Because We Love You.

Hi guys. It's Friday and we got nothing so we thought we'd remind you about our awesome new Tumblr  just in case you don't love it yet. YOU WILL LOVE IT. I mean, seriously:

If that didn't make you snort-laugh I am afraid you might be dead inside like the SHobbit up there. Here, I'll try again:

No? Maybe you want someone pretty? We got that too:

Okay, FINE. Sadface it is:

Have a good weekend, y'all!

Marianne: Laptop Bag Coveting

This is a quickie post, because I'm in a big of a covetous mood. I just got a new job (yay!) and I'm thinking about treating myself to a new laptop bag. The question is...

Do I go for the Marc by Marc Jacobs bag in Chinchilla Multi?

Or do I go with Python and Neon Accents?

MARC by Marc Jacobs Pretty Nylon 13" Computer Commuter

What say you?

Marianne: Fine, I want to be an Olsen Twin.

I love a good t-shirt, and I love getting things in the mail and apparently? I love the Olsen twins a little bit. So I was more than intrigued to try something from Stylemint. The t-shirts are already pretty reasonably priced, but when a 25% off and free shipping code landed in my inbox, I jumped at the chance to get the Charlton Tee for just $20.

I love the red polkadot print and the sharkbite hem. What I don't love is that I ordered a size too big. I was skeptical that I would actually take a size 3, and ordered the size 4, which is far too voluminous on me. It's really comfortable but I can't say it's the MOST flattering thing I own.

 

The best part is my Stylemint package came with some extra treats! A Josie Maran Lip Marker with Argan Oil Stick in Waltz. It's a $20 value right there! And while it's a mouthful of words to say, it's a fantastic product. The marker really is like a marker, and stains your lips with the perfect berry pink. Then the Argan Stick smooths everything out. It has great staying power. I never would have tried it and now it's a product I will buy again, so well done Stylemint!

As for the tops, I don't think I'll be "subscribing" to the t-shirt delivery, but I'd probably try them again. Have any of you tried Stylemint? What did you think of the style quiz?

Adrien: PANK.

What is it about Anthro that makes me completely snow-blind? And also color-blind? I went in a few weeks ago and pounced on some bright red skinny jeans I found on the sale rack only to be disappointed because they were J Brand, a brand that has hurt my feelings time and time again. But, I'm a glutton for dressing room punishment so I tried them on anyway. And...they fit. And looked good! And OH MY GOD ARE THEY PINK? What read as a nice cheerful red in the gloom of the sale room was actually a bright, shocking pink.

Pink. Jeans. I actually hung them back up in the sale room and walked away...then went back and bought them. So, I don't know, am I pulling them off?

jeans: J Brand 811 skinny in shocking pink (less expensive similar here and here)
blouse: Old Navy (similar)
cardigan: Gap button front
shoes: Frye (similar)
bag: Andrea Brueckner (similar)

Marianne: More Makeup Adventures.

Oh yeah, did I promise more makeup posts? I try to deliver. Starting with THIS:

My frizzy haired, makeupless headspace, like a wee mole longing for mascara. But anyway, let's talk about the new makeup I'm trying this week. Like half of the women of America, Spring comes along and I begin to daydream of a fresh yet retro makeup look, lots of pinky cheeks, nude lips, and eyes with black eyeliner. You know, basically a Daytime Adele.

I've spent the winter spackling on the eye makeup, both to try and detract from my braces, and to make up for the otherwise lack of color or life in my skin. So let me tell you, it was kind of tough to pare down my eye makeup. Today I wore NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Yogurt (also on eBay for even less). I worked it from lid to crease and blended slightly up to my brow bone. Then I added NYX Studio Liner. I wanted to love this--it's so cheap, and easy to apply if you have a steady hand. But sadly, the staying power is nothing compared to my favorite Bobbi Brown Gel Liner--that stuff goes NOWHERE and I find it really easy to apply with the accompanying brush. Oh well, at least I love the eye pencil! It's the perfect taupey pink and blends great.

 

My lashes can't survive without mascara. After my post praising Maybelline The Colossal, some of you recommended The Falsies, so I'm trying it below. I hoestly didn't see a huge difference, but I think I slightly prefer the Colossal's brush? I don't know. It looks pretty good in this picture.

 

So, this is my new favorite casual, every day look. In addition to the eye makeup, I'm wearing my most favorite Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Foundation, Rodial Eye Pen under my eyes (very similar to the Boots version I normally wear, but better coverage), some Anastasia Brow Gel, and the NYX cream blush that Adrien recommended, in glow. It's a really perfect shade, and obviously works on different skin tones. And on my lips? My favorite discovery, the NYX Color Lip Balm in Tack, which is VERY close to some Lorac lip gloss I've been mourning since it was discontinued. For $3.50, I want to try every color (I'm seriously considering this "pick 6" deal)

So there's my mug, with some seriously unkempt hair but a lighter makeup look for Spring. Do you guys change your makeup with the seasons? What are you buying? Because I'm very suggestible. 

Adrien: Between Seasons

Sleeveless! With a jacket! Bare toes! And pants! I'm still confused. Yay spring.

 

top: Ann Taylor (similar)
pants: Banana Republic (similar)
jacket: J Crew Downtown Field Jacket
shoes: Miz Mooz Hilary
necklace: J Crew (similar)
bracelets: Giles & Brother skinny railroad spike cuff
bag: Andrea Brueckner Aspen satchel (similar)

Adrien: Spring Wanty Blues.

Oh, it's spring and you know what that means - I want stuff and apparently it's almost all blue stuff I want. I think the neon trend is fun, but I was, um, alive in the 80's and I am not so sure I can pull this off a second time as I am positive I didn't pull it off the first time. But, I do dig the bright, saturated colors quite a bit. I compiled a bunch of photos of things I really liked for spring and then when I looked at the folder I laughed because apparently all I want to wear it blue. Blue! BLUE EVERYTHING. Seriously:

Old Navy  Button-Front Sleeveless Top

Old Navy Tab-Sleeve Patterned Top

Miz Mooz Sailor 

Knit Sheath Dress

And! If money were no object I would buy these so fast it would give me the spins:

Chie Mihara Trampa 

I KNOW. I KNOW.  Ugh, I can't stand it! I love them so much it makes me angry. Okay, just to break my own pattern, I also like this:

ON Tab sleeve dress

It's basically my pink blouse in dress form, which might be fun. Or is might be a freak-ton of bright pink. Hm. I do intend on getting one or two more colors in that Target dress I posted about recently. I think it's funny that it's call a "Value Dress" because nothing says, "I feel pretty" like the world VALUE. Ugh. But, I want it in this color (which would look great with those Chies I just posted RAGERAGERAGE):

And maybe this:

Target V-Neck Value Dress

Okay, that's enough from me. What do you kids want for spring? Do tell.

Adrien: Sprang, y'all!

This is my favorite spring dress, like, ever. It's story is here (of course there's a story) and I have been looking forward to wearing it all faux-winter long. That's all, just a dress I like:

dress: Issa London (fancy similar here, frugal similar here.)
cardigan: Gap solid button front cardigan
necklace: gift from my sweet friend Ashley
shoes: Chie Mihara (similar)
bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs Hillier Hobo
bracelet: Loft (similar and if money were no object )

Marianne: Kind of whatever.

This is one of those "Should I Even Bother?" outfits. All things you've seen before. A notable debut of my toes for the season, so whoever it is that thinks my feet are gross should be pleased. Meh.

Lately I've been daydreaming about a new denim jacket, I guess because my spring wanty wishlist isn't really coming together and it feels wrong to not want SOMETHING. 

Oh! Here is a picture with the jacket UNBUTTONED. That's exciting.

Maybe it's the mild winter, or maybe it's that I'm not seeing much in stores that's catching my eye, but I'm just not excited about shopping for spring and summer clothes yet. What about you? Is your closet already stocked? Are you really fired up about the candy colored cropped denim out there? Because my rear end can't support that much color.

 

I may not be shopping for clothes, but I did get some new makeup today. You know what that means! Get excited.

denim jacket: Gap (similar here)

cuff bracelet: Marc by Marc Jacobs (similar here and here )

wrap dress: BCBG (similar here and here)

shoes: Miz Mooz Hazel (similar here)

What We Really, Really Want.

M: I don't understand these pants

image: Trendy Crew

A: I was just about to send you that! She is so, so, so glam... and then there are the high-waisted pleated shiny leather pants.

M: She is gorgeous. But I can't. I just can't with those pants. She's capable of more!

image via kenyasstyle.com

A: Maybe she lost a bet with Lanphear?

M: They have Punishment written all over them. I can't wait for someone to come to their defense!

A: WE ARE SO MEAN. The thing is, I  love her accessories - the bracelets, her hair, sunglasses, bag, it's all good. But the shirt she's wearing is too close to her skin color so it kind of looks like she's wearing high-waisted shiny black pleated leather pants (COME ON) with a cropped jacket and nothing else. It's very Spice Girls.

M: PLEATED! I think I have the vapors now.

A: ZIG-A-ZIG-AH.

Adrien: Running out of clothes

This weather is confusing me. It feels like summer (which I love) but my closet is still full of winter. I also have tights-separation anxiety. But, I am a trooper and I dug deep to try to find one of last summer's t-shirts to wear with my favorite leopard skirt. And I guess now I have to pull out all my summer stuff? Its making me a feel a little faint. Anyway:

t-shirt: Gap (similar)

skirt: Ann Taylor (similar here)

jacket: Banana Republic

necklace: JCrew Starry Locket (similar)

shoes: Chie Mihara (similar)

bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs (similar)

bracelets: Giles & Brothers Skinny Railroad Spike cuff (regular version here)

Marianne: The Worst Scarf Tutorial in the WORLD.

You guys. I'm sorry. I had this grand plan to do a step-by-step photo tutorial on one of my favorite scarf tying methods (seen above), and it turns out? Pretty much impossible to explain in pictures. But hell, I took them, and it's Friday, and what else do you have going on?

SO, start with a long rectangular scarf. You want something long enough to wrap a couple of times around your neck loosely. Fold the scarf in half, and tie the corners into a knot. See...this is where things start getting fuzzy.

Okay, so now you've got a big loop. I hope. Who really knows?

Put the loop around your neck, with the knots in the BACK. Make sure you grin like a buffoon, it helps.

Okay, this is where it gets really vague. Twist the scarf with the knots behind your head, and bring the loop back over your head.

Now you've got the knots in front of you...right? Right. Right? Take one knot and pull it through the other loop. Huh? Yeah, I don't know either. Make it look like this:

 Now just kind of fuss with it until the knots and fringe and drapey bits are all cute and whatever. God, I'm exhausted. Maybe next time I'll do a video? Here are some bracelets. Let's never speak of this again.

sweater: Target (similar pattern here)

green top: Forever 21 (similar here)

jeans: Pilcro Stet Slim Bootcut

cuff bracelet: Target (similar here)

link bracelet: Banana Republic (similar here)

neon friendship bracelet: handmade (crazy cheap one here)

scarf: vintage (other cotton scarves that would work here, here, and here)