Impromptu #OOTD: Playing With Plaid (Feat. SheIn)

If I had to pick one pattern that I was an absolute sucker for, the pattern I would have to choose is plaid. I don’t know why, but something about the look of overlapping tartan squares has always been appealing to me. Perhaps this is just due to nostalgia, because while I was growing up, all through elementary and middle school, the skirts for my school uniforms were plaid. Whatever the reason though, plaid always seems to be the most dominant pattern in my wardrobe and I continue to have so much fun styling these pieces. Recently, I had the chance to add yet another fabulously checkered piece to my closet, and this new piece would be the latest dress I received from my longtime sponsor, SheIn.

The Casual Cowl Neck

Though normally I try to avoid styling dresses in the winter due to the cold and snowy weather (here in the ‘Burgh we’ve gotten about a foot of snow in just a matter of hours— my classes at Point Park were actually cancelled yesterday due to the poor weather conditions), I was honestly a bit overly eager to style this adorable shift dress, and jumped on the first opportunity I had! So, on Monday I decided to step out in this pretty dress for a casual lunch date at Dominico’s after my morning classes, and I have to say the reactions I got from this darling piece did not disappoint.

Firstly, as mentioned earlier, the plaid pattern of this dress is honestly my favorite thing about it, but along with the pattern, I also adore the color combinations. Though I am normally not a fan of blue and yellow together, in this particular instance these two colors really work together to create a very visually pleasing color palette. This is due to the fact that the yellows and blues work transitionally through out the dress, making the shift from warm to cool colors less harsh. I also love how these colors play off of one another and how natural and earthy all of the colors are, making this piece great for both the fall and winter seasons.

The dress itself is honestly just an overall great piece. I would recommend this piece to anyone looking for a nice, casual, fall or winter dress to add to their wardrobe. Aside from having great colors for each of these seasons, this dress is also made of wool, meaning it is a thicker as well as heavier material which is perfect for winter because it will surely keep you warm. Personally, that was the biggest “win” for me with this dress. I also adore its cozy cowl neck design, which is great for a laid back look either on campus or just a relaxing, low key day out. This dress’ loose fit and high-low cut also adds to its casual chic appeal, because these qualities give the dress a fun and flowy look. Lastly, like every piece of clothing I have received from SheIn, this dress is incredibly well made and fits true to size.

To style this dress for my lunch date (as well as for this impromptu outfit of the day post) I chose to keep it simple and leave my accessories at a minimum. First I chose to pair this dress with these adorable Nova Fringe Earrings by Perry Street, and this dainty, gold, choker by Rudiment. The reason I chose these earrings to style with this look is because I felt they added a whimsical and fun feel to this cute cowl neck dress, and I chose such a dainty necklace because I felt a more prominent necklace would be to overpowering. I then chose to carry my market bag with this dress simply because the colors just matched perfectly and the bag itself also has a relaxed vibe to it. And to complete this look, I topped it off with my absolute favorite booties, which are also from SheIn. The reason I felt these were the best choice to complete my outfit is due to the fact their tan color plays well off of the dress’ earth tones.

Lastly, I want to talk about my makeup for this kicked back look. As always, I used my go to Mattifying primer by Julep (you can read more about it here!) and bareMinerals BarePro Liquid Foundation. But I also got some new goodies from Julep that I took the opportunity to use and those would be Julep’s Eyeshadow 101 in Shimmering Orchid and Julep’s Skip The Brush Blush Stick in Passionfruit. And though these products will be appearing in a later post, I have to say these products work great and I absolutely adore them! The colors have great pigment and they’re long lasting which is great for all day wear. I finished off my makeup look with NARS Fast Ride lipstick. The reason I chose these colors for this look is I felt their deep and earthy tones complemented my over all look.

One Last Look

What are some of your favorite patterns to style? Let’s chat about them in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Have a fabulous plaid dress that you have just been dying to show off? I’d love to see it so feel free to tag me in you 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: 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

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)

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.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!

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!