Grey bandage waist belt with front zip panel.
Will fit XS/S.
$15 + shipping
Showing posts with label accessories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label accessories. Show all posts
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Audrey Hepburn Would Approve
Is it really obnooxious that I want an eye mask? Not the skincare kind, the sleeping kind. Look how glam Audrey Hepburn looks with one! Adorable.
Glam Pink and Tulle Eye Mask by Love Me Sugar, $25 at etsy.com. The story is that even though I'm as night owly as it gets, my roommates tend to stay up later than I do, and it is ridiculously hard to fall asleep with the lights on. The eye mask solves all those annoying light problems, and looks glam doing it. Much better than me putting a pillow on my face. Much easier to breath too. I love the sweet girliness of the black/pink color combo against the luxuriousness of the satin and the lace. My only fear is that I would wake up and think that I'm blind. Does anyone else have irrational fears like this?
Images from kamharrisphoto.wordpress.com, etsy.com.
Glam Pink and Tulle Eye Mask by Love Me Sugar, $25 at etsy.com. The story is that even though I'm as night owly as it gets, my roommates tend to stay up later than I do, and it is ridiculously hard to fall asleep with the lights on. The eye mask solves all those annoying light problems, and looks glam doing it. Much better than me putting a pillow on my face. Much easier to breath too. I love the sweet girliness of the black/pink color combo against the luxuriousness of the satin and the lace. My only fear is that I would wake up and think that I'm blind. Does anyone else have irrational fears like this?
Images from kamharrisphoto.wordpress.com, etsy.com.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Rainy Day Cozy Dressing
Today, Boston ain't so pretty. First off, I'm sick. And not even like normal cold sick, but I've just lost my voice for the last three days. It's so obnoxious. But second off, it's humid and foggy and rainy but not actually cold? So it's this odd hybrid weather that's hard to dress for, and at a time when I really want to be comfy. So in the world where I have a Narnia-sized magical closet of awesome designer pieces, this is what I'd be wearing today.
Rag & Bone Knit Pocket Dress, $185 at shopbop.com, Sandro Mohair-blend Sequin Sweater, $260 at net-a-porter.com: When I want to be warm and cozy, and look cute without putting too much effort into my ensemble, I'll go for a sweater dress. They're an outfit in themselves. I picked two different dresses for two different looks here. Both of them are grey, a nice neutral that's easy to spice up with colorful accessories but can also stand alone. For a classic, preppier look, this striped Rag & Bone dress is fab. It has a polished, French girl vibe, and the pockets are both convenient and ingenue-cute. For a slightly more rock and roll glam feel, this sequined Sandro dress is a great option. The slightly retro silhouette is tempered by the short hemline, and the subtle sparkle of the sequins takes the oversized shape from boring to insouciantly sexy.
Rag & Bone Alpine Belt, $140 at shopbop.com, Commando Matte Opaque Tights, $34 at shopbop.com: With both of these dresses, I'd go for a dress to keep the inherent bulkiness of the sweater dress from being unflattering (especially with a roomier cut like the second dress). I like this Rag & Bone belt because it's sturdy enough to contain all of the fabric of a sweater dress, and the warm brown is a nice contrast to the cooler grey tones. Now, sweater dresses can ride up easily, so tights are essential. Also, wearing a sweater dress with bare legs is just silly (are you hot? are you cold? make up your mind). These black tights are great because they're very opaque, so they prevent any accidental exposure.
Hunter Festival Tall Boots, $225 at shopbop.com, Madewell Crystal & Chain Fringe Cuff, $58 at shopbop.com: Now, rainboots are clearly an essential for rainy weather, and I find that when you're feeling a bit blah, a good way to cheer yourself up is with fun statement pieces like these boots. They're Hunters, so they're quality rainboots, but the textured strips and the studs give these a total rock and roll vibe. There's no way that any girl would feel boring and under the weather in those boots. For a final bit of sparkle, I'd go for a cuff bracelet. When you're just doing one piece of jewelry, you can do a really strong, statement piece like this cuff. The mixture of rhinestones and chain adds a lot of visual interest, and keeps up the rock and roll feel of the rainboots nicely.
Images from shopbop.com, net-a-porter.com, shopbop.com, shopbop.com, shopbop.com, shopbop.com.
Rag & Bone Knit Pocket Dress, $185 at shopbop.com, Sandro Mohair-blend Sequin Sweater, $260 at net-a-porter.com: When I want to be warm and cozy, and look cute without putting too much effort into my ensemble, I'll go for a sweater dress. They're an outfit in themselves. I picked two different dresses for two different looks here. Both of them are grey, a nice neutral that's easy to spice up with colorful accessories but can also stand alone. For a classic, preppier look, this striped Rag & Bone dress is fab. It has a polished, French girl vibe, and the pockets are both convenient and ingenue-cute. For a slightly more rock and roll glam feel, this sequined Sandro dress is a great option. The slightly retro silhouette is tempered by the short hemline, and the subtle sparkle of the sequins takes the oversized shape from boring to insouciantly sexy.
Rag & Bone Alpine Belt, $140 at shopbop.com, Commando Matte Opaque Tights, $34 at shopbop.com: With both of these dresses, I'd go for a dress to keep the inherent bulkiness of the sweater dress from being unflattering (especially with a roomier cut like the second dress). I like this Rag & Bone belt because it's sturdy enough to contain all of the fabric of a sweater dress, and the warm brown is a nice contrast to the cooler grey tones. Now, sweater dresses can ride up easily, so tights are essential. Also, wearing a sweater dress with bare legs is just silly (are you hot? are you cold? make up your mind). These black tights are great because they're very opaque, so they prevent any accidental exposure.
Hunter Festival Tall Boots, $225 at shopbop.com, Madewell Crystal & Chain Fringe Cuff, $58 at shopbop.com: Now, rainboots are clearly an essential for rainy weather, and I find that when you're feeling a bit blah, a good way to cheer yourself up is with fun statement pieces like these boots. They're Hunters, so they're quality rainboots, but the textured strips and the studs give these a total rock and roll vibe. There's no way that any girl would feel boring and under the weather in those boots. For a final bit of sparkle, I'd go for a cuff bracelet. When you're just doing one piece of jewelry, you can do a really strong, statement piece like this cuff. The mixture of rhinestones and chain adds a lot of visual interest, and keeps up the rock and roll feel of the rainboots nicely.
Images from shopbop.com, net-a-porter.com, shopbop.com, shopbop.com, shopbop.com, shopbop.com.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Say I Do in J. Crew?
Yes, I am an epic cheeseball for that title, but J. Crew's new bridal store (pics below) is too cute for words! You guys know that I'm not a pink/ruffles/floral/polka dot wearing girly-girl most of the time, but I am a total hopeless romantic when it comes to wedding dresses. I always watch Say Yes to the Dress on TLC, and I've always planned on going to Kleinfeld's to get my wedding dress (yes, I'm 18, I realize this is insanely premature). But this J. Crew boutique may have swayed me a little. More on that later. First off, Olivier Theyskens is designing a collection for Theory! OMG. He is one of my all-time favorite designers, and seeing him let go from Nina Ricci was heartbreaking (and totally undeserved). And now that his clothes will be available at a slightly more realistic price point? I'm hyperventilating. Gah. Love.
As for the random things from Shopbop that I want today:
T by Alexander Wang Goddess Skirt, $89 at shopbop.com, Theory Tresha E Dress, $395 at shopbop.com, Botkier Minnie Bag, $545 at shopbop.com: I am a hardcore pencil skirt fan. When you have an hourglass shaped figure, pencil skirts are often the most flattering. A-line skirts just make me look bottom-heavy. The skirt is a cheaper alternative to the Balenciaga draped skirts from a few seasons ago, but toned down and a little easier to wear. The black band highlights your waist really nicely, the subtle striped pattern kicks it up a notch from a basic neutral, and $89 is a fab price for a pencil skirt this polished. Aside from the fact that I now love Theory (see above), this dress is adorable in a Southern belle summer dress sort of way. The white is great for making anyone look tanner, the ruching at the waist and sweetheart neckline will give anyone an hourglass figure, and the detailing along the bottom keeps it from just a plain white dress. There are two reasons I love this Botkier bag. First off, 50% of proceeds to go to Oxfam America, which is a lot for a designer item. Second off, it's a fab little neutral bag that you could wear anywhere. It's simple enough to be versatile, but the braided details and warm hue make it interesting.
So here are the pictures of J. Crew's bridal store on Madison Avenue. Um, can we have a collective sigh for how adorable this is? There's a salon on the first floor where I assume you can buy accessories, jewelry, shoes, bridesmaid dresses, and also get services arranged for your wedding (they have a mini wedding-planning service! So cute). Aside from the fact that the salon itself is so chic, look at the exclusive dresses they have at this store. That sequined number belongs on my body.
Downstairs they have an appointment-only showroom and dressing rooms. Look at that dress on the left. OMG. That dress is so me that it makes me sick.
Hermes Belt, currently $242.50 at ebay.com, Balmain Ambre Gris EDP, $13 for 100 ml at luckyscent.com, Thierry Mugler Angel Sunessence Blue Lagoon, $80 for 1.7 oz at nordstrom.com: I picked up a copy of Lucky to read on the plain up to Oregon, and they had a picture of this girl wearing a really simple outfit, I think a tailored pair of shorts and a tee, and then a vintage Hermes H Buckle belt. It was perfection. I'm really not a label whore, I wouldn't buy things with giant LV or Chanel or Fendi logos on them, but the H gets me for some reason. It's just so simple and classic, and somehow slightly equestrian, my favorite. So the next time I have $300 to burn, that's where it's going. I kept wondering when Balmain was going to release a fragrance, and then I realized that they already had! That bottle is purchase-worthy alone, but the scent sounds amazing. The notes are pink pepper, cinnamon, tuberose, immortelle, myrrh, smoky gaiac wood, benzoin, white musks, and ambergris. It sounds deep and spicy and sweet and pretty darn fantastic. Another perfume that I'm eyeing is this year's summer version of Thierry Mugler's Angel. Angel is a little sweet and cloying for me, but with frozen star fruit, ginger flower, patchouli, and vanilla, it sounds lighter and fresher and spicier than Angel, and perhaps worth a look next time you're in Sephora.
Image Sources:
J. Crew wedding store: luckymag.com, T by Alexander Wang skirt: shopbop.com, Theory dress: shopbop.com, Botkier bag: shopbop.com, Hermes belt: ebay.com, Balmain EDP: luckyscent.com, Thierry Mugler EDP: nordstrom.com.
As for the random things from Shopbop that I want today:
T by Alexander Wang Goddess Skirt, $89 at shopbop.com, Theory Tresha E Dress, $395 at shopbop.com, Botkier Minnie Bag, $545 at shopbop.com: I am a hardcore pencil skirt fan. When you have an hourglass shaped figure, pencil skirts are often the most flattering. A-line skirts just make me look bottom-heavy. The skirt is a cheaper alternative to the Balenciaga draped skirts from a few seasons ago, but toned down and a little easier to wear. The black band highlights your waist really nicely, the subtle striped pattern kicks it up a notch from a basic neutral, and $89 is a fab price for a pencil skirt this polished. Aside from the fact that I now love Theory (see above), this dress is adorable in a Southern belle summer dress sort of way. The white is great for making anyone look tanner, the ruching at the waist and sweetheart neckline will give anyone an hourglass figure, and the detailing along the bottom keeps it from just a plain white dress. There are two reasons I love this Botkier bag. First off, 50% of proceeds to go to Oxfam America, which is a lot for a designer item. Second off, it's a fab little neutral bag that you could wear anywhere. It's simple enough to be versatile, but the braided details and warm hue make it interesting.
So here are the pictures of J. Crew's bridal store on Madison Avenue. Um, can we have a collective sigh for how adorable this is? There's a salon on the first floor where I assume you can buy accessories, jewelry, shoes, bridesmaid dresses, and also get services arranged for your wedding (they have a mini wedding-planning service! So cute). Aside from the fact that the salon itself is so chic, look at the exclusive dresses they have at this store. That sequined number belongs on my body.
Downstairs they have an appointment-only showroom and dressing rooms. Look at that dress on the left. OMG. That dress is so me that it makes me sick.
Hermes Belt, currently $242.50 at ebay.com, Balmain Ambre Gris EDP, $13 for 100 ml at luckyscent.com, Thierry Mugler Angel Sunessence Blue Lagoon, $80 for 1.7 oz at nordstrom.com: I picked up a copy of Lucky to read on the plain up to Oregon, and they had a picture of this girl wearing a really simple outfit, I think a tailored pair of shorts and a tee, and then a vintage Hermes H Buckle belt. It was perfection. I'm really not a label whore, I wouldn't buy things with giant LV or Chanel or Fendi logos on them, but the H gets me for some reason. It's just so simple and classic, and somehow slightly equestrian, my favorite. So the next time I have $300 to burn, that's where it's going. I kept wondering when Balmain was going to release a fragrance, and then I realized that they already had! That bottle is purchase-worthy alone, but the scent sounds amazing. The notes are pink pepper, cinnamon, tuberose, immortelle, myrrh, smoky gaiac wood, benzoin, white musks, and ambergris. It sounds deep and spicy and sweet and pretty darn fantastic. Another perfume that I'm eyeing is this year's summer version of Thierry Mugler's Angel. Angel is a little sweet and cloying for me, but with frozen star fruit, ginger flower, patchouli, and vanilla, it sounds lighter and fresher and spicier than Angel, and perhaps worth a look next time you're in Sephora.
Image Sources:
J. Crew wedding store: luckymag.com, T by Alexander Wang skirt: shopbop.com, Theory dress: shopbop.com, Botkier bag: shopbop.com, Hermes belt: ebay.com, Balmain EDP: luckyscent.com, Thierry Mugler EDP: nordstrom.com.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Reader Request: Prom
So one of our lovely readers, Annisa, asked for help with putting together an outfit for prom. She already has the dress below (in cream), which is from HM's Garden Collection and super adorable. Major props on choosing this dress--it's fun and girly, not at all tacky, and unique without pushing too many boundaries for prom.
Since she already has the perfect dress, Annisa asked for help with hair, makeup, accessories, and shoes. If I can remember correctly, she wanted nude pumps, cute jewelry, help with figuring out how to do cat eye makeup, and an easy hairstyle that was either half-up or down. I hope I was able to help!
Forever 21 Tea Time Petal Earrings, $5.80 at forever21.com, Forever 21 Floral Chiffon Ring, $2.80 at forever21.com: Or you could do this earring/ring combo together, which is insanely adorable because they match in a non-annoying way. The earrings are just the right amount of slightly oversized, and would be so, so cute peeking out from a half-up hair do. The layered chiffon is so unexpected, and goes with the skirt of the dress perfectly. I just love the idea of pairing these earrings with that ring. The black would stand out really nicely against the light dress, and the organic shapes of the texture on the skirt and the jewelry are a match made in heaven.
Annisa wanted nude heels to elongate her legs and make her look a little taller. That's a really great trick if you want to make your legs look a thousand miles long, especially if you go for a nude platform.
Steve Madden Caryssa Heels, $129.50 at stevemadden.com, Steve Madden Nanciee Heels, $89.95 at stevemadden.com: These heels are my favorite, by far. They look so much like a pair of Louboutins that I lusted over for so long. The platform adds a lot of visual impact and makes these extra comfy, and the suede texture keeps them very modern and sophisticated. If you want a little more edge, you could go for a gladiator-inspired pair of heels. The patent leather keeps them from totally disappearing into your legs, and the zipper down the front would be a nice, urban contrast with the organic feeling of the dress.
Jones New York Lagoon Platform Pump, $59.95 at dsw.com, Aldo Withney Heels, $80 at aldo.com: These Jones heels aren't as exciting, but they would be seriously versatile and they're pretty affordable. They're just a very nice, simple pair of nude heels that you could get a ton of wear out of them. These Aldo heels are basically a patent leather version of the first heels. I like patent leather for nude heels because the sheen of the patent leather keeps the shoes from totally disappearing into your legs, which can look a little creepy at times.
Nicole Richie, Lauren Conrad: As for the hair, Annisa wanted something either down or half-up, possibly with curls. I know this isn't the most conventional look, but I really love the sidebraid a la Nicole Richie. It's unexpected, slightly more formal than hair that's just down, and has this slightly messed-up Lolita vibe that really works. Use a texturizing spray before you braid your hair, so that your hair will have a little body and messiness when you put it in the braid, and make sure that as you braid your hair, you pull it to the side so that it falls over one shoulder. Then mess it up a little so that it's not too perfect. I love little braids for adding a little something extra to regular old hair. Lauren Conrad's is especially cute because it's a French braid, so it's almost a half-up hairstyle because it pulls some of her hair out of her face (super convenient for crazy dance parties). It's really easy to recreate, just French braid either your bangs or the front portion of your hair back to behind your ear, and then secure the end of the braid. Add a few loose waves to your hair for extra body, and you're set!
Anna Paquin: Anna's little bump/twist is super adorable. It's the cute version of what Snookie does on the Jersey Shore. Basically, you spray your hair with a texturizing spray, and then lift up the top layer of hair on your crown and pin it out of the way. Next, take a rattail comb and backcomb all the hair on your crown. Once your achieve the desired volume, hairspray it and smooth the top layer of hair back over. Twist the bottom of the teased hair and the top layer of hair twice, and then pin it in place with a couple of bobby pins.
Blake Lively, Rachel McAdams: Blake has the slightly less dramatic version of Anna's look. This would be great if you have longer hair or don't want the stiffness of the Anna's teased pouff. To achieve this look, use a texturizing spray and scrunch it through your hair to create a bit of a wave. Then tease like the previous look, just slightly less dramatically, and pin it in the back with a few bobby pins. For a slightly sweeter, preppier look, try Rachel McAdam's pinned-back side twists. If you have straight hair, use a large curling iron (1.5 inches would do the trick) to add loose curls. Then take the front two section of your hair, one on each side, and twist each section a few times before using a few bobby pins to pin each twist back.
I posted what I use to get the cat eye look yesterday, but buying all of those products at the same time would be ridiculously expensive (I've accumulated them over years). Here are some cheaper alternatives to the products that I use. (I forgot to link to primer. If you have oily lids and eyeshadow tends to crease on you, definitely use primer. It's one of those things that no one else will ever see and that you really can't skimp on. I really recommend Urban Decay's Primer Potion).
Maybelline Eye Studio Wet Shadow Quads in Give Me Gold, $8.49 at target.com, Sonia Kashuk Crease Shadow Brush, $5.99 at target.com, Prestige Cosmetics Waterproof Eyeliner in Black, $5.39 at ulta.com: I've heard that these Maybelline quads are fantastic, and they're such a great deal for the range of colors you get (they also come in like 10 other color palettes). I'd use this Sonia Kashuk crease brush (such a great value) to dust the lightest shade of the quad across your lid and onto your brow bone and the inner corners of your eyes as a highlight. Keeping your lid light will keep the cat eye from being over the top and too dark for a youthful look. Then I'd pick up some of the third shadow (the warm brown) on the brush and dust it into your crease. The important thing is to pick up only a little bit of shadow and then blend that thoroughly through the crease before picking up more shadow. That way you get a nicely blended, smooth line and don't end up applying too much shadow and being unable to blend it out. Then pick up a little of the darkest color and blend it into just the outer corners of the crease for extra definition. Smudge the remainder of the shadow into your lower lashline. Using the black eyeliner, line your upper and lower waterlines (YouTube that if you aren't sure about it. It's basically just lining the skin closest to your eyeball instead of your lashline). The black will help your eyes look brighter and really pop from a distance without being too raccoon-ish.
L'Oreal HiP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner in Black, $10.19 at target.com, Sonia Kashuk Angle Eyeshadow Brush, $4.99 at target.com, L'Oreal Panoramic Curl Extreme Curl & Separating Mascara, $4.49 at ulta.com: This is the important part. Using the L'Oreal cream liner (forget about the brush they include, it's worthless) and the Sonia Kashuk liner brush, line from your inner tear duct to the outer corner of your upper waterline. Don't use very much product, a little goes a LONG way. Then hold the brush diagonally at the outer corner of your eye so that the line of the brush extends the line of your waterline (it's hard to explain, there's a video below), and draw the cat eye. Follow that up with two coats of black mascara, waterproof if you're a sentimental cryer. Make sure to wiggle the brush horizontally as your apply the mascara so that it doesn't clump.
It's really hard to explain how to do a cat eye in print, so I found a YouTube video that explains it pretty well. The important thing is that the exterior line of the cat eye goes up following the curve of your waterline (if it falls below your waterline, it will drag your eye down and make up look tired).
Image Sources:
HM dress: blogspot.com, fashionistasworld.blogspot.com, J. Crew belt: jcrew.com, Forever 21 earrings: forever21.com, Forever 21 earrings: forever21.com, Forever 21 ring: forever21.com, Steve Madden Caryssa heels: stevemadden.com, Steve Madden Nanciee heels: stevemadden.com, Jones NY heels: dsw.com, Aldo heels: aldo.com, Nicole Richie: glamour.com, Lauren Conrad: glamour.com, Anna Paquin: glamour.com, Blake Lively: glamour.com, Rachel McAdams: glamour.com, Maybelline shadow quad: target.com, Sonia Kashuk crease brush: target.com, Prestige liner: ulta.com, L'Oreal cream liner: target.com, Sonia Kashuk liner brush: target.com, L'Oreal mascara: ulta.com, Youtube tutorial: youtube.com.
Since she already has the perfect dress, Annisa asked for help with hair, makeup, accessories, and shoes. If I can remember correctly, she wanted nude pumps, cute jewelry, help with figuring out how to do cat eye makeup, and an easy hairstyle that was either half-up or down. I hope I was able to help!
J. Crew Slim Braided Belt, $29.50 at jcrew.com, Forever 21 Vivianne Jewel Earrings, $5.80 at forever21.com: So I'm still not sure about whether or not I want to belt this dress, but if I did belt it, I would do a menswearish, brown leather belt. It would contrast with the fluffiness/girliness of the skirt really well, and keep the volume of the skirt from overwhelming your waist. As for jewelry, I'd do statement earrings and a statement ring. A necklace would clash with the neckline of the dress, and I love the earrings-ring combo. Black and white together is very Art Deco chic, and these earrings would have so much impact well against the pale hue of the dress. These would be great if you wanted to give the dress a little extra edge.
Forever 21 Tea Time Petal Earrings, $5.80 at forever21.com, Forever 21 Floral Chiffon Ring, $2.80 at forever21.com: Or you could do this earring/ring combo together, which is insanely adorable because they match in a non-annoying way. The earrings are just the right amount of slightly oversized, and would be so, so cute peeking out from a half-up hair do. The layered chiffon is so unexpected, and goes with the skirt of the dress perfectly. I just love the idea of pairing these earrings with that ring. The black would stand out really nicely against the light dress, and the organic shapes of the texture on the skirt and the jewelry are a match made in heaven.
Annisa wanted nude heels to elongate her legs and make her look a little taller. That's a really great trick if you want to make your legs look a thousand miles long, especially if you go for a nude platform.
Steve Madden Caryssa Heels, $129.50 at stevemadden.com, Steve Madden Nanciee Heels, $89.95 at stevemadden.com: These heels are my favorite, by far. They look so much like a pair of Louboutins that I lusted over for so long. The platform adds a lot of visual impact and makes these extra comfy, and the suede texture keeps them very modern and sophisticated. If you want a little more edge, you could go for a gladiator-inspired pair of heels. The patent leather keeps them from totally disappearing into your legs, and the zipper down the front would be a nice, urban contrast with the organic feeling of the dress.
Jones New York Lagoon Platform Pump, $59.95 at dsw.com, Aldo Withney Heels, $80 at aldo.com: These Jones heels aren't as exciting, but they would be seriously versatile and they're pretty affordable. They're just a very nice, simple pair of nude heels that you could get a ton of wear out of them. These Aldo heels are basically a patent leather version of the first heels. I like patent leather for nude heels because the sheen of the patent leather keeps the shoes from totally disappearing into your legs, which can look a little creepy at times.
Nicole Richie, Lauren Conrad: As for the hair, Annisa wanted something either down or half-up, possibly with curls. I know this isn't the most conventional look, but I really love the sidebraid a la Nicole Richie. It's unexpected, slightly more formal than hair that's just down, and has this slightly messed-up Lolita vibe that really works. Use a texturizing spray before you braid your hair, so that your hair will have a little body and messiness when you put it in the braid, and make sure that as you braid your hair, you pull it to the side so that it falls over one shoulder. Then mess it up a little so that it's not too perfect. I love little braids for adding a little something extra to regular old hair. Lauren Conrad's is especially cute because it's a French braid, so it's almost a half-up hairstyle because it pulls some of her hair out of her face (super convenient for crazy dance parties). It's really easy to recreate, just French braid either your bangs or the front portion of your hair back to behind your ear, and then secure the end of the braid. Add a few loose waves to your hair for extra body, and you're set!
Anna Paquin: Anna's little bump/twist is super adorable. It's the cute version of what Snookie does on the Jersey Shore. Basically, you spray your hair with a texturizing spray, and then lift up the top layer of hair on your crown and pin it out of the way. Next, take a rattail comb and backcomb all the hair on your crown. Once your achieve the desired volume, hairspray it and smooth the top layer of hair back over. Twist the bottom of the teased hair and the top layer of hair twice, and then pin it in place with a couple of bobby pins.
Blake Lively, Rachel McAdams: Blake has the slightly less dramatic version of Anna's look. This would be great if you have longer hair or don't want the stiffness of the Anna's teased pouff. To achieve this look, use a texturizing spray and scrunch it through your hair to create a bit of a wave. Then tease like the previous look, just slightly less dramatically, and pin it in the back with a few bobby pins. For a slightly sweeter, preppier look, try Rachel McAdam's pinned-back side twists. If you have straight hair, use a large curling iron (1.5 inches would do the trick) to add loose curls. Then take the front two section of your hair, one on each side, and twist each section a few times before using a few bobby pins to pin each twist back.
I posted what I use to get the cat eye look yesterday, but buying all of those products at the same time would be ridiculously expensive (I've accumulated them over years). Here are some cheaper alternatives to the products that I use. (I forgot to link to primer. If you have oily lids and eyeshadow tends to crease on you, definitely use primer. It's one of those things that no one else will ever see and that you really can't skimp on. I really recommend Urban Decay's Primer Potion).
Maybelline Eye Studio Wet Shadow Quads in Give Me Gold, $8.49 at target.com, Sonia Kashuk Crease Shadow Brush, $5.99 at target.com, Prestige Cosmetics Waterproof Eyeliner in Black, $5.39 at ulta.com: I've heard that these Maybelline quads are fantastic, and they're such a great deal for the range of colors you get (they also come in like 10 other color palettes). I'd use this Sonia Kashuk crease brush (such a great value) to dust the lightest shade of the quad across your lid and onto your brow bone and the inner corners of your eyes as a highlight. Keeping your lid light will keep the cat eye from being over the top and too dark for a youthful look. Then I'd pick up some of the third shadow (the warm brown) on the brush and dust it into your crease. The important thing is to pick up only a little bit of shadow and then blend that thoroughly through the crease before picking up more shadow. That way you get a nicely blended, smooth line and don't end up applying too much shadow and being unable to blend it out. Then pick up a little of the darkest color and blend it into just the outer corners of the crease for extra definition. Smudge the remainder of the shadow into your lower lashline. Using the black eyeliner, line your upper and lower waterlines (YouTube that if you aren't sure about it. It's basically just lining the skin closest to your eyeball instead of your lashline). The black will help your eyes look brighter and really pop from a distance without being too raccoon-ish.
L'Oreal HiP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner in Black, $10.19 at target.com, Sonia Kashuk Angle Eyeshadow Brush, $4.99 at target.com, L'Oreal Panoramic Curl Extreme Curl & Separating Mascara, $4.49 at ulta.com: This is the important part. Using the L'Oreal cream liner (forget about the brush they include, it's worthless) and the Sonia Kashuk liner brush, line from your inner tear duct to the outer corner of your upper waterline. Don't use very much product, a little goes a LONG way. Then hold the brush diagonally at the outer corner of your eye so that the line of the brush extends the line of your waterline (it's hard to explain, there's a video below), and draw the cat eye. Follow that up with two coats of black mascara, waterproof if you're a sentimental cryer. Make sure to wiggle the brush horizontally as your apply the mascara so that it doesn't clump.
It's really hard to explain how to do a cat eye in print, so I found a YouTube video that explains it pretty well. The important thing is that the exterior line of the cat eye goes up following the curve of your waterline (if it falls below your waterline, it will drag your eye down and make up look tired).
Image Sources:
HM dress: blogspot.com, fashionistasworld.blogspot.com, J. Crew belt: jcrew.com, Forever 21 earrings: forever21.com, Forever 21 earrings: forever21.com, Forever 21 ring: forever21.com, Steve Madden Caryssa heels: stevemadden.com, Steve Madden Nanciee heels: stevemadden.com, Jones NY heels: dsw.com, Aldo heels: aldo.com, Nicole Richie: glamour.com, Lauren Conrad: glamour.com, Anna Paquin: glamour.com, Blake Lively: glamour.com, Rachel McAdams: glamour.com, Maybelline shadow quad: target.com, Sonia Kashuk crease brush: target.com, Prestige liner: ulta.com, L'Oreal cream liner: target.com, Sonia Kashuk liner brush: target.com, L'Oreal mascara: ulta.com, Youtube tutorial: youtube.com.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Little Miss Sunshine
For the first time in a really, really, really long time it feels like summer in Boston! As in clear blue skies, flip flops, and sunglasses summer. Fall might be my favorite season for clothes, but I've never been so happy to see the sun in my entire life. It makes me want to put on sundresses and frolic across the quad (may have already done that). So of course I had to blog about sparkly sunshiney things.
I wore this lovely blue dress from the Tracy Feith for Target collection today to celebrate the fantastic weather:
That got me thinking about more summer ensembles. I'm been so focused on layering for the last few months that I've totally forgotten how to dress for nice weather.
Rebecca Taylor Spring 2010, Marc by Marc Jacobs Ukita Patchwork Skirt, $328 at shopbop.com, Porter Grey Embroidered Circle Skirt, $310 at shopbop.com: This is a look from Rebecca Taylor that I really loved. It's really simple, slightly bohemian, and very sexy while still being daytime appropriate. The key here is a bold, a-line, high-waisted skirt and a drapey tee, paired with a statement leather belt and some summery shoes. You can go two ways with the skirt: a very strong, colorful pattern, or a girlier, more subdued material. This Marc by Marc skirt has a certain Eastern European flair that's very boho/gypsy (loves it), whereas the Porter Grey skirt is extremely refined and girly, but not at all boring. The subtle texture of the rose-printed fabric adds so much visual richness. What I love about the cuts of these skirts is that they're extremely flattering, as they highlight your waist and skim over your hips, and they're nice and cool for warm weather.
KAIN Label Pocket Tee in Deep Lavender, $84 at shopbop.com, DVF Delilah Woven Belt, $185 at shopbop.com, Miu Miu Cork and Leather Wedge Sandals, $650 at net-a-porter.com: The cut of this KAIN tee is perfect: the ideal soft, draping counterpart to such a structured skirt. The purple picks up on the purple in the print on the Marc by Marc skirt, so it's just the right amount of bold and chaotic, and the purple livens up the greyish off-white of the Porter Grey skirt. I chose a strong black belt so that it wouldn't compete with the tee color-wise, and so that it would really define the waist and keep it from being lost in the draping of the tee. The studs and woven texture in the back add a nice amount of edge to the feminine silhouette, as does the military feel of that buckle. As for the heels, I wanted something summery but still dramatic. Wedges just scream summer to me, and the cork heel gives the look a needed bit of earthiness. The brown leather doesn't fight with the other colors in the outfit, and the knot details tie in with the boho feeling of the skirts perfectly.
As for the makeup I'd do for this look, I'd so something very simple and low-key. Who wants to spend half an hour inside doing makeup when it's that nice outside? I like this look from Gucci Fall 2010, with it's combination of easy, but piercing eye makeup and bouncy Chloe hair (Chloe hair is what you usually see at the Chloe shows, very full and soft with a lot of body and a slight curl towards the ends). It's sweet, but still sexy, and really low-maintenance.
MAC Eye Kohl in Smolder, $14.50 at maccosmetics.com, MAC Eyeshadow in Texture, $14.50 at maccosmetics.com, Dove Mousse, Volumizing, Body & Lift, $4.29 at drugstore.com: To get that look, I'd start with applying an eye primer across the lid to help your makeup withstand the summer heat (I like Urban Decay's Primer Potion), and then dusting a peachy-medium brown shadow, like Texture, across the lid and into the crease, blending heavily. Brush a little bit of Texture into the lower lashline, and then line the upper and lower waterlines with Smolder Eye Kohl. The black liner gives your eyes so much piercing definition, but the soft shading in the crease adds definition and a little warmth. As for the hair, apply a volumizing mousse, like this Dove mousse, from roots to ends, and blow it out with a round brush (don't forget the thermal protective spray!). Then use Velcro rollers (yeah, old school, I know) and a good amount of hairspray to set your ends into loose waves/curls.
And just for some random hilariousness, who wants to see my actual hair color? The left is me a few weeks ago (my hair's actually a couple shades darker now, I just re-dyed it), and the right is me at my 16th birthday (almost 3 years ago!) as a natural blonde. Yep. I'm a blonde. A very dark blonde, but a definite blonde in sunlight. No one ever believes me when I tell them. My hair is actually short for the time in that picture, it was usually a good 6-8 inches longer until I chopped it all off in the middle of junior year. I'm trying to grow it back out again, and I'm about 3 inches away from where I was. Waiting for your hair to grow out is the most frustrating thing ever!
Image Sources:
Tracy Feith dress: thebudgetbabe.com, Rebecca Taylor look: style.com, Gucci looks: style.com, Marc by Marc skirt: shopbop.com, Porter Grey skirt: shopbop.com, Kain tee: shopbop.com, DVF belt: shopbop.com, Miu Miu wedges: net-a-porter.com, MAC eye kohl: makeupandbeautyblog.com, MAC shadow: temptalia.com, Dove mousse: drugstore.com.
I wore this lovely blue dress from the Tracy Feith for Target collection today to celebrate the fantastic weather:
That got me thinking about more summer ensembles. I'm been so focused on layering for the last few months that I've totally forgotten how to dress for nice weather.
Rebecca Taylor Spring 2010, Marc by Marc Jacobs Ukita Patchwork Skirt, $328 at shopbop.com, Porter Grey Embroidered Circle Skirt, $310 at shopbop.com: This is a look from Rebecca Taylor that I really loved. It's really simple, slightly bohemian, and very sexy while still being daytime appropriate. The key here is a bold, a-line, high-waisted skirt and a drapey tee, paired with a statement leather belt and some summery shoes. You can go two ways with the skirt: a very strong, colorful pattern, or a girlier, more subdued material. This Marc by Marc skirt has a certain Eastern European flair that's very boho/gypsy (loves it), whereas the Porter Grey skirt is extremely refined and girly, but not at all boring. The subtle texture of the rose-printed fabric adds so much visual richness. What I love about the cuts of these skirts is that they're extremely flattering, as they highlight your waist and skim over your hips, and they're nice and cool for warm weather.
KAIN Label Pocket Tee in Deep Lavender, $84 at shopbop.com, DVF Delilah Woven Belt, $185 at shopbop.com, Miu Miu Cork and Leather Wedge Sandals, $650 at net-a-porter.com: The cut of this KAIN tee is perfect: the ideal soft, draping counterpart to such a structured skirt. The purple picks up on the purple in the print on the Marc by Marc skirt, so it's just the right amount of bold and chaotic, and the purple livens up the greyish off-white of the Porter Grey skirt. I chose a strong black belt so that it wouldn't compete with the tee color-wise, and so that it would really define the waist and keep it from being lost in the draping of the tee. The studs and woven texture in the back add a nice amount of edge to the feminine silhouette, as does the military feel of that buckle. As for the heels, I wanted something summery but still dramatic. Wedges just scream summer to me, and the cork heel gives the look a needed bit of earthiness. The brown leather doesn't fight with the other colors in the outfit, and the knot details tie in with the boho feeling of the skirts perfectly.
As for the makeup I'd do for this look, I'd so something very simple and low-key. Who wants to spend half an hour inside doing makeup when it's that nice outside? I like this look from Gucci Fall 2010, with it's combination of easy, but piercing eye makeup and bouncy Chloe hair (Chloe hair is what you usually see at the Chloe shows, very full and soft with a lot of body and a slight curl towards the ends). It's sweet, but still sexy, and really low-maintenance.
MAC Eye Kohl in Smolder, $14.50 at maccosmetics.com, MAC Eyeshadow in Texture, $14.50 at maccosmetics.com, Dove Mousse, Volumizing, Body & Lift, $4.29 at drugstore.com: To get that look, I'd start with applying an eye primer across the lid to help your makeup withstand the summer heat (I like Urban Decay's Primer Potion), and then dusting a peachy-medium brown shadow, like Texture, across the lid and into the crease, blending heavily. Brush a little bit of Texture into the lower lashline, and then line the upper and lower waterlines with Smolder Eye Kohl. The black liner gives your eyes so much piercing definition, but the soft shading in the crease adds definition and a little warmth. As for the hair, apply a volumizing mousse, like this Dove mousse, from roots to ends, and blow it out with a round brush (don't forget the thermal protective spray!). Then use Velcro rollers (yeah, old school, I know) and a good amount of hairspray to set your ends into loose waves/curls.
And just for some random hilariousness, who wants to see my actual hair color? The left is me a few weeks ago (my hair's actually a couple shades darker now, I just re-dyed it), and the right is me at my 16th birthday (almost 3 years ago!) as a natural blonde. Yep. I'm a blonde. A very dark blonde, but a definite blonde in sunlight. No one ever believes me when I tell them. My hair is actually short for the time in that picture, it was usually a good 6-8 inches longer until I chopped it all off in the middle of junior year. I'm trying to grow it back out again, and I'm about 3 inches away from where I was. Waiting for your hair to grow out is the most frustrating thing ever!
Image Sources:
Tracy Feith dress: thebudgetbabe.com, Rebecca Taylor look: style.com, Gucci looks: style.com, Marc by Marc skirt: shopbop.com, Porter Grey skirt: shopbop.com, Kain tee: shopbop.com, DVF belt: shopbop.com, Miu Miu wedges: net-a-porter.com, MAC eye kohl: makeupandbeautyblog.com, MAC shadow: temptalia.com, Dove mousse: drugstore.com.
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