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

What to Wear to Runaway - Final Day and Festival Style Tips

Hey guys I know this is a day late but I started school again yesterday and I really just had no time to post on the blog!

These are my favorite looks from day 3, and what I think works for festivals in general.

Day 3

For day three I really wanted to cover looks we hadn't seen before - so no cowboy boots, no cowboy hats, and no white dresses. I want to showcase how these girls can still look country cute without the country aesthetic. 

This was my outfit for day three: a jean overall dress from American Rag (sold at Macy's), a striped crop top with daisy embellishments, and white converse. This outfit was comfy and cute - tying in the country with the overalls but still keeping it cute with the top that added line diversity to the ensemble. Wearing sneakers made sure my feet were comfortable and clean.

Special Appearance!

If you know good vines, then you know Tia Valentine! I saw her at runaway country and loved her outfit, so I had to do a feature! I love that she looks so cute and is beating the heat at the same time. The flowy floral shorts are a great way to incorporate southern style but still look Florida fabulous. The halter top with a cutout back is so cute and since it has no back it keeps you cool out in the sun. I love her choice of spring colors then uses a blue cross body to add a pop of color and make it interesting.

If you love this outfit then you need to check out her social media she's so funny and has great advice on youtube!

 Twitter: @tortilllaa

Instagram: @tortillaa

Vine: Tia Valentine 

Youtube: youtube.com/tortilllaa

When you think about going outside for a festival you really don't think black is a smart option- that's why we've seen so many white dresses (but that may not be a good option either, we'll get to that later). This black acid wash dress is the right way to do black when outdoors - its cotton so its lightweight and breathable with spaghetti straps that add to the all day outdoor wearability. My favorite feature is the criss cross cutouts in the front that give the dress a dynamic look and a nice embellishment. I know some people can't get away from wearing black, so if you wanna stay cool outdoors this is the way to wear it. 

This dress is one you can find at almost any store that carries boho clothing (Urban Outfitters, Free People, Macy's, Pacsun, Forever 21 etc) obviously colors may vary. Speaking of colors, I love the color of this dress, spring/summer color palette and makes her skin GLOW! The crochet embellishments give the dress variety from others and she pairs it with a nice pair of booties (the best shoe choice for these kinds of dresses).

  

Festival Style Tips 

So this was a country festival, which meant achieving the "country" aesthetic was somewhat part of the ensemble. For other festivals that isn't the case - the music genre can be varied and quite possibly doesn't have an attached aesthetic. So here are a list of some tips for festival dressing in general.

1. Know Your Venue- Is it outside? Is there dirt or grass? Will there be shade? All of these factors can be the difference between one choice of clothing or another. Dirt and white clothing aren't always a good combination, also if you're going to be sitting on grass, white is more prone to grass stains. If there's no shade, it may be a good idea to incorporate a hat or sunglasses.
2. Check the Weather-  I can't stress this enough!!!! If it's going to rain it's also not a good idea to wear white or white shoes because when white gets wet it is possibly see through and mud can ruin it. If it's going to be extremely hot, then try to wear lightweight fabrics, cool colors, and pieces that maybe show more skin depending on your comfort level.
3. Comfort is Key!-  Looking good is great, but if you're uncomfortable at a 5+ hour concert you aren't going to have a fun time. So make sure whatever you're wearing is comfortable and cute! Don't wear shoes that give you blisters (if you buy new shoes for a festival wear them around your house for a few days to break them in), wear shorts that don't ride up, and clothes that fit you. 
4. How Easily Can You Pee?- I'm getting real with you guys here, festivals don't have indoor bathrooms or stalls. It's usually port-o-potty's or the grass, so make sure whatever you wear is easy to pee in. No: Rompers, jeans, jumpsuits
5. Incorporate Your Style-  A lot of magazines and social platforms try to tell you exactly what "festival style" should look like. But it doesn't say anywhere that you HAVE to wear that! Looking different gets you noticed, so wear what you want and maybe you'll inspire others too!

What to Wear to Runaway - Day Two

If you know about Runaway Country in Melbourne, FL then you know that it's more common for redneck fashion faux paws. However, I would rather boast people up for choosing to stay cute than tear people down and make fun of them. 

Day Two - Of course, there was a lot of cute sundresses, lace, boots, and hats! The girls here kept it country and cute.

This was my look from day one - a cute sundress from Urban Outfitters paired with Steve Madden sandals, and a thrifted white sunhat. 

Love when the girls look classy country! She made a statement in a white lace dress and got country with the boots! (Risky to wear white outdoors - props to her)

Loved these wide leg Forrest green pants from earthbound trading company, color blocked with a matching green crochet bralette from Urban and a cotton white crop top from Pac-sun

If you've seen the spring runways - you know fringe is so in! Love that she made this country cute with the boots

Hats were everywhere yesterday! Obviously cowboy hats - this hat is a combo of a cute sunhat and cowboy hat by having cutout embellishments and a cute tan oversized bow 

I like this outfit because it's different from the norm - no cowboy boots no dresses . Some cute no zipper high waisted shorts, closed toe sandals, and flowy top!

Hope these day two outfit inspiration and tips help you out! 

Check back tomorrow for the last day coverage!