JUNE FAVORITES

What an incredible first month of summer it's been. I've taken a lot of my post-grad time to focus  more on Killer Queen (and the Lala, of course) and I couldn't be happier about it. Hot days have called for upstate day-trips and drives, but also some fun rooftop city nights. It's been a really relaxing first month out of college to say the least (believe me, I needed it). This month's favorites are super summery and have been my go-to's as of late. So, without further ado.. 

BEAUTY

01. Velvet Matte Skin Tint by NARS- When I recently ran out of my favorite Laura Mercier oil-free tinted moisturizer, I was crushed to find every shade by my own left at the Sephora counter. So, I opted to try something else I've heard wonders about.. the new skin tints by NARS. Similar to LM's formula, this baby has an SPF of 30 and keep away shine throughout a hot summer day, and I'm quite pleased with its pigmentation and staying power. 

02. Mac Sparkling Rose Iridescent Pressed Powder- I am always up for a sweet highlighter powder for summer.. I think it always adds such a gorgeous hue to dewy skin this time of year. This champagney-rose one by Mac has made its way to my favorites this month because of its power pigment and its pretty finish. An excellent find for a summer highlight, I'd say. 

03. Mac Hello There Shadow- Not often do you catch me wearing a pink eyeshadow, but if you have, it's this one. I love using this as a lid base and blending it into a darker crease color as an every day look.

04. L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara- My favorite throwback product for this month definitelyyyyy has to be L'Oreal Voluminous Waterproof Mascara. This is my favorite mascara for summer (and has been since I was like, in 8th grade, or whenever I started using makeup), so I of course had to bring it back this year as a staple in my purse. 

05. Dolce K by Kylie Cosmetics- Definitely an unexpected addition to my favorites, that's for sure. But in good reason! So I've steered away from purchasing pretty much anything product-celebrity related in my entire life, as I know how crappy most of those products turn out to be (and certainly any Kylie Lip Kit would stay on that list as far as I was concerned) but recently I thought I'd bite the bullet and try out one of the shades I had been eyeing from Kylie's line. And surprisingly, I'm pretty impressed. The formula is certainly not as drying as I expected (I thought the consistency would dry more like the Colourpop Lip Matte as many of the ingredients are the same), it is actually noticeably better. Plus I'm all for a good smelling lip product, and this gets an A++ in that department with it's hint of caramel and vanilla scent. Much to my surprise, I'm really loving this. 

FRAGRANCE / BODY / MISC. 

06. Korres Velvet Orris Violet White Pepper Eau De Toilette- It took me all of a couple of seconds to fall in love with this perfume/body spray. The scent is not too sweet but not too musky.. and I use it just about every day (mainly because I'm simply addicted to it!). Definitely a brilliant pick if you're looking for something in between sweet and savory.

07. LUSH Butterball- It's been a while since I've included a bath bomb in my favorites, so when I had this one handy, I knew it would be prime opportunity. I've always been a fan of Lush's pretty bath soaps and bombs, and Butterball has to be one of my absolute favorites. Not only do I love the creamy vanilla scent, its cocoa buttered inside is simply to die for. OBSESSED. 

08. Caviar Multi Vitamin Repair Spray- I got a nice little sample of this in one of my last VIB Rouge boxes (yikes, I do buy that much at Sephora), and I've been reaching for it non-stop before I blow dry my hair out. It smells luscious and I have seen a noticeable strength in my hair over the past few weeks because of it. Needless to say,  #impressed yet again. 

09. June Lala Shop Favorite ♡ 'College' Baseball Hat- How cutieeeeee is this baby? So obsessed with this white baseball topper, and I've been obsessed with throwing this in my beach/pool bag all month. I love that font (if you couldn't tell already..) and the baby pink is just gorgeous on the stark white. See more Lala merch here!

Finally, clips and some looks from this month, edited by Miss Lindsey Marie:

♡ HERE'S TO A KICKASS JULY! XX ♡

"She sat like patience on a monument,

smiling at grief"

[Twelfth Night 2.4]

Cheers, xoxo

MOONLESS

What's the most versatile and timeless summer piece is of all time, you say? Easy answer. A crochet top. I'm all for dressing up darker during the summer months (and let's be real, all year around), but I could never fully be happy with my summer closet without a nice crochet top to throw over a bikini or head out for happy hour in. This one, an actual piece made by my Aunt in Italy, was a gift to my mom when she was in her 20s, and has made it's way into my closet as I've hit the same years. (Which is actually pretty amazing that it fits so on point). Not only is a nice vintage piece like this gorgeous to sport, it's also such an honor to carry such old school talent.

I paired this top with some high-waisted and light wash BDG shorts courtesy of Urban, and added my brand new and most fav Rebecca Minkoff Regan Satchel to finish off the look. Here's where I had a little fun: I decided to wrap a longer coat around my waist to play with proportion a little bit, and to also not have to carry around that extra layer on my arm. Finally, adding some height with these sick Steve Madden NYLEE's and completing the look with a swipe of Viva Glam Ariana Grande really added the black cherry on top of this beautiful neutral cake (lol, laughing at myself for that ridiculous analogy..) 

♡ Photos by Avery Bart ♡

"There's some ill planet reigns:
I must be patient till the heavens look
With an aspect more favourable"

[Winter's Tale 2.1]

Cheers, xoxo

ROOM 237

There's something about a red door that will just have you stopping and staring, thanks to the likes of Stanley Kubrick and Stephen King in my book. Plus, I've heard this movie is absolutely brilliant, and a red door reminds me only of that room. But besides horror fanaticism, a red door is such a powerful symbol.. metaphor.. object (sorry, my BA in English is clearly peeking out here)... and one can't help but wonder what lies behind it. A red door is a marking of such territory. A color that might scare away a robber, or a future boyfriend. 

My kind of door color, to say the least. (Kidding, kind of...).

With that being said, what a cool Americana backdrop for my look this week. (And, it was just coincidental that I had swiped on a panging-red Mac lipstick that day). This Ecote romper, which I found a few weeks ago at Urban Outfitters is pretty much everything you could want in a garment of it's kind, it's snug at the waist, drops off the shoulders, and is extremely comfortable to the point that you can easily mistaken it for a really, really cute Mrs. Lovett-style 20th century pajama set. I paired this cutie piece with a wrap choker from Eterie, sandals I purchased back in Rome two years ago, a white-bright Marc Jacobs watch and a vintage heirloom leather bag. 

Such a referential, time-warp look in front of a powerful backdrop that has to be one of my favorites for this month.

"No; this my hand will rather 

The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red."

[Macbeth 2.2]

Cheers, xoxo

SING SING

I love me a good black and white summer ensemble, and since it's pretty much my go-to color scheme for 90% of the year, it's no shock that this staple uniform has already made it to my one of my first summer looks this season. I was inspired by the slight ruching and cold shoulder look of this Brandy Melville Beccah peasant top, so I wanted to pair it with something just as textured but a little more grounded and dark. Luckily, one of my favorite pairs of dress shorts given to me by Miss Amanda a few years ago did just the trick. These stellar Zara cut-offs are straight-edged enough for a casual city day, but elegant enough to transition into happy hour wardrobe. Mix it up with a sweet and light top and you have a perfect day to night summer look.  

For accessories, I stuck with blush and neutral tones, starting with my favorite strappy SCHUTZ Cadey Lee sandals. To break up the look (and to opt out of my typical black choker), I added a blush suede arrowhead pendant by Simply Stunning Jewelry by Jill (shoutout to Meg for this cool find). Finally, a sleek heritage leather bag was the structural cherry on top for this charming summer look. 

"Make not your thoughts your prisons"

[Antony + Cleopatra 5.2]

Cheers, xoxox

RUN WITH SCISSORS

This week's first June look mimics the location in where we shot: The Highline. With straight leg cuts and structured silhouette, it's safe to say that I went for something a little avant-garde for a typical summer day (but that's the fun in fashion, isn't it?!)  The Highline (sans it's lushy green grasses that border much of the walk) is pretty darn structural, as it's lined with many straight edge townhouses and apartment buildings (including one massive Zaha Hadid edifice that has yet to be completed). But it is these sparkly glass buildings and concrete escapades that make the Highline what it is—a walkway framed by these Manhattan ziggurats. And if that's not an ode to structure and contrast, I don't know what is. 

Sticking to stark contrast, low light and lines, I started with my beetlejuice pants, as I like to call them, and added a soft pink Urban Outfitters dress on top. The straight skinny leg of the pant compliments the boxy but almost liquid affect of the dress nicely—which I love. Finally, I added a long black Forever 21 jacket  on top with a simply black ribbon choker and strappy Sam Edelman's to tie the look together. Just another true test that style inspo can really come from what's around you. 

♡ Photos by Avery Bart ♡

"O, swear not by the moon, th' inconstant moon, 

That monthly changes in her circle orb, Lest that thy love prove likewise variable."

[Romeo + Juliet 2.5]

Cheers, xxxx