Month: July 2015

Tips For Incoming College Freshmen

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So you’ve graduated high school, and you’re gearing up for your first year of college, huh? Congratulations! This is a super exciting/nerve-wrecking time for you. I’m sure you have a lot of questions, and you’ve been doing your research as to what you should bring (we’ve got that covered here), what you should wear (click here), and also just general advice on what it’s going to be like. Almost all of us writers on this blog have finished our first year and we decided to share some tips/what we wished we would’ve known when we were in your exact shoes! Please read, share on social media, print, and leave comments. We’d love to answer any questions you have that we may not have covered, so ask away! *Click Image to Enlarge

Back-to-School Makeup Essentials Part 8: Brushes

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New year, new you; back to school season is the perfect excuse to experiment with new looks! If you’re wanting to dip your toes into the world of makeup these are just a few of the must-have essentials I think everyone should have in their repertoire. This is the eighth in a nine part series that will show you some of the very best splurges and steal to include in your makeup bag for the fall. Soft, Fluffy Brushes: You may have the best makeup in the world, but how it translates on your face also depends on the tools you use! Investing in good quality brushes will make a huge difference in how your makeup looks and feels, and will save you from dealing with messy fingers every morning. Foundation Brush (prevents streaking from runny, liquid foundations) Splurge- Shiseido Perfect Foundation Brush ($30 at Nordstrom) Steal- Sonia Kashuk Core Tools Pointed Foundation Brush ($12.99 at Target)              Blush Brush (helps to subtly deposit color) Splurge- NARS Blush Brush #20 ($40 …

Links a La Mode July 30

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Yay! Our Fall Trends video was chosen to be listed in this week’s Links a la Mode. Check out the other top blog posts of the week. Some rules are expected to be followed, while others seem made to be broken.  In fashion, who gets away with rule breaking and who doesn’t? This is what I’ve been thinking about. So, how did so many of you know that I wanted to talk about rules this week?  IFB bloggers shared their personal and cultural rules, fashion industry laws, and rules designers live and create by.  All Subjective.  Which means, great conversation!  Accolades to We Are Ready Made for an excellent job of reminding us that beauty is often introspective. We also had posts for the rest of us to dream about.  Taking us to Barcelona and Greece. … and for those of you missing cherished wardrobe pieces, I would highly recommend reading A Handful of Stories post.  Insightful. Links à la Mode, July 30 A Handful of Stories: Blue Maxi and a Thank You Note to My House Spirit Arisgold: How to Wear a …

Brandi’s BTS Wishlist

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Getting everything together for when school starts back up can be a bit stressful. There are so many items that we need, it becomes overwhelming. As part of our back to school series I put together a list of items that I consider to be my top priority for back to school.   1. This Denim skirt from H&M is a must have for me! I am a big fan in incorporating 70’s pieces into my fall wardrobe. To me this skirt can be worn to class or during a night out with friends.   2. At first glance you are probably thinking “I would never wear those in a million years” Trust me I did too. It didn’t take me long before I realized that this was the perfect gym shoe to be stylish and comfortable around campus without having to wear whatever dirty gym shoes you own. You can pretty much find this style of shoe anywhere, just keep an eye out! 3. Simple as it gets. I must have a tote bag …

Minimalist Apartment Decor

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Decorating your new apartment or dorm room can be an exciting time, especially if you have been dying to change up your current room’s design. When it comes to interior decorating, I find that I get a little bit overwhelmed by all the gorgeous and unique pieces of furniture, and I want to buy it all! With being on a budget though, I have to stop and ask myself what is it that I really need and feel like would be a representation of me. Just like your wardrobe, you want it to be a reflection of who you are, but that in itself can be tricky if you still aren’t sure of who you are (and that’s ok because let’s face it, if you’re entering college or already in it, this is the time when you truly are finding who you are). Anyhow, you want to make sure that your personality and the pieces that you choose all flow together. A popular trend that has swept the fashion and interior design world is minimalism, and it is amazing for …

F/W ’15 Alice + Olivia, Chloé, Sonia Rykiel

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As a part of the Back To School series, Niyah and myself are reviewing our favorite Fall ’15 runway collections. Although these are runway collections, they are meant to set a tone for what the season is going to look like and what you can expect to see in stores in terms of color scheme, fabric choices, and design. I love runway, and it inspires my everyday wardrobe, and I hope it inspires yours as well. Don’t be shy in commenting your favorite Fall ’15 collections, and telling us what you think of ours! Alice + Olivia Words can’t even describe how much I love Stacey Bendet, the incredible designer behind the high end brand Alice + Olivia. She never fails to impress me each season with her designs. Most of her collections are eccentric  based with hints of  playfulness in the patterns and prints she uses. Her fall collections are always stunning, and this season is no exception. This fall her collection contained a vintage 70s feel with almost a glam rock edge to it, …

Mackenzie’s BTS Wishlist

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Hey! So I thought it would be a good idea for all of us writers to create a list of our top 5 Back to School (BTS) must haves. So be on the lookout for these wishlists throughout the Back to School Series, and let us know what’s on your BTS list.    1. Ankle Strap Heels– Something definitely on my radar for this school year are some ankle strap heeled sandals. I’d really love a casual heel I can wear around without feeling too dressed up. 2. High Waisted Denim Skirt– I am probably going to end up buying a  high waisted jean skirt for this school year. Denim is very in right now, and I’d really like something to wear with some crop tops. This particular skirt is definitely on my wish list. 3. Urban Decay Naked 3– My eyes have been on this eyeshadow pallette for a long time. I absolutely love Urban Decay and their whole makeup brand, especially eyeshadow. As a fan of Naked 2, I’m interested in purchasing Naked 3, though I may …

Fall 2015 Beauty Trends

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There’s really no better time to change up your makeup look than at the beginning of the school year. Try out some of these new looks from the fall runways to raise your beauty game before classes start. Dark Lips Emanuel Ungaro, image via Operandimoda.com Trussardi, image via Stylebistro.com Giles, image via HarpersBazaar.com A dark lip for fall makes an undeniably bold and chic statement. While black certainly isn’t for everyone, you can dip your toes into the trend by trying a dark brown, or even a dark plum. Pair the lipstick with very clean makeup. Simply add a coat of clear brow mascara, a light foundation, a brown mascara, and maybe a light eyeshadow for more drama. Pair this look with effortless hair in beachy waves or an undone bun. Glossy Nude Eyes Prabal Gurung, image via Elle.com Tom Ford, image via Style.com Altuzarra, image via Notey.com A glossy nude eye is a subtle way to incorporate a new trend into your daily routine. Pick a shade of nude or brown cream eyeshadow, and swipe …

Back-to-School Makeup Essentials Part 7: Eyeliner

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New year, new you; back to school season is the perfect excuse to experiment with new looks! If you’re wanting to dip your toes into the world of makeup these are just a few of the must-have essentials I think everyone should have in their repertoire. This is the seventh in a nine part series that will show you some of the very best splurges and steal to include in your makeup bag for the fall. Beautiful, Bold Eyeliner: Lining your eyes can add major drama and mystery, perfect for glam looks. Eyeliner also has tons of versatility, and can be used to smudge, smoke out, or tightline. Whether you want to rock a graphic cat eye or a simple, lined top lid, eyeliner is a go-to piece for everybody. Pencil Eyeliner (perfect for smudged, smokey looks) Splurge- Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil ($20 at Macy’s) Steal- Neutrogena Nourishing Eye Liner ($7.59 at Target)                  Liquid Eyeliner (most long wearing formulation, perfect for precise lines) Splurge- Stila Stay All Day …