Blue Black

Comfy, flattering & simple are ways to describe all of my most valued dresses in my wardrobe and this one by Halogen isn’t an exception! I love its simplicity with the asymmetrical ruching, the soft, double-layered fabric and its length that’s appropriate for both a night out downtown and a nice dinner date. Once it gets a little cooler, I’ll pair it with a leather moto jacket for an edgier look.

I took advantage of my employee discount during my last week working at Nordstrom and got an irresistible deal on this dress and super cute and colorful clutch by Topshop x Nordstrom!

If you haven’t heard already, I start working at J.Crew next week and I’m super excited! Most of my closet is either J.Crew or Madewell, so it’s safe to say their a brand I closely identify with. Learning & growing with the company I most adore is a dream for me as I plan to make moves towards a corporate position in NY. In the meantime, come shop with me and get styled for fall!

As I approach my five year anniversary of blogging, I’m working on a total revamp for COJ to celebrate and to commemorate me entering a new phase in my fashion career.

Stay tuned, guys!

Dress– Halogen (Nordstrom)

Woven Clutch– Topshop x Nordstrom

Heels– Zara

Necklace & Rings– Madewell

Watch– Diesel

Bracelete– J.Crew

xxJoelle

 

Product Reviews: Haircare for Colored, Natural Hair

Hi guys!

So, as most of you know I just got my hair dyed red. I loveee that it’s a deep burgundy tone for this upcoming season. I was actually a bit scared to wash my hair after I got it colored because I didn’t want it to fade or be dry and brittle.

I washed my hair with a new shampoo I’m trying out: Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Sulfate-Free Shampoo. The smell of it is delicious, but I do admit that afterward my hair didn’t feel as moisturized as it would after I’d wash it with As I Am’s Cowash. I vowed to start deep conditioning my hair more often especially since it’s now colored.

I read up on some reviews for natural hair conditioners and I came across Eden’s Jojoba Monoi deep conditioner. I’d previously heard so many great things online about it, so I went to my local Sally’s Beauty Supply and picked up some. With my hair in 4 sections, I fingered combed the product through my hair and braided it up. I put my plastic shower cap and bonnet on then left the conditioner on over night.

*Tip: I didn’t wash the conditioner out of my hair the next morning until after my work out. That way, the heat my scalp produced after all of my running and exercise helped the conditioning process even more. It’s like sitting under a hooded dryer…but not!

After I rinsed out the conditioner in the shower and took out my braids, I realized how wonderfully soft my hair felt and smelled! It was detangled, easy to manage and my curls were shiny and healthy looking. I definitely give Eden two thumbs up for this product!

My hair stylist used this Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum for my blowout & gave me a coupon for it so I decided to try it. I finger combed it through each section before I put any heat on it. It added nice shine and lightweight moisture, but it didn’t really last beyond a day. I was also hoping it would contain some of my frizz caused by all this humid weather, but it’s not really made to do that. (By the way, I’m really in need of a product that WILL combat frizz, so let me know if you know any good ones out there!)

Before & After!

Have any exceptional natural hair products you’d like to share? Leave it in the comments below!

Holy Sheath!

Hi guys!

I don’t think it was until after I interned for Tracy that I realized how much I adored her dresses. I’ve got about 5 at this point & it’s all because of how comfortable, stylish, and colorful they are! Her prints are always different and original while the silhouettes tend to be really flattering on me. This print has a twist – an atypical colorway and manipulation for a classic leopard motif.

I’m ‘falling’ for this upcoming season’s trends and staples and I cannot wait to start layering again! I went for a dressy/casual look with this sheath dress pairing it with my denim jacket, gold hoops, and chunky leather heels. I also thought a burgundy lip would hint more towards fall – and that the forest green & burgundy color combo was more interesting than the green with a true red or pink.

How are you falling into the next season?

Leopard Sheath Dress – Tracy Reese (Nordstrom)

Gold Hoops – Light Years

Leather Sandals – Franco Sarto

Denim Jacket – Gap

Gold Watch – Diesel

Leather Bag – Rebecca Minkoff

Lipstick – ‘Diva’ by MAC

Ask Joelle (Men’s): What Casual Fall Shoes Should I Invest in?

“Hey Joelle. I saw your last post while I was mulling over shoes to buy for this upcoming year. I wanted something casual and I’d like your opinion on it since you’re a stylist.”

-Deon

The world of men’s shoes can be hard to navigate once you begin to transition into the workforce!  Your sneaker collection might be cool and appropriate for school, but when you start your 9-5 life, realistically you’re not going to have many places to wear them.

So what kinds of shoes should you invest in as a grown man? What casual shoes are cool to wear on your off days but aren’t super expensive or juvenile? Below, I’ve listed 4 of the basics:

1. Canvas Sneakers: Chucks, and most styles similar to them will always be classic. Distressing and a bit of wear adds character to this type of sneaker that’s wearable with jeans.

2. Desert Boots: These boots are the most versatile yet neutral shoe any man can own. They’re typically leather or suede, they come up right above the ankle and they have a flat sole which makes them the perfect mergence of casual and dressy. Did I mention you can wear them with any type of pants? You need these!

3. Chukka Boots: These are definitely more casual and complete your fall “effortlessly cool” look. These go well with dark wash jeans or chinos with a crew neck sweater. My favorites are the Red Wing Chukkas!

4. Slip-ons: Sometimes viewed as “skater shoes”, these laid-back minimalist sneaks are back in this Fall. Pictured above are J.Crew’s Sperry Top-Sider Wool Slip-ons. Check them out here.

Hope this helps!

Sources: http://www.jcrew.com, http://www.huffingtonpost.com

Men’s Style Monday: What to Wear on A Date

So, you’ve got a big date with someone you really like and you want to make a good impression. Whether it’s an active, laid back or formal date, you want to put your best foot forward! You have your plans all set about where you’re going and how to “woo” her, but how are you going to put together the perfect look for your destination? What you wear isn’t everything, but it sure will say a few things about you and the kind of man you are.

Look #1: Going to the theater, a nice jazz club or got fancy dinner plans? Chinos, a crisp button-up and some oxford cap-toe shoes are a safe bet for comfort and formality.

Look #2: Headed to the park, concert or a sporting event? A two-toned fitted hoodie, nice jeans and a pair of Chucks are the way to go to hang out and get a little active with your crush.

Look #3: Perhaps you’re going to an art museum, a family get together or spending time with your girl for the holidays. Classic khaki chinos, a chambray shirt and chukka boots are great for a date that’s just about in between – it’s safe for an outing that’s not too casual and not too dressy.

4. Don’t overdo the cologne! The worst thing could do is choke her with those ‘smell good’ scents. Here’s a list of colognes that women love.

5. Finally, keep yourself groomed! Hang-nails, unibrows, and abnormally long nose and ear hairs are unacceptable. You could look nice all day but if your hygiene is off, it’ll be nearly impossible to get her to pay you any mind. We pay attention to the details, so you should too!

Hope this helps!

Get Styled by Joelle at Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale!

It’s time for the BIGGEST sale of the year, guys! Many high-end retailers have major end-of-season sales, but how many have PRE-season sales? If you’ve never experienced Nordstrom’s Anniversary sale, THIS is the year to do it!

Me and the rest of the team at Nordstrom – Streets at Southpoint are ecstatic to assist all customers in the RDU and surrounding areas shop for the best deals on next season’s top trends and styles. We recently got the opportunity to preview and try on the Anniversary Sale merchandise from every department in the store, and I must say, the next few weeks will be filled with “ooo-ing & awe-ing” over fabulous fall leather items, cashmere, handbags, men’s and women’s shoes and more!

You know about the sale, so now what? Why not take it up a notch and book your FREE appointment so that I can help you shop? Just let me know your sizes and what you’re looking for, and I can style you and help you build the perfect fall wardrobe that’s fit for you! This sale will be extremely busy and somewhat chaotic, so booking an appointment will help you navigate and find what you need in a fun and timely way.

Early Access to the sale for Nordstrom cardholders starts this Thursday, the 10th and goes through the 17th. This is typically when a lot of the best merchandise gets purchased! The sale opens to the public on the 18th and goes on through early August, but if you don’t want to wait that long to get your hands on these fall fashion steals, you can come in and open up a Nordstrom Credit or Debit card with me so that you too can gain early access before everyone else.

You can flip through the catalog by clicking here . Email me at joelle.m.purifoy@nordstrom.com with your availability, sizes, and wish list so we can book your appointment today!

 

4th of July Style Picks

4th of July 2014 by joellemeaghan featuring stainless steel jewelry

Still trying to figure out what to wear for this weekend’s festivities? Above are 3 not-so-cliché looks that incorporate current summer trends! Whether you’re going to a cookout, spending an evening downtown to see fireworks, or attending a holiday soirée, I’ve got you covered!

1. Chic meets distressed with a modern cropped tank and all-American ripped denim. Take it up a notch with a sleek bun, a red lip and cobalt blue chandelier earrings. Tapered at the bottom, these boyfriend jeans will allow your red strappy heels to pop even more, then shake it up with an all white, big-faced Nixon watch.

2. Go sporty with this detailed mini and pair it with a printed navy tank. Simply throw on some hoops, a convertible red clutch, and navy pumps and you’re ready to go to that rooftop party.

3. I love this silk printed Ferina pant by Joie for a cool, boho-chic look! A dainty red tank works well to complete your holiday ‘fit with gold bangles, hoops and an off-white crossbody to match your midi sandals.

Happy 4th!

Purple Reign

Mixing and merging weekend casual with professional casual today! Scored this fuchsia linen blazer on sale at my job last week and I love it because it’s so vibrant and light weight for the weather. These über distressed jeans are from Topshop which is where I tend to get a lot of my really trendy items. Whenever I wear jeans that are even a tiny bit distressed, I tend to get comments from older people (like my dad) asking, “So you BOUGHT them with holes in them?” I think it’s so funny how different generations choose to accept and interpret trends.

To pull everything together, I threw on a white v-neck and nude heels. For makeup, I’ve been trying something a little bit different lately. In an attempt to make my eyes look bigger, I swipe some white eyeliner on my bottom water line instead of black. Black eyeliner is for more dramatic looks, but it also makes your eyes look smaller and a bit more closed. Also along the lines of my recent beauty change ups, I’ve worn nude nail polish with tangerine  colored toe polish. I don’t feel like I always have to match my nails and toes, because toe polish lasts so much longer than nail polish and I don’t necessarily want to have the same polish on my hands for weeks and weeks like I have on my toes. Make sense? Maybe not, but that small limitation that girls tend to have always bothered me, haha.

Anywho, I would wear this ‘fit on a date or going out to a casual social outing. What trends are you making your own this summer?

Linen Blazer – Olivia Moon (Nordstrom)

White Tee – F21

Distressed Jeans – Topshop

Leather Clutch – Italian souvenir

Strappy Heels – Steve Madden

Hope everyone’s having a great week!

Summer Beauty: How to do Your Own Marley Twists

I figured my hair could use a break (putting heat on it, combing, flat twisting, etc. all the time made me feel like I was over manipulating & therefore damaging my strands), so I started seriously considering going to the shop and getting it twisted up for a long-term, low maintenance ‘do. Now, most of us know that getting braid or twist extensions are costly (usually $150+), so you could empathize with my hesitation! I realized that a few of my friends started just doing their own, and I thought, “Hmm that’s probably pretty time consuming and frustrating for someone like me with super thick and highly textured hair”. But when I YouTubed it, I realized how totally easy and doable it actually was! Above is the video tutorial I followed by one of my favorite beauty bloggers. What’s great about these twists with the marley hair is that they aren’t supposed to be neat and trim – they look great and natural no matter if you messed up on a few or not!

I hope this helps any of you that want these beautiful locks for summer!

Video Source: https://www.youtube.com/user/tashaxgreen

Maxed Out

Maxi dresses are my fave thing to throw on in the summer to stay cool and cute! This one is by Vince Camuto (I’m beginning to love his pieces more and more) and I got it for a steal at Nordstrom Rack. I thought the different scaled diagonal stripes added more interest to it than just regular horizontal stripes that are commonly printed on maxis.

What I love about this dress is the fact that it’s double layered but still lightweight – meaning that it keeps me from getting too hot, but it’s very flattering since it doesn’t show every curve, lump and bump, lol! Plus, the hem is higher in the front which is great for us shorter girls that would typically trip over it when not wearing heels or wedges.

Maxi Dress – Vince Camuto

Sandals – Gap

Leather Crossbody Bag – J.Crew

Earrings & Necklace – Madewell

Beaded bracelet – Handmade by me

Other Bracelets – Italian souvenirs

Ring – Light Years

What are your fave summer pieces?