Author: KristieRebuilds

  • Leather Skirts & Hot Temps

    Leather Skirts & Hot Temps

    Wearing leather in the Summer probably sounds to be about as much fun as wearing a bikini to Times Square in December.   Some may consider the combo of leather and heat to be a serious fashion faux pas.  But did you know that you could wear a leather skirt this Summer without having a heat stroke?  I mean, it probably sounds impossible when it’s hot as hell outside.  But leather has natural thermostatic properties which keeps it warm in winter and cool in Summer.  Lucky for us, this means you could definitely find yourself slaying in this tough textile this Summer.  Which is why every fashionista should keep a faux leather skirt in her fashion arsenal all year around.

    In need of inspiration?  Here are three sexy ways to style in your leather skirt on those Summer nights! 😉

    taupe vest, metal belt, black leather wrap skirt, silver heels
    Taupe It Back Vest | Warrior Belt | Wrap It Up Skirt | BCBG Heels
    crop top, black faux leather wrap skirt, orange clutch
    Vintage Tee | Wrap It Up Leather Skirt | Rebecca Minkoff Clutch | Vintage Booties
    sheer burgundy top, black leather skirt
    Sheer It Up Top | Wrap It Up Skirt | Cat Woman 3.0 Sunglasses | Steve Madden Bag | Carlos Shoes

    tips on wearing leather in the summer


    You can shop these pieces at Blue Labels Boutique.

     Are you a fan of wearing leather in warmer temperatures?

    Stay Fearless 💋

     

  • There’s No Skirting The Issue – New Hems Are In Town

    There are some newbies in town when it comes to hemlines.  And there’s more to it than just deciding between a maxi or mini.  If you’re the girl who’s always shopping for something different, then you have found yourself in the right place.  Check out the latest stylish trends on skirt hems.

    navy lace skirt with wrap around front blue labels boutique
    Adore Lace Skirt | Blue Labels Boutique

    The Exaggerated Wrap Faux Split – it has the same look and benefits of creating the perfect silhouette like a wrap skirt without being an actual wrap skirt.  And that split is sexyyy!

    gold and black fringe dress
    Goldie Dress | Blue Labels Boutique

    The Car Wash Fringe Hem – The car wash fringe is a new take on the fringe because its wider and gives serious drama to your stride.

    The Mini Side Split – This hem provides a little peek of skin that makes it a great go-to for any occasion.

    The Asymmetrical Hem – This fun, flirty hem is a sweet twist on the mini.

    Green, white, black color block high low skirt
    Adore Lace Skirt | Blue Labels Boutique

    The High/Low Hem – This hem has been a trend that has proven to have lasting power.  Short in the front, longer in the back.  Its like a skirt mullet! 😉

    As you can see, there’s no skirting the issue.  New hems are in town!  Which one is your favorite style?

    Shop the BLB skirt collection.

    Stay Fearless 💋

     

  • Off The Shoulder & A Quickie

    Off The Shoulder & A Quickie

    One of my favorite trends is definitely shoulder-baring dresses and tops.  The style is super versatile because you it can take you from work to date night with a simple tug of the sleeves! It’s also fun, flirty, and allows me to channel my inner 70s baby.  Shoulders are considered the sexist part on the body to some.  And don’t get me started on how glorious it feels when the wind brushes across my bare shoulders just right?  Or the grin on my face when I pair it with the perfect pair of chandelier earrings.  Whatever the reason, what’s not to love?

    Strong, sexy shoulders also match very well with pieces that show off the shoulders.   But sometime life doesn’t leave us enough time to left in the day to pump iron for hours.  Good thing to doesn’t take hours.  If you’re ready to get those shoulders tight and right, grab a set of weights and come get a quickie with me…

    Nothing like breaking a sweat right there in the middle of my office, naked mannequin in the background and all!  😉  But it’s just that simple.  How do you keep your shoulders ready to go?

    Stay Fearless 💋

  • 7 Tips To Living The Fearless Life You’ve Always Wanted

    If you were to look up fearless, in the dictionary, you will see that it’s defined as an adjective that means to be without fear; to be bold or brave; intrepid.  When it comes to fearlessness, I find that there are usually two kinds of people.  There are those that are perfectly happy following rules and paths that were set by someone else.  They go with the flow in every aspect of their life ensuring that they don’t “rock the boat” in anyway to have a calm, predictable yet fulfilling life.  The other group of people will flip the boat all the way over in order to find their true happiness even though it’s the “road less traveled” and has unknown results.

    Fear is probably one of the most powerful feelings we possess.  Think about it…what keeps you at a job for 10 years when you knew that you despised it after 2 years??  It was the fear of not being able to find another job that will actually make you happy while paying the bills.  What keeps people in a longterm relationship despite the fact that they hate coming home because they have to see him or her?  I’ll tell you…it’s the fear that you won’t find anyone else which means you will be alone and miserable for the rest of your life.  Fear controls so much of what we do simply because the fear of the unknown is too much to bear.  Especially if what you have been doing is working.

    Most of my life was spent living in fear.  Sitting in a cubicle at the same job for over 13 years knowing that it would lead to nothing but a steady paycheck.  Afraid to apply for a nicer car than the one that I was driving because I was afraid to be declined by the bank.  Fearful of submitting an application to be a fitness trainer because I was afraid they wouldn’t think I was “fit enough”  (even though I spend hours weekly exercising).  Staying in a unhealthy, miserable relationship because I was too afraid of what would happen after breaking up with him.  Yep, fear controlled every single part of my life.  Until one day, out of the blue, I sat for a long while pondering, “what the hell am I so afraid of?”.  The only answer that I came up with at the time was simply not knowing what could happen.  That was it?!  And just like that, I switched from being of afraid of everything to throwing fear right out the window and moving.

    Being fearless doesn’t mean you’re not scared of anything.  It just means that you are putting the fear to the side and doing it anyway.  Fear can hold us back from living the life that we truly want to live.  If you are ready to take a leap into “the fearless life”, take a look at these 7 tips that can help you get there:

    • Tip 1: Shake The Haters Off –  Haters will hate and there’s nothing that you can do about it.  You have to learn to not let others criticism of your choices, affect your path.  Remain confident that you will accomplish the goals you’ve set, no matter what others think.  Need help coming up with responses?  Try these: “It’s nice of you to offer advice but I’m good. Thanks for offering!”

    • “Yes, I’m sure this is what I want to do”

    • “I’ve done my research and I’m on the path to fixing the issue”

    • “Thanks for the referral! I’ll be sure to contact him/her if I need help”

    • Tip 2: Keep Your Business To Yourself – Learning when to keep your business to yourself is so important.  New business ideas can be so exciting that you can’t wait to share with others.  But think before you speak.  Unfortunately, telling everyone about your next move will only increase your fear because people love giving unsolicited advice.  Which can lead to giving you doubt.  Fear and doubt don’t work good together.  As a matter of fact, they don’t belong together at all.   Don’t tell people about you new ideas, plans, or goals until you have gotten to a point where they can see it happening.  Keep your mouth closed and let your actions do the talking.

    • Tip 3:  If At First You Don’t Succeed, Dust Yourself Off And Try Again – Trial and error will be an effective tool in your fearless life.  Understand that somethings you attempt may not work out the first time.  Whether you are opening a new business or moving across the world, there will be challenges.  The key is to find a way to overcome them, learn from them and continue on your path.

    • Tip 4:  You aren’t Beyonce, boo:  Social media has its benefits and drawbacks, for sure.  Who doesn’t enjoy scrolling through IG pics of Bey shopping at the finest stores and opening successful businesses with the most perfect family that you have ever seen.  But who the heck knows what’s going on when the camera is off and the filters aren’t added?!  Remember, everyone is different and will have a different path.  Breaking your bank account to follow her style and taking trips around the world won’t make you Beyonce, boo!   If you are constantly comparing yourself to others, you will never find your fearless life path.  The only difference between the “successful” people and you is their drive and determination.  YOU are YOU…be confident in that.  Find your own path to follow and let it take you wherever YOU want to go.

    • Tip 5:  There Are No Do-Overs – It may sound cliche but the real truth is that you only live once, there are no second chances or do-overs.  If you plan on being fearless then you should make the most of absolutely every opportunity that presents itself and is aligned with your goals.  If you have the opportunity that you can’t pass up comes along…DON’T!

    • Tip 6:  What’s The Worst That Can Happen? – Taking risks for a bigger reward is definitely scary but what’s the worst that can happen?  You may be told, “no” and you may even have to try something else.  Last I checked, no one died from hearing the word “no” or from failing at something.

    • Tip 7:  Daydream – When fear comes up, one of the first thoughts that pop into our head is probably all of the bad things and/or obstacles you might face.  But you have to re-train the way you think.  Focus on how great life will be once you do it!  The satisfaction you will feel by starting your own business, the free time you will have with your family by taking a less demanding job, the freedom you will feel after selling all of your things and living in a tiny house in the middle of woods.  It will all be worth it!

    Be confident in who you are, what you can achieve in your quest to live fearlessy in happiness.  Keep these tips in mind throughout your journey.  They are sure to assist you along the way.

    Remember, never give up on something you want.  It may be difficult to fight through and wait but it will be even more difficult to regret.

    Stay Fearless 💋

  • Winner & New Pick Of The Week

    Happy Monday!  You already know that today is the day we announce who won last weeks giveaway and we also announce what the new pick will be for the week.  Now, let’s get right to it!

    The winner of the On The Half Shell Earrings is…

    mint enamel gold hoop earrings

     

    And now for this weeks’ Summerfly Giveaway!

    The Tri-layer Top is this weeks’ pick and this is something you don’t want to miss.  The perfect top for Summer!

    pink, black, mint, short sleeve chiffon top

    Available in sizes Small – Large.  To be entered for this weeks’ giveaway 👇

    Follow Fashion Not Fear blog and comment on this post with your email address

    or

    Follow us on one of our social media channels, and share the giveaway post with a friend.

    Winner will be announced next Monday!  Remember, the only thing we ask is that you share a pic styling your winning item so that we can share the love with all of our followers.  Thanks for entering and good luck!

    Stay Fearless 💋

     

  • Staying Fly and Dry in Summer ’16 (Tips From Experts)

    Staying Fly and Dry in Summer ’16 (Tips From Experts)

    Sunny days are here again and I’m loving it, my friend!  There is a certain feeling that a warm Summer day gives me.  Really, it’s probably the same feeling that it gives you.  Since the right amount of sunlight boosts your mood,  improves immune health, strengthens bone and teeth, protects against aging and can even assist with loosing excess fat.

    Too much exposure to the sun can cause sagging skin, wrinkles, freckles, and serious health concerns.  And let’s not forget how much the sun makes you sweat!  I have no problems with sweating.  As a matter of fact, I welcome it…at the gym.  But breaking out in a full on sweat just by walking from the front door to the car, is not my idea of a good time.   Who wants to have perfectly primped hair, a beat face, while wearing the cutest sundress you have ever seen, only to end up with flat hair, melting face, and a sun dress that is soaked with sweat?

    Last year, my Summer was spent hiding inside under the cool air conditioner until sunset.  However, I’m not looking forward to being a P.O.H (Prisoner Of Heat) this year.  But how does a girl stay fly and dry when the temperatures keep rising?  I reached out to 5 style and beauty experts.  Here is what they had to say:

    gray and lace long tunic tshirt
    Royalty Top – Blue Labels Boutique

    It may seem counterintuitive, but when it comes to summer dressing, the bigger the better. Loose silhouettes in light, natural fabrics should make up the majority of your summer wardrobe because unlike those skin-bearing short-shorts and tight tank tops, breezy culottes, tunics and maxi dresses will allow for better air circulation.

                                           – Chelsey Conroy, Stylight.com

    set of make up brushes, lipstick, and foundation
    📷 by Manu Camargo

    Living in blistering Australia and having recently travelled through South East Asia, heat has not been my friend! After much research I discovered a great product that keeps foundation looking perfect no matter what. Enter the HYLAMIDE Finisher Series Pore Delete cream. Firstly, it can be a bit intimidating and hard to apply due to it’s pore filling, fast drying formula. With a little perseverance I found the perfect way to apply it. By applying my foundation first (which goes against the directions on the bottle!) I then dab a bit of HYLAMIDE on the same foundation brush and buff it in. The key is to mix it into the foundation while it’s still fresh on your face. The most important part is so ensure you spread it all out evenly with a great buffing foundation brush.

                                           – Natalia Webster, ChicOnTheRun.com

    red printed sheer maxi skirt
    Royalty Top – Blue Labels Boutique

    My recommendation is to always shop with a look in mind so you don’t get home with a bunch of random styles of clothing that don’t go with anything, and to pick more natural fabrics like cotton and linen. You can lift your outfits with accessories and you don’t have to give up on layering just because it’s hot, sleeveless open vests, bra-lettes under cotton shirts and light weight chiffon pullovers are great additions to any summer wardrobe!

                                          – Alarna Hope, www.alarnahope.com.au

    permanenttattoo
    📷 by patrisyu

    I swear by investing in cosmetic tattooing as a great way to always look fresh and fashionable in the summer months. Your eyeliner, lips and eyebrows can be tattooed from $500 and lasts up to two years.

    -Rita Porcecca

    Founder of Sydney Permanent Make-Up Centre,  www.spmuc.com.au

    Nim-Veda Apricot Oil

    Using Certified Organic Wild Himalayan Apricot Oil in your skincare regime for the numerous benefits it has, especially during the hotter and sun burning effects summer unleashes on all of our skin!

    Apricot Oil is one of the best oils for the skin due to its varying benefits and aids in treating skin ailments such as itchiness, dryness and irritable skin and scabies, as well as soothing inflammation and irritation caused by eczema and dermatitis. Rich in Vitamin A and E, Apricot oil easily penetrates the skin, leaving you feeling soft and silky.

                                     – Mituri Pradip Sharma, nimveda.com

    oversized red handbag blue labels boutique

    Bonus Tip:  A stylish, oversized handbag always comes in handy.  It won’t hurt to keep a few things in your arsenal in case the heat gets too R.E.A.L.  Here are a few thing to consider tossing inside:

    •   blotting papers
    • sunglasses
    • a lightweight scarf
    • body spray (perfume is too heavy)
    • hair tie
    • water bottle
    • chapstick

     These can all come in handy should you find yourself in distress.  Trust me.  😉

    Hope you enjoy a sweat free, stylish Summer ’16!  What tips would you add?

     

  • 4th Of July Bar B Que #OOTDs

    4th Of July Bar B Que #OOTDs

    The 4th of July is right around the corner and you know what that means…it’s time for a Bar B Que!  I’m not sure how it’s done everywhere else in the world, but here in Texas, you can bet for sure that a few Bar-B-Que invites are bound to happen.

    This day is usually full of not only bar-b-que but all of the best Summer fruit, Summer anthems, outdoor games, cocktails, and all out celebrating with family.

    Whatever your tradition for 4th of July, it’s the perfect time to start debuting your Summer gear.

    Check out #OOTDs perfect for the festivities you will be enjoying!

    white kimono top, denim cutoff shorts, camel clutch with cutouts
    Santa Fe Kimono | Cut It Out Clutch | On The Fray Shorts

     

    womens printed 2 piece short set, cream envelope clutch, red sunglasses
    Let’s Get Away Top & Shorts | Envelope Clutch | Triangle Necklace | Catwoman 3.0 Sunglasses

     

    womens navy shift dress, white oversized handbag, red steve madden sandals
    Santa Fe Dress | Rainbows & Tassels Bag| Panther Sunglasses | Steve Madden Sandals

     

    These #OOTDs are available at Blue Labels Boutique.

    What are your 4th of July traditions?

    Stay Fearless 💋

  • Winner Announced + New Giveaway Announced

    Happy Monday!  Today is an especially good day for alot of reasons.  One of them being because the Cleveland Cavaliers won the 2016 NBA Championship last night.   I can go on and on about it but I’m gonna keep it simple by saying, “GO CAVS!”.

    So, now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s get to the Summerfly giveaway.  To date, we’ve had two of our four winners share pics of how they rock their winning pieces on IG.  Take a look!

    gold Live With Passion Bangle - Blue Labels Boutique

    @katelyntaylor12 shares how she stacks her Live With Passion Bangle with a MK watch.

    ball&chainwinnerpic

    @ginger_with_a_camera showed off how she’s styled the Ball & Chain Bag Accessory she won with her fringe bag.  Thanks for sharing!

    And now, it’s time to add another bombshell to the winners circle.  So without further ado, the winner of the Pretty Pleated Skirt is…

    green, black, white, color block skirt, blue labels boutique

    Without further ado, here is this weeks’ giveaway.  They unique earrings come in 3 colors of which you get to choose from!

    To enter the giveaway by

    👉 Leaving a comment with your contact information (IG, Twitter, Email) or however you would like to be contacted.

    or

    👉 Follow us on any of our social media channels and share the giveaway post with your followers.

    We only ask that the winner not only enjoy the prize but share a pic of you styling the item.  Winner announced Monday.  Good Luck!

    Stay Fearless 💋

  • Watching The NBA Finals? 4 Looks That Show Off Your Team Spirit

    The 2016 NBA Finals has been quite a series!   If you are a fan than you know that watching it can put you on a serious roller coaster ride. From screaming “DEFENSE!” at the tv, trying to keep anxiety at bay when you want your team to win so bad, to crying if they lose (it happens).  But through it all, I’ve still thought, “What would I wear at the game?” or “How do I show my team support?”  Hey, I’m a fashion girl, I can’t help it!

    If you’ve had fashion visions about showing off your team support at the finals this year then welcome to the party!

    Check out these 4 looks you can rock to show off your team spirit without wearing a jersey 😉

    burgundy trousers, burgundy sheer top, yellow purse, gold stud earrings

     

    yellow lace tank, blue clutch, yellow heels

    blue sheer sho

     

    denim dress, blue clutch, Cavs hat, fur ball

    Shop the looks at Blue Labels Boutique 

    Only a few games left until we find out the winner.  And all I have to say is, GO CAVS!!!  Who are you rooting for?