Love, Life, and What I Wear

It’s Here!

mrau12 — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 23:58:45 +0000

It’s official: Effortlessly Polished is up and running! I’ve already began posting (earlier than I expected), so check it out here: http://effortlesslypolished.blogspot.com.

Thanks to all my readers on Love, Life, and What I Wear. It’s been such a fun process, and I look forward to a more creative, inspirational future on my new blog.

All posts on this blog are officially a wrap.

Good News…Coming to Your Computer Screen!

mrau12 — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 01:50:35 +0000

I wrote a post a couple days ago updating the status of Love, Life, and What I Wear, and after much thought, I’ve decided to change the launch date for my brand-new fashion & style site to this Monday, March 22, 2010! I am currently working on getting the site ready for your viewing pleasure. As mentioned previously, my writing blog will stick to the original launch date of Monday, April 5, 2010.

The name of my new blog will be (drum roll please)…

EFFORTLESSLY POLISHED.

After much thought, I realized that a simple title such as Effortlessly Polished not only describes the personal style I aspire to, but it also applies to how I like to live my life. I, indeed, like order in my life, and this desire is often noticeable in my clothing. I’ve been told I am prim and proper for most of my life, so I thought this title was fitting.

You can view the blog here, beginning on Monday, March 22, 2010:

http://effortlesslypolished.blogspot.com/.

That being said, this weekend will be my final weekend as the author of Love, Life, and What I Wear. I’ve enjoyed this process very much, and I look forward to entertaining you on my new blogs!

Beauty Tip: Switch Up Your Style

mrau12 — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 01:15:55 +0000

Every season, I try to mix up my style a bit. For fall and winter, I tend to dress in blacks and other dark colors, however, in the spring and summertime, I try to add pops of color to my wardrobe. I love yellow, turquoise, coral, and this season, I’m really loving mustard, lavendar, and even light blue! I believe it’s important to add variety to your everyday look to keep your style interesting and evolving. However, as much as I adore fashion and style, I tend to get stuck in ruts. To spice up my style, one of my goals this spring is to have fun with my look and wear new pieces that are out of my comfort zone.

I believe in the same theory when it comes to beauty. I try to wear deeper shades of color during the colder months and great, brighter shades during the warmer months. When it comes to beauty, I believe more is more (contrary to the opposite belief), and this theory includes hairstyles. Lately, I’ve been noticing short hairstyle everywhere I turn, and I, myself, recently got a couple more inches chopped off my already-short style. I am loving this trend, and hopefully, it isn’t going anywhere for awhile. Check out my favorite short ‘do’s and get inspired to switch up your look this season.

*All photos from allure.com

Beauty Buzz: Prim & Pastel

mrau12 — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:44:03 +0000

Spring is in the air, and while it officially begins March 20 (this Saturday!), the weather in my town is still dreary and cool. Luckily, Essie’s spring 2010 nailpolish collection puts me in such a cheerful mood that I forget I’m living in thirty-degree temperatures! Aptly titled “The Art of Spring,” Essie’s latest collection features some of the most gorgeous shades I’ve seen yet! I am loving Tart Deco, a peachy-melon shade, as well as Neo Whimsical and Lilacism, both beautiful shades of lavendar! If the fabulous colors weren’t enough, the titles of the polishes are so fun and clever that it makes me wonder: how do they come up with such great polish names? So, fashionistas, if you’re still in that winter-spring transition period, pick up a shade (or two) from Essie’s new collection and paint those winter blues goodbye!

Check out the collection here: http://www.essieshop.com/index.php?cPath=88&utm_source=essieshop&utm_medium=PromoSlot1&utm_campaign=Spring

Some Exciting News to Share With You…

mrau12 — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:44:26 +0000

I know it’s been awhile, fashionistas, since I’ve posted, and for that, I am sincerely sorry. However, I have some rather good news that I’d like to share with you all…

I will be re-launching Love, Life, and What I Wear starting April 5, 2010! I am very excited to revamp my blog for multiple reasons, one of those being that I get bored somewhat easily, and since spring is practically here, I thought I’d do a little cleaning in the blog department.

My new blog will still be dedicated to fashion and style, but more from a vintage perspective. I am really looking forward to expanding my fashion horizons and hopefully gaining more readers in the process. I will still be posting on this blog for the next two weeks, so stay tuned for future information. I will definitely let you know the name and website of the new blog, as well as my new email address where I can be contacted for questions and comments.

They say good things come in pairs, and luckily I have another piece of good news. I am launching a second blog! This blog will be solely focused on my writing—fiction, nonfiction, short stories, essays, etc. Since my dream has always been to write a book (or several), I thought this would be a great way to really focus on my writing. While I am always my own biggest critic, it never hurts to have a few extra critics to help me improve my writing. And those critics will be my future readers. This blog, too, will launch on April 5. Stay tuned for details regarding this blog as well.

I cannot wait to create these blogs so you can (hopefully) have a place to come, relax and read. Reading is one of my greatest pleasures in life, and my hope is to instill that love in you through my writing.

Oscars 2010: The Best, Worst, and the In-Between

mrau12 — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:07:43 +0000

The 2010 Oscar’s were, by far, the best dresses I’ve seen on the red carpet this year. There were some gorgeous gowns, some not-so-attractive ones, and some questionable dresses as well. Some of last night’s trends included pale pinks and nudes, messy updos, and bright lips. Here are my favorites, not so favorites, and those in-between ones that caught my eye:

The Best:

The Worst:

The In-Between:

*All photos courtesy of www.instyle.com.

My favorite dresses at the 2010 Oscars were definitely Sandra Bullock’s golden Marchesa gown and Rachel McAdams’ flowing Elie Saab Haute Couture number. I loved Sarah Jessica Parker’s Chanel Haute Couture gown as well, despite the mixed reviews it received from critics. Elizabeth Banks looked flawless, Demi Moore looked stunning, and Penelope Cruz looked amazing per usual.

As far as my least favorites, Charlize Theron’s dress was heinous (so repulsive that I couldn’t bear to even post a photo), and I did not care for Zoe Saldana’s tiered purple nightmare, as much as I adore her and her usual impeccable red carpet glamour. Kate Winslet, who is usually a show-stopper, was quite a disappointment in her two-piece YSL number. And Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Dries von Noten dress was a disaster.

I was on the fashion fence about several dresses (some of which I did not post), and one of those was Kristen Stewart’s Monique Lhuillier gown. She looked beautiful, but I would have added a statement necklace to really make the dress pop. Carey Mulligan took a fashion-forward risk in Prada, and Diane Kruger’s Chanel Couture gown had me torn in two different directions. Anna Kendrick looked gorgeous, however, I would have chosen a different color to compliment her pale complexion.

There you have it, fashionistas. While many other gowns stood out to me last night, these were the ones that really stole my heart (or broke it).

Obsession: Peaces & Posies

mrau12 — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 03:19:08 +0000

While I admire and appreciate fierce high fashion, I tend to dress the exact opposite. I gravitate towards girly, feminine, and even delicate pieces. I have always loved dresses, and jeans, jackets, and cardigans make up the majority of my wardrobe. I also love, love, love pretty things. Whether it’s an antique teapot or a magnolia tree (my favorite), if it’s pretty, well, I’m automatically enamored.

When I discovered Peace & Posies, I fell in love immediately. A collection of photos, style, and books, laced with inspiration and creativity, this blog automatically caught my eye with its clever title and charming aesthetic. This blog incorporates a little bit of everything we encounter in our lives: books, music, love, style, fashion, beauty, photography, travel…the list is endless. I felt really inspired after reading a few posts. I really like the blogger’s “10 Things I Love” section. The photos are amazing and very artistic. So whether you’re looking for something to cure your bad day or you just want a different perspective on life, check out Peace & Posies.

Check out the blog here: http://peaceandposies.blogspot.com/

Style File: Alison Sudol

mrau12 — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 01:11:06 +0000

I am a firm believer that fashion and music go hand-in-hand. And this notion makes perfect sense. If you think about your favorite singers/bands, they usually have a distinct type of style that is emulated time and time again by their fans and followers alike. So it’s no surprise that in my recent obsession with A Fine Frenzy (if you haven’t listened to them, do so NOW!), I have also become a bit intrigued by Alison Sudol’s charming, feminine style. Alison Sudol is not only stunning (her gorgeous red hair makes me so jealous!), but she also has a vintage-inspired, elegant style that makes me want to donate all my clothes to the Goodwill and only shop at Anthropologie from here on out. She definitely takes risks, and they often coincide with her music. So, if you’re like me and adore A Fine Frenzy, check out some of my favorite looks worn by the lovely Alison:

Obsession: Cali Vintage

mrau12 — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:46:27 +0000

I love a good fashion blog that delivers the perfect mix of high fashion and chic street style. After all, for some, fashion is intimidating; it’s something difficult to understand and sometimes impossible to interpret. But, the fabulously fashionable blogger behind my latest blog obsession, Cali Vintage, has met my expectations…and more! Erin, the author of Cali Vintage, knows how to draw a parallel between her own style (which is very, very vintage-inspired) and what is being shown on every single runway. Erin’s creativity and great eye for detail make her style incredibly coveted. She always adds a touch of retro flair to each outfit…so of course I adore her style! Lately, I’ve been checking her blog daily to get some inspiration for my own wardrobe. After all, spring is right around the corner, so why not add a little laid-back Cali cool to your next ensemble?

Check out the blog here: http://calivintage.blogspot.com/

Obsession: Sally Jane Vintage

mrau12 — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 03:16:49 +0000

What do you get when you mix vintage street style with retro meets high fashion chic? I’ve got three magical words for you: Sally Jane Vintage. As you know, I read quite a few blogs (and by a few, I mean…well, a lot), and Sally Jane Vintage is definitely one of my favorites. I love her personal style posts (great for inspiration), and I really adore how she also mixes a bit of designer fashion to make things fresh. Blog reading can become boring after awhile, but I never get tired of reading this amazing blog. So whether your a retro enthusiast or a self-proclaimed vintage-aholic, you’ll fall in love with Sally Jane Vintage, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll definitely become obsessed.

Check it out here: http://sallyjanevintage.blogspot.com/