Mardi Gras is a southern, carnival tradition. I have enjoyed participating in the festival since childhood. This year, I was invited to attend one of the balls. Guests were asked to dress in non-traditional attire, wearing sequin tops and denim jeans.
Immediately, I started searching for the perfect sequin blouse. I was able to find what I needed at the local thrift shop.
The top (below) had all of the colors that represent the event and matched perfectly with my bottom.
I have secretly been waiting for the right time to wear my clear ankle booties. This shoe was on-trend and wore nicely for an evening of dancing.
Thrifting can be a lot of fun if you have an idea of the piece your searching. What’s your favorite thrifted item?
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.
Are you a foodie and take pleasure in culinary cuisine? Well, you’re in luck because today starts Birmingham “Winter” Restaurant Week 2017through 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.
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 identifyingastyle 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
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.
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 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.
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.
Tis’ the season to be jolly! Last weekend, I decided to take a break from the holiday busyness and visit Painting With a Twistart 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:
Makeholiday 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.
