It's called glitter roots, and the name really says it all. It's basically splattering the roots of your hair with different colour glitter, with the results somewhere between a unicorn and a glitter bomb.
The look with the glitter and stars may be our favourite, though — total blast back to childhood.
Glitter roots trend 8
Glitter roots trend 8
How you manage to get all that glitter off is a different story, but we're totally going to head home and try this one out. And when we sparkle like Edward Cullen for weeks on end, well, then it's because... fashion.
Glitter roots trend
Glitter roots trend
Will you be trying out the glitter root trend? Are you impressed, or not so much? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
These products take less work to apply than foundation. You do not need a fancy makeup brush or sponge to apply these bases to your face. Simply use your clean hands to smooth and blend the base over your face and neck.
Try CoverGirl CG smoothers BB Cream
Eyeshadow/eyeliner stick
Having two-in-one makeup items is beneficial for women who lead busy lives. You have two makeup items in one product, and they are color coordinated, so you will not need to worry about clashing colors when you step outside. Simply apply the eyeshadow first, flip the stick and then line your eyes with the liner side.
Give e.l.f. eyeliner and shadow stick a try.
Mascara
Try to purchase a waterproof mascara. They tend not to smudge, and they hold up through rain and tears. A waterproof formula made to give you fuller lashes has a greater impact than one that just gives the illusion of longer lashes. A fuller-looking fringe frames the eyes better. If you also want length, look for a waterproof mascara that gives you both length and volume.
Two of my drugstore favorites are CoverGirl Super Sizer waterproof mascara and Physicians Formula Sexy Booster Cat Eye Mascara. (The Physicians Formula is not waterproof, but it survived allergy tears and lasts into the night).
Cheek/lip tint stick
This dual makeup product saves time and keeps your colors more coordinated. Pick a color that resembles your natural flush — the color seen when your face is flushed from heat, physical exertion or cold. Using your fingers, lightly apply product to the apples of your cheeks and blend upwards and outwards until you reach your side hairline (about the same level where the top of your ears are). For lips, use your pinky to swipe color from the stick and smooth over your lips. Apply as little or as much as you want until you get your desired saturation of color.
ULTA Lip and Cheek Color Stick are easy to use and $10 or less.
Loose or pressed powder
Loose or pressed powder is used to set your foundation. Ideally, you would buy a powder that matches or comes close to your natural skin tone. You can also use a translucent powder, but these are strictly for setting your foundation and touching up to reduce shine. Many apply powder right after they apply base. If you had a mishap with blush and the color is too intense then apply powder last to help tone that blush down.
I like e.l.f. Flawless Face Powder because it is cheap, contains salicylic acid and absorbs oil.
These five products are easy to use for makeup novices for easy everyday makeup. Even if you are skilled with makeup application, these are great for those days you are running late for work. They also are easy to carry items for your purse for when you need to be made up on the fly.
Olivia Jeanette at The Corporate Catwalk finds her fashion niche at the office. Recreate this feminine — yet, strong — fall look for the office with these few items.
Amber Fillerup at Barefoot Blonde pulls in our favorite color this fall: pumpkin. Its rich tones make the season all the cozier. Here's what you'll need for Amber's look.
Ashleigh Hutchinson's blog, The Daleigh, showcases her bold street style, and we love her monochromatic look for fall. The deep blues and greens put a new twist on fall.
One of the best things about Julie Sariñana's fashion ideas is that all of her outfits put comfort first. She pairs relaxed pieces and fun accessories that tie everything together.
Flávia Desgranges van der Linden puts together an easy look that's also comfortable and stylish. She stuck with one color and chose to vary shades to make her outfit eye catching.
Jessye Aibel runs a street-smart fashion blog out of Boston. So, her looks are versatile (day to night) and merge a little bit of edge with a little bit of feminine.
Kimberly Smith loves to play with fashion — and she creates outfits that are affordable, too. Here, she dons a Paris-chic look that is perfect for any date night.
You're bound to travel somewhere this season — be it for a holiday or birthday. Caitlin Coving shows us how to dress warm and comfortable while you're stuck in a layover.
Forget boring mud masks and cucumber slices! Here are 7 of the ugliest things you can put on your face in the name of getting beautiful skin.
1. Sperm
According to beauty blogger Tracy Kiss, doing a daily, 20-minute semen facial has cured her of her rosacea, a skin condition where the cheeks and nose get red and irritated. And while this may seem like the best Internet prank ever (frat bros everywhere wish they'd thought of it first), Kiss assures you it's legit, adding that it tightens and brightens her skin. She personally uses a donation from a friend who eats an organic, whole-foods diet and brings it to her in a plastic cup, but she encourages women to work with what they've got.
"I think people are concerned with the thought of putting semen on their face, but actually it's a very natural and healthy thing to do," she says in a YouTube video. "I know there are no added chemicals. It's as natural and active and live as you could possibly get."
Okay, then.
2. Snail Mucous
Upscale salons in the U.K. and U.S. are now offering "snail facials" to help you get smoother, brighter skin. After lying back on a table, the aesthetician places three large snails on your face. (And no worries about these being any old garden gastropod, these snails are "totally organic and live a good life" according to one practitioner.) They then crawl all over your face for 20 minutes, leaving behind their mucous-y snail trail which is said to contain antioxidants and have skin tightening properties, leaving you with a refreshing "escarglow!"
3. Bee Venom
Called "natural Botox," facials using a blend of alpha hydroxy acids, collagen and bee venom are said to reduce fine lines and give skin a tight, dewy look. Thankfully no actual bee stings are involved in the process, which if you didn't know what it was would seem like every other facial ever, and patients are tested for allergies before. It's said to be a favorite among celebrities famous for looking ageless.
"Immediately after, I looked a little grey, but my skin appeared completely matte and smooth, as though I was wearing a fine powder," wrote one woman who tried it, adding that the facial wasn't particularly relaxing but wasn't unpleasant either. "The following day my color had returned and although my skin was definitely paler, it looked and felt smoother and I felt more confident going barefaced. After a few days I also noticed my skin was clearing up and the fine lines on my forehead were no longer visible. I even got some compliments about my complexion."
4. Blood
Popularized by Kim Kardashian on her show, the "vampire facial" uses something akin to a tattoo gun with vials of your own blood to inject your face. One practitioner says the blood stimulates collagen and elastin fibers, which makes your skin smoother and all around clearer. And despite the gore — your face looks like you lost a boxing match to Mike Tyson, hence the name — women everywhere are lining up for the pricey treatment. But does it work?
"I glowed," wrote Ruthie Friedlander, a writer who tried it out for Elle. "And less than a week later, my skin has never looked better or felt smoother. I can't wait to go back for round two."
Stem cells are one of nature's most amazing miracles: The tiny cells are the beginning of all kinds of tissues and can grow into almost anything that makes a living organism. Baby kittens, baby lambs, baby babies — all your favorite adorable neonates can credit their existence to stem cells. (As can you!) So it makes sense that medical scientists would use them to help generate or regenerate tissue. It makes slightly less sense to use them as a topical solution on your face as the cells in your skin have already become skin cells and adding stem cells won't make new ones. But if you have $500 to burn, it's worth a try. Advocates say the stem cells, often extracted from sheep placentas, increase collagen production and plump up your skin.
Snake venom is used to paralyze prey so the viper can eat it, and proponents of the "snake venom facial" say it will do the same thing to your face, paralyzing your muscles similar to Botox but without the needles (or fangs). Instead, the venom is mixed into a lotion that is applied topically to your face as part of a regular facial. "The venom gently stuns the skin, preventing further development of lines and wrinkles," says one site. We suppose that's one way to get over your snake phobia?
7. Fire
Placing an alcohol-soaked cloth over someone's face and lighting it on fire sounds like the premise of a horror movie, but according to Cosmopolitan, it's all the rage in China. Women there reportedly seek out the "fire facial" treatment to fight colds, lose weight and brighten dull skin. And it's not as frightening as it first sounds: The 'facialists' say they put out the fire using another cloth "very quickly" before it can reach your skin.
Needless to say, the matter is often up for massive debate. To be sure, they are an ugly shoe.
"Unfortunately, Ugg boots are not sexy," said a writer for the Independent in 2003. "Unless you're Mrs. Bigfoot on a lone mission across Antarctica to find Mr. Bigfoot, that is."
Ouch. They don't show off long, tapered legs or look sexy on a date night. They have no heel to give the illusion of height and they are stumpy and odd looking on our legs. But the comfort. Oh, the comfort. I bought my first pair of Uggs back in 2003 when they were just starting to take off. I was a young newlywed who, up until then, never spent more than $100 on a pair of shoes, but I splurged on the Uggs, spending more than $300.
They have been worth every penny.
Those Uggs have lasted my through 12 winters. They have seen me through the birth of three children, trudged with me through the ice and snow to walk my older two kids to school, taken my dog on his early morning winter walks, and accompanied me to thousands of yoga classes over the years. Their extreme warmth, comfort, ability to be work without socks (!), and easy slip-on ability make them pretty much a godsend in the winter. And while my footwear selection has grown exponentially and includes (much to my shame) several pairs of more expensive and fancier boots, the Uggs get the most wear every winter.
In fact, after 12 years of nearly obsessive, full-time wear, I finally had to retire my first pair of Uggs (they got a hole) and boy a second pair. Still, that's a pretty good return on my investment, no?
So when people make fun of Uggs, I have to stop and wonder if they have ever actually slipped into a pair. I have to wonder if they have ever felt the soft sheepskin surrounding their feet in warmth on a 12 degree morning or tried to make a 5 a.m. yoga class without them. What do they wear? Some crappy snow boots that take minutes of tugging and tying to get on their feet? And then even once they are on, they couldn't even begin to be as comfortable.
Now, don't get me wrong. I am a New Englander at heart. I know everyone needs a good pair of LL Bean Duck boots and I love mine to the moon and back. But my Uggs are still more important to me. They get more wear.
There are other shoes people love to hate as well. New Natives. Crocs. Moon shoes in the 70's. Even Doc Martens have had their share of dislike. In all of these cases, I can kind of, sort of understand. Crocs are ugly. Sinfully so. But even so, I am assume the people who love them wear them for comfort not style. Which is fine. Just admit it.
I would argue that Uggs have both. They are stylish in their own way. But mostly, they are deliciously, amazingly, fantastically cozy and comfortable. They aren't going anywhere any time soon. Haters need to either get on board or step aside. These boots? Well they really are made for walking. Good luck keeping up.
French manicures are classy, conservative, perfect for tea parties, and — yawn — just a wee bit dull. Ever since the 1970s (though some speculate it was created in the '30s), the French mani has been adored by women who crave something stylish and sophisticated and don't want to be bothered changing their nail polish shade every three days so that their orange tips won't clash with their red flare disco jumpsuits. The concept was simple: Paint the tips stark white and soften the look with a beige, nude or light pink overlay.
It looks clean, effortless and all natural.
Image: Kara Endres/SheKnows
But it doesn't look hip, cool or necessarily interesting. On those days when you simply want to blend in, the French manicure is there for you. But during those times when you want to stand out, the French mani can also be your best friend, believe it or not — if you step it up a notch and boldly go where these nine trendsetters took their manicures.
1. Floral French manicure
Floral french mani twist
Floral french mani twist
This beautiful mani brings you the best of both worlds — a classic French manicure coupled with something slightly different, but still ultra feminine. In this nail lover's case, her floral details were hand-painted by a salon professional, but you can achieve similar results at home using a nail wrap like Jamberry Silver Floral (Jamberry, $15).
2. Gray French manicure
gray french manicure
gray french manicure
Gray and blue nails are hot — and all it takes to update the French mani is a bit of the old switcheroo — instead of using a beige or pink overlay, grab a shade like Essie Petal Pushers. It's a bit moody, and way sexier than your classic French manicure.
3. Metallic French manicure
Glitter tips french manicure
Glitter tips french manicure
We're going to see a lot of metallic colors this season and well into spring 2016. Get a jumpstart on the trend by trading your white French mani stripe with a more minimalist and thinner line of gold. And, if you're looking to add even more razzle dazzle, experiment with tiny silver or rhinestone accents that can be placed at the base of your nail.
Consider this the anti-pink. Yellow and gray always look gorgeous together, but this look works because yellow is being used as an accent, much in the same way you'd rely on it while decorating a living room. Her one accent nail is a fun and whimsical addition to an already effervescent look.
5. Stiletto French manicure
Stileto style french manicure
Stileto style french manicure
Sometimes the freshest way to change up your nail look isn't to play around with colors, it's to experiment with different shapes. This nude French mani is as timeless as you can get, but by shaping your nails into sharp stiletto points, your look instantly goes from safe to slightly scandalous.
Nude French manicured nails provide the perfect blank palette upon which you can showcase sweet pops of color like these beautiful feathers. Love how she changed the position of each decal so that her nails aren't identical.
7. Embellished French manicure
Embellished french manicure
Embellished french manicure
Updating a french manicure can be as simple gluing an embellished decal on one (or more) nails. This is especially perfect for holiday parties and New Year's Eve.
Even the most body confident amongst us have moments when we wish our boobs were bigger, our legs were longer, our skin was darker. Or our boobs were smaller, our legs were shorter, our skin was paler. This wanting-what-I-don't-have attitude is only encouraged by fashion mags which run features telling us how to — and, crucially, how not to — dress for our body shape, our age, our skin tone, our hair colour…
Isn't life too short? Shouldn't we just wear whatever the hell we like, even if our knees are too old for that mini skirt or our skin is the wrong shade for that bright red dress?
That's precisely the message we're taking from the new ad campaign from Amazon Fashion. "I Wish I Could Wear" was shot by Rankin and features six women (three models and three non-models) wearing clothes they always wished they could wear but didn't.
Like Natalie, who said "I wish I could wear trendy clothes without looking like I'm still pregnant."
And Fiona, who said "I wish I could wear high heels without worrying about my height."
Image: Amazon Fashion Europe
Amazon says they want the "I Wish I Could Wear" campaign to show that "style doesn't depend on your weight, your height or the colour of the skin." Watch the advert in full below — and remember this the next time you talk yourself out of buying that amazing top because it's not the "right" material for your body shape.
The female-led tech company Preemadonna just launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise funds for the first generation of the Nailbot, a machine that uses your phone to print pictures, emojis, images and other designs directly onto your nails.
Nailbot 1
Nailbot 1
It's pretty simple to use, too: You download the iPhone or Android app and pair your phone to the printer via bluetooth. Then, choose the images from your camera roll or galleries and, with a press of a button, it'll print onto your white-polished nails within seconds. Finally, seal with a top coat and you have a perfectly unique manicure.
The Hewlett-Packard ink cartridge that comes with the Nailbot is good for 5,000 manicures, according to creator (and Preemadonna founder) Pree Walia.
Nailbot 2
Nailbot 2
And as for the quality? Pretty great, judging from the shots on the Preemadonna Instagram. The manicures "will last a few days — you do need to put a top coat to seal the image. We find that the traditional nail polish underneath will chip first before the prints actually fade," Walia wrote on the Indiegogo page, adding that the designs can be easily removed with store-bought nail polish removers.
It's also safe. "We are also finalizing our formulation and ink sourcing," she added. "We will be doing significant safety testing on the device before shipping and may seek a voluntary third party certification on the entire system."
The machine will retail for $199 — and backers who pledge that amount get the first shipment of the nail design printers when they ship in the fall of 2016.
One of the latest beauty trends sweeping Instagram is for cable knit nails and they look incredible.
The cosy winter look is created using gel polish and a dotting tool to achieve that classic cable knit effect.
It may not be the easiest nail trend to follow at home so get yourself along to your nail technician and get yourself some sweater nails to match your favourite chunky knit.
A mug of hot chocolate and roaring fire are optional.
Who knew? I didn't even know they existed — but exist they do. There are ones with massage settings for every sore muscle, ones that are eco-friendly (from the use of lasers) and even ones that light up and change colors.
But, what we really want to know is...
How they work
Well, let's start with the basics. First, it's important to understand how conditioner works (because that makes our hair smooth and shiny!).
Our hair is negatively charged — conditioner, positively charged. And opposites attract, right? Right. The conditioner works as a protectant for each hair strand and is bonded there because of the opposite charges. Shampoo, on the other hand, is negatively charged (like our hair), so it's also going to attract oils, which rinse away with the shampoo. (Sorry, Hair, the oils like Shampoo better.)
OK, now that we understand that, the primary goal of showerhead filters is to remove excessive amounts of chlorine from your water. Chlorine is great for keeping our water disease-free, but not so great at giving us luscious Hollywood locks. That's because chlorine is one of the elements with the highest electronegativity. Yep, it strips our hair of any conditioning oils (much more harshly than shampoo) — and our skin too.
Types of showerhead filters
But, apparently, there are various types of showerhead filters. Each has different pros and cons, so it really comes down to what's actually in your water — and that can change from city to city. (If you're curious, use the National Drinking Water Database from the Environmental Working Group and type in your zip code.) Here are some key components of different filtrations systems:
Kinetic degradation fluxion.Converts chlorine into a harmless calcium chloride.
Carbon. Doesn't work very well in hot water. So, unless you only take cold showers...
Crystalline quartz. Added to filters to help enhance that lather-y feel.
Chlorgon. Works well in hot water, but patented by and only found in Sprite showerheads.
So, I wouldn't go for a shower filter with straight carbon. But, when looking for the best showerhead that fits your needs, you'll find that several brands combine some of those key components for optimal filtration.
Well, I'm no mathematician, but when everything seems to be adding up, it probably won't hurt to give it a try — especially for those of you with high contents of chlorine in your water. And there are lots of reviews online to let you know exactly how well they work, firsthand.
But, hold it right there. There are other factors to consider when you're showering, too...
More ways to shower without damaging hair
If you're still kind of skeptical about the whole "I'm a magical showerhead that will grant all your hair wishes," then there are still things you can do to make your showering experience extra-nice for your hair.
Temperature. Ideally, you'll want to wash your hair in lukewarm water — not too hot, not too cold. Hot water can dry out your hair and scalp, while cold water can be less effective in ridding dirty oils. However, your hair has cuticles that need a flash of cold water to seal them down for more shine later.
Pressue. Ahhh, a good, strong showerhead is purely one of the joys of life. And, typically, they can really help water penetrate through your hair and cleanse your scalp. And there's nothing a good massage can't fix (even if it is from your showerhead). However, be wary of extremely strong heads. They may have the tendency to mess with your hair cuticles, which means frizzy hair for you.
Hard and soft water. Well, to each her own. Hard water contains more calcium and magnesium, while soft water has more sodium. But, one is not necessarily better than the other. For people with finer hair, soft water may leave their hair feeling weighted and slightly slippery (as if the conditioner didn't rinse out). But, for those with thicker, coarser hair, soft water can work wonders. If that's what you've been missing, you can buy water softener systems at your local hardware store.
This means that I wear a lot of off-the-shoulder stuff, a lot of oversized button-downs, and a lot of jersey. I also look for pieces that contain LYCRA® fiber – they tend to be way more comfortable and longer-lasting.
My thing for relaxed-fit pieces also, however, means that you can see my bra a decent percentage of the time. Which I don’t mind, provided that what I have on is a bra that’s meant to be seen — a piece that looks like a conscious part of my outfit, rather than an afterthought. Pretty straps are a must. A little lace is nice. Maybe a shot of gold.
So let’s talk The Undergarment Wardrobe for a minute. In theory, having drawers and drawers of lingerie to select from sounds nice, but what I’ve always found is that I continually gravitate towards a few key items: a set for when I’m feeling dramatic and sexy, a set for when I’m in the mood for something a little sweeter, and a set for everyday — pieces I can just reach for without a ton of thought and know that they’ll work under pretty much anything.
I’ve been wearing Wacoal’s bras for nearly a decade now — ever since I discovered the wonder that is their Halo strapless bra (you’ve heard me rhapsodizing about it on Ramshackle Glam for years) — and all of the pieces pictured here are pulled from their versatile mix-and-match Embrace Lace Collection. Each piece features LYCRA® fiber in the lace, so it’s comfortable and fits exceptionally well
Something sexy
Image: Jordan Reid/SheKnows
This is Wacoal’s Embrace Lace Underwire Bra (also pictured in the top two photos, here paired with the Tanga Panty), and it is now officially the sexiest garment that I own. A really great underwire is probably the one bra I wear more than any other, because it defines the bust line (extra-helpful after having two children) and gives lift and support without any bulk – so the look is pretty, but still natural.
Image: Jordan Reid/SheKnows
Something wire-free
Image: Jordan Reid/SheKnows
A relatively new addition to my wardrobe that quickly became a must-have: a wire-free set. I wasn’t sure that a wire-free bra would give enough lift, but the Embrace Lace Wire-Free Bra with LYCRA® fiber shown above is way more supportive than most bralettes I’ve tried (and it also has straps that convert to a racerback, as well as a pretty neckline). The combination of light support and no wires even makes it comfortable enough to sleep in (a much prettier choice for nighttime than my usual ratty old college tee)
Something for every day
Image: Jordan Reid/SheKnows
A t-shirt bra, like Wacoal’s Embrace Lace Underwire T-shirt Bra, pictured above, is the most versatile bra for every day and every look. The cups are smooth and seamless under tops, and the wide-set straps make it easy to wear under shirts with wide or low necklines. Get it in naturally nude if you tend to wear a lot of lighter-colored tops and mind your bra showing through your shirt, which I obviously don’t. (Also shown here: the Embrace Lace Bikini with LYCRA® fiber for added comfort and fit.)
And that’s really all you need: a few carefully-chosen pieces that work for all your many different moods.
Want to win the Embrace Lace T-Shirt bra? To celebrate Wacoal’s 30th Anniversary, the brand is giving you the chance to win 1 of 30 bras each week thru Dec 2015. Enter for your chance to win here.
This post was part of a sponsored collaboration with SheKnows and Wacoal
The "Wrecking Ball" singer showed off a clump of short eyelashes and blamed her eyelash curler for the impromptu cut.
Miley Cyrus eyelash Instagram
Miley Cyrus eyelash Instagram
The caption expresses her, uh, frustration with her situation. We feel you, Miley.
Yes, that little contraption that helps give you perfectly curled lashes can actually spell danger for those fragile hairs if you aren't careful. The biggest problem? If you use your curler after you apply mascara and don't clean off the excess afterward, it can stick to your lashes the next time you use the curler and create a sticky bond that can rip out chunks of lashes.
Luckily, it's super simple to keep this from happening. First, clean off the excess mascara each time you use your eyelash curler. Also, replace the cushion (the part that actually curls your lashes) on a semi-regular basis.
It's also a good idea to make your lashes stronger by using a primer before you add mascara. One such primer — Urban Decay Subversion Lash Primer — is made with protective panthenol and conditioning vitamin E to both condition and strengthen.
Oh, and a good mascara isn't a bad idea, either. Just call it an investment in your beauty future.
But dressing up leggings does take a little more effort — and it's easy to miss the mark. Can we all please agree on the following four rules? (I apologize in advance for all the exclamation points.)
Leggings etiquette:
Hide your booty — no ifs, ands or butts about it!
Burn all see-through leggings!
Never ever buy, wear or borrow tan- or skin-colored leggings!
OK, now that that's settled, let's learn from the best. Here are 10 ways fashion bloggers dress up leggings and prove they are not just for days when you're too lazy to get ready.
Go from couch potato to catwalk queen in a matter of minutes by throwing on a blazer or coat. Make the jacket the centerpiece of your look by choosing a fun color, fabric, fit or pattern.
Layers add interest to any outfit, and allow you to peel them off if you get hot. Button-downs and sweaters always pair nicely. Finish the look with a warm coat.
Not only are dresses and leggings fool-proof for the clumsy, they're also really comfortable, while still looking great. Don't forget to try skirts too!
Keep in mind that leggings don't alway have to be black. To dress up your outfit, choose leggings in different colors, patterns or textures (like leather or jean).
Boots and leggings are like the best friends of fashion. The color of the leggings can make your boots pop (or vice versa) and both items are fall and winter staples.
By adding a scarf, you can really change the intent your outfit. Whether they're cozy and cable-knit or bright and breezy, scarves will elevate your legging look.
Another way to make your leggings outfit look dressier is to add a trendy bag. This shows that you're out on the town with a purpose, not just running last-minute errands (no matter what the truth is).
Adding a little glitz to your look can really make your outfit shine. Chunky statement necklaces or glittery earrings will complete your look and will have you racing out the door to hit the party!
Here’s my picks for the best clothing, accessories and on-trend shoes to make your outfit sparkle.
Clothing
Image: Vera Sweeney/SheKnows
Let’s start with this chemise from Wacoal’s Embrace Lace Collection. The signature floral lace pattern bodice works beautifully tucked into a great fitted leather skirt. Since we are slowly creeping into the winter months, I paired the look with a fitted blazer to help you get to and from the party.
Image: Vera Sweeney/SheKnows
If you’re worrying about coverage, consider doubling up with the Wacoal Embrace Lace Underwire Bra. Everything in Wacoal’s Embrace Lace Collection is made with sensuous fabrics and feature exquisite details – the perfect pick to bring the black and gold trend to life. Each of these pieces features their signature lace with LYCRA® fiber so you can expect exceptional fit, comfort and freedom to move. It’s important to feel sexy, but we have to feel comfortable while doing so, right?
Because we want the gold to pop from the bodice, I kept it pretty simple with the accessories. I decided to go with a simple set of chain necklaces. However, if you’d like to go for something chunky to make more of a statement, that would work too! For the arm candy, consider a great woven bangle and then top off the entire look with killer booties.
There you have it! Don’t be afraid to try out new trends. Just remember to stick with a few high quality pieces, paired with some really great basics, and you’ll be a showstopper.
Hope this outfit makes it’s debut at some holiday parties this season!
Giveaway Time!
To celebrate Wacoal’s 30th anniversary the brand is giving away 30 bras every week thru December. The 30 Years of Beauty Giveaway features a Bra of the Month. Consumers can sign up for the chance to win November’s bra of the month, the Embrace Lace bra with LYCRA®. There are 30 winners every week. How exciting!! Click here to enter!!
For more information about the Wacoal’s Embrace Lace Collection, be sure to visit their website.
This post was part of a sponsored collaboration with SheKnows,Wacoaland LYCRA®.
We're lightening the mood with an adorable nail design meant only for the bravest latte lovers. Thanks to nail guru Miss Pop, it's easy, it's cute and it may cause strangers to give you their two cents. Should you get accused of being anti-Christian or anti-Christmas while wearing this nail art (you could be Jewish after all — is that a crime?), we suggest a noble response like, "Coffee is my religion."
They just seemed a little frumpy and Miss Marple-ish, like something the Queen wears when she’s going to feed her horses.
Image: WENN
Remember in the late 1980s when Issey Miyake launched his — terribly unflattering — ‘Pleats Please’ line? My answer then — and now — was always an unequivocal, "No thank you."
If there is one thing I have learned in the world of style and fashion, it is to never say never. Never will I wear culottes. Never will I wear boho. Never will I wear flats. Never will I wear sneakers with a skirt. Tick, tick, tick and tick. I’ve done them all now, plus countless other nevers.
So, there I sat, Miss Pleat-Hater, poring over all of the photos from the recent fashion weeks, and what did my eyes keep lingering on? Pleated skirts. I blame it all on Alessandro Michele, the new creative director at Gucci. I saw one particular image from the Gucci runway that made me suck in my breath with the newness, the originality and the sheer Wes Anderson bonkersness of it all, and this one photo completely (compleately?) changed my no-pleats policy.
Image: Fernanda Calfat/Getty Images
You may hate it, but I love every. single. thing. about it… from the brown beanie at the top to the pink metallic slides at the bottom and the Gucci heritage stripes in between. Granted, bling is my thing; so if you make something glittery or shiny, I’m so transfixed by the sparkle that I obviously forget all about my prejudice — even against pleats.
Gucci offered a few other amazing pleat variations. Lace pleats, equal parts prim and sexy. I love this.
Image: Fernanda Calfat/Getty Images
Color-blocked foil-candy-wrapper pleats. I dreamt of things like this for my Barbie when I was little, instead of that pink floral nonsense.
Image: Fernanda Calfat/Getty Images
I’m not a fan of prints (I say this now, but watch me do a post on a print I’ve fallen madly in love with at some point, damn it), but if Ottoman Cowgirl is your vibe, then this is just for you.
Image: Fernanda Calfat/Getty Images
I also usually have a lot of love for whatever Stella McCartney does each season, and what do you think she is doing for Spring/Summer 2016? Pleats. Have a look. Can’t you just see yourself swishing around in these architectural pleats on a very hot summer day? Each little pleat joyfully catching the breeze and rippling just so?
Image: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Image: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
After seeing these runway pleats, I set about scouring the internet for an equivalent. I’m not splurging on pleats, as per the rules in my last post. I turned up this bit of pleated perfection below at Zara. This is shiny, modern, stylish and needs to be in my closet. They’re separates too, so extra points for versatility. Silver and black are my life; I can really see this slotting into my wardrobe.
Also at Zara is this pleated faux-leather skirt in a my-pet-has-colitis color that doesn’t really work for me, but it does have a certain vintage appeal. It also comes in black, mercifully.
Here’s a lovely bronzey-gold lamé one from Topshop that is nearly sold out — apparently I’m not the only one in a metallic pleat frenzy. This is the closest to the Gucci one that I’ve been able to find, although it is a much more restrained color than the brassy gold at Gucci.
I, of course, have done the least sensible thing, and I’ve gone and ordered this one below (also Topshop) because it is on sale for less than a cocktail. It is shorter than the Gucci ones, so it may not be as good as the Zara option, but we’ll see.
Below are two photos that show how beautifully and easily an accordion-pleated skirt can be styled for everyday (i.e. off of the Gucci runway). I love these pleats toned down with a sweater. What do you think? Are you a pleat lover, a pleat hater or pleat agnostic?
Fashion and beauty blogger Becca Rose has seriously impressed us with her latest makeup tutorial, showing how easy it can be to get the sixties-inspired look Adele rocks in the video for her latest single "Hello."
Who knew it only takes seven minutes, a black polo neck and some serious kohl action to turn yourself into the reigning queen of the ballad?*
Sunset hair does what it says on the tin: combine shades of yellow, orange, red, pink and even blue to look like the colours of a bold, breathtaking sunset.
It's not an entirely new trend, but last year's effort had far more of a chalky vibe. Sunset hair 2015 is definitely more of a head-turner.
And it works.
It's a look that's sure to stand out in a crowd, but the mixture of painted highlights and balayage (a freehand highlighting technique) stops it looking too extreme.
A beautiful sunset, presented in a plait
Sunset hair trend 1
Sunset hair trend 1
Red, copper and yellow hues blend for a warm effect
But now the sculpted concept has jumped to another part of the head: your hair. Hair contouring, a term coined by Marc Trinder, a U.K.-based stylist and art director at Charles Worthington, refers to the method of placing hair color in a way that uses light and shadows to alter the appearance of the face. So how exactly does this trend work? We tapped the minds of colorist Miguel Angarita from Mizu Hair Salon in New York City and Nick Penna, owner and lead stylist of SalonCapri in Boston, to get the details.
“Hair contouring is when you apply highlights and lowlights — so dark and light tones — on your hair to actually contour your face, similar to makeup contouring,” explains Angarita.
Using your hair to accentuate your face? Can this be? “As a colorist, you can apply color to parts of the hair — most commonly, with face framing highlights to highlight and accentuate features,” Angarita insists. “You can also use it to alter face shape to seem slimmer and more defined.”
How it works and how to ask your stylist for it
Image: Terese Condella/SheKnows
There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to hair contouring. The trend is based on the idea of strategically placed highlights and lowlights, so first, it’s important to think about color. The combination of highlights and shadows is what makes hair contouring work.
“A light color shade draws the eyes towards the area and a darker shade (placed near a lighter shade) works to draws the eyes away from that area,” explains Penna. “Overall, hair contouring is meant to be subtle and natural looking. There should never be a major difference between the lighter and darker shades that your stylists will use,” he adds.
Needless to say, as a form of highlights, this more intricate balayage technique requires an experienced colorist that can literally "paint" on your highlights or lowlights on very specific parts of your hair — i.e., this isn’t a ‘do you can try with an at-home kit. You need someone to match up colors just right.
Secondly, as anyone who’s had a great highlight job (or worse, a bad one) knows, the placement of the highlights is everything. And not only is the placement key, but like a good cut, it should vary based on your unique face shape.
“Go into the salon and talk to your stylist about your face shape. What you like about the shape and what areas may bother you a bit,” says Penna. “The goal of hair contouring is to help a woman highlight her best features or hide the ones that may make her a little self-conscious.”
Thinking of trying the hair contouring trend for your next salon visit? Because face shape is critical in hair contouring, we’ve created this cheat sheet to help you know how to ask your stylist for the perfect ‘do specifically for you.
Round faces
Image: Terese Condella/SheKnows
Those with a round face generally have very strong bone structure but wish to elongate their face. Ask your stylist to apply light tones around the hairline, from ear to ear and then paint on darker tones underneath the ears and toward the lower ends of the hair. “This brightens and elongates the face, while giving your face more of a point,” says Angarita.
Those with a more oval shape can have a bit of fun with their contouring. “An oval shape is really most people’s ideal face shape, so hair contouring for someone with an oval shape may end up being painted strands all around the face and roots in an effort to just brightening up the face and skin tone and to make it look a little thicker,” says Penna. To accentuate an oval face, ask your colorist to add depth with a thick texture and shine.
Those with a square face have a more prominent jaw and have wider facial features, and similar to a round face, the goal with contouring is to elongate. “Colorists should use multi-tonal layers of light and dark highlights or lowlights that are applied to the corners of the face and around the jawline and temples, says Angarita. This will soften facial lines and add more depth to the face, adding overall balance and highlighting the facial structure, he adds. Specifically, ask your colorist for darker shades right next to the face or cheeks to draw the eyes up and down and lighter shades towards the top of the head and at the end of the strands.
Finally, those with a heart-shaped face should aim to make their faces appear more oval and widen the jaw area. To do this with color, ask your colorist to weave light highlighted pieces around the jawline, ears and tips to soften the bottom half of the face and reserve darker shades for the roots.
People are growing tired of the fake, airbrushed-to-the-hilt photos on the social media site, so more and more are showing the realities behind the fake pics. First, Australian model Essena O'Neill made a loud departure from social media, crying out the fakeness behind the perfection.
Now Stina Sanders is making her own waves, but not by leaving Instagram. The London-based model posted a series of photos that showed her doing various real-life things, like going to her therapist, getting a colonic and removing hair from her upper lip.
Stina Sanders 2
Stina Sanders 2
"I wanted to see what would actually happen if I stopped posting glamorous photos, and shared stuff that you wouldn't normally even share with your friends, stuff that is taboo, stuff that was quite crude, all that kind of stuff," the 24-year-old told People. "Personally I think Instagram is so fake — the amount of filters, the airbrushing — so I thought it would be interesting."
"Normally I would use a filter or an airbrushing app, so I made sure I really didn't do that," she says. "Most of them I didn't have on any makeup or my hair was disheveled, and no filters were used at all."
Something interesting happened when she added the pictures. "I thought that my followers would remain the same but I would get no likes, but the total opposite happened," she said. "I had an influx of likes, but I had a massive decrease of followers."
Stina Sanders 3
Stina Sanders 3
Her follower count has since recovered — and increased — but that doesn't matter to Sanders. Now she's far more concerned with whom she inspired with the series.
"Women were commenting because they could relate," she said of the overall reaction. "For example, on the hair removal cream photo of mine, one girl said, 'I do my morning maintenance every Monday too.' People were pleased that they could actually see it's OK to be normal."
