Tag Archives: Spring 2016

Blogger Style, Fashion, Polyvore, Spring 2016, Street Style, Trend Report

Spring ’16 Fashion Sets

May 4, 2016 Liberata Leave a comment

Many of you are already aware of the fashion playground known as Polyvore.

For those not yet familiar, I’ll explain. And apologize in advance. As it will quickly become your new favorite addiction.

Regardless of your creative passion- interior design, fashion, beauty- Polyvore allows you to create your very own personalized sets and collections of whatever you desire, however you desire. The more you create, the higher you rank. And the higher you advance through different levels, not only do you gain more exposure (literally all over the world), but you could even earn the chance to go to Fashion Week.

Not a bad deal for doing something you already love, right?

But why do I really love it?? Much like taking notes while studying, Polyvore allows me to visually map out my observations and predictions on current and upcoming trends while giving me the opportunity to test my own style ideas. Not to mention the designers and brands I discovered as a result is a reward in itself.

Its kind of like playing dress up, but with virtually anything you want. Plus, its no secret I’m a bit of a shopping addict- so this is extremely useful in satisfying those inconvenient cravings.

And by inconvenient craving, I mean more like a constant urge until the day arrives that I can afford to walk into Bergdorf Goodman and buy everything.

Literally, ev-ery-thing.

But until then, there’s Polyvore.

And I love you for it.

Scroll through and click on each of my following sets for Spring 2016 to understand why….

Beauty, Blogger Style, Fashion, Spring 2016, Street Style, Trend Report

That’s A Matte.

January 17, 2016 Liberata Leave a comment

Every now and then, a game changer comes along….

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Fashion and beauty go hand in hand. And with NYFW just weeks away, we can all admit we’re just as excited to see what makeup artists will dream up to top off the sure-to-stun collections as they set the tone for fashion magic. Working closely with designers, it will be determined whether fresh faces will dominate- or a single feature. Dark lips? Neon lined eyes? Pink pouts? Its all one giant puzzle where the final image has yet to be determined.

But sometimes, just sometimes, it can be as simple as one tiny little revolutionary product. Something totally new that seemed so (up until now) impossible. Convenient AND chic. Glam AND foolproof. Liquid AND matte…. wait, what?

Do I have your attention now?

Good. Because what we’re talking about could be considered the unicorn of lipsticks. The hydrating, pigment packing, couldn’t smudge it if you tried prowess of glosses. We’re talking about… LIQUID MATTE.
I first caught wind of this fairy tale product back in December while in MAC. I was on the hunt for a vibrant purple, perfect for those days when all you need is a dramatic lip. I fell in love with Heroine instantly. Edgy, boldly bright and just a little dangerous- ironically, just how I like my men.

I bought it in both the matte lipstick, and the lipglass. Cause I’m also a girl that likes options. And THAT was when my MAC girl changed my life with one little sentence- “You know, in January, we’re releasing our new matte lipstick… it will be like having both of these products in one”.

Sign. Me. Up.

But fortunately, I didn’t have to wait till January. I hopped over to Sephora next (again, options!) and that’s when I saw it. Or them, rather. 12 beautiful shades in a glorious row of color, pigments bursting. I reached immediately for a beautiful lilac shade. I easily justified that I needed it, as it had more pink than Heroine.

And its been love ever since. My own personal game changer.

Why, you ask? Well, let me just try to explain the significant differences that has left me a lifelong fan.
Lets start with the applicator. Most gloss tubes have a soft, sponge-like end. Which is perfect for that casual smudgy effect. But when you’re dealing with something more permanent, application is crucial. And the tip on these babies is like a built in lip pencil. Its firm, and lets you draw the finest line around your lips, perfectly eliminating any possibility of the color bleeding (red lipstick is famous for this). Then, after lining, you continue to use the applicator as normal to fill in your entire pout. But again, the firmness makes the final process SO much more precise. More dramatic. Trust me, no matter what color you choose, your lips will scream “EXPERT”.

Okay, so now you’ve got it on, and you’re looking fierce. Like always. So again, whats the big deal?

The fact the you will still look just as fierce, even after your first (or fourth) latte. Also worth noting- when you first apply it, your lips will literally feel like silk. And will continue to do so, even after the product has dried- which takes a minute or two. Now usually, anything that needs to dry means it will have your lips screaming for moisture by noon. Again, not so with this. My lips can go practically all day with nothing more than a minor touch-up. And I mean literally one minor touch-up. Not 3. Not wipe it all off and totally reapply it from scratch. Which means you can also stop worrying that you have lipstick on your teeth all day. Or why people never tell you when you actually do?? And just to clarify, its Girl Code to never let a friend leave a bathroom with toilet paper on her shoes, or lipstick on her teeth.

End. Of. Story.

But lastly, lets not forget the most important reason. The reason you’re even wearing it in the first place. The COLOR. Both MAC and Sephora managed to pack so much pigment into these tubes, its hard not to think about the staining disasters that could result. But they wont. Well, after the first minute, of course. And trust me, as a single girl, I’ll happily confess- I drink a lot of lattes, and I kiss a lot of boys. So trust me when I say I’ve done my research for you on this. You’re welcome!

And while Sephora and MAC are not the only ones to carry this new genre of lipstick, they are my two personal favorites for this particular product. Soon to be a cult classic, nestled right along side NARS blush in Orgasm, the only real question remains is which shade will hold the most power in the long run.

Because just like the killer pout you so perfectly applied, this formula is here to stay.

Now go. Head on down to MAC. Or Sephora. And enjoy your latte, lipstick free. And take the poor girl with lipstick on her teeth with you.

#BombshellCode, Beauty, Blogger Style, Bohemian, Fashion, Spring 2016, Street Style, Trend Report

Part 1: Spring Has Sprung….. Almost.

January 13, 2016 Liberata Leave a comment

A look at Spring/Summer 2016- what you need. NOW.

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I’ll confess…

Spring has always been my favorite season. Never mind the warmer temperatures and longer days. Its so much more than that. Spring represents a time of new. Its as if Mother Nature finally wakes up after another long dull winter, takes a look around, cringes, and starts adding color and life to literally everything.

And you should too.

And what better place to start than within your own wardrobe. But be prepared to make plenty of room for this season’s trends. Cause you’re going to want them all.

You’re probably sick of looking at all those heavy, over-sized, curve-hiding, skin-covering pieces anyway. I AM. And that is EXACTLY why Spring is so damn amazing when it comes to fashion. Textures finally lighten up, giving way for shorter, sheerer options while colors palettes increase. I mean, REALLY increase. In addition to that, dresses become more playful. More girly. More exposed. Think flowing, draping silhouettes that will have you feeling Goddess status. Even the patterns amp it up with bold vibrancy, while accessories become more delicate. And finally, we get to trade the tired feeling of wool against our skin for something more sultry and feminine- silk.

If you weren’t already excited, you are now.

So what trends should you invest in now? If you’re like me, you collect clothes. Like an investor. You don’t shop- you build. You constantly keep your eyes open, slowly acquiring those cant-live-without-pieces to add to your collection. The show stoppers. The game changers. Its a little practice called “Buy now, wear later”. You have an entire lineup of stunners just waiting for the right occasion. Or, in this case, month. In other words:

You don’t buy the dress for the party- you go to the party so you can wear the dress.

#BombshellCode

So with that being said, lets take a look at some of the S/S 2016 trends you can count on to turn heads, no party needed.

1. Lingerie

You read that right. Except we’re not talking about the Victoria’s Secret type- people tend to frown upon you walking around in your bra and underwear. But this trend is as close as it can get. Because this season is all about the return of the slip dress. If you’re the bombshell type, you’re probably use to wearing these. Albeit, up until now, it was only at home when you were feeling casual and that was the best you could do. But now, even running to Starbucks in one is fair game. And a simple adjustment in accessories can take the look straight into night. Or, tone it down and keep it more boho with ankle boots. Because the best part about this trend is the versatility factor. Keep it as glam, or as quirky as you please- you’ll look amazing either way.

Pro Tip: To keep the look extra sexy and authentic, shop vintage. Not only will you score something unique, but the idea of a retro slip is sooooo much more chic.

Below, from top left, Chloe RTW S/S 16, Vintage, and Saint Laurent RTW S/S 16.

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2. Modern Bohemian- barely there boho meets vibrant tropical prints

Once again, the bohemian trend shows no end in site. And I LOVE it. But this time, feel free to go wild with it. And by wild, I mean prints. Its Boho, but with a twist. Its less about the simplicity of pieces and lace details and more about dramatic details. Like birds. Or at the very least, feathers….

From left, McQueen, Gucci, Valentino and McQueen again (full sized).

But boho is more than birds and feathers right now. Its about embellishment. Whether its patches or patterns, color is key. And lots of it….

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3. Pleats

If you suddenly got excited when I mentioned flowing fabrics earlier, than this look is all you.

Maxi dresses have never looked so lux. And who would have thought that something as simple as pleat would be the element to take a standard spring staple from comfy to flat out goddess. And the colors are a visual feast for everyone. Get ready to stop traffic…

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4. Metallics

Accessory lovers, get excited. I mean, even more excited than you already are. Cause you get to have some fun this season. During Fashion Week, we saw everything from the return of spikes, to gloves, to beyond oversized statement necklaces. But one thing was consistent- the use of metallics. Bronze or pewter, they’re both on point. And even better when worn together. So mix it up, or tie your look together with one bold piece. Its all fair game.

Pro tip: NOTHING looks better against metallics than tan skin. But for the sake of safety, skip the tanning bed and hit Sephora instead. Get your golden glow on without a side of cancer.

So there you go, dolls.

These trends should keep you inspired enough to safely secure how you’ll be spending that upcoming tax refund. Personally, mine is pretty much as good as gone… Or at the very least, these ideas will keep you busy until Part 2. But just like everything else, spring will be here before you know it. And its always better to lead the way with fashion. So take these tips, and twist them into your own unique way to express yourself this season. Because just like I always stress, no matter your style, it should always represent you.

So… what do you want to say to the world this Spring?

Till next time…

LIBERATA DOLCE