Casual Sunday

In this post I decided to go for a casual look. I got inspired by the idea of a Sunday afternoon brunch with friends. Here I am wearing jeans ($29.99) and a T-shirt ($12.95) that I purchased from H&M. One day I went out thrift store shopping and found these nude sandals ($12) from Anne Michelle. Finally, I topped the look off with a leather jacket that I purchased  last year from H&M and also a clutch ($19.99) From Zara. It's great how easily you can make a casual jeans and a T-shirt look seem dressier simply by adding heels and a clutch.

Head to Toe: Just under $100

I am a savvy shopper. I love finding pieces that look and feel like they are worth more than what I actually paid for them. In this shoot my entire outfit, including the shoes is just under $100. I bought these shoes during the winter at DSW. The shoes are from Dolce Vita and were only $40. Recently, I went looking for other pieces and came across this striped skirt from H&M for just $34.99. The skirt looks great and the fabric feels of good quality. The shirt I happened to find another day in H&M as well. It's a simple shirt but the embroidered pattern makes the shirt stand out, and I only paid $9.99! I finalized the look with a gold clutch that I bought from H&M during last fall for just $4.95. There you have it! A whole outfit under $100 ($89.93 to be exact).

Shirt by H&M, Skirt by H&M, Shoes by Dolce Vita bought at DSW

Beige and Black: Colors You Can Never Go Wrong With

This blog I want to step away from the color scheme and go into classic colors that can be worn in any season; whether spring, summer, fall, or winter. Colors such as beige and black never go out of season. In this shoot  I was able to add different patterns to my look by incorporating the leopard shoes (Steve Madden $109), a beige and black stripe shirt (H&M $9.99), and pulled it all together with black wide leg pants (H&M $29.99). Never fear the combination of different patterns together. One rule of thumb for combining patterns is to make sure that there is one color that can be found in each pattern. As always, develop and evolve your style by stepping out of the box of what is conventional and familiar to you. Never close yourself off to the endless possibilities that fashion has to offer. There is no way for you to know what works well with your style if you don't give things a try.

Pants and Shirt by H&M; Shoes by Steve Madden; Photography by R&D Photography

New Season; New Beginnings

The inspiration for this shoot comes from the changing of the seasons. I love this time of year because this is when you see changes happening. Trees that were once naked; grass that had lost its color, and where there were no flowers, life began to spring about. I love experiencing these changes; therefore, I got inspired by the color green. Green is said to mean growth, fertility, and renewal. This is a new season to step out and grow; grow with your style, ideas, friendships, and with your person as a whole: mind, body, and spirit. Just like the color green of these pants (Zara $59) let this season inspire you to think of new ways of doing things; to fertilize your ground and let the fruits show forth.  "A mind that is stretched by new experiences can never go back to its old dimensions" Oliver Wendall Holmes.

If you are interested in what I am wearing click on the links below:

Pants and Shirt by Zara; Shoes by Forever 21; Photography by R&D Photography

Welcome Spring! We've Been Anxiously Awaiting Your Arrival!

I got very excited at the thought of Spring. I love warmer days even though our first day of spring in NYC was a snowy one, but I know warmer days are just around the corner. This look of course was inspired by the warmer spring days to come. In this shoot I wore wide legged pants that I purchased from H&M for $29.99 (great price). The earth tone color of these pants remind me of the Grand Canyon in Arizona; they are so vivid and rich in color and contrasts nicely with nearly any colors you pair it up with. You can wear earth tone colors practically anytime since they are always in season. Plus you can always change up the shades of the earth tones with each passing season. Since the pants are high waisted you can add a shorter cut crop top, or your regular shirt, again depending on your personal preference. I decided to wear a black and white crop top, which I also got from H&M for just $9.99 (love the price and the material). Lastly, I topped off my outfit with black and white shoes from Steve madden ($79.00 on sale). As per usual with such outfits you can add as many accessories as you like. Don't forget, keep pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and you'll begin to truly find yourself. Remember, "Mode passes; Style remains" Coco Chanel .

Click on the underlined words if you are interested in purchasing any of the items:

Pants by HM, Crop Top by HM, Shoes by Steve Madden. Photography by R&D Photography.

The cold weather in NYC has been very harsh on my skin. I am a person that normally doesn't like to wear too much makeup, and I have never really been on top of using facial products, but because we had extremely cold days this winter and I was out more taking many pictures than the norm I had to figure out something to keep my skin moisturized. As a result I decided to go to Sephora and ask the makeup specialist questions about what is good for my skin for moisture and also a foundation for my face that would feel very light on my skin. The makeup specialist was so helpful about it and got me these two products that I am in love with and I'm raving about. She recommended that I use the BB cream since I wanted something light that I can use daily that won't make me look like I have too much foundation on my face. It is a moisturizing tint, which it is good because it gives your face moisture especially if your face has been affected by the cold of winter. I would definitely recommend this product BB cream from Bobby Brown. Another purchase that I made was the Ultra Repair Face Moisturizer by First Aid Beauty. It is good for sensitive skin and it is very light when you apply it to the face. My face has been having some dry patches since it has been really cold and being around the heat and using hot water affected my face as well. From the moment I started using it I saw an instant change. My skin looked refreshed and not dry or oily. It was a perfect balance. These products were a great buy. Remember to always consult an expert when buying facial products.

A Woman of Many Hats

Floppy Hat

Fedora Hat

Bowler Hat

This winter has been rather cruel with the endless cold and snow. One of the few positive aspects about this winter was being able to wear hats, and as a result I have been rather hat crazy this season. If you are like me then at times you have come across different types of hats and have wondered if buying one would be a good idea, or if wearing a hat would go well with your look. Today I challenge you to try something different. Find yourself a hat and take it home with you. Howard Walstein once said, "Do something uncomfortable today. By stepping out of your box, you don't have to settle for what you are; you get to create who you want to become." In order to take uncharacteristic risks in life we must force ourselves to come out of our comfort zones. It is only when we try new things that we can find out what is good or not good for us. There are different types of hats and these are three of my favorite styles thus far this winter: Floppy, Fedora and Bowler hats. Think of hats as an accessory; it adds just the right amount of touch and character to your outfit. Even if in the end the hat does not suit your style at least you took a risk and tried something out of the ordinary, and that goes a long way when attempting to step out of your comfort zone.

Click on the links to find more information on the hats:                                                                                 Floppy Hat: Blue color from Forever 21, Burgundy from Shopmyhats.com. Fedora Hat: Burgundy and blue from Forever21. Bowler Hat: Olive color by Forever 21

From a Day at the Office to a Night on the Town

This day in age most of us are very busy people and we always seem to be pressed for time, especially living in a place like New York City. Just stop for a moment during your morning commute and you will quickly realize by simply looking at people's facial expressions that time is always scarce and never in their favor. Such is usually the case when going from one place to another that at times may take a little longer than anticipated. I have had some instances where I have been at work all day and have gotten out later than expected; meanwhile having previously made plans to be at another event later that evening and not having the sufficient amount of time to go back home and change my outfit. Hopefully, through this blog you are able to see that by just making small adjustments or minor changes to your outfit it will make a world of a difference. Having to transition from day to night is something working people often experience; whether going from a job to a night out with friends, dinner with family (or friends), and even at times making plans with a significant other. As you can see, in the first shot I am wearing a shirt dress, a sweater over the dress, and ankle boots (but one could also wear flats with the dress as displayed in the picture). Now, let's say that you went to work with a similar outfit and were planning on going out that evening, all you would need to do to is take off the sweater, and with that minor change alone your look is transformed. The outfit is now a nice solid dress for you to fashionably accessorize (necklace, earrings and bracelets)  in the same way that a blank canvas is to an artist. With a dress like this you can add heels and a clutch, and instantly you have an outfit that is more fitting for an evening out. Giorgio Armani said it best, "To create something exceptional, our mindset must be relentlessly focused on the SMALLEST DETAIL." To accomplish a look similar to this one does not take much effort or thought; all it takes is small changes to the initial outfit; for it is in the tiny details that we are able to set ourselves apart from others and be the unique beings that we all are.

Click on any of the links below to find what I was wearing for this photo-shoot:                                Photography by R&D Photography, shirt dress, sweater and burgundy necklace by H&M, burgundy ankle boots by Call it Spring 

To Crop or Not to Crop? That is The Question!

This blog was inspired by a few conversations that I had with several friends regarding the use of crop tops. Crop tops have made a fashion comeback over the last  few years. Some people believe that crop tops should never be worn beyond a certain age; while others believe that age should not dictate what one should or should not wear. One friend shared with me that she does not wear crop tops because she believes that it is not appropriate for her age. She believed that it is more fitting for the younger crowd in their early twenties and younger. Another friend expressed that she will wear any outfit as long as she looks and feels good wearing it. There are many ways of wearing a crop top, and as in all cases with fashion it is based on preference. The key is to find a piece that is most comfortable for you. If you are a little shy about exposing too much skin, or are just generally more conservative in how you dress you have the option to wear the crop top in the same manner as seen in this shoot. I am wearing a crop top with a high waist skirt (or could be high waist pants as well). This style allows much of the stomach to be covered to maintain the more reserved and classy look, yet at the time adding elements of sexy to the overall look. I am usually not the type to show off too much stomach, but I love crop tops. I enjoy the fact that you are not able to see the shirt bulging out of your skirt, especially when wearing fitted skirts or pants. I also like the option of being able to show a little belly when I want to and create a slightly sexier look for an evening out. "Freedom is realizing you have a choice" (T.F. Hodge). The great thing about fashion, and in this particular case crop tops is the amount of options and flexibility a person can have with the same one outfit. As I always say, learn what works well for you and adjust your style accordingly.

If this blog post, or any of my previous posts are helpful in any way please make sure to press "Like" and/or leave any comments or questions that you may have.

Fashion Made Simple

While doing this shoot I felt that for a moment I was taken back to a time where fashion seemed to be simpler: The late 1930s into the 1940s. There was not a lot of jewelry or extras in one's style. It seemed to cut right to the chase; nice, yet simple shoes, and an elegant clean cut dress. As I contemplated on the fashion I thought about how one's natural beauty would be the focal point more than the outfit itself. I love fashion at its simplest form. It is the little details that make a person stand out. In the same manner that this dress pops out in the midst of an urban landscape, (Meat Packing District) the color of this particular dress would make me stand out in a crowd of people. And, adding small touches of character such as a gold clutch and red lipstick help to set me apart in this shoot. You can choose to leave your outfit at its simplest as seen in this shoot, or depending on your personal taste you can add more accessories (necklace, bracelet, different color shoes, etc.). That is the beauty found in a simple dress; you can accessorize and give it a completely different twist. Paulo Coelho said it best when describing simplicity, "The simpler and more sober the posture the more beautiful it will be." Even though clothes and styles can be replicated what cannot be copied is you: your attitude, your flair, and your personality; these are solely displayed by you. Combining these wonderful attributes that you possess along with your outfit will then make your overall style unique. This will cause you to stand out as would a simple, yet beautiful peony in a valley of daffodils. 

By the way, this chic style would go perfectly for a night out with your Valentine.

Dress and Shoes by Zara, Clutch by H&M Photography by R&D Photography,                        Lip pencil by Nars

Nifty Shades of Brown

It is funny how life comes full circle. This is so true of fashion. When I was 15 years old I loved the color brown; nearly all of my clothes and shoes were that color. One could say that I had a fascination with the color brown. As some time passed I lost interest in wearing anything brown. Perhaps subconsciously I had told myself that I had enough of it in my life so I decided to let it go and move on to other colors. Now that I am I older I have learned to include different colors; not giving one color more preference than another. With this particular photo shoot I had fun putting all these different shades of browns together. The colors complemented each other well, and adding a striped blue top to the outfit made it stand out even more. My advice to anyone playing with color schemes is to not be afraid of putting together different shades of the same color for fear of looking too "matchie." A person that is dear and close to my heart once expressed to me, "A possibility gone unexplored is a potentially wasted opportunity to deepen one's own growth." Learn what works and doesn't work for your style and look, which comes via trial and error. Start with the basics such as the neutral colors: black, brown, beige, white, blue, and gray; for you can never go wrong with these colors, and then add your pop of varied colors to draw the eyes in. Do not be afraid to take risks in life for one of our greatest teachers is experience.

Pants and Shoes by Zara  , Jacket by H&M, Shirt and Purse and Jewelry by Forever21                  Photography by R&D Photography

Snowy Day

Dress by Forever 21 and Shoes by H & M

Dress by H & M, Shoes by CALL IT SPRING

Last weekend I went to Albrightsville, PA with some family and friends with the purpose of going Skiing at Camelback Mountain, and I thought it would be the perfect time to have a small shoot. The best part of all was that the day we got to Albrightsville it had snowed a bit; I figured what better backdrop for my shoot than to have some snow as my background. I put together a couple of outfits that went perfectly with the feel of the day and the weather. It was a really cold weekend and I had to be extremely efficient with time being that temperatures were below freezing; this meant taking the right shot with a small window of time while quickly heading back into the house to warm up and changing into my next outfit. Overall, it was a fun (though very cold) experience, and a great weekend.