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Everyday Style & Recipes. Est. 2010

Fashion

Red Floral Dress & Fall Pullover

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The weather seems to be fighting onto Summer as long as it can, which is why this outfit has one foot in Fall and one in Summer.  The temperature difference between night and day has been pretty extreme too!  I’ve always liked pullover sweaters over dresses and this weather pretty much fits that game plan perfectly!  This floral wrap dress from Zaful is great for hot days and this chunky knit pullover is warm enough for cooler September nights.  This sweater has been much needed lately since it’s been in the upper 80s and then dips down to low 50s at night.  I guess this is life in a high desert/arid environment aye?  That was something that surprised me a lot when I first moved to Colorado; I really wasn’t expecting how dry it was.

Another thing I’ve been playing around with are layering necklaces.  I found this great store on Etsy that sells pretty gold and sterling silver charms.  You can buy them with the chain or individually.  I opted for individual charms and found the necklace chains for cheap on eBay! Plus it’s fun to mix and match chain lengths depending on what I’m in the mood for.  The one I’m highlighting in this outfit is the compass charm and the triangle choker is from Forever 21.

Outfit Set:

Outfit Details: Dress: Zaful, Sweater: Zaful, Shoes: Steve Madden, Layering Necklaces: Etsy and Forever 21

September Blues & Fall Matte Lip Swatch Review

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Happy post Labor Day weekend! Now that we are officially in September, I am super excited for the upcoming season and can’t wait to get started on more Fall related looks.  The nights and mornings have been getting cooler BUT the days have still been in the mid to upper 80s, so dress season is still a thing! Which is a good thing because this blue floral dress from Zaful has been one of my favorite recent additions.  I really don’t have a lot of anything in powder blue and it’s nice to branch out occasionally with something a little different. Its a color that I just don’t really gravitate towards for some reason, but I really love the color and pattern of this one!  As has been the case recently, this woven bag has made another appearance.  It seems to go super well with so many dresses so it’s hard not to include it in a bunch of looks!

Now to change gears a bit–over the years, I have tried a bunch of different matte lip colors and I wanted to showcase which ones have become my regular favorites.  Many of these I use daily, especially the ones with more of a nudey mauve tone that look great for casual everyday looks.  As a certified pale person, I can also vouch that all of these colors look great with fair skin. This post might get long and it’s all about makeup so just a warning!  If you’re a fellow pale person looking for the best lip colors for you, keep on reading! I would rate these lip colors on three different scales: affordability (1-5, 5 being most affordable), color tone (1-5, 5 being best color tone) and durability (1-5, 5 for most durable/longest lasting).  Scroll down for a full review!

Outfit Set:Outfit Details: Dress: Zaful, Bag: eBay, hat: eBay, shoes: Free People

NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams

I wear these ALL the time.  Zurich and Stockholm are similar, however Stockholm has a bit of an orangier tone.  Cannes has been one of my go-to dusty rose colors and is nearly a perfect dupe for the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita. Rome on the far right is a bit of a darker berry color so I wear it more for nights and going out.  It looks darker on lips than on the swatch. Rome has a more vintage 90s look if you’re looking for that too.  As you can see in the final photo, these wash off the most easily but because they are so affordable and the colors are great I can let that one go.

Affordability: 5, Color: 5, Durability: 1

Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink

This one gets high marks because of it’s affordability, durability, and the color Poet is a perfect nude that isn’t super washed out.  I tend to like more pinky nudes and this one fits the bill.  The more beige it is, the more washed out I tend to look so this one is a great nude for pale folks.  It goes on a bit wet but dries fairly quickly.  It’s also one of the most durable and longest lasting ones that I’ve found.

Affordability: 5, Color: 5, Durability: 5

ColourPop Ultra Matte *WINNER*

This one is really impressive in terms of durability and just overall value.  Platform goes on fairly light but somehow turns into a darker dusty pink.  It’s probably the MOST matte above all of the others and is by far the most durable.  I can wear this all day, drink coffee, water, you name it.  It does not come off! The application is lightweight and dries the fastest.  As you can see in the below photo, this one outperformed the others after washing with soap and water.  It’s also one of the most affordable so this one is the winner in my book!

Affordability: 5, Color: 5, Durability: 5

MAC Liptensity

This color is absolutely gorgeous for Fall.  Smoked almond is a gorgeous deeper rust red that is slightly less matte than the others.  It goes on like a more traditional lipstick but you still get that overall matte look.  Since it’s MAC, affordability isn’t great and I was surprised by how much it washed off in my soap and water test.  However, it’s a beautiful, rich color so it gets an overall good rating from me!

Affordability: 2, Color: 5, Durability: 3

ColourPop Metallics

This one isn’t a true matte but it’s not really glossy as advertised.  It goes on very dry and has a matte feel, even though it does have a bit of shimmer.  Growing up in the early 2000s I think I’ve been traumatized by wet lip gloss so I really like this one being dry, while at the same time offering a little shine and shimmer.  Tight Fit is a beautiful metallic with slight orangey pink tones.  It reminds me a little bit of a pink grapefruit skin and looks beautiful on! Slightly less bold of a pigment but that’s okay for me. One of the top performers in durability and affordability.

Affordability: 5, Color: 5, Durability: 4.5

Sephora Luster Matte Lip Color

For all that rich pigment, it sure isn’t durable which is kind of surprising.  I would have thought it would have some staying power.  I wouldn’t call this an every day color for me, but it is beautiful.  It’s a very rich, pigmented orangey red, and looks great if you want a bold look for the evening.  I would call this a semi-matte since it’s not as quick drying as the others.  It is not long lasting at all and tends to smear so I’m careful not to use too much of it at once.  While it’s nice for specific looks, I probably wouldn’t purchase this one again.

Affordability: 3, Color: 4, Durability: 1

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil

I really like this pencil.  It’s a true matte and goes on very smooth and dry.  The color Dolce Vita is fantastic and is a rich dusty rose, but if you’re looking for a cheaper option, try NYX’s lip cream in Cannes.  As you can see in the swatches, these colors are nearly identical.  However, it’s not very long lasting and its affordability is so so.

Affordability: 1, Color: 5, Durability: 1

Linen & Straw

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I’m all about comfortable looks that look put together at the same time.  I’ve personally never been a “wear sweatpants to the grocery store” kind of person, but if you are, more power to ya.  Stylishness is usually sacrificed for the sake of comfort, but these linen pants are a totally different story.

It’s not too often where I come across an item where I go “hey these could technically be pajama pants!” But these are waay better than  PJs; they look really fantastic dressed up with a nice boho style tunic and leather flats.  I’ve worn these out on hot days because of how lightweight and breezy they are.  Sometimes I’m just not in the mood for heavier material on really hot days.  Linen is pretty much the ideal Summer material for clothing in my opinion.  They are perfect for a Sunny day at the beach, poolside or a even a midday brunch.

Outfit Set:

Outfit Details: Pants: Caslon, Top: Forever 21, Sandals: Lucky Brand, Bag: eBay

Green Wrap Skirt & Summer to Fall Transition Pieces

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It’s unfortunate being so busy that I haven’t been able to post as quickly as I’d like.  I feel a bit of a time crunch since August has sped by and Fall is quickly approaching.  It’s not a good feeling when you feel like you’re running out of time.  It would be nice for everything to slow down so I have more time to post more Summer ideas!  In California, this wasn’t really an issue since the temperature swings were so mild in comparison.  I could post about Summer stuff all year long, but alas, Colorado has other ideas.  At the same time, I’m very excited for Fall to get in full swing so I’m feeling a bit ambivalent!

Here’s one of my late Summer looks featuring this lovely wrap skirt from Zaful.  I have been having a love affair with wrap skirts and dresses all Summer it seems like!  I am a huge fan of this color and floral pattern.  It’s a bit like a modern Ditsy pattern, and there’s so many different outfits you could wear with this one.  Since this skirt has a longer length, it could easily be worn as a Summer/Fall transition piece.  It would look fab with a suede or denim jacket, or even a chunky knit pullover!  Since it’s still in the 80s here, I went with a summery plain white tee and sandals, but as an affordable transition piece it is worth checking out.  This boyfriend style tee from Urban Outfitters is such a comfy and soft option for a white t-shirt.  I personally am super picky about t-shirts and this one has a nice loose cut and the fabric is very soft. Since the boyfriend style runs looser, I ordered a size smaller and the fit is perfect!

Outfit Set:

Outfit Details: Top: Urban Outfitters, Skirt: Zaful, Shoes: Nature Breeze, Bag: eBay

Summer Stripes

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Sometimes when you’re nowhere near the beach, you just gotta recreate it yourself right? That was the goal of this outfit.  Since I live in a landlocked state now, I was missing the beach a lot recently and I wanted to create the beachiest Summer outfit possible. Also, it’s back up to mid-90 degree temperatures so that might have had something to do with it!  I spied out this vertical stripe 60’s inspired mini dress on Urban Outfitters and had a big time nostalgia flashback–it reminded me so much of my favorite beach towel that I knew I had to snap it up.  The stripe pattern was almost exact, I couldn’t believe it! I also love the 60’s inspired silhouette and the light and breezey chiffon fabric.  The fabric has a double layer with a black slip underneath which really makes the stripes pop.  I love the muted retro colors of this dress and the fact it’s not SUPER bright.  I kind of avoid bright stripey patterns and this isn’t like that at all.

I’ve also been kind of obsessed with this woven circle bag.  They’ve definitely become more popular lately on social media which means that you can find them for much cheaper on sites like Etsy, Amazon and eBay.  This particular one I found off eBay brand new.  If you’re looking for a bag like this, I highly recommend going to more affordable sites first before you buy a branded bag for a big markup!  That said, you will be seeing a lot of this bag in the future because it goes with so many darn things–I can’t seem to get it out of my outfit ideas!  Same goes for these shoes, there are a lot of more expensive choices that are just like these, but I found these on Amazon and so far they have been way worth it.  The dress however, was slightly more expensive so sometimes you just have to pick your battles and know when to splurge or save!

Outfit Details: Dress: Urban Outfitters, Bag: Unbranded, Shoes: Nature Breeze

Outfit Set:

 

Raw Edge Denim

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Lately I’ve been having a love affair of sorts with everything Levi’s. I love their high wasted wedgie fits, and lately I’ve been interested in their raw edge offerings. These cropped jeans were pretty much exactly what I had been looking for since they go so well with so many Summer styles! These are the “straight leg raw hem cropped” jeans in the Rough Tide wash. You can wear them with shorter tops, cropped or tied up tees and you won’t be showing a mile of tummy due to the high rise waist.  They’re also really comfortable for all denim jeans and have a decent amount of give to them.  They’re still a little bit stiff since they’re new, but the great thing about Levi’s is that they will break in and soften over time.

I recently stumbled upon this graphic tee from Urban Outfitters and fell in love with the vintage floral design. I’ve been kind of obsessed with Audobon prints and old botanical designs for years, so this was a perfect addition to my closet.  It looks great with so many outfits, especially jeans and skirts! Another recent find was this Fossil bag in a bright mustard yellow–another totally random find. I love the size and color of this bag, and it is been a perfect small crossbody for Summer!

Outfit Details: Tee: Urban Outfitters, Jeans: Levi’s, Shoes: Birkenstock, Bag: Fossil

Outfit Set:

Summer Daze

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It has been insanely hot for most of the Summer so I have been in hot pursuit (see what I did there?) for more cute summery dresses.  Lately, I’ve been into polka dots, breezy wrap dresses and button down fronts, so when I saw this one I knew I had to snap it up!  Where I used to live on the California coast, with the exception of September which could get into the triple digits, the Summers there were almost entirely 65 degrees year round.  I remember when my parents came to visit one July and they brought only shorts and t-shirts, and had to buy sweaters while they were there! The nice thing about Colorado Summers is the low humidity which makes it way more tolerable. This place has the most finnicky weather I’ve ever seen too, and I’ve lived in Ohio where the mantra was “if you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.”  Well Colorado takes that saying to new heights as I’ve never seen such rapidly changing weather ever, but I digress.

Anyways, back to the outfit. I’m typically not super into cherry red in general? But for some reason I like the darker hue of this one. I’m also weirdly picky about polka dots.  Sometimes I hate the pattern of polka dots so much, but this one I dig. It might have something to do with how the dots are patterned. This is going to sound very OCD but if they are too even and symmetrical I get annoyed, and this dress is more randomly spaced out.  So now that you know I’m officially crazy, I recently, picked up a pair of white Converse All-Stars. I know they’ve been something of a trend for a while now but now that I’ve got more Summer outfits, I needed some cute sneakers to match! They are really comfy too, which is always a plus!

Outfit Set:

Outfit Details: Dress: Goldie London, shoes: Converse, tank top: Forever 21

Summer Storms

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You wouldn’t know it but just about when I was finishing up with this shoot it started hailing like crazy, hence the title of this post. Not even rain to start, just straight up hail out of nowhere.  Colorado weather is just ridiculous sometimes. I do love a good Summer thunderstorm, but this outfit was intended to feature clothes for hot Summer days–days where you would rather wear nothing at all but can’t because of some pesky nudity laws. I recently ordered some “wedgie” style cut off Levi’s jean shorts for just that occasion because I’ve heard they are super comfy and great for Summer. Turns out everyone was right, they really are perfect for hot heather and I guess they make your butt look okay? Maybe? I don’t really see much of the wedgie thing but I do like the high waist look a lot. They look fab with crop tops and tie-waist shirts too!

These shoes are pretty much the perfect summer sandal–I haven’t stopped wearing them because they look great with everything and are super comfortable. To complete this look I added this cute little cactus print bag that has been a favorite of mine and a wide brimmed hat for sun protection. Just as a side note, it is really important to wear hats people, sun screen only does so much and only stays effective for a couple hours. I wear this hat almost exclusively for utilitarian reasons, but that doesn’t mean sun protection can’t look cute too!

Outfit Set:Outfit Details: Shirt: eBay, Shoes: Nature Breeze, Hat: eBay, Bag: Etsy, Shorts: Levi’s

 

Ditsy Skirt

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Lately I’ve been loving 90’s inspired dresses and skirts, especially ones in ditsy patterns. I wasn’t even aware that these patterns were actually called “ditsy” but apparently they are! So, if you are feeling it like I am, you can use that term for your searches to find exactly what you’re looking for and it sure makes things a lot easier. The length of this skirt is pretty much perfect–it’s just slightly longer than a typical knee length midi but isn’t long enough to call it a maxi. I tend to feel bogged down with maxis so this length works great for me–obviously my opinion could change on maxis in the future, you never know!

My next favorite summer item has been these super affordable slides sold on Amazon. They are made from vegan suede and feel soo soft! Required no breaking in and they felt like I had been wearing them for years. They have just a hint of a block heel but nothing that would cause issues for folks who are not a fan of heels. I can walk around in these easily and I am not a heel kind of girl by any stretch! Another summer accessory I’ve been loving is this cute little antler ring–those little details for me just add something extra to any outfit without looking too dressy. This outfit would be perfect for a hot day by the beach or even out at a festival–and don’t forget your sun hat!

Outfit Set: 

Outfit Details: Skirt: Louche, Shirt: Levi’s, Ring: Etsy, Bag: Gap (old), Hat: eBay, Shoes: Nature Breeze

Ochre & Blush

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I’m been a big fan of mustard tones and over the last few months it seems like it’s become a trend. I’m not complaining–I love seeing more of this color! Before it started making the rounds, it was kind of hard to find the perfect hue. Sometimes mustard yellow looks a little too bright for me instead of the rich, golden tones that I prefer. These “boyfriend” style pants from Pendleton are pretty much the perfect golden-y ochre that I’ve been looking for and I’m super excited to finally find them! And if you’re wondering, I believe they sell this color under the “curry” tag. That’s another thing, it’s almost impossible to search for mustard yellow because brands tend to sell it under random names.

To complement the chinos, I went with a clean and simple menswear inspired look with this very lightweight button down and leather oxfords. I am obsessed with these U.S. made oxfords from Walkover! They’re made from bison leather and designed with a good year welt construction, which is one of the best ways to build a long lasting shoe. You know when you hold something and it just feels like quality? Those are that feeling in a nutshell. As for accessories, I love pretty little details just like this leaf ring in matte gold from the Etsy store, Vermeil Supplies. They have very affordable accessories that add just a little something extra to an every day look.

 

Outfit Set:

Outfit Details: Pants: Pendleton, Shirt: Conversation Pieces, Shoes: Walkover, Bag; Hustle & Hide, Ring: Vermeil Supplies