#OOTD: Tantalizing In Tan (Feat. Fashion Mia + Kat Von D Beauty Compliments of Influenster)

Whew, what a weekend! Though I was sick all of last week with the flu, I was overjoyed that I finally began to feel better by Saturday and was absolutely thrilled to get back to work, though I must admit I'm not thrilled with the overwhelming amount of make-up homework I have to do after missing a week of school. But nonetheless, I am happy to be back to my normal, healthy self and to be out of the hospital, now lets keep our fingers crossed that I won't get sick again for a good long while!

Considering I was laid up in my house or the hospital all last week, needless to say by this weekend I was more than ready to get out of the house and actually spend time around other people. (Though Oliver and Lola are great company and expert snugglers, neither of them are conversationalists.) So, to celebrate my newly reclaimed health, I decided to get out and explore my own city for the day, and took to downtown Sewickley for a day of shopping at local boutiques and eating some delicious food. And of course after living in nothing but pajamas for a week, I was also more than ready to style an outfit, so I chose to wear this adorable, casual dress from my newest sponsor, FashionMia.

FashionMia: A Quick Overview

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As I stated above, FashionMia is a new sponsor that I began working with this year. So, much like any other time when I bring on a new sponsor and introduce their products to my readers, I like to give you all a quick rundown about the brand and their products. 

Firstly, FashionMia is an online clothing site that specializes in modern fashion trends and sells these hot items at irresistibly low prices. This is great because when shopping with FashionMia you'll be sure to get the cutest looks without breaking the bank. What's better than stylish and affordable clothing? 

Another thing that I love about FashionMia is that they have a huge variety of clothing to choose from. These options include but are not limited to, evening gowns, casual dresses, business attire, outerwear, and accessories. Another service that FashionMia offers that is unique from other online shops in this niche, is that FashionMia also has an entire section for men's wear, which is great for  all the fashionistos out there. Lastly, the only issue I see with this company is considering they are based in China, there is no possibility for rush delivery, so after ordering your products they may take two to three weeks to get to you, however after receiving my products compliments of them for this partnership, I promise you that it's well worth the wait. 

Black & Tan 

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To style for my day of shopping in the beautiful town of Sewickley, I decided that this adorable casual dress would be a perfect fit for the all day affair. The reason why I chose this dress to stroll around town is due to the fact it is super comfortable and great for all day wear. The other great thing about this dress is due to its long sleeves its actually very warm, and because of its casual nature, this dress is a great piece to layer with to add some extra warmth. Which, I did just that by pairing it with my fleece lined leggings. 

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Before I get into the complete review of this dress, if you follow me on Twitter and/or Instagram, and simply by looking over this post, I am sure you have noticed that I no longer have my signature blonde locks and have traded them in for something a little more natural! Though I am not a full blown red head like I am now, my natural hair color is actually more of a dirty, reddish blonde. So, to cut back on having to get my hair highlighted every month, I have opted to go red, which will make it way less noticeable when my roots inevitably grow in. And I have to say, I'm loving the cheaper price of getting my hair done now and just adore how great this color looks. I'm definitely looking forward to styling so many outfits with my new fiery 'do.  

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Now, let's get to the reason I'm sure most of you are here and that would be to hear about this fabulous dress from FashionMia. First I have to say that this dress is probably the most comfortable piece of clothing that I own right now. It is made of a thick, soft, polyester material which makes this piece hug your curves in all the right places. I also love the fact that this dress is versatile and can be paired with a variety of different accessories which allow it to be worn in multiple ways. The final two things I adore about this piece is that its drop waist adds a cool casual touch and that it also has pockets which is a major win for me! Lastly, this dress fits true to size and it is also very well made. It came in perfect condition and there is not a stitch out of place.

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To style this piece for my Saturday of shopping, I chose to pair it with some black fleece lined leggings to add some extra warmth, along with my favorite Micheal Kors boots. Aside from these pairings being practical for the weather conditions, they also double as a super stylish look. This is because the black of the boots and leggings add a great contrast to the tan dress, which makes this look visually pleasing. 

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To add to this contrast, I then chose to further accessorize this look with this gorgeous Faye bag by Chloe. The reason why I chose this purse is because aside from it staying within the black and tan theme, its gold accents complement the gold accents on my boots, which really ties this look together. I also just adore this purse for every day wear, the reason this is is because it adds a cool and relaxed look to any outfit due to its chic bohemian vibe. 

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The final touch I added to my casual weekend look is my frequently styled Kendra Scott Rayne pendant. As I've mentioned in countless past posts, this necklace is my go to for adding some shine to any outfit. This versatile necklace can dress up a simple blouse, or add a charmingly boho vibe to a basic outfit. In this case, this bold necklace adds a fun pop of color to my laid back Saturday look. 

Lovely “Lovecraft” 

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The last portion of this post I would like to talk about yet another campaign I am working on and that would be the Kat Von D Beauty campaign through Influenster, featuring the new Kat Von D, Creme Lipstick. I received this product complimentary to try through Influenster, for those of you who have never heard of Influenster, you can learn more here! The color I received from Kat Von D's new line though is called "Lovecraft". And aside from it being named after one of my favorite writers, I also absolutely adore the color! 

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As you can see, the color is a nice, matte, pink, which adds a cute and girly touch to this make up look. The lipstick is also very easy to apply an literally just glided on to my lips, which is something I am not used to with some of my other matte lippies. I also love this color because though it is light, the pigment is so lush and rich, surely making your pout stand out in a crowd. To accompany this lipstick, I paired it with my bareMinerals BarePro liquid foundation, Dior's Exalt eye shadow palette, and NARS Lovejoy Blush. The reason why I chose these colors is because I wanted to keep a fresh and natural look to keep true to this outfits casual vibe.

One Last Look

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What are some of your favorite casual weekend outfits? Let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Have a darling casual dress you just need to show off? I'd love to see it so feel free to tag me in your Instagram Story at @StarkRavingChic. Later, babes!

Xx, Bree

P.S. Psssssst! 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!

Also, I am now a proud member of rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!

#OOTD: Go Bananas! (Feat. SheIn + bareMinerals Compliments of Influenster)

Every year throughout the fall and winter seasons, my long time readers know there are a couple common themes: 

1. The fact that I absolutely love every single thing about the fall season, in particular the month of October (I'm a BIG Halloween fan and lover of all things spooky).

2. I usually run one or two giveaways depending on sponsorships and time constraints. (You can check out my current one HERE featuring my affiliate and sponsor JORD.) 

3. Since fall is my favorite season I tend to post more "#OOTD" posts during this season than any other due to all the fun fall activities I enjoy and dress for!

Well today's post is no different, except for one key component: Today along with my fabulous, new babydoll dress from my lovely sponsor SheIn, I am also thrilled to announce that I have also had the opportunity to pair up with Influenster and my affiliate bareMinerals and test out their newest product: BarePro, which is a long lasting, liquid foundation! So before I dive into my outfit and what I was up to over the weekend (if you follow me on Instagram you know after Sunday brunch with my mum I had a photo shoot!), let me tell you a little bit about the company bareMinerals, Influenster, and of course my review on their product!

A Bit About bareMinerals

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If you have been reading my posts here on Stark Raving Chic for awhile, you know that bareMinerals is by far my absolute favorite makeup company. Though I have (and still do) use and work with other brands on occasion, most of my makeup case is predominantly bareMinerals products. But one quest I have never addressed is why I love this company and their products so much. Well, today I'm thrilled to finally have the chance to explain!

First and for most, you should know bareMinerals is a makeup company based out of San Francisco that has been in business for over 35 years. This company is 100% dedicated to producing all natural makeup in order to make you, and your skin, look and feel your best. I personally started using their products back in eighth grade due to having easily irritated skin, and it just so happened that bareMinerals makeup was the only makeup that did not cause me to break out at that time. Another thing you should know about bareMinerals is along with being a 100% natural makeup line, they are also 100% cruelty free, meaning none of their products are tested on animals and their products are not sold in China.  Now that you have the important info on the company, let's talk about the product I received compliments of my sponsor Influenster.

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As I stated earlier, the bareMinerals product I received complimentary from Influenster is bareMinerals newest liquid foundation, BarePro. The product itself comes packaged very nicely in a glass bottle and contains a little more than three ounces of foundation, which of course is a hefty amount of liquid foundation! I also felt that the foundation was easy to use and apply to my brushes. 

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Lastly, I have to say that I have absolutely fallen in love with this foundation. The first reason why is the shade I received, Aspen 04, is spot on with my own complexion, which most of the time it is hard for me to find a product that isn't a little too light or a little too dark. I also have to say that BarePro blends so incredibly easily and seamlessly with my other bareMinerals products and provides excellent coverage, all while giving me a desired natural look. The foundation is also light making it comfortable for all day wear and also lives up to its name of being a "performance" foundation because it really does last all day! 

Candy Shopping

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So after applying my awesome bareMinerals BarePro foundation and the rest of my makeup, I was off to run some errands and shop for one of my favorite October traditions: Trick R' Treat. Though I don't have much of a sweet tooth myself, I have always enjoyed handing out candy to the little ghouls and goblins in my neighborhood on the night of Trick R' Treat. And every year I do my candy shopping locally in Sewickley, because village candy seriously has one of the best selections for Halloween! 

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Though this adorable babydoll dress from SheIn has a bit more of a summer flare, I chose to style it for my errands this weekend because it was fun, casual, and cool-- as in it kept me from sweltering in the not so fall like weather we had on Saturday. The dress itself though is made of a light cotton material, though I would describe it having a feel more similar to linen, and runs true to size (for reference, mine is a small, and due to the cut and nature of the dress you want it to be loose fitting). I also just love the banana pattern and button detailing on this dress because they each give this piece a fun and playful feel. As always, like all of my clothes from SheIn, this dress is also made incredibly well and is very comfortable. Like I said earlier, it's perfect for a warm day and will keep you looking chic while keeping you cool! The only thing I would caution my readers about is if you want to purchase this dress, you will need a slip to go underneath it because it is a tiny bit see through. 

Love the watch that I styled in this post? If so, be sure to enter my JORD giveaway by October 15, 2017! You can get all the deets here! 

Love the watch that I styled in this post? If so, be sure to enter my JORD giveaway by October 15, 2017! You can get all the deets here

Lastly, to style this cute little number, I chose to keep it simple and pair it with some white Kendra Scott earrings, my newest wooden watch by my sponsor and affiliate JORD, and my plain white and gold Tommy Hilfiger sandals. The reason I chose to pair this playful dress with such simple accessories is because I did not want to take away from its fun pattern and whimsical nature. 

One Last Look

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How have you been styling during our very unseasonably warm weather? Let's chat about it in the comments below or you can tweet me about it at @StarkRavingChic. Have a playful outfit you'd just love to show off? I'd love to see it so feel free to tag me in your Instagram story at @StarkRavingChic! Later babes, hope you're enjoying the warm weather! 

Xx, Bree

P.S. In case you missed it: if you love the JORD watch I styled in this post, be sure to enter my giveaway by October 15th, 2017 for a chance to win one of your very own plus a $25 e-gift code just for entering! Gets all the details here, in my JORD Fall Campaign + Giveaway post!

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Psssssst! 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!

Also, I am now a proud member of rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!

Welcome Back! (Feat. Life Updates, New Blogging Schedule, and Clothing by Make Me Chic)

Hi, everybody! It's been awhile hasn't it? First off, I would like to apologize for taking a much longer than anticipated hiatus, however if you read my last post, I'm sure many of you have assumed that I simply needed some extra time to heal and focus on myself, which you would be correct in assuming. But now I am back, feeling rejuvenated, and more ambitious than ever! I suppose the old saying "absence makes the heart grow fonder" holds true to me, even if in this case it's in regards to my blog. 

With that being said (and I'm sure you've guessed by the title), I do have some life updates for you all which means I will also be on a new blogging schedule. But first, let's dive into today's outfit of the day, featuring a comfy, yet chic maxi dress from my sponsor, Make Me Chic.

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Firstly, I just have to say, though I've been gone the past few months, I was surprised and grateful for the outpouring of kindness and support that I still continued to receive. (I promise I will answer all of your comments everyone, and thanks again!!) But though I will answer your comments individually, I know a lot of you lovely people have been wondering what exactly I've been up too, as well as if I've been alright.

As I stated earlier, I am doing much better than the last time you guys heard from me. And though my life did change rather abruptly, it was totally for the better. Though at the time I did not see it as a positive change, now looking back on the situation with a new set of eyes and a whole lot of clarity, it was most definitely more toxic than I would like to admit. But on the bright side, I most definitely grew from the experience and I'm excited to start this new chapter in my life.  

So, what have I been up too? Well, for starters, I have been spending gobs of time with my family and friends, and have even made some new ones along the way. I have also been extremely busy in order to return to my classes at Point Park University this fall, which is actually why I am implementing a new blogging schedule, but more on that later. I am also happy to say that I am back to my sarcastic, but cheery, self and have been enjoying styling some of my favorite trends this summer (though, I still need to desperately detox my wardrobe--I guess that'll come in due time). So on that last note, lets talk about this cool, casual maxi dress from my sponsor Make Me Chic.

As my long time readers know, one thing I am an absolute sucker for is maxi dresses. The reason I love them so much is because not only do they flatter my tall frame, they are also incredibly comfortable and generally have a nice bohemian vibe. This dress is no different, which it was why my first pick to wear on a nice summer stroll through Sewickley, and to stop and poke around the local flower shop.

The first thing I noticed about this dress wasn't just the fun tie-dyed pattern, but the fact that it was made up of earth tones, which are admittedly some of my favorites to wear. I just absolutely loved that though this dress is whimsical, it is also practical in its colors meaning its perfect for many different summer activities. This dress is also incredibly soft and just feels like you're wearing an oversized tee, meaning it isn't too hot for some of those 90 degree days we will be having in our near future.

Makeup: Face, BareMinerals Original Foundation and Blush. Eyes, City Minis Palette by Maybelline, Plumpify Mascara by Covergirl. Lips, Kat Von D Everlasting Lip Liner and Covergirl Oh Sugar Lipstick.**All eye and lip makeup for this post was provide…

Makeup: Face, BareMinerals Original Foundation and Blush. Eyes, City Minis Palette by Maybelline, Plumpify Mascara by Covergirl. Lips, Kat Von D Everlasting Lip Liner and Covergirl Oh Sugar Lipstick.

**All eye and lip makeup for this post was provided by Influenster.

Finally, to style this dress, I chose to pair it with a basic, straw hat, these Gorjana, Ryder Ear Climbers, along with this darling beaded necklace by Nakamol and my SLATE Moonlight Daydream cuff. The reason I chose these pieces is because I felt each of them complemented this dress' whimsical nature nicely, without being too over the top, which would take away from this dress' down to earth vibe. 

New Blogging Schedule

Now that I got the fun stuff out of the way, here is some important information regarding my posts in the upcoming future! As I stated above, I have been incredibly busy getting ready to head back to school this fall and will be caring a full course load. Meaning, I won't have as much time to dedicate to my blog as I did in years past. However, don't worry, I'm not quitting altogether! 

Though the next few months maybe trial and error of getting my schedule down pat (mainly so I'm not a stressed out mess between studying, homework, and this) I am first going to start off with doing biweekly posts. These posts will go live sometime during the first week of each month, and the third week of each month. That way it gives me more time to write worthwhile articles (as I'm sure you can recall me addressing a few months back) as well as keeping up on my schooling! And though I'm sure you are already aware, I will still be posting within my main categories (and come September there will even be a new travel post!) so though I'm scaling back on my posts, I am not scaling back on the variety that you guys find here. So everyone wins right?!

One Last Look

What are some of your favorite trends you've been styling this summer? And to my fellow college bloggers, what's your strategy to keep your sanity while juggling school work and your blog? Let's chat about both these topics in the comments below, or you can tweet me at @StarkRavingChic! Have a cute summer look you'd just love to show off? Feel free to tag me on your Instagram story at  @StarkRavingChic. Later, babes!

Xx, Bree

P.S. I just want to say thank you again to the out pouring of support that I received from all of you while I was feeling so down. It's truly ever so kind of all of you and I am so thankful for all of you and your kind words. ❤️

 

P.P.S. Psssssst! 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!

Also, In case you haven't heard, I am now a proud member of rewardStyle and LIKEtoKNOW.it! Meaning you can shop straight from my Instagram feed when you click here or here. Don't know what LIKEtoKNOW.it is all about? Learn more, here!