Hello, from Laura

I've settled in for the evening and I'm so excited to sit down and write to you. It's been a busy few weeks and I'm reminding myself to pause and catch a breath. Writing to you is certainly a big part of that "breathing space". Our journey together has been filled with so many teachable moments. Where I am is not isolated from where you are. The next few months, Mama will be bringing you more style goodness that celebrates Spring (can I get a hallelujah on that please), tips to simplifying your wardrobe and celebrating changes that come into our lives. We are growing together and I must say it's quite lovely. 

I truly appreciate all of your kind and supportive messages. It means so much to hear your encouragement and I love seeing your input on style ideas you want me to share ( more please). I'm hear to support you! ( Insert major squeeze right here) We create magic when we climb together. Welcome, to the land of "be yourself". I'm thrilled you've joined. 

Top: JCrew     Jeans: Levi     Shoes: Target

All photos by Karen of Karen E Photos

If You Want Happy Thoughts...Wear This

jacket: old navy    skirt: JCrew   

Yep, we've all had those mornings where you've woken up and someone has splashed a downer on your happy.  It happens to the best of us. So I grab my tea and inspect my closet to see what outfit remedy will boost my mood. For me a playful print can boost even the yuckiest mood. Your thoughts matters and what you do with those thoughts matter. So, I shut it down before it takes a hold of my "mama's got things to do, outfits to create and closets to make happy" day.  I love a bold print but it can be whatever speaks to you: Polka dots, floral, stripes, watercolor, tribal. Seriously, I want you to try this. Putting on an outfit that makes you feel great can be a game changer on your mood. This is why I love my job as a personal stylist. Style can be this tiny catalyst that allows you and all your awesomeness to be fully engaged.  So, if it makes you happy, I want you to wear it :)

Experiencing some cool light play with the creative photography of Harley Goul

Swimsuits, Coverups + Margaritas

Hello Sunshine :)

The heat is on and we know what that means. We've got to get our shit together and slip on that bathing suit because ummm it's 95 degrees out and Mama's got to cool down. I know. Bathing suits can be a pain but I have some great tips to finding the styles that says  BRING IT! I've got your back!!

Stop hating on your goodness

Yes! I want you to embrace all the yummy curves and  non-curves ( I'm built like a 12 year old boy). I  know that we all have things we "ugh" about when it comes to our body but you know what, at the end of the day ( this is so my Mama talking right now) none of that matters. Mama is right! You embrace and love what you see and it will be the best thing you can add on with your swimsuit. A whole whopping dose of C O N F I D E N C E because girl, it looks good on you. 

Embrace the goods you've got

If you've got great arms, show them off with a halter style, like this. If you love your legs choose a style with a higher side cut bikini, like this. Loving on the "girls" aka your breast, rock a demi style bikini top, like this. If you've got some extra on the backside ( I hate you and can I have some :)  seriously, your girl got very, very little.  I recommend a style that actually shows a bit more cheek. I know, you think you want full coverage but you don't. Check out this style.  By the way, Aerie has launched a real women, no editing editorial to feature their swimsuits (love that). 

Lace cover, For Love and Lemons; Bikini, JCrew

Style it up

A coverup is a great way to add a bit of style and make you feel more pulled together when rocking a swimsuit. To avoid the frump factor I look for styles that drape well and that aren't necessarily a coverup. The For Love and Lemons ( shown above) style was perfect worn as a light jacket and I knew it would be airy enough as a swimsuit coverup. I must say I love the styles at JCrew like this one, which can be worn as a tunic or with shorts. I'm also a fan of an oversized linen shirt and a short slip dress. 

Enjoy it

You're wearing a bathing suit because I'm guessing some sort of luxuriating ( it's a word) is going to happen. That means, you're heading on vacation, hanging by a pool or taking it easy in your backyard. I don't know about you but those are all awesome situations to be in.  Enjoy hanging with your peeps, stop fussing about your bikini and use the tips I've provided to help you navigate this swimwear arena. I know, I'm bossy :)

 

Tunic top, JCrew

So I promised you a Margarita and here it is!! Are you ready for the best margarita you've ever had?? It's called the beet margarita!! My friend Sam told me about it and I'm officially hooked. Let's just say it's Summer in a glass, with a extra side of happy. Insert Mariachi music or some Beyonce here ( whatever strikes your dancing fancy).

Photo credit and recipe: Casey Barber

I found a great recipe on Casey Barber's Good Food Stories blog and it is pure delight. Click  here for the details and ENJOY. 

Side note: iIf you're not in the mood to deliver your own margarita bliss, meet me at Juniper, where I've had the pleasure of enjoying said drink.  Let's cheers to the weekend y'all :)

Wear What You Love

I'm wearing a vintage high waisted gold pencil skirt with gold oxfords and it makes me happy.  It makes me want to drop it like it's hot ( aka dance) and walk with an extra skip in my step. Seriously, putting on this outfit sets my day. It says "girrrlll, it's gonna be a good one."  Wearing what you love is a blissful combination of self- expression embodied with whatever kind of sass you want to deliver. I can sense when my clients are not comfortable in an outfit, even when their words say otherwise. The body is incredibly expressive.  I pay very close attention to those movements that tells me we're out of the "comfort zone" or the uncertainty that comes with newness... "can I really wear this."  One of my goals as a personal stylist is to navigate style in a way that highlights the best path for my client in the simplest way. 

Style is ubiquitous, which fuels and inspire self-expression in so many ways.

So what does it take to wear what you love? I have to admit, when it comes to style I have a very strange six sense. My clients call me the "outfit whisperer"  :) because I  see the outfits I want on them. For myself, I learned all about what looks work on me and it doesn't hurt that I'm obsessed with fashion and style. So, this allowed me to discard any other stuff that comes along my way that I know won't work and spend that time on better things. I also listen to myself ( you know that gut feeling that says, take that BLANK off, it is not the one). I'm also blessed with  fantastic peeps who deliver honest critique with a hug :)  

Wearing what you love, with the emphasis on YOU. I had the privilege to style this fantastic Mom of 5, yes 5 kiddos :) She has amazing curves and struggled to embrace said curves and find styles that worked for her. We all have our own body struggles. What I saw when we met was her amazing waist, great legs and wonderful shoulders. My mission- liberate all that goodness so that she too can begin to appreciate them in styles that compliment all those great assets. In turn, feeling great in what she wears.

Wearing what you love is REALLY loving you in what you wear. What's not to love about that :)

Big hair and breezy wear

My hair is curly, kinky and wild. It's delicate and strong. It reminds me that there is nothing more freeing than allowing what is most natural about myself to simply BE. I stopped straightening my hair because I had enough. Ugh, it seems so cliche but the real talk is that I got to this point where I noticed that I no longer felt the need to edit who I was, which included my mane. It wasn't an overnight or lightbulb moment but this progression of experiences that made me acknowledge that  "yah, I'm ok with me AS IS". For the most part, straightening my hair was an extension of figuring out the uncertainties about myself. I didn't really know what I wanted and it took getting through my f-ups, learning, listening, challenging myself and meeting good eggs along the way, you know...LIFE. The process is a journey. 

My hubby always asked me why I straightened my hair and would beg me to leave it natural. I thought he was crazy! Although I loved his support and encouragement, no one can make you act on those moments. They can influence but you're the one that's paving your path. As a black woman, the struggle to accept what is naturally you, especially when it comes to our hair is such a difficult journey. It's not the norm. I rarely see anyone with hair like mine but I also live in Boise, Idaho. I love that I was able to fuel who I am in a state where, let's be real, there's not many people of color.  What I experienced from those around me, strangers and friends, was this fantastic celebration of my natural hair. It really stunned me. People would come up to me and tell me how much they loved my curly hair. In my head, I was saying "really, you think my natural hair is pretty....who knew." It was as if I was able to experience acceptance of "me" moreso than I ever accepted myself.  

The more I dived into learning about my curly hair and how to care for it, I saw this common thread amongst so many women of different races and backgrounds who had a familiar story to share about untaming their mane. We hear the mantra that "you're free to be you" but we don't see it. So it takes these individual movements where each of us declare who we are, naturally. That's not to say I will never straighten my hair, I will when I feel like mixing it up. However, the decision is driven by me and not some cultural/ social demand. The relief of no longer having to protest why your "imperfections" are pretty darn perfect for you. It's an exclamation that normal is diverse, unique and feeds tolerance, its soul food. 

Laura, what about your outfit girllll?!! I know I got a bit deep on y'all so here are the yummy details. I love these breezy tops but they can look a little frumpy ( no thank you frump McGee). I look for styles that either gathers at the waist like this one or has an open neckline like this style (so cuteee, right!) I paired it with these boyfriend denim shorts that are a little more fitted as not to compete with the looser fit of the top. 

Top: Rebecca Taylor, Shorts: Rag and Bone ( Fancy Pants)    Shoes: Madewell

"What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well"  Antoine de Saint-Exupery

I want to hear from you!! What's your hair story? Share, comment and click on the little heart below (it's adorable). We can tackle this journey together :)

Easy ways to rock neutrals

Wearing neutrals just makes me swoon about summer. It's light, fresh and modern. Summer will be here in about 6 weeks peeps and I'm counting :)  Wearing all neutrals is about texture and picking the right shade. I'm a fan of whites, ivory and grays. Since the weather will be slipping on its fancy 70 degrees and up temperature our way,  here are a few of my "how to" tips to rocking all neutrals and keeping your cool. 

Texture is your friend. I'm wearing these  ivory denim shorts from JCrew and paired it with this darling eyelet  top from Banana Republic. The eyelet gives this color palette some texture and makes the outfit more playful. By the way guys, this top was on super sale in the store so go snag yourself one now :) The ivory top was a bit darker than the shorts but this is why having texture is so great. The shades do not have to be an exact match, which makes pairing easy. Mama likes that!

the sun shining through :)

Accessorize to add a little something something ;) I paired this grey bag from JCrew ( so cute right) and my little coral puffball name Javi  ;)  to give the all ivory look some anchor. When it comes to styling myself and my clients, looking great should be a simple and easy process. Neutrals allows this ease because you don't have to worry about matching or coordinating since you're using the same color palette. They all play nicely with each other. 

If you want to wear all white, choose white denim and a silk-like top or knitted top with a smooth cotton bottoms. If you want an all grey look, wear light grey on top, dark on the bottom with a fun printed bag. Are you guys picking up what I'm throwing down?! Wonderful!! Now go and get your style on. MUAH!! :)

Lessons learned from Mama #MamaKnowsBest

So let me explain my Mom to you just a bit. She is 5’4” maybe, on a good day, full of energy and doesn’t mind telling me what she thinks (with or without request). She’s my favorite person and she drives me crazy. It’s the most wonderful and maddening love ever :)

Growing up, my Mom was a bit of a hard ass ( yah I said it, sorry Mom but you were). Ugh, those days where I just wanted to scream at you and slam the door because I thought you were trying to make my life a living hell. I realized, eventually, how thankful I was for those moments. I’m so happy that you demanded more from me than I did myself. 

Mama lesson learned: TRY HARDER

When I did poorly on something my Mom would ask me in her very thick Jamaican accent “How hard did you try? Did you prepare yourself so that you could produce the best result? If you tell me yes, then I know you tried.”
Yep…I just wanted to yell at her because she was right (grrr)  and my poor performance was usually the result of being ill-prepared or really not being interested whatsoever. 
So now,  I work towards trying to be better on whatever job I take on. I learn something new after every project and I ask myself, what can I do better for my clients. I’ve noticed that there is always something to improve upon. Better isn’t about perfection, to me it's about allowing meaningful progress. Experience is a good teacher. 

Mama lesson learned: BE YOUR OWN CHEERLEADER

I actually learned this from a few of my "Mamas" - amazing women whom I love and admire a great deal. I'm grateful to have each of them in my world. They've provided amazing support,  love and pushed me to see my value in so many ways. 

You know that little voice that creeps up inside your head that says "babe, you've got this" or that moment ( visualize hands on your hips, legs apart, superwoman stance, cape blowing in the wind) YES THAT! Mama wants you to  hold on to that with all your might and believe in yourself like the champion you are. Yes, I have my moments when I'm dropping f-bombs (privately) because something is not vibing the way it should ( it's life). I take a breather and then work to see how I can kick the problems booty. Having my own back, keeps me accountable for my actions and inactions. It also let's me acknowledge that things will be okay because I've got my back.

Mama lesson learned: LOVE BIG OR GO HOME

When I visit my Mom, she has a menu laid out of all my favorite meals because as she puts it "baby, they don't feed you enough food in Idaho"...such a  Mom thing right!!! That's the best kind of loving, Mom's home cooking ( insert happy dance here and here). 

What does all this home cooking chatter mean?? If you're going to love, love fully. My Mom shows me her love in the biggest and best way she knows how by taking care of what fills me body and soul. I had to learn this love big thang the hard way a few times because loves great but sometimes it hurts bad, real bad.  So why love big Laura?? Well my awesome peeps, it made me appreciate how awesome it feels when this full love came my way. Not just from my hubby but from the people who care about me in the deepest way. It filters all the other mess out. It's amazing. Having that in my world allowed me to be grateful and appreciate what love means in the realest way. Loving big for me is a all-in commitment not naivety, understanding and being your loves sound board. It's hard, easy and everything in between but so worth it. 

I always thought I would get to this point where I would have this "stuff" figured out or least most of it. Nope, not the case for me. I'm learning all along the way with more clarity as I go. Mama does know best and she's trying to share it in her own way. Some of those lessons go over a bit smoother than others, some I learned in my own way. 

To quote my wonderful stepdaughter Maddie..."Moms are pretty awesome." I couldn't agree more :)

Summer staple: denim shorts

happy place

Warm weather does something amazing to my soul!! It's the Jamaican in me. The sun on my skin and the sight of everything illuminated makes me feel charged! My trip to LA was immersed with so many great experiences, a big one was the fantastic sunshine.

 My friend Jessica of J.Lee Photos took some beautiful photos and is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to places to dine and immerse in laidback LA life. This darling spot is called The Alcove and as a foodie, I was giddy with joy. 

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This place was surrounded by flowers and rich green succulents. The simple homey vibe makes you want to hang out  for most of your morning. 

Shorts: Current Elliot      T-shirt: JCrew       Shoes: Madewell

Most of you know that I'm a strong advocate for comfort and style. These Current Elliott denim shorts are a soft denim and I got them a few years back at Fancy Pants in downtown Boise. They have some great new styles that are loved. The fit and length doesn't leave me feeling as if I need to yank them down every 5 minutes ( you know what I mean!!).  My guide to denim shorts is to choose one  with a softer denim, sits on your hip and is slightly loose, like these.  It allows for a shorter length without feeling like you have booty shorts on ;) If you want a bit longer length,  I love these.  They can be rolled up or down to your liking. You can find find similar styles at Piece Unique in downtown Boise.

This grapefruit was picked from Jessica's front yard....LOVE!!!

My Summer wear is light, simple and all about keeping my cool. What are your must have Summer staples??  It's going to be a good one!! :)

How to put your closet to work!

coat + fringe sweatshirt - JCrew, denim- Frame

My clothes are my worker bees. I was once in a place where I would stumble on an item and really couldn't remember the last time I wore it or worse yet, didn't remember purchasing it.  Those days are long gone my friends because I no longer buy what I don't love, truly love. That means, I know why I'm getting it and how I'll be wearing it when I'm in the store. It's the best moment in your potential closet happiness. Why am I getting so darn deep you may ask? It's because you're my peeps and I love ya, so listen up!! This will save you from the frustration of having styles that's not loved and are now taking up precious closet real estate. Every single piece of clothing I purchase for my clients ( yes, every) has a purpose and I know exactly how I want them to wear it. Yes, I might be on the scale of neurotic when it comes to fashion and style but that's why you love me ;) 

So let's get to the corn beef and cabbage of this conversation ( I'm married to an Irish lad and it's St Patty's day y'all...just go with it ;) When you narrow it down to having only those styles you love in your closet, it's like having a fantastic flashlight that beams on all your goodness i.e clothes (insert magical harps playing). You can really SEE what you have and that means you can REALLY use the pieces that you own. If you don't know how, you have my digits  :) So, these styles can be put to work by creating outfits in ways you've never seen before. 

Okay, so you're in the fitting room and trying on those thingamajigs you liked. You look in the mirror and nod with slight approval. You then exit to get confirmation from your girlfriend ( note: a great girlfriend tells the truth, kindly).  She says "it's cute". If these thoughts pop into your head "I like it, but what am I going to wear with it" ;  "when am I going to wear it" or it tugs, pulls, scratches, pretty much anything that causes discomfort, put it back. An item that's uncomfortable and a style that in the store you're not sure what to wear with or when you'll wear it, is one less piece blocking your view of the styles in your closet that you really love and wear. Trust me, your next shopping day will be frustration free. 

It's been pretty busy and I absolutely love the creative chaos!! It means so much having you on the adventure with me, it just feels good!

Peeps, are you ready for a fabulous and fashion filled "how to" style workshop hosted by me + some pretty awesome friends of mine??? It's in the works my wonderful friends. If you are interested  and want to be a part of this fashion filled FUN and you know it'll be fun,  email me at fashion@lauratully.co with subject Style workshop. I can hardly wait!!!!

The grown up take on sexy wear, rated PG13

I'm experiencing this voracious need to be immersed in above 70 degree temperature, donning bare legs and covered in sunshine. How are you guys holding up?? Are you ready for sweet warm sunshine??  Although Spring hasn't officially arrived,  I wanted to wear something light and simple and yes I have clothing underneath ;) I got the chance to do an amazing photo session with the fantastic Vlad Radion of Radion photography. My warmth provided courtesy of The Mode Lounge. This spot is cool, eclectic modern and get ready to be wowed by their cocktail selections. I call it grown up and classy. 

These pumps can make any day better! You can snag these here.

This outfit made me feel grown up and sexy ( insert hands in the air and me saying "girllllll" ;) Sexy to me is a combination of confidence and just a bit of skin. In my 5'10" frame, the skin being shown here y'all are legs. I'm wearing a lace tank underneath with highwaisted pinstripe shorts.  At times the descriptive of wanting to look sexy and be sexy can sometimes feel disempowering for women. I think that comes from our cultural hijack of the word sexy. I see it as a WELCOMED ownership of ones own body, mind and soul. In other words, I embrace all the good and the "ok" stuff about myself which allows me to"own" the styles that I wear and not the other way around. The best part of my job is seeing my clients feel confident in the styles I put them in. You can fake confidence but it's short lived. No fun there, right!  I prefer we operate on truly working on our "stuff" and gain that confidence. Real confidence....way more fun!

A few of my favorite pieces in the sexy arena is a silk blouse, like this and a tailored blazer, like this. There's just something about silk and the way it drapes ( not cling) that says "hello lover". Well at least that's what I hear ;) The blazer with it's tailored silhouette can hug all the right places whilst still having that cool menswear feel. Classy is sexy.

PEEPS, the feedback has been amazing and I'm feeling the love!! I hope you guys are feeling it too. INSERT BIG HUG HERE!! The fashion filled journey continues and so much goodness coming your way!!  Let's get our sexy on!!!

How to put the CHIC in Comfy wear #yesplease

So it's your day off and you have 223 errands to get done. You want to be comfy and plug away at your "to do"list. Before you reach for those leggings, can you and I just gab a little about how we can upgrade our comfy look?! I sensed an eye roll...so I'll have to get a little bossy :) You can still look pulled together and revel in comfort, seriously. One of my client is this amazing mom of 4. Her schedule requires a combination of meetings, picking up the kids, dropping them off and running errands. When I style her she can easily navigate from quick meeting with grown-ups to soccer matches. So how do we look comfy and stylish?? It's all in the little details.

These tuxedo style dress pants from JCrew are cool and a bit unexpected paired with my Vans sneakers ( my faves). The low profile of the sneakers works with the streamline look of the pants. These pants are tailored and polished without compromising the COMFY factor. I paired with a lightweight fitted turtleneck that off sets the somewhat looser fitting pant. The ladylike coat pulls it all together and makes comfy wear look chic. Other comfy "go to" looks include my boyfriend jeans paired with a dressier top and ankle boots. The key is to have an elevated piece paired with a casual style.

These gloves from Banana Republic makes winter days better :)

When you're tempted to throw on those leggings or sweatpants, I want you to know that you are softy killing your homegirl over here ;) Okay maybe I'm exaggerating just a bit, however I know and you know that looking good makes you feel good no matter the task of the day. So just think, what if I ran into George Clooney( is he still a big deal?)  today or whomever your "Clooney" in your head is ( we all have one ;). I want my peeps to look pulled together, effortlessly.

Real talk- denim

Who's ready for the SUPERBOWL?!! This cool lounge for the residents at the Owyhee Place is a pretty sweet spot.

What's your favorite pair of jeans?? You know, the one you've worn 3 times this week ( guilty)...it's so good! We all have that one, maybe two pairs (lucky you) that fits perfectly and makes you feel like a boss. Denim is my style liberator. To think there was a time when women couldn't and wouldn't wear jeans.  Half of my wardrobe is denim! We can pick and choose as we please- boyfriends, highwaisted, straight leg, skinny...a girls gotta have options. We are going to up our denim wearing game and kick the mundane look to the curb. Normally, we think of denim as casual wear but it's so much more my loves. To start, I use it as a way to anchor dressier styles and to bring a bit of the unexpected to an outfit.

My gf gave me these distressed lovelies and they have been on heavy outfit rotation ;) I paired them with this delicate teardrop lace top from Banana Republic.  I adore this top and the hunter green brings a bit of edge to the lace. You can find similar denim styles here and at FP in Boise. The trick is to mix pieces that you might not normally pair together. So those somewhat fancy and very fancy tops can and should be rocked with your favorite jeans. Okay, are we still struggling to find that golden pair of jeans?! Start with these, you can also get them at Piece Unique in Boise. They feel great on (you can breath) and the fit works on different body shapes. YASSS!! For a non-skinny jean option, I'm a fan of these. It's the boyfriend fit that makes your booty look good ;) Before you run out and start the "add to cart" situation, audit the jeans you currently own. If they don't fit, are dated or uncomfortable (you can't even breath- I know, I did it too, what the hell were we thinking?!)...say goodbye. You can donate to your local Rescue Mission or Idaho Youth Ranch.

I've reached a point where if don't love it, I don't wear it. That's a big part of my job. Every single closet I visit, my goal is to have my clients wanting to wear what's in their closet. Trust me, it's a great feeling.

One of my favorite shots from Deborah Hardee. BTW, how cool are these chairs at the Owyhee Place?!! LOVE!

2016 is showing me the LOVE and yes I'm eating it up! I must send a big, melt me to the core THANK YOU for all of your support and fantastic feedback. Next week, I'll be giving some love and getting so much more in return.

Tell me your superbowl plans! Who are you rooting for and more importantly (in my book) what cha wearing?!! The boyfriend jeans will be on full display because for some reason there's always a yummy bacon wrapped something that I can't stop eating. Keep the comments coming and click away on the little heart...it feels good :)

Trend Talk

At the Owyhee Place laughing big and wearing what I love

When it comes to trends I operate mostly on an appetizer scale. That means I'll dabble just a bit and purchase what really speaks to my sense of style through this trend. Whoa... getting a little deep about trends here Laura. Okay, I'll lighten up a bit ;)  We've all seen those styles that come out and we automatically think "ummmm that is not for me" or we love it and struggle with figuring out how to make it work for us. Let's explore the trend talk shall we and conquer how to wear....wide leg pants. DUN-DUN-DUUUUN!!! Ok, it's not that dramatic ;)

By now I think you guys know that I beat to my own drum or drum to my own beat and made the drum ;)...you get what I'm saying. I'm a big fan of keeping things at its simplest with big trends so that I can rock it in a year or two or whenever I please. I'm wearing these wide leg pants (WLP) from Banana Republic, which were on major sale, so if you're in love, get one and size down. Let me explain my love for these pants, it's a crepe fabric that drapes really well and can be worn in the SUMMA ( it's coming y'all). So, how to make it work?!! It's about proportion and fit. If you're petite, WLP should be ( I put should because my loves, you can do what cha want)  high waisted and have a somewhat tailored fit through the hip and booty region like this style.  These are also a great option, if you are not a fan of high waisted style. The cropped style is less fabric on petite frames and looks chic with heels or ankle boots. If you're curvy, a fabric that has a bit of structure to it, high waisted and has a straight fit through hip and thigh region like these are a great look. It lays well on the curves and defines the waist (free the waist). Rock with a slightly fitted top and heels to elongate the frame. WOOHOO!!

my own drum

That wasn't so scary right??? Trends are a fun way to incorporate a bit of the unexpected to your style without buying the entire cow. Just a taste and yes they come and they go. That's what makes fashion so fantastically dynamic, you can dapple a bit or a lot and make it what you want.

You MUST let me know if you venture and give these cuteness a try. Next week I'll be going back to basics with some good old denim talk and just how to wake up your denim game in the outfit arena. YIPPEE!! I'm loving all the great feedback and style topic suggestions. Continue to share, comment and keep the awesome love coming. CATCH THIS....MUAH!

How navy + black became friends

When I was moving to Boise Idaho a few of my friends (ok more than a few) thought I was crazy. It was true...I was crazy IN LOVE with then boyfriend now hubby and knew I had to be here otherwise my heart would explode (drama queen).  I've also fallen for Boise in a big way :) This city has a unique vibe all on its own. As the years go by I can feel and see the city growing with the injection of culture on so many different platforms. Fashion in Boise is certainly on its way forward and I'm thrilled to be apart of the style journey. 

One of the things that excites me with my job is showing my clients the many varied ways they can wear their clothes. This includes mixing colors and prints they normally thought MUST be kept apart.  Black and navy is that taboo combination that I think we've all had on our style radar as a DON'T at some point. Here are a few of my ways to make it a definite "DO". Let the happy dance begin! WOO!

Pastel tones like this yummo melon brushed scarf works well to soften the navy and black.

I paired these black distressed skinnyjeans with a navy metallic sweater and printed pumps. It's simple and works because I said so (haha!! just kidding). If you want to pair your navy with black, I believe that one of the color must be textured. So we could pair this black pencil skirt with a cable knit navy sweater, like this .  This navy lace top ( so darling) with black skinny or boyfriend jeans. BTW, this is a great way to make those dressy pieces more casual. If the texture matches ( cotton with cotton, wool with wool)  then it looks like we got dressed in the dark and we don't want that...righttt. Eyes wide open :)

I'm working on some cool updates and projects coming your way on the blog and on my website.  I'm dying to share it with you!!! AHHHH!! You've asked and I now have an easy peasy and pretty aqua SUBSCRIBE button in the side bar for your fashion viewing pleasure. It's the new year and I know there are things on your style agenda that you want, need and are a must! Share away!! I'm listening :)

Shine BRIGHT!

shine bright like a diamond!!

I have to admit that I'm basking in a bit of post Christmas bliss. The festivities continue and so shall the outfits!! I get so excited about putting outfits together it's a bit insane. I think of all the possibilities... HELLO OUTFITS!!  A little sparkle and shine can upgrade an outfit, lift a drab mood and jump start a NYE party outfit like a champ!! This metallic pleated skirt from JCrew fits the bill perfectly! So, what are you going to wear to your NYE bash?!!! Well let's start by injecting a little shine and a whole lot of chic glam. Granted I will be on the ski hill getting cozy with my neck warmer and other ski accouterments but you have parties and shindigs to attend.

I'm all about dancing when I attend a party, so that means I want to wear something I can drop it like it's hot in!! So as you sip away on your champagne here's a few goodies that will allow you to ring in the New Year in style, whilst getting your groove on. I saw this dress and immediately fell in love with it! All you need to add my party ready friend is a pair of metallic or silver pumps, like these , ear bling and tada!!!! I would even rock this dress with some fun ankle booties, if you're not a pump wearing kind of gal :)  I love these lace pants because they're a fancy, comfy pant ( I mean that's a whole lot of winning in my fashion book). Pair with ivory silk top, necklace bling and some killer pumps like these (aahhh...DROOLING) and you'll feel and look like #winning.

Let me digress for just a bit because I'm feeling extra lovey-dovey ;) It's important for me to include something that brings a layer of meaning and relevance to each of my styling shoots. I was really excited to have this beautiful rug be a part of the photoshoot.I wish you could see it in person!! It belongs to my homegirl Syb and she shared its cool meaning. It's their Berber wedding blanket. They are hand woven in anticipation of a wedding by the bride's female relatives. It can take many hours or even weeks of work to attach the mirrored sequins once the weaving is complete. WOW! It is thought that during this collaborative task, the bride's relatives teach her all about the birds and the bees, among other marital duties and expectations. After the wedding ceremony, the bride wears the blanket tied around her neck as a kind of cape. The process of hand-weaving is thought to endow the textile with baraka, or blessings. When complete, the wedding blanket serves not only as warmth and decoration for the bride, but also to ward off evil and to bestow fertility and good luck upon the newlyweds.

As we ring in a new year, I'm sending all sorts of wonderful blessings your way. I cannot even begin to tell you how thrilled I am to dive into 2016. A fresh start to attack my growing "get done" list and letting those that I love know how much I treasure them. So brace yourself for some Laura loving!! I had one of those life experiences this year that made me realize in a BIG WAY...how to be grateful. I won't peg it as an aha moment but I call it my UN-RUDE AWAKENING. I have amazing people in my life that made me realize that LIFE is about the NOW, meaningful progress, making a DIFFERENCE, true KINDNESS, LOVING BIG, sharing, never settling and having some badass fun. I am incredibly grateful. I'm dying to know what's on your 2016 "must do or else" agenda. SHARE!!!  Are you scared to attack it??!! I know at times it might be scary (btw... that's a good thing)  but you've got more support in yourself and from those that truly love you than you think. I'm ready, so let's do this!!

and so this is Christmas

"Laugh hard, love big and wear something fabulously YOU" LT

Do you feel it?! The laughter in the air! The happy tearing sounds of wrapping paper! ahhhhhhh!!! The gleeful squeals as you open up your presents that has the you know what inside that you've been wanting forever!! Hallelujah!!  In my mountain man case ( the Hubby), stuff and things are not high on his priority list. Therefore, I locate said stuff and things and voila... a herringbone gray tweed goodness is all mine...YAY!! He's happy, I'm thrilled....It works :")

I love the holidays. It makes me want to hug everyone even harder than I already do (it may inflict a few eye rolls but fa la la la la la la la la ). Believe it or not I'm not a huge gift person...WHAT????!!!!!! I know what you're thinking but let me explain. I grew up in a non traditional Jamaican home, where we cooked a ton and enjoyed being with each other most of the time. Everything was at a shouting level but once the protocol was explained that my family communicates on a speak loud and respond louder level, it was cool :) Stuff was secondary. So back to the gift situation. Don't get me wrong, I love the stuff/things but I know it's always there, so it's not a main focus during holiday happenings.

There's a bit of magic that I hold on to about Christmas. A few weeks ago, I got to attack my friend Sam's closet, so freaking FUN!!  In my "make it pretty mode", we found a ton of goodness, one of them being this amazing traditional Irish kilt that belonged to her mom Nancy. I loved them ALL and this was one of my faves. Nancy bought them more than 45 years ago while living in England with her husband, who was in the Air Force. SO COOL!! These kilts are beautiful and especially more meaningful because Nancy is no longer with us. I wanted Sam to know that she can rock these kilts in a modern chic way. Nancy would love it!! At times the "stuff" can seem trivial but then I get moments like this and it melts me.

This Banana Republic sweater is a cozy knit of chicness...my stepdaughter kept petting me because it's SO soft.

I'm all about a balancing act when it comes to my style. This ivory sweater added a simple texture to the traditional style of the kilt. The kilt was the main player and I wanted a soft co-star. I want you to find styles that bring meaning to you. Whether you found it on a road trip with your peeps, at a flee market, in your Moms closet or bought it with your first real cha-ching paycheck. Wear it and make it count.

I'm working on a bonus post for next week MONDAY 12-28-15 that brings the glam right to your screen and of course, I'll tell you where to get it. HELLO OUTFITS!!!! WOOHOO!!

I wish you ALL the most amazing holiday. I hope that it is filled with all sorts of good LOVE and stylish goodies. I feel incredibly blessed to have such awesome peeps in my life that love on me and I won't give it up. I'm loving you back ( insert big ass hug here). I want to know all about your holiday happenings. Was Santa good to you or does he have some explaining to do :) Share below, love on the little heart icon and lets spread some fashionable holiday cheer together!!! MUAH!!!!

I Wear White in the Winter

"When you learn to love who you are on the inside, things fall into place on the outside" LT

So excited for this week!! Why?!! Because I'll be talking about breaking some of those pesky style rules. YES!!I Why, what do you mean my poofy hair and oh so stylish friend?!! Well, we are going to throw out some of those fashion rules that we culturally abide by and also attack (gently) those personal style rules we create for ourselves. Okay, the first style rule that we will "kick to the curb" like this 90s slang phrase is no-white-after–Labor Day (bahbye). I thought this rule was on life support and was no longer viable but I had to address this several times in my personal shopping world. The great thing about white is that we can play on texture, throw in a multitude of shades, hello ivory, cream, beige, snow ( one of my faves) and it brightens the gloomiest winter day like a BOSS! OK...I hear it, but Laura I'm so pale in the winter. This is why we have SO MANY great shades to work with and your cuteness can rock yo white and not feel like Casper the friendly ghost. Beautiful porcelain skin- love on soft cream colors with texture; warmer skin shades, go after snow whites;  if you have yellow undertones in your skin, give some love to white or pure white. Here's a few of my favorite white styles below...click on the pic to add to your closet and start strutting your winter white.

Personal style rules that we will bid farewell to is I'm too curvy to wear skinnyjeans. Ummmmm....no! Yah!! I'm talking to you. Five and a half years ago, some dude said you were curvy and you panicked because you were rocking your skinnyjeans and now you've sworn off skinny jeans... FOREVER!! Stop the madness. First, dude mentioning your curves is because he likes them and said curves are fabulous. Curvy girls, you've got a great waist and I want to see it ( operation- liberate the waist! WOO!!) It's all about finding the right kind of skinnyjean that says "hey girl, I wanna marry you" (said in a seductive Barry White tone). If you are petite curvy, I'm a fan of this style and these. If you are medium built curvy,  loving on these and my tall drink of water with curves, love this style and these ( ummmm 34 inseam...yes girl!!). I find that if the denim has a higher rise, it really flatters the curves best. Thereby eliminating these offenders- The "crack kills" - the act of bending down or simply sitting, revealing all of one's backside business or the "ride em cowboy" the act of inserting your hands on the side of your denim or through denim belt loops and yanking them up...all the freaking time ( yep, we've all done that..rightttttt).

I'm wearing this loved distressed Rag and Bone white denim skirt, paired with a J.Crew military green button down and vintage fur jacket that is pure classic Luxe.

 I love pairing unexpected styles together and streamlining them in a way that injects my own personality.  I'll be bringing some effortless ways to COMBINE PRINTS and LAYERING 101. Get EXCITED!! Next week it's all about wear to work chic....say goodbye to stuffy office wear and lets have some professional fun. YAY babe!! I'm all about the feedback, so comment below, click the heart icon (don't leave him out) and SHOUT OUT topics you want to read about (hey, we're friends and I listen). Thank you for all the love and continue sharing, mama is digging it ( do people still say "digging it"?!...they should). So much coming your way, the party is only beginning!! YIPPEE!!!!