The Dress That Almost Got Away

If you couldn't tell by now... I am living my very best (and very broke) life. Even if I had the opportunity to go back and change something - I wouldn't. This summer has been so filled with extremes and each one so worth it. Including that one week when I fought off starvation with 99 cent ramen packs.

Lucky for you, I think we all have ups and downs so I'm not ashamed to admit any of my struggles with you. We're basically internet fam by now.

Another struggle you might relate to... buying things and then completely forgetting about them. Case in point, this gorgeous dress I got from Pixie Market. It was purchased on a gotta-have-it-right-now shopping spree but when it arrived I never found the perfect moment to wear it out. And before I knew it, Christmas was a week away. Ugh.

I then rediscovered this dress, as I was packing for Tulum and fell in love with it all over again. But as luck would have it, I'd have to wait a few more months to wear this gem due to a pretty bulky cast. If you follow me on SnapChat, you know what I was talking about. (For those of you that don't, find me at TheStyleBoro).

Anyway, it worked itself out in the end and here I am wearing the shit out of this dress. I couldn't find this exact dress anywhere but I did find a pretty close copy here.

Dress: Pixie Market (similar)  Sneakers: Novesta  Purse: Patricia Nash (similar)  Necklace: My Own  Rings: Assorted  Bracelet: Capwell+Co  Wine Tote: Happy Town Hawaii  Lipgloss: Coral Sands via L'Oreal

Another thing, I've been wearing on repeat. My Novesta sneakers. These unisex canvas goodies are handmade in Slovakia and have been since the 1930s. Most sneakers will always be comfortable (although these are super comfortable) to prance around in but I'm really drawn to the fact these shoes are eco-friendly.

Alright friends, time for me to get some work done.

Photos by Lydia Hudgens.

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Five Friday Favorites

To be honest I should rename this to Five Friday Beauty Faves. I have basically spent all of my free time on subreddit pages and in drugstore aisles researching the latest and greatest beauty finds. Eh, next month I promise to live a little but for now let's get to it.

via laurelskin.com

1. Laurel Whole Plant Organics Almond Grain Mask
This is one of those brands I discovered by chance and in the best way possible. I was invited to a new-to-me Laurel event and was definitely intrigued. On the day of the event, I walked into a room filled with skincare addicts (ah, my people) soaking up Laurel's knowledge, the owner. She gave us the rundown on all things pertaining to her organic skincare and even gave us her Almond Grain Mask and treatment brush to try at home. Obviously, I ran home to test it out.

The line is alcohol- and water-free in order to preserve the ingredients and provide our skin with the highest degree of nutrients. Because of that, the masks need to be mixed with water before it's slathered on. It felt extremely therapeutic and forced me to be in the moment. The mask itself felt and smelled heavenly. It left my skin gently exfoliated and moisturized - none of that tight skin feeling. Another plus is that it has 10 active ingredients and left me with a glowing complexion (aka great for those hungover days).

2. IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream
Oof! I've been using this cream since early March and am absolutely in love with it. The cream itself looks thick and might feel a little rich but once it's on your skin it is so light and absorbs so quickly. The cream is great for all skin types, from oily to sensitive, and contains Anti-Aging Armour Regenerative Concentrate™ to reduce the look of pores, discoloration, line and wrinkles. The one thing I truly love about this is how quickly it plumps up my skin and hydrates my face. For mornings when I'm in a rush, I use a face mist, this cream, and BB Cream for that dewy fresh-faced look.

Top to bottom: Instant Age Rewind, Super Stay Better Skin, Dream Lumi.

3. Maybelline's Concealers
I'm a purveyor of drugstore brands and Maybelline is definitely one of those few brands that I consistently check out. The Instant Age Rewind is a great on-the-go concealer and perfect for quick cover-ups since there's no need for a brush or sponge. The applicator has a sponge-like tip which ensures the coverage won't streak when applied. As for the formula, it does a great job at making me appear well-rested. Their Super Stay Better Skin is a concealer I use for my acne and acne marks mainly because of its Actyl C ingredient which fades marks within three weeks. And finally, their Dream Lumi rounds out my perfect coverup squad. This bad boy provides seamless coverage and illuminates skin at the same time. I love using this around my eyes and as a base on days I decide to bake so it can look extra lit.

Top to bottom: radiance highlight, matte highlight, deep contour, medium contour, light contour, soft contour.

4. IT Cosmetics You Sculpted! + Heavenly Luxe™ Angled Radiance Brush #10
I'll admit I own almost every contour palette out there but still get that deer in the headlights look when it's go-time. So when I came across IT Cosmetics' You Sculpted! I felt like they made a palette for those of us wanting a little more direction. This palette is chockful of helpful tips and even has an informational how-to book attached to the back. The colors are gorgeous and the formula is velvety soft and stays put all day long. If you don't already have a contouring brush then I highly recommend getting their Angled Radiance Brush #10 as well. The brush is so well designed for contouring it'll make the process easy peasy for an air-brushed finish.

5. Glossybox Subscription
Back in May, Glossybox was generous enough to send me their May box. Definitely bad timing on my part due to fracture (eek) but their packaging and curated contents left such a mark on me I knew I had to share as my Friday Favorite. Each month beauty experts choose an assortment of high-end or boutique goodies to match your beauty profile. I didn't have a beauty profile set up but I can honestly say that I loved (& used up) the items in my box: Benefit's Roller Lash, Rituals Zensation (LOVED this!), Nioxin Cleanser & Conditioner, Talika Photo-Hydra Day Moisturizer, and Versaspa Tanner. The monthly subscriptions is $21 per month and well worth the deluxe samples. (Sidenote, I think this would make for a great gift if you're stuck in a rut). Intrigued? Check out the site here.

The Linen Pant

You guys, I am absolutely in love with this entire look. As soon as the edited images landed in my inbox, my gut reaction caused me to gasp with excitement. This is the epitome of my summer style neatly packaged up.

Glistening clavicles have been on display in off the shoulder tops. And they assist in getting that sweet subway breeze when it matters most. Cotton wide-leg slacks with pockets so deep that I could go purse-less if provoked. It's a strange freeing feeling for sure. Round out the look with a pair of Stan Smiths (I have many) and you'll have me in my finest form.

I'd be remiss if I didn't divulge into the pants a little bit more. On days that I feel a little more than stressed, I'll randomly find myself in a store - any store will do. On this fateful day, it was Banana Republic. 

There I was, aimlessly wandering the store, running my hands across fabrics and silhouettes. On a whim, I decided to dig a little deeper on one particular rack and pulled out these gorgeous denim slacks. The small details and soft-to-touch feel gave me butterflies.

Dress: boohoo.com (similar)  Pants: Banana Republic (similar)  Sneakers: Adidas  Clutch: Miu Miu  Necklace: Ettika  Rings: Assorted  Bracelet: Kenneth Jay Lane  Sunglasses: The Row
Lipgloss: My Jam via Colourpop

I'm an emotional shopper. Not always good, not always bad. On this particular day, however, the pendulum struck all the way to "very good, buy now". So I did. And every summer look since then has included these pair of slacks.

Photos by Lauren Adriance.

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