Brunch-n-Style: Sax and the City

Brunch-n-Style: Sax and the City

 

"Brunch-n-Style" is an event held and hosted by eLevated style studio where the all-girl guests are asked to dress for brunch in a specific style theme. I always encourage everyone who attends to be creatively stylish and unique while following the theme. 

The Fall 2019 edition of Brunch-n-Style was held at Sax Restaurant and the Style Menu was "Sex and the City". 

The "Sax and the City" brunch was a perfect way to celebrate an eLevated Style Studio milestone - 10 brunches since May 2017 (I wonder which one of my Fashionable Friends wins the "best attendance" award - let me know in the comments if you think it's you!). This brunch definitely won the award for most rowdy and exciting thanks to the unlimited mimosas and electrifying entertainment provided by SIR, an all male burlesque revue.

It was amazing event - the food was yum, the eye candy was even yummier. I wish I could share the action pics but I have been sworn to secrecy so they remain safe in the Brunch-n-Style vault. However, please enjoy my fabulously Fashionable Friends as they channel their inner Carries, Mirandas, Samanthas and Charlottes and brought SATC style to Sax in the Capitol City!

Scroll down for more pics from the day - there were so many great ones to choose from - but these are just a few favorites.

If you weren't there, you definitely missed another epic brunch. But don't continue to suffer from FOMO - make sure to keep up with future eLevated events by following the blog, and IG and FB pages. I promise you that you'll have the time of your life with a group of wonderful women! JOIN US IN 2020!

Stay Stylish!
- Love, Michele 💋

My #StyleDiary: One Dress, Three Different Ways

My #StyleDiary: One Dress, Three Different Ways

 

I think birthdays are special occasions. I personally like to treat mine like a national holiday, with a day off from work, a celebration of some sort with friends and family and a well-deserved vacation. My husband is the opposite - when his birthday rolls around he tends to be nonchalant and prefers to keep it lowkey. But every so often, I have a trick up my sleeve.

This year I surprised him with a visit to the Confetti Project and brunch at one of my favorite restaurants, True Food Kitchen, in Bethesda, MD. At the Confetti Project pop-up we enjoyed an impromptu photo shoot while having confetti thrown at us. We laughed like 2 big kids and later, we found confetti in places we never thought it would reach!

I wore a cute yellow dress with black dots that I recently got at one of my best kept secrets, Willow, a local boutique clothing store with stores in Petworth and at the Navy Yard. Black tights accented with a racing stripe, and a belt and loafers by Gucci made this an effortlessly stylish outfit.

Like I said before, I tend to have a trick or 2 up my sleeve. Any good stylist keeps a few pieces on hand for an impromptu "style opportunity." And there it was outside of the pop-up. A great color wall. Scroll down to see how I styled one dress, three different ways on a Sunday Funday!

                                  
The first look was really easy - I simply switched my gold loafers for a great pair of oxblood boots paired with burgundy over the knee socks and snuggled down in my moto jacket and infinity scarf.

Next it was time for a schoolgirl crush. The dress became a shirt under a jean jumper. I replaced the boots with classic Adidas updated with a floral pattern and I was suddenly casually chic.

For the last look, I changed into high-waisted jeans and a bright magenta blazer and added my favorite animal print booties for a night out with the girls or date night 'fit. I loved letting the neck tie of the dress hang loose and how I rolled up the jeans to give it a "not so put together" feel.

Do you have an idea of which outfit was my favorite? Did you like any of them? Comment below and let me know! I wonder if now you will start looking at some of your dresses as potential shirts - I hope so! It's always fun to play with clothes in different ways. Until the next time...

Stay Stylish!
- Love, Michele 💋

My #StyleDiary: Follow the Yellow Brick Road

My #StyleDiary: Follow the Yellow Brick Road

 

There's a quiet little side street in Georgetown, across from the beautiful Dumbarton Oaks Park, where every year, the Fall leaves come down all at once. The neighborhood residents say it sounds like the rain during a thunderstorm. The next day the street is transformed into the Yellow Brick Road from Oz. So, what better spot to show off fun Fall fashions courtesy of a photoshoot.

Say "Cheese"

I was instantly amazed by the gorgeous color of the leaves. I have never seen leaves in one uniform color in one location like this. It was definitely mesmerizing and made me super excited to shoot.

photo taken by/credited to Eric Dow

My outfits included different bottoms and coats. Since I already had my jeans on I started there with a tester shot (above) and then did a quickie change in the truck for the picture perfect clothes combos below.

I hope this #stylediary post inspires you to play with your fall wardrobe and come up with new looks! Leave a comment and let me know which look is your favorite! And don't forget to follow the Yellow Brick Road!

Stay Stylish!
- Love, Michele 💋

My #StyleDiary: A Spiritual Butterfly at the #ButterflyBash

My #StyleDiary: A Spiritual Butterfly at the #ButterflyBash

 

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending the truly inspiring Butterfly Bash at the Washington National Cathedral. Being a guest at the event was exciting for me for a few reasons: first, it's called the Butterfly Bash, and if you keep up with my blog or IG enough, you know that the butterfly is my spirit animal. I am always looking forward to a chance to channel my spirit animal!

I had to wear my 🦋 tights!

Second, the event was held on my old stomping grounds - as a graduate of the Beauvoir School and the National Cathedral School for girls, the Cathedral holds some special memories for me. I've never been to an event at the Cathedral that was not a religious service, a graduation, a wedding or a celebration of life (I don't like the word "funerals"). It was amazing to see the Cathedral in such beautiful lighting (although it made for some slightly tricky picture taking!)

But the most important reason I quickly accepted the plus one invite was that is put on by FairChance, an organization dedicated to strengthening and supporting community-based nonprofits who in turn are changing the lives of DC area youth living in poverty.

FairChance's logo includes a butterfly which is a symbol of life and hope. On a personal level, the butterfly represents transformations and this is a sentiment shared by Fair Chance. The organization was inspired by the Maya Angelou quote "We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty". I referenced that same quote when I got my butterfly tattoo which sits on the lifeline of my radial artery. 

I'm not a believer in coincidence - God and the Universe put you in certain situations and places for a reason. It was a privilege to talk with a few of the nonprofit partners and learn more about their missions and the children they serve. As I said, really inspiring. We talked so long that we didn't realize that the party had shut down around us!

Congrats to FairChance and to the community organizations doing the important work for children and families in our city - It was a beautiful event to raise funds for beautiful people!

 #staystylish 💋- love, Michele

My #StyleDiary Tip: Be a Walking BIllboard

My #StyleDiary Tip: Be a Walking BIllboard

 

You probably don't even think about but you are a walking billboard. Everything you do, every picture you take, the clothes you wear all create an image and vibe that says something about who you are as an individual. If you are an entrepreneur, you speak for your business and brand too. I personally like to create tshirts that speak to my personal styling/style blogger brand - I get to sell my business while selling tees to others who want to express themselves in a similar fashion. 

When I style clients or even myself, I often think about how people are judged almost immediately by appearance. For me, helping someone find their personal style isn't about what's trendy - it's about taking control of how you want people to see you. The way you dress changes your demeanor and influences the way we think about ourselves and our place in the world. Want to be seen as powerful?  Are you creative? Let it show in your style choices. Dress the part and watch yourself start to own it!

Part of being a walking billboard is being confident in who you are. Your personal style communicates confidence and commands respect without you ever having to say a word.  

Here's your best style tip for the Fall 2019 season and beyond: challenge yourself. Think about the perception you want to give off - does it match the one you are currently giving?  You are a walking billboard  - you can put any image of yourself into the world. You have the power to affect how people see you and it can all start with something as simple as your personal style. Be the you that you've always wanted to be! And if you need help getting started, contact me for an "eLevate your style" personal styling session!

 #staystylish 💋- love, Michele

Yay or Nay: Emmy's 2019 Style Recap on Great Day Washington

Yay or Nay: Emmy's 2019 Style Recap on Great Day Washington

 

The red carpet was purple for the 2019 Emmy Awards and television royalty definitely rose to the occasion, delivering current style trends as well as returning us to past Hollywood glam. Overall, bright jewel toned colors were the IT factor of the night, as seen on Zendaya.

             

 

Although the night was full of amazing fashions from some of the top designers, quite a few styles stood out to me as an absolute YASSSSSS, while others missed the mark. Feel free to comment below and let me know if you agree/disagree with my picks.

Valentine's Day Slay
Pink and Red were the color blocking combo of the night at the Emmys and in my opinion, Mandy Moore was the best of the best, followed closely by Taraji P. Henson. I was especially excited to these colors as a fashion do because I picked the combo as a Spring 2018 fashion trend. 

I was not a fan of Dascha Polanco's pink and white number - as puffy as the sleeves were, they fell flat for me.

Who Wears the Pants
I love love love love dressing up in pants, so the tuxedos, jumpsuits and formal pants were definitely a hit for me! The men got in on the action wearing statement tuxes in bold colors, fabrics and designs. RuPaul's tuxedo was my favorite - I love the abstract floral pattern, the soft but bold pink, and the versatility. I could see this on a woman or a man.

The structure of Angela Bassett's jumpsuit was spot on. She looked amazing and comfy. I love the little cutout above the waist and the bag that looks like a piece of candy. And Kerry Washington proves that simple is far from boring in a tuxedo blouse and seamed sequin pants. Perfection!

Unfortunately, Amy Poehler missed the mark for me, with a jumpsuit that resembled a mechanic's overalls.

Romantic Florals
As I mentioned in my 2019 Fall Fashion trends post, romantic florals are definitely in. While she might not have won the Game of Thrones, Lena Headey definitely was the Queen of the Floral category. 

Kendall Jenner, not so much... the dress was beautiful but the latex top was awful.

As Simple as Black and White
My favorite dress of the night was a tie between Zendaya and Jamie Comer. The "Killing Eve" star slayed us all in her sexy and structured gown by Tom Ford, with cutouts and slits in all the right places.

"Pose" actor, Indya Moore, did not fair as well with her dress choice - I thought it looked a little too "club-wear" for the Emmys - maybe the MTV awards?

And with deepest regret, I must report that I was not a fan of Billy Porter's outfit. I love Billy, think he's a great actor and go crazy each and every time he pushes the style envelope but this was not it for me. I likened him to a certain movie character in my tv recap. NO SHADE!!!

Shiny Things
Metallics are another Fall 2019 trend and Niecy Nash wowed me in this gown by Christian Siriano. That Body!!!!

Others wore the trend as well

 

 

And while Brienne of Tarth is one of my faves from GoT, I was confused by her Jesus of Nazareth fashion choice. I know it's Gucci Resort - so what. This is the Emmys not cosplay (her earrings were fire though)!

Click HERE to watch my latest segment on WUSA9 "Great Day DC" where I recap the fashion highs and lows of the 2019 Emmy Awards show. 

 #staystylish 💋- love, Michele