8.16.2016

16 August

OOTD: Blushing Pink

Have you ever gone on an impromptu shopping trip and picked up an item that you would never in a million years think would fit?I had a similar experience to this at my most recent trip to Target (or Tarjay as me and my sisters affectionately call it). As I perused through the clearance section, I came upon the recently coveted plus size line from Target, Ava and Viv.Ava & Viv is new fashion brand designed specifically for plus size woman. The line, designed by Target’s in-house team, offers clothing in sizes 14W to 26W and X to 4X and is currently available in stores and online.Plus size fashionistas rejoice everywhere!

One of the many gems I found in the clearance section (though not from Ava &Viv), was this flowy mid length maternity dress in this nice blushing pink color. Yes...you read that correctly. MATERNITY dress. Prior to my blogging exploits, I would have been embarassed to even breathe "maternity" and "I'm wearing" in the same sentence. But thanks to the Gods of innovation and fashionable fabrics, I say it loud and proud. This dress was also another lesson learned that day: TRY ON YOUR CLOTHES.Being that this was a maternity gown, the midsection area was forigving without compromise style. The shoulder are had this nice raise fabric design. Other than that, the dress was pretty simple, and I adored it. I may have to frequent maternity items more oftten. Sans the state of pregnancy. Check out Target's ever growing plus size line and all other fantastic plus friendly fashions. They're improving everyday! Thanks for listening Target!







Faithfully,
Brieana
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8.10.2016

10 August

Grecian Goddess

Hello everyone! I hope you all haven't missed me too much! My life has been pretty hectic, but I'm trying to get back into the swing of things.

My most recent fashion discovery was this gem of a dress. I foresee lots of wear out of this cotton ruched maxi dress from H&M. I love it for many reasons, two of the top reasons being the classic cut and elegant air.

This dress was actually a thrift find, making it an even bigger score in my book. Some more great features of this maxi is its ability to "transform" into an off-the-shoulder number. The original cut is just a normal scoop neck, but with the neck line being low, it was just a shift of the sleeves in order to create a sexier look. And the sleeves managed to stay "off" my shoulders!

I was also in love with the double slit on either side of the dress. They made for effortless versatility and allowed me to show off a little leg too.

With all of the many ways I can wear this, as well as its ability to hit ALL the right places, you'll definitely be seeing more of this soon!

Faithfully,
Brieana
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7.25.2016

25 July

Model Mondays: Photo Shoot Fashions

Happy Monday everyone! I come to you today off the heels of an extremely productive weekend. It was full of meetings, thought provoking discussions, and fun photoshoots! My body is sore,but in a good way. I don't mind being tired so much when I enjoy what I'm doing.

My photo shoot yesterday was a huge thank you from the pioneers and visionaries of Lehigh Valley Fashion Week. What better way to say 'thank you for your hard work' than to add to my portfolio. I had an amazing time picking out my look for this shoot and getting dolled up. Its every girl's dream.

The look I chose for the shoot was a bit of an ode to Marilyn Monroe, queen of bodaciousness and curves. I've always admired her for her unique take on what she wanted to look like, even if that wans't like everyone else. From my hair, straight down to my shoes, I used Marilyn as my muse to create this sexy and flirty commercial look, that showed off my best curves and assets.

Check out some shots of my photo shoot below.Professional shots coming soon!
Also don't forget to check me out  at Season 3 of Lehigh Valley Fashion Week, happening in a couple of weeks on Friday August 12-Sunday August 14. You can get your tickets here.

Similar /Similar






Faithfully,
Brieana
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7.22.2016

22 July

Casual Friday: July 22,2016

Happy Friday everyone! And a hot one it is. Today's 90 degree weather called for flowy fabrics and forgiving trapeze tees. My outfit consists of a unique designed maxi skirt from boohoo, an online shop that was originally based out of Manchester, U.K. They've built such a fanbase there that their US shop is just as cutting edge, for a fraction of the price. If you're ever looking for current and previous fashions. they have got you covered!

This maxi skirt features a button design down the middle of the skirt. Though the buttons are not functional, they're still an important part of the skirt by adding some life and pizazz to the flowy fabric. What I also like about the skirt is the high waist effect it has, cinching in my waist and accentuating my hips for a boho chic look on this hot and hazy Friday. Check boohoo.com out today and take a look at their collection of maxi skirts, maxi dresses, and other staple closet pieces for the summer. You won't be disappointed!






Faithfully,
Brieana
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7.15.2016

15 July

Summer Midi Skirts

Summer is in full swing! To celebrate, I donned this textured midi swing skirt I got form Forman Mills last summer.Anyone who's not familiar with Forman Mills should get familiar ASAP. Think Burlington Coat Factory crossed with Rainbow Shops. They keep up with the trends and make nice with your pockets at the same time.  It's funny how we women buy something in the moment and then cast it away to the nether-regions of our closet for a WAY later date. Either way, this skirt was comfortable, cute, and classic with its texture, style, and color. The waist band is an elastic, perfect for tucking a longer top into it. I paired the ensemble with this cross strap open toe cork wedges I got from Charlotte Russe, also a few summers back. No worries though! I've put the link to some similar items. 







Floral earrings: Similar



Don't forget to comment and subscribe to the blog to get the lastest trends and updates. I love hearing from you!

Faithfully, 
Brieana
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7.13.2016

13 July

I Was Angry Too...

It was about 2:30AM when I stumbled upon the 2nd most disturbing video I had ever seen. It was only 2 days after the murder of Alton Sterling, and I had done my best to avoid the gruesome video at all costs. I got an idea of the nature of it from my FB and Instagram friends and I knew I wouldn't be able to stomach it. But at 2:30 in the morning,my inhibitions weren't as alert to be able to look away from the bloodied body of Philando Castile,as a visibly shaken cop (or from what I could see, gun),screamed out from what Philando's girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds described as 4 rounds to the chest for complying with orders.

I wanted to look away. So badly. But I couldn't.

So what ensued was another 20 minutes of looking through the hashtag #PhilandoCastile, as my eyes looked through news snippets, more pleasant pictures of Philando,and a video that originally came from Facebook of Diamond Reynolds and who I later found out to be a 4 year old child, in the aftermath of their loved one's shooting by a Minnesota police sergeant.
I couldn't believe it. And what I did next wasn't something familiar to me in the wake of killings of Black men by police officers.

I cried.

For hours. I cried and I screamed as the visions of these two men swirled around in my head as I put the faces of my boyfriend, brother, and best friends on the bodies of other Black citizens whose lives were gone so soon.

For a busted tail light.
For selling CD's with permission.
For Skittles and an Arizona Iced tea.
For [insert justification here].

I mourned the death of these two strangers so violently at 2:30 in the morning that when the well of tears had run dry...the only feeling I had left was anger.

Another black man. Another hashtag.
WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING?

That seething and relentless anger didn't really allow me to function for the rest of the day. I went to work with a headache. I cried some more. And I looked at all of the Caucasian people at my job like they held those guns themselves. I became cynical. I locked myself in my office. I didn't care who noticed.

But then something happened...
My office manager came into my office after a Facebook post that called for no debates, just empathy. She came into my office and said "I just watched the video of that man and I am so pissed off. These cops are getting out of control."
I looked at her for a quick second. And beneath the tears I began to cry again,I saw a few of her tears. It was then that I realized...I wasn't alone.
Now when I say I wasn't alone, I mean it in more of an ally sense. The notion that a white woman could empathize with how I felt definitely wasn't a far-fetched notion, but at that time, in that mindset, it was what I needed. Because after seeing one of my black brothers killed and the idea of the same happening to the other, the only person who could understand my pain would be someone Black, right?

Wrong.

The next few days went by quickly as I wrapped my brain around the fact that others besides African-Americans could be upset and enraged about what they've seen on TV,Facebook,Twitter,etc. What I realized in those few days though, was that my mind went to a place where many of my comrades minds still are.

Anger.
Rage.
Blaming.

Those WELL warranted feelings took me past thinking clearly. I hated cops. I hated the system that bred them. And I was one of those Facebook users silently reading through the comments of people who supported them and hating them too.

My snap back into reality was on July 9th, when a protest claimed the lives of 5 Dallas, Texas police officers. With all of my burning rage, I wanted to be excited that they "got what they deserved." Just typing that today makes me shudder with fear that even for a second, I felt victory over another's death. That was when it hit me.

It's ALL wrong.

Now stay with me. I am an avid Black Lives Matter supporter. It is evident that there is a systematic misfire when officers of the law are dealing with Black men versus White men. I've seen it. I've heard it. My loved ones have been prey to it. The strength of the Black man may likely be the most jarring existence to institutions.

But all cops are not bad. Most cops are not bad. There is an enormous lack of accountability and lack of responsibility on these particular police departments that requires a systemic change. But the change does not come by being anti-cop. The change does not come by being anti-black. The change comes by being pro-justice-accountability, and pro-life. PERIOD.

There's a call to action for us as a nation to account for everyone's life. Because if you celebrated the death of the cops, while morning the lives of your brothers, you’re a part of the problem.

Our nation is in a state of unrest. I call out to all of you to find out how to be a part of the solution. Take that anger and fear and do your due diligence to find out what we can do next. As Blacks. As cops. As human beings. .Do not spread more propaganda of hate. And do not cast down your brother who disagrees with you. Ignorance only breeds more ignorance.  Do not succumb to your anger. Re-purpose it instead. Be educated. Be safe. Be knowledgeable.


"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only love can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." -Martin Luther King Jr.
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7.06.2016

06 July

Working Woman Wednesday: Yona Love

"We do so much as women. We spend our day to day lives being the providers, child rearers,cooks,  and business women. I'm not going to torture myself  trying to find something in my size, with the needed quality. How are we supposed to do it all?-Yona Love



Yona Love may just be the poster woman for a fed-up consumer. Forgotten and under-represented, she took matters into her own hands and created a fashion forward line for the working woman. Sophisticated styling based on the latest trends, structured to fit a fuller figured woman, cuts that drape, fabrics that give and designs that cover but don’t hug the body are all part of Yona’s signature style. Yona New York is the debut collection from deisgner Yona Love, exclusivelt for women sizes 14W-24W.  With stripes, florals, and textures to die for, Yona New York aims to please for the day to night commuter, mom, and all around busy bee. 



I sat down with Yona Love to speak about the originis of Yona New York, her passion behind the fashion, and what's up next.


What drove you to start Yona New York?

 I always loved clothes. But it's so hard to find the quality and price I need as a plus sized business women. They just don't make clothes in my size.  I was tired of being uncomfortable during the day and torturing myself to find clothes that I liked.

 What message does your clothing portray? Is there a theme?

 It definitely is an ode to the different hats we as women wear daily .I try to add stretcy fabrics in all of my pieces (Lycra etc.) You won't feel suffocated or constricted. You're going to be comfy in something that breathes from A.M to P.M. This is something so important because unfortunately there's no time to go home and change. My goal is to make all of the clothing so effortless, that going from work to drinks with your girlfriends is easy. You don't have to do much with the clothing and it is one less thing to worry about.

Do you have any pieces of advice for another entreprenneur lookig to start a business?

 Listen to your people. Keep your ears and eyes open for what your people want. I can never get enough criticisms. You have to take the good with the bad ones, and pick what will be the most beneficial for your business. There will always be haters.

Is there anything new we can look forward to for the upcoming seasons?

 I'm super excited about our fall collection. We might also start including some accessories into the line.

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I for one have never been so excited for the fall! Until then, be sure to check out Yona New York's current stock in skirts, dresses, tops, and wraps. And a special just for reading today, you can enjoy 10% off of your total purchase by using the promo code faithandfashion360.

 Stay tuned for more features of women just like you, living our their dreams one day at a time. Don't forget to subscribe to the blog by providing your e-mail address above. 

 Faithfully,

Brieana  



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7.04.2016

04 July

OOTD: Easy Street

Happy Monday! I hope you're all enjoying your Independence Day with a nice burger,or just a well deserved day off.  My outfit yesterday was simple in throwing on,but chic and effortless in design. Anyone that knows me knows that I love a good jumpsuit. They're not the easiest to find,so when I do, I'm quick to pick one up! This beige number is from my favorite quick stop shop,Rainbow. It was one of the newer items they had in the store. I love the stretchy (and forgiving material) as well as the added plate belt that was included. The deep V made it easy for me to throw a nice statement necklace on. It was practically made for the space! 






What are some of your easy outfits? Leave a comment below. I love hearing from you! 
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6.26.2016

26 June

OOTD: Summer Whites

HAPPY 1st day of Summer! Today's blog post revolves around the bright, airy hues of the summer season. I picked up these white pants from Rainbow and couldn't wait to throw them on. After all, the weather is easy and breezy...what better time to don white?

The rest of my outfit featured some mixed prints of a floral pattern and stripes. I've only just started to experiment more in my closet and I've found through my closet purging that I really like to mix my prints. Today's mix-up stayed true to the blue hued family. My vertical striped top is from Forever 21+, which I bought on clearance.I'm wearing this shirt in a 2x, which is a little big for me, but I was going for more of a casual feel and look, hence the bigger size. I also always err on the side of caution when it comes to button ups, because the mid-section may not always cover my hips in the way I need it to. Either way, you'll definitely see this top again. It's just what I needed for the upcoming still, warm weather. 

My wedges are form Target a few seasons back. These excel in comfort as well as versatility believe it or not. I've worn these wedges with jeans, skirts, and even shorts. They're my pick for the summer. You know what they say about a plus sized girl and her wedges. Hours and HOURS of wear. No flats here!

How will you wear your white this summer?Leave a comment below. And please don't forget to subscribe to my blog by providing your e-mail address above. I love hearing from you!


Faithfully,
Brieana
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6.24.2016

24 June

Casual Friday- June 24,2016

Happy Friday! Today's hot and hazy weather called for short sleeved and open toes. My spotlight items this week is this body -con midi dress from Forever 21+ and these fringed gladiator sandals. Both items together made for a chic and comfortable Friday outfit, made for running errands.

My dress from Forever 21+ is a few seasons old, but some variations of the dress are available on the store's website. I love the dress for it super light material that reduces the sweat and hot flashes of a 95 degree summer day. The length is also perfect for the hot fay. Not too long, not too short.

My fringed gladiator sandals come from my favorite small business owner at Step N' Out on Faith Shoe Salon. These shoes are truly one of a kind. I've seen fringed heels, and I'v also seen gladiator sandals, but I cannot say I've seen both! These can easily be dressed up or down, adding to their versatility and comfort! I was fearful that my calves wouldn't fit in these, but the semi-stretchable straps helped me out. And even at full stretch, I still had some space. SCORE!

My flannel shirt is a thrift find from the Salvation Army. Increased the casual!





How's everyone's Friday going? What are you wearing? Let's see it!

Don't forget to subscribe to my blog posts by providing your e-mail! Who knows what you'll see next.

Faithfully,
Brieana
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6.17.2016

17 June

Casual Friday: I am My Own Body Goals Tee

Happy Friday! Today's warm breezy weather called for some bermuda shorts and some self-motivation written across my chest!

As you may all remember, a couple of weeks ago I announced that I am one of 11 new brand ambassadors to the Curvy Girl Fever movement. a sisterhood and self-love movement created back in 2012 for women of all shapes and sizes. Today I come to you modeling one of their premiere pieces, the "I Am My Own Body Goals" tee. This slogan is basically what Curvy Girl Fever is about, and not just for its body positivity message, but also due to the nature of its meaning: YOU are your own competition. I like those odds!

Don't forget to visit curvygirlfever.com for your own "I Am My Own Body Goals" shirt. They come in tanks and tees (just in time for the summer), ranging in sizes XS-3X. Also look for us on Facebook and Instagram for daily updates, events, and some good old pick-me-ups. Feel free to use my code "BRIE20" for 20% off your total purchase.

Don't forget to comment and subscribe to the blog! I love hearing from you!


 
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