What Would Beyoncé Do?

Romper: Keepsake the Label | Cardigan: No Carnations Vintage |Shoes: Steve Madden | Sunglasses: Warby Parker | Earrings: 5th Avenue Antiques | Lippie: Drea Michelle

I’ve had this outfit for almost two years. And when Becca Bell of 2 B Photography LLC and I partnered for this photo shoot, I knew its time had come. I love rompers, and as this one shows so much leg that I added a vintage beaded cardigan from No Carnations Vintage for more coverage up top to achieve a bit of balance. (I tried, Mom.) I love the monochromatic look and the pop of color Tuckernuck’s acrylic lemon clutch adds.

The inspiration for this outfit is the “vintage” tableau from Formation, where Beyoncé twirls a parasol among a clan of women clad in white lace dresses. That song and album get played at least once a week in my home, and that visual of old world refinery is one I wanted to recreate. But I also like to add a touch of the unexpected, so it’s a romper rather than a gown. Who says women over 30 can’t wear them? What would Beyonce do? She’d rock it.

Here’s a secret: I usually take my own photos. But it’s a TON of work. So it was a blast to relax and let a photographer with an “eye” for detail take the lead. I’m learning that I don’t have to do everything myself, that it is OK to release my Type A tendencies and accept someone else’s expertise…and that is a relief! Expect more collaborations from Becca and me in the future, and be sure to check her out online and on Instagram. (Or call her to schedule your own photo shoot!)

Xo,

Alexis

All photographs courtesy of 2B Photography LLC.

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Made in the Shade

T-shirt, skirt, sunglasses and bracelets: J.Crew | Clutch: Clare Vivier

Shoes: Steve Madden

Rarely do I buy an outfit exactly as it is displayed on a mannequin or in a catalog, but when I saw this look at J. Crew a while back, it was “me” from top to bottom. I love to mix casual and super dressy pieces, and I also love neutrals. Need I also mention I’ve been collecting cheeky graphic tees since middle school?

Throw a pair of hoops, a bit of fierce animal print and some “barely there” heels (which I’m obsessed with!) in the mix and this is textbook Alexis.

If I’m being honest: my outfits are my way of expressing my feelings. My clothes are my armor. And if I look good, I tend to feel better. I stand taller. It’s that little boost that gives me the motivation to attack the day with my head high. This post is for all the other up and comers fighting battles daily for equal pay, for better opportunities and for the love and light they deserve.

Xo, Alexis

Calling all DIY divas!

 

Whether we’re at the pool, lake, beach or just in the backyard, we all know we should protect our faces and bodies from the sun. One way to do that is to don a sun hat. They are everywhere right now, from discount to department stores. I went shopping and fell in love with a designer one that retails for $485. This hat, by Eugenia Kim, has been seen on Beyonce and is featured in  the June issues of InStyle and O Magazines. It’s absolutely adorable, but it’s NOT in my summer style budget. So one way to get “the look for less” is to harness your creativity and recreate it using less expensive, but easily accessible items.

Ready to try it?

  1. You’ll need a straw hat with a wide brim (app. $15), sequined trim ($3 per roll), a hot glue gun and glue sticks, and chalk or a disappearing ink pen (available at your local craft store for under $5). You can often find coupons in circulars or online that reduce the price even further.
  2. Place your hat on a flat surface and decide what phrase you want to embellish on the brim. While you are tracing it onto your hat with your chalk or disappearing ink, plug your hot glue gun in to let it heat up. (Pro tip: dip the metal tip of the glue gun in petroleum jelly so the heated glue won’t get stringy!)
  3. Add glue to your handwritten outline an inch at a time and working carefully,  press your sequin trim down onto the brim, adjusting it as necessary.
  4. Once you’re done, wipe away any traces of the ink or chalk with a damp cloth.

Why “DIY”? Personalizing it is fun and makes the item one of a kind! Also, consider the price. If you bought the designer version you’d spend close to $500 for a hat you may wear a handful of times during the summer months. Making your own version can be done for well under $50. So as I always advise, evaluate the “cost per wear” and determine the better deal, especially if you have “champagne taste on a soda budget.” And maybe spend some of what you would’ve saved on a super cute swimsuit or sandals!

Images via LookLive and TheGabulousLife

#WhatIWore: University of Alabama Commencement


So…if you follow me elsewhere then you already know I didn’t wear THIS to graduation. *sadface*

The zipper stuck, and I was so afraid of a wardrobe malfunction that I made a quick decision to wear what you see pictured above. The off-white lace blouse and skirt, with nude lining and exposed back zippers, is by BCBG Max Azria and was purchased at Belk/The Summit. I wore it with nude strappy sandals gifted from my parents, and of course, my mother’s strand of pearls, formerly seen HERE and HERE.

Special thanks go to James Adams, Jr. of Renovare for my hair color, cut and styling, and to Kim Colvin of Kimistry Makeup Lab for makeup artistry. After three months of wearing curls and almost no makeup, seeing myself with straight hair and a show-stopping face was a shock!

Something about the lace and the silhouette were just perfect for me (lace can be tricky to pull off sometimes). It was also very cool, which was very important since we’re in the midst of a sweltering summer. I’m still loving wearing off-white — maybe I’m in a LisaRaye phase! Although I typically refrain from outfit posts, I really felt beautiful on Saturday — and this may sound strange — like every bit of happiness I felt inside showed on the outside. Maybe I’ll begin doing a few more of them?

Bleu et blanc

My summer style obsession is this simple mix of color and pattern. I can’t decide if it reminds me of the beach, or just my parents’ collection of ginger jars. J. Crew’s striped shift has enough visual interest that  I finally broke down and wore horiziontal stripes!

Simple and chic, no? InStyle definitely agrees, as they dressed July cover girl Zoe Saldana in it also!

Siren London “Bleu de Chine” set, $40
J. Crew Striped Tuxedo shift, $98

You’re invited…

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…to spend the summer in Lilly with Belk!

It’s no secret that we’re big fans of Lilly Pulitzer (the iconic lifestyle brand that began with a Palm Beach juice stand), and tomorrow’s event is a fabulous way to add something chic to your closet!

ICYMI: What’s in my beach bag?

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I had a lovely time sharing beach bag essentials with Ebony Hall and Nicole Allshouse on Talk of Alabama this morning! In case you missed it, you can view the clip by clicking HERE!

What am I packing in my super-cute Scout beach bag (courtesy of Swoozie’s)? Check it out:

Cold-EEZE Cold Remedy: Summer colds are the worst! Spending time outside at the beach and surrounded by many other people means you are more likely to come into contact with germs. Cold-EEZE Cold Remedy Lozenges and Oral Spray are great grab-n-go options to throw into your bag. Clinically proven to shorten the duration of a cold by almost half, Cold-EEZE Cold Remedy is the perfect beach bag essential for your family (ages 12 and up) to keep them healthy so they can enjoy a sniffle-free summer. (www.coldeeze.com)

Nurture My Body Organic Sunscreen by CureDiva: Protecting yourself from the strong summer UV rays is important for a healthy summer. 100% organic sunscreen is the safe, natural choice for sun protection. Nurture My Body creates a rich and light sunscreen that provides 32 SPF broad spectrum protection and proactively repairs your skin. Made with just 8 gentle ingredients, this amazing organic sunscreen is great for adults, children, and babies alike. (www.curediva.com)

G.M. Collin’s After-Sun Cream is the ultra-hydrating, soothing, and calming solution for skin after sun exposure that also simultaneously prevents dehydration.Enriched with Shea Butter and Primrose Oil, it revitalizes and nourishes as it hydrates the skin, and has a natural anti-inflammatory effect that brings relief to irritation and sunburn. Applied regularly after sun exposure, the After-Sun Cream calms and hydrates the skin, making it soft, healthy, and well moisturized. ($32.00, GMCollin.com for spa locations nationwide and skin1.com)

Celsius: Keeping refreshed at the beach has never been easier. A delicious, negative calorie beverage, Celsius combines vitamins, great flavors and metabolic-boosting properties and is quickly becoming the drink of choice to keep the beach body in shape without adding those extra calories. Drinking Celsius before exercise helps you burn up to 100 calories and more per serving, boosts metabolism, reduces body fat, increases endurance and provides lasting energy. (www.celsius.com)

Medifast’s BBQ Bites: Before heading out for a day in the sun, make sure you’ve got a nutritious snack so unhealthy chips and boardwalk food doesn’t become your lunch. Get the flavor of summer BBQ’s with the Medifast BBQ Bites. One packet has 110 calories, 3 grams of fat and 11 grams of protein and it’s the perfect snack to throw into your beach bag for the entire family (I keep them in my desk at work!). (www.medifast1.com)

Simply Scientific Hair™ Revitalizing Mist: A powerful product that combines several benefits into one light detangling spray. It’s easy: spraying onto towel-dried hair results in silky, tangle-free hair that is remarkably easy to comb. In addition to giving your hair a flawless appearance, this mist contains elements critical to the protection of your hair to guard your strands against dryness, humidity, andenvironmental aggressors (such as the sun’s harmful rays). (www.scientificessentials.com)

Hope Paige Silicone Watch: Hope Paige’s wrap around silicone watch is the perfect way to keep track of time on the beach. It comes in 4 colors and is made of a bright rubber material that is durable and waterproof. All watches come engraved with wearer’s medical information in case of an emergency. Visit www.hopepaige.com for more information.

Carrington Farms Flax Paks: This snack is packed in ready-to-eat, portable and convenient single serve packets and is a natural source of fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals. Unlike other brands, Carrington Farms Milled Seeds are sliced, instead of crushed, to maintain essential oils and nutrients. Great for sprinkling over cereals, shakes, yogurt, salads, starches, fruits, vegetables, casseroles and even baked goods. These flax seeds are Non-GMO, Certified Organic and Gluten-Free, and have NO cholesterol, Sodium, Sugars. They are available at retailers including Publix, Whole Foods, local supermarkets, health food stores and online at http://carringtonfarms.com/.

Bump Water: A scientifically formulated prenatal beverage containing 100% of the recommended daily allowance of folic acid, Vitamins A, D, E, B6, B12, magnesium and zinc. It comes in 2 flavors: Lemonade and Cranberry Ginger, is in an all-natural, in a BPA-free bottle and is OB/GYN recommended. For more information go to http://bumpwater.com/.

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MUA Kimberly Black-Crawford and me

And what did I wear? I’m in J. Crew’s “Allie” dress in festival blue, and their Crystal Mobile earrings (you can see the earrings close up on the blog’s Instagram page, via @samechicdifferentday)!  My face was made up by Kimberly Black-Crawford, Trish McEvoy Specialist at Birmingham’s Saks Fifth Avenue (located at the Summit).  To book your appointment, email her at kimcrawford88@gmail.com!

 

Alexis appears on Talk of Alabama this Wednesday!

summerbreeze

Summer breeze, makes me feel fiiiiiiiine….blowing through the jasmine in my miiiiiind.

Birmingham, get ready to get your daily dose of chic LIVE on Talk of Alabama this Wednesday!

I’ll be sharing “Beach Bag Essentials” during the 9 AM hour on ABC 33/40! If you’re not in the Birmingham viewing area, you can watch the segment via live stream by clicking HERE.

 

Alexis appears on Alabama Live! today

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Happy Friday darlings!

Headed to the beach this summer? If you’re in the Montgomery viewing area, catch me on WSFA 12’s Alabama Live! TODAY sometime between 11 AM-Noon, where I’ll be sharing beach bag essentials!

You can find WSFA’s “Right this Minute Video Coverage” by clicking HERE, and a link to Alabama Live! by clicking HERE. I’m not 100% sure this appearance will be streamed live, so if it isn’t I’ll definitely share a link later.

As always, thanks so much for your support!

Xo,
Alexis

Image via Tonya Terry/WSFA

Summer essential: the espadrille

Looking for the perfect summer shoe? Slip into an espadrille! It’s not a sandal, and definitely not a stiletto; I like to think of it as a smoking slipper that went on vacation, but didn’t turn into a pair of Toms. *wink*

There are so many easy, breezy ways to wear this shoe. Whether you choose lace, leather, leopard or classic canvas by Soludos, you can experiment with color, texture and pattern and add a little pizzazz to your maxi dresses, shorts, denim and palazzo pants this season. Here are some options to think about (of course I had to find a sequined pair!):

Lace by H&M, $15 on sale;
Leopard “Lanii” by Steve Madden, $72.99;
Leather “Mara” by Loeffler Randall, now $136.50;
Sequin “Mischa” by Tory Burch $105 on sale

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Don’t forget! The Bloganista Mini-Conference is this Saturday!

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