#OOTD: Mad About Merch (Feat. SheIn + Rocksbox)

Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, then again growing up with a dad who is a musician (as well as a vinyl record hoarder) may have something to do with that. For those of you who don't know me personally, I am actually a musician myself and attended Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School my junior and senior year of high school and was accepted into the school for both piano and voice. Though as I got older my interests of study shifted to photography, journalism, and psychology, music is still very much a part of my life and always will be.

Queen, The Black Keys, Sublime, Underoath, Nirvana, The Beastie Boys, David Bowie, and Lana Del Rey. These names (and many more) are all names that you will come across while looking through my playlists, as well as when looking through my closet. Spoiler alert: I own a lot of band tees, which is why it is so surprising that I have never styled one on here before. Today though, I decided to break that cycle and show off one of my favorite ways to rock a band tee.

My Boyfriend's Band Tee

So the tee I chose to style isn't that of a new, wildly popular rock band or the likes of a vintage Led Zeppelin IV shirt, but instead one from a local Pittsburgh band, called Promise & Fiction. Haven't heard of them? Well honestly, neither had I until I started dating John, and then my roots with music just seemed to become even deeper. You see, John was actually the guitarist for the band Promise & Fiction as well as for the band Color Me Blind, meaning he has just as much of an appreciation and love for music as I do. And as I'm sure you have already guessed, this tee actually belongs to John and I stole it-- I mean borrowed it, from him on my last trip to Florida. Needless to say, this tee definitely holds a lot of sentimental value for me which is why I chose to style it for this post (and of course because I promised John that I would). 

For this outfit, I wanted to do a little more than just a basic band tee and jeans combination, (not to mention John's Promise & Fiction tee is a tank top, making it a bit hard to style in the winter) so I decided to go with a soft grunge look and dressed this band tee up a bit with a pleated skirt, as well as playing with some winter layering. To style the top half of this outfit, I chose to layer John's band tee with my mesh detailed blouse (you may remember it from this outfit of the day post), along with my army green bomber jacket that I received from SheIn last fall. The reason I chose these pairings was due to how well the army green complemented the gold in the band tee, and also because the mesh detailing on the blouse added some more depth to this outfit.

To further style the top part of this '90s look, I decided to pair this outfit with these killer shades from SheIn that my best friend McKenna got me for Christmas this year. The reason I love these sunnies so much is due to their glam rock vibe. I also love the cutout detailing on them because due to these details, the metal frame of these glasses is emphasized. I also chose to style my Aztec Bangle by House of Harlow 1960 and Flagstaff Earrings by Jenny Bird with this outfit due to their glam rock look and industrial edge.

Lastly, to finish off this outfit, I chose to pair my black pleated skirt with some fun tights by Vera Wang, to keep up the '90s grunge appearance, as well as to keep myself a bit warmer while being out in the cold winter weather. And my finishing touch for this outfit is my pair of metallic olive oxford shoes by White Mountain, and the reason I chose this pair of shoes is because I'm loving the metallic trend this season and their olive color went perfectly with my army green bomber jacket.

One Last Look

What are some of your favorite ways to dress up your band tees? Let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic. Do you have a photo that you want to show off with your perfect band tee styling? Feel free to tag me in a post or in your Instagram story at @StarkRavingChic! Later dolls.

Xx, Bree

P.S. Pssssst! If you love the jewelry I styled in this post as much as I do, you can try Rocksbox for a whole month 100% free when you sign up using my promo code "starkravingchicxoxo". Don't know what Rocksbox is or how it works? You can learn more here!

#OOTD: Ruffle Some Feathers (Feat. SheIn + Rocksbox)

After being stuck at home and in bed all week with an absolutely nasty cold, I was more than ready to get out of my house for a bit--even if that meant braving the officially back to normal Pittsburgh weather. Though this lunch outing meant trekking around in the 'Burgh's frigid cold, slushy, and gloomy climate, I didn't let that get me down, and made the best of my trip to South Side to grab a bite to eat yesterday with my mum. And aside from snagging a Fahrenheit 451 burger from The Library (a.k.a my favorite restaurant on East Carson Street) to lift my spirits, I also decided to dress up a little bit because quite frankly, I needed a break from my pajamas. 

Terrifically Tiered

Since I am still not feeling one hundred percent, I decided wearing a more comfortable outfit would be the best way to go, and admittedly after wearing slippers all week I wasn't quite ready to step back into my stilettos. So for this lunch date, I decided to pair this gorgeous pink blouse, from my sponsor SheIn, with my favorite (and most comfortable) light wash Levi skinnies, along with some nude flats and matching neutral accessories. The reasons these pieces mesh so well together is because this light pink blouse looks wonderful against the light wash jeans, and to top it off the jeans distressed look add balance to the blouse, giving it a much more casual feel. And due to this outfit's kicked back vibe, it was the perfect look for a relaxing afternoon, and also kept me looking stylish, even while being sick. 

The reason I chose this pink tiered sleeved blouse from my sponsor SheIn, was mainly because one of my style resolutions for this year was to wear more pink! So I figured why not start off strong and tackled a few of my style resolutions in one month? However, I also loved this blouse because of its tiered sleeves, which was (and still is) one of the hottest trends on the runway for the fall and winter seasons. I had been wanting to experiment with this look for sometime but hadn't gotten the opportunity to until now! I also have to say, this blouse is very well made and is actually a perfect piece for winter, and not only because it is a much needed pop of color, but because this blouse is actually made of a heavy material and is also lined, which make this piece a great choice during the cold months ahead.

Curious about my ring stack? Stay tuned to get the details on February 1st! (As well as a little a little treat for my readers.)

Then to put the finishing touches on the fun, casual outfit, I decided to pair it with my brown, faux alligator skin clutch from SheIn, as well as some beautiful, gold earrings from A.V. Max, compliments of Rocksbox. The reason I chose this neutral bag is because it complimented the pink blouse nicely, much like the nude flats I chose to wear. Then due to this outfit's fun appeal, I felt that these lovely boho earrings by A.V. Max were simply the perfect finishing touch to this nice, laid back outfit. 

One Last Look  

What are some things you like to do to make yourself feel better when you're feeling under the weather? Let's talk about some tips and tricks in the comment section below or you can tweet me about it at @StarkRavingChic (home cold remedies are totally welcomed too)! Have a casual outfit that you just love styling? Feel free to snap a picture and either tag me on your Instagram post or in your Instagram Story at @StarkRavingChic. Later, babes!

Xx, Bree

P.S. Pssssst! If you love the jewelry I styled in this post as much as I do, you can try Rocksbox for a whole month 100% free when you sign up using my promo code "starkravingchicxoxo". Don't know what Rocksbox is or how it works? You can learn more here! 

Harvey Prince Organics: Hair & Skin Care

One thing I am always on the hunt for is new and different beauty regimens. Whether they are new skin care products, body washes, or hair care products, I am always on board to give it a whirl! The reason this is, is because I am a firm believer in making small changes to your beauty routine throughout the seasons so it remains effective. And I'm sure if you've had a look at my beauty routine, you know how I have an abundance of goodies ranging from Beautycounter facial scrubs to lush bath bombs and bubble bars. For this post,  I am sharing some of the newest hair and skin care products I have tried recently, and am thrilled to announce that these products came from my newest collaborator and sponsor, Harvey Prince Organics! Also, my readers will be thrilled to know, that I'm not the only one who will be getting a little treat out of this post, since Harvey Prince Organics is now one of my sponsors, after you read this article and decide if you want to try a product or not, I now have a promo code with Harvey Prince that will save you cash! (If you follow me on Instagram, you may already have this promo code from my post last Wednesday!) 

About Harvey Prince Organics

 Before I dive headfirst into my reviews of Harvey Prince's wonderful products (Which I totally want to do because they worked so perfectly!), I'm sure all of you would like a little more background on this company, assuming you are like me and hadn't heard about them until recently.

How Harvey Prince started was with a simple and sweet idea: two brothers wanted to create a perfect perfume as a Mother's Day gift, and as a result their first fragrance "Ageless" was created. However, that's not the only unique thing about Harvey Prince, they're name holds an interesting story as well. You see, the younger of the duo graduated from Harvard University and the older from Princeton University, so they combined the names of their alma maters and came up with Harvey Prince, and their brand was born in 2007. 

However in 2015, Harvey Prince was reborn as Harvey Prince Organics, and was then recommitted to creating the best vegan and cruelty free fragrance, skin, and hair care products. That's right my friends, Harvey Prince Organics, is a Beauty Without Bunnies company and is one hundred percent cruelty free! All of Harvey Prince Organics products include all three Leaping Bunny, PETA, and Choose Cruelty Free stamps on their products. Meaning none of our furry friends were harmed during the testing of Harvey Prince's perfume, skin, or hair products. And now that you have some background on this deeply committed cruelty free company, let me tell you about the awesome hair and skin care products their representative, Michael, sent me complimentary to try and review. 

Keravegan Hair Masque

The first product I tried from Harvey Prince Organics is the Keravegan Hair Masque. The reason I chose to try this product first is due to the fact the winter weather really wreaks havoc on my normally luscious locks, and this Keravegan Hair Masque is made too smooth and soothe your tresses. This product left my hair feeling very soft and rejuvenated, so much so my little, five year old  cousin (who enjoys playing with my hair when I see her at family dinners) even commented on how soft and smooth my hair was after using it! This hair masque also made my hair look more alive, bringing out its pretty, natural, shine.

Sea Salt Texturizing Mist 

As many of you know, normally I always wear my hair pin straight, simply because, that's just how it is naturally and will only stay curled or styled with a ton of hairspray (as you can see here). With that being said, I absolutely loved this Sea Salt Texturizing Mist. The reason is, is because this mist added depth and texture to my hair and made it look naturally wavy. Though you won't get to see this product in action until my post for Ritani on February first, this mist really does give your hair the look of beautiful wind swept locks that you normally would obtain after a day at the beach. 

The Original Fango Mud Therapy

This product is honestly probably the product I was the most excited to try! Though I loved my charcoal mask from Beautycounter, I had finally ran out of it and was ready to try something new, and I have to say I honestly preferred the Harvey Prince Organics Fango Mud Therapy Mask! (Don't worry, Beautycounter, I still love your Nourishing Cream Cleanser and Nourishing Night Cream.) The reason why I preferred this mask is because I felt it wasn't as harsh on my skin, while still leaving my face feeling deeply cleansed and rejuvenated. This mask worked wonders on my face and left it feeling smooth and clean, and even made my skin look more vibrant!

Hello Body Butter

Lastly, I had the opportunity to try Harvey Prince Organics Hello Body Butter. This lotion has become my new favorite body lotion due to the fact that it has restored my rough, dry, winter skin back to its normal, soft and smooth state. (Which made John really happy, because if we are being honest crocodile skin doesn't exactly scream "let's cuddle!") This body lotion is not only ultra moisturizing, but also smells amazing too! And that's because it is infused with Harvey Prince's best-selling "Hello" perfume, which has hints of citrus layered with summer forsythia and notes of white grapefruit, wild verbena, and Tahitian vanilla. Giving this lotion a refreshing and welcoming scent. 

Final Thoughts 

As I'm sure you've already assumed, I loved my Harvey Prince Organics experience which is why I have decided to share it with all of you! In closing I just have to say I will be using this company's products for years to come and these products have definitely become a staple in my beauty routine. And lastly, if you already love Harvey Prince Organics or want to try Harvey Prince for the first time, you can use my special promo code "starkravingchic40" to get 40% off your next order!! 

Have you ever tried Harvey Prince Organics? If so what's your favorite product?! Let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic. Later, babes!

Xx, Bree

P.S. Wanna know more about Harvey Prince Organics perfumes? Stay tuned for next week's post where I will be featuring three of the fragrances that Michael sent me! These include Hello, Sincerely, and Perfumista. (Along with some of their accompanying lotions!)