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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The Best Brown Teddy Coats

January 30, 2019

WEARING: CAMEL TEDDY COAT | FRAYED JEANS | PATENT LEATHER COMBAT BOOTS | STUDDED BAG

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY PUBLIC DESIRE & EGO OFFICIAL BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Brrr! Happy Hump Day, guys! Temperatures are dropping again here in New York City and I’m not going to lie - I am already sick of winter! I may be from the Midwest, but that doesn’t mean I enjoy freezing my butt off! Ha ha! And, now there seems to be snow in the forecast during fashion week (hello, ruined shoes…) so what’s a girl to do? I’m rounding up the best brown teddy coats in today’s post, ranging from different price points but also the top brands. Teddy coats are my jam during the winter time - what is your number one form of outerwear during the colder months? Continue reading to see all the different options, along with details from my look of the day.

Step into the winter season in style. To go with a cozy coat, you’ll need a chic pair of boots during the winter. I always have a hard time finding winter boots that are chic and not too clunky. But these patent leather combat boots work with basically anything! Swag features lace up and buckle detailing, cleated sole and a chunky heel. I styled them with a camel teddy coat and jeans for an ultimate laid back vibe. These boots retail at $60 and I think the price is right! What do you think of these boots? Should they make an appearance during fashion week?

To go with the camel colored teddy coat I paired it with a similar color cross body bag. I love the edge the bag brings with the studded detail and chain - it goes with the boots and the cognac really complements well with the color of the coat. To give my face a little color I went with a red-orange coral lip color to give them an extra pop. Overall, I was going for a warm toned color scheme when it came down to this casual look. I also added some warm red tones into the eyes to go with the lips. Do you guys like this makeup look on top of the outfit?

Before I leave you with today’s post, stay tuned for Friday’s, January Beauty Favorites! It will go live in the morning, so keep your eyes peeled for that. In the meantime, hope you stay extra warm and cozy on these extra chillier days. I know these teddy coats will help! If you had to choose one from the list I shared today, which one is your favorite? As always, thanks so much for stopping by! Drop your comments down in the section below, we love to hear from you!

LOVE & XX’S,

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My Best Tips for New York Fashion Week

January 28, 2019

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY HEARTLOOM & CULTRESSE BY ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Happy Monday! How was everyone’s weekend? I spent it working, while also preparing for next month, which is one of the busiest months for me. In less than a couple of weeks New York Fashion Week will be here. This will be my sixth season attending NYFW, and after a few years in the ‘rodeo’ I definitely have learned a few lessons along the way. It’s not all what it is cracked up to be, in that it’s not something you just show up to, like going to the movies. It takes weeks (more than that if you’re out of towners) to organize and plan for the week, from meetings with brands/pr agencies that you’ll be working with, to the shows you will be attending, and even squeezing in a couple of photo shoots and dinners/site seeing along the way. And if you’re visiting, you’ll need to handle your flight, hotel, transportation, etc; So in today’s post I’m sharing 5 of my best tips for New York Fashion Week. Whether it’s surviving or thriving (let’s hope both ha ha) - during the week here in New York, these tips will keep you moving and grooving!

1. IT’S ALL ABOUT WHO YOU KNOW

A blogger once told me that if the brand could not seat her front row, she would refuse to attend the show. So it’s not only about who you’re connected with, because in the 7-day binge of networking with other like-minded people you could potentially partner with in the future, it’s about how you are connecting (while certainly being kind to others) to begin with. And this is not in terms of logistics, but rather taking value in a person’s time and input, and actually connecting on a creative level. For example, getting in the Coach show because it’s a place to be seen is not going to get you in at all. You have to gain the experience in the industry along with a growing audience in order to achieve some sort of recognition, only then to have bigger opportunities in meeting with the bigger labels in fashion. I’ve been fortunate to meet many in the business just by chance, or even taking another chance on smiling at someone backstage and striking up a conversation, only to lead to some sort of connection. Nowadays it’s all about numbers and what’s on the phone, but I think in order to build any sort of successful business relationship (or any for than matter, not just business), there has to be a personal connection, first and foremost.

2. BE PREPARED

No matter how much you think there’s time to prepare for what’s a veritable buffet for fashion bloggers during NYFW, it goes by so fast and there is a ton of preparation to deal with beforehand. For example, the emails that are sent out and received. Hopefully, your emails are not automated/robotic-like and have some sort of ‘you’ in the message along with yes, your numbers, because stats are also important. Then the organization of what you chose to do everyday, from events to shows, meetings, shoots and, hopefully some sleep, along with preparing looks each day before as well. It’s a lot of work for only a week. And even more if you do more than just one fashion week, like I have been doing for the past two seasons attending London Fashion Week, where next month will be my third time visiting - I’m very excited! Bring a really good external/portable charger. With all the phone usage from ubering, texting, photo/video taking, and more, your phone’s going to die rather quickly. Here’s a little tip: To conserve your
phone battery during fashion week, put your phone on airplane mode during
fashion shows. You can post what you want afterward, of course after turning the airplane mode off.

3. EAT HEALTHY & STAY HYDRATED

I can’t tell you how many times I would only have one meal a day during Fashion Week because of my crazy hectic schedule. And I was the crankiest, hangriest b-ya there ever was, haha! Kidding, but really, no one is pleasant to be around when hungry, and it’s just not good for you. Duh. Yes, I confess on solely relying on caffeine, such as soda and coffee instead of water where I became extremely dehydrated. Now I try to drink water everyday, but I also tend to drink a ton more while traveling, especially while on the plane. I also will eat a bit more on the healthier side just to give myself as much energy as I can get - and obv. the overall way of eating and drinking properly while literally being on the go for a week straight.

4. WEAR WHAT YOU MAKES YOU FEEL CONFIDENT

Every time I wore something I was even 10% unsure about, I would not get photographed by the street style photographers and I would just feel uncomfortable about wearing it the entire day. And this shows in photos. You got to know your style and own it! This is the time to have fun with your styling skills, but also shining on in that department! Who doesn’t want to look their best during Fashion Week? Again, if you’re a fashion blogger and you’re maybe doing it to just go- as in see and be seen, it may not be within your best interest then. You should want to go for the experience and to learn from it, to make you a better blogger and person, overall. But wearing what makes you feel 100% great about yourself, is something we all strive for and definitely want to showcase during this time of the year, while also sharing emerging talent/designers.

5. SERIOUSLY THOUGH, HAVE FUN!

You can kiss that “perfectly scheduled day” goodbye, so you might as well make the most of it! Each day you’ll maybe get around 5 hrs of sleep (if you’re lucky and have an editing team) will not eat perfectly, and will definitely not be stress-free. Don’t forget why you’re doing what you’re doing, and I hope it’s because you absolutely love it, want to meet other people and connect, and maybe learn something you haven’t yet, whether it’s your first time visiting New York or your tenth - from all there is to do in my city, I hope it’s out of support and passion for fashion. And when is it a bad thing to catch up with old friends, too? I love seeing everyone during this time period too :)

I hope you guys enjoyed today’s post! I do realize not everyone that comes to my blog is solely doing so for my fashion content, more so the content from fashion week. But rest assured, lots of more beauty and lifestyle content coming your way very soon! If you come here for fashion + styling tips, what would you like to see more of on the blog? And if you are attending fashion week, drop your comments down in the section below with your number one tip for NYFW! Wishing you guys a killer week, get it done and have a good time while doing so! Catch y’all back here soon.

LOVE & XX’S,

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Top 3 Flavorful Teas

January 26, 2019

This post is sponsored by Celestial Seasonings but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Apparently I’ve turned British. Ever since first visiting London last February (my third time there will be next month!) I can’t get enough of drinking tea! I’ve always been a coffee person, but nowadays you can find me drinking at least a couple of cups of tea per day. Whether it’s with a big cup of tea as my afternoon pick-me-up, or my way to help fall asleep right before bed time, there’s certain kinds of teas that are used for certain time periods of the day. Which is why I’m thrilled to partner with Celestial Seasonings Tea and sharing with you this weekend, my top three flavorful teas of all time! They’re not all fruity or citrusy, each has its own unique flavor. So why not continue reading to find out which ones are my favorite and why I drink them so often.

There are a few reasons why I love to drink tea. I love to drink tea when I’m sick, when I need help falling asleep, and something to get me through the mid-afternoon hump we all sometimes fall into. Or even, especially on a rainy day, I like to curl up on the couch, reading a good book and sipping on one of my favorite teas. Nothing better to warm up with that a good ole’ cup of hot tea. Let’s start with my most favorite flavor when it comes to tea. It’s really quite peachy :)

1. PEACH

One of my favorite flavors in tea to drink is peach. Because you can savor it both hot and cold, you can be assured I go through a lot of peach tea. And when I tried the Country Peach Passion tea from Celestial Seasonings, it’s been the only peach tea I’ve been drinking since! A blend of floral chamomile, aromatic citrus and sweet peaches give this brew a decadent peaches and cream flavor. Makes for a really great iced tea as well during the warmer season.

2. PEPPERMINT

Peppermint tea can be enjoyed year round, hot or cold, either simply for its great taste or to help soothe the stomach. But it’s the only hot beverage I’ll drink when I’m sick. Whether I’m bed-ridden with the flu or just having a nasty cold, peppermint tea is my remedy. Celestial Seasonings’ Peppermint Herbal Tea is caffeine-free and tastes so fresh that it stands superbly on its own. The peppermint they use is sourced in the Pacific Northwest, from Oregon and Washington farmers with whom we’ve built longstanding relationships.

3. HONEY VANILLA CHAMOMILE

Soothing yourself after a long day can be tough, and there are times when simply trying to overcome stress just creates more anxiety. The good news is that there is one longstanding and deliciously easy option out there to help bring balance to your world: chamomile tea. Tasting slightly of apple, chamomile tea is a favorite among regular tea drinkers for its simple tastiness and range of benefits. I love to drink this when I have trouble sleeping due to stress and anxiety. The calming flavor along with honey & vanilla is so relaxing and never fails to put me to sleep.

Not a fan of these particular 3 flavored teas? Be sure to check out Celestial Seasonings Tea for they have a large assortment of flavors. Other factors that makes Celestial Seasonings Tea great? Their sustainability (stringless tea bags that come packaged in recycled boxes), being super affordable, as well as being zero to low calories. What are your top 3 favorite flavored teas? Whether it's opting for healthier alternatives to sugary drinks or adding in night time steps to ensure a good nights rest, you can count on Celestial Seasonings Tea. Available at Walmart. Wishing you all a relaxing and enjoyable weekend (with tea, of course.) :)

LOVE & XX’S,

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The Perfect Green Dress

January 18, 2019

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY SNIDEL BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Happy Friday, everyone! Being a fashion blogger, I am constantly on the lookout for up and coming designers, from all walks of life. One of my favorite things to do right before bed (or yes, while in bed) is to be on Instagram, scrolling through the explore feed discovering a brand I may want to potentially work with. Plus it literally feeds my hunger for creative inspiration! So when I came across a particular brand, I knew their pieces were of amazing quality… even before seeing it in person! You can imagine how thrilled I was when I learned they had recently opened a store here in New York! Continue reading to learn more about one of the fastest growing Japanese street fashion brands today.

Designed by Asami Kusugami, Snidel is one of the fastest growing Japanese street fashion brands today. Snidel opened its first store on Cat Street in Harajuku on April 2005. It has since opened stores in Shibuya, Shinjuku, Nagoya, Yokohama, and all of the major cities across Japan. Snidel can also be found in major Japanese department stores – including Marui, Lumine, and Isetan. The brand goes by the slogan “Street Formal”-meaning designing clothes that are casual but formal at the same time. Snidel is particularly popular among university students and young Japanese women. The brand mainly focuses on clothes, but carries handbags, accessories, and shoes as well. They recently opened a store here in New York City on the Lower East Side a few months ago, and when I went to go see the pieces in person, I was immediately in love with the style and team!

The first piece that caught my eye was this perfect green long-sleeved dress. Featuring a thick fabric with a matted texture that drapes elegantly, it’s a womanly one piece dress that is perfect to wear on its own. Designed with a tucked waist line for a contoured figure and fitted with covered buttons, this piece exudes a classical look. Perfect with a pair of feminine pumps or even these black and white mules, it will also look good with a pair of low cut boots for a trendy look. I went for a more Parisian style, as Paris couture week begins very soon, and even though this is the first season where I received invitations I’m unfortunately unable to attend. But stay tuned, I may be in good ole’ Paree sooner rather than later!!

Of course, whenever you see a beret you might think of Paris. Just as much as wine, baguette bread, striped shirts and a bold red lip. So I styled the dress with accessories to fit the Parisian theme, like this black wool beret. Jewelry included in this post are a hand of Fatima necklace by Play Hard Look Dope and these pearl/gold earrings from LeJ Jewelry. (these earrings are also featured here) Lastly this chic bag crafted in Italian Embossed Croc and Pebble Grain leather can also be worn as a shoulder bag and you can double the strap for a shorter length. This is a fabulous day or evening bag with the classical sophistication. Thanks for stopping by! Coming up on the blog, January Beauty Favorites and more winter outfits to inspire you! Wishing you a lovely weekend, xx.