SMU Graduation 2015 OOTD

I've officially graduated from SMU and not only was it a day to celebrate 4 years of achievement, it was a day of style too.  My family was there to cheer me on.  It was a memorable day so I needed a memorable outfit.  I planned it all out months in advance!  I fell in love with a Ralph Lauren metallic jacquard dress at TJMaxx, which you can now get at Lord & Taylor or at Dillard's in navy.  But you couldn't see that until the after party.  Because I was covered in a polyester blue gown all day, my accessories had to be amazing.  I wore big sparkly Kate Spade earrings and Vince Camuto shoes, which killed my feet after standing in them all day ( it was worth it).  I completed the look with my signature pearls, of course!

with Michael and Stephanie

Fit Chic Headbands + Giveaway

I had the pleasure of meeting Fit Chic Headbands owner Julie Condry at The Dallas Market Center this spring.  As a headband fanatic, I was immediately drawn to Julie's vibrant prints.  After chatting with Julie, I was so impressed with the entrepreneurial spirit it took to start her own business.  Fit Chic Headbands were popular before the brand even existed.  People kept asking where she got her headbands and she decided to sell them to boutiques.  Now Fit Chic is in more than 300 stores!  Her hobby turned into a way for her to stay home with her two boys and help pay for her son Cole's therapy after being diagnosed with Autism.  Pretty cool!   

Fit Chic doesn't just sell headbands.  Products like the Fit Belt and the Arm Cheerleader are also fabulous accessories that are musts for every active girl.  All of Julie's products are handmade with love in Oklahoma. The headbands are super stylish, don't give you headaches, and don't slip off your head.

Giveaway!

3 lucky Small 4 Style readers are going to win Fit Chic Headbands of their own.  Do the tasks to earn entries to win. a Rafflecopter giveaway

When Life Gives You Lemons

Lemons may be sour but they look really sweet on the latest clothing and accessories this spring.  The look is very European and very in this season.  Click on your favorite lemon fashion item to shop it!  So when life gives you lemons, wear them stylishly!

Blushington Beauty + Veuve Clicquot Bubbly Girl's Night Out

To have the ultimate girl's night, you need good friends, fabulous beauty products and pink champagne.  Last week Blushington in Dallas had that and more with a party featuring Veuve Clicquot rose champagne and false lash applications.  Blushington's CEO Stephi Maron and CMO Nicki Maron even flew in from Los Angeles for the fun affair.  Every time I go to Blushington I have a great time.  The atmosphere is luxurious, yet comfortable and friendly.  It's a fun place to hang out with friends while getting ready for a special event.  Veuve Clicquot's pink rose champagne matched the Blushington vibe and decor perfectly! 

Lisa Petty, Leah Frazier, Alex Small

Photo Credit: Mary Fields

Photo credit: Mary Fields//From left to right: Sohana Kutub, Alex Small, Leah Frazier, Stephi Maron (Blushington CEO), Jenn Cruse, Lisa Petty

Beauty and bubbly at Blushington was a pretty fab way for me to celebrate my final week of school. 

Photo credit: Mary Fields

Check out this awesome deal to take advantage of next time you get your makeup done at Blushington!

Designer for Discounts! Milly X Kohl's Spring 2015

Ciao Bella!  Kohl's has introduced its latest designer collab collection with Milly!  Take a trip to Capri with vibrant prints and summery Italian themes.  I bought the Lemon Sequin tee and blue Sateen shorts.  I can't wait to live La Dolce Vita this summer with my cute Milly outfit!  Get shopping soon because it's a limited edition collection, and it's all 25% off online right now!

Dior and I Fashion Movie in Dallas this April for USA Film Festival

Photo from fashionide.com

Leah Frazier of DFW Style Daily has reported that a new fashion film is coming to Dallas and it's kind of a big deal.  Actually, it's a huge deal because critics are saying that it's the best fashion movie ever!  Dior and I chronicles the development of Raf Simons' first couture collection for Dior in 2012 when he became creative director after John Galliano's dismissal.  

Photo from diorandimovie.com

It'll be pretty tough to compete with Valentino: The Last Emperor from 2008 with the behind the scenes look at the world of haute couture.  I saw it in the theater 3 times and watched the DVD endlessly.  From the trailer, it looks like Dior and I will also give viewers a peek into the mysterious, beautiful, intense work that goes on behind closed doors at a famous couture house.  I'm excited! 

The Dallas premier Dior and I is on April 23 (my birthday, I think it was meant to be!) for the USA Film Festival at the Angelika Film Center, Mockingbird Station.

Photo from diorandimovie.com

PS - The day after Dior and I is premiered, 93-year-old style icon Iris Apfel will be in Dallas for the premier of the documentary Iris.  
 

Eylure: Bat Those Lashes!

They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, which would mean the lashes are the frames, right?  What I mean with my attempt at a witty analogy is that a little lash (or a lot) can help open up the eyes and draw attention to your gorgeous face.  When mascara isn't enough for me, I wear false eyelashes.  Over the years I've used a few different brands but I always go back to Eylure.  If you've seen the cute Katy Perry lashes in stores, then you're already familiar with Eylure.  These British lash experts have lashes on all levels of the intensity scale, and for a great value.  

False lashes aren't an every day accessory for me, but that doesn't mean I can't have a little fun sometimes.  From natural to totally dramatic, there's an Eylure lash out there for every occasion.  Lashes are easier to apply than some may think.  Check out this fabulous video tutorial from my friend Stephanie Koh.  She's practiced so many times that it's like second nature to her.  Another thing I like about Eylure is that some of their sets include an extra "practice" lash and glue.

I tested two Eylure lashes: one dramatic (#101) and one natural (#20).  Wearing the Naturals #20 falsies to class added a little extra daytime "pop."  Then I wore the Volume #101 to the Fashion Stars for a Cause gala.  They complemented my pink gown beautifully (similar here).

These are the natural ones.  I usually put mascara on my real lashes before gluing on the fakes.  I love adding some glam to my school day!

This is where my lashes got dramatic with the Volume #101 set.  Can you tell the difference between my eyes?  One has Eylure and the other has just mascara.

Top Picks: Nordstrom Beauty Trend Show Spring 2015

Leah Frazier and I attempting to make a model face

With the start of each season comes the Nordstrom Beauty Trend Show at the Galleria Dallas, a runway show extravaganza where the hottest fashion and beauty trends are featured for an audience of excited guests.  What's different about this show is that even though it's early in the morning on a Saturday, there's so much energy, coffee and perfume in the air that you quickly forget how early you woke up!

Nordstrom Regional Beauty Director for the South Gilbert Vera did an amazing job hosting the show.  A true beauty expert with 15 years of experience, Gilbert led us through the top 3 trends of the season: New Neutrals, The Right Bright Lip, and Sculpting Made Simple.     

Pretty much every big beauty brand that Nordstrom carries was mentioned on the runway, but a few brands in particular had some innovative new products that I think people need to know about!  If you were to buy only 3 new products this season, here's what you need:

1. Clarisonic (shop here)
You can't have a beauty event without talking about the Clarisonic, which some people are skeptical about using until they've tried it.  The Clarisonic rep said, "Everyone with skin needs a Clarisonic!"  I think she meant to say everyone needs a Clarisonic, but nevertheless I totally agree with her and loved that comment.  She highlighted the new Smart Profile Clarisonic, but I think any Clarisonic is great.

2. Dior Lip and Cheek Glow (shop here)
Normally I wouldn't splurge on a single product, but this one has more than one use and gives you a customized glow because it works with your skin's unique pH.

3. Yves Saint Laurent Couture Variation 10-Color Eye Palette (shop neutral "Nu" set here and purple "Tuxedo" set here)
Everyone needs an all-in-one eye shadow palette for easy and beautiful eyes.  Both the Nu and Tuxedo sets have great essential colors, so if you're picking one it just depends on your style.

Hard Candy: Sweetie You Look Fabulous!

Spring cleaning means out with the old and in with the new [makeup].  If your makeup drawer is filled with half-empty containers and dried-out nail polish, it's time to replenish and you don't have to spend a lot of money.  Great makeup doesn't have to be expensive and fussy.  I can't wait to tell you about some of the newest spring offerings by Hard Candy, an affordable and effective cosmetics brand that gives prestige cosmetics a run for their money.  Everything in the Hard Candy collection is under $10.  Small 4 Style is giving you a break down of what you must have in your beauty tool box, and a few extras to make your look a little more sparkly.

Sheer Envy Primer ($8): 
You'll get the most bang for your buck with the primer.  Before you apply any makeup, you need a smooth canvas to work with.  Hard Candy's Sheer Envy Primer provides a soft layer of lightweight coverage that fills in cracks and pores. I like to apply my primer with a sponge, but your fingers or a foundation brush are other options too.  As much as some of us like the feeling of splurging on prestige cosmetics, Hard Candy's primer has a lot of the same ingredients as the popular Smashbox one that's 4x as expensive at department stores. 

Crystal Confetti, Crushed Chromes and Itzy Glitzy Nail Polishes ($4 each): 
It's official, Crush on Hot Pink is the perfect pink nail color!  The Crystal Confetti polishes are also really fun.  I love the fat specks of glitter that add dimension and sparkle to my manicure.  Your Hard Candy nails will last for about a week if you apply a top coat.

1,000 Lashes Mascara Primer ($6) (mascara here):
This is a white mascara that you put on before your black mascara to thicken and lengthen your eyelashes.  Hard Candy's version of this product is great because it doesn't dry clumpy.  It's an extra step so sometimes I forget to do it, but it adds that extra oomph to my lashes.

Plumping Serum Volumizing Lip Gloss:
I have teeny tiny lips but I like the fact that this makes them look a little fuller.  A classic pink gloss is a purse must-have.

Poppin Pigments Pure Glitter Eye Shadows:
Though I don't wear glitter on a daily basis, I love having it on hand.  The key to a successful glitter eye shadow application is precision, control and a lot of practice.  It's helpful to use a concealer or lid primer and a small brush to keep the glitter from going out of control.  If you're feeling adventuresome, use it to spice up your nail art.  I haven't tried that yet, but it could be a fun experiment.   

Hard Candy cosmetics can be purchased at Walmart stores and online.

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