Applying shades of colors on your eyes can’t be that hard right? WRONG! Eye make isn’t as easy as it looks and it takes a series of correct brushes to get the natural look. It took me a lot of practice (and patience) to get the look that I wanted, and I’m still trying to master various looks. Here are some tips that I’ve learned and would like to pass along to my fellow fashionistas:

Blending is key!

You use three different colors: The base, usually a very light cream color, a highlighter for the crease, and finally a main color for the lid. Here is the hard part; blending. My secret? Start light then go darker. Brush the base color, apply the lid color and THEN apply the highlighter. Also, don’t be too heavy-handed or you’ll have to start over.

Colors that  pop out!

Choosing the right three colors can be difficult for beginners, that’s why some brands tell you which combination of colors would look outstanding depending on your eye color. For example, I have light brown eyes and L’Oreal does a great job picking out colors for combinations. You start with the lightest color as the base, and then color in the crease and lid with the darker. It even gives you a step-by-step diagram on the back side of the container, very helpful in my opinion! Once you get the basic colors down, you’ll gradually be able to pick your own colors and have fun with it!

The Smokey look

This look is the “little black dress” in the make up world. I consider this as an evening look, I don’t like to overdo my eyes with such heavy, dark colors when I’m at work or school. When done right, it’s sexy and mysterious so make sure you take the time to get it right! The trick is to apply the darkest color on the corner of your eye and outlining your eyes with a thin brush or eyeliner. When applying dark shadow to the crease of your eye, be careful to blend only on the outside edge. Oh, and don’t forget that mascara to give you that edgy look.

Shimmer your eyes

To make your eyes glow, you may want to try some eye shimmer and create that celebrity look. To get the look, apply eye shadow like described above but don’t do the smokey look! If you have never used a powder shimmer before, wet your brush and remove the excess water.  Take the wet brush and make a line over your eyelid.  With the tip of the brush, lightly place it in the powder and then bring it across your eyelid over the wet line.  If you have added too much eye shimmer, lightly dab your eyelid with a tissue. You can also use a cream shimmer if you prefer not to use powder.

I found a great video on youtube on How to apply eye make up. It’s really helpful to see someone apply it in action! Hope this helps, and if you’d excuse me, I have to get ready to start my day. Make up here I come!

Love always,
Mia

Every lady should have a “that’s me” scent, a fragrance that is instantly identified with you. Perfume has a long history, one that started during the time of the Egyptians. Back in the day, women usually had one perfume as this was a luxury and owning multiple fragrances was rare. By the 1600s scents were applied to objects such as furniture and clothing, and has gradually gained popularity in every culture since.

I own multiple bottles of perfume, but there are only a few that I truly consider “my scent”. Here are some of my top 3 favorites:

Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel

My all-time favorite and probably the first “real” perfume that I have ever owned. I was introduced to it from my father when I was about 16 years old and since then I have identified this scent as mine. A little bit lighter than the Coco Chanel, this flowery-scent bottle of elegance makes me feel confident and sophisticated. It is available in 1.7 oz and 3.4 oz sizes, and can be purchased at almost every perfume store. Price: $65-$105 (depending on where you get it)
www.chanel.com

Brit by Burberry

I tried this fragrance out because of my love for Burberry, and once again, I wasn’t disappointed. Even though considered a vanilla-scent, it’s no where close to an overpowering, too-sweet-to-smell kind of fragrance. The vanilla is really subtle and I even smell a hint of spices and pear. Strange combo? Don’t judge until you try it, this little, unique, bottle makes me feel sexy and, simply put, happy! It’s a great scent to wear in the winter, it’s fresh, crisp and warm. Price: $36-$56 (depending on where you get it, ).
www.burberry.com

J’adore by Dior

This is the definition of sexy in a bottle, which is the message that I got when I first laid eyes on it. The bottle itself looks like a genie lamp, as if magic happens when it is applied. The shape of the bottle definitely matches the scent; seductive, feminine and fresh. It’s very floral (some say orchids, my favorite!) and simply irresistable! While it is not the cheapest on the market, expensive taste definitely stands out and is said to be an attention grabber. Price: $56-$80 (depending on where you get it)
www.dior.com

Pick two or three that you truly enjoy wearing and stick to it for a while; it will become part of you. I know the fun part of fragrances is exploring various scents but, just like the Egyptians, you want to have at least two that you consider “you”.

Love always,
Mia

Some may not care about fashion, make up, or what colors are currently in the trend, but everyone has hair! Whether it’s short or long, brown or blonde, a 5-min styling in the morning can make you feel more beautiful and confident, hence, uplift your day. You’re supposed to get a trim every 6-8 weeks, which means I’m way overdue!

Getting a haircut is kind of like an adventure — you don’t really know what you expect at the end of the session. You may have the best vision in mind, but once its cut you either end up with an “oh no” or a “oh la la”. I’ve had countless of cuts where I wanted to press the undo button, and since then I’ve learned to always bring a visual with me when I am describing the cut that I want.

Here are some styles that I found during my research for the perfect cut:

Medium-dos:

These are some hot dos in my opinion. All three create a fun, modern looks that would go great for any occassion. I’m not a blonde or a light haired brunette, but I can imagine these cuts looking great for Asian hair as well. What I like most about these cuts are the layers that create a wild look, and bangs that often your face. I need a cut that I can still do updos with, so medium length and these styles are perfect for that.

Long dos:

I’ve always been a fan of long hair, and if I were to keep it long as it is now and just get a trim, I’m thinking of going for either the left or the right style. The bangs cut in the middle is an awesome style, but I’m not too sure if it would fit my facial features. Highlights are always a do-do, it adds a lot of shine into your hair and also makes it look healthy (if done right). I would recommend a fun, flirty hair style in the summer and a shorter cut for the winter, they tend to look awesome with a cozy turtle neck sweater. Oh, and another reason why I want to get it cut shorter? So that I don’t shed all over my boyfriend’s floor

Let me know what you think and share your ideas with me!

Love always,
Mia

Life is a little harder when you are short. You can’t reach the pots and pans that are above the kitchen shelf, you have to ask someone at the supermarket to help you grab the cereal that you want, and it’s just not fair that you have to cheat your height with high stiletto heels. I used to hate my 5’2 height and always got made fun of, but overtime I started to accept my petite size and started to take advantage of it. Fashion for petite girls can be, at times, tricky and a bit of a challenge. We try to add height without relying on heels and wear certain colors that attract eyes. Here is my personal fashion dos and don’ts that I think are important for every petite girl to keep her mind on:

Dos:

• A good trick to elongate your legs is to wear straight pants that cover your shoes. This will definitely add some extra inches to your legs.
• High waisted trousers and jeans help you appear taller. You can also try high waisted skirts as they add the height illusion factor to your appearance.
• Try to avoid extra fabric around your waist. By adding extra volume you are covering up your curve, a big no no for petite girls!
• Shop for clothing with strong vertical lines — zip-front styles, cable-patterned knits, etc. This gives you a vertical illusion
• Dress in solid colors. Sticking to one or two color pallets, like a jacket and pants, will give you a taller look. Mixing colors is still do-able but just don’t overdo it!

Don’ts:

• Your main goal is to make your legs look longer and torso smaller. Don’t make the mistake of wearing long baggy skirts — this will make you look shorter.
• Try to avoid extra fabric around your waist. By adding extra volume you are covering up your curve, a big no no for petite girls!
• Stay away from crop pants! They look great on girls whose legs extend a mile, but for a shorter girl it mostly looks unflattering.
• Too tight means too bad! If you think you can’t fit into the size 0 jeans, just go up a size (no one will ever know). It’s not flattering to wear clothing that is too tight.
• No no to flared or bell bottom pants. They would make you look even shorter. Try to wear jeans or pants that cover your shoes but shouldn’t be flared from bottom.

There are plenty more, but these are just my basic dos and donts. Leave me a comment if you think you have other ones that should be added to the list!

Love always,
Mia

For some it’s Gucci. For others, Prada. But for me, it’s Burberry. I never used to be a big designer person, but after holding a couple Coach bags and eventually moving on to Dooney & Bourkes, I started to shift my eye towards a more elegant, yet young, design. The love of Burberry runs in my family; I’ve always seen my mom wear a chic raincoat and my father had a scarf during the winters. I went from being neutral about it, to liking it, to LOVING it. And now, I’m obsessed!

Did you see the latest Burberry advertising campaign? They are using 18-year-old Emma Watson as their feature and a couple of boys that look like they are twelve! Okay, Emma does look beautiful and the Burberry brand stands her well, but what’s with the boys? It looks like a cheesy, wanna-be grown up photograph and I’m not buying it!

Other than their recent decision to turn to teens for their advertisements, my love for Burberry has not changed. Here is my latest wish list:

Love love love the nova check! This design is more of a modern look and the stripes are bigger compared to the older patterns. I was never a fan of BIG bags, I just don’t understand what women have to carry all the time! All I need is my wallet, keys, phone and chapstick and this is the perfect size for my needs. So if I need to carry additional items like a  book, make up bag, snacks, and a puppy, I might consider getting something a little bigger…

The black and white nova check design is also one of my favorites, and kind of has a wintery feel for it. I prefer bigger wallets than the smaller ID ones, I just feel like I have more space  in them and don’t feel so cramped when I open it. Organization is key for me, so knowing exactly where everything is is vital! Who wouldn’t want to keep a nice oranized wallet when you’re carrying around something so chic around with you everyday!

This navy-blue dress screams out  elegance to me, a must-have for a sophisticated woman who has a sense in style. I’m debating whether this is a spring look for a fall look… I guess you could wear it both ways depending on what kind of shoes you wear . It would look really cute with a pair of knee-length, heeled boots for the winter, and some strapped heels for the warmer days. I would finish this look with a set of pearl earrings and necklace, and probably wear my hair in an updo to create that sophistication style in me. The belt above the waist is a great way to look taller for us petite women as it makes your torso look smaller. It also adds length to your legs and creates a leaner look. A great design by Burberry, and definitely high on my wish-list!

A modern look for a sophisticated woman!

Shopping can be lots of fun when you have time to kill and are not looking for anything in particular. Or in other words, browsing. But what if you have people to see and places to be, and you don’t have the time or effort to go find the outfit to your next event? And buying that Marc Jacobs dress online is still too expensive for you? That’s when discounts come into play, or another alternative, online auctioning. Did you know that eBay has a huge online outlet mall that is categorized by designer and prices? Discovering this amazing option for shopping opened my eyes and I’d like to help you open yours too.

Don’t be scared! Turing to eBay for shopping can be, at times, risky and I can totally understand that you have doubts about online auctioning. You’re not the only one with such thoughts, and eBay is aware of that. But keep in mind that the $21.7 billion auctioning site has been around for a while and eBay provides tools and options to make your shopping experience worry-free and more fun. While negative buyers and sellers exist, buyers usually have the advantage of reading feedback and reviews of the sellers. Just be smart and use your good judgment; don’t buy items from negative sellers.

You don’t have to be growing a money tree to be up-to-date with fashion. Turning to eBay as your favorite store is a smarter way to be fashionable. What’s a better store than a place where you get to name your own price?! So going back to that Marc Jacobs dress as an example, try finding it in the store and then turn to eBay for a cheaper price. True, some outfits may not be available, or they may not have your size, but chances are that the  huge outlet “mall” like will carry it. Be smart about your hard-earned money, don’t spend it at the first store you walk into and instead do research! You’ll be surprised just how many online stores or sites like eBay may carry the same outfit for a high discounted price! However, before you place a bid make sure you give yourself a limit to how much want to spend. It’s easy to get carried away while online auctioning, and don’t let that fool you. I always tend to write down my maximum bid and tell myself how much the item is worth to me. Paying the same price or more than in a store defeats the purpose of online auctioning.

If you don’t find the outfit you are looking for, keep refreshing and check back everyday. eBay is like an online fashion magazine that is constantly being updated. Timing is vital and depending on how obsessed you are with the outfit you are looking for, you may want to refresh your browser or at least visit the page everyday. If you are short on time and NEED that dress immediately, you may be better off just paying the full price at a store but if this is something that you WANT (instead of need), have some patience and you’ll eventually find it!

You like what you see? Act on it! “Window shopping” on eBay should be a fun experience, and they offer some unique items that you may not see again unless you act on it. Don’t think that the item may still be available the following day. If you something catches your eye, I recommed placing a bid on it and keep a watch.

eBay is fun and don’t feel overwhelmed! If you are serious about eBay shopping, I recommend doing some background research on books (like the Dummies series) and becoming familiar on some of the tips. Think you are ready? Shop till you drop and place your bid! Go to eBay!

Love always,
Mia

Summer coming to an end and you STILL haven’t had the time to shine? Okay, it’s time to put your best foot forwards and have an evening where the heads are turning towards you! I’m not just talking about grabbing the attention of men, but also of the popular girl across the room who you’ve always had an envy for. I know, it’s easy for me to say  but with an awesome color combination and adding some bling to finish your touch, you’d be surprised just how quickly she will notice you before you notice her. This is not to say that I’m the goddess of attention grabbers, but I can point out people in the room that may attract more attention than others. Here are some dos:

1) Go out to a place where you can socialize. It could be a bar, a house party, or a concert, but the point is to be at a place where you will have the opportunity to be seen.

2) A cocktail lounge: Did that little black dress not work for you last time? Try adding some color and go with a seductive red or a fun metallic. And NEVER walk into a cocktail lounge without a pair of heels or stiletto shoes. You’ll look so much sexier with leaner legs and adding some glamor to that dress. If you’re going to wear red, experiment by wearing red lipstick to match the look. It just might add some more romance to your evening.

3) A house party: Don’t be like everybody else and wear the daytime jeans and tank top to the house party. Stand out of the crowd and wear a lacey dress or skirt that flaunts your feminism. But don’t show too much skin, you don’t want heads to turn because you look like a slut!

4) Girls Night Out: A whole group of girls to compete with? I noticed that girls always tend to wear similar outfits when they all go out to a bar or nightclub, so why don’t you be the adventurous one and wear something completely different from your girls? Wear pants instead of a hoochie dress. Wear your hair in a hot updo with dangly earrings instead of letting it loose. Being different is not always a bad thing.

5) Work: Why not? It’s an environment with people, and it’s probably one of the most important places where you want to make a good impression. Go to a business meeting with a sleek light colored suit, like a beige or even a daring white, and wear your hair in updo. I recommend not overdoing the bling, this is one of those times when the phrase “simple is beautiful” comes into play.

6) Shopping outdoors: How many people do you see while you’re out and about doing your shopping? Hundreds! So first impressions is a must for a shopping experience. Not many people stand out of the crowd for me, but those that do makes me want to turn my head and get a better look. Block yourself from the sun and wear an oversized hat with your summer-yellow dress. Finish the look with a pair of comfortable heels (you’ll be doing a lot of walking!) and you’re guaranteed to get turned heads!

Stepping out of your comfort zone is not a comfortable move, but it’s always that first step that brings you closer to a true fashionista! Try it, you have nothing to lose

Love always,
Mia

Let’s face it, the future of our planet is not looking too good and we only have ourselves to blame. If you’re not too big on recycling or driving hybrid cars, why not try to merge what you do on a regular basis into something a little bit more environmentally friendly.

I’m not the biggest tree hugger but I hear people talk about going green and being more aware of our environment all the time, so I decided to do my part and help the world I live in. Ask yourself, what do you like or are obsessed with most? For me, I turned my head towards fashion. I didn’t think that my love for keeping up with trends would do much for the environment, but boy was I wrong! Designer brands and companies are gradually turning towards clothing and accessories to help make the world a better place. I did some online research and found some great suggestions on how green fashion adds value.

These wooden sunglasses caught my eye. How fashionable would you look walking down the street with these lightweight glasses? Even though these are a little bit out of my price range (I don’t have $300 to spend on glasses), turning to glasses made out of different material is a great alternative to becoming green. Modo also came up with a great design that uses recycled stainless steel and repurposed plastic. Every dollar they make also goes to the non-profit Trees for the Future foundation.

Not all recycled newspapers and food wrappings turn into school notebooks, but also into fashionable items that will make you the talk of town. Ecoist is an online store that sells handbags made out of recycled candy wrappers, soda cans, newspapers and other items that can be converted into something else. Adding color and life, Ecoist create unique purses, wallets and bags at affordable prices that will be remembered by anyone who lays eyes on it. If you are going to spend hundreds of dollars buying a suede handbag, not to mention that animals get killed for it, why not turn your head to a bag that is half its price and more environmentally friendly? Not to mention, they plant a tree for every item sold.

Accessories aside, designers that are more environmentally conscious are increasing by number every year. Take, for example, Elroy Apparel, a Canadian clothing line that is all made from sustainable fabrics. I had a browse through the website and was impressed with the great designs that the line is creating. This blue dress caught my attention. Selling at $83, it is 95% modal and 5% spandex, almost like a silky kind of feel on your skin.Wearing fabric that is all organic is also so much healthier for your skin. Facts show that 4 of the top 9 pesticides used on cotton are known as cancer-causing chemicals, and farmers in California no longer use leftover leaves of cotton seeds to feed their animals as it is way too unsave because of pesticides. So turn your heads to material and items of clothing that aren’t that harmful for your skin, and do good for the environment. It may be worth it to spend the extra few dollars to assure your good health.

These are just a few that caught my attention, but there are countless of other options of helping out the world you live in without sacrificing your style. I like the feeling of going to bed at night, knowing that I did something good for the environment, wouldn’t you?

Love always,
Mia

I love waking up on the west side. There’s nothing better than opening your eyes to the sound of the ocean splashing against the shore. I wished that I could wake up like this every morning. I’ve set my mind to live in Santa Monica some day. I mean, this would be a far goal, one that I could achieve when I am done with my Master’s degree. However for the time being, I’m going to stick to my original plan and move to my new apartment that is closer to school. Just you wait Santa Monica, I will live there someday!

Thanks to my friend and her boyfriend, I was able to escape Los Angeles for a while and spend the weekend at a beach house in Santa Monica. It felt like a mini-vacation, something that I was going to plan if this event didn’t happen. Staying at a house rather than a hotel gives a much different feel. I feel like I have more control and I’m not limited to what I can and cannot do. Well, with a few exceptions, of course, but we are all mature adults so I didn’t go too crazy *wink*.

I wanted to take advantage of the warm beach weather and decided to wear my green and white summer dress from DKNY. This is the kind of dress that doesn’t look strange when you wear it out to the beach. I wore a bikini under it but decided to not wear any jewelry with it. After a few mimosas on the patio, I was definitely ready to go spend the day at the beach!

Just when I was about to leave the patio, my friend’s boyfriend carried out a bowl filled with meat to barbecue for lunch. I wasn’t going to miss a good plate of steak! I grew up in a household where barbecuing wasn’t that common, so I’ll take any chance where I get to cook my own piece of meat! 

I must have looked so attractive in my summer dress, biting into a huge piece of meat and barbecue sauce dripping all over my mouth, but I didn’t care! I’m on vacation!

After about my third bratwurst and second plate of potato salad, I was in no shape or mood to go lie under the hot California sun. Well, actually, I don’t think anyone was ready to go out to the beach or go for a bike ride after the amount of food we ate. The grilling experience was tons of fun though, it was the first time I’ve grilled since I moved out to California and it was the perfect summer experience. Luckily, my new apartment complex has a pool and a barbecue right next to it… This means trouble!

Love always,

Mia

Every now and then, I have an itch to get away from the hectic city life in Los Angeles and spend at least a day or two somewhere that isn’t always surrounded by smog. I was planning to put together a small getaway vacation with a couple of friends and spend a weekend away from the city. Just when I was about to really start looking into package deals, a friend of mine and her boyfriend decided to rent a beach house in Santa Monica to basically relax and chill by the beach. She kindly invited me to spend the weekend with her and a few of her friends that I didn’t really know. I’m always up for meeting new people so I gladly accepted her invitation.

It was towards dinner time when many of us began storming into the two-story house. The rooms were really spacious and all of them had killer ocean views; imagine waking up to the view of the ocean every morning! The house was fully equipped with all of the necessities; kitchen goods, bedding, towels, games, and even a Nintendo Wii system! I’ve never been to an ocean side house before, and even at night, the evening glow seemed to somehow come in through the windows! However, there wasn’t that much romance in the air as the rooms and outdoor patio were filled with people that I barely knew. My friend spent most of her time with her boyfriend, so I ventured out and decided to make new friends.

It wasn’t hard getting to know people. A girl named Megan approached me and started commenting on the dress that I was wearing. I had almost forgotten what I was wearing until she pointed out that she liked the lacey black sleeves of my Sweetees top. I matched the top with a pair of light grey pants and heels, and finished the look with hoop earrings. Now that I think about it, I don’t really know why I was wearing a weekend dressy outfit when I was hanging out at a house on the beach, but I don’t regret it as Megan and I became pretty good friends thanks to my outfit.

She introduced me to a bunch of her friends, making it easier for me to mingle with others. It makes things so much easier when I have a friend introducing me to the rest of the crowd. Surprisingly my outfit seemed to become the center of attention, and everyone asked where I got the look and what brand it was. As many of you have finally figured out by now, I love talking about fashion and various brands, so I felt really comfortable expression my thoughts and opinions on the current fashion trends and looks.

Being at the beach house was exactly what I was looking for. It was a mini-vacation away from the city, surrounding myself with nature and being across from the Pacific Ocean. Even though there are a lot of us here at the house, it hasn’t turned into a huge party or anything crazy. I think we are all here for the same reason; escaping Los Angeles.

Love always,

Mia