There is so much to be thankful for, even when it looks and feels like everything is going crazy find on little thing to focus on and grow from there. I want to first thank you all for taking the time to read my thoughts and opinion on fashion related matters. It means so much to know that what I write has an influence on a readers life.
I want to give thanks for my friends and family for their encouragement to produce new content. I am thankful for the various souces of inspiration and the many opportunities that are presented to us each and every day.
I am thankful for our God and our soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
Many thanks to my readers and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families
It has become apparent to me and any one with eyes that there is an abuse of the laws of leggings. There are many arguments that are pro leggings such as they’re comfortable, they are convenient, fun etc. However, somewhere along the lines the use of leggings have become a chosen substitute for pants. Outside of work-outs at the gym, a deep cleaning of the house or a lazy stint on the sofa, leggings should not be used as a form of daily attire.
With American fashion, comfort tends to be more valued (by some) than appearance and some women have a blasé attitude about leggings and how they look in them. Now, I have expressed my opinion on the matter of leggings and know that many will continue to wear them… so in order for us to arrive to at a consensus on the topic here are a few suggestions:
Shear test:
In order to perform this test, you will need a trusted fashion advisor and good lighting. If there is any evidence of your natural back side showing through your leggings, you my friend are wearing tights and this “legging” is not an acceptable choice and should be worn with a dress or garment that goes to the mid thigh.
Au natural
We have all seen that woman, where we have to do a double take, “did she forget to put on pants?” I must stress any legging that resembles flesh colour, is a no-no and is trying to impersonate a pair tights which and should be reserved for ballet dancers or worn with a dress or skirt. Please do not attempt to wear these “natural” leggings solo, if you choose to do so, it is at your own risk. However, if you insist on wearing leggings outside of the above mentioned exceptions, please opt for leggings that are black, dark coloured, or bold patterns that are proportionate to your body type again you need to consult your trusted fashion advisor for what is an appropriate pattern. Speaking of appropriate patterns anything that represents food or a holiday should be avoided by anyone over the age of 12.
Fit session
Like all garments, leggings are sized. Though leggings are intended to be fitted, they can be to tight. For example, if detailed parts of your anatomy can be seen then, my dear, your leggings are too tight and you should size up. Many brands manufacture leggings but like so many other things they are not all created equal and you need to have fit sessions. I personally opt for yoga pants for their structure, support and variety of materials which are generally designed for sweat sessions. I also love that that the colors and patterns are bold and colourful without being immature.
Fellow fashionistas, I have expressed my views on the use of leggings and yoga pants. I’m not anti leggings or yoga pants but I’m an advocate of proper legging and yoga wear at the appropriate time.
September is upon us. Fall is right around the corner! The stores are already in the realm for the season with sweaters and fall inspired looks. School is back in session and back on the Pumpkin Spice wagon. (yes, I am a fan.) Problem is, it’s 95 degrees outside!. How to blend your summer heat with the new fall fashion treats?
As we transition into Fall, so must our wardrobes. Transition pieces are key: Blazers, denim jackest and cardigans are great key pieces that help with the chill inside to beat the heat but are easy pieces to remove.
J.crew schoolboy blazer
Blazers are one of my favourite pieces .They come in a variety of fabrics and colours. You can even take your suit blazer and use it as a transition piece. It is great to wear with your favourite summer dress and give you a comfortable yet professional look. As we go from summer to fall; look for cotton and cotton linen blends for your blazers. (keep your wool for winter).
Cardigans another great option and one of Michelle’s, my sister, go-tos. Cardigans are cool because there is a variety of them which allows for a little expression of personality. Those who have shopped with me, personality is important with style. Cardigans like blazer have different fabrics so suggest you begin with the cotton and slowly proceed to heavier fabric(if you so choose)
A tried and true transition piece for all seasons is the denim jacket
Gap denim jacket; lanebranet dress
. Depending on your profession, the denim jacket may not be an option but if it is. Play with the different washes. Because denim can be worn year round, it is a perfect piece for summer dress, tees and skirt, trousers and sweater. My denim jack is a critical piece of my wardrobe.
Please keep cool in the 95 degree heat, keep warm in the icebox buidings and mentally prepare for fall with everything pumpkin and transition pieces.
Ok many of you know me as a J.crew aficianada, which remains true but I also have great love for Banana Republic. The clean chic lines of their dresses, blouses and their iconic Sloan pant in bold and classic colours or eye catching pattern which are fun yet professional.
BR pieces are making their way into my wardrobe a little more frequently.
One of my must haves is this waxed cotton utility jacket. Those that know me, know that I love a great military inspired jacket. Another must have from the collection is this silk cashmere varsity sweater, naturally I bough it in the black and white too.
80% of women are wearing the wrong bra! With so many options of lingerie and apparel how is this possible? There are many explanations for why women are not getting the support that gives proper posture and ill fitting apparel.
All bra brand sizes are not equal
Ladies, just like sizing can differ in jeans and LBD (little black dress) across various designers, the same is true for bras. You can’t buy the same size bra at Nordstrom and Victoria Secret and expect a similar fit. Bra sizes are not prescriptions, you can’t get measured at a lingerie boutique and take those numbers over to Target or Lane Bryant to find your exact fit. I’ve attempted this and I have spent hundreds of dollars on ill fitting bras. Invest the time and money into a proper bra fitting session and bra.
Vanity Sizing:
I’m not sure when it happened but women are obsessed with that number written on that tiny white tag inside of bras and clothing, that NO ONE sees. I hear women spout out their sizes as if it is an accomplishment. Truth is no one cares!!! There are some brands that won’t go above DD or DDD because of vanity but there are some of you who may need to advance further down the alphabet in order to get the proper fit and support. If changing those letters mean you look amazing in your clothes and you have great support; it doesn’t matter if your number and letters are 36C or a 44G. So purchase your proper size and go on about your day.
Price
You get your money’s worth! We know this to be true with cars, furniture, apparel, shoes, hand bags and so many other products. It is also true for bras, if you buy a $9.99 bra you are going to get $9.99 worth of support and then you are back to square one of having no support. Now with an adequate investment of fitting and money, your bras will last you six months or longer if you rotate them. This investment will improve your posture, give you more support and make you look fabulous in your fashions.
One of my favourite boutiques to purchase my bras in A la mode in Annapolis, MD. The ladies there have measured me, saved my profile and always have the latest style colour from England and Paris waiting for me. Recently, my good friend Jessica hosted a 2 hour bra fitting party at the boutique where we were greeted with cheeses, fruit, wine with each room ready for our individual fittings and very knowledgeable women. The ladies of A la mode are patient and meticulous when fitting you for a bra. The ladies brought various styles until we each found a bra that was our perfect individual fits, even for the 2 nursing mothers in a party. In addition to bras, they were able to find nursing pads. After a successful (stress free) event, we all walked out of A la mode feeling more supported. The Bra fitting party and all experiences with A la mode were amazing. The ladies of the boutique genuinely care fitting every woman who walks through their door.
News has broken that J.Crew will now offer a collection that is sized up to 5x. All I can say is….its about time! As a J.crew aficionada, I have watched J.Crew exclude their sizes 14 and 16 to online only, announced “size 14 now in stores;” and with the new leadership of CEO, Jim Brett, we are now seeing J.crew and Madewell extending their sizing to include XXL tops and a waist size up to 37 in jeans. Now, J.Crew announces a collaboration with Universal Standard to offer clothing from sizes 0 to 32. J.Crew has a history of collaborating with many designers from New Balance to Liberty, with some pieces being limited editions and being sold out online before being available in stores. Launching a collaboration with Universal Standard, makes the look of J.crew available to a variety of women.
The average size of an American woman is 14/16 and many designers ignored this fact for many years, leaving few clothing options for the curvy girls. With many other designers paying attention to this fact, plus sized clothing is now dominating the clothing market from the mini boutiques in Target to New York and Company and many other designers offering fashion in sizes beyond a size 14 , J.Crew is now joining the list of designers that now offer plus-size fashions.
Universal Standard collaboration makes it debut with a classic colour pallet in trend setting silhouettes with pricing ranging from $50 to $135, according to an interview with Lisa Greenwald by www.refinery29.com, the collaboration along with future plus sized J.crew collections will be integrated and not a separate section within the stores.
While J.crew has made it’s mark on the fashion map with it’s classic pieces in bold colours and patterns, I’m excited to see the company is headed in the direction to include sizing for a variety of women and joining a growing list of designers who are promoting diversity and healthy body images.
Creating a brand and a business is one of the most exciting and stomach turning ventures one can take. It is filled with sketched ideas, many day dream moments and moments of genius creativity that are met with halting realities. however, once your vision is realized, it is amazing to see your once sketched idea a reality. Once you have established idea into your product/service, you need to market your now product/service which requires the services of thestudioblacksheep. An up and coming multidisciplinary service that creates logos, websites, business cards, videos and more to put your brand on the map. Since the inception of Style by Syraluna, I have used the services of thestudioblacksheep for the logo (which I love), my business cards for my tutoring business and project that is currently in the works. I have watched the busisness start as just an idea among Brian and his partners to a budding service that is growing daily.
I met up with Brian Cauthen, 1/3 of the design studio, to over my latest project and to get an insight into the development of the brand; I’ve known Brian from our time working at J.Crew and we would spend many hours discussing our individual business plans, the importance of marketing ones self. Especially with the uncertainity with so many business (especially retial) going out of business. We meet at out usual spot Nordstrom café to talk the next phase of my project and the current state of theblacksheepstudio.
Brian meets with many individuals who dream of being their own boss and collaborates with them to bring the ideas to fruition. Thestudioblacksheep.com has done various projects for up and coming clients and has established two key elements that determines the success of a product/service… follow through and passion.
Brian and his partners see many potential clients that have great ideas but no follow through. Meaning he can see the clients that are willing to go the extra mile and not rely on the digital aspect alone, they are accountable and dedicated to their brand and they are willing do to the hard work and make the essential investments into their brand. However, they also have come across many individuals with dreams but no hustle and no follow through with the result of an idea staying just that…an idea. Passion is another key element that Brian sees that will determine success. The group is very passionate about their work and that translates through the finished product including my design label for Style by Syraluna and my business cards. ” I sometimes feel I’m more passionate about the project than my clients” syas Brian. Which is a good and bad thing. It’s great because it means the Brian and his team are dedicated to a project until the end and it feels like I have a business partners every step of the way. It is disturbing, if others show more passion than the creator of a product/service it already spells disastor.
The Studio Black Sheep is comprisesd of Jamire Eggleston, who has studied film at Chicago Institue SALC, Jaylen Blades, Photogopher and of course Brain Cauthen who works with graphic design, photograpy, videography. The team dedicates long hours to ensure that they have delivered a product that is beyond the images of the client. I personally can attest to this because they listened to every idea, critique and edit that I had. Being one of the first clients of theblacksheepstudio, I have seen where they have started and watching them grow as they expand into different disciplines and explode into the market one project at a time.
21 March 2018, the second day of spring. Annapolis, MD
Spring has officially sprung, though you wouldn’t know it looking at the 8-12 inches on the ground right now. Spring ideally is a time of newness, shedding, purging, cleaning and organizing. It is also time to update your wardrobe with the spring essentials.
With spring, there comes a rebirth of life and since the creation of Style by Syraluna, you have known me as a J.Crew stylist and Spanish teacher…well there have been a few changes both personally and creatively since I have launched my blog. Personally, I have
Botanical blouse BR, J.Crew earrings
changed my career. I went form being a teacher to being a Spanish interpreter and ophthalmic (eye) technician and I love it!!! On the style front, I continue to present stylish looks from my favourite brands including Banana Republic, an iconic brand where I am now doing most of my styling. Personal changes can be hard but necessary and bring new horizons.
Creative changes have arrived to Style by Syraluna, we have a new design logo, designed by my good friend and 1/3 mastermind of thestudioblacksheep.com, Brian Cauthen. With many months of collaborations the beautiful logo for Style by Syraluna has come to fruition. Style by Syraluna will continue to bring great fashion finds and ideas but the brand also plans to expand into a lifestyle to embody mind, body and spirit. I am so excited for the next journey.
The realm of retail has taken a turn into uncharted territories. Many stores are closing up the brick and mortar locations in major cities, including my beloved J.Crew. I’ve worked in fashion(retail) for 12 years, where I’ve seen many fashion trends come and go. Some I’ve been very excited about and have made it their way into my wardrobe, for example my fondness of sequin pencil skirts. Then there are the trends that I cringe at and I am waiting for the fad to be over ..ie…..the cut out shoulder on everything and the questionable placement of ruffles. Despite individual retailers launching their version of the latest trends and neglecting their iconic image; there are many other attributing factors that have resulted in the amount of stores closing their doors
Chasing the trend: Once upon a time, individual retailers were known for their particular “it item” Gap was the place for jeans and khakis, Anne Taylor, it was women’s suiting, J.Crew the classics in bold colours and patterns . Yet, some where along the way these brands started to chase the ever changing tastes of the millennials while losing their identity and alienated the core customer that placed them on the fashion map.
Quality: What goes up must come down and unfortunately quality is usually the first thing to be subtracted from equation of products when a brand is struggling yet the prices stayed the same or even increased by 25% or more and that has the customer thinking, “what happened?” Customers feel “if I’m getting less quality, I should pay less money for the product”. I personally am guilty of this; being in this industry as long as I have, you begin to see where designers start to cut corners and fabric is usually the first place customers notice a shift in a brand. When I first noticed this, I started to look for the look I wanted for less, which was easy since every retailer has begun to look similar and encourages me to shop up a coming fashion labels. When you know that the quality of your favorite store is going down hill, it becomes harder to justify spending silk prices for polyester product. And this is the hard reality.
Technology: Technology has become an inevitable addition to our way of life. However, retailers where slow to incorporate technology. Online shopping opened the brand to a broader market but brick and mortar stores were late incorporating the online shopping and when they did, it wasn’t always a positive experience. For example, some retailers offered a cheaper price online and would not price match, forcing the customer to purchase online. “Ship to store for free” is an option that definitely gets me into the stores, however, I feel like this was an option offered too late for some retailers then trying to play aggressively encourage the “ship to store for free” without having the balance of available product in both stores and online. Another change that really hurt stores was “online only option” There were so many times that I saw an item that looked really cute but was “online only”, it limited the shopping experience for customers (in my opinion). I’m a fashionista that likes the feel and try my garments. Oh and colour, let’s not forget colour! So many items are “off” in colour and too many times I’ve returned items for customers because colour didn’t match the online image. Technology has really changed the world of retail for both the positive and negative. The world is now at our finger tips and we can learn and be exposed to so much information. however, it has also limited our human experiences with the world and altering our view on so much that is happening including the way consumers shop.
Ultimately, what is really hurting retail… is brands not understanding the demographics and not listening to the employees regarding feedback about the customers thoughts and concerns about product which has created a negligence customer relationship and a lack of brand loyalty. Fortunately, fashion is cyclical so it is just a matter of time before we see brands going back to basics, re-establishing their beginnings and their relationship with their core customer.
3…2..1….HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! The time has come again for each of to make goals to get fit whether it be financially, physically or both, organize our lives or just simply do differently than the previous year. I encourage the goals that make us better with our finances, spiritual life, health, marriages, professions or home. If you have set a goal in any of the areas mentioned; I also challenge you, my readers, to set a goal for your wardrobe and your personal style by analyzing the various aspects of your look and wardrobe:
Image: Does my “look” match the image that I want to portray? If the answer is “no”, then it is time to do some reflecting and purging of your closet. Working with a personal stylist, can help you create a new look. A good stylist will work with you by finding garments that are flattering on your body type, coloring and personality. Some may think of a personal stylist as a frivolous expense but I think of as an investment in your personal brand…the image you present to the world.
Update: For my fashionista who have established their “look” It may be time to update and review your wardrobe of classics and the essentials. Check the wear of your classics, these include: button downs, sweaters jeans and blazers. Depending on the frequency of their use you may need to invest in some updated classics. Now the essentials, these include the layering tanks, undergarments,especially bras, (check out the blogpost about the bra fitting) An ill fitting bra can make the most styled outfit look faux paux.
Purge: I have a two garment rules for when I shopping and cleaning out my closet: 1. If I can’t make at least 3 outfits out of a piece of clothing, I don’t purchase it. Many times we buy a piece to create a look or an event and never wear it again. 2. If you have not worn a garment in two years it is time to dispose of the item. However, there is an exception to rules 1 and 2, if the garments are special occasion pieces, particular tartan plaids and/or holiday attire, wedding gowns and maybe your one of your favorite college tees.
As we aspire for greater things in particular areas of our lives, let’s not neglect our wardrobes which is an important part of your personal brand…the image you present to the world.
Style by Syraluna 