General Fashion


Connect with me on Twiirly

*Photos by Katelyn Rose Photography for Twiirly

Photos taken at the Twiirly Blogger Brunch held during New York Fashion Week at While We Were Young and hosted by Amour Vert.

I am so excited to be writing this! There is a fun, new way to interact with me and pick my brain for beauty, style, fashion, blogging, and work-life-balance information and advice! I have signed up to work with a hot new App named Twiirly. This fabulous fashion app is the perfect way to connect with me, as well as all your favorite bloggers, for a private one-on-one session. My sessions will be available during the week, as well as on the weekends. If you want to book a session with me, and don’t see an opening convenient for you, feel free to DM me through Instagram or send me an email. I am happy to open a session which is convenient for you!

On Twiirly, I will be available to help you with a variety of topics. Let’s chat about skin care, beauty products, styling for events or everyday life, ways to save money while shopping, saving up for a designer piece, blogging, starting a blogging business,  juggling homeschooling and blogging or work, juggling three kids and a blog, or anything you want to ask me!

Work-life-balance is huge as a Mother. As a mother of a daughter with special needs whom I homeschool, juggling my blog, my children’s schedules, volunteer work and more is a huge undertaking. I have learned so much from my experience, I am happy to share it with you and hopefully my information and advice will help you juggle your job, blog, family life, and more!

If you are wondering what makes me qualified to give out advice and information on beauty, fashion, style, work-life-balance, blogging, homeschooling, and starting a business, I will give you the run-down. I have a BA in English from the University of San Francisco followed by an MBA from Dominican University in San Rafael. I am born and bred Bay Area. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area has exposed me to hard working entrepreneurs; many of which are in my family history. My work history follows.

I started my career in retail, as many fashion fans do. I worked for The Limited Corp for seven years in both sales and management. This is where I learned about fashion and style. After The Limited, I worked for Ann Taylor for two years in management where I was responsible for visual merchandising at stores throughout the Bay Area. I created and executed the displays which invited shoppers to see how to style our clothing and accessories. I also worked as a personal shopper/stylist for local celebrities and politicians.

After retail, and earning my MBA, I did the Bay Area thing and worked in tech as a Recruiter, Sales Manager, and HR Manager. Eventually, I ended up at Sprint where I worked in the Human Resources Dept. When I had my first baby, I left the corporate world to raise my children. After having three kids, I was ready to go back to work! I went back as a VP of Sales for a small start-up, but it was too demanding of a job with three small children under the age of five at home. I decided it was time to start my own thing! I founded Cheap Luxury Handbags Store as a blog which I was planning to turn into a local fashion magazine. Well, the website got me into freelance fashion journalism where I reported on trends and runways; specifically handbags for print and online publications throughout the country. My blog grew, and I noticed the magazine business was not something to enter into at the moment, so I gave up my freelance work, and started to concentrate on growing Cheap Luxury Handbags Store as a personal blog: and voila! I am here today!

As for work-life-balance, I started to homeschool  my special needs daughter three years ago. She has ADHD, learning disabilities, and a 170+ IQ. This makes for a very special child who is not built for the regular school system. We homeschool through an online school where she interacts with a credentialed teacher and I administer or teach the majority of her school work to her. We turn in her schoolwork once a week for grading to her teacher. She is earning straight A’s and is ahead of her grade level in math. I am so proud of her! Juggling her schooling, having her home all the time, my blog, and my other two children’s schedules, is quite a challenge. I have learned a lot about making it all work. If you are trying to juggle children, work, and more, let’s chat about it on Twiirly!

There are a lot of fabulous bloggers on Twiirly, including a large number from the San Francisco Bay Area! Love! So be sure to download the app from the app store and Twiirly with me! I am excited to chat with you, and I know you will enjoy connecting with the other bloggers too. Twiirly on!

You can learn more about Twiirly at Twiirly.com and you can download the app online here.


Fall 2017 trends from New York Fashion Week

Romeo Hunte fall 2017 NYFW

The last model has walked off the catwalk in New York City, leaving the world with a new set of trends for the upcoming fall/winter 2017/2018 season. While many of the trends designers showed for fall are continuing from the fall 2016 season, several are new, or have been reinvented with a slightly political twist. Oh yes, the common theme for fall 2017 was a nod to the politically charged climate of right now. Designers translated this into the glum side of 1990s fashion when minimalism was king, and everyone wore all-black. Combine the glum 1990s with the current angry, divisive political climate, we have a theme for fall 2017 which I am dubbing the “Angry 1990s.”

Angry 1990s

nicholas k fall 2017 nyfw

Nicholas K fall 2017 NYFW

The 1990s are when I came into my own. I graduated from high school, then college, lived a little in my 20’s, then began applying to graduate school. Politically, Clinton was in office, and most liberal-minded people were happy about that. Conservatives were upset with the moral climate in the 1990s, but no-one held violent protests. Although people had jobs in the 1990s, it was not always the job one wanted. It was extremely difficult to find a well-paying job, until the dot-boom began it’s uptick in 1998. The result in fashion was simple minimalism and dark colors. It was not nearly as politically charged as what we are seeing today. I find it interesting that designers are comparing the two. Conservatives and liberals had some social issues to be upset about in the 1990s, but we didn’t see the venom we are seeing today. Without turning my happy fashion place into a political forum, the 1990s were a time of change, not upheaval. Right now, we have some upheaval. This was reflected on the runway, combined with 1990s minimalism, dark hues, and an all-black uniform.

Collections with all-black look as well as looks infused with political upheaval, were spotted on the fall 2017 runways of Nicholas K, Hakan Akkaya, Namilia, and Francesca Liberatore.

Red

tadashi shoji fall 2017 nyfw

Tadashi Shoji fall 2017 NYFW

How could you miss it! If Green is the color of 2017, it was overshadowed completely by Red for fall 2017. Almost every designer had at least one red look on the runway for the upcoming cold weather season. Red was spotted on everything as both a solid color, and part of a print. This is the color to invest in right now, and to keep from last year. Look for red, red and more red for fall 2017. Love!

Designers who are seeing red for fall 2017 include Tadashi Shoji, Nicholas K, Dan Liu, Romeo Hunte, A Detacher, CG by Chris Gelinas, Custo Barcelona, Marcel Ostertag, and Vivienne Hu.

Bomber Jackets

RtA fall 2017 NYFW

RtA fall 2017 NYFW

This is a continuing trend from last year, and if you don’t already own one, now is the time to buy one. Bomber jackets have exploded louder than a bomb for the upcoming fall 2017 season. Designers are showing them with casual ensembles, as well pairing them with trousers, skirts, and over dresses. This is the jacket of the season, so make sure you have at least one in your closet!

There were several designers who love bomber jackets for fall, they include Custo Barcelona and Marcel Ostertag.

You can jump on this trend now, here are a few fabulous bomber jackets for spring which will make you look like you are already rocking fall 2017’s hottest trend in outerwear:

The bomber jackets shown above reflect current and fall trends. They can carry you from this season into fall. Love that!

Bold Faux Fur (or real if you wear real fur)

tadashi shoji fall 2017 nyfw

Tadashi Shoji fall 2017 NYFW

If sporty bomber jackets aren’t your thing, never fear, bold faux fur is here! If you thought bold and outrageous faux fur jackets were only meant for the streets outside fashion week, you were correct-until now. For fall 2017 we will see an influx of bold faux fur coats and jackets to covet. This is the ultimate way to stay warm for fall 2017 and winter 2018. You will feel like you are paparazzi-ready in a bold faux fur jacket paired with jeans, thrown over a dress, or worn with cropped trousers. Your bold faux fur coat or jacket should take you from weekend to evening. It is the ultimate wear-everywhere coat. You will rock it at the grocery store, you will rock it downtown, you will rock it at dinner, and you will rock at a cocktail party. It will be your signature piece. Invest in at least one for fall 2017, bold faux fur is everything.

Designers who rocked the bold fur trend include RtA, Romeo Hunte and Tadashi Shoji.

Metallics

Custo Barcelona fall 2017 NYFW

Get ready to shine! Fall 2017 is lit up with shining, sparkling metallics! They are being shown as stand-alone fabrications, as well as accents to colorful pieces. Designers are showing metallics for daytime, athleisure, the office, and of course evening. This is a trend to invest in for fall, and to also have fun with. If the Angry 1990s have got you down, turn the other cheek and sparkle. This is the fun side of fall 2017 fashion!

Metallics popped up on so many fall 2017 runways including those of Michael Costello, Nicholas K, RtA, Hakan Akkaya, Yuna Yang, Custo Barcelona and Marcel Ostertag.

All-Black

Hakan Akkaya fall 2017 NYFW

In the 1990s, the all-black look was king. It is returning for fall 2017 as the polar opposite way of dressing from the brightly put together textures and metallics for fall. If showing your style means blending in with the crowd, all-black is your trend. Now, the all-black look was often shown with the “Angry 1990s” look, but, this does not mean it was always shown as angry. Many designers showed all-black as a chic alternative to metallics, velvet, red, lace, and “look-at-me” styles. This is the yin to fall’s yang. If you are perfectly happy with the current political climate, you can still easily rock the all-black look. It is not a political statement, nor a nod to the red or blue side of the aisle. All-black is a classic, bi-partisan look which is hot for fall; it should be taken at face value.

The all-black look appeared on the runways of designers such as Vivienne Hu, Nicholas K, Hakan Akkaya, Taoray Wang and CG by Chris Gelinas.

francesca liberatore fall 2017 nyfw

Francesca Liberatore fall 2017 NYFW

While these six trends for fall 2017 stood out from the crowd, there are several continuing trends which are noteworthy for fall 2017. Look for the continuation of lace, velvet, dark purple, fall florals, large plaid, culottes, cropped pants, slimmer skirts, bell sleeves, ruffles, 1970s influence, brocade, embroidery, pale beige, all-white looks, green (of course!), light camel, pops of yellow, and pops of cobalt.

There you have it! Fall 2017 in a nutshell. What do you think? Do you have a favorite trend for the fall/winter 2017/2018 season?

A Detacher fall 2017 NYFW


Rain storm at fashion week

new york street style gucci belt street stylecasual new york style givenchy antigona nyfw street style

Wearing: hat (old, also love this one) / Chanel spring lipstick / ivory fringe earrings / Alexander McQueen scarf (the street style photogs loved this!)  / cozy black faux shearling jacket (on major sale!) / black tee / Gucci belt (current obsession) / destroyed boyfriend jeans (sold out, also love this pair) / Givenchy handbag / Chanel spring nail polish / black socks / silver street sneakers (under $150!!)

The forth day of New York Fashion Week, there was a crazy rain storm. I had planned to wear this beautiful floral maxi skirt with this jacket pictured above, and a black turtleneck. Alas, there was so much salt on the ground from the recent snow storm, and the puddles were so brown with dirt, I was too chicken to wear my beautiful new skirt in those conditions. I decided I would wear clothing which was machine washable, comfortable, and OK to get wet or dirty.

Surprisingly, many people wear casual clothing at fashion week. Not everyone is wearing the latest, greatest outfit. Not everyone is peacocking for the photographers, and not everyone is trying to be a runway show themselves. Therefore, when I wore this outfit, I blended into the crowd and even had my scarf snapped by photographers. Throughout the week the street style photogs were snapping pictures of my scarf. I didn’t see the photos appear anywhere, but hey, it’s fun anyway; especially since I love this scarf and have been wearing it non-stop since I purchased it in early fall 2016. Love that!

The temperatures were actually not cold on the fourth day of fashion week. They hovered in the 40’s, and the heat was cranked up inside the show venue, so wearing a short sleeve tee under my jacket was key for my overall comfort. This outfit turned out to be extremely practical for the conditions of the day, and it is also a fabulous casual look for transitioning from winter into spring as temperatures warm up. Love!

This was not a planned outfit, it was a bunch of pieces from my suitcase thrown together. Thankfully, it worked out! Since the rain was so strong, and the lighting was horrible, Kali’s hubby from In-Spades.com snapped these photos in the patio of our hotel. He did a great job compensating for the horrible lighting! I think the photos capture the essence of the weather that day.

Day four was another jam-packed day! My schedule included Marcel Ostertag, Elizabeth Kennedy, Verdad, Custo Barcelona, Leanne Marshall, Vivienne Hu, and Namilia. Normally Sunday at fashion week is on the calm side; a time to rest a little and see fewer shows than on other days-but not this season! Whew! These were great collections, I am so glad it was not a quiet day!

Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you are loving fall 2017 from New York Fashion Week!

*photos by Matt/In-Spades.com