What To Wear On The Hot Summer Days

Hello Elegant Readers,
What to wear? What to wear? Have you ever stood in front of your closet and wondered what you were doing to wear on those summer days. It can be hot and humid one day, and the next day it can be raining. It can be frigid on the inside but steamy on the outside. Instead of dressing the same way for the entire summer season, I have to dress for the day. This picture below is me getting ready to leave for work.


Living in the Show-Me State, summers are typically hot and humid, and I want my outfit to be as cool as possible. On this day. I wanted my clothing to be free-flowing because it was hot but not as steamy. The cotton blouse is Isaac Mizrahi, and the polyester gauchos are from Bob Mackie. Having a cotton blouse and polyester pants was okay because it was in the 90-degree temperatures, but I wouldn’t be wearing polyester if it was a muggy day. The polyester in these gauchos actually felt breathable and not heavy. My leather sneakers are from Vince Camuto. It is great to have a cute and comfortable shoe that works well with a variety of outfits. My leather handbag is a Dooney and Bourke Hattie that is great on the shoulder.

Even with temps reaching near 100 degrees outside, you have to remember that the inside will be much cooler. Whether you are in the grocery store, at church, or work, the air conditioning is turned down and makes it feel like it is 20 or 30 degrees cooler. In these situations, there are great options without bringing out the winter parka. If I have a shirt or a dress with no short sleeves or no sleeves, I always carry a lightweight cardigan with me just in case. Dressing in layers is something that we should do all year long it’s not only for fall and winter.

Tips for dressing for summer

– Dress in layers: bring a lightweight cardigan or sweater with you just in case it’s chilly

– Look for key pieces like blouses, pants that are natural fibers because there’s breathability

– If it’s not too hot, you can wear polyester but make sure it’s not heavy

– Step outside of your comfort zone and wear a piece of clothing  (like a skirt or scarf) or color you normally wouldn’t wear

JT Style File: Christian Dior Umbrage Sunglasses

Hello Beautiful People,

Happy Spring!

I see people running in the park, wearing only shorts and without their shirts or bra tanks. People may have the idea that we are in summer, but not so fast. It’s only the beginning of spring. I had had to shed my coat a couple of days this week when the high temps peaked in the mid-50s to 60 degrees. Although I’m not wearing my shorts or bra tops just yet, I am breaking out my new Christian Dior new sunglasses. At the rare time I had on the television, ShopHQ spotlighted several Christian Dior sunglasses styles when I saw the Umbrage style. They are so unique and have a style all their own.

JT wearing Christian Dior “Umbrage” Unisex 52mm Round Frame Sunglasses

The round frame flatters the face. The lenses have a garden design feature that does not inhibit what you see. Brilliant! Here is an up-close view of the lenses so you can see the design feature.

 The sunglasses retail for $670, but I didn’t pay that price on SHopHQ. ShopHQ often has flash sales, this day only pricing, or other types of sale pricing. Amazing, I paid less than $70. You have to be on the lookout, and while I was doing this post, the price dropped from $125 to $71. I will jump at the opportunity to get high couture sunglasses for 90 percent off the retail price.

Image:Christian Dior Umbrage Unisex 52mm-round-frame-sunglasses-w-case

Check out my YouTube video for a closer look at the sunglasses.

The iconic luxury brand Christian Dior took the Umbrage sunglasses to another level because they exude confidence and demand attention. People don’t know what to say when they see me wearing these sunglasses. I feel very fortunate to get this gorgeous pair of sunnies for such a fabulous price.

If you want to look like you stepped off your private jet, these are the sunglasses for you.

Vice President Kamala Harris: Dressed For Unity

Hello Elegant Readers,

February is Black History month and Vice President Kamala Harris was sworn into office on January 20, 2021. During the Inauguration she wore a striking purple dress with a matching coat  designed by Christopher John Rogers. The striking outfit was accentuated with a custom pearl and gold necklace and earrings created by Wilfredo Rosado. The purple coat had bluish undertones in this picture and makes her complexion glow. In the fashion world  monochromatic is hot and top of the moment. I believe the monochromatic look works well. The purple being vibrant would have clashed with a contrasting print or color. Designer Rogers stated the color symbolized unity which is what the world needs now more than ever and a sign of hope.

Vice President Kamala Harris and husband Doug Emhoff greet the crowd during the 59th Presidential Inauguration ceremony in Washington, Jan. 20, 2021. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took the oath of office on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. (DOD Photo by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Carlos M. Vazquez II)

Would you wear a monochromatic look?

A monochromatic look has often been considered a fashion faux paw, but now the look is on trend and is considered a classic. It can make a figure look very slimming. And it looks easy but it’s a skill of a great stylist to make this look come off fresh and energized.

Styling Kamala Harris’s Vogue Cover Shoot

Hi Elegant Readers,

Happy New Year! I really enjoy saying that. It’s still the beginning and the best year you’ve ever had right? Receive that!

I heard from one of my coaches that Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is on the cover of the February 2021 issue of Vogue and the response is 50/50. The images below are cover shoots for digital and print.

What are your first reactions when you see these images of VP-Elect Harris?

February 2021 Vogue shoot Vice President elect Kamala Harris

It appears to me that she is trying to be relatable to the people and and offer a familiar look. I think I have always seen her in a pantsuit. It is a very professional and polished look. Her out of the box moment is pairing the pantsuit with converse sneakers.

Hmmm, my first thought was what was going through the stylist mind and what did her entourage have a say in this photo shoot. Well, I heard that she did not have a stylist and she styled herself.

Los Angeles magazine titled their January 11th post, “People Are Up in Arms Over VP-Elect Kamala Harris’s Too-Familiar February Vogue Cover“.  Whew that’s a long title don’t ya think?

I can go on and on, but let’s face it. No matter what level of the ladder you are at, people are look at you and what you wear is a science.

I would have loved to have seen VP-Elect Kamala Harris styled different. Maybe a tweed suit or a pencil skirt instead of pants. Or a fabulous moment like a dressy elegant evening gown with sneakers and another photo with heels side by side set in the Vice President’s office as the background or her standing in front of the White House. Kudos that the photographers where of African descent, however, this woman has made it as the first African descent VP-elect and my mind is so out of normality and I am just like you kind of moment.

I want to show how I would have styled VP-elect Harris. It doesn’t have to take her all the way out of her comfort zone but it can push her a little to take chances.

Amal Clooney is a Lawyer and has mad style. Chanel is timeless and I think styling VP-elect Harris in a Chanel suit with tons of pearl and chain necklaces would of been oh so fab.

Chanel Photo Images InStyle Photo Image PopSugar

My style choices for VP-Elect Harris would stretch her limits and she may tell me she just can’t do it but I would hold my ground and say step outside of the box.

Images: Time Michelle Obama Dress 1Left Naheem Kahn Dress 2Right Alexander McQueen

I think people would say wow I have never seen VP-Elect Harris in anything like that, she’s beautiful. Familiarity is okay at a time and I understand that. However, she is now the VP-Elect and style choices can change. The sky is not the limit so I expect to see style changes in VP-Elect Harris’s future. I am interested to see what she wears at the Inauguration ceremony. Not sure if they are having any virtual galas in the midst of a pandemic and if they are, will Harris dress up for it.

Interesting fact, Melania Trump has not been on the cover of Vogue during the last four years, despite being a former fashion model and the current First Lady.

Have you changed your style in different seasons of your life? If so, how? We all change are style choices but we can still maintain who we are as a person and remain humble.

4 Ways to Spice Up Your Wardrobe

Are you tired of wearing the same tops or shoes? Wait! Don’t toss them out just yet. There are plenty of DIY ways to spice up your wardrobe to wear them out a little longer before the Spring cleaning. 

Credit: Pixabay

Express your creative side through your fashion. Design what makes you happy through these five easy ways:

Fabric Patterns
Have a boring or plain piece of clothing? Add a layer of fabric to bring it back to life. Decide what you’ll place fabric over and what pattern expresses you best. Will you change the display of the pockets, dress one sleeve, or redo the entire piece? Are you going to feed cotton pieces, laced pieces, or a mix of many? The options are endless! 

You can place your favourite lace design over one side of solid shaded shorts, change the cuffs on your favourite jacket, and more. Go with the season or go with your ultimate favourite pattern. Take your time in bettering your clothes. This is the perfect way to use your free time and have it pay off whenever you travel out.

Rhinestones
Remember those childhood times when everything was better bedazzled? Go back to those shiny times with wholesale rhinestones. Choose your favourite colours to put onto your clothing. It’s similar to laying over fabric except for this time it’s shiny looking buttons.

Rhinestones seem like boring stickers, but they are not, They come in many shapes, sizes, and shades. These little stones are amazing to express your diva side. Step up your shoe game with a whole new presentation. Put some on your back, flowy hat, and whatever your fashionable needs desire!

Knots & Rips
Sometimes, destroying your clothes is a part of fashion. Ever hear of distressed jeans? Distressed jeans appear ripped, exposing the white string that helps keep the jeans together. You can do this to your clothes to give it that rebel look. Express your savage, yet fashionable self on the streets with ripped clothing.

Here’s another simple, less damaging way to express yourself in your clothing. A simple not at the front or side of your shirt goes a long way. Shoes some skin through the innocent way of tying a loose shirt or button up like you’d tie know with your shoelaces. Combine the knot and distressed look if you dare!

Hair & Makeup
Here’s one more thing you can do for your wardrobe. Change up your hair. Dye your hair or give yourself a new hair cut. Or, do an updo. Wearing your hair down after a shower is a typical style that can get boring. Do something different! Braid your hair, create a messy bun, do some curls. Try something different with your hair that you only do for special occasions. 

Makeup is something that always changes an appearance. Be daring with red lips or long fake lashes. Get creative with eyeshadow colours. Whatever you do, you will look pretty.

And remember, this is all optional, Do what you want, and what best expresses yourself.

Big Changes Coming To Our Blog

Good Afternoon, Wonderful People

I wanted to let you know that were will be some changes coming to Bubbling With Elegance and Grace. After eleven years of blogging, YouTubing, and sharing on social media, my hubby and I are reevaluating our brand and looking at ways of fine-tuning what we do.

Last month, we attended the World Summit 2020 meeting with Tony Robbins, Dean Graziosi, and others. More than 8,500 people from around the world met up on Zoom to learn how to make a shift in their strategies during a pandemic and how to market yourself in the online digital world. For three days, for about 10 hours per day, each speaker shared their own experiences with their business and their brand, how they took steps to grow it and how they had to make necessary adjustments when challenges arose. Whether you are someone who was just beginning or someone who was deep in the process, this conference was ideal for anyone who wanted to create their own brand or who wanted to get into the knowledge brokering service.

After three days of nonstop action, my hubby and I had to take some time to assess what we do and how we do it. It meant that we had a lot of homework to do, regarding the planning and execution of what we do. We are taking baby steps to improve the quality of our blog, our YouTube channel, and our other social media platforms. We are narrowing the topics that we talk about and we are altering our delivery methods to improve our reach with our audience. One of the many things that we learned from Tony and Dean is that we do not have to have it all figured out before making the changes. It is those imperfect steps, working towards a bigger goal, that will show us what is working and what is not. It is okay to be wrong and make mistakes. It is those mistakes that improve our focus and where true growth comes from.

Some of the immediate changes we have made is setting a goal of one new video on YouTube every Wednesday morning at 10am. Before we would post a video as time permitted within our schedule. But after talking it through, we decided that in order to maintain a community we had to have new content on a consistent basis. We picked Wednesday morning because that time works best within our schedule. The video below is our most recent video that was uploaded this week.

Within our social media platforms, we will be sharing five main topics. We are still looking at what those five topics will be and determining how we share those topics. This is a sample post from our Instagram page

Stay tuned and check back later for more exciting news coming to our blog.