The New Look: Rosy Cheeks and Pink Lipstick

When it comes to makeup, I tend to go for the subtle, natural look. In fact, I tend to forgo wearing makeup at all on a daily basis. On the runway, designers are not using the smokey eye look so much. Pink lipstick and rosy cheeks are becoming very popular. This is a great trend, because it's simple, feminine and anyone can wear it! Here are some examples.

From Michael Kors Fall 2012, you can see the red lips and pink cheeks feel. Notice how the eyes have very little makeup on them, as not to distract from the lower half of the face.

Photo: MTV

From Diane von Furstenberg Fall 2012, as you can see they went with an even softer look. The pink is so light that you can barley see it. A hint of blush and a tiny bit of blue and grey eyeshadow highlights these outfits well.

Photo: FABSUGAR

From Alexander McQueen Fall 2012, these were some of the only models who's faces weren't covered. Although the outfits and hairstyles make their faces seem dark, if you pay attention to their makeup, it is light pink. The pink lips and silver eye shadow don't take away from the magnificent outfits.

Photo: Footluxe

From Stella McCartney Fall 2012, each of these models has on pink lipstick and eyeshadow. It looks gorgeous and works really well with the royal blues of the outfits. Also, having the hair pulled back is a great way to show of this look.

Photo: Vogue on Tumblr

Lastly, from Giorgio Armani Fall 2012. All of the women in the show wore hats that covered most of their faces, we can see the face in this picture. Pink lipstick, blush and black liner make sizzle right along with these dresses. To soften the look, pull your hair down and use mascara only.

How to Wear:

This look works with all skin tones, but you may need to do a little hunting for the right shades. Wear with black eyeliner for a night out or only mascara during the day. The bolder the pink, the less casual it gets.

What do you think?
 Do you like this trend? Any of the looks in the photos stand out in particular? What did I leave out? Please leave a comment and let me know what you think!

The Perfect Purse

There are only a few things that women will happily shell out thousands of dollars. Shoes and purses are the two main ones. Some women collect hundreds of shoes, other will wear a different bag with each outfit. Most of us though, don't have an extra two thousand dollars. So here are some purses that you can wear with almost every outfit, to get the most out of your money.

Photo: Forever 21

 I highly recommend owning a large black tote, like this one from Forever 21. These go with almost anything and are large enough to carry everything. The hardware is very simple, so it won't distract from what you are wearing. This bag is only $33.

Photo: Brandy Melville

If you are into the boho look, then this is the purse for you. From Brandy Melville, it has he fringes that we are seeing everywhere, from clothes to shoes. The size is great for carrying all of your essentials. This is $30.

Photo: American Apparel

This bag is one of my favorites. From American Apparel, this bag is appropriately named "Leather Everyday Bag" and will indeed go with most everything. It's very structured and has practically no hardware at all. The simple arcs of the handles and patches on the bottom corners will earn you lots of compliments. Due to the fact that is real leather, the bag will run you about $145 but it will be a good investment I promise.

Photo: Zara

If you love casual weekends at the park, sampling the local fare at the farmer's market and staying in bed as long as possible, this tote is for you. From Zara, the size is amazing and the buckles are really cute. Sling this over your shoulder to the beach or for a picnic but it also works as a bag while your out shopping. This is about $60.

Photo: TheStyleCure

This bag is perfect for walking around town, and has some nice zippers. From Macy's, this bag a a nice leather look and has a handle, and shoulder strap for wearing flexibility. This purse can even come along with you to a nice dinner! This purse is a little expensive, for about $90.

Photo: Forever 21

If you have an edgier sense of style, a purse with studs and buckles will work great. This one from forever 21 looks great with most outfits, and has a small amount of studs, a buckle and a good amount of hardware for a tougher look. This bag is only $35.

Photo: Forever 21

For an evening out or a party, I adore this little bow clutch from Forever 21. It even comes with a little chain for a shoulder strap. This clutch is only $20.

What do you think?

Tell me about your favorite purses and handbags. How much will you spend on really nice purse? Please make a comment!

Designer Copycats

We all love designer clothing, shoes, eyewear, bags and just about anything that they will, and can design. The question is why? Why do we all love such expensive things that we would most likely wear only once. Why do we love things with designer logos and brand names written across them? The answer? The quality is better. The feeling of silk brushing past your skin and gritty leather on your jacket is some thing that we live for. The detail is 'impeccable' on a lace dress and the tortoise shell on the glasses looks 'almost real'. The ideas that some of these people come up with are almost magical and unreal. However, we normally can live with the look of an imitation. While original pieces may be hard to recreate, these popular trends look very similar and are often a fraction of the cost.

Photo: Bloomingdales

Photo: Forever 21

The original leather coat is from Michael Kors and is real leather, has great buckles and buttons. The copycat is Forever 21, one of my favorite stores. The color is very similar and it also has some zippers. You can get it, for about $30.

Photo: Bloomingdales

Photo: H&M

The first dress is from Diane von Furstenberg and has a contemporary floral pattern. It's for the most part  fitted and has a little gathering towards the left side of the dress. The copycat is from H&M and has the same classy element to it. The pattern on the H&M dress is less contemporary, but the colors are similar and the dress is fitted as well. The H&M dress is about $50, which is 1/8 the price of the Diane von Furstenberg dress.

Photo: Victoria Beckham

Photo: Forever 21

The first dress is form Victoria Beckham, and make perfect use of the colorblocking trend. The two colors are opposites on the color wheel for the best contrast, and with capped sleeves and modest length it is perfect for a dinner party. The copycat is from forever 21, the dress is shorter and has no sleeves, but the lines fall in similar places. Black and white are also opposites so the contrast is also great. You can get this for about $20.

Photo: Handbags Geek

Photo: Silver Fever

This is my favorite example of a copycat. The first bag is from Louis Vuitton. The shape is great along with the stitching on the handles. The logos all over the bag offer some texture. While the bag is great it will set you back over $1000 dollars. he copycat is from Tosca handbags. The level of detail is profound and the hardware is so well thought out. The size of the bag is similar and the color is nearly the same. The best difference? The Tosca bag is just $75 dollars.

Photo: Polvyvore

Photo: Vogue Eyewear

The first pair of sunglasses are from Barton Perreria. They have a little bit of a cat eye, black frames and purple tinted lenses. The copycat is from Vogue Eyewear. he frames are thicker, but the colors and shape of the glasses are nearly identical. The best part? While the Barton Perreria glasses are about $300, the Vogue Eyewear glasses are only $70.

Photo: Christian Louboutin

Photo: Polyvore

Lastly, the first shoes are Christian Louboutin, and are a classic. The patent leather, peep toe and red underside make them a must have for most. Unless you want to pay $1000, these shoes from Aldo will suffice. Also patent, they have a similar height, platform and peep toe as the Louboutins, but these are only $50.

What do you think?
Tell me about your favorite designer copycats and stores to buy them at. Feel free to comment!

Trend: Blazers

The Boho look is the epitome of hippie, and disheveled. For a while now, we have been seeing this look a lot but designers are starting to shift their focus. Designers like Stella McCartney, Alexander Mcqueen and Kennith Cole are showing women in tuxedo jackets, bow ties and dress shirts. The blazer is becoming very popular because it's light, sophisticated and can still be casual. Here are some great blazers that you can throw on over everything.

Dressy:

Photo: Bloomingdales

A blazer like this looks a little bit more like a tuxedo jacket but, if you wear this with some trousers and stilettos you are sure to be drop dead gorgeous. This is from BCBG MAXAZRIA and the look of the coat is very popular right now. Along with a thin collar, no buttons and pointed shoulders it is very clean and modern.

Casual:

Photo: Forever 21

A denim blazer like this one, from Forever 21 will be very casual. It's lightweight and has a no pockets for a simple look. During the day, place a thin belt around your waist over the blazer. During the evening, wear skinny jeans, a black blouse and pumps.

Pattern:

Photo: Chick Downtown

A pattern with flowers on a blazer, like this one from ASOS will catch a lot of attention, but you can't over do the rest of your outfit. Wear a white shirt, with black trousers or skinny jeans with black pumps to really wow.

Long:

Photo: Bloomingdales

A Blazer with longer sleeves and length, like this one from Theory will look more elegant and more serious. Wear this with a pencil skirt and a dress shirt.

Cropped:

Photo: Forever 21

A cropped blazer like this one from Forever 21 is flirty and fun, perfect for school or just studying at the park. Wear one with a fun color and shorter sleeves for the best results.

What do you think?
Tell me about your favorite blazers, ways to wear them and ideas for trends. Anything that I left out? Tell me!

Trend: Peter Pan Collar

Girly, simple and sophisticated are all a part of the peter pan collar trend. This look is becoming very popular with everyone from teenagers to high end designers. The namesake came from the classic Disney character Peter Pan who wore a collar with rounded edges. Anyone can wear this trend, which can be dressed up or down and bring out your young girl inside. Here are a few options:

Lace:

Photo: Forever 21

This top from Forever 21 is delicate, floral, soft pink and very feminine. Wear this with a pleated black skirt, or black skinny jeans along with some heels.

Dress:

Photo: ASOS

This dress is from ASOS and is a classic perfect for an evening out to a nice restaurant. This is also great for school. Even when your in college this dress will help bring back the school girl look. Wear this with black flats or heels to keep it simple.

Blouse:

Photo: Style Hive

This top is Marc by Marc Jacobs. This is definitely on the dressier side but capped sleeves and ruffles make this a little softer. Wear with black dress pants, blazer and heels to work or some black skinny jeans for an evening dinner.

Casual Top:

Photo: Forever 21

From Forever 21, this is your best option if you just want a simple tank top. Being just black and white it goes with almost everything in your closet, from shorts to jeans to skirts. Wear with skinny jeans and flats for daytime coffee or black jeans and heels for dinner.

How to Wear:

Because the collar brings attention to the neck, you should avoid necklaces to prevent over shadowing of the collar. Less is more when it comes to jewelry! If wearing with a skirt, tuck in the top.

An Outfit for the Dare Devil

Please leave a comment for any post! I want to hear what you think!

The person who has a fiery energy, carries herself with pride and seems to rule over every party that she has gone to is a Dare Devil. If your a Dare Devil you tend to be wild, love thrills, being the center of attention and of course, making bold statements. New concepts and untested ideas are exciting and fun to you and the same should go for your outfits. Being trendy and edgy is the best combo to make you shine, day or night. Here are two options for you.

Outfit #1:

This is a great option to show people your sense of style. Leather shirts are just showing up in the fashion industry. This leather top from Rozae by Rozae Nichols, while expensive is sure to get you noticed. The pair of red skinny jeans are forever 21. The tinges of black ties in the leather nicely and are really unique. These strappy shoes from Forever 21 will tie it all in. If it's sunny out, wear a pair of classic wayfarers, like these from forever 21. Wear this with a leather or black clutch out for a night on the town to show people your wild side.

Outfit #2:

The yellow top from American Apparel is has a turtle neck, but it's also a tank top, which is a great take on the classic sweater. The pop of color will catch peoples eyes, no matter where you are. This pair of skinny jeans are high waisted to make your legs look even longer. They are from J Brand and are very simple. Complete with these amazing pair of shoes from Forever 21. The studs are lethal and will get the attention from everyone. The gold studs and the yellow from the top will go together very well. Wear this with a white purse as you strut along the sidewalks in the big city.

Trend: One Shoulder

This look is starting to become much more popular lately, even though it has been around for quite a while. The reason why it's so popular is because the shoulder is a flattering spot on everyone. Having an exposed shoulder can make you look more feminine. This look can be seen on everything, from shirts, dresses and swimsuits.

Fancy Dress:

Photo: Forever 21

This dress from forever 21 is much more conservative than the traditional one shoulder. the color is an icy green and will help everyone look a little more delicate and sophisticated. Wear this with nude heels, it will do a lot for the dress and your legs. The coverage is great and the dress is long enough that it can be worn during the day or evening.

Casual Dress:

Photo: Forever 21

This dress is from Forever 21 and is very casual. Wear this during the day with some brown leather lace up or cowboy boots to give this a nice southern look.

Casual Top:

Photo: American Apparel

This top is from American Apparel and is definitely very casual. I like the softness of it and the fact that it is very simple. This can be worn to the beach, the park or on a hot day. Wear this with some high waisted shorts, with denim shorts or boyfriend jeans.

Dressy Top:

Photo: Zappos

This top is from Michael Stars, where some of my favorite t-shirts are from. This top is perfectly flowy and elegant. With pair of white dress pants or skinny jeans and heels, wear this to a dinner party.

Swimsuit:

Photo: Macys

This swimsuit is from DNKY. Stripes are really in right now, and this suit does a great job of using them. The coverage is great and the little tie at the top is a nice detail.

What do you think?


Do you like the one shoulder trend? Have you worn it yet? Anything that I left out. Please comment!

A Simple Skin Care Routine

Having a great sense of style is nice, but what can really make an outfit pop is bright, clear skin. Also, makeup tends to work better on clearer skin and you will need less of it. When I wake up in the morning or am ready to go to bed in the evening, I am normally groggy and tired. I never even think of taking even a half hour to cleanse, exfoliate and perfect my skin. I'm sure many people feel the same, so here are three quick skin care routines for each skin type.

Dry Skin:

Photo: Drugstore.com

Photo: Drugstore.com

If your skin feels rough, flaky, red or stretched tightly you most likely have dry skin. When you have dry skin do not over exfoliate or cleanse to often. Your skin will dry out even more because you are removing to much of the natural oils. Here is a great way to help your skin:

1. Wet your skin with cold water
2. Apply a cleanser like Cetaphil, made for sensitive skin
3. Massage gently into the skin
4. Wash out with cold water
5. Apply a moisturizer or night cream, like Neutrogena Naturals Nourishing Night Cream. It's dermatologist recommended and contains vitamins for your skin.

Do this only once a day at night, and exfoliate from once a week to once every two weeks depending on how dry your skin is. That way you can remove any dead or flaky skin. According to Mayo Clinic, taking less hot showers, avoiding chlorinated pools and cold weather can improve your dry skin. If you do any of these things make sure you moisturize before and after.

Normal Skin:

Photo: Drugstore.com

If your skin doesn't feel particularly oily or dry, you are very lucky. Normal skin is hard to find and maintain. It could have to do with your genetics, but you must be doing something right! Acne is a common problem for people with normal skin. Keeping your face clean can do wonders even for someone with seemingly flawless skin.

1. Wet skin with cold water
2. Apply a cleanser of your choice, non scented and help for acne are usually good like Neutrogena Transparent Facial Bar, Acne Prone Skin Formula Soap.
3. Massage gently into the skin
4. Wash out with cold water

You may use an extra finishing product, but don't over do it. You can do this twice a day and exfoliate once a week.To keep acne at bay, keep stress levels low and cleanse often.

Oily Skin:

Photo: Drugstore.com

Photo: Drugstore.com

If your skin looks shinny, feels slippery or slimy or you have a lot of acne you may have oily skin. If you have oily skin, you need to start by really cleaning out your skin. However, if you cleanse too much you may dry out your skin and have it produce more oil.

1. Wet skin with cold water
2. Apply a facial cleanser made for oily skin and acne, like Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash
3. Massage gently into skin
4. Wash out with cold water
5. Use cleansing pads to get the remaining dirt out, like OXY Cleansing Pads Maximum Strength

You may wash your skin twice a day but use the acne pads only at night, as to not dry out your skin. Exfoliate once a week to remove dead skin. Once your skin clears up, you can put a little moisturizer into your skin to keep it healthy.

Exfoliating:

Photo: Clarisonic

Photo: Drugstore.com

As far as exfoliating goes I use my Clarisonic Mia along with Cetaphil to keep my normal skin nice and smooth once or twice a week. More traditional exfoliators include micro beads to remove the dead skin. Try something like Neutrogena Deep Clean Gentle Scrub once a week. Make sure to do this at night because a little redness can occur.

I hope you all keep your skin nice and clean so your outfits will shine!

Heels or Flats?

Lately, the heels on stilettos are getting higher and not everybody is enjoying it. Doesn't everybody think that it's a little awkward when a girl is a couple inches taller than her date? This problem can be easily fixed. Wear smaller heels!
   Why do women like heels? First of all, they make everything look better. Legs longer and leaner, and the torso is tucked in and forward making a flatter stomach. Another reason why we love them? It makes us feel powerful and confident.
    But heels aren't always so great. They can cause damage to almost everywhere in your body. The back, legs, feet, and stomach all aren't used to having their center of balance shifted. While only wearing heels on special occasions won't do any harm, wearing them all day a couple of days a week can.
   Also, younger girls are wearing heels, 12-13 year olds at the youngest. Starting this early can cause the same kind of damage to a girl who is still growing.
    If you want to wear heels but don't want to damage your body there are plenty of smaller, safer and more comfortable heels out there. Here are a few good ones.

Pumps:

Photo: H&M

These are from H&M. I like them because the heel is not very high and they still have the elegant and classic shape. wear these with dressier clothing, and save them for a night out.

Pastel:

Photo: Urban Outfitters

These are from Urban Outfitters. The heel is very low and the shoe is comfortable. I like the unique color pallet on the shoes. Wear these with a white shirt and jeans to keep them casual.

Bootie:

Photo: Buzz Net

These are from Urban Outfitters too. These booties come in two different colors, white and black. The lace detail is really nice. Wear these with a blouse to make them dressy or a flowy top and jeans to make them casual.

Wedge:

Photo: Polyvore

These are from Urban Outfitters. Although the heel looks high, the slant is not so the shoe should be comfortable. I love the simple design that can go with anything.

Cork:

Photo: Fashion Footwear Shop

These are from Ash. The heel is a little higher, but the design is simple and made for the shoe to be comfortable. These are also the perfect color to go with everything.

Pattern:

Photo: Polyvore

This shoe is from Urban Outfitters and have the lowest heel out of all these shoes. They make up for it in style. The flowers have a lot of detail and the green on the inside is just the right color. Wear these with jeans and either a white blouse or fitted top to determine whether the look is causal or dressy.

High heels can make an outfit look spectacular and classy. Now with the option of wearing lower heels  you can be stylish and more comfortable.

What do you think?


Do you wear high heels or prefer flats? Was this helpful or informative? Anything that I left out. Tell me!