The Joy of Spring

The Joy of Spring - this carries a different definition to everyone. Intertwined with everyone's definition is the concept of a fresh start. Flowers start blooming, wardrobes turn from black sweaters and boots into floral dresses and espadrilles, and the hope for summer becomes a reality.

As I am in the midst of my favorite spring season to date, I have to share an amazing photo shoot I got to be a part of that represents the epitome of what The Joy of Springs means in terms of fashion. It consisted of bright colors, funky prints and statement purses on a beautiful Sunday in South Orange, New Jersey at Sadie's.

A few weeks ago, I had the amazing opportunity to style a photo shoot for Versed Media. The key to any successful photo shoot is two people who have the same love and appreciation for fashion, and everything else will follow. I am so happy to have shared this with India of Versed Media. India is a total girl boss who has a unique vision to create a platform for rising indie designers, boutiques and models to showcase their work and talent. India has an innate love for fashion, which I can more than happily relate to. Everybody has their own passion and their own niche, and I am so grateful to share that passion with and style my first photo shoot with Versed Media.

My love for styling started long ago when I fell in love with Grace Coddington's Vogue magazine spreads. She had impeccable attention to detail from the location to the color of the models' shoes, which made every shoot have a seamlessly cohesive aesthetic. For the first of hopefully many photo shoots I will style, here is to you Grace: the lady who inspired me to fall in love with the kooky and beautiful.

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Photographer: Wesley Tseng

Details

Jumpsuits are becoming trendier each season and just by themselves, they are a statement piece. However, it never hurts to accessorize to highlight the jumpsuit even more. As part of my signature style, I added a multicolored scarf with a simple twist in the front to pull the whole look together. It just so happened to match perfectly with a mural India and Wesley spotted in Spiotta Park!

Jumpsuit: Anywhere Jumpsuit United By Blue

United by Blue is a lifestyle and clothing company who pledges to take a pound of trash out of the waterways with every time a product is purchased. United by Blue achieves this goal by hosting community clean-up days across the country. The company also tries to use organic and reusable fabrics with the products they make.

Necklace: Chevron Necklace by Purpose Jewelry

Purpose Jewelry is a jewelry company under the nonprofit International Sanctuary. The nonprofit hires women who are victims of human trafficking to make the jewelry as a way of helping them to restart their lives and to give them purpose. International Sanctuary also provide the women with health care, counseling services and educational opportunities.

Photographer: Wesley Tseng

Details

I love this shot because it signifies how one piece can make the whole photo come together. For this one, it is the bag. This backpack screams spring with its blush pink and lavender tones. Also, who doesn't love the versatility of a small backpack? The two-tone style allows the colors of the dress to stand out and make the whole outfit to be cohesive. Some people might consider this look to be too "matchy," but I love it because the dress and sneaker combo make it a funky and trendy look. This dress is perfect for Easter, Saturdays at the farmer's market or summer weddings! PS: it has pockets!

Purse: Niko Ineko

Niko Ineko is a handbag company founded in 2017, and I love how Sadie's has been able to support the brand and its mission by being one of its first buyers. Niko Ineko's slogan is, "Wear your spirit, wear your beliefs." The handbag line is animal cruelty-free and uses recycled materials to design the bags. Niko Ineko also supports animal welfare leagues and humane societies to support causes that matter most to them.

Photographer: Wesley Tseng

Details

You cannot go through spring without purchasing a party dress. This wrap dress is perfect for a wedding, formal or a fancy night out. The color is mature but also not boring, and the tie at the side gives it just the right amount of sophistication. The wrap dress silhouette is a classic created by Diane von Fürstenberg back in the 1970's and is still a fashion staple today. For this look, we really wanted to highlight the dress with adding simple yet stand out accessories to create the less is more look.

Purse: Niko Ineko

Dress: Anywhere Dress United by Blue

Necklace: Brook Necklace Purpose Jewelry

Photographer: Wesley Tseng

Details

if you want to be the most stylish girl at the fashion show or night out in Chelsea, this look is definitely the one. The bright yellow crossbody helps to break up the fluidity of the black and white stripes to help pull the look together. When styling this look, proportions were key. Crop tops and midi skirts are a dynamic duo because together they help elongate one's figure and the cuts hit just perfectly with one another. To really add the perfect finishing touches on this look, I wanted to add the hat because it looked beautiful with the model's hair as well as with the striped midi skirt and crop top combo.

Skirt and Shirt: Umgee USA

Umgee USA was founded in LA's Fashion District in 2001, and it aims to create fashion-forward and boho pieces.

Purse: Niko Ineko

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Stayed tuned for this summer for more photo shoots with Versed Media to come! In the meantime, I will be finishing up the last two weeks of school before heading back to Ohio for a few weeks in May. This school year has gone by faster than I could have ever imagined, but I am forever grateful the opportunities Sadie's has given me. If you find something you love to do, never stop doing it.

-xoxo,

Rizzy Rose