Jalisa’s Fashion Files

 Hey Girlies,

Will you be attending a special occasion? Or how about an interview? Whether you'll be attending both or just want to create a clean and polished wardrobe, these 7 tips are sure to help you create a luxurious outfit every time, without breaking the bank. Let's get started with the most important tip, which I'm sure you expected from me :)

1. DRESS YOUR SHAPE

A very easy way to make any outfit you ever wear look more expensive is to purchase clothing that will flatter your body shape. We've all made the mistake of wearing something that didn't necessarily make us feel our best, which resulted in us getting rid of that poorly fitted item. Save yourself the money and frustration by selecting pieces that will work with your body not against it! If you're not sure what body shape you have, watch my video on determining it (here)! 

2. WEAR SHAPE WEAR, IF NEEDED!

You may have noticed that your Forever 21 pieces look nice, but don't necessarily fit as well as your investment pieces. That's because fast fashion stores, such as Forever 21, are made with cheaper materials, which often make lumps and bumps that much more noticeable. This is super easy to fix by wearing a well fitting bra and shape wear, such as SPANX (if needed), underneath to smooth out areas that are a bit uneven. Many of us are wearing the wrong bra size (over 85% of us), which often results in the creation of lumps on the sides and back, which can make our clothing appear as though it's too tight and not well fitting. Are you wearing the right size bra?! Find out in my video on determining your bra size (here).

3. INVEST IN ESSENTIAL PIECES

Mixing high priced items with low are quite common and I definitely suggest you do this. Your entire outfit doesn't have to be designer, but you should have at least a pair of investment shoes and a purse, since those are generally our most worn items. Both of these pieces will create the appearance of a more refined look. Not sure what else would be classified as an investment piece? Watch my video on 8 essential pieces I suggest you splurge on (here)! 

4. WHEN IN DOUBT, WEAR NEUTRALS

Have you ever noticed that anything in white, beige, navy, or black looks more expensive? Those colors have a more luxurious feel to them because they exude sophistication and class. You of course don't have to break the bank on a top or skirt, a Forever 21 or H&M piece in any of those colors that are also well fitting will do the trick!

5. KEEP THINGS SIMPLE

Many of us love to have fun with our outfits by incorporating vibrant colors and patterns, you know I'm all for it! But if your goal is to create the appearance of an expensive outfit, less is best. Keep the look simple by wearing an outfit that features neutrals and that are well fitting, with just the simplest of jewelry, such as a white button down shirt and navy trousers, paired with a low-key necklace. 

6. STEAM IT 

Nothing looks more rushed than wearing a top that's super wrinkled. It creates the impression that you didn't put much thought into your outfit and perhaps even grabbed something out of your dirty hamper; let's not lie, we've all done that at some point, but we certainly don't want it to look as though we did! Take the time to steam your wrinkled pieces. I know it takes time, perhaps you want to do it the night before, so you won't have to rush in the morning. Your outfit will look crisp, clean, and polished, which always look expensive!

7. REPLACE THOSE BUTTONS

Sometimes the top itself looks great, but the buttons can ruin it by making it look cheap and flimsy. That doesn't mean you still can't purchase or wear it! It's super easy and cheap to have the buttons replaced and it can instantly make your item look that much more costly!

What did you think of the post? I hope you found it helpful! Just know that you don't have to break the bank to look as though you did ;)

XO,

Jalisa

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1. Boohoo (here) | 2. Boohoo (here) | 3. TopShop (here) | 4. TopShop (here) | 5. Boohoo ( on sale here) | 6. Boohoo (on sale here)

Hello Loves,

I hope you're all having an amazing start to your week! I'm back from Florida and New York has given me a warm welcome home with some amazing weather, so I can't complain, as the transition was easy. Anyway, I receive a lot of feedback, mainly on my videos, from ladies that have wider hips and feel that some of the suggestions for bottoms I make can't apply to them. If you're one of those who've left a comment like, "great tips, but won't work for me..." then you'll most likely remember me telling you that one strategy to help balance out the shoulders and upper body with your wider hips are wide necked tops, like a boatneck for example. I felt it would be a great idea to post some of my top picks that I'm loving this season to help your shopping experience that much easier! Feel free to let me know if there are any other examples you'd like for me to provide in a post. In the meantime, I hope you like my selection! 

PS: These tops will not make your hips disappear, they will help add to and enhance your natural curves ;)

Thanks for stopping by!

XO,

Jalisa

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Dress: Max Studio (similar style here) | Purse: Michael Kors (here) | Sandals: Bongo (similar style here) Bracelet: Bali Cotoure (similar style here) Sunglasses: Salvatore Ferragamo (similar style here)

Hey Everyone!

On Wednesday night, Eddie and I made a trip down here to Jacksonville, Florida to visit some family. We've only been here one other time, briefly. This time around, we vowed that we would do and see more, so we headed to Old St. Augustine, the oldest town in the U.S! We saw so many amazing places and historical artifacts. There is so much to see and do that I feel we only scratched the surface of it. I definitely suggest you plan a trip with your family, you will love it; especially if you have any history buffs (like me) in your family! 

Since we were going to be doing a lot of walking, I wanted to be comfortable, but still look cute ;) I decided to wear a maxi dress and added my Michael Kors lime green (the color is actually called pear) cross body - a recent purchase. I love it because I can fit my wallet, phone, and other essentials and not feel weighed down, perfect for long walks in the warm weather and it adds a nice pop of unique color. 

Have you guys every been to St. Augustine's or heard of it? Where was your most recent trip? Share in the comments' section, I'd love to know! 

XO,

Jalisa

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Photo via Instagram @jalisasfiles

Hey Lovelies!

I am a workout buff, at least I'd like to consider myself one, haha! I've been working out consistently for 9 years now and have lost and kept off roughly 25lbs. I'm not going to lie, the beginning was the hardest. I started my senior year in high school, mainly because I wanted to look fabulous for prom and I also had realized that my eating pattern was absolutely horrible, which lead to the unhealthy weight gain. I was skipping breakfast, eating garbage for lunch and dinner, and no healthy snacks in between. Oh, and water, the only water I had was mixed into some processed juice. It was bad. I had to come to the realization that I had to take action and my health and body into my own hands. I signed up for a gym membership and that's when the journey began and has yet to stop. I would sometimes go with friends  but a lot of the times I went by myself. I would walk from my high school in the rain, snow, the hottest day, you name it (I didn't have a car). When I lost about 10lbs, I was thrilled, especially when everyone was noticing my hard work. It wasn't until a few years later that I truly took this whole fitness thing even more seriously and you won't believe what got me going, gym clothes! Prior to this awesome discovery, I would either wear old pajamas (I know, embarrassing ) or some of my friend's sports team clothes. I had no idea that there was such a thing as awesome fitness clothes, I mean, at the gyms I was going to, no one really wore bright fun clothes. After I started to find some pieces that were bright and that fit me well, it made me feel even better about working out. I felt great about my body and the process I was going through to loose the other 15lbs. Of course fitness doesn't start and end at the gym, it's continuous  You have to watch what you eat and say no, even when those around you are indulging. However  I do suggest having one cheat meal a week, for me that's me and Eddie's date night dinner. 

I want to encourage all of you reading to get active and stick with it. If you prefer exercising outdoors, than do it! But don't let your routine become seasonal and not continue on during the fall and winter months, get a gym membership during those months. Get active not just to have the scale read a certain number, but to feel good in the body you're in, while taking care of it, you only get ONE! Work out clothing is very important in continuing on your journey, it keeps you motivated and feeling good. Wear bright fun colors, this is the time and place you don't have to worry about sucking anything in or hiding certain areas. Go for it! 

1. Champion Performance tank: Kohl's (on sale here) | 2. Weight lifting gloves (here) | 3. Nike tank: Kohl's (here) | 4. Calvin Klein Performance leggings (on sale here) | 5. Lifefactory water bottle (on sale here) | 6. Printed Temp running shorts (here) | 7. Nike Air Max Thea Sneakers (on sale here) | 8. Adidas Women's Squad Duffle Bag (on sale here) | 9. Nike Air Max 2015 Running Shoe (here)

I hope you liked my gym picks and that they help to get you motivated and started to becoming a more healthy you, fashionably off course ;)

PS: If you're new to the gym and you feel insecure about everyone looking at you, trust me, they're NOT! It's all in the mind :)

XO,

Jalisa

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Blouse: Marshalls (similar style here) | Shorts: Forever 21 (similar style here) | Purse: Kate Spade (similar style here) | Shoes: Steve Madden (similar style here) 

Hey My Loves!

When putting together this outfit, I started off with these amazing shorts I purchased from Forever 21 roughly two years ago. When I first bought them, I wasn't quite sure how often I'd wear them, but thought they were so different, I decided to buy them anyway. I challenge you do to that once in a while. You know I'm a huge proponent for thinking ahead and determining a purchase based on versatility to avoid waisting your money, but sometimes it's okay to step outside the box and challenge yourself. You know that saying, "nothing great ever comes from comfort zones"? It's so true, even when it comes to fashion and getting dressed. I've been feeling really inspired by Solange Knowles lately. She is THE master of bold color and mixed pattern pairings. She's not afraid to take some risks and I really love that about her. With that, I revisited these shorts in my closet and challenged myself in selecting another pattern to mix it with and I ultimately decided to go with this sporty zipped up blouse. What made me think they'd work together is that they both have a color in common, blue. I think that's the base to start with when creating any mixed pattern look, finding a common color. They don't always have to be the same exact shade, but at least in the same color family; it'll make the match much easier to determine. I love the way the look came together and I hope you do, too! 

Style Tip: One thing you may want to consider is the size of prints you're working with and where you'll place/wear them. You know I try to make as many suggestions on how you can wear something for your body shape, but I kind of want to change my approach a bit. I don't want you to ever feel you can't wear something simply because of your body shape. I want you to consider how you'll feel in what you're thinking about wearing and have that determine the outcome. So, with that, I'd say that if you're insecure with a specific area of your body, perhaps you want to avoid placing the largest print there, as it can bring more attention and add some unwanted visual weight to that area. You could do this, however, on an area that you feel most confident about, which will highlight it. 

Thanks so much for stopping by, I appreciate your time and interest :)

XO, 

Jalisa

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