Hauls are from Mars!

Ladies and Gentleman, I am back!

    I sincerely apologize for my extended absence, things are a bit more hectic in my personal life. I have yet another haul to show you! I went with one of my best friends to the mall today. I didn't intend to spend all that much, but I ended up spending over $200! Shame on me, I know!
    

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden, Urban Decay Electric Palette, Stila Stay All Day liquid liner in Intense Black

Cosmetic Warrior, Love Lettuce, Mint Julip Lip Scrub, Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub

     I ended up spending about $96 at Sephora. I don't know if I have mentioned this before, but I adore the Electric palette. I just HAD to have it, so I ended up buying it.

     I did a quick swatch on my friend's arm with the palette. I absolutely love how vivid and pigmented these colors are. I will have so much fun playing with these, believe me.

     I must reiterate how fun and bold these colors are. I just can't wait. Ahh, the summer is looking up already. Clubbing makeup, here I come!
 
     Among the the makeup I bought, I also bought the Urban Decay Primer Potion. I nearly forgot I was running out of my previous eye primer, so I decided to buy it. Was it worth 20 dollars? Yes, the primer really helps the shadow to stick, and believe me, a little goes a VERY long way. The only problem I have with this product is that it sets very quickly, so I would recommend to prime one eye at a time, or you'll regret it.

     The next thing I bought was the Stila Liquid Liner in Intense black. It's waterproof, which means it's a pain in the behind to take off, but the edge that this liner has the potential to give you is well worth the pain of taking it off. With this, I can do much more defined and dramatic looks, perfectly paired with my Electric Palette.

    The lines come out nice and dark. The tip is a felt brush, so it gives you great control. Honestly, it was either sharp lines, or soft lines with gel or cream liner, and I opted for the liquid. This stuff is great, if you ever go to Sephora, I think it's worth a try.

    The next thing I bought was not from Sephora. A Lush Cosmetics store has opened up at the mall I frequent, imagine my surprise and joy! I've always wanted to go to Lush, and now I can. I bought quite a few things at Lush. The big tub is called Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub. It's a very nice exfoliating scrub packed with nutrients. It has a wonderful smell of citrus and leaves your skin a bit tingly. I couldn't wait to try it, so the minute I got home, I exfoliated like I've never exfoliated before. The product is meant to remove dead skin and other types of nasty buildup. Though, I must advise people with sensitive skin to not buy this product. This product is very rough on the skin, if your skin gets damaged easily, this might not be the product for you. If there is a place you can buy Lush products in person, always try it out first before committing. These products are not cheap.

     The two medium-sized tubs are face masks. I couldn't decide which face mask I wanted, so I bought both.  The green one is called Love Lettuce. Do not be fooled by its name, it does not contain lettuce. It is made from seaweed, lavender oil, ground almonds, and honey (among other things). It has a strong lavender smell. It's a face mask that is supposed to remove the buildup of dead skin that clogs pores. I know first hand the curse that is clogged pores. My nose, when examined up close, reminds me of a strawberry! It was definitely a must-buy. Use liberally, but don't go crazy.
    The other thing I bought is called Cosmetic Warrior. This mask's purpose is to calm down your skin and make it break out less. Perfect considering my skin is being dumb right now and I am eating an unhealthy amount of fast food. Go figure. I tried this product out after I scrubbed my face with Ocean Salt, and the smell of garlic caught me by surprise. Then again, it is made with garlic, grapes, eggs, and a bunch of other ingredients. It made my skin feel so smooth and decadent. You only have to keep the mask on for 5 to 10 minutes, so the smell really isn't that bad. An important thing to note is that some Lush products, like the two masks I bought, need to be refrigerated. And since a lot of these products are made from natural materials, they can expire.

     Finally, the last product I bought is called Mint Julips Lip Scrub. This scrub is made with caster sugar and mint. The way it works is you take a small pinch and crub your lip until it feels a little painful, and then you just lick it up. It's edible! It's perfect for getting sweet, kissable lips. It's also minty, so it aids in bad breathe. I will have to try my best not to just eat this stuff! It's a really great product. I tried it in the store and when my lips were finally dry, it felt softer than it has ever been before. I highly recommend this product. Effective and delicious!

     I know this isn't fashion in its strictest sense, but I truly believe beauty products are quintessential to the fashion world. Just you wait, I'll post something about clothes really soon.

Well until next time,
    Stay Fierce
    Stay Fabulous
    Fashion 5-0

 

Make Up Forever Mini-Haul!

     I would like to preface this quick post by saying that I believe makeup is a facet of this beautiful thing we call fashion. That being said, I'll tell you why I had this mini-haul. I am by no means wealthy, so when I spend money on makeup, I usually have to think on it before I hand the evil cashiers at Sephora my money (they're not evil, it's just that antagonizing someone makes me feel better about spending so much money). Something about this Monday made me feel the need to purchase some makeup. I'm not sure what it is exactly, but trust me, it made me drive all the way to the mall to purchase these products (it wasn't until I left Sephora that I realized my purchase were solely Makeup Forever). Then brain spark! Now I have something to post about!

Make Up For Ever's Duo Mat Foundation, Instant Brush Cleanser, and Full Cover Concealer

Foundation in shade 203-Light Beige and concealer in shade 5-Vanilla

     The workers in Sephora were kind enough to aid me in my search for the perfect color! I was pleasantly surprised at how welcoming the employees were, but then again, I might have looked suspicious in a store filled with women. At least one of the cashiers were male, though.

     The foundation is actually very mat and had a decent coverage. Too bad the amount of powder you get is just not that much for how much it costs ($34). The tube of concealer had amazing coverage, perfect for all the little imperfections I have everywhere on my face. Of course, the amount is also a bit lacking compared to the price ($32). However, I really love the products, so if you have some money to spare, I definitely recommend these two products (definitely trying it on tomorrow~).

     My makeup brushes were starting to get all muddy and nasty, so I decided it was time to buy myself a brush cleanser. The brush cleanser wasn't too expensive($12), and you don't have to use a lot. Simple yet effective.

    Well that concludes my mini-haul of $85. On a side note, I won 2nd place in a competition a week or two ago, and now the school board wants to recognize the people who placed. Overjoyed, am I! I was finally able to fish up a picture of the dress so here it is:

     That fat dork on the left is me, next to me is the model wearing my dress. The blue dress won 1st, designed about the girl next to the model. Finally, 3rd place goes to my friend who is standing at the end, wearing her own design. I'm quite proud of my work, and I am excited to design more clothes. What are your thoughts on brand name makeup? Do you like the dresses?



  Well until next time,
    Stay Fierce
    Stay Fabulous
    Fashion 5-0

Let It Go!

     And by, "Let It Go," I mean let that inner diva show, baby! (But first, a quick disclaimer: Every article of clothing listed below are from websites all over, I've simply compiled it into more-or-less cohesive outfits; that being said, these outfits can easily be taken apart and paired with something else, that's the magic of fashion.) Seeing that it's Spring, I feel that I should come up with some crazy looks for the season. Release the Kraken, I mean, the Colors!

     I call this ensemble Lazy Sunday. The idea of this outfit is a day at the park (possibly after a wicked night and a roaring hangover), relaxing and reading a book in the gentle Spring breeze. Essentially, this outfit is something you can throw on without too much thought. Easy to assemble, even easier to disassemble. 
     This outfit encompasses several of this season's trends, namely the Hemlock Green midi skirt by Christopher Kane and the very cute pink Alexander Wang bag. Whilst looking at the new clothes at Neiman Marcus, I caught a glimpse of that tres cute midi skirt. I just thought, "I HAVE to have it!" Alas, skirts on boys are not part of the school dress code! Besides, the price is definitely... overwhelming.
    Not everyone can afford luxuries like designer clothes. If you're like me, or if you're weary of blowing off your entire paycheck on clothes, then here's a cheaper alternative:

 

     I was aiming for to match the initial look as close as possible. As you can see, the skirt is still pricey, but it's better than the designer brand's. I replaced the scarf (which was the cheapest item when standing next to all the designer brands) with two accessories instead. Of course, you could always buy that scarf. That scarf is just too cute!

     Weekend in Rodeo Drive is perhaps one of my favorites. This outfit is meant for a day of non-stop shopping. The shorts and the mesh top will allow for proper insulation while in the spring heat. Those ultra-cute sunglasses by Anna Karin matched the blue on Milly's top that I just simply had to include it. Besides, shades make every gal look cool. The Prada bag was actually my inner artist crying out for something a little kooky. Faces on clothing is strange, but faces on a bag? Also, those shoes by Oscar de la Renta are to DIE for with that luxurious purple floral print. Trust me, this outfit will give its wearer legs for DAYS!
     Of course, I absolutely had to make a more affordable alternative:

  

     Say that you are actually shopping, those pumps will be the death of you. So instead of finding heels, these cute Garden loafers will do just fine. I replaced the expensive bag with a bowler hat, allowing for that super wearable day-time look. It's cute, it's glam, and just look at those cute anchors on the sunglasses.

     
     This outfit I call my "Crazy Colorful Concoction". Basically, this is where I absolutely lost it. My inner artistic diva has escaped the confines of my mind! It's taking over my fashion choices! I imagine this to be the high-fashion meets starving-artist look. That top by Gaultier was just so colorful and crazy that I just had to use it. Besides, bold patterns are in. The Louboutins are very hard to match, but I think the color allows for a harmonious synergy within this outfit. Of course, what's art without the abstract? That bag is a testament to who I am as a person, no, this entire outfit is. Crazy and Colorful.

 

     This cheaper alternative I had a much harder time trying to match the initial look. In the end, I had to settle for something that was similar, but trust me when I say that this outfit has a completely different feel to it. Essentially, the color and the crazy designs are present in this one as well, except this one is much more toned down. Of course, with this amount of colors on your body, who wouldn't want to show them off? This is a daytime look. The sunglasses really pull the entire outfit together with its retro shape.


     So these are the outfits I spent two days to compile. I had to make a lot of decisions on what to match, but in the end I feel satisfied with them. Some people might question my choices; I swear I have gone mental (I'm never this bold)! Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy them as well. What do you think of these three dynamically different outfits? Do you love them, hate them, or maybe a little bit of both?

   Well until next time,
    Stay Fierce
    Stay Fabulous
    Fashion 5-0

It’s That Time of the Year Again!

      Do you happen to know what time it is? It’s SPRING TIME! The coming of Spring can mean only one thing: Color. So what exactly is on our Fashion forecast? According to Pantone, a wide variety of Pastels!

Courtesty of Pantone and Mazelmoments

     I am just so excited to see some pastels again, even though they are much more toned down then one would imagine. With this winter being filled with darker tones, I was starting to think I was living under an Instagram filter! Or worse, a retro black-and-white movie! But fear not, Spring is ushering in something different. Pastels, of course, is obvious! What is Spring Fashion without pastels?! 
    What Isn't so obvious, perhaps, is the emergence of metallic colors. 

Courtesy of IMAXTREE and Alessandro Lucioni as well as Elle Magazine

Courtesy of IMAXTREE and Alessandro Lucioni as well as Elle Magazine

     I usually think that Gold is ultra-gaudy, but I am digging this new look! That gold outfit makes her look high-class, not cheap. This silver number, however, could use some work. What really captivates me about this outfit, though, is the skirt. It's intricately ruffled with spots of silver, yet sheer in some other parts. On the other hand, the top of this outfit really removes all of her curves. Simply put, it's unflattering. What is she hiding under there, anyway? 

     If you think that metallics and neutral pastels are all you have to look forward to, then you are dead wrong hunty!

Spring Fashion Week 2014

 

     From these pictures, what do you see? Well, here's what I see: sheers, pinks, icy pastels, black, white, and bold prints. 
     I really adore sheer clothing. It's sexy, and probably very comfortable, yet it doesn't come off as slutty. Sheer outfits, or at least some of them, make me think elegance. Next on the list is pink. Pink looks quite big this season, with shades of pink splattered everywhere, on...well, everything. Some of my girlfriends think that pink is THE BOMB, well good news for them, they'll be enjoying this season! Unlike my friends, what I'm really attracted to this season are the bold prints. My friends might think I'm tacky, but solid colors are BORING! It's time to step away from the norm, and dive straight into the crazy! Do you see that dress with the flowers? I absolutely LOVE that print. It adds that special touch to an otherwise plain silhouette. What happens when you take off all the print? It's just a white dress. It's time for everyone to express their artistic side, ya know?

     My apologies for skipping around, but it's finally time to address the last two items on our forecast. First off, I'd like to state that I have nothing against "wearability." But as someone who really loves couture, I just have to embrace that crazy in me. That being said, black-and-white is super wearable! It's simple, it's chic, it's fabulous! But let's not get too low key. Black-and-white with a twist, something kind of quirky, that's what we need nowadays. Lastly, icy pastels.

     I love, love, LOVE this "icy blue" ensemble. But what exactly is an icy pastel? Well think of it like this: You open a box of soft pastels, grind it up, mix it into some liquid silver and that's what you get. It's not quite metallic, but it's close. If anything, icy pastels are supposed to give you chills. That icy pastel blue just gives me that impression of it being lifeless and cold, which isn't something I hate.
     The coming of Spring means the ending of Winter, and while it will be missed (Winter is my favorite season), I am extremely excited to see all the stores and everybody around me stock up on some new colors. Open your wallet girls, it's time to get a new wardrobe! But what about me? Well I'm simply too broke to afford a new wardrobe, and quite frankly, I doubt Nordstrom allow boys to try on dresses. Nevertheless, I shall window shop to my heart's content! What do you think about this season's trends? Do you love it, hate it, or do you just feel indifferent about it?

   Well until next time,
    Stay Fierce
    Stay Fabulous
    Fashion 5-0