DIY Cutout Blouse

Inspiration:

Who knew shoulderblades could be so scandalous!?

The blouse in the picture is (once again), from NastyGal.com

Their stuff is really cute, but usually overpriced. For example, this blouse is $58.00! I took one look at it and said, I can do this.

So I went to Ross, and bought a collared shirt. 

Expression (the process):

Step 1. Choose a shirt with a collar. Make sure it is woven fabric and not knit. I think knit fabric would be too weak for this process. 

Ross $13.99

I chose a loose-fitted boyish cut, because this look is all about balance. If you're showing some skin, the garment should be loose. When you're wearing something tight fitting that also shows a lot of skin it is a completely different kind of sexy. Not bad, just different ;)

Step 2. Put it on. Take a good look at it. Decide how low you're going to cut in the front. Mark it in some way. This is an important step because if you cut too low you will not be happy. Remember, you can always cut more.

I didn't mark mine because I used the plaid as my guide to cut straight across the front. The shirt I chose doesn't have pockets, but I think those would be helpful too if you're trying to cut straight.

Step 3. Start cutting! Cut along the edge of the collar, the shoulder seam, and the sleeve, and then straight across the front to the button placket and back to where you started. Do this on both sides of the shirt.

Don't cut the thread!

*Important* Cut along the stitching. Do not cut the thread, only the fabric! I turned my shirt inside out so I could easily see the thread of the stitching.  

Step 4. Put it on!

With bra

No bra

Keep in mind that the type of fabric you choose will greatly alter the way the finished product looks. I went with a plaid to make my little Seattle heart happy. It worked well as a guide for cutting too, and I think it makes the shirt look extra boyish for a great contrast with the open shoulders.
*Note* The edges will fray across the front unless you sew them. I think the frayed edges will add to the look, so I'm just going to leave them raw.

You can use the leftover pieces too:

I probably wouldn't wear these together, but the pieces were just big enough to tie
around my ponytail

Thanks for reading!

XoxO

Electric Black

Inspiration:

Expression:

 

About the Look:

The photographer sent me just one photo as inspiration. She said the theme was "black" and that red lips were a must. The rest was up to me.

I was definitely inspired by that image. Black on black is a classic look. My rule is to add texture, or play with the silhouette.  I chose the spiked jacket because in the original image there is texture in the shoulder area. (If you want to know more about my jacket read the Gaga post!) Since it is so hard to match blacks, I made it obvious I wasn't trying to by combining contrasting fabrics such as leather with the soft knit peplum top, and the soft rayon sweater with shiny polyester leggings.

Knowing red lips were part of the look, I decided red nails would make a great addition. 

For my makeup I did a very heavy black smokey eye. The trick to this is to start with eyeliner, add purple shadow, and then add black shadow on top of the liner and violet. This adds more depth to the smokey eye. With any heavy lip color it's important to use lip liner so the color doesn't bleed. 

I kept the accessories simple, because I knew that they would not be the focal point. All clothing came from Forever 21, Ross, and Nordstrom Rack. 

Other than that we just hit the lights, turned on the fan, and had some fun!

All photos and inspiration image courtesy of Kaylyn Beauprey.

Thanks for reading!!

XOXO

Sunshine, Streetstyle, Sunset

About the look:
It was a beautiful day in Seattle...something we don't see very often. The look was inspired by the LA screentee, and the weather. I wanted a combination of urban and pretty, hence the red lips, heels, and curled hair. If I had wanted a harder look I would have gone for high top sneakers and a hat.

Top: Upper Playground-Portland, OR
Jacket: Blanc Noir- Nordstrom Rack
Belt-Thrift store
Jeans- Forever 21-customized with bleach and a razor blade by yours truly
Shoes- Steve Madden- Ross
Ring- gift

Thanks for reading!
XOXO

What I Love Today: St. Ive's Skin Products

When it comes to beauty products, I always like to try new things. That means even if I like something, when I run out of it I am likely to buy something different the next time. Well these three products from St. Ive's have stolen my heart. A few of them I tried to buy something different when I ran out, and ended up going right back. I promise not to cheat on you again St. Ive's! 

I want to share them with you (my lovely readers) but first let me say this: I have sensitive skin. It gets dry easily, so these products cater to that trait. If you have a more oily skin type, there's a chance you may not love these products as much as I do. 

1. Oatmeal &Shea Butter Body Wash. 

Hello Handsome...

Why I love it:

This bodywash is gentle on your skin, but still gets it clean. After the shower if you don't have time or energy to cover yourself with lotion, you will survive, because it actually moisturizes your skin! Yet somehow, it doesn't leave you with that oily, unclean feeling. Oh, and it smells amazing too. Whether you're waking up and showering before a tough day, or calming down after one, somehow the smell is the perfect comfort. 

2. Oatmeal & Shea Butter Naturally Soothing Lotion

You look familiar, do you have a brother?

Why I love it:

Obviously I'm a fan of this scent. Like many girls I have quite a collection of lotions, but this one is my favorite for reasons besides the aroma. It isn't too thin, or too thick. It dries quickly. It doesn't leave an oily residue. That's it. Plain and simple it does what a lotion should. It moisturizes and it smells great! I use this after every single shower, on every part of my body. It is a mild enough scent that it doesn't overpower perfumes either, which is very nice. 

3. Naturally Clear Green Tea Scrub

Hey Good Lookin!

Why I love it:

If your skin is anything like mine, most types of scrubs seem to do more harm than damage (especially if you're working on a budget). For instance, I love the good old Apricot Scrub, which is also a St. Ive's product, but it is much too harsh to use on any kind of regular basis. This scrub is different. The actual scrubbing granules are very small, and thus not as harsh. Meanwhile, this scrub includes a small amount of acne medication, but not enough to burn your face and (at least in my case) turn it red. I use this scrub almost every time I shower, and leave it on for a little while before rinsing. My skin is never irritated by it or excessively dried out afterward. And of course, it smells very nice too!

So if your skin has issues with dryness or you just want to try something new, I suggest giving these products a shot. They're a great value for the price, and in my experience they work terrifically.

Thanks for reading! 

XOXO

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Destination Dive-Bar (Style Notes)

Last night I went to meet a friend at a bar in Georgetown (South Seattle). When putting together an outfit I always take a lot of things into consideration including practicality, setting, and company.

To begin the process I always pick at least one thing I want to wear for sure, and build the rest of my outfit to coordinate. I knew that this bar is very low key, and although I could have worn heels without looking completely out of place, I knew I would be playing pool, and probably having to park a few blocks away, so I began my outfit by selecting shoes. I opted for flats:

Distressed and studded. Just the right amount of edge. Dirty Laundry boots from Nordstrom Rack. 

The next step was to pick out what I wanted to wear with my boots, and I chose an earth-toned short sleeve sweater. 

Heathered, comfy sweater by Kensie. Thank you Ross clearance!

It is still cold outside, and this was an outfit for night time, so I added tights and socks. 

These are thigh high socks, scrunched down for extra heat and a cool  look. 

And even though the sweater was long enough to cover all my important parts, I wanted to be comfortable and I was keeping my destination and company in mind. So I added slouchy shorts. Still (unintentionally) sticking to earth tones.

Charcoal shorts from Forever 21. 

Short sleeves wont cut it in this weather, especially with shorts, so I added a jacket. I chose a hooded zip-up to compliment my comfortable look, and this one has no shoulder seam, making it especially loose fitted. Plus it adds a little shine, which is always necessary! 

Dolman sleeve sweatshirt from Forever 21. 

When I put it all together, I noticed the cream socks were standing out too much and needed some balance, so I chose accessories to tie the socks in with the darker tones. 

Cream and white accessories to coordinate with the socks.

Last I added a cream scarf with some sparkle. Why wear a necklace and a scarf? Because the scarf is usually the layer that is first to be removed.

One of my favorite scarves. From Ross. 

The completed outfit. Destination: dive bar!

Please excuse my self-photography skills. 

Scrunched up long sweater

This is how the jewelry looks with the scarf. 

Comfy, cool, and just the right amount of shiny.

Then I just grabbed a clutch and headed out. Always better to have a small clutch in my opinion when headed to the bar. Especially one that zips all the way closed on the top. 

Blush pink faux leather clutch from Ross. 

Thanks for reading!