Guilt Trip

I feel very guilty. I have neglected this blog like you've neglected that one pair of shoes in your closet you bought ages ago and you thought you would wear them but you just haven't (it's okay we all do it).  I have a plethora of ideas waiting to share with you and I'm ready to blog again. Let's just call my absence a brief summer hiatus that is now over. 

The name of this post does not only interact with the guilt I felt, but also the week long trip to the Bahamas and the Keys I just took. Since packing for vacations is difficult for some, and amazingly fun for me, I am going to guide you through packing and shopping for your perfect island get away.

LOOK ONE: 

A Free People matching set of high waisted shorts and tie-back crop top tank paired with a thrifted white sun hat and Old Navy sandals. (Also pictured, my smokin' hot Mom in a black and white striped tankini and white Oneill wide leg cotton pants.)

Matching set: $45 (overall - sold separately)

Sandals: $10 (I have them in black too, great deal!)

Something major about both of these looks is that each piece can easily be paired with something else. This comes in handy when you're on vacation and you just do not like an outfit you packed - you can mix and match! Also, it helps minimize the size of your suitcase. Matching sets are super in right now, so if you see one for a good price in the store and you like it, I suggest you buy it! 

LOOK TWO (and three?): 

I'm sure you're thinking, what do you mean and three? Well, speaking on the topic of mixing and matching I'm going to show you how I took a red strapless jumpsuit I found at Marshall's for $16 from sassy cruise dinner outfit, to Fourth of July chic and sexy.

The Red Jumpsuit: $16
Old Navy Sandals: $10
Blue and White ribbon for belting
Betsey Johnson Crossbody

The Red Jumpsuit: $16
Thrifted Maritime Flag button-up
Costume Captain Hat 

Tip for Cruising: No body knows you on the cruise except for your party, feel free to dress however you want! Its vacation!!!!

 LOOK FOUR: 

This is mainly about accessorizing your neckline correctly! With all the different styles of necklaces out today, be sure you're wearing a necklace that fits the outfit! This $20 gold necklace from TJMaxx perfectly accentuates my neck and the neckline of this top I found on sale at Urban Outfitters for $10.

Made with the app Phhhoto - download and follow me: savannahdion!

TIPS FOR PRE-VACAY SHOPPING:

If you noticed, almost every article of clothing I posted (excluding the Free People set, which was a gift) I purchased for under $20! If you want a fresh wardrobe for your vacation I have two tips for you: 

• Shop cheap, to be able to get more clothing - the stores I mentioned are great places to find great clothing at better prices.
• Make sure every thing you buy matches - this enables you to mix and match on vacation leaving you feeling like you have more clothing 

BONUS: 

Cute nail idea for vacation or the summer!!! I used flesh-tone polish for all of my nails and painted an eye on the ring finger of both hands!

SCAD Style 2015

So this week was SCAD Style, a yearly event where industry professionals from fashion design, jewelry design, accessory design, and interior design come to SCAD to share their knowledge. 

I was lucky enough to be able to attend two of the biggest speakers from the event, Joseph Altuzarra of Altuzarra and Lauren Bush Lauren of FEED. These speakers provided a lot of information and I'm very excited to share it with you all! 

Joseph Altuzarra:

Altuzarra Spring 2015

Altuzarra Fall 2015

Interviewed by Nicole Phelps executive editor of Style.com this talk was heavily about research and inspiration, which was amazing for design students. He spoke on his early career interning at Marc Jacobs, Givenchy, and Proenza Schouler and what they taught him. Givenchy taught him how to define his research and that he needs to develop it more that just what is on the surface. The internship taught him months of research may not be used at all, but that does not mean it was not worth it. Towards the end of the conversation the floor was opened to questions, I asked him "where do you find inspiration the most?" He replied, "obviously the Internet, pictures, but I try to go farther than that with books and films as well." Students and individual  stumped on inspiration in general should listen to his advice!

Instagram

Twitter

Altuzarra Website

Nicole and Joseph speaking at SCAD Style 

Lauren Bush Lauren:

Lauren Bush Lauren is the CEO and founder of FEED projects, a global initiative working through apparel and accessory sales to give back to world hunger. Granddaughter of former president George HW Bush, niece of former president George W Bush, and married to David Lauren, son of Ralph Lauren; she obviously never felt these hunger struggles a day in her life. This is why it is so inspiring to see her create such a successful campaign to help others. She started this movement in college, showing every student readying this that anything is possible. Sold online and throughout many retailers accords the United States, the bags and apparel all have a number on them, showing consumers how many meals they are buying with the purchase. She spoke on her journeys and the artisans from the impoverished countries she employs to create some bags. The beaded bag shown above was made by a small artisan workshop in Kenya, she is working on ways to connect the consumer with this information through workshop profiles and videos of production.

Instagram

Twitter

Feed Website

Lauren Bush Lauren and the Executive Director of Elle

Personal Connections Made:

What is great about SCAD, there is always an opportunity around the corner. For SCAD Style, it was the opportunity for me to meet and speak with Chantal Fernandez, Associate Editor of Fashionista. Fashionista is one of my favorite fashion information websites and actually the first one I followed on Twitter. I love their informative articles and amazing advice, and as some of you may know Fashion Editorials is my intended career field, so it was surreal for me to meet Chantal. I actually originally found out she was at my school because I follow Fashionista on Snapchat and saw them posting snaps here in Savannah, after seeing her on Snapchat I immediately recognized heart the SCAD style event. We exchanged friendly words and she gave me kind advice, I am very grateful for this chance encounter.

Chantal and I at the Lauren Bush Lauren event 

Find out more about SCAD style here

XOXO,

Savannah 

Featured Fashionista - Ciara Glionna

So this is our first portion of a new segment on In the Chic called Featured Fashionistas. Every week we are going to cover someone we feel represents a true fashionista and do a bio on them to promote them for being fabulous and try to help the readers learn their secrets. The first fashionista is a true glam girl and one of my very good friends, Ciara Glionna. 

Name: Ciara Glionna

Age: 19

College: American Musical and Dramatic Academy, NYC 

Instagram: @spiffyciara

Ciara is a very talented young woman and it's hard not to have your breath taken away when you're around her. From acting and singing to fashion and beauty, Ciara is truly an inspiration to anyone, including myself.

Q&A's

Makeup item that you cannot live without?

Other than the obvious lipstick and mascara - eyebrow gel is a must have for me! I'm a girl who loves a thick brow!

Favorite article of clothing?

That's a tough one! I'm in love with shoes and skirts!

Favorite place to shop?

Although I do thrift a lot - I love online shopping! I love GoJane.com and Shopjeen.com and Boohoo.com!

When do you feel your best?

I feel my best when my hair is down, I have pink lipstick on, and my highest heels!!

Tip for the readers on how to feel fabulous?

How do you feel fabulous? Be yourself!! Once I came to accept myself, my crazy style, and who I am, I ALWAYS feel fabulous! Don't ever use the question "can I pull this off?"! Of course you can! Being fabulous and looking good is all mental! Love yourself!

What's your favorite place to hangout in NYC?

In NYC there are a million adorable cafés and coffee shops! But when I find free time (which is rare) you can find me in Sephora or in a cute little restaurant in China town!

Typical outfit and makeup combo for a night out to a Broadway show? 

I ALWAYS dress up for Broadway! You'll find me in a fluffy tulle skirt, a sparkly bustier, some fishnets, a fur coat, and some sassy booties! I love to clash patterns and bright colors! I always match that with sparkly eyeshadow, a nice contour and a bright pop-color lip! And lots of highlighter! Gotta look nice and glowy for a night out!

Makeup/Beauty inspiration?

I'm obsessed with drag queens, and often use their makeup techniques on myself but make them less harsh! I love Miss Fame's tutorials on YouTube! I also am in LOVE with Nikkietutorials on YouTube, she is incredible!

Secret beauty routine?

I always mix my primer with my liquid illuminator! It makes my skin look nice healthy glowy and radiant!

Stay tuned every week for more featured fashionistas!

XOXO,

Savannah Newman 

Spring's Hottest Trends... Under $30

When a new season rolls around I absolutely cannot fight the urge to shop, but I also hate spending money. So one of my personal strategies is never to spend more than $30 max on any one article of clothing. It can be hard to stick to but I'm here to shed some light on deals and trends for spring under $30 that you should NOT pass up. I've tried to incorporate looks for everyone!

1. GINGHAM 

I absolutely loved this when I saw it on the runways.. prints and patterns are a huge favorite of mine.

On the runway:

Altuzarra Spring 2015

DVF Spring 2015 Ready to Wear

Where to buy:

(If you're in college and decided to shop at ASOS, sign up for UniDays to get a student discount!)

 ASOS Sundress In Gingham With Lace Insert $10.50

ASOS AX Paris Gingham Sleeveless Top with Collar $27.00

ASOS Glamorous Gingham Smock Dress $29.00

Forever 21 Retro Gingham Denim Shorts: $10.99 ... part of BOGO 1/2 off sale!

2. FRINGE:

Maybe you've heard, the 70's are back!! Fringe is so in right now, some may not like it, but it definitely adds spice to any outfit!

On the Runway:

Proenza Schouler Spring 2015

Isabel Marant Spring 2015 Ready to Wear

Rebecca Minkoff Spring 2015 Julian Backpack

 Where to Buy:

H&M Skirt with Fringe $24.95

EXPRESS Fringe Tank Top $24.90

Along with fringe and tassels on clothing, it's SUPER in on bags right now!

H&M Fringe Shoulder Bag $29.95

3. OVERALLS:

This style isn't for everyone either, but there are so many types of overalls (they don't have to be denim!), so don't knock it till ya try it!

On the Runway:

Rebecca Minkoff Spring 2015

Sonia Rykiel Spring 2015

Where to Buy:

Life In Progress Classic Denim Overalls
                       $29.90

Forever 21 Crochet Trimmed Overall Shorts (available in white or black) $27.90

H&M Bib Overalls $19.95

4. DENIM ON DENIM:

I love love love this trend!!! But if you're going to emulate it, I suggest the denim be two different washes.

On the Runway:

Fendi Spring 2015

Chloe Spring 2015

Where to Buy:

ASOS New Look Inspire Denim Jacket $9.00
(plus size only, also available in lighter wash)

ASOS Denim Floral Wideleg Jumpsuit $20.00
(different way to wear denim, love it!)

Forever 21
Chambray Shirt Dress
$24.90

That's all for now! I'm going to try to continually post runway looks for cheap and tell you all about great deals. 

The Spring Sale is going on at Urban Outfitters right now, BOGO 1/2 off of sale at Forever 21, and get discounts at ASOS when you sign up for their UniDays Student Discount program!

XOXO,

Savannah 

Eyebrows: The Essential Tools

Eyebrows. There are gels, pencils and powders, but what is the BEST way to make those brows look bold and beautiful? 

Recently, eyebrows have become a trend, and everyone wants them. Well, everyone has eyebrows, but they don't become bold and defined overnight. It can actually be quite time consuming and pricey to upkeep your brows. Luckily, there are literally thousands of products out there to help you, but you don't need to buy all of them! 

Although it is popular to fill in your eyebrows, it is still important to get them threaded or waxed every month or so in order to keep a nice shape. This is especially important for those of you who don't know how to shape your own brows. If you have thin brows and you want them to be thicker, GROW THEM OUT! Don't pluck, tweeze, wax, or thread them for 1-2 months in order for your hairs to fully grow out. Once they are thicker, then it is OK to get them threaded or waxed to your desired and more thick style.

This post will tell you everything you need to know about brow products and how to use them! By no means do you need to go out and buy every single one. This post is simply going to give you information about each product from somebody who has used them all, so you can decide which ones are best for you. 

The Basics:

Tweezers: These are necessary for daily grooming of the brows. Pluck any stray or unwanted hairs as you see them, but don't go on a tweezing binge! You want your brows to be full and bushy, not thin and uneven.

Eyebrow Spoolie: Use this to comb hairs in place. Good for when you wake up in the morning and your brows are going in all different directions. Conveniently, these are usually on the opposite side of angled brow brushes. This tool is also very helpful for blending out any type of brow product you use. I find I use it towards the front of my brow to blend and pick up any excess product. 

Clear Eyebrow Gel: Weather you fill in your eyebrows or not, this will keep your hairs in place through a tornado. Seriously. Anastasia Beverly Hills makes the best brow gel on the market.

Angled Brow Brush: Only needed for powders or gels. Make sure when buying an angled brow brush that the bristles are firm, and the brush is very thin. The thinner the brush, the more precise you can be and the more control you have over the product. 

Eyebrow Scissors: These do not need to be used every day, but only when your hairs get a little too long between waxing or threading. Brush the hairs up with a spoolie and trim the excessively long ones.



  

For the Natural Brow:

Brow Powders: These should be applied with a firm, thin, angled brush. If you are buying a brow kit and it comes with a teeny, tiny, generic brush, its probably useless. Some powders only have one shade, but others have two and sometimes three. If you only have one shade, fill those brows in and you're good to go. If your brow powder comes with different shades, use the darker one to define the outlines of your brows as well as define the tail. Use the lighter one to fill in the rest and blend out the darker shade. If it comes with a light or white shade, use it to highlight on your brow bone. Powder is good for natural brows because it is very forgiving. If you mess up or go outside of your brows you can just wipe it away with your finger. Powder allows you to just fill in any empty spaces your natural brow hairs might have.

Brow Pencil: This is a quick and easy way to fill in your brows with one product. There are plenty of different ones out there, so you might have to find the one that is best for you. They come in retractable form, or in actual pencil form which require you to sharpen it. Sharpening Eyebrow pencils is important for keeping the tip sharp so you get a precise line. When using this try to start by focusing on the tail of your brow, making it the darkest most defined part, and then building up towards the front of your brow. 

For the Bold Brow:

Gels and Pomades: This is some serious stuff. I personally like using the Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade, but there are plenty of other brands out there now. This is defiantly not for beginners or for people who don't want to spend a lot of time on their brows. It honestly takes practice. You're not gonna wanna try this product for the first time when you're in a rush or you're about to go out on a date because it will take forever, and you'll probably mess up. It helps to be very light handed with this product because a little goes a long way. I figured this out when I started using it because I made my eyebrows so thick it looked like I filled them in with a bold sharpie marker. Give yourself a lot of time to play with this product and experiment with it. If you are having trouble, look up a tutorial on youtube, almost every single beauty guru out there uses this stuff. 

Concealer: Use an angled brush (It can be the same brush you use for your eyebrows, I prefer to use a different one). This can be used to erase any mistakes you made filling in your brows, whether that be with power, gel, pomade, or pencil. This can especially help if you've never filled in your brows before because you will probably make a lot of mistakes. To make your brows more bold and defined, use concealer on the entire bottom part of your brow, just to clean up the line and make it more sharp. WARNING: avoid using concealer on the top part of your brow. This will start to make it look too defined all around and sort of like you drew your eyebrows on with a bold sharpie. You do not want that.

Julia Morgan

Beauty Editor