boys night: part 2

last time, i talked about how it's more than ok to rock some bowties and blazers. sometimes it's really fun to be surprising and wear something that's unexpected. if you wear it well, people usually love it.
today, i'll be talking about men's shoes and how much i love them. and also ascots. but mostly men's shoes.

guys, i've been wearing men's shoes ever since i journeyed to the local goodwill on my own. my first pair was just broken in oxfords, and i've never looked back. for some reason, they called to me with their structure and quality, as well as being dashing with a pair of high waisted trousers and a fedora.

i just adore all of these. for real ladies, don't you want them all?? i don't see nearly enough of these on guys. more for us, i guesss.

this is my favorite kind of boot: the ankle boot. i love these, and they are so versatile. i love the brown ones i have and i wear them year round. i wear them with skirts, cropped pants, regular pants, you know. pretty much anything. they are a great investment.

that's all for today. stay excellent folks. 

boys night: part 1

hello fashion lovers.
sorry it's been a few days...life gets crazy sometimes, you know? anyways, on to the main event!
i'm obsessed with bow ties. you may be wondering, aren't those a guy thing? i think they are primarily a "guy" thing...but if you know me, as i'm hoping you all are learning to do, i like different, unconventional things. i love men's shoes, not gonna lie. and they have the lead on the blazer phenomenon. so, here's how i'd style bowties, first.

 

a few ways i would style bowties. with suspenders, with a blazer, with red gloves and a beehive....so many good options! also, i really really need this copper shirt...it's a must. and those velvet ones. and that denim one. okay fine, i want them all.
indie or preppy, bowties are cool no matter how you wear them. and you'll make the guys jealous if you know how to tie them.
here's a handy how-to for those of you who don't know how to tie them.

ah, blazers. they are so wonderful. you can throw one on with practically anything and it transforms a look, making you more chic, put together, and fashion forward. here's a few examples.

bright colors are kind of my thing, so i had to have at least a few. notice how these go with a skirt, cropped trousers, and what appears to be a romper, all with wonderful effects. get it ladies!

black is ALWAYS good. you really can't go wrong with a black blazer, seriously. in my opinion, every woman should have a least two black blazers: one for colder weather, and one for the warmer months.
 

here are a few styles of blazers. love them all. especially the bright one. 

 

 

patterned blazers are wonderful as well. it's a fashionable way to add a pop of pattern to a low key outfit and jazz it up a bit. or you can use a patterned option to make a wonderful outfit even more crazy! it's really up to you. the only requirement is that you buy one and learn how to wear it. they are classy, versatile, and oh so comfy.  they work great if you get cold indoors a lot. that's me right here, and i love having them for when i get chilly. 

next time, i'll talk about men's shoes and how ladies can wear them in a classy way. ascots are wonderful too.  i wouldn't call this androgynous as much as utilizing a fashion genre that is both comfortable, available, and getting more and more awesome. let's explore our options, ladies. the boys shouldn't get to have all the fun. 

almost summer trends

so, summer is almost here guys!!
and i'm diggin a few things for this beginning of summer time.
here we go.
crazy patterns have always caught my eye, and now it's acceptable in fashion, so of course i'm stoked.

aren't they fab?? i'm in love with the tribal dress. so in love. and that hawiian inspired pants pattern is kind of to die for. i almost think the only acceptable time to wear tribal print, as much as i love it, is the summer. it doesn't really work otherwise.

i might lose some people on this next trend, but hear me out folks.
hammer/harem pants. i know what you're thinking...and yes, Justin Bieber can be seen looking ridiculous in these here. There are even multiple versions of his kind, but this is NOT what i'm talking about, mmk?

let me show you what i mean.
let's start with the difference between harem pants and hammer pants.
harem pants:

don't these ladies look classy? i think so. you can dress them up, down, and sideways. seriously. and these pants are SO comfy. it's almost like pajama comfort level softness, but these are way more acceptable than pj's in public. trust me. people wearing pj pants to the store, i'm lookin' at you.
see how all of these variations are looser on legs, and while a bit baggy, they are no Justin Bieber weirdness. they all have a cuff at the ankle, and in general look fantastic.
hammer pants:

hammer pants are tighter on the calves, and tend to get super baggy from the thigh upward. i'll admit, these look a little more ridiculous...but doesn't that little lady look PRESH?? and that last pair looks like my version of yoga pants. with a white tank, an envelope clutch and booties or gladiator sandals. yep, i need them. the middle look is a bit less my thing, but it may appeal to those of you who like a little glam out our your sneakers. you could also work those with sandals and a flowy top.
i'm preparing to buy some fabric and sew some of these pants, as well as some maxi skirts/dresses. i'll update you on how things go. i'm very excited about it.

i know this is a lot, but one last "revolutionary" trend i'm seriously into right this second. printed shorts!

silk, denim, i love it all. i'm wearing a quite comfy pair right now. i think i like these so much because they allow me to sport my favorite white tee and sandals freely and without restraint. gotta love a trend that goes along with your favorites.
that's all for today. go grab you some summer patterns for this glorious holiday weekend!

sandals anyone?

this is a shoes post. i am unashamed.

so, sandals are kind of my thing. every year, i look forward to that glorious accessory that lets me feel like i'm dressy barefoot. and it's magical.
my newest acquisitions are this style and i'm obsessed, of course.

i like the call them, the One Strap, but we're taking name suggestions.
i love these because they're different than the normal summer deal, and you can dress them way way down. if you've been reading along the past few posts, you've realized just how much i love to dress things down...some see this as a problem, but i choose to see it as a gift.

of course neons are still in...go figure. we'll go with it for the time being. in my opinion, go with one pop of neon and leave the rest neutral. don't want to blind people.
at least there's some One Strappers!

the platform is making it's towering way back into the shoe scene. which i'm excited about. now to find some that don't look like they're from the 70's.

i might consider either of these. with a maxi skirt, envelope clutch and a white tee. helloo friday night outfit!

happy tuesday.

all things nails

guys, don't laugh...
i love nail polish and i can't get enough. seriously, i think i buy one every paycheck. it's a problem. a problem i'm willing to live with.
here's a few of my favorite colors and nail trends.

this color is so beautiful and summery. love it.

and here is the part of the program where i put a shameless plug for my favorite brand of nail polish. American Apparel is my favorite brand. there, i said it. i just got this one...i know. i'm five years old.
alright, now on to trends for this season with nails.

 

pastels are big. i know, pastels in spring....how original, right?

 

also, a shape trend continues to emerge. almond shaped is big right now. it creeped me out at first, but now i'm a huge fan. i think it looks elegant and edgy at the same time...and it's not often that those two meet.

also in this photo is matte polish. which is another HUGE thing in nail trends. i prefer a matte top coat, versus matte polish. allows more options. i like options, and i know you guys do too. i got mine at American Apparel. surprise. i love it and highly recommend it. 

the one nail accent is still huge. as always, nail continue to be an important accessory in every lady's arsenal. they can dress you up, add a pop of color, and bring up the bling factor.
happy nail painting!

let's talk summer make up

hey there lovelies.
i've been checking out the latest in summer make up tips, and it's exciting times. i love all things bronzer and warm tones, and orange lipstick most of all. so, here's some of my favorites in summer 2013 make up.

isn't this look fabulous? the colored liner on the bottom lash line is a trend we're seeing this season, and i like it a lot.  strong brows are definitely in, although it's hard to do without a strong foundation...you can't just pencil them that way. so, if you want to grow out your brows, be my guest. the use of basically nude shadow paired with a very bright lip is one of my go-to looks. in fact, i would classify it as my all time favorite look. you can't really go wrong. and when you pair it with this liner, it's just yummy.

 to achieve this eyeliner look, either use an angled brush or a felt tipped eyeliner. the brand i love for either gel with the brush or the felt tipped is Maybeline. i recommend them both. go buy them now. you won't regret it.

on to the bronzes.

this look is based off of how the light would hit the face...the forehead, bridge of the nose, tops of the cheeks. a golden shimmer shadow pairs well with this, and a red lip for a pop. you could go darker with the lip, or lighter. any way you wear this, will bring out the bronzed goddess in you.
i prefer a powder bronzer, but you could achieve this with pressed or powder. to apply, use a kabuki brush and lightly dust the areas the sun would "bronze" you.i use bronzer every day, to give my cheeks some color.
here's a kabuki brush, for those who don't know what this wonderful invention is. i own this one and i love it. you need one. trust me.

the last thing i want to talk about is a trend that is super exciting to me. it may be a little too crazy for some of you, but when it showed up at fashion week, i knew it was for me.

the ombre lip.

as you can see, there are several variations on this, but i just love them all. i like the idea. some of these seem a bit unacheivable, but here's a how-to from sephora's pinterest. it seems pretty simple.

looks doable, right? gonna try it and see what happens. i'll update you.
anyways, hope this helped to get you pumped for all summer make up craziness. happy monday!

beauty: product recomendation

hey guys.
today, i want to talk about one of my favorite beauty products! it's nothing crazy, but it's made an incredible difference in my skin. yes, this is a post about skincare, but hear me out.

so, i have discovered jojoba oil.

it's pure jojoba oil, and it's wonderful. i used to be wary of using oils on my face and skin, simply because i felt like i was oily to begin with. the cool thing about jojoba oil is that it's the closest thing in nature to the oil our body naturally produces. so, it's great for your skin. i use it to take my make up off, and as a moisturizer in the cooler months. i also use it as a full body moisturizer. i like that it doesn't leave your skin feeling weird...it absorbs well and makes skin feel very smooth and soft.
it's also great for your hair, and i use it for a mask with coconut oil about once a month. don't use this on your hair if it's not dry. if your hair tends toward oiliness, i would not recommend it, as it compounds the oil and it's just a hot mess from there. on my face as a moisturizer, i would only use this at night.  for my skin, the oil tends to be too heavy for the during the day, but is a heavier moisture option for the evening. one interesting thing i've found out by trial and error: if you do get it in your eyes, it doesn't hurt, but it will make your vision cloudy. weird, right? the mysteries of the universe, folks.
 i know what you're thinking...why is she getting this stuff in her eyes? you and me both.

there you have it. go and try some for yourself! 

style crush saturday

lets talk style crushes, mmk?

i have a few, and i love to follow what they are currently wearing, their fave brands, lines, and pieces. for me, when i say style crush, i don't mean that i like to copy their outfits, or buy their faves. i like to look to these people for inspiration; the way they wear that look with those shoes, the hat they chose to go with it, and the make up look and hair that accents it. it's about what inspires me to take chances with my own wardrobe. if i see a look on someone, i know i can handle it. some of you lovelies may be the opposite, and want to copy things from people, and that's totally okay. i would suggest finding yourself a style crush or two and see what happens. it's fun!

so, the first of many style crushes.

dear drew barrymore, wearing her own make up line, flower. she is amazing. she can literally rock anything, and does. drew has been every haircolor there is, and yet manages to look amazing. it's kind of amazing. i read an article by her stylist one time, and he said the way they created that very first ombre look was to keep coloring her roots a darker color and blending it from there....it's so simple and lovely. just like her. she clearly has a great stylist. :)
alright, on to the pics. a few examples.
first, animal printed tee, jeans and sandals. flawless. and don't even get me started on her hair. oh my word her hair might need it's own post in itself...
moving on.

 she has been known to rock some, well, interesting looks...

she is also known to absolutely own my favorite category of fashion: casual. here she is being awesome at it.

she wears hats. i love that.
while yes, she is a little on the unique side, and yes, some may call her a flower child, she cleans up gooood.

see what i mean? she just gets more beautiful and stylish with time.
who are your current style crushes and what do you like about them? post in comments, i'd love to hear your thoughts.