Mad About Plaid

It's no secret that plaid is a fall and winter staple.  This season we're seeing plaid all over the place, not just on flannel tops -  pants, scarves, hats, and shoes all carry this classic pattern.  The hottest plaid combo of the season is definitely blue, red, and white plaid.  There's something super crisp about this color combo.  What I love most is that it doesn't scream fall or winter, so you could really wear it all year round (if the piece isn't a flannel material).  I'd tuck it into my jeans in the summer or even use it as a swimsuit coverup come 4th of July time.  I recently purchased this plaid shirt from Zara (see image below) and I've been wearing it nonstop!  I love to wear the piece with a black or white top underneath.  If I'm going for a casual look, I'll throw on a cotton V-neck below, but if I want to dress it up a bit more, I'll throw on a silky cami.  What I love most about plaid tops is that no matter the pattern, can you can pair the piece so many ways.  I love to wear my plaid shirts wrapped around my waist a) because I feel super cool when I do so and b) because if I get cold I can just throw it on!  It also looks super chic layered under a leather jacket!  The possibilities are endless.  How are you wearing plaid this season?  

Zara Plaid

Fall Fashion: Flares

The 70's are once again having a moment, and I predict that this moment is here to stay well into next year.  One item that I'm loving this year is the flare jean.  I've always been rather skeptical about this style, just because it is a little hard to pull off for us shorter girls.  I've spoken to a few style experts and have gotten their advice on how to rock the flare.

• Length - The most important thing is the length, you don't want to ruin the proportions of the denim by purchasing a regular length pair of flares and hemming them.  Try on a petite pair even if you may not be exactly under 5'4".  Make sure that the denim tapers at all the right points! 
•  Footwear - Even though you may be purchasing petite flares, you'll want to remember to purchase your denim with a slightly longer seam to accommodate for your footwear.    Pair your flares with a pair of platforms or wedges to instantly elongate your leg.  Groovy!

image via tumblr.com

Get the Look - I've linked a few of my favorite pieces below at a variety of price points.

Flares - Forever21, Gap, Joie

Wedges - Zara, Ralph Lauren

Concealer Roundup

Concealer has been a life saver these days!  My skin has been acting up (especially around my chin) and I've been loading up on the concealer for those days that I want my skin to appear flawless.  Below are my favorite concealers - and the best part is that they are all from the drugstore and under $10 each!

Maybelline Master Conceal $8.99 on Ulta.com
This stuff is magic! It's super high coverage and a little goes a long way.  I dab a small dot on my Tarte The Buffer Airbrush Finish Bamboo Foundation Brush as the first part of my foundation routine, just to even out my skin tone.  It really works wonders on any redness or discoloration. Because of the consistency I don't use it around the eye area - it's a bit too thick.  Because this concealer covers so much, I just use a dab of my foundation (currently in love with the Covergirl Ready Gorgeous Foundation) which gives me a much more natural look then if I was to go in with lots of foundation first and then cover up any redness or blemishes with concelear.

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer $4.19 on Target.com

This concealer is great for under the eyes.  I go up a shade lighter than my normal skin color for the bright-eyed look.  I dab a few dots under my eyes before applying foundation and blend with my Beauty Blender and then do the same once I've applied my foundation.  You can also use it as a highlighter down the center of your nose.  It's extremely comparable to the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer - I've used them both and they're so similar, the only real difference is the price $4.19 vs $29.

NYX Concealer in a Jar $4.99 on Ulta.com
I did not like this concealer the first few times that I tried it.  It seemed to slip off my face within hours of application.   I love it now that I've found the proper way to use it!  With a clean finger, I like to dab it over any of my trouble spots that I may have missed once my foundation has been applied and viola! they remained covered all day.

So if you are like me and you find yourself needing multiple concealers in your daily makeup routine, check out all of these products. Depending on where your shop, your total for all three products will be less than $20!

*all images obtained via ulta.com