Bonnaroo Bound: 6 Must-Pack Items for Music Festivals

Photo Credit

As mentioned in one of my previous articles, I’m headed to Bonnaroo – in fact, I’m heading there to volunteer. It’s going to be such a blast, and there’s no better way to experience this music festival than to help get it set up (and possibly meet a few of the bands!).
What I’m really worried about, though, is the fact that we will be camping the entire time. It’s a lot to think about, and it means a long packing list. Not only will I have to pack all of my cute music festival outfits but I also have to think about my camping equipment, and making sure I don’t end up stranded with three of the four tent poles I need.

TV Fashion Recap: Teen Wolf and Pretty Little Liars

TV Fashion Recap is a biweekly column featuring the best of TV fashion. Every other week, we recreate our favorite outfits from the most recent episodes of all of the hottest shows. Stay tuned; we may feature your favorite show next!

Photo: 1, 2

Every other week, I break down the best of TV fashion, featuring my favorite looks from the last two weeks. This week, I was inspired by Teen Wolf and Pretty Little Liars. Read on to check out the outfits!

1. Teen Wolf (Season 3, Episode 1): Allison’s Chambray Shirt and Floral Skirt

(Photo Credit – Screenshot)

I’ve covered MTV’s Teen Wolf before (see here and here), but this season’s premiere was absolutely amazing. It felt funnier and more action-packed than previous seasons – did anyone else feel like Teen Wolf really stepped it up?  I was very impressed. In addition, the suspenseful storylines, total hottie werewolves, and hilarious dialogue make this the perfect summer show.

Celebrity Street Style of the Week: Miranda Kerr, Ashley Tisdale, & Olivia Palermo

Every week, I scour the web to find inspiring outfits on your favorite celebs and help you recreate their looks! This week, I was inspired by Miranda Kerr, Ashley Tisdale, and Olivia Palermo. Read on to see how you can get their looks for yourself.

Look 1: Miranda Kerr’s Cute, Western-Inspired Look

Photo: Pacific Coast News

Miranda Kerr is a supermodel with superb personal style, and this week she played on a western inspired theme that she transformed into a fun, feminine look.  Miranda wore a floral print mini dress with a jean jacket, studded western-style ankle booties, cat-eye sunglasses, and a gray handbag. Miranda’s dress is the perfect feminine contrast to her cowboy-esque boots and denim jacket, making for a super cute summer ensemble.

Fabulous Find of the Week: Target Denim Button-Front Skirt

This week’s Fabulous Find is a warm weather classic: a button-front denim skirt. This light wash skirt from Target has a breezy and easygoing vibe that’s perfect for summer. Whether you pair it with a comfy tee or a lacy blouse, this Fab Find will create an effortlessly cute and stylish look.
Best of all, this skirt rings in at just under $23, so you won’t need to break the bank in the name of style. Ready to see what it looks like? Just scroll on down to check out our Fab Find, as well as three chic ways to style it this summer:

The Skirt:

Mossimo Supply Co. Juniors Denim Button Down Skirt in Light Wash – $22.99 at Target

Outfit Inspiration

If you like this cute and budget-friendly skirt, then you’re going to love the outfits we put together for inspiration. Read on to find out three stylish ways to wear this week’s Fabulous Find:

Outfit #1: Trendy Meets Classic

Product Info: Skirt- Target, Top- J. Crew, Necklace- J. Crew Factory, Rings- Etsy, Bag- Gap, Shoes- DSW

For a timeless, yet trendy summertime look, start by pairing our Fab Find with a navy and white striped tee. Woven flats keep things comfy and classic, while a jeweled statement necklace adds a modern touch.

My 6 Favorite Summer Nail Polishes

June marks the official start of summer, which means it’s time to hit the beach, go shopping, hang out with friends, and — of course– start painting your nails with bright, fun colors!
I shared some of my favorite spring nail polishes back in March, and now it’s time to share some of my favorite nail polishes for summer. Scroll down to check out my six fave picks for the season:
1. Essie “Boom Boom Room”

This color is such a pretty, milky pink – it looks absolutely stunning on any skin tone. I love this polish because it’s a couple notches down from an in-your-face neon pink, but still adds an amazingly bright pop of color to your nails! Essie’s nail polishes are some of my faves because of the small brush – it makes painting your nails a breeze.

Would You Wear… an Ear Cuff?

Photo Credit: Elle, PCN Photos, ASOS

There’s no doubt about it: this year’s trendiest piece of jewelry is the ear cuff. If you are looking to make a statement, but are over bold necklaces, the ear cuff may be right up your alley. This punk-inspired, edgy style allows you to look like a rocker without having to endure any of the pain of undergoing a cartilage piercing, since they simply hook onto your ear.
Plenty of celebrities have jumped on board, and Rodarte sent several dragon-shaped ear cuffs down their Spring/Summer RTW ’13 runway. These babies come in various shapes and sizes, but whichever you choose, you’re sure to make a statement.

Our favorite steals…

Product Information (from left to right): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Would you wear an ear cuff?

Or do you stick to normal earrings? Is this look too edgy for your personal taste, or a cool way to add some flair to your outfit?

Fashion Inspiration: Eloise Moves to Brooklyn

Photo via NY Mag (Click to Enlarge.)

I’m a huge fan of the Eloise children’s series, so when I found out that New York Magazine had re-invented Eloise for the 21st century, I was thrilled! This Eloise may be a bit more tech-savvy than Kay Thompson’s original six-year-old, but she’s still that sassy, do-what-I-want city child. For the NY Mag piece, writer Joana Avillez has relocated Eloise to a more modern Brooklyn and updated some of her adventures.
While we’ve been inspired by the 1955 version of Eloise, we’re definitely inspired by this new, spunky version too! We’ve mixed the classic and the trendy style of the city child in two different outfits below. Scroll down to see the looks!

On the Go-Go-Go!

Top, Skirt, Shoes, Belt, Headband, Earrings

As a city child, Eloise is always on the go-go-go! If you’re a busy bee like her, try a modern spin on a classic look by pairing a button-down shirt with a bright pink skirt. Add a skinny belt and slip on a pair of comfy flats for the day’s adventures. Complete the ensemble with Eloise’s signature accessory – bows, of course! Wear them in the form of a headband and matching pink earrings.

Isabel Marant for H&M!

Isabel Marant & H&M’s Creative Advisor Margareta van den Bosch | Photo Courtesy of H&M

H&M recently announced that their latest fashion collaboration will be with French designer Isabel Marant.
According to WWD, the collection will include women’s clothes and accessories, as well as menswear and children’s clothing (a first for Marant!). Although prices haven’t been finalized, the price points will be similar to past H&M designer collabs like Marni and Maison Martin Margiela.
In a press release, Isabel Marant spoke about her H&M collection:

Runway Looks for Less: Tory Burch Spring 2013 RTW

Tory Burch Spring 2013 RTW | ELLE

Vogue was spot-on when they described Tory Burch’s Spring 2013 collection as an example of “preppy globalism.” This season, Burch created looks that incorporated her signature polished vibe, but also added a worldy flair with unique embellishments, bold prints, and one-of-a-kind statement jewelry. The overall look is a fab mix of classic and bohemian aesthetics – perfect for summertime!
Want to get a designer look on a college student’s budget? Below, we’ll show you three lower-priced versions of looks from Tory Burch Spring 2013. Simply scroll down to check ‘em out.

1. Golden Girl

Photo: ELLE

The preppy globalism look is on full display with this ensemble, which pairs a yellow sundress with an oversized statement necklace. The necklace really amps up the style factor and adds interest to a classic A-line frock.

Geek Chic: Fashion Inspired by Clara from Doctor Who

Photo Credit

Greetings, fellow Doctor Who-loving CF readers…and may I offer you a tissue to dry off your post-Matt-Smith-departure-announcement tears?
I have to say, I can’t wait for November’s 50th Anniversary Special and the Christmas Special, but I’m also dreading the emotional breakdown I will inevitably suffer after the Eleventh Doctor’s regeneration. (Mom, consider this an early warning for the uncontrollable sobbing over a fictional character and the wretched fetal position you’ll find me in come Christmas Day.)
On a happier note, let’s talk fashion! In previous Doctor Who-inspired Geek Chic posts, we covered outfits inspired by the Doctor and his companions (Part 1 for the Doctor, Part 2 for Eleven’s companions, Part 3 for Nine and Ten’s companions). This time around, let’s get inspired by the newest companion, “the girl who can” – Clara.
For more Geek Chic, check out previous articles: Star Trek Into Darkness-inspired fashion, Buffy-inspired fashion (and Part 2), Castle-inspired fashion, Firefly-inspired fashion, The Hobbit-inspired fashion, Supernatural-inspired fashion, Bones-inspired fashion, Princess Bride-inspired fashion, The Dark Knight trilogy-inspired fashion, Pokemon-inspired fashion,  Star Wars Prequel-inspired fashion, Lost-inspired fashion, Sailor Moon-inspired fashion, Sherlock-inspired fashion, Star Wars Original Trilogy-inspired fashion, The Big Bang Theory fashion, the Lord of the Rings fashion, and Star Trek-inspired fashion.)

Know Your Geek: About Clara “Oswin” Oswald

• Jenna-Louise Coleman plays the latest traveler to tag along with the Doctor on his travels through time and space in the TARDIS.
• The Doctor keeps encountering various incarnations of Clara everywhere – from Victorian England to a Dalek prison planet – and loses her each time.
• He’s utterly baffled by Clara’s “impossible” existence and invites her on board to investigate her mysterious appearances in his adventures.

Outfits Inspired by Clara

While I’m not so sold on her character development thus far, I do adore Clara’s fashion sense!  Read on for three outfits inspired by this clever companion!
If you haven’t caught up with season 7, be warned: SPOILERS, sweetie!

Souffle Girl

Photo Credits: 1, 2, 3

We met this mysterious companion in “Asylum of the Daleks,” where she goes by “Oswin Oswald.” This opera-loving, souffle-baking, quick-witted junior entertainment manager helps save the Doctor, Rory, and Amy from impending doom, but she must first face a horrifying truth about herself.

Fashion Inspired by Art: Takashi Murakami’s “Flower Matango”

Takashi Murakami’s “Flower Matango” (2001 – 06) via Wikimedia Commons (Click image to enlarge.)

Takashi Murakami (born 1962) is a mixed media artist from Tokyo, Japan. He is most well known for coining the term superflat, which showcases flattened forms like cartoons. Murakami’s works range from paintings and sculptures to more commercial art, like merchandise and fashion design (like his Louis Vuitton collaboration).
As depicted in Flower Matango, his signature aesthetic style centers around super cute animal-like figures portrayed in bright, shiny hues. His style presents low-culture objects as works of high art, remarking on how the culture of post-war Japan has caused the gap in the classes to be “flattened”, creating little difference between “high” and “low” culture.

How to screw up the laundry at home

How to screw up the laundry at home, a comprehensive guide.
OK so maybe this isn’t an all-inclusive, super secret handbook on how to screw up the laundry system at your house, but it might be a good substitute until someone decides to write that book.  It won’t be me though, I’m the girl still working on last month’s laundry pile-up.

8 Must-Haves for the Best Bathing Experience

There’s nothing like coming home to a nice warm bath after a long day’s work. Studies show that warm baths promote relaxation, aid sleep, rejuvenate the skin, enhance circulation and stimulate the release of the body’s “feel good” chemicals, endorphins.

Now imagine yourself slowly immersing into a tub of water... with the right temperature to soothe sore muscles... While some may see this as the perfect scenario, I have to say that it takes more than a tub of warm water for the best bathing experience.

For a rewarding soak, don’t forget to prepare these must-haves:

Eye Coolers
Soothe your eyes with eye coolers. Not only so they relieve tired eyes, they also reduce puffiness and get rid of dark circles around the eye area. Don’t deprive your eyes a lovely treat. After all, they have been worn out looking at the computer screen or reading all sorts of reports whole day.



→ Buy the Kingsley Reusable Eye Coolers, $6.80, at amazon.com.


Bath Pillow
Without this bathtime prop, leaning onto the tub puts stress on your back and neck. Enjoy your soak better by using a bath pillow for comfort and support. Some bath pillows even come with built-in massage settings, giving you the luxury of a massage and a warm bath at the same time!

Winter to Spring Makeup Transition Tips

The official start of spring was March 20 – which means that we can all wave goodbye to the winter blues and we can say a big smiley hello to the start of a new season. Every woman loves spring, as it is the first indication of the awesome season that’s yet to come, summer.

Winter is great when it first rolls in, the romantic promise of snow and the comfort of wearing an oversized jumper sat in front of the fire seems great, at first. However, the romantic nostalgia of heavy layering soon wears off, and it doesn’t take long before we start to show the signs and strains of the long cold months.

The Effects of Winter on Women

The cardigans, knitted jumpers and heavy overcoats are one thing, but it’s the pale face and the damaged hair that really gets the girls down during the winter months. The dramatic temperature changes from the cold outdoors to the overheated indoors can cause havoc with our hair and can ruin the delicate facial skin. The lips in particular can suffer at the hands of the winter months.

New Scent on the Block: Just Cavalli for Her Perfume

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Just Cavalli, the clothing and accessory line from renowned Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli, has just launched its newest fragrance – Just Cavalli for Her Perfume. Like its fashion label namesake, Just Cavalli for Her Perfume has a youthful, vibrant vibe that is perfect for a night out or any time you want to exude a playful charm.

According to descriptions of the scent, Just Cavalli for Her is a creamy floral with top notes of neroli, which comes from bitter orange blossoms. The middle note is Tahitian tiare flower, with a base of palissander wood accord.

I know, it's all very abstract when a scent is described with the written word. So, try checking out this video. It does a much better job of showing the overall feeling the Just Cavalli for Her fragrance is designed to evoke:

The 3 Best Home Beauty Technologies You Can Buy Right Now

We all know technology is constantly improving. Not only does it get more advanced over time, but smaller too. For beauty this means we can make full use of technology which only a few years ago was only available in a salon or specialist clinic!

Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal works by targeting the hair follicles and damaging them so they don't produce hair. This usually stops or at least reduces hair growth on the treated area. At a clinic treatment must be administered by professionals using large powerful devices.

However similar results are possible with home devices. The home devices are incredibly user friendly; you just hover them over the area you want to treat and activate the device. Some systems even beep when you need to go onto the next area of skin. They're safe too – they scan your skin and won't work unless your skin type is suitable.

The Tria is one of the best known home devices and is the only device cleared by the FDA for permanent hair removal.



→ Buy the Tria Hair Removal Laser 4X, $449.00, at amazon.com.

How To Apply Makeup for Your Face Shape

It’s true, beauty does lie in the eye of the beholder… but, what the heck, there is no problem using makeup to accentuate the beautiful, and downplay the not-so-beautiful, features! Makeup is to women what sports are to men. Okay, maybe that went a little far, but you do understand, right?

The most difficult part of female anatomy to strategically beautify is the face because it is most exposed. Proper care has to be taken to maintain it and present it in its best light. In this article, I will explain the common face shapes and some makeup tips to suit each shape.

Makeup Tips for Square Shaped Faces

A woman with a square face, like Demi Moore, will have strong facial features, especially the jawbone. Makeup can be used to make the strong features a bit softer.

Apply blush with circular strokes on the cheeks, then contour the jawbone using a light colored powder in upward strokes to make the jawbone seem less sharp. Use symmetrical patterns on square shaped faces and always use upward brush strokes. Focus on softening the strong features.



→ Buy the Make Up Forever Sculpting Kit, $48.00, at sephora.com.

If Looks Could Kill: Hot Hair Color Trends

Women are getting more adventurous with their hair color and straying away from basic all over color and simple highlights. There are tons of new techniques that are being used to create fun, feisty styles and improved temporary products make it easy to change up your hair color and change it back in a snap. Here are some of the hottest hair color trends out there:

Ombre

It seems like ombre hair has been in style for quite some time now but it won't be going out of style any time soon. Now that at-home ombre kits have gone on the market I am seeing more and more clients sporting this fun hair color. The great thing about this hair color is that it can be worn by women with any complexion and the two-tone effect gives you major versatility. It also keeps you from having to touch up your roots which is another major plus.

Your Summer Hair Care Survival Guide

The summer weather is great but the weather conditions are far from perfect for our hair. Every year I invite the warmth but I hate endlessly pampering my hair to combat the summer affect. Although keeping my hair properly hydrated and stylish isn’t the easiest task, it is easier with some help.

I don’t think I could survive without coconut oil, because my hair always feels better after I put some coconut oil on it. I take a couple teaspoons of it and microwave it for 30-45 seconds and then I comb it through my hair. I leave it in for a couple hours before I wash my hair. I love the outcome. The oil softens my hair and makes it more manageable. In addition to helping keep your strands soft, coconut oil is a great way to keep your skin moisturized and smelling edible!


→ Buy the Nature's Way Coconut Oil-Extra Virgin, $9.29 (was $14.99), at amazon.com.


If you need a product that’s sort of a band aid to frizzy untamed hair, then you have got to try Jojoba oil. My girlfriend recommended it last year and I have been using it ever since as a way to get my hair shiny and soft looking. I even use the remainder oil on my neck at night to keep my neck area looking youthful and to prevent wrinkling.

Get Punk Couture Nails with Deborah Lippmann

The Met Gala -- the annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute -- has become known as essentially the Oscars of fashion. Don’t let this moniker confuse you, there are no actual awards given out at the Gala. Rather, the red carpet arrivals that precede the telecast-free charity event are the stage on which the fashion cognoscenti (and the fashion-adjacent D-list) strut their stuff.

The 2013 Met Gala was last night…I’m sure you’ve seen the pictures. This year’s theme was Punk: Chaos to Couture, derived from the theme of this year’s major Costume Institute exhibition. The exhibition, opening to the public on May 9, will examine punk’s impact on high fashion. Picture labels like Comme des Garcons, Junya Watanabe, Ann Demeulemeester, and Helmut Lang (otherwise known as my people).

So, back to the Gala. The revelers were pretty evenly split between those who attempted (sadly, I might add) the Punk look and those who just went with the Gala part, minus the Punk. Those who did try to bring the Punk went all out, sporting accoutrements like spiky hair (Miley Cyrus), Mohawk fascinators (Sarah Jessica Parker), and dress-gloves (Kim Kardashian). The theme carried all the way to the tips of their nails.