8.31.2015

NOTD: Formula X Invincible

Two coats of Formula X in Invincible. Warm Vanilla Creme.

Le sigh. I love colors like this - they're a great creamy-nude-meets-opaque-white hybrid that just feels cozy and will be sososo perfect paired with oversize sweaters and boots come fall / winter.

Invincible is brilliant to work with. The formula is creamy and straight-up yum, molding to the nail beautifully with no muss or fuss. If you don't have a shade like this in your polish stash, you definitely need to add Invincible to your shopping list!


What nail color are you rocking for #ManicureMonday?

xx
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8.30.2015

links à la mode: the IFB weekly roundup {august 27, 2015 edition}

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Reminds me of reading storybooks as a child. To reach the end of the book was so final. No more pages. The End.

IFB bloggers expressed mixed emotions regarding The End of Summer. Sadness over leaving discovered lands and excitement over what is to become. Many focused on the trends now and to come; talking about skirt shapes, skinny scarves, and going platinum to name a few.

There was also much to glean style inspiration from, for both women and men, in the coming “dark and decadent” Fall months. Take a look at soiree’s, kitsch fashion, menswear, and those who have a knack for designing with sustainability in mind.

Plus, one blogger purchased her very first pair of Christian Louboutin heels… and, even in the Fall, they lived happily ever after.

Links à la Mode, August 27




SPONSOR: Amazon's Shopbop Soia & Kyo, Faribault Woolen Mills, Woolrich, Nour Hammour, Vasic Collection, MM Druck, APL Shoes, Ray-Ban, Uri Minkoff, Flare Jeans


xx
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8.29.2015

oui, paris

paris
Michaela Buerger I Love Paris Sweatshirt in Light Grey.

Loving this little French-inspired number. It would be pure perfection paired with skinnies and slouchy boots for fall.


xx
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8.28.2015

currently crushing...

crush
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Dreaming of dark and vampy hues of fall. Who's with me?!


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xx
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8.27.2015

{fashion folio} weekend casual

weekend
Dress: EQUIPMENT Slim Signature Washed-Silk Mini Dress | Rings: REBECCA MINKOFF Stack Triangle Ring Set in Gold/Clear | Earrings: GORJANA Taner Bar Shimmer Mini Stud Earrings in Gold | Eyeshadow: BECCA Ombre Rouge Eye Palette | Bag: SOLE SOCIETY Emmie Perforated Hobo w/ Tassel in Black | Lips: NARS Lip Gloss in Striptease | Shoes: LOUISE ET CIE Isabelle Ankle Strap Sandal in Black | Mascara: Lancôme HYPNÔSE DRAMA Instant Full Body Volume Mascara in Excessive Black


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xx
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8.26.2015

mark. Nailed It Matte Trend Mini Nail Lacquers Swatches + Review

After my last experience with matte polishes, I didn't think that I'd be using them again anytime soon; that is, until I spotted the latest: mark.'s Nailed It Matte Trend Mini Nail Lacquers. The colors were so incredibly pretty {not to mention fall-apropos}; and, given all of my prior success with mark. polishes, I absolutely could not pass them up. Thankfully, I did not, because they are a-ma-zing!

Violet Riot is a Deep Blurple Matte with Hidden Violet Shimmer. This color is life! I am not even able to articulate how much love I have for this color - it is just brilliant! Violet Riot is everything a matte polish should be. The color is luxe and vibrant, yet maintains a softness due to the hidden shimmer {which creates that yummy lit from within effect}. The formula here is so unbelievably amazing - it's the perfect consistency, so it goes on smooth and finishes effortlessly. This color alone is reason to buy this duo. This is 1 1/2 coats.


Teal Appeal is a Teal Matte. I love teal shades for fall, so a teal matte? Give it to me now! Teal Appeal is so on point for autumn transitioning - it has that brightness that recalls summer juxtaposed with a dusty jewel tone that is full-on fall. While this shade is undeniably gorgeous, it didn't grab me the way that Violet Riot did. I think what would have made Teal Appeal more appealing {no pun intended} would have been hidden shimmer. Regardless, still a beauty - and a complete breeze to work with! This is 2 coats.


AVAILABILITY: mark.

PRICE: $7.00 for the duo.


xx


This post was sponsored by mark Avon. All opinions expressed herein are my own.
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8.25.2015

{beauty board} dark shadows

Get into the fall groove with dark and decadent perfumes, vampy polishes, smoldering shadows and liners, and luxe lippies!

dark shadows
{1} VICTORIA'S SECRET VERY SEXY Eau de Parfum {$52.00}

{2} DEBORAH LIPPMANN MISS INDEPENDENT {$18.00}

{3} VELOUR SILK LASHES FULL OF IT {$23.00}

{4} MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist Plexi-Gloss in 502P PEARLY BEETLE {$19.00}

{5} E.L.F. Studio Moisturizing Lipstick in BORDEAUX BEAUTY {$3.00}

{6} VICTORIA'S SECRET NIGHT Eau de Parfum {$52.00}

{7} SONIA KASHUK Limited Edition-Ombre Obsessed 7pc Brush Set {$27.99}

{8} STILA Magnificent Metals Foil Finish Eye Shadow in METALLIC MERLOT {$32.00}

{9} MAYBELLINE Eye Studio Master Kajal Eyeliner in ONYX RUSH {$4.86}


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xx
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8.24.2015

NOTD: AILA Nail Color in Mister Pookies

Two coats of AILA Nail Color in Mister Pookies. Steel Gray Creme with Purple Undertones.

Having never so much as heard of AILA Cosmetics before, I was super excited to find Mister Pookies in my August 2015 ipsy Glam Bag, and literally took it for a spin within minutes of unboxing!

Mister Pookies {doesn't the name make you think of a cute and cuddly puppy?!} is officially one of my new favorite fall shades. The color is just spot on for those beginning days of autumn, and feels like the perfect companion to chunky knits, riding boots, and apple picking.

The formula here is beyond flawless. I truly think this is the creamiest polish I have ever laid hands on, and loved how fluidly and smoothly it covered the nail, making application downright divine.

Hooray for new brand discoveries - I officially need more AILA polish in my life. Stat!


What nail color are you rocking for #ManicureMonday?

xx
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8.23.2015

90s grunge

terra
Wildfox Terra Crop Sweater in Dirty Black {also available in Heather Grey}.

Obsessed with this knit right here. It feels so v. Liv Tyler as Corey in Empire Records, amiright? Total essential for taking on the 90s grunge trend.


xx
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8.22.2015

8.21.2015

{fashion folio} fall flavor

fall flavors
Jacket: BURBERRY BRIT Linen Jacket | Boots: BELL Thigh High Boots | Top: TOPSHOP Plunge V-Neck Tie Cami | Bag: VINCE Croc Embossed Cross Body Bag in BORDEAUX | Bracelets: SOLE SOCIETY Thin Cuff Set in Gold | Jeans: FRAME DENIM Le Skinny de Jeanne Mid-Rise Jeans | Lips: Ciaté London Olivia Palermo x Ciaté London Satin Kiss Lipstick in Truffle


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xx
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8.20.2015

nails inc. alice + olivia by Stacey Bendet Mini Nail Set Swatches + Review

alice + olivia is virtually one of my Top 5 all-time favorite lines, so when I learned that alice + olivia's Stacy Bendet was collaborating with nails inc. on a Limited Edition Fall Nail Polish Collection I had to have it. Enter the alice + olivia by Stacey Bendet Mini Nail Set. Ladies, I am wild for this quartet, and pretty confident that it will remain my favorite for Fall 2015. The colors here are exclusive to this set, but four additional full-size shades have been released, which you can buy separately {all deets at the bottom of this post}. For now, lets focus on these mini beauties!

Gold Goddess is a Gold, Full-Coverage Chunky Glitter in a Blackened Green Base. Dead. Seriously ladies, this color is brilliant. Out of all of the gold shades I have tried over the years, nothing comes close to this. What truly sets Gold Goddess apart is the blackened green base which creates a burnished, antique metal look that is so one-of-a-kind. I just can't... Hands down one of my new favorite shades ever. Bonus: The formula is just incredible - your nails practically paint themselves with the ease of this one! Even better: Removal process is identical to that of a creme - no foil method necessary! This is 2 coats.


Ruby Night Sky is a Blackened Plum Creme. This shade is all sorts of misleading yet a fave of mine nonetheless. The name leads you to believe it's a ruby red shade. Wrong. The bottle would have you thinking it's a dark purple with purple/red microshimmer. Also wrong. On the nail, Ruby Night Sky is basically a hyper-shiny, so-dark-purple-it's-black creme that is ridiculously decadent and something you never want to take off. Microshimmer? It didn't show up for me; but I'm obsessed, and will definitely be donning this one quite a bit come fall. Loved the formula here. Most dark polishes are notorious for flooding the cuticles, but this one didn't. Woot! This is 2 coats.


Paris Rouge is a Blackened Wine Red with Shimmer. Isn't she lovely. Isn't she wonderful. Ermahgerd you guys this color! I have legit been swooning since applying coat one! Breathe, breathe...okay. In one sentence: Paris Rouge is brilliant to the tenth power. The lit from within glow, which gives the appearance of brightness in the middle and vampy goodness around the edges is so luxe and sophisticated, don't you think? Formula was divine. This was truly one of the easiest polishes I have ever worked with - quickly building opacity, keeping its distance from cuticles, and having the perfect consistency. Let's just say that this polish sets the standard for all future wine reds I pick up. Love! This is 2 coats.


Next To Nothing is a Nude Creme. Truth: I would have preferred another fall-apropos shade in the place of a nude creme; but, I actually really like this shade because it's kind of my perfect nude. The pink undertone of Next To Nothing is what keeps it from falling into creepy mannequin hands territory, adding a bit of a cafe au lait tone to the shade that will be perfect come winter. Formula here was flawless - the color is smooth and rich, building opacity beautifully. This is 2 coats.


AVAILABILITY: Sephora or Net-A-Porter for the mini set; Sephora for individual, full-size bottles {of different shades in the collab collection}.

PRICE: $25.00 for the quartet; or buy individual bottles separately for $15.00 each.


xx
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8.19.2015

{beauty board} pencils up!

Back to school is in full-swing, but even if you're not headed back to those hallowed halls, picking up a pencil {or 6!} for your makeup bag is an epic idea that will help you tap into your artistic side and wave bye-bye to bulky beauty brushes!

pencils
{Clockwise from Top}

{1} JOSIE MARAN Argan Creamy Concealer Crayon in LIGHT 1 {$20.00}

{2} URBAN DECAY 24/7 Concealer Pencil in FBI {$20.00}

{3} WET N WILD Megaslicks Moisturizing Lip Color in CORAL OF THE STORY {$2.99}

{4} TARTE LipSurgence™ Lip Tint in ELITE {$24.00}

{5} ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS Pro Pencil in BASE 1 {$6.99}

{6} TARTE The Sculptor Contouring Face Slenderizer in PARK AVE PRINCESS {$24.00}

{7} AMAZING COSMETICS Perfection Stick Cover And Contour On The Go in DEEP {$23.00}

{8} CLINIQUE Chubby Stick Cheek Colour Balm in 02 ROBUST RHUBARB {$22.00}

{9} SMASHBOX L.A. Lights Blendable Lip & Cheek Color in BEVERLY HILLS BLUSH {$29.00}

{10} SEPHORA COLLECTION Colorful Shadow & Liner in 11 TURQUOISE {$14.00}

{11} SEPHORA COLLECTION Colorful Shadow & Liner in 08 GOLD {$14.00}


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xx
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8.18.2015

currently crushing...

crush list
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Soft shades are the perfect way to tiptoe into the new season, amiright?


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xx
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8.17.2015

NOTD: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Terra-Coppa

Two coats of Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Terra-Coppa. Earthy Metallic Copper with Silver and Red Microglitter.

Game ovah! Ladies, I have officially found the best metallic polish ever, and this. is. it.

Terra-Coppa is one of those perfect transitional shades. It has that bronze-y sunkissed look that screams summer; yet retains a warmth that feels fresh for fall {clearly the result of the red microglitter within}.

The formula here is incredible. It's thick and rich - almost achieving full opacity in one-coat; plus the wide brush gives your nail complete coverage with one swipe.

This right here is an essential. Trust.


What nail color are you rocking for #ManicureMonday?

xx


Thanks to Sally Hansen for sponsoring this post!
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8.16.2015

all of the trends...

moonshine
Free People Moonshine V Neck Sweater in Charcoal.

So digging this sweater {which manages to have like 5 of the moment trends in one}. The frayed hem and cuffs give it that tattered, grunge-y 90s vibe; while the shoulder cutouts and v neck keep it subtly sexy. Total fall essential, yes?


xx
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8.15.2015

links à la mode: the IFB weekly roundup {august 13, 2015 edition}

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Many of you are still traveling and showing how travel boosts your creative pulse. Another, embarked on a tour of a fashion golden age. However, what most of the IFB bloggers were talking about this week was beauty… whether at home or in the salon. The delight of treating oneself to a high-end salon blow out, pampering your skin and follicles with facial masks and hair color, and everyday beauty tricks like strobing or updating your look with the newest nail color.

I just love how this community shares their insight on blogging; from photography and increasing followers to creating a blogging collective.

We also had a couple good entertainment reviews. One of the spoof variety and one of the deep-cuts fashion icon variety. I’ll let you decide which is which.

And for those of you no longer traveling, but heading back to the office, move straight to the posts on how to liven up your cubicle style.

Links à la Mode, August 13




SPONSOR: Shopbop Miu Miu Sunglasses, Monica Vinader, Brixton, Men's CK Jeans, Jason Wu, Stella McCartney, Leather Jackets, Booties with Fringe, Off Shoulder Maxi Dresses & Fold Over Clutches


xx
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8.14.2015

currently crushing...

crush 30
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Clearly still waiting on fall to arrive. Is it here yet?


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xx
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8.13.2015

Everybody Rise + $50 BaubleBar Gift Card Giveaway!

Looking for a chic read in the vein of The Devil Wears Prada? The search is over! I've got you covered with the release of Stephanie Clifford's debut Everybody Rise. Featured in Time Magazine's Summer Reading, selected as one of People Magazine's Summer's Best Books, and included on Good Housekeeping's Beach Reads feature and Entertainment Weekly's Summer Must List, Everybody Rise is the current IT Book on the scene - and now it can be yours!


ABOUT THE BOOK: It's 2006 in the Manhattan of the young and glamorous. Money and class are colliding in a city that is about to go over a financial precipice and take much of the country with it. At 26, bright, funny and socially anxious Evelyn Beegan is determined to carve her own path in life and free herself from the influence of her social-climbing mother, who propelled her through prep school and onto the Upper East Side. Evelyn has long felt like an outsider to her privileged peers, but when she gets a job at a social network aimed at the elite, she's forced to embrace them.

Recruiting new members for the site, Evelyn steps into a promised land of Adirondack camps, Newport cottages and Southampton clubs thick with socialites and Wall Streeters. Despite herself, Evelyn finds the lure of belonging intoxicating, and starts trying to pass as old money herself. When her father, a crusading class-action lawyer, is indicted for bribery, Evelyn must contend with her own family's downfall as she keeps up appearances in her new life, grasping with increasing desperation as the ground underneath her begins to give way.

Bracing, hilarious and often poignant, Stephanie Clifford's debut offers a thoroughly modern take on classic American themes - money, ambition, family, friendship - and on the universal longing to fit in.

Sounds fab, right?!

To celebrate the release of this must-read addition to the literary world, cat eyes & skinny jeans has partnered with St. Martin's Press to bring one {1} reader an Everybody Rise Prize Pack that includes: a $50 BaubleBar Gift Card, and a Copy of the book Everybody Rise {in stores August 18th}. Prizing courtesy of St. Martin's Press.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Download Chapter 1 here, then join in the discussion on social media using the hashtag #EverybodyRise.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: STEPHANIE CLIFFORD is a Loeb-award winning New York Times reporter who has covered business, media and courts for the paper. She grew up in Seattle and graduated from Exeter and Harvard. As she covered the financial crisis's impact on consumers, she observed that large-scale new wealth hasn't done away with class hierarchy in the U.S.-it's increased anxiety over it. Clifford is also a regular guest on NPR and has appeared on Today, CBS This Morning and Dr. Oz.


Good luck babes!


xx
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8.12.2015

Essie Fall 4PC Mini Set Swatches + Review


Summer 2015 has been all about the brights for me in terms of nail polish, so when I spotted the
Essie Fall 4 PP Mini Nail Polish Set at Ulta it was very much a hooray! moment for me because, honestly, I'm kind of bored with brights at the moment, and totally ready to welcome dark, vampy hues into my polish repertoire again. The fact that this collection is inspired by the film Almost Famous, groupies a la Penny Lane, and the whole 70s with the band era? Icing on the cake.

Leggy Legend is a Metallic Copper-Meets-Bronze. I'm not typically a fan of metallics, but I just had to spot this color once to know that I needed this quartet solely for this shade. Truth. Leggy Legend is a little bit bronze, a little bit copper, and a whole lot of fall fabulousness in a bottle. I'm seriously in love. Formula was flawless. Rich, creamy, no brushstrokes, fast-dry, and a OCW. You need this one. This is 1 coat.


With The Band is a Burnt Sienna Creme. Why yes, my description of this color did come from a Crayola Crayon - Burnt Sienna to be exact. You guys, this color is a-ma-zing. It's not red, it's not brown, it's not orange, but a gorgeous conglomerate of all three! It's very brick-meets-rust in color - so so perfect for that 70s throwback! The formula was a little testy for me. Yes, it was a OCW, but I found it to be thick - not to mention that it constantly gravitated to my cuticles. Still a beautiful color. Warning: This one stains. This is 1 coat.


Frock 'N Roll is an Espresso Creme with Silver Glass-Fleck Shimmer. Frock 'N Roll was quite the surprise for me. In the bottle it looks like a charcoal gray creme with silver shimmer, but that definitely doesn't translate to the nail. In certain light you can see a subtle flash of silver particles, but in direct sunlight this looks like an espresso satin - which, in itself, is downright divine, but different than I expected. The formula was good - it seemed a bit obsessed with my cuticles in the beginning; but behaved in the end. This is 1 coat.


In The Lobby is a Black Cherry Creme. YAAASSS! This is exactly the type of color I l-o l-o l-o l-o-v-e during the fall / winter months {despite the fact that they make me look hella-pale}. In The Lobby is per-fec-tion. The color is hyper-pigmented by coat two, but looks patchy with a single coat. I found the formula here to be thick, but v. buildable and easy to work with. This is 2 coats.


AVAILABILITY: Ulta for the mini set; Ulta for individual bottles.

PRICE: $17.00 for the quartet; or buy individual bottles separately for $8.50 each.


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xx
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8.11.2015

{fashion folio} french kiss

french kiss
Sweater: Topshop Boucle Stripe Jumper | Sunglasses: Sole Society Brandy Metal Brown Trim Sunglasses in Tortoise | Shoes: Steve Madden Stecy Sandal in Black Smooth | Skirt: MOTO Utility Pocket Midi Skirt | Bracelet: Gorjana Laurel Bangle in Gold | Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Moto Bucket Bag in Black/Black | Lips: Urban Decay Matte Revolution Lipstick in Bad Blood | Nails: NAILS INC. NAILKALE in Victoria & Albert

Embrace your inner Francophile with a crop stripe sweater paired with a denim midi skirt and towering black ankle-strap heels. A black bucket bag and cat eye sunnies are of the moment accessories; while a gold architectural bangle never goes out of style. Complete with forever-classic deep red lips and tips!


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xx
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8.10.2015

NOTD: Deborah Lippmann Girls Just Want to Have Fun

Three coats of Deborah Lippmann in Girls Just Want to Have Fun. Coral Crelly.

I got this color in the Sephora Favorites Meet Your Match boxed set, and was ho-hum about its inclusion {I'm kind of coral-ed out at the mo}; but I actually love this color - as in going to the chapel... kind of l-o-v-e.

What sets Girls Just Want to Have Fun apart from fellow corals is the finish - the creme + jelly hybrid leaves behind a squishy, uber-shiny glaze that is pure yum! The formula was a-ma-zing. I would have liked it to reach opacity quicker; but I can't complain, as it was fast-dry and a total breeze to work with!


What nail color are you rocking for #ManicureMonday?

xx
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8.09.2015

links à la mode: the IFB weekly roundup {august 6, 2015 edition}

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Accessories were a strong theme this week with posts about handbags, eyewear, jewelry and shoes. Followed by trends that IFB Bloggers are currently obsessing over. How to pull off wearing sheer in the real world, high-waisted skirts meet cropped tops at just about any age, and tassels aren’t just for the drapes anymore.

We had a couple soap box moments regarding fashion sizing and why women deserve more pockets. Love the passion!

Some real life posts about the struggles of finding your dream paying job, dealing with blogger burnout, and how fashion can help uplift spirits in some of life’s most sorrowful times.

Oh, and guess who uttered “Fall” already, as in a Fall nail color collection in their post? {gasp} Summer Ends?


Links à la Mode, August 6




SPONSOR: Amazon's Shopbop Designers, Schutz, Prada sunglasses, Versace, Gucci, Edun, Lacoste, Jelly shoes, Tunic Dresses, Party Clutches, Red Ballerinas, Men's Sweaters


xx
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8.08.2015

90s vibes

clueless
ENGLISH FACTORY Cami Combo Blouse in White / Black.

So reminiscent of something from Cher Horowitz's closet, amiright? Just add a pleated mini, knee-highs, and a mini backpack and you'll be totally Clueless.


xx
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8.07.2015

{fashion folio} country chic

chic country
Dress: Diane von Furstenberg Aya Lace-Trimmed Denim Wrap Dress | Bag: Tory Burch Britten Mini Cross Body Bag in Red Agate | Bracelets: Arme De L'Amour Set of Three Gold-Plated Bracelets | Boots: Dolce Vita Ohanna Over the Knee Boot in Saddle Suede | Ring: Michael Kors Statement Tribal Ring in Gold | Nail Polish: Essence I Love Trends! Nail Polish The Nudes in Pure Soul 05 | Lips: CoverGirl Colorlicious Jumbo Gloss Balm Creams in Caramel Cream | Ring: Gorjana Shera Ring in Gold

A denim wrap dress adds western flair to 70s-inspired suede boots and a bordeaux-hued saddle bag. Keep things sophisticated with gold jewelry in the form of a thin bangle trio, a conversation-starting bar ring, and cutout statement ring; topping it all off with a nudey-pink gloss balm and baby pink polish for a truly natural beauty look.


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xx
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8.06.2015

{beauty board} the bright stuff

Brighten up your makeup bag {and give yourself an insta-energy boost} with colorful {yet always classic} hues for eyes, lips, tips, and cheeks!

bright
{1} TOO FACED Sugar Pop Eye Palette {$36.00} Macaron-inspired colors blend with metallic + matte neutrals to create an endless array of ultra-wearable eye looks!

{2} E.L.F. Essential 3-Piece Nail Polish Set in VACATION TRIO #3809 {$3.00} Vibrant mint, lilac, and cranberry hues serve as showstoppers in the sand.

{3} Lancôme Juicy Tubes in FRAMBOISE {$18.00} Shimmer particles add a glowy finish to this strawberry bright!

{4} OPI ColorPaints Nail Lacquer Collection in MAGENTA MUSE {$9.50} A sheer formula leaves a subtle, watercolor-esque finish to nails.

{5} L'OREAL Colour Riche Glossy Balm in INNOCENT CORAL 220 and BABY BERRY 250 {$6.99 each} Glossy balms hydrate + add a feminine flush of color to lips!

{6} NARS Blush in DESIRE, EXHIBIT A, TAJ MAHAL, and MATA HARI {$30.00 each} Hyper-pigmented blush creates a bright, yet easy-to-wear party on cheeks - perfect for hot summer nights!


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xx
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