Not Just Another Pretty Face: Kristen Cambridge

Meet this week’s pretty face, Kristen Cambridge.  She is an event/wedding planner for The Planning Company in sunny Palm Beach, Florida.  As a native of Indianapolis, she’s had a blast immersing herself in the Lilly Pullitzer and Tory Burch worlds of South Florida.  And we’ve gotta say from personal experience, she’s one of the most creative people we’ve ever met!

1.  Describe yourself in 140 characters or less:

Creative, stubborn, freakishly double-jointed, & a tad bit messy.  I love my hubby (Ryan), our golden retriever pup (Indy Anna), sunshine, & that fabulous hue called “tiffany blue.”

2.  If we peeked in your handbag, we would find:

My iphone (can’t live without it), business cards, bobby pins, a pink sharpie, Burt’s Bees, keys, a big fat make up brush, mascara, random hot roller pins, Two Faced eyeshadow, headphones and sandpaper (don’t ask…haha).

3.  What are your top 3 beauty must-haves?

Bobby Pins, Hot Rollers, and Oil of Olay. << Every time if smell it, I think of my mom. :)

4.  The trend/look I wish I could pull off is:

The poncho.  My eyes turn green with envy every time I see the H & M commercial for their warm, carmel colored frock.  The model makes it look oh-so-sexy but when I tried it on three words came to mind –“fugly beige tent.”

5. On any given day, you’ll find me shopping at:

TJ Maxx.  I love a good deal and I’m there so much that my family refers to it as my second home.  But I also love a good splurge, and for that I’m off to the closest Nordstrom.  They carry great brands and their shoe section makes me drool.

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Fashionista Fridays: Rockin’ the Plum

In a desperate attempt to bring fall to me instead of just waiting around for it to come, I decided plum lips would be the trend of the week.  And not only did I try out plum lips for the first time, I also tried it in a lip stain.

Usually I’m not a lipstick kind of girl, just some lip balm or lip-gloss, so plum was a big step out my comfort zone.  Initially I was afraid the color would not look good with my skin tone since it is dark and my skin is very light.  I feared I would be extremely uncomfortable walking around during the day with it on.  However, I now OFFICIALLY LOVE PLUM! When I first put it on I was the biggest narcissist: I was puckering my lips in the mirror and just loving the way my lips looked!  As soon as I put it on I felt like fall.  I immediately wanted to put on my skinny jeans and motorcycle boots.  While I loved how it looked and how I felt, to truly test the wearability of the trend I wanted to get other perspectives besides my own.  I posted two Facebook statuses and one Tweet about my new favorite lip color and got a lot of positive feedback.

As far as specific product and color, I used Maybelline’s Color Sensational Lipstain in Plum Flushed.  I’d heard that stains were sheerer and less “cakey” (as I would describe some lipsticks), but I was still hesitant at first.  Especially after seeing the product and thinking “this looks like a marker.”  This “marker” is really cool though.  It does give nice sheer color, but isn’t too sheer to be pointless.  However, it is less dramatic than the plum seen on the runways.  It felt just as natural as if I had no product on my lips.  The one draw back may be that my lips seemed to dry out a little faster, but nothing a little gloss or balm can’t fix.  To attest to the coolness of lip stains, my roommate also has the In the Buff Maybelline lip stain and loves it.  My next lip stain purchase will be Maybelline’s Wink of Pink color for fun and flirty day-to-day wear.  This product is extremely affordable, about seven dollars, and widely available!

So when fall finally comes around don’t be afraid to rock the plum!  You can go sheer with a stain or bold with a lipstick!

Please send me any trends you’d like to see me try!  I’ve got some planned, but I need some fall temps to try them out.

<3 Nicole

Arbonne Skincare Challenge: Sarah

Hello Pretties!

I’ve been using the Arbonne products that were shared with me by the fabulous Andrea Dill for 3 weeks now and, as you can see from my photo, I’m still smiling.

I won’t say that the FC5 line has changed my life, but it has fit nicely into it! I’ve been pleased with the results that the cleanser + toner, the exfoliating new cell scrub, and the moisturizer have shown.  And, with recent record-high temps the mattifying powder has been put to good use!   Speaking of the mattifying powder, let me brag on that for a quick second.  I was blessed with a nose that is perpetually a little bit red and a little bit shiny.  It doesn’t bother me on a day-to-day basis, but when I’m looking for a more polished look (as I will be on my upcoming wedding day!) I do what I can to cover it up.  The slight light greenish tint which neutralizes red tones (who knew?!) and mattifying quality of the powder have worked wonders!

I would say that my experience with the Arbonne products has been a positive one!  I’ve enjoyed trying out the FC5 line, and my skin seems to have enjoyed it too! Thanks again to Andrea Dill and the Pretty Indy girls for giving me the chance to test out these products!

Sarah

Win It – Fit In Clouds

When I received my adorable little black satin ballet flats from Fit in Clouds, my first thought was “why didn’t I think of that,” closely followed by “I can’t wait to try these.”  Seriously gals, how many times have your little dogs been barking from wearing heels allllll night (hello, every wedding I’ve ever been to)?  Barking dogs they shall no longer be…these little ballet flats fold in half and come in a perfect purse-sized bag.  Next time you’ve had a marathon day in heels, whether it be from working or playing, you’ll have these on hand to give your feet the comfy break they deserve.

Want a pair to call your own?  Use this code to take 10% off your order online: TENOFF.

Or, win a pair by doing one or more of the following (the more you do, the more entries you get!)

1.  Comment and tell us why your tootsies deserve a break!

2.  Copy and tweet: I just entered the @PrettyIndyGuide @FitInClouds #giveaway – RT to win!  http://ow.ly/2Iurs

3.  Become a fan of Pretty Indy on Facebook and comment on our wall.

XOXO.

Not Just Another Pretty Face: Meet Mita Sanghvi

Meet Mita Sanghvi, an adorable and fashionable local teacher who’s helping change the world one student at a time. Find out what fun things her students told her when she asked for assistance in writing her answer to question #1…

1. Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.
I was born and raised on the south side of Indianapolis. I love spending time with my family and friends, reading, traveling, and SHOPPING! I just started my 8th year teaching in Perry Township. I like to be the cool, fun, hip 5th grade teacher and do not believe in wearing apples, denim (unless it is jeans day!), or jumpers. I asked my students to describe me and here are some of my favorites: happy, funny, pretty hair, loud, SINGLE (maybe my favorite!), hard working, sweet to all kids in our class, even pretty without make up, fashionable, and a role model.

2. If we peeked in your handbag, what would we find?
Wallet, cell phone, lotion, eye drops, hair ties, lip glosses, small container of Vaseline, receipts, loose change, gift cards, and gum.

3. What are your top 3 beauty must-haves?
1. Sedu hair straightener
2. Eye makeup: (MAC eye shadow, Shiseido/MAC/Sephora eyeliner, and Lancome Definicils mascara)
3. Juice Beauty products: Green Apple Cleansing Gel, Green Apple Antioxidant Serum, and Green Apple Antioxidant Moisturizer

4. The trend/look I wish I could pull off is…Tall boots.

5. On any given day, you can find me shopping at…GAP, Banana Republic, Von Maur and Macy’s.

- Mita

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Fall Trend: Leopard Print!

Leopard print, actually animal print in general, is something I personally have always stayed away from wearing, or ever purchasing for that matter.  Not only because I don’t think I can pull it off, but because I think it looks, um, dare I say…trashy?

With that being said, I am starting to think differently.  After all of these years of saying no to this trend every time it rolls around, this season may be the one that changes my mind.  Now, that doesn’t mean you’ll catch me walking down the street in a leopard print dress, or even a top, but I might just accessorize my outfit with a cute leopard print scarf or clutch.

If you’ve feared animal print in the past like me, here are a few ways to subtly add this trend to your wardrobe – all without breaking the bank.

- Kelly

Leopard Ballet Flats – American Eagle, $29.50

Leopard Patent Belt – J.Crew, $39.50

Leopard Print Stud Tote – HandbagHeaven.com, $67.11

Pam Leopard Scarf – AffordableScarves.com, $8.46

Read the rest of this entry »

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The Brazilian Blowout: My Holy Hair Grail

Gals, please go ahead and consider my life officially changed.  What on earth has caused me to speak in such hyperbole?  Well it is none other than the gloriousness that is the Brazilian Blowout.  And seriously, my life has really been changed thanks to this wondrous conditioning treatment.  For frame of reference, the picture to the left is post-blowout and maybe took 10 minutes to completely do my hair.  The picture to the lower right is me on a normal day, which took about 20-30 minutes to blow-dry, straighten, etc, etc – and is still not nearly as smooth as the blowout!   Hairspray (easily one of my favorite Indianapolis salons) was generous enough to invite me in to give this treatment a try, so without further ado, my top 10 reasons why I’m loving the Brazilian.

10.  It now takes maybe 5-8 minutes to completely blow-dry my hair.  It used to take at least 10-15.

9.  I no longer have to flat iron my entire head of hair; now I just clean up the ends and pieces that frame my face.  What now takes just a couple minutes, used to take another 10, at least.

8.  My hair is shampoo commercial shiny, all the time.  Pantene Pro-V commericals, anyone?  That’s my hair.

7.  Speaking of shampoo, I don’t need to wash my hair as much (or feel like I need to).

6.  Since it’s so easy to do, I wear my hair down much more often than back and in a ponytail – and let’s be honest, I feel more put together when my hair is down – it looks like I put effort into getting ready.  :)

5.  2 words:  NO. FRIZZ.

4.  Did I mention that my “get ready time” has now been cut in half?  This makes the husband very happy.

3.  Results last anywhere from 3-6 months.  (This amazes me and makes me very happy at the same time.)

2.  It takes about 1.5 hours to do, does NOT smell like chemicals, and is a very pleasant experience (especially at Hairspray, where you can choose between a hand/arm massage or mini facial while you’re there).  Pricing depends on the amount of product used – mine would have been $200.

1.  I now have the hair I’ve always wanted – and it is completely effortless.  It’s a win-win!

Look for an upcoming guest post about the Brazilian Blowout from the pro who did mine – seriously, Renee from Hairspray is the best!

Call Hairspray to book yours today:  (317) 251-6100.

Located at:  8487 Union Chapel Road, Suite 420; Indianapolis, IN 46240

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Meet Our New Intern!

Hello!  I am Pretty Indy’s new intern.  My name is Nicole Hangartner and I am a senior public relations and advertising major at Butler.  Sound familiar?  If you know Julie Woodward, the previous intern, we are the same major and actually are in the same sorority!

I’m leaving the comforts of college life this December and venturing out into the real world.  I am so excited that Pretty Indy will be my last internship as a college student.  I’ve always dreamed about writing for a fashion magazine or working in the fashion industry doing PR or advertising, but I never knew how to get my foot in the door.  I applied for several internships for this last crucial semester, most at local PR and advertising agency, but I jumped (literally jumped, you can ask my boyfriend) when Pretty Indy offered me a position.  I love shopping, clothes, shoes, makeup, nail polish and talking about them.  So clearly Pretty Indy is a perfect fit!  And an opportunity to work at a place like Pretty Indy seemed like a once in a lifetime kind of thing.

I feel like Pretty Indy can offer me experiences that I wouldn’t get anywhere else and I’ve already enjoyed every moment with Tiffany and Kelly.

As I get into a groove with my weekly blog posts I hope to offer up some of my enthusiasm in all things trendy and fashionable.  Fashionista Fridays will document my trials and tribulations testing out some of the season’s hottest trends. So if you have any you’ve been dying to see, let me know.  I also hope to help money-challenged ladies (like myself) find ways to partake in these trends in affordable ways!

I’m so excited to help keep Indy pretty.

<3 Nicole

Editor’s Note:  Have any trends you’d like to see Nicole try?  Leave a comment with your ideas!

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Arbonne Skincare Challenge: Jennifer

Hello Pretty Indy!!!  Well it has been just over 2 weeks on my Arbonne challenge, and I’ll be honest – I was thinking about writing my update earlier this week but I was really trying to think of nice things to say about the Arbonne line.  I was ready to throw in the towel…it seems like a lot of steps…too much for this simple girl.  Step #1 is the cleanser…I prefer a foaming wash, this is a lotion.  I use it with my Clarisonic, for me the Clarisonic is the key to any cleansing.  Step #2 is the toner, I do wish it was on a pad but it is a spray, I do like the toner…very fresh feeling. Then we move on to my favorite steps, the Intensive Renewal Serum..LOVE IT!!!  I really do…and I am surprised by that but I think the serum combined w/ Step #4, the Corrective Eye Crème, have truly helped the tone of my skin. I noticed maybe around Tuesday that my eyes didn’t look as tired and my skin looked more even….love, love, loving this!  I have a deep fear of dark circles and wrinkling around my eyes, just like my dear grandmother.  Step #5 is the Day Moisturizer, for me I think it is a little too heavy…I feel a little greasy after using.  There are 3 other steps that came in the kit, the Night Crème, which I love as well…feels like liquid gold, it is on my nightstand to put on right before bed.  I thought I would love the Instant Lifting Gel…but I just don’t see the results, still trying it to see if I am missing something and I know that it takes time as well.  The last step is the neck crème, have to say…haven’t even given it a look, maybe I am in denial and I don’t want to think I have neck issues quite yet.  So that in a nutshell is my experience at this point.  Thanks again for letting me participate!

Ask Courtney: The LBD

Dear Courtney,

I have a classic “little black dress” I wear about twice a year just hanging there in my closet.  I bought it to wear out for evenings, but now that I am a mom I rarely get a chance to go out for fun dates with my husband!  Even then, I would always wear it with the same necklace!!  I work full-time in an office environment but want to stay modern and up on trends, while still being appropriate.  Can you give me some ideas of ways to style the dress so I can put it to use again?

Thanks in advance,

Tara G.

Tara,

The little black dress is a fashion staple and almost every woman has one.  The dress is actually called a sheath in the fashion world.  Sheaths are somewhat fitted, simple dresses that are appropriate for cocktail parties and the like.  They can be short or just past the knee, and may or may not have sleeves.  They have been around since 1900, when women would wear them as undergarments (or underdresses)!  In the 20′s, some gutsy flappers wore sheaths and were shunned for being “too naked.”  In today’s culture, I don’t know a man alive who would use those two words together.

The sheath is a magical piece because EVERY WOMAN can rock it.  You might be thinking, if it’s fitted how can I wear it if I’m a bit curvier?  Let me assure you, curvy women look just as hot as our beloved skinnies in the sheath.  A figure-fitting dress is a great choice for curvy women because it accentuates the female lines, promoting a feminine silhouette.

So, Tara, break out that LBD and I’m going to give you a few ideas for unconventional uses for a sheath.

1.  Add a belt and a bit of color!

Adding a colored skinny belt to a classic sheath makes it appropriate for day or evening.  The belt makes the look mimic a pencil skirt, the most classic office silhouette. The colored belt also softens the look, making it appropriate for work.  Any color would look awesome and should be mimicked with the necklace you chose. Add a black blazer and you have a sleek suit.  Black heels would complete the look, or colored ones if you want to make a statement!

2.  Outta my way, boys!

Black on black is always CHIC.  By adding black tights, or leggings and a black boot, you will look chic and polished like a Vogue staff writer.  I am a clutch girl, but an oversized bag would be awesome here as well.  Just keep it all black!!  No feminine, girly accessories here.  This look is a sleek homage to the severe leg and military influence we keep seeing on the runways.  Again, this look can be rocked by ANYONE!

3.  Who, me?

Don’t be a sucker and think that just ’cause it’s a dress, it can’t also be jumper! I love to layer a white oxford (or a colored one for that matter) under the dress.  The look is very playful and ironically still professional.  I would keep jewelry non-existant to minimal for this look.  If you have any Mary Janes, this would be a fun chance to rock those!  Otherwise, wear your favorite black heels.

4.  Naturally chic

By adding earth tones, we have taken the sheath to places it never goes.  I added a brown leather belt, tan fishnets with tan boots, and a wooden necklace.  This would be perfect for a day out on the town with friends!  Super chic, but naturally so. ;)

5.  Yes, sir!

This look is so easy and makes a statement with minimal effort!  Just choose a few red accessories and throw a red tie on with a white oxford.  Good look for work or play!

6.  If it ain’t broke…

This is my interpretation of a classic use for a sheath.  Great for dinner or a night out.  I added a black polka dot silk scarf as a belt and a couple ultra-girly accessories.  I went for a slight flapper-inspired feel.  I am a sucker for cameos and this is the perfect excuse.  One of my favorite possessions is that black cameo headband I bought at Fred Segal two years ago.  Pearls, cameos, beads…they all work for this look.  Whatever feminine stuff you have, layer it on!  Must keep the color story black and white.  Boots and tights or heels would look great with this look.

7.  Granny chic

I saw this eyeglass necklace and had to have it.  It was super cheap at Forever 21 or Charlotte Russe.  It served as inspiration for this fun, oddly sexy look. Pair a plain black cardigan and gold accessories.  Simple, fun, and chic.  This could be used in the workplace as well, depending where you work of course.

Hope that gives you a few ideas, Miss Tara!  I am confident you will be getting a bit more use out of that dress.  I created all these looks from accessories in my own closet, instead of hitting the stores. You will be amazed what you already have in your closet too if you look at each piece with an open mind!  Accessories really are the key to a versatile wardrobe – you don’t have to drop much dough to create interesting looks. Thanks so much for writing me and thanks to Travis at Faith Boutique for the dress form.  Any readers with a piece of clothing that they want a few ideas for, hit me up on the LUXE page or visit my website.  I’d love to create some looks for you!  You may be in my next column!  Or, I am always available for a closet purge where I create up to 100 looks with the clothes you already have!  ‘Til next time…

XOXO,

Courtney from LUXE

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