The Gathered Fashion Spread (May 4, 2013)

Happy Saturday! Our Atlanta fashionistas stole the scene at the season 2 "R&B Divas" Red Carpet Premiere Event. Our gathered lady Queen Aftan was there and captured the hottest styles of the night. Enjoy! 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 weekly Gathered Fashion Spread!

Fashionista Feature: Rochelle

This Friday we are proud to feature a very fierce fashionista indeed. Rochelle is a 23-year old fashion design student born in Bermuda, and currently living in London (is that living the dream or what?). As if that isn't enough of an achievement, this truly gathered lady rocks not only amazing designs, but also a tiara as Miss Bermuda 2012! Details on her amazing looks, achievements, and experiences below without further ado... 

1. Name/Age/City/Cultural Background 

 Rochelle/23/ Living in London, born and raised in Bermuda. 

2. Career 

I am currently a Fashion Design Student. I will become a fashion designer and stylist. 

3. Tell us a little bit about your hobbies & interests. 

I love to design,  to shop, modeling and photography, styling, and volunteer work. I enjoy eating A LOT. Also spending time with family and friends when I can. I love vintage shopping in London. I'm very involved in my church community and enjoy going when I can.  When I'm in Bermuda I love to go running, swimming, and boating.

4. Describe your fashion style and influence. 

I believe my fashion style is very eccentric and bold. I love to mix and match colors that wouldn't usually go together. I love EARRINGS! ...And have to wear them  24/7. They are my weakness.   I am constantly influenced by indie and vintage clothing with a combination of high end high street clothing.  I dress according to my mood or occasion, location, and activities that I will be doing that day.  I love London and it's unique sense of style.  I mainly get inspired by street style and what is on display in the shops, especially Top Shop.

5. Who are your fashion icons? 

I love love love, Solange Knowles, Julia Sarr- Jamois, mostly for her style and massive hair. I adore Iris Apfel. She is the coolest old lady i've ever known and I aspire to remain as trendy and hip as her when I'm her age. 

6. You're Miss Bermuda 2012! Congratulations! How very gathered! What was your favorite moment of this experience so far? Your favorite outfit in the pageant? Can you share a pic? 

Yes, I'm Miss Bermuda 2012… My favorite moment of the experience was just being at Miss World and living in the moment.  As I reflect back I enjoyed every part of it, from always looking glamourous and the free clothing (:D) to just being with the girls and exploring the inner depths of China.  My favorite outfit at the pageant was probably my Ralph Lauren yellow trousers with Ralph Lauren blue striped top. 

 

7. You're a model and a pageant winner, in school for design with an amazing sense of style. Aesthetic is obviously a key factor in many areas of your life, and an area in which you are quite gathered. What are some other areas that are important to be a gathered lady? 

My persona and personality is quite gathered, as i can be "a lady" but also express my creative side. Also my  friends, they are all gathered ladies and  we compliment each other so well. 

8. Worst fashion mistake you ever made? 

Worst fashion mistake……..becoming a Vidal Sassoon model and letting them cut my hair in a geometrical Grace Jones hair style and dyeing it purple. Although it was quite extreme, I still rocked it. 

9. If a natural disaster wipes away your entire closet except for 3 pieces, what would you save? 

This is HARD!…. My mint green vintage blazer, Orange Zara tapered trousers, Red polyester tie collar shirt.  Oh and all my accessories! 

10. Best fashion advice you ever got? 

Continue being yourself, wear red hair.

11. Any advice for aspiring models and pageant contestants? 

Remain confident. Be poised. Have fun. Love every minute of it, SMILE, live in the moment  because you will never be the same again. 

How to Rock a Trend: Emerald!

Happy May! This is my favorite month, and for good reason. Spring is in full swing, the weather is consistently great, and both my sister and I celebrate our birthdays. Another awesome thing about this month is its birthstone: the emerald. Its intense green color, which made this gemstone one of the most valuable in the world, has become very popular in clothes, makeup and accessories, especially this year. The world's leading authority on color, Pantone, declared emerald the "Color of the Year" for 2013, so you'll definitely want to work it into your spring/summer style. And while I'm definitely in favor of adding a few jewel-toned pieces to your wardrobe, the easiest (and cheapest!) way to add a pop of green to any outfit is with makeup. Below are some of my current favorites:

 

Nail Color

Both of these are Sephora brand nail lacquers: Green Generation is the shimmering color, while Picnic in the Park is the flat color. They are only four bucks a piece, and a great way to start experimenting, if you're nervous about wearing this color on your face. Any skin tone can pull off green nails, and the short, fat brush that comes with all Sephora nail lacquers makes it easy to do your mani yourself.

Eyeliner

Eyeliner is a good first purchase if you want to try an emerald eye color. You can wear it alone or with neutrals and golds for a natural, yet sexy look with a twist. Later, you can layer it with more dramatic looks and pair it with a green shadow for a really intense concentration of color. The pencil here is from Urban Decay, while the liquid liner is from Stila.

 

Eyeshadow

If you're feeling adventerous, an emerald shadow is a must (Goodness, does that rhyme?!). Makeup Forever has two of my favorite emerald eyeshadows right now. The first is a loose pigment, while the other is a more traditional eyeshadow. Both are highly pigmented, which is exactly what you want in an emerald eyeshadow. The trio, by Smashbox, is great because you get the green shadow (this one is called Serpent), plus two other versatile colors that you can--and should--wear both with and without the green.

 

All off these items are available online from Sephora, which did an entire emerald collection with Pantone featuring eye shadows, liners and brush collections.

Dating & Mating: How to dress on a first date

I'll let you in on a secret: I'm single. Yes, I know what you're thinking. "Not you Bree! How is this possible?!" I too have these same thoughts, lol. Regardless of the reasons, I have my freedom papers and am enjoying my new found singlehood, which includes many dates. Tempering that excitement is the anxiety of trying to figure out what to wear on a first date. So, I've decided to share my in-depth research and interesting findings.  After reading popular magazines, asking women and girlfriends... I then chucked that info. I figured I'd ask who mattered most- the types of men I wanted to date. Gathered men! So I'll share my findings about what creates the best impressions in gathered men's minds regarding first dates. Here are some general rules to follow:

• Don't dress for women, i.e. Super trendy, intimidating fashion (heel-less shoes, channeling your inner beyonce/lady gaga diva outfits). A good rule of thumb is: imagine or ask your girlfriend's reaction to your outfit when she first sees you. If she screams "Fierce! Work! Beat! Diva! or any other Zoolander terms- it's too much for a date. Good words are "super cute, pretty, beautiful, lovely, good/great, even "hot" is okay.
• Less is more: make-up should be simple and not complicated (no rainbow eye shadow). focus on one facial feature to enhance (lips- vs- eyes). You don't want red lips and dark smoky Cleopatra eyes.
• Grooming is everything. There's a reason Outkast made a whole song about being "So fresh and So Clean". Remember the small details: neat manicure and pedicure, arched eyebrows, moisturized skin, clean hair. Basic stuff. (also see Back to Basics Pt. 1 and 1.5)
• Take the sex appeal between a 6 and 7 on the sexy scale. A Zero would be a muu muu or shapeless jogging suit. A 10 would be a heavy cleavage, leg and thighs exposed, and form fitting to your hips and butt, thus showing all your lady lumps. You want intrigue and suggestion, not a huge red light district sign.
• Aim to show 40 percent of your body. Studies show this yields the most male reaction and attention. Again, the point is suggestion. A first date outfit is like a movie trailer. How, you ask? Well, everyone hates when a movie trailer shows too many action scenes or funny jokes. It makes the movie lose it's luster and you wonder if the movie has any substance beyond all the flashy spoilers. A man will still  try to see the movie, but he may wait for redbox instead of choosing the box office opening weekend $14 ticket. You are worth opening night behavior!
• Stay prepared (See 7 items for your clutch). Bring a jacket of some sort. You won't ever regret it. And if it's too hot, he can hold it for you. That's what gathered gentleman do.

Keep in mind that these are first date options, which are about impressions and set how he unconsciously thinks and behaves with you. Once you snag him as your exclusive man or husband, then you can go crazy and walk around in your muu muu or head to toe animal print catsuits! Just kidding, stay calm and dress gathered. Here are some examples of good date outfits:

Date Option 1:  Lunch date, Movie date, Casual Date

This look is perfect for dating in your 20's. Generally the tone of the date is casual, won't include active movement or sports, and may not cost big bucks. This look conveys femininity without pretentiousness. The dress can be in any color, and is flattering on most body types. The shoes have sex appeal without the intimidation or discomfort of a full on high heel. The purse can be easily carried  across the body if you take a scenic walk.

Date Option 2: Live music concert, Art walk or show 

 This look screams "I'm cool." Which you obviously are. The top is a sexy combination of leather and exposed decolletage. The jeans balance the top, but shows peeps of leg. The shrug is sheer. The suggestion factor is high on this outfit. The shoe is great for walking or standing long periods of time (thick heel, less than 3 inches, toes covered in case of concert misstep). 

Date option 3: Park Picnic, Flea Market, Beach, Outdoor activity

 Have I mentioned my love of rompers and playsuits? If I haven't let me shout if from the rooftops! They can be extremely versatile and stylish. They eliminate having to match pieces. The cuteness of a dress, with the flexibility of shorts. Le awesome. Men find these appealing because they have a youthful charm and show lots of leg. Make sure it's a good fit (not too tight or baggy) in order to keep the sexy in target zone. I paired this with a natural make-up like NARS orgasm blush and simple accessories. 

Date Option 4: Cocktail event, Fancy dinner date, Theatre

 These dresses are prime examples of the 40% law of attractiveness. Shoulder action combined with some leg display is ideal. I've tested this theory out many times, it works. Opting for a body conscious fit pushes it higher on the sex appeal scale, so covering cleavage is important. The middle look is a an awesome plus size choice. Make sure you use proper supportive undergarments to make these look flawless. Simple jewelry, strappy heels, and signature clutches make these looks chic and sexy. 

Do you have a first date that doesn't fit into these categories? Need help? Write us at thegatheredlady@gmail.com and we'll help you figure out great styling for a first date. Do you have pictures of your first date outfit that rocks? Email or tag us on facebook, twitter, or instagram @Thegatheredlady and if we like it, we'll share it!

Weekend Fashion Mash-up (April 27, 2013): The perfect cat eye

Cheers to the weekend! It's Saturday and the perfect opportunity to rock some sexy weekend style. Check out the videos below for the perfect cat eye. I really enjoyed the idea about using tape in the second link.

 Also, JCP is having a huge spring sale. They have some great items like denim jacket, printed pants in plus size,  floral pants and skirts all at great P.I.N.P prices! Happy Shopping :)

 Have a hot outfit that will inspire others? Submit your fit to thegatheredlady@gmail.com and if we like it, we'll share it. Here's one from my closet: