Monday, January 27, 2014

Spring 2014 - B&W #trending

This look never goes out of style, it's just a matter of how you're wearing it that makes it "now" or "then". And to  be honest this look is timeless and you'll look stunning no matter what you choose.

What I'm talking about is a good old Black & White look.

As I mentioned this color combination is timeless and has been around forever. Right back in to the Audrey Hepburn, Jackie O days. These two stylish ladies wore this look effortlessly. And you can too!

"What for" you ask?

Job Interviews: Even though in a job interview you want to make a statement, you don't want to appear "over the top". Let your employer see a more modest side of you in the interview. They can get to know you better once you've landed the job ;)

Keeping things simple and sophisticated is easy when you choose black and white.

Formal Events: Nothing says elegance like a simple black and white color combination. This can be paired well with any choice of metal (yellow gold, rose gold, silver, platinum) and you can wear a variety of stones as well, because with B&W anything goes. Try pairing with Emeralds, Pearls or Rubies for a traditional appearance. For an edgy more modern feel, pair with chunky gold link chain or over-sized costume jewelry like rings. Either way you'll be the belle of the ball!

Or just any old time of course! You can take this look and make it anything you need it to be. No matter what the occasion you can make it casual and dress it up like a diva too!
Prints are so big these days, so don't shy away from a bold print in these neutral colors. A printed pant and solid shirt. Or printed dress is a gorgeous option for understated colors, but not an understated look.

My thoughts are, rock this look! But don't forget about color. Black and White is great, if it's a statement you're making sometimes. It's very easy to fall in to a pattern of wearing black for comfort. That's not the idea here. This Spring we are looking for bold ways to wear neutrals. Know what I mean?

xo

L.






Friday, January 24, 2014

Spring 2014- Pastels #trending

Here we go again! more trends coming your way from Yours Truly! :)

Maybe you know, or perhaps you don't know yet, about all the great trends Spring 2014 is bringing us. Below I'm going to break down a few of them, as always inserting my opinion on them and how they can/could be styled for all types of occasions and personalities.


The first on the list is:

Pastels:

Don't you just love a soft hue. Vibrant is lovely, but sometimes you're not feeling bold. Sometimes you just want to look pretty, flirty and girly in a soft and subtle way.

Please don't misunderstand me, this does NOT mean that you won't stand out. Looking sharp, classy and drawing attention doesn't mean you have to be "loud". Sultry, seductive, sexy can all be there in a delicate and alluring way. See what I'm saying?



Here are a few more outfit inspirations:


 
And for those of you considering redecorating don't underestimate the power of pastels in home decor:


 
Seeing how long this post is already I'm going to break each trend up in to it's own post.
So stay tuned for the next Spring 2014 trend coming your way!
 
XO
 
L.
 
 


Thursday, January 16, 2014

90s take over

Hello Dolls

Here I am again reviewing the latest trends.
Cosmo's article about 90s beauty trends that are very now/up and coming has presented some exciting and questionable ideas.

http://www.cosmopolitan.com/hairstyles-beauty/how-to/90s-beauty-again?src=spr_FBPAGE&spr_id=1440_40073743#slide-1

Allll of which can be done. Just make sure you're doing them with class ladies and gentlemen.

1. Nude Lips

I've seen this rocked, and it's a go to look for me because I have very thin lips and have been uncomfortable in my younger days wearing color. Something with a hint of peach, or a very slight pinky hue is a favorable nude look because it adds a natural but inviting color. Similar to a flushed cheek, you want your lips to look alive. And this can be done without a bold hue. Take KK for example: She's really rocking this. Make sure to NOT create a white lip. You also do NOT want to blend them so much with your skin color they look invisible. This is wear the HINT of color comes in.












2. Unisex Scents

Oh, the days of CK One and CK Be - Be One is the message. Which is a great statement when you are creating a scent that transcends gender. There is nothing sexier than the smell of a man. When they are fresh out of the shower, polished up for a night out or fancy event. It's intoxicating and can make you crazy. Of course a unisex scent is a bit more on the masculine side of things. As it could never contain the florals, vanillas or sweetness of the femme scents. Here are a few that you might want to check out the next time you're in need of a switch up:

He does it again CK One Summer


 
 
Coolwater by Davidoff
 
 
 
D'Orange Verte by Hermes





3. Dark Gloss

Now this was not my favorite look of the 90s. And personally I think it was often done alllll wrong.
For example:




But luckily they're doing this over again. Giving it another try and this time they're doing it the right way!

Dark lips have never been sexier. The pale skin dark lipped look has died with the 90s and now we (people of the modern day) are using contouring and other great makeup techniques to make a dark hue bold and sexy. This look isn't for everyone. And it may seem out of your comfort zone. But


 Be Brave. Be Bold. Test it out with drugstore colors if you're unsure of the perfect shade for you. OR another great option is to stop by a MAC or Sephora store and ask them to match you and you can have them test the colors on you for free. Perfect for a girl on a budget. You don't always want to throw 10.00 away on a look that you can't get comfortable with.
 
4. Glitter Shadow

As scary as this sounds we are thinking less trashy more classy...right? I'm not sure how I feel about glitter shadows on the regular, howeverrr for a night out/evening look this could be okay. I'm more in to a metallic myself IF I'm going to crazy. Otherwise I'm in to neutrals (which we will discuss in point 6). But lets keep sophistication and professionalism in mind here. I think the perfect example of what I mean is provided by the Spice Girls. They've aged, matured and come in to their own as adults.
So less of this

 
more of this


5. Blue Nails
 I'm a huge fan. Some of my favorite blue colors out right now are:

Essie: Something Borrowed and Blue
OPI: Keeping Suzi at Bay
China Glaze: Frost Bite

My only stipulation on blue; never leave a chipped nail. Thisss is when particular colors become a real mess. Blue is one of them. Your blue nails need to be in top polish shape. NO chips, top coat for shine and if you can get around to it, file them in to a nice square shape or get them in to a natural looking rounder tip shape. If you're one of those girls who can't keep polish on your nails try out Shellac or OPI Gelcolor options at a nail salon. They have great color options and are guaranteed to last 2 weeks.

6. Neutral Shadow

This is my favorite look. Because you can really do so much with a neutral color palette. You don't have to look like you have pounds of makeup on to look radiant. Neutral shadows can help even out your complexion to create an effortless makeup appearance. For example:

These fresh faced looks are amazing for Spring/Summer. You never want to feel bogged down by your makeup in the heat. And once you have a slight tan you'll feel much better about not hiding behind your makeup. With some nude shadow you can really pull these looks together. The cat eye has never looked better with a simple sweep of neutral shadow over the entire lid, a slightly dark contouring color in your crease/brow bone and a black liner is great for the office or evening hours.


 Here are some additional neutral looks that you can rock day or night

 Bold lip, soft eyes
                         make your lashes pop with just a hint of liner closest to the lash line, and it still looks natural.



7. White eye pencil

Now this was not a good look back in the 90's. Heavy on the lash line is how I remember it, and never flattering on anyone. Luckily for us in this day and age we are using it as a highlighter. As you probably know from reading every single beauty magazine and tip out there these days, we are huge on highlighting and contouring the face. With highlighters and bronzers you can achieve the perfect Kim Kardashian makeup look. This is the same for your eyes. You want your makeup to look fresh, bright and like you have had a good night sleep, no matter what kind of hanky panky, movie or activities are keeping you up at night. This can be achieved by highlighting the inner corner of your eyes with a white liner. Let me demonstrate:















See the way these inner corners are highlighted? This of course, can be used in conjunction with your liquid liner or your neutral shadows. But it creates a bright eye effect that doesn't always come naturally. Some of us have the unfortunate curse of bags or dark circles. This is so common and there are many corrective measures. But this happens when you have thin skin under your eyes and the blood vessels are exposed which creates the dark circle effect. With the right combination of concealer, foundation, powder and eye makeup, you can really fix that entire situation.
 
Now you can achieve a fresh face like those people who ARE really getting a good 8 hours in each night!

8. Molding wax

Since pixie cuts have become so popular I think this is great for a piecey look like Jennifer Lawrence is rocking right now. Do you think that Miley's hair doesn't need a little molding wax before she heads out for a day of news worthy events? Wrong! This even works so well for a long bob or the LOB if you will, to create an amazing bang! Lets take a look, shall we?







Wednesday, January 8, 2014

My thoughts on an article from "WhoWhatWear"

Thank you to WHOWHATWEAR for posting this simple and concise slide show of the 7 Key Pieces

http://www.whowhatwear.com/essentials-new-year-key-pieces-investment-2014

Check this out for a complete wardrobe makeover with only 7 ideas.

My thoughts:

1. Love a navy blazer. Mine is from H&M and was fairly reasonable in price (50.00 range). It's such a versatile piece that can be worn in the office or on the street. Some of my favorite looks are navy blazer with a great dress or with a cute blouse and skirt for work. Pair it with a great button down blouse and dark wash jeans and heels for cocktail hour. Or pair it with boots or flats, jeans and a great tartan flannel and scarf for the ultimate casual look.

2. Jeans: a staple in any closet. Male or female. Dark wash is classic and transitions well from day to night. However light denim has been showing it's face around the scene a lot more lately. And I'm loving it! Chunky knit, layered with a white collared button down, statement necklace, light denim and heels. SMASH HIT! Roll your jeans at the ankle for a casual and cute effect with heels, flats or sandals!!

3. Lips On: Once a teacher of mine (JJ) swore by this one little item. Putting your lips on can complete a look. I find it best with simple eyes for a less dramatic effect. A simple, fresh, daytime look with a splash of color. And be sure to ask at the counter to get the perfect orange hue for your skin tone!

4. Bags: I'm a bag fanatic! And I am really loving a soundly structured bag. Shoulder bag or hand bag doesn't matter much. But finding a classy and fun print is going to be very exciting this season. Be sure not to underestimate stores like Aldo, H&M and Forever 21. Depending on your needs these stores can provide you with a decent bag for girls on a budget.

5. The Mule: I'm not necessarily a fan, and you can definitely count me out of this trend. I will not be owning a pair. However, I stand by my motto "you can rock anything with the right pairings to make an outfit". So for those of you who are in to this trend. You can try them with all sorts of styles. Go casual with a boot cut jean and a blouse for a lunch date. Pair them with a pencil skirt and ruffled button down. Many options for those of you loving the mule!

6. Earring Jacket: had to google this one myself. So for those of you who are thinking "earring jacket?" don't be embarrassed. So essentially this is for the Stud earring lovers of the world, like myself. Take a perfectly simple pair of studs and add a jacket. What this does is fancies up a basic earring. See the link below for some really pretty jackets. I'm a fan of the stud. The thing is, they can often be too casual for a fancy party, big event, or even a night out. When you want a little bling in your (ear)ring you can add an earring jacket! Kind of a neat idea, I think.

www.earring-jackets.com

7. Underpinnings: I for one have become extremely keen on the idea of a matching panties and bra set. In my younger days I was all about being a hot mess under my clothes. Animal print on top, stripes or dots on the bottom half. But as I age and getting more in touch with me I'm really digging the matching sets. It's sexy. It's sophisticated. It's put together. And I feel that it adds a touch of confidence when you're being undressed ;)

Just a little food for thought. Loving this article. Keeping a wardrobe makeover really simple.
Adding a few pieces can make you feel refreshed without breaking the bank. And keeping an eye out for the perfect items this Spring will be very exciting I'd say!!

xo

L.