It appears I’m nothing if not consistent. The other evening I donned this gorgeous military jacket with black jeans for dinner with my husband. We were walking into the restaurant and I realized my jacket was off by one button. Then tonight I sat down to write this blog post and sure enough, I made the same mistake while getting dressed for these photos. The next time this happens I’m going to pretend I’m making a fashion statement, but we’ll both know the truth.
I always receive lots of questions when I post this red Chanel bag. I go more into detail in this blog post and share my thoughts on what you should look for if you are ready to purchase one.
Fit Details: Jacket runs true to size, is beautifully made, and is flattering on the body. The olive green sold out quickly, but this style is now available in navy and red so be quick if you’re interested!
20% off full-priced items plus free shipping over $100+ orders.
Shop For: The dreamy, romantic woman in your life. She might be into vintage and DIY and old movies. (This is totally okay if this woman is you… You can be on your shopping list too.) Look for gift ideas like this one-sized poncho, beautiful Vogue x Splendid pajamas, pom-pom beret, and exquisite sequined slippers. You can also find unique gifts for others on your list like this dog owner emergency kit, a gorgeous ‘Merci’ cheese plate, or these darling woodland dolls for kids.
30% off everything 11.22 – 11.28 with code EPIC30.
Shop For: Sweaters, dresses, beautiful coats and outerwear, plus affordable accessories like hats and scarves. Great for stocking up on your own holiday looks and winter wear or for gifting the trendy guys and girls on your list.
50% off everything. Free shipping on orders $50 or more.
Shop For: Stock up on your own office wear and preppy pieces. Perfect for checking off the classic men and women on your list. Someone tricky on your list? You can’t go wrong with BR’s accessories.
Shop For: Anyone who loves beautiful leather and long-lasting shoes. I’ve had some of my Frye boots for 10+ years now and they remain my favorite boot brand because of their durability and leather that seems to only get better with age.
Shop For: Beautifully made (in the U.S.A.) leather bags and accessories at great prices. Have a monogram fiend on your shopping list? You can get many GiGi pieces monogrammed.
30 – 60% off plus free limited edition tote with $200+ purchases.
Shop For: Your mom, aunt, sister, or best friend. They have the cutest travel accessories like jewelry cases and cosmetic pouches as well as stocking stuffer options like key chains and jewelry.
20% off selected boots, accessories, and outerwear. 35% off a new product each day.
Shop For: If they don’t have Hunter boots, they will love you for buying them their first pair. If they do, they’ll be thankful you added another pair to their collection.
Shop For: A perfectly curated collection of luxe goods from talented, well-tailored designers. I cherish every piece I’ve purchased from them! Great for the city slicker on your list.
40% off your purchase and free shipping, plus an extra 10% off orders placed before noon using code SHOPFAST.
Shop For: Yourself or the preppy, classic friends and family on your list. I love the quirky touches J.Crew adds to their pieces and the fact they carry men’s, women’s, and children’s items all under one umbrella. Plus, their holiday items will add some serious festivity to your looks… So many of you have commented on the plaid pants I wore for the holidays last year; they’re from J.Crew and they have a similar pair this year.
Shop For: I remember seeing this shop on our walks when we lived in London. Lately I’ve been so drawn to their beautiful bags and gorgeous leather colors. These bags are the perfect gift for someone who loves understated, classic handbags they’ll have for ages. They also have really handsome wallets and bags for men.
Take an extra 20% off select sale items 11.24 – 11.28. Designer clearance up to 40% off.
Shop For: Literally anyone and everyone on your list. This is where I find 75% of my gifts I give. Men, women, kids, home, beauty… You name it, they have it.
Beauty Insiders, use code METIME to receive a free sample bag with your order.
Shop For: If she’s always talking about the latest and greatest beauty products and skincare treatments, you can bet her eyes will light up when she receives that little black and white box.
Up to 75% off sale items. Up to 30% off full-priced items. With code MORE17… 20% off orders of $200+. 25% off orders of $500+. 30% off orders of $800+.
Shop For: The girl who loves a mix of classic staples, of-the-moment pieces, and fun accessories.
Shop For: I don’t think you can go wrong with this one. If they have hair they will love these beautiful, effective tools. You can read about my favorites in this blog post.
Shop For: Your mom, sister, aunt, friend. Anyone who could use some sleek, monogrammed handbags, desk accessories, or wallets and travel pieces. They even have some great options for guys like phone cases and letter holders.
Speaking of the holidays, be sure to enter the giveaway below for $500 cash to spend shopping your heart away… TWO WINNERS will win and I know you’ll love checking out the content from the creative ladies involved in this giveaway. Best of luck! I can’t wait to see who wins! (And what you get with the prize!)
Fit Details: This blouse and skirt both run true to size. I ordered according to the sizing measurements and both pieces fit me perfectly. I love the rose gold buttons and sequin detailing on the collar of this blush pink blouse… I’ve also been eyeing this version with pearls and velvet. Shoes run pretty true to size; order your larger size if you go between two. I vary between a 9 and a 9.5 and ordered the 9.5 and they fit me perfectly both with tights and without.
‘Tis the season for giving! I teamed up with an amazing group of bloggers to give back to you! We are giving away $500 in Paypal cash to TWO WINNERS! The winner will be announced on Friday, November 24th just in time to get your Holiday shopping started! See below to enter and good luck!
Some of my favorite memories happened while I was bundled up in the winter season. Carrying holiday shopping with my mom, cocoa in hand, laughing as our feet slide in the snow. Piling into a car with my best friends in college and listening to Mariah and Christina belt out holiday tunes while we drove through the suburbs gazing at Christmas lights together. Kissing in the car after ice skating.
Think of your favorite holiday memories; what were you wearing? I have a feeling you’ll be wearing this coat when you catch a taxi outside a holiday play, snowflakes landing on your hair… As you carry a homemade pie up the snow-trimmed stairs to your in-laws… When you dash out of your office Christmas party a bit early because you can’t wait to grab a hot cocoa with him.
It’s timeless and elegant; a coat to make memories in, to be sure.
Fit Details:Leather cuff bracelet in M/L fits my 6″ inch wrist with a little room. Coat runs true to size; order one size up if you plan to wear bulky layers underneath. My favorite goes-with-everything sweater runs true to size; go down a size if you prefer it more fitted. Skirt runs true to size and is super flattering.
My favorite beauty sale of the year is here!! During the Sephora Beauty Insider event, beauty members can take 15-20% off their total purchase. Sephora Rouge members use code 20FORROUGE for a 20% discount. Sephora VIB members use code 20FORVIB for a 20% discount. Sephora Insiders use code INSIDER15 for a 15% discount. The Beauty Insider event ends November 15th, but this is a major one and items often sell out or go on backorder, so be quick!
Not a Sephora Beauty Insider yet? You can find out more and sign up here.
Into beauty content? You can find all my previous beauty posts here.
My little secret weapon for over ten years now. This clear-drying gel contains a magical acne-fighting potion with an extra dose of salicylic acid. When I see a breakout starting, I apply this gel onto any spots at night after I cleanse and tone my skin. (Be sure to let the gel dry before applying serum or moisturizer on top!) In the morning after I cleanse and tone I apply I light layer and once it dries I’m able to apply makeup; one of my favorite features of this product is that it won’t show or interfere with makeup.
If you’ve been following me for long it’s no secret to you that I love these sponges. They give an airbrushed look to makeup and blend product like no other application tool I’ve tried. The trick? Soak the sponge with cool water and then squeeze out with a clean towel. The BeautyBlender will become huge, light, and fluffy when wet. Sometimes I apply foundation to a foundation brush, spread over my face, then use the damp BeautyBlender to blend and get an airbrushed finish. Other times I apply foundation directly onto the Beauty Blender and just dab it all over into my skin. Try both methods and see what works best for you. Either way, it’s a beauty essential I can’t live without.
Leave it to Rihanna to come up with such a gorgeous foundation formula in an astounding array of 40 shades. I’m in shade 280 with a spray tan (most of my photos) and shade 190 (current skin tone if you watch my IG Stories). The shades factor in cool, warm, and neutral tones. You’re a cool tone if you have a pink cast to your skin; you look good in jewel tones like sapphire blue and ruby red and you probably like silver or white gold jewelry. You’re a warm tone if you have a yellow cast to your skin; you look good in warm colors like orange and chocolate and you probably look best in yellow gold jewelry. Can you wear both? You might be neutral toned like me, especially if you have a background with both tones. I have warm olive tones from my dad (French/Native American) and pinkish cool tones from my mother (Welsh) so I have a blend that’s been difficult to color match in the past.
This foundation formula is creamy, satin-matte, and full-coverage. I love the satiny-matte finish because it’s not drying, although I’m sure if you used a mattifying moisturizer and primer you would get more of a traditional matte finish than the satiny finish I get when I use a hydrating moisturizer and an illuminating primer. This foundation lasts all day and does not sink into pores and fine lines like so many I’ve tried. It really is a beautiful product worth trying.
Even though I feel as if the dry Denver air is sucking the life out of my skin most days, I still need oil blotting sheets throughout the day to keep my makeup looking fresh. These work great and come in the cutest packaging, complete with a little mirror. I shudder to think how many people have seen me oil blotting in public places, but c’est la vie… With this cute packaging I truly don’t mind.
Ahhh… My favorite. Each time I branch out and try a new dry shampoo, I find myself going back to my all-time favorite. Drybar’s Detox Dry Shampoo truly breathes life back into my hair. Who has time to wash and blow-dry each day? Not me… Plus, it’s horrible on hair to endure that much heat styling. This dry shampoo smells incredible, whisks away excess oil, and gives texture to hair.
Sophisticated and feminine, this fragrance is a timeless one you’ll find yourself falling in love with. The scent is centered around four white flowers; rich jasmine, fruity ylang-ylang, fresh orange blossom, and classic Grasse tuberose. It’s a little sexy, a little feminine, a little playful… But will become part of your personality when it warms to your skin. This would make a lovely Christmas gift as well… Gift it to someone who wears Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, Hermès Jour d’Hermès, or Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb (Gabrielle is much less fruity, but has the same focus on florals).
I’ve inherited a tendency to get dark circles under my eyes, especially if I’m stressed or not getting enough sleep. It can be difficult to hide these with makeup, but I recently tried this product in a beauty sample box and was pleasantly surprised. The formula is very thick and pigmented – a little on your BeautyBlender goes a long way, then dab to blend. I like to dust my blended concealer with a little setting powder because it feels just slightly tacky before it dries and the powder ensures it will stay all day. I love the illuminating element; the concealer covers everything and illuminates at the same time. I’m in the color Medium and just ordered my first full-size tube in my sale order.
I’ve heard so many positive things about the Tatcha brand, I had to try one of their Holy Grail products. This cleansing oil is supposed to gently remove makeup and cleanse, leaving behind silky and hydrated skin. I can’t wait to try it… My skin has improved so much since I discovered cleansing oils.
Another Holy Grail product from Tatcha, I’ve had this rice enzyme powder on my “must try” list for a long time now. The rice enzyme powder is supposed to gently exfoliate skin without harsh grit or strong chemical exfoliants and incorporates some hydrating ingredients as well. I ordered the mini version, which I discovered is very mini at 0.35 oz compared to the 2.1 oz full-size version. I think in this case the full-size version might be the better purchase.
Peter Thomas Roth 24K Lift + Firm Hydra-Gel Eye Patches.
Again – another product I’ve been hearing rave reviews about and I decided to wait for my 20% discount to try them out. These hydra-gel eye patches (60 in a jar) are soaked in a shimmering, radiant serum designed to lift, hydrate, and brighten the under eye area. I’ve seen professional makeup artists use these on clients right before they apply makeup and they seem to really make a difference.
I talk about this curling iron with interchangeable wands in this blog post. I love the variety in the interchangeable wands; they make traveling a breeze because I know I can get multiple hairstyles when I bring them. Plus, they create curls and waves that last all day. If you’ve been waiting to try styling tools from T3, this is a great time to use your discount and try them out.
Okay, hear me out… I used to work at a cosmetics + skincare company that regularly put down La Mer because it “doesn’t have any active ingredients” like most medical-grade skincare with glycolic acid, retinol, etc. As a result, I just didn’t understand the hype behind this luxe brand… Until I tried their foundation (read below). So I used my discount to splurge and get The Perfecting Treatment, which is La Mer’s version of a primer you can use before or after moisturizer. Just a tiny amount of this gel-cream treatment glides over skin and neck, creating a smooth, satiny, poreless canvas to apply makeup.
When I read about the La Mer brand and The Perfecting Treatment, many reviews stated the line “transformed” their skin over time – reducing redness, minimizing pores, hydrating, and softening the texture of skin. Since I’ve moved to the dry, greatly fluctuating climate in Denver I’ve noticed a quick deterioration in the hydration, elasticity, redness, and pore size of my skin. I think everyone’s skin is different and since chemical skincare and expensive facial treatments haven’t worked for me, I’m ready to try more of the La Mer line and see if it improves the quality of my skin the way their foundation has.
This is the product that started my love affair with La Mer. A satiny, silky foundation that is easily blended into skin (my favorite way is to dab it on with my BeautyBlender, although the La Mer foundation brush is great if you’re looking for a new one) and is somehow simultaneously lightweight and full-coverage. I use shade “Neutral” but “Natural” also blends well with my skin tone and is just a tad lighter. Once I dab it into my skin my redness is reduced, pores are minimized, and my skin appears glowy and hydrated. I always get compliments on my skin when I wear this foundation and most of the time it’s (impressively) hiding some breakouts, irritation, and redness! This is one of those cases where you truly get what you pay for.
To reduce the amount of product you use (I get it, it’s La Mer) use clean fingertips to spread the product over your face and then just blend out with a damp BeautyBlender.
Not surprisingly, La Mer’s The Powder is equally brilliant. If you choose one, go for the foundation. But… Keep in mind the La Mer products work seamlessly together to create a beautiful, flawless look. You’ll always get a better result when you layer them (skincare and makeup) with one another. The makeup canbe layered with other brands, but I find they just don’t blend as nicely. Keep this in mind and be light-handed when applying concealer, contour, blush, and bronzer.
I dust La Mer’s The Powder on top of everything as a finishing powder, concentrating on my under-eye area so it really sets my concealer. The powder is finely milled, soft, and full of softly reflective particles. Your skin will have a satin-matte finish and be glowing from within when you’re done. The La Mer Powder Brush is the softest, fluffiest brush and gives a gorgeous finish.
Because if you’re going to be a La Mer addict… Be a La Mer addict. This powder brush is exquisitely soft and dusts the perfect amount of powder onto skin.
I’ve been so curious about this Dyson hairdryer. I played around with it in store and it seemed great, but I obviously wasn’t able to see the shine and volume it promises when it’s used on hair. I saw this set and think it would be the perfect way to purchase the Dyson hairdryer since it comes with a selection of Ouai hair products. Ouai was designed by Jen Atkins (hairstylist to the Kardashians) and I can attest her Ouai Texturizing Hair Spray is incredible; the scent is gorgeous and the product really works. If you’re going to splurge on a hairdryer, why not get it with a bunch of new hair products?
This month has been a bit of a whirlwind, with some personal things requiring my full attention and my work taking a bit of a backseat. Isn’t it funny how a boring old routine sounds divine when life gets a bit chaotic?! I want to go back in time and remind college me to cherish the class schedules, weekly study group, and daily gym buddies.
Luckily, my best friend from childhood is here in Denver visiting me this weekend and I’m looking forward to a bit of pampering, dinner dates, and lots of shopping. There’s nothing like chatting with an old friend and a little retail therapy to brighten your spirits!
Fit Details: I was in between measurements on this top, so I went one size up and it fits perfectly. This skirt is a dream – so comfy and flattering. Just order according to your measurements and it will fit true to size! I ordered
Awesome jacket you have here, Brittany. This is a sure head-turner. So different, but pretty.