Lifestyle & Tech Archives | Blueprint for Style

dressed simply in a t-shirt but added festive, metallic leather earrings

Holiday Finds

A Tale of Two Styles: Festive and Everyday

For the entire month of December, please expect to see me dressed festively! That can mean different things to different folks but, for me, I will be channeling everyday looks with a festive slant. Expect to see, in varying degrees, feathers, metallics, whimsical earrings, Christmas-themed attire, holiday colors of red, green, and hot pink, and sparkles. Take a moment to decide what festive will look like for you and dig in! As a proponent of choosing wisely and being intentional,

2024/12/02

Events & Happenings

labor day shopping

This year, I’m sharing the best Labor Day sales and shopping in two ways: my top picks and the best brands to check out. First up – my top picks for fall in no particular order. I’m sticking with camel, creams, and navy (no surprise there!) and my accent colors will be teal/green and red (with a touch of pink). What about you?! I’m hearing a spendthrifty and then splurge-worthy version of most items as well! Vest (Save / Splurge) – wear

2023/08/29

Features & Series

updating my latest book, the creatives’ closet

It’s happening, slowly! I was trying to think of the best way to do it amidst writing a new book – for men – and I couldn’t figure it out until recently. I stumbled upon a new platform – well, new to me LOL – and it was the perfect way to share the updates as they become available instead of holding each piece until everything was ready. So without further ado, here is the first update from my original,

2023/06/12

Food & Restaurants

can you choose wine based on your style ethos?

I say, “Why not?!” Now, as I understand it, the bigger/bolder the wine, the more a meatier piece of protein is called for but, alas, I didn’t have that so drank it alone! As I was sipping [diligently], it occurred to me that some of the nuances and personality of wine and whether it’s “your” wine, could possibly be related to one’s personal style, so here we go… I am simple and classic to the eye but actually pretty complex

2023/06/08

Style

the 8 breathable fabrics for hot summer days

Apparently, El Nino will be ‘in the house’ this year! If you’re unfamiliar, here’s a quick refresher: El Niño is the climate pattern that warms up water in the Pacific Ocean every two to seven years. It can simultaneously lead to excessive rainfall and severe drought in different regions, particularly the tropics, AND because climate change exacerbates its effects, it can cause extreme heat. There’s a lot more to that story but, it means you can expect a hotter-than-usual summer

2023/06/02

Clothing Maintenance & Organization

Declutter Your Closet

While you may still be left with a few items you’re unsure about, this 10-step Declutter Your Closet Cheat Sheet will get you 90% there! Get ready for more control with your closet, and more happiness with your looks! Here’s your ticket to closet freedom!

2022/07/06

Features & Series

Women Thriving in Business podcast

Feeling honored and heard! I had the opportunity to sit down with Nikki Rogers of Women Thriving in Business podcast and we talked about the psychology of style, tips on how to be intentional and ‘showing up’ in your work-from-home life, life-changing books, and more. Catch the episode here and share your feedback too…

2022/04/29

Lifestyle & Tech

start the year by quitting!

I don’t believe in “new year resolutions” because they prevent me from being great…sooner! Seriously! Why wait until the new year to do something that will benefit you when you can do it immediately, and start reaping the reward sooner?! I have taken to using the new year to QUIT, so I wanted to share a few things I’m quitting, and I’d love your comments if there are items you want to add to the list, or perhaps delete! Happy

2022/01/12

Features & Series

nordstrom’s anniversary sale

I use the Nordy’s Anni Sale for two purposes: to get ready for fall/winter with some elevated essentials, and to snag a few lust items that I can use immediately…because we all believe in IG (that’s instant gratification, not Instagram!) My 11 perfect pieces are:

2021/07/31

MyDomaine did an article including me on why creatives love living alone

Books

mydomaine magazine share

There is something empowering about living alone but there is also the struggle of navigating loneliness…at least for me! I didn’t spend the entire pandemic or lockdown [March until now] all alone but there were definite moments where I had to actively navigate the circuitous pathway of loneliness by focusing on all of the upsides! Admittedly the idea of being able to live out loud’ has its advantages such as all of the house rules are always obeyed – mostly that no

2020/12/14

A podcast with Dr Sharon Hargo to review my new book, The Creatives' Closet

Books

interview on The Book Talk Show

What an honor! I am getting the chance to talk with Sharon Hargro Porter on her show, The Book Talk Show, the monthly show that discusses All Things Books – they feature an author and book of the month, and assist the aspiring author to Write the Book Now! We are going to have a blast on her show so tune-in on Sunday, December 13, 2020 at 10:00 am ET for conversation about The Creatives’ Closet, sustainable and eco-friendly fashion, &

2020/12/12

A Facebook Live with Micha Green of Afro News to discuss my new book, The Creatives' Closet, and life as an entrepreneur especially during a pandemic

Events & Happenings

video interview with Afro News’ micha green!

Earlier this week, I had the immense pleasure to be interviewed on Afro News, one of the oldest Black-owned newspapers in the US. It was a blast talking with DC Editor, Micha Green about my newest book, The Creatives’ Closet, how I got started, how I’ve been handling the “pivot” during the pandemic, and so much more! Take a listen and share your thoughts! What else did you want to know? Still have questions? Just comment or send me an email

2020/12/11

Ivory Paper Co is a black, female-owned paper company that creates beautiful daily and weekly planners

Accessories

[action required] look forward to 2021

2020 has been a doozy and the best thing we can do is to look forward to 2021 – – – good riddance to 2020! To make that possible, we must plan for it so, which planner are you ordering today?! My favorite choice is shown above by Ivory Paper Co but there are lots to choose from depending on what you need or want to focus on. My 2021 will be focused on getting business done efficiently ~ and taking

2020/12/10

Just Because...

is your visual resume in order?

What is your visual resume you ask?!?! It’s basically how you ‘show up’ to the world – it’s your visual dossier of your experiences and aspirations… Ideally your visual resume aligns with your professional and personal brands, and your appearance. When you walk away and someone says, “Wow, s/he was so together and was just a delight to talk to about xyz. S/he is sharp and knows her/his stuff!” >>> that is your visual resume shining through! Now, is your

2020/12/10

5 style tips inspired from Vice President Kamala Harris including pearls and Converse sneakers.

Features & Series

5 kamala harris style tips we all need

I recently published an article for NBC News’ Know Your Value team and it’s a quick 4-minute read but here are a few highlights to consider: Five style tips that are inspired by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris so you don’t have to love her style but she gives us some good lessons! We discuss pearl necklaces and sneakers… This will be the first of a few pieces that track/follow her style journey and evolution, so stay tuned! Now, read the

2020/11/16

Books

my living room tsundoku

I oftentimes tell my clients that if they’re stuck putting an outfit together, they should ‘start with your shoes and build your outfit around those!’ And people sometimes ask me where I get my style inspiration and the answer is a lot of places but I start with my living room tsundoku (it’s a Japanese slang term that refers to a pile of books that never get read….). They’re not just my style jumpoffs but provide a visual smorgasbord for

2020/11/13

Style

14 perfect power pieces

I asked newsletter readers what they needed to know and what I heard [from the ladies] was, “I need just the must-haves,”, “I’m a woman of a certain age so, just style not fashion,”, “What are the great basics?”,”I’m going minimalist,”, and “I need items on repeat”…. The answer to ALL of these is this downloadable style guide on the 14 perfect power pieces! Start here – and I guarantee you’ll be in great shape to go from desk to

2020/08/25

Lifestyle & Tech

post-quarantine – which fashion norm will you subscribe to?

When this pandemic slows down a bit….I mean this first wave at least….I am certain we’ll be re-surfacing with some new fashion and style norms. I can see a few factions popping up now like the “denim for everything” crew, “leggings for life” group, etc. I’m on the fence but likely sticking with my original idea: dressing for comfort & versatility! Which quarantine dressing faction are you joining?! [poll id=”16″]

2020/05/18

Lifestyle & Tech

truly stylish phone grip

One of the truly telltale signs of being fashionable and stylish is making something your own….and standout! The phone grips have been around for a while and I resisted because they sported schools, sororities, whack sayings, etc – nothing that was quite my speed. Until now…… thank Janet Gwen! She has created a line of one-of-a-kind phone grips that read chic and upscale while still remaining functional. She carries other stone phone grip options like rose quartz and black agate….soooo

2020/05/09

Food & Restaurants

wine time!

What else can I do while I’m home to unwind in the evening? “They” say you’re supposed to maintain some type of schedule or normalcy so, a glass of wine sounds right! The issue for me is that when I think of opening a bottle, I remember that I cannot drink the entire thing in one or two sittings….so some gets wasted (smh). The solution hit my inbox two weeks ago with VineBox, a quarterly wine subscription service. Unlike the other

2020/05/01

Lifestyle & Tech

my #quarantine routine

I am quarantining in Washington, DC and it’s been a mixed bag so far. Pre-Quarantine Normally, my day would start around 7am sans an alarm clock and I would spend a couple of minutes praying and meditating, and then hit my iPhone hard (because it sleeps next to me). My laptop wasn’t far away and my strategy was to tackle any important emails first-thing so I could then do follow-up later. My pre-quarantine dressing was jeans + tee if I had

2020/04/30

Events & Happenings

speaking at the signature ceo conference

I’m psyched to join a cast of heavy-hitters on stage at The Signature CEO Conference to be held March 16-18, 2020 at the River View in Occoquan. THE SIGNATURE C.E.O. CONFERENCE offers a unique experience for creatives and professionals who are “high-achievers”. The conference creates a harmonious environment for like-minded creatives who are innovators and have keen business savvy. It’s a chance to discover great content, excel at business acumen, expand your professional network, and build genuine relationships! I’m speaking on

2020/02/24

Events & Happenings

DC Event: fashion workshop & closet “redux”

It’s the start of the year, so let’s start it off right – – – in style! Click the pic (or here) below and join me for a two-hour Fashion Workshop and Closet “Redux” to ‘get your proverbial house in order’ ~ it’s closet makeover time! WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: In this workshop, you will learn how to better assess what works well for you based on your shape, style preferences, and lifestyle! We will cover how to take any style

2020/01/07

Events & Happenings

5 Weeks of Christmas: Black Friday Special

Blueprint for Style believes in shopping with your pjs on! And in honor of Black Friday, we’re kicking of 5 Weeks of Christmas ~ our version of the 12 Days of Christmas, only more stylish…. Every Friday starting today, Blueprint for Style will offer an incredible personal styling package loaded with value and goodies!! The only catch is quantities will be limited (because we simply cannot do it all). Check back every Friday through December 27th and click while it’s available! Black Friday Special:

2019/11/29

Health & Beauty

3 tips for holiday #selfcare

You need to be the best version of yourself because people are counting on you but it seems like “me time” is the first to go. Keep these three tips in mind across the next five weeks: Map out exercise time and block it on your calendar. Be kind to yourself and plan at least one or two “treats” for yourself. Create a schedule with open blocks of time so others can fit themselves in, if necessary. My version of

2019/11/25

Our Blog

News, Articles & More

A Tale of Two Styles: Festive and Everyday

updating my latest book, the creatives’ closet

can you choose wine based on your style ethos?

the 8 breathable fabrics for hot summer days

Declutter Your Closet

Women Thriving in Business podcast

start the year by quitting!

nordstrom’s anniversary sale

[action required] look forward to 2021

is your visual resume in order?

5 kamala harris style tips we all need

14 perfect power pieces

post-quarantine – which fashion norm will you subscribe to?

truly stylish phone grip

wine time!

my #quarantine routine

3 tips for holiday #selfcare

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