Greenify- ing My Home

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

I have always wanted a garden, but having an actual garden, outdoors sort of intimidated me of starting one from scratch. Luckily there's lots of research out there for the budding green thumb and other options such as houseplants! I have settled with creating an urban jungle in my home, happily! Plants in the privacy of  my home help me build my confidence and technique, but where do you start? Which plants will survive in my care? After thorough research, I figured out what would work in my home.

Sundress Season

Photos by Jeff Davis 

First and foremost, apologies for the lack of posts! Between stress, building a business, working 9-5 and trying to decorate my home, all I want to do is sleep!!!! As much as I love my job, I've been thinking of ways to create a passive income because I believe it's important to keep an extra layer of security and of course for various life goals. I'll talk more on that in other post, aside from that the weather lately has been quite insane. What is there to do when the weather reads between 100- 110 degrees fahrenheit?! My answer: wear comfortable clothing.

Give A Girl The Right Shirt

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

It's no secret that I'm obsessed with designer styles like Helmut Lang, Alexander Wang, The Row, Diane Von Furstenberg to name a few. Contemporary womens designers have this element of design unlike others, theres always an attention to details and quality that a "minimalista" like myself crave. I yearn for a wardrobe that expresses a timeless aesthetic and a bold mix of blacks, whites, and neutrals but i'll admit the occasional trend will sneak itself into my wardrobe! Whenever I shop for pieces to add to my closet, I try to imagine myself wearing it for years on end, this process is how I determine if it's timeless, meaning it's something I can wear 10 years from now or even 20 years from now! For me it's important to have a wardrobe that isn't full of fluff but containing quality and capsule pieces which is why Barney's is one of my favorite stores to visit. Barney's is what I like to think of as a boutique department store with contemporary and premier designers for both men and women. I am an avid online shopper and would prefer to keep it that way but Barney's offers an awesome in store experience with helpful employees to answer your needs, snacks, drinks, great lighting for selfies, large fitting rooms and of course a more intimate feel with the products that online shopping yet does not offer. I recently visited my local Barney's here in Philadelphia and went in thinking I was going to pick something out that would be neutral and left with something totally left field!

Get Your Boho Style On For Spring

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

As spring marches on towards the promises and dreams of a glorious summer it’s a good time to make sure you have a wardrobe of clothes ready to go. The season of long evenings, busy weekends and (hopefully) lots of lovely sun to bask in; providing endless opportunities to get a lighter, more whimsical bohemian style on. Thaw off your winter style to welcome the abundance of Spring's new trend!

In Sneakers, We Trust

Illustration by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Here in Philadelphia, being on the move is a regular thing and part of your daily routine. Wearing heels doesn't always feel like the smartest choice, no matter how how convenient it might be! Then there's the other option, sneakers. I love wearing sneakers.... while i'm working out, any other time just feels weird. I always have a hard time finding sneakers that I can wear leisurely after a workout. Either the sneakers are too bulky or not minimalist enough to match with my outfits. Fortunately Famous Footwear has a great selection of sneakers for minimalistas like myself to choose from!

Coloring Fall

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

I can live in just wearing neutral colors like black, navy, or even camel tones but super vibrant colors or pastels, totally not my thing. As i've expressed before on Burgundy Whispers, I'm much more interested in building a timeless/ capsule wardrobe just so that I'm not filling my closet with things that aren't completely necessary. Yes, occasional on trend item will occasionally by magic appear in my closet but then what do you do with it after the season is over? My little secret to shopping in color is by using the Pantone Color report! Most of the colors featured tend to bear on the neutral side so my minimalist dreams don't get squandered! Here's a look at how i'm shopping the 2017 Fall Pantone colors....

Wear it Well

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

For many, fashion is much more than the clothing chosen off the store racks. It’s a total passion, and mood enhancer, I recently watched an interview with Kanye West explaining why he is so passionate about designing fashion. In which West explains that he designs for the kids in mind, helping kids feel confident in clothing that suits them. To be able to carry off funky, unique fashions you have to have the right confidence and much of someone’s courage comes from their own views of themselves.

The Fall Necessities

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

With the start of a new season, means the start of a new look! During this time it feels like retailers are jumping at the seams to get you to come into their stores and take one last glance at those tie strap tank tops and seer sucker skirts at a discounted rate. But before you count them out entirely, why not consider how you can style it for the fall season? Fall and winter are predominantly known as the layering seasons, might as well start early and not feel like you can't wear your summer sales buys more than once. Put them to good use and embrace the last days of the season.

Signature Scent

Illustrated By Jacqueline Davis Moranti

For years I was taught that women should wear perfumes that had a classic aroma such as Chanel No. 5, Coco Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent Opium or other vintages. The older women in my life, especially my mother taught me that smelling like baby powder is the only way to go. While that is a good scent, I didn't feel like it was me. I've been on a journey for years to find a scent of my own, one that wasn't dictated to me. I knew what I was looking for, but for some reason nothing quite stuck with me until I got a whiff of Anine Bing's Savage Rose Perfume Oil. This was the game changer I was looking for.

Everyday Accessories

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Have you ever picked out the perfect outfit just to stand in front of the mirror, and feel completely underwhelmed? Is something missing from your costume, or do you think there’s something that could be changed or added? In most cases, it’s probably your lack of accessories that ultimately makes you look at yourself in shame. It doesn’t take much time to pick out some accessories, but it can get annoying storing several different types of rings, necklaces and earrings to pick for the right occasion. Getting dressed in the morning is already hard enough, then to add other embellishments to the outfit can feel daunting. I've sorted out ways simplify things. Accessories that you can wear with pretty much any outfit at any time of the day is key. It’ll help make dressing up in the morning a little easier, and less to worry about.

Pen Pal

C/O Dryel

As someone who deals with clothing on a constant basis, styling and selling, I run into a lot of trouble with garments. Life is unpredictable and you never know when snags or stains are going to happen. When you have a boutique or closet of clothes, you want to present the best version of the items, al the times. Thats exactly why I've built a kit of trusty tools to help me. To be the best stylist, store owner, laundress, fashionista, one must have be ready for anything and that's why Dryel is my best friend! 

The Yoga Bra

Illustrated By Jacqueline Davis Moranti

When it comes to working out, I make sure that my fitness outfits are just as fashionable as my regular outfits. You never know who you'll bump into while you're at the gym or the studio! When shopping for my athletic clothing I usually stock up on tights and bras, but with my haste in just buying what's matching this or that I don't really take into account the type of support I might need for my workouts from my bras. Have you ever gone on a long run, while wearing a sport bra meant for yoga? Or kickboxing in an unpadded bra? It's not fun or comfortable working out that way, that's why I made it my mission to learn the difference between the variety of bras out there other than how cute it would look with my outfits. 

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! 

A Gentlewoman's Guide

When it comes to getting dressed and ready for special occasions one has to approach it as a "pregame!" Everyone has their own version of a morning routine, several cups of coffee, applications of concealer and mascara, selfie stick photos and some instagram stalking, no ones judging! After all, prepping yourself for the day at hand can come quite instinctively since it's like getting ready for a battle, one that includes meetings, rush hour, work, adulting. The best prepping is done after dark, when getting ready ahead of a night out, especially for Valentines Day. Vday, whether it is spent with that special someone or with your gal pals or even by yourself deserves a special prepping treatment, for an evening like none other, an evening of freedom and not a battle! 

Shades of Grey

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Everyone knows just how essential the black jeans are, and it doesn't even matter what style. Your black jeans can be skinny fit, flare legged, high waisted, wide leg and all are still quite important to building a well rounded wardrobe. Black jeans go with everything but sometimes you want to break free from that tradition and experiment with something a bit more interesting and perhaps a little bit challenging! I'm talking about grey jeans, or the super faded black jeans. Grey jeans have that lived in flair, from the lightest shade of grey to almost charcoal. It's a neutral, just like your black pairs but it adds more interest than by creating a mostly monochrome (similar color blocking) look. Honestly once you learn what works with grey jeans and mix and match several outfits, you will get the hang of it and add it to constant rotation! 

New Year, Same Me

Good riddens 2016 and hello 2017! I say that but I know that the last year was filled with lots of great things too. Sure you have to take the bad with the good and fortunately I can say it was mostly good! I can definitely say that I've learned a lot and grown a lot this past year, 2016 was a learning curve and rather than feeling like i've been set back, I'd rather take everything i've learned to good use. Those unconfident thoughts, they eat away at us and sometimes they even need a backbone to push back. 2016 felt like the equivalent to being the last kid picked at a stupid game of ball, but we're young and cushiony so we can get back up and stand tall for what we believe in. Being one's own enemy can be the easiest thing to accomplish at times, especially in your twenties. It takes time to learn exactly how to do the opposite, but I truly believe that this year, I can. Here's to 2017 and finally getting a hang on this thing called life. And while many are making resolutions to make themselves a better person by resolving to make drastic changes in their lives. I say be you and take all of the good things that you've learnt from the past year and put it to use this year. Let's be honest, it's quite rare to complete everything in your New Year's resolution list! Next to personal and professional goals, style resolutions are very important too, at least to us fashion obsessed. And thus, i've created a list of objectives that will elevate 2017 for a chic year ahead.

The Essential Black Pants

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

I love my skirts and dresses, these pieces are the "defacto" feminine wardrobe pieces. While yes, it's quite predictable to find dresses and skirts in any woman's closet, pants are the unknown. Nowadays, most women wear pants but less than 60 years ago women were not allowed to wear pants, it was seen as great disrespect to husbands and men everywhere. Wearing pants said to the world that women could be just as independent and tough, and men were intimidated by it. Fortunately, the movement happened and now ladies everywhere enjoy wearing pants to work, to the park, to school, at home and everyplace in between. I don't know how I could survive without the use of my jeans, trousers, capris, and pants! It's just an absolute necessity to life in 2016 and beyond. What is even more needed to build the perfect wardrobe, are black pants. Even if you're not a self proclaimed pants girl, having a few essential black pant styles will ensure you'll be comfortable and stylish. Don't be so hard on the black pants, they're in everyone's closets and only need a bit of love! 

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.

Adulting

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

I absolutely love fashion! Everything about it makes my mouth drool with enthusiasm, from the confidence it gives me, to the character I feel I can portray by just wearing a garment. Drooling over the season's latest trends are all fun and games but not for your wallet! Fashion week, or better known as "fashion month" to my my wallet is when I watch for what will be hot and seen everywhere so that I can adjust my wardrobe accordingly. Daydreaming about the days I can flaunt around in my ruffle trimmed knit pants and bubble shaped dress, but as soon as I wake of from my sartorial dream I realize that my finances cant permit a spending budget to keep up with everything that comes down the runway. Over time I've developed ways to stay fashionable and on trend and today i'm sharing my tricks for snagging that "of the moment" piece on a budget because adulting happens! 

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!