Fashionable Fridays: Kendra of Closet Confections

March 14, 2014

Introduce yourself!

Hi, my name is Kendra. I’m originally from Detroit, but I came to NYC for college with dreams of landing a glamorous job in fashion after I finished school. That didn’t happen, but I did meet my wonderful husband, Eric. After spending several years working in the tech space, I decided I needed a more creative outlet. So, I channeled my love of stilettos and the finer things in life into a fashion and lifestyle blog at www.ClosetConfections.com. When I’m not glued to Pinterest or Instagram, you can find me chowing down at a new restaurant, snapping photos, or dragging my husband to yet another action movie.

How would you describe your style?

My style has definitely evolved over the years, but right now I’d describe it as feminine and classic, with a bit of a twist. I have a weakness for basic items with a quirky touch or in a bold unexpected color. While I do have a vast wardrobe, I’ve noticed that I stick to a few specific silhouettes. For instance, I could probably wear a different combo of wrap dresses and maryjanes for a month. Oh yeah, did I mention that I’m a shoe addict? Those are definitely my vice, but I’m not complaining!

How do you decide what to wear in the morning?

I don’t like spending more than 30 minutes total getting ready in the morning, so I keep my closet pretty organized. Also, not gonna lie, I do occasionally like to play dress-up on the weekend and try on dozens of outfits to see what new combos I can come up with. With that being said, I usually have one specific piece in mind that I want to wear (like a sweater or a new pair of shoes), and I plan the rest of my outfit around it. It doesn’t take long because I’ve already done the work ahead of time to know how to style it.

What are your favorite wardrobe pieces?

Since I’ve already admitted that I’m a shoe addict, I’ll just list my top 3 for you. My pink and white satin Miu Miu heels are hands-down my favorite. They were definitely a splurge, but I just love looking at them. And did I mention they have a little bow in the back? Swoon! Maryjanes are my go-to shoe style, so it’s a toss-up between a printed pair from Tabitha Simmons I got last Christmas and a pair from J. Crew that have a funky pattern and a snakeskin heel. In addition to shoes, I’m also partial to my Chloe Aurora handbag. In addition to being a simply gorgeous bag that you don’t see everywhere, I got it at an insanely good discount due to a computer glitch at Bloomingdale’s. Seriously, it was marked 85% off instead of 15% off by mistake.

Where do you typically shop for clothes and accessories?

I’m an equal-opportunity-shopper, so I get my clothes from all over the place. If there’s a great bargain to be had, I’m there! For trendy fast-fashion clothing and accessories, you can’t go wrong with Zara and H&M. For preppy basics that I can mix-and-match with funkier pieces, I enjoy shopping at Ralph Lauren (especially Blue Label and the now defunct Rugby line that you can still snag on eBay), Tommy Hilfiger (the one on 5th Avenue in Manhattan also carries their runway collection, which is simply divine!), J. Crew, and Uniqlo. I tend not to spend a lot on clothes so that I can instead splurge on shoes, coats, handbags, and jewelry. I stalk the Big 3 department store sales (Barneys, Bergdorfs and Saks) for shoes and handbags twice a year, but most of my designer items typically come from vintage and consignment shops, thrift stores, eBay, or discount retailers like Loehmann’s and Century 21.

Let’s talk hair. How long have you been natural? What is your normal regimen.

I got my last relaxer in December 2009 and slowly trimmed away the straightened ends over the following year. I keep my hair routine really simple. Every week, I wash with whatever sulfate-free shampoo I have on hand and follow-up with my conditioner du jour (right now it’s Aubrey Organics Blue Chamomile). My hair tends to get very dry, but a few spritzes of water from a spray bottle, followed by a bit of castor oil, always seem to do the trick. I also like Kinky-Curly Knot Today leave-in conditioner, but I only apply that to freshly washed hair. I’ve recently fallen back in love with my Curlformers, and the style holds surprisingly well when I use them with a bit of alcohol-free mousse from Pantene. The one product that I could not live without is a Goodies Ouchless headband. I cut them open with a pair of scissors and wrap them around my head and tighten them to secure my omni-present puff. I tend to lose them, so now I have them stashed in my nightstand, my purse, the bathroom, my desk at work, gym bag… you name it. They’ve been life-savers after numerous hairstyle fails (especially in NYC’s summer humidity).

Do you have a signature hairstyle?

I set my hair in different ways all the time, i.e. curlformers, twists, braids, bantu knots, etc., but somehow it always winds up back in a high puff that sits on top of my head. I work out a lot, and it’s just easier for me to maintain it that way. My husband always jokes that he never knows what kind of puff I’ll have from one day to the next. One day it’s huge, frizzy, and mighty, and the next it’s a little more tamed with romantic curls and waves.

How does your natural hair work with your style?

Since I self-describe my style as classic with a twist, I definitely feel like my hair reflects that – literally! No matter what I’m wearing, I always feel like my hair adds a little extra flair to my look. Natural hair is so versatile it’s crazy. I love how I can drastically switch up my look any time that I want.

Are you working on any ventures that we should know about.

Funny you should ask! It’s been a longtime dream of mine to start my own business. And I’m happy to announce that I’m opening a new digital marketing and software consulting agency. I’ve ordered business cards, reserved office space, and I’m putting the finishing touches on my website as we speak. It’s a very exciting time for me right now!

How can we stay connected with you?

You can always tune into my blog for the latest and greatest, but I’m literally ALL.OVER.THE.WEB. So pick your poison: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.