What an exciting weekend!! My collection of vintage formal dresses were featured in the Fall Fro Fashion Week. This two day conference held in Atlanta twice a year (Spring & Fall) set the trends in the natural hair care, beauty and fashion industries. I can't wait to participate again next year! These are a few behind the scenes pictures from the event.

Me and Founder of Fro Fashion Week Tarin Boone.

My two assistants Kori and my younger brother, Alvin. Kori wants to be a fashion designer & wardrobe stylist. Alvin is my photographer. He does all of my OOTD pics.

So while, Kori selects the accessories for the models.

And helps them to get dressed.

I am getting my make-up done. Since I am wearing a little black dress, I asked for a red-lip.

These models are wearing formal dresses from my Fashion Envy dress rental  collection.

 This is vintage dress that I picked up while thrifting in New Orleans. You guys know that I heart sequins but I am obsessed with anything lace. By far one of my favorite pieces.

It is almost showtime! Don't they look lovely.

Kori was so excited to take a pic with actresses Kim Coles (from Living Single) and Anna Marie Horsford (from Amen)

Yes..that's me on the runway doing the last round walk with the models. The show was amazing! I will post professional pictures as soon as they are available.

Fashion's Night Out NYC: Lord & Taylor

Blazer- Gianni Bini (Dillards)/ Bustier- H&M (Goodwill)/ Leather Skirt- The Limited (Goodwill)- Shoes- Jessica Simpson (DSW)/ Purse- LV Speedy 30 (Gifted)

I spent my second evening in NYC at Lord & Taylor Fashion's Night Out. I met Kerrie at the Utica Ave/Eastern Parkway Subway Station in Brooklyn. We took the train to Manhattan and got off at Grand Central Station. Then we walked to Lord & Taylor. 

Although we arrived fashionably late, and missed all of the celebrity guests, freebies and did not win any of the lock box prizes, we still managed to have a blast!

I ran into one of my first clients the lovely Dawn Montgomery. I hadn't seen her in years, but we keep in touch on twitter. It's always great to see a familiar face in the big city...LOL

I enjoyed several complimentary pomegranate martinis. CHEERS!

They made a fashion statement....

...and I had a shoegasm...the Jessica Simpson Bendie is a great pop of color for any outfit. 

I asked the DJ to play some of my favorite reggae songs. So he took a break from is Hip Hop/R&B set to play a little dancehall & conscious reggae vibe..

...the music took the party to another level. I felt like I was at a dancehall basement party. I won't post the remaining pics here. Let's just say you had to be there to experience it. *giggle*

The music is so contagious... we were singing along to some Tanya Stephens "It's a Pity"

This is closest that I got to Bryant Park.

Taking a pic with our driver for the evening..just kidding. We just needed to rest our feet & this was a great photo opp too.

Here is a close up of what I wore

This was my last time wearing this blazer...I traded it in at the MODSWAP fashion swap hosted by The Swapaholics.

Showing off my arm candy!

This leather skirt is one of my favorite thrifty finds.

These booties are the perfect addition to fall wardrobe. You will see them again & again LOL

I can't wait to spend Fashion's Night Out in NYC next year! Hopefully, I can get a group of Fashionable Atlanta to come with me. Oh yes...I plan to arrive early enough to enjoy all of the festivities. That was my only regret of the evening.

Independent Fashion Bloggers Conference

Yes, I've arrived at Milk Studios, New York, NY

On the day before New York Fashion Week, it was a cloudy and rainy day but that did not stop me and about 300 others to wait patiently in line to be a part of the Independent Fashion Bloggers conference. Being a newbie to fashion blogging, I was so ecstatic, anxious and admittedly a bit nervous about how this day would be. 


However, it was all that I could have ever expected. The venue, the session topics, the panelists and networking with other bloggers whose blogs I read daily, made it well worth the trip. Here are few pics of what it was like when I arrived:

Now here is a is look at my outfit for the day!

Top- No Label (Goodwill)/ Pants- Club Monaco (Goodwill)/ Shoes- Steve Madden (Marshalls)/ Bracelet and Earrings- Borrowed from my mom & step-mom/ Watch- Michael Kors (Macy's)

This top still leaves a little something to the imagination. 

Color blocking, sling back and rounded toe...now I've had my first shoegasm.

Business & Blogging was by far my favorite of all the sessions. As a newbie in the fashion blogging community, it outlined the direction I need to take my blog to the next level. 

And of course the highlight was meeting some of bloggers I love, including my best friend in my head Sammy Davis Vintage. I simply adore her passion for thrifting, it's such a motivation for me.

I was so excited to meet Kristina of Pretty Shiny Sparkly. From Bloggers do it Better and her chic effortless style, she is a girl after my own heart. 

Jennifer of  Comme CoCo and Amy of Baby Budget Blog always look so beautiful and stylish in their posts, and in person they did not disappoint me. 

Here is a peek of the goodies in our swag bags.

After the conference, I headed over to the Strand Hotel for a bloggers meet & greet hosted by Katy (pictured in black top) of Modly Chic.

A big shout out to Laura (pictured in all black dress) of A La Mode et Plus for sharing a cab with me as we made our way over to the hotel. My shoes were not made for walking..LOL

I was so happy to see my thrifting partner Kerrie of VirtuousStyls and chat with some new blogger friends Sandy of Marley Simone, Beth of Changing Spaces Design and Fajr of Stylish Thought.

The conference was definitely a great experience. I am already planning on attending the next one. I hope Fashionable Atlanta will come too, so we can represent HauteLanta!

I Heart September

I am so excited that today I am heading to New York to enjoy a few Pre-Fashion Week events. When I arrive this evening, I plan to spend time catching up with my family, because the rest of the week it's about fashion, networking and fun!! This September will be like no other.


On Wednesday, I am attending the Independent Fashion Bloggers conference. This annual event is a great opportunity for me to hear first-hand from industry experts about how I can take my blog to the next level. Plus, I get to meet some of my favorite bloggers in person too.  

If you are not able to make it, you can watch the stream live from the IFB conference right here on my page. Tune in all day from 9am- 7pm or check the agenda below for a preferred topic. (P.S. If I get the "most streams" I will win a trip to IFBcon next season!)

 

Watch live streaming video from ifbconference at livestream.com

IFB Conference Agenda


9-10:30 am  Bloggers Tool Kit 

Learn how to promote yourself through social media and find out which metrics work best for bloggers. Are Twitter and Facebook really all that effective? 

11-12:30 pm  Is the Social Media Industry Broken?

We all know expertise & time doesn’t come free in other industries, why is social media different? Social media was born out of the ‘free model’– we start blogging for free, use Twitter and Facebook for free...so where do we go from here? 

1:30-3:00 pm  Balancing Act: Business & Blogging

Need tips on how to create an amazing career through blogging without losing your soul? It’s a balancing act! This panel will discuss how bloggers keep their credibility, build their business & ethical blogging practices.

3:30-5:00 pm  Evolution of Fashion Media

Gone are the days when fashion media was all about glossy magazines and red carpet photos. As mainstream media moves online, how do blogs differentiate themselves from fashion sites?

6:00-7:00 pm  Key Note Speaker

Joe Zee, Creative Director of ELLE Magazine

After the conference, I will be attending the Stranded Blogger Meetup hosted by Katy Rose of Modly Chic. I can't wait to mix and mingle with my fellow bloggers on this gorgeous rooftop bar/lounge of the Strand Hotel. Isn't this picture breathtaking? 

Thursday is Fashion's Night Out and what better place to experience this than in New York, right? There are so many options of places to be that evening, that I haven't made a choice as yet. But my top choice is the Lord and Taylor event. Solange Knowles is a guest DJ for the evening. How cool is that? 

Lastly on Friday, I will be enjoying a Fashion Swap hosted by The Swapaholics and ModCloth. I can't wait to shop the closets of the my favorite fashion bloggers. We have to bring 2 pieces to trade in, and I am considering the following:

Sequin Blazer, Printed Romper (seen here) or Floral Skirt (seen here)

For the first time in years, I am embracing the month of September. This year  September is filled with so many new events that help to stifle those painful moments of the past. I am so happy that my heart can smile again! Moving forward my Septembers have a new meaning! Here is to new beginnings and lasting memories. What are you looking forward to the most during the month of September?