February 2015 | Paint The Town Chic

Elle Blouse (not available online but love anything from this brand!) | Striped Dress, old | Strappy Wedges, old | Steve Madden clutch, Nordstrom Rack | Jewels, old

Anyone else ready for spring?!  Tomorrow is the beginning of March and all I still see or hear is snow and more cold weather!  One of my recent Sunday Spotlight posts was all about nautical stripes, and that inspired today's post, also a preview of warm weather wear that is slowly making its way back to my closet!

One of the things I look for in my pieces is versatility!  I love finding different ways to wear the same item, and this striped dress is one of those pieces that continually gets a different look.  It's fairly easy to turn a dress into a skirt, which is what I did here!  I loved pairing the stripes with this cityscapes print and it was easy to hide the hem of the blouse with a wide belt.  I'm in love with this whimsical print, a Kohls find from a few months ago.  I may be slightly obsessed with hot air balloons, especially the ones from the spring Kate Spade collection.  Another of my favorite prints to pair with stripes is florals and I'm sure that's going to be popular this spring.  For the winter (since it seems to be never ending), I've paired many dresses with comfy sweaters, including this one!

After seeing so many pretty Nordstrom Rack finds, I decided to do a thorough search of my local store.  There were many things I wanted to get, but I decided on this clutch because of the size and pretty blueish-gray color!  I'm still on the hunt for a few more colorful clutches for the many work events that are coming up this spring.



Mixing Prints: Cityscapes + Stripes


Elle Blouse (not available online but love anything from this brand!) | Striped Dress, old | Strappy Wedges, old | Steve Madden clutch, Nordstrom Rack | Jewels, old

Anyone else ready for spring?!  Tomorrow is the beginning of March and all I still see or hear is snow and more cold weather!  One of my recent Sunday Spotlight posts was all about nautical stripes, and that inspired today's post, also a preview of warm weather wear that is slowly making its way back to my closet!

One of the things I look for in my pieces is versatility!  I love finding different ways to wear the same item, and this striped dress is one of those pieces that continually gets a different look.  It's fairly easy to turn a dress into a skirt, which is what I did here!  I loved pairing the stripes with this cityscapes print and it was easy to hide the hem of the blouse with a wide belt.  I'm in love with this whimsical print, a Kohls find from a few months ago.  I may be slightly obsessed with hot air balloons, especially the ones from the spring Kate Spade collection.  Another of my favorite prints to pair with stripes is florals and I'm sure that's going to be popular this spring.  For the winter (since it seems to be never ending), I've paired many dresses with comfy sweaters, including this one!

After seeing so many pretty Nordstrom Rack finds, I decided to do a thorough search of my local store.  There were many things I wanted to get, but I decided on this clutch because of the size and pretty blueish-gray color!  I'm still on the hunt for a few more colorful clutches for the many work events that are coming up this spring.



February 28, 2015
Plaid Peplum Top, old (but love this blouse and this polka dot version!) | Moto Jacket, old | Black dress pants, old (but I love any dress pant from New York and Company) | Cream Kitten Heels (love these) | H&M Fringe Necklace

This outfit may look familiar, and it's because I recently shared a casual outfit featuring many pieces found right in this post!  The only things I changed up were the pants and shoes to make this a more work appropriate outfit.  For the most part I dislike pants, especially ones that fall into the business casual category.  But every now and then I have to get out my token black dress pants and dress it up of course!

I really wanted to pair the black pants with white/cream.  The plaid top has black as part of the print, so that ties in the black.  But I topped it off with the cream moto jacket and the cream kitten heels!  Initially I didn't think pairing the black pants with such a light colored shoe would work, but it's starting to grow on me!

It's fun to see how staple pieces can really be dressed up or down depending on the situation!  And it's great to remix pieces that you already have in your closet because let's be serious, most of us don't have an endless closet and clothing budget (though I really wish I did!)

Not Your Ordinary Business Outfit

Plaid Peplum Top, old (but love this blouse and this polka dot version!) | Moto Jacket, old | Black dress pants, old (but I love any dress pant from New York and Company) | Cream Kitten Heels (love these) | H&M Fringe Necklace

This outfit may look familiar, and it's because I recently shared a casual outfit featuring many pieces found right in this post!  The only things I changed up were the pants and shoes to make this a more work appropriate outfit.  For the most part I dislike pants, especially ones that fall into the business casual category.  But every now and then I have to get out my token black dress pants and dress it up of course!

I really wanted to pair the black pants with white/cream.  The plaid top has black as part of the print, so that ties in the black.  But I topped it off with the cream moto jacket and the cream kitten heels!  Initially I didn't think pairing the black pants with such a light colored shoe would work, but it's starting to grow on me!

It's fun to see how staple pieces can really be dressed up or down depending on the situation!  And it's great to remix pieces that you already have in your closet because let's be serious, most of us don't have an endless closet and clothing budget (though I really wish I did!)

February 25, 2015

Hey ladies!

Did you see that BaubleBar is having a Sample Sale going on right now.  I was recently looking at my jewelry collection and commented on how I wanted some new pieces, especially earrings!  I already chose a necklace and pair of earrings from the sale and will be sure to take another look at what's listed.  Can't wait to show you what I chose when it arrives!

Thanks.

Sale Spotlight: Bauble Bar Sale


Hey ladies!

Did you see that BaubleBar is having a Sample Sale going on right now.  I was recently looking at my jewelry collection and commented on how I wanted some new pieces, especially earrings!  I already chose a necklace and pair of earrings from the sale and will be sure to take another look at what's listed.  Can't wait to show you what I chose when it arrives!

Thanks.
February 25, 2015

Willow & Clay Vegan Leather Dress | H&M Lace Top, old (love this and this) | Ruffle Coat, old (great option here) | Black Booties, old | Chloe + Isabel Bracelet c/o Pretty Pretty Gifts | Rocksbox Ring

I've had such a busy week and weekend, and add to that more snow (which makes it hard to photograph anything outside!)  I hope this week will be better!  Today I wanted to share a fun new combo that I put together, leather and lace!  Well, it's really vegan leather which is better, but I loved how the edginess of the material paired so nicely with lace scallops!  This is a two piece outfit, and I'm looking forward to adding some color to the dress on it's own this spring.  I'm thinking it'll look great with yellow heels and clutch!

This lace top is one of my favorites.  I've had it for a while, and it's a great topper for dresses or just by itself with jeans.  I really love the scallop detail!  And I couldn't complete this outfit without a pop of pink (though the coat was more a need than a want!)

Hope you all have a great week!

Getting Edgy with Leather + Lace


Willow & Clay Vegan Leather Dress | H&M Lace Top, old (love this and this) | Ruffle Coat, old (great option here) | Black Booties, old | Chloe + Isabel Bracelet c/o Pretty Pretty Gifts | Rocksbox Ring

I've had such a busy week and weekend, and add to that more snow (which makes it hard to photograph anything outside!)  I hope this week will be better!  Today I wanted to share a fun new combo that I put together, leather and lace!  Well, it's really vegan leather which is better, but I loved how the edginess of the material paired so nicely with lace scallops!  This is a two piece outfit, and I'm looking forward to adding some color to the dress on it's own this spring.  I'm thinking it'll look great with yellow heels and clutch!

This lace top is one of my favorites.  I've had it for a while, and it's a great topper for dresses or just by itself with jeans.  I really love the scallop detail!  And I couldn't complete this outfit without a pop of pink (though the coat was more a need than a want!)

Hope you all have a great week!

February 23, 2015

February's Ipsy bag was surely no disappointment.  Definitely one of the best combinations of products that I've gotten in any bag I've gotten.  There were a few brands that I had heard of before, but all new items to try!


1.) Mitchell and Peach Fine Radiance Face Oil - Let's start this month's review with my favorite February item.  I'm loving facial oils right now, and this product was no disappointment!  I loved the scent and how it made my face feel.  It wasn't greasy and the oil absorbed quickly.  I love how Ipsy included a British brand that I would have never considered trying otherwise.  I love the simple packaging and look of this brand and I'm definitely interested in checking out some of their other products!

2.) Eva NYC Up All Night Volumizing Spray - This spray smells amazing!  I don't care if it doesn't help with volume (as the name suggests.)  I would buy this product again just because it makes my hair smell so good!  I don't really need help with volume as my hair is curly, so I can't speak to that aspect.  I like that this is also a heat protectant and will use it when I next style my hair.  I would definitely purchase this product again and try other Eva NYC items too!


3.) Model Co Blush Cheek Powder in Peach Bellini - I love blush, and yes, it may be tiresome to get a new blush almost every month.  But I was pleasantly surprised by this particular product.  It was such a pretty peachy color and looked great with my skintone.  It was easy to build up the color as well.  Can't wait to check out more from this brand!

4.) Cargo Essential Lip Gloss in Anguilla - I really like Cargo Cosmetics.  You may have noticed my red lips in  this blog post featuring Cargo Lipstick, which I really loved!  Lately, I've been choosing lipstick over glosses, and the same would go in this case.  While the color wasn't the best shade for me, I would consider wearing it with a smokey eye.  A little product goes a long way (and looks better than building it up in my opinion!)  It's also best to use a lip scrub before using this gloss.  I thought it had a strange scent.  This was probably my least favorite item this month.  There are other shades that are prettier, so I may check out some of the other colors in a store.


5.) NYX Cosmetics Slim Eye Pencil in Silver Glitter - Typically I like eyeliners, and this glittery silver shade was unlike other items I currently own.  I liked the creamy texture and how easy it was to apply the item.  The tip of the pencil did break as soon as I used it the first time, which I did't like.  It seemed to crumble so easily.  I think I'll be using this more as a highlighter than a pencil, especially for the corners of my eyes!  So much easier to apply than eyeshadow or other highlighter sticks!

6.) Be A Bombshell Eye Crayon in Hangover - This is actually a bonus item I received after redeeming some Ipsy Points!  I really loved this eyeshadow stick, maybe even more than a traditional powder formula.  It was so smooth when applying and such a pretty shade of brown.  This was a better experience with Be A Bombshell compared to some other items I've tried though Ipsy in the past!

I was happy with this month's Ipsy bag design and products!  There was nothing I was overly disappointed with, so that's a win in my book!  I'm definitely looking forward to March sneak peeks though!

February Ipsy Bag Review


February's Ipsy bag was surely no disappointment.  Definitely one of the best combinations of products that I've gotten in any bag I've gotten.  There were a few brands that I had heard of before, but all new items to try!


1.) Mitchell and Peach Fine Radiance Face Oil - Let's start this month's review with my favorite February item.  I'm loving facial oils right now, and this product was no disappointment!  I loved the scent and how it made my face feel.  It wasn't greasy and the oil absorbed quickly.  I love how Ipsy included a British brand that I would have never considered trying otherwise.  I love the simple packaging and look of this brand and I'm definitely interested in checking out some of their other products!

2.) Eva NYC Up All Night Volumizing Spray - This spray smells amazing!  I don't care if it doesn't help with volume (as the name suggests.)  I would buy this product again just because it makes my hair smell so good!  I don't really need help with volume as my hair is curly, so I can't speak to that aspect.  I like that this is also a heat protectant and will use it when I next style my hair.  I would definitely purchase this product again and try other Eva NYC items too!


3.) Model Co Blush Cheek Powder in Peach Bellini - I love blush, and yes, it may be tiresome to get a new blush almost every month.  But I was pleasantly surprised by this particular product.  It was such a pretty peachy color and looked great with my skintone.  It was easy to build up the color as well.  Can't wait to check out more from this brand!

4.) Cargo Essential Lip Gloss in Anguilla - I really like Cargo Cosmetics.  You may have noticed my red lips in  this blog post featuring Cargo Lipstick, which I really loved!  Lately, I've been choosing lipstick over glosses, and the same would go in this case.  While the color wasn't the best shade for me, I would consider wearing it with a smokey eye.  A little product goes a long way (and looks better than building it up in my opinion!)  It's also best to use a lip scrub before using this gloss.  I thought it had a strange scent.  This was probably my least favorite item this month.  There are other shades that are prettier, so I may check out some of the other colors in a store.


5.) NYX Cosmetics Slim Eye Pencil in Silver Glitter - Typically I like eyeliners, and this glittery silver shade was unlike other items I currently own.  I liked the creamy texture and how easy it was to apply the item.  The tip of the pencil did break as soon as I used it the first time, which I did't like.  It seemed to crumble so easily.  I think I'll be using this more as a highlighter than a pencil, especially for the corners of my eyes!  So much easier to apply than eyeshadow or other highlighter sticks!

6.) Be A Bombshell Eye Crayon in Hangover - This is actually a bonus item I received after redeeming some Ipsy Points!  I really loved this eyeshadow stick, maybe even more than a traditional powder formula.  It was so smooth when applying and such a pretty shade of brown.  This was a better experience with Be A Bombshell compared to some other items I've tried though Ipsy in the past!

I was happy with this month's Ipsy bag design and products!  There was nothing I was overly disappointed with, so that's a win in my book!  I'm definitely looking forward to March sneak peeks though!

February 21, 2015

I recently partnered with Weddington Way for a fun Oscars fashion challenge - create a look for one of the five Best Actress Nominees.  There was a very talented list to choose from, but being a fan of Reese Witherspoon, I had to go with her!

The Dress
In looking at some of Reese's past looks, she seemed to lean towards darker hues, so I went with a plum colored dress.  Such a gorgeous color that would definitely stand out.  I loved this neckline-different from the strapless styles that she tends to go for.  The chiffon material is so elegant and is so flattering!

The Accessories
In selecting accessories, I thought gold would really pop against such a dark color.  I'm loving those scrappy sandals and the slit in the dress would show off the sandals perfectly.  That gold clutch is a stand out piece compared to the simple silhouette of the dress!

The Makeup
I always love an 'Old Hollywood Glamour' theme, so I chose a retro curly bob (which my favorite stylist Su-Shan of Starshine Salon mentioned would be popular this year!)  Since the plum hue is so rich, I chose a light lipcolor with a smokey eye to complete the makeup!

A little note on Weddington Way's site-it was easy to filter dresses by color, style, length, and even more categories!   The have such a large selection, it's hard not to find a dress for any special occasion.  You can also check out more of their chiffon dresses (my favorite) here.

Who do you think will win Best Actress?  Regardless of the outcome, I sure am excited to see what everyone will be wearing!


Reese Witherspoon Oscars Look Featuring Weddington Way


I recently partnered with Weddington Way for a fun Oscars fashion challenge - create a look for one of the five Best Actress Nominees.  There was a very talented list to choose from, but being a fan of Reese Witherspoon, I had to go with her!

The Dress
In looking at some of Reese's past looks, she seemed to lean towards darker hues, so I went with a plum colored dress.  Such a gorgeous color that would definitely stand out.  I loved this neckline-different from the strapless styles that she tends to go for.  The chiffon material is so elegant and is so flattering!

The Accessories
In selecting accessories, I thought gold would really pop against such a dark color.  I'm loving those scrappy sandals and the slit in the dress would show off the sandals perfectly.  That gold clutch is a stand out piece compared to the simple silhouette of the dress!

The Makeup
I always love an 'Old Hollywood Glamour' theme, so I chose a retro curly bob (which my favorite stylist Su-Shan of Starshine Salon mentioned would be popular this year!)  Since the plum hue is so rich, I chose a light lipcolor with a smokey eye to complete the makeup!

A little note on Weddington Way's site-it was easy to filter dresses by color, style, length, and even more categories!   The have such a large selection, it's hard not to find a dress for any special occasion.  You can also check out more of their chiffon dresses (my favorite) here.

Who do you think will win Best Actress?  Regardless of the outcome, I sure am excited to see what everyone will be wearing!


February 19, 2015
Catwalk Studio Sweater from Golden Tote (love this colorblock sweater for spring) | Old Navy Jeans | Booties, old | Victoria's Secret Infinity Scarf, old  Under One Sky Tote in navy c/o | Cargo Essential Lip Color in Paris

I think it may have reached the 30s today, but it was still way too cold to be outside for more than 10 minutes!   It was definitely a day for bundling and I chose to wear this Golden Tote surprise item from my December Tote (see my review here!)  At first I was concerned about the fit (it's one size fits all) but this sweater keeps growing on me the more I see and wear it!  I love the color combo, but wish it was a bit longer to fit as a tunic or even a sweater dress!  This particular sweater isn't available online, but I'm loving some of the spring sweaters now available; check them out here!

How perfectly does this Under One Sky tote go with the outfit!  The best part about this tote-it's reversible!  You can see a bit of the red peeking out in some of the photos above.  The navy and red just seems so nautical and spring-y, so I had to have it!  It's the perfect size for work!  The tote comes in a few other colors, and I'm also loving the cognac.

I have 2 of the Cargo lipsticks and love the formula, but this shade of red is perfection.  I don't typically wear darker colors, but I'm really loving this one.  I think I have to get the Palm Beach shade for the spring!

Hoping for some warm weather soon.  I can't wait to wear, and share, some cute spring attire!

Colorblocking for Cold Weather

Catwalk Studio Sweater from Golden Tote (love this colorblock sweater for spring) | Old Navy Jeans | Booties, old | Victoria's Secret Infinity Scarf, old  Under One Sky Tote in navy c/o | Cargo Essential Lip Color in Paris

I think it may have reached the 30s today, but it was still way too cold to be outside for more than 10 minutes!   It was definitely a day for bundling and I chose to wear this Golden Tote surprise item from my December Tote (see my review here!)  At first I was concerned about the fit (it's one size fits all) but this sweater keeps growing on me the more I see and wear it!  I love the color combo, but wish it was a bit longer to fit as a tunic or even a sweater dress!  This particular sweater isn't available online, but I'm loving some of the spring sweaters now available; check them out here!

How perfectly does this Under One Sky tote go with the outfit!  The best part about this tote-it's reversible!  You can see a bit of the red peeking out in some of the photos above.  The navy and red just seems so nautical and spring-y, so I had to have it!  It's the perfect size for work!  The tote comes in a few other colors, and I'm also loving the cognac.

I have 2 of the Cargo lipsticks and love the formula, but this shade of red is perfection.  I don't typically wear darker colors, but I'm really loving this one.  I think I have to get the Palm Beach shade for the spring!

Hoping for some warm weather soon.  I can't wait to wear, and share, some cute spring attire!
February 18, 2015


Brrr, it's cold outside.  As I look outside my window, I see snow and it seems like there's no end in sight for winter!  So for the next few Sunday Spotlights, I'm going to be featuring some fun spring fashions and trends!  Today's feature is a navy and white striped nautical theme!

I think most people would associate the navy and white as a preppy staple of stores like Lilly Pulitzer and J.Crew, but I wanted to include some other stores and boutiques.  I recently discovered Duffield Lane on Instagram and lovers of Lilly need to check them out!  I am in love with their striped dress!  I also included that Thakoon dress, which is a major splurge, but it was too pretty not to include (click on the link to see the details on the hem!!) And those pumps may not be navy stripes, but they fit the theme and are so cute with that bit of rose!

Which of these pieces would you want to wear this spring?

Sunday Spotlight: Blue and White Nautical Stripes



Brrr, it's cold outside.  As I look outside my window, I see snow and it seems like there's no end in sight for winter!  So for the next few Sunday Spotlights, I'm going to be featuring some fun spring fashions and trends!  Today's feature is a navy and white striped nautical theme!

I think most people would associate the navy and white as a preppy staple of stores like Lilly Pulitzer and J.Crew, but I wanted to include some other stores and boutiques.  I recently discovered Duffield Lane on Instagram and lovers of Lilly need to check them out!  I am in love with their striped dress!  I also included that Thakoon dress, which is a major splurge, but it was too pretty not to include (click on the link to see the details on the hem!!) And those pumps may not be navy stripes, but they fit the theme and are so cute with that bit of rose!

Which of these pieces would you want to wear this spring?

February 15, 2015

Elle Coat (similar here and here) | Embellished Sleeve Top (love this) | LC Lauren Conrad Jeans (similar here) | Brown Booties | Leopard Scarf (similar here) | Chandlier earrings | Maybelline Sensational Lipstick in Vivid Rose

Yep, it's snowing again!  In fact, it was the snow that inspired this white outfit!  After putting this ensemble together, I realized that everything other than that scarf is from Kohls (I really love the Elle and LC Lauren Conrad brands.)  I'm a sucker for white coats, and after my favorite Urban Outfitters peacoat had to go, I was on the search for a replacement.  This coat will get much more use this spring.  I also can't wait to bring out the rest of my whites, including my dresses, when the weather finally gets warm!

Of course I can't have any outfit without a pop of color!  I've said it before, but I really love this Maybelline lipstick.  The lipsticks have a great formula that's not drying and there are so many shades.  This bright color will also look great this spring!

Hope you're all staying warm this weekend!

Winter Whites with a Pop of Leopard


Elle Coat (similar here and here) | Embellished Sleeve Top (love this) | LC Lauren Conrad Jeans (similar here) | Brown Booties | Leopard Scarf (similar here) | Chandlier earrings | Maybelline Sensational Lipstick in Vivid Rose

Yep, it's snowing again!  In fact, it was the snow that inspired this white outfit!  After putting this ensemble together, I realized that everything other than that scarf is from Kohls (I really love the Elle and LC Lauren Conrad brands.)  I'm a sucker for white coats, and after my favorite Urban Outfitters peacoat had to go, I was on the search for a replacement.  This coat will get much more use this spring.  I also can't wait to bring out the rest of my whites, including my dresses, when the weather finally gets warm!

Of course I can't have any outfit without a pop of color!  I've said it before, but I really love this Maybelline lipstick.  The lipsticks have a great formula that's not drying and there are so many shades.  This bright color will also look great this spring!

Hope you're all staying warm this weekend!

February 14, 2015

@paintthetownchic