Wear what you love

Photography: Harley Goul

Wearing what you love is a blissful combination of self- expression embodied with whatever kind of sass you want to deliver. It can be a full scream, a whisper or anything inbetween. What matters is that the choice is done on terms that empower you to be your best self. I've fallen prey to wearing styles that I love that didn't look so hot on me. I look back at these photos and all that jumps out is "what the hell was I thinking?" I've learned to merge the knowledge of what works on my body with styles that I love. Finding those parts of your body that you want to celebrate will reward you with a sense of freedom to choose how you show up. You feeling and being comfortable in your skin is your journey. The goal isn’t to be a replica of what you see. It’s acknowledging that today and tomorrow you will choose YOU and that’s a beautiful thing.

Jacket: Nanuska   denim skirt: Grlfnd ( Fancy Pants)    sweater: H&M  Boots: Rag and Bone

Favorites: sweet finds under $50

I'm always on the hunt for a sweet find. You know that style that makes you want to twirl because it's full of sugar and spice and everything oh so wonderful about being a girl!! I'm a fan of all things that celebrate the joys of being a woman and clothing is one of my very fun avenues of expressing my lady like attributes. Well enough about my mantra let's get to the yummy center of this grill cheese sandwich shall we. Now I want a grill cheese ;) 

This crinkled chiffon blouse is from H+M and it was a screaming deal. Click here to add this little one to your cart. The mint green and tiny floral pattern gave my look a dose of freshness. To give it a modern edge I paired it with my favorite destroyed denim shorts. In the Fall, it will be great with a leather jacket and your most loved skinny jeans. 

If you want some more floral loves, I'm also eyeing this one from Asos. I tend to find the print that I love and then look at the price so it's a win win when I can find one at such a great price point. They're out there! My tip is to keep the style simple. You guys know me and my sermon of simple chic. It allows your less expensive buys to stand the test of style and time (well, at least until a dozen or so washes ( fingers crossed ;) 

Here's a few of my other sweet finds and all under $50...high five or chest bump here! I love this textured dot top from JCrew in Navy...this is a wear now and later ladies and it's an additional 40% off. WOO!! Check out this fun boho vibe one from  Urban Outfitters. It can be styled for work or play. 

If any of these great buys end up in your closet I would love to see how you style them.  Direct message me on Instagram @seelaurastyle or @lauratully.co. Cannot wait!! I've inserted one of my favorite quotes for the week below. Use whenever needed and I'll see you next week!! Insert a really BIG HUG here ;)

“You are more powerful than you know; you are beautiful just as you are.” ~ Melissa Etheridge

Big hair and breezy wear

My hair is curly, kinky and wild. It's delicate and strong. It reminds me that there is nothing more freeing than allowing what is most natural about myself to simply BE. I stopped straightening my hair because I had enough. Ugh, it seems so cliche but the real talk is that I got to this point where I noticed that I no longer felt the need to edit who I was, which included my mane. It wasn't an overnight or lightbulb moment but this progression of experiences that made me acknowledge that  "yah, I'm ok with me AS IS". For the most part, straightening my hair was an extension of figuring out the uncertainties about myself. I didn't really know what I wanted and it took getting through my f-ups, learning, listening, challenging myself and meeting good eggs along the way, you know...LIFE. The process is a journey. 

My hubby always asked me why I straightened my hair and would beg me to leave it natural. I thought he was crazy! Although I loved his support and encouragement, no one can make you act on those moments. They can influence but you're the one that's paving your path. As a black woman, the struggle to accept what is naturally you, especially when it comes to our hair is such a difficult journey. It's not the norm. I rarely see anyone with hair like mine but I also live in Boise, Idaho. I love that I was able to fuel who I am in a state where, let's be real, there's not many people of color.  What I experienced from those around me, strangers and friends, was this fantastic celebration of my natural hair. It really stunned me. People would come up to me and tell me how much they loved my curly hair. In my head, I was saying "really, you think my natural hair is pretty....who knew." It was as if I was able to experience acceptance of "me" moreso than I ever accepted myself.  

The more I dived into learning about my curly hair and how to care for it, I saw this common thread amongst so many women of different races and backgrounds who had a familiar story to share about untaming their mane. We hear the mantra that "you're free to be you" but we don't see it. So it takes these individual movements where each of us declare who we are, naturally. That's not to say I will never straighten my hair, I will when I feel like mixing it up. However, the decision is driven by me and not some cultural/ social demand. The relief of no longer having to protest why your "imperfections" are pretty darn perfect for you. It's an exclamation that normal is diverse, unique and feeds tolerance, its soul food. 

Laura, what about your outfit girllll?!! I know I got a bit deep on y'all so here are the yummy details. I love these breezy tops but they can look a little frumpy ( no thank you frump McGee). I look for styles that either gathers at the waist like this one or has an open neckline like this style (so cuteee, right!) I paired it with these boyfriend denim shorts that are a little more fitted as not to compete with the looser fit of the top. 

Top: Rebecca Taylor, Shorts: Rag and Bone ( Fancy Pants)    Shoes: Madewell

"What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well"  Antoine de Saint-Exupery

I want to hear from you!! What's your hair story? Share, comment and click on the little heart below (it's adorable). We can tackle this journey together :)

I Wear White in the Winter

"When you learn to love who you are on the inside, things fall into place on the outside" LT

So excited for this week!! Why?!! Because I'll be talking about breaking some of those pesky style rules. YES!!I Why, what do you mean my poofy hair and oh so stylish friend?!! Well, we are going to throw out some of those fashion rules that we culturally abide by and also attack (gently) those personal style rules we create for ourselves. Okay, the first style rule that we will "kick to the curb" like this 90s slang phrase is no-white-after–Labor Day (bahbye). I thought this rule was on life support and was no longer viable but I had to address this several times in my personal shopping world. The great thing about white is that we can play on texture, throw in a multitude of shades, hello ivory, cream, beige, snow ( one of my faves) and it brightens the gloomiest winter day like a BOSS! OK...I hear it, but Laura I'm so pale in the winter. This is why we have SO MANY great shades to work with and your cuteness can rock yo white and not feel like Casper the friendly ghost. Beautiful porcelain skin- love on soft cream colors with texture; warmer skin shades, go after snow whites;  if you have yellow undertones in your skin, give some love to white or pure white. Here's a few of my favorite white styles below...click on the pic to add to your closet and start strutting your winter white.

Personal style rules that we will bid farewell to is I'm too curvy to wear skinnyjeans. Ummmmm....no! Yah!! I'm talking to you. Five and a half years ago, some dude said you were curvy and you panicked because you were rocking your skinnyjeans and now you've sworn off skinny jeans... FOREVER!! Stop the madness. First, dude mentioning your curves is because he likes them and said curves are fabulous. Curvy girls, you've got a great waist and I want to see it ( operation- liberate the waist! WOO!!) It's all about finding the right kind of skinnyjean that says "hey girl, I wanna marry you" (said in a seductive Barry White tone). If you are petite curvy, I'm a fan of this style and these. If you are medium built curvy,  loving on these and my tall drink of water with curves, love this style and these ( ummmm 34 inseam...yes girl!!). I find that if the denim has a higher rise, it really flatters the curves best. Thereby eliminating these offenders- The "crack kills" - the act of bending down or simply sitting, revealing all of one's backside business or the "ride em cowboy" the act of inserting your hands on the side of your denim or through denim belt loops and yanking them up...all the freaking time ( yep, we've all done that..rightttttt).

I'm wearing this loved distressed Rag and Bone white denim skirt, paired with a J.Crew military green button down and vintage fur jacket that is pure classic Luxe.

 I love pairing unexpected styles together and streamlining them in a way that injects my own personality.  I'll be bringing some effortless ways to COMBINE PRINTS and LAYERING 101. Get EXCITED!! Next week it's all about wear to work chic....say goodbye to stuffy office wear and lets have some professional fun. YAY babe!! I'm all about the feedback, so comment below, click the heart icon (don't leave him out) and SHOUT OUT topics you want to read about (hey, we're friends and I listen). Thank you for all the love and continue sharing, mama is digging it ( do people still say "digging it"?!...they should). So much coming your way, the party is only beginning!! YIPPEE!!!!