Style Evolution

Through the lens of this blog, I have the ability to watch from the sidelines as my personal style evolves over time.
Have you noticed that your personal style has evolved over the years? Some outlets have identified this process as a 'style evolution'.

At times our personal style may evolve because we literally physically outgrow clothing that we have had for years – and in turn we found ourselves in the exhilarating space of purchasing a new wardrobe, piece by piece. In other instances, personal style may begin to evolve as a result of mentally outgrowing one’s current wardrobe. As we learn and grow, previous style preferences may no longer seem to represent the woman that we are today.

Case in point: Some of my previous go to pieces have been relegated to my recurring “Give Away” pile…I can still fit them, they’re in great shape, and they are still in style- yet…I just don’t seem to want to wear them anymore!  This is evidenced by the fact that I have not worn them during the past 6 months or in some cases, longer ;(

Whatever the reason, a style evolution allows for a fresh perspective and a rejuvenated wardrobe.

Until next time Style Lovers!

Sunnies: TopShop| Vest: BCBG MAX AZRIA| Floral top (worn here): Nordstrom| Waxed denim (worn here & here): NYDJ| Belt: Banana Republic| Fringe booties: Marshalls| Clutch: F21

Square One

Hey Style Lovers <-----> heyyyyy!!! It’s been a while,  how have you been?! I’ve been doing well! You’ve most certainly been on my mind, YES - my readers! As you may know, I’ve always periodically taken breaks from social media, and or fashion blogging because down time gives me the necessary space to recharge myself (read more here). However, this Summer I noticed that my break intervals became longer and more frequent. Why? I had to brainstorm to find the answer. Is it simply because my life schedule is full? No, because my life schedule has always been full. So why had I begun to feel a sense of dread, even at times disgust, whenever I thought about sitting down to actually blog a look that I wore? It took some time, but the answer finally became apparent to me. 

Perception
It takes quite a bit of work to write, edit, publish, and promote one blog post, especially when you consider how many social media platforms there are. Many bloggers use a variety of platforms to engage with more readers. My main platforms aside from this blog are Instagram, Facebook, and Tumblr (although I am also on Twitter, Google + and Pinterest). In the community of fashion blogging, the current general perception seems to lend itself towards the idea of working one’s way into becoming a full-time paid and or endorsed fashion blogger and or model. 

To say that setting that objective as your own - is a challenge, is the understatement of the year. Consider that this (fashion/blogging regular and plus size) is an industry where literally tens of thousands of people are seeking one common goal- to be The One…The One who all fashion brands (or otherwise) want to work with… The One who all fashion related magazines want to feature… The One who makes it… The One who turns his or her lobby turn into a lucrative career, yes --> to be The One who is on top.

Realizations
Blogging for me began as a hobby. Sure, I thought it might be fun to work with a brand here and there; I had no intentions of marketing for any company/brand for free! LOL! However, focusing on trying to obtain partnerships with brands began to have me feeling some sort of way. Again, I had to think about why. The answer reached the surface. Simply put: I don’t want to “make it” as a fulltime blogger/model/socialite or any of the like. I do not aspire to be “The One”. My beliefs, morals, and priorities are non-negotiable and uncompromisable. I want to blog, on my own terms, in my own way.

Not only am I an appreciative introvert (read more here) BUT I’m truly and genuinely happy with my life as it stands right now: in this very moment :) My hope for the future, my genuine circle of friends, my close family, my long-term personal goals (which have nothing to do with fashion), and my career! I’m grateful to have a comfortable place to live in, a bed to sleep in each night, a variety of foods to choose from for each and every meal that I eat, and in my city: transportation! When I bring myself back to center, shifting out all of the noise, I am able to truly focus on what’s important to ME as an individual/woman, what my intentions are in blogging (read why I started here), and what aspiration is appropriate for me as the whole person. Irregardless of the cut throat ambition, fakery, dishonesty, and cliques present within the fashion blogging industry, my purpose remains the same: Blogging is for me a recreational hobby, I am decidedly different, and I will continue to do ME! 

I am so appreciative of you, my readers! I hope that something you see and or read today will inspire you!

Dress: Eliza J. | Statement necklace: JCPenney | Pumps: Victoria’s Secret | Tote: Dooney & Bourke

Autumn Dreams

As temperatures soar into the 100's, it is so hard to grasp that the Fall season is upon us! SoCal basically has two seasons: Spring and Summer.

Nevertheless, being the Midwest gal that I am and always will be, at times I long for breezy Fall days, drifting leaves, and going to my favorite cider mill.

Not to be mistaken: I have come to appreciate living in mild temperatures all year around, and the natural beauty that is California. Just look up,  you’ll see beautiful blue skies 90% of the time, and palm trees swaying gently in the wind.

Nonetheless, having four seasons, when each are truly in balance versus extreme (hat or cold) is a real treat. One of my favorite things about Fall is FALL FASHION! Who can resist the fantastic textures, colors, layering effects, snuggly scarves, boots and so on?!
I longingly looked in my wardrobe last night, at a recent vintage score (a coat that is just so ME), and wished for cooler temperatures so that I could wear it properly.

Perhaps I need to take another trip, to ensure that I stay in sync with my Midwestern roots :) 
Oh, and better yet, so that I can fully bask in the glory of Fall fashion!

Until next time Loves,
X

Sunnies: Forever 21|Necklace: Sponsored from Rocksbox| Dress: Burlington Coat Factory| Suede bag: Vintage| Pumps: Victoria’s Secret

Making Appearances

Some have said that appearances don’t really matter, yet experience indicates something entirely different. For instance, what is the very first thing one generally notices when meeting someone else? Their appearance! Yes, skin color, facial features, condition of teeth, eye color, hair, clothing and even personal mannerisms.

Time and time again people draw firm conclusions based on the outer appearance of someone else. Of course these conclusions and or assumptions have a considerable probability of being inaccurate; nonetheless those conclusions can be extremely difficult to dismiss.

How often have we heard the expression, “First impressions are lasting impressions?” The way that we dress, look, and manner in which we conduct ourselves does matter.
I personally notice a considerable difference in how I am treated when I enter high end retail stores based on my dress being dressy versus casual. When I am casually dressed, and perhaps my hair doesn’t look freshly styled, I notice that sales people are more likely not to approach me to ask if I need any assistance.

In sharp contrast, when my attire is dressy and or upscale, I find myself inundated with sales people from multiple departments asking how they may help me. Point taken? 
Despite awareness of the fact that appearances do carry a considerable amount of weight, I dress according to my own personal preferences. I love to dress up most days, because it makes me feel good, and seems to align with who I am as a woman. However, there are times when I’m tired and or not quite in the mood to do the norm. On those days I throw on whatever takes the least amount of effort (example here), and I set about my day.

Over to you: Do appearances matter to you? Have you observed any noticeable differences in how you are treated based on your attire?

Thanks for stopping by!

Sunnies:LEITH| Vest: Coldwater Creek| Tank: Nordstrom| Jeans: NYDJ (worn here, here, and here)| Sandals: Giani Bernini (worn here)|Clutch: Vintage

Intentional Mix-up

It's taken me way too long to share this number with you, truly one of my go-to's this summer (I think I've worn it at least 5 times), a mixed up masterpiece by Eliza J.! It truly takes the guess work out of pattern-mixing, which is especially helpful if you're uneasy about joining the clashing prints game.

I discovered the private label about 5 years ago, at my favorite Retailer, in-store <Nordstrom>.  I have been a loyal fan ever since. I'm wearing Eliza J. here, here, and here, but there are many more treasures from her tucked away in my closet... 

This number is referred to as a "pop-over" (I also have one in a solid color). It's a one piece dress that closely resembles a top and a skirt. The print mix is nothing short of inspirational. I love the vibrant colors throughout the skirt and this time decided to pull out teal via my accessories. Each and every single time that I have worn this - the compliments rain in like spring showers. Well done Eliza J.!!!

I have news for you! I perused the web, and learned that this dress is still available at several retailers, some sizes at incredibly reduced prices!!

Check them out: Dillards: Here
Nordstrom: Here *Bonus: Plus sizes, here

Happy shopping Loves and I'd love to see your finds, tag me on Instagram ;)

XO

Sunglasses: Steve Madden| Necklace: Custom| Dress: Eliza J.| Socks: Nordstrom| Heels: Audrey Brooke (worn here)| Handbag: Kate Spade (worn here)

Flushed With Blush

I have a confession…
I have a new color crush….totally different from those of the past….

Vibrant, rich, tantalizing hues have been my M.O. for 20+ years, but lately…well…I find myself intrigued with neutral color palettes. What’s happening here?!
In a word:  C H A N G E.

There’s something about the color blush , it’s not quite pink, yet it is not quite beige or tan either---> it’s blush! While perusing Pinterest I’ve come across several combinations of black & blush that are classically fantastic.

I picked up  this hi-low blush top a month or three ago (debuted it on date night) - it’s high time that I sift more blush colored items into my collection.

TGIF Beauties & have a wonderful weekend!
XO

Sunnies: Jessica Simpson| High-Low top:ASTR | Jeans: NYDJ| Shoes: Enzo Angiolini (worn here)| Floral Clutch: Vintage

Wardrobe Shuffle: Vintage Lace

Hey there! (Slowly creeps into the room as if it hasn’t been eons since my last post) Today’s post highlights what I like to think of as a wardrobe shuffle. I’ve mentioned before that I intentionally purchase pieces that I know will have longevity. In this instance, I am not solely referring to the quality of an item (although quality does rank #1 in my book) but also in that I know that I will have the desire to wear the item again and again.

This takes a bit of forethought for me at the actual time of purchase, and yet even still, sometimes a piece serves its purpose after a year or so. For the pieces that remain with me year after year, I enjoy exploring new ways to wear them. Flashback: My personality used to be quite rigid. As an example, I could not bear the thought of mixing and matching my clothes. I thoroughly enjoyed wearing items in the same exact way, each and every single time. WELP, all I can say at this point is: I’ve changed! Thanks to Pinterest (check out myboards here), I constantly have ample ideas of how to shuffle pieces around in my wardrobe. We'll take today’s post as one example:

Flashback: I originally wore this dress under a skirt in a post blogged last year (here). At the time, I couldn’t fathom wearing this dress solo, as I don’t particularly care for the cut of it on my body (but I do heart every other aspect of it). I even thought about having it altered…. Yet I digress.. What makes this dress unique to me aside from its age (circa 1970s), is that the lace is cotton! It actually came with a cotton lining, but that was unfortunately too snug for my ample curves, LOL!

One day while perusing Pinterest (as I often do during down time, like in-between emails, and while sitting in relentless LA traffic) I saw a picture of a look worn by Jessica Alba. I immediately thought of my lacey treasure filed away at the back of my wardrobe. I already had all of the pieces needed to recreate this look, my way- so I decided to have at it! 

I wore it on vacation several weeks back, my husband loved it so much that he uses one of these pictures as backdrop on his mobile ;) Join me on Pinterest and let’s be inspired together!

XO

Denim jacket: Michael Kors (worn here)| Statement Necklace: Nordstrom| Lace dress: Vintage (worn here)| Belt:Thrifted| Cork sandals:Market (worn here)

White Noise

Distraction has been proven as a successful strategy. Do you find that you are distracted easily and or frequently? I tend to get distracted more than I care to admit, or prefer. There are so many distractions, which can make it difficult to remain focused on personal objectives.
To avoid distraction, we often use white noise, which equates to adding in more distraction to a scenario - in essence, to drown out the unwelcome distraction. Confusing right?!  A simple example might be: Turning up the TV to drown out your neighbor’s music and or the sound of a TV in another room. In effect, you add in noise to trump out the noise that you do not want to hear. Have you ever done that? 
Unfortunately, utilizing white noise just does not work for me! =(

When I find myself excessively distracted by uninvited elements and or people (I’m an introvert, read about that here), I typically feel inundated with way too much information . Adding additional white noise to the scenario seems to intensify the challenge, which in turn often leads to feeling overwhelmed and then… the inevitable end result: The state of irritation – LOL!

Life experience and awareness of who I am as an individual has taught me the value of knowing when to take a step back from unnecessary ”noise”. I use these frequent intervals to focus on myself, to examine my strengths, to analyze my weaknesses, and to sharpen my objectives.

Isn’t a vacation the BEST opportunity to press the “R E S E T” button?!?! While on holiday this time around I was able to re-direct my focus, shift away from the noise, and focus on the things that are truly important to me. I started an excellent book and seized opportunities to enjoy all of the sights and sounds around me. 
This white dress came into play for dinner plans. It was perfect for the extreme heat not only because it is white, but also 100% cotton = A double win!!!
I simply heart all white ensembles, see examples here, here, and here.  
However white can be paired with other colors just as easily. Think lilac, yellow, peach or blue =)

Over to you, how do you handle distractions? What is your favorite way to style white?

Until next time Style Lovers!

Sunnies: Nordstrom| Earrings & Statement Necklace: Ross Dress for Less| Dress: Also worn here| Strappy Sandals:Tildon| Clutch: Vintage

crème de la crème

When I was thinking of what to title today’s post, "crème de la crème" instantly popped into my head. Let me tell you why:

Most fashionistas would agree that there is nothing quite like an all-white ensemble (Nope, not even all black look). Wearing all white looks and feels fresh, crisp, yes clean.  It’s an easy and frequent  go-to during the summer months. Yet, we need not forget about it’s counterpart: Off-White!  An all off-white ensemble can pack a fashionable bang too!  Not to mention, there’s an added bonus: Most people feel completely comfortable wearing off-white outside of warm weather months, i.e. “Winter White”.

While going through my wardrobe and attempting to eliminate pieces that I no longer need (I do this every 2-3 months, I try to follow the 1 in/1 out rule) I realized that I don’t  have many off-white pieces anymore. I know that I used to, but over time, they’ve either been eliminated for of the following reasons: 1) Tossed out due to a stain (like my MK jeans worn here), 2) given away, or 3) donated to charity. The timing was perfect when I scored a lace remnant of fabric on mark down, I decided right on the spot to have it made into a skirt similar to a style that I saw on Pinterest . Sidebar: Pinterest is my #1 Fashion Inspiration source! Follow me here and let’s enjoy being inspired
together!

Oftentimes when lace some to mind we automatically assume it has to be for a dressier occasion. That’s not necessarily true, I pulled this look off by day (casual) and by night (dressy).

Thanks for tuning in today Style Lovers, until next time!
Moi’

Casual Take

Sunnies: TJMAXX| Earrings: Vintage| Top: aerie| Clutch: Vintage, thrifted| Skirt: Custom| Espadrille lace ups: Soludos

Dressy Take

Sunnies: Steve Madden| Earrings: Nordstrom| Top: aerie| Clutch: Vintage, thrifted| Skirt: Custom |Shoes: Call It Spring (also worn here)

Mix & Match: Take 3

Finally Loves, today’s post boasts the final installment, yes Take 3, of my second wardrobe capsule (click here to see my very first go at creating one: The Pastel Wardrobe Capsule!

When I tell you that life is full of the unexpected- I promise I do not exaggerate in the least! I actually intended to blog this look last Friday (6/26), you know, like in short succession to my previous post, i.e., Take 2 here…
Y E T here it is, late PM on July 2^nd and I’m finally getting this post published!  Is late truly better than never-?! LOL!

I‘ve previously written about my intrigue with the Minimal clothing approach; However at this juncture in my life, I cannot see making it a lifestyle change. I NEED variety at my fingertips, at all times. Nonetheless, I like to dabble in the fun of Minimalism, utilizing the capsule wardrobe concept. A capsule wardrobe allows me to temporarily enjoy the principle behind Minimalism without making a long term commitment.  Not familiar with a wardrobe capsule? Well it's said to be ‘a set of clothing, footwear and or accessories that satisfy style needs in one or more areas of your life.’

The theme of this wardrobe capsule was dual-fold: Black& White + Mixed Prints. 3 basic pieces = 3 different looks. Each suitable for my lifestyle: Work & Play. I’m pleased with the outcome, and freely admit that all three fits will be in rotation this Summer!

Now down to the nitty gritty: Which look is your favorite, and why?!

Check out the details for ---> Take 1 and or Take 2 Babes!

Until next time!
XO

Furgora: Kangol |Sunnies: A.J. Morgan |Earrings: Steve Madden |Bracelet: Zara |Stripe vest & Skirt: Custom (worn here, here, and here) 
Fringe bag: Carlos Santana (worn here) |Calf skin loafers: Sam Edelman