NYX Round Lipstick Review...Pinks

I'll call this a review instead of a haul because I only have two to share with you.

Top: NYX Round Lipstick in Rose
Bottom: NYX Round Lipstick in Fig

Sorry, my hand looks gigantic.

NYX Round Lipstick in Rose

First up is Rose. Not a fan.  The color itself is not bad, but the shimmer is horrible.  The picture is not really showing how severe (for lack of a better word) the shimmer is.  It's kind of like a bad 80's frosty cheap pink.  It also goes on very rough, so it feels like there's glitter in the formula instead of shimmer.  I will not buy this again.

NYX Round Lipstick in Fig

Next is Fig and I love love love this color.  I should have included it in the nude haul because it looks like I have on a tinted moisturizer instead of a lipstick.  Unlike Rose, and much like the other colors I reviewed, it goes on very smooth.  Will probably wear this as an everyday color.

Top 10 Fashion Reads

These are my top ten fashion magazines, sites, and blogs. They are all different and inspire me in different ways.  Whether I need ideas for an outfit, inspiration for my own blog, motivation, or simply want to know the newest and hottest items, I can find it in these sites/magazines/blogs.

10. Fashion Toast

My first introduction to the fashion blog phenomenon. Her style was so unique to me and her shoes are to die for.

9.  Fashion Bomb

Another fashion site that I frequented when I first became obsessed with fashion blogs/sites.  

8. Refinery29

I love their slideshows showcasing everything from the hottest nail polish colors to the hottest flats.

7.  K is For Kinky

Fashion and natural hair care advice all in one place.

6.  4ACES

Four friends sharing everything from fashion, beauty and peeks inside of their everyday lives.

5.   Teen Vogue

At 25 years old I STILL love Teen Vogue.  It presents fashion in a way that it is polished and put together without being too "serious".

4. Suede Magazine
This magazine folded a few years ago and let me tell you, I was very upset.  It was a young, hip, chic, magazine that catered to the Black American woman.  I already know that my people are very stylish, but this magazine showcased it so well.  

3.  Fashion Bananas

Great style. Always superbly put together.

2.  ProfreshStyle

In a sea of fashion blogs, her style without a doubt is the most unique I think I've come across.

1.  FASHION PERSONIFIED

And of course the #1 fashion blog would be my own.  I put my heart, and a lot of time and dedication into this blog. Trust me it has come a very long way.  It is constantly evolving, but I think now more than ever, I am completely confident and proud of what I am doing.

Pretty Pewter Shoes

Jessica Simpson Dany Platform

How amazing are these babies?

The Most Amazing Fashion Quote Ever

Well maybe not ever, but here it is:

"When life hands you a dress that doesn't fit you perfectly, make an appointment with a tailor."

-Me

It's inspired by the whole lemons/lemonade quote, and that I found a dress that didn't fit me perfectly, but it was everything I was looking for in a dress. I bought it and I'm happy I did, because I can just get it tailored.

This is how I look at my life. It has everything I need and everything I want. Maybe sometimes the world feels a little too big or I feel a little too small, but if I alter my thinking a little, I realize that my life is tailor made just for me. :)

Have a great day loves!

The Frizzness

My first attempt at wearing my hair "as is" after shampooing.  

I never ever use enough product the first go round, so my hair always looks best on the second, third, umm sixth day after I wash it. I just don't want my hair to look like I used too much product...if that makes sense.

This is the result of a little Mixed Silk leave-in conditioner, a little jojoba oil and a diffuser that I put down after about 15 minutes because my arm became tired (also my first time using a diffuser).  So my hair essentially air dried.

I guess I'll eventually give the diffuser another try, one day.

R O J O Rochelle Jordan

I found Rochelle Jordan on the natural hair care blog Black Girl Long Hair.  The post featured the founder of Concrete Loop and she mentioned that Rochelle Jordan was an up and coming artist to look out for.  I listened to her song 'How to Feel' and I instantly fell in love with her sound (and her hair).

Well she has blessed us with her debut album R O J O.

LOVE. IT.

It was released today and the first thing I did this morning was download and listen.  I think you should do the same.

Download  R O J O here ....for free :)

A Blogger's Tool Kit

Fashion Personified doesn't run itself.  There are materials and a little woman involved in keeping it up and running. So what's in my blogging tool kit?

Everything in the above picture:

*My imagination and I-outfits and posts don't put themselves together, I do.

*MacBook Pro- best computer ever

*My digital camera-it gets the job done

*The internet- stock/royalty free photos, inspiration, etc.

*Lipstick-got to have lipstick...this is in my everyday life tool kit as well

Pretty simple. No bells and whistles. Not even a notebook and pen.

Dress Code: Smart Casual

Smart Yet Casual by mec1 featuring stone earrings

This is my favorite style of dress.  To be completely honest, I didn't even know it had a name.  Angie on  YouLookFab came up with this formula for Smart Casual:

Denim + Dressy Top (or Dress/Skirt) +Dressy Shoes + Dressy Accessories
The common thread is Dressy.

Dark denim, beautiful blouse, great pair of shoes, an awesome bag and jewelry and you're set.  

If you want to take it up notch, try the look in reverse. Place the denim on top with a great denim shirt and awesome skirt.

As a person who cannot find a pair of jeans that fit me properly to save my life, I prefer the look using a skirt or dress. 

Untitled by mec1 featuring gold earrings

Vintage Parisian Earrings

I found these beauties in a little vintage shop in Amsterdam last summer. The owner was an amazing woman.  She told my friends and I about all the places, including New York City (of course), that she travels to find merchandise for her store.  

I had to choose between an Oscar de la Renta scarf and these earrings. The earrings won. Couldn't leave them behind.

Happy Birthday Coco Chanel

Coco Chanel August 19, 1883- January 10, 1971

Elegance. Style. Classic. Black. And white. Pearls. 

That infamous suit. A quilted bag. No. 5

Thank you Coco.

The Weeknd-Thursday

Yes. Finally. Guys download this now!

the-weeknd.com

NYX Round Lipstick Haul: Nude(ish)

To keep up the beauty momentum from my last post, I've chosen to do a lipstick haul of my new favorite brand, NYX.  I heard such good things about the brand that I  purchased (more than) a few of their round lipsticks during Cherry Culture's NYX Summer Sale.  And for a $1.99 how could I have resisted. First up are my nude (ish) colors.

I say nude (ish) because there is not one nude color for everyone.  Nude for brown girls such as myself and those who are of a lighter skin tone are not the same.  The first two swatches are not even nude on me, but they work as a nude for darker complexion women, and I thought they looked great on them so I tried them out.  

Overall, I  LOVE NYX Round Lipsticks.  They go on super smooth and the color lasts. They don't make my lips feel dry which is also a plus.

The swatches are:

*Mauve

*B52

* Thalia

*Creamy Beige

NYX Round Lipstick in Mauve

NYX Round Lipstick in B52

NYX Round Lipstick in Thalia

NYX Round Lipstick in Creamy Beige

Thalia and Creamy Beige are true nudes for my complexion.  Mauve and B52 are deeper and richer for my skin tone.  Love them all.

Amazing Site: Beautylish

I don't know how they found me, but I got a follow request on twitter from Beautylish.  They came at the perfect time because lately, I've realized how much fun make-up can be, therefore I've been looking at a lot of tutorials and such.  

This site is AWESOME!

Product reviews, tutorials, and articles can all be found on Beautylish.  I recommend this site to all make-up lovers, whether you're experienced or a novice.

Find them at Beautylish.com

Follow them on twitter @beautylish

In My Bag

Here are the things that I keep in my purse.  Things I do not go anywhere without.  Pretty simple.  Nothing out of the ordinary.

• My wallet- holds my School ID, debit card, and money
• Metro Card-this also spends a lot of time in my wallet, but sometimes I just throw it in my purse after I use it.
• The Body Shop Body Butter in Coconut-makes my hands super soft and smells so good
• Smith's Rosebud Salve in Minted Rose-this stuff needs no explanation
• NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Beige-you've got to have a great "wear with anything" lip gloss at all times
• Burt's Bees Natural Hand Sanitizer- I was never big on hand sanitizer. I like good old fashioned soap and water, but when I saw this natural sanitizer, I was all for it.
• My CELL PHONE! (not that anyone really calls me or anything).

Dress Code: Black and White

Black and White by mec1 featuring manolo blahnik shoes

So I've touched on All Black and All White, quite naturally the next dress code would be Black and White.  

Events where guests are required to wear Black and White attire are typically and traditionally formal events.  One can either wear all black, all white or blended, which is black and white.

Now since this is 2011, the rules can be bended and Black and White affairs do not have to be formal, though I do recommend that one doesn't go completely casual.  Keep it chic, you know?

There is one rule though that I thinks should be adhered to whether formal or otherwise and that is :

SOLID BLACK AND WHITE ONLY.  NO PRINTS OR PATTERNS.

For a complete explanation on Black and White Attire etiquette visit here.

P.S. My 25th Birthday Party was Black and White (though I wore red of course).

Pink Shorts. Denim Shirt.

Shorts Heritage 81

Today's internship outfit.  I did a post a little while ago on work appropriate shorts, and these are a pair I found at Heritage 81.

Shirt H&M

Recent Trip to Forever 21

For me, a Forever 21 trip is either hit or miss.  I wouldn't call this a complete home run, but I fell in love with this cute little dress.  You can't go wrong with a floral print and bubble hem.

A trip to Forever 21 isn't complete without purchasing accessories.

'Cool Love'-Indigo Charlie

This is the latest song and video from Indigo Charlie, former assistant to Solange Knowles.  This young lady is cute as a button and has great personal style. I've followed her since she appeared on many of my favorite Natural Hair Care blogs. Check out her curly fro, it's amazing.

  I must admit that I love her style more than her music.  This is only her third song so I guess she will get better with time.  The music is always great, but the lyrics are always lukewarm to me.  

I gave 'Cool Love' a listen and I love the upbeat music and the video is kinda trippy... in a good way.  I like trippy.  It's something fun to play in the background whilst getting ready to hang out with friends. 

Pink Shirt. Red Skirt.

American Apparel skirt. Forever 21 tank.

I was never a huge fan of the pink and red color combination, but when trying to get the most out of your wardrobe without spending money, you may try things you've never done.  I just so happened to pair this tank and skirt together, and loved the way the color combo looked.  I usually wear a white tee with this skirt, but that became boring. 

 I think combining colors will be my new thing to spice up my wardrobe.  It keeps things simple, but with a little twist.