3 Halloween Costumes Re-created for Smart Shoppers

Fashionistas-

Please tell me that you haven't splurged on a Halloween costume at Party City for just one night of fun. They are a rip-off! We (girls) all know we don't like to wear the same costume two years in a row, so don't try to rationalize by saying you can reuse it.

Did you know that you can shop your favorite stores, and with a creative mind, you can style your own Halloween costume?

I rather buy separate pieces than buy a costume, which is usually a one-piece jumpsuit that I couldn't ever wear again except on Halloween itself.

If you spend a bit more on separate pieces for the costume, you can re-style them after Halloween. That means getting more use for them, and getting your money's worth, too.

1.  Cat Costume from Party City

Resembling Cat Woman, I re-created this look using all pieces from Forever21.

Leatherette Crop Top $17.80
Liquid Leatherette Leggings $10.80
Pointy-toed Flats $22.80
Stone-embellished Cat Ears Headband $4.80
= $56.20 compared $249.99 at Party City

So, $56 isn't that cheap. But getting quality pieces that you know you can wear again is what's ideal.

Faux leather pieces always come back into style, and can be worn on a night out with the girls, or can be re-used for another Halloween costume for a Rocker-chic Girl! "Rock 'N Roll!"

I'd style this costume with a red lip for the "sexy" effect and accessorize with a choker necklace, resembling a collar that a cat would wear.


2. Cowgirl Costume from Party City

Obviously, the Cowgirl costume isn't complete without a pair of cowboy boots. Party City doesn't include those in their costume which ends up costing you extra money.

Using Forever21 clothing and Rampage shoes, I created this look:

Bandana Print Shorts $19.80
Western Fringe Shirt $19.80
Rampage Brand Cowgirl Boots $39.99
= $79.59 compared to $39.99 at Party City (which doesn't include boots)

The average price for a pair of faux-leather cowboy boots is around $40, according to my web searches, and that's just the price of the costume. If you know you'll wear the boots again, it's worth it to spend a little more on them.

Style the boots with dark destroyed jeans tucked in, and pair with a flannel shirt during the fall months. This simple but stylish look gives off the Fall vibe.

For this costume, add a red bandana in your hair with two braids, instead of spending more on a cowboy hat you'll probably never wear again.

3. Wicked Witch from Party City

If this isn't the most popular costume for young girls, besides princesses, than I don't know what is! For women, Party City was selling just the dress for $12.99. The hat, shoes and broomstick are separate.

With a bit of a bold hemline, you can't really re-wear this dress for an event nor for a dinner date.

Instead, I thought back to Sabrina the Teenage Witch and realized she used to wear a black velvet dress in some episodes. I much rather get a dress that's more practical and can be used again. Plus, velvet is a winter staple that's soft and completely comfortable.

Dress and boots are from Forever21, while the hat is from Amazon.

Black Velvet Dress $15.80
Buckled Booties $42.80
Witch's Hat $2.88
= $61.48 compared to $12.99 (just for the dress)

For the price of the boots alone, I believe this outfit it worth it. The hat is so cheap that if you don't wear it again, it's no big deal. The velvet dress can be worn to an event or even a holiday party.

I would style this costume with purple lipstick for a little spooky effect, straightened hair to resemble the stereotypical witch's, and paint your nails black.

Fashionista Fun Facts:

• Did you know that one of this year's most popular Halloween costumes for males is dressing as any of the guys from the hunting show called Duck Dynasty. Camo and Duck Calls make this costume unique. 
• On the same website, it mentions that this year's most popular Halloween costume for females is dressing as Katniss from the Hunger Games books and movie series. 
• According to the Detroit Free Press, the top costume for adults, kids and pets are (in order) a witch, princess and a hot dog. 

What did you think of this post? Was it helpful as Halloween approaches later in the week?

HAPPY (EARLY) HALLOWEEN!

4 Easy Steps for Halloween Nail Art: Candy Corn

Mmmmm. Who doesn't like to snack on these overly-sweet little nuggets? They're probably the most iconic Halloween Treat. 

Because you can only eat so many before your teeth ache, I decided to take Candy Corn to the next level... on my finger nails! Read on to learn how to make your finger nails look deliciously delectable.

What You'll Need:

1. Base Coat

2. White Nail Polish

3. Yellow Nail Polish

4. Orange Nail Polish

5. Top Coat

6. Nail Polish Remover to clean sides of nails once complete

What I Used: 

1. China Glaze "Lemon Fizz"

2. Color Club "Lava Lamp"

3. Sinful Colors "Snow Me White"

4. Seche Clear Base Coat

5. Seche Vite Top Coat 

All nail polishes are available through Amazon and can be found through various beauty supply stores like Sally's Beauty Supply or even CVS Pharmacy.

STEP 1: Apply a base coat to the buffed and filed nail, and once dry, apply one coat of white nail polish.

STEP 2: Near the bottom of the cuticle, apply the yellow polish in a stripe shape. Don't be afraid to get messy- you can always clean up after with nail polish remover!

Fashionista Tip: Instead of moving the tip of the polish brush to get this shape on the nail, turn your finger as you paint on your nail- creating a steady-made stripe.

STEP 3: Above the yellow stripe, once dry, paint an orange stripe with the same turn of the finger motion. It's okay to overlap the yellow here, creating a more opaque stripe.

STEP 4: Once all is dry, apply a top coat, and clean up the sides with the nail polish remover.

Fashionista Tip: If you feel like the stripes you painted are too thin, you can always go over them again. Just remember to re-do all of the stripes then to even them out.

Want a different idea for your Halloween-themed nails? Check out these other sources for spooky designs!

• Mashable has a great compilation of Halloween nail designs, ranging from cobwebs, ghosts and jack-o-lanters. Looking at these pictures will allow you to copy the designs pretty easily. 
• Elle magazine offers a step-by-step tutorial for "Toxic Nails" and "Salem, the Cat Nails." These are very helpful for someone who doesn't have well-developed nail art skills.  

I came across this video for a "Blood Splatter" manicure, in which I've actually done this technique before for a fourth of July manicure, to resemble fireworks. I used both but red and blue polish for that one.


Fashionista Tip: I love how she mentions to use Scotch brand Blue Painter's Tape. By taping the skin of your finger surrounding your nail, it makes clean up much easier- just peel off and the manicure is done!

What Halloween nail design are you attempting, or currently wearing, this week? Share with me in the comments!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN NAIL PAINTING!

O.P.I. Nail Polish Swatch: 'Every Month is Oktoberfest'

As I sit here typing this post, I reminisce of the wind whipping through my hair on a Fall day as the amber and yellow leaves fall swiftly from the trees.

Oh who am I kidding, I live in South Florida- where the temperature this time of year doesn't hit below 80 degrees.

As my attempt to entice Fall to come faster, I have a mystical color to share- O.P.I. 'Every Month is Oktoberfest.'

Photo taken using artificial light (left), and then with natural light (right).

This polish is one of 12 from the Germany Collection. Among the collection are colors ranging from a taupe called 'Berlin There Done That' and a burgandy shimmer called 'German-icure.' I really love nail polish names, as I am such a big pun person!

This shade combines a blackberry base with red underlying sparkle and a slight brown tinge. There is a blue ink that shows through in its first coat, but there's nothing a second coat can't fix. I consider this polish to be a two-coater as far as opacity. In the application process, I faced no problems with splotchiness or consistency. A very smooth lacquer!

The Daily Varnish nail polish blog had the same view I did- regretting not grabbing this nail polish sooner. When the collection was originally launched, in Fall 2012, this polish didn't jump out at me because it is so dark. But like as pictured, in the light, it takes on a whole new appearance. Any polish that has an underlying mystery to it, like this one has, I instantly fall in love.

To see a complete swatch list of each of the 12 nail polishes in this collection check out one of my favorite nail polish blogs- The PolishAholic. Her pictures are always so clear and showcase various angles and environments, like sun versus shade.

This video by Allura Beauty captures the essence and background information behind each shade, and how each applies as she takes a viewer step-by-step in applying and admiring the 12 shades.




I am so glad I purchased this nail polish, as I have been wanting a deep Fall color that sparkled, but wasn't too loud. The only way I can describe this nail polish is comparing it to a chocolate dipped sparkly strawberry. It's that beautiful.

Do you think you'll purchase this for your Fall collection? Pairing it with a black sweater, jeans and riding boots sounds like a chic but edgy matching outfit!

HAPPY FALL NAIL POLISH SHOPPING!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Be Careful About Pink Purchases

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Before I show you some of my favorite pink items...

WARNING: Many large companies, ranging from cosmetics to apparel and home ware, place the breast cancer ribbon on their products during this Pink Month. But, stories throughout various media outlets say companies are not donating their proceeds, but instead scam users into thinking that the sale or at least a portion of it goes towards fighting breast cancer. When in fact, no money, or a set cap was placed on the donation to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure or the National Breast Cancer Foundation. This act of Pink Washing occurs because the logo isn't trademarked or regulated by a particular agency.

Visit Think Before You Pink for a complete list of questions you should ask yourself before buying pink products.

Now, on to my List of Must Have Pink Purchases...

ULTA, the ultimate cosmetics headquarters, is making sure that breast cancer awareness is apparent. Among other options, the "Donate with a Kiss" campaign is asking for donations to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation in exchange for coupons to use instantly in store. I have my favorite in-store finds below.

1. O.P.I Pink of Hearts 2013 Nail Polish Duo; $15.95 at ULTA

This set includes two shades, "More Than a Glimmer" and "Pink-ing of You."
The first is a milky pink base with a multi-color glitter mixed in, and the second shade is a light cotton candy pink creme. Pink ribbon and crystal nail decals are also included. Each year the shades are re-invented and part of the proceeds go towards the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

The Beauty & Lifestlye Hunter explains how the proceeds work with this pink product.


2. Daisy Marc Jacobs Limited Edition Hot Pink; $ 79.99 at ULTA

This sweet but fragrant scent is not overwhelming, which I absolutely hate about perfume. I can't stand walking past someone and smelling their stench. Just spritz once and you're done. Best part about this limited edition bottle is that a portion of its sales goes towards the National Breast Cancer Foundation


3. Conair Infini Curling Iron; $29.99 at ULTA

I love pink anything so it's nice that Conair made their hair tool pink. I may have to go back to grab this limited edition curling iron because I have wanted one without the pin. Wands seem so much easier to work with. No matter what product is sold from Conair, the company is giving about $100,000 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

4. Tweezerman Limited Edition Pink Tweezer; $25 at ULTA

This tool is a must. Every girl should have this brand in their makeup drawer. Each sale of this precision piece will donate $1.00 to the research of Breast Cancer. And look, there's even a jewel in the center of the tweezer!

For even more options to support a cure for breast cancer, Refinery29 has a list of 42 other pink items to purchase.

HAPPY PINK SHOPPING!

5 Tips to be a Bargain Shopper

Have you ever seen that one piece of inviting clothing, folded neatly on the table, asking to be admired? You look up above your head and see a mannequin donning it. It's one of those "A-HA" moments! I sometimes see a burst of light around it like it's a sign from heaven- "Brittany, you need to purchase me!" 

Well, that leads me to the first tip in being a bargain shopper:

1. Full-Priced Merchandise is Dangerous

Usually, that piece you admire is at the front of the store, and is brand new. There's something about having something that most people might not have seen yet. But, trust me, it's worth it to wait to purchase.

• Retailers will mark items down when they are not selling as well as expected, or if they have an oversupply. Retail stores do a lot of floor sets, or re-organization of the visuals and merchandise on the sales floor, so things move around. In the process, items will be added to sale. So if you're lucky and wait it out, you could save some extra cash.

Fashionista Tip: If the store is sold out of the item when it hits the sale section, don't worry. Check their website. Nine times out of 10, the item will be available. But remember, don't pay for shipping. See if you can order in-store and if they can waive the shipping!

2. Price Adjustments

You're a weak link because you caved and listened to the heaven-sent message to buy the piece of clothing at full price. Now it's on sale.

The simple solution- go into the store and get a price adjustment.

Although most stores offer a 10-day period for price adjustments, try to talk to a manager.

I recently purchased a blouse when it was freshly marked down, and three days later, there was a special taking an extra 30 percent off. The manager kindly apologized for any inconveniences and gave me the deeper discount.

Just like Glamour's website mentioned in a section about tips on shopping- don't be afraid to be bold!

3. Saving Money While in the Fitting Room

Good news- If you've made it to the fitting room, you think you've found great pieces! Now, it's just time to make sure they fit well.

Lilliana Vazquez, a personal stylist and fashion author, recently did a segment on the "Rachael Ray" show about conquering department stores and keeping a positive attitude in the dressing rooms.

• Vazquez mentions that socks should be removed when trying on clothing- it's a distraction. 
• Taking your hair out of a ponytail can lessen the distortion of an outfit too. 
• Also, check the mobility of the given outfit. See if you can bend down, sit and stretch a bit while in the outfit.

Doing these simple steps can save you money because getting the full view of how an outfit will actually look, with hair styled down, socks removed and "living" in the outfit will assure that the outfit will not be returned.

4. Discover Deals in Discount Stores

I think that stores like Marshall's and T.J. Maxx can sometimes have a bad reputation. I'll even admit, I used to think that their quality was poor and their prices on clothing were too cheap to withstand washings. But, I have been proved wrong many times.

The Washington Post's website has an article called "10 Things You Didn't Know About T.J. Maxx."

• A shopper may realize that the store and Macy's may have the same merchandise at the same time, but with a huge price difference. That is possible because they look for merchandise they can sell at 60 percent less than what a department store can sell for.

• T.J. Maxx gets shipment three or four times a week with 10,000 new items each time. With this many options, you are bound to walk out a Maxxinista! From gold jewelry, to home furnishings and shoes, everyone can find a deal.

5. Shop Around for Savings

As the above section explained, discount stores and bigger department stores can actually have the same product at the same time. A big tip I have found useful is shopping around. Taking the extra time to comparison shop with prices really can save you big.

I find Amazon.com to be very reliable and they have a wide range of products available. From nail polish, to gardening tools, books and CDs, Amazon has relatively cheaper prices than a department store. 

In a previous post, I explained that I had my eyes on a Rebecca Minkoff handbag that runs about $200 in a department store like Bloomingdale's. I went online to Amazon out of curiosity and found the exact bag I wanted for $150, then I snagged an extra 20 percent off coupon code for signing up for Amazon emails.

Fashionista Tip: Make sure when you're online shopping, that you check around the website for hidden deals. Things like free shipping codes and footnotes about signing up for emails and getting 10 percent off your next order can save you even more money.

I hope that these tips will help you on your next shopping endeavor.

Your wallet will thank you!

HAPPY SHOPPING, BARGAIN-ISTAS!

Stylish Savings on T.J. Maxx Jewelry: Turquoise and Druzy

If you haven't visited T.J. Maxx, or even Marshall's, after my many praising posts, then you should. I have just one more reason why all fashionistas should visit these stores, and keep them as a secret in their fashion arsenals.

I am definitely an accessories girl- handbags, scarves, shoes and of course jewelry.

For a while, my local store didn't have a great selection of jewelry, but this week made me believe in T.J. Maxx's jewelry selection once again.

Intricately-sketched Sterling Silver surrounds a beautiful round Turquoise stone. This ring is everything I've wanted- lightweight, flawless stone color and variation, and an ornate band to wrap around the finger.

But the price... Can that be beaten? In my many years searching for a Turquoise ring, I hadn't seen one under $60, or one that was as appealing as the one I purchased.

The Home Shopping Network, better known as HSN, has a great selection of Turquoise rings with Sterling Silver. Maybe on my next T.J. Maxx trip I'll spot another ring like this. The slice of stone and sterling just is a stunning pairing. Yes please!

Not only did I find a deal on that ring, but I also got a pair of statement stud earrings.

The gold is a stone called Druzy. It's one of my favorite semi-precious stones, just because of the finish. It looks like rough ground-up glitter that's shaved from a rock. It's so unique and two pieces are never finished the same.

I got these for $29.99 and I think that is a complete steal. A comparison pair of studs can be found on HSN.com, for about $20 more. They're also gold, but I think the shape I picked out is a bit more refined.

According to What Is Druzy's website, Druzy, or sometimes spelt Drusy, is a quartz that grows over time as the last layer over top of a stone. It is a relatively inexpensive stone and is easily manipulated. But when placed with Sterling Silver, or even Gold, proves to be glittery and very elegant. 

Fashionista Tip: Don't go into T.J. Maxx thinking you'll have a successful shopping trip each time. It's the best feeling when you are surprised with great finds (and great bargains)!

HAPPY BARGAIN JEWELRY SHOPPING!

National Handbag Day: My Newest Haul

Attention Handbag Lovers:

It's National Handbag Day!

I checked my Instagram this morning and as I was skimming my home page, I noticed the hashtag: #nationalhandbagday. So of course, I freaked out a bit because I did not know about this day at all.

What a nice day to set aside for Fashionistas like me who own one too many handbags. Want to know a secret.. I am running out of room in my closet!

I could have easily bought a new bag today to celebrate this holiday, but as you will see below, I don't think I need any more at the moment. I'll just enjoy the ones I have for now!

I took a picture of my most recent handbag purchases!

From right to left: 

• A-List Haircalf Tote $598 at Henri Bendel
• Mini 5-Zip Rebecca Minkoff Crossbody Bag $125 at Amazon (originally $195)
• Disturbed Stripe Tote $248 at Henri Bendel 
• Moonstruck Rebecca Minkoff Hobo; $350 at T.J. Maxx (originally $598)

Truth is that I didn't pay full price for either of the Henri Bendel Bags, as I am an employee.

The two Rebecca Minkoff bags I got on sale- the smaller zipper crossbody bag was an past-season special, so it was on sale at Amazon. The studded hobo was a steal at T.J. Maxx- saving me about $250!

If you're feeling in the mood to gush over some beautiful handbags now, check out PurseBlog and read about some of the author's favorite bags!

What is the newest handbag you added to your collection? Comment below!

In order to celebrate National Handbag Day...

  HAPPY HANDBAG SHOPPING!

Textured Nail Polish: Sephora by O.P.I Swatch

For the past week, I've had naked nails. I was only rocking a base coat for added protection and strength. Honestly, it killed me. I needed my weekly pop of color on my fingertips.

Maybe I'm a bit crazy. After all, I own close to 250 nail polishes!

Now that the once hectic week is over, it's finally time for a fresh coat. 

"Liquid Sand,"or textured and gritty nail polish, is a trend that recently came onto the scene. Companies like O.P.I and China Glaze led the way for other nail polish brands to create this new and up-coming texture.

Sephora by O.P.I recently discontinued their in-store nail polish line and slowly faded them out of store. I've spotted some random colors from  discount stores like T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, but they never interested me. It wasn't until I spotted this holographic beauty, that I finally gave in and bought one.

If You've Got It, Haunt It is my new obsession. While we head into the middle of October, fall colors are flooding beauty stores' shelves.

I found this gem at T.J. Maxx for $3.99!

This textured polish has a dark hematite base color and is completely opaque in finish after two coats.

Slight turquoise and silver sparkle shines through the dark grey shade. As the light catches the nail, these glitters glisten marvelously.


For more swatches and a full review on this polish, check out Lacquer Me Silly's Blog. She mentions that she found hers at Marshall's!

My local T.J. Maxx didn't have a wide selection of nail polishes, but this was the only one that jumped out at me. For further reference, checking these discount stores on a weekly basis will increase your chances of winning big.

Check out your local T.J. Maxx to see what they have in stock!

What: Sephora by O.P.I "If You've Got It, Haunt It"
Where: T.J. Maxx
Cost: $3.99

HAPPY NAIL POLISH SHOPPING!