I love finding new brands, and I love jewelry, so it fits that I love this new jewelry band (I know, I have crazy math skills). Jacquie Aiche has an amazing, organic vibe that's sweet and earthy, but still polished. I had trouble narrowing down my top picks, but here are my six favorites from their line right now:
Double Prong Geode Ring, $255 at shopbop.com, Braided Silk Wrap Bracelet, on sale for $147 down from $210 at shopbop.com, Hummingbird Waif Ring, $88 at shopbop.com: That ring has a giant geode on it. A giant geode. Words are failing me. The contrast between the slick polish of the band and the craggy shape of the geode is so perfect, and it's just such a randomly awesome thing to wear. I wouldn't even want to layer it, I'd just wear that ring all on it's own so it could stand out. I love the slinky drape of this bracelet. Bangles freak me out, but the way that this bracelet slouches across the wrist is so insouciant and sexy. The mixed textures and dangling gold tassel coukld also add a ton of visual interest to a really basic outfit. How adorable is that hummingbird ring? It has a tiny hummingbird on it! A hummingbird! It's completely delicate and feminine, but not overly precious or girly at all.
Moonstone Candy Ring, $210 at shopbop.com, Layers Spiderweb Necklace, $255 at shopbop.com, Layers Hamsa Necklace, $165 at shopbop.com: That moonstone glows against the gold. That ring layered with a ton of skinny little gold bands, with the stone peeking out from the middle, would be so fantastic. These two necklaces look long, but they hit at the breastbone. The spiderweb is a bit larger, and I'd wear it solo so that all the focus is on the spiderweb. I mean, you're wearing a spiderweb necklace. It deserves attention, and there's something so goth-chic about it. This Hamsa neckace is my favorite. It's really small, so there's just a delicate little hand hitting right at your breastbone. The gold finish and minute size of the necklace are so delicate and chic, but the hand with the eye is a great statement, and I love the contrast between the look of the necklace and it's message.
Lauren Merkin Ostrich Paige Duffel Bag, $575 at shopbop.com: And this is random, but I want this bag. Want. Scratch that, need. The shape is totally classic, and practical, just a basic squared off duffel, but the embossed ostrich is so cheap-chic. I mean, it looks like real ostrich for a fraction of the cost, and the light grey body with the black trim is so versatile, but offbeat. And very me. I mean, I'm already making up outfits for this bag in my head. Drool.
Image Sources:
Geode ring: shopbop.com, Bracelet: shopbop.com, Hummingbird ring: shopbop.com, Moonstone ring: shopbop.com, Spiderweb necklace: shopbop.com, Hamsa necklace: shopbop.com, Bag: shopbop.com
So this Saturday was my 18th birthday (woot woot!), and only mild rebelliousness ensued, I promise. My super awesome friends got me some super awesome presents, and I thought I'd share a few of them with you guys (it's relevant, I promise).
Kimchi Blue Printed Chiffon Back Leaves Tank, $38 at urbanoutfitters.com, Forever21 Janice Woven Scarf in Teal, $10.80 at forever21.com: One of my bffsters got me this gorgeous Kimchi Blue tank from Urban Outfitters. I love the artsy purple and black print, but I really love the sheer back detail. Surprise back details are definitely my favorite, and this one manages to be sexy without going near skanky. She also got me these obscene bandaids from UO (teehee) that are totally immature and totally amazing. Another one of my friends got me a bunch of stuff from Forever21, including this green scarf because I remind her of the green scarf girl from Confessions of a Shopaholic (so cute!).
MAC Dazzleglass in Love Alert and Euro Beat, $18 at maccosmetics.com: What was really entertaining was that Holly, who's been on the blog before, noticed that I kept mentioning/whining that I didn't have any Dazzleglasses, and she decided to complete my collection. She got me Love Alert from Double Dazzle (instead of Rue d'Rouge, which she thought looked too red and she was right), and Euro Beat from Euristocrats II, and I'm soooo happy that she did. MAC describes Love Alert as a raspberry red with red pearl and Euro Beat as a peach coral with gold pearl. I'd say Love Alert is a raspberry red, but it definitely has blue-violet shimmer, not red shimmer, which gives it a bit more of a fuchsia vibe. Euro Beat is a peachy coral with gold and violet shimmer. On the lips, Love Alert is a light, berry-fuchsia with multi-dimensional, cool shimmer, and Euro Beat adds just a hint of golden-pink tint with a ton of gold and fuchsia shimmer. I like Euro Beat for daytime, because the shimmer adds polish without being over the top, and Love Alert for night because it adds a hint of vampiness, but the shimmer keeps it light.
The formula is a little on the thick and sticky side. This is definitely a 'get your hair caught in it' lip gloss, but that stickiness also means longer lasting power, so it's an even trade off in my book. I found both glosses nicely pigmented but easily layered, and they both have a slightly sweet, floral scent. The tubes themselves are small but well-made, but the brush applicators are interesting. The Love Alert applicator is totally fine, but the Euro Beat applicator is stiff enough to be deadly! I'm sure it'll soften over time, but just be aware that the applicators are inconsistent. Overall, though, I finally get what the fuss is about. Sure, they're more expensive than the usual MAC lipglosses, but I think the shimmer makes it worthwhile. I mean, I've seen shimmer, and this is SHIMMER. For a little magpie like me, that's the selling point.
Image Sources:
Urban Outfitters tank: urbanoutfitters.com, Love Alert Dazzlegass: ebay.com, Eurobeat Dazzleglass: cosmetixclub.com, Forever21 Scarf: forever21.com
It's important to have cute cocktailish dresses in the summer. Since it's so hot, you can't get away with layering a trendier coat over that classic LBD you've had for 5 years, or toughen up an overly girly dress with a boyfriend cardigan. Your outfit has to stand on the dress alone. Now, I'd love to be able to buy fresh summer party dresses each year, but as a college (or soon to be!) student, that's just not realistic. The way I see it, you can buy two types of dresses: classic summery dresses that will work for each summer for years to come, or cute dresses that are versatile enough to move seamlessly from season to season. Here are a few of my favorite summer party dresses (all under $600!).
Paul & Joe Sister Jolicouer Silk Tiered Mini Dress, $315 at net-a-porter.com, Jen's Pirate Booty Madonna Dress, $198 at shopbop.com, American Apparel Interlock Asymmetrical Dress, $42 at americanapparelstore.com: This Paul & Joe dress is so adorable. The nude shade is on-trend, but off-white is a classic enough color that this dress would have serious longevity. The ruffles at the bust would be perfect for a more boyish figure, and the bow at the neckline acts like a statement necklace, so you don't even have to wear jewelry with it! This Madonna dress is hilarious. It's so '80s, exposed bra, Desperately Seeking Susan (loves it!) Madonna, but the exposed bra trend is also very now. You could get away with wearing this dress for at least the next year, and even past that by layering a cute, colored cami underneath so the exposed section becomes more of a cutout, if that makes any sense. I love this American Apparel dress because it doesn't look like American Apparel. Take away the model, add a better belt and different lighting, and if you told me it was Shoshanna or Preen and retailed for $300+, I would totally believe it. The cut is classic, it comes in a ton of colors (I like black the best, but this pic had the best detail), and the asymmetrical sleeve detail with its high neckline is so now. You get all that for less than $50. Hello, steal.
Alexander Wang Long Sleeve Goddess Dress, $590 at shopbop.com, Rag & Bone Hellcat Dress, $330 at shopbop.com, Alexander Wang Long Sleeve Fitted Dress, $490 at shopbop.com: I wasn't that much of a fan of Alexander Wang's recent collection on the runway, but I'm loving it in retail. The draping is drop dead gorgeous, and I love his modern takes on the goddess look. The one sleeve look is hard to pull off, but if you're going to do it, do it in this dress. The slinky fit and jewel-tone hue take the cut from trendy to chic, and while all that draping should come across as bulky, it's totally sexy and sleek. That boy is a genius. I'm a sucker for a loose silk t-shirt dress. That's something so casually and accidentally sexy about them. The way this dress dips off the shoulder works perfectly with the boxy fit of the body, and that snakeskin/tie dye/marbelized print on the front is both confusing and amazing. Alexander Wang does a slightly more classic take on the exposed lingerie look with this fitted dress. It's a little more demure than the dress above, but it's still hardcore sexy. Personally, I think the sheer panel and exposed shoulders are even hotter than the whole cutout because they leave a little more to the imagination. I mean, this is a get revenge on your ex by looking damn fine dress, hands down.
Mason by Michelle Mason Asymmetrical Ruffle Dress, $374 at shopbop.com, Alexander Wang One Shoulder Goddess Dress, $595 at lagarconne.com, Clu Tank Dress with Pleated Skirt, $242 at lagarconne.com: I think this Michelle Mason dress toes the line between being a summer and a year-round dress. The asymmetrical sleeve and neon hue are very now, but the idea of a berry colored, silk mini dress is very classically summery. This dress just looks so fun to wear, and the loose shape combined with the ruching at the waist is such a flattering cut. The middle dress is my hands down favorite. It has an amazing modern goddess/warrior vibe, and it manages to be insanely sexy without exposing that much skin (then again, I have low standards in that dept). The draping is just so perfect, I love the slight cap sleeve and the mixture of the reserved cut and fit with the sexy alien vibe of the shiny draping. This last dress is for all the hippies out there. I think it works because the shape is very loose and carefree, but the slight sheerness of the skirt and the scoop-neck take it from daisy-chain making to ballerina gone bad. Pair that dress with some trannie heels and a hardcore necklace, and you've got a chic, wearable look.
Image Sources:
Paul & Joe dress: net-a-porter.com, Jen's Pirate Booty dress: shopbop.com, American Apparel dress: americanapparelstore.com, Alexander Wang long sleeve goddess dress: shopbop.com, Rag & Bone dress: shopbop.com, Alexander Wang long sleeve fitted dress: shopbop.com, Michelle Mason dress: shopbop.com, Alexander Wang one shoulder dress: lagarconne.com, Clu Dress: lagarconne.com
I have to be honest, I'm not a big fan of Coach. I feel like I see that Coach c print everywhere, plopped on not-so-inspiring bags, and it gets old really quickly. But lately they've been coming up with some pretty covetable, remarkably logo-free stuff, especially in their new Poppy collection.
Poppy Patent Spotlight Shoulder Bag in spearmint, licorice, and daisy, $298 at coach.com: I love the shape of this bag. It's utilitarian, it's fashion-forward, and it's practical. The shoulder straps are the perfect length, there's an optional across-the-body strap, and I love all the hardware against the bows on the side. The size is the right balance between over-sized and easy to use. The green is a fun, summery color that would also brighten up a dark winter wardrobe nicely, the black is totally classic and chic, and the white/yellow is so light and sweet! And since they're only $298, you could buy more than one...just saying...
Poppy OP Art Glam Tote in persimmon, $198 at coach.com, Poppy Patent Accordion Zip-Around Wallet, $168 at coach.com, Rosario Spectator Maryjane, $178 at coach.com: I know this tote has the c's on it, but for some reason, it doesn't bother me. The pattern has great, clean lines, and the pink and orange together are just so jaunty. This would be such a great beach tote! Wallets have always kind of bored me. I mean, I keep my money in it, and the only person that sees it is the clerk at wherever I'm shopping. For about five seconds. But I feel like I would be more inspired to whip out on adorable wallet like this blue patent one, which could also double as a clutch. The mix of the sunny blues and metallic hardware is spot-on. I've always liked maryjanes and spectators, but I always feel costumey wearing them. The chunky heel on these and the awesome color palette (that is like, my wardrobe. in a shoe) are totally convincing me, though. It looks functional and practical, and the maryjane influence is subtle (just the ankle strap) as is the spectator influence (the leather top detail). Those touches makes these heels slightly retro, but not at all theatrical.
Skyla Resin Bow Flat, $148 at coach.com, Coach Poppy Flower Bib Necklace, $248 at coach.com, Poppy Oversized Flower Ring, $78 at coach.com: I can never say no to a bow ballet flat. I mean, it's just too damn cute. These sort of remind me of the classic Ferragamo flats, but the curving lines and slightly over-sized shape of the bow make it a little more modern, as does the patent leather. These last two pieces might be my favorites. That bib necklace looks much more expensive than it actually is. It's such a heavy necklace, but the brightness of the flowers and the way they look suspended makes it look so much lighter. And that over-sized ring is killing me. It's so damn pretty. And sparkly.
Image Sources:
all bags: coach.com, wallet: coach.com, all shoes: coach.com, all jewelry: coach.com
I like to buy myself presents. All the time. For no reason. Craaazzzy. So it was my birthday this weekend (perfect excuse to buy myself gifties), and since I turned 18, I had to do now legal things. Like buy lottery tickets, and take pictures outside tattoo parlors (because I can't actually get one...). Hence the picture below. I bought myself the American Apparel Sheer Circle Scarf, which I've been eying for awhile. I'm such a scarf freak, and while I love my Love Quotes scarf to death, I wanted a few more, less expensive scarves to complete my collection, and circle scarves are going to be big for fall (thank you, Lanvin). I got the scarf in See Thru Athletic Blue.
Maud's first comment was "Cirque du Soleil!" When unlooped, it goes down past my knees--and I'm 5'8.' I can loop it twice (like in my picture) or three times for a warmer look, or even loop it over my head like in the American Apparel pic, which got tons of laughs and Lady Gaga comments, but I like it. I actually like the sheer fabric better than the regular fabric. The regular fabric can look a little bulky, but the sheer fabric, while only slightly sheer, is warm without being heavy. The fabric is really soft and squishy and cozy, and the pattern reminds me of their melange v-necks. See Thru Athletic Blue is a slightly heathered lapis lazuli that's bright enough to be flattering, but basic enough to be versatile.
As much as I love my Love Quotes scarf, I want at least two more of these. They're just under $40 a pop, which sounds expensive but makes sense once you feel them in person. They feel luxurious, they drape perfectly, and the circle shape might be my new favorite thing. It insures that your scarf is never going to slide off and trip you (what? crazy...), and means that even if you just threw on that scarf over your outfit as an afterthought, you'll look polished.
American Apparel Super Sheer Circle Scarf in See Thru Athletic Blue, $37 at americanapparelstore.com.
Image Sources:
American Apparel scarf: americanapparelstore.com
I love big, leather bags. If I had endless supplies of money, I would collect gigantic purses. On the other hand, I'm also a vegetarian, which makes it difficult for me to pony up for leather. Which is why I'm so in love with Novella Royale. Their bags are made of recycled leather jackets, so they're still leather but you aren't fueling the leather industry in buying them. Oh, and did I mention that they're really cute? My favorite is this Mister handbag in black with giant gold studs. You guys know that I'm a sucker for studs. I so secretly want to be bad ass. It's the perfect size, big enough to hold all my junk but not oversized, it's practical with the shoulder handles and top zipper, and the lining is organic!
Novella Royale Mister Bag, $584 at novellaroyale.com. It is expensive, but there's just something so charming about those gigantic gold pyramid studs against those beat up leather jackets. It's the perfect mix of flashy and insouciant, and since only one side is studded, it's a bag that you can get a ton of wear out of.
Image Sources:
all images from novellaroyale.com
Since I have to save basically all my money to spend at/buy clothes for college, I've been really into multi-purpose, super versatile makeup products lately. I mean, getting one look out of a product is fine, but getting 5, 10, even 15 looks out of it is so much better, right? Here are a few great investment products from Auraline Cosmetics and Bobbi Brown that are sure to get you through the summer in style.
78 Color Multi Palette, $18 at auralinebeauty.com, 88 Color Multi Palette, $18 at auralinebeauty.com, 15 Color Eye Shadow Palette - smoky, $25 at auralinebeauty.com: My friend picked one of these palettes up at the IMAT convention a piece weeks ago, and she loves it. I know nothing about Auraline Beauty, but these palettes remind me of the Bobbi Brown brights palette, with the M&M sized neon shadows, except a lot cheaper. The palette on the left has a ton of shadows as well as bigger sizes of the most popular shadows and 6 different blushes, the middle palette has 88 little shadows, and the right palette has a mix of vampier and highlight shades to create the perfect smoky eye. I like all of these because they're cheap, first of all, they're a great deal because you get a ton of shadows, and the quality is pretty darn good. I know that the shadows look really small, but since they're such bright colors you aren't going to be using a lot of shadow at a time, so a smaller size is actually a better idea for colors this festive.
Bobbi Brown Nude Shimmer Brick, $38 at bobbibrowncosmetics.com, Bobbi Brown Nude Eye Palette, $60 at bobbibrowncosmetics.com, Bobbi Brown Long-wear Gel Eyeliner in Cavair Ink, $21 at bobbibrowncosmetics.com: Bobbi Brown is one of those brands that I love and don't actually own any of, which makes me so sad! Especially when I see these gorgeous shimmer bricks. All of these pieces are from her Nude collection (who does nude better than Bobbi Brown, really?). I must have this shimmer brick. It's the perfect highlighter color because it's warm, with gold and caramel shades, but it's light and fresh enough to look natural, like a candlelit glow from within. Plus, these things are huge, so $38 isn't that bad. I'm in love with this palette. It could work for anything! The two shades on the right are fantastic highlighters, the middle shades are great base colors, and the shades on the right are perfect for the lash line and crease. You could mix these up to create a week's worth of looks, and when you multiply that by how long the palette will last you, its' really a steal at $60. I'm not a fan of gel eyeliners (I generally find them to be way too harsh and hard to work with), but the soft, deep brown shade of this liner might bring me over to the dark side. It's dark enough to do a cat eye with, but much softer than the average black.
Image Sources:
all Auraline Beauty: auralinebeauty.com, Bobbi Brown shimmer brick: bobbibrowncosmetics.com, Bobbi Brown palette: bobbibrowncosmetics.com, Bobbi Brown eyeliner: bobbibrowncosmetics.com
I'm so not the kind of person that signs up for a store credit card or an insider savings card type thing, but when Sephora came out with the Beauty Insider program I was all over it. I mean, deluxe, free samples from the one place I really, really want samples from? Yes, please. I've lived off those samples (I'm still working on that Anastasia matte highlighter pencil that I got months ago), and they're such a great way to try out new products without any sort of monetary commitment. Well, it turns out that Sephora has an extra special deluxe sample birthday present for Beauty Insiders every year, and since my birthday is on Saturday (18!), I just picked mine up. It might be my favorite free sample ever: a lip gloss trio.
You get three mini Sephora Brand Brilliant Shine Lip Glosses, in Precious Pink, Rosy Glow, and Bronzed Beauty. Sephora describes Precious Pink as barely-there pink shimmer, Rosy Glow as Golden Pink, and Bronzed Beauty as red with gold shimmer. Precious Pink is pale, cotton candy pink with fine gold shimmer. It's really sheer and on the lips it adds a hint of sparkle and sheen, but not much color. Rosy Glow is a golden coral with fine gold shimmer. It has more pigment than Precious Pink, and adds just a touch of pink to my lips. Bronzed Beauty is my favorite. It's a golden berry with gold shimmer, and it gives my lips a berry-stained look that's warm and multi-dimensional because of the shimmer. I love it because it adds a hint of vampy color, but it's still a lip gloss, so it's relaxed and low maintenance. All three of these glosses smell just like cotton candy. They're not at all sticky, have light to medium pigmentation, and are moderately long lasting (and wear off evenly, which is nice). I like the organization of this trio. Precious Pink is great for an easygoing day look, Rosy Glow amps up the color a bit for, say, lunch with girlfriends, and Bronzed Beauty is a great going out gloss. The full-sized lip gloss is $10 at sephora.com, but the samples are pretty big, so I won't need to repurchase any time soon. I will definitely be stocking up on Bronzed Beauty when I run out though. Surprisingly, vampy lip glosses are turning out to be my favorites. I blame Twilight.
PS: I love that I can use my Macbook as a camera! It makes my life soooo much easier.
Image Source:
sephora.com
I'm still in Project Runway withdrawal. I know it's coming back (on Lifetime. Weird.) soonish, but the Bravo replacement that I'm watching right now, The Fashion Show, just can't measure up. The Fashion Show is entertaining because the designers suck so badly, but Project Runway was great because the designers were actually, you know, good. One of my favorites was always Leanne Marshall, for her organic, sleek aesthetic and overall adorableness. It's taken forever, but her line for Bluefly is finally on sale online, and I rounded up my favorite pieces.
Sophie Tank, $110 at bluefly.com, Jasmine Cropped Jacket, $220 at bluefly.com, Carine Ribbon Detail Tunic, $98 at bluefly.com: This tank also comes in orange, but the off-white is so casually elegant. I love the balance of the deep scoop neck and swingy a-line body, and the pleating detail at the bust elevates the tank from basic to covetable. How cute would this be with a pair of tailored shorts and some killer heels. I'm not a fan of boleros at all, but there's something so effortlessly adorable about this one. The oversized collar is whismical against the cropped body of the jacket, and the short sleeves keep the boxy silhouette from looking frumpy. Plus, the way that the front cuts away at the waist is super-flattering. It's just such a fun, versatile piece! I'm not a tunic person, but if you're going to wear a tunic, wear this one. The proportions are spot-on, and the detail at the neckline is interesting and perfect for anyone with a small bust.
Cora Drape Detail Swing Dress, $248 at bluefly.com, Victrine Bubble Hem Dress, $275 at bluefly.com, Elanna Strapless Dress, $990 at bluefly.com: This pink dress intrigues me. The silhouette is really flattering, which is rare for an empire waist dress. I love the double sleeve with the exposed shoulder. It's practical, because you can actually wear a bra with it, but the draped bottom sleeve is so accidentally sexy. The white trim detail and swooping layers at the bust would be great for anyone with a small bust or anyone trying to balance out curvier hips. The intricate, organic pleating on this orange dress just screams Leanne to me. If you really want a piece that's recognizably by her, this is the one. I like it because it's fun and chic, but very polished at the same time. This last dress is my favorite by far (it def reminds me of the wedding dress she did at NY Fashion Week). $990 is pretty reasonable for a red carpet dress of this design caliber. The jewel-tone color is so flattering, the shape highlights the smallest part of the body and skims over any problem areas, sweetheart necklines are always amazing, and the cutaway, asymmetrical detail on the skirt makes what could have been a run of the mill dress a total show stopper.
Image Sources:
all images from bluefly.com
