Little Things Every Girl Should Own

There are a few simple items that can always pull an outfit together and give it a little more style. It's always a good idea to have a few of each of these items in your closet because as soon as you get used to working them into your wardrobe, they'll become a staple in your everyday attire.

1. Black Tights

[add sophistication, elongate your legs]

2. Skinny Belts

[enhance your waist, bring outfit together] 

3. Lightweight Scarves

[add color, dress up summer clothing]

4. Statement Glasses

[add class]

  

5. Hair Accessories

[add flare]

Now that we've covered five fun, easy additions to your wardrobe, there are also a few things that every girl should have on hand on a daily basis.

1. Rose Salve

Of my recent discoveries, rose salve is by far my favorite. It can be used for your lips, cuticles and any other dry skin. It usually comes in a small tin and can be found towards the front counters of any beauty supplier such a Bath and Body Works, Victoria's Secret, Sephora, etc.

2. Blotting Papers

Blotting papers are always important to keep on you, especially if your skin tends to get oily throughout the day. A good blotting paper removes excess oil from your face without ruining your makeup.

 3. Compact

As obvious as this one seems it should be, most girls don't actually carry compacts in their purses but always find a reason to need one.

4. Studs

Another problem I find often is either losing an earring, the back, or changing into an outfit and not having a pair of earrings to match. A good way to avoid this problem is to always keep a pair of studs in your handbag (either diamond or pearls) just in case. Usually a pair of simple posts go with any outfit and it's always nice to be prepared.

5. Fragrance

Last but not least, it's always a good idea to have some sort of body mist or perfume with you. I prefer to pack roll on scents (either liquid or hard) because they usually take up less room and don't spill as easily.

Hopefully these 10 staples in my fashion life will soon become necessities for you as well.

Good luck and happy shopping!

Summer Essentials (Makeup Edition)

The key for this summer's all over look, as we talked about in the Hair Edition, is simplicity. If you cut your makeup routine down to a few key products over the next few months you not only create a more natural look, but you save yourself time and packing room on all those three day weekend plans.

First, replace your heavy foundation with a tinted moisturizer. Tinted moisturizer will help even out your skin tone while keeping your skin light. Be sure to get one with a built in sunscreen, because protecting your skin is the first step to a beautiful complexion.

Next, stay away from intense blushes and lip colors and go with a stain. Lip and cheek stains emphasize the natural color in your skin and avoid the caked on look. Also look for good highlighters to use around the eyes and cheek bones to add a youthful glow.

For eyes, keep shadows nude and light. Look for peaches and creams with light shimmer. For a little more definition add a soft brown to the crease of your eyelid. For this season, be sure to stick with waterproof mascara or a clear mascara for an even more natural look.

And the last key to a beautiful, natural summer look is a good sunless tanner. As I mentioned before, protecting your skin should be one of your top beauty concerns, but every woman likes to look as if she has a little sun kissed glow. Be sure to avoid lotions that create an orange tone. Faux Tan (by Bare Minerals, $21) gives a nice bronze look and comes out of the bottle an olive color so you can be sure of where you have already put and the places you have missed.

Now that you have your hair and makeup ready for any sunny day,

ready

set

GO!

Oooh Zooey.

To My Fashion Icon,

These are just a few reasons why I love you

yeah, I may be a little obsessed..



Summer Essentials (Hair Edition)

As summer is just around the corner, (or so we hope in Oregon..) it is important to evolve your overall look into something for the season. Like most other summer trends, hair this year is all about the undone look.

Color is leaning toward subtle highlights, soft hues and ombre techniques.

Ombre (which is when a color fades from a dark root to a light end) made its first big appearance this last fall but will remain in style throughout the summer.

To style your hair these next few months, keep "unkempt" in mind. This season it is all about the side braid, the loose bun, and the tousled mane look.

For an evening look, pull the messy bun and side braid together to give a cool bohemian vibe to a typical updo.

To give your hair that 'just back from the beach' like texture, try a salt spray such as the one by Label M or the "Salty Dog' by EVO. Both of these products plump up your hair just enough to give it that dirty, tousled look and feel like the day after you've washed it.

 Although this season is all about care free, low maintenance looks, it's vital to keep your hair in good condition. Invest in a nourishing but light product such as Moroccan Oil to keep your hair healthy and give it shine without weighing it down.

In order to achieve a well tousled look:

 1. Run Moroccan Oil through your hair when it is wet and blow dry

2. Take large sections of hair and wrap around the outside of a 1"-2" curling iron (do not use the clamp)

3. Curl hair from ends to about the ear, leaving the top of your head smooth

4. When all your ends are curled, break up the curls by either running your hand or a brush all the way through multiple times

5. Spray with sea salt

6. Scrunch

7. Shake

8. And go!

(yes I know I used Vanessa twice, but let's be honest, no one rocks this hair better than she does)

So be brave, try something new, and let loose!

Be sure to watch for the next chapter

Summer Essentials (Makeup Edition)

Where To Start

 

Audrey Hepburn once said “It seems to me that it is within the reach of every woman to develop a similar individuality of style by learning to know herself.” As is usually the case when it comes to style, Audrey, of course, was right. There are three main rules every fashionista must follow; know your body, know yourself, and learn how to flatter both.

 

Creating your own look goes far beyond the newest pair of shoes or the next great handbag. Style is about perfecting your silhouette from your A line bob to the tip of your stiletto, and every curve in between. Along with body type, everyone also has their own face shape. If recreating your style seems a bit overwhelming, your hair is a great place to start with the help of your stylist. Having no shape to your hair can defeat the purpose of even the perfect outfit, while often a great haircut can give you the confidence you need to carry an overall look.

 

 

Once your hair is getting you a fair amount of double-takes, move on to the rest of your figure. One of the best ways to learn how to flatter your shape is to first identify it, and then to find a celebrity with a build similar to your own. For instance, if you are 5’2” and a slender build, Beyonce is probably not the match for you, but Natalie Portman might be. Sometimes it’s easier to see what works and what doesn’t on someone other than yourself.

 

 

Next is to make this look your very own. The best way to express your personal style is in colors, fun prints, and unique jewelry. Often big trends are moderate if not completely unflattering to almost all body types, so avoid getting carried away in each season and focus more on statement pieces like a bold scarf or an fabulous vintage necklace.

 

 

The more familiar you become with the first two steps, the easier the third one will get for you. As every well dressed woman knows and Victoria Beckham once stated, “Looking good isn’t about money, it’s about style. And style never goes out of fashion.” So take that style, and make it yours, because one of the first steps to feeling good is knowing you look good. So go on, know yourself, love yourself, and shine.

 

 

 

The Difference Between "Cheap" and "Inexpensive"

As a girl who has spent many years shopping the sales rack, I understand the importance of a dollar..and getting it to stretch as far as possible, and then tugging at it a little more. The only problem with trying to cut corners in spending is that often it shows in what you purchase. When things are cheaply made, they usually are fairly obvious and last a fraction of the time, making the "deal" really not worth it.

cheap jeans (roughly $20)

 the medium fade, thin stretch material and skinny distress marks are sure signs of a "not worth it" deal.

Inexpensive Jeans: H&M, Gap, Urban Outfitters, Abercrombie & Fitch, Jolt Jeans

Splurge Jeans: Joe's Jeans, 7 for all Mankind, Citizens of Humanity, dVb

One of the best ways to get "splurge" jeans at the "inexpensive" price? Think resale! Many higher end second hand boutiques carry designer jeans in great condition for an unbelievable price. No stores near you? Ebay is another place for great finds. If you take good care of your clothing the second hand option is great for keeping your closet from overgrowing while still getting what you need. Sometimes it helps to always take something in to sell if you plan on bringing anything home.

*Be sure to note any frayed edges or fades on any second hand clothing

Another key to not looking "cheap" is knowing when to give things up. Holding onto a camisole for eight years that has been stretched to death and splits at the seams is not worth the frumpy signal it delivers. When your tank top drawer starts to look more like a rag bin, it's time to clear it out and start over. Nothing says hot mess like a ripped out two dollar wife beater, and no one should be sending that message except for maybe Ke$ha...

(please no one do this at home..)

As for cosmetics, makeup isn't something you should skimp on either. Brands such as Covergirl, Maybelline, N.Y.C. and Wet N' Wild should mostly be avoided when dealing with foundations and powders. These lines tend to cake and not blend well, drawing attention to your makeup instead of you. Brands like Physician's Formula, Bare Minerals, Youngblood, Mac (as well as many others) are much more complexion friendly and worth the extra dollar but won't totally break the bank. Things best purchased from drugstores? Mascara! I love drugstore mascara, it usually is thicker than the high end brands for those of us girls who love the vintage chunky lash look. Also the occasional eye shadow and liner can be a great find, such as NYX or Hard Candy, which have great pigment and fairly decent lasting factor.

As overused as the saying is, quality is always better than quantity. Always check the sales rack but be sure to sort through what really is a quality piece and what you're just grabbing because it seems too cheap to pass up. If you'd love it at full price, then it is something worth coming home with you!

Key Points To Remember:

1. Avoid cheap denim

2. Love your local resale store

3. Throw out worn down clothing

4. Invest in your makeup

5. Quality over quantity! 

*when clearing out your closet, always donate!