New Year, New Favorites.
Hello City Girls! It’s been a while, hasn’t it? It’s time for some new, fresh content and I wanted to share with you my latest favorites for beauty, style, and home.
For my beauty cabinet:
First Aid Beauty face cleanser — For the first time ever, my sensitive/ oily skin has been really really dry. This creamy cleanser takes off all of my makeup, eyes included, without leaving my skin feeling tight afterward or causing breakouts. It’s a bit of a splurge at $18, but the tiniest pea size amount cleans my entire face (HD foundation too!).
Boscia Luminizing Black Mask — After a long week at work, my skin was looking tired under the unsightly lights of the office bathroom. I decided my skin needed a pick-me-up in a major way. This mask is totally black — something my husband is still getting used to — and when it is fully dried, you make a few funny faces, and you can begin to peel it off. It removed the layer of dead skin cells without drying my face. I will warn you, it feels a little like pulling a BandAid off, but after one try you’ll see why I keep going back for more.
Fresh Sugar Rose lip butter — They call it butter for a reason. This gorgeous petal tint is creamy, hydrating, and perfect for every day. Amazing.
For my home:
Anthropologie small plates — I’ve been in an endless circle of using too-big plates for breakfast, which results in a full sink before dinner even starts. These plates are the perfect size for small meals, cookies, pie, and I love the splash of color in the kitchen.
Design Sponge by Grace Bonney — Everyone gets a little sick of looking at the same things in their home day in and day out. This book is a huge source of inspiration, ideas, and attainable DIYs. Santa always knows what I want!
For my closet:
Nine West Sosie booties — Finally! I’ve found the booties of my dreams. I wear these with everything— from tucked-in jeans, to maxi dresses, to pencil skirts. They are the perfect balance of buttery leather, comfort, and classic style.
Caravelle by Bulova rosegold watch — The lovely team at Bulova sent me this absolutely gorgeous watch back in September, just in time for my birthday. I finally got the links adjusted to fit me and I haven’t taken it off. This watch is perfect for every day, but looks sophisticated enough to wear to the office.
All of the time in the past few weeks that I have not been posting, due to my responsibilities at a new job, brings a lot of necessary drama to this exciting collaboration. Get ready to hit the streets, LeSportsac is calling all City Girls.
After spotting countless City Girls on sidewalks and subways, toting their favorite LeSportsac bags, it dawned on me— there is an army of LeSportsac- loving ladies who style their bags to suit their lifestyle. From backpacks and diaper bags, to luggage and weekenders, to totes chock full of day-to-night necessities, City Girls demonstrate how these legendary bags are as stylish as they are reliable. LeSportsac loves us— they know that once we get our hands on a good thing, we can’t get enough— so they are offering my readers a chance to win one of many LeSportsac goodies and awarding us 15% off a future purchase!
Starting today, until December 24th, LeSportsac + The City Girl in Me want to see how you wear your favorite LeSportsac bag(s).
Wise Words Wednesdays. 3 ways to be successful.
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Fashionable Films— A Series.
As you all know, I find inspiration from films all the time. I fall in love with a character, a scene, a mood, and I translate it into what I have in my closet or what I’m looking for on my next shopping adventure. Here is the beginning of another month-long series of Fashionable Films. This week, I give you Midnight in Paris.
Rachel McAdams plays Inez, an unequivocally driven, somewhat bossy fiancee of Owen Wilson’s character, Gil— who is quite the opposite. What I loved about this film were the juxtapositions of modern day simplicity worn by Inez and her friends, compared with the beaded, bedazzled gowns of The Golden Age girls you see after Midnight when Gil ventures out into the City of Light.
I think the costume designers portrayed the “uniform” of an American traveling in Europe quite well— simple t-shirts, jeans, belted dresses, signature sunglasses, and a great throw-over-everything jacket. Most often, we look and feel our best when we are wearing clothes that fit well, require little effort to put on, and remain inelaborate and modest. I’ve returned to this strategy of American simplicity, and I must say, I’ve had many more “I really like my outfit” days.
(Quote & photos from IMDB.)