So we've all heard the saying. Black is the new black. We all love it. We all own it. And it can literally do us no wrong. Ever. Whether its pants, dresses, or outerwear, black is the golden child of my wardrobe and if I could, I would definitely wear it all the time. What's most fun about it is the ability to adopt free range when accessorizing an all black ensemble. It an opportunity to go CRAZY.

My black to black outfit featured some year ;round pieces that I paired together to create a sexy and sleek look that was perfect for the nighttime party I went to.

The base of my outfit is my run of the mill ASOS jumper. Its an easy on and off and it makes for nice clean lines, but also a black canvas for the accessories to come. My leather jacket has ultimately made another appearance, as the "spring" weather has broken into a mid 40's.

NOW for the accessories;

My clutch is from Rainbow shops a few years back. It was perfect for a night out, when there was little need for my huge tote bags with the never ending bottom.

My cheetah print booties made strutting and walking real easy! I scored these from Lola Shoetique a couple seasons back. The heel is a bit hunky and mild 4 inches, which added comfort to my outfit as well.

And check out that hand candy!1 If you know me well, you know that ring are by far my favorite jewelry item. People always ask me if I leave the stores with any rings, and (though begrudgingly) yes I do. I got these midi rings from Wish and Amazon.

How do you dress up your favorite black pieces? Leave a comment, outfit pic, or quip below. I love hearing from you!

Faithfully,
Brieana

What a beautiful week it's been! It early March and we're already moving into gorgeous weather. Here in the Poconos, it was a cool and calm 65-70 degrees all week long! Still, we still got some pretty cool mornings, and windy rainy days. With the freezing rain turning into cool winds, today's outfit inspo was centered around transitional wardrobe staples, i.e the ones you can wear when the warm day doesn't turn out to be as warm as you were hoping. This is usually the time of year when we're stumped on what to wear. Let me help!

First up we have this mock denim top that I got from JCPenney's. While the sleeves are long and the shirt reaches me past my waist. the material is light, and the light "faux denim" look makes me think of spring. I also have a shirt similar to this in a darker denim wash. Both tops were $19.99.

Don't be fooled down at the bottom. This "pencil skirt" is actually a dress I owned, repurposed for the transitioning occasion. It features an additional lining underneath the dress, which makes the cool winds today more bearable.

My shoes are a couple season old from Lola Shoetique. These shoes are cupser comfy, and I love the embellished strap around the ankle. The shoe also features some different color combinations, as shown with the camel and black, which bring the outfit together as well as keeping it from being too boring or monotone.

I finished off the look with a camel hobo bag that I got from Rainbow a few years back. The color and free form back help to create a casual Sunday look that was both comfortable and weather apporpriate.

How do you transition from the winter into the spring? Leave a comment below. I love hearing from you!

Faithfully,

Brieana

Today I was feeling a bit boho. Fringe details make me feel free,exotic,and open minded.It's my favorite. And it's making some major appearances at Spring Fashion week 2016,proving itself to also be a very daring look when done right. 

I've been on a bit of a health kick lately. Well I guess you could say more than I normally am. I've been so proud of the fact that over the past 365, I've managed to lose over 65 pounds. It feels great mentally, physically, and emotionally. What's even better is the fact that I get to scout out cute new workout gear. Even while I'm sweating, I like to look my best.

These leggings are from ASOS Curve. They have a really great assortment of tights, hoodies, sweaters, and other active wear, although they don't actually call it that. What great about these leggings are the fact that the back of them are higher than the front, specifically for the plumper derriere. ASOS leggings normally run in even jeans sizes (10,12,14 etc), but they have lots of stretch, so no worries about ordering your normal size.



This pullover is from Old Navy. Anyone who enjoys a nice hoodie (winged, funnel neck, or tunic) should run to their nearest Old Navy. They literally always have a sale, so I can promise you'll get a good deal.

My sneakers are Adidas Performance Madison RNR running shoe. The pink cheetah print was a limited edition and I couldn't pass up the sale. These are the ideal workout/performance sneaker because of my flat feet. They make me feel light and airy. They're even good for running, on the off chance I decide to do so.

Below, I've made a collage of some of my essential workout tools. Click the Polyvore link at the bottom of the page. What are some of your chic shopping places for workout gear? Leave a comment below. I love hearing from you!

Faithfully,
Brieana

That was today's mantra surrounding this outfit. I surrounded the ensemble around this vest that I originally wasn't too happy with. It was too short with not enough fur. I was disappointed and thought "Well this is going to be another donation because I obviously can't use it." But when I went on my mini shopping spree this payday, I saw the perfect dress to bloom this not so great vest into something worthwhile. And that I did. I made lemonade.


The dress is from Rainbow. What I love about this dress is the comfy and cozy cotton +spandex like material that made it very comfy. The burgundy color wasn't as serene as far as burgundy goes. There was an extra oomph and pop. Another addition that I enjoy of a lot of Rainbow garments are that they normally come with some kind of jewelry in addition to the clothing item. That's right, this dream catcher like necklace came ATTACHED to the necklace. 

My boots were also from rainbow. I normally wear them over jeans/tights/leggings, but was happy to know that they're just as comfy against my bare leg. No marks, no muss, no fuss.

Overall, this outfit cost me about $35. It's one of my thriftier outfits, but also one that was super comfy. As I've said before, fashion can be frugal. It's not about what you wear, but how you wear it. Happy Sunday. 

Faithfully,
Brieana

Today's outfit was an ode to Valentine's Day and one of my favorite 
80's 
chick flicks:Pretty in Pink. Pink is one of my favorite colors for various reasons:it's soft doting nature that instantly adds a bit of femininity to everything. It adds a Cinderella princess delicacy that my girl Molly Ringwald achieved in her outfits. No matter how you really feel  ,pink will have you looking your prettiest. 

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Today is the day to remind your loved ones how much and why you love them! It's not just for those with that special someone. Its for those who are looking to love themselves more completely and remind themselves to look themselves in the mirror on the other 364 days of the year, reminding themselves that they are "flawless".

Today's outfit inspiration came straight from how "mixed-up" I've been feeling this past week. I have gone through and surpassed a few trials and tribulations this week, and the mixed print theme just illustrated that I don't need to have it altogether to have it all. This ensemble is fire if I do say so myself! When I showed my mother my outfit today, she gave me this sideways stare. You see, back in her style days, everything had to match. From the shirt all the way down to the shoes. But in more recent days, I see more and more mixed prints and I absolutely love it!



This plaid top is form Old Navy, one of my favorite places to purchase basics and key pieces for your wardrobe. The red and pink scheme screamed Valentine's Day. It has a nice cozy feel to it, which made it all the more difficult to head outside in the -5 degree weather.

My skinny jeans are from Forever 21+. You can literally find these babies in a bunch of different washes, and I believe  paid about 11.80 for them. Forever 21 is also a good one stop shop for basic items. I always have to resist the urge to buy one of everything in each color.

Now, to mix things up a little but. These cheetah print booties are from Lola Shoetique. The heel is only a couple inches, making my needed Sunday comfort possible.

One of the most important things I do when mixing prints is find pieces that carry the same unifying color. Have fun with it! And remember not to think about it so much!

How do you mix prints? I'd love to hear form you!

Enjoy today's National day of Love!

Faithfully,
Brieana

So I have a confession. Last week's OOTD (see prior post here), was on a whim. I didn't quite plan on wearing those items besides the floppy hat, and I took a second to be disappointed before I had to gather myself and get ready for church. I had PLANNED on re-creating one of my Polyvore creations (link below to my Polyvore page). I had everything all put together. All I needed was the faux fur vest to go with it. So off I went to my favorite online superstore, Amazon.com, in search of the perfect vest to pull off my mid-winter look. I plugged in my search words, looked through about 30 vests, attempting to find the right color and size for my ensemble, and then I ordered it. The whole process took me about 30 minutes (because who just buys one thing when items are literally at your fingertips?!)In hindsight, I should have known that it was way too easy. My vest came at warp speed (2 days in online shopping world), and I was SOOOO excited...until I opened up the package. Please see below for the reason behind my ensuing sadness at a #FAIL.

It is NOT as fluffly as it looks!

I could go on and on and on about how much of a disappointment this purchase was. But in all reality, this was partially my fault. In my haste to create my newest look, I had overlooked my rules for scoring the perfect item online. And because I do not want this to happen to you, I'm going to give you some tips and tricks for sorting through the "Too good to be true items" of the online warehouse.

As you can see, we have 2 of the 3 offenders; can you find which ones?

1. Read, read, read the reviews!- Your online shoppers in crime are here to help! Take a  second and scroll through the reviews of the item your heart currently desires. And when I say read through, I mean read through the 2-star reviews just a fervently as the 4 or 5-star reviews. And if there are more 2-star reviews, it may be time to look away.

2. Has anyone bought items from the store?- On websites such as Wish or eBay, sellers have their own personal stores to virtually set up shop for us to peruse. One of the biggest red flags when I go to someone's online store, is if they've been around for over 6 months with less than 20 purchases. A lack of clientele screams a lack of experience in online customer care.

3. Is it too good to be true?- In my case, YES. I "scored" this vest for lest than 12 dollars. Now while we all love a steal, we also have to be realistic when buying items. Doing research here is KEY. If you've shopped around at a department store and found that your item cost $50, realistically you will be looking at a 15-25% decrease at an online shopping warehouse-type site. Anything less than that is either a knock-off, or the lovechild of really good stock pictures and shoddy workmanship. You've been warned! Don't cheat yourself by being cheap!

These tips along with plenty of preparation can save you time, money, and hurt feelings when shopping online. Shops like these were created for their convenience and quickness, and the consumer who specializes in social avoidance. That being said, the online scammer preys on the super thrifty with ease because sometimes we don't take the time to research our decisions. Below are some of my favorite online marketplaces. Keep these tips in mind and happy hunting!

Faithfully,
Brieana

Good afternoon everyone! Today I decided on a more structured and professional-esque look. Since I've started working consistently again as a therapist l,I've pulled some of my blazers and wide legs slacks and pants out of the back of my closet to get some more sunlight and use. I also pulled out another sweater to battle against the bitter cold this morning. 

      Happy Friday and Happy February. And what a windy one it is! This past week,our favorite groundhog poked his head out of his home and said "early spring". Well,he didn't actually say that (because that would be weird), but age old tradition says that no shadow means less winter. That revelation inspired me to bring out some of my  cute accent pieces that normally jazz up a rather ho-hum ensemble.