December 2017 | Paint The Town Chic
2017 was a great year, and I've had so much fun counting down some of my discoveries so far this year (read my 15 beauty discoveries here and my favorite fashion trends here.) Today is the final post of 2017 so I had to make it a good one - a roundup of some of my favorite memories of the year.

PHLBloggers Blog Connect Conference
A huge part of what has been a great blogging year has been PHLBloggers, my local blogging group. I helped plan the yearly conference which ended up being a great experience and brought me closer to the group.  See my party recap here and my conference recap here!

Blogger Photo Shoots
Another great memory from 2017 was getting together with some fellow style bloggers for photo shoots.   Taking photos still feels awkward but getting together with these ladies is always a blast and we end up with the cutest photos!  This photo was from our very first shoot, see the rest of the shoot here!

NYC Trips
Since my sister has moved to NYC, I've taken full advantage of visiting one of my favorite cities!  My favorite memories so far have been walking the Brooklyn Bridge and seeing the Rockettes, 2 things I've wanted to do for a long time!

Celebrating The Holidays 
Switching jobs this year left me with free weekends to enjoy stuff around the city, which I definitely enjoyed to the fullest.  October to December is my favorite time of year and one place in particular that has beautiful displays for Halloween and Christmas is Longwood Gardens.  This is one of my favorite photos from this year - look at the size of that pumpkin!  See my full visit here!

Blogger Event Collabs
I had the pleasure of attending a few events for the blog.  Some of my favorites from the year included Painting With A Twist, Plant Nite, trying out hot yoga for the first time, and seeing the Jurassic World exhibit at my favorite museum, The Franklin Institute!

It was definitely a great year.  Here's to a wonderful 2017 and an even better 2018!

5 Favorite Memories of 2017

2017 was a great year, and I've had so much fun counting down some of my discoveries so far this year (read my 15 beauty discoveries here and my favorite fashion trends here.) Today is the final post of 2017 so I had to make it a good one - a roundup of some of my favorite memories of the year.

PHLBloggers Blog Connect Conference
A huge part of what has been a great blogging year has been PHLBloggers, my local blogging group. I helped plan the yearly conference which ended up being a great experience and brought me closer to the group.  See my party recap here and my conference recap here!

Blogger Photo Shoots
Another great memory from 2017 was getting together with some fellow style bloggers for photo shoots.   Taking photos still feels awkward but getting together with these ladies is always a blast and we end up with the cutest photos!  This photo was from our very first shoot, see the rest of the shoot here!

NYC Trips
Since my sister has moved to NYC, I've taken full advantage of visiting one of my favorite cities!  My favorite memories so far have been walking the Brooklyn Bridge and seeing the Rockettes, 2 things I've wanted to do for a long time!

Celebrating The Holidays 
Switching jobs this year left me with free weekends to enjoy stuff around the city, which I definitely enjoyed to the fullest.  October to December is my favorite time of year and one place in particular that has beautiful displays for Halloween and Christmas is Longwood Gardens.  This is one of my favorite photos from this year - look at the size of that pumpkin!  See my full visit here!

Blogger Event Collabs
I had the pleasure of attending a few events for the blog.  Some of my favorites from the year included Painting With A Twist, Plant Nite, trying out hot yoga for the first time, and seeing the Jurassic World exhibit at my favorite museum, The Franklin Institute!

It was definitely a great year.  Here's to a wonderful 2017 and an even better 2018!

December 31, 2017
Yesterday I shared some of my favorite beauty finds of the year - if you missed the post, check it out here!  It was so fun to recap the year so I wanted to continue the party with some fashion.  Let's countdown some of my favorite looks and trends of 2017...

Checkered Pants
These pants are so out of my comfort zone, but I love trying new things, especially if they involve prints.  The combo of the black and white print with the pop of mustard yellow makes it one of my favorites of the year.  One of my favorite IG posts as well

Hunter Green
One of my recent color obsessions is hunter green.  Such a beautiful color for the holidays.  Aside from the color, I feel in love with this maxi dress for many other reasons.  See more in this post!

Floral Prints
So far I've featured a maxi dress and a mustard shade, but when you combine the two, you get the prettiest floral maxi that I wore earlier this fall!  See the full post here.


Lace
This top is one of my all time favorites.  The lace detailing is so beautiful and I loved the cold shoulder detail.  Plus, this post features my fellow stylish PHLbloggers ladies!

Layering
Layering has been one of my signature looks this year so I'm share TWO of my favorite layered looks.  Starting back in a cold February with the blue suede dress to a freezing November with this velvet and floral combo, you can definitely say I'm a fan (and somehow the cold seems to be following me around for photoshoot days!)  See the suede dress here and the velvet/floral outfit here.

Denim
I never thought I'd say this, but I have been LOVING denim - embellished denim, raw hems, flared leg, embroidered, I love them all.  I particularly loved this ruffled pair from Versona!  They currently have this Anthro-esque pair in limited sizes or this feathered cutie which I may need!
Stay tuned for a  roundup with some tips on how to wear different types of denim in the new year!

Bare Shoulders
The cold shoulder, off the shoulder, one shoulder - I loved all the bare shoulder variations this year.  I wore this dress to our PHLbloggers Conference this year, and wore it again for this post!

Star Prints
I hope this trend sticks around because I personally will be wearing it into the new year.  This was one of my absolute favorite looks of the year.  See more of this look here.

The Jumpsuit
2017 was the year of the jumpsuit, so of course I had to give it a try.  And I loved it (yes, petite ladies, it works for us as well!)  I hope to find more cute ones in 2018, but until then, check out this post for more on the floral jumpsuit!

Ruffles
Many of my looks this year featured ruffles, from our first PHLBloggers style shoot to this cutie that I picked up earlier this year from SheIn (a site that I wanted to try out.)  Loved this photo from Terrain!

There are so many more outfits I loved, but these are just a few that stood out.  Finally, since everyone has been sharing their Top 9, I thought it would be fun to see what you, my followers, liked the best.

Come back tomorrow as for the last countdown - my favorite memories of 2018!

10 Favorite Fashion Looks of 2017

Yesterday I shared some of my favorite beauty finds of the year - if you missed the post, check it out here!  It was so fun to recap the year so I wanted to continue the party with some fashion.  Let's countdown some of my favorite looks and trends of 2017...

Checkered Pants
These pants are so out of my comfort zone, but I love trying new things, especially if they involve prints.  The combo of the black and white print with the pop of mustard yellow makes it one of my favorites of the year.  One of my favorite IG posts as well

Hunter Green
One of my recent color obsessions is hunter green.  Such a beautiful color for the holidays.  Aside from the color, I feel in love with this maxi dress for many other reasons.  See more in this post!

Floral Prints
So far I've featured a maxi dress and a mustard shade, but when you combine the two, you get the prettiest floral maxi that I wore earlier this fall!  See the full post here.


Lace
This top is one of my all time favorites.  The lace detailing is so beautiful and I loved the cold shoulder detail.  Plus, this post features my fellow stylish PHLbloggers ladies!

Layering
Layering has been one of my signature looks this year so I'm share TWO of my favorite layered looks.  Starting back in a cold February with the blue suede dress to a freezing November with this velvet and floral combo, you can definitely say I'm a fan (and somehow the cold seems to be following me around for photoshoot days!)  See the suede dress here and the velvet/floral outfit here.

Denim
I never thought I'd say this, but I have been LOVING denim - embellished denim, raw hems, flared leg, embroidered, I love them all.  I particularly loved this ruffled pair from Versona!  They currently have this Anthro-esque pair in limited sizes or this feathered cutie which I may need!
Stay tuned for a  roundup with some tips on how to wear different types of denim in the new year!

Bare Shoulders
The cold shoulder, off the shoulder, one shoulder - I loved all the bare shoulder variations this year.  I wore this dress to our PHLbloggers Conference this year, and wore it again for this post!

Star Prints
I hope this trend sticks around because I personally will be wearing it into the new year.  This was one of my absolute favorite looks of the year.  See more of this look here.

The Jumpsuit
2017 was the year of the jumpsuit, so of course I had to give it a try.  And I loved it (yes, petite ladies, it works for us as well!)  I hope to find more cute ones in 2018, but until then, check out this post for more on the floral jumpsuit!

Ruffles
Many of my looks this year featured ruffles, from our first PHLBloggers style shoot to this cutie that I picked up earlier this year from SheIn (a site that I wanted to try out.)  Loved this photo from Terrain!

There are so many more outfits I loved, but these are just a few that stood out.  Finally, since everyone has been sharing their Top 9, I thought it would be fun to see what you, my followers, liked the best.

Come back tomorrow as for the last countdown - my favorite memories of 2018!

December 30, 2017
The countdown to 2018 is on, so I wanted to take the next few days to roundup some of my favorite new discoveries of the year.  Today we'll start with beauty and skincare...

Mascara: Ga-De Idyllic High Definition Volume & Length Mascara
If there's one beauty product I'm a snob about, it's mascara.  I've tried many, but my top 3 definitely includes Ga-De, a brand that I just learned about this year.  At $18 a bottle, it's cheaper than most mascaras out there, which makes it a win-win.  See more about the mascara and some other goodies here.

Lipstick: Glo Skin Beauty Lipstick
I've tried a lot of lipsticks this year, but one stood out in particular!  I have fallen in love with Glo Skin Beauty's It Girl, a dusty rose that's perfect for everyday use and smells so good!  Great formula and seems like they have a good collection of shades all with cute names too!  See more here!

Blush: Glossier Cloud Paint in Haze
People rave about Glossier, so it was about time that I gave it a try.  I sampled a few items from their line and feel for the Cloud Paint.  One of my favorites from the fall!

Nail Polish: Opi Yank My Doodle
Opi is my tried and true brand, along with Zoya, and I couldn't resist this brick shade.  Found this just in time for fall, but it may be making an appearance again soon!

Perfume: Viva La Juicy Glacé 
I love adding a new scent or two to my collection each year, and this year I tried one of Juicy Couture's newer scents!  The brand has always been a go-to in terms of perfumes.  This was no disappointment, and comes in the cutest bottle!  Get this and you won't be disappointed!

Face Cleanser: Cosmedix Benefit Clean and Purity Solution
I've now been using this for a few days and I'm thrilled with the results - no breakouts, glowing skin and less dry skin.  How?  Read more about these two miracle workers here.

Makeup Remover: Farmacy Green Clean
I'm a big fan of this balm, which melts in your hand to reveal a cleanser that removes even the most stubborn makeup!  Read more here.

Face Mask: Ole Henrikson Hygge Detox Mask
This gem is a must to keep your face feeling fresh and clean!  I use it weekly.  See more here.

Shampoo/Conditioner: Hask Biotin Boost Shampoo, Conditioner, and Cream
Hands down Living Proof is my favorite haircare line out there.  Unfortunately though it's worth the price, it is a little pricey so I've been doing some scouting for everyday haircare items.  Luckily I've tried a few of Hask Haircare products this year and I highly recommend the Biotin Boost Line.  I'm obsessed with the smell and loved the extra volume boost and all 3 items will cost you less than $20!  See more here!

Foot Cream: Achy Foot Epsom Salt Rub
I've been on my feet a lot lately, and the only thing that revives my feet after a long day out is this Epsom Salt Rub!

Hand Cream: Parodi Daily Moisturizing Hand Cream
This Parodi hand cream arrived just in time to combat those winter blues.  Check out the full post here.

Teeth Whitening: Smile Brilliant Teeth Whitening System
I'm not one to regularly whiten my teeth, but Smile Brilliant has converted me with its quick and immediate results.  Full review here!

Body Scrub: Cell-U-Logic Green Coffee & Seaweed Scrub
This refreshing scrub is cleansing and helps get rid of cellulite (as part of a 3-step process.)  See more here!

Lip Scrub: The Lip Scrub by Sarah Happ 
Since we're talking about scrubs, I loved this Creme Brûlée lip scrub.  Perfect for prepping lips, especially in the cold months.  This was one of the first posts of the year and also featured another lippie that I love!

Ingredient: Charcoal
Gimme all the charcoal things.  This magical ingredient has been great at detoxing and clearing my skin.  I've tried charcoal in fact wash, hand wash, masks, but one of my favorites has been this bath sponge!  Remember this TruBeauty sponge?  I loved it and will definitely be replacing it!

Hopefully I've shared some products you'll try in 2018.  It's always fun to try new things and I can't wait to see what comes my way next year.

Top 15 Beauty Finds of 2017

The countdown to 2018 is on, so I wanted to take the next few days to roundup some of my favorite new discoveries of the year.  Today we'll start with beauty and skincare...

Mascara: Ga-De Idyllic High Definition Volume & Length Mascara
If there's one beauty product I'm a snob about, it's mascara.  I've tried many, but my top 3 definitely includes Ga-De, a brand that I just learned about this year.  At $18 a bottle, it's cheaper than most mascaras out there, which makes it a win-win.  See more about the mascara and some other goodies here.

Lipstick: Glo Skin Beauty Lipstick
I've tried a lot of lipsticks this year, but one stood out in particular!  I have fallen in love with Glo Skin Beauty's It Girl, a dusty rose that's perfect for everyday use and smells so good!  Great formula and seems like they have a good collection of shades all with cute names too!  See more here!

Blush: Glossier Cloud Paint in Haze
People rave about Glossier, so it was about time that I gave it a try.  I sampled a few items from their line and feel for the Cloud Paint.  One of my favorites from the fall!

Nail Polish: Opi Yank My Doodle
Opi is my tried and true brand, along with Zoya, and I couldn't resist this brick shade.  Found this just in time for fall, but it may be making an appearance again soon!

Perfume: Viva La Juicy Glacé 
I love adding a new scent or two to my collection each year, and this year I tried one of Juicy Couture's newer scents!  The brand has always been a go-to in terms of perfumes.  This was no disappointment, and comes in the cutest bottle!  Get this and you won't be disappointed!

Face Cleanser: Cosmedix Benefit Clean and Purity Solution
I've now been using this for a few days and I'm thrilled with the results - no breakouts, glowing skin and less dry skin.  How?  Read more about these two miracle workers here.

Makeup Remover: Farmacy Green Clean
I'm a big fan of this balm, which melts in your hand to reveal a cleanser that removes even the most stubborn makeup!  Read more here.

Face Mask: Ole Henrikson Hygge Detox Mask
This gem is a must to keep your face feeling fresh and clean!  I use it weekly.  See more here.

Shampoo/Conditioner: Hask Biotin Boost Shampoo, Conditioner, and Cream
Hands down Living Proof is my favorite haircare line out there.  Unfortunately though it's worth the price, it is a little pricey so I've been doing some scouting for everyday haircare items.  Luckily I've tried a few of Hask Haircare products this year and I highly recommend the Biotin Boost Line.  I'm obsessed with the smell and loved the extra volume boost and all 3 items will cost you less than $20!  See more here!

Foot Cream: Achy Foot Epsom Salt Rub
I've been on my feet a lot lately, and the only thing that revives my feet after a long day out is this Epsom Salt Rub!

Hand Cream: Parodi Daily Moisturizing Hand Cream
This Parodi hand cream arrived just in time to combat those winter blues.  Check out the full post here.

Teeth Whitening: Smile Brilliant Teeth Whitening System
I'm not one to regularly whiten my teeth, but Smile Brilliant has converted me with its quick and immediate results.  Full review here!

Body Scrub: Cell-U-Logic Green Coffee & Seaweed Scrub
This refreshing scrub is cleansing and helps get rid of cellulite (as part of a 3-step process.)  See more here!

Lip Scrub: The Lip Scrub by Sarah Happ 
Since we're talking about scrubs, I loved this Creme Brûlée lip scrub.  Perfect for prepping lips, especially in the cold months.  This was one of the first posts of the year and also featured another lippie that I love!

Ingredient: Charcoal
Gimme all the charcoal things.  This magical ingredient has been great at detoxing and clearing my skin.  I've tried charcoal in fact wash, hand wash, masks, but one of my favorites has been this bath sponge!  Remember this TruBeauty sponge?  I loved it and will definitely be replacing it!

Hopefully I've shared some products you'll try in 2018.  It's always fun to try new things and I can't wait to see what comes my way next year.

December 29, 2017
Target Maxi Dress, sold out (love this) | Moto Jacket, bought in store | Charlotte Russe OTK Boots, old (love the gold heel on this pair) | Crossbody, old

Photos: Phillip, Deadshot Profiles

Sometimes you fall in love with a dress at first sight.  For me, it was this hunter green maxi dress from A New Day at Target (a line which I'm now obsessed with!)  I saw it in an email after it had been sold out and had to hunt it down, but that's another story!  This deep green hue has quickly become one of my favorites of the season, and of course you just can't go wrong with a floral print.  Together they are a winning combo.

I will wear a floral print any time of the year, but some of you may wonder about wearing them into winter.  I say just go for it, and I'm gonna share a few tips to help you style these floral cuties.

  • Throw on a Jacket - A moto jacket is always my go-to in winter because I love the mix of feminine and edgy, but you can always choose a denim jacket or oversized cardi!
  • Add Some Fancy Footwear - Boots are the easiest way to take an outfit to winter.  OTK boots are the cutest with dresses, but I'm also loving an edgy pair of embellished moto booties.
  • Finish Off the Look With Accessories - I didn't do much accessorizing with this look, but I am LOVING hats right now, and I've never been a hat girl.  Fedoras, berets, newsboy caps, I love them all and I will attempt to style them in 2018...

That's it!  These tips are pretty simple, and you may have these winter items in your closet already so have some fun with those floral prints this winter!

Shop The Post

I can't believe this is my last post of the year.  To round out the end of 2017, I'll be sharing a look back on some of my favorite posts, outfits and products of the year as well as what I'm looking forward to in the new year.  If there's anything you want to see me post about in 2018, feel free to comment below, DM me on Instagram, or email me!


How To Style A Floral Maxi Dress For Winter

Target Maxi Dress, sold out (love this) | Moto Jacket, bought in store | Charlotte Russe OTK Boots, old (love the gold heel on this pair) | Crossbody, old

Photos: Phillip, Deadshot Profiles

Sometimes you fall in love with a dress at first sight.  For me, it was this hunter green maxi dress from A New Day at Target (a line which I'm now obsessed with!)  I saw it in an email after it had been sold out and had to hunt it down, but that's another story!  This deep green hue has quickly become one of my favorites of the season, and of course you just can't go wrong with a floral print.  Together they are a winning combo.

I will wear a floral print any time of the year, but some of you may wonder about wearing them into winter.  I say just go for it, and I'm gonna share a few tips to help you style these floral cuties.

  • Throw on a Jacket - A moto jacket is always my go-to in winter because I love the mix of feminine and edgy, but you can always choose a denim jacket or oversized cardi!
  • Add Some Fancy Footwear - Boots are the easiest way to take an outfit to winter.  OTK boots are the cutest with dresses, but I'm also loving an edgy pair of embellished moto booties.
  • Finish Off the Look With Accessories - I didn't do much accessorizing with this look, but I am LOVING hats right now, and I've never been a hat girl.  Fedoras, berets, newsboy caps, I love them all and I will attempt to style them in 2018...

That's it!  These tips are pretty simple, and you may have these winter items in your closet already so have some fun with those floral prints this winter!

Shop The Post

I can't believe this is my last post of the year.  To round out the end of 2017, I'll be sharing a look back on some of my favorite posts, outfits and products of the year as well as what I'm looking forward to in the new year.  If there's anything you want to see me post about in 2018, feel free to comment below, DM me on Instagram, or email me!


December 28, 2017
PR samples from Hikari Cosmetics (currently on sale)

I'm no makeup artist, but I love trying new makeup and new trends.  One trend that I caught my eye this year are metallic lips (anyone else hop on the rose gold bandwagon?!)  When I saw Hikari's fall line of metallic lippies, I knew I had to give them a try.

I originally found out about Hikari from Ipsy and fell in love with the formula, so I was excited about these glosses.  I'll share each shade individually below, but overall I enjoyed them all.  They went on easily and dried quickly but left my lips a little drier than desired.  However this lippie lasted a long time which is exactly what you want for a night out.  The colors were a little light.  By layering you can get a darker look, but after a little trial and error I preferred them over a lipstick.

All of the swatches are worn without any other product so you can see what the shades look like!

Tender Heart - Shimmery Nude
Layered over your favorite rosy/nude lipstick, this is the secret to achieving the perfect rose gold.  Tender Heart looks good on anyone, and it's a subtle way to make your lips pop.  It's tame enough to work for an everyday look.  This shade is a must own.

Spiced Rum - Shimmery Warm Bronze
I love brown lipstick shades - something I've loved since high school.  They are just so flattering!  I also love the idea of a shimmery bronze shade, but worn alone it just didn't look good with my skintone.  This is definitely a great topper for other lipsticks, so I'll have to keep experimenting with this one.

Forbidden - Shimmery Mauve
This was a pretty shade but not too different from other lipstick shades I've tried.  It has an added shimmer, but not enough to make it unique.  Again this may be one that I have to try with other lipsticks.

Freefall - Shimmery Plum
Surprisingly, this was my other favorite shade from the quartet.  I say surprisingly because I'm not one for a dark lip, especially when it's in the purple family.  But I layered this over my NYX Butter Lipstick in Hunk Beau Gosse (looks like this shade isn't available so Thunderstorm would be a good alternative) and I loved the result.  I got compliments on it so I would definitely wear it out again.  This is more of a fall shade, but maybe I'll bring it out one more time for NYE!

Speaking of NYE, any of these shades would complete your holiday look!  These lip glosses are currently only $5 each, so be sure to add them to your makeup collection now.

I don't know about you, but I'm hoping the metallic lips stays into 2018!  Which one of these shades would you try?

Trying The Metallic Lip Trend + Swatches From Hikari Cosmetics

PR samples from Hikari Cosmetics (currently on sale)

I'm no makeup artist, but I love trying new makeup and new trends.  One trend that I caught my eye this year are metallic lips (anyone else hop on the rose gold bandwagon?!)  When I saw Hikari's fall line of metallic lippies, I knew I had to give them a try.

I originally found out about Hikari from Ipsy and fell in love with the formula, so I was excited about these glosses.  I'll share each shade individually below, but overall I enjoyed them all.  They went on easily and dried quickly but left my lips a little drier than desired.  However this lippie lasted a long time which is exactly what you want for a night out.  The colors were a little light.  By layering you can get a darker look, but after a little trial and error I preferred them over a lipstick.

All of the swatches are worn without any other product so you can see what the shades look like!

Tender Heart - Shimmery Nude
Layered over your favorite rosy/nude lipstick, this is the secret to achieving the perfect rose gold.  Tender Heart looks good on anyone, and it's a subtle way to make your lips pop.  It's tame enough to work for an everyday look.  This shade is a must own.

Spiced Rum - Shimmery Warm Bronze
I love brown lipstick shades - something I've loved since high school.  They are just so flattering!  I also love the idea of a shimmery bronze shade, but worn alone it just didn't look good with my skintone.  This is definitely a great topper for other lipsticks, so I'll have to keep experimenting with this one.

Forbidden - Shimmery Mauve
This was a pretty shade but not too different from other lipstick shades I've tried.  It has an added shimmer, but not enough to make it unique.  Again this may be one that I have to try with other lipsticks.

Freefall - Shimmery Plum
Surprisingly, this was my other favorite shade from the quartet.  I say surprisingly because I'm not one for a dark lip, especially when it's in the purple family.  But I layered this over my NYX Butter Lipstick in Hunk Beau Gosse (looks like this shade isn't available so Thunderstorm would be a good alternative) and I loved the result.  I got compliments on it so I would definitely wear it out again.  This is more of a fall shade, but maybe I'll bring it out one more time for NYE!

Speaking of NYE, any of these shades would complete your holiday look!  These lip glosses are currently only $5 each, so be sure to add them to your makeup collection now.

I don't know about you, but I'm hoping the metallic lips stays into 2018!  Which one of these shades would you try?

December 27, 2017

@paintthetownchic