you gotta give a little....

Being in the fashion industry it's easy to get caught up in the glitz and glam. However, I firmly believe in having your feet on the ground and remembering what's important at all times. Recently I have come across some organizations involving young, creative people, who are doing their part and staying gounded. It's inspiring and I hope to do the same with my clothing line once it takes off.

KROCHET KIDS

www.krochetkids.org
Their goal is to  empower communities in developing nations to rise above poverty. Every hat you
 buy has the name of the person who knitted it for you. The fact that you get a name on their own
handwriting is a special touch that makes you feel a little closer to the cause. I encourage you to take
one of these 4 steps and do your part.

CLIMB FOR MEMORY

Meet Nelson Dellis, founder and director of Climb for Memory. He took his passion
for climbing and his love for his grandmother who passed away from Alzheimer’s and
 created a great organization. His goal is to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s
disease research by climbing mountains around the world. This is a great example of doing
something about the things you're NOT content with.
WHETHER YOU HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS DISEASE OR NOT,
DO YOUR PART AND DONATE ANYTHING YOU CAN.
Find out more on his website.
http://climbformemory.com


TOMS

Most people are familiar with TOMS and helping already. I still felt  they deserve to be mentioned
considering their continued success and the intention behind their movement. They continue to grow,
incorporating more "fashion" in their shoes. As they get trendy, they give back. Can't argue with that!
With Christmas around the corner, it's a perfect excuse to give a little.... ;)
www.toms.com

looks to steal...

I always look for inspiration to put looks together.

Sometimes from celebrities, bloggers, fashion shows,

and even friends. Here are some looks I would try to

re-create, but all of them with MY OWN TWIST.

I am obsessed with this look. The color was the first thing that
caught my eye, but the silhouette and length of the skirt is perfection.
I would love to find these colors, but my goal is to first find a bright
skirt in this length and silhouette and then I'll look for a bright blouse
for some contrast.

I've been seeing this look EVERYWHERE! From red carpet
dresses, to a more casual look like this one. I would wear it
with a different belt, either a bit thicker or more fitted. I don't
like how this one droops down. I would also either wear it with
chunkier nude shoes or gold flat sandals. This look would go well
with a bun on your hair and long earring or wavy bed head and
a simple necklace. You can also do this with a skirt and a blouse!

This is so adorable. I love the retro look of it. This is another way
to get some use out of your white button down. A long flowy skirt
of any print, preferable high waisted, with your shirt knotted at the
waist is a very chic weekend look.The only think I would change is
her bag. It throws me off...I would keep it lighter all around, the dark
leather takes away from the softness of the look. 

What I like about this look is the tone on tone. I would have never
thought of wearing the same bright color on top and bottom. I
think it works because she's wearing shorts. A pair of pants would
probably be too much, but I would do this in any other bright. Royal
blue, teal, fuchsia....wearing a blazer or cardigan can help tone it down.
I don't love her gray jacket, but you take from each look what you love and
leave what you don't.

YOU SHOULD EXPERIMENT WITH THESE LOOKS YOURSELVES!
HAVE FUN WITH YOUR CLOTHES! DON'T TAKE IT TOO SERIOUSLY.
I THINK FASHION IS A GREAT WAY TO BE WHO YOU WANT TO BE,
AND PLAY NEW ROLES WITH YOUR LOOK ALL THE TIME. SO HAVE
FUN! IT'S JUST FASHION! :)
XOXO! 

casual fridays...

TGIF! Casual fridays can still be chic...

This is a good corporate look for a casual friday. This blouse originally came
with a matching peachy neck tie, but instead I grabbed a waist sash from a black silk
top I have. I really like how it turned out and the contrasting tie made the look
a bit more interesting. It has a chanel feel to it that's super chic. 

I have always stayed away from high necklines. Being a little busty, I thought
I couldn't pull this off, but surprisingly I liked the end result. I think it works
because the blouse is lose all around. If it were a fitted top with a high neck, and
you have wide shoulders or a bigger chest, a high neckline probably won't work as well.

Top: Trouve @ Nordstrom
Shoes: Luciano Padovan
Jeans: Zara
Belt: Zara
Bag: Juicy

Have a fabulous weekend!!! 

XOXO!

1 down...

Out on a special date night. Celebrating an anniversary with the bf!

<3

Perfect way to start the week, Monday night out!

First date, same 2 chairs, almost 2 years ago :)

Top: Marc Jacobs
Skirt: BCBG
Clutch: Aldo

Shoes: Sam Edelman

Ended it with chocolate choc chip gelato!
Perfect ending to a perfect weekend! :)

red hot

Hi girls! It has been raining in Miami non stop and all you want to do is 

stay in and wear sweats, so I had no looks worth posting! Finally I got 

out and threw on my new favorite pants!

These are the red high waisted Jbrand jeans I mentioned in a previous post. It
no longer feels like summer, but the temperature isn't low enough for sweaters
and boots...So I went for the next best thing, my favorite booties and a short sleeve
knitted top, which give you the cozy look without the heat! I added a light weight
scarf to finish the look!

Shoes: Nine West
Jeans: Jbrand
Sweater: James Perse @ Nordstrom
Scarf: French Connection
Cuff:Vince Camuto

 

Have a great week! :)

XOXOXO!

the tools...

I've always loved make up. From applicators, to application tips, to

any product under the rainbow that deals with beauty and cosmetics.

One thing I've learned is that the applicator makes a huge difference in

your overall look. I've wanted brush sets forever, but it can get a
little expensive.

I've found some affordable products over time that I really love and

I wanted to share them with you!

www.eyeslipsface.com

(e.l.f)

These brushes are extremely affordable as you can see. I've used all 3 and
this is why I recommend them. First off you can't beat the price!
The Powder Brush can be used to set your foundation with a transluscent podwer.
I dab it on my face rather than making circular motions.

The Stipple Brush is great for bronzers with or without shimmer because it gives
you a light, even layer.

The Kabuki is my new favorite brush when applying only powder to your face. It
helps get rid of that chalky, dry, powdery look.

BRUSHES: They have the essentials, the minerals, and the studio. I like the studio
because they are softer.

I wish I could add more products, but I just discovered this site recently and

I want to make sure I use and love the products before recommending them. Feel

free to experiment yourself as well. It's worth the trial and error with these great prices.

I bought the Shimmering Facial Whip and I didn't like it at all, but for $1.00 it's worth the shot!

www.sigmabeauty.com

Sigma has great quality brushes. They are pricier than elf, but not too bad.

This is the only brush I own and I use it to apply foundation. I love the
quality and the way it makes the foundation go on the skin. I want to
definitely invest in more Sigma brushes! Will let you know about the rest soon!
I have read good reviews on their shadows, but haven't tried them yet.

http://realtechniques.com

This brush brand was created by Samantha Chapman. Her and her sister have

a channel on youtube called pixiwoo which you should definitely check out.

They do make up tutorials and they are both very talented and helpful. Her

brushes are all great quality and affordable and you can find them at Ulta.

www.beautyjoint.com

Here is another site where you can find a lot of goodies. NYX is one

of the brands I want to start trying out and I was happy to find it on this

site. They also carry other good quality, affordable brands. Great prices on 

brushes too!

3 fall 2011 favorites

I'm a Spring/Summer kind of girl, but I'm excited about Fall/Winter for the

first time in a long time. The trends below are the reasons why! :)

ANIMAL PRINT

Animal print is a classic that keeps coming back, and this fall it's a strong trend in women's
wear. It's a simple way to add some sex appeal to your looks. Below are every day looks
you can use to be a part of this trend.

Tip: Keep it down to one animal print in your outfit.

These shoes(Giuseppe Zanotti) would look great with jeans or leggings and a silk
 cami or blouse in black or ivory. (Check out Aldo and Steve Madden for styles
like this one)

Keep your accessories simple as well.
An animal print is very BOLD and it should be the statement
piece in your look, so keep everything else to a minimum.

The dress is from BCBG and although it's sexy, you can take it
from the office to a night out.

The blouse is BCBG. Roll up the sleeves and tuck it into
your jeans or a black high waisted skirt and you have
another look. Keep the shoes black or nude.

This skirt is BCBG and it's also a classy piece you can wear
to the office or a night out with the girls. Wear a cami and blazer
for work and some black or nude sexy heels for night time.

BRIGHT COLORS

I LOVE this trend. The idea of color for fall is brilliant. Below are
different color combinations that work! A colored jean is a big trend
right now. I love a royal blue, red, or green pair of skinnies.

These below are Jbrand and a little pricey, but the fit is incredible. Zara
also offered these in their collection. The blouses are from alice+olivia to
Forever 21, so this look can be very affordable, yet you will look trendy and
like a million bucks!

DOTS

I'm so happy this trend is back. I love the 40's and 50's and I think the Pin Up
look is one of the sexiest looks women have had, while remaining classy and mysterious.
This is exactly what dots remind me of, it has a retro glamorous feeling that makes
 me want to paint my lips red and throw on my red pumps!

These blouses are both from Zara. They are super chic
and versatile and can be worn with jeans, trousers,
skirts, even a pair of some cute black shorts with black
stockings for the winter!

The dress is from Anthropology and I love the silhouette.

And these TOMS are so adorable! I would even wear them with cropped
skinnies, a feminine little blouse and red lips to dress them up a bit.

BTW, get creative with your looks and your budget. For example,
the BCBG animal print blouse is about $200, which is a lot!
So google "animal print blouses" and you might get a deal from forever 21,
 or any other more affordable brand. It's all about getting creative and
there is nothing sweeter than a good deal with a hot trend!
XOXOXO!!! 

rain FALL

So this weekend has been one to watch movies, cuddle, or clean

the house. So I did all three! 

It's been a lazy, gloomy weekend and I'm feeling a little lazy myself. No desire
to wear heels or feel uncomfortable, but my original choice for sweats and flip
flops wasn't cutting it.  To top it off I ran out of contacts so I'm stuck being
4 eyes for another week!

Anyway, the sweats didn't fly so I went for the next best thing, LEGGINGS! I love me
some leggings!
I paired them with my comfy combat boots because I want no dirty water
between my toes. A light weight jacket, white tank, and an orange scarf for
a little umph! 

Tank: Mossimo by Target
Boots: Steve Madden
Leggings: Marciano
Jacket: Bebe
Bag: Aldo

This house is so cute. I always pass by it and I love that it has that "house at the keys" feel. Turns out it was built
in 1905 and it's registered as a Historical Place by the US Department of Interior.

Hoping for better weather this week! Happy Monday everyone! :)

get the look...

THE TOOLS

EYE SHADOW

STEP 1:
APPLY CREAM SHADOW EVENLY OVER THE ENTIRE LID
Shadow: Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow (Malted 17)
I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS SHADOW! (even by itself)
Brush: Bobbi Brown Cream Blending Brush
(Any cream shadow brush brand will do, but using the right brush makes a huge difference)

STEP 2:
APPLY HIGHLIGHTING SHADE ON INNER CORNER OF THE EYE AND BELOW
THE BROWN BONE (this opens up your eye and brightens your face)
Shadow: MAC (SHROOM Satin)
Brush: Sephora Blending Brush
(Any shimmery champagne/gold/white shadow will work as a  highlighter)

STEP 3:
USE YOUR FLUFFY BLENDING BRUSH AND WITH A FAN MOTION
SWEEP A MATTE BROWN COLOR ON YOUR CREASE.
Shadow: Urban Decay Naked Palette (Naked for day time, Buck for night time)
Brush: Sephora Blending Brush
THIS SHOULD BE THE FINAL SHADOW LOOK BELOW
(I filled in my brows)

EYE LINER

These marker looking liners are the easiest applicators ever! I've always been terrible
at applying liquid liner until I found these. I bought REVLON and then tried MAC
thinking it would be better, but I see no difference so I say go for REVLON and save
half the money!
STRETCH OUT YOUR LID AND MAKE AN EVEN LINE OVER YOUR LASH
LINE AND BELOW YOUR BOTTOM LASH, SO THAT BOTH LINES
CONNECT ON THE CORNER OF YOUR EYE AND MAKE A LITTLE WING.
Liner: REVLON ColorStay Liquid Eye Pen in Blackest Black

NEXT, LINE YOUR WATER LINE WITH A WHITE PENCIL (you can also use beige).
This opens up your eye, it's especially useful if you have small eyes.
Pencil: Chanel Intense Eye Pencil Color BLANC

LASHES

THE MOST IMPORTANT PART! MASCARA... WITHOUT THIS YOUR LOOK ISN'T FINISHED.
ALWAYS CURL YOUR LASHES BEFORE, NOT AFTER MASCARA.
THEN DO ONE COAT, LET IT DRY, AND REPEAT ONCE OR TWICE DEPENDING
ON HOW MUCH DRAMA YOU WANT.
Mascara: Dior's DIORSHOW ICONIC
I didn't personally love this brand, so I suggest you buy CoverGirl Lash Blast instead.

CHEEKS

USE A BRONZER (with or without shimmer) AND APPLY IT ON THE CHEEK BONES AND TEMPLE
WITH A STIPPLING BRUSH. IF YOU USE A REGULAR BLUSH BRUSH YOU WILL CONCENTRATE
ALL THE PRODUCT WHERE YOU FIRST PLACE THE BRUSH. USING A STIPPLING BRUSH MAKES
ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
Bronzer: BOBBI BROWN Shimmer Brick Compact in color Bronze
Stipple Brush: elf (cheapest brand ever!) check out www.elfcosmetics.com

NOW THAT YOU CONTOURED YOUR CHEEKBONES, ADD A PINK SHADE TO THE APPLES
OF YOUR CHEEKS IN A CIRCULAR MOTION.
Blush: Chanel Color 68 ROSE ECRIN
Brush: Le Metier de Beaute Blush Brush

LIPS

FINALLY! APPLY A BRIGHT LIPSTICK OF YOUR CHOICE TO TIE IT
ALL TOGETHER!
Lipstick: CoverGirl 325 spellbound envoutee

FINITO!!!

THIS IS THE LOOK! Enjoy making it your own! Add lashes for more drama!

Now don't get intimidated by the million pics I posted. The steps are easy.
EYES
1. Cream Shadow, Highlight, Brown Contour.
2. Black Liner and White Liner Optional.
3. Curl the lashes and apply mascara.
CHEEKS
1. Stippling brush for bronzer on cheek bones
2. Blush brush for blush on apples of cheeks.
LIPS
1. Lipstick of your choice!

The brands make no difference. Whatever brand you like will do!
I absolutely recommend the cream shadow from Bobbi Brown, it's a great
base for any other color and alone it gives you a very clean day time look!

XOXOXO!!!

girls night @ mai tardi...

Mai Tardi is located in Midtown. It has a really cute outdoor space, which you
can finally take advantage of in this weather!

Top: Trouve at Nordstrom
Shorts: H&M
Shoes: Steve Madden
Bracelet: Forever 21
Necklace: Nordstrom

Tomorrow I will post the products and steps I took
to achieve this make up look!