NOVEMBER FAVORITES

It seems like every time I blink, another month goes by. November is finally over, and it's time to start ringing in the carols and bells and Pumpkin King-Santa decorations (thank you, Tim Burton). I wanted to take this time (reflecting on the past Thanksgiving week) to thank each and every one of my readers. And, if you do follow me, or read this, or anything of the sort, let me know & reach out! Like I've said in the past on this blog, all of this would not exist without you guys on the other side.. so thank you. Seriously. And remember, this isn't for me, this is all for you! ALL. OF. IT. Same with everything on the Lala. It's all yours. Sometimes the blogging/lifestyle site world gets a little caught up in itself. And as I've written about before, this world can be pretty dangerous. Sometimes I'll get lost in it as well, because it's very easy to. But there are moments where I step back and not only am I floored at the opportunity that this little site has gotten, I'm so honored to just have my work make someone smile or perk some sort of interest. Sometimes I want to hop out of the screen to just thank you all in person. It's all for you, it always has been, and it always will be! So, THANK YOU!

Now, let's get into favorites for the month that will hopefully inspire you a little more today.

BEAUTY

01. Pink Leopard Bronzer Powder by Too Faced- So, ironically, this stuff is actually considered  a bronzer, when I actually prefer to use it as a highlight. Typically, I'll swirl all the colors together and it creates this gorgeous peachy highlight sheen that's absolutely glorious on the cheekbones.  The pigment and consistency is also really great and I've been very impressed with it, considering any makeup that's leopard-patterned would normally scare me (lol). This is definitely an excellent Christmas gift for any beauty gurus in your life, and I'd recommend giving it a try if you're looking for a new highlighter. 

02. Urban Decay 24/7 in Desperation- I've always been a fan of 24/7 eye pencils by UD, but I always stuck to the typical Zero. I decided to try to go for a more slate grey, and I found Desperation, which I've really been digging! It's a nice change from a stark black pencil, and looks awesome on just the lower lash line or in the waterline. These pencils always get such an A+ in my book, so definitely check them out if you haven't yet.

03) Bobbi Brown Gel Liner in Caviar Ink- To go along with the theme of switching up black liner, I also did the same with my gel liner that I usually use everyday for my wings. I wanted something still dark enough to look black, but a little softer with more of a browny-grey undertone. Caviar Ink has done just the trick! (Wow, lol at the fact that rhymed). It's soft enough where it gives off a less harsh contrast, but it's still dark enough to be perceived as black. 

04) Persistence by Mac- My new nude, y'all! (Thank you Miss Joanna for your recommendation!). This is again, one of those really matte Kylie Jenner lip colors, but it actually is the perfect balance of taupey-grey and pinky-brown. It's super super thick which I love for a nude lipstick, and will look really beautiful on just about any skintone. I would recommend though that you use a lip liner with this, Nice N Spicy is my favorite for this. 

05) LUSH Popcorn- Okay, if you're looking for a stocking stuffer, this is it. Lip scrub saves my life during the winter months, since my lips usually get super chapped, but when it's POPCORN FLAVORED? That makes it like 20 thousand times better. It's edible, smells outrageously good, and you'll use it very often, I guarantee. You'll probably not be able to stop using it, actually. 

Hair / Nails / Miscellaneous 

06) Wallis by Butter London- November is always confusing to me when it comes to nail polish, in that, I feel like it's a weird month to go with white or black (my usual go-tos). I try to go with some deep burgundys/navys during this month, but I also really love Wallis this time of year, because it literally screams "November" to me. 

07) It's a Ten Leave In Spray- Ah, such an oldie. But such a goodie. If you follow me on Instagram or have seen  my last post, or have seen me in person within the last week and a half, you'll know that I recently dyed my hair a nice deep cherry red. I usually go red this time of year, and It's a 10 is literally my secret weapon for keeping my color strong. I use this as a heat protectant before I blow dry or straighten my hair and it really does a nice job of protecting/ preventing the color from being stripped. 

08) Nirvana Black Dry Shampoo- And on that note, I've also been washing my hair about every two days (instead of everyday- which I know is bad, but I do it anyway) to keep my color strong, so this dry shampoo has turned into my best friend. When I found out that Nirvana Black was a dry shampoo, I literally ran to Sephora as soon as I could to pick it up. It's actually such a great dry shampoo in itself, it keeps my hair refreshed without getting into too much crazy volume (as dry shampoos have the tendency to do) and plus, the smell is the best thing in the world. 

09) Michael Kors Fur Keychain- All I have to say about this is: YAAAAAAAY. So, long story short, I've been carrying around a fringe keychain for years now, as well as a super beat-up and broken Marc Jacobs keychain from, I wanna say, sometime in my high school career. So, I was in dire need of something new. And as long as you don't live under a rock, you'll know that these puff-ball keychains are super in trend this season (thanks Kylie), so naturally, I had to get my hands on one and found the perfect puff during a Black Friday sale. 

& Finally, wrap up of outfits from KQ this month::

"Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast"

[Romeo & Juliet 2.3]

Cheers, xoxox

ZEST

When it comes to holidays, it's always been a tradition in my house to dress up. Ever since I was little, I always pined at my mother the week before Thanksgiving or Christmas, asking, can we go get my (insert holiday) dress? Dressing up for holidays doesn't necessarily mean that we're celebrating outside the house or going somewhere special, I've always just seen it as a way to differentiate the day. Plus, let's be real, it's a lot more fun to get decked out in a pretty dress and more makeup than usual, am I right? 

This Thanksgiving, I went all out on finding that perfect dress. First thing's first though, you may be noticing something different about my hair... it's a big change you guys! I went my usual red route as I normally do, but I got the color deepened this time so it looks more like a black cherry-purple. The results are stunning in person, and the photos honestly don't do it justice. Therefore, my first task was to find a dress that would compliment the new color. I wanted something really different, and boy, did I find it. I picked up this victorian-inspired dress from Free People in this incredible mustard-yellowy color (I don't even know the right way to describe it?!) but it looked absolutely stunning with my cherry hair and a bright red lip (NARS Cruella). On top, I added this oversized vintage jacket I actually stole from my mother's closet, which turned out to be my grandmother's jacket (how cool..), which just goes to show that you should take advantage being home for the holidays, because you might not have to look very far for new pieces. I finished the look off with some signature knee-highs and suede boots from H&M (which are currently on sale for black Friday... go, go go.) 

Days like these remind me that any excuse to dress up is a good one. 

"When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions"

[Hamlet 4.5]

Cheers, xxx

GREEN-EYED

Green as is envy, eh? Part of the reason I picked 'Killer Queen' as my blog name has to do with the fact that I've always been interested in the unpleasant—that's often why my post titles are a little sour. I like to juxtapose darker words with beautiful fashions. Don't ask me why, I just think it creates a new narrative, something you don't really see often.. or at all, for that matter. And, I like to use uncomfortable, sad, or harsh experiences in my life to inspire my art here. That's why I threw myself into blogging from the beginning anyway. It's nice to take moments in your life (happy or sad) and express them through creative energy—and, that's probably one of the most valuable things I've ever learned.

For this spooky November look, I decided to start with this loose jersey collared button down from Wildfox. It actually has two printed jaguar heads on each side of bust line, but I decided cover them up for this particular post. On top, I added this black furry vest from H&M, and my favorite army green hat from Volcom. Finally, these boot beauties are from H&M as well, and I haven't been able to stop wearing them since I got my hands on them—they're so comfortable it's outrageous. Finally, I popped on my Ray Bans and a neutral lip to finish off the look. This outfit is actually an awesome example of my go-to casual formula for fall/ winter: 

top + coat/vest + leggings + chunky heel + hat. 

♡ Photos by Avery Bart♡

"How many fond fools serve mad jealousy?"

[Comedy of Errors 2.1]

Cheers, xoxox

PS: My latest article on BAZAAR.com is live! I'm extremely proud of it. This one's for you, black & white movie lovers. 

FORESTER

Wait. Are those square glasses? Indeed, indeed they are. I thought it was about time to switch up my lenses for the winter months, and once I got my hands on these Chanel beauties, (brand new from their new e-commerce store, thank you BAZAAR!) I knew it was time to switch up my sunglass aesthetic for my next KQ post. Built around these shades, this ensemble is all about layering. I decided to start with this amazing Free People smock I scored on major sale (thanks Miss Lindz for finding this...). It's a silky black tank dress, with a very straight, flapper-like cut. It's complete with the gorgeous sparkly embroidered bead detail, and I popped a long sleeve black shirt underneath from Urban to add some layering.

On top, I finished this off with my favorite Zara vest, and added some high socks and my usual Marc Jacobs tote. I wanted to keep jewelry pretty simple so I went without lobe earrings, just my cartilage ring, and a beautiful marble necklace given to me by my grandmother (pretty sure this piece is straight from the lands of Venezia). This is the perfect outfit for a warm fall-day, and it really shows how creative you can be with layers.

♡ Photos by Avery Bart♡

"Let us be Diana's foresters, gentlemen of the shade, 

minions of the moon"

[Henry IV Part One 1.2]

Cheers, xoxo

TIME WARP

RHPS show please? I was inspired to go all Rocky-Horror casual with this look and I think I did a bit of a time warp, if I do say so myself! I started with these fabulous denim bell bottoms I picked up from H&M (funny enough, I bought them for a Sonny + Cher Halloween costume, but I love them enough to make them an actual staple in my wardrobe!) They're super comfy and are a nice shade of deep denim, complete with sailor-like gold buttons. I also love the wide-legged pant, which is a style I've been meaning to get into but I've always been hesitant to because of my height. The trick for us petites is to find a bell bottom pant that sits at the perfect length with a heel. These were actually a bit long, so I ended up hot glueing my own hem on the bottom.. super easy and they came out great.

Next, I added a short sleeve sweater by Brandy Melville and popped on my J.Crew wool blazer. This blazer is an absolute lifesaver on fall November days because it's light enough where you don't feel bundled up, but heavy enough to keep you really warm during those wind chills. Finally, I added this maroon beanie, also from Brandy Melville, and I love the dimension and texture it adds to the entire look. I finished it all off with my matte black leather Jeffrey Campbell Lita's, vintage leather bag, and wickedly dark french mani. 

♡ Photos by Avery Bart♡

"The time is out of joint—O cursèd spite, 

That ever I was born to set it right!"

[Hamlet 1.5]

Cheers, xoxo

OCTOBER FAVORITES

Ah. The month of pumpkins, Frappula's, and Hocus Pocus is over at last. This also has been a monumental month for the Lala, as we hit 17K Facebook likes and 10K Instagram followers! These milestones are really cool, you guys. When you're apart of this kind of start-up, it's just the most incredible thing to watch it explode. It's even cooler when I'm stopped in the hallway at school or Facebook messaged from girls and guys I barely or used to know telling me how cool the magazine is---- ALL of the hard work pays off in those moments. It's the most revitalizing feeling and it makes it all worth it. Excuse the cheese, but I'm so grateful to each every one of my readers whether it be on this blog or on the Lala. I do this stuff to inspire you guys, and I want to connect with as many people as I can through my work, and from the bottom of my heart, thank you for being there, and thank you for reading. You guys keep me going.

Okay, enough with the sap, Alanna. Here are a few of my favorite things from the month of October. 

Beauty 

01. Bobbi Brown Eye Cream- So, I've never actually delved into the whole eye cream scenario for various reasons. Mostly because I really didn't think it was that necessary and also because I didn't really understand what it was all about. But here's what made me look into it. If you guys know me well, you know that I have really bad allergies. Yeah, sounds a bit absurd, I know, but I unfortunately inherited the allergy bug. When you have mild allergic reactions to anything outdoors (mainly things like trees, grass, etc), sometimes you get the absolute worst under-eye bags. I'm talking slightly puffy dark circles constantly. It's something I've always struggled with- even something I've been insecure about. I invest in really great under eye concealers precisely for this reason, but I also think it's important to try to treat the problem in the best way I can. I've started using BB's cream recently for the hell of it (also because I had a sample), and I actually really like the results I've been getting. I notice my under eyes seem much more smoother and not as dark. Obviously, this is a work in process, but this is a great cream to try and I'd definitely recommend it from what I've seen so far.

02. MAC Black Tied & Cheer On Me- You really think I was gonna write an Oc`tober favorite's post without talking about my favorite orange and black shadow? Psh! I thought it would be fun to throw these in, and I think they're perfect for anything festive during this past month. Black Tied is the perfect glitter-infused black shadow, while Cheer On Me is that perfect October pumpkin orange. 

03. Makeup Forever Flash Palette- This is my Halloween secret weapon, guys. It's probably one of the smartest makeup investments I've ever made, in that you can pretty much make any kind of face-paint or cream base color with it! The palette can also pretty much be used for any part of the face- eyes, lips, cheek color, the options are limitless. Definitely a stellar investment to add to your collection. 

04. Grey-Brown Brow Maker by Chosungah 22- So I actually was able to snag the giveaway closet at work because I've always wanted to try it, and I was quite skeptical. Needless to say, I was pretty shocked and impressed when I finally tried it. I definitely wouldn't use it every-day, but it's really great for touching up your brows before going out at night. It's a cream formula on a spoole brush, and it applies extremely smoothly. It actually replaces the step of using any kind of clear mascara on the brows to keep them in place, so I think that's pretty clever as well. 

05. Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer- In the days I swore by NARS Laguna (I still do, for the record), I'd probably be disappointed that I bronzer-hop so much these days. But, every time I've tried a new one, I end up liking it a lot. Bronzer-hopping has also taught me that different bronzers suit different seasons. With that being said, Chocolate Soleil is the perfect fall-winter one, because not only does it smell like chocolate (which nicely wakes me up as I'm doing my makeup at 7:30 AM on work days), the "Milk Chocolate" suits my paler complexion around this time of year flawlessly. 

Miscelleaneous

06. Glossier Soothing Face Mist- I'm not huge on face mists (like eye creams, I was never really sure of their practicality), but this one has changed my mind. It's super refreshing and I actually enjoy spritzing it on right before my nightly-topical treatment. It's super gentle and super chill. 

07. Ro's Argan Body Conditioner- The best moisturizer in all of the land, I promise you. I've been using this a ton this month, as it's great for this season's super dry skin. This is best used out of the shower and it'll actually change the texture of your skin, hands down. 

08. Ghost & Lightning bolt from Hipstapatch- How CUTIE are these! Hipstapatch is this brilliant accessory brand that sells the most adorable stick on patches- they can go onto pretty much any item of clothing just by sticking on, and if you want a permanent stick, add an iron. Tooooo adorable. 

Finally, a recap of this month's shoots:

"Stay illusion! If thou hast any sound,

or use a voice. Speak to me"

[Hamlet 1.1]

Cheers, xx