Biz Block Time

Hey kitties,

Today I not only want to show you my OOTD, but also want to show  what blending of two different colors looks like.

Essentially, I like to think the entire outfit is pretty bold and very '80s with a taste of today.

The blazer is Cathy Daniels, which I thrifted at Savers. It is a Large, cost me $4, and you can purchase it at All Our Hearts for a mere $2.50 plus shipping fee.

The rosewood color dress with a back-length zipper is from F21, a gift from a friend. The top hat is from Urban Outfitters and I got for $4 a few years back. Tights are from Target for $5 and my awesome shoes are from Famous Footwear, which were a gift from my sister but the price on them was $29, and if you check out the store, the price may or may not have been reduced.

Love&Out,

Noemi 

Summer skirt, December Child

Arizona weather is always something to talk about. As of late, we've had a 180 turn from warm lovely weather to chilled winter weather.

So what better way to indulge in such weather than to take a favorite summer piece and work around it to complete a warm and cozy ensemble than to write about it and hopefully ignite a spark of inspiration somewhere across the world.

The cool thing about having an older sister is that she gives you the clothes she doesn't enjoy anymore.

The sweater I'm wearing here is one of those pieces she gave to me. She got it at Wet Seal for  FIVE DOLLARS. Definitely poke around that store next time you're there.

The skirt -- Oh, my skirt, how I adore you. -- I got at Target and is one of those pieces that I posted about several time during August and the hot months. 

I tucked in the sweater, added some pantyhose and my Target boots, and voila! I had myself the perfect, cozy and warm outfit for the chilly weather.

I am also sporting my DIY Chevron bracelet! Check out the ads on the right side of this post and click on the Honestly WTF photo for a tutorial on how to make your own.

Peace out (I'm gonna eat some pizza, have un chocolat chaud et watch Buffy the Vamp. Slayer...instead of studying for my final),

@NoemiPossible 

DIY: 'Reject' Outfit

Concert photos taken by Gabee!

 

The All-American Rejects - "Kids in the Street" from Jon Danovic on Vimeo.

There's this magazine that a friend who we've featured here works for and they're currently hiring, and I really want to write for them and pitch the idea of a what not to wear/what to wear tutorial-sort-of-a-thing for concerts.

But I thought that for now I would just share some tips as to how to equip yourself for that hope-to-be-amazing concert that has you staying up late Googling everything about the artist you'll be seeing.

A month ago, I came to terms that I wasn't going to go to the All American Rejects concert. I had met the guys before during my braces years (14ish), but never had I seen them in concert.

Then, Gabee sent me a message saying, "What if we say screw everything and go to the AAR concert next week?" *Actually, I don't know if she sent that word for word

But yeah...I was just really excited and I wasn't sure what to expect. I just knew I wanted to look nice while singing at the top of my lungs to the set list, which I did, and I like to think Tyson appreciated it because I SWEAR he made eye contact with me at the end of one of the songs and bowed to me.

There is just something special about how their lyrics, like Le Petite Prince, can resonate within you making a thousand fleeting moments pass you by, making you experience heartache and happiness all at the same time.

I'm still in awe of his passion. And how beautiful they all are. As you can tell with all my rambling!

But now to the outfit!

Heels or No Heels --

I'm considered above average in the US, being 5'6'', and height can be a huge benefit at standing concerts.


I wore my 1 1/2 inch boots from Target because I just really like them, but when I got there I realized that I had made a brilliant choice over my blue oxfords but also a slight mistake.

Before AAR came on, Gabee and I were standing behind two people, the area that would be considered the third row, and there was a young boy who was half an inch shorter than I am,so with my boots I was able to oversee everything, BUT my knees and back were killing me by the time AAR started playing.

I actually got a bruise under my left knee I think from all the pressure I was putting the 2 hours before the concert started.

So there are pros and cons to the heel question.

If you're at lest 5'7'', go with sneakers, oxfords but NOT flats. At rock concerts, the crowd tends to go wild. I actually lost my new pair of pink moccasins at The Maine and Rocket to the Moon concert a few years back. It made the night memorable, but I came out short of one shoe. Plus, people kept stepping on me.

Makeup or Bonne Natural --

I actually don't wear makeup, but as of late, I've fallen for Gabee's Revlon Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie.

I absolutely adore it. I definitely recommend wearing a red shade of lip butter/lipstick. It has that genuine rock flare to it and makes your entire look seem classy.

For mascara and eyeliner: Wear the kind that is waterproof. By the end of the concert, you'll be beyond sweaty and you may inadvertently smear it.

What to wear --

Before I say anything else: Choose to go with whatever is a size too big for you and pair it off with dark bottoms, some flat boots, or heeled boots or heeled shoes or those grungy sneakers that simply fill your life with happiness! It works magic. I think Stephanie does a wonderful job showcasing what I mean with her first blazer look here.

You can find a myriad of sites with sources of concert outfit inspirations, but some of them, for me, are too glamorous or too Spring for the look that most of us want to achieve.

TANGENT: Turns out Tyson and I have similar tastes in clothing. He was sporting his denim/ leather-sleeve jacket while I was wearing my denim button up.

For any concert, black jeggings/black pants are the way to go if you're having trouble. Like Gabee said, when in doubt, choose black.

By wearing black, you create space for signature layering. I had to be at school early in the morning and had too much to do before the concert, so I went with a basic lace cami with black jeggings paired with my brown boots and denim button up with straightened hair.

Gabee went with black bottoms (or dark bottoms) topped off with her Saved by the Bell T-shirt and a bun with coral lip butter.



Many girls also went with dark skinny bottoms and t-shirts with some sort of logo on them that just had that cool-esque to them. Others went with leggings topped with below the waist loose shirts and messy pony tails or curled/wavy hair.

Comfort over Glamour --

The answer is always comfort then complement your comforting look with some glorious accessories. Be a kid in the street and relax (see what I did there?)!

Hope this helps in some way! Or, hope it was just a good read. xx, @NoemiPossible

Mini Target Sock Haul

I really like socks. Plain and simple. So when I found these awesome socks at Target on clearance for $1.75 (except the teal and black, they were $3), I had to buy them-- well my sister actually bought them for me. I figured I'd share them with y'all!
P.S. Please excuse my knees. I didn't realize how strange they were until I went through these pictures.

Autumn is here!

Hey Blog Friends (I've been watching too many Jim Chapman YouTube vlogs):

Autumn is here! Okay, so it's in the low 80° and gets to the low 70°  at nights here in Phoenix, Ariz., but we Phoenicians consider this lovely weather perfect to pull out our tights and light long sleeves (we live in a desert people, with scorching heat for months and months and months). 

The following outfit I call my "Bonnie" outfit. Anyone who's a fan of Vampire Diaries might think so too. I got the dress slash shirt at Charming Charlie in downtown Phoenix, which is about 10 minutes away from my school. It's a two-story store with all the accessories any girl can ever dream of. I got this shirt/dress sometime last winter and it was on sale for 10 bucks reduced from a price of, I think, $30. It's also sort of a rosy brown color. 

The tights are from Target for $6. 

And I got my midnight blue oxfords at Cathy's at AZ Mills Shopping Center. All shoes at the store were buy one get another 50% off...so Gabee and I tried to cheat the system. We both got ourselves a pair of midnight blue oxfords and rather than one paying $20 and the other paying $10, we each paid $15, saving ourselves $4 (each, so $8 in total)! 

                

Denim, Denim, and Not So Much Makeup: Summer Edition

Back in September, I posted Denim, Denim, and Makeup, which consisted of a pretty simple denim button-up and black denim shorts. Yesterday, I found myself wearing a pretty similar outfit with a much more summer feel, so I though it'd be fun to do a little post about it.

The top is actually the same, I just removed the sleeves a while back when it started getting warmer. Honestly. I love this top. I wore so often in the cooler weather, and now, it's summer friendly so I can continue using it.

The lavender shorts, in trend with all things color and pastel, add a refreshing summer look as opposed to the black shorts I wore back in the fall. I bought these online at Forever 21 for my birthday, and unfortunately, they fit a bit loose so I have to belt them.

The belt is from Kohl's.

Another difference from this look and the previous one is my necklace. In the other look, I went with a pearl necklace to add a bit of sophistication to an otherwise very casual outfit. This time, I wanted a very casual look, so I went with a simple music note necklace from Target.

As far as makeup is concerned for this look, I kept it very simple. I'm wearing a creamy eyeshadow with a slight purple tint because I wanted a more toned down look. My nails, however, are completely different.

I absolutely love the whole bright color current trend and I love showing it through my nails even more.

My favorite nail polish currently is Wet n Wild's Megalast in "I Need a Refresh-Mint". The color is gorgeous and it lasts just long enough until I want to try a new combination. I did glitter as an accent nail --Wet n Wild's Wild Shine in "Sparked" (courtesy of our good friend Lynda's couponing which we shall feature very soon!).

Shirt: Target $15 or $20

Shorts: Forever 21 $13.50

Belt: Kohl's $1.98

Necklace: Target $10

Blue Nail Polish: Walgreens $1.99 (bought as part of a buy 2 get 1 free promotion)

Glitter Nail Polish: CVS $0 ($0.99 without a dandy coupon)

A Very Fashionable Athlete

Prescious Branch, 16, is a sophomore at Sierra Linda High School

Upon meeting Prescious, I quickly discovered she was a student athlete ( those sports fee are part of the reason she needs to be savvy about where she shops), so we tackled the stereotype that athletes aren't exactly the most fashionable*.
She explained to me that between seasons and games, there is not enthusiasm to dress up.
"I think there's always time to dress up and look nice, [though]."
The California native turns to her hometown for fashion inspiration without necessarily following all the rules.
"I like to be different," said the 16-year-old, who describes her style as weird, colorful, and fun, "I like having people come up to me and say 'Why are you wearing that?'"
Dressing up and following fashion trends isn't just a hobby for Prescious.
"I want to be a stylist. I like to dress people up."

Skirt: BB $60

Tank: Marshall's $5

Vest: Forever 21 $20

Shoes: California boutique $40

Necklace: Forever 21 $8

Ring: Target $9

*Now that I think about it, though, I realize that there are many well-dressed pro-athletes. Uh, can you say David Beckham without picturing him in a super hip suit?! ...or underwear...

Make sure to check out our Facebook page for more pictures from this feature and updates!

-Gabee

  

November Bargains

First and foremost: like Noemi said, we need YOU to keep this blog going the way we initially intended to. Meanwhile we find us some fashionistas who love bargains, l'm going to attempt to keep Chatoyant updated with my own fashion adventures.

Since I started working, I've been extra careful about how much I spend-- and it is with much guilt that I admit most of my earned cash has been spent on ice cream-- so these are REALLY good finds in my opinion.

The first is this coin necklace. I like the contrast of the different colors (gold, silver, and bronze) and the length. I'm not big on larger/bulkier accessories, but I really like how this one looks with lower necklines. $3.98 at Target.                                                                            

The next two I found at the Payless near my house (9870 West Lower Buckeye Rd Tolleson, AZ 85353) that's closing soon-- and by soon, I mean within the next week. Not only did Payless have their "Buy One Get One 1/2 Off" promotion going on, but because of their closing, everything was reduced. And they give you a 40% off coupon for your next visit to that store!                                                                                   

I bought this little alligator ring for about $4 (originally priced $7) and bought my little sister a mood ring for $1. Honestly, I only bought this because my sister wanted the ring; I'm always sucked into buying things on sale. It's adorable nonetheless and matches my cute new green skirt (not a bargain, unfortunately) perfectly.

These shoes, however, I absolutely adore. How much I paid for them may be the best thing about them; brace yourself for this. Marked originally at $24.99, I only paid $2.50 for them! They'd been reduced to $8 and then $5, so with the purchase of another pair, they were all mine for just a few bucks! They're my new favorites. I've been wearing them nearly every day although I'm having some trouble parting with my every day silver flats. Funny thing: when I first saw them, I was immediately discouraged by their 6 1/2 size considering I wear a 7 1/2. After searching the entire store for my size, I gave the smaller size a try, and they miraculously fit!

Next is this silk blouse I found at Goodwill for $6.99. After I bought it, I was slightly upset with myself for spending so much on a thrifted blouse, but then I realized it was 100% silk. I mostly like it because of its simplicity and all the different ways I can wear it.

Last, but not least, is this beauty. From the Elle collection at Kohl's and originally $64, I paid less than $3.00 (after tax!) for it. All thanks to those dainty little $10 off cards they send out in the mail. I have no idea how we get them, but everyone should look into getting those mailed to them. But this dress..I love it. As simple as that. I'll probably wear it for our Thanksgiving party and dinner on Thursday.

 

With love, Gabee.

Denim, Denim, and Makeup

Let me start off by saying that red lipstick makes me feel like a bad@$$, and I usually smile in pictures.

Regardless, this isn't another "I threw this on this morning because I hate Tuesdays" post. I actually want to talk about makeup as an accessory, and I'm not saying it's a must-- I only wear makeup once or twice a week nowadays, anyway-- I just really believe it has a large impact on an outfit.

For example, when I first put this outfit on, I paired it with my Converse sneakers, my hair was in a ponytail, and wore a silver "peace" necklace and ring; the moment I applied the red lipstick,--which I've been dying to wear for weeks-- however, I knew it was all wrong.

To me, the red gave me a more mature look that did not match the sneakers nor did it scream for peace. So, I let my hair down, exchanged the cutesy jewelery with my favorite pearl necklace, and BAM! I had a completely different outfit.

It's the same with eye makeup. I go for dark mascara and eyeliner whenever I'm going for an intense, dramatic look, or if I'm feeling less bold, I lightly brush on a nude, yet glittery, eyeshadow.

Now let's get to the outfit which, all together, I'd describe it as sophisticated casual-- kind of funny considering I usually wear my denim shirt over dresses to tone down my look, but it must be the black shorts and pearls that make me feel... older? Very simple and comfortable at the same time.

Ps. I cannot wait until it cools down here in Phoenix. I'm not exaggerating when I say half of my closet is filled with sweaters, jackets, and cardigans I'd love to share with y'all!

With love, Gabee.

Shirt: Target $15 or $20

Shorts (originally pants): Yard Sale $2

Pearl necklace and bracelet: Gifts

Shoes: Coach (A gift to my sister, not actually mine)

Lipstick: Wet 'n' Wild $2 (Longlasting despite the price!)

Bobe Bobe Bobe All About Bobe

About Bobe: “I'm a sophomore at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at ASU. I intern for Ahwatukee Foothills News, write weekly columns for The State Press, and work on the Media Team for Phoenix Fashion Week. In the past, I've interned with Arizona Foothills Magazine in Scottsdale. I'm also the secretary for the National Association of Black Journalists at ASU. In the future, I see myself as working for a fashion magazine, desirably in California (because New York is way too cold). I'm just your typical journalism student trying to pave her way to something greater.”

Dear readers, to avoid any confusion this certain person we like to call Bobe (yes, with a silent e) is really Ashley Haines. We had a great deal of trouble coming up with a headline for Bobe’s feature because for one, she’s amazingly unique and beautiful and secondly, she’s oh, so cool. Anyway, we really wanted to include the acronym “MIA” somewhere in there, but we couldn’t figure out how to include it. Why MIA, you may ask? Because according to Bobe , if her outfits could sing any song it would have to be one that may be found via the M.I.A. station found on Pandora.

Bobe, inspired by the weather and her mood on previous nights, mentioned that she gets her style from “anywhere and everywhere”. 

“I never put too much thought into defining it [my style],” she stated via a Facebook interview as she questionably asserted three words to define her style. The three words she chose to define her style (however, those words shouldn’t be applied to her on a daily basis) are: Eclectic, random, and comfortable.

“I don't intentionally try to say anything with my style. I just like to be me. I don't really care if people think I look good or not because I don't dress for them,” Bobe said.

I’m [Noemi] a true believer in the possible inspiration that other people’s styles have on us. Thus, during our junior year of high school, Bobe being a senior, I was always fascinated by the eccentric colors she wore to school, yet how casual and comfortable she looked; she dressed in a completely laid back style that I so badly wanted to be able to emulate.

However, back to Bobe and all about Bobe, if you have been briefly or thoroughly inspired and moved by her sense in fashion she just happens to shop everywhere, making her outfit all the more attainable…and just a little difficult to attain because of the ambiguity behind this fact.

She shops everywhere. Or how she put it via FB, “I shop EVERYWHERE. I consider myself pretty eclectic when it comes to my style, and I never know where I may find my next favorite piece.”

Bobe nonetheless considers herself a savvy shopper “in the sense that I start my shopping process with clearance items or the cheaper things.”

However, it’s no crime to splurge once in a while…we suppose:

Bobe said, “But, I am a firm believer in having a good splurge every once in awhile – and sometimes I just can’t help myself…”

She has no set budget: “. When I find myself out at the mall or anywhere else I can spend money, I usually get a shirt here, shorts there, dress here. I just accumulate more clothes over an extended period of time.”

  Denim button up purchased at Target: ~$20

  Shorts: Love Couture brand, ~$13

  Gold, Glittery Toms: Purchased at Last Chance, $19.99 (originally being about $60ish)

  Ring: A promise ring from her boyfriend for their one-year anniversary (“Of course, I never go a day without it,” she said.)

  Lipstick Necklace: Valentine’s Day gift from her boyfriend, as well.

  BIG SPLURGE ALERT: Watch was $276, bought as a birthday gift to herself