Say I Do in J. Crew?

Yes, I am an epic cheeseball for that title, but J. Crew's new bridal store (pics below) is too cute for words!  You guys know that I'm not a pink/ruffles/floral/polka dot wearing girly-girl most of the time, but I am a total hopeless romantic when it comes to wedding dresses.  I always watch Say Yes to the Dress on TLC, and I've always planned on going to Kleinfeld's to get my wedding dress (yes, I'm 18, I realize this is insanely premature).  But this J. Crew boutique may have swayed me a little.  More on that later.  First off, Olivier Theyskens is designing a collection for Theory! OMG.  He is one of my all-time favorite designers, and seeing him let go from Nina Ricci was heartbreaking (and totally undeserved).  And now that his clothes will be available at a slightly more realistic price point?  I'm hyperventilating.  Gah.  Love.


As for the random things from Shopbop that I want today:

T by Alexander Wang Goddess Skirt, $89 at shopbop.com, Theory Tresha E Dress, $395 at shopbop.com, Botkier Minnie Bag, $545 at shopbop.com: I am a hardcore pencil skirt fan.  When you have an hourglass shaped figure, pencil skirts are often the most flattering.  A-line skirts just make me look bottom-heavy.  The skirt is a cheaper alternative to the Balenciaga draped skirts from a few seasons ago, but toned down and a little easier to wear.  The black band highlights your waist really nicely, the subtle striped pattern kicks it up a notch from a basic neutral, and $89 is a fab price for a pencil skirt this polished.  Aside from the fact that I now love Theory (see above), this dress is adorable in a Southern belle summer dress sort of way.  The white is great for making anyone look tanner, the ruching at the waist and sweetheart neckline will give anyone an hourglass figure, and the detailing along the bottom keeps it from just a plain white dress.  There are two reasons I love this Botkier bag.  First off, 50% of proceeds to go to Oxfam America, which is a lot for a designer item.  Second off, it's a fab little neutral bag that you could wear anywhere.  It's simple enough to be versatile, but the braided details and warm hue make it interesting.


So here are the pictures of J. Crew's bridal store on Madison Avenue.  Um, can we have a collective sigh for how adorable this is?  There's a salon on the first floor where I assume you can buy accessories, jewelry, shoes, bridesmaid dresses, and also get services arranged for your wedding (they have a mini wedding-planning service!  So cute).  Aside from the fact that the salon itself is so chic, look at the exclusive dresses they have at this store.  That sequined number belongs on my body. 




Downstairs they have an appointment-only showroom and dressing rooms.  Look at that dress on the left.  OMG.  That dress is so me that it makes me sick.



Hermes Belt, currently $242.50 at ebay.com, Balmain Ambre Gris EDP, $13 for 100 ml at luckyscent.com, Thierry Mugler Angel Sunessence Blue Lagoon, $80 for 1.7 oz at nordstrom.com: I picked up a copy of Lucky to read on the plain up to Oregon, and they had a picture of this girl wearing a really simple outfit, I think a tailored pair of shorts and a tee, and then a vintage Hermes H Buckle belt.  It was perfection.  I'm really not a label whore, I wouldn't buy things with giant LV or Chanel or Fendi logos on them, but the H gets me for some reason.  It's just so simple and classic, and somehow slightly equestrian, my favorite.  So the next time I have $300 to burn, that's where it's going.  I kept wondering when Balmain was going to release a fragrance, and then I realized that they already had!  That bottle is purchase-worthy alone, but the scent sounds amazing.  The notes are pink pepper, cinnamon, tuberose, immortelle, myrrh, smoky gaiac wood, benzoin, white musks, and ambergris.  It sounds deep and spicy and sweet and pretty darn fantastic.  Another perfume that I'm eyeing is this year's summer version of Thierry Mugler's Angel.  Angel is a little sweet and cloying for me, but with frozen star fruit, ginger flower, patchouli, and vanilla, it sounds lighter and fresher and spicier than Angel, and perhaps worth a look next time you're in Sephora.



Image Sources:
J. Crew wedding store: luckymag.com, T by Alexander Wang skirt: shopbop.com, Theory dress: shopbop.com, Botkier bag: shopbop.com, Hermes belt: ebay.com, Balmain EDP: luckyscent.com, Thierry Mugler EDP: nordstrom.com.

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My Steps to Happy Skin

I'm heading off to Oregon for the weekend, where it will hopefully be a lot sunnier than it is in California right now.  Anyways, today I thought it'd be fun to do a little skincare, both face and body, post with a little Etsy shopping thrown in.  Enjoy!


But of course first I had to put in some sparkly things.


OPI for Sephora polish in: 212-Sephora, Under My Trench Coat, and Lost Without My GPS, all $9 at sephora.com: I keep underestimating the OPI for Sephora polishes.  Some of them are actually quite lovely and unique, and yet I always tend to walk by them in the Sephora store. How gorgeous is this 212-Sephora polish?  It's a sheer black base with tons and tons of sparkles in different colors and sizes.  I think you guys know how much I love dark polishes with tons of sparkle.  It looks serious from far away, and then you get up close and it's a little fiesta on your nails.  Under My Trench Coat is such a unique color with such an adorable name. It's sort of a beige-khaki-grey with gold shimmer, and a really fun way to do a low-impact neutral that's not remotely boring.  Lost Without My GPS is another candidate in my search for the perfect summer mani-pedi nail color, a lovely red-orange creme with a bit of a vintage feel.




All Pink Dandy: Pucker Up Lip Balm in Latte, $3.50 at etsy.com, Sugar Glow Deluxe Body Scrub in Guava Fig, $10.50 for 8 oz. at etsy.com, Deep Conditioning Organic Hair Mask in Vanilla Noir, $7 at etsy.com: I love Etsy.  I love it for clothes, jewelry, shoes, and also beauty products.  Etsy is a treasure trove for adorable little cosmetic niche brands with fab scents and great packaging.  My newest obsession: Pink Dandy.  Slightly retro, cute-as-can-be packaging with a wide range of products and scents, and mostly vegan, nasty chemical free products.  The lip balm comes in fun flavors, like Latte and Buttercream, and combines a moisturizing formula with a hint of color.  The sugar scrub has scents like Guava Fig (delish!), is a great value, has a ton of essential oils for hydration, and seems to have sprinkles on top.  Like a cake!  A sugary cake!  So CUTE.  I'm always a sucker for hair masks, and this one comes in Vanilla Noir scent and it's organic.  Who doesn't want their hair to smell like vanilla musk?





Whipped Satin Luxury Cream in Red Apple, $7.50 at etsy.com, Foaming Bath Whip in Hello Sugar, $10 at etsy.com, Tropical Paradise Fruit Enzyme Face Soap Bar with Pineapple, Papaya, and Pomegranate, $4.50 at etsy.com: That body cream looks so fluffy!  I know it's overfilled, but that definitely looks like it will keep your arms and legs moisturized for days.  The red apple scent sounds perfect for summer, too.  I'm intrigued by these bath whips.  They seem to be highly concentrated, moisturizing shower gels, which sounds like a great alternative to the usual high-lather, low-moisture drugstore shower gels.  Hello Sugar also sounds like the ideal morning wake-up scent, with it's mixture of lemon, shortbread, and spices.  Last but not least, there's this fab handmade soap.  The pomegranate is a great anti-aging ingredient, and the papaya and pineapple are full of lovely, exfoliating enzymes.  $4.50 for a soap that hydrates, cleanses, and exfoliates is a pretty fab deal.







Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, $11.49 at drugstore.com, Clean & Clear Persa-Gel 10, $5.99 at drugstore.com, Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream, $13.49 at drugstore.com: With all this talk about skin care, I thought I'd take a moment and update you guys on what I was using for skincare.  I have pretty typical late teenage skin: dry in some places, oily in others, hormonal breakouts with some just generally clogged pores.  I had a lot of issues with my skin in highschool, mainly due to an ill-fated idea to rub Vitamin E oil on my face every night and then a bad relationship with Retin-A Micro (BAD NEWS BEARS), but I've finally managed to get all the craziness under control.  Here's what works for me: I stick with a really basic cleanser, generally this Cetaphil Gentle Skin cleanser.  It won't remove makeup, but it manages to clean my skin without stripping it dry, which is really all that I want.  I follow that up with a prescription benzoyl peroxide cream, but this Clean & Clear gel is a good substitute.  I like benzoyl peroxide.  It's old school, it's simple, and it really works to prevent breakouts.  I top that all off with this Cetaphil cream.  It's a lot more moisturizing than the Cetaphil cream, it doesn't break me out, and it doesn't make me oily.  It's basically my ideal lotion, and you get a LOT for the price.  Then, whenever I need extra exfoliation (I'm huge on exfoliating, it seriously cuts down on breakouts and scarring), I use either this Freeman mask, for gentler exfoliation, or this St. Ives mask for problem days.  As for the hormonal breakouts, I'm a huge fan of Yaz.  I know birth control doesn't work for everyone, but it has all but eliminated my breakouts and if you suffer from that fab monthly breakout, I highly recommend it.




Image Sources:
OPI polish: 212-Sephora: stephscloset.com, Under My Trench Coat: stephscloset.com, Lost Without My GPS: stephscloset.com, Pink Dandy: lip balm: etsy.com, sugar scrub: etsy.com, hair mask: etsy.com, body cream: etsy.com, shower whip: etsy.com, soap: etsy.com, Cetaphil cleanser: drugstore.com, Clean & Clear gel: drugstore.com, Cetaphil moisturizer: drugstore.com.

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I'm Alive!!! And J. Crew.

Sorry for the posting fail this week, but yesterday I had a date with my bathroom floor and a lovely case of food poisoning.  Thank you, Jamba Juice.  But I've recovered (kind of), and even managed to do a little shopping today!  If that doesn't make a you feel better, it's time to go to the doctor.


I picked up this striped tee and this elephant necklace, neither of which I could find on the Forever 21 website, but the shirt was $10.80 and the necklace was about $6.80.  I would have never picked up this striped tee, mainly because I am so not a stripes person, but Maud suggested it, and I totally love it!  It's very French girl chic, and it's super comfy.  The navy on white stripes are actually pretty flattering, and it's just a fun little summer shirt that I can get a lot of wear out of.  The necklace has a giant elephant head pendant with some bling-bling--it even has little green eyes!  So cute.  Forever 21 had at least 10 different elephant necklaces today, no joke.  I picked this one because elephants are my school mascot (aw), and I think that the frontal elephant head is a little fresher than the usual profile elephant.  And you guys know my obsession with awkward animal jewelry.



Diane Kruger in Jason Wu at Cannes.  This is my favorite dress from Cannes, hands down.  It definitely makes a statement with those colors, but it's incredibly simple and tasteful.  The cut is very flattering, there's just enough embellishment, and I love how she kept everything else simple.  Plus, I heard she does her own hair and makeup AND styling!  Serious props.



The J. Crew summer sale just started, and I picked out a few pieces that I really love, plus a few new pieces that aren't on sale, and are just plain pretty.


Majesty Stone Cocktail Ring, $29.99 down from $68 at jcrew.com, Tissue Boyfriend V-neck Tee, $19.99 down from $29.50 at jcrew.com, Sunray Sequin Tee, $14.99 down from $52 at jcrew.com: I've wanted this ring forever (giant cocktail rings are so perfect for, well, cocktail parties and even better during the day), and $30 is a bargain for a J. Crew cocktail ring.  I've seen it in person, and it's huge and statement-making and just generally awesome.  I think my favorite pieces from J. Crew are t-shirts, especially their boyfriend v-necks and their embellished tees.  These v-necks have the perfect fit, flattering but not skintight, and just get softer and comfier each time you wash them.  The sunburst pattern on this embellished tee is so fun, and it's a great way to add a workhouse white tee to your wardrobe without feeling like it's too basic or boring.



Cashmere V-neck Cardigan, $119.99 down from $168 at jcrew.com,  Skinny Flip-flops, $6.99 down from $12.50 at jcrew.com, Solid Underwire Tie French Top, $50 down from $34.99 at jcrew.com: J. Crew cashmere cardigans are fantastic wardrobe staples.  They're cashmere, so they're warm and cozy, and they come in a wide variety of shades and basic, flattering styles.  This schoolboy-esque cardigan is one of my favorites.  The little pockets are streamlined and practical, and the buttons give just the right amount of contrast.  Basically, any time J. Crew's cashmere cardigans go on sale, buy them.  I know the flip-flops seem random, but J. Crew's rubber flip-flops are the comfiest flip-flops EVER.  It's something about the plastic, but they are worth the $7, no question.  I've come to the conclusion that I need a bikini top with an underwire.  Confession time: I'm a 32D, aka an awkward bra size, and halter/triangle tops just don't have any support.  I love the retro-glam, French girl on the beach vibe, and it comes in a ton of different colors.




Linen-silk Bustier Dress, $198 at jcrew.com, Silk Cargo Dress, $118 at jcrew.com, FENTON/FALLON for J. Crew Jaws Earrings, $85 at jcrew.com: None of these are on sale, I just like them.  First off, I'm so glad J. Crew finally put out a bustier dress!  I love bustier dresses, and theirs manages to walk the line between tasteful and lingerie-inspired very nicely.  This army-green dress is so perfect for summer/fall's military trend.  The neutral color is both flattering and versatile, and the safari meets army cut is so, so on-trend.  You could throw this on and be out the door in seconds, and get so many different looks out of it with different accessories.  I want these earrings.  They're so awkward looking, which is part of why I love them.  The combination of the rhinestones on top and the askew 'sharks teeth' on the bottom gives these earrings the perfect amount of thematic tension.  Plus, they're the perfect statement piece for any basic outfit.






Image Sources:
Diane Kruger: gofugyourself.com, J. Crew: ring: jcrew.com, v-neck: jcrew.com, embellished tee: jcrew.com, cardigan: jcrew.com, flip-flops: jcrew.com, bikini top: jcrew.com, bustier dress: jcrew.com, safari dress: jcrew.com, earrings: jcrew.com.

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Sex and the City and Sparkles

I'm one of those people that's going to see Sex and the City 2 not because of the surely sparkling, witty, well-written plot (no sarcasm there, nope) but because it's basically fashion porn.  They spent some insanely ridiculous amount ($500,000?) on wardrobe, and then on top of that, it takes place in Morocco, so it's pretty much also travel porn.  Just look at these two Samantha outfits.  That robe is INSANE.  The top is all men's button-up, and the bottom is a Mata Hari status train.  Or if you prefer simple and edgy, there's this LBD with cutouts (Alexander Wang?).



And then there's all the 'travel' themed ensembles!  Turbans!  Hats!  Scarves!  Me want.  How adorable does Charlotte look here?  Note to self: buy over-sized floppy hat for summer.



What girl doesn't want to lounge around in a fab desert tent in vintage couture?  The dresses!  The food!  The fact that they're putting SJP in Halston so often, which is adorably appropriate.



OPI Burlesque Collection, drops in September, left to right: Let Me Entertain You, Ali's Big Break, Tease-y Does It, Simmer & Shimmer, Show It & Glow It!, Sparkle-icious: This isn't the entire collection, but it's a little preview of the awesome sparkliness that this collection is full of.  It has shades that are basically creme bases with a ton of shimmer, as seen on the left, and it has shades that look like they have clear bases and are pumped full of glitter, like the shades on the right.  I want all of them, especially Ali's Big Break and Sparkle-icious, and I totally adore the burlesque theme (I'm a hardcore Moulin Rouge fan).  My only problem with this collection is that it doesn't come out until September.  Gah.  So long to wait!



Nubar Polish in Midnight, left without topcoat, right with topcoat: So this polish is a shimmer matte, aka a polish with a matte finish that's also full of shimmer.  I know.  I'm drooling.  You can wear it the edgier way, without a topcoat, and it's a little more fun than your average matte because of all that shimmer, or you can put a glossy topcoat over it for polish that is jam-packed with shimmery fire.  I love the concept, and I love the charcoal grey shimmery hue, because it's dark enough to be vampy but it's not as serious and intense as, say, a burgundy creme.



And to end on a happy note, Lara Stone got married (awww) and of course she got married in a custom-made Givenchy gown.  I absolutely love this.  It flatters her so well, fits perfectly, and is a nice mixture of the fashion-forward, with the varied textures and thigh-high slit, and the classic.  Very appropriate for a super model, and not something that will end up looking dated soon.



Image Sources:
Sex & the City photos: nymag.com, Lara Stone: fashionologie.com, OPI polish: temptalia.com, Nubar polish: temptalia.com.

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Things I'm Allowed to Buy

I have a running list on my phone of things that I'm allowed to buy whenever I'm out.  I realize that sounds silly, but it's how I keep myself from keeping crazy impulsive buys or forgetting to buy things that I actually need.  I highly recommend doing this if you're like me and have a chronic ability to forget basically everything.  Anyways, I thought I'd share what was on my 'to buy' list at the moment.  A lot of this stuff you'll probably recognize from previous posts, and I took out the really random things, like new phone cover and replacing my missing bikini top.


American Apparel Interlock Pencil Skirt, $32 at americanapparelstore.com, Longchamp Le Pliage Tote, J. Crew 3" Chino Short, $39.50 at jcrew.com: I have this skirt in the mini version, and while I love it to death, it's a little short to wear while the sun's out.  I've been eying this longer version as an alternative to my mini.  Maybe I'll get it in navy, and then tuck floaty little tanks into it or throw on bigger shirts like a men's button-up or a baggy v-neck over it.  I'm not a fan of using Longchamp totes as actual purses all the time, just because they're canvas and totes aren't meant to be real bags, but to carry my books around school they're perfect.  Since pretty much every girl at my school has one, I'd like to get one with some sort of print on it, like this Eiffel Tower version.  It adds a bit of quirky flair to an otherwise neutral bag.  I realize that I've posted these shorts about 600 times, but I really do need a nice pair of structured shorts for summer, and as soon as I have actual money in my bank account, I'm picking these up.  The 3" inseam is short enough to be cute but not so short that they aren't decent, and I'd go for a dark neutral, just because white/pale shorts are pretty much the least practical thing ever.



MAC shadows in All That Glitters and Beauty Marked, both $14.50 at maccosmetics.com, Frye Jacey Studded Huarache in Cognac, $138 at fryeboots.com: The things that take up the most space on my 'to buy' list are definitely MAC shadows.  I think there are about six on there at the moment, but these are the two I'm most interested in.  I want a nice, shimmery beige to use as an all over lid wash, and All That Glitters fits the bill perfectly.  I also need a dark color to add some smoke to my smokey eyes, and I think Beauty Marked might be a nice alternative to the usual black or dark brown, and the hint of fuchsia shimmer would contrast nicely with the green in my eyes.  On an unrelated note, I really want an interesting pair of flat sandals for summer.  I have more flip flops than any girl needs, and I can't justify buying another pair of gladiators.  I'm really feeling these huaraches.  They have a really organic, craftsy feel to them, and since they're Frye, they'd last me forever.


J. Crew Cotton Pimm Skirt, $64.50 at jcrew.com, Twistband Hair Ties in Neutral Solids, $10 at thetwistband.bigcartel.com: I really want a pleated skirt for summer/fall.  The only problem I have with them is that while they're really on-trend, I wore khaki pleated skirts to school everyday for the last nine years, and khaki is the color of choice for next season.  The way that I think I could do this trend without feeling like I was late for school would be do it in a non-neutral color with softer pleats, which is where this J. Crew skirt comes in.  The elastic waistband makes it crazy comfy and highlights the waist perfectly, and the pleats are noticeable but not schoolgirl sharp.  These Twistbands have been on my cravings list for a while now.  My hair is finally actually long enough to pull into a sizable ponytail, and I want something a little more festive than the usual elastic band.  Twistbands are something you could probably make yourself for less than half the cost, but they're so pretty and they come in so many colors that I could totally justify buying them.  I like this neutral 5-pack as a starter set.



NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in French Fries, $2.75 at ecrater.com, NARS Multiple in Lamu, $38 at sephora.com: I just posted about this NARS multiple, so I won't wax poetic about that again.  It's hard for me to track NYX down, but I've heard such great things about their eye pencils.  French Fries is this gorgeous golden-bronze color that would be so perfect for a smokey summer eye.



MUFE Aqua Eyes Liner in 23L, $17 at sephora.com, D&G L'Imperatrice EDT, $65 for 3.3 oz at sephora.com: I also just blogged about this MUFE liner, but just to recap, it's a lovely pale golden-pink that would brighten up my inner corners and lower waterline perfectly.  I'm really weird about perfumes.  I tend to use them over and over until I really can't stand wearing them anymore.  So I love my Coco Mademoiselle, but I really need to switch it up.  I've tried on this D&G EDT a bunch of times, and I think I'm in love.  The lasting power isn't great, but you get so much for the price that I'm okay with that.  The notes are rhubarb, kiwi accord, red currant, pink cyclamen, watermelon, jasmine, musk, sandalwood, and grapefruit wood, but what it really comes across as is peach.  A sort of musky, almost standoffish peach, not an overly sweet super friendly peach.  It sounds weird, but it's summery and unique and sexy without being too generic or boring.



LUSH Honey I Washed the Kids Soap, $7.95 at lushusa.com, Ray-Ban Classic Aviators, $139 at nordstrom.com, OPI Polish in Cajun Shrimp, $3 at amazon.com: So I've made it my mission to get my butt into a Lush sometime soon, and I think the first thing that I want to get to ease myself into Lushness is soap.  Their soaps look and smell amazing, and I could definitely use a luxurious soap to work into my shower routine.  Honey I Washed the Kids smells just like honey, one of my favorite scents, and has honeycomb on top for a little exfoliation.  I really love my Ray-Ban Wayfarers, but I'd like to mix it up and get some Ray-Ban aviators.  First off, I love Top Gun, and these are so, so Top Gun (just realized that all my sunglasses have been featured in Tom Cruise movies.  Wayfarers = Risky Business.  Weird).  I've tried them on, and they actually work with my face shape, which is such a rarity that I can justify getting them for that alone.  I think I've posted OPI's Cajun Shrimp at least five times, but I'm actually gonna get it this time, I promise.  It's the perfect summer mani/pedi color, a bright orange-red creme. 



And tickets to Prince of Persia when it comes out in a week.  No one needs to judge me for this, I've already judged myself excessively, don't worry.  I just have an obsession with movies like this and The Mummy, aka historical action dramas full of pretty people.



Image Sources:
American Apparel skirt: americanapparelstore.com, Longchamp tote: longchamp.com, J. Crew shorts: jcrew.com, MAC All That Glitters: bargainsalonproducts.com, MAC Beauty Marked: myspace.com, Frye sandals: fryeboots.com, J. Crew skirt: jcrew.com, Twistbands: thetwistband.bigcartel.com, NYX Eye Pencil: ecrater.com, NARS Multiple: sephora.com, MUFE liner: sephora.com, D&G EDT: sephora.com, LUSH soap: lushusa.com, Ray-Ban aviators: nordstrom.com, OPI polish: amazon.com, Prince of Persia trailer: youtube.com.

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