Monday, September 26, 2022

How To 'Fall' In Love With Your Fall Wardrobe!

We gave the Summer some love and now it's Fall's turn!

Cool crisp air, pumpkin spice, apple cinnamon candles, Fall time changes, FOOTBALL AND soo much more to look forward to during this time of the year! We have endured the heat, summer vacation, back to school, AND numerous summer birthdays in my family. Fall arrives like the soft breeze that we never knew we needed. Fall also gives us all something very exciting to look forward to and that is Fall Fashion! Every year for fashion week, I follow Brooklyn based style icon and fashion influencer, Sai de Silva, watching her recount her experiences going to each show. She captures NYFW, Milan and Paris! Looking back at 2023 New York Fashion Week, I had my eye on things that would work as staple pieces in my closet. Here are 10 key pieces that every working woman should have in her wardrobe! They are all meant to be worn interchangeably and can all be dressed up or down. Since I moved to Nashville 2 years ago, some of these pieces were left in storage or got lost in translation and recently had to be replaced. So, without further ado, let's get into it!

1. A Blazer

A blazer can literally be worn with anything. I pair mine with jeans, slacks, joggers, shorts, skirts or a longer top with no bottoms at all. I have a black blazer and a deep pumpkin orange one that I wear in the Fall. I love a good blazer because it does a lot to complete a look! Their are oversized ones and ones that hug the shoulders just right. Blazers also transition well between seasons. They go from Fall to Winter with ease!

2. White Button Down Shirt

Again, a white button down shirt can complete any look. I like wearing mine with a pair of jeans or with a big oversized belt. A classic white button down works well with any color blazer too! I have a white, A-line button down that comes with an oversized red and white belt. I have only worn it once and that was to my parents' 50th wedding anniversary party. It was a hit for sure! Sexy and classy at the same time.

3. A Pair of Button-fly Boyfriend Jeans

Tis' the season for boyfriend jeans! They made their entrance several years ago and have been dressing women's curves ever since. I love a good pair of jeans. Boyfriend jeans are roomy, breathable and look good on every woman. I have hips and thighs and I was able to find a good pair at clothing store Maurice's last summer. They fit well but I have not worn them out yet. I guess I was waiting for a good dinner date to pull them out. They are also my first pair of button-fly jeans. They have the perfect amount of distressing and stretch. I like to wear mine with a good blazer, oversized white button up or hoodie, which is what I will be highlighting next!

4. Oversized Hoodie

I feel like it's so hard to find a really good oversized hoodie. I am a Brand Ambassador for a company called, Seek Jesus Co. Thank God for my discount because their hoodies can get pricey. They have a really good message and cause though! I have found that stores like Old Navy and The Gap have hoodies that are just as comfortable. A pair of boyfriend jeans and an oversized hoodie with some sneakers would make the perfect Fall outfit for a lunch date!

5. A Classic Jean Jacket

I found a good oversized jean jacket from Levis a few years ago. It is so cute. The BEST quality! I took it to my seamstress back in Virginia and she added studs to the pockets, along with letters on the back that spelled out P-E-A-C-E-M-A-K-E-R! It is currently in storage but it is practically vintage by now. A classic oversized jean jacket goes well with Everything in this post.

6. Vintage Leather Jacket

I have always been able to find dope leather jackets at thrift stores! The Goodwill specializes in old vintage leather. I bought a long, tan leather jacket there. I also have a rust colored one, as well as a black one that was also thrifted. Leather jackets have a way of  pulling a look together. 

7. Breathable Good Quality Flannel Shirt 

Again, I go to Old Navy or The Gap for my flannel shirts. Most recently, I found like 3 in one day at TJ Maxx. Really cute looks. A flannel shirt can be worn interchangeably with all of these Fall finds.

8. Leather High Waisted Skirt

I found THE cutest black faux leather high waisted skirt at TJ MAXX a few weeks ago. I have already worn it to church twice. I wore it with some black leather booties and a button down shirt. I am currently looking for some thigh high boots to wear with all of these items in this post. 

9. A Nude and/or Black Bodysuit

I LOVE a good bodysuit! They are slimming, sexy and necessary for every woman. I have 2 and I savor them both. They are affordable and go great with jeans, skirts and shorts. They just always pull a look together no matter what you are wearing on top of them. They also have a great way of shaping up the mid-section!

10. A Pair of Black or Brown Boots

Last but not least is a good pair of boots. I have a pair of black booties that have lasted for forever. I wear them to work, church, dinner and just about everywhere where I am walking a lot. Make sure they fit and are comfortable. Boots never go out of style. I even have had my eye on a sexy pair of thigh high boots as well! I am not telling you to break the bank but do make sure they are sturdy and can carry you from the Fall season into Winter.

Monday, September 5, 2022

Why Investing In Yourself Is The Best Thing You Could Ever Do!

'Believing and Investing in yourself is the best way to shift your thinking from a paradigm of excuses to one of solutions!'

If there is one thing I will bet on, it's myself!

Just being really transparent for a sec, but you can make great strides in your life when you are honest and real about things you need to change in order to go higher. As a result of being honest and real with myself, I have been rewarded with the gift of writing in my life. I absolutely love to write! It is more than a hobby. Storytelling is my calling! It's what I am good at and it's what I am most passionate about. I will write for free and if I never made a single dollar from it, my love for it will never change! THIS is where I want YOU to be in your life! Totally free to create and be YOUR biggest friend, cheerleader, asset and Brand Ambassador!

Just a few tips on how I got to this level in life, I made lots and lots of mistakes. Steve Harvey once said,

'You don't win by winning all of the time, you win by losing! The more you lose, the more you succeed.' 

The more you lose, the better problem solver you become. Massive success lies in solving problems. In order to keep losing, you have to keep practicing. Practice really does make perfect!

Tap into your individuality! NO one is You and that is Your Superpower! Your individual DNA is not shared by anyone on this planet. YOU are an original my love. 

Be willing to get uncomfortable to discover your gift! God has given everyone a gift! It is your job to figure out what that gift is and the clues lie within your journey in life!

Hold yourself Accountable and if you cannot, get around someone who can! Get and stay around individuals who are telling you the truth. I have family who I can trust to tell me when I'm falling off track. It is not always easy to hear the truth but it really will set you free. Connect with individuals who will love you enough to say what you need to hear and not what you want to hear!

'If your dreams don't scare you, they are too small.'