We’ve been having cooler days and I’ve been counting down till Fall weather hits. I don’t know about you but I’m over Summer weather. So at a dinner party the boyfriend and I decided to to match with some stripes and reverse layering.
Hers:
Dress: American Apparel | Short sleeve sweater: J. Crew | Shoes: Franco Sarto | Watch: Casio
His:
Long sleeve shirt: APC | Short sleeve shirt: Aime Leon Dore | Slacks: J. Crew | Shoes: Cole Haan
ACTION SHOT.
I’m not really a lip gloss gal. But after getting in to lipsticks – and color on my face, in general – I began looking for something I could wear everyday that wasn’t as “high maintenance” as a lipstick. After some Youtube research, I bought NYX’s Butter Gloss in Creme Brûlée. I honestly didn’t think I’d gravitate to it as much as I have in the past month and a half. Now, before I walk out of the door, I always make sure it’s in my purse.
Color/Swatch: NYX offers numerous colors of the gloss, but I got Creme Brûlée because it seemed like the closest to my regular lip color. I didn’t like the glossiness at first, but I’ve found that it’s not so bad. It gives my lips a little more fullness.
Application: The gloss comes with a doe foot applicator – pretty typical. It holds a lot of product so I always make sure I take some off the edge of the tube before applying.
Price: These babies only go for $4.99 at Ulta. Pretty awesome for an everyday, opaque gloss.
I really love combining this gloss with my Sephora Creme Lip Stain (in Infinite Rose). They go so well together and have become my day-to-day go to lip routine. Fellow Trendy Mess writer, Megan, wrote a review on these lip stains here. I wanted to give them a try since she loved them so much, but I never fell in love with it until I discovered the NYX butter gloss with the Sephora lip stain. I can see myself re-buying both of these products over and over again.
Left – NYX Butter Gloss in Creme Brûlée, Right – Sephora’s Cream Lip Stain in Infinite Rose
With spring in full-bloom a lot of people, including myself, are finding themselves in a cleaning frenzy. When purging my closet I often find I debate over the fate of some items for way too long. I’ll usually end up keeping about 80% of my clothes and donating the rest. But in recent efforts to keep an edited wardrobe (That I actually love and completely wear), I’ve come to terms that some clothes just need to be let go.
Image via The Mobile Style Lounge
So for those who are like me and cannot wrap their brains around whether to toss or keep an item, then this is for you. A sort of “Keep or Toss” quiz that will help you make decisions quickly and efficiently. Just remember to donate what you don’t want because one woman’s donation is another woman’s thrifted Thursday haul! Good luck and happy cleaning!
Forever 21 earrings, Lucky Brand blouse, Express cardigan, Michael Kors bag, hand-me-down bracelet, H&M pants, Sam & Libby oxfords
Tuesdays are date night with the Boyfriend so I wanted to wear something that would transition well from office to nightlife. Enter this sequined blouse from Lucky Brand. But before I go any further I want to note that this top is borrowed from my sister who is home from college for the summer (Which means double the closet for me!).
Anyway, this number is absolutely beautiful. Intricate beading and sequins cover the entire blouse in a Tetris like pattern. When incorporating the top into my outfit I at first wanted to keep everything else plain and neutral. Let the piece be a statement alone. But then I saw my metallic oxfords and knew I had to pair the two.
I bought these oxfords from Target a few weeks back. I’d been hesitantly eying them online for a while, but when I saw them in person I was automatically sold. They gleam in the sunlight and provide tons of flair with even more function. They’re super comfortable and the cut-outs allow your feet to breathe which is especially useful for hot, humid DC days.
Quite frankly, I’m not a “risk taker” when it comes to fashion- which is why I started to want to branch out and try new things when it comes to my style. I’m still learning and this post just goes to show that the plain jane will always be in me… especially when I pick out an outfit for work. But I did try to spice up the outfit with a few details!
Button-up: American Eagle Outfitters | Skirt: J.Crew | Shoes: Lily’s
Necklace: H&M| Watch: Michael Kors
I paired a classic white button-up with a “statement” skirt. The waist is ruffled which makes the outfit less boring. Also, can anyone else think of a color more taken for granted in the “professional scene” than grey? Cause I can’t. This is probably my favorite skirt for work because of the color- a break from the typical black, navy or khaki around the office- and of course, the pockets! I included my maroon, suede loafers for a pop of color. I paired the outfit with a plain, but edgy gold necklace (you’ll probably see this necklace on me a lot because I’m in love with it) that matches my gold Michael Kors watch.
I’m trying right?!
Takeover Tuesday featuring Miguel Almario
Occupation: Physical Therapy Student
How would you describe you style?
A recovering Hypbeast? Kidding.
I like my outfit to be understated without being boring. Classics that fit well. I don’t like looking as if I’m vying for attention or that I got dressed by looking at tumblr.
What piqued your interest into the “style game”?
To honest, it probably started as self-awareness, self-consciousness, and vanity. I think we all have an innate desire to want to define ourselves as unique, and I’m no different.
What is your favorite trend at the moment?
Trend hopping can be tricky. You might end up spending a lot of money trying to follow trends that are currently fading, and you’ll end up with an outdated wardrobe. That being said, I do enjoy the color-blocking and off-white pieces that I’m seeing for Spring and Summer.
Although you are a student/young professional and budgeting for clothes can be difficult, do you believe quality is important?
Definitely. We live in an age of disposable fashion. Big box stores will take a trend, make slight alterations, screen-print it on low quality fabric then send it out for mass production. The quality of a garment can certainly affect the way it fits or drapes. You often get what you pay for.
With that said, what are some of your favorite brands/stores to shop at?
If we’re talking about quality, A.P.C. has to be one of my favorites. No frills, understated, minimalist pieces. It’s a bit more on the higher end of the spectrum but you’re paying for the quality of fabric and construction rather than logos or advertisements.
What articles of clothing would you recommend to someone who is just starting out and why?
Fit is king in terms of pieces so let’s put that out there first. That being said:
1. A good pair of denim Doesn’t have to be look painted on, but give the ass-sag a rest. You ain’t Weezy.
2. A white button down that isn’t two sizes too big and doesn’t look like it should be paired with a dinner jacket. Find something that fits your frame and is made out of a versatile fabric.
I’d like to start off by apologizing for my pictures. I worked with what the sun gave me.
My lipstick collection is in its first few months of life, but I wanted to share four colors that I’ve been loving.
1. The newest addition to my very small collection. It’s the NYX Extra Creamy Round Lipstick ($4.00) in Haute Melon. I was trying to venture out of my comfort zone a bit and get something I typically don’t gravitate to. Since the orange lip seems to be making an appearance everywhere, I tried to look for something along the lines of orange and coral. After a few swatches taken on my arm during a visit to ULTA, I decided on this hue. The lighting in my picture kind of doesn’t do the color justice, but hopefully the picture of the swatch on my arm allows you guys to see the truer color of the lipstick. I think it has just the right amount of orange for my taste and skin color, and I love the shine it gives off.
2. Our regular blog readers know how much I love NARS Sheer Lipstick ($26) in Dolce Vita. I wrote a review on it here. No need to reinvent the wheel. I love it. Cult Classic.
3 & 4. I’ve wanted to share the last two lipsticks with ya’ll for many, many months now, but for one reason or another, haven’t gotten to it. These are my absolute favorites and I didn’t pick them out. MY BOYFRIEND DID and he deserves an applause for it. Over a year ago, he went on a trip with his family to the Philippines and I told him to bring me back make-up (random, I know). He came home with the most opaque, smooth, creamy, moisturizing and long lasting lipsticks that I own. They’re by the Korean company The Face Shop in colors 116 (#3) and 10 (#4). (Unfortunately, I don’t know which lipsticks theses are on the website since they have a few on the website and their packaging has changed.) #3 is more on the bright pink side while #10 is the typical deep red. I can apply these bad boys before work and feel confident my lips still look like there is color on them at the end of the day. And yes, even after 2 meals, drinking, talking, whatever. They also have an awesome moisturizing quality about them that I love. Usually, I have to apply chapstick before applying lipstick for my lips to look healthy and smooth, but not with these. If I could, I’d buy more shades of these. THEY ARE SERIOUSLY THE BOMB.COM – no exaggeration.
I have never been one for fragrances. I always thought they smelled offensive or overbearingly floral, like something a grandma should be wearing. It wasn’t until my little sister — always the adventurous one — stated she wanted to have a “signature scent,” that I began sniffing all those shiny glass bottles at ULTA. We ended up liking, but never purchasing, two scents from Versace; Bright Crystal for her and Yellow Diamond for me. So when Megan and Paula posted their recent fragrance reviews I figured I’d take the plunge. And like them, I my wallet couldn’t commit to a bottle yet. Here are my thoughts on the fragrance:
First off, the packaging of this rollerball is very luxe. It features a top, text, and the Versace logo in gold on a clear, glass vile. From a design nerd perspective, it looks simple, clean, and elegant. Much like the scent itself. Speaking of, I can’t possibly do justice in describing this perfume so I’ll let Sephora explain.
“Like a burst of light, the fragrance gleams and glistens as it opens with notes of bright citron, a fresh pear sorbet, sparkling bergamot, and an accent of neroli. As its heart emerges, the rare elegance of orange blossom shines through the light of freesia and mimosa with the natural transparency of nymphea. The lingering base notes add a fascinating sense of sensuality with ambery woods, the sunny and vibrant character of palo santo wood, and the refined presence of musk.”
I love that this scent is soft, subtle, and not sickeningly sweet. As far as I know (Which isn’t much. Hello, first fragrance), it’s versatile enough to wear on an every day basis or for a special occasion. The only downfall is that the aroma does wear off throughout the day, to the point where I can only smell the musky notes. I don’t know if this is because I habituate to it or if the perfume really just disappears. Although, I’ve heard if you apply a bit of petroleum jelly to your skin before spraying (Don’t know how well this works with a rollerball) your perfume it will last longer. So I’ll give that a try if I purchase the 1 oz. bottle. All in all, the next time you visit ULTA or Sephora I recommend checking out Yellow Diamond to see if you like it as much as I do!
Forever 21 earrings, hand-me-down bracelet, J. Crew dress, H&M blazer, Michael Kors bag, Predictions heels
I have the most trouble getting dressed in the morning during the work week. My wardrobe isn’t exactly where I’d like it to be, in terms of “professionalism,” so dresses are usually my go-to pieces. They’re low effort, high reward. I bought this number at a J. Crew outlet last summer and have been waiting for the perfect spring day to wear it out.
This is probably my favorite dress I own. It cinches me at the waist and flows away in just the right places. The photo doesn’t do the color justice but it’s a bright, almost neon, coral. It is definitely eye-catching; I stood out among the neutral sea of work attire on the metro and even got a few compliments in the office. Since the hue practically punches you in the face, I tried to keep my accessories muted and simple. These nude heels from Payless — yes, Payless — are the epitome of comfort. I spent 10+ hours in them and my feet had no aches or pains whatsoever.
I don’t know if it was the fact that I listened to Kelis’ “Bossy” while getting ready for work in the morning or this power outfit, but I felt like a boss a** b**** all day. So I guess it goes to show: When you look good, you feel good.
I live about 15 minutes outside of Baltimore – heroin capitol of the US of A. In all seriousness (although that first statement was serious…), Baltimore city has some beautiful sights to see. I learned to embrace this city, with it’s morsels of awesomeness back in college when a night in Federal Hill or Fells Point meant an epic night out.
This OOTD was inspired by my favorite YouTube star heyclaire. She’s edgy, embraces simple AND statement pieces, and most importantly, homegirl is from the DMV area.
Sweater: H&M | Jean Jacket: Thrifted (Old Navy) | Skirt: Charlotte Rouse
Crossbody: Micheal Kors | Watch: Michael Kors | Necklace: H&M
Shoes: Steve Madden
I typically don’t like tight fitting clothes so I paired my bodycon skirt with a slouchy (and comfy) sweater. The jacket gives the outfit a more casual feel, appropriate for the bar scene. And of course, boots to stomp around in.
The Trendy Mess 