ASOS

IN THE LOOP | OOTD by EUREKA CALHOUN

October is here and we are in the last quarter of 2017......WOW time is flying!  Which means we’re about to move into the biggest shopping season of the year.  For some this is music to their ears but if you have been following my minimalist journey then you already know I made the choice to not be affected by oncoming influx of persuasive holiday advertisements.  For both lovers and haters of shopping, the common problem is we tend to spend rather than invest.  Luckily, I have been set free from the “mindset “more is better which causes us to purchase items we don’t need or eventually never wear. 

Today’s OOTD is about one of my beloved dresses revisited, the ASOS Loop dress to be specific.  When I think about this go-to party dress purchased over 6 yrs. ago, my first thought was praise God it still fits like a glove, thanks to my new healthy lifestyle.  Secondly,  when you think about a dress covered in fabric loops some might assume it will create unwanted volume.  Luckily,  the fashion God’s were in my favor because this dress is both forgiving and flattering.  I love how it constantly tricks the eye and it allows a little wiggle room if you have gained a few pounds.

The beauty about this dress is it looks great anytime of the year and there’s something about the vibrant cobalt blue color that brings a dose of interest.  It has a natural elegance to be worn for a special event or a night out.  In the past,  I usually create a monochromatic look but I decided to switch up the outfit combination with the addition of hot pink Dolce Vita sandals and newly purchased (on sale) Nordstrom Rack earrings. The geometric pattern earrings and magenta colored sandals simply elevates the entire look.  Although the dress is not “interview ready”, it's definitely something anyone can wear and have a little fun paired with a plethora of different accessory combinations.    

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* Outfit details *

Blue Loop dress:  ASOS (Sold out) | Earrings:  Natasha Accessories - Sold out ( similar here) | Bicolored clutch: Seen here  |  Magenta satin sandals:  Dolce Vita - Purchase here | Oversize shades:  Seen here !

Until next time with love, 

Eureka

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FLOW | OOTD by EUREKA CALHOUN

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For quite some time,  I have had this urge or need to do something more worthwhile with my life. When you’re in the pursuit to be part of something more important than yourself, it creates an atmosphere for reflection of WHAT and WHO is important in your life.   Never wanting to miss the divine blessings God wants for me or to do through me, I started meditating on purposeful living while staying in the flow of God.   There is no greater joy than knowing you are finally walking into the FLOW of gratitude and you have clear direction for your life.  This is a thrilling space to occupy, but it’s not easy which requires tremendous patience in every area of my life including the little things.

 Since the beginning of the year I have been on a journey of creating a minimal lifestyle.   One aspect of the journey is creating a clutter free and organized space.   I started selling items through various local pop up shops that no longer serve me in the next phase of life.   I made a promise with myself to mindfully purchase items that will have a specific place and purpose in my collection.   A few months ago I spotted this little gem of maxi skirt at New York & Company and needless to say I was not feeling the listed price.  So I decided to wait and every time I would frequent the mall for client duties I‘d swing by and check on the price of “my skirt”.  Because in the spirit of speaking situations into existence, it was my skirt, lol! Then last month to my surprise during my routine “swing by” my skirt was  on the clearance rack!

What lady doesn’t love a flirty skirt with a little FLOW action?   It’s perfect for dressing up or down and can be worn for multiple occasions. The colors in the skirt are perfect year round,  and I love a piece that I’ll be able to style multiple ways.  I’m looking forward to switching it up in a future post by adding a jean jacket and booties for the fall. I decided to keep it simple and allow the skirt to be the shining star by pairing it with a blood wine colored bodysuit from ASOS, my beloved white Calvin Klein sandals, tassel earrings, and a multi-colored box clutch.  By adding a few staple pieces I was able to create a complete look that anyone no matter the size and shape could pull off for any occasion.

Photographer: Aaron Velasquez

Photographer: Aaron Velasquez

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*Outfit details *

BODYSUIT:  ASOS - Sold out (Similar) | Skirt:  New York & Company - Purchase (here) | White block sandals: Calvin Klein - Sold Out ( Similar) |  Tassel earrings:  H&M - Purchase (here) | Gold Cuff: House of Harlow - Seen (here) | Bicolored clutch:  ASOS - Sold out (Similar) | Shades:  Prada - Seen (here

~3 wAYS TO STAY IN THE FLOW ~

1. Meditate and Pray -Spiritual practices have been shown to help alleviate the stress levels, which are one of the major risk factors for disease. They also are powerful ways to maintain a positive outlook and successfully weather the trials which come to all of us in life.

2.  Take a social media break and reconnect in an engaged reality - Use this time to figure out how you want to live your life according to God's will without the distractions of a distorted projection of reality. Establishing new goals and reconnecting relationships is necessary as the first step in self-regulation.  It’s all about finding balance. A healthy relationship with social media means approaching technology like we do other things we want to control and make it work for us.

3. Feed your body right -  Each stage of life has its own nutritional requirements to keep your body running in peak form. Eating right will help you sail through the decades feeling great.

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Until next time with love, 

Eureka

NEW BALANCE | OOTD by EUREKA CALHOUN

Happy Wednesday! Recently had an epiphany and realized I have lost my no nonsense, fearless approach to style.  It's easy to get into a style rut and forget that once upon a time you gravitated towards edgy style choices.  In my early 20's I probably made a lot of fashion mistakes that wasn't considered fashion forward.  But fashion has never dictated my style choices and I love the fact I didn't play it safe and at the very least my looks were exciting.  In the recent years I have noticed my go-to outfits are basic as hell. Evolving into a signature style is a necessity but somewhere along the way I lost my edge. I have welcomed the process of finding a balance between the archived spicy Eureka and the present day Eureka with open arms! 

This look will work for anyone no matter the age or size and the fun part is all about accessories to spice up a not so basic outfit. When I first saw this gorgeous blazer in the Banana Republic  I grabbed it and immediately my mind knew exactly how I wanted to christen this new treasure.  It screams classic with a dash of unexpected chicness.  The foundation of the look is my winter go-to's  Free People  faux leather pants and Brian Atwood booties. Adding a embroidered clutch and the hottest shades right now  is the perfect pairing.   Lastly, a dash of bright colored purple hair and my new favorite red lipstick Shanghai Scarlet by L'oreal effortlessly completed this OOTD!

Photographer:  Aaron J. Velasquez 

Photographer:  Aaron J. Velasquez 

YOU CAN ALSO LOOK ROCKER CHIC, STYLE DETAILS BELOW

SHADES : Michael Kors | FAUX FUR COLLAR BLAZER :  Banana Republic - SOLD OUT (Similar) | CASHMERE TURTLENECK : Lord & Taylor (Similar) | FAUX LEATHER PANTS :  Free People SOLD OUT (Similar ) | BOOTIES : Brian Atwood (Seen here) | CLUTCH :  Tadashi SOLD OUT (Similar) |  BELT : Vintage Old 

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Do you feel like you are in a style rut or do you have champagne taste on a tap water budget? As we evolve as individuals the basic principles of upgrading your style can become too much of a task to bear.  All hope is not lost, check out my budget friendly blog post "5 Steps To Develop Your Personal Style"    and start your style journey today.  

Until next time with love, 

Eureka