7 Ungathered Fashion Trends to Avoid

Happy Friday Fashionistas! It's excellent to be back after a nice, restorative vacation last week. Having been rested and refreshed properly, and practiced self-care like the gathered lady that I am, I am ready to get on my game and solve the problems of the world. In that spirit, I am going to compliment Bree's 7 Heavenly Fashion Trends for Fall 2013 with the converse: 7 Ungathered Fashion Trends to Avoid (in no particular order). 

It is my opinion that in the absence of a highly organized and funded International Fashion Police agency, The Gathered Lady can make a "citizen's arrest" on the following list of faux pas. Not necessarily because these trends are ungathered in and of themselves, but because they are particularly difficult to pull off without looking like an ungathered poser. As in all things fashion, our advice is a guideline, but never an unbreakable rule. All instances of these trends being worn should be judged on a case by case basis. Just don't be surprised if people stop and point you get convicted of fashion crimes! 

1. Socks and Sandals. 

See? Makes NO difference what type of sandal you wear. Attempt at great risk of silent ridicule.This trend will never go away and is as old as time, and neither will the complaints from the visually victimized. And it doesn't matter what type of sandal you wear, or how young you are (unless you are in elementary school or something, and then your parents should be confronted). FYI, this was voted the worst fashion trend of 2013 in the UK this year. Apparently it's a plague over there. Let's stop the outbreak now folks and cancel this one. Leave this one on the runway and back away slowly. 

2. Graphic Leggings.

^^What you think you look like. What you ACTUALLY look like.^^MMkay. I think the pic above says it all. Graphic leggings are a fashion trap of sorts. It seems like it's going to be a fun, dramatic statment piece, and then it morphs into this hard to match fashion challenge. Trust me, I fell for this one (but DID NOT leave my house!). Not to mention that if you're not a 2-dimensional airbrushed model photo and happen to be a human being, you will have to deal with the problem of 3-dimensional subcutaneous fat deposits -- aka muffin top, jelly rolls, cellulite, and baby back ribs. We advise caution here. Discretion is the better part of valor. Live to fight another day and stop scaring babies in strollers. 

3. Overalls/Shortalls. 

Every single person in this collage looks like they just wandered in out of the cabbage patch.This trends shows a disturbing zombie-esque ability to raise from the dead. As this one is a personal pet peeve of mine (I had a long overall phase in my fashion-challenged past), there is not enough bad to say about it. Don't do it. Unless you're headed to the Fall Harvest Festival in character as a rube. Even with heels and jewelry -- this is one that is impossible to dress up unless the overalls are made from a different material than the usual denim.  This trend is for fashion virtuosos only --  and even then you could make the worst dressed list! 

4. Power Clashing 

You could easily look like a truant clown. Refrain. This trend is another trap, and it reminds me a lot of the pinterest paradox or the "easy" home improvement projects shown on HGTV. It all looks so easy... until you attempt to repeat said outcome! Even with detailed instructions, the power clash is a delicate balance best left to the runway and professional personalities unless you know what you're doing and there is an appropriate occasion to rock this one. (Hint: Work is never a good place for power clashing unless you want to power clash with a pink slip, especially if you interact clients or customers. Fashion and entertainment industry fashionistas are exempt from this rule, but should still use extreme caution.)

5. Pajamas, Rollers, Silky Caps, Slippers, and other Nonsense as Activewear

There are no words. Go to your home immediately. Fashionistas, as obvious as this one is, it's something that I have to deal with in this list becase far too many people out in the world are guilty of this. A little public shaming could go a long way here, if you ask me. I also find it unforgiveable that Hollywood sometimes plays around with this, which encourages the People of Walmart types that are more normally guilty of this. Shame on all of you! Go home and put on some shoes, brush/comb that hair, and put on some actual clothes. The world is not your living room! Groom thyself immediately! 

6. Harem pants, Hammer pants, drop-crotch... oh my!

Who really looks good in these? I demand to know: who looks good in these? I'm of the opinion that they don't really flatter any body type. Also, for the skinny types that do get away with it, what do you do with all that extra space in the free poopy pouch included in the back? These confuse me, and I'm not the only one not dreaming of Jeannie with this damn pants. Use caution- these pick up right where gaucho pants left off! And I don't know about ya'll, but gaucho pants turned me from hottie to Horton-hears-a-who in 0.5 seconds flat. #sideeye

7. High-Wasted Denim Shorts 

A denim gamble.I struggled with whether to list these. They can be fab, and often are... on the right body type. Unfortunately, my eyes do not deceive me that there is a plague of people not able to determine whether these shorts can be a part of a healthy balanced wardrobe. Being some retro combo of a stovepipe pant and a mini short makes them intriguing, but they bring the cons of those clothing items along with the pros. I see scores of women out there wearing ill-fitting, too-tight shorts that muffin up top, wedge in the bottom, and roll in between the thighs. These things will have you doing that yank 'em dance every time ya'll! Look before you leap! Prefereably in the mirror with a dose of reality. 

Well there you are. Practice caution with all of these trends, and you can't fail to be a gathered lady. And tell your friends! 

Are there any ungathered trends we've missed? Email or facebook us and share them! 

7 Heavenly Fashion Trends... for Fall 2013!

As September is knocking on our door, we need to be prepared for the fashion industry's favorite season: Fall. It's a great time to pull out all of your fashion pieces and layer up. Fall fashion separates the average from the truly fashionable. Fall and Winter fashion take effort and savvy to coordinate while remaining functionally warm and visually stylish. So, we've decided to help you by picking our top 7 trends for fall 2013.

Don't worry, some of these trends you already have in your closet since they've been hot almost year round like leather and emerald. Other note worthy trends that didn't make the cut were shades of blue, army & military inspired, plaids, and knit hats. Overall, I'm noticing strong structural elements to all of the new Fall 2013 trends. Clean lines and sophisticated colors and patterns. Very Olivia Pope. Check out and let us know what you think in the comments section, Instagram, or Facebook.

1. 50 Shades of Gray
2. Crazy Big Coats
3. Suit Up
4. Leather Love
5. Thigh High Boots
6. Winter White
7. Emerald Green

7 Heavenly Oils for Beauty

Happy Friday Fashionistas! As you might have noticed from Bree's post and Charity's review on Monday and Wednesday, The Gathered Lady is all about beauty this week. And I don 't know about you guys, but these girls are amazing! I went to Walgreens last night on a last minute hair product junkie-fueled spree, and their beauty tips were in my mind. I walked out of there with not one, not two, but three of their suggested beauty products, and just barely avoided the makeup aisle where I knew I would find those amazing lip colors that Bree spilled about. #nowillpowerhere

To that end, I went to my own lil' treasure trove of secrets, and the most valuable thing that I decided to share with you is the MOST universal beauty power product of all time (which I am a great fan and user of): oil. Why oil, do you ask? Well: 

1. It's Natural. For all concerned about chemicals, carcinogens, perfumes, dyes, and all things not naturally occuring in nature, be soothed. All the oils perfect for your beauty needs are naturally occuring oils from plants growing in nature. Other oils are herb-infused plant-based oil. 

2. It's Universal. No matter what your culture is, where you live, or your race, women all over the world since the beginning of time have used oil in their beauty rituals. Unless you are not from earth. In which case I say... nanu-nanu?  

3. A Million Types. A Million Uses. There are literally hundreds of oils that have beauty applications. Some are rare, some are positively ubiquitous. Some are sitting in your kitchen cabinet right now, just waiting for you to realize that they would just do wonders for your hair's shine, your cuticle's softness, or your hormonal acne. Wake up! Transfer some of that stuff from the kitchen to the bathroom and enlarge your beauty arsenal. 

4. It's Cheap. For the most part. One of the best things about oils is that they are mostly cheap, especially when you consider: a) the comparative cost between synthetic beauty products, b) the fact that most of them are wonderful for hair, skin, and nails all at once, c) you can add small amounts of oils to many of your existing products to increase their effectiveness, and d) you can make many many infused oils at home!

You wanna look like this, dontcha?

Have I convince you yet? Great! Now, with a million types and uses I want to stick to the ones that I can vouch for (which also happen to be some of the most well-known, versatile, widely available, and cheapest ones).  So here are my 7 heavenly oils for beauty: 

Extra-Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)

•  Cold-pressed, fresh oil 
• Moderate odor (easily disappears when mixed with other products) 
• Great as a sealant/lubricant for hair, skin, nails 
• Excellent to mix into other products to increase moisturizing effect
• These oil infuses other herbs easily and wonderfully. 
• Also useful for medicinal purposes (poultice, heat pack, oil pulling)

Coconut Oil

•  Not enough can be said about this oil, which happens to be the most like the natural oils produced by human skin and therefore able to penetrate the skin and hair shaft like no other. 
• Great for direct application to the skin. 
• Mixes a million ways for hair and skin products. 
• Hair staple -- mixes with other oils and shea butter for an amazing deep conditioner.
• More pleasant flavor alternative for oil pulling. 

Castor Oil

•  Besides its laxative effect when ingested that your granny might use, this oil has miraculous, regenerative growth properties. Direct application to eyebrows, eyelashes, and damaged hair causes thickening and re-growth (I'm an eye-witness to this one!).
• Great for wrinkles, cracked heels, skin moles, and stretch marks! 
• Amazing deep conditioning and thickening properties for hair. Plays well with coconut and EVOO in the same treatment, if you like. :) 
• Also is sometimes used successfully as a cleanser for the face in lieu of soap and water.
• Jamaican Black variety is more raw form for even more hair and skin growth properties.

Jojoba Oil

• Amazing light oil for the hair and skin.
• Can be used as a great massage oil. 
• Tames flyaways and adds shine without weighing hair down. My hair loves this oil for styling! 
• This one can be used as a "carrier oil" to seal in other skin products and deliver their healthful ingredients deeper into the skin layer.

Argan Oil

• Comes from the a specific area of Morocco only. This one is rarer, but becoming more popular and can be found in more and more places. 
• Argan Oil is great for the hair as a styling and finishing oil. 
• Great for the face -- mask, toner, lip moisturizer. 
• A few drops of this oil go a long way (especially since the pure oil is more expensive)

Amla Oil 

•  A favorite of mine! Indian Ayurvedic amla is sold in both an oil and powder form. I far prefer the oil. Also this is sold as both an "Amla" and an "Amla Lite". I use the Amla Lite from Dabur with great results. 
• Amla has a strong scent which you may or may not like. 
• This oil has darkening and thickening properties, and Indian women have been using this oil for centuries to get rid of their grey along with henna. Amla can change your henna color (deepen) among other things. 
• Amla is said to combat lice and dandruff.
• It will bring a ratty weave or wig back from the dead <-- Yes I went there. Yes, from experience.

Tea Tree Oil 

•  The uses of tea tree oil for cleaning and medicine are more than well-documented. But that anti-bacterial, anti-fungal powerhouse oil is also useful to your beauty regimen for the same reason. 
• Very little of this oil goes a LONG way. In its most concentrate form, using to much directly on the skin will cause burns. (Something I have done in my zeal for this holy grail product! Learn from me! Save yourselves!)
• Perfect for adding to homemade conditioners, spritzers and mixers. 
• Dandruff, nail fungus, acne... none are a match for a few drops of tea tree oil applied regularly! 
• Tea Tree Oil is functional and aromatic. It has aromatherapy properties that make it a good bath additive or massage oil additive. 

And just because I'm a champ, I've put together this handy chart for you guys! 

Well what do you guys think? Have I sent you running off to the kitchen, the store, Whole Foods, or to the conveniently located olive tree in the backyard to buy some oils today? I hope so. Before you get into using these oils, do a bit of googling and reading for yourself, and you'll see that my list here is just the tip of the iceerg on oil types themselves, as well as uses for the ones that I wrote about. Share your thoughts, opinions and findings with us by email and facebook! 

7 Heavenly Trends... for Summer 2013!

This past Saturday marked the first official day of summer. You know what that means- a new excuse to shop for summer trends! We've compiled a list of hot fashion styles that you'll definitely want to attempt rocking. We've already spotted some of the looks in our Fashion Spreads! Although some of these trends may be on the daring side for the more conservative fashionistas, they all can be incorporated into daily style in a tasteful way to add playful elements to your look. Keep checking back, we'll be breaking down some of these in further details with "How to Rock..." posts. And for you fashionistas who are already wearing these trends, submit your pics to thegatheredlady@gmail or tag us on facebook, twitter, or instagram @TheGatheredLady #getgathered and if we like it, we'll share it! 

1. Graphic Prints

These bold prints take the work out of spicing up outfits. Choose your level of commitment to style-boldness with low-risk simple accessories like purses and tops or take more risks with dresses and pants. Also, graphic print shorts are guaranteed hot-ticket items this summer.

2. Leather

I'm sure you're thinking "Leather?! Ain't nobody got time for that in this heat!!". Don't worry, this trend is reasonable in that it's mainly skirts, shorts, and panels of leather that are being incorporated into clothing. Very temperature friendly. If you're still nervous, may we suggest wearing looser fitting leather, cool and roomy tops, and open toe shoes to make this style most practical. Check out how these ladies from The Gathered Fashion Spread & Nordic Poetry rock it for summer.

3. Neon

Poor Neon colors. Despite there attention seeking presence, they're only welcome in small doses and in trend cycles unlike their relatives Primary and Pastels. But seriously, neon colors can really add an amazing pop of color to your outfit. I opt for neon shoes, thin waist belts, finger nail accents, clutches and necklaces as my top choices to wear neon. I'm especially in love with my neon flats in citron color! Amazing! My neon fashion attempts with flats and belt4. Plastic & Lucite Accessories

Something about Plastic and Lucite that feels futuristic and metropolitan. Which is pretty cool, however this style is one to purchase in small doses. This look has been popping up since Spring, and recently was heavily featured in the Robin Thicke and Pharell music video 'Blurred Lines' by the models. Most women however don't look like 5'10 models with minimal body fat. Medium and fuller figured fashionistas may fare better with accessories rather than the plastic shirts and jackets. I've already purchase some lucite single strap sandals and am plotting when I can appropriately wear them!

5. Braids

Braids have made a serious comeback with celebrities like Beyonce and Amy Adams making them sophisticated and stylish again. Not just a hairstyle, braiding in clothing and accessories fits nicely with the tribal and graphic prints that have been a hit on the runways and in street style. I've been playing with the idea of box braids, but I may settle for braids in my sandals which is just as cool!

6.  American Rugged Charm

We won't go so far as to start singing "I'm proud to be an American", but we will give props to the American flag and this daring fashion trend of incorporating it and what I've deemed "rugged American charm" into outfits. This style can be seen in Native American print work, eagle themed shirts, as well as cut off denim shorts, summer cowboy & ankle boots, motorcycle tees and American flag prints. If part of you has a hard time wearing this fashion because you're worried about the underlying narcissism of American-pride  propaganda, just remember years back when Brazil flag shirts were all the rage. This isn't the first nation's flag theme to become a trend, so you might as well live it up while you have a pass and it won't be associated with any Larry the Cable Guy type fashion! LOL.

7. Nail Art

If you haven't noticed the hugely popular nail art trend, you're either a toddler, in a nursing home, or an alien. Even though you've seen it-- have you tried it? We've picked out what's popular this season, and coincidently it mimics some of the other trends like neon, graphic prints, and American. If you're too conservative to go all 10 fingernails, opt for a spicy pedicure or try the trend of painting your ring fingers a different color or design that the others. I personally love the attention to finger and toenails and have been sporting the cat and oval nails for over a year. I'm dying to try more graphic prints and neon colors, but only on my ring fingers for now!

Happy Monday! See you Wednesday. Now go get gathered with these trends!

9 Heavenly Items For Your Beach Bag

Well, well, well fashionistas... June is swift upon us, and things are heating up all over this great nation. Anybody else hearing the waves calling? I sure am! The beach is one of the best things about summer.

I’m not going to go there about whether you’re body is “swimsuit ready”, but I would like to point out 9 heavenly items for your beach bag. It’s a hard job, because there are actually way more than 9 essentials, and your beach bag should be big enough to fit way more, so look for updates throughout the season. Here we go!

1. Statement Shades

Duh. Like, you need shades. This season, big ‘ole statement shades are the bees knees, so let your imagination run wild. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen on your face, however, or you will deserve the raccoon circles in your future. You have been warned.

2. Sun Hat 

This is one of my favorite, versatile summer accesories. A huge hat to protect you from the sun and make you look demure, yet bold and fabulous! Go for a hat made of raffia, a hardy material that can stand up to crumpling and folding and still maintain its shape and flexibility. Invest well, these hats never go out of style. 

3. Summer Reading

Oceanside is a great place to catch up on your reading.  Snag the latest beach read, bestseller, magazine, library book... whatever tickles your fancy. Also, books also make excellent face shades when catching a nap on your back. It's a win-win! 

4. Barefoot Sandals

Ah, the perfect beach “shoes”. If you’ve never invested in a pair of beach sandals to show off that perfect pedicure, you really should. There are so many materials and variations, you have a plethora to choose from. For one-of-a-kind designs, check out etsy.com. 

5. Summer Scent 

Right about now you should be starting to wear a summer scent, with warm notes that evoke happiness. Toss a trial-size or solid perfume or lotion into your beach bag so you don't wash of the good smells and end the day smelling like seaweed. Personally, for summer I love citrusy, clean scents with jasmine notes... what's your pleasure?

6. Fan

The beach is hot, but you don’t have to suffer. Pick up a personal fan. I like to go high tech with an electronic personal misting fan, but you can even go vintage with a ladies’ hand fan (perfect for slapping the wrists of those overly-familiar suitors surrounding you on the sand). These come in very handy, when the beach is crowded and the breeze disappears.

7. Long Skirt

Consider this the beach cover-up reimagined for 2013. The long skirt trend provides a fresh update and cover while scoring you major style points. Letting your freshly pedicured toes and glittery barefoot sandals peep from the long hem qualifies you for automatic sirenhood- sexxxy! La vie boheme come to life.

8. Portable Speaker

What’s the beach without tunes? With wireless bluetooth technology, no prep is needed. Just connect your ipod or smartphone and you can stream away! Better start making your playlist now.

9. Sandless Beach Mat

Ah, the wonders of modern technology. Instead of or in addition to a conventional towel or blanket, upgrade with a sandless beach mat. Consider this the end of the “hate” part of your love/hate relationship with sand. This mat is made of special military-grade material that filters sand through the mat and away from your tender parts. No scritchy-scratchy... forever! Romantic beach nooky just became an option again. Upside: risky pleasure. Downside: potential arrest. The choice is yours... 

Did we miss anything? Of course we did! Let us know in the comments below, or email or facebook your thoughts to us. We’ll be sure to include your suggestions in our next post!