Fashion School Dropout

Last week I sat down with jewelry historian Josie Goodbody and we chatted about the magic of jewelry and gems.

The best jewelry has sentimental value, and it doesn’t need to be worth a million dollars. That simple pair of earings that was once worn by your grandma can be just as special as some expensive new piece.

Jewelry is just so fascinating, the way a piece of carbon can turn into a beautiful shiny trinket, and diamonds and gems are truly one of mother nature’s miracles.

I for one tend to underestimate the value of adding a great piece of jewelry to your wardrobe, but I think it’s important to add some sparkle to your outfit.

So, that’s really my PSA for this blog post, it’s okay to invest in jewelry. Also, don’t get rid of or sell your old jewelry! You never know when it may come back in style or the sentimental value it may hold in the future.

To listen to my full conversation with Josie, click the link to the podcast.

I was diagnosed at birth with Turner Syndrome. As a child I knew I was different, having to take growth hormone to grow, and when I was old enough, estrogen to start my cycle. I didn’t fully understand my condition and what it would mean as I got older until, at one Doctors visit, a nurse very casually told me that I would not be able to have kids. I remember bursting into tears, completely devastated by the reality of the situation.

I am crying again as I write these words, as there is nothing I have wanted more in life than to be a mother. I grew up in a family of four and always wanted a big family of my own. I always held out some hope that maybe I would be some medical miracle, a rare case, and that what the nurse told me wasn’t true.

last year I married my perfect husband and wanted nothing more than to start a family. Knowing it may be a long road for us, I started fertility counseling and while in the early stages, my fears were confirmed. The Ultrasound Technician didn’t see any ovaries, bloodwork showed high LH FSH hormones indicating low or no egg count (in my case no).

A year later, after a cardiac cat scan, an echocardiogram, multiple blood tests (b.t.w – hate needles), multiple ultrasounds, countless doctor visits and we are finally ready to start I.V.F in earnest.

 This has already been an expensive and time-consuming process and we are just getting started! I can express what it would mean to me to be given the gift of a child and hope me and my husband will be given it. I’m not lying when I say that being a mother is a life-long dream of mine. The burden of infertility is a heavy one and one that shouldn’t be gone through alone. I can’t really believe I’m going to be putting this online, but if it helps bring awareness and helps one person, I’ll be happy. I’m here for anyone that needs it and I’m happy to answer any questions anyone may have.

This is my story for now and I hope to come back here with a happy ending. In the meantime keep following me for updates and keep listening to the podcast!

In honor of Mother’s day last week, I thought I would take a moment to remind myself of the lessons I have learned from my mother.

Don’t follow the fashion sheep

It’s okay to do your own thing and embrace your own style. You don’t have to go along with what everyone else is doing. People always just tend to follow the herd, rather than trusting their own creativity.

Jewelry is an investment

I don’t think this needs much elaboration, invest in quality pieces and they can be handed down, or even go up in value.

Keep it classy

Above all my mom taught me how to be a lady and not overdo it. You don’t need to show a bunch of skin, have the most dramatic makeup, or sexiest nails, there is beauty in simple elegance.

My mom was my biggest inspiration growing up,  the way she always looked so put together, how she would look so glamorous getting ready for date-night with my father, her effortlessly chic style was something I always strived for.

I had the pleasure of interviewing her this week for the podcast and she elaborated on some of her best style tips, and how she was successful in her career, and just gave some awesome mom advice. To listen to my full episode with her, check out the podcast.

until next week!

xoxo,

Katherine

This week on the podcast I sat down with a male fashion stylist and we discussed all things related to male fashion. Here are some of my take-aways.

How you dress, it’s a communication, so you cam either use it to your advantage or not. So, while not every man will want to run around in a pink dresses, it still matters to put some effort into what you wear.

If you want that promotion, you have to dress the part. It’s true what they say, you have to dress for the job, and life you want. You can’t wear the same raggedy sandals and old T-shirt and expect people to take you seriously, so take the time to upgrade your wardrobe.

Some men may find the idea of shopping overwhelming, and may not know where to start. What can help simplify things is knowing your style and what you like. Looking at pictures, finding designers you like, knowing what fits work for you, all this can make shopping and getting dressed so much easier.

It doesn’t take a lot for a man to look a step above other men. Showering and shaving can go a long way in making a good impression. Making sure your shirt is pressed and well fitted can really elevate your outfit. Little things can go a long way.

For more on male fashion and to hear my full interview, check out the podcast.

Until next week!

xoxo,

Katherine

This week I sat down with Florida Fashion influencer Whitney Mills, we talked about our favorite summer trends and she told me her favorite places to shop, especially for swimsuits and summerwear. I thought it would be fun to put together some of my top picks from these shops. So here it is.

To listen to my full episode with Whitney, click here.

See you guys next week!

xoxo,

Katherine

This week I sat down with my favorite hair stylist, Abby, and she gave me her top tips to keep your hair soft and luscious. 

Tip #1: Don’t wash hair everyday 

Even though it may seem gross, washing every couple of days is totally fine! Dry shampoo is your friend, don’t be afraid to use it. When it comes to showing up to your hair appointments though, clean hair is best. Don’t come to your appointment with 3-day old hair. 

Tip #2: Switch up your part 

As far as the whole middle part side part debate, it really depends on your face shape. Not everyone looks good with a middle part. She also recommends switching up your part every so often to prevent breakage. 

Tip # 3: Double shampoo 

When you do shampoo, double up, wash your hair twice. The second lather is where you will really start to bubble and get out all the oil and build up. This will leave your hair feeling nice and clean.

Tip #4 Invest in your hair

It’s worth it to buy the salon-quality products, the cheap stuff is more diluted while salon-level products are more concentrated. It’s worth the extra money because they will last longer, a little bit will go a lot further. This goes for hair dye too, as I’m sure most stylists will tell you, leave that to the professionals.

To listen to my full podcast episode with Abby, click here.

Until next week!

Xoxo,

Katherine

This week I sat down with fellow podcast host Sirin of Spill The T, we talked a lot about first date looks, early 2000s trends, the cyclic nature of fashion and more.

I think we can all agree that fashion today is very different from what it was in the early 2000s, while some trends have come back and fashion is always rotating certain things in and out, it’s also always evolving. We’ve replaced low-rise jeans and midriff-bearing tops for mom jeans and dad shoes; side-parts for middle-parts, and Britney Spears for Billie Eilish.

While overall I think I’m thankful we have evolved out of wearing dresses over jeans and the other unfortunate early aught trends, but there are some fashions I will miss from this iconic decade. One of these being the going-out top. Maybe it’s because I’m getting old, but I miss club culture and spending hours cultivating the perfect going-out look.

I think though, more than the fashion of the early 2000s, was the icons wearing them. It was the era of Nicole Richie, Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan, and the Olsen twins, what more can you ask for? I don’t think I’ll ever forget those iconic tmz images, certainly, their impression on me hasn’t waned. So despite its problems, there denying the magic of this decade.

Click here to listen to my full episode.

Until next week!

Xoxo,

Katherine

This week I sat down with Jewelry designer Katie Dean. We chatted about all things jewelry, jewelry trends, and finding good investment pieces. Here are some of my takeaways from our conversation.

Jewelry, when done right can perfectly compliment an outfit and add just the right amount of flare. The problem is, if you are like me, it’s sometimes the last thing we think about before we walk out the door. The key is good organization, otherwise out of sight out of mind. If you have everything tucked away where you can’t easily find it to put it on, there’s almost no point. A good jewelry box with nice compartments for all your different pieces, is almost as important as the jewelry itself. It will make throwing a piece of jewelry on before you walk out the door a sinch.

The other thing to keep in mind is that everyone has got their own personal style, you don’t have to live and die by the trends. Wear what you feel comfortable in. Allow your jewelry to be a reflection of your personal taste and let your personality shine through.

As far as investment pieces go, rather than running straight to the big names like Winston and Tiffany’s, there are other mom & pop shops where you can find good deals on amazing vintage or secondhand pieces. There are many shops in the diamond district of most major cities where you can score great deals on jewels. You don’t need to overpay, and you don’t always need a brand name.

To listen to my full interview with Katie, click the link to my podcast.

Until next week!

Xoxo,

Katherine

This week I sat down with interior designer Julianne Hendrickson. We talked all about finding your personal home style and some easy tips to spruce up your home. Here are some of my take-aways.

To keep your home timeless and classic and to avoid becoming outdated, lean on neutral for big pieces. For your main furniture pieces, avoid trends and with your accent pieces, you can add a little flare.

For small spaces remember to fit things to scale, if you can’t fit a King in the bedroom, don’t try to fit a King. Keep in mind the size of your space and work within these limits.

Also for small spaces, look for creative storage solutions. Big bins you can hide a lot in are good for this.

Take your time to figure out your style, sometimes you may need to sort through a bunch of pictures before you really find your personal home taste.

One last pro-tip, Tuesday and Thursday mornings are restocking days for Homegoods, so good days to shop!

To listen to my full conversation with Julianne, check out my podcast.

Until next week!

xoxo,

Katherine

This week I sat down with fashion stylist and former fashion model Chrystelle Elodie. She shared some of her best tricks to look chicer and elevate your look. Here are some of my take-aways.

Accessories, accessories, accessories.

While I know it’s all too easy to get complacent and forget to accessorize before you walk out the door, but the right accessories really can make an outfit. You can take a basic T-shirt from day to night, with the right necklace or shoes. They can liven up any basic look. So, don’t forget to invest in accessories.

Know your size.

When it comes to clothes, size matters. It can be very unflattering to be wearing an outfit that’s too big or too tight. Know your size and buy clothes that fit you.  A good tailor can be your best friend.

Wear the proper lingerie.

What you wear under your clothes matters almost as much as the clothes themselves. Undergarments can make a big difference in the look of an outfit and how you feel in it.  No one wants to experience the horror of a visible panty line or other such faux pas, so be mindful of the lingerie you choose.

Wear what makes YOU feel comfortable.

This one is key. It’s so important for you to feel comfortable and confident in what you wear. If you are uncomfortable in it, it will show and it’s not going to look good. Feel confident and exude confidence, simple right?

For more tips and to listen to my full interview with Chrystelle, check out the podcast.

Until next week my dears!

Xoxo,

Katherine