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Style Mark Blog

8 Ways Hispanic and Latino Heritage is Rooted in Fashion in The United States

8 Ways Hispanic and Latino Heritage is Rooted in Fashion in The United States
The influence of Hispanic and Latino culture is interwoven in fashion all over the world and no doubt has found its way in your closet. From your go-to cardigan, to your favorite pair of dancing shoes, to your favorite off the shoulder top, the characteristics of many items in your closet are thanks to the Hispanic and Latino influences used to inspire their creation.

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we wanted to shed light on 8 Ways Hispanic and Latino Heritage is Rooted In Fashion (and in your closet) In the United States. Gathering inspiration from toreadors, South American Pampas cowboys, and the toquilla palm trees, the pieces that make up your wardrobe wouldn’t be here without the rich culture of Hispanic and Latino communities and traditions.

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5 Timeless Fashion Styles Inspired by YOU!

5 Timeless Fashion Styles Inspired by YOU!

In the world of fashion, timeless fashion styles are always reintroducing themselves generations later, sometimes with a new spin and other times they are just as we remember them. This 5 Timeless Fashion Styles Inspired by YOU list was inspired by those traditions thriving in the 1970’s that have came back around to become a staple for any generation to add to their wardrobe.

Regardless of the era you grow up in, younger generations can bond to wiser generations through fashion. From raiding your mother’s shoe collection to inheriting your grandfather’s pull overs to digging deep at the local Goodwill, clothing has always presented a thread of connection between lived experiences and the past. Here’s to shedding light on how anyone, of any generation, can slay fashion this fall.

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National Black Business Month Brand Spotlight: The Taylor Jay Collection

National Black Business Month Brand Spotlight: The Taylor Jay Collection

Every year in August, here at Queen Anna House of Fashion, National Black Business month is an event we take pride in. As a Black Owned Brand, we know the importance of sharing our brand partner's stories while also letting the world know who we have as vendors in our boutique that we can stand by as a brand partner. 

When Black engineer Frederick Jordan and Black historian John Templeton ushered in this themed month in 2004, the innovators wanted to highlight and firmly underscore the importance and benefit of Black businesses of all sizes in the US. Championing is our top-shelf priority at Queen Anna House of Fashion. We’re delighted to put a loud-and-proud spotlight on our Black-owned businesses for this illustrious month.

The business we’re highlighting: Taylor Jay Collection.

Taylor Jay Collection Founder

 

Bay Area native Taylor Jay has been a fashionista since day one. She sojourned to Los Angeles to hit it big and made sure to achieve nothing less than that. After carving her path through the California School of Design, where she studied fashion merchandising, she stamped her indelible mark on the fashion industry and opened her boutique at the age of 23.

Taylor’s created momentum stayed steady uphill, and upon her return to her old stomping grounds in the Bay Area, she opened her second boutique in her hometown. Despite already achieving some very lofty goals, Taylor created her eponymous line with the inspiration of her journey and body challenges.

Spanning decades, women in fashion have notoriously been tailored to a particular body model. Brands like Taylor’s have risen out of the ranks to remove the stigma of differing body types and replace it with well-deserved self-adoration campaigns regardless of size or shape.

A word about her body-positive brand spread across the masses, and her fanbase grew exponentially. Today, Taylor Jay Atelier operates out of Oakland, California. From her words, she will “…continue to design beautiful clothing that lasts a lifetime and makes every woman feel and look amazing.”

We are incredibly proud purveyors of Taylor’s line at Queen Anna House of Fashion. Here are our favorite pieces you can shop online or in-store with us.

Grey Taylor Jay dress

The “London Dress” from the Taylor Jay collection is a refined and contemporary design suited to the modern-day woman. The wrap-around maxi dress is elegantly assertive for workwear and quickly out on the town, adding next-level class to your relaxed vibe.

Black jumpsuit from Taylor Jay Collections

The Taylor Jay Collection “London” Jumpsuit is a versatile necessity for your closet. Complete with long, full pant legs, L waist-band, and three-quarter sleeves, this jumpsuit can be worn at the office or out in town.

Black Stretch skirt fro Taylor Jay

The Taylor Jay Collection Black Midi Skirt is a closet essential. This skirt is made from a super-soft, stretchy French Terry fabric that hugs your curves in comfort and style. 

 Wrap skirt dress in black from Taylor Jay

A modern and feminine, one size fits most, the Taylor Jay Collection convertible black wrap dress has just taken wrap dresses to the next level. The black stretch terry cotton material is soft to the touch and is convertible to be worn in several different ways. 

Taylor on the importance of National Black Business Month:

"At Taylor Jay, we take inclusivity very seriously; that’s one of our non-negotiables. Especially, being a Black-owned fashion business for women, this has been the central point of our work- making sure there’s a proper representation for every body type, every woman. And when we talk about inclusion, we mean it for every sector, most importantly in entrepreneurship. But lack of representation and biases from social construct has held us back, and we need to collectively work towards growing despite it, and abolishing this disparity."

"It was a challenge that led our founder Taylor Jay to start this business- when the mainstream fashion brands didn’t cater to her body type, she tailor-made one for herself and now we are proud to do it for you. And this has been possible only because of the unhinged support from our kind customers who recognize us for our quality of work and our values."

"This Black Business Month, let’s work together to educate each other, ask questions, discuss solutions and uplift the underrepresented."

Taylor Jay image

We align ourselves with the Taylor Jay brand ethos that gone are the days when women were only one shape and one size, and those credentials were the lone “standard of beauty.” Queen Anna House of Fashion embraces the concept that beauty radiates from everyone, period, and we’re proud proponents of getting rid of the former ideals to make way for more than one “standard.”

For tips on how to style these pieces from the Taylor Jay Collection, read One Posh Closet's blog on Taylor Jay's Style Guide and check out the other Black-owned brands we feature at Queen Anna House of Fashion.

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5 Must-Have Pieces for The Perfect Capsule Wardrobe

5 Must-Have Pieces for The Perfect Capsule Wardrobe

It's a new year and with that, we usher in a new decade. This year we look to the 2020 clothing trends to identify our latest closet must-have pieces and what, if anything, should be added into the rotation.

When building a capsule wardrobe there are a few things to consider... What do I already have? What do I have that needs to be replaced? What do I need to add to my closet entirely?

If you're looking to create a capsule wardrobe for the first time, check out our recent post on how to get started with a capsule wardrobe and build off those initial timeless pieces.

Now, if you're looking to refresh your current closet, let's jump right in. Here are five pieces to add to your capsule wardrobe.

Travel-Friendly Blazer

Jet-setters rejoice! We have found the ultimate travel blazer. Wish Australia's collection of travel-friendly blazers are equally comfortable and stylish. Plus, their tailored, slim-fit design doesn't add bulk to your look.

From the board room to the airport lounge, these jackets look polished and professional without sacrificing comfort.

Wish Australia Persuit Jacket

Updated Trench Coat

A top fashion pick, the updated trench coat. While a classic trench coat is always a good idea, this season look for a sleeveless trench (like this beauty from J.ING)  that can be worn multiple ways - add tights or leggings and wear as a dress or pair with a turtleneck and trousers for a chic workwear look.

J.ING Exposure Sleeveless Trench Coat

Remix the Classic T-Shirt or Sweater

Every closet must-have a basic white t-shirt, even better, the softest white t-shirt. Our favorite basic t-shirts are from Commando.

Made from luxurious European model blends, their selection of tank tops, t-shirts and long-sleeves will take you from season to season. We love the Commando Covet Oversized Tee in the winter. It can easily be worn under your favorite cardigan or on its own due to its drapey look.

For those that have already found that perfect white tee, opt for updating your white button-down shirt, a wardrobe staple.

Covered in the classic white shirt department? Take inventory of your sweaters. Neutral hues in cashmere are the perfect way to get you through the cold weather months and great for transitional temperatures. If you're looking for something a little bolder, check out a classic crewneck cut in a color blocking or two-tone pattern.

Either way, you can't go wrong. Both the classic crewneck sweater and t-shirt are must-have wardrobe-essentials.

Maison de Papillon "Ronika" Colorblock Sweater

Silk Dress

Fashion trends come and go, but the LBD is here to stay. This year invest in a timeless piece that can be layered, worn alone, dressed up, dressed down... the options are endless with a silk black dress. With a flattering length that hits just below the knee, this dreamy Maison De Papillon tank dress can be worn all year round.

Maison de Papillon "Therese" Silk Slip Dress

Leather Pants

Joggers, cropped flares, leggings, trousers, you name it, we love it when it comes to leather pants. As one of the main clothing trends, leather has taken over.

A seasonal favorite here at Queen Anna, pleated leather trousers. Complete with pleats and leather-feel the J.ING Yooni Faux Leather Cropped Trouser provides all of the chic. The edgy pants pair perfectly with a simple turtleneck, button-down blouse or sweater.

Really loving leather? Level up your look ever further by mixing and matching leather separates - throw on a faux leather moto jacket, or accessorize with a leather micro bag for a fun winter outfit.

Feeling good about your winter style and the capsule wardrobe you've built for the season? Look ahead to spring styles, including an updated denim jacket (dark wash denim, anyone?), vibrant fluro pieces and leathers in pretty spring shades.

As always, shop our curated selection of women's clothing on queenanna.co, in our mobile app or visit our North Loop Minneapolis boutique.

 

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The Sisterhood of Queen Anna House of Fashion

The Sisterhood of Queen Anna House of Fashion

Queen Anna House of Fashion has always strived to build a community of strong women, a tight-knit sisterhood that includes the brands we carry, the stylists, and of course our clients; all of these crucial parts make Queen Anna House of Fashion what it is today.


This week, Queen Anna House of Fashion is continuing to celebrate women through their iconic style and talents. Hidden Figures, the inspirational story of three brilliant black women, Katherine Globe, Mary Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughan who worked for NASA, and played a crucial role in the 60s American-Soviet space race.


The film follows racial and gender-based tensions in the workplace that the three hidden figures must overcome all while working in a segregated wing of the space station. It’s unfortunate that we haven’t learned about these women in our history classes; which is a part of the reason they are dubbed “hidden figures,” but Queen Anna House of Fashion is excited to help change that narrative and shed light on their incredible accomplishments but also some of our favorite looks worn by the strong actresses who play these three astonishing women. But first, let’s get into some of our favorite strong female business owners and brands that we are proud to carry and call a part of our sisterhood. 


Tah Bags is an exceptional handbag line that is one of our favorites at QA. Not only do they craft their bags using high-quality leather with solid brass details, but they also offer a lifetime warranty on all of their products; that’s how much they believe in their product! Owner, Angelina Marie, designs and produces all of her products, which is the definition of a boss lady! She has fine-tuned her designs to emulate a combination of quality and functional design while offering a durable product that stands the test of time. Versatility is also at the forefront of the Tah Bags designs, as many of the bags come with additional and convertible straps that allow for multiple uses. We love the message behind Tah Bags and the products they craft, they have definitely become apart of the fabric of the sisterhood at Queen Anna House of Fashion.

Maison de Papillon is another woman-owned brand that Queen Anna House of Fashion is proud to carry. Maison de Papillon is a collaborative luxury clothing line started by Danielle Salinas and Shriya Bisht Misra that is centered around effortlessly chic clothing designed to transition from travel and loungewear to ready-to-wear; all while keeping in mind their mantra that simplicity is the ultimate luxury. Maison de Papillon is one of the top brands amongst our clients as they offer clothing crafted in luxury textiles like silk! Maison de Papillon has become an integral part of QA’s sisterhood, not only because of their beautiful clothing but because of their women empowerment message that the QA team so deeply believes in.

The core idea of sisterhood is perfectly displayed through the three women of the Hidden Figures film, and we are excited to share the looks we recreated using iconic looks of Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Monáe, and Octavia Spencer who star in the film.

The first two looks feature pieces from Inclan Studios, including the Morgan Dress and the Paola Maxi Dress. The last look includes a skirt from another one of our woman-owned brands Tayor Jay paired with a simple And Comfort button-down top. Each actress from the film has their own flair, yet they all exemplify a fashionable finish, just like the sisterhood here at Queen Anna House of Fashion; we embrace the differences and diversity among our clients, which makes up the unique mosaic of women. The sisterhood of strong inspiring women is what fuels our brand and the mission behind it; to empower women to look, feel, do, and be better.


Shop the exclusive Hidden Figures looks as well as all the other recreated looks of our iconic women online, in-app, and in-store. Also, take advantage of our buy-one-get-one 50% off promotion on all of our full-price merchandise through July 31st. Don’t forget that you get free shipping on all orders over $50 & free returns! We’ll see you next time on the Style Mark Blog.

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Brand Spotlight: Gravitas

Brand Spotlight: Gravitas

The idea of Gravitas came from CEO & Founder Lisa Sun’s desire to better herself to make it in the business world at a young age. The word was first introduced to her by a professional evaluation, stating that “gravitas” was something she lacked as an employee. Sun spent the next decade working to achieve gravitas. Eventually, Sun found she needed the perfect dress to own her moment. Her goal was to make a dress that was as chic and high quality as high designer pieces, with the comfort and fit of her favorite yoga pants. So, she made it realizing how much confidence came from the perfect outfit. Today, Gravitas revolves around the idea of helping women own their professional life by finding gravitas through fashion and being inspired by those that already have found gravitas.


Nicole and the Queen Anna House of Fashion team were immediately inspired by Lisa’s story and the powerful road to finding gravitas. Anyone that is familiar with Gravitas can feel the same passion and dedication in the quality and fit of their clothes as Sun’s journey. Today Gravitas stands strong with a community of like-minded women, something that Queen Anna is also proud to offer.


Queen Anna House of Fashion has a wide-ranging collection of Gravitas pieces. Aimed to flatter and empower, these pieces will seamlessly transition from work to weekend, day to night. 

The Georgia Jogger Trousers are an easy essential. A versatile, form-fitting pant, they can effortlessly be dressed up or down. Pair with the Lilly Blouse by Allen Schwartz and a pop of blue with this lovely handbag by Able for a warm-weather friendly look.

Alexandra Wrap Dress Queen Anna House of Fashion

The Alexandra Wrap Dress is an essential Gravitas piece. Amazingly flattering and equally versatile, you will reach for this dress time and time again. Pair with a timeless necklace, like our favorite by Glamrocks, a Janna Conner ring, and stunning Sol Sana heels. Don't delay, we only have a few left!

The Revolutionary Joggers truly live up to their name. Comfort meets chic in this slick pant. Perfect for working from home, running around town, or anchoring an outfit - they pair so well with a pop of color, like this new Amanda Uprichard Top. Further, elevate the outfit with effortlessly cool the Paige Sandals by Alias Mae and a pair of fashion-forward sunglasses by Established Eyewear

A classic style engineered for the perfect fit, The Rosalind Pencil Skirt is the ultimate better basic. Dress up for work or an evening out with ABLE heels, a sleek blouse by J.ING, and simply beautiful Janna Conner Earrings

Explore our full collection of more great pieces by Gravitas. 

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Accomplished Mother, Wife, Author and First Lady: Michelle Obama

Accomplished Mother, Wife, Author and First Lady: Michelle Obama

Join Queen Anna House of Fashion as we explore a series of impactful women who established iconic styles that have proven to stand the test of time. Queen Anna House of Fashion prides itself on offering an assortment of timeless merchandise that will forever be in style; which gives us the opportunity to recreate looks inspired by some of our favorite strong women with iconic, timeless styles.

First up we will be exploring the quintessential style of former First Lady, Michelle Obama. 


Name: Michelle Obama 

Occupation: Lawyer, former First Lady & author 

The Makeup of your Silhouette: A wife, mother, and barrier breaker

Body Type: Trillion Diamond Silhouette 

How would you describe your ideal style? We imagine Michelle Obama would like to be portrayed as having a feminine and sophisticated style with some edge added depending on the occasion. 

Now, what's your style actually? We see Michelle Obama as a style icon who breaks the traditional “style rules” and chooses to wear things that make her feel confident and ready for whatever role she may be playing in life at that moment.  

Tell us one thing you love about you? Since Michelle just about broke the internet by bearing her toned arms, we would like to think that her arms are one of her best physical traits. 


Being the first lady is no easy feat, and Michelle Obama has always managed to do it in style. Mrs.Obama is a powerful woman in her own right, and her sense of fashion capitalizes on that trait. Michelle Obama could be attending a diplomatic presidential event, or having a casual outing with her family, regardless, every time she steps out in public she manages to serve us a bonafide style moment! Here are some of our favorite Queen Anna House of Fashion pieces that best reflect the first lady’s impeccable style:


We can see a more casual Michelle Obama sporting the structured Soia & Kyo Floriana Medium Blazer paired with the simple and wearable Amanda Uprichard Montgomery Top. Throw on a pair of black denim with the ABLE “High Rise” jeans, that are comfortable and practical. Accessorize with the Janna Conner Carrie Large Cut-Out CuffJanna Conner Mykal Gold Disc Earring and the classic Mod and Jo Pendant Necklace for a Michelle Obama-esq finish. 

 

Next, we imagine Michelle Obama wearing this elegant Grace Willow Easton Dress for a night out, breaking traditional unwritten rules of bearing her fit arms. Hitting just above the knee is a staple hem length for the first lady, pared with a pop of color pump, in The ABLE Sarai D’orsay Heel. Accessorize with the statement Janna Conner Mila Gold Plated Earrings and the Bent by Courtney Cayman Bracelet Throw the ABLE Fozi Slim Satchel with this outfit to easily hold your belongings all night long. 

Whether it be a lunch date out, or a spending quality time with her family, we envision Michelle wearing the Taylor Jay Collection Ali Dress with the lustrous ABLE Regal Hoop Earrings and Bent by Courtney Cayman BraceletThrow on the Marcellamoda Leather Crisscross Peep Toe Mules to top off this simple yet put-together look. 



Lastly, snag Michelle’s classy yet edgy all-white menswear-inspired look with the Amanda Uprichard Shawl Collar Blazer and the Amanda Uprichard Spenser Pant along with the Maison de Papillon Kendall Silk Camisole paired underneath. Elegantly accent the look with the Glamrocks Carlyle Pendant Opal Necklace, M Street Studio Acrylic Rainbow Earrings, and the Stella Grey Studio Cuff BraceletsAdd the ALIAS MAE Sling Heels to complete the daring all-white look.



Add a glimmer of Michelle Obama to your wardrobe with these re-imagined looks from your stylists at Queen Anna House of Fashion. Check out the first lady and style mogul’s new Netflix documentary while you shop Queen Anna House of Fashion’s Michelle Obama inspired looks.

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Going Nowhere, but Getting Dressed Anyway!

Going Nowhere, but Getting Dressed Anyway!

Hi! Many of you don't know me, but my name is Laura and I'm the digital brand manager here at Queen Anna. 

Does anyone else feel like they’re starting to go crazy all cooped up at home? Same! I studied abroad in Paris last fall and got in the habit of dressing my best every day. That’s an infectious part of Parisian culture. I never once saw anyone wear sweatpants, not even to the grocery store or laundromat. Instead, the Parisians adorned the streets in perfectly coordinated looks from head to toe, complete with beautiful shoes and handbags. This keystone practice has stayed with me since I moved back to New York and now even in quarantine. I have nowhere to go, but hey I’m getting dressed anyway! And, I’m not alone. A lot of my favorite NYC-based bloggers have posted on Instagram with the same sentiments. For some, it’s a confidence booster. For me, it's helped keep a routine during this crazy time! Every morning I find my way to my closet, a cup of coffee in hand, and choose a chic outfit that quite possibly only I will see. Getting dressed has always been my favorite part of the day... and that's not going to change because of COVID-19!

Whether you’re working from home, having a date night at home, heading out (safely, of course) for a quick errand, or logging into a virtual happy hour - get dressed anyway! Our team at QA is right there with you. Here are a few of our favorite looks for every quarantine occasion:

QueenAnnaWFH

This first look is perfect for working from home in style! Look stylish for your Zoom call in our new Allen Schwartz Lilly Blouse while staying comfortable in the curve-hugging Rosalind Pencil Skirt. Add a punch of personality to the look with a modern Initial Necklace, sleek and comfortable ALIAS MAE slingbacks, and a Mantra Band Ring for extra motivation. See, 'you got this' dressing up thing!

Queen Anna Dining Room Date Night

Though restaurants and bars are mostly closed, your dining room can be the newest date night spot! Dress your best in these eye-catching J.ING Faux Leather Trousers, which can be perfectly paired with the romantic J.ING Suzanna Blouse. Finish the look with this beautiful Opal Pendant Necklace and versatile Dua Snakeskin Heels. Enjoy!

Queen Anna Spring Day Look

Use the rare errand run as an excuse to dress up! This spring look is effortlessly fun and oh-so-comfortable. The Amanda Uprichard Saffron Midi exudes a relaxed vibe and will quickly become your new go-to! Add the season's colors to your look with the perfectly practical ABLE Fozi Slim Satchel, a decorative Collections by Joya Etruscan Band, modern Janna Conner Acrylic Earrings, and Instagram worthy Sol Sana Mules. Get dolled up and ready to take on your day!

Queen Anna Virtual Happy Hour

Social distancing doesn't mean that you can't still enjoy a drink with your friends! Jump on FaceTime for a virtual happy hour with the girls. Pair your favorite jeans with our new favorite Amanda Uprichard Blazer, layered with this high style Commando Faux Leather Bodysuit (on sale - act quickly!). An Amour Necklace, a nod to Paris, and must-have ALIAS MAE Xander Heels elevate this essential look.

Hang in there, everyone, and get dressed anyway! Trust us, you will feel better and be more productive. 

Happy shopping! 

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How to Stay Stylish While Working from Home

How to Stay Stylish While Working from Home

Recognizing that working from home is likely a shift in routine from your normal; to help prepare for these changes in our everyday lives, the Style Team here at Queen Anna wants to help you remain stylish and chic even when working remotely at home all while taking the proper precautions to preserve the health of you and your family. Because we know that when you feel good, you do good.

We know, we know,  it's super tempting to stay in your pajamas all day. While that may happen the first few days, even that gets a little old and stale. It’s important to still feel good and confident while you’re working at home. 

Figuring out what to wear while working from home for several days in a row may be a new concept for you, so our stylists have you covered. We’re sharing our top tips on how to stay stylish and build a mini wardrobe capsule while working remotely from home.

Decide the #mood of your day 

Do you have a virtual meeting with your team? Do you have administrative work to do for most of the day? Do you have a virtual conference call? Determine what type of day you want to have. Is it #comfy, #needalltheconfidence or #slayallday. It still stands that clothing is an expression of how you feel or want to feel. This works for your style while working remotely at home too.

WFH Casual Chic vs. WFH Virtual Presence  

WFH Casual Chic is for the days you are mostly solo without back to back virtual conferencing or team meetings. The goal is to make you feel put together enough to be productive, yet comfortable enough to be in your own home.

Here are a few pieces that work great for WFH Casual Chic:

WFH Virtual Presence Style is for the day’s other people will see you. While of course, you do not run your life on the opinions of others, you consider how you may want to show up in different settings. Let’s say you have a virtual meeting with your team, a virtual conference or maybe it’s a really important sales call, this would be the time to select pieces of clothing where you want to channel more power, credibility, and confidence. 

Create your WFH Capsule 

You can avoid overwhelm and decision fatigue by creating a mini-capsule for your work from home attire. This would be about 7-10 clothing and accessory pieces that you can mix and match together to create your WFH outfits. The way to build it is from the bottom layer up (beyond undergarments). Select about 3 tops, 1 bottom, 1 dress (or another bottom), 1 jacket and 1 accessory. You can choose a color theme that allows these pieces to mix and match together. Check out an example of a wardrobe capsule below.

We hope this guide helps you while you are navigating the unplanned work from home days. If you have any questions or would like help to build your WFH Capsule, send us a quick note at clientservices@queenanna.co    

Shop the “Work From Home” and “Video Conference Style” Collections. 

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