Hello and Happy Monday! 

This lovely look I am sharing with you is because the weather is still unpredictable! But this is a relatively comfortable look. I can wear without being ridiculously hot or cold. I can dress it up or I can pair it with tennis shoes and be equally comfortable! 

I also love how well the colors all work together. It is like they were meant for each other! I wore this to meet with my friend and designer, Sarah -of the brand Zersten. I will have a blog coming up next about our latest collaboration!- And we had a great time chatting and talking about ideas. I am excited for her future! I don't want to give too much away quite yet, but she's very talented and has the best heart! So, I expect I'll have more to share from her in the future! 

Anyway, I also played around with a camera I got LAST Christmas! I don't know why it has taken me so long to pull it out. But it was such a thoughtful gift! It is an instant camera, the kind that prints the picture out right away! I have yet to actually use it, but I thought I would play around with it this shoot! I only want special shots from it!

Anyway thank you for reading and stay tuned! There is so much more coming up! So much in fact I am having trouble keeping up!  ;D I will though! There are more special blog posts, outfit of the days, and spotlight series coming up! Bear with me! and Thank you for being with me on this journey! 

​XOXO

Sweater: GAP
Skirt: Loft
Shoes: Rack Room
Bag: Target
Shades: Hashtag Sunglasses

Happy Friday! 

And Happy -early- Halloween! Hopefully you enjoy our spooky decor! ;)

So I have had a few days off from my day job so I took these picture earlier this week. Literally right before I took these pictures one of my good friends FaceTimed me from work and I got to see all my favorite people! My co-workers, my sweet residents, my friends! 

I love doing blog shoots but that phone call definitely put a bit more pep in my step during this shoot! And by the way, I have been on such a roll lately! I feel so inspired and the looks I put together have worked out so well! Here is where my ADD kicks in. I have so much content on my own to post about and also other events I need to cover -my mind just wants to give it to you all at once! BUT of course I need to space it out and promote each post. The hard part is figuring out where to start.

Today I'll start with this post. 

These wide leg pants I love. I do have an idea for them though. I am considering having them altered so they are more culotte styled than wide legged. My though process behind this is that the length they currently are -while lovely- they only seem to work well with flats. When paired with heels, I feel they are a bit too short. I'm a bit particular though. If I wear them with heels I don't want most of the shoe/part of my foot to show. I want to just the toe of the shoe to show.

I'm very weird. I know. 

HOWEVER, I'll let you guys tell me what you think. Should I get them hemmed? Should I leave them be? Do you guys have weird/quirky isms!? I'm ready to hear it all! 

Thank you for reading!!

XOXO

Shirt: Target
Pants: LOFT
Shoes: Walmart
Shades: Hashtag Sunglasses
Accessories: Necklace - LOFT Bag -Francesca's 

Hello and Happy Monday! 

Today I'm sharing a two-part look. Well maybe not two-part. It is one look with subtle changes. The subtle change is just different shoes! Initially I had paired it with the nude heels, which I definitely like. But when I went to actually do the blog shoot, I spotted these red boots and decided to play around with them.

I actually really like the way it came out! It is an additional pop of color. It is something a little different and unexpected. I like to take risks with my styling. The nude heels are the safe option. The boot were not my first choice -until I happened to lay eyes on them right before I was going to shoot. 

Well, I could not decide personally. So I took pictures with each! I want you to decide which you like better! 

And of course, the look would not be complete without a delicate necklace. I restyled one of my favorite necklaces from Palmpe and I think it works perfectly with this look. What I love about the jewlery from Palmpe, is how delicate the pieces are and yet they stand out so well. They show up so well in pictures! They add such subtle, yet effective charm to a look. If you happen to find something you like on their site, you can use the code: PALMRIMOW for 60% off your order! 

Thank you for reading and I look forward to seeing what you decide! ;)

XOXO

Sweater: KLa Boutique
Skirt: Grace Boutique
Boots: NY and Company
Bag: Target
Necklace: Palmpe Jewelry
Shades: Hashtag Sunglasses 

Hello and HAPPY FRIDAY!!! 

Today is the first day I woke up freezing all year! It was awesome! I don't want to jinx anything but I think fall maybe officially here to stay! Fingers crossed!!

Since it was cooler out I decided to play around with some fall-like looks! Sweaters, boots, sweater dresses, fur vests... I got really inspired today! For today's particular look, I went with an off the shoulder sweater dress. You have definitely seen this before. (Probably more than once!) But this time I had the idea to go for a monochromatic color scheme! 

I wanted to pair this dress with boots, which gave me the idea to pair it with my (almost) over-the-knee red boots. That also gave me the idea to keep all of the colors similar. For one thing, this particular maroon color embraces the fall season perfectly. But also, I like to switch things up a bit. I love pops of color for sure! But sometimes I like to surprise with something completely different. Like this. There is no pop of color here, yet it is still a classic look! Color schemes are something I love to play around with. 

I also like to recycle pieces when I can. Find other ways to style them and create new looks. I have an orange peacoat that I think will look amazing with this dress -so you may see this again soon! ;)

Of course the look was complete with my delicate, choker necklace from Palmpe Jewelry! I love how much their pieces stand out every time I pair them! I cannot wait to shop more with them soon! 

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed and stay tuned for more fall looks! 

XOXO

​Necklace: Palmpe Jewelry (for 60% off your entire order use the code PALMRIMOW)
Dress: Apricot Lane Boutique
Boots: NY and Company
Bag: Forever 21
Shades: Hashtag Sunglasses 

Hello all! 

This particular post is one that means so much to me! I'm sharing the story of my good friend and fearless leader, Kyron Brunson! Kyron is the founder and creator of The Loop Mag, which I write for. I have been writing for The Loop since 2016 and honestly,  it has been such an incredible journey. Through Kyron and The Loop, my fashion blogging journey has gone farther than I ever expected. He has sent me to fashion shows, I have been able to partake in helping style for photo shoots, even the phone conversations we have had always leave me feeling so inspired and ready to tackle the world! So today, I want to share Kyron's story. His inspirations, his goals, and how The Loop Mag came to be. 

Good Morning! And Happy Friday! 

I hope you have had a good week! My week has been pretty good! I have been staying busy. I feel so inspired lately! I feel like my mind has been flooded with new ideas for posts, new styling ideas, and upcoming events that I am really excited about. I feel like I want to share it all now, but that would be a long post! And my ADD mind would end up taking you down endless and meandering thought processes which make sense to me but may not for you! So, I'll spare you! I'll post as they happen! 

Today though I will share my thought process behind this casual-chic fall look. I'll start off by saying how much I love this look! I wear different variations of this look all fall and winter long. Its so effortless and easy to pull off. Its comfortable. And most important -once it gets really cold outside- it is warm! Layers are always important during colder months. This particular look is perfect for the temps we are experiencing now. Both the blazer and hoodie are light weight and not overly warm, so I won't sweat to death. And if I do get too warm, I can always take the blazer off. 

The blazer is one that I found at Target and once I found it I never looked back. It has been styled many times on the blog and in my real life. I've paired it with distressed jeans, midi skirts, shorts, leggings, flats, heels.... I could go on. Blazers have always struck me as very chic and sophisticated. This one is no exception. You will probably be seeing more of it this fall!

The hoodie, while not new, it is newer than the blazer. It is another piece that I didn't hesitate when I found it. It is so simple and yet so cute! 

You could also pair this with flats or tennis shoes for an even more casual look, which I am actually planning on for one of my upcoming events! But you will have to stay tuned for that...  ;)

Happy Friday, thank you for reading! And have a great weekend! 

XOXO

Blazer:: Target
Hoodie:: LOFT
Leggings:: Versona
Bag:: Target
Shoes:: Aunt Sherry! (I love you!)

Happy Wednesday my friends! 

I have another special post to share with you today, continuing on in my Spotlight Series. Today, I'm sharing the story of Reasons Brown. I met Reasons back in August -I believe. He hosted Lootswaay Fest, which at the time I had no idea what to expect. As it turns out, it was concert featuring local artists and rappers. I ended up having such a good time! We will come back to this in a bit, but first I want to share with you his story. 

His journey has not been the easiest. Robert Charles Anthony Brown, was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. He moved to NC to go to college. He attended NC Central for a while, but it ultimately did not work out and and one point he found himself homeless. Though he struggled, Reasons made sure to continue to stay in shape and focus on himself. "Staying in shape gave me clarity and purpose," he explained. In doing so, he found he was bettering himself and learned to create from scratch -which became a vital tool later in his journey. 

That is how Lootswaay -Reason's clothing brand- came to be. Reasons would piece together looks for his friends. But ultimately it was an interest in fashion as well as the all too real aspect of having limited funds. I can relate! Fashion can be expensive, but it does not have to be. Reasons recognized this and made it his goal for Lootswaay. In fact on Instagram that is the description of the company; "The Bridge between Fashion and Finance." "I want to make clothes that are affordable," he told me, "as well as create a platform to talk about the financial aspect of it -including financial freedom. I want to see this go as far as it possibly can." I could not help but be excited for him. I mean, this is a man who pours his heart into his work and his energy is contagious! And he loves that! "For me, I want to inspire others to be dope daily," he said, "to be determined and be persistent every day." You can tell he means that. I recall at the last show, he was so excited. The energy was palpable. Every artist that showed up, he excitedly greeted them. When Vikee and I showed up, we both got hugs. He was all over the place making sure everyone was having a good time. That is someone with excitement, pride, and joy. 

So, what inspires a man that inspires so many other people? There are several! Son, Jay-Z, and J Cole just to name a few. What? All musicians? Yes, well, Reasons wears many different hats. While there is the fashion aspect, he is also a very talented rapper. He raps about his experiences; feelings, emotions, and perspectives. He makes himself "vulnerable" and is able to better communicate feelings through his music than he may otherwise. Everything he does he puts his heart and soul into. Including raising his two-year-old son. "That is my biggest accomplishment," he grinned. 

So what is next for Reasons? If you're asking me, I'd say the sky is the limit! He was recently in Baltimore for schooling for his clothing line. He learned different types of sewing and is already planning for a line of new coats in time for Christmas.

At 27, Robert, Reasons Brown has overcome so much. Not just overcome, but excelled. He is a huge inspiration to me. Mainly because of his mind set. Don't get me wrong, he is extremely talented and I am in awe of that as well, but I love how he loves to include others and bring others up with him. I know that sometimes industries like fashion and music can be intense and competition can be fierce. Not for Reasons. "There is no hate in my spirit, lets be successful together," he said. And why not? 

That is why I will support him wherever he goes! 

Next up is another concert event. It is this coming Saturday. If you want to come out and support we would love to see you! $5 online and $10 at the door. But you will leave feeling excited and inspired! 

Special thanks to Reasons Brown for talking with me for this post! 

I cannot wait to see what comes next! 

​XOXO

Hello and Happy Monday to you all!

Today and most of the weekend we enjoyed much cooler temps! Almost like fall has arrived finally! Well, we will see I fully expect at least one more heat wave to descend upon us before fall sets in for good. 

Today I'm sharing a fun look with you. A look that is playful, silly, and yet is still stylish and practical. It clings to the final days of summer while also embraces  the cooler months ahead. I finally was able to break out some of my favorite fall pieces without sweating to death. This striped Target dress makes me think of summer nights, the colors you might see in the sky as the sun is setting. Subtle and relatively neutral, styling it is very easy. 

Almost any scarf would have worked with this look, and I have several to choose from. But I wanted something spooky! Something October-ish! So naturally I tried pairing the dress with this skull printed scarf. Personally I love it. It is just different enough to work. The simplicity of the dress is probably the key thing in this look.

Mixing prints has always been one of my favorite styling techniques. It is the kind of thing that takes a look from being just so-so or safe to being completely and uniquely you! 

Not every pairing is going to work, but just keep trying until something catches your eye and go with it! 

Thanks for reading and have a great week!

XOXO

Dress:: Target (Wild Fable)
Shoes:: Francesca's
Scarf:: Goodwill (I think)
Bag:: Versona
Shades:: Hashtag Sunglasses
Jacket:: LOFT

Hello and Happy Friday!

What a week it has been! My love for fashion and blogging has been so invigorating and refreshing! I want to be honest with you guys. I love blogging and sharing outfit of the day looks with you. I am just trying to switch things up a bit. I meet a lot of fascinating people on my blogging journey -hell on my life journey! Everyone has a story to tell and I am eager to hear it and excited to share it. All week I was ready to get off of work to start or continue work on a project. I have just felt so inspired lately! 

This particular look I'm sharing with you today has me sweating! This pleather top from Target is lovely! From the simple design to the burnt orange color, I have worn it several times already. You've seen it once before on here, paired with one of my favorite skirts. Today I paired it with distressed jeans and nude heels. I wore this same look earlier this week when I met with designer, Humble Connor (for a future post). 

The only thing about the top is that it is lined underneath, I'm not sure of the material but I can tell you it is HOT! I sweated my butt off during this shoot -and it didn't even take that long! >D 

I love how easy it is to style though. Especially when you pair it with distressed denim I wasn't expecting to like it so much! Its a very easy, comfortable, and stylish look. It can work for a number of different events. A lunch date, running errands, coffee dates, night out with the girls, catching a movie... many different things! 

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

XOXO

Top: Target
Jeans: K LA Boutique
Shoes: Versona
Bag: Versona
Shades: Hashtag Sunglasses

Noel explained how model calls can be intense. "The whole atmosphere of nervous models can be constricting, which can make you anxious," she said. Although she did mention that once the models begin to interact with one another and share experiences that they can all relate to there is a drastic shift in energy. However, there is a completely different intensity once you are in front of the judges. "I have been in front of some judges who are after a particular look and could immediately send you away," she explained, "while others are more diverse. It really just depends. 

Hearing no is never easy! As a blogger, I have heard 'no' many times. But typically, it is over e-mail or inboxes. It is rare that it is to my face. But Noel has not let that stop her. In fact she has had some milestone moments in her career as a model! She walked for Humble Connor, as I mentioned earlier, during Charlotte Fashion Week in mid September. Then she was part of a sixteen member team that packed up and walked in New York Fashion Week just a few weeks later! 

As a fashion lover and blogger, NYFW is certainly on my bucket list! What I would give to attend! So, I always relish in others' experiences. Thankfully, Noel indulged me! ;)

The overall experience was great! She had a great time. Interestingly enough, she said that commuting was a great experience. "I was able to meet a lot of interesting people, and they were very kind," she laughed. 

But it is NYFW, and it is highly regarded. People flying in from all over to see these shows. There must be some nerves going on, right? To a certain extent, yes. Generally speaking, while she still gets nervous before any show, it is more an excited anticipation. Noel explained that as soon as she hits the runway her heart begins beating faster and adrenaline races. To keep her cool, she recites positive affirmations in her head. Whatever she recited when I saw her worked for sure! She looked focused and fierce as hell! 

After shows, can be a different story. Sometimes, she explained, she just feels tired and ready to go. Other times, she feels energized and excited, it all just depends on the night. I can certainly relate to that. ​

One story that Noel told me, I almost did not even need to write down -I did but I didn't have to because it stuck with me. It resonated with me a personal level. Noel started out so shy. So shy in fact she was thought of as special needs. She was afraid to ask for help. Yet none of that stopped her. And there was a story she shared about NYFW that was so simple, yet so beautiful. She was coming home after the show. She was on a bus from Brooklyn going to Queens. "I just felt a sense of accomplishment," she said, "like I had overcome any and all limitations. It was euphoric! I felt like I could do anything!"

You can, Noel! 

And I for one, cannot wait to see you soar! 




Special thanks to... 

Noel Tapper for the time and energy in talking to me! 
Natasha Anderson (located in Chapel Hill) the photographer behind these gorgeous photos!
And also the Creative Director, Corey Wilson (Located in Charlotte).