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. 

Poll Post: Emerald

The phrase "Fall style" makes me think of a lot of things: natural fabric, thick knits, denim, leather, and other rich, luxe materials and elements. The same goes for color. Earth tones are beautiful and a stark contrast to summer's brights. My favorites are taupe and dusty red. 

Another of my favorites is emerald. This color is a bluish medium green. There are both light and dark shades of the color. When it's bright, the blue is very visible (it can even look teal), while in darker shades are like those of evergreen needles. In my opinion, emerald's blue tint is its defining factor.

Emerald is so versatile; you can wear a bright shade for a fun look, or go with a hunter hue for a dressier occasion. Plus, the range of shades allows you to inject it into your accessories, whether it be a dark wear-everywhere bag or some statement jewels. And it doesn't hurt that emerald's unofficially the color of the year (as declared by Pantone). Now, let's explore how to dress it up, down, and everywhere in between. 

1) Casual- Bright

From left to right by column:
BCBGMaxazria Kayleen Draped Hem Halter Top, $158, yearshopping.com
Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent Leather Shorts, $418, barneys.com
14k Gold 6mm Pyramid Stud Earrings, macys.com
Asos Premium Day Leather Sandals, $109.69, asos.com

This is an example of a very blue emerald. What I really like about this top is the cut-out and hem detail. I paired the top with leather shorts and sandals to make it the focus of the outfit. To keep it from becoming boring, I featured a strappy, chunky-heeled sandal and gold studs to break up the monotony of the two black pieces.

2) Casual- Earth tone

Left to right by column:
Adrienne Crop Sweater, $58, nastygal.com
American Eagle Skinny Jean in Vintage Superlight Destroy, $39.99 (on sale), ae.com
Danielle Nicole Adeline Croc-Embossed Satchel Bag, $98, cusp.com
Paul Green 'Sage' Bootie, $360, nordstrom.com

Give a neutral outfit some color with a deep emerald bag. The croc-embossed faux leather keeps things interesting along with the short hem of the sweater, the jean's rips, and the ankle boot's silhouette. 

3) Office/Formal

Left to right:
Jason Wu Bi-color Fitted Dress, $2905.15, farfetch.com
Steve Madden 'Drmaquen' Pump, $129.95, stevemadden.com

I kept this ensemble simple because that's your safest bet for formal settings. Plus, the expensive material of the dress paired with these statement heels gives just enough punch. You can add more, but in this case I prefer simplicity. 

4) Special Occasions/Night Out

Clockwise from top left:
Silla Mid Heel, $61, missselfridge.com
3.1 Phillip Lim Sequined Silk Dress, $349.98 (on sale/SOLD OUT), theoutnet.com
BP. Open Metalwork Ring, $10, nordstrom.com

This dress is from last season, but I had to feature it. The bold sequins and sheer panels (on the shoulders and back) make the dress exciting, while the color scheme keeps it modern. To bring out the white accent in the dress, I chose a white pump. These also had a silver toe detail which I reinforced with the ring. In addition, the geometric pattern of the ring goes with the colorblocked pattern on the dress. The silver details bring out the dress's gray-silver sequins. 

Bonus: Hey, look! Jennifer Hudson approves!

I think it's safe to say that emerald's one of the hottest colors around. It's pretty in basically every shade and can be worn for any occasion. The outfits I put together above are just a few examples out of the countless number you can make with this color. What do you guys think? Do you like emerald? Gimme your thoughts in the comments and email me at leatherandrouge@gmail.com to chat.