The Remaining Days of Fall

November 24, 2018

Hi, everyone! Hope you guys had a great Thanksgiving filled with good company, good food and all around good vibes! I always keep it low key with my fellas as my husband and I don’t really have big families, we enjoy the time spent together and with a few of our closest friends. I really savor the times spent with the pup, being that I’m busy 24/7, it’s so nice to cut myself off from the online world and just be in the moment with the two most important people in my life. Now that we’re gearing into the holiday season, the leaves are falling and the winter chill is taking its course. So I wanted to get in a few more photos of the beautiful foliage along with playing in the leaves with MaQ - he literally goes nuts for them! Continue reading to see more of the photos, where to shop the look, and why my dog is the cutest German shepherd in the world! ;)

FIRST: Can we talk about how warm and snuggly this teddy coat is?! AND it’s only $40! It’s such a bargain because with the right layering, you can wear this all winter long! Seriously, I paired this with a denim jacket and scarf in 30 °F and was so cozy outside! And anything neutral during the colder months is a good thing - makes it for easier styling among many of the fall/winter colors. Plus I think anything in the neutral palette looks good on so many skin tones and hair colors! Plus the two front pockets and folded over collar are also some of my favorite features in a rocking overcoat!

Now you know me, to go with a cute coat, I love to amp it up in the accessories department with a good statement bag and watch! This chic crossbody bag crafted in Italian Embossed Croc and Pebble Grain leather can also be worn as a shoulder bag and you can double the strap for a shorter length. Front open flap has a polished gold lock closure that’s super luxe and polishes it up to be a fabulous day or evening bag with the classical sophistication. Which way did you like the way I styled this bag the most?

This rectangular two-hand dial paneled in lustrous mother of pearl and semiprecious stone is the focus of this elegantly striking watch. Hand-assembled with Swiss and imported materials right in Detroit, Michigan, the refined style is anchored by genuine alligator leather for a luxe finish. Given that I was raised in Detroit, I’ve already grown to be quite sentimentally fond of the watch. They have other styles as well, with this particular design, but they also carry other well-sized luxury watches. Check them out at www.gomelskywatches.com

These sneakers are from Kenneth Cole and honestly are the most comfortable pair of kicks I’ve owned in a few years. They’re the perfect stylish sneaker for all-day wear and even cozy enough for travel. I always wear them on flights. They’re on sale at Macy’s for less than $60 and are totally worth the price for their quality. I love them so much I’ve already gone through two pairs! I guess I’m the kind of gal that when she stumbles upon something she loves, she’ll stock up on it! Haha.

LOVE & XX’S

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Thanksgiving Outfit: How to Boldly Mix Animal Print Together

November 19, 2018

THIS IS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THACKER NYC AND PUBLIC DESIRE BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

It’s a great start to a new week! That’s because it’s a short one, brought to you by the good ole’ bird, the celebrated turkey we (well most of us) have grown to love, Thanksgiving is literally a few days away. Many have stocked their fridges this weekend for the big American holiday, while many have not, and I bet many have no idea what they’re going to be wearing for the occasion - especially if it’s somewhere you have to be and not in your jammies! But many know I’m not one to play dress up often, I’d rather be more casual where I can shamelessly unbutton the top button of my jeans after gluttonously stuffing myself with turkey, stuffing, and more stuffing. That doesn’t mean your fall accessories have to be boring though. So continue reading to see more of a Thanksgiving outfit that’s casual chic, but bold in all the right places.

Two trends I’ve been loving this fall: snake print (the famous OG leopard print) and bold, rich colors. So who’s to say you can’t blend all three together harmoniously? The key is to have the other pieces be on the more simple side, like a long sleeved white tee and black denim jacket with a pair of jeans. And I love the weather this time of year because you can still layer since it’s not too cold out yet. And what’s better than a strong red longline coat around the holiday season? It goes with everything! I’ve had this beauty for a minute and I cannot get enough of it. My favorite way to wear the coat is with jeans but a dress, pantsuit/jumpsuit, skirt, basically everything would pair nicely with this statement coat.

But now onto prints. The question of blending or clashing ensues: Can you wear both leopard and snake print at the same time? IMO, YES! But subtly. Don’t go overboard. For example, a two-piece leopard print set with a huge snake print bag would probably be borderline, ‘excessive’ lol. In this case, I paired a really groovy pair of snake print ankle cutout boots with a mini leopard shearling bag. The rest I left alone with simple straight hair, an orange/neutral nail polish color, and even a pretty natural everyday makeup. Because who cares what you look like when you’re about to happily stuff your face with some of your favorite food in the entire world? Haha!

What are your plans for Thanksgiving this year? My husband and I don’t have very big families and like it when it’s just the two (three of course with MaQ) of us, especially since we don’t get that much quality time as of late due to our crazy busy schedules. I will definitely be planning on getting my cooking groove on - should I maybe do a dessert of some kind and share it with you guys? I’ve made apple pie (link here) and was thinking of doing a fruitier one this time. Thoughts? Maybe a clafoutis? Stay tuned, I think you’ll be seeing my PIC, and us in aprons LOL!

And stay tuned this week for a ton of beauty content as I’ll be doing both a Black Friday roundup of sales I think you’ll love along with my monthly roundup of favorites that I’ve been currently using, both of which I’m excited to share with you guys! Wishing you a great short week and an even joyous holiday weekend (for those that are celebrating).

LOVE & XX’S,

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I Lilac Like That

November 13, 2018

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY W. CASHMERE.

Happy Tuesday! I’m back at it with another color clash when it comes to fall/winter colors! You guys really seemed to dig the last one on blue & pink (Link here) and since I’ve been loving it myself, why not?! :) So without further ado, let’s get talking about the color choice of the day, it’s not exactly lavender, nor is it violet, but lilac! And the feature of today’s outfit post is a gorgeous cashmere turtleneck sweater… in lilac! Come check out how I styled this piece along with where to shop everything.

Meticulously crafted with ultra-premium cashmere, W. Cashmere’s timeless essential is a winter wardrobe must-have. Top off any seasonal look with this modern take on the timeless turtleneck sweater. A contemporary relaxed fit pairs with a classic silhouette and super soft cashmere knit for a luxurious appeal that looks and feels great. Perfect for wearing with anything in your closet, this piece is destined to become your new go-to sweater. And did I mention it’s the softest cashmere I’ve touched to date?!

I contrasted the soft lilac with more vibrant colors such as red, orange and even, neon! But the neon is very subtle with just a pop of it on the side of my favorite oversized handbag. The red Chelsea boots are super comfy to walk in let alone how they look. And the orange is within a leather wristband of a watch, one by a luxury Parisian-brand you all need to know about called Michel Herbelin. I never thought I’d own an orange watch, but how unbelievably chic is this one… can you blame me?

Lastly, I’ve styled this leopard print dress before. But it was across the pond, in London during fashion week. (Link here) During the fall/winter season, I really love to layer and make the most out of my closet. When I had posted a teaser of this post on Instagram last week, many thought it to be a skirt! Layering game success! Lolol. I cinched the cashmere sweater just a bit to give it a more ‘crop’ like feeling, to bring more of a silhouette to my petite frame. Like this look and want to lilac like that? Ha ha! Drop your comment down in the section below!

LOVE & XX’S,

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A Cool Way to Wear Blue and Pink for Fall

November 8, 2018

WEARING: BLUE SLATE SWEATER | WIDE LEG JEANS | PEACOCK-COLORED HANDBAG | NAVY BLUE SATIN BOOTIES | PINK GLITTER NAILS

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY 525 AMERICA & SINFUL COLORS.

When it comes to fall fashion, we normally see a lot of burgundy, neutrals/tans/beige, yellow, and browns. None to which I disagree with, as they are all such a wonderful palette for this season. But yes, as per usual, I like to shake things up and in today’s post, I styled a fall outfit that only consists of blues and pinks! Before you think this is far too much of a spring tone, think again. With a chunky sweater, (how are they never not trending for autumn lolol) wide leg jeans, satin ankle booties and the right accessories, anyone can pull off this cooler toned look within this season! So let’s continue on to see more details and how you too can get the look!

If you know me, I’m a huge fun of anything oversized. And when I stumbled upon this chenille mock neck sweater in slate blue at the 525 America SS19 Preview last week, I knew I had to have it! Soft to the touch and ultra-comfy, I love that you can styled it tucked in or out depending on what kind of look you’re going for. Founded in 1983 with Brooklyn roots, the brand maintains an unwavering dedication to quality classics that stand the test of time and a love of color, all while keep an eye on changing fashions.

Remaining with the statement blue from the top, I wore casual wide leg jeans with a bit of a messy fringe at the hem to help bring attention to the shoes, which are navy blue satin ankle booties and are probably one of the comfiest pair of boots I’ve ever owned. Literally walked around in them all day in London one time and no blisters, no pain, just easy breezy walking. I also accessorized with a big boho blue ring with other silver rings to bring out the cold tones of the blues. And don’t even get me started about this peacock-colored bag, isn’t it just LOVE?!

So… how did I wear pink with this mostly blue if not completely blue outfit? Makeup, yasss! I’ve really been into it lately and have been learning a lot more - so it’s been truly fun sharing with you guys! Though my eyes have a more berry tint to them, I stayed true to pink with lipstick (Juicy by Urban Decay) and my new favorite nail polish color for fall: Pink glitter! The color within the bottle of this nail polish looks more on the purple side, but after applying, I got a beautiful pint tint instead! What do you guys think of this nail color?

I think the combination of colors also complemented well with my hair color, but I think this palette would look wonderful on all hair colors! If it’s a little extra chilly in your area, you can polish this look up with a white or pink coat. How cute would that be?! Let me know how you feel about this look by leaving your comment down in the section box below. Happy Thursday, everyone!

LOVE & XX’S,

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5 Ways to be a Fashion Rule Breaker

November 2, 2018

Happy Friday, you guys! Today’s look definitely reflects my overall style in fashion - rebellious, maximalist, chicness if you will, but today’s post also discusses the ways to do it. One of the key rules in fashion, in my opinion, is taking risks and trying something new. I think when we do this, it helps us hone in on what our style is, and though it is constantly evolving, there are always a few keen elements that resonate within one self. I tend to break the rules, in general. And just like it has in life, I have made some mistakes and I’ve also had some successes by now following the usual norm/rules. Continue reading to see more of this strong masculine outfit and the top five ways to be a fashion rule breaker.

1. DO YOU – AND ONLY YOU

It’s easy to scroll through Instagram and be ‘influenced’ by an outsider. A complete stranger. But I think what really helps is focusing on what styles you truly love. What makes you feel really good, confident, empowered. Anything positive. Because I too have had my fair share of uncomfortable outfits for the sake of some trend or vibe I was trying to go for, if it’s not me I know right away. But the way to be is to have the desire to impress yourself rather than for anyone else. Don’t develop your style based on other peoples’ opinions of yourself.

2. EMBRACE CHANGE.

When I was going through a lot of personal stuff a couple years back, I went to the hair salon and got bangs. At first, it took some getting used to but now, I can’t imagine my hair any other way than the way it is. For those that are not in the know - I have jet black hair and took nearly a year to get to the color I have now. I had really originally wanted platinum blonde hair but my hair colorist was so honest and trustworthy in the fact that that kind of drastic color would utterly fry my hair. So instead of walking around with damaged locks of frizz, we reached to this kind of color. And I find it unique and never had a hair color like this that I love so much. So it just goes to show, embrace change. Take a chance. Worth the risk. If not, it’ll grow back lolol.

3. IT TAKES TIME

Rome was not built in a day. And neither will your style. It’ll take years of trial and error to figure out what works for you and what doesn’t. This comes with taking chances, but it takes time to build up confidence in knowing what your style is. So be patient, have fun with clothes, and don’t take it too seriously. Fashion after all is a form of playing dress up, is it not? So don’t be shy in expressing yourself to the world!

4. DON’T KNOCK IT TILL YOU TRY IT

In order to figure out what works for you, it’s not a bad idea to step outside your comfort zone when it comes to your style. Maybe try a style you may not usually wear, just to see how you feel and look in it. I tend to mix/clash between what I’m confident in, and other styles I may not normally do and put them together to see the result. Sometimes I’m pleasantly surprised and other times it’s, “What’re thinking?!” Haha! So don’t be shy in experimenting.

5. STUDY FROM THE PROS

Not, not your favorite influencer with a million followers. We’re talking legendary icons in fashion like Coco Chanel, Diana Vreeland, Grace Coddington, Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele and others. These are those one can learn from. It’s like anything else, the more knowledge you have in something, the better off you are in it. So this definitely applies to the world of style, in all aspects - not only fashion.

What do you guys think of this masculine power suit look? I deliberately mixed three different patterns of plaid and to be quite honest, I love it so much! I styled it with a crisp white blouse and burgundy accessories like my handbag and boots. The added contrast is my navy blue silk handkerchief that always makes me feel European for some reason. I think this outfit is an absolute fashion rule breaker, how about you?