Well hello there my fellow fashionistas!Sorry it has been so long – My summers tend to be really crazy, and to be completely honest – I have been working out so much that my daily outfits turned into bummy looks. I wear jeans entirely too much for my fashionable liking. Anyway – I was feeling inspired today, so I came up with this lovely little outfit:
All Jewelry: Silpada <3
Maxi Dress: SUNNYCI (Amazon)
Gladiator Sandals: Circus By Sam Edelman (Selma)
Wedges: zooshoo.com (35$)
Pumps: Valentino
Mini Half Flap bag: Chanel
Floppy Sun Hat: Amazon
White Striped Silk-blend Scarf:Mango.com
Red linen scarf: Nordstrom
(I like to give my clients options, hence the two different colors of scarves. And whoever said you have to match your shoes and purse and couldn’t color block, totally lied)
Hi I’m back after that little blog vacay! Yikes. No Bueno.
Anyways – The look I styled today is the infamous skater dress, which I LOVE. Seriously, it looks so good on so many different body types, and it’s very versatile… Dress it up, dress it down, wear it plain, add a belt, and it can be worn all year round! With this look I wanted to demonstrate that it can be worn with white, black and nude shoes and the accessories can be mix and match based on whether you like rose gold, gold, silver, or wanted to stick with a neutral (White, Nude, Black) or the crimson color of the dress.
Some places I have seen really amazing skater dresses have been Forever21, Express, Victoria’s Secret PINK, and Nordstrom. Seriously if you don’t have one, get one asap!
xoxo
Well, long time no blog… Lol
Since my blog is LabelsLuvandLife, I guess I can write about trends in lifestyles as well… Right now I am dieting. But I’m not into these weird like starve yourself unless it’s soup or babyfood diets, I’m just eating healthy and exercising like a normal person should, and hoping to eventually see results. I wasn’t a huge fan of how I was looking in my bikini, so I decided to make some changes. Like stop eating carbs nonstop and eat more protein. And portion control… That’s another big one. I would probably eat an entire pound of pasta if Trey didn’t beat me to it. So that’s basically what’s new in my life.
For the fashion aspect of my blog… Bermuda Shorts. Even though they were bigger in the spring/summer 2013 – I still love them. Very flattering on all body types! So many different styles will work with this. Boho Chic, Office, Casual… Love it!
If you are like a lot of people I know, you love hats, you think about wearing them, but you never do. You are afraid of what people might say, that you don’t have anything to wear with them, etc.,etc. Well… Problem solved. I have collaged a few of my favorite hats – Fedoras, Bucket hats, and a brim hat, and will help you pick out the perfect outfit for looking fab when you travel, a day in the sun, or just a random outing you want to dress up for. The key is to keep it simple. You don’t want to look like a 10 year old who went into their mothers closet and pulled out 20 different things to play dress up with. I personally like sun hats (Big brim, floppy hats) for the pool or beach, or Kentucky Derby. But I think fedoras are very stylish on men and women… You just have to keep the outfit very simple. Less is more for sure in this case : )
Easy outfits to style with hats:
Sundresses
Shorts/jeans and a blouse
Maxi dresses
Skirts
Rompers/jumpsuits
Suspenders (I personally love them and wish I could go back in time)
So go out and be daring and rock that hat you always think about wearing!
It is 90 degrees in Pittsburgh today!
I.AM.ECSTATIC!
So since it’s such an amazingly beautiful day out, I am going to talk about one of my favorite summer outfits… BATHING SUITS! I have an addiction. I’m pretty sure that one year I just kept excessively buying them when I worked for Victoria’s Secret, and I ended up with like eight new ones. And it’s not like I live at a beach, so that may have included a few unnecessary purchases. Oops.
Anywho… I noticed my newsfeed being blown up with hatred for the VS catalogue coming to people’s houses, but here is the thing. Yes, the models are beautiful… But even they don’t look that skinny in real life. So calm down, put the suit on, and go enjoy the sun, pool, beach, etc! I am by no means skinny and *I* fit into their swimsuits, and it’s actually the only place I look for bathing suits. There really is something for everyone in there. However for big chested women, it can be tricky to find the perfect style… The key is to try them on, even if you think you will hate it, just try it on anyway, you may be pleasantly surprised! So I really can’t sit here and give facts about which ones are the best because everyone’s body is very different, BUT, I will say that when you mix and match tops and bottoms, you can’t go wrong. Sometimes it just looks to matchy/pageant-like when they are a perfect match… So be daring and switch it up!
Again, sorry I’m like the world’s worst blogger recently, I promise to get better!
Now off to be beautified and get my eyebrows waxed! Tootles!
Well, my absolutely stunning, gorgeous, beautiful best friend, Mandi, is selling MaryKay, and I couldn’t be more proud of her! This is something she is passionate about, and I just know she will be successful with this new endeavor. Sometimes I legit feel like we are dating because people will honestly come up to me and talk about how gorgeous she is, and basically that they hate her for it, which is totally understandable. SO, why would you not take beauty tips, and use the same products, from someone who is that beautiful?!
I am going to talk about a few of the products I love from there. I had a MaryKay Spa Party a few years ago, and I got their mascara, which I liked, but I LOVED the mineral makeup, brush, as well as the primer before applying the foundation. I honestly do not even remember the last time I wore actual foundation, so if you are like me… You will love the mineral makeup because your face won’t feel like there is some weird textured mucky mask caked on your face all day. Plus, mineral makeup is WAY better for your skin. (Caution: Personal Preference Lol So if you like actual liquid foundation, they do also have that as well)
This is the link to her website – Go on and order your makeup and skin care essentials.
Another thing I LOVE about them – Easy for traveling. I have displayed a few different styles, colors, and patterns in this post, and I love every single one of them. Later I will put the whole outfit together, and since I have a few hours to kill today I might go buy the one I saw in Forever21 : )
I was off of my Blog game for a second yesterday – Not impressed with myself, but I was busy car shopping!! Finally – I love making big girl purchases!
Anyway – Back to the main topic, my most favorite topic – Fashionable things that come to my head that I want to write about.
Braids
Yesterday I got out of the shower and decided I was too lazy to fix my hair, so I threw it up in a French Braid (I know, so 90’s) But I got a bazillion compliments. I feel like braids will never go out of style, they will just continue to change them up into different hairstyles. I get the best ideas from Pinterest because they have something for any and everything you could imagine. There are a ton of different ways to wear them: The basic way, (tight or loose), double, to the side, inverted, halfway, pretty much anyway you can think of. The only thing that is rough about doing them by yourself is that it’s hard to keep your arms up for a really long time, and I am a perfectionist so my arms were up for quite some time. So there you have it… The next lazy day you have, a braid is the best way to go.
I’m currently sitting here very distraught that I just got my nails taken off. I HATE not having nails, however, I also hate when my nails are paper thin and disgusting, so I like to have them on for a few months, and then off to breathe for a month or so. Last time I only lasted a week… So we shall see Lol. Fortunately my nails are in good condition, because I'm sure everyone was super worried about it.
With all that being said, why not talk about nail trends that I’m totally loving on right now? First of all… Nail caviar is super fab. Side note, OPI, essie, and Chanel are my favorite brands because I think they stay on the best. I normally do either neutral colors, or any shade of pink, but today I was feeling super indecisive, so I ended up with hot pink. Another one of my favorite trends is doing your ring fingers in a different color… Love that. My sister got me hooked on it a while ago, she is a genius with nail ideas. And this is probably extra redundant, but loving pastel/floral like colors for spring and summer. Also, anyone who knows me knows that I love any and everything multi-color, rainbowy type glitter/sparkles/sequins – So that’s always a definite yay for me. I feel like a new woman with new nails. Judge away, you know you all feel the same!
Xo
Just me babbling today <3
So I read a post from the fabulous Food Mood Girl, Lindsey Smith, and seriously everything she writes is fantastic, however, one post truly stuck with me regarding people comparing themselves to what the media defines as healthy… Being skinny = Being Beautiful. In my opinion, this is completely false. Whoever said nothing tastes as good as skinny feels, clearly doesn’t eat cheeseburgers and cupcakes.
Lindsey is a beautiful girl… Inside and out, and I have known her since our gymnastics days WAYY back in the day. Never in her life has she been fat! Well, apparently people questioned how she would be a nutritionist if she herself wasn’t “skinny”. Ridiculous. She is healthy. When I just threw her a text she was getting out of yoga. I WISH I had the will power to do yoga and eat as nutritiously as she does! Lol! But since this is a fashion blog, people might be confused on how it relates to fashion. Well… Every single person in the world is unique in their own ways. We come in different sizes, body shapes, colors… That’s the beauty of the world. And the key to your appearance isn’t to go on weird diets and kill yourself at the gym to fit into a 00 and have a “thigh gap” – It’s to find out how to be healthy at whatever weight that may be for you as an individual and dress yourself appropriately.
I am a very well rounded stylist… I can work with any body type you can think of, price range, any age, male, female, every style imaginable! I would never tell anyone they were too fat for something, however I would also never let a client look ridiculous in something I picked out. We need to understand that not every trend that comes out is going to be perfect for every single body shape – (I struggled with this having man shoulders and wanting to wear spaghetti strap tops, because that’s what was in style during my teenage years.) But there is literally SOMETHING for every single body type out there. Pick your best features, what you want to show off, wear colors that compliment your skin tone. One of the biggest things is wear the correct size! Even if the size shows a number you don’t particularly like, if it fits looser, it will look better. And please remember… Just because it zips, doesn’t mean it fits! I cannot stress that enough! Also, this can go the other way too – Wearing clothes that are too big can make you look frumpy, so find the correct size to avoid that as well.
Be happy in the skin you’re in, and if you aren’t change it. But only do it for you. Don’t do it because the person you love wants you to look a certain way, don’t do it to fit into a certain size, don’t do it to look like a celebrity… Do it just for you. You’re beautiful.
A Topic I can go on for days About: Handbags
I LOVE Handbags… It’s a complete sickness, I’m totally well aware of it. I have an entire closet dedicated to this sickness. But, the way I see it, they are an investment. You will use them every day, they serve a HUGE purpose – to carry all of your crap, and all of your boyfriends crap for that matter, and they complete an outfit. That is just THREE of the many practical reasons to buy whatever kind of purse you like. (Or my reasoning to not feel bad about having an entire closet filled with purses) P.S. I go through them frequently and give them away – But somehow I seem to “accidentally” buy more.
Although I have always liked nice things, and worked hard to get them, a huge misconception about me is that I am a “label hoe”, for a lack of better terms. This statement would be absolutely false. And I will prove that. Last night we went to the Tanger Outlets. Trey bought me an AMAZING Coach purse, that I can’t even take credit for since he picked it out himself. We went into Saks as well, they had amazing designer brands; Badgley Mischka, Zac Posen, Marc Jacobs, etc. BUT… I didn’t like any of them as much as I liked the Coach one. Which brings me to the conclusion that just because it’s a bigger name, and higher price, doesn’t make it better. I have never and will never buy things just for the label. I buy them or they are a gift to me because it is what I like. I think it is ridiculous to spend a lot of money on something, ESPECIALLY if you don’t have it, to be showy for status. Buy things you like. I don’t care if you are rocking a handbag from Kmart – If you like it, that’s really the ONLY thing that matters.
Things to look for in a handbag:
Be DIFFERENT… Don’t buy a handbag you just saw 20 people with.
Think outside of the box – Buy a daring color.
Buy different styles and sizes. You should have a small, medium, and large.
Make sure you have dressier handbag, as well as a good everyday handbag – You will use both
Buy a different purse every season.
The world will not end if your wallet doesn’t match. I promise.
Don’t be afraid to color block – This is not 1950. You don’t absolutely have to match your shoes and purse.
“Fashion Fades, Style is Eternal.”
-Yves Saint Laurent
One thing I have learned about office jobs is that it’s easy to “let yourself go”… You sit there at your desk, you get bored, and what do you do… You eat. You wake up late and just throw on clothes. You don’t have time to make your lunch, so you end up ordering out… Every day. DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU PEOPLE! On the days I worked from home I kind of felt sluggish because I stayed in pajamas all day, no makeup, no shower, didn’t even do my hair – You start to feel like… Blah. However, the one thing you should NEVER do is dress for others. Dress for yourself. If you feel confident in pajamas then by all means, wear them, if you want to dress up every day – Do it. But it’s a proven fact that you will feel better about yourself when you like how you look, whether you are in pajamas or your high school prom gown… Whatever you want to do to feel good about yourself – Do it. But, just because you have an office job doesn’t mean you can’t be stylish too.
So here is what you can do:
With this outfit I gave two options for shoes – I totally understand that not everyone wants to wear heels every day, so there is a heel option, and a loafer option. Both will work. The dress pants, I absolutely LOVE! (Navy is such a power color, so it’s great for the office to show everyone who is really in charge) There are actually two tops in this look, it is not attached – So this is good if your office is cold. If it is a warm office, don’t do it – You will probably burn up and explode. Anyways - Find a regular white, button up blouse, and put a sweater with a wide neck overtop. Another sweater you can use for this is one that goes even lower across the shoulders… Such a high fashion, chic look. The finishing touches - In the office, keep the jewelry somewhat simple, and the makeup as well – But this look is definitely a very professional and sophisticated look that will work on many different body types.
There is a very controversial topic that I wanted to address… Leggings.
I.LOVE.Them… I would be lost without them, they are wonderful! Stylish, Comfortable, you can dress them up, you can dress them down… Just totally amazing. However, not everyone would agree that they are a form of pant. I believe they are considered a pant AS LONG AS they are very thick, and your skin does not show through on them.
How to wear leggings:
*Some women prefer to have their butt covered by a longer shirt, I feel it basically comes down to what you are comfortable with (Again, as long as they are thick leggings) – There is no right or wrong way to wear them.
Dress them Up | Dress Them Down |
Add a pair of heels, sandals, or dress boots | Add a pair of UGGs, sneakers or flip flops |
Wear a blouse, dressier top or blazer/jacket | Wear a fitted t-shirt, sweater or sweatshirt |
Pair your outfit with earrings, a necklace, bracelet and ring | Stay with some simple Jewelry (Earring studs and a ring) |
Don't forget a clutch! | Possibly add a fun ball cap and scarf |
One of the most beautiful things about fashion is that it is a cycle. Even right now, the trend of medieval styled dresses are in, with lots of drapery going on. (I’m a big fan) Even with bell-bottoms – I’m sure people who wore them in the 70’s got rid of them, and never thought those would come back, the same with pointed toe heels, and jumpsuits. However… With summer coming up, I am SO excited about this comeback!
KEDS!
The perfect shoe for a day at Kennywood Park! LOL!! I’m actually pretty sure I had to buy a new pair of Keds just to go to Kennywood – Along with a cute little sundress of some sort. The cool thing with the comeback though is they have so many different colors, patterns, and styles so you can really do so much with them… Dress them up, dress them down – Really anything goes. I do know that JCPenny does have them, as does ModCloth, and they are relatively inexpensive and comfortable. Enjoy!
Brief vent sess: As a formal retail manager, this is one of my biggest pet peeves ever! You are done, when your work is done. Not because it is 6:00 PM. I was standing in line to purchase a few items and the cashier, who looked miserable, barked at me “She can take you over there, because it’s 6 and I’m leaving”… Oh. Ok then. P.S. It was 5:59. *End Rant* Haha
On to the more important things – My purchases!
At JCPenny’s I bought this really cute loose fitting pink blouse… Possibly an Easter Sunday top paired with a skirt – Not 100% sure yet.
Also HAD TO purchase a new pair of Bettsyville sunglasses (Big Splurge - $16.00) But I love anything that Betsy Johnson is a part of – She will forever be one of my all-time favorite designers!
Then I went into Aldo and saw the black cut out, pointed toe flat with a gold bar across – And I HAD to have them, I mean come on – The description alone makes me excited. (I’m wearing them now)
I then saw the purse that was originally $70.00 or something – And I got it for $20! It goes perfectly with my shoes! And it can be worn as a crossbody as well!
Btw – I will be creating an outfit with all of these items being worn – Just need the bottoms and jewelry!
And needless to say, I love retail therapy.
Yesterday I walked out of the house with no rings on, and felt completely naked - All day – Which made me think I need to blog about ring trends, because they are fabulous!
Rings are fun because you can get great looks for very cheap with costume jewelry at places like Charming Charlie, Forever21, H&M and Charlotte Russe. Some of the trends I’m really into right now are the infinity rings, double knuckle rings, and stackable rings. I like really colorful rings too, and as I have mentioned before, I wear both gold and silver. (And then there is that obsession with Rose Gold too). Sometimes if you are in a rush, a big ring is the perfect accessory so you don’t have to add too much to an outfit and make yourself late(r).
Hardcore obsession with makeup… Even from the time I was really little I have loved playing with it and experimenting new looks. However, I view makeup the same as how I dress myself, I don’t do it to impress anyone but me. And to be completely honest, I have a blast playing with it. The possibilities are endless!
Over the weekend I bought a few new products that I wanted to share on my blog and hopefully help out with some makeup trouble some of you may have.
My #1 Problem: Oily Skin
My skin is probably the most oily skin anyone could ever encounter… And I could go on for five days complaining about it, so if anyone has this problem you will totally understand where I am coming from. How annoying is it to spend a good 20 minutes on your makeup only for it to literally wash off with all the oil in your skin? SO ANNOYING! AHHHH! I would apply it in the morning and by noon my face looks wet because the oil has surfaced and I look disgusting. Well – Not anymore my friends! All thanks to Murad Oil-Control Mattifier, it is fabulous! I slept in my makeup accidentally the other day, and woke up and looked the same as when I put it on! Keep in mind, that would mean my makeup was on for 12+ hours… Incredible. SPF 15 too… So go buy it! (Sephora $39.50)
*Side note: Don’t make sleeping in your makeup a habbit, it’s terrible for your skin. Please take it from someone who did years of microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and Accutane.
Lip Plumper – Obsessed.
Although I do have “pouty” lips, I love the tingle and feel of lip plumper, and I personally believe that it stays on better than other glosses. My favorite brand is Buxom, and I love the various colors they have in the lip plumper line – Literally something for everyone. The color I recently purchased is called Lavender Cosmo – I’m loving lavender anything right now, I even have OPI Lucky Lucky Lavender on my nails. (Sephora $19.00)
A good tip with lip plumper though, it usually has a thicker texture, so I always make sure my lips have chapstick on first before I apply the plumper because it’s not very attractive you’re your lips are all cracked and you have a stain on top of them to make that stick out even more.
Enjoy!
One of my best friends came to stay with us and he gave me this wonderful idea! So thank you Thom Tom <3
Just a fun little fact to start this post off – Did you know that 85% of women are in the wrong bra size, because I do, and quite frankly it scares me.
I worked for Victoria’s Secret for four years, and I am pretty positive I have seen everything there is to see, and that is not necessarily a good thing.
So here are some basic things you need to know about bras:
- You should have two boobs, not four… And DEFINITELY not a uniboob.
- The back strap of the bra should be even across your back, not closer to your shoulders, not closer to your butt… Right.In.The.Middle.
- Make sure you get measured every 6 months. Our bodies do really weird and crazy things.
- The hot colors this season in lingerie – Mint, Coral, Purple. (Because that’s the really important thing)
- The three basic colors are nude, black, and white.
o Nude: THE BEST COLOR – Stock up in them – They go under white, they go under black, they go under everything!
o Black: Probably the sexiest color, and 2nd most practical. But I am a fan of nude, even though it’s not the sexiest color.
o White: WHITE BRAS DO NOT GO UNDER WHITE SHIRTS! You will look like you entered a wet T-Shirt contest. Stop it.
- Always wear your bra on the most loose hook, as it stretches you can tighten it, once it’s stretched out, there is no going back. You’re welcome.
- Every brand has a different measuring system, just because you are a 34C in one store, does not mean you are a 34C in every store.
- I’m not saying you have to buy expensive bras, but the reason they are expensive is because they will be comfortable and you will have them for a long time.
- Lace will always be more flattering because it is very supportive and it won’t give you weird lines if you wear a tight shirt.
- Pay attention to the care instructions!! I don’t think I can stress that enough.
- If you have a bigger chest, I assure you, push up bras are NOT out of the question – They offer great lift and support and are more comfortable. (In my opinion and expertise)
- For the guys:
o When you are talking to a woman with a bigger chest, do not ask her if she is a 423DDD – The band size is her measurement around, so congratulations, you just called her a hippo.
o More importantly, do not ever ask a woman her bra size, unless you plan on buying them for her because she needs them.
o DO NOT go into a store, point to a girl and say “My girlfriend/fiancé/wife is built like her” – That’s creepy.
o CHECK HER OTHER BRAS BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE IF YOU ARE BUYING HER BRAS. There is a tag on them. Read it.
o Women don’t like lingerie as gifts. That is a gift to yourself. If you do buy lingerie – Buy a bra and panty set that will be useful for every day.
Hopefully this post has given you all the necessary information about bras, and also taught men that we don’t like lingerie for special occasions.
xoxo
