Summer Essentials 2012

Even though I still have two weeks of classes left, the weather says Summer is definitely here which means time to go shopping for light weight fabrics and the latest trends. Thankfully, I've never been much of a trendmonger. I follow what's in style mainly so I can find out what will be easy to find in stores that already matches my personal aesthetic. I'm excited for pastels and retro themed items, though I'll definitely be skipping over the stylized athletic look.

As a girl who loves her layers and cardigans, there is unfortunately a huge hole in my wardrobe where stand alone Summer pieces should be and I've found myself a bit uncomfortable in the heat lately. I guess a trip to the mall is in order, and here's what's on my absolute must have list for Summer of 2012!

1. Cat-Eye Sunglasses (Mossimo, $16.99)
For some extra oomph, try adding a DIY touch like pastel tips or rhinestones.

2. Silk Scarves (Roberto Cavalli, $198)
For days when I just don't feel like styling my hair I like to wrap it in a lightweight scarf, Old Hollywood style.

3. Lace Dress (Miss Selfridge, $68)
Lace and pastel dresses are a bit reminiscent of Spring time, but I don't see why that can't carry over to Summer. Ultra-feminine pieces like the one above make me want to have a picnic in the park and bring a parasol.

4. Clean Scented Perfume (Acqua di Gioia, $39.50-$82.00)
I like to have a different perfume for every season. Spring was Versace Bright Crystal, but Summer calls for a fresher fragrance.

5. Beach Tote (J.Crew, $49.50)
Even if you don't live near a beach, oversized totes are great for festivals and pool parties too. You can keep your sunglasses, swimsuit, sunscreen, flip-flops or anything else you may need in one of these.

6. High-Waisted Shorts (Jane Norman, £ 32.00)
I don't like wearing normal cut shorts. Lucky for me, the high waisted variety not only give off the retro vibe that I love but they also sit much more comfortably on my hips.

7. Bright Nail Polish (Essie, $8.00)
I don't even think I should have to explain why bright nails and Summer go together like ice cream and cake. I'm in love with Essie brand nail polish lately, the staying power is way better than any other brand that I've tried.

8. Polka Dot Bikini (Betsey Johnson, $67.20)
It doesn't necessarily have to be itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny, but I love polka dots in most anything; especially swimwear.


What are your favorite Summer trends? What's on your absolute must-have list for the season? Tell me in the comments!

Lazy Sunday 5.20.12

• I spent a good two or three hours on Feminist Frequency this week. Love the feminist perspective on pop culture. 
• I am maddeningly in love with the Chanel Cruise 2013 collection. Anything inspired by the Rococo period is awesome, combined with Chanel is double awesome. 
• Console to Closet is a Tumblr blog that my fellow fashionable gamers will love. 
• Megan of Briar Rose has such a pretty, whimsical style. The headpiece in this post is to die for. 
• Awesome ideas for customized sunglasses. 

Top 5 Favorite LUSH Products

In my previous post How To Get Perfect Skin, I talked about some of the products I use in my skin care routine. Many of my favorite products are from LUSH Cosmetics, a company that specializes in organic beauty and bath products.

I've tried a variety of  products from LUSH since I discovered the shop tucked away at the Macy's in Mayfair Mall about three years ago. While some of the cosmetics I bought I certainly could live without, a few others became absolute essentials which I wanted to share!

1. "It's Raining Men" Shower Gel 

($9.95-$27.95)

This was allegedly a limited edition product the first time I bought it, but seems to have been added to the permanent line. With good reason, because this is the single best smelling body wash I have ever used ever. It smells like honey and flowers and candy and rainbows, and the scent lingers ever so subtly even after I'm out of the shower. I have the 16.9 oz. bottle and it's lasted me well over a year. The "best if used by" date has already passed, but I haven't noticed any difference in the smell or quality yet. 

2. "Breath of Fresh Air" Toner

($8.95-$19.95)

The concept of toners seemed sort of gimmicky to me at first, but being the adventurous gal that I am I decided to take the plunge one day and get a small bottle just to try it. I love the way it makes my face feel, especially during the Summer or after a shower. It's a nice, tight, clean feeling which makes my skin noticeably more supple. LUSH toners also come in little tabs, but I've only ever tried the bottled variety because I'm lazy. 

3. Gorilla Solid Perfumes 

($10.95)

I have a few of these, so it's difficult to pick just one to showcase. I use Lust the most though, it's a rich and musky scent; very sexy. I love these because of how convenient they are. I keep one or two in my purse at all times in case I need a quick dab of something delicious smelling while at work or out and about. You only really need one quick little dab too, the scent is extremely concentrated so one tube will last you an eternity. I also suggest Vanillery and Karma. 

4. "Buffy" Body Butter

($11.95-$22.95)

A body exfoliant and moisturizer all in one, Buffy is tons of fun to use and leaves your skin feeling silky soft. After I'm done washing in the shower, I rub this all over and then massage the crushed up nuts and beans into my arms and legs to scrub away dead skin cells. I've found that one of the 3.3 oz bars will last approximately 10 uses, and using it two or three times a week will suffice. It's especially effective for smoothing out freshly shaved legs and preventing itching. I've also tried King of Skin, but I prefer Buffy. 

5. "Dark Angels" Facial Cleanser 

($26.95)

Dark Angels is the holy grail of skin care for me. It was unavailable for a few months about two years ago because they were changing the formula around a bit, and I literally checked back every week to see if it was in stock. In the mean time I had used Herbalism instead, but it just wasn't the same. The nice thing about LUSH's cleansers is that there are different varieties to suit different skin types, so while Dark Angels is perfect for me, another might be better suited to your needs. I like Dark Angels because of the sugar scrub (can you tell I'm all about exfoliation?) and because of how well it cleans out difficult blemishes like black heads. In stores it's possible to purchase whatever size or dollar amount you want, I usually get about $15 worth at a time and it lasts me several months. 

Have you ever tried any LUSH products? What did you try and what did you think? Tell me in the comments!

Lazy Sunday 5.13.12

• One of my favorite blogs, The Lingerie Addict did a video on what to look for in a garter belt. I am obsessed with garter belts, as anyone who has ever viewed my Tumblr can probably attest to.
• I need this latex corset in my life. 
• Dita Von Teese's custom Louboutin ballet shoes are gorgeous. 
• Totally going to make a pair of these bejeweled sunglasses! 

Update

Hello lovelies! I just wanted to make a quick update.

I have final exams this week and then I have to move to another dorm hall for Spring Interim, so things are going to be a little bit hectic. I'm going to try to get at least one post in, but if for some reason I can't I'll make up for it next week with lots of goodies.

Thanks for your understanding! And good luck to all my college student readers on their final exams as well.