Riviera Bardot Chic

June 12, 2019

WEARING: NUDE BODYSUIT | JEANS | HAIR SCRUNCHIE SCARF | PEYOTE BAG | TAN SANDALS

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY CLOSED, ATELIER DES FEMMES AND LE PARMENTIER PARIS BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

When I think of French Riviera style, I right away think of the 50s with classic, iconic stylish women such as Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly and Jane Birkin. Breton stripes, straw bags and hats, wrap blouses made of lace and cropped trousers. A mix of nautical and Parisian chic. So I wanted to style this look that’s timeless, elegant yet casual but with a modern twist. I played neutral colors with a strong mustard yellow shoulder bag and gave the outfit a Bardot-feel with a hair scrunchie scarf that’ll spruce up any summer hair style in a jiffy. Continue reading for full visual story along with direct links to each piece from this look.

The Peyote Smooth Leather Shoulder bag w/ Bow crafted in smooth genuine Italian calf leather, brings a twist to minimalism with its updated take on a winged silhouette that goes from day through to fun nights. Featuring a flap closure, straight lined bow detail on front in tonal or contrasting colors, adjustable detachable shoulder strap and gold tone hardware detail, is quite the distinctive bag. You can get your Peyote bag from Forzieri. Use the code name: SUZANNE15 for 15% OFF on Le Parmentier bags collection at forzieri.com valid until July 4th. When I thought about what color scheme would work best with such a bold color, I knew that less would be more.

Featuring a plunging neckline with twist knotted detail at the front, this nude bodysuit is sexy and super chic for the summer. You can pair it with a midi/maxi skirt, jeans - which I did in this case which are from a super cool German brand called Closed that have been making jeans since 1978! They are known for their trademark quality and I love these new pair of jeans I recently was gifted from their latest press preview. The blue cotton stretch slim cropped jeans feature a mid rise, a waistband with belt loops, a button and zip fly, a five pocket design and a cropped length. I love how the hems say ‘pedal pusher’ to those that want to hem their own jeans. It’s cute.

The tan slip on sandals are a dupe of Saint Laurent’s Woven Leather Sandal Slides. Since I’m not willing to spend $600 on a pair of sandals, these come in a similar style at only $35. I think the color goes well with the tan bow detail in the bag along with my skin tone. I wore a bold red-orange lip with not much else makeup to keep with the minimalist style. The polka dot scrunchie scarf is a luxe reinterpretation of the 90’s scrunchie. It looks equally as good with a low ponytail as it does with a messy bun. Your hair will definitely have Brigitte Bardot vibes. Woohoo, put Riviera chic on the style agenda!!

LOVE & XX’S,

SHOP THE LOOK

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The Best Revlon Hair Tools for Every Day Hair

March 18, 2019

This post was sponsored by Revlon Hair Tools as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

Many of you have asked me about my go-to hairstyles. In partnership with Revlon, I'll be sharing my two most common go to's - straight and slightly curly. Both are great for everyday styles, along with day-to-night. I like my hair to be easy-going with my busy schedule, as I don't have that much time to style my hair every day. I'm only using Revlon hair tools in this post - continue reading to learn more along with seeing the final looks!

The first hair look is the straight-style one, using the Salon Copper Smooth 1.5” Flat Iron. Featuring advanced copper ceramic plate technology for ultra-fast results with less damage, it will leave your hair with silky smooth and shiny results. You can also adjust the heating temperature, which is perfect for different hair types! I love using the Revlon XL paddle brush before styling my hair with any heated tools. With IONIC TECHNOLOGY® infused bristles this hairbrush helps dry hair faster while still retaining moisture and reducing frizz. This brush is great for longer hair. I also normally put in some sort of heat-protected serum before styling my hair as well.

The second look for tousled curls, I used the Revlon Salon Advanced Copper Ceramic 1” Curling Iron. Featuring professional high heat, this fast heat-up curling iron reaches salon temperatures for fast styling and glamorous curls that last. Perfect for all hair types as this too has temperature adjustments. 5 settings to be exact! It literally took me less than twenty minutes to go from straight to this! Do you guys see the difference in texture and movement, while still maintaining that glossy shine?

So if you're looking to update your hairstyle routine, Revlon Hair tools has what you need! All products are available at Ulta. I've linked them within the post for you to check out. Which style do you prefer more on me, guys? Straight? Or more wavy/curly? Thanks for stopping by! Got a hair-related question? Drop them down in the comment section below! xx

LOVE & XX’S,

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NYFW Beauty Trends in Hair, Makeup and Nails

February 16, 2019

Hi, everyone! I’ve been meaning to get this up on the blog, but amidst travels and also my laptop having a nervous breakdown, it’s been rather trying to get this up and live. But it is finally here: my recap of all the beauty trends I noticed during New York Fashion Week for Fall/Winter. Some have been around since the dawn of time, as most trends in fashion are refurbished, reused and recycled. But there are several trends I truly loved and will definitely be partaking in the upcoming season. So without further ado, let’s jump on it and start with the makeup trends spotting around from NYFW.

MAKEUP TRENDS

PINKY PINKS & BURGUNDY WINES

If you noticed one thing about my makeup abilities as of late, I am all for color. The more vibrant the better. Which is what many makeup artists played around with backstage this season. For example, the makeup direction to Kate Spade with Romy Soleimani and Maybelline was filled with vibrant, friendly pink shades ranging from blushing pink to burgundies. Sally LaPointe’s show also displayed heavy wine colors, interestingly applying an iridescent pink liquid highlighter - the Hyper Real FX to the cheek bones which gave such a beautiful subtle quality to the look.

SMOKEY EYES

You know what’s a trickery in eye makeup? Mastering the art of a smokey eye without looking like raccoon eyes! What makes this difficult is the subtlety of the smudge, but not too much where it becomes overkill. Tom Ford always does this technique so well (need to try the Tom Ford beauty line) but my favorite was the intense smokey eye in Jeremy Scott’s Show. Maybelline did the full eyelid smokey, but also carried it down to the inner corners of the eye to give it a more dramatic effect. Rest assured, smokey eyes aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

WATERCOLORS

Another favorite, MUA Cassandra Garcia played with a subtle green smudge for Tibi. Using Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, the look was inspired by the perfectly imperfect look of slept-in makeup and the watercolor green is something cool and different. It looks slightly messy, but in a chic unpolished way. Other shows that really played on watercolors more intently were Eckhaus Latta and Collina Strada where the models’ eyes were a wonderful canvas to blend on. Literally reminded me of Monet’s brush strokes and definitely got my heart palpating.

SHARPLY SKILLED EYELINER WORK

3.1 Phillip Lim’s lead makeup artist for the show, Diane Kendal was all about precision when it came to eye makeup backstage this season. Using only three colors of white, khaki and purple and with the help from a new makeup brand, Unframe the Beauty, their eyeliners are an innovation 1200 years in the making. The brush is created by traditional craftsmen from the Kumano and Nara region of Japan, with custom-made fibers that are entirely hand-blended for firmness, flexibility, and softness. Only seven people in ALL of the world can skillfully do this delicate and precise work.

BAMBI LASHES

Makeup artist Tom Percheux described the beauty as “eyes that wouldn’t lie to you” for the Brandon Maxwell show was very reminiscent of Twiggy’s signature look. And it’s as simple as it can get, but will bring the eyes to life with an added illusion to bigger and brighter eyes. Something I can totally get on board with - the key is to do both the top and bottom eyelashes. I have to say out of all my favorite makeup trends, this will be probably the first one I will want to re-interpret.

HAIRSTYLE TRENDS

BEJEWEL ME, BABY

If you’ve been paying any attention in the hair accessory scene, you know barrettes, bobby pins, clips of any kind are all making a huge comeback. But there’s been a transitioning period here at NYFW where the accessories are more about letting women SHINE. Justine Marajan did the hair backstage for Christian Siriano where we saw chains mixed in with braids, giving it a cool and edgy vibe. Area had a gang of 70s rebels take the runway with likeminded hairdos beaded in jewels, literally. I am really into anything in the rebellious family so this trend is definitely something I would like to re-create for myself!

CRIMPED

Probably my favorite hairstyle that I saw backstage this season, it’s not a difficult hair style to achieve. Nowadays with all the top hair gadgets/tools you can get a heat iron with the shape embedded into the tool that will ease the process of getting the waves in the crimped hair. However, one way to achieve this as well is to braid the hair then flat iron the braid before brushing it out. This gives it a more froofy overall look, leaving it more modern in my opinion. I saw this technique done by Aveda, led by Gary Gill for the 3.1 Phillip Lim Show.

A SPLASH OF COLOR

Or rather a splash of paint, Jeremy Scott’s fake news theme was quite cheeky with the hairstyle to go along with the message behind his collection. The models all wore wigs which were all trimmed backstage before what looks to be a bucket of paint spilled all over the tops of the models’ heads. It obviously was painted on, however. Philipp Plein also used neon green streaks in the models’ hair, giving it that pop of color.

FINGER WAVES

The 30s are back and I couldn’t be happier! Finger waving is the shaping or molding of hair while wet into "s"-shaped curved undulations with the fingers and comb. These waves, when dried without being disturbed, will fall into deep waves. Finger waving differs from marcel waving in that there are no heated irons used on the hair. Prime example was Sally LaPointe’s show, giving the models’ a suitable look to go with the Elvis theme. Zimmerman and Maryam Nassir Zadeh also demonstrated this look but in a more relaxed way either with softer waves with a shorter cut or ruched ponytails. Overall, another favorite hairstyle I need to try and do soon!

NAIL ART TRENDS

ADD SPARKLE

At Kate Spade New York, manicurist Julie Kandalec (for Essie) paid homage to Kate, “she leaves a little bit of sparkle everywhere she goes.” by subtly applying bronze glitter to a nail prepped with a base coat for a naturally shimmery look. Tibi also took an understatedly sparkly route: Jin Soon Choi painted the top half of the nail in a rich toffee beige shade and filled in the bottom half with a mélange of holographic silver flecks. To tone down the shine, Choi finished it with a matte top coat. Which is what is next in terms of trends.

MATTE EVERYTHING

I noticed several other nail looks aside from Jin Soon Choi’s such as Maryam Nassir Zadeh powdery blue matte nails, which were also a favorite. Phillip Lim also worked with Jin Soon Choi to create a peachy nude matte finish as well, bringing a modern woman essential vibe. I love the non-streaky look to a matte nail, as it looks more polished and sophisticated. You can bet you’ll be seeing a lot more of this trend come this fall season.

OVER THE TOP EXTRANESS

Jeremy Scott worked with Ms. Pop to do a monochrome monogramming in an effort to keep up with the graffiti-inspired textiles. She lent her expert brushstroke to write out "New York" in black-and-white lettering, creating a newsprint effect over seven fingers. Definitely made headlines. ;) Other statement nail looks included Alice + Olivia where they literally hand-painted 3-D acrylic butterflies on sets of burgundy nails. And last but not least, Adeam went with gluing pearls of all different sizes on blue and pinks nails, which were definitely delivering something extra to the table.

LOVE & XX’S,

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Hair That Goes from Day to Night Effortlessly with TRESemmé

February 21, 2018

Hey guys! I've been in London for LFW and am finally back in the states. I can't wait to share more content in the next week, so be prepared for an overload of posts and whatnot. February is a busy month for me! With traveling, I'm pretty selective about the hair styling products I use. Especially when it comes to hairspray, I'm picky because I've tried quite a few brands and there is nothing worse than a hairspray leaving your hair sticky and stiff! Some hairsprays are formulated with clunky particles that sit on top of the hair which creates build-up. The whole purpose of hairspray is to help maintain your look without weighing you down.

TRESemmé Compressed Micro Mist Hairspray Texture

Luckily, TRESemmé got it right with their new line!The way these hairsprays work is by coating the hair fibers in a layer of various polymers that form bonds between the fibers to hold the hair in place. Micro-Mist blends two types of polymers in hair sprays: “tough” and “durable”. Too much of the “tough” polymers and hair feels stiff. Too much of the “durable” polymers and hair has flexibility but no hold. The breakthrough NEW TRESemmé Compressed Micro-Mist Hair Spray has the perfect formula that gives you style without stiffness for a natural, lasting hold that will move with you.

This is my kind of hairspray! Besides being a great product, the new hairsprays are packaged in a smaller can which contributes to an overall reduction in CO2 and are ergonomically optimized and easier to hold, yet still, contain the same number of sprays in the 11 oz. can. The new technology result in a more targeted, efficient spray that comes out softer for a truly lightweight, flexible hold and fast-drying coverage including adjusted valves, inserts, and actuators that are specially designed to cut the spray in half and narrow the cone angle of the traditional hairspray.

It's perfect for jet-setters who don't have all the time in the world to be high-maintenance with their hairstyle. I like to keep it lightly wavy/tousled curls and these sprays definitely do the job in holding it in place! Whether you are looking for a date night look or everyday style, the NEW TRESemmé Compressed Micro-Mist Hair Spray keeps your style intact without the stiffness. The hairspray I've been using has been the Texture & Boost Hold, but there is also the Extend, and Smooth! Head to the hair aisle at your local Walmart and pick up a can. Let me know what you think of this new hairspray formula!

LOVE & XX'S,

SHOP THE PRODUCT

TRESemmé Compressed Micro Mist Hairspray Boost

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Chocolate Browns and Mustard Yellow

January 26, 2018

WEARING: s a k u NEW YORK TAILORED WOOL LONG VEST | H&M TURTLENECK SWEATER |
VVA CARLINA YELLOW LEATHER HANDBAG | 
GENUINE PEOPLE HIGH SLIT WOOL SHIRT SWEATER | EXPRESS PANTS | 
NINE WEST HADDRIANA POINTY TOE PUMPS | LINEA PELLE STUD AND GROMMET CHOKER | 
H&M TRIBAL SPIKE DROP EARRINGS

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BE s a k u NEW YORK & NINE WEST.

Phew! I don't know about you but I've had one of those weeks where it all went awry. Every single thing felt off as if the cosmic stars weren't aligned the way it should be. My website even went down, and though it was only for a couple of hours, you can imagine the stress that came along with it. But the true lesson, when faced with any adversity, is to adapt and overcome. These kind of moments, I believe, are testaments to our perseverance. And in the end, if you stick with it, things do tend to work itself out. I wanted to get this post up earlier in the week, but there is only so much one person can accomplish on their own. Everything nowadays is so fast-paced, the art of taking one's time seems to be non-existent. When did quantity become greater over quality? It is all about creativity and I think that sometimes in order to achieve a really good content, you do need to slow down and work your magic. It's like when film used to be the only medium for photographers. They didn't post-produce something in a day (YES I have done that SO many times) and time was on their side. It's like a first kiss. The longer you wait for it, I think the more you'll savor and linger in it. Rather than something instant. You appreciate it more, no? Continue reading to find out why I'm posting less on the blog and why less is always more.

Even when it comes to styling, I never like to go over the top. It always ends up looking like someone is just trying too hard and it never really quite right. Shock value? Sure. Attention-seeking? You bet. But sometimes a subtle detail can make an entire outfit. Like in today's post, I styled my hair a little differently. I used a Linea Pelle choker that is adjustable, so I gave my neck a lot of breathing room and used it to loosely 'bob' my hair. For us girls who have long, thick hair but don't have the face/features for a short bob, this styling tip is one I love dearly! It's even fun to play a joke on your gfs - send them a quick picture and tell them you chopped your hair... the responses are hysterical. This hairstyle with the use of a choker is ideal for layered hair, but I bet it would look just as smashing on hair that is also just one length.

Remember me mentioning s a k u New York, my favorite Korean designer? I wore a couple of her pieces during fashion week and have also done several editorials. (Check here and here) Well, she's back with a whole new collection and it is amazing! Look at the long wool chocolate brown vest. The structure and cuts are beautiful along with the quality of the fabric. And thanks to the wool, it is super warm for winter and perfect for anyone who loves to participate in the layering game. I paired it up with a wool sweater dress by Genuine People and some mid-rise pants by Express.

To balance the strong masculine color of chocolate brown, I went with a mustard yellow in some of my accessories. This is probably the only time I think mustard and chocolate sound good together! Ha ha ha! The gorgeous springbok bag is from VVA by Sarah Haran and my pointy toe pumps in faux snake print are by Nine West. My tribal spike drop earrings are no longer in stock (they're over ten years old from H&M) but I linked a very similar pair in the 'Shop the Look' section at the end of this article. They're from Steve Madden and are also really affordable! Thanks for stopping by and as always, feel free to drop me a line in the comment box! Enjoy the rest of the weekend, stay tuned for a lot of upcoming content next week!