To BB or Not to BB

I am a big fan of things that can cover many bases. For example, middle school me was loving the Marc Jacobs Daisy ring with hidden perfume under the gaudy surface. Part perfume, part obnoxious cocktail ring! Win-win. Not that I could ever rock them, but those Reef flip flops with the bottle opener in the bottom? Brilliant.

as gaudy as a New Jersey housewife...dark times in middle school

That's when I discovered tinted moisturizers and "BB" creams, I was immediately excited. I still am iffy on the logistical differences between the two, but in my opinion, it's irrelevant. I have tested enough to know which to continue using, and which to toss!

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I started by using the Aveeno tinted moisturizer about 6 months ago, and I think I would give it a 7.5/10. The lotion itself tended to clump in the pump (unintentional but awesome rhyme), and I felt that the moderate coverage it provided tended to wilt away within a few hours of application. However, the product did not, in any way, clog my pores or make me feel like my skin was suffocating. I actually felt like my skin quality improved while using this brand, regardless of its non-BB label.

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Next, I tried the Garnier Fructics BB creme, and used this for approximately 4 months. It's score would probably be in the 7/10 range. The coverage was awesome, and you honestly would not need anything but maybe powder in terms of foundation on a daily basis. However, I found that my skin, which has always been somewhat dry, has never been more oily. I actually used those blotting papers that Sephora tricks you into buying in the lane before the register! I also found that initially, my skin began improving and evening out in tone and texture, yet after a while, I began to break out in small patches that are probably just clogged pores. Not good.

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The next BB I tried was the CoverGirl BB creme. On this made-up scale I have created, I would rate it a 5/10. It's light, and did not clog my pores or make me very oily. However, it did not provide much coverage at all, and made my skin look somewhat grey and dull. Also, this is not quite a deal-breaker, but I just did not like the way the lotion felt in my hand before I put it on. It felt like a grainy cream and I was initially hesitant to put it on my face at all.

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Finally, I have recently tried the Arbonne tinted moisturizer, and this would be, by far, the worst in my opinion. The make-up itself gives somewhat good coverage.........aaaand yep that's the only good thing I can say about it! The cream is heavy, and feels like stage makeup, even though it is simply a tinted moisturizer! The lotion makes me very oily and clogs my pores indefinitely. It also is difficult to actually spread on my face, as it is so heavy it seems to snag on my skin. No no no.

So, moral of the story is I haven't found a BB cream/tinted moisturizer that I absolutely love yet, and yet being the operative word! I have high hopes for the L'Oreal brand, and I will be trying it soon!

The Long and the Shorts of It

Shorts are one summer staple that consistently changes in length from year to year. Whether it's the knee-length bermudas that were all the rage just a few summers ago, the classic 5'' chinos from JCrew, or the cheek-grazing denim cutoffs that continue to infuriate us who do not, in fact, enjoy showing the underside of our backside, (mainly because no one wants to see that anyway)

Exhibit A

So with all of these differing lengths of shorts happening simultaneously, how is one to know which to pair with which situation? For me, there are some rules that are set in stone:

1. Denim cutoffs can never, and should never, be "dressed up" by adding stilettos or any sort of heel.

2. Those under 5'3 should reconsider the bermuda short trend, because it does nothing but cut off your leg line and make you appear frumpy.

3. Just because of some fabric in the middle, doesn't mean you can go shorter with shorts than you would with skirts.

4. In reference to #2, if you are trying to dress up a pair of shorts, ensure that they are of appropriate length, not made of denim, and are paired with an appropriate top, (if they're short, go with long sleeves or a conservative neckline)

5. The shorter the short, the lower the heel. You basically will look like a hooker if you reverse this ratio.

Sorry, Emma Roberts, I guess the hooker look runs in the family!

Aside from my sufficiently lame "Pretty Woman" reference above, I hope that this was helpful, and that the world will start to continue without the heinous atrocities committed against shorts.

Mint-ervention

If you know me, you know my addictive personality. I tend to become infatuated with certain oddities for short periods of time, in which, I immerse myself in the current fascination. Some of these fascinations include; competitive swimming in the 7th grade, Fall Out Boy in 8th grade, edemame last summer, and the list goes on. 

Currently, my, for lack of a better word, obsessions, are; iced coffee with truvia, the olympics, and the color mint.

For whatever reason, the color widely referred to as "mint" (or "sea foam" for lame-os), has been severely lacking in my closet. This lacking was so severe, that after weeks of seeing this color grace the runways, (and by that I mean of course, "grace the runways...as viewed from my computer screen...") I realized I did not own one item of this amazing hue. 

Needless to say, as my new infatuation of the moment, this changed dramatically, seemingly overnight. 

Upon my next few shopping ventures, both the old fashioned way and online, I had accumulated quite a collection of items of the mint variety. My collection is as follows in this artistic representation from a past fascination, Polyvore. 

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The items gathered somehow soothed my closet's ache for this lacking section while still remaining a never-ending fascination. 

Stay minty fresh!

Hand Bracelets?

This will just be a very quick post, simply because I have a very quick question:

What are hand bracelets, and why do they exist?

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I have been seeing these little accessories online in different places and they have been intriguing me, yet not tickling my fancy. This is mainly because I immediately think of the many, everyday problematic aspects to these items;

What if you want to give a high-five?! The recipient of that congratulatory gesture could be seriously injured.

What if you happen upon an old-fashioned English gentleman who intends to kiss the back of your hand in greeting? He will be sorely disappointed by getting a taste of metal rather than skin.

What I'm also wondering is about the evolution of such a product. Is it the double-fingered ring idea just moved slightly south? Or is it simply a bracelet moved in the northern direction?
In any event, the love child of these two ideas seems to be expanding, but I am dubious it will catch on.


That's all folks!

Summer Uniform

SOOOO I actually got a little bit of feedback from some fanz (hi amy and morgan) that they enjoyed my shout out to plain white t-shirts (here) and agreed that they don't get enough support from the community at large.

This, for me, will change this summer.

While I read many blogs on the regular, one has been constant recently more than ever is one written by a woman with a fabulous name, Love Maegan . This month, she is trying to wear a white t-shirt and jeans a different way, everyday. Honestly, I had my doubts, but after reading more than 10 days worth of outfits, I have never been more inspired. Seriously, go check her out.

This literally changed the way I think about clothes! Why fix what ain't broke!? If a plain white T and jeans made James Dean happy, it should be universal. So while I wouldn't go as far as to only wear a white t and jeans for a whole month (lesbehonest, I need my variety), I will definitely be sure to stock up on white T's of differing fabric weights, necklines, fits, and makers for the entirety of this summer. Some I am intending to purchase/bring out of hibernation are as follows:

I'm starting a movement, and considering I basically get 200 page views a month, this movement will be small, but I think everyone should really try and use their basics more this summer. It doesn't have to be white, it could be black or my favorite color, gray (grey?) whatever.

OKAY time to go back studying for finals, play time is over. BYE

Peplum Shmeplum

Peplum is a trend that has extended far past the traditional peplum skirt into dresses, blazers, tops, etc. It is a trend that is somewhat universally flattering, if done correctly.

Obviously the main rule is to never wear both a peplum skirt and top, or you will appear as though you have folds in your middle, which is never appealing.

If you are wearing a peplum skirt, be sure to go minimal and with the least amount of volume as possible, and the opposite applies for wearing peplum shirts or blazers. 

Here are some outfit possibilities that I also made through Polyvore

So enjoy this trend this summer, it is a fun and flirty way to accentuate your curves (or create them if you are so lucky)

I Wear My Sunglasses at Night

SO I CAN, SO I CAN

I have been thinking about sunglasses lately, and how much the styles have changed over the years, and then again, how they haven't. Yes, there seems to be an endless supply of new sunglasses at every season, but in reality, how many of the styles are actually innovative? I believe we ran out of our new-sunglass-style quota right around 1980.

For example, on many style blogs and websites, they are bursting at the seams with articles on how "wayfarer" sunglasses are so very in.

I would like to take this moment to throw up the challenge and say they were officially never "out".

These styles have been popular since the 80's, and made iconic by John Hughes films. Yes, there are many cheap copies of these, mainly seen as party favors at bar mitzvahs or proms, but nonetheless, they are universally flattering, and give an instant air of coolness, historically only attainable by Judd Nelson in The Breakfast Club. 

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One style that is having another revival from a little further back is the half-frame. If you aren't currently residing under a large rock, you may be aware of the pop culture phenomenon (brilliance) that is Mad Men. If you are familiar with this 1960's drama, then it should be plain to see where this revival stemmed from.

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These, although not as popular as the wayfarer style, are gaining popularity slowly but surely.
Just for good measure, here is a nice little picture to hang on your metaphorical wall of the ever dapper, ever charming, Donald Draper.

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Finally, we come to the cat-eye sunglasses. Many may say these were made popular by a Ms. Kourtney Kardashian, as seen in these images:

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but I would beg to differ.
As seen below, this is yet another revival, this from the 1950s era, and in the prime of Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe.

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These revivals are beneficial to the world of "sunnies" and will hopefully inspire some to bring in the old with the new season approaching. Bye!!