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Partial Ingredients

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summer outfit

Tropical Dreams and Last of Summer

September 18, 2020 by The Partial Ingredients

It’s warmed back up into the 80’s this week and both myself and the garden are loving it! Fall is still in the air though as the nights get cooler and the leaves are starting to change. For now, the warm temps are inspiring me to post a few more Summer pieces, like this tropical print top from American Eagle. Gotta love those end of Summer sales. I have been in a small love affair with kitsch tropical prints since at least 2015 and I’m afraid 2020 isn’t any different. This top is very light and breezy, with a bit of elastic at the hem on the back and sides. The front was made to be tied at the front, like so many tops these days. The elastic is a neat feature since it makes it easy to tuck in and wear in a more cropped fashion, like with skirts or very high-waisted jeans. It also gives the impression of the shirt being “tucked in” without it having to be tucked in. Kind of a minor feature, but also cool!

Speaking of jeans, I recently picked up these high-waisted distressed jeans from Abercrombie and they are fab! It’s been a while since I’ve worn anything other than Levi’s, but I’m a big fan of these as well. The high waist is flattering with shorter tops and the distressed areas are nicely done, especially with the small details at the end of the leg. The sandals are also from Abercrombie, which seems to be creeping more into my wardrobe, but I can’t help it. They are offering some really nice items at affordable prices, so how can a girl say no!

Top: American Eagle; Jeans: Abercrombie; Sandals: Abercrombie; sunglasses: Ray Ban

High-Low Summer // Demeter Fragrance Review

August 29, 2020 by The Partial Ingredients

It’s almost September and I’m feeling a bit ambivalent since I still have a bunch of Summer looks in the pipeline that I haven’t posted yet, waah. It seems to be always the way where Fall kind of catches up with me. That said, I am so excited to get going on all the Fall things which are just around the corner! It has thankfully cooled down a bit lately but the days still reach well into the mid-upper 80’s. For now, I’m still all about the Summer vibes with this vintage high-low asymmetrical midi dress. Also love the classic t-shirt and skirt combo — there’s just something timeless about it and will always look fresh. This combo is a must have for the toasty weather we’ve had all Summer, especially when you add a pair of comfy sandals to the mix, like these flats from Abercrombie. I also like to add a small belt with skirts to tie everything together. While I am looking forward to Fall looks, I want to try to make Summer last as long as possible!

In other news, I recently tried out a bunch of different Demeter Fragrances. I have to hand it to Demeter, they do a great job at recreating some of the more unique scents in life. They have a dizzying amount of varieties but I selected a few of the ones that I was most curious about. Another cool thing about Demeter are all the formats you can choose from. You can buy each fragrance in a variety of sizes, or as a body wash, diffuser oil, roll-on or even lotion! That’s pretty cool. An overall impression of these fragrances are that they simply don’t linger very long on the skin, but they will stay longer on fabrics. A quick rundown of the ones I tried, from left to right:

Laundromat: This one is spooky accurate. If you’ve ever been inside a commercial laundromat, there’s a heady, humid feeling of wet clothes, detergent and dryer smells that fill the air. I would say this scent captures the atmosphere of the laundromat, rather than fresh laundry if that makes sense. It has quickly turned into one of my favorites and I often use this one to freshen up clothing and bedding. 5/5

Tomato: I grew tomatoes in the garden this year and I love their unique, almost spicy smell. This perfume comes really, really close to mimicking that scent but I wish there was just a little bit more green and peppery vibes. I feel like this perfume evokes the leaves of the plant, rather than the fruit itself which is what I had hoped for. Unfortunately this one has the worst staying power out of the five which is a bummer. Overall, this perfume does convey that essential tomatoey-ness so I definitely recommend if you are also a Tomato fan. 4/5

Fuzzy Navel: This fragrance is one of their more popular scents and they threw this into my order for free which was thoughtful! It’s pretty hard to rate this one since I’m not really into gourmand or fruity fragrances, but it has a very fresh, watery peachy orange scent. I guess this one is meant to capture the alcoholic drink, but I don’t get much of the vodka thing from it. Leaving this unrated since fruity fragrances just aren’t my thing but I wouldn’t knock it either.

Linden: This one is also one of their more popular varieties and there’s good reason for it. Boy, do I love this one. I spray it on my pillow/PJs like every night so yep definitely a fanboy. This fragrance is hard to describe but it’s a little bit greenery, a little bit Summer sunshine with hints of Lily of the Valley. I honestly have no idea what actual Linden blossoms smell like, but this fragrance is absolutely gorgeous. I feel like this one sums up the height of Summer, and I bet I will love this one even more in January to remind myself of warmer and greener times. 5/5

Paperback: I had high hopes for this one and really wondered if they could nail the smell of a fresh paperback book. I pictured this to smell like dust and aged paper (think old book shop) but unfortunately all I got from this was ‘vanilla candle.’ Such a bummer! Maybe I’m missing something, but this fragrance bears no resemblance to a paperback for me. Argh, I am so bummed out by this. I don’t mind the vanilla scent per se, it was just not what I was expecting at all. 2/5

Outfit Details: Shirt: American Eagle; Skirt: Vintage Blue Brand/Thrifted; Shoes: Abercrombie; Bag: LeatherStrata

Denim & Stripes

August 15, 2020 by The Partial Ingredients

My mind is thinking Fall outfit ideas but the weather is thinking 92 degrees. We are clearly not in sync right now. August is one of those months that you kind of just want to skip and fast-forward into September am I right? This outfit is all about classic Summer style, heavy on the minimal vibes. To deal with this weird month, I have whipped out this super lightweight button-down blouse from Abercrombie — perfect for this second round of hot-ass weather. I love tie front tops because they look great with both skirts and jeans. I am a big fan of the classic mom jean style and these cut-offs are actually quite comfortable!

Worn in this look are these Moroccan Babouches with a flip-up heel from Etsy seller FezSouk. I like the flexibility of being able to wear these like a slip-on mule or as a ballet flat. It’s really cool that this shoe can provide both styles! This little cross-body bag is also from Etsy at AFONiEStyle. Such a cute leather bag for a very affordable price. While I still have a couple more Summer looks up my sleeve (no pun intended), I am definitely excited to move on to Fall style inspiration!

Outfit Details: Top: Abercrombie & Fitch; Jeans: Levi’s; Bag; Etsy; Shoes: Etsy; Sunglasses: Ray Ban

Green Gingham

July 12, 2020 by The Partial Ingredients

It has been an abnormally hot Summer in Northern Colorado thanks to a “Heat Dome” (thanks 2020!) so this post and probably all the ones in the near future will be featuring the most Summeriest of Summer outfits. Give me all the lightweight dresses, tank tops and skirts please — like this gingham patterned dress from Abercrombie & Fitch. Like usual, the quality is up to their standard: it’s made from double-lined 100% cotton and comes with pockets! I am pretty much a loyal Abercrombie customer after they revamped their whole image and brand a few years ago. They have sales so frequently that you can get their items for a very reasonable price. The quality being much better than your average fast-fashion retailer gives you the most bang for your buck. It’s not as cheap as say H&M or Forever21 (this dress was on sale for $39.99), but I’m all about spending a couple bucks extra for better quality. Oh and this genuine leather shoulder bag was also from there and was on sale for like 15 bucks! It’s hard to find faux leather bags for that price, much less real leather.

Sandals and flats are also a must for this freaking hot Summer (I think we have had mid-to upper 90s for a solid week and a half now ughh). These woven flats from LaMar Lifestyle are a perfect lightweight and breathable shoe for your hot feets. Add a sunhat and you’re good to go for the weather, just don’t forget the SPF!

Outfit Details: Dress: Abercrombie; Shoes: LaMar Lifestyle; Bag: Abercrombie; hat: unbranded; necklace: Forever21

Babydoll Swing Dress

May 25, 2020 by The Partial Ingredients

I’ve never been a huge fan of babydoll dresses or tank tops as they tend to be a bit unflattering for me personally. I see them on other people and they look great so I think it’s just me! I think I am more of a ‘fit and flare’ gal. This babydoll dress from American Eagle is the exception and I love how it fits. It’s somehow very flattering even though its loose and flowy — not boxy or tented out like I would expect. It’s always nice to be pleasantly surprised by a great fit.

Since it’s been warming up here, I have been wearing this non-stop! It’s so light that it is perfect for hotter days. Seriously, I wore this when it was 89 degrees and it was a life saver. It looks great dressed up or down, as a casual look with sneakers or with heels or sandals. I’m partial to the Converse All-Stars myself. Spring days tend to have colder nights so I paired this with a cozy pullover sweater…perfect for late night bonfires during this gorgeous time of year. Today is Memorial Day and it’s great for a cookout or picnic. Make sure to wear it with a wide brimmed sunhat to protect yourself from those rays!

Outfit Details: Sweater: American Eagle; Dress: American Eagle; Shoes: Converse; Bag: Leather Strata; Sunglasses: Urban Outfitters

Desert Vibes

September 14, 2019 by The Partial Ingredients

Sooo Fall snuck up on me pretty fast and I still have a few more Summer ideas to go through–dang it! Is it just me or has this season gone by way too fast? That’s coming from someone who absolutely loves Fall, but I’m not quite ready for Summer to end just yet. Luckily it’s still been quite warm the last few weeks so it’s still jeans and t-shirt weather during the day. This latest look features one of my favorite desert themed graphic tees from Etsy and these acid wash jeans from Levi’s. Yuuup, they are acid wash. Thought I would never say those words ever but here we are. Gotta say I’m a big fan of this updated offering from Levi’s. It’s like a more mellowed out version of the ugly classic 80’s acid wash. They are also super soft and feel more like leggings than jeans. I don’t like super stiff jeans and these have the perfect amount of stretch. They go great with my favorite pair of Vans sneakers. Now that the nights are getting cold, throw on a pullover and you will be good to go for Fall!

Outfit Details: Jeans: Levi’s 720s; Tee: Etsy – StarkAmbition; Shoes: Vans

Labor Day Whites

August 31, 2019 by The Partial Ingredients

It seems like the old rule for not wearing whites past Labor Day is pretty much dead, isn’t it? So in honor of that old, dumb rule here’s nearly an all white dress right before Labor Day! I guess technically it is more of a beige but oh well. I have had a bit of a love affair with anything linen this year and this dress from Urban Outfitters is perfect for late Summer days. Summer seems to have gotten a late start this year and has been especially hot and dry the last few weeks of August. I think it’s reached the 90s almost every day this month, ack! This dress is made from such a nice breathable material for hot Summer days and it has helped keep me cool for sure. I paired this dress with a few leather details–including these Royale Flats from Free People and this great saddle bag from Etsy. It has been my go to bag this Summer and holds all my favorite stuff!

Dress: Urban Outfitters; Shoes: Free People; Bag: LeatherStrata Etsy Shop

Snake Print Dress

August 11, 2019 by The Partial Ingredients

I have no idea how I fell in love with this dress. There are two factors here that would make this so improbable that I can hardly believe it. First off: I HATE snake skin print. To me it’s the heavy hitter of trashiness, second only to leopard print. Hate it. I probably don’t need to explain my reasons, you probably already know and are on the same page. Moving on.

Second: the brand is Abercrombie & Fitch. I actually worked at Abercrombie Kids briefly while I was in high school and let’s just say the brand has come along way since then. They have some awesome, well made clothes for reasonable prices that don’t look like kid-wear. No longer do I see the gaudy “AnF” writing on everything nor do I see the oversized moose insignia stitched on everything. Gotta take my hat off to them for getting me to buy something snake skin, seriously. I mean come on, the pattern is gorgeous though right? Also, another awesome thing with their sizing on this dress: they offer this in tall which they recommend for anyone over 5’8. I’m not over 5’8 but I bought it anyways to get an extra few inches in the length, which paid off. I don’t like mini dresses and having the option to add some inches was great. Another smart touch to this wrap dress was the little snap enclosure. While I love wrap dresses it can be annoying to keep the front always secure so that little snap was a perfect touch. I love all the little details of this dress and it’s great to branch out into something I don’t normally wear!

Dress: Abercrombie & Fitch; Bag: unbranded; shoes: Birkenstock; necklace: Urban Outfitters

Next up is a bit of a makeup experiment. I was curious whether my favorite — but pricey — concealer by NARS (the Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly) could be duped by a more affordable brand. It’s hard to find a perfect tone for fair skinned folks so I thought it would be tough to beat since NARS’ offering is a perfect skin tone match. NYX’s HD Studio Concealer in Porcelain (retails $6) gives a pretty good run for its money though and I was overall very happy with it. The coverage is pretty much the same but maybe slightly less creamy. The tone is a very good match but has a bit more of a pinky tone than NARS. For 1/5 of the price, their dupe is a pretty amazing option. I have tried both as an undereye concealer and am happy with both of them. If you’re a pale person like me and have been on the hunt for a perfect fair skin concealer, try both of these out!

Buy here: NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer and NYX HD Studio Photogenic Concealer
The best drought tolerant potted herbs: sage, rosemary and thyme. Great to have around for cooking!

Orange Roses

June 14, 2019 by The Partial Ingredients

The best part of Summer is officially here–bring on the festivals, concerts or just lounging around outside! I’ve been thinking about the best Summer items for these occasions and I think I have landed on a few great pieces. First up is this perfect floral midi from American Eagle, the pattern is great for festival attire and is super light and flowy. Also pairs great with basic tees and sandals which are a staple of Summer gear! This might sound weird but I find it hard to find tees that fit perfectly. They’re either too tight, too loose, or have a weird length. This black tee, also from American Eagle, is just right however and looks great with almost everything! And they are very reasonably priced so that’s also a plus.

Another must-have Summer staple are Birkenstocks. Everyone needs to have at least one pair of these for Summer excursions. I have high foot arches and it’s pretty inevitable that my feet get sore on longer walks. These provide way better support than the average sandal (as most people know) but seriously, if you have high arches they are a must have, especially for outdoor festivals and concerts. The awesome thing about Birks is they actually mold to your foot over time so they get even more comfortable the more you wear them! They are pretty much the perfect Summer sandal that I’ll basically be living in all Summer.

Outfit Set:

Outfit Details: Tee: American Eagle, Skirt: American Eagle, Bag: Etsy/Vintage, Shoes: Birkenstock Mayari Leather, Hat: Brixton

Red Floral Dress & Fall Pullover

September 21, 2018 by The Partial Ingredients

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

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About Emily

I'm an analyst by day and part time blogger by night living in the Denver area. I'm into everyday style, traveling, soap making and playing drums/vocals in a band. I love spicy food, wide open spaces, beautiful colors and strong coffee. You'll find everyday fashion inspiration, tasty food recipes, and a smattering of whatever I'm into at the moment. Welcome!

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