Color in Bloom

For spring 2012, it’s all about color! Especially bright colors and neons. Today, we’ll visit some of the hottest color trends of the season.

Take a look at JCrew’s Spring collection. The focus is definitely on bright, eye-catching colors inspired by all things in bloom for spring. Color blocking is a huge trend, which is pairing solid bright colored pieces with other solid bright pieces of different colors, like in each picture below. Notice the colored skinny jeans, which are a must have this spring!

Next, let’s look at makeup trends in color. On the runway, the biggest trend we saw was bright fuchsia or tangerine lips paired with a neutral eye with dramatic doll lashes and a peach flush on the cheeks.

Want to try this look? On the lips, use Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti for the look on the left, or Lollipop for the look on the right. Then sweep the Covergirl Eye Enhancers trio in Shimmering Sands across your lids. Top off the eyes with Maybelline Illegal Length Fiber Extensions Mascara for those dramatic doll lashes, then use Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in Blissful on the apples of your cheeks for a warm glow. Leave your skin dewey, no powdering down. Matte is out, natural is in!

Another hot trend for spring and summer is neon nail polish! It will look great against tan skin and is perfect for the color blocking trend because you can paint your nails a bright color and not need to worry about matching it to the rest of your outfit.

What is your favorite color trend for spring? Will you try color blocking or are you just going to stick with one bright color at a time?

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, Let's Braid Your Hair!

The day after Christmas, I discovered something that would change my life forever. Something that would make my not-so-pleasant day pleasant. Something I would repeatedly thank my Aunt Holli for. This something is called Pinterest. I have 21 boards and over 1,000 pins. If I like something or can even remotely compare to it, I repin it. Yes, I have an addiction (BTW, if you want to follow me, my name is hayliejo), but this addiction however, is helping me find new things to do with my hair!

My latest obsession hair-wise, is braids. I absolutely love them! I always thought that you could do a French braid one way, but no! There are so many different ways you can do them. I’d like to show you a few of my favorite French braid ways off of my Pinterest board. I will also explain to you how to do them so you too can embrace the wonderful world of braids.

French braid pony~ This is a simple, but every pretty braided look. You simply section your hair into two sections; top and bottom, and french braid until you have reached the end of your top half. Then combine the top and bottom sections and secure it with a ponytail holder.

Upside down french bun~ I like to call this the softball do! It is ideal for softball players. It keep your hair up and it looks cool! You simply flip your head upside down and french braid your hair until you’ve reached the top of your head. You then tie the rest of your hair in either a ballerina bun (the picture) or a caterpillar bun (when your hair is pulled half way through the ponytail holder).

French Braid Pony~ I absolutely love this look! It’s cute, stylish and different! A new way to rock a pony. It looks best on ladies with longer, thicker hair. First you divide your hair into three sections; a small top, a medium middle and a larger bottom. Secure each section with either a clip or a ponytail to make sure you do not take hair from another section. Next, divide your middle section down the middle to create two separate parts. French braid them until the reach the middle of your head then continue to braid them down normally. Secure the ends of the braids. Next, take the top section and tease/backbrush to add volume and brush back. Next, take your bottom section and pull it up to where your braids meet. Secure your ponytail in place. Take your braids and wrap them around the base of your ponytail and secure with bobby pins. Next, take your top section and bobby pin it at the top of where your braids meet. If your top section is longer, then secure that section when you secure your ponytail (before you wrap the braids around it). To add the curls, simply take a curling iron to the ends of your ponytail.

Side French Braid Bun~ I love how this little french braid adds to an everyday bun! It gives it that touch of elegance. To achieve this look, part your hair on the side you wish to have the french briad. Start with smaller pieces and french braid back to about a few inches behind your ear and secure it with a clip or bobby pin. Take the rest of your hair and pull it into a low side bun and secure it.

Waterfall Braid~ The Waterfall Braid is just so cool! It looks more like knots than and actual braid! Start by doing the first two steps of a French braid. Holding the hair tightly (major in doing this braid!), drop the botton piece of the braid and make a new one and adding a piece of hair to the top on (like a French braid). Then braid again and drop the bottom piece again and add hair to the top piece. Make sure that you are keeping a firm hold on the braid when you are doing this or the braid will fall out as you go. If you need too, tug on the piece you dropped after you braid over it to make sure it is securely in their. Continue these steps until you reach your ear. Once you’ve reached your ear, simple braid the rest of those pieces down in a normal braid and secure it. If you do not like the braid at your face, you can twist it into a small, braided bun and secure it at your temple with a bobby pin.

I hope you are now encouraged to try some of these french braid do’s! You can find more on my Pinterest board and plently more on Pinterest itself! Don’t be afraid to try something new. If you don’t like it, undo it! You never know if you’re not going to like something unless you try it, so experiment! That’s why they call me *que Superhero music* “The Experimentor”! Hehe!

Prom Season!

Hey girls! It's that time of year again, Prom! Girls everywhere are thinking about that special night, who they'll share it with, and what they'll wear! When shopping for the perfect dress, whether it be for prom or another fancy occasion, I'd encourage you to make modesty your top priority. Here are some things to keep in mind!

1. Cover what needs to be covered! This seems like a ridiculous statement that shouldn't should not need to be said, but I've seen so many girls wearing prom dresses that they should be embarrassed to be seen in. They leave nothing to the imagination, and I will leave it at that! Remember that just because this is a special occasion doesn't mean you should make specially exceptions to your modesty standards. Make sure the dress never shows cleavage, even when you move around. Keep in mind that you won't be standing still all night, and continuously yanking up your gown is not attractive! I would also encourage you to find a dress that isn't sucked tight to your body. Also, if you aren't looking for a floor length dress, make sure that you find a dress that meets your standards in length, even when you are sitting down. Here are some cute modest styles: Love this dress from Nordstrom, which unfortunately is not in the small town that I live in. If you can find a dress with two straps, that's amazing!Halter styles are a great look for a modest gown. This dress, also from Nordstrom isn't my absolute favorite, partly because it's expensive, but it is modest. Luckily, halters are popular this year so I'd keep my eye out. Random dress I found online. I'm keeping with the purple theme :) One shoulder dresses can be very modest. Usually they come up pretty high. If you haven't noticed in store, this style is extremely popular!
2. Have your parents' approval. You and your parents may have completely different ideas of an appropriate dress. It's important that as daughters that we remember that our parents have much more wisdom and life experience than we do. They might be seeing a problem that you do not recognize as an issue but could really be a stumbling block to guys. Dads are especially great for this. Respect their opinions on the modesty aspect as well as their opinions in style. After all, they are very likely the ones who will be paying for your dress! If you don't have parents who can give you a modest perspective, seek the advice of an older sister in Christ. I love this cheesy photo!
3. Keep an open mind. It can be very difficult to find a modest prom dress, I know! If you keep your mind open to a variety of styles and options though, you might find just what you're wanting. For one, you could try stores that you might not usually look in. You don't have to shop in an expensive upscale boutique to find a pretty prom dress. Try the department stores and even second hand stores that sell gently worn dresses. You could find a beautiful dress at half the cost. Another thing to definitely keep your mind open to is alterations. You may find a dress that could be modest if you just had a minor alteration done. you might need to add a piece of cloth under plunging neckline or add a strap to a strapless gown. I just bought a strapless dress from JCPenny that I love. It stays up very nicely and keeps me well covered but I would feel more comfortable with straps, so we are having a family friend sew straps onto the dress. She will actually make them from an extra inch of fabric that needs to be hemmed off the bottom of the dress! So whether the dress doesn't quite fit right, or it needs some extra fabric, don't rule out having it altered.

I can't imagine that it would be hard to add fabric underneath the peephole in this dress. If you did that it would be very modest!

I love this dress. It looks pretty high but I would suggest adding either a short-sleeved formal jacket (Bolero) or straps to a dress like this.

Well happy shopping ladies! I hope you find the perfect prom dress!

Spring Hairstyle Inspiration!

Finally, spring is just around the corner!

I love trading in my heavy sweaters and dark colored clothing for light and airy fabrics, and soft floral patterns. Some of my favorite spring hairstyles are soft curls, swept-up pony tails, and clip-in flowers.

I'll show you some of my favorites! (Click on the photos for better resolution.)

Isn't this pretty??
Photo via Pinterest

This one is very pretty too! Photo via http://thebeautydepartment.com/hair/


Braided headband? How cute! Photo via http://weheartit.com/entry/22177630

I hope you enjoy these adorable hairstyles! I can't wait to try them myself:)

Wardrobe Staples

Now that you’ve Cleaned Out Your Closet for Something Bigger and Better Than Yourself, you have an excuse start replenishing your wardrobe with all new clothes! How exciting is that? Can you say, “weekend shopping trip with the girls”?

But how can you avoid buying clothes that will just sit in your closet again? Below are some staples for every woman’s wardrobe that will never go out of style. These items will stay in your outfit rotation for years and always look classy. Each season, you can add a few trendy pieces you like to spice it up. I would suggest spending more on these items below and less on trendy pieces that will go in and out of style quickly.

Now let’s get started! The first thing you need is a…

Little Black Dress

Had to know that was coming, right? A classic black dress will can be dressed up or dressed down to be fit for any occasion. Buy one that flatters your shape and is either sleeveless or has cap-sleeves, like the picture above. You can wear it alone when it’s warm, or with a cardigan when the weather is cooler. A black dress is a must have in a great wardrobe.

Black Skirt

A black skirt that hits right above the knee and compliments your body shape is another must have. While pencil skirts may look classy, they are not for everyone. If you can pull off a pencil skirt, then go for it! But on most of us, an A-line skirt is the most flattering.

White Blouse

 

A white blouse is an extremely versatile piece. It can be worn un-tucked with jeans for a casual look, or tucked into dress pant or your black skirt for a more professional look. You can wear it under a cardigan or blazer. It easily fits any occasion.

Trenchcoat

This is a perfect, light coat that always looks nice. One that cinches in at the waist will be most flattering. It looks great with jeans or with a dress or skirt. It won’t overpower your outfit or ever look bulky.

Cardigan

A cardigan might turn into one of your most worn items during the fall and winter. You can easily take a top or dress that is intended for summer and layer it under this to wear in the winter. It will look great buttoned with jeans or unbuttoned with a skirt, and is cozy and comfy.

White Tank Top or Camisole for layering

This is an obvious one. You can layer these under anything! Multipurpose and versatility is exactly what to look for when building a wardrobe. Neckline too low? Layer! Top a little see through? Too short? Layer!

Solid Tee and Long sleeve

Adding these to your wardrobe in a timeless and universally flattering color such as navy, eggplant, true red, or peachy-pink will add a pop of color to your outfits. You can layer these, or just as easily wear them on their own.

Blazer

Blazers are very in this season, so what more perfect of a time to purchase one? Not only will they instantly make you look stylish now, but they are a piece to carry with your through the years. Dressed down with jeans and a striped top, like above, gives you a high fashion look, but dressed up with dress pants or a black skirt with your white blouse will instantly give you a professional air.

Striped Top

Black and white stripes add a bit of nautical to an outfit but is always in style, even when nautical is not a current trend. They look great with any color and look chic layered under a blazer with jeans, or tucked into a skirt. Sleeves that hit right above the elbows are flattering on most as it gives the illusion of slimmer arms.

White Summer Dress

For events that take place in the humid summer heat and are a little more casual but still dress-worthy, a sleeveless white dress is good to have. It should be made of a lightweight fabric to keep you cool. You can easily take this into fall or spring with a cardigan and leggings.

Quality Jeans

You most likely already have a pair of jeans you love in your wardrobe. If not, invest in a great quality pair that is comfortable and fit well. Find a cut that Flatters Your Body Shape. I chose straight leg jeans for the photo above because my mom always says this cut is classic and will never go out of style!

Dress Pants

A nice dress pant is perfect for those events that are “in the middle”, too casual for a dress or skirt, but too dressy for jeans. They pair nicely with either a cardigan or a blazer, depending on the type of event.

Flats

Don’t forget the shoes! Basic black flats will go with you through everything! They can dress down skirts or dresses, or dress up jeans or pants.

Heels

And when the occasion calls for something more high-class, keep a pair of black pumps around. They’re great for special events, from dates to ceremonies.

Black Tights or Leggings

At times, it’s not quite appropriate to bare your legs. When this happens, have a pair of black tights or leggings (or both!) Tights can layer under skirt or dresses without heating you up, and leggings can be added to an outfit during the cold weather months so dresses and skirts are still wearable.

What other items do you think are wardrobe staples?