Blouse ($10), Vintage Levi's Shorts ($6), Leather Slingback Heels ($14) - all from Crossroads Trading Co., Purse - Jigsaw, Bracelet - courtesy of Seventh Door
I was approached by Crossroads Trading Co., one of my favorite fashion retailers of new and recycled clothing, to guest blog for them. I was given a blogger budget to get creative in their stores and I came out with a bunch of goodies from platform shoes to a cropped knit sweater . . . and I was still under my budget! I left the shop a happy girl! Whenever I hit up a secondhand shop, I never go in with any particular item I’m looking for in mind. I’d rather just come across something unexpected that magically happens to fit with my personality and sense of style. It may take patience, time, and a lot of sifting through racks, but it’s all worth it in the end! Plus, it’s so much more fun and exciting that way.
Here is my first outfit made up of mostly items from my Crossroads shopping trip. Minimalist chic. I can always rely on black and white to keep me feeling edgy and cool when the summer heat wants to bring me down. And this outfit confirms that there really is no such thing as not being able to look fashionable when you are on a budget. Thanks, Crossroads! Check out the full lowdown on how I put this outfit together on the Crossroads Trading Co. blog here! There will be more posts like this to come in the upcoming weeks!
This evening I took my regular bike ride through the neighborhood and (gasp!) it was actually chilly! Looks like this heat wave has finally passed. I am so happy because this means that my favorite season is soon to arrive. I cannot wait to bust out my knitwear, long-sleeved blouses, and blazers to layer myself with. Also, images of hot pumpkin spice lattes while reading a novel under my covers are filling my mind. Nothing is more beautiful than a perfect autumn day.
So, my blog isn't really a beauty blog per say, but I thought it would be fun to let you guys in on some of my favorite beauty and skin care products. I've always been a minimalist when it comes to makeup, but it is always fun to experiment with new looks (especially lip colors in my case). I also love testing out new skin care products because I think maintaining healthy, clear skin is really important, especially for a person like me who doesn't like a lot of foundation on her face. So I am always on the hunt for the next best thing for my skin. Here is a look into my beauty bin.
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is my everyday cleanser. My skin is very sensitive, so this simple product is great for me. But to steer clear of breakouts, I wash with OXY Maximum Face Wash only at night (or else it can be too drying). I never have to worry about pimples with this stuff! Sometimes I skip cleanser in the morning and just wash with water. I find that the more simple my routine is, the better my skin looks and feels. Less is always more. I moisturize at night with Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, but for the day I use Neutrogena's Healthy Defense Daily Moisturizer (in the highest SPF I can find). My eye cream is Clinique's All About Eyes.
I am also a huge fan of serums that promise to provide an extra boost of skin replenishing power, which is why I was so excited to have been approached by the skin care brand CELLNIQUE to test some of their products. They sent me over 3 great products: the Skin Action Sebum Gel (I use this during the day under my lotion), the Derma Brightening Complex (I use this at night), and the Advanced Bio Renewal Mask (I use this only once a week). I have been using these products only for a week and already I see a major difference! This stuff really, really works when it comes to giving you flawless, silky smooth skin that glows from the inside out. I don't even really need foundation anymore and am completely confident going out without any coverage! These products contain natural ingredients like fruit enzymes in technologically advanced formulas with years of research to back them up. I recommend this brand to all of you because it really shows results, and I have never seen a product work as well as these before, and so fast! I'll give you guys the full lowdown once I'm done using them.
Now on to my more of my beauty essentials:
Smashbox Cheek Palette in Close-Up (for a natural flush that is suited for every season). Revlon Fabulash Mascara in Black (because long, thick eyelashes are really pretty). Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner in Sepia Ink (this stuff stays put all day, and creates the best cat eye). Revlon Photo Ready Makeup (just one drop is enough to lightly even out my skin tone for a natural, dewy look). CoverGirl Concealer Stick (if I have any tough spots that need extra attention). POP Makeup Palette for Blue Eyes (because it is a very versatile collection of colors).
Nothing really exciting. I don't like to overwhelm myself with a lot of products that I'm not going to use daily, so I stick with what I know and love. I only get a little more crazy when it comes to lip color. Observe my favorites:
Maybelline's Color Sensational Lipstick in Plum Perfect and Red Revival, Laura Mercier Cream Lipstick in Garnet, M.A.C.'s Amplified Lipstick in Girl About Town, M.A.C.'s Mattene Lipstick in You Say Tomato, Maybelline's Color Sensational Lipgloss in Cranberry Cocktail, Smashbox O-Gloss
Hey look! I was featured alongside fellow blogger Carmen from Carmenri in an Indonesian magazine called ANEKA YESS not too long ago, and I finally have a copy of what the page looks like! Isn't it cool? Thank you Dina from ANEKA YESS for sending this to me! It looks wonderful!
Top - H&M, Pants - Twiggy Cargo in Aged Green by James Jeans, Shoes - Pour La Victoire, Purse - vintage Chanel
The military trend seems to be still running strong, but I haven't really yet tried it out until now with my new James Jeans pair. The cargo pant really is the chicest way to incorporate the trend into one's wardrobe. It's so unlike those scary old pairs that were all the rage at Abercrombie & Fitch some years ago. It's still a little tomboy, but its skinny, low-rise fit and stretchy material make it fashion-forward and edgy. I kept things casual here with a striped top, but I have also worn these pants with an elegant lace one, and the juxtaposition of feminine and masculine made for a wonderful effect. Just shows how versatile this pair really is!
In movie news, I saw Eat Pray Love this weekend. The movie was not bad, but I felt that something was definitely missing, especially when it came to character development. The crying bathroom scene was also not that convincing to me. I did not believe it at all. There were a few emotional parts that I felt myself moved by, but I left the theater feeling that there could have been so much more. I thoroughly loved the Bali section of the movie, especially since I visited Bali earlier this year. It was my favorite part of the book, too. That country is so spectacular - a true paradise! Also, Javier Bardem makes one sexy Brazilian man (my heart is fluttering)! And Julia Robert always lights up the big screen with her smile. She radiates and you cannot help but love her. But other than that, the movie did not live up to the book at all. The previews made me so excited, and I hate being let down. I watched that Miley Cyrus movie The Last Song today and I was moved more by it than Eat Pray Love. That says a lot! haha. But hey, that's Hollywood. Anyways, I still want to visit Italy, India, and go back to Bali again. I am so ready to start my own Eat + Pray + Love adventure! I am sure it will be more exciting than the movie version!
In tribute to my love of Scandinavian style, I am posting a few of my favorite shots of Caroline Blomst, editor of Caroline's Mode over at Stockholm Streetstyle. Caroline is Swedish beauty who always blows me away with her effortless and minimalistic looks. She usually sticks to lots of black leather and neutral color schemes, but I am falling head over heals for her subtle infusion of color into her summer wardrobe. The floral ACNE blouse . . . I have not seen a more perfect flower placement And that 3/4 quarter length skirt? Genius. Caroline, may I please borrow your wardrobe? Just for a day will do.
These pictures were taken out last full day in New York City, which obviously meant that we had to visit the magical Central Park once again for the third time. We started the day out with lunch in Greenwich, walked to Madison Square Park, and then kept going uptown all the way to Penn Station and the world's largest Macy's. It is amazing how much more you see when you walk the streets. We contemplated the idea of continuing our trek by foot to Central Park, but our feet decided the subway would be a much better idea. Our other visits to the park were shorter, but this day my sister and I spent a good 2 hours walking through nearly every nook and cranny and reliving our entire New York experience (still, we only saw half of the park . . . the place is just too big!). It was a wonderfully fun day and one I will never forget. That's my sister Natalie in the pic in front of the fountain. This picture turned out great, but was taken by a random stranger who offered to take a pic of us together. He turned out to be a total creepster and basically wanted to do a full on photo shoot with us, that is, until we finally escaped. Oh, and I was wearing a Free People beaded blouse I bought in the city. The beading was just too beautiful to pass up on, and I loved how tribal it looked. A perfect summer piece to wear on a perfect summer day in the city.
Dress - Queen's Wardrobe, Shoes - Urban Outfitters
It feels weird to be posting an actual, planned outfit post since New York. But it also feels good to be back to a somewhat more normal schedule. Yet, I also miss posing on those fabulous NYC streets, and the unexpectedness and candidness of it all. But I know I will be back there soon, because only we can make our own dreams come true. Anyways, this is what I call my little dolly dress because it reminds me of all the dresses my childhood dolls wore (though I was always terrified of my porcelain dolls . . . I always felt they were staring at me. Or maybe I watched too many scary movies as a child). The dainty neckline is what pulled me to this dress. It's very Victorian-era, an era I am very much in love with when it comes to novels. But this dress is modern with its baby doll length and loose bohemian fit. A fun mix that is just my style. And speaking of turn-of-the-century styles, I just started reading A Cup of Tea by Amy Ephron, a novel based in 1917 New York. I've always hated history class, but when I am able to learn about history through fiction, with a little romance thrown in, I'm drawn in for hours. Thanks to my UCLA English professors, I have developed a deep place in my heart for early American literature, or anything based on this time period. Yes, I am a geek.
Have a beautiful weekend all of you! I will make sure to catch up with all your blogs! Oh, and aren't all the pretty fuchsia flowers pretty? I just had to pose in front of them :)
Plus, here is a code for 15% off your entire purchase at the online shop Lulus.com. The code is: WONDERLAND. There is so much cute stuff to fill your closets with here. This offer is good until September 5th. Happy shopping!
The New York City streets after a good rain look magical. The taxis were always my favorite things to capture in motion. Skyscrapers reaching for the sky where we should all be reaching for, as well. Lights in movement are always photo ready. Central Station. Isn't this where Serena from Gossip Girl stood in episode 1 of first season? The heart of Manhattan where tourists scramble shoulder to shoulder. I love a bustling and thriving crowd. There are too many things that I love about NYC.
