My Hat Collection

 


In the wintertime I love to wear beautiful wool fedoras, it makes you look more put together and stylish. A hat is a great styling secret every woman should embrace. You can throw it on with a very simple look and it will elevate your look.  I think hats are essential since they look so chic. Hats can add height to your frame when you don't want to wear heels. It draws the attention upward when people look at you. Its such a simple edition to an outfit but always makes a statement. When I wear my fedoras, I get compliments from men every single time I wear them without fail. 

You may not think you're a hat person, but its just about finding the style that's right for your face shape. I have an oblong shaped face (like Blake Lively, Jennifer Garner, Liv Tyler, Chloe Sevigny, Gisele Bundchen, Sarah Jessica Parker) so a floppy hat, a cloche, berets worn low and fedoras with wide brims work really well for me. When a hat sits low on my forehead it creates balance in the length of my face. Conversely, I wouldn't wear a boater hat or a hat that is too tall. Hats go with almost any outfit and there's just something about hats that make you feel more confident. They give your outfit a personality while keeping the sun out of your face and hiding bad hair days. I assure you, anyone can look good in a hat. Hats are so aesthetic and I'm becoming more of an avid hat wearer.

Books I Read in 2022

 


Favorite Eyeshadow Palettes of 2022

Here's the eyeshadow palettes that I continue to go to whenever I want to look beautiful.  I love going to Sephora and swatching shades of new eyeshadow on my hands. You know you go to Sephora too often when an employee tells you he loved the lipstick you tried on last time you were there and hopes you bought it. lol They recently opened 4 new stores in my city so I try to diversify and visit locations outside of my neighborhood, yes I have a Sephora within walking distance of where I live. 

On my list here you'll find a mix of affordable and high end palettes. My favorite eyeshadow color to wear is purple and if you have brown eyes, the list below will all look wonderful and compliment you. When I had my color analysis done, I was told I'm a Cool Winter, so I've been on the look out for cool toned colors in both my clothes and eyeshadow, taupe being one of the colors. I've also been experimenting with sparkly eye colors lately. If you didn't know, Pat McGrath and Natasha Denona are the "IT" brands right now for eyeshadow.

The last time I did a roundup of my favorite eyeshadow was in 2016 and it was mainly MAC eyeshadows then. As a professional makeup hoarder, I have to warn you that makeup does have an expiration date. Your old eyeshadow could have microorganisms on them such as bacteria, fungus and parasites. Eyeshadow should be tossed after 12 months. So if you still have your old Naked palettes from 10 years ago, time to toss them! Mascara is supposed to be thrown out after 3 months because afterwards contamination increases after that. I like to use eyeshadow as an eyeliner with a brush, so I want to be double sure that it's safe to use.

I store all of my makeup brushes in this container. My eyeshadow brushes are mostly MAC but I've recently purchased some Rephr brushes. My go to tip for eyeshadow application is to first apply an eyeshadow primer. It helps the colors stick to your skin, last longer, and if you have a deeper skin color it allows for the eyeshadow colors to pop more. I use the color Soft Ochre which any complexion can use. 

Early Black Friday Sales

 


November is a busy month for me this year as I have three trips, but of course I won't be missing the biggest sale of the year! Also check out hotel websites, hotels offer deals for the whole year! With so many stores starting their Black Friday sale early, I wanted to share some deals from my favorite stores. A lot of these beauty deals are better than the Sephora sale last month. Start preparing your basket for all the stores that haven't released their sale yet. Take inventory of what you already have and see what skincare you need to restock. This way you can give yourself reasons why you need this and can adjust your cart if it's looking too high; and thus can feel impowered about making spending decisions. 

My Fall Must Haves from the Sephora Sale

I'm in full fall mode over here after decorating my home with fall decor and now pulling out my favorite fall makeup. Fall is so pretty with the colorful leaves, pumpkins and caramel apple cider; and those colors also inspire my makeup. For lipstick I love going for rusty reds before transitioning into the bright reds for winter. In the fall and winter I get excited about makeup as I get to wear it a little bit more. Sweater weather leads to more intense makeup and my makeup looks better since I'm not sweating it off. This list is what I will be wearing the most this season so I hope you enjoy this edit. All of these faves will create a sultry look for you! The Sephora Savings Event is my Superbowl! My cart has been ready for a month! 







4 Fall Nail Polish Colors You Should Try


Now that the leaves are starting to change, I like to switch my nail polish to colors that remind me of fall: oranges, mauves, and browns. The same colors as pumpkin bread, cranberries and falling leaves.  I'm no longer wearing the glazed donut and chrome polishes that I enjoyed during the summer.

7 Best Fall Perfumes 2022


Fall has arrived and here are the best fall fragrances that are worthy of a spot on your perfume tray. This season puts you in the mood for the holidays, you grab your pumpkin chai, make apple baked goods, and light your vanilla candles. For the fall season, I like to wear scents that are warmer, spicier, cozy and sweeter (like vanilla). Fall is all about sweater weather, but not super cold. So for your fragrances you don't want something too heavy for winter but something more than your fresh clean perfume that you wear in the summertime. All these fragrances make for an autumnal aesthetic. The fall season window is so small that it makes wearing these perfumes even more special.  If you want to turn heads around, if you love smelling good and changing up your perfume for the different seasons here are some scents that conjure up the coziness of the season. None of these fragrances are new to my collection, you've seen all of them before on my blog. 

Fall 2022 Fashion Trends


Here are the latest trends for fall fashion 2022 and some tips to look fresh for fall. If you update your closet with classic pieces with a modern twist, you will always look chic and effortless. I think you can build upon what you already have and love. You can take what you already wear for summer and build upon that for fall. For example, my favorite summer pants I will pair with warmer tops. I just need to add some layers and textures and darker accessories. Adding something unexpected to an outfit like mixing fabrics help to add some fall texture. If you build upon what you already have, then you don’t need to buy all new clothes, starting fresh each season. Layering your looks makes an outfit interesting and is what makes dressing for fall so much fun.

How to Treat Tiny Bumps on Forehead


I think my skin looks pretty good, it's clear, no acne, however I have these tiny bumps on my forehead. They are so small that I don't really see them in natural light, I only see them once I put makeup on and then I see my skin has texture. They're not whiteheads so you can't pop them, thus they are not pimples. I went to the dermatologist last year and she gave me a prescription for Tretinoin which is used to treat acne, sun-damaged skin and wrinkles. It's a popular prescription for  people over 30 who want to reduce the appearance of fine lines. It's a retinoid which is derived from vitamin A and tretinoin is more powerful than any retinol you can buy from Sephora. Tretinoin works by increasing the production and shedding of skin cells aka cell turnover.  It's not tolerated well by sensitive skin and for many people it causes irritation and dry skin. I've been using prescription Differin since I was a teenager, which now you can buy over the counter, and I think because of that I have no side affects from Tretinoin and don't have to use a moisturizer with it and can use it every night which is not the norm for most people.

e.l.f. Cosmetics Haul

An Affordable Makeup Haul of elf Cosmetics.

Elf has high quality makeup and skincare products at fraction of the price! Don't sleep on their products at the drugstore, you need to run out and try this brand. Elf is a clean beauty brand that is vegan and cruelty free, founded in California in 2004. I really enjoyed everything that I tried from Elf. They have such high quality products and at affordable prices. Here's all the products I tried, but looking at the website now I see so many other products that look like dupes for expensive brands. 

7 Best Summer Perfumes


I wanted to share my favorite summer perfumes that I have on rotation right now.  I wear about 5-8 core fragrances per season. I like to switch up my scents with the seasons because hot temperatures call for lighter fragrances. This list of fragrances is inspired by the summer season with beachy scents, light florals, zesty citrus, tropical, and herbal notes. Each of these scents offer you an excursion. It instantly boosts my energy and mood and transports me on a vacation.

Smelling my perfumes uplifts my spirts so I even wear them to work from home. I don't feel the need to save my fragrances for special occasions. Fragrance is more than an accessory to my outfits, wearing fragrances daily is part of my self-care routine.  You automatically look good when you smell good.

In the summertime I apply perfume on my wrists, neck, inside of elbows, and behind my knees for when you walk past people who are sitting. You should never rub your wrists together after applying perfume, you will rub off the top notes. You can also spray your hair if you like. Scent is our most powerful sense when it comes to memory.

The Best Summer Beauty Essentials

Have you been in a beauty rut the last couple years? Maybe you haven't been keeping up with the latest trends since you're wearing less makeup these days.  Here are some new products to try to be excited about as these are my most loved products. When you change your clothes for the summer, you should also edit your skincare products. You're going to wear less makeup in the summer, because the look now is bare bronzed sunkissed glowy skin. I bet these products will become part of your summer beauty routine and create an effortless look.

Last year I posted my summer skincare essentials, I wanted to share that I'm still using the same cleanser but a new bottle and still making my way through the same bottle of toner pictured even though I use it every single morning. This post has my favorite sunscreen and I'm super excited that Glowscreen now comes in a tan color! I've also been wearing my lighter perfumes for summer. 

2022 Summer Bucket List

 

I'm excited that summer is finally here! To start this new season I created a list of fun things I want to do in the next 3 months.

7 Summer Capsule Wardrobe Must Haves

Linen outfits for summer

For your chic and classy summer outfits, the most important thing for your summer wardrobe is fabric choice.  Where I live the average temperature in the summer is 90F + humidity, so I have to dress strategically. Thus, fabric choice is key because I only want to wear natural breathable fabrics like linen, cotton and tencel/lyocell. The picture above is the vibe I'm going for; effortlessly stylish in linen. I feel linen looks upscale, polished and is a luxurious fabric. You do always have to steam it before you wear, but I also think people expect to see some wrinkles in linen. 

I do not wear polyester in the summertime because your body actually gets hotter in polyester and it shows all sweat stains and holds odors. I also don't wear any denim in the summer, it's just too hot. I want to wear breathable, wide leg pants or shorts. White linen pants have been a summer staple in my wardrobe for years. If you don't want to wear white pants, get beige linen pants. The list below is full of a natural fiber summer aesthetic. I also just did a post on what white t-shirts I will be wearing.

Never underestimate the important of great staple pieces, that's why I invest in elevated basics. When you spend money on premium quality pieces and pay attention to the fabric composition before you buy, those pieces will last a long time. Clothes have to fit you well, so if you've gained a little weight, you should pick up some new pieces that flatter your current shape. 

This list is full of high quality, versatile, essential pieces that are perfect for summer. They will create a sophisticated summer wardrobe of timeless outfits which will look more expensive. Investing in neutral colors  means you can wear the pieces many ways. Monochrome outfits give off that rich classy vibe. Styling is all about visual balance so when you can't wear layers in the summertime, accessorizing is the thing that makes a basic outfit look put together and polished. Thus, I included some links to straw hats and bags you can accessorize with to evoke vacation vibes.

The Best V-Neck White T-Shirt

Your search for the perfect fitting, v-neck tee is over!

Buying a white t-shirt is never simple for me so I'm going to make the buying process a little easier for you. A white t-shirt is a closet staple that everyone needs to have. I was on the hunt for one that is not sheer.  I tried on these 4 cotton shirts, two I liked and two I didn't.  I picked V-neck shape because it looks better on my figure. According to the book The Science of Sexy, a V-neck  draws attention to the center of your body creating a slimming affect for your waist, as it creates a flattering angle that tapers towards your waist. I also like the look of gold chain necklaces on bare skin but they often fall under my shirt when I wear a crew neck.

I know Target sells $8 t-shirts but it's not the best quality fabric. It won't last a long time and won't fare well in the wash. So it will cost you more in the long run as you're spending more money constantly replacing those tees every year. I buy their shirts just to lounge in at home. Stay on the look out for Memorial Day sales for the two pricey tees. 

A white t-shirt is a basic piece for your closet and basics are the foundation of your wardrobe. You'll need basic tees to pair with all your colorful pieces yet people neglect having quality basics.  It's easy to put outfits together when you have basic pieces. You won't struggle for outfits when you have basic pieces because everything will mix and match. They help to make your closet effortless. You need to make sure that your closet has basic pieces before you buy occasion items. A good white tee is a must have in your wardrobe. 

8 ways to style your white jeans for spring


This year white jeans have been a spring staple for me. I love them this time of year! You can pair them with anything and everything. It's a great wardrobe staple to have in the spring, but too hot for summer. In the past I would only think to pair them with a light pink top, but I think they elevate any top you put them with. I know you may be afraid of getting them dirty, but I don't wear them on a rainy day. I feel that clothes are meant to be worn, loved and enjoyed as they are washable.

Here are some buying tips to make sure you get a flattering pair. First your waist band should always be mid-rise or high rise so everything is tucked in. Get good quality jeans so the fabric has weight and is thicker; that way it won't be see through or show every lump and bump. I bought these white jeans a few months ago and have been wearing them nonstop this spring. But if those are sold out here are some other options: mid-riseskinny jeans. bootcut. I've bought jeans from the LOFT for years and they are really good quality. This post talks about the benefits of bootcut jeans. 

Style tips: Unless you're wearing a black top, I would recommend not wearing white jeans with black shoes because it make your legs look cut off, stick to nude colored shoes. Don't wear a long top to cover your tummy, doing so will make your legs look short, always tuck it in to make your proportions look better. Always wear nude underwear with white jeans.

White jeans are an easy and versatile way to feel put together and can be dressed up or dressed down. Here are lots of inspiration for you of color combinations that works well together paired with white jeans. So when you have nothing to wear, shop your closet and try one of these combos.

Easter Baskets are not just for kids!

This post originally appeared on the blog in 2014 but I really love the three ideas and wanted to give this post a little update.


Easter is such a wonderful time of year just because spring is in full swing with daffodils and tulips blooming after a long winter. I can always expect a full church service on Easter with everyone dressed in their pastel best! Of course I look forward to Easter dinner with the family where Manischewitz wine is tradition. In case you're preparing an Easter Brunch try this recipe.

I always joke with my mom every Easter that I don't remember getting Easter baskets as a child and I think she should make one for me now. lol One cold rainy day last month I ducked into Walmart so I could feel my hands again and buy a new umbrella as mine had died in the storm. Unfortunately they didn't have any but I decided to roam the aisles just to warm up again. What they did have was a whole aisle dedicated to Easter baskets! OMG they were so cute and cheap, you could get everything you needed for under $10. I started picking out a purple basket for myself complete with purple grass and metallic eggs then thought what would I do with this? lol

6 Best Spring Perfumes

Scents can be an instant mood lifter.  After a gloomy winter, Washington, D.C. just had the Cherry Blossom bloom a little early this year.  Hyacinths, daffodils, tulips, and jasmine are in bloom now, next month will be the lilacs and wisteria. Yes I know the whole schedule because I love going out to look at all of them. With a new season, comes a fresh perfume rotation. You automatically look good when you smell good. The only time anyone will complain about your perfume is if you spray too much. "Ladies a man will never remember your handbag, but will always remember your perfume." Oliver Creed (perfumer)

For the spring, the types of fragrances I like are fresh scents and photorealistic flowers; I'm a white flower-holic. Smelling my perfumes uplifts my spirits, thus these fragrances make me happy. When shopping for fragrances I always say, quality over quantity. Save your money to get a good fragrance that you're going to love rather than a bunch of affordable ones that you feel meh about and need to layer with other fragrances to like. A person's fragrance "wardrobe" should include more than just designer perfumes, hence my list consists of only niche fragrances.

People associate memories with scents so having a signature scent is always nice. Having that beautiful smell about you instantly is very inviting to other people that are around you.  Definitely look for something that reflects you as a person. Finding a great scent is going to make you more attractive.
I've been wanting to get into my spring fragrances since the middle of winter, as we could use a little pick me up while we wait for summer. So I'm excited to start a new fragrance rotation for spring. Here are my spring perfume picks. 


 

Spring Cleaning Tips 2022


Spring is officially here so it's time to get some spring cleaning into gear! I love opening my windows in the springtime, because I can really only do that twice a year in spring and fall. Opening windows to circulate the air is the easiest way to freshen the air in your home. My mother was always big about having open windows at home, I don't know if that's a European thing? It ventilates your home and gets rid of stale air.  Since we're still in a panini, its even more important now to have fresh air circulating in your home when guests come over. 

I'm still working from home as I think many others are as well, so as we're still spending more time at home, nothing feels more satisfying than having a clean and organized home. Step one is to declutter, that's the biggest part of spring cleaning as you can't actually clean until everything is tided up. A disorganized home will only add to your stress levels. 

Sephora Sale Haircare Must Haves 2022


The first two weeks of April Sephora is having their annual sale! I always save up my cart for this sale. I have type 3C hair texture which has thick strands with a tight curl pattern. My hair has a lot of volume but also gets very dry easily and has low porosity. I don't have a relaxer in my hair but I do color it. My hair needs a lot of moisture and some protein. These are all the products I have in my arsenal that I recommend you purchase during the sale. 

5 Best Designer Belts 2022


Belts are the forgotten accessory. It gives your outfits an added visual interest. This small accessory can help to create beautiful looks and make your outfit look more styled. Women of all shapes and sizes can wear belts, it only elevates your look. They help you look more feminine if you don't have an hourglass figure. A classic belt never goes out of style, it's timeless and makes accessorizing a cinch so you should have a good stash of them. I've included a mix of high end designer and mid-range plus a couple cheap dupes.

7 Office Safe Fragrances You Can Wear to Work

If you're also heading back to the office soon I wanted to share some recommendations for good office fragrances. I still want to smell good but offend as few people as possible. My requirements to fit this list are fragrances that are  relatively neutral, meaning not overly sweet,  spicy or strong, yet still sophisticated,  classy and professional. 

For work I always under spray, so 1 or 2 sprays max. I stick to scents that have a soft note and are clean, crisp, light and non-offensive. Sandalwood is a safe note for an office setting. I want fragrances that stay close to the skin and don't project strongly as I don't want to smoke anyone out. Here are some work friendly fragrances from my collection and all of these fragrances are absolutely safe and would be perfect for the office. 

Books to read in honor of Black History Month

February is Black History month in the United States. If you want to honor or celebrate Black History Month by reading books by Black authors, I have highlighted a few good picks for you. I'm not using amazon links when possible for any of the books because authors get a very small cut when you purchase there.

Effortlessly Chic Style




My style journey started last year and since then my taste has evolved so much.  Fashion is something I’m super passionate about! The way we dress affects the way we feel. When you wear the right clothing, you feel like yourself and other people are going to compliment you on how great you look, and it just feels amazing. Fashion is a form of confidence and a way to communicate that feeling. Looking your best will elevate your mood. As my style evolves, my style resolutions for 2022 are that I want to try different silhouettes and grow my color palette. I don’t want to follow trends but rather know which colors and shapes look best on my body type. These days fashion trends have a shorter shelf life than ever especially with social media. If you're stuck in a style rut, here are five things to try this year.

Top 15 Binge Worthy Shows to Watch


Looking for something new to watch? You've come to the right place! Here's what I recommend.

The Tinder Swindler  - Netflix

An absolutely riveting documentary of the true story of a 20-something Israeli con man who swindles European women, whom he met on Tinder.  It's dark and twisty and the most interesting thing to be on netflix in awhile.  At the time of writing this, Simon's insta was public and the ladies have a gofundme up. 

11 Best Winter Perfumes of 2022

As you switch your wardrobe for the different seasons, you should also change your fragrances with the seasons. In the winter time you'll want to wear your heavy, dark, warm, mysterious fragrances and that's because those fragrances do well in cold air. Winter air makes perfumes softer so it's my favorite season to wear perfume because you can wear bold scents.  I enjoy fresher scents in the summer and sweeter more gourmand scents in the winter. If you've gone the whole winter so far with no one smelling you (because you work from home and aren't dining indoors) wear all your heavy hitters now! But go easy on the trigger spray. The cold temperatures and ice on the ground can really suck, but perfumes are the best mood-lifters. Wearing fragrances every day is part of my self-care routine. I don't feel the need to save my fragrances for special occasions. So, I've round up my favorite winter perfumes to elevate your vibe, even if you only wear them at home or to the grocery store.

Dry January 2022


This is my 7th year doing Dry January which is a great way to reset for the new year. Skipping alcohol for 30 days is a breeze I find. The research says after one month sober you will have a mood boost and sleep better. You might lose some weight and lose some bloat/redness from your face which will make your skin look brighter. Pausing your alcohol consumption may help you to  create a new relationship with alcohol. With so many alcohol free alternative beverages on the market these days, you'll still can have something special to drink at night.  Here's a roundup of all the new beverages I tried this month. I drank all of these in a cocktail glass. In past years I used to have to order everything online but my local Foxtrot  (they are located in Chicago, DC and Dallas) had everything in store.  At the bottom of my post I share some podcasts episodes about Dry January.

Best Mystery Books of 2021


I read and enjoyed all of these books last year and highly recommend if you're looking for some mystery thrillers to read.
 

Northern Spy - Flynn Berry

A Reese Witherspoon bookclub pick, the book takes place in 2018 and the focus is on two sisters and how the conflict in Northern Ireland impacts their lives. The situation in Northern Ireland, past and present, is intriguing and something I was curious to learn more about. Not quite a spy thriller but rather a story of Tessa, her search for her sister Marian, and her son Flynn.


The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

A Reese Witherspoon bookclub pick and was so suspenseful I read it one day! This book also won Goodreads Choice Awards in the thriller category. Hannah, Owen and Bailey live happily on a houseboat in Sausalito, Northern California. Hannah is a successful woodturner and creates handcrafted furniture. She's been married to Owen for a little over a year. Hannah Hall receives a note from her husband Owen, saying only 'protect her' before he disappears, leaving Hannah to take care of his 16 year old daughter Bailey.  When Hannah receives visits from the FBI and a U.S Marshal she starts doing some digging herself and begins to understand that her husband Owen was not who she thought he was.

Winter Wardrobe Essentials



This winter has been really cold with temperatures getting as low as 16°f and we've had three snowfalls. I work from home so luckily I haven't been outside much. However I wanted to get a covid test as a precautionary for Christmas dinner and had to wait standing outside in a line for 2 hours! That reminded me that I wanted to share all the items I have that are durable and will protect you from the winter weather. 

House of Gucci & Most Iconic Gucci Bags


I don't know why this movie got bad reviews, I really enjoyed it! The whole cinematography reminded me of the movie Casino. Starring Lady Gaga, Al Pacino, Adam Driver, Jared Leto and Salma Hayek they had an all star cast. The movie follows the life of  Patrizia Gucci who married into the Gucci family and then had her husband murdered. She was sentenced to prison and when she became eligible for parole under a work-release program, she refused, saying, "I've never worked in my life, and I'm certainly not going to start now." She served 18 years in prison and is out now, living off her millions of alimony, but the movie credits don't tell you that. In fact Lady Gaga didn't even want to meet with the woman she was playing, even though Gaga is making a profit from this movie and maybe even an Oscar nod. I loved seeing all the vintage Gucci fashion in the movie including Gaga's endless stilettos. I learned that the fashion house is no longer run by the Gucci family and Salma Hayek's husband is the honorary chairman of luxury group Kering, which owns Gucci. Tom Ford, who was featured in the film, was the creative director of Gucci between 1994 and 2004. The movie is 2 hours and 38 minutes but it's so phenomenal you won't notice the long length. 

2022 New Years Resolutions


Happy New Year! It's officially 2022 and we've survived season 2 of the pandemic but sadly we're onto season 3. First things first, let's leave behind the word cheugy in 2021 and I predict that 2022 is going to be the year of the Espresso Martini! lol My 2022 planner is in the mail because I bought it late, but I have all the stickers ready. I also love to write monthly goals in my planner. I am doing Dry January again this year. I know a lot of people choose a word of the year to encompass all that they want to embody throughout the year. However, I couldn't pick one, but these were my finalists for Word of the Year: discipline, consistency, unstoppable, grateful, adapt, positivity, abundance, glow, surrender.