This Black Friday I am teaming up with Soma Intimates to help you not only find the perfect gift, but cruise through the holidays in style every night. I took a poll on a recent Instagram post asking you guys if on a Friday night you were team “in the streets” or “in the sheets” – and most of you said SHEETS (like me)! So this post is for you!
I’ve been wearing Soma Intimates for a couple years now, so when the brand approached me to share my picks for the season from the Cool Nights collection, I knew it was a perfect fit. I’ve recently fallen in love with wearing matching pajamas. It feels very official. Like bedtime is definitely happening … right now. Ha!
I rounded up the perfect winter pajamas for all of the women in your life. I think I’ll get a set for my sisters and mom! The best part? Soma Intimates is a having a fabulous sale this weekend – 30% off! Yes, please.
You all will love the Cool Nights PJs because they keep you cool all night long and the material is so incredibly soft. It’s not uncommon to find me lounging around on a Saturday afternoon in my pajamas (in between basketball games for my sons of course)! My boys also know that when I come home from work during the week, I like to get comfortable first before I can do anything … and this usually always involves pajamas!
I created an easy shopping tool for you to check out the collection below. I’d love to hear from you on what you think (even though I already know you’ll love them). Check out the details below! To create the look above, I mix and matched my pajama set from Soma with a top from the Cool Nights collection. It changed to whole look of the set and I love it. In case you were wondering, YES – you can style your pajamas too! I sure do!
I hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving with your families. I know I sure did. I flew to Atlanta to be with my husband and kiddos. They were there visiting my sister-in-law and her husband. We had such a good time and I was very sad for it to end! But a little shopping always helps bring a smile to my face.
By now I’m sure you’ve seen a million gift guides and deals online from other bloggers or through your internet shopping. With that being said, we’re taking a different approach to Cyber Weekend and I’m sharing with you everything that I personally bought this year and hopefully it will inspire you to get your shopping going for the holiday season!
It’s no secret that I love MICHELE watches. I wear mine almost every day and always get so many compliments. So when the team told me about their sale this weekend, I couldn’t wait to share it with you guys. Details are below!
URBAN MINI COLLECTION AND HYBRID SMARTWATCHES UP TO 40% OFF
I’ve been living in matching pajamas lately! Soma Intimates is the brand that I’m usually wearing when I record my Instagram stories in my pajamas! They are having a great sale (30% off) – Read more about what I bought and why in my latest blog post.
I bought a few things prior to Black Friday because Nordstrom was having their fall sale and select styles were up to 40% off. Here’s a peek at what I bought!
I hope you all have been enjoying your holiday weekend with your families! I do pretty much all of my shopping online so I have been loving reading up on what’s on sale. I don’t want to overwhelm you guys with every single sale that’s out there (because there are TONS!) I hope you enjoyed this quick synopsis of all the things I got for myself and for my family!
Anyone who knows me really well, probably has picked up on the fact that I’m a total introvert. But a huge part of my job is mixing and mingling with brands, other content creators and PR contacts, so I thought I’d share a little glimpse into how I’ve overcome my inner introvert and made it work in my favor – especially at industry events!
Now before I begin, I should preface all of this and say, these are steps I take to help me out in this very “in your face” industry – this certainly isn’t a “cure”
Prepare Ahead of Time
For me, large crowds of people I don’t know give me a lot of anxiety, I know this about myself. I also know that I’m a big girl and there will be times when I will be in those situations. I try to always mentally prepare myself before walking into a scenario that might be a trigger for me as an introvert. When I’m prepared, I can usually muscle through until it’s time to go back home.
How Do You Recharge?
It is important to know how you recharge yourself after being in an environment that may be overstimulating for you. I know that I need to be left alone. I thrive in complete silence and need it after a long day. Do you know what you need to recharge and are you giving yourself the time and space to do so?
These next tips are for when you have to be out and about for work/industry functions:
Work the room
When I go to an event, as painful, scary and overwhelming as it feels on the inside, I try to suppress all of that and work the room. I take a deep breath and introduce myself to as many people as I can. At industry events, you’ll end up seeing some of the same people out and about. It helps to make the introduction, that way when you’re at the next one, you can say hello to familiar faces.
Fake it til you make it
I hate to break it to you but… this is 100% good advice. I usually have to pretend like I’m not completely overwhelmed, over it and ready to go and believe it or not, it works. It is a total mental game. I know that at the end of the day, in order for me to continue to grow my business and get my name out there, I have to get really uncomfortable and do things that I normally wouldn’t necessarily “want” to do. It has paid off in a big way and every day I push myself to do something that makes me really uncomfortable that will ultimately help me in the long run.
Be smart, take breaks
While you’re out there faking it til you make it, I know how mentally exhausting it can be, especially if you’re new to this! So take breaks and when you’re done – just be done! I keep my sanity by knowing my limits and keeping my mental health top of mind at all times.
Any fellow introverts out there? What tips and tricks do you use?
This is post sponsored by DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse. All opinions expressed in this post are mine.
The western trend has made its way onto nearly every runway and fashion magazine for fall, and I’m loving every minute of it. As I’m flipping through magazines and fashion show images, my initial theory has proven to be correct! You can wear this trend with literally anything. It’s all about your personal style.
I wore two pairs of western boots during New York Fashion Week, and styled them both completely different. Now that I’m back home, I had some fun styling them in my every day attire!
Today on the blog, I’m teaming up with DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse to share my favorite western boots! The best part? You don’t have to be from Texas to love this fall trend.
(All of my looks are styled with western boots I found on DSW.com!)
My Western Trend Boot Picks (plus how and why I styled them the way that I did)
1. Bold Western Bootie
I love the color red. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, then you know this color pops up quite often. When I saw these Indigo Rd. Yasmina Western Booties, I knew immediately that I needed them because they would look SO good with my new denim jacket that I love to wear.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://stephtaylorjackson.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_0815.jpg” _builder_version=”3.15″][/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https://stephtaylorjackson.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_0740.jpg” _builder_version=”3.15″ alt=”dsw style squad indigo rd. yasmina western bootie dallas fashion blogger stephanie taylor jackson”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.15″]The jacket is long and distressed, and the boots were the perfect complement to them. Both are major style statements. I opted for a simple black dress for my photo shoot at the Texas State Fair, however, these boots would look amazing with a great pair of boyfriend jeans and a bodysuit or a high collar, long sleeve, printed mini dress. (Anyone else visualize exactly how you would wear something … down to the print? – I’m a little crazy hah!)[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.15″][/et_pb_text][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.15″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.15″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.15″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.15″]
2. Cowboy Chic
I went back and forth with these L’Artiste by Spring Step Elisie Booties for a solid 30 minutes. Are they too western? Are they too funky? Would you guys like them as much as I do? Do I really like these shoes or am I drawn to them because of how different they are?
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding=”0|0px|27px|0px|false|false” admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”3.0.74″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://stephtaylorjackson.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_0719.jpg” alt=”dsw style squad texas stephanie steph taylor jackson spring step elisie bootie l’artiste” _builder_version=”3.15″][/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https://stephtaylorjackson.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_0811.jpg” alt=”dsw style squad texas stephanie steph taylor jackson” _builder_version=”3.15″][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.15″][/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.15″]Well, as you can see, I totally went for it! And probably styled them much different than you’d expect. I love these boots because of how different they are and I wanted to see how to push the limits with them. I think style speaks louder when it is unpredictable.
So here we are in a gorgeous mustard mini dress and this was one of my favorite looks to style! [/et_pb_text][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.15″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.15″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.15″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.15″]
3. MOTO-WESTERN
This Fergalicious Isolation Moto Booties have so much detail and are a fun alternative if you aren’t fully committed to the western trend. I call them “moto-western” because they are a cross between western and moto chic. I love these boots because you can wear them with a dress, jeans or even denim shorts! I opted for an over-sized sweater and black silk skirt. This look is very “fall” and the perfect way to ease into the Western trend!
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://stephtaylorjackson.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_0722.jpg” alt=”dsw style squad texas fergalicious isolation moto bootie dallas blogger stephanie steph taylor jackson” _builder_version=”3.15″][/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https://stephtaylorjackson.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_0814.jpg” alt=”dsw style squad texas fergalicious isolation moto bootie dallas blogger stephanie steph taylor jackson” _builder_version=”3.15″][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.15″]What do you guys think about the Western trend? Do you love it as much as I do? Check out Instagram and my shop page to see how I continue to style these boots all season long!
Thanks so much for reading![/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.15″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.15″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_comments _builder_version=”3.15″][/et_pb_comments][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.74″ custom_padding=”0|0px|0|0px|false|false” global_module=”568″ collapsed=”off”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.7″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_divider divider_weight=”5px” _builder_version=”3.10.2″][/et_pb_divider][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row background_position_1=”top_left” background_position_2=”top_left” background_position_3=”top_left” background_repeat_1=”no-repeat” background_repeat_2=”no-repeat” background_repeat_3=”no-repeat” padding_top_1=”12px” padding_top_2=”12px” _builder_version=”3.11.1″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” module_alignment=”center”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ padding_top=”12px” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”no-repeat”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.11.1″ text_font=”Arimo||||” text_font_size=”12″ text_letter_spacing=”3″ text_orientation=”center” max_width=”75%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”15px|||” border_style=”solid”]
Press
For press and business inquiries, please contact Stephanie via email(stephanie@stephtaylorjackson.com) or contact form. Services, rates and media kit are available upon request. We look forward to connecting with you.
It’s time for another beauty chat! How many of you use a makeup primer? Don’t raise your hands all at once! I recently did an event with a brand and shared makeup tips and tricks. But I was surprised by how many people either didn’t use a makeup primer or weren’t sure what makeup primer to have in their beauty arsenal.
This made me wonder how many others out there might have the same question. So, thank you to everyone who came out to that event, you inspired today’s post!
Now let’s chat makeup primer!
What is a makeup primer?
Primers are a great way to prepare your face for the makeup you are about to put on. There are so many on the market that help with different things. Some help control shine, others give a mattifying look, and others give you an illuminating glow. There are hundreds in between what I mentioned here. But the one thing that most all makeup primers have in common is they keep your makeup looking great all day long.
Makeup primers I love
I rotate between a few primers, so I’m going to share the TOP 4 that I am loving right now! I have two newbies that I just received in September during fashion week – and they are SO good! I couldn’t keep it to myself.
1. PETER THOMAS ROTH
This newbie makeup primer has quickly become one of my favorites. I went from using a different makeup primer every few days, to using this one pretty consistently. It’s called the Skin To Die For – No-Filter, Mattifying Primer & Complexion Perfector. I have combination skin, a mix of oily and dry, so this primer works really well for me. It’s mattifying, but not so much so that my natural glow is hidden. Something I’ve also noticed, is that my makeup stays on so well with this brand. I work all day, go do activities for my kids and then come home and work on the blog before bed. When I look in the mirror at night to wash my face, I damn near look the same as I did when the day started. That speaks volumes about the brands I use. I love this makeup primer!
2. COVER | FX
This is another brand that I just love! I use this primer under certain foundations because of how rich and moisturizing it is. It’s an Anti-Aging Primer, which is one of the reasons why I love it so much. It also contains vitamins and a multi-peptide complex that supports the natural production of collagen. And in case you didn’t know … ladies … we need all the collagen we can get as we get older. This primer is not mattifying, but it feels so incredible on my skin and does a really nice job of keeping my makeup in place all day long. I love this one under my Fenty Beauty foundation, because as much as I love the foundation, it can at times be a little drying.
3. BOBBI BROWN
This product is called a “face base,” and I use it as a primer. I love this one because of how nourishing it is on my skin and how great it smells. While it is not completely mattifying, this face base keeps my makeup in place all day and gives my skin a really beautiful glow that lasts. I try to use this primer with my Bobbi Brown foundation, however, it honestly works well with any brand that I wear.
4. Erborian Pink Perfect Cream + Glow Cream
These products are the other newbies I was telling you about earlier. I recently had the opportunity to go on a brand trip with Erborian and learn more about the products and I’ve been sold ever since. The Pink Perfect Cream is a game change. It has a blurring affect on any skin imperfections you may have and makes your face looks so smooth. The Glow Cream is also next level. You can use it as a highlighter or put it all over your face under your makeup. Both products moisturize your skin and help keep your makeup in place all day long.
48% don’t use a makeup primer
There are so many primers out there that work well for different skin types, but these are the 4 that I’m rotating between right now.
I did a poll on Instagram and 48% of you said you don’t typically use a makeup primer. My challenge for you this week is to try one! I remember a few years ago when I used a makeup primer for the first time and it completely changed how my makeup applied to my skin. Like, total game changer. My team at work was like … what changed? Your makeup looks amazing! And the secret was a great primer + the right foundation!
I will dig into my favorite foundations in an upcoming post, but this week, let’s focus on primers!
Thank you for reading! You can shop my favorites via the links throughout this post!
For press and business inquiries, please contact Stephanie via email(stephanie@stephtaylorjackson.com) or contact form. Services, rates and media kit are available upon request. We look forward to connecting with you.
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Squarespace vs. WordPress – Which one is better for bloggers and content creators?
While I can only speak from my own personal experience, I will say that I had my site evaluated by a SEO expert and neutral party in this debate. The feedback I received is what led me to my decision to leave my Squarespace site behind and begin building a new website with WordPress.
So today on the blog I want to share some of that feedback, plus dig a little deeper into why I made the change. Squarespace vs. WordPress – lessssgo!
Templates/Visual
The reason I initially chose Squarespace over WordPress a few years ago was because of how easy the site is to use. I literally had a page built in a day and was ready to go. I love the drag and drop features that make creating a website super doable for anyone. The only drawback was that I would go on other content creators sites or business websites that also used the same template as me and it was like I was looking at a cookie cutter page that looked very similar to mine.
Now granted, you can tweak fonts and get really creative, but at the end of the day, you are limited to the templates that Squarespace has available. I can’t tell you how many times I’d go to another bloggers page and I was essentially looking at my page but with someone else’s photos. No thank you!
I was initially very nervous about WordPress because I thought that I needed to be super savvy in code to be able to build a page from scratch. However, after talking to a few people, I learned about different options that would be easy for me to navigate and figure out. Specifically, installing the Divi theme and choosing a template that was compatible has been a game changer.
Divi is similar to Squarespace in the sense that you can drag and drop to create the page you want – BUT there are a million more options. There are literally millions of templates and plug-ins you can choose from to create whatever you want. This is what I love the most about the visual capabilities on WordPress vs. Squarespace.
SEO
When I had my site evaluated, I received a lot of good feedback, but the one thing I wanted to take away was how can I improve my site ranking and pageviews. After all, if you’re working hard to create great content, but no one sees it … all your hard work can start to feel meaningless.
What I learned is that while there are built in SEO capabilities that are powerful on Squarespace, I am not able to easily tweak, add plug-ins or see a visual SEO analysis for every post in real time like I am now. The Yoast plug-in is my new best friend. I haven’t upgraded to premium yet but I’m thrilled with what I’ve learned/gained from just using the basic option. It really helps you think about everything. From the title of your post, to the meta description, to the alt text, to the length of your sentences in the post … I could literally go on and on. I feel like I’m back in college studying journalism again and Professor Yoast is right there looking over my shoulder making sure I’m producing quality work. I really love it and I highly recommend this plug-in.
Who’s Your Website Host?
I have been really happy with my decision to switch and feel confident that I’ve made the right choice for my business. For hosting, I use Siteground. This was recommended to me by the SEO specialist I am working with. After reading reviews and looking for validation from others in the same field as me, I now know that Siteground is a trusted host that many use for their websites.
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In a nutshell, the versatility and freedom to literally create whatever I want with no limits was the catalyst in helping me decide whether or not to switch from Squarespace to WordPress. The SEO capabilities plus all of the plug-ins that help make my website a success have been critical as well.
Welcome to my new website. I am so very excited about this new space and I can’t wait to show you around more.
Let’s talk skincare! Dry skin to be exact! It’s October which means it is Eczema Awareness Month so I’m excited to be teaming up with Aveeno to help shed light on this skin condition.
Both my younger son and my husband suffer from eczema, so I wanted to share more about the products we use on a daily basis and hopefully shed light on how you can effectively manage your next eczema flare up!
Before I jump into the products that we’reusing and loving right now, you all should know I’ve been using them on both my husband, Jason, and my son Gavin, since the beginning of this year and we’ve been really happy with the results!
With my husband and son both having eczema, they often getflare ups that we try to control with great routines around skincare. I know many of you have shared your skincare concerns with me both in DM or in person so I wanted to highlight 3 products that I swear by for my family. They are all from the Aveeno Eczema Therapy line and we rotate between them!
○ Aveeno Eczema Therapy Itch ReliefBalm has three times the glycerin of the Aveeno Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Creamand is perfect for applying before bed. It also hasoatmeal and ceramides to soothe the skin while you sleep. Weuse this to relieve those intense flare ups.
○ Aveeno Eczema Therapy Hand Cream is perfect for hydrating skin on the hands. Use this to protect your hands from the environment and decrease dry patches.
The product that we use the most is the Itch Relief Balm – typically before bed. Why? Because of how soothing and creamy it is. I’ll be honest, I love the itch relief balm even for myself after a warm shower! I borrow it often.
I also keep the Hand Cream in my purse for when we are out and about and the Moisturizing Cream is something we use every day, usually in the mornings.
These are my go-to products for my boys! Have you all tried any of these for yourselves or for your families?
For press and business inquiries, please contact Stephanie via email(stephanie@stephtaylorjackson.com) or contact form. Services, rates and media kit are available upon request. We look forward to connecting with you.
The side hustle, as defined by Entrepreneur magazine in an article back in 2013 is
“a way to make some extra cash that allows you flexibility to pursue what you’re most interested in. It can also be your true passion – a chance to delve into fashion, travel or whatever it is you care about the most without quitting your day job.”
And to this I say … YES! I started creating a “side hustle” a few years ago when I was miserable at work and desperately needed an outlet to keep me sane. There are several different reasons one might have one, but for me, it’s all about working to build and create something that is 100% me and that will ultimately push me towards where I want to be within a few years. My side hustle is my passion.
Working full-time and managing your passion can be challenging. There have been days when I have looked in the mirror and wondered why I do this to myself – the extra work, the late nights, the non-stop working and no days off … but honestly for me it’s about living a rich life, not in monetary things, but in the things that make me happy and complete. Writing, fashion and creating does that for me. And while I make a good amount of money from it, I’m not in a place where I can or want to drop everything for it right now. My husband and I have huge goals for our family, and building that plus getting to do something that I love, is really satisfying.
So how do you balance creating and managing what you are passionate about (the side hustle) and get it to fit it in your already busy life?
1. What’s the plan?
Whatever your business is, you have to plan ahead and know what you want to accomplish for the month, the quarter, the year, etc. As a writer, my planning revolves around content and asking myself … what do I want to say? My process is probably a little different than most. I sit at my laptop and just start typing blog titles/topics into my draft section. I also have a notepad with every month listed and I break down each topic by month. Some posts are strictly fashion related, while others dig a little deeper. My monthly planning also consists of assessing analytics from my website, social feeds and reading feedback from my audience and thinking strategically about how I am going to improve. It’s such a process this entrepreneur thing, you know? From the outside looking in, some people think, wow she’s doing what she loves! And while that it is true, I am still so far from where I want to be. And that is where the planning, the sleepless nights and the strategy comes in to play. You’ll be able to balance your passion better if you have a clear vision for where you want to take it.
2. Timing is Everything.
Every part of my life has it’s time. It has to, otherwise, I’d never get anything done and my husband and children would probably feel very neglected! When I’m at work, I am 100% at work and focused on being successful. When I get home, I am 100% focused on my family and being a good wife and mother. When my kids go to bed and after spending time with my husband, I am 100% focused on my side hustle, my blog. I’ve tried giving everything my attention all at the same time in the past, and failed miserably (I still slip up every now and then). But setting time and having boundaries, really helps make sure that no balls are dropped in this constant, every day juggle! We make time for the things that are important to us. Just think about your favorite TV show, girl’s night out, date night … all of these things take time. Are you scheduling the time it takes to make your dream a reality without sacrificing everything else you have going on?
3. Find Your Off Switch, Then Use It.
We can’t do it all, and sometimes we need to turn off and regroup to get back on track. I do this often. I think it’s important to be proud of what you are producing, both at your full-time job and when working for yourself. If things aren’t going the way you wanted them to go, take a minute to step back and get back on track. I also turn off when it’s time to spend time with family. I rarely post on weekends for a couple of reasons, I have to work weekends for my day job so if I am off and home with my kiddos, I want my focus to be 100% on them. Know when to turn off, don’t hesitate to flip the switch. You’ll be better for it.
4. Define The Why
This ties into planning, with an extra added layer of purpose. Knowing why you want to do something and what motivates you to keep going is sometimes easier said than done. Write it down, revisit it often, make it a constant reminder to keep you going. There will be days when things don’t go as planned and you start to question why you’re even doing it in the first place. It’s in these moments that it’s the easiest to say “this is too hard, I quit” … but when I think about why I started and where I want to go, it really helps push me and keep me afloat. What is your why? My why is my children, my husband, myself, my sanity, my passion, my happiness and so much more.
5. Say No
Every opportunity is not a good opportunity. Every offer is not a good offer. Every person is not worth your time. Say no. With that comes knowing your worth and fighting for what you want. Yes, you have to start somewhere and build your business, but learning to say “no” and at times “HELL no” is essential … at least to me. Staying focused on the end goal and saving your time and energy on the behaviors that will get you there is so important. “No” is my new favorite word, my “no” also comes in the form of “girl bye!” or “boy bye” which can also be translated to “hell NO.” Learning to say “no,” helps to maintain balance and order in every area of not only your personal life but also your business. It puts time back on your side to do the things that YOU want and need to do to balance and continue to grow your business.
Any tips you have that work for you? I’d love to hear about them! My outfit is from my NYC trip. I linked all the details about it below for you to shop! You can also head to my SHOP page for all my Instagram looks.
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Today I’m teaming up with JCPenney to share my favorite fall trends! The best part? Everything I’m wearing is under $50.
I’m loving everything from mens-inspired looks to plaid to taking a walk on the wild side with animal prints and fall florals. There are many great trends this season and I love that I can keep up with them all and stay on budget. I’m all about attainable fashion when it comes to my wardrobe … I’m sure my husband appreciates that. Ha!
Menswear + Bold Colors
I mixed these two trends by selecting a menswear inspired suit in a bold pop of color. There is something really feminine and chic about a great suit and bold colors are always a good idea.
I chose a chunky heeled sandal to add more height to the look and elongate my legs!
Wild Side
It seems like everywhere I turn this season, there is leopard print calling my name! I decided to mix plaid and leopard to show how you can use both as a neutral when styled right. Don’t be afraid to pattern mix!
Working The Plaid + Wide Leg
This wear to work look is easy to recreate and super attainable for anyone! I paired my plaid blouse with wide leg cropped pants. Both are on trend for fall and great for a work week chic look.
Fall Florals
I love a beautiful floral print anytime of year, but there is something about florals in the fall that make my heart smile. This look can be worn day or night and is easy to style! I paired my look with booties but it would also look great with the chunky heel styled above.
I found everything I’m wearing at JCPenney! I love that it’s a one-stop shopping location. I’m ready for the season! What trends are you looking forward to trying? Swing by JCPenney.com and shop my looks. Everything is linked throughout the post!
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Snakeskin is in and I’m kind of here for it. I won’t lie, there was a time when I thought animal prints were for a … different generation, but I’ve had so much fun styling and incorporating this trend in a subtle way throughout my wardrobe. The runways seem to recycle trends every few years, so it should come to no surprise to us all that the animal print craze is here again for fall.
Every Day Snakeskin Styling
If you’re not a streetstyle artist (I’m definitely not) and you’re looking for ways to incorporate print into your every day style, I’ve pulled a few pieces that you’re sure to love. But first things first, let me show you one of my looks from New York Fashion Week that included a snakeskin bodysuit I found online for under $25. This was one of my favorite looks to share with you guys, because of how easy to recreate it is!
How I styled for fashion week
This bodysuit it my first snakeskin buy of the season and I am pretty excited about it – it was perfect for New York Fashion Week! It is super low cut on the sides, so I wore a faux leather jacket over it so that “the girls” weren’t hanging out too much in the streets of New York. I added a fun pop of color with a metallic skirt that comes in the prettiest shade of green. The colors worked really well together when I was planning this outfit.
Snakeskin Fashion Finds
Here are a few more snakeskin finds that you might like to add to your wardrobe. The best part, all are under $100. I am a firm believer in finding great deals on clothes, especially trend pieces.
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<!– [et_pb_line_break_holder] –><!– [et_pb_line_break_holder] –><!– [et_pb_line_break_holder] –><!– [et_pb_line_break_holder] –><!– [et_pb_line_break_holder] –><!– [et_pb_line_break_holder] –>What are your thoughts on snakeskin? Everyone is talking about leopard print, but I’m here for the snake! Sound off in the comments below or over on Instagram! [/et_pb_code][et_pb_image src=”https://stephtaylorjackson.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Steph_NYFW-12.jpg” alt=”snakeskin trend how to style snakeskin boohoo.com black fashion bloggers stephanie taylor jackson” title_text=”snakeskin trend how to style snakeskin boohoo.com black fashion bloggers stephanie taylor jackson” _builder_version=”3.15″][/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https://stephtaylorjackson.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Steph_NYFW-14.jpg” alt=”snakeskin trend how to style snakeskin boohoo.com black fashion bloggers stephanie taylor jackson” title_text=”snakeskin trend how to style snakeskin boohoo.com black fashion bloggers stephanie taylor jackson” _builder_version=”3.15″][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.15″]
It’s no secret. New York Fashion Week is changing. Major designers are either pulling out of the event all together or switching to more intimate presentations. While this gives up and coming designers the chance to showcase their work on a grand stage, it does beg the question … does fashion week still live up to the hype? Has it lost it luster? Will it still be around (in the same capacity) in years to come? I’ve read countless articles on this and even heard from industry friends on why they no longer attend, but at the end of the day, none of that matters because I go for me. After four seasons of attending shows and running around the streets of NYC with my gal pals, living out our Sex and the City dreams, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t take pauses to really evaluate why I do it. After all, if not done right, it can be expensive, exhausting and painful (those poor feet!)
Why I Still Attend
So here’s my answer as to why I still attend fashion week, even though it’s clearly changing: I love New York City. I love seeing all of my industry friends in one setting. I love fashion.
Fashion week is undoubtedly changing, but I wouldn’t say it’s all bad. There are many who come to New York and care more about appearances than the actual fashion, and often times this is what people see from the outside looking in. It can all feel very self serving and superficial in the grand scheme of things, but I think there are ways to take matters into your own hands and use your influence for good.
Inspired.
One of the highlights of my trip was seeing Courtney, from Color Me Courtney, taking young girls around as mentees during the week and giving them a first hand experience and picture of what it looks like to be in the industry during fashion week. As women of color, it is so important to look back and reach out a hand to those who may need direction or help along the way. There are so many ways to give back during this crazy week and I certainly am challenging myself to do more of that.
Personal Goals
This year I personally wanted to focus more on connections than being out any and everywhere just to say I was. I wanted to truly enjoy the moments I had with the women who inspire me daily and share anything I could share to help lift or guide someone else. I loved getting to meet and fellowship with women of color over brunch on Saturday during fashion week. It was definitely food for the soul to spend that time together. I left this season feeling happy and accomplished, and I hope to add to that in seasons to come.
Fashion week is what you make of it, just like anything else in life. It’s up to me (and you) to take matters into your own hands and be the change you want to see.
When I think about the energy of the city and the sense that you can be and do anything you want, it seems fitting that change has come. One of the things that keeps me coming back season after season, is the energy and excitement that is New York Fashion Week. I’ll see you in February, NYC!
For press and business inquiries, please contact Stephanie via email or contact form. Services, rates and media kit are available upon request. We look forward to connecting with you.
How To Style Biker Shorts + A $1000 Nordstrom Giveaway
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When you turn on the TV or scroll through Instagram these days, it seems as though biker shorts were every where. I suppose we can thank a Kanye West or a Kardashian for that. However, after getting over my initial WTH? feelings, I decided to take the plunge and try out the trend for kicks during New York Fashion Week.
I’ve seen the biker shorts trend styled a plethora of ways, from almost business chic to all the way casual. The options appear to be endless. I went with more of a casual look with my biker shorts because this is more my style and felt more comfortable to me.
How To Style The Biker Shorts Trend
The set I bought is from Boo Hoo, an online boutique that sells affordable clothing for a wide range of sizes and style preferences. This was my first time ordering from their site and I was pleasantly surprised at all that I was able to purchase for less than $300. Including my biker shorts, which were sold in a set for less than $20. I was looking for easy/trendy looks to wear during fashion week that I wouldn’t mind either giving away or only wearing a few more times.
The casual look I had planned to style was taken to the next level with this awesome longline denim jacket I found. I love that it is long and covers up my booty! Biker shorts are form fitting, and while very cute, I was not wanting to be walking the streets of New York exposed!
Check out my look details below on how to style biker shorts casual and then scroll back up and check out how my blogger friend, Monica, styles it in a chic way on her latest blog post! Details HERE!
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My shoes are by Stuart Weiztman and I found them online at DSW.
$1000 Nordstrom Giveaway!!
Now for a little fun! I’m sharing a really cool giveaway with you all and I hope you win! There’s a link at the bottom of this post where you can enter to win a $1000 Nordstrom giftcard. Talk about the perfect way to kick off your fall wardrobe! Be sure to enter!! Only a few days left!!
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_code _builder_version=”3.15″]<p><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-11254" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.pineappleandprosecco.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/1000Nord.png" alt="$1,000 Nordstrom Gift Card Giveaway" width="940" height="300" /></p><!– [et_pb_line_break_holder] –><p style="text-align: center;">To make your Fall shopping a little bit easier, I've teamed up with a group of bloggers to give you <br />a chance to win a <strong>$1,000 Nordstrom Gift Card</strong>!</p><!– [et_pb_line_break_holder] –><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><em><strong>To enter:</strong> </em>complete the steps in the rafflecopter below. The more steps you complete,</span> <br /><span style="font-size: 10pt;">the more entries you receive, and the better your chance at winning!</span> <br /><span style="font-size: 10pt;">This giveaway runs until Tuesday, October 2nd at 12am PST</span></p><!– [et_pb_line_break_holder] –><p style="text-align: center;">Winner will be announced here. Good Luck! <br /><em><span style="font-size: 10pt;">*this giveaway is in no way sponsored by Nordstrom.</span></em></p><!– [et_pb_line_break_holder] –><p style="text-align: center;"><a class="rcptr" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b081dc3a18/" rel="nofollow" data-raflid="b081dc3a18" data-theme="classic" data-template="" id="rcwidget_bw8wz19j">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script><!– [et_pb_line_break_holder] –>[/et_pb_code][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
Welcome to stephtaylorjackson.com, your ultimate lifestyle destination for fashion, beauty, travel and #momlife. I am a Dallas girl, now living in Florida and every week on the blog I share content that inspires and educates women across the world. My mission is to give all readers a weekly guide on how to live your best life, IN STYLE.
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