Shop With Style

There you are, happy and in love, birds chirping, rainbows filling every sky. But then comes that moment…the inevitable moment… when you have to meet the parents. Of course you know that your sweetheart loves you already, but still, first impressions can sometimes make or break you, and meeting the parents can be just plain nerve-wracking. So we’ve got a few beautiful ideas for getting a jump-start on a great first impression right here!

Pencil skirt and blouse – If the parents are more along the “preppy” line, then you can always play it both feminine and sophisticated with a pencil skirt and blouse combo. Be sure that the pencil skirt isn’t skin-tight, and if the blouse is sheer, be sure to layer a full-length (not a crop) camisole underneath. Finish with a demure pair of d’Orsay pumps with a moderate heel (this is not the occasion for stilettos).

Cropped boyfriend jeans and a fine knit sweater – If your “meet the parents” date is a bit more casual, a pair of cropped boyfriend jeans and a fine knit sweater would be a perfect outfit. Boyfriend jeans have a slightly more relaxed fit, so the sweater can also be loose, but not so baggy as to look sloppy. A delicate long necklace, diamond stud earrings, and a boyfriend watch will add the perfect touch of bling. And keep the outfit casual-cool with some leather low-heel ankle boots, like these Chelsea boots.

A-line dress and tights – An A-line dress has got to be one of the most versatile and flattering pieces of clothing you can own. It looks fabulous on every body type, equal parts fitted and flowy, and is perfect for so many occasions…especially this one! Be sure that the top is not too tight or too revealing, and that the skirt is not too short. Pair it with opaque tights and flats or a wedge pump. If it’s chilly, layer on a cute cropped cardigan.

Circle skirt and turtleneck – A circle skirt flatters the same way an A-line dress does, nipping in at the waist and flowing away from the hips and thighs. But be sure to keep the length of the skirt no shorter than mid-thigh. No matter if the turtleneck is a chunky or fine knit, just be sure it is not too tight, because what it lacks in skin-exposure, it can make up for in form-revealing. Here too, tights work well, and you can add some interest by going for opaque or thin, plain black or a complimentary hue for the rest of the outfit. For shoes, think low-heel ankle boots, flats, or even brogues. Skip a necklace, but add on a delicate pair of dangling earrings, a chain bracelet, and large-face black-strap watch.

If you’ve got hooded eyes, then you know what a challenge applying eye makeup can be. While everyone else seems to just sweep on a fierce cat-eye, you’re trying to figure out how to keep it on, let alone apply it. Sure, some of the most popular young celebrities today, like Blake Lively, Taylor Swift, and Jennifer Lawrence, have hooded eyes, and their eye makeup manages to look fabulous all the time, but they also have the benefit of countless makeup artists at their beck-and-call. Lucky for you though, there are some simple tips you can use to make your hooded eyes really pop!

• Primer is your best friend – This is the single most important element of applying makeup for hooded eyes! Since your upper lid tends to fold over and hide your lower lid, any eye makeup you apply there is likely to be rubbed off quickly by the friction, so primer (like Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, or Benefit Stay Don’t Stray) will provide your products with loads more staying power. Apply from base of lashes to just below the brow bone and blend in, then allow to dry before applying any other products.
• Brows – You might not realize it, but unkempt brows can actually make your hooded lid look even heavier. Likewise, an over-plucked brow creates the appearance of more lid space, which draws attention to your hood. If you are unsure about the best shape for your face, go to a salon. They can help you get the basic shape established, so then all you will have to do is maintain. To keep them filled in, the best eyebrow makeup is usually powder, applied with a stiff angled brush. Powder often looks more natural than pencil, but the best brows usually combine both! Try a combo of Anastasia of Beverly Hills Brow Wiz and Smashbox Brow Tech.
• Use smudge-proof, water-proof liner and mascara – Again, if you constantly wrestle with disappearing eye makeup, the formulation of your products could be the culprit. You might have shied away from “smudge-proof” or “water-proof” before, but there are such great products out there, like the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil, that go on smoothly, blend effortlessly, and, most importantly, stay on! If it’s the removal of those smudge-proof and water-proof liners and mascaras that has you fretting, a product like Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover will quickly and gently wipe your eyes completely clean.
• Shadow placement – This is probably the second most important element in hooded eyes makeup, right behind using primer. With the sagging skin of hooded eyes, typical eye makeup tutorials often don’t apply to you. But don’t lose heart! You just need a slightly different placement technique. The goal is to camouflage the hooded skin to create the illusion of a more balanced, open eye using light and dark color placement (light colors bring forward, and dark colors recede). So, after your lid primer is dry, sweep a light, shimmery shade all over the lower lid. Next, apply a darker, matte shadow into the outer V (extending it a bit up and out). And now for the real magic…looking forward, with your eyes relaxed (so you can clearly see the hood), sweep a darker matte shadow in and slightly above your crease (yes, onto the lower part of the hood). In a light, windshield-wiper motion, bring the shadow about half way in, then connect it with the shadow in the outer V. The darker shadow will help to recede the skin of the hood. Always remember, if you’ve got hooded eyes, always have a matte shadow pallet handy!

You have never been afraid of trying new styles and trends. After all, you know better than to judge any outfit from how it looks on the hanger. The only problem is, once you’ve tried on that fierce top and you’ve fallen in love with it, how do you know what type of jewelry will compliment it, not distract from it? Matching a necklace to a neckline is all about creating a visually similar line. Fashion is a balancing act, with all the little individual pieces coming together to bring out the best in you, so let’s take a look at winning top/jewelry combos that will be guaranteed to hit all the right notes!

First, consider the occasion. You need to figure out if your chosen jewelry is not only appropriate for the neckline of your top, but also for where you plan on going. You may find that your great Grandma’s pearl and diamond necklace looks amazing with that top…but is it really practical for a weekend trip to the zoo with your 3 year old nephew who loves to grab things and pull them until they break? Probably not.

Once you decide the occasion, you can move on to the fun stuff…accessorizing!

Type of top: Turtleneck

Perfect jewelry for it: A longer chain or pendant, or layers of those

Reason: If you wear a shorter necklace it will tend to make your neck look shorter and thicker.

Type of top: Crew

Perfect jewelry for it: Bib or collar necklace

Reason: The length will hit right at the neckline of the shirt and mimic its shape, making it look aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

Type of top: Scoop

Perfect jewelry for it: Shorter chains and pendants with some bulk and width to them, like a chandelier bib necklace

Reason: The scoop will expose a little more skin, providing a blank canvas for your necklace. A necklace with more bulk to it will also help to keep you from appearing over exposed.

Type of top: Strapless

Perfect jewelry for it: Choker or short pendant

Reason: Adds visual interest and splits the attention so all the focus won’t be on your cleavage.

Type of top: One shoulder/Asymmetrical

Perfect jewelry for it: There are two camps of opinions here. Some say avoid a necklace altogether and go with long, dangling earrings, while some say wear a necklace that is asymmetrical in design itself.

Reason: Most tend to let the top speak for itself and opt for earrings.  Reason being, the neckline of an asymmetrical top is visually interesting enough, and not overly revealing, so it can stand on its own.

Type of top: Collard button-up

Perfect jewelry for it: Short pendant

Reason: If you keep the necklace above the area where the buttons meet, you can avoid a messy look. The shorter, dangling pendant can still be seen, and mimics the shape created by the top, which is visually appealing.

Type of top: V-neck

Perfect jewelry for it: V-shaped dangling pendants or chandelier necklaces

Reason: You can safely add a v-shaped necklace that falls about an inch above the neckline of the top. This will mimic the shape of the neckline and elongate the look of your torso.

Type of top: Square

Perfect jewelry for it: Square or angular pendants

Reason: The straight lines of angular pendants will compliment the neckline of the top, adding even more visual interest.

Type of top: Cowl

Perfect jewelry for it: A short pendant or opt for earrings instead

Reason: A cowl neckline already has a lot going on with the folds of material, so a necklace might make it look too messy. It’s safer to stick with longer earrings.

Type of top: Sweetheart

Perfect jewelry for it: Longer drop pendant, Y-shape, lariat, or delicate v-shaped bib

Reason: The sweetheart neckline is one of the most popular shapes for wedding dresses. While you can pull off a shorter, simple necklace (like a single strand of pearls), you might instead want a necklace with a drop pendant…something to mimic the downward point of the neckline.