Choosing the Right Sunglasses-Guest post by Jennifer Blanche

May 24, 2011 by Clueless Fashionista

Whether you are picking up a pair of sunglasses from a street vendor or spending a small fortune on a name brand design in a boutique eyeglass store, your choices won’t matter much unless you choose a design that flatters your face. Knowing what works for your eye width, bone structure, hair and skin tone, and head size will help you to make the most of your sunglass purchase.

Face Shapes

Generally, six face shapes can be considered when purchasing sunglasses. These are: square, round, oval, triangle, diamond and oblong (longer than its width). Knowing what kind of face shape you have is the first step in picking out the right frames.

Face Shape Fits

Now that you now what shape your face is, you can choose a sunglass style to match. You’ll usually find frames in the following shapes to match your face:

• Square – oval, round or cat-eye
• Round – rectangle, wide, brow bars
• Oval – oval is universal and adapts to almost any frame
• Triangle – cat-eye, rimless with straight top
• Diamond – rimless, oval, square
• Oblong – square, round

Sunglasses and Hair

The way your hair is styled will alter the way your sunglasses look on your face. Depending on your face shape, long hair should be paired with larger frames because smaller frames tend to blend in with your overall look. Curly hair styles, whether long or short, should not be accessorized with large frames as the hair already adds its own depth to your face and large frames will create too much ‘fashion noise’. Short hair can handle different shapes as long as the frames do not overindulge the area and stick out like side view mirrors.

Keeping Your Skin in Mind

Not many people consider their skin complexion when choosing sunglasses however there can be some serious fashion faux pas if you are not too careful. A lighter shade of skin works well with slightly colored frames like light tortoise shell or rose. More colorful choices such as reds, blues and greens can exacerbate pale skin making it look even more translucent and unattractive. Darker skin textures blend nicely with metallic frames of gold and silver as well as clear plastic whereas dark brown or black tend to clash.

Overall, choosing sunglasses requires a keen eye and gut instinct. If within the first couple of seconds you look at them in a mirror and feel they are not right for you, they probably aren’t. Move on and continue your search for the perfect pair!

About the Author: Jennifer Blanche is addicted to shopping for accessories, including sunglasses, purses, and affordable jewelry. To fund that addiction, she works as a registered ultrasound technician and hopes to continue her education for advancement within the healthcare field.

read more

How do I wear that trend…menswear inspired pieces

May 13, 2011 by Clueless Fashionista

One really cool trend that has been around for the past few seasons is menswear pieces. This can be a tricky trend because if it’s not done properly, the clothes can be very unflattering. The thing about menswear is that it usually can’t be actual clothes for men worn by a woman or if it is actual menswear, it MUST be altered to flatter your figure.

For example, look at the above picture of Megan Fox wearing this pair of slacks. The slacks definitely have a menswear feel to them but Megan used the belt and a cuff to make them more feminine. You can tell that she isn’t a large woman so these slacks could have easily swallowed her up (as I’ve seen them do on many women) but they don’t. They fit her figure nicely and she played up her waist with the pop of color belt (even though it’s brown, in this black and grey outfit it stands out). Plus the fitted tank top highlighted her curves nicely as well.

The biggest suggestion for incorporating menswear into your wardrobe is fit. I’ve seen lots of women (mainly ones who work in business casual environments) get this trend wrong. When you try on a pair of slacks or a blazer, do a slow turn in front of a 360 mirror. You want to make sure that your feminine parts are properly highlighted. Your waist, hips and bust should be accentuated enough to show that you are indeed a woman.

And please keep in mind that fit does not equal tight. The point of menswear inspired pieces is that they’re supposed to be comfortable.

I would love to see how you incorporate menswear pieces. If you’d like to share some pictures and be featured, send a message through the contact form.

read more

An Explanation of the Sun’s Rays

May 11, 2011 by Clueless Fashionista

The super fabulous people over at www.myskin.com provide lots of great beauty and skin related information. The other day, I saw this article on twitter and thought it would be cool to share with you.

Many people only consider the sun’s rays when they’re going to the beach but the sun can affect your skin health even when you’re going about your day to day activities at any time of the year. Until I was diagnosed with a sun allergy, it never occurred to me that what I learned in science class about the sun’s rays could be applied to my beauty regime. To give more insight, I am allergic to the UVB rays in the sun. I get hives when I’m in the sun for extended periods of time even when I’m wearing sunscreen. So my dermatologist told me to take Zyrtec when I’m going to be in the sun to prevent me from getting hives.

Since then, I have become acutely aware of the UVB rays from the sun and I make sure to use sunscreen that protects against both. You should do the same. Check out this article and learn more about the different sun rays and then go get yourself some sunscreen!

MySkin.com-What is UVA and UVB?

read more

Shoe Candy-Michael Antonio Tallie Sandal

May 6, 2011 by Clueless Fashionista

I’m always saying that one of the best ways to add a pop of color to your outfit is with your shoes and the summer is all about color. I stumbled across these fabulous sandals by Michael Antonio that are definitely shoe candy.  The come in a variety of colors but I’m most partial to these turquoise ones. You can get them from DSW for $39.95 so not only are they fabulous, they’re wallet friendly! Michael Antonio makes great shoes that are stylish and budget friendly. While I’m saving up for my first pair of Christian Louboutins, I will be sporting my Michael Antonio shoes proudly. In fact, once I have my first pair of Christian Louboutins, I’ll still be sporting my Michael Antonios.

read more

Guest Post: Hairstyle Trends for 2011

May 4, 2011 by Clueless Fashionista

Do you feel sick and tired of your look? Are you looking for a cool new do? One of the best ways to get a fresh look is to go for a new hairstyle. You can go through fashion magazines or websites to know about the hottest trends of the season. You can also copy the hairstyles of your favorite celebrities if the style suits you. Celebrities are the riches sources of inspiration.

Another great way of getting a glimpse of the hottest trends of the year is to be updated about the major fashion weeks. Checking out 2011 New York fashion week or Paris fashion week will give you an idea about the hottest trend of the year. But you should be brave enough to do a little experimenting with hairstyle that will give you a fresh new look.

Hottest hairstyle trends for 2011:

Super Straight: The timeless appeal of this hairstyle makes it a favorite of many women. If you have long or medium length hair, you can opt for this style. This style is suitable for all events from formal to casual. A soft layered straight hairstyle with a sleek finish will enhance your seductiveness. A blunt cut will also look good on you if your hair is thick. This kind of hairstyle will add a touch of volume to your tresses and keep your hair in place.

Midi Style: As far as fashion is concerned, ‘midi’ is undoubtedly a buzzword. Whether it is dress or hair cut, midi is the right choice for all women irrespective of their age. It can make you look stylish and at the same time it requires low maintenance. Opt for a sharp cut for a sexier look or go for a soft layering that can give you a mystifying allure.

Long Wavy Hairstyle: Wavy hairstyles are in high demand this year. It will give you a glamorous look. But if you opt for this style, make sure you invest enough time for care and styling. Those who want a natural sublime look should go for long curly hair. Maintain the hair properly and keep the waves subtle and you are sure to catch every eye around you.

read more

How do I wear that trend…big, bright floral prints

Apr 23, 2011 by Clueless Fashionista

There’s nothing more sunny than a pretty, summer dress. Whenever I wear one, I immediately feel more girly. One of this season’s trends are big, bright floral prints. One great way to incorporate this trend into your wardrobe is with a pretty dress with big, bright floral prints.

Now I do realize that the idea of floral prints may conjure up thoughts of Little House on the Prairie or Little Women but these new prints are much more colorful and pretty and less like you live in a two room house with outdoor plumbing. So I encourage you to dive into this trend with a dress first. Once you get a dress and realize how cool this trend can be, here are some other ways you can participate in it:

1. Accessories. Bright floral hair accessories, bracelets and rings can be very pretty. Plus it can add a wonderful pop of color to any outfit.

2. Shoes. Print pumps or wedges can be a very pretty addition to a basic outfit.

3. Skirt. If you find a skirt with one large flower or a really big floral pattern on it, buy it! You can really pretty up a plain t-shirt and basic flats with a bright, floral print skirt.

I would love to see how you incorporate this trend into your wardrobe. Please send pics to info {at} cluelessfashionista {dot} com and you could be featured in a round up post!

read more

Product Review: L’oreal Double Extend Eye Illuminator and One Sweep Eye Shadow

Apr 21, 2011 by Clueless Fashionista

Late last year I joined this really cool website called BzzAgent. It’s a site where you sign up to learn about cool opportunities to review products, websites and other programs. It’s free to join. If you’re interested in that type of thing, you should definitely sign up.

Thanks to the folks over at BzzAgent, I had an opportunity to review the L’oreal Double Extend Eye Illuminator and the One Sweep Eye Shadow. I really like both products and I think that they’re great for makeup newbies or beginners who want to branch out but aren’t sure what products to buy.

The L’oreal Studio Secrets One Sweep Eye Shadow is a really cool concept because it’s created to make applying eye shadow really easy. If you want to branch out with eye shadow and don’t want to wear just one color, this is a great product to add to your makeup bag. The brush may look a little odd, but when you pick it up, it’s surprisingly easy to use (and I often have butter fingers when I’m applying my makeup). You just take the rounded side and run it through the shadow then spread it on your eye lid and viola, you have a great looking eye. Plus, L’oreal made it even easier by creating shadow groups that are specifically for certain eye colors. I used the one called “Playful” for brown eyes and it has a great mixture of purple, gold and pink in it. It’s very pretty! I did the one sweep and was very pleased with how it looked. It’s great for everyday wear plus it’s very quick to apply. You don’t have to worry about taking 15 minutes to put on your makeup. You can apply this is less than a minute. Then if you want to be more detailed and use each color separately, it gives a much more dramatic look that could be a good transition into night time. However, if you prefer your eyes to really pop at night, you may want to go for brighter, more sparkly colors. But if you’re more understated and don’t like your makeup to stand out too much, this is a great shadow to pop into your purse. It retails for about $5 or so and you can get it from any drug store, grocery store or discount store like Wal-mart that sells L’oreal.

The L’oreal Double Extend Eye Illuminator Mascara is a product I was itching to try. I was so excited to see BzzAgent doing a campaign to review it, I jumped at the chance. When it arrived, I put it on the next day even though I didn’t have anywhere special to go but I wanted to test out my new sparkly lashes. I followed the instructions but wasn’t satisfied with the level of sparkle. I wanted my lashes to really pop so the next day I layered it on much more heavily. It was fabulous! My lashes really stood out and I felt a touch more glamorous. Plus, this product comes in colors to highlight specific eye colors as well. I wouldn’t suggest using this if you need your mascara to plump your lashes a lot since the actual mascara in this double sided wand only coated my lashes. However, if you use a plumping mascara and then go over it with the dark side once and the sparkly side a few times, your lashes will really be fab. I got the one for brown eyes and it really did a great job of making them sparkle…literally!  It also retails for about $5 or so at any drug store, grocery store or discount store like Wal-mart.

Overall, these were two really cool products and I will definitely be working them into my makeup bag. I will be looking into branching out in terms of the different colors I try but I will be trying them out. Since they’re not super expensive, it won’t kill my shopping budget either.

read more