Why Style Is Important

Amra B. 

In light of the interview I recently did for a UK style magazine, I wanted to discuss what style means to me. I think that many may shun the topic of “style” and “fashion” as purely “superficial,” but I insist that addressing this topic means addressing a deeper aspect of the human psyche. We admire many people for their style, but what is it that really intrigues us about these “simple forms of garments?”

Formula for Style: 

A friend told me once that there are no beautiful or ugly women; simply, there are those women who take care of themselves and those who do not.  I find this to be absolutely true; numerous times I have witnessed same people transform themselves from an “ugly duckling” to a “beautiful swan” (and vice versa) with some (relatively) simple style changes. How did they do it? What is “style” and how is it connected to beauty? 

If I had to simplify the formula for great style, I would say that stylish people: choose clothes that fit well (or have them professionally tailored/altered), groom their hair, and maintain their skin and teeth. They pick out clothes carefully and are incredibly skilled in hiding their flaws while emphasizing their qualities. 

For me, style has become an extension of my personality. I project my feelings through my clothes and I find that I do this many times subconsciously. If I feel beautiful, I find that I dress particularly well that day too. However, I also find that this works the other way around as well; I counter bad days by carefully picking out attire and taking extra time on makeup and hair. Small changes can have a huge impact on my mood, and looking great outside can extraordinarily impact the way I feel inside! 

Style is also about discipline; while most of my peers are sleeping, I get up an hour ahead to do my hair, makeup and pick out what I would like to wear for the day. I don’t wakeup looking the way I do, but I make sure that when I step out of the house I always put my best foot forward. I also find that nurturing myself from the inside out cuts a lot of time I spend on getting ready; if my skin is glowing because of a healthy workout and diet, I put on a lot less makeup. 

Over the years I have found that my environment can have a powerful impact on what I feel inside. The same is true of what I wear; if I take time to carefully pick out my attire and feel incredibly satisfied with my choice, my mood will elevate. At the same time, bad styling choices have left me uncomfortable, dissatisfied, and feeling rather unattractive. 

Styling Yourself Beautifully:

Great style may elevate our mood and improve our self-esteem, but it has also has the power to change our future. Studies have shown that people “perceived” as beautiful tend to be more successful; they land better jobs and earn greater salaries. Note that “perception” is the keyword, because you don’t have to be beautiful to be perceived as such. Beauty may be about proportions, but there are numerous celebrities that have the before and after photos to prove that masterful styling can almost entirely be responsible for “good looks.” 

If beauty is about how we feel inside, make sure that next time you walk out the door your inside matches your outside! 

Wishing you a great day! ☺ 

Outfit: Zara jumpsuit, Tods shoes, Marc by Marc Jacobs sunglasses, vintage bracelet 

Timeless Makeup For Every Woman

By Catherine Santino

Though trends seem to come and go every single day, there are a handful of beauty styles that stand the test of time. These looks were set in place by beauty icons throughout history, and will undoubtedly be seen for decades to come…

Top 4 Timeless Beauty Looks For Every Woman: 

1) Red Lipstick: 

Made famous by icons such as Marilyn Monroe, red lipstick is a look that will simply never go out of style. It is such a simple and easy way to enhance any makeup look. If you want to emanate classic Marilyn, pair it with subtle blush and fluttery eyelashes.

Marilyn Monroe with red signature lipstick

Sofia Loren with red lips and smokey eyeshadow

2) Full Eyebrows: 

This is a look that is making a very strong comeback as of late, and one that was perfected by the one and only, Audrey Hepburn. Full eyebrows really help to frame the face, creating a stunning look no matter what makeup you choose to accompany it. Audrey often left the rest of her makeup pretty simple, or paired it with a smokier eye. 

3) Hair flowers: 

This look was made famous by Billie Holiday wearing gardenias, and I think it is such a simple and beautiful way to add a bit of glamour to your look. It is something we are still seeing today, and I don’t think it necessarily has to be summertime to take advantage of this classic look.

4) Smoky Eye: There have been countless beauty icons to sport a smoky eye, but one of the most well-known and most glamorous is Elizabeth Taylor. Her dark eyeliner, sometimes paired with a blue or purple eyeshadow, is a dramatic and classic look that I don’t see going away any time soon.

Elizabeth Taylor with smokey eyeshadow

Sophia Loren with smokey eyeshadow (1960´s)

Sophia Loren (1960´s)

These classic styles passed down throughout generations will continue to be seen again and again because of their simplistic nature and gorgeous effect. They suit any skin type or face shape, and can be used in both casual and elegant makeup looks. Thanks to these icons, we can count on these looks being utilized for a very long time. Until next time fashionistas, stay beautiful, glamorous and true to yourself, xoxo. 

Top Fall Makeup Trends

By Catherine Santino

Fall is rapidly approaching, and that means changing-up your makeup. In the summer, it’s all about the bronzy, shimmery eyes, glowing skin, and trying to keep the sweltering heat from melting all of your makeup off. In the fall, however, we can afford to apply a little extra lipstick or eyeshadow without worrying about that. Three things I think we can expect to see a lot of this season are dark mauvy lipstick, rose colored blush, and bold-winged eyeliner. Here is the scoop…

Natural smokey eye makeup

Top 3 Fall Makeup Trends:

1. Dark Lipstick: 

Dark lipstick is perfect for the fall and winter seasons, and such a simple and quick way to add liven up your makeup. I expect to see a lot of dark maroons, purples, and mauves, especially during the holiday seasons. I would recommend Rimmel London’s Lasting Finish Lipstick in Bordeaux for a gorgeous deep maroon color. 

2. Rose Colored Blush: 

Summertime is all about the coral-toned blushes and glowy bronzers. But in fall, a dusty rose blush can compliment your makeup so beautifully. It adds a subtle and pretty warmth to your face that is perfect for the colder months. I would recommend Clinique Blush Powder in Sunset Glow.

3. Winged Eyeliner: 

We saw a lot of this in the summer, but now is the time to pair a dramatic eye with a dark lip. This combination is so great for the winter months. If you’re looking for a different way to go about your eyeliner, try using a matte black eyeshadow instead. Or add a little bit more smokiness to your winged liner by adding the black eyeshadow to your lower lash line. For winged liner, I swear by L’Oreal gel eyeliner. 

I’m sure we will be seeing so many new and unique looks this coming season, but these are a few that will continue to make an appearance time and time again. The key is to swap out your glowy, shimmery shades for jewel tones and matte shades. But don’t pack away your summer colors- there’s no rule that you can’t wear a coral blush or bright pink lip just because it’s cold out! Until next time, stay tuned for more of my beauty trend posts. 

9 Bad Sleep Habits to Break Right Now

By Sarah Baker

Sleep has not been coming easy to me lately. I have never had it easy when it comes to sleep, too much thinking at night I guess, but as of late, it has seemed downright impossible to get any shut eye. I toss and turn and when I finally fall to sleep, my alarm goes off. Determined to get some sleep and to stop feeling like a zombie, I hit the internet for some help. Here is what I found…

9 Tips to Get a Good Night’s Sleep: 

1. Don’t take long naps. 

Taking a long nap can cause you to not be able to fall asleep at night. Also, avoid that after-dinner crash. It can make it difficult later to fall asleep or cause you to wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to fall back asleep. Instead, if you must nap, take a 30 minute nap in the early afternoon

2. Don’t forget to exercise. 

Daily exercise is a great way to improve your sleep habits. It gets everything circulating and can also tire you out a bit. Just make sure that you aren’t doing it too close to bed time. It gets you pumped and endorphins running and can cause you to have difficulties falling asleep. Instead, exercise in the morning or early afternoon. 

3. Don’t take your sleep environment lightly. 

Look around where you sleep. How are the lights? The sound? The temperature? Set your room temperature to 60-67 degrees, try to black out curtains to get rid of the light, and turn on a sound machine or fan to block out unwanted sounds.

4. Don’t consume heavy meals, cigarettes, caffeine, liquids, and alcohol before bed. 

Heavy meals can make you feel sick or give you heartburn which can keep you up. Cigarettes and alcohol can sometimes help you fall asleep, but they offer bad sleep quality. Caffeine causes you to be amped up and wired, making it harder to fall asleep. Liquids cause you to have to pee in the middle of the night. Instead, make sure that nothing is consumed 3-4 hours before bed time. This will allow you stomach to be calmed, your bladder to be emptied, and your habits to not affect your quality of sleep. 

5. Don’t stress. 

There is a lot on our minds most of the day, but we need to try to set it aside at night. Don’t think about what we need to do the next day or week. Instead, get organized, set some priorities, delegate tasks, jot down what’s on your mind, and set it aside for the next day. Anything that will help you to forget about it so that you can get some sleep. 

6. Don’t pull an all-nighter. 

As tempting as it is to stay up all night on the weekends and then make up for it the next day, it is awful for your sleeping habits. In order to get a good night sleep, you need to keep a consistent wake and sleep schedule, as hard as it might be. 

7. Don’t check email/use devices in bed. 

With the generation of iPad and smart phones, we use them and take them everywhere, which is fine, just leave them out of the bed. The light that illuminates from them can disrupt your sleep pattern. Instead, put them away, don’t even bring them to your room to avoid the temptation. Stop using them roughly an hour before bed; instead, do a calming activity, such as reading, to help wind down at night. 

8. Don’t take a hot bath too close to bed time. 

A hot bath can be very calming. However, taking one less than an hour before bed can cause your body temperature to get out of whack and make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. 

9. Don’t sleep with a pet. 

Many people say that having their pet in bed with them makes them feel better, but it can dramatically effect your sleep. Since pets sleep most of the day while we are working, they don’t tend to sleep as solid at night as we do. They fidget and move around a lot, which even if we don’t feel it, disrupts our own sleep. Instead, give them their own bed on the floor next to yours that way they are with you but when they wake up, it doesn’t wake you up.

I found that I have some really bad habits when it comes to sleep. I’m pretty sure that I do just about everything that I found out that you shouldn’t do. Turns out, I have a lot of bad habits to fix, one at a time. How are your sleeping habits? How to do address them? What do you need to break? Leave me a comment below, I love hearing from you!

The Timeless Fashion Trend: Turbans

By Brittany Dobbins and Paulina Fornovi
Edited by Elma B.

There is this timeless and fabulous fashion trend–the turban that keeps making its way back into the fashion world! I want to give you the full scoop on all things turban–what is it, its history, and style icons wearing turbans. 

What Is a Turban?

A turban is a simple piece of cloth, which is placed around the head or, as in some cases, there is a hat inside. This head piece can be of different shapes, sizes and colors. The cloth is very difficult to wear if it is more than five meters (about 16 ft. 4 in.) long. Thus, for more dramatic and large turbans, it will be a tad bit difficult to style. 

The History of the Turban:

Although the turban, which became a fashion “it” piece for the Hollywood divas in the 1950s, continued to be worn by some very elegant fashionistas throughout the decades, the legendary garment continues to make a come back yet again and again!  The turban has become the perfect choice for all chic occasions. 

The Origin of the Turban:

Ancient Cultures…

Because of the versatility and variety of its use, it is difficult to pin-point the turban’s country of origin. With that said, it is important to note that the turban is an accessory that  is part of the traditional clothing worn by many Eastern cultures. The following are some of the most speculated theories regarding the origin and the design of the turban…

Islamic Culture: the turban was  useful to protect  the people in the Middle East from the sand in the desert and was used as a symbol of devoutness. 

Rastafari: for practitioners of this religion, a turban became a symbol of wisdom and a way to cover long hair, which was a sign of long life experience. Also, the Rastafarians believe that turban should be worn when meditating. 

Indian-Hindu Culture: the turban is used to indicate the socioeconomic status of a person. There are a variety of textiles for turbans; fabrics range from the most exclusive materials to plain towels that farmers wear.

Turban in the 1960s…

The turban reached its  peak during the 1960s, which was a decade where major Hollywood stars wore them on the red carpet and even used turbans while filming movies or television series. 

Old Hollywood Screen Legend: Sofia Loren in Turbans

The Turban Today…

Less than five years ago, the turbans made a come back and appeared on the most watched fashion runways. Many non-fashionistas, who had never before dared to wear this piece, were empowered to try the turban.

The turban was very well received by women in the West; consequently, designers presented myriad of ways in which the turban could be worn, e.g., from casual to the office. 

Today, there are many brands that produce the turban and make versatile proposals on how to wear the turban. 

How to Wear a Turban:

You could wear a turban countless ways. I suggest to experiment wearing the turban with many styles, from the office to a night out in the city. Also, there are many prints (e.g., leopard print) to try when wearing a turban. Third, don’t forget to wear some funky jewels to give it a little something extra! My main suggestion is to own it when wearing the turban and be comfortable in your own skin. My favorite celebrities who have been spotted wearing turbans are Kourtney Kardashian, Solange Knowles, Eva Mendes (Ryan Gosling’s girlfriend), Rita Ora, Mary Kate Olsen/Ashley Olsen, Kelly Rowland,  and Kate Moss! 

For DIY tips and a full style guide on how to wear the turban, click here. 

As a fashion blogger, who documents trends, I think the turban is edgy and bold. Fashionistas want to wear something that excites people and is unusual! Some may think that wearing a turban is too exotic but in the fashion industry, boring doesn’t get you anywhere. You have to go outside of the box a little bit.

5 Bad Habits To Break Now

By Elma B.

Recently, I watched a TED talk by psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Amen, where he explained that by changing our brain, we can change our life. I have been intrigued by neurology for quite some time; so, I eagerly tuned in. It was fascinating to find out that our daily habits directly shape our brain; for instance, the brains of alcoholics, drug addicts and retired NFL football players looked significantly different than normal-healthy brains. Hence, we were the ones ultimately shaping our own health, i.e., our physical and mental well-being. 

Now, you may ask yourself, how exactly can I change my own brain? The amazing news is that you can change your brain by changing your habits. Here are some of Dr. Amen’s suggestions, and I have added my own thoughts as well. 

(Disclaimer: this is not medical advice as I am not a health care professional. This site is not designed to and does not provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services to you or to any other individual.  If you have any questions regarding your health, you should promptly consult your healthcare provider.)

Me

1. Diet. 

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”-Hippocrates. 

Your well-being starts with a healthy diet. Your nutrition directly effects your level of energy and your physical and mental performance throughout the day. Thus, having a healthy diet is crucial. It’s not only about your looks but a healthy diet is directly correlated with your mental well-being. In fact, Dr. Amen found that your brain size actually decreases as your weight increases. 

2. Exercise. 

If there is such thing as the “fountain of youth,” it would be exercise. As we become older, our muscles lose strength and flexibility. Hence, your daily routine should include exercise, whether it is walking, swimming or running. Exercising is not only about the facade you portray to the outside world but it is also about your own internal well-being. 

3. Environmental toxins. 

A positive surrounding, i.e., happy and encouraging people, can have a significant impact on your mental well-being and attitude. Make sure to surround yourself with others who have a positive influence on your well-being, whether spiritually or physically. Make sure that your daily environment inspires your optimal being; stay away from those who are toxic and do not encourage your optimal well-being. 

4. Sleep.

Studies have found that a lack of sleep, e.g., 5-4 hours, has a negative impact on our daily performance, whether physical or mental. Your reflexes become slower and hence your ability to think quickly on your feet and to move about become significantly weaker. 

5. Toxic thoughts. 

Self-doubting thoughts that penetrate through your mind can negatively impact your self-esteem and attitude. Dr. Amen said that one of the ways to counter toxic thoughts is by asking questions, e.g., is it really true that my husband/wife does not love me? Quickly, the pre-frontal cortex, the queen that rules the emotions and keeps them from going wild, i.e., the front part of your brain, will take control and counter with rational thoughts. 

The single most important factor that I gathered was that we were ultimately in charge of shaping our own destinies. It was as simple as change your habits, and you will change your life. I will leave you with a quote to ponder about:

“Destiny occurs when we come to the point where we are no longer willing to wait there for it.”-Marcel Proust 

(p.s. For the fashionistas, my outfit dissected: shoes from Tod’s and headband, shirt and shorts from Zara.)

How to Wear a Turban

By Amra B. 

Turbans have been my obsession since I was a child; my grandmother use to wear one, and always looked so elegant and beautiful with her turbans. Later, I developed my own appreciation as I started collecting head wraps. I finally found this vintage black turban in a NYC store and fell in love; it is black and goes well with almost everything. The shape is very flattering and fits nicely on every face shape.

Here are some tips on how to wear a turban: 

1. Size matters: almost all turbans are made of stretchy material, but they don’t equally fit well.  Turban that is too small will feel awkward and may fall off. The right one wont feel tight around your head and will be large enough so that you may adjust it properly around your face. 

2. Headpiece or a turban: If you can’t find a turban you like, you may achieve a similar effect with headpieces. Headpieces have become very popular recently and you may find them in many low cost retailers in a variety of colors; I would recommend searching in Forever21, Urban Outfitters, and Zara.  

Headpieces can look similar to turbans

3. Add some jewelry: for an extra glam effect, add a vintage brooch/pin in the middle of your turban. They will completely transform your look in an instant. 

Turbans with jewelry

4. Have fun: Turbans go equally well with denim as they do with dresses. I like to wear mine with dresses and bold prints (as I did in the photos below). However, they look equally well with a simple white tee and jeans. 

Turbans – outfit inspiration

Wishing you an amazing day! 

Outfit: Zara dress and necklace, Burberry belt, Jimmy Choo shoes, D&G watch, vintage turban 

Best Pre-Workout Foods

By Sarah Baker

Pre-workout food: what’s good to eat?

Food is essential for a good workout. In order to get the most from your workout, you need to get the most from your pre-workout meal. Did you know that most of the fuel burned during a workout comes from the carbs and fats that are stored? There is enough stored for 1-2 hours of very intense exercise or 3-4 hours of moderate exercise. Therefore, it’s actually more important what you eat 3-4 hours before you workout. You should eat a large meal at that point. A small meal is good for about 2-3 hours before you workout and a small snack 30-60 minutes before you workout. 

Morning workout/small snack

What you eat in the morning is especially important in order to make sure that you don’t get lightheaded or pass out. You’ve been sleeping all night, so there isn’t the 3-4 hour large meal to burn calories from. Some good morning foods include: fruit smoothies, energy bars, fruit (pineapple, banana, mango, watermelon), and bagels (not whole grain because it takes too long to digest). 

Small meal/large meal:

A small, nutritionally balanced meal 2-3 hours and a large of the same variety 3-4 hours before you workout is a good way to give you extra energy. Some food to eat at this time include: half a peanut butter or turkey and cheese sandwich on whole grain bread, fruit and yogurt, hummus and raw veggies, half a chicken, turkey, or lean roast beef sandwich on whole wheat bread, tomato or vegetable juice, cottage cheese and fruit, hard boiled eggs or egg whites, and trail mix with dried fruit. You can make any combination of these foods to make a small or large meal for your workout. 

Best Pre-Work Out Foods: Almost Everything Avocado

It’s important to make sure that you don’t workout on an empty stomach so that you don’t pass out or feel sick. Depending on when you intend to workout depends on what you eat and when. It’s a good idea to make yourself a schedule of when you intend to do your workout so you can figure out the appropriate time and food to eat. A heavy meal is never a good idea before a workout, especially if it’s an intense one. I like to workout in the morning because I lack motivation in the evenings. Since my gym isn’t close to my house, I drink a protein shake and eat a banana on my way there so that I have enough to get through my workout, but not make me sick or pass out. It actually works out really well for me but every person is different. Once you find out your workout time, you can figure out your pre-workout food. Remember to eat enough to get you through, but not enough to make you sick.

How to Wear Blue Eye Makeup Tutorial

By Catherine Santino

You may think that blue eye makeup is a thing of the past, but this season’s looks has proven that to be completely false. Chanel’s 2014 Resort Collection was all about a bold, graphic winged eye paired with bright blue shadow. I think it’s a gorgeous and completely unique look, but it’s not totally wearable. However, I think it’s a great source to draw inspiration for your summer makeup looks. Incorporating bold blue tones into your eye makeup is a great way to add a fresh, bold, summery feel to your look. Here is my turquoise and blue eye-makeup tutorial:

Chanel 2014 Resort Collection–Turquoise Eye

Here, I have created my take on the Chanel look. I have recreated the makeup, but have just taken it down several notches. 

Me

My Turquoise Eye Tutorial:

I used a gel eyeliner to create a winged eye, and a small, flat brush to apply a turquoise eye shadow underneath the eye. Beauty tip: pair with a nude lip, and it creates a Chanel-inspired makeup look for summer that is much more wearable.

Blue Eye Makeup Beauty Tips:

There are also many other ways to create looks inspired by Chanel’s Resort Collection. Here are my suggestions on how to get that gorgeous deep-blue effect:

1. Don’t just stick to turquoise– try out all different shades of blue for your eye makeup. 

2. Use a blue eyeliner. Simply using a blue eyeliner on addition to your black eyeliner (or in place of it) is a great way to add a new and different element to your regular routine.

3. Make sure to blend. Even using a blue eye shadow all over your eyelid can be a gorgeous pop of color for summer. Just make sure to take your time blending it in so that there are no harsh lines.

4. Use an eye-shadow primer. Always use an eye shadow primer to help your makeup last all day. I highly recommend the Urban Decay Eye shadow Primer Potion! 

Blue Eye Make Up Looks

Don’t be afraid to be a little bit daring with your eye makeup this summer. And don’t think that you have to go overboard to change up your look; a pop of color here and there makes a bold statement and sets you apart. Until next time, stay tuned for more of my beauty tutorials. Xoxo.

Chanel 2014 Resort Collection Blue Eye Makeup

 

Denim Cutoffs

By Amra B. 

Summer is not over yet, and I am trying to savor my last days by spending it on the beach- Miami Beach. For the occasion, I have managed to find a perfect pair of denim cutoffs; long enough to cover the main bits but short enough to show off my legs. I managed to wear these shorts almost daily as I found the to be the most versatile summer piece I own. Below are some tips on how to wear denim cutoffs: 

1. Go for the loose fit: one of my BIGGEST beauty tips is to always buy shorts that are at least ONE size bigger. Larger shorts give the illusion of smaller waist and hips. On the other hand, denim cutoffs that hug every curve tightly tend to emphasize any flaws that you may have. I like mine extra roomy as I feel they look the best; the shorts I am wearing are a size “L” and I normally wear a size “S.”

Denim cutoffs that fit slightly loose

2. Length matters: denim cutoffs should be long enough to reach just below hips; extra short ones can look boxy and may not be as versatile when it comes to street fashion.  

Denim cutoffs that fall just below the hips

3. Pair with a loose top: denim cutoffs look best when paired with loose tops. The balance between short bottom and loose top gives just the right amount of sex appeal and makes it perfect for the city as well. 

Loose tops and denim cutoffs

4. Reach for the “destroyed wash”: Denim cutoffs are meant to be worn casually and look best in the “destroyed wash” version. I like mine to have just the right amount of holes in the front so that I can show off the pockets. 

Slightly destroyed denim cutoffs

Wishing you a great day! 

Outfit: Shorts Forever21, top, necklace, and sandals Zara