Jalisa’s Fashion Files

Hey Girlies,

I was contacted by the PR at Agadír International about a month ago to try out their line of products, some of which have recently launched. Before considering the opportunity and saying yes, I asked if all of the products were all natural and organic, which you all know is what I prefer for just about everything, and the answer was beyond yes! All of the products in the Agadír line are sulfate, paraben, alcohol, and cruelty free, all of which are what I typically look for in beauty products, although I'm not always lucky! I say all this because before I get into my honest thoughts about the line, I want to make sure that you know that I don't say yes to every opportunity that appears in my inbox. If the product/collection does not fit my personal style, overall lifestyle, and blog esthetic, I kindly turn the offer down. So now that you know that I was genuinely interested in trying these products out and sharing my experience with all of you, let me first share a little background info about Agadír International. 

THE AGADÍR STORY

Agadír, named after a major city in central coastal Morocco, is an all natural and organic hair care line that was created by two Armenian brothers, Paul and Archie Bogosian, both of whom are professional hair stylists and have owned exclusive salons in Manhattan, NY. As a New Yorker, I have to say, owning anything exclusive in NY is a major deal and generally demonstrates talent and prestige. A clear demonstration of the brothers' knowledge and expertise in hair has been proven, having been the first to produce a product that was proven by lab tests to thicken hair by 33%! I'm sure after reading that previous sentence, I've got the eyes of all my fine textured hair ladies widened! This is an interesting finding and statistic, considering the implantation of certified Argan oil, an oil that is found only in the Moroccan Argan tree. Oil generally weighs down the hair, which would naturally oppose any addition of volume. The success of this finding has said to be the unique combination of the rare century's old Argan oil and modern technologies, producing a line of 50 years that is sold to professional salons only, Agadír International. 

INTRODUCTORY REVIEW

Overall, I enjoyed the products and would certainly purchase and use some of them again. I tested them out for about 3 weeks, to ensure that my hair would reap all of the benefits and claims of each product; it can certainly take time for your hair to become adjusted to a product! There were some products that I didn't necessarily feel worked best for me. Please keep in mind that all comments made regarding each product and line is reflective of my own personal experience, yours will most likely vary, depending on the texture, length, and overall condition of your hair. That being said, prior to using these products, my hair was healthy. I have my ends trimmed on a regular basis for my length, which is approximately every 6-8 weeks. My hair has not been color treated and I have fine textured wavy hair.

My hair concerns have always been a section in the back of my head that is always frizzy and lacks texture; whenever my hair air dries the rest of my hair would look beautiful, but that one section would spoil the entire look! I have been on the look out for hair products that would soothe the dryness, allowing the section to blend better with the rest of my hair. I don't always like to use heat, which is why this is especially important to me; I want to be able to feel fabulous with my natural hair and head out the door. Another desire is to achieve volume around the crown of my head and roots. Since I have fine textured long hair, it can be difficult to achieve fullness, since the length can weigh the hair down, making it look limp or lifeless.

Lastly, since my hair is fine, it tends to get oily fast! To be honest, for a while I ran in the opposite direction of products that contained oil because I felt it would make my hair even more oily and faster in between washes; I've been searching for a product that contains all of the added benefits of oil in shampoos and conditioners, but without the grease buildup!

Now, Let's get started with what each product I tested did or did not do for my hair care needs and wants. 

Daily Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner

CLAIM: To add body and fullness that lasts all day and suitable for everyday use

MY EXPERIENCE:  When I used the shampoo, I shampooed once on the roots, messaging the scalp thoroughly. After rinsing, I then formed a ponytail at the back of my head with my hands and applied the conditioner to those sections only. I left it on for about 2-3 minutes and rinsed throughly. I feel that it did provide volume to my hair, upon drying, just not the roots and crown section, which I would've liked. I don't know if this because I did not apply the conditioner to the roots also, but I do not apply conditioner to those areas, since they are the newest hairs growing in, so they do not need as much care or conditioning as the older hairs, which are in the sections I applied the conditioner to. 

WOULD I USE THIS PRODUCT AGAIN? Probably 

Keratin Protein Moisture Masque with Vitamin E

CLAIM: To provide lasting moisture, while adding strength, improving elasticity, and decreasing frizz. It's infused with antioxidants and anti-color fades, great for those who have color treated hair. 

MY EXPERIENCE: Although I don't have color treated hair, I do want to maintain healthy moisture! Like I mentioned earlier, my hair can get oily fast. However, this tends to be only at the roots, the rest of my hair can get a little dry. This is mostly because I don't generally wear my hair pin straight, which would otherwise cause the oil to travel down the hair shaft a lot faster. So did it work for me? YES! I absolutely love this product and would certainly want to purchase it again. I have used quite a few hair masques and this by far is the best one I've used. When I applied the product I would just shampoo my hair. I would not apply the volumizing conditioner, as there was no need if I'd be doing a deep conditioning with the hair masque. After washing out the shampoo, I would apply the masque only on my ponytail section I made with my hand, twirl and clip it and add a plastic shower cap on top. I'd let it sit in my hair for about 20 minutes, although the directions say 3-5 minutes; I like to always add ample time to make sure it's getting deep into those hair shafts! 

WOULD I USE THIS PRODUCT AGAIN? Absolutely

Hair Shield 450° Plus Cream 

CLAIM: To protect and repair damaged hair. It's infused with "shock" protein, which is activated by the heat in styling tools. Upon the application of heat, it immediately targets the damaged areas of your hair to repair, protect, hydrate, and condition.

MY EXPERIENCE: I did notice a difference in the texture of my hair when I used this product as a heat protectant with my heat styling tools. Like it claims, I didn't notice any changes until heat was applied, so when I applied it on my towel dried hair, I didn't see a decrease in the frizz patch I have in the back of my head. However, when I styled my hair with heat, I did not notice any dryness at all. My hair felt super soft and looked shiny and healthy. 

WOULD I USE THIS PRODUCT AGAIN? Absolutely!

Styling Curl Créme

CLAIM: To block humidity and provide long lasting defined curls without the crunch!

MY EXPERIENCE: This product worked beautifully on my hair the first day. I applied it after shampooing and conditioning and gently towel drying. As mentioned earlier, my hair is a bit more wavy, although I do have some defined curls in certain sections. My hair was always curly, but I believe as a result of frequent heat applications, which manipulated my hair, it changed the overall shape of my curls. When I used this product, everything looked blended and I received some compliments, too! However, after the first day, everything dropped and I no longer had the beautiful sculpted look as it did the day before.

WOULD I USE THIS PRODUCT AGAIN? No

Hair Treatment (it has a pink pump in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Proceeds from every sale of this 4oz bottle, will be donated to Agadír's charity of choice, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.)

CLAIM: Repairs, smoothes, and strengthens dry, brittle, frizzy, overworked hair, without an oily buildup. Substantially speeds up drying and styling time.

MY EXPERIENCE: I began to like this product after I figured out the proper way to apply it. The directions say to apply a small amount, but you can apply more to longer hair. Since my hair is relatively long, I thought to apply more than the small amount, about a 1/2 a pump, big mistake! It made my hair oily and weighed it down. When I decided to give it another try, using a smaller amount, I noticed that it did give my hair a nice luster and did indeed speed up the time it took for my hair to air dry. 

WOULD I USE THIS PRODUCT AGAIN? Yes

Spritz Styling Finishing Spray

CLAIM: Serves as a finishing spray to be used to hold a specific style in place, while shielding the effects of humidity away.

MY EXPERIENCE: I applied this product to ponytails or to keep my first layer out of my face and it worked perfect in doing so! It does have a crunchy like texture, so if you're not one who likes that, this wouldn't be the product for you. What I did not like was that at the end of the day, my hair was rather knotty as a result of the application. 

WOULD I USE THIS PRODUCT AGAIN? Probably

Volumizing Styling and Sculpting Gel (Xtreme Hold)

CLAIM: To build volume with long lasting hold, while sculpting and lifting hair. 

MY EXPERIENCE: I haven't used gel since high school, so it's been a while! I actually liked the texture, it didn't feel sticky like other gels. When I used it, I applied it to the top of my head, to create a smooth and sleek finish to my ponytails. 

WOULD I USE THIS PRODUCT AGAIN? Probably not and not because I didn't like it, as mentioned, I do! I just prefer the finishing spray instead. 

Volumizing Hairspray

CLAIM: To serve as a fast drying anti humidity 24 hour hold hairspray.

MY EXPERIENCE: It definitely served the purpose of keeping my hair in place, whether in a ponytail or loose waves. 

WOULD I USE THIS PRODUCT AGAIN? Yes

As I mentioned prior to the review, I really enjoyed using and testing out the list of products. Since the weather is transitioning, I feel that I'm not able to see how well it performs or resists against humidity or wind, but I'm looking forward to seeing how the products that I mentioned I would continue to use will hold up in protecting my hair from the wind and frigid temps this winter. I would certainly suggest you try out these specific products from the line: Keratin Protein Moisture Masque with Vitamin E, Hair Shield 450°, Hair Treatment, and the volumizing hairspray. The complete collection is sold at professional hair salons, but you can purchase them for yourselves directly from their website (here).

A huge thank you to the PR at Agadír International for their generosity! I hope YOU all enjoyed the post and learned of a product that can potentially serve and meet your hair care needs!

XO, 

Jalisa

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Hello Loves!

Winter will be here before you know it, so I wanted to get a head start at giving you all my suggestions on the best styles I feel would look best for your body shape! These particular styles are more casual, so I do plan on creating another post with dressier coats. I feel that every woman should have a casual winter coat and a dressier. One of my fashion pet peeves is when women wear casual parkas or puffy coats with a fancy dress. If you've done it, don't feel bad! Now you know that it's best to opt for a dressier piece to pair with your dressier look. For now, here are my suggestions for casual coats :)

For the pear shape, I always stress the importance of creating volume and dimension up top, so there is no difference when it comes to coats! I suggest opting for styles that pass the fullest part of your hips, to avoid making them appear larger. As you notice, all three of these coats have waist belts or a waist draw string. Since you have a naturally defined waist, you don't want to hide that under your coat! Remember, you will be wearing this piece a lot, depending on where you live, so you want to select something that will flatter and enhance your natural shape. You may have also noticed that two out of the three coats have horizontal pockets on the bust, which help add some visual dimension to the bust area. The other style that does not have the pockets, has a puffy bust as it is, so it's not necessary to have pockets, and it will still accomplish the same effect. 

 

 

 

For all you apple shapes, it's important to pay close attention to pocket, button, zipper, and pattern placement, all of which can make you appear larger than you are. The coat in the middle features vertical zippers, with a slight slant. This prevents your bust from appearing even larger under so much material, which is important. Remember, you will be wearing sweaters with thicker fabrics and if you're busty as it is, all the fabric can make your top half look extremely large in comparison to your slender legs. 

 

Just like the pear shape, I also suggest waist belts for you because they help balance out your upper body by adding the flare on the bottom portion of your coat, it visually adds hips! However, the coat to the right does not have a waist belt and I feel it still works. The pattern around the stomach area is rather flattering because the lines aren't horizontal, which would otherwise add more visual width to the area. Instead, it features a linear pattern in a slanted position, visually slimming the area. It also features the same pattern around the bust, another area you don't want to add visual width when a waist belt is not present. The jacket on the right does have a horizontal pattern on the bust, but notice how close together they are in comparison to the bottom portion of the coat?! This helps in making the bust appear smaller and the hips larger, perfect for all my apple shapes! 

 

 

 

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Hello loves, 

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and a great start to the new week!

Last Thursday, I attended Red Light PR's bi-annual press preview and today, I'd like to share my experience, as I always do! There were amazing collections debuted for the upcoming spring 2015 season, some new to me and some I've been familiar with. I decided to discuss and introduce to you the ones that were new to me and show some photos of me with the designers/ creative directors of those labels, as well as a few my favorite pieces from their collections. This time around, I attended the press preview later than I usually do and it was a packed house! Next time, I plan on attending at my usual times, it's a bit lighter, because I feel that I'm able to take more photos and talk more one-on-one with the designers longer, which I like :) Nonetheless, I had a wonderful time with Red Light, as I always do! So, without further ado, let's discuss the first label, which was my personal favorite! 

LAYANA AGULIAR

This beautiful face may look very familiar to all of you Project Runway fans; she was a contestant on season 11! She is amazingly gifted as a designer and creative mind, which is truly depicted in and by her beautiful designs and creations. This label was my favorite because I was able to personally identify with it the most. Each piece within her collection could be easily integrated into my current wardrobe, while adding sass and edge, a perfect mixture I would say ;) What resonated with me the most was her explanation of one of her recurrent patterns in the collection, a floral-like print. She explained to me, after watching me admire the pattern first, that it's a collage of her mother, son, and nature blended together to create the pattern, all of which are main and important components of her life and inspiration. I was speechless because this. is. art. Art captivates and provokes a reaction and formulates a deep imagination process, one that is independent to each person who views it, which is why interpretations vary.

A close up of a sleeve that had the pattern 

In the case of Layana's beautiful pattern, several admirers of the pattern and myself all thought it to be something different. I truly appreciated this. I also appreciated the thought process that went into each piece within the collection. The fabric used for all pieces is neoprene, a fabric I introduced you all to back in September when I shared a Italian handbag label that uses the same fabric; I explained that this is the same fabric used to construct scuba diving suits. What makes this genius to use as a fabric in clothing is that it doesn't wrinkle (making it ideal for traveling), doesn't show damage or effects from water and liquids (perfect for rainy and snowy days) and it contours the body rather nicely, especially since many of her designs place a great and flattering emphasis on the waistline. I encourage you all to visit her website (click on the title of this section) to learn more about her label and to view more pieces. Much success to you, Layana! 

SOFIA ARANA

This collection is absolutely beautiful, feminine, and passionate, reflective of the Puerto Rican designer's, Sofia Arana, heritage! Filled with lace, soft fabrics, lady-like silhouettes, and a mixture of neutrals and bold color, this label offers the perfect mixture of timeless fashion and fast fashion trends. The trends are implemented in subtle ways, to ensure the long-time use of each garment, which I appreciate, since I'm a devote lover and believer in classic and timeless pieces, I mean, who wants to dish out hundreds or even thousands on something she won't be able to wear in 10 years?! That said, many of the pieces permit for the use of waist belts for additional emphasis on the waist or to be left flowy for a more contemporary feel. This permits for versatility when wearing a single item, allowing each piece to be worn and styled in a variety of ways. Visit her website to view more pieces in her current collection and to learn more about her and the brand! 

SHOP PRICELESS

Seen with Alex Petropulos (creative director) and Diana Camacho (director of photography)

This label is perfect for all my fellow fashionistas who love to keep up with fast fashion and trends. The collections are inspired by fashion and style in real time, featuring clothing with popular social media quotes and sayings. A line perfect for teens and young adults that are eager to stay on top of the social media and fashion trends. 

DUR DOUX

Seen with president/creative director Najla Burt and VP/CEO Cynthia Burt

Avant-garde, that sums up and defines this label and collection to me. It's unique and each piece is sure to be a conversational starter, which I've talked about many times here on the blog, specifically for work wear, when you may have a position that can be a bit intimidating or distant from your clients, conversation starters about clothing can certainly break the ice and openly express who you are without saying a word! 

The name of the label, Dur Doux (Dur-"do"), which means hard/soft was interesting to me and upon learning the meaning of the label, I certainly saw this translated into the pieces and collection I viewed. There was a mixture of structured silhouettes, such as the skirt shown below, which at the same time, featured a soft pattern of florals. Many of the pieces I viewed could easily transition from day to night and I personally think it's because of the unique combination of dur doux, more refined in the office, but when out of this context, there's a more softened feel.  Plus, the company is run and directed by a mother-daughter dynamic duo, which I thought was incredibly awesome! Be sure to visit their site above to learn more!

MAISON DE PAPILLION

A favorite label of Beyoncé, she has requested the yellow and black draped dress (for obvious reasons, lol)! If I were to describe this label to you in one word, it would be luxurious and I'm sure that's what caught the eye of Ms. Beyoncé. However, that's not entirely why I personally love this label, it's more of the unique and versatile service it provides. Each piece in the collection can be worn as a pajama or on the street to create a comfortable, unique, and luxurious blended look. I know, the day has finally come that we can get away with wearing our cozy nightgowns outdoors, without being stared at! What I love is that it's not in your face pajama designs, it's subtle hints, which makes it wearable and ideal for day. Perhaps when we see Beyoncé in this dress, she'll be singing, "I woke up like this." Haha, I know, a tad corny, but it was fitting. Visit the website above for more photos and details about this label!

ALICE'S PIG

Seen with director Amanda De Meleghy 

I loved this label and I'm so glad I have been introduced to it! Their pieces are also sold at Mod Cloth, which I personally am a huge fan of as well. I am often inspired and love to wear vintage looks and pieces, which is the look I wore at the event. The inspirations for the label are taken from the 40s and 70s. I personally identify most with the 60s and 70s, which is why I instantly connected with it. I can't wait to get my hands on some of these pieces and play around with looks, because I always have fun when creating vintage outfits, so funky and fun, a different side of me I think than you see on YouTube :) Certainly check them out on their site, as well as Mod Cloth, if you too are a fan! Oh, and how awesome does director, Amanda De Meleghy look wearing the dress I chose as one of my favorites?! I absolutely loved the way she styled it! 

I hope you all enjoyed this post, as much as I loved sharing it all with you. I trust that you have found a connection to some, if not all, of the brands I showcased and discussed. I wish the best and much success to each designer and label and thank the Red Light PR team for providing me with the opportunity to meet and be in the presence of such gifted individuals! 

MY OUTFIT:

DRESS: One Clothing (Marshalls)

VEST: Me Jane (TjMaxx)

TIGHTS: Local boutique

PURSE: Errelleventidue (TjMaxx)

BOOTS: GUESS (Marshalls)

XO,

Jalisa

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Hello Ladies!

Working with color and/or print can either seem exciting or intimidating, depending on how you view it. Often times, women are intimidated because they don't feel they can pull it off. The reason many feel this way is because they've most likely worn colors or patterns in the wrong places, which further highlighted areas that they were insecure about. That's where I come in! The fact is that color and pattern works for everyone, the key of course is selecting shades that are the most flattering for your skin and hair tone, as well as placing those pieces in areas that will help visually balance you out and divert the eye from focusing on areas you may not want. 

I created shoppable looks for all four body shapes. This should make shopping and styling that much more easier, as well as boosting your confidence in knowing that color and pattern can and does work for you! 

This pairing would look wonderful on a pear shape because all of the eye-catching attention is placed on top, where we want it, in this case! Since I selected black flared pants (which balance out the width of the hips), I didn't want the entire look to be boring, so I decided to add a zebra printed blazer to help further enhance the color of the orange cami. It looks classy in this case because of the the silhouette. I don't generally suggest zebra print for the office, since it can appear a bit funky and party like, but in this case, it works! 

In the case of the apple, it's best to place color and print on the lower portion, to divert the eye from focusing primarily on your voluptuous top! The wrap style blouse is figure flattering and is an apple shape girl's best friend, either in tops or dresses; they help visually slim the upper body overall! I selected a wide pant leg because it visually balances out a wider upper body, thus making the top portion appear slimmer and proportional. 

For all you rectangular shapes, texture can really help enhance your shape and create the enhancement of curves. I selected this fuzzy sweater, which will add some volume and dimension to the upper body, making it appear fuller. I selected printed pants to help maintain your proportions, essentially maintaining interest on both sections of your body. Since you have equal proportions on both your top and bottom, you hold the ultimate choice in whether you would like to enhance a specific area of your body or do so overall.

For all you hourglass shapes, I'd suggest the same tips as mentioned above for the rectangulars. Since you both have equally proportioned frames, you hold the choice of selecting where you'd like the main focus to be or if you'd like to maintain an equal balance, which I often suggest, especially in your case. In this look, we have patterns on both the top and bottom, but they don't clash and don't appear overbearing. The reason is because the print in the pant is subtle and smaller, while the top features more vibrant and larger patterns and colors. To further tone down the look, if you choose (depending on your work setting), I'd suggest wearing a basic solid colored blazer, it'll help tie the entire look together and appear more professional.  

I hope you enjoyed this post and style! Be sure to let me know if you do and I will certainly create more shoppable looks, according to each body shape!

XO,

Jalisa

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