WE ATE!
Get ready to be empowered, and entertained in this fresh new podcast! Meet talented costume Designers Mia Nunnally, Icy White, and Aziza Duniani, Singer-songwriter Chic Loren, and trendsetting celebrity stylist Wintter Alex. Together, they're spilling the beans on all things fashion, film & television, giving you an exclusive peek into their perspectives on style and design. ! ðŸŽðŸŽ¬ So come on, join the ride as they spill the tea, share their wildest fashion secrets, and show us how they rock friendships, life, and love like the bomb ass women they are!💖 Get ready to be inspired and entertained on this captivating journey! 🎉🎧Subscribe now to never miss an episode!
WE ATE!
Empowering Your Wardrobe on a Budget
Ever thought of breaking the fashion rules to find the perfect style that suits you? Well, get ready to shatter some myths and empower your wardrobe! We're stepping into the style streets to debunk outdated ideas like matching your belt and shoes, and not mixing brands. So, gear up to redefine your style statement with us!
Transform your everyday attire into a style statement without a splurge! In this empowering episode, we discuss how to select the right pair of jeans, tops that flatter your body, and the mighty power of a quality white tee, blazer, and outerwear. We're sharing our experiences and tips on thrifting and renting high-end fashion pieces, and how to make your wardrobe work to its maximum potential. And if you're worried about repeating looks, we've got some tricks up our sleeve!
Like, subscribe and be on the look out for a new episode every week!
Credit and special thanks goes to:
Produced by: Aziza Duniani @woman_Business
Music supervisor: Chic loren @chicloren_
Music by: Gavin Williams @thegavin1
What's up y'all? This is Sheik Loren, and welcome to We8. We're spilling the tea on all things fashion, film and television, giving you an exclusive peek into our perspective on style and design. I am a self-care enthusiast, music and costume creative.
Speaker 3:Hello, I'm Mia Nenally, costume designer and creative director.
Speaker 2:Hi, I'm Isi Chaville. I am a costume designer, event producer and all-around professional dot connector.
Speaker 4:Hey guys, this is Winter. Alex, I am interior designer, costume designer and personal stylist to all, then, I own the. Manor. Co At TheManorco okay.
Speaker 5:Hey y'all, this is your girl, lizisa Dunyani. I am an assistant costume designer, slash, multi hyphenate, creative. You can catch me anywhere, modeling to doing photography, to producing this podcast. I'm so happy that you guys are here with us today. We have a nice little episode. We have had some feedback from some of our listeners and you guys want to hear about how the everyday girl eats the street.
Speaker 5:Okay, so for the girls who are not so much interested in the high fashion part of the fashion industry but still want to look good on a day-to-day basis, want to elevate their style, we're talking to the everyday girl who wants to eat the street honey. So, like, this conversation is coming because we have had a couple of our listeners ask about how they can elevate their style, their daily whatever they throw on is, and you know they kind of want some not necessarily tips and pointers. But just what are the old-fashioned rules? Where can I find the fashions? Should I repeat the looks? You know what I'm saying? How do we do high-low? So we're kind of talking to y'all in this moment. We've got like a list of old-fashioned rules that people kind of do Can't wear white at your Labor Day.
Speaker 2:Your belt and your shoes should match yeah.
Speaker 5:You ever said that, yeah, belt and shoes, or so for men I think that's a rule for men Belts and shoes, pants and socks, and then those are kind of.
Speaker 3:You're right, I'm suiting really Women too Going to some of these fittings with the old actors.
Speaker 1:Oh, yeah, the old, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3:A panty hose.
Speaker 4:Oh, spanks, my belt needs to be blue too?
Speaker 2:Yeah, not no mixing of metals, mixing of brands and a hood that used to be a thing you can't wear.
Speaker 5:No, tommy, I mean no Nike with no Adidas shoes. Oh my gosh. I still feel bad when I do it sometimes, but then I be like but I'm cute.
Speaker 1:I don't do it. Well, I don't wear a lot of athletic brands that pass up by.
Speaker 3:I see her talking about that Adidas right now.
Speaker 2:And this is only because I had 20 minutes to get here.
Speaker 5:Adidas, down to the sot baby.
Speaker 3:She said I would not mix With some other rules.
Speaker 5:But honestly, I feel like they're all breakable. Well, we break them, I feel good that you should match everything.
Speaker 4:I think the rule that people should probably incorporate more into their personal style and wardrobe is to dress for your body type and not for what's on her.
Speaker 1:That's a rule.
Speaker 5:That's a rule. Yeah, I think we've talked about that multiple times If you are a listener. That is one takeaway.
Speaker 5:Shout out to winter for pulling that out of all of our conversations, I think that is one thing. That is the biggest thing is making sure that you're dressing for your body type. So if you are not sure, making sure you're getting sized or wearing your proper size, and then you can take it to a tailor. That's not necessarily a luxury that has to be like unattainable. You can go to your dry cleaners and get yourself a little $10 him. You know what I'm saying. Get the waist taken in there.
Speaker 2:There's also some brands that offer free alterations so like Levi's you can get up to two alterations per year. So if you go in there, and if you're short in style like me, then you can get your pants hemmed free of charge twice a year. So there are, and then there's places like Nordstrom that offers alteration services, and then it doesn't have to be just a dry cleaner or professional tailor. There are just retailers now that now have that built into their services.
Speaker 1:I want to also say to our listeners if you have specific questions about how to dress for your body type, drop it or we'll do something in the story soon. Or just tell us, like what specific questions you have and we'll give you opportunity on our story.
Speaker 3:But don't be afraid to break rules too, like, try to get those rules out of your head. Like that white after labor day has been here apparently since the Gilded Age. I don't know what age that is. That's in the late 1800s.
Speaker 5:We was wearing the cotton we picked. Nobody was wearing that white.
Speaker 3:But seriously, that did come across, that Gilded Age thing. It was because white tends to reflect light. White tends to be the color that is the coolest, it makes you feel cooler. So the Gilded Age, during that time, they said that you do not wear white because you need to be warmer. So you wore darker colors to make you feel warmer and also that's a testament to like.
Speaker 5:What they were wearing then was 15 layers of a pantalon a pentafore.
Speaker 1:You know what I'm saying?
Speaker 5:A pantalon a pentafore, A over skirt. You know what I'm saying. They had a corset, a camisole, another shirt on top and it's like a lot of layers. So, the things that you needed to adjust for the season were like color Cotton versus linen versus wool, like you, know, those were the small nuances, but now we'll be showing that slumming the legs, the ankles, is not a treat anymore.
Speaker 2:Another one. That's something that even I still kind of like isn't my jam. I've tried it. Never wear socks with open toe shoes.
Speaker 2:So, the socks with the open toe, heel or like pantos. Yeah, so like if you have a heel on and you have like a, you know, like a roughly sock, like I think that's how I wore it it was like a fishnet sock or something with the heel and I was like, okay, this ain't my thing. I've seen it on some people, so let me try it. But yeah, socks with open toe shoes.
Speaker 5:So do you think that's a rule that should be broken, or a rule that you should just stay away from?
Speaker 2:I think you gotta be able to pull it off.
Speaker 5:And.
Speaker 3:I'm not talking about.
Speaker 2:Nike slides with some white pants.
Speaker 1:Please don't come up here with that.
Speaker 5:First of all, I saw a lady with an athletic shoe. She had a, okay, so I thought her shoe was from a far away. It was like I was like, is that Gucci? And then it came up close and I was like, oh, look, steve Madden, right. And then she had a athletic sock, like a crew sock, with a compression band in the middle and it was an open toe platform and I was like, oh, you.
Speaker 5:Oh, I can't pick up on your description, okay, so think a chunky platform, open toe, sandal right and a winter might put like something dainty and lacy sock situation on under and it'd be very cute. Or, you know, even putting a colorful sock to add some style. Sis had an athletic sock like she could go play ball on with this platform.
Speaker 4:What does she have on at the top?
Speaker 5:It was jeans and a regular t-shirt. She had jeans cuffed.
Speaker 1:No, no, no, you couldn't see the rest of the sock, you just see the toe of the sock.
Speaker 5:No, I could see the whole sock and then the pants. Then it was like her jeans were crumped. No, the look was not a look the regular. I'm came to work today, look, and then on the bottom, I'm trying to spice it up, and it wasn't balanced throughout. Like you know what I'm saying I was. If she would have tried to spice up the rest of the outfit too, I'd be like oh okay, I see what we're doing here.
Speaker 5:we're just you know, trying new things in the closet? No, and the fact that it was a cruise eye, it's just. I was like I see your compression band in your Nike check.
Speaker 4:Girl, it's the compression band Well yesterday I had on my Gucci loafers and my white Nike socks, with some black Nike leggings and the but you do it in such a way. I think it's like I see it depends on the person.
Speaker 1:Yes, please share a photo of this so we can all see and share with the audience too.
Speaker 2:I have just sent some photos over, so we will put that on our Instagram, okay so.
Speaker 5:I have a question for the ladies, because we all shop for styling or film and television, you know, professionally but we're also shopping for characters that are very everyday and we tend to even if someone is every day, you know, middle class woman who just needs to look, put together we kind of stay away from the rosses and the marshals of the world and tend to go directly to the brand. Instead of getting a made well from Ross, we would go and get it specifically from the store, a made well store.
Speaker 5:So what is the benefit of doing that if you are an everyday girl who's like you know, I just run in here and grab a couple things like what's the benefit of going to the actual store of the brands that you like?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think it's a benefit to us in the industry because typically we need multiples we need a particular style. You know that we need more than one, two of, and a lot of times. If you shop at those discount retailers, that gene will get chosen in the fitting and then you will have to run all over town to find the quantity that you need for that look. So we tend to go straight to retailers instead of discounted stores, because you might not find what you need and quantity Okay so I was okay.
Speaker 3:I do think it's important to, as we go back to talking about body type, speaking of made well, it's important to know what fits you well at what brand fits you well. So, if we're talking about our girls who are not following the fashion trends and whatnot, on Milan fashion week, um, I had a person ask me can we still, can you still, wear skinny jeans? And speaking of made well, and you know, there everyone cannot wear a skinny jean. In my opinion, I think skinny jeans, personally, is made for a specific kind of body type. I am very.
Speaker 2:I think it's for a slimmer woman okay, because I ain't slimming, I'm gonna wear my skinny jean.
Speaker 4:I think you can go for both. If it's a high waist, good quality, it's gonna snatch your waist yeah, with your hips and then streamline your legs. Yeah, it's gonna be a great clean look.
Speaker 1:And then but it also matters what you do on top.
Speaker 3:It has to whatever top you wear has to complement your body type with the skinny and it also in the shoe you know because the reason why I say a thinner woman, because slimmer it's to me, skinny jeans make you look kind of frumpy if you have a body type very. I'm speaking for my own experience. I have an athletic body build, so if I put on a skinny jean it looks like you know, basically I have on a leaghan and I'm about to go and play some ball and then it kind of goes toward another genre. But I think that a skinny jean really is, is not? I don't think it's for everyone in the one that, particularly the person who particularly asked me.
Speaker 5:No, I do not think she could wear skinny jeans so what would be her alternative if she's a straight leg? That?
Speaker 3:still elongates.
Speaker 4:I think a straight leg would be fine, a straight leg um a denim that is um almost like wide leg denim um but, but, but not full on wide right, the kind of like like a Veronica beard yeah, like a, not like a she's on your waist, it accentuates your hips and your thighs and then it goes into a veil. You know what I'm saying?
Speaker 2:so it starts kind of slender, and then it goes into a you know, it's not like a full on wide or like 90s that's that's trending right now right it could be that too, yeah okay, I feel like um a reason I like skinny jeans is because of the spandex, the the stretch the stretch in it, um, the mix of denim and stretch, because I know that it's going to like cling to my body, so it's going to accentuate the curves and everything like that. To wear eyes and I think she could made a good point. It's about what's on top, because I don't like the wide leg silhouette with every upper body type absolutely, and then also um, yeah okay, that's it.
Speaker 5:So what do you think? I guess, I'll ask winter, what do you think are five for our listeners? What are five like staple pieces that your everyday woman should have in her closet that can help to elevate but not feel too forced right, because I know there's some women, even in my family, who are like I don't do jeans or whatever the case may be, but if they had one of these items, they it would elevate what they do like can we each go around and say yeah, let's do that, let's do that.
Speaker 3:I want to say a white T, okay, but what is the qualification for that white T?
Speaker 5:okay?
Speaker 3:the weight has to be a nice weight, mm-hmm. A nice crew. The crew neck needs to be thick enough where you can kind of I would say like a millimeter, like it needs to be a half inch, this is a oh, you talking about the thickness of the thickness of your bands of your around your neck, okay thin, no thin, no thin, no thin, no thin neck.
Speaker 3:Um, I think cost okay that's what I'm wearing today has a good quality white T shirt. They have good quality T's uh-huh. Um, j crew. J crew has good quality T's. Banana has good quality T's okay. Um, yeah, a nice white T okay. And they can come in all shapes. Form shape you can do um botsy. You get a dependent on your body side. You can do slim cut.
Speaker 5:You can do short sleeve, long sleeve, yeah and that can just help diversify your, that can diversify your closet yeah, um I see you guys have yeah, I would say a good blazer.
Speaker 2:Every woman should have a good blazer in a good jean whatever that brand jean is because it could be boyfriend kind of little oversized look. It could be more of your tailored fit which you know you could wear to work, you could put on over, um, you could transition it from night to day. I don't know, it depends on a person's body type. But I think everyone should have like good outerwear. Like I like coats, I'm kind of getting into a place of being like really into coats and I feel like we're moving into that fall season to where you can really like pop out. It don't even matter what you got on underneath that coat. If that coat is the statement when you walk in a room it's just like ooh, so um, great outerwear, good jean statement belt girl you took all my fat.
Speaker 3:No, no, okay, so I'm gonna be the devil's advocate. What's great, though? Like what for you?
Speaker 2:whatever works for your body so you might be a gap and I might be. Oh wait, so what?
Speaker 3:let me let you finish what you ask because I'm thinking when I hear great blazer for the, the everyday woman, I'm thinking of more of the fabrication of the blaser. It doesn't have to be expensive.
Speaker 2:I'm not saying that but fabrication usually indicates expensive. I feel like it's more the fit for me when I say great, not necessarily um, I can.
Speaker 3:A lot of my wool blazers have come from the thrift store, but that's still right but that's still good fabrication.
Speaker 2:It's only cheap to you because you thrifted it originally.
Speaker 3:That might have been a more expensive. Not okay cheap, not meaning the cause, but when I so great so you wouldn't want a polyester blazer to be a staple and you know you want to have a fabric quality fabric wool, linen, cotton and silk
Speaker 4:and that would make it a natural.
Speaker 5:I mean a great blazer and also something that is probably a standalone blazer for the everyday girl, instead of going to like amazes and getting a suit and then taking your suit blazer and wearing that, as that's not necessarily what we're talking about. We're talking about a standalone piece, right, that you got, that you could wear with some jeans, you could wear, a wellness black you could wear. You know, has a little versatility, because a lot of times the cut of a blazer for a suit is specific to, yeah, that suit, right? So if you're using your Calvin Klein and Klein and I'm just saying this because that's what's in your macy's or wherever you know if you go and grab that, that blazer, it's gonna fit a little weird when you put it with a jean or if you put it with, it's not so much a versatile staple piece in your closet.
Speaker 2:So let me clean up real quick when I was saying it's. I do agree that fabrication plays a part. I'm speaking more so for the fit because again, we're talking about the everyday woman. I think it's the fit, it doesn't matter. You know, of course you don't want fabrics that outwardly look inexpensive and cheap, but I would say that fit is something more accessible to everyone than fabrication, because everyone might not have the means or the interest in investing in that.
Speaker 2:We're talking about creating like a capsule wardrobe, then I switch up my answer and say splurge on these statement pieces because it's a part of your capsule wardrobe. So for longevity and for all of that, go ahead and get something at a higher price point. If we're talking about just like for a season or a couple of years or whatever like that, then yeah, it's more so fit for me than it is fabrication.
Speaker 4:I feel like this fabrication over fit, because the fit you can change, the fabric you can't well, I think it comes down to like if we're shopping like fast fashion Zara to get to, to serve a client's needs, or if we're shopping like she's dead for or for like an actual closet build you know if you're building staples within your wardrobe. Those key items great pair of sweats, great black pump, great white t-shirt, great black blazer, great slack you know what I'm saying little black dress.
Speaker 4:Those are like those staples that you would spend over $200 on because they're going to be for longevity. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, that's not. That's not something I'm going to. Let me run to the store and grab a $60 blazer.
Speaker 5:And if that is your world, if you are trying to build out this space on a budget however, feel free to start small and then start to elevate as you feel comfortable in the pieces or you start to see exactly what you like. You know, that t-shirt, that blazer, those sweatpants, those are going to. You're going to be like, oh okay, now I see how I can play with this.
Speaker 4:And then eventually you're going to be like this is something I need in my closet and you're going to spend that money, you can start with your great pair of H&M sweats yeah, you get to it. You got your. Like you know, your Wang sweats and you live in the new, so it just depends on what that is.
Speaker 5:Yeah, do you have anything specific or that you're new?
Speaker 3:That's yeah, I think that's fine Okay.
Speaker 1:I'm an accessories girl, from the earrings, you know, the jewelry, the rings. Rings have become my thing, like how you stack them is important. How you curate your fangals, head wraps, just different things like watches, bracelets, glasses or frames so many things. Do find what frames your face. Well, you know what jewelry accentuates certain parts of your body, like what looks good on your neck, what goes well with your wardrobe, that you currently have all the things? Yeah, because you can. Accessories can definitely switch up the look, like when people are concerned about repeating looks and we'll get into that Belts, you know, throwing those in it can basically take your look from something more casual to adding a certain type of accessory or jewelry to elevate the look and make it look completely different.
Speaker 3:Yeah, where are you doing your accessories?
Speaker 1:Where am I buying my accessories? Nature, the label is one website naturethelabelcom.
Speaker 4:Suic Bohemian in Atlanta Pots City.
Speaker 1:Market.
Speaker 4:Maywell actually has a really good jewelry. They actually have bust downs.
Speaker 1:And they're so subtle and they look nice, very, very tasteful, very good looking they look great.
Speaker 5:You put me on gray. I've purchased for work, but I haven't purchased for my own you know you don't really pay attention, sometimes when you like yeah, let me get the things.
Speaker 3:Give me all of them. That's a good note that's the only earrings I can really wear.
Speaker 1:And then also, you know, as you're learning yourself like, do you have certain allergies when it comes to jewelry? I do. I have to try to go for things that are nickel free. So Target, you know, has nickel free options. You just got a you know, yep, bobble bar. Even if you are the type of person oh, I don't know where to start.
Speaker 1:There's jewelry subscription services like Rockbox I think is the name Rockbox and other companies will list them below and all of the things for you. But yeah, there's, there's cool ways to play with your accessories to switch up your look.
Speaker 5:You do a good job with accessories you just brought me to look over like oh girl you do be blinged down. I've been wearing the same earring all the time. This is not a good note.
Speaker 3:But no, that is a good note, that is a part of your uniform.
Speaker 4:You know like you never take your jewelry off.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 4:You know, saying like it's just your go.
Speaker 3:This is what I got, it's your hero.
Speaker 1:Shout out to our black owned jewelry companies yeah, what's the plus if you like eccentric?
Speaker 5:jewelry. Aziza is a brand called Aziza. It's not my brand, yeah, but they have beautiful jewelry. Yes, yes, she's a jewelry, she's in.
Speaker 3:New.
Speaker 5:York Yep.
Speaker 4:Yes.
Speaker 1:Beautiful things with stones. She's got some good shit.
Speaker 4:Yeah, we pull it from her set for several shows, mm hmm.
Speaker 1:Yeah, what's my girl? I hate if you're an.
Speaker 5:Atlanta slate, yes, slate.
Speaker 4:Yep, shout out to Priscilla.
Speaker 5:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Priscilla Mm hmm, what's the?
Speaker 3:cost, cost, yeah, oh cost. She looks cost worthy in this corner.
Speaker 1:Back to you what you can get you know your accessible pieces.
Speaker 5:Yeah. So I think while she looks up the brand, mine is going to be denim I know we already kind of touched on it, but like a nice pair of jeans and I mean like as of recently I just now getting into like a vintage or like a strong Levi raw denim or, like you know, nicely worked down vintage denim, jean. That's for me personally. But if you are building a collection, if you're building out your closet, I say find yourself a nice sturdy jean that makes you feel fantastic. Like that you could put that t-shirt because really we just talked the outfit through right. You could put your nice, nice denim on that makes you feel fantastic. And whatever silhouette it is, don't get it with too much. You know, if you want it to last long, too much stretch is going to wear you out.
Speaker 5:It's going to blow out. So try to find you some good, good denim white t-shirt, get you. Put you a blazer on with it, put, accessorize with some jewelry, put on that black pump or black sandal, and that's your look. Try it, you know what I'm saying, and then you can play with the levels, play with whether or not it's cropped, whether or not the jean is flair, whether you know, and then that will start to help you to see what you like. Also, try things on. A lot of people go to the store and they're like this is just the thing, I'm just going to grab this and I'm going to grab this. Go in there, just throw it on real quick. I promise you you'll be saving yourself.
Speaker 3:And then hit your home girl that knows what she's talking about and be like what you think yeah, Don't buy it until you get it Did y'all see that meme where the guy was like when you send your picture to the group message and they're like what
Speaker 5:else you got between the car Like they already bought it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I already got it all, because Lin Chantor yeah, we used some of that for Creed, Creed 3.
Speaker 1:But I'll create a list. Y'all hold me to it now Keep me honest. I'll create a list of just like black owned jewelry companies just to look into, just so you can shop black yeah.
Speaker 5:If you feel obliged, okay. So outside of going to the source, right Outside of going to your department stores, putting your capsule collection together, other ways that you can experiment with little more high end items in your closet, you can do tap into rent the runway or other rental services to add a cute little bag, a nice little belt, just to see, you know how do you feel about that? I don't, I'm not, I'm not gonna return. Okay, now I'm not stealing, but I can't be held to.
Speaker 1:They gonna charge your card.
Speaker 5:Yes, I can't be held to the like. Let me get it and then I gotta wear it this one time.
Speaker 4:I don't know when I want to, I tried it in here.
Speaker 3:Has anybody tried this? I might, yes and no. I haven't experienced with it. Okay, what you do. I had my cousin tried it for her something. I remember this, yes. Did it not go well. I don't think it's worth the time and effort.
Speaker 2:Just go buy a damn dress. I would say I'm pro rent the runway and other services, even though I haven't really utilized it that much for myself. So for me it's a good thing for work, for work, and even I'm thinking back, I think my bridesmaids run at their dresses from like.
Speaker 3:Rent the Runway.
Speaker 2:That's cool, because so my whole reason that I like Rent the Runway and things like this is because of the whole repeating looks thing. So for me I'm we go to a lot of stuff, a lot of events, a lot of galas, a lot of fun racers. She be outside A little bit, she be outside.
Speaker 2:She be outside A lot of fun racers, a lot of things, and there's this stigma of like. I've been photographed in this, I've been seen in this and it's kind of like well, it was cute, I really liked it. I don't want to repeat it. So even Chris, so Chris had this, that's her husband yeah.
Speaker 2:So my husband Chris. We were in Dominican Republic and we're shopping and he found this nice knitted, very colorful shirt and he wore it that night for his birthday a few weeks ago. About four days later he was I'm put this on. I said, oh you literally just it just got washed Like you just wore it. Hold off on wearing that again, cause you were heavily photographed in it. And he was like all right, and he put something else on. I think men can get away with it a little bit more than women, but I feel like for like big occasions, when you're really dressed up or like a gown or you know, after five attire or whatever, like that, or even like just something that you posted like this is a look, I'm a posted on Instagram, everybody gonna like it, but can I wear it again?
Speaker 5:How soon.
Speaker 2:It's too soon, you can't wear it again?
Speaker 5:And what do you feel are the social repercussions of wearing it again for you to be like, just specifically to that scenario you gave us with Chris putting a shirt back on, like what is the? Yeah, what's the social repercussion to that? I don't know, I don't think there's any repercussion, personal thing.
Speaker 2:I think it's something we just was like trained to at least me like I just felt as a part of our culture, like, dang, you just wore that. Like you know what I'm saying it's like and even for for me, yeah, I just feel like it's a thing that's in our culture that you don't. You got to give some space. Even when I was in high school, with a limited wardrobe, I had a thing about like, dang, I just wore those jeans last week, or I just wore this shirt in this together. So I think that if you're going to repeat looks, it has to be. It doesn't have to be like some agreed upon time has passed, but just switch it up, like I wore this, but now I'm going to put a different top with it. Or I wore this dress, but now I got a different bag and shoes with it.
Speaker 2:I like services like rent the runway or other subscription services. For that reason of like, if I have six galas to attend, I'm not going to buy a gown for each of these things, especially knowing that I've been conditioned of like oh, I got to let some time pass before I wear this again. So it gives you the ability to get something, maybe higher end or, you know, a designer brand, but to only wear it for that one off occasion. And then it's at a fraction of the cost of if I bought this gown from this designer for a thousand dollars and I know I'm probably only going to wear it you only going to wear it once play, stuff them rules.
Speaker 2:So I think, they're good for those type of services, even like bags and stuff like that. If you have an event, an engagement, maybe somebody is wedding, because a lot of places are doing like wedding, guest rentals, which is like a thing now of like, why do we care so much about what the guests wearing? I'll give a shit, but is this now as a pressure on guests of like to make sure that you're wearing. You know like you're up to stuff and what you got on as a guest.
Speaker 1:You want to look good, but it ain't about you. I mean, as far as what I guess in terms of like a wedding, the guests. It's not about them, it's about the bride.
Speaker 2:But a lot of bride and grooms are creating like dress codes. Yeah, everybody, come in shades of this Mm hmm, everybody wear this color, everybody wear black and white. So you know, I think that rent and runway and services like that are good for like those one offs Like I just need this for this quick thing, Dry, clean it, send it back and only cost me a couple of bucks versus like committing to the price tag Right, and knowing you ain't going to wear that shit ever again.
Speaker 1:So I definitely feel you on that. I personally have never tried rent the runway. I was interested in it when it first dropped years ago, but I just never utilized the services. But to your point, I definitely think for the person who just wants something statement or high end for a moment, you know a cute stunt, ain't that wrong?
Speaker 5:Well, you got a social calendar. Yeah, ain't that wrong.
Speaker 1:Like if you can't listen. Ain't nobody got time to be spending thousands upon thousands of dollars just to keep up Like if you ain't got it. But you can't afford, like if you want to look, you know, if you want to look nice and that's going to elevate your look, and go for it, yeah.
Speaker 5:But it's a lot of pressure. That was just for me. Anxiety To me.
Speaker 1:It's point. I guess it's about the assignment. Could you go to me as point, like it is about the experience? So if I were to have it and it was a process of getting it back, that might make me not want to do shit. No, more. But yeah, I can see the benefits for sure, I think when my bride is made.
Speaker 2:They didn't even have to dry clean or anything. It's like it was delivered. They even gave you two size options because, like if you think you might be in between the size, so like. I might be a six, but I ain't never wore this dress before.
Speaker 3:I could be an eight.
Speaker 2:They sent both sizes. You get to choose which one and you send both dresses back and it comes with a label and everything.
Speaker 3:You all get one.
Speaker 5:You all get one, we're going to go to two boxes. We got four dresses Everybody.
Speaker 3:I mean, for that reason, I can understand why you're at the runway. However, I do want to normalize, like recreating your look, though Like I have on this is a set, like break your sets up every now and then make them casual every now and then like it's okay, you know, I think that it's you know. Let's especially us as people in costumes like it's really fun to just like play around and do different things and whatnot, but just try not to be like not you, I'm not talking to you, I'm just talking to the people out there in the world. Like go on your Pinterest board, as we talked about before. What else you can do different with what you already got in your closet?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:Because, again, one of the people's that people's, one person who asked me the question said I'm only on the, I only make a certain amount of year. I can't afford this. You know what is the, you know whatever. So it's okay to go in your closet and just try to play around and recreate it.
Speaker 5:Yeah, I think that's a good note because I know last time when we talked about a Pinterest board or like using social media, we talked about it and mostly in the context of like work and being in that creative space. But if you just every day, sally may not Sally may.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 5:Or no, no, no, I just came up with a name, but not not Sally may. So if you any everyday girl, you know what I'm saying and you want to figure out how to play around and make things look a little bit different, like, feel free to use a Pinterest board type in. I got all dental.
Speaker 2:What am I?
Speaker 5:supposed to do, and I'm saying that because I specifically did that. I was like I got all these denim jeans, I got to do this photo shoot. I can't reimagine. I can but pressure. I need to figure something out now. Give me all this inspiration that I can just play with and then I can go from there. Yeah, you could do that too, when you taking your kids to school.
Speaker 3:You know what I'm saying, yeah, Whoever says you can't wear your evening gown to the grocery store, to the groceries though I've been saying that a lot when you going to the grocery store? Well, maybe not an evening gown, but you're in a hoodie with it. Real cute you see this is.
Speaker 1:Do what you guys did.
Speaker 5:You know what this is making me think, though. I've kind of been. I've been having a lot of conversations with a lot of creatives in Atlanta and you know we feel a hard deficit when it comes to just being inspired in these streets. So for the ones who are on the creative spectrum, put that shit on. You know what. I'm saying Put that shit on and we all have it. Like I was talking to my homegirl, she was like girl, I got so much fly shit and I don't even I'm even worried.
Speaker 5:And she was like I just feel like I need to go somewhere. I was like girl, please, because somebody might see you walking down the street and you just sparked some inspiration for someone else. You love it. You know, and it's gonna make you feel good about yourself.
Speaker 1:I love it Because otherwise why do you have it? Just put that shit we gotta put it on.
Speaker 3:Yeah. And that's in the ballet flat. I'm just saying what the reason why I say that? Because it's like that in between or loafer. I have on a, yeah, anyway, a loafer, because it's that in between shoe, between a sneaker and a flip flop. Yeah, because I mean, I don't, anyway, a flip flop, you know, is that in between shoe, that can. What do you say? Flip flop, what?
Speaker 1:do you?
Speaker 3:mean. I'm talking about the thong that you get from the beach store. No, like. No, just invest in a ballet, a good ballet flop. No, it's worse. People are. Oh, you, let me book it.
Speaker 1:Well, I'll be honest Like I got some if I got to run, like if I just got to run to get my feet done and come right back home, I might throw that on.
Speaker 3:But yeah, but that's a purpose, that's special where you go.
Speaker 5:Yeah, I ain't trying to be outside.
Speaker 4:No, it's a thong.
Speaker 1:It's a thong Thong, thong, thong thong.
Speaker 4:They love it, though they think they think.
Speaker 1:They not love it. See, you know when she, she is just judging, honey. She's like damn, you can't have a cute ass slide.
Speaker 4:I go get her, go call it hey In a slide. Yeah, got to go somewhere?
Speaker 3:Yes, I do, I do.
Speaker 1:But do not wear them. No, to your point, if you be, you be on the go, you better know Put a pair of shoes in the car.
Speaker 3:Okay, that's a minne-car that part.
Speaker 5:Oh my gosh that part.
Speaker 1:Well, yeah, I hope that Hello.
Speaker 5:Oh, I mean, yeah, I think that kind of attributes to your, our, our, rent the runway and repeating looks like. I feel like if you, if that's what you're using it for, you know, throw on a look, I feel like a lot of us get a little hollow. It'd be here I go. Everybody got shoes on. Yeah, I got shoes on, we got shoes on, we cute, we cute.
Speaker 1:We cute today we cute, we gave her food yeah. We said we pull the nudge yeah.
Speaker 3:I mean, I think so the person that asked me about the stuff, about the looks.
Speaker 5:Shout out to her. She's inspiring this conversation.
Speaker 3:Anyway, the person who asked me about the looks, um, what's most to me, one of the things that she did not, she's taking a phone call. One of the things that she did not, that she wanted to make sure that we mentioned, was the fact that she does not make a lot of money and so a lot of times she is sacrificing the fit, the look, and you know we're doing the quality, yeah.
Speaker 5:But, I don't think you should have to Like you do not have to sacrifice feeling good, right, or even if you are like I'm saying, I keep saying Marshalls and Ross because my aunties love it there.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 5:My mother is a Ross advocate, right, okay, go. You don't just have to pick something because you're like, oh, this is my size. Just take that extra step, Take that extra moment to think about which actually makes you feel good, right, like, try it on, see if your spirit was lifted. Don't just put on pants that don't fit, because it's all you could get. It was a whole store. Were you being lazy or were you being intentional?
Speaker 5:because you can get things at a very cost-effective price point you know what I'm saying or even thrifting things and make it work for you, Because it's really close. It's about feeling good. How do you feel when you put these clothes on? That's real. Do your spirit get lifted. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2:Do you feel like you can make some more money?
Speaker 5:You know what I'm saying? Like, that's really what.
Speaker 1:That's a great way. That's a great way, though, to help, you know, dress yourself For the day like how do you feel, find things and pieces that move you, what brings you joy when you shop, so that's a great point.
Speaker 5:And be honest with yourself, because I've had people I know people in my life who are like mothers and business owners and all the things and they're busy and they're like I just don't have the time and it's like, but your babies look good. Your man's put together your babies look good. Just take that extra second for yourself.
Speaker 1:Self-care, sheep-loon, and there's no judgment, because we're you know, basically all of us are mothers, except Aziza, but she understands because she has siblings and comes from a strong mama. Mama-mo, shout out to mama-mo, shout out to mama-mo, Shout out to mama-mo. But we, I think it's all about finding a routine that works for you, even if it's like something that's just going to be easy for you to put on, but it still looks good. Start there, mm-hmm, and then you have to create something simple.
Speaker 5:Yeah, and build on it, and you probably have something in your closet before you even shop. You probably have something in your closet already that when you put on, you feel like money, you feel like confident, you feel loved, you feel like you paid attention to yourself and whatever that thing is, start to like, build from that and don't be. If you don't have a lot of money, then you don't have a lot of money to waste and be lazy about the shop.
Speaker 1:You know what I'm saying? Yeah, like facts. You know what I'm saying Don't be wasting your money getting stuff that doesn't make you feel good. Make you feel good You're about to just bullshit. You know that shit, don't look good on you Come on man.
Speaker 3:So what are some of the like? What's top five? Real quick places that you shop that don't take a lot of money to break your bank, mm-hmm, target Quality and you can. What's the other three? I don't know, maybe top two, I say target, okay, yeah.
Speaker 5:I mean because I mean we all. They have these capsule collections from really high end designers that don't have the price point right. They have the silhouettes, the style, the shape. Yeah, you can go and get what you need. They have dressing rooms where you could try things on and play around in with very little pressure restriction and the price point is not super high. So, like you know, we look. You know the good sisters love a target run Okay.
Speaker 2:So when you?
Speaker 5:take your self care trip to Target, always through that section and see how they got beautiful sun dress, especially for the summer, in like spring they always have a nice little sun dress, something quick that you can throw on. You know what I'm saying. They might have the what is the collection called? They have like the area, the future collective.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the future collective.
Speaker 5:So those are usually designers or you know, social media people who are in the fashion world or you know and they create these capsule collections specifically for Target and instead of the super expensive leather blazer you could get something a little cheaper. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1:And you can still be fly, yeah, so I say target, yeah, I would definitely say Zara.
Speaker 1:You know Zara has some things that are moderately priced, some that are a little bit more expensive, but you can find some, some good pieces. And I just want to point out like it could be something so simple as getting one good, solid piece in your wardrobe that can switch everything up for you. Whether that's like what we've been saying a good pair of pants, like you add that, and it's like, oh, I can wear this with a bunch of stuff, oh, I can add a little hat, I can do this. You know what I'm saying. So it don't even have to be that much that you need to buy. Just start small and start somewhere. Like you really got to assess your, your closet and what you have and what you need to bring you up to where you need to be.
Speaker 2:What should you say Icy.
Speaker 2:I kind of took my first two. My first one was Target and also Zara, I feel like you know places, like we said, made well for jeans. I would say, though, to kind of have a one-stop shop, I would say Nordstrom Rack. Nordstrom Rack, specifically because that way you're getting things it was last season's jean or you know, blazer or whatever, but you're still getting good quality because you're getting, you know, those same brands is just at a discounted price. So if I had to add someone to the list, I would say Nordstrom Rack. They will have accessories, they'll have belts, jewelry, watches, shoes, shapewear, even so, all the things that you can find under one roof, but you would get it at a discounted price.
Speaker 5:Okay, mia.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I'm going to say the Real, real, and I'm going to say Cos.
Speaker 1:Is that that's not as good? Real, Real and.
Speaker 3:Cos is medium.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay, okay, go down one.
Speaker 4:I'm going to go down several notches then.
Speaker 3:So if I can't say those two, I'm going to say the Thrift Store. This is not for. This is for someone who has, like, a thrift store eye. So when you go to the thrift store, I would suggest, if you are new to thrifting, I would suggest going again on that Pinterest board and getting some images and some inspiration and then going thrifting right after, immediately after that.
Speaker 5:Okay, yeah, I agree. Also, something in my spirit is making me think about this. Maybe it's my auntie, it's my mom or whatever, and the fact that so many styles are coming back and trends are coming back. If you got them, like you know oh good, leather boots at the back of your closet, that was from like 94 or something like that, or like this jacket, like I'm still trying to go on Pinterest, get some direction, but see how you can incorporate those pieces that were like classic, authentic, quality pieces, cause really that's what you're gonna find at the thrift store and if you're of a certain age, you kind of were dressed in that time period and there's probably things in your closet that you haven't let go of and you could repurpose them to nowadays.
Speaker 2:And girl, but can I still fit it? If you can't fit it, pass it to your niece okay.
Speaker 5:I'm talking to my aunties. That's why it's important to find the authentic part.
Speaker 3:That's why it's important to buy. At least try to invest in some classics so you can wear it 20 values later, I know my auntie got two closets full of clothes, when I say two closets in other rooms full of vintage pieces.
Speaker 5:she's never gotten rid of anything and it's always been like a fashion girl, and now she's more like uniform. You know, when you get to a uniform space, you're like this is my thing, this is my dress up, look. This is my dress down look, and it's always cute, but the way she don't let us touch it.
Speaker 3:I be like let me just smell. Let me just see, she's waiting, just waiting, let me see what you got, auntie. I'm gonna see the point.
Speaker 2:We also didn't say H&M, but I will say H&M as well for certain pieces. Actually, they just hit me with a targeted ad, but they do a lot of collaborations as well with fashion brands. So I remember the H&M Moschino collection that came out a couple of years ago, and then they had who?
Speaker 1:was it.
Speaker 2:Mugler earlier this year late last year, so you know they're good for someone else. I also like if you're not a thrift store girl or guy, because thrifting is an art and it is not for everyone and it can be.
Speaker 2:I love to thrift, but I have to be in a mindset of thrifting. I gotta know. I'm coming in here, I'm gonna be in here for a couple hours, I'm gonna have to deal with the dusty you know the dust everywhere and the dressing room look like somebody live in it and all of that but I'm gonna come out of here with at least, you know, something that made it worth my while. So I would say that looking for quality pieces at thrift stores if that's not your thing to like, dig through the bins look at websites like eBay, like Vestier Collection at Sea these are places that you can kind of like filter what you're looking for. Poshmark even, you can filter what you're looking for. I bought a lot of like vintage things off of, let's say, poshmark, because I have the ability to search by size, by price point, by brand, and then boom, now I have like my own little thrift store without having to go and be Sift, yeah, sift through all this stuff.
Speaker 5:So that's a good point, cause I am not a thrift. I love seeing y'all's pieces. Damn, where you get that from Thrift store, it immediately loses right over my head. I'm like, oh okay, that's nice Therapy for me. I just something about. My tour's brain is like well, I came in here for a thing. I came here for a thing and I can't find it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you can't come in there for things.
Speaker 5:I gotta go.
Speaker 4:You gotta come for the experience you gotta let it come to you.
Speaker 2:Cause you're not gonna get what you came in here looking for.
Speaker 3:You are mine. No, I've never found it.
Speaker 4:Matt.
Speaker 2:Something else, this brooch that you like I ain't coming here for no brooch, but this is the only thing I came out here with.
Speaker 1:Just go in there to explore and let us know in the comments Y'all if y'all wanna learn how to thrift or some tips on how to thrift.
Speaker 5:Before we knock it out Winter, what's your suggested like everyday store that women can go to to find good pieces? We've had targeted. We've had.
Speaker 1:For a low amount.
Speaker 5:For very economically friendly fashion girls. So we've had Target, we had North Shore and Rack, we've had Zara. H&m. What would?
Speaker 1:you suggest If it was out of batch?
Speaker 5:Price point is In that price point, in that lower, in the lower.
Speaker 2:You don't know if you're 22 year old, freshly graduated from school. Niece.
Speaker 3:So I said build her. And the real world has shut my ass down.
Speaker 4:I would say every fabric.
Speaker 1:They got some good stuff now and labels.
Speaker 4:How about that?
Speaker 1:Okay, I mean. I think, though, it also depends on where you are. What they're saying is you can get good quality at a discounted price, Like when you shop at the real real or the labels. You're not spending top dollar for designer, You're getting it fairly used, but for a great discounted price. So if you can't afford that that works for you, then those are good places to shop.
Speaker 3:Don't discount the real world Cause.
Speaker 1:I got that on some lean pants.
Speaker 2:On some lean flats.
Speaker 3:In my queue for $70.
Speaker 2:Oh, so, like you can and that's a great price you can adjust to what you can afford, exactly.
Speaker 3:And you do have to be willing to sift through the shit. But you gotta know how to also adjust your settings to know how much you wanna spend, what your real size is. Got your last year's size before you had your baby. Use the filter.
Speaker 4:Well, the staples that we're talking about. You can go in any off direct store In the mall Sax off booths and create these.
Speaker 1:You ain't gotta wear designer.
Speaker 4:Let's be clear there are staples Express is a good store.
Speaker 5:Yeah, I would say Express too.
Speaker 4:What Scotch Scotch, scotch? And Soda Scotch and Soda is great, like I spoke to J Crew, and they also have really great sales of their they're at 40% off. Like.
Speaker 5:Gap.
Speaker 4:I think sometimes it's more so a level of taste than it is the cost. Yes. And I think that's more so what we're speaking to. I mean shit, we can all go in forever 21 and find a look. Now how long is the last? That's another story. Yeah, but you'll get that one little one, two out of it. Even they have like cute and decent shoes. So, to get that one look out of.
Speaker 4:You know so it's no shade to your budget or where you are in life. It's more so just maintaining that look that suits you.
Speaker 5:And make you feel good.
Speaker 2:And you still feel elevated, you still feel good and you still, you know, look worth some taste, but that's the thing too.
Speaker 2:There's people who don't want to invest because they just want, especially with trends Like I'm not going to put a whole lot of money into a strong shoulder situation If I feel like strong shoulders are just here for a season. So I think there's a thing, too, like saying like I can go and get some of these, you know, cheaper quality items, you know, or options for like what's a trendy look right now and I don't want it to live for five, 10 years Because it's trend, the attical pants that are in the.
Speaker 3:P-Clone right now.
Speaker 4:You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2:Cause they all pick up on what is trending at the higher level and they regurgitate it. Steve's mad too.
Speaker 4:You're going to get your shoe that's up high.
Speaker 1:Oh baby, that's it, that's the one, that's where you go.
Speaker 4:Any shoe that's on the runway. Steve's going to have it at 2.5. I think he's worked out a deal with those designers to say we're going to do your lower end line had to.
Speaker 3:So you know this boot. I know we got to go Bottega. Like one of their Instagram pages is private and I think it's because of that. I think, they're trying to separate. Not on, steve. You can't look at my shoe and then you know what.
Speaker 2:What's stopping people from screenshot and then be like see, look at what they're doing over here.
Speaker 3:I think I'm pretty sure let's fact check that.
Speaker 5:We have given you a lot of information. We will definitely put some of this in the show notes from where to shop when you're trying to be economically efficient and effective. Also, a couple pieces to keep in your capsule collection to elevate and mix things up. Hopefully this helped you. If it did, put it in the comment. If it don't put it in the comment section, let us know how you feel. Reach back out. Like we said, this was inspired by a conversation from one of our listeners, which we want to continue to do. We want to continue to feed y'all and serve y'all in the best ways that we know. How you know, like I say every week, like subscribe, follow us at We8podcast on Instagram. Also We8 on all platforms, including iHeart, apple Podcast and really anywhere you get your podcast. We love to see it. Glad you joined us and we'll see you next week. Bye, bye, bye, not veryelfish.