Colour blocking cocktails

Ok sooooo this is a short one because it's so simple! 

Another of my favorite go-to looks is Colour Blocking! Why wear plain neutrals (yawn) when you can pair two, three, hell even four colours and make an impact the minute you walk into a room 

After all we live in the tropics right?! Why not add some brightness to your wardrobe. 

Whilst it's a tad easier than mixed prints, colour blocking basically uses the same concepts``

• choose your colours

•Belt the middle to break it up or show a little skin in between pieces 

•Rock that shit like fashion 

•remember it doesn't have to "match" it has to "go" 

Please note a belt is your bestie! You know how I feel about belts, I'd belt my night gown. 

If your mid section isn't as slim as you want it to be (lord knows I tried waist training but I wasn't ready to meet my maker) use the darker of your chosen colours on your mid section that way you avoid any unnecessary attention... 

Here are some more colour blocking tips: 

-Using a blazer? Try a neutral tank 

-Colour block dress? Try a patent shoes 

-Shy? Pick two primary colours like red and blue or yellow and green! God automatically colour blocked already for you lol. 

-For my virgin colour blocker style slayers, here are some combos to try 

•yellow + coral blue 

•pink + teal 

•green + purple 

Go on  and try it! Colour block like your mommy just bought you your first poster paints!!! Be confident and take pics I want to see!!!

Life's a beach!!! Or maybe just a beach themed event

For some time now I had hoped and prayed... Then prayed and hoped that these beach themed parties would go away *sigh* but alas they haven't...

Adaptation is essential for human survival so, by extension, one's wardrobe also has to adapt in order for your social life to survive.

Luckily for the guys they don't have the stress of having to figure out what to wear - they can throw on a pair of board shorts or cutoffs with a t-shirt and they're on their way. Although I've recently been so proud of men for stepping their game up!!! (check out Kings By Nature on Facebook)

For the ladies, however, it is a lot more complicated. When boredom strikes and with my admittedly sick sense of humor, I often use party photo galleries for entertainment. So under the suggestion of my cousin , I've decided to use my brain for good rather than evil and offer some BEACH PARTY WEAR GUIDELINES as it is clearly evident that there needs to be some given. So, here goes.......

DONT'S

What is it with every chick and their sister wearing mini skirts and bandeau tops?? Now, don't get me wrong - if accessorized correctly and with the right body type this look can be fantastic BUT you need not wear it to every party you attend. However, if you insist, try it with a statement necklace pair this with button earrings, mix the prints of the top and the skirt. WEAR A BRA under the bandeau top and pair with bangles bangles and more bangles!

Wearing a cropped top with a pair of bikini bottoms is NOT ok!!!!! It looks like you forgot your pants at home, or your boyfriend's wife walked in on you'll in the heat of passion and you were forced to make a hasty escape during which you forget your pants. In my opinion this looks grose and personally I wouldn't want to sit anywhere after you did (yuck).

Remember these parties are held during the day i.e sunlight and there is no darkness to hide the flaws every woman has e.g cellulite, stretch marks, tummy fat or that "bobo" trini slang for scars on your knee that you got when you were 6. Sally Hansen airbrush legs does a great cover up, some beauty salons offer spray tanning which gives the skin an even tone while covering imperfections and leaves you with an amazing glow OR there's always the age old theory of dressing for your age/size/shape just because it's beach themed that doesn't mean your "coochie" has to be on display!

DOS

Once your body allows it and you have the confidence feel free to go all out and rock a bikini, whole piece or monokini! Paired with a hot pair of wedges or strappy gladiator sandals, some multi-strand necklaces or a statement piece and bangles - you won't look naked or scandalous. If you're not comfy enough to rock out with your 'punks' aka vaginal area. If you're like me and very well endowed in that area (sorry that's as delicate as I can put it) try a wrap, sarong, floor length skirt, see through pants or some crisp white trousers. the latter takes your look from the Treasure Queen to Diddy's all white party in the Southampton

I LOVE TUNICS!!!! They allow you to stay on theme while covering the parts that we may not be too confident about yet. If do you decide on a tunic try one with an embellished neckline, that way there's no need for a chain just add huge earrings, bangles a hot wedge and you're set! These can be worn with a bikini beneath or a nude whole piece. Don't have a tunic? Then rock an over-sized man's shirt with a low-slung belt

*ALWAYS try to wear wedges or a stacked heel!!! It lengthens the leg and instantly makes you stand taller (in a bikini we need every little advantage we can get) nothing is cute about you dragging a pair of Old Navy slippers

Denim cut off shorts will ALWAYS be in style, they're very versatile and they can be styled up or down. Try these with a shorter length tunic, a crisp white shirt unbuttoned just enough to show the right amount of cleavage or a cropped top, just be sure to belt your waist and you're good to go!

*ACCESSORIES: This 'theme' allows for little clothing so you have to go into accessory overload: over-sized hats, statement necklaces, body jewelry, super long earrings, belly chains, cross body bags, sunglasses and, my personal favorite...bangles. These are all  VERY essential for this look. If it's a cooler fete put your bottles in a huge beach bag instead of a cooler!!!!! Its all about the accessories

Simple guidelines. It's not very hard to change your look up a bit without going into thot city. GOOD LUCK!!!!

Mixin' Prints as easy as 1,2,3...

One of the MAIN style questions I'm always asked is "How do you mix prints and make it work???" 

My answer? EASY!!!

Gone are the days when the fashion gods declared "Thou shall wear one print only!!!"

In today's world you can mix and match basically any print. It's super easy and a cleaver way to remix pieces you've worn already, Add some flavour to an otherwise basic look or shit just wear two pieces you really love at the same damn time!!!

Some of my favs to try are:

• Plaids + Stripes
• Polka dots + Paisley
• Leopard + Camo
• Vertical stripes + Horizontal stripes
• Houndstooth + Polka dots with a side of checkered

Here's my guide on effective print mixology without looking too crazy...

1.  Ensure you have a base colour - Both prints should have at least one colour in common that way whilst your look won't match it'll definitely compliment each other.
   
2.  Pick a focal print - Choose one print that's going be the center of the look, whichever print you choose should be the bigger of the two or three that you combine.
   
3. Break up the two - If you're shy start off by using a printed shoe/printed blazer combo or keep it simple with a printed clutch. For the extremely print shy a lot of local designers are doing amazing graphic and fabric earrings, add one of those to a basic black dress with a printed pump or flat and wallah! You've lost your mixing print virginity!As you begin to feel more comfy try a plaid top with a polka dot skirt with a solid belt in the middle to break up the two (belts are my #1 styling trick I'd belt my night gown if you gave me a chance!)
   
4. ROCK IT!!!! - Confidence is KEY in pulling off ANY look. Don't listen to any basic Betty's talking bout you don't "match" you don't have to!!!

Now go out there and mix those prints I wanna see pics!!!

Finding your personal style

Over the years my style has gone through many phases. I've been a sneaker and baggy jean wearing tomboy, a tummy baring Aaliyah wannabe, an underwear showing over the top of my jeans et al, a pregnant teenager, a Rastafarian empress and now a full-fledged SHOE ADDICT!!!! 

Throughout every phase I fully committed to the 'look' and was convinced that I would grow old dressing that way! In my opinion finding and owning your personal style is VERY important! Nothing beats a woman, in fact any person who is comfortable in their own skin. Confidence shows in the way you walk, the way you project yourself, you stand taller, smile brighter and it's sexy as fuck. 

Nothing is more annoying than an obnoxious sales clerk who's trying to force everything down your throat "oh gosh famalee that looking real bess" and you very well know it's either way too short, too tight or just not you. 

MY SUGGESTIONS
1. Find what you feel most comfortable in. 
For me my go to dressed down outfit is a white tank ( aka the wife beater) and a pair of jeans (Parkers or Hollister) with flip flops (Chanel, Tory Burch, Havianas or Old Navy) and a great handbag. If I want to dress it up I add a blazer and some ballet flats and button earrings.

2. Realise that not EVERY trend is built for you or your body type!
It's ok to try it in the store but you have to be honest with yourself or if your judgement is a little shaky, take a brutally honest friend they don't have to be a fashionista but they must know what looks good on you. For instance I know Harem pants and cold shoulder tops are not my friends and I generally hate leggings with a passion (that's a whole other blog entry)

3. Know your body type full figured, top heavy, pear shaped or no shape just now your shape! 

4. Research is your friend! 
I know it may seem a bit much for just getting dressed but on your free time flip through fashion blogs, magazines or Instagram, Pinterest, Tinder or whoever is the next social media forum and GET NEW IDEAS!! There is inspiration almost everywhere! Instyle Magazine is like my bible I love how they show trends and literally break down looks piece but piece to show how anyone of any age can do it. 

5. ASK FOR HELP!!!!!! 
There are experts whose job it is to help you put together looks. Absolutely nothing is wrong with asking a question ( I do it my damn self lol). You can even take your researched looks with you to shop so you now have an idea of where you wanna take your look and what you want to look like.

Welcome to Shopaholics-IS-Shoes

After much encouragement (by encouragement I mean buff) I decided to finally start my blog Shopaholicisshoes!!! Why?

1 I'm a "shopaholic" or so I've been told... Let's agree to disagree on that one

2 We all have issues (some of us more than others myself included)

3 I'm absolutely in love with shoes, bags, clothing, statement necklaces, jewelry and just about everything fashion or fashion oriented. 

Fashion to me is a very personal thing it's not only about the latest trend, a designer item or who you've seen wearing what. Fashion to me is about finding what suits you and what you love whether it cost $10 or $1000. Be yourself wear what you want and most importantly make yourself happy!!!

This is basically my running commentary on everything, from what to wear to an all inclusive fete to what necklaces go best with which necklines to the importance of spanx no matter what size you are and even my personal view on some trends...please note that unless you're a professional dancer mas boots are not to be worn outside of Carnival Monday & Tuesday.

 We will even discuss events, shopping spots, my favourite restaurants both locally and internationally, travel destinations, my go to essentials and my best advice on raising a teen (he's absolutely gorgeous btw)

I'm just a loud mouth "single black female addicted to retail" trying to be a good mom whilst attempting to look reasonably cute.

hashtag shoes, hashtag statement necklace whore, hashtag lush,  hashtag foodie,  hashtag ISmommy

Welcome to Shopaholicisshoes and remember...It's always better to be over dressed than under!