13

Feb

Baby it’s cold outside…

Brrr! I rarely post my personal outfits, but I love this vintage coat so much that I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be photographed in it by Derrick Curry of Camera Play Photography. It was a fortunate find at Birmingham’s own Hanna Antiques Mall (sticker price: $60!). The mink collar and satin lining are in flawless condition, and it has its original buttons. I only had it dry cleaned; it was in perfectly wearable condition. It’s provenance? Loveman’s department store, which was a local treasure for many years.

It just makes me happy to wear it; vintage coats are made with special attention to quality and detail and have such character. Plus I hate the cold, so I do anything I can to feel cute in spite of frigid temps!

Images courtesy Camera Play Photography. All rights reserved.

 

11 years ago Short URL 1 Comment

Birmingham Live!/Haute or Not?/Love That!/Random Acts of Fashion/The Look

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09

Feb

Grammy Awards recap

 

The “fashion,” the performances (notice I didn’t use the word “artistry”) and the fact that Beyonce did NOT win Album of the Year? Shenanigans!

11 years ago Short URL Comments

Birmingham Live!/Haute or Not?/Scene and Heard

03

Feb

Scarf game proper.

Leopard is a new neutral, didn’t you get the memo? I’m wearing this one from J. Crew Factory today (alas, it’s sold out!). It’s kind of dreary so the fierce kitty print and persimmon trim are giving me a much-needed boost (and another layer of warmth!).

11 years ago Short URL Comments

Haute or Not?/how to survive cold and flu season/Love That!/Random Acts of Fashion/Shopping is My Cardio/The Look

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30

Jan

Check out these trends for 2015!

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Thank you so much to ABC 33/40 and the fabulous Ebony Hall for having me on Talk of Alabama this morning! Click HERE to view the video!

I enjoyed sharing these new products, which are great options for reaching or maintaining health goals! (And honestly, they all taste great!)

Fruttata Crisps

  • Fruttata freeze dried fruit provides everyone with a healthy and delicious snack option.
  • Each 1 oz. bag of Fruttata provides a satisfying nutrition that is equivalent to 285 grams of fresh fruit.
  • Fruttata is all natural, gluten free, with no additional sugar added (the only ingredients are fruit!).
  • Available at local Costcos and Amazon.com (prices range from $1.79 -$9.99).

VINIA

  • VINIA red grape powder is a new product and the very first of its kind. It’s a biofood – a new category of superfoods – made from real grapes, chock-full of antioxidants, and actually gives you the benefits that you’d get from drinking red wine, but has no sugars calories or alcohol. In order to consume the same amount of Resveratrol in just 1 packet of VINIA, you’d have to drink an entire bottle of red wine (or 1,000 red grapes)! Sprinkle 1 packet of VINIA into your glass of water, and save yourself from the calories, and headache you get from wine.
  • VINIA is available for purchase at www.BioHarvest.com.

Carrington Farms Flax/Hemp Paks

  • Packed in ready-to-eat, portable and convenient single serve packets with a pre-measured daily dosage
  • Flavorful combination of Organic Milled Flax Seeds and Organic Hulled Hemp Seeds
  • This product is organic-certified, Non-GMO and Gluten-Free and is rich in Omega 3’s and protein.
  • They provide energy and vitality, strengthen the immune system, support cardiovascular health and contribute to an overall healthy metabolism
  • Find them at ShopRite and online at www.CarringtonFarms.com.

Thrive by Medifast products

  • Medifast’s new program, The Healthy Living Program, is designed to help maintain your weight loss goals.
  • With this program you can choose three Thrive by Medifast products per day which includes various bars, shakes and smoothies.
  • All products are free of artificial flavors, colors, and sweeteners.
  • For more information about The Healthy Living Program and Thrive by Medifast products, visit www.medifast1.com

Coldeeze

  • NEW for this season is Cold-EEZE Cold Remedy Plus Natural Multi-Symptom Relief Cold & Flu Quick Melts! Quick Melts are clinically proven to reduce the cold by nearly half.
  • They contain elderberry, licorice and peppermint that also helps relieve Cold and Flu symptoms
  • Quick Melts wilt dissolve in your mouth and can be taken without water. They can be taken by anyone 12 and up.

11 years ago Short URL Comments

Birmingham Live!/C'est Si Bon/Haute or Not?

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12

Jan

Who wore what where: Golden Globes 2015

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Funny, I made this same expression while reviewing fashion features at last night’s Golden Globes.

I was left with the following questions:
Why white gloves, Amal?
Has anyone checked Jane Fonda’s (and for that matter, J. Lo’s) attic for a rapidly deteriorating portrait?
Why was everyone on stage sweating?

I give my gold star to Camila Alves McConaughey, in blush Monique Lhullier. An effortless breath of fresh air in the midst of so many missteps!

#thatisall

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11 years ago Short URL Comments

Haute or Not?/He Said She Said

05

Jan

How to wear: marsala

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New year, new COLOR of the year from Pantone! This year’s signature shade is “marsala,” a rich burgundy wine that you’ll see in clothing, accessories, makeup and home décor throughout 2015.  You can wear it in small doses via your nail or lip color (my go-to’s are Essie’s “Wicked” nail polish and Guerlain’s luscious Rouge G de Guerlain L’Extrait  in Orgueil) or add it to your wardrobe. I love this ensemble from H&M because has all the right elements: layers, a modest hint of skin and a monochromatic top-to-bottom palette that wins kudos for being slimming!

Burgundy lace top, $49.95; Burgundy woven camisole, $34.95; and Burgundy suit pants (featuring the return of the wide-legged trouser, for all of you who are tired of skinny pants!), $59.95, all via H&M

Images via Pantone, H&M, Essie and Sephora

11 years ago Short URL 1 Comment

C'est Si Bon/Haute or Not?/The Look

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02

Jan

Whose cousin was this at the Rose Bowl?

IMG_0516If you watched the Rose Bowl yesterday, you may have seen this young gentleman’s distinctive hair on the Oregon sideline. I know I certainly wondered who he was and what was up with his hair. Sports Illustrated solved both mysteries for me: he’s the Ducks’ ball boy Kwame Mitchell.

Read more about Mitchell and his style by clicking here.

Does this spell the return of the high top fade of the 80s and early 90s?  What goes around truly comes around, no?

Images via PAC 12 Network/Twitter and Google

11 years ago Short URL 1 Comment

Haute or Not?/The Look/Who Wore What Where

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24

Dec

You can buy anything on the Internet.

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That doesn’t mean you should. Exhibit A? This Emoji suit. 😯😒✋😩👎😕😑

11 years ago Short URL Comments

Haute or Not?/The Look/Uncategorized

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11

Dec

#TBT: Ebony Fashion Fair

Raise your hand if you ever attended and Ebony Fashion Fair extravaganza. I miss this experience…and after having spent a semester researching Ebony, I miss it all the more. It was a social occasion that called for one’s finest ensemble-including one’s fur coat-and it presented an opportunity to see haute couture up close, something rare in Mobile and Pensacola.

Ebony Fashion Fair was the brainchild of Selma-native Eunice Walker Johnson, who was educated at Talladega College. It began in 1958 as a fundraiser for a New Orleans hospital and grew to travel to over 200 cities, raising millions for charities in the process. To see some of the glamour for yourself, the Chicago History Museum has a traveling exhibit entitled “Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair.” It’s currently in Atlanta through January 4, 2015. It features pieces from Valentino, Ungaro, Pierre Cardin, Dior, Emilio Pucci and Givenchy.

You may have heard the news that Kathy Griffin will replace Joan Rivers on E!’s Fashion Police. Brad Goreski will replace George Kotsiopoulos. While I enjoy Griffin’s sense of humor, I think this was a missed opportunity to diversify the cast. The Ebony Fashion Fair made diversity visible on and off the runway, and I believe Mrs. Johnson was ahead of her time.

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11 years ago Short URL Comments

Haute or Not?

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05

Dec

What to wear to the SEC Championship…

20141201-181008.jpgCome on…you had to see this coming!

I’m in love with J. Crew Factory’s puffer vests (see HERE and HERE), and they look so cute with denim, leather and even skirts. Plus they have pockets, which are great when you have to streamline your purse to meet stadium restrictions on large handbags. (Our local J. Crew Factory store is located at the Outlet Shops of Grand River in Leeds.) A crimson lip can be your finishing touch.

I’d stay away from layering an infinity scarf over this, or wearing it over a denim jacket – the point is not to look like Marty McFly. Instead, I’d choose a chambray shirt and statement necklace. Add flat boots, a light crossbody bag like this one from Coach and your favorite gameday button and you’re done! To get more mileage out of it, try pairing it with a dressier pant, patterned sweater and heels (as J. Crew Factory styles it below).

JCF

You could also try layering an oversized cardigan, a fur vest* or even belting a long scarf over your outfit to achieve a similar effect (InStyle shows you how HERE). An added benefit as you enjoy tailgating or dress for seasonal occasions: these options all camouflage food babies!

Roll Tide and happy shopping!

Images via J. Crew Factory, Lids and Coach

*Beware the faux fur ones appearing either totally lackluster/dry or super shiny; it’s a dead giveaway that they’re fake.

 

11 years ago Short URL 3 Comments

C'est Si Bon/Haute or Not?/Shopping is My Cardio/The Look

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