My Most Loved Gym Essentials, Right Now

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

I’ve been a regular gym frequenter for a few years now and i would say that recently I’ve finally fallen back into a good routine with it. I’m quite particular with what I use and wear to the gym and I’m always so interested in what other people use to make their workouts even better as it’s something that is so personal to each of us. In 2015 I earned my CPT through the International Sports Sciences Association to help empower and motivate others with fitness! While training people, full time has it's ups and downs, right now, my main focus is what works for me, my workouts and wellness. 

As someone who frequents the gym, I have built quite a workout routine with essentials that I take with me all the time to and from the gym. Check them out! 

Pink Panther

Photos by Derrick Hogue

Life can get so hectic and so busy, it can feel like you're moving at lightening speed while everyone and everything is running much slower. I like to define myself as a workaholic, I'm constantly working on multiple projects at once, running from one place to another, squeezing in appointments. I used to think that not being busy was the worst, at the time it felt like I wasn't doing enough with my life. Having a day planner filled to the brim with appointments and deadlines was my dream.... and now that it's a reality, I feel like I should've taken advantage of the free time I had. Believe me, when those days and time frames come by now, I make sure to really enjoy it. And wearing pink feathers is certainly a way to do so! 

Vested

Photos by Derrick Hogue

At the dawn of a new season, there's always those few days or even weeks in which it's a bit cold at times and then the temperatures suddenly rise throughout the day. That's exactly how the Fall season is here in the northeastern states! I would much rather prefer the days stay warmer than colder but that's not being realistic. On days like such, I try to layer smartly, my secret to staying cool and warm is simply a vest! It's a piece that's often overlooked but essential to all of our closets.

Pre Fall Athleisure

Photography by Derrick Hogue

Summer's end is near and with that comes the so called "summertime blues." I try to not think too hard about parting ways with Summer but rather reflect on all the good times and moments that I've had and remember that the best is yet to come! Saying sayonara to Summer with a minimalist uniform to get myself ready to transition into the cooler temperatures. Trading in the fuschias, citrons, and aqua blues for plum, mustards and greys this season. Of course, denim never goes out of style and wearing it as anything other than a pair of jeans definitely not boring! 

Winter's Trespassing

Photography by Kevin Michael Smith

This winter in Philadelphia has felt nothing like the winter's before, it's been mild and balmy. For me, that meant to take full advantage of it! Peel away the heavy layers and textures to reveal your skin again, wear that autumn jacket that you forgot about and pull out those flowy dresses! This Winter, mother nature has been kind to us by granting us 70-60 degree days, in January, which is unheard of for the northeastern states! I'll take what we can get! 

Holiday Outfitting 3

Photos by Kevin Smith

There's nothing like a good coat to keep you warm, in close to freezing temperatures. Looking luxurious in dire weather is no easy task, sensible clothing  options get in the way of our style, like rain and snow boots, bulky down coats, thermal base layers and other "sensible" garments. Occasionally all we need is a new trend to inspire the downtrodden for other ways to enjoy the plummeting temperatures, taking a cue from this season's new neutral, burgundy! 

City Chic

Photos by Kevin Smith

Fall is in the air, the winds are whippier, the leaves are brown, the scent is crisper, it's a beautiful time to be outside. With the change of the season comes a change in my wardrobe. I put away all of the light chiffon blouses, put away all of the slinky dresses, put away anything linen and replace everything with heavier textures and bolder colors. It's not necessary to do so, but it is very pleasing to the eye to see similar colors of your environment in your wardrobe. Black is easy, black is forgiving, black is always my first option. I'm challenging myself to mix it up a bit and break out of my demure instincts with adding some vibrant colors and prints. Boisterous was my result!

Retro

Photos by the awesome Kevin Smith

Like everyone else, I have a penchant for new, shiny and often, the latest.  While it's nice to have what's current, sometimes older pieces and garments are what's better for our wardrobes. Style revivals happen every few seasons, which means something you wore adored all the time, five years ago, will come back in style to be the hottest and trendiest thing on the market! I'm not the best at vintage shopping, but when I do find something, it's a total score! 

Gold and Chemise

It's the dog days of summer, and the humidity is at a steady 90%! Layers are useless, clothes feels useless, but we need clothes for decency! I do love this season, but it's quite a challenge to stay fashionable in such sweltering heat. Challenges are fun especially when fashion is involved. Honestly, i've been finding any excuse to wear the most loose fitting garments ever. Anything that clings is bound to show those awful sweat stains! Loose fitting and airy fabrics are the name of the game! 

Summer Daze

It's the middle of summer here and in the eastern region of the USA, that means sky rocketing temperatures and humidity included. From sweating your makeup off to the horrible arm pit stains that creep up on you when you're wearing your favorite silk shirt, it's the essence of summer! Keeping layers super simple is of the utmost importance when it's 95 degrees, thats why having easy pieces to throw on and go is a wardrobe staple. Especially when your SO surprises you with a weekend trip to the south!

Born To Be Wild

It was an unlikely day in Philly recently, the weather was actually nice and cooler than it usually is during the summer. I took advantage of this day by wearing jeans! I know it doesn't seem like much but with high humidity and temperatures, jeans tend to feel like second skin which is why this day was an anamoly!  I usually stick to lighter fabrics like linen, polyester blends, cottons and sometimes silk. Rather than plain ol' jeans I took it a bit further!

Lazy Days

Somedays you just want to dress for yourself and be comfortable. It's summer in Philadelphia, which means rising temperatures and high humidity. With that said, it can get quite uncomfortable being outside for too long, especially dressed in the wrong fabrics. Denim starts to feel like second skin, polyester can feel suffocating, and not to mention silks! I try to avoid that distressed feeling by wearing relevant summer clothing. Relaxed and light, are my summer key words! 

Silver Lining

Spring is finally here! After a long and dreadful winter season, warmer weather is welcomed with wide, open arms and ofcourse Spring fashion! This season I'm ready to shake things up by playing with shapes and proportions in my ensembles. There are many ways to change your look but for me, building shapes with my wardrobe is a bit daunting but also very inviting! A pair of culottes is the best way to start a very fashionable Spring season!

Winter Blues

This winter has been brutally cold. When it comes to the weather patterns here in Philadelphia, there is no in between you either get unseasonably warm or unseasonably frigid. The only answer to stay alive while going from point A to B is by planning your layers. Wearing a pant, top and jacket is not going to cut it because when the wind picks up, slides right under your only layer and  swells up into your pores, that's exactly when you shiver and tremble! 

Tis the Season For Layering

Old man Winter is upon us here in Philadelphia, maybe. The temps dip below freezing one day and the next it's a mild 60 degree day, with a possibility of humidity in the mix! It's been a very confusing season so far, but I'm not complaining, as long as Winter can hold back on the snow for a few more weeks! Weather can be quite a fickle thing, and because of that working on mastering your layers can be pretty helpful. You never know what the day will bring!

Grey Matter

Lately, I'm having to go from one place to another much more frequently. Good thing about Philadelphia, is that a lot of places are fairly close to each other, but when they aren't, being on your feet can get quite uncomfortable. Sneakers have been my best friends as of late, and surprisingly very versatile. 

Cool Navy

With the weather getting increasingly cooler, it's time to pull out the neutral pieces to the forefront of our wardrobes. Different shades of browns, grays and berries might be what most of our closets seem to look like, with a giant hint of black! As much as I love neutrals, especially my black pieces, I would still rather keep things somewhat bright and cheery. Obviously, I can't let go of my Summer wardrobe just yet! The best base color, next to black for me is navy. Navy is one of those colors that seems to get forgotten, but I want to make every use of it! 

Slinky Silk

Technically, there are still two weeks of the Summer season left, but it's the time of the season where the weather can be quite unpredictable. Some days are bright and humid, others are cool and breezy which makes for the perfect time to experiment with ensembles! This is the time to mix and match your summer pieces with fun Fall items to make the transition smoothly. 

Summer Prints

With summer coming to a close, the weather is getting to be cooler and cloudier. The days are much shorter and the humidity isn't nearly as burdensome! Don't let the nostalgia of summer trip you, enjoy it while you can! I'm going to enjoy it to the very end, with a ton of white separates, floral patterns and beautiful Philadelphian gardens! 

Casual Cool

As you know, I have an undying love for tee shirts in all shapes and sizes. They are literally the easiest and coolest pieces for hot days. The looser and more billowy fitting shirt always wins me over, those are the shirts that can be paired with endless amounts of pieces!