I must say, staying chic during the Winter is definitely not always an easy task, but with eye-caching outerwear and footwear one can easily make a statement while staying warm. When I typically think of “Winter booties,” I usually imagine chunky heels and grips. This season however, I’ve been drawn to more formal footwear with stiletto-type heels. Click the images below to shop my picks and wear on ice at your own risk. 😉 Until next time!
Lately I’ve been noticing a reoccurring trend of incorporating athletic wear with day to day street style looks. I am definitely a huge fan of this and personally think it makes dressing during the colder months much easier. I have always looked up to the women and men who remained effortlessly chic in the winter without drowning in layers of knits and heavy jackets. Unfortunately, I always seem to end up looking like the Michelin man when faced with those below freezing temperatures, LOL. This season however, I have been steadily growing the collection of hoodies in my wardrobe and whether I’m styling them as a dress with my thigh high boots or as just another top layer, they never seem to fail me in terms of being comfy, cool, & casual. We shot this look right after an unexpected snowfall and while I usually don’t mind not being dressed appropriately for the weather, I was adamant about being warm for this one. One of the other habits I tend to fall into during this time of year, like most people, is wearing all black or neutrals. My roommate was actually the one who brought this hoodie to my attention and I instantly knew it would be a great addition to my closet and this look. I definitely wanted to break up the black on my lower half with something a bit more eye-catching, and the rich wine color and velour texture of this piece did just that. I also wanted to showcase this amazing long-line denim coat I purchased months ago. In my history of rocking denim jackets, I have never once owned anything like this– I mean, the fur trim and shearling lining alone screamed “must-have” for me! With so many bold elements on the top I didn’t mind keeping the rest of the look dark. In terms of footwear, I chose to grab one of my Christmas gifts and might I add that these heeled booties fit like dream, no break-in required. So that about sums it up for this one! I’d love to hear your opinions about mixing athletic wear with more formal pieces in the comments below, until next time!
Outfit Details & Links:Â
Hoodie- Adidas
Jeans- All Saints
Coat- Zara
Shoes- Cole Haan
When I think of women’s Parisian style, I immediately envision tailored outerwear, mini skirts, and statement heels. Being that I recently did a blog post in a French-inspired cafe, I thought I’d round up a few clothing pieces that I felt would be appropriate for that type of posh environment. Don’t forget to click the images below to shop my picks, and don’t forget to grab your beret! LOL. Happy shopping!
One of the reasons why I love the blogging industry, is because of all of the amazing connections and opportunities that are able to be made in an instant. For this collaboration, I was contacted by one of the amazing sponsors of a networking event I attended back in November; Bon Vivant. This French inspired cafe is known for its luxe ambiance and beautifully hand-crafted artwork that adorns each one of their cube shaped pastries. These mini-cakes are created using traditional French techniques and are infused with layers upon layers of flavor that work as the perfect partner to accompany your favorite tea, coffee, or champagne. While they first began as online-only brand, they have since expanded their market and can now be found in a brick & mortar location, on a quaint road on the Manhattan island. As soon as I stepped foot into the cafe, I instantly felt like I had been transported into a European hot spot. Even before tasting the delicious desserts, I got a clear sense of the amount of detail, time, and effort that went into making each treat an experience to be desired and remembered. This is definitely the kind of place that you take your time enjoying. From the intoxicating scents, light music, and mouth watering flavors, your 5 senses will be completely stimulated like never before! In terms of my outfit, I tried to dress for the occasion and maintain a posh vibe that matched my surroundings. I felt like the mock neck dress, fur vest, and thigh high boots definitely reminded me of the chic Parisian style, while my stark white backpack brought a NYC street style element. Overall, I couldn’t have asked for a more pleasant experience and am so grateful that I get to collaborate with creative brands that take their craft just as serious as I do. If you are in the NYC area, definitely check out Bon Vivant, to get a taste of European luxury, or take advantage of their shipping options and experience these mouth watering cakes in the comfort of your own home. Au revoir!
Outfit Details & Links:
Vest- Michael Kors
Dress- Zara
Boots- Marc Fisher
Backpack- Zara
Today I felt compelled to write, and with the start of the new year, what would be a better topic to tackle than resolutions?! Whether you love them, hate them, plan to stick to them, or don’t even bother, in some form or another I think we all subconsciously set “resolutions” or goals for ourselves at the beginning of each year. Since I can only speak for myself here, I figured I’d disclose some of my resolutions and how I personally felt about them. For starters, I am definitely challenging myself to save more this year than I ever probably have in life (lol). I have always been responsible with money and have managed a savings account since I first began to learn about banking and personal finances, but with this year being my quarter century milestone, I feel more compelled than ever to really start putting more away for the future. Ironically, that brings me to my next resolution which is to live in the moment! As cliche as this one is, it’s something that I’ve always struggled with. Because I am a planner and quite the go-getter when I have my heart set on something, I tend to become a bit of a control freak instead of just letting things manifest naturally. To be honest, this hasn’t always worked as a disadvantage, but I’m now finding out more frequently that the more time I spend dwelling on the future and what hasn’t happened yet, the more time I miss enjoying the fruits of my labor. Of all of my resolutions, this one will definitely be the hardest to tackle but hey, I’m a work in progress! Lastly, I have decided to maintain an overall sense of focus, positivity, and faith this year. For me, remembering these key things will help me to stay sane in the midst of everything that is bound to go wrong in 2017. Let’s face it, life is full of ups and downs and no matter how much we try to avoid the negative it’s inevitable. With these 3 things in the front of my mind though, I know I will be able to get through anything that this year throws at me..I hope. Lol. I think this is the first year that I am avidly, participating in creating resolutions with the intention of seriously sticking to them. I’m excited for what this year has in store, and the new opportunities and memories that are to come. Bring it on!
I can hardly believe that this will be my final blog post of 2016. That said, of course I had to bring a bit of glitz as we quickly approach one of the biggest party night’s of the year. From the moment I saw this cold-shoulder embellished knit I knew it was definitely worthy of a photo shoot, however, I was a bit stumped with the direction I wanted to go in for this look. Because of the top’s neutral color, I had no problem finding other pieces to pair it with; it was just a matter of whether I wanted to dress it up or dress it down. After searching through the archives of my previous looks, I decided to go with something a bit more formal. Metallic pleated midi skirts have literally been EVERYWHERE this season, and though I was hesitant to jump on the trend for that reason, there was something about this skirt in particular that I couldn’t resist. For me, I think it was the fact that the material was similar to a soft suede instead of the typical rigid, foiled texture. Also, though it may be hard to see, I liked the uniqueness of the metallic accents and how they were scattered across the skirt with a marbled effect, rather than the usual opaque coated style. Overall, I loved how these 2 pieces complimented each other and to keep them as the focal point, I chose black accessories to let them shine. I am super excited to see what 2017 has in store and can’t wait to show you guys some of the ideas I’ve been working on. I hope everyone has a fun and safe NYE. See you next year! 🙂
Outfit Details & Links:
Sweater- Topshop
Skirt- Zara
Heels- Zara
Bag- Forever 21
Typically when thinking of the holiday season and all of its festivities, we prepare to bring out our most eye-catching pieces containing sequins, fur, and bold statement jewelry. While I fully enjoy and can appreciate partaking in the glitz and glam, I wanted to style a look for the more subdued, non-nonchalant chick who chooses to take more of an understated approach. In my opinion, holidays or not, you can never go wrong with an all black ensemble. Because of my dark color palette however, I definitely wanted to add dimension by mixing up the textures. As soon as I saw the top and its gorgeous lace detail, I knew it would make the perfect piece for this time of year while still being versatile enough to blend with the more casual pieces in my wardrobe. The tailored culottes helped to maintain a “smart” vibe that kept the look relaxed yet formal, and I couldn’t help but add my cropped leather jacket for an extra bit of edge. In order to maintain the “holiday feels,” I accessorized with my iridescent heeled sandals and diamond hoops for a bit of sparkle. Lastly, to complete the look, I grabbed my chain link leather purse and was good to go! A lot of times, I find myself guilty of wanting to throw on my entire closet due to the holiday excitement, but this look has shown me that less can definitely be more. So if you’re struggling to find a look or simply just feel like toning it down for your 5th party of the season, try something like this out and enjoy yourself! Until next time, & happy holidays!
Outfit Details & Links:
Jacket- Urban Outfitters
Top- Zara
Trousers- Zara
Heels- Zara
Bag- Zara
With Christmas only 3 days away, I wanted to share the items that were on my personal wishlist. I try not to get too overwhelmed with whether or not I actually get what I “wished” for, and rather focus on the giving season while looking forward to the element of surprise. Either way, it’s always fun to write Santa a little list and feel like a kid again. Check out my picks below and I hope you get everything on your list as well! Don’t forget to click the images to shop the items below. Happy Holidays!!!
Being a former braces wearer, the appearance and overall health of my teeth have always been important to me. Coincidentally, at the time that I was contacted by the lovely sponsors at Smile Brilliant, I was currently in the process of researching teeth whitening options. While I tend to not smile frequently in my blog photos, I am a regular coffee, tea, (and red wine 😉 ) drinker; all beverages that are known for staining teeth. When I agreed to this collaboration and received my kit, I was very impressed by the overall packaging and professionalism behind this product.
The kit came with 3 sets of catalyst and base paste that were to be mixed in order to create the impressions in the trays provided. For me, this was the most nerve racking part as there were time limits on how long it would take to mix the putty before it began to harden. Truth be told, I messed up on the first try and was grateful that an extra set was included for that very reason. After successfully making my impressions and allowing them to set for 30 minutes, I shipped them off and anxiously awaited the arrival of my teeth whitening trays.
Now the fun begins! My trays came in a sleek retainer-like case along with instructions on how to properly apply the whitening and desensitizing gels. The whitening gel had a time limit of 45 minutes- 3 hours of use, however, I decided to leave it on for an hour and a half each session as I was cautious of the possible effects it could have on my enamel. It was suggested that this process is best done before bed and I found that to be quite true as well as being the most convenient option for my schedule. While I didn’t experience much sensitivity (which was a definite plus), I’m sure using the desensitizing gel for 15-20 minutes post whitening helped combat any possible discomfort. I used this product for about two weeks and was pleasantly surprised to notice a slight difference in the color of my teeth. In all fairness, I didn’t really cut out my teeth-staining beverages so I’m positive my results would have been more drastic if I had. Overall, I can honestly say that using this teeth whitening kit was a great experience and I encourage you to try it, especially if you are looking for an efficient product that actually works! The Smile Brilliant team have also graciously offered to sponsor a giveaway so that one of my subscribers can win one of these kits and hopefully share the experience that I had. Click the link below to enter to win or use the coupon code:Â astyledmind for 5% off of the entire site! Remember, the new year is coming and we should approach it looking our best. Until next time, and happy holidays!
Giveaway URL: www.smilebrilliant.com/g/
With the holidays quickly approaching, there are only 2 outfits that I am actually planning for: New Year’s Eve and Christmas Day. While for NYE I put a lot of thought into the statement I want my ensemble to make as I bring in the upcoming year, Christmas Day is a totally different story. I am concerned with one thing, and one thing only…COMFORT. For me, Christmas is probably the most relaxing day of the year. I get up, put on my “outfit” for the day, and literally stay in it ALL day. The past few years I’ve been a proud member of the onesie club, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other options. Check out a few of the items I’ve highlighted below for optimal comfort and don’t forget to click the images to shop my picks! Until next time & happy holidays!
