Beige, black and a touch of animal print. That’s all it takes to create a fun fall look! This transitional utility top by Calvin Klein can easily take you from summer to fall. With that said, how would you wear it? Some people keep this style top with dress pants and pencil skirts, but I like to wear it with shorts – and in this case, black skinny jeans.
The oversized fit of the top is perfect to slightly tuck in and contrasts excellently against the solid black jeans. I broke the solids apart with a fun mohair cheetah print belt (similar), which is what really finishes the look in my opinion!
For additional accessories, I have added these exposed side booties made of faux suede in a cognac color, my favorite Henri Bendel tote, and mirrored sunnies with a faux tortoise design. All accessories offer a similar color palette therefore, they blend and complement each other very well. This is such a great casual Friday look for work or a happy hour go-to!
This year I had the opportunity to attend StyleCon, Dallas! This was the first year StyleCon has been held in Dallas so seeing as I am a Texan, and the drive is just a short 4 hours, Myself, and fellow bloggers Kristine of Kristine’s Kaleidoscope, and Alessandra of AlessandraLaura decided to road trip to Dallas together for the event!
We left Houston Friday evening so that we could be ready for the festivities bright and early Saturday morning. For our accommodations, we stayed across the street from the venue at the Fairmont Dallas. For my review of our stay, click here!
StyleCon is a one day event filled with panelist in the industry, and tons of vendors sharing all about their brands! The opportunity for partnerships, collaborations and making new friends was enormous! Brands like Fit Joy, Boohoo and beGlammed all came prepared with fun interactive booths where you could sample, share, and speak to their products!
As a Style Collective member I was there to see Annie Spano, the founder who would be speaking on a panel during StyleCon. It was so nice to see Annie again since the NYFW party she put together for all of her style collective sisters, and her time on the StyleCon panel was fantastic!
There were plenty of snacks to help ourselves to throughout the day as this event ran from 9:00-5:00 so many thanks to all of the lovely snack vendors who kept our energy up and tummies full through the amazing day!
StyleCon 2017 was amazing, and I can’t wait to attend it again next year!
This past month I had the opportunity to partner with Yosi Samra for a fall campaign where I was able to try out two styles from their shoe collection and review them. Their fall line in out of this world and I am so excited to share my faves with you! The selections I landed on included the Valentina, in fig suede, and the Vivian in metallic boa.
If you are unfamiliar with Yosi Samra, they are a shoe brand famous for the foldable ballet flat which transitioned into an expanded line of shoes with a split sole. This design makes them super convenient to pack for travel, and incredibly comfortable!
Vivian
Metallics are a huge fall trend this year so I selected the Vivian in this amazing golden tone, platino! I’m also a huge GOT fan so these shoes really appealed to me as they remind me of the Targaryen style with a dragon scale inspired flare! The material is extremely lightweight, yet durable and subtle pointed toe adds the perfect finishing touch. The insole is plush and extremely comfortable and the split sole design keeps your feel flexible and mobile. I have enjoyed styling these with dark jeans and rich caramel, burgundy shades as well as cheetah prints.
Valentina
This is the perfect shoe to slide on and go! The comfortable and luxurious suede construction hugs your foot and the wrap style keeps the shoes securely on your feet. This dark burgundy shade is one of my favorites for the fall season and I love to incorporate it in accessories and lipsticks so, these shoes were the perfect selection for me! Opposite the Vivian, I like to pair these with light wash denim, and golden tones.
I personally love nontraditional flats which makes this brand perfect because they offer such a wide selection of quality made flats in a variety of silhouettes, such as the Vivian and Valentina! But if you have a love for the classics, they offer those as well!
I must say that I am very impressed with the quality of construction, premium materials used, and overall design of Yosi Samra shoes. The brand is definitely luxe, with an affordable price tag! And what’s even better? If you shop now, you can get a 20% discount with “HALEYS20” at checkout from their site, so what are you waiting for?!
This past weekend myself, Kristine, and Alessandra went on a girl’s trip to Dallas for StyleCon. We had the pleasure of staying at the Fairmont Dallas for the weekend which was not only convenient, as it was located right across from StyleCon, but also a luxurious and relaxing getaway for the three of us!
Upon arrival, we were welcomed to a table of evening snacks and a bottle of wine. The traditionally appointed rooms are spacious and decorated elegantly leaving a relaxed at-home feel. One of my favorite special touches was the personalized toiletry items!
Since we are bloggers we travel with quite a bit of accessories. To keep everything organized, here is our shoe and handbag set up! We found the best space for these items to be the living area. I will also add the closets are spacious and provided enough hangers for the three of us to hang all of our clothing!
We stayed in an adjoining King Suite and a Double Room. The bedding was plush and extremely comfortable. When I stay at a hotel usually the first night I cannot sleep well just because I am in a new place, but at the Fairmont I fell asleep almost as soon as my head hit the pillow!
In the morning it was just a short elevator ride and hallway walk to Starbucks! We loved that there was one conveniently located in the hotel, perfect for getting the morning started on the right foot!
After that, we spent the day at StyleCon, which I will chat about in a separate post. Once we arrived back at the hotel, we found lemonade and sweets in the entry to welcome us back, along with a beautiful fresh floral arrangement. After refreshments it was back to the room to change and get ready for dinner!
We met up with our fellow blogger friend Zaira at Mercat Bistro, a short 0.4 miles away from the hotel. We dined in the gazebo on steak, beet salad, shrimp ravioli, bread pudding, and creme brulee! The French inspired restaurant was beautifully decorated and elegantly appointed with printed china, linen table cloths, string lights and dark green rot-iron scrolled posts.
I would also like to add in the evening turn down service was provided by the hotel including a fresh bag of ice and a bottled water.
Since the weather was so beautiful while we were at the Fairmont Dallas, we had the opportunity to check out the amenities on the Terrace floor. Here they have lovely gardens and a sparkling pool overlooking the Dallas skyline.
If you are planning a trip to Dallas, or just want a relaxing weekend getaway, this is the place to stay! You will feel comfortable, welcome and leave well rested! Thank you Fairmont Dallas for the wonderful stay, be back soon!
For NYFW I had the amazing opportunity to collab with Tease HTX hair! This local company offers remy clip-ins, perfect for enhancing your look in literally seconds!
In the pictures above I have demonstrated what a difference the extensions make! Here I have set this post up as in a quick Q&A style including my thoughts on the extensions, how I would style/wear them, and lots of images so you can see just how natural this hair really looks! Enjoy, and I hope you find this helpful! 🙂
Q&A
So first things first; what length, and color did I get?
I was color matched for #18 Chai Tea Latte, and am wearing the 20″ length clip-ins.
How much do the extensions cost?
There are two length options available so the prices range between $129 and $149 for the classic shades, and $179 for the ombre hair.
How do you style them?
Since these extensions are real hair, you are curl, or straighten the hair as you wish! I like to curl and brush the extensions out before I install them. – This is my preference and I have noticed it gives me the most natural finish. I also style my hair as usual i.e. curl or straighten before installing the extensions. This avoids pulling, extra tension and I feel cuts down on the time it takes to get ready. Once my hair is ready, and the extensions are ready I install them and blend with my fingers.
Do this clips hurt?
Each weft has a lace piece attached to the hair to avoid irritation and provide stability, and each sewn-in clip has teeth as well as a silicone strip to provide a secure grip. The reason I call this out is because these features keep the extensions from moving around and adding tension to the scalp. The clips stay secure creating less pulling and pinching. I will say there is a slight discomfort the first time wearing all 10 wefts, but only because I personally was not used to the added weight. After that I didn’t notice any discomfort.
Are they difficult to install?
No, not at all! The wonderful thing about clip-ins is it is super simple to install them yourself! I have found it best to start at the base of my neck and work my way up. Also when taking off the extensions I start at the top of my head and work my way down. You want to leave the clips open after removal so that they are easy to install for your next use. This also helps to preserve the clips as you are not opening and closing them in excess.
Pros:
My favorite pro is that the hair is removable. I personally have very thick hair. It takes me a long time to wash, blow dry and style my hair even when at the length it currently is! When my hair was naturally long it took me forever to complete these tasks so my hair ended up in a bun a lot. Since this hair is removable I have the ability to take it off when I get home, it is ready to go all of the time as it does not have to be washed and re-styled upon every use, and you have the option of such versatility! Also you instantly can have long hair! No need to wait years to grow it out! Also, if you bleach your hair, as I do, it is super difficult to grow it out as your ends are always needing to be trimmed or are breaking off. Versus leaving those ratty ends attached to keep from trimming that precious length off, extensions give you the flexibility to keep your hair healthy and trimmed while looking long and luxurious!
Cons:
The con is the same as the pro actually. Since the hair is removable you have to take it off and make adjustments to it often. And what I mean by often is daily. So lets say you just install it for an event, chances are you will not need to make an adjustment, but if you were to wear it for an entire day, yes, at some point you many need to fix weft of two. And that is seriously the only “con” I have. There really isn’t anything negative I can say! 🙂
Overall thoughts
I absolutely LOVE these extensions and would totally wear them every day if I could! They create an instant change to my look and at such an affordable price! Definitely check out Tease HTX if you are thinking about changing your look! Its such a simple way to give yourself a luxe touch without the hefty salon price tag.
After experiencing my first NYFW I wanted to round up some of the most important take aways, and share them with you all! These are my own opinion and I’m sure others have found certain things might be more streamline, but this is what worked for me, and what I learned from my first NYFW!
Take the subway. I say this because you get everywhere so much faster! – Not to mention it’s only $2.50 a trip. Yes, taxis require less walking, but if you aren’t staying close by to the venues this can definitely make a huge dent in your budget!
Wear comfortable shoes. Manhattan requires a lot of walking and you will be on your feet all day. Do yourself, and you feet a favor by wearing comfortable shoes! I rarely saw people in heels at the shows, seriously! If you really want to bring heels for the evening parties, that’s totally cool, but if you are thinking you need to wear heels to everything to fit in, I promise that is not necessary!
Be aware of your time, distance between locations, and Lyft. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time between shows to actually get to the shows. Manhattan traffic is very unique in that something 3 miles away can take like 20 minutes or more to get to. If there is less than 30 minutes to an hour between shows, I would recommend only selecting of the two to attend. As for Lyft, we were almost late to a show and our flight home because of Lyft. It is just too unpredictable! If you have a timed schedule, don’t rely on this from of transportation.
Arrive to the shows 30 minutes early…at least! So this is how I was able to sit at all of the shows I attended (if I wasn’t already assigned a seat.) When you arrive and check in you find out your seating assignment, or if you are standing. Priority standing means you do not have a seat assigned, but doesn’t mean you won’t have the opportunity to sit. Many people do not attend shows they are invited to, because of this seats are left empty. If you are “priority standing” you are the first in line to fill those seats! I was fortunate enough to get seating at every show I was not previously assigned seating to because of this, only because I arrived early! Before shows begin you have to line up outside the door. Obviously the first in line are the first to enter, therefore you get the best options available for standing or leftover seats. This year I was blessed with front row for 3 shows, and the others was able to get a seat based on entry. Seats mean swag bags, and prime viewing space for the shows! The early bird gets the worm!!
Pack snacks – water will be provided. Pack as many granola and protein bars in your bag as you can because food will be the last thing on your agenda! Don’t waste precious real estate in your bag with water because it will be at every show. Seriously, they keep you hydrated! Complimentary water bottles were provided at every shows lounge area. No need to lug that around!
Be courageous with your fashion, and try new things. I played it pretty safe with a few of my looks and pushed my comfort zone on only 2, and found I enjoyed those 2 looks the best! Next year I will definitely be braver to push outside of the box and wear whatever I want to because fashion week is all about pushing the envelope, and fashion from all genres!
Don’t accept more than 3 shows a day. I say this because more than 3 gets super overwhelming as the shows may not be close together…you may want to change clothes, and at some point you are going to want to eat. With more than 3 shows on your schedule for a day; after parties, wardrobe changes, meetings and food are not going to be possible.
Additional tips
Don’t fear about not getting into any shows! This is something I was really worried about. I was terrified I would not get any invitations! They will come, but you have to do the legwork! That means find out the show dates once available, find out the PR companies partnering with those shows, and reach out! There is no harm in sending an email, if they aren’t the right contact, chances are they will point you in the right direction.
Join Style Collective. If you are a blogger I highly recommend joining Style Collective! This is an amazing platform to learn how to be successful in the blogging world! They also set up a forum for NYFW where you could share insight with other girls attending, find a roomie, and best of all, they can get you invites to shows as well! On top of that, they show you just how to pitch to other companies so you can have the best experience possible! Plus they threw an amazing NYFW party! There are so many other reasons I recommend Style Collective, but for NYFW specifically, these are the reasons! 🙂
Reach out to shows 3 weeks out and follow up at 2 weeks. This may sound super last minute, but this is the window to get responses and acceptances. Before this timeframe the reps may not know the seating, venue, or even how many people they can extend invites to.
Reach out to partnering brands for clothing and accessory partnerships 1 month to 2 months out. I was late on this aspect this year, but know for next year to reach out early for collaborations.
How much did I spend?
The big question…how much was the trip to NYC, NYFW, the hotel, food, transportation?
- Flights: 250
- Hotel: 690
- Transportation and Food: 290
- NYFW events and Afterparties: Complimentary
*Prices are reflective for 2 people.
The reason transportation and food was not very expensive is we took the subway and only had time to eat street food for the majority of the trip. Also because dinners and drinks were always complimentary at afterparties. I hope this transparency shows that NYFW is not free, but at the same time, is more affordable than you might think. Rooming with someone reduces the expenses dramatically and it also helps to have someone to share this amazing experience with. 🙂
I hope you have found these tips helpful! I really enjoyed my first NYFW and cannot wait for next year! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out! I’d love to answer!
To many of you I’m sure this is going to sound pretty crazy. How could a fashion blogger possibly take only a carry on to NYFW? Well here’s how it did it!
#1 Comfort and versatility is key!
Bring shoes and accessories that you can wear with multiple looks. Skip on the pair of heels that you will only wear with one look and pack the boots that go with everything and are comfortable. I say this because there is an overwhelming amount of walking to be done. On average, we walked 7 miles a day! – Keep that in mind before you pack those stilettos… chances are they will just be taking up space in your luggage.
#2 Plan your ensembles out ahead of time
This is a really big one. I always pack extra, but this was a really incremental part of me managing only a carry on. Take only what you will actually wear! As a blogger, I needed to average 3 ensembles a day. So that meant I had to coordinate 9ish outfits. The reason for so many is morning and evening looks, along with additional ensembles to shoot in. By curating and stylizing my ensembles ahead of time, I knew exactly what I would be wearing which day and with what accessories. This limits un-needed access.
#3 Create a Final Cut
So when I packed, I made sure every piece would be worn and made sense for the occasions and looks I was aiming to create. If it didn’t make sense, I didn’t bring it. Here is what made my cut!
My carry on packing list:
Accessories
- Elaine Turner Ally Crossbody
- Jewelry roll storage: held 3 pairs of earrings, 2 necklaces, 2 bracelets, contacts and toothbrush
- Felt hat
- Curling Iron
- Straightener
Shoes
Dresses
Jackets
- XOXO embellished blazer
- Danny Nguyen Couture Jacket
- Chunky sweater cardigan
Tops
Bottoms
- Dear John Distressed Jeans
- Danny Nguyen Couture Embellished Mesh Skirt
- Express Shorts
- Black High-Waist Mini Skirt
Now to make this work, I chose to wear one of the shoes I selected so that I only needed to pack one pair, and I decided to wear a top and jeans so again, this cuts down on a few of the larger pieces that would otherwise be in the bag.
The next tip to make this work is space saver bags! I cannot rave enough about these bags! They have assisted me on multiple trips! All of the ensembles I packed for this trip fit into 2 bags and with the air out, took up minimal space.
The contents above is what all I had to place in my carry on. Everything easily fit with space to spare! If you are looking for a great sized, affordable carry on check out Target!
So that’s it! I hope you found this helpful if you are looking to travel with less baggage! As for my chargers, medications, and makeup, those were all stored in my tote as I like to keep those items handy! Happy travels!
Day 3 started with a New York bagel and hot apple cider! This to me is the perfect breakfast for NYC. Something you can walk and eat and a sweet warm beverage to wake up!
My first show was at the NYFW the Shows location once again, this time to see Taoray Wang. I once again had a full schedule ahead of me and really wanted to be comfortable, so the ensemble I selected for day 3 was this adorable romper from Posh Tulsa, my favorite over the knee Steve Madden Boots and a felt hat I picked up at Marshalls. This look is so versatile and extremely comfortable!
For the Taoray Wang show I was assigned standing, but was able to move to seating. This was the largest show I attended as it was in Gallery 1 which was so massive and set up with riser seating. I loved every piece of this collection! So many shades of blue with fringe, tailored pleats, pinstripes, and really cool chest and collarbone tattoos on the models of birds and trees!
Following this show we had to make our way to 5th Ave. for the Banana Republic show! This show was located in-store and was set up as a quick runway show and showroom. Olivia Palermo was the creator of this collection and she was actually there to show the line!
The collection was totally my style and if I could, I would purchase all of the coats (just doesn’t make much sense for someone who lives in Texas) The pieces were military inspired with soft feminine touches of velvet and blush tones.
One thing I really liked about this show was the pieces were actually available for purchase! I was really thankful we got there early so we were able to be inside for the show. So many people did not get the opportunity as this show was open to the public and first come first serve.
After the BR X Olivia Palermo show, we grabbed a quick slice of pizza and headed back to the hotel to get ready for the last show I would be attending during NYFW.
For this last show, I wanted to pull out all of the stops and wear the most show-stopping ensemble I brought. That would be this amazing piece by Danny Nguyen Couture! I paired the beautiful blazer with a high waisted black mini skirt, and my over the knee Steve Madden boots. For accessories, I wore a sparkling Mirina Collection necklace and carried my essentials in the Ally bag by Elaine Turner.
The last show I saw was the Negris Lebrum show, which was located in an art gallery. This collection was definitely wearable and something I can totally see myself checking out! The materials were lightweight, perfect for the warmer Texas temperatures! I loved the light shades of yellow, khaki and mixes of plaid and florals. Trends included; plunging necklines, round sunglasses, hair turbans, high waist bottoms, mixed prints, 60’s silhouettes, and piping accents.
The designer is actually from Houston, Texas and came out to thank everyone for coming and for everyone who helped get them there as the show almost did not happen due to Harvey. So thankful the Negris Lebrum show was able to make it to NYFW as the collection was amazing!
The intimate after party included delicious chicken and red velvet waffles, and Dey Dreemz Rum Punch in a variety of flavors! This was the perfect relaxed way to end our NYFW experience! Following the show, it was back to the hotel to pack and get ready to head to the airport at 4:00am.
My first NYFW experience was like a dream! I feel so unbelievably blessed to have had the opportunity and ability to go, and thank everyone who made this possible for me! If you are interested in learning about how I attended shows, tips and tricks to NYFW, and lessons I learned, check out my next post for those details!
Day 2 started bright and early with the GCDS show at 10:30 am. This show was located at NYFW the Shows off Washington Street in the Meat Packing District.
We arrived early and had access to the lounge Papyrus Café and E! experience, TRESemme Studio and Reebok lounge. Once it was showtime, we were lined up and directed to our seats. I was actually able to sit on the front row at this show, and was able to move up at the majority of shows I attended. (I will explain how this happens in the series 5 post) So as for this show…..it was amazing!! The carpet was pink and the overall theme was aquatic yacht. The center of the runway had a giant pink novelty swan, perfect for photo opts and really tying the theme together. The looks were a primary color palette with fun meshes, swan prints and visors. I became a huge fan of the designer’s handbags that were featured in this show. So graphic and constructed in fun colors, the ultimate accessory.
Finishing the show, we were able to get a few snaps of the models up close, as well as, Giuliano Calza the designer himself! For this show I wanted to wear something leaning more toward street style, as this was a street wear show, so I selected an embellished blazer from XOXO, a soft blush velvet tank from Express, destructed jeans from Dear John, and metallic sneakers from Target. You can shop this look and similar here!
Following this show, we had a few hours to eat, take some photos, then it was time to head back to the hotel to change before the Nolcha Shows! BTW lunch was a street hotdog…my fav NYC meal! 🙂
For the Nolcha Shows I wore a white lace top from Shein (similar) and this amazing lace and mesh crystal skirt from Danny Nguyen Couture! I paired the look with tights and tall boots to create a more conservative feel and for jewelry and accessories I wore two baublebar pieces and the Elaine Turner Ally Crossbody.
Here I had the opportunity to take pictures with their step and repeat and model products for a few brands. Once it was time for the show to begin we were lead to our seats. My photographer was also able to attend this show, so that is why I have these face-on images of the runway show!
The W. Reflex show was really interesting and edgy. The menswear brand featured blazers, tube socks, raincoats and even the recycle sign. All makeup for the Nolcha shows was done by Ecru and I loved how they chose a pink blush for the male models. It was such an interesting and notable touch.
Concluding the show, we traveled back to the hotel. (Not before taking some pics of course!) Then it was time to change and get ready for the Style Collective Party!
This was by far my favorite party to attend at NYFW as I was able to chat with so many bloggers that I admire and make so many new friends! SO many Houston ladies attended the event, so of course I had to get a picture with some of my faves! And I also have to mention the I met the incredible Annie Spano, creator of Style Collective! Seriously y’all she is amazing, inspirational and the sweetest!
The night was filled with good laughs, amazing fajitas, Day Owl Rose wine, upbeat dance music, scenic New York views, beautiful empowering women, and fizz pops!
Since I am a Style Collective member, I was able to attend the upstairs private event. Here complimentary hair and nail appointments could be done, select dessert vendors were available and quaint sitting areas were provided to chat with fellow members! Once the party concluded, it was time to make our way back to the hotel for a good nights rest!
For NYFW I had the opportunity to collaborate with a few amazing companies, one of which was Elaine Turner! I was able to take the gorgeous Ally crossbody with me, and loved how transitional this piece was. Here I will share with you all of the ways I styled the Ally, and what essentials I carried with me from show to show.
From day to day, evening to evening, my style changed dramatically and yet this bag was able to seamlessly compliment each look perfectly. One of the best features I would like to call out about this bag is that the chain strap is actually removable; perfect for converting the bag into an evening clutch. The gold hardware and embossed snake print make this piece such an elegant accessory.
Essentials
So my essentials from show to show included: gum, granola bars, sunglasses, my phone, wallet and a lippie, all of which fit perfectly in this crossbody! I will add that gum and snacks are super important to have with you during NYFW because you have zero time to eat, and are constantly talking and introducing yourself to people.
Couture
The talented Danny Nguyen allowed me the opportunity to wear a few of his pieces to NYFW, which was totally a dream! I selected a gold embroidered cream jacket and mesh lace shirt, both of which have gorgeous details and embellishments. For both of these looks I carried the Ally as a clutch!
Street Style
For the GCDS show I wore ripped jeans, velvet and embellished pieces so a clutch was also the perfect pairing. The texture of the Ally added additional dimension and appeal to this look!
Classic Chic
This was my absolute favorite way at style the Ally. With a chic black dress, oversized sunnies and tall black boots. The “all black look” is so timeless, but received an update with mixed prints of plaid and snake print. Also, the chain crossbody strap added such a luxurious touch to the look and amplified my ensemble.
So no matter your style, the Ally is a perfect match for any ensemble, and is my fall pick for the perfect lightweight bag. For this bag and other amazing pieces check out Elaine Turner!
