tiabanks

D.I.Y and looking Fly

Posted on August 8, 2017August 8, 2017 by tiabanks

What’s up everyone!

Yeah my title this time around is a little corny but bear with me.

Sometimes as I am planning my next photo shoot, I look in my closet and can’t find anything to wear. Well, I had one of those moments this week and decided to D.I.Y a piece of clothing that I’ve been seeing on Instagram and it turned into a whole outfit.

I’m not sure what the name of this look is because it’s not exactly a full sweatshirt, however, it’s made from sweatshirt material. Kylie Jenner was seen wearing one a while ago and I’m digging the look.

So I made a trip to the thrift store and found a simple grey men’s sweatshirt and got creative. I watched a couple tutorials and then tried it on my own. Now, I did not take pictures of the process, but I have a little diagram below of what I did.

Step 1 (Purple) : I cut across the sweatshirt where the purple line is to get rid of the major excess of the shirt.

Step 2 (Orange) : Then I cut along the orange line so I could get more of the look I was trying to achieve.

*This is not an actual photo of the sweatshirt I used. If you are using a sweatshirt that has a logo. brand, etc., you should make the adjustments to your cutting pattern that allow people to still see the logo. Like in the photo of Kylie, the logo is still seen but it has more of a rugged cut.

Step 3 (Purple) : So after I was finished cutting up the sweatshirt, I went back to the first part that I cut off, which was the purple line. I flipped it upside down, and it became a skirt. I’m brilliant.

Now it looks like I have a matching outfit. Check out the photos below!

stripeTALK with Rey Jefferson

Posted on July 24, 2017 by tiabanks

Hey Everyone

I got the chance to interview Rey Jefferson who is an adidas Field Agent and the co-host of the popular podcast, stripeTALK. Jefferson, along with his co-host and fellow field agent Jonathan McQueen, created this podcast in July of 2016 and have since had much success interviewing athletes and influencers while focusing on the adidas brand.

Me: Rey, I am so happy to finally get a chance to speak with you!

Rey Jefferson: Yeah same here!

Me: So tell me about your job and what you do.

RJ: I’m part of the adidas field team where our job involves visual merchandising, spreading advocacy, and sales at the retail level across multiple accounts. But since I’m a specialist, I focus on one pinnacle meaning the top 10 Dick’s Sporting Goods stores.

Me: Okay very nice. So how about stripeTALK? How did that come into play?

RJ: It was around July last year that I co-created this adidas centric podcast with my co-worker Jonathan. There are a few reasons we started stripeTALK but the key thing we wanted to do was give our fellow field agents and adidas lovers a platform where they could listen to athletes, employees, and influencers talk about the brand.

Me: And for those that do not listen to stripeTALK yet, what can they expect to hear when they tune in?

RJ: Just two down to earth guys interviewing dope adidas themed guests regarding the latest adidas products, trends, and culture.

Me: Who are some of your most memorable guests on the show?

RJ: Everyone really but if I had to name drop, I would say Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Noah Brown who was our first professional athlete. Then there was Jahvon Quinerly, sports industry analyst Matt Powell, BoostGod, T.Blake, MaroonNYC, and other influencers. Rita Ora even did a voice over for us.

Me: Wow that’s awesome! Who’s your dream guest?

RJ: Kanye West definitely! I love his passion. And Jon Wexler because he’s a legend.

The fashion behind it

Me: So there is a new adidas boutique in Rockaway, New Jersey located inside of Dick’s Sporting Goods. Tell me about it.

RJ: Yes, I’m extremely proud of the space. It’s one of only ten across the US and is dedicated to adidas Originals apparel.

Me: How would you describe your personal style?

RJ: My style originates in sports so I wear a ton of joggers & tapered bottoms with athletic performance tops. Outside of work I’ll dress up my outfits with high fashion kicks like Yeezys, RAF’s, & Y3’s.

Me: Well thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me Rey. I really appreciate it.

RJ: No problem Tia! This was great .

Big Chop: 7 Month Update

Posted on July 11, 2017 by tiabanks

Greetings…

It has been a whole seven months since I cut all of the relaxer out of my hair and things are coming along. My hair is growing healthily and my future with long natural tresses is becoming more visible.

Braid Out Length Check

I am still keeping my wash day routine fairly simple by just shampooing my hair with a sulfate-free shampoo and letting the coinciding conditioner sit in my hair for about 45 minutes to an hour. I’ve also learned that detangling is a hassle and shrinkage is real. However, over all, I am learning and understanding my hair texture. They say your hair texture can change as it grows out and gets longer. When I first cut my hair, my texture was 4C. Then as it grew out little by little, I started to see tight curls and coils develop on one side of my head. The other side of my head has coils here and there but is mostly still 4c while the other side is leaning towards a 4b. I know, it sounds weird!

I’m not at ponytail length yet but I’m slowly and surely getting there. I am still using my lace front wigs as a protective style however I am looking to try something new. Maybe braids? We’ll see what the future holds.

If you have any suggestions for natural hair products, please leave them in the comments below. I have become a product junkie and am looking for new things conditioners, shampoos, and oils to try.

Peace and Love

International Wardrobe

Posted on June 24, 2017 by tiabanks

Hey all you people. Hey all you people won’t you listen to meeeeeeee (If you can name where this is from, you get bonus points)

Today I want to do a little something for my subscribers who are in Europe, specifically London. Almost three years ago I travelled to London for my study abroad program and spent a semester at Regent’s University. Obviously, I went shopping during my four months there and there were a couple of stores I found myself coming back to. Those were Primark and New Look. Primark, in my opinion, is one of the best things to ever happen to me. First of all, the store is huge! Like Macy’s Herald Square huge and it’s always busy. Plus, they always have a great variety of clothing styles, keep up to date with trends, and everything is cheap. Now, while everything is cheap, you also get the quality you pay for. As in, don’t expect it to last forever.

New Look was probably my favorite.

I loved all of the clothes I found there and it was affordable. Not Primark affordable, but still great prices. New Look is also where I found these two rompers that I brought home with me from London. The first one is a loose long sleeve romper with a flowery pattern. I like this one for nights out or special occasions. It’s super comfy, but I tend to get warm really fast when wearing it so I like to carry this romper into the fall. It could be because the material is polyester.

The second romper I bought was a bright pink with scalloped bottoms. It is also a very comfortable romper that has a v-neck back and is tailored to be fitted in the waist. I love it because it can be dressed down or dressed up and the color is the only one of it’s kind in my closet. I wear it to little outings here and there ( I think it’s a little too “youthful” to wear to the club”).

So to my international subscribers, I love Primark and New Look! To my fellow American followers, if you ever happen to be in London, check out these stores. Now, I know there is a Primark in Staten Island and Boston but I’ve never been to either of them so I can’t vouch for them. I would assume it’s the same idea though. And to my knowledge, New Look isn’t in the US anywhere. But that’s what online shopping is for!

Here are some more pics from the rest of the shoot:

Snagged both pairs of sunglasses for $10 a piece at a street vendor in Harlem

Luxe Therapy

Posted on June 20, 2017June 20, 2017 by tiabanks

Good Afternoon peeps,

So recently, I was given a Scalp Soother to try by Luxe Therapy. I opened it and had moderate expectations being that I’ve used products like this before, however, this was divine! It was thin enough to slide right underneath my wig and it got those hard to reach spots that can be difficult to scratch.

As you can see, it is built just like an old school pick but it is a bit thinner.

So stop patting those weaves and get you one of these!

You can definitely use this Scalp Soother no matter what your hair type is. Just make sure you rinse it off between each wash and do not scratch too hard especially if you just got your braids done.

Check out Luxe Therapy on Twitter and Instagram @luxetherapy

Bralette Bliss

Posted on May 27, 2017May 27, 2017 by tiabanks

Bralette | Victoria’s Secret

Pants | Boutique

Bralette | Target

Pants | Macy’s

Hello hello,

Today, I am going to talk about one of my latest favorite pieces for the summer time: bralettes. Bralettes are far from new and have entered the fashion world years ago. It’s just new to my closet. I had always been weary about purchasing one because typically I notice the models wearing them in the magazines and commercials are really thin, have a flat chest and dance around in their underwear and bralettes so carefree as if the struggle is not real.

However, one day, I was at Victoria’s Secret and there was a sale going on (ya girl can’t resist a sale) and so I went inside to see what they had. I noticed a box of bralettes were on sale and since the price was right, I bought one. If push came to shove, I could always wear it around the house or give it away.

So I tried on my new bralette with some things I had in my closet. I also turned to Pinterest for a little inspiration too. Typically people wear them with open back or see-through shirts and dresses, however, I found these wide leg pants that still had the tag on them in the back of my closet. So I threw them on with the bralette and I was feeling it. Where am I wearing this outfit? No clue, but, Issa look! So that’s what I went for; a bralette and loose wide leg pants. I found another pair of pants that I rarely wear in my closet and put it with a second bralette that I bought and it was still a look!

So bralettes are definitely going to be my thing this summer with wide leg pants, backless and low cut shirts,etc. They are so easy to throw on and are comfortable while also being cute. However, I do recognize the issue that could arise for some girls. That being having a larger chest. Bralettes have no support, no padding, no nothing. It’s essentially just the lace material covering your boobs and that is difficult for women who are well endowed. So to combat that, I’ve recently seen the bustier bralette,
which has cups and offers a little more support.

rehost%2F2016%2F9%2F13%2F0cb5c361-1018-427b-aad8-697a90c95282.jpg — See, even Ashley Graham wears them!

All in all, bralettes are great and there are options for everyone! You can find them anywhere pretty much. As you read, I got my first one from Victoria’s Secret and my second one I bought at Target. They are something great to try this summer especially if you are into low cut, open back, see through shirts and dresses.

Side note: The silver line going down my chest is a metallic tattoo. They became really popular about two summers ago. I love these things and think they look awesome especially on a sunny day because they will shine super bright.

The Romphim

Posted on May 22, 2017May 22, 2017 by tiabanks

Hola!

So there is a social media trend that has come across my newsfeed a lot in the past week regarding men’s fashion. It’s called the Romphim, which is the male version of a romper. The positive and negative feedback about the new fashion statement has been torn down the middle. Both males and females have had their fair share of opinions. Now here is mine:

First, let’s talk pronunciation. Since the information I am seeing is what I am reading via social media articles and memes, I haven’t really heard the pronunciation that people are using for this new trend. Now, according to grammar rules, when there is a “ph” one should pronounce it like an “F” sound. So technically, it should sound like romfim. However, since this is the male version of a romper, they are taking the word as if it was romp-her and pronouncing it like romp-him. Either way you pronounce it, we know what you’re talking about.
Some men are feeling it heavily like Cam Newton, who I have pictured. Other men are not able to separate it from being a girl thing and are saying that it is feminine look. I personally know that the look is dope. If any man looked half as good as Cam Newton does in a romper, then I’m here for it. It’s not as if the romphim has to be tight and short like some rompers are. They can be masculine, not go above the knee and still have a great print or be made from a nice material. It’s fashionable and if I saw a guy wearing one, I’d think he definitely isn’t basic.
The memes. The memes. The memes. The internet is too much for me sometimes. People think of everything! Here are a few: So guys, don’t be afraid to at least try out a romper this summer. You NEVER know what you might like.

The BOMBer Jacket

Posted on May 19, 2017May 19, 2017 by tiabanks

Jacket| Diesel

Hey All,

This is a short and sweet post….

So I did a photo shoot a little while ago and had a hard time trying to figure out what kind of look I was going for. I never figured it out, however, the highlight of that outfit was definitely that bomber jacket.

This is a men’s bomber jacket by Diesel and it was super warm. This is why I stick by the idea of women shopping in the men’s section. The jacket was heavy and could withstand a very chilly day with style. Sometimes when I shop in the women’s section for bomber jackets, they tend to be thin. Really cute, but still thin. Men’s items sometimes are more durable than women’s. Most of us women tend to think cute over quality anyway. And there’s nothing wrong with that. We’ve all been guilty of wearing something a little skimpy because we were trying to look cute and do it for the gram. Am I wrong?.

So if you haven’t already, take a stroll over to the men’s section of the store. You never know what you might find.

Visiting College as an Alum

Posted on May 12, 2017July 11, 2017 by tiabanks

After almost a year of indulging in the post-graduate life, my friends and I planned a weekend trip to visit our alma mater, Susquehanna University, home of the River Hawks (previously the Crusaders but that’s a sensitive subject). So for the first time since graduation, my suite mates and I were back on campus again just like old times.

When we arrived at SU, I felt like I was having some kind of out of body experience. It was like I belonged there but then again I didn’t belong there. Driving through campus brought back so many memories though and I was more than happy to be back.

We conveniently planned our trip during one of the last weekends before school ends and got to see Airband (the show full of dance performances put on by the greek organizations) and enjoy the carnival for spring weekend. Can we just talk about these shirts?

During the night we got into some good old college shananigans and reconnected with old friends at a party. Numerous snapchats and low quality iPhone photos were taken and even more memories were made.

Before we left, we stopped at the bookstore to pick up some River Hawks merchandise with our alumni discount. Perks.

When I graduated a year ago I didn’t know if I would ever be back to visit SU, however, I’m glad I did. The real world isn’t as easy as I thought it would be. So, to the graduating seniors who swear they will never return:

You’ve spent four years here and after finals week, spending another day on campus seems like torture. But as time goes on after graduation, you realize how great the college lifestyle was. For example, you’ll miss living in such close proximity to your friends and being able to have dinner with them almost everyday or just being on your own leisurely schedule.
It will really hit you when you see everyone participating in the same events that you used to participate in while your were in college. (Concerts, parties, campus traditions, etc)
Even though you probably had complaints and there was always something that could have been better, you stayed. That place was your home. Sometimes I hate to admit that a small town in rural central Pennsylvania where most residents probably voted for Donald Trump was where I lived for four years, but it happened. And honestly, the memories made outweigh everything else.

The fashion behind it:

Going out in college is more casual than going out to the bars and lounges at home. So, I left my heels at home and opted for a casual look that I didn’t mind getting dirty (just in case someone drunk spilled beer on me ya know?)

A Girl’s Night Out in Hoboken

Posted on May 4, 2017 by tiabanks

My friends and I did some birthday celebrating in Hoboken a couple weeks ago. I hadn’t been to Hoboken in so long so it was nice to get out there for a night full of shenanigans.

We started our night by finding parking. That took just as long as it did to get to Hoboken (exaggeration but you see what I’m trying to say). We rode around and around and around looking for someone to pull out at the same moment we were riding down the street.

We finally found a spot that was a few blocks away and headed for the first bar, Wicked Wolf. It was super crowded and the music was a blend of upbeat techno. We met the rest of our group, had a drink, and took some selfies before we moved on to the next location, Biggie’s.

This place was a few blocks over from Wicked Wolf and was more of a dancing scene with a nice mix of pop, hip-hop, Today’s Top 40, and some throwbacks. It was really a great time, especially when you’re with your crew.

The lines for both the bar and the bathroom were relatively short and the place is a decent size too. Not too big and not too small. We had a great time in Hoboken and it is a place I would highly recommend for a fun night out.

So, if you ever want to go out to Hoboken here are some tips:

1.Take an Uber if you are close enough, don’t like to walk, or are wearing six-inch heels

The walk from and back to the car in heels is not for the weak. It is totally possible but definitely isn’t the highlight of the night. Plus, you don’t have to worry about parking. I also recommend an Uber because then everyone can drink like a fish and you don’t have to worry about having a designated driver.

2.Explore

And by “Explore” I mean don’t just stay at one bar the entire night. The bars and lounges are all within walking distance from each other so take the opportunity to check out as many as you can. Hoboken is also right outside of New York so as you’re walking, check out the view of the city.

The Fashion Behind It:

I wore a simple black fitted t-shirt dress and a pair of open-toe nude heels. Hoboken is a little more fancy than your local bar, however, you shouldn’t over think it. Dress cute and comfortably. Heels are not a must.

unnamed-3 — A low quality snapchat photo

	tiabanks on Big Chop: 7 Month Update
	OliviaLane photos on Big Chop: 7 Month Update
	tiabanks on Bralette Bliss
	noirerewritten on Bralette Bliss
	Ema Brewer on Well….I did the big…

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