Heading back to work after a long vacation can be daunting to say the least. I spent a full two weeks at home in Florida, enjoying the sunshine, spending time with family and just plain ol’ relaxing. While my day-to-day pace had slowed down, I had time to focus on Brown Paper Doll and goals for 2018. The brief hiatus gave me time to reflect on the past year and what I hope to achieve in the future! I hope to expand my network, partner with brands I’m passionate about, meet more like-minded individuals and find more joy in the growth process. While I can’t wait to achieve those goals, it’s back to work in the meantime!
Many people don’t know that I work a full 9 to 5 job, and boy is it stressful juggling these responsibilities with my blog. Even though I do love my job, I’m falling into a bit of the blues having less time to focus on Brown Paper Doll and the goals I’m so eager to achieve. It’s all a balance and I’m just figuring it out as I go.
Speaking of blues, while I was home I repurposed the navy Tibi skirt that I wore for one of my holiday special occasion looks! I love taking a piece and with a little bit of creativity, making a brand new outfit! For this look – I kept it all Tibi, pairing it with a houndstooth print crop top with tie sleeves and my marigold mules. These shoes are literally my favorite, and I can’t wear them enough. The sunny shade of velvet makes me January blues just fade away!
P.S. How gorgeous is this Inn in Jacksonville! Jason and I almost rented it as accommodations for our wedding and every time I drive by it makes me smile.
There’s no denying it…this time of year is the height of parties and events! Holiday parties, office soirees, family get-together, the opportunities to celebrate and dress up seem endless! And when I do dress up, I want to make sure that I put my best foot forward and feel glamorous from the inside out. While outfits are key- I also think what’s underneath is another key element!
For me, I personally don’t leave the house for a special event without first putting on my favorite pair of SPANX. Wether I’m looking to sculpt or smooth, SPANX helps my clothes lie better and ultimately makes me feel more confident in my special occasion wear. Recently I’ve been wearing favorites from the Power Conceal-Her collection that are so lightweight but also powerful. This particular collection combats my cellulite (yes, I’m not ashamed to admit I have it!) and gives me a flawless finish underneath my dresses! The power of this collection lies within the double-layer of shaping, so dimples and bumps don’t stand a chance. The effect is amazing, and I can’t imagine wearing my holiday looks without it! So this year, I thought I’d share not only what I’m wearing for my holiday events…but what’s underneath!
HOLIDAY
While a little red dress seems appropriate this time of year, I like to do things a little differently! Especially since I’m home in Florida over the holiday, I love to go with a more unexpected style of holiday dress! Off the shoulder and more suited for a warmer holiday, this blush number was short, flirty, and perfect for holiday cocktails with my hometown crew! With my SPANX High-Waisted Power Conceal-Her Extended Length Short, SPANX kept my waist smooth under the fit and flare shape!
Well getting dressed up isn’t just for the holidays! Since I’m back home, I find myself grabbing dinners with old friends and colleagues, many of whom I haven’t seen in years! A fancy dinner, tickets to a show, or just no occasion can suddenly turn into a special occasion. For those moments, I again turn to SPANX to keep me smooth underneath my outfit! In this instance, I’m headed to a dinner at our local club- and wearing a silk pleated skirt and cropped, pleated champagne top! Since the skirt lies over the top, but it also cropped- I wanted something with a little more coverage. A SPANX bodysuit smoothed my tummy and bum, fighting both cellulite and panty lines underneath an otherwise finicky silk skirt. So no matter the occasion- SPANX has me covered, from top to bottom!
New Years Eve means two things in my book- rhinestones and champagne! Im wearing a simple back dress for my night on the town, but topping it off with an uber-glam embellished blazer from Alice and Olivia! The best part about this look? I could wear either piece, the dress or the blazer, separately and for any occasion! I see myself wearing the black dress to work under a more understated blazer or to dinner underneath a leather jacket. I’d wear the rhinestone blazer with a simple tee and jeans for a more casual look! In this instance, I perfected my look with my SPANX black Extended Length Short to keep me svelte from waste to knee, which was perfect for the longer cocktail length of my curve-hugging dress! Plus, black on black- there’s nothing more classic!
Power Coneal-Her Extended Length Short: SPANX. Blazer: Alice + Olivia. Dress: Michael Stars(on sale for $79!). Heels: Stuart Weitzman (Similar). Bag: Chanel.
You ever play that game with your friends where you ask about “favorites” to the extreme? Like… “if you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would be it be?” Pizza, duh! Well, my friends and I do that in the context of clothes. If you could only wear one brand the entire season, what would it be? Surprisingly, more seasons than not I have the same answer – Tibi. I think their clothes are feminine, yet modern. Trendy, but not over the top.
Before I left for Amsterdam earlier this season, I spotted this Tibi top and knew I had to have it. Of course, navy is one of my favorite colors to wear, so I immediately gravitated towards the deep blue hue hanging on the rack.
Details that I love include elastic cuffs, a rose gold zipper down the back and of course, the cutout shoulder that’s just the right amount of sexy. So far, I’ve worn the top with ripped jeans, black pants, and my favorite– striped, flare trousers. I love these pants, because the stretch fabric and vertical stripes make them flattering for all shapes.
To finish off my look, I opted for an old Houndstooth clutch to add a touch of Fall and greater dimension to my look. Who says you can’t mix patterns?! Finally, I felt the 70’s inspired flare pants needed vintage looking round shades, complements of Gucci. What do you dolls think of the final look? Like the 70’s style.
