#OOTD: Tantalizing In Tan (Feat. Fashion Mia + Kat Von D Beauty Compliments of Influenster)

Whew, what a weekend! Though I was sick all of last week with the flu, I was overjoyed that I finally began to feel better by Saturday and was absolutely thrilled to get back to work, though I must admit I'm not thrilled with the overwhelming amount of make-up homework I have to do after missing a week of school. But nonetheless, I am happy to be back to my normal, healthy self and to be out of the hospital, now lets keep our fingers crossed that I won't get sick again for a good long while!

Considering I was laid up in my house or the hospital all last week, needless to say by this weekend I was more than ready to get out of the house and actually spend time around other people. (Though Oliver and Lola are great company and expert snugglers, neither of them are conversationalists.) So, to celebrate my newly reclaimed health, I decided to get out and explore my own city for the day, and took to downtown Sewickley for a day of shopping at local boutiques and eating some delicious food. And of course after living in nothing but pajamas for a week, I was also more than ready to style an outfit, so I chose to wear this adorable, casual dress from my newest sponsor, FashionMia.

FashionMia: A Quick Overview

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As I stated above, FashionMia is a new sponsor that I began working with this year. So, much like any other time when I bring on a new sponsor and introduce their products to my readers, I like to give you all a quick rundown about the brand and their products. 

Firstly, FashionMia is an online clothing site that specializes in modern fashion trends and sells these hot items at irresistibly low prices. This is great because when shopping with FashionMia you'll be sure to get the cutest looks without breaking the bank. What's better than stylish and affordable clothing? 

Another thing that I love about FashionMia is that they have a huge variety of clothing to choose from. These options include but are not limited to, evening gowns, casual dresses, business attire, outerwear, and accessories. Another service that FashionMia offers that is unique from other online shops in this niche, is that FashionMia also has an entire section for men's wear, which is great for  all the fashionistos out there. Lastly, the only issue I see with this company is considering they are based in China, there is no possibility for rush delivery, so after ordering your products they may take two to three weeks to get to you, however after receiving my products compliments of them for this partnership, I promise you that it's well worth the wait. 

Black & Tan 

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To style for my day of shopping in the beautiful town of Sewickley, I decided that this adorable casual dress would be a perfect fit for the all day affair. The reason why I chose this dress to stroll around town is due to the fact it is super comfortable and great for all day wear. The other great thing about this dress is due to its long sleeves its actually very warm, and because of its casual nature, this dress is a great piece to layer with to add some extra warmth. Which, I did just that by pairing it with my fleece lined leggings. 

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Before I get into the complete review of this dress, if you follow me on Twitter and/or Instagram, and simply by looking over this post, I am sure you have noticed that I no longer have my signature blonde locks and have traded them in for something a little more natural! Though I am not a full blown red head like I am now, my natural hair color is actually more of a dirty, reddish blonde. So, to cut back on having to get my hair highlighted every month, I have opted to go red, which will make it way less noticeable when my roots inevitably grow in. And I have to say, I'm loving the cheaper price of getting my hair done now and just adore how great this color looks. I'm definitely looking forward to styling so many outfits with my new fiery 'do.  

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Now, let's get to the reason I'm sure most of you are here and that would be to hear about this fabulous dress from FashionMia. First I have to say that this dress is probably the most comfortable piece of clothing that I own right now. It is made of a thick, soft, polyester material which makes this piece hug your curves in all the right places. I also love the fact that this dress is versatile and can be paired with a variety of different accessories which allow it to be worn in multiple ways. The final two things I adore about this piece is that its drop waist adds a cool casual touch and that it also has pockets which is a major win for me! Lastly, this dress fits true to size and it is also very well made. It came in perfect condition and there is not a stitch out of place.

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To style this piece for my Saturday of shopping, I chose to pair it with some black fleece lined leggings to add some extra warmth, along with my favorite Micheal Kors boots. Aside from these pairings being practical for the weather conditions, they also double as a super stylish look. This is because the black of the boots and leggings add a great contrast to the tan dress, which makes this look visually pleasing. 

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To add to this contrast, I then chose to further accessorize this look with this gorgeous Faye bag by Chloe. The reason why I chose this purse is because aside from it staying within the black and tan theme, its gold accents complement the gold accents on my boots, which really ties this look together. I also just adore this purse for every day wear, the reason this is is because it adds a cool and relaxed look to any outfit due to its chic bohemian vibe. 

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The final touch I added to my casual weekend look is my frequently styled Kendra Scott Rayne pendant. As I've mentioned in countless past posts, this necklace is my go to for adding some shine to any outfit. This versatile necklace can dress up a simple blouse, or add a charmingly boho vibe to a basic outfit. In this case, this bold necklace adds a fun pop of color to my laid back Saturday look. 

Lovely “Lovecraft” 

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The last portion of this post I would like to talk about yet another campaign I am working on and that would be the Kat Von D Beauty campaign through Influenster, featuring the new Kat Von D, Creme Lipstick. I received this product complimentary to try through Influenster, for those of you who have never heard of Influenster, you can learn more here! The color I received from Kat Von D's new line though is called "Lovecraft". And aside from it being named after one of my favorite writers, I also absolutely adore the color! 

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As you can see, the color is a nice, matte, pink, which adds a cute and girly touch to this make up look. The lipstick is also very easy to apply an literally just glided on to my lips, which is something I am not used to with some of my other matte lippies. I also love this color because though it is light, the pigment is so lush and rich, surely making your pout stand out in a crowd. To accompany this lipstick, I paired it with my bareMinerals BarePro liquid foundation, Dior's Exalt eye shadow palette, and NARS Lovejoy Blush. The reason why I chose these colors is because I wanted to keep a fresh and natural look to keep true to this outfits casual vibe.

One Last Look

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What are some of your favorite casual weekend outfits? Let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Have a darling casual dress you just need to show off? I'd love to see it so feel free to tag me in your Instagram Story at @StarkRavingChic. Later, babes!

Xx, Bree

P.S. Psssssst! If you love the jewelry I styled in this post as much as I do, you can try Rocksbox for a whole month 100% FREE when you sign up using my promo code "starkravingchicxoxo". Don't know what Rocksbox is or how it works? You can learn more here!

Also, I am now a proud member of rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!

Winter Revival: Beauty Picks 2018

Sunshine, streetcar rides, beignets, and temperatures well above 40 degrees, oh, New Orleans, how I will miss you. Unfortunately, I will be back in Pittsburgh come Monday after my impromptu trip to my home away from home in The Big Easy this weekend. (Want to see what I’ve up too in New Orleans this weekend? Be sure to follow me on Instagram and check out my Story Highlights!) Which that means along with missing my daily dose of sugar from having beignets for breakfast, I will also be coping with biting winds, dropping temperatures, hot showers and dry air from indoor heat, which does absolutely nothing for a girl’s skin and hair! However, in light of to the abysmal weather that the ‘Burgh has this time of year, I decided that this was a great time to sneak away for the weekend to enjoy some warmer weather, R&R, and treat myself to some skin and hair reviving treatments too! And since I’m sure many of my readers back up north are also feeling the winter beauty struggle as well, for today’s post, I’ve decided to compile a list of my top twelve winter beauty products for 2018 to share with you all. 

1. Harvey Prince Organics Ageless Exfoliating Bar Soap

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To kick off my winter revival list, I decided to start with Harvey Prince Organics Ageless Exfoliating Bar Soap. This product is contains notes of BuPink Grapefruit, Pomegranate, Mango, Jasmine, Tuberose, YlangYlang, and Sandalwood, giving you a fresh, sensual, luminous scent that everyone will love. This soap also lathers nicely, giving you a nice thick foam to wash your face, body, and hands with, and Ageless Exfoliating Bar Soap also reduces dry skin by gentley exfoliating your skin, leaving it soft and smooth.

Buy It Here: Harvey Prince Organics Exfoliating Bar Soap

2. Fango Mud Therapy Mask

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If you’ve been a long time reader here, you probably recognize this product from a number of Instagram posts last year, as well as a different, limited addition, version of this product from my collaboration with Harvey Prince Organics. You should also know that the reason this product is making my beauty essentials list for a second year in a row is because though Harvey Prince no longer provides their Fango Mud Therapy Mask, Borghese does and it is still the absolute best face mask out there! This mask leaves your skin feeling clean, refreshed, and unbelievably smooth after just one use. And though this product is great for year round use, its extra helpful in the winter due to the fact it provides deep moisturizing benefits, which is crucial for reducing dry or chapped skin from being out in the cold winter weather. 

Buy It Here: Borghese Fango Mud Therapy Mask

3. philosophy Miracle Worker Fix

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Though I do not have an issue with wrinkles, I do occasionally have issues with bags under my eyes (I blame it on lack of sleep between working and being a college student), so this year I decided to try philosophy's Miracle Worker Fix, and I have to say that it really does work! I've been using it for about three weeks now, and again, though wrinkles (what this product is primarily used to reduce) are not an issue of mine, I have noticed a significant improvement with the bags under my eyes and a reduction of puffiness. 

Buy It Here: philosophy Miracle Worker Fix

4. Harvey Prince Organics Hello Body Butter

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There are simply not enough positive things I have to say about Harvey Prince Organics Hello Body Butter. This stuff is absolutely amazing! For starters, you can use this body butter on both your body and face without fear of potential breakouts because this product is designed to help nurture sensitive skin. Next, just like all of Harvey Prince Organics products, it is 100% cruelty free making it a great choice for smoother skin without harming any of our fury friends. The reason I say this product is so amazing though is because it leaves your skin feeling very soft and smooth, which we all know can be hard to maintain in the winter time. It is also very easy to apply and isn’t overly heavy and oily like some other body butters. And last but not least, this body butter smells absolutely amazing. 

Buy It Here: Harvey Prince Organics Hello Body Butter

5. L'Oréal Paris Extraordinary Hair Care Routine (Shampoo, Conditioner, Leave In Cream, and Lustrous Oil Serum)

These next products are again some of my all time favorite go to products that I have been using for years, and these products would be L'Oréal Paris' Extraordinary Hair Care Routine. This routine includes Shampoo, Conditioner, Leave In Cream, and Lustrous Oil Treatment. All of these products are infused with oils that help bring dry, brittle, weather damaged hair back to life. Each of them are light weight and apply easily, they also show immediate results— I'm talking shinier, softer hair after just one use! And in case you would like a cruelty free option, I have included Harvey Prince Organics Hello Shampoo and Conditioner as well. Much like L'Oréal's Extraordinary Hair Care Routine, this shampoo and conditioner set smell amazing, and give life back to damaged hair. 

Buy These Products Here: L'Oréal Extraordinary Hair Nourishing Shampoo, L'Oréal Extraordinary Hair Conditioner, L'Oréal Extraordinary Hair Leave In CreamL'Oréal Extraordinary Hair Lustrous Oil Serum, Harvey Prince Organics Hello Shampoo, Harvey Prince Organics Hello Conditioner.

6. Harvey Prince Organics Keravegan Hair Masque  

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To go along with my L'Oréal Extraordinary Hair Care routine, once to twice a week I pamper myself with a little something extra and that something extra is Harvey Prince Organics Keravegan Hair Masque. The reason why I feel this masque is essential for the winter time is because due to its soothing ingredients it really helps bring dry, dull, lifeless hair back to life. After just one use, much like the L’Oréal products, you see a difference. Your hair will feel soft and silky, plus with the added bonus of some extra shine.

Buy It Here: Harvey Prince Organics Keravegan Hair Masque

7. Julep Black Canvas Primer

Next on the list are my go to primers this year! I actually have both the Illuminating & Mattifying primers from Julep and I have to say I love them both. The Mattifying primer specifically, made my skin look so smooth and even, and it was incredibly light weight, which works great for me when I'm spending time down south. Each of these primers apply easily and are comfortable for all day wear. These primers also do not clog your pores and leave your skin feeling smooth and looking even. And the best part? This primer actually smells amazing and is 100% cruelty free!

Buy It Here: Julep Blank Canvas Mattifying Primer, Julep Blank Canvas Illuminating Primer

8. bareMinerals BarePro Liquid Foundation

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I'm sure many of my long time readers know that my absolute favorite makeup brand is bareMinerals, and this liquid foundation is a great addition to their makeup family! Though I generally use their powder foundation, bareMinerals BarePro liquid foundation is perfect for winter because along with being light weight and comfortable for all day wear, it also benefits your skin. How, you ask? Since bareMinerals BarePro foundation has a SPF of 20, it protects your skin from sun damage as well as helping keep your face moisturized.

Buy It Here: bareMinerals BarePro Liquid Foundation  

9. Maybelline’s City Minis Palettes

This next item on the list was actually a surprise for me! Though I love eye shadow, I very rarely buy any palettes that aren't by Dior, TooFaced, or Chanel. However, recently in a campaign I had with Influenster, I received Maybelline's City Mini's Palette in Rooftop Bronzes and absolutely fell in love with it! The main reason I love these palettes is because they have such a wide range of color and are incredibly versatile. The colors are also rich and long lasting, which isn't that all a girl wants in an eye shadow?

Buy These Products Here: Maybelline The City Mini Palette Chill Brunch Neutrals, The City Mini Palette Downtown SunriseThe City Mini Palette x ShaylaThe City Mini Palette Rooftop BronzesThe City Mini Palette Urban Jungle

10. Dior “My Rose” Blush

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Though this is not a new product on the market this year, Dior's "My Rose" blush is still my absolute favorite. This blush is light, easy to apply, and lasts all day (and night!) long. The reason why I am so partial to this particular color is because I feel the light pink tones compliment my porcelain skin tone nicely and keeps my daily makeup looks appearing fresh and natural.

Buy It Here: Dior “My Rose” Blush

11. Chanel Rouge Coco Hydrating Lip Colour

 

Chanel's Rouge Coco Hydrating Lip Colour is hands down my winter lipstick this year! Firstly, Chanel offers an extensive range of colors so its easy for people of all skin tones to find a color suitable for them, and each of the colors are incredibly rich, giving you the perfect pout. The other reason why i'm loving Chanel Rouge Coco Hydrating Lip Colour is because much like the name suggests, this lipstick doubles as a lip balm and keeps your lips hydrated and prevents them from getting chapped, even in the cold winter weather.

Buy These Products Here: Chanel Rouge Coco Hydrating Lip Colour

12. Olay Daily Facial Makeup Wipes

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To finish off my winter revival beauty picks, I chose to share the latest makeup wipes I have been using and those would be Daily Facials by Olay! Though I used to get my makeup remover from Clinique, I made the shift to Olay's Daily Facials for a few reasons. One, Clinique's makeup remover, while it works great, comes with a hefty price tag. So, being a broke college student, I'm been scaling back where I can. Clinique's makeup remover also was not travel friendly, and with how much time I've been spending travelling back and fourth between the 'Burgh and NOLA, easy to pack makeup remove is a must. Which is how I stumbled upon and tried Olay's Daily Facials. These wipes honestly work just as great as my Clinique makeup remover and are a fraction of the cost. It's also important to note that these wipes are specifically for sensitive skin, meaning it will not dry out your skin and will help keep it soft and smooth.

Buy It Here: Olay Daily Facial Wipes

What are your go to cold weather beauty remedies this year? Let’s share our tips, tricks, and favorites in the comments below or you can tweet me about it at @StarkRavingChic. Later dolls, I have streetcar to catch and a smoothie to grab!

Xx, Bree

P.S. Love what I’ve been posting on my Instagram but aren’t sure where to get the goods? No worries! I am  a proud member of the rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it family! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here

Elegance Underneath (Feat. PPZ Lingerie)

As I am sure all my readers know, one of the many things I love to do is dress up, I mean I am a fashion blogger after all. However, though I have always loved clothes and fashion since I was a little girl playing dress up in my mum and grandmother's clothes, and have gone on to build this blog from my love of clothing. However, I feel there is one reason why I love dressing up so much that is often overlooked. That reason would be that fashion and the way I choose to style my clothing is also a form of self-expression to me, as I am sure it is a form of expression for many of my fellow bloggers as well. I think we can all agree and all forms of fashion can be considered artwork in their own light.

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Speaking of things being often overlooked, I think something that many of us generally do not think about after we get our clothes on, is what we are wearing underneath that little black dress or killer crop top and jeans combo, and that would our lingerie. However, I find this to be interesting because if you are anything like me, you probably spend tons of time shopping for the perfectly matching bra and panties set, or just the bra that fits divinely. So, with this in mind, when I was approached recently by my newest sponsor PPZ Lingerie to work with them on this project I was absolutely thrilled for the opportunity! Because I don't know about you, but I feel what I wear underneath my clothes is every bit as important as the garments that I style everyday.

PPZ Lingerie

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Before I dive into the review and styling of this lovely bralette and pantie set, I'm sure you would like to know a bit about the company that I received this dynamic duo from, and that would my newest sponsor PPZ Lingerie. If you have never heard of PPZ Lingerie, here are some highlights that you should know:

Firstly, PPZ is a fashion lingerie brand that was established in Michigan, USA, back in 2001. PPZ specializes in gorgeous lingerie but also sells a wide selection of women's underwear (I have to say they have some super cute bras and panties!) shapewear, and even yoga pants. So basically, PPZ has you covered for all your undergarment (and some activewear) needs. Another great thing about PPZ is that they live up to their tagline which is "The Most Comfortable Bras, Shapewear, and Panties", which I will be honest, I was skeptical of at first however, I was very pleasantly surprised, which I will tell you all about later. 

But the last thing that sold me on the company PPZ is besides their contemporary, fashionable, and comfortable lingerie, much like my sponsors SheIn, Modcloth, and Swim Classy, PPZ embraces body positivity, and encourages girls and woman to practice self-love. Which if you recall an earlier post of mine from this year, you know that this topic is something I am very passionate about, and think that it is an absolutely outstanding movement towards empowerment. 

Underneath It All

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As I stated earlier, PPZ is a huge supporter of body positivity and practicing self-love, and that really hits home for me because that is something that I still strive to do but also still struggle with doing. As I stated in a post early this year, I opened up to you all about how that I myself struggled with severe anorexia in the past and though I initially went into rehab four years ago, it still continues to be a constant struggle for me, though I am still working hard everyday to overcome my negative self perception. With that being said, aside from personally loving lingerie, I also love it because it makes me feel confident and sexy when wearing it, either by itself or under my favorite outfits. Which is why I decided to take the plunge and model this absolutely gorgeous set from PPZ here on Stark Raving Chic!

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So, since I'm sure this is what you all have came here for, so without any further to do, let's get to the review of this lovely set! Firstly, as I mentioned earlier, PPZ really lives up to it's tagline because this bralette and pantie set is definitely so comfy, and to top it off both pieces are true to size and fit absolutely perfectly. I also liked that the bralette, unlike some of the other bralettes I own, has four hook and eye enclosures which makes this piece much easier to take on and off and these also make the bralette fit much more comfortably. 

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Along with the hook and eye enclosures being a plus, another thing I loved about this bralette is though that it is a push-up, the cups are perfectly sized and held my breasts perfectly, so the bralette did its job without making me feel like I was going to bust out of it. I also liked that the panties are bikini style, but with a cheeky fit, giving them a more playful and sexy feel. And finally, the reason why I love this set as a whole is because I love the lace design of each of these pieces, to me its just so romantic and feminine, but with a bit more sultry touch due to the lush navy color and turquoise bow accents on both the bralette and panties.   

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Lastly, though this isn't an "Outfit Of The Day" post, I did want to talk a bit about how I chose to style this pretty lingerie set. Though this was a lifestyle shoot, due to the fashionable nature of this set and PPZ's focus on body positivity, I thought that it was only natural for me to model and style it opposed to simply shooting some flat lays and using the site's model images. So to style this bralette and pantie set, I chose to wear it under my silk robe from Nordstrom that I received ages ago from my mum as a Christmas present, some simple jewelry, and light makeup from bareMinerals.

One Last Look

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So, have you ever shopped with PPZ and love them as much as I do, and what are your feelings on lingerie? Do you like it as much as I do or is it not as important to your styling routine? Let's chat in the comments below or you can tweet me about it at @StarkRavingChic. And don't forget, to keep caught up on my latest posts and to have my looks sent straight to your inbox, be sure to follow me on Instagram at @StarkRavingChic and sign up for LIKEtoKNOW.it. Later, babes!

Xx, Bree

P.S. Psssssst! In case you haven't heard, I am now a proud member of the rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it family! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!