Author: Niyah

Why I am Parting Ways With Inexpensive Chic After Nearly 7 Years + A Highlight Reel

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When I first started this blog I had no idea where it would take me or the kinds of opportunities I’d have because of it. I certainly couldn’t have fathomed staying with it for 6.5 years (Inexpensive Chic would be turning 7 in June). When I first started this blog I was 16. It was the summer following Sophomore year of high school. I created the blog to have a space where I could express two things I’ve always been passionate about: writing and fashion. While that has remained the core of this website, I noticed that in the past year or so I began interspersing personal stories with deeper meaning. I wrote about my struggles living in New York, ten lessons my mother taught me in honor of Mother’s Day, and my journey fasting from all social media–– all with one common thread: FAITH. I have a few fashion blogger friends who are also Christian, and they shared with me their dilemma of wanting to incorporate God in all areas of their life, including …

Why I, An Instagram Fanatic, Deleted All Social Media For a Week + What It Revealed to Me

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On Sunday November 5, I did something I never thought I’d do: I deleted all of my social media apps from my phone (and had enough discipline not to look at the web versions). I decided that I would go on a week long social media cleanse. SNAPCHAT TWITTER FACEBOOK MESSENGER FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM Snapchat hurt the least (I use IG stories 99% of the time), and Instagram the most, but I felt like I needed to disconnect.  Keep reading to find out WHY I did it, WHAT it taught me, and HOW it changed my perspective. I, along with many other millennials, was guilty of scrolling through feeds and stories morning through night. It was just a gut reaction. Waiting in line? Open Instagram. Waiting for a browser to load on my computer? Let’s see what’s happening on Facebook. Most of what I was consuming was irrelevant or unhealthy information. My mind was cluttered with memes and gifs, celebrity gossip, stranger’s vacation photos, facebook memories with my ex, rants, etc. Yet somehow I’d been conditioned to …

My Secrets to Self-Care + Relaxation in the Midst of Chaos

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I try not to use the phrase “I am stressed” when I am feeling like there’s too much going on and I can’t grasp control of it. Instead, I choose to say “I am feeling overwhelmed.” The difference is the first is claiming an identity, while the second is labeling a temporary experience. Feeling overwhelmed seems less permanent than stress, or at least in my mind it does. My point is our minds have power. Our thoughts have influence. We should be careful what we speak into the world, because we can manifest our own troubles unintentionally. Maybe you can think of a different word that works for you, either way, we all deal with feeling overextended. Here are some of my secrets to staying calm despite it. Create Ambience  My room is my sanctuary. When I’m feeling overwhelmed it tends to be a mess. So the first thing I do is clean and declutter and then follow with lighting my favorite candles. Get Cozy  If I am wearing denim, or something stiff, I immediately …

A Week’s Worth of Outfit Ideas For Fall 2017

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I am so excited to dress for fall weather. There’s something about the turtlenecks, jackets, and boots that make me want to try a little harder with my outfits each day. Below I’ve styled 7 looks, one for each day of the week to inspire you this season. Be sure to leave a comment and let me know which is your favorite! monday Jacket | Donna Morgan Monday’s are hard, so don’t make it harder on yourself by overthinking your outfit. A classic trench is fail-safe for fall, and It’s a great piece to help transition you into the cold winter temps. I love it with a basic white tee and ripped skinnys. Where to Wear it: To grab groceries, run errands, go to class tuesday Dress | Free People Sweater dresses are a must for me when it comes around this time of year. What I love about this one are the sleeves. They’ve got a bell shape that actually fit the length of my arms, a cute little ruffle detail, and the varsity …

Style Stars of the Week: Bren + Pip Parkins

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I’ve been following Bren and Pip on Instagram for a little while now, and am always stunned at their photos! Their style is impeccable, their feed incredibly curated, and poses on point. I had to reach out to them and see if they’d like to be featured here on the blog. They agreed! Keep reading to learn more about the twins and see just what I am talking about.  Bren and Pip Parkins, 26 “We are Native Floridians. We currently live in East Delray Beach, Florida. It’s a fun little city right near the beach with a touch of historical charm.” Pip is currently an esthetician student. “I finish in November, so it has been quite hectic, but still very fulfilling.” Bren is an Interior Design student, “though I am always toying with the idea of furthering my studies in writing.” Both sisters have a BA in English/Creative Writing. The girl’s explain their style is always evolving. “We love so many styles that it is hard to pinpoint one, but I would say we like experimenting with …

Why I am Inspired By Cardi B. Even Though I Didn’t Know She Existed a Month Ago

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We were all spread throughout our Airbnb in Washington D.C., getting ready for the first bachelorette-party activity of the weekend when the next song started playing through the TV… One of the girl’s squealed in excitement and made her way from the bathroom to the living room to use as her dance floor. I’d never heard the song before, but she was hype, and the other girls quickly followed suit. If I wasn’t familiar with the song up until this point, I had nothing to fear, for it would play approximately 40 more times that weekend. The song was Bodak Yellow by Cardi B. Little did I know the impact it was having on the rest of the U.S. Some of you may be surprised that I hadn’t heard of her sooner. And what I want to say to you is: don’t judge me. I’ve never watched an episode of Love and Hiphop a day in my life (which I learned she originally became widely known for). I also don’t really choose to listen to …

How Far Could You Stretch $10 At the Thrift Store? | Video

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Watch as fellow fashion blogger, Alli (http://astylebreeze.com) and I battle it out in a styling challenge. With only $10 to spend, we picked out an outfit from St. Vincent De Paul that best described our personal style. WE WANT YOU TO DECIDE THE WINNER! SO LEAVE YOUR COMMENT BELOW! To check out another collaborative video between us, check out Alli’s channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3Ypp…). We styled three looks with different themes. That one is also a styling challenge, so tell us the winner there as well.

My Summer Playlist + Another OOTD

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Sunglasses+First Necklace from Shop Libby  Tri-layered Necklace from Forever21 Sheer Dress + Bodysuit from Shop Libby  Gemstone Bracelet from Shop Libby Flats from Nordstrom Rack I’ve been styling a lot of shoots lately, and one thing that always gets mentioned on set is an appreciation for my taste in music. I usually play one of the Spotify playlists they curate for me based on my taste, and without fail someone asks who the artist is, the name of the song, and “is this your playlist”? If I had to describe my musical preference I’d say it’s a little melancholy. It’s subdued, but powerful. It’s eloquent, yet something you can vibe to. It’s perfect for the commute home, background music when you need to focus, running/working out… just easy listening. But you’ll just have to hear for yourself… Here are some of my favs that I’ve been listening to all summer. Niyah’s Summer Playlist 2017 1. Carry Me Home by Jorja Smith https://open.spotify.com/track/0dbLBOUh7EykgXpxqEROg2 2. High by Ledisi https://open.spotify.com/track/2rvVqBEQhmSBYj30Ssp8EV  3. Don’t Matter by August Alsina https://open.spotify.com/track/2zJXJeWnYbOUVTVdRF5EKR  4. Confidently Lost Sabrina …

A Week of Serving Looks (I Wore a New Purchase Each Day)

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The week before last was a good week. My hairstyles were on point everyday, I actually put thought into my outfits consistently, and I got to sport a new find each day from shopping the weekend prior. Let’s see the lewks… Day 1 // All in One Piece Kay, so first the hair. Literally every time I do it it comes out different than the last. So it’s always a surprise to me when I undo the twists or braids from the night before. I also use different products sometimes. I found one that makes my hair super soft, light, and fluffy. I love how full this came out looking while still retaining a coil. I finally found a pair of overalls that work for me! Hallelujah. It’s only been two years (despite my love of dramatizing everything, I am being so serious. It’s been 2 years). Funnily enough, I found these in Forever21. A place I no longer shop at, but happened to be in there shopping for a client I styled. I love …

The Trouble With Being Goal Oriented + Future Focused

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I started this blog when I was 16 (it turned 6 last month), just 3 years after I decided I wanted to go into a career in fashion. When I was 19 I created a fashion styling business, and now I am balancing both while attending one of the top fashion design schools in the country. I would definitely describe myself as ambitious, a planner, forward thinking… but lately I’ve begun to question whether that’s the right way to live. Because my mind is constantly in the future, I am never focused for long on what’s happening in the present nor do I go back and reflect on the achievements of my past. Once I’ve completed a goal, I check it off the list, and am already onto preparing for the next steps of another. I get so caught up in what’s next, what’s next, that I really don’t give myself the space to appreciate what I’ve worked so hard to do. In this perpetual cycle, I can never be truly satisfied. I can never …