New Year, New Motivation

Photos by Derrick Hogue 

With the new year ahead of us, and the holidays behind, it's time to focus on yourself. Let 2019 be the year of a healthier lifestyle. Winter can be brutal, but playing catch up on your fitness routine is even worse come spring time! If we're anything like our furry friends, we tend to eat a little extra and pack on the pounds a bit, to stay warm until the warmer seasons. It's understandably scientifically  natural, but it's also imperative that we don't burrow into a cave, aka the couch, and get our bodies moving! Believe me, I understand the logic of not wanting to "suffer" in the cold or feel the least bit of the wintery air upon our skin, thankfully there are options to keep yourself warm and stylish throughout winter!

Spring Into Beauty

Photos by Kevin Smith

It's finally that time of the year to pull out all of your favorite, colorful palettes and pods of makeup. The demure colors from the past such as your darks and jewel tones can stay in the back of your makeup cabinet/ drawer because Spring has sprung and vibrancy is all around us! Just because our wardrobe changes with the season, that doesn't mean that our makeup has to fall by the way side. This season, I vow to take chances and risks with my makeup looks starting with these three (Scroll down!)

It's Electric!

It's true, jewel tones are usually associated with the fall/ winter seasons but this year it has trickled into the warmer months! Jewel tones pack a punch of bold color, more so then it's distant cousins, pastels. I would most likely be caught drenched in saturated and bright colors rather than muted, pastels. I just don't appreciate how those hues look on my complexion. Easter egg colors, just aren't my thing!

Jumpsuit: Club Monaco(Similar), jacket: Levi's,  sports bra: Forever21,  pumps: Shoemint, necklaces: The Hatters, House of Harlow

Photos by Chaucee Stillman, hair is styled with Mixed Chicks! 

This color, cobalt/ electric/ sapphire blue is one of my favorites for this season. It's my kind of blue, I can pair it with other colors and it still looks good! In this look, I neutralized it with the white pieces, for day time purposes! It's the perfect color for me to transition from winter to spring/summer! Not everyone would be as daring as I am and go for head to toe color, another way to introduce is by subtle pieces. Belts, shoes, bags, jewelry are the easiest ways to inject an electrifying burst of color to your wardrobe! Dear readers, how do you like to stand out in bold colors?

Virtual Shopping Party

It was a night of socializing, making statements and poshing! What's "poshing" you ask?! It's a verb for the act of using this new app called Poshmark. It's a mobile platform that allows people from across the country sell and buy clothes, it's a one stop shop for fashionistas! It's pretty fantastic, i've gotten pretty acquainted with it too, you can check out my virtual closet at https://poshmark.com/closet/jdavismoranti. The Poshmark party was all about getting everyone familiar with the app, which is currently only on IOS platforms. Believe me, you will get hooked on it like I am!

Outfit photos by Melissa Alam

Dress: Sugarlips Apparel, jacket: Forever21,  belt & bracelets: Club Monaco,  necklace: Anthropologie, pumps: Shoedazzle

That night I wanted to make a statement in black and white. It's a bold trend that I absolutely love for the spring time. It's easy to pair and has a wide variety of options, plus it's timeless. Seriously, black and white is a true closet savior! Dear readers, have you tried the Poshmark app, what do you think of it?

(Ugly) Sweater Season

Just because Christmas is over, it doesn't mean that you should put your wacky sweaters away! It's still chilly out there and you need to layer up, why not do it in a fashionably, eccentric way?! Overly printed sweaters have so much personality and because of it, many are considered ugly or unappealing. I tend to find it charming, they add a lot of va-va-voom to any outfit! Unless you have one of those sweaters with Santa Claus' face all over it! That needs to get buried in your closet right away! 

Funky sweaters look great paired with anything, over a dress, under a blazer, with a vest, skinny jeans, bell bottoms... the list can go on! You could even dress it up for a holiday party!

Sweater: Forever21, blouse: J.Crew, cape: American Apparel, skirt: thrifted, pumps: Shoedazzle, necklace: Jewelmint

 

How do you like to wear your eccentric sweaters? Is there a cap on how weird is too weird?!

On The Surface

by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

As much as I love shoes, I also love myself some great outerwear pieces! This year one of the biggest trends for outerwear has been the capes and ponchos. They are so much fun to wear, extremely comfortable because you're not feeling encased in a coat and still surprisingly warm! Why not wear something that reflects your fashion savvy on the surface, since no one will see your full outfit until you get indoors?!

Outerwear from:
Forever21
American Apparel
Club Monaco
Urban Outfitters

The top left cape looks great with so many pieces but my favorite way to wear this one is with a sleek, dark maxi skirt or dress. It really ups the anty to any elegant look.

Top middle cape, I absolutely adore! Rather than feeling like "Little Red Riding Hood," why not go for  a kelly green cape?! It's less expected and looks great paired with neutrals, so they don't distract the brightness of the cape! Belting your cape is a great way to show your waist and add some femininity to your outerwear.

Top right cape looks great worn with an all black outfit, black skinny jeans, black leather gloves, and tall black boots. Katniss Everdeen approved!

The bottom left image is a little bit hard to tell of it's poncho capabilities. This awesome piece of outerwear can be worn two ways, as a regular coat and a poncho when you unzip the sides! It's unconventional but fashion forward and looks great paired with wide legged denim jeans.

The last poncho, bottom right, is super comfortable and casual. I love bold prints on outerwear pieces, it adds some fun to the dullness of winter! 

I feel that capes get a bad rep because so many people think they look silly, as if it's more appropriate on a superhero or a comic book character. Capes and ponchos are so easy to style and they can be as subtle as a change of lipstick or as loud as Gene Simmons in concert! 

Since capes and ponchos are a seemingly sartorial piece in our wardrobe, they're a great investment! Rather than reaching for that old faithful trench or the ever popular leather jacket, try a cape. You will stand out as a fashionable individual. 

                                                                                                 Xoxo,

                                                                                                        Jacqui

Plaid is Back!

Plaid, one the 1990's biggest mainstays is having a major moment right now.... but it's not like it ever left! Whichever way you want to call it, plaid or tartan are both similar. and have roots that date back to the ancient Scottish history, think kilts! It is also synonymous with the punk and grunge scene. As seen on many tv shows, music videos, and actors. One of my favorite 90's show, My So Called Life, frequented the plaid trend and Gwen Stefani, No Doubt, one of my fashion idols always looked great in  her tartan ensembles! 

Recently, the trend was spotted on the F/W 2012 runways, specifically Michael Kors' show and J.Crew. It's back and better than ever, it's not just on pants and pleated skirts. Plaid looks great paired with so many different prints, textures and colors. Its one of the most versatile patterns in history that can be worn streamlined or unconventional. 

Here are a few ways I like to incorporate plaid into my wardrobe! 

plaid button down: thrifted

tartan skirt: Forever21

plaid blazer: Guess

plaid coat: Club Monaco

It has become a pattern that's inevitable for me to avoid! It also has a comforting effect on me, I guess it's why I wear it so much! Are you a fan of plaid? How do you like to wear it?

                                                                                                                            Xoxo,
                                                                                                                                Jacqui

Unisex, Revamped

Sweater and pants: American Apparel, scarf: H&M, trench: DIYed from Forever21,  shoes: Nastygal

Everyone of us has "that" sweater. The one that we wear for comfort and are okay if it isn't quite flattering. That is how I feel about this sweater, don't get me wrong, I love it! The fact that it is unisex makes it a plus! Tops and sweaters like this are the perfect combo for shopping escapades, dental visits, dog walking, movie date nights at home and endless more possibilities. 

I used to think that unisex meant shapeless and ugly. Unisex is actually quite fun because it gives you and your SF (that's if you're okay with letting him/her borrow it!) styling options and its fun to see how they will wear it!

Next time you see this sweater, my BF will be wearing it in his own way. Style off!

                                                              Xoxo,

                                                                        Jacqui

Camouflage Print

by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

One of this season's biggest comeback is the camouflage print! It was a big thing in the 90's, think big, baggy, fatigues. Ugh, that reminds me of my high school days! Tons of retailers, like my personal favorite, Nastygal are reintroducing this print in a more interesting way by applying it to blazers and jackets, skirts and skinny, fatigue pants. It can seem like a difficult trend, but once you understand that camouflage is a neutral, the pairings are endless!

I've compiled four different looks with this awesome camouflage jacket i've found thrifting! The bottom  left is probably my favorite look because one might think that this print is geared towards the more Bohemian girl but if paired the right way, you can get a great polished, girly look! I put the camo jacket underneath a trench coat, it undermines the print so that it's not too overwhelming. Under the jackets I have a pink sequined sweater with a collared blouse to "girl" it up. Then finish the look off with a pair of olive green, skinny fatigue pants and a feminine, wing tipped shoe and you're good to go!

The bottom right one, is also very interesting because it plays with different patterns. Thin stripes and chunky stripes balance out the camo pattern, underneath a fun fur vest! Having fun with the pattern is what makes this look really enjoyable.

The top right look is a great, and unique date look. I've paired a little black, sheath dress with the camo jacket and a soft, suede vest. This is look that many will say defines me the most, "You're such a 'hippie" as my mother would say! Why not have fun with that little black dress?

Top left outfit pairs the camo jacket with a brightly colored dress. Bright colors with a neutral, in this case camouflage green, go hand in hand. It's a great combination because, camouflage was traditional used to bland in with the environment, but we fashionistas want to stand out and what better way than to glow?

Remember ladies, if you're going to try out this camouflage trend, have fun with it and mix it up! Let me know how you wear your camo!

                                                                                                                    Xoxo,

                                                                                                                      Jacqui

Menswear Inspiration

Top: American Apparel, Trousers: Zara, Oxfords: Shoemint, Rings: thrifted

One of this season's biggest trends is the menswear inspired classics, and the biggest piece of them all is the footwear. Loafers, oxfords and boots are all getting the "borrowed from the boys" twist. 

Personally, I like to play up the boyish charm of the trend, rather than contrasting it with a more feminine edge. That's exactly what I've done with these oxfords from Shoemint! These shoes require no  distractions, they're so loud and in your face, that a feminine contrast might just draw the attention away from them. The tribal print on these bad boys help anyone embrace tomboy- chic! 

What do you think of the menswear inspired trend? How will you style it?

                                                     Xoxo,

                                                              Jacqui

Jeanius Trend

Casual Denim by Jacqueline Davis- Moranti

One of the biggest trends this season is denim, and not just your run of the mill baby blues, i'm talking about the denim evolution! These days denim is being treated with more value than ever before. This season denim jeans are having more, maybe even all the fun! Jeans are being introduced with patterns, cured with waxes, and more interesting color choices. 

Jeans from:
Gap
J. Brand
Forever21
Guess
BDG

As much as I love my trousers, I'm totally in love with the new denim styles. Printed denim was big for the Spring season and it's still around for the Autumn season, but instead of bright, and floral prints, it's opting for darker and more abstract prints. 

The tuxedo style pants have been catching a lot of eye recently! It's been increasingly popular with trousers so it was only obvious that it would catch on with jeans too. Tuxedo jeans are a great look for casual dates and Girls Night Out! 

My favorite denim trend this season is the coated jean. These jeans have the nice, slick look of leather pants with out actually being leather or being super pricey. The coating can be from either fabric wax or fabric paint, what is even better is that you can easily take any pair of jeans you own and create the look yourself! Besides the black denim, one of this season's hottest colors is oxblood. The color is like burgundy, but deeper and more intense. Great color choice for Fall and looks good with almost anything!

 Last but not least, corduroy. Let's be honest, did corduroy ever go anywhere?! Every Fall, corduroy comes back with a punch, like new colors, lengths, and shapes. Corduroy is so comfortable for the cooler weather and looks great dressed up or down. 

This new influx of denim trends will have any fashionista ready for a "jeanius" upgrade! What denim trend are you most excited about and how will you wear it?

                                                                                     Xoxo,

                                                                                         Jacqui