White teddy coat + White knit dress + Styling trends

The teddy bear coat has been trending for a while now and I have had this off white teddy coat in my closet in ages along with this off white sweater dress that I have styled on this blog so many times, first time in this blog post. And just an aside; it is very important for us to take care of whatever belongs to us, but not in a selfish way though. Let go of things you need to let go off and take care of the things you need to keep. I took care of this beautiful knit dress I purchased from Victorias' Secret over ten years ago and that is why I still have it in my closet today.

Pink Trench Coat + Plaid Pants

I have had this pink trench coat for years now and since it is light weight, I wear it mostly in the spring and fall. However, it does come in handy in the winter time too whenever I need to add a pop of color to my grey and dark colored winter wardrobe. I wore the coat recently with very good layering underneath; a black cowl neck sweater and over sized, high waist plaid pants with pink and grey colors. The pants are really extra long on me and I'm thinking of doing some DIY on the hem. I might cut off an inch or two from the hem and convert it to a belt for the waist of the pants. I'll let you know how it goes. I really plan on doing a lot of DIYs on the blog this year. I believe it is time to start expressing more of my creative side than just consuming everything. Instead of buy, buy, buy...how about I say, make, make, make....hehehe! 😁 I purchased my trench coat which is somewhat like a mackintosh from a thrift/consignment store in my neighborhood called Arc's Value Village years ago. You have heard me talk about the thrift store a lot lately on the blog and this is because I intend to live life in a more eco friendly way going forward. I made a trip to the store recently and would do a post on the items I got in my next upcoming post.

Eight ways I have styled my red wide leg Pants

My red wide leg pants is definitely one of my closet staples. I have had this pair for years; purchased years ago from the Victorias Secret Body by Victoria Collection. The pants was a splurge at the time but it has proven its worth over time; its quality and fit is impeccable. It proves that though affordable fashion is ideal, we have to ensure too that we are buying quality pieces no matter how cheap, affordable or expensive an item is. The overall quality is what should determine where we put our money. Some items can be expensive but the quality might not be great like some designer items; in some cases, consumers are just paying for the designer label rather than the quality of the item itself. And in other cases, some fashion items are cheap or very affordable and their quality is good and matches the price; meaning you actually get what you paid for.


"One of my goals this year is to make sure I invest in quality; this means quality time spent in doing things of great meaning or good cause, quality relationship with family and friends, quality time spent in devotion, meditation and things and activities that promote the overall quality of life."

Plaid Blazer + Patch work Denim

Sometimes I wonder what age ladies can stop wearing distressed denim or tight/skinny jeans. I'm in my forties and this pops up in my head sometimes. Well, I think of it whenever I put on this denim which I have had for years, purchased from Loft. In my opinion, I think it actually depends on how the jeans/denim is styled and the occasion or event that you are attending I love to style my denim with a blazer most times especially in the cold weather seasons. The plaid blazer is my favorite to pair with denim. It was cold when I styled this outfit and if you are in need of a casual outfit to wear on a cold day, consider this combination. If you have a date planned with your hubby or your friends, this outfit would work. if you are not into high heels, you can swap out the booties for low heel knee boots. I know there is so much excitement and hype going on right now about Valentine's day but it is not a holiday I celebrate and this is why I have not done any blog post relating to it. I believe in the celebration of love every minute, every day and every little gesture counts when we express love to people we care about every day; a thank-you note, a call, spending time together and going on special dates to celebrate special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries...everyone got to do this on the daily.

Wearing Prints in the Snow: African Style- Blue Ankara maxi Dress

It has been snowing a whole lot in the twin cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul) lately and we have had lots of school cancelations. It was so cold last week that the kids went to school for just one day the whole week. I felt bad about the bad weather but I am grateful that we had good quality family time from lounging by the fire place and watching TV, just listening to music and playing the piano. I also took the kids to the library to get books which they read while they were home. My highlight of the extremely cold week was snuggling in blankets which is the best thing to do on a cold snowy day and this is the reason I decided to wear this long maxi print dress to Church last Sunday. It was so cold and snowy that I actually felt  like wrapping myself in blankets 😂 Then, I made up my mind last minute to wear this blue print dress which I custom-designed a couple of years ago. The dress is made from African wax print fabric which is popularly called "Ankara." Ankara fabrics are colorful yards of material usually with very bold prints worn by Africans or people of African descent. You can get ready made Ankara dresses, skirts or pants to buy from Etsy. If you want to design your own outfit, you can also buy Ankara fabric in yards and you can design your own sketch and make the outfit yourself if you know how to sew otherwise,  you can  send it to a seamstress to have it made for you.

How to style grey color Outfits for cold weather

Grey color outfits make up a big part of my style during the cold weather months because to be honest with you, it is really hard to burst out in colors when the skies are grey and there is a carpet of snow on the ground for days on end. And when I say grey color outfits, I mean full on grey color  outfits where 70% of the outfit is grey. I am not talking about occasion where you just throw on a grey blazer over a colored outfit or putting on a grey colored pant and throwing on a colorful top. As we all know, grey color outfits can be very formal and not necessary suited for everyday wear unless you just want to throw on a grey top and jeans for casual wear and then there is the risk of the outfit being too casual if you plan on going to a serious event like Church and Work. There is actually nothing wrong with wearing a plain outfit; it really depends on how your clothes make you feel.


And I'll give you my Christian perspective since this is a Christian Fashion Blog. One of the commands Jesus Christ gave to us is to "go into the world and preach the good news." (Mark 16:15) And to be out in the world preaching, you are going to meet with strangers and approach people in different places at all times. You want to look your best at all times to be able to connect with people whether on line or in real life.


This does not mean you have to wear expensive clothing or designer clothes, you just have to look clean, presentable and dressed for the right occasion. Do not wear jeans and tee shirts to an event that calls for formal attire. Also, If not styled right, grey color outfits can also veer into the realm of uniform. In this post, I am going to share some tips that I consider whenever I want to make my grey outfits interesting and chic and suitable for work and play especially in the cold weather season.

Six trendy items to add to your Closet this Winter

Winter is gradually coming to an end or so we hope. Here in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul) where I live, winter can stretch way into spring and with the amount of snow we are having right now plus the amount of sub temps days, this might end up being one of our worst winters yet. Nonetheless, it's not too early to start prepping for spring. The first step in doing this is to do a closet overhaul and donating or throwing out items that are no longer needed or useful, then buying those closet essentials that are trendy and affordable to help us stay stylish all through the year. Below are the items I wish to add to my closet this winter and some of the items are great too to give out as gifts to girlfriends, sisters, daughters or Moms. Let's not forget Mothers' day is coming up too.



Snake Print pleated Skirt: 

This is a print that is a big trend this season and when you combine it with pleats, nothing can be so edgy or stylish for any fashionista lady. The snake print skirt can be dressed up or down for work and for play and if you need some style inspiration on how to style it for Church or other formal events like weddings, Christenings, check out this post here. The featured skirt in my wish list is from H.M


Colorful Pump:

A good pair of colorful pump in a color of your choice is great for sprucing up your spring and summer wardrobe. If you are one who loves to wear neutral shoes all the time, this might be the time to do something different and by infusing some color into your wardrobe. A colorful pair of shoes elevates an outfit and your style. Check out the featured purple pumps here.

Dressing up in style in sub zero temps

We are all aware of the deep freeze sweeping across the United States this week unless you are lounging on a beach somewhere enjoying the sun which probably would be the best thing to do. So, if you can afford it, you can book a flight for yourself to someplace warm until the weekend if you are single and if you have a family and can afford it, you definitely need to take the family to some place very warm where you can have some adventure and enjoy the sun for the next few days. If you are staying home where the cold and chill is present, you definitely need to stay warm and being indoors is the best way to deal with this cold. If you have to go out, consider pilling on layers and layers of clothing but make sure your final outfit or layer is stylish and on trend. This outfit collage below shows some inspiration on what you need to stay stylish in sub zero temps.

The set features a black long sleeve turtle neck sweater sometimes called a high neck or roll neck sweater or jumper with little variation in the style. To create a very stylish look, tuck in the sweater into a good quality pair of denim which should be layered too with some great winter under garments if you plan on spending some time outdoors. Throw on a black and white striped cardigan, long puffer coat, a colorful printed scarf, colored gloves and a colorful bag are needed to elevate this look. And last but not the least, grab a hat that suits your style on your way out and do not forget the snow boots. Happy styling...💛

Leopard Print Cardigan: A twist in the trend

The leopard prints trend seem to be going strong even in the winter months and the pieces are just getting more stylish and fun; leopard prints pleated skirts like in this Post here and here and leopard prints pants and culottes. I love leopard prints cardigan or sweater because they are unique and add interest to the winter wardrobe. A cardigan/sweater is a versatile piece on its own that can be styled for work and or play and when it is in a stylish animal print, it elevates an outfit. For styling inspiration for work, pair a colorful leopard print cardigan in a dark shade with trousers and ankle pants and for play, pair it with a pair of blue or dark colored denim. Just don't forget to keep the accessories neutral.

How I styled my Cow Boy Boots

Happy Friday friends 😁 I hope you are happy and thankful everyday for every little blessing. I'm happy and thankful to God for everything in my life right now including this blog. As I have said so many times in the previous posts; it's very cold and cloudy in my city with occasional peaks of sun and it's been difficult getting outfit photos to update the blog this season. So, I will be doing more collage posts and shoe posts to keep the blog running. I hope the weather is nice wherever you are. In this post, I'm wearing my all time favorite bright yellow cropped coat that I have had for years along with a white pair of denim and black embroidered cow boy boots. The boots are a recent purchase from thrift shopping and I paid about $8.99 for them.

Snake Print pencil skirt

It may still be the heart of the winter season but it is not too early to start planning our Spring and summer outfit. I saw this snake print pencil skirt recently and fell in love with it. It's so beautiful and sleek and this made me to think of all the many ways a snake print skirt can be styled. For work, I'll pair it pair it with a crisp white top and accessorize it with neutral accessories so the skirt can be a statement piece. A green pair of earrings and statement heels and bag would complete the look; a very simple and chic outfit.

How I scored my best sequin top at Arc's Value Village Thrift Store

I scored the above floral sequin blouse recently from Arc's Value Village and it really got me excited because I had been on the hunt for a floral or printed sequin piece for years. I only wish I had gotten this sooner, right before the holidays but that's okay because I'm still in a new year celebratory mood and I'm planning on wearing my sequin pieces this month to Church and other events before I finally give them a break at the end of the month until next holiday season. I have a couple of sequin dresses and skirts in my closet that I have been restyling for years like this dress here and here  and here and this skirt here and this recently purchased blue sequin skirt that I plain to wear to Church next Sunday and I knew it was time to get something new. The opportunity came when  I was contacted by a PR from Arc's Value Village  recently to do a collaboration on the blog.



 Arc's Value Village is a thrift store and donation center which has four big locations in my city. I do go there to shop for unique pieces from time to time and I have mentioned the store a couple of times previously on this blog as you can see from this post here and here and here. My invitation to do a collaboration with the store is part of its ongoing social media campaign to bring more awareness to the store and the great cause the organization is involved in in helping people with developmental disabilities. I scored this beautiful floral sequin blouse and a couple of sunglasses with the coupon that I was provided with to shop in the store and as always, shopping at Arc's clean, organized and well laid out store, was a fun experience. There is new merchandise that comes into the store every week from businesses, stores and personal donations and the items are always in great condition. If you enjoy thrifting just for fun or to score great bargains, you can check out Arc's online store on ebay. Enjoy the weekend.

Sequin Dress + Tulle Skirt

It's thankful Thursday or Throwback Thursday and I am sharing my outfit that I wore to Church last Sunday. This is the third outfit I planned for New Year and it's plain and simple just like my other outfits; a long sleeve sequin dress worn as top and a tulle circle skirt, a recent purchase. I was excited about the tulle skirt though because it's my first real tulle skirt outfit. The closest piece I had to a tulle skirt before now is this dress here and another here. I decided to go ahead and order a real tulle skirt and I got this off of Amazon here. The sequin dress was gifted to me by hubs for my birthday years ago and I have worn it every holiday season since. The sequin dress is from Express and I previously styled it here and here.  I have also layered it with skirts like I did in this post here and here.

My Wish List from Eshakti Sale

One of my goals this year is to update my wardrobe with more classy pieces and what is more classy than a well made, beautiful dress to wear to grown-up events like mile stone birthdays, wedding anniversaries...which I seem to be getting invites to a lot more these days; haha! 😆 This is why I made a little change in my shopping budget when I got notification about the ongoing Eshakti sale and if you are a new customer to the site, you get 40% off your first purchase when you register on the site. The selections below are some of my favorites.

                                                         

Spring Fashion Trend: Tie-Dye Style

Blazer // Shorts // Pumps // Bag

The calendar says winter and it is still freezing out there  but it's definitely not too early to talk about Spring fashion. One of the trends I'm really excited for in the coming season is the tie-dye style which is again, recycled fashion from the eighties. In my fashion mood board above, I have put together  a simple way that shows how this trend can be styled in a classy way. The green tie-dye shorts is the statement piece in the collage and when you pair it with other neutrals like the white blazer, grey color earrings and pumps, there is need to add a pop of color which is achieved by the mustard color bag. This outfit is young and fun and can pretty much go anywhere. If you want to check out other affordable tie-dye pieces, check out the shopping links below.

Cold weather style: Burgundy Coat + Faux fur Stole

Happy Monday everyone  😃 It's been very cold and cloudy in my city but we are starting to warm up a little too. In the past days (since after the new year) I have been in long coats and boots. The burgundy coat I am wearing here is one of my favorites that I have had for several years now and these pics were taken the Sunday I wore this outfit to Church. The weather was super cold but I made up my mind to dress up in beautiful colors reminiscent of the season and my burgundy long coat which I thrifted from the consignment store years ago elevated the simple look I had on. The addition of a faux fur stole also added to the warmth and style of the coat and you can find the links to similar pieces in the shopping info below.

Two accessories I need to style a New Year's Eve Outfit

Yes, the year is finally coming to an end and I'm so thankful to God for his protection over me and my family and friends and also thankful for you for your continued support on here. Thanks so much for reading and I pray to God to bless you richly in the new year and onwards. I have been styling most of my holiday looks this season around accessories; check out these Posts here and here and here and last year's posts here and here.  I did the same styling with this look using old accessories and pieces from my closet. I am wearing a black color short sleeve turtle neck or high neck top from Boohoo that I have been talking about in my blog posts for the last couple of weeks. At $6.40 a piece, the top is very beautiful, of great quality and versatile for styling other closet essentials. Get them in different colors before they sell out. You definitely need them this winter and in the spring.

Let it Snow: The Reason for the Season

A very Merry Christmas to you and thanks for stopping by here on Christmas eve 😀 Christmas in the air. This is my favorite holiday of the year and I am sure it is yours too. I scheduled this post on the blog ahead of time just in case any one drops by. I have been busy behind the scenes the past few days shopping for gifts for family members and friends and planning holiday activities. My little baby boy  turns five tomorrow and I am so excited. He is the best Christmas gift ever. I was born on October 31st and growing up, I always felt uneasy sharing my birthday information because I felt it was weird because of the Halloween holiday. And of course, I used to get compliments and winks whenever I shared the info. but I do not celebrate Halloween.  And whenever I planned activities or a party for my birthday, it used to feel awkward especially when I celebrated my party the actual day as opposed to celebrating a few days later.


When God blessed me with a Christmas baby, I was ecstatic because of all the  joy and happiness associated with the Christmas holiday. There is no mixed feelings, no tricks, no ghosts or ill will associated with Christmas. The holiday is all about Love and giving and sharing and most of all, it is all about Christ; Jesus Christ, the reason for the season. God sent his holy son to man in the flesh to redeem us from our sins by dying on the cross and resurrecting on the third day to heaven in order that we might all gain the gift of salvation and eternity when we believe in him and in God the Father who sent him and who created us all. 🙏 Do you believe in Christ Jesus? If you do, you are blessed. And if you don't, stay on here a while for future posts, let's chat and talk about this precious gift of salvation.

The shoes you need to style your holiday Outfit

Still trying to get the right accessories to make your holiday outfit pop? Look no further because glitter pumps or sandals is what you need to elevate any outfit and add that sparkle to your holiday look. Above is a selection of affordable glitter heels that you can pair with almost any outfit. There is so much spending this holiday season but caution needs to be exercised as we decide on what we want versus what we need. You might want that very sparkly sequin or gold dress to wear to a holiday party whether it is Christmas or New year eve party but if the dress is way too expensive and would  cut deep into your budget, you might want to opt for a pair of glitter heels instead that cost way less. Just look for an inexpensive LBD (little black dress) and dress it up with a pair of beautiful glitter heels and some sparkly earring and a simple clutch and you are good to go. You'll save money and still look stylish at the same time. Happy viewing and happy styling.

                 

How to style a leopard prints skirt for a holiday Party

The first thing that came to my mind when I saw this No. 21 pleated leopard prints skirt online was Christmas party. The beige color of the skirt with the red color contrast hem is so edgy and festive. I paired the skirt with a beige color or oatmeal color sweater with waist ties and black floral brooch. The red color beret complements the skirt nicely and the red color Staud bucket bag and black open toe Gianvito Rossi ankle boots elevates the edginess of the outfit. To recreate this look with budget friendly pieces, check out the links below.