Fall Hair

image courtesy: glamour.com

You saw this trend in the spring and summer and now it has transitioned into fall. Instead of a bright color like neons, try deep reds, purples, or even blues.

image courtesy: iamrichelle.com

The sleek ponytail is great for school and especially that second day hair. It is quick and easy and won't have you running out the door late.

image courtesy: hairstyleaa.com

Half up, half down hairstyles are a classic and can be girlie, classic, boho, or even edgy. This a great style that is a step up from just leaving your hair down. Also this style is great for all hair types.

image courtesy: urbanoutfitters.com

Headbands are making a comeback this fall and are a great accessories to add to your hair. For school if you are running late just throw in a headband and you are good to go.

image courtesy: glamour.com

Of course you saw the topknot trend in the spring and summer. Now it is great for the fall and is a great way to keep your hair up and out of your face. This is my go to "bad hair day" style. 

Back To School: 1st Week Outfits

Day 1

scarf: boutique in Victoria, B.C.
white tee: $10 from Wet Seal
poka dot shorts: $17.80 from Forever 21
brown sandals: $35 from Payless shoes
silver watch: (Ann Klein) $40 from Nordstrom Rack

 Day 2

lace blazer: (Pinky) $20 from TJMaxx
pink stripped tank: $10 at Aeropostale
jean shorts: (Celebrity Pink) $30 at Macy's
white sneaker: (Vans) $45 at Nordstrom
pink bracelet: gift
 

Day 3

jean jacket: $110 from Macy's (Guess)
floral romper: $22.80 from Forever 21
black bow belt: $10 from Wet Seal
silver sandals: $30 from Old Navy

Day 4



top: $20 (on sale) from Aritzia
necklace: $7.80 from Forever 21
jeans: $48 from (Vigross) Nordstrom
black flats: $12.50 from H&M
 

Day 5

white shirt: $30 from Nordstrom
jumper: $22.80 form Forever 21
shoes: $35 from Payless shoes
bracelet: boutique in B.C.

OPI Review and Fall Colors

OPI is my favorite nail polish brand. There are so many different colors to choose from. OPI nail polishes are very easy to apply as well as take off. Also these polishes are very opaque so you only need 1-2 coats to get a great color on the nail.

OPI colors for fall

Malaga Wine by OPI is a deep red, like the color of red wine, hence the name.

San tan-tonio by OPI is a great nude brown, that is great for fall and is a great everyday color.

Big Apple Red by OPI is a great bright red, which is great for the fall and winter seasons.


 

Fall's New Jewlery Trend! Collars & Bibs!

Collars and Bib made an appearance in the spring but know there falls' new jewelry trend. When purchasing collars I suggest buying them in the store rather than online because different styles of collars suite different people. When wearing a collar it is meant to  make a statement, not to overwhelm you.

Nordstrom.com $24
 

Nordstrom.com $16

H&M.com $17.95

H&M.com $14.95

H&M.com $24.95

Forever 21.com $5.80

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Category.aspx?br=f21&category=acc_necklace_bib_collar

DIY Beauty

image courtesy: johnsonbaby.com

For a dry shampoo try taking an old brush and sprinkling baby powder all over the brush. They brush it through your hair. The baby powder will soak up the grease in you hair and create more volume. (About $3 for 15oz of baby powder).

image courtesy: vaseline.us/

Vaseline acts as a great lip gloss that can soften and highlight lips. It also is a great feet softener. A little goes a long way. (About $4.50 for 13 oz, or if you prefer a tube, about $2 for 0.35 oz)

image courtesy: johnsonbaby.com

An inexpensive makeup remover for the lids, lashes, and lips is Johnson baby shampoo. You can use it in the shower or simply dab a bit into a cotton ball and rinse well. (About $3.50 for 15 oz)

image courtesy: stevia.com

You can take off any dead skin by scrubbing them with a sugar paste from your pantry. Mix a quarter-teaspoon of any food oil with a quarter-teaspoon of sugar. Gently rub it across your lips until any dry skin rolls off. (About $3-$4 for 48 oz of canola oil; about $2 for a pound of sugar)

image courtesy: healthymomskitchen.com

Beets make a great natural lip and cheek stain. Cook some for dinner than take the juice and swipe it across your lips for a deep pinkish red. You can also use it for blush but be quick because if you don't swiftly blend it over the apples of your cheeks, it may dry patchy. For practicing for the 1st time only swipe it across your lips. (About $1 a pond)

Back to School Essentials (part 2 trends)

right: http://us.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=1&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33060&storeId=13052&productId=6189904&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=208641&parent_categoryId=208580&pageSize=200
left: http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=25276205&parentid=W_APP_JEANS

Colored jeans are still trendy but lean toward a darker fall color. The jeans (right) are a great color and plus the navy stripe down the side of the legs is very flattering on any body type. Printed jeans are in for fall and so are florals. Try and darker floral patter like the jeans on the left that incorporate browns, blacks, reds, greens, and white. Because the print is so big and the main color of the jean is black, this jean is very flattering on all body types.

right: http://www.hm.com/us/product/03813?article=03813-A
left: http://aritzia.com/fashion/blazers-and-jackets/kent-blazer-0

Leather jackets (right) are a great investment because they will last and they have been on trend for the past few years. The basic black blazer became a trend last year but is making a come back in color (left). Try a simple color like a blue or red, or a neutral.

right: http://www.ae.com/web/browse/product.jsp?productId=1354_5238_714&catId=cat90038
middle: http://www.hm.com/us/product/04769?article=04769-C#article=04769-D
left: http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?br=F21&Category=top&ProductID=2025102092

Western style is in this season so try a plaid that can be a little girlie like the pink/red plaid on the right. Peplum is still in. To carry it into fall and winter, try a deeper color like this burgundy in the middle. Denim on denim is making a come back. Try using the denim shirt as a jacket. Trying a loser silhouette (left) makes a great layering piece.

left: http://www.stevemadden.com/Item.aspx?id=94560&np=613_624
right: http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/sam-edelman-felicia-flat/3349475?origin=category&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=585

Oxfords are part of the menswear trend this season. Try a fun color (right) instead of the plain black or brown. Flats are in again, but not in black or nude. Have fun with a colorful flat or a fun print like this leopard print flat on the right.

Shopping on a Budget

image: fanpop.com

1. Make a List Making a list is very helpful when you are planning on doing any form of shopping especially when you are doing a lot in a big area. When making your list you should think to yourself, Do I need this? How often will I wear this? Is this a versatile piece? I encourage you to change your list multiple times before you go out shopping.
2. Plan Ahead Before you go out to the actual stores, do your research by checking out stores' websites and start to compare and think about prices. By knowing what you want ahead of time, not only will you save time but you will also save money.
3. Cash Only To keep yourself on budget, only bring the cash amount that you are willing and have planned to spend.
4. Use Your Resources You don't have to 'go to the extreme' to save money. Keep your eyes peeled for coupons or discount codes in the mail, magazines, or your local paper.
5. Sales Shop the sales but make sure that you are not blind sided and end up buying more than you had planned and more than you had needed.
6. Be Realistic When shopping, ask yourself, is this what I have been looking for or needing? does it fit into my lifestyle? will I wear it often enough to at least a few times a month?
7. Store Time When trying something on that you really like but they don't have the style/color you want in your size, feel free to ask someone who works at the store if they could ship your size either to the store or your house.

What Kind of Shopper are You?

courtesy of People Style Watch Magazine and Dr. Jennifer Baumgater

1. How often go you shop?
    a. Every chance I get
    b. Whenever there's a sale
    c. Only when I truly need something
    d. When I am bored or just feel like looking around

2. Where do you most like to go?
     a. A megamall (the more options the better!)-and online too
     b. A discount store like T.J. Maxx or a site like Gilt
     c. I have two or three go-to spots
     d. Department stores, boutiques-whatever's around

3. What's your favorite thing about shopping?
    a. Everything! The fun of trying things on and finding a treasure
    b. Scoring a great deal on something
    c. Getting the exact thing I need, when I need it
    d. Seeing cute stuff I didn't even know was out there

4. If you set out to by a new pair of shoes, when you come home you have................
    a. The shoes-plus the top, pants, belt and bag to go with them
    b. Three pairs of shoes-but they were 50% off each
    c. The one pair of shoes I originally wanted
    d. I saw three pairs I liked. I'll probably buy one next time

5. When you enter a store, the first thing you do is..............
    a. Check out what's changed since I stopped in last week
    b. Make a beeline for the sales rack
    c. Head straight to the item I'm there to buy
    d. See what catches my eye

6. When you buy something new, you think...............
     a. That was fun. What can I buy next time?
     b. I saved 30% off everything-way to beat the system
     c. That's done-now I can do what I really want
     d. I took the plunge! I'm glad I looked around so much first

7. What's your most common shopping regret?
    a. I have too much stuff, and I can't wear it all
    b. If I had waited one more week, I could have gotten an even better deal
    c. I have no regrets
    d. I didn't buy that stylish piece

8. Your friends love shopping with you because............
     a. You know everything about the latest styles and trends
     b. You know where to find the best fashion for less
     c. You don't spend hours in the dressing room
     d. You're up for stopping in any stores they want to check out


IF YOU ANSWERED MOSTLY A s..................................................you're a shopaholic
The mind-set:"It's about the thrill of the hunt" say Dr. Baumgater. "Being able to acquire the latest trend or the newest bag is about the feeling of want and then the release of having".
It's good because: "Shopping can be a fun, creative process-no different from any other hobby. You can really build the 'skill' of creating a wardrobe," she says. "Also, we all engage in self-sacrifice. This is a way in which you can put yourself first."
It's bad if: "Shopping isn't necessarily a problem. But if you have something painful going on , it may help you avoid dealing with the actual issue," she says. "It can take on an addictive quality too. If you're hiding behaviors from your family or getting into financial trouble, it goes to far."
Her advice: "Try too figure out what triggers your shopping," she says. "Is it a fight with a boyfriend, a bad day or are you just bored? Then deal with those triggers in other ways."

IF YOU ANSWERED MOSTLY B s................................................you're a bargain shopper
The mind-set: "It's about working the system," she says. "When we shop, we don't control prices. But with bargain shopping, it feels like you got away with something. Even though you're spending money, you feel like you don't."
It's good because: "Well, you're saving money! You also have a sense of what things are actually worth-being a bargain shopper can bring you back to a baseline about what a normal price is," she says. "And you value your own research. You work hard for your money and don't want to throw it away. The end result is, you're valuing yourself."
It's bad if: "Sometimes a sale item isn't such a bargain. Do you really need it? Also, can you really afford it?" she says. "Is the piece a quality piece? Some things are expensive-but they'll last forever. Some things fall apart after you've worn them twice."
Her advice: "There's nothing wrong with a bargain. But if it becomes more of a want than a need, you can end up spending a lot of money. Look at your shopping frequency and what you're spending overall. If you notice that a lot of your bargains still have tags on, that may be a sign."

IF YOU ANSWERED MOSTLY C s............................................you're a need-based shopper
The mind-set: "It's about practicality. Not everyone loves shopping, and there's nothing wrong with that. People find enjoyment in different things."
It's good because: "You're probably saving a fortune! You're also taking yourself out of our consumerist culture. You feel free to be who you are."
It's bad if: "You may emergency-shop. If you have a party tomorrow and don't have a dress, shopping will take longer," she says. "Also, ask yourself: Do you avoid it because you don't care or is there something else to it-like, you don't like your body?"
Her advice: "You don't have to like shopping. But if it's avoidance, look at other things going on. Is it a body issue, a budget issue or is it that you have no clue what to do? Try to address the real reasons."

IF YOU ANSWERED MOSTLY D s.......................................you're a wandering shopper
The mind-set: "It can be one of two categories. There's a wanderer who looks at shopping like going to an art exhibit. She likes to appreciate it," she says. "But there's also a wanderer who can't commit t buying. She doesn't know what she needs."
It's good because: "This shopper is often well-informed. You know what's out there, and when you actually buy you don't return. You may have a pretty good handle on what works for you."
It's bad because: "If you're the clueless type, you may not buy much or have fun with fashion. It's about fear."
Her advice: "If you don't know your look, try to identify it. See what you like in magazines and on stylish people, and you'll notice and pattern. Also, realize that it's okay to make a mistake. Dressing is a form of personal expression. We're all different."

Get a Dewy Complexion



image: selahsalon.wordpress.com

Get ready for back to school by getting a glowy complexion with this easy at home recipe.

1. 1 tablespoon of ground coffee
2. 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder
3. the whites of one egg
4. a few drops (1-3) of lemon juice
5. 1 teaspoon of honey
6. 1 tablespoon of milk

mix together, if not pasty add as much flour as needed

Back to School Essentials (part 1, the basics)

After seeing all the new fall trends you know you want to try them. Before trying the trends make sure you have the essentials. Basics will make or break an outfit and save you the stress of getting dressed in the morning.


PART 1-The Basics


coat: http://www.modcloth.com/shop/coats/carefully-chosen-coat
blazer: http://aritzia.com/fashion/blazers-and-jackets/fielding-blazer

Outwear is key especially during the colder months. This coat (left) from is perfect for fall/winter. It is trendy, flattering, and will keep you warm. The black blazer (right) will not only keep you warm but it will keep a simple outfit look put together.

cardigan: http://www.modcloth.com/shop/cardigans/ladies-and-intelligence-cardigan
sweater: http://aritzia.com/fashion/sweaters/castel-sweater-0
dress: http://www.modcloth.com/shop/dresses/reading-list-dress

In the fall/winter sweaters are good for keeping warm and are easy to wear. A black cardigan (left) is good transitioning piece from summer. Try layering the cardigan over a colorful tank. Pullovers (middle) are great for those "lazy" days. This dress (right) is a great layering piece, with leggings, tights, or a waist-length jacket. 

black jeans: http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/jolt-stretch-skinny-jeans-juniors/3213675?origin=category&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=513
blue jeans: http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/vigoss-skinny-stretch-jeans-juniors/3278520?origin=category&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=513
skirt: http://aritzia.com/fashion/skirts/dee-skirt

Black jeans (left) are great because they are very slimming and act like a thicker legging so that you can wear longer tops over them. Of course you have to have your classic blue skinny jeans (middle). These are definitely a big staple in your closet. Having a skirt (right) is great for "lazy days". Also a skirt can we worn when it is warmer but than transition into the colder months with tights or leggings.

boots: http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/seychelles-slap-on-the-wrist-boot/3345076?origin=category&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=BLACK&resultback=0
flats: http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/steve-madden-vegasss-flat/3345751?origin=category&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=0

Black riding boots (left) are great for fall and winter, as well as spring. They can be worn with many different bottoms and depending on the type of material the boot is made of, they can we worn in the rain. Flats in any color (right) can dress up an outfit and are very easy to slip on and off and are very comfy.