Two for One Review: Natasha Denona Mini Sunset Palette & YSL The Shock Mascara
Thursday, March 29, 2018 • Makeup, mascara, Natasha Denona, review, WDDT?, YSL
I want you to know that last week I went into Sephora for ONE THING ok? ONE THING. But somehow $100 later I walked out with that one thing and a few OTHER things, including a gift with purchase. To try and rationalize that purchase as useful, here are a couple of reviews to hopefully help you prepare yourself - or gird your loins - before your next Sephora trip!
After playing with it a few times, I think my overall review is that it's fine. The matte shadows are the best in the palette so far, super smooth and pigmented upon application (despite what the swatches would suggest). Sun Beam is a little too gritty and glittery for my taste, though when applied with a wet brush the payoff is pretty good for a day or night look. I think this palette is for those of us who love warm tones, are interested in the brand, and like the idea of a self-contained palette, even if it does require a little bit more work.
Now the mascara? I thought the mascara was going to be just another "eh" gift with purchase, but DAMN PEOPLE.
The Shock Volumizing Mascara has a hourglass wand that actually builds volume while separating the lashes, and the final effect of about 1.5 coats is impressive and equal to what I'd gotten before using two different mascaras entirely. I don't have any flaking or smudging issues, though I do think that some of that is the effect of my eyeshape, and I think I may have found my new holy grail.
To finish out this review I thought it would be nice to show you the cumulative effect of both products, the palette and the mascara. I was a bit too close to my window so the shadows are more blown out than I'd like, but I think you get the general idea of what I was going for. In the future I'd add either winged liner or really smudge out the lash line with a kohl pencil under the shadows themselves, but I wanted to showcase each without too much distractions.
So what do you think? Are you hankering to pick up the new ND mini palette? Sephora is really working the marketing right now, but is it landing with you? Let me know!
Natasha Denona Mini Sunset Palette ($25) ~ YSL The Shock Volumizing Mascara ($29 for the Full Size)
First up is the Natasha Denona Mini Sunset Palette. I'd heard a lot about the brand obviously, she'd burst onto the scene with her $200+ eyeshadow palettes, but at that price point I'd never considered them achievable. I'm a makeup lover and to me that price point implies makeup obsessive (which I'm not judging, I just put those dollars in skincare). Still, for $25 I figured it would be worth a try, especially in a palette that was actually small enough to travel with and be considered complete on its own.
After playing with it a few times, I think my overall review is that it's fine. The matte shadows are the best in the palette so far, super smooth and pigmented upon application (despite what the swatches would suggest). Sun Beam is a little too gritty and glittery for my taste, though when applied with a wet brush the payoff is pretty good for a day or night look. I think this palette is for those of us who love warm tones, are interested in the brand, and like the idea of a self-contained palette, even if it does require a little bit more work.
Now the mascara? I thought the mascara was going to be just another "eh" gift with purchase, but DAMN PEOPLE.
(Mascara on my right eye (your left), no mascara on my left (your right))
The Shock Volumizing Mascara has a hourglass wand that actually builds volume while separating the lashes, and the final effect of about 1.5 coats is impressive and equal to what I'd gotten before using two different mascaras entirely. I don't have any flaking or smudging issues, though I do think that some of that is the effect of my eyeshape, and I think I may have found my new holy grail.
To finish out this review I thought it would be nice to show you the cumulative effect of both products, the palette and the mascara. I was a bit too close to my window so the shadows are more blown out than I'd like, but I think you get the general idea of what I was going for. In the future I'd add either winged liner or really smudge out the lash line with a kohl pencil under the shadows themselves, but I wanted to showcase each without too much distractions.
So what do you think? Are you hankering to pick up the new ND mini palette? Sephora is really working the marketing right now, but is it landing with you? Let me know!
outside time
Tuesday, March 27, 2018 • Anthropologie, Free People, Kate Spade, OOTD, World Market
Every now and again Jessy and I get it in our heads to try something new for the blog, combined this time with her first use of the new camera. Since we were already going to be at the US Botanic Gardens, I brought a couple of my favorite dresses, tried to shrug off my discomfort in posing without sunglasses, and we got to work!
Dress: Free People (Size Large) ~ Shoes: Anthropologie (Size 40, old) ~ Necklaces: World Market & Kate Spade ~ Earrings: World Market
Photos by @whitetowelsonly
Photos by @whitetowelsonly
pre-spring
Tuesday, March 20, 2018 • Converse, Free People, Kate Spade, OOTD, Pendleton, The Limited, Urban Outfitters
I don't really know what's wrong with me that I would think taking pictures NEXT TO THE WATER on a windy as hell day would be a good idea. Since it's done now, I hope you'll just excuse me and the overly hand-centric photos that I had to take to keep my hair out of my face/lipstick.
I've been keeping an eye out for plaid double-breasted blazers from pretty much the moment they exploded all over the internet, but I never really seriously considered thrifting one because fit is such a huge component of the overall look. Then - duh - it occurred to me that using a thrifted blazer I already owned and loved might be a good way to tackle the problem. I found this Pendleton piece on Poshmark for $12, and it was worth every penny :D.
I've been keeping an eye out for plaid double-breasted blazers from pretty much the moment they exploded all over the internet, but I never really seriously considered thrifting one because fit is such a huge component of the overall look. Then - duh - it occurred to me that using a thrifted blazer I already owned and loved might be a good way to tackle the problem. I found this Pendleton piece on Poshmark for $12, and it was worth every penny :D.
Blazer: Pendleton (Size 12, thrifted) ~ Shirt: The Limited (Size Large, old) ~ Jeans: Urban Outfitters (Size 32) ~ Belt: Free People (I can't find the exact one online, but this belt is super similar) ~ Sneakers: Converse (Size 39) ~ Sunglasses: Kate Spade (old)
Root Science BARE Facial Serum Review
Friday, March 16, 2018 • Root Science, skincare, WDDT?
Hello there follow-up post! The last time I referenced this purchase was in my Take Care shop highlight, and it has turned out not only to be a "like" but a "love" so I'm very excited to share the details with you all today!
I knew wandering around the shop that I would be hard pressed not to buy SOMETHING, skin care is a love - hobby - necessity all rolled into one, and I am just not that strong. I smelled oils and face masks, sampled serums and mists, but ultimately, with the help of a very knowledgeable shop manager, I managed to decide on just one product to take home: Root Science's BARE Serum.
Ingredient's list from their website:
Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil*, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil*, Silybum Marianum (Milk Thistle) Oil*, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil*, Psidium Guajava (Guava) Seed Oil*, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil*, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Oil*, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) CO2 Total Extract*, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil*, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil*, Bertholletia Excelsa (Brazil) Nut Oil*, Adansonia Digitata (Baobab) Seed Oil*, Caryocar Braziliensis (Pequi) Fruit Oil*, Nigella Sativa (Black Cumin) Seed Oil*, Calophyllum Inophyllum (Tamanu) Nut Oil*, Calendula Officinalis CO2 Total Extract*, Amaranthus Caudatus (Amaranth) Seed Oil*, Non-GMO Tocopherol (Vitamin E).
*Certified Organic
**Naturally Sourced
Cruelty Free and Vegan
As a serum in oil, this product takes the place of two steps in my evening routine, replacing both my regular serum and the moisturizer that I had been using (I've found it's a bit too heavy for my skin during the day). After letting my prescription retinol settle for a few minutes, I take 1-2 pumps from the opaque glass bottle, swipe it across the palms of both hands, and press it into the skin on my face and neck/decolletage.
There's no added fragrance so I think the closest I can come to describing the smell of this light orange-colored oil is earthy? It's not quite grass, wood, or dirt, but there's something in there that just comes across as "deep" to me. It's a thicker consistency, though from the picture you can see that it does have some movement to it, and after application it takes at least 5-10min for it to be considered even partially absorbed. This leaves a nicely moisturized and almost "sealed in" feeling behind, but since I don't wake up to any grease marks on my pillow it doesn't bother me at all.
Over the past few months of arctic tundra, it's been a joy to use. I don't wake up greasy but I feel like my skin - completely subjectively of course - just looks nice. I'm not going to say that $120 is affordable, but as it replace two products in my routine I also don't consider it completely ridiculously priced either. As I told a couple of friends recently, if you consider skincare a hobby/interest and would spend upwards of $50 on a serum alone, then I think this, or any of Root Science's serum in oils, might be worth the investment. My biggest problem right now is forcing myself to stop using it enough to finish the things I already had in my bathroom!
I knew wandering around the shop that I would be hard pressed not to buy SOMETHING, skin care is a love - hobby - necessity all rolled into one, and I am just not that strong. I smelled oils and face masks, sampled serums and mists, but ultimately, with the help of a very knowledgeable shop manager, I managed to decide on just one product to take home: Root Science's BARE Serum.
Ingredient's list from their website:
Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil*, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil*, Silybum Marianum (Milk Thistle) Oil*, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil*, Psidium Guajava (Guava) Seed Oil*, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil*, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Oil*, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) CO2 Total Extract*, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil*, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil*, Bertholletia Excelsa (Brazil) Nut Oil*, Adansonia Digitata (Baobab) Seed Oil*, Caryocar Braziliensis (Pequi) Fruit Oil*, Nigella Sativa (Black Cumin) Seed Oil*, Calophyllum Inophyllum (Tamanu) Nut Oil*, Calendula Officinalis CO2 Total Extract*, Amaranthus Caudatus (Amaranth) Seed Oil*, Non-GMO Tocopherol (Vitamin E).
*Certified Organic
**Naturally Sourced
Cruelty Free and Vegan
As a serum in oil, this product takes the place of two steps in my evening routine, replacing both my regular serum and the moisturizer that I had been using (I've found it's a bit too heavy for my skin during the day). After letting my prescription retinol settle for a few minutes, I take 1-2 pumps from the opaque glass bottle, swipe it across the palms of both hands, and press it into the skin on my face and neck/decolletage.
There's no added fragrance so I think the closest I can come to describing the smell of this light orange-colored oil is earthy? It's not quite grass, wood, or dirt, but there's something in there that just comes across as "deep" to me. It's a thicker consistency, though from the picture you can see that it does have some movement to it, and after application it takes at least 5-10min for it to be considered even partially absorbed. This leaves a nicely moisturized and almost "sealed in" feeling behind, but since I don't wake up to any grease marks on my pillow it doesn't bother me at all.
Over the past few months of arctic tundra, it's been a joy to use. I don't wake up greasy but I feel like my skin - completely subjectively of course - just looks nice. I'm not going to say that $120 is affordable, but as it replace two products in my routine I also don't consider it completely ridiculously priced either. As I told a couple of friends recently, if you consider skincare a hobby/interest and would spend upwards of $50 on a serum alone, then I think this, or any of Root Science's serum in oils, might be worth the investment. My biggest problem right now is forcing myself to stop using it enough to finish the things I already had in my bathroom!
gray and green
Tuesday, March 13, 2018 • Anthropologie, Converse, DL1961, Lord & Taylor, Marrakech, Neiman Marcus Last Call, Nordstrom Rack, OOTD
I'm not going to lie to you and say this outfit was TOTALLY appropriate for the weather. Maybe if I was a scarf person it'd have been a bit less chilly in the shade, but since I was comfortable walking around in the sun I just couldn't bring myself to care.
This outfit was actually inspired by a Pinterest flat lay, and it was unexpectedly just the kick in the pants I needed to think about seasonal transitioning. Instead of embracing the cold mornings and warm afternoons that DC springs actually are, I've been jumping ahead to SUMMER and all the dresses you can imagine. Spring has its own charms that I need to remember to check into, before I reach the point of sweating every second I spend outside.
This outfit was actually inspired by a Pinterest flat lay, and it was unexpectedly just the kick in the pants I needed to think about seasonal transitioning. Instead of embracing the cold mornings and warm afternoons that DC springs actually are, I've been jumping ahead to SUMMER and all the dresses you can imagine. Spring has its own charms that I need to remember to check into, before I reach the point of sweating every second I spend outside.
Jacket: Marrakech (Size Medium, old, This Season's) ~ Sweater: Lord & Taylor (Size XL, old) ~ Jeans: DL1961 (Size 31, old, Similar) ~ Shoes: Converse (Size 39) ~ Belt: Nordstrom Rack ~ Crossbody: Neiman Marcus Last Call (Similar-ish)
Geek of the Week #42
Friday, March 9, 2018 • Geek of the Week
// Yes.
// "Digital Download: Chriselle Lim, the Superinfluencers’ Outlier"
// I know that my relationship with my hair dresser is very personal, so this article isn't at all surprising to me - "Beauty Salons Are Still Too Sacred for the Tech World to Take Over"
// My teenage dreams are coming true because the Spice Girls are going on a reunion tour!!
// Easy come, easy go I guess - "Victoria Beckham squashes Spice Girls tour hopes"
// I usually don't make it all the way through the long articles on Jezebel (sue me (but don't, because that would be terrible)) but this one is speaking my language - "The Romance Novelist's Guide to Hot Consent"
// Free Book! I think this was a Dear Author recommend a little while back, but I have to say for a genre I don't read that often (mystery) I really enjoyed it!
// "Janelle Monáe Stars in "Noir Town," Directed by Jordan Peele"
Fun Posts & Random Finds: Have I mentioned the web comic O Human Star? If not I have been remiss because it is amazing. // StudioDIY has been killing it with the home content lately, and their closet might actually be my favorite thing they've shared so far! // I love this Disney inspired prom collection at Unique Vintage, *especially* since Tiana is included and she doesn't get enough love in my opinion. //If you're not already following the Mascara Melee roundups on Pretty Superb you should be, because mascara is unnecessarily expensive in my opinion, so I appreciate knowing if I'm gonna get the most bang for my buck. // Someone buy me this Black Panther Teddy Bear!!! Or buy it for yourself so I can live vicariously through you.
Clothing & Jewelry: I feel like I keep hearing about Target and their new clothing options lately, so I've got a couple on my radar - this light denim shirt option, and the cutest white button down I definitely don't need. // This Tory Burch bag is a bit too rich for my blood right now, but the color/size/shape is so perfect I might actually save up for it. // Have you prepared yourself for a long list of sh*t I don't need? Cause if so, here you go: a chambray maxi dress (that I'm pretty sure my tits will fall out of), a white midi dress I've loved for months, a long-sleeved white maxi dress I just saw today, a pseudo two-piece set perfect for summer nights, and a red-floral maxi for the day, all topped off with an over-sized button down that would look great tied over denim shorts or tucked into high-waisted mom jeans.
via Classical Art Memes on Facebook
// "Digital Download: Chriselle Lim, the Superinfluencers’ Outlier"
// I know that my relationship with my hair dresser is very personal, so this article isn't at all surprising to me - "Beauty Salons Are Still Too Sacred for the Tech World to Take Over"
Image of Drybar via Getty
// My teenage dreams are coming true because the Spice Girls are going on a reunion tour!!
// Easy come, easy go I guess - "Victoria Beckham squashes Spice Girls tour hopes"
// I usually don't make it all the way through the long articles on Jezebel (sue me (but don't, because that would be terrible)) but this one is speaking my language - "The Romance Novelist's Guide to Hot Consent"
Donna Herron: It seems like a really, really, really horrible thing to say, but I feel like if you are centering the idea of not just consent but enthusiastic consent in your work, you’re having to world-build that, because it doesn’t exist in our society. It doesn’t exist in our world. We’ve proven that a lot here recently. So if you are centering that, you have to do it early. You’re having to build a circumstance and a society and set of people for whom that is important and vital. You can’t start late. There’s no such thing as starting world-building late. It’s either there or it’s not. You’ve either done it or you haven’t. If you have not gotten that at the very least in your head, not necessarily on the page yet but if you’re not approaching it from a place where that was something you were thinking of from the start, then you don’t have it.
// Free Book! I think this was a Dear Author recommend a little while back, but I have to say for a genre I don't read that often (mystery) I really enjoyed it!
// "Janelle Monáe Stars in "Noir Town," Directed by Jordan Peele"
Starring Janelle Monae; Directed by Jordan Peele; Photographs by Collier Schorr; Styled by Sara Moonves;
Fun Posts & Random Finds: Have I mentioned the web comic O Human Star? If not I have been remiss because it is amazing. // StudioDIY has been killing it with the home content lately, and their closet might actually be my favorite thing they've shared so far! // I love this Disney inspired prom collection at Unique Vintage, *especially* since Tiana is included and she doesn't get enough love in my opinion. //If you're not already following the Mascara Melee roundups on Pretty Superb you should be, because mascara is unnecessarily expensive in my opinion, so I appreciate knowing if I'm gonna get the most bang for my buck. // Someone buy me this Black Panther Teddy Bear!!! Or buy it for yourself so I can live vicariously through you.
Clothing & Jewelry: I feel like I keep hearing about Target and their new clothing options lately, so I've got a couple on my radar - this light denim shirt option, and the cutest white button down I definitely don't need. // This Tory Burch bag is a bit too rich for my blood right now, but the color/size/shape is so perfect I might actually save up for it. // Have you prepared yourself for a long list of sh*t I don't need? Cause if so, here you go: a chambray maxi dress (that I'm pretty sure my tits will fall out of), a white midi dress I've loved for months, a long-sleeved white maxi dress I just saw today, a pseudo two-piece set perfect for summer nights, and a red-floral maxi for the day, all topped off with an over-sized button down that would look great tied over denim shorts or tucked into high-waisted mom jeans.
DC Highlight: Renwick Gallery
Tuesday, March 6, 2018 • DC, DC Highlight, OOTD, Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian
I'm just going to own up to the fact that this post has too many pictures. Maybe that means I should just own up to the reality that most/all of my DC Highlight posts are going to have too many pictures, but even on just one level of the Renwick it was too amazing not to document. Since the highlight hear is an art museum I didn't take too many "big picture" shots, but I hope you come away with an idea of the incredibly diverse group of artists featured at this very underrated Smithsonian.
Blazer: Ralph Lauren (Size 14) ~ Shirt: Banana Republic (Size Large) ~ Sweater: Marine Layer (Size Large) ~ Jeans: Gap (Size 31) ~ Shoes: Cole Haan (Size 9, This Season's)
(Big thanks to @emilyosterhus for suggesting a wonderful day trip & taking pictures of me - I can't wait to go back!)
January/February Clothing Recap
Friday, March 2, 2018 • Wardrobe Resolutions
So....I guess I have to figure out how I want to talk about these again, huh?
I'm not sure how much or how little commentary is actually helpful to anyone other than me, hahaha, but I figure a little look into what I did decide to sink some money into - since I'm still trying to mindful about that part - might be good. After putting this list together I admit I'm a little embarrassed by everything I ended up buying, but at least for now I'm gonna try to stick with it. Just maybe don't judge me?
1. Waterproof Leather Boots (G.H. Bass & Company, Size 9)
-I'm classifying these as my useful gateway entry into a Chelsea Boot. My brain is telling me that the flat-ish Chelsea boot style makes my legs look short and wide in a way I don't like, so I bought these to both help my brain get over that while also providing a classier rainy day option I can comfortably wear all day at work.
2. Charcoal Cashmere Sweater (Lord & Taylor, Size XL)
-I probably became obsessed with one of these because of The Anna Edit, but honestly I love this and would wear it everyday if I could. I'm probably most proud about the fact that I didn't buy it in every color available, lol.
3. Velvet Blazer (Ralph Lauren, Size 14)
-Unexpected purchase, but it's beautiful, well made, and makes me happy so...shrug.
4. Ethical Upgrade! Black Jeans (DL1961, Size 31)
-I had been making do with the Old Navy high-waisted sculpt jeans for a while, but they just were not my favorite. They came up too high actually, and made sitting down uncomfortable, the length was too long but I didn't consider them worth the investment to alter, and the denim made a funny sound when I walked. So after spending the first half of January trying on what felt like a million pairs of jeans, I stumbled upon these on sale at Bloomingdales and not only do they fit beautifully, I love that they're more ethically made.
5. White Midi Dress (WAYF, Thrifted, Same Style in Burgundy, Size L)
-This sounds boring, but I bought this dress not because I loved it, but because over the summer I have very few work appropriate dress options. This dress is going to be a useful "eh" dress, and I'm totally ok with that because it was thrifted.
6. Unnecessary High Waist Jeans That I Fell In Love With (Urban Outfitters, Size 32)
-These are not ethically made and I should probably feel worse about them because I already have high-waisted straight leg jeans, but I love them and I can't help it. Also I was prepared to pay full price and they were magically 30% off for no reason I can understand so I feel like the universe wanted me to have them to.
7. Unnecessary Mini-Dress That I Settled For (Forever21, Size XL, Same Style in Blue/Red)
-I'm going to be up front with y'all, that I want I want is a Realisation Par dress. The problem is RP's "large" is a size 6-8 and ain't nobody got time for that, so I keep hunting down and trying on alternatives that will hopefully give me a similar feeling without showing all the bits and tits. I can't find the dress online yet, but it's a bit too "90's Caricature" to be ideal, but right now I'm just gonna go with it.
8. Black Slacks (Vince Camuto, Size 12) - I'm desperately trying to incorporate more work appropriate pieces (as I wrote about above), and finding slacks that were a bit looser which could be worn with my Vagabond boots and pumps proved to be an unexpected (but not unsurprising) pain in my ass. These were a last ditch effort and I'm quite pleased with the fit and material.
9. Black Swimsuit (Jessica Simpson, Size XL) - I'm nearing a swimsuit crisis at this point, so I'm cutting myself off. I loved the fit/color of this suit, so I stalked it for 2 weeks until the price became what I wanted to pay (Amazon is not static, and it's annoying as hell. For example, I found this originally at $98, bought it to try and returned it at $80, then it went to $76, $72....until I bought it for real at $48. Wtf.).
*10. White Tank (LOFT, Size XL)
-This is getting an asterisk because I bought it with a giftcard that I got due to some of the worst customer service ever by the brand in question. I want to try this style, love white, and it fit much better than other options I've tried in the past, with some strappy accents to boot.
*11. Unnecessary Mini-Dress #2 (Free People via Poshmark, Size L)
-So you know how I just said I'm looking for that Realisation Par feeling? This was another attempt, still not quite right, but it's got some good qualities I'm looking forward to wearing anyway. Also asterisked because I used money I made selling clothes to buy the new dress.
12. Unnecessary Mini-Dress #3, The One and Only (ASOS, Size 12) - I KNOW OK, I KNOW. The mini-dresses have to stop and I've officially gone over the edge. This is the be-all-end-all of my hunt though, so the plan is to resell #11, maybe also #7, and be slightly less crazy about the whole thing.
13. Unnecessary Jumpsuit (Neiman Marcus Last Call, Size 12, Also Available From Lord & Taylor) - FYI, it was half price at Last Call, so maybe look around?) - I have this weird luck where if I try on clearance semi-formal wear well after the end of the season, I tend to find the perfect outfit to wear next year. I've gotten through a few crazy weeks of corporate event planning never having to worry about what I was going to wear, and I admit it's pretty awesome. I do definitely feel like I have too many options though, so I'm going to do some kind of large Poshmark clear out as I try to find them new homes.
I'm not sure how much or how little commentary is actually helpful to anyone other than me, hahaha, but I figure a little look into what I did decide to sink some money into - since I'm still trying to mindful about that part - might be good. After putting this list together I admit I'm a little embarrassed by everything I ended up buying, but at least for now I'm gonna try to stick with it. Just maybe don't judge me?
1. Waterproof Leather Boots (G.H. Bass & Company, Size 9)
-I'm classifying these as my useful gateway entry into a Chelsea Boot. My brain is telling me that the flat-ish Chelsea boot style makes my legs look short and wide in a way I don't like, so I bought these to both help my brain get over that while also providing a classier rainy day option I can comfortably wear all day at work.
2. Charcoal Cashmere Sweater (Lord & Taylor, Size XL)
-I probably became obsessed with one of these because of The Anna Edit, but honestly I love this and would wear it everyday if I could. I'm probably most proud about the fact that I didn't buy it in every color available, lol.
3. Velvet Blazer (Ralph Lauren, Size 14)
-Unexpected purchase, but it's beautiful, well made, and makes me happy so...shrug.
4. Ethical Upgrade! Black Jeans (DL1961, Size 31)
-I had been making do with the Old Navy high-waisted sculpt jeans for a while, but they just were not my favorite. They came up too high actually, and made sitting down uncomfortable, the length was too long but I didn't consider them worth the investment to alter, and the denim made a funny sound when I walked. So after spending the first half of January trying on what felt like a million pairs of jeans, I stumbled upon these on sale at Bloomingdales and not only do they fit beautifully, I love that they're more ethically made.
5. White Midi Dress (WAYF, Thrifted, Same Style in Burgundy, Size L)
-This sounds boring, but I bought this dress not because I loved it, but because over the summer I have very few work appropriate dress options. This dress is going to be a useful "eh" dress, and I'm totally ok with that because it was thrifted.
6. Unnecessary High Waist Jeans That I Fell In Love With (Urban Outfitters, Size 32)
-These are not ethically made and I should probably feel worse about them because I already have high-waisted straight leg jeans, but I love them and I can't help it. Also I was prepared to pay full price and they were magically 30% off for no reason I can understand so I feel like the universe wanted me to have them to.
7. Unnecessary Mini-Dress That I Settled For (Forever21, Size XL, Same Style in Blue/Red)
-I'm going to be up front with y'all, that I want I want is a Realisation Par dress. The problem is RP's "large" is a size 6-8 and ain't nobody got time for that, so I keep hunting down and trying on alternatives that will hopefully give me a similar feeling without showing all the bits and tits. I can't find the dress online yet, but it's a bit too "90's Caricature" to be ideal, but right now I'm just gonna go with it.
8. Black Slacks (Vince Camuto, Size 12) - I'm desperately trying to incorporate more work appropriate pieces (as I wrote about above), and finding slacks that were a bit looser which could be worn with my Vagabond boots and pumps proved to be an unexpected (but not unsurprising) pain in my ass. These were a last ditch effort and I'm quite pleased with the fit and material.
9. Black Swimsuit (Jessica Simpson, Size XL) - I'm nearing a swimsuit crisis at this point, so I'm cutting myself off. I loved the fit/color of this suit, so I stalked it for 2 weeks until the price became what I wanted to pay (Amazon is not static, and it's annoying as hell. For example, I found this originally at $98, bought it to try and returned it at $80, then it went to $76, $72....until I bought it for real at $48. Wtf.).
*10. White Tank (LOFT, Size XL)
-This is getting an asterisk because I bought it with a giftcard that I got due to some of the worst customer service ever by the brand in question. I want to try this style, love white, and it fit much better than other options I've tried in the past, with some strappy accents to boot.
*11. Unnecessary Mini-Dress #2 (Free People via Poshmark, Size L)
-So you know how I just said I'm looking for that Realisation Par feeling? This was another attempt, still not quite right, but it's got some good qualities I'm looking forward to wearing anyway. Also asterisked because I used money I made selling clothes to buy the new dress.
12. Unnecessary Mini-Dress #3, The One and Only (ASOS, Size 12) - I KNOW OK, I KNOW. The mini-dresses have to stop and I've officially gone over the edge. This is the be-all-end-all of my hunt though, so the plan is to resell #11, maybe also #7, and be slightly less crazy about the whole thing.
13. Unnecessary Jumpsuit (Neiman Marcus Last Call, Size 12, Also Available From Lord & Taylor) - FYI, it was half price at Last Call, so maybe look around?) - I have this weird luck where if I try on clearance semi-formal wear well after the end of the season, I tend to find the perfect outfit to wear next year. I've gotten through a few crazy weeks of corporate event planning never having to worry about what I was going to wear, and I admit it's pretty awesome. I do definitely feel like I have too many options though, so I'm going to do some kind of large Poshmark clear out as I try to find them new homes.
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