A Fashionista's guide to frugal beauty

Some might think that as a fashionista you would get manicures and pedicures and eyebrow waxing and $100 hair cuts but it’s just no necessary and doesn’t guarantee your entrance into the world of the fashionista. With the economy the way it is today you have to pick and chose what services you can’t live with out and the services you can do yourself at home. For instance; pedicures, buy yourself a basin and fill it with hot water and your favorite moisturizing body wash. After a good soak pumice the bottom of your feet and moisturize them with foot cream and wait for it all to soak in. While you’re waiting file your nails so they are all the same length. Once your feet are dry take you toe  separators and put them between your toes, choose a fun color whether it be dramatic like a deep plum or a classic like red the colors are endless this is something you should do every week so you’re not married to the color you choose. Paint your toe nails and give them a good 15 minutes for the first coat to dry. Mean while buff your finger nails and apply a base coat. By the time you have your nails started you can add a second coat to your toe nails and let them dry, depending on the nail polish (cheap polish takes more coats to cover so buy a name brand nail polish) If it’s summer and you will be showing off your pedicure you can use the same color on your nails. The newest colors of the season vary; from sparkly, to candy colored, dark colors, light colors, and then there are the classics of course; red, pink, hot pink and nude colored beige. Use your lifestyle and career to choose the right color for you, especially the nails. Take the color you chose for your nails and apply the first coat; be patient, you don’t want to screw up the colors so try and distract yourself by watching TV, ten minutes later the second coat can go on, then the top coat let it dry and there you have it, manicured and pedicured nails.

             As much as I love going to the salon and getting my eyebrows waxed It just isn’t in my budget. So I have to go old school and tweeze them myself. I suggest that every time you put on your make up check your brows and see what needs to be plucked. Constant attention to your brows will make it look like you had a wax job and it only takes a minute each day to check your brows for stray hairs.

            Last but not least don’t underestimate the value of a good hair stylist. Find a salon and a stylist that you love and trust to do your color and trims, over the counter hair coloring is a recipe for disaster, so many things can go wrong especially if your going lighter than your natural hair color, most of the time the lightener doesn’t even work and your stuck with a dark unfavorable color if you are a brunette, it’s worth the money to get your hair professionally done.

            An inexpensive way to compile make up is to avoid department store make overs and products, stay away from sephora and hit your local Target. The have a ton of beauty products from blush to nail polish to lip gloss to mascara, to make up brushes; they have it all. You can literally build your beauty arsenal at Target. They also have face wash, moisturizer, hair products, hair accessories and brushes. The list of what Target has to offer is too much to list, but I highly recommend Target as your go to for beauty products.   

Night Time Fashions

            What you wear underneath can have a profound impact on how you feel on the outside. A great bra, a matching set of bra’s and panties, a sexy slip under your suit, the ever popular thong (which takes some time to get used to) These items set the ground work not just for your everyday lifestyle but it pumps up the sexiness you feel just wearing them. I highly recommend purchasing matching underwear and a if your known for dressing in a suit or even a beautiful dress purchase a full silky slip to go under your clothes and you’ll instantly feel sexy, in empowered and ready to take on your day knowing what you have hiding under your clothes. The full slip can also be slept in which brings me to my next topic: sleep wear; another way to feel sexy with a little camisole and bikini underwear, or short length nighties with a nice silk robe, sleep couldn’t be sexier. Whether you’re in a relationship or single the nightie is never a waste of money. Try fun colors and prints to walk on the wild side or if you are a bit more conservative the stores have spring pastels too. Just imagine falling asleep covered in satin and, sometimes some lace, you stay cool and comfortable during the spring and summer months. Some nighties feel to short, look for something around knee length so you don’t feel so exposed, a silky robe is good for covering up too.

            If satin nighties aren’t your thing there is another sleep wear you can try out: PINK from Victoria Secret are great sleep wear and lounge wear; with dozens of items to mix and match you can’t go wrong with PINK. There is also work out gear that isn’t spandex but loose and comfortable that can double as lounge wear and sleep wear, just keep in mind that the pieces need to match otherwise you look like a hot mess. Sleep wear comes in all different sizes and types, you got to pick what’s right for you, just remember one golden rule if you had a nighttime guest what would you wear?

            To simplify the moral of the story, be comfortable in your sleep wear but always be prepared for unplanned guests, you just never know what might happen in the life of a fashionista.

Fashionista Headquaters

As a woman of style like you; your home also places a huge part in being a fashionista. If you are like me, your apartment is extremely small and it’s a shared space. Take good care of your apartment, paint when it needs to be done, clean up after yourself (and sometimes others) All apartments are not the same. If you have to vacuum everyday to keep your carpets looking clean then that is what you need to do, dust, do the dishes and to top it off cook for your guests or your live ins. Don’t know how to cook? There are about a thousands books on cooking, pick one that your interested in and follow it. Beginners should start simple, and avoid Martha Stewart. Big reminder, your live-in’s need to know that this isn’t an everyday thing but just a simple dinner party, chances are your live-ins will want to check out your cook book to see what they can cook for you; if you have good room mates.
Search out items for your home that really make it a home. Your home should be a reflection of you and your style. Paint and arrange furnite to your liking. Decorate on your own, it’s not that hard there are so many home stores like homegoods, pier 1 imports these stores speak to you and you can find what you want simply and affordably. Apartments can be simple with a touch of your style yet can still be universal in it’s design to make people feel like they have walked into a home and not am annex for a certain store. Spread out when looking for any kind of home décor to keep from looking like an advertisement for the store you chose your favorite items to come from.
Another tip is to not loose your self to the design, make room for your essentials, like your books on a shelf, your DVD’s on a shelf close to your entertainment center. Organization is a big part of staging your home.
Clean at all times incase you have that unexpected guest stop by, If your apartment is small not much more than two or three people can stay comfortably so limit your self to that number of people for a larger party go somewhere public, like the local pub or a restaurant. It’s still your party no matter where you go.
Let’s bullet what needs to be done for your perfect home:
• 1st project paint walls to your liking when you move in.
• Vacuum everyday if necessary
• Dust 2x a week
• Do the dishes
• Learn to cook by picking up a great yet simple cook book.
• Let your live-ins know that cooking isn’t an everyday thing, inspire them to use your cookbook and make you a dish.
• Shop stores that speak to you both financially and design wise
• Don’t go crazy on the customization. 100 knick knacks will only look tacky.
• Spread out to different places when picking your home décor you don’t want your space looking like the store you shopped at.
• Stay orgainized with all your items, they should all have a place and stay in that place
• Keep the house clean in case unexpected visitors come unannounced

Channel your inner fashionista

As a fashionista we have to look our best at all times. I struggle with this because I am a stay at home mom and I miss out on all the action a fashionista would normally experience; but I stay in touch by reading magazines and what they teach me to be a proper fashionista. The essentials to be a fashionista is to read fashion magazines so you can see what would look good on you and what wouldn’t, realistically my choice magazines are In Style, Marie Claire, People Style Watch (which offers the best everyday fashionista looks) Allure for the latest hair and make-up styles and Self Magazine to promote a healthy lifestyle. By reading these magazines you stay in touch with the fashion world and you can build off of the styles to make them your own. On top of reading these magazines it’s important to vow that you will follow the guidelines and make the effort to take that information and apply it to your life. Take a look in your closet and toss what you know a real fashionista wouldn’t wear. Go through your jewelry and purge out of date accessories, especially pieces that are cheap and disposable. Make a vow to yourself to take some me time to get ready for the day. Blow out your hair, apply your make up and lay out clothes that make you look like a million even if you aren’t going anywhere. Dress for the occasion, for instance I chase a 2 ½ year all around so I wear jeans and a stylish blouse. I have already gone through the fashions of the season so don’t hesitate to buy a few key pieces even if your social calendar is wide open. Fashion is about making you look up to the moment and polished. I know all the excuses for not dressing your best and taking that me time; Most of the time I have my child in the bathroom with me while I get ready for the day. It is possible to look your best even when you have a toddler to take care of. By taking the time to look your best you are always prepared for whatever may come; an unexpected visitor, taking a walk with your child, the way you present yourself goes a long way. Plus it builds up your confidence knowing that you look good and that you’re ready to take on the day.

The biggest trend this season-The Dress

While absorbing as much fashion as I can I could see that the skirt and dress craze is in full blast, all pretty different, bold block colors, wild colors, animal print, stripes. The dress has taken over the runways and will soon trickle down to the masses like us. I have already seen dress' and out in what I call the field, at the stores were people who want nice clothes but can't afford couture. Another thing on my "HATE IT" list is all the hooker shoes that everyone is wearing, with the wedge underneath and the 6 inch heal, who can tell me they aren't hooker shoes? Seriously. Yet everyone is wearing them. The hooker shoe has become the norm and epitome of high fashion; I haven’t seen one celebrity with normal heals in a long time. So how do you feel about the hooker shoes? Have you ever tried them on? I refuse. Enough preaching for the moment, have you seen the big plastic watches out there? I was at a wholesale jewelry show and those plastic watches were every where and now coach makes them with a touch of coach we come to expect yet they are still the gummy plastic material shown at the jewelry show that sold for $5 a piece. Another horrendous addition to the spring lines is the jumpsuit made out of vibrant colors to convey the burst of color we have this spring but a jumpsuit? Come on are you going to wash my car for me what is this? Michael Kors all safari line is nothing but a big yawn. If I wanted to look faded and beige I would go on safari myself I wouldn’t buy the clothes that make me look like a game hunter. Fashions may have a tragic side this season but It isn’t all bad; skirts when exhibited properly are divine some goes with dresses. A stripe or a pop of color gives the garment a sense of flair; and can be very versatile from the grocery store to a fancy dinner date, just a change of accessories will transform the dress from evening to night; through on your hooker heels and your ready to go, but don’t trip and break an ankle.

Fashionista's Guidlines for Spring

I just did a little research on what was Hot for spring and summer, I didn't find some things I thought I would like wedges and any kind of sunglasses Michael Kors whole collection was snubbed -*insert evil laugh here* I am sorry but fashionistas dont go hunting or wear clothes that make us look like we do. But heres the list, are you ready?
The fashionista Check list:
• Mint green as a skirt or a shirt a bag, this color is it for spring and summer among other pastels I have seen floating around the fashion mags
• Orange is another color that is ruling the runways and shops this season and is so popular it seems like the new black. I my friends am not a fan.
• Neon Purses, bold bold bold purses are in every style every brand and every store.
• God has answered my prayers the kitten heel is back, in all sorts of styles lace, multi-colored everywhere.
• Feathers are huge this season as earrings and hair clips you can see them just about anywhere
• Stripes from top to bottom, stripes seem to be the biggest print this season
• The one shoulder dress. In any color this dress makes a statement.
• Black and white paired together in a sea of bright and demure colors black and white really stands out from the crowd.
• Lace is every where, shoes, tops, dresses, it brings a real womanly touch to any outfit.
• To go in a completely different direction, paisley is huge right now in bold colors in maxi dresses and short dresses alike.
• Higher waist band shorts.
• Gladiator sandals, pair them with your maxi dress or your high waist band shorts they are versatile and come in colors and with heels this season.
• Shoes of all kinds with flowers on them.
• Multiple styles of metallic shoes are every where.
• A clutch is a must have for this season. Go for a neutral one that goes with anything.
• Huge jewelry in bright colors are the order of the season, in metallic, pearls, colored oversized beads- Go BIG or go home.
The Top Ten Trends that Never go out of style; do you have them all?
1. The trench Coat.
2. A classic pump.
3. The little black dress.
4. The sheath dress.
5. Boot cut jeans.
6. A turtle neck.
7. Classic cut trousers.
8. The Cashmere shawl (although I believe a nice shawl doesn’t HAVE to be cashmere).
9. The tote handbag.
10. Diamond studded earrings.