woven bag

Garden Party Florals

May 1, 2021 by The Partial Ingredients

It has really started to feel like Spring again and it seemed fitting to bring some Spring vibes to the blog, like this lovely floral tea dress from TopShop (which FYI has since closed down). This dress is perfect for any kind of outdoor occasion, and can be easily dressed up with heels or down with sneakers. On this occasion, I styled it for a more casual “garden party” look with the classic Converse All Stars because you can’t go wrong with a pair of chucks. The fit and flare shape of this dress is also a timeless and flattering shape that looks good on just about everyone. This floral pattern along with the blush color is such a pretty combo and has such delicate/romantic vibes. Blush is such a perfect color for Spring! If you want to find out more on this one, check out my Poshmark as I currently have a duplicate of this dress for sale!

For Spring, I couldn’t resist bringing out the woven circle bag again lol. In the back of my mind I have second thoughts that maybe I have worn this a little too much buuuut…oh well. It’s just a great bag that looks perfect with so many outfits–especially in the warmer months. Speaking of which, can we ditch the “this was so last year” mentality? For one, it’s a useless attitude and bad for the environment, and two, as long as the thing isn’t completely heinous, keep rocking it! But that begs the question, if it’s heinous in the first place, why was it ever trendy to begin with?! I digress. My general philosophy on trends is to pick and choose the ones that you actually like that have some staying power in your closet and have a classic look that won’t look stupid in one year’s time (looking at you extra wide leg pants). If it’s “in” for you that is what matters! Plus it helps slow down the fast fashion cycle which is a +1 for the environment too.

**Outfit Details:** Dress: TopShop; Shoes: Converse; Bag: unbranded; Jewelry: Forever21; Hat; Unbranded

September Blues & Fall Matte Lip Swatch Review

September 8, 2018 by The Partial Ingredients

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

Piece of My Heart

September 20, 2017 by The Partial Ingredients

I’ve been liking the resurgence of band tees paired with more feminine looks recently. Midi skirts paired with bright, graphic tees are a personal favorite of mine. The one issue is that I’m super picky about the material, what’s on my t-shirts–especially when it comes to band shirts. I feel like in order for me to feel comfortable to wear a band shirt I should be able to name off an album or a favorite song if someone happens to ask. That just seems fair to the artist, right? You gotta at least know and like the band’s stuff if you are endorsing them on your clothes. Well I guess that’s just my own personal standard. Another thing I’m super picky about is the material. Gotta have that soft, thin cotton. Hate that rough stuff! This shirt is 100% cotton but is also super soft.

I never really listened to Janis Joplin much when I was younger but in the last few years I’ve really come to regard her as one of my favorite rock stars. A few documentaries about her life and a few album downloads later I became a fan. After listening to her records I was amazed at her ability to express that amount of feeling through her voice. I wish I could time travel back to one of her concerts, but alas, I was born almost two decades too late.

Besides her music, she had a pretty great sense of style and developed her own unique look. I didn’t have any feathers on hand but I feel like she might have liked these leopard print flats (though she might have preferred low heels). I personally like the little bit of pattern mixing that works perfectly with the tee. This outfit is relaxed enough to wear out and about but also fits in well as a possible festival look. Probably not something Janis was concerned about but versatility is always a plus in my book!

Outfit Set:

Outfit Details: T-Shirt: Amazon, Skirt: eBay, Shoes: Joie, Bag: Etsy, Sunglasses: Urban Outfitters

Save

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:

Save