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  • MENSWEAR? NOT JUST FOR THE BOYS

    MENSWEAR? NOT JUST FOR THE BOYS

    I adore vests. And fedoras. And large watches. And buttons.  And formal pockets.  And collared oxfords.  Basically, I adore a lot of what is referred to as men’s clothing.  I say, “Make it your own.”  The trick is wearing perfectly tailored menswear that shows off your curves, is cinched at the waist, and shows just the right amount of skin.  I kept my color scheme masculine {chocolate brown, tan, and gray}, but the horizontal stripes and snug vest highlighted the feminine assets.  This look is simultaneously professional, edgy, and a bit flirtatious.  Pair it with some large earrings, a large watch, and an even larger handbag and this look turns menswear into something undeniably feminine.

    1. Balmain Slit Crewneck Vest $665
    2. Alexander McQueen Five Button Pinstriped Vest $860
    3. Barena Woven Vest $165
    4. Nixon The 51-30 Chrono $400
    5. Brera Eterno Chrono Watch $650
    6. Nixon Chronicle SS $495
    7. Eugenia Kim Max $287.50
    8. Jennifer Ouellette Boyfriend Fedora $195
    9. Eugenia Kim Reid $238

     

  • POOFY SLEEVES & CUTOUT DETAILS

    POOFY SLEEVES & CUTOUT DETAILS

    Shirt, Vintage. Jeans, Abercrombie & Fitch. Shoes, Anna Michelle.

    I love a good ol’ fashioned statement piece.  A statement piece is something that makes an outfit, all by itself.  With a statement piece, you need nothing more than the piece itself.  No jewelry.  No accessories.  You get to play the rest of your look down because the statement piece plays everything else up.  When I saw this vintage linen blouse with pearl buttons, cut-out detailing, and large poofy sleeves… I knew I had found a fabulous statement piece.  The cream color helps add to its allure and makes the poofy sleeves wearable with denim and during the daytime.  I know this blouse will become one of my “go-to pieces” that I grab when a lack of creativity {or a lack of time} hits.

     

     

  • MUST HAVES – BOWS

    MUST HAVES – BOWS

    You can just wear one… in your hair, on your wrist, around your waist… for a touch of femininity.  Or you can wear them from head to toe for a frilly, girly, oh-so-cute look.  I can’t get enough bows.  Maybe you’ll fall in love with one {or all} of the bow-topped items below like I have.

    1. Crystal Dipped Handheld Mirror Made with Swarovski Elements $350
    2. Christian Louboutin Lady Bow $735
    3. Anthem of the Ants Bow Romper $62
    4. Badgley Mischka Bow Watch $150
    5. Giuseppe Zanotti Chiffon Bow Sandal $850
    6. Barneys New York Floral Bow Tie $75
    7. Lanvin Silk Bow Front Blouse $1,165
    8. Christian Louboutin Madame Butterfly Bootie $1,195
    9. Tasha ‘Skinny Bow’ Headband $24
    10. Kensie ‘Adrienne’ Hipster $12
    11. Dior Cannage Stitch Peep Toe Pump $770
    12. Heidi Klein Salina Bow Bikini $235
    13. Marc by Marc Jacobs D2 Bianca Bow Pave Bow Earrings $68

  • CURRENT OBSESSION – FARMER’S MARKET

    CURRENT OBSESSION – FARMER’S MARKET

    Okay… I have an admission: this isn’t technically a “current” obsession… it’s more like a seasonal obsession… Every time the weather gets warm, I become re-addicted to the Farmer’s Market {evidenced by the fact that I wrote an article about it before: here}.  However, as the weather has warmed up {and triggered my appetite for fresh fruits and veggies and the presence of fresh flowers on my coffee table}, I thought it was fitting to feature the Santa Barbara Farmer’s Market.  I am so in love with it.  I went this past Saturday with my sister and one of my best friends and we bought a bag of dried apples and munched on them while we walked up and down the rows of gorgeous, colorful, pesticide-free {and affordable!} produce.  I left with dried apples, dried tangerines, sweet peas, and peonies.  All things that are sweet and beautiful.

  • HOW TO – THE 5 MINUTE FACE & ADVANCED MAKEUP TECHNIQUES

    HOW TO – THE 5 MINUTE FACE & ADVANCED MAKEUP TECHNIQUES

    If your life is anything like mine… fabulous opportunities arise at the most unexpected times.  Though you would love to always be prepared, sometimes you will be caught off-guard {aka in your pajamas with no makeup on}.  Don’t let this stop you from taking part in the fabulous outing… if you have five minutes {trust me, any worthy individual extending the invite will wait for you, gorgeous} you can be ready to go.  Throw your hair up and remember, you only need a clean base {concealer, foundation, pressed powder}, a bit of shimmer {get a good multi-purpose color pot}, tinted loose powder {to set the look and give you a glow}, a bit of bronzer, a pop of color, and curled lashes {with a good coat of volumizing mascara}.  Read on for a how-to on your steps to achieve the 5-Minute Face.

    1. Bare faced… and have to be out the door in 5 minutes? 2. Put that concealer under your eyes . 3. Concealer? Check. Now pat it gently into your skin. 4. Liquid foundation. 5. Dot it on and rub it in. 6. Our base is done. 7. Pressed powder… Press it on for flawless coverage. 8. A two in one product to highlight eyes… 9. And cheeks. 10. Rub in some tinted loose powder with a kabuki brush. 11. Bronzer everywhere the sun hits… cheeks, forehead, nose, and chin. 12. Take the bronzer and use it with a contour brush to define cheekbones.  13. Hot. Pink. Blush. You need a pop of color. 14. Put that color on the apples of your cheeks. 15. Your eyelash curler (aka your best friend). 16. Volumizing mascara. 17. Bam. Less than 5 minutes. 18. Time to go out xo

    For the video version of the 5-Minute Face Tutorial, watch here
    httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlzdMfPGgNM

    If you’re ready to move on, lovebug… Let’s get on with some more advanced makeup techniques.  Let’s say you know you have somewhere fabulous to go {a hot date, a charity event, girls night…} and you have at least 20 minutes to get ready… advanced makeup techniques only add 15 minutes {max} onto your basic 5-Minute Face.  With the addition of eyeliner {pencil and liquid}, darker eyeshadow, fake lashes, an eyebrow pencil, and a nude lipstick, you’re ready to knock anyone’s socks off… and {though you are already perfect just the way you are} you’ll look like a total glamazon.


    1. You’ve already done your 5-Minute Face… now line the outer third of your lower lash line and inner rim with a black waterproof eyeliner pencil. 2. Voila! Instant drama. 3. Take a flat brush and rub it in light shimmery eyeshadow. 4. Pat the shadow on your lid and sweep it up to your browbone. 5. A wash of light shimmer. 6. Take an eyeshadow brush meant for your crease and sweep it in a chocolate brown shadow. 7. Sweep the shadow into your crease. 8. Back to the flat eyeshadow brush and the chocolate brown shadow.  9. Cover the outer half of your lid with the brown shadow. 10. Use a sponge tip applicator and sweep it in black shadow. 11. Put the black shadow on the outer third of your upper and lower lid. 12. Liquid liner… line your whole eye if you want a dramatic look. 13. Fill in those brows to look polished. 14. See? Polished. 15. One more coat of that volumizing mascara. 16. Fake eyelashes! Practice makes perfect. 17. The perfect nude lipstick. M.A.C.s “Hue.” 18. Smear that lipstick on. 19. The face… bring the drama. 20. The finished lids. 21. Advanced makeup… mastered.

    For the video version of the Advanced Makeup Tutorial, watch here
    httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=338G3WyKYRU

  • CURRENT OBSESSION – STATEMENT HATS

    CURRENT OBSESSION – STATEMENT HATS

    After I experienced the Royal Wedding in all it’s glory {and, yes, I stayed up til 6am to take in the whole magnificent event}, I found that I couldn’t get enough of the wacky, wonderful, elegant, and statement making hats available in the world… my personal favorite is the fascinator, but as the Royal Wedding only happens once every thirty or so years, I likely won’t have many reasons to wear such fabulous headgear… kidding, kidding… luckily we Americans have a tradition of our own: The Kentucky Derby.  Which happens to be this weekend.  And my hat obsession lives on.

    1. Brenda Lyn Montauk Sunhat $185
    2. Barneys New York Virginia Cloche $195
    3. Misaharada Valeska $195
    4. Kangol ‘Player’ Fedora $55
    5. Nordstrom ‘Side Bow – Large’ Floppy Straw Hat $48
    6. Plaza Suite Pave Downbrim $154
    7. Scala Flower Headband $72
    8. Sur La Tete Leopard Pillbox $30
    9. Eveline Butterfly Pillbox by Arturo Rios $118
    10. Jeanne Simmons Veil Cocktail Hat $34
    11. Cassel Goorin Belladonna Cloche $290
    12. Kangol Y Cable Cloche $60
    13. Hot Pink Kentucky Derby Fascinator Hat $80
    14. Black Kentucky Derby Fascinator Hat $85