livforstyle

DIY: Mason Jar (No Water) Snow Globes

If your house is still not decorated for Christmas or you still have a few more people left to buy Christmas gifts for, it’s time to put on your crafty tool belt and get creative.  Today, I will be showing you a festive DIY that will put anyone in the Christmas spirit.  These “No Water Mason Jar Snow Globes” are super easy to make even for those who don’t have a crafty bone in their body.  Display these mason jars all around your home or wrap them up and give them out to family and friends.  Whatever you do with them, you will have people asking “where did you get them and how much did they cost.” But it will be our secret that it actually took only a few cheap supplies and a couple minutes to make these Christmas wonderland mason jars.

Let’s begin!

SUPPLIES:

  • Small Christmas themed figurines or ornaments
  • Small (pint sized) mason jars
  • Glue gun
  • Scissors
  • Fake snow
  • Iridescent glitter
  • Decorative ribbon

First, go through your collection of small Christmas inspired figurines or ornaments.  You can buy these type of Christmas figurines or tiny ornaments anywhere from a craft store to a thrift store or who knows what you might have lying around in a box in the attic filled with last year’s Christmas decorations.

Next, put together a little Christmas scene with your figurines.  Usually no more than 2 figurines fit in the mason jar, so I would pick a bigger, statement-like piece.  For me it was the teddy bear and then a smaller accent piece like this North Pole sign or even one of those Christmas trees.

Then, warm up your hot glue gun and apply a good amount of glue on the edges of your figurines.  I had to first glue the bear and sign together to make it one piece so it would be easier to place, but I found this is not necessary.  You can easily plop the pieces in the mason jar separately.

Now, this is where I got innovative. I wish I had a pair of longer tweezers because that would help me hold the figurines together to place on the bottom of the mason jar, but leave it to my mom to give me a nutcracker with tape on the edges to make it less slippery.  It did the job because my hands were a little too big to put inside the jar to stick the figurines down. If your hands are tiny weeny and can fit all the way in the mason jar, you are lucky! But if you need a little assistance, I recommend a pair of tweezers, pliers, or get creative and use whatever you have around the house, like a nutcracker.

When you get your little ornaments to stick, I would gently press them down to make sure they aren’t going anywhere.

Next, it’s time to make a winter wonderland inside of your mason jar by pouring some of this fake snow in a cup and then carefully coating the bottom of your mason jar.  Use as much snow as you want or like (we all know how much I hate snow) so I only applied a small coating but just enough to lightly coat the bottom of the mason jar.

To make the snow sparkle, generously sprinkle iridescent glitter all over the inside of the jar.  Unlike with snow, you can never have enough sparkle.

Now, put the cap back on your mason jar.  I decided to leave out the middle part of the cap, because I want a little light to shine through the jar, but it’s up to whether or not you want to seal your jar completely up.

Finally, we don’t want only the inside of the mason jar to be the center of attention. S o, I decided to tie a cute little bow around the lid of the jar.  I chose this Christmas decorative trim which features this red and white stripe candy cane like pattern, but you can choose whatever color or ribbon your heart desires.

And that’s it! Sure, this is not a “real” snow globe because it’s missing the water, but who has time for an extra step or extra mess.  These jars still resemble that authentic snow globe feel to me, but the best part is they are a whole lot easier to make.

There’s no better time to DIY than the holiday season.  Let me know in the comments below what you think about this craft or if you have any other fun holiday crafts. If you are looking for more holiday DIY inspiration, check out my wine cork reindeer craft from last year.  Remember, if you try out this craft don’t forget to tweet me a picture of your mason jars waterless snow globes.  Happy holidays!

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Holding Onto Fall

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, the frigid temperatures seem to be here to stay, and it got me thinking that snowy weather is just around the corner.  I’ve never been a fan of the snow. Yeah, the first snow fall always looks beautiful and peaceful but after a few snow storms I’m over it.  Plus, have you ever walked through the streets of Manhattan while it’s snowing or after a big snow storm?  It’s a slushy mess that just makes my commute unbearable.  I’d rather an autumn wonderland than a winter wonderland, so before the snow arrives, I’m holding onto the fall season a little longer.  Keep on scrolling to read all about one of my favorite autumn inspired outfits.

Chenille is all the rage this season.  To be honest, I never really heard knew much about this unique type of fabric until recently.  After doing a little research on this fabric, I learned that the word “chenille” is French for caterpillar because the threads resemble tiny caterpillars.  My mind was completely blown away!  But it does make sense because the threads are very thin and rigid.   My favorite chenille sweater is this oversized sweater from Zara.  I love the burnt orange color which to me is the color of autumn.  The chenille fabric is so soft and cozy you never want to take it off!

The burnt orange, rusty, color looks best when paired with a dark wash colored denim.  My distressed boyfriend jeans from Madewell are the perfect match.  I’m not sure how long these jeans will last because every time I wear them the holes get bigger and bigger, but I still love them.  I guess they served me a good 4 years, but I’m still not ready to retire them yet.

To add a little more of the autumn color palette, of course, I had to wear my metallic gold slides from the brand Restricted which you can find at  Marshalls.  The metallic color really completes any look and pops against anything, like the pile of leaves in this photo.

Since my sweater has a low neckline, a choker style necklace is the best for pairing with this sweater. I’m really digging the mixing of metals like gold and silver so this cool spiked necklace from the brand Design Lab sold at Lord and Taylor’s has a mix of gold and silver that pairs nicely with my rust colored sweater.  Plus the spikes add an edgier vibe to this somewhat classic outfit.

Let the season begin of anxiously checking the weekly forecast to see if snow is on the way.  Am I totally weird to hate the cold weather and snow this much?  Let me know in the comments what kind of weather you prefer.  See you all in my next post!

Sweater: Zara (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) | Jeans: Madewell (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) | Shoes: Restricted (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) |                 Necklace: Design Lab (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) 

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It’s Turkey Time

T-minus one day until Turkey Day!  Are you mentally preparing for what you will be stuffing your face with on Thanksgiving? Or how about strategically planning for how you are gonna fit all the Thanksgiving specialties on one plate?  For me, I’m planning what I’m gonna wear for the Thanksgiving festivities.  For Thanksgiving my family gathers at my aunt’s house so I don’t have to worry about dressing too fancy but still want to look stylish yet still be comfy because it’s a long day of eating and drinking a couple glasses of wine (I’m gonna need it to get through the countless  questions from my family about my love life or what I’m doing with my life haha).  So if you are like me and want to embody the whole comfy but fashionable look this holiday just keep on reading.

Don’t you love a good T.J.Maxx find?  Especially a find on the clearance rack?  I found this chic embroidered army green light jacket by the brand Other Stories.  I love finding pieces from a designer store for a not so designer store price.  The front of this jacket looks pretty ordinary, but take a look at the back with all that color and intricate embroidery.

For under the jacket, you can easily wear a tank top or a short sleeve shirt.  But for the winter time I like to find every possible way to keep warm so when it comes to these light jackets I usually layer under it a thin basic sweater.  Just like this simple yet cozy gray colored sweater from H&M. Finding simple ways to keep warm in the winter is key to making it through the cold months.  Try it out, you will thank me later.

You all know my obsession with fringe denim, so of course I’m wearing my favorite denim skinny jeans with the fringe bottom from a favorite boutique called Fox’s.  These jeans have the perfect amount of stretch which is ideal for a whole day of sitting and eating.

Sorry, mom for all the times I use to make fun of you for wearing clogs because now clogs are hotter than ever.  I love the way these White Mountain brand clogs from DSW shows off my fringe jeans.  I feel so 70’s wearing clogs but I love it!

Since my jacket has a lot of details, I just wanted to add one more detail by including my favorite elephant pendant necklace from the store CharlotteCoutureGlam on Etsy.  Etsy is the best place to find unique jewelry pieces or just unique things in general, so guess where I’ll be doing most of my Christmas shopping this year.

Well there you have it, another look to make your holiday or any day in general a little more stylish.  Not the right holiday look for you?  Check out my other recent post featuring faux fur and a whole lot of glam here.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Jacket: T.J.Maxx (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) | Sweater: H&M (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) | Jeans: Fox’s (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR)  | Shoes: DSW (SIMILAR) | Necklace: CharlotteCoutureGlam on Etsy (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) 

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Are You Faux Real?

Is it just me or are others really freaked out over how fast 2017 is speeding by.  I can’t believe next week is already Thanksgiving.  Maybe freaked out is the wrong phrase but it just boggles my mind we are already fully in holiday mode.  Just today I was listening to the radio on my way to the train station and I heard a Christmas ad and thought to myself isn’t it a little early for Christmas ads and that’s when it hit me…Christmas is next month.  Are you for real?  Or in this case are you FAUX real?  You will get the play on words when you see my outfit below.  I am just so punny!  Although the fact that the holidays are just around the corner and stressing me out, I’m excited to upload even more style posts to inspire your holiday wardrobe.  Keep on scrolling to read all about one of my recent favorite outfits that can work for any upcoming holiday gathering.

It’s faux fur vest season!  Usually, when I think of faux fur vests, I picture the usual brown or black color palette, but not anymore.  Recently, I found this teal colored vest at Marshalls.  This vest by the Romeo and Juliet Couture brand is so warm and cozy, plus the jewel toned color is anything from basic.  Normally, when it comes to shades of blue, I like to match it with a black/gray color scheme which brings me to my next outfit detail.

I am loving gray denim this season, especially when I want to take a break from traditional denim.  When I was cleaning out my jeans drawer I found these light gray, almost silver like, pair of skinny jeans I purchased a few years ago from Zara.  Who else is obsessed with the way the teal color against the light gray denim pops?

As for what’s under my vest, I am wearing a white blouse from Marshalls.  I love this type of blouse for layering. Plus, the silky blouse totally dresses up the look, which is why it’s perfect for any upcoming holiday party.  I totally need more blouses like this in my wardrobe, so any suggestions where I can find more would be greatly appreciated.

To incorporate more silver into my look, I am just wearing my favorite silver pendant necklace from Forever 21.

Lastly, for shoes I just have on my favorite suede wedges by Steve Madden.  Since these shoes are just a basic black color and simple silhouette they go with anything and everything!

And that’s a wrap.  Just a heads up, you will be seeing more faux fur vest outfits in upcoming posts.  So you have been warned. What can I say, I just can’t get enough! Let me know in the comments below what have you been doing or planning to do to get in the holiday spirit?  Talk to you in my next post!

 

Vest: Marshalls (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) | Shirt: Marshalls (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) | Jeans: Zara (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR)  | Shoes: Steve Madden (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) | Necklace: Forever 21 (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) 

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12 Ways To Mix Up Your Personal Style

If you ever get a little bored of wearing the same old trusty outfits or rocking the same old style you’ve always rocked, then mixing up your style could be the way forward.  Sometimes, when we wear things we wouldn’t usually go for, it can really open up our minds and change our perspective on what we consider to be “our style.”

You can be whoever you want from day to day.  Be a hippie today and a sharp business woman tomorrow.  Wear the clothes that make you feel the way you want to feel.  You’re under no obligation to be the person you were an hour ago, let alone yesterday!

So, without further adieu, let’s look at 12 ways to mix up your personal style.  Enjoy!

 

1. Try Colorblocking

Colorblocking is possibly one of the coolest things you can do with an outfit, so if you haven’t tried it, now is the time.  Choose a few colors you really like and put them together.  For instance; a purple top, orange jacket, and teal trousers.  It might sound crazy but the combination of bright colors should put you in a great mood.  You might just find a brand new way to put your clothes together!

(http://www.elle.com/fashion/g2508/its-all-about-block-party-561532/)

 

2. Mix Up Some Patterns

Mixing patterns can really spice things up.  It might seem scary at first, but it looks uber chic.  There are a few ways you can mix patterns.  For instance, just throw something on and see what looks good.  For example, a rainbow stripe sweater would look incredible with monochrome checked trousers, for.  However, you need to find something that works for you, and the patterns don’t always have to be loud to work well.  You could just stop trying to match the items in your wardrobe so hard and see how you get on with that.  You’ll be surprised at how great things can look when you aren’t so worried about looking put together or “perfect.”

(Flickr)

 

3. Try Out Something Unisex

Clothes are just clothes, it’s people that put a label on them and designate them to either girls or boys.  A man can wear a skirt if he wants to, just like women can wear trousers.  Why not take the unisex chain and run with it, wearing a more masculine outfit for a change if you usually wear feminine?  If you’re always in dresses, try a tailored suit.  You could even just go for something like a Gold Chain at Frost NYC to ease yourself into a more masculine style.  You might be surprised at how empowered you feel.

 

4. Create A Mood Board

Creating a mood board is a wonderful way to see what you’re drawn to the most.  Pinterest is perfect for doing this, but you could even use magazines.  Use the patterns, colors, and various styles you’re drawn to and see which patterns show up.  You might just find something brand new that you’ve never worn before but will love!

(http://knockedupfabulous.com/2014/10/18/how-to-easily-elevate-an-outfit/)

 

5. Wear Something You Don’t Think You Can Pull Off

When you go shopping, browse Instagram or whatever, you might see things that make you go, “wow!” but you don’t indulge because you don’t believe you can pull them off.  The only reason you can’t pull them off is because you don’t think you can. Wearing all different kinds of clothes is all about confidence and frankly, not caring what anybody else thinks.  If you like it, wear it.  Be brave.  Chances are, you’ll absolutely love wearing something unusual and it’ll give you confidence to be even braver with your outfit choices.

(http://www.elle.com/fashion/news/g27704/fall-2016-fashion-trends/)

 

6. Gradually Evolve

Changing your style right away can be scary.  You might feel totally apprehensive about being a wallflower one day and a rainbow princess the next. If you’re totally freaked out, then gradually evolve.  Slowly introduce different things into your outfits until you feel ready to wear something that you would never have worn before. Style evolves all the time, so yours should be no different!

(https://pixabay.com/en/people-woman-girl-clothing-eye-2563491/)

 

7. Choose Some Statement Shoes

Statement shoes are one of the easiest and most fun ways to perk up an outfit.  Go ahead and buy the bright pink, thigh high boots.  Wear some bright red ankle boots. Buy some embellished stilettos.  Even if the rest of your outfit is pretty plain, the statement shoes will make a world of difference.  This doesn’t mean that’s the only time you can wear your statement shoes – wear them with whatever you like!

(http://thezoereport.com/fashion/accessories/best-shoes-for-fashion-week/)

 

8. Add Statement Bling

Do you accessorize enough, or do you let it fall to the wayside?  Getting dressed isn’t always enough to have a great look.  You need to make sure you accessorize too.  A fab necklace can instantly take your outfit from drab to fab.  Bangles stacked high can add interest and stop your outfit from looking boring.

Some people think that less is more.  However, if you want to mix things up, you should pay attention to the wise words of Iris Apfel.  She says, “more is more and less is boring”.  Take a look at some of her amazing outfits for inspo.  She’s in her 90s, and loves mixing colors, prints, and materials to create the most incredible, artistic looks you could ever dream of.  She’s also amazing at mixing different pieces of jewelry, finding many of them in unique stores rather than expensive jewelers.  She often pairs multiple pieces so well that they could easily be one piece.  Look to other people whose style you love and research what they do to create cool outfits.

(http://queenhood.com.au/statement-jewellery/)

 

9. Put Something On Your Head

Why not have the courage to try a little headwear?  Maybe you could wear a headband, or a scarf, or a hat…whatever takes your fancy.  If you’re not using to it then it can be daunting, but it could seriously change up your outfit.  You might just develop a new love of headwear.

 

10. Go For Glasses

It doesn’t matter if you don’t need glasses. Pretty much everybody wears glasses these days for fashion purposes alone.  Buy some super cool glasses with clear frames and see how that can make a huge difference to your look.  If you already have glasses, use them to your advantage.  Choose some new cool frames if you dare!

(https://www.dhgate.com/product/so-fashion-real-metal-frame-sunglasses-women/251445249.html)

 

11. Take A Friend Shopping

If you have a good friend, a stylish one is a bonus, go shopping with them and get them to pick out things for you to try on. Don’t say anything to them about what you’re looking for and just see what they come up with.  Maybe you could even choose clothes for them.  It’ll be so much fun, and you don’t necessarily need to buy what they choose.  However, you might be surprised!

 

12. Focus On The Smaller Details

Always focus on the smaller details of your outfit to bring it together.  This could be anything, from the pattern on your socks to the color of your nails.  All of these things can make a huge difference and make your outfit stand out for all of the right reasons.  It isn’t about being minimalistic with your clothes.  It’s about going all out and having lots of fun.

(https://www.dhgate.com/product/so-fashion-real-metal-frame-sunglasses-women/251445249.html)

 

Which of these tips do you think you’ll try out?  Leave your thoughts on them below, as well as any other tips you can think of to help people experiment with their personal style more.  Remember, you weren’t born to fit in.  Try new things and enjoy yourself.  Most of all, don’t even worry about what other people think.

 

Talk to you all in my next post!

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Buffalo (Plaid) Soldier 

Does anyone know the difference between plaid, checkered, or the buffalo plaid pattern?  To me these three terms are interchangeable.  Although in the fashion world, plaid is described as different sized vertical and horizontal stripes of two or more colors, checkered is described as equal sized squares of two alternating colors, and buffalo plaid is described as a larger, square checkered pattern.  I had to brush off on my old skills of working retail at Madewell and learning all about their trendy flannels and all the different patterns so I settled on buffalo plaid to describe the shirt I’m wearing in today’s look.  Plus, in the office today, Bob Marley’s song Buffalo Soldier played in our office so boom I knew it was meant to be.  It also provided the inspiration for the title of today’s style post.

Weather in the NYC metro area is still pretty fickle.  One day it will actually feel like November with cooler temps and then the next day we are back to a late summer feel in the air. but these days, no matter what the weather, I am getting tons of wear on my green and black buffalo plaid tunic from Zara.  I am obsessed with the oversized fit and the long length of the shirt.  Also, a shirt like this can easily be layered with a leather jacket or sweater for those chillier days.

If you follow me on Instagram you will see a common fringe theme in my outfits.  I love fringe and especially fringed denim for this season.  I can’t get enough of my black denim with the fringed bottom by the brand Flying Monkey.  These high-waisted jeans have a jegging like feel so they are super comfortable.  Additionally, the length is perfect to show off the fringe whether with a pair of flats or booties.

These metallic mules are going to fall apart one of these days.  I have been wearing them non-stop.  I get tons of compliments on the bold silver color, which surprisingly goes with many of my looks.  Something about these silver shoes paired against my black jeans and the bright green in my shirt just looks great.  I am mule/slip on slides obsessed this season and I find the best place to find these shoes are Marshalls or Tjmaxx, which coincidently is where I found these.

And lastly, since the neck of my tunic is somewhat low, I decided to add one of my favorite statement chokers. This choker from a local boutique scores tons of compliments and adds the right amount of bling.

I been in a shopping frenzy lately and have been buying a lot and incorporating my new stuff with the old stuff in my closet. So expect more content from me coming soon.  But until then keep the convo going by letting me know in the below what has been your favorite recent purchase and how you have been styling that item.  Talk soon!

Pants: Flying Monkey (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR)  | Shirt: Zara (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR)(SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) |  Shoes: Marshalls (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) | Necklace: Boutique (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR ) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR)

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From Summer To Pumpkin Season

So you celebrated the summer season with a bright and light decor that gave your home a fresh and exciting style?  Great!  But the problem with the summer style is that, once the Halloween pumpkins are out, it doesn’t look as stylish and exciting as it did in July.  It’s time to work on your transitional decor and to prepare the home for winter… but first, let’s think of the Halloween decor.  No, it doesn’t mean sticking a plastic skeleton on the shelf and hoping for the best.  It’s about getting the colors and feelings of fall into your home without breaking the bank.

Make room for the pumpkins!

Make room for Halloween

First things first, now is the best moment to get rid of your summer touches, from the bright cushion covers to the summer fabrics.  Don’t panic.  It doesn’t mean that you should throw them away or sell them.  Most decor aficionados tend to use little tricks, such as the storage units near my house options, which as the name indicates offer storage facilities in the proximity of your postal address so that you can keep seasonal decor items safe.  As a rule of the thumb, the fall colors are warm — orange, red, brown — with dark accents such as gray and black and dark green.  In other words, there’s no need for the flowery hues anymore!   

 

Simple fall accents

It can be frustrating when you’ve spent a lot of time and money decorating your home for the summer to have to do it again for the new season.  Chill out; there’s no need to get your pots and your brushes to paint everything in autumnal tones.  You can create subtle accents with scented candles and homemade potpourris.  Oranges, cloves and eucalyptus are always a hit in the lounge as they create a homely and welcoming perfume.  If you love DIY, you can keep some red leaves to decorate your table and your shelves.

 

Keeping warm in style

It’s not snowing outside yet, but the temperatures have dropped.  It may not be cold enough for a fire in the chimney, but the evenings would feel a lot more comfortable with a warm cup of cocoa and a soft blanket.  In fact, the best way to prep your home for the colder months of the year is to pile a few blankets and throws next to the sofa and to switch your summery flip flops for a pair of warm woolly socks to wear inside.  An elegant throw in the right colors can transform your summer lounge into a ready for autumn room.

Get your fall accessories

 

Fall DIYs and yums

Last, but not least, let’s not forget a favorite of the season: pumpkin.  While I hope you’ve prepared your artsy carved pumpkin and set it on the window sill, there’s something else pumpkins are great for: Sweet treats!  Can there be a better way to spend your Halloween weekend than by baking delicious pumpkin muffins to share with your friends and relatives?  After all, what everyone loves about Halloween, it’s not the scary decor or the autumnal colors outside… It’s its sweet, yummy and indulging taste with pumpkin cakes and pies and pumpkin pie spice drinks!

Seasonal flavors

In short, with simple DIY tricks and a few cleverly chosen blankets and treats, you can transform your home decor in time for the Halloween and Thanksgiving season.

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Indian Summer

In·di·an sum·mer

ˈindēən ˈˌsəmər/

noun

– a period of unusually dry, warm weather occurring in late autumn.

A mild, warm autumn or an Indian summer is certainly what New England has been experiencing throughout September and the early part of October.  I always felt that once Labor Day came the weather did a 180 and started to actually feel like fall. But lately temperatures have been abnormally high in the 70s and 80s.  The days have felt like a continuation of the dog days of summer, especially in New York City. A lot of the time I am overheating by the time I get to the office.  This is the season for a light jacket, scarves and layers but, instead, I find myself still wearing my summer pieces.  But to celebrate the fall season I have been transitioning to some of my fall fashion with a bit of my summer fashion, like in today’s outfit.  This is one of my go to outfits especially with the fickle temperatures because it features a mix of summer and autumn styles that are perfect for Indian summer weather.

I bought my Uniqlo pants I’m wearing in today’s post in the early summer months but it wasn’t until last month that I started to wear them.  I usually never shop at Uniqlo, but one spontaneous visit left me impressed with these soft, comfortable cotton blend flared pants.  They are extremely flared and in some angles it looks like a maxi skirt.  These flared pants are my favorite thing to wear when I want to take a break from denim.  Plus the blush color totally works for the fall season.

Since my pants are super flowy, I always like to balance out the proportion by wearing a form fitting top.  Of course I chose my basic cream colored fitted tank from Zara.  The cream and blush color makes for the perfect color combo.

Since it is fall and I can’t get away with just wearing a tank (nor do I want to) I have to layer and a denim jacket is the best fall layering piece.  I chose to wear my trusted denim jacket from Forever 21.  I have had this jacket for years and it never fails me, especially with the edgy studded detail on the shoulders.

I’ll bet I only get a few more wearings out of my Payless sandals but with flared pants like the ones I’m wearing, I like to wear an open toe shoe, especially with a little height.  I’m sure once the weather gets colder I’ll start to wear booties with these pants but until then I’m going to show my toes a little bit more.

As for jewelry, I’m just wearing a short gold necklace that I picked up at a  cute boutique when I was traveling in London.  If you take a closer look it says dare to dream, which is such a beautiful sentiment and reminder for everyday.

Soon, the fallen leaves on the ground will turn to a slushy snowy mess.  Soon, I’ll trade my sandals in for a pair of snow boots. And soon my jean jacket will be replaced with a heavy winter coat.  But for now, it’s the season for dressing in layers for those brisk, chilly mornings and as the day goes on, shedding some layers for the hotter afternoon temperatures.  Talk to you all in my next post!

Pants: Uniqlo (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR)  | Tank: Zara (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) | Jacket: Forever 21 (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) | Shoes: Payless (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) | Necklace: Boutique (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) 

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Her Campus College Fashion Week 2017 Recap

Hands down, one of my favorite things about being a blogger and a Youtuber, is the events.  Events, like tradeshows, panels, fashion shows, and forums, is where I get the chance to be surrounded by people like me.  Meeting other talented bloggers and influencers is what makes blogging worthwhile.  I can’t describe the feeling I get when I finally put a face to a name, meet some of the people behind my favorite brands, discover new brands, and the best part meeting new blogger friends.  This is exactly what the Her Campus Fashion Week is all about.  I’m extremely grateful that this was my second time attending the Her Campus Fashion Show in New York City.  And as you know from my previous post, I attended the fashion show representing the brand Bed Head by TIGI.  Also for the second year in a row, I attended the show with my photographer, fashion lover, and most importantly, best friend Lauren by my side.  Of course, throughout the night, I was constantly instagramming and tweeting live updates from the show, but for those who were not fortunate enough to see all the behind the scenes action or those who just want to relive those moments again, keep on scrolling to read my Her Campus College Fashion Week recap, as well as all the details on my fabulous outfit from that night.

This year, the Her Campus College Fashion show was hosted at the Metropolitan West, a fun, unique venue that offered tons of space for the runway and all the sponsors to set up booths showcasing all their products and services.  The sponsors varied from hair, beauty, fashion, and beverages.  The list of the sponsors included Ulta Beauty, Bed Head by TIGI, Primark, Spindrift, and StudentUniverse, and they were not stingy with the free stuff. My VIP goodie bag was filled with eyeshadows, blushes, lip products, hair products, accessories, coupons, and so much more (check it out here).  I even had the chance to get my hair done by Ulta Beauty.  They knew I was going for an edgy look, so the messy braid looked perfect with my outfit, which I will get to in a moment.

Once we mingled with everyone, it was finally time for the show, featuring fashion from Primark, Avec Les Filles, Chaser, and Vici. Each show had a different theme, like street chic, rocker, and formal wear.  Naturally, I loved the rocker looks that featured tons of moto jackets, a staple for the fall and winter season.  The models looked absolutely stunning dressed in the up and coming brands fabulous items.  I loved how each show featured a mix of looks, which made it easy for everyone to find a look that matched their personal style and it was easy to completely fall in love with the brands.

Between the special VIP hour and the fashion show itself, the night flew by.  Like I said, it’s nice to attend these special events and meet so many creative and talented people.

Now time for my outfit details.  You can’t go to any event like this without consciously choosing the right outfit for the night. Whenever I go to fashion shows or even go out in the city for the evening, I always try to bring out my edgier side.  So for my look I stuck with dark colors, leather, silver jewelry, and strappy heels.

When I was planning my outfit for the event, I was torn between a dress, a skirt, or a jumpsuit.  I had a few options in mind but it wasn’t until making a shopping run to Francesca’s that I finally settled on my look for the night.  When I saw this tulle skirt with a dark floral pattern, I knew this was the skirt for me. I love the midi length because it still shows off some leg and the shoes. After falling in love with this skirt I knew exactly what I was gonna wear with it for the show.

It’s finally layering season so I took advantage of the chiller temperatures that night and went with a leather jacket to accompany my tulle skirt.  This leather jacket from Zara is a wardrobe must have because it can be worn with pretty much anything for every occasion.  I love all the pockets and silver hardware details throughout the jacket.  And for those wondering, underneath, I’m just wearing a simple form fitting black tank from Zara.  These simple tanks are layering essentials!

Since my broken ankle incident, I’ve retired many of my high heeled shoes.  As much as I would have loved to wear a stiletto with this skirt I stuck with the comfortable, but still fashionable option; my lace up black heels from the brand Soda.  The block heel gives my foot extra support so I don’t have to worry about twisting any ankles.

For jewelry, I wanted to stay simple since there was so much going on with my outfit. I decided to wear a long silver chain necklace that laid perfectly with my open jacket.  I rarely wear a lot of rings but since I was attending a fashion show I spiced up my jewelry game with this vintage statement ring.  The silver color of the ring perfectly matched my necklace and the edgy vibe of my outfit.

Last Saturday night was an exciting show for many.  It was my chance to hang out with Lauren and the blogging community, all while wearing a stylish outfit.  After attending last year’s show, I thought there was no way the show could get any bigger or better, but this year’s show really  blew me away.  And from what I’ve heard through the grapevine from the fabulous Her Campus team you can expect an even better show next year.  So stay tuned until next time from college fashion week…

Skirt: Francesca’s (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR)| Shirt: Zara (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) | Jacket: Zara (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) | Shoes: Soda (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) | Necklace: Forever 21 (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR)(SIMILAR) (SIMILAR)  | Ring: Vintage (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR)

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My Everyday Makeup + Hair Routine ft. Bed Head by TIGI

Every morning, from Monday through Friday you will catch me rolling out of bed at 7:30 am (one of the perks of not needing to be in the office until 10:00), apply some makeup to cover up my sleepy eyes, get away with not washing my hair for another day with the help of dry shampoo, gather my breakfast, and I’m out of the house off to the train station to start my work day in the city.  Since I’ve been living the commuter lifestyle for the past few months, I have a few tips, tricks, and must have products I use every morning to make sure I look good, feel good, and most importantly get me to the train station on time.  So keep on reading to learn all about my go to makeup and hair routine and make sure you read all the way to the end for a special surprise!

For makeup, I stick with foolproof, easy applying makeup products.  Most of the items are long wearing which is what I need considering between the commute and work my days are 12 hours long.  Every morning I strive for a flawless face using BB cream, concealer, powder, bronzer, then perfect eyebrows with the help of a brow pencil to fill in my brows, a tinted brow gel to coat them evenly, and a bronze eye to bring out my green colored eyes with my favorite cream eyeshadow. I apply the eyeshadow effortlessly with my fingers (no brush needed).  Then a thin line of liquid liner and several coats of mascara and voilà makeup is done!

For my hair, I take my hair products very seriously, especially since I color my hair.  As such, I always look for products that protect hair color, while providing volume and all day shine and hold.  Recently, I found the perfect products to fit my hair needs.  Are you a fellow hair junkie like me?  Well look no further than Bed Head by TIGI hair products, the #1 styling brand globally.  Bed Head by TIGI has a huge range of products for all hair types.  The best part is that all products work perfectly together so why use one product when you can use several.  Trust me, they won’t weigh down your hair or make your hair look greasy.  For me, the more Bed Head by TIGI hair products I use the more my hair looks like I just came from the salon, even though I literally just rolled out of bed.

Since I can’t wash my hair every day, dry shampoo is a lifesaver, but not just any dry shampoo, a dry shampoo that doesn’t leave white powder residue but instead absorbs any excess oil and builds volume.  Meet the Bed Head by TIGI Rockaholic Dry Shampoo.  A couple of sprays of this on my hair and you wouldn’t even know it’s a second day or even a third day hair. But like I said why use one product when you can use two?  So before I head out the door I spray on the Bed Head by TIGI Headrush Shine Spray.  The super fine mist and lightweight formula doesn’t make your hair look greasy or wet but gives you a wonderful shine.

Once hair and makeup  are done, I grab my bag and I’m out the door for a busy day in the working world.

So now it’s time to reveal the big surprise (drum roll please)…I couldn’t be more excited to announce that I am representing Bed Head by TIGI at Her Campus College Fashion Week this Saturday in New York City.  I am honored to be attending this sold out event and representing the Bed Head by TIGI brand, who describe themselves as “true owner of creative styling anarchy.”  If you are one of the lucky ones who scored tickets before the fashion show sold out, I will see you there.  But for those who will not be attending, make sure to follow me on all social media for exclusive behind the scenes footage, the fashion show itself, my experience and crazy adventures that night.

In the mean time while you are anxiously awaiting my coverage of the Her Campus College Fashion Show head to Ulta Beauty or ulta.com for the best selection of Bed Head by TIGI products, so we can all achieve flawless hair no matter how much time you have. Talk to you all soon!

This post is sponsored by Bed Head by TIGI and Her Campus Media. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make LivForStyle possible!

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Summer Forever

Hello everyone! Remember me? It’s been way too long since my last post and here’s the explanation. So I recently started my first “big girl” job in New York City. Working for a social content platform in the city that I love has been the best post grad experience. For the last couple of months I was so worried I was never going to find a job, but I kept telling myself to be patient and good things will come and to my surprise they did. Now, instead of spending my days applying for jobs, I am keeping extremely busy with work, finding myself not having too much time for my blog. I have been working at my new job for over 2 weeks now and I am starting to get used to managing a job and my blog. So as I get more into a routine you can expect more blog posts from me like today’s style post, which perfectly captures my summer style.

How can it already be the end of August? Just like every summer this summer has flown by. So with that being said, I issue summer forever. Although that is most likely not going to happen I’m going to keep on wearing this outfit as long as the weather allows.

What better way to celebrate summer than with this Old Navy floral jumpsuit? I still can’t believe I found this piece at Old Navy for such an incredible price. The bright floral print against the black coloring really makes this jumpsuit a statement piece.

This jumpsuit featuring a beautiful and bright floral pattern can certainly stand on its own, so for the rest of the outfit I chose to wear my delicate choker from Zara.

As for shoes, since the jumpsuit has a flared leg, adding a little extra height is the perfect way to elongate your legs. For me, it can’t be too much height because I’m still nursing that broken ankle but I decided to wear my brown colored suede lace up sandals from Payless.

Finally, to finish off this summer look, I am wearing my go-to aviator sunglasses from H&M and my favorite sun hat from Century 21. I love how it says day dreamer across the rim of the hat. Plus this hat hides any bad hair day while keeping you stylish and summer appropriate.

Although this outfit only consists of a few pieces, the jumpsuit, necklace, hat, sunglasses, and sandals, it still makes a statement for sure and allows me to capture the summer season a little bit longer. See you all in my next post, but if you can’t wait until then I highly recommend following me on Instagram for tons of updates and pictures.

Jumpsuit: Old Navy (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) | Shoes: Payless (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) |Necklace: Zara (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) | Sunglasses: H&M (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) | Hat: Century 21 (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR)

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Making A Statement

Making a statement in the fashion world is a breeze, thanks to fun, colorful, and elaborate jewelry. And for me over the past month, my lovely boot cast treating my broken ankle can also cause heads to turn, but that’s a whole different story.  Back to the jewelry, I have been no stranger to the whole statement necklace trend and have always found myself finishing up a simple look by adding an ornate necklace.  But lately statement necklaces have not just been in the spotlight, but so has statement earrings.  The statement earring trend started in the winter, continued into the spring and the summer and I have a feeling we will be seeing this trend transitioning into the autumn months. With my short hair, I always like to play around with funky earrings and today’s look emphasizes the idea that a pair of earrings can totally transform a look.

Since, this look focuses on my earrings, it’s only natural I start with my earrings.  Like I mentioned in my previous post, Etsy is the best place to shop for unique clothing pieces and accessories.  On one of my recent searches, I came across the store Kay and Star, owned by mother- daughter duo, Jordan and Julie.  These stylish shop owners stock their online store with the most colorful and extravagant jewelry pieces.  Immediately, when I saw these orange ombré tassel earrings, I knew they would make a statement.  These earrings certainly add a summer vibe to my look.

When the sun is out, the shoulders come out too.  The off the shoulder trend is not stopping anytime soon, so there is no better time to wear an off the shoulder dress than on a sunny, hot summer day. My chambray and denim colored dress is from Target.  Although, it appears simple, the ruffle detail and the off the shoulder look gives this dress a little something extra.

Speaking of a sunny, summer day, I had to throw on my favorite shades, which happen to be these brown, round sunglasses by London Fog.  I really like the small frame and the way they shape my face.

There is nothing more frustrating than having a broken ankle and only being able to wear one shoe, so for the sake of this post I decided to model my boot solo and hold up the sandals I would wear with this outfit.  What can I say?  I’m trying to be a fashion blogger while making the best out of an unfortunate situation.  So when this lovely boot comes off for good, which I hope is very soon because it’s been a month already, I plan to wear this pair of black, strappy sandals from Target.

Whenever I am figuring out my outfits, my goal is to always make a statement.  Fashion is not supposed to be boring.  So next time you find a crazy, colorful, statement worthy piece, don’t be afraid to buy it and wear it with confidence. See you all in my next post.

Dress: Target (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) | Shoes: Target (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) | Earrings: Kay And Star (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) | Sunglasses: London Fog (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR)

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So Vintage

Cue the scene from Mean Girl.

 

Regina: Oh my God, I love your skirt!  Where did you get it?

Lea Edwards: It was my mom’s in the ’80s.

Regina: Vintage, so adorable.

Lea Edwards: Thanks.

Regina: [after girl walks away] That is the ugliest effing skirt I’ve ever seen.

Even though mean girl Regina was mocking the character’s vintage style, currently vintage fashion is all the rage in the fashion world.  Slowly, I have been shopping more vintage styles and incorporating unique pieces into my looks.  What’s great about vintage clothing is the history behind each piece. Vintage clothing, like the clothing featured in today’s post, can’t be found at the usual stores in the mall, like Forever 21, H&M, Zara, and so on, making them on of a kind.

The first vintage piece I am wearing in today’s look is from the Etsy shop, Solitary Consignments.  If you are looking to jump into the vintage world, I highly recommend browsing Etsy shops because you never know what you will find.  Throughout the Solitary Consignments shop, customers will find a huge selection of “pre loved clothing.”  The shop owners, Breanna and Shannon carefully handpick each item from different thrift stores in their area.  The duo found a stylish piece from their latest shopping trip and I am the proud owner of this vintage Tweety Bird sweatshirt.  I am loving the distressed detail and it’s very cool to know that Breanna and Shannon distressed this piece by hand. As you can tell they hand pick and hand distress their items with love.  They totally live up to their store’s motto, “giving great pieces a second chance.”

No one would know that before my jean shorts were jean shorts they were actually a pair of Levi jeans. In my journey of finding awesome vintage stores in my area, I came across Chic Jack’s Vintage Clothing, which is described as a “vintage heaven,” and it totally is!  At this store, you will find racks upon racks of authentic vintage clothing from the 1920s all the way up to the 1980s.  Nothing screams vintage than a pair of high waisted, distressed pair of jean shorts.  The loose, relaxed fit makes them the perfect jean shorts for any summer day.  Plus, just like my sweatshirt the owner hand distressed these shorts.  So cool!

Although they are not technically vintage, considering I have had these pair of Adidas shoes for only a month, they still have that retro vibe because the brand Adidas can be traced back to decades ago.

Finally, to tie together the vintage vibe of my outfit, of course I had to add a choker from Forever 21. Whenever I wear a choker, it instantly transports me back to the 90s.

For me, as I am experimenting more with the vintage style, I notice how different the style is, especially when I am use to shopping at popular retail stores.  But nothing is better than the thrill you get when rummaging through a local thrift store and discovering a unique item.  Let me know in the comments below if you are into vintage style and any vintage shopping tips. See you all in my next post!

Sweatshirt: Solitary Consignments (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) |Denim: Chic Jack’s Vintage Clothing (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) | Shoes: Adidas | Necklace: Forever 21 (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR) (SIMILAR)

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