summer

Little Black Dress

June 5, 2018 by The Partial Ingredients

Lately I’ve been into 90’s inspired dresses, especially fit and flare styles with button down fronts. This “LBD” from Urban Outfitters is a perfect homage to 90’s style while keeping it modern and fresh. It works as a day-to-night option, perfect for every day wear that can be easily transitioned to an evening out–kind of hard to find in one black dress! In this case I paired it with more casual items, including my favorite pair of flats right now from Free People and a few finds from Etsy: a vintage tooled bag and a few pretty little rings. How adorable is this mountain range ring? I must admit I am a little bit obsessed with VermeilSupplies’ rings and accessories–go check them out!

I wanted to also give a quick review of my two holy grail products for pale folks. As you can probably tell I am very pale and a lot of companies just don’t really have a great match for my skin tone. Most products are too yellow and look awful on me so after a lot of trial and error I wanted to talk about a few of my favorites. I’m not a foundation girl–it’s just too heavy for every day wear but I do have somewhat alarming dark circles. If I walked around without under eye concealer, you’d probably think I had a serious illness sooo I do have to rely on concealer to look normal. After I apply SPF (I like EltaMD’s physical sunscreens), I use NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly which is described as a “true ivory shade” which is 100% accurate. While it runs on the pricey side, its worth it for me since the benefits make up for the price. It’s a perfect tone match and as the name describes, it has a lovely creamy, matte texture and brightens everything up. While it’s a little thick, it does not settle into fine lines and dries perfectly matte almost immediately. I usually just apply this under the eyes and t-zone, or to calm down red areas. Another one of my favorite “pale folks products” (PFPs?) is this HD Finishing Powder from E.L.F. It has absolutely no pigment and goes on completely sheer. I can’t stand heavy powders and this one is completely transparent and gives a very natural matte look. And of course, leave it to E.L.F. to make it super affordable. So pale people, I highly recommend checking these two out if you are still looking for your holy grail products!

Outfit Set:

Outfit Details: Dress: Urban Outfitters, Shoes: Free People, Ring: VermeilSupplies, Bag: Vintage

Rust Romper

May 27, 2018 by The Partial Ingredients

It has really started to warm up here it’s crazy! It’s been in the mid to upper 80s all week so I’ve been brainstorming more Summery things to wear. After living on the California coast, where summers usually reached only the mid-60s, I am not used to wearing….fewer clothes I guess? I was out in a t-shirt one day and I felt so naked! Maybe I’m just used to layers and not wearing any just feel weird to me now. As for Summer ideas, I’ve been a lot more into rompers lately. They are so comfy to hang out in on a hot day, and they look great with sandals and Summery flats. I’m pretty much in love with this romper from Forever 21, mostly because of the color and material. It’s so soft and flowy, it feels like you’re not wearing anything at all–which is what I’m looking for on hotter days. I’m a big fan of the color too–it’s just gorgeous right? Love those rusty red tones.

Onto the accessories: this bag from Pendleton is one of my favorite recent additions. Love the design and size! The neutral colors make it super versatile and could easily become one of my everyday bags. I don’t like carrying around a lot of stuff in a huge bag so this is a good size for me. The necklace is…I guess you could call vintage? Because I actually got it as a gift when I was a kid years ago. Honestly, I have no idea who even made it. It’s a traditional medicine bag/amulet and I thought it would be fun to bring it out into the light. If you are looking for a comparable one, I looked around and found an Etsy store that makes very similar designs that you can check out. They are really cool looking necklaces!

Outfit Set:

Outfit Details: Cardigan: Bajee, Romper: Forever 21, bag: Pendleton, Necklace: vintage, Shoes: Free People

Loafers & Ivy

August 21, 2017 by The Partial Ingredients

I’ve always been ambivalent about the high rise/”mom jean” trend and I was never quite sure if they looked great or terrible. A bit of a tough call! But I recently made the plunge and picked up a pair of these classic Levi’s just to see what all the buzz was about. I was surprised by how flattering the fit was! The high waist line does accentuate the hips a bit but not in a bad way. And to be honest, I do remember my mom wearing a pair just like these back in the day–and I’m pretty sure she still does (hey mom!). I can’t fault her for it–these jeans are comfyyy! They feel sturdy like they will last a long time too. These jeans are technically made for working outdoors but I think they look nice a little more dressed up. I wore these with a light chiffon button down and black loafers. One of my favorite recent purchases is this great woven circle bag! The bag is made from woven straw and is a perfect size for toting your stuff at the beach or as a simple every day bag. In terms of whether I’m sold on high rise denim across the board I’m not so sure but I’m definitely a big fan of these!

Outfit Details: Chiffon top: eBay, Jeans: Levi’s, Shoes: Steve Madden, Bag: Etsy

Outfit Set:

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High Summer

July 30, 2017 by The Partial Ingredients

I came across this Zara A-line skirt recently and totally fell in love with it. I like little injections of Boho style here and there and this skirt does the trick. How cute is that embroidery? I feel like you could dress it up or down, either way works. I went with a more summery night out type of look. I paired it with a basic white t-shirt, suede ankle boots and a comfy moto jacket for cooler evenings. This jacket is made out of a faux suede material and crazy enough I actually prefer it to real suede. It’s a lot more flexible and lightweight than the real stuff. This skirt tends to run small so order a full size up than your usual size.

Outfit Set:

Outfit Details: Jacket: Lulu’s, Skirt: Zara, Tee: Levi’s, Shoes: BP, Sunglasses: Urban Outfitters

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By the Flower Fields

July 23, 2017 by The Partial Ingredients

I’ve had quite a busy summer with hardly any time to write but I’m finally taking advantage of some time I had today to update. The flower fields are in full force nearby and are totally stunning right now. I’m not even sure what they are exactly but they are quite impressive when you’re surrounded by whole fields of them! Sadly, they will only last a few more weeks before they’re gone.

Lately I’ve been into clean, minimal summer looks and this one fits the bill. When it’s too hot to think it’s time to whip out the lightweight tops and sandals. These suede sandals are super comfy and add a nice pop of color. They are totally affordable too and come in a bunch of colors. They run a bit small so I would recommend ordering a half size up. In my opinion, everyone needs a classic button down in their closet and this one is perfect for hot weather. Lightweight rayon for the win! Not every button down will do; I sometimes get annoyed by how constricting they feel–especially in the arms. This shirt is not like that at all–so floaty and comfortable! The jeans I’m wearing are an old pair of trusty Joe’s which I had tailored a while back (seriously, you gotta do this at least once). Customizing the fit was 100% worth it and not inordinately expensive. I like to roll up my jeans just above the ankle to get a more laid back “boyfriend” style look and it’s a nice way to add variety to your denim. It’s also an excellent way to prepare for potential flash floods because you never know! Heh.

Outfit Set:

Outfit Details: Top: Bajee Collection, Jeans: Joe’s Jeans, Shoes: Sam Edelman, sunglasses: Urban Outfitters

Under the Roses

June 23, 2017 by The Partial Ingredients

I’ll be flying in a few weeks and wanted to showcase an outfit I plan to wear while I’m traveling. Flights are never a fun time and finding the right thing to wear can reduce the hassle of flying in general. I like to wear comfy layers and pretty neutral colors. It still looks nice without looking too overdressed for the airport. For whatever reason, airports are almost always freezing so taking a cardigan with you is a great idea even if it’s hot outside. I selected some comfy legging jeans in a neutral charcoal color and some ankle boots that I have broken in already. Shoe selection for the airport is pretty important: they should be well worn (do NOT wear brand new shoes to the airport, you will get blisters!) and easy to slip on and off to get through security fast. These boots from Lucky meet all of that criteria and they go great with almost anything.

Next up is your bag. I recently picked up this gorgeous tote from Live Fashionable. I chose the chocolate color and I’m really impressed with the quality and design. The leather has some natural looking imperfections but that doesn’t detract at all. The leather is a rich dark brown and has a sizable interior–perfect for your stuff as you travel. There’s a smaller pouch inside for a phone or wallet and it can fit a small laptop/iPad which is a great feature. It’s an all round perfect travel tote! Having the right stuff to wear will definitely make your travel day a better one.

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Golden Hour

June 6, 2017 by The Partial Ingredients

Things have been hectic over here and it’s been a while since I’ve been able to update. I wanted to share a few of my favorite early summer finds recently. I never would have guessed I’d get into rompers but I recently found this one with a great tropical print and had to give it a try. When it arrived I totally fell in love with the print and how comfy it was. It’s perfect for the beach or just going out and about. I paired it with a slouchy long cardigan for when it’s cooler and summery leather sandals. These sandals are perfect for casual summer nights out and go well with so many things.

A few other recent finds is this watch by Stock. This brand caught my eye a few years ago and I just loved the minimal design. At the time I wasn’t able to snag it but this time I didn’t let it get past me! I’ve always wanted an everyday watch as an accessory. The watch is technically unisex but the band had enough holes to fit smaller sized wrists which is a huge plus. The strap is a beautiful matte tan leather and overall the construction is gorgeous and high quality. The bag is another recent score from Etsy. I came across this Etsy shop that hand makes their leather bags and saw this beautiful cross body bag with cognac colored leather. It’s a messenger style that can fit a wallet in the small pouch and a small laptop in the larger. Super convenient and holds everything I need to go out and about. The leather is beautiful, durable and the bag is very well made. There were some natural imperfections from the leather but that just gives the bag more character!

Outfit Set:

Outfit Details: Cardigan: American Eagle, Romper: Forever 21, Shoes: Lucky Brand, Bag: Etsy, Hat: eBay

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Minimal Boho

November 5, 2016 by The Partial Ingredients

I like the Boho 2.0 trend but in smaller doses. I can’t stand when it starts looking sloppy with too many layers and too many patterns. I think I might be scarred from all the floppy peasant tops with flaired sleeves from the early 2000s–nope nope nope! I would call this a more minimalist interpretation of the new Boho trend from recent years. I paired a clean cut button down top with a patterned paisley skirt and strappy sandals. Then I mixed the patterns slightly with a screen printed bag. I love the color and pattern of this skirt. You can easily dress it up or down but I prefer it more casual and beachy. …

Embroidery & Suede

August 22, 2016 by The Partial Ingredients

Embroidery & Suede - The Partial Ingredients

This button down suede skirt works great with preppy outfits but I tend to like it with a little more Boho flair. I paired it with a loose and flowy embroidered blouse and some comfy moccasins. This skirt works well as a summer to fall transition piece. It’s a little bit heavier than other skirts but when paired with a light weight top it works well for summer days. These Minnetonka moccasins have been my go to shoes for several years now–they’re great for everyday wear because they’re so comfortable and they go well with a lot of outfits.

Embroidery & Suede

Embroidery & Suede - The Partial Ingredients

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Graphic Tee & Leopard Print Flats

August 17, 2016 by The Partial Ingredients

Graphic Tee

Lately I’ve been into pairing midi skirts with graphic tees. It’s a nice combination of boyish and feminine. I love this surrealist graphic tee from an Etsy shop. You can find so many stores there that sell really creative shirt designs. The bag also comes from Etsy and I really like the floral embossing on the leather. The skirt is chiffon so it’s flowy and light–perfect for hot summer days. I’m normally not a fan of leopard print but I am obsessed with these gorgeous smoking slippers! I have officially been converted to wearing leopard print–in tiny doses.

Engraved Bag

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