Fall Fashion

The air is crisp and cool and the leaves are falling...you know what that means! The fall season is here, and so are the 2010 fall fashions. The recent nude tones have inspired me to come up with this outfit. You have your basics: a cashmere sweater, a simple scarf to losely wrap around your neck (Burberry), dark wash straight leg jeans, chesnut flats to bring out the stripes in the scarf (Tory Burch), a timeless leather bag (Marc by Marc Jacobs), drop earrings to complement the color theme, and a bright cocktail ring for that pop of color that will bring together the outfit and incorporate the red stripes in the scarf. As you know, I dress for style and comfort, and this ensemble is perfect for a day at school/work, a walk in the park, or lunch with friends. This look can be pulled off at any age and will appear youthful and radiant if done correctly. I suggest a loose ponytail so that the scarf does not appear too bunchy and large. Leather boots can also replace the flats if desired. Happy fall!

Boots, Boots, Boots!

My absolute new obsession for this fall is leather or slouch boots. They have been on my mind all the time recently. I'm super picky, so finding the perfect pair (little or no heels, right shade of brown leather, slouchy in the right places) has been driving me nuts! These are some I've had my eye on lately: 

Homecoming One Week Beauty Countdown

Day 7

Day 6

Day 5

Day 4

Day 3

Day 2

Day of Homecoming!

It's always a good idea to have a plan before a big event such as homecoming (I know I'm excited for mine!). Always buy your ticket in at least a week in advance, and have your dress/shoes at least two weeks before. But the most important thing is to have a preparation plan so you know you'll look stunning on the dance floor. Here's a step by step plan for your special day:

Day 7: Give yourself a facial-Use pore strips to remove any dirt and oil in your pores before deep cleansing. Be sure to use a gentle scrub that will exfoliate your skin and get rid of any dead, dry skin. You should feel fresh and clean afterwards! Biore has a great pore scrub and strips. Tip: leave the pore strips on for 10 to 15 minutes to dry completely and get all the junk out of your pores.

Day 6: Deep condition your hair- leave in dry hair to suck up more moisture, wait 10 minutes and rinse for a shiny, healthy look (to avoid a greasy look) Garnier Fructis has a sweet smelling deep conditioner. Tip: Rubbing your hair with towel will create unwanted frizz, so ring your hair out, don't rub

Day 5: Shape your brows- in order to avoid redness that occurs right after overplucking or waxing, you should do this a couple days before the big night. Stencils help you avoid giving yourself too thin and high arched brows. I also fill in my eyebrows slightly to give an Audrey Hepburn full brow look. The Anastasia Brow Kit has everything you need to make your brows look beautiful! Tip: use a clear brow gel to make sure your brows aren't all over the place.

Day 4: Exfoliate your skin- no one wants dull and dry legs, arms, or feet. So I would suggest using a sugar scrub to wash those dead skin cells away. Yuck. Tip: Don't scrub too hard, or your skin will be damaged

Day 3: Try on you outfit- it's always best to try on your dress and heels to make sure that there aren't going to be any wardrobe emergencies (loose threads or broken zippers). Walk around in your outfit to make sure everything is still comfortable. Tip: use double sided tape to close gaps between your dress and your chest if you have a low cut dress.

Day 2: Test Drive Your Makeup- This means hair and makeup, ladies. This way, you can predict how long it's going to take to get ready so you won't be late. Try that new eyeshadow, look at different angles of your face (and remember, cameras will be snapping pictures left and right for Facebook and the yearbook, so look your best!) Tip: natural is the best way to go

Homecoming Day-Yay! You should be all ready to go, with clean healthy skin, a great look, and shiny bouncy hair. Now, all you need to top it off is a manicure/pedicure. The reason why waited this long to do your nails is to make sure your nails look fresh. Be careful though! You don't want to show up at homecoming to discover that that one nail WASN'T dry, and you got some on your dress! Dipping your hands in ice water will help your varnish dry faster and stay stronger for a longer period of time. Tip: use a Q-Tip dipped in nail polish remover to clean up the nail polish that got on your skin.

How to Wear It

Sorry I haven't had a post in a while, I was out and about this weekend at a conference. However, I was at a session where a speaker from a modeling agency stood out to me. Her outfit grabbed my attention because it was VERY unflattering, so I wanted to make a post on how to choose flattering outfits.

The first series of pictures show some very unflattering high fashion runway outfits. If you look closely, you can see that they are very bunchy and have thick layers that don't show of the curve of the models,  therefore making  beautiful women look hideous.

The second series of pictures (including my favorite model, Chanel Iman) shows flattering dresses that make each model look comfortable, curvy, and gorgeous.

The trick to making a flattering outfit for any body shape is to be honest with yourself. Look in the mirror and decide which features you like best. Do you like your arms, your legs, your thin waist, or broad shoulders? Try to incorporate a clothing piece that brings attention to that part of your body. Throw a belt on top of your skirt or shirt to make your waist stand out. Wear a tank top to show off your toned arms. The right pair of heels can show off your defined legs. Whatever you wear, bring attention to what looks best! 

My Accessory Obsession

When I have bad hair days (or just want to throw my hair up in a messy bun) , I usually add a headband to create the illusion that it took effort to do my hair that morning. I absolutely ADORE Anthropologie's headbands. They are great quality and beautifully made. They are a bit expensive, but they are worth the money in my opinion! Check out all the hair accessories Anthropologie has here.

Outfit of the Day

The Equestrian trend is one I found to be adorable if put together correctly. The highlights are the leather riding boots, plaid blazer, and studded hand gloves. What is a trend that has caught your eye?

Multicolor Manicures

I recently came across a new trend that caught my eye....multicolored nails! If pulled off correctly, this look can be chic and classy looking. Some color schemes that I've seen are monochromatic (dark to light/light to dark of the same color), complementary, and black to white/white to black. It's a very daring look, but a very fashion forward one! Have you seen any trendy nails recently??