THE SWITCH UP | OOTD

Happy Hump Day!  If there is one word to describe my current style choices, it's COMFORT!  Working a full time job along with entrepreneurship has left a lot less time for everything else in my life. I avoid anything that distracts me from focusing on what's important.  Zero fuss is the name of the game, so as of late I gravitate towards real, beautiful clothes that I can live and work in. Versatility and comfort are increasingly important factors for my personal style and my rule of thumb is to wear an ensemble that will survive the entire day.

Which is why it's no surprise that when it comes to the dos and don'ts of getting dressed, the women who inspire my style have one thing in common: They choose comfort and versatility when picking out their outfit.  Whether you’re simply not the killer heels type of girl or you’re looking for some fresh outfit inspiration, I'm here to prove a great outfit doesn't require a pair of heels.  I'm always on the hunt for a modern tuxedo blazer so you can image my excitement when I stumble onto this gem from Nordstrom Rack.......which never disappoints!  I paired a staple turtleneck sweater, with timeless cigarette pants from my fav Banana Republic .  And completed the look with the star of the show, a pair of classic, clean and modern adidas sneaker.

Photographer:  Aaron J. Velasquez 

tuxedo blazer:  aBS by allen schwartz (sold out) Similar | Turtleneck: seen here  | Cigarette pants: banana republic (sold out) similar | Adidas sneakers: purchase here  | Shades: Prada (sold out) similar | Clutch:  Seen here  |  Earrings: (Thrifted)  | lipstick:  L'oreal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Gloss Purchase here

The cross pollination of style and sport has been a favorite at the street level for quite some time. Now the fashion elite is making comfy kicks look cooler than ever. Check out some of my favorite looks below. 

YOU'LL ALSO LOVE 

Sneakers paired with upscale ensembles will not go out style anytime soon. Do you plan to take a cue from the notable street style stylistas and inject a little comfort into your wardrobe this season?

Until next time with love, 

Eureka

FLORAL PLAY | OOTD

Hello beautiful people! This is the first "OOTD" for 2017 and I'm excited to hop back on the blogging saddle.  Whether you’ve been following me for a year or a week, you will soon figure out that I adore playing with my style and mixing it up a little.   Maybe it's the Gemini in me that craves variety and since I'm not into changing my hair color, switching my style feeds my soul.  

It's well known that fashion recycles itself and this season I decided to add my interpretation of one of the trends send on the runways for spring/summer 2017......eye popping florals.  I also incorporated the hottest trend right now, velvet booties.  What’s not to love about velvet, right? Honestly, this might be one of my favorite looks this winter season.  I wouldn't consider myself a floral type of girl but I do love mixing prints and patterns.  Love the idea of mixing patterns so much, I dedicated an entire post you can read here "Bold/Daring | Mixing Patterns & Prints" !  It doesn’t get any better than completing this look with a my beloved championed trench, along with a timeless suede A-line skirt.  This particular style appeals to a variety of silhouettes that's comfortable yet stylish!

Photographer:  JONCE

Sweater Headband:  H& M (Sold out)  Similar  (Old)  Leather Trench coat: Vintage  Similar Floral blouse: Target (Old) Similar Suede Skirt:  Banana Republic (Sold Out) Similar   Socks:  Polo (Old)  Similar  Velvet Booties:  Report (Sold Out) Similar  Shades: Vintage Similar   Gold clutch: Nordstrom (Old) Similar 

YOU'LL ALSO LOVE.......

Are you going to try the floral trend for spring/summer 2017?  If so, tag me in your favorite looks on social @velvetlope.  

Until next time with LOVE, 

Eureka

GREY & METALLIC | OOTD

Happy Wednesday beautiful people!   The past couple of months have been somewhat busy and I haven’t had the time to take pics for my beloved “Outfit of the Day" posts.  These images were taken two months ago by one of my favorite photographers Tori Beechum.  Regardless, I plan to make more of an effort to schedule and post on a consistent basis and wanted to create an outfit focusing on my thrifting and vintage finds.  I use to be obsessed with thrifting because in my mind I was saving so much money………until I was swimming in a sea of clothes. The abundance of clothes started to become overwhelming to say the least.  

Since the start of the New Year, my goal has been to declutter and eventually live a minimalist lifestyle.   Now my focus is more on vintage hunting and shopping my closet. The decision to bring new life to the items already in my wardrobe has sparked my creativity in a new refreshing way.  Also, when I stumble across unique one-of-a-kind vintage treasures it makes me feel like I'm stepping into a time machine and flashing back to a different era.  For my outfit I wanted to keep it in the family of mixing athletic with dressy.  My style mantra is more about comfort these days and choosing to dress up my casual gap t-shirt with a metallic thrifted skirt was the perfect pairing.  Summer is the time of the year where I incorporate some type of athletic gear daily.  For years I have always loved to mix high and low items and if you pick the right kind of low, it can look amazing with higher-end accessories.  

Shades - Ray Bans (seen here) | Gold choker - Vintage (similar here) | Grey Shirt - The Gap (here) | Belt - Dillard's OLD (similar here)  | Skirt - Thrifted from Bad Granny's Bazaar. (similar here) | Shoes - Tory Burch (here) | Bracelets - Nordstrom (similar here) | Clutch - (seen here) | Earrings - (seen here).  

For some of my serious fashionistas, vintage and thrift shopping can be a great past time.  It's about the thrill of the hunt and it's satisfying to your soul to unearth an incredible piece or two.   However, everyone is not a professional shopper like myself and learning how to buy vintage and thrifted items can be intimidating for some.  I have definitely learned some tricks along the way and wanted to share some tips with you: 

My TOP 7 tips to make thrifting and vintage shopping more successful:

1.  Keep a list of “Want” & “Need”.  Thrifting in particular can become overwhelming and it's best to keep a list of things you are in the market for.  The goal is to fill in functional gaps in your wardrobe for the LOW!   

2.  Check for stains, working zippers, and holes.  (Zippers can be replaced).

3.  Be open-minded and venture outside your comfort zone regarding unique pieces.  If an item is too big, tailor it because everything can be nip and tucked into the perfect piece. 

4.  Ask the vintage dealer about other items not on display. They usually have a secret stash in the back.

5.  ONLY BUY WHAT YOU LOVE!  If in doubt, DON’T.  Make sure you ONLY purchase items you will wear. Again, add functional items to your wardrobe.

6.  Beware of fakes.  Know the difference between vintage and thrift.  When in doubt, google it.  

7.  Be prepared.  Wear comfy clothes just in case they don’t have a dressing room. You can try on a pair of pants, shorts or a dress in the isle. 

Until Next Time With Love, 

Eureka