It’s that time again! Today I’m excited to share my fall 2018 capsule wardrobe plan and a few of the things I’ve added for this season. I also upgraded my editing techniques a bit and I hope you enjoy. Thanks so much for watching!
A Primer On Primers | A Few Of My Favorites
Yesterday I spent a nice chunk of my evening sorting and organizing my makeup and discarding anything empty. This process is one that I love to do as the seasons change and it’s a great way for me to take stock of what I have, what I used and loved and what needs to be replaced. While sorting everything yesterday I realized (unsurprisingly) that I have a thing for primers and despite my frequent clean outs, I have amassed a pretty descent sized collection of nearly empty bottles and tubes. These primers span varying price points and formulas and since I’ve had good luck with all of these, today I want to share some of my favorites with you.
Below I’ve outlined each of the primers I currently have in my collection along with how much of each I’ve used (it’s hard to tell from the picture). I’ve listed these from left to right based on the above photo.
VAPOUR STRATUS SOFT FOCUS SKIN PERFECTING PRIMER | First up is an all-natural primer from Vapour. I have been a longtime lover of Vapour and was very lucky to receive the heavenly Vapour Stratus Soft Focus Skin Perfecting Primer in 903 as a PR gift. This gluten free, cruelty free primer helps to balance skin and smooth texture for a flawless canvas with or without foundation. The airy texture fills in fine lines and diffuses wrinkles and comes in 3 shades to suit your individual needs. I wear 903 for it’s redness reducing properties and have loved wearing it alone with mascara and lip balm this summer. Though it’s hard to tell from this photo I’m nearly finished with it and think it’s a beautiful option if you prefer natural formulations that still deliver. It’s also made in the US.
BURBERRY FRESH GLOW LUMINOUS FLUID BASE PRIMER | This next primer is a true indulgence and despite being marketed as a primer, I use it more as a targeted highlighter that I apply under my makeup for a naturally luminous glow. The Burberry Fresh Glow Primer is light and breathable on the skin and imparts the slightest glow (without the glitter) and on my skin tone it works perfectly as a highlighter. I use it one of two ways, either over my tinted moisturizer or foundation and lightly tapped onto my cheekbones, cupid’s bow and brow bone or heavier on the high points of my face before applying my foundation. The first method gives me the nicest looking highlight while the second method makes my skin look so fresh and glowy (hence the name) and as if I’ve been eating my veggies. It also works applied all over my face like a true primer but on my combo to oily skin it can leave me a little too glowy (sweaty) during the hot and humid summer months. Since I use it so sparingly I still have more than half of this bottle left.
BECCA BACKLIGHT PRIMING FILTER | The Becca Backlight Priming Filter is one of my favorite luminous primers. Not only does it smell fantastic (avoid this if you’re sensitive to fragrance) but it also leaves my skinny glowing in all the right ways without ever making me look greasy. Much like the Laura Mercier primer that I’m going to discuss next and the Vapour primer above, I love to use this either under foundation, tinted moisturizer, concealer or alone with no more than some mascara and lip balm during the summer. It’s a truly beautiful product and is also paraben-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free and cruelty-free.
LAURA MERCIER RADIANCE PRIMER | I mentioned this next primer on my YouTube channel a while ago and have been using it weekly ever since. I’m nearly done with the tube now (I maybe have 1 or 2 more uses left) and love how it leaves me looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed but never greasy. Plus, it’s a favorite of Meghan Markle so what’s not to love.
BECCA FIRST LIGHT PRIMING FILTER | This next Becca Primer is a sample that has me seriously coveting the full size. I’m nearly done with this small tube but love how it instantly illuminates and evens my complexion. When first applied, it looks a little discolored and the first time I used it I was a little worried. But, after letting it set in and then applying my foundation on top of it, I was amazed at how wonderful my skin looked. This is definitely the primer for days when your skin isn’t it’s best and it’s one that I absolutely love.
HOURGLASS VEIL MINERAL PRIMER | Last but not least is one of my all-time favorite primers and one that I’ve repurchased countless times over the years. The Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer is the silkiest, non-silicone based primer that keeps my makeup in place on even the hottest and humid days. It’s oil-free, weightless and multipurpose miraculously conceals redness, minimizes pores and leaves my skin looking airbrushed. My only qualm with this one is that it can sometimes leave a white cast if I apply it too liberally and may not be right for anyone with a skin tone that’s one or more shades darker than mine. My perfect application is to lightly blend a small amount in downward motions, only where I need it. I let it set for a few seconds and then apply the rest of my makeup. This primer is also paraben-free, sulfate-free. phthalate-free, oil-free, gluten-free, fragrance-free, synthetic dye-free, Vegan, not tested on animals and made in the USA. I have about half left of this bottle but once I’m done I may hold of repurchasing until next spring.
Mad For Plaid | A Few Of My Favorite Plaid Pieces For Fall
image via tumblr
I’m officially in full on fall planning! Even though it’s still very hot here in Charleston and will stay this way for a while, I’m beginning to switch over my closet for the new season and narrowing in on the items I’m going to add. One of the key things I have my eye on is a pair of plaid pants. For me, I think these will be the perfect way to blend trendy and classic and I’m excited to try out a lower end option this season to see how they work with my overall wardrobe, and if they’re worth investing more money and quality into in the future. Due to the style details (slim fit, wrinkle resistant if possible, ankle length, mid to high rise, muted color palette, belt loops) and lower budget I’m working with (under $50), many of the options I’ve honed in on aren’t made from 100% natural fibers but they are all classic and versatile and appear to be well constructed. Also, during my search for the perfect plaid pant, I’ve come across so many wonderful checked items and want to share some of them with you today.
PANTS
BLAZERS & JACKETS
ACCESSORIES
Tailoring 101
As we continue our "Master Your Style" series, I want to talk about the one thing that can truly make or break your wardrobe - tailoring. I've discussed the importance of tailoring countless times, but today I want to delve deeper into this often overlooked but incredibly important piece of your style pie. So, we're going to review why tailoring is so important, how it can transform even the most inexpensive piece into something that looks like a million bucks, and how you can go about getting your own clothing tailored.
WHY SHOULD YOU TAILOR YOUR CLOTHES?
Clothing off the rack is designed to fit the masses. Brands use a fit model for each size and then create universal patterns that they use for every size 8 item they create. This means that you'll very rarely find something that fits you perfectly off the rack
It doesn't matter how much or how little something costs, if it doesn't fit you well, it won't look as good as it possibly can
Tailoring your clothes is a wonderful way to highlight your favorite features and diminish the things you're not so crazy about. So with a few small tweaks you can look taller, thinner, curvier etc. Plus, the better something fits, the better it looks
If you take the time to find a piece for your wardrobe that you want to have for years to come, you should also take the time to make it perfect
Tailoring something to your body makes it look bespoke which makes it look way more expensive than it may have been otherwise - i.e. you can spend $20 at the thrift store and $30 tailoring and walk away with a piece for $50 that looks a million times better than a $400 item straight off the rack.
It's a wonderful way to preserve the life of a piece because you can adjust it (within reason) as your body changes
Our society has taught us not to invest in ourselves and our appearance unless we're perfectly how we want to be and I encourage you to resist that temptation. Instead of waiting to have things tailored because you may lose weight or gain weight, have some of your favorite pieces tailored to you right now and I think your confidence will skyrocket and you can start living right now
HOW TO TAILOR YOUR CLOTHES
Now I want to share a quick rundown of some of the things you should keep in mind when tailoring your clothes. I go into more detail in my corresponding video below and like always I would love to know if you have anything to add.
First things first, it’s important to be realistic. Certain things can't be tailored so it's important to familiarize yourself with what can and can't be done. That way you save yourself time and money and don't buy something thinking it can be tailored when it can't. Some examples of things that can't easily be fixed or adjusted by a tailor are:
Generally speaking, you can take sleeves and hems up and down an inch or two - just make sure that if you want to make something longer you have enough extra fabric to do so. Also, for blazers and jackets etc sometimes you can take the sleeve up or down at the shoulder to avoid removing the bottom button (taking it from 4 to 3 buttons), but you should confirm that with your tailor before hand. That method is more intensive so it usually takes longer and costs a little more
For jeans, your tailor should be able to shorten them and reattach the original hem. This is the sign of a good tailor and makes your jeans look like they were truly made for you
You can also typically take things in or out by no more than a few inches or one size (anymore can alter the silhouette and shape too much)
For the best results you should start with things that almost fit you but can be perfected
Next when it comes time to find a tailor you want to do your research! Check yelp, ask a friend, ask a coworker that always looks great. Take your time finding a tailor and then call them to get a feel for their pricing. Some tailors will even offer free consultations so you can get a feel for them, their style and their pricing before you commit
Ask questions! When you do find a tailor, ask as many questions as possible. A great tailor will be happy to answer your questions and should do so freely. The more they can help you up front, the more knowledgable you'll become and the better you'll be at spotting things that can and can't be tailored. You'll also start to familiarize yourself with the tweaks you like to make for clothes to feel and look better on you
When you do settle on a tailor, test them out with something inexpensive and fairly simple like a pant hem or taking a blazer in
Keep in mind that generally speaking, the common places for tailoring are the shoulders, the waist (for both pants and jackets), the length (for both sleeves and pants) and taper on pants
When you go to your appointment make sure you bring along the shoes you plan to wear with any bottoms you’re having tailored so that you can ensure they are hemmed perfectly.
When you get to your appointment, the tailor will have you try the items on (with the shoes you plan to wear them with) and they’ll will pin your clothes where you want things tailored so that you can see how the finished product looks before they make a single cut
Once everything looks good they’ll take the items and work their magic. This process typically takes between 1 and 2 weeks to complete depending on what you’re having done and how busy your tailor is
