Don’t Quit Your Day Job Style Queens!

How many of us have a demanding job, maybe even a family or rent to pay?
We work and we work hard but our style goes harder! Every day we wake up thinking, “how do I slay today?”. It puts us in a better mood and we feel more confident.
“When you look good, you feel good”
Style is the adventure we start our days with because in many ways we need it. We wake up earlier, awaiting a lunch date we’d set up with a friend. We already know it’s one of those days where we can laze around and take 15 minutes longer to do our makeup.
Releasing a long stretch as we slip into our satin robe, that struggle to get out of bed somehow felt a little easier when we thought about our #OOTD.
Application of the perfect red lip and ten dance moves later we’re tilting our head side to side, testing which statement shoe is better. 
Holding a silky mid-calf, navy blue, slip trimmed with delicate, black, eyelash lace, we contemplate keeping it more casual with a plaid trousers and teal, corseted, neck tie blouse. 
After strutting around the house in the black, croc, leather brogues we chose, a last minute shoe change left the choice between chilling black and gold mules with a brocade design or the go to chunky heel, black, ankle boots. Let’s not forget the royal blue pyramid bag that Nita Suri created just for you which amazingly holds nothing besides gloss! (It’s fine though because we always take to work that OTHER bag for our lunch, keys, purse, phone charger, makeup and perfume.) 
Our love for clothing was built on a passion that many of us know would be a sin to 1. not explore and 2. never share with other style queens. A passion passed on from queen to queen. We all know the intricacy of getting dressed, from intimates to makeup, from that moment we played in our mother’s favorite heels and then receiving our very own pair. These memories are painted on our souls and every day we get to explore our inner child.

“Style IS fun!”
So how do we share our style with the world and not just our work colleagues or at the occasional friend gathering? A style blog. A place to call our own, dedicated to our favorite designer brand, thrift store and all other style lovers out there. However, there’s only one problem. Not every style blogger has a 9-5 that takes up most of the time out of their day and energy.
How can we implement what we love into our daily routine without too much compromise? 
Make your style convenient by purchasing a tripod or downloading a calendar app like later. Any phone with a great camera could create the perfect shot. Get a friend to take your picture and after showing them the frame in which you want your photo taken, trust you’ve got your moment on camera.
Sometimes finding a nice backdrop isn’t easy but it can be simplified. This is where we need to get creative and make the simplest of places into the most interesting backdrops. Luckily you don’t have to figure it all out alone because we’ve put together a guide for you to start and grow without feeling overwhelmed.
  1. Let’s be realistic, who has the time to take photographs every day or find someone who can do it and do it well? Shoot your outfits for the week, an entire week ahead of time or all in one go on the weekend.
  2. Decide on your outfit and ask a friend to meet you for lunch, dinner or even drinks after work at a cute place you know you’ll get THE shot or two.
  3. Take advantage of as many outings as possible, like a work seminar you were already going to overdress for!
  4. No one to take photos of you? Now is the time to get friendly with your tripod and put it to work! Or create fake tripods using a vase, cushion, book, mug or really anything sturdy enough to hold your phone.
  5. Buy fabrics from your local fabric store to create your ideal backdrop on the days that your white wall just doesn’t work.
  6. Out of outfits to post? Post your current favorite style items and how you would pair them together!
  7. A 9-5 is tiring. Some weeks we want to relax and a style post is just too overwhelming. Ask a friend to write one for you or type as you talk. It’s funny but we all have that one friend who can type extremely fast for no reason!
  8. Out of inspiration? Use your 9-5 as inspiration. They’re so many women like yourself who want to hear from you. They want tips on how to feel better at work; how to feel more confident as they take on the day.
  9. Videos are the next biggest thing in marketing and they’re super easy! Take advantage of some gorgeous graffiti, an extravagant storefront, an empty crosswalk, a casual shopping moment in your favorite store or a work party to create your best “off guard” video moment!
  10. Take all the advantage you can, of tools like later(plan your blog posts), UNUM(plan your layout ahead of posting), google analytics(manage your engagement), colornote app(manage tasks), Tumblr(keeps you inspired), google drive(to store your photos) and adobe lightroom(an easy mobile photo editor).

Never stop living life in the moment. You need that authentic inspiration. This is why shooting a week’s worth of content can be so stress relieving. You get to live in the moment and just be and guess what? Every moment naturally, is a moment. Remember the world is your oyster. Take advantage of the beautiful life you already live.
Authenticity creates the best content!


So I most definitely started writing again. In fact I never stopped, I just stopped sharing.
I started to write a story randomly, I am nowhere near finished but here's an excerpt from what I've written so far.

"Beautifully placed, her slim physique relished in peace and eloquence. You could see the detail in her frame as the wind blew her long dress neatly to her body, yet not managing to interrupt her short, kinky hair. But for her none of this mattered, she was so free in her own world, she was what one would call a Daisy Miller, curious by nature and wild at heart. Her aura entranced everyone around her, she made you feel safe, she made me feel safe. As I watched her from the back swing on my porch, I noticed the way she looked at life, she taught me plenty, just from observing her. One day I would talk to her but for now, mum was calling, and she hated when I was late for breakfast. So I went, daydreaming of the girl I wanted to know.

During the spring, a wonderful glow would hit the trees and flowers here in Barbados and I couldn’t wait to have John take me down to the river to soak in some rays. John was my little brother and he was cool, everyone knew and loved John but he was as dumb as a doorknob.  “Mornin’ mum, sleep well? You look sweet this morning, you do something to ya hair?”, I urged as I thought about that river, “Boy hush, and eat ya food, why you sweetenin’ me up fuh? John, wa he up to now?”, mum cursed at us. “We just wanna go to the river mum, please?”, John begged with a hopeful gleam in his eyes. "


What do you guy think? Should I continue...?
Hello my loves! Long time, wow!
I was going to write something new but I looked in my drafts and I saw this piece I wrote a year ago and I shuddered. I almost tore up as I momentarily relived the pain I'd so long forgotten. I pray everyday to Jesus I never have to meet this me again.
But this is all a part of the beauty of writing and living: your growth. 

"I lost you a long time ago,
I know this,
I lost your trust and confidence.
I gave you that "it depends" kind of love.
I didn't know how to love you unconditionally.
You see I have exposed that love before.
I loved despite,
I loved even though and it was on a mistake.
Now I have become that mistake,
A broken, thoughtful without empathy, loving with conditions, mistake.
My love for you is not understood by me,
Thinking of you doesn't go beyond my comfort level.
Leaving was my comfort because I feared losing you so much.
Losing- I knew you would be gone forever if I lost you
But if I left you, I was more in control of my loss
Maybe I could have you again,
When I wanted,
Maybes are good,
Better than nevers.

 I was selfish, giving you that "but I" kind of love;
I was weak,
Never wanting to truly say how much I needed you,
Because needing is too vulnerable.
I was distant because of my inability to pure love."

 I have so much to share, I could write a book! I guess I decided to start with this piece because it was already here! I don't know why God brought me back here, to my blog which hasn't been active for more than a year but I feel compelled to begin sharing what I've written over the past year/what I've been through. Yes, I still write but I've shared it only with loved ones. But I miss sharing and writing with intent. I'm just as curious as you to see what this blog will become, but I think it'll be interesting...

- Melanie Renee
Peace x Love 

Psalms 141:3 Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. 


Hey loves, so I recently did a snapchat takeover with a women's empowerment group called @girlsnightoutbds, started by a powerhouse @jalisiaboxill woman.
Sadly, I lost the snapchat video but I would still like to share with you, the written version of what I talked about. 


The topic I am going to discus is about being you, confidently you, without trying. I know it sounds a bit confusing, but what it really means is becoming in tune with yourself not only consciously but sub-consciously. A lot of us don’t realise it but we aren’t as confident in who we are as we would like to think. I’ve been struggling with this for some time now so instead of me only telling you what I think, I’m going to speak my truth. I read a lot of books and each one teaches me something different, this new one I’m currently reading made me realise I try way to hard to be myself. One of my biggest weaknesses is other fashion bloggers and designers. I find myself envying them, loving their style, wanting their clothes , mimicking creative processes that just aren't mine.


I first realised this, as I was doing a fashion sketch for a competition I was extremely excited about entering and as I started to draw what came to me, I found myself becoming unsatisfied with my work. So I picked my memory for the process I believed would help me create a stellar design. I thought of my friend’s process of theme building, what I'd learnt in school and eventually google had the answers I wanted as well and in return I lost myself. As I sat there, reasoning with myself on why I wanted to change my design so badly, why was I thinking about others and not what I wanted, I realised I wasn't confident in my skill. I had disregarded what I drew because I thought I needed to draw in the way that other people did but this wasn't new. I’d been doing it since school. It had been embedded in me since school. This is how you learn, this is how you do, do it this way, do it that way, no that way is wrong and this is who I became, a girl who didn't trust her skill. When I design, all I need is paper, a pen and a direction and I begin to go at it, my soul understands what I want to draw and together we create. Deep down, I know who I truly am as a designer and I believe deep down we all know who we are as individuals. Due to the fact that some part of me knows, I seldom edit my original sketch and years later I will still feel as passionate about that sketch as I did in the beginning. Aware of this, I understood that my process will never be theirs and I should never make their process mine.

I am learning to be who I truly am and riding my spirit of it's egotistical, envious and judgemental ways that I have been nurtured to accept. The women who have reached this part of their being are leaders, trendsetters, goal 'getters' and heroines. Our being is meant to be empowered, loved and accepted by us because a woman is humanity's background. No matter how small you think your role is on this earth, you are power.

Can you imagine what an inspiration a woman who knows her true self can be to young girls,her circle and this world? She is power.

When I seek to work on something within me, I tend to leap instead of crawl. I leap to the end, the end where I try to skip cold turkey and humility and immediately begin to think I’m already where I need to be. However, in reality life just doesn't work like that. You forget, you screw up, you get sad, you forget how beautiful you are, how unique your talents are and some days you wake up just not feeling confident. Life is a constant self empowerment lesson and every moment we remember to, we need to lift ourselves and others up.
Whenever I find myself becoming envious of a blogger's lifestyle or closet, I ask myself an empowering question that will shift my awareness from overthinking to reality.

For example:
1. 'In what way can I be productive right now so I can continue to build my empire?'

2. 'What makes my style unique?'

 Now, it's very easy to turn these questions into discouraging questions, this is why I am very specific in the questions I ask myself.
Without completely changing the above questions, I will turn them into discouraging questions.

 For example:
1. 'In what way can I be productive right now so I can build my empire so I won't be envious of hers?'
2. 'What makes my style more unique than hers?'

 As I've began to empower myself and focus less on others, I found my style and designs becoming less try hard and the love for other bloggers rarely turns into envy. To appreciate and be inspired by is very different to being envious and the line between can be very thin, so it is very crucial you truly empower yourself instead of unconsciously discouraging yourself.
To unlearn everything negative society has taught me, everything negative I have taught myself will not happen at the snap of a finger. It will be a long and hard process and most days my ego won’t allow it with ease. I will have to break what I’ve been taught in order for me to flourish.

Jacket, top and skirt from local retail store, @attitudeboutique; shoes from Aldo
I really want to see us women confidently stay true to us and as cliche as it sounds, when we can do this, we will find ourselves connecting with one another in a way that’s soul deep. In a way we won’t have to explain but all across the world we’ll be able to empower, sympathise, love and connect with our sisters. 
To be confident, flawless and fearless is not impossible. It is already within each of us. We just need to understand that we are already are the power and have the power."

I just want to thank everyone for reading and I hope we all remember that we are Queens!

Peace and love,
Mel



Hey loves!
Below I just wrote a very brief piece about the pressures that comes along with a newfound knowledge of self. As my journey to personal success continues, I will try to keep you guys updated. I hope you enjoy this piece - love you all x.

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After awakening a part of me that I never understood, what held me back from growth and halted my opportunity for success, I've realised that not only has it been difficult, this road to success but it has led me through more emotions than TOM ever has.

As I began taking new risks, almost immediately after being awakened, I felt as though everything sought to take me back to a place of discouragement. Honestly, the will to not give up is a job, and every single day you have to encourage, motivate and enlighten yourself while maintaining sanity, happiness and a good vibe. Difficulty, has actually become such a mediocre description for how it's been.
Upon talking to myself - because I need so much convincing, I need to convince me for me to even be convinced - I remembered that there will always be that point between quitting and persevering where your resilience will be tested. I like to call it 'el diablo’. It's almost like that friend who is so easy to talk to because they encourage your bad decisions and enlighten your negativity. They even agree with your misconceptions of your capabilities and add more flame to the fire by discrediting the great potential of your character. You know that friend, also known as your mind, whom you've fought so hard to take back control from, yes that friend. However, through the acknowledgement and acceptance of their existence, perseverance can finally win that battle. Personally, it has always been when I can admit my nurture that I am able to overcome a struggle. When I can give it room to grieve, I always come back stronger and more willing. Yes, I have days where I want to do nothing but I also have moments where everything around me inspires my will and my drive cannot be stopped. Though those moments come and go, I believe they should be acknowledged and cherished as a reason to keep going, as a reminder that it is all possible. 
Powerful and important, these moments serve as your proof of your ability to persevere.

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Photography @thedreamrealeli

The book that changed how I felt about not winning.
I entered the Miss Universe Barbados pageant 20 weeks ago, not knowing it would change my life forever and lead to me writing this article. I originally entered the pageant because my brother's friend encouraged me to do so. Though deterred by the idea of entering due to my assumption of what pageantry was, I decided to take the risk and so began my preparations to this great night.
From the moment we started the process of pageant training I began to love it; I did not think that I would, but I did, and as the weeks went by, my passion intensified for everything the organization was exposing us to. I did everything from, event appearances, etiquette classes, speech/interview sessions, motivational seminars, public relations, walking sessions and skin care lessons, to meeting Miss Universe Barbados titleholders. 
My pageant experience was one I'll forever cherish, because the girls and I were in a space we embraced, and around people we appreciated. To say we were treated with love is an understatement.
Gown by legend, Wayne Smith.
Upon raving about the pageant to my friend Dominique, we got to talking about some of the things I know I needed to work on, particularly for the pageant. I'd always loved reading fictional books and motivational articles but I never got into reading motivational books. This all changed when she mentioned the book, 'Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Learn' by John C. Maxwell. Without going into much detail, she said it changed her mindset. After her review, I was sold.
By this point, I was so determined to develop myself holistically for the pageant that I didn't hesitate to meet her so I could get the book in my hands. After I began reading, I found myself thinking, "I know this-why do
I need to read this book?", but knowing that was not the way to think because there is ALWAYS more to learn, I continued. 
It did not take me more than two pages to begin feeling silly. 
Sometimes feeling dumb is good because it shows you how much growing you need to do.
To sum up this book would be unjust, because on every single page there is a difference lesson to be learned. The book taught me how to fail the correct way. I know this sounds really strange, but let me explain. 
As children, we only appreciate the feeling of success. We live for it, we want to get an A+ and we want to be told good job when we do well. However, no one tells us that we will fail more than we will win and it is that, that we should be prepared for. 
I am using the word fail loosely because it is how we understand not winning. We think that failing is a sign to quit, but really it is an opportunity for you to analyze your mistakes, make adjustments to your method and try again. Sadly, like me, many of us we do not bounce back from our failures as we should. We either give up, or try again using the same techniques. 
Not only do we have the ability to try, change and succeed but we have the capacity to learn so much more from failing than winning. 
By this time, I was beginning to really want to win this pageant. I was placing all of my eggs in this basket and I knew that was a recipe for disaster. I remembered how I handled loss before and how heart wrenching it felt. I knew that I never wanted to feel like that ever again and this book was teaching me just how important 'losing' was. 
Since reading 'Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Learn', I found a new appreciation for my failed grades and projects, lack of sales on my clothing collection and failed launches of business ideas. 
Knowing why each semester my marks would remain consistently low, why my clothing would not sell and why some of my plans never happened was due to a lack of hope that I could actually try again and succeed.
Eventually, I began to adjust my concept of losing and turn it into an opportunity to be resilient and keep working at the things that challenged me. In my case, it may not be another pageant, but it will be learning to network and converse fluently. I am happy to say this pageant has engendered much needed growth in me and it has given birth to qualities that I am proud to get to know.

Swimwear segment, wearing SugaApple Swim.
Let me just say this, disappointment is a natural feeling; I wish that I could have won, who would not want that? However, sometimes we are only able to be who we are at that given time, in that given moment and it is up to us to keep working on ourselves, for ourselves.  As you continue to learn, my best will get better and so will yours!

P.s. I am about to drop you guys the most cliche line ever but I finally really, understand what it means so I am going to use it!

"Always keep hope alive"

Peace and love,
Mel x.

SaveSave
GIRL, they don't now your worth; anything you want it's yours.


Top (L Train Vintage, NY), bottom and shoes (Buffalo Exchange, NY, obsessed with this place) ALL THRIFTED. 
Jewellery: Forever 21
Bag: Marshalls
Is it obvious pink is my favourite colour? Maybe not, but I have been craving a 'pink' shoot for a while now and well finding a pink wall in Barbados proved to be quite difficult (yes I'm back home, finally!). However, God is good and I found one! Hope you guys enjoy my blast of pink.

Peace and love,
Mel x.








"Say Yes to opportunities, say yes to travelling, say yes to different foods, say yes to adventure, say yes to life "
Finding myself...still finding myself, finding my style, figuring out my next move and recently a serious means of income. Perks of being 20! But let me tell you there is beauty in this process; in learning and living, completely with no regrets. I always knew the time where I would have to get my life together was coming but can I start next year? And can I add that there are so many things I really want to do before I even pursue a career I am going to do for 30 years. 
But someone I met recently (she's 20 but I guess some of us are more on track with life than the rest) told me to just focus on where the money is at right now and with that money I could pursue as much interests as I like. So simple but yet every bit of that advice was the key to my success.
But as you guys can maybe tell I am currently in a different country (NY), one so different and new to the place I call home, so much more diverse, fast paced and independent. It's almost as though everyone is constantly running out of time. Picture the movie 'In Time' and you will probably understand. 
I'm also running out of time to finish my summary so until next time, enjoy this post my loves!









Thrifted top & pants; Aldo hand jewelry; Nine West shoes

Photography by the best, Nathan Mack.

Thanks for viewing my loves,
Peace & Love, always

Mel x.

Coming into my own has been the most difficult part of my life thus far, figuring out who I am, what I like, what I what, where I want to be...I'm beginning to think that being 19 does that to a person, you know that midway point between being a teenager and an adult. Maybe if I think about it that way, I'll be a bit easier on myself when it comes to having the answers...because well I don't need to, yet.

For now, I'm just gonna flow with life, do new things, go to new places and focus on experiencing as much as I can.



A random impulse after exercising, a spontaneous photographer and a beautiful location, this shoot was beyond fun!




Wearing my Adidas sports bra; H&M pants & sneakers I stole from my mum.
Going again, see you soon..

''The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience'' 

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Photography: Amery Butcher

Thank you,
Love Mel
 Hey loves, so I know summer is over but honestly it's been way too hot here in Barbados for clothing lol, either way we have endless beach/pool weather so bikinis are still a must have. So this swimsuit I got from local store pulse is perfect.



 Necklace and bag from Pulze The Store (Instagram @pulzethestore)
Photography James Clarke (Instagram @alxdrjames)
Yes I know that I haven't talked about my current struggle and conquering strategy but I honestly didn't know what to write, so here are some quotes to help you guys and me understand..

“ Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards ” ~

Soren Kierkegaard


“ Getting lost is just another way of saying 'going exploring ”  ~

Justina Chen
Peace, stay true,
Love Mel