October Favorites 2015

Another month has gone by, and that means it's time for a new round of favorites.

OPI 'Romeo & Joliet' + Essie 'Damsel in a Dress'

Let's start off with a couple of nail colors. This month I got a mani-pedi for the first time in a long time, and I'm really happy with the colors I chose. For my fingers I got Essie Damsel in a Dress and for my toes I got OPI Romeo and Joliet. The former is a beautiful, deep, shimmery purple with fuschia undertones and the latter is a deep shimmery burnt sienna. They're both great fall colors. I'm looking forward to rocking them for the rest of the season!

Left // Right

MK Ultra by Muse

Source 

It's pretty obvious from my last post that I've been getting into Muse again for the first time since June 2013. This has been propelled not only by my new concert tickets (!!), but also by Dan and Phil, a pair of YouTubers/avid Muse fans I started watching this past summer. In fact, I first heard of MK Ultra from Dan when he mentioned it in a gaming video (lol). When I first listened to it, the song didn't seem that great, but after giving it another go I fell head over heels for it. I swear I played it on repeat for something like 10 hours when I realized how amazing it is. It's revolutionary, it's passionate, it's powerful. I felt really anxious and downright negative when I listened to it; as I've mentioned before, I'm a high school senior, so I need something to calm my essay-agitated nerves. I have no idea how this song could reflect my inner turmoil in such a beautiful way. Huge shout out to Dan for introducing me to this amazing song and to Muse for writing it and bringing it to life!

American History X (1998)

Source

American History X was the best movie I'd seen in a long time. I'd heard of it vaguely before and knew it was a good movie but never got the opportunity to watch it until recently. I made a mental note to do so after seeing Jenn Im recommended it in a favorites video. And now here it is, in my favorites!

The movie is about serious racial tensions between white and black people in Venice Beach in the 90s. It focuses on an adored member of a neo-Nazi group and his younger brother. A serious crime is committed by the older brother, and its implications are followed throughout the film. Although today most people are not as racist as many of the characters in American History X are, it nonetheless sheds new light on the issue of racism. Of course, given that it's a movie about neo-Nazis, blatant racism is the main type of racial tension depicted. However, implicit racism is also addressed. I think that if you really pay attention to the concepts brought up by the movie, you can learn something really important from it, no matter who you are or where you come from.

What were your favorites last month? I'd love to know. Leave a comment down below!

Follow me!

Instagram // Twitter // Pinterest

Poll Post: The Chunky Sweater

Source

Ah, the chunky sweater. My favorite thing to wear in the fall. It's perfect for this time of year for so many reasons. In my opinion, it's because it keeps you warm without the need for a jacket. This closet staple comes in all different knits, lengths, and cuts, so it can go with way more than just skinnies and Converses. Read on to find out how the chunky sweater can work wonders for your wardrobe.

So, let's talk about these guys. Chunky knits don't highlight the shape of your body, so if you wear a style that's too long, it can make you look ten pounds heavier or give you an awkward shape. Either way, not so great. Unless it has an oversized fit, which looks great with tight pants or leggings, go for styles that hit at the hip (at least at the front; hi-lo hems dip lower in the back). 

Now that we've figured out the correct fit of the sweater, it's time to discuss how to style it in an ensemble. Balance its relaxed fit with a bottom that's fitted at your waist/hips. It can flare out towards the bottom, like skater skirts and boot-cut jeans, or can just be skinny all the way. Yeah, leggings work, but like I said before, usually only for oversized cuts. 

Let's take a look at the different cuts there are to choose from.

1) Regular Fit

ASOS Sweater in Chunky Check, $71.19, asos.com

This cut is meant for everyone. It skims your shape but doesn't hug or accentuate anything.  The sleeves end just past or at the wrists while the hemline goes just past the hips. This classic cut can be paired with almost all bottoms; I wouldn't recommend long skirts or anything with volume at the hips, like harem pants. Pairing these together would make you look shapeless and would generally make for an awkward ensemble. Instead, wear a bottom that's fitted through the thighs, like boot-cut jeans, or one that clearly emphasizes your waist, like a skater skirt. 

You might think that sticking to classic silhouettes ensures a boring ensemble, but it's actually an advantage. Since the fits aren't that interesting, you can play around with the material and details of each piece. I added a cropped leg and leather to my pant and grounded the outfit with an unexpected shoe. The eyelets and the white croc-embossed material modernize the brogue while bringing out the white in the sweater. Do I get bonus points for monochrome? And white shoes?

Style with:

Leather Pants
Helmut Lang, $955, helmutlang.com

White Patent Brogues
River Island, $50, riverisland.com

2) Hi-Lo Hem

Nasty Gal Make a Fuzz Sweater, $88, nastygal.com

Hi-lo sweaters are the perfect mix between regular and cropped sweaters. I'd recommend these if you want the crop-sweater-look but don't like the idea of baring half your stomach when you pair it with leggings. The hi-lo sweater looks great with the same bottoms as the regular fit plus high-waisted bottoms since you can show it off up front. They also work well with skirts of any length. Once again, it's super important that whatever bottom you choose isn't billowy at the waist. (Notice the fitted skirt in the picture above.) 

Style with:

Lime Pencil Skirt
Blumarine, $282 (on sale), stylebop.com

Druzy Ring
Andara, $110, maxandchloe.com

Lucite Heels
Jeffrey Campbell, $130, nastygal.com

3) Cropped

New Look Chunky Floral Intarsia Sweater, $44.48, asos.com

The chunky crop sweater is so cool because you can really get creative with it. You can wear any bottom with it as long as they're high waisted, and in my humble opinion, not leggings. What you can do, though, is rock it with an old-timey midi skirt that shows off your waist along with the crop's shorter hem. (See below.) Any skirt will work, really, but if you want to be adventurous try a structured style like a peplum skirt or a pleated maxi skirt. As for pants, high-waisted skinnies look awesome with crops. The same goes for any other high waisted pants that are fitted through the thigh.

Style with:

Pleated Midi Skirt
A.W.A.K.E., $470, modaoperandi.com 

Red Ankle Booties
BP by Nordstrom, $99.95, nordstrom.com

Crystal Bangle
Miu Miu, $450, net-a-porter.com

The chunky sweater will always be a fall essential. They're cozy, cute, and fun to style, as I'm sure you've learned from above. What are your thoughts? Comment and email me at leatherandrouge@gmail.com.

What I Did With My Extra Hour

This weekend was probably the most autumn-y for me so far this season. I drove down a parkway surrounded by brilliant fall colors, ate a pumpkin pie from McDonald's (their apple pie is way better), and made pumpkin bread (ironically, the least-voted for choice in last week's poll). 

I'd post a picture of all the trees along the highway, but alas, I didn't take any. My destination was a local university, where I attended a seminar on college. After that, we went straight to McDonald's for nourishment. Thus began Day 2 of this weekend's over-eating marathon, triggered by our unused bag of Halloween candy. 

When I got home, I did nothing, since my post-consumption drowsiness prevented any real action from taking place. However, I did make pumpkin bread for a friend of mine, since we're both Hindu Indians and today is Diwali. And she got me apple cider from Wegman's. 

Best pumpkin mix I've tried so far. Need proof? Take a gander at that cleanly-licked bowl.

After stopping by at my friend's with the freshly baked loaf we headed over to my aunt's for dinner, where I overate yet again. 

So here I am at home now, informing you of the day's simple events. What did you do this weekend? Are you feeling the Fall yet? Comment and email me at leatherandrouge@gmail.com.

7 Fall Essentials Under $30

New season, new stuff. Problem is, most of us mere mortals don't have enough money to splurge on new clothes and accessories every season. Here, I've compiled 10 great fall essentials that can last you through the season and then some. For $30 and under, you'll get quality and a great price for it.  

1) Leather Leggings

Mimi Chica Faux Leather Leggings, $28, nordstrom.com

Leather is a wardrobe staple, but not all of us can afford to shell out a couple hundred bucks for the real thing! That's why I love BP, Nordstrom's junior section. Not only are their clothes always cute, the majority of them are under $30. As for the more expensive pieces-- they usually drop to a reasonable price when they go on sale. 
These leggings are awesome because they're affordable, trendy, and super versatile. Wear them with a long sweater or a tee and an oversized chambray button down. If you're not that into the legging look, get a faux leather skirt, dress, or jacket instead. The possibilities are endless!

2) Denim/Chambray Shirt

Rubbish Chambray Boyfriend Shirt, $24.90 (on sale), nordstrom.com

Speaking of chambray, another wardrobe staple, BP also has that! I remember when it first got popular last year; I couldn't find one that wasn't $50! Eventually, I settled for an H&M style, but I find this shirt to be much cuter. 
Before we talk about chambray, let's quickly go over the difference between it and its close cousin denim. Denim is a heavier material with a wider range of washes; dark blue and black chambray isn't as popular. Chambray's texture and weight is closer to that of muslin and linen. It's most commonly dyed in light to medium washes, as you can see in the picture above. However, certain places, like Madewell, offer a huge range of options.
Chambray clothes are great for dressing casually and toning down semi-dressy pieces. Shirts seem to be the most common chambray items, but you can also find chambray skirts, dresses, rompers, and even lightweight parkas, among many others. I'd wear this shirt with a lace dress and rugged ankle boots for a girly but tough look.

3) Natural Jewelry

BP. Stone Statement Necklace, $22, nordstrom.com

When it comes to natural jewelry, the best pieces use natural stones like turquoise, jade, or even geode. They're better for investments, though, because they can be pretty expensive. Of course, you can always buy fakes, which can look almost the same, depending on where you buy. I chose not to feature natural stone jewelry here because the smooth texture of this necklace can be easier to style with a wider variety of clothes. I also liked this piece because of the colors. (Sorry about the bad quality of the picture, I can't figure out why it came out that way. The original picture, which you can find by following the link, is much better.) The muted colors are very pretty and keep the potentially cheap-looking plastic material from becoming the focus.

4) Wear-everywhere Sweatshirt

Heathered Zip Front Sweatshirt, $19.80, forever21.com

This essential is a new trend this season. I've seen so many street-style looks that pair a sweatshirt with dressier pieces like leather skirts and clean-front shorts. The general theme I've been seeing is dressing the sweatshirt up just a little. It looks a little off, but the exact balance between casual and dressy gives it a super trendy feel. To pull this off, choose a sweatshirt that's cute, casual and well-fitting with something on there to keep it from getting boring. On the style I featured here, there are zip details. For a really versatile sweatshirt, get one that hits at the hip and has v-shaped stitching detail at the neck. This style by Aerie has the fit and weight I just described, while this one by Gap has the v-shaped stitch. 
Of course, you can also wear sweatshirts where they're supposed to be worn-- at night, on the plane, and with sweatpants. But that's not fashionable, now is it? 

5) Thick-knit Cardigan

Forever 21 'Forever Cool' Colorblocked Cardigan, $24.80, forever21.com

Here's another pick from Forever 21. They're crazy about knitwear! I love chunky cardigans because there's something about thinner cardigans I just don't like. I think it's easier to layer thick knits because they don't make me look bulky. In addition to that, they're warm and stylish. For a versatile knit you can wear with anything, pick a style with a fit similar to the one above and in a color, preferably solid, that goes with the majority of your closet. Black isn't always the answer; for example, if you wear a lot of brights, white will work better because it's also bright. 

6) Sweater

Nasty Gal 'Spell It Out' Knit, $27.20, nastygal.com

You definitely need several of these for a stable fall wardrobe! However, have at least one go-to sweater that you really love. It doesn't have to go with everything unless you want it to. Instead, make everything go with it. Wear it whenever and with whatever you want to. I chose this Nasty Gal sweater for the random letters. They make it it unique but simple. My favorite sweater is an oversized Aztec print knit from BP. I wear it almost every week! 

7) Scarf

'Easy-glowing' Afternoon Circle Scarf, $29.99, modcloth.com

This scarf caught my eye because it's thick knit and cozy for the coming cool weather but also stylish because of the mixed mustard and cream yarn, which keeps it from looking grandma-y. Also, mustard is a great fall color. I'd say this scarf would go best with natural colors. A possible ensemble could be an off-white linen shift, tights, and deep green heels.

So, those were just seven of the many fall essentials on my list! What about you? Let me know in the comments below or in an email to leatherandrouge@gmail.com. 

Poll Post: 4 Ways to Update Your Eye Makeup for Fall

I love fall makeup. It's bold, dramatic, and beautiful, especially when it comes to eye makeup. There are so many ways to bring out the eyes. Let's explore 4 ways to do so in the Fall.

1) Classic smokey eye

Source

This look is great for whenever you wanna make a safe but bold statement, whether that be at work, school, or out with friends. But wait-- it's possible or something to be safe and bold? Yup. It's bold because it draws so much attention to your eyes but still safe because it looks good on everyone. Just remember: Smoky eyes should be worn during the day only in the colder months, when heavier makeup is generally in; light and simple makeup is reserved for the spring and summer. Also, since they draw all the attention to your eyes, it's best to keep all your other makeup light. If you want a really dramatic look, add a statement lip, but no more! 

Although there are many ways to do a smoky eye, I just follow the directions on the bottom of those little smoky eye palettes (What can I say? I'm a drugstore girl.). If you need some guidance, though, take a look at this All Women Stalk article.

2) Smudged Kohl-Lined Eyes

Source

I love this look and will continue to try to pull it off for the rest of the season. This look is feminine but super laid back, relaxed, and simple. Wearing this would make you look like the kind of girl who throws her makeup on in the morning and manages to look good in probably half the time it took you to match that. It also kinda looks what I imagine would happen in this hypothetical situation: you stay up writing an essay until 12 AM and skip washing off the makeup, then end up late to school. Then later, when you have to go the bathroom and are dreading that inevitable moment when you see yourself in the mirror, you actually look...acceptable? Dare I say...cute? So, yeah. I looove this look. It's super cute and easy, so of course I do.

As I've mentioned multiple times above, this look is very easy to recreate. First, you'll need a soft, smudge-able kohl eye pencil. (If it's a traditional pencil, get a sharpener too.) Next, figure out what looks good for your eye shape. When applying your liner, you may need to alter things like the thickness and intensity so your face isn't overwhelmed. I learned this for myself from experience, but you can also get an expert's opinion at a beauty store or research. 

3) Updated Cat-Eye

Clockwise from top left: Source 1, 2, 3, 4

This new spin on the classic is also exciting. I made a collage for this one because there are many different takes on the updated cat-eye. As you can see, however, there are two main additions: color and eyeliner. 

• Color
• Eyeshadow
• Make the wing with a strong sweep of eyeshadow.
• Add color to your lids
• Use a subtle amount of eyeshadow all around your liner for a pop of color
• Colored eyeliner
• Add a pop of color above your liner on your top lid
• Use colored eyeliner instead of black or brown eyeliner
• Eyeliner
• Shape
• Exaggerate the traditional shape by extending it out further
• Go graphic and change the shape of the wing
• Thickness
• Thin and subtle
• Thick and bold

As you can see, there are endless ways to change up your everyday cat-eye. If you want to keep your makeup in season, I'd stay away from bright colors and instead choose deeper tones like emerald, plum, and burgundy. 

4) Graphic Liner

Source

This look really ruled the runways when it first came out, and will probably continue to for seasons to come. I especially love this look because for the amount it takes to create, it dramatically accentuates your eyes by giving your lids more depth. Like the makeup in this picture, many graphic liner looks feature liner on the lids--stripes, contouring, you name it! There are many graphic liner looks to copy out there, but before you look a tutorial up, try it out yourself. You never know what you could come up with...

As I've said before, eye makeup is my favorite cosmetic. There are so many ways to make up your eyes, and we can enjoy the more dramatic looks in the Fall. Which of the above variations are you going to try? Comment below and email me at leatherandrouge@gmail.com.

Fall Fashion: the Ankle Boot

As school starts up, so does Fall. And what does that mean? Wardrobe clean out! If I didn't already have my dream pair, the first item on my shopping list would be some nice new ankle boots. Now that I think of it, I'm actually dying for a black pair...

Ankle boots are really versatile. They usually vary in heel and shaft height. The first thing to know is the difference between an ankle bootie and an ankle boot. To the left is an ankle bootie and to the right is an ankle boot.

Left: Tory Burch 'Brita' Bootie, $395, nordstrom.com
Right: ZiGi girl 'Chilly' Boot, $89.95, nordstrom.com

Ankle booties are also a fall trend, but in this post we're gonna focus on their casual cousins, the ankle boots. These two styles can be worn almost the same way, but the ankle bootie is more modern, classic, and overall more polished. If you're more into that, click here for Nordstrom's Fall 2013 ankle bootie inventory. (There may be some exceptions.)

First we have to define the ankle boot. Although they can definitely have heels, they're always low and never have stiletto heels and/or wedges. (The wedge is debatable; low ones can be considered ankle boots.) Therefore the heel is almost always cone or block shaped. The former is more casual than the latter.

Material is also key. Ankle boots are most commonly made of leather, usually a matte finish or suede. These pairs are almost always casual. Patent leather pairs are rare (not so much among designer brands, though) and exude an extremely trendy, modern vibe, especially with a pointy toe.

Now, let's take a look at some ankle boots. I'll include my outfit ideas, but instead of putting pictures together I'll incorporate links in so we can focus on the boots.

Franco Sarto Quasar Ankle Boots, $129, zappos.com

This pair is great for dressy casual to dressed-up ensembles. I'd rock these with a maroon neoprene minidress and nude lips (choose your shade carefully!). It would would great with casual styles too as long as the finish isn't too shiny (It's hard to judge what they'd look like under normal lighting-- here, they're under bright white photoshoot lights. This type of lighting can make them look more reflective than usual.).

Kork-Ease 'Velma' Bootie, $185, nordstrom.com

I love this pair because of its silhouette and color. The Chelsea boot is a really versatile style that can be worn with an endless amount of outfits. The natural color adds to this style's versatility. I would wear these with an earthy color palette to emphasize the beauty of the leather. (Here are the skirt and top I picked out.)

Vince Camuto 'Grayson' Bootie, $148.95, nordstrom.com

If you like to dressing up without overdoing it, these are a great option for you. The not-too-high heel makes it elegant while the suede upper and stacked heel keep it casual. Wear these with these clean pin-up shorts and this unique python-embossed crop for a statement look.

Clark's Originals Desert Boot, $109.99, clarksusa.com

This specific style, the desert boot, is another go-to. It gives skinnies and other pants a menswear-inspired feel and can rough up a pretty lace dress. Although I don't own these yet, they are a definite favorite of mine. (Add a true vintage tee to your desert boots and cords to add a rocker edge.)

Jeffrey Cambell 'Everwell' Boot, $154.95, nordstrom.com

Speaking of 'rocker', these boots definitely look it. The cutout and buckle details are totally cool. Along with some leather leggings and a slouchy oversized tee (in ivory), these would make an awesome downtown-cool outfit. 

Paul Green 'Romeo' Bootie, $440, nordstrom.com

When I think of black ankle boots, I usually think of the dressy type I featured first. However, they can also be super casual when made in a different material (suede, in this case) and paired with different details (visible stitching and buckle instead of a plain, clean upper). These give off a vintage cool vibe and would look classic with vintaged jeans and an ombre tee. 

10 Crosby Derek Lam 'Austin' Boot, $395, nordstrom.com

These pointy-toed statement booties display the creativity of the designer world. There are so many trends crammed in here: the pointy toe, cap toe, two-tone, abstract print, calf-hair...Did I miss any? Since these evidently are so grand, I'd center my outfit around them with an off-white pant suit to accent the tone at the back of the boot and a black silk tee to bring the toe out. I think I'd pop on a fedora to keep the outfit from getting too matchy-matchy and dull. (Warning: Do not shop/browse regularly at karmaloop.com. Except for the fedora I just linked, everything there seems to be plastered with "Obey" and the like.)

Now that I've enlightened you on the topic of ankle boots, do you have a new item on your wishlist? Tell me about it! Comment here and email me at leatherandrouge@gmail.com.