Houston native, Latecia Rockwall poses with a 2017 February or March Vogue issue. Rockwall’s fashion for passion began with that particular Vogue issue. Photo Credit: Tiffany Brown
Want to know who’s wearing the hottest fashion trends right now? If you guessed Rihanna’s pope-inspired 2018’s Met Gala dress, Kendell Jenner’s Christian Louboutin’s patent leather pumps, Selena Gomez’s yellow trench coat, then you’re wrong. If you guessed yourself, then you’re 100% correct. According to Texarkana’s fashionista, Latecia Rockwell, you can rip the runway with your own fashion sense with this simple method.
“Don’t pay attention to who is wearing what, but how and why they’re wearing it. With this basic instruction, Rockwell found her own sense of style beyond the fashion dark walls of as capitalism, high-end clothing brands, and famous models who wear them. “I’d never been like fashion best-dressed in high school or into fashion fashion. I watched so many seasons of America’s Next Top Model, so that was one of the seeds that kind of dropped in there. As I got older, I was attracted to seeing Vogue”, said Rockwell.
Her attraction led her to a life changing moment. “It was around February or March 2017, I was drawn to this Vogue magazine in Walmart. I remember telling my husband I don’t know why I got this Vogue magazine, but I got it”, said Rockwell.
As a fashion grasshopper, Rockwell began digging deeper into the true meaning of the word fashion and its purpose. “I saw the cover and it showed different diversities of women. They were wearing similiar pieces, but as I flipped through I saw so many diverse fashion designers doing different things from different countries with colors, types of clothing and their creativity. I started to realize that fashion necessarily isn’t teaching us how to dress, but how to express ourselves through our attire and being free to do that. That’s what drew me into it”, said Rockwell.
Latecia Rockwall’s natural hair head shot. Photo Credit: Tiffany Brown
Once the stylish veteran grasped the concept of fashion, her passion began dwindling inside, however she didn’t release it immediately. “My focus was different. As a wife, we focus on others verses ourselves. My husband was my main focus. I had this passion, but sometimes when you want to be a good wife and want to please God, your focus is strictly on that and it’s not always focused on creativity. I also had a job as a full-time registered nurse, which consumed a lot of my energy, then I was a full-time wife and a believer. I was just focused on those three things. I didn’t know that I could fit my passion and creativity into that. I don’t know if I was willing to do that at that time”, said Rockwell.
Rockwell lit her spark in fashion after a personal experience. “I realized I have to stand alone now. My husband is in Heaven. It pushed me to figure out my passion. I always remember when my husband and I first got married, I was so consumed in our relationship he would ask me what are hobbies and what do you like to do? You need to find something to do. It was funny, but so true. When he passed away, I dived right into it, because I realized that it’s not just me and him no more, it’s just me”, said Rockwell.
Once Rockwell connected the dots with her fashion purpose, she quickly found her own sense of style. “Bright colors. Dresses. I love dresses and sandals. I love color. I dont really have a favorite color. I just like bright colors”. With so many fashion do’s and don’ts, how did she find them her way?
“The first step is definitely figuring out who you are and what you like. What colors, styles you like, what flatters your body type”. Mastering this particular step requires utilizing this particular tool. “Appreciate who God created you to be. Once you accept that, you began exploring what you really like and accepting of what you have,” said Rockwell.
Avoid this common mistake. “People base their style off their confidence and self-image. I also think that people will see what magazines put out and they think they’re supposed to dress like that. They feel like because they’re not a size 2, 4, or 6 they have to cover up or hide their curves or body types. Your attire can express who you are”, said Rockwell.
Make the second step with confidence. “Be free to dress how you want with modesty, because our outer appearance speaks before you do”, said Rockwell.
Be comfortable in your quirks. “The most beautiful people are the most comfortable in their own skin. There’s an upcoming fashion model in general named Joya on instagram. She has natural long red hair and freckles. She’s peculiar and it works for fashion. She’s just comfortable being herself and I like the message that she sends” said Rockwell.
Fashionista, Latecia Rockwall poses within Broad Street Park. Photo Credit: Tiffany Brown
Step outside the box with common sense. “Don’t be a fashion robot. Be more than that. I used to scared to try bright colors. I didn’t want the attention. I didn’t want people looking at me. I loved that dress, but I was like I would never wear this out in public. Whatever you love, just wear it, because you could look the best in it”, said Rockwell.
Similar to the fashionista, find yourself a shopping home. “Everything I wear is from probably from Target. I don’t do it purposely. I feel like Target and whoever they have shopping for them is shopping for me. I go and buy what I like. They pay attention to what’s in and what’s trending. They make it at a more affordable price and eventually all their stuff goes clearance”.
In your fashion home, have financial responsibility. “A lot of stuff I purchase is on clearance. I go to the back of store. I shop out of season and prepare for the next season. Shop out of season and prepare for the next season. Fashion magazines will tell you what’s hot for that season, but they’re bringing stuff back over and over. You can find stuff out of season for the summer, winter, spring, and fall”, said Rockwell.
Find your own inspirations. “Pinterest has a wide variety of fashions. Instagram is doing a lot. It’s centered around fashion. Follow people with those hashtags. Going to the store picking out what you like”.
With those simple instructions, you can pull off any desired look.
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