Trends for Spring 2015

It's here! Resort 2015 fashion season opened up this Monday with runway walks all over the world - designers showcased their works in cities like Dubai, Paris, Monaco - while Dior kept it fresh with featuring in Brooklyn.  The trends were simple, if not predictable - as par course, sailor stripes and floral print were all over the spring collections.  However, designers breathed new lives into these classics, and reinvented old ones to keep any from appearing stale and out of date. 

1. Sailor Stripes

If there is the word "resort" anywhere in the title, you can bet your bottom dollar that sailor stripes are going to be included.  Considered a summertime staple, sailor stripes are worn all the time at relaxed east coast retreats - there is no denying that the navy and white combo is a classic. 

But this is haute couture - classic doesn't cut it.  Designers like Chloe and Diane Von Furstenberg threw variety into the play by playing with the color wheel and the size of the stripes - and the remix was well received. Next spring, think about investing in a multi-striped maxi or a fresh new sailor stripe pullover!

Diane Von Furstenburg  - love the colors! 

Photo Courtesy of Chloe

2.  Bohemian

Embrace it: boho is back in full force on the runways.  Easy and breezy is certainly a favorite this summer with the return of palazzo pants and maxi skirts, and it doesn't look like that's dying out any time soon.  Plan on seeing peasant tops and long, flowy skirts everywhere next spring.  My personal favorite?  Giambattista Valli's psychedelic floral maxi dress - it reminds me of a costume out of Midsummer's Night Dream - gorgeous!

Giambattista Valli - how beautiful is this?

3.  Long A-line skirts

A surprising twist on the runway this season was the reapparence of the A-line midi.  This classic sillhoete took a backseat to more popular minis and bodycons for a while, but Louis Vuitton and Gucci made it clear that A-lines weren't dead.  Plan on getting more a-lines for next spring - however, try and avoid invoking poodle skirt imagery by trying it in different styles and colors, like Dsquared's wild red leather skirt. The midi, if done right, will be anything but outdated.

 

Gucci - classic but modern.  Love the color combination!

Dsquared - love the rich red!

What is your favorite trend for spring next year?

-xx, Beccy

Obsessed: Lilly Pulitzer Summer 2014 Collection

If you hear a whimpering sound, that's probably my wallet crying.

This month Lilly Pulitzer released its summer collection, and I am completely obsessed.  While I loved last year's nautical-themed collection, I way prefer the bright printed dresses Lilly is known for, and they have totally knocked it out of the ballpark!

While preparing this blog post, I thought I would just post about my favorite dresses - of course, I decided I liked all of them, and since I can't keep you around for a fifty-page blog post, I had to practice self control *sigh*.  I instead have limited myself to four of my favorite prints!

Here's the list!

1. Lobstah Roll

Source: Lilly Pulitzer

I really, really cannot get enough of this print.  I love the cute little lobsters, the color scheme, and the fact that it is literally on everything.  I'm not kidding.  It's on dresses, bags, cups, tumblers, phone chargers, koozies, everything.  Clearly there is no shortage of love for "Lobstah Roll".

2.  Tide Pools

Source: Lilly Pulitzer

If anything has a beachy or nautical theme, I need to own it.  Bonus points if it has shells.  And that is "Tide Pools".  The blue and white remind me of Chinese porcelain!  The swirly designs and shells give it such a breezy look.

3. Ring the Bell Boy

Source: Lilly Pulitzer

Some background on this print: it is inspired by the flowers that bloom every year at The Greenbriar, one of Lilly's favorite resorts.  This is totally different from any other floral print Lilly has done (in my recent memory).  It still keeps a fun atmosphere with its bright colors, but its definitely more subdued.  The plain white background makes it perfect to wear for a Sunday brunch on a lazy summer morning!

4. Mojo

Source: Lilly Pulitzer

I would have killed to have had this print on my Easter dress!  This one is so bright and playful.  I get happy just looking at it.  I also like how the colors deviate from the usual color scheme of Lilly prints - darker pinks, blues, greens and a pop of orange.  I feel like having a tea party just so I have an excuse to wear this dress.

What are your favorite prints from the collection?

-xx, Beccy 

 

Tulle-tally Gorgeous!

I think you will be hard pressed to find someone who doesn't think that tulle skirts are the most girly piece of clothing ever created.  Full, flouncy pastel skirts echo back to those days where you'd prance around your house in those tutus and dance costumes.  You probably think that those days are long gone, but....

You're wrong!!

A new trend is bringing back the days of little girl dress up in full force - it is now socially acceptable, even fashionable to wear full tulle skirts in public!

After peplum and leather leggings and that loathsome "All Sheer Everything" trend, the tulle skirt is a breath of fresh air.  The skirts are so gorgeous and ladylike that I want them all!

Here are some of my favorite pictures!

The skirt and sweatshirt combo is to die for.
(from Pinterest)

Pair your skirt with a statement necklace and voila! Fashion knockout.
(from Pinterest)

This skirt is from Crewcuts!! I think I'll grab it the next time I'm in there.
(from Pinterest)

I seriously can't get enough of these skirts.  What do y'all think?

-xoxo, Beccy

Organize Me! - Makeup

I've always had such difficulty when it comes to organizing my makeup and hair accessories.  The biggest problem I have is the fact that the only closet that is in my bathroom is a linen closet - as in the closet is built to store towels and linens.  This is great to have, but the problem is that it is very deep - and it makes it difficult to reach anything I need.  

I was getting very fed up with the constant state my bathroom was in.  I needed a major fix before school started - because there was no way I was going to function in mayhem.  And that was exactly the state my beauty products were in!

After reading a few ideas for organizing beauty products, I went to Target and bought myself a three-drawer cart in purple for $15.  Its so cute and fits perfectly just under my sink!

I store my body lotions, makeup removers, perfumes and face wash on the top of the storage unit for easy access!

I decided to group my makeup and organize it by drawers - face and lip products are in the top drawer and eye products are in the second.  The third drawer was for hair care products.  this organization worked well because it gives me room to grow my makeup collection while having more than enough room to organize everything nicely and neatly!

Here is how I organize my top drawer.  I couldn't find any small compartments that would work to store makeup, so I made due.  I used the lids to jewelry boxes (which I had a TON of) to sort and store the makeup in groups.  The layout worked so well!  I have all my face brushes and nail-grooming supplies in a drawer I took from a storage unit I never used, and then sorted face powders, blushes, bronzers and lip products into boxes in which they would fit.

My second drawer is all for eye makeup.  After doing a bit of cleaning out (throwing away old shadows, eye primers, liners that I never used, etc.) I was able to make a lot of space to expand!  I'll need that since I am absolutely addicted to eye products.

I grouped my mascaras, eyeliners and eye curlers into one of those drawers from the storage unit.  Its the perfect size and keeps all those liner tubes from rolling away!  I then stacked and stored my shadow trios and quads in the back behind the box that held the more "dressy" eyeshadows - ones with glitter and wild colors that would only be worn for a night out.  I couldn't find a box in which my cream shadow quads would fit, so I just laid them out it front.  

The third drawer is completely dedicated to my hair care regimen.  Here I store my hair masks, heat protectants, and hair accessories (hair clips, bobby pins and hairbands) as well as my wide-tooth comb - the only acceptable brush for damp hair!

And that is how I organize my makeup and hair products!  How do you organize yours?

-xx, Beccy

Whats In My Bag?

New vlog! Enjoy!

What is one thing you always have in your purse?

-xx, Beccy

Mani Mondays | Wet n Wild's Wild Shine in "Dreamy Poppy"

Unpainted nails make me sad.  

I love, love, love to paint my nails.  I feel so put together when they're decorated with a pretty shade.  These last few weeks have been so busy that I haven't had the chance to paint my nails - I felt naked leaving the house without a coat of polish!

Since summer is ending soon, I decided to try one last summery polish before settling into fall neutrals.  I was hoping I could find a pretty coral shade that wasn't expensive (I will not spend $8-$10 on a bottle of nail polish).  Needless to say, I got really excited when I saw Wet n Wild's nail polish in the color "Dreamy Poppy".

Wet n Wild Wild Shine in "Dreamy Poppy" - $1

I was so excited when I bought this.  The color seemed more of a coral pink than a poppy and it was only a buck!  It seemed so perfect for August.  I bought it immediately and took it home.

To be honest, you can tell this is a cheap nail polish.  The formula was weird - even when I had shaken it up, it still seemed slightly goopy.  It took forever to put on a first coat, because (and this will sound weird) the polish didn't move.  As soon as it hit the nail it would stay - it was like glue.

And it got worse.

The initial color reminded me of road construction crews.  A bright, fluorescent orange I have only seen on traffic cones had attached itself to my nails.  And it took FOREVER to dry.  It took about 30 minutes for each coat to at least get tacky, and that was with blowing on my nails and my nail drying spray.

Well, this morning it looked better.  It certainly looks more like a poppy than a coral - an it is definitely brighter than a lot of polishes I like to wear.  It is not how it appears in the polish bottle.  However, the color is actually starting to grow on me - it really is nice for August.  Alas I don't think its right for my pale skin.    But it is really pretty!

What are your favorite nail polish colors for August?

-xx, Beccy

Five Things to Do When Stressed

What happened to August?

It's crazy to think that summer is ending.  I'm sad to see it go, since I know as soon as the first snow hits I am going to miss sunny skies and perfect, 70 degree weather.  I'm going to miss ice cold Arnold Palmers on the porch and late nights cruising with friends around town.  I am DEFINITELY going to miss sleeping in.  

However, I am excited for the upcoming fall.  Every now and then you can feel the autumn chill in the air.  It reminds me of pumpkins, dried corn, apple cider and colored leaves.  Oh, and pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks.  Can't forget those!

However fall starting means school, which means homework and projects and after-school activities.  Its easy to get overwhelmed.  Here are a few of my own tips on what to do when you get stressed out during this school year:

1. Organize and Re-group

When you feel overwhelmed, you won't be productive no matter how hard you're working.  Take a pause and re-group.  Look over your schedule for the next few days.  Determine what is the highest on your priority list.  Is there a major history test in two days?  Then those French flash cards for next Friday can definitely wait.  Have a major project or paper due in two weeks?  Decide what you will work on each day.  My dad used to tell me this saying all the time when I would get overwhelmed: 

"Inch by inch its a cinch.  Yard by yard its hard."

Trying to do everything at once will just stress you out - plus you won't get nearly as much done.  Take a breather, open your planner, and break up that mountain of papers and deadlines into smaller, bite-sized chunks you can handle.  Also, don't try and tackle the hardest tasks first.  Knock out the smaller, easier ones so your list will begin to shrink and you will see progress.  

2.  Get Sweaty

I don't know about y'all, but when there is a lot on my mind (papers, tests, projects, homework, social activities, you name it) I tend to stay awake an hour after lying down to sleep thinking about all I still have to do.  Don't let yourself lose an hour of sleep over what you have to do tomorrow!  Every day, either before you go to sleep or when you start to feel overwhelmed, try to exercise for thirty minutes.  That can either be blasting your favorite music and dancing, running or biking.  It doesn't matter as long as it gets your heart rate up and your adrenaline pumping.  Once your done, you'll return to your work refreshed, more focused and you'll be asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow.

3. Paint Your Nails

Sometimes you just need to stop working on whatever and have a little "me" time.  Pick your favorite color, sit down with some music and paint your nails.  You'll be surprised how much better you'll feel whenever you look down and see your favorite color glittering back up at you.

4.  Drink Some Hot Tea

Sometimes all you need is tea.  A hot cup of tea can do wonders.  It can refresh you with its heat.  Its herbal qualities can calm your nerves which can leave you more focused and it can invigorate you for a few more hours of cram time.   To calm nerves and reduce anxiety caused by long "To-Do" lists, drink some chamomile tea.  Another one of my favorites is black tea - it has just enough caffeine to give you a little jolt, but not enough to make you jittery.  Its herbal qualities also calm anxiety and help you focus!

5.  Take A Nap
A common (and stupid!) mistake that many students make during school is deciding to throw sleep out the window when deadlines begin to pile up.  This practice will hurt your grades, activities and health if practiced for a long time.  To be able to concentrate and understand your studies, you need to sleep.  Cognitive function is the first thing your body will stop supporting when it is running on little energy.  Just like you shouldn't drive when you're drowsy, you shouldn't try and cram when you can barely keep your eyes open.

To help with this, set your alarm and take a 20 minute power nap.  You'll wake up refreshed and ready for a power study session, but you won't affect your normal sleep schedule.  It will also help with stress, as situations often are magnified by exhaustion.  When you wake up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, you'll be able to assess the situation clearly and understand what exactly you need to do.

What are your daily de-stressing routines?
-xx, Beccy