How I Wear It: Summer to Fall Lookbook

Hello, my loves! This is probably my favorite time of the year, so I wanted to celebrate with a "Summer to Fall" Lookbook. Stylistically, I am the most inspired, and thus, creative, during this season for the following reasons: I love the weather - it's not too hot nor is it too cold; I am able to layer, but I do not have to be bundled up; and everything smells like pumpkin, which puts me in a really good mood. This is definitely my favorite time of the year.

If it wasn't obvious, I have done a similar post before (Oh my, I was such a baby then! Please excuse the post - I, too, cringed while reading it again.). And fair warning, I will probably post a Fall Lookbook by the end of fall since this one emphasizes on the transition between the two seasons.

Outfit 1: Sheer turtleneck ($0.99, Ecothrift), Keepsake playsuit (~$12, Crossroads)

This beautifully structured playsuit has definitely been my summer fling - I wore it everywhere. Luckily for it, I see myself wearing it this fall simply by wearing a layer underneath. Here, I'm wearing a sheer turtleneck, but I can wear a basic T-shirt instead followed by a cardigan.

Personally, I think layering creates a really sophisticated silhouette with the sweetheart neckline. For example, the wrinkles on the shirt reminds me of pleats, which make the playsuit look modest. On the contrary, the playsuit usually gives off a sultry vibe.

 

Outfit 2: Gap denim jacket ($5, Rummage Sale), Knitted dress ($10, Forever 21)

I wear dresses almost on a daily basis. I think dresses are extremely flattering if you get acquainted with your body. They are easily dressed up and down. Lastly, their PPWs are always well-worth. This Forever 21 knitted dress is perfect for transitioning from summer to fall. The material isn't too thick, so you can throw on a jacket if you feel a bit chilly.

Denim jackets are a must for the fall (and winter). They can causal down a fancy outfit, but they can also make a basic outfit look put together. I recommend finding a denim jacket at a thrift store, especially in the men's department. Denim jackets last for a very long time, so don't worry about their wear - plus, any wear and tear adds to the jackets' character.

 

Outfit 3: Pleather jacket ($20, Forever 21), Silence + Noise crop top ($10, Urban Outfitters), Forever 21 distressed shorts ($10, Crossroads)

Crop top and short shorts - classic summer OOTD. Such combination does not need to be restricted to the summer. During the early transition, the weather feels more like summer than fall, so I still seize as much summer vibes as possible. In addition, I either wear a pleather jacket or an oversized denim jacket for warmth.  



Once the transition is over, I will substitute the distressed shorts for distressed jeans. I can still utilize the rest of the outfit.

 

My Ten Cents #57: Take time to understand your body. Once you understand which pieces compliment your silhouette, you should wear them during any season.



Collaboration + 091916: Moody Monday

Hello, my love! This past weekend, I had the pleasure of collaborating with Taylor N. on a little something-something that was different for me. I received the set today, not too long ago, and I was inspired to blog the look.

Before our photoshoot, I asked Taylor whether or not he had an idea or theme in mind. He replied with "grunge street wear." Beyond color, I have never been so intimidated by clothing before. When I think of street wear, I think of urban and hip hop culture with jeans, baseball caps, and sneakers. That cannot be any different from what I typically wear, which includes dresses, wide-brim fedoras, and heels. Although I am very open to trying out new styles and trends, I have to remind myself to stay true to myself. With that being said, I tried to give "grunge street wear" a Diem-twist. I think I did okay!

The closest thing that I have to grudge is pleather. My favorite pleather piece is definitely this UNIF's Harley dress from Threadsence. The brand, itself, is so rad that I always feel of a certain characteristic when I wear it. I always get weird looks in it, but that only empowers me further.

I usually wear something girly underneath like a floral top to balance the dynamic, but for this photoshoot, I kept it monochromatic to put emphasis on the sultry makeup. I decided to go heavy and dark on the makeup for an urban-inspired look. For the eyes, I played with the dark shades of Urban Decay's Naked 2 palette. I used Pistol as my base color; I used Blackout for my creases; and I used Busted as my transition color. Lastly, for my lips, I wore NYX's Liquid Suede in Vintage.

UNIF Harley Dress--Threadsence: $19.99

Forever 21 off the shoulder top--F21: ~$10

Forever 21 studded faux leather booties--F21: $14.80

Forever 21 choker--F21: ~$6

Total: $50.79, Price Per Wear (PPW): ~$10

 

My Ten Cents #56: Surprise yourself. 

 

Thanks again, Taylor, for working with me! Keep doing you! 

Collaboration + How I Wear It: Black and Brown

Hello, my loves! Today, I have a little confession. Although I am a self-proclaimed fashionista, I have probably broken every single fashion rule there is. My favorite is wearing black and brown together. I love how classic neutral tones are, so why not mix and match some of them?

This particular outfit was inspired by my hair (which is changing very soon!). After a few sessions, I have been flaunting this ash blonde gradient balayage. Like my hair, I love the contrast between the layers of dimensions within this silhouette. From my tan skin peeping at my midriff and mesh heels to the vibrant bucket bag with the gold buckle, my being, itself, is breaking the infamous rule against black and brown.

 

Forever 21 crop top--F21: $5

Vintage corduroy maxi skirt--Savers: ~$5

Forever 21 mesh heels--thredUP: FREE with credit (originally $7.60)

Coach bucket bag--Mom's closet: FREE (originally purchased from garage sale for $10)

Total: $10, Price Per Wear (PPW): ~$1

 

My Ten Cents #55: There should be one "fashion rule" - dress for yourself and nobody else.

 

Thank you, Michelle T., for collaborating and visiting the beautiful mural by Irubiel Moreno with me!

 

 

How I Wear It + Review: Get Ready with Me (Date)

Hello, my loves! I hope you all are doing just swell like yours truly. I've been balancing my time between dates with myself, along with others. I once thought that I had to choose either one or the other, but I think a healthy relationship with one benefits the other, and vice versa. Whether I am going out on a date with myself or others, I like to dress up and put on a full face. Not only is the process a lot of fun, but it also gives me the confidence to face even the worst date ever. (Been there, done that. :P) In this post, I wanted to share a few products that have been accompanying me on some dates.

 





Earlier this summer, I raved about Shany Cosmetics' "Everyday Natural Look" palette as my summer go-to. It is safe to say that I'll be using it for awhile because it is perfect for dates. I love that I can get away with a daytime look with minimal application, but I can easily build up the shadows for a dramatic nighttime look. The pigmentation on the shadows is fabulous! I would compare it to Urban Decay's "Naked" palette, but much more affordable.

With an ELF fluffy brush, I used a combination of the shadows in the second column for my creases and lids. Then, with a dense brush, I applied a tad bit of the dark shade for some definition in the creases. Lastly, with my finger, I applied a tad bit of the light shade to highlight my inner corners.

I've raved about my NuMe 32 mm magic wand before, but I'm going to do it again! My hair colorist, Sarah of Crushed Amethyst Studio, did such a great job with my hair, and I love that the wand did her work justice! I have a lot of hair, yet the wand gives me nice, loose curls in about 10 minutes (compared to 30 minutes-1 hour with traditional curling irons). Although not pictured, I always use the glove that is given. The wand heats up very quickly and I've burnt myself on a couple of occasions. Do not curl your hair too close to your scalp. Last but not least, invest in a really good heat protectant spray! I personally use It's a 10's "Miracle Leave-In Product" that has thermal protection - highly recommended!

This summer, I made the transition from matte lipsticks to creamy lipsticks and lipglosses because matte lipsticks dry out my lips, unfortunately. Although lipglosses are fun, I do not recommend them for dates. Lipglosses on dates require reapplication, which I am not a fan of. I stick to creamy lipsticks for dates instead. As of late, I've been wearing bareMinerals' "Marvelous Moxie" lipsticks. The formula is great given that it is moisturizing and long-lasting. Here, I wore the shade, Raise the Bar, which is plum-like with a hint of metallic. The line also has shades that appear matte, which is a nice compromise for me.

My Ten Cents #54: I used to have all of these rules for going out on dates - what I should wear because I did not want to be judged so hastily (denim bottoms vs. dress, light vs. heavy makeup, and etc.), but I learned that comfort should be the priority. If I'm going to a show solo, then I wear a T-shirt dress to dance in. If I'm going to the museum solo or with others, then I wear rolled-up denim bottoms and a pair of Urban Outfitters sandals to wander in for hours. If I'm going to the bars with friends, then I wear a simple yet chic LBD. Ultimately, I wear what I typically wear on a daily basis to dates.

Thanks for getting ready with me! <3