Author: Adie Rasiak

Hello, my lovely ladies who love style and travel. Also, Happy National Dog Day! to all the dog lovers out there including myself. In this week’s blog, I want to share tips on how to style an all-black outfit for the summer. All-black looks are great and can work well for several occasions but when you think of wearing all black in the summer, it might be nice to add touches of color to make the look more summer-friendly.

Here are five looks with the main outfits in all black and the use of colorful accessories to brighten up the entire outfit thereby making them more summer-friendly. These are looks that can be worn for various occasions from casual to dressy casual to formal and simply dressy.

Look one can serve as a formal or dressy casual outfit. For example, it can be worn to a formal office event at brunch time. The all-black dress is complemented by a pair of Metallic green stiletto heels from FSJ shoes; frankly, any color of shoes will work well with this dress, but this pair of mules just felt like the perfect match for this season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look two is an all-black vest paired with barrel wide-leg pants. This popular work look can be styled into a less formal look with bright-colored heels like the red pointed ankle strap wedges from Milanoo, a bold gold jewelry set from Amazon, and a neutral-toned Ergo bag from Cooachtopia. This is an ideal date night look during the week after a long day at the office.                                                                                                                       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look Three is perfect for any celebratory party occasion this summer. When you are out of options on what to wear and want to stick with all black, you can grab your silk black skirt and a fitted top like the Cross My Heart tank top in this look from Commense. To accessorize and brighten things up for the summer, you can throw on a pair of pink platform heels, multicolored statement earrings, and a clear clutch purse with gold details like this purse from EGO.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look Four is an all-black pairing of a cropped shirt and tailored shorts that can easily be worn as a casual look but transformed into a dressy casual look when accessorized with a pair of color block peep-toe heeled sandals from Shiningbabe, a statement gold choker necklace from Walmart and a mushroom toned asymmetrical satchel from Anthropologie.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look Five is my favorite because it includes a jumpsuit. Jumpsuits are my favorites because they flatter my figure and are easy to style when you want to look put together without trying too hard. I am not too crazy about dresses and two clothing item pairings so if I could wear jumpsuits all the time, I would. This casual all-black jumpsuit can be elevated to a nice casual summer look with bright colorful accessories like the Pop Tagua necklace from Petalura, and a pair of bright orange sandals from Amazon. I completed the look by including a simple beige-toned handbag from Manière De Voir USA. Wear this for a weekend get-together with friends on a bright sunny day where you can enjoy comfortably sitting under the shade outside while drinking a summer cocktail and enjoying some seasonal food items from a cool restaurant downtown wherever you live.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you ladies get some inspiration on how to wear all black this summer and add colorful accessories to your wardrobe if you tend to wear all solid neutral colors in your everyday wardrobe.

Please note that this will be my final blog for a while because I am about to become a new mom. I will be taking time off from the business and creating to focus on my new calling as a parent. Please check back in 2-3 months for updated content and available appointment dates.

Until then, I hope the contents created so far inspire you to build a more stylish wardrobe, especially for any upcoming vacations you may have in the summer and next season. Stay positive, and encouraged, and have a wonderful rest of your summer 😊

 

 

 

 

 

Hello to my lovely ladies who love vacations and traveling in style. I am trying something different with this blog topic so if you find this content helpful, let me know. I will share more content like this if well received or if I feel compelled to share more.

My past traveling experiences were only about vacations and before planning those vacations, I found myself in a consistent state of burnout from everyday life; I desperately needed an escape. At this time, I am 9 months pregnant with my first child, so traveling long distances domestically or internationally will not happen for a while. Now that we have that out of the way, as I mentioned previously, I thought of vacations as a form of escape which I am sure most of us do and I convinced myself that not only was I trying to escape from something in my life but I also wanted to go somewhere that I perceived as nicer and more peaceful than what I was familiar with.

Ever since my husband and I returned from our babymoon in Hawaii back in May this year and realized that we would not be traveling for a while since we are about to become first-time parents, I have had to redefine what true rest means to me and how I can get it without waiting till I feel thoroughly exhausted and without relying on a vacation splurge to feel refreshed again.

When I think of what rest truly means to me, I think of the ability to enjoy every aspect of my life, even the mundane, with the option to have refreshing moments to refuel and pour back into the things that matter most to me. Looking back at my motives for traveling and having vacations, I noticed I never truly rested during my trips. I felt temporarily relieved from my daily routine in life but guess what, as soon as the vacation ended, I would suddenly feel a massive rush of reality hit me and find myself right back where I started before planning my next escape.

Eventually, I had to recognize that something was missing in my desperate search for true rest, so I did what I only knew of as a believer; I prayed, studied my bible, and talked to loved ones about how I was feeling. It became clear that I had to take a break from the routines and activities that made me feel exhausted about my life and seek out the kind of rest I could incorporate into my everyday life without waiting till I felt drained.

The decision to take a break from the routine that caused my burnout was the first step. Next, I identified the why behind my exhausting routine and the purpose of it all. Finally, I had to figure out who I am, what I want to do in this world, how I want to do it, and what truly living means to me. A major cause of my burnout was the career I had, and I noticed that my motivation for pursuing that career was purely self-focused. As a result, I became miserable overworking myself because I could not find a healthy motive and true meaning in what I did.

I decided it was time to think of myself less and focus more on engaging in daily routines and engagements that allowed me to be more selfless than selfish. I believe that operating from that space will lead to a more fulfilling life that I will not be so desperate to escape from and it would also allow me to enjoy my vacations more. Instead of thinking of taking a vacation to get away from an overwhelming life, I can think of a vacation to simply take a short break from doing fulfilling work; I can be focused on enjoying the fruits of my labor by engaging in other parts of the world that are not necessarily better than what I am familiar with but just different.

I am yet to fully embody this new idea of rest but when I do, I will let you know how it is going and if it works.

Until next time, I hope you ladies can find true rest in your everyday lives and meaning in the things you invest your time in. Take care and keep being stylish!

 

 

Hello to my lovely ladies out there who love style and travel. This week, I would love to share styling tips for prints- specifically my favorites: the cheetah and leopard print. I love these prints because you can wear them all year round. Also, they consist of a combination of neutral tones that go well with several colors. They can be the statement piece in your entire look or a neutral wardrobe piece to tone down a colorful look. For those of you who are scared of incorporating print into your wardrobe, the cheetah/leopard print serves as a great starting point because as I mentioned earlier, they are more neutral and have the dual ability to stand out as a statement piece to elevate an otherwise plain look or an accessory piece to tone down a colorful look. If you are a Taylor Swift fan and you pay attention to her style, she has rocked these prints flawlessly. It is hard to go wrong in styling these prints so here are five style tips for inspiration.

Look One includes a Stella Mccartney cheetah print midi skirt used as a neutral wardrobe item to tone down the otherwise bright and colorful wardrobe pieces included in the look.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look Two is an almost monochromatic look implementing different shades of brown and the JAYDE bodysuit from Steve Madden represents the statement piece. This is a perfect ensemble for a work trip that may involve a work conference or professional networking event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look Three is a perfect dressy casual summer look. It could be your look for a Friday where you meet up with friends at a nice local restaurant to eat tasty food, grab drinks, and engage in lighthearted conversations after a hectic week. This can serve as both a daytime and nighttime look. The Anne Klein Zoelle sandals serve as a statement piece for this ensemble.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look Four, like Look Two, is a monochromatic look that maintains the shades of brown and black. For this look, we have a cheetah dress from MICAS with other unique prints implemented along with a pair of Tortoise Ellis earrings from Tuckernuck jewelry as an accessory. These two pieces are the statement items in this entire look as they are toned down with tan mules and a two-tone neutral bag. This is perfect for date night at a Brazilian steak house or anywhere you occasionally splurge on tasty food.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look Five is our final look where the print is both a statement and neutral piece for the entire look. Depending on the wardrobe item that captures your attention, the statement piece could be either the Peak Lapel double-breasted tailored blazer from Luxe dress or the Magenta Lyra Mules from Hanifa. This is perfect for a dressy casual event. Since it is summer, you may want to unbutton the blazer thereby revealing the BABATON knit top from Aritzia, or you may be in a cool hall with limited time outside so you could style the blazer without an undergarment and keep it buttoned up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hopefully, you ladies find these style tips helpful as you try to include prints in your wardrobe. Remember you do not have to go all out; you can start with the easiest prints that go well with everything, like the cheetah/leopard print, and then you can add them as accessories or wardrobe clothing pieces until you feel comfortable incorporating them at a larger scale.

Enjoy the rest of your week and until next time, I wish you a fun weekend filled with laughter and encouragement!

Hello to all my wonderful ladies who love to travel. I apologize this week’s blog is scheduled for later than usual. I am providing styling tips for this blog content using fewer clothing pieces and more accessories. If you travel quite a bit, you know how daunting it can be to create a vacation wardrobe that requires light packing. Imagine a 10-day summer vacation coming up and you would like to keep your luggage as light as possible while ensuring you have the essentials for your everyday looks. In my first blog, I shared my vacation outfit planning blueprint and provided details about how to pack for vacation; you can check that out for more information. This content goes into more detail on packing lightly by using fewer wardrobe items and more accessories that take up less space in your luggage. You could even make this a fun read by playing a game called Spot the Difference. The 10 looks in this blog redefine each outfit ensemble while repeatedly using the same clothing items and accessories.

Let me know which look is your favorite and if there were other ways you would style the wardrobe items.

Until next time, I wish you a fruitful month ahead!

 

 

 

Hello to the lovely ladies out there who love having travel experiences with a stylish vacation wardrobe.  This blog content is more of a styling-only series than a vacation styling content. I was thinking about exciting events this month and realized that not only is the teaser trailer for Captain America: Brave New World out, but we celebrated a significant holiday not too long ago on July 4^th; in the U.S. that date was Independence Day!  Most of us had a long weekend of travel plans and brief getaways to celebrate this significant day in style. Typically, on this day, we tend to dress in the colors that represent our nation, including red, white, and blue. This got me thinking about how we can wear these color combinations in our everyday lives instead of saving them for the 4^th.

Therefore, I would like to share some styling ideas on how we can incorporate the color combinations of red, white, and blue into our everyday wardrobe for occasions other than Independence Day. Here are 6 versatile looks including those color combinations (red, white, and blue) and how they can be worn for different occasions besides Independence Day or July.

Look 1 is a blue and off-white floral maxi dress that can be worn as a casual attire when paired with any comfortable shoes of your choosing. You could wear it for a dressy casual or formal occasion like a birthday party, a fancy brunch get-together with friends on a Sunday, or even as a church outfit. To dress it up, you can pair it with statement red earrings like the African Natural Wood earrings from Amazon and include a pair of white Clara leather sandals from Michael Kors; complete the look with a cream white and gold women’s straw bag from Amazon.

 

 

 

Look 2 is a dressy outfit that can be dressed down depending on your choice of accessories. It is a red lace top paired with a white mini skirt and statement slip-on multi-toned heels from Shoe Carnival. To finish accessorizing, I added a pair of Pave stud earnings from VRAI and a fancy ranch clutch bag in gold and white from Cowhides. This look can be worn for a date night at a gallery show or art exhibit with dinner plans at a nice restaurant afterward.

 

 

 

Look 3 is a casual look that would be perfect for a day at the winery. A Farm Rio Tile Dream puff sleeve blouse paired with casual tailored white shorts from Walmart and elegant pointe sling-back flats from C. Paravano. For accessories, I included a pair of gold Mia hoops from Shop Shashi and the same purse from the first look. A pair of casual flat slip-on sandals in neutral tones can be used to substitute the sling-back shoes if preferred.

 

 

 

 

 

Look 4 is what I would call a casual outfit ensemble elevated with statement accessory pieces. The clothing items include a pair of Nihsatin two-tone leg jeans from Amazon and an asymmetric white top from Cider. The jeans and top alone are basic items in your everyday wardrobe except for the jean details. I elevated this basic look with a multi-two-piece jewelry set from JC Penney, an oversized Top Shop puffy clutch purse from ASOS, and the red sling-back flats from Look 3. This look is perfect for a weekend lunch date in the city.

 

 

 

 

 

Looks 5 and 6 are more versatile looks that combine different pieces from the previous looks to give you an idea of other ways these wardrobe pieces and colors can be styled.

 

 

 

 

I hope this content inspires you to incorporate red, white, and blue into your everyday wardrobe in addition to styling these color combinations for occasions other than the 4^th of July.

Till next time, I hope you ladies have an encouraging rest of your week!

 

 

Hello to my lovely ladies who love to travel and enjoy fun experiences in different parts of the world. If you have traveled quite a bit, you probably have established a vacation routine that has made your traveling experiences more seamless and enjoyable. I know I have a routine that I have maintained to have more pleasant vacations. I am here to share the top 3 parts of my routine and how you can use them if you are new to traveling or if you are a frequent traveler who always needs a vacation from a vacation.

Just a quick disclaimer, the 3 tips I will be sharing are based on the life of someone who only travels with her spouse. I am now in a different stage of life because I am about to become a first-time mom. My vacation routine is subject to change when I start traveling with kids.

Now what is a vacation routine and why do we need one? I would define a vacation routine as a series of actions you consistently follow to ensure that you have a great trip. Now of course, you can tweak your routine as needed but like anything else in life, the better you plan to have a great experience, the more likely you can enjoy a wonderful experience in whatever activity you plan on doing. Without further ado, here are my top 3 routines.

1. Have your itinerary planned out in advance of your trip: This may sound obvious to any traveler, but I still think it is a worthy mention because I know of spontaneous travelers who purchase a plane ticket to visit somewhere and decide on every part of their trip including lodging and activities after they reach their destination. While that might seem exciting, it can often end up in a disaster because you suddenly find yourself excessively planning while on vacation instead of enjoying your already planned vacation. If you want a spontaneous vacation, you should have the essential elements of your trip like lodging and the kind of trip you expect to have decided in advance. You may not have all the activities planned but you could choose to have a relaxing trip where you will think of something to do on a set number of days and maybe rest and do nothing for the remainder of the trip. My husband and I decided on a relaxing trip when we recently traveled to Hawaii. We decided to have a spontaneous baby moon but decided in advance to stay in an all-inclusive hotel resort and do no more than 2 days of actual exploring for our entire 9-day trip. What we decided to explore was determined during our stay in Hawaii. You can still have a fun spontaneous trip but to avoid less planning and more vacationing during your trip, take care of the essential parts of your itinerary.
2. Take at least 1-2 days of resting/doing nothing on your trip: This is more of a sub-point to item 1 but it is part of my vacation routine that I have found to be an absolute must when planning my itinerary. You want to avoid vacation burnout caused by filling up your itinerary with something to do every single day for the entire trip, only to return to your everyday life wanting another vacation from the vacation you just had. Now, there might be readers who like the idea of packing up their schedule with something to do each day and that is fine if you do not feel exhausted at the end of your vacation. If like me, you tend to feel drained after a vacation, you may find it helpful to give yourself 1-2 days of doing absolutely nothing on your trip. I find that resting and doing nothing for 2 days out of my 1 week to 10-day trips often rejuvenates me so that I am in a healthy mental state upon return to my everyday life.
3. Pack fewer accessories: This is more of a style tip but an essential part of my routine. When packing all your vacation wardrobe items, it is easy to overpack for a trip because you sometimes think the more you pack, the better options you will have when styling. A great way to pack lighter is to find accessories in each wardrobe category that go well with all or most of your clothing pieces and pack those items instead of selecting multiple accessories from different categories to wear each day of the trip. For example, let us say you have 7 looks to wear during your trip, choose one bag/purse that goes well with all the looks depending on the activities you would be doing. Instead of grabbing several pairs of heels or sandals, focus on packing a pair of dressy heels and 1-2 pairs of comfortable casual shoes that pair well with most or all your looks. For more tips on how to pack for vacation, check out my blog topic “My vacation outfit planning blueprint.

Till next time, I hope you ladies have a seamless vacation this summer.

 

 

Hello beautiful ladies! We are already in April and spring is here.  I know it has been a while since my last post and I apologize. I am going through personal life changes so unfortunately, I will not be able to post new content as often as I would like, for a few months. Please do expect more consistency towards the end of the year. In the meantime, I am excited to share my favorite spring colors and how I style them. This is not a vacation-style blog post but one that you can use as inspiration in your vacation looks if you plan any upcoming spring or summer travels. Do expect vacation-specific content next month, which is when I have my next vacation.

My favorite colors of all time are purple and yellow, which are spring colors that come in several shades.

 

 

 

 

 

Whether you are preparing for an upcoming trip in the tropics or a staycation right where you are, these looks serve as versatile dressy casual looks for various occasions.

A.

LOOK A is a monochromatic pairing of a smart canvas lavender shirt dress from Max Mara and Halvern thigh-high boots from Privileged Shoes complemented by an Ava Gold purse from Teddy Blake and a pair of sterling silver hoop earrings from Ross Simmons. This is a perfect spring look for a dressed-up casual outing in the day or nighttime when the weather is not too cold but warm enough to enjoy without an outer layer of clothing.

B.

For our skirt lovers who cannot wait to show more skin and begin indulging in open footwear once again, LOOK B is the perfect spring look on a warmer day. This is a look that provides some coverage but enough to keep you comfortable as the weather begins to hit the low 70s which is unfortunately tornado season depending on where you are in the U.S.

C.

LOOK C is my favorite because I am more of a pant lover. Wide-leg pants in different styles and fabrics are my go-to on any given day. This look is a classic example of comfort and simplicity while maintaining elegance with a touch of colors. The Chartreuse Sateen wide-leg pants are toned down perfectly with a simple cream cut-out t-shirt for a little sexiness; accessories in neutral tones are used to nicely complement the bold pants. To finish the look in the event you are in a colder spring season like I am in VA, you can throw on a lightweight leather jacket like the Lambskin purple fitted jacket to complete the look.

D.

LOOK D is a nice casual look including a paring of 523L pants and a long-sleeved blouse with a mixed pattern of yellow and purple to keep things interesting. Since the pants, shoes, and blouse make a pretty bold statement on their own and together, you can balance the look with neutral-toned accessories like the Adrian Leather Satchel and the Ralph Lauren leather-wrapped hoop earrings from Macy’s.

E.

For our final look, we have a very casual pairing of a ruched baby tee from Anthropologie and Adam Lippes Alessia floral print pants since florals are great for the spring season; they also get you excited about the summer. Due to the interesting details with the florals and the bold purple tee, you can play down the boldness of the outfit with a pair of black 223Fisher sandals from Maje, a Venice mini cane leather clutch, and a pair of two-toned neutral hoops. This is a nice look for a casual party next door or a picnic in an area filled with festivities and other activities. It is a comfortable look that will also leave you feeling put together as you go about your exciting spring adventure for the day.

I hope these looks give you some inspiration as you decide to implement more color in your closet or as you think through some interesting pairings for any upcoming spring vacations you have planned.

Till next time, I hope you ladies continue to feel confident, capable, and comfortable as you put together stylish looks on your vacations.

 

Happy New Year to you all! Have you ever thought of planning a winter vacation in Virginia? Whether you are a Virginia resident like me who will be having a staycation this winter, or you are thinking of visiting the state of Virginia this winter, I have put together interesting vacation activities to explore and outfit ideas for each activity. Some of the activities are based on what other travelers have recommended and a few of them are based on my personal experiences in the northern part of Virginia.

If you love being outdoors in the winter season, you can explore the Shenandoah National Park in northern central VA.  There are several hikes you can do with historic structures and scenic views. For a challenging hike with a rewarding view, you can check out the Devil’s Bathtub in Scott County VA. This bathtub is like a pool filled with ice-cold water from the cascade falls. You can take cold dives in here. If you are interested in winter sports, check out the winter ski resort in Ghen VA. This resort is voted as the no 1 place to learn how to ski and snowboard in the southeastern part of Virginia. There are other fun activities to do there including snow tubing and chairlifts.

For a more city-like experience, especially in this dry January season, you can visit Northern Virginia. Within Northern Virginia, there is Arlington which has the Pentagon Row ice skating, the largest skating rink in Northern VA. It is surrounded by several shops and restaurants within walking distance.  For a warmer relaxing activity, visit the Signature Theatre, a Tony award-winning performing arts theatre located in Arlington VA. There is always something showing throughout the year, so check the website in advance and book your tickets.

Next is the Mosaic District in Fairfax VA. When I run out of ideas for things to do on a weekend, I always find myself in this area. It is an upscale shopping and dining center filled with different restaurants that serve different kinds of foods. There are boutiques, other shops, a movie theatre, outdoor parks for picnics, and several outdoor seating areas. This location has a farmer’s market event every Sunday from 9 am-2 pm; several local farmers and producers get together and set up booths to share their local foods and products with the community. You can find interesting fresh foods and products that you would most likely not be able to buy at a regular store. The event is also an opportunity to support local food businesses in the area.

Finally, we have Old Town Alexandria in Alexandria Virginia. If you are looking for history and education, this is the place to go. Old town Alexandria is well known for its blend of colonial and modern culture with several historic preservatives. You can look up different tours and schedules in advance so that you can experience the role of Alexandria in U.S. history. When I am in Old Town Alexandria, I sometimes explore the Torpedo Factory which is an art center filled with several artworks from locals. You get to experience their artwork from start to finish. Right next to the Torpedo factory is a connection to several restaurants that overlook the Potomac Riverfront. I consider it a very romantic location but also family-friendly if you plan to be out with your family.

Below are outfit ideas for all the vacation activities listed above in order.

 

 

I hope you find this mini vacation guide for Virginia along with the outfit ideas helpful. Until next time, enjoy your winter vacation/staycation wherever you are.

 

 

Happy Holidays to the women out there! With Christmas around the corner, you may be traveling for the holidays. If you are taking a flight to your holiday destination this year, you are probably thinking of what to wear to the airport. Deciding on what to wear during holiday travels can be stressful when you want to have a seamless travel while being comfortable and stylish. I have created a holiday-themed airport outfit selection if you are traveling during the winter. Any of these outfit selections will put you in the holiday spirit while allowing you to enjoy a seamless journey; these pieces can also be included in your everyday winter wardrobe.
Highlights:
Sets: Whether you are traveling during the winter or warmer seasons, sets are the first kind of outfits I consider when I want to be put together without focusing on color pairings. Once you have a comfortable breathable set including a top, bottom, and sometimes an outer layer, all that remains is a pair of nice comfortable slip-on shoes with colors that complement the set to create a stylish fit. An example is the red pullover sweater and matching leggings complemented with neutral colors including the black and white slip-on sneakers and the camel jacket.
Statement Jacket: A statement jacket is visually appealing and permits you to be simple in your main look. You can throw on all solid colors, whether black or grey, like the simple sweater dress. For a holiday-themed airport look, you can make the outer layer the focus of the theme while keeping everything else simple.
Simple Jewelry: I know Jewelry is often avoided to prevent setting off the metal detectors at security but there are simple pieces you can throw on to create a little sparkle in your look. The key is to select good quality rings, necklaces, and earrings that are only made from silver, gold, or platinum. The jewelry types that are often picked up by the metal detectors are the ones made from magnetic materials so avoid those.
I hope you find these tips helpful. Until next time, enjoy your holiday travels, and be sure to end the year on a high note.