5 Questions is our interview series that features extraordinary and accomplished women involved in the fashion and beauty world. For our inaugural interview we feature Michelle E. Alford writer, radio personality and 2014 Ms. Michigan Plus America.
Continue reading 5 Questions with Michelle E. Alford, Ms. Plus Michigan 2014
Retailer Spotlight is our series featuring clothing and accessory brands that may not be household names, but are exciting, fashion forward and chic and perfect for the curvy ladies this magazine caters to. This week we had the chance to sit down with Patricia Caruso of Teece Torre, home of beautiful custom made jewelry.
Teece Torre Jewelry got started as a birthday present for a good friend. In between directing commercials, I had some free time. I wanted to give my close friend something special. I always had an idea for a huge multi-strand bracelet of gemstones, but could never find the exact one I was craving: a multi-strand gemstone bracelet that fit like a cuff. So, I figured out how to make one by trial and error. I used coral beads from an antique necklace I had and made one for her. When she opened the present, there was silence in the room and everyone started asking me about the bracelet. I left the party with two orders for gemstone bracelets, one amethyst and one garnet.
Teece Torre jewelry is absolutely custom made. Each piece is one-of-a-kind in gemstone placement and the randomness of beads. The customer can make requests for any changes and collaborate with me on their very special piece. I make pieces from photographs or a simple idea a client may have. My pieces are reasonably priced so everyone can wear real gemstones.
Retailer Spotlight is our series featuring clothing and accessory brands that may not be household names, but are exciting, fashion forward and chic and perfect for the curvy ladies this magazine caters to. This week we had the chance to sit down with Brandon Gerson of L’Cheriyve, an amazing company that makes Trenchcapades, the sexiest trench coats you will ever see.
L’Cheriyve was founded in March of 2012 receiving our Trademark for Trenchcapades in September 2012. We were created by women for women and invites you to experience what it is like to truly be adored.
A Los Angeles luxury lifestyle brand, L’Cheriyve, inspires women to embrace their inner femininity and to be adored by those around them. L’Cheriyve is pioneering a new apparel category with their trademarked Trenchcapades™, an exclusive line of season-less couture trench coats; their unique twist on boudoir photography; and their intimate line of playful belongings.
The Trenchcapade is our signature product featuring an eleven-piece collection. It is our sexy, yet sophisticated rendition of an iconic trench coat, designed for women who want to be adored. Each of the 11 Trenchcapades are available world wide exclusively via L’Cheriyve’s immersive online shopping, personal fittings at our Los Angeles Studio, and private events and showings.
Hand crafted in Los Angeles, the Trenchcapade™ is a couture accessory, only available in limited quantities, that brings together sumptuous fabrics and exquisite details that accentuate the female figure. The Trenchcapade inspires an adventure waiting to happen.
Luxury brands have lost their exclusivity and have diluted their product lines to become available to the masses. L’Cheriyve provides its clients with more than just another product or service, and they get to have a unique experience that brings a distinct joy to their lives. L’Cheriyve produces a limited number of Trenchcapades solely in couture fabrics & leather skins, which can only be purchased online through LCheriyve.com.
The beauty of the Trenchcapade is that it is not available at any of your typical retail stores and won’t be seen on every corner. Our elegant boudoir photography is shot in a French inspired studio specifically created to ensure a creative, safe, luxurious space to capture the most gorgeous photos in unique, eye catching backgrounds. We hand selected only the finest “Playful Belongings” to encourage adventurous, intimate fun.
Describe the woman who would wear a L’Cheriyve coat.
The L’Cheriyve Woman craves experiences that are luxurious and exciting. She seeks exclusivity and uniqueness, the essence of playful and fun sensuality. A woman who is feminine, she possesses a passionate spirit and more than anything she desires to simply be adored.
Our Trenchcapades are available on our website www.lcheriyve.com or in our Los Angles show room. Currently we are participating in the Bryant Park Holiday Shops in New York City and we will be there until January 5th. Our coats are not available in retail.
All of our Trenchcapades are made in limited quantities. Once we use up the specific fabric we retire that product. Therefore our Trenches will always be xclusive as they are made in limited runs. No more than 40 of any one trench is ever made.
We are considering again participating in New York Fashion Week, as we received such rave reviews and exposure in September of 2013. At that point we would début our next collection. We are also rolling out a line of bracelet handcuffs.
L’Cheriyve Bracelet Hand Cuffs are hand crafted in Los Angeles. They are offered in:
You can follow L’Cheriyve on Twitter @LCheriyve
Blogging With Style is our weekly showcase of personal style and beauty bloggers. There are a lot of great voices and blogs out there written by fashionistas and beauty experts from around the globe.This is our way of showing them some love and introducing our readers to some great new beauty and fashion bloggers. This week we feature Allison Hamilton-Rohe of DailyOutfit.com.
I wrote a personal style book and realized it would be much better as a blog — after all, fashion is cyclical, so any example I published would eventually be out-of-date!
I want to help readers discover their own personal style. It’s not just a matter of what colors look great on you — although that is key information to have — it is about expressing your inner beauty so the world can access it and know who you truly are.
Right now, I am rocking three looks — one is modern, fun and yet compassionate for DailyOutfit and the other is rock-inflected, comfortable and elegant casual for my Mommy life, my Date Night look mixes up the two for a cool, fun and sexy wife look.
Honestly, I don’t actually believe in “must-have” items. I believe every woman is different and has different needs and her closet should reflect what works for her particular body, being and lifestyle.
Follow Allison on Twitter @DailyOutfit
Retailer Spotlight is our series featuring clothing and accessory brands that may not be household names, but are exciting, fashion forward and chic and perfect for the curvy ladies this magazine caters to. This week we had the chance to sit down with Christopher DeGaetano of Santa Fe Apparel, an amazing company based out of New York that creates outerwear lines for kids and adults.
Santa Fe Apparel is a family business established in 1995 by Joseph DeGaetano and his partner, Victor Rousso. In 1998 the company’s flagship label, CoffeeShop, was created for young women looking for trendy, fun outerwear with great quality at a reasonable prices. In 2006 I joined my father, Joseph, at the company. My sister, Mary Shawn, came on board 6 months later in the Spring of 2007.
Since the creation of CoffeeShop, the company has launched a number of labels dedicated to meeting the changing needs of our first CoffeeShop customers. Our missy line, Mo-Ka, was created for those CoffeeShop customers that were now looking for more timeless styles, but still craving the fashion and fun that CoffeeShop is known for.
LatteBLACK, our contemporary line, was launched for CoffeeShop customers that were looking for more sophistication in their outerwear, utilizing better fabrics and a more European look. In 2007, Santa Fe Apparel launched the CoffeeShop Kids line, enabling our original customers that have now moved on to the Mo-Ka and LatteBLACK lines to relive the fun of CoffeeShop with their own daughters and nieces.
One of the best feelings a customer can have is to find a brand they love and have that brand grow with them. In addition to the great quality, styling, and price of our labels, the women that buy and love our brands know that as go through their lives, we will be there, from their first day of school until the day their own daughter attends her first day of school.
A CoffeeShop girl is a fun, smart, and energetic, young woman that loves fashion. She is trendy, always knowing the hottest styles and how to put them together, but also loves having a goods time with her friends and doesn’t take herself too seriously. And she appreciates the value of a quality made garment at a good price
A Mo-Ka women is looking for styles with a twist. The type of coat that will always be in style, but features something new. She wants a great fit, with great quality, at a reasonable price and will always notice the little details that make her coat both timeless and cutting edge.
A LatteBLACK women is looking for sophistication and fashion. She is modern, independent, and looking for a coat that describes her perfectly. She wants high quality and a unique look that is a true statement piece. A coat that says, “This is who I am”
A CoffeeShop Kids is a girl who makes everyone she meets smile. She wants to look just like her “big sister”, in CoffeeShop, and considers the whole world her playground.
Our labels can be found in department and chain stores throughout the US and Canada, as well as over 500 specialty boutiques.
We are really excited to be moving into the plus size category. Our plus size customer loves the styling of our lines, but wants a coat that is made with her in mind. We are now going to be able to offer her the perfect combination of fashion and function! We already have a few styles available in plus size, and are going to be expanding the collection greatly in 2014.
Tamara Jones is 5’7, 30 year old woman who loves fashion. She is a paralegal and dance instructor/choreographer teaching Tap, African and Hip Hop. She has danced at several venues such as Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) and Symphony Space in NY. She’s been given the opportunity to perform for Essence Magazine Christmas parties, travel to Mexico and Canada and other countries and did a tribute to Savion Glover, one of the best tap dancers in the world. Who knew a plus size girl could be fashionable and perform? It is her goal to encourage other plus size women to embrace what was given to them.
My sense of style is a twist of ethnic wear, mixed with class. I love to wear pieces made by unknown clothing designers, African seamstress in Harlem, NY, thrift shops such as “Beacons Closet,” and have my jewelry made for me.
I cannot live without my large bamboo earrings. They go with everything. They can be worn dressed up or down
A fashionista for me is someone who is confident in knowing that, this particular style may not be acceptable for some in the work place, fashion world or other sectors. However, because you are a fashionista, you set the trend. You do not follow what is considered trendy at best, yet deviate from the norm. You follow your heart, and what makes you feel good, embracing the title mentally and physically. I have been told, “Tamara your always wearing something different; or that’s just your style.” I truly was not aware that my style was” different.” It just seemed like it was ME. I have several friends who are into fashion and I wish I could “pull off” their style, which therefore made me believe it’s how you wear it. If you have the ability to light up a room, take it with pride and as a compliment.
Follow Tamara on instagram @TJones125
Blogging With Style is our weekly showcase of personal style and beauty bloggers. There are a lot of great voices and blogs out there written by fashionistas and beauty experts from around the globe.This is our way of showing them some love and introducing our readers to some great new beauty and fashion bloggers. This week we feature Marie Young of Good Look-N-Out.
When I became a displaced worker back in 2011. I was actually reading someone else’s blog in between my daily job search and said to myself “I want to do this!” and I did it! I’ve been hooked ever since…
After someone reads my blog I want them to pause, look up and think to themselves “THIS CHICK IS MAD COOL!” I love that my blog reads like I’m talking to a close friend. My goal is to be helpful and sincerity is what I pride myself on. Readers can expect to feel like whatever post their reading to read like they’re talking to a close friend, giving them the REAL. I discuss fashion, food, health, beauty, and wellness. Covering topics that are most important to the everyday woman, which is pretty much EVERYTHING!
I have to admit, I’m a low maintenance type of chick. I don’t subscribe all the latest and greatest in the beauty world, so you won’t find me find me fighting over the last Ri-Ri Woo lipstick in mac with someone. Chances are I could find an even better shade at CVS for half the cost. Don’t get me wrong, I try new things and seek out whats out there in the beauty world, but as in the words of Kanye West, I can do without “all the jazz” and I don’t just get things because of the brand or who represents it. I buy things that work for me.
I’m a stay at home mom and I don’t do much, but on days when I know I will come in contact with another human being I WILL use my Cover Girl BB Cream and set it with my Nuance Mineral Foundation. I add a bit Nuance Mineral Mauve Blush to add a hint of color. And finalize my look with a touch of NYX Glam Enchanting Lipstick to seal the deal. If I’m feeling bold I will throw on some of my BA Star Holiday Red to give some shock value to local passerby’s. I’m pretty simple…
LIPSTICK. I would die if I didn’t have it. Lipstick gives my face life even without a full face of makeup. It’s a NO DEAL without it. I WILL NOT step foot out the house!
1. Try new things (I didn’t learn this until my 20’s). Without make up tutorials on YouTube I’d be lost!
2. As stated earlier, NEVER leave your house without a shade of lipstick on those peckers.
3. Less is best. Don’t cake it on. Makeup is supposed to enhance YOUR beauty not alter it!
You can follow Marie on Twitter @gdlknoutblog
Dee was born and raised in kalamazoo, MI. She is 41 years old and has dealt with low self-esteem issues the majority of her life. She says it mostly stemmed from body image issues she’s had sense the age of 12. Since she had curves before her pre-teen years, she always felt awkward and dealt with that by covering herself up with baggie clothes so know one could see her curves. Over the years she learned that self acceptance is the key to a healthier you, no matter what shape or size. It’s important to love yourself and that doesn’t mean you’re being conceited or full of yourself.
I would describe my personal style as Chic N Sassy, meaning my outfits can be plain during business hours,but add some lipstick/lipgloss to the lips, accessories and heels to your outfit and I can be sassy with the same outfit on during the evening.
I cant live without Skinny Jeans, they make my legs look slimmer and shows my curves very well. I feel sexy in the right pair.
Experimenting is the key to finding your true style, dont be afraid to be a little risque with colors, choose clothing that accents your curves.
Follow Dee on Twitter @dgray8152
Blogging With Style is our weekly showcase of personal style and beauty bloggers. There are a lot of great voices and blogs out there written by fashionistas and beauty experts from around the globe.Tthis is our way of showing them some love and introducing our readers to some great new beauty and fashion bloggers. This week we feature Malathy Badri from Madras, India and her blog Beauty Needs.
When I read several spiritual development books such as books on Law of Attraction, Power of Intention authored by famous writers that include Dr.Wayne Dyer, Joe Vitale, Wallace Wattles and Abraham Hicks, I felt my life changed for the better. I wanted to share with the world what affected me positively and I started blogging in 2005. When I saw money coming in, I started more blogs and my blog on Beauty Needs was started in 2012.
If some information was useful to me, I know it will be useful to thousands of people who may have similar interest and taste. Readers can expect information about unique beauty products and bargain deals in the cosmetics world. In addition, my blog readers would appreciate the images of beautiful faces, lovely hair, attractive nail arts, sensuous lips and more. I occasionally blog about ‘do-it-yourself’ beauty treatments at home.
I admit I am not a beauty by the common world standard. However, I learned to look attractive with the right use of mild cosmetics. My natural straight gait and brisk walk have received praise quite often.
Lipstick. My favorite one is Estee Lauder Signature Hydra Lustre Lipstick
Men are instantly attracted by voluminous hair, slender frame and dynamic walk.
Add Malathy Badri to your circles on Google+
The Scottish print first became the look de rigueur after King George IV visited the Highlands and was welcomed by local wearing kilts. Later, Chanel’s fashion house brought tartan back to the fashion forefront. And last year, Karl Lagerfeld continued the trend last year with Chanel’s checked-out show at the Metiers D’art.
Now, tartan is back to being all the rage. You can find the pattern everywhere, worn by your favorite celebs and on the runways of your favorite designers. I must say I’m not the biggest fan of tartan. I still think it’s strictly for Catholic school girl uniforms, kilts and lumberjacks.
While I’ve admitted I’m not the biggest fan of plaid, there are some designers doing it right. Below you’ll find some of my favorites of the tartan trend and where you can buy them.
1. Tiger Tartan Jeans by McQ by Alexander McQueen – Obviously these aren’t a traditional tartan print which is probably why I like them. Shop: Shopbop Cost: $590.
2. Yoana Baraschi Women’s Tartan Ivy Blazer – Love a good blazer. Great way to dress up a pair of jeans or a pair of leggings. Shop: Amazon Cost: $103.67
3. Otis & Maclain Tartan Track Pant – Great little pant. I used own a similar pair in a navy, green and white tartan print. Shop: Free People Cost: $138
4. Preen by Thornton Bregazzi Tartan Leopard Iris Dress – Love this dress, because like the Tiger pant it’s not a traditional tartan print. Also the cut of the dress is perfect for curvy girls. Shop: Avenue 32 Cost: $585
5. Vinyl And Wool Viscose Tartan Dress – Now this is how you make plaid look sexy. This is a great dress to pair with over the knee boots to complete the look. Shop: Luisaviaroma Cost: $3, 326
6. Ralph Lauren Blue Label Shearling-Trim Tartan Coat – When I said tartan was for Catholic school girl skirts, kilts and lumber jackets I should have added coats to that list. A nice plaid coat is always a nice piece to have, whether it’s a hot trend or not. Shop: Ralph Lauren Cost: $779