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So my super-awesome mom sent me a super-awesome care package, and aside from all the super-yummy food that I already ate, one of my favorite things was this Best of Ulta Palette. I appreciate Ulta for their great BOGO deals and insider perks, but I think a lot of the Ulta brand products can be really hit or miss, which is why it's great to get a bunch of their best-selling stuff in one little (very well-priced) palette. Scroll down for my review.
Best of Ulta Palette, $9.99 at ulta.com: Here's the pretty Ulta pic of their palette. It has 12 shadows, 12 lip colors, a dual-ended shadow applicator and a dual-ended little lip brush, a tiny mirror, and a magnetic closure on a sleek, swirl-embossed silver case.
Eyeshadows in order: first row: Silk, Peacock, Amethyst, Iceland, second row: Aztec Gold, Radiant, Sandstone, Granite, third row: Deep Sea, Truffle, Pink, Galaxy. Lip Colors in order: first row: Plum Wine, Mauve Shimmer, Snowflake Shimmer, Sienna Shimmer, second row: Romantic Red, Sheer Berry, Mulberry Shimmer, Sheer Pout, third row: Iced Cappucino, Wineberry Shimmer, Shimmering Quartz, Sheer Apricot.
I'm not really going to talk about the lip colors because they really aren't that interesting or impressive at all. The pigmentation is poor, the formula isn't moisturizing or long-lasting, and at best these are dull, sheer lip glosses. Sheer apricot is intriguing because it's a bright poppy orange and the lip brush is a nice touch, but aside from that the lip colors aren't worth talking about. But as for the eye shadows--those are totally different story.
The pigmentation and application are pretty good overall, the shadows blend well and have minimal fallout, and the wear (with UDPP as a base) is comparable to a MAC or NARs shadow.
-Silk is a warm, pale, golden-ivory highlighter with a bit of a frost. I might like this even better than MAC's Femme Fi--it's lighter and a little less champagne-y. I would definitely repurchase this. Ulta shadows are ridiculously cheap, and this would not only last forever, but it's a really nice, blendable highlighter that works on the lid, on the inner tear duct, on the brow bone, even on the cheekbone.
-Peacock is a medium grey-blue with a hint of silver shimmer. It's a very pretty color, but nothing something I can see myself using. But if you're looking for a medium blue shadow that doesn't scream '90s, this could be it.
-Amethyst is a very warm, mauvey purple with gold shimmer. It's definitely too warm for me, but if you're someone who can easily wear pink or mauve shadows, I think you'd like this. It really does capture the color of an amethyst quite well.
-Iceland is a very frosty, blue-based white. I can't used this unless I sheer it out a lot because it's very pigmented and definitely goes on looking WHITE, which isn't really my aesthetic. It would work on someone really pale or on someone with mad, mad blending skills.
-Aztec Gold is a lovely warm gold with gold shimmer. It's easy to layer for subtle gold sheen or an intense metallic look. I think this would be really lovely as a daytime look on olive skin or applied more heavily for a nighttime look. It would also be fab on top of a deep brown shadow to give it some life.
-Radiant is a light, golden olive with a gold sheen to it. I thought I was going to hate this, but swatched on it has a really pretty safari feel to it, and I think it would work nicely with MAC's Greensmoke or Urban Decay's Stash liner. The blendability on Radiant is fantastic, and it's one of the few shadows in the palette that isn't packed full of glitter, but still catches the light perfectly.
-Sandstone is one of my favorites from this palette. It's a purple-based taupe that actually reminds me a lot of MAC's Style Snob. It has the same sheen without being shimmery, it makes a gorgeous base, it blends well, lasts forever, and is mysteriously flattering. I would definitely repurchase this baby.
-Granite is a blue-based grey with silver sheen. It's nothing special, but it's a very nice, workhorse color that would be pretty on it's own or layered over a matte black for a deep, smoky grey.
-Deep Sea is probably my least favorite color. There's nothing wrong with it, it's a medium blue with intense green duochrome, but I can't see it being wearable at all unless it was as part of a costume. Pass.
-Truffle is another favorite--it's a golden taupe that works equally well as a highlighter, on the inner corner of the eye, or as a wash across the lid. It's very much 'your eyes but better,' with a hint of golden sheen thrown in. This is definitely worth a repurchase.
-Pink is one of those shadows that I don't see myself wearing, but even I have to admit that it goes on much more wearable than I expected. It's pretty sheer, so it goes on as a shimmery, slightly frosty icy-pink. I think it could work nicely as a highlighter. I don't really get why people wear pink eyeshadow, but I find this to be a pretty inoffensive incarnation.
-Galaxy is a medium black with silver shimmer. It's nowhere as pigmented as I wanted it to be, there's a lot of shimmer fallout, and it's hard to blend. That said, this made me realize that I want a real black eye shadow. If you're toying with the idea of black shadow, this is a cheap way to test-run it, and it works decently if you layer Granite on top of it.
Overall, I really like six out of the twelve eyeshadows, and I'd repurchase three of them, so it's still a pretty good deal for $10. All this swatching and reviewing is making me seriously crave some more dark shadows. Next up on my list is NARs' Mekong, $22 at sephora.com. Sephora calls it 'espresso fused with gold,' and it looks insanely pigmented and insanely gorgeous. I'm thinking this might be the nighttime version of my NARs Galapagos shadow, and might be a softer stand-in for a shimmery black shadow. Thoughts?
Image Sources:
Ulta palette: ulta.com, NARs Mekong swatches in order: allthevanity.blogspot.com, temptalia.com.
So there's the usual shopping round up (of course), even a few pieces of sparkly, and then something I'm really excited about. There was a feature in Elle this month about getting inspired by celebrity makeup looks, and the one that really struck me was Megan Fox. I tried it out, and I'm pretty pleased with the results.
Eryn Brinie Cropped Biker Jacket, $350 at erynbrinie.com, KAIN Label Pocket Tee Dress, $93 at shopbop.com, Land's End Heritage Trench Coat, $199.50 at canvas.landsend.com: I've been eyeing Eryn Brinie for a few months now, and from my understanding it's a European/Asian take on Top Shop? I realize that makes no sense. Either way, I love this cropped jacket. I usually vehemently hate long-sleeved anythings, especially jackets, but the tight, extra-long sleeves on this jacket against the short body are giving me a serious Rick Owens vibe. There's something very clean and minimalist, and yet very edgy about this jacket, and the studs at the collar are just the perfect finishing touch. I spent hours looking for the perfect tee dress a few days ago, so of course I found it accidentally now. The delicate sexiness of the scoop neck against the loose, a-line fit of the body is really great way to do daytime casual with a very chic edge. You could leave it unbelted for a flowing, relaxed look or belt it for a bit more va-va-voom. I have an obsession with khaki trenches (it borders on pathological). They are my ideal form of outerwear--if I could only wear one coat/jacket for the rest of my life, it would be a khaki trench. They're a little military, very British aristocrat, and so, so versatile. This Land's End option looks really similar to my beloved Burberry version, and coats about $800 dollars less. Win.
Alexander Wang Moto Jacket with Detachable Sleeves, $825 at lagarconne.com, Alexander Wang Drapey Sequin Dress, $815 at lagarconne.com: I'm not going to restate my love of Alexander Wang because if I keep doing it, I feel like this blog is going to turn into a giant ode to him, which would be entertaining, but a little bit weird. I really like that he's starting to take the economy into account with his designs, like making a convertible piece that's both jacket and vest. The body is suede, the sleeves are a clingy stretch, and so it works as both a motorcycle jacket and a hardcore vest. The detailing is perfection (he does biker chic so well), and for two Alexander Wang pieces, it's really a fantastic deal. This dress just kills me. It's got asymmetrical draping, a body-con fit, crazy-intense sequins, and just general hotness. The sequins lighten up the black just enough to make it work year-round, and they highlight all the draping perfectly. You really don't need anything with this dress--it accessorizes itself. And you could get away with wearing it all the time because the way the light hit the sequins on the draping would make the dress look different every time.
I love this shot from The Sartorialist. There's a lot of black going on, and it could photograph very flat, but the layers, the mix of textures, and the hints of blue and gold take it from dull and Goth to NYC chic. I think the attitude helps a lot. And the really covetable hair. I'm having total hair envy right now.
So, Megan Fox's makeup. First off, can I just say that I love her? She's gorgeous. You really can't argue with that. And she says the oddest, most randomly hilarious things. I was going to dress up as a Fox for Halloween and be Megan Fox (haha...I'm so clever...not really), but I couldn't find my fox ears in time. I'm saving that idea for next year. As for her makeup, it's actually really simple. Do whatever you do to even out your skin (I'd stick with a tinted moisturizer or a really dewy foundation, because she keeps her skin fresh, not matte), and then fill out your brows with Anastasia's Perfect Brow Pencil. Your brows need to be very dark and very thick, with a visible arch. It's bold, but still feminine, and it frames the face nicely. Next, use Urban Decay Primer Potion on the lids, and follow that with Benefit's Creaseless Shadow/Liner in Birthday Suit as a shimmery base, and add just a hint on the brow bone as a highlighter. She doesn't really use heavy/dark shadows on her lids, she usually sticks with something in a pale nude with a hint of shimmer. Line the waterline in any smudgeable black liner like Urban Decay's 24-7 Liner in Zero (that stuff stays like you won't believe), and then lightly line the outer half of the lower lash line and all of the upper lash line, winging out the liner slightly (she usually does just a hint of a cat eye). Take MAC's shadow in Romp and lightly shade the outer third of the eyelid, and then put Romp on a crease brush and blend it thoroughly into the crease and over the outer part of the lid. You want sort of a semi-circle shape starting on your lid and going up into the crease. Take some more Romp on a smudge brush, and smudge it into the upper and lower lash lines, going over the black liner. Follow that with two coats of mascara, a peach blush like MAC's Blushcreme in Lilicent, set it with just a hint of powder, and swipe on a nude lip gloss. This look works because while the black liner and soft brown shadow are smoldering and intense, the lid itself is kept really light so the overall look isn't heavy, and her face and lips are kept clean and soft so they don't detract from her eyes and brows. I got so many compliments on this look today (and of course my camera failed me, so no pics).
Image Sources:
Eryn Brinie jacket: erynbrinie.com, KAIN Label dress: shopbop.com, Land's End trench coat: canvas.landsend.com, Alexander Wang jacket: lagarconne.com, Alexander Wang dress: lagarconne.com, Sartorialist pic: thesartorialist.blogspot.com, Megan Fox pics in order: meganfoxnews.com, meganfoxnews.com, kiwiyogi.files.wordpress.com.
It's been a long, weird, stressful week, and I'm apologizing for how random and/or nonsensical my posts have been. And unfortunately this one probably won't be any better on that front. We've got some lovely pieces from J. Crew, a piece sparkles and accessories, and quite possibly my favorite Taylor Swift look ever.
J. Crew Ombre Horizon Coat, $595 at jcrew.com, J. Crew Clustered Constellation Cardigan, $168 at jcrew.com, J. Crew Keaton Tuxedo Cardigan, $118 at jcrew.com: I heart ombre. It's one of the only appropriate, grown-up ways to wear tie dye, it has this casual dip-dye feel to it, and the minimalist lines of the coat take all away the possible hippie vibes. The cut on it is so genius--you get the boxy, menswear feeling, but it hits high enough on the hip not to be overwhelming or unflattering, and I love me a 3/4 sleeve. J. Crew does sweaters so, so well. Take these two for example. They hit at two totally different ends of the spectrum. This off-white cardigan, with the bead/sequin embellishments, is refined but fashion forward femininity at its best. The tone-on-tone bling is subtle, but still eye-catching, and there's cashmere involved, so it's an all around winner. Whereas this tuxedo cardigan is a great, girly take on the guys jacket. I love the idea of wearing a tuxedo jacket, but they can be a little heavy and hard to work with proportions wise. Making the tuxedo into a cozy sweater makes it much more flattering, while still not trying to be too sexy, and makes it an even more versatile, fantastic layering piece. Do want.
Banana Republic Tassel Lounge Necklace, $42 at bananarepublic.gap.com, J. Crew Metallic Tweed Charmed Mini Bag, $198 at jcrew.com, Toscana Shearling Earmuffs, $98 at jcrew.com: I guess I've really been feeling tassel necklaces lately. There's something so bohemian and yet insouciantly chic about the way they drape that feels so right for right now. This Banana Republic version is a very affordable option, and the beads add a bit extra flair. I love, love, love this J. Crew bag. It has such a Chanel feel without seeming like a blatant Chanel rip off. The slightly sparkly tweed would transition effortlessly from day to night, the long shoulder chain adds a little edge and makes the silhouette very on-trend, and the beads are a nice, unexpected touch. This is one of those things that I would randomly buy and end up using all the time, I swear. When I end up succumbing and getting a pair of ear muffs this winter, they're going to look just like this. If I'm going to have to wear such an awkward accessory, they're going to be Ali McGraw snow bunny chic. The drama of the ear coverings against the sleek headband is exquisite, and that color palette just kills me.
Torn by Ronny Kobo Olivia Crystal Mini Dress, $440 at shopbop.com, Gemma Mya T Shirt, $130 at shopbop.com, Tuleste Market Rosette Earrings, $75 at piperlime.com: Sequin LBDs are hot. One shouldered dresses are fab. Long-sleeved minis are insane right now. Combining all three of those things into one dress kind of makes my brain want to explode. It's so '80s glam robot chic (yes, I just made that combination happen). Trompe l'oeil details are one of my favorite things on tops. They're witty, which is surprisingly rare in ready to wear fashion, they make accessorizing effortless (literally), and there's something very gothic and yet elegant about this faux black necklace. Plus, the length is perfect for it to be worn un-tucked or tucked into a high-waisted skirt. I'm actually getting my ears pierced in two weeks! For reals this time. And so you know I've already shopped all over for earrings. I'm really feeling simple, but festive, studs for the first few months (it's probably all I'll be able to handle). The rosettes are just so adorably feminine, and would be absolutely precious peeking out from under your hair, and the shiny metal finish takes the cloying edge off the floral shape.
Taylor Swift can WORK a red carpet. She doesn't exactly take a lot of risks, but she has her look down to a T and she knows what looks good on her. I love this Reem Acra dress on Taylor. It's the right mix of Glinda the Good Witch, with the flowing tulle skirt, and slightly edgy glam with the blinged out bodice and sequin slivers down the skirt. It fits absolutely perfectly, and the cut is so, so flattering. Major props.
Image Sources:
J. Crew ombre coat: jcrew.com, J. Crew cardigan: jcrew.com, J. Crew tuxedo sweater: jcrew.com, Banana Republic necklace: bananarepublic.gap.com, J. Crew bag: jcrew.com, J. Crew earmuffs: jcrew.com, Torn dress: shopbop.com, Gemma top: shopbop.com, Tuleste Market earrings: piperlime.com, Taylor Swift: glamour.com.
I'm one of those people that lives for the holiday season. Not for the actual religious connotations of the holidays themselves, but more for the spirit and the decorations and the general festiveness of it all. That period from Halloween to New Year's is my bread and butter. We've even decorate our dorm room for Thanksgiving. Not Halloween or Christmas, but Thanksgiving. Hardcore. I'm going to try to crank out a few non-denominational holiday posts in the next few weeks, and first up are festive body products and a little festive makeup.
C. O. Bigelow Warm Spiced Cider Mentha Lip Cordial, $7.50 at bathandbodyworks.com, Vanilla Bean Noel Moisturizing Hand Lotion, $4 at bathandbodyworks.com, CB I Hate Perfume Gathering Apples, $60 at cbihateperfume.com: Bath and Body Works is always a great place to scour for seasonal products (they get so into it). They have the whole hand sanitizer craziness going on, but I like to go for their lesser known products, like this Cider lip gloss and Vanilla Bean Noel lotion. I think marrying lip gloss and holiday scents/tastes is genius, because it's a really subtle way to incorporate the holiday spirit into your daily life. The lotion is awesome because it's a good lotion, so it's practical, and it smells like Vanilla awesomeness! I would totally use that year round. CB I Hate Perfume is perfect for very niche, specific scents, and while they have a lot of interesting pine/snow themed scents, I like something warmer for the holidays. Gathering Apples is supposed to smell just like gathering apples, a combination of ripe apples and weathered trees, which sounds spot on without being over the top.
Philosophy Gingerbread Lip Shine Ornament, $8 down from $12 at sephora.com, Philosophy Caramel Apple Flavored Lip Shine, $12 at sephora.com, Philosophy Pumpkin Spice Muffin Flavored Lip Shine, $12 at sephora.com: Bath and Body Works may be good, but Philosophy is the master of holiday themed body products, namely glosses and shower gels. I want all of these flavors. Gingerbread is really classic Christmas, very fairy tale, gingerbread house, childhood memories. Caramel apple is perfect for those who like fruitier or fresher flavors, and would add a lovely hint of red. Pumpkin Spice might be my favorite. I live and die for Starbucks pumpkin spice lattes. For all those pumpkin haters, there's no actual pumpkin flavor in this, it's all the spices that go into making pumpkin pie, like cinnamon and nutmeg and so on (so much useless knowledge in my head).
Philosophy Cinnamon Hot Dots Bath & Shower Gel, $16 at sephora.com, Philosophy Pumpkin Spice Muffin Bath & Shower Gel, $16 at sephora.com, Philosophy The Gingerbread Man Scented Hot Salt Body Scrub, $25 at sephora.com: If you're not a lip gloss person, Philosophy also does great shower/bath gel/shampoo combos that are a total bargain because those bottles are HUGE. I'm not a huge fan of cinnamon, but it says holidays to a lot of people, and I think I already explained my undying love of pumpkin spice. The idea of pumpkin spice shower gel/shampoo AND pumpkin spice lip gloss might make my brain explode. The Gingerbread scrub might be the most practical purchase. Philosophy's scrubs are really, really exfoliating and moisturizing, which definitely isn't always the case, and I'm a sucker for the adorable packaging.
NARS Glitter Pencil in Platinum, $24 at sephora.com, Urban Decay 24-7 Glide-On Liner in Lucky, $17 at sephora.com, Make Up For Ever in Pearl Gold, $19 at sephora.com: You guys know I couldn't leave holiday make up out of the mix! I'll probably do like 3 more posts on it, let's be honest. To me, holiday make up is glitter and bronzey/gold shadows (there's something so festive about a gold eye). This NARS pencil is platinum with silver shimmer, which would be so gorgeous as a highlight on the inner corners of the eyes, or as an all-around liner for a more snow bunny look. I have this Urban Decay liner in Lucky, and it's a fab bronze liner that definitely reads a bronze, but is dark enough to liner and contour the eye. I know it's more of a year-round than a holiday thing, but something about white, shimmery highlighter (subtle, not disco ball) is so perfectly festive. It adds the right amount of glow and has a bit of a winter wonderland vibe. Plus it's MUFE, so you know it's good.
Image Sources:
C.O. Bigelow lip gloss: bathandbodyworks.com, Vanilla Bean Noel lotion: bathandbodyworks.com, CB I Hate Perfume Gathering Apples: cbihateperfume.com, Philosophy Lip Shines: Caramel Apple: sephora.com, Pumpkin Spice Muffin: sephora.com, Gingerbread: sephora.com, Philosophy Cinnamon shower gel: sephora.com, Philosophy Pumpkin Spice Muffin shower gel: sephora.com, Philosophy Gingerbread Man scrub: sephora.com, NARS liner: sephora.com, Urban Decay liner: sephora.com, MUFE powder: sephora.com.
Warning: If you dislike sparkles (AKA if you have no soul) do not continue reading. Massive brain explosion will ensue. Don't say I didn't warn you.
I'm very intrigued by this Fyrinnae brand. The name confuses me (I've misspelled it like 10 times in this post), and the idea of loose shadows generally makes me want to vomit, but I have to say I'm curious. Mainly because it seems like they can pack so much more shimmer into these loose shadows than into a normal pressed shadow. MAC's Style Snob remains my favorite shadow of all time, and I've been looking for more shadows with similar sparkle and luminescence, and I think I may have found my source. The price is so, so right, especially for how much shadow you get. Fyrinnae makes some really vibrant hues, but I'm drawn to their taupes and their black-based shadows. Oh, and they swatch all the shadows wet and dry on their site, which is probably the best idea ever.
Fyrinnae Loose Shadow in Knickers in a Twist, $5.25 at fyrinnae.com, Fire Opal $5.25 at fyrinnae.com, and Platinum, $5.25 at fyrinnae.com: Hehe. Knichers in a Twist. Hehe. It looks dark, but it's actually a pretty medium taupe with purple undertones (supposedly a great dupe of MAC's Moth Brown). I love taupes. They're so underestimated, and they're really the easiest shadows out there for a quick, polished look that's your eyes, but better. Fire Opal looks crazy iridescent, just like a fire opal. The base is a dove gray with insane gold/orange shimmer. It sounds awkward, but I think if you foiled it (applied it wet), it would literally look like your eyes were glowing and be insanely fab to brighten up some smudgey black liner. Platinum is the sparkliest of all. It's basically a sparkly golden taupe. Wouldn't that be a great base? Or even a highlighter. It might be even better than Stila's Kitten. Maybe.
Fyrinnae Loose Shadows in Immortality, $5.25 at fyrinnae.com, Kuroneko, $5.25 at fyrinnae.com, Fyre & Ice, $5.25 at fyrinnae.com: Here are all the black based beauties. I really want a black based shadow with shimmer because it has all the contouring/smoking ability of a black shadow, but the sparkle lightens it up and gives it a bit more visual interest. Immortality has rainbow colored shimmer (I'm drooling), Kuroneko is a metallic black with silver shimmer, and Fyre & Ice has purple shimmer. These almost remind me of MAC's Style Black collection, which I totally missed out on. I've been trying to narrow it down to one of these for about an hour, and I just can't do it. Must have all of thems. Must.
Madewell Long Rhinestone Necklace, $55 at shopbop.com, J. Crew Crystal Malibu Necklace, $68 at jcrew.com, BleachBlack for Urban Outfitters Rhinestone Bracelet, $28 at urbanoutfitters.com: I'm really feeling opulent jewelry right now, especially with juxtapositions of different textures and a little bit of edge. There's something very aristocratic and yet very modern about that look that works equally well with tees and cocktail dresses. These are some really affordable jewelry options (all under $70! You know I have trouble with the budgeting). I like this Madewell necklace because it's odd. I mean, you don't often see a string of rhinestones as a necklace, much less black rhinestones. That fact that the rhinestones are only on one side and there's exposed metal in the back adds an interesting tension, and it's the perfect drapey length. J. Crew does costume jewelry so, so well, and they've had a Lanvin vibe for the last few months that's really working for me. This necklace has a lot of things going on, the rhinestones, the bows, the glass beads, and it all could veer too far into rock and roll glam territory, but the sweetness of the bows brings it back into polished territory. This BleachBlack for Urban Outfitters bracelet (check out their blog!) is my absolute favorite. The textures are genius (I mean you've got leather, studs, chains, crystals, rhinestones), it would drape so perfectly on the wrist, and even though there's a lot going on, the relatively small size keeps it from being overwhelming. I'd rock this with a ton of silver rings.
And on a totally unrelated note, doesn't Kristen Stewart look nice here for once? Not all emo and scenester and grungey, but clean and polished and cute? Aside from that unfortunate mullet (Really? She couldn't have talked them into giving her a wig? Really?), I love this. The dress is simple, but not boring, the shoes don't detract from the dress, and the lack of accessories is actually rather refreshing. Now if the heels didn't have that awkward toe cutout and she threw on a pair of earring or a simple necklace and put her hair up we'd really have something.
Image Sources:
Fyrinnae shadows: Knickers in a Twist: fyrinnae.com, Fire Opal: fyrinnae.com, Platinum: fyrinnae.com, Immortality: fyrinnae.com, Kuroneko: fyrinnae.com, Fyre & Ice: fyrinnae.com, Madewell Necklace: shopbop.com, UO bracelet: urbanoutfitters.com, J. Crew necklace: jcrew.com, Kristen Stewart: gofugyourself.com.
The one thing I miss about going to a highschool with a strict (ok, not really) uniform code was that I never really had to put together entire outfits. I had to coordinate what kind of sweater and whatever accessories I was wearing, but the skirt and shirt were always taken care of. Now that I actually have to assemble unique outfits everyday, I've realized that it's really, really easy to fall into an ensemble rut. In Meganland there are lots of jeans, v-necks, scarves, and big cashmere sweaters. Maybe a pair of gladiator sandals if I'm feeling adventurous. I know it's sad, but it's hard to muster up enthusiasm about something you're only wearing to class. But starting from now on, I'm going to try to mix it up a bit. It's still warm enough that I can get away with thin layers, so I hunted down a few pieces that I'd love to be wearing right now.
T by Alexander Wang Classic Tank Dress with Mini Pocket, $90 at shopbop.com, Urban Outfitters Nom de Plume Yaya Moto Jacket, $98 at shopbop.com, American Apparel Opaque Pantyhose, $14 at americanapparelstore.com: I think this tank dress is a great base for an outfit. You can layer it, belt it, accessorize the bejesus out of it, and get a lot of very different looks out of the same piece. The little pocket is really cute too. I'd probably layer a nude cami underneath is since the top is so sheer, and the straight but roomy cut is really flattering. I like this motorcycle jacket on top because it's actually not leather, which is refreshing (and more affordable), the short length hits right at the waist so it gives the tank dress some shape, and all those zippers add a bit of edge. The tights go underneath to add some extra warmth and coverage. I chose sheerish black tights because totally opaque black is really heavy against the white dress, and the sheerness is really on-trend.
Kenneth Jay Lane Monkey & Tassel Necklace, $99 at shopbop.com, Dolce Vita Flash Multi Chain Booties, $202 at shopbop.com, Foley + Corinna Mid City Tote in Grape, $444 at shopbop.com: I'd throw on this tassel necklace for a bit of sparkle (the head of the tassel is a monkey face! So cute). The long, relaxed lines of the necklace contrast nicely with the structure of the jacket, and the tassel adds a little boho flair. I love, love, love these shoes. The hidden platform does great things for your legs, all the chains give it a ton of personality, and the zipper in the back is just the icing on the cake. I know these aren't practical for running across campus, but I think I'd be willing to suffer the pain. I have this Foley + Corinna bag, and I love it to death. It goes with everything, it's durable, it's the perfect size, it has just the right amount of retro inspiration, and the jewel-tone hue adds a pop of color to this monochromatic ensemble.
J. Crew Brewster Espresso Leather Boots, starting at $109.99 at ebay.com, DV Willy Booties, on sale for $119.95 down from $143 at shopdolcevita.com: I know I've said it before, but I really want a pair of boots. Or booties. I can't decide. Which is a major part of the problem. I either want something edgy like the booties above, a pair of simple booties like these DV heels, or a pair of equestrian meets engineer/motorcycle boots. I think the flat boots might be more practical/versatile, but I love the chunky heels on these little booties and I only have one pair of heels right now (that's right. Just one. I'm failing at life). Opinions?
Image Sources:
T by Alexander Wang dress: shopbop.com, UO jacket: urbanoutfitters.com, American Apparel tights: americanapparelstore.com, Kenneth Jay Lane necklace: shopbop.com, Dolce Vita booties: shopbop.com, Foley + Corinna bag: shopbop.com, J. Crew boots: ebay.com, DV booties: shopdolcevita.com.
