Winter Wonderland Wardrobe Essentials

Hello, my beautiful readers,
I'm so sorry for being missing from this blog. I've been so busy, but I haven't forgotten about you. Happy winter! If you're anything like me, you probably aren't a fan of cold weather. I hate the idea of walking outside when it's under sixty degrees. But I am slowly learning to appreciate winter a bit more. Winter is the time to bust out al the cute and cozy clothes, and I've got my list of must-haves.

1.) A good winter jacket:
It goes without saying, you might freeze to death without this. I personally prefer down jackets. They can be very expensive and bulky, but I live in Chicago which has the much deserved nickname of Chi-beria. Windchill is deadly without a down jacket.

2.) Fleece lined tights or leggings:
I love wearing dresses and skirts. The thing is, cold weather makes it so incredibly tempting to only wear pants. But fleece leggings/tights save my legs, and ensure I look both cute but stay toasty. Don't let the cold give you an excuse to avoid cute skirts and dresses.

3.) Thick, crocheted/knitted headbands:
These not only save your ears and face, but they save your cute hair if you're wearing your hair up. They come in so many adorable colors and designs. Pick up several and then you can have a little coordinating accessory with your outfit. Warm ears=happy you.

4.) Fuzzy boots and Snow boots:
Boots like Uggs, are the best feet protection against chilly weather. I don't think I could honestly survive without Uggs. (*Tip: always wear Uggs without socks. That's how they were designed to be work and plus they keep your feet warmer since they trap your body heat) Along with Uggs, it is also crucial to have a pair of snow boots that CAN get wet. If you get your Uggs wet, they will shrink and be ruined. Not fun at all. So make sure you have a reliable pair of snow boots when you have to trek through a mountain of snow.

5.) Infinity Scarves (and a lot of them!):
Don't leave without protecting your neck. Infinity scarves are super helpful in the winter, because they can be used to cover the lower part of your face when the wind is absolutely cruel. Living in the "Windy City" has definitely made me extremely grateful for them. Pick up a few colorful scarves to accent your outfits and give a pop of color.

6.) Bright and colorful sweater:
Obviously, sweaters are essential, but don't neglect colors and textures. It's easy to only wear neutral colors all the time, but a little extra spark of color really brightens up the mood from being so drab. Yellows, Hot pinks, Orange and so on, are NOT only for summer and spring. Bust out your favorite colors and show off your adorable spunky personality.

Have fun getting bundled up. Don't let frost force you into wearing frumpy clothes. It is completely possible and attainable to be both super warm and super stylish. Wearing cute clothes should be for your own fun as well as practical purposes of staying warm.

-Chloe

Keep Your Face Clean and Bright

Hey everyone! I hope your week is going well so far! I'm back with some more info and tidbits of wisdom for you all! Lately I've been writing a lot on fashion and clothing, but now I'm shifting a little bit to beauty and skincare. I've noticed that so many people was their face when they wake up, but then do not wash up at night. If you are like a lot of women, you probably wear make up and although makeup is tons of fun and is awesome, the setback is is that it can block your pores, which means your skin can't breathe. Your skin needs to berate because that causes it to break out less. Acne is essentially caused by blocked pores, so oil build up and the war begins with blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, zits, etc. Not fun!

I suggest always begin as gentle as possible with your skin (especially the skin on your face) yet you still want to make sure that you remove as much dirt, sweat, makeup and oil as possible. Use a gentle cleanser that is specially made to only be used on the face. Do not use bar soap because that is too irritating and drying. Use cleansers that are designed for your skin type. Use lukewarm water to get your face wet and use small circular motions with your fingertips to work the cleaner through. Then rinse off completely with lukewarm water. I also like to use a facial exfoliant about one or twice a week. It helps remove dead skin cells which also helps to open up my pores. Then pat, not rub your face with a towel and always make sure to use a face moisturizer. If you let your skin get too dry, that can also lead to breakouts.

Facial wipes are great for after the gym and when you need a quick fix, but do not rely only on those. I like to use facial wipes to remove my makeup, but then use lukewarm water and facial cleanser to make sure my face is completely free from sweat, dirt, oil, makeup, etc. When you go to bed with absolutely nothing but facial moisturizer on your face, you will notice your skin thanking you and you will be rewarded with brighter and clearer skin. So take the extra time to care for your skin and body. Clear, soft and bright skin is always one of the best fashion statements anyone could ever have.

Enjoy the day and treat yourself well!
Love and Peace Always!
-Chloe

Slow Down Your Mornings!

Hello everyone! I apologize for being MIA. I've been quite busy recently, but I'm ready to share some goodies with you. It seems like us as women, in particular, can never have enough time getting ready in the morning. It's jump out of bed, yea dingo the shower and then try on a million different outfits, not to forget about makeup and hair, then we realize, "Oh darn, I'm running late...AGAIN!" I know that for me, I have always felt somewhat rushed. The shoes don't coordinate with my outfit and I can't get my hair to cooperate and my mascara is clumping again. But then I realize, waking up earlier can have its hidden benefits. I'm not always the biggest morning person, but I've learned that it's much more important to make sure I feel great and put together. I like knowing that I look as good as I possibly can and not having the pressure of hurrying up.

Sometimes I lay out clothes for the next day. Even if I decide not to wear that particular outfit, at least I've got a base to work off of. I like to have an idea of what I'll be doing with my hair and my makeup. That way I'm all ready to go. Waking up earlier is definitely much harder to do than I expected, but it's a wonderful feeling of having the time to make myself feel pretty and polished instead of going to class with the "just rolled out of bed" look. I do not enjoy wearing sweats or pajamas to class, so why not make more time in the evenings to prepare my next day's look? It's not selfish to make time to do your makeup correctly and to make sure your hair lies just the way you prefer. Taking care of yourself should never be considered a crime and you should definitely not feel guilty about pampering yourself. So enjoy the way you look. It's okay to take time for yourself to make sure your morning are less stressful. Slow the mornings down a bit and then you'll have a little more peace while you try on the seventeenth new outfit from the closet.

Stay classy and sophisticated and have fun with fashion!
-Chloe

Accessories 101

Hello everyone!

Today I felt like I needed to address the topic of accessories. Fall is a wonderful time to bust out the cute, cozy beanies, scarves, and leg warmers. They can also add a great pop of color and I think that accessories can easily match or reflect your unique personality. I personally love scarves, beanies and leg warmers. They are not only pretty, but also practical as they give a little bit of warmth for the chilly days. Don't be afraid to try different types of accessories. You never know what you'll end up loving. Also, don't forget about fun statement jewelry. They can add a lot of dimension to your look. Bold  statement necklaces, for example, look stunning against solid color tops and dresses. So many times I feel like I'm in a rush to get dressed and out the door, but those little accessories just make any look feel polished and put together. What girl doesn't want that?

Have an incredible day! And enjoy it!

-Chloe

Breaking Season Stereotypes

The change of seasons is usually a fun time for me. I get to explore other parts of my closet and to get rid of old clothes that I don't love anymore and to get a completely fresh start on building a new wardrobe that fits me 100%. A lot of time we associate seasons with specific colors or color schemes and although this makes sense, don't be afraid of wearing your favorite colors. Yes, Fall typically means orange, brown, red, etc, but if you love green or blue, pink, and/or yellow, then you should enjoy wearing those colors. Fall doesn't have to mean being stuck with wearing strictly earth tones. The same principle applies to nail polish. If you love hot pink nail polish, do not tell yourself to stick with only "Fall colors". If you love that nail polish or clothing, wear it and enjoy it. Don't feel like people are judging you for breaking the "season rule". it's your wardrobe and you should wear what makes you feel completely comfortable. And if you're like me and you love earth tones and neutrals, I'm not saying you should force yourself to wear neon colors with rhinestones, glitter and all that pizazz. Just be careful of getting stuck in a rut of being obsessed about sticking to "old school rules". All in all, enjoy your clothes and wear whatever helps bring out your own individual personality. Your outfits should accentuate what is inside of you. Please forgive me for this cliche: beauty should always comes from the inside, then work its way out.

Have fun playing with your wardrobes and enjoying the change in weather!

-Chloe

Fall Fashion Preview

Overalls/short tails are back in style. I would probably add a sweater or
wear a long sleeve tee just in case it gets colder out.
Combat boots + short tails = perfect pairing

I love Fall. It's that transition from sundresses and flip flops to cozy sweater, leggings and boots. The weather gets cooler, but not to the point where you feel like you're going to freeze to death. And after some crazy hot and (in Chicago's case: HUMID) summers, a splash of coolness is always nice. So here are some of my favorite outfits for early Fall.

White crochet top with skater skirt and combat boots
The boots tone down the girly skirt and gives it more on an edgy look.

Ahh, the classic chambray top with crochet shorts. Then add boots.

Nothing like a red dress. I would also add a cardigan sweater to stay warm just in case the air gets a bit nippy.

Enjoy the weather and Starbuck's Pumpkin Spice Lattes!!!

-Chloe