THE G.O.A.T

Hey Beauties (praying I only crave lettuce this week eeeyyy-o) Styling is only as hard as you make it, it can be intimidating and stressful at times but doesn’t have to be. There are several ways to mix and match pieces (obvi) but the easiest way is always with “matching separates”. If you struggle with “making outfits” then this is a great place to start. I’m going to break it down for you even further because ya’ll (< “I said what I said” I’m from Texas *wink*) are my crew and “I GOT YOU”. A matching separate is basically a set of some sort that “matches” and is USUALLY the same fabric, pattern, or color. The dope thing about “matching separates” is not only that you can wear them together to make one outfit, but you can break them up and have several options. I know it’s not a big secret that most of my “sets” have a more STREETWEAR vibe to them, but I’ve seen some sick blazer sets and even a few casual lounge sets that have caught my attention so don’t pass on them if something catches your eye.  

“We’re Going to Melrose“

Like most of my purchases, I didn’t even know I needed this set till I saw it and just had to have it. I very rarely am on “the hunt” for a specific piece, I just buy whatever I like and add it into rotation. This particular set left me with no question in my mind that I needed it and didn’t contemplate that decision at all. I was in L.A. and decided to hit up Melrose Avenue for some shopping. There were a few places I had on my list and Sorella Boutique was one of them. I discovered the shop via social media for their ever so popular Instagram worthy pink exterior and realized their clothes were pretty dope too. I knew I had a trip to L.A. planned in the coming months and decided to hold off on placing an order online till I was in store and able to get the full experience. There’s nothing like actually seeing the clothing, having the option to try it on, and then walking out with the gear in the shopping bag. If you haven’t been on Melrose in L.A. and love clothes and shopping, sis… I highly recommend it! It’s not only a vibe in itself with all the wall art and unique shops, there is literally something for everyone. Anywhere that you can get a Paloma, dope gear, and some bomb Insta pics within feet of one another, guuurrrrll you just can’t go wrong.

GIRLS TOUR

Making my way down to Sorella I was ready for the unknown and just knew I would leave with something to add to my collection. Walking up was super dope… just being able to walk through the doors I had been seeing on social media for months was the perfect way to end my shopping day. The overall setup of the store was appealing and laid out perfectly. There were displays everywhere but it wasn’t overly crowded with racks and excess inventory. The space was utilized very well, and everything was visible and spaced out perfectly.  The music was going and that always puts me in the mood to take my time and look at everything. The staff was not only friendly and NEVER hovered or made me feel uncomfortable, but they offered their service and dressed to fit the ambience of the store. I feel more people need to speak on this, so let me get this going… I love a warm welcome and the offer of help and I totally get that maybe some places train on “hard sales” but trust.. people have limits and once you make someone boycott your place because your salespeople are too pushy and don’t take a hint, you have a problem. We had to have a mini MODISH rant, right? We keep it 100 around here so if the thought crosses my mind we don’t hold back.  

Sorella Boutique In the Flesh

My eyes went straight for the mannequin in this full black wind suit. I loved the quarter zip crop jacket the most since I DIE for a high collar and then noticing the torso zip and matching joggers were a bonus. The set looked so bad a** just simple, casual, yet still super cool and versatile. Like anyone, I made my way to the rack to ensure my size was there before I even let myself get excited. I was literally picking the article up off the rack and the buzzkill voice in my head was like “sis we just got here and you’re already committing to the first thing you laid your eyes on? not to mention… it’s summer gurl.. you’re sweating as we speak… it’s going to sit in your closet until you forget about it. I really wish the tequila I had consumed earlier would have knocked this “negative Nancy” out but damn, nothing slows her down. I took her advice and decided to walk around the store and just scope things out a bit more knowing I’d leave with the whole store if I played it at this rate (which I was totally o.k. with haha) There was a little bit of everything from shoes, sunglasses, jewelry and even swim. There was a dope a** caged area that had more unique pieces that I just couldn’t resist but nothing was topping the all black windsuit. I picked up a few pieces that were just a MUST but made my way back to the set that “had me at hello” like literally… like a queen didn’t even have both feet in the store yet type of literally… *snap* I snagged that baby up like nobody’s business and made my way to the register.

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I must say that this boutique was not only dope, but the quality and price point were TOP NOTCH. I was pleased with my entire experience and immediately regretted not buying more as soon as I got back to my hotel. L.A. was a success and once I was back home, I was able to assess my purchase and I was still 100% obsessed with my choices. I’m one of those people that RARELY tries things on in the store, it depends on my mood and how much clothes I have on that needs to be removed which is always the dilemma for me. I’m not trying to get makeup or deodorant on most importantly the stores clothes but on my clothes too … like a girl has to stay fresh at all times and no one has time for stains, streaky makeup, or wrinkled clothes for all that fuss.

Easy.. Breezy.. Beauty…

I can USUALLY look at something and know what size I should be wearing. I went for a medium since the legs looked like a “slim fit” and I’m a little more blessed below the waist. I never worry about tops since I prefer an oversized fit and this has an adjustable waist bungee so I knew I could make it work. I slipped into this piece super hopeful and was more than pleased! It was lightweight, perfectly fitted, and super flattering. I was genuinely shocked at just how lightweight it was on the body. It’s definitely meant for cooler/breezy weather, but I knew immediately that on the right summer EVENING, I could get away with pulling this bad boy out since it wasn’t lined and felt like nothing was on my body (no joke). Scoping out the other goodies from my trip, I remembered I stopped at Supreme on Fairfax (you knew I had to) and bought this super retro style flat bill hat and (*ding*) that bulb went off and it was a perfect match. You know we always preach around here about having things “just in case” and that it’s O.K. to buy things that you just like with nowhere in mind to wear them to? Well this was the perfect example of that because the following weekend I decided to go see the queen herself J.LO in a nearby city and this fit made its way into my suitcase.

Mixin’ & Matchin’

I decided to wear this out for a little “Sunday Funday” since it was a cloudier day and it was perfect. I did push the sleeves up a bit but had no issues with overheating. I went for an all-black look since I paired such a unique style of hat and kept it unison with my black Yeezy 700’s. Since wearing this fit together, I’ve worn the pants with a different top and the top with a different bottom and that’s 3 different outfits in one. You could easily pair this top with a pair of black denim shorts and some sneakers or the joggers with a white bodysuit and denim jacket. I would go as far as to pair the set with strappy heels and a pair of statement earrings for a night out. Do you agree with me that matching separates are a good way to get the creative juices flowing? Are you a fan of wearing a “set” or prefer to style your own “base pieces”? What’s your preference on fitting rooms and hovering salespeople? Fill your girl in!