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What to Buy at the Nordstrom Sale: Accessories and Beauty

August 11, 2020August 11, 2020 by Megan Kristel

Continuing with the Nordstrom Sale, today, I’m highlighting the top Accessories and Beauty picks. Today’s post isn’t too involved, just the best of the best.

Their inventory in these categories is hit or miss. To keep things simple and to save you time, I’m only featuring items I either personally use, know you are looking for and are in line with our Well Dressed Life style guidance.

And speaking of inventory, this sale does always sells out, but I don’t remember a sale where things were selling out this quickly.

I am “influencer” level, which means I was able to shop yesterday, and a quarter of what was in my cart was sold out by the time I got around to ordering. Of course, this is the least of our worries these days, but it is annoying since they make such a big deal about the sale.

I’m not telling you this to create some sense of urgency. Just if you’re wondering what is going on, you’re not wrong in thinking it’s odd. In years past, they did a much better job replenishing fast selling items at least through cardholder access.

Anyway, back to business! As I publish this post, all of these items are currently in stock. I picked up a few for myself, as you’ll see below.

Nordstrom Sale: Accessories and Beauty

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Accessories

Tory Burch Crossbody, $150 – This chic Tory Crossbody is the only bag in the entire sale worth mentioning. I ordered it for myself, I think it’s gorgeous.

Cubic Zirconia, $27 – Simple, everyday studs.

Layered Chain Necklace, $59 – We talk a lot about long necklaces, this one, in silver or gold tone is perfect for over fall tops and sweaters.

Quay Australia Sunglasses, $36 – Oversized and glamorous sunnies for under $40, also in my cart 🙂

Huggie Earrings, $23 – These are so pretty on, just a little sparkle but easy to wear all day long. Available in silver or gold tone.

Gold Hoops, $40 – Argento Vivo is a jewelry brand that offers modern yet classic styling at affordable prices. These hoops are gorgeous and a nice way to try the brand.

Gorjana Collar Necklace, $42 – Perfect to layer or wear on its own, this Gorjana necklace as just the right amount of bling.

Pearl Necklace, $40 – I also purchased this pretty pearl necklace, to sit under collared shirts or with a simple tee.

I use, love and personally recommend all of the products below.

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Beauty

Personal Microderm, $133 – I featured this personal microderm tool just last month. You can read the full review here. I paid $200 for it on Amazon, so the savings is fantastic.

T3 Curling Iron and T3 Hair Dryer, – These have been my go-tos for years. Using them together cuts my drying and styling time in half, and the heat from the iron really locks in the curls. To prevent damaging your hair, be sure to use a heat protecting product.

Caviar Shampoo and Conditioner, $72 – An absolute splurge, but one I grab during every sale.

Beauty Blender Set, $35 – These little guys make a huge difference in your make up application, and need to be replaced frequently.

Bobbi Brown Lip Duo, $29 – I love a good lipstick and gloss combo and this color is the perfect pretty neutral for fall.

Slip Pillowcase Set, $125 – I can’t sing the praises of these silk pillowcases enough. They stay cool at night, feel so indulgent, and have a ton of beauty benefits like reducing wrinkles and preventing hair breakage. I’m picking up a new set for myself because 2020 is the worst.

What to Buy at The Nordstrom Sale: Reader Favs, Jeans, Coats and Shoes

Be sure to check out all our Reader Favorites, plus the best jeans, coats and shoes in the sale.

Our Content is Inspired by Our Readers

Our readership inspires all of our posts and is not sponsored or paid for by brands or retailers.

Recommendations are based on my experience as a personal stylist and wardrobe consultant for over a decade. I worked with busy, down-to-earth women who wanted to look chic and feel confident but were often confused by so much of retail.

Some links are affiliate links, which means if you purchase via our site, we receive a small commission.

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The BEST Sunscreen for Your Face

September 15, 2020June 16, 2020 by Megan Kristel

Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defense Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30

By now, we all know that wearing sunscreen every day is a must. And many of us (raises hand) wish we spent our younger years embracing SPF a little more.

While I was at the beach last week with my family, I saw my 13 years old attempting to sunbathe. She was convinced she needed a “base.” Don’t worry, we sprayed her down with SPF 70.

Bless her freckled-faced heart. I did the same thing when I was her age, like an idiot. I am just waiting for the day she discovers self-tanners.

But unlike her, I remember the days of sunscreen feeling like you were slathered with Elmers Glue. And back then, we only wore it in the summer, when we would be outside for long periods of time.

Today, it’s should be an essential part of our daily beauty routine.

The BEST Sunscreen for Your Face

Sunscreen, $34

As someone who burns looking at the sun, I’ve tried so many sunscreens specifically for my face. Sometimes they were part of my foundation or a tinted moisturizer, but I find having a separate one especially helpful this time of year.

I discovered the Umbra Sheer Physical Daily Defense by Drunk Elephant a few months ago, and I will never try another one. It goes on easily, like a light moisturizer, and absorbs into your skin instantly, leaving no sticky film or residue and makeup layers on wonderfully.

I keep my morning skincare routine simple, considering how involved it is before bed. All I do is lightly wash my face with this Tachta face oil, follow up with my favorite face oil, wait a minute, then put on this sunscreen.

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Our Content is Inspired by Our Readers

Our readership inspires all of our posts and is not sponsored or paid for by brands or retailers.

Recommendations are based on my experience as a personal stylist View Post and wardrobe consultant for over a decade. I worked with busy, down-to-earth women who wanted to look chic and feel confident but were often confused by so much of retail.

Some links are affiliate links, which means if you purchase via our site, we receive a small commission.

5 Products for a 5 Minute Summer Face

June 11, 2020 by Megan Kristel

Remember when you first started wearing makeup? I do. I would layer on everything, all at once. Concealer, liquid foundation, powder; whatever Seventeen magazine said to do, I followed, exactly. Regardless of if I actually had anything to “cover up.”

Now, I have a 13-year-old who is sneaking mascara and lipgloss to school. I pretend I don’t notice. She reminds me of myself at her age. I can still feel that surge of confidence I would get when my hair looked a certain way, or I felt pretty heading off to school – something I didn’t regularly feel.

I try to remind her, as my mom did, that less is more when it comes to makeup. But she’ll figure that out on her own, like the rest of us.

As we age, we learn the importance of letting our skin breathe. For years I’ve advocated focusing your time and dollars on skincare first.

Get your skin as healthy as possible. Drink a ton of water, wear SPF every day and moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. If you have the budget, consider a few facials with an esthetician throughout the year.

You’ll benefit from a deep clean, but also recommendations from a professional to help with your specific skin challenges.

This time of year especially, I like to keep my skin bare as much as possible. So I edit my everyday makeup down to the essentials.

These products help me look healthy and pulled together and take less than five minutes to apply.

5 Products for a 5 Minute Face

These are the five products I wear every day. It’s a beautiful base that you can add to if you need more coverage or want to create a more dramatic look.

For me, a typical summer day has me working from my home office, running errands, stopping by our pool to pick up or drop off the kids, and maybe grabbing dinner with Bri when we get the girls settled for the night. Nothing crazy.

As many of you already know, I follow a specific nighttime skincare routine but am low maintenance in the morning. I simply wash my face with this oil cleanser, apply my favorite serum and add either this SPF or follow the five steps below.

BB Cream

BB Cream, $33

What is BB Cream? It’s like a tinted moisturizer, filled with lots of good-for-your-skin ingredients and an SPF in one. You’ll get light to medium coverage that looks pretty flawless.

I discovered bareMinerals back in my QVC days. They are still one of the only beauty brands with a consistent inclusive color range.

For reference, I wear the Opal in the winter, and the Natural when I have a self tan – that’s how pale I am. lol.

Simply apply this to dry skin, a little goes a long way. I use a BeautyBlender to get an even application and finish.

Ka-Brow

Eyebrow Color, $24

One of my all-time favorite beauty products is Ka-Brow by benefit. Earlier this month, I shared how I tint my eyebrows. It makes a huge difference when you go makeup-free. But when I do wear makeup, I enhance them just a little bit more.

Ka-brow is a gel eyebrow color. It comes in the jar (above) with an angled brush for easy application. Follow the shape of your natural brow with little brush strokes for a perfectly shaped, natural brow. It makes a huge difference.

Benefit is another inclusive brand. Ka-brow offers six universal colors, I wear the #2 Warm Golden Brown,

Wander Beauty Mascara

Mascara, $26

I try a ton of mascaras. Right now I have at least six that rotate through. This Wander Beauty, Mile High Club mascara is my FAVORITE for daily use. It creates long (but not too long), natural looking lashes with no clumps.

Tinted Lip Balm

Lip Balm, $20

RMS Beauty is a recent discovery last year. I first purchased this compact, in Pop, filled with bronzer, highlighter, balm, and two lip colors. It’s the perfect size to keep in a bag for quick and easy touch ups during the day.

I loved the lip color so much I wanted a full size. So I ordered these tinted lip balms in hibiscus pink tint and passion lane. They are nicely pigmented and moisturizing. I add a little to my cheeks too.

Bronzer

Bronzer, $30

The Hoola Bronzer, also by benefit, is a staple for beauty gurus. So many bronzers look orange or have shimmer in them. Not this one, you get the slightest hint of a natural glow without being over the top.

I apply it to my cheekbones and the side of my nose. I also swipe around my hairline to help pull my face in, and under my chin to give my back my once strong jawline.

It’s available in four colors to work for many skin tones. I wear the original “Hoola,” above, in the summer and the “Hoola Lite” in the winter. They also offer “Carmel” and “Toasted” for deeper and darker tones.

Our Content is Inspired by Our Readers

Our readership inspires all of our posts and is not sponsored or paid for by brands or retailers.

Some links are affiliate links, which means if you purchase via our site, we receive a small commission.

How to Shape and Tint Your Eyebrows at Home

May 21, 2020May 21, 2020 by Megan Kristel

Eyebrows are the key to an easy, natural five-minute face.

When I was younger, I had great brows. Full, lush, dark, perfectly face-framing. But as I’ve aged, they’ve become thin and sparse, and they grow in with more and more gray.

While I have no interest in going back to my twenties, I would very much like my eyebrows from then.

A balanced and shaped eyebrow will make you look youthful and modern. They highlight your bone structure and pull out your cheekbones.

So I thought it would be helpful to share what I’ve learned over the years working with beauty industry professionals (and lots of trial and error of my own), and share how I get perfect brows at home.

Follow the steps below or watch my IGTV video at the bottom of this post.

How to Shape and Tint Your Eyebrows at Home

It’s so easy to get gorgeous eyebrows. All you need are a few affordable tools and a few extra minutes.

I’ll walk you through each step below and share a video in real time below.

Ice Roller, $18

First, if you don’t like the “pinch” from plucking, run this ice roller over your brows. This was a middle of the night impulse buy that ended up being one of my favorite things of 2019. I use it all the time to calm puffy skin, help with sinuses, and to get my brows ready.

You move much faster and remove more hair with the tweezer if it doesn’t hurtBrow Kit, $14

Next you need a spoolie, tweezers and, if your brows are extra long, a small pair of trimmers to help tame them. This brow kit from Target has everything you need.

Brow Stencils, $22

Next, pick up this pack of eyebrow stencils. You’ll see in the video below: I use the “Full Arch” option. This helps you understand your brow’s natural shape and determine where you should pluck and how to fill them in.

Tint Kit, $20

Finally, to tint them, use this kit from TintKit. I use “medium brown” but there are lots of other options. It’s so easy to use.

Simply mix on capsule of the dye with a 1/4 teaspoon of the developer in a small dish. Then, paint it on your brows with the included brush.

Let it sit for 1 – 2 minutes and wipe off.

Important!

When you are finished tinting both brows, use a face wash that includes some kind of gentle exfoliator, this will help remove any shadow dye left on your skin.

Then you’re done! Below is me with only mascara, a tinted moisturizer, a little lipgloss and some good old fashion lighting 😉 You can see the before in the video below.

How to Video

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A post shared by The Well Dressed Life (@thewelldressedlife) on May 21, 2020 at 9:57am PDT

Our Content is Inspired by Our Readers

Our readership inspires all of our posts and is not sponsored or paid for by brands or retailers.

Some links are affiliate links, which means if you purchase via our site, we receive a small commission.

How to Fix Damaged Hair in 5 Easy Steps

May 15, 2020May 15, 2020 by Megan Kristel

Could your hair use a little love? If so, today I’m going to share how to fix damaged hair, at home, in five easy steps.

The day PA started stay-at-home orders, I was scheduled to get a cut and full highlights, which obviously, was canceled. That means it’s been over four months since I’ve had anything done to my hair.

That may not seem like a long time, but when you’re an unnatural blonde – it’s an eternity.

I go back and forth with the idea of coloring my hair at home, something I haven’t done since I was in my early twenties. For now, I’m holding out hope that we are just a few weeks away from our salons safely reopening and I decided, instead, to focus on getting it healthy.

My hair takes a beating, between the color and all the hot tools I use, this is probably a needed break.

If you’re in the same boat, I thought I would share what I’m doing to help repair the damage from decades of abuse that’s making a big difference.

* My heart breaks for small business owners and entrepreneurs right now who are unable to work. You are the backbone of our country. Unless you’ve put everything you have into a dream to be a business owner, you have no idea the stress, strain, and devastation they are facing. If you are a salon owner or stylist, we are all praying you to get to go back to work safely as soon as possible. Hang in there, friends.

How to Fix Damaged Hair in 5 Easy Steps

I do this every Monday morning in the shower and it takes no time at all. This process is really easy to incorporate into your morning or evening shower routine.

How to Fix Damaged Hair in 5 Easy Steps

Scalp Scrub, $42

It’s well documented that I love this salt scrub. Taking care of your scalp is the first step in healthy hair. Aside from this feeling like a spa treatment (it’s especially glorious after a sweaty workout) it removes all the residue, dead skin cells, and excess oil on your scalp.

Use this in the shower instead of your regular shampoo. It’s a bit expensive but a little goes a long way.

Hair Towel, $30

Finish up in the shower, jump out and wrap your head in a towel. Get your hair to just damp before you apply the hair mask below.

I love this towel because it absorbs quickly, and doesn’t damage or leave it frizzy. I have straight hair but all my girls have very curly hair and this is wonderful for both of us.

Hair Mask, $38

This hair mask is incredible. INCREDIBLE! My hair was so fried the ends were breaking. A stylist friend recommended this to me and after the first time I used it I saw a remarkable difference.

Once you have your hair damp, put this on, covering from your roots to the ends. Work it through with a wide-tooth comb (below) and then let it sit for 5 minutes.

It’s only 5 minutes – so it takes no time at all! I always put on my Caudalie Instant Detox Facial face mask, too, since that takes the same amount of time.

Make your bed and hop back in the shower to quickly rinse it out.

Wide Tooth Comb, $37

I am a big fan of Mason Pearson hair brushes and tools. They are more expensive then something you would pick up at the drugstore, but they are high quality and last forever.

We have a few of their brushes (in various sizes) that I bought almost a decade ago and they still look and work like new.

This wide tooth comb I use for my hair and on my kids to help get all the knots out without breaking their hair.

Hair Oil, $15

Finally, style your hair. Most days, I let it air dry (with the help of the towel above) OR I’ll quickly hit it with my hairdryer. Either way, when it’s almost dry, I add some of this Moroccanoil to my ends to keep them smooth and protect from split ends.

Done!

Our Content is Inspired by Our Readers

Our readership inspires all of our posts and is not sponsored or paid for by brands or retailers.

Recommendations are based on my experience as a personal stylist View Postand wardrobe consultant for over a decade. I worked with busy, down-to-earth women who wanted to look chic and feel confident but were often confused by so much of retail.

Some links are affiliate links, which means if you purchase via our site, we receive a small commission.

Easy Steps for a Flawless At Home Self Tan

May 8, 2020May 8, 2020 by Megan Kristel

Since it’s getting to be that time of year, I thought it would be fun to walk you through how I get a natural-looking, streak-free, self-tan at home.

My skin does not tan at all. If I look at the sun the wrong way, I burn and freckle instantly.

Ever since I was 14 and saw supermodel Niki Taylor on the cover of Seventeen Magazine, I’ve been chasing a healthy-looking tan. From drug store-brand formulas that left me the color of baseball dirt, to the modern formulas that actually work, I have tried every product ever on the market, which makes me a bit of an expert.

Over the last few years, in the spirit of saving time, I’ve gone to my neighborhood salon for a bi-weekly spray tan starting right before Memorial Day. This year, unfortunately, our area salons are closed (and may not reopen this summer – insert sobbing emoji), so it’s time to go back to doing it myself.

Luckily, I have loads of experience. 😉

I’m not trying to look like a bronzed goddess, nor am I saying that fair skin isn’t beautiful.

It’s just that I look radioactive on the beach. The tanner helps to tone it down, even out my skin, hide my veins and cellulite and help me feel more confident in shorts and swimsuits.

I mapped out my process below, and shared a step-by-step video over in my Instagram highlights.

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☀️Anyone else craving sunshine and normalcy right about now? . 🤚🏼 . This time of year I usually start up my bi-weekly spray tans in anticipation for warmer weather and shorter hemlines. . But since my local salons are nowhere near opening 😭I have to go back to my roots and do it myself. . Luckily, I’ve been self-tanning since I was 14, which pretty much makes me an expert. . So today I’m breaking down my easy at home steps for a flawless at home tan. . Including how to get a natural, streak free application and my favorite products that make the process a breeze. . ☝🏼For the step-by-step guide follow the link in my profile and click “New on the Blog” or head to my highlights to watch the tutorial in full 💕

A post shared by The Well Dressed Life (@thewelldressedlife) on May 8, 2020 at 8:39am PDT

Easy Steps to a Perfect Self Tan

Self Tanner, $40 In Medium | In Dark

Skin Prep

The night before you apply your self-tanner, shower, shave and exfoliate, paying extra attention to your elbow, knees, heels and hands and feet. Areas with dry or rough skin will absorb the tanner in a way that will leave it looking dirty.

After you get out of the shower, dry off and slather your favorite moisturizer all over.

Nails

Be sure you remove any nail polish and push back your cuticles. I also apply some cuticle oil so they do not dry out. Much like rough, dry skin, if your cuticles are dry or overgrown, and come in contact with your tanner, they will quickly turn yellow.

Do not skip prepping your skin, it makes all the difference in how your tan comes out.

Application

These days, there are a ton of effective products on the market. It just depends on the results you are looking for and how much time you have.

The St. Tropez line is terrific, though it will give you a much darker tan. I use it if we are going on vacation, so I start darker than usual, but then it fades throughout the week, extending the life of the tan.

NDK is another option, with a traditional application process. It goes on like a moisturizer and develops over 7 – 8 hours.

Lately, I’ve been using Loving Tan’s 2-hour express. I use the medium, which is great for skin that doesn’t naturally tan. They also have dark – ideal if you tan easily.

Loving tan is currently my favorite if you want a subtle, low maintenance tan.

It doesn’t smell, streak, or stain fabrics at- so wins all around.

Because it goes on dark, you can see exactly where you are putting it to make sure it goes on evenly.

Important! Be sure to use an applicator mitt – this will save your hands from getting stained AND help you cover more surface quickly and easily.

Best Practice

I’ve been doing this process on Saturday mornings. Which means I start to prep on Friday night.

In the morning, remove your clothes and put your mitt on your left hand.

With the mitt on your left hand, work from your left leg up your body and apply on your right arm, chest, and neck.

Then switch hands and with the mitt on your right hand, start at the top of your right foot, and apply moving up your body, finishing on your left arm, chest, and neck.

You want to work with two-three pumps at a time.

As you work up your leg and arms, avoid your knee and elbow until there is very little product left on the mitt, then apply to those areas. This helps make sure they blend evenly.

Finally, be careful applying to your face. You don’t need as much product as you may think. Start with one pump, and go from there, paying close attention to your hairline and ears.

When you’re done, throw on a loose fitting dress – and skip a bra for a few hours. I keep an old tank dress from when I was pregnant on hand just for this.

With the Loving Tan formula, you let it sit for 2 hours (it drys almost right away) and then hop in the shower to rinse it off. The tan continues to build over the next few hours.

Products:

Loving Tan, Two Hour Express Tanning Mouse: In Medium | In Dark

Applicator Mitt: for Body and Face

Video How-To: Instagram

Our Content is Inspired by Our Readers

Our readership inspires all of our posts and is not sponsored or paid for by brands or retailers.

Some links are affiliate links, which means if you purchase via our site, we receive a small commission.

6 Affordable Luxury Beauty Products and Tools You’ll Love

March 19, 2020March 19, 2020 by Megan Kristel

Right now, we all need a little self-care. Something simple, inexpensive, and uncomplicated to take our mind off things. A small indulgence to make us feel good. For me, when I do a little pampering, I feel better.

I’m a big believer in maintaining as much normalcy as possible when things feel uncertain. And for many of us, we’re focusing on maintaining that normalcy for our families.

Now, more than ever, it’s going to be really easy to forget about yourself.

Carving out some time, even if it’s just a minute, for self-care will help you feel centered and allow you to take better care of yourself and everyone around you.

So, I thought it would be helpful to roundup my favorite beauty tools and products. These are some of my all-time favorite finds, that I use regularly, and are all under $40.

You can incorporate these into your day without a lot of fuss, and seriously, since none of us will be hitting up a salon in the coming weeks, we’re going to need all the help we can get! 😉

6 Affordable Luxury Beauty Products and Tools You’ll Love

Clay Mask, $39

This is my favorite face mask. It’s gentle, not drying, and effective. It’s a clay mask, so it gets tight on your skin. Keep on for ten minutes, and wipe off with a warm washcloth. Use once or twice a week to help remove dirt, oil, and pollutants from your face.

I like to use it as part of my nighttime skincare routine.

Ice Roller, $15

I bought this ice face roller in 2019 while I was up in the middle of the night and pregnant with Vivi, unable to sleep. By the time it showed up, I had forgotten about it. I eventually used it, and it is surprisingly fantastic.

I keep it in my freezer drawer and use it first thing in the morning, while the house is still quiet and I’m getting my coffee ready. This helps reduce redness and puffiness and also tightens pores. It also just feels so good and helps wake me up.

Derma Roller, $23

Of all the gizmo’s I use on my face, and there are many, it is by far the most impactful. A Microneedle, or Derma Roller is a small, handheld tool that rolls thousands of tiny needles across your face.

Doing so does a few things, first, it helps stimulate collagen – something we all need. Second, the small little holes the needle makes allows your products to absorb into your skin better, making them more effective.

Does it hurt? No, but it might feel uncomfortable at first. You get use to it.

Start once a week and work your way to two. When you use this, skip any other exfoliate you might use.

Dry Brush, $20

Dry brushing is an excellent technique used to reduce cellulite, improve circulation, smooths skin, and help with lymphatic drainage – which in turn helps strengthen our immune system. I started using it simply to exfoliate before learning about all the other good-for-you benefits.

Use it once to twice a week, before you shower. Work in sweeping movements up your body from your toes to your chest, and then in a downward motion from your neck to your chest. It feels weird but good, and your skin will feel great right away and start to glow a few weeks from now with regular use. This is the brush I use, from goop.

Hand Cream, $29

We’re washing our hands and wiping down every surface in our homes all day long. We need a good hand cream, and this one from L’Occitane is the best. I keep tubes of these all around the house: in drawers, in my bag, and the pocket of my robe.

And as an extra little something, warm a wash cloth and wrap it around your hands – like when you get your nails done, and then apply this cream before bed. You’ll wake up with soft and supple skin, ready for the next round of cleaning.

Note: this is not the family hand cream, this is just for me.

Hydrating Mask, $38
Earlier this week, my hair stylist called me to confirm that my appointment for this week was canceled.

Breathe in, breathe out.

I am NOT a natural blonde, as you’ll soon see yourself.

Since we’re not using a lot of heavy chemicals and tools on our hair right now, spend a little time bringing it back to life.

Because all those things do a number on our hair. This mask by Moroccan Oil will help infuse your strands with hydration and it takes only five minutes to use!

Simply wash your hair, towel dry it, work it through your hair in with a wide-tooth comb, wait for 5 minutes, and rinse it out. You’ll thank me later.

Our Content is Inspired by Our Readers

Our readership inspires all of our posts and is not sponsored or paid for by brands or retailers.

Recommendations are based on my experience as a personal stylist View Postand wardrobe consultant for over a decade. I worked with busy, down-to-earth women who wanted to look chic and feel confident but were often confused by so much of retail.

Some links are affiliate links, which means if you purchase via our site, we receive a small commission.