Fashion Trend: Chic Minimalism

By Elma B.

I am not a huge fan of the minimalist design but it makes sense--getting rid of unnecessary to make room for what matters. Recently, I read an article that emphasized that minimalist fashion was just a reflection of the current state of our economical crisis.  Another inspiration for the minimalist look is the French chic, with its simple cuts and designs. 

What I do appreciate about the minimalist aesthetic is getting rid of the excess clutter. So, how to get the minimalist-chic-look that has been sweeping across the fashion, interior design and beauty industries (even Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen have an entire line inspired by the minimalist-chic design)? Here are...

The 5 Key Steps Towards the Minimalist-Chic Look:

1. Tone down the colors. Out with the bright colors and in with the cool blues, black, white and browns. The minimalist look exhumes freshness and coolness. 

Me

2. Back to basic pieces. Pick basic fashion pieces, which have a simple design and cut. For instance, stick to black booties, large sweaters, and  your favorite jeans. For our full list of the 10 fashion essentials, click here. 

Minimalist look

3. Buy quality not quantity. Buy the pieces that will last you for years to come. Check that the material is almost 100% cotton, tweed or silk; feel it, thick or thin cotton, tweed or silk? For instance, if the cashmere is thin, it is more likely to rip (happened to me). Also, the thicker the zipper (on shoes, bags or wherever), the more likely it will last longer. Overall, make sure to feel the material out.

Minimalism beauty: let your hair loose, no blow-drying

4. Get rid of clutter. There is so much in our closets that we do not need; we may have bought it just because it was on sale but in fact rarely ever wear it or have worn it once and realized it is too tacky. Take those items you rarely wear to a consignment store, so at least you can make some money back from them rather than have them sit in your closet collecting dust and creating clutter. 

5. Replace rather than increase. So your favorite fashion pieces are worn-out? No problem! Just replace them! It is better to have those few key pieces that you can wear everyday or that dress that you can wear to almost any occasion than to have a closet full of clothes that you seldom wear. 

I decided to channel my inner minimalist-chic by wearing cool blue colors and simple cuts, evident by my long-one-piece dress, a black bag, and my hat. Fashionistas, what do you think of the minimalist-chic look? What are you favorite essentials? Leave me a comment, love hearing from you! Until next time, xoxo from New York! 

Zooey Deschanel's "New Girl" Makeup Tutorial

By Catherine Santino

Season 4 of “New Girl” recently premiered, and while I’m still binging on Season 3 on Netflix, I thought I would share my tutorial on the makeup that Zooey Deschanel often wears on the show. Her look varies at times, but I think I’ve found a way to recreate her go-to makeup pretty accurately, and with much more affordable products...

Zoey Deschanel

The main features of Zooey’s makeup that I regularly notice are: bronzy eyeshadow, full, fluttery lashes, defined eyes, rose blush on the apples of the cheeks, and coral/pink lips. All together it creates a simple, pretty makeup look that I think can be worn in any season and for various occasions.

For the eye makeup, I blended two shimmery shades from my Maybelline “The Nudes” eyeshadow palette. One is a darker bronze color, the other a lighter gold color. I took the darker color and blended it underneath the lower lash line a bit, just to open up and define the eyes. I also added a bit of gel liner, slightly winged at the outer corners. To fill out my lashes, I applied a few coats of Maybelline Colossal Volum’ Express mascara in Classic Black, then added one coat of Benefit's They're Real mascara to help lengthen them. You can also turn this into a smokey eye look by adding darker eyeshadows.

For the cheeks, I used Clinique’s Blushing Blush Powder in Sunset Glow and focused on the apples of my cheeks. I didn't do any contouring with bronzer for this look; Zooey usually has very porcelain-looking skin on the show with only a bit of subtle blush. However, if you want to warm this look up a bit, it's totally up to you!

Finally, for the lips, I applied a layer of Sonia Kashuk Lip Crayon in the shade Pinky Nude, and over that applied Clinique’s Long Lasting Lipstick in the shade Sugar Honey.

Overall, I’m really happy with how this look turned out. It’s easily recreated with inexpensive products, and is a perfect pretty-yet-subtle look for work or school. Hope you enjoy trying these makeup ideas on your own!

Me

Makeup I used 

Effortless Style of Old Hollywood Icons

By Fatima N.

Let me reacquaint you with three words we have lost: pared down elegance. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy knew them. Audrey Hepburn knew them. Grace Kelly knew them. It's time for you to be acquainted/reacquainted with them too. Now, this is not to wag a finger at heels and dresses. This is just a way to sartorially switch things up for evening attire. Here is a quick look at the fashion choices of these iconic ladies for your everyday inspiration and outfit ideas.

Effortless Style of Old Hollywood Icons

1. Effortlessly Stylish: Grace Kelly

The most perfect summary of Grace Kelly's fashion sense comes in the form of a quote by Howell Conant, "You trusted Grace's beauty; you knew it wasn't built from clothes and makeup...hair pulled back, dressed in a simple boy's shirt. This was Grace: natural, unpretentious." That was exactly the Queen of Monaco, Her Serene Highness. She had a minimalist ease about her, in her dressing.

Grace Kelly 1956- aboard the SS Constitution
on her way to get married in Monaco

2. Effortlessly Elegant: Audrey Hepburn

Ballet flats, white button downs and cropped pants are only a few parts of Audrey's repertoire. Comfortable, casual and chic style doesn't even begin to describe it. Let me let the pictures do the talking.

Beautiful back necklace--
Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's

3. Effortlessly Chic: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

Jackie's sophistication and naturalness were shown in her sleek shifts and pillbox hats. She contributed to fashion, as seen by the amount of results you get when you search "The Jackie Look" or a variation of that on Google.

How to travel in style: Jackie Kennedy

Here are Club Fashionista blogger's fashion tips on how to incorporate the Old Hollywood glamour into your everyday wardrobe. 

1. Effortless Overcoats 

The main part of many of Jacqueline Kennedy's White House era outfits were coats designed by Oleg Cassini. They were beautiful stand-alone creations. Try the same thing the next time your evening out actually involves being out. Consult this article for help.

Overcoat: long duster coat 

2. Effortless Accessories

Statement necklaces have "statement" in their names a reason. The right one can transform your outfit from day to night. Don't stop there, dump your whole jewelry box out and start looking through it.

3. Effortless Flats

Pack those heels away for a while, they hurt anyway. Flats from your everyday wardrobe can make looks just as polished. If you really want to change it up, try sneakers or even combat boots under fancier garb.

Flats that work for every kind of office 

4. Effortless Pants

Take your dressy separates for a spin. You can look equally dressed up for the occasion substituting pants for dresses.

5. Effortless Jumpsuit

A perfect, tailored jumpsuit is a lifesaver for parties. Belt it, throw a blazer on it, you'll find it very versatile.

Of course, I've only brushed the surface. Looking around more is up to you. Thumb through some catalogs (I prefer J.Crew for this certain situation). Look to red carpet events, celebrities are also exchanging their dresses and heels for pants and flats. You'll see that elegance and glamour have no single definition in fashion! Until next time, signing-off from New York City! Xo.

Effortless elegance:
black turtleneck & white high waisted pants 

Bow Ties with Sausage, Tomatoes and Cream

"A friend gave this recipe to me a few years back, and my family can't seem to get enough of it. It sounds strange with cream in it, but that just enhances the flavor and texture. This is a very easy recipe."

Make 6 servings.

Ingredients :

• 1 (12 ounce) package bow tie pasta
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed and crumbled
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (28 ounce) can Italian-style plum tomatoes, drained and coarsely chopped
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

Directions :

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente; drain.
2. Heat oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Cook sausage and pepper flakes until sausage is evenly brown. Stir in onion and garlic, and cook until onion is tender. Stir in tomatoes, cream, and salt. Simmer until mixture thickens, 8 to 10 minutes.
3. Stir cooked pasta into sauce, and heat through. Sprinkle with parsley.

Sweet Flavorsome Cherry Coke Float Cupcakes You Eff to Try

Moist and tasty, cola cupcakes filled with cherry pie stuff, lidded with whipped emollient and sweet redness must be really addictive. Cola and redness stuff, makes these Red Dope Locomote Cupcakes by Belle of the Kitchen truly flavorsome, you eff to try them.

Ingredients
For the Cupcakes:

• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 egg
• ½ cup buttermilk
• ¾ cup Coke (don’t use diet)
• 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 (21-ounce) can cherry pie filling

For the Icing:

• 1 cup heavy whipped cream
• 4 tablespoons powdered sugar
• Maraschino Cherries, for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a standard muffin pan with paper liners; set aside.
2. Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl and set aside.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine the sugar and butter and beat on medium-high until light and creamy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and beating for an additional minute. In a large mixing cup or small bowl, combine the buttermilk, Coke and vanilla extract. (Make sure you wait for the foam to go down when measuring the Coke and don’t worry if your mixture looks curdled when you add the buttermilk.)
4. Beginning with the flour mixture, add in 4 parts to the butter mixture, alternating with the Coke mixture. Beat each addition just until incorporated. Give the final mixture a good mix with a rubber spatula to make sure it is thoroughly combined.
5. Divide the batter evenly between the muffins tins. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the tops spring back when touched lightly and a toothpick inserted in the center cupcake comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes in the pan and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
6. Once cooled, use a paring knife to cut out a cone shape in the middle of each cupcake. Add a spoonful of cherry mixture (2 to 3 cherries) to the well.
7. Beat the heavy whipping cream in a chilled bowl with whisk attachment (or hand mixer), beginning on low speed. Once the cream gets frothy begin adding the powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, increasing speed as the cream comes together until you reach medium-high speed. Whip the cream until it holds stiff peaks (if you dip a spoon in it, the whipped cream should stay on the spoon when you turn it upside down). Pipe the whipped cream onto cupcakes as desired and top with maraschino cherries for garnish.

It’s your last chance to rock WHITE (24 photos collections)