Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Scores from the BaubleBar Sample Sale

Last night, I was lucky enough to shop the BaubleBar Sample Sale (slightly) early in NYC, thanks to a VIP invite found on Racked.com. Although it seems like BaubleBar has insane sales & deals pretty often, I jumped at the opportunity to get up close and personal with my favorite costume jewelery, which I've only been able to shop online in the past.


Although BaubleBar jewelry is constantly going on sale, I found the prices to be even lower at their sample sale. Bracelets, rings, and earrings were as cheap as $5 and necklaces ranged from $10-$25. In the spirit of being cheap, I aimed for an under $20 find, scoring this beautiful black & white bib for only $12. Truthfully, I would have liked to buy another necklace, but many of my favorites were missing stones so be careful to examine your finds!

 

 

Are you as obsessed with sparkle as I am? Luckily, you can still visit the BaubleBar Sample Sale today & tomorrow from 10AM-8PM at 28 W 27th st, 2nd floor.

For more information, go to Racked.com.



Monday, July 28, 2014

Mani Moment: Sparkle & Fade with a Glitter Gradient

The Inspiration: Although I'm always looking for nail art inspo in my favorite magazines and around the Internet, sometimes I like to revisit my old designs with a new twist. So, for this week's look, I combined my Layered Glitter Nails with my Tape Manicure for a fun new way to wear glitter polish.

My Way:

It can be hard to create a glitter gradient using just the polish, so I used tape to apply my topcoat in a triangular shape. The way the glitter is thicker at top, coming to a point near the base of the nail, gives it an effect that appears to be fading out.  

Get the Look:

1. After applying a base coast, paint your nails a light pink or cream color. I used Nicole by OPI polish in Sweet Surrender.

2. Before applying your glitter gradient, let your base color dry completely. This is the perfect opportunity to prep for the next part of your mani. Rip off 20 pieces of masking tape (each about 2 inches long) and stick them to a nearby surface. This way, you won't have to worry about smudging your glitter to rip the tape later on.

3. Once your first color is dry, apply 2 pieces of tape over your nails, creating a triangle shape. Although I didn't snap a photo here, I demonstrated the correct shape in my Tape Mani Tutorial.

4. Apply glitter polish within the lines of your tape. I used Sally Hansen Triple Shine Dream Sequins.

5. [Optional] If you want your gradient to have even more of a fade to it, chose a slightly larger flecked glitter and apply it to the tips of your nails, similar to my Layered Glitter Nail Tutorial. I used Milani 531 Gold polish. Note: if you're layering glitters, chose polishes that have flecks of sparkle within a clear coat.

6. Apply top coat and take a pic of your fresh #ManicureMonday sparkle gradient!
 

Friday, July 25, 2014

The Ultimate Frends Collaboration Showdown

I've admired Frends for their commitment to both design and function ever since I spotted their oil slick headphones in my office last winter. So when their collaboration with one of my favorite jewelery retailers launched, I was overjoyed. But then, only about a week after BaubleBar and Frends announced their collab, a similar announcement was made with Nordstrom. Since I can't be the only one feeling déjà vu over these two collaborations, I decided that the time has come for a showdown.

The Ultimate Frends Collaboration Showdown

Frends x BaubleBar (right): Frends headphones are accessories of their own, but in this collab, the brand looked towards a popular jewelry site to lend them some sparkle. This pair comes in two colors, both complete with matching statement earrings! (Though I imagine you couldn't comfortably wear them together, right?) While the rose gold (pictured) has a femininity to it, the black pair is a bit edgier. Either are a perfect go to for the bauble enthusiast. Since they already sold out once, the rose gold pair is now available for pre-sale on BaubleBar.com.

Frends x We Are Handsome (left): This collaboration brings together music with a popular swimwear label for the perfect summer headphones, available exclusively at Nordstrom. Instead of the typical shine we're used to seeing from Frends, these headphones have a floral print in different shades of purple. Wear them with your bathing suit on the beach, or in the office when you want to pretend you're actually poolside. Get them now at a special price during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, and you'll be listening to your fave tropical tunes in no time.

So which collab is your personal favorite--florals or sparkle? Or are you lusting after a pair in Frends own collection? Let me know in the comments below!

Thursday, July 24, 2014

My Picks from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Although I hate to admit it, fall is creeping up on us. Luckily, Nordstrom's biggest sale of the year is here to ease us into fall dressing while still enjoying the summer sun. So here are my picks from the sale--some you can wear now, while others will have you looking forward to the colder months ahead.

http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=129505254 

1.  Topshop Print T-Shirt Dress: Wear this graphic dress now with your favorite slip on sandals, and in fall with black high socks and booties. 

2. 3.1 Phillip Lim Colorblock Crossbody Satchel: This colorblocked version of Phillip Lim's classic satchel is sure to blend in with your fall and winter wardrobes. The teal will add a fun pop of color that doesn't deviate too much from your closet of neutrals come fall.

3. Ciaté Nail Polish Trio: I'm always doing my nails, and I love finding new colored polishes. This trio is great because each color works well for now or for fall! Cute beauty boxes like this one also make great gifts.

4. Steve Madden Nyrvana Boot: When I was interning last winter, black booties became a staple in my wardrobe. They're versatile and can make jeans appear polished! If you work in a cold office, wear them now to give your summer dresses a bit of an edge. This style's quilted backing give them a unique vibe.

5. Rebecca Minkoff Chic Happens Pouch: No matter the season, a bright pouch is a necessity for us busy girls on the go. Tuck it into your tote bag with your makeup essentials enclosed. Chic will happen in no time.

6. Kate Spade Teardrop Studs: Although these studs come in a few colors, the green is perfect to pair with your summer floral dresses! Come fall, you won't want to tuck them away in your wardrobe, which is fine considering accessories are the perfect way to add color to your outfit.

7. Topshop High Rise Taperd Raux Leather Trousers: I'm a lover of all things high-waisted, so these pants caught my eye immediately. They have a perfect edgy but sporty vibe that will scream "I'm casual, I just threw these on and walked out the door," every time you put them on. In case you can't tell, I'm also a lover of pieces that make any outfit look trendy, that are still versatile (strappy heels, cropped sweatshirt, slip on sneakers--you be the judge!).  

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Introducing My New & Improved Blog

A year ago, I started a (now-nonexistent) blog called FashMob, which then became Shinnersss the Blog with the purpose of developing my writing skills and online identity. However, since I also was writing for a few other online magazines, my blog never picked up much. For those of you who don't already know me, I'm an aspiring magazine editor and I spent my last year of college writing for student publications and interning at more national titles. Anyway, I never really liked its design or name, so now that I graduated, I decided that it's time for a blog that actually feels like my own.

Introducing A Strike of Style! (aka the page you're on right now, in case you haven't noticed)

Truthfully, the purpose of this blog hasn't changed all that much. I'm still focusing on fashion, beauty (nails!), and career tips I've learned from trying to make it in the magazine industry in my posts. And while I'm always going to be writing for other magazines, I hope that this blog can be a place for you to come and get to know me.

So take a look around and let me know what you think of my redesign!

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

#iHeartNailArt and this Metallic Moon Mani

Whenever I'm looking to create a fun nail look, I tend to include metallic or glitter polish into my design. So when the Seventeen Social Club sent me the new Sally Hansen ColorFoil nail polish to try, I couldn't wait to see how it would compare to my usual metallics.

The Inspiration: Seventeen's Tutorial

My Way:

 

Overall, this was a simple nail art design that didn't require any extra tools! I found the polish to have an (amazing!) intense shine and layering another color over the ColorFoil created a cool textured look. However, it was a bit hard to work with the ColorFoil. Be careful to make your brush strokes thin and even because it streaks easily when you put on too much polish at once.

Get the look:

1. Skip the base coat, this polish is meant to go on alone! Apply your Sterling Silver Color Foil to your nail. Let dry.

Screen Shot 2014-07-01 at 8.54.48 PM

2. Apply your second color to your nail how you usually would, stopping before the end of the nail so there's a moon of silver still showing. I used the Sally Triple Shine polish in Reef-Raf. It has the perfect moon shaped brush for achieving this design without any nail art tools.

3. Alone, the ColorFoil doesn't require a top coat, but since I applied pink over it, I used the Sally Hansen Triple Shine Top Coat for an extra metallic finish.

Don't forget to use #iHeartNailArt when you share your pics on Instagram for the chance to win $500 and a trip to NYC from Sally Hansen! More details here.

note: this tutorial is based off the Seventeen Magazine tutorial linked above.

RebeccaFashSignature
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