dress up files - a chicago fashion blog: April 2012

Essie Tart Deco

Essie Tart Deco

I'm still loving Essie's Turquoise and Caicos and Mint Candy Apple colors like everyone else but my new obsession is Tart Deco. 2 coats gets you the perfect coral shade for summer! The color in my picture does not depict how cute the color really is.

What's your favorite polish these days?

Make Up Essentials!

I've gotten many requests to write about my favorite beauty products. I'll write about skin care in a future post but here are my all time favorite make up products.

1. Urban Decay Original Eyeshadow Primer
You smooth a teeny bit onto your eyelids before eyeliner or shadow and your eye make up will stay put all day, through tears and all.

2. Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Eyeliner
This glides on easily and is a very true black!

3. Nars Blush in Deep Throat
I've used this shade of blush for years. I think a little bit of blush goes a long way in making your face look alive and vibrant!

4. CoverGirl Lash Blast Mascara
I used to splurge on Dior Show mascara until I realized this Cover Girl one works just as well, if not better!

5. Shiseido Eyelash Curler
Everyone swears by the Shu Uemara one but I love the Shiseido one much better. It's especially good for asian, almond shaped eyes!!

6. Make Up For Ever High Definition Primer
I never really used to bother with primer but I bought this a few months ago and I'm hooked! Just smooth a pea-sized amount all over your face and put make up over it. Everything stays put (foundation, blush, etc) until you take it off! Note: I only use this with my Dior Airflash.

7. Dr. Jart + Beauty Balm
My everyday "foundation". I'm OBSESSED with this BB cream! It evens my skintone, has SPF 45, moisturizes, and has antioxidants to protect your skin. I wear this every day and it has eliminated my need for a separate sun screen, moisturizer, primer, etc. It has a very natural, light coverage which I love. If you have blemishes you need to cover, this product may not provide enough coverage but if you're looking for something to just even out skin tone, definitely give this a try!

8. Christian Dior Airflash
This is the closest you'll get to professional air brushed make up. It's a spray foundation so it literally takes 2 seconds to spray on and your foundation is done. This provides a lot of coverage so I only wear this when I'm getting dressed up for weddings or nights out. It's definitely a splurge at $62 but since I only use it for nights out, 1 bottle goes a long way for me.

So that sums up my fave make up essentials. I found all of these items either from friends that recommended them or from other blogs. The make up world can be very overwhelming and word of mouth is the best way to find out about great products! So please share your favorite make up products with me as well!!

Belated Easter Look

Aritzia top | Forever21 skirt | J.Crew belt | Vera Wang flats

Goyard bag | Michael Kors watch | Hermes and J.Crew bracelets | Ray Ban sunglasses

My sister spotted this eyelet skirt at Forever21 when she was visiting a few weeks ago. I saw it on her and picked one up for myself as well! It's high waist-ed so you can tuck blouses or a chambray button down into it or you can wear it with a peplum top like I did. My top and this skirt had very similar peachy nude colors so I paired them together for a monochromatic look on Easter Sunday.

A spent the night at grandma's house the night before Easter. My mother in law's sister was visiting and took A on a shopping spree. I get a call at night telling me not to bring A clothes for Easter because they bought her something to wear. I show up to the house to pick A up before church and I find a bona fide princess.

They bought her the pouffiest dress I've ever seen, matching pink tights, shoes, a cardigan and let's not forget the tiara and magic wand. Because who doesn't need a magic wand for church, right? They also curled her hair into ringlets. I was horrified that they put a hot curling iron close to her head and asked that they never do that again (with a smile on my face.)

It's an art form I've quite perfected...when the in-laws do something absurd and I have to correct them without stepping on anyone's toes. I tried to get her to take the tiara and wand off before church but she absolutely refused so she pranced into church in all her glory. I was pretty mortified and had to tell anyone who would listen that it was my mother-in-law's doing!

Do any of you have stories about your in-laws? Awkward situations? Funny stories? I'd love to hear them!!

Ladylike Leopard Look

I've been wearing my leopard and colored denim a lot these days. I know that these fun trends don't stick around for long so I'm trying to get my money's worth! I think leopard jeans can be pretty harsh so I always like to soften them with ladylike tops and accessories. Here, I paired the jeans with a blush peplum top and my Bottega Veneta bag. Since it was a casual weekday dinner, I just slipped on nude patent flats.

A week later, I wore the exact outfit to a weekend birthday dinner. I switched out the shoes to ladylike black patent pumps and added a leather jacket since it was much colder out.

Aritzia peplum top | S.O.N.G. leopard jeans | Mackage leather jacket | Vera Wang flats | Modern Vintage pumps | Bottega Veneta bag

In other news, I added new sidebar icons to the right with links to my instagram and pinterest accounts. Please follow me there if you'd like to connect more. I'm constantly posting pics and pinning things! Also, I've added "pin it" buttons to the bottom of each post for easy pinning. Please comment with links to your pinterest accounts as well! So addicted! and a huge thanks to Lindsay Nicole for helping me with these changes!

France in the Spring!

Since my family is spread out all over the world (parents in Manila, sister's family in Singapore and brother in London), we have a tradition of taking an annual vacation together. I look forward to and cherish these moments with family so much!

Last year, we met in Maui and celebrated my dad's 60th birthday. This year, we decided on France in May. We'll be spending a week in Provence and then another 5 days in Paris. I've been to Paris a couple of times before but I was in high school and college. I'm so looking forward to going back as an adult. Of course, traveling with young kids is never easy but hoping it will be a wonderful experience for them as well.

Has anyone been to Provence or Paris recently? Any tips or advice??