Saturday, January 16, 2016

Elevated Neutrals for the Curvy Girl



Whether you like Kim Kardashian, or not at all, you have to admit that she has mastered the monochromatic, neutral look. With fashion, it's true that neutral colors always look more elevated and expensive, especially when layered. I've always personally liked this look from afar, but I wasn't sure how the rules would apply to my curvy frame.

Needless to say, I decided to put my apprehensions to the side and test it out. I wore this ensemble to a work event earlier this week and everyone loved this look and they were even more surprised when I told them where I actually purchased my pieces. To complete the look I added my own personal style, and coupled it with favorite camel fedora. 

For full outfit details, check out the links below. I hope that you enjoy! 

Green V-Neck Midi Dress: http://bit.ly/1P6Isyp
Belted Longline Jacket: http://bit.ly/1Wi4xK7
Camel Fedora (Similar): http://bit.ly/1lO9Unn

xoxoxo,
Crystal Gayle 


Monday, January 11, 2016

Matchy Matchy: Eloquii Sweater and Skirt Set






When I saw this outfit I knew that I had to have it. So I did what anyone else would do...I waited for it to go on sale. Lol!  

I sometimes (most times) enjoy a good "matchy matchy" set, and although some people would prefer wearing these pieces separately, I decided to wear them together. I may consider mixing the pieces with other patterns the next time around, stay tuned! 

Truthfully speaking, I purchased each piece from different places, and it ended up being more affordable. I love Eloquii, but I don't purchase any pieces that aren't on sale. Thankfully, during my research, I discovered that Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack also sell a lot of their pieces at more affordable prices.

You can find my specific outfit details below for your reference. Enjoy! 

Eloquii Sweater Top: http://bit.ly/1RiJdod
Eloquii Sweater Skirt: http://bit.ly/1Q0Wf8E
Pumps (Similar): http://bit.ly/1OXTjLc
Purse (Similar): http://bit.ly/1PopBco

xoxoxo,
Crystal 

Friday, January 8, 2016

Sometimes We Dance!


Just my husband and I having a good time...


Flashback Friday: My 30th Birthday


My 30th birthday was back in October and since that time a few ladies have inquired about pieces that I wore to events over the celebratory weekend. Since I wasn't blogging then, I figured that I'd use this 'Flashback Friday' as an opportunity to recap my looks and share where I purchased each piece. I hope that this will be both helpful and inspiring!

Look # 1
Cape/Multi-colored Blazer: www.simplybe.com
Turtle Necked Dress: www.forever21.com
Nude Pumps: www.stevemadden.com

Look #2
Faux Leather Jacket: www.forever21.com
Leather Skirt: www.asos.com
Gladiator Boots:www.kgstores.com

Look #3
Sheer-Sequined Dress: www.audaciousandferal.com
Black Pumps: www.stevemadden.com

xoxoxo,
Crystal

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Who is the Woman Wearing the Clothes?



Often times, we meet people and immediately assess who they are by what they’re wearing and the way they look. We closely examine their shoes, hair, makeup, handbags, etc. and try to calculate the kind of person they are, their level of “fleekness” and even ballpark how much money they make per year. More so, we voluntarily (or involuntarily) use this as criteria for whether or not we will get to know them better, and a leading factor for getting to know someone else becomes an exercise of shallow exterior examinations.

Please understand that I’m in total support of putting the best version of ourselves forward—fixing and primping everything that we can control—but sadly our personal best may never be deemed as “good enough” for someone else. The terms “best” and “perfection” then become subjective, and the world continues being a place filled with people feeling inadequate and “not good enough.”

What if we spent as much time and energy working on, and getting to know the woman wearing the clothes as we did selecting and judging outfits, lipstick colors and hairstyles? What if we started each day with a fresh outlook and attitude just as we do with our underwear and tights?

This week my church is fasting and praying for seven days (as we do every year to kick off the new year), and during last night’s service I thought to myself, what are you going to do in 2016 to better you, Crystal, the woman wearing the clothes and the woman behind the makeup? That moment was very real and introspective for me, because it caused me to shift my thinking. It caused me to admit that I was aiding the perpetuation of a vicious, criminal and shallow cycle. Subsequently, allowing me to really see the folks around me, not just as “people,” but as individuals of eternal destiny, made in God’s image.  Shifting my perspective and point of view then prompted joy and Thanksgiving in my heart, because every woman, and man, in that room became a vessel of purpose and greatness, and that’s exactly what our crazy world needs.

So here’s the challenge for this year (which may be new to some and the gold standard for others), when you meet someone new, or even when you encounter someone that see every day, view them as more than the clothes on their backs, and more than their exterior—but try to understand who they are and figure out how and if you can support them in fulfilling their destiny. We were all created for a purpose and sometimes we can use a little bit of help from someone else along the way.

So, what’s your purpose, and who can you help today?

xoxoxo,
Crystal


Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Meet Our New Puppy Houston!




So, we finally have a puppy! 

I'd like you all to meet Houston, our adorable (sometimes naughty) Shih Tzu. He's three months old. filled with energy and loves just about everyone he meets. I've wanted a puppy for as long as I could remember, and I asked my husband if we could get one for my 30th birthday a few months ago.

Needless to say, he didn't come in October, but he did arrive to our home just in time for Christmas. I totally understand what people mean when they say that dogs bring so much joy and happiness into their homes, because Houston is quite entertaining and extremely loving. However, I do also understand what people mean when they say that dogs are A LOT of work. J and I have been cleaning poop, pee and food spills with no end. We have also visited the vet more than we thought possible and researched foods and toys that Houston likes best. We've also used the word "bathroom" a lot more than normal, in attempts of getting our puppy to understand that "bathroom" means wee wee pad, and not our rugs. Oyyy!

Even though he is a handful, he's a joy to be around and his little face is almost irresistible. If you'd like to see more of Houston, feel free to follow him on Instagram (yeah, he's almost famous), @theshihtzuhouston. 

xoxoxo,
Crystal 


Friday, October 18, 2013

Monif C's Swim 2014

Maybe I still have my birthday trip to Jamaica on my mind, or I'm just obsessed with all thing's Monif C! Either way, I'm really considering purchasing one of her new bathing suits from the 2014 Swim collection. Take a look, and let me know which one's speaking to you. I'm a huge fan of the "Figi" Ruched in red leopard. If you know me, you know that I'm a sucker for animal prints. I can see myself catching some serious rays in this suit. Another trip to Jamaica, perhaps?
 
 
Shop the collection at Monif C.