Denim is forever and I hope chambray can be as well. I wear this super soft denim-ish fabric constantly in the spring and summer. It’s been two seasons of nonstop chambray and I have no intentions of stopping there. Madewell does it best with this shirt. This week’s pretty picks are inspired by this uniform, head to toe. Try not to wear at all at once!
My favorite thing in this picture is this LOFT blazer. I saw it on Liz in her Chicago Style Guide and love how she styled it — you could honestly wear it a zillion ways, it’s so versatile. Bring on the white jeans… // Dior’s spring 2014 eye shadow palette, with pale blue and rich cocoa, is inspired by Marie Antoinette and the French Trianon Palace. How very regal. // Deborah Lippmann Blue Orchid is the color of the sky on a sunny day. // A day doesn’t go by without a Twistband of some sort in my hair. Probably a sign I need a haircut. // The Gap has really stepped up their shoe game. Case in point: these Snakeskin Flats. // Speaking on stepping up their game, this Coach Borough Bag in Goldwashed Chambray. It speaks to my compartment-loving soul…THREE zipped sections.
Happy Monday, friends! How was your weekend? I had a great one, minus the five hours our heat went out. Paying Sunday repair rates was so not fun. I spent some time getting organized, including ordering up a frame for my new favorite print that my pal Steph at Glitterary designed with Von Moir. I have a soft spot for 90s hip hop and this classic line looks great in gold foil script. It no doubt inspired this week’s pretty picks. These four are working hard for me lately!
LIPS: Apparently, I really like my lip products in crayon form. NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien is a light rose with a hint of shimmer and is the color I reach for when I’m being indecisive. It goes with everything! // TIPS: I thought I was covered with pale pink (aka Essie Ballet Slippers) nail polish until I tried Deborah Lippmann La Vie En Rose. It has a multi-colored shimmer and is sheer enough that you can wear as a top coat to other polishes. Deborah calls it the color of a “daydream” which I find sweet. // HANDS: Illume Go Be Lovely Hand Crème is a moisturizer with a message. I find myself trying to be lovely after I apply the Anemone, which smells of apples and hot man (must be the oak moss and clove!) Have you ever seen cuter packaging? // JEWELS: I have worn these triangle studs from Chicago designer Michelle Starbuck every day since I got them! I love her classic style and reuse of vintage materials (these are brass). I also met Michelle in person for the first time over the weekend and find her to be so humble and charming.
P.S. The Garden Apt. is giving away a $50 gift card to Michelle Starbuck Designs (enter by 3/24)!
note: I received a sample of the Illume Hand Creme
The Pantone powers that be have decided that a vibrant pastel with equal parts pink and purple is the color of 2014. And I’m completely on board with that decision. Radiant Orchid is fresh and springy, the latter of which can’t come soon enough. It’s also one of those colors that looks really good on cheeks and lips. It can look a little bright and borderline neon at times, but it translates so well once you actually put it on your face. It does very awakening things. Promise.
I’ve never met a Benefit stain I didn’t love and it’s a serious moment when a new one comes out. Lollitint is radiant orchid to a T. If you think you can’t pull it off, try anyway. It is the perfect hybrid lilac and pink blush.
Dr. Sponge comes in all colors of the rainbow, but this lavender edition is so 2014. My fascination with konjac sponges is still going strong. They’re completely gentle to massage on your skin daily and I can’t help but watch in awe as my skin gets smoother with each use.
This creamy Deborah Lippmann polish needs to get on my nails like yesterday.
I’ll take my radiant orchid with a side of purple on the eyes. These cute little Laura Mercier baked eyeshadows are just the right price, too.
I just want more ILIA Lip Gloss in my makeup bag. Love Buzz, your number is up. For the sake of radiant orchid.
My iPhone would look good in the color of the year.
Clinique’s floral printed cheek pops are so spring it hurts.
I love this Laqa & Co nail pen and appreciate that the brand works with young artists to design all of their packaging (and then donates a proceed of the profits to each artist). They’re just cool people, ya know?
Tiny radiant orchid polka dots on this makeup bag, from Forever 21 of all places.
I’m not good with goodbyes, but I’m ready to give 2013 its final sendoff. The promise a brand new one holds is pretty thrilling, especially when this year has been so good to me. I hit publish on my very first 312 Beauty post in January, the start of a wild and crazy ride! There was the time Refinery29 included me in a list of bloggers “you need to be reading,” the reminiscing I did on wedding day beauty for POPSUGAR and the segment I did on Chicago’s FOX 32 on Memorial Day. I’m still awestruck from meeting so many incredible women at A Night for Green Beauty and honored I got to interview Butter LONDON’s global colour ambassador Katie Hughes, Space NK founder Nicky Kinniard and Illamasqua founder Julian Kynaston when they came to Chicago. Most of all, I’ve had the best time talking beauty and getting to know so many of you (on the internet and in real life!) Let’s do more of that next year, k?
I can’t wait to see what the next year in beauty will bring. It’s fitting that my last post of 2013 is all about the products I loved most this year. I give you, my top 10!
Deborah Lippmann Glitter and Be Gay is hands down, the best nail polish I bought all year. I wore this constantly! The sparkling yellow gold and bits of blue holographic glitter are killer.
I used to think that salt sprays were drying until I tried Davines This Is A Sea Salt Spray. It’s the best styling aid for my type of hair (stick straight). I spray on dry hair before I curl and get the softest waves that last all day. No small miracle.
Everything I thought about natural mascara changed thanks to Kjaer Weis. The 99.8% organic mascara is better than most others (natural or otherwise). Plus, it smells like roses!
I tried at least a dozen facial oils this year and Lina Hanson’s Global Face Serum was easily my fav. It plumps up my skin and makeup looks better when I apply this first. The scent, from a blend of 11+ exotic plant oils, is intoxicatingly good.
ILIA Cosmic Danceris the most flattering gold highlighter. It’s soft and brightening and not the least bit brassy. Word is that it’s limited edition for the holidays, which I’m not ready to accept.
Katie Hughes herself introduced me to Butter London Cheeky Crème Blush in Pistol Pink. It’s a bright pop of color and you can dab it on your lips, too.
This year will go down as the year of MAC RiRi Woo. It was released several times with all of Rihanna’s MAC collections and it sold out quickly with each one. Worth the hype.
My mornings were greatly improved after discovering R.L. Linden & Co Thousand Petal Beautifying Mist, which is like a blast of floral adrenaline. Plus, I want to be friends with the owners. They seem like such cool chicks!
Washing my face will never be the same. Elizabeth Dehn for One Love Organics Vitamin B Cleansing Oilexfoliates with plant extracts as it breaks down all of your makeup. Two thumbs up.
I’ll never be Camilla Belle, but at least I have Benefit Gimme Brow to get me a little closer in the brow department. It’s part brow filler part volumizer and takes 2.5 seconds to apply. I’m already on my second tube!
How was everyone’s holiday? I’ve been in Wisconsin where it was a very white Christmas. Everything is still soft and fluffy which is a nice change from city snow. I’m enjoying time with the family and extra snuggles with my pup. All with a healthy dose of online browsing (because I just can’t help myself!) Here’s what I’m eyeing up!
Anthropologie is having a killer sale — 25% extra off sale items. Which means these gold monogram mugs are $6. I love this mug and also gave it as a hostess gift and to my mother-in-law. Also, there’s several Deborah Lippmann glitter nail polishes for under $10, including the most perfect emerald and gold polish (perfectly named ‘Shake Your Money Maker’)
Through January 1, Madewell is extra 40% off sale. I adore this iPhone case (translated: well done!)
This Marc Jacobs Luminizing Powder is lovely and more than half off of its original price. Sephora has an extra 20% off sale items as well. I’m also eyeing up this nail polish trio.
It was a Gap cozy scarf holiday in my house. I gifted several and was treated to a few myself. They are so warm and soft. Now I’m eyeing up this blue buffalo plaid, which is an additional 30% off the marked down price through December 30.
How lovely is this jeweled striped top from J. Crew? It’s an extra 40% off meaning it is mine.mine.mine!
Every season brings a new nail color palette and fall is always the best. The return of deep broody colors, rich hues, greys and pre-holiday glitz. I can’t get enough. I eased into the season with this red and my fav color of Essie’s fall collection, For the Twill of It, which is like three metallic nail colors in one. The teal shimmer that reflects from that polish is major. We’ve still got a lot of fall to enjoy so I’ve pulled together the rest of my top picks to inspire your next manicure!
After seeing Deborah Lippmann Rolling in the Deepon The Glossarie’s nails, I picked up a bottle. It’s the most incredible navy crème and I’m obsessed. In fact, before you get distracted with Deborah Lippmann holiday (who could blame you?!), check out the rest of her ‘Jewel Heist’ collection. The holographic Glitter and Be Gay is truly jewelry for your nails. I’ve been wearing it ombre style, like this.
Speaking of nail jewels, Marchesa designed a set of nail appliques for Revlon inspired by couture gowns. Each design is prettier than the next but the Gilded Mosaic pattern especially stands out. Another collection that caught my eye? Jin Soon’s collab with Tibi. I get lost in the glossy black Obsidian which has little bits of shimmer to give it the look of volcanic rock. Beyond cool.
It’s not fall without a deep purple and Chanel Taboo fits that bill. It looks burgundy in the bottle but on nails is a complex mix of plum and navy. When the sun hits your nails, it lights up. I bought this to get parking validation at Nordstrom a few months ago and am so glad I did! For a softer take on fall grey, I recommend NARS Galathee, a creamy lavender grey with cool undertones. It may be new, but I can already see this one being a classic staple.
There is something so mint chocolate about my nails, wouldn’t you say? It’s the perfect nail polish for those with a sweet tooth. More importantly, though, Deborah Lippmann Rockin’ Robin, released as part of her trio of staccato polishes, has helped up my pattern mixing game lately. It’s like a fun accessory breathing new life into my wardrobe. Florals and stripes are a common theme in my closet, and the speckled finish of this polish looks good with both. I tend to be minimal with my jewelry so I like to think of my nail polish as one of my main accessories. This polish wears perfectly for a full week. In part, I know, because of the butterLONDON base and top coat that has changed how I do the DIY mani but also because it has some texture to it. While the glitter lays flat in the minty creme base, it dries quickly and seems to adhere more because of it. These are an A+, Ms. Lippmann!
Let’s take a look at the COOLEST makeup bag EVER. I’d been hanging on to a Sephora gift card that was just begging to be spent. I intended to pick up a new eye primer and then I stumbled on this holographic bag that was calling out to me! The rose gold piping and sometimes pink, sometimes orange holograph exterior is just too cool for school. Even my husband was prodding me to get this. Genuinely, too. It’s like we were both under a holographic trance. Side note: I’m not sure when he became such an awesome shopping partner, but I’m totally enjoying this new era. He’s also the one who gave me the gift card, this past Valentine’s Day.
We drove down to the Shops at North Bridge for this excursion, and in order to get validated parking, I “needed” to make a Nordstrom purchase. Finally, the Deborah Lippmann Staccato polishes were out, so I splurged on the minty Rockin’ Robin. I’ve only been waiting for these to come out since February! I also snagged a tube of the new Supergoop CC Cream. It’s only been a few days, but I’m really liking it so far. With all of the BB and now CC cream madness, I’ll be sure to let you know where I stand on the subject soon.
Even cooler than I expected! A first look at swatches of the Deborah Lippmann Staccoto polishes. (All Lacquered Up)
The glory days of perfume oils are here! A poetic review of the Caldrea Aromatherapeutic Rollerballs. (Beauty Huile)
Love this interview with Tatcha creator Victoria Tsai, who brings centuries old beauty secrets of Geishas to life in her beautiful line of skincare. (Beauty Palette)
How to fake the glow of a 22-year old. (Beauty Bets)
Get your pretties organized. A slideshow of beauty organizing tips, featuring this super chic lipstick holder! (Refinery29)
This spring will bring a fun polish trend, one that has me craving mint chocolate chip ice cream and some Tutti Frutti jelly beans. Deborah Lippmann’s Staccato Collection features a trio of speckled glitter mixed with classic spring colors.
According to DL, she wanted to make black glitter wearable. She took wearable spring colors, gave them a crème base and edged them up with speckled black glitter. I can’t wait to wear these! Especially the mint, Rockin’ Robin. What do you think?
Officially launching in April, but hoping to spot them sooner!
Color trends can be fleeting, but nude nails are always in style. I’m going nuts for Deborah Lippmann’s ‘Dancing in the Nude’ minis, which includes my favorite barely there nail color, Naked. The minis are just over half the size of a full DL polish. I love options, and five little Lippmanns in this genre of color is a full-on naked nail wardrobe. The set includes:
Sarah Smile: The city’s sexiest sheer pink created with Sarah Jessica Parker.
Bring On the Bling: A divine diamond shimmer containing virgin diamond powder for more luxurious, chip-resistant wear.
Prelude to a Kiss: A sheer, misty pink.
Diamonds and Pearls: An iridescent freshwater pearl shimmer.
Naked: A clean, bare beige
Ms. Lippmann recommends having some fun with this set by layering. Try Diamonds and Pearls over Naked to create a universally flattering hue or Bring on the Bling over Sarah Smile makes for the ultimate princess mani.
Let’s take a look at the COOLEST makeup bag EVER. I’d been hanging on to a Sephora gift card that was just begging to be spent. I intended to pick up a new eye primer and then I stumbled on this 
