Wednesday, February 29, 2012

What does every fashionista need? Tailored Pants

Every women deserves to own a pair of pants that is perfectly tailored to their body.  Saying this is easy, but accomplishing it, is a much more difficult task. I am short-waisted, so shopping for jeans or pants can be a major pain. Well, while I was at home I went to a cute boutique named Olivia in down town Los Altos, California. There, I found numerous pant styles that fit my body type (petite, 5'4" boyish frame). Whether they were high-waisted palazzo pants, or skinny wax jeans, I had plenty of choices. However, my standout favorite are my Rinascimento black pants. They are cinched at the bottom and have a soft cotton waistband, so it does not give me the dreaded muffin-top. 
Black works with everything, so whether you are in an all black or monochromatic ensemble, this will always look chic. I kept my makeup very minimal, only highlighting the corner of my eyes.  But, in the future I would add a dash of red lipstick to create a fun focal point on my face. 







black tank top: Mom's! 
white cotton top: J Brand Jeans Ready-to-Wear Collection
pants: Rinascimento
heels: Aldo
necklace: Target 

Friday, February 17, 2012

Effy's Eyeliner: Today's OUTFIT

Effy's Eyeliner: Today's OUTFIT: Going to keep this post short and sweet. My cousin did not have to go to school today, because of a little holiday, also known as President...

Today's OUTFIT

Going to keep this post short and sweet. My cousin did not have to go to school today,  because of a little holiday, also known as President's Day weekend!!!!! YAY!!! She has today AND Monday off, which is pretty sweet, since that means I get to spend more time with her. Today, we did a little outlet shopping and tomorrow's post will not disappoint. Until tomorrow everyone, I must go because we are currently in an intense 'Just Dance' competition and she is kicking my butt.
Cheers,
-S

 PS. DID YOU VOTE FOR @EFFYSEYELINER on the J Brand bloggers Style Showdown yet, no? Well then, get to it!
 THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN VOTING!!!
xo






bomber jacket: Bebe
jean button down blazer: Zara
t-shirt: Target
black leggings: Target
socks: American Apparel
boots: Trouve
black/gold ring: Henri Bendel
blue ring: Mom's
three band ring: Vintage
'leaf' ring: House of Harlow 1960
clock necklace: F21
gold/silver chain necklaces: Vintage
headband: Henri Bendel

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Effy's Eyeliner: One Dress, Two Styles

Effy's Eyeliner: One Dress, Two Styles: I never want to be accused of being a repeat-outfit-offender, so when I buy clothing, I always make sure that it is versatile enough to be w...

One Dress, Two Styles

I never want to be accused of being a repeat-outfit-offender, so when I buy clothing, I always make sure that it is versatile enough to be worn in several different ways. I bought my pink tulle Mina dress in Florence this past summer, and I am very pleased with how many different ways I can wear this garment. Whether I decide to toughen it up with a leather jacket and booties, or soften the look by cinching the waist and adding sky-high stilettos, its ability to go from uptown to downtown is a necessity for a girl on the move, such as myself! When shopping, it is important to keep this in mind.
Cheers,
-S

PS. Don't forget that the J Brand bloggers Style Showdown contest is still happening. Please continue to vote daily until 2/20/12 for your chance to win a $300 gift certificate to J Brand!! All you have to do is sign onto Facebook, and underneath their profile picture, click the 'get connected' link and it will shoot you to the voting page; that simple! Your vote and support is much appreciated!



dress: Mina UK
tights: Target
purse: Asos
booties: Jeffrey Campbell 'Lita' booties
watch: DKNY
necklace: F21








My God-child's puppy. Needless to say, I've decided to doggy-nap her once I leave.... JK 


dress: Mina UK
belt: Aunt's
tights: Target
pumps: Steve Madden






Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Effy's Eyeliner: Love Potion #9

Effy's Eyeliner: Love Potion #9: Happy Valentine's Day~!! I remember in grade school it was an unwritten rule that on Valentine's day you must wear red and pass out cards t...

Love Potion #9

Happy Valentine's Day~!!
I remember in grade school it was an unwritten rule that on Valentine's day you must wear red and pass out cards to everyone in your class.  However, now that I'm an "adult," I refuse to wear any traditional colors on such occasions where one is supposed to. Instead, in true rebellious form, I wore white and black.  HA! Not a total rebel though, it does say "Love Potion No. 9." Which so happens to be one of my favorite love songs....

Love, love, love to all... family, friends, to my followers and soon-to-be followers... Your continual support is truly amazing.
Thank you,
-S

HAPPY VDAY!


 These photos came out a bit blurry because I'm learning how to use the camera+ app on my iphone. It's a pretty sweet app! It has a whole bunch of fun tools you can use to edit your photos and make them look super unique!!



the pinhole effect 






The app also includes funky borders such as this one, and many more.
headband: Walgreens
shirt: Wildfox
jeans: Target
boots: Trouve
necklace: Forever21
watch: DKNY
rings: Vintage

Monday, February 13, 2012

It's all about COLOR baby!

 I seem to be getting ill from the drastic changes in weather we have been experiencing here on the east coast. (Of course the snow would follow me here!).  Anyway, today it was super sunny, but since it's still winter, of course it was super cold. However, in celebration of the sun coming out just for me (haha),  I wanted to brighten up my day and play with different colors and textures. I'm really pleased with the way the outfits turned out, and in true Effy form, I had to add a little grunge-glam to the first outfit so that my beloved character Effy wouldn't be too displeased with my super girlish second outfit. That being said, this post will be rather short tonight since I must get my beauty sleep for tomorrow because I will be going out with friends and celebrating NOT having a Valentine. No no, I'm a total romantic...and in true romantic form I will be spending Valentine's day drinking red wine with girlfriends a la Bridget Jones style... perfect! Perhaps, I'll even find me a Mr. Darcy while I'm out??! (double knock on wood!!!)

Cheers!
-S 







top: Tory Burch
jeans: J Brand Jeans in Bright Royal
jean button down: Zara
boots: Jeffrey Campbell 'Lita' bootie
headband: Henri Bendel
earrings: House of Harlow 1960
necklace: Henri Bendel
bracelet: Henri Bendel- Double Elephant head cuff








top: made by my Grandmother
skirt: Alexander Deluca
tights: Target
heels: Aldo
three ring band: Vintage
leaf ring: House of Harlow 1960
butterfly and flower ring: Vintage
necklace: Target



Sunday, February 12, 2012

J Brand Jeans Bloggers Style Showdown

Hey everyone! There is only one week left for the J brand Jeans Bloggers Style Showdown. Please please vote for me for one more week! The contest ends 2/20 and it would be such an honor to win. For all of you who follow my blog you have a chance to win a $300 gift certificate to J brand Jeans!!! (SWEET!!!)
So please follow the link and vote for me!
New blog post tomorrow on "Office Wear."
Cheers,
-S

VOTE FOR ME HERE BABES!
Just 'like' J Brand Jeans online first and then you can vote. If for some reason that does not work underneath their profile pic they have a section that says 'get connected' and it brings you to the voting page. THANK YOU!

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Effy's Eyeliner: How To Doll Yourself Up!

Effy's Eyeliner: How To Doll Yourself Up!: STEP ONE: STYLING PRODUCTS AND UTENSILS The most important step to protect your hair from heat damage is to use a good heat protectant p...

How To Doll Yourself Up!

STEP ONE: STYLING PRODUCTS AND UTENSILS

The most important step to protect your hair from heat damage is to use a good heat protectant product such as CHI Straight Guard, which makes my hair soft and doesn't leave a greasy residue that other brands often do. The second step  is to have a good straightener. I use GHD Classic Styler, and a slimmer straightener by Amika to get those frustrating baby hairs. Since I spend $$$ on my straightener, I tend to buy less expensive curling irons. Both are ConAir. The one inch barrel is perfect for loose curls and the .5 inch barrel is great if I want tighter curls.  

STEP TWO: START WITH SEMI "DIRTY" HAIR

I like to let my hair go without washing for a day before I curl or flat iron my hair because it holds better throughout the day and night. (Which is obviously a MUST!


STEP THREE: THE BLOW-OUT

I like to blow-out my hair before beginning the curling and flat iron process to give it a little extra oomph. I blow-dry
up-side-down to achieve this: however, sometimes the top of my head gets a little neglected, so try to remember that that's important as well! (oopsies)


STEP FOUR: SECTIONING AND CURLING THE HAIR



Always curl away from your face and keep the iron in your hair for at least 5-7 seconds. Some people like to use hairspray during this step, but I don't because sometimes, depending on which product you use, it could leave an unwanted  sticky feeling instead of soft curls.  

Bottom layer done! Time to section off second layer....


Since I have really curly hair on the upper section of my head, I like to straighten the root and then proceed to curl. 


Again, remember to curl away from your face at all times! 


 I never have a center part because I feel that it makes my head look flat so I always leave it off centered. This can be a little tricky when curling, so using a smaller curler is best for this part. However, when on a time crunch, and if your hair is long enough, using the one inch barrel gets the job done quickly and efficiently. 

Remember the Key Rule: Curl away from the face


                                                                              DONE!
The whole process usually takes me about 30-45 minutes depending on how much time I have. BUT, I have been known to do my hair in less than 20 minutes! Which, my friends, is superwomen status for me! 



                                                          MOVING ONTO MAKE-UP


Using products that are safe for your skin is very important. It took me a couple of years to find products that didn't cause me to breakout or irritate my eyes, since over the years, both have become quite sensitive.  

I like to use Carmex on my lips  because it soothes my lips and creates a soft surface to apply lipstick and lipgloss.
Lipstick: Kate Von D
Lipgloss: Chanel

I like to fill in my eyebrows with MAC soft brown eyeshadow to give it a little more emphasis.
Eyebrow brush: Target
Brow brush: MAC
Curling your lashes is super important! I cannot stress how much of a difference it makes when I use an eye lash curler compared to when I don't. (The difference is like night and day, seriously)
Eyelash curler: MAC
Mascara: Lorac
Recently, my eyes have been very sensitive, so I have been using Laura Mercier eyeshadow as eyeliner. It creates a subtle but beautiful effect to your eyes.

For my cheeks, I first use Benefit Blush in Coral Pink, and then lightly brush on Laura Mercier blush to create a shimmery effect because I always like to add a little sparkle on my cheekbones. 

Blush: Laura Mercier Pink Mosaic
It's wonderful because I can use it not only for my cheeks but for my eyes as well! 

Since my skin isn't too bad these days (knock on wood),  I use Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer  SPF 20. It's lightweight and makes my skin look even. If I'm having bad skin, I use the heavier Laura Mercier (in the brown tube) since it is thicker and provides better concealment of blemishes.  For concealer, I use MAC nw 20 in the winter, and nw 25 in the summer. I mostly use my concealer under my eyes, but if those dreaded little pimples want to make an appearance (always at the worst of times) it is thick enough to cover those bad boys too. 

Lightly dabbling on some sparkle to the upper part of my cheekbones 

I curl my lashes before I put on eyeliner so that I can get right under the lash without any difficulties. 

Wetting the brush (also Laura Mercier) makes the eyeshadow come out thicker. 

1

2

3

Almost done......

HERE'S THE FUN PART!!!! Extensions!
To achieve this, I use Sally Hansen's Wavy Hair Clip-in Extensions (14 inch). They are amazing and, at $85 dollars, it won't break the bank when comparing it to other types of extensions on the market. Now, you might be asking yourself, well what if someone pulls it out? Or, what if I accidentally pull it out? Well... I'm not going to lie....both have happened to me, and trust me, it isn't the end of the world, ladies. Just laugh it off, walk (or run, haha) to the ladies' room and clip them back in. (By doing so, it shows that you don't take yourself too seriously and that's always a nice quality to have.

They come with 4 single strands 

And several larger rows for an all around even do! 

              HOW TO PUT THESE PUPPIES IN!

Just like when curling or straightening your hair, you have to do the same with the clip-in extensions. But, remember with clip-in extensions, it is imperative you do not go past the crown of your head.  If you're like me and play with your hair, your fingers could pull them out...whoops! 

SEE, easy clip-ins! 

And they're in! 



Continue section by section....

until......
                                                         
                            BOOM BAAM, OH YAAAAA
You're ready to get your groove on!