Simple Holiday Inspired Makeup / Beauty

If you’re like me, you’re not a big make-up guru and you like to keep it simple and natural looking. However, during holiday season there are all types of festivities going on, and let’s admit the truth - girls like to look a bit extra pretty during celebrations. It just adds a little something more to look forward to. Above you can see a makeup look for natural beauty obsessed minimalists in my interpretation. A very simple smokey eye in brown tones. Note I used brown mascara as well to keep it as monochrome as possible and a nude lip to create a really minimal look. But if you are going out at night and you want to be a bit bolder, you might want to add a dark lip as in the second picture. I chose purple (which, I think, I’m actually going to look for a darker version) because it’s not going to be as popular as the red lip, and I really like the contrast it creates with the brown eye shadow and mascara. Just carry 2 lipsticks in your purse and you can change your look in 2 seconds. I’m just all about efficiency, am I not?!

Here’s how I did the smokey eye:

1. Apply a nude eye shadow to your whole lid

2. Apply the darkest brown eye shadow you have close to your lashes and a bit under your eyes towards the corner of your eye

3. Use the second darkest brown shadow on your crease

4. Blend the eye shadow on your crease with a big brush

5. Use ivory eye shadow under your brows to highlight them

6. Apply brown mascara

I am a bit frustrated with youtube butchering the quality of the video. Have any of you also uploaded videos and the same thing happened? Do you have any suggestions?

Happy weekend, dolls!!

Thrift and Custom Your Oversized Coat / DIY

BEFORE                                                                                                         AFTER

BEFORE                                                                                               AFTER

You have probably noticed that long, oversized coats are the “it" thing this season. In my opinion, a good long coat is a timeless piece so some of you might already have one in your wardrobe. If not, however, do not think you have to run out and spend half of your paycheck on a great coat. A few months ago I bought this coat at a thrift store. Now, the problem I often have with thrift stores is sizing - a lot of garments are too big, but that is not something that is a problem in this situation. If you look at the first picture, you’ll notice that what emphasizes that the coat is too big are the too wide shoulders. The natural conclusion - fix the shoulders and the rest of the coat can stay huge, but it will still look like it fits you. This actually creates a great effect of an oversized coat.

What I did:

-turned my coat inside out

-made a little incision in the lining and removed the shoulder pads (they were under the lining for this particular coat. Your coat might have them visible or not have them at all)

-pinned where I needed to make the seam to take in the shoulder part and sleeves

-made a seem to make the shoulders and sleeves smaller

And the result is before your eyes!!

Much love, babes!

 

Design your LIFE / Different DIY

image source

Counting today, there are 38 days left in 2012. In the beginning of this year we set ourselves goals. At least a lot of us did. Now, I feel, is a good time to look back and evaluate what we have accomplished, what we still need to accomplish and start planning for the next year. Holiday season is a time when everyone just wants to enjoy, party and spend. And I’m not saying these things are bad, they can actually be very energizing (enjoying and partying, not so much spending) if executed correctly, but too much of that can cause us lose focus and and wake-up on January 1st with a lot of regret. Last night my husband and I were craving pizza. Well, actually, we were hungry, and we thought that pizza would be the best way to satisfy our hunger instantly. However, instead of ordering pizza, we decided to push ourselves and cook a healthy meal. Why? Because pizza would make us fat and broke. Same as pizza, jumping into the holiday spirit and forgetting everything might provide us with instant gratification, but it will not last. Let’s not be fat and broke this holiday season, but instead push ourselves to spend some quality time with our families and friends, and accomplishing our goals.

To look back at my year and set new goals I’ll be using a template posted by Hillary of Dean Street Society (she also had an article on IFB). Thanks so much for inspiration, Hillary!!

- learned to be thankful

- signed with 2 modeling agencies

- saved up enough money to not work most of the summer, but instead…

- … develop my modeling portfolio

- … double my blog’s traffic

- … contribute to my husband’s school payments

- … make an investment

- attended NYFW, IFB Conference, and FSTS seminar

- developed new contacts

- traveled to San Francisco, NYC (x3), Moscow, Los Angeles and Puerto Rico, and enjoyed time with family in Atlanta and Cincinnati 

- gained more focus for my blog and redesigned it

- figure out how to put more focus on other people through what I do 

- help people achieve financial independence

- figure out how to help the elderly in Latvia

- move to NYC

- sign with a modeling agency in NYC

- make modeling and my blog my main income streams

- learn how to be an awesome, super supportive and more caring wife

- go back to Latvia to see my family

- develop a clothing line

Few things to remember the 38 days left in this year and next year:

“Nothing becomes dynamic until it’s specific,” Dani Johnson. Even though I have set these big goals, that is not enough. I have to set specific dates by which they will be achieved and figure out exactly how I am going to achieve them. That leads me to other thing Dani has said: ”Look at people that have what you want and do what they do.” I will be learning, learning, learning from successful people, and I will be investing in my skills.

If you need more encouragement and a clearer vision for how to push these 38 days, I highly recommend this audio.

So what did you get done this year? What will you do the next 38 days and next year?

If you decide to answer on your own blog, please, let me know!! I want know more about you :)

Be your best, babes!!!

PS. You might wonder, why I am posting all this on a fashion blog. Well, since the beginning of the blog, it was never intended to be just a fashion blog as one of the categories always have been “words". It’s not enough that we design our styles, looks and clothes. We have to design our lives. Also, I have disclosed some goals to you that are very personal so I really count on you being discreet and open to be honest with me as well. 

“A” line skirt / Outfit

jacket - ℅ Sugarlips / skirt - handmade / sewing machine - vintage Singer

“A” line skirts is something that has gotten a lot of my attention this season. They are not very flattering, especially if knee-length or longer, but for some reason that is exactly what I like. Yesterday my mom was nagging me about my bleached eye-brows (again), and something she said stuck with me. “Why are you trying to take away from your beauty?” was a question she asked and, to be honest, I didn’t have an answer. I never thought of it that way, but I guess I am somehow attracted to things that in our world might be perceived as unattractive and maybe even ugly.  Why is that? What do you think? Is there something you like that the majority of people might not agree with?

Shirt Dress / DIY

monochrome venice beach

top - DIY / pants - vintage

If you follow me on instagram or facebook, you probably already know that my husband and I have been in LA since yesterday morning. We're here not only to relax, but more so to learn. I will tell you more when we get home.

Be good, babes!!

long sleeve leather top / DIY

An angel from the sky  My American mom decided to give me my Christmas/birthday present yesterday. A sewing machine. I don’t think I have to tell you how super thankful and excited I am since everything I’ve made so far I had sewed by hand. So last night we spent making me a wrap skirt which turned out really good and you’ll see it in an outfit post soon. It was another awesome Sunday. And here is what I made today - a long sleeve version of my pleather tops.

I used:

-1 yd vinyl

-scissors

-thread

-sewing machine

Trace the shape of the top on vinyl. I used another top for a size reference. Cut it out and use to trace the other side. You will have something that looks similar to first picture - two the same looking pieces. Stitch the bottom of your pieces, bottom of sleeves and the collar part the way it is shown in the second picture. Put both right sides together, pin them and start sewing it all together seam by seam. And that’s it.

I made a mistake of not leaving enough space for the armpits thus the sleeves cannot be totally straightened out - make sure not to make the same mistake if you don’t like the scrunched sleeves.

I cannot wait to wear it with my oxblood colored pants for a super monochrome look.

Make it a beautiful and productive week, babes!!

SUMMER VS. WINTER / How to wear it.

jacket and dress - ℅ Sugarlips / pants - vintage / shoes - vintage

When trying not to clutter your closet with million things, but instead get the maximum use out of every garment you own, using the same clothing article in different seasons is definitely something one should consider. Simple layering plus a little bit of out of the box thinking results in success. So this is what I did here - styled this beautiful white dress the way I’d wear it in summer and how I am wearing it right now. Now I know, I can wear it all year round. And yes, I am seriously crashing on oversized pants and pointy pumps this season - timeless classics.

Have a great weekend, my loves!!

ps. my hair is not purple

top - ℅ Sugarlips / skirt - H&M / sandals - Dolce Vita

I’m not really sure if that is a trend now or just a few of my favorite bloggers (here and here) are embracing this look, but on a sunny and dry day tights and sandals can definitely be a way to get a few more wears out of those summer shoes that you’re so sad to put away. 

The top is from Sugarlips (you can check out my style icon page here), and I’m really liking how raw and natural looking the fabric is, the basic shape, and of course the leather trim is a great finish. Thanks, Jackie, for sending it over!

Keep being inspired, my friends, I’m amazed by all your creativity and support!