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

February 05, 2018 by Bree Fesh in Personal Style

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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”

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!

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

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!

#OOTD: Studious Style (Feat. Prada, SheIn, + Amazon Fashion)

February 01, 2018 by Bree Fesh in Personal Style

Well, the nice weather we got to experience here in the 'Burgh this past weekend was great while it lasted, and I'm glad that I was back from my impromptu trip to New Orleans just in time to catch the tail end of the sunshine and fifty degree weather we had here on Sunday. However, unfortunately this beautiful weather did not last long and we were once again greeted with two inches of snow on Monday night, and they're calling for more over the weekend--sigh. I'm trying not to let the cold weather get me down though, as well as my homesickness for NOLA, and am just going to think positive and hope that we have a few more warm days that sneak in before the end of this winter season, and of course rejoice when spring and summer are finally upon us!

However, in light of my travels over the weekend, and being told by my mum that the weather would still be absolutely beautiful once I got back home, I decided to spend my last day strolling around The Big Easy in this absolutely adorable outfit, and once I got home, had the opportunity to do this outfit of the day photo shoot! What can I say, it was just too darling to pass up the opportunity, and while my mini vacation was nice, I was ready to jump right back into the blogging game (and officially had the opportunity to show off my new Prada eyeglasses).

Alluring Academic

After getting off my flight at the Pittsburgh International Airport, I have to admit that I was absolutely thrilled to walk out of the terminal and be graced with semi-warm weather as well as some gorgeous sunshine, it was much better than the shock of cold I was originally anticipating. Once I loaded my bags in her car and greeted my mum, we decided to enjoy the rest of the afternoon, as well as the lovely weather, and head to Sewickley for a quick stroll around town to catch up and talk about my trip, as well as grab a bite to eat at Lula. And though Lula doesn't have a dress code, this outfit was perfect for their fun and quirky atmosphere.

To start off this outfit, I chose to style this pink ruffle sleeve blouse from my longtime sponsor SheIn. Though I have styled this blouse on here before, it honestly got buried in my closet and I only found it when packing to my trip to New Orleans, and boy was I stoked that I found it--I forgot how much I adored it! The blouse itself is made of a medium weight material, and the cut of this piece is actually cropped, making it an excellent piece to wear with jeans for a more casual look, or like how I styled it here for a more chic but playful way to wear.

Next, I paired this blouse with my latest piece I which I received from Amazon Fashion. Again, this is another reason that I was so excited to find the blouse because I originally was fresh out of ideas of what to style with this skirt, but I'll get to more on that later. First, I would like to tell you about just how awesome this pretty midi skirt is! For starters, I do need to caution you that this skirt is made out of a light weight material, meaning it best suited for spring or summer, but it is definitely thick enough that there is no need for a slip underneath it. This skirt is also very well made and fits true to size (I am wearing an extra small), and includes a zipper closure on the left hand side. It is also 100% cotton meaning you can wash it on delicate at home or have it dry cleaned if you do not want to iron it yourself.

The reason why I chose to style this blouse and skirt duo together was firstly because once I found the blouse, I realized that these two pieces matched perfectly! This is because the pink of the blouse matches the light pink highlights in the skirt. Next, I felt that though the skirt is definitely a more classic piece (which is why I paired it with my Kate Spade Heels), the blouse would add a fun, quirky, and flirty touch, making this outfit a perfect pair. This look also gave me the advantage of looking cute without being over dressed for my travels, giving me a girly but casual vibe for my flight and outings after I returned home.

To accessorize this look, I first chose to wear my new Prada eyeglasses. For my readers who my not have known this, a fun fact about me is I am actually nearly blind without my glasses or contacts! And though I rarely wear my eyeglasses on here (something I really need to start styling more actually), I do wear them when I am travelling for fear of losing a contact and not being able to see at the airport! Next I went with some simple accessories such as my pink Kendra Scott Earrings and a plain hammered gold cuff by Gorjana. I then topped off my accessories with my ever trusty Chloe Drew bag.

Of course my look wouldn't be complete without some finishing touches of makeup! For this fun and flirty look, I chose to keep my makeup sweet and simple. I did this by using my favorite bareMinerals BarePro liquid foundation, my Julep Feels Like Velvet eyeshadow duo in Coconuts & Cabanas, Dior's "My Rose" Blush, and my Chanel Rouge Coco in Michele. I chose this light and airy color combination because I felt that they complemented my overall outfit perfectly, and added to its chic and girly appeal.

One Last Look

What are some of your favorite surprise pairings to style? Let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Have a gloriously girly outfit you'd just love 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.P.S. 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!

#OOTD: Posh Performance (Feat. Amazon + Terry Jolo Brand)

January 24, 2018 by Bree Fesh in Personal Style

Ahhhh, nothing like a little bit of an Indian summer to brighten up these cold, drab winter days, am I right? Even if in this case it was only in the low fifties, it is still way better the the below freezing temperatures we have been dealing with here in the 'Burgh lately. The only thing that isn't so great about this weather shift is, is I have unfortunately caught an awful cold. But I haven't let that get me down, and to take advantage of the nice weather we've had this week (along with attempting to make myself feel better), I have been doing one of my favorite pass times, and that is of course primping, styling, and dressing up!

Now it is not that I don't dress up when it's cold of course, but obviously frigid temperatures make it nearly impossible to wear a dress or a skirt with out turning into a popsicle halfway through the day. This is especially the case if your college campus is in a downtown setting like Point Park University, meaning you have to walk through the city streets to get from class to class. However, as stated earlier, with the weather actually being bearable this week, I've taken the opportunity to style some of my favorite posh pieces for my classes earlier this week.

Polished For Presentation

Another reason why I was stoked the weather has been nice this week is aside from allowing me to wear skirts and heels, it worked out great because my first semester is already off and running and I have actually have had two presentations already! Though this was a bit of a challenge due to the fact I currently have no voice (I seriously sound like a frog at the moment), I at least was able to feel confident by looking my best in one of my favorite outfits, even if I might have not sounded that great. To give myself this extra confidence boost, I chose to style this white, laser cut out blouse by Amazon Fashion + SheIn, along with this gorgeous brown, button front wool skirt from my long time collaborator and friend, Terry, owner of the Pittsburgh South Side boutique, Terry Jolo Brand.

First, let me tell you about this adorable top from Amazon Fashion + SheIn. Though I have written about SheIn since the very start of my blog (almost three years ago, wow!) I'm thrilled to announce that their clothes are now available for purchase on Amazon and Amazon Prime, which is great for quick shipping! And of course these clothes live up to the same quality and craftsmanship that you receive from SheIn's main site. This blouse is no different, much like all my other clothes fro SheIn, this blouse is exceptionally well made and very comfortable. I also just love every detail of this top, from its laser cutout pattern to its tied sleeves, which though it is otherwise plain, these small details really give this piece a little something extra. Lastly, this piece fits true to size and is quite versatile, meaning you can wear this piece as a casual top or dress it up a bit like I did for this post.

For the bottom half of my presentation day outfit, I chose this one of a kind, tailor made, skirt from Pittsburgh's South Side boutique, Terry Jolo Brand. I have mentioned Terry and her boutique many times here, but for those of you who are new to my blog, Terry Jolo Brand is a local boutique that specializes in one of a kind designs, all made by my friend Terry. It is located on 27th Carson Street, right across the street from South Side Works. As I stated earlier, most of her pieces are one of a kind creations so you are guaranteed to have your own uniquely designed piece, and when you design your piece, Terry will meet with you and tailor your design to fit you perfectly. Aside from this skirt fitting me like a glove due to this process, I also love the material which is a combination of wool and velvet, which makes this a great piece for fall and winter. (One last note about this piece: It has pockets!!)

To further style these two pieces, I chose to pair them with my brown Prada Saffiano bag along with y black bow tie heels by Ralph Lauren. The reason I chose to style these pieces with this look is because for one, I loved how the light brown leather of my bag complemented the deep brown color of the skirt, and I felt the gold detailing on the heels played well off of the gold detailing on my bag.

Keeping my gold accessory theme, to add a little shine to this look, I chose to wear this pretty gold crystal points necklace and this moonlight daydream cuff, each by SLATE. Though both of these pieces are simple, they really add a nice touch and some extra polish to this outfit.

To complete my presentation day outfit, I decided to go with a light, airy, and natural makeup look. To achieve this, I used my bareMinerals Bare Pro liquid foundation, bareMinerals Gorgeous Eyes kit, Dior "My Rose" blush, and Covergirl's Oh Sugar lipstick. The reason I chose to go with a more subtle makeup look is because I wanted to keep this outfit looking fresh, polished, and professional.

One Last Look

What are some of your favorite professional looks to style this season? Let's chat about it in the comment section below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Have an awesome presentation day look of your own that you just need to show off? Feel free to tag me in your Instagram story at @StarkRavingChic. Later, babes!

Xx, Bree