Finding the perfect outfit

Hey, everyone! In case you haven't read my latest blog post, I queued this particular post while I was overseas, but for some reason it never got published. I wanted to post it now, so you can all read it :). I know I've been taking a few posts from my second tumblr lately, but this post surprisingly got a lot of notes. Other than that, read on :)

So you’ve got something coming up, but have no idea what to wear? Join the club. Hopefully, after you read this you’ll have all your future worries sorted!

1. Decode the invitation. Take note on any dress codes mentioned, as well as how formal the invitations look. If the invitation is on Facebook or there is no invitation at all, find out who else is coming and try to ask them for their opinion.

Black tie = a long or floor-length dress

2. Pick your outfit. It doesn’t matter how long this part takes, as long as it gets done. There’s nothing worse than throwing clothes all over your room in an attempt to find something to wear at the last minute! Just make sure your outfit matches the theme/dress code.

3. Accessorize! I know you’ve probably heard it a hundred times, but it’s true: accessories really do make an outfit. They can be used to dress up or down, so make sure you pay close attention to this step. (Remember, if in doubt, dress up)

4. The finishing touches. For just a casual party, make sure your hair and make-up isn’t too high maintenance. Limit your touch-ups to 2 max, because you’re there to have fun, not to be constantly worrying about smudging your eyeliner!

 xx

Taken from: My second tumblr

"The Basics"

Okay, so I know what you're thinking: uh, Katrina, why haven't you posted in like, 3 weeks? I know, I know, I can explain! I've actually been overseas, and I queued 2 posts (including this one) to publish while I was away. The problem was, I only realised blogger didn't post them until I got back and one of my friends asked why I hadn't posted anything over the holidays (shoutout to Yemi!). So I'm sorry if I've been seeming inactive lately, but I'll definitely try and get back on top of things. For now, enjoy this post :) xx

Have you recently bought something incredibly cute, but have nothing to wear it with? Already owning all the basic clothing items can save you heaps of time and money when it comes to wearing a new piece with your current wardrobe. Want to know what all the basics are? Read on.

- White and black t-shirts (help with making statement shorts stand out - ones with pockets are extra cute!)

- White and black singlets (great for sheer tops and wearing under normal shirts when it’s cold)

- Trench/winter coat (make sure you try to get one that’s waterproof! And it's a good idea to splurge on a trench coat, as you're likely to keep it for a few years.)

Perhaps you could channel your inner 'A'?

- Denim blue and black jeans (you don’t have to get skinny jeans - choose any sort of cut you want! Thick denim is especially helpful for those chilly days)

- Jeggings (they're so much more comfortable than jeans - great for flights and road trips)

- Nude coloured underwear (never wear white underwear under white clothes - it will show through!)

- Boots (if they aren’t your thing, you could always get booties. It’s best to get leather ones and spray them with waterproof spray.)

If in doubt, dress up...

- Everyday sweatshirt/jumper (get a dark coloured one, so it won’t easily stain and look dirty)

- Casual dress (something that could be worn to the pool or out to lunch)

- Formal dress and shoes (so you don’t have to panic whenever you get invited to a formal dinner)

- Black blazer (for job interviews or any time you need to look formal)



- Everyday earrings (small-ish in size, and at least made of sterling silver so they last longer)


- Swimmers/bathing suit (this is obvious, but I’m saying it anyway)


I’m pretty sure I've covered everything. Since I'm currently overseas and away from my beloved laptop, I'll mainly be using popular posts from my second tumblr until I get back xx

Taken from: My second tumblr

When to replace...

Sure, there are a lot of things that need replacing - but this week, I'm going to be focusing on makeup and skin care products. I used to be completely clueless when it came to replacing pthese kinds of things, and often  freaked out when I realised the problems of keeping certain  products for  longer than I should be. So I've saved you the trouble of non-stop googling for 2 house and have compiled  everything into a list. :) Read on.


Makeup

Mascara (3 months) My sister and I used to think the "3 month mascara rule" was just a strategy that drugstore makeup brands used to sell more mascara, in less time. It turns out we were completely wrong! Since eyelashes are covered in a safe amount of bacteria (this is normal and completely fine), this bacteria is transferred to your mascara brush whenever you use it. After about 3 months of this multiplying bacteria sitting in your mascara, you can take a guess at just what you're applying to your eyelashes. It's just best to play it safe and buy a new mascara every 3 months.

Foundation (About a year) Since foundation isn't exactly a breeding ground for bacteria (you' squeeze the product out, rather than using it like a mascara/lipgloss tube), it can last for a while longer than some other products. This can also depend on how often you actually wear foundation - that is, if you use a small amount when you first purchase it, then don't use any for a few months - you should be fine (I really hope this is easy to understand).

Concealer (About 6 months) This is the same deal as mascara, only your skin is less likely to be holding the same amount of bacteria as your eyelashes.

Lip balm (9-12 months) It's usually easier to use one (and only one!) lip balm at a time. Once you begin to use it, the whole bacteria-spreading thing starts to happen. Just stick to one lip balm and you'll probably find that you'll finish the tube by the time you're due to throw it out.

Brushes (whenever) Depending on the initial quality of your makeup brushes, you won't need to replace them until you really need to (the bristles start falling out or become stiff, etc.). Instead, focus on taking care of your brushes by washing them 1-3 times a month.

Eyeliner (3 months) This is basically the same deal as mascara. This 3-month rule applies for any kind of eyeliner, whether it be pencil, liquid, gel or felt tip - if you've had it for longer than 3 months, get rid of it!

Hair

Brushes (depends) Once your hair brushes begin to dramatically lose their quality (you'll know when this happens), it's time to replace them. To avoid racking up some serious bills, invest in good quality brushes to begin with.



Anything else (whenever) When it comes to just about any other beauty product - toner, shampoo, etc... Replace it when you finish it. Also, please don't begin to use new products while your old ones are still half full - it's how girls archived the "goo hoarder" stereotype ;).

xx

Next Week: Making a decision (the right way)

The Perfect Subtle Make-up Tutorial

School, work, a fancy lunch - sometimes it's just more appropriate for your makeup to be a little subtle. This can get a little tricky, especially if you've stuck to the same makeup routine for ages and can't imagine ever having to alter it. Remember, subtle makeup doesn't necessarily mean you have to ditch it all - keep your same products, but look for colour alternatives where you can. Too confusing? I've described everything in detail below...

Base
Before you open those foundation bottles, it's a really good idea to apply BB or CC Cream first. This will even out your coverage so you won't need as much proper, heavy-duty makeup afterwards.

Concealer, baby! Use a concealer that is an exact match to your skin, if you're lucky enough to find one. If you've had a really hard time sleeping, use a concealer/eye brightener one shade lighter than your skin tone to the area under your eyes only. Apply your normal concealer to under-eye circles and any blemishes you may have.

At this point, you can either apply a lightweight foundation all over your face or a heavy-duty one only on the areas you really need it (which shouldn't be much after you're used concealer). When you set your foundation, opt for a translucent-coloured powder rather than one that is yellow-based. This will keep it looking super natural!

Eyes
The best part about mascara is that you can pile it on and it almost never looks OTT. The only things you need to watch out for are clumps and lashes that are way too long (easily avoided).

You can definitely apply eyeliner and stay subtle! Just keep the line relatively thin and stay away from winged lines.

Barbara Palvin

When it comes to eyeshadow, think about the colours of the normal products you'd use before you pile it all on. Use a light brown as your "base" colour, then use a darker colour for your outer crease. Finish it off with using a very light colour on the inner corners of your eye, as well as a brow highlighter. Remember, this is all optional.

Lips
Sadly, you should keep your lips looking natural. This doesn't mean you have to keep your lips bare - just try to use lipsticks that are brownish-pink, or ones that are quite close to your natural lip colour. I always stick to my Maybelline Baby Lips, because it's moisturising and easy to keep in your bag.

Extras
If it's winter and you haven't quite kept your tan from summer, you can definitely get away with bronzer! Draw a "3" on both sides of your face from your forehead, through your cheekbones and down to your jawline.

When it comes to looking subtle, I would try to stay away from blush. Most people naturally have slightly pink cheeks anyway, so no one will know the difference!


Wow, that was actually a lot of writing! Remember to let me know if this helped you at all, because I don't normally post about tutorials. Till next time xx

Next Week: First World Problems

Making a Statement. You know you want to.

Party? School? Whatever the occasion, sometimes (or all the time) you feel like you just need to make a statement. But do you know how to? Read on.

Make-up: And the golden rule is… only focus on one area at a time. This means a bold lip during the day, then taking your lipstick off and having a smoky eye at night (whatever works for you!).

Clothes: Try to have plain colours around your statement piece. For example, you may have an Aztec print shirt and choose to pair it with a black skirt. For belts, try to wear the opposite colour to the colour of the belt (for a black belt, wear light clothes, and for lighter or neon belts, wear darker colours). For shoes, you can wear (almost) whatever you want with them, keeping in mind that printed jeans won’t draw attention to your shoes.
                             

Jewelry: It’s all about the bling! If your jewelry sparkles or is metallic (silver/gold/charcoal), make sure if it matches your outfit (only for necklaces and earrings). You can go crazy with your bracelets etc. For colourful jewelry, make sure you wear something white to really bring out the colours!

When it comes to jewelry, you can be as subtle or obvious as you're comfortable with

Hair: Do something you wouldn’t normally do. If you check my archive for this blog, you’ll be able to find something new to try that you haven’t even taken a second thought about!

Nina Dobrev

Nails: White clothes look so pretty with coral coloured nails! Black looks amazing with glittery colours, especially silver. For other colours, just look on a colour wheel and go either similar colours or the complete opposite of the wheel!


If you keep these tips in mind, it’ll be all eyes on you next time you’re out and about. If you need just one more tip from me, it is to be confident! You’re beautiful no matter what, just remember that. Till next time xx
Taken from: My Second Tumblr

Next Week: The Perfect Subtle Make-up Tutorial

The Balancing Act

This week, I thought I'd publish my first fashion post and share an old (and very helpful!) tip of mine with all of you. Here it is...When putting an outfit together, try to achieve a balance between tight and loose fitting clothes. This means that when it comes to clothing only, if one half of your outfit is a loose fit/baggy, the other half should be a tighter fit (it fits comfortably without being skin-tight).

Still confused? Here are some examples of where you would use this rule...

Floaty skirt or pants? Balance this by teaming it with a relatively tight tank top or shirt. If you'd like to wear it with a shirt that is slightly baggy, using a thick belt to cinch in your waist will cause your shirt to look a little tighter.

This shirt with a 1/3 sleeve is perfect for this floaty skirt! Team it with a pair of embellished sandals and you've got yourself one cute summer outfit. 

Skinny jeans or pencil skirt? Team it with a slightly oversized or baggy shirt to keep your outfit balanced. If you'd like to team it with a shirt that fits a little better, don't hesitate to add a blazer or jacket into your outfit. This will create the illusion that you're not wearing an all-tight outfit. Alternatively, you could use accessories to balance your outfit (think chunky jewelry and a ruffled/oversized bag).

Adding a blazer or jacket over a tight shirt can cause your outfit to look a little more balanced. 

This rule doesn't have to apply every day, but it's just something to keep in mind if you're ever stuck for ideas on what to wear with a new clothing item. Till next time xx

Next Week: July Favourites