WHITE HOT SUMMER

Taking a deep breath away from so many fall-transitioning into spring-darks is sometimes hard. Sometimes. It’s been easier so far, going from black to pastel to whatever’s hip for fall, but where does that leave Summer? Ah, Summer. That overlooked season, where the majority of the populous assumes that they’ll be alright in a swim suit and not much else. And while that is a major possibility, I hope others strive to look polished sometimes, you know, after all the sand and surf. White is a big deal because it’s bold in an understated and somewhat overwhelming way. Too keep your ensembles summer friendly, opt for crop tops and high bottoms for that neat, retro vibe. Accessories may include but are not limited to pretty floral pieces and circle shades. And try to embrace a floral or lighter scent this season, to accompany your SPF as well, of course!

keep it cool ladies n gents

xoxo

SUMMER SHOES + NAILS, THE NEUTRAL WAY

It’s getting hotter outside, so sadly enough, the brogues and knee high boots are going to have to learn to love the closet once more. With clothes shrinking, getting shorter, and in some parts, disappearing altogether, I’ve set out to find a way to keep my feet cool without resorting to…flip….flops….*cringes*. Cool, demi-heeled sandals such as Alexander Wangs (<3) and Asos, pictured above, keep you cool with the cut outs but can easily transition from a day at the park to a night on the town, and if you’re like me, you like not having to think much about clothing. The Zara shoes above are a bit of a crazy stretch for me, but I think that those paired up with simple skinnies and a white tee would make you the coolest girl this summer. And let’s not forget nails. I’m not a fan of nail art. I can appreciate nail art but I just won’t have it done to me, so I stick with one color and done. Can be a crazy color sometimes, which is fantastic for summer time, but if you know me you know it’s black, white, or pink. The blue above is really great though, too!

xoxo

Midnight Crazies Drive Me to Making Crazy Outfits

Ah, so sleepy. Just revel in the extravagance and ridiculousness of such an ensemble. It’s gorgeous and far too brave for a lass like myself. C’est la vie.

xoxo zzzzz

GUCCI RULES – WORK AND PLAY IN SPRINGY COLORS AND PATTERNS

With two more weeks left in the semester, I’m finding myself not at the corner of happy and healthy, but sleep deprived, miserable, and completely consumed in homework and term papers. I know, c’est la vie, but still, I don’t get paid for this. Aside from that, I am getting inspired lately by the choices of people in my town when it comes to style. People are trying, and it’s wonderful. Color and patterns are everywhere, which is such a nice change from sweat pants and tee shirts. And no, I’m not opposed to tee shirts, it all depends really. On top of style changing, I’m seeing ladies take big risks with hair styles and makeup. Seeing fushia lips and toned down eyeshadow is great, and mid length bobs are fantastic too, even I cut my hair! Spring is in full bloom my friends, and it’s reaching corners of the country untouched by a sense of style, LE FLORIDA!

xoxo

DIY FACE SCRUB/MASK WITH HONEY, OLIVE OIL, AND BROWN SUGAR

Hey pretty people! Just sharing a neat thing I learned from spending the day lurking DIY sites. To make it short, sweet, and simple, mix equal parts raw honey, brown sugar, and extra virgin olive oil and mix until it forms a thick paste. Honey is known for it’s anti-bacterial properties, olive oil lifts dirt from pores and soothes the skin, and brown sugar is a gentle, natural scrub to slough away dead skin cells. Easy, cheap, a bit runny so be careful! But the results are instantaneous. After scrubbing it in well and leaving it on for five to ten minutes, I took a warm warm warm wash cloth and wiped it clean. My face has never been so baby smooth, so I’m adding this to my list of regulars. Sorry about the terrible photo quality, my phone is a bit wacky! If you do end up trying this out, let me know how it goes! Also, what are your favorite (natural or not) diy beauty go-to’s?

xoxo

Valentino Fall 2013 Inspired Looks for Work and Weekend

It’s crazy to me how forward fashion is always. Seems like you can’t get through the collections of the present season without the next few seasons popping up around you like weeds. But I can’t think of any negatives about that. If you kept up with Valentino, you know the fall 2013 collection is so beautiful you could die. Ivory and cobalt meet in a china-esque type of way, with gorgeous patterned fabrics and classic silhouettes, and the gowns. The gowns. I can’t. And although I’m not a big fan of blue and white (I usually stick to black and white), I really think this is a breath of fresh air for even the chilly months of fall and beyond. Pair this idea up with a camel trench or even a hounds-tooth patterned coat  and you take a bit of the springy pattern trend with you to colder climates in a fantastic and classic way.

xoxo

Nordstrom Knows What’s Up

Browsing the Spring catalog for Nordstrom took me back to a place I discovered a few weeks ago when the weather was still too chilly to be comfortable with. Spring is all about color, be it pastels, neons, prints, What/Ever. On top of that, it’s full of sporty-chic inspired collections as well. They did throw in some safariesque fabrics and patterns, which I’m not very big on, but I can appreciate. Fashion does this thing where it throws all the trends in your face, makes it impossible to find anything black in stores, and quite literally, forces you to purchase some color, and as I get older, I have less of a problem with that. It’s doing the same thing with makeup. Throwing color on, a bright pink lip, coral cheeks, and even blue rimmed eyes, and if you’re brave enough, blue shadow all over the lid. I haven’t migrated to that level of aesthetics yet, but maybe I’ll get around to it. Here are some sweet springy and even summery cosmetics and skin care products that all have my seal of approval.

xoxo!

All Hail Zara

Let me not flood this with anecdotes and tangents about personal things. I just really love Zara. They have an architectural approach to the construction and shape of the clothing, but they make the clothing in light fabrics with organic patterns and designs. I think that is sheer brilliance. Even their darker pieces have a very crisp feel and flow to them, and their clothing is damn good quality. Spring time is a cool time because we can all experiment with patterns in fabrics along as in silhouettes. The shorts on the left outfit (yep, that’s a pair of shorts) has panels that move from one side to another, making it look almost identically to a skirt, which is easily dressed up or down. All in all, that’s what Pretty Neutral is about. Finding ways to recycle pieces for different occasions. You call it laziness, we call it innovative. 😉

xoxo

Product Review(s): Clinique

 

My mom used Clinique products as a flight attendant in the 70’s, so as I was growing up, I got to play with all of her makeup, and eventually, I got into purchasing my own when I felt the time was right. I tried a bunch of products, yes. Drugstore buys, expensive cosmetics, you name it. Now, I really love and always use DiorShow Mascara, but Clinique products are eternal for me. I use close to all of their skin care products and I use their makeup as an everyday ordeal. Clinique has proven time and time again that you don’t need a lot of muss and fuss to make and maintain a good product, that works wonders on your skin. I highly recommend you try their stuff out for yourself, and then let me know how you liked it!

xoxo

Gianfranco Ferre’s Samurai Italian Style Outfit Inspirations

 

I haven’t really kept up at all with MFW, but from what I’ve seen so far, holy cannoli. Gianfranco Ferre’s collection of samurai inspired outfits is so breath taking. It’s honestly akin to a breath of fresh air or a punch to the face. I am head over heels in love with the use of cutouts and masculine lines on floor length gowns. The tough silhouettes paired with slicked hair and simple makeup is fantastic, and the sporadic use of colors such as royal blue and camel are gorgeous together, as well as with the use of silky fabrics. Too good to be true.

xoxo