Posts tagged ‘tips’
The Hoodie
I wore so many hoodies throughout college and high school I may as well have been Eminem in 8 Mile. While most hoodie-wearers paired the cozy tops with equally cozy bottoms — i.e. gut-expanding sweatpants or leggings — I took my hoodie cues from the homelessly chic Olsen twins; these sweatshirts weren’t just about comfort, they were style.statements. Hoodies were a more important component to my day-to-day look than shoes (guilty!), and I paired them with everything from fitted blazers to flared denim to cropped t-shirts that exposed my peach baby-fuzz snail trail.
This all began to fade away however, when I graduated from the days of textbooks and cafeteria food to day planners and martinis. Suddenly an outfit paired with a hoodie was no longer a desired look; it felt too youthful and casual for my New York City life. And soon, the hoodies which once took residence in one of the more accessible drawers in my apartment moved to a plastic bin under my bed.
In the past year, the relaxed, casual trend has made a comeback and consequently slithered its way back into my day-to-day style (let this be a lesson to all of you out there who love to throw things away. Things do come back into style!). I’ll still always have an affinity for sky-high heels and more sophisticated pieces, but it’s refreshing to have the option to wear, say, a fuzzy camouflage hoodie, and not look or feel like a complete and utter college-campus-bum. Other perks to the reintroduction of hoodies is the convenient kangaroo pouch (hello, cell phone!), the hood (hello, nap time!), and the sheer softness of the fabric (this isn’t your average itchy mohair sweater).
When it came to styling said hoodie, I opted for pieces that one might not immediately assume to pair with a sweatshirt (i.e. not jeans). After a few trial and error periods — the jeans were just so tempting! — I went with this crisp white pleated skirt, the heeled booties you’ve likely grown sick of, and the leather jacket that I may remarry this weekend just to make sure it knows the level of my devotion.
Do I think this trend will stick around? No, probably not. But hoodies, no matter how you wear them, be it curled up on your couch on a Sunday night or attempting your best Carrie Bradshaw strut down 5th Avenue, will always be a staple in everyone’s wardrobe.
You can quote me on that.
Alternative Apparel hoodie | Schott jacket | Supertrash skirt (this one is awesome, too) | Kelsi Dagger booties
// photos by Emily Malan
Embracing Your Inner Nudist
NARS Pure Matte Lipstick in ‘Madère’, Deborah Lippmann nail polish in ‘Prelude to a Kiss’, Essie nail polish in ‘Mamba’, YSL Ombre Solo eyeshadow in ‘The Naturals’
I’m no goth, but when it comes to makeup I’ve always preferred hues on the darker side of the spectrum. My eyeliner has remained a dark espresso color since the beginning of college — this was a graduation from caked on black eyeliner in high school — and as for eyeshadows and lipsticks, I’ve stuck almost exclusively to the smokey eye and bold red or burgundy lip when craving an extra oomph to my look. This color theory also applies to my nails as I’ve been painting my digits a variation of reds, blacks, and blues since the days of Hard Candy nail polish. This summer however, as my nail polish continued to chip after hours spent in the pool and I had less of a need for a dramatic eye or bold lip — summer is all about low maintenance beauty if you ask me — I gradually stopped painting my nails and began using less and less makeup in my everyday regime.
Now that summer is over and fall is in the air — can I get an, “Ohhh yeah!” — I’ve amped up my beauty routine again and instead of returning to the darkness that is the majority of my beauty products, I’ve opted to continue with this whole nudist theme. What I like about this nakedness is that it allows you to add pops of color without looking like Jessica Rabbit. For example, obviously I’m not wearing nude eyeshadow and nude lips at the time, that would just make me look like a creepy mannequin (or maybe that’s your thing?), but when the eyes are bare, the lips have a chance to make a statement and vice versa. As for nails, there’s something refreshing about a nude nail that lets the rings on my fingers stand out and the whole chipped polish thing become unimportant. The only downside is that more often than not, people can see the dirt buildup beneath your fingernails, but who really cares about that anyways?
Summer Beauty: The Makeup Edition
Makeup that’s not only shvitz proof, but also shvitz complimentary is probably as important as a strong deodorant during the summer. And while I enjoy Heidi Klum’s theory that, “More is more,” something tells me she’s blessed with Central Air and the lack of a sweat gene because let me tell you, Heidi, and the rest of you, when it comes to summertime in the city, less is more.
Along with my desire to walk around naked while clutching a portable air conditioner, I also want makeup that won’t end up dribbling down my face the second I step outside. I made a rookie mistake continuing my normal beauty routine for my first few summers in New York City, but I’ve learned my lesson and have adopted a new regime that’s simple, flattering, and sweat resistant.
The first thing I apply is bareMinerals Original Foundation with SPF 15 to my T-Bone Steak, I mean T-Zone. It not only evens out my skin tone, but absorbs the inevitable shine that accumulates throughout the day.
After that, pending I have a tan, I use Victoria’s Secret Illuminating Face Powder in Next to Nude on my cheekbones. This adds a hint of pinky bronze to my skin as well as a touch of glimmer that gives that much-desired sun kissed look. Careful not too add too much or else you’ll look like Mariah Carey on the cover of her movie Glitter. Or a Real Housewife. Or a My Little Pony. Really just anything fake. Well, except My Little Ponies because those are real. Ok, I’m done.
As you likely read last week, I’ve recently become a fan of thick, bushy eyebrows. Using Anastasia’s Brow Powder Duo, I slightly darken my eyebrows which surprisingly brings out the rest of the features on my face. The powder also lasts throughout a sweaty day, which is more than I can say for my eyeliner, even after applying my beloved goop.
I then apply a generous amount of Kiehl’s Lip Balm, not necessarily because it hydrates my lips (it doesn’t really do it for me), but because I’ve noticed that its sunblock works better than the other sun proof lip balms I’ve tried. Then, if I’m feeling ambitious, I’ll add a swipe of CoverGirl Liplicks Smoochies Lip Balm (who comes up with these names?) in #Text Me (no seriously, who comes up with these names?). A light application is the perfect amount of raspberry pink, while a couple of swipes gives my smackers a hue similar to the one I might get from eating too many cherries.
I finish off my look by brushing my lashes with the one and only mascara every girl should own, DiorShow Waterproof Mascara. The Waterproof is really code for Sweatproof, and no mascara has ever made my lashes look so luscious without clumping them together.
Then I’m out on the town, frying eggs on the sidewalks, and running through fire hydrants to keep me cool, but I never leave home without my Caudalíe Beauty Elixer, which smells fantastic, tones my skin, cools me down, and keeps my makeup in place. One spritz on the overbearingly hot subway platform and I look as fresh as I did when I first applied my makeup. Armpit sweat stains not included in this assessment.
For more summer beauty tips, check out my must-have summer hair products.
On the Go
I’m often asked about my “on the go” beauty products. Truth be told, I’ve never been one of those girls who carries around a drugstore supply of products in her purse for those “touch up” moments.
In the last few years however, I’ve begun to accumulate a few things that I now deem as crucial to carry with me as my wallet.
For starters, I have what I like to call “goopy eyes,” which essentially means that no matter what I do, my mascara and eyeliner runs. This drives makeup artists nuts as they’re constantly doing touchups on my eyes throughout photo shoots. Since I don’t have a makeup artist following me around on a daily basis, I carry Almay Oil-Free Makeup Eraser Sticks, that are essentially Q-tips with makeup remover inside them. A few swipes and the under eye smudge is gone!
I always like to have some lotion with me in case my skin gets dry and I’m smitten with L’Occitane’s Hand Cream. It comes in a cute pocket sized tube and smells like an angel fart: floral, fresh…heavenly.
My lips are constantly getting chapped and I’m also constantly changing chapsticks. Mainly because I lose them, but also because I’m still on the quest to find that thirst quenching lip balm that leaves my lips feeling like smooth supple pillows after one application. I’m currently using Yu-Be Lip Therapy, which isn’t the end all be all of lip balms, but it certainly gets the job done. Kiss kiss.
For the times that my under eye circles act like trick birthday candles and keep coming back no matter how hard I try to get rid of them, I carry e.l.f.’s Duo Concealer/Highlighter which is also great when I want to add a little shimmer to my cheekbones or eyes.
You are all very aware of my love affair with my Shu Uemura eyelash curler, so I won’t bore you again with my need for carrying this piece of equipment with me at all times…
My days have a tendency to get really busy and overwhelming in a matter of seconds and I’m not the kind of person who’s good at making herself stand up and go for a walk when things get to be too much. Last year at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Lindsay Ellingson told me that her secret to keeping calm backstage before walking down the catwalk in her undies is this little potion called Rescue Remedy by Bach. A few little droplets under the tongue and I’m immediately calmer.
I think every woman should carry a dramatic shade of lipstick with her at all times. You never know when you’re going to have that “I look like shit” moment and need to vamp it up asap. Right now I’m carrying an orangey red color by CoverGirl Blast Flipstick Lipcolor that can be subtle if applied lightly or bold and sensual when applied with a few coats.
I pretty much collect samples of mascara for the sole purpose of having miniature ones to carry around with me. Like lipstick, it adds a little bit of oomph for those times when last night’s one-too-many martinis lingers well into the next evening.
Lastly, I keep extra large bobby pins with me for when I want to throw my hair up in a messy bun. I find that they work better than a hair elastic and don’t leave that awkward “I’ve had my hair up” crimp.
Tampons not included in this post.
Baby Powder
I’ve gotten a lot of great feedback from my weird beauty trick posts, so I thought I’d make it a thing.
Today, I bring you perhaps one of the oldest tricks in the book but people still seem to be surprised when they catch me doing it.
I wash my hair everyday. I know you’re not supposed to and that ideally you should “train your hair” to not get greasy after one day and wash it every 2-3 days. Well, I’ve tried training my hair Olympic athlete style but not matter what I do my hair gets greasy within one day—we’re talkin’ McDonald’s Big Mac greasy. Pan after you’ve cooked some bacon greasy.
And even though I wash my hair every day, sometimes at the end of a day it needs a little de-greasing pick me up. But the last thing I want to do is jump in the shower again (too much drying time). That’s when I turn to baby powder. A little dusting in the roots of my hair (whatever you do do NOT open the bottle all the way otherwise you’ll look like you’re going gray…unless that’s your thing), followed by a quick shake of the tresses and voila! you’re practically as good as if you’d just showered!
