Category: Birmingham

Accessories /

Dressing According To Your Body Type

Featured Red Pumps from Shoedazzle.com

Fashion can be a whimsical experience. There are a variety of accessories, fabrics, styles, and designs. But, one of the most important style tips is to dress according to your body type.  How can you discover your body type?  See the example below:

Knowing your body type allows you to purchase clothing based upon the direction of lines and patterns. It also serves as a guide when buying shapewear to camouflage targeted areas such as the  stomach, hips, or thighs.

The first step to dressing for your body type is to getting the right measurements and selecting your physical shape.  Your shape is either an Hourglass, Pear, Apple, Inverted Triangle, or Rectangle.

Another fashion tip is to find a style icon that’s based upon your body type and remix their wardrobe. For example, Jennifer Lopez is a “pear” and Queen Latifah has an “apple” shape.

 

Pear Body Type
Amazon – DREAM PAIRS Women’s D’Orsay Style Pointy Pumps Classic Stiletto

The next step is select clothing that will compliment those areas and wear accessories to accent the total look:

  1. Hourglass – Tailored Clothing, Cropped Jackets, Wrap Dress, Dark Colors, Pencil Skirts, and Mid-Rise Pants
  2. Pear – Bright Prints, Embellished Tops, Dark Colored Pants, Bold Earrings, and High Heels
  3. Apple – Plunging Neckline, Tunic Shirt, Tailored Blazers, and Platform Wedges
  4. Inverted Triangle –  Empire Waist Tops, Large Belts, Full Skirts, Boot cut Jeans, and Stilettos
  5. Rectangle – Flowy Tops, A-Line Skirts, Skinny Jeans, Flats, Heels, and Fitted Blazers.

Dressing according to your body type can be tricky but with the right attire you can have a timeless, capsule wardrobe.

Birmingham /

Birmingham Winter Restaurant Week 2017 – Local Cuisine

Are you a foodie and take pleasure in culinary cuisine?  Well, you’re in luck because today starts Birmingham “Winter” Restaurant Week 2017 through Sunday, January 29, 2017.

Residents can enjoy delicious meals from locally owned and operated restaurants.  A few of the participants on the list include Ghost Train Brewing Company, Rojo Latin and American Food, and Perry’s Steakhouse and Grille.

Tourists and residents can also purchase tickets for specialized events throughout the city.

Accessories /

Discovering Your Personal Style

Recently, I’ve added style photos to my social media feed.  I wanted to share my personal style, which is categorized as chic and modern.

This leads me to the topic for the blog post. How can someone discover his or her personal style? Essentially it’s about self-awareness and understanding your clothing preferences. The definition of style is, “a distinctive appearance, typically determined by the principles according to which something is designed.”

The first step to discovering your personal style is identifying a style icon. Do you prefer the total appearance of Lady Gaga or Michelle Obama?  Grab a few magazines and create a stylebook.

The next action is to visit your closet and examine pieces you have worn on numerous occasions.  This could be a fedora hat or cardigan sweater.  Are those items complimenting your features and body type (circle, triangle, hourglass, rectangle)?

Rebecca Minkoff

Consider your lifestyle and occupation when curating your wardrobe.  A corporate executive should invest in a high quality suit; same concept applies for weekly Pilates sessions.

Accessories are the best assets for discovering your personal style.  They allow you to change a look without purchasing new clothing.  A classic wristwatch can upgrade an inexpensive blouse.

Ultimately, it’s about feeling great and presenting yourself in a positive manner!

H&M Large Earrings

Quick Wardrobe Tips:

  •  Invest in alterations for ill-fitting items
  •  Use the dry-cleaners sparingly – can damage clothing fibers
  •  Spend extra money on work shoes, blazers, jeans, bras, suiting, and outerwear
  •  Find unique pieces at consignment or thrift shops

 

Beauty /

Talk of Alabama Lifestyle Segment – NYE 2016 Beauty Products and Personal Glam Squad Techniques

I was invited to visit Talk of Alabama and share New Year’s Eve beauty products and personal glam squad techniques.  This segment featured at-home beauty essentials to achieve a professional look for everyone – not just red carpet celebrities.

The products I presented on ABC 33/40 included EcoTools Makeup Brushes, SensatioNail Pro LED Lamp, Sally Hansen Gel Polish, Hard Candy Nail Polish, Hard Candy Eyeshadow Collection, Vanity Planet Tame Flat Iron, Spa Sonic Skin Care System, and Whamisa Real Kelp Sheet Mask.

Here’s the breakdown:

FACE

Spa Sonic

Whamisa Real Kelp Sheet Mask

EcoTools Makeup Brushes

Hard Candy Eyeshadow Collection

NAILS

Hard Candy Nail Polish

SensatioNail Pro LED Lamp

Sally Hansen Gel Polish

HAIR

Vanity Planet Tame Flat Iron

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE SEGMENT:  TALK OF ALABAMA

Beauty /

COVERGIRL SO LASHY! BLASTPRO MASCARA – Morning Routine

COVERGIRL has a new Lash Equality campaign.  I like this campaign because makeup has no boundaries or restrictions.  It’s simply about using a product to enhance the physical appearance.  Makeup also has internal healing properties. There are several individuals that purchase cosmetics for corrective purposes (such as skin deformities) or cancer patients that suffer from the side-effects of chemotherapy.

Due to the previous reasons, I am an advocate for wearing makeup and finding the right product.  Many people are not aware that I have eczema – inflammation of the skin.  As a child, my mother taught me proper skincare techniques and (how-to) use makeup to protect my face from environmental impurities.

My three-step morning routine is:

  1. Use a facial scrub
  2. Apply a moisturizer – a must do
  3. Beauty Blend (in a T-formation) on my face COVERGIRL Custom Blend Foundation

My last step is to complete the look with a voluminous mascara.  The COVERGIRL SO LASHY!  BLASTPRO MASCARA has a three-in-one brush; allowing beauty enthusiast to reach eyelash.  Some of the other mascara wands won’t reach every hair and can create a smudge effect.  This is not the case with SO LASHY!  BLASTPRO MASCARA!  Try it for yourself and pick-up a tube at Target.

Pro Tip: apply more than one coat for volume
Birmingham /

Santa Spreads Holiday Cheer in UAB’s NICU, Continuing Care Nursery

Infants in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Women and Infants Center had a special visitor Monday, Dec. 11, and Tuesday, Dec. 12. Santa Claus visited with babies and their families in the UAB Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Continuing Care Nursery. As Santa peeked in on these newborns and checked his list, families gathered to celebrate the holidays and take special photos with him.

About UAB
Known for its innovative and interdisciplinary approach to education at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, the University of Alabama at Birmingham is an internationally renowned research university and academic medical center and the state of Alabama’s largest employer, with some 23,000 employees and an economic impact exceeding $5 billion annually on the state. The five pillars of UAB’s mission deliver knowledge that will change your world: the education of students, who are exposed to multidisciplinary learning and a new world of diversity; research, the creation of new knowledge; patient care, the outcome of ‘bench-to-bedside’ translational knowledge; service to the community at home and around the globe, from free clinics in local neighborhoods to the transformational experience of the arts; and the economic development of Birmingham and Alabama. Learn more at www.uab.edu.

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/uab.edu TEXT: www.uab.edu/news TWEETS: www.twitter.com/uabnews VIDEO: www.youtube.com/uabnews

Birmingham /

Painting and Tips to Reduce Holiday Stress

Tis’ the season to be jolly!  Last weekend, I decided to take a break from the holiday busyness and visit Painting With a Twist art studio.

The purpose behind the class was to celebrate my mom’s birthday.  We had a great time and made plans to register for more events.

Aside from the celebration, one aspect to remember is that painting has therapeutic properties.  Some of the benefits include memory strength, stress relief, and emotional growth.

Painting a one-of-a-kind picture was the perfect bonding activity and awesome way to meet new friends!

I am not the best painter but with guidance I can create a masterpiece!

I also want to share a few additional tips to reduce stress during the holiday season:

  • Make holiday decor during the off-season to eliminate a hectic schedule.
  • Create a food menu and prep/freeze holiday dishes.
  • Visit your local grocery store or warehouse club for prepared dishes (example, Assorted Pinwheel Wraps, Rotisserie Chicken Enchiladas, or Ciabatta Sandwich Party Tray.)
  • Play upbeat holiday music to get everyone in the spirit.
  • Allow enough time to wrap gifts not excluding co-workers and care providers.
  • Include low-impact exercise into your weekly routine.
Beauty /

Vanity Planet Tame Titanium Tourmaline Flat Iron

My hair is chemical-free and I prefer to use a flat-iron that won’t damage the texture.

Vanity Planet shipped an amazing product, the Tame | Pro-Style Titanium Tourmaline Flat Iron. This flat-iron meets all of my professional needs with heat control, auto shut-off, and a flexible cord.  I enjoyed using the flat-iron to straighten my 4B hair and tame my natural edges.

img_8813
From IG @kwest1908

About Vanity Planet:

Vanity Planet is a boutique marketplace, focused on beauty, grooming, and wellness. We’re more than your typical online store. We source, curate, and design products that benefit your life on the daily. Our approach is simple: amazing taste with minimal investment. Each item we carry is selected with intention and quality is never, ever sacrificed.


How does this product work?

1. Plug in Tame and hold down the start/stop button for 2 seconds to begin heating.

2. Use the “plus” (+) and “minus” (-) symbols to adjust until you reach desired temperature for use. Once reached, double click the start/stop button to lock the temperature setting. This will ensure that the temperature does not change accidentally during use. A red dot will appear on the digital screen to show that the temperature lock feature is in use.

3. Allow Tame to heat up, and then gently glide Tame through either damp or dry hair, spending only a few seconds on each section of hair.

4. Once finished, double click the start/stop button to release the temperature hold setting, then hold the start/stop button for 2 seconds to shut off the device.

5. Unplug it, and wait for it to cool, before storing Tame in a safe place.

DO NOT use Tame on synthetic hair. Do not use abrasive cleansers and chemicals to clean Tame. Make sure to clean the Tame plates after each use. Clean the plates when the device is turned off, unplugged, and cool, and use a slightly damp cloth to wipe it clean. Clean the handle at least once a week using a damp cloth (again, only when the device is turned off, unplugged, and cool). To unplug the device, pull on the plug, not the Tame cord.

FOR BEST RESULTS, we recommend washing hair before use. Towel dry and comb through thoroughly before styling.