Layering Essentials

Fall is all about layering - yummy vests, leggings, boots, tanks, tunics, and the list goes on.  This is my favorite time of year because the combinations are endless and there is no right or wrong when it comes to layering (or fashion as a whole for that matter).  It's the perfect opportunity to play in your closet and try new, unexpected combinations.

One of my favorite things to do is grab two or three pieces that I absolutely love, but have never worn together at once, and then put them together and find a way to make them work.  Any mixture of stripes, colors, patterns, or plaids can work as long as you find a common denominator - a necklace, a scarf, a sweater, an interesting pair of pants or leggings.  Sure, your brain might insist that you don't "match," but challenge yourself to wear it anyway.  I love pushing the envelope and making myself feel uncomfortable (temporarily) when it comes to putting outfits together - in between taking risks and challenging yourself to try new things is where you'll find your own unique style and confidence and that is what fashion is about.

If you're going to experiment with layering, a great place to start is the essentials - tanks, tees, and leggings.  I've owned many.  Here are my favorites:

Tanks

The clear winner here is SkinnyTees Basic Wide Strap Cami ($32, Amazon.com). They are also available in packs of two from QVC for $34, plus the cost of shipping. Check them out here.  Pricey, I know, but I promise they are life-changing.  They stretch for days without stretching out.  The best part? ONE SIZE FITS MOST!

Source: Amazon.com

Leggings

Lori Goldstein makes the best leggings I've ever owned.  There is nothing worse than wearing a pair of leggings and have them suddenly start rolling down your waist. You don't have to worry about that with Lori's Regular Knit Leggings ($45, QVC.com). They have an extra wide waist band and come in lots of rich colors.  Buy multiple pairs here.

PSA: Be sure to read the reviews to find the right size for you.  They typically run large and long.

Source: QVC.com

Long Sleeve Shirts

I love Old Navy's Perfect Tees! At $10.50 (OldNavy.com), you just can't beat the value.  They're a great length for layering, they're washer/dryer friendly (otherwise they wouldn't be in my closet), and they come in your basic black and white, plus plenty of fun colors.

Source: OldNavy.com

Some other things your going to need this season:

- Fun scarves (a great place to incorporate a delicious floral print)
- Tall or, better yet, over-the-knee boots
- Tunic tops
- Long sweaters and cardigans
- Tights
- A hat for every occasion (I love Goorin Bros.' Goldman Suede Fedora Hat)

Do you have a favorite "essential?" I'd love to hear about it - please leave a comment or send me a message using the link to the right.  Happy layering!

On Trend: Luxe Backpack

The new addition to my [handbag] family.

I'm heading to Europe in a few weeks, and of course I'm already visualizing what I'll be wearing as I romp through the streets of Florence, Venice, and Rome. One of the must-haves on my packing list has been a leather or suede backpack. I've been on the hunt for one over the last few weeks and today I found it!

Enter stage left: this delicious faux leather drawstring backpack, fringe and all, by Deux Lux (one of my favorite brands in handbags).  Be still my beating heart.

While the main reason I wanted a backpack was to be hands-free on my trip, this bag can easily and fashionably be carried like a tote. It's faux leather, so I don't have to worry about exposing it to the elements or dropping it in a puddle.  And that fringe!  I can't get enough fringe this season.

At retail, this beauty would have cost $130 USD, but I took it home for $32!  The clearance rack at Marshalls never lets me down. If you don't have the privilege of being a lunch break away from Marshalls and you're willing to spend the money, I also love Topshop's Fringe Suede Backpack ($130, Nordstrom.com).

Source: Nordstrom.com

Welcome back, pack!

On Trend: Slip-on Sneakers

Today's find: this gorgeous pair of Kenneth Cole Reaction slip-on sneakers. I've been crushing on this trend for weeks now, and couldn't resist when I saw the Salt N Pep Pony Hair Sport Flat for $40 USD at Marshalls across the street.

Source: DSW.com

I haven't owned a pair of true slip-on sneakers since elementary school. Needless to say, the return of this trend is uber exciting.  What's better is that they are refined - the pony hair turns the chic up a notch and I can feel confident wearing these to work or play.  I'm all about looking professional and being comfortable.  Comfortable. Professional. Check and check!

Since I couldn't wait, I'm wearing them with a tie dye maxi skirt, but these will be adorable with leggings and a tunic or my favorite pair of boyfriend jeans (if said pair of jeans existed).

You can pick these up online at DSW.com.  With so many cute pairs of these slip-on sneakers available, I bet you can't pick just one. You've been warned!

Wedding Makeup

My day with the genius that is Tracey Rappaport.

I had the privilege of following my friend, fellow makeup artist, and blog co-contributor Tracey around last week while she did the bridal party's makeup for my dear friend Heather's wedding.

Right away I was learning new things.  Nothing excites me more.  Here are some highlights and must-haves for your kit:

Foundation

Tracey started with Marie.  Marie doesn't need makeup.  Something about putting makeup on people like her makes the task more challenging and exciting; she has naturally strong, beautiful features that you don't want to overwhelm or distract from with spackle, but you do want to be able to deliver that fresh, finished look. The hardest thing to do in makeup is to create the illusion that you're not wearing any.  Take it from someone who has learned the hard way!

Marie!

I looked over at Marie and immediately noticed how dewy her skin looked.  As you know by now, I love a dewy finish!  Tracey introduced me to this phenomenal new foundation palette that is made specifically for HD cameras - Cinema Secrets 5-in-1 Pro Palette ($28, Amazon.com).  This was our best friend in front of the camera.

Source: Amazon.com

One of the bonuses about this palette is that it can multitask as a tool for contouring.  I watched Tracey use the darker shades to contour under our cheekbones with a foundation brush.  Brilliant!

Brows

Tracey blew me away next with the drugstore favorite Brow Fix by Milani ($10, Amazon.com).  I couldn't believe the texture and potency of this stuff  - I love when a little bit goes a long way. This palette is foolproof  - the purpose of each color is spelled out for you, literally.  You can even apply with the adorable little tools that come with it.

Source: Amazon.com

Blush

The best blush I've come across so far, especially for a wedding, goes to Lorac's Soul.  This is sold out on Lorac's website (which goes to show you how spectacular it is) and I can't find it on any other trustworthy sites online - if you find it, please leave a comment!  Anyway, Soul is a magical harmony of bronzer and blush.  It's so easy to misuse bronzer as blush and blush as bronzer. While I am a fan of finding new uses for things, this is generally not one of them. Miraculously, Soul makes it work.

Wallah! A perfect wedding look.  #nofilter

A very, very special thank you to Tracey for letting me annoy her all day for the purposes of this blog. Can't wait to do it again!

Another special thank you to Heather for letting me make a few minutes in her special day about me.

To book an appointment with Tracey, click here.
To check out Tracey's website, click here.

On Trend: Floral

I am loving the floral trend right now!  I've always been a fan of floral, but this season I'm seeing a lot of dark, edgy patterns and silhouettes that transition seamlessly from day to night.  Yesterday (on my daily lunch break trip to T.J. Maxx across the street), I gave in to the trend and picked up these beauties for a whopping $20 USD!  Talk about a #fabfind!

Bathroom selfie! 

How awesome are these pants?  They pull on, which means they are super comfortable - so much so that I could wear them to bed.  I don't know about you, but I can't get anything done at work if I'm uncomfortable, especially when I'm confined to my cube all day.  Oh, and they have pockets, which I can never get enough of - even my wedding dress had pockets!

The fabric has a black background juxtaposed against a beautiful, sort of romantic white rose pattern, which cranks the alpha of this risk-reward calculation up a notch in my opinion.  Most of the florals I've seen this season combine dark, rich, typical fall colors; while beautiful, I'm always looking for something unique. To everyone that says I can't wear white after Labor Day, I say, "Watch me!"  

Adventures in Portland, Oregon

We spent a couple of days this week in beautiful Portland, Oregon and the Hood River Valley. Without a doubt, one of the most beautiful places I have ever been and one of the best weekends of my life.

Whenever we travel to a new place, I spend so much time scouring the internet and sites like Trip Advisor and Yelp to try to plan out our days.  Unfortunately for me, I can do all the planning in the world and still completely strike out.  Luckily, we spent our days with two of our best friends who doubled as tour guides, Jim and Allie.  

Here is Portland in 500 words:

NW 23rd Street

We took the Trimet into Providence Park.  Walked a couple of blocks and ended up on NW 21st, which is basically the equivalent of Newbury St. in Boston.  There is a good proportion of shopping to bars, which was great for me and Jeremy because, when he got sick of shopping, we would pop into a bar and try one of the microbrews on tap (Oregon is all about the microbrew).   

Some highlights:

• Platform. Cute, unique and affordable little place (equipped with sofas for Jeremy).  I got a necklace that has been dubbed my "Portland necklace" for $20.00.
• McMenamins Rams Head. Jeremy and I shared a flight.  Jeremy described the decor as "country meets Alice in Wonderland" and I couldn't agree more.  
• Goorin Bros. Hat Shop. Such a cool store with an even cooler staff.  Jeremy and I both bought a hat and got a free shot of delicious rum! How's that for a marketing mix?
• Salt & Straw. Ice cream shop with unusual, but fresh and delicious flavors.  
• Huckleberry Pub. We shared a flight of their beers on tap and ordered a burger and their mac and cheese.  Amazing.

Forest Park

From NW 23rd you can walk through Forest Park (wear your walking shoes) to the Royal Rosarian Garden.  If you love roses like me, you'll have a field day here.  

Portland Japanese Garden

Keep walking and soon you'll be at the Portland Japanese Garden.  There is a $10 admission fee here, but it is well worth it.  When we saw "garden," we thought blossoms and color.  How naive of us. This garden is all about experiencing a sense of peace and tranquility on another level.  

Hood River Valley

If you're in the area and the weather permits, do not skip this.  We spent an entire day vineyard-hopping and each view was better than the last.  We hit Marchesi Vineyards, Wy'East Vineyards, and The Gorge White House (we saved the best for last).  Gorge White House knows exactly what they're doing: they have wine and hard cider tastings, a food cart, flower and berry picking, and sacred views of Mt. Hood and St. Helen's all in one place.  We were there in the late afternoon and had the privilege of watching the sun set.  Good food, good drink, good company - I'm not sure it gets much better.  Oh, wait a minute - it's dog friendly! Here's Grover (a.k.a. Grovie, a.k.a. G baby):

We topped off the day in Downtown Hood River, with a visit to Double Mountain.  We were informed beforehand that we would be having the best pizza we'll ever have in our lives, and they weren't lying.  We enjoyed their seasonal specialty pizza - the Heirloom tomato pizza - and the salami pie.  They also brew their own beer - try the Kolsch!

Night Life

• Stormbreaker. Yet another microbrewery with good food and a cool ambiance.  You eat at picnic tables here; sometimes with complete strangers and it's all good! 
• Prost! Cool pub. That's all you need to know!

I can't end this post without mentioning how stupidly happy we all were this weekend.  I don't think I ever stopped smiling, even when I was nursing a hangover (thanks to a great night at Prost! and drinking beer out of a boot).   Special thanks to Jim, Allie, and Grovie for their hospitality - can't wait to visit again soon!

Brows. Brows. Brows!

Your eyebrows.

If you were to only read one post in this blog, this would be the post.  That is how important your eyebrows are to your beauty regimen.  The brows are the only facial feature that equates to symmetry. Facial symmetry (or lack thereof) is what the human eye perceives as attractive (or not).  Once again, it's science.  Don't fight it - embrace it!

No one has two eyebrows that are shaped exactly the same.  One thing I was told that really drives the point home is that "your brows are sisters, not twins."   That is why God created eyebrow pencils and powders!

I must say that out of all of the products I have used, I keep coming back to Wet 'n Wild's Color Icon liner and brow pencil in taupe.

What's fabulous:

• Taupe is a universal shade.  Wahoo!  One less decision for you to make.
• The pencil gives you the control that a powder or mousse might not.
• The texture is divine.
• It's yours for a whopping $0.69.
• The pencil should last you three to six months (if it doesn't, you're doing it wrong). Which means you can get a year supply for the same price as a Dunkin' Donuts iced coffee.

What's not:

• Sadly, this pencil doesn't come with a brush to tame your brows.  For this price, you can buy 10 brushes and still be spending less than you would be for some other fancy brow pencils.
• Wet 'n Wild is a pain to find these days!  I can typically find it at Walgreen's.  If you're not as fortunate, you can always buy it online.

Technique:

The general rule when it comes to filling in your eyebrows is to use short, light-handed strokes to mimic the look of natural hairs.  This is where I come in as there are no rules when it comes to makeup.  I agree with the short stroke technique for beginners because it gives you a chance to get comfortable using a pencil and to get to know the shape of your brows.  Once you feel confident, I think it's perfectly fine to ditch those wimpy strokes!  Start at the inner edges above your nose and define the shape.  Trace the lower arch first - I like to drag this line out a little further than my natural brow while following the same curve.  Then trace the the upper arch and fill in between the lines as needed!

Symmetry equates to beauty.  Make it your mantra.  Now go get gorge!