Walk This Way

It’s amazing how inspiration can strike you. Even in the oddest of places, like this parking lot, you can find something visually appealing and inspiring. I just love how the lines, arrows, and graphic color blocking (grey, white, and yellow), led me to a super fun and impromptu photoshoot!

I love how cities and urban living can just influence your fashion and lifestyle! My ensemble is very city chic with a dash of bohemian flair.

I adore this blue ikat print collarless jacket and love how it adds print, color, trend, and texture to my predominantly neutral look. I also love how the lines of the ikat print look against the graphic lines of this location.

Did you notice that my pink lips match the pink scarf tied around the handles of my Hermes purse? It’s all in the details, darlings! Little things like this can make your outfit stand out even more.

My white button-down and white jeans is such a refreshing combo, especially when paired with cap-toe boots. This look is simply classic, and you can style it however you choose. The printed topper I chose mixes a bit of current fashion trends with the timeless pieces that I used as the base of my outfit.

Another styling trick that I always use is making use of contrasting proportions. The volume of the jacket sleeves alongside the varying sleeve length make for an interesting visual. 

White on white is a white hot trend that you should get on board with. It is a classic and clean look that you can even wear during evening events. Given the right styling of course.

Now that spring is coming, white will be a more prevalent color trend than ever. Combine it with fun and playful prints just like I did, and you’ll be styling down the city streets (or the beach!) in no time.

Spring 2015 Makeup Trends

Spring is just around the corner, and if your closet needs a refresh so does your beauty routine. The Spring 2015 runway was rife with beauty inspiration and artistic visuals. From spins of classic beauty looks to avant-garde flourishes, this season’s beauty looks ran the gamut. There were flirty and fun girly looks, eccentric graphic designs, but the most prevalent look was the minimal barely there makeup look. Wanna know more? Read on for my rundown of Spring 2015’s Top Makeup Trends.

Wing It 

This season takes the winged/cat eye trend that has been going strong for years now, and this time around the industry has upgraded it and made it more dramatic and geometric. You can either go for a fully lined cat eye look in blue liner or a heavily drawn on top liner with a futuristic feel, either way a more pronounced cat eye will do wonders in giving your spring look a modern uplift. These cat eye looks are perfect for evening, and will look great with your favorite LBD.

Image from Teen Vogue

Doll Face

This season’s doll-like beauty look is all about pink lips and a wide-eyed look punctuated by high impact lashes. Lips that range from pinkish nude to hot pink Barbie lips, and lashes that range from 60s Twiggy-esque to 80s maximum volume drama, the doll face look has a variety of incarnations that you can play around and have fun with. This look is best paired with spring’s traditional floral frocks and pastel looks.

Image from Teen Vogue

Red Alert

Red lips are always a permanent staple in the beauty industry lexicon. It is like a sleek black pump that never goes out of style. For Spring 2015, the red lips come in a more stained look. This “just bitten” look is especially perfect for balmy summer afternoons. Best paired with a bold, perfectly sculpted brow. This is a fuss-free way to get your beauty look on trend.

Image from Teen Vogue

Purple Rain

The smoky eye look isn’t exclusive to neutrals anymore. Shades of purple have been used to create a refreshing and colorful take on the smoky eye. This unexpected color creates a look of subtle sophistication. Keep the rest of your beauty look simple when taking this trend out for a spin, and let your eyes be the focus of attention.

Image from Harper’s Bazaar

Feelin’ Blue 

Blue eyeshadow gets a bad rep for being unwearable and borderline uncool. Spring 2015 has brought back the blue eyeshadow in a big way, and in the process it has proven that this eye look can work for a variety of eye colors and skin tones. Experiment with different shades of blue and see what works for you.

Image from Fashionisers

High Brow

Yes people, eyebrow coloring and bleaching is a thing. Kim K. and Cara Delevingne have both taken the plunge into a brow color change, and it is proving to be a favorite of fashion rebels to express their inner wild child. This trend may not be for everyone, but it is certainly a noteworthy trend that you can try with some temporary eyebrow tint.

Image from Fashionisers

Au Naturel

Spring 2015’s most dominant beauty look is the barely there minimal makeup look. The perfect no makeup look always start with great skin, of course. Invest in your skincare and stick to routine that works for you to ensure that you have the best canvas for this beauty trend. The key to the no makeup look are groomed brows and a healthy looking complexion, which you can either use a bit of bronze or blush to achieve. Finish off with some lip balm and a tiny amount of gloss and you’re all set.

Image from Fashionisers

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

The smoky eye look is another trend that has cemented itself as a beauty industry classic. This season designers showed heavily lined raccoon like dark smoky eyes. Channeling a “morning after party vibe” this edgy beauty look is best paired with a leather jacket or for some sartorial contrast, a polished and tailored ensemble.

Image from Harper’s Bazaar

Which look are you loving? I can’t wait to try ’em all! Stay tuned for hair and nail trends on the blog!

Tough Love

A little bit of naughty and a little bit of nice is a good fashion philosophy to have. Even if Valentine’s is already over, there is no reason not to wear sweet little hearts all over your frock. 

They say girls are made of sugar and spice, right? So play into that and spice things up and add rebel chic details to your typical girly look. Tone down the girliness of this heart print dress while amping up your fashion renegade style as you add tough ankle boots into the mix. 

The exposed zipper detailing on these boots add an unexpected and edgy twist to your standard ankle bootie. Not only that, these exposed zippers add some glam sheen to your footwear. Worn with tights, these boots really make a strong statement on your bold and confident sense of style. The tights and boots combo also accentuate your gams and create a flattering silhouette. 

Let the love and heart-filled motif into your beauty look too! Red lips, flushed cheeks, well-groomed and shaped brows, and a touch of liner is all you need for that perfect date night look. This goes so well with the dress, don’t you think?

The impact of an amazing accessory truly can’t be beat. This classic Chanel 2.55 bag elevate your look instantly and give it an air of class and modern elegance.

Make everyday Valentine’s Day, and make every night feel like date night as you dress up in your chicest. Don’t take a day off from prettifying your fabulous self, and always dress for yourself. Remember, self-love is numero uno. And nothing says I love myself more than a confident ensemble that perfectly represents the confident woman wearing it.

Have a great week my lovely readers!

Style Icon: Gwyneth Paltrow

Leggy, gorgeous, and eternally chic, Gwyneth Paltrow sure sets the bar high for Hollywood stars everywhere. Always perfectly coiffed and always dressed to kill, Gwyneth makes one wonder how she manages to look this good while being a mom, actress, and lifestyle guru. Owner and tastemaker at Goop, her personal passion project and online magazine that serves as a source for all things organic, natural, healthy, and on trend. She manages to keep fit through her lifestyle and her covetable radar for everything fashion forward. Steal some Gwynnie’s style and get inspired with this rundown of her 10 best looks:

Showing off her legendary toned legs, Gwyneth nails that elusive combo of casual and elegant. This pearly white short suit is fashion gamble that definitely paid off for her, making her look a cut above your standard red carpet looks. The edgy black booties are a nice finishing touch.

Gwyneth isn’t particularly known for her penchant for color. She is often seen in chic and classic neutrals, which is why this orange number is extra special since it shows that she can pull off a bold look along with the best of them. This beautifully draped orange frock shows off her amazing bod in high style. The color clashing red booties completes this look with an unexpected hit of saturated color.

This is Gwyneth at her best. The red carpet is where her best and most wow-inducing fashion moments happen and this gilded gown is one of them. Donning head-to-toe gold might prove to be a sartorial challenge for some, but Gwyneth has always proved herself to be the exception to the rule. This full-on glitz and glamour is dripping in sophistication, from the jeweled brooch on her waist down to her ankle-strap stilettos.

This look is further proof of what we knew all along, a sleek black tuxedo jacket is a must-have for every fashionista. Here, Gwyneth wears it over a lacy one-piece and the jacket instantly adds a tailored touch and a fashion forward bravado to this look.

Simplicity always equal elegance and if you pull it off like Gwyneth does, it is sure to land you on the best-dressed list. This sparkly green gown is made even more radiant when you let it be the center of attention. I love how she simply styled it with a diamond statement necklace and poker straight center parted hair.

One of the most memorable Oscar dresses to date, this Tom Ford piece is one for the fashion books. This white gown-cape hybrid showcases Gwyneth’s love for both glamorous and simultaneously cutting-edge fashion. Again, her simple beauty look and minimal accessorizing makes this look extra winsome. Less is indeed more.

Gwyneth knows that a strategic cut-out and bold color blocking are more than enough to make you stand out. Paired with textured waves and sexy high heels, she proves once again that a great dress is more than enough to prove your fashion mettle.

Seriously, Gwyneth could be a poster girl/champion for the power and impact of simplicity, when done right of course. She does casual so perfectly polished. A cuffed blazer, classic white tee, boyfriend jeans, and strappy sandals is the formula for quick and easy chic.

Gwyneth knows that a little of smoky eye and statement cut-out heels are all you need to elevate a white dress. Loose waves and dewy skin finish off this look, and reminds us that your hair, makeup, and skin are a big part of looking put together.

I can’t round out this list without showing you Old Hollywood vintage glam Gwyneth. A blush toned gown with intricate detailing and a subtle mermaid cut makes for a showstopping red carpet statement. Red lips and diamonds complete this look with a classic glam flourish.

Don’t you just love how Gwyneth can make simple look extraordinary!

 

Casual Upgrades

Hi girls,

You must be puzzled by what the photo above is supposed to mean..well this is how I feel when I need to go NOW and I still haven’t decided what to wear. It is really frustrating and makes me late sometimes (ok ok, it makes me late a lot). I don’t like to plan my outfit and makeup the night before because I want it to reflect my mood today. So I refuse to plan ahead unless it is an important event, like a friend’s wedding, Fashion Week or Christmas.

Moving on from that little issues, today I needed a slick but casual look. I wanted to feel cool in +32C yet constrained in movement, elegant but sexy and both confident and shy all at the same time. Sounds complicated? It is not. I wore a thick red lip and neutral eyeshadow with some liner – that is your confident and shy. Classic nude pumps with a lace top for elegant but sexy. And for feeling cool in +32C yet constrained – spaghetti strap top with a pencil skirt. See, told you it is easy.

What do you do if you don’t want to be rushed and frustrated in the morning? Here is the big secret: plan what you going to wear the night before. Simple 🙂 If you have chosen this way then don’t stop on the outfit, plan makeup and accessories to match! Very important!

If you are a free bird and hate planning there is only one way to deal with this and that is to wake up early! Well, looking your best is important, beauty requires sacrifice as they say. If you call waking up 20 minutes earlier a sacrifice. Anyway!

This is the look that I chose for the day. It is perfect for afternoon tea or a special lunch with your friends or boyfriend. Its sexiness is obvious yet toned down but very strict classic shoes and straight hair. 

The colors are simple and natural and will look good in any interior, indoors or outdoors. Always go for natural colors if you want to look fresh and not made up too much. Everyone will be charmed immediately!

More shots just for fun))) And details ~(yawn)~:

Top by aijek (can purchase in KEEPERS store)

Skirt by Saturday by Kate Spade

Shoes by Saint Laurent

Bag by Valentino

And remember: don’t hide your beauty from the people! We all wanna see!!

   

FFF: Flowers, figs, fashion

Sometimes even the wildest party people will trade in their social Friday night for a peaceful stay at home night with your loved ones.

Last Friday night I chose to do exactly that and had a lovely time with my family. On some photos my cat Millie looks like she would prefer a night out over my cuddles, but she is a sweetheart and loves it deep down. She is just shy on camera 🙂

So if you feel you are in the mood for cuddles this weekend just do it! Turn that phone off and spread the love.

For me, home isn’t really home without my cats. Their super soft fluffy warm hugs are irreplaceable! Couple it with a glass of wine after a long day and your evening is a guaranteed success.

I have also added a red lip and a dress with a gorgeous edible print. I would almost always choose a print like that over a flower print or any other girly print. Choose berries or fruits, so long as it is natural and sweet. The freshness will project to your face and skin and make you look just delicious. 

Cheers to Friday night in!

 

SWK launches makeup tutorials on YouTube!

My first tutorial is about Nude Makeup that is perfect for your everyday look! Check it out!

Beauty Report: Fall 2014 Makeup Trends

Refresh your beauty routine and add a few products into your makeup kit this fall. Like your wardrobe, your makeup look should be seasonal too. There’s no need to make a radical overhaul of your beauty kit, you should keep your standard go-to products in there as a base, but also make room for trends in your makeup dresser.

Fall is always so exciting since it brings with it so much opportunity to experiment with something new and discover a new look that works with your natural beauty and enhances it. Here ‘s a rundown of my favorite beauty trends from the Fall 2014 runway:

Read My Lips

Lip color trends are what I look forward to the most each season. Your lipstick of choice is the easiest and quickest way to update your beauty look and make it more current. Donning seasonal shades and trendy colors drastically improve the overall impact of your makeup look. Moreover, lipstick shades don’t require too much commitment from you and it is so easy and fun to play around with different hues! At Missoni and Nicole Miller, lips reminiscent of summer and were orange-tinged, while Anna Sui and Zac Posen showed a glamorously intense scarlet lip. The reign of the bold and intense colored lip isn’t over yet. However, natural looking puckers are proving to be a worthy contender to this trend. Berry tinged lips at Prada and Carolina Herrera had me reaching for lip tint instead of full on lip color.

Au Naturel

This season, designers have embraced the normcore trend in beauty–the no makeup makeup look. This elusive and hard to achieve look is decidedly dewy with a natural glow. It’s not about mattifying this fall, it’s about showing off the natural beauty of your skin. Go back to basics and just opt for some light cover-up, cause nobody’s perfect after all. Some lip and cheeks stain will give just the right amount of color and finish off this look flawlessly.

Metal Detector

From Rodarte to Altuzarra, it was all about high-octane heavy metal this season. You can go really heavy handed with the glitter and the glam because that is exactly the most coveted and most high fashion beauty look for Fall 2014. If you’re feeling extra risky, you can even match your metallic eyeshadow with some metallic lip color. Forget that dark smoky eye and opt for silver, gold, and bronze on your lids for your next night out.

High Brow

Slow down on those tweezers girl. This season it’s time to let your brows grow out a little bit for the look that is inspired by fashion’s latest it girl, model and girl about town Cara Delevingne. These boyish inspired brows are sure to shoot up your chic factor by a thousand percent instantly. Keep them groomed and shaped with a simple routine of clear mascara or some light brow powder.

Mod Appeal

 

The 60s were a big decade on the runway for Fall 2014. From glitter go-go boots to pop art floral prints, the fashion industry is going mod this time around. Of course, beauty trends and looks are sure to follow the inspiration of the clothing, colors, prints, and fabrics. Twiggy-esque lashes are one of the most copied looks off the runway, not to mention the easiest to pull off and work into your everyday personal style. Open up those peepers with doll-like lashes, and make sure to separate those lashes after multiple coats of mascara.

Walk the Line

 

Go for maximum drama and high watt impact with your eyeliner, and take your cat-eye liner beyond your usual limits. It is exactly this exaggerated line and very editorial liner look that will separate your beauty look, and take you from ordinary to extraordinary. This is also a very wearable and versatile look that you can easily translate from day to night. Try this dramatic cat-eye in a colored line, if you dare.

So which trend will you be taking out for a spin this season? I can’t wait to get creative and play with my makeup kit! Have a great week lovely ladies!

Images from Allure, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle Magazine and The Zoe Report

Beauty How To: Face Contouring

Contouring your face is a makeup concept deemed too intimidating, hard, and even impossible by beauty neophytes. Newbies, don’t fret. We’re here to break it down for you.

Face contouring is a very important, albeit overlooked, step in one’s makeup routine. It is all about adding dimensions to your face by playing with light and shadow. Truth be told, once you get the hang of how to contour your face, you will never skip this step since it brings out the exquisite bone structure of your face. It is NOT about caking product on, it is about creating angles and enhancing your natural beauty.

If you’re a face contouring newbie, it is advisable to start out with cheaper drugstore beauty buys. It might take you a while to get the blending right, and you wouldn’t want to waste expensive product right? What you need to invest in are the makeup brushes as well as the beauty sponges. The quality of your brushes is what’s going to spell the difference in your application and technique.

If you want to splurge a little, here are the best products for face contouring:

Image from: Nars

NARS Contour Blush Duo

Image from: EaiBleza

MAC Cream Colour Base

Image from: Nordstrom

Smashbox Step by Step Contour Kit (Contouring shade, bronzer, highlighter and brush)

So let’s get down to brass tacks ladies. First, apply foundation normally all over your face, this will serve as your base. Then simply follow this infographic on how to properly contour your face. There are no set steps. The key here is to blend properly at the end. This tutorial uses 3 products and 3 brushes, but you can easily achieve this look with just a light and dark foundation. You can even use your fingers or sponge to blend, if that’s more comfortable for you.

This infographic also shows the basic tools you’ll need.

Image from The Beauty Department

Eventually you should adjust your contouring technique to your face shape. This infographic shows you the key areas to highlight, add blush, contour according to your face shape:

Image from Pinterest

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Before we part, here some quick expert tips:

• Pick a single makeup texture and keep it consistent. Powders are the easiest to blend, creams have good coverage, and liquids last really long. Sticking to one texture will prevent caking.
• Light in the center, darker around the periphery

Remember to always adjust to how your face is structured. All of this information is merely basic guidelines to get you started. Always go with what works best for YOU.

 

Casual with a Twist

Hi everyone,

Hope you have had a wonderful holiday yesterday and feel refreshed and rested.

It is the hot season here in Singapore and so I have decided to show you another outfit that will keep you cool in the sun.

This is a really easy outfit that will look great on anyone.

The statement here is definitely the jacket. It has a beautiful abstract print that is so loved by designers this season. It is great value for money (I got it in Mango for just $59) and it is very light. It is made out of cotton and will allow your body to breathe even in Singapore’s tropical heat.

Another great thing about this jacket is that it really isn’t asking for any accessories. All it needs is some basic clothes you already have in your wardrobe to go with it.

For our shoot, we have paired it up with a simple navy top by Giordano and a pair of denim shorts by Pull&Bear. As for shoes, I went for my old friend – Givenchy wedges.

Possible variations:

– I can totally see this jacket with a pair of cool sneakers and a white skirt. It will still keep you cool and add a little chic.

– Wedges or heels are recommended. If you want to go with flats, get a high waist skirt or shorts.

– and if you have to have an accessory for every outfit, why not try a necklace? This one by Salut De Miel (priced at $129 in Robinsons).

If you want to share your beautiful outfits with us or have any questions email me at kate@stylewithkate.com!

Happy Friday!