Over the next couple of months, I will be a style contributor with Ebay.com sharing some of my favorite trends and style must-haves. Here's my first article about my top five maternity style wardrobe staples, click here. I can promise you that flats and maternity jeans have made the list. See the rest of the article for more.
Photo by Kym Ventola.
Even stylists get stuck in a fashion rut. To prove that to you, Reachel Bagley, Becki Crosby, Summer Bellessa and I got together to style each other. We are all stylists and fashion experts, and we are just like every other woman - we like to wear the same thing time and time again because we know it looks great on us.
I had the chance to style Reachel Bagley of The Cardigan Empire. Her struggle was wearing the same shape over and over again - a pencil skirt and top with a cardigan or jacket. Check out what I did to get her out of her box.
My style rut is gravitating to all black these days. It's an easy color that is chic, makes me feel slimmer and my shoes match. To get me out of this pattern, Becki Crosby of Whippy Cake, a fellow fashion stylist and brand stylist, gave me a new direction. Check out the video below.
What do you think of my new look? To get it check out the links below.
Ever since I finished Elle's nursery in 2012 I've always wanted to wallpaper her bookshelf and make it more dynamic. But with the busyness of becoming a new mom, making over her bookshelf quickly became one of my last priorities.
Along came Chasing Paper....They have changed the way wallpapering is done. With a simple measure, peel and stick - you can transform your walls, your tables and even your bookshelves. I chose a pastel illustrated book pattern by artist, Samarra Khaja. It matched the decor of Elle's room without being overly matchy. I also loved how the imagery filled in a lot of the white space that was bothering me so much.
I simply removed all of the shelves from the bookshelf, measured, peeled and stuck the paper to the back of the bookcase. In hindsight, I should have removed the flimsy cardboard backing of the bookshelf and pasted the wallpaper the cardboard while it was lying down on a hard surface. The really tricky part of hanging the wallpaper was the give of the cardboard, which made it difficult to hang the paper straight. It took me several times, but the great thing is that you can re-stick this wallpaper a lot and the adhesive doesn't ever seem to wear off.
Four sheets of paper later, and voila! We have a transformed, colorful bookcase.
Try it for yourself. I was able to do this project in under two hours.
I'm pregnant you guys! I am so thankful that Elle will get to be a big sister this September. Being an only child, I always have wanted to know what it would be like to have siblings. I won't ever know that, but I will know what it's like to be a parent to siblings. YAY! I'm a mom of two!
With this fun announcement I thought I would share about how I dress during the first trimester because I think it's the hardest one to find clothes for. You don't feel well from the all-day sickness and you just look like you have a food baby. Anyone else been there? Here are two different approaches to getting dressed:
1. Flaunt it. If you have a bitty bump and you want the world to know, wear tighter fitting clothes. This vintage inspired dress from Frances Vintage is a great example. It clings to my body and accentuates my bump. I love dresses because you only have one piece of clothing to worry about and they make you feel so pretty.
2. Hide it. If you don't want people doing a double-take or the thought of people thinking you've really started to pack on the pounds bothers you, opt for hiding your bump until the second trimester. A-line maxi dresses work really well for this such as this festival dress from Lulu*s. I paired a leather jacket that stops right at my waist, which further disguised any change in my figure. Can you tell?
All in all pregnancy during the first trimester is really hard because you're very tired, and if you're like me you feel super sick. I promise that wearing clothes you feel good in helps you feel a tad bit better. I will be sharing my bump style throughout my pregnancy, but I'll also be sure to share with you non-maternity clothing for the majority of those that aren't in this life stage. Have no fear!
Living in a world with Instagram, Facebook profile pictures and selfie sticks, learning how to take a great photo has become a must or else you will find yourself untagging yourself in photos a lot. Let's be real though...If you're reading this post there's a .01% chance you're a model, so the likelihood of you knowing how to take a great photo other than smiling is slim. I'm here to help! As a fashion stylist I have stood behind the lens watching models, and I've learned some tips along the way. This has come in handy too as I've started to do a lot more style posts of my own. Here are my five biggest tips when standing in front of the camera:
1. Never stand still for longer than a second. Constantly moving your body is what keeps you from looking like a statue. Even if it's simply tilting your head left to right slightly or shifting your weight from one leg to another, always moving keeps you looking fresh and authentic.
2. Say "happy" instead of "cheese." I have a tendency to over smile and show too much of my teeth in photos. It can give the idea that I'm being fake with my emotion. Saying "happy" allows you to smile with more control and also separates your top and bottom teeth.
3. Lean slightly forward. This helps your body look more relaxed and even disguise your mid-section a bit. If that's your problem area then you'll find this very helpful. Sometimes when we stand up very tall and straight we can, again, look like a frozen statue. The whole goal is to look natural.
4. Do something with your hands. Whether it's putting your arm around someone, tucking your hair slightly behind your ears, or grasping a coffee cup; giving your hands something to do prevents them from looking awkward as if you have two claws or always putting one hand on your hip like you're at prom.
5. Think happy thoughts. You've heard the phrase "smize" from Tyra Banks, but more than smiling with your eyes think thoughts that make you express true joy and happiness. It will shine through your eyes, as well as your entire body.
Inspiration and ideas by stylist Alexandra on fashion, jewelry, beauty, lifestyle, home décor and more…
