Red Queen-Inspired Nail

A few days ago I reviewed Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, a really unique fantasy book with some dystopian twists.  Mare, the protagonist, is a Red Blood, meaning she is a normal girl living in the poor, struggling part of the country.  But it's discovered that she has powers, just like the rich Silver Bloods.  So the book raises some good discussions, like if we should only rely on one part of ourselves to define us.

So today's beauty inspiration from the book is coming through a nail look.  This was a fun one to create!  And it all comes from this thought--that even though Mare is a Red Blood, she has a little Silver in her.  And even though we may be defined in one way, we are multi-faceted.  We can't be defined in one category.

Before we get started, PLEASE tell me that you have used Butter London nail polish.  Oh my goodness, Butter London is just as its name suggests--it goes on like butter.  Easy to apply, light, and smooth.

For this look, I used two Butter London colors--Her Majesty's Red (shiny red) and Diamond Geezer (bright silver).  GORGEOUS colors.

First, I applied Her Majesty's Red on my nails.  This is two coats.

Then I used my handy tool--a toothpick!  Toothpicks work well when drawing.

I lightly drew a heart on my ring finger using the toothpick.  Look at the shininess of that silver!

This look could easily be reversed, though.  Just paint your ring finger silver.

And add a red heart on top of the silver.

Which heart/color combination do you prefer?  And how do you define yourself?  I'm a wife, mom, librarian, fashion-lover, home designer, foodie...what about you?

Cubs Day

Any baseball fans out there?  Today's post is all about a baseball hat--a Cubs hat made by Fanatics, in fact.  My husband grew up a Cubs fan and we're spending part of our 10-year-anniversary trip this summer at a Cubs/Cardinals game, so today's post is inspired by that.  Since I want to look both cute for my anniversary and supportive of the home team, it's time to do some outfit planning.

Let's start with the hat I chose.  It's girly and yet casual and shows off your team spirit!  This is an easy hat to dress up (for those who don't like wearing team t-shirts) or dress down in full-on team gear.

So here's the outfit I designed to complement the hat:

Isn't it so cute?  It's perfect for a special day at the ballpark--which is exactly what I plan for my 10-year-anniversary.

• The denim dress is short (perfect for hot days) with long sleeves (perfect for afternoon breezes).
• The tan wedges take the look up a notch, dressing it up.
• A white bag stays within the Cubs' color scheme and is easy to store during a game.
• Red tassel bracelets and a Cubs bracelet are fun accessories to add some pop.
• Butter London red nail polish is a perfect addition.

So what do you think?!  Would you wear this to a Cubs game?  Do you like how the hat adds a casual touch to the look?

To Be Perfectly Honest-Inspired Outfit

Happy Thursday, everyone!  Wow, it is C-O-L-D here in Indiana!  Like FREEZING cold!

So let's warm things up with an outfit post, shall we?  Back in December I posted a review of Sonya Sones' book To Be Perfectly Honest. It follows Colette, a teen whose mom is a celebrity and who just wants to live her own life.  So in other words, their relationship is a little rocky.

When I decided to design an outfit after Colette, I kept thinking about the two sides to her.  The side that has to smile and be a celebrity's daughter, and the side that hates her mother's decisions.  So a behaved girl with a little rebellious streak.  So with that inspiration, I decided on a floral outfit with a little edge.  And here's what I created:

A little girly, a little edgy.  

Let's discuss!

• The dress is a simple yet cute floral sundress.  To Be Perfectly Honest is set during the summer, so I could definitely see Colette wear this dress when she leaves their hotel home-away-from-home.
• But instead of wearing cute sandals or heels, I think Colette would throw on some Converse, just to make her mother mad.
• Multiple layers of bracelets always seem edgy to me.  They seem to have that "I don't care that I'm wearing too many bracelets--I like them all!" attitude.  So I put bracelets on both arms, one being a layered look.
• Colette isn't Gothic, so I didn't want to be so edgy that I made her wear all black.  So I threw in some deep burgundy nail polish.

What do you think?  Could you see Colette, a rebellious teenager, wearing something like this?

Dress--House of Fraser

Shoes--Pac Sun

Layered Bracelets--One Kings Lane

Hoop Bracelet--Macys

Nail Polish--OPI "Just Beclaws"

Tomorrow I'll be reviewing a historical fiction book--check back to see what I thought!

Yaqui Delgado-Inspired Outfit

Hi, readers and fashionistas!  Last week I reviewed Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, and needless to say, I loved this book.  It was so much better than I expected, and I was rooting for protagonist Piddy the whole way through.

Today's outfit is based on Piddy and her new school.  It's an urban school where Piddy has found herself in the middle of unwanted drama.  So much drama, in fact, that Piddy doesn't want to go to school for fear of being attacked.  So when I designed today's outfit, I created a "tough" outfit, clothes that give a "don't mess with me" message.  Because poor Piddy could use all the help she can get in keeping away Yaqui and her crew.  So here's the outift:

A tough look but girly nonetheless.

• Skinny jeans are all the rage, but these particular jeans are a little ripped to give it that edgy look.
• The tank top has girly colors--pinks, yellows, etc--in the design of a large skull.  Gotta be tough if you want to wear a skull, right?
• Accessories are edgy but feminine--pink high tops (a very urban shoe), black nail polish, and a spike bracelet.

A tough look that isn't overdone; in fact, the accessories are few but complement the clothing well.

So would you wear something like this?  Would you feel tough?

I'll be back with a "How NOT to Look like a Librarian" post and a review of the book The Testing (a great choice for dystopian fans!).  See you then!

Jeans--Pull & Bear
Tank---Modcloth
High Tops--Aldo
Nail Polish--Essie
Bracelet--CC Skye

*I am not associated with any companies/products mentioned.

Rapture Practice-Inspired Outfit

Hey, readers and fashionistas!

Yesterday I reviewed Rapture Practice by Aaron Hartzler, a book that had me laughing, gasping, and sighing in frustration.  Seriously, friends--such a good book!

So in designing an outfit based off the book, I thought it would be fitting (no pun intended!) to design a conservative outfit that still looked chic.  Aaron's mother dressed very conservatively (and only wore skirts/dresses), so I wanted to design a current, updated look that hopefully even she would approve.

So here it is:

Think it would get Aaron's family's approval?

I'll break it down:

• Maxi skirts are ALL the rage for about the second year in a row.  You're going to especially see them everywhere with the spring and summer seasons approaching.  This skirt has a trendy chevron design, and what could be more classic than black and white?  This skirt could be paired with just about anything.
• Denim shirts are also really big right now (and also go with just about anything), so I paired this with the skirt and tucked it in for a cleaner look.
• I added the necklace to give a POP on the top of the outfit.
• Gladiator sandals are cute but not over-the-top.
• OPI's Bubble Bath nail polish is soft, gentle, and feminine.  I didn't think Aaron's mother would go for a bright teal or yellow polish!  

So what do you think?  Would you wear this outfit?  Do you see someone who is very conservative wearing it?

Tomorrow I'll be back to share another outfit from my own wardrobe.  See you then!

Shirt--Lucky
Skirt--Boohoo Mysha
Necklace--Aldo
Sandals--Nine West
Nail Polish--OPI "Bubble Bath"

How to Lead a Life of Crime-Inspired Outfit

A few days ago (before we got MORE snow in Indiana!) I reviewed How to Lead a Life of Crime by Kirsten Miller, a dangerous thriller about an academy for criminal teens.  I couldn't resist designing an outfit for Gwendolyn, the head student of the school who was pretty ruthless.  She takes Flick to a cocktail party for the academy alumni and wears a bold, dangerous black dress.  I just had to design for her!  And here's what I designed:

Wow, check out the neckline of that dress!  So bold and in-your-face!

*Now this outfit is totally "no-limits" when it refers to money, because everyone in the Mandel Academy had all kinds of wealth at their fingertips.  So in other words, this was a fun one to design!

Let's break it down:

• This dress is perfect.  A low neckline, cinched in waist, and slim skirt--to me, it all screams power and confidence.  And that is definitely Gwendolyn.
• Tall black pumps, an obvious choice.  One of the most notable pieces of fashion when it relates to power.
• Some chandelier diamond earrings--if you're wealthy, you wear diamonds, right?  And these are so elegant and perfect for a cocktail party!
• Red nail polish--red, classic.
• And a diamond bracelet to add just a little more bling.  Because when you got it, you flaunt it!

So what do you think?  Could you see a dangerous, threatening student in an outfit like this?  

Tomorrow is my Friday Find--what will it be?  See you then!

Dress--Victoria Beckham (over $2700!)
Heels--Jimmy Choo (almost $600)
Earrings--Dannijo Mariella
Nail polish--Essie, "Really Red"
Bracelet--David Yurman (Saks Fifth Avenue) ($2400!)

*I am not associated with any companies or products mentioned (although with this outfit, I sure wouldn't mind it!).

Welcome to Dauntless!

Ahhh, Dauntless.  The brave and often reckless.  Definitely NOT the faction I'd choose (even though I've joined a CrossFit gym and love it!).  This the faction that Tris chooses, and we get to see her personality blossom as she shows off her adventurous side.

The Dauntless wear a lot of black and relish their tattoos; those two features inspired today's outfit.  And here it is:

Oh yes, it's so Dauntless.  Here's the breakdown:

• I definitely wanted black leather pants...they are the epitome of an edgy, dangerous personality.  You don't often see a shy person rocking these out!
• In the novels, Tris frequently comments on the tattoos that she sees people choose (and the Dauntless have many!).  So I chose a one-shoulder drape top; this shirt allows a woman to show off her awesome shoulders AND any tattoos she's had there.
• See the black flats?  The Dauntless would need flats for all the running/jumping/etc that they do.  These have really fierce spikes on them that send out that "don't mess with me" attitude.
• I wanted at least a hint of color, so I threw in some blood red nail polish.
• I envision the Dauntless wearing their hair like this--it's a low bun that allows a woman to be super active.

So what do you think?  Could you see Tris wearing something like this?!

I had SO much fun designing outfits for all the factions this week!  Tomorrow I'll let you know what I thought of Allegiant, the final book in the series.

Come to Bed red nail polish by Butter London--$15
Jane Norman one-shoulder drape top--$23
Saint Laurent leather trousers--$2890
Zara leather flats with studs--$100

*I am not associated with any of the companies or products mentioned.

Welcome to Erudite!

Ok, 2014--we need a do-over.  Although New Year's Eve was super fun and relaxing in our house, we have now been hit twice by the flu (in addition to this crazy Indiana blizzard!).  This time it's my husband--poor Luke, he is just miserable.

But enough about us--let's move on with our next faction outfit!  Today is Erudite, the highly intelligent and very proud!  The Erudite are known for wearing blue and for engrossing themselves in studies; they are the teachers, scientists, doctors, etc.  Again, a more professional look was inspired by this faction, and here's what I designed:

A professional, sleek Erudite look that I could honestly see Jeanine Matthews (Erudite representative) wear.  Here's the breakdown of the look:

• This outfit is all about this dress!  The royal blue is just stunning and I love the sleek lines in the black detailing.  This style dress--with the little ruffling around the waist--is very trendy right now but still very professional.  A perfect choice for the Erudite!  *No wonder this dress is stunning--it is a Michael Kors and retails for about $525.
• I added a black blazer just to keep the dress professional.  The Erudite wouldn't be about showing off their skin, so this extra piece would keep them trendy yet modest.  This is from House of Fraser and is about $98.
• Black pumps--a given.  This outfit just wouldn't look as sophisticated without them!  These are Balmain black suede and run about $390.
• These chandelier earrings keep the outfit young and fun.  And they're inexpensive--$22 from JC Penney.
• Some clean nails that add just a hint of color was what this look needed.  This is OPI's "Bubble Bath," a popular choice for a neutral nail.

So, how did I do?  Does it look inspired by the Erudite?

Tomorrow we move on to Abnegation--Tris' original faction that focuses on being completely selfless.  Could YOU live in the Abnegation faction?  

*I am not associated with any companies or products mentioned.

The Name of the Star-Inspired Look

On Monday I reviewed the book The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson, a great October read that combines mystery with the supernatural (i.e., Jack the Ripper has come back from the dead).  So today's look is inspired by the Victorian time period and the dark mystery of this book.  Here it is!

 

A spooky but sophisticated look, right?

Here's the breakdown:

• The shirt...isn't is so Victorian looking?  I love the black color, the high neckline, the lace collar--this shirt is perfect for this look!
• Plum is a great color for this time period, so I added plum pants that aren't too skinny.
• Black heels--these are some awesome shoes that hype up the look.  Kind of gives an "I'm not messing around" feel to the outfit, don't you think?
• The accessories--pearl earrings to keep it time period-appropriate, a large black ring to heighten the mystery, and plum nails to color-coordinate. 

I love this look because it gives a mature yet mysterious interpretation of the days of Jack the Ripper.  What do you think?

Tomorrow I'm reviewing the sequel to The Name of the Star--it's called The Madness Underneath.  See you then!

This Is Not A Drill-Inspired Outfit

On Monday I reviewed the book This Is Not A Drill, a tragic realistic story about an elementary school hostage situation.  Since the topic is pretty serious and could hit home with many people, I decided to pick a more light-hearted side of the book to feature in my fashion re-do.  

In the book, Emery and Jake teach French to the first graders; isn't that adorable?!  I can just see a class of first graders throwing around "Merci!" and "Je voudrais..."
After thinking all about our Americanized interests of French culture--Eiffel tower, baguettes, berets--I decided to create a look based off of the French maid (but a PG-version!).

So here it is:

Are you getting the French maid vibe?  

The outfit breakdown:

• The striped skirt and cream blouse are the basis for the French maid look of black-and-white.  It's a flirty yet appropriate pairing.
• French maids always have lace, so I added a fun, black lace necklace to add just a pop on the shirt.
• Isn't that the most adorable French-inspired watch?!  Ok, a little over-the-top for the outfit but I couldn't resist!
• You have to have good shoes if you're trying to look French.  These heels are GORGEOUS!
• The red nail polish is a no-brainer.  It adds some vibrancy to the look.

So what do you think?

I'll be back tomorrow with a review of a sweet/humorous/realistic love story, Eleanor & Park.  See you then!

Once-Inspired Outfit

Yesterday I reviewed the book Once by Anna Carey, the second book in the Eve series.  So today's post is an outfit inspired by Eve, our protagonist.  In Once, Eve becomes a princess and is required to visit various places during the day--gotta keep up appearances, you know.  So today's outfit focuses on that.  I designed a day outfit suitable for a princess visiting her subjects.

 

 Sweet and girly...just like a princess.

So let's break it down:

• A floral day dress, kind of reminiscent of the 50s.  It's sweet but not too soft (with colors like red and black thrown in) and easy to move around in.  The thin belt is perfect to accentuate the waist.
• Simple black ballet flats with a bow.  Of course this dress could easily be paired with heels, but the flats give it more of a day look.  And someone in flats seems less intimidating--just the message a princess wants to send to please the crowds.
• A bright orange clutch brings some "pop" into the outfit.  And doesn't this dress just look so much better with a clutch than a large satchel purse?
• Delicate peach nail polish--so sweet and clean-looking.
• Some stacked bracelets in traditional pearl (a princess must have pearls!) and black pearl and a few bangles.  I love the flower on the black pearl bracelet--it counterbalances the peach flowers in the dress so nicely!  These bracelets add a kick to the outfit while keeping it semi-traditional.
• Black stud earrings.  A princess wouldn't wear giant dangly earrings during the day--soft and sweet with studs.

So what do you think?  Could you see a princess in this outfit?

I'll be back tomorrow to review the third and final book in the Eve series, Rise.  See you then!

OOTD (4)--A Nerdy Travel Outfit...and a September Favorite

Hey, guys!  I'm in Washington DC right now!  My sister, Alison, is being promoted to a Major in the Air Force, so our family has come along to celebrate (and as an added bonus, my other sister, Lauren, and I will be singing the national anthem with Alison at her ceremony!).  So I thought I'd show you the outfit I traveled in!

I'll fully admit it--I'm a nerd (although a fashionable nerd, right?).  I love learning, reading, museums--all the typical nerdy stuff.  So when I saw this owl shirt, I knew I had to have it.

Even though I'm kind of getting tired of the owl trend, I fell in love with this guy--I mean, he has a bow tie, cardigan, AND glasses!!!  Love him.  I think I'll name him Walter.

When traveling, especially flying, it's important to dress in layers.  So I paired the owl shirt with the colors in it--a red/orange tank top underneath and a mustard cardigan on top.  So comfy and so cute!
I love skinny jeans and I added some blingy sandals to dress it all up.  
I'll admit--I completely forgot jewelry and didn't want to deal with security making me take it all off.  So I just had some faux diamond studs in my ears.

Isn't he so cute?!

Owl shirt--Target
Cardigan--Target
Tank top--Old Navy
Jeans--TJ Maxx
Sandals--Rack Room Shoes

And since September is now over--I can't believe it!--I wanted to share one of my favorite products from this month.  I've heard people rave about this product for a few years now but just got around to picking it up.  And I LOVE it!

It's the Seche Vite top coat for your nails.  It totally covers and protects your nails and the best thing about it is that you can put it on your nails while THEY'RE STILL WET!  I love love love this product.  I got mine at CVS.

What have you been loving this month?  Come back tomorrow--I'll be reviewing the second and third books in the Eve series by Anna Carey, with correlating outfits, of course!

*I'm not associated with any of the companies/products mentioned.

The Host-Inspired Wardrobe

In the book The Host, the Seeker and her cohorts wear black all the time (in the movie, they wear white, which I know can be kind of confusing).  So it got me thinking about the best black accessories/pieces that you should have in your closet.  Black is one of my favorite colors to wear because it can match with just about anything or tame down a bright outfit.  So here are my favorite choices:

 

• A large black purse.  A black purse can basically fit every season and go with any outfit.  A staple must!
• Black nail polish.  Yes, I know this can seem bold, so give deep purple a try if you're afraid to take the leap.  Or start with your toes for a less dramatic effect.  But dark nail polish highlights your nails and sharpens your outfit!
• A black scarf.  I love scarves for fall, but even a black scarf can tame a bright summer outfit!  I especially love infinity scarves tied in a circle.
• Black heels.  Wear them with dresses, skirts, jeans--you name it.  So classy!  The ones pictured are my favorites--they're from Madden Girl.
• Black skinny jeans.  I can't imagine my life without skinny jeans.  Black is just a go-to color that gives you a blank canvas for your outfit.

So what do you think?  What black items are staples in your wardrobe/beauty closet?

Catch me this weekend for a peek at a new bathroom accessory and an outfit of the day!  And Monday I'll be back with a review on Pregnant Pause by Han Nolan!

The Kill Order-Inspired Nails

On Monday I reviewed the book The Kill Order, the prequel to The Maze Runner series--needless to say I love this series!  Solar flares, the scorching heat, and intense burns are all such a part of this series, so I thought it would be fun to find a nail look to best represent the series.  And I think I found it!

 

 *FYI--I found the nail image above--that's not my hand!

Reds, oranges, yellows--fire!  This nail look is all about a burning fire!  Simply start with a yellow nail and then brush on layered strokes of orange and then red.  Super simple!  

I've included my color suggestions from some of my favorite nail brands:

• Butter London in "Silly Billy"
• Deborah Lippmann in "Iconoclast Yellow"
• Essie in "Really Red"

What do you think?  Would you be bold enough to wear this nail look?

Tomorrow I'll be reviewing The Host by Stephenie Meyer--see you then!

*I am not being sponsored/paid to mention any particular products.  They're just products I love.

 

Out of the Easy-Inspired Outfit

As I mentioned before in my review on Out of the Easy, I love the side characters in this book.  As quirky and diverse as they are, they nevertheless make up a family unit.  One character I especially loved was Dora, an upper-level prostitute working for madam Willie.  Her trademark was green--she ALWAYS wore green.  And I pictured her as one of the more fun women to be around in the house.  Those two traits--her love of green and her friendliness--led me to create this outfit:

Of course I wanted it to feature green as the main pop of color, but I also wanted some splashes of fun!  So let me break it down:

• I love pairing colored shorts with a simple tank blouse, so that's what I did here.  Bright green shorts with a fun bow and a feminine, flowing white blouse. 
• My favorite part of this outfit--the necklace!  How beautiful is that?!  It adds all the green I want and gives a bold statement.
• Tan wedge heels are fun shoes that don't take away from the necklace (I definitely want the necklace as the centerpiece of the outfit!).
• I added some mint green nail polish to draw out the softer colors in the necklace, but to add a kick I topped it with gold glitter polish.  Because glitter = fun!

What a super-cute outfit for the end of summer!

Girl of Nightmares-Inspired Outfit

Ok, today's outfit--based on Girl of Nightmares--may not be what you'd first expect after reading my book review.  And yet it's exactly what I envisioned in my head when I decided to design an outfit.  

In my review, I mentioned that I LOVED a particular scene that takes place in a forest.  It's creepy, dangerous, suspenseful...it's great!  So that is where I started in my design: the forest.  Which means I needed an outfit that was easy to move around in (in other words, no high heels in this outfit).  And it needed to have some danger/kick-butt subtleties to it since this is the part of the book when Cas is on a mission to save Anna.  Add in a little girly touch and here's what I designed:

I love it!

An edgy, girly look that is perfect when you're on a mission to save your love!

Let's break it down:

• I chose black as the main color since Cas is on a mission and trying to stay low-key.  I mean, every movie with someone going undercover, spying, or tackling a mission has the character in black, right?  The skinny black pants and sleeveless blouse are a great combination in an outfit (I'm kind of obsessed with skinny jeans/pants).  Easy to move around in these pieces and they just look sleek.
• The slouchy flower boots add edge to the outfit and really distinguish this as a "mission" outfit.  I can totally see someone running through the woods in boots like these!  And of course I love the pink in the shoes!
• The nail polish is a silver shimmer that has hints of other colors in it.  A kick-butt kind of color.  No one messes with silver.
• And the pink necklace?  Just a girly touch that ties in with the shoes.  And this isn't the kind of necklace that gets in your way; it's bold in just the right way.

So what do you think?  Could you see yourself adding some kick-butt items into your wardrobe?

Check back here tomorrow for my first "Add a little...into your Saturday."  It's just a random weekly feature that shows something from my week that made me smile.  
And Sunday's post will feature my own OOTD (outfit of the day).  I'll be showing off my idea of a perfect September dress.

Anna Dressed In Blood-Inspired Outfit

Did you see my review from Monday on Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake?  It's a creepy supernatural/horror/mystery about a guy named Cas who's hunting down an intense ghost named Anna.  Anna was killed on her way to a high school dance in the 1950s and now slaughters anyone who comes near her...until she meets Cas.

Yeah, it's a creepy book but was a great read!  Today's inspiration is an outfit based off of Anna (because she is the most delicious character in the book!).  And I figured since Anna was murdered on her way to a dance, I should create a sophisticated night-out look.  But don't worry--I'm leaving out the gore!

So here's the look I designed:

Pretty, right?

So let me break it down--

• Even though Anna wears a white dress (the dress in which she was murdered), I think of her as a very dark character full of vengeance.  So I chose a sleek, black dress as the main part of the look.  Don't you just love this style dress?  It could be dressed up or down depending on the event, and I love the way the belt accents the waist.
• But of course, Anna is a gruesome, gory character, so I had to throw in pops of red.  I love a good red pump, so the high heel was an obvious choice.  A dangerous shoe indeed :)
• I thought a long, tassel necklace would look great with this style of the dress, so I added a silver tassel necklace.  But I couldn't resist adding a ruby pendant necklace, too!  Like a drop of blood, perhaps (ok, maybe I'm getting too literal here!)?  I love to layer necklaces, especially when they're dainty on their own, and these two necklaces paired together are great!
• To add some fun I threw in some silver bangle bracelets and a shimmery red nail polish (the Butter London brand is my favorite, even if it is rather pricey).  
• And to finish it off I added some black stud earrings.  These earrings keep the outfit together without taking away from the other accents.  I wanted the necklaces to draw in the eye rather than dangly earrings.

What do you think?  Could you see yourself wearing an outfit like this?  Does it remind you of a dangerous, secretive ghost like Anna?

Tomorrow I'm reviewing the second book in the Anna series, Girl of Nightmares.  See you then!