Are brooches only for your granny......

So my grandmother the late Mrs. Ruth Poythress was truly fabulous. When she passed away she left me all her jewelry. After I got a chance to fully go through everything I discovered the brooches. Now some of them were a little crazy like kittens and stuff, some of them were a little old lady like with pearls but most of them were beautiful. They were all costume jewelry but that doesn't matter. Brooches come in all styles, colors and materials.



The price points range from about 10 to a few thousands depending on what its made of. The best finds are from older female relatives but don't sleep on thrift stores, the finds there make the best stories.
Brooches don't have to be worn on the shoulder any more but some of my fashion chics still do it with a twist. I love to wear mine in clusters
and with scarves.


No matter what you decide, adding brooch to your wardrobe can only add a touch of class. Find out what your style is a go from there. Its only fashion, love you mean it.....
Always your girl
JeniqueK

Mixing prints without looking crazy

So you want to step out the box and off the runway by mixing prints. I know what you are thinking, "mixing prints, no thanks that's tacky". Not true at all,it is trendy and chic. I’m by no means an expert, but I can give you a guidelines to follow for creating an outfit made up of the perfect, complimentary prints.

The easiest way to pull off this look is to get a dress that is already made with the mixed patterns. This way it is already put together by the designer. When wearing this you want to keep your shoes and accessories neutral.

When mixing prints and patterns pick a theme and mix within it, for example if you want to wear hearts mix different kinds of hearts.

Another trick to mixing prints is having a similar base color.This should be a color that can be found somewhere in each print in the outfit. This will make your mix of patterns cohesive. Tip: If you’re just starting out with pattern mixing, choose a neutral base color like navy or black and look for two items of printed clothing that both have the base color in them. If you mix patterns with the same color base it looks very stylish and fresh.

Animal prints are neutral, meaning they can be made to compliment (almost) every other type of pattern. So think about investing in a few animal print accents – such as an animal print skinny belt, clutch, scarf and/or shoes, they can also be used as a touch of excitement for my less daring girls.

Mixing patterned textures work with sweaters and flowy skirts. The trick to this is all about the fit and balance of the outfit.

Mixing prints and patterns is really like any other look or trend, there is no right or wrong way to do it, its all about the fit and you owning it. If mixing an entire outfit seems a bit much for you start small with mixing patterned shoes or bag and work your way up, remember, its only clothes. Keep it sexy!
Always your girl,
JeniqueK

Ask JeniqueK

Hey JeniqueK!
Well sense you asked:
"How do you get rid of facial blemishes that start to occur in adulthood?"
I have 2 friends that have had almost Perfect Skin during their teenage years and now during adulthood they are starting to breakout badly on their face. Is there anything you can recommend to solve this problem? Also, do you know why these breakouts may have JUST started to occur?
Thanks and good luck with the blog. I will def subscribe and PLEASE return the favor:
Manseen, Liberia/Atlanta

Hey Manseen, thanks for the support, adult acne is caused by sebum, an oily substance produced by the skin’s sebaceous glands. Sebum clogs pores, which attract bacteria and become inflamed. For some adults, breakouts are a result of hypersensitivity or overproduction of hormones. But an imbalance in both male and female hormones can also cause breakouts. For women, this can happen during pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause. Some medications, such as corticosteroids, and cosmetics can also contribute to the development of acne.

How Is Adult Acne Treated?

Treating adult acne is tricky. Most acne medications are geared to teens' oily skin, a bad choice for drier adult skin.

Cleansers: Cetaphil and Aquanil are the most gentle. Avoid too-strong gels and products containing beads or granules, which are abrasive and can irritate and worsen sensitive skin.

Creams and lotions: Use an over-the-counter retinol product to clean pores and help reduce fine wrinkles. Prevent discoloration and fade acne scars with products that contain salicylic and glycolic acids. And to spot-treat a breakout, use a product with benzoyl peroxide, which helps kill bacteria.

Prescription medications: The topical antibiotic clindamycin helps fight bacteria in the skin; so does tetracycline, another antibiotic, taken orally. Oral contraceptives and spironolactone, a blood pressure drug, can help balance hormones. A gel containing dapsone, an antibiotic, helps fight infection and inflammation involved in acne.


High-tech solutions: Laser and intense pulsed light treatments mainly target scars, but blue light therapy treatments kill acne-causing bacteria. These treatments are costly, though, so explore your other options first.


A Skin-Care Regimen for the Acne Prone

Believe it or not, there’s a trick to skillful face washing. To start, try to keep your face clean during the day. Then wash your face twice daily with the cleanser (if your skin is dry, try using water the second time). Use only warm water (hot water is drying). Wash for just 1-2 minutes (more can irritate your skin). And use your hands instead of a washcloth.


I know this is a lot of info but the more info you know about adult acne the better you can decide how to treat it. For the most part its all about having a routine. Keep the questions coming and good luck to you

Your girl
JeniqueK

Must Have Accessories for 2012

So what is hot for 2012, I know it may seem like it may be too late to know because it’s March and spring is upon us but this is the perfect time. Now it is great to be on trend so here are some to watch for and put your owe twist on to make yours.
Belt bags are one of the great big trends... not a "fanny pack” that is not hot, belt bags come in different textures, styles and price ranges. I think it is a FAB must have for traveling, outdoor events and honestly everyday life. Now they are made for the bare items so pack wisely and pick what fits your personal style.


The kitten heels are big... The kitten heel is a good choice this spring. They are feminine, and classic, as well as comfortable. Now I’m not saying death to my stilettos, but the kitten heel can not be ignored. The kitten heel adds a touch of class to jeans, slacks, skirts just about anything except a ball gown.



For the inner romantic in all of us florals are super hot for spring. As much as I love this trend it can easily turn old lady, the trick is to wear in moderation, a little goes a long way.


The shine of metal is on fire, this trend honestly never goes out of style, it just ever changing. Always keep piece in your wardrobe it adds a bite of a wild card to any outfit.


Last but never least, my personal favorite exotic skins, this may not be the most echo-friendly trend but it comes in faux skin, it can defiantly break your wallet so pick your pieces wisely. Stunning bright colors stood out on the runways but can easily be mixed into your everyday wardrobe. From office to the club there is nowhere this wouldn’t work.



If you choose to try one or all of these trends have fun and remember if it don’t look right, just change. Less is more but don’t be afraid to stand out. Remember keep it sexy,
Your girl
JeniqueK