1ST ANNUAL CONFIDENCE CON | RECAP / March 9, 2016 by EUREKA CALHOUN

Hello beautiful people! If you follow me on Instagram and or Twitter you already know last Saturday I was a panelist speaker for the 1st Annual Confidence Con conference in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The conference was the brain child of everyone's favorite red head, Hannah Royce, owner of Egg In A Glass. Hannah is a creative strategist and a powerful force, who is extremely passionate about empowering women to embody self-love through compassion for their community.

My first introduction to Confidence Con and Hannah was the summer of 2K15 when Egg In A Glass hosted a photo shoot for the women of OKC. The photo shoot took place at various chic locations like Paseo District within the greater Oklahoma City area.

Where's Eureka? Can you spot me in the mist of all the beautiful ladies........ — Where's Eureka? Can you spot me in the mist of all the beautiful ladies........

Fast forward, to my surprise and excitement, I received a refreshing email about the birth of an authentic platform and joining the conversation to help women reach a greater appreciation for themselves and their community in the form a conference, appropriately name Confidence Con. The one day conference with keynote speaker Danielle Mercurio, was scheduled to take place at the historical Paramount on Film Row, March 5, 2016.

The one-day conference mission is to help women reach a greater appreciation about themselves and spark a sisterhood in real life and in the digital space. Sounds amazing right? Well it WAS!!! The enlightening day of conversation between local professionals and business owners about tough topics such as walking in your truth (my panel), building a brand like a boss, and nourishing relationships within the community was the main course of the day. We were also provided with edible yummy bites, photo booths, swag bags, food trucks, vendors, and also……wait for it….. a charging station for our cell phones (genius) !

I was fully prepared to give my spill on "Walking in My Truth" and gaining some knowledge about the fascinating women I previously read about. But I was blown away by the amount of love, compassion, knowledge, and testimonies that saturated the atmosphere Saturday morning. Definitely, encouraged by the women in the room who like me like to think big and dream big!! The conference is one for the record books and will always hold a special place in my life!!!!

A few pics I captured before I had to rush off for fittings.  Life of a stylist never stops. — A few pics I captured before I had to rush off for fittings. Life of a stylist never stops.

Now y'all know I couldn't leave out the outfit deets. For the speaking engagement I wore an awesome and completely comfortable white Catherine Malandrino pantsuit paired with my Calvin Klein nude pumps all purchased from Nordstrom’s Rack. The outfit itself was neutral but I wore a pop of color with my lipstick and personality, lol. Surprisingly, I wasn’t nervous with the usual sweaty palms and mind-racing thoughts, so I attribute it to feeling wonderfully confident in my new suit! The day sparked thoughts of how women and men can become and remain confident. So I decided to make a short list of some wisdom that has aided in the development of my self confidence with,

3 KEYS TO STAY CONFIDENT AND LIVE THE LIFE OF YOUR DREAMS:

* DO NOT seek approval from people. Constantly seeking approval doesn't allow your highest self of esteem to shine effectively. Learn how to LOVE yourself without losing yourself.

* Positive affirmations carry the power to disrupt negative thoughts when spoken regularly. Our words become our world and our actions are a result of our thoughts.

* Stop playing different roles and embrace you are beautiful in your own unique way. No one on the entire earth is like YOU and there in lives your power. There is freedom when you stop squeezing yourself into boxes based on people's unrealistic expectations.

Until next time,

1 ❤️ Eureka

BOLD & DARING | MIXING PATTERNS & PRINTS / February 24, 2016 by EUREKA CALHOUN

Hello beautiful people? Hope your week so far is productive and enlightening. Mixing patterns and prints is something I love to incorporated into my daily outfits. Lately, I have lost my inner mojo and my wardrobe choices are feeling a little run of the mill. Call it lack of enthusiasm or too busy to exercise my quintessential Velvet Lope style. But I have to bring it back and place it on it's rightful throne.

My rule for mixing patterns and prints is go with what feels comfortable. Because it doesn't have to match but it will definitely make sense. I know and heard this can be somewhat scary and daunting for a lot of ladies. It shouldn't scare you off because it will be as simply or eccentric as you make it. You can use pieces already in your closet to create a subtle every day look while looking super chic and oh the possibilities!!!!

A FEW TRICKS ON HOW TO MIX PATTERNS AND PRINTS LIKE A PRO:

1. A good rule of thumb for the intermediate fashionista is to start with 2 to 3 prints within 1 ensemble. Pair a classic structured pieces with a bold eccentric piece and maybe add in a conventional accessory like a statement bag.

2. Take baby steps when attempting this style, you can try adding small touches, like a hat, stockings, or clutch in a different pattern or a funky fresh head wrap.

3. Find patterns and or prints that complement each other. To the untrained eye it may look like you got dressed in the dark. But trust me this look is a definite show stopper. Stripes, floral, and or vivid patterns always mesh well. Also look for construction of clothing that compliments because it will balance out the ensemble.

4. An easy no fail trick is to pair the same pattern like floral in complementary colors. As long as the patterns are in a similar scale you don’t have to find the exact print in different hues. Genius right!!!!!

5. Try mixing big prints with smaller ones. It will create fluidity and the overall look is visually appealing while still making a strong, not overwhelming statement.

6. Stay in the same color family, do not go over board (editing is key). It also helps if one of your prints function as a neutral like a blazer or trench coat.

For my fashionista who want to start slow choose a star piece to work into the mix. A bold statement piece like sunglasses or clutch is a great starting point allowing you incorporate your outfit around it. Focus on a central piece and work your way into the bold & daring zone but always go with what feels right!

With a little practice and confidence anyone can rock it!! Took a break from showcasing my personal style this week to focus on clients duties. But look out for a brand spanking new personal style post next week.

Until next time,

1 ❤️ Eureka

CLOSET TREASURES| OOTD / February 10, 2016 by EUREKA CALHOUN

Hi guys! Happy Wednesday! Hope your week is going great so far. Given that I’m a stylist and fashion enthusiast, I’m constantly inspired by everything and everyone. The fashion houses, personal street style gurus, or the everyday stylish guy/gal deposit into my fashion bank account daily. Recreating style inspirations with the Velvet Lope touch (of course) can be a gift and curse. Spending money on expendable clothes with no real value doesn’t feed my spirit animal anymore. The gift of becoming older and wiser will cause oneself to reevaluate what’s important.

My focus is to pursue what feeds my spirit like saving, creating memories with family/friends and traveling the world to name a few. Make no mistake I will still invest in pieces that speak to me when the fashion gods shine on a particular item......... only makes logical sense, right? But one of my personal goals this year is to choose well, buy less and shop the TREASURES already in my CLOSET. The fact I have had all the pieces in this post except for the shoes for over a year (the gloves over 6 yrs, smh) and they're just now making an appearance confirms I'm finally on the right track!