Lauren Wakefield

Today is the Fashion Friday motherload. I realized I’ve been spitting all these fashionable items at you but give you no reference as to where I find them. I like to think of these places as my online shopping secrets…but my blog readers are my friends and friends share. So today I’m giving away all my secrets! Look out!

First let me start off by saying I have a champagne taste with a beer budget. I want all things Michael Kors in my life but let’s be honest…my bank account does not support that. So I have found places that allow me to enjoy the beautiful things I love without breaking the bank.

These next 2 places are great because they send you daily emails telling you what they are featuring for that day.  And you can look and see what is coming up.  You have to sign up (it’s free you just have to give your email) and then you can get total steals on designer items.  They have all kinds of things from clothes to electronics to getaways to skincare.  Love them!

Hautelook

Ideeli

Another great place is 6pm.com They are a little more expensive but their selection is huge and you can usually find some great deals.  I usually shop this site if I’m looking for something for a special occasion.

My two all time favorite sites are modcloth.com and lulus.com.  You can get the CUTEST dresses for SO cheap.  They always have really unique stuff that I just can’t get enough of.  I definitely recommend checking them out!

And last but not least.  The one that is no secret at all…Forever 21. I know it’s not the highest quality of clothing but you can guarantee you will find something you like when shopping there.  Let’s face it, as much as style changes, you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on trendy items.  Enter: Forever 21.  Trendy and affordable.

Happy Fashion Friday!  Gary and I are off to a weekend of tobogganing!

I am really starting to love Fashion Friday.  It gives me an excuse to online shop without any negative effect on my bank account!  🙂  Today on Fashion Friday we will be staying on the theme of the last few days…this blistery, winter blizzard.  I love the winter…I love snow and Christmas and boots and scarves…and all of the above.  But one thing that comes along with winter that I do not like is the dullness.  As my tan fades and and my skin starts to turn translucent I begint daydreaming about summer.  But it is inevitable that for at least 5 months out of the year I am going to feel dull.  So these are my little quick fixes and super top secret tricks that I use to try and stay as fresh as possible during this incredibly dull season…

Bare Minerals is my all time favorite make up line.  I used to use ALL their products but now I use mostly just eyeshadows.  My two favorites are ‘Vanilla Sugar‘ and ‘Queen Phyllis‘.  They look alike in the picutres below but they are very different.    I also love all their bold colors.  I use them as eyeliners and they work fabulously!

I discovered Nars when I had my make-up done for a charity event last year.  It is amazing!  I use their bronzer and blush everyday.  It has little illiminaters in it that makes even the palest, dullest skin look sunkissed and dewy!  I also use an illuminator…which is the icing on the cake!

Hair…that’s one of winter’s worst victims.  Take it from someone who seriously colors her hair…the winter kills my dye job.  I use color care shampoo, Biolage is my favorite because it smells delightful, but I still can’t stand how dull my strands are.  Fekkai Salon Glaze adds that extra shine that the wintery weather steals from me.  I highly recommend it!

Runner up next to hair is lips.  I don’t know about you, but chapped lips are my worst enemy.  Seriously.  I have chapstick in my coat pocket, in my purse, in my car, at my desk, in my bathroom, by my bed…you get the idea.  My newly discovered favorite chapstick is Nivea – A Kiss of Milk and Honey.  Works like a charm and it tastes scrumptious.  And there’s no better way to brighten up a gloomy winter day than with some bright lip colors.  Red lip stain…yes please!  And of course…because I not so secretly model my life after a Michael Kors ad…some Micheal Kors lip gloss!

A trick I learned when the Nars lady did my makeup was to combine mascaras.  You use a volumizing mascara and a lengthening mascara for some seriously killer lashes. 

I absolutely LOVE these scents by Jessica Simpson.  I know it’s Jessica Simpson…but I swear they smell amazing.  Very fresh and summery.

I use lotion like an addict.  I mean I slather it on.  I’m pretty sure I’m immune to it by now.  My favorite face lotion is Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion. It makes your face so soft.  And since body lotion no longer helps me…I always use a sugar scrub in the shower.  It really does do wonders.

This post has gone on WAY too long…I apologize.  But hopefully you can use some of these tips to fight the winter dullness.  Happy Fashion Friday!

Fashion Friday is evolving.  To be honest…I think of fashion as a way of life…not just an outfit.  When I think of being fashionable…I think of an awesome pair of boots, a great nail polish color, a cozy mug to drink my coffee in and silky sheets to slide into at night.  Something on my mind a lot right now is my home office.  Mostly because I don’t have one.  I have a laptop…and a couch…and that’s about it.  Which is just fine for the time being.  But I’ve been sort of day (and night) dreaming about what this future office will be like.  Gary and I are cohabitating come August…and we are going to FINALLY have a home office (I will be doing before and afters…don’t worry).  We’ll be sharing an office, which to be honest, I’m kind of excited about.  We talk all the time about how we’ll decorate it and what it will look like.  All I know is it is going to be very fashionable! I want to LOVE to be in my office.  So today…I dreamt up my perfect work getaway.  The look and feel of a place that will be the start of everything.  So…enjoy my little midwest urban oasis…I have no doubt that I will…

Happy Fashion Friday!