I’m still obsessing over stripes in a big way. They’re simple and classic and absolutely perfect for summer.

Today I bring you a look that would work for a party, brunch or even at work!

You can mix and match these pieces depending on what you are willing to splurge on and what you don’t find as important without sacrificing style at all…

Luxe Look

Oscar de la Renta dress, $580.49 (on sale from $1290)
Dior “Bagatelle” sunglasses, $345
Dooney & Bourke satchel, $168
Michael Kors “Juniper” espadrille, $140

Steal

Spense dress, $59
Chinese Laundry sunglasses, $29.90
Chaps satchel (via eBay), $28.95
SM “Skylar” wedge, $49.95

With the fourth of July just a few short days away, I thought it would be fun to do a post on red, white and blue fashion to show that it is possible to pull it off without looking like someone vomited an American flag all over you.

I put together three different looks for three different outings you might find yourself on this weekend…

Beach

1 Lands’ End :: 2 vintage via Closetmob :: 3 Monday Morning Studios :: 4 Clarks

BBQ

1 AG Adriano Goldschmied :: 2 Mango Jewels
3 Mossimo Supply Co. :: 4 NY and Company

Casual Party

1 Twisted Flowers :: 2 NY and Company
3 Sperry Top-Sider :: 4 Jewelry by Michal

Lipstick usually doesn’t like me. I’ll find a color I love, smear it on and within a half hour the interior half of my bottom lip is colorless. Highly irritating–especially when those little tubes aren’t cheap!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not really a lipstick girl. A swipe of gloss is usually good enough, but once in awhile a little pop of color makes you feel brand new–until you catch a glimpse of your reflection in the bathroom mirror at work and see that it looks like half of your lip is having an allergic reaction.

Until recently the closest thing I found to something that looked like lipcolor rather than an ailment was Covergirl’s Outlast Lipstain. While it doesn’t last nearly as long as anticipated, adding a little gloss to it made my whole striped-lip look way less noticable than any other lipcolor product I’ve tried (note to anyone thinking of trying it: I liked the idea of a matte stain but my lips felt so dry I had to add gloss).

Since I was closest to happy with Covergirl’s Outlast, my interest was piqued when I saw their Outlast All-Day Lipcolor while hunting for makeup to wear for my sister-in-law’s wedding.

It comes with two tubes. The first is the lipcolor, which comes with a little wand applicator. You apply it to clean, dry lips (no lip liner!) and let it set for sixty seconds without any blotting or rubbing your lips together. Once the color is set, you apply the second tube, which is basically a clear gloss.

Can I just say I’m in love? I was pleasantly surprised that I applied it once in the morning (I got Dusty Rose 530) and when I was getting ready for bed that night, I had to rub Vaseline on my lips to take off the remaining color. That has never happened to me before.

Now, admittedly, the color was beginning to cake and wear off a bit in the middle of my lips. But I only applied the top coat once! I think that if I reapply for moisture/gloss during the day I’ll have no issues at all.

Love it!

Do you have a favorite lipcolor or gloss? Do share!

by Racetay

“Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.”—Veronica A. Shoffstall

Stepping Stones by Alison Claire Photography

“Take the first step in faith.
You don’t have to see the whole staircase,
just take the first step.”—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.