The Style Contour

My Newest Obsession-Feathers!

Jalisa — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 03:00:00 -0700

:: SHOP THE LOOK ::

Happy Friday lovelies!

I want to start off by saying that I'm incredibly thankful for all of your kind, loving and encouraging words both here and on Instagram in response to Monday's post. It really means a lot to me to have your support as I continue to move forward from everything.

Would you know that one of the few things I desired to do while recovering was shop?! Lol. I didn't go overboard, but it was a great escape to stimulate my creativity again. One thing I found myself repeatedly gravitating towards was feathers. I not only purchased these beauties, but this denim jacket with the feather hems. I love the light, airy feminine touch feathers add to an outfit, making it a beautiful detail to add to a summer outfit.

Much like a one piece outfit, when working with statement shoes, there's not much effort you need to put into the rest of your outfit, as the shoes do all the talking. It allows for you add a basic tee and denim, yet look so stylish and put together. My kind of outfit formula! Here, I opted for a cute pink muscle tank. I love juxtaposition the piece has in that it's a muscle tank, but in a soft pinkish/purple color. I thought it would work perfectly with the heels, creating a somewhat of a cohesive flow in color.

I hope you like the outfit and found some inspiration for styling. As mentioned on Monday, I'll be back again in a week or two as we prepare to move to Florida these next few days.

I love you all so much and once again, I appreciate all your support!

Let's Get Personal!

Jalisa — Wed, 28 Jul 2021 03:00:00 -0700

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Earrings | Necklace | Bracelet

Happy Wednesday lovelies!

As I've gotten older, I've come to appreciate the versatility of dainty pieces. They're easy to layer when going for a bolder look and also practical for serving as stand alone pieces for a classic, chic, everyday look. In my opinion, it's even better when they're personalized and hold a sentiment. When Rellery reached out to me with an opportunity to collaborate, I loved that they not only offered subtle-bold designs to enhance the everyday outfit, but they offered personalized options to simple pieces, too!

I love wearing necklaces as they draw attention to the neckline, which is by far the most attractive area on every woman and can enhance a simple top or add to a bolder one. I personalized their bar necklace with Aviah and Ariah's names because, well...they're my loves, which is why I added the heart! I love that you cannot only add word inscriptions, but symbols, too, adding to the personalized design.

In addition to the personalized necklace, I designed a bracelet with the Roman Numerals MMVIII which is the year 2008, the year Eddie and I got married! Everyone who knows me knows that my favorite shape is the heart, which is why I chose these cute little heart huggy earrings. I've worn them alone and as you see here in my second piercing.

I really like that the pieces are comprised of precious metals (sterling silver, 14k solid gold, or 18k over sterling silver) which is great if you have senstive skin. What's intersting is that Rellery releases new designs monthly and in doing so, they manage to pay mind to what a practical piece is to be...wearable and versitle. Often times, when brands (either clothign or jewelry) have frequent drops or releases, they tend to lend themselves to more trendy desings. I love that Rellery maintains classic and timeless tones in their pieces, while still peaking interest.

If you're looking to add personalized necklaces, bracelets and/or rings, to your jewelry collection or for a good gift idea, definitely check out their pieces, as they're affordable and made of quality metals.

What's your favorite kind of jewelry and piece?

Thanks for stopping by, my friends, and I look forward to seeing you again in Friday's post!

An Open Letter

Jalisa — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 03:00:00 -0700

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Hey guys!

It's been a very long time since I've last posted. In all of the 9 years I've been blogging, I've never gone this long (9 months) without posting and today, I want to talk about what's been going on.

Let me first start off by saying, I've missed you all so much. Blogging hasn't only been a creative outlet for me, but it's also been an avenue for me to truly connect with so many of you, many of whom I call friends, as we've followed along each other's journeys in growing families and other highs, as well as lows.

Around the time of my last blog post, I started to feel the need to step back with so much going on in the country and around the world. I wanted to disconnect from social media and be more present with my family. The end of March is when things really grew intense in my world. Eddie got Covid pretty bad, too. He slept for about 20hrs a day for 8 days and getting him to eat and drink wasn't easy. On top of caring for him, I had Aviah and Ariah to attend to as well. It was pretty overwhelming to say the least. I became very stressed and late one night, I had a panic attack. The first of what would become a series. My blood pressure was incredibly high and so off to the hospital I went. After a number of tests, I was told to try and rest. Rest? No, that wasn't an option.

Later that day, I too had Covid. As the day progressed, my fever escalated to 105. I've never had a high fever in all of my adult life; I became delirious (as a result of the high fever) and passed out hitting my head on our stone fire place at about 2am the next day. My step-daughter found me, where I laid unconscious, and somehow I was able to snap out of it momentarily to get up and respond to Eddie, whom she frantically woke. For 3 days, I had a concussion. As time went on, I began to slowly feel better, but definitely felt off. I had a CT scan then 3 MRIs on my brain in the matter of 24hrs because of an intense migraine that wasn't going away. The CT scan, which was the first test I had done, showed a highlighted area, which prompted the neurosurgeon to order the MRIs. At the end of it all, it showed that I had a hemorrhage between my scull and brain, due to the fall, along with brain swelling. Both the neurosurgeon and neurologist were surprised of how I was able to function given the results from the tests and their belief that there had been more blood and swelling than what they saw with these tests. It was truly a miracle that I was alive, functioning and getting better in such a short amount of time (within a matter of two weeks). During this time, I lost 15lbs. I was incredibly thin, hair falling out, coping with a mix of symptoms due to both Covid and the fall. This was all very hard for not only Eddie to now take care of me after trying to recover from Covid, but for both Aviah and Ariah to see me the way I was. Once I started to gain my strength again, they wouldn't leave my side and Ariah (now 2) continuously cautions me to not hit my head. I'm truly thankful to be alive and to be regaining my physical, emotional, and mental strength again, even more so as we're now preparing to relocate to Florida to be closer to some of Eddie's family. We had intentions of moving before this all happened, but of course we had to pause it all until I recovered.

There's definitely more details to all of this that I've left out otherwise this post will be forever long (lol) but I'll say that I'm recovering more and more each day. I don't feel fully like myself and I know it'll take time, but I'm getting there and with that, I'm looking forward to blogging more consistently again. I'll be back with more posts on Wednesday and Friday and then I'll take a couple of weeks off during our move to get adjusted and settle in our new home.

I want you all to know that no matter what you're going through or will go through because this life is not easy and picture perfect, regardless of what Instagram feed you're looking at, you're stronger than you think and you're capable of getting through the tough seasons of life, even if you're doing the journey alone. I personally believe in God and the power of prayer. Having grown up in NYC, I've seen and found myself in unfavorable circumstances that there's no denying that prayer alone is what has gotten me out alive and safe.

Thank you so much for stopping by and catching up with me. I've missed you all and look forward to reconnecting with all of you!!!

Sage Green & Stone Grey Color Combination for Fall

Jalisa — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 03:00:00 -0700

TOP: Similar | JEANS | SHOES | BAG

Happy Monday friends!

Fall is my favorite fashion season, as it is for most based off conversations I've had with many of you! Understandably so, as it's much more fun and exciting, creatively speaking, as you can really explore different color and texture combinations you wouldn't otherwise be able to (at least comfortably, lol) throughout the year. When we think of fall, we typically think of rich and saturated jewel tones, in addition to various shades of orange and yellow, inspired by foliage. However, green can still be embraced though it may not necessarily scream fall. I love the look of sage green in particular paired with a more faded, stone grey shade, both of which I'm wearing today. I think the combination makes for a great transition from a warmer season to a cooler one, especially since both have cool undertones.

Sage has been trending for a few seasons now, making it pretty easy to find pieces in the shade. Aside from grey, I think it looks great paired with black (leather especially!). If you're feeling a bit daring, I also think darker shades of purple can look quite beautiful paired with it, too. Think along the lines of an eggplant purple shoe or clutch for a slight pop and contrast. It also looks really good styled with both snakeskin and leopard print, both of which are heavily trending this season.

As you can see, the top I'm wearing has some ruffle details along the bust and hem. I know ruffles can be one of those love 'em or hate 'em details, as they can be unflattering, but this really all depends on where it's placed. If you don't think they're flattering on you, but would be open to wearing them, if you could find pieces that are, I'd suggest you pay mind to the visual effect the placement(s) creates.

For example, the top I'm wearing causes the eye to move diagonally then across my waist, much like a zig zag. All of the focus isn't placed in the center of my stomach or entirely on my bust, which can be an effect some may not wish to create. It's essentially creating sections to the upper body, which can make it appear smaller. Another example of a flattering placement would be this sweatshirt I styled in recently in this post. The ruffles taper in towards the midsection, creating a more flattering effect.

You may be thinking, "who really thinks of all this when shopping?" I'm telling you, you do. We all do. It just happens so fast, since our eyes instantly gravitates to details and either dismisses or captivates. Once you become familiar with the details and colors that look best on you, it'll come more second nature when shopping.

My motto is that nothing is off limits for nobody. It all comes down to the details and design that can allow you to wear what you love in a way that makes you look and feel great ;)

Fashion aside, how was your weekend?! We had a busy one! Eddie took off on Saturday, so that we could go to one of our town's fall festivals. It had a very different feel, as expected, but it was something for the kids to do. Though Aviah wasn't fond of the scarecrow contest, lol. I had to explain what they are logistically for her to understand that they're nothing to be scared off, ironic though right?! Lol! Later on she had a little playdate with her cousin. It's so cute to see her evolve and develop social skills. We're working on sharing because she's so used to just bossing Ariah around that when she's with other kids, she thinks she can do the same, lol.

Anyway, thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great start to the week, my friends!

10 Blanket Scarves That Will Transform Your Outfit & Keep You Cozy

Jalisa — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 03:00:00 -0700

Happy Monday friends!

One of my favorite fall/winter functional accessories is a blanket scarf! I've created a bit of a collection throughout the years and whenever I'm stumped with what to wear, I'll typically throw one on. They're so good to wear with a turtleneck and jeans or even with a dress. I also love that they're versatile in the ways they can be worn. You can wear them looped around your neck or as a poncho. As you can see, the possibilities are endless and now that our lives are a bit more leisurely in routine, even when working from home, they're, I feel, all the more essential. If you're the only one in the house who's cold and therefore can't turn on the heat, throw one on. Going for a quick errand run, throw one on.

I created an assortment of various styles, colors and patterns to resonate with your different styles (and mine, too!). I really love this one and this one for the holiday season, so cute! I also really love this one. It looks way more expensive than it is. It's actually just under $30!

So, tell me...are you into blanket scarves? What's one of your favorite fall pieces to wear?

In other non-fashion related news, tomorrow is my birthday! I can't believe it, honestly. Eddie and I celebrated with a quite date night Saturday at one of our favorite restaurants for special occasions. We haven't had many date nights with Covid and two toddlers, but things are easing up a bit and we were able to and had the best time! Tomorrow we'll be celebrating with the girls with a cake my sister-in-law was so kind enough to custom order. Any other September babies around here?

Thanks for stopping by my friends and I hope you have the best week ahead!

Styling Colorful Snakeskin Boots

Jalisa — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 03:00:00 -0700

SWEATSHIRT | JEANS | BOOTS: Similar | BAG: Similar

Happy Friday beauties!

Animal prints are trending big time this fall/winter and what I love is that it's not only leopard print we're seeing. Don't get me wrong, you all know I love leopard print. I mean, I wore a leopard printed midi skirt on Monday! It's just nice to see variation and I love that designers are having fun with the animal kingdom. We're seeing snakeskin taking a close lead and zebra and cow hide, too. What I've learned in all the years I've blogged and paid close attention to trends, when something is trending, we see variations and I love having selections to choose from that offer versatility! Who doesn't, right?!

That said, I love that we're not only seeing snakeskin trending, but we're seeing fun color combinations, too. It creates a nice, unique spin on a classic print. As with clothing, when shoes have various colors, it surprisingly allows for even more wear because each time you style it, you can team it up with one of the colors in the print, making it appear more dominant.

The moment I saw these Marc Fisher chelsea boots I fell in love! The touches of pink really caught my eye. This particular pair goes and comes. It's sold out several times since I've first seen it. I had to hunt them down for a couple of weeks before finally finding them in my size. I did find a very similar pair by Steve Madden. I really like the unique heel and his snakeskin shoe designs are absolutely amazing this season!

An easy way to style multicolored shoes is to style them with neutrals, as I've done here. The black really allows for the shoes to pop, creating a nice eye catching contrast. Plus, it really plays on the edgy vibe that snakeskin exudes.

Are you all into snakeskin print? I think it's one to embrace and if colors aren't your thing, a pair of black and white are your best bet.

Thanks for stopping by my friends and I hope you have a great weekend!

SHOP COLORFUL SNAKESKIN BOOTS

How to Style Mom Jeans if You're Curvy

Jalisa — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 03:00:00 -0700

TOP | JEANS | BAG | SHOES

Happy Wednesday everyone!

Aside from leggings, jeans are the most versatile and absolute wardrobe staple every woman must own. I don't use bold letters often, which proves how much of an essential they are, lol! What's awesome is that these days there are so many different styles to choose from, that will help enforce your personal style or allow for you to have more fun and versatility when creating your daily outfits. The mom jean is one of the styles we've seen gain popularity over the past few years and understandably so, they're more relaxed in their aesthetic than nearly any other style, yet they can easily be dressed up. Though they're quite popular, they may cause the curvier woman to shake her head, NO! Mainly because the fit is notably tighter in the hip and thigh regions, which can pose a challenge or concern for one who's curvy in those areas. I'm here today to give you some tips on pulling them off successfully if that's you!

What one should first know is that a classic mom jean is often high waisted, which is a really good thing! It ensures that the waist will be enhanced, an area that many bottom curvy women love to embrace. Material should also be considered because it'll effect how the denim fits and feels. Denim composed entirely of cotton is often stiff and thick, which may not always feel the most comfortable. In that case, I'd suggest a blend of cotton and spandex for that extra stretch and comfort. The pair I'm wearing are composed entirely of cotton, which I personally still find comfortable, but I feel it necessary to provide an alternative to those who may not like that structured fit and feel.

When you've found the perfect fit and are ready to begin styling, it can really get fun because they're versatile, especially when cropped. I love to show a bit of ankle with a pump or a pair of sleek trainers, as seen here. They could also look really cute paired with sleek fitting calf boots peeking through, something you wouldn't be able to do with skinny jeans. Overall, shoes that have a pointed or almond toe really help to balance out the fit of this jean, as we know that they visually lengthen the legs.

Nearly any top would look good styled with these jeans, but I really love a puff sleeve. It adds a modern flare to an overall outfit and would be perfect for styling for a brunch or dinner date. It also brings the eye upward and adds volume in a way that's flattering. Fitted tops on their own without any dimension could cause the eye to focus more on the hips, since with bottom curvier women, the upper body is smaller in comparison to the bottom. This is of course fine, if you don't mind or care but just want to rock them jeans! But if that's not what you want your main focal point to be, I'd suggest layering a slightly oversized blazer over the fitted top to finish off the look. Plus, we're now in fall, so it's also functional!

I hope this gave my curvy ladies some encouragement in wearing mom jeans. Remember, curves come in all sizes, so these tips work across the board! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great day!

Let me know what's your favorite jeans to wear!

SHOP MOM JEANS

The Flattering (and Versatile) Skirt You Need for Fall!

Jalisa — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 03:00:00 -0700

BODYSUIT | SKIRT | BOOTS

Happy Monday!

I'm sure many of you have heard that midi skirts are the way to go come fall and that they're chic and versatile, too. While I do agree with all of those claims, I will say that a basic midi skirt isn't always flattering for all body shapes. When you're bottom curvy, a satin or basic midi style can cling and essentially not flatter at all. I'm rolling my eyes at you hip dips!

I've been there.

I've tried on quite a few styles that looked absolutely beautiful on the hangers, models or others I saw wearing similar styles, but they just didn't work on me. This didn't make me throw in the towel and give up my search because I really do love this skirt style. It is indeed chic and versatile to style. What I believe looks good on all body shapes is a high waisted tiered design.

First off, we know that generally speaking, high waisted anything looks good. At first glance, you may think that a tiered midi can make you appear shorter and wider because of the extra fabric, but I beg to differ. Anything layered can visually length and slim, mainly when coupled with a high waisted fit because the skirt will sit higher on the waist, elongated the legs. If, however, you opt for a style that sits at your actual waist, it may create that poof and widening effect. The two really go hand in hand in creating the most flattering and tailored look.

When looking at the skirt I'm wearing, you'll notice that the leopard print is also a smaller scale, which is yet another flattering detail, as it also visually slims. Smaller called prints and patterns make the area smaller and vice versa with larger prints. If you are interested in this particular skirt (it comes in a floral print, too) I'd suggest sizing down or even two sizes down, so you can wear it higher on your waist, since it does run a bit large.

Aside from the way a high waisted tiered midi fits, I love that it can be worn in a variety of ways. You can dress it up with a nice top (I would suggest fitted tops when styling a volumized skirt) and pumps or a basic t-shirt, denim or leather jacket and sneakers. I also love the juxtaposition of styling it with combat boots, as I've done here, for a bit of edge. This all really showcases how it really is versatile!

I hope you found this post helpful and that it gave you some inspiration and creative ways you can style your midi skirt. If you never considered wearing a skirt like this or felt midi skirts to be unflattering on you, as I did as well, I hope this gave you an option for one you can wear and feel comfortable in!

Thanks for reading. Have a wonderful week ahead, friends!

My 3 Favorite Fragrances

Jalisa — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 11:00:00 -0700

Happy Monday Friends!

Last week I intended on blogging Tuesday-Friday, but we all caught colds. It started with me and it trickled on down one by one to everyone in the house. If any of you have little kids and have fallen sick, I'm sure you'd know just how challenging it can be to care for them and yourself. Plus, my girls are super resilient in that they will have heavy colds and will still have all their energy and somehow even more than before. So yeah, that summed up all of last week.

Nonetheless, we made the best out of celebrating Eddie's birthday, which was Labor Day. Thank goodness for Whole Foods delivery! I was able to still get a cake, along with the groceries. Side note, if you've never tried their cakes and/or baked goods, you have to. Every time we order their cakes, we're always asked by our friends and family where we got the cake! Who knew!?

Anyway, September is not only Eddie's birth month, but mine as well, and with it quickly approaching (the 29th) I've been doing a lot of thinking of how my style, interest, and priorities have changed immensely. I thought this would be the perfect time to share one of many things I've found to be important to master by the time you reach your 30s, finding your signature scent. All throughout my 20s I experimented with a lot of perfumes from various brands, both high and low end, and have managed to narrow it down to three that I love and highly recommend: J'adore by Dior, Flora by Gucci, and Guilty also by Gucci. I've worn all of these fragrances over the course of about 10 years and have found myself repurchasing and reaching for them more than any of the others I've tried.

Fragrance is a very personal thing and I want you to understand and embrace that. What smells good on one person may smell completely different on your or I, due to body chemistry-a huge role to play in how a fragrance works. That said, these three fragrances have stood the test of time and have acquired a cult following, which is why I highly suggest you check them out.

As you approach your 30s or even if you are already in your 30s and beyond, it's worth establishing your go-to scents, creating somewhat of a signature. It doesn't have to be just one perfume. You can have one you use for the day, another for a night out, and one for special occasions. This is exactly how I use all three. Flora is my daytime scent, Guilty for a night out and J'adore is reserved for weddings or anniversary dinners.

Do you have a go-to scent(s)? I'd love to know what it is!

Thanks for stopping by, my friends. I also want to mention that due to us all not feeling too well last week, my posting schedule will be off a bit. For the past two weeks, I've blogged everyday, which is what I'd like to continue doing, but for this week, it'll be one post and I'll be back again on Monday. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

Chic and Comfortable Labor Day Weekend Outfit

Jalisa — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 03:00:00 -0700

DRESS: Similar | HAIR CLIPS | SHOES: Similar | BAG

Happy Friday friends!

This weekend marks the unofficial end to summer; it's Labor Day weekend! Though it does look and feel very different this year for obvious reasons. It typically serves as the last hoorah before heading back to school, resuming normal work schedules and finishing up the last of our vacation plans. Since much of us have been home, due to Covid, there really isn't much of a transition happening. However, that doesn't mean we can't enjoy the holiday and those who have resumed work or telecommute will (hopefully) have a long weekend to relax a bit. Many states have also loosened the restrictions with social gatherings. Here in Connecticut, it's 25 people indoors and 100 outdoors. Obviously it's expected that we maintain social distance and wear masks when we can't. This allows for family BBQs and the ability to continue on some traditions you may have. We typically have a BBQ and spend the day at the beach. If you plan on hosting or visiting family/friends for a BBQ, I encourage you to dress up a little! The easiest and most comfortable way is to wear a dress. I especially love wrap (linen for summer) dresses because they look chic, can transition well from the pool or beach and most importantly are figuring flattering on all body shapes. In short, a wrap dress is a must!

As mentioned in Monday's blog post, I opt for pearl hair clips when I want to add dressier touches to my outfits. Plus, they can serve as a substitute for jewelry. Let's face it, some days are too hot for layered necklaces and pendents.

When it comes to shoes, you all know by now how much I love espadrilles. They are the summer shoe in my book, as they're a great option for nearly any casual summer gathering, making them perfect for a BBQ. You can opt for the wedge sandal, as discussed Monday, or go for a relaxed flat, like I'm wearing.

What are your plans this weekend? I'd love to know. Monday is extra special here because it's Eddie's birthday, so I won't be posting, as we'll be celebrating his special day! I will have a post up on Tuesday and look forward to seeing you all then!