Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Shopping My Closet; Coin Saving Looks of 2015

It has been over a year since my last post! I've been chillin', enjoying life and dressing nice! All while trying to lower my debt to credit ratio becoming more fiscally responsible. 2015 has been the year of shopping my closet! I'm not saying I haven't hit up my favorite shopping spots here and there, but for the most part I've successfully fought the urge to buy something new for special events. Here is a recap of some of my favorite coin saving looks of 2015.


Earlier this year I started singing with the phenomenal Stellar Award winning, Grammy Award nominated, Dr. Ricky Dillard & New G! For most of our engagements we are strictly uniformed. However there are occasions when we are more coordinated than uniformed. We opened the past season of BET's Sunday Best and were required to wear all black. I knew I would pull this lovely 2yr old  "concert black" Grace Dress. It had been a go to for my classical music performances in the past. I ordered it from eshakti. Originally tea length, I customized it, lengthening the sleeves and the hem. The Grace Dress is available in many variations.






Oct 9-10 2015 was officially love weekend. One the 9th my husband and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary. On the 10th we attended the beautiful marriage ceremony of thee "Purity Couple" Tim and Brelyn Bowman. Check out their love story & purity campaign at meetthebowmans.com

The morning of the wedding I still had no clue what I was going to wear. It was a gorgeous day so, I knew I wanted to wear color. I remembered I had a vintage exaggerated shoulder blazer in magenta  tucked in the back of my closet, that I found off ebay. I paired it with a geo tulip print dress also from Eshakti that I'd worn once before as a skirt. I was so in love with this look. I felt like I was attending the wedding of Prince Akeem from Coming to America.  It was the perfect choice because the wedding was very opulent and regal!






Later in October I traveled to LA to sing with Dr. Dillard & New G for the last performance of The McDonald's 2015 Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour at The Taste of Soul Family Festival. A last minute wardrobe change required that we wear denim tops along with printed skirts. This was one of those events I would have gotten something new for, if I had more time. I did search for a printed skirt to no avail. I was going to wear my tulip print dress again with a denim top knotted in front, when we were told we could also wear bright colored skirts. I had this never worn textured Eloquii skirt folded at the top of my closet. My top is years old from Old Navy.

Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love a good holiday party or any excuse to dress up. 
Years past I've always attended my husband's company party and always bought something new. This year we attended my holiday party and I didn't buy anything new. I wore a Gabby Skye fit and flare dress, that I feel is a little too fitted around the mid section to wear alone so I added my Eshakti Dahlia Crinoline Skirt . I loved how both pieces came together. 









The hardest task has been trying to find heels that I like and that I can somewhat comfortably perform in. I'm thrilled that block heels are on trend for the extra support. These were purchased within the year specifically with New G in mind. I've gotten good wear out of them and found them all on sale.

The bedazzled clutch, was a repeat from last years holiday party look. 


Silver Shiny Court Shoe Zara

Black Patent Jyssika Enzo Angiolini

Navy NW7IKE2 Nine West

Multi Holt Clutch Nina

Overall this has been a great year, belting the bulge has come to mean more than getting a good pair of spanx and being snatched, but tightening my belt and watching my wallet. 2016 will be more of the same, thinking I have nothing to wear, but forcing myself to wear what I have. As much as I want to build my wardrobe, its more important that I build my future. It won't be easy but it will be worth it! See you next year!