Fashionista Feature: Queen Aftan

Happy Friday fashionistas! It is our pleasure to feature none other but our Atlanta fashion affiliate, the illustrious Queen Aftan for your fashion inspiration. Aftan is 27 year old self-described "southern girl" born and raised in New Orleans and currently located in Atlanta Georgia. A truly accomplished renaissance woman, we love Queen Aftan not only for her bold, versatile, and fashion forward style, but also her faith, service, talent, and entrepreneurship. 

But aren't you wondering how she got the "Queen" title attached to her name? Aftan founded Music Uniting Sisters Initiating Courage, Character and Care (M.U.S.I.C.).  This program came about after she was bit by the “pageant bug” in 2002. The pageants she competed in all had a set platform and focus but none of them affected her in her personal life. She had always noticed young ladies carrying themselves as less than a queen with low self-esteem, and she was determined to fix that problem. She teaches and encourages young ladies to be queens at all times, think as queens, to call themselves queens and require the same of others. The company is now known as I AM A QUEEN ROYALTY PRODUCTIONS, LLC. Aftan, of course has a collection of crowns... don't you love it? 

The good news is we can all be queens! And even better, ATL fashionistas can support her empowering and uplifting mentoring events for young ladies like the "All Hail the Queens" event this Saturday. Invite a young girl you know and make an impact. But just before you do that, let the fashion stylings of Queen Aftan make an impact on your wardrobe! 

 

1. Describe your fashion style in 5 words. Big, Fun, Vintage, Glam, Royal

2. Who are your favorite style icons? Tika Sumpter, Kerry Washington, Jessica Biel, Emma Stone and Jennifer Lopez

3. Finish this sentence: I can’t help but buy more _Betsey Johnson Anything_ for my _Collection_.

4. Surprise! Impromptu interview with interview for Essence Magazine in 2 hours! What do you wear?  A bad shoe accompanied by a hot pink waist accentuating dress, chunky jewelry, an understated clutch and crown brooches at my chest.

5. Favorite stores to supply your fashion habit? H&M, Marshall's, Ross, TJ Maxx and many thrift stores.

6. Best fashion advice you live by? "A bad shoe can make any outfit"

7. Worst fashion mistake you ever made Wrong undies :(
8. Secret fashion look you wish you could pull off? A sheer sided dress! Might be too much for the people to handle lol!
9. What traits make up a gathered lady to you? A "gathered lady" is poised, well put together, understands who she is, knows her worth and presents classic beauty at its height. Which do you have? I humbly yet confidently believe I have a sprinkle of them all! :)
10. Favorite childhood fashion item you were obsessed with? I loved all of my mother's shoes even when I wasn't allowed to wear heels and I couldn't fit them.

Love what you see? Know someone else perfect for a fashionista feature? Great! Email or facebook us and let us know about it. If we like what we see, we'll share! 

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!

Fashionista Feature: Julie

This weeks fave fashionista is Julie. She's a 27 year old Orange County girl, who works as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and spends her spare time enjoying good books, the beach, traveling, and of course shopping. Julie's style is classic, easy, and quite pretty!  Check out her interview and photos for style inspiration.

1. Describe your fashion style in 5 words. sophisticated. elegant. expensive. soft. feminine.
2. Who are your favorite style icons? Carrie from Sex & the City.
3. Finish this sentence: I can’t help but buy more shoes for my closet!
4. Most expensive item in your closet? My little sparkly Fendi clutch. It’s one of my favorite pieces.
5. Favorite stores to supply your fashion habit? Boutiques- I don’t like people having my stuff. Nordstroms. For work clothes Khol’s. Metropark. H&M for my blazers.
   
6. Worst fashion mistake you ever made. When I was in high school, I paired a green sherbet colored petal pushers with a white shell and a canary yellow sweater. Looking back it was way too colorful.
7. Secret fashion look you wish you could pull off? Florals, bold and daring fahion trends, patterned skinny jeans. Peplum tops, but i’m too hippy.
8. What traits make up a gathered lady to you? Which do you have? I think the most crucial piece  to looking like a gathered women is to combine expensive quality with cheaper pieces. Pick and choose your battles with what is the focal point to your outfit -- don't clutter your outfits. A good bag is essential, and good make-up (day time during day time, and after 5 being more bold). And my secret weapon to staying gathered is always having amazing hair. I believe in investing in excellent products, color, and cut. Gathered women should have some sophistication. I try to embody that in my style.
   
9. How do you dress your body concerns? I’m hippy, so I avoid things that hit at the hips. I wear empire waist tops and dresses. I avoid cuts like ballerina and  tennis skirts that widen the hips. I try to create a more hour-glass silhouette. Instead of drawing attention to my hips, I make the focal point my waist. Luckily I have a very small waist, so I highlight it with cute belts and cinched tops.
10. Which celebrity closet would you love to raid? Kortney Kardashian, and Jennifer Aniston’s red carpet looks.
    
11. Fun fashion fact: I'll give you three! 1. There is no walk-in closet that can hold all my clothes. 2. I can’t find any storage units that can hold all my shoes. 3. I still use a vanity to do my make-up and hair, despite being a fully grown woman.

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!

Fashionista Feature: Angie

This weeks fashionista is Angie, a 21 year old Filipina from Los Angeles, who is graduating this month with a Bachelors in Business. Angie plans to work as an entrepreneur in the fashion/entertainment industry. Not only does she has a passion for fashion, but Angie is one of the rare women in Mfest, a Los Angeles car club. Angie's style is impressive and caught our eye in Hollywood for the weekly Gathered Fashion Spread! We're happy to share her style story. Check it out:

 

1) Describe your fashion style in 5 words:  Chic and Classy Street Style

 

2) Who are your fave style icons? Recording artist Rihanna, - Fashion designer, model and singer Victoria Beckham, - Fashion blogger Aimee Song, - Actress and Singer Selena Gomez

3) Favorite stores to supply your fashion habit? ZARA, TopShop, Brandy Melville, Timeless Boutique, J.Crew, Club Monaco and online based stores such as NastyGal and Miss Karmaloop

4) Worst fashion mistake you ever made? The worst fashion mistake I've ever made was piling on too much jewelry and accessories. There was a point where I wore so many bracelets and necklaces that I looked too loud. Besides, I think accessories should compliment your wardrobe, not overwhelm it. You never want to look ratchet and have too going on, at least not for me. Now my accessories are kept very subtle but still noticeable to make a statement.

5)Finish this sentence: I can’t help but buy more one strap heels for my closet.

6)Lazy day- what are you wearing?  On lazy days, I utilize my harem pants or sweat pants; they give me a loose feel while saving the extra bagginess. I throw those on with some wedge sneakers and a fitted top. I emphasize FITTED top because harem pants also give an outfit the loose look, therefore, I don't like when my outfit looks like I don't fit into my clothes (too much bagginess).

7) Surprise! Impromptu papparazzi photo bomb in 2 hours! What do you wear? Céline PARIS t-shirt with ZARA leather shorts and one strap RED heels, Ray Ban aviators, gold Michael Kors watch with my gold BLVGARI matching necklace and ring set.

8) Tell us a fun random fashion fact about yourself: I only wear yellow gold. Everything, from earrings to bracelets, needs to consistently be a yellow gold tone. I never do silver, it just doesn't go with my style, and even little things like the color of jewelry, makes a fashion difference for me.

 

Fashionista Feature: Sarah

This week’s fashionista is Sarah, a 30-year-old doctoral student and licensed Marriage and Family Therapist from Los Angeles. Sarah’s style is timeless and feminine. She is an avid reader who enjoys kayaking, hiking and movies. She’s got both beauty and brains and we’re so happy to feature her! Here’s what she had to say about her style:

1. Name/Age/City/cultural background: Sarah/ 30/ Los Angeles/ Costa Rican, Colombian, German and Norwegian

2. Describe your fashion style in 5 words: Conservative, classy, elegant, ladylike, eclectic

3. Who are your favorite style icons? Audrey Hepburn, Jennifer Lopez and Jackie O

4. Surprise! Impromptu date with the man of your dreams in 2 hours! What do you wear? A dress that’s moderately low in cleavage, will show off my curves, and mid thigh length with high heels. I adore big statement earrings to show off my face and hair. I’ll probably add in a cocktail ring. I have so many dresses, it’s just a matter of color and my mood.

5. Favorite stores to supply your fashion habit? BEBE, Banana Republic, Nordstrom Rack, Loehmann's...

 6. Worst fashion mistake you ever made? Wearing spaghetti strapped dresses with a sleeved shirt underneath. I was raised in a fundamentalist conservative household, so I couldn’t reveal too much skin. It may be a tie between that and tennis shoes with jean skirts. I’m really glad those days are over.

7. What traits make up a gathered lady to you? Which do you have? A gathered lady is a women who can juggle all of the different facets of her life. Even when she’s off, she is still doesn’t lose her composure, and she can still maintain her life in work, home, social, and romantic. It’s all about balance and being organized. You don’t always have to be a fashionista, but you should still feel beautiful and walk in confidence. Even on a down day, you always add some small element to feel beautiful. It’s about self-care and self-love.

8. How has your culture influenced your fashion style? The Church has influenced my style. That’s why I esteem Audrey Hepburn. She is such an icon. The ladies of her era always looked stylish and ladylike. That resonates with me. I try to find a balance between looking like a lady without looking matronly. My style has evolved within the last 5 years as I sought a lifestyle outside of the fundamentalist conservative Christian culture. Also, being Hispanic influences my approach to staying more covered. I like natural beauty, so even if I take 2 hours to get ready, the finished product won’t look overdone. Self-care and image is also very important. When I was younger, we walked with books on our heads to learn proper posture. Although I’m still an active Christian, my style has evolved with my new understanding, but modesty remains important to me.

9. Fun fashion fact: I always use concealer on the sides of my nose, to give it slimming structure. I think high heels are always slimming and complement calves even if you don’t have great legs. And mascara just makes your eyes and face pop. I never leave home without it.