A Gathered Lady's Guide to Working Out In Style

By ヘザー heza on FlickrMy sister moved to NYC a few weeks ago and the arrival of a built-in workout buddy has re-kickstarted my workout plan. And although I live near Central Park, it is July in New York City, which for me means it’s too hot to even think about going for a run. So, right now I’m all about the gym, which means I’m all about stylish gym wear and cool tools and gadgets that make sticking to my workout plan easier.

1. Dress your shape. The clingy fabrics frequently featured in fitness wear can be anxiety-inducing, but have no fear. You can look good in the gym no matter how your body is shaped, simply by playing down problem areas and playing up assets. A tank with a little ruching across the middle can work wonders for disguising tummy concerns. Try side-ruching or paneling if you want to add curves. You can also strategically deploy darker colors to slim down problem areas. Wear bright colors everywhere else to draw attention to your favorite body parts!

Adidas2. Rock a trend. Yes, basic black can be flattering, but remember, you’re dressing for the gym, not a funeral.  Spice up your workout wear with fun, bright colors that will put you in a good (or at least marginally better) mood. Try color-blocking to make the most of your workout separates, and incororate super-trendy neon colors with your accessories. Try an eye-catching pair of gym shoes, a water bottle or hoodie.

3. Be prepared. Don’t forget the little things that will make your workout experience more pleasant. Bring a water bottle. Get an arm-band for your smartphone and create a workout playlist. Don't forget about your post-workout routine. A cute headband and a clip will make your hair easier to deal with, and don't forget to pack deodorant and shower shoes if you plan on changing at the gym!

Flickr4. Grab a buddy. A lot of people say the secret to working out is finding an exercise you love. And that’s great advice, unless you’re like me and can count the number of excercises you like on no hands. In these cases, enlist backup. Between my sister and one of my girlfriends, I’m guaranteed to work out at least four times a week. Not bad for a girl that hates working out. For some reason, everything’s easier when you have someone to suffer with you. Create a schedule and stick to it. The commitment you made to meet your friend will drag you out of bed on the days when good intentions aren’t enough. Yay, obligation!

Fitbit5. Tools, gadgets and apps. My favorite workout tool at the moment is my heart rate monitor. It helps me keep track of my performance and makes sure I’m getting the most out of every workout. I’m on my second at the moment, a monitor watch from Timex (purchased on Amazon, of course). If you want to track your health beyond the gym, gadgets and apps are the way to go. Fitbit and its accompanying app will track your activity level 24/7, your sleep and your food intake. Currently, my favorite food-tracking app is MyFitnessPal. It’s free and easy to use. If you’re trying to lose weight, it’ll help you estimate how fast you’ll lose it and chart your progress over time. If you don’t want to create your own workout playlist, or you just want listen to something new, try FIT Radio. You can select your favorite genre for fast-paced, fun (free!) music.

lululemonA note about makeup. This isn’t so much a tip, as it is a plea. Just don’t do it. You’re going to sweat, your makeup will run, you will have the worst case of raccoon eyes since that night you stayed out until 5:30 (I know, it was just the one time) and your lipstick will end up on your chin. Not to mention, toting around a sweat towel streaked with foundation is really embarrassing. Does it seem like I’m trying to scare you? Well, is it working? My main point is, if you’re doing it right, working out conditions are very unfriendly to the made-up gathered lady. So go minimalist. Slap on your favorite moisturizer and sunblock. For you lips, lip balm. If you need some color, use a lip and cheek stain. And if you absolutely cannot leave the house without mascara, make sure it’s waterproof.

A Gathered Event: 2013 LA Fashion Corner Fashion Show "Caring with Style"

This Friday, we had the privilege of being invited to the 2013 LA Fashion Corner red carpet event and fashion show "Caring with Style" which benefits arts for abused children. There's nothing better than being fashion forward and passionate about people in need. The show premiered clothing by four talented designer lines Mister Triple X, House of 11, Kami Shade Collection, and M the Movement. The event was held at Hollywood luxury nightclub Boulevard 3. The fashion show featured live performance from music group ZupaNova and the event had several give-aways and an after party.  We loved mingling in the exclusive VIP lofts and we'll be bringing you more hot fashion from emerging designers we met here. Check out our recap of the fashion and pics below! And if you didn't see it yesterday, look at the fashion spread from attendees who were looking quite lovely!

Mister Triple XThis collection was dark and edgy and featured swimwear and clothing that was creative with rock star appeal. Mister Triple X is an American fashion and skate board brand based in Los Angeles.

House of 11

House of Eleven was our favorite line. The collection featured luxurious fabrics of leathers, creams, sheer and sleek silhouettes. The line was cohesive and it was easy to see the allure of these clothes in the crowd's reaction. They definitely deserved an A-plus for presentation as their models were styled with consideration from head to toe. 

Kami Shade Collection

Photos by Bob Delgadillo

Another fan favorite was the color and size friendly line of Kami Shade. Although the clothes were beautiful, there were several aesthetics present in this show. The retro swimwear was sexy and eye catching. There were also several contemporary & trendy pieces like the striped cat-suit and gold embellished club dresses. This collection also showcased several sequenced and sparkly evening pieces. Despite the 3 different directions, the collection overall had a range of charm for women in different occasions and life stages, but nonetheless fashionable!

M... The Movement

Photos 2-4 by Bob Delgadillo

M... The Movement was a collection that left me a little puzzled. I can totally see the catchiness behind a grimy street wear aesthetic. However, the collection used lots of tights for women and basics for men. One of the male models wore dark denim jeans, an asymmetric "high-lo" white T and an electric blue turban? I struggled to find the strong statement  behind these clothes. Comprised of mostly greys and blacks, with some cool electric neon-colored Native American inspired necklaces and accessories, the overall presentation lacked runway appeal. On the positive side, there were several pieces that independently could be a great purchase. And the live-performance by Zupa Nova was a rocking backdrop to the clothes.

Boulevard 3 courtyard and live model & after party fun

We hope you enjoyed the recap! If you have a fashion show or event you'd like for us to attend please email us at thegatheredlady@gmail.com or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram @thegatheredlady.

The Gathered Fashion Spread (July 21, 2013): Super Sunday Edition!

We've been busy here at The Gathered Lady attending all sorts of fabulous events. Just this Friday we were at the 2013 LA Fashion Corner Red Carpet Event and Charity Fashion Show "Caring with Style". We know your dying to here about the event, so check back tomorrow for our recap and fashion highlights. For today, we're sharing our favorite fashion from the night. This crowd was truly fashion forward- check them out!

Do you and your friends have style when you go out and about? Submit your fierce pictures to thegatheredlady@gmail.com and you may make our Gathered Fashion Spread!  

Style. You have it. We Love it. 

(L) Khaleah Bradshaw/ (R) Kenya Jametta, CEO of LA Emerging Designers

(L) Ricki Morris of Visionary Style/ (C) Monet Lamb, 1st African Woman Fashion Truck Owner/ (R) Angelique Bates, Actress & Recording Artist

(C) Bree of The Gathered Lady(C) Amber, blogger Amberwavesofstyle(R.1st) Terita Malone, Talent Director of TM models

Do you have a gathered event you would love for us to attend and share the fashionable experience in Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, or New Orleans? If so, send us an email to  thegatheredlady@gmail.com or invite us via Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram @ TheGatheredLady!

Summer Vacation Fashion Inspiration: Cruise!

Happy Friday fashionistas! I will start by saying that the idea for this post is completely selfish. You see, I am eagerly counting down the days until I set sail on a Caribbean cruise for my summer vacation. It occupies my thoughts, and is ever in the back of my mind should I break out of budget prison to do a little overspending shopping browsing (without buying a thing I swear *hides DSW receipt*).  The outfit planning for this trip to paradise began months ago, before I even made one payment! Can you say obssessed? 

You will be happy to hear that I've busted out of my selfish phase into a selfless one, during which I am going to share some cruise vacation fashion inspiration with you, as well as some insight into cruisin', which is truly a lifestyle choice, one enjoyed by my family and many of my friends. Don't worry-- you can trust me. I'm reputable not only as a gathered lady, but also as an experienced traveler who has literally cruised around the world... more than once. Ready? Let's go! 

The Sea Day 

Every cruise, no matter the route or ports, will probably have one or more sea days. These are days that you enjoy the ship's activities, dining, and amenities for the entire day. In other words, you're not getting off the ship so make yourself at home. This is one of my favorite things about cruising! Instead of being cramped and uncomfortable while you're enroute to your destination, you get to relax (or not), eat (or not), rest (or not)... you get my point. It's yo thang! 

On a sea day you want to be comfortable as you move about the ship. The wind is pretty constant and strong at sea, so I don't recommend hats (despite the big-hatted images the vacation brochures might evoke, your amazing milliner's miracle WILL wind up in the drink without the use of copious hat pins). Scarves are cool on the other hand, because they can be tied and are versatile. I've also rocked them as headwraps. Note that the highest heel here is a platform. That's on purpose. A ship is in constant motion, and that swaying plays heel on the balance and ankles. Not to mention that even if you take elevators everywhere, there are still stairs you can't avoid, and some portals are old-school naval style and you may need to step over them to enter your cabin, or the bathroom, for instance. 

Lastly, don't forget to bring your tunes and your e-reader or magazines. There's nothing like finding a beach chair and some breezy shade (or sun) to enjoy the time passing by. Le sigh... 

The Shore Day 

The opposite of the sea day is the shore day. Getting off the ship, yay! What you do with your day is up to you, but with ports of call in the Caribbean it's certain that at least part of that time will be spent splayed out on a white, sandy beach. The fashion tips I have here for a shore day assume that at least part of the day will be spent at the beach, but should you decide to take a tour, got to a museum or park, or even stay on the ship (horrors!), this outfit choice should work for you. 

My main tips for your shore day outfit is that it should be able to take a beating. Sand, sun, salt, dirt, etc... this needs to be hardy clothing that you can wear all day and break a sweat in. It needs to also cover your swimsuit well and stand up to being rolled up and stuffed into a beach bag. 

For a beachy shore day, make sure to take your beach bag, and pack it well, but don't bring anything expensive or valuable with you. (We've got you covered on how to do this!) Note, for example, that the sea day e-reader has been replaced by a Marie Claire magazine. My personal policy is that there shouldn't be anything in your bag that would make you run after a thief instead of waving goodbye to your stuff. You may laugh, but it's an excellent policy! 

Formal Night 

Most cruises have an official formal night, a night when dinner is a little fancier (lobster! souffle!), and the dress code is after five. It's also often called the Captain's Dinner. I love these nights! I mean, after all these days of no heels and "beach formal" dinner attire, it's a nice change. This is your big chance to step it up! Not to mention that if you're going to pay $$$ for one of the official crusie photos, you might as well buy the one on this night while you are dressed to kill. Serve!

Note the two dress options provided. This is because you should choose whether you want to go formal or semi-formal. It's up to you. What really makes the night is the bling and pearls, the hair and makeup, and of course your luscious scent (Haven't picked a scent for summer? Let us help!)... do this right, and that guy you've had your eye on will move from flirt to fling! And married ladies, your evening is guaranteed to end early and your door will have the Do Not Disturb tag hanging off the handle. Cabin Stewards... poof! Be gone! 

Well that's what I got for you guys today... anybody going on a cruise? Have more fashion inspiration or outfits? Share on email or facebook, and if we like it, we'll share! 

The Dos and Don’ts of Fabulous Summer Work Wear

I’m sure you all have noticed it’s been a little… warm lately. We’re in the midst of a heat wave, and seven plus days of 90° plus weather is enough to make even the most stylish fashionista give up, especially when it comes to dressing for work. Since surrender is not a viable option (no, really), I’ve assembled a list of dos and don’ts for stylish summer work wear.

Elie TahariDo have fun with color. It’s summer! Celebrate by wearing bright colors, which also deflect sun rays better than dark colors.

Don’t show too much skin. I know it’s uncomfortably hot, but there are better ways to stay cool than shedding layers. Stay away from spaghetti strapped or strapless anything, shorts and skirts shorter than a couple of inches above the knee.

Do wear breathable fabrics. Light, breathable fabrics are one of the best ways you can dress for the weather.

Don’t forget about summer trends. Your office doesn’t have to be a no-style zone. Try pairing a sleeveless shift with a chunky belt and peep toe pumps or a floral ruffled top with a pencil skirt and cute wedges. Have fun!

Do pay attention to your summer grooming. It’s impossible to look polished if you’re ungroomed. For instance, you may like to give the shaving a rest during the winter when you aren’t wearing shorts or sleeveless tops, but that time has long passed. The skin-barring styles of summer require shaved legs and underarms. And the toe-barring styles of summer require regular pedicures. Believe me, rough heels trump cute shoes every time. Need some tips on how to whip your dogs into shape? We’ve got you covered.

Don’t rock flip flops. Cute sandals can be totally legit office wear, depending on how casual your work environment is. However, unless you work for a small tech startup, flip flops are probably too casual. Even if you do work in a very casual office, flip flops don’t make for a very polished look. Even if the rest of your outfit is fashionista feature-worthy, flip flops telegraph that you gave up when you got to your ankles. Plus, they’re loud!

Nieman MarcusDo take cues from your boss on how casual is too casual. Some offices require suits and pumps every day, no matter the weather, while others are decidedly more casual. To find out where your office falls on the continuum, take a close look at what your boss wears and follow her lead.

Don't go sans makeup. You don't need to shellac it on, but a little light, summer makeup will go a long way toward giving you a professional, finished look. More on summer makeup here.

Do spend a little time on your hair. Messy ponytails are cute for running errands or going to the beach, but work? Not so much. Even if you're wearing a ponytail, you can easily make it into a cute work hairstyle with a little effort. Add a braid, put a few curls in your ponytail or take some bobby pins and create a bun.