Gatsby Inspired Style

The Great Gatsby (playing at Keystone Art Cinema – a perfect pick after a productive shopping trip) shows up in theaters TODAY and you can definitely feel its influence.  Here are some pieces I am loving that will glam you right up:

(Clockwise from the top) For a quick glam-me-up, slip on this Gatsby Paillettes Dress available at Anthropologie ($328).  Try the Lunah Lace Tunic for something a little less glitzy but still super sophisticated; available at BCBG ($148).  The Pearl Twist Necklace from Banana Republic will add an elegant touch to any outfit ($89.50).  To achieve that soft and sexy 20′s-inspired smokey eye, use the Too Faced Boudoir Eyes set available at Sephora ($36) – pair it with a soft pinky or nude lip.  Slip on the Nine West Keeper ($99) in gold – the t-strap is a retro-glam MUST.  The Cara Opalescent Dream Head Wrap will look great paired with soft waves as seen in the picture or with your hair pulled back – and I always love those accessories that make me look more polished with little effort (available at Nordstrom for $38).  Also available at Nordstrom is this Tasha Rhinestone Clutch ($78) – any gal knows that a little sparkle provides a lot of glam.

xo.

Tiffany

Getting Gifty: Fabulous Gift Ideas For Mom

Mother’s Day is right around the corner – are you ready?  Here are some fun gift ideas I spied at The Fashion Mall last week!

Give Mom some “me time” accessories:

I love these adorable initial mugs from Anthropologie – and get this, they’re only $8.  At such a great price you can swing over to Starbucks or Teavana and add some goodies to make a great little gift basket full of items that will help Mom wind down after a long day.  And speaking of Teavana…right now they’re running a great promotion that gets you a free cup of tea when you buy one for your mom (great excuse for a shopping trip, no?).

Snag some other fabulous gift that will pamper Mom at L’Occitane where I am loving their Delightful Hands hand cream trio for $28 and A Lavendar Spa for $68.  LUSH always comes through with special-edition bath bombs like the Secret Garden bath bomb pictured to the right ($5.25) as well as so many perfectly curated gift sets – check out Lovely and Happiness for some great (and affordable) options.

For the mom on the go:

M.G. Tates is a great store to peruse when in need of gift ideas and I certainly found quite a few during my shopping trip last week!  I LOVED the Spartina 449 accesories (iPad cover in Sallie Ann pictured – love the bright coral outer/turquoise inner combo) they are now carrying – super cute patterns and useful carrying cases for a gal on the go – priced between around $40 – $200.  They also feature Amy Butler bags (with lots of pockets to boot, and who doesn’t like more pockets for peak organization?) – totally worth a look-see for the cute patterns and functional designs.  Prices range from around $25 to $200.

And of course…we can’t forget the ultimate gifts for on-the-go mamas.  Hit the Apple store for an iPod Shuffle ($49) which comes in a great variety of pretty colors – and don’t forget to load it with some songs you know your mom will love.  Athleta and lululemon both have a wide selection of on-trend workout and active gear that would be sure to compliment the use of that iPod.

Pretty jewelry for a pretty mom:

At Nordstrom, I loved these cute necklaces from Dogeared that are simple yet remind Mom of your love for her.  Prices range between $65 – $75 for a couple different messages and come in either gold or silver.  You can also swing through Pandora, which just recently opened at The Fashion Mall, for some beautiful charm bracelets.  These make great gifts as you can continue to add charms for other holidays or milestones (charms typically start from $20).  Pandora’s collection of Mother’s Day charms makes it easy for you to start a meaningful bracelet!

I hope you found this little gift guide helpful – there are so many fantastic options to choose from at The Fashion Mall.  Have a wonderful Mother’s Day and happy shopping!

xo,

Tiffany

Guest Blog: Rachel of Beauty Anywhere on Spring Trends

Hello Pretty Indy readers! My name is Rachel and I’m an Indianapolis-based wedding makeup artist. I’m also the blogger behind the blog, Beauty Anywhere, where I share everything beauty related. I’m so excited to be asked to share some of the latest spring trends with you today! After what seemed to be the longest winter ever, spring has almost sprung! Thank goodness. I can’t say I’m a bit sad to say goodbye to the gray atmosphere. I’m also ready to do some spring cleaning in the makeup department! It’s time to put some of those dark eye shadow palettes and full coverage foundations on a 9 month vacation. As the seasons get warmer, makeup is all about simplifying. I welcome this season with open arms because I find the makeup style much more fun, but most importantly, it cuts my makeup routine in half. From eyes to brows, here are some of the hottest trends you can expect to see this spring.

Bold brows:

Fuller brows are here to stay. Not only do they frame your face, they also promote a more youthful appearance. The days of thin eyebrows are long gone. A bolder, yet defined brow can really do wonders for your appearance. If you’ve been a victim of a bad brow job in the past, don’t fret. There are many products you can use to help correct this. A brow serum is a great option to help with regrowth in this area. You can also use brow powders and pencils to fill in sparse areas.

Blue eyeshadow:

This trend can be intimidating. Nothing makes me cringe more than thinking back to the powder blue CoverGirl eye shadow I wore when I was a freshman in high school. When applied the right way, blue eye shadow actually looks gorgeous. If the thought of blue eye shadow is just too much for you, another great alternative would be a deep, navy blue eyeliner. This color looks good on all ages and it brightens the whites of the eyes. I swear by it. It’s the perfect way to stay on trend if the thought of blue shadow makes you squeamish.

Pop of color:

This trend gives you free rein to do what you choose. Nothing screams spring like a bright burst of color on the lips. You can do pink, magenta, red, coral. The possibilities really are endless. With this trend, you want to make sure you keep your makeup minimal and put the focus on your lip color.

BB cream:

You heard a lot about these last summer, but they’re back and more popular than ever. Many more cosmetic lines are coming out their own version of these. They pack a lot of punch because they literally do it all. BB creams are a moisturizer, primer, SPF and foundation all in one. You can read more in-depth about these here. These are perfect for spring and summer because they give you less coverage than a foundation, so you get that dewy look that lets your natural skin show through.

Spring is all about bringing the color and life back into your makeup. Have fun with these trends and most importantly, make them your own! I hope you all enjoyed reading! Have a wonderful week!

xo,

Rachel

Review: Jane Iredale Smooth Affair Facial Primer & In Touch Highlighter

I was recently given the opportunity to try two Jane Iredale products – and I must say, I was very excited to try because I’ve heard many great things about Jane Iredale’s makeup.  I’ve always loved products/makeup that actually benefits your skin – and that’s what Jane Iredale is all about.  Smooth Affair Facial Primer and In Touch Highlighter arrived at my door and I was so anxious to sample these that I may or may not have applied them blindly in my kitchen.  Here’s my more in-depth reviews:

Smooth Affair Facial Primer: Many, many primers have a silicone base or feel to them – which isn’t necessarily bad – and I noticed that texture difference with this primer right off the bat.  Smooth Affair feels more like a gel hydrator (check out the sample on my hand), therefore feeling like a nice, cool drink of water for your skin.  And I have to rave about the scent…it’s a very refreshing cirtusy grapefruit scent that is just enough to perk me up in the morning.  There are many great ingredients (like the grapefruit extract) that provide fantastic benefits for your skin in this product; lots of anti-aging and anti-oxidant superstars that all work together to make your skin appear refreshed, renewed, and radiant.  Beyond the ability to make my foundation stay put, this product makes my skin so, so soft.  This has quickly bumped my beloved Smashbox primer out of the picture…and yes, Smashbox makes the skin feel soft but what I’ve noticed is that silicone-based products feel as though they are sitting on top of your skin whereas this product actually feels like it sinks in and nourishes.  Love.

In Touch Highlighter: It seems I’m always looking for something to make me look more glowy, lit-from-within, etc.  This little tool does the trick – and manages to do so without being all pre-teen glittery which as a 33 year old, I appreciate.  The color is very light pinky with almost an opal sheen and its creamy texture blends in beautifully.  Gotta love those products that, well, make it look as though you’re not wearing makeup.  ”Oh this glow? Yeah, it’s totally natural.”  I like to use this to highlight my cheek bones as well as corners of the eyes and maybe a little in my cupid’s bow.  Fine, I use it all over my face.  The point is that this little product packs a punch and is super versatile – not too much for daytime and perfect to add glow for nighttime.  This one gets another love from me.

Thanks to Jane Iredale Cosmetics for letting me play with these two products – they get my PI stamp of approval.

xo.

Meet Julep (A.K.A. my new obsession)

Friends, I have to be honest.  I have been privy to something fab that  I haven’t shared with you since OCTOBER.  Blame it on having a baby, blame it on not enough time…there is NO excuse for what I have withheld from you.  Am I being dramatic?  Maybe a little.  But then I think about just how much I love/adore/look forward to my Julep Maven Box every month and I feel downright guilty.  So what exactly is Julep?

Julep is a monthly subscription service in which you receive a very generous little box of 2 (or 3, depending on your style profile) nail polishes in addition to a product to pamper those nails/hands/tootsies.  Here’s the deal – there are SO many little details that make me fall in love with this program…is it weird that I want to be BFF with Jane Park, the founder?  These are girls who are for girls – empowerment to the prettiest level (this quote on their website makes me smile: These are the girlfriends who shout, “Go for the leopard print (or the fuchsia or the fake fur). You look fantastic and you only live once!”).  I love that every polish – and seriously, these polishes are some of the best I’ve ever used- is named for women who inspire the creators.  PS – I’m still waiting for a “Tiffany” – wink, wink.  I also adore the fact that these polishes come coordinated and are so so very on-trend – something I am thankful for because let’s be honest, I can use all the help I can get.

Here’s how it works.  Take the style quiz to discover your style profile (I’m an American Beauty myself) and you’ll see the polish colors you’ll receive in your intro box.  If you then sign up for the monthly program, you will get an e-mail every month allowing you to preview your Maven box – and if you’re not too excited about the colors in your box, you can switch it up to a different style!  In addition, if you want to skip the month (and the cost) you just click “skip this month” and boom, you’re out for that month.  I love that flexibility.  There are super cheap add-ons ($4.99 polish, anyone?) as well as the 20% discount you always receive when shopping Julep’s other products.  Have some friends who want to check it out and see why your nails always look amaze?  You get referral points that you can redeem for more product.  I wasn’t kidding when I said I’m in love with this program.

Now let’s focus on YOU.  If you like what you’ve heard and want to check it out for yourself, follow the instructions below to snag your intro Maven Box for just A PENNY (what??).  I believe you do pay shipping but you get 2 polishes and a product for so very little and who doesn’t like to get treats in the mail?  And just for fun, I’d love to know your style profile so leave me a comment if you feel so inclined.  I’m just curious like that.

Follow this link to Julep’s website, take the style quiz, and enter PRETTYINDY at checkout.  It is really that simple.  Happy polishing, gals!

xo.

Review: Kimmie’s Very Pretty Day

My usual columns are full of product reviews and tips on the best ways to use some of my favorite beauty staples – it’s not often I have the chance to be on the other side of the beauty industry.  It’s also not every day that I get my hair styled and get [mostly] undressed in front of a camera!  In November, I had the absolute pleasure of working with two of Indy’s most talented pretty-makers: the uber-talented team at G Michael Salon and extraordinary family-and-boudoir photographer Cindy Johnon.  Here’s my review of their services – both raves –

G Michael Salon: I started my day trekking up to Noblesville with butterflies in my stomach.  I, like most girls, am extremely picky about who cuts my hair.  Trying a new salon is always an exciting – and slightly nerve-wracking – experience for me.  The minute I walked into G Michael salon, my fears slipped away and I went into ultra-relaxation mode.  (Visit their website and browse the gallery for photos of the shampoo room – hello, heaven.  Shampooing also comes with a scalp and hand massage.  Yes, please.)  My stylist, Nicole, was fantastic – super talented and sweet!  I have long, medium-thick hair with long layers and bangs (read: it’s a lot to cut and style), and she did an absolutely beautiful job.  Nicole gave me a fresh cut and styled it into big, loose waves that were perfect for my photo shoot.  The best part of G Michael is the staff – so knowledgeable and so bubbly.  The salon owners, Greg and Joe, introduced themselves and were so professional.  The salon manager, Lindsay, chatted with me for a few minutes and made me feel right at home, right away.   I’ve definitely found my new go-to salon!

Cindy Johnson at Stutz: After my fabulous cut-and-style, I was off to the Stutz Building downtown to meet Cindy at her studio…and the nerves were back in full force.  I’d been ignoring the fact that at the end of the day, I was going to get into lingerie and pose for a photographer I’d never met.  Cindy is a woman of many talents, among which is the gift of making people feel at ease without their clothes.  I brought three outfits and we spent about an hour shooting.  I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy it, but it was an absolutely wonderful experience – I felt sexy and comfortable and had so much fun!  Cindy edited my photos and sent them to me within one week and, you guys, this woman has serious talent!  Beyond making me feel gorgeous and putting me at ease, the photos she took are stunning.  To show you how beautiful these photos were – and to show off my hair, too – I’m posting a few of my photos (I keep telling myself that you guys will be supportive and it’s kind of like wearing a bathing suit).  Keep in mind that I’m a normal woman – 5’3”, size 8, absolutely not a model.  This is an experience everyone should have; you might be nervous at first, but you won’t regret it.

If you’re looking for a day of serious pampering and some photographic evidence to show for it, I highly recommend these beauty gurus.  I’ll definitely be going back to both places – G Michael for all cuts and styles, and Cindy for some bridal boudoir photos next year.

If you have any questions about either experience, contact me on Twitter or comment here.

Cheers!

@KimmieTrubiro

Kimmie’s Pre-Weekend Pretty-Up: Quick Tips & Tricks

I love tips.  It’s fascinating to me to see how people do things that are more convenient – and let’s face it, cleverer – than the way I’ve been doing them forever.  So, when I got a job working as an editor for a website totally devoted to tips, I was all over it.  This week’s column combines two of my passions: beauty products and tips on how to use them in interesting and sneaky ways.  Here are my five favorite tips I’ve compiled for the beauty section of TipMine.  Enjoy!

Foundation Blending Trick: Come on, who hasn’t lost their summer tan by now?  Unless you’ve been vacationing on a Caribbean island (if you have, good for you!  Next time, take me with you) there’s no way your foundation color hasn’t changed since summer.  I personally bounce between three to four shades every season.  Here’s a trick to mixing and matching makeups to be sure you get the perfect color.

Nail Polish Organization 101: Okay, I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before now.  I’ve seen all kinds of nail polish organization tools lately – from DIY palette shelves to repurposed spice racks, ways to keep your nail polish neat and tidy have been popping up all over the place.  The problem is, not many of us have the room to put up a four-tier lazy susan full ‘o polishes in our bathrooms (my apartment is 800 square feet and my fiancé would have a heart attack).  So when I found this tip on how to organize my polishes but still keep them in a Tupperware tub at the bottom of my linen closet, I was all for it!

Saving Broken Powders: My name is Kim, and I’m a dropper.  I drop books, cell phones, kitchen utensils and yes, powder compacts.  Whether drugstore or high end, it’s a total pain when you shatter a hardly-used powder compact.  This trick is easy, only takes one ingredient, and gets your powder back to usefulness in no time.

Gracefully Aging Beauty: It always bums me out when I see a beautiful woman wearing totally age-inappropriate cosmetics.  Glitter eyeliner is really not your style, 40-something professional lady.  But you’d look killer with a brown smoky eye.  Here are some quick tips on keeping your beauty regimen in line with your age.

Smoky Eye Switcheroo: This one is pretty self-explanatory, but like the tip above, I’ve noticed that women love to hang onto their beauty routines and never let go…ever.  This trick is a simple way to slightly switch up your makeup routine without doing anything too drastic (read: scary).

Do you have a beauty tip or trick you swear by?  Share it with us!

Have a beautiful weekend,

Kimmie

Breast Cancer Awareness: Julep teams up with The Edith Sanford Breast Cancer Foundation

I received an email from Julep (stay tuned – you’ll be learning more about this fab company) that contained this fantastic infographic…it’s a great snapshot of breast cancer in numbers.  This month, Julep is donating a portion of its proceeds to The Edith Sanford Breast Cancer Foundation.  Take a look at these statistics – do they surprise you?

xo.

Meg’s Top 5 Must-Haves for Fall

While I do love experimenting with some of fall’s hottest beauty trends (Jewel Tones! Plum lips! Rosy Cheeks! Emerald Eyes!), here are a few items that will be staples in my makeup bag this season:

Nails:

Every home manicurist knows that essie is one of the best brands for trendy nail polish colors.  Essie Carry On is spot-on with the hottest hue for fall: burgundy. The creamy polish is a deep rich color that is appropriate for day and night. Even better? This nail polish was in one of my Birchbox samples! (If you haven’t tried Birchbox, do it, now!)

Face:

For $3, yes you read that correctly, the Elf blush in Pink Passion comes in Nars-like packaging, making it look really high-end. It is a gorgeous bright pink matte blush that blends really easily and is perfect for brightening up my complexion. Annie Jaffrey, beauty blogger extraordinaire, uses this blush constantly and her skin always looks flawless.

Hair:

Everyone wants shiny healthy hair, right? Well, b excellent oil treatment by benniefactor makes that possible. Made with argon oil, Jojoba seed oil and Vitamin E oil, this product de-frizzes and creates a shiny soft look. Apply before or after styling  – not only does it give a gorgeous shine, it also strengthens your locks. This is the PERFECT product for the fall and winter season. You can find it at local salons that carry benniefactor products.

Eyes:

As I swoon over all the fall makeup palettes in deep jewel tones, I’ve been relying on my Maybelline EyeStudio Color Pearls duo for everyday bronzy looks. I use this eye shadow duo all the time – it’s the perfect combination of shimmery gold hued colors. I use the gold shimmer across my eyelid, the darker bronze to contour and shadow my eyelid and mix the colors together to blend it all together.  The shadow goes on smooth, blends easily and has lasting power throughout the day.

Lips:

Rimmel’s Moisture Renew in Red Alert is a moisturizing, smooth and cheerful red lipstick that is perfect for fall and even, winter. Apply after priming your lips with a chapstick and this lipstick looks even more neutral. The pigmentation of this lipstick looks really elegant and goes well with a lot of different beauty looks.

What are your go-to products for the fall season?

Stay pretty!

Xoxo,

Megan

Kimmie’s Pre-Weekend Pretty-Up: Seasonal Skin Savers

It’s getting to be that time of year.  Your summer tan is fading and – seemingly overnight – your fabulously supple skin has taken a turn for the worse.  I personally like to blame this dryness on the fact that I’m not constantly slathering up with sunscreen and after-sun lotions.  You can blame it on whatever you’d like: cooler weather, heavier clothes, and less time spent working up a summer sweat all contribute.  But how do you fix it?  Here are my best tips and tricks for keeping your skin as soft and sexy as possible as fall gets into full swing.

Oil Up!: The thought of putting on body oil always conjured up images of bodybuilders and Jello wrestlers.  Yuck.  Readers, there’s a new generation of body oils in town, and guess what?  They’re pretty fab.  L’Occitane Almond Supple Skin Oil is the definition of luxury.  It’s non-greasy (I have no idea how they accomplish this with an oil, but it’s pretty incredible) and absorbs quickly so you can get dressed within 10 minutes.  I recommend using it before bedtime so you have a whole night for the oils to sink in.

Shorten Your Showers: I know, I know, it’s getting cold outside and nothing feels better at the beginning or end of the day than a nice, hot shower.  Unfortunately, all that piping hot water is stripping your skin of moisture, made worse by the fact that city water contains dermis-drying chlorine.  Get in the shower, get yourself clean, and get out.  If you can’t bear the thought of missing your 20-minute showers, limit yourself to one or two per week.

Pamper Your Piggies: Avon often gets overlooked as being old-ladyish.  Not the case at all. Some of my absolute favorite high-quality beauty staples come from Avon.  Their Foot Works line is ahhhh-mazing for keeping feet soft, smooth and oh-so-pampered.  My favorite offering in this luxe line is the Thermal Exfoliating Scrub.  It heats up when you use it and is great after long boot-wearing weekdays.

Immediate Moisture: It’s important (read: absolutely essential) that your skin doesn’t have time to dry out once you get out of the shower.  When you first step out of the tub and your bathroom is all steamy, your pores are open from the hot water, making your skin more receptive to locking in moisture.  Pick a non-greasy lotion and go to town!  I love Aveeno’s Daily Moisturizing Lotion – it’s uber moisturizing but sinks in the minute you put it on so you can get dressed right away.

Take care of your skin and it’ll take you through any season – even the tough ones.  Do you have a favorite skin saver?  Share it with us!

Cheers,

@kimmietrubiro

[For more tips on beauty, health & everything else, browse TipMine]

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