Music Monday

So last week was a weird week for me, as a matter of fact it was an emotional roller coaster. I went through the emotions of heartbreak, loss and confusion. Neisha of course was there every step of the way providing her always comforting and ultra honest advice and a plethora of great music. This week for my new feature of Music Monday Neisha has put together a cool playlist of ultra chill vibes that will clear your mind. No matter what issue or situation you're dealing with you need music to bring you to a chill state and take your mind away for a moment. We deal with so much bullshit on a daily that you can get overwhelmed and wrapped up in things you can't control. So turn up the music sit back and let go. 

Tips for wearing shorts this summer

Hello everyone!!! Hope you are all having a great week so far and are beating this heat today. Its not super hot out but it’s definitely warmed up since the rainy week we just came out of out. This week I had  a free moment and went through all of my dresser drawers and decided to start to get rid of somethings I didn't want. There were some pieces I couldn't fit and some that were old. I then stumbled onto my collection of shorts and realized I had to give away almost half of them. But before I parted ways I tried on each pair and took in some vital mental notes that are important for every woman to know when she is shopping for shorts and outfitting her own for everyday wear. Check out some tips below.

Tip #1- Pay attention to the cut of your shorts. If they’re super tight around your thighs and are giving the “coochie cutter” effect it’s time to part ways. There is nothing cute about your shorts looking like your panties ladies.

Tip #2- Length is super important! Now don’t get me wrong if you're on vacation in the Bahamas then your short shorts are cool but for everyday activity and local functions your butt cheeks hanging from the bottom of your shorts isn’t a good look.

Tip #3- These days high waist bottoms are almost the only thing you can find when shopping. High waist shorts can accent any womans best lower feature weather it be her legs, thighs or butt. Plus wearing a higher waist short creates a flatter tummy and avoids any visible underwear or crackage because crack is wack.

Tip #4- Wear the appropriate shorts for the appropriate function. Now this is a tip that is applied in all aspects of getting dressed. This tip is especially important for shorts because it helps you pick what style of short would be most appropriate. If you are attending your child’s baseball game wearing those Levi Cut Off’s isn’t your best option, but if you’re attending a friend's birthday party at a lounge downtown then those super short Silk Peter Pilotto shorts are a better pick. Just remember there is a time and place for everything in your wardrobe.

Tip #5- Style your short your own way. Whether you’re pairing them with heels, sneakers or sandals always make the look yours and show off those beautiful legs!

Hope this is a help to anyone going through the woes of picking out shorts this season. Be inspired everyone!

Introducing Music Monday

Music is very important. It doesn't matter what genre you like, it's important. Music plays such a huge role in almost every activity you do. Weather it's going out with your friends, driving in the car, or relieving stress music always fits in. And after a year and half of blogging I'm ready to expand my content to just that, music.

As most of you know my best friend Neisha (@23rdsense) is something of a music connoisseur. Her ear in music is CRAZY. You can walk into her apartment and here anything from Marvin Gay to Toro Y Moi to Future. So as a treat she and I will be collabing on a few post about music and style. Look out for playlist, reviews of projects and just our overall antics. This is going to be a an amazing summer and we will be providing the soundtrack. So sit back, relax and vibe out!

As an introduction check out a few of our favorite songs from our personal playlist entitled. A few are her fav's and a few a are mine. Enjoy and be inspired!

June item Picks

Heyyy everyone! Hope you're having a great week and getting ready to start an amazing summer. Although outside it feels like it's the middle of March I wanted to share my favorite items for the month of June with you guys! This is just a quick list of essentials I feel that every girl will need this summer. So if you’re planning to go to a bunch of festivals, travel or just enjoy your local city I think all of these items are needed! Comment below and tell me some of your personal favorites you can't live without this summer! Be inspired everyone!

Zara brown dress
zara.com

Zara top
zara.com

Swim suit
international.triangl.com

High-waisted jean shorts
etsy.com

Giamba platform shoes
farfetch.com

Zara shoes
zara.com

Nila Anthony plastic purse
westlaboutique.com

Post earrings
unique-vintage.com

Cateye glasses
modaoperandi.com

Nivea lip care
$8.81 - nivea.de

Discount Universe

So as I'm lying in bed perusing through Instagram and ran across Sophia Amoruso's profile (IG: SOPHIA_AMORUSO) and discovered the COOLEST dress. It was bright and sequenced with a cool graphic of cactuses and eyes that almost looked animated. Of course I then looked for the mention in the caption and there I discovered Discount Universe (IG: @ DISCOUNTUNIVERSE). When I first looked through the colorful and boisterous profile I said to myself “this reminds me of Moschino, just a tad bit edgier and more my taste”. Now you can't deny the symmetry between the two lines but Discount Universe offers more of a custom/one of a kind essence to their clothing that every woman with an ounce of style is constantly looking for. I do get a “costumie” vibe from the latest collection but this is the generation of MORE and young people want to look more outlandish and have their clothing do the talking for them (which is a horrible choice sometimes). From the likes of Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry this brands pieces are for sure show stoppers and conversation starters.

Discount Universe was founded in 2009 and is ran by Nadia Napreychikov and Cami James. Back in 2009 the two RMIT graduates started their fashion blog and to bridge the gap of bloggers working with brands they stared they're own brand, a genius plan and execution. The brand angles more to a futurist point of view with bright neon colors, bold, and loud graphics. The element of sequence is alive and a strong design point in almost every piece they've produced.

I like this brand because of its key objective, FUN!  They don't want to make perfect garments to compliment the clean cut too cool for school woman and her life filled with an outrageous number of selfies taken per hour and constant grind of going places just to take bad angled Instagram photos that proved she was somewhere (my bad I went on that one, I’ll save that rant for another post LOL). DU focuses on bringing their most outlandish thoughts and concepts to life, whether it is in the form of an oversize tee shirt or mini bandage dress.  The state of fashion is in such a perfect state I feel like. Minimalism is running things and if you’re not in a high waist pencil skirt and clean white cropped top with ankle hugging stiletto pumps you're super off trend according to society i.e. any Kardashian (yes that was shady). Personally I'm growing tired of the ultra-sleek and clean look. My core style is one of more ruggedness and chunky silhouettes. I say fuck these trends and pull out the brightest piece you own and rock that shit!

Overall I plan to order at least two pieces from Discount Universe this year and will be sure to keep you guys in the loop (word to Marc @beintheloop). Below are a couple of my fav pieces from Discount Universe, a link to a cool short interview with the designers and their site! Be inspired folks!

Tips for slim gals

Heyyy yall! Hope you're week is going well and you're ready for the weekend! I've wanted to mix it up for a while and not only feature my style but the style of other women. I want to cater to all types of woman and be able to give valuable tips on styling to all body types so here is my first attempt! Now don't get me wrong, this isn't the” holy grail” our “guide” of how to dress if you have this or that certain body type. These are just simply tips on how to best flatter your best attributes. I believe any and everyone should wear what THEY like. No matter your weight, height, or body type wear what the hell you like!!!! But for my slimmer gals here are a few tips for you! Special thank you my best friend Neish (@23RDSENSE) for helping me out! Follow her for all your music needs and because she's bomb, duh! Hope this helps someone!

Look 1- So for the first look I styled Neish in was a sheer printed Bohemian frock paired with a simple sand colored crocheted dress. At first we had the frock open but to give the look more dimension I added a simple skinny belt. The burgundy pumps added some spice to the look and the chunky necklace was the finishing touch to tie it all together.

·         Light layers

·         Skinny belts add curves  and dimension

·         When you’re slimmer most prints are flattering so don’t be afraid to experiment.

Look 2- The second look was a tad bit sexier. I turned this loose open blazer into a makeshift wrap blouse leaving the front open to give some classy front “boob viewage” (just made that up by the way). I don't know what it is about a smaller rack but when you do a plunging neckline it says I'm sexy but not overbearing. I paired it with a ribbed (you can't tell) black bandage skirt and these amazing BCBG pumps that almost look like a bootie but have the shock factor of a traditional pump.

·         Black slims (you knew that though)

·         Take advantage of your smaller tata’s once and while and let them shine!

·         Texture creates curves (ribbed skirt)

 Look 3- And last but not least is a fun and easy look. If you know Neish this is actually her look, like I'm sure I'll force her to wear this outfit sometime this summer LOL. This top is actually a night gown but with the help of the long strings on it and some pins we were able to make it and oversized, almost baby doll dress. Her shorts are from Zara and were a tad bit big but it worked, it gave an easy "I don't care" kind of vibe to the look. The Birkenstock styled sandals gave all the vibes of a chill Saturday out or hitting any musical festival. I decided to have her wear her hair out just because it made sense to let her tresses join the party!

       ·         Take advantage of having slim legs and show them thangs offff!

·         Don’t be afraid to wear your legs and chest out. It’s usually a “classy lady” no-no but I say if you got it, flaunt it. Of course in moderation.

·         Love the skin you’re in!!!!

America's Best Racing x J Alex Style Giveaway

Heyyyy everyone! I hope you enjoyed your weekend and got to spend lots of time to with your wonderful Mom! I'm so excited to announce a giveaway that I'm hosting with the good folks over at America's Best Races. As anyone in Maryland knows this weekend is the Preakness Racing! It's such an excited time in the city and so many things to do. Below are a couple of different outfit ideas for the Preakness. I will be giving away two tickets to the Black Eyed Susan event on this Friday May 15th which is a perfect girls day out and filled with tons of activities and a live performances. To enter all you need to do is re-post your favorite outfit I've created, mention me (@jalexstyle) and use the handles #AmericasBestRacing and #AmericasBestFashion. I will draw a winner on Thursday May 14th! May the most stylish lady win!

*Get all of the links for each piece in each outfit HERE!

Wearing a skirt set may be your best choice if you're the girl who's torn between looking to dressy or too casual. This TopShop set is a funky look that translates for any event at the Preakness. Also don't be afraid to pair it with fun flats or even sneakers for a more chill occasion.

This Mary Kantrantzou dress is a more traditional route to take for the Preakness. If you're wearing any floral dress (which just about everyone will) try and mix your shoes and accessories up. Dare to wear a pump with a contrasting print or bright color or opting for a fascinator as suppose to a wide brimmed hat.

And my favorite outfits are these wide leg trousers paired with a fun cropped top. Now I know this isn't the most traditional look but it's funky and fun. Personally I'm more of pants over skirt kind of gal. Pants are just a fun alternative and can almost guarantee comfort throughout the day. Now of course you can do a slim leg pant but the wide leg not only is great for taller girls like myself but it creates a slimming effect for any woman. For this look I wouldn't go for a hat. In my opinion less is more and the pants speak for themselves.

pRESS RE-START

How often do you pray? How often do you feel like you need to hit the reset button on your life? I know for me it's at least once or twice a month. Lately I‘ve found myself growing tired of the same routines. You know the same shit. Literally the same sequence of daily events. I wake up, get in my car, hit 695 and pray it's not backed up and then hustle into work to "clock in" on time spending my day talking to rude and sometimes idiotic adults who literally make me want to scream and break every computer in the office. I literally have done a year of that and then decided enough was enough. Around mid-March I started to feel an overwhelming sense of being stuck. I felt stuck in my finances, my career and just my overall focus. My mom had been telling me for about 2 years I needed to fast and re-connect with God and I thought to myself I'm already connected with God, I pray every day and thank him but that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to a relationship with God. I then decided to start a 2 week fast on April 1^st only eating seafood, fresh fruits and veggies, and water. I had no processed food and cut out smoking, drinking, sex, and social media. Now I don't want to make this sound to "preachy" or anything but this is how my spiritual journey over the month of April went.

So leading up to the fast I did a ton of research on what to expect and the overall process of fasting. I wasn't fasting for weight loss or anything I just wanted to strengthen my relationship with God and ask for clarity over my path in life. On April 1st I started the fast and it was fairly easy that day, I was so focused on reading my bible and listening to Joel Olsten podcast I wasn't thinking about food. But girl those next 4 days.....chillle, they were not pretty! I had body aches, I felt weak, nauseated and even delirious. Unfortunately I only lasted 5 days and then ended up eating an apple, the irony of me eating an apple to break my fast (word to Adam and Eve...lol). I was super down on myself and felt like I had let God and myself down...but here's the kicker!

So in the beginning of March I applied for an assistant styling position for an e-commerce/digital media company in Baltimore and had yet to hear back from them. So randomly one day I decided to call the HR manager just to check the status of my application. I didn't get a call back from her for about a week and I low key forgot about it. One morning while I was driving I got a call from an unknown number and it was the HR manager. She said that they had already filled the position but were looking for a freelance stylist for a huge project they had a deadline on. I was soooo excited! I couldn’t believe I had the chance to assist on an actual set! I ended up freelancing with them for a week and it was to say the least one of the most amazing experiences of my life. There was so much pressure and so many things going on at once. I had to have attention to every little detail and endurance because they didn’t believe in breaks or resting. With all that being said I LOVED it. It was exactly what I want to do with my life, it felt surreal in a sense.  I'm now at a point where I have to actually choose what I want to do, well really it's a no brainier but it's a move I have to make strategically and from a business perspective.

I say all of that to say how blessed and happy I am now. I mean I was always blessed but that short fast showed me just how REAL God is. Even after I broke my fast I still stayed focused on God and how gracious he has been. I started to become thankful for my job (even though it's not what I want to do) and I started to recognize my gifts I've been blessed with. It showed how happy God was and how much he loved me just for seeking his power and love. I'm so happy I took some time off to re-focus my spirit and outlook on life. I know the hard things have yet to come but with a strong foundation in God and my amazing support system I'll be fine. If you’re feeling overwhelmed I suggest finding time for stillness and meditation. If it's God, Allah or whoever just take time to connect to something higher. Believe me it makes all the difference. Be inspired everyone!

FashionEASTa

Well hello there?!?!?! Yes it's me! Jordan Alexis back in the flesh! I know I've been M.I.A for a min but for good reason (I promise I'll fill you this week). But now I'm back with a fresh set of eyes and post for all you lovely folks!

This weekend I got the chance to attend the 4th annual FashionEASTa event in Harbor East. Now if you've been following me for some time you'll know I attended this event last year. But this year I got to sit and actually watch and enjoy the show. The event was a day full of amazing deals at most of the retailers in Harbor East, lots of food and drinks and plenty of cool people to mingle with. I was greeted by one of the coordinators of the event (Thanks Megan!) and received my press pass then went to walk around and see all the cool deals in each store was offering. I got the chance to meet some amazing style experts and bloggers who had great conversation and of course amazing looks!

The fashion show started on time and was filled with the newest spring and summer pieces from various retailers such as Free People and South Moon Under. The show had models of all ages and shapes walk for each retailer and even included Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens which was a great treat.

Overall the event was a great day for fashion in Baltimore. I want to thank the Megan McCloskey for her amazing coordination of this event and working with me and all the models and stylist that worked on the fashion show. So excited for next year!

The Tilted Cusp x JALEXSTYLING

Heyyyy ya’ll! I know it's been a min but I've been brainstorming and working hard on re-inventing not only the blog but myself, I'll fill you guys in about a week or so on what's been going on with that. But in the meantime I've teamed up with the amazing creator of The The Tilted Cusp, Ms. Kara Carter for a giveaway! The Tilted Cusp is an amazing site for up and coming business owners and entrepreneurs to get inspiration, tips and tricks on how to figure how to break into whatever industry you're interested in and how to maintain your success. I would recommend for everyone to check out the site no matter what your field is. I'm super excited for this giveaway since so many of you guys have been asking for one. Her and will be giving away one of her signature "Fresh off the Runway" mugs and it's pretty easy to win. So weather it's chai tea or a spiked beverage of your choice enter to win!  The deets are below and may the best woman win! GO!

TO ENTER you MUST

1. Follow @thetiltedcusp and @jalexstyling

2. Tag two friends in comments and like this post

U.S. residents only. Winners will be chosen and announced on April 10th. If your name is selected you & your two friends will win as well.

Young never matching

Hello Ladies and Gents! Its a beautiful day here in Baltimore and of course I'm stuck in my office staring at the sunny skies and nice breeze. But nevertheless I'm blessed to have a job I guess. This weekend was a simple yet "filling" one for me. I worked some overtime and hung out with my baby brother on Saturday then went to church and did laundry yesterday. I'm getting ready for a fast that ill be starting on April 1st- April 15th. This is something that has been on my heart for sometime but with my latest trials and tribulations God is telling me its time to re-connect and center myself. During my fast I hope to gain clarity and a sense of direction with my career and personal life. During your mid 20's I feel like we all go through these"what am I doing" woes and need to just relax and reflect once in a while. I also plan to connect with myself and test my discipline. Discipline is not something I've been so good at throughout life and I'm hoping this fast will introduce that in my life. I can honestly say I'm scared shit-less, nervous but overall I'm excited. I'm trying not to set expectations about what to expect but its hard with all the research I've done. Every documentary, book and article I've read people talk about the break-through'S they've had. I'm just hoping to be OK with not eating for 12 hours a day and having a strict no meat, processed or sugary food diet. I'm sure I can do it but the first few days will probably be the hardest but with prayer and alone time I'm going to be successful. Pray for my strength cause I'm going to need it! 

This look is literally one that I threw together. I found these cool almost African print fitted trousers from H&M just last weekend and a night-time boyfriend tee from their pajama section. Of course I paired my fav Saucony track sneakers to add more comfort to the look and my boyfriends GAP denim jacket.  The sweater is one that one of my good friends had for a while and gave to me before she moved. Have a great week and be inspired! 

Purple Friday

Well hello there lovely people! I hope you all have enjoyed your week and are ready unwind and re-group this weekend. Yesterday the weather literally felt like a slice of heaven but was short lived after the angry storm swept through in the evening. I enjoyed the evening with my family in celebration for my younger brothers 18th birthday. It was a nice chill evening with just our close family, food and of course March Madness. Side note: I've gotten into college basketball over the last 2 years and that WV VS Kentucky game put in cardiac arrest last night LOL. Anyhow it was a great evening that was needed.

So now I'm back with a new personal style entry. I found this sweater at H&M last weekend and when I saw it I knew it was mine. I first saw this sweater about 3 months ago and it was originally $60. I shop at H&M so much I've figured out when things will be marked down and if you know H&M you know they ALWAYS have a sale going on. I scored this baby for a smooth $15! I love how chunky and oversize the style is and most of all I love the color! I feel like the chic cousin of Barney while wearing it LOL…that's weird but funny to me because I was a huge Barney fanatic as a child. I decided to keep the purple story going with a purple multi-color tweet ASTR mini skirt, basic grey tights and my Nike runners that I work out in LOL. The green& blue iridescent bag just added some spice to the look! This look is a great example of how to still incorporate winter pieces into the beginning of spring. Hope you're inspired! Ta-Ta beautiful people!

Spring Trends of 2015

Hey everyone! I know it's been a min but I'm back! I'm starting to feel like for the first time in a while I have things in order. I finally got a new car (I named her JorJetta lol). So I'm back in full effect and have sooo many new goal and new content to share. For all of you that may not know today March 20th is the first day of something we have grown so distant from...SPRING! I'm almost certain this is our last does of winter so I'm staying positive and preparing to break out my sandals, skirts and sunglasses. In lieu of this first day of spring I wanted to share my favorite trends for this season! There were so many to choose from but I finally narrowed them down. Now take my picks with a grain of salt. These are trends, I wouldn't advise to go out and purchase a bunch of new pieces only to have them sit in your closet in the next 3 months because you've moved on wide leg denim. Check out my picks below! Enjoy and be inspired!

Gingham is a hit or miss print to me. I can't say I've always been a fan of it but this season it's made a huge comeback. The best way to wear this trend is to do subtle matching sets. Of course you don't want to over-do it but if the color of the gingham is a basic one the look won't look to heavy.

Jumpsuits aren't pieces that I've always been very fond of just because of the way they can make your butt look. But over the past year I've found that they actually flatter my tall frame. I have a couple of different styles of jumpsuits, some I can dress up and down. When you're looking for a jumpsuit try to find one that's loose through the leg and crotch area to give you some options with how you want to wear it.

Polo shirts have defiantly been a staple in American fashion but this season they're making a comeback in all types of styles. Topshop has done then in the cutest cropped style that looks amazing with overalls and skater skirts. My suggestion is wearing them button to the top to give a clean chic look.

The 70’S- So if you know me you the 70’s were a huge inspiration for my personal style in the last couple of years. This season you can see it on almost every runway from Karen Walker to Derek Lam . This trend is an easy one to over-do so make sure you keep it simple. Pairing bell bottom jeans with a simple tank top and chunky hoop earrings is subtle enough to look trendy and simple enough not to look like you’re in your way to your aunts 70's theme 50th b-day party.

Khaki & Military- And last but not least my favorite trend is khaki and military. I decided to put them together just because of how similar they are. The military look is nothing new but the khaki hue is something a bit refreshing. They fact I only own one khaki item is a tad bit strange to me. Of course khaki always makes me think middle school uniforms but these days it can be worn in a pretty chic way. Who knows how long this trend will be around so start with a cool cargo pant or jumper.