Month: December 2015

K. Vaughn Scarves: Winter XV Collection

Recently I had the pleasure of attending the showing of Philly designer K. Vaughn’s 2015 winter collection. For more than 20 years Vaughn has designed unique, quality garments for both men & women, eventually finding his niche in luxury neckwear. K. Vaughn scarves are not your average pieces. Each collection features eye catching fabrics & appeals to the individual who wants to stand out in a crowd. I sat down with Vaughn to ask him a few questions about his success & longevity.

K.K.  What inspired you to begin a career in fashion design?

K.V.  I’ve always loved fashion & wanted to be a buyer, but never had the chance. So I decided to start designing my own clothes.

K.K.  What advice do you have for up and coming designers?

K.V.  Don’t do it! (lol) Start small with one or two pieces that you do very well, i.e. pants, skirts, etc…

K.K.  Why just scarves? Why not an entire men’s collection?

K.V.  I actually make clothing for both sexes. I started in women’s then transitioned to menswear. However, I found scarves to be more accessible & the production cost is much lower.

K.K.  What inspired this latest collection?

K.V.  I wanted to do a collection of knits, wools, & luxe fabrics like velvet and sequin. I knew sweaters were going to be big this season.

K.K.  Lastly, the K. Vaughn customer is ______ ?

K.V.  Everyone who knows themselves!

 

Boyfriend Coat

Happy Monday loves!

Can you believe this is the last Monday of 2015? I pray you had a safe enjoyable holiday with friends and family. Please forgive me for dropping the ball on holiday posts. I had a fabulous line up in mind but failed to execute due to lack of proper planning. It’s a lesson learned and a mistake I won’t repeat…

Speaking of holidays, I will forever remember Christmas 2015 because we hit 70 degrees here in Philly. I literally turned on my air conditioning Friday and no one in the family bat an eye! It’s safe to say Global Warming is real and Jesus is soon to return. In fact yesterday’s high was somewhere in the upper 40’s, but I will stop discussing the weather because I feel like I do that a lot in these style posts…another habit to break in 2016 I suppose. Since it finally feels like winter, I’ve decided to pull out my favorite coat. For two years now this vintage find has been my go-to winter statement piece. One hundred percent wool, this oversize boyfriend coat comes with fringe and a fabulous bright plaid pattern. My coat of many colors, perfect for the dreamer in me! XO 

Shirt & Belt//H&M , Jeans//Bongo , Shoes//Donald Pliner , Jewelry//Burlington Coat Factory 

 

Nautical Stripes

Happy first day of winter loves!

Only two days in and this week is Uber busy, especially since I’m working overtime at the office. Thankfully, I’ve laid out my outfits for the entire week to cut my prep time in half. Our warm weather has come to an abrupt halt causing everyone to reach for sweaters and knee boots, however we’ll be back in the sixties by Christmas Eve. Today I’m keeping warm in this nautical sweater dress. A staple in every woman’s winter wardrobe, the sweater dress is one my go to options to stay warm and office appropriate. I decided to pair the classic navy and white with my western cognac knee boots and a matching scarf to make things interesting. To top it off I kept the jewelry simple and added my trench coat with a classic bowler bag. Dressed and ready under ten minutes for the win, XO!

Dress & Scarf//H&M, Boots//DAFFY’S, Trench//DKNY, Bag//DOONEY & BOURKE

Checked Blazer + Patent Booties

Rainy days usually call for rain boots but when the humidity is over 70% and you can literally feel your hair follicles sucking up every drop of precipitation…. you wear open toe booties. Such was the case during this shoot in John F. Collins park at 17th and Chestnut. I live in turtlenecks during the winter months. They’re perfect under blazers, especially on days wear an actual coat is optional. I threw on jeans because it was casual Friday but this look is perfect for an after work date. Enjoy, XO!

Blazer//H&M, Turtleneck//Uniqlo, Jeans//Zanadi, Booties//Ross 

Catherine Marion x Fanm Djanm

 

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of attending the “Natural Hair + Headwraps = Happiness” event here in Philly presented by black owned brands Catherine Marion and Fanm Djanm. The event featured an informative workshop followed by a pop up shop.

Sisters Ivy and Abby Omoruyi are the dynamic duo behind Catherine Marion, a natural haircare and custom wig line. The two are also coauthors of the popular book “Guide to growing Natural Hair long”, a step by step haircare manual for 4b/4c hair along with a 42 day regimen calendar and tutorials. In addition to the manual, the sisters create custom hand sewn wigs for naturals who are seeking protective styles.

From a small town in Haiti to corporate America, and then on to become a Harlem restauranteur, Paola Mathe is a force of nature. What started as a personal 30 day headwrap challenge quickly became a movement. Before long Paola had launched Fanm Djanm, which translates “strong woman”, a line of headwraps & accessories for women of color. The brand is dedicated to the strong women of the world.

 

 

The event consisted of an informative workshop followed by a pop up shop with light refreshments. During the workshop the ladies gave wonderful tips on both haircare and business. With all of the tea they spilled I’ve decided to jot down key bullet points for all of you:

  • Conquer your fear of public opinion & take ownership of your natural beauty by learning how to care for your natural hair.
  • Stop texture shaming one another
  • Replace large proteins like mayo & banana with water and gelatin to treat damaged hair.
  • YOU are your brand! Be sure your socials reflect this.
  • Go with your gut, not the current trends to stay authentic.
  • Find your niche & build specific strategy for THAT audience.
  • Resist trying to produce content for everyone, focus on your tribe.
  • Do your research; do the leg work to grow your business.
  • Get out of the house! Network and build purposeful relationships.
  • Don’t quit you 9-5 prematurely, find a balance.
  • Your business can’t grow if your profit is solely used for personal wants/needs

As you can see, these ladies shared some awesome information with those at the event. To top it all off we got a chance to see their amazing products. To those of you still shopping for holiday gifts be sure to check out both brands and give the women in your life something unique! XO

www.catherinemarion.com

www.fanmdjanm.com

 

Striped skirt + Leather jacket

Happy Monday loves!

I had a great weekend, I hope you all did as well. Today it’s back to business and I am determined to accomplish everything on my to-do list, which includes posting three times this week. I have to admit that since my blogging sabbatical it’s been a little chaotic getting back into my rhythm. My daily work planner has now become my SPS bible lol! Thank God for scheduling posts in advance.

Since I’ve decided to take advantage of the current mild temperatures while they last, today’s look features one of my favorite skirts. This striped flared skirt reminds me of a teacup in shape. It’s a petite woman’s dreams come true because it created a small waist and the illusion of hips. I always feel like a proper lady in this skirt. The blush and coral colors blend well and I found the perfect necklace to match.

When I look good, I feel good. Here’s to the start of a great week! XO

Jacket//Zara , Top//H&M , Skirt//Zara , Shoes//Bebe , Scarf//H&M , Necklace//Burlington Coat Factory 

 

Camo + Royal Blue

Happy Friday loves!

Can you believe this is my first official outfit post on the new and improved site? As you’ve probably noticed the archives of the last year are not available. This was do to a glitch during the blog revamp, however the photos themselves are not lost. I will utilize them on my social accounts so feel free to follow your girl! The weather here in Philly has been ridiculously mild and I’ve taken full advantage of it by shooting every other day.

Today’s look is military chic with a pop of color. The camo print is classic and when worn with my trusty leather moto jacket and gold hardware I’ve instantly become edgier. For contrast, I’ve paired these pieces with royal blue accessories to add a little sugar to the spice. Here’s to a great weekend, XO!

Fab Gifts Under $50

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Hello darlings! Tis’ the season for giving and I’m uber excited. I absolutely love this time of year. The festivities all around the city, the good cheer and Christmas carols, even the special holiday treats at my favorite coffee shop keep me in the holiday spirit. Now if you’re anything like me you’ve been on a strict budget all year. As a result I’ve been shopping around for chic gifts under $50 for the special women in my life. These are my top ten picks… although I’m open to your suggestions. Happy hunting, enjoy!

  • Wool Overcoat – Zara $50 www.zara.com
  • Origins “Best Of” gift set – $50 www.belk.com
  • Faux Suede knee boots – Lulu’s $49 www.lulus.com
  • Tocca Perfume gift set – $42 www.sephora.com
  • Studded X mini lip & nail set – Formula X $30 www.sephora.com
  • Faux Leather Tote – $30 www.blackfive.com
  • Reversible Plaid scarf – Uniqlo $23 www.uniqlo.com
  • Two-Tone Boyfriend watch – JC Penney $22 www.jcpenney.com
  • Faux Fur ear muffs – Uniqlo $12 www.uniqlo.com
  • Faux Suede gloves – Uniqlo $10 www.uniqlo.com

The Macy’s Event

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In August of this year I made a conscious decision to get out of the house and connect with other bloggers in real life, not just via social media. A week after this decision I received an email from Vicky Taylor, manager of the Origins shop here in Philly’s Center City Macy’s. A beauty blogger and makeup artist herself, Vicky reached out to fellow Philly bloggers to participate in an upcoming event. For the first time ever Macy’s was hosting a City Essentials Workshop where local bloggers would give customers expert advice on hair care, beauty, and fashion. The answer to my prayer was right in my inbox so without hesitation, I agreed.

Fast forward to November 14th and the workshop was here, just in time to kick off my birthday week. I was joined by the following fabulous locals:

  • Marisa Peal – licensed cosmetologist and creator of organixlocs.com
  • Bryce Lennon – illustrator and creator of unregisteredstyle.com
  • Keiana Armani – stylist and creator of indigobluestyle.com

Each blogger delivered a very informative presentation. Bryce gave us a full F/W ’15 trend report for the hottest in menswear. Keiana did the same for the ladies, while also giving valuable tips on how to extend the life of our pieces. Marisa spilled all the tea on her favorite Origins skincare and makeup products. Lastly, I discussed the winter essentials EVERY woman should have in her wardrobe (to be discussed in a later style post). The event was a success. As the newest blogger in the lineup, I’m grateful to have been a part of something fresh and new!

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