I am so excited to announce that I have finally combined the Luxe by Liz blog with the site and it is finally up and running! Please check out the new site and enter to win free stuff (YAY!).
www.luxebyliz.com
From this point on all blog posts will be on the new site.
Thank you all for being readers of the Luxe by Liz blog!
XOX
Liz
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Luxe by Liz updates!
Hello Readers!
I am excited to announce that I have been in the process of creating a new website for Luxe by Liz. I will be combining the site and the blog into one, So you can still read all of your favorite fashion blog posts and see other things all in one place. The site will have content on luxury fashion for less and beauty tutorials along with a few baby and family posts. I am trying to have the site up and running smoothly by next week if I am not surprised by a little one at all this week :) We are finally to nine months and now they are finally starting to discuss delivery options that might work best for my crazy body. So much is still up in the air...
The fashion posts will resume next week but on the new site. I will be talking about some of the outerwear must haves for the cold weather season and one trend in particular that I'm in love with and sporting all the time :)
Happy Fall Yall!
XOX
LIZ
I am excited to announce that I have been in the process of creating a new website for Luxe by Liz. I will be combining the site and the blog into one, So you can still read all of your favorite fashion blog posts and see other things all in one place. The site will have content on luxury fashion for less and beauty tutorials along with a few baby and family posts. I am trying to have the site up and running smoothly by next week if I am not surprised by a little one at all this week :) We are finally to nine months and now they are finally starting to discuss delivery options that might work best for my crazy body. So much is still up in the air...
The fashion posts will resume next week but on the new site. I will be talking about some of the outerwear must haves for the cold weather season and one trend in particular that I'm in love with and sporting all the time :)
Happy Fall Yall!
XOX
LIZ
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Develop Personal Style with this Style Quiz
Hello Readers,
As I had mentioned in a previous post I have created a little quiz of sorts that should help aid you in determining your personal style. It can be really hard to pin down what exactly you like when it comes to style. Maybe you like a little of everything but only have courage to wear certain pieces or maybe you have a bunch of clothes that just aren't really 'You'. Whatever the case may be, it is important to determine what your style is. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
1) Use websites like Pinterest or Polyvore and create boards full of pieces you love. Then, look over all of the things you added and look for common threads in all of the pieces. Notice if a particular pattern, color, fabric, or overall look keeps repeating itself. Take note of that and use those factors as key components in your wardrobe.
2) Consider your career, age, budget, climate and lifestyle. For example- You may really love chunky sweaters and boots but this is not so great if you live in a warm climate.
3) Take the quiz below.
So this is how the quiz works: Scroll through each of the photo collages and pick which collages have the most pieces that you like and could see yourself wearing. The results are listed at the bottom of this page in such a way for if you pick mostly A's or mostly B's etc. Their are two types of collages, the accessories sets and the clothing sets. Pick one of each. If the two that you pick have different letters than you probably are more of a combination of those two styles so read the answers for both letters! Enjoy :)
Mostly A's- You like all things girly! Bows, dots, pastels, and all things romantic! You probably find yourself drawn to a lot of fabrics with small prints on it or lighter more flowy materials. Lucky for you, Pastel pink and gold is going to stay a trend this fall season. These colors look beautiful together and are perfect for the girly look you love. Try to avoid looking like a little girl though by adding in some classic/ timeless pieces for a little more sophisticated girly look. Style Icon: Taylor Swift
Mostly B's- You like sexy and edgy. Your not afraid to show a little skin and rock your beautiful looks. You like heals, animal prints, lace, studs and leather. For this fall be sure to try out the oxblood trend in every way you can! Leopard is still trendy too so spice up something ordinary with leopard print shoes or accessories. Avoid showing too much or looking like a hooker by only wearing one or too edgy pieces at a time. Style Icon: Kim Kardashian
Mostly C's- You like classic and neutral pieces. Layering neutrals is very stylish this fall season so pull it all out and mix and match to create unique layers. Avoid looking boring by adding in a small pop of one of the trend colors for this fall or a classic white and navy stripe top to create interest. Layering will create this interest also. Don't be afraid to try a pair of maroon jeans! Style Icon: Victoria Beckham and Michele Obama
Mostly D's- You love your boy friends clothes and all thing Tom boy. You like plaid flannels, boy friend jeans and seek simplicity and comfort. Red flannels are very stylish and comfy and make a great addition to any wardrobe. Just be sure to maintain a nice silhouette by balancing loose fitting with more fitted to avoid looking like a brown paper bag. Style Icon: Kiera Knightly has this style slightly. If you want to see this look perfected though, look up images (or watch the movie) Begin Again with Kiera Knightly in it. All of her outfits in this movie are perfect!!
Mostly E's- You like eclectic and eccentric and probably already know what these words mean. You enjoy vintage finds and unique things that can't be found anywhere else. You have a more artistic sense of style and maybe already enjoy other types of art. This fall, rock your vintage look by using all kinds of browns and golds. Don't be afraid to wear those paint splattered jeans either ;) Try mixing more modern pieces with vintage finds and see what you create!! Style Icon: the Olsen twins. While they are known for their Boho style, browsing their outfits can be inspiring and they have come up with some creative ensembles.
I hope this quiz kind of gives you a little bit of a better sense of your personal style. Of course, My styling services are always available and I now am even offering online styling sessions via skype and google hangouts if you feel you could benefit from working one on one with a personal stylist. The fall season is the best time to do a wardrobe update. I will be posting soon some of my favorite DIY style tricks for this fall so stay tuned.
XOX
LIZ
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Weekly: Behind the Scenes- Project Nursery
Hello Readers!
I hope everyone is getting a taste of fall and enjoying it :) I'm one of those weirdos who loves fall and winter and greatly anticipates that first snow each winter. I had a fabulous birthday this past weekend and I might even say it was the best birthday I have ever had. It was simple and sweet and I got to spend it with all the people who matter most. Thank you to all of those who sent kind birthday wishes to me.
We finally finished project nursery this past week!! What a long project that was... Since we are planning on moving soon after Eowyn is born we did not want to invest in a lot of big furniture pieces for her room and plan on waiting until we are at a more permanent home to make those purchases. But we have everything we need for those first few months (hopefully) all in place and the bags are packed for the hospital- yay! It feels great to have those things out of the way. I'm getting more and more excited to meet our little girl and finally see her beautiful face not just on the ultrasound photos. We have six very busy weeks left until her due date but everyone is thinking she will make her debut a little early- We will see. Keeping extremely busy has helped keep my mind off of how uncomfortable it is to be 8 months pregnant and how anxious I am for her arrival!
Here are a few shots from her nursery...
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I hope everyone is getting a taste of fall and enjoying it :) I'm one of those weirdos who loves fall and winter and greatly anticipates that first snow each winter. I had a fabulous birthday this past weekend and I might even say it was the best birthday I have ever had. It was simple and sweet and I got to spend it with all the people who matter most. Thank you to all of those who sent kind birthday wishes to me.
We finally finished project nursery this past week!! What a long project that was... Since we are planning on moving soon after Eowyn is born we did not want to invest in a lot of big furniture pieces for her room and plan on waiting until we are at a more permanent home to make those purchases. But we have everything we need for those first few months (hopefully) all in place and the bags are packed for the hospital- yay! It feels great to have those things out of the way. I'm getting more and more excited to meet our little girl and finally see her beautiful face not just on the ultrasound photos. We have six very busy weeks left until her due date but everyone is thinking she will make her debut a little early- We will see. Keeping extremely busy has helped keep my mind off of how uncomfortable it is to be 8 months pregnant and how anxious I am for her arrival!
Here are a few shots from her nursery...
The nursery project has slowly been underway since July so we are very happy to have it finished and ready for her. I wanted to stick to a woodland theme for her nursery with lots of fun travel theme pieces and owls and foxes and little forest animals. My friend painted some awesome travel theme art work that I also cannot wait to hang! After we have moved and settled into our new home, I will hone in on more details for her room but this is just kind of her temporary nursery for her first few months :)
I have been busy making a quiz for my readers to help you decide what your personal style is so I will be posting that soon- keep an eye out! I will also be giving tips for how to incorporate major fall trends into your wardrobe without trading in your own style or breaking the bank.
XOX
LIZ
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Ultimate throwback thursday post
Tomorrow is my twentieth birthday! I cannot believe it is already here and after finally getting a good night sleep last night, I feel like I can finally be excited for my birthday weekend. I have been reflecting a lot over the past year and all that has happened and I honestly think that it was probably the most important year of my life thus far and the year I did the most growing. One year ago today, I moved from suburban area to Philadelphia with my fiance at the time. Our first place was a complete rip off and was not in the fancy part of town but it was in the city and it was "ours" and that's what made it awesome. A lot of people disagreed with our decision to move in together prior to being married, but I am very happy I did it. The best and possibly only way to really 'grow up' is to just get out there on your own and figure out how to make it work. Being an adult doesn't come with a handbook, you earn the title when you take on your own responsibilities. If a white, 19 year old girl can move to the ghetto and make something of herself and support herself, then anybody can. This is really cliche but it makes me think of the Drake song 'started from the bottom now we are here,' you gotta start somewhere if you want to get anywhere. One of the biggest lessons I have learned is if you want anything out of this life, you make it for yourself and nothing good comes easy or comes to those who are lazy.
I also got married over the past year and married life is a huge transition also. Like any married person will tell you, it is a lot of hard work. Married life is nice, I love my husband very dearly, but marriage should never be anyone's be all and end all goal. You get married and then life goes on. The biggest thing I have learned from being married is to not rely on anyone else for my happiness, not even my spouse. I have to make myself happy and find peace myself- my husband or anyone for that matter cannot provide me with peace and happiness and I shouldn't expect them to. Marriage is two whole people coming together to make something great, not two incomplete halves coming together to make one.
After being married for only 4 months, we then found out that our family was no longer just the two of us and our cat but would be expanding with a little daughter. That was a very exciting event to find out we were pregnant but I had no idea how miserable it would really be. In the movies it looks fun and the pregnant ladies look so cute so why wouldn't it work that way for me? Haha.... what a joke. I could list all the complications and surgeries etc that have happened during the past 8 months but I don't think anyone really cares to hear so instead I will just tell you what I have learned from the painful and miserable experiences of pregnancy. It comes down to happiness... which now I'm starting to notice a common thread here. Everyone says I will be so happy when she is born and that's nice I'm sure I will be very happy, but then I will be presented with a screaming, vomiting, poop machine. And what will you tell me then? That it will get better when she has grown out of it? It really bothers me when people say the best is yet to come or just to wait until the next stage of life, because the stark reality is: life sucks and is always full of some kind of shit you have to deal with no matter what stage you are at. Like I have sort of said previously, life is about creating a better today. Don't count on circumstances to make you happy or bring you what you want. Everyone is an artist with brush in hand and can decide to either paint happiness on their canvas or sadness. Did you paint a sad canvas yesterday? Well paint over it with a happy one today and keep painting happiness until you have made the masterpiece that is your life. Happiness is not a destination, but a choice that you are presented with every single day. So yes, being pregnant has been extremely miserable for me. But I still choose happiness because if I don't choose it today then it will make it easier to not choose it again tomorrow or the next day. And if I can be happy today, then I know I can create happiness when presented with a screaming poop machine or a terrible tot or an evil teenager. Happiness does not depend on circumstances or people, you create it for yourself if you want the kind that lasts.
Reflecting over the past year, I realize I have learned a lot of really valuable lessons about happiness, life and family. I realized it is okay to cut people out of your life if they are abusive, even if it is a family member. I have learned that divine timing is everything, and how everything DOES work together in your favor eventually if you have pure intentions. I have learned to really cherish my parents and the good family that I do have and value their wisdom. I have learned first hand what slum lords are and what it feels like to have the hot water connected to the toilet instead of the shower (funny story behind this...). But most importantly I have learned about happiness and how to love those around me a little better, trust me, I'm still not a pro at this though!! So as my teenage chapter comes to an end, I look forward to all the lessons my twenties will teach me as well as my daughter and husband- my zen masters ;)
A few shots from the past year including our first place, wedding and pregnant bellies...
And for the heck of it and because it is a Thursday I will include a few throwback Thursday shots from way back in the day... go ahead and laugh. They are funny.
Life is whatever you make it, so make it beautiful <3
XOX
LIZ
I also got married over the past year and married life is a huge transition also. Like any married person will tell you, it is a lot of hard work. Married life is nice, I love my husband very dearly, but marriage should never be anyone's be all and end all goal. You get married and then life goes on. The biggest thing I have learned from being married is to not rely on anyone else for my happiness, not even my spouse. I have to make myself happy and find peace myself- my husband or anyone for that matter cannot provide me with peace and happiness and I shouldn't expect them to. Marriage is two whole people coming together to make something great, not two incomplete halves coming together to make one.
After being married for only 4 months, we then found out that our family was no longer just the two of us and our cat but would be expanding with a little daughter. That was a very exciting event to find out we were pregnant but I had no idea how miserable it would really be. In the movies it looks fun and the pregnant ladies look so cute so why wouldn't it work that way for me? Haha.... what a joke. I could list all the complications and surgeries etc that have happened during the past 8 months but I don't think anyone really cares to hear so instead I will just tell you what I have learned from the painful and miserable experiences of pregnancy. It comes down to happiness... which now I'm starting to notice a common thread here. Everyone says I will be so happy when she is born and that's nice I'm sure I will be very happy, but then I will be presented with a screaming, vomiting, poop machine. And what will you tell me then? That it will get better when she has grown out of it? It really bothers me when people say the best is yet to come or just to wait until the next stage of life, because the stark reality is: life sucks and is always full of some kind of shit you have to deal with no matter what stage you are at. Like I have sort of said previously, life is about creating a better today. Don't count on circumstances to make you happy or bring you what you want. Everyone is an artist with brush in hand and can decide to either paint happiness on their canvas or sadness. Did you paint a sad canvas yesterday? Well paint over it with a happy one today and keep painting happiness until you have made the masterpiece that is your life. Happiness is not a destination, but a choice that you are presented with every single day. So yes, being pregnant has been extremely miserable for me. But I still choose happiness because if I don't choose it today then it will make it easier to not choose it again tomorrow or the next day. And if I can be happy today, then I know I can create happiness when presented with a screaming poop machine or a terrible tot or an evil teenager. Happiness does not depend on circumstances or people, you create it for yourself if you want the kind that lasts.
Reflecting over the past year, I realize I have learned a lot of really valuable lessons about happiness, life and family. I realized it is okay to cut people out of your life if they are abusive, even if it is a family member. I have learned that divine timing is everything, and how everything DOES work together in your favor eventually if you have pure intentions. I have learned to really cherish my parents and the good family that I do have and value their wisdom. I have learned first hand what slum lords are and what it feels like to have the hot water connected to the toilet instead of the shower (funny story behind this...). But most importantly I have learned about happiness and how to love those around me a little better, trust me, I'm still not a pro at this though!! So as my teenage chapter comes to an end, I look forward to all the lessons my twenties will teach me as well as my daughter and husband- my zen masters ;)
A few shots from the past year including our first place, wedding and pregnant bellies...
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| our first apartment... |
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| first Christmas together as a married couple |
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| Wedding :) |
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| First snow storm endured together... It doesn't snow much in Africa or ATL so we are both fairly new to the whole snow thing |
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| When I first found out I was going to be able to attend Yogalife institute. What an exciting day!! |
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| 7 week old baby girl...small bellies become big bellies. |
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| The little stinker right before mommies surgery. |
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| Buying product for my shop when I first opened it. Tickets to this event were my birthday present last year. |
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| 18th birthday...the day I became legal. |
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| I was 16 in this picture... |
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| My first time visiting the FOX theater in ATL with my best friend! I was also probably 16 |
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| Senior year...What am I wearing... |
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| Senior Prom...why did I think it was okay to wear hot pink feathers in my hair?! |
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| When the hubs and I first met. |
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| Freshman year of college... |
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| College days... |
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| Senior year at Art camp... such a blast!! |
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| This is what we did... Mission lab trip to New Orleans. Senior year of high school. |
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| When poor college students want drums, you use trash cans and coffee cans. |
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Oh no.. the middle school years. This was 8th grade.  |
XOX
LIZ
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Weekly: Behind the Scenes
Hello Readers,
How was your holiday weekend? I hope it was a sweet end of summer for you :) I am so excited for fall, it is my all time favorite season for so many reasons. We spent our labor day in New York City and had a great time (until I started having lots of contractions on this fairy out to Staton Island...not cool.) We saw a lot while we were there but I really just enjoyed the atmosphere. I love being in the city and I always have. We got some fun pictures from NYC that I wanted to share with you today. I always love to hear from my readers, so please leave a comment of what you did for this holiday weekend.
I will not be sharing three fun facts about our family today, this week has been crazy as I start a new volunteer job and also happens to be one of the worst weeks for me as a chronic insomniac. I have had it for years but sometimes it gives me more trouble then at other times. I have probably only slept for about 5 hours total all week so please keep me in your prayers and send some healing light my way if you think about it! Stay tuned as I will continue the college fashion posts :)
XOX
LIZ
How was your holiday weekend? I hope it was a sweet end of summer for you :) I am so excited for fall, it is my all time favorite season for so many reasons. We spent our labor day in New York City and had a great time (until I started having lots of contractions on this fairy out to Staton Island...not cool.) We saw a lot while we were there but I really just enjoyed the atmosphere. I love being in the city and I always have. We got some fun pictures from NYC that I wanted to share with you today. I always love to hear from my readers, so please leave a comment of what you did for this holiday weekend.
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| With my Parents on Staton Island |
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| My two most favorite guys :) |
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| Fred begged for this picture... then ended up getting a NYPD tee later. |
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| 9/11 grounds |
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| Fred makes new friends everywhere he goes. This guy worked in one of the towers bombed in the 9/11 attack. He was on his way to work when it all happened. Now he is retired and has moved to NJ. |
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| For an empath, visiting this site felt really heavy and sad. This is the 9/11 memorial pool. |
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| Stickers by the first responders fire station... |
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| My mom photo bombed this... without even knowing. Haha |
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| I loved these flowers and the big red pots! |
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| Trinity church right next to Wall Street. |
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| NYC skyline |
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| Statue of Liberty |
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| NYC skyline when sunny...beautiful! |
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| City walks |
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| Found my great (x10) grandfathers grave, William Bradford buried at Trinity church. This made me think of my grandpa who has since passed but when he was still alive, he loved to track our family history! |
XOX
LIZ
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
College Freshman style: Dress for success
Hello Readers!
I wanted to do a post series on back to college fashion and for those poor college freshman who need help figuring out what to wear! I can't help you find your class, but I can help you know what to wear so you will look fabulous your first semester of college! Some days, you will want to just throw on your yoga pants and hoodie, and that's totally okay. But the way you present yourself says a lot about you not only to your peers but also to your professors and the faculty you work with. If you dress in a way that's sloppy, people will notice and like it or not, will make judgements based off of that. If you present yourself as neat and stylish, then people will notice and treat you accordingly. So looking your best and presenting yourself in the best way possible is important and teachers DO notice. I have had more than one professor comment on my clothing before, so do not think it doesn't matter what you wear. So here is my little guide for dressing for success in college...
Part of being a fashion stylists is researching the trends and style that comes about each spring and fall. I have been actively tracking trends since 2010 and can easily see which ones return each and every season. A few things that I noticed a lot of in back to school fashion shows and ads were actually not that feasible for wearing to school all day and not so good for successful college wardrobe. These are just a few of the things I noticed :
1. Heels. While they are super cute, they are not functional. No matter what college you are attending or whether you are living on or off campus, You will have to do A LOT of walking. This is not high school where everything is located in the same building. Most campuses, you will have to walk a long ways to even get from your car or dorm to class. Everything is much more spread out on college campuses and sometimes you might have to walk through the grass to get where you need to go...Have you ever walked in heels through grass? It's not awesome and ruins your pretty shoes. It's about looking effortless, not looking like you are trying too hard. Save the dress shoes for a special occasion ladies or if you absolutely must pull them out, wear them with jeans to create a more casual look. Dressing for success means looking effortless while still looking appropriate and well put together.
2. Chunky sweaters. In the middle of January, they are adorable and perfect. In the middle of August? Not so much. I live up north but grew up down south, and both places I have lived I know that is still really hot in August and even September. So be sure to have some cute tops that are still cool, because back to school does not mean that the hot weather has disappeared.Showing up for class in drenched in sweat obviously spells unsuccessful...
3. Trends. Wearing a shirt with bacon on it may be so cool right now but probably wont be next fall. Buy items for your college wardrobe that you really like, not just for the trend factor. If you can develop a personal style, then only buy items that generally fit your personal style. You want to portray who YOU are, not what trends are current this season. Being comfortable in expressing your individuality is key to dressing for success.
Now that you know what NOT to do here are a few things you SHOULD do:
1. Dress Decent. This is not a modesty lecture but rather a real world fact. If you show up with your cleavage falling out onto the desk and your shortest pair of cut offs, you are sending a message that you are cheap, free and easy. While your at it, just put a sign on that says please disrespect me. If you are looking to be known as the school slut, then perfect! But if you have success in the forefront of your mind, you will remember that just remaining tasteful makes a huge difference. While everyone else may be running around dressed like tramps, you will stand out to your teachers by just wearing something that shows you have respect for yourself. If you can't respect yourself, how can you respect anyone else?
2. Develop a personal style. If you haven't realized already, figuring out what your personal style is and working to develop it really is important. It saves you a lot of money and also saves you from wearing something that one year from now you will be super embarrassed about. Having a unique and personal style makes you stand out and shows others that you are comfortable in your own skin.
3. Get creative. If you are on a tight budget like most college students are, don't be afraid to hit up the thrift store or alter something you already have to make it more suitable or current. Be creative in how you think of your wardrobe and keep an eye out for DIY fashion projects on Pinterest.
Think style but also think functional. Don't get clothes for your college wardrobe that you are going to have to iron after each wash...Do you seriously think you will want to tote your iron and ironing board into your dorm on move in day? Remember who you are and to stay true to you while creating your college wardrobe. You are representing yourself through your clothes to your peers who will probably be a big part of your life the next four years. Who do you want to tell them that you are? Eccentric? Girly? Boho/ Hippie? Think about what your personal is and try to define it before making any new purchases. Think of how you want your professors to perceive you, Not only do they give you grades at the end of each semester but they also can be good connections and references later in life. Dress for success by staying true to your personal style while looking neat and well put together at all times.
Next up in the College Freshman Style series is an interview with a friend of mine who has great eccentric taste and is always creating such unique outfits! Look no further for inspiration and get great tips for developing your own personal style.
XOX
LIZ
I wanted to do a post series on back to college fashion and for those poor college freshman who need help figuring out what to wear! I can't help you find your class, but I can help you know what to wear so you will look fabulous your first semester of college! Some days, you will want to just throw on your yoga pants and hoodie, and that's totally okay. But the way you present yourself says a lot about you not only to your peers but also to your professors and the faculty you work with. If you dress in a way that's sloppy, people will notice and like it or not, will make judgements based off of that. If you present yourself as neat and stylish, then people will notice and treat you accordingly. So looking your best and presenting yourself in the best way possible is important and teachers DO notice. I have had more than one professor comment on my clothing before, so do not think it doesn't matter what you wear. So here is my little guide for dressing for success in college...
Part of being a fashion stylists is researching the trends and style that comes about each spring and fall. I have been actively tracking trends since 2010 and can easily see which ones return each and every season. A few things that I noticed a lot of in back to school fashion shows and ads were actually not that feasible for wearing to school all day and not so good for successful college wardrobe. These are just a few of the things I noticed :
1. Heels. While they are super cute, they are not functional. No matter what college you are attending or whether you are living on or off campus, You will have to do A LOT of walking. This is not high school where everything is located in the same building. Most campuses, you will have to walk a long ways to even get from your car or dorm to class. Everything is much more spread out on college campuses and sometimes you might have to walk through the grass to get where you need to go...Have you ever walked in heels through grass? It's not awesome and ruins your pretty shoes. It's about looking effortless, not looking like you are trying too hard. Save the dress shoes for a special occasion ladies or if you absolutely must pull them out, wear them with jeans to create a more casual look. Dressing for success means looking effortless while still looking appropriate and well put together.
2. Chunky sweaters. In the middle of January, they are adorable and perfect. In the middle of August? Not so much. I live up north but grew up down south, and both places I have lived I know that is still really hot in August and even September. So be sure to have some cute tops that are still cool, because back to school does not mean that the hot weather has disappeared.Showing up for class in drenched in sweat obviously spells unsuccessful...
3. Trends. Wearing a shirt with bacon on it may be so cool right now but probably wont be next fall. Buy items for your college wardrobe that you really like, not just for the trend factor. If you can develop a personal style, then only buy items that generally fit your personal style. You want to portray who YOU are, not what trends are current this season. Being comfortable in expressing your individuality is key to dressing for success.
Now that you know what NOT to do here are a few things you SHOULD do:
1. Dress Decent. This is not a modesty lecture but rather a real world fact. If you show up with your cleavage falling out onto the desk and your shortest pair of cut offs, you are sending a message that you are cheap, free and easy. While your at it, just put a sign on that says please disrespect me. If you are looking to be known as the school slut, then perfect! But if you have success in the forefront of your mind, you will remember that just remaining tasteful makes a huge difference. While everyone else may be running around dressed like tramps, you will stand out to your teachers by just wearing something that shows you have respect for yourself. If you can't respect yourself, how can you respect anyone else?
2. Develop a personal style. If you haven't realized already, figuring out what your personal style is and working to develop it really is important. It saves you a lot of money and also saves you from wearing something that one year from now you will be super embarrassed about. Having a unique and personal style makes you stand out and shows others that you are comfortable in your own skin.
3. Get creative. If you are on a tight budget like most college students are, don't be afraid to hit up the thrift store or alter something you already have to make it more suitable or current. Be creative in how you think of your wardrobe and keep an eye out for DIY fashion projects on Pinterest.
Think style but also think functional. Don't get clothes for your college wardrobe that you are going to have to iron after each wash...Do you seriously think you will want to tote your iron and ironing board into your dorm on move in day? Remember who you are and to stay true to you while creating your college wardrobe. You are representing yourself through your clothes to your peers who will probably be a big part of your life the next four years. Who do you want to tell them that you are? Eccentric? Girly? Boho/ Hippie? Think about what your personal is and try to define it before making any new purchases. Think of how you want your professors to perceive you, Not only do they give you grades at the end of each semester but they also can be good connections and references later in life. Dress for success by staying true to your personal style while looking neat and well put together at all times.
Next up in the College Freshman Style series is an interview with a friend of mine who has great eccentric taste and is always creating such unique outfits! Look no further for inspiration and get great tips for developing your own personal style.
XOX
LIZ
Weekly: Behind the scenes
Hello Readers!
We are well into another week and I am greatly anticipating this holiday weekend! My husband and I are going with my parents on a trip to New York City and we couldn't be more excited! My husband and I love to explore new cities together and has kind of been our thing we have always done together since we were dating. Fred is looking forward to seeing the statue of liberty, he thinks he is going to be able to touch it....? I am excited to visit Manhattan and just finally get to see the city where dreams come true. NYC is so big I know we will not be able to see everything on our short trip but I cannot wait to see that beautiful skyline!
Eowyn is 32 weeks old this week so we have about 8 more weeks to go, she is constantly on the move for hours at a time and every time we have a doctors appointment they ALWAYS comment how they have never seen such a wiggly baby. They can never get here heart rate or what they need from ultrasounds cause she moves so much. Tomorrow we have another ultrasound scheduled so we will see how that goes. It has been so funny and weird to watch all of these strange lumps protrude from my belly and then go back in, we then try to figure out if it was an elbow or a hand or some other part. It has been fun to watch her grow and develop from the outside and a few sneak peaks inside ;)
Today I am sharing 3 Embarrassing facts about our family that I'm sure you didn't know!
1. Every week Fred gets a facial, hair cut, grooming and teeth whitening treatment. Every month, he gets a manly manicure. He is super embarrassed by it and always fights getting it done, but it gets done regardless every time.
2. I used to work for a marketing company and every Monday night was team night and we all went to this wing place for dinner together. It was my first week and someone asked me if I was going to PJs that night for team night. I asked what that was and they told me that PJs had the best buffalo wings to which I responded, "Oh, I don't eat buffalo." Everyone started laughing like crazy and I was so confused until someone explained to me that buffalo wings weren't actually made from buffaloes. It was really embarrassing, but at least now I have a funny story.
3. Since Eowyn isn't born yet, I don't have any embarrassing stories to share about her so I will share one that happened at her gender reveal party. We had the gender reveal party at a park where the bathroom was a little walk away from the pavilion. I did not make it to the bathroom that day, I completely wet myself so bad there wasn't even a point in going to the bathroom after that except to see my ruined shorts. Then immediately after, I had to get on my hands and knees and draw with sidewalk chalk with my niece while sporting my wet shorts (When a 4 year old asks you to play with her, you do it even if it costs you your dignity.)
Hope at least one of those brought a smile to your face. I'm constantly being reminded how important it is to laugh, laugh when things suck, laugh when things are going great. Laughter is the best medicine!
XOX
LIZ
We are well into another week and I am greatly anticipating this holiday weekend! My husband and I are going with my parents on a trip to New York City and we couldn't be more excited! My husband and I love to explore new cities together and has kind of been our thing we have always done together since we were dating. Fred is looking forward to seeing the statue of liberty, he thinks he is going to be able to touch it....? I am excited to visit Manhattan and just finally get to see the city where dreams come true. NYC is so big I know we will not be able to see everything on our short trip but I cannot wait to see that beautiful skyline!
Eowyn is 32 weeks old this week so we have about 8 more weeks to go, she is constantly on the move for hours at a time and every time we have a doctors appointment they ALWAYS comment how they have never seen such a wiggly baby. They can never get here heart rate or what they need from ultrasounds cause she moves so much. Tomorrow we have another ultrasound scheduled so we will see how that goes. It has been so funny and weird to watch all of these strange lumps protrude from my belly and then go back in, we then try to figure out if it was an elbow or a hand or some other part. It has been fun to watch her grow and develop from the outside and a few sneak peaks inside ;)
Today I am sharing 3 Embarrassing facts about our family that I'm sure you didn't know!
1. Every week Fred gets a facial, hair cut, grooming and teeth whitening treatment. Every month, he gets a manly manicure. He is super embarrassed by it and always fights getting it done, but it gets done regardless every time.
2. I used to work for a marketing company and every Monday night was team night and we all went to this wing place for dinner together. It was my first week and someone asked me if I was going to PJs that night for team night. I asked what that was and they told me that PJs had the best buffalo wings to which I responded, "Oh, I don't eat buffalo." Everyone started laughing like crazy and I was so confused until someone explained to me that buffalo wings weren't actually made from buffaloes. It was really embarrassing, but at least now I have a funny story.
3. Since Eowyn isn't born yet, I don't have any embarrassing stories to share about her so I will share one that happened at her gender reveal party. We had the gender reveal party at a park where the bathroom was a little walk away from the pavilion. I did not make it to the bathroom that day, I completely wet myself so bad there wasn't even a point in going to the bathroom after that except to see my ruined shorts. Then immediately after, I had to get on my hands and knees and draw with sidewalk chalk with my niece while sporting my wet shorts (When a 4 year old asks you to play with her, you do it even if it costs you your dignity.)
Hope at least one of those brought a smile to your face. I'm constantly being reminded how important it is to laugh, laugh when things suck, laugh when things are going great. Laughter is the best medicine!
XOX
LIZ
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Weekly: Behind the Scenes
Hello Readers,
We are already nearing yet another hump day! I have been busy making lots of cute gifts for birthdays that we have coming up and making plans for my own birthday and wedding anniversary. I have some really cute ideas running through my head of what I'm going to do for our first wedding anniversary next month that I can't wait to share with you!
These are a few of our pictures we took over the weekend as we visited my school I went to for Fashion design. I wanted to show Fred the beautiful gardens and campus before school started back and while we are still living close by. It was great to reminisce on the fun days spent here and even inspired me to pull out a few of my design text books and start working on some sketches again.
We are always at a loss for what to do when we have a free weekend, what do you guys normally do on free weekends?
Okay, so here goes the three things that you did not know about our family!
1. Fred and I have absolutely nothing in common accept that we both like Africa. I guess the saying is true that opposites attract cause we are total opposites but boy am I glad we are!! Two Virgos would not mix well together in this type of partnership... Fred is extremely patient if not the most patient person I know, He is always very cheerful and loves people and routines. I on the other hand, have a red hot temper and am very much lacking in the patience department, I thrive off alone time and spontaneity and am certainly not always cheerful. He is the jock, I am the artist. It's all a beautiful balance.
2.Today is our beautiful and sweet nieces 5th birthday! She is my only niece which means she gets all the spoiling ;) She is such a precious girl to me and I am so happy to be her aunt and her uncle Freddy loves being her uncle.
3. I have been researching a lot of the back to school fashion articles and am totally disappointed with the lack of clothes that actual college students would actually wear so I decided to make my own post of back to school fashion. I will hopefully have it pulled together this week so stay tuned!
Also, I got challenged to do the ice bucket for ALS so I have until 10 am tomorrow to make that happen! Check back to see my video and who I nominate next ;)
XOX
Liz
We are already nearing yet another hump day! I have been busy making lots of cute gifts for birthdays that we have coming up and making plans for my own birthday and wedding anniversary. I have some really cute ideas running through my head of what I'm going to do for our first wedding anniversary next month that I can't wait to share with you!
These are a few of our pictures we took over the weekend as we visited my school I went to for Fashion design. I wanted to show Fred the beautiful gardens and campus before school started back and while we are still living close by. It was great to reminisce on the fun days spent here and even inspired me to pull out a few of my design text books and start working on some sketches again.
We are always at a loss for what to do when we have a free weekend, what do you guys normally do on free weekends?
Okay, so here goes the three things that you did not know about our family!
1. Fred and I have absolutely nothing in common accept that we both like Africa. I guess the saying is true that opposites attract cause we are total opposites but boy am I glad we are!! Two Virgos would not mix well together in this type of partnership... Fred is extremely patient if not the most patient person I know, He is always very cheerful and loves people and routines. I on the other hand, have a red hot temper and am very much lacking in the patience department, I thrive off alone time and spontaneity and am certainly not always cheerful. He is the jock, I am the artist. It's all a beautiful balance.
2.Today is our beautiful and sweet nieces 5th birthday! She is my only niece which means she gets all the spoiling ;) She is such a precious girl to me and I am so happy to be her aunt and her uncle Freddy loves being her uncle.
3. I have been researching a lot of the back to school fashion articles and am totally disappointed with the lack of clothes that actual college students would actually wear so I decided to make my own post of back to school fashion. I will hopefully have it pulled together this week so stay tuned!
Also, I got challenged to do the ice bucket for ALS so I have until 10 am tomorrow to make that happen! Check back to see my video and who I nominate next ;)
XOX
Liz
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Behind the Scenes
Hello Readers!
Life at the Jackson house has been increasingly crazy as we rush to prepare for the birth of our daughter in 10 weeks. It has been exciting but also exhausting in every sense of the word. I have been suffering from complete burnt out at its worse and emotional breakdowns and cry breaks happen daily. This is something my poor husband is having to adjust to as I was not very emotional before. I honestly hate being pregnant, it has been the most miserable experience of my life for soooo many different reasons and I hope I never have to go through this again. The only way I'm able to really keep my sanity during this time is to focus on work and my yoga school (Which I graduate from next month!).
The lesson I am learning through this stage of my life, is that whatever I am experiencing is real and completely valid. Reading parenting magazines and talking to other moms your not super close with can make you feel like a bad mom because they only talk about the awesome parts of pregnancy and mommy hood and you can be left thinking "Well, whats wrong with me then? Why am I not somehow overjoyed to be 30 weeks pregnant and still throwing up my dinner? Why am I depressed and sad when they seem so happy and excited?" The end result: you reach the conclusion that your not a perfect mom. Here's the secret though, they aren't either. While I totally question the honesty as women talk about how wonderful it was to push an 8 pound human out of their lady parts, I have to remind myself that everyone experiences life so differently. If they enjoyed their pregnancy, that's awesome! I will cheer them on. If they thought it was the worst hell they have ever gone through, that's okay too. I will cheer you on too. Everyone's experience is valid, whether we understand it or not. Let's not judge others just because they don't experience things the exact same way we do.
I love having long talks with my sister cause I feel like she is the only woman in my life right now who is realistic when talking about this baby business and doesn't try to tell me that I will walk on some magic cloud the next years of my life as I float through motherhood (Can i call BS on that one?) It has been so encouraging to be able to talk with my sister and my mom during this transition and I am so thankful for them both!
Okay so listed below are 3 random things about our family that you probably didn't know:
1. Fred is absolutely obsessed with Chinese food, he would eat it every single day if I let him!
2. I created my own little business at age 7. I would make beaded jewelry and hand made cards and sell them to all of my family. I called it LB fashions. Business making in my blood!
3. Our cat, Merlin has his own fan page and all these girls always 'flirting' with him. It's hilarious!
Thanks for reading today,
Stay tuned for more :)
XOX
LIZ
Life at the Jackson house has been increasingly crazy as we rush to prepare for the birth of our daughter in 10 weeks. It has been exciting but also exhausting in every sense of the word. I have been suffering from complete burnt out at its worse and emotional breakdowns and cry breaks happen daily. This is something my poor husband is having to adjust to as I was not very emotional before. I honestly hate being pregnant, it has been the most miserable experience of my life for soooo many different reasons and I hope I never have to go through this again. The only way I'm able to really keep my sanity during this time is to focus on work and my yoga school (Which I graduate from next month!).
The lesson I am learning through this stage of my life, is that whatever I am experiencing is real and completely valid. Reading parenting magazines and talking to other moms your not super close with can make you feel like a bad mom because they only talk about the awesome parts of pregnancy and mommy hood and you can be left thinking "Well, whats wrong with me then? Why am I not somehow overjoyed to be 30 weeks pregnant and still throwing up my dinner? Why am I depressed and sad when they seem so happy and excited?" The end result: you reach the conclusion that your not a perfect mom. Here's the secret though, they aren't either. While I totally question the honesty as women talk about how wonderful it was to push an 8 pound human out of their lady parts, I have to remind myself that everyone experiences life so differently. If they enjoyed their pregnancy, that's awesome! I will cheer them on. If they thought it was the worst hell they have ever gone through, that's okay too. I will cheer you on too. Everyone's experience is valid, whether we understand it or not. Let's not judge others just because they don't experience things the exact same way we do.
I love having long talks with my sister cause I feel like she is the only woman in my life right now who is realistic when talking about this baby business and doesn't try to tell me that I will walk on some magic cloud the next years of my life as I float through motherhood (Can i call BS on that one?) It has been so encouraging to be able to talk with my sister and my mom during this transition and I am so thankful for them both!
Okay so listed below are 3 random things about our family that you probably didn't know:
1. Fred is absolutely obsessed with Chinese food, he would eat it every single day if I let him!
2. I created my own little business at age 7. I would make beaded jewelry and hand made cards and sell them to all of my family. I called it LB fashions. Business making in my blood!
3. Our cat, Merlin has his own fan page and all these girls always 'flirting' with him. It's hilarious!
Thanks for reading today,
Stay tuned for more :)
XOX
LIZ
Weekly Behind the Scenes
Hello Readers!
I have been working on making a lot of changes to the blog and doing a total social media update! Luxe by Liz will now be doing a weekly post titled "Behind the Scenes" which is a post where I will write about some of the more personal things going on in the Jackson Family! I really want it to be a place where I can openly write about real life and give you a peak inside our world to see what it is actually like. It is important to me to be authentic in everything I do, and I would hate for someone to see things on the blog and assume that their is some kind of unrealistic ideal they need to reach. While I may post pretty pictures of well put together outfits or a crisp and clean living space, I am human too and these pictures are meant to inspire you to live better and create a beautiful life for yourself, NOT discourage you and make you feel like your home or life is any less perfect than mine. Trust me, sometimes my sink is full of dirty dishes too... So lets be real with each other! I hope you find these posts interesting and inspiring in the weeks to come. I will do the first one later today, so stay tuned!
XOX
LIZ
I have been working on making a lot of changes to the blog and doing a total social media update! Luxe by Liz will now be doing a weekly post titled "Behind the Scenes" which is a post where I will write about some of the more personal things going on in the Jackson Family! I really want it to be a place where I can openly write about real life and give you a peak inside our world to see what it is actually like. It is important to me to be authentic in everything I do, and I would hate for someone to see things on the blog and assume that their is some kind of unrealistic ideal they need to reach. While I may post pretty pictures of well put together outfits or a crisp and clean living space, I am human too and these pictures are meant to inspire you to live better and create a beautiful life for yourself, NOT discourage you and make you feel like your home or life is any less perfect than mine. Trust me, sometimes my sink is full of dirty dishes too... So lets be real with each other! I hope you find these posts interesting and inspiring in the weeks to come. I will do the first one later today, so stay tuned!
XOX
LIZ
Monday, August 11, 2014
Pregnant on a dime
Today on the blog we are discussing how to stay trendy while sporting your baby bump and without buying into the ridiculousness of some of those maternity stores! Your budget right now, like everything else in your life, is probably starting to evolve into something that is more baby focused than mommy focused. Maybe you have stopped splurging as much on stuff for you and have replaced those splurges with diaper purchases or crib sheets... Oh motherhood. So I wanted to share some of my techniques I have used to stay stylin' even at 7+ months pregnant. Share with every pregnant lady you know even if you yourself are not expecting right now!
I was so excited when I first found out we were having a baby because I couldn't wait to try my hand at the whole maternity fashion thing (and I liked having an excuse to buy new clothes). But after one trip o the mall, I quickly discovered that a lot of times Maternity = 40 year old woman who spends her life in an office wearing depressing clothes. I'm half that age and not only have a creative sense of style, but style and fashion mean a lot to me. For me, it's a very personal thing- it's how I express myself. That's why I do what I do. I was not going to sacrifice my creativity and way of expressing myself just because I had a growing belly! So I had to get creative ;)
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This look was my festival or fair look. I wore this to a Craft fair
we went to over the weekend to meet and network with other artistic
professionals and pick up some fun stuff :) Dress: Forever 21. Belt: Thrifted.
Penny loafers: Eastland. Cross body bag: Liz Claiborne. Bronze necklaces: Luxe by
Liz...of course! Everything in the outfit I actually found at thrift stores even
though the brands are listed above. Inspired by all things vintage: I wanted to
mix different shades of browns and used mostly leather and lace to create
this look.(A non pregnant option for this outfit would be to wear belt at
waist) |
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| We caught a late night movie this weekend which was totally fun and this is what I wore: Maternity top in navy with pink hearts: Lavish Maternity Denim maternity short: Motherhood maternity. Navy coach purse. Pink and gold necklace: Faded Glory. Navy wedges: Dexflex comfort by Dexter. I thrifted the shirt, shoes and bag. After a long busy day, I wanted to be comfortable but still pretty and girly, so I chose a flowy top for comfort and Dexflex shoes that are designed for comfort but dress things up a little bit. Also, I added some sparkly jewelry to dress things up without having to sacrifice comfort. Pink, Navy and Gold is always a great color combo! |
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| I wore this to a dinner date we went on the other night. I had felt pretty lousy all day so wanted something a little sexier for the night out. I learned the hard way though that wearing stilettos when 7 months pregnant is probably not the best option for those of us who have achy backs and legs already. Now I usually substitute heals for a small wedge for those dressier occasions. Skirt: BDG from Urban Outfitters. Shirt: Charlotte Russe. Kimono: Found at a thrift store with no tags :( Shoes: Luxe by Charlotte Russe. Necklace: Luxe by Liz I paired a fitted skirt with a fitted top but added a floral kimono over top to add balance and flow to the outfit to avoid a "painted on clothes look". I also chose a long necklace because this draws the eye up and down the torso, making you appear taller and slimmer. |
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| This was at a family party in July, so looking pretty while keeping a
cool temperature was what I was going for. Lace dress in navy: B Smart.
Pink floral belt: Thrift. Light brown pointed toe flat: Breckelle's.
Pearls: Got the whole set from amazon! I feel like those classic
feminine looks are always great for family parties. So I wore a navy
lace dress and paired it with a pearl necklace and ear ring set for a
timeless classy look. I added a belt above the bump to add a little more
interest to the outfit. This dress is stretchy and long enough to wear
even with baby bump even though it is not a maternity dress! |
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| This is my everyday go to look for running errands or going to those
biweekly OB appointments. Its cute and creative but still really
comfortable. The outfit really is just a pair of maternity shorts with a
black tee but the accessories are what make the outfit. Add pops of
color with your accessories to keep things interesting. A red flower
clip in my hair with a plaid scarf and sweater vest is all it took to
make this outfit appear interesting. Black scoop neck Tee: Faded Glory.
Khaki Maternity short: Destination Maternity. Sweater vest: Van Huesen.
Plaid scarf: H&M. Nude Loafers: Steve Madden. |
Top 5 things to keep in mind when dressing your bump:
1. Accessories are your best friend the next 9 months. Get some basic ones and get a few colorful ones.
2. Buy a few maternity staples like a good maternity pant and some maternity tank tops. Get the basics and use that as your base, build off of that base by using accessories.
3. Vests and cardigans are awesome. If your big in the summer, opt for the vest though. Wear your maternity tank under the vest. The vest will make you look slimmer. Same goes for cardigans in the winter.
4. Show off your bump!! You may be self conscious about your ever changing bod, but wearing clothes that are too big or too lose to cover your bump will actually make you appear fat instead of pregnant. They are not the same!!
5.Invest in appropriate underwear. Being pregnant is very uncomfortable as is. You don't need your undies to make a bad situation worse. Invest in a comfortable and well fitted bra and panties and lingerie that are comfortable. A good panty option is the one size fits all lace thong at Victoria's Secret or any of their one size fits all panties. They will be super comfy and remain that way no matter how big you get!!
** Don't forget to check thrift stores and consignment shops for those maternity basics that you'll need!!
When dressing for two, the most important thing is to keep an open mind. Think outside the box of how you can use stuff you already have. Enjoy!!
XOX
LIZ
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