Hogger & Co. Style Profile: La Vie J'aime

Another one of my favorite Boston Bloggers is Jaime from La Vie J'aime.

I first met her at a Boston Blogger panel held at Northeastern University, and I introduced myself to her right after!

She's warm, funny and has a fantastic blog, but here, why don't you meet her.

I was born in Framingham and moved to Brighton after a four year "escape" to Syracuse University. I moved to Southie two years ago and am loving it!

 

I'd say Boston style is a combination of preppy & practical. We are not nearly as high fashion as NYC, and while some magazines may give us a bad rap, walk down Newbury Street or the South End on a Sunday and you'll see Boston fashion in it's finest!

I am the worst cook and if you follow my blog, you'll see that nearly every recipe I attempt, goes bad some way, some how. My worst would have to be trying to do a roasted tomatoe recipe. At my old apartment, the stove was very hot and volatile. The recipe said roast at 450 degrees for 30-45 minutes. Needless to say after about 20 minutes, the entire kitchen and into the bedrooms and living rooms were full of smoke. I set off 2/3 fire alarms!

I love being able to express myself -and my love of fashion- through writing. My day job is in tech sales, so this is fun for me. Also, meeting so many great people in the Boston blogging community has been awesome. There have been some cool perks along the way, as well! :)

 

 I used to be blonde! I am naturally strawberry blonde and throughout highschool & college highlighted my hair blonde. In fall 2008, I decided I needed a change and went brown. It's evolved to a dark auburn now.

That's a toughie, as it's a split between a small town in Tuscany or a beach in the Caribbean or Mexico.

My ideal Sunday in the summer would be sleeping in a bit, enjoying my favorite iced banana-hazelnut iced coffee from Sidewalk Cafe around the corner from my apartment, then go walking around SoWa or Newbury Street. I'd meet my bff's for lunch and sit outside gossiping. The night would end with True Blood!

1. Pair of dark skinny jeans

2. White, tailored shirt

3. Work appropriate skirt

4. LBD

5- LWD (little white dress)

6. A pair of heels you can walk anywhere in

7. A pair of heels that kill your feet but are fabulous

8. Tory Burch black patent leather Reva flats

9. Lululemon leggings (the best!)

10. A black blazer that fits like a glove.

My iPhone, Burt's Bees, Bobby pins floating around in every bag, a good book, and of course family/friends!

I know my body and what works for me. Just because something is on trend and looks good on the runway or your friend or that girl walking down the street, doesn't mean it's for everyone! I splurge on classics and save on trendy pieces I may just wear one season.

What Jaime's wearing: White Blazer - Nordstrom BP // Green blouse - Anthropologie // Black pleated skirt - Francesca's Collection // nude patent wedges - Nine West // Gold necklace - vintage // Bracelets - made by her Mom // Straw clutch - Kate Spade // Sunglasses - Ray Ban //

Thanks Jaime for taking part in my Style Profile for Nashua Soup Kitchen Project, your kind donations are much appreciated!

If you're interested in participating in the next round of Style Profiles, send me an email!

Hogger & Co. Style Profile: Lei Ann Off Duty

I've gotten a huge response to my Style Profile for Nashua Soup Kitchen Project!

In less than a week of launching the project, all the time slots I had available for photo shoots before July 15 were filled!

THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone who has donated and become a part of this Style Profile Project!

My trunk is literally filled to the brim with donations to take with me to the NSK on July 15 for my sponsored birthday lunch.

Now, without further ado, allow me to introduce:

 

Individualistic.

Technically since 2005, but fashion blogging since 2008.

 

Developing more of my photography skills!

I'm a tech & gadget FANATIC!

 

Hawaii!!! (where I'm originally from)

 Karl Lagerfeld Chanel...icebergs, carousels? Completely over the top!

SoWa food truck run!

1. Lush Angels on Bare Skin Exfoliant

2. Aussie 3 Minute Miracle

3. My laptop

4. My puppy 

5. A black rubber hair tie on my right wrist :)

"Come high or stay home!"

 

Lei Ann is wearing: all saints spitalfields eyelet lace dress ($40 via marshalls) || DIY skull bracelets || asos gold ankle cuffs || bebe mesh peeptoe booties

What a classy lady! Be sure to check out her fantastic blog and follow her on Twitter! Thanks Lei Ann for participating in Hogger & Co.'s Style Profile project and for your incredibly generous donation to Nashua Soup Kitchen!

If you're interested in participating in the next round of Style Profiles, send me an email!

Hogger & Co. Style Profile for Nashua Soup Kitchen

I'm launching a new initiative for Hogger & Co.'s Style Profile.

For my birthday in July, I've decided to sponsor a lunch at Nashua Soup Kitchen, which will take place on July 15 2012.

I am donating photo sessions with me in exchange of groceries needed by the soup kitchen.

I've been overwhelmed by the response from participants in Boston and Toronto! Since introducing this initiative a week ago, ALL of the time slots have already been filled!

Thank you to everyone who has participated and donated this round! The NSK will surely appreciate it.

Watch this space for the Style Profiles coming soon!

Hogger & Co. Style Profile: Dela Chic

I met Christine aka Dela Chic while she was visiting Boston from New Haven, Connecticut a couple of months ago. We had a lovely dinner together at the Paramount in Beacon Hill, and she says it was totally worth the parking ticket! :)

I met her around the time that I was thinking about launching my Style Profile photo project, however, this interview took place before the Style Profile for Nashua Soup Kitchen innitiative.

I still want to share Christine's Style Profile as she's one of the first people I'd interviewed for a Style Profile and she is one of those incredibly talented crafty people who has a successful Etsy shop so it's always nice to find out how she got there!

So, here it is.

{Photograph on the left by Christine's Hubby, Instagrams on the right from Christine and my outing}

 

Dela Chic is the name of my blog, which comes from my Etsy Account, which comes from a nickname (Dela) that friends from college used to call me. Dela is part of my last name which means "of the" or "from the" in Spanish. When I needed a name for my Etsy Account I wanted it to be something very close to "me" so I thought "Dela" with another word would be perfect. I thought about it for a long time and found that I liked Dela Chic the best.

 

 Even though I've had the account since 2010, my first blog post was on August 3, 2011. I did have a tiny blog a long time ago in college on Angelfire (yea we're going way back), but I can't even remember the name of it.

I've worked in the human service/non profit field for ten years and pretty much throughout college. It's a career that is not for everyone especially if you're looking to get rich. However, it is rewarding knowing when you've changed someone's life at some point.

I went to public schools in New Haven, CT from elementary to high school. I then attended Northeastern University for my bachelor's degree.

1. My loves - husband, puppy, family (I know you said things, but I can't leave them out)

2. Coffee - I will be an angry woman without it

3. My mom's cooking. I am my mother's daughter. Her food is like home to me and no matter what I make, I can't make it the way she does.

4. Car - I used to do public transportation.....but having a car just makes it easier to get from point A to B for me. I don't care if I pay for parking or even get a ticket. haha!

5. Phone - Funny how we have become so dependent on our "smart phones". My first phone was a Nokia 5110 with the retractable antennae and now with the Iphone I can pretty much do everything on it from ordering food, make reservations, blog, email, gps.

When I was little I wanted to be a doctor....even majored in Biology during the first year of college. However, some of us find out that what we think we will be when we were little doesn't really turn out exactly when we do grow up. My heart was not in it as much as I thought it would be. I didn't have the drive for it which showed in my grades. I didn't want to go look at cadavers in my Anatomy class.

 

(Instagram of the wonderful gift Dela Chic gave me)

I learned how to knit from my aunt when I was in fourth grade (9 years old). She wanted me to learn a hobby and to keep my fingers busy instead of watching tv. Of course she gave me the smallest knitting needles to work on a scarf that I never finished. When I was in college, I had a roommate who would often crochet while we watched TV. Then, one of our friends brought a blanket that she was working on for her god daughter. I felt the need to learn this craft because I kind of felt left out. haha so my roommate and my friend both taught me how to crochet. After a few years I got tired of doing the same basic stitches so picked up a few books and read tutorials online and practiced! Now, I can pretty much crochet in my sleep!

I am such a New England girl. It's tough for me to say that I'd retire anywhere else because I love the changes of the season, including winter. I guess I would pick Cape Cod, somewhere serene by the ocean. I love quaint little towns there with little antique and fishing shops.

My ideal Sunday is going to the gym early, road tripping somewhere in Connecticut maybe a vintage or thrift shop, then having Sunday dinner with my family.

"Personal style philosophy...hmm. I've never been asked that before!! I used to wear a lot of black, brown, and gray. I thought that I wore a lot of dark clothes for it's slimming effect. But in reality most of my clothes looked the same and I looked like I was in mourning all the time. I finally got out of that rut and started experimenting with color. Amazing how color can change someone's wardrobe completely...and even mood. I like classic staples with hints of vintage pieces. I am currently in love with stripes and lace at the moment."

Hogger & Co. Style Profile: Dave Chen

I'm so excited to be introducing a new series on Hogger & Co., called "Style Profile" which will feature some of the incredibly talented and creative people I've had the pleasure of meeting in Boston and around the world.

Ecstatic to be starting off the series with Neiman Marcus Style Advisor:

 

While I only assumed the newly established role of Style Advisor within Neiman Marcus last year, I've been styling clients for their wardrobe needs for years.

Before that I was a YSL specialist and Valentino Specialist and have been at Neiman Marcus since 2008.

9 years and was in Honolulu before that for 7 years.

I think Boston is a cultured city of tradition and history and that
reflects on it's citizen's fashion sensibility. There is a great
appreciation for quality, craftsmanship, and timelessness. And with the
constant infusion of students from the world over, Bostonians also love
to embrace new ideas and fashion directions.

I went to Boston University and majored in marketing.

I train with Ken Downing, our corporate Fashion Director and fabulous guest judge on Project Runway. He educates us on the hottest trends of the season and the directional looks of seaons to come from fashion shows in Paris, Milan, NYC. He empowers us to deliver all the inside fashion tidbits to our clients. I also assist other associates in fitting room events that create an exceptional shopping experience that epitomizes Neiman Marcus customer service. Lastly, I also pull model looks for many of our exciting events.

Would have loved to have been at Alexander McQueen where Kate Moss was a holographic projection. Now, it would be Tom Ford.

Weatlhy and retired. Or a fashion journalist.

1. Crisp white blouse.
2. Floor length black evening skirt
3. Perfectly tailored navy suit
4. Short black trench coat
5. Fabulous red dress
6. Nude stilletto pumps
7. Neutral leather jacket
8. Tuxedo blazer
9. Waterproof mascara
10. Signature fragrance

Seeing a client go from "Oh no, I can never do that!" to, "OMG, I love it!"

1. Friends and Family
2. Carbs
3. Kiehl's Argan Dry Oil
4. White shirt
5. YSL jeans

"My style philosophy is knowing what is appropriate--be it occasion, budget, or personality--and embracing that propriety with exuberence."

Thank you Dave for being the first to take part of Hogger & Co.'s Style Profile Series!

If you'd like to participate, send me an email!