Fashionista Feature: Leah

Happy Monday! This week we've brougth you another beautiful gathered fashionista. Leah is a 29 year old California native who currently is finishing her PhD in biomedical science with ambitions to become a cancer researcher. Leah is smart, fun, social and fabulously stylish. Currently in Nashville, Tennessee, Leah enjoys hosting dinner parties, going to lounges, live music and sports events. Leah  says "My style is edgy and chic. I love color, prints, accessories, and shoes. Also, I like to show off my legs, so it's sexy too." We agree, but don't take our word. See for yourself and check out this week's fave fashionista's pictures and interview and be inspired to be gathered like Leah!

1. Describe your fashion style in 5 words. edgy. colorful. chic. sexy. tribal.

2. Who are your favorite style icons? Beyonce! Rihanna for her edgy appeal. Also, being plus size, I look up to Mia Amber. I admired her style, presence and poise. Queen Latifah.

3. Finish this sentence: I can’t help but buy more shoes and accessories for my closet.

4. Surprise! Impromptu interview for Marie Claire in 2 hours! What do you wear?  Denim trousers, a plain T, a striped cropped blazer, platform sandals, and hot accessories. Casual but working it!

5. Favorite stores to supply your fashion habit? For budget friendly items I go to Target & Forever 21, Sears and Khol’s, sometimes Ross. Some of the online places I shop are Dorthyperkins.com and  ASOS.com.  I also like a lot of random cute boutiques from Instagram.

6. Best fashion advice you live by? “Dare to be different.”. My style is very daring and uniquely me, so I follow trends but I always make it my own. Also, you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to look amazing. It’s about piecing things together in a creative way.

7. Worst fashion mistake you ever made? Yeah... in the late 90’s when wearing super baggy tom-boy clothes were in style. I pray that trend never comes back. I wore baggy jersey’s and jeans. I’m so glad I had a come up from that time. It was rough, lol.

8. Favorite childhood fashion item you were obsessed with? Baby doll dresses and the wedge keds! I’ve always been into accesories, so I loved little lace necklaces too.

9. Secret fashion look you wish you could pull off? Hmm, definitely a crop top. I can show a little something- something, but I want to rock the fitted top with tight jeans.

10. What traits make up a gathered lady to you? Which do you have? A gathered lady is a confident, successful, stylish woman who knows how to be causal chic and can look great in anything. The most essential feature is her confidence. When I wear stuff, and I slide my heels on, I tap into my inner diva, own the look and no one can tell me anything! That’s gathered!

11. Favorite asset to accentuate? How? My legs. I’m tall and when I wear heels it accentuates their long length. And I keep them toned, so I try to rock them when I can with skirts and sexy dresses.

12. How do you dress your body concerns? I’m not the curviest girl as far as hips. I love bodycon-dresses, but I go more for one that has patterns that gives my curves more bang.  I adore A-line dresses and skirts, because it creates an illusion of fuller curves. My corsets and foundations garments also help me work my magic.

13. Lazy day- what are you wearing? Regular black leggings, oversized T shirts from Target (the cotton one's with  a top pocket), and converse chucks-- I am from california, gotta love my chucks!
14. Fun fashion fact: I hate wearing tennis shoes (my chucks are excluded), unless it has a wedge. I just always gravitate to shoes that make me feel fabulous!

 Are you a fashionista with fabulously gathered style? Send us your pictures to thegatheredlady@gmail.com and if we like them, we'll share them! If you're really gathered, we may even feature you!

The Gathered Fashion Spread (June 15, 2013)

Happy Saturday! This week our ATL affiliate Queen Aftan attended the exclusive launch party for LA based Gourmet shoes' partnership with Young Jezzy and his new line of dope sneakers. The event was held at popular clothing boutique Wish in Atlanta. Special Guest Mimi Faust from Love and Hip Hop Atlanta showed up, as well as music artist Gloss, DJ Baby Yu and DJ RootsQueen and even Trinidad James. The event was serviced by Bottle Bar and with drinks by Avion Tequila. Jezzy's shoes are "the perfect blend of luxury and street". Suffice it to say, I definitely want a pair. Check out the fashion forward crowd and their swaggalicious style for your weekend inspiration!

Gourmet Brand, Young Jezzy & Aftan, Mimi Faust of Love & Hip Hop Atlanta

Recording Artist Gloss, AW Media Group & BriceNicole Garner or The Garner Circle PR, Wish employee, Pretti Polish Swap Owner

Kahdijiha Rowe- Owner of Platform Addicts Shoe Boutique (Yellow polka dot dress)

Young Jezzy Gourmet shoes in action!

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!

How to Build a Personal Fashion Emergency Kit

We’ve all had it happen. Out and about, doing our gathered business, and suddenly... your pants rip. Or your top button pops off. Or you’re needed as a last minute guest on Ellen. Your nail chips, snags, or pops off. You spill chimichurri sauce on your brand new one-of-a-kind vintage shop top. These, my dears, are fashion emergencies. Yes, I provided a lot of examples. Yes, from mostly from personal experience. Don’t judge me. Learn from me.

On this very fierce fashion Friday I am going to give you a step by step guide to building a personal fashion emergency kit. Filled with myriad items, some you probably have lying around the house, some you don’t, this baby can bail you out again and again in life, and I’m of the opinion that every gathered woman should have one or two fashion emergency kits lying around. Whether you’re a power professional, a mom, a socialite, an activist, emergencies arise. 

So what are some super smart and savvy uses for your custom emergency kit?

- In your purse or tote. Duh!

- At work. No more leaving work in a panic or begging the office rival for a tampon.

- In the car. If you’re a fashionista on the go, you probably spend a lot of time driving.

- Travel. Going on a trip? Place in your carry on with a sigh of relief.

- Special occasions. Getting married? Dance performance? Public speaking engagement? Do you really want to be unprepared for the unexpected?

- Moms, teachers. You know what terrors await. Be prepared. Hear my battle cry!

I think I’ve made my point. You can use this! So pay attention. Or you will look like this... 

1. Find a cute bag. Not too large, definitely not too small. Although you’re going to pack this bag full of stuff, it’s going to be small or trial-sized amounts of the things that you need. A clear bag or one with tiny compartments is nice, if you’re the organized type or forgetful of what you’re tossing in the bag. For my travellers, a clear bag is also a bonus because you can just toss it on the belt in the airport security line and it’s compliant with TSA regulations.

2. Make a List. Check it twice. The key to a really awesome kit is putting a bit of thought into it. This step is the most important because you have to start with thinking of the purpose of this kit. (Use the list above.) For the purposes of showing what it’s all about, I will use examples of what I stock in my own little bag of wonders, but feel free to personalize and be creative.

General

- compact mirror

- extra pair of tights or panty hose (if you wear them)

- trial size perfume

- tweezers

- 5 q tips

- 5 cotton pads or balls

- 2 pantiliners

- 2 tampons

- small pack of tissue

- 4 aspirin or other pain killer (tylenol, excedrin, etc)

- 1 alka-seltzer

- any emergency meds (inhaler, benadryl, insulin, etc)

- bandaid

- antiseptic pad

Hair Emergency

 - 5 bobby pins

- scrunchie or 2 elastic bands

- trial size or travel container hair gel (or any other essential hair product)

- headband

- mini hairbrush

Clothing/Shoe Emergency

- fashion tape

- 5 safety pins, varying sizes

- foot petals

- sewing kit

- strap perfect

- stain remover pen

- febreeze

- city slips

Makeup Emergency

- makeup remover wipes

- nude lip gloss

- black eyeliner

- mascara

 Nail Emergency

- nail file or mini nail kit

- polish remover wipes

- 1 bottle clear or black polish

3. Toss it in. Zip it up! So this is the part where you get it all to fit in the bag. Remember, you don’t need full packages of these things. You really only need to include enough for 1 or 2 pinch uses. I suggest you make multiple kits at once and put them in different places.

Last tip: I suggest you restock the kit with the thing you used at the first opportunity. Otherwise, your kit will run low on certain things, and you will be "caught out there" like Kelis. You have been warned.

How to Go Thrifting

By hownowdesign on FlickrOver the past couple of years, thrifting has become a bit of a thing (an understatement, I know). Several of our favorite gathered ladies (and many a hipster besides) source thrift stores for some of their funkiest (not literally) vintage and coolest statement pieces. But shopping for thrift is quite different from regular shopping, and it can be difficult to learn how to triumphantly conquer this latest fashion frontier. Below I’ve compiled some tips on how to get the most out of your next thrift store outing.  

What success looks like by hownowdesign on Flickr1. Set yourself up for success. This is no regular shopping expedition. Thrifting takes some time. You’ll be combing through piles of junk in search of fashion treasure, so make the thrift store (or stores) your first stop of the day. You’ll still be fresh, and won’t be bogged down with a bunch of unwieldy shopping bags. Opt for one of your smaller purses (I sometimes like to go sans purse and cram my lip gloss, phone, cards and cash into my front pockets) and wear comfortable shoes. You don’t want your feet getting tired midway through your second rack! 

2. Select you targets carefully. Every city has thrift stores of varying levels of quality, and that quality is usually determined by the mission of the thrift store and the income levels of the people that live near it. Some second-hand shops are “boutiques” that cater specifically to those thrifting for fashion. They only take designers items, so you won’t have as much junk to sift through, but their prices are generally a bit higher than your standard Salvation Army. Traditional thrift stores are still great places to shop, although it may take more time to find what you’re looking for. Try looking at stores in your town’s high-rent district(s). After a couple of trips, you’ll begin to notice where you’re finding the goods and you can target those stores exclusively in the future.

3. Keep an eye out for quality, condition and cleanliness. Look for well-made pieces that likely cost their original purchaser a pretty penny. Ask yourself, do I like how the stitching is done, the quality of the fabric, and—if it’s something like a blazer—is the garment in question fully-lined? If it looks cheaply made or is barely hanging together, keep it moving. You don't want to waste your money on clothes that won't survive their first washing.

Make sure you spot any imperfections before handing over your hard-earned cash. If an item is stained or needs to be altered, take the additional cost into account when considering whether or not you’re actually getting a good deal. And you should be pretty confident that you (or a professional) can get a stain out or successfully mend a garment before purchasing. After all, that flaw might be the reason it ended up in a thrift store in the first place.

One last note on cleanliness. Whenever you’re bringing something into your home that previously lived in someone else’s home, you have to think about hygiene. The analogy I like to think of is picking up a couch left on a street curb. Thrifting is a little different, but not by much. Carefully look over anything you want to buy and if it looks suspicious (I’m thinking of bed bugs and just the thought is making me itchy), leave it. Wash all new purchases ASAP. If you were looking for an excuse to buy a steamer, you’re welcome. That musty, vaguely unpleasant smell all thrift stores seem to share should tell you everything you need to know.

4. Shop for statement pieces and high-end designers. Now that I’ve scared you sufficiently, let me tell you one of the best reasons to shop at thrift stores. They are a great place to find designer pieces for far less than you would pay for them anywhere else. I once found a Kate Spade attaché for $10 in a thrift store on Melrose in Los Angeles. You always want to keep an eye out for great finds like this, but be careful to make sure you don’t end up with a fake. Become familiar with the calling cards of your favorite designers (and the common shortcuts employed in knock offs), so you can recognize them right away. Remember, you aren’t necessarily looking to fill your entire closet. Instead, shop for pieces that make your pupils dilate when you first see them. One great piece can make the entire expedition worthwhile.Don't forget homewares! By ex.libris on Flickr

5. The best thrift is always free... This is especially true if you have older, stylish women in your life. My late grandmother had an extensive collection of gorgeous costume jewelry, which I have been slowly acquiring through selective poaching every time I go home to visit my mom. Who knows what vintage goodies are tucked away in the basement, attic, or storage unit of a close relative? It’s amazing what people keep around (and in good shape) for years and years. Vintage jewelry, belts, coats (particularly furs) and even home furnishings may await you, and your loved one may want nothing in return but the extra space they’ll gain from you clearing out some old “junk.”

What's your favorite thrift store find? Send it to us, and if we love it, we'll share it!

A Gathered Event: Rosa Regale R&B Brunch

We are always scoping out the fashion savvy events and this week our Atlanta affiliate, Queen Aftan of I Am A Queen Royalty Productions, attended the very chic Rosa Regale R&B Brunch presented by Bravo TV's Chef Roble with the talented Estelle as a special Guest. Not only was the food phenomenal, the Rosa Regale sparking red was flowing and adding to the mood of mixing, mingling, and style. The ladies in attendance showed their sophisticated looks and the entire experience was indeed gathered. We loved the gift bags filled with valuable goodies like the lip gloss cell phone charm, light compact mirror, and a free download for Estelle's new single (jamming!). If you haven't tried Rosa Regale, definitely put it on your shopping list because it's love at first sip. Check out these fab ladies for some Monday Morning style inspiration!

Aftan, Chef Roble of Bravo TV, Estelle

Tasha Marie of www.glitzunlimited.com, Mona-Lisa, Tahira Joy of BrandedPR

I am Lillie Mae PR, SImply Charessa Events, Sherea & Nikki

Bombshael- Natural Blogger, Robin Lori Photography, Tami Reed of talkingwithtami.com

Singer Ria Chelle, Autumn

Lillie Mae PR, Aftan, Letoya Luckett, Estelle, amazing food & Rosa Regale

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!