pure chaos being very, very busy and, well, highly visible online, I’ve had to think long and hard about how I wish to allow others to access my energy and it’s been… challenging, to say the least.

It’s a hard line to tow, honestly; as most of you know, a part of my income and livelihood depends on being highly visible online. I’m a brand partner for a major retailer; a model who has to market herself consistently to stay ahead of the curve; a lifestyle ~IfLuEnCeR~ (despite however much I hate that term), and, and, and — it’s a lot, y’all.

All that said, I realized recently that Instagram, in particular, was beginning to feel incredibly draining to me. From having to obsess over my engagement on each post and story (the sordid bane of monetized content, among other things, but ya’ know), to trying to keep up with my friends and family and fight the constant FOMO of “is everyone doing more than me, right now?”, it all started to feel like an overwhelming swell of anxiety every time I tapped the little multicolored camera icon sitting “harmlessly” on my home screen. And that’s… not great.

Not only is it not great, it’s something I actively have the choice to change. So, I’m deciding to do exactly that. Here’s how I’m disconnecting from Instagram in small but impactful ways this season (even as someone who’s income partially depends on it as a tool), and how you can take small steps to change your relationship to social media, too.

Stop doomscrolling!

For the love of God — please stop doomscrolling. Or doing any scrolling, for that matter, if you aren’t in a great headspace. I had to really force myself to stop reflexively doing this, lately, and though it wasn’t easy (my thumb, again, reflexively just wants to hit the stupid Instagram icon every time I pick up my phone), but it was so helpful to just stoppppp doing it.

When I didn’t have to see what everyone else was doing 24/7, and didn’t sit around and hyper-fixate on how everyone might be perceiving everything I’m doing, my life drastically improved, almost immediately.

Again, it wasn’t easy, and I still have to maintain a certain level of posting and on Instagram to maintain engagement for my brand deals; but, just cutting out the constantly opening up the app and scrolling made a huge difference.

If someone wants to stay in touch, they will

OOF. This is the one. Do you ever feel like you have to stay in-the-loop on what everyone is doing, and constantly reach out to someone in order to maintain any kind of friendship/relationship/situationship with them? I’ve been in the same boat, actually, with pals in the past… and I realized something that hurts, but like a bandaid, just has to be “ripped off” — if they wanted to, they would.

The onus should never be on one person and one person alone to keep a conversation, friendship, or even familial relationship going. Human relationships are a two-way street, and if you not reaching out or staying up-to-date on their latest posts, tweets, etc. means you lose touch with someone… then they don’t really care to lose touch with you.

Again, this one stings! But, alas, it’s true. Focus on the people who do love you, and do with that information what you will.

Give yourself some grace, babe

News flash: you’re going to mess up, and that’s okay. I’ve opened (and had to then abruptly shut) the Instagram app out of habit more times than I can count during this little “cleanse,” but old habits die hard. If you ~ do ~ mess up, give yourself some grace! You’re only human. Humans make mistakes (we’re, like, really good at that actually) and that’s life. It’s not the end of the world (I promise).

So, we’ll see how long I run with this little experiment (and how much of an impact it has over time), but for now — I’m taking baby steps to change my relationship with social media, and it feels refreshing.

Xoxo, MM.