Reason's To Shop!

Here is this week's installment of reasons to shop! There are some pretty good ones so check it out!

• The $5 sale at Urban Outfitters - Urban is having a $5 sale - you heard right, 5 dollars or less. They have a good variety of stuff but needless to say, it's going quickly so get on over there. BUT THERES MORE: use code SUMMER10 to receive 10% off. Lasts through May 31st.
  
• The Victoria's Secret Semi Annual Sale - bras are starting at $12.99 and panties at $3.99, they are having a mega sale on swim and PINK and more! BUT THERES MORE: use code 20off50 to get 20% off your order of $50 or more, VSFRSHIP to get free shipping when you spend $100 or more.
• Kohls - Lets be honest, Kohls is always having a sale but I did stumble across a few coupons that will make your online shopping a little nicer :) Use code NEW1592 to get 10% off your purchase, no Kohls card required.
  

I will be adding a few more later so check back!

WAYWT!

I have decided to start a new series entitled: WAYWT (What Are You Wearing Today). As of now this will just be sparatic, not necesarily What Are You Wearing Tuesday :). Anyway, with out further ado, here it is...

• Tank: Candy Rain $6 (TJ Maxx)
• Puff Sleeve Top: American Eagle $15 (American Eagle clearance)
• Vest: B Wear $9 (Ross)
• Jeans: Express DPD Bootcuts $20 (ebay)
• Shoes: Charles Albert $10 (Ross)
• Necklace: Unknown but Im sure it was on the cheap!

Notes on the Clothes:

• I'm sure there may have been a better necklace but I am in love with this one. It's hard to see in the photos but it the beads are all in the shape of hearts :)
• I am in love with the vest as well. I was perusing Ross and I came across it and jumped for joy - it was exactly what I have been looking for and since there was no tailoring involved (something that I have to do for about every goodwill find) it was a steal! I am thinking about changing the buttons to something more standoutish. What do yall think?
  

Summer Trend: Rompers

At first glance these little items of clothing seem like the epitome of comotose dressing (or a reverence for your toddler years) but I am here to break that misconception, they are much more than that! They combine the peace of mind of shorts (no peeping undies) and the comfort and breeze of dresses - and thus are perfect for summer. Not to mention that they are easy peasy as far as dressing - it's all one piece, it couldn't be easier!

I have been eyeing this trend for a few weeks and have become so fond of it that I saw fit to blog it up :). Up until recently I had been wearing my target romper only as a swimsuit cover up but I recently realized how adoribly chic they could be when worn as regular clothes! I have scoured the net for some of the best as far as wearing about town and here are my picks:

Floral - Urban Outfitters $58.00

Comfy - C&C California via Revolve $118

Glam - Sass & Bide via ShopBop $539

But if the ease of the romper is getting you down (your life in too complicated for such a simple item!) then consider pairing it with either a shirt underneath, a belt around the waist, or some serious shoes or just be creative - this little beauty is chock full of possibilities!

A Post Idea

I am fixing to be on my way to my second job interview in 2 days. Yesterday, before my first, I was standing in front of my closet and I realized that I have next to no professional clothes! I have a basic pair of BCBG slacks and a white shirt with a tie waist (cute!) but nothing else - or at least nothing else that does not make me feel like I am old. Then I thought to myself - I am going into a career in business, a place where I am going to need business casual attire abounding! So I think for my next post I am going to come up with some business casual outfits that are high on style but still appropraite - it will help me out tremedously and hopefully it will give all you ladies some ideas too. :)

Well I am off, wish me luck!

Holy Moly Shoes!

Oh my goodness, I saw these babies on another blog and I think that I am in love! Alas they are Jimmy Choos and that is code for I will never own them but I would settle for a similar, cheaper pair if I happen to come across some. Ahhh.

P.S. I went back to TJ Maxx and low and behold the Juicy swimsuit was there! My baby had not been bought by someone else so of course I snatched it and made a beeline for the registers (I had to make it to ikea!) and now that beautiful swimsuit is in my posession and I could not be happier :)

A Few Thoughts on Fashion

I was thinking about this today, about how my love of fashion started and then it just blossomed from there - so here are a few thoughts I had today on fashion:

• Fashion is about art, not necesarily functionality. Whenever I first discovered the world of fashion I would watch countless fashion shows and in response to the gaudy, elaborate shows (don't judge me!) I thought in my head 'no one would wear that! that does not make any sense.' I was actually half right but what I failed to grasp was that it DID make sense, a lot of sense. When I realized that I could look at fashion as art and a means by which to be inspired I started to appreciate it more. I didn't need to wear feathers sprouting 3 feet from my head or boxes as skirts but I could take those concepts and alter them to say: boxy shapes or hard edges are in, feathers are in, etc.
• Fashion is about making yourself feel pretty. I feel strongly about this one because I feel like a lot of times in fashion there is a "look" that everyone is going for and in my opinion that is not what fashion is about, looking like someone else. The popular look may be looking like a boy but I am not a boy and looking like a boy does not make me feel pretty. It may get me in with the fashion crowd but it will do nothing for my own sense of fashion and that's sad.

So maybe nothing you haven't heard but it does me good to put it down.

This Should Be Mine!

So I am currently obsessing over this Juicy Couture Bikini! Is it not precious?




I was milling around at TJ Maxx earlier today when I ran across this style in a gorgeous mint green color and tried it on and it was amazing. Being the idiot that I can sometimes be though, I didn't buy it and ran up to my mom's work to tell her about it (I was planning on visiting her anyway). A few hours ago I went back to get it - it was only $50! - and it was gone. Of course. So I have been searching the net for one like it (and I am liking the white) but the cheapest I can find is about $85. That is a bit more than I would generally spend on a swimsuit but I am wondering if this may be worth it... what do yall think? Should I splurge or just wait?

3 Things About Today

• I feel so very un-starstruck. I have almost completely stopped checking on aplusk on Twitter!
• I love the shopping in Austin, it is a million and a half times better than where I am going to school. I had a great shopping day today - and I will share later on :)
• Benjamin Button is a movie to see - I am watching it tonight for the second time! If you haven't seen it, rent it now.

Beautiful Summer Skin – Hold the UV Rays

Every summer I am faced with a predicament: to tan or not to tan? I crave that golden tan look but I also know that UV rays cause wrinkles and skin cancer – both of which I am sure we all want to avoid.

photo credit: evilerin

I am very fair and I don’t tan in the sun very well even if I wanted to so I have spent many a summer trying to embrace my glow-in-the-dark white skin but honestly I feel like pale skin is only suitable for winter (but that is just me). Needless to say, with my wanting to be a tan beauty and my reluctance to lay out or use a tanning bed, I have tried a multitude of self tanners – both good and bad – and I am here to report back to you because these days no one needs to be damaging their skin when there are such great alternatives.

My top five self tanners:

1. O2 Cosmetics Tanning Mist $9.99 – this is the best self tanner that I have used to date. It is easy to apply and the tan develops quickly and the self tanner smell is very minimal. The tan lasts about a week in my experience so if you want to have a constant tan I would apply twice a week or so, or maybe more if you want a deeper tan. TIP: This tanner is meant to be used with an airbrush system but I was cheap and didn’t want to spend that kind of money so I bought a small spray bottle from Target and some latex gloves (you will want these, this stuff sticks to skin well and tan hands are no good) and I simply sprayed the tan on with the spray bottle and rubbed it in evenly with the gloved hand.
2. Lancôme Flash Bronzer $28.00 – This one is a little bit more expensive but it worked nicely. It made the list because it is very hydrating and this is a plus for me because of my chronic dry skin. It also gives a nice “pre-tan” while the tanner actually develops on the skin which is also a plus.
3. Jergens Natural Glow Daily $7.99 – This is a gradual tanner lotion, you use it daily and over a week you develop a nice tan. I liked this product a lot as far as the results go but I was more of the ‘I want it now’ customer and I didn’t want to have to worry with putting a lotion on evenly every day. If you don’t mind the daily thing then I would recommend this one.
4. L'Oreal Sublime Sublime Bronze Airbrush $ 9.99 – This self tanner is a spray on variety and provided pretty even coverage. The color was beautiful and it lasted about a week. The cons to this one are that it was a little messy. I used it in my shower but the spray would accidently get my arm or my foot or somewhere I was not meaning it to go. That is probably just error on my part though. If you are used to spray on airbrush style then this might be the way to go!
5. Neutrogena Body Glow Moisturizer $9.49 – I was very excited to try this one out because I love Neutrogena products and this tanner lived up to my expectations of the brand. Once again though it was a gradual tanner and that is too much work in my opinion – and there was the self tanner smell of course. The main con of this product is that whenever the tan started fading I got streaky – no good.

Now that you have a self tanner you have to know how to put it on. This involved a lot of trial and error on my part – lots of streaky legs and arms and splotches and things that can definitely be avoided. In my experience with self tanners I have come up with a set of guidelines that keep my tans from getting wonky.

• Before you do anything, exfoliate! This is the absolute best advice that I can give you. Self tanners stick to dry and dead skin more than moisturized skin (and although that may sound like a good thing, it isn’t) and so the result will be streaks. Even if you don’t think you have dry skin, exfoliate.
• Make sure that you shave before you tan. Shaving afterward will decrease the life of your tan because it is a way of exfoliating, believe it or not.
• When applying tanner separate your body into sections: left arm, right arm, front of stomach, etc. This will help to keep your tan even and help you to not miss any spots because you have only a small section to focus on instead of your whole body.
• Use tanner sparingly on elbows and knees and any other spot on your body where the skin may be rougher or thicker.
• Rub a very thin layer of regular lotion over your knees or elbows if they are severely dry before you tan.
• Asking for help for your back may be your best bet.
• Remember to wait to dress until the tanner has dried as to not ruin your clothes or your developing tan.
• Don’t get wet or do anything that will have you sweating for at least 3 hours after you apply your tanner because this could cause either streaking or tan fading.
• If you are not using gloves, wash your hands periodically during the process so that the tanner does not get the opportunity to soak into your palms – tan palms are a dead giveaway.

Now you have your tanner and you know how to apply it but what happens if you make a little mistake? It has happened to me and no, you do not have to walk around in summer in long sleeves and pants (I’ve tried it – not fun). Here are a few ways to either fix the streak and splotches or decrease the tan.

• First try to shower – sometimes the streakiness is not what it seems. It may just be the tanner that is uneven, not the actual tan.
• Use a loofah to bathe. This will provide a little bit of exfoliation and may even out a small mistake.
• Use a body scrub on areas that are a little but more noticeable.
• If you are using a gradual tanner then you are at an advantage because often, since it is gradual, the application of the lotion for a few more days will get your tan all evened out.
• Use an astringent or alcohol to dab on darker spots – this will significantly lighten them up.
• Apply baking soda to a wet rag and gently exfoliate the messed up areas.
• Try Flavours Freedom Sunless Eraser: it is meant for this exact thing.

So there you have your fake, but safe tan! Of course there are always tanning salons that provide fake tan services but I prefer to do it myself – whichever method floats your boat. That is not the end of it though – simply switching to self tanners is only one step in keeping your skin safe from UV rays.

So how do you protect your skin? It is just goofy to say that you are going to stay out of the sun this summer because after all isn’t summer about swimming pools, beaches, and being out doors? Of course it is! So go out and enjoy yourself (and your gorgeous fake tan) but keep these little tidbits in mind – your skin will thank you.

• Always wear SPF 15 or higher sunscreen everywhere (especially on your face), even when you are not going to be out in the sun for long. This is probably the best thing that you can do for your skin as far as protecting it from UV rays.
• If you are going to be outside for an extended time, wear a higher level SPF.
• Reapply, reapply, and reapply, especially if you are going to be out for a while. Most people do not realize that the sunscreen will wash off, sweat off, or otherwise quit working within 2-3 hours so don’t leave your skin unprotected.
• Wear sunscreen even if it is cloudy! UV rays can still sneak through the clouds.
• If possible avoid being outside in the harshest times of the day: between noon and 4pm.
• Don’t forget that your sunscreen can expire – if you are using a bottle from last summer, it is time to get a new one.

And there we have it, my guide to summer skin without the damaging repercussions. What do you think? Do you have anything to add? Let me know in the comments!

My Welcome

Hi. I am Sarah Brooke and this little beauty is my blog entitled The Fashionable Romance. The name comes from a collaboration of a few different sources: my style ideal and what drives me, let me explain. I am always drawn to the romantic styles of clothing; bows, lace, ribbons, pearls, dainty detail, it all makes me swoon, hence Romance. The fashionable part has to do with what this blog is about: fashion!

It is fashion from the point of view of a romantic. Enjoy.