Which fruit shape are you? If you are a woman over 25, you probably know what I’m talking about. 

For years, the shape of fruit has been metaphorically used to describe the shape of a woman’s body. While I’m sure at the time, this was useful and effective, but eventually, we found ourselves wondering, “Must my body be compared to a fruit? 

About a year ago, our team was preparing for an event where we were teaching clients “how to dress for your body type.” As we were preparing the content and imagery we hit a snag. While we wanted to provide visuals of varying body types, we certainly didn’t want to use fruits! 🤣 Our founder said to the team, “I don’t want to be a fruit. There has to be a better way to describe our bodies. How would you want to describe your shape? What do you love?” Then someone shouted “Geometric shapes,” that’s not it. “Precious stones,” mmm that’s not it either, “Pearls!” close but not it, then Nicole shouted, “DIAMONDS,” and then there was a simultaneous, “YESSSSSS That’s it! Diamonds!”

Diamonds are rare. Diamonds are precious. Diamonds are beautiful yet incredibly strong. This was our way to shift the narrative of how we describe our bodies. For us, this felt more empowering, more graceful, more encouraging. So, we quickly realized that there were  various types and shapes of diamonds that we could use to visualize the varying body types and the rest is history. 

With that, we are excited to share with you, our Diamond Silhouettes. Below, you will find our version of “body shapes” described by diamonds cuts. Please keep in mind that this is a GUIDELINE. 

You may find that one diamond silhouette is more relatable to your body or you might find you are a mix of two. Just know that your body is beautiful and so unique that it cannot be fully described by any fruit, shape, or even diamond. This guideline is meant to help you to visualize your body shape as close as possible.

Radiant Diamond 

With this silhouette, you have more of an athletic shape. Your shoulders may be wider than your hips but you also have muscular legs and thighs.  

Trillion Diamond

With this silhouette, your hips are typically more voluptuous than your bust & chest area.

Heart Diamond

With this silhouette, your bust and chest area is typically more voluptuous than your hips.

Princess Diamond

With this silhouette, your bust and chest area measures at about the same as your hips but your waist typically measures smaller.

Emerald Diamond

With this silhouette, your measurements are fairly even throughout your bust, waist and hips.

And there you have it! Those are our FIVE diamond silhouettes to help you identify with your body shape. Now, tell us, which diamond are you? 

Queen Anna House of Fashion is so proud to share Inclán Studio’s pieces with our stylish clients. Crafted with impeccable attention to detail, our collection of Inclán is sure to stand the test of time. Their exciting, yet timeless styles will continue to capture the spotlight when dressed up or down. We love that both brands are inspired by our grandmothers, which is one of the many reasons why Queen Anna continues to be drawn to Inclán’s collections season after season. We are also very proud of Inclán’s initiatives in the wake of Covid-19, using their factories to make masks for essential workers. More information can be found here if you would like to learn more or support this initiative.

Inclán Studio, pronounced [INK•L•AH•N] is a contemporary Houston-based women’s fashion label. The name serves to honor Paola, the founder of the brand with Mexican roots, and her grandmother, Martha Rocha Inclán. Inclán is a wonderful addition to the roster of Queen Anna’s brands, offering versatile clothing for effortless outfits. Their team is highly-skilled, bringing high-quality styles for the strong women who wear them.

Our favorite thing about Inclán’s clothes is their wide versatility. Whether worn to work, brunch, a Zoom meeting, or a night out (which we will hopefully be able to enjoy again soon!), our selection of Inclán pieces are ready for it all. A few pieces definitely not to miss are the Cory Dress, The Dani Pants, and The Emory Top. 

Perfect for a spring weekend, The Cory Dress offers effortless elegance. The crossbody tie flatters all, while the lightweight fabric is sure to keep you cool all season long. Pair with a Sancia Bag and Oceanne Necklace during the day and dress up the look at night with Sol Sana heels and a Joya Cuff. 

Light, airy, and always on-trend, The Dani Pants are a warm-weather must-have! Made to be multipurpose, they are magic with The Fable Silk T-Shirt and vibrant Sol Sana Mules for a fresh day look. Switching over to evening, Inclán’s pants pair nicely with Alias Mae heels and simply beautiful Janna Conner earnings. 

The Emory Top exudes a relaxed, cool vibe and is incredibly comfortable. Full of fun, the dusty blue shade will add a kick to your closet. Pair with The Mia Pant, also by Inclán Studio, for a dreamy monochromatic look. Accessorize with one of our favorite Oceanne necklaces and you’re good to go! This top also transitions well into a more formal look when paired with The Gigi Mini Bag and chic slingbacks by Alias Mae. 

We hope you enjoy learning about the story behind the brand. Shop our must-have Inclán collection now, before it's gone!

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 Cuff, Janna 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 Bracelet. Throw 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 Bracelets. Add 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.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the women out there that have or are currently molding and shaping the morals and values of any young person. There is so much more to being a mother than birthing a child. Being raised by my great grandmother I quickly learned that concept a long time ago. 

As we experience this year’s Mother’s Day on state-induced quarantine, I have had the chance to experience motherhood on a number of levels, in a new way. The most important takeaway thus far is that I am raising four uniquely different types of headstrong children. Parents often know that each of their children is different thus having to parent each child differently; but then they usually have that one underlying trait that no matter, at what age, it ties them together as siblings.

For my children, it is the need to unnecessarily find their own way to do something, that I have probably already have instructed them to do... Instead of taking the easy route, my children oftentimes choose the "path less traveled" or in my opinion the path called "mommy told you not to"  resulting in them learning the hard way and learning from their own mistakes.

Being quarantined has allowed us to fill our memory books with stories GALORE. For instance, I have told my daughter not to use hair products without asking probably 20,000 times and I think for a split moment, I thought it finally sunk in. Welp, nope, because I had the pleasure of finding out during one of our bi-weekly "hair days" that she had been using products without asking and now she is dealing with the repercussions of having to grow a sizable amount of her hair back. Its kind of funny to retrospectively think back on that moment because I reacted as if it were my hair and like it would never grow back. It's somewhat (not really but kinda) funny right now. She's crying, I am trying not to cry so instead I am trying really hard not to yell, then I am mute and then talking with her to get clarity on the situation and then back to trying not to yell..We were a legit a hot mess for about .5 seconds and then we pulled it together again.

At the end of everything, once the emotions had settled, I told her that I made a mistake like that at her age all the time (just not with my hair) and that I make even more mistakes as her mommy (just not with my hair). I understood that she was making her own mistakes to find her own way and was somewhat unapologetic for it, more about her hair situation than being found out but (shrug) she has officially lived and learned on this one. 

 At the end of the day, I know that they will be just fine in the long run. They listen when they want but they HEAR me all the time. I know because of the Nicole-isms that have been thrown at me. For instance, I tell me kiddos about the importance of preparation and give them pep talks at least once or twice a week on it. So when I am rushing out the door, with five bags, a cup of coffee and a plate of food in my hands with stuff dropping all around me, I hear  "You know Mommy, if you stay ready, you won’t have to ever get ready, and then you won’t ever have to rush out of the door because you know that when you rush it really slows you down because you forget something and have to come back into the house and then you’re super late, BUT if you were already ready you wouldn’t have to do that.”

BLANK STARE 😑 Wait a minute... Were those my words verbatim? Yes, indeed they were. Even though the timing of the Nicole-ism was not when I needed to hear it but it also reminded me that they might not always listen but they hear me and are observing me.

I have experienced so many women come into Queen Anna House of Fashion and love things that they later returned because of someone else’s opinion on their purchase. One of the things that will always be important to me is to never let someone buy something that they don’t absolutely love. My number one question to anyone in the dressing room is “Do you love it?” and if it’s a yes great, we move on, and if it’s not then I encourage them to find something that they absolutely love because that's what's most important to me as a business owner

Many of us that are raising daughters specifically are hoping that we are raising them to be fearless, unapologetic, and authentically themselves, but when what we’re telling them to do, doesn’t align with the things we do as their parent, they notice.

With work and school both at home the added time together has merged our worlds and made it easier to instill more of the little things that without question matter the most. I want to encourage all the women out there that are trying their best to raise fearless, self-sufficient, responsible and confident human beings to join me in practicing what we preach. When our words don’t align with our actions, it is our actions that our children will choose to replicate.

So, this Mother’s Day, with it being as different as it will be, I want to encourage all of the moms out there to live the life you want your children to follow, be vulnerable with them and let them learn from your mistakes and for you, to be OK when they have to learn from their own. Pick a day and tell them everything that you wish someone told you at their age. Disclaimer, be prepared for the host of questions and answers that might follow! But most of all, show them how to make decisions and choices based on the things that they want in their lives and what makes them happy because I know as a parent, the greatest feeling in the world is knowing that your children are happy, healthy and knowing that feel loved. 

Happy Mother’s Day, stay safe, and until next time, bye-bye!

XOXO

Nicole 

Maison de Papillon was launched in 2013 from a collaboration between designers Shriya Bisht Misra and Danielle Salinas, two young women with big dreams at Parsons New School for Design in New York City. They shared a mutual appreciation for art, travel, and fashion, which quickly became the pillars of their company that stands proudly today. Maison de Papillon’s core style is rooted in versatility, producing luxury pieces that swing seamlessly from an airplane seat to hanging at home, an evening out, and everywhere in between. Their clothes are made to dress up the every day and will quickly become anchors in your wardrobe.

Maison de Papillon quickly became one of our favorite brands at Queen Anna House of Fashion due to their quality, natural fibers that are environmentally conscious and strong female founders.  We admire the creativity in their designs, are hooked on their flawless fit and know that each piece can stand the test of time, both in construction and style.  We are proud to offer amazing styles from two smart, powerful women in the fashion industry.

Our favorites this season can be categorized into everyday essentials and travel must-haves.

The Therese Silk Slip Dress is the perfect layering piece. Style with a t-shirt underneath or over the top for two completely different looks! Or pair with heels and jewelry for an event or fun night out. The Valerie V-Neck Sweater, made of beautiful cashmere, is a better-basic that will anchor your outfits, season after season. Perfect with leather pants, jeans, or a statement bottom - this sweater will never go out of style! We are also obsessing over the cute comfort of The Allie Jogging Pant! Whether hanging at home or running around town, these pants are on-trend and oh, so flattering.

Made for seeing the world, it’s no surprise that we are dreaming of being able to travel again in our Maison de Papillon! The Antonia Maxi Dress, made of a light and airy gauze fabric, steals the spotlight. Perfect for exploring a new place or soaking up the sun, this dress is a must-have for the season! Brand new to QA, The Davi Embellished Wide Leg Pants radiate “cool.” Pair with a t-shirt for all-day comfort, or dress up with a blouse for a chic, polished outfit. Last, but most definitely not least, is The Hailey Button Down. Made in luxurious silk, this blouse offers a contemporary take on a classic style. Simply sleek, it adds a flawless touch of shine to any look. It will be the first piece in our bag as soon as it is safe to travel again.

Explore the rest of Maison de Papillon’s amazing collection here at Queen Anna House of Fashion. Don’t delay - your best outfits await!

Anyone that has been following Queen Anna House of Fashion knows that a preeminent part of our business is our clients. We had our very first celebration of our clients with the launching of Silhouettes of a Woman during Fashion Week spring of 2019. "Silhouettes of a Woman" is our community of clients, who I believe to be the invisible thread of our brand. SOW connects women on levels that race, color, or religion cannot, and that is by having the same vulnerabilities and experiences as women and having a love for QA clothes. 

As we continue to celebrate our third anniversary, it would only be fitting to do so by giving my muse an honorary SOW profile. It is through my memories and life experiences with her that I use to choose the brands and styles we sell and even the experiences we offer in-store. It is her ambiance that is allowing me to positively impact all those that experience Queen Anna House of Fashion. So without further ado, here is the SOW profile to my life's inspiration and the inspiration of Queen Anna House of Fashion (from my vantage point).

Name: Anna L. Whitten

Occupation: Community Outreach Activist but a Health Department Nursing Assistant by trade.

The Makeup of your Silhouette: Being that she isn't physically with us in person, I like to think of her doing what she did when she was here, as being an angelic hand of support to all she encountered and loved.

How would you describe your ideal style? 
Feminine and Refined.

Now, what’s your style actually?... 
Feminine and Refined. She was very consistent with this vibe, even on her comfortable days and even when she grew older. It is what reminds me to never leave the house without my earrings or ask my daughters if they have on theirs every single day.

Tell us, what’s one thing you love about you? 
Even though she never really said this, I have to believe she thought she had a really nice neck and chest area because the more that I looked at images of her, a lot of them were of her wearing v-neck style blouses or dresses.

Nicole age 10 and Anna posing for a picture at the Ecumenical Senior Center where Anna worked as the Volunteer Coordinator amongst other things. 

Nicole standing at the podium giving a heartfelt Happy Birthday to Anna at her 95th birthday party. 

What is fast fashion? It’s a phrase most of us have heard before, but what does that mean to us as the retailer and you as the consumer?  Join Queen Anna House of Fashion as we share our fashion industry knowledge and the ways in which we can improve upon our impact on the world as consumers. We will give insights into the fashion industry through the lens of social responsibility, fast fashion, and preservation of the environment. We are eager to share what we know, and are open to learning more ourselves; if there is a topic surrounding the fashion or garment industry that you would like to know more about please let us know! We’re here to educate and help do our part. 

The healthy state of our environment is fleeting, and consumerism has a large impact on the rate of deterioration of our planet. The fashion and garment industries are some of the largest in the world and contribute to the waste burden that our planet is forced to bear. The global textile industry represents 2% of the world's gross domestic product (which doesn’t seem like a lot but it is - the global apparel industry is valued over $3 trillion!!), it employs 75 million people, and is rapidly growing. 

Our patterns of consumerism can positively impact the environment and our planet should we choose to spend our money on clothing brands that prioritize the use of sustainable materials and methods. Queen Anna House of Fashion makes the conscious decision to carry brands that take the environment into consideration and aim to curb the fast fashion movement. Fast Fashion is defined by Merriam-Webster as, “An approach to the design, creation, and marketing of clothing that emphasizes making fashion trends quickly and cheaply available to consumers." When trends move from high fashion labels to accessible retailers, many resources are used and cheap labor is sourced, often paying people a wage much lower than meets the standard of living. The average overseas garment worker makes around $1.30 an hour, a day’s wages is not even enough to cover your Chipotle order. The speed of producing garments also means lower quality and lasting power of clothing, increasing the amount of apparel that is simply discarded, further harming our planet. Today, fast fashion brands have an average “52 season” cycle, which means they are receiving new collections every week that are rapidly mass-produced, reducing the quality of each garment. That’s so many clothes, most consumer's closets could never hold that much anyway. There’s also an excess of plastic used in the frequent shipments of merchandise, which is one of the most harmful materials to the planet. Once plastic is created it never disappears; it just steadily piles up in our landfills and oceans.  

The vendors that Queen Anna House of Fashion chooses to carry embody the values of the store and QA is proud to support brands and designers that place importance on the environment and then translate that core value into their supply chains. 

Bano eeMee is a genuine leather producer based in Toronto that Queen Anna House of Fashion has formulated a strong relationship with, in part because of the way they run their business; ethically. The socially-conscious fashion company uses fashion to make a difference by creating fair-work opportunities, as well as using materials that would’ve otherwise gone to waste. Known for their ethically sourced leather goods, they also carry outerwear pieces made from unconventional, recyclable materials. Check out the chic Badgley belted trench.

Would you believe it’s made out of water bottles? Bano also stands by its vow to create outerwear that’s built to last for a lifetime, a direct response to the fast fashion movement that’s ravaging the industry. Investing in pieces that are made to last reduces the number of purchases you have to make, therefore reducing the amount of clothing and resources that would otherwise go to waste. 

Allen Schwartz, a contemporary brand that offers timeless silhouettes with a vintage influence complemented by modern fabrics, is another Queen Anna House of Fashion favorite. Along with their stylish clothing, the LA-based company strives to make waves in the slow fashion movement by producing clothing that uses recycled materials.

Throughout their supply chain, Allen Schwartz maintains slower production schedules, to produce clothing in smaller batches, making each item coveted to create demand and reduce waste. The strides made by brands like Allen Schwartz are so important to the future of our environment, and help us to diminish the fast fashion movement; by designing long-lasting pieces made from sustainable materials. 

These are just two of the brands that prioritize the environment, but everything sold at Queen Anna House of Fashion is made with quality materials and fabrics that prolong wear, and ultimately reduce the amount of clothing we throw out. It’s important to see quality clothing as an investment for both yourself and the environment. Hopefully you’re able to keep some of this information in mind the next time you shop, whether it's online or in-person. When we are all able to go out shopping again; remember to shop smart, and choose brands that value the same things that you do. Your clothing purchases will impact the state of our planet, but we can do our part by choosing the brands that value the same things that you do. 

Sources

“Fashion Industry Waste Statistics.” E D G E, 8 Jan. 2020, edgexpo.com/fashion-industry-waste-statistics/.

“Fast Fashion.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fast%20fashion.

Kavoussi, Bonnie. “The Cost Of Hiring A Factory Worker In The U.S. Vs. China.” HuffPost, HuffPost, 7 Dec. 2017, 

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:

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!

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!

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!

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! 

Say hello to the fabulous, Vanessia! Vanessia is a dear friend to us here at Queen Anna. She modeled for us during our Silhouettes of the City fashion show and has provided her exceptional makeup services for countless photo shoots. We're thrilled to be able to share the makeup of her silhouette with you.

Name: Vanessia Norris

Occupation: Massage Therapist, Esthetician and Makeup Artist

The Makeup of your Silhouette: I'm a healer

How would you describe your ideal style? 
My ideal style is anything that Janelle Monáe wears.

Now, what’s your style actually?... 
I would have to say that my actual style is a little more sporty and athleisure.

Tell us, what’s one thing you love about you? 
I love my ability to remain calm and grounded in most situations.

What’s your favorite purchase from Queen Anna? 
My favorite Queen Anna purchases are those that have been gifted to others!