With Spring in full swing and the official start of the Summer season quickly approaching, I can now finally announce my next partnership to you guys. But before I do that, let's go back just a tad bit to recap. C'mon ya'll now how I do.
For the past few months I've been sharing on my Instagram Stories, that my Husband and I would be heading to Europe for our 2019 Summer Vacation. However, due to a partnership that was in the works, I refrained from publicly announcing on my social media feeds at the time exactly where we'd be heading. Also just a couple of weeks ago, I mentioned in a previous blogpost that I had a few partnerships I'd be debuting to you all throughout the Spring and Summer seasons. The first partnership debuted just last week, which was the Spring Home Campaign for JCPenney. In the event you missed it, you can catch up on all of the beauty and fabulousness of it by clicking here.
Now you may or may not remember I also previously mentioned that one of the partnerships was a rather different and unique collaboration as it was the first of its kind for my brand. And, although this partnership came about in the most organic way...I was still very nervous about what the reception of such a partnership like this would be. Yet, I calmed my nerves, plunged ahead and allowed both my creative and logistical planning brain to take over. So without further ado...I am so excited to share that my Husband and I will finally be heading to Greece this Friday until the end of May partaking in the Greek Island Tours visiting Athens, Mykonos and Santorini. This trip has been such a long time coming and we've worked our butts off to finally take advantage of not only experiencing one of our bucket list destinations, but also indulging in a luxury travel excursion.
Yet even more amazing news, the bulk of my wardrobe for my Summer vacation is being provided by Concrete Rose Boutique through our partnership, as their new Brand Ambassador! And, the absolute best part...All of my email subscribers and social media followers will be able to partake in a 15% off discount (all throughout the Summer Season) on not only just the exclusive pieces from my photo shoot but anything on the entire Concrete Rose Boutique website using the code ALLUREDBYDESIGN at checkout. Also, just to make your shopping experience even easier, here is the link with the discount code already activated...
Sources:
Partnership Brands: Allured By Design + Concrete Rose Boutique
Designer & Creative Director: Tachic Hickman-Piazza
Photography & Photo Stills By: Stacy Marks Photography
Shooting Location: New Orleans City Park
Hair: LaShanda Taylor of Between The Shears
Makeup: Javetta White
Now let's address the elephant in the room because I'm sure you're wondering with photos as GORGEOUS as the ones above and throughout this blogpost why would I be so nervous about this particular partnership. Well, of course I'm so happy you wondering why. So allow me to indulge you.
When I first launched my brand, Allured By Design...It was and still is my intent to have the primary focus always lend and share inspiration for all things Interior Design and Home Decor. However, as my brand evolved and grew and continues to grow, I quickly realized that I truly have an intense love and appreciation for ALL THINGS DESIGN well beyond just interiors and exteriors. I have an immense love for great art design, well designed stationery, unique and well designed jewelry pieces, beautifully well designed book covers, stellar visual presentations, well designed shoes and without a doubt well designed clothing.
I realized the very things I loved and appreciated in the realm of design in general came quite naturally to me to incorporate into each of my photoshoots, including all of the elements of design I just mentioned above.
This led to a trend to where I'd always work to make sure whatever the theme and colors of the space was and is, my wardrobe would need to coordinate alongside of those colors and tones, and ultimately be a complimentary accent within itself...never taking away from the space but working as a partner alongside of it. In doing this, it led so many of my followers to consistently request of me to share more fashion photos with them. Or, simply to consider adding a fashion section to my blog because they either adored my sense of style and were influenced by it, or just wanted to have access to the pieces they saw me rocking in my photo shoots. Either way, the presentation of it all has been a consistent hit and has pretty much cemented my signature style and approach to the way I Produce my shoots.
Sources:
Kali Jumpsuit - https://concreteroseboutique.com/products/kali-jumpsuit
Use code ALLUREDBYDESIGN for 15% off
While I was flattered at the notion and did attempt at meeting the request of my followers by adding a fashion section to my Design Gallery (To view - click here, here and here. Oh, and here), where visitors to my website and blog could access all of the fashion looks I've rocked in each of my shoots...I didn't want to stray too far away from the primary focus of Allured By Design, which as I mentioned earlier was and still is all things Interior Design and Home Decor. Yet, the more photoshoots I Produced with me staged in them and my wardrobe complimenting the space, the harder it became to really separate the two. Many of my followers begin to look forward to not only what the interior look would reveal but also what my ensemble would reveal, from my jewelry to my shoes to the wardrobe pieces itself. So with that being the case, this partnership with Concrete Rose Boutique made more and more sense to solidify.
Sources:
Weekend Maxi Dress - https://concreteroseboutique.com/products/weekend-maxi-dress
Use code ALLUREDBYDESIGN for 15% off
What truly made this partnership most organic is the fact that this isn't my first time working with CRB. In previous shoots, I've rocked pieces from the fashion forward online boutique owned by fellow Female Entrepreneur and Girl Boss, Toya Jackson. In addition, each time I've worn something from Toya's boutique in any of my shoots, the request for access to those pieces came pouring in.
Sources:
The above photos are looks from previous Allured By Design photo shoots with wardrobe pieces purchased from Concrete Rose Boutique. These pieces are no longer available.
As a result, the natural evolution of our business relationship turned friendship moved into the direction of working to join our brands in an even more official way on a consistent basis or as much as possible. So once I made the announcement to Toya that I'd be traveling to Greece and touring the Greek Islands for the Summer, it made the most sense to both of us to not only pack my suitcases with pieces from her Spring and Summer collection...But to also debut and promote many of those same pieces to you all. In addition, to grant each of you a discount on all of the pieces as well, including one of my absolute favorites, the Santorini dress, which in our opinion completely embodies all things GREECE!
I mean the name of the dress alone Santorini is inspired by the Greek Island of Santorini, which is exactly where I plan on rocking this dress. I think my favorite part of this entire look is how I layered my gold necklace and jewelry to further evoke that Grecian Goddess style and feel. Historically, Greeks have been known for being lovers and appreciators of all things GOLD and if any of you know me well, ya'll know I LOVES me some gold accents like none other!!! So this entire set-up, from the dress paired along with all of my gold accents truly made me feel like a Black Grecian Goddess...Or, as my Husband called me in this dress, his Brown Sugar Grecian Goddess, lol.
Sources:
Santorini Maxi Dress: https://concreteroseboutique.com/products/santorini-maxi-dress
Use code ALLUREDBYDESIGN for 15% off
Now let me say this...By NO MEANS am I a model, nor do I see myself as one. Or, nor do I think I ever will be one. This photo shoot by far was my most challenging shoot to date and I have a whole new level of respect for models, fashion bloggers, fashionistas, and all those even minutely involved in the realm of the fashion world producing fashion shoots one after another. Most of my photo shoots are interior shoots in nature and take place in the comfort of my own home, #HousePiazza, which is a controlled environment. Because this partnership was and is strictly about promoting the clothing, it made more sense for the shoot to be an exterior one with elements of nature in the background...Yet, with the focus on the wardrobe itself. However, if you all only knew the not so pretty and hectic behind the scene details of several wardrobe changes in New Orleans famous and picturesque City Park, an exterior environment, which by the way is my favorite park in the city but still I digress...Ya'll would understand why I was so happy the moment my Photographer, Stacy Marks snapped the final shot!!!
Sources:
Puffer Top - https://concreteroseboutique.com/products/puffer-top
Use code ALLUREDBYDESIGN for 15% off
Let's just say from a logistical stand point and to cut down on travel time to and from a public bathroom, while having to constantly lug a garment bag, a suitcase and other wardrobe necessities between each change...I pretty much did all of my wardrobe changes in the backseat of my car with the help of my assistant. And, as the heat of the day begin to get to me through each wardrobe change, sweating in my makeup, and my left eyelash hanging on for dear life...I no longer cared if passersby saw a boob, a thigh or even my bare ass as I quickly begin to change standing in between the opened doors (for some type of coverage) of my SUV instead of in the privacy of my backseat. Basically, I pretty much had to come to terms with the fact that I don't have anything folks haven't seen at least once before in their life, lol. This mindset was all to keep me focused on the task at hand and all for the ambition and desire to produce yet another great shoot, wardrobe change and capture the best shots as quickly as possible, and most importantly to fulfill my role in this partnership.
Of all the pieces Toya and I selected for the photo shoot, it's truly hard to pick a favorite. However, two of the main reasons I continue to be a repeat client of Concrete Rose Boutique is because the clothing is not only fashionable but it's very very comfortable AND, it's suitable for women of ALL sizes. I'm not a petite woman in size, only in stature, standing at 5'1 and a half. (That's right, give me my half!!) I'm a Southern Black Woman with curves that LOVES traditional Southern New Orleans food and just good food in general. In addition, I have an obsession with ice cream. So my weight tends to fluctuate quite often, and you'll notice I'm even a bit on the heavier/fluffier side in many of these photos. Clearly, I've been eating too much damn ice cream!!! Yet, every single piece from Concrete Rose Boutique was still well suited for my fluffier frame.
Sources:
Gracie Boxy Plaid Top - https://concreteroseboutique.com/products/gingham-boxy-plaid-top
Boheme Kimono Midi - https://concreteroseboutique.com/products/boheme-kimono-midi
Use code ALLUREDBYDESIGN for 15% off
My comfort zone and general wardrobe style is classic American chic. I love tailored suits, I love classic cuts, I love blouses and collar shirts, I love conservative, yet stylish pieces and I LOVE LOVE LOVE a good blazer!! What I love most about the clothing Toya selects for her boutique is the versatility it provides to my existing wardrobe. As I mentioned above her clothing is not only comfortable and suitable for women of all sizes, but it's also very fashion forward and adds that extra spunk and trendiness of today's modern world allowing me the flexibility to mix and match it with so many of my existing classic pieces. For me that means EVERYTHING, because as a Designer just as I like to customize my home, I highly enjoy customizing my wardrobe looks just as much.
Well, I hope you all have thoroughly enjoyed all of the beautiful photos of each of my looks. In addition, I hope many of you are inspired to take advantage of the discount currently extended to my email subscribers and social media family. Be sure you're following Concrete Rose Boutique on social media @concreterosebtq to stay up to date on their latest and greatest fashion trends and finds. But through me as the new Brand Ambassador, I have a feeling ya'll will be seeing lots more Concrete Rose Boutique looks to show up in many of my future shoots to come. So stay tuned and until then...
I love you 3000!
Tachic-
"I believe a person's home should be a true reflection and extension of their personal taste and style...with beautiful collected pieces that compliment who they are, what their interests are, and what makes them feel good."
Principal Designer & Proprietor Tachic Hickman-Piazza
Tachic Hickman-Piazza is a creative in every sense of the word. A professional Filmmaker with an Associate of Science in Film & Video from Full Sail University with a career spanning the course of fifteen years of experience in the Entertainment Industry. Blogging is a personal and beloved extension of her years spent studying creative writing for television and film.
Yet, Interior Design and all things Home Decor are two of her greatest passions, outside of Filmmaking. To learn more about Tachic and her journey into the world of Design, please visit her ABOUT page by clicking here.
To view one of her most ambitious design projects to date where Tachic merged both creative worlds of Filmmaking and Interior Design, all while proudly wearing the mantle of both Designer & Executive Producer, with the release of her House Piazza Home Tour video, click here.