Archive for May, 2012

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[Outfit Post] with Lace Bandeau, High Waist Black Skirt, Long Cardigan, and Christian Louboutin Nude Heels…A Stylishly Hip Look

Posted in FASHION, LACE, MELI'S FAB FINDS, OUTFIT POST, SHOES with tags , , , , , , on May 30, 2012 by stylebymeli

I have actually worn this outfit a few times and finally just posting this now.  

About This Outfit:

[The Outfit]:  I am wearing a black bandeau with pink lace detailing from Victoria’s Secret.  I purchased this a couple years ago at a semi-annual sale and the moment I saw it, I just knew I would be able to find creative ways to style this out in public (I suppose it was totally not intended this way, lol but I found a way to make it work ;)).  Bandeaus are great layering pieces and the lace detail adds a pop of color, which I’m all about!  Although bright colors are on trend this season, if you haven’t noticed, I’m already obsessed with bright colors!

The black stretch high waisted skirt is from Bebe.  I purchased this during the holidays.  Although I have only worn it a few times, I find this to be such a wardrobe staple.  I’ll find a ton more ways to style it, believe me!

The long white open cardigan is from Express.  I love this layering piece, it really completes a lot of outfits while keeping the skin exposure to a minimum.

The nude lace up shoes are by Christian Louboutin.  Yes, these are the love of my life, so I try to wear them sparingly, but being that they are nude, they truly go with just about anything.

[Where to wear this outfit]:  I have worn this outfit a couple times already.  Once while out with a friend and also on Mother’s Day.  I like it that much!

[Stylish Notes]:

-  This outfit not only happens to capture current trends (with pop of hot pink and exposed midriff), but also is a true reflection of my stylish soul.   I love that there is a high contrast between the colors and the layering is simple, yet so visually intriguing.

-  I am completely in favor of the exposed midriff this season.  The key to styling this trend tastefully is to make sure you’re still covered up and not completely exposed.  That’s why the long white cardigan is a necessity!

- I actually styled this outfit a year ago, except with a pair of high waisted black shorts.  Both variations of the outfit are stylishly effective and there is no doubt that I will be wearing this outfit throughout the season.

[Fashion for Thought]:  A fabulous outfit does not always necessarily need to be trendy, but it should always be a true representation of who you are.  

I always dress for aesthetics and physical comfort comes secondary.  By that I mean that I do not feel “comfortable” unless I’m aesthetically comfortable with the visual outcome.  When looking at an outfit, if something bothers me visually, I reach a state of discomfort.  Whereas, wearing a pair of 4″ heels does not phase me whatsoever.  It may not be the most physically comfortable thing in the world, but visually, I’m content and that’s what matters most from my styling standpoint.

[Thanks for viewing!  Thoughts?]

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[Makeup Trend Focus] – Soft Shimmery Brown Shadows with Monochromatic Pink Lips and Cheeks

Posted in BLUSH, EYE MAKEUP, FACE, FALSE EYE LASHES, LIPGLOSSES, LIPS, LIPS - LIPSTICKS, MAC MAKE-UP, MAKE-UP, MAKEUP TREND FOCUS with tags , , , on May 29, 2012 by stylebymeli

As a makeup artist, I love being experimental with my makeup although I would say that my makeup style is fairly consistent.  Lately, I have been going for a more soft, feminine, and romantic type of look.  By that, I mean softly blended eyes with soft pinky lips/cheeks.

-  With eye makeup, you can still create a soft, daytime look with high contrast.  The key is your color selection and eye shadow placement.  With this look, I choose a nude matte shadow that pretty much blends with my skintone.  I added a soft shimmery beige taupe into the entire crease and then popped it with a dark brown shadow for extra definition and contrast.  I also cannot forget to mention there is a soft shimmery brow highlight, which also adds subtle contrast.

[Beauty Confession] - When it comes to eye shadow, I am experimental with my color selection, but my placement is always consistent.  I know what works best and never deviate from the placement because this is so incredibly crucial!  Personally, I believe it’s more crucial that the color selection itself!  (Although of course they both are key components of the outcome of the eye makeup).

-  In terms of the cheek color, I have really been loving pinks, especially brighter variations.  In all honesty, I’m most loyal to coral blushes, but as I said, I like to play with new things and experiment! ;)

-  I totally didn’t plan for the lips to match the cheeks, but they are pretty similar in color which created a monochromatic color scheme.  It kind of just ended up that way and I do like the outcome despite the lack of contrast!

[What does your daytime look consist of?]

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[Fashion Project] – How to Turn a Pair of Jeans Into Stylish Shorts with a Lace Trim

Posted in DENIM, FASHION, FASHION PROJECT, LACE, SHORTS with tags , on May 23, 2012 by stylebymeli

Here is a look at the original pair of Citizens of Humanity jeans before I re-vamped them into a hot pair of shorts with a white lace trim.

One side is complete while the other still needs to be hemmed and laced.

This is the first time I have ever attempted to transform a pair of jeans into a pair of shorts and thought I’d share the creative process with everyone.  I had a pair of Citizen of Humanity jeans that were not only too long in length, but also in a flare style (which I’m so over as I’ve strictly been wearing skinny jeans these days).  

I decided that I wanted to transform them into a pair of shorts with a lace trim for added style.  It took me less than an hour to complete the shorts and I have to say, I’m extremely thrilled with the outcome!  I cannot wait to feature these in an upcoming [Outfit Post].

* First, I took an existing pair of shorts to compare the length so I knew how much to cut off each leg.  I added an extra inch to be safe as I know I wanted to give extra room for the hem.

* Next, I went out to find a lace trim.  I went with white, although I was totally open to black or even a fun color.  I was only able to find white and felt this complimented the color of the denim wash best anyhow.

* I was initially going to hand sew everything, but for convenience, I decided to use a glue gun.  I totally felt like I was having a Project Runway moment (LOL).  They’re not supposed to use glue guns,but hey…sometimes it truly makes life much easier while also getting the job done!  

* I glued the frayed edges to create a clean, smooth hemline.  Then I went ahead and glued the lace trim all the way around each side leg, OVER the hemline.

Front side of shorts.

Back side of the shorts. Besides the lace trim that I added, I happen to like the pink and orange stitching design on the back pockets.  I cannot wait to wear these!

[Your thoughts?]

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[Outfit Post] with Black Bodysuit, Aqua Lace Shorts, and Hot Pink Accents…A Posh Spring Look

Posted in BELTS, FASHION, JEWELRY, OUTFIT POST, SHOES, SHOPPING with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on May 21, 2012 by stylebymeli

Thankfully, the weather was amazing this weekend, so I was able to pull off this nice spring outfit with a new pair of shorts I picked up a week prior.

About This Outfit:

[The Outfit]:  I am wearing a black Bebe bodysuit.  It’s really hard to appreciate the styling details of the bodysuit, but it actually has a beautiful tribal-esque design embroidered on the front.

The aqua lace shorts are from Forever 21, purchased a couple weeks ago.  I really don’t need another pair of lace shorts being that I just purchased a nude pair and also own a black pair, but the color was simply too gorgeous to pass up.  Plus, I am always looking for brighter pieces to mix with my excessively black wardrobe.

The nude cuffed peep toe shoes are Miss Sixty.  I wear nude shoes a lot during the spring/summer months as you have probably picked up from my most recent [Outfit Posts].

The black belt with the lace up center and gold accents is by Guess.  I own a ton of black belts, but this happens to be one of my personal favorites.  It’s so incredibly versatile and really pulls the final look together in an instant.

[Where to wear this outfit]:  I actually wore this to a Greek festival that I was invited to.  It was in the evening, so i actually had a white jacket that I wore over this since it got much cooler in the evening.

[Stylish Notes]:

-  What I love most about these shorts are that I can wear style them high waisted or as regular shorts.   High waist bottoms are inevitable this season and personally, I can’t get enough of the trend!

-  Aqua happens to be one of my favorite colors, especially within fashion.  What can I say, I love my bright colors!  It’s refreshing and fun while adding the right amount of contrast to any look.

Styling Tip:  A belt at the waist is one of the easiest ways to complete a look while emphasizing a small waistline with a slimming effect.  (Hey, I’m a big believer of the saying, “If you’ve got it, flaunt it.”  In other words, always know your styling assets and work with it!  Trust me, everyone has them!)

I also want to point out that I incorporated other pops of color on both my lips and nails. I’m thriving on hot pink in all forms, from beauty to fashion.

[Thanks for viewing!  Thoughts?]

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[Makeup Trend Focus] – Soft Smokey Eyes with Bright Cheeks and Nude Lip

Posted in BLUSH, EYE MAKEUP, EYELINER, FALSE EYE LASHES, LIPGLOSSES, LIPS, LIPS - LIPSTICKS, MAC MAKE-UP, MAKE-UP, MAKEUP TREND FOCUS, SKIN HIGHLIGHTING, SMOKEY EYE on May 20, 2012 by stylebymeli

I wanted to share a soft smokey look I created with shimmery greys and a touch of lavender.  I added some brightness to the cheeks and finished the look off with a nude lip color.        

How to wear this trend:

-  By default, I almost always wear heavy black eye liner and false eyelashes (even with a soft daytime look), but with a smokey eye, it’s also essential to go heavy with the eyeliner and add drama to the lashes (which can also be done with a good mascara if you’re not into false eyelashes).  With the choice of eye shadows, I like to build a smokey eye with a dark color on the lid mixed with a lighter inner crease and dark (black typically) outer crease.  It creates a nice hybrid when you have two contrasting crease colors (light and dark) that meet in the middle.  I also like a strong, bright highlighter under the brows to contrast the overall smokey effect.

[Beauty Confession] - I am truly not a fan of a nude lip (on myself) the majority of the time, but I do like to step out of my beauty comfort zone and wear a light lip every so often.  Ironically, I own a lot of nude lipsticks but rarely wear them because I don’t feel like I can carry it off so effortlessly being that my skin is so fair.  It requires lip liner for definition (or else it just blends in with my face) and lots of gloss for add dimension and shine.

-  In terms of the cheek color, I always make sure the cheek is bright to add balance to the nude lip.  Personally, I won’t wear a light lip unless there is emphasis on both the eyes and the cheeks at the same time!

I’m using MAC’s “Nude” cream color base on the lips as my lip color and also on the tops of my cheekbones as a cheek highlighter. It’s great to find a product that serves multi-purposes and it’s very rare that I find myself doing that. MAC’s “Nude” CCB is one of my favorite light lip colors!  It’s creamy and also long-wearing.

[Does anyone have some favorite products they like to share for creating a smokey eye and/or nude lip?]

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