MARALmuse: August 2014

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In the summer, you change the clothes you wear, trends change, shoes change, so shouldn't your makeup? I feel like sometimes I get stuck in the same makeup looks that I'm used to: a dark smokey eye, lots of different face products, heavy foundation and dark liner. But in the summer time, not only do I not want to spend as much time doing my makeup, but it feels too heavy sometimes. I realized I like putting on less makeup because it's so hot and sticky outside, so I've found great alternatives and easy fixes that you can use in the summer to still achieve that perfect look without all that extra product piling up on your fact. Here how I get a more of a mystical, sun kissed glow.

Starting off, I usually wear lots of base products. Foundation, primer, powder, concealer, blush, bronzer, highlighter, setting powered, wow can the list go on. But who want to put all that on in the summer just to have it drip off in sweat once you step outside! What I've found works great is to start off with a light bb cream or foundation. These usually have a built in primer so that can eliminate using primer, foundation and powder.

Next, I use a bronzer/blush duo. I'm really big on bronzer, especially in the summer, because I use it to give my face that extra glow. Since you're going to be in the sun all the time, you'll start to get a tan and the brightness from the light will naturally shine on the high spots of your face. So by using a blush in a duo that compliments your bronzer, you can eliminate buying bronzer, blush, and highlighter. The last two products, concealer and setting powder, are optional and I know not everyone uses them. So we've turned using six prducts into just two, winding down your summer makeup routine and putting less product on your face, leaving you with a more natural look.

A look that I often use all year round, especially in the fall and winter, is a dark smokey eye. That means lots of black eyeshadow.

But during the summer, i really am big on having more of a natural look, so I've converted this into a summer look by using more skin tone colors. I was always afraid that anything other than dark colors like black and grey will not allow me to achieve a real smokey eye. But I've found that with the right colors, you can create an authentic smokey eye in so many different ways! My favorite to use during the summer are natural colors, closer to your skin tone, in various shades of brown, that will allow you to achieve that darks eye look, but since the colors are more natural, your look will not seem as put on but a bit more natural.

Another common beauty product I always use is eyeliner. Dark black eyeliner. And by dark, I mean I search for the blackest black I can find. But going along with a natural look in the summer, black doesn't match with it as much and I've realized that I rely on eyeliner but can use a different color to achieve te same great look. Brown liner is a good alternative to use because it adds depth and dimension to any brown smokey eye look.

You can also use a colored eyeliner, like green, blue or purple, depending on your eye color, which will bring out the color in your eye even more and give your look a pop of fun color.

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Hi guys! Today is going to be part two of my back to school series and I'm going to be showing some outfit options for more of an everyday look for school. If you're that girl that hates wearing sweats out of the house (like me!) but doesn't want to look like she's about to hit the runway, this is for you! I'm going to show you some simple everyday pieces that you can buy to incorporate into your wardrobe to keep you comfy and stylish during class. The stores that I decided to feature in this post are Free People and H&M so let's get started!

Starting off with Free People, you can't go wrong. This line definitely has a beachy, hipster, trendy Californoa vibe so it is a huge hit amongst celebrities. What I love about this line is that it offers so many different options so that it caters to so many different people. You're guaranteed to find something that suits you! Probably my favorite item from the store are their chunky knit sweaters. They are so cute and comfortable, great for wearing with jeans or leggings during the day. You can buy a thin one to wear now or a thicker version to use at night, that way you can transition into your fall wardrobe once the weather cools down.

Another item I love from Free People are their pants. Lately I've been obsessed with wide leg lace pants or lace inset pants. These are great because they are super comfy and casual, but more dressed up that just wearing sweat pants. A must have! And the last item from Free People that I super highly recommend are their lace bras. OMG. Let me tell you. I love these! They are super comfy, I know I've said that a million times already, but it's true! These are a great option for a more comfortable version of a bra, to add a little lace to your outfit or for a pop of color. My personal favorite is the lagoon halter bra. Make sure to check them out and let me know what you think!!

The next store that I chose to feature for everyday style is H&M. I think that this store is the epitome of every day casual style that is basic. They offer so many different items in multiple colors so that you are sure to find what you are looking for. That being said, one of the best things about H&M, and one of my picks today, are their basic pieces. They have tank tops, tees, dresses, you name it, all in a variety of colors, sometimes even prints. And what's great is that they are offered at such a low price. Usually they range from 5.95-12.95. These are great for back to school because they are so affordable that you can stock up on them, but you can also use them with items you already have to create a new outfit. My personal faves are the maxi dresses.

The second item I chose are the cardigans. Let me to tell you, I am a cardigan hoarder. I seriously have a collection. So when I went in last week and tried on this amazing cardigan, I might have sort of bought it in 5 different colors. Oops! But these are totally worth it because they are knit, but they're thin so they can be used all season long. Not only these, but H&M features a great selection of cardigans so I'm sure you can find one that you like. This is great for back to school because it's always a simple and easy add on to make your outfit look a little bit more put together.

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With back to school season in full swing, there is a lot of stuff to buy from school supplies to shoes to new clothes, it can be hard to remember everything! Fortunately for you guys, I've got the outfits covered.

If you think about it, a lot of summer trends are just extensions of fall trends. It's still August, so not quite time to pull out the boots and scarves, but you're back to school shopping so you still want to get some new items. Here are some great summer trends that you can still buy now and use later to incorporate into your fall wardrobe.

There are three big trends that were popular during the fall season and today I'm going to show you how to buy a summer version of them.

The first trend that was very popular was lace. In the fall, it was very common to see lace everywhere, especially in dark colors like black, navy, burgundy and more. They were everywhere like on dresses, tops, skirts, you name it. If you love lace clothing like me, here are some easy ways to tie it into your summer wardrobe. The most obvious choice is to buy lighter colored lace items. Since it's so warm in the summertime, lace tops and cardigans are great because they're so lightweight, and in neutral colors like cream, rose pink, and light grey, you can't go wrong.

Another trend that was extremely popular this past fall season was leather. It was everywhere. Leather pants and leggings were so popular, everyone had a black leather circle skirt, not to mention boots, jackets and tops. But now, if you pulled out that black leather top in the middle of August, you'd probably die from heat stroke. I personally loved the leather trend and was super bummed to have to push them to the back of my closet for now, but I was shopping the other day and found the answer to my dreams! A peach leather skirt. It's perfect because it's great for a dressed up day look, or you can use it for an evening dinner look. Choosing leather items like skirts, tanks, and lightweight dresses in pastel colors and neutrals is a great way to add them to your current collection in the summer!

The last trend that I'm going to talk to you guys about is hats. I'm not a huge hat wearer but I love them and I love them on other people. I'm talking big black floppy hats, cute circle hats, flimsy oversized black hats. They, to me, are like the perfect fall accessory, along with sunglasses, a great bag and a killer pair of shoes. Personally, it seems too hot to wear a big black hat in the summer so my alternative is getting that same hat in a beige or brown color. Since you're already wearing neutral colors this summer, the brown or beige in the hat will compliment your look. It's also great to protect from the heat and keep the sun out of your eyes and off your face.

I hope you guys enjoyed looking at these fall to summer transition trends with me and incorporate them into your own wardrobe when going back to school shopping. As long as you stick to neutrals and pastels, you can use this idea towards any personal favorite ttrend that you're missing from fall. Let me know what you guys buy!!

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Back to school is here!! While we might be dreading actually going back, we might as well look cute, right?

This is part one of my back to school posts that I'll be sharing with you guys. Today, I'll show you some examples and ideas for great casual outfits you can wear when you're feeling lazy, lounging around the house or studying at the library. You can get a lot of similar items at other stores, but each post I'll be featuring one or two stores where you can get all this stuff and basically do some one stop shopping. For this post, I chose Victoria's Secret, which has some great options to choose from so let's get started!

First off, it's important to identify the key colors for fall, which include rich, vibrant, jewel tone colors such as maroon, burgundy, sapphire blue, and mauve. A big reason why you'll see these colors everywhere during fall is because they represent a large amount of school colors. Victoria's Secret has everything from intimates to sweats to accessories, so this is the perfect first stop for back to school shopping.

Starting with the basics, their bras are amazing! The colors are to die for! If you're looking for push-up, the Perfect Lace bra and the Push-up Bralette are great options. They offer padding to give you that extra lift plus lace detail to give it a flirty look. If you're looking for something with a little less padding, try the Rose Lace Plunge Bra. It has all of the lace and bright colors, just without that extra push. It's super comfortable and great to wear when lounging around. The Wear Everywhere collection; which includes a lightly lined, push-up, and strapless, are a great add on option with a fantastic price point of 2/$42. These are great bras you can use for everyday and get them in basic colors as well as a few fun ones too.

On to the actual outfit. There are so many kinds of sweaters and even more styles of pants. My personal favorites are the Skinny Pant and the Gym Pant. These are not only super soft and comfortable, but the skinny leg on them is like you're wearing leggings, just even more comfortable and warm for chilly days. Mixing and matching the colors creates great outfits to wear around in your dorm or while studying.

If you want something a little less casual for maybe running errands, you could try the Ultimate Yoga Legging. This pant is amazing, let me tell you. It's like they took the already amazing yoga pants from Victoria's Secret and made them thicker, prettier and more durable. They are my new favorite and go to pants to throw on when leaving the house for a little bit. I paired these with the crew neck. It's great because it's long like a tunic and the leopard detail on the back adds a nice touch.

Now that we've got the outfits covered, I thought I'd add in some fun extras to make your school days a bit more bearable. The PINK collection has got some great stuff for back to school like waterbottles with catchy sayings, tumblers for your morning coffee or tea, and fun planners so you can stay organized! And of course, you're going to need somewhere to put all this stuff and what better place than a backpack! These new Campus Backpacks aresuper amazing because they have an extra zippered off section in the front where you can keep some extra stuff like pencils, your planner, your iPod and your calculator, but my favorite part are the mesh sides where you can keep your waterbottle. This prevents from anything leaking and totally ruining that math homework you spent hours on the night before! All of this stuff comes in pretty fall colors to match the outfits you just bought so you're all set to go!

Just a an extra special bonus for you guys, even though I'm a day late, Victoria's Secret is having a special event in all of their PINK stores called PINK Friday. It started yesterday, but it's going on all weekend in stores and online, while supplies last. They're having a bunch of cool promotions on items I mentioned and more, like $30 backspacks, $5 bralettes, and $30 sweater and legging sets. Plus with any $65 purchase, you'll get a tote bag with a tumbler for free! Perfect for walking around campus, taking to dance class, or the gym! They're going to be going quick so make sure to stop in a store near you or check our their website so you don't miss out on all these great deals. Happy PINK Friday everyone!

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