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June 27, 2011

Summer Staples: White

                                                                                                                                                                     


Summer and the color white practically go hand in hand. They are both crisp, clean, and refreshing. White works in summer because it is light during the hot days (which have yet to come in Washington... boo!), it shows off your tan, and it is always being renewed in different ways for summer. For instance, the July issue of People Style Watch did a spread on white clothing and accessories and a month before, head-to-toe white outfits were featured in the June issue of Teen Vogue.

Teen Vogue, June 2011 issue, Point Blank, Page 129

The Little White Dress:
Number 49 on The 100, the little white dress is the underrated equivalent of the LBD. Women wear it to show off their color during the summer, and fashionistas carry it into the winter to prove that they don't follow the, "No white after Labor Day rule." Just be careful not to spill BBQ sauce on it on the 4th of July! Or any other dangerous foods. One stain can absolutely ruin the look of a white ensemble.
What to pair it with:

  • Neutral shoes. But metallics can be included in the "neutral" category for this one. Silver or gold could definitely work.
  • You can take the look in two directions. The sweet, flirty side, with delicate jewelry and sandals, or the edgy side. To accomplish this, pair your LWD with a daring piece of jewelry like a gigantic cocktail ring, a gold snake choker, or motor boots.
I'm more of a sweet girl, so I was drawn to the series of lacy dresses, shoes, and handbags in Dolce and Gabbana's summer collection. They are absolutely perfect for summer.





   
White Crops & Shorts:
White pants are perfect for a pulled together, casual summer look. You can pretty much find a pair anywhere during the warmer months. There are different lengths too. If you are confident with your legs, go with short-shorts. If you are a little more modest, bermuda shorts would work for you. I would suggest getting a pair that aren't too light of a fabric, or else your underwear might show through (The horror!). If it is a chillier day, you can even get a pair of white jeans. I found the best pair of Joe's Jeans on sale down at the Off 5th Ave. store in the outlet mall near Palm Springs. 
White Shoes:
White shoes can really pull together an outfit. You can wear white sandals to the mall, to the movies, or anywhere pretty much (Except in a muddy setting). If you are going to a luncheon, white espadrilles or pumps will be perfect. And if its just a casual day, I turn to my white Sperry Top-Sider Van's style shoes. Just be aware of dirt! It would be shame to get your pristine white shoes dirty... I know from experience.

Steve Madden 'Serenite' Sandal
Steve Madden 'Serenite' Sandal
$49.95
 
Valentino Bow Trim Espadrille
Valentino Bow Trim Epadrille
$495
                                                                             


                   
Sperry Top-Sider® 'CVO' Sneaker
Sperry Top-Sider 'CVO' Sneaker
$54


And here's me in my summer whites:
PS: My hair is in a bun, but you can't see it against the black... so just letting you know I'm not bald.

Top: Frenchi, from Nordstrom BP
Shorts: Hollister, 'Brooks Beach' $29.50
Necklace: Forever 21, Helen Multi-Chain Necklace $7.80

June 25, 2011

Graduation Pictures


Thanks for a great year! I had so many great memories with you guys(: 
PS: This shows how much free time I have lol

Summer Staples: Sandals

Sandals have to be the shoes that are included in the fashion definition of summer. Some might argue that flip-flops are the only shoes for summertime, but who thinks those can actually make a fashion statement? No, sandals are the way to go. They can give a boho feel to an outfit, or they can be a statement accessory. I have a T shaped pair I got in Palm Springs that are a metallic, gunmetal color with clear studs. Since I'm more of a neutral footwear kinda girl, I can always count on them to finish my outfit, no matter what it is.
Plus they are another item on The 100 (Numero 75). Nina advises that the sandals should look as good as your best stilettos. That means your foot shouldn't be slipping out the sides, front, or back. She also requests that your feet be pedicured. Now I can't go get pedicures on a regular basis, which might be good because then it feels like a treat when I do get one, but I can give myself one. And I do this very often. If you don't trust that you are good enough to paint your own toes, invite friends over and you can have a spa party! You can give each other mani and pedis, make your own facials (Like my Green Tea facial Scrub), and serve some cocktails. Make it fun!

You can pretty much buy sandals anywhere during the summer, but I would definitely recommend getting good quality ones. Not breaking the bank nice ones, but at least ones that are comfortable enough to spend a day in. I mean, if you just look at some of those sandals out there, you know that within 20 minutes of wearing them your feet will be done.

These Tory Burch sandals are the kind that you can pair with anything. I see them with tuxedo shorts with a light blouse tucked in and a fedora to top things off.

Tory Burch Thong
Tory Burch Thong, $195


These boho sandals are perfect for adding a pop of color to an outfit. K. Jaques sandals are mentioned in The 100 as,"Cool and casual and radiate the relaxed, tranquil Mediterranean atmosphere." (The 100, by Nina Garcia, page 217) In addition, some people can't stand wearing the thong style sandals because they irritate their feet in between the toes, but these ones don't have that bother.

Teddy Velvet
K. Jacques Teddy Velvet sandals, $282.24


For an edgy option, these jeweled Soda sandals are perfect. Comparable sandals have been spotted on celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Reese Witherspoon, and Heidi Klum.

Soda ANDRIX Jeweled Flat Sandal (Black), $27.90
When you purchase these Sseko sandals, you are also helping to pay for Ugandan women's college educations. And you can always look fashionable with these because they have interchangeable straps that you can tie in different ways.

Marigold Sandal
Sseko Marigold Sandal, $47
To see the other styles of straps click here.

And for those of you who just want to throw on some flip flops, I insist you get Havaianas (Another item on The 100, number 37). Havaianas have to be the most comfortable flip flops I have ever worn. They are known as "the democratic sandal," because everyone wears them, from teenagers like me to big celebrities Jennifer Aniston. They come in so many colors, patterns, and styles, and make new ones every year. Missoni did a collaboration with Havaianas this year and made three different styles, but they are currently all sold out. In my opinion, I think the Slim style flip flops are sleeker looking than the thicker strapped ones. My favorite pair this year are these ones: 

June 22, 2011

InStyle, July 2011




I don't have a subscription to InStyle, but I love picking up their summer issue when the time comes. This month's issue features Eva Longoria, but not to take away from the cover girl, I was more interested in what the magazine had to say about summer beauty and fashion. The cover shouts, "Perfect Summer Dresses," "Sexy Hair Made Simple," "Your Best Summer!" So as I flipped through the colorful and scented (They made scratch and sniff spots on some of the pages with summery scents like watermelon and tropical sunscreen.) pages a few things caught my eye.

1) Your New Favorite Ts! Page 99 to 108
I have to say that my favorite everyday item in my closet is a plain white T. And of course when you find a staple you have to buy multiples! I have a short sleeve V-neck, a burnout, slouchy one, a cozy long sleeve, and a dolman sleeve addition. Honestly, the only way you could go wrong with a plain white T would be to wear it with stains and unintentional holes and rips. They are great for layering, or just throwing on. They can be dressed up with accessories and a flirty skirt, or be worn to bed on lazy days. Not to mention that they are on The 100. I am always on the lookout for more, and the great part is that they are in a variety of price ranges. From the Hanes 3 for $10,  the laid-back C&C California, and The Row's modern line.
And they don't have to be white or plain either. You can change the color, cut, and vibe to your style. Here's some links to other Ts that caught my eye...
Heartloom, Lala S/S Cut Out Shoulder Top
Splendid, Rugby Stripe S/S Top, $63
Vince, Micromodal Twist Tee, $125
3.1 Philip Lim, Cutout Silk and Cotton-Blend T-Shirt, $150
Lanvin, Jersey Chiffon Miss Lanvin Tshirt $1,240

One of my favorites: My Fashion's Night Out 2010 Tee. Worn knotted at the waist.

2) Inner-Rim Eyeliner, Page 115
This look is shown on Kate Winslet, with black eyeliner, sheer, shimmery pink eye shadow, and matching shiny neutral lips. I love eyeliner, but I think that it is too harsh sometimes. This new way to wear it solves that problem, though! To get the look all you need to do is draw on your eyeliner on your inner lash lines instead of on top of your lash line. When I did this it helped to pull my eyelid up a little to get a better view of my lash line. I think you could also experiment with color too, but not too bright. I think you should stick to dark neutrals like navy blue, deep plum, and forest green if you are going to try any color.

Kate Winslet at the Mildred Pierce Premier, looking beautiful with her  "Reverse black lined" eyes.

Me with Inner-Rim Eyeliner. I used Urban Decay  24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Oil Slick.

3) Sea & Be Seen, Page 160 to 167
The French actress Clemence Poesy models this seasons nautical "Romantic, Retro" looks in Portofino. You might know her as Fleur in Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire, who she will be recurring as in the final Harry Potter movie, or Eva in Gossip Girl. She has a sweetness and "laid-back Euro cool" style that makes her evident to fashion bloggers like myself. I have to say, that my favorite look she showcases is the Dolce & Gabanna silk chiffon polka-dotted dress on page 167. (Which kind of reminds me of the first dress I made.) The little daisy accessories and a fun teased side ponytail finish the look with a flirtiness.

Clemence Poesy in the Aforementioned Dolce & Gabbana Dress

If I haven't convinced you to go out and pick up InStyle's July issue yet, I'm just going to be blunt and say... Go and get this issue if you don't already have it! Other spreads I liked was the whole "The Look" section (Pages 51 to 60), "The New Rachel Zoe Project" (Page 96 & 97), and "101 Reasons to Smile This Summer" (Pages 175 to 188).

Blogging Masters Program

My mom is in a masters program at Central Washington University right now, and caught up on my blogging, YouTubing, and Tweeting. She told me I'm doing a fantastic job at articulating and sharing ideas for a girl my age. In reply, I said that it is hard for me to come up with things to blog about frequently since I am young and am not surrounded by inspiring fashion or culture all the time. So, she challenged me to find inspiration and get the determination to blog at least three times a week. I took her up on the challenge! We are calling it my Blogging Masters Program(:
So get ready to hear from me a lot more...
Ready, set, blog!

June 21, 2011

Green Tea Facial Scrub

I love making myself facials at home with ingredients that I already have in my pantry, so when I saw Michelle Phans YouTube video "Green Goodness" (Watch it here) I was inspired to create my own. I have done some research and have found that green tea is full of antioxidants which will help protect your skin from free radicals. Green tea can also has an anti-inflammatory effect, so it can help soothe sensitive skin. In addition, for those of you with acne prone skin, or even those who just get the occasional breakout like me, green tea can help clear your skin of the bacteria that causes acne. Plus, drinking green tea has medicinal qualities like reducing the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and high cholesterol levels.
Other ways you can use it are by putting it in a spray bottle with some ice and bringing it to the pool with you. Whenever you get too hot or need a refresher just spray it on your face and body, or go out and buy a product with green tea in it in the organic/natural section of your grocery store. I discovered that the St. Ives brand came out with their own Naturally Clear Green Tea Scrub and other face and body products using green tea.

So here's how to make my own Green Tea Facial Scrub:

Ingredients:
1 tea bag of green tea, or 1 tsp of loose green tea leaves
1 Tbsp of sugar
1 Tbsp of brewed green tea, cooled
1 tsp of honey
Plus an additional ingredient. I added a tsp of olive oil for moisturizing purposes. Other beneficial ingredients you could add include plain yogurt, half of an avocado, or lemon.



Directions:
1) Brew the green tea by pouring boiling water over the tea bag or tea leaves, and let it steep for about 2 minutes.



2) Take the tea bag out of the brewed tea and empty the tea leaves into a small bowl. If you used loose tea leaves, strain the tea to separate the leaves from the liquid. Do not get rid of the tea!



3) Add sugar to the tea leaves and stir them with a spoon.


4) Stir in the honey.



5) Your tea should have cooled down enough by this time to add it to the tea leaf mixture. You do not want the tea to be too hot or else it will melt the sugar.


6) Now you can add your additional ingredient.


7) So now that you have made your scrub it will look something like this...

Application:
1) Take a cotton pad and dip it into the scrub. Apply it generously to your face, including your lips if you feel like they need some exfoliation. (You can also use this scrub on scars. I've heard it helps scar tissue, too.)


2) Gently scrub your face for 1½ minutes. You do not need to use a lot of pressure, especially on your lips.


3) Rinse the scrub off, by gently scrubbing it away with warm water.

4) Now you can go back to that saved green tea again and use it as a toner.


                                                                                  
I hope you enjoyed your Green Tea Facial Scrub! My face felt very smooth and refreshed afterwards. On the other hand, I'm not sure using olive oil was the best idea... I could still feel it for a little while after rinsing the scrub off, but after 10 minutes my face felt great. Next time I'm going to try yogurt...

P.S.: I'm sure I will make a new facial sometime soon, so I'll be sure to share it with you(:


June 13, 2011

Valedictorian Speech

The Future

            They say that as one door closes another door opens. I think that this is relevant to the time it is in our lives.  As the door to our childhood years close, the door that leads to high school and endless possibilities opens. Our generation is blessed with amazing opportunities to succeed and reach our goals. We all have our own unique gifts to contribute to the world, and wherever our life leads us there are always choices and opportunities open to us. We may face difficult decisions or hard challenges, however, at Saint Pat’s, we have learned the skills to be able to adapt, advance, and achieve whatever challenges we are faced with. Even though I am talking about finding what we are passionate about and making choices, I would also like to say that this is a time in our lives where we don’t have to rush, we have our whole lives in front of us. Some of us may find that we want to pursue something in the next two years; some of us might not find what we want to do until our high school graduation. We can find it in our own time. In thinking about our futures, I would also like to take this time to acknowledge who has gotten us to this point, and who will be there for us on our journey: our families. They will always be there for us to guide, support, and congratulate you in whatever you attempt. Another part of the future is making memories. As a class, we have made many fun memories together, and I hope that we can carry that humor into high school and make even better memories with our new classes. Personally, I am just anticipating the sunny, laughter-filled memories-to-be of the summer.
In addition, I would like to thank our incredible teachers, Mrs. Miner, Mr. Adams, Mr. Skillman, and Mrs. Norton and also Mr. Nordlund, and Mrs. Jordan for preparing us and giving us the knowledge to go on to high school. And like Eleanor Roosevelt said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

June 10, 2011

YouTube

In addition to joining Twitter, I have also created a YouTube channel. I only have one video up right now, but I will be making more soon. My plan is to make mostly fashion, style, and beauty oriented videos, but I might just throw in a few silly ones too. Anyways, here's my first video, and I hope you enjoy it!

June 9, 2011

The 100: My Collection

Finally! Another item added to my slowly growing (kind of like my actual growth, still only 5'1" grrr) collection. On my Spring Break trip down to Palm Springs I visited the Desert Hills Premium Outlet Mall, where I acquired a Man's White Shirt (Number 53). I purchased the X Fit Extreme Slim Essential Dress Shirt at the Calvin Klein store for $65. If I may say so myself, I think that this shirt has the best fit it can for women. Since it is a slim fit, it does not swallow up your figure. Some other elements that I like are that it is extremely soft and light (I literally wanted to wear it to bed) and it is really long, so I could just throw it on over my bathing suit and it made a relaxed, but clean swimsuit cover-up.

I think that this shirt is perfect for a pulled together, casual look. When I was in Palm Springs I rolled up the sleeves and paired it with a belt and some denim short shorts, finished with some cute sandals and accessories. Now that I'm back in Washington and the weather still hasn't cleared up, I usually wear it as a tunic with black leggings and a pair of ballet flats.

Now you might want to cheat your way out of wearing something from the men's department, but embrace it! The more fitted and tailored women's versions take away the prestige and aren't as chic. And if that doesn't convince you Nina made a point in saying that, "Seeing a woman in a man's white shirt makes women a tad jealous and men more than a tad intrigued". On the other hand, I don't think that applies to me since I am a teenager and have yet to have a boyfriend (Sigh). But I still love the essence of it!

Where to buy the Man's White Shirt:

  • The classic place to go is Brook's Brothers. Nina claims they have the best noniron version out there, and I take her word for it.
  • Another classic option is the Gap.
  • For an inexpensive, but still nice quality shirt try Target. However, they do not always have them in stock, so be sure to grab one (or more) when they have them.
  • And of course, your significant other's closet.
When buying remember that the shirt should be crisp, clean, and preferably cotton or fine linen. Most importantly, it should not have any little feminine details like pearl buttons or else the point in having a Man's White Shirt is completely defeated.

Classic Men's White Shirt Moments:



1953, Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday



1990, Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman




2011, Myself