Outfit Inspiration Archives - Whitney Nic James

Style + Lifestyle Feature: Alison of Get Your Pretty On

July 16, 2014 by Whitney 11 Comments

Hey, hey! 🙂 Today I’m introducing you to another featured blogger for the #summerwithnic series! While I’ve never met this blogger in person, I can assure that Alison of Get Your Pretty On is one of the sweetest bloggers I’ve worked with and met via-internet. Her kindspirit and great style come across in all her posts, and I’m sure you’ll get the same vibes when reading her interview. Enjoy! 🙂

ABOUT ALISON + HER STYLE

Where are you from and what’s your occupation?

I’m a mom of three and former actress/print model turned virtual stylist/blogger. I live in a suburb of Dallas, TX with my hubby, our three kiddos and our golden retriever.

How do you define your personal style?

My basic everyday style is casual chic with some fun and trendy touches.

What are your 5 must have wardrobe items for the summer?

Maxi dress, maxi dress, maxi dress, maxi dress, maxi dress. No, just kidding! Although I could live in them.

– Maxi Dresses

– Metallic Sandals

– Fedora

– Bright Tees and Tanks

-Printed Shorts

Name 5 must have wardrobe staples every woman should own?

– A great pair of riding boots

– A fabulous trench coat

– A pair of dark wash skinny jeans that fit like a glove

– A well-made handbag

– Lots of scarves

ABOUT GET YOUR PRETTY ON (GYPO)

How long have you been a blogger?

I started GYPO in September of 2012.

What inspired you to start GYPO?

After falling into a mom rut of wearing only yoga pants all day, every day, I was inspired to do something about my wardrobe. GYPO gave me the accountability that I needed to get dressed every day and feel pretty again!

Where do you see GYPO in 5 years?

GYPO is constantly evolving. I see my virtual styling programs getting bigger and better each time. In five years, I’d love to be the go-to source for everyday virtual styling.

What’s the best and toughest thing about being a blogger?

The best thing is the creativity, friendships and flexibility in my schedule. The toughest is having all of the responsibility on me to make everything happen!

ALISON’S LIFESTYLE

What makes you happy & what inspires you?

Spending time with my family makes me truly happy, as does dark chocolate, iced green tea and a glass of pinot grigio on the patio. I’m truly inspired by the women in my style challenge programs. They are amazingly supportive and encouraging and not afraid to step out of their comfort zones.

What are 3 things you do daily to maintain a healthy lifestyle?

– Drink water

– Pray/meditate

– Work out

As a wife, mother, and entrepreneur, how do you find balance in your everyday life?

I have to MAKE balance, it doesn’t happen. When work is over, it’s over. Some days that means forcing myself to close my laptop so I can be present for my family.

Any advice for someone who’s trying to find their passion and purpose in life?

If you’re working in a job that doesn’t excite you, you owe it to yourself to discover what does. A good way to do this is by doing what you love on the side for awhile. I blogged part-time until I was able to transition into it full time.

HOW CAN WE KEEP UP AND CONTACT WITH YOU?

Blog: getyourprettyon.com

Facebook: facebook.com/getyourprettyon

Twitter: @alisonlumbatis

Instagram: @alisonlumbatis

Pinterest: pinterest.com/alisonlumbatis

Style + Lifestyle Feature: Isaiah of A Collected Gentleman

July 9, 2014 by Whitney 5 Comments

Today’s featured blogger has been featured on WNJ before as part of my Thrifty Friend features. He’s actually the only male blogger I’ve the pleasure of working with so far. Isaiah, the style blogger behind A Collected Gentlemen, is not only an expert thrifter, but he’s also an inspiring young man who loves his family, photography and has a “thing” for timeless style. I admire his style, drive and passion and I think after reading his inspiring life + style interview, you’ll feel the same way. 😉 My favorite part of the interview is his words of wisdom to those wanting to start a style blog – his advice is dead on! But enough of what I think, lol. Scroll down and check out A Collected Gentleman for yourself…enjoy!

Where are you from and what’s your occupation?

I was born in New Jersey and raised in North Carolina. I’m a freelance photographer as well as a blogger.

How do you define your personal style?

My personal style is all over the place. I consider myself a melting pot. I like to take different styles and mix them into my own. I take elements of street-wear and prep.

What are your 5 must have wardrobe items for the summer?

– A white tee

-Denim jeans

-Grey Sweatshirt

-Oxfords

-A floral print shirt

Name 5 must have wardrobe staples every man should own?

-A grey suit

-Denim jeans

– Light blue oxford cotton button down

– Cologne

– Brown Wingtips

*A Navy Blue Knit Tie

ABOUT A COLLECTED GENTLEMAN (ACG)

How long have you been a blogger & what inspired you to start ACG?

I’ve been a blogger for 3 years now and my inspiration to start ACG came from wanting to change my image. I loved the timeless look of people wearing suits and oxfords.

What are are you feelings on male representation in the blogging community?

I think it’s great. One thing I will say about the blogging community – everyone looks out for each other and they’re always happy to support you. I’ve never felt negativity or hate form male bloggers. Since day one of certain ACG, I was embraced and given advice on becoming a better blogger.

I notice you have a passion for photography. What about photography do you like?

I love to capture the essence of beauty, weather it’s of a person, nature, or architecture.

What’s you vision for ACG?

My vision for ACG is for it to inspire pope the way I was inspired when I was first introduced to bloggers Street Etiquette and The Style Blogger. Those guys changed the way I looked at clothes, self-acceptance, and art.

ABOUT ISAIAH’S LIFESTYLE

What inspires & motivates you?

My family inspires and motivates me 100%. We’ve been through so much, and just to see my 3 little brothers graduate from high school and attend college is amazing. Also having my Mom see me graduate meant the world to me. They’re’ so proud of what my blog has become and that keeps me going. Every time my Mom calls me she reminds me to never loose my passion.

Who are some of your style-spirations? (family member, bloggers, celebrities, ect.)

I really don’t have any, but I really admire and draw a lot of my inspiration from women’s style – they make it look effortless.

Any advice for someone who wants to start a style blog?

Don’t do it for the fortune or fame. Just do it because it’s something you love to do. People always say that everything is so saturated. The people who are really passionate about it will stand out. Figure out what you want to do and work on it day and night – enjoy every minute of it, the good and the bad. You shouldn’t let negativity stop you. The worst thing you can do is let yourself get in your own way. Just keep pushing, work hard on your dreams and don’t give up. Enjoy your journey.

How can we keep up with and contact you?

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Personal Style | How to Maximize Your Wardrobe

June 6, 2014 by Whitney 27 Comments

I challenged myself this week to style 1 dress 3 ways. I had a lot of fun coming up with different looks and more importantly, this challenge taught me how to make the most of my wardrobe. Which brings me to today’s topic of how to maximize your wardrobe. Let’s take a look at the 5 things I learned from this style challenge.

1. Cute sneakers are a great investment. I’ve been a fan of sneakers for years. As I got older and entered the workforce, my purchasing habits changed and I started buying more flats and comfy heels.Wearing the sneakers and dresses trend was a great reminder that sneakers still have my heart. Maybe it’s the athlete in me or maybe it’s the comfort I feel when prancing around in them. Whatever the case, I think it’s time to invest in a few pair of stylish and reasonably priced sneakers or cute canvas shoes (thanks Glenda). I can definitely see myself putting them to use year round.

2. A pair of nude shoes can take you a long way. I’ve worn my Tahari heels several times over the past few weeks. When thinking about how to maximize your wardrobe, I strongly suggest purchasing a pair of nudes. They go with any and every color or print.

5 easy ways to maximize your wardrobe, any season! #wnjstyle

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3. My jewelry hoarding may not be a bad thing after all. Lol, yes…I have a lot of jewelry and if you let my hubby tell it, I’m a jewelry hoarder. I mean I DO have trouble parting ways with pieces I’ve had for a while, but for this challenge it worked to my advantage. 😉 Just imagine how many different ways a black dress can be styled if you mix up the jewelry! Having a plethora of jewelry to pick from comes in handy when trying to maximize your wardrobe.

When maximizing your wardrobe, being open minded is key. #wnjstyle

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4. Invest in affordable handbags. If your wondering where to look for affordable handbags I suggest visiting your neighborhood thrift store. If you’re trying to maximize your wardrobe, you can still have fun with your accessories. During my style challenge, I wore 3 different handbags to give the (same) dress a different look. While none of them were thrifted, I do have plenty of thrifted purses that could’ve substituted any purse pictured above. You can also shop at stores like Marshall’s and TJ Maxx. Their selection is vast and quite affordable.

5. Be open minded. When maximizing your wardrobe, being open minded is key. At first glance, the dress I styled is very busy and some may think it could only be worn one way. Having an open mind one can see the styling possibilities for this dress are endless! Don’t just stick with blacks and other basic colors; have fun and purchase dresses with prints and bright colors. They can easily be toned down with the right accessories. 😉

So tell me, which look is your favorite? Do you have any tips on how to maximize your wardrobe? Let me know!

If you’d like to see me do another style challenge like this, drop me a message below! I’m open to suggestions. 🙂 I hope you’ve all had a GREAT week! Enjoy the weekend and I’ll be back Monday. Until then, be blessed and stay safe…XO!

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