Springtime Finds!

It is freezing here today, and this glass of wine isn't helping to warm me up, so I thought some window shopping might help to remind me that Spring WILL eventually come, and it won't be Winter forever. 

I also just gave myself a fresh mani (white and gold), so I'm feelin' pretty fab today, but I am dying for some warmer temps so I can rock some of these awesome frocks. Read on to see my picks for the week and let me know which spring trend you're excited to wear!

Bloomsday Mint Backless Floral Print Dress

Mint is going to be huuuuuuuge this Spring, and that makes me happy because it's one of my favorite shades. It's so fresh and feminine, and goes great with another one of my favorite colors: coral. I love the floral print of this dress too, it's perfect for all those Springtime events like baby showers, wedding showers, brunches, and even Easter!

 Taming Of The Screw Gold and Silver Bangle | Cartier "Love" Collection Bracelet

I love this bracelet because of its similarities between the Cartier screw bracelet. Granted, they don't look exactly alike, but I'll take $15 over $5,575 any day! This bangle will look great stacked with a watch and your other favorite bracelets, or worn alone.


LC by Lauren Conrad Floral Shorts
I love the fresh approach of these shorts. They're a good length too, it seems that all the patterned shorts I seem to find are either way too short or way too matronly. These would look great with a gauzy shirt or a loose fitting tee for a more relaxed feel.


Waffle Knit Striped Sweater
I looooove the color of this lightweight sweater. It's the perfect piece to take you from Winter to Spring, and the color is enough to get you through those dreary, rainy, early Spring days. I would love this with white denim, or even mint green jeans for an extra preppy look!


D'Orsay Pointed Toe Flats
I'm a big fan of the D'Orsay style of heels, and was super stoked to see that Forever 21 had a flat option. The buttery yellow is the perfect neutral to pair with all your Springtime brights, and they can be worn with anything from jeans to skirts to sundresses.

That's all for tonight. I'm still cold and now I'm just missing warmer temps even more.
Enjoy your long weekend (if you're lucky enough to have one)!

Inspired by Pinterest!

I have been on the hunt for some super easy looks that can be put together by the woman on-the-go, and have found some great inspiration on Pinterest. I've thrown together some of  my favorite looks, just click on the item and it will take you to Polyvore, where you can find all the details about each item! Happy shopping!

Stripes, mint green, and pops of pink.

Image via Chic Wish-found on Pinterest

Guess what?! The skirt shown is the actual skirt in the photo! It's from Chic Wish and it's on sale for $49.90 right now (plus 15% off and free shipping for new customers)! This look is perfect for Spring and Summer, and the maxi skirt is flattering on everybody. If you're shorter, opt for a midi skirt (a little longer than the knee) or an above-the-knee skirt! The hot pink belt adds a fun punch of color, and helps to break up the mint and b&w.

Blush pink, lace, and feminine touches.

This look is from the blog, Arum Lilea, she has some super adorable outfits on her page, so be sure to head over there for more inspiration! I found this photo on Pinterest, it is not property of me, nor am I claiming it to be.

I love how feminine this look is! The lace, the pink, the gold accessories-it's perfect to bring out your inner sophisticate! You can add any pair of shoes depending on your mood-I think a pair of wooden wedges would look amazing, but flats would work just as well!

So, did I inspire you today? If not, head over to my Pinterest head for more fab looks!

Happy Saturday!

Fashion Of Golden Globes' Past

I am obsessed with awards season. I will religiously watch the red carpet pre-shows for hours on end and gasp out loud when I see a killer look. The #1 thing on my bucket list is to walk a red carpet in a designer gown (preferably Marchesa or Oscar de la Renta), but I'm assuming I'll have to settle for a military ball wearing something from Macy's. 

This year for the Globes, I'm hoping to see some fashion risks. It's been quite the year for the fashion industry, and I'd love to see some starlets step outside their box (I'm talking to you, Sofia Vergara). While I'm waiting to see what everyone steps out in this year, let's take a walk down memory lane and relive some of our (or my) favorite looks from years past!

2012 ( photo creds)

Lea Michele in Marchesa | Charlize Theron in Dior Couture


Michelle Williams in Jason Wu | Emma Stone in Lanvin


Nicole Kidman in Versace | Elle Macpherson in Zac Posen

2011 (photo creds)


Olivia Wilde in Marchesa | Emma Stone in Calvin Klein Collection

(2011 was a pretty lackluster year for me, in case you didn't notice. I just wasn't that impressed, and don't even get me started on that Natalie Portman dress...gag)

2010 (photo creds)


Olivia Wilde in Gucci | Emily Blunt in Dolce and Gabbana



Kate Hudson in Marchesa | Anna Paquin in Stella McCartney (photo creds)

2009 (photo creds)


Eva Mendes in Dior | Amy Adams in Oscar de la Renta


Olivia Wilde in Reem Acra | Jennifer Lopez in Marchesa

Well, if that's not enough to get you through the day, then I invite you to keep browsing all the past fashions. Who would you wear on the red carpet if you could choose any designer?
Of course, you already know my pick, but here are some of my specific favorites...


Oscar de la Renta  | Oscar de la Renta


Oscar de la Renta

Enjoy the show tonight, and let me know your personal faves!

     

 

Coral

check out my set on Polyvore for item descriptions, prices, and where to buy them.

Spring is on its way (eventually, I promise), and it is bringing one of the hottest colors-coral! This shade just screams, "SPRING!" to me, so I definitely wanted to create a set using it. The color is best paired with light colors such as tan, mint, and white, but you can also punch it up a bit by pairing it with navy, turquoise, and even black (if you go the black route, use it in small doses, like your bag).


photo cred

Emma Stone looks stunning in this coral/peach Calvin Klein dress at the 2011 Golden Globes. She's one of my fashion icons...and this just solidified her in the Fashion Lust Hall of Fame (not a real thing, but we can pretend). See how easily this color can be pulled off on any skin tone?






What's your favorite way to wear coral? Do you prefer to dress it up or keep it casual?

5 EASY Steps To A Flawless Face!

I've been getting a lot of questions regarding an Instagram photo I took, and how I get my skin to look so flawless. I thought I'd try a tutorial, but since I'm not the most eloquent person, it came out a little scattered. So, I figured I would write it out step-by-step, and it should be easy enough to understand!

Here's the photo I posted, and let me tell ya, it took A LOT of courage to post my "before" pic, my make-up free face. I'm super self-conscious without make-up, and to post it to the Internet takes a lot of guts. 

 

Alright, so here are the suuuuper easy steps to get a "flawless" face. I promise it's not scary, and anyone can do it! 

Here is what you will need before you get started:
1. BB Cream: I use the L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic BB Cream and it is, by far, the best BB Cream I've come across. It goes on white, and then blends perfectly into your skin tone. 

2. A foundation that matches your skin tone: I use Revlon Photoready Airbrush Mousse Makeup because it's inexpensive and goes on smoothly, but it can be a little heavy. Considering that a lot of women are wearing the wrong makeup shade, your best bet (if you don't know what shade you wear) is to go to a makeup counter to be matched by a professional. They will be able to tell you if you should wear a warm, cool, or neutral shade, and what color best matches your skin tone. You will usually receive a free sample good for about 10 days, so if you can't afford to buy a higher end brand, you can take the shade to a drugstore/Ulta and match it to a less expensive brand.

3. Loose Powder: I use Bare Minerals, but you can use any powder that you prefer. If you'd prefer to have a lighter coverage, and just use the powder to "set" your makeup, you can go with a translucent powder. I like E.L.F. HD Loose Powder (buy it from Target, it's only $3 there!) because it's inexpensive, but goes on just as well as the MUFE brand.

4. Blush: I love my Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Dollface because it's the perfect shade of pink and it lasts all day. I definitely did not pay $25 for it, but $10, and it came in a dual pack with their awesome bronzer. They're travel sizes, but I prefer those, because they're easier to travel with. You can also use E.L.F. Studio Blush in Passion Pink-the shade looks scary, but it goes on really easily and blends with every skin tone-promise!

5. Bronzer: I use a flat, light, brown shade to contour, like NYC Bronzer in Sunny. Obviously, if your skin is darker, you'll need to use a darker shade, but make sure there's no shimmer, just a flat brown shade.

Ok, now you're ready to get started! Make sure that your skin is prepped (cleansed, exfoliated if necessary, and toned), so that the makeup can be evenly applied. You can use a sponge, brush, or your fingers to apply the BB Cream all over your face. Make sure you blend into your forehead, sides of your nose, and along your jawline. I will sometimes even use a little on my neck to even everything out (that's seriously how uneven my skin tone is)!

Once the BB cream is applied, you will notice a world of difference. If you aren't happy with the evenness just yet, apply foundation just in the areas where you need it. Lightly dab it on any blemishes, blend it under your eyes to cover circles or redness, and anywhere else that still appears uneven. Use a foundation or concealer brush for this for the best coverage.

Your skin should be fairly even by now. Give it a minute to set, and then apply your powder all over your face. Make sure you're using a brush specifically for powder, the bigger the better!

A lot of women neglect to wear blush, and I think that's one of the biggest beauty blunders you can make. Blush brightens up your face, makes you appear awake and refreshed, and adds a "happy glow" to anyone! Put a biiiiig smile on your face, dab a little blush on your cheekbones, and then blend upwards. Make sure it's blended, and you don't have a big ol' pink stripe going up your cheeks. 

Onto the contouring, which can be the trickiest part. Make a face like a fish. Where your cheeks "sink in", make a thin line with the bronzer going upwards. Blend. Then blend again. Then blend again. Do that on each side and blend again (see a trend here?). If you feel like you want to slim down your nose, apply a line down each side of your nose. Then blend, blend, blend! I always apply a little at the top of my forehead, and then along my jawline. 

Look in the mirror and smile because you're done! I always add a little mascara, fill in my brows, and a touch of lip gloss before being done, but that only takes a matter of seconds! 

I challenge my readers to give this a try and let me know what you think! I'm by no means an expert, but I've tried countless routines, and this one has definitely given me the best coverage!

Always remember this, you are beautiful, and it's truly what's on the inside that makes you shine. 

 

-CJ