Cyber Monday and Black Friday Sales!

 Going shopping soon? Allow me to make your shopping experience less of a nightmare. Here's a list of Cyber Monday and Black Friday sales to catch before time runs out. Hope it helps! 

Calvin Klein 

50% Off 

Free Shipping World Wide

J. Crew 

30% Off Sales Items with code: FESTIVE

Extra 50% Off Final Sales Items 

Free Shipping On Orders of $150 or More

J. Crew Factory

60% Off Everything Except Crew Cuts and Mens Suiting (Those are 50% Off) 

Extra 40% Off Clearance Items and Free Shipping with Code: HAPPYSALE

Top Shop

Up to 70% Off 

Free Standard Shipping  (4-7 days)

LOFT 

Extra 50% Off Sale Items 

Free Shipping on Orders Over $125

Ralph Lauren 

40% Off With Code: CHEER2

Free Shipping With Code: FREESHIP

GAP

40% Off Everything With Code: CYBMON

Jeans and Pants 20% Off

Free Shipping on Orders of $50 or More

GAP Factory

Between 53%-75% Off

Free Shipping On Orders of $50 or More

YESSTYLE  

Up to 80% Off Clearance Items

Additional 15% Off Items $49 or More

Free Shipping Worldwide On Orders of $35 or More 

ABERCROMBIE

40% Everything

Free Shipping 

New Look

25% Off Full Price Items 

ASOS Outlet 

Up to 70% Off 

Free Standard Shipping on Orders of $40 or More 

Free Two Day Shipping on Orders of $120 or More

Anthropologie 

Extra 30% Off Sale Items

 

Minimalist Wardrobe Checklist For The Holidays

As Thanksgiving comes to a close and we look forward to a very merry holiday season, it goes without saying that everyone wants to look their best, especially if you'll be expecting friends and family for an extended period of time. Many people are taking advantage of the black friday sales to revamp their wardrobes completely! Although, I almost never shop during Black Friday, I must admit that the online sales are pretty solid. However, you mustn't loose your head in the sweet sales. Your minimalist wardrobe must consist of a particular few essential items and you can sprinkle a few interesting pieces to make your closet individually unique. Regardless of if you are new to minimalism or are looking to enhance your wardrobe, here are the essential pieces you need to keep on your check list this holiday season. And who knows! Maybe Santa may drop some of these items down the chimney!

You've got to have a few button downs on your checklist if you don't already have some. It is a simple, timeless, classic that you can keep for a very long time. I suggest you spend a few extra bucks here to make sure it's good quality. My favorite brands are J.Crew and Ralph Lauren. Their button downs are very well made and will last you a while even if you don't take the best care of your clothes. 

 Remember these from the 80's and 90's? Well they've made a triumphant return and boy, are they adorable! You can find these just about every where now. However, I'd take a look at British brands like New Look or Top Shop to find decent quality sweaters at an affordable price.

Remember these from the 90's? These have also made a come back! You can grab a pair of these just about anywhere as well, but the better quality pair are few and far between. I would try catching a sale at a place that specializes in jeans, like Levi or Lucky's. Make sure you catch a good sale, otherwise you'll be paying around $90. The reason I say get good quality is because these pants are made to look casual, yet put together. If the color fades, the fabric pills, or the seams tear it will just look a hot mess.

 Here's where you'll catch a break. Skirts are low priority in my book. Just grab a decent skirt or two wherever you find one you like. I suggest getting at least one leather skirt. It looks lovely with some stockings underneath. If you're in a cold region, like me, you should grab a pair of fleece stockings. Unless you don't mind the cold at all.

 Who can forget about the classic oversized coats! Inspired by menswear, these comfy oversized coats have become a staple in the minimalists wardrobe. If you live in a cold climate, make sure to opt for a wool or tweed coat. Those trap in warmth and keep out the pesky winter cold.

 

I used to HATE these kinds of trousers with a passion back in the day. They weren't the skinny jeans all my friends were wearing that showed off their flat butts. However, over the years I've grown to love these pants. When paired with the correct top, these look so refined and stylish. You can literally find these everywhere. I've found some lovely ones at Zara though. They should be on sale around the holidays, so you could snag a pair for about thirty or forty bucks!

 On those snowy winter nights when its extra frigid outside, these cardigans are perfect for cozying up by the fire with a cup of tea and a good book. You can find good cardigans in most stores, but again I suggest you check out British stores like Top Shop or New Look.

I'm not a big shoe person. I'm good with only a few pair of shoes. I only get about two or three pair a year! Most of the time I just get them to replace shoes I no longer wear. Based on this knowledge, I suggest you put four pairs of shoes on your checklist: black flats, ankle boots, riding boots and white sneakers. Most of the shoes above are black, but that doesn't have to be true of your wardrobe. In reality, I have brown ankle boots instead of black. I'm combing the web for black ones know, but after that, my shoe shopping is finito!

If it's any more help, here is a tangible checklist you can use to ease your holiday shopping stresses.

XOXO

Fall Looks

Review: Tony Moly Brightening Eye Base

So I have seen sooo many mixed reviews about this product. While scrolling through the reviews on Amazon, I thought to myself "is it actually any good?!" Well, despite my better judgement, I ditched my apprehension and bought myself one at Ulta. So here's my initial thoughts about the product: it does what it's supposed to. I will elaborate what that means in the paragraphs below.

About My Skin: I have very dry skin. I have large pores on my nose and flaky skin especially on my cheeks, and forehead.

Product Description: I have decided not to include the product description here because I think it has caused a bit of confusion. This product DOES NOT lighten the under eye area over time. It is an eye base, which is different from an eye lightener.

How to Use: Before applying makeup, apply under eyes or on eye lids for an instant brightened, awake look.

Review: So let me explain what this product does. This product does not lighten your skin over time. It is a brightening base for eye makeup and to lighten your dark circles. You apply this before putting on makeup. A bunch of people seem to think that this product is supposed to lighten their dark circles over time. Let me be the first to say, No. It does not do that. So now you know what it does, lets move onto the review. So the product glides on really nicely and doesn't really smell like anything. The texture is really smooth, kind of like a highlighter stick and it is bright white. When I applied it under my eyes, it flaked a little bit because I guess I didn't apply enough moisture to my skin before using it. Once I remedied this issue, it glided on smoothly and blended out really nicely. I have pretty bad bags and it made them mostly disappear, even without foundation on! When I applied it to my eyelids, it helped my eye shadow glow brighter and last longer. This is a big deal because I have  hanging eyelids and for some reason oily eyelids as well. Meaning eye shadow DOES NOT last very long on my eyelids at all. However, this product extends its life a little bit. So, knowing that this does not brighten dark circles, this product works very well! Even on my dry skin. It glides on smoothly, lasts a long time, and makes me look awake (and not zombie-like). I don't really have anything negative to say about it. :)

Tip: Moisturize skin well before using because sometimes it flakes a little bit.

Rating: 10/10
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
Safe for Dry Skin: Yes
 

My Routine for Dry Natural Hair

My hair has been very upset with me. Until recently, my hair shed really badly and felt dry and brittle. On the average day, it's dry, fine and is prone to some serious build up, but until recently, my hair has really hated me. The reason why is actually pretty silly. I still didn't know what products to use on my hair! Let me explain. I've been natural for about 4 years now, I've gone through product after product, oil after oil and texture after texture. However,  one thing that I've learned is that my hair's needs are constantly changing. As my hair grows, deals with changing climates, and reacts to new products it changes. So on top of just learning about how to care for my hair, I had to take into account the effects of change.
   With this in mind, I feel like I have finally learned the secret to length retention and growth for my hair- minimalism. In college, I was obsessed with growth and if you came into my dorm everyday at around 9am, 2pm, and 8pm you'd find me messing around with my hair and checking my length. I was literally obsessed. For some girls, moisturizing hair twice a day is totally effective, but I learned that for me it's a total travesty. My hair shed as quickly as it grew and build-up inhibited hair growth. My obsession was stunting my hair growth. For successful hair growth, do as little manipulation to my hair as possible. However, the problem was that my hair is SUPER dry, SUPER fine, and is low porosity, meaning it resists moisture. All the odds were stacked against me and I didn't know what to do. My curls looked frizzy and dry, if I used product, the  product never dried in my hair making it even more frizzy. Grrr!!!! On top of that, I found out that my hair sheds really badly when I don't finger detangle it often enough. So yeah,...
   Now my hair is bra strap length and I learned exactly the right way to keep moisture in and define my stubborn, stubborn curls. Now I'm going to share what I've learned with you!

About my hair:

Porosity: Low Porosity
Density: High Density
Type: 3C
Strands: Fine
Length: BSL

DAILY 

Every night, I do an oil scalp massage and put a water based moisturizer into my hair. I try to keep the manipulation to an absolute minimum, so I gently finger detangle to get the product through my hair. After I apply the moisturizer, I also twist up that section and twist tightly to force the product through. So far it has been excellent for avoiding build-up. After that I put my hair into two crown braids and go to sleep. Most of the time, I just leave the crown braid in during the day so I don't over manipulate. I try to keep manipulation down to once a day. I've recently been using Shea Moisture's Mint & Ginger Detox & Refresh Hair & Scalp Leave-In Detangler, and I have been incredibly satisfied with the results! My curls are finally defined, healthy and not frizzy and gross. I will write a review for this product with full details.

Products:

1. Shea Moisture's Mint & Ginger Detox & Refresh Hair & Scalp Leave-In Detangler
2.  Oil Mixture: Aloe gel, coconut oil, Amla, Rosemary essential oil, Lemon essential oil, Grapeseed Oil

WEEKLY 

Every week, I do an ACV rinse on my hair to get rid of any build up. Build up has been a HUGE issue for me, so as much as I wish I could just wash it once a month, I really cannot. After the ACV, I do a quick shea moisture deep conditioner. After that I apply my Treseme conditioner and detangle my hair with a wide tooth comb very thoroughly. (Note: the only time a comb touches my hair is when my hair has gotten wet. Without it, my hair becomes a hot tangled mess.)

Products

1. Apple Cider Vinegar
2. Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Masque

MONTHLY 

Once a month, I do a protein treatment because I find that too much protein makes my hair dry, brittle and crappy. For a protein treatment, I use Avacado, olive oil, two eggs, yogurt and neem powder. I let that sit for about one hour and rinse. Then I style as usual.

Notice that I never mentioned trimming my hair. That's because I don't, UNLESS my hair really needs it. If my ends are frayed and dry, I will trim them. Otherwise, there is no need to. Trimming hair regularly is actually just a myth. Besides, I noticed that those with the longest hair don't trim their hair at all! Well, I hope this post was some what helpful.

Wardrobe Basics: My Favorite Capsule Wardrobe

I've seen a lot of people try to attempt a timeless capsule wardrobe, but this one hits the nail on the head. It shows what you need to look put together and timeless without trying too hard. Five stars! Credit to Fast Food and Fast Fashion blog!

How and Where to Buy Affordable Timeless Clothes

If you're like me, you can't afford to just walk out the door, drive to the mall and commit to dropping $200 worth of clothes. Because let's just admit it, timeless fashion costs serious dough now a days. Worst of all, timeless pieces can be hard to find among all the trending rubbish on the shelves. No, what you are looking for are timeless pieces that are high quality enough to last you a while, which means Forever 21 is out (sort of). In this post, I'm gonna show you how and where to shop for affordable clothes that are pretty, timeless and will last you a long time. When I go out, there are two things people say to me a lot. One is that I am always so well put together and two, they ask how I can afford it. Plainly put, I can't. Not at full price, that is. I find deals, and sites where I can get what I need really cheap.

Know What You Need

A classic wardrobe is a simple wardrobe. You really only need wardrobe essentials. So make a list of the things you need before you start shopping. Sometimes I make a  "need" list and a "want" list to keep me on track. No need to spend money on frivolous things, you're trying save money remember?

Where To Shop 

After you've decided what you need. It's time to start shopping! For me, looking for what I need is a kind of a lengthy process. I like shopping! I kind of make it a game of where I can find the best deal. The key is to make buying clothes full price a last resort. So here's my cheat sheet:

1. Thrift Store

2. Shopping apps

3. Online Shopping 

4. Wait for Sales at Outlets 

5. Full Price at the Mall 

Start by going to a high-end consignment shop. Not the kind of place that inspired Macklemore's song. A place where you know there are major brands for affordable prices.  If you knock off a few things on your list there, then yay!! If you can't find everything you need there, then it's time to check out a few apps. 

I have had an app called Vinted for the last couple of years! It's literally an online consignment, but often the clothes are brand spankin' new! Half of my wardrobe has come from this app! I've even sold things on it! The sellers are kind, fast and you can always find high-end clothes at really low prices. There's no bidding, but you can talk to the seller, offer a lower price, and negotiate. I've done it several times. Sellers typically are very reasonable. In a later post, I will share with you the looks that I created with the clothes I bought from Vinted. Here is a list of the brands you should look for: 

1. Ralph Lauren

2. Tommy Hilfiger

3. Bass 

4. Loft 

5. Ann Taylor 

6. J.Crew 

7. Top Shop 

8. Vince Camuto (just got a trench coat for 30 bucks!)

9. Burberry 

10. Jack Wills 

11. Zara 

12. New Look 

If I still can't find what I'm looking for, I'll try to find deals online. To shop online, you must know your size very well. Check the measurements and the reviews for reference to see how the item fits. The websites I frequent J.Crew Factory, Banana Republic Factory,  ModCloth, and Top Shop. 

 If you STILL can't find what you're looking for. It's time to hit the mall! When you get there, focus on stores that you know will carry the timeless clothing that you're looking for! Make sure to avoid trendy stores and clothes made cheaply, unless you are getting tank tops, or accessories (NOT SHOES), such as hats, socks, necklaces, scarves, leggings, and sunglasses. Here is an official list of the stores I shop at:

1. J.Crew

2. Banana Republic 

3. Gap 

4. Forever 21 (Only for accessories) 

5. Ann Taylor 

6. Loft

7. Uniqlo 

 Notice that the brands are little lower end than the ones you were looking for in apps and online. The reason for this is because you are FAR less likely to find a good deal on clothing if you walk into the store. You find awesome deals in consignment shops, online and in apps. Especially so in the Vinted app because they know they need to sell they're items, so the either start with low prices or they slowly lower them over time. Either way works for you!