Hello Y’all, It’s Me Candace…

Man. It’s been an incredibly long time since I’ve been on here writing. Quite frankly, I was feeling ashamed at my unintentional absence. Days turned into a week…weeks turned into a month…months turned into over a year. Smh. Yes, I’m actually shaking my head. I’ve been uninspired almost the entire time I’ve been absent. Life really just has been a lot to tackle over the past couple of years. I could go on with specifics, but I’m sort of a private person and out of respect for my family I won’t indulge.

Otherwise, I’m truly excited to be back! I’m not sure if I’ve ever shared my name but by now you’ve probably figured out that it’s Candace. I just wanted to reintroduce myself but in a private, personable way. Look, plenty of influencers take breaks and I’m no different. I never thought I would NEED a break from blogging because I loved it so much but this time off has taught me a ton! As a matter of fact, that’s the reason I wanted to start off by telling you guys my name. I intend to exude parts of my personality more in this style blogging thing-a-ma-jig. Y’all ready? Set? Let’s go! Let’s see what I come up with! To be continued…

The Tiger Changes Her Stripes…

If you’ve been following my blog for a while then you may have figured out that I am a LOVER of stripes. Specifically, I have an affinity for black and white stripes. Black and white stripes is such a classic look from such a simple pattern. You don’t need to add much else to this pattern to make it great. I somehow always tend to be drawn to the black and white combination instead of branching out to other colors of this pattern. A tiger is allowed to change her stripes right?

That’s the thing about style, sometimes it revolves around feelings and circumstances. You can adjust and tweak your personal style as you grow and also to fit your feelings at the moment. I’ve changed and continue to evolve. If you do too, don’t feel bad. The fashion world does this all the time, they just called it “trends”.  Yep, sometimes it means going back to those old habits and loves. This is all a part of finding your “you” in style.

Lately I have been going back to my roots of shopping and extending my shopping searches to more than just the few places I had been before. This allows me to get a greater variety and choice of what I’m looking for. So a couple of months ago, I was able to pick up a striped dress at Justfab. Now the thing is, I had the option of grabbing my good ol comfortable, classic black and white combination but I opted for color instead.

The burgundy and navy combo is so beautiful…it’s quite classic in itself and I wanted to highlight the burgundy so I paired the dress with my suede burnt orange trench coat. The two warmer colors not only contrast but also highlight the navy in the dress allowing a great balance of color. The burgundy faux suede stiletto boots make the burgundy in the dress stand out as well as the texture of the coat. I simply added a simple choker and clutch to finish the look! Have you made any small changes to your style? If so, what changes and why?

Dress: Justfab. Shoes: Lola Shoetique. Coat: OLD. Choker: Forever 21. Clutch: TBA. 


Winter Blues & Plaids

So I think the past few months I have talked about winter so much we’re all tired of winter right? Lol. Well, I’m officially sick (no literally) of winter. Currently, I have an ear ache, sinus infection and a cold but I’m pushing through it. The light at the end of the tunnel is SPRING!!! In the meantime, I’ve become slightly uninspired due to not just the weather and the lingering on of winter but the current state of my health. This swinging weather of 60 degrees one day and 18 degrees with snow the next is very hard to plan by. Guys, I have so many looks lined up for warmer weather, I’m quite uninterested in dressing up to be cold. Regardless, tis life and I must dress for it.

I decided on this bold and colorful plaid poncho to be the “center” of my look. In true stylist fashion, I “thinga-ma-jigged”  my poncho into a scarf instead. It’s still a poncho but it is much more cozy and beneficial as a scarf. My coat is of a faux wool/felt material. It honestly is a decently warm coat. It boasts an extra large collar that pretty much envelopes my upper half. I’m wearing fleece leggings. They are sooooo cozy and warm!!! My boots, you all have seen a number of times. They’re from Justfab’s Luxe line (now no longer) but there are similar styles on the market. Mine are genuine suede which I love. Since this look is cozy, I have a large handbag I purchased from H&M to store everything I need while out and about to make me comfortable in this cold. I opted for sunglasses because of the brightness of the snow. My accessories are minimal. Let me know what you think! How do you stay inspired in the long months of winter and when it’s cold?

Later Cupcakes!! ❤️💙

Boots: Justfab (similar here). Leggings: Gifted (similar here). Poncho/Scarf: Thrifted (similar here). Denim Blouse: Thrifted (similar here). Jewelry: Neon Wild & Layered Chains. Sunglasses: eBay. Bag: H&M (similar here).

90s Look: Fringe Benefits 

Friday’s are days that I love! My children are off for the weekend, my hubby is too (even though I’m always working) and I get to enjoy my family! Now this weekend things will be a lil bit different. We have some work to do but we are still going to spend quality time together. Very simply put, I wanted a fun and stylish look! Fringe is always easy way to make an otherwise boring outfit fun!

The fringe I chose are fringe boots. They truly add a little bit of funk to my look. I didn’t feel like doing too much with my look because this seems like the perfect day to watch a movie and munch on a good crock pot meal lol. Honestly, I hadn’t noticed until my hubby pointed it out that I look like I belong in a Lil Kim video lol. Well, that goes to show that the simplest looks can say the most right?! Ha!

Welp, I gathered a few things that I had in my closet, some new, some old and put them together in this look. So there really is no concept in my looks during the winter beyond warmth and comfort honestly (which I know I’ve said before). For warmth, I really do love a fur jacket, coat, cardigan, etc., so that’s what I reached for in this look. I have a few furs, a couple which are jackets. Since this look is intended to be casual, I didn’t want to wear a fur coat which seems to be worn in a more formal fashion historically. Now of course you can break the mode and wear a maxi length coat if you like but I declined to do so.

My jacket was purchased years ago from Burlington Coat Factory on the clearance rack for under 20 bucks! Yes!! 20 bucks!!! It was extremely cheap because there was a genuine suede belt that accompanied the jacket in two loops but one of the loops was “broken”.  I decided to cut both loops off and not wear the belt at all. I think it gives the coat a more luxurious look (beyond the black color). I grabbed a turtleneck dress that I bought on clearance from American Apparel last year. I saw this dress on Adrienne Bailon and fell in love with this dress. I bought the exact same color which is a sort of sea foam green. It balances the black of the jacket out pretty well. I’m exhausted with wearing dark colors in the winter and quite frankly I’m just ready for winter to be over lol. The turtleneck dress is a fitted one and really accentuates anyone’s curves that would wear it. My accessories are minimal. Since my dress comes a bit above the knees, I found the opportunity to wear thigh high boots (again for warmth) and even though they are open toe, I was warm because my thighs are covered. I wanted a sleek look so I opted for a bag I grabbed from H&M. The clean lines and contemporary look of the bag is exactly what I needed to balance the modern simplicity of this outfit. Let me know what you think of this outfit and also, let me know how you wear your furs!

Til next time,

Later Cupcakes!

Fur jacket: Burlington (similar here). Dress: American Apparel (similar here). Denim shirt: Walmart (similar here). Boots: Shoedazzle (similar here). Bag: H&M


Casual Friday: Office Appropriate 

This is dedicated to all of my style friends out there that work in the office environment. When I worked in an office (I do still work in my own office), I couldn’t wait for casual Friday because I hated business wear. The thing is, even though as a staff we got to wear more casual attire, we still had guidelines to follow. The point of this outfit look is to actually show how you can be casual and stylish while still dressed appropriately for the office environment.

Since long line jackets are among my favorite pieces to keep in a wardrobe, I think incorporating such a thing in an outfit can automatically keep your look business-like without looking boring. Naturally, anything can rock a fresh pair of jeans I will so I opted for a pair from Forever 21. They cost about 10 bucks and are a basic wash denim. A basic wash doesn’t look to “decorated” that they detract from the business aspect of your look. I paired the jeans with a mock turtleneck top, white in color for a clean, fresh detail of the look. I added a scarf for esthetic and and comfort, another layer as well as an extra bit of (depth of) color. My boots are the rugged yet chic detail of my look. They boast an overt stitched, thick sole and fur at the outer inside area of the shoe as well as the tongue. I love this design of boot because it’s wet and snowy out. I won’t risk breaking my neck in heels with these! Let me know if you likey! I will see you guys back here tomorrow for a special (not really lol) post!

Later Cupcakes!

Jacket: Thrifted (similar here). Turtleneck: Thrifted (similar here). Scarf: (New) Goodwill (similar here). Jeans: Forever 21 (almost similar here). Boots: Target. Bag: H&M

 

L-A-Y-E-R-S-!

Preface: I was supposed to upload this post yesterday but the post somehow got erased. I’m sorry guys. Trust me, I was beyond frustrated for the lack of a better word. Regardless, I still will be uploading Friday’s post. 

There is no doubt in my mind that winter’s cold somehow forces the unintentional organic act of layering clothes and outerwear. The thing with layering is that it can be stylish regardless of the intentions of keeping warm. The beauty of being stylishly comfortable is that can evoke a major sense of creativity. You can truly find your sense of style in the process of layer clothing. Now, personally my sense of style has been evolving lately by each month but that is to be expected and moods of what you may like to wear for months, maybe even years at a time does indeed occur. My advice when layering is to be willing to experiment. For instance, don’t be afraid to mix not only prints but colors and even “styles”. I will discuss the generalized types of styles that exist in fashion in a (very near future) later post. Perhaps then, I will do my very first look book!!! Layering can involve more than one piece of outerwear, more than one shirt, more than one kind of bottoms and even only layering accessories. I chose to layer with outerwear and a blazer.

The weather has indeed been frightful, in fact it decided to snow on the day I wore this look. That being said, I knew that I wanted to wear my fur vest. This vest is so incredibly warm and allows for the rest of my look to still shine through. My blazer is an old one from Forever 21 and it also very warm. I didn’t feel the need of a coat seeing as that the vest and blazer provides so much warmth from the brisk air. I am wearing thermal leggings…tis the season for cozy (and publicly accepted) pants lol! I wore a ruffled front ribbed tunic to further block the cold air. I opted against jewelry because the focus is truly on my layering and the comfort of this look. I chose my fave clutch, very simple and doesn’t detract from the look at all. My boots add another layer to the look in that it seems to add “weight” to the bottom of the outfit by the look of the wedge. I hope you guys get where I’m going with this. Anyhoo, even the suede of the boots offers a layer sort to speak against the look of the fur. My goal was to create a balance throughout the look and still be cozy. This look is intentionally slightly masculine because I am in the woods (and I wanted to portray a lumber jack effect {insert wink smiley face emoji}) but you can make this look a bit more feminine by simply changing the hat and the color of the plaid shirt or blazer. So let me know what you think of this look!! How do you layer? What is your favorite way to keep warm? I will see you back here tomorrow…yep, I am still uploading Friday’s look!

 

Later Cupcakes!!

 

Black Ribbed Tunic: DOTS, (similar here). Vest & Blazer: Forever 21 (similar blazer here). Boots: Justfab (similar here). Leggings: . Hat: Boohoo (similar here). Earrings: H&M (similar here). Clutch: American Apparel

Impromptu Post…

I’ve had a lot of inspiration lately. Any and everything inspires me. Life has run a muck sort-to-speak in my world. I’ve been swamped and haven’t had the chance to post so quite frankly, this is an impromptu post. I wasn’t going to post this until tomorrow but since I’ve been too swamped to post in a while, I thought posting today is only fair. There will still be another post tomorrow as well, all posts will get moved up. I wish I had more to say this time but honestly I’m exhausted. I have a few reviews posting this week and three more outfit posts this week. Things in life are not back to normal and they never will be but I learned a lot this year. I’ve formed closer bonds with loving friends, closed chapters and been forced to become stronger than I thought I ever could be. This post is a bit more emotional than normal but I will back to my style explaining self tomorrow.

I love the darkness in this look. It offers so much depth and mystery but is till feminine. It’s a bit cool but my adrenaline allowed for me to wear this sheer  trench coat style cardigan over my outfit. I’m sporting a crop top from Forever 21. This is weird fitting top. I’m hoping to find this color in a turtleneck shirt. Anyhoo, my shorts are black and white plaid, vintage and thrifted. I love the contrast against my crop top. Now I know you must be thinking, “why didn’t she show skin” but I have two good reasons. One, I wanted a layered look. Two, I was just not loving the look of this fit without something underneath. Regardless, I think that the look came together. What do you think? Check the blog for another outfit post tomorrow….

Bye Cupcakes!

Shorts: Thrifted. Crop Top: Forever 21. Hat: Gadzooks (Or Forever 21). Boots: Shiekh Shoes (I think). Cardigan: Naked Wardrobe. 

Concrete Jungle/Early “Winter” Safari

It’s almost winter!! Can you guys believe it?!!

Fall seriously came and went rather quickly. I truly made an effort to enjoy autumn this year. I went to the cider mill, ran through a corn maze, sat by a bon fire, played in the leaves and indulged in cider and donuts just to name a few. I must say, the fall is one of my favorite seasons. We are literally less than two weeks away from the winter time. Normally, I would be dreading it but I’m actually welcoming the season this year. As a blogger, it’s always nice to make use of the opportunity to dress for the current season. Here in Michigan, it’s been quite warm lately. Our temperatures have been in the 50s generally. I am aware that this is due to El Niño and normally I’d probably be bundled up in about ten layers of clothing and outerwear lol.

Since it’s warmer, I don’t always reach for a jacket. One occasion that I don’t was just discussed in my last post. Check that out if you haven’t already. (Insert cheesing smile emoji). One of the other occasions would include wearing a fur vest. I’ve had this vest for over a year. In fact, I’ve worn it in another outfit. Fur vests are extremely cozy and warm. They also provide a nice cover for those that might not want to bare  their body’s silhouette but want to be fashionable. They give an extra layer to any outfit without taking over the look. Don’t be afraid to layer over jackets, maxi vests, rompers, etc.

I opted to wear mine with an off the shoulder bodysuit, high waisted pants, and high heeled mules. My vest has pockets which I love! I can leave my handbag at home if I like and carry my essentials on me. The belt was thrifted and looks to be Gucci inspired but I picked it up because it goes perfectly with this look. It adds a perfect pop of color. Let me know if this look is something you’d wear! I’d love to hear!! Until tomorrow for a couple of reviews…

Bye Cupcakes!!! 💋

Vest: Forever 21. Top: Urban Outfitters. Pants & Belt: thrifted. Shoes: Justfab. Earrings: Layered Chains. Necklace: Forever 21.

“In Living Color”

*As promised, here is more of a complicated look.* (wink)

So lately I’ve been in a mood for simple looks with calming colors. However, I have to insert looks here and there that make the eyes dance! I enjoy colors so much!! I mean, there are so many colors in life so why not explore and live in color? (Insert colorful heart emojis here). I found the main event sort to speak, of this outfit while out thrifting. There is absolutely nothing like finding a great piece that stands out. The piece I found is actually a short dress but it is way too short for my taste to wear as such. Therefore, I am wearing it as a tunic.

The colors are so bold and bright that I wanted to highlight them even more by grabbing a contrast print. I chose a black and white chevron clutch bag by Turquoise Soul Bags. The black and white really forces the bold colors of the tunic to pop. You can’t help but to notice both and in an unexpected way, they compliment each other. Since the weather is between 45 and 55 degrees lately, wearing a leather jacket is opportunistic without the threat of freezing. I opted for one of my fave black ones. I decided on some knee high open toe lace up boots on top of black leggings to complete the ensemble for an illusion of wearing just a short dress and tights. Modesty. For a funky kick, I am wearing a hat I bought earlier this year from Boohoo. The hat adds more of an eclectic yet structured touch. The gold cuff choker keeps the look in a glamorous balance. My jewelry is minimal so as so not take away from the stylist-ic (made that up lol) look of the outfit. Let me know what you think!! I welcome comments!! If you are not, follow me on Instagram, I always post my looks there plus some things I don’t post to my blog. Thank you in advance for your feedback and don’t forget to join me back here Friday for another outfit post!

Bye Cupcakes!! 🍭

Colorful top: (Vintage) Goodwill. Jacket: Thirifted. Hat: Boohoo. Bag: Turquoise Soul Bags. Boots: UrbanOg (old). Choker: Aldo. Leggings & Tank: H&M.

But It's Still Fall…

This past weekend produced some mouth opening situations however, none as shocking as the snow storm we got here in Michigan. The first snow fall. Like really? I was not ready at all. I mean, I had some things that were left over from the previous year (coats, boots, hats, a pair of gloves) but I was not closet ready. Several posts back, I talked about purging and getting rid of things that were no longer of any use in my wardrobe. Well I follow the rule of “in order to buy something new, something old must be sold/given away/thrown out”. I do not believe in accumulating “stuff”. The fact of the matter is, I had gotten rid of a lot of old things that were winter gear as a part of my purging. I honestly thought that I still had time to get the things that I wanted and needed before our first big snow fall. It’s technically still fall!!! But who am I kidding? I live in Michigan. The darn state is shaped like a mitten, it could snow at any time lol. I had to get ready…and fast!

Just a shameless plug, be sure to come back here tomorrow for a new series that I am starting here on my blog called Style Lusts. It will feature some things that I have my eye on at the moment as well as recently purchased things or things that I’ve pulled out of my closet. Some of those things had to make an appearance on today’s post. I can’t believe how cold it has gotten in just a matter of days. I definitely decided that I wanted to wear a coat for this look. There was no way I could not. However, I still show my style in this outfit, even with my coat on.

I found some old boots in my closet from over a decade ago that I purchased from Victoria’s Secret. They are genuine leather patent leather boots!! Rare nowadays. The patent leather allows the boots to stand out and pop against the entire look. I opted for a tweed coat (I LOVE tweed) with a fur collar. The collar can be taken off but I won’t be doing that because I  don’t ever need to wear a scarf when I wear that coat. For this outfit however, I did opt to wear one. Just for the sake of fashion lol. The houndstooth print accents and actually magnifies the look of the tweed. Underneath it all (the coat and what not), is a green wrap dress that I thrifted from the Goodwill. I didn’t wear any jewelry to avoid snags to my scarf but honestly the look doesn’t need it! For an extra accent, I wore some decorative tights. Let me know what you think of the entire look! Oh and be sure to check out my first post of Style Lusts here on my blog tomorrow!!

Bye Cupcakes!

Diamond Suds: Layered Chains. (Savings Code for 10% off: thestylecake)