#OOTD: Too Cool To Mention (Feat. SheIn)

February 23, 2017 by Bree Fesh in Personal Style

As I've mentioned in many of my recent posts, there are tons of trends that I am just in love with for spring 2017. And one of those many trends that I have been obsessed with this season is see through garments. Though I am generally not one to wear overly revealing clothing, netted bomber jackets are something I can totally get behind, especially since athleisure style clothing has been slowly but surely creeping it's way into my wardrobe all season long, and has most definitely became one of my favorite trends to rock. So needless to say when I found out I was going to have yet the opportunity to style yet another athlesiure outfit from my wonderful sponsor SheIn, I was absolutely thrilled! And with that being said, over the weekend, and after a ton of street style inspiration pinning via Pinterest, I decided to head downtown, enjoy the weather, and style some of my awesome new duds.

Let's Mention Our Unmentionables

Like I stated earlier, I generally don't wear revealing clothing and tend to style more classic looks. However, this past Sunday the weather was absolutely gorgeous out, (Yes I am in fact going to cry when it drops back to 40 degrees and starts snowing this weekend.) and I had a handful of errands to run downtown, so I decided my new netted bomber jacket, peekaboo sports bra, and distressed boyfriend jeans from SheIn would the perfect choice for the day.

The reason I love this netted bomber jacket is because of its sporty yet chic vibe. (Then again, that's what athleisure is all about right?) However, though I chose to style it with this peekaboo sports bra that came with it, I could also see styling this jacket with a light sweater or cute tank top for an equally chic look. I also liked the little bit of vintage vibe that this jacket gives off, due to the varsity stripes on its collar, cuffs, and on the bottom. I also really like the peekaboo sports bra that came with the jacket because even though it is a simple piece, it is very comfy and cute, and I just loved the cut out detailing. (Also note, even though I received these pieces complimentary, if you were to purchase this piece, the cute bra comes with it!)

For the bottom half of this look, I also received these cute distressed, cropped, boyfriend jeans to pair with the jacket and bra. And due to these jeans distressed look, to further style them, I decided to pair them with a cute pair of patterned stockings, just to add some more depth to this outfit. The first thing I have to say about these jeans though, is that they are very soft and very comfortable. The only thing that I would have to note is that these jeans are cropped and do not need to be rolled up like traditional boyfriend style jeans. So, for my readers who are taller than me (5'8" and up) I would say to go up a size, just to be sure that these jeans are not too short on you.

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Lastly, to add the finishing touches on this look, I chose to pair this outfit with some simple accessories including my Ray-Bans, my "return to Tiffany" heart choker, my python trapeze bag, and my gold sneakers that I got from John for Christmas. The reason I chose these accessories is because they are all very laid back and comfortable for running errands, and because I did not want my outfit to look too busy due to the netted bomber jacket. I also chose the gold sneakers because I felt that they would be a fun way to add a pop of color to this ensemble.

One Last Look

So how are you feeling about the see through trend this season? Love it or hate it, I'd love to chat with you about it in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Have a photo you just need to show off of your own fabulous street style look? Feel free to tag me in a post or on your Instagram story at @StarkRavingChic. Later, babes!

Xx, Bree

P.S. In case you haven't heard, 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!

Marvelous Makeup (Feat. Makeup by Bailey Waterbury)

February 19, 2017 by Bree Fesh in Interviews

If you know me, you know that I know nothing about makeup. Sure, sure, I know enough to keep myself from going out in public looking like Mimi from The Drew Carey Show, but other than some simple techniques, I am by no means a makeup artist. However, that is not the issue for my friend Bailey, in fact she has been working as both a freelance and retail makeup artist since 2015, and let me tell you, this girl knows her stuff. Recently, I was fortunate enough to not only sit down with Bailey and interview her about her craft for this collaboration, but also had the opportunity for her to style my makeup look for the latter half of this post!

Bailey Waterbury: Makeup Artist

So by now, you're all probably wondering how I know Bailey. Is she a makeup artist I met at one of the runway shows I've attended? A stylist for one of my many photo shoots? Well, not exactly anything that glamorous, Bailey and I actually met in our freshman year of college at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Both her and I were there studying photography, and though we initially got off to a rocky start, by our junior year we became friends and began working on a handful of photography projects together. The one thing I always noticed about Bailey in her photography work was her precision and he attention to detail, which also shows in her makeup artistry. So needless to say, I was thrilled that when I reached out to her she was more than happy to do yet another collaboration with me, and as always, I was absolutely amazed by her work.

Bree Fesh: To start off this interview, when did you begin practicing makeup artistry?

Bailey Waterbury: Well, I was always very interested in makeup, especially being a photographer and wanting to work in runway or editorial fashion. So, I'd have to say that I began practicing and experimenting with makeup my sophomore year of college. And in 2014 I became completely immersed in the makeup artistry world when I began working as a cashier at Sephora, and then went on to become a makeup artist in 2015.

BF: I know you were living in Arizona for a while back in 2015, did you continue working as a makeup artist for Sephora while you were there? If so, which part, and was working as a makeup artist in a more heavily populated area much different than working here in Pittsburgh?

BW: Yes! I continued working as a makeup artist for Sephora while I was living in Arizona, and I was in the Scottsdale location. I have to say that it was quite a bit different just because Scottsdale is such a travel destination so you are constantly meeting new clients and trying different things, I must say I did like that challenge though. Personally, though I love the Sephora I am working at here in South Hills Village, I feel as though I am not being pushed enough. I really love trying new looks and techniques and unfortunately here, it seems many people just like simpler, classic makeup.

BF: Since I know you also have great photography skills, I'm curious to know if photography is still your greatest passion, or has makeup artistry surpassed it?

BW: Originally, I wanted my photography and makeup artistry to go hand in hand so I could both style and photograph my models, however as I grew more skilled with makeup, I began to really fall in love with being a makeup artist. So though I still love photography, and honestly wish I could do more with it than I have been lately, I do think that it is safe to say makeup artistry is my main passion.

BF: Recently you've started your own makeup artistry Instagram page titled "bayyylien", what are your goals with it, and do you ever see yourself expanding outside of Instagram and potentially starting a blog of your own?

BW: The reason I started my page, bayyylien, is because I really wanted my art to stand on its own, opposed to constantly posting selfies to my personal Instagram *laughs*. However what I would like to achieve through bayyylien is to grow, and work with other artists. The types of people I would like to connect with are those who are either interested in conceptual art or even couture fashion. As for starting a blog i haven't even thought about that yet! I could see some potential in doing so, however before I decide on it, I would like to grown my Instagram's following first as well as start a YouTube channel that features makeup tutorials.

Plum Seduction

As I mentioned earlier (and as you can see above), Bailey was kind enough to actually do my makeup on top of letting me interview her for this collaboration! However, you're probably wondering how exactly we decided on these colors, so let me give you a little run down before I dive in to the complete look and outfit.

First of all, I have to be honest, not knowing anything about makeup and being an artist myself, I gave Bailey full reign of this makeup look. To plan it though, Bailey had asked me to simply pick out an outfit that I would like to model, give her the color scheme, and she'd work from there. So the night before our meeting I simply sent her some quick snapshots of my outfit so she could get her pallet ready, and needless to say she couldn't have done a better job at pairing!

For starters, I just have to say that Bailey's clients are in for an absolute treat when working with her. Bailey isn't only incredibly talented, but she is also highly personable and fun to work with as well! Before starting the process, Bailey made sure I was comfortable and walked me through the steps as she was doing them. She also has the patience of a saint and gave (much needed on my part) direction well as to what she needed me to do. So for this look, Bailey chose to style me using the following products:

Skin Care:

Color:

Lastly, about the outfit I chose to style for this collaboration. For this post I decided it would only make sense to style clothing from two Pittsburgh boutiques since I was working with a Pittsburgh based makeup artist, so I chose to style this sweater from ModCloth as well as this gorgeous skirt from Terry Jolo Brand. The reason I chose these pieces is because I like their cool winter look. The white sweater and purple skirt complement each other perfectly and create a nice contrast. To add the finishing touches to this look, I chose to pair these items with my Jenny Bird Flagstaff Earrings, my Hermes Pop H necklace layered with this Kendra Scott pendant, black tights, and a pair of high heeled booties, making this look casual yet sophisticated.

One Last Look

What are some of your favorite makeup looks? Let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Have a marvelous makeup look of your own that you'd love to show off? Feel free to tag me in a post or on your Instagram story at @StarkRavingChic.

Also remember, if you want to see more of Bailey's awesome skills, be to follow her Instagram account @bayyylien! Later, dolls.

Xx, Bree

P.S. Pssssst! 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 read all about it, here!

Also, in case you haven't heard, 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!

Spring Break Travel Essentials (Feat. Amazon)

February 17, 2017 by Bree Fesh in Lifestyle/Travel

Between the first half of this semester seeming to fly by, preparing for midterms, and day dreaming about having a vacation, I'm sure most of us simply cannot wait for our spring break. Though some of ours may be longer than others, I'm sure we are all more than ready for that sweet week long break. (In John's case three day long break--you're really cutting into our vacation, Keiser University.) So in preparation for John and I's mini vacation to Fort Lauderdale, I thought it would be nifty to write a little post covering some of my must have, beach destination travel essentials!

The Basics

Okay, so I know most of us know to travel with the things above when we head to the beach for vacation, however, I myself forgot to pack sunglasses one time when I went down to Delray, and that is actually how I ended up with the Ray-Bans above. (Yes, John still teases me about that.) So since I'm sure I'm not the only one who can be super forgetful, I figured I should highlight the importance of having the following:

Bikini: Though I will be diving into spring break styling next week, I added this bikini because for one it will be featured in my style guide and two, because who goes to the beach without a swimsuit?
Sunglasses: Though this was semi-covered above, sunglasses are so important, especially in sunny climates, to protect you eyes from the harsh light. The reason this is particularly important for me is because I tend to get awful headaches when exposed to very bright light. Let me tell you, they don't call Florida the sunshine state for nothing.
Cell Phone: I feel as though this one is pretty obvious, but when travelling to a new place, it's always a good idea to have your cell phone handy for safety reasons.
Cell + Card Carrier (preferably water proof): Considering no one wants to lose their phone or identity, having a compact waterproof case for your cards and phone is definitely the way to go.
Gum: Personally I am an almost constant gum chewer. Partially because I like to have fresh breath, and then just out of habit. However, for my single gals on vacation, you never know who you might meet, so best not to smell like your last meal (or beverage) am I right?

Reusable Water Bottle

Though I'll be the first to admit that I do not drink enough water (I'm trying to get better with that though!) I can't stress how important it is to stay hydrated--especially when out at the beach laying under the hot sun (cue the importance of sunscreen too). So a good way to keep hydrated it to have a reusable water bottle. This way, you can just fill it up at a drinking fountain and be on your way.

Portable Charger + Extra Cords

Going along with having your phone for safety reasons, that phone won't do you much good if it's at 10% battery and you are still a half hour away from your hotel. With that being said it would be wise to snag a portable changer so you and your friends can keep you phone charged on the go. Also, a few extra charging cords are a plus too, because if you're anything like me you're probably constantly losing--I mean misplacing yours.

Wine/Bottle Opener

Funny story: The first time John and I ever went on vacation, we had a romantic evening in Orlando. However, when we returned to our hotel room from our actual date and wanted a night cap, much to our dismay we didn't grab a twist off bottle of wine, and had no corkscrew to open it. Honestly, we had, had enough and this mishap probably saved us from being incredibly hungover the next day, but at the time we both felt kind of stupid for not planning ahead. With that being said, if you're planning on popping bottles in your hotel room, make sure to pack a bottle opener (or get twist off bottles--that just didn't have the same ring to it for a heading).

Advil

Lastly, Advil, or any over counter pain reliever, is a good thing to pack just in case of any kind of body aches and pains you may encounter. Nobody wants to be sick on vacation, much less so with a hangover headache.

What are some of your beach vacation essentials? I'd love to chat about it in the comments below, or you can tweet me about them at @StarkRavingChic. Later, babes!

Xx, Bree