Visual Aid / What’s in my bag

1. Bulova Watch.  This is the watch that finally turned me into a watch/bracelet person.  I hadn’t worn any in YEARS until I found this watch Christmas shopping at Macy’s.  I love the deco bracelet style and it will stay in my jewelery collection indefinitely.

2. iPhone 5S + Trina Turk Case.  The top button on my iPhone 4 died, so this past October I had to get a new one.  I chose the gold 15gb 5S and my good friend, who works at the phone store, found me this lovely turquoise case by Trina Turk.  It’s not a case for the accident-prone, as it doesn’t cover the whole phone, but it does great for protective-types like me.

3. Bare Minerals Joyous Jennifer Blush.  To be perfectly honest, I’m not a big fan of blush.  I use it because I know I should, but with my big round apple cheeks and ever-present flush, it tends to be overwhelming.  However, I’ve found I like using Bare Mineral’s blushes because you have great control over the amount of product you use and it blends very well in case you get a little over zealous.

4. Eclipse Spearmint Mints.  The ONLY mints I ever consumed up until 2014 were Smints.  They were my lifeblood.  But, they’re only available online and with the limited budget I’m under right now, I had to find an alternative.  I discovered, after some experimentation, that I hated peppermint and wintergreen, so spearmint was my only option.  They’re tasty and do the job, but the case is metal and very loud when you go through half the pack!  I can’t wait to go back to the plastic recyclable packaging of Smints.

5. Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm.  Hydrates my lips, stays put, all-natural and doesn’t smell funky.

6. Revlon Eyelash Curler.  My lashes are straight and blonde, so I have to enhance them in any and every way possible.  This includes a 2-3 minute curling technique for each eye going from root to tip.  I’ve used this brand curler for years and it works great.  Less than $10 at the drugstore!

7. Bare Minerals Full Flawless Face Brush.  I use this to apply my blush.  It’s big, fluffy and blends everything out nicely.

8. Sephora Collection Nano Lip Liner.  I love to layer my lips to make the color last longer and pop.  Lately, I’ve been using Sephora’s own lip pencils in the colors Real Red, Beau Bordeaux and Brilliant Berry.  Color your full pout and put a dab or two of lip gloss over them and you’re good to go.

9. NYX Slim Eye Pencil in Dark Brown.  I’ve found that unless dramatic, nighttime or event makeup is required, black eyeliner is just too stark against my pale skin.  So, I’ve switched to dark brown and love this NYX pencil.  It sets quickly and if you use primer, it really doesn’t go anywhere.  It’s great for tightlining too.

10. Maybelline MasterShape Eyebrow Pencil in Soft Brown.  I’m constantly battling with my brow look.  I really want to have Elizabeth Taylor brows, but it’s just not in the cards for me.  I do tint my brows a few shades darker than natural, just to give them a little color (they’re very very light blonde on their own) and then I fill them in with this pencil.  The spooly at the end is perfect to blend everything together.  Works for now, but talk to me in a few months.  I’ll be onto something new.

11. Warby Parker Glasses.  See my previous post for full details!

12. Norwex Optic Cloth.  The ONLY cloth I will use to clean my glasses ever again.  It gets all the gunk off and leaves no streaks.  Amazing.

13. Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Gloss.  Not sticky.  Not smelly.  Doesn’t move too much.  Great nude colors.  Maybelline FTW!

14. Chloe Rollerball Perfume.  My signature scent in its portable version.

15. Maybelline The Colossal VolumExpress Waterproof Mascara in Glam Black.  After trying out many waterproof mascaras last year, I found I liked this one the best.  It gives you volume, separation and length.  Just watch the formula once you’re four or so weeks into the tube.  It can get clumpy fast.

16. Kenneth Cole Wallet.  A purchase from many years ago.  I love the alligator embossing and the light blue color.

17. Ariella Collection Ring.  I’ve featured these rings a few times already and I just love them.  I have it in gold and silver to go with absolutely everything I wear.  They’re a clean, classic style that’s large in size, but not gaudy.  I usually wear a 9.5 in rings but their 9 fits easily.

18. Zebra Pen.  Writes with ease and comes in many colors, like red!

19. Knit Infinity Scarf.  Another purchase from years ago.  Perhaps TJ Maxx?  Nonetheless it’s comfortable, warm and stylish.  A staple of any closet.

20. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion.  Eyeshadow DOES NOT MOVE.  Ever.  Enough said.

21. Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream.  I don’t like to wear full foundation everyday and have dry skin, so when this was recommended in the comments on my favorite beauty vlogger’s Sharon Farrell‘s page (who’s great btw and pale too!), I picked it up.  It protects with SPF30, has light coverage and evens the skin tone out just enough.  It doesn’t dry or move until you take it off in normal weather.  We’ll see when the sweatiness of Chicago summer ensues…

22. Kerastase Cristalliste Lumiere Liquide.  I’ve been addicted to Kerastase’s products for over 10 years now and this one is a must have for almost any hair type.  It’s a lightweight serum that can be used on wet or dry hair to smooth and add lots of shine!

23.  J. Crew Tortoise Claw Clip.  What can I say?  I just love these things.  They’ll stay put wherever and however you put them and still look cute and fashionable.  I own many.

24.  Cole Haan Woven Leather Cross-Body Bag.  My favorite TJ Maxx find from…maybe ever.  It is supposed to be a laptop bag, but I re-purposed it as my everyday cross-body bag.  It’s Cole Haan, so the quality of the leather is fantastic and has held up very well, considering I’ve worn it everyday since I purchased it in August of 2012.

Cocktail Look – Bodycon One Shoulder LBD and Metallic Nude Accessories

First things first: the event.

This was the Museum of Science and Industry’s 31st Annual Black Creativity Gala and Juried Art Show.  The evening raises money for the Black Creativity program which reaches more than 25,000 students, their teachers and families in underserved Chicago neighborhoods each year with a wide range of targeted, culturally-relevant science education programming.  It also provides exposure for African-American youth to careers, educational pathways and other opportunities in science, technology, engineering and medicine.  A great cause and a beautiful evening.

Now the look.

Oh Tadashi Shoji.  You are an amazing designer.  Your creations grace the Red Carpet as well as the closets of Nordstrom-addicts, such as myself.  We bow to you and your greatness.  ❤

I originally purchased this one-shoulder cocktail dress in 2010 for a charity event I was attending for work.  Four years and many events later, it’s still fashion-forward and shows no signs of wear.  The slightly bandage-esque design works like ruching and adds a really interesting pattern while still in all black.

Underneath I wore Spanx Hide & Sleek Hi-Rise Body Smoother (my personal favorite of the Spanx line because you do not need pliers and some serious stamina to pull it on and once it’s on it doesn’t roll down) and LB’s Multi-Way Strapless Bra (by far the best and most comfortable strapless bra I’ve ever used).

The accessories: The bracelet and earrings are INC from Macy’s (and actually from my friend’s wedding this past October!).  The ring is Ariella Collection from Nordstrom (which I own in silver and gold).  Shoes are Cole Haans featured in the last post.

P.S.  There was a macaroon bar at the dessert station.  YES and yummmmm!

SHOES – My favorite everyday looks in sizes 10.5 and 11

I should be honest that, given NW Indiana and Chicago are in the Polar Vortex Part Deux: The Revenge right now, I’m actually not wearing any of these favorite picks at the moment…only my Sorel snow boots (which, I should add, are one of the best shoe purchases I’ve made in years, but that’s another post for another day).

Nonetheless, as a true size 10.5 to 11, I’ve taken my fair share of disappointments when it comes to shoe shopping.  Finding a size 10.5 is a miracle in itself, when a lot of retailers only carry 5 or so pairs of each shoe above a size 8.5–which makes absolutely no sense by the way!  Luckily, wonderful places like Nordstrom, Zappos, Macy’s, Talbots, Cole Haan and DSW exist, where all of us double-digit sized ladies can shop stress-free.

I don’t have particularly wide feet, but they’re not a true medium width either, so I fluctuate between a 10.5 and 11 depending on the designer, material type and general shoe type (flat vs. heel, etc).  Today I’m featuring some flat and low-heeled styles that I absolutely love.  No sock weather will be here before we know it, so get those non-boot wheels turning!

 

STYLE #1: Classic ballet flat from Talbots.  Never goes out of style and works with any outfit. I have these in this red leather, a nude leather and a grey suede.  My size: 11.

STYLE #2: Edgy smoking slipper.  These fashion-forward little numbers are from Target!  I love the metallic finish and the spiked heel!  They look great with an ankle pant or skinny jean. My size: 11.

STYLE #3: Comfortable nude leather peep toe from Cole Haan.  These have the Nike Air shocks in the insoles, which makes them very easy for long-wear.  The nude color compliments anything from casual to fancied up and the little pop of gold on the heel adds that little extra polish! My size: 10.5.

STYLE #4: Tassled burgundy business flat from Joan and David.  These are my absolute favorite work shoes and go just as well with a full suit as they do with a casual Friday dark jean and blazer.  My size: 11.

STYLE #5: Suede stack-heeled ankle booties by Sam Edelman.  As you can see, I have them in black and nude-grey colors.  They are very comfortable to walk around in and perfect for cooler days sans bad weather.  I’ve put a few waterproof coatings on them, but I wear them so much they’re getting pretty beaten up.  My size: 10.5.

These are from Zappos and the style comes in MANY different fabrics and colors to suit everyone’s taste.  I recommend highly!