Thursday, February 27, 2014

How to Wear A Statement Necklace



It took me a while to really get into this trend, but statement necklaces are one of my new obsessions.

There are so many different options out there, and wearing a bold piece of jewelry can really add some punch to any outfit. 

However, there are some rules that come along with wearing these fab necklaces:

DO
Wear your hair up so it doesn't compete with your statement necklace. After all, you want the piece to shine. Of course, it’s no sin to wear your hair down with a bold necklace, but I love letting the bauble take center stage.

DON’T
Wear a statement necklace with loads of other accessories. It should be the only piece of jewelry you have on. Keep everything else very minimal.

DO
Wear over-the-top brights. Turquoise blue is hugely popular right now, but any bold hue will do. Don’t be afraid to pair bright colors with other bright colors to make your outfit really pop.

DON’T
Go overboard. A statement necklace can get totally lost among the folds of a fancy dress. It's also an issue if you wear other giant jewelry or or a dress with a crazy pattern. Let your bold necklace shine and you’ll make the biggest statement of all.

Pictured above are my fave statement necklaces of the moment. Here's where you can buy them, from left to right:
Forever 21 Regal Bib Necklace, $12.80
Banana Republic Petite Floral Necklace, $59.50
J. Crew Stone Burst Pearl Necklace, $125.00

Happy Shopping!

Saturday, February 22, 2014

EVERYONE Needs This Dress!

I am absolutely in love with Victoria's Secret's new Faux-Wrap Dress. I've probably said it a million times, but wrap dresses (or "faux" wrap dresses), are super flattering on every figure out there. Because it cinches in at the natural waistline--the tiniest part of most ladies' bods--the eye is immediately drawn to it. Not only do you look tinier because of this, you also look like you have the perfect hourglass figure that we all strive for.

I'm also loving how this dress can be worn for basically any event. You can dress it down, with flats and minimal jewelry, or glam it up! Any time you can't think of what you want to wear, this should be your go-to dress.

Because it has long sleeves, the dress is also seasonless--another win in my book! Wear it now with tights, then wear it in the Summer on its own with some cute, strappy sandals.

Another bonus? You can get the dress in four colors: black, plum, blue, and pink. Personally, I think that it's impossible to have too many little black dresses, but the other colors all look fabulous too.

The dress is $79.50. A little pricey, but totally worth it!

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Fashion Faux Pas: the Miracle Bra for Men

Yes, this is a real thing. FunkyBod.com is selling ridiculous bra-esque "muscle enhancers" to any guy who wants a bit of a lift.

The site claims that the Funky Bod Muscle Enhancer Top is basically the best thing since sliced bread. It is supposed to accentuate the pectorals, shoulders, biceps, and triceps. And that's not all! Funky Bod also says that the top gives the effect of improved posture.

But the bottom line is that the top is padded. They even say on their website that, "Worn as a normal undershirt garment, the Funky Bod top is a great confidence booster for men in the same way a padded bra works for women.".

Am I the only one who thinks this is incredibly crazy??!

The guy in the picture looks stupid, and if I ever saw someone wearing one of these man-bras, I'd probably go on a shooting spree.

Men: Please refrain from purchasing this. You will look like an idiot. I promise you that.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Let's Go Steady


Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching...I'm lucky enough to have a few valentines in my life, but even if I didn't have people to drop hints to (yes, Dave--this is a hint), I'd probably be my own valentine just so I could get this super cute Let's Go Steady Necklace from the ever-classy Kate Spade.

I mean, what's not to love about it??! The necklace is dainty, and goes with every outfit imaginable. I'm honestly obsessed with it! And think about it: if someone gave you this and actually asked you to "go steady", wouldn't you basically have a seizure of delight??!

I really wouldn't mind going steady with myself, if it meant getting to wear this gorgey bauble. I'd probably go steady with just about anyone, even the fashion-challenged, if they bought this for me.

Each necklace is $78. But the cuteness is priceless!

Monday, February 3, 2014

Nail Polish--it's Not Just for Nails!


I own a ridiculous amount of nail polish. The picture is probably about 5% of all the different polishes I have in my collection. I love painting my nails--I do it almost daily--but there are also bunches of other ways to use nail polish that doesn't involve giving yourself a fab mani or pedi.

Prevent Jewelry from Tarnishing
I love fun costume jewelry, but seeing that hint of green that winds up on my fingers isn't pretty. Prevent this faux pas by painting a clear coat on the inside of that goegey ring you just bought, and you'll be good to go.

Color Code Objects
Use different colored polishes to paint objects that look similar so you can tell them apart. Paint different shades on your set of keys so your roommate stops grabbing yours by mistake!

Paint the Sole of Your High-Heels (think Christian Louboutin):
One of my friends did this, and it's actually a fabulous idea. It's a super easy (and cheap!) way to model your shoes after the highly coveted brand, and give them a fresh new look. You don't have to go with the classic red, either. Revealing a glitzy purple hue on your soles looks just as great.

Stop Runs in their Tracks
This is a classic use for clear nail polish, and it works better than anything else. You can stop runs in stockings by dabbing polish at both ends. This way you can get more wear out of your fave tights, even after a tiny tear.

Cover Up Your Scuffs
Cover up a scratch on scuffed shoes or boots by applying a coat of black or brown (or whatever color your shoes are) nail polish to your shoes. Make sure to apply a top coat so that the polish lasts.


There are tons of other ways to use your polish, but these are the things I tend to do most often. It's also a great excuse to go out and buy another pink polish when your boyfriend simply doesn't understand that owning 20 different pink hues is totally necessary.

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Everything You Need for Perfect Skin

For me, wintertime means having crappy skin. If you're an avid reader, you know that I have ridiculously awful skin. I have fairly severe eczema, I'm pale, and my skin is just constantly dry and lifeless. Over the years, I've found some products that help my numerous skin issues, but if you're someone who wants to take extra care of your skin, but don't know exactly what products to use, try out Sephora's Skin Bender set.

Rather than buying full-sized products to try (and end up hating half of whatever you bought), this kit delivers deluxe samples of Sephora's best selling skincare products that cater to any skin problem you may have. It's especially great for this time of year--no one has awesome skin in the middle of Winter. And if you do, then I officially hate you.

Here's what comes in the set:
- 0.23 oz Algenist Advanced Anti-Aging Repairing Oil 
- 1.9 oz Bliss® High Intensity 24-'Heaven'™ Healing Body Balm 
- 0.17 oz Dr. Jart Ceramidin™ Cream 
- 1 oz First Aid Beauty Ltd. Ultra Repair Cream 
- 0.5 oz Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil 
- 0.67 oz Korres Greek Yoghurt Advanced Nourishing Sleeping Facial 
- 0.3 oz L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream 
- 0.5 oz Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation® 
- 1 oz Origins Checks and Balances™ Frothy Face Wash 
- 0.5 oz Peter Thomas Roth CC Cream SPF 30 in Light-Medium 
- Cosmetic bag 

All of these products promise to deliver gorgeous, radiant skin. Each kit is $48 (and is a $115 value), so it's a fantastic deal. If you find a product that you love, you can buy the full-size version.  And if you hate anything in the kit, it's not like you wasted oodles of cash on it. Win-win!

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