Outfit Details:
Illesteva Sunglasses | Fauxgerty Sweatshirt and Jacket | Zara Pants (similar) | Vans Sneakers
Can you believe it’s already June 2nd? That means, it will officially be summer in 20 days, and my Birthday in 23 days, eek! But even though sunny days are on the horizon, the next couple of weeks can be fairly up and down in temperature, especially in the evenings when the air cools down…Read more
In this day and age, we are so connected to our phones, devices, computers –you name it, we are probably on more than one at a time! Admittedly, I can find it very hard to turn everything off for fear of missing out, but luckily, I grew up with my Mother and Grandmother who taught me the importance of mindfulness and meditation, and how beneficial it is to find the time to strip away the superficial and focus on the authentic.
Because an amazing thing happens when I strip away the noise, the clutter and the commotion of my everyday stress. I become present, live in the moment, and reconnect with my true self again, allowing my creativity to flow and for greatness to happen, in whatever form it might be.
Now for a little segue, you all remember the past Herbal Essences commercials (the shower scenes haha) and how good the products smelled, right? Well now the brand is introducing two new collections – Herbal Essences Naked Clean & Refresh, and Herbal Essences Naked Smooth & Soft Shampoo and Conditioner, which are both free of heavy residues, parabens or dyes.
They approached me about working with their the latest collection, which is focused around who you are in your most pared down, #nakedstate of mind, and because of everything I just mentioned above, I was intrigued to experience and learn more.
I started by spending an afternoon with the very talented Celebrity Hairstylist Charles Baker Strahan who taught me all about the Naked Collection and walked me through all the steps needed to create the beachy, loose waves I wanted. Because my hair is fine, he used the Herbal Essences Naked Clean & Refresh Shampoo and Conditioner, which smells of strawberries and mint, to cleanse and brighten it before styling.
Now I’ll walk you through our process!
The Naked Volumizing Soufflé (the mousse) is best to put in your hair when it’s really wet and fresh from the shower. Apply at the roots and then work it towards the ends. Twist your hair to wring out the excess moisture in your hair, which will also help to more evenly distribute the product through your hair.
Next, because I have naturally curly hair and it can tend to get a bit frizzy around the hair lines, Charles recommended combing the hairline area and tucking it behind my ears to smooth out the cow licks and extra curly areas. He suggests also using a bobby pin or a flat clip to hold it in place to allow the hair to air dry.
Save your hair styling for the last part of getting ready. He explained to me that the heat is what changes the shape of hair, so doing too much in the way of styling with a blow dryer is sort of a waste in energy.
Tip: A rough dry can do the trick because you only need the hair to be around 90% dry.
Charles blew out my edges with a large natural bristle brush and a diffusing nozzle, then added loose waves with an iron.
Tip: If you reshape wave or curl with irons or wands, hair is much less likely to frizz and you can also comb or brush it to integrate waves and/or build body or volume.
Lastly, he spritzed my hair with the Naked Flexible Hold Spritzer to hold waves and scrunch it in to create a beachy look.
Tip: Using the Naked Dry Shampoo is a great way to add extra body and volume too!
After my hair consultation and styling session with Charles, I headed to a meditation session at ISHTA Yoga to learn some tips on how to quiet the mind and center the body through breath and movement. It was a lovely mix of yoga and meditation, and I found it so amazing and calming to sit quietly for an hour with no phone. I came out of the session so relaxed and refreshed, plus my hair totally stayed in tact while moving through my yoga flow.
Then later on in the evening, I went with my dear friend Liz to Rockwood Music Hall for an 8PM showing of the band Bellehouse. I love live music and this New York-based group is a mix of Old Time and folk revival with touches of Celtic, classic rock, soul and Motown to name a few. It was a great day overall and I loved getting in touch and taking time for myself to enjoy things that bring me happiness. 
Photos by Falcon Griffith
Created in partnership with Herbal Essences
Photo by Falcon Griffith
I have lived in New York for eleven and a half years now, which is crazy to think about. Over the years, I have found that I’ve acquired my favorite spots to do things such as work, eat, drink and shop, so when StyleCaster and H&M asked to collaborate with me on a project sharing my favorite haunts, I was definitely down to share! Since I live downtown, I decided to focus on the West Village and Meatpacking District as my focal points to keep it local and easy to navigate. My mini city diary guide is now live on StyleCaster so if you’d like to see and read more, click HERE! Thanks for following along! xo
I am not the biggest fan of tight fitting clothing as I am sure many of you know…I basically live in boyfriend jeans and turtlenecks. But that said, I do like the idea and look of body-con skirts when worn and styled correctly.
Case in point, this ankle length, super fitted ribbed skirt with a big slit up the thigh. I scooped it up the other week when I was in Zara and decided to challenge myself by wearing it with something other than an oversized baggy sweater that would totally hide my shape. I started by wearing the skirt without shapewear and I felt okay but definitely not as structured or shapely as I wanted to look.
So I took it a step further and pulled on my Hi- Waist Long Leg Shaper by Wacoal, which creates a nice lift to your seat while shaping your midsection and thighs, redefining and flattering your natural curves. And because they are virtually seamless with leg openings for the smoothest possible look and feel under clothing, no rolling up or bunching happens. So when I pulled the undergarment on, I immediately noticed that everything seemed tighter and more toned looking. Win win!
All of these perks helped boost my confidence in wearing it in the first place and made me feel comfortable enough to pair it with a cropped sleeveless sweater, (progress!) a structured blazer and my favorite high heels. Overall, I felt comfortable (the high-waisted aspect of the shapewear comes up right below your ribs so you can still breathe) and very feminine. What are your thoughts on shapewear? Do you wear it, and if so, how different do you feel when it’s on? Head on over to Wacoal to check out their other awesome shapewear options. Also, I would love to know your thoughts on this so make sure to leave your comments below!
Photos by: Lydia Hudgens
This post was in collaboration with Wacoal. As always, all opinions and styling are my own. Thank you for supporting all My Style Pill collaborations! xo
Last week I partnered with Absolut Vodka and tried out their new mobile site, Hoppr by Absolut, to host a fun holiday party. Before I share about my little soiree, let me tell you a little more about Hoppr. Specific to the New York City area, the mobile site connects partygoers and throwers in a whole new way, allowing hosts to post their parties and guests to RSVP in order to unlock unexpected social connections.
Simply head to AbsolutHoppr.com and log in through your Facebook account and then choose if you are looking to host a party in the area or attend one. But don’t worry, the host and potential guest have to mutually agree to share information and only then will addresses and details of the party be shared, so it is completely safe!
So back to my party…I originally wanted to host a gathering at my apartment, but since it’s on the smaller side, I wasn’t sure how many people it could hold comfortably. Luckily for me, my sweet friends, Helena and Keiko let me decorate and set everything up at Brooklyn Brigade, their studio space, which boasts lots of room and has a great rustic wooden farm table, which I used as my inspiration when planning out my theme. For snacks, I picked up yummy cheese, meats and crackers, plus some olives and veggies, and created a festive drink I like to call the Cranberry Kiss. (See recipe below!) We danced to all our favorite Christmas songs, snapped goofy photos and generally had a great time ringing in the holiday season!
Cranberry Kiss:
1.5oz Absolut Original Vodka
A splash of Club Soda
2oz of sparkling wine
Cranberries to float on top
Tip: Use frozen cranberries in place of ice cubes to keep your drink cool without it getting watered down.
Photos by: Angelique Ambrosio
A big thanks to Absolut for partnering with me on this post. Enjoy responsibly.
To see a few more photos from the party click below!Read more
Luis was kind enough to break down each look for us, so let’s dive in!
A BREAK DOWN OF THE FINALIST’S FACE CHARTS:
ASHLEY:
Lash Love Mascara in I Love Black, Mary Kay Mineral Eye Color in Iris, Mary Kay Gel Eyeliner in Jet Black, Mary Kay Mineral Cheek Color in Shy Blush, Mary Kay Lip Liner in Plum, and Crème Lipstick in Rich Fig
Inspiration: Minimal chic / black, red and hints of white.
(There were two face charts used to accommodate light and dark skin)
I can’t believe Fashion Week is just a few days away! I’m pretty excited though because I have a bunch of great projects and shows coming up, plus a couple of my favorite west coast girls will be out here for the week as well, so that’s always fun.
Now, onto discussing these wavy hair pics. To be honest, I never really plan out what I am going to wear to the shows during fashion week, I sort of just figure it out on the spot, see what mood I am in and go from there. But, what is a little easier for me to plan, is my hair. I have been growing it out for over a year now and have been loving wearing it curly, wavy, beachy, you name it. And during busy, hectic times (i.e. #nyfw) I tend not to wash my hair everyday, so I really need reliable dry shampoo as well as hair and texture sprays that are going to keep my waves going strong for a couple days at a time. Seeing that I am also always trying out new products, serums, sprays etc, it can be hard to have a favorite, but I have found over the years that I really like using TRESemmé products. They just seem to work well with my hair, you know?
I love a good beachy sea salt spray. Excited to see how this one works with my hair.
That said, when I was approached by the brand to try out their new Perfectly (un)Done hair care line, I of course ran right over to my local drugstore (I found my product at Walgreens) and stocked up on a bunch of the product. I’m excited to give everything a whirl and am starting this morning by using TRESemmé’s Perfectly (un)Done Weightless Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner. I will also be documenting how I style my hair with their new products throughout the week, so follow along at @mystylepill on Instagram!
The five products I am trying this week!
P.S. If you have a local Walgreens near by you, make sure to use your Balance Rewards card from now until the 14th to get other TRESemmé shampoos, conditioners, and styling products for just $3.99!
TRESemmé is the official hair care sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.
This post is sponsored by Lunchbox. Thank you for continuing to support these projects that make My Style Pill possible.
