On-Trend: The Camel Coat

With cold weather season beginning it’s essential for every fashionista to have an amazing coat to bundle up in. This season the camel coat is having a major fashion moment. Seen on everyone from Kim Kardashian to Jennifer Lawrence, the timeless neutral is so versatile and can be paired with nearly everything. It also adds a touch of sophistication to any outfit.

High quality outerwear is a great investment, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune! I’ve curated my top picks for the trend with something for every budget.

Belted Waist 
I am in LOVE with this style. So chic and sophisticated, yet so effortless. The cinched waist is extremely flattering, plus with short and long versions there is a perfect fit for everyone. Not to mention, the thick wool will keep you cozy and warm!

Misguided Belted Waterfall Coat $51 //  Dolly Rocka Frankie Nude Camel Coat $60

Boohoo Sofia Belted Wool Coat $60 //   H&M Wool-Blend Coat $99

Peacoat
Peacoats are a classic style, and I love the lengths and variations within the style. This is perfect for a less dramatic (?) effect. If you tend to shy away from “trendy” styles and statement pieces, this would be a better option when compared to the belted waist style. Plus this preppy and structured style can be dressed up or down. 

Thread & Supply Double-Breasted Peacoat, On Sale for $37.90 //  Gap Wool Peacoat, $198

Miss Selfridge Military Peacoat, $91 //  Old Navy Wool-Blend Peacoat, $37

Trench
Trench coats make me think of classic films – specifically the final scene in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. This style is timeless and comes in various fabrics, so the coat can be heavy and warm or lightweight – for you lucky readers who live somewhere warmer during the fall and winter months.

Lauren Ralph Lauren Gabardine Trench Coat, On Sale for $73.13 // Forever 21 Cotton-Blend Trench Coat, $47.90 //

Calvin Klein Double Breasted Trench Coat, $99.98

** PS There are some amazing deals that I don’t always post because the host sites have time-sensitive sales. Check out 6pm, HauteLook and Zulily for more amazing deals.

Steal Her Style: Selena Gomez’s Pop of Color

Now this is how to make a pop of color work for fall! Selena Gomez recently stepped out in style in this bright red-orange duster and gray jean combo. I’m in love with the duster, but sadly the piece from Lela Rose isn’t up for grabs just yet. (The designer has yet to release the collection to the public.) Until that moment comes, we’ll just have to rock this re-creation instead. Not only is this Longline Sleeveless Jacket a dead ringer for her coat, but the Cheetah Dot D’Orsay Pump is an exact match for Selena’s purrfect pumps!

This outfit is perfect as we transition into the colder months of fall, and composed of versatile closet staples. Recreate this bold look for less with our finds:

Miss Selfridge Longline Sleeveless Jacket // $35.00

Gap Collarless Bib Popover // $46.99

Zara Reform Jeans // $49.90

Charming Charlie Medium Square Lock Satchel // $39.00

Sole Society Jenn D’Orsay Pump  // $79.95

zeroUV Wayfarer Frame Sunglasses  // $9.99

Denim Dream

One of my favorite pieces in my closet is my chambray shirt. It’s classic, lightweight and extremely easy for layering. As we head into the fall season — fall fashion is my favorite, bring on the cozy oversized sweaters — I thought it would be a great time to show you how to wear this piece in a way that is sometimes daunting to fashion lovers, the double denim look.
This look is so chic and the statement accessories pop – I love to include leopard print whenever I can. Denim on denim can be   a tricky combo, but it’s totally achievable without looking frumpy. The key is using different shades of denim. This chambray shirt is a shade or two lighter than the jeans, so it doesn’t look monochromatic. We kept the look simple with the leopard shoes and incorporated gold and black pieces. This look is perfect for a casual day out or even when you want to look put together when running between classes on campus!

Abercrombie & Fitch’s Womens Drapey Chambray Shirt // H&M Skinny High Jeans //BP ‘Moveover’ Pointy Toe Flat // Charming Charlie Lady Lockbox Satchel // Bauble Bar Gold Pyramid Ear Crawlers // zero UV Cat Eye Sunglasses

Catching Some Zzzs : Z Palette Review and Depotting Tips!

Hello readers, sorry for the brief hiatus but I’m back! While on my small blogging break, I discovered one of my favorite new beauty products the Z Palette!

The Z Palette is a magical item that magnetically stores all of your refill makeup pans, or your de-potted shadows, blushes, highlighters, etc. (It also comes in different sizes and prints/colors.) It allows you to build a custom palette using varying brands essentially – and it’s amazing.

I have been curious about the Z Palette for a long time. My Naked 2 palette sadly got destroyed when my cat knocked it off of the counter, broken hinge and a shattered Blackout. So I jumped at the opportunity to rehome the palette’s intact shadows. (I also hate having all of my eyeshadow singles cluttering my makeup bag.)

I bought the medium Z Palette from Amazon in black for $15.30, but the palettes are available at other retailers like Sephora, Ulta and MakeupGeek. I figured I should start small in my venture into re-paletting(?) I managed to depot the Naked 2 palette, a MAC shadow, Mythology, and another UD shadow, Blunt. Here are the final results…

       

De-potting, the process of removing the shadow from its casing and putting it into the Z Palette, was not easy and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without YouTube tutorials. For the Naked palette de-potting I used Kaiden Capri’s tutorial and Brittany Sarah’s tutorial, which you can find here, for single eyeshadows. **My tip would be to take it slow! I got overly excited, went very quickly and destroyed a mini LORAC PRO palette I wanted to de-pot. Oops.**  Also, you can buy single pan eyeshadows (without the packaging) from several stores and skip this stressful step. My go-to for pan eyeshadow is MAC, you can get the same shades for a steal when you buy single-pan refills ($10 compared to $15).

Oh! Before I forget another note is that you can write the names of your shadows on the metal backings of the pan, for the singles though, I just took the stickers off of my shades and stuck them on the back of the Z Palette under the corresponding shade, like this:

I love that with this palette I can merge some of my eyeshadow stash, and can’t wait to collect more Z Palettes and grab some pan shadows from MAC. I’ll be sure to update you with new makeup pans for my Z Palette and hopefully I won’t get too addicted!

Do you have a Z Palette? What is your favorite store for refills?

Let me know in the comments section below!

From a Galaxy Far Far Away…

One of this year’s most anticipated theatrical releases, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, has now even captured my attention with the limited-edition Star Wars-inspired CoverGirl collection!

CoverGirl asks its beauty queens, are you on the light side… or the dark side? The collection includes out of this world mascaras, vampy nail polishes and shiny futuristic lipsticks.

CoverGirl Global Creative Design Director Pat McGrath created six amazing new looks and two in particular to promote the campaign: Droid and Stormtrooper. Droid, inspired by C-3PO offers a glimmering look that includes a stunning gold highlight, gold shimmer lipstick and metallic gold nails.

Stormtrooper on the other hand focusses on the monochromatic look and harsh angles of the Stormtrooper’s legendary armor. This look also features a deep maroon lip as a nod to the dark side.

In this collection are also 10 mascaras featuring classic quotes from your favorite characters including Yoda, Princess Leia and Obi-Wan Kenobi. As well as five new futuristic lipsticks in Dark Purple, Gold, Red, Lilac, Silver and Nude.

Check out more images from CoverGirl and Star Wars’ latest campaign below!

CoverGirl Droid

CoverGirl Stormtrooper

Droid-Inspired Nails

Droid Look

Stormtrooper Look

Stormtrooper-Inspired Nails

CoverGirl The Force Awakens Lipsticks

CoverGirl The Force Awakens Mascara

CoverGirl The Force Awakens Nailpolish

This limited edition collaboration will go on sale online on September 4th and at mass retailers in mid-September! Essential for any super fans out there, I can already see recreations of Pat McGrath’s looks being a big hit for the release of Star Wars The Force Awakens in December!

What about you? Will you be joining the light or the dark side?

XO

AC

Photos courtesy of CoverGirl Cosmetics

Miley’s Back in MAC

Every which way I look, I’m seeing Cyrus. Whether it’s on my Instagram feed, on MTV’s love-to-hate promotions for the VMAs or on the latest version of Marie Claire, the star is having a major year – she was just announced as SNL’s first host for Season 41 too. On top of everything else she has also announced her new VIVA GLAM MAC Cosmetics campaign for Fall 2015.

Cyrus announced the line with a quick vintage-inspired pic to Instagram featuring the new products. Her previous collaboration included a bubblegum hot pink lipstick and lipglass, which you can still buy. This season her shade is a bright red-orange and we can’t wait to see more of this powerful pop of color!

The line gives 100% of its proceeds directly to men, women and children who have been impacted by HIV or AIDS.

“The idea of VIVA GLAM was to celebrate life and the outspoken attitude of the company. It was a connective tissue that encompassed the diversity of M·A·C and its mantra…all ages, all races, all sexes. It was, and continues to be, the signature and the heart and soul of the company. VIVA GLAM spokespeople are provocative, alternative and influential and reflect diverse communities. They are heroes we look up to for their personal triumphs; people who have invented themselves and people who created movements.” You can learn more about the MAC AIDS FOUNDATION and see past campaign images and products here.

We definitely think Miley embodies that image, especially with her involvement in the Happy Hippie Foundation.

Miley’s new VIVA GLAM MAC will be available for sale in North America September 8th, will you be picking up a tube, or two or three…?

Let me know in the comments!

XO

AC

A Fresh Start: FOREO Luna Mini Review

Skincare has always been a top priority for me. I always (try) to wear sunscreen, never go to sleep with makeup on and make sure to wash my face twice a day. Something that I have always struggled with is finding the perfect facial-cleansing tool.

I started out simple, with a manual silicone scrubber, then kicked my skincare routine up a notch with Clarisonic’s Mia 2. For the first few months I loved the cleansing brush, but then I noticed my skin was splotchy –  even though I was using the sensitive settings and brush head, my dermatologist said that Mia 2 was way too rough for daily facial cleansing and I had created tiny tears in my skin. I immediately stopped using my Mia 2 and it has been sitting at home in the bathroom closet since then.

Last week, I finally decided to commit to a new cleansing tool. I debated for a lengthy amount of time about which option would be best and while I was tempted by Clinique’s Sonic System Purifying Cleansing Brush, I ended up dishing out the cash for the adorable Foreo Luna Mini.

Here’s Why:

• No Brush Head Replacements Needed
• Nonabrasive Brush
• 35x More Hygienic than Cleansing Brushes
• 300 Uses Per Charge

The Foreo Luna Mini is a compact silicone facial-cleansing tool that is suitable for all skin types, features 2 speeds and is travel friendly. (Luna, the Mini’s older sis, is a much larger version of the tool that offers different silicone node arrangements based on your specific skin type.)

On the front of the Luna Mini, is the larger touch point section for general cleansing and the smaller for precision cleansing. The back featuring the largest touch points is for deep cleansing. The power button activates high-intensity cleansing mode with one press and low-intensity with two presses.

While I haven’t had the cleansing tool long, I’m already head-over-heels in love with it! It’s extremely gentle and so easy to clean after each use! I love knowing that, unlike a brush head, there aren’t thousands of bacteria on the silicone head. It’s also super easy to throw into my toiletries bag since the device is so compact. I definitely recommend the Foreo Luna Mini for anyone who is looking for a hygienic, affordable and gentle way to cleanse your skin.

At $139, the price is a little steep but considering the amount of money you’re saving on brush heads, it’s worth it in the long run, plus Foreo includes a 2-year warranty and a 10-year quality guarantee!

Do you think you’ll be investing in the Luna Mini? Let me know which cleansing device is your favorite in the comment section below!

P.S. Check out Foreo’s New Luna Mini Save the Sea,
this special edition cleanser supports Foreo’s board of Ocean Conservation Charity Partners!

XO

AC

Steal Her Style: Kendall Jenner’s Fringe Flair

2015 is definitely the year of the supermodel. Originally in the ’90s we had names like Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss. Today we have Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, Karlie Kloss and Cara Delevnigne, just to name a few. With new model style icons comes must-see celebrity street style! Kendall Jenner recently stepped out in this ensemble that featured western and ’70s inspiration. Her large-buckle western inspired belt has been seen this summer in many of Jenner’s outfits and even on other celebs like Selena Gomez, and we found the exact one. Her fringe bag and suede boots are also on-trend for the fall season – we found the exact bag and River Island booties that are a replica for Jenner’s Saint Laurent booties.

Whether you’re popping out to run a few errands or spending the day with the girls, this outfit is perfect for exuding a casual chic look for the beginning of fall. Recreate this look with these fabulous finds:

Ruche Make A Difference Striped Blouse // $42.99

Jessica Simpson High-Waisted Skinny Jeans // $69.00

Cynthia Vincent ‘Autumn’ Leather Fringe Crossbody Bag, White // $171.50 on sale, originally $350

B-Low The Belt Bri Bri // $146.00

River Island Tan Brown Suede Heeled Ankle Boots // $130.00

zeroUV Classical Metal Teardrop Aviator Sunglasses // $14.95

Love the look? Want a cheaper alternative for the picks I chose?

Let me know in the comments section below.
XO

AC

Beyoncé X Flash Tattoos

One of the hottest accessories this season has been temporary tattoos, specifically metallic ones that can take place of a piece of jewelry. Today, Flash Tattoos, the leading brand in jewelry inspired temporary tattoos, announced and released their collaboration with the one and only, Beyoncé.

Co-designed by Queen Bey herself, the set features 5 sheets of metallic tattoos with designs that include BB guns and holsters, bees and honeycomb cuffs, beehive flower motifs, ornate ankle and bracelets bands, phrases from her lyrics, like “Naughty Girl” and “Flawless,” and a set of necklaces with “Diva” and “Flawless” printed on them. The designs are in an array of metallic silver, gold and black, and can be used together or stand alone.

In a statement about working with Beyoncé, Flash Tattoos founder Miranda Burnet said, “We’re thrilled to welcome Beyoncé to the Flash family! Working with her has been incredible — she brought really original and beautiful ideas. We came up with a pack that we are all really proud of and excited to wear. The collection is an edgier take on traditional jewelry — we wanted to focus on making a strong and empowering statement with the designs that embodied Beyoncé — fierce, fabulous, and flawless!”

The Flash Tattoos are available now online for $28 here. Get a look at a handful of the designs below, in Beyoncé’s “Feeling Myself” music video, or in one of the many photos circulating Instagram right now, including Bey’s.

I’m dying to get my hands on this set, the lyrical script options are my favorite! Will you be buying Beyoncé’s Flash Tattoos set? Share your thoughts in the comment section!

XO

AC