Hello Gorgeous Readers,
I am taking a break from my New York Fashion Week mini series to bring you a brand new collaboration with my favorite blogging tribe, the series is called Cafe Chat. This is a group that I will meet with monthly to discuss a number of different things, from what inspires us to what makes us happy, then we are sharing what we all discuss with each of you through all of our blogs. We had our very first meeting this past week; the girls and I met up bright and early at The Sparrows Cafe & Newsstand in Grand Rapids. Here is what we came up with:
The first topic was about finding textures, prints and patterns that inspire us. It was really cool to see what each of the girls brought to share. Paige, from Where the Wildflowers Are, came up with our first topic. Paige is a bright and creative soul; therefore, this topic was a perfect way to include her style and challenge us to find patterns and inspiration through different things in our lives.
I could not come up with one set pattern or print that represented me or my taste, but the first thing I could think of was black and white fashion magazine photos. I decided to bring my Alexa Chung IT book and the #MadFor Madame Figaro magazine from France. The Alexa Chung book has so many cool patterns, illustrations and photos in it, and I thought my tastes connected well with the book. The magazine I brought had a cool spread in it with old styled photos and chic models.
Another piece I brought to share was my embroidered jacket from H&M because I am currently in love with embroidered pieces. I have always loved floral, but making it pop in your clothing is such a cool touch. This jacket has been the staple piece in my closet since I picked it from the shelves in France. I absolutely love the look to it. I also chose a few photos from Pinterest that showed more examples of this embroidered look, from Oscar De La Renta dresses to even the simplest denim tops.
Then after sharing my pieces, I talked a little about why I picked them. I am a very simplistic person when it comes to my style, I love classics. That is why I feel I am drawn to black and white photos in magazines. They are just nostalgic. I like when something can be timeless and authentic, and that’s what I strive to be in life, timeless and authentic. I love fashion that can cross over many generations and still be relevant. I love a person who can be so passionate about something that it literally shines through them when they talk about it.
I also think I picked fashion styled pieces because fashion is really important to me. I love that the industry is always changing and there is so much freedom within fashion. People may not think fashion impacts them but everyone has a “style” whether they choose to or not. Every culture can be defined by clothing. I think clothing and fashion are important because what you wear is your daily uniform to take on life. Dressing up makes me feel put together (even when I’m not) and more confident.
Lastly, I talked about my love for the ocean and how swimming in it makes me feel the most alive. The ocean is such an amazing undiscovered world and that completely intrigues me. When I swim in an ocean, sea or large lake I can feel the energy in the water rush through me. This may sound weird but it makes me feel so connected to myself and the earth. Water is such a powerful element and we often under estimate it, I think. I can relate to water as a female because I think women are often underestimated in society, but women are powerful and sometimes undiscovered. We hide ourselves in society because we are afraid to stand out.
Meet the Girls:
Tessa is an inspiring blogger and productive individual, who not only has her life together but has so much ambition. Tessa is the owner of the blog Simply Tess. Tessa has a very minimalist style and she talked about this in part of her chat, she likes to keep her style very undone and simple. She loves the Fall and Winter season, she told us that these are the seasons she feels most inspired in. She loves the beauty of nature. But, if you are interested in learning more about Tess and her inspirations, check out her blog at Simply Tess.
Paige is the owner of Where the Wildflowers Are; we described Paige as a fighter, authentic, raw and strong. Paige is the blog to go to if you seek all kinds of adventure, she is really in touch with nature and she has such a creative mind. In general, Paige loves textures and prints like wood grain and floral, these inspirations are root from nature and here artistic abilities. Paige is also interested in crystals and stones, they inspire her in many different ways. Some of Paige’s dreams include owning a small business, working in art therapy and traveling the country in a old Volkswagon Van. Check out more from Paige and her chat on her blog now.
Ally is the classy, fierce, and determined owner of the blog A Touch of Tulle. Ally’s dream would be to run her own wedding planning company. She really incorporated this chic wedding style into her own personal style. She looks for clean lines in her clothes and art. She also is inspired by floral and floral prints, especially lace. She is similar to me, in the sense that she enjoys classic pieces in fashion and art. Ally likes to travel because she feels she is able to find herself that way. If you would like to read more from Ally’s chat, check out A Touch of Tulle.
Now here is my challenge to my readers: Find a couple of things that inspire you, take a photo of them and share it on Twitter or Instagram. See what you and your best friends have in common and start your own inspirational chat.
I am so thrilled to kick off this new and exciting series with my favorite people, these women are so amazing and wise beyond their years. I am so lucky to have found a group of like-minded girls, who I am able to connect with on a deeper level. I really encourage all of my readers to check out their blogs. This is a collaborative post, which means we are all sharing a little something different from our chat. Please check out all four to get the full effect of our chat. I hope you all enjoy this new series, I have found so much inspiration from it already and I hope you can too.
Happy Monday.
xo, Lyss
vogue & van gogh 