Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Fashion, Trends & More x Ethereal Ideal

Photo taken by Kevin Murphy for Ethereal Ideal

Hello! A couple weekends ago I teamed up with Ginnie Leigh for a photoshoot for her brand, Ethereal Ideal. Ginnie creates the most beautiful bohemian headpieces perfect for festivals, photoshoots or free-spirited events. For the shoot, we followed a dark bohemian theme. I styled an all black look topped with a glamorous vintage fur coat and piles of bohemian jewelry. Ginnie perfected my look with one of her own designs. You can check out the rest of her designs in her etsy shop HERE


Faux fur coat: Vintage
Turquoise choker necklace: c/o LightInTheBox
Rings: Assorted
Black clay tassel necklace: ShopGlister
Lipstick: ColourPop
Headpiece: Ethereal Ideal

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Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Seventies Disco Fever Meets Modern Drama Queen

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Hello! Recently, I discovered the most brilliant metallic jumpsuit at one of my favorite Richmond shops, Ashby. When I spotted this silver beauty hanging on the racks at Ashby, I picked it up on a whim. For the past couple weeks, I've been focusing on more dramatic aesthetics and I felt that the shimmering silver glow and disco style of this jumpsuit certainly fell into the category of dramatic but I still wasn't sure about it. When I slipped it on, it fit like a dream and I purchased it on the spot. And for less than $20, this beauty was quite the steal. 

This jumpsuit definitely emits a very "seventies disco fever" vibe. For this look, I decided to play that Saturday Night Fever vibe as well as pile on the drama. I styled a glamorous leopard print faux fur jacket and personalized "Tori" necklace with the jumpsuit. I emphasized the retro aesthetic I was aiming for by experimenting with my hair and makeup. For my hair, I simply parted it down the center and teased it for that seventies volume. As for makeup, I kept my face fairly simple and rather chose to focus on my eyes; I ditched the black eyeliner and swiped on a glitzy baby blue shadow with big bold lashes for a ridiculously seventies look. 

Metallic jumpsuit: New York and Company via Ashby
Leopard print coat: Vintage
Lipstick: ColourPop in "Oh Snap"
Eyeshadow: ColourPop
"Tori" necklace: c/o Personal Necklace

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Monday, November 28, 2016

ShopGlister Collaboration

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Taken by Elissa Rumford.
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Taken by Elissa Rumford.

Hello! A couple weekends ago, I had the pleasure of collaborating with several lovely Richmond ladies on a ShopGlister photoshoot. ShopGlister, a Richmond-based jewelry retailer, ranks high on my list of favorite local brands. A few months ago, shop owner and designer, Whitney, sent me one of her designs to showcase on my blog and boy did I (and still do!) love that necklace. Recently, I've had my eye on a few of her newer, totally swoon-worthy designs; she's been playing around color, texture and shape in a very intriguing way that I can't help but love. Her experimentation with clay and tassels has created an entirely unique, beautiful line of jewelry. 

I decided to stop just admiring her designs from afar (guys, her Instagram is like perfection) and reached out to set up a photoshoot. Whitney was on board right away and I got busy setting up a mood board and selecting models. I got lucky with finding the two perfect models to represent Whitney's brand- Elissa Rumford and Magan Shively. Like myself, Elissa played the role of photographer as well as model for this shoot. You can check out more of their work and aesthetics on their Instagrams @elissarummy and @magan_shively

For the shoot, I selected a very modern, clean, minimalistic theme to complement Whitney's designs. We stuck to a lot of neutral colors, bold silhouettes and interesting textures. As this was a winter lookbook of sorts, I wanted to focus on outerwear as well; several beautiful pieces of outerwear including a faux fur pink jacket and black cape jacket came into play for the shoot. 

Overall, I'm over the moon happy with how the photos turned out from the shoot. As a thank-you gift, Whitney gifted Elissa, Magan and I with a ShopGlister design of our choice and I've been wearing mine nonstop. And right now, Whitney is offering 30% off and free shipping in her shop with code SHOPSMALL. But be quick- this code expires when Cyber Monday ends. And guys, you're definitely going to want to take advantage of that offer- I already ordered a pair of her tassel earrings for myself. Shop her selections here.

On me:
Pink faux fur jacket: c/o LightInTheBox
Black romper: Ashby
Cat-eye sunglasses: Rumors
Jewelry: ShopGlister
Lipstick: ColourPop
Peachy bralette: Ashby

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Monday, November 21, 2016

SposaDress.com: 4 Swoon-Worthy Dresses

sposadress.com

Hello! Today, I wanted to introduce you all to SposaDress.com SposaDress is an online fashion retailer that specializes in stylish formal wear for women. They carry a wide selection of wedding dresses, wedding favors, accessories, wedding party dresses, cheap bridesmaid dresses and other special occasion dresses. It's always fun to browse through shops like SposaDress.com to see what designs are out there. Today, I've rounded up a few of my favorite SposaDress.com dresses to share with you all (featured in the photo above); read on to discover why these dresses reigned surpreme as my faves.

1. Strapless A-line Ruffled Chiffon Short Bridesmaid Dress $80. I'm absolutely loving the deep burgundy color of this dress. Perfect for the late fall season! 

2. Oversimplified Sweetheart Long Dress Wrinkled A-line Bridesmaid Dress $110. How could you not love the elegance and grace of this classic little black bridesmaid dress? This dress is the ultimate versatile formal gown. 

3. Black Charming Ruched Strapless A-line Short Bridesmaid Dress $80. Another little black dress that you simply can't go wrong with! 


Which dress is your favorite? I think that the first one would probably have to be my ultimate favorite.

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***Disclaimer: SposaDress.com provided monetary compensation for this post but I wrote the actual post and all opinions written in this post are mine.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

7 Coats Under $70 that will Keep you Chic All Winter Long

7 Coats Under $70 that will Keep you Chic All Winter Long
Winter Coat Blog Post

Hello! As the temperatures continue to drop outside, it's time to begin thinking about your winter wardrobe. And you know what that means: time to find your new favorite ever winter coat. Chances are you'll be wearing your winter coat more than essentially any other item in your wardrobe this season (except maybe that trusty black pair of tights that never rip or your fave pair of versatile booties) so it's important to find a coat that you love. Especially because your winter coat will often cover up your look- no matter how cute it is- so you definitely want to select a very fashionable, very "you" coat that will convey your sense of style and taste. Today, I've rounded up 7 stylish coats under $70 that will keep you chic all winter long. Read on to peruse my selections: 

1. Big Teddy Bear Faux Shearling Coat in "Blush", GoJane $44. Wow! The pretty pink color and luxe, cozy texture of this coat make it the perfect statement winter coat. Throw this on and any outfit will instantly go from "eh" to "okay, wow incredible." And you can't go wrong with this coat for just $44. 

2. Pile Jacket, H&M $25. This jacket defines winter boho chic. Perfect for throwing on with your favorite pair of bell bottoms or paisley printed dress. 

3. Trina Trench Coat in "Camel", Tobi $68. What won't this coat match? Although it may not be as fun as some of the other coats on this list, it definitely is very, very versatile as well as practical. It's a good everyday go-to coat- especially for less than $70. 

4. First and I Belted Coat in "Dark Olive," Asos $53. I absolutely love the retro vibe and funky color of this coat. 

5. Luxe BouclĂ© Overcoat in "Mint", Forever 21 $31.45. For just $35, this coat is quite the steal. It's perfect for dressing up any look or for more formal occasions such as over your New Year's Eve party dress. 

6. Head Of The Line Ridged Faux Fur Coat in "Pink," GoJane $44. I'll admit it, I totally fell for the pretty pink color of this coat. 

7. New Navy Hooded Sherpa Wedge Jacket, Express $65. So chic yet so versatile.

Which coat is your fave?

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Monday, November 14, 2016

A Dreamy Vision in Pink: Elissa Rumford x RaddayVintage

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Hello! I recently had the pleasure of working with Elissa Rumford on a shoot for RaddayVintage. You may recognize Elissa from another shoot that we did that I shared on my blog here. I was psyched to be able to work with her again. You know those people that you sort of just click with when working together? Well, Elissa is one of those people for me. It's so incredible working with someone who you can throw around ideas with and combine your creative energy for something truly awe-inducing. We shot three different looks but by far, the third look reigned supreme as my favorite and is featured above.

As we were shooting the second look outside, we realized that chances were slim of being able to shoot another look outside as the sun had already started to set. And we were right, it was dark by the time we wrapped up shooting the second look. However, we still wanted to shoot a third look so we started brainstorming and decided to shoot in a local laundry mat. I've only worked with natural light so shooting indoors was a new experience for me. But I love, love, love the results.

For this look, I pulled a vintage sixties cotton candy pink nightgown out of RaddayVintage's inventory. I wanted to focus on the femininity of the nightgown so I styled it with several other pink pieces including a pink faux fur jacket, pink coat, pastel pink heels and vintage pink bag. I accessorized the look with a light purple ribbon choker and glitzy eye makeup. The styling resulted in a dreamy pink vision. 

Pink accents in the laundry mat perfectly accentuated the ethereal pink look. You can shop the vintage pink nightgown in RaddayVintage here. If you're interested in seeing more photos from the shoot, you can check out my Flickr album

Pink nightgown: Available in RaddayVintage
Pink faux fur jacket: c/o LightInTheBox
Pastel pink heels: Jeffrey Campbell via ShopAkira
White bralette: Ashby
Pink coat: Ashby

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Sunday, November 13, 2016

A Fur Real Good Deal

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Hello! I recently discovered the most beautiful multi-colored fur jacket that I've ever seen at a local Richmond thrift shop, Diversity Thrift. Last year, I fell in love with a similar multi-color fur coat at Nasty Gal but unfortunately couldn't come anywhere close to affording it on my limited college student budget. The jacket that I spotted at Diversity Thrift was MUCH more affordable. Actually it wasn't just much more affordable but rather surprisingly inexpensive. The price tag simply read $15. $15!? For a vintage coat made from authentic rabbit fur in such great condition, saying $15 was a steal would be an understatement. I purchased the jacket without hesitation and am already completely and totally in love with it.

For this look, I decided to style the jacket with a trendy black and white star printed dress. Like the jacket, this dress is also a newer addition to my wardrobe. Recently, LightInTheBox sent me this dreamy dress to showcase on my blog and already it's one of my favorite dresses in a while- I'm in awe of the trendy starry print and flattering silhouette. This dress retails for $14 here. This dress is only one of several gorgeous pieces that LightInTheBox sent me to feature on my blog; stay tuned to see the rest of the pieces AND a $50 LightInTheBox shopping spree giveaway.

I accessorized my look with a vintage bohemian Western belt, statement cat-eye sunglasses, a golden watch and a trendy choker necklace. A dark pink lip gloss and nude heels added the perfect finishing touches to the look.

Fur coat: Vintage via Diversity Thrift
Starry dress: c/o LightInTheBox
Choker necklace: c/o LightInTheBox
Golden watch: Vintage
Heels: Jeffrey Campbell via Urban Outfitters
Cat-eye sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage
Western belt: Vintage

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Thursday, November 10, 2016

7 Beauty Products I Live By

7 Beauty Products I Live By

Hello! I know I don't usually share much about my makeup routine here but recently I've been more interested in makeup and I thought it would be fun to share 7 of the beauty products that I live by. All of these products are fairly affordable as well- ranging from $3-$26. After all, I'm not tryna spend a fortune on playing around with makeup- I think that takes the fun out of it. I've selected products from a variety of my favorite brands from classic drugstore brands to hip, up-and-coming beauty brands.

1. Boy Brow by Glossier, $16. The best way to describe this brow product would be "WOW." I love how easy it is to use and the more natural appeal of this brow product. It would be a bit dramatic to say that this brow product changed my life but hey, it definitely changed the way I do my brows and forever will. I am 100% never using another brow product again after this gem. I've used this product in both blonde and brown and am torn between which suits me better.

2. Perfecting Skin Tint by Glossier, $26. Let's be real, all Glossier products are practically life-changing. Like their boy brow, their perfecting skin tint also worked its way onto my list of products I swear by. I love how this product doesn't cover up my freckles but at the same time almost makes me feel like there's a super flattering filter over my face whenever I snap a selfie. This product is pricier but I think it's worth it. I use the lightest shade.

3. MegaLiner Liquid Eyeliner by Wet 'N Wild, $3. The key to my signature winged eyeliner. Even though this product only costs $3, I swear I've never found a better eyeliner.

4. "They're Real!" Lengthening Mascara by Benefit, $24. Talk about drama, drama, drama- the incredible impact of this mascara is almost too good to even try to describe. Using this mascara creates lashes that I've actually had people ask me if they're real or not so yeah, I'd say this product is pretty dang good.

5. "Bubbly" eyeshadow by ColourPop, $5. The absolute perfect glittery shade of pastel pink. Love this for creating Barbie-inspired makeup looks.

6. "Oh Snap" lipstick by ColourPop, $5. This shade is neutral but not too neutral which makes it the perfect accent to almost any look. And hey, it's only $5- you can't really beat that!

7. CG Smoothers Pressed Powder, $8. I love this powder as a finishing makeup touch for a matte face. I use the lightest shade.

What are some of your favorite beauty products?

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Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Incorporating Vintage Lingerie into Your Everyday Style

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Hello! Guys, let me tell you: you WILL get quite a few stares when incorporating vintage lingerie into your everyday looks but the unique appeal of the aesthetic is just too good to resist. When I spotted this bold floral vintage robe on the rack of a local Richmond thrift shop, my heart immediately soared and I knew that it had to be mine. Well, at least mine for RaddayVintage. The vivid, deep colors, artistic floral print and lightweight texture of the robe make it the perfect layering piece. Who said that robes should only be worn around the house?

For this look, I styled the robe as a kimono over a deep green lace-up romper. I chose to style a shorter piece with the robe to create contrast and movement. Incorporating pieces of vintage lingerie into your everyday aesthetic is totally do-able but definitely requires balance. For example, this robe is very long so I balanced the length of the robe with a shorter romper. The same concept applies to vintage nightgowns, camisoles, etc. For a vintage nightgown, you're definitely going to want to style it with something with a heavier texture such as a faux fur coat or chunky knit sweater. I'm also loving turtlenecks layered underneath vintage slip lingerie dresses right now. 

I wanted to play up the feminine colors of the robe so I styled a pretty pastel pink purse and pastel pink lace-up heels with the look. Can you tell I'm digging the lace-up trend? A handful of boho rings, cat-eye sunglasses and nude lipstick perfected the look. 

Vintage robe (worn as kimono): Available for sale in RaddayVintage
Pastel pink heels: Jeffrey Campbell via ShopAkira
Pink purse: Vintage
Green lace-up romper: Ashby
Cat-eye sunglasses: Rumors
Lipstick: ColourPop
Rings: Assorted

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Sunday, November 6, 2016

Moonstone Magic

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Hello! When all else fails when getting dressed, I know I can rely on styling a boho witchy look. Describing something as "boho witchy" may sound somewhat costume-y but it's actually more like Stevie Nicks starring in a Free People catalog (side note: can that actually happen please?) What I really love about boho witchy looks and aesthetics is truly how easy they are to style. Here's a simplified "recipe" to achieving the perfect boho witchy look: something black and unique + handfuls of natural stone jewelry. Yep, that's it. Obviously you can put more or less effort into it but that's pretty much all you need to conquer the boho witchy style.

For this boho witchy look, I started with a long black maxi dress. The vintage nature and interesting texture of the dress make it the perfect piece to style a boho witchy look around. I paired it with a bohemian pair of wedges, golden sunglasses, a golden western belt and a golden embellished purse. I took my jewelry to the next level and layered on ring after bracelet after necklace. I also took the opportunity to debut my new Moonstone Magic ring with this look.

Moonstone Magic recently sent me their "Gaping Cliff Light Moonstone Ring" and I can happily say that it's definitely one of my favorite rings that I've ever owned. The moonstone and bohemian design of the ring have completely and totally captured my heart. You can shop this ring here for $49.

Dress: Available for sale in RaddayVintage
Sunglasses: c/o Giant Vintage
Western belt: Available for sale in RaddayVintage
Coin necklace: Charlotte Russe
Multi-stone necklace: c/o ShopLately
Good vibes necklace: c/o JulBox
Earrings: c/o Kristin'sCandiShop
Purple druzy bracelet: Charlotte Russe
Turquoise stone bracelet: Rumors
Moonstone ring: c/o Moonstone Magic

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Saturday, November 5, 2016

Elissa Rumford x RaddayVintage

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Hello! Recently I've been packing my already very busy schedule with photoshoot after photoshoot. I know that I've said it before but styling and shooting for RaddayVintage reigns supreme as one of my favorite things about owning my own etsy shop. Letting my creative juices flow to create unique looks and aesthetically pleasing images just feels so right. In the next couple years, I'd love to try my hand at freelance styling as a career and expand my reach to working with many different brands.

For this shoot, I had the pleasure of working with Elissa Rumford. You can check out more of her work on Instagram @elissarummy or on her VSCO.  When I discovered that Elissa shares my love for the nineties, I decided to pull several nineties vintage beauties from RaddayVintage's inventory to shoot. 

We started with a beautiful paisley printed dress in rich autumnal colors accompanied by a fab pair of Givenchy sunglasses, vintage Doc Martens and a vintage suede fringe jacket. You can shop the dress here and the jacket here in RaddayVintage.

For the next look, we decided upon a very nineties striped minidress. I styled it with a classic pair of RayBan sunglasses, beat-up white Converse sneakers and a choker necklace- all very reminiscent of the nineties. For a couple shots, I also layered a denim jacket adorned with quirky patches with the dress. You can shop the dress here and the jacket here in RaddayVintage.

I pulled out a grunge-y red plaid midi/maxi dress for the third look and styled it with a vintage pair of Doc Martens, a choker necklace and statement cat-eye sunglasses. I love how this look looks against the industrial setting that we shot this look in. You can shop the dress here.

The last look (and quite possibly my favorite look out of the four) was styled around a dark floral nineties minidress. Brb- swooning over the moody print, dark colors and short silhouette of this dress. I paired it with a vintage men's blazer, choker necklace and super retro mod platform heels. What really gets me about this look is how unique yet totally wearable it it. And hey, most of it's available in RaddayVintage so you can rock this look for yourself. You can shop the blazer here and the dress here

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Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Touting My Wears x Fashion, Trends & More

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Zayas Imagery
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Zayas Imagery
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Hello! Recently I had the pleasure of meeting blogger babe, Rachel Yonan, the beauty and brains behind Touting My Wears. I've had an Instagram crush on Rachel for well over a few months now so when she reached out to me about collaborating on a photoshoot, I practically jumped with joy. Like myself, Rachel attended school for fashion merchandising and besides blogging, currently does freelance social media management, styling and photography. I'd love to see myself in a similar position to Rachel in a couple years so I definitely look up to her not only as a fashionable friend but as a successful player in the Richmond fashion scene.

For our looks, we both styled outfits that felt very true to our own personal aesthetics. I slipped into my favorite fall floral dress alongside my pretty pastel pink ballerina heels and vintage pink purse. I accessorized with handfuls of golden jewelry and a ribbon choker necklace. Pink lipstick and rhinestone studded lash lines perfected my look.

Rachel styled a sophisticated yet trendy look around her statement red hot skirt and neutral-colored top. She accessorized with simple golden jewelry and a trendy black choker necklace. We hadn't planned it but we actually both ended up sporting choker necklaces- I guess fashionable minds think alike!

Another aspect that both my look and Rachel's had in common was the statement coats we were rocking. My grandmother gifted me with this dreamy vintage jacket several years ago and I'm still in awe of its beauty. Rachel grabbed a beautiful Evam Eva jacket from Verdalina to perfect her look.

Photos by Paul of Zayas Imagery.

On me:
Floral dress: Urban Outfitters
Pastel pink heels: Jeffrey Campbell via Shop Akira
Jewelry: Assorted
Pink purse: Vintage
Cream-colored jacket: Vintage

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