SHADES OF BROWN

       I told myself not to talk about the weather at all, but it’s inevitable because what one wears is pretty much determined by the weather. If it rains, you know, a trench coat and an umbrella comes in handy. If it's a hot summer day, a dress or top that’s light and flowy is highly recommended, you wouldn’t be caught dead wearing a Ski suit unless you are mad! If it's a cold winter day, an Eskimo like ensemble is a must. Those are my most dreaded days. Bundling up to stay warm. The past week or so we've been having an arctic blast all through the country. It's the kind of blast that makes you wish you could take a vacation to a tropical island. ASAP!!

 UGHHHHH!!!

It was soo cold it felt like we were in the middle of winter and its only fall. The thought of winter just makes me cringe.

Well, today the sun is out. It’s almost 72 degrees. Let’s throw a party!!!!

Am serious!!! Ok... I guess I'm a little excited.

I love earth colors but brown is usually a color that gets the back seat in my wardrobe. Today, I decided to show it love. I paired pieces with a little brown here and there then added the burgundy hat to add that pop of color.

Photo Cred: Kimnation

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week.

BLACK AND WHITE

I attended the FALL INTO FASHION EVENT HOSTED BY BOULEVARD OF CHIC this past weekend by the Inner Harbor. I was invited as a VIP Blogger to cover the event which was such an honor. I met a great number of people and made a few connections. Networking is everything! Despite the drop in temperatures (it was 43 degrees but it felt like 19) the turn out was great. Read more on the event here....

(5 hours earlier....)

     Ever had a day where nothing looks good on you. Absolutely nothing!! It can be quite frustrating. Especially if it is an event, a fashion event, where pictures will be taken, and a lot of mingling happening. I look at the pile of clothes over flowing my bed in utter dismay. This can’t be life. (Oh! About that pile of clothes. I started this thing on being organized, or at least, getting things organized.  You know what they say when you have things in order. It’s easier to find whatever you are looking for, you feel more at peace…bla bla bla.  Number one rule of getting things in order is to remember the extreme importance of returning things where you found them. Ha!)

So here I am, trying to figure out what to wear, the pile of clothes on my bed already forming an impressive mini-hill and I ignore the gentle voice in my head says something about returning things where I found them. The hangers are strewn on the floor, I can't find that stole I had on a minute ago, and I’m about to fall flat on the floor because of a shoe that I had kicked off earlier trying to put a few looks together!! My goodness!! ORDER  has walked out the door and it’s evil twin chaos is about to walk in.

Sadly, I don’t have the patience to put that first rule of thumb in good use. I recall no one ever goes wrong with a black and white ensemble. Boom!

(I usually know what I will wear in advance, and I at times, I even lay out the outfit a day before, but sometimes, those looks don’t look as good as I thought they did the day before**I might have gained weight overnight because the waist band on my pretty laid out skirt is too snug, must be the cupcake***…and on being organized, I am, at least I like to think that I am. It’s not the  “color coded, folded as the GAP store, hangers 2 inches apart, OCD CRAZY,” but organized all together.)

I decide to tackle my mini pile of clothes when I get back home. I still adhere to the rule of thumb (at the back of my mind) just not immediately because…who wants to be late for an event right?

So here I am in black and white ensemble because when all fails, black and white will always be there to save the day.

Photo Cred: Teri Q

Thanks for stopping by. xx

BIKER

Let’s talk about how much I love my biker jacket. Like I love you to eternity kinda love. It seems to get better and better with age. If I could, I would  rock it daily, there’s no shame in showcasing love right? Any kind of love… If it could talk, well, let’s just say Biker J here would be having their own blog!! Here’s a list of where my biker jacket has been spotted.

With my go to Sunday best dress? check

Date night? Check

Gym? Check

Movie night with the musketeers? check

A movie screening in New York? check

A quick stop at Rite Aide in Sweat pants? Check

New York again? Check

Strolling on the Las Vegas strip at night? check

Rocking it in the house cause I just want to? Check

…check

…check

…check x1000

Ok! You get it…. There is always that one piece in your closet. Always!

For today’s look I felt totally bad ass. Think western movies…dusty salon… gun strapped in holster… quick on the fingers…ten paces out… sort of bad ass. (It's a biker jacket not a cowboy hat?? I knoooowwww, I’m letting my imagination run with me here so just enjoy the ride) Bike or horse, you choose.

That is the best part about dressing up. It makes you feel amazing! Afterall, that’s your style, right? You can be bad ass one day, get a French connection- berets and all  the next day…be a diva on the streets (flips hair** wait no... those days are long gone! Rubs bald head***)…the list is endless.

Then they are days where I really don’t give a flipping %$^%. Am in a get-up so bad, am hardly recognizable. Days that if I attempted to walk out the house, Keziah would say she doesn’t know me, my brother Wesh would confirm that am a tad cuckoo so its alright!!! Then I think about the random friend I might see at IKEA. I don’t know what it is about IKEA, every time I’ve stopped in for some throws or something, I always see someone I know. Weird right?

How about gasing up the car and someone yells your name from gas pump 8? Am on Pump 4, on the opposite side, looking like a total slob! Yes that too can happen… Oh the best one… lining up at whole foods during lunchtime rush hour because you dint want to miss that oh-so-delicious buffet, along comes your ex from three years ago!! Ever wished the earth would open up and swallow you at that exact moment or that you could pull a HOUDINI but since you don’t have such magical powers…you humble yourself before the Lord. For he will lift you up! (You are still frozen on the same spot!) Yikes!!

Ah…MORAL of this over-active imagination? You never know when you get to have a date with destiny. For destiny, you better be looking your absolute best. Be it lining up at the cleaners for your coat, brunching with the ladies on a Sunday afternoon or a late-night Grand Marnier run… You just never know.

Photo Cred: Kimnation

Knee-high boots, skinny jeans, and biker Jacket. My absolute Fall must haves. Is there anything in your closet that you just love…love…love? Let me hear about it..

Thanks for stopping by AND stay fabulous because...DESTINY! You never KNOW! :)

A THING FOR CIRCLES AND FRANCE

   I am sitting here jamming to TLC station on Pandora. Soothing old school jams just make me feel all warm and cozy. They also feel me with nostalgia. Ever heard an old school song and wondered where you were the first time you heard it? I do that all the time. What would the world be without music? I shudder at the thought.

Talking about feeling warm and cozy, the jackets, coats, scarves, hats, and tights have literally taken over. Feels like winter already. Lately, I have been making a beeline dash towards anything that has circles, or polka like patterns. It’s my obsession of the moment. I can’t seem to help myself. I went through my last two posts and they all had a little circle involved. For this post, the skirt and scarf makes that obsession very obvious.

I read a delightful book a couple weeks ago entitled

“How to be Parisan wherever you are *** Love, Style and Bad Habits” By Anne Berest, Audrey Diwan, Sophie Mas, and Caroline de Maigret

I say delightful because I couldn’t help laughing out loud while going through the pages. The four are dear friends WHO… (I am about to go on a whole review on the book which should be on the reads section but I digress) share their perspectives on what it really means to be Parisienne. I found out about the book through Leandra Medine’s blog The Manrepeller.

Since obsessions are the major topic of discussion today, I"ll admit that I'm beyond with obsessed with anything Coco Chanel. The Madame! My other obsession is Haute Couture, am always on Style.com (having the front row seat in pajamas and a nice bowl of oatmeal) ready for the images of the Haute Couture garments when couture season starts.

France, I am coming for you, you just wait!

Hang on, am getting to the main story.

Notice anything I’m talking about today is somehow related to France. Hence, “having a thing”…might I add that I love French fries, French ki… no? Ok!

With all this talk about Coco, French books, Haute couture, fries….. I had to grab a little something that screams all things French. A scarf and a beret!

A beret is a cap that was first worn in the 19th century by local peasants in France. As of the 1920s, both men and women adopted it as a fashion statement. Today, most military, police units and other organizations worldwide rock their berets. Ralph Lauren, a major iconic American house showcases berets front and center in its runway shows. And as of 2014, and never tardy for any party (beret or otherwise) I embraced it as a go to cap of choice. :)

(SIDEBAR: Oh! Pandora has me nodding my head to "Waterfalls!" Listen to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to.......)

Hope you are all doing ok, I have been staying warm after catching a cold a couple weeks ago. I am feeling so much better and back to my regular scheduled program. Anyone excited about the festive season? I know I am… 

So what are you currenlty obsessed with? A new shoe? Pumpkin spiced Latte? A new fragrance or man?..... Dish it all out! 

Thanks for stopping by.

Photo Cred: Kimnation