Camille's Closet

Cinching with a belt

Color & Texture

Short and long of it

First of all a big thank you to Camille for shooting outside in 30 degree weather!  Those arctic temps are unnatural for Charlotte this time of year and chilled us to the bone!  Despite the weather, we shot outside at the beautiful Asian Garden on the University of North Carolina at Charlotte's campus.  The entire garden was designed by students in the horticulture department and it's definitely worth a visit if you're ever on campus.  I can't wait to see it in the spring when all of the flowers blossom.  You can definitely count on us shooting there again! 

Camille, her husband John and their 15 month son "John John" recently purchased and moved into a beautiful, unique bungalow in the NoDa neighborhood.  Lucky for Camille, the master bedroom came with a built-in IKEA wardrobe which stores her collection of sweaters, long skirts and dresses very neatly.  Camille has a degree in fashion and a keen sense of what she likes and dislikes.  Her wardrobe has a strong color and fabric theme which can be great for pulling an outfit together quickly.  Since she's been busy carrying a baby to term and then raising an infant, now toddler, for the last two years, it's been a while since she's had a chance to spend time on her own fashion statement.    

What I believe resonated with Camille through this experience was the ability to use her wardrobe to transition her identity from two years ago to the present.  She was able to re-visit clothes that she purchased two years ago and then figure out how to make those items fit in with her new lifestyle.  Because she's been consistent with her purchases, we were able to take one idea of belting a skirt and adapted it for several additional items in her closet.  I really felt that me being there suggesting ideas and encouraging her gave Camille the confidence to re-establish herself in her wardrobe.  Maybe two years ago she wore a shirt diffferently than she will today but both ways look amazing on her in the past and present.  That to me is what makes fashion such an amazing form of expression!

Styling the Basics - dressing up with fur

Casual dress by day, perfect for catching a ride



Dressed up with fur, heels and funky earrings for a fun night out

Casual romper by day for a stroll in the neighborhood

Dressed up with fur and boots for a dinner date

Fur (real or faux) is a woman's best friend.  It's a fact!  As Lauren captured very well in these pictures, the texture, color and fit of this vest adds a level of sophistication to both outfits.  A well fitting vest made of any material is a timeless and very useful accessory in every woman's wardrobe.  Layering a structured vest or jacket on top of a simple outfit can add that finishing touch that completes the look.  Now that the weather's cool enough to start layering I hope you feel inspired to pile on your favorite vest or piece of fur with your casual dresses, overalls and rompers! 

fur vest, similar here; grey layering dress Monoreno, found at Nod & Rose Storehouse; tan hat Brixton, found here; silver heels Zara, similar here; romper Ace & Jig; brown boots Zara, similar here



Styling the Basics - sparkly top

Dressed Down and Sporty

Casual with a Pop of Color

Ready for the Work Day

At first glance, you may associate a colorful sequin top with dressing up for a night out on the town with your girlfriends.  And you know what, this shirt would be perfect for that purpose.  However, my goal with this post was to show how versatile a fun, well fitting top can be paired with a few basics in your closet.  Paired with sneakers and a sporty jacket, this top added just enough flare for cruising around the neighborhood on my boyfriend's skate board.  But tucked into a pencil skirt and accentuated with more conservative jewelry, I could easily wear this shirt to work or an after-work event.  I also loved pairing the shirt casually with tights and my favorite leather jacket, perfect for days when I want to show a bit more personality.   

This featured top is designed by Clover Canyon, a California based clothing company known for their bold prints and California breezy influence.  Our good friends Elizabeth and Nod who own the clothing boutique Nod & Rose Storehouse in Boulder, CO shared this top with me to style for the post.  If you're passing through Boulder, this store is a must.  And guys, it's not only for ladies!  Nod has done an amazing job outfitting his half of the Storehouse with a great selection of menswear lines including several U.S. based clothing brands. 

Check out the SHOP tab to see similar tops to the one featured in today's post!

black pleather jeans BCBG, similar here; vintage Notre Dame jacket boyfriend's closet; Saucony sneakers, similar here; illia leather jacket Nod & Rose Storehouse, shop it here; black wool shorts J. Crew, similar here and here; pencil skirt Banana Republic, similar here; tan "work" purse Fossil, similar here

Melissa's Closet

Layering the Flowered Dress

Pleather Under the Bridge

What's a Cowl?

With that flowing red hair and welcoming smile, Melissa could wear a 1980's track suit and still turn heads on the side walk.  It's funny to hear her talk about getting teased as a child for her ginger locks because it's safe to say she proved those bullies wrong!  I'm so glad we were able to shoot Melissa in the fall surrounded by the yellow, red and orange leaves.  Lauren picked amazing locations for the shoot that really showcase Melissa's clothes and complexion. 

Melissa's closet is very organized and even arranged by season which I loved.  Her extensive jewelry collection is not quite as organized, but I'll agree with her that it’s difficult to keep over sixty rings and more necklaces than you can count organized on a daily basis.  For her styling session, we picked out some special items from her collection including the funky moon and star ring photographed with her last outfit that was her mother's as a teenager.  Melissa happens to be a very talented jewelry artist herself and it was fun to style a few of her handmade asana necklaces over the green sweatshirt.  We also highlighted our very own Lauren’s handmade stained glass heart earrings with the same outfit.

One of Melissa’s favorite items in her closet is the vintage blue jacket that was once her dad's who hails from Cuba, New York.  She had been trying to figure out a way to tie it into an outfit and I think we found a perfect match with her girly flower dress and edgy Dr. Martens.

Melissa lives, breathes, drinks, sells and knows almost everything there is to know about beer, therefore; it was apropos to shoot her in the Salud Beer Shop. If you haven't checked out this spot yet, it's a must see when you're visiting the NoDa neighborhood!

Take Aways: 

• Colors and layers can accessorize a simple outfit. 
• Boxy menswear inspired jackets paired with girly prints can be dressed down with boots or dressed up with heels. 
• A wide belt around the waste can show off an athletic figure perfectly. 

Animal print sweater Old Navy, similar here; brown and purple boots from Boris and Natasha local to Charlotte, NC, similar here; yellow blazer, similar here and here; Dr. Martens, similar here; faux leather skirt Forever 21, similar here and here; red PF Flyers, similar here; bell bottom jeans Hudson, similar here; purple faux fur vest, similar here; multi-colored cowl Target, similar here.

Styling the Basics - the red dress

Introducing Danielle, stylist for Rubies on Vanilla!

The moment I set eyes on this dress I knew it would be a perfect addition to my closet as the color, shape and fabric are all easily adaptable to every season.  Once I put it on and it fit perfectly without the help of a seamstress, it was mine!  The dress lends itself so easily to layering which is perfect for transitioning spring and summer dresses into fall staples.  Because of the fitted structure of the dress, I knew it would also easily transition from day to night.  Just by switching shoes and accessories, you can see how this dress can be worn from work to happy hour. 

Red dress from Summerbird, local to Charlotte, NC; mid-rise boots Frye, similar here (buy laces of any color and switch them out); furry hat Eddie Baur, similar here; black boots Ugg, similar here; lace shirt from Nod&Rose local to Boulder, CO; blazer Calvin Klein from Marshall's, similar here; black sandals Zara, similar here. 

Guest photography credit: Chelsesa Bren from Chelsea Bren Designs