All I need is lip gloss....(naturally glamorous)

Need a Personal Assistant?

2012-01-03T11:25:00.000-08:00

Staying healthy and beautiful isn't easy. With so many other things going on in your life, it's easy to get sidetracked despite the best of intentions. These are some (mostly) free ways to keep your

Learnvest: Free online account. Link your accounts to create your very own "Financial Inbox", where you can drag and drop individual transactions into folders and really visualize where your money goes each month. Along with an idiot proof budget calculator,

Evernote: Free mobile app and website access. Create notebooks for recipes, to do lists, personal research, whatever! Evernote syncs automatically across the apps so you never have to worry about saving a backup. You can insert tables and pictures with no problem.

My Fitness Pal: Free mobile app and website access. Track your exercise and calorie intake each day. You can customize your goals for low fat, sodium, cholesterol, etc.

SELF Magazine Diet Tapper: $2.99/mo. It's like having your own personal trainer! You receive 5-7 texts a day reminding you to drink water, exercise and eat healthy with links to recipes, workouts and articles on SELF.com.

Women's Health Magazine: A treasure trove of challenging workouts and healthy lifestyle articles.

Eat This Not That: Living an all natural, all organic lifestyle is commendable, but most of us fall far short. However, that doesn't mean you can't make better choices. ETNT gives you the skinny on what you should order and avoid when eating out at popular chain restaurants, from Burger King to Cheesecake Factory.

Homecoming GT

2011-09-10T15:15:00.001-07:00

Homecoming GT by brownbelle featuring slimming tops

J Crew slimming top
$90 - jcrew.com

TopShop jersey top
$36 - topshop.com

OKOK nylon hosiery
$7 - revolveclothing.com

Bloch patent leather flat
$182 - my-wardrobe.com

Stone Bridge Tartan Wool and Silk Scarf headband by Stone-Bridge.co.uk
£49 - stone-bridge.co.uk

Target:Merona® Collection Women's Ryder Woven Skirt ...
$27 - target.com

Spring has sprung!

2010-03-07T18:25:00.001-08:00

Even though the weather down here in Georgia is nothing short of schizophrenic, the lady mags have me a little bit stir crazy for spring. Normally I dread it because the pollen sets off my allergies, but I'm so sick of wearing bulky winter coats and sweaters that the nude colors, lace details and beautiful florals are making me long to throw on my favorite sundress and a cardigan. Still, I'd probably catch a cold if I decided to do that, so the next best thing is to do a little window shopping. Here's my wish list:

1. Trench Coat: This floral dress coat looks absolutely GORGEOUS, and is more sophisticated than most of the things I would wear with it! It looks to be fairly lightweight, so those of you who are bold enough could actually wear it as a dress by itself.

2. Pastel Shorts: I love this Easter egg blue. It's bright enough to be eye catching, but complements many of the colors you already have in your wardrobe.

3. Fun Flats: Heels are often works of art, but they're the one case where beauty almost always equals pain. So cute flats are always a staple in my wardrobe.

4. Tailored Shirt: A crisp button up flatters every figure, and the stripes appeal to the little girl in me.

5. Denim Jacket: They say denim is back (um...actually it never went away so how does that work? moving on), and this moto-style jacket is too cool for words.

Lastly, my gift to you is some inspiration for a springy looking outfit to get you through the icky transitional weather.

Rainy Day by BrownBelle featuring Sperry Top

Items in this set:
Gap Bow T, $15
Old Navy Womens Rain Jacket-in-a-Packet, $20
Skinny Edge Pants, $23
Sperry Top-Sider Pelican Tall Boot at Zappos.com, $68
H&M Shop Online

23 more days til my favorite season starts!

2009-08-30T10:55:00.000-07:00

I LOVE fall. It's the best season for weather and fashion--you can wear boots, sweaters, and dark hues without being hot. I love hearing the crunch of leaves under my feet as a crisp breeze tousles my hair, and flipping through thick September issue fashion magazines. But enough waxing poetic, let's talk about some fall trends I'm loving right now.

1. The Oxford. This has been around a year or so, but it's been restyled back to its menswear roots as a flat shoe instead of a heel. They're a great alternative to pumps for pantsuits, and a pretty blouse will keep the outfit from looking too masculine. Or, you can wear them with rolled up jeans, a t-shirt and a blazer for a casual cool weekend ensemble. I just bought a gray pair on sale from Bakers for $40! (I've been trying to break out of my black dress shoe rut).

Steve Madden Tuxedo, $69.90, available at Zappos.com (also in black)

2. Cardigans. I have a love affair with sweaters. They instantly make any outfit look a little more pulled together. You can go outdoorsy with a chunky wool knit, or get a slim fitted number. Pair it with your favorite t-shirt and leggings to go to class, or a white blouse, skinny jeans and pumps for a cute date look. Isn't this one gorgeous?

Applique Trim Cardigan, $32, Forever 21

3. Plaid Tunics. They're super comfortable and on trend for fall. Take a trip back to the 90s minus the grunge factor. Great with leggings, jeans and high boots.

Mossimo plaid tunic, $19.99 at Target

4. Ankle boots. I love the subtlety of these boots. Knee high and over the knee boots are very sassy and seductive, but ankle boots force you to make a statement with the rest of your outfit.

American Eagle Paige bootie, $37.99 at Payless

5. Blazers. Another trend I'm in love with because it's so versatile. Swap it out for a cardigan to add a businesslike flair to your casual outfit, or pair it with your favorite summer sundress and ankle boots to transition it into fall wearability.
Cotton twill one-button blazer, $39.50 at Old Navy

Ballin' on a budget

2008-12-10T08:55:00.000-08:00

I'm a college student, and even though I work part-time on campus, money isn't overly abundant. Everybody's been hit by the economy's slump, so it's important to make every dollar count. So here are my tips on living the good life without going broke!

1. Wait until it goes on sale. True, items do sell out. But unless you frequent boutiques, trust me that the inventory will be there! Waiting three weeks can save you up to 30%. Stores almost always have a sale every month.

2. Shop online. Sites like www.retailmenot.com give you special offer codes for free shipping, buy one get one free, etc. And some websites, like Marc Ecko's, frequently have online only specials (Pssst, TODAY until midnight, everything is 50% off! Check it out!)

3. Shop out of season. Winter is the best time to buy summer clothes. Department stores usually overstock, and after Christmas you can buy shorts and tank tops for $5 a pop. The same is true for buying winter clothes in the summertime.

4. Get on the mailing list. If there are one or two stores you are absolutely devoted to, then sign up to get the emails. You'll get special offers for things like Friends & Family day, where you get the same discount as the employees.

5. If you find something that looks awesome on you, buy two. Nothing says style like clothes that fit you perfectly! This is ESPECIALLY true for jeans, pants and crisp white blouses. A white blouse adds instant polish to any outfit--but white stains easily, so it's even better to have an extra on hand.

6. Don't be a label whore. Payless has vastly improved their products over the years. There's one particular pair of knee-high black boots that I always get compliments on...and nobody knows they only cost $30! Target (and yes, Wal-Mart too) is a great place for basics. Their Mossimo and Isaac Mizrahi lines have some very cute stuff. They also have the Go International initiative, where they sell a discounted collection from a different designer every month.

YOU: the brand

2008-12-10T08:10:00.000-08:00

Today we're going to talk about personal style. Finding out a signature style that works for you is important for two reasons:
a) People do judge a book by its cover, and you want to make sure your clothes are projecting the image of you that you want to project;
b) Once you figure it out, shopping becomes much simpler because you know exactly what to look for. Also, more varied outfit combinations are possible because everything in your closet goes together.

I found a really good style test online, which lists the four components of style analogous to the Myers-Briggs personality types--Flamboyant/Tasteful, Conventional/Original, Random/Deliberate and Prissy/Sexy. According to this test I am an Office Master (Tasteful Conventional Deliberate Prissy), a serious dresser who is appropriately attired for every occasion and prefers a classic, non-flashy look. They were right on the money! I used to say my style was preppy, but that never quite captured it. I'm not a slave to Sperry's, madras print shorts and Ralph Lauren polos. But I don't do too many trends and like clothes that I know will look good a few years from now.

So how do you determine what your personal style is? Ask yourself a few questions.
1. Which is more important to you, comfort or being fashionable?
2. What colors look best on you? What colors do you wear the most?
3. What do you want your clothes to say about you--that you're sophisticated? Creative? Natural? Sexy? Feminine? Athletic? etc, etc.
4. What are your favorite stores to shop at? What type of person do you think is their target shopper?
Looking through magazines and marking pages with outfits/clothes you like will also give you an idea of what you think looks good and what you consider to be stylish. If all else fails, be a copycat! The next time you see someone you know in a killer outfit, ask them where they got it or if they'll give you tips. Taking a fashionista friend shopping with you is a good way to get a fresh perspective on your style. You'll end up trying on some things you never would have touched before, and find a few you actually like!

Well, that's my two cents on the subject. These are just a couple of ideas to get you started. Ta-ta for now!

Jeans for the REAL woman

2008-12-09T10:28:00.000-08:00

So one of the problems I ran into this year was a need for new pants, especially jeans. Dress slacks often have spandex, which makes finding the perfect fit much easier. I managed to avoid the Freshman 15 but it caught up with me sophomore year, and my newly curvacious hips makes it impossible to fit into those junior's size 13's I've had since high school, lol! So I rounded up some great options for thicker women such as myself. And when buying clothes, it's not the size but the fit that matters...squeezing yourself into an 8 and getting a muffin top is not the way to go. My favorite picks are below.

American Eagle Real Flare Jeans, $29.50

Available in short-extra long inseams and up to size 18. I found a pair of these at Filene's Basement near Lenox for half price. AE stores don't usually stock past size 14, but you can order them online.

Old Navy Diva fit skinny jeans, $29.50

Available in short-long inseams, up to size 20. These are low rise with plenty of stretch. I don't advise skinny jeans if your thighs are very large in comparison to your hips, like mine are, because this fit will just make your legs look stockier. The Sweetheart (regular rise, straight thru hip & thigh) and Flirt (mid-rise, relaxed thru hip & thigh) styles will work better for you since they come in bootcut, flare and straight leg openings. But the ON Diva is definitely your best bet for a curvy girl's skinny jean.

New York & Co. Battery Park wide leg trousers, $24.95

Available in average, petite and tall inseams thru size 18. These are your dressy jeans. They're perfect for a date, clubbing, and even casual Friday at the office for all you working girls!

Express Eva fit bootcut jeans, $49.50

Available in short-long inseams, up to size 12. Now these are a little bit pricey but they look GREAT. They are a regular rise, curvy fit jean. Another pair that works well for dressier looks. (Sorry about the small picture, I'll get a better one up soon if possible.)

Allow me to introduce myself...

2008-12-09T10:23:00.000-08:00

I'm a black female college student in Atlanta, Georgia, just to give you some background. I love clothes and fashion, but when I flip through magazines I often think that a) the trends are impractical; b) where can I find an affordable version of this outfit?; and c) nobody in real life dresses like that!

I take public transportation and do a lot of walking around outside, so stilettos are just not sensible everyday shoes. Especially when you're dealing with the natural elements. So I started this blog to help out like-minded young women. I'm a low-key diva--looking good is a must, but I like to be comfortable too! Don't you? Happy reading and I hope you enjoy the blog...