Black and White Tuxedo Jacket

Spring time has been here for a while and I know what you are thinking. "Javier spring is here and I still want to give Dynasty's Alexis Carrington 80's realness but I'm not sure how to rock a blazer in spring."

Midi skirt is the new pencil skirt

The midi skirt has been getting a lot more love by both high end designers and fast fashion retailers lately. With good reason too, I really love how they create shape and I think they can be much more versatile than people give them credit for. They look great dressed up with silky blouse for something more formal but also look great with a sweater or t-shirt tucked into them! I found two great examples of midi skirts that I think would be a great addition to your wardrobe, and like always one is very expensive and the other a bit more reasonable. The first skirt is this Alice+Olivia black skirt with organza sheer panels. 

Alice+Olivia Sheer Panel Midi-$420

I love the shape the pleating creates and the sexy detail of the sheer panel. I think its a great twist on a such a classic piece. I also love the way the merchandiser styled it, I love the juxtaposition of the super feminine skirt with the motorcycle jacket. This skirt comes with a high price tag however at $420! As soon as I saw this skirt I remembered one VERY similar to this one from my time working at Express over the summer. Knowing they tend to bring things back each season, after a quick search on their website sure enough I found this.

Express Sheer Panel Midi-$80

The skirts are both so similar, both have the sheer organza panels and have pretty much the same length. The pleating on the Express on is a bit thicker but it creates a very similar shape. I love the way the merchandiser styles this piece for Express as well, I think it looks great with the striped sweater, it gives a much more effortless feel and tones down the dressiness of it. I think that they look so similar that if worn people would have trouble telling them apart. I was so obsessed with this skirt when it came in over the summer that I bought it for my sister and her wear it on my birthday dinner. I tend to live vicariously through my sister and any fabulous girl clothing I wish I could rock I always end up buying for her and forcing her to wear it. She is sort of like my life sized barbie doll in that respect. Here is a picture of us on my birthday so you can see how I styled it on her.

She wore it with a black turtle neck cropped top and pink pumps for a pop of color and I think the outfit looked great! Next time you are our shopping don't pass up the midi skirt as an option to wear for your next formal event or even a casual lunch date. Take a pass on the boring pencil skirt that everyone has a bunch of anyway!

 

Changing Man Kind One Jogger at a Time

Throughout history many important things have been invented, the wheel, antibiotics, the internet. This blog post though will be about something that surpasses all these inventions....the jogger pant. Yes, I am being serious, I LOVE joggers. I think the biggest reason is that depending on where you work and what material you get (stick to wool, or chino like fabrics) you could get away with wearing them as business casual but still have AN ELASTIC WAISTBAND. I had to face the harsh reality that the holidays as well as eating pizza in bed and watching Netflix all day had taken a toll an a girls figure. So what I love is that it makes me look somewhat put together and no one even knows I'm having a fat day/week/month/life whatever. So on to my fabulous finds! I was scouring the net for joggers and came across these Marc Jacobs suiting joggers. They are beautiful.

Marc Jacobs Sable Suiting Jogger-$630

I mean come on, I love the fit they are slim against the leg and are fitted around the ankle, also the deep navy color is great because it can be work with so much! When I saw them I convinced myself I needed them. However contrary to popular belief I am actually not a real housewife and thus cannot afford $630 dollar Marc Jacobs pants. Good thing for me I had to stop by a J-crew store for a class project and of course could not resist shopping around. I walked past these joggers and my jaw dropped.

J.Crew Jogger Pant- $75

They look so similar to the Marc Jacobs ones! When I tried them on I loved the way they fit on me too. They were a bit shorter which is great for me because I always find pants that  come in a standard inseam are always way too long for me. They hit me at right about the ankle which is how I wear most of my pants. These don't have the elastic waistband like most of my other joggers do but they are still super comfortable and it makes them dressy enough that I can get away with wearing them in the office. The best part is that they are only $75, and I of course used the student discount J-Crew offers so I got them for about $56. Well now my secrets out, if you see me wearing joggers you know whats happening that day. Trust me though once you experience the wonders of these pants along with looking pretty darn chic you will be jumping on the bandwagon.

Vampy Lips and Smokey Eyes-Sarah Hyland Look

I think everyone in the midwest was absolutely furious when we woke up on the first day of spring and it was a snowpocalypse outside. I suppose the silver lining was that it gave me an excuse to post one last fall vampy look! Who doesn't like a brown smokey eye and a plum colored lip? My model today is named Cristina and there was no doubt in our mind she resembled Sarah Hyland. We knew we wanted to do a more dramatic look since she doesn't typically doesn't wear a whole lot of makeup, when we saw this picture of Sarah in a dark lip together with a dark eye we decided to just go all out.

The dark lip and brown cat shaped smokey eye make this look super sexy, perfect for a girls night out on the town!

Cristina is one of my favorite co-workers, we are both sassy, classy, feisty, Latinas so clearly we hit it off right away. 

We both loved the way Cristina's makeup turned out! The makeup really suited her eye structure and the dark lip looked great with her skin tone. Not only that but I think the edgy look of it really suited her quick witted personality. The key with this look and any smokey eye is the blending, the color needs to look seamless and not too overdone in order to pull it off. If you want to learn how to get this look then keep on reading!

EYES

Milani Eyeshadow Primer $5.99- thin layer was smoothed over eyelid, this is becoming one of my favorite eyeshadow primers. It keeps shadow on all day and really intensifies the color and the price cant be beat!

Flower Cosmetics Color Play Cream Eyeshadow in Mum's the Word $7.98- Unfortunately this color is discontinued however the color "Wild Geranium" in the cream shadow is very similar and can be substituted. The cream shadow was swept over the whole lid up to the crease as a color base to facilitate blending and really make the colors on top pop. 

BH Party Girl Palette-$17.95- First thing i used was the mauve/brown color (2nd one in the 2nd row) as a transition shade, it was blended lightly into the crease with a fluffy domed brush. Transition shades like these are CRUCIAL for smokey eyes because they help blend the really dark colors used near the lash line seamlessly towards the brow bone. I went over the inner half of the lid medium toned shimmering brown (5th shadow in the 1st row). Then I really darkened up the outer the outer corner of the eye lid with the two matte dark browns in the palette mixed together on a fluffy brush. These two colors were also smoked out on the lower lash line to balance it with the dark colors on the lid. (6th shadow in 1st row and 7th shadow in 2nd row). I started off lighting and then really build up the color on these all while blending the color angled towards the out corner of the eye brown in a sort of cat eye shape. As a brow bone highlight I just lighting swept the shimmery champagne color (9th shadow in the 1st row)

Elf Baked Highlighter in Pink Diamonds $3.99- This was used as an inner corner highlight near the tear duct area

Jordana Easyliner in Jet Black $2.50- Used to line the upper lashline, flicked out in corners in a cat liner shape

Jordana Fabuliner Felt tip liquid liner $2.99- This was used to intensify the eye liner and make it a really crisp black line. Just a shoutout to this liner this is THE BEST felt tip liquid liner I have ever used, and I've used quite a few. Its super pigmented and goes on so smoothly, for the price it is steal!!

Qosmedix Indivdual False Lashes in Medium Flare $1.80-These were applied to the top lash line with lash glue to create some flare in the outer corner and accentuate that cat eye shape of the smokey eye. 

FACE

Elf Mineral Face Primer $6.00 & NYX Liquid Illuminator in Gleam $7.00- These two products were mixed together and applied all over the face to create a smooth glowing base for the 

foundation.

NYC Smooth Liquid Make Up in Smooth Beige $3.49- I buffed this into the skin with a domed blending foundation brush.

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Light $5.50- This was used under the eyes in a triangle shape, on the forehead, down the bridge of the nose, and the chin to highlight and bring light to the face. I blended this in with a damp beauty blender sponge to create a flawless airbrushed look

NYC Smooth Skin Loose Powder in Naturally Beige $2.99- This applied heavily under the eyes with the beauty blender sponge and left to set while the rest of makeup was done, when rest of the makeup was done the excess was swept away using a fluffy fan brush. I also used this to set the rest of the foundation on the face by lightly applying with a fluffy brush 

Milani XL Bronzer in Fake Tan $9.99- I swept the darker brown color under the cheekbones with an angled brush  to carve out the cheekbone and around the hairline to create dimension on the face

NYX Powder Blush in Pinched $5.00- I lightly applied this to the cheeks and swept it back towards her contour with a angled blush brush 

Elf Baked Highlighter in Pink Diamonds $3.99- I applied this over the tops of the cheekbones to create a glow with a fluffy fan brush

LIPS

NYX Slim Lip Pencil in Plum $3.50- Used to line lips and define shape and also fill in for a long lasting lip color

Wet and Wild Mega Last Lipstick in Sugar Plum Fairy $1.99- Filled in lips with this matte lipstick. This brand of lipstick is quickly becoming my favorite, they are only two dollars and have such high impact color with a great matte finish

A big thank you to my model Cristina for letting me do her makeup and being so open to such a dramatic look! To everyone in the midwest take this little bit of snow thats left on the ground as an excuse to rock on lats vampy look for the season!

Breaking The Rules With Black and Navy

I hope you all didn't think I forgot about the gentleman here on Bad B on a Budget! Tailoring is a bit of a soft spot for me when it comes to my own wardrobe. I have a wide array of blazers in my closet and I always find an excuse to buy a new. Whether its a different lapel, material, print, or cut,  I love blazers and I always find a need for one. I find them so versatile, its easy to dress them up for a night out, but just as easy to throw them on over a v-neck and a pair of slim fit jeans and look put together. I know the latter of the two has saved me many a times when I'm running short on time, or hiding the fact that my life is in shambles for a hungover Sunday brunch. I ran across these two blazers and instantly fell in love. Seriously, I don't need NO man! Just let one of these blazers put a ring on it.

Naomi Campbell Makeup Look

I can easily say that if I had a spirit animal it would be Naomi Campbell. We both have fierce walks and throw our phones at people when we are angry(Kidding). One of the original super models, she has graced the covers of over 500 magazines, and still stomps down the runway today. She was the first black super model to appear on the cover of TIME Magazine, French Vogue, and Russian Vogue. I knew since I started this blog that I wanted to include a makeup look from her and when I saw her shoot for Harper's Bazaar Vietnam I knew it was the one.

Le An. Image of Naomi Campbell. Harper's Bazaar Vietnam. June 2014.

I love the soft eye with the ombre burgundy lip and matching blush. Her skin is glowing and looks flawless, it would be a perfect look for when you want a fierce night out on the town. So if you want to learn how to get this look for yourself keep on reading!

My model today is Aurelia, she has beautiful skin and I was super excited to work with her! I will be dividing the products I used into three different sections in the order I applied them, Eyes, Face, and Lips. Feel free to leave a comment, I would love some feedback on how helpful the layout of my posts are especially the beauty ones since the instructions are so specific! I hope you love this look as much as I did and inspires you to Naomi Campbell walk everywhere you go! 

EYES

Milani eye shadow primer-Applied with finger all over lid

Nyx Blush in Cinnamon-Applied with a fluffy domed brush through crease as a transition color

Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Paint in Golden Bronze-Applied to lower lid with flat shadow brush

Bh Cosmetics 26 Color Neutral Shadow and Blush Palette-1st shadow in the second row, a shimmery copper color was used over the rimmel liquid shadow, then the first shadow in the third row, a cool toned shimmering dark brown was used in the crease and blended up towards the brow bone with a blending brush.This same shadow was also smoked out on the lower lashline. As an eye brow highlight I used the beige blush on the last row mixed with the pinkish brown blush, this was the first blush and the 3rd blush on the last row.

Jordana Easy Liner in Jet Black-Applied over upper lash line to line to darken lash line

Jordana Felt-tip Fabuliner in Black-Traced over existing liner to darken and define

Nyx Brow Mascara in Black-Brush over brows to fill and darken

Qosmedix Individual Flare Lashes-Applied with duo lash adhesive to top lash line

FACE

Kevyn Aucoin­Celestial skin liquid lighting­ in candlelight-Applied over clean and moisturized face to create a glowing base for foundation

Loreal Tru Match in Deep Cool C9-Blended all over face with domed buffing foundation brush
Nyx Dark Circle Concealer in Medium-Blended under eyes do conceal dark circles
Fit Me Concealer in Cafe 30-Applied under eyes on on to cheek bones, forehead, and chin to highlight the skin
NYC Smooth Skin Loose Powder in Natural Beige- Lightly used to set any highlighting done with concealer
American Beauty Super Plush Powder in Deep Cool-Used to set the rest of face as well as blend concealer with the rest of the skin
Bh Cosmetics 26 Color Neutral Shadow and Blush Palette-Used dark brown cool toned shadow, 6th eyeshadow on the second row, to contour. It was swept under the cheekbones, temples, and hairline with an angled blush brush to create shadow.
Elf Cream Blush in Seductress-Applied with dual fiber blush brush to apples of cheeks and blended back towards cheekbones (unfortunately this blush was discontinued)
Milani Baked Blush in Fantastic Mauve-Brushed over cheeks with same duo fiber brush to deepen color and blend into contour
Milani Baked Bronzer in Glow-Brushed over cheekbones and bridge of the nose to create luminous glow

LIPS
Wet and Wild Megalast Lipstick in Sugar Plum Fairy-Applied with thin lip brush to line outer edge of lips to define
Milani Color Statement Moisture Matte Lipstick in Matte Confident-Applied to inner portion of lips and blended into darker edges to create ombre effect

Jennifer Lopez- I Luh Ya Papi Makeup Look

I've always had a little bit of a soft spot for J.Lo. Her first album "On the 6" was the first C.D. I ever bought as a little baby mexi-gay and I remember jamming out to that thing non stop every morning on the way to 1st grade. It was only fitting to make one of her looks my first beauty post. I decided to do my own interpretation of her makeup on the "I Luh Ya Papi" music video because it was a great example of J.Lo's always glamorous looks.

Terreno, J. (Director). (2014). I Luh Ya Papi[Vevo].Available March 13 2014.

I love the heavy contouring, big lashes, and a defined eye that were happening here. Also this look was practically a throw back to her iconic Versace dress from the 2000 Grammys. Leave it to Jennifer Lopez to have a throwback reference to herself in her own video right? So if you want to learn how to get this look and aren't afraid of a lot of makeup then keep reading!