Welcome to my blog!
I'm so glad you found me!
The Ultimate Fashionista blog was started in 2012 as creative outlet to share my personal style, outfit ideas, fashion tips, and a small piece of me with the world. My main goal is to reach as many people as I can to help them create and refine their own personal style.
Style is my business and I love exploring all the venues in getting my message across. I hope that my blog becomes a resource for many. I look forward to the challenge of sharing my personal style perspectives with an interactive audience.
I hope it will inspire you and thank you in advance for all your love and support!
From the Blog
Lunch in Floral Pants
I hope all of my lovely Fashionistas are having a fabulous Sunday! My son and I decided to grab lunch today, and I wanted to wear something casual and comfortable. I shopped my closet and pulled my floral pants, which I had totally forgotten about. This isn’t a new trend, but I still love them. These bad boys were popular in the 1960’s, and if you ask me will be around for a while. Instead of pairing them with casual flats or sandals, I threw on some edgy heels that I’d had for years, and off we went… Lunch was great! We ate at Zoe’s Kitchen, and I quickly caught on to the whole #sharegoodness theme. If you like mediterranean, you’ll love Zoe’s for a quick bite. I hope you all have a great start of the week! Love, The Ultimate... read more
Birthday Bash!
Last Saturday night I hit the town and headed to a friend’s birthday bash. I wanted to wear something casual but fun, so I pulled out my silk leopard shorts and paired it with my Bailey 44 Leather Trim Cap Sleeve Top. I accessorized with vintage earrings from a thrift shop, a necklace from Charming Charlie, linen open toe pumps by Elizabeth and James, and a black envelope clutch! Here I am before heading out for the night… The party was at Thaiphoon Bistro. http://www.thaiphoonbistro.com/ This venue was absolutely gorgeous with a balcony and view of a popular street in downtown Raleigh. Two of my favorite fly girls met me there. They are gorgeous both inside and out! I fell in love with her bag! Isn’t it to die for? Here’s a selfie of us having fun! And finally, here’s us posing with the Birthday Boy! It was an EPIC night that only Rodney could pull off! Happy Birthday Rodney!!!! I hope everyone has a great rest of the week. Stay Stylish! Love, The Ultimate Fashionista ... read more
Spend with savvy!
Be Excited about your clothes! If you don’t want to break the bank but want to look great, keep reading to learn how to spend with savvy! Now more than ever all of us want to look our best, but not spend a fortunate on clothes. People often ask me where I shop. They’re surprised when I tell them that I shop every where. That’s because I enjoy wearing lesser-known brands and throwing in designer pieces to create an eclectic look. I also love mixing current and past fashion trends, as well as mixing high-end clothing with low-end ideas. I’m a firm believer it’s not where you shop, but how you put things together. Most people think the main item of an outfit should be the big-ticket item, but it’s not always the case. The skeleton of an outfit, such as handbag, shoes, and jacket should generally be what you spend the most on, but sometimes it depends on the circumstances. This is where a good stylist and personal shopper can help. One rule of thumb is to always invest in clothing and accessories that not only excite you, but will last long. Wearing the latest trends is perfectly fine, but my rule of thumb is to throw in a few of those pieces opposed to making them my entire wardrobe. Here’s an example of how I pulled together an eclectic look from shopping everywhere. Dress: Ross Linen Jacket: Elie Tahari (Found at a thrift store) Shoes: Michael Kors (From my closet) Bag: Cromia http://www.cromiabags.com/ Earrings: Kate Spade (T.J.Maxx) Until next time…. Smooches! Love, The Ultimate... read more
BAM! KAPOW! BOOM! POW! BOINK!
Comic Books never go out of style! Step out in confidence and style in these funky Comic Strip leggings. Talk about one of a kind and eye catching. These type of form fitting leggings pair great with a simple blazer or over-sized knit top. Due to the stretchy fit, they’re not only fun but comfy. !&@#! These stylish leggings can be found here http://www.lulicool.bigcartel.com/product/pre-order-comic-strip-leggings Have fun! Love, The Ultimate... read more
Stripes, Polka Dots, and Zebra, Oh MY!
Be BOLD! Be FABULOUS! Be YOU! Coat: Tulle, found at local thrift store | Dress: Striped sweater dress found at Ross | Shoes: Sam Edelman ‘Novato’ Slingback Pump (Another option is here) | Clutch: Maurizio Taiuti Italy Zebra Stripe | Accessories: Chanel earrings, vintage; Polka dot hose, found at Marshall’s; Tom Ford sunglasses * * * Just when I thought combining plaid with fishnet, stripes with floral, and zebra and leopard print was too over the top, I saw this striped sweater dress in my closet. I contemplated wearing it with the standard black hose, but then I remembered the funky polka dot hose I had never worn. Being the fashion rebellious person that I am, I decided to mix the two, and it was like a match made in print-mixing-heaven. Another rebellious thing I did was wear my slingback pumps with hose. The fashion police usually recommend never wearing hose, socks or leggings with slingback pumps, whether they’re closed or open toed because the strap at the back of the shoe can cause the material to bunch and rip. I dare to be different and just happen to love the look of these hose with the slingbacks, so I made it work. The coat came about simply by accident because my black coat was in the dry cleaners. Once I put it on, I loved how the green made the fuchsia and black dress pop. This is when I say more is more and fortunately it worked perfectly for me! Hope you have a fabulous rest of the week! 🙂 Love, The Ultimate... read more
Styling jeans with a blazer for Fall 2013
Happy Fall Dolls! Fall is here and since I’ve been in a casual mood lately, I wanted to show a classic take on wearing jeans with a blazer. This is one of my favorite relaxed looks for autumn. Start with a warm brown blazer, and pair it with dark washed wide legged jeans. I shopped my closet and found a blazer I had for several years. For this look, I decided to wear with my brown open toe patent leather Michael Kors ankle booties. I love how you can’t tell if these are boots or shoes. This look can be worn in an office on dress down day. It’s also fabulous for shopping or movies. I plan on touching on this topic once again during the fall. I hope you are enjoying all this fall fashion talk as much as me! Happy Shopping! And Stay Gorgeous as ALWAYS! Love, The Ultimate Fashionista ... read more
Mixing Patterns and Prints
Hello Loves! It’s been a while since my last post, but I decided I wanted to do something fun this time. Anyone who knows me can tell you I have a sweet spot for vintage style. I thought it would be nice to do sort of a modern Audrey Hepburn look with mixed prints. Yes, mixing prints! Mixing patterns and prints can be a bold step, but it isn’t as hard as you think. It can be a fabulous way to create more variety in your outfits, which can provide interesting depth. What I did was use one unifying hue throughout both of my patterns, and by mixing two graphic prints, I achieved a mod look. I topped my outfit off with a low bun, over-sized pearls, and a vintage chanel bag. Think about it, once you master print mixing you can start creating combos that you’ve never tried before and your potential wardrobe combinations increase exponentially. It’s definitely a must if you want to take a more individualistic and personal approach to dressing. Why not dare to be different and try it? Have a great week! Peplum Top and Skirt: H&M Contradiction Shoes: BCBG Bag: Chanel Love, The Ultimate Fashionista... read more
Take a Walk on the Wild Side! Fabulous Leopard Print
Hey everyone! This cheerful, energetic hue also happens to be my all time favorite. In fact, it’s a classic everyone should add to their wardrobe over time. One of the things I love about it is it can be a good choice for a professional environment or night time wear. Leopard is versatile and can be coordinated with just about any color, such as black, brown, camel, red and gray. It has a stylish retro vibe and reminds me of fashion from the Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn days. A properly coordinated outfit including leopard will add a rich interest to an otherwise unadventurous and boring look. When deciding to wear leopard keep in mind that it has the potential to quickly go from sophisticated to looking trashy. It’s very important to observe a few guidelines when wearing leopard. Rule #1. Look for quality. Some leopard prints simply look fake and cheap. A nice print will look natural, have spots such as a dark rich tortoiseshell mixed with browns, blacks, and caramel. The more it resembles a real leopard, the better. Rule #2. Wear only one leopard item at a time. Since leopard can have a bold visual impact, I recommend only wearing one piece at a time. It’s better to keep the rest of your outfit simple. Too much leopard at one time can scream “Party Time!”, so don’t overdo it by trying to match outfits with shoes, handbags, etc. Some ways to incorporate leopard into your wardrobe without overdoing it is to buy belts, scarves, gloves, and hats. Large garments such as silk blouses, pants, skirts and jackets... read more
Floppy Hats
Floppy hats are popular in the summer but never seem never go out of style even when the weather turns cold! This classic trend originated in the ’70s and has made a major comeback in recent years. These hats are perfect for both long hair and curly girls since you can really let your hair hang in the cooler temperatures. You can find these hats constructed using canvas or straw for the summer months and heavy felt or wool during the cooler months. A floppy hat usually has a bit more room in the crown area to accommodate your hair which should not looked smashed. If you want a more refined look, try pulling your hair back into a low, loose bun while letting just a few curls frame your face. Tipping your had allows for a fun peek-a-boo look. Floppy hats can be both stylish and practical when the temperature starts dropping, and you will keep your head warm while still looking fabulous! Love, The Ultimate... read more
