2017

And just like that...another year has come and gone. It's been a whirl wind and it has also been rich in adventure and full of inspiration. I was blessed to serve yet another year with Youth With A Mission...as it was also my last *sniff sniff*. I was able to volunteer another season of fashion week both in NY + LA. I made new friends and made more memories with old ones. Mike and I found ourselves a church home at Zoe LA. I continued to pursued my career in hair and made new business endeavors. I got to check Oregon off my bucket list (and I need to go again). Mike and I spent three months in Europe (specifically Barcelona) staffing a school for artists and creatives and Michael with skateboarding and filming. AND the last two weeks of the year and we ended up moving back to Colorado! Phew! The last month has been a blur, but it's nice to start the year of fresh and with some clarity. Cheers to 2017!

Wishing you all love, peace, joy and happiness! 

Photography by Michael Penhale

Tips For Creating Your Own Style

As many of you may know I love fashion and style, it's been my favorite thing since I was about 7 years old. I used to have my own designs in my drawing pad and I even wanted to go to FIDM for a hot second when I was contemplating MAYBE going to college. But now I'm a hairstylist and I love what I do and I still get to be creative and still work in the fashion industry! I love that fashion is a way of expression, it's art and it can be collected. Some people collect Pokemon...I collect clothes...and teacups (fun face about me). 

For me my style is a way of self expression and for other people's inspiration. And that's what the cool thing about style is, is seeing something that you like and mimicking it in your own way. That's why I love thift stores or getting things that not many people have. It makes it original and it inspires on lookers such as myself. 

Below are 5 tips to help find your own personal style and help you present yourself your own way to the world!

1. Wear What Makes You Feel The Best

A lot of times I see people wearing things that I think look really cool like the whole Adidas trend that has resurrected from the 90s. I love athletic inspired outfits but I think look really silly in them because that's not what I feel most comfortable in. It just isn't my NATURAL style, I always gravitate towards 70s bohemian or grunge (wow what a combo right? Haha) and I would say that's my style because those are the pieces that I always pick out naturally. You're going to look uncomfortable and unnatural in something that you don't feel your best in. 

2. Brand Yourself

I feel like it's important to find one accessory or article of clothing that trademarks your look. I would say mine is a wide brim hat and tons of rings. Weather yours be stripes, statement jewelry, even a certain color theme, high heels, it can be anything! What is that one thing that you almost always incorporate in your look? It will brand you and when people see something similar and say "that looks like (your name here)". 

3. Finding The Odd Man Out

Go through your wardrobe and reevaluate what can stay and what needs to go. I have to remember what style I'm going for and how I want to present myself to the world. You have to find those pieces that just doesn't go with the vibe of everything else in your closet. For example if you have a lot of neutral colored blouses and then you've got one shirt that's hot pink with little yellow hearts all over it...(really bad example) it's probably not going to look like it's you because it stands out so much of what you already own. Make sure all your pieces vibe together. 

4. Your Go To Outfits

Take pictures of outfits you're really feelin yourself in. Common...you know those days. You probably end up taking a pictures anyway and posting it on Instagram #bodypositive and #feelinmyself. Take Polaroids (that's really expensive) or photos and put them all in the same album on your phone. This will come in handy for those days that are just rough and you feel like you don't look good in anything. Ya know 12 outfits later and you still leave the house not feeling comfortable with how you look...trust me you are not alone. If you take pictures of your favorite outfits it will help you on those bad days to just be able to put on a "good outfit" in a rush.

5. Best For Your Body

For myself I try and find things that will accentuate certain features. My legs are long and I love a good pant that will make my legs look EXTRA long and thin. For example I will never wear pants that are way too tight. I can not have any sort of muffin top or double butt going on in the back of my pants. We all love skinny jeans right? But if you see any thing trying to force its way out of any piece of clothing...just say no. Don't buy it and if you already own it get rid of it. It's more flattering on your body to wear things that fit properly on your shape. Sometimes this may be hard to evaluate for yourself what looks best on your body because a lot of us struggle with loving our bodies. But your body is beautiful! Bring an HONEST friend with you when you go shopping to find things that fit nicely and will accentuate your best feature(s)....trust me you have good features even if you don't think you do. 

Thank you for reading and I hope my tips helped you on your journey to finding your personal style! 

Go out, create and be true to yourself!

"Don't let anyone make you be who you aren't. Stay true to yourself at all time. Even when it's not trendy." -Unknown

What I Am Wearing

Lady Roulette Fedora Hat - Goorin Bros. 

V Neck Crop Top - Urban Outfitters

Black Highwaisted Jeans - Urban Outfitters

Gorjana Mika Lariat Necklace - Rocks Box (use code gracebff165 for a free month)

Belt - Thrift Store

Boots - Thrift Store

Photography by Kiersten Fienning

Forest Feelings

Last week I finally got to visit my most desired place to go in the States! If you guessed Oregon ding, ding, ding YOU'RE RIGHT! (Shout out to Luke & Val for getting hitched and having the coolest wedding I've been to yet!!)

So if you were to creep my Instagram and see who I follow, you'll see a majority of people that I follow are from the PNW and for obvious reasons. They have dreamy pictures full of lots of green (my newly discovered favorite color), trees, nature and the most beautiful views. And last week  everything I saw on Instagram is what I experienced in real life and so much more and it was A M A Z I N G! It is hands down the most beautiful place I've ever been. I questioned everything I was doing with my life while I was up there I just loved it so much I didn't want to leave. Kind of sad but now I'll just have to go again...

The main reason for this trip was to watch and celebrate our friends marriage and of course I was going to wear a dress that was covered in blue wildflowers to compliment the greenery. This is my favorite maxi dress and its because it has the most flattering slits in the front to show off some leg! And it wouldn't be a party without my fluffy white jacket...that jacket turns you into a rockstar instantly. 👌🏼

xx

"Let's take our hearts for a walk in the woods and listen to the magic whispers of old trees." -Unknown

What I'm Wearing For Your Inspiration

Dress- Some Days Lovin (bought mine from Urban Outfitters awhile ago but found this dress for sale on Poshmark for y'all)

Tribal Necklace- Ebay (I know I wear that necklace a lot)

Booties- Kelsi Dagger

White Jacket- Forever 21 

Round Sunnies- Forever 21

Photography by: Kiersten Fienning

Two Ways To Wear Black Denim

It's hard to believe that these pictures were taken about 30 minutes outside of LA! Mountains, trees, snow and fresh air oh my! All my favorite things! It's getting a lot warmer now though. It's defiantly looking like spring here, but for the rest of you guys living more east of California that doesn't seem to be the case just yet. So I thought I only had a short window to get these pictures up before we all start putting our winter clothes away and pulling out our sandals and shorts.

Also a lot of the pieces that I am wearing are now on sale! Good deals people, good deals!

xx

Thank you 

Sarah Ching

for your photography skills

If you guys are in The Bay area check her out if you need photos taken! 

SHOP THIS POST

Look 1

Stripped Dress - Sold Out

Levi's Black Denim Jacket

Gumsole Boot

Hat - Thrift Store

Coin Necklace

Look 2

Levi's Black Denim Jacket

BDG Flannel

Gumsole Boot

Black Jeans

Tangier Necklace Set

Brixton Beanie

LimeCrime Matte Lipstick