Shoulder Love

Courtney Salinger
off-the-shoulder-6

Enjoying the great outdoors in a cute ensemble.

Spread the shoulder love! “Off the shoulder” tops are making waves and providing views of various collarbones and shoulders. “Off the shoulder” tops are very versatile. They can be worn for just about any occasion and can be worn during any season, depending on how you wear them. Here are a few suggestions on how these delectable tops can be accustomed to your wardrobe.
Showing some Shoulder Love in an "Off the Shoulder" Dress.

Showing some Shoulder Love in an “Off the Shoulder” Romper.

Try pairing an “off the shoulder” crop top with jeans and any kind of shoes. The balance between the laidback vibes from the jeans and the cute and sweet vibes from the top will make the outfit look relaxed and desirable for any chill occasion.

Cut-offs with gladiator sandals and an “off the shoulder” crop top looks adorable! When pairing cut-offs and a crop top, you get a chance to show off your figure. The crop top accentuates your waist and shows off those chiseled collarbones and toned shoulders. Whereas, the cut-offs make way to show off legs and design of the gladiator sandals. Adding gladiator sandals to the outfit, gives the whole ensemble some character.

Cut-offs and gladiator sandals, with an "off the shoulder" crop top.

An “off the shoulder” crop top, cut-offs, and gladiator sandals.

If you’re not feelin’ a cropped “off the shoulder” top, try wearing a regular shoulder baring top with some leggings and some boots for those upcoming chilly days.

Another alternative to an “off the shoulder” top would be a dress. “Off the shoulder” dresses look cutest with heels or knee high boots. Try pairing a dress with some strappy heels or suede knee high boots and a cute leather purse for that balance of chicness and sophistication.

“Off the shoulder” tops are flattering and chic, they accentuate shoulders and collarbones in a stylish way. Whether it be for a casual outing or an elegant dinner, “off the shoulder” tops can be worn anytime.

See it in action here:

Fashion Vibin’

Courtney Salinger

Fashion is like a window to one’s soul. As we choose outfits to wear and show off to the world, we are also choosing what vibes we want people to perceive us with. Fashion is all about expressing yourself. The moment you buy those brand new threads and wear them out and about, you are telling a story. You are telling the world who you are, where you came from, and where you are going. Every outfit has a story. Here is mine…

While thinking about what I want to wear for the day, I ask myself: “Do I want to feel strong? Do I want to feel girly and cute? Do I want to feel classy and sophisticated? Do I want to feel casual and relaxed? Or maybe I want to show off all these things at once” I think about where I came from, who I want to be, who I am, and what I want to be perceived with. We all have different sides to our personalities. We all have goals and dreams. A past, present and a future. “What part of my inner self do I want to present?”

As I think about it, wearing clothes is like wearing your heart on your sleeve, literally. Specific clothing articles represent key aspects of your heart’s desires, wants, needs, loves, and feelings.

When choosing my ootd, I try on a couple different things that suggest different vibes. For example, I try on things that show my athletic side, like tanks and leggings. Or, I’ll try on a dress to show off my girly side. Whatever I wake up to and feel comfortable in, I will wear for the day. Sometimes I will show off a mix of my personalities. For example, I will try on a tank with the leggings, but decide that I feel more comfortable in a skirt instead of leggings. Therefore, I’m mixing athletic and girly vibes, athletic from the tank and girly from the skirt.

Overall, ensemble vibin’ can be very broad, yet symbolizes specific aspects of an individual’s personality. When choosing different outfits to wear for the day, think about how you want to be characterized. Vibes are impressions. But, most importantly vibes tell a story. Happy ootd choosing!

Blue Pouty Craze

Courtney Salinger

NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick “Little Denim Dress”

Lately, it seems as though one of summer’s hottest beauty trends is a sky blue matte lip. Whether it be provided by Kylie Jenner’s Lip Kits or NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipsticks, sky blue matte lips are on the rise. I have heard mixed reviews about the trend and decided to try it out. Here is how I first found out about the trend and my overall critique.

I first discovered the sky blue lip color from NYX because I follow them on Instagram. Then, through Snapchat, I saw that Kylie Jenner was launching “Skylie” a sky blue matte lip just before 4th of July weekend. When I first saw the products through social media, I thought, “Wow, that’s very bright, I wonder how I could pull this off.” I was skeptical about the whole thing because I had felt the brightness level of the blue was very high and it would be overpowering. I gave it more thought and was like, “You know what, let’s go for it… It’s summer time, I’m only young once, why not have a little fun!”

Yes, I’m still adjusting to my shopaholic ways and trying not to spend that much money. So I did a little research! I compared prices between Kylie Jenner’s “Skylie” Lip Kit and NYX’s “Little Denim Dress” Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick. Kylie’s runs around $29, whereas NYX’s is near $7. Which one sounds like a better deal, guys? Don’t get me wrong, Kylie’s lip kit includes both the lip liner and liquid lipstick, but better to save especially when you’re on a budget.

So, I went for NYX’s “Little Denim Dress” Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick. I drove down to my nearest ULTA and picked up one of two “Little Denim Dresses” that were available. When I first swatched the bright blue creamy lipstick onto the back of my hand, I thought, “ok, ok, this might actually work on me.” As it was drying on my hand, my interest grew more and more.

Blue Lippies

Blue Lippies

I decided to try it out during 4th of July weekend. I was getting ready for the day’s festivities and pulled out my newest makeup hopeful, “Little Denim Dress.” I had made up my face with my usual makeup routine, which consisted of, face makeup (moisturizer, foundation, highlighter, bronzer, concealer, setting powder), eye makeup (eyeliner for the top and bottom, mascara), and primer water.

I began to swipe “Little Denim Dress” onto my lips, in front of a mirror. Indoors, the color looked surprisingly pretty, I looked awake, which was a plus, though a little bit on the costume side, but I thought the color could pass.  In broad daylight is where I really had my “wow” moment.

I had walked over to the window in my room, which provides natural sunlight, and looked at myself with a handheld mirror. It was then and there where I fell in love! The bright blue actually made my skin look so healthy and clear. My eyes had looked brighter and were sparkling with delight. In that moment, I just felt alive. I was impressed.

Overall, I’m a fan of the bright blue lip trend. Yes, it is out there and risky, but who doesn’t like a good showstopper? 

See it in action:

Camo Cameo

Courtney Salinger
Camo

Camo Bra Top

You’re flipping through magazines and social media websites. You begin to wonder what that mix of greens with occasional brown and black pattern is that’s hitting up fashion’s newest trends. It’s camouflage and the pattern is used on multiple clothing pieces such as, dresses, pants, shirts, bra tops, jackets, shoes and even snapbacks. Camouflage print is all the craze right now. The dark mix of colors makes the body look slimmer, hence “camouflage.” Wherever the camouflage print is featured, whether it be a bra top or jacket, it’s most likely going to be the main piece that you want to make stand out. You don’t want to have too much going on, therefore just keep it simple. The key is to only apply neutrals with camouflage print. Here are a few ways that camouflage can be worn.

Try pairing a camouflage bra top with some sweat pants, jeans, leggings, or pants. When you pair a bra top with pants, the outfit shows off just enough skin without over doing it. The camouflage bra top gives off a strong feel and makes the outfit look sporty.

Keepin’ it Neutral

When the camouflage print is on pants, you want to keep everything else neutral. Say you wanted to emphasize the green in the pants, try wearing a black or white top, black shoes, and a black purse. When mixing black or white pieces with camouflage, the mix of greens and browns really standout due to neutral colors. 

Camouflage jackets can be worn with some jeans or leggings, crop top or tank top, and some boots. If you decide to wear jean shorts with a camouflage jacket, try pairing them with neutral colored over-the-knee boots. The boots will make the outfit look strong and fierce, they will have you slaying in no time.  

If basic neutrals aren’t doing the job for you and you want something that’s a little flirtier, try pairing camouflage with some lace. Say, a white lace crop top with some jeans and a camouflage jacket will do. The balance between flirty and sporty chic comes when lace and camouflage collaborate together.

Camouflage print can be seen as fun, flirty, fierce, sporty, it just depends on how you wear it. The print is universal, it can be worn in many different ways with different style perspectives. 

Confessions of a Shopaholic

Courtney Salinger

I found myself casually searching the web, looking at social media updates, emails, and the latest fashion trends. I began to look at my favorite fashion store websites. I wasn’t expecting to find anything at all until my eyes pondered over this gorgeous piece of aquatic delight known to man, a blue/green sequined black bikini! Here’s what happened…

I was just searching the web, you know, checking some emails, looking at some classes to take at school, and stumbling upon a few fashion websites. I reached Forever 21, as usual, I checked to see what the new arrivals entailed. Upon looking at what my beloved favorite clothing store had to offer, I stopped at this gorgeous bikini that right then and there, I decided I needed to buy! I ran over to my wallet and grabbed my credit card. Guilt started to rush through my thoughts as if I had just experienced a sugar high. I started to look around my room and looked at everything that I had recently bought (makeup, clothes, jewelry, you feel me). I began to go through my bikinis and saw that I already have more than I needed. And then it hit me! I realized I couldn’t buy this beautifully, sparkly, piece of fashionable swim wear delight. Instead, I sat there, dwelling on how this bikini would have looked on me; how it would’ve looked in selfies, how it would’ve looked while lying in a lounge chair by the pool, how it would’ve looked with makeup on to match it, how it would’ve looked on the beach, how it would’ve looked in some jean shorts and lace crop top, and so on. I had to except the cold hard truth and finally say it out loud. “I am a shopaholic… I am addicted to shopping and it needs to stop!” In that moment, I realized that a single bikini isn’t worth my future. I’m not willing to risk everything that I have worked for just to experience a little slice of happiness that I will possibly get bored with after wearing it once. I have come to my senses and realized that I should be saving my money for other things.

From there on after, I need to dedicate myself to only buy the necessities and only occasionally splurge. As it is my promise to myself to save up for my goals as my future depends on it.

The moral of the story for all my fashionistas out there is that you can’t buy every piece of clothing in sight. Be as picky with shopping for clothes as you are when you’re ordering food in a restaurant. You might be craving a lot of dishes, but your stomach can only hold so much. Just like how you want to buy multiple outfits, but your money isn’t endless.