Monday, February 11, 2013

Rockin' The Trend!


   In my most recent WORLDofTASO video I talked about some of my favorite trends for 2013. Looks like Beyonce is wearing 3 of the 5 I talked about in her Grammy look. Woo hoo!

Thursday, February 7, 2013

My Favorite Trends For 2013

   As much as I love fashion I have a confession to make; I have never been a follower of trends. If something caught my eye then it immediately went on my shopping list, or I dug through my closet to create a look that was similar. Keeping up with trends always seemed so exhausting and it made fashion feel more like work than something that I happened to love and be able to do naturally. For the upcoming spring season however, I saw a lot of trends that appealed to me probably because the ones I picked out as my favorite, had a very minimalist, classic look to it which is all that WORLDofTASO stands for.

   Trend #1

   Black and White


    Spring is often associated with bright colors and vibrant patterns, and while I did see much of that while searching online as well as flipping through magazines, I was excited to see the simple color palette of black and white come to the runways. As simple as this is there are a variety of ways to style black and white, I have become an expert since a good majority of my closet is built up of black and white pieces. It's classic, it's modern, it's clean and it's versatile.

    Trend #2

   Vibrant Red Lips


    A bright red lip is simply GORGEOUS! The two colors that I wear on a regular basis are either a shocking red or a neon pink. It would be an understatement to say that I love a bright lip. Red is another classic color that works well with all skin tones and is a simple way to immediately add glamour to an outfit. What seems to be popular for the year is a fire red/orange lip. I feel that it's the ultimate tool in brightening up your face and dressing up whatever you're wearing, from something as low key as a t-shirt and jeans to a formal night out.

   Trend #3

   Chiffon Blouse

  
    I'm really glad to see that the chiffon blouse has become a must-have for 2013 because I bought a TON of these blouses during the month of Nov/Dec thinking these chic and lightweight blouses would be perfect for summer. I am a cold weather, leggings, heavy coats, scarves and layers kind of gal. When summertime rolls around I have no idea how to look stylish while still dressing for the weather. I like keeping covered but I'm usually left swimming in a sea of my own sweat which is not cute. I even have to ditch my scarves because it can get up to 105 degrees! Much like everything else in my closet, I love versatility. A chiffon blouse is very lady-like and dressy so even with jeans, you still look like to made an effort. I look forward to pairing these blouses with some fun patterned trousers and shorts and maybe enjoy the summer season for a change.

    Trend #4

    Nail Art


    Nail art is a trend that continues to grow. I feel like Zooey Deschanel had some influence in pretty much catapulting this trend because whenever we saw her on the red carpet she always had some quirky, fun design on her nails. While she is not the only celebrity to be credited it's fair to say that she is definitely a trend setter and people want to copy what Zooey is doing. I've always been fascinated with all the designs and patterns, even the different textures for nails... I read that Blake Lively did velvet nails for her wedding. Hmmmmmm... It's a small resolution but I've made a promise to myself that I would experiment more daring with my nails, even investing in some nail art tools.

    Trend #5

    The Low Ponytail

    
    For all of 2012 I saw topknots all over the place... even on my own head, I loved the look. And while I do still wear it on occasion I wanted to wear my hair in a different way that was still ridiculously simple but elegant. I love a sleek ponytail and there is something about a low ponytail that is very elegant and polished. It's a perfect compliment to the black and white trend with the simplicity and also the modern touch by adding a metal hair clip.

   New Products

   Nars Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder 



    Even though all that I wear on my face is concealer and blush, I am always looking for more ways to set my concealer flawlessly, and make my skin look smooth and illuminated. I've been disappointed with products like this in the past but I am just curious enough to try this setting powder by Nars, especially since it's paraben-free which is a huge bonus for me.

 Tarte Awakening Cheek Stain



    Tarte is one of my all-time favorite high-end makeup brands because they gravitate towards more natural ingredients in their makeup. I love the portability of a stick blush like this, and especially one with more of a gel based consistency which allows for it to go on smoothly and blend out into a natural flush. This new color seems to be a good neutral for wearing daily and seems to add a nice glow as well so I'm really excited to purchase this and try it out for myself.

   Loreal Colour Caresse Wet Shine Stain

    For a lip gloss junkie like myself, seeing a product like this makes me giddy with joy. I haven't been able to see if my local store has this in yet but I'll be sure to grab a tube or two and see if this satisfies my high standards of a long-wearing gloss. The color above (Pink Rebellion) is probably the first that I'll snag because it seems to be the kind of bright pink that my heart tends to go after.

    I just finished filming a video on these trends so be sure to check that out. In the meantime here is the link to some of my other videos: WORLDofTASO





 

  
  






Thursday, January 31, 2013

Best of 2012!

   It was hard for me to pick just a select few items to feature. The fact that it took me all week just to film a video was evidence enough that I couldn't leave anything out! But now here I am left to edit a 30 minute video into a bearable 15 minutes... I'm left doubting whether I can achieve such a lofty goal.

   Nevertheless... Here I have compiled from my own personal list some of my favorites in beauty, fashion, and entertainment. Enjoy!

    BEAUTY:

    Best Concealer: Maybelline Mineral Power in Ivory


   Maybelline Mineral Power has been my ultimate go-to and best friend for concealing any pimples or marks leftover from a pesky breakout. I'm a conceal-a-holic all the way! I never wear foundation, and while that may seem like a bold statement I assure you, it's true. The main reason why I will never jump on the foundation bandwagon (and I'll probably save myself quite a few $$$ along the way as a result), is simply because I don't like the look or feel of foundation. I can feel it on my face, I know it's there, and even if I blend it and it looks seamless with my skin, it never quite felt the same as just leaving my skin to breathe and be as natural as possible. 

  This is where my love for concealer comes in. With Maybelline Mineral Power, I can brighten any areas on my face which need that subtle enhancement and my skin still feels like my own. It's light, covers well, and lasts all day. How could I possibly go wrong with this? I believe that we should let our natural beauty shine through, and cover only those slight imperfections, like that nasty pimple that decided to spring up at the most inconvenient time, but let the rest of our skin show.  I don't see myself ditching this concealer anytime soon because it works exactly the way that I want it to.

   Best Cheek Product:

   e.l.f. Blush in Pink Passion



   This blush is absolutely gorgeous! Over the past two years or so my love for e.l.f. products has continued to   grow. I have tried everything from their face highlighters, powders, concealers, brushes, and lip glosses. When I got into their blushes, this vibrant pink blush stood out to me... it just had Taso written all over it. I'm naturally drawn to lipsticks and blushes that seem to be almost neon pink. While it does look a bit bright in the pan and you're probably concerned that you'll look like a clown, I assure you this is the most natural looking blush I have ever used. I honestly feel that it looks as if you are glowing from the inside, radiating this beautiful pink flush. I like to use this with my Real Techniques blush brush, just one light tap and that's all the product I need to give my face a lovely color and wake me up.

Best Eye Product:

Clarins Double Fix Mascara


   While I was filming last week I somehow managed to lose the only tube of Clarins Double Fix, which means a shopping trip is in order. For years I actually stopped wearing mascara because even with a waterproof formula, within an hour or two, my mascara was already leaving me looking like a raccoon. It wasn't until last year that I decided to give wearing mascara another go, and I began researching ways to prevent mascara smudging and raccoon eyes. I was relieved to read so many other people's experiences with wearing mascara and learned I wasn't the only sorry person that this happened to. There were a lot of suggestions on what eye products worked for various people, out of the list I decided to try the Clarins Double Fix. 

   I always have to go to the extreme on things so as soon as I got this product in my hands, I did a 24 hour test. I applied a non-waterproof mascara (ballsy, right?), then applied a coat of Clarins Double Fix on top and slept with it on! I will never, never, never advise anyone to ever sleep in makeup, especially eye makeup, but for the sake of seeing if this product worked or not, I did. To my pleasant surprise, when I woke up in the morning and looked in the mirror, there was not a single trace of mascara anywhere on my face. I was a believer from that point on and now I can't imagine ever going a day without my Clarins Double Fix Mascara.

   Best Lip Product:

   Revlon Just Bitten Kissables Balm Stain


   I am a HUGE fan of Revlon lip products. HUGE! If you go through my lipstick collection you'll see tubes of lip glosses, lip butters, and now, these amazing balm stains. While I was a few months late jumping on the bandwagon when these initially came out, I instantly became obsessed with the idea of a lip stain/balm hybrid. I was just starting to experiment with lip stains when the Just Bitten Kissables came around the idea intrigued me; a stain that also moisturizes? No way! As soon as I applied this balm stain to my lips I have to say... Mind blown! I never leave the house without at least one or two of these in my bag. It's extremely convenient that you twist the product up and you don't ever have to worry about sharpening it. If I want some extended staying-power on top of the 4-5 hours that the color seems to wear, I'll use a lip brush and really work the product into my lips.

   Best Skincare Product:

   Certified Organic Argan Oil and Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum
   There are quite a number of things I admit to be obsessed with, the main one being natural and organic skincare. I love it! I'm as conscious with what I put into my body as much as I am with what goes on my skin. I don't like the idea of putting nasty chemicals onto my skin, or simply not understanding what any of the ingredients are. I've been an avid fan of natural skincare for three years now and I'm always looking for new products to test out and add to my daily routine. Much like all the other products I have mentioned on my list so far, I can't imagine not having these two products in my life. Without boasting too much, argan oil has saved my skin! It looks more hydrated, youthful and glowing. I use this every single night on my face before I go to bed, and I even use it on the ends of my hair and on my hands. It has such amazing benefits that if you're one of those people who still hasn't picked up a bottle yet, I encourage you to do so.

   As for the Caudalie Radiance Serum, this product comes with a hefty price tag but after using this product for three months straight I have to say, it is worth every penny. While I initially picked this up because of Lisa Eldridge, I was curious about the healing properties it claimed to have in lightening skin discolorations and acne scars. So many products on the market claim to lighten skin and I've tried a few and six months to a year later, saw no improvement on my skin. I knew that I had to be consistent with this product so I started using it twice a day. After the first month I saw a slight improvement but nothing that was mind blowing. Two months in I still wasn't that impressed, but after three months, my scars are almost unnoticeable. I still have to wear concealer to cover up my marks, but I'm not laying it on anymore. A light coverage is all I need now and I can confidently go outside and know that my skin is looking good.

   Best Nail Polish:

   Butter London in Wallis and All Hail the Queen


   2012 was definitely the year of Butter London for me. While I still love Essie and my Revlon polishes, Butter London has taken the number one spot for favorite nail polish brand. The colors Wallis and All Hail the Queen especially I find myself wearing the most often because they compliment my skin tone well, and the colors are extremely versatile! I find that some nail colors are a bit tricky to build a wardrobe around because the color is too loud or it clashes, but Wallis and All Hail the Queen go with everything! These colors are so elegant and wear for quite a long time (I can go a week before my nail color starts chipping).

   Best Perfume:

   Miss Dior Cherie and Daisy by Marc Jacobs


   Miss Dior Cherie is what elegance smells like! At least to me. It's one of those perfumes where, as soon as I put it on, I feel gorgeous. I consider it my "pretty girl" perfume or my "special night out" perfume.  Since I love to wear scarves, this perfume tends to linger and I feel as if I am in heaven. I'm pretty sure I look like a freak with my nose buried in my scarf, just trying to inhale every bit of this perfume.

   Daisy by Marc Jacobs tends to be more of my "happy, sunshine day" perfume. I find myself wearing Daisy during the Spring and Summer months because it's such a lively fragrance. My mom ended up loving it so much that I gave her my roller ball version of the perfume which leaves me with the idea that perhaps a full sized bottle would be great to give her on her birthday.

   FASHION:


   Best Clothing Piece:

   The Chambray Shirt


   Is it just me or did it seem like every magazine featured the chambray shirt as the "Must Have" clothing item for 2012? It was all over the place! I kept hearing about this damn chambray shirt so much that eventually it soaked into my brain and I was soon on this quest to find the perfect chambray shirt. That seemed to be my entire goal for 2012 in terms of fashion... must... find... chambray shirt... And find I did! I walked into Zara and the first thing I saw was a chambray shirt. It was the very last one, and it was in a small. I thought, perfect! But once I got home and tried it on I remembered... I only wear small for t-shirts... for button-downs, because of my broad shoulders, I needed medium. I was disheartened because I had already fallen in love with this shirt. The material was so elegant and soft, I love the color and stitching... But being the selfless daughter I am, I ended up giving it to my mom who ended up loving it just as much as I did. So then my journey began again and while I was shopping online at Zappos, I found it...

   Now can I say that the chambray shirt was worth all the hype? I have to say... Yes! Definitely! It is such a simple piece... it's a denim shirt, okay? But it's so versatile and I love versatility. I love being able to take one clothing piece and being able to style 10 different outfits with it and this shirt definitely allows me to be creative. Whether I wear it alone or throw one of my scarves on... put on some black skinnies and tall riding boots... It's the ultimate fashion must-have.

   Best Accessory:

   Knit headbands and scarves! 


   Honestly, what would my channel or my blog be without the mention of a scarf? Taso after all stands for: Throw A Scarf On. It's in the name! I can't say enough about how perfect the scarf is. As someone whose favorite color is... black, the scarf is a wonderful accessory to play with and add patterns and color to my outfit. This teal scarf by Dorothy Perkins was one that I wore a lot during the Spring and Summer months.


   Tee hee hee. This headband has gotten me a few chuckles because I admit, I do say "Shut Up" a lot, and to have it across my head is definitely making a bold statement. This knit headband in particular I picked up at Asos. I had been eying it for quite sometime and when I finally decided to make the purchase, it was on sale! Go me! The main reason why I love the knit headband is that it's an excellent alternative to wearing a hat. I tend to get static in my hair during the cooler months, or my hair would get flat. This head band is great in keeping my hair in place, but once I remove it, my hair is still perfectly intact and also, my head and ears get to stay toasty!

   Best Shoes: 

   Oxfords and Loafers



   I love me a good loafer. It's being lazy but stylish all at the same time. Most days I find myself needing to get ready within 5 minutes or less but I've never been a sneakers or flip flops kind of gal. What I find the most practical about a loafer is that they are easy to slip on and off. The second most practical thing is that it instantly dresses up whatever you're wearing. The two pairs that I wore the most during 2012 are these insane spiked loafers I got from lulus.com, and these simple black loafers from Steve Madden. The heel is another thing which adds a nice touch of elegance.

   Oxfords on the other hand... at least with mine, they take awhile to put on. I have to undo the laces so that I may squeeze my gigantic foot into it, and then tighten it back up. I wear my oxfords just about the same amount as I wear my loafers... there are times when I need to dash out in a hurry, but I sacrifice a minute to put my oxfords on because I instantly feel dressed up. 

   RANDOM:

   Best TV Show:

   The Walking Dead


   Don't I just look gorgeous? My husband and I are utterly obsessed with this show. Had it not been for my brother-in-law bringing this show to our attention, we never would have known what amazing television truly is. How much do we love this show? We watched two seasons in just 4 days! While we were in Texas they had a marathon of season 3 and guess what? We watched every single episode within 24 hours. That must really speak for the show and how enthralling it is or, my husband and I need to get lives.

   Favorite Book:


   Grace Coddington, I love you! As if she would ever know who I am, but let me just put it out there, you are my hero! I think like most people, she caught my attention after seeing The September Issue. She became the protagonist to the coldness of what many people view Anna Wintour as being. I actually don't think that Anna Wintour is as devilish as many people perceive her to be. But getting back on topic... I would love to have a career like Grace's one day. She truly gives me inspiration that there can be art in fashion and that you don't have to sacrifice your views just because everyone else in the room is saying "No."

  As for my other two books I have The Kind Diet and The Happy Herbivore. 2012 was the year that I dove headfirst into becoming a vegan and these two books have helped keep me alive. There is this negative perception that vegans or vegetarians are all sickly and we eat disgusting food. That couldn't be further from the truth, and as someone who loves food and flavor, if something tastes disgusting, I'm not going to eat it! These books have helped challenge me to try new recipes each week. It keeps me on my toes.

   Best Food:

   Sushi

   Need I say more? Sushi is frekin' delicious! I make a whole event out of it whenever I get to go to my favorite sushi restaurant. My husband and I will occasionally make our own sushi at home as well and add with it a savory bowl of miso!

   Best Beverage:

   Canada Dry Ginger Ale Green Tea

   This is the only soda that I drink... well, that I used to drink. For the New Year my husband and I have decided to cut all soda out completely. My heart is slightly broken because I love anything green tea and ginger ale is just so comforting to my stomach. We were first introduced to this beverage through one of my husband's co-workers, who would use this to make a mixed drink. Once I tasted how delicious it was on its own, the rest is history. Anytime we would make a trip to the store, we would stock up on this mainly because it would always be sold out, so whenever we found a few bottles, we took them all!

   Best Song:

   Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye

   Thanks to Glee and SNL that song blew up all over the place. But my dad being the original hipster, was listening to this song a good year before it became mainstream. Go Dad!
   
   Well guys, that is all for now. It took me almost a week after I posted my video to write this damn thing... but at least I did it! My resolution for the New Year is to work on this blog a few times a week, and slowly increase my activity. My posts will most often be complimentary information for my videos which I post on YouTube so I hope you all check my blog out at least once a week and check me out on YouTube: WORLDofTASO.