APRIL FAVORITES

Fun fact: Pink is my least favorite color to wear, but I surround myself with it. My walls at home are pink, I have pink artwork around my dorm bedroom, and the majority of my makeup collection is pink. I've also even recently worn a blush-pink dress. So, what's the deal?! Truth is, I've loved pink since I was small, but it's a color that you have to be careful with, and if styled right, it can actually look pretty stellar. This month's April Favorites is chock full of pink and the color which compliments it perhaps the best: GOLD! of course. 

Beauty

01. Smashbox Foundation Primer- Well hello yet again, photo finish foundation primer. This is probably the third time I've included it in my favorites, simply because it has changed the way my makeup wears and feels throughout the day. I would recommend getting the oil free version (even if you're prone to dry skin) for the summer, so that shine will never build up. Five stars, in my book!

02. Mac False Lashes Extreme Black- I'm a total stickler for not using high-end mascara. Why? Because for something that has to be replaced every three months, why would you ever spend more then 10 dollars at the most? (Plus, I love my L'Oreal Voluminous). However, I have to say that this product may have converted me. False Lashes by Mac is probably one of the best mascaras I've used period. It's thick and lengthening, and perfect for enhancing your eyes with or without liner. 

03. Mac Take Root Cream Colour Base- Kardashian contour, anyone? So, I would normally never buy a cream colored base from Mac unless I knew I was going to use it a lot, but I actually picked this up at a CCO upstate over the summer, and didn't start trying it out until now. And funny enough, I actually kind of like it. It's important to be careful when contouring with a cream base, because you don't want it to look too harsh or unnatural, but blend a little of this with your favorite bronzer, and you'll nearly get an instant tan! 

05. Mac Dainty- I'm sure I've raved about this before last year at some point, but if I haven't: now's the time. Dainty is perfect for a Mac starter kit because it's a typical shimmery corally pink that compliments every skin tone and shade. It's crisp, springy, and really pigmented because of it's mineralize power.

06. Mac Taupe Eyeliner and Verve Combination- Okay, so bare with me here. I think a really cool look for this summer into fall is going to be a brown lip. Sounds wild right? But I actually think it looks gorgeous from when I've tried it out. I've lately been obsessing over lining my lips with a brown eyeliner (yes, you read that right, Mac's Taupe is an eyeliner) and complimenting it with a lipstick on top. I found a brilliant brown combination has been Mac Verve over top of Taupe!

Perfume & Skincare

07. Harajuku Lovers G- I know, I know. THROWBACK much?! Yes, indeed I'm popping this into my favorites because guess what? This is one of my favorite perfumes of ALL TIME. This is literally one of those scents that I don't wear unless it's a special occasion: that's how much I love it. I'd recommend this if you're into coconut scents or sweet-sour mix scents. (Click on the name for an Ebay listing of it, cause this actually might be discontinued :/ saddd).

08. TretinX Topical- Thank you dermo doc! So this topical is a form of Retinol Cream, which if you don't know what that is, you can learn a little bit about it here. Basically, it's acne-fighting and anti-aging, and a product worth coveting because it apparently changes your skin for the better. I've been on this topical for a year now, and my skin is completely clear and flawless thanks to it. Retinol is a prescription medicine, so please talk to your dermatologist about it if you're looking to clear up your skin or avoid wrinkles!

Miscellaneous

09. Feather Torque Necklace by Orelia- How ADORABLE is this necklace you guys?! Many thanks to the team at Orelia for sending this over to me, I'm totally and utterly obsessed. This piece is the feather torque necklace, and it's a gold choker-like necklace with imprinted feathers at the edges. It's perfect to dress up any outfit, and I am absolutely head over heels for it. 

10. Cut Out Triangle Bar Necklace by Orelia- Yet another piece from Orelia, this is their triangle cut-out bar necklace! How cute! I've been wearing this piece nonstop (literally just about everyday since I purchased it!) It's super trendy, and so beautifully delicate. I also love that this piece is very durable compared to other necklaces I've purchased at Forever 21. It's super strong and impeccably cute. You can purchase Orelia online or in Topshops by you :) 

11. Green Classic Round Ray-Bans- The biggest star of Killer Queen is finally in my favorites! I purchased these glasses right around my birthday in September, and as you could probably already tell, haven't been able to take them off. I love how the round lenses suit my face, and the green glass gives them such an edgy feel, I love love love these (again, as if you couldn't already tell(;).

12. Birkenstocks C/O Asos- Yes, yes. I gave in. But I did it because I actually really love how comfortable Birkenstocks are (this is actually, my second pair, surprise!). I also don't often see a lot of edgy looking/black sandals that fit my aesthetic, but I like that these actually do. They will most certainly be making an appearance in posts to come (and yes, I've already had three separate people send me the meme that says these look like sandals for middle-aged uncles, THANKS GUYS! ;) ). 

& Without further ado, my lookbook for this month!

EXCITING THINGS LADIES & GENTS:

I'm happy to share with you my very first piece for Olivia Palermo's Style Website>>>

PLEASE CHECK IT OUT HERE!

AND

the Lala is recruiting new contributors, boost your summer resume and APPLY HERE!

MORE EXCITING THINGS TO COME LOVES. 

(I couldn't have done it all without you!)

"Ignorance is the curse of God, 

knowledge is the wing wherewith we fly to heaven"

[Henry VI. Part 2 // 4.7]

Cheers, xoxoxoxox

MONOPHONY

Its sprannggg guys! Hello romper season. I got this glorious off white lace piece from Necessary Clothing, complete with wood stocky-inspired bell sleeves (literally obsessed with these). Underneath, I just added a black bandeau from Urban Outfitters. The layers not only provide some color block, the contrasted shade of black and off white will really pop off of skin and hair color well.

I added my favorite white and black Deena and Ozzy heels, and added my rust envelope bag from Florence, Italy, to add a little more dimension and texture. I went simple with jewelry this time around, and just simply added my Cut Out Triangle Bar Necklace courtesy of Orelia to finish off the look. 

♕ Photos by Jack Walsh ♕

"The smallest worm will turn, being trodden on

And doves will peck in safeguard of their brood."

[Henry VI Part 3 // 2.2]

Cheers,xooxo

BLUNT

First and foremost, let's talk about this neck candy- shall we?! I received these beautiful necklaces from Orelia last week, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to style them! The two pieces I've featured in this look are the Feather Torque Necklace and the Cut Out Triangle Bar Necklace. Not only do I love the durability of these two pieces, together, they not only compliment each other, but add a nice sparkle of gold to the neckline. 

As for my dress, I picked this up from Urban Outfitters for only $39. It's a pretty pink blush color (which is very rare for me to put my hands on seeing as majority of my wardrobe is black and white..), but to edge it up, I paired it with my cream pleather jacket from Forever 21 and kickass scrappy leather Inabas courtesy of Jeffrey Campbell. Um, yayyy spring!

♕ Photos by Joanna Riker ♕

"Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; 

oft got without merit, and lost without deserving"

[Othello 2.3]

Cheers, xx

HALT

In my very first Shakespeare show, the opening line was the notorious "Halt! An audience!" from Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. Looking back, I now laugh at that line for our little thirteen-year-old selves always took it so seriously, when it's actually such farce. That line always stuck with me though, (as did most Shakespeare lines, if you couldn't already tell...) and I've always related it to my style and the way I dress. "Halt, an audience," literally means, "Hold on, we have an audience, this is a show." I've always liked to reflect that in my clothing: hold on, I'm "performing," so I may as well look the part, kind of like As You Like It's "all the world's a stage" bit. 

Although simple, this is such a "halt!" ensemble, and I love the aura it gives off (a little Wednesday Addams, a little New York chic). I started with my black skate skirt and knee socks, which, thank god for Spring, I'm now able to wear without being freezing. I popped on one of my favorite Free People button downs, and simply added this long black coat from Forever 21. My beautiful Steve Madden pointed loafers gives me some more shape, and I couldn't do without my latte from Rex, duh.

♕ Photography by Jack Walsh ♕

"How far that little candle throws its beams! 

So shines a good deed in a naughty world."

[Merchant of Venice 5.1]

Cheers, xoxo

ARMOUR

Spring fashion for me is all about combining bold textures. That's exactly what I did here with these lace bell bottoms c/o Necessary Clothing and this embroidered sequin top I found at Forever 21 [similar here] (I got this for about $24, and I'm surprised as to how well made it is considering-- what an amazing find). To balance out intricate textures, like the beads of this top and lace of the bottom (which I threw black tights underneath to eliminate the sheer factor), I added a smooth pleather cream jacket also c/o of Forever. I love this jacket, because it looks super expensive but is totally fast fashion-street style. 

If you're a frequent reader here, you know I love to place color in places that aren't exactly on my body: leave it to the accessories and I'm all in.  I did just this with my favorite rubber neon clutch that I purchased back in Salerno, Italy last May. (ASOS has a few that are similar, and are currently on sale at that, weeeee.) Finally, with these pants I need a heel, (or else I'll be sweeping the floor), so I added my pointed Jeffrey Campbell wedges to give myself some height. I tied back half my hair with some bobby pins (a style I copied from Kaitlyn Bristowe on the Bachelor/ette, see her GMA hair- thanks girlfriend..) and I have on my usual stack of arm candy with some new hot pink Moroccan additions (YAS).

"Conscience is but a word that cowards use, 

devised at first to keep the strong in awe"

[Richard III. 5.3]

Cheers, xxooxoxo