THE WHITE AFFAIR | OOTD

Happy Monday BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE! I have a serious love affair with wearing all white as of late. Wearing all white is considered a “trend” right now but monochromatic (wearing different shades of a single hue) anything will always be a popular choice for me.   While it may seem like a tricky style to pull off, wearing white on white is one the easiest ways to look crisp from head to toe.  First step is to put to rest all those silly rules about when and where to wear all white.  Trust me, this is the easiest outfit to recreate and will become one of your go-to looks. Especially when you can incorporate unexpected foundation pieces like this Eva Mendes collection pencil skirt from New York & Company…….which was a steal BTW!   The idea of wearing all white has its fair share of naysayers because it is not always flattering and can cause you to always be aware not to get any stains on your fit.  

There are new ways to mix things up so you will not look like the first lady of a Baptist church on resurrection Sunday.  I’m huge fan of this this look because the skirt paired with a flowy strapless cropped top takes the outfit from plain to a bit daring.  By adding my treasured custom necklace from local jewelry designer Shawn Pilgrim, a leopard peep toe slingback pump, and everyone’s fav a faux fur clutch is the perfect look for any occasion all year around.   The key element to pulling off this style with confidence is to always gravitate towards pieces you can have fun in. And don’t be afraid to experiment with different monochromatic looks if white is not your cup of tea.  One of my favorite colors to wear all over is different shades of purple, mauve tones, or even the staple color, black. 

CAPTURED BY  J O N C E

DETAILS:  STRAPLESS CROP TOP -  GIANNI BINI| SKIRT - NEW YORK & COMPANY | SHOES - STUART WEITZMAN | CLUTCH - EXPRESS (A MILLION YEARS OLD) | SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL BRACELET - HEIDI DAUS | NECKLACE - CUSTOM MADE BY SHAWN PILGRIM |  GOLD SHADES - KATE SPADE | EARRINGS - AUTHENTIC 18K  GOLD FROM THAILAND.  

SHOP THE SIMILAR LOOK 

So excited to get back in front of the camera again. Showcasing my personal style will always be an outlet for me.  The goal is to be consistent in every area in my life, so look for a new OOTD dropping every Monday! 

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 

MORE THAN STYLE | PERSONAL STYLE & KEEPING A POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE

Photo:  Tori Beechum

Velvet Lope “Style Spotlight” consultations always include a sample of expert styling, where the client and I have a mini makeover session at a local clothing store.  During this process, majority of my client’s become energized, excited, and invigorated during the transformation.  After a few consultations with the same response, I started to realize there is a direct correlation between personal style and having a positive self-image.  People often wonder why personal styling should be considered as a tool to transform self-image.  When a person doesn’t have a positive self-image, it will directly affect their confidence and how they physically view themselves and ultimately how they operate in a sometimes unforgiving world. Expert styling can boost self-confidence, change moods, and give an extra bounce in your step to make you feel like you can do anything!!!   

The media portrays an unattainable standard of beauty making it impossible for people to ever to be satisfied with their look.  Proven studies state over 60% of society has a negative view about their appearance and feel stuck in a sartorial rut!  Majority of working men and women find it difficult to develop their personal style during the work week and it’s just easier to opt for casual lounge wear on the weekends. On more than one occasion there are days I wake up and don't feel like myself causing me to invite in self-defeating thoughts…...I struggle like everybody else.   Is my body perfect, HELL NO, is there room for improvement, ABSOLUTELY!!!   But I always take a moment to asset my negative thoughts and make a choice  to remind myself I’m here to SLAY in MIND, BODY, & SOUL!  You may not always have control over your appearance but you have the power to keep a positive attitude about yourself! 

The simple act of what I affectionately like to call dressing with "self-love" is a ground breaking power and a constant reminder that I’m in control on how I feel about ME and what I want to present to the observing world.  When you create and cultivate your own personal style this allows you the freedom to have a positive self-image and grants the power to eclipse the human need for validation.  The preconceived notion that “well dressed” people have it all together is nothing more than mastering the act of LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD, and DO GOOD CONNECTION.  Something magically happens when clients step into a style and color that makes their skin glow a little more and or enhance their natural assets in the right places.  As a result they start to view themselves in a new light and slowly remove the self-imposed blinders. Experiencing this first hand will make you a believer on how implementing small changes in your clothing can change the relationship with your body and your internal self for the better!  

4 GIFTS OF PERSONAL STYLING & keeping a positive self-image:

1.  A positive self-image through styling grants you the power to eclipse the HUMAN need for validation.  

2.   Personal style is one the easiest ways to transform your self-image. 

3.  Expert dressing is powerful for improving confidence and establishing your uniqueness.   

4.  Focusing on your positive attributes and highlighting what you love through clothing is a vital self-love tool. 

If you have already started making small changes towards your personal style, I would love to support you via social media.  Tag me on Instagram and or Twitter with the hashtag "MORE THAN STYLE" because it's just that. A movement towards building a society who fully believes and adorns their God given beauty!!!
 

Until next time with love, 

Eureka