Swimwear is a closet staple for the summer. It comes in different shades, fabric, and (these days) sizes. The swimwear game has definitely stepped it up in the style department, with a number of celebrities and influencers trying their hand at some of the hottest swimwear collections, complete with cover-ups, tankinis, and more. As a plus size consumer, I am overwhelmed with love at the strides the swimsuit industry has made in the past few years.

Still, there are some characteristics of of the swimwear industry that fall..flat. After the warm spring and summer months are over, our swimwear hits the back of the closet, not to be seen again for another 10-12 months. Wardrobe longevity is definitely an obstacle not mastered by swimwear...just yet. But sometimes, you run into a line that defeats the odds, doing so in the most unique way. 

Enter STAY by Stacey Angela , a high end luxury swim/resort wear label that caters to the edgy fashionista who loves to travel and express her individuality. Founded in  April 2002 by designer Stacey Angela Williams, each piece is a one of a kind tailored, handmade, custom crochet design where every detail is selected with the customer in mind. The Stay by Stacey Angela has expanded recently to include boy shorts, cover-ups, ponchos, two-tier miniskirts, hats, earrings, gloves, and bowties. 

The STAY brand has reached multi-location notoriety and recognition at a number of fashion weeks, pop-up shops, and magazines. I took some time to sit down with fashion designer extraordinaire to talk about the origins of her brand and her inspiration. 

Why did you decide to choose a career as a fashion designer? I decided to become a fashion designer after being exposed to the fashion industry by my mother and my cousins. My mother took me to tons of Fashion fair/ Bob Mackie  fashion shows. I fell in love with fashion instantly.

What skills are necessary for a successful fashion designer? The most important skill and tool that a designer needs is there mind. You have to be able to be open to all walks of life in fashion and art. Inspiration is everywhere if you pay attention.



What's up next for STAY? Paris City Fashion Week! You can get a sneak peek of the spring/summer line over at staybystaceyangela.com. Take a look and tell her i sent you! You wont be disappointed!






Faithfully,
Brieana

When I'm recording my weekly radio show (insert SHAMELESS plug here: It goes by the same name as this blog, Faithandfashion360 Live on WFNKRadio.com, Sundays from 7pm-9pm. Here's the link.), I usually peruse the social media airwaves and timelines for the things people are talking about, the things they may divided on, as well as the things that just need some JESUS. My sites of choice are typically fashion forward, millenial friendly, etc.

I was scrolling down Instagram the other day and I found a post on one of my sites of choice (one that sometimes I'm almost ashamed to say), and I saw a post that had me pleasantly surprised. TheShadeRoom, the place you love to hate, for its constant celeb post and infinite shade, posted a thought provoking question that forced me into a few minutes of self-awareness. It was so much so that here I am, writing to you about it, and eventually asking you to think about as well;

What is a toxic trait that you possess and would like to work on getting rid of in 2019??


Whoa.
1st of all, I felt personally attacked. They asked assuming that I would even have any! *insert fake disgust*

This question spoke to me in a number of ways and there was a wave of emotions and feelings that swept over me as I thought about an answer.

The fact of the matter is, we all have some things that aren't so great about us. We all have traits that have caused an argument. Things about us that people rightfully don't like. Parts of ourselves that, if we're honest, can stand to hit the trash. It was difficult for me to say out loud, but once I got real with myself, I could name a few.

Moment of transparency: I have a spending problem. I mean a forgo-my-car-note kind of problem. It's something I've realized over the years, especially as I've grown my blogging and fashion brand. There were times where I would even make justifications and excuses about why spending money on the latest shoes were necessary.

"My followers need these looks."
"I have a 10 day grace period."
"How can I grow my brand if I don't invest?"



John 3:16
Romans 5:8
Hebrews 10:24-25
Romans 14:10-19

Unfortunately for a lot of us, the year 2018 was written off as a total loss, a fail, a meme depicting infinite sorrow, etc. I saw status and quote after quote about re-inventing the wheel of life in 2019,entering anew and refreshed for all of the visions and goals that slipped from our fingertips down the drain in the grueling months of 2018 past.

What do you get when you mix sophistication, glamour, and around the way fashions? You get a personalized stylist, one of a kind pieces, and a fashionista's paradise! This is She Boutique has been keeping me LACED for the past few years, with unique items for the unique lady, with an emphasis on the hood girl at heart!

Founded by Adrienne Randall, This Is She Boutique is located in Reading, PA. Don't let that stop you from getting all the latest pieces though! Adrienne also offers personal shopping and styling services. If you're already sure of what you need, expect to find reasonable prices for the diva in you!

Geared towards the urban community, Adrienne Randall says her clientele is the 'urban sophisticated fashionista', where she specializes in high fashion. A face like this is especially important for us hood girls! I mean, Rainbow and 10 Spot will ALWAYS be great places to shop, but with This Is She Boutique, gone are the days of possibly running into another diva with the same dress!

                                                                                  

"...fashion is a confidence booster. It feels good to purchase and wear the pieces you love. It gives a woman an extra pep in her step and a swing in her hips. To me that is the best feeling in the world to know I was apart of that." 

Happy Tuesday divas!

I'm coming to you today with an outfit full of rich culture, stories, and fabulosity!

For those of you who don't know, I'm getting married in December to the love of my life. I won't gush about him here, but one thing I will say is that in our 6 amazing years together, I've come to love and appreciate my Jamaican roots for everything that they are;mine.

My fiancée is from Ghana, West Africa, and there's never a time when he won't tell you all about his life there. As terrified as I am of long plane rides, the stories about the rich environment and culture has me yearning to visit there. For now, I settle with all of the amazing pieces of his home that he and his family are so gracious to share. I mean everything from wooden chairs and cups, intricately cut and carved by someone's own two hands, all the way down to the gorgeously woven garments that I can never get enough of.

I wore a beautiful hand-crafted shirt, (called a Kaba top in Ghana) this past Sunday. It's one of the many I have (graciously gifted by my future mother-in-law), and definitely one of my favorites. The blue resembled a bit of a denim, helping me add my modern twist to it with denim accessories and these faux marble drop earrings. The sleeves were perfect for the weather, with some ruched/ruffled detailing at the ends. The sleeves weren't too tight on the arms either, another plus.

Faux stone earrings: Similar

I paired the top with these open slit denim pants from Ashley Stewart (currently SOLD OUT), which are a gem in themselves. I adore these pants for their twist on the standard jeans, but they still remain true to the denim feel with their stretchy material.
                                           

Where's your family from? Are there any pieces of home that you love and cherish? Drop a picture, comment, or quip below.I love hearing from you!

Faithfully,
Brieana

Happy Monday divas and fashionistas! Here's to a prosperous and productive week ahead. For now, I'm flashing back to Sunday with these floral pieces I scored from my favorite on-a-budget safe place, Rainbow Shops.

Although it was a colder day out, this ensemble kept me nice and warm , especially with the warm red hue of these pants! The accordion ruffle waist and side tie added some flare to it, along with the dainty floral design. I added another layer of femininity to the ensemble with this high neck, open lace top. How cute!

And can we also stop for a moment and take a look at these amazing earrings! Talk about a statement! These textured discs were lighter than I thought they would be, and I really felt like an African princess. Sunday....CONQUERED!

Happy Sunday my loves! I pray your Easter Sunday thus far has been relaxing and full of family fun.

I come to you by way of Burlington Coat Factory, who held me down from head to toe today.

Up first is this floral maxi dress.Though spring HAS sprung, the warm weather hasn't quite broken yet,and this beautiful gown helped me stay warm and stylish in my Sunday's best. With these amazing bell sleeves, they were a plus-friendly piece from Heaven,not squeezing or constricting my arms. The cinched waist was also nice and stretchy, in addition to the make-shift tie on the side. I was comfy AND cute!




These shoes were in Burlington's unparalleled discount shoe section.They feature a nice suede material,with extra long ties that can go a few inches up the leg.Almost like a spring gladiator heels. The block heels and zip at the back of the shoe, made for some additional comfort as well as easy on/off access.




Both of these items for scored for under under $50! Frugal and fabulous for the WIN!



What were you dressed in this Easter Sunday?Leave a picture, comment, or quip below. I love hearing from you!

Faithfully,
Brieana

Chances are, you have a complaint or two about your skin – whether it’s age spots on your cheeks or varicose veins on your calves. All women want to put their best skin forward, but it’s hard when you’re coping with acne, varicose veins, age spots, moles and more. Aestheticians, also known as skin care specialists, cleanse and exfoliate, wax and laser, moisturize and apply makeup to enhance a person's overall appearance. A skin care specialist will first assess the condition of his or her clients' skin and make recommendations on what can be done to improve their skin quality. An aesthetician will also cleanse the skin, and in so doing, educate the client on which face washes, lotions and creams are best suited to him or her. Applying makeup is another piece of the job description, as is advising the client on a personalized skin care regimen.

Here's a fun fact about me: I am a Type-A person. Type A and Type B personality theory describes two contrasting personality types. In this theory, personalities that are more competitive, highly organized, ambitious, impatient, highly aware of time management and/or aggressive are labeled Type A, while more relaxed personalities are labeled Type B.

Being so hyper organized and detail oriented has always been a blessing for me. It's just the way my brain operates. I can tell you how long it going to take me to get to the gas station and hit the ATM (barring a line), down to the very minute. Running late gives me anxiety. And being on time for things? If you tell me 4pm, I will religiously be there by 3:40pm, trying to find out what I missed. I can't help it. I've always been this way. And its worked for me.

For the most part.

In the past few years, my life has taken a few turns for the better---a thriving blog, modeling gigs and shows left and right, sponsorships, collaborations, international flights, the list goes on. Saying that I was prepared for this elevation in my life would be a lie. I didn't know that I was going to be here.

We all have plans for ourselves. This could be a plan for the day, week, month, or even the next year. We have plans for our fitness, as well as plans for eating right and drinking more water. We have plans on finding our Boaz and finding family, or even a plan to cut off relationships (romantic or platonic) altogether.

Sometimes these plans are written down.
Sometimes they're just in our head, without any concrete bullet points or planners to accompany them.
We all do it. Whether its the Type-A or Type-B way.

One thing I've learned about "planning" as a child of God is that my planning holds the assumption that I'm in control. It holds the assumption that my successful planning puts me as the front runner of accolades or praise for getting it right. Do you remember that saying from Colonel John "Hannibal" Smith of the A-Team? "I love it when a good plan comes together." We automatically feel these overwhelming sense of pride when we painstakingly plan something and it...works out?!

The adrenaline rush of making it happen.
The relief in it being over.
The determination as we play with the thought of doing it again.

On the flip side of that is the fear, anger, and disappointment we feel when things just don't work out.

THAT is where I learned I am just a passenger in the grand scheme of things. A few of my brothers and sisters in the Bible could definitely empathize with these feelings as well.You guys know I'm into annotated versions of Bible stories, so look for the corresponding Bible books and scriptures to follow.