Jalisa’s Fashion Files

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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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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Blouse: Piperlime Collection (gifted) // Skirt: Nordstrom Rack // Necklace: Charming Charlie // Bracelet: Little Switzerland (Aruba) // Shoes: Steve Madden (Marshalls)

I absolutely love pattern mixing, especially when there's bright and beautiful colors involved! Even though you can pattern mix all year round, I find it most fun during the summer months. Now that we have unofficially entered into the summer season, I decided to wear this fun, colorful skirt I purchased a few weeks ago. As soon as I saw it, this top, which I already had, came to my mind to pair it with. I love the way they look together, since the skirt has some subtle black and white, it blends perfectly. 

Do you tend to shy away from pattern mixing, even though you really like the way it looks, because you think it wouldn't look good on you? Well, I'm hear to tell you that regardless of you age or body shape, it WILL! Check out my video, "How to Pattern Mix Like a Pro." In the video, I explain some simple strategies to keep in mind for your shape to ensure that you'll look and feel great in your bold and beautiful look; let's get creative! 

XO,

Jalisa

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Happy Memorial Day!

I want to thank each and every one of you who have served and are serving to protect our freedom here in the United States of America. I truly appreciate the dedication and and sacrifices you and your family have made so that I may enjoy the freedom and liberty I have everyday. This holiday is NOT about a BBQ or about the sales, but about observing you and all those who've served before you. The BBQs and gatherings we have today should be focused on remembrance and gratitude, another Thanksgiving holiday. 

This is also another day we should remember all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice on that horrific day we shall never forget, 9/11. As a New Yorker, I will NEVER forget that day. I remember so clearly what I was doing and the fear that arose in my body sitting in science class knowing my mom was working in the city and not being able to know at that very moment if she was okay. This is the story of many Americans, not just New Yorkers and so, I also say thank you to those who are in the line of duty and are on call to many emergencies that they are not sure how will end, the first responders. Thank You. 

As for my dress, I love it! It's from LuLu's and was gifted to me when I attended their New York Fashion Week event this past September. I love how feminine it is in the material and cut. It's one that would truly look exceptional on the apple shape. The reason is because it has more of an empire waistline and the flowy bottom portion of the skirt, which is so figure flattering for this shape. The neckline is great for the pear shape, but I find that empire waist dresses can make our top portions look that much smaller. Even though I don't feel it's the best style for my shape, I wanted to still showcase it to those of you who are apple shapes as an example. This style would not only look great on an apple shape, but on a rectangular shape as well. The reason is that it truly helps to create and redefine the waistline. If you are either of those two shapes and have a long torso, this style will also help to make it appear smaller and your legs longer ;)

Bye Bra sent me their adhesives to try out and review a little while ago and I felt this dress was perfect to try them out in. I've only worn an adhesive once and they fell off while wearing them, lol! Thank goodness no one was around when they kept falling underneath my dress, but I did not have that experience with these, since they have much more support. Now that summer is almost upon us and we'll be wearing backless or strapless tops, I suggest you give them a try. They even have a video tutorial on how to wear them properly.  

Below are some options of dresses I'd suggest for either the pear or hourglass shapes that have the same or similar vibe. 

Thanks so much for stopping by and enjoy the rest of this awesome holiday! 

XO, 

Jalisa

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