MARCH FAVORITES

March 2016 might have just been the best month yet. Why, you say? Because the Lala shop launched, DUH! I just wanted to take this time to say that I'm so incredibly grateful to have been a part of designing something so special.. it's literally so cool to see girls (both Lala contributors and readers) love these products as much as we do. Stay tuned y'allll, this is just the beginning. With that being said, here's everything else I've been loving this past month. 

Beauty 

01. Kat Von D. Foundation- I know, I knowwwwww. I just went against one of my own biblical skin-care rules (peep no. 6 in this article). But I decided to branch out to something a little more matte— because as the sun is starting to make it's full fledged appearance, so is the oil build up on my face (ugh, combination skin). I snagged a sample of this foundation recently, and liked it so much that I went back for the full size. I use very little of it (one pump!) and it goes a long way, not to mention, even the lightest use of this offers really great full coverage. As my first official branch out of using a daily foundation, this is a pretty good one. I do intend on still sticking to tinted moisturizer on some days, but this is a great alternative (I also like mixing them together to ensure that SPF coverage). 

02. Makeup Forever Ultra HD Concealer- With that foundation switcharoo, so comes a little switch of my concealer. After running out of my full-cover MF concealer (which I love dearly), I decided to try their newer formula. I find this one to be a little lighter than the other, but still impactful enough in that it covers up just about anything with a few swipes. 

03. Mac Velvetstone Brow Pencil- March's theme is certainly switching up my basics. I also decided to try out a different eye pencil (even though, all hail Anastasia no matter what), and I actually really like it. I already love Mac pencils/kohls so it was an easy transition in that sense— I love how soft the tip is, as well as the pigmentation. Really a great pencil for super dark eyebrows.

04. Colourpop Mixed Tape- The perfect spring smoke. I'm loving the gunmentally gorgeous purple-taupe of this shadow for a deepened crease or under eye finish. This is actually the first Colourpop matte shadow that I've ever purchased (I've only got the shimmery shades), and I'm really impressed with it's pigment-like form. I'd say that these shadows are great dupes for Mac pigments, just in a bit more of a solid form. 

05. Amsterdam Matte Lip Cream by NYX Cosmetics- I'd just like to say that NYX seems to be the first brand (that I remember, at least) who came out with the liquid matte lip creams. I think I got my first one of these around the end of my senior year of high school (nearly four years ago) and I remember falling in love with the consistency and concept. Now that these matte lip creams seem to be all over the place, I broke a few of these older ones out and recalled how much I loved them back in the day. This one is a beautiful magenta-red that stays put and is really impressive for NYX I'd say.. it's a great dupe for pretty much any similar color and style you'd see at Sephora. 

Miscellaneous

06. PHYTHÉOL Dry Hair Shampoo- So I recently chopped my locks just below the shoulder (I really cannot go shorter than that in my personal opinion)... and while sitting in the salon chair, I was recommended this product. As the warmer days approach, I mentioned that so does the build up of oil on my face, but call it three times the charm— also does the build up of oil in my hair. You thoroughly wash with this baby two-to-three times a week, and it's meant to dry up those follicles to prevent too much shine (like, the not-cute-greasy kind). I've literally used this about three times in the past week.. and I already have had some noticeable changes in my hair. Really really love what it's done so far, and I look forward to seeing even more improvement as the summer comes. High recommendation for this one. 

07. the Lala 'Get It Girl' Notebook Set- You didn't think I'd finish this post without including a product from the Lala shop, did you? (Also I'll probably do one of these for every month from now through eternity, fair warning). But seriously guys HOW CUTE IS THIS?! I'm always in the need of notebooks for various different things, and I absolutely HATE anything spiral bound (#sorrynotsorry), so this one is absolutely perfect, not to mention, is excellently designed and most importantly, (because God forbid!) matches my Instagram theme. To see more cute things that you need to buy like yesterday from the Lala shop, click here.

LOOKBOOK

"They have been at a great feast of languages, and stol'n the scraps.”

[Loves Labours Lost 5.1]

Happy April & cheers to it finally being spring.

Cheers, xoxoxo

FILLET

A bit of geometry, anyone? Don't worry.. not the 8th-grade-I-hate-my-life-math kind. For this week's look I focused on playing with both the static and movement of shapes and lines. I started with these kickass vertical striped white and black pants I purchased ages ago at Pacsun (which I know is a weird store to love, but I love it nevertheless.) Up top I added a black tank with a white v neck to keep a simple base under this crochet beauty from Topshop. This top/dress/smock, whatever you want to call it is SUCH a fun garment to play with, so I was really happy with the way it looks over the killer Beetlejuice pants. 

To finish off the look, I added my Yardley lace-ups c/o Sam Edelman, my H&M bomber, and of course my Ray Bans and a cool choker ribbon. To ground the look a bit and tone down the drama, I went with a sweet griegey pink-purple lip, Trap from Colourpop (which I'm legit addicted to, if you haven't noticed!)

"My love's more richer than my tongue."

[Lear 1.1]

Cheers, xxoxo

ARACHNE

I don't: like spiders. I do: love the look of a pretty spider web, so I wanted to play with this in my first official spring look for today by changing up the regular silhouette of a dress. I decided to go with this web-like sheer dress, over a nude slip, over pants, and as complicated as it sounds, I think it ended up looking pretty cool. 

The first time I laid eyes on this Vienna For Love & Lemons dress was when I knew it was exactly what I wanted to do with it: add something incredibly voluminous underneath the skirt portion. (Which, sidenote, I have to express my deep interest in the FLL brand, I think some of the cuts and silhouettes are super innovative and chic). That's why, it's even more fun to layer what they give you over other pieces of clothing, it completely changes the look of the body in the best way. I started with these H&M denim bell-bottom jeans, and slipped a nude slip over it. Next came the sheer dress... (the material is buoyant enough to stretch right over a thicker pant which was really nice). I didn't want to take away from the drama, so I simply added this Topshop leather jacket on my shoulders and a nice purple-griege lip (Trap by Colourpop) to add a little personality and finish up the look. I'm super impressed with the new silhouette created, and I really think it brings the FLL dress to the next level. 

After all, wouldn't it be boring to wear a dress exactly how it's meant to be worn?

♡ Photos by Avery Bart ♡

"As soon go kindle fire with snow, as seek to quench the fire of love with words."

[Two Gentlemen of Verona 2.7]

Cheers, xoxoxo

P O S T  / / S C R I P T 

the Lala shop is OFFICIALLY OPEN (yyyyeees, this is the project we've been working on for months, and I'm so excited to have brainstormed/worked on all the designs... words cannot express how cool it is to have a brainstorm thought written down in a notebook turn into a real product)

Check out our Lala dream in tangible form, and here's to products that embody the style, substance and spirit of the Lala. 

:: the Lala shop ::

BOXED IN

Like many things in life (#boom with the cliche) formulas are key. And with that being said, fashion formulas are especially helpful for putting together outfits in very little time. My go-to formula for spring is as follows ::  bralette + long sleeve tee + vest/jacket. I started this ensemble with the first of the equation, the bralette, which is ultimately the not-so-hidden star of the entire look. I'd say that the most important quality of wearing one of these under a shirt is that there's got to be some design to it. The more unique the front, the cooler it will look with a low cut tee. Instead of opting for one of my regular black bralettes, I chose this Brandy Melville one with the criss cross detail. Not only does it add some dimension itself, it also really brings out the lines of the shirt and vest I popped on top. 

Next I paired this white long sleeve tee from American Apparel on top, and added this crisp white long vest from Zara. I wanted to break up a little of the white and black with an entirely new texture: denim. I just got these amazing high waisted babies from Topshop, and not only are they super comfortable and casual, they're SO FUN to dress up. For shoes, I opted for my SCHUTZ Cadey Lee's, threw my hair up in a double pony, and added a thick black ribbon choker for some more edge.

♡ Photos by Avery Bart ♡

“I burn, I pine, I perish.”

[Taming of the Shrew 1.1]

Cheers, xxox

P O S T  / / S C R I P T 

As you may know if you follow the Lala on Insta, Facebook, or Twitter, we have a HUGE announcement coming. I just wanted to take this time to say that we have been working on this since AUGUST and have discussed this for years prior, and I am so incredibly proud that it's finally coming to fruition. There's SO much #lalalove that's been put into this, and we're all so excited to share with you guys what's to come. Stay tuned on the Lala's Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to see what's up. 

This is gonna be HUGE, guys and I'm so honored to have been a part of it.

xxxxx

YVES

I know what you're thinking. Finally, a shoot without heels. I literally can't remember last time I shot with sneakers (I often just opt for loafers when picking flats) but that all changed when I got my hands on these H&M babies. I've been looking to get a white sneak for a few months now, but I didn't want to put down a ton of cash for Adidas (yet.. at least), so I was looking for a similarly shaped white shoe, and I stumbled upon exactly what I was looking for. 

To keep the vibe casual, I opted for this fashion idiom tee (can we please bring these back?!), a longer Wildfox cardigan, and my bomber also from H&M. I wanted to add a little sophisticated flair (because it wouldn't be a true KQ look without a little shine), so I opted for these silky leather pants from Nasty Gal. And of course, I couldn't go without my Ray Bans (despite the fact that we were in a subway station while shooting this, #sorrynotsorry), and a swipe of Ariana Grande's Viva Glam lipstick which I haven't been able to get enough of lately.

♡ Photos by Avery Bart ♡

“And thus I clothe my naked villainy 

With odd old ends stol'n out of holy writ; 

And seem a saint, when most I play the devil.”

[Richard III 1.2]

Cheers, xxxx