Don’t Bike [Nearly] Naked

I learned a valuable lesson on Friday. Apparently, I cannot “do it all,” as they say (I know–shocking, right?). My friend Beth Geohagen of BeFly Bike Tours hosted her first (of many, I hope) First Friday Fashion Show. In my excitement, and suffering under the delusion that I could, in fact, do it all, I agreed to model in the show knowing that I also wanted to highlight the event in a post.

The result? The following photos, shot from backstage at the event. Not the best of the event (find the best on BeFly’s Facebook page, and hey, like them while you’re at it, would you?).

Beth Geohagen, BeFly Bike Tours, and her marvelous mom

A few of the goodies we got to wear during the show

Michelle models “Bikes and Botanicals”

Michelle’s cheery yoga-themed Electra bike

William sports “Lake Hopping” attire

The point? You don’t have to be of the spandex-shorty-short-shorts-sporting variety to get outside and enjoy the fabulosity that is riding a bike.

In fact, you can ride your bike in any of your favorite outfits (including heels, as Beth often proves in BeFly photos)!

As I and my partners in crime William Shaffer, Allison McKee, Michelle Fischer Pugh, and Kevin Branham and Tamara Lee  showed, bikes provide the perfect transportation for exploits involving “lake hopping”, romantic rides, local museums, downtown pubs, or (for my fellow Lakelanders) a ride through Dixieland Historic District, Fort Frasier Trail, or Circle B Bar Reserve.  And thanks to Kimberly’s Recycled Art Projects, we proved that you can do it while being perfectly accessorized (we sported her jewelry made from recycled bike parts for the show and it is to. die. for.)

When “Art is in Heart”, you can never go wrong with a linen scarf to keep you warm once you arrive at the museum

I’m always excited to be part of collaborations showcasing incorporating creative style into everyday life. After all, most of our “adventures” occur in everyday life, so why not dress for them?

What’s your favorite bicycling outfit?

I ham it up for David Dickey’s camera

Tally Forth!

Instead of going neutral, push the boldness of a bright outfit even further by adding a colorful shoe.

I’m gearing up for Sunday’s Ultimate Fashion Experience (if you haven’t purchased your ticket yet, you can do so here)! One of my favorite designers to be featured in the show is TallyReNee (learn about their design philosophy here).

TallyReNee’s pinup collection draws on an all-American color palette and features wedge heels, polka-dot neckerchiefs, bustier-inspired tops, flirty skirts, collar necklaces, and of course, red lips.

To translate that look for a work environment, I donned slim red pants (for a dose of sexy), ultra-feminine, bow-topped platforms in navy (to keep the all-American vibe going), and a strong collar necklace for a bit of an edge.

If red pants are “too much” for your taste (c’mon—live a little!), I’d recommend swapping them out for a fitted pencil skirt in a deep, bold color (dark turquoise, anyone?) and a polished red lip.

While wedges and platforms inspire a pin-up feel, t-strap shoes also work to the same purpose, and add a bit of femininity.

Show me the experience!

L – R: Angela Bailey, KeAndrea Pettermon, LaWanda Bailey of Urban Reflections
photo courtesy theledger.com, 12.17.2012

If you live in the Central Florida area and have been around me for more than 5 consecutive seconds this week, you may have heard of Walk This Way productions. They produce fashion shows. Kick-butt fashion shows. But what you may not realize is that this Sunday evening, they are producing a mind-blowing, over-the-top, Ultimate Fashion Experience benefitting Urban Reflections, the charitable arm of their organization that shows at-risk youth in Lakeland that the sky’s the limit in life regardless of one’s shape, size, or ethnicity.

I really like that.

So of course, I’ll be there. Soaking up the style inspiration. Blogging. And let’s be honest, probably shakin’ my butt a bit. So that you can be inspired. To express your style. To expose yourself to new perspectives. To shake your butt. You know, the important stuff in life.

If you’re in Central Florida, you’re going to want to come by. You can buy tickets here through eventbrite, but you’d better do it soon, because the word on the Lakeland-area street is that they’re almost sold out.

And just for k’s and g’s (as the Hattie’s Branches proprietors would say), I’m going to draw inspiration from designers featured in the show for my outfits this weekend, beginning tomorrow. Let me know what you think!

Step 4 of Stephanie’s Marvy Mani

Practice these steps and pretty soon you’ll be able to do a great manicure in no time at all!

Step 3 of Stephanie’s Marvy Mani

This is the fun part!

Stephanie’s Marvy Mani, Step 2

Today, Stephanie walks us through how to get a really solid base coat for a long-lasting manicure.

A Quick Manicure that Lasts

You all remember my friend Stephanie from our internet shopping post, right?

Well, she always has the most fabulous manicures, and I cajoled her into sharing her process with us.

We’ve shown the steps  a little slow so you can see exactly how it’s done, but with a little practice, you’ll be able to do a gorgeous mani in minutes!

Scarves + tees= a perfect pair

A skinny, painterly scarf tied in a half-bow adds a dash of style to a simple grey tee but allows you to stay cool in the summer heat.

A sparkly cowl in the same color as your top adds subtle warmth in a chilly movie theatre.

A large scarf is grab-and-go style for the weekend, and the more uncontrived it looks, the better.

Scarf Week!

While the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week is designed to demystify the world of sharks, we’ll be exploring a sometimes perplexing accessories animal this week–the Scarf!

To debunk some of the myths surrounding scarves (“they’re hard to tie,” “I don’t know which kind to wear,” “should they match or contrast my outfit?”), I’ve decided to celebrate Scarf Week, during which I’ll introduce different types of scarves, ways to tie them, and how to pair them with your favorite ensembles.

I hope you’ll celebrate with me!

To Real or Not Too Real? Part 2