Back To The Non-Basics

However, I was still talking about the clothes.

Having the same conversations with my girlfriends. What are you wearing? How are you wearing this trend? Where do you find this? Which I LOVE these conversations. They are who I am! I am a fashion nerd, these conversations give me life and hopefully my girlfriends a better understanding of how to be more confident in a current trend.

Some of you may be wondering…well who died and made you “fashion Oprah”?!

Excellent, question. I promise you I don’t know it all, but let’s take a minute and I’ll catch you up on where this passion began.

In my intro blog from 2014 I talk in great depth on my road of fashion and experience, so I will try my best not to be repetitive.

At 15 my first job was in a high-end bridal boutique in a small town. It was the first time I had seen a price tag with a comma in it. I think the most expensive item in my closet at that point was a GAP t-shirt.

Here I was trying to sell clients from all walks of life and all shapes a $3,000 gown. They’re looking at me like damn this girl needs to shave her legs, what does she know about box pleats?!  It was beyond intimidating. I had to learn to be relatable and most important, genuine. Because bullshit was not gonna sell these dresses! I learned that out the gate! I started to pay attention in detail to which cuts were flattering to each body type. Well we have a bride that wants a certain gown but her price is “x”, not a problem let’s look at this designer who will stay in budget and still her give that MOMENT. The MOMENT. You know when you try on that gown and everyone else disappears in the room because BAM, betch I look GOOD!!!!!!

I loved giving women that moment. Whether it was the mother of the bride, a prom girl, a pageant girl, whatever, to see the look on someone face that they feel confident and they’re going to walk in the room and own it, is priceless.

And as a cheesy as it may sound, I loved having a hand in that. But why do you only get to have that “moment” on a certain day. It’s like we think we are only allowed to feel that confident A: if you spent a butt load of money or B: special occasions. Well that’s not how it is and that’s what I’m here to tell you. Also, I personally have spent a bunch of money on an outfit before for it to look like a damn mess. TRUTH!

When I graduated college I found myself back in retail because in 2008 no one was looking to hire a little girl with a Marketing degree. It was desperate times in the streets. I landed an Assistant Manger position of the women’s area at a Dillard’s making $34,000. BOOM BETCH IS BACK!! Signed a lease, got my own apartment, hello I am a fabulous sub-par version of Carrie Bradshaw. I quickly learned the corporate world didn’t give a damn about me, my lease and my bills when they eliminated my position NATIONWIDE. It no longer exists!!! LAWDDD JESUS. Thankfully, they gave a position with Clinique and I was running all over the place training girls how to sell Black Honey lipstick so I could buy ramen.

Sidenote: Black Honey lipstick is still the JAM and you need it for Fall.

From there I navigated my way into the world of BCBG.

I was on King Street amongst the pretty clothes. The EXPENSIVE pretty clothes.

Here I am again, trying to convince clients they need a $128 t-shirt. Here I found my most successful times in sales and assisting clients achieve a badass look were when I was authentic and myself. Life is too short to be anything other than yourself. You’re wasting your time if you aren’t authentic. Many times after a big sale I’d have clients say they loved a dress I was wearing and I would be like ohhhh you know, its Tar-jaí the store with the bullseye, very exclusive. I just had to own that in reality I couldn’t purchase a thing in the store for full price. I couldn’t let that intimidation consume me.

My career with BCBG taught me the most about fashion as a business and my personal style.

It was in those moments I learned to take risks and piece together expensive items with inexpensive items but still wear them like a boss.

In regards to the business aspect of BCBG, I watched a well respected fashion brand become money hungry and over saturate themselves in the market. Which lead to devaluing the brand and exclusivity they prided themselves on so much. They created a ton of sub brands at all price points which was great for consumers. Everybody could wear a piece of BCBG! However, with the shift to e-commerce the brand became stretched too thin. In February of 2017 they announced they were closing 120 stores and filing for bankruptcy. At this point, I was long gone but it was news that many of us had seen coming. See what a nerd I am?! I cried when I read the bankruptcy article and then I went and searched for a life because obviously I need one!

So let’s get back to a word I mentioned above, intent. It’s a good word with a lot of meaning.

My intention with this blog or website or happy place, whatever we want to call it, has never changed. Clothes don’t define who we are as a person. They allow us to express to the world our inner badass.

We ALL have the power to feel that way, to feel confident.  You shouldn’t feel bad or apologize for being confident. We all know too well what it feels like to feel like shit or less than. So I’m back to share with you the tools and trends that make me feel like a rockstar and how they may be relatable to your walk of life as well.

Not sure how to style something? Ask me! Wondering where to find certain price point on a new trend without breaking the bank? DM me! Let’s talk about it together!

We’re getting back to the non-basics.

Let's talk how the 90s style is trending right back into our life. Rainbow accents, big plaid prints, white booties, denim jackets! GIRL, WE ARE GONNA SORT IT ALL OUT! And also discuss some trends that just don’t work for me, maybe you feel the same?!

So push your shoulders back and get ready to own the room, because being you rocks.

-Lyv

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LEWK RECAP:

Click below to be taken to the items from my look!!!