Posts tagged ‘simple’
The Perfect White Tee
Clockwise from top left: Etoile Isabel Marant | Rag & Bone | R13 | Topshop | T by Alexander Wang
There are a couple of things I consider to be essentials in my wardrobe — a leather jacket, flattering jeans, a classic black bag — but I’ve found none to be as versatile and important as the simple white t-shirt. Worn casually with a basic pair of jeans or dressed up with a floor-length skirt, the options for styling a plain white t-shirt are literally endless — it’s the finding of the ultimate PWT (plain white tee) that can be tricky.
I used to wear white Hane’s t-shirts exclusively — they’re just so affordable and easy to find! — but realized that their boxy fit and crunchy fabric wasn’t the most flattering to my shape. I then turned my attention to American Apparel tees that feature a softer fabric but still have the unfortunate quadratic fit. Knowing fully well that I needed a better option/go-to for a white tee (and aware that I wasn’t alone in the quest to find the perfect one), I started to think about all the qualities I look for in a good tee. The first thing that came to mind was thinness; I want the fabric to be worn-in enough that you can see my areolas bra beneath it. The next thing that perked up in my noggin was obviously the shape of the tee. I don’t want anything too fitted, but I also don’t want to look like I’m wearing a shirt made for Spongebob. A slight tapering at the waistline with a looser and wider fit at the hemline is ideal. Then there’s the sleeve situation. I hate when sleeves are baggy and long, fitting like an extra large sweatshirt sleeve cut just above the elbow. But I also hate when the sleeve is so tight it looks like it’s pinching my sagging tricep arm. There should be a happy medium between the two where the hem of the sleeve sits about 4-5 inches below my shoulder and has room to slip one to two fingers between the fabric and my skin. I’ll bet you never thought someone could get so particular about something as simple as a white t-shirt; or maybe you have and that’s why you’re still reading this post. The good news is that there are multiple brands that understand the art of the perfect white t-shirt and though they’re not as accessible as a Hane’s t-shirt at your local Duane Reade, they’re just a click away from your fingertip (after you put in your credit card number and billing zipcode but whatever you know how to online shop).
My favorite t-shirt brands include but are not limited to: Etoile Isabel Marant, Topshop, T by Alexander Wang, R13, Rag & Bone, Wilt and LNA and can be shopped in the slideshow below.
I ♥ Duane Reade
The drug store is one of my favorite places on earth. Whether I’m going in to refill a prescription or buying a new batch of toilet paper, I inevitably walk out with a plastic bag full of extra unnecessary goodies. And it’s never a “quick trip”. I can spend hours in Duane Reade, meandering through every aisle from lotions to bandaids, excited at the prospect of filling my medicine, beauty, and cleaning cabinets with more more more!
There’s something thrilling about testing new products, especially when they’re sold at moderate prices. I don’t think I’ve ever purchased the same toothbrush twice in a row (I like to change up the bristles and colors!), and discovering new cleaning products gets me as excited as the house wife I have yet to become.
Since I discuss a lot of my pricier beauty products on here, I thought I’d share with you some of my latest discoveries and staples that can be purchased at your closest Walgreens, Duane Reade, Rite Aid, CVS, and if you’re lucky, grocery store.
From left to right: Maybelline Baby Lips in Pink Punch, Cherry Me, & Grape Vine; Revlon lipstick in Sultry Sable, Wink For Pink, & Kiss Me Coral
I buy a significant amount of my lipstick from Duane Reade. My favorite brand is Revlon as I find it lasts the longest, has the largest variety of colors, and offers a number of different finishes from matte to shiny. I’ve also recently become obsessed with Maybelline “Baby Lips”. I have them in every color and find that they’re perfect for when I want something a bit more subtle. They also smell and taste good…
From left to right: L’Oreal Power Volume Mascara, Revlon Color Stay Eyeliner, Covergirl eyeshadow, Revlon eyeshadow
Even though DiorShow Mascara is my #1 go-to, I like to switch up brands every once in awhile. L’Oreal’s Power Volume Collagen mascara coats the lashes evenly while still giving a touch of clump for that extra full look. I’m still mastering the art of the cat eye, but have found the angular brush and dense color in Revlon’s Color Stay eyeliner to yield the best results. Now it’s all about steadying my hands. And while I’m not big on eyeshadow, I love the color variety in these CoverGirl and Revlon palettes.
From left to right: Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion, Garnier Moisturizing Gel, Aquaphor
The lotion aisle may be my biggest time waster, which is kind of silly since I really don’t moisturize my body enough. I’ve tried a number of different brands but Cetaphil remains the winner for least greasy application. I go through face lotion by the month and sometimes it’s just not worth spending a fortune on. So I alternate each month using either Dr. Jart’s Water Sure Gel from Sephora or Garnier’s Moisturizing Gel (they’re both ridiculously refreshing). I cannot praise Aquaphor enough. From nurturing my chapped lips to hydrating dry skin on the go, these tubes can be found in every single one of my handbags.
Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover, Almay Makeup Eraser Sticks
Since I wear mascara and eyeliner on a daily basis, finding a good eye makeup remover is crucial for the cleanliness of my white pillow cases. I use Dove Cold Cream for the initial removal and then follow up with Neutrogena’s Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover. I like to keep Almay Makeup Eraser Sticks with me for days when my liner or mascara get a little too smudgy.
Arm & Hammer Essentials Natural Deodorizer, Simple Soothing Facial Toner, Burt’s Bees Sugar Scrub
I used to use Dove’s deodorant religiously. But then my friend introduced me to a natural deodorizer that works as well as an antiperspirant and smells divine. Arm & Hammer’s Natural Deodorizer feels like butter when I put it on and lasts me throughout the day unlike many of the other natural deodorants I’ve tried. After washing my face at night, I like to use a light toner to wipe off any extra dirt or makeup. Simple’s Soothing Facial Toner is alcohol free and leaves my skin looking as refreshed as it could look at the end of the day. And lastly, I’m all for weekly exfoliation. Since I go through these pretty quickly, I try not to spend too much money on them. Burt’s Bees Honey & Shea Sugar Scrub is moderately priced, smells like candy, and does a heavy duty job on scrubbing away any excess skin.
Do you have any drug store favorites? If you do tell me so I can go waste some more time in my favorite store.
Greys Anatomy
As I said, there are some days that I dress like a total whacka-doo and then there are others when I’m as simple as they come. Here lies one of the more standard outfits to emerge from my wardrobe. A linen blazer, skinny jeans, a pair of booties, and a graphically printed t-shirt that I turned inside out for something even more simple. The result isn’t nearly as exciting as what comes from pairing polka dot pants with a cropped tee and cat eye sunglasses, but sometimes a basic outfit can feel equally as chic.
In other news, have you guys ever watched Grey’s Anatomy? I know I’m late to the game, but I just started watching and am totally addicted.
{ Mango blazer (old), Junk Food t-shirt turned inside out c/o, Genetic Denim jeans, Roberto Cavalli heels, Angel Jackson bag }
//photos by Emily Malan
Wardrobe Game-Changer
This blazer is a wardrobe game-changer. At first glance you might be wondering what on earth a rabbit hole is doing dangling around my thighs, but allow me to explain. Along with adding a modern touch to an otherwise standard piece (it actually kind of reminds me of Kimberly Ovitz), this rabbit hole makes it possible for me to wear this blazer in at least five different ways. Slipping an arm through the hole suddenly turns the blazer into an elegantly sexy blouse, while putting my head through it adds an entirely new and structured look. Pure architectural genius.
I decided to wear it in its most simple format the other day, but stay tuned for a post where I show you all the different ways it can be worn!
{ Harputs Blazer, Zara Shirt (similar here), Hudson Jeans, Kelsi Dagger Boots, Zara Bag, Stella & Dot Necklace, Bauble Bar Frog Cuff }
// photos by Sevan Kalayjian
Style Icon: Alana Zimmer
Does the outfit above look familiar? It should; I pretty much copied it in my outfit post yesterday. Until I saw the above photo on Vanessa Jackman’s blog, I’d never really thought of Alana Zimmer as a style icon. Unlike many other models, Alana doesn’t appear on every single style blog during Fashion Week, but lord almighty when she does she looks goooood. So good in fact that I nixed the other style guru I had in mind for this month and decided to feature her instead.
Her style is simple, clean, and feminine - kind of like a Celine collection. Her outfits don’t feature a ton of color, but when they do she knows how to work them in without looking like a character from Rainbow Brite (not that anything is wrong with Rainbow Brite, I love Rainbow). But take the outfit featured below: the clementine orange sweater is just the right touch of color to a simple look of navy trousers and a crisp white button down. In fact, many of her looks have that one accent piece that turn up the heat on an otherwise basic outfit (cue her hat in the photo below the orange sweater or the asymmetrical jacket in the last photo of this post). Brilliance.
I can’t wait to see what she busts out this coming Fashion Week!
