Blog redesign

Hello everyone!

I am so sorry for the delay in posts. I am working on redesigning and debuting a new blog site. Until this movement is finished, I will not be posting.

So...until further notice...BLOG UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

I will post an update when I have an official finish date.

Find Friday: my newfound love of hand lotion

This Find Friday is all about a piece of the beauty world that found me.

If you have been looking for the right smelly-goodness hand lotion, I invite you to consider Arbonne's Aromassentials lavender body lotion. (Office supplies added for scale.)

I actually won this at a product party thrown by a dear friend of mine. I asked the most questions (sometimes it pays to be a journalist), got the most chocolate kisses and, therefore, got to pick this goody.

My bottle is 2 ounces, but an 8 ounce bottle is only $24.00. If you are just using the product as hand lotion, that is a great deal.

Hand lotion is not normally my thing. In fact, after I got this it stayed in my apartment for a few days before I remembered to put it in my purse. Now though I wouldn't want it anywhere else. It's great to get a little perfume refresher through the day and know I have something to combat Colorado dryness.

Things I have noticed about the product

• The smell is sweet, but not too strong. You won't be overwhelming anyone's smell around you. 
• You need just a little bit. It is likely this bottle will last me for a very long time.  

Opinion: Where did we run off to?

Fashion is awesome (says the person with the fashion blog). Each season there are exciting new trends and varieties of clothes we get to experiment with and look beautiful in. Like everything else in this world though, fashion also has a dark side.

It's perfectionist style permeates everything women do. The skinny models, Photoshop obsession and financial abandon have turned women into a judging gender.

An all-female band, The Mrs., has changed that a little though.

The Mrs. created an interactive mirror that shows women how beautiful they really are.

This is how we should be treating each other. Fashion will always be changing, there will always be new trends and there will always be someone who is able to get all the pieces. There will always be that one girl who has the "perfect proportions". To that I have this to say: who cares?

If we continue striving to destructive goals, what we will get in return is destruction. Each of us is beautiful in our own way. We are literally all different.

The greatest thing I love about the fashion world is that there is some for everybody. We are easily able to celebrate our different body curves and interests because there are so many options. Wouldn't it be great to apply that same love of difference to how we impact others' views of themselves?

Tell your friends they are beautiful, compliment your mom when you see an opportunity and be a building block instead of a stumbling stone.

3D me

3D printers: we have seen them produce car parts, games and art. Did you ever imagine it would print supermodels?

Vogue joined with Shapeways to 3D print the ever-popular Karlie Kloss in a kind of fashion shoot.

While this is not the first time fashion has experimented with 3D design, it is certainly a first for modeling.

The six inch versions of Kloss were created by having her stand in the middle of a 100 camera circle. With all of the shutters simultaneously opening and closing, the cameras collectively take 100 pictures of Kloss in all her modeling glory.

Those pictures are then compiled and sent off to the printer.

According to Vogue Journalist Robert Sullivan, this is a preview of what is to come for fashion in the future.

In "virtual shopping", we will each have a perfectly scanned image of our bodies that can be sent out to designers. The designer will try pieces on your scan and help you choose the what to buy. Once purchased, you can "use your 3D printer to print out that ribbed turtle neck and ankle boots".

It sounds futuristic and weird, but actual implementation really isn't that far away. According to Sullivan, Direct Dimensions has already been doing a lot of this.

Spoiler: The Amazing Spider-Man 2 scenes that show Andrew Garfield swinging Emma Stone through the streets? All scanned.

This may not be your thing because it sounds impersonal. I agree, it definitely does. However, if nothing else this is going to be a completely awesome upgrade to shopping online.

Imagine buying clothes from a website and knowing exactly how they will fit!

There are other ways of getting involved in the 3D thing too. Designer Nao Raviv just debuted a line she calls "Hard Copy". The pieces consist elements, meant, she said, to play with your eyes.

"It creates a sort of game between 2D and 3D," Raviv said.

Hairstyles for every work day

Transitioning from full-time school to full-time work means a change in wardrobe, sleeping hours and activities. What is also required to change though is the way you style your hair.

By this I do not mean that every way you wore your hair in school is now inappropriate. It's not, and often times you can repeat those same looks throughout your career. However, what does need to advance is the amount of hair style options you have required your fingers to memorize.

Working requires hairstyles of versatility. It is useful to have a style that says "professional" during an important meeting, but also styles that tell your co-workers you are more laid back.

Most importantly, hairstyles can make an impression. If you do something different with your hair once a month, people will take notice of you. Your boss, for instance, could pay more attention to you that day.

Now, instead of just offering you complex styles that would take forever to do, I wanted to go one step further. Try out some of these 23 five-minute hairstyles for busy mornings.

The only ones I would consider not necessarily work appropriate are the high ponytails, depending on how formal your office is.

For a fair warning, some of these will likely take longer than five minutes. However, the sentiment does mean they will not take very long in general. (Practicing will get you to that five minute mark.) 

Just because you have an "adult" job doesn't mean you have to be boring. Play up your hair and try bringing a little whimsy to work! 

This is one of my favorites. Since it's pretty much the end of summer, I am planning on trying it for casual Friday this week to fit the style in at least once this year!

These are not the only hairstyles you can use the rest of this year. Allure's variety is more toned-down, but will have you looking professional as well.

Do you have the styles down but can't decide how to die your hair? Check out Glamour's suggestions!

Find Friday: Take you anywhere skirt

Ladies...buying a good fashion piece does not always mean shopping in a store.

I say this because the skirt I am focusing on this week was not purchased anywhere near a store. In fact, I bought it from one of my best friends when she was going through a closet clean-out.

The skirt is a no-name brand, but it caught my eye from the start. The gradient length and sheer fabric make it look elegant and girly, and the classic vibe opens up a lot of outfit options. It is already one of my favorite new pieces and I bought it for a whopping $7. Yes...that's right. I said $7.

Why I bought it

For one, the color is great. Almost a neutral, I am able to wear this with pretty much anything. I am not restricted to one kind of style and can even find ways to style it during winter for work.

I also chose this skirt because it's on trend. When shopping through a friend’s closet it is always important to be careful with what you choose. You don't want to buy something you will end up regretting a day later.

I knew I would use this skirt a lot and get more than what my money is worth.

A plus to buying this was (obviously) the price. Finding a skirt like this for anywhere near that much money is rare. A beautified classic like this will undoubtedly cost a good chunk of change unless it's not good quality or you buy it from a consignment store.

Style options

For summer, wear a shorter top that will meet at the high-waist line of the skirt with wedges and somewhat chunky jewelry for contrast.

For fall, pair this with a leather jacket, scarf and heeled boots to look a little tough.

For winter, try some tights and a buttoned cardigan (I will trying this myself soon).

How to: VMA nail trend

Nail trends have been blowing up the last year. What has been a way to give constant color has now changed into a fashion accessory all on its own.

Actresses at the VMAs on Sunday gave popularity to one nail trend that you will undoubtedly live in the rest of 2014: the striped nail.

For those of us who are working professionals, this nail style is great because it allows you to be fashionable while losing none of your sophisticated edge. Fashion movements have to be carefully translated in business attire settings. But this one lets your creativity run free! (Given you decide on appropriate colors for your office.)

Just think of pinstripe pants...but for your nails!

In general striped nails offer tons of versatility and options. The type of stripe, amount of stripes and pairings are limitless. Especially with the colorful focus this fall has, you will have lots of color options.

Striped nails do sound intimidating. I don't know about you, but I can't draw a straight line to save my life.

Thankfully some people are skilled at this and post videos to give us less artistic ones a way to rock this without having to constantly spend money at the nearest nail salon.

These are the best videos I found. The directions do not take too much money or time. I will be trying the techniques with fall colors and posting pictures this weekend so we can all see how effective these options really are.

If you try these out, let me know how it goes! (The second video shows the stripe technique until 1:19.)

Find Friday: the perfect maxi dress

This Find Friday I am focusing on the last amazing piece I bought recently at Francesca's.

I was instantly drawn to this dress. At first glance it seems simple. However, the textured fabric and beaded waist add a quiet interest. This is the kind of piece that draws people in. The more you look at it, the more you like it. The beads also create a great silhouette.

Dresses like this last a long time. The fabric is thin enough for summer, but thick enough to keep you warm in fall.

I got this dress 40 percent off at $32.40. For a maxi dress that will last a couple years? That's a great value!




Style tip
Try this with a textured blazer, bulky white jewelry and knee high boots.

Trend Alert: The guide to fall fashion part 2

As you have all read part 1 (this link is a chance to redeem yourself if you haven't), I will just get into it. These are the other four fall trends, according to Style, to be watching out for.

Trend 4: Puzzling prints

Subtly is out this season. Prints are loud, intriguing and eye-catching. Designers carefully created pieces that look crazy and put together.

This outfit is not a quiet ensemble. It's loud and people will notice you. However, the ways the print flows and the simplicity close to the face make it work.

Prints are also being combined. This takes careful consideration and planning. Creating a pleasing outfit out of contrasting prints is not for everybody and this study shows that too much contrast is bad. Nonetheless, the idea is still something to experiment with. If you are going for contrasting prints, try using the same color palettes.

Trend 5: "The New Normal"

The whole idea of this style is to "stand out by blending in". Designers take fashion staples and add a little different touch. The effect is vast amounts of interest and curiosity.

 Look for staple pieces that stand out in some small way and pair them together. On those days when you don't feel like wearing a distinct print, you don't have to feel left out from fashion.

Trend 6: What goes around comes around

Fashion is cyclical. What was fashionable a couple decades ago will inevitably be trending again in some form or other. This fall we are entering back into the '60s. "Dolly bird dresses" and '60s shoe wear are no longer a thing of the past. This is not a bad thing though. The below dress, for instance, is adorable.

Trend 7: The sheer



Following the summer trend of crop and translucent tops, fall—ironically—means dresses that show more skin. Designers re-invented the evening dress with sheer fabric. The dresses are made with translucent textiles that cover only certain parts of the body.


Some pieces show things tastefully. Others are more outgoing. Make sure to try on a dress like this before buying it. No one wants to show up to a formal event practically naked. If you love the dress and it's too sheer, try some layering!

This could bring a whole new meaning to the word layering. I am excited for that!

Find Friday: love that lace!

Yay for Find Friday! This week I am unveiling this lovely pair of shorts I found at Francesca's, a store my good friend recently introduced me to.

Right on trend, these shorts have a silk, nude underlay that is covered with sparkly lace. Lace is nothing new. However, the composition of these shorts is very unique. It is not often you see lace with this sparkle. The really awesome part—the neutral color will keep these in style for a couple years.

Francesca's priced them at $38.00. For a quality, full lace garment this is a reasonable amount.

I let the shorts shine when I wear them. A plain tank top, jean jacket and some cute flats create a simple and fashion-forward outfit.

Trend Alert: The guide to fall fashion part 1

Whether we like it or not, it's August. The summer is almost over and fall is creeping up. What’s good about this? Time to go shopping!

With a new season, come new trends. Fall 2014 designs are exciting and really fun!

Trend 1: The fuzziest

The first trend is fur. Designers use the fur as mostly accents on unique and fashionable jackets. The pieces are coordinated with the expected pants, but also more soft clothing that gives a fall outfit a real punch.

The below outfit is a great example. The jacket is over a soft, summery dress. This is a great way to play up the idea of summer finishing and winter coming.

Fur vests are trending as well. The key to this kind of vest is to it in a neutral color and wear it boldly.

Trend 2: "Color Therapy"

 This season is going to be so exciting for colors! Vibrant and deep hues will be everywhere; yellows, purples, pinks, blues. Instead of going for your typical orange, go for a bright green.
While these colors will be vivid, they are different than summer in that the tones are heavily saturated. There are no pastels or very light colors in the mix. If you want a pink, you are going to get a pink.

Perhaps the most exciting idea of this is that the colors are intended to be paired together. It's your classic color-blocking, but using no neutrals.

This look is exactly the trend. Both colors are bright, but the contrast and excitement in that works very well. Obviously every outfit won't be this kind of combination, but several can be.

Trend 3: Nothing but knits

Knits this year are not just about wearing a sweater. When you are wear knit, you will really wear knit. Like this picture below, the trend is to literally cover yourself from head to toe. 

The idea sounds overwhelming. However, the key to being fashionable with this is to really think about your execution. In this outfit, the knits are different patterns and have other fabrics peeking through. The extra volume, play on patterns and visually appealing texture make this outfit approachable.

Check out Nordstrom for some knits.

Watch out for more trends coming up next week!