REAL Exclusive Magazine Becca Smith - Perspectives - REAL Style

Fashion For A Cause

By Becca Smith

It’s time to get REAL with Beauty from the Inside/out, as Inner beauty is reflected in your outward appearance. When you discover the balance between inner and outer beauty, you will look and feel sensational all the time. You should always be increasing your beauty from the inside out because your body esteem, self-confidence, and self-esteem – which all come from inside, can affect how beautiful you appear to others. Did you know you are 20% more beautiful to other people than the person you see in the mirror every morning? WHY? … Because when you look at your reflection, all you see is your physical form, and all you’re doing is looking for flaws. When others see you, they also take in your personality, style, intelligence, sex appeal, wit … the entire you.

In this REAL Style issue We’ve Got Style introduces us to their “Fashion for a Cause” campaign, sponsored by Women’s Leadership Council and REAL Exclusive Magazine. Fashion takes center stage in an effort to support charitable organizations assisting women and children in need throughout the community, as well as individuals impacted by breast cancer. The focus will be on the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County in April with two Fashion for a Cause events: “Art meets Fashion” Wednesday, April 2nd at Michael’s on Main ^[1] and “Get Intimate with LaBella” Thursday, April 24th at LaBella Intimates & Boutique ^[2]. Tap into your inner beauty and support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota from 5PM-8PM for an evening of fun (d) raising, fashion, art, entertainment, refreshments, door prizes, raffle and much more.

Two women who have REAL style and exemplify beauty from the inside/out are Michael’s on Main’s Jan Gould and LaBella Intimates & Boutique’s Santa LaBellman. These women believe in the importance of giving back to our community and will host a Fashion for a Cause event in April.

Jan Gould is the Owner of Michael’s on Main, where “Art Meets FashionOpening early April in Downtown Sarasota at 1484 Main Street, Michael’s On Main fuses fashion and fine art in a single boutique setting. Adding to the Michael’s experience is Manager, Elaine Phillips, who has years of experience in the fashion industry. The Gallery, which features Michael Gould’s photography, also represents several established artists from across the country, as well as, introduces emerging local talents. The art spans all media demonstrating an expansive diversity in style and artistic expression, including photography, oil paintings, fabric collages, pottery, metalwork, knives, artisan custom jewelry and “wearable art” with unique one of kind fashion garments and accessories; Old Gringo Boots, embellished jeans/tops and much more. This is a second location for Gould. She opened Michael’s on Main at 605 Main Street in Historic Downtown Canon City, Colorado. The original location opened four years ago after the old Harding Hardware building (1908) was completely renovated and transformed into Michael’s on Main, which offers fantastic food, fine art and fashion in a single elegant setting. “Art is truly one of the purest forms of emotional expression. Art cannot be contained on a canvas, but it washes over into all forms of artistic design and expression, whether it’s the contrasting architectural styles of Frank Lloyd Wright or Calatrava, the Feng Shui of a room, the world through a photographer’s lens, the emotions that exude from the paint on a canvas or a face cast in bronze, to the simple grace and elegance expressed by the flowing styles of a designer’s new line. I believe that a gallery is not meant to be viewed, but experienced. We are here to assist our clients in expressing their own inner beauty and creativity. Michael’s on Main is where Fashion is an art and Art is fashionable,” shares Gould.

Santa LaBellman, a European-born businesswoman is the owner of “LaBella Intimates & Boutique. She opened as a retail and wholesale operation in Texas in 2009. She quickly needed more space and moved her store to Winter Park, FL where she has grown her brand to be one of the top specialty lingerie stores that specializes in quality, fit and price. Orange Appeal magazine named Santa “The Bra Whisperer” and Orlando Fox 35 News has featured her as a bra expert, as she believes that most women do not know how to select the right size bra to fit their shape so she offers complimentary bra fittings to each of her customers. Santa’s second store at 1415 First Street in downtown Sarasota opened in January of this year. “I am thrilled to bring another quality La Bella Intimates Boutique to the Sarasota community,” said owner La Bellman. “I have been looking for the right city on the west coast of Florida to open my second store and I immediately knew that this was the perfect location.” La Bella Intimates carries an exclusive and extensive European selection of bras ranging from size A cup to K cup in bands 30 through 50 that is not sold anywhere else in the U.S. They also sell panties, loungewear, sleepwear, shapewear, men’s underwear, women’s clothing and accessories from such brands as Hanro, Fleurt, Panache and Saxx.

REAL Style challenges you to get REAL with your inner beauty. There is a poem titled “BEAUTY” that says it best: For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge you’ll never walk alone. People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; Never throw out anybody. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of your arm. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

^[3]Rebecca Z. Smith, a fashion stylist/image consultant, is founder of We’ve Got Style. She offers wardrobe planning, closet consultations and is available for styling/personal shopping services. Rebecca knows fashion: the looks, the trends, the runway buzz, and how to put an outfit as well as a sustainable wardrobe together. More importantly she takes pride in knowing each client personally. This combination of professional expertise and highly personalized service ensures every client has the wardrobe that expresses their best self. For your entire wardrobe needs contact Rebecca at (941) 223-6643, beccarealstyle@gmail.com ^[4] – www.wevegotstyle.biz ^[5].

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