Three Timeless Fall Trends

As summer comes to an end, I’m excited to indulge in some fall shopping and cooler, less humid, weather. I’m not one to follow trends religiously every season, however here are three trends that are timeless. These trends can be worn throughout every season with minor changes. This fall I am excited to swap out some black items for hues of grey, navy, and bordeaux (I know shocker!).

Normcore

Jason Wu

Jil Sanders

Theory

I absolutely love the normcore look for every season. Some of my favorite normcore looks this past fashion week was from Jason Wu, Jil Sanders, and Theory. Each designer delivered a sleek and ultra-feminine look, which is exactly why I love this trend. Even though it’s a little masculine, I find this style so classy and sexy at the same time. Normcore is a sleek and monochrome style that is flattering for many body types. The great thing about this trend is that it’s compatible with every season. In the fall you can stick with different gradients of black, grey, navy and bordeaux. During the spring and summer months you can opt for whites, nudes, and pastel colors. This winter I’m excited to introduce more grey into my wardrobe. In this look I love how the grey Valentino cape adds an unexpected element to the normcore look. I kept the rest of the look with a black Alexander Wang pinstripe tee, black Chloe trousers, and black ankle boots. To accessorize, you can always amp up this look with a bold red lip or a dark and vampy color. I suggest keeping the rest of the makeup and hair effortless and natural.

Alexander Wang Boxy Pinstriped Tee, $495 / Valentino Wool Blend Cape, $2,620 / Chloe Light Cady Trousers, $960 / Lipsy Rhiannon Boots, $140

Sweater Dressing

Michael Kors

Stella McCartney

Every wardrobe needs a great sweater dress. When it comes to this essential piece, I would suggest splurging because no one wants to have to replace this piece every single year. A sweater dress will never go out of style and is definitely a wardrobe must have. This piece is so easy to pair with anything and you can easily dress it up or down, while staying cozy and warm. There are so many affordable dupes that are also great quality at Zara. During fashion week there were many designers that showcased this staple piece. My favorites were from Michael Kors and Stella McCartney. I loved how both looks were completely different. It just shows how versatile a sweater dress could be. When creating this look I was torn between the classic knit sweater dress or a really cool modern sweatshirt dress. The two main pieces were the Kenzo sweater dress and the sweater mini dress by Cedric Charlier. Since it will be a little chilly I paired both dresses with an oversized wool Burberry Brit coat (another fall staple). To clean up and finish the look I completed the look with a black Givenchy Antigona tote, a black wool fedora from Rag & Bone, and a pair of really cool yellow python brogues by Simone Rocha.

Cedric Charlier Chunky Mini Dress, $955 / Kenzo Sweater Dress, $415 / Burberry Brit Oversize Coat, $1,295 / Simone Rocha Python Brogues, $1,120 / Givenchy Small Antigona Tote, $1,731 / Rag & Bone Felted Wool Fedora, $261

Brights

Prabal Gurung

Bottega Veneta

Agnona

I’m not one for indulging in purchasing bright pieces for my wardrobe. However, I do think it’s essential to have a few pieces or looks that are out of your comfort zone. Pieces like these are perfect for a “girls night out” or even for fashion week. I wanted to keep this look bold and colorful, while staying practical to my style. I didn’t want to be too matchy matchy so I went with a really cool bold purple jumper from Alberta Ferretti. To break up the massive colored coat I paired it with a pair of fuchsia silk trousers from Ostwald Helgason. To keep the look practical, I finished the look with a black West Coast jumper and black Phillip Lim Alexa ankle boots.

West Coast Jumper, $355 / Alberta Ferretti Full-Length Jacket, $1,100 / Ostwald Helgason Cropped Trousers, $460 / 3.1 Phillip Lim Alexa Ankle Boot, $675

Hopefully these looks have inspired you to expand your wardrobe and to get out of your comfort zone. What are you fall must haves? Comment below!

Mini Haul: Zara and H&M

First and foremost sorry for the lack of posts. I’ve been extremely busy with my internship and adjusting from graduation. I thought to kick off the summer season with something new. I decided to share a mini haul with you guys. Please let me know if you like this type of post and I will share more beauty and fashion hauls.

To start off, I only picked up three things. Since I graduated college I’ve been purchasing pieces that will last a while and will be of use to me. Zara is having an amazing sale and I’m not sure when it ends. So make sure to head to the closest store or shop online. Anyway, I picked up a pair of sweatpants. I’ve wanted to add more “stylish and chic” sweatpants to my wardrobe and I thought these were the perfect ones. The grey velour trousers are light grey and have black detail make these trousers super easy to wear. Originally these sweatpants were $35 and I got them on sale for $19.99!

Sweatpants from Zara

I then head to H&M, they were also having a little sale… Not as great as Zara’s obviously. I picked up two things from H&M and I can say that I am pretty pleased with them. Unfortunately I cannot find pictures of the items I brought online. I’m assuming they’re pretty old. Anyway, the first piece that caught my eye was a cotton romper that had a delicate lace detail around the v-neck. I thought it was so cute and had to try it on right away. The shape of the romper isn’t clingy, it has just the right amount of give and looks very flattering. I purchased that piece for $17.95. The next piece I purchased were the perfect pair of loose fitting trousers. Even though they’re dry clean only, they are beautiful and should be apart of everyone’s wardrobe. I picked these gems up for $24.99, which is a bargain in my eyes.

That’s all for my mini haul. I hope you find some inspiration and like this type of post. Again, if you do like and if you have any suggestions of other posts you’d like to see leave a comment below!

xx

 

Trendy Tuesday: Flatforms and Birkenstocks

Summer is right around the corner and I can’t help but search for the perfect flatform and Birkenstock sandal. As we all know, flatforms and Birkenstock styled sandals will be the biggest trend of this summer.

As of now, many stores are carrying different versions of each of these styles. I know that Birkenstock is actually sold out of their infamously ugly sandals. However, it won’t be hard to find a knock off pair that’s just as stylishly ugly/chic. One site that is catering to everyone’s summer trend needs is Steve Madden. They have tons of affordable and chic options if you’re looking for flatforms or Birkenstock styled sandals. Here are four sandals that are definitely on my summer trend list.

Steve Madden: Flatform/Birkenstock Obsession by fashionroyaltyblog featuring wedge shoes

Steve Madden flat shoes / Steve Madden wedge shoes / Steve Madden wedge sandals / Steve Madden wedge shoes

1. The Scotttie, $99.95,  flatform is definitely one of my favorites. I’m obsessed that this shoe is all black and platform. I’m also obsessed with the leather straps on the shoe. The leather gives the shoe a premium feel for an affordable price. It will be easy to dress up or down these edgy flatforms. These beauts aren’t out yet, so you will have to visit the site to pre-order them.

2. The Boundreee, $89.95, are a chic twist on your classic Birkenstock. I loved these sandals because they were that trendy Birkenstock look with a twist. I loved the pony leopard print. It really gives these sandals a cool factor that can really amp up a look. I know Birkenstock actually teamed up with a brand to create a pair of Birkenstocks that look like these, except they’re so expensive. These sandals are perfect for this trend. Especially if you fall out of love with this trend in two years, you won’t regret spending a ton of money on these. (They also have these in black pony as well!)

3. The Marked, $89.95, are flatforms as well but not as extreme as the Scotttie’s. These come in black and tan, and are both absolutely purchase worthy. I love these because these would be perfect for everyday wear. They’re not to high or over the top. They’re the perfect style if you want to embrace this style but are still a little skeptical.

4. The Surfside, $99.95, are also one of my favorites. This look is a little more basic for everyday wear. However, like the Soctttie’s they have that super high platform. I love these because of the simple minimal look they have. They’re very simple however they have that cool trendy factor to them. They also come in white as well (but of course I like the black ones better).

I hope these four sandals have inspired you to embrace the flatform and Birkenstock trend this summer. These looks are perfect because they’re affordable! These looks are amazing because they look great and they won’t put a dent in your summer wardrobe fund.

Spring Fashion Don’t: Ditching Black

Looking out of my window at school, I stared at all of the snow on the ground. This past week, I’ve been pretty excited because I thought it was finally starting to warm up. However, I was sadly mistaken. It’s cold, gloomy and snowy here at Bonaventure, which doesn’t make me the least bit happy. Anyway, I’m excited for when that warm weather comes, so I created this lovely look for a spring day. Even though spring is vibrant and full of color, you can still rock black in a fresh and exciting way. One easy way to do that is to add crisp white. Two trends that I’m in love with for the spring are crop tops and pieces with graphic designs on them.

I was inspired by my other blog (drunken-bliss.tumblr.com) and decided to create this super modern and minimalistic, yet feminine look. The foundation of this look is black and white. As many of you know, my wardrobe consists of mostly black and white pieces. So, this look is true to style and is something I could wear during the spring.

Victoria Beckham cotton turtleneck sweater / Carven black and white high waisted shorts, $450 / Leather shoes, $375 / Maison Michel wool felt hat, $470 / Chanel sunglasses, $505

I was in love with this Cavern black and white high-waisted shorts. I love the structure of the shorts along with the zigzag/houndstooth-esque pattern of the shorts. These would be perfect in the summer because they’re fun, fresh and clean. I have also been in love with the cropped turtleneck trend, and crop tops will be a huge trend for the spring. I haven’t embraced it yet, but it’s the perfect piece for a spring or summer evening. This cotton turtleneck sweater by Victoria Beckham was my pick for this piece. To finish off the look, I also went with a piece that’s in style now and is super trendy. The Birkenstock-styled sandal is in, and I am obsessed. These Limited Maya gladiator footbed shoes are to die for. I love the contrast between the white leather straps and the black leather sole. To complete the look, I paired a feminine cat eyed Chanel sunglasses and a gorgeous black Maison Michel wool felt hat.

This look is perfect for a nice day or an evening activity. I hope this look inspires you to embrace black and white in a fun, modern, and feminine way.

How to Stay Warm and Comfy During Spring

In the beginning of spring the weather could be a little tricky. I go to school in Western New York, kind of by Buffalo and I live year round in New York City. I can honestly say the weather in both areas can be very tricky to dress for. In WNY, the mornings are typically much cooler and the afternoons tend to be pretty warm. In NYC the weather is pretty consistent, however there can always be a breeze that can cool it down pretty quickly.

The key to staying comfortable in the spring during this tricky time is dressing in layers or pairing some warmer items with pieces that are definitely spring/summer appropriate. To stay warm I love to wear a nice comfy sweatshirt. It’s perfect because it can be worn over a t-shirt, which makes it easy to take it off if it gets warmer.

This look was inspired by my obsession with rose gold and the super bipolar spring weather to come. This relaxed look will keep you cool and warm when needed. When I saw these distressed Replay boyfriend jeans I knew I wanted them to be the main piece of the look. The effortless relaxed look of these jeans make is versatile for spring, summer, or fall. To go along with the rose gold trend I thought this loose sweater was perfect. It’s super cheap and the fabric makes it comfortable to wear when it’s chilly out.  The rose gold ASOS sandals also tied in the rose gold trend. Yet keeping the design simple adds to the casual element of this look. To complete the look I accessorized with a black Alexander Wang croc bag, black Acne Studio sunglasses, black and gold Alexander Wang Beats headphones, and a cool rose gold Kate Spade iPad case.

Rose Gold. by fashionroyaltyblog featuring black glasses

Loose sweater / Replay destroyed jeans, $260 / ASOS sandals, $37 / Alexander Wang black croc handbag / Acne Studios black glasses / Kate spade ipad case / Alexander Wang Headphones | Beats Studio from Beats by Dre

I’m absolutely obsessed with this look and I think it’s the perfect way to embrace the warm weather as soon as it comes. Remember it’s okay to layer pieces to stay warm, you can always take it off when it warms up during the day. What is your staple piece for this spring? Leave those comments below!

Inspiration: Layering Lace

Layering Lace by fashionroyaltyblog featuring sterling silver jewelry

Étoile Isabel Marant embroidered top / Alice + Olivia white shorts / Toga black ankle boots / Lara Bohinc sterling silver jewelry, $285 / Lara Bohinc sterling silver ring, $415 / Catarzi floppy hat / MAC Cosmetics lipstick

Halloween Tricks and Treats!

Happy Halloween Dolls!

Halloween is the day everyone gets to dress up and be their alter ego. Some people like to go all out and wear scary or sexy costumes, while others like to keep it simple and opt for a simple outfit. For the festivities for tonight and this weekend I will be sharing some tricks and treats to keep your Halloween effective and easy for people who want to dress up and others who want to keep it simple!

To start off lets talk about some treats. As said before some people decide to get dressed up in costumes and go all out. While others might want to keep it a little more simple. To embrace the Halloween spirit there are a couple of ways to feel festive without all of the heavy makeup and skimpy costumes. I decided to put two looks together to cater to two different events while staying holiday appropriate while staying simple.

Bloody Chic

The first look, “Bloody Chic“, is the perfect outfit for a dinner and then a night on the town. Since you don’t want to get all dressed up, this is a great time to try out a look you normally wouldn’t. This is definitely an outfit I love, however it’s out of my comfort zone. I decided to make the statement piece this feather jacket. On this spooky night this jacket will be super warm, while also giving character to this outfit. The jacket is perfect because it’s something out of the ordinary for this fun holiday. I decided to pair this look with a black leather skirt and platform ankle boots. To amp this Halloween look up, I accessorized with a cat detailed hat, red and black gems, and red lips. All of these accessories completes this bloody and chic look. Here’s where you can get all of the items in this look:

• Jacket: Coast Frankie Feather Jacket from coast-stores.com
• Skirt: Balmain Straight Skirt in Black Leather
• Shoes: Stella McCartney Faux Leather Ankle Boots from Net-A-Porter
• Brooch: Crystal Black Spider Brooch from Etsy
  
• Earrings: David Yurman Albion Earrings
• Hat: Cat Bowler Hat from Accessorize 
• Lipstick: Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick from Sephora 
• Perfume: Hypnotic Poison Dior 

Crisp Bunny

The second look, “Crisp Bunny“, is the perfect outfit if you’re looking for something that’s simple and class/work appropriate without being over the top. I have been in love with lace bunny ears ever since Rihanna sported them with Chanel. I thought it was the perfect piece to base this simple Halloween look. To go with the bunny theme, I decided to start this outfit off with a cozy fuzzy sweater, some lightly distressed boyfriend jeans, and some black leather ankle boots. To give this look some Halloween accents I accessorized with orange nail polish and lipstick, as well as some black gems. Even though this look is super simple, the lace bunny ears and orange and black accessories ties in this holiday in an effortless way. Below I will list where you can snag these items:

• Sweater: Fendi Angora Wool Blend Pullover from stylebop.com
• Jeans: Elliott The Boyfriend Shredded from shopmrsh.com
• Shoes: Givenchy Shark Lock Leather Ankle Boot from shopsavannahs.com
• Necklace: Theo Fennell Black Cat Pendant from Harrods
• Earrings: Monique Pean Diamond and Black Agate Studs from Barneys 
• Ring: David Yurman Color Cocktail Ring
• Lip gloss: Bobbi Brown ‘Neon & Nudes’  Lip gloss from Nordstrom
• Nail polish: Butter London Summer Collection from Zappos
• Headband: Lace Bunny Ears

After putting on your costume or your everyday look, it’s important to complete it with the perfect makeup. To cap off this post I will share 5 tricks to make sure your makeup lasts all night, whether you’re wearing a full face or an everyday look.

1. If you’re sporting a bight or dark lipstick it’s hard to make sure it won’t smudge all over your face during the night. To make sure your color choice stays on your lips, prep your lips with some concealer. Then outline your lips with a lipliner. This will make sure your lipstick won’t bleed off of your lips.
2. If you’re wearing heavy makeup you want to keep your foundation matte the whole night. It will suck when you take pictures and it flash shows how oily your t zone is. To prevent that from happening, after your apply your foundation use a fluffy brush to apply some translucent loose power. This will keep your t zone matte and oily free.
3. When applying heavy face makeup you want to keep your eyebrows from showing through. To make sure your eyebrows stay in place or hidden, simply use Elmer’s glue stick. This slicks down those eyebrow hairs and keep them in place. It also makes it easier to cover those eyebrows when applying heavy foundation or face paint. Bonus: Using Elmer’s glue also helps create wrinkles.
4. For this year, if you’re planning to be a zombie, vampire, or anything that includes wounds or open cuts there’s an easy way to make those appear real. First draw your cut or bite marks with black pencil eyeliner. Then go over the marks with a deep red eyeshadow, make sure you smudge out the marks to make it appear as a fresh cut. This deep color will give the look of a fresh cut, now just add blood!
5. To add extra drama to any look, casual or extreme there are a variety of lashes you can choose from! You can stay safe with a pair of demi wispys or you can visit Sephora or MAC and look at their over the top options.

I hope you have enjoyed these Halloween tricks and treats. To all of my readers, be creative, be safe, have fun, and have a happy Halloween!

Best, Jair xx