Fashion Archives | Alexandra Adams

September 23, 2016 — No Comments

My Top Five Fall Fashion Essentials

Now that it's officially fall and we’re in the midst of fashion month, it's time to update my wardrobe for the season. See my fall fashion essentials here!

Fall fashion is one of my absolute favorite things. And now that it's officially fall and we’re in the midst of fashion month, there’s no better time to be talking about the changes I’m making to my wardrobe for the season. I love fall fashion more than that of almost any other season. I love the layering and accessorizing and endless options for sweaters and scarves. It’s not quite chilly enough for a full commitment to warmer clothes yet, but I’m so ready for it! Here are my absolute fashion essentials for fall this year, as well as some pieces I’m hoping to pick up.

As you’ve probably noticed as you’ve been shopping, pink is huge for fall this year! Obviously that makes me super happy, and I’ve definitely got some pink items on my list. I’ve been incorporating pink into my fall and winter wardrobe since last year, when I touched on the blush + burgundy trend, so I’m excited that the rest of the retail world has finally caught up. As I’m trying to fill the gaps in my wardrobe with pink, here are some of the pieces I’ve been obsessing over.

As far as seasonal staples go, I’ve been slowly amassing all the items I need for the perfect "fall fashion" wardrobe. I have a few more items to get, but here are my faves so far. I am allllll about versatility and transitional pieces in the fall, and everything on this list fits that category perfectly.

OLIVE VEST

This staple is the ultimate layering piece. I’ve worn mine over long sleeved shirts, short sleeved shirts, even dresses. It’s a great item for putting the finishing touch on an outfit and pulling everything together, especially when it’s too cold for a regular top but too warm to add a jacket.

TAUPE BOOTIES

Perfect for the transition between seasons, these shoes work well with everything from jeans to dresses. You can wear them alone or with tights, and mine are super comfy too.

SCARVES

I have too many scarves already, but I’m always on the search for more! Plaids and windowpane checks are my go to scarf patterns for fall. It’s hard to tear me away from a good chunky cable knit, though! If you don’t have your ideal fall scarf, now is the time to find it! I’ve linked some of my favorites below.

CAMEL WRAP

This is an item I’m still in search of. I’ve had it on my mind for a while now, and I think it’s a great alternative to a coat. It can dress up a plain shirt and jeans, or accent a dress for a night out without covering it up.

BUTTON UP SKIRT

The last item on my to-buy list, button up skirts have been e-v-erywhere recently. I love the way they look with denim, black, white, pink...pretty much every color. Obviously I’m all about versatility and transitional pieces in the fall, and this fits the bill perfectly. It works when it’s warm out with flats or booties, and still looks great when you layer it with tights and boots when it gets colder.

What are your essential fall fashion pieces? Let me know in the comments!

Published by Alexandra Adams in Fashion, Style

January 18, 2016 — 15 Comments

Pink Coat in Washington, DC

Over the weekend, I was able to take a quick trip up to DC and go up in the Washington Monument. Considering I've lived near DC a couple different times and have never done this, it was definitely time.

It's finally gotten chilly around here, so of course I was happy to be wearing a sweater and coat. I love the fact that pink has been such a huge trend this winter, especially in outerwear. I paired it with a burgundy sweater and nails, and a gorgeous holographic bag that I got for Christmas (thanks, Ryan!).

The view from the top of the Washington Monument was incredible; you could see all of DC from the top. I highly recommend going if you get the chance! And if you can make it during a not-so-busy time of year like we did, you'll definitely have a better experience. There were only about 10 of us, so we never had to fight for window space or felt like we were being rushed out.

DC is such a cool city and it has so much history. I always forget how close it really is and how quick it can be to visit (as long as you can dodge the traffic), and I plan on taking advantage of it more often!

Published by Alexandra Adams in Fashion, Style

November 9, 2015 — No Comments

Fall/Winter Trends I Love

If you know anything about me, you know that I love fall and winter. It is the most wonderful time of the year, after all! I love cozying up under a blanket, wearing darker colors during the cooler months, and trying out new trends that always pop up this time of year. You can definitely see some overlap between the trends this year too, which is just a great indicator of how fun they are to combine and experiment with. Check out some of my recent inspirations below, and more on my Pinterest board!

BLUSH + BURGUNDY

There's just something about this color combo that is so dreamy. The deeper burgundy tones really bring deep autumnal vibes to an ensemble, while the blush pink keeps it feeling light and fresh.

OVER THE KNEE BOOTS

I love how versatile these boots are. You can wear them over jeans or leggings to keep a clean line, or with a shorter dress and use their length as a stand in for tights. I need to get myself a new pair this year.

GRIDS AND PLAID

Plaid, window pane checks, whatever you call it, it's everywhere this season. From Target's fall line to scarves to everything else, grids are all over the place and the graphic designer part of me that loves straight lines could not be happier.

LEATHER LEGGINGS

I looove leather leggings. I don't own any (yet!), but I drool over almost every pair I see. They're so cool and casual, and can really add an edgy and dressed up vibe to an otherwise casual outfit.

SEQUINS

I love all things sparkly, and sequins are the perfect way to add sparkle to an outfit without getting glitter all over everything you touch.

COZINESS

I know this isn't reaallllly a fashion trend, but I love it so much I included it anyway. This is the best time of year to cuddle up! Oversized sweaters, wool socks, heated throws, hot drinks...I'm all about it. Bring on the comfiness.

What are some of the fall and winter trends you've been loving this year?

Published by Alexandra Adams in Fashion, Style, Trends

November 2, 2015 — No Comments

Apple Picking and Fall Fashion

November 1st is my aunt's birthday, and since she only lives about an hour and a half away, my mom and I went to visit her for the day. We went apple picking and to a wine tasting, before going out to dinner and returning home for a delicious homemade german chocolate cake. The colors were so gorgeous and the weather couldn't have been more beautiful. And you can't beat the view of the Blue Ridge mountains.

White Quilted Vest (similar) | Black Shirt | Leopard Scarf | Leather Boots (similar)

Published by Alexandra Adams in Fashion, Lifestyle, Style

October 12, 2015 — No Comments

Beauty Haul: October 2015

I hadn't purchased any makeup in a while, and I've had quite the list of products I wanted to try and things I was running out of, so I took a trip to Sephora and Ulta and got some exciting new things!

FOR YOUR FACE

First things first: primers. I got two travel sizes of Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primers, one colorless and one color correcting. The color correcting formula really helps balance out the redness on my skin, and both help my foundation stay on extraordinarily well. A little goes a long way, and it really helps smooth out and soften your skin without getting oily.

Next up: foundations. I got two new ones, NARS Sheer Glow in Montblanc and Sephora 10HR Wear Perfection in Light Delicate Beige.

The NARS foundation blends so beautifully and is really buildable, so the coverage is really up to you. The only thing I regret is that it doesn't have a pump, it's just an open top. You can purchase one to add onto it and I opted out of it at the time, but I might go back and get one just because I think it'll help me use less product and make it last a little longer.

The Sephora foundation is great for my skin; it doesn't stick to any dry patches and definitely lasts all day. I will say though that the skin ID system Sephora uses matched me with a much darker and yellower foundation than I could ever wear. I'm super pink and usually use the lightest color foundation available, so we had to test quite a few to finally get to a color that matched my skin. But once we did, it worked out well, so it was all worth it in the end. I will say though to not be afraid of telling the employees what you know about your skin! You know your face better than anyone, and it can definitely help you find your perfect match faster.

And lastly, highlighter. I got Too Faced Candlelight Glow Highlighting Powder Duo, and I love it. I have very fair skin, and this adds the perfect glow to my cheekbones without being overly glittery. It looks really natural and reflects light so well. A little goes a long way, so don't be too heavy-handed with it, but it works well on the cheeks as well as on your brow bone and the inner corners of your eyes.

FOR YOUR EYES

I only got one new eye product, Too Faced Shadow Insurance Candlelight Primer. I meant to get the Champagne color but ended up with Candlelight. Too Faced's Shadow Insurance line is incredible; it's like a magnet for your eye shadow and never, ever creases or emphasizes any lines. The Candlelight color is a shimmery gold, and honestly works well alone as a base shadow. Talk about a great lazy day product. That being said, if you just want to use it as a primer, it's easily covered up by whatever eye shadow you want to put on over top of it. Highly recommend! When this runs out, I'm eager to try the Champagne color–it has a little more pink in it, which is great for me.

FOR YOUR LIPS

I got three new lip products this trip–which honestly is me showing restraint. I love love love trying out new lip colors, and I always want to try all the colors available. But for this haul, I got the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lovesick, Sephora Luster Matte Long-Wear Lip Color in Petal, and Sephora Cream Lip Stain in Blackberry Sorbet.

Clearly, I'm on a liquid lipstick kick, and I love these colors. I have several Sephora lip products, and they've exceeded a lot of my expectations in terms of having great staying power and pigmentation, and not transferring onto everything my lips touch. The Petal color is the perfect pinky-nude for my lips, and the Blackberry Sorbet is a great dark fall berry color. Love them both!

The Kat Von D liquid lipstick was a little disappointing, if only because it's been so incredibly hyped up recently. I found it to be more drying than other matte lipsticks I've tried, and the color didn't last as long as I wish it had. The color and pigmentation is gorgeous, however, so I do love it–I just have to make sure to keep an eye on it to make sure it stays on all day. This color did make me feel a bit like Kylie Jenner at the beginning of the day, which I kind of liked–take that for what you will!

FOR ALL OVER

Last but not least, I got some brushes. I'm still super hesitant when it comes to the nicer, more expensive brushes, because I'm not an expert on my favorite kinds of brushes or the best ones to get. (If you have any must-have recommendations, please let me know!) I tend to stick to the Real Techniques brush line because they're inexpensive but still of great quality. They never shed and they're dense enough to hold and distribute product without absorbing it into the brush. This time around, I got the Core Collection Brush Set, an Angled Foundation Brush, and a Setting Brush. They've proven valuable additions to my makeup routine and are all great for a variety of purposes, which I love.

Let me know what new things I should try or what products to get next time! What are some of your new faves or all-time holy grail products?

Published by Alexandra Adams in Fashion, Hauls, Lifestyle, Makeup

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