Runway to Hallway: Spring 2014

Runway trends can often seem elusive to the average high school teenager, so I am going to show you a few outfit ideas for incorporating these high fashion trends into your everyday school wardrobe.

Trend: Florals

Runway 

Looks By: Emporio Armani, Alberta Ferretti, Balenciaga, Mary Katrantzou

Hallway

Trend: Metallics

Runway

Looks By: Rochas, Dries Van Noten, Marissa Webb, Gareth Pugh

Hallway

Trend: White Shirts

Runway

Looks By: Tod's, Akris, Hermès, Balenciaga

Hallway

What runway trends will you be trying out this spring?

Drugstore Makeup Haul

Target is one of my favorite places in the world. I can shamelessly wander around the brightly lit makeup aisles for an hour and feel like all is right in the world. Today, I was on a mission to buy some new drugstore makeup, so of course Target was my immediate destination.

Here's what I got:

CoverGirl LashBlast Clump Crusher ($6.99) 

This is a repurchase for me. I absolutely adore the formula and the brush because they consistently give me separated, clump-free, long lashes. Also, I've found that even the regular formula does not smudge to underneath my eyes like some other mascaras do. 

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Light 10 ($3.99) 

This is also not my first time purchasing this product, but I had to get a new one because my last one was leaking all over my makeup drawer. Creamy, long-lasting, and crease-proof, this formula is fantastic for covering darkness under the eyes. I also like to use it around my nose, chin, forehead, etc. for days I don't feel like wearing foundation because it blends into my skin seamlessly. 

Rimmel London ScandalEyes Waterproof Mascara ($6.99)

I don't have many waterproof mascaras because I think they are a hassle to get off and unnecessary for everyday wear, but I wanted to pick one up to use on special occasions or times when I want my mascara to be really long-lasting. I haven't heard anything about this, but I'm looking forward to giving it a try.

Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Complex ($6.49)

I already have a few of the Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains so I really wanted to try the other formulas as well. Complex is a peachy nude that is matte, moisturizing on the lips, velvety, and really comfortable to wear. Clearly from my color selection I like nudes because of their versatility, but I do want to try some of the brighter shades. 

Revlon ColorBurst Lacquer Balm in Demure ($6.49)

Demure is a cool-toned pink that has visible silver glitter, which wasn't evident from the packaging. So far, I prefer the formula of the Lacquer Balm to the Matte Balm because I like the moisturizing finish, but I'm not a huge fan of the glitter particles. I definitely will be buying more of these balms soon though.

Revlon Colorstay Lipliner in Blush ($6.99)

I don't ever use lipliner, but I've been wanting to give it a try for quite a while. I wanted to get a mechanical lipliner instead of a pencil, and this was honestly only my choice because it came in a sealed package and hadn't been tested out yet (which is really annoying). Blush is a rosy mid-toned pink that feels slightly sticky and somewhat drying on the lips, even with lip balm underneath, but that might be because of the long-lasting formula. I will have to test it out more and see if I like it.

Have you been shopping recently? If so, what did you buy?

Let's Talk Prom Dresses

Spring is here, which means that prom season is also upon us! For all high schoolers out there who can relate, or anyone preparing for a special event, finding that perfect dress is a pretty big deal. I was fortunate enough to not only get my dress for only $70, but also find it and fall in love with it all the way back in October.

My Dress

Reem Acra Florence Gown: Rent the Runway

It is purely personal preference, but I am not a huge fan of the typical prom dresses. I'm not saying that these so-called "typical" prom dresses aren't pretty or anything—in fact, many of them are stunning. It is just not the look or style that I prefer. Therefore, my dress for prom this year will be the Reem Acra Florence Gown from Rent the Runway. It was love at first sight. From the soft layers of tule and twisted ruching of the bodice to the understated nude color, I feel like this dress was made for me. 

Ever since I first discovered Rent the Runway, I have been completely obsessed. I love the idea that I can wear gorgeous designer gowns for an extremely reasonable price. Because I am renting my prom dress, there are some negatives to that as well, such as not being able to alter it, not being 100% that it will fit right, and not being sure that it will be the best dress on you. However, the benefits completely outweigh the disadvantages for me. I'm saving up to hundreds of dollars, I don't have to worry about altering my dress, and I also don't have to feel bad about letting it collect dust in the back of my closet, waiting for a day to be worn again that might never come. I really don't need to keep my prom dress forever. Though it is a keepsake for some, I am probably never going to wear it again (yet if this gown was the prom dress I owned I would wear it every day). 

*Because this post is before my actual prom, I will also be posting a follow-up on my experience with Rent the Runway so look out for that in a few weeks!

This brings me to another point I like about Rent the Runway. It is comforting to read reviews from other girls who have worn this dress before to see what they thought of its quality, design, and fit, because it makes you feel that much more secure about the rental. Looking at pictures posted of the dress on the website is also helpful to see it being worn by normal girls instead by a model for both an idea of what the dress will look like in person and for style inspiration. 

What I love most about prom is that it is an opportunity for me to dress up and enjoy the extended process of getting ready. If you have ever watched the movie A Cinderella Story with Hillary Duff (I almost said Lizzie McGuire there for a second), you know the a scene where Sam is standing at the top of the stairs at her school's halloween party and everyone stops and stares in awe. I'm not saying that my entrance will be as epic as that at all, but I just like to think of that fairytale moment where I get to feel and look like a princess for an evening. 

Hillary Duff in A Cinderella Story

Then again, not everyone wants to look like a princess at prom. You might want to follow the new trends, go with classic elegance, or make a bold statement with head to toe sparkles or a bright fuschia color. Hey, you do you. You should wear whatever makes you feel like a star on that night!

What will you be wearing for your next big event? Will you give Rent the Runway a try?

Loving Your Short Hair

Ever since I cut six inches off my hair in favor of a medium length hairstyle back in December, I have been itching to maintain that hair length. Although I do love all the things you can do with long hair (braids, buns, etc.), I don't like the split and stringy ends or the lack of volume. When I first cut my hair, I loved how I could immediately feel how thick and healthy my hair felt—I didn't know that I had that much hair in the first place!

So, when I recently got my hair cut again, I wanted to return to that feeling. To be honest, when I first looked in the mirror and saw how short my hair was, I was absolutely in shock. I was almost in tears. I had asked for a shoulder length hairstyle, with images of Lily Collins and Alexa Chung's medium length messy, textured waves in my mind. However, I ended up with a long bob that took some time getting used to. This was not the stylist's fault, because what she gave me was a long bob with a shoulder-grazing length, but in my mind I had imagined this length when my hair was already curled, not when it was straight. By the time I got home and curled my new hair, it came to the middle of my neck.

How I Learned to Love Short Hair

What helped me get accustomed to my short hair the most was definitely all the compliments I received for my haircut. When you lack self-confidence, though it may seem petty, it helps to get different perspectives and opinions, especially when they are positive and confidence boosting. At school, surrounded by hundreds of girls with long hair, I actually felt proud to stand out from the crowd by taking this unintentional risk. Also, if you play a sport or want to tie your hair up in a ponytail, you still can! (Some bobby pins required.) Based on the super fast and easy styling, along with how it is more cohesive with my personal style, I think my short hair is here to stay—at least for now.

My Hair-speration

My Hair Journey

Me with Long Hair (last year):

Me with Medium Hair (3 months ago):

Me with Short Hair (now):

What hair length do you like going for: long, medium, or short?

NOTW: Minimalist Manicure

Inspired by New York Fashion Week 2014, along with a desire to do a fast and easy manicure given that it was already 10pm, I chose a minimalistic design for my nails this week. Also known as a floating manicure, this new form of nail design favors only painting part of the nail, letting the natural nail show through.

Paired best with muted fall colors, I think this trend is a modern and fresh way to relieve us from the overly sparkly and intricate nails from the winter season. All it takes to recreate is a steady hand and an eye for straight lines (if you don't have either of these, just tape your nails on a diagonal fill in the space).

Inspiration:

Photo credits to POPSUGAR Australia

My Recreation:

Don't forget to use a base coat and a top coat!

Nail Polish: Revlon Colorstay Longwear Nail Enamel in Blue Slate

What do you think of minimalist manicures?