Beyonce Inspired New Year's Eve Makeup Look

By now you probably have your plans set for tonight and finally figured out what to wear, but the icing on the cake may yet to be planned out. If you're like me and tend to recreate the same makeup look over and over for nights out, why not leave 2013 with an unexpected twist? Beyonce is the queen of glam, so who better to look to for inspiration? Try recreating the look above by

Motivational Monday: 10 New Year's Resolutions Actually Worth Keeping

New Year's has always been the most important time of year for me. There is something about the combination of beginning a new year and celebrating my birthday that has always made the New Year feel like a fresh start. Like most people I've gotten into the habit of making the traditional resolutions (Workout, eat better, etc) but often have a hard time following through. Recently a friend sent me an article from EliteDaily with practical (read specific) New Year's resolutions that I thought was worth sharing. Below are my ten favorite from the article (read the ones that I need to make a commitment to do).

What to wear for New Year's Eve 2013

Now that Christmas is over, everyone's next question is what am I doing for New Year's Eve? And more importantly what am I wearing?! Recently a reader wrote in asking if I had any updated advice on what to wear for new year's eve, although sparkle and sequin are still (and will always be) the star of NYE, there are ways to incorporate some of the trends from 2013 to spice up your look. Below are three outfits that are perfect for NYE night!



 

Sequin dress / H&M fluffy cardigan, sale $20 / sheer tight / BCBG pumps / J Crew Clutch / House of Harlow 1960 sand jewelry / Michael Kors post earrings / Bobbi Brown shimmer eyeshadow / Yves Saint Laurent lipstick / False Eyelashes

 

This first look is all about the sparkle and shimmer. The skater dress and skater skirt have been huge this year! Personally I can't get enough of it, and plan on riding this trend out till the end. Try find a skater style dress with sequins and pairing it with complimentary accessories for a NYE look that is cute and sassy.

 

 

 

Topshop sequin & velvet dress / black sequin jacket / Rihanna For River Island black sandal / Loeffler Randall cheetah print clutch / Burberry studded cuff / black and gold earrings /  tassel necklace / NYX eye shadow / Elizabeth arden lipstick / Shu uemura lashes

 

This next look is a little bit "grown and sex"

What to wear for Christmas Day

I got into the holiday spirit a little early and couldn't wait to wear my new pleated skirt and turtleneck so I "test-drove" the look a few weeks early.





This is a great take on the traditional Christmas look because it incorporates the colors of the season, without any of that old ugly christmas sweater business. Create this look for the day by pairing a fitted green turtleneck or sweater with a polished red bottom. It's no secret that I've been all over the skater skirt trend for a while now, and I think this pleated version is the perfect polished look for the holidays or work.

Holiday Hair Tutorial

Christmas season is usually a time to gather with family and friends you haven't seen in a while and celebrate the season. With all the traveling going on there is a lot of pressure to look you're best. Since Christmas is only a few days away, I've already been working on figuring out the perfect outfit and hairstyle ahead of time. After looking up hair inspiration on Pinterest last week, I decided to do a "test drive" this past weekend. Using the Pantene Pro V hair BB cream, I did ten two strand flat twist going directly back on already stretched hair. I let the twist set in over night and In the morning untwisted the hair. At this time I had a very defined curly fro which could work as a cute style on its own if you want to wear your hair down. In order to get the curly updo look, I took one inch sections in the back and pinned them up going towards the crown of my head. I let the right side hang down, creating an asymmetric curly updo.

xoxo,

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Style Steal: Carrie Diaries' Larissa aka Freema Agyeman

Of all the shows that slide across my TV during prime time hours, The Carrie Diaries is one that I've loved from the start despite having only mediocre reviews and following it's first year. Although I was late to jump on the SITC bandwagon, the minute I started writing and ended up moving to New York City, I had no choice but to become a fan. Carrie's life (though far more glamorous than mine) seems to knowingly touch on situations that me (and most of my friends) have all dealt with at sometime or another. And the Carrie Diaries definitely seem to be following in the same four inch Manolos well. And of the "Manolo walkers" on the show, "Larissa" played by Freema Agyeman is one of the most stylish of them all. Freema's character screams 80's from head to heel. I love her use of color, prints, and bold lips. To make her look real life wareable, check out the pieces we picked below!

 

Moschino Tie neck blouse / Tulle double breasted coat / Emilio Pucci slim fit pants / BURAK UYAN suede booties / Yves Saint Laurent satchel purse

Comment below and let me know if you watch The Carrie Diaries, who's your favorite character?

 

xoxo,

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How to highlight and contour your face (Tutorial)

http://youtu.be/iX2nD75rojY?a

Checkout the video above of me demonstrating how to highlight and contour then read my detailed instructions below!

Products Used:

-Maybelline fit me BB Cream in Dark
-Make up Forever Full Coverage
Concealer Shade 18
-Lisi powder blush in "Maldives"
-Sleek Contour kit in Dark
-Revlon Liquid Eyeliner
-Mac "Suspicion" eyeshadow (applied to crease only)
-Mac lipstick "RiRi Woo"

Directions:

Start off with a clean face, apply bb cream or foundation all over the face. I like to use a flat kabuki or dome shaped powder brush.

Next take a small amount of liquid concealer and apply under the eye and all over the eyelid with a fluffy tapered blending brush.

From here, apply the eyeliner of your choosing to the top and lower lashline.

Then get a powder brush and apply blush to the hollows of the cheek (feel free to make a fishy face if it helps).

Using a large fluffy face/powder blush to lightly apply your highlighter color directly above your blush. It's better to start off light and go back to add more if necessary. Once finished, take the excess left on the brush and highlight down the bridge of the nose, center of the forehead, and chin.

Next take your contour color and a tapered face brush or blush brush and lightly apply your contour directly under your blush, carefully following the hollow of your check bones. Once done with both sides, take the excess on the brush and carefully contour the sides of your nose starting from right below the eyebrow to the tip.

From here take an eyeshadow blending brush and apply the dark contour eyeshadow only to the crease of your eyelid. This helps to make the eyes appear larger in a natural and subtle way. Apply mascara to the top and lower lashline once done.

*For a more defined nose contour, take a small fluffy blending brush and apply your contour color to the sides of your nose. Follow up by applying your highlight color to the bridge of your nose again with another small tapered brush.

Apply the bold lipstick of your choosing to add some color (and sass) to the very subtle and natural looking overall face.

And there you have it, a natural looking contour perfect for everyday! Comment below and let me know if you contour certain areas of your face?

xoxo,

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Fashion and Technology: Manicure App Mani Diaries

Diaries are far from a new concept, historically people have been putting pen to paper to keep track of their days for centuries (like the incredible Anne Frank for example). I myself chronicled every insignificant part of my adolescent life in volumes of journals, and continue to do so now through Fancy Francy and other online outlets. And judging by the millions of people currently on social media, I'm clearly not alone. New social sharing sights pop up everyday helping users transform the internet into their own not so personal life diary and now their is a new one to add to this list, made especially for the "manicuremonday crowd. Mani Diaries is a new iPhone app providing a support group supportive platform for all you nail art instagramers. The app allows you to take your mani game to an all new level by tracking, managing, and sharing pictures and details about your manicures and pedicures. Now you don't have to scroll through 38 pictures of cats just to get to the good stuff, manicure diaries shows beautiful nails all day, every day.

I got to test out the app (not to mention snag a free mani #PraiseHim) during a recent holiday beauty press event. Mani Diaries in partnership with Essie, provided mini manis featuring polishes from their Winter 2013 shearling darling collection. After getting my "nails did", I had my nails snapped for inclusion on mani diaries.

Although I myself don't have the discipline needed to keep my nails manicured and chip free all the time, I think this is a really cool social network app for those who do. I love the fact that it is a management tool for nail fashion enthusiasts (I'm all about the OCD like tracking of things) and its creating a community around people's shared love of manicured nails.  If you're interested in checking out this app, you can snag it free in the iTunes app store.

Comment below and let me know what you think about this app, is this something you plan to use?

xoxo,

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Holiday Hair Inspiration + Giveaway!

December is half way over and the holiday season is in full swing. Preparing for holiday parties and gatherings are fun but stressful at the same time. Coming up with looks for natural hair always requires planning upfront so to try and elevate some of that stress, I like to pick outfits and even hairstyles ahead of time! After searching on Pinterest, I found a few styles that I think would be cute to recreate for the holidays.  



To achieve my style I'm using products from Pantene Pro V. To help spread the holiday cheer, I've teamed up with Pantene Pro V to give one lucky reader, all of the products pictured above! Enter the giveaway below!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

xoxo,

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Francy Answers: Where to get an affordable leather style skater skirt

Earlier this week I showed how to wear a leather skater skirt and one reader asked on twitter where to get an affordable option.

I purchased mine over a year ago from Forever21 so it's no longer available BUT I found several just as stylish options all for well under $100, most under $30! Check them out below and find the right one for you!

 

Comment below and let us know what you think of these picks? Do you own a leather skater skirt? Where did you get yours?

 

xoxo,

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What to Wear to Your Work's Office Holiday Party

 

 

Keep things festive yet classic at the annual office holiday party by wearing a work appropriate ensemble with fun and decorative details. In this look, the classic work shift dress gets a holiday update with the help of sequins sleeves. This look is perfect for the office since it can easily be toned down by pairing a blazer on top during the work day.

Having the annual holiday party at someone's house this year? Working at a startup with a super relaxed dress code? Keep things simple yet festive with this easy to put together outfit. Wear a leather skater skirt and pair it with a classic cable knit sweater and glitzy accessories to glam up the look.

 

Comment below and let us know if your office as an annual holiday party? Is it a more formal or casual affair?

xoxo,

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Pinterest Inspired DIY Holiday Gifts

As the saying goes, it's the thought that counts and while we are all for DIY gifts, it's great when you can give something that the person will actually use (extra points if it looks so professional you have to tell them it's homemade). After browsing through the inspiration holy grail Pinterest, we came up with two delectable crafts, that are easy to make and perfect for gift giving.

Lavender Fields Body Scrub

Lavender has been said to help with relaxation, so why not give the gift of stress reduction with this lovely DIY scrub. Sea salt scrubs are great for use as all over body scrubs, hand softeners, or spa pedicures.

Ingredients:
- 1/2 Cup sea salt
- 1/4 Cup Jojoba oil or Olive oil
- 3 Drops of Lavender Essential Oil
- 1 Tbsp dried lavender buds

Directions:
- Add jojoba or olive oil to sea salt in a sealable jar.
- Mix in dried lavender buds until the mixture forms the desired texture.
- Add in lavender essential oil drops to create the perfect lavender scented scrub.

What's Trending Now: Jumpsuits

If you're like me, jumpsuits probably only made a rare appearance in your closet throughout the years. Aside from rompers a few years back and overalls now, I for one never got into jumpsuits. To me they always had a 70's disco vibe which was never a look I was trying to rock. However lately I can't help but notice how jumpsuits have come back in a big way and seem to be more stylish than ever. Celebs and street stylers alike have been spotted rocking this trend. Below are a few of the ones I'm currently eying.

Comment below and let me know if you plan on rocking this trend?!

xoxo,

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*Images in this post are not property of Fancy Francy

How to wear a leather skater skirt

This season leather is just as popular as it was last year, making it a great choice for holiday parties, nights out, or a casual weekend outfit. Leather is great because it is extremely versatile and can be dressed up or down. A few weeks ago we talked about styling a leather pencil skirt, so for this week we wanted to show how to dress up or down a leather skater skirt. We already showed how to wear a skater skirt and dress, but styling a leather skater skirt can be a bit tricky. Keep reading to see how to style a skater skirt during the day or night.

2014 Pantone Color of the Year: Radiant Orchid

Pantone, an X-Rite company and the global color authority, today announced PANTONE® 18-3224 Radiant Orchid, a captivating, magical, enigmatic purple, as the color of the year for 2014.

“While the 2013 color of the year, PANTONE 17-5641 Emerald, served as a symbol of growth, renewal and prosperity, Radiant Orchid reaches across the color wheel to intrigue the eye and spark the imagination,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “An invitation to innovation, Radiant Orchid encourages expanded creativity and originality, which is increasingly valued in today’s society.”

“An enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health. It is a captivating purple, one that draws you in with its beguiling charm.”

Pinterest Inspired DIY Holiday Nails

This season is a great time to show your holiday cheer by painting an easy design on your nails. Expert manicurist Gina Viviano found some fun nail designs on Pinterest and shares her step-by-process for each one just below. Try something new this season and paint your own nail design!

1) http://pinterest.com/pin/179510735120221338/

For this first image, paint nails your favorite Xmas red. I like Pirate by CHANEL. Paint your accent nails white. Let dry completely, one to two hours. Next cut slivers of scotch tape and apply diagonally to your accent nails. Apply red polish, wait 15-20 minute, carefully pull tape and apply topcoat.

2) http://pinterest.com/pin/219409813067676390/

This is a gorgeous, classy take on the French manicure. I love when French’s are done with lighter tips rather than darker. I feel a dark tip can make the nail look heavy. To achieve this look paint nails a rich dark color for impact. Vamp by CHANEL is my ultimate favorite. So high in quality, it covers with one coat. Paint tips gold and apply topcoat to finish.

3) http://pinterest.com/pin/387098530441767886/

For this look, paint nails your favorite Xmas green and let dry one to two hours. Cut strips of masking tape and apply as shown. Paint gold and remove tape after 10-15 minutes. Apply red rhinestone or a dot of red polish at the tip of tree and finish with topcoat. I use Extreme Shine Top Coat by CHANEL.

4) http://pinterest.com/pin/441352832203735172/

For this last look, paint nails white. Try Eastern Light by CHANEL. The formulation is milky, not stark with opaque coverage that doesn't streak. It's a good idea to have your black thread pre cut because you don't want to wait for polish to dry completely. Apply thread while polish is soft, (tweezers are helpful!) and gently push thread into polish just a little. Using a pointed cotton swab, dab on your green and red lights. As always, finish with topcoat.

 

Hope you feel inspired! Comment below and let us know if you plan on trying any of these nail art designs. do you have any holiday designs of your own?!

 

xoxo,

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*Credit: Beautypress.com

*Images in this post are not property of Fancy Francy

What's Trending Now: Velvet Touch

 

Velvet is a trend I've been into for a couple of years now. For the past few winter seasons velvet has been making a comeback and this winter is no exception. This year in particular, velvet clothing and accessories can be found in all the top fast fashion stores such as Topshop and even more traditional stores like Ann Taylor.

Velvet is a great trend to try because mixing and matching textures is an easy way to make an outfit more interesting.

In addition, velvet is great for Fall and Winter because it is a warmer fabric that has a classic feel.

Below are a few of my favorite velvet pieces that can be incorporated into any outfit to add a touch of velvet!

 

1.Black tee /2.Blazer /3. Gray fitted top / 4. Silver skater dress /5. Flared Skater Skirt /6. Black cocktail dress / 7. Black mini skirt / 8.  Red strap dress

 

xoxo,

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Cyber Monday Deals and Discount Codes Cheat Sheet

Looking to catch a great deal on holiday gifts or treats for yourself this Cyber Monday? Check out our list of top deals and discount codes to help you score big this Monday!

 

Francy Answers: What to wear to the Airport

With the holiday season in full swing, and many people heading to various destinations to celebrate, I often get questions about what to wear to the airport. Here are a few points to keep in mind when dressing to head out on your next voyage.

13 Holiday Dresses $50 and Under!

The holiday season is right around the corner. The holidays are all about food, family, gifts, giving, and of course… parties! Whether you’re headed to a family friendly get together, a night out with girls, or a work party there’s a dress below for you! And the best part? They are all $50 and under!



Jewel toned colors are a great choice for this time of year. Not only are they versatile, they also look amazing on everyone



 

Office parties can be tricky. You still want to look appropriate, while being able to dress more flexibly. A good rule of thumb– slip into a shift dress just above the knee. Tights are also a smart idea. Keep the dress fairly simple, and glam it up with a statement necklace, or sparkly bag.

 



 

Nothing screams holiday wear better than sparkles or metallics. You can go in many different directions with this look. Ultimately, you don’t want to go too overboard with the shine and end up looking like a christmas tree.

 

Stray away from a boring LRD (Little red dress), by keeping an eye out for interesting cutouts. If you’re skin tone is more warm than cool, orangey reds (see top middle) will look best on you. If you’re skin tone is more cool than warm, a blue-red (see left) will look amazing!

Xoxo,

Niyah

Today’s article was written by Niyah from InexpensiveChic.com. For more by Niyah be sure to check out her blog and follow her on twitter @InexpensiveChic

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The Makeup Show Holiday Pop up Shop - NYC Event

The Makeup Show opens its doors to the public at the return of their highly anticipated Holiday Pop-Up Shop on December 7^th and 8^th.   For these two-days consumers and pro makeup artists alike can pick up beauty products offered at steep discounts and get their holiday shopping done for the fashionistas on their list.  Attendees won’t want to forget to pamper themselves too!  Some of the brands will only be offering these discounts exclusively at The Makeup Show Holiday Pop-Up Shop.

How to Style a Leather Skirt

Probably my favourite way to wear my leather skirt, which is a lovely pencil skirt, sitting on my waist and then skimming over my hips to just above my knees, is to layer it up with textures. Here I’ve tucked in a blue fluffy jumper and pulled on my black fluffy cardigan for extra warmth and fluffiness. Paired with this lovely faux animal head warmer, I’m all set for winter!



If you’re looking for a more monochrome, rock chick look, then pair up your skirt with a leather jacket and a chunky necklace for good measure.  Either slip on some converse or chunky boots. These Topshop platform tie ups are perfect to add a bit of interest to the outfit and detract from all the leather.



Dressing up for the evening? The coloured strappy cami’s that are all over the place at the moment are perfect for tucking into a leather skirt for nights out. Choose a bright one to add a pop of colour like this blue one here. They add a feminine touch too which helps remove the stereotype of leather being boyish and for biker styles.

I’ve worn all of these outfits with thick black tights too for those chillier days when bare legs would get you more judging looks than you’d like. There are all different cuts of leather skirts available including the skater style, which is particularly flattering for pear of hourglass figures.

So have I convinced you to dive into the leather world? If so, shop a few of my favorite leather skirts below! Also, be sure to comment and let us know if you plan on trying this trend?!

 

xoxo,

Sophie

This article was written by Sophie of simplesophie.com. For more by Sophie be sure to check out her blog and follow her on twitter @simplesophie_ .

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