Chic for the Week: Winter Workwear

Chic for the Week Winter Workwear Chic Creative Life recommendations

FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, where if you click and make a purchase I receive a small commission. My full Disclosure Policy is here.

Winter is upon us here in Portland – and what comes with blustery winds, white flurries, and freezing walkways is cozy, comfy fashion. I’m a big fan of layers and usually am covered up neck to toes at work – and love this season as it presents great opportunity to get creative with the layering of my more lightweight items. Here are a couple pretty pieces that can be rotated into a winter work wardrobe with ease:

1. Choies Polychrome Colorblock Geometric Print Tie Belt Dress, $16.99

2. Modcloth Stargazing Splendor Blazer in Constellations, $89

3. Modcloth Charter School Turtleneck Sweater, $39

4. ASOS Suede Slouchy Shoulder Bag, $50

xo

Carly

Leave Comment

7 Affordable Winter Beauty Picks for Fair Skin

7-affordable-winter-beauty-picksSo yesterday I gave you a peek inside my $5 newly organized bathroom drawer. Today I wanted to share a roundup of my must-have beauty items to see Winter through to Spring. I’m super-pale and have strawberry blonde hair, so the color palette I use most days is very light creams and beiges, with a bit of baby pink thrown in. Subtle and understated, and isn’t too thick to cover up my freckles. Plus, I’m always on a budget and looking for a steal…so none of these items will break the bank. Here are 7 of my faves:

1. Sonia Kashuk Brow Definer

It took me forever to find the right-colored eyebrow pencil for my super-light eyebrows. They all looked harsh or weird. This one is warm-toned, but not overly so, and stays and stays.

Fair Skin/Light Hair: Taupe 09

2. Sally Hansen Lip Inflation Plumping Lip Gloss

I LOVE this lip gloss – it adds shine, sheen, and has enough light pink color to counteract even the darkest lips (like mine which are beetroot red). This gloss evens them out, plumps them, and is just my fave. I prefer the original, not the Xtreme version. It’s a little hard to find now. Look for it at Target or your local grocery store, or buy here.

Fair Skin: Sheer Pink

3. Physicians Formula Nude Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Shadow

The perfect nude eye shadows to do a very subtle gradient. When I’m in a rush, just a couple dabs of the lightest shimmer under the browbone pulls the whole look together and adds sophistication without any other work.

Fair skin: Natural Nude

4. YOUNIQUE Moonstruck 3D Fiberlashes

I wrote a review of this product earlier this year and I just love it. It adds so much length and gorgeousness…like Kim Kardashian except better.

5. L’Oreal Visible Lift CC Cream

Keeps my skin glowy and moisturized even through dry, harsh weather. And feels weightless when on.

Fair skin: Light/Medium formulation

6. Sephora Double Contouring Cream Blush

This color is great because it’s buildable (from sheer to intense), and bright – looks just like pinched cheeks on a cold, cold day. I adore it with silvery eye makeup for that ice queen look.

Fair skin: No 03 Poppy Pink

7. Laura Mercier Secret Concealer

For concealer you should make an investment: it needs to have staying power, be creamy, and have enough coverage to really cover those dark circles. This is the perfect hue for someone with super-light skin like myself, and it actually makes me look wide awake because of the orange undertones.

Fair skin: Color 1

All these colors aren’t to say people with darker coloring wouldn’t look good in them! I’m not trying to exclude anyone at all – these are just my favorite products for a sheer and natural Winter look.

xo

Carly

FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission if you click and buy something through one of the links above. My full Disclosure Policy is here.
Leave Comment

7 January Essentials that Will Revamp Any Outfit

January always tends to signal a lull in fashion trends; perhaps it’s the post-holiday slowdown, the lack of major events in the fashion world, or the halfway-between-Spring-and-Winter offerings that abound at local retailers.  (Resort pieces, anyone?  No?)  But if you live in a cold climate, this month likely indicates the most frigid of Winter – and that there still remains a few more months until temps truly break into something balmy.  Get rid of the Winter Blahs by mixing a few on-trend pieces into your wardrobe to shake things up when you get into a style rut:

1. Leopard

photo source

Leopard anything: as an accessory, accent, or even full-on piece is being treated as the new neutral of 2012.  Mix and match with anything, even florals (see below), for a new look all your own!  Try: Leopard Tail Shirt, $58, NastyGal.com.

 

2. Skinny Colored Jeans (or Pants)

photo source

Sometimes when gray is all around a little pop of bright can make your day.  Try a pair from Target (they actually have a variety of colors, in bright red, blue, purple, coral, and green, that mimic the high-end J. Brand colored skinnies) that can add a dose of fun into an otherwise standard outfit.  Try: Mossimo Supply Skinny Denim, $22.99, avail. in-store only.

 

3. A Cape

photo source

No, not just for Batman!  This great shape as a winter coat works best when paired with a slimmer bottom half, lest you look like you’re starring in a period drama.  The Cape brings enough drama on its own!  Try: Color Block Cream-Black Cape, $99.99 (sale), Romwe.com.

 

4. Big, Dangly Earrings

photo source; Earrings source

80’s trends have been back for awhile, and oversized dangles are being dug out of jewelry boxes everywhere to dress up lobes (note Prada S/S 2012 runway, shown above).  If the look its too literal for you, try a smaller size for a bit of understatement.  Try: Vintage Earrings on Ebay or a search at your local Goodwill store.  If your find is for pierced ears, make sure to disinfect before wearing; clip-ons may be a more hygenic option and better suited to hold the weight of larger pieces.

 

5. Pearls

photo source

Strings of pearls thrown over casual outfits dress up anything with a ladylike vibe.  Long and loose paired with other necklaces or chokers can also look chic when you’re going for more is more.  Try: Pearlescent Chains Necklace, $8.80,  Forever 21.

 

6. Floral Patterns

photo source

One piece or even many, mixed into any outfit, forecasts Spring’s arrival with bright and fabulous blooms (see Dolce & Gabbana’s S/S 2012 runway collection, pictured above).  When mixing different florals, try to keep the patterns within the same color family to look less thrift store junkie and more Vogue.  Try: BB Dakota by Jack Magdalena Floral Print Dress, $58, Lulus.com.

 

7. Belt It!

photo source

Belts are suddenly everywhere this season, and they’re thrown over just about everything: capes, coats, sweaters, and dresses.  Try wearing two skinny belts at once, knotting the ends of a belt in a bow, or trying a wide obi belt on over your heavy Winter coat for some more variety.  Try: Pastel Metal Keeper Super Skinny Belt, $10.91, ASOS.com.

 

xoxox
Carly

Product photos from their respective websites; photo arrays by me.

~If you liked this post, please share it!~

Leave Comment

Winter Hair Styling Options: Vivi Magazine

(click for enlarged)

Winter is creeping up on us again – and I’m always at a loss as to how to style my hair during these months of mandatory headwear.  Japanese fashion magazines usually supply a plethora of cute styling options that are totally doable for a variety of hair lengths.  Master the art of the turband, the side bow, the messy pony, and the double-wrapped bun, courtesy of Vivi Magazine.

Are you inspired to try anything outside your usual Winter hairstyle?  I love the textural velvet and mohair bows!

xoxox

Carly

*scans from Vivi Magazine Dec 2010 (I think)

~If you liked this post, please share it!~

Leave Comment

Winter Wishlist Under $80: Warm and Cozy Creature Comforts Holiday Gift Guide

Oh the weather outside is frightful…but I’ve got a shopping list chock-full of comforting picks for the holidays.  A veritable shopping stew, if you will, with offerings that will thaw even the most frigid Scrooge’s heart.  A little bit utilitarian, a little bit vintage/outdoorsy, here’s a grouping of gifts with a hefty dose of tongue-in-chic humor.  (And everything’s under $80!)

1. Sweep Me Off My Feet Sweater Cardi, $54.99
2. Crystal Garden Wish Flower, $14
3. Kimchi Blue Cummerbund Short, $34.99
4. Triple Thrill Belt, $69.99 
5. Cupcake Beanie, $30
6. Puckered Salutation Scarf, $32
7. Alternative Apparel Large Collar Jacket, $80
8. Jeweler’s Bronze Whitetail Deer Antler Ring, $55
9. Nostalgic Fireplace Decoration, $16.99
10. Blowfish Jasper Boots in Taupe, $79

xoxox
Carly

~If you liked this post, please share it!~
Leave Comment

Pin It on Pinterest