The happiest of hours...

I am a happy hour fiend, but I don't go as often as I like. However, when I do, I try my best to look halfway decent. You know, a tad presentable. Here's how that turned out the other night...

Check out this FULL blog post over at TheMoniqueMichelle.com

Cool Shopping

Tried to keep it cool while going shopping. Excuse the dazed and confused look, it was crazy crowded.

Get the details for this look at TheMoniqueMichelle.com!! 

MBFW//NYFW

Before 2013 is officially in the past, I wanted to share my journey to NY during fashion week with everyone. Like just about every city/country I visit, New York City is one of my favorite cities in the world, after LA of course.

My best friend and I are what I guess some would call "fashion fiends" and I think [Be invited to every fashion week show] is pretty high on our Bucket Lists, if not #1. For me this isn't a one time thing. I need to be invited to EVERY fashion show, EVERY year, or else I can't scratch it off the list. 

Anywho, we decided a day or two beforehand to just drive to NYC to breathe in the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week air. I must say, it smelled a little more heavenly than regular air, but I may have been delusional for the day. Arriving at Lincoln center was crazy. Driving past the back entrance we could quickly tell only the who's who were pushed quickly through the doors. Nicki Minaj and her entourage has just arrived and we could've sworn we saw Katie Holmes on her way inside.  

This is just a preview! Check out the full post over at TheMoniqueMichelle.com!!

Guess what?

Well, I guess....just GUESS. Ever since high school I have been a GAP jeans fiend. They are perfect in every way, and always will be to me. However, I recently stumbled upon a pair of GUESS jeans on clearance at Lord & Taylor (my absolute favorite store) and figured I would give them a try. They're simply amaze balls. Check em out...

They're just perfect, see? I think they even gave me a little pep in my step, lol. Now I see why people say certain clothing items can make them FEEL sexy. Yes, a random pair of stretch skinny jeans did that for me. Anyways, I paired them with a gorgeous pair of crushed velvet lavender heels, the perfect crisp white button down, and my favorite fur collared coat. Get the deets over at TheMoniqueMichelle.com. Enjoy! ;)

*sashays away*

Winter Nails!

To kick off the winter season, my least favorite, I decided to do something I've been waiting for for months. I was able to get my season apropos navy blue nail polish! Check it out below!

I'm pretty sure I saw one of my many favorite bloggers with this color and fell in love, but I would only do this color in the fall/winter and/or when it's cooler outside, and now was the time. I was a woman with a plan and waited forever for my now new favorite nail tech to hook me up.

I thought it interesting that my nail tech started a conversation after asking me if I wanted a gel manicure or tips. When I said neither he pointed out the downward spiraling trend of people no longer getting the "extras" when visiting the nail salon. I'm not one for all of that. I have always enjoyed my nails cut very low, even the above picture is too long for me, and all one solid color. As you can see, my accent nail is just another solid color, no designs or anything. I have always viewed this look as fresh, clean, chic, and cute. I have a different accent nail on the other hand, but I'll keep that my little secret. This is the new "trend" and you can check out things like this, fashion, and more over at TheMoniqueMichelle.com!!

Peek-a-boo Leg

I'm not sure if it happened anywhere else, but yesterday was the most perfect day of Winter in Washington, DC. The last time I checked it was 74 degrees....IN WINTER, so obviously I took full advantage of every degree, especially the 74th.

I've been waiting to break out this outfit I've been saving for the abnormally warm day I constantly pray for. Details for this crop top, maxi skirt with the peek-a-boo leg, and jean jacket can all be found at TheMoniqueMichelle.com ! Check it out and feel free to tell me what you think.

Leather Leather Leather! (faux of course)

So I have this pair of faux leather pants that I got from H&M that have basically become my life. If I could wear them every day, I totally would. The last time I put them on I had an epiphany. I'm going to wear them every which way I can and compile the different versions into one final post, but until then, I just have to pop in and show them off. 

These photos are just a sneak peak! Check out the full outfit and details over at THEMONIQUEMICHELLE.COM

Holiday Style....

...because "matching" and "style" don't have to go together in any sentence but this one.

See how I paired a deep colored paisley blazer with leopard heels? Get full details over at TheMoniqueMichelle.com!!!

...because color blocking is still cool.

I remember when Solange Knowles truly resurfaced and many thought of her as a fashion icon. Some would say she is THEE pioneer, or at least a pioneer of color blocking. Nowadays, crazy prints and such are the new black. That's all fine and dandy, but I'm still on the color blocking fad. When done right, it's incomparable to any other style. It's sleek, cool, and chic. Above I've used one of my favorite fashion/travel bloggers as an example. Nicole Warne is absolutely stunning, but when she uploaded this photo to her Instagram months back, she didn't even bother to include her face. The outfit would have stole the show. Three solid colors and a tri-colored clutch to complete the ensemble. *insert Italian gesture where I kiss the tip of fingers and make the "muah" sound* A-plus Ms. Warne. Let's hope color blocking never goes away. Check out TheMoniqueMichelle.com for more!!

Where the heart is... (PART II OF II)

They say that home is where the heart is, so I guess home is the city of Angels. In January I talked to you about my very first visit to Vegas, well, the second half of that trip was an epic road trip to Los Angeles.

We were total tourists except when we were blending in at popular celeb hangout spots like Mixology/Planet Dailies in the Grove and the shops on Rodeo Drive. It was something like a dream. It was my first and only visit to Los Angeles, but I knew before then, and I know now, it will soon be my HOME. Check out all the pics over at TheMoniqueMichelle.com

Wild Hair for the Wild Thing

I had a fun night out planned and I wanted an equally fun outfit. First things first....what to do with this hair?

I decided to wing it and channel my inner Chaka Khan. Hair out of the way, now on to the outfit. I was super excited to FINALLY get to wear an embellished crop sweater I had been saving for more than a few months. It needed to be the right amount of cool outside, but still warm enough to have skin showing. I paired it with basic black cotton leggings and a pair of purple combat boots I got a couple years ago. Outfit complete? Not quite yet.

This cream moto jacket I scored a couple years ago sealed the deal. As much as I love "all black erythang" I need a contrasting color to go with my slight pop of color. It also gave me a chance to wear one of my favorite jackets for probably the third time ever. OUTFIT COMPLETE. Check out the outfit details over TheMoniqueMichelle.com/fashion

Gold all on my skirt.

NEW OUTFIT POST OVER AT TheMoniqueMichelle.com

Check it out & find the details there!

What Happens in Vegas...

I have to say, 2013 has been a great year, especially travel-wise. I rang in the new year a little over a week later with a vacation with friends to celebrate my best friends birthday. We started in Vegas, but ended up in Los Angeles....Here's PART I (LAS VEGAS)

We stayed at the Mandalay Bay, which comes highly recommended. The only downfall is that it's at the very end of "the strip" so if you want to be on foot the entire time, stay closer to the action. Aside from that, I can honestly say I had the time of my life. When we weren't shopping until we literally dropped (no, seriously, you try walking from the Mandalay Bay to the mall), we were eating and drinking (perks of Fat Tuesdays being right in your hotel). At night we opted for a party bus. Being chauffeured to the party is much better than having to go searching for it, besides, there's usually free drinks on the party bus! We met up at The Hard Rock Cafe and went to three different clubs. All of which were packed and crazy fun. We ended the night at a club inside of Caesar's Palace, and as you can see from above, I was "getting down with my bad self". The next morning we had the pleasure of rising early. Not to go home, but so we wouldn't miss our flight to LA! Catch more Vegas pics at TheMoniqueMichelle.com and stay tuned for PART II

Aimee, ADOPT ME!

Those that know me may or may not know that Aimee Song (Song of Style) is my blog crush. She's my absolute favorite blogger, the best dressed (on the best dressed list in my head), and an incredible interior designer. What matters most?....uh, did I mention she can dress her ass off?

I was going through old screenshots. You know, normal everyday occurrences, and I ran across a few screenshots from Ms. Songofstyle herself and remember why I fell in fashion lust with her in the first place. These photos have to be over a year old but the styles are still thriving and finally catching on. Denim shirts are HOT HOT HOT these days, especially when paired with a feminine skirt. The lace-up sandals are to die for and I'm still trying to finagle me a pair. She has me ready for the coming spring/summer (as if I haven't been waiting already). The lower pic is probably the #1 reason why I decided to begin mixing patterns, prints, colors, and textures to begin with. No, she didn't invent these styles, but she's a general in the fashion army and she definitely recruited me. LADIES, TAKE NOTE! and don't forget to check out THEMONIQUEMICHELLE.COM

I still want my ugly Xmas sweater

For the past few years I have been dying to get my hands on an absolutely hideous Xmas sweater. I know how crazy that sounds but, I want what I want. Sue me... There are other sweaters that simply remind me of the holidays.

Now before we focus on how much I hate taking pictures or how awkward I am...in life...I just want to say how much I LOVE this sweater and others like it. I remember seeing men when I was younger, my brother to be specific, and falling in love with certain pieces. I remember that he had a sweater, that I like to think was a lot like this one, and it always reminds me of him. It's a sign of the changing seasons, of the holidays, of warmth and itchy coziness. No matter how much I enjoy getting girly, on occasion, I will always adore mens fashion. Get ready for plenty of androgynous posts and/or girls in mens fashion with a twist! Find details over at TheMoniqueMichelle.com

The Little Black Dress

So that new Hervé Léger post over in my "Designer Trends" section has me thinking about the numerous black dresses I have in my wardrobe. You would really think black is my favorite color. It's sexy, sleek, flattering for all, and you can NEVER go wrong with a little black dress. Here's one of my favorite pics in one of my favorite basic black dresses

Now before you laugh too hard, I'd just like to point out that the glass case I'm holding onto for dear life contains the jacket of none other than the King, PRINCE, lol. If I could marry that man I would. Isn't he pretty? Anyways, I was in Vegas with friends at the time and this little dress was perfect for a night full of club hopping by way of a party bus. Surprisingly, I kept those heels on through 3 different clubs. 

The Bahamas

          So I have this tradition: NEVER BE IN THE USA ON SEPTEMBER 26TH. Why? Tis' my born day. In September of 2012 I finally got out of the country by way of water. I took cruise to the Bahamas (Norwegian Sky: Freeport, Nassau, Great Stirrup Cay) and of course the first thing I fell in love with was that gorgeous sky blue water. Why can't we have that in DC? Why can't it be everywhere. Anyways, this trip started something. Other than eating for free in a restaurant for 2-3 meals a day, it only increased my "itchy foot". I can't sit still. I must always be on my way to somewhere. And why shouldn't I be? I must explore every inch of this globe.

Check out the full gallery over at http://www.themoniquemichelle.com/