A Curvy Girl's Thrift Adventure

Hello Beauties! 

Finally I am back with some thrifted goodies I discovered in my favorite Goodwill down the street from my campus. Every time I walk into this store, they never disappoint me. For the longest I have been scouring the web for a faux leather skirt that was both affordable and fit well. What was I thinking, Goodwill should have been my first target place to search for this kind of clothing. That's exactly what happened when I walked near the skirt section, it was just hanging there saying, "Chakayla, BUY ME NOW!" Get this, it was a only $3.75, so you all know I was a happy camper! One thing though, the skirt is two sizes too big, but I plan on getting it tailored before winter.

 Along with my amazing faux leather skirt, I found this amazing pair of earrings under some tangled necklaces. As soon as I saw them, I knew I had to have them, especially since they were only $1.00. When on a budget, Goodwill is always my go to place! The item that topped my day off were these tribal print pants that fit me AMAZINGLY, as if they were made for me and magically appeared in Goodwill. I scored these cute pants for $3.75 as well, you definitely can't beat that!

Check out the receipt my loves, I spent all of $9.07! Barely spent any dough when adding these items to my wardrobe!

Here is a clothing option I had in mind for my faux leather skirt. With the fall approaching, I decided to pair my skirt with nylon knee highs and my ASOS booties I got about 2 weeks ago. Once I find a vintage chain blouse like the one above, I will tuck it inside this skirt and top off the look with a pair of statement stud earrings. I would probably wear this on a date with my beau or even to class, I'm just that daring!

What have you ladies found from your local second-hand clothing stores?  

Classic.Raw.Beauty. Updates

Hello Lovelies,

The summer is starting to wind down and I'm making preparations to leave home for my last year of college. Daunting, yes it is, but I'm ready to knock out this year with a huge success and I'm taking CRB with me. One day this will be my sole job, I'm determined to make this happen. As always I have so many ideas for this blog and for you beautiful followers, but when the plans become solidified I will definitely share them.

In the mean time outside of Classic.Raw.Beauty. I started a new fashion initiative on Facebook called 

Curvy Polaroid.  It is another extension of this blog where I talk about my inspirations and provide daily style advice. So my ladies who are trying to travel down another path of fashion and success, or just wanting something else to add to your web surfing list, I would love for you all to make your way over to that page and like it: Curvy Polaroid (I would so appreciate that.)

 On top of starting another fashion like page, I have also been doing natural hair and giving free hair treatments with their style. I am calling it Natural Designs by Chakayla. If any of you lovely ladies or men looking to have your locs or natural hair treated and styled contact me at taylorchakayla@gmail.com or classicrawbeauty@yahoo.com

 On top of Curvy Polaroid and Natural Designs by Chakayla, I finally received my beautiful business cards in the mail! I am so excited! So whenever I send out giveaway prizes or if you are a North Carolina native and you see me in your city, make sure you come up and talk to me so we can exchange conversations and business cards. I am so blessed to have a faithful following of readers and followers on my site. Without you all, this would not be possible for me. Love your support and dedication.  

Smooches!

Work Fit of the Day

Hello There Dolls,

 I have finally came up with a post about my "Work Fit of the Day." Fridays are usually busy during Forever21 summer hours so I usually like to spruce up my look with great Forever21, American Apparel and thrifted finds. Below are some options of how to mix and match a simple, yet chic work outfit. When going into work in a funky, fashion environment, it is always smart to pep up trends as your own while mixing in functional comfort all at the same time. Working retail as a sales associate means carrying the brunt of "go-backs," items left by customers in the fitting room that need to be placed in their proper sections, tons of hangers and shoes, but it is all in a normal day's work at Forever21.

Clockwise: Faux Leather Sandals (gift from my babe), Cream Full Skirt (American Apparel), Thrifted Leather Belt. Jewlery: Assortment from Ebay and Forever21. Shoes: Forever21

A fashionista loves options, but I am glad that I have the essential part of this fit, and that is the outfit itself. Going in to work naked, would not be the best option at all. I always add as many accessories as I can once I put on my outfit of the day.

I love how this ginger Forever21 cropped turtleneck looks with this cream colored American Apparel skirt. The thifted belt gives this outfit that added "humph" to a simple fit, I love adding accessories to classic outfits. 

Hair of the Day :)

Earrings are from Forever21

Smooches Dolls! 

Let's Get Candid

Hello Lovelies,

I think it is about that time to get honest about a lot! I see you all as supportive friends, at Classic.Raw.Beauty. we are a close knit network of friends and family. So, this summer is not what I expected it to be at all! As you all remember in my "CRB Does Summer 2012" post, I shared a lot of plans that I had lined up in New York City, from natural hair meet-ups to Full Figured Fashion Week. 

Unfortunately, I missed out on these amazing events. Along with missing these events, the two internships I so graciously earned also went to the wind due to my failure to make it to the City this summer. I was super geared up to leave school for the summer and come back to North Carolina with many stories of excitement that the Big Apple could have held for me.

I know you all are thinking, what happened? Basically, trying to find a place to rest my head became a huge issue that I could not solve within the months leading to my summer in NYC. Without disclosing the negative experiences I have faced, I will simply say a lot of people I believed had my back were the ones to fail me when I needed them most. 

It is sad to say that my summer fell through the way it did, but I have made so many connections with those at Forever21. I love my job, even though it has its ups and downs, and I will never be sorry for how my summer turned out. God has a plan for all of us, and mine was not to be in the City this summer, but in due time I will be there. In the mean time I am taking it one day at a time, next semester I will be a senior in college and I have so much in store for CRB, stay tuned and faithful that I will deliver. 

Without you all, I really do not know where my career would be. I love you all! Until then,

Smooches :)