Tweet, tweet: my life in twitpics




To me my Twitter is a great place to keep in touch with you guys while I'm 'on the go'. It's where I share bits and pieces of personal information, keep you updated about new posts and talk about what's going on in my (blogging and private) life. And of course that involves a lot of pics! Which often don't make it on to the blog; these are just a few examples. So to get a peek behind the scenes and read more personal things about me (and to see tomorrow if you won a Fashionology gift card of course) make sure to follow me here!

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Thrift Store Fashion Finds

Recently I have been following more fashion blogs and am always awed by the bloggers' sweet thrift store finds. I never really had much luck at thrifts stores; after hours of sifting through unwashed, outdated, and stained garments, I might find one nice piece that didn't fit me anyways. However, the new blogs I have been following have persuaded me to give second hand shops another go in hopes of finding unique pieces on the cheap. On a recent trip to my local thrift store, I found these pieces (that actually fit!) for a grand total of $15. Success, indeed.

My favorite score is this leopard print oxford long sleeved shirt. It has slightly billowy sleeves, and the image of a tiger, lion, cheetah, and zebra on the side. It is probably the ugliest and strangest 1970's mess of a shirt I have ever laid eyes on, yet I am totally obsessed with it. It has no tag, so I don't know who designed this little gem. I am picturing this  over some black leggings and cinched with a skinny belt, or tied up at the bottom and paired with a high waisted skirt.



I also bough this black and white polka dotted high waited  skirt. It looks brand new, and is a fun piece that I can imagine dressing up or down. It has a sassy retro, pin-up vibe that I'm loving.

Thirdly, I picked up this denim skirt by Converse. Nothing too special here, just a basic, versatile denim skirt. I do love the braided denim detailing on the back pockets. 


Lastly, I snagged this awesome silk scarf. Orange, lime green, and lavender is an unlikely color palette, but I was really drawn to it. I plan to tie this into a headband or as a triangle bandana around my neck.


Do you shop at Thrift stores? Do you have any tips on how to navigate the chaos and find the perfect piece?


Summer shorts


Saturday was filled with activities, so I needed a look that would suit the different things on my agenda (like a meeting, shopping, a lunch date). So I opted for an easy outfit in white, cream, charcoal and black and a hint of orange. And I took my new COS sandals out for a spin. I bought those the day before and I love the simplicity, and the leather is extremely soft and thick. (I'm afraid I got them one a little too big though!)

T by Alexander Wang silk shorts
COS tee and sandals
Zara blazer
Ibana Rouge bag
House of Harlow ring
Club Manhattan necklace



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E.L.F. Mineral Eyeshadows: Swatches & Rave Review


We all know by now that E.L.F. is a wonderful brand for babes on a budget, but we also know that their products can be pretty hit or miss. One line of product I have had consistent success with is the E.L.F. Mineral Eyeshadows, and I am surprised that they don't get the love they deserve in the beauty community. They are insanely pigmented, easily blended, and look stunning applied wet or dry. Better yet, they are paraben and preservative free, and do not contain chemical dyes. Like other mineral shadows these can be a little messy. I considered pressing them in to pans, but I really don't want to compromise their vibrancy. I only have two matte shades, and they seem to be the least stellar of the bunch. So if you are a solely matte kind of person, these might not be a match for you. But if you are all about the shimmer, these will more than likely make you drool.

These retail for $3 each on the E.L.F. website or at select Target stores, but E.L.F. also sells sets that can save you a bit of money. Also, E.L.F. frequently has amazing online sales (I go ten of these free with a purchase over $25 a few months back, and I even got to select the colors I wanted).

E.L.F. is notoriously horrid at representing the true shades of their products on their site, and I struggled when purchasing these to find more color accurate swatches. I currently own 18 of the 27 available shades. Hopefully my swatches will help those who are having the same difficulties, and turn some other people on to these gorgeous shadows! All swatches are applied dry without a primer. Photos are taken with flash to capture maximum shimmer.



Innocent, Angelic, Elegant

Innocent, Angelic, Elegant
  • Innocent- A soft matte white, bordering on a cream
  • Angelic- A shimmery bright white. Gorgeous in the inner corner of your eyes.
  • Elegant- A pale shimmery peachy beige.
Natural, Celebrity, Golden

Natural, Celebrity, Golden
  •  Natural- A shimmery peach. This is similar to elegant, but where Elegant is more yellow toned and beige, Natural leans more pink.
  • Celebrity- A light, neutral bronze/gold shade. It is one of the harder shades to describe because it feels in between categories.Definitely one of my favorites.
  • Golden- A true gold shade, but is not overly yellow.

Caffeinated, Seductive, Smoldering

Caffeinated, Seductive, Smoldering
  • Caffeinated- A medium, bronzey brown. Another one of my favorites.
  • Seductive- A matte black. Great to set liner.
  • Smoldering- A dark silvery pewter with multicolor shimmers.

    Sweet, Sassy, Glamorous
    Sweet, Sassy, Glamorous
    • Sweet- A shimmery, candy pink.
    • Sassy- A shimmering pink, darkened mauve.
    • Glamorous- A medium purple with a touch of fuchsia. This shade is slightly different than the rest in that it is a matte/satin purple shadow with shimmer, instead of a purely shimmer shadow.

    Royal, Socialite, Earthy
    Royal, Socialite, Earthy
    • Royal- A shimmery deep purple.
    • Socialite- A purple leaning shimmery pewter. A bit like smoldering, but definitely in the purple family. One of the more unique shades of the bunch.
    • Earthy- A shimmery mossy green with yellow undertones. This is one of the more sheer shadows, but certainly still pigmented.
    Outdoorsy, Dreamy, Beachy
    Outdoorsy, Dreamy, Beachy
    •  Outdoorsy- A gorgeous blackened shimmery pine green. One of the most unique shades of the bunch. It is totally mesmerizing.
    • Dreamy- A shimmery, candy sky pink.
    • Beachy- A vibrant shimmering ocean blue.
    Here are some comparison swatches:
    Innocent got cut out- oops! Doesn't this look a bit like the UD Naked Palette? I wouldn't say these are dupes, but the feel is remarkably similar. From L to R: Angelic, Elegant, Natural Celebrity, Golden, Caffeinated, Seductive, Smoldering
    From L to R: Sweet, Sassy, Glamorous, Royal, Socialite, Earthy, Outdoorsy, Dreamy, Beachy

    Have you the E.L.F. Mineral Eyeshadow? What is your take?


    My YSL clutch




    You might have seen my new Yves Saint Laurent clutch make an appearance in this outfit posts, but nonetheless it deserved it's own spot on the blog (it is my first designer bag after all!) It's now subtly displayed on a shelf in my closet, screaming to be taken out for a night of cocktails.

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    Review: Yes to Tomatoes Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner


    My first blog post ever was a Walgreens Haul jam packed with Yes to goodies found in the clearance section. I was able to snag half-priced backups of some of my favorite products, and the lowered price tag allowed me to take a chance on new products such as the Yes to Tomatoes Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner. Let me first say that I do not have a good track record with natural hair care products. I have tried quite a few different brands, including Burt's Bees and others from the Yes to line, and abhorred each and every single one. The shampoos were hard to work into my hair, felt drying and caused dandruff, and didn't do the basic job of getting my hair clean. And the conditioners never detangled my long locks or repaired my damaged ends. I have been really eager to get away from shampoos and conditioners loaded up with detergents and parabens, but I was hesitant to give these a try based on my history with crappy natural hair products. Did this YTT duo stand up to the test, or did I add their names to the list of natural hair product flunkies?

    Prouct
    While I would not say this is the best shampoo and conditioner I have ever used, they are certainly the best natural shampoo and conditioner I have tried. Unlike the duds I mentioned above, these products actually do their job. The shampoo actually lathers (Thank the goddess! A natural shampoo that lathers!) and gets my hair clean (that is the point, ain't it?). Likewise, the conditioner gets the knots out and does a decent job repairing damage. My hair craves a little more moisture than this can give me, but it isn't anything that a weekly deep conditioning hair treatment can't take care of.  I don't feel like my hair is any more voluminous than before I started using these products, so if you are specifically looking for a great volumizing shampoo and conditioner then these probably aren't your best bet. However, I have naturally wavy hair so the fact that these don't add extra volume doesn't bother me; perhaps these volumize better for people with different hair types. I have heard that some people hate the smell of the Yes to Tomatoes line, but I loooove it- it doesn't immediately strike me as tomato-ish, but is simultaneously fruity and earthly like vine tomatoes. For those who try this on a whim and compare this to their non-natural products, this shampoo and conditioner probably won't seem like anything special. But for those who have a rocky history with natural hair care products, these might pleasantly surprise you!

    Packaging
    Nothing especially negative or positive to report. Just your standard shampoo and conditioner bottles!


    Price
    I caught these on a sale at my local Walgreens, but the two products retail as a set on the Yes to website for $15.99. They are more expensive than some other drug-store brand hair care lines, but not unreasonably priced for natural products.


    Have you tried the Yes to Tomatoes Shampoo & Conditioner? Have you tried natural hair care products? What is your favorite natural shampoo and conditioner?


    Black suede Balenciaga: an urban bag myth?



    Ever since I started developing any fashion sense I had a crush on Balenciaga bags. (It all started with the bright seagreen motorcycle bag – I blame the Olsens). Years later, I’m still extremely fond of them, but it never got to a point of investing in one because a) the price and b) I have a feeling I’ve seen them so often. But then… BAM! This black suede Balenciaga town bag hit me in the face. I know I want that to be my first designer handbag. The one problem: I CAN’T FIND IT ANYWHERE! Black Balenciaga’s in leather, yes. Suede Balenciaga's in tan, green and navy, yes. But no black suede Balenciaga town bag.
    So if you know a store or online shop that sells a black suede Balenciaga bag in model town (or maybe velo or city), please let me know! And release me from my obsessive online bag hunting ;)

    photo's via realdealcollection and Elin

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