It’s been some time since I’ve posted here on the blog, or on my Instagram for that matter. I’ve been feeling some changes in me & needed some time to figure out exactly what they meant for me & my life. Don’t worry, I’ll be filling you guys in on what’s been going on in my head & heart soon.
But until then..I’m back! Not only am I back, but I’m sharing with you the dreamiest toile dress I’ve been wearing to death that’s under $20! Scroll to see more…
Now that the weather is starting to feel more like fall, I’ve been playing around with how to wear this gorgeous toile dress into the colder months. My favorite way has to be with a pair of knee high boots, a beret, & my classic trench coat over top. You could also wear it with black tights, heels, & a fluffy faux fur coat to dress things up a bit. Either way, you better believe I’ll be wearing this many times in the coming months. I can’t pass up this dreamy, classic print!
Totally obsessing over these gorgeous vintage floral prints. Some of these might give you some grandma vibes but in the very best way! Like, I wanna be that kind of grandma! But in all honesty, prints similar to these can be found in many current designer collections. All of these are under $75, but most of them are around the $20 mark! I love finding these affordable gems. It’s so hard to choose which ones to get because they are all so perfect! (This dress I already own & it’s even better in person!) Happy shopping!
Self Portrait is a designer I’m totally crushing on at the moment. His designs are simple, yet so intricate at the same time. These are some of the most universally flattering pieces on the market because of how classic the silhouettes are. They are both feminine & edgy by mixing feminine lace, colors, & ruffles with mesh, structured lines, & showing a little bit of skin. His pieces are so iconic & sought after, that many affordable brands are creating their own Self Portrait inspired pieces. I’ll share with you what to look for & how to get the designer look for less.
To get this feminine & edgy look at an affordable price, all you have to do is look for the details. Keep an eye out for interesting crochet or lace patterns. Many times these details are in interesting lines or geometric shapes. Self Portrait is not afraid of color, but does some its best work in the most classic neutrals. Even this white dress I recently wore has very strong Self Portrait vibes. Finding these pieces in navy or black are a great, timeless staple to have in your wardrobe.
Customize Your Outfit
It’s your clothes, wear them how you want! This dress actually comes with a cute red collar attached at the neck. But when I was putting this look together, I loved how it looked when I just tucked the collar in! You can’t even tell! It’s almost like having two dresses. Also, I wrapped my cream silk scarf around my waist like a belt to put my own spin on this Self Portrait inspired look. Don’t let fashion or pieces of clothing confine you. You do you, girl!
Over the past five years, my love for makeup has grown & grown. I love reading reviews on how good a product’s formula is, if it’s long lasting, or if it has any skincare benefits, to find the best of the best products out there. My collection ranges from more high end beauty products to some of the most affordable & amazing products on the market. I’m so excited to share with you my very favorite, tried & true, best affordable makeup products.
It’s so important to start with a solid base when applying makeup. So many of my very favorite makeup base products come right from the drugstore. To start, I like to use the Almay Anti-Aging Smart Shade tinted moisturizer. Not only does this product have anti-aging properties, but it also has SPF 20 & does not break me out. It’s so easy to use. I just apply it with my hands like a moisturizer. Then I go with my ride or die concealer by Maybelline. Lastly, the Maybelline Fit Me matte pressed powder is key for a cake-free, flawless looking face.
Make It Multipurpose
The secret to a fresh, cohesive face is to let your already affordable products, be multipurpose products. My favorite look at the moment, uses 3 face products as eye products. I apply my Physician’s Formula Bronzer to bronze my face, as well as the crease color for my easy eye look. Then I use my Milani Luminoso Blush on the apples of my cheeks & then as a wash of color on my eyelids. To finish the eye look & brighten my face, I use an old favorite highlighter, Colourpop’s Wisp, on the high points of my cheek bones as well as in the inner corner of my eyes.
Don’t Forget The Lips!
It’s so much fun to play around with inexpensive lip products. This is a great way to test out new shades that may be a little bit out of your comfort zone. Drugstore & affordable lipsticks are great for building your collection & figuring out what shades really suit you. One way to make your more affordable lipsticks look more luxury is to layer them in order to create more depth to your look. My favorite affordable combination right now is to first apply a layer of the Maybelline matte shade called “Lust For Blush”, then to swipe on a coat of the L’Oreal lipstick in the shade “Peach Fuzz”, which has more of a sheen to it. I love playing with a mixture of warm & cool tones to create my own unique shade.
I know, I know…this is not my typical dress or skirt or even trouser look, but I’ve fallen hard for this pair of super affordable denim culottes. They are basically the flowing midi skirt version of jeans. If you, like me, are a lover of feminine fashion & anything with a bit of drama, I’m sure you’ll fall in love with these too. Especially after reading my full review of the jeans of the season, below…
You may think this shape would be a bit unflattering, but let me tell exactly why that’s not true. First of all, these pants are very high waisted. This is one of the very best features about these pants in my opinion because it cinches you in at the most ideal place to create that figure flattering silhouette. These jeans will go perfectly with my spring/summer shirts that are a bit more cropped as well as more flowy & billowing tops that I can wear tucked in. Then the cropped wide leg makes your ankles look skinny & then draws your focus back up to that cinched in waist line.
But Wait, There’s More
You guys, these pants are such a steal! At only $30, your spring wardrobe needs a pair. (Or if you’re like me, you might need two!) They’re flattering, affordable, & oh-so comfortable. I would even travel in them, they’re so comfortable. With so many brands out there coming out with their own version of these pants, I had to let you all know that these are the very best.
Whether it’s prom, a gala, a wedding, or a black tie event, finding the perfect glam look is my jam! And who wants to spend a lot of money on a dress you’ll only wear once or maybe a handful of times if you’re lucky? Don’t get me wrong, you want to look good, & I mean really good. In no way do you want your dress to look cheap or not well made. But how do you know if the dress is going to be good or not when shopping online? I’m here to teach you my tricks. I’m a strong willed, dreamer who is determined to find great quality & affordable prices to create the perfect glam look.
Watch Out For…
Time to become a bit of a detective when it comes to finding the perfect affordable formal dress online. This time of year, most online stores have either a prom section or a bridesmaids section & that is the best way to start. At this point, I can browse all dresses, or I can filter by color, price, or dress length. That way I am only seeing viable options. I do not recommend filtering by size, & you’ll see why in a moment. Once I’ve clicked on a potential dress, here is my checklist to see if it could work for me:
Check sizing – First, I check the size chart & look for areas I know need to fit well. For me, I always check the waist size. Then I chose the appropriate size with the correct waist size & see if it’s in stock. If it is, then I check…
Model info – Most websites now have information about the model wearing the dress in the photo that is so helpful when wondering if the dress will fit you well. Usually the information listed contains some of her dimensions & what size she is wearing in the photo. If she happens to be wearing the same size as I’m hoping to buy, I look at how it fits on her & try to envision what it would look like on me. For instance, I have smaller boobs & broader shoulders, so I look to see if those things specific to my body would work in this dress. It’s also important to look at the height of the model to determine if this would be a good length for me, or if I would have to get it hemmed.
Is it see through? – The majority of the time, if I look close enough to the photos, I can determine whether they are see through or not, but if I have the option to watch a video of the dress (like I know you can on ASOS), I always take advantage of it.
The wow factor – I believe that if you’re looking for a formal dress, it needs some sort of wow factor. The dress must either be flowing, figure flattering, embellished, or have an interesting silhouette. Then I zoom in & inspect the details.
Where To Begin
My favorite place to shop for affordable formal dresses is ASOS. They do great sales, have amazing customer service, & provide the easiest free returns I’ve ever seen. They also provide video for all of their clothes so that you are able to see how they move, which can be make or break for me. I have no fear when ordering from them, because I know returning something is a piece of cake. Other great places I’ve found for good quality, affordable formal dresses are Forever 21, Chicwish, & Akira. As long as I go through my checklist, I always find the perfect glam dress. (Scroll down to see some of my favorite affordable dresses & hover over the photo to see the price.)
