LBD

Every women closet should consist of a "Little Black Dress," also known as LBD.  It's a necessity, a must have!  There should be a few things in your closet that you never get rid of- like a vintage purse, your favorite pair of jeans, and that LBD.  While the little black dress has been trending for some time now, it hasn't always been that way.  Before the 1920's, the wearing of black was reserved for times of mourning. Black was considered undesirable, as it was only symbolic for those grieving. All of that change in 1926 when a woman by the name of Coco Chanel published a simple black dress in Vogue magazine. Vogue considered this dress to be "a sort of uniform for all women of taste," as it was accessible to women of all social classes (Aol.com, 2013).

So here we are. Almost a century later, and that little black dress has remain popular and has maintain its stylistic meaning.  While there has been variations over the years- with the modern day mini dress, to the peplum, to the classic chic long sleeve black dress (my favorite), the concept of the dress has consistently remain the same. It continues to make you feel stunning, while being suitable for any occasion.

LBD Mini: Ross | LBD Long Sleeve: Forever 21 | Sandals: Traffic |  Purse: Furla | Studded Pumps: Giuseppe Zanotti 

Photography By: Richard Woumn

Lashes By: Vivian Henson

Hair By: LYLAS HAIR

JUMPERS

This summer has truly been fun filled so far. I have done so much traveling and have enjoyed every bit of it. Summer just seems to be flying by, as magazines advertising fall lines are filling my mailbox daily. I could not let the summer go by without blogging about one of my summer favs; Jumpers. I have literally lived in a jumper all summer.  They are so comfortable and can be dressed up or down. My first love is sneakers, then heels, so I love the versatility of the jumper and how I can wear either.

My recent purchase was an Aladdin jumper. I have to be honest; I wasn't exactly thrilled when I first tried the jumper on.  I thought it looked better on smaller figures. While I love being plus size, I don't particularly like clothes that make me look bigger then I already am.  To all my plusies out there, you may want to go a size or two down, as the jumper can appear really huge.  I'm typically a large but had to get a medium to really get the look that I wanted.  After finding the right size, I tried on several different colors to find the one that was best suitable. It was extremely hard for me to shy away from the black jumper (my favorite color to wear). I tried on a red and royal blue one. While those colors were pretty on me, I wanted to go with a lighter color and also a color that I could pair with almost anything. I decided to go with the nude color. I was so proud of myself because trust me this is not a color that I would typically wear. Check out my how I rocked it! If you don't own a jumper, I highly recommend you get one.

Jumpers: PinkClove | Shoes: Madden Girl | Sneakers: Nike Huarache | Jacket: Ross | Watch: Marc Jacobs

Photography By: Richard Woumn

Lashes By: Vivian Henson

Hair By: LYLAS HAIR

WEDGAIL

I have always had a soft spot for women entrepreneurs. Not discrediting my men by any means, but women have made significant strides, and often times not glorified enough. When I decided to start a blog, I knew I wanted to not only discuss fashion, but also create a platform where I can spotlight women entrepreneurs.  Why? Well, one because we deserve it. Two, how can I say I want my blog to inspire other women without telling the stories of the women who are industry leaders. As much as I like to think "I'm Every Woman" like my girl Chaka Khan, I honestly can't do it all, so why not share this with women whose hard work and dedication has lead them to create successful empires. 

I am so delighted to feature Gail Johnson better known on Instagram as WEDGAIL.  I had the pleasure interviewing this amazing soul and was truly blown away.  To give a little introduction, Gail is owner of Gail Johnson Weddings & Events, a full service bridal and event consultancy, based in Decatur G.A.  Gail is a graduate of Spelman College with a Bachelor of Arts degree.  She holds a Master of Science degree from Mercer University and a Certification in Wedding Coordination from Georgia Perimeter College. I first found out about Gail when she coordinated Kim Zolciak-Biermann baby shower on the Bravo's hit TV show Real Housewives of Atlanta.  While watching that episode, most people were probably drooling over the celebrity guest list or the actual shower itself.  All I could think of was, "Who is the mastermind behind such an amazing event." I never thought in a million years she would grant me an interview to pick her brain about her business and how she got started. 

Gail has always been a creative person and finding her artistic outlet is what ignited her spark.  She planned her first wedding at 18 years old, and after that she became the go to party planner for her family and friends. Who would have known she would go from planning events for family and friends to planning "Platinum" weddings, being an author, and featured in countless wedding publications across the world including Martha Stewart Weddings, Inside Weddings, The Knot, Life & Style, Ebony, Style Me Pretty, Glamour, and World News & Report, where they showcased her expertise as an industry leader.  Woooo!! The list goes on and on for Gail.  When asked who has been her biggest influencer, she said that meeting Susan L. Taylor, past chief editor of Essence magazine was a monumental life changer for her. "She shared her insights with me on ways to find fulfillment and success in life," Johnson stated.  When asked to describe in one word her life as an entrepreneur; “Driven” was the word she gave. She spends countless hours at work, in which she is still trying to create a work life balance.  Like many entrepreneurs, she has had some failures.  She recalls wasting valuable time in the early stage of her career and not having the confidence she needed to succeed.  She overcame that by working on those areas; believing more in herself and her work.

Gail is motivated by “The Dream.”  "Everyone has their own dreams and their goals for what they want to achieve in life.  If you don't go for it, no one else will. Life is short." she says.  Those words were so meek, yet so powerful.  That resonated with me and hit so close to home because as cliché as it may sound, "Life is short."  Gail wake up every morning with a humble attitude and a quest to learn and grow. She is not afraid to be pushed out of her comfort zone and continues to do so daily.

What more can you expect from Gail Johnson?  She is expecting to publish another book. She has been journaling for some time and has compiled all of her thoughts and ideas to create what I like to call a pot of "success" for her readers. Words can't express how much this interview meant to me. As women, it is so imperative that we surround ourselves with other influential woman. Women like Gail, who are genuine and are humble enough to share their success stories.  She is truly a "Genius" in her industry; Fierce by nature with a passion to succeed. If you are looking for someone to help you plan your next event, please contact Gail Johnson Weddings. #SheThoro

Dress: Diane von Furstenburg | Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Frames: Lenscrafter

Photography By: Janelle Chung

Tuxedo Blazer: Anthropologie | White Tulle Skirt: Anthropologie | Lace Top:H&M

Photography By: JHatter