Gracie

Girly chic is what popped into my head after meeting Gracie, and in the spirit of Easter weekend and just spring I knew we had to use color! Transitional jacket's are where its at right now, especially in London. The weather is changing, not only day to day but minute to minute! So a great semi light weight jacket is a must have to grab as your heading out the door.

After speaking with Gracie she let me know she was up for whatever not trying to find an outfit for any certain occasion. This of course is any stylists dream to just find whatever speaks to you.

So, the outfit is so bright and fun. The dress is from Zara and is a really nice cotton material. The print is so vibrant and looks great against her skin. To add to the mix I did a nice pop with the coral colored jacket. Also subtly added a little mint green with the necklace. For the purse just did a simple black & white with the chain detail. This just adds a tiny hint of hard in this super girly look.

MAKE SURE YOU DON'T MISS THE TINY READ MORE BUTTON BELOW THIS :)

Things I Love: April

Left H&M Coat  and right Coat with pockets Zara

First off, the color yellow I cannot get enough especially the soft pastel shade. Zara and H&M both have some great yellow jackets right now that I highly recommend checking them out. Its the time of the year where you need a transitional jacket so why not make it a color right? The good thing about yellow is it looks good on women with dark and light hair. My recommendation if you want to try this color, go in to the stores and check out a few different shades against your skin then head online for a wider selection.

Left side H&M Patterned Blouse right side Asos Check Pencil Skirt with Mesh Hem

Black and white check prints are just too good. I love everything about this print because you can create so many different looks with it. For someone who finds there style to be a little harder, more grunge, throw on a skirt or even a pant in this print (Asos does one just like the skirt) and pair it with a great leather jacket and bold pink lip and you are good to go. Or for the girl who is a little more girly chic you can pair these prints with all the pastels that are out this spring. Add a little baby pink into the mix and you instantly soften this print.

Left side 'Free 5.0 TR Fit 4' & left side Nike Air Max Thea

Trainers, sneakers, tennis shoes, whatever you call them this is one trend that I think all women around the globe are saying hallelujah too. One of the very few times fashion is practical. Especially in London women need a shoe that can be on the go, most aren't just driving up to the door and hoping out, they are in an out of tube stations. This trend is easy to fit into your wardrobe. Personally I love them with a skinny jean a basic top and a great coat! You instantly looking fabulous while being completely comfortable, perfect for the weekend. 

   

Fridays are for Fashion

Friday's are good days, I think most people can attest to that. For me if I don't have to work I usually keep my Friday mornings and afternoons wide open to catch up on things from the week. These past few weeks have been especially busy and I haven't had any time to get through all of my November issues (and one October). 

The Elle October issue was amazing, the Personal Style Issue. I love seeing whats trending. When it comes to having great personal style it is important to find trends that align with you, but also trying things out of you comfort zone. Personal style is constantly evolving which is great. From the mouth of Wilhelmina Slater "Taste is having the courage of your own convictions." 

Be confident when it comes to your look, confidence is one accessory that can transform any outfit. 

Picked out a few of the trends that I am loving right now:

Suede: First off whats not to love right? Adds great texture and can have such a rich color which can really enhance any outfit.

• Panelope by Steve Madden
• Burberry Trench
• 'Betty' Shoulder Bag by Saint Laurent

Pattern: houndstooth, tartan, shepherds check, tweed I love them all. The best part about these prints are they are usually warm and practical. These have been seen all over this season including this great Prada handbag. 

• Checked Blazer by Zara 
• Houndstooth Print Trousers by Zara 
• Two- Sided Scarf by Zara

Isabel Marant: Who isn't talking about this right now? Isabel Marant for H&M and it is anything but a disappointment. One jacket in particular I cannot get off my mind (middle picture), but it is all beautiful.  

• Jacket with Beaded Embroidery 
• Boyfriend Jean
• Suede Shoes

Outfit of the day: Soldier Girl Tell Um

First the title of this post, credit given to one of my awesome friends Jackson. He saw me wearing this outfit on the left and that was the first thing that came out of his mouth. It made me smile so I had to roll with it.

Camouflage, such an interesting print. One trend that walks a fine line between forest friendly and fashion forward. If you're like me and kind of love it here are two of my personal twists on it.  I tried to pick looks that were pretty opposite from each other. Both looks are fun but, the left is much harder and the right is a much softer. Thats what is so great about these pants, they are extremely versatile. 

Outfit One:

• Pants, Zara
• Tank, Macy's
• Sweater, H&M,
• Jacket, SuperDry 
• Shoes, Steve Madden
• Beanie, Neff
• Bracelet, Nordstroms
• Watch, Fossil 

Outfit Two:

• Pants, Zara
• Sweater, Forever 21
• Shoes, Steve Madden
• Scarf, Heartbreaker

My advice is be careful with camouflage that has had little to no manipulation and uses cheap looking fabric. When the camouflage print looks like you actually got it from a hunting store, or the fabric is extremely low quality thats when camouflage can start getting really tacky. On my pants the colors are pretty mute and they have some feminine detailing on the bottom with the gold snaps. This helps them stray away from being to much of a literal translation. 

The definition of Camouflage is the use of any combination of materials, coloration or illumination for concealment. When it comes to your clothes you're not trying to hide! So when you're at the store stop and think, could I blend into a pile of leaves right now?   

Sunday How To's: Dress for Success

Everyone has that same image of the "sexy secretary" a hyper sexualized women in the work place wearing a skin tight pencil skirt with a slit up the back and a low cut top. This is not a good look. It is important, especially as women, to present ourselves properly in professional environments. Women before us have worked too hard for us to be able to come to professional arenas and be taken seriously. To disrespect that by dressing inappropriately really hurts me. Lately at a lot of events I have seen too many women dressing provocatively. That is what inspired me to do this how to. In these first images I am wearing a simple black dress that hits right at the knee and comes all the way up to my neck. Finding a perfect fitting black dress is an essential piece to your wardrobe. Depending on your body type different cuts and styles will flatter you best. It may take a lot of trying on but it is definitely worth it. DO NOT SETTLE. I know a lot of women enjoy feeling sexy. The perfect fitting black dress even though it is knee length and not baring cleavage can make you feel sexier than anything skimpy. Even more than sexy being dressed appropriately can truly make you feel beautiful and strong. This dress is so versatile, here I have it a little more dressed up, more of a work event versus everyday. But, I could easily dress it down and turn it into the perfect office dress. 

The Outfit: 

• Dress, Zara
• Jacket, Talbots
• Shoes, Steve Madden
• Necklace, Forever 21
• Watch, Fossil 
• Clutch, Steve Madden

Being dressed professionally does not always have to mean looking boring. That is a common thought I believe many people have. If you have a more eccentric personality there is a way to tie that into professional clothing and still make yourself presentable. Of course you must always keep in mind the crowd. If your at a law office where the most exciting thing you see is someone changing their suit from black to brown you probably do not want to wear a yellow dress. But, there is always business casual events that need attending right? This look I'm wearing once again is overall covering. It hits slightly above the knee but it is also not as form fitting. This dress is great for many things: a wedding, business casual event, and possible your job (depending on where you work). It is a really rich color but a classic cut.

The outfit:

• Dress, Zara
• Watch, Fossil
• Gold bracelet, Forever 21
• Earrings, from my mom
• Shoes, Me Too 
• Bag, 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target collection 

Note: I would suggest accessorizing different based on the event, you would not want this large bag at a wedding.

 Lastly pants, I know everyone doesn't like wearing dresses. Pants are nice because if you find a pair that fit you great they can be a base to many outfits. This means invest, like the black dress shop around and find a pair that fit great (get them tailored if necessary). It is easy to make a simple pair of black pants look different by changing the blouse or adding a jacket. If you decide to wear a shear blouse it is important to be very conscious of the undergarments that you choose. You do not want bra straps showing and you always want to make sure the tank top underneath is giving you enough coverage. 

The Outfit:

• Blouse, H&M
• Pants, Macy's
• Watch, Fossil
• Handbag, Dooney & Bourke
• Shoes, Steve Madden 

Note: Looking great and professional does not have to be expensive. Find versatile pieces that can be re-used in many outfits and practical shoes versus shoes that only go with one outfit. Also keep your eye out for sales. The black dress I am wearing was purchased during Zara's winter sale for $19.99. Since they offer free shipping both ways I was able to try on different sizes in the comfort of my own home.