#BLOGMAS: Holiday Style Guide (Feat. SheIn)

December 09, 2016 by Bree Fesh in Style Guides

Aside from all of the happiness and cheer that comes along with the holiday season, another aspect I have always loved about this time of year is all of the holiday events that require dressing up. As a child I never had the opportunity to dress up and actually go out often due to the fact the school I attended required the students to wear uniforms. However at Christmas time my mother always would put me in my holiday best to attend holiday dinners, parties, and even to go out shopping with her just because she new I enjoyed it. It was like a little month long treat every December.

Obviously, this isn't a phase I grew out of, in fact if you saw my last #BLOGMAS post or follow me on Instagram, you would know this year I'm taking my holiday styling to a whole new level. This being said I decided it would be fun to share some of my favorite looks for every occasion this holiday season ranging from office Christmas parties to New Years Eve. And it gets better: Everything showcased in this article is from my sponsor SheIn, meaning you can look absolutely stunning without breaking the bank.

Holiday Happy Hour

Personally, when I'm headed to a holiday happy hour (or any happy hour for the matter) I generally lean towards subtly sexy but sophisticated looks. Mainly because many of the places my girls and I enjoy going to downtown for holiday events are a a bit fancy (unless we happen to hit up South Side for a Pens game) just because we prefer a more quiet and relaxed atmosphere for our ladies night get together.

This being said, if you and your girls are like my girls and I, this cocktail dress would be the perfect for your holiday happy hour! The reason I say this is firstly, because of the color combination of this pretty little dress. The most obvious thing that stuck out to me was the gorgeous green, red, and gold embroidered pattern, making this dress perfect for wearing the colors of the season without looking over the top and tacky. Secondly, I loved the way this dress was designed. I thought the gold slip was genius and that the read and gold detailing on the collar and sleeves were an adorable finishing touch. I mean I know its a small thing but in my opinion, it's the smaller details that can truly make a garment. Lastly, this dress also works as a subtly sexy piece due to its perfectly placed mesh detailing. Though this piece shows some skin and is sexy in it's own right, it's not over the top and give this sophisticated piece tiny bit of playful flare.

Since every girl needs a trusty bag for a night out on the town, I thought I would include this darling, velvet, emerald clutch. The reason I chose to pair this velvet clutch with the dress above is because much like it, this clutch's look is soft and pretty, also because velvet is a huge trend this season.

Finally, to top of this holiday happy hour look, I chose to pair this set of stylish, velvet platformed, heels with the dress and clutch. The reason I feel these shoes are a great way to complete this outfit isn't just because they are velvet and emerald green like the bag (though that did play a part in my decision), but because these heels and the bag both play off of the gorgeous green embroidery of this dress.

The Office/Work Christmas Party

The next holiday occasion I've decided to to tackle is none other than the office/work Christmas party. I know for me personally, trying to figure out what to wear to any office related party can be a bit challenging. Considering at DSG corporate's dress code is pretty relaxed, so I am always worried that I'm either going to appear entirely over dressed or that my outfit might come off as too casual. However, need not fear because as always SheIn has something perfect for every occasion (and dress code). So for the holiday office party look, I decided to go with a gorgeous red, three quarter sleeve, t-length dress. The reason this garment is perfect for an office or work Christmas party is simply because of it's professional length and shape. However the color of this dress, along with it's fringe and cutout detailing add a festive and fun feel to it for a party type situation.

In my opinion and I am sure many other working gals agree, one thing I must always have with me while at my office is my purse. Not that I don't trust my fellow employees, but leaving my phone or iPad alone in a building that employs over tow-thousand people just doesn't seem like a wise idea. This being said I always have my essential electronics with me and of course I won't just carry them in hand, so here is where a chic purse comes in! The reason I chose this purse specifically is due to the its polished look and classic shape. Due to both of these factors, it pairs perfectly with the perfectly professional dress I chose for this occasion.

Lastly to put the finishing touches on this outfit, I decided to pair these classic patent faux leather pumps with this pretty office party look. Much like the bag I paired with this look, the patent faux leather pumps are just an effortlessly chic and classic office choice. These pumps are work appropriate due to the fact they are closed toe meaning they are office safe (because dropping a camera on your foot while in opened toed shoes is not good), they are versatile so you'll definitely get more than one wear out of them, and to top it off they're not sky high, making them a relatively comfortable choice to wear daily!

Holiday Brunch

I don't know about all of you, but my family's Christmas traditions rock for two reasons: The first one being, my dad is Russian and he practices the Russian Orthodox faith, while the rest of my family is Methodist, so we actually celebrate Christmas TWICE! (For those curious, once on December 25th and then again on January 7th.) And the second reason is because my dad loves to cook (and is an excellent one at that) so basically the months of November through early January are filled with a lot of food and family gatherings, including brunch. So for those of you with family situations similar (or just enjoy a holiday brunch alone) this dress is perfect for the occasion! Though it is a bit dressy, this piece still a great choice for holidays with the family because of it's festive color combination as well as it's pretty lace detailing. This dress would also double nicely for Christmas morning festivities.

We all know most of us aren't attending brunch in a dress as cute as the one above with out a matching pair of shoes. So, to further style this dress I chose these fun and adorable scalloped red pumps! As I stated earlier the garment above is a little dressy, so to add a fun finishing touch to this look I figured what better way than with some cute shoes? Due to their playful nature these shoes balance out the dress' formal feel.

Christmas Eve Party

As some of you may remember, one color I've been trying to add to my wardrobe this season is the color blue. With that said I figured what better way to show off my new love of cool tones than to incorporate them into this list! In my opinion, blues are so underrated in holiday color schemes, even though it definitely belongs in them, use this dress as proof. The reason I chose this dress is due to the blue detailing on it. The blue pattern against the red bodice really pops and makes this piece very eye catching. And though it isn't all blue, the red is a nice touch to keep this piece festive for the holiday season. (Not to mention this dress will be quite the conversation starter with friends and family!)

Since this dress is such a fun and unique piece, the only thing I could think to pair it with were these awesome, royal blue velvet heels! The reason this is, is not only due to the fact these shoes match the detailing of this dress almost perfectly, but because of the fun pompom on the toe. To me, these heels just add a fun little pop to this already festive look, because if we are honest, what would Christmas Eve be without all the fun?

New Year's Eve

You know they say what happens to you on the first of the year is supposed to predict how the rest of your year will go, so if anything you might as well be well dressed! For my New Year's Eve pick, I chose this lovely, black, lace cutout dress. The reason I chose this was due to the fact no matter what you are doing to ring in the new year, this dress is a great choice for you to watch the ball drop in! I say this because it is fitting for a night on the town, it's wonderful dress for a New Year's Eve dinner date with your beau, or just enjoying a New Year's Eve party at home with your loved ones. I say this because the cutouts give this dress a fun and flirty feel which doesn't make it too formal to stay home, and obviously it's perfect for a night out for that reason as well.

And as it was mentioned earlier for the holiday happy hour look, if you are going out on the town for New Year's Eve you know you need a cute bag to keep all of your necessities in (Tylenol for in the morning anyone?). So for this gorgeous dress, I decided to pair it with a purse that was just as elegant! The reason I chose this simple bag is due to the fact the dress itself is very busy so I didn't want to have the two pieces competing with each other, so this low key bag is this dress' perfect match.

Lastly, to finish up this glam New Year's Eve look, I thought these fur trim shoes would be the perfect match. Though I wanted to down play the bag, the reason I feel that these shoes work perfectly with this dress is due to the fact they are wild and play off of the dress' flirty cutouts. I also chose fur trim heels because much like velvet, fur trim is a huge trend with bags, shoes, and outerwear accessories this year ranging from Fendi to Chloe.

Okay babes, so before I sign off I have two questions for you all, the first being what are some of your favorite ways to doll yourself up for the holidays?

And secondly, with my blog approaching the two year mark (Only three more months!!!) I would like to change as well as add a few more monthly features come the first of the year (post coming soon, along with an exciting announcement) and one of them would be scrapping my monthly Wish-list Wednesday posts and replacing them with monthly Style Guides such as this one. The reason I feel this would be a good change is because I feel the Style Guides are much more cohesive since they actually put together an entire outfit, instead of me just listing a hodgepodge of items I'd like to style.

So, what do all you lovely people think? Tell me your thoughts about the Style Guides VS. Wish-list Wednesdays in the comments below, and feel free to chat with me there too about your holiday looks! Or tweet me about the latter at @StarkRavingChic. Have a photo you just have to show off? Tag me on Instagram @StarkRavingChic! Later babes.

Xx, Bree

VoxBox: Real Techniques (Compliments of Influenster)

December 07, 2016 by Bree Fesh in Beauty

Though I have a kick-ass set of makeup brushes from my affiliate BH Cosmetics, sometimes a girl just needs a smaller set for on the go, like when she's travelling to see her boyfriend in Florida. This being said I am sure you have guessed I had been in the market for a compact brush set that would pack easily (since we know how I prefer to pack light for my trips). Well luckily for me, right before I left for my trip to visit John, my sponsor Influenster pulled through with yet another awesome VoxBox for the holiday! This time Influenster has sent me a set of brushes as well as a makeup sponge to review from the brand Real Techniques, and I have to say, this whole set was exactly what I was searching for.

Real Techniques

If you are not familiar with the brand Real Techniques, this is the part where I will give you a little background info. Firstly Real Techniques is unique due to the fact it was founded by sisters Samantha and Nicola Chapman. The girls got their inspiration and interest in makeup from a young age due to the fact their aunt was a top makeup artist in London working with the likes of people such as David Bowie and Princess Diana. Due to this both the girls developed a great love for makeup. Then after some time Samantha and Nicola began to collaborate and that is how Real Techniques was formed.

Now that you know the story, here are a few facts from their FAQ:

Real Techniques is 100% cruelty free meaning they never test their products on animals.
Real Techniques has an extensive list of countries they ship too which you can see HERE.
You can also check out where you can shop Real Techniques products in person HERE.
Real Techniques also has quite a few nifty video tutorials just like this one on how to clean your makeup brushes.

Multitask Set + Miracle Complexion Sponge Review

Again, before I start this review and big thank you to my sponsor Influenster for providing me these brushes and this sponge free of charge, they were seriously just what I needed to complete my collection!!

So first I just have to say once again that this set of brushes is absolutely perfect for travelling. Due to the fact they come with this nifty little case, and since there are only three it really saves you room in your suitcase or carry on bag.

The other great thing about this brush set is that they are incredibly soft, are very affordable, and work just as well as any high end makeup brushes, which is great because you aren't sacrificing quality for the price tag. I also noticed that these brushes work great with my BareMinerals foundation and actually pick up the product better than my Dior blush brush! This being said, these brushes have become my go to brushes for my everyday makeup looks for around the office, giving my BH Cosmetics brushes a break except for big events that require more effort on makeup. I would say that these Real Techniques brushes are great for anyone who enjoys makeup whether you're just a beginner or a seasoned pro.

Next up is the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. Honestly, though I enjoy doing my makeup as much as the next girl, I myself am not a seasoned pro (I totally envy the makeup skills of my former college classmate Bailey, her work is stunning.). But I know the basics about brushes and a handful of techniques but that's about it, so this was my first time ever using a complexion sponge. With that said, for my readers that are like me, here are the nifty things this little thing can do/how to use it!

The large rounded side are used to blend makeup on the larger areas of your face. To do this blend the areas needed with a dabbing or stippling motion.
The tip of the sponge of the "precision tip" is used to cover blemishes and other small imperfections.
The flat edge is used to blend the contours around the eyes and nose.

So when I used this product the first time, I chose to use my Dior Airflash Foundation along with my Dior "My Rose" blush and Dior's "Blazing Gold" eye shadow. Considering I never used a tool like this before I have to say I was surprise in was a difference it made! Though I generally don't have issue with blemishes, sometimes my skin shows signs of irritation due to the chilly weather and cold wind which is sometimes hard to mask with makeup. However I feel this sponge was perfect for hiding those imperfections and I am so happy I have learned how to utilize this tool and wish I would have sooner!

Final Thoughts

Much like every product I've received from Influenster, these Real Techniques products are no different! I would totally recommend them to a friend and obviously to all my readers as well. So how about you, have you ever tried any of Real Techniques products? If so which one is your favorite? Let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Would you rather give me a visual of your favorite product? Just tag me on Instagram at @StarkRavingChic.

Xx, Bree

#OOTD: Fabulous Fur (Feat. SheIn)

December 03, 2016 by Bree Fesh in Personal Style

Well folks, all the signs are here, shoppers are hustling and bustling, the streets of downtown are adorned with wreaths, lights, and trees, and the weather outside is nothing less than frightful (making me want to stay inside by that delightful fire). Yes, you've guessed it, it's Christmas time here in the city! Which of course means I've been spending a great deal of time downtown shopping and enjoying the holiday season. So today while I was out and about shopping for my loved ones, I new I had to keep warm, so I took the opportunity to style my new faux fur trim sweater from my sponsor SheIn!

Baby It's Cold Outside

To style this sweater, I chose to pair it with my burnt orange Bar III tunic blouse, a pair of grey Levi skinnies, and my speckled oxfords from the Red, White, and Blue store. And to further accessorize this look I wore my red, green, gold, and white necklace and bracelet set from Fascino along with my brown purse from my affiliate Coach. The reason I chose this particular jewelry set from Fascino is because they're the colors of the season and who doesn't want to be a little festive while out holiday shopping?

Now about the sweater, the first thing I have to say about this sweater is it is incredibly warm and cozy. This it due to the fact that this sweater is made of a wool blend. Much like all of my other pieces from SheIn, this sweater is very well made and has very nice detailing. The front of the sweater, as you can see, has a cute cable knit pattern making it a perfect choice for a causal, chic look.

Lastly, I just have to mention the darling detailing on the back of this sweater as well. Though normally backs of sweaters can be boring, this one is unique due to its mock lace up stitching up the center of the back. The reason I love this so much is because as I mentioned in a recent post featuring my affiliate Amazon Fashion, anything with lace up detailing is a huge must this season due to it being one of the hottest trends.

One Last Look

What are some of your favorite outfits to style for holiday shopping? Tell me about it in the comments below or tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Have a photo you wanna show off? Just tag me on Instagram at @StarkRavingChic. Happy shopping babes!

Xx, Bree