Nordstrom Anniversary Sale: The Edit

Nordstrom is one of my all-time favorite places to shop. I would own one of everything in the store if  I could! My favorite departments are Topshop, handbags, shoes and cosmetics. Today, I've done a little edit of the Anniversary Sale offerings in these fab four departments. Better yet, my picks are all $100 and under!

Topshop

*Jeans*

*Denim skirt*

*Trench coat*

*Faux fur vest*

Handbags

*Kate Spade mini bag*

Shoes

*Steve Madden over the knee boots*

*BP ankle boots*

*Vans suede slip-ons*

Cosmetics

*MAC Cosmetics lip set*

*MAC Cosmetics brush set*

Prices will go up next Monday, August 3rd. Happy shopping!

~Bitsy

Bandana Blues

Skirt: Topshop (petite, regular, tall) | T-shirt: Brandy Melville | Sneakers: Keds | Bag: Rebecca Minkoff | Bandana: thrifted | Sunglasses: Ray-Ban 

I've hopped on the bandana/neckerchief bandwagon! I saw this navy and white daisy print one at Savers the other day and just couldn't leave it there. I knew it would be a lot of fun to style. Today, I'm wearing my bandana with a button front denim skirt from Topshop, simple striped T-shirt from Brandy Melville, a pair of Keds, Rebecca Minkoff 'Mini MAB' bag and Ray-Ban 'Clubmasters.' It's a simple look that's perfect for sunny summer days. I wonder how I'll style my neckerchief next!

~Bitsy

New York Fashion Week: Men Runway Roundup

The final shows of the first ever Men's Fashion Week have come to a close. It started in London, then traveled to Milan, Paris and finally New York. From July 13th to the 16th, New York became a menswear hub, showcasing the top designers. I've never discussed mens fashion on my blog, but since this was the first Men's Fashion Week in history and I'm now working as a sales associate in the mens department of Lord & Taylor, this is the perfect opportunity. 

The spring 2016 menswear collections shown in New York were amazing. There are a lot of clean lines and crisp tailoring  to the clothes which I love. Neutral colors like black, white, grey and navy are in abundance. I'm getting serious fashion inspiration from some of these outfits. Below, you'll find my runway roundup featuring my favorite looks. 

1. Tommy Hilfiger

I'm obsessed with this look. Everything is perfect from the loafers with buckle detailing to that too-cool coat. I love how the base of the outfit is all white. It's incredibly chic. 

Another Tommy Hilfiger look I love. You can't go wrong with black and white. The pop of yellow makes a statement. 

This black trench coat and shorts combo is genius. Did I mention how much I love the sunglasses on all these models? Well done, Tommy Hilfiger.

2. Michael Kors

Michael Kors' collection is relaxed and chic. I love the linen pant paired with sandals, a simple top and trench. The belt is tied in such an effortless way and that bag is great. Why can't guys carry bags too? He's owning it! 

These white ripped jeans are fabulous and that longline cardigan is a classic. This androgynous look would work for both guys and girls. 

Of course I would love an all black look! It's edgy, dark and mysterious. Who wouldn't want to look this fierce?

3. Jeffrey Rüdes

This looks like something Harry Styles would wear. I approve. 

I also approve of this look. It's simple, understated and very wearable. The boys of One Direction would probably wear it too. 

4. John Varvatos

Love this mix of navy blue, black and gray. So chic. 

5. Engineered for Motion

I've been into bomber jackets lately so I love this outfit. Monochrome always looks sharp. 

New York Fashion Week: Men was a stylish success. "Let's hear it for the boy!" 

~Bitsy

MAC Giambattista Valli Lipstick Review

I waited. I ordered. I conquered. My MAC Giambattista Valli lipsticks that I have been lusting over for weeks have finally arrived! Giambattista Valli is one of my favorite designers and MAC is my favorite makeup brand, so this collaboration was too on point for me to pass up. I loaded four out of the five lipsticks into my virtual shopping bag on maccosmetics.com on the day of the launch and purchased them as quickly as I could. The only way I can describe the rush is like an out-of-body experience. It all happened so fast. They sold out everywhere online about four hours later. Talk about #BreakTheInternet!

The four shades I bought are Bianca B, a white pink, Tats, a hot pink, Charlotte, a yellow toned red and Eugenie, a cherry red. They are all matte finishes, which is nice because you can either do a gloss  over them or wear as is. I took some selfies wearing each one so you can see how they look on. Everyone has different skin tones and pigment to their lips, but this should give you a bit of an idea. Because the Giambattista Valli collection was limited edition and most likely will not be restocked, I've included the name of another MAC lipstick that's a "similar" for each one. I've also included a picture of a look from the Giambattista Valli Fall 2015 Couture collection I would wear with each lip color, because it's okay to dream! 

1. Bianca B

vogue.com

I have a love-hate relationship with this shade. It's unique but also quite chalky and a difficult color to wear. It is extremely white toned and I had to pair my MAC pencil in Hip 'N' Happy with it so it wouldn't be as cake-y (as you can probably tell, it still is). It really settles into the lines of my lips which I don't like very much. I think putting some gloss over it would help. Bianca B is probably best for spring and summer as it is a very pastel pink shade. Overall, it's a fun lipstick to have in my collection, but you won't see me wearing it everyday. 

MAC similar: Snob

2. Tats

vogue.com

I really like this shade. It's bright, but not too bright and the hot pink color is beautiful. This one is also great for spring and summer. It goes on smooth and the matte finish is very nice. I'll definitely be getting some good wear out of Tats. 

MAC similar: VIVA GLAM Miley Cyrus

3. Charlotte

vogue.com

Charlotte is my favorite of all the Giambattista lipsticks. I've been looking for the perfect true red, and now I've finally found it. I own both MAC Red and Russian Red, but they have pink undertones. This shade is everything I could want in a red lip. I'll be wearing it all year round. 

MAC similar: Brave Red

4. Eugenie 

vogue.com

Eugenie is a deep and dark cherry red shade that is perfect for fall, winter and nights out. It's a statement maker and the color payoff is fabulous. I love to wear colors like this when the weather gets chilly. The only downside is it's a bit messy. It started to stain my skin and get all over the place. I'll try a lip liner next time and see if it stays put better. Overall, I think this is a great shade to have. 

MAC similar: Media 

The Giambattista Valli MAC collection did not disappoint. I'm so happy to have these pretty shades in my collection. I'm looking forward to future MAC collaborations with fashion designers. MAC wears Prada, anyone? 

~Bitsy

Mother Knows Best

Top: American Apparel | Shorts: thrifted (similar) | Belt: Nordstrom (similar) | Sandals: Sam Edelman | Bag: Rebecca Minkoff | Earrings: Topshop 

Todays outfit proves that mother really does know best—especially when it comes to fashion! I took inspiration from the moms of the '90s when putting this look together. I found these olive green high waisted shorts at Savers and thought they embodied the "cool mom" aesthetic. Because the shorts have a bit of volume to them, I wore my favorite black and white stripe crop top from American Apparel to balance out the look. I slipped on my Sam Edelman 'Gigi' sandals, put in my favorite dainty Topshop earrings and added a braided belt at the waist to tie the black details together. Of course, this outfit wouldn't be complete without my Rebecca Minkoff mini bag. This summer look is the mother of all outfits. 

~Bitsy

What's In My Bag?

 I love bags. Always have, always will. Stashing my stuff in something pretty just makes me happy! I've been wanting to purchase another for awhile and finally decided to do it. I could not be more excited about the latest edition to my collection, the Kate Spade 'Cedar Street Maise' satchel. I bought it at Nordstrom last month during one of their sales, so I got a good discount on it. It is a gorgeous black saffiano leather with gold hardware. The size is just right, not too big or small, and fits everything I need. I love the classic, clean lines of the handbag and the cross body strap is both fashionable and functional. Because it's black, my favorite color, I can wear it with anything all year round. I give it 5 stars! 

I said this bag can fit everything I need. So, what exactly do I need on a daily basis? My iPhone is a must. I've convinced myself I couldn't live without it. I also keep my headphones on me for those moments when I want to jam to Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey, which is always. I also have my Kate Spade wallet which matches my purse perfectly and Ray-Ban 'Clubmasters' for when the sun is shining. Other trinkets I travel with include Bath & Body Works hand sanitizer, tissues, my beloved mini Wet Brush, a mirror and my makeup bag in case I want to touch up throughout the day. I also keep a water bottle on me to stay hydrated. 

What bag have you been carrying lately and what is something you keep in yours that you couldn't live without? Let me know down below. 

~Bitsy