Rag & Bone Hits NYFW with an Orange Lip

September 7, 2013 Leave a Comment

Rag & Bone Hits New York Fashion Week

Without a doubt, one of the shows I’ve been MOST excited to see at New York Fashion Week this season is the Spring 2014 collection from Rag & Bone. And what I got is EXTREMELY delicious!

Starting off, let’s address the orange elephant in the room – that stunner of an orange lips. I’m a big fan of orange lipstick because of how universally flattering it is and was PUMPED to see this trend take center stage at the Rag & Bone runway show.

If you’re on the hunt for a good orange lipstick and are itching to recreate this look, I highly suggest you consider picking up MAC’s M’Orange (here). It’s basically an exact dupe to the lipstick the models are wearing and is incredibly LONG-lasting.

Not for the faint at heart, orange lips bring a succinct POP to any look.

And, they’re much more diverse than one might initially expect when coordinating with an outfit. As seen on the runway of Rag & Bone at NYFW, orange lipstick also flatters a diverse spectrum of models’ skin tones.

I especially love this on Ebony skin tones.

Now that we’ve sufficiently discussed the bold orange lips at Rag & Bone – let’s talk about the SHOES and the CLOTHES!

Black and white worked together as true staples of Rag & Bone’s latest spring collection. The traditional color duo were sported both in monochrome looks as well as modern accenting. Take for example the vibrant colored sweaters with a plunging v-neck…perfectly capped off with a black and white trim.

And of course, there are the platform shoes making a comeback on the runway.

Chunky wedges and platforms

While the accessories and makeup of this Rag & Bone collection are quite bold and perhaps not everyone’s style, there’s no denying how beautiful the clothing is.

The spring collection includes an assortment of designs that would work for all ages. There are sharply tailored paints and jackets that would work in the office. There are also pieces with much less structure – such as this floating cocktail dress below that introduces a beautiful texture.

I love this above look. It takes a halter top outside its box by making it more soft and feminine.

The loose fabric flows as the model walks and is truly perfect for the spring/summer days ahead.

Another favorite look from the runway was the texture and pattern of this skirt:

If you look past the gorgeous bag, you see this amazing hoop skirt that has a geometric texture to it. Of all my favorite looks from Rag & Bone’s collection, this skirt is the one I MOST desire. (Of course, I’ll take it all.) t

Needless to say, I give Rag & Bone two giant thumbs up for their latest in spring attire. The collection is well-rounded with fantastic clothing, accessories and makeup. Everything perfectly toes the line of being feminine – with an edge – and who doesn’t love that?

To learn more about Rag & Bone, as well as watch video of the live runway show visit the website.

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Kelly

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Beauty

NYFW: NYX Cosmetics at Nicholas K

September 6, 2013 Leave a Comment

When you think of New York Fashion Week, you think of high fashion and beauty. Supermodels strut the catwalk in clothes from huge designers like Oscar de la Renta, Michael Kors, and so on. So when I piled over the collections from today’s official kick off, I was shocked to see NYX Cosmetics as the official sponsor of the Nicholas K show.

If you are not familiar with NYX, it is a very affordable cosmetics company. Their products are found in American drugstores and Ulta’s. One of the reasons this brand has caught on so well, is because their low price point does not affect the quality of the product at all. They are becoming increasingly well known for the quality of their face, eye and lip products. To see them get such recognition to be the official makeup of a NYFW show is huge and very exciting!

It’s so neat to me that such an accessible and affordable line of makeup is getting the credit they deserve on one of the world’s greatest fashion stages.

Famous makeup artist Daniel Martin used NYX cosmetics to lead the transformations of your every day model into a tribal goddess, for this Native American inspired show.

Daniel developed a unique look for his models that focused on brown tones, most heavily around the eye area. He used brown shadows to create the look of a warrior. The bridge of a model’s nose was shadowed to simulate an appearance like natural paint.

This very natural look was designed to fit into a concept of the collection, but could be interesting for a different day look. Spring makeup by reputation is very cheerful and full of floral tones. Keeping your makeup simple, but developing a wider eye look opens up the eyes in a way that’s very subtle but flattering.

You could bring brown shadow out from your eye. This would be in the same idea of the look that Daniel created but skipping the bridge of your nose, making this more friendly for everyday use.

Have fun experimenting with browns. They compliment every skin tone and pair well with all colors of fashion as well. Even better, natural makeup enhances your own natural beauty, playing up your features rather than creating a different palette.

A very big congratulations to NYX for taking part in such a fantastic show. Think about how you can implement NYX cosmetics into your own collection. You will not regret it, and your wallet won’t either!

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Designer Fashion, Fashion

NYFW: Creatures of the Wind

September 6, 2013 Leave a Comment

Let’s dig in! Creatures of the Wind stormed the runways of New York Fashion Week to unveil their latest spring collection and put a fun spin on designer fashion.

Creatures of the Wind storms New York Fashion Week

Chicago natives Shane Gabier and Christopher Peters, the masterminds of Creatures of the Wind, have proven to have more than a few tricks up their sleeves.

Kick-starting this season’s NYFW, the design duo filed vibrant colors down the runways of the Big Apple in a way that says “Look at Me!” – not in a showy manner, but in a way that screams “I know my worth.”

Creatures of the Wind Spring 2014 RTW

Mixing classic looks and old Hollywood glamour, the latest Creatures of the Wind collection comes with a punch.

This very strong collection had me torn between dusting off my Mad Men DVDs for a marathon or rushing to my nearest department store to find a duplicate of that perfectly bright and savory red lip.

Creatures of the Wind Spring 2014 RTW

No doubt, this Creatures of the Wind spring collection is perfect for the modern young girl to wear for work and for play.

The designs deliver an essence of someone who is both prim and polished – but with a slight edge to her. I particularly love the lines of the jackets and how crisply tailored they are.

Creatures of the Wind Spring 2014 RTW

But as sharp as this collection is to the eye, it also has intricacies that are very soft and feminine.

Take for example the detailing of this gold floral Creatures of the Wind hoop skirt.

Undoubtedly the bar has been set very high for New York Fashion Week with the fashions of this Spring collection.

Creatures of the Wind’s take on cardigans and pencil skirts is both fun and traditional. Add to that phenomenal hair and makeup and I’m fully on board with everything they’re selling.

The red lip is obviously the biggest draw, and the star of the runway. But my eyes are very drawn to the sleek highlighting look of the white rimmed eyes.

Spring is the time to loosen up and lighten up from the darker, cooler tones of winter. These warm tones will be a nice breath of fresh air come Spring 2014…assuming you can wait that long to try them out 😉

Photos credited to Vogue and Zimbio

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Kelly

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Beauty, Makeup, Skincare

What’s in My…. August Birchbox?

September 4, 2013 Leave a Comment

Hey loves,

For those unfamiliar with Birchbox, allow me to introduce you. Birchbox is a mail, subscription service that delivers deluxe beauty samples to your doorstep for $10 a month.

Birchbox and I have sort of been on the outs. Honestly, I’m not sure we ever made a great match in this year+ together. We were happy for a short while, then I started to feel a tad used by Birchbox and called things off. Then one night I felt weak and allowed Birchbox back in my life and we’ve been muddling along together since. I keep holding out hope that things will get better, that Birchbox will finally give me the great products I deserve. But, unfortunately I feel very neglected and think we may need to call an official quits. Especially when there are much kinder and loving subscription services out there like Ipsy. Ipsy for the same price gives me so much more. It wasn’t until I found Ipsy that I woke up and realized what a toxic relationship I was living in with Birchbox. I told Birchbox they had one last chance to prove themselves to me and…well, here is what I got!

My Birchbox

So let’s dive right in to this summer themed box!

First product I was a little excited about because I love Color Club polishes.

Color Club, Reign in Spain

I actually discovered this brand through Birchbox, which if nothing else is something to walk away with because these polishes are pretty great. This is one of 4 polishes in the Wanderlust Collection and is a neon pink. I actually used this last week and you can catch a snip of it in this post.

Am I happy with this polish? Yes! I really like it, and as I said I’m a fan of the brand in general. Thing is you can get a full size polish for $8 or the full Wanderlust Collection for the same price. Birchbox is $10. So I’m spending $2 more for this small itty sample…which is okay if I like the rest of my box. But do I….

Next up:

Coola SPF 45 Sport Sunscreen

I’m very conscience of sun protection so a sunscreen is useful. I’m not too thrilled about this though because it’s a very small sample so I really couldn’t even get a single use from this. I put SPF on my face, neck and chest. This wouldn’t go that far. It’s also $32 for the full size which I think is a little whacked out since it doesn’t really do anything outside of being a sunscreen. So there’s nothing to motivate me to purchase this over standard Coppertone…or switch to this from my Clinique City Block which is 40 SPF and only $20.

Dr. Jart+ Premium BB Cream SPF 45+

Dr. Jart+ is another brand I’ve learned about through Birchbox, and I have to say I really do like their products. I tried this out under my makeup today and was likewise happy with this product. I really like that this is a great moisturizer, SPF and treatment serum in one. And this is something I will absolutely keep in mind for next summer because I think it’s a great product for summer with its high SPF. It would be great year-round as well, I’m just not in the market for moisturizer right at this moment but definitely think this is a good one to try down the line. I couldn’t find the full size on Birchbox’s website, but did locate it at Sephora and it’s only $39 which I think is very reasonable for the product.

uniqONE Hair Treatment

I’m not too sure why, but I’m sort of nervous to try this product. I have pretty oily hair so leave in products make me nervous. This is an all in one hair treatment. It claims to make hair smoother, shinier, and healthier. For Birchbox, this is a rather nice sized sample though. The full size is also only $17 with free shipping, so if I do like this and wish to purchase the full size, it’s very reasonably priced. And I’m always a fan of free shipping 🙂

Jasmine Seven Fresh Feet Wipes

If you were thinking things in this box were looking pretty good, this is the more typical product I receive. Foot wipes. Are you frickin’ kidding me? They can also be used for hands too! *gasp*

Ann Taylor Coupon

And last but not least is this coupon. I do love Ann Taylor, but as I get their emails I know that they have much better deals than this quite regularly. But for all of you who are kindly read this, please feel free to use the promo code Birchbox to get 20% off a single item, or 30% off two or more items. Let that be my gift for you!

Well guys, this will be my last Birchbox. I have put my (freshly wiped) foot down and am saying farewell. Unfortunately, I feel I have gotten everything I can out of this system. And hey, it hasn’t been a total loss. I did learn a lot about the brands they feature and knowledge is power. I know of the products I like and can continue to purchase them on my own or through their website. I just don’t see the need for this monthly box any longer.

I do really recommend Ipsy though everyone! So if you are game to try a subscription service I suggest that one.

Do you get Birchbox? Are you happy with it? What products were in your box this month? I’m always interested to learn what other people get!

Stay stylish and chase your dreams!

XOXO
Kelly

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Beauty, Makeup, Monthly Beauty Favorites, Skincare

August Beauty Favorites!

September 3, 2013 Comment : 1

Hello Loves,

For those who have never spent much time in the Ohio River valley in August, you may not know the sweltering humidity we are subjected to on a daily basis.

Heat, I can handle. Humidity? You don’t even want to get me started.

So to say that I have anything I loved in August is a feat! (Of course, the unwritten number 1 and 2 on this list are air conditioning and swimming pools.)

May I present to you, my:

NY & Company Beach Hat

My Big Floppy Beach Hat!

This specific hat was from the summer clear out at the end of last summer. So it might not be available anywhere anymore, but I love it. I picked it up for a mere $5 and boy did I get my money’s worth out of this bad boy. I’m very cautious of developing wrinkles on my face so a wide brimmed beach hat is a definite summer must for me. As well, it does a great job of protecting your scalp which is pretty much protection-less unless you want to rub down your scalp with suntan lotion, which I don’t see as a very practical choice. Anyway, I really love this hat. It’s big, it’s floppy…and it gets the job done while floating in the pool.

Calgon Mineral Scrub and Soak

Calgon Exfoliating Body Scrub!

While a bubble bath may not sound its most appealing in August, they certainly have their place in my life. At the end of a long hard day chasing humidity, who doesn’t want to take a deep cleanse?

This Body Scrub I picked up at my local grocery store for around $6 and I love it. It has a very coconut, summer smell to it. And I adored it. If you take a handful and pour into a running bath they say it works, but I find it works best when you actually apply it to your skin in the bath. Rub it on, let it sink in, and rub off. Simple!

I would finish up with my Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Milk Body Creme and be in a state of pure bliss!

M.A.C. Girl About Town Lipstick

A Little Bit of Fuschia!

What’s a better color for a summer lipstick than Fuschia? It’s a fun, flirty color that pops. And what better than a fun name like Girl About Town to keep your lips happy? MAC has excellent lipsticks in general, but this color is a classic favorite of mine…and definitely got a lot of use in August. Whether you are going out at night, or even spicing up a work look…this color is perfect for summer. And just because summer is over, that doesn’t mean I’ll be retiring this anytime soon 😉

Philosophy Hands of Hope

Hope for the Hopeless

It might seem unusual to include a hand cream in an August favorites collection, but if you know anything about my bad habit of picking at my cuticles when agitated you wouldn’t be surprised. And what’s more agitating than humidity? So yes, I used a lot of this. I’m normally not keen on buying smaller sizes of things, but I do prefer the 1 oz tube because I used this mostly on the go. A little bit goes a very long way too. Throw this in your purse and you’ll hands will be much happier; and it really is very healing. It clears up any redness around my cuticles in no time. And since I doubt I’ll break this horrible habit anytime soon…I expect this product to be a lifetime favorite 🙂

Me Too Shoes

Style & Comfort

Three back surgeries deep, I am never one to put style before comfort with shoes. Fortunately, with brands like Me Too I don’t have to. These shoes are very comfortable and come in many cute styles and colors. I typical find these at Nordstrom but you can also find great deals, if you’re lucky, at TJ Maxx or Marshalls. This specific pair was from the Nordstrom sale right now for a sale price of only $35! If you aren’t familiar with this brand, familiarize yourself. Especially if you require comfortable shoes as I do 🙂

Breaking Bad

Breaking Bad!

If you haven’t yet seen AMC’s Breaking Bad, I don’t know what you’re waiting for…so get on it! This highly addictive show is coming to a very sad end. So, in the comfort of my air conditioned bed….in August I enjoyed rewatching old episodes as well as viewing the final episodes on Sunday nights. Breaking Bad is absolutely must see television. It’s a totally original series following a high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with lung cancer’s descent into the darkness of the meth industry, wanting to provide for his family when he’s gone. It’s the epitome of the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I guarantee, if you don’t already, you will love this show! Buy the seasons or watch it on Netflix.

H&M Nail Polish

Vibrant Nails

I paint my nails too much. That’s a fact. I just love nail polish because it’s so fun and can really change a look. However, only recently did I discover how much I enjoy H&M’s nail polish! Kind of surprising when you consider how much I really love H&M. My two favorite colors this month were, “Check Me Out” (a flirty pink) and “Come Along with Me” (a deep teal). Most of the time these are 3 for 2. But at $4.95 a pop they’re a great deal no matter what. The formula is rich and long lasting, and the color range is fantastic! Definitely my favorite find this year when it comes to nails.

Roses

Last but not Least, Something Smelling Sweet!

Roses aren’t the typical thing to see in a list of favorites, but for some reason my local grocery store has had really amazing prices on roses this month and I’ve enjoyed them immensely. There might be some knowledge behind this I’m not aware of, but regardless I’ve been happily stopping and smelling the roses all month long and I hope this trend continues through the months to come. It doesn’t have to be a special occasion to treat yourself to flowers, or roses…it can be just to celebrate your typical Thursday. No arrangement I bought had any meaning behind it other than to simply brighten an otherwise ordinary day. And I deserve it!

There you have it, my monthly favorites! What things kept you happy in August?

Stay stylish and chase your dreams!

XOXO
Kelly

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Designer Fashion, Fashion

5 Fall Trends You Can Safely Avoid

August 31, 2013 Leave a Comment

As I look ahead to fall and think about the trends I want to try, I cannot help but stumble across a few that I think are a little wacky and probably not best suited for practical daily life.

What is so great about fashion though?

That designers are always looking to push the limits and define unique styles both for clothes, as well as hair/make up. It is this drive to discover something new that keeps myself and the public so very interested in the happenings of spectacle events such as New York, London, Milan or Paris Fashion Weeks. The fashion industry, and women in general, crave these shows because they are sure to capture our attention (and envy) with beauty and design.

It’s a fact: you have to take risks.

And, designers are the very best at taking chances to set themselves apart. Of course, some risks pay off more than others. With New York Fashion Week just around the corner to debut the latest spring collections, let’s review of a few fashion risks from the fall runways you might choose to (politely) pass on.

5 Fall Trends To Avoid

Band of Outsiders Fall 2013 RTW

Fall Trend to Avoid #1: Brown Face!

At the Band of Outsiders, models presented the new collection with an interesting new look in makeup, that might not be as flattering off the runway as on.

Each model’s eyes and forehead were shaded brown. While this may be a great way to conceal any unwanted blemishes, you would probably earn a strange look or two if you showed up to work looking like this. Well, unless you work for Band of Outsiders of course 🙂

Marc Jacobs Fall 2013 RTW

Fall Trend to Avoid #2: The Pajama Game!

Who knew Marc Jacobs shares a love for classic Doris Day movies and slumber parties like me! I mean, what’s more comfortable than lounging around in your pajamas all day? Dare I say, nothing? So perhaps this trend isn’t so awful as it is genius. The Marc Jacobs Fall collection had a line of pajama day-wear.

Putting comfort before anything else, pajama fashion would be as equally awkward for the viewer as it would be deliciously comfortable for the wearer. Actually, the more that I think about it, the more I really love this idea. I say lose the heals and go full force with some fluffy slippers! Bring it on Marc Jacobs!

All Trend to Avoid #3: Rainbow Bright

When flipping through the Fall Jean Paul Gaultier haute couture show, I was taken back in time to the simpler days of the 80s. Fondly remembering Rainbow Bright’s style, there were a series of these editorial dresses that definitely test your imagination. This eclectic style is certainly memorable, but perhaps not too practical for day-to-day wear. I suggest only bringing this one out for very special occasions 😉

Fendi Fall 2013 RTW

Fall Trend to Avoid #4: Technicolor Fur

Fendi’s fall collection was very focused on fur, which isn’t too unusual for an autumn/winter collection. What was unique about their styling was the coloring of this fur, as well as its placement.

I’ll be the first to admit that I am not a fan of fur, but I have accepted its place in fashion and merely choose not to wear it. I do think, however, as a rule fur looks its best when kept in its natural state and not dyed in neon pink or electric blue hues.

Fendi Fall 2013 RTW

But fur coats aside, the headpieces worn by each model were a touch too odd. I appreciate the warmth they would provide to the female scalp but question the broad appeal. I’m kind of guessing this trend won’t put ear muffs out of business any time soon.

Fall Trend to Avoid #5: Have You Lost Weight?

Altuzarra sure knows the way to a woman’s heart. If you don’t have the perfect figure, so what? Just sketch it in!

Actually I really do like this trend. The reason I didn’t like Altuzarra’s particular approach is because rather than an optical illusion, I’m reminded of the cheap beach t-shirts featuring a body dressed in a skimpy bikini, (example). So this isn’t so much a bad trend, but a slight execution problem.

Her figure does look fabulous, though, doesn’t it?!

Note: All photos credited to the lovely Vogue. Also, please take this to be tongue-in-cheek, as it was meant that way. I love all of the above designers.

Stay stylish and chase your dreams!

XOXO
Kelly

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