Channeling Cleopatra
Story by Estelle Avbuere Photos by Mia Navarro The beauty of fashion is its ability to tell such stories on a regular basis. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, it is important to tell the universal and personal stories of women of all backgrounds, races, and cultures, especially through their individual styles. We want to walk you through history as we take a look at women who have and are embracing their narratives. These women tell stories of power, vulnerability, cleverness, beauty, athleticism, knowledge, compassion and so much more. These women have embraced their womanhood in distinct ways and without apology, all while overcoming barriers of prejudice and discrimination. These women are strong. The looks presented are based on each stylist’s modern interpretation of these women’s personalities, combined with inspiration from looks that they have iconically sported. Each look is here to empower women and to remind everyone to never underestimate a woman. continue Cleopatra is famously known as the clever, seductive Ancient Egyptian ruler with striking features. From raising her own army to coercing Julius Caesar and overthrowing her own brother to making Mark Antony fall for and go to war with her, Cleopatra was indeed a force. She was both a mother and a complex, tactical regent. She loved, outsmarted, gave birth to, ruled over and reigned alongside men. Cleopatra also compared herself to the mythological goddess, Isis , and at one point dressed in robes likened to those of the goddess. In this look, you can see the air of superiority of a ruler and a goddess, as portrayed by the oversized, black and gold sunglasses and the long, elegant dress. The wealth of all the nations Cleopatra had power over is displayed through the gold bracelets and statement necklace, and the large black ring. But Cleopatra wasn’t just a queen on the outside. The black of the model’s dress and the dark lip color reflect the authority that she exuded. Perhaps it also represents the tragedy of her death, as the story goes that she allowed a poisonous snake to bite her after hearing of Mark Antony’s death. Tips for channeling Cleopatra into your style: Dark lips – This dark lip color on the model is gorgeous and perfect for evening looks, but if you are as daring as the queen herself, try it during the day too. Bold jewelry – Get your glam on with some jewelry that makes you stand out. Layer some delicate necklaces, bracelets, or rings. Or go with one bold jewelry piece at a time, depending on the outfit. Use whatever you have to add variety! Dark sunglasses – Spring is well on its way, which means a lot of rainy days mixed with a lot of sunshine, so be prepared. Darker shades are interesting because they have a mysterious authority to them, just like Cleopatra. In the end, one reason history recognizes Cleopatra as a notable woman is that she knew what she wanted to do and was clever and bold about getting it done. This strong-willed mindset is a beautiful aspect of womanhood, and it can easily be adapted into something as simple as wardrobe. We invite you to give it a try! Reference: http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/cleopatra
A Galentine's Day to Remember at Mod & Soul
Story by Estelle Avbuere Maybe you know Mod & Soul as a stylish, upscale Richmond-based and online boutique. Or, maybe you know the store for its trendy, boho-influenced pieces and contemporary, delicate jewelry. What you might not know is that Mod & Soul can also throw gorgeous events! They proved it when they threw their first annual Galentine’s Day event last Thursday night. This event was complete with colorful decorations, delicious deserts, a photo station, fun giveaways, and lovely (not to mention stylish!) women. One of the best parts was the opportunity to be styled by co-hosts, fashion bloggers and stylists, Zumreta of of Bloom with Zum Bloom with Zum and Shanna of Me and Minnie Me and Minnie check out the post right here . The event kicked off at 6:30 pm – the perfect time for a stylish soiree if you ask us. Upon entering, one could see the fabulous, fashion-filled event was already underway. Pink lights were strung from the ceiling, red and pink balloons floated about, and the clothes, clothes, well they looked as beautiful as ever. Sparkly gold fabric hung on the far wall as a background for “gals” and their friends to get their pictures taken. The set-up included fun props, like X and O balloons, while photographer, Juliet Bryant , clad in the cutest denim overall dress snapped away. The center table was decorated with flowers, candles, sparkly hearts on sticks, and delightful treats (including PINK popcorn!). Both the co-hosts and the Mod & Soul sales associates were quick to give you a smile, ask how you were doing, and style you in the perfect look for the night. Women in all sorts of chic outfits were scattered around, sipping their drinks and chatting brightly. Some eagerly searched for the perfect blouses or dresses, excitedly waiting to try them on, while others conversed with new friends. The whole place was abuzz with the energy of these lovely ladies. It was clearly going to be a memorable Galentine’s event! Zumreta , writer of the blog Bloom with Zum Bloom with Zum , looked lovely in her statement red wrap dress and velvet (obviously from Mod & Sou l) , blush heels. While Shanna writer of Me and Minnie Me and Minnie , wore a ruffle-detailed fuchsia blouse tucked into cropped, distressed jeans and gold heels – chic as ever. Both ladies were the perfect co-hosts, as they went around smiling, laughing, greeting people, styling outfits, encouraging every woman, and, like any good blogger, updating their Instagram stories. By the end of the night, we left with new friends, pretty purchases, style inspiration and a love for who we are: strong, empowered women who are free to encourage each other. Overall, the evening was absolutely beautiful. This is not only because of the amazing clothes, shoes, and jewelry, the talented stylists, or the adorable place that is Mod & Soul, but also because it was a celebration of women and our friendships with each other. During this event, Mod & Soul provided a space where girls could come together, meet other women, share stories, and inspire each other’s looks. In fact, this was an opportunity for women to simply inspire each other. And they used fashion to do it. We’re here for that. We are so grateful to Mod & Soul, Shanna, and Zumreta for being here for that as well!
#RVABloggerBabes SheSawStyle: Fashion and Beyond
impossible take a look at the site here does you me
Getting Festive with Fab'rik!
check this out
#RVABloggerBabes Live Among Chic: Confidence, Passion, and Winter Fashion!
Live Among Chic , revealed their inspiring and surprisingly relatable stories of young adulthood and their navigation through demanding college classes, job loss, juggling work, and – most significantly – struggling with confidence. No matter what phase in their lives, Dee and Sarah remain grounded by both each other and their common passion: fashion! They pour their zeal and creativity into Live Among Chic, sharing their love of clothing with their many followers, seasonally pairing together whatever unique style they have been most recently inspired by. Without fashion, they wouldn’t have found their anchor in life and their true confidence. Fashion, as Dee and Sarah reveal through their life stories, can transform lives for the better. Of course, Dee and Sarah weren’t always fashion bloggers. Both began as two Virginia Commonwealth University undergraduate students, leading two very different lives. Sarah began studying for her undergrad at VCU and is currently working towards her masters in Business and Branding and Experience Design. Dee, on the other hand, graduated a year ago from VCU with her masters in environmental science. She had moved from Saudi Arabia when she was only 13 years old and has lived in Richmond for 7 years, falling in love with the city and its kaleidoscope of diverse fashion. Both had been living such dissimilar lives, pursuing very different career paths, but their love of fashion drew them together. 50% off with code Dee and Sarah had both worked for VCU Globe during their undergraduate years, never really crossing paths, yet suddenly had been tasked with picking up 25 Iraqi exchange students! Thrown on a train together to New York City, the two girls were uncomfortable at best, as they had to share a single hotel room, in the hectic city of the Big Apple, with a complete stranger. Their jobs were hectic in different ways, as Dee and Sarah ran on very different schedules and rarely saw each other during the day. But to Dee’s surprise, “We packed almost identical outfits!… We would meet later for lunch and we’d be matching!” It was the start of a perfect friendship: the same fashion sense! The two have been inseparable ever since, combining both their eye for aesthetically charming outfit collaborations and Sarah’s expertise in graphic design to craft Live Among Chic. It is a fairly new website, as they had just celebrated their one-year anniversary this past August, yet already creating waves in the blogger community, inspiring fashionistas throughout Richmond and more. They also devote their blog to collaborating with local artists, consulting start-up brands, social media advertising, makeup designing, and styling for a transformative look. “It can be difficult to keep up with the blog sometimes,” Sarah admits. “I mean, we’re human,” Dee pointed out. That’s why it can be so rewarding to have a partner in crime. The two best friends constantly nudge each other to update the blog, staying attentive to their passions even when their work life can be overbearing. But fashion cannot simply be left behind, no matter how cluttered their schedules may get. “It’s not just a hobby,” Dee expressed for the two of them. “It’s a part of who I am.” But of course, fashion, especially for Dee and Sarah, is not merely a piece of who they are – it is what fully transformed them, allowing them to feel comfortable enough to express themselves completely. Confidence is a constant uphill battle, waking up some days feeling a burst of energy to work a tight-fit dress, or waking up other days avoiding mirrors and feeling uneasy in one’s own skin. Dee and Sarah have fought for their confidence in different yet very similar ways. In Sarah’s case, she has always been a petite girl, shaving off even more weight after a major surgery. She found it very difficult to fully love her small body type, growing frustrated with awkwardly loose clothes or frustratingly long-fitted pants. But with Live Among Chic, as she constantly experiments with new looks that perfectly frame her figure, she has become much more confident with her body type. “I’m trying to use fashion as a way to show other small girls that you can be small but can still look really good in a lot of stuff,” Sarah explained. “I’m just trying to show other petite or bigger girls that it doesn’t matter what your body size is – you can always look good in anything.” Dee’s struggle with confidence is a bit different. Dee seemed to be born with a flare of confidence, adoring the camera as a very extroverted young girl, as she began modelling and walking runways overseas when she was only twelve years old. But as young girls grow older, of course, confidence always falters. She battled with finding her true body type most of her young life, whether it was growing mildly overweight or unhealthily underweight. She constantly strove to achieve what she thought could be the perfect body weight, but like far too many young girls think, “perfection” is unclear and never quite reachable. I’m sure many young girls have asked themselves: “Should I really really wear this tight of a dress?” or “Do my legs look too big/small in this skirt?” I’m sure many have marveled at the cutest pair of jeans, but when excitedly reaching the dressing room, sighing in disappointment as they definitely definitely looked better on the rack. I’m sure many young girls have experienced frustration and even defeat trying to conquer their insecurities, never feeling fully comfortable in what they wear and how it shapes their bodies. I’m sure many wonder how models, so poised and flawless, rock anything and everything they wear, and they simply assume it is because they have achieved the “perfect” body type – but this isn’t where confidence breeds at all. Dee revealed her most valuable secret to how she eventually found her confidence: “I’ve tried this trick and it works: fake it ‘till you make it!” Something so simple
Vintage Decades Day Dream: NIGHTHAWKS Vintage
We often find ourselves dreaming of a different decade, lost in the trends, culture and lifestyle that it embodies. Local brand Nighthawks Vintage , embraces the nostalgia of the 80’s and 90’s, while reminding us that our current trends are not to be overlooked. Jessa began her company in 2010 on Etsy , in order to sell her unique upcycled pieces. After graduating from VCU Fashion , she launched her company with a small budget, which has inspired her to acquire her fabrics through thrifting. “[Thrift Shopping] is like a treasure hunt to me, to find vintage pieces… I can always see its potential” and that she does – as her collaboration with RCFU brought us back to the decade of flared trousers and groovy blouses. We begin our journey lost in a sea of literature, as the clothes chanted their vibrancy throughout the silent library floors. In her deep green jumpsuit, Bria modeled playfully as if she was strutting into Studio 54 . But the outfit wasn’t so monochromatic, as her berry beret supplied a touch of color while her belt was the delicate vintage addition. Then, in a studious fashion, Caity’s look taught us how to get into sophisticated style, while also pattern mixing. Her vertical blue and white blouse gave us Linda Evangelista vibes in her 80’s Vogue photoshoot, and it was paired with a mustard wrap skirt. What pulled the entire outfit together was the long striped blazer that rested on her shoulders, and subtle color combination contrasted well with her blouse and matching the skirt. There is nothing more 90’s than leather jackets, and Sarah’s look proved that it doesn’t have to be in the form of a biker jacket to radiate toughness. Paired with a purple dress, the outfit resembled more of an effortlessly chic style, while her boots gave a vintage flare. 50 off promo code We then traveled into the old time record store, Plan 9 Music located in Carytown, Plan 9 has welcomed music lovers for 29 years with a display of various genres of music from the 40’s to the modern hits. There, our models showed off the wonderful combinations of trousers with oversize coats. And while the style may be similar, the colors of each outfit told a different story. Caity’s long berry jacket and suede brown pants provided a color palette that embraced the fall aesthetic. Bria balanced her sophisticated black and white look with a playful deep green blazer. The western style belt, a current trend, reminds us that 90’s styles still have a way of influencing us today. Lastly, Sarah’s look was finished off with a thin blue belt to prove that cool tones are the perfect ‘pop of color’. And no outfit is perfect without the right hair and makeup, and with the expertise of Shelby Lynn-Woods , each look served a great tribute to the vintage styles of the past (take Caity’s teased up hair, for instance). Today, Nighthawks Vintage is still available on Etsy, yet Jessa spoke about her goal to transition the company on a new platform in the near future, “I would like to have my own domain someday, but for now Etsy is the main thing… but I just always have to look for the next ‘big thing’.” Similar to us, the future still remains a bit of a mystery to Jessa, but we’re confident that she will continue to create beautifully made clothing to bring a bit of the previous decades into our lives.
Model Your Heart Charity Fashion Show: A Night of Captivating Creativity
Story by Christina Amano Dolan The night began with an old brick building of sheer black – simple and modest from the outside – but as the doors opened, I was immediately immersed in the atmosphere of booming music, stimulating club lights, excited movements of models being pampered and polished, and racks and racks of colorful clothing. I had walked backstage into the world of fashion – both chaotic and glamorous – watching as young talent swirled in an excited blur around me, racing to add the finishing touches to a night of pure perfection. The Broadberry concert venue set the perfect stage for a charming night. Its chic, modern layout combined with vintage artwork, elegant glass chandeliers, and intimate space surrounding the walkway added to the fashion show’s charisma. The locally-famous and talented DJ Syren blared her catchy, unique remixes through the club speakers, entertaining the trickling-in crowd of all ages before the show even began. The night’s host was , Kelli Lemon , a Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) alumnus and popular figure in Richmond, with an impressive background of hosting and arranging events. Lemon constantly kept the crowd energetic, laughing, and seated in between sets. Without Lemon’s knack for entertaining a crowd, the Model Your Heart Charity Fashion Show wouldn’t have been the same. It was a night of endless excitement, flourishing with inspired fashion, fresh music performances, and, of course, charity – all made possible by the young talent of Richmond. The Executive Director of Model Your Heart (and recent VCU alumnus), Rondell Tucker, was especially instrumental in the success of the second annual charity fashion show. Although he is young, he already has expertise in the world of fashion, as he spent much of his college life modeling for GroupMODA – Richmond’s first student-run fashion organization – and other local events. He used his connections and leadership skills to collaborate with young talent all over the city. “My goal is to help develop models and other young talent,” Tucker explained over a phone interview with me. “I’m a person who loves collaboration… My goal, as I have already developed a platform, is to share my platform with the young, talented minds of Richmond.” He accomplished just that, as the night was far from amateur work. It was hard to believe many of the designers and stylists had never showcased their work in a fashion show before, the tech and stage crew were not much older than myself, and many of the models were even VCU students. The two music performances by Mic (not yet available on iTunes) and SwitchinLanes (album out on iTunes: Rhythm of Heaven) were young, up-and-coming local artists with exciting spins on hip hop and R&B music, keeping the crowd bumping their heads and some even singing along. With a night jam-packed with young talent, Model Your Heart successfully exemplified how the city of Richmond and other areas of the East Coast are truly rich in culture, creativity, and gifted young minds. But of course, the night wouldn’t be as impressive and admirable without its main purpose: giving back to the community. Built from the ground-up, the program started out extremely successful, with sold-out tickets for the first-annual fashion show. This year, Rondell Tucker was recruited by Ernest M. Weaver III, the founder of Model Your Heart, as they had met through mutual connections from GroupMODA. As Tucker has always been philanthropic in the past, he was able to partner Model Your Heart with other proactive organizations: FeedTheStreetsRVA and Richmond Cycling Corps. FeedTheStreetsRVA’s president, Cory Jones, had taken the mic at the event to describe the nature of his organization and its immense impact on the poverty-ridden community of Richmond. His organization aims at improving the lives of both children and their families with tremendous results. Richmond Cycling Corps is an extremely impactful organization as well, investing in inner-city youth over the past eight years, training them to cycle and ultimately changing their lives for the better. Its president, Craig Dodson, later introduced his organization to the crowd. He modestly explained his charity but instead touched the crowd with his personal connections to Rondell Tucker, as Dodson is a mentor to his little brother, and how in awe he was of the sense of community in the room. With all three organizations partnering with one another, it is plain to see how connected and compassionate our community can be in changing the lives of those around us – in fun and light-hearted ways such as hosting a fashion show! From the words of Rondell Tucker: “Fashion is just a way to connect other people – to connect nonprofits with one another.” Now onto the main attraction: the clothes! All eye-catching and intricate, honoring the autumn season with mostly dark pastel colors. The first line introduced was by Masako Yamaguchi , a men’s clothing designer, from her Militia lookbook. The line’s clothing were all variations of the same outfit, yet unique in their own ways. The first look was an olive green jacket and matching pants fused with stripes of khaki, popping colors of red, and subtly-colored patches stitched into the chest and sleeves, tying the fall colors together. Another look, keeping the theme of a soft olive green, was a long trench coat with an arresting tiger patch on the back. The staple piece of Masako’s line was the blending of the soft and the striking – with autumn colors and a flash of red, and with a fairly simple outfit with elaborate patches. The next clothing line showcased down the runway was Mercés: Element featuring Liberatus jewelry – a local jewelry boutique. The first was a silk orange dress with pastel yellow sleeves and pockets, appeared to be made from different, sweater-like material. A simpler yet bold look was an off-the-shoulder draping down the back and a bandeau-cut in the front, paired with a simple pair of light wash jeans. The boldest look of the line was an opened-back,