I bought this black scuba gear inspired dress from Zara when it went on sale a few months ago. I bought it not only because of the fabulous reduced price but also because it was very different from anything that I own. I’ve got to take fashion risks, right? It also looked really dope on the online model who was tall, slim and flat chested .

My issue with this dress was the dramatic low cut back of the dress. I would honestly think that if a company is going to sell a dress with such a dramatic back that it would come with a built in bra or something.  My industrial strength everyday bras was not an option so I went for the only option that I know, the pastie.

Pasties are for small chested folks and teenagers. I outgrew those long ago, as I discovered. At my last bra fitting, the girls sized up to be 36 DD’s. I also have saucer size areolas sitting at the base of some pretty cold nipples . It was time to explore options.

Victorias Secret deep V low-back multi-way push up bra |  Image via VictoriasSecret.com

Option 1: Victoria Secrets sells a Deep V Low-Back Multi-way push up bra  for $55 – $62 .  This is a great option, but I am not really sure if this bra is low enough for this dress.  

Maidenform low-back bra converter |  Image via Kohls.com

Option 2: Maidenform has a Low Back Bra Converter which sells for $9.50 at Kohls. The straps of fits into the hook-and-eye closure in the back of the bra and wrap around to the front to create a low-back design. I love the price of this and I am honestly going to buy this one because it would work with some of my other low-back dresses/tops.  However, I don’t think this is low enough for this dress.

Maidenform combo wing bra | Image via Maidenform.com

Option 3: Maidenform combo wing bra.  This bra sells for around $32 on various sites around the web.  I guess this is more of a pumped up pastie than a bra. It would certainly hide the areolas and prevent nipplegate. This just might work, but I wonder how it would hold up after a night of dancing and sweating.

Fashionform Adhesive Bra | Image via JCPenney.com

Option 4: This bra sticks onto your clothes and not onto your body. Great option, but I am not sure if it would provide enough lift for women who are heavy chested like me.

I am glad to know that there are all of these options out there though. Unfortunately, because of the fabric of this dress (velvet), I will not be able to show you the option that I end up with until later this year.  In the meantime, this is me wearing the dress with the standard issue pastie.

Ossie took these photos!

XoXo, Natasha

I don’t understand why people had such an aversion to white pumps or why they thought they were so difficult to style. First and foremost, they are NOT just for church. Second, it’s a neutral color which means you can wear it with just about everything. Third, they are chic, fresh, modern, clean and elegant and should have never died in the 80′s.

The resurgence of the white heel started in Hollywood with the MAJOR style icons. Now the trend has swept through Hollywood and almost every A- lister has been photographed wearing a white heel. I expect that the blogging collective will soon follow by showcasing this outfit game changer in outfit posts in the months to come.  Here are a few of my favorite Hollywood style icons Kim Kardashian, Solange Knowles, Rihanna and Thandie Newton wearing the trend.

I was inspired by the Alexander Wang heels that Rihanna wore with her outfit.  When I saw a similar pair on Shoemint, I used a 50% off coupon from RetailMeNot ($79 to $39…Score!) and added these to my shoe collection two months ago. ( I will publish the full outfit on Wednesday). I absolutely love them!

This summer, please consider trading out your black, nude or colored shoes for white ones. Try to stay away from satin or silk unless you will be walking down the aisle. Go for patent leather ones which are easy to maintain and is a more “all-weather” material . Vegan, leather, strappy sandals like the one that I wore above would also be a great investment.  Here are some other white heels to consider:

XoXo, Natasha

This promises to be another fabulous collaboration. I cannot wait to see what will be in stores September 15th!

I am not a big fan of dry cleaning clothes mainly because of the expense and past experience. The last time I brought a load to the cleaners, I forked over $60 plus and when I got home and unveiled my clothes from under the plastic, it was covered in cat hair. Long, orange, blondish ones that were very familiar (I have an orange, blondish long haired cat). After mounting a protest, I got my money back, but I was turned off by the discovery that my clothes weren’t “washed” in the way I imagined. There was no water, detergent and suds. Instead, that particular cleaners run their clothes through some kind of steamer.

I realize now that most “dry” cleaning is done this way, but I have a steamer at home and I figured, if that’s all they really do, then I would just steam my clothes myself.  Of course, I have not, instead I have been throwing my “dry clean only” stuff in with my regular wash.  Some of my pieces have started showing signs of “home cared” as a result though and I thought it was time to start throwing some money in the direction of my local cleaners (of course, not the same company who couldn’t even bother to use a lint brush or at the least tape to humor me).  

First into the dry cleaners was a blue and cream Ralph Lauren dress that became saturated with foundation after its debut night out. On my way into the cleaners, I grabbed this thrifted Ann Taylor pants that I had tied up in a plastic bag in the trunk of my car. (BTW, I always do this when I buy second hand stuff. In my mind, it keeps any potential creepy crawlies outside of my home).  Boy was I surprised when I picked both pieces last week. The foundation was gone from the dress, but more impressive than the disappearing makeup was the pants. Not sure what they did, but these pants went from shabby to chic with a $6.50 investment.

 What I Wore:

I wore this outfit to work on Monday. The fabric of the pants is heavy, but I wanted to get one wear out of it before the weather became warmer.  

Sweater: Red 3/4 sleeve sweater from H&M | Pants: Ann Taylor Pants thrifted from Goodwill | Shoes: Isola Balta heels from Marshalls | Accessories: Gold link chain from Frugal Finds NYC, faux gold watch from Francesca’s Collection 

Ossie took these photos!

XoXo, Natasha

Wayne Goss is a UK based makeup artist and Youtube sensation. I came across this really informative video on how to disinfect your makeup and I thought you guys would find this helpful and informative as well. I personally, haven’t tried this yet, but I plan to.

Enjoy!

SPONSORED

Thanks to Everywhere Society, last Friday, I (ok, not just me, there were perhaps 400+ other women) spent the evening with Clinton  Kelly at the Westfarms Macys.  We were treated to a preview of Macys Spring 2013 collection along with sound style advice from the charismatic host of TLC’s What Not to Wear and ABC’s The Chew .

Here is a brief preview of what is in stores at Macys this Spring.

Inspiration for the office:

As you can see from this small sampling of their spring collection, color and prints are back this season. However, not every color is for everybody. Clinton Kelly says red, black, mustard yellow and beige are the most difficult colors to wear.  Here is his advice on how and when to wear them:

• Red: Wear only if you have yellow undertones. The red color brings the color up to your face and is therefore not complementary to red undertones and can emphasize any redness (i.e. from rosacea, irritation etc) that you have. 
• Black: Wear only if you have perfect skin. The black cast shadows on your face and can highlight any imperfections. 
• Mustard Yellow and Beige: Wear only if you have contrasting skin tones or it will make you look washed out.

The Calvin Klein mint suit was my favorite from the office looks. The mint pastel and matching shoes is bold and chic. I also loved the contrast of the mint with the deep chocolate skin tone of the  model.

Inspiration for casual/weekend looks: 

When you are shopping Macys this season, expect to find crop jackets, short shorts, pastels, aztec and “tribal” prints, acid wash, and lots of dresses with high-low hems.  Clinton Kelly also approves the matchy, matchy (Clinton and Stacy What Not To Wear lingo) trend for this season. Deprogram whatever you heard them say on the show. It’s ok to pair the same color accessories (or in the same color family) with your outfits. Suits are also back and the mixing of prints and textures carried over from last season.

I loved all of the mixed print outfits and prints from this collection but the updated acid wash jeans was my favorite piece from this section. As a child of the 80′s it’s a little piece of nostalgia for me.  I also think it can be dressed up by adding a blazer (for concerts, bar, nightclub) or dressed down as presented here.

Inspiration for date night/evening looks:

Without a doubt, the emerald green sheath dress with the side zipper detail was my favorite from the date night looks, followed by the “tribal print dress”.  They are both classy and timeless.

Inspiration for semi-formal events :

I loved all of the semi-formal looks. The gold and black art deco/Hollywood regency-esque dress worn by the plus size model was just simply, DOPE!  Here is a closer look.

I have to tell you that I was less than impressed with the selection of shoes for the weekend and date night looks.  I realize that they are more practical, but the word “matronly” and “granny” comes to mind the more I stare at them. I would invest in a strappy, open toe sandal for the season. They are versatile and most of them have a comfortable heel height.

While I loved the presentation, I  think the best part of the event was the question and answer section. Clinton Kelly’s advice  (everything from what to wear to how to make a career in fashion) and on forgiving every and anyone who made us feel self conscious about our bodies and/or looks was oxygen to my soul.

Looking for more Clinton Kelly style advice? Check out his two books  available on Amazon.com

Freakin’ Fabulous | Oh No She Didn’t 

Thanks Ossie for taking these photos!

Happy shopping!

XoXo, Natasha

DISCLOSURE: I am a member of Everywhere society and compensation was provided by Macys via Everywhere Society for this post. However, the opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of  Macys or Everywhere Society.

Disclosure: PURCHASED BY ME |  PRESS SAMPLE

Spring has been off to a very slow start here in the northeast, but it was actually warm enough early last week for me to break out shorts and open toe shoes. I took advantage of the warm day by pairing my chambray blouse with my leather shorts. You don’t already have one, the chambray denim button down blouse would be a great addition to your spring wardrobe. It’s honestly a fashion blogger cliched statement piece, but I love its versatility and it has become a staple in my closet. It not only looks great with leather, but it also looks great tucked into a circle skirt, and is a great neutral piece for bright and patterned skirts or pants. It can also be styled like a cardigan and looks great tucked-in, or fully buttoned, as shown here.

Leather is also another must have for your closet.  It is such an unbelievable versatile piece. I’ve worn this one in the warmer months and with tights in the winter.

What I Wore:

Blouse: chambray blouse purchased from Marshalls (similar : Mid Tone Chambray or Light Chambray both available at Old Navy) | Shorts: leather shorts purchased from Asos (similar: vegan leather shorts $69.95 from Free People or Asos Leather Shorts  $37.41 | Shoes: patent leather t-strap open toe heels purchased from Nine West (similar: Madden Girl Cuupid $50) | Necklace:  Gun’s and Roses Necklace thanks to African Charm

Ossie took these pictures!

XoXo, Natasha

DISCLOSURE: An item worn in this post was provided as a press sample for consideration from AfricanCharm.com. All opinions and my decision to feature a specific item are honest, and most importantly, my own. All other items were purchased using my own funds.

Disclosure: PRESS SAMPLE

To say that I’ve been having a challenging year would be an understatement. If its not been one thing, its been another and if positive vibes, scriptures, an over due visit to church don’t work, I am heading over to Whole Foods for a smudge stick. They sell these things at Whole Foods. I was surprised too. However, the smoke would more than likely aggravate my new and emerging problem, allergies and after this week, I ain’t got time fo’ that.

As I mentioned in my post earlier this week, I woke up on Sunday, suddenly sick.  Being the good trooper I am, I made it to work Monday and Tuesday and sneezed and blew my nose  until it became literally sore. Yesterday (Wednesday), I ended up calling out of work and ended up with an emergency appointment in my doctor’s office. It wasn’t so much the allergies (well, technically not the sneezing, itchy,watery eyes type) that sent me to the Doctor’s. I promise to tell you more about it when I complete my research.

After a strong line of questioning followed by poking, prodding, peeking and breathing exercise. I walked out w/FOUR  *I repeat in my Sesame Street Count Dracula voice, one, two, three, four — prescriptions for allergies…and asthma.. and that other matter which the allergy medications also addressed. Sigh!

I SWEAR For the Love of Money came on the speakers when I walked into the pharmacy. It must have, because I distinctly remember leaning back a little and then pimp walked my way down the aisle to the back of the pharmacy counter holding ALL my prescriptions like it was a golden chalice. Yep, CVS just had to have it, all of my money that is and technically, CVS was my pimp, not the other way around . Even with insurance, this had to be one of the heaviest pharmacy fines that I have paid in a while. You know that I am, eh hem, frugal. So just picture me at the counter arguing, in my now, high nasal voice, about the charges.

Anyways, apparently allergy season is coming hard and strong this year so if you are a fellow allergy sufferer, I feel you.  I have my stash of meds and refills…

All has not been negative, in my world however.  We are finally getting some long over due curb appeal upgrade for my building (I fought for two years for that with the association). And because of my future trip, I had to put something on hold that I wanted for my home for the longest time that is being gifted to me, hopefully this weekend. Yeah!  In blog news, I spent all of that time a few months ago honing my niche, making a schedule of my content.  I even downloaded a content calendar plugin and… well, at least I got two posts out this week… and look at the top right of your screen for my blog’s new feature.

Also, if you follow me on instagram you have probably seen a few of  the pieces that were sent to me by African Charm jewelry. I have a special post that I am working on (coming soon) which will feature more of the pieces. However, as a preview, I wanted to share this photograph showcasing this vintage style silver necklace. Please support this online retailer by visiting her site and hopefully, making a purchase. She is a small business owner and her prices are reasonable and fair.

 I love you one and all,

XoXo, Natasha

Oh, and Ossie took this picture.

DISCLOSURE: Items or products worn in this post were provided as a press sample for consideration from AfricanCharm.com. All opinions and my decision to feature a specific item are honest, and most importantly, my own.

Disclosure: PURCHASED BY ME | PRESS SAMPLE

I’m so happy to announce that spring finally showed up in Connecticut this weekend. It also marked the return of my photographer and a new nuisance, allergies. At least I think it’s allergies  since it showed up bright and early this morning without as much as a warning (i.e. sore throat, chills or body aches).

I spent most of my Sunday sipping tea, popping pills and stuffing my nose with tissue to stem one of the fiercest nasal drips that I have ever experienced.  Perhaps out of guilt, Honey, my long haired mainecoon looking cat, who usually passes the time entangled in my feet has been keeping her distance today. Instead of following me from room to room like she always does, she spent most of the day perched on the highest surface staring down at me. If this is allergies, she was certainly the trigger.

In any case, I got up, took another squirt of veramyst so that I could sit here in peace (without tissue sticking out of my nose or wiping) to crank out this blog post. I wore a variation of this (without the jacket, converse instead of heels and gold necklace instead of this one) to a book review party that was hosted by Wendy Limauge of Connecticut Bloggers over the weekend.  I’ll post more about this later this week.

What I am Wearing:

Top: Charter Club one-button tuxedo blazer from Macys (similar: Rock and Republic Colorblock Tuxedo Blazer $24.00) over black v-neck t-shirt from Target. | Bottom: Printed crop pants from Express that I found on sale a few months ago for $9.99 <— Yep! | Shoes: Isola Balta heels from Marshalls (featured here) | Accessories: Peres Pink and gold necklace c/o AfricanCharm.com.

Ossie took these photos!

Crawling back to bed —XoXo, Natasha

DISCLOSURE: This post includes a product that was provided for consideration by a representative of AfricanCharm.com. All opinions contained herein are my own and are unaffected by this.

Since my last “about me post” I started watching Scandal; started to get my physical fitness on via TapOut XT; canceled cable; and made up my mind about what I want to do with that deep down desire to travel.  To answer your questions, Shonda Rhimes executive producer for Scandal is dope. I only made it through my fifth week of EXTREME exercising after joining a group of fellow TapOut fanatics online.  I don’t miss cable, and I booked my trip. As far as the exercising is concerned, I already know that I am going to have to do two rounds of TapOut XT to see the results that I want. Some days are better than others and the last week have been really bad days as far as exercising is concerned.  I don’t want to say where I am going and when until it’s closer to the date and it’s a long way off. I can at this time, however, give you the details of my latest outfit post. (-;

What I Wore:

Top: Solitaire denim blouse from Marshalls | Bottom:  (Last seen here) :  Jones New York khaki colored pants from Macys (Last seen here) | Accessories: Gold tone chain link necklace from Frugal Finds NYC | Shoes: Lucky Brand ankle boots from Macys

Ossie took these photos!

XoXo, Natasha

DISCLOSURE: The products featured in this post were purchased using personal funds.