Accessories – HilaryStyle

February 23, 2016March 18, 2016

Fashion Favorites: Walking In My Shoes… Travel shoes that is.

What’s the most difficult thing to pack? For many people the answer is: Shoes! They’re bulky, heavy and take up a lot of valuable real estate in the suitcase. If you have multiple occasions to plan for on your journey fitting more than one pair of shoes into your suitcase can present a real challenge. So, this poses the question, what comfortable pair of shoes is stylish, goes with everything and easy to pack?

The Answer is: Campers!

One of my favorite brands with many styles to choose from, I’ve been wearing Camper brand shoes during my everyday life and on my travels for as long as I can remember! I even wore a pair on my honeymoon. However, for the purpose of this particular post I am referring to a specific style, the Right.

For me, the Camper Rights are literally the perfect travel shoe! Here are a few reasons why:

They come in multiple colors – I usually bring three pair: black for dressier occasions, red for a pop of color and grey, because it goes with everything! However, if you check the website you’ll find a multitude of color options.

They can be dressed up or down — they look great with shorts and jeans, but also with dresses and skirts!

They have a rubber sole and a wide toe box which provides comfort and makes walking long distances in them a piece of cake!

They are great on a hot day and for occasions when open toed shoes aren’t appropriate. For example, when visiting some churches or other religious landmarks they may require closed toed shoes.

They are easy to slip on and off making airport security a breeze and they could double as slippers in your hotel if need be!

They come in suede leather and leather and I’ve often worn the leather finish in the rain, though I’ll admit they aren’t the best for cold days – you might stick to spring, summer and autumn with this style.

And the best part, they pack flat, so multiple pair will fit in the suitcase!

I’ve literally worn these shoes all over the world, hours on end day after day for years and can’t say enough about them!

Soft rubber soles make walking long distances a piece of cake!

Campers Around The World

#generalife — Campers at the Alhambra! Granada, Spain

Campers in Seattle

Campers in Kyoto

Campers in Tokyo

Campers in the Bay Area

Campers in Paris

Campers in Scotland

Campers in Barcelona

Campers in London

December 29, 2015November 4, 2016

New Year’s Eve! Makeup!

The holiday season is coming to a close and with it 2015, but before we say a fond farewell to this crazy year, we have one more opportunity to celebrate! New Year’s Eve!

I love makeup and I love glitter and for me no holiday look would be complete without them both. Even better why not combine the two! No matter your plans, going to dinner with friends, a fancy party, or just staying in, this look should do the trick!

The Smokey Eye

Before getting started I give my face a once over with MAC makeup remover wipes. They are great for picking up any excess dirt or oil that may be on your skin. Next up is moisturizer and I can’t stress this enough, not only is it good for your skin, but it helps give your makeup a smooth more natural appearance. My favorites which I apply in the following order are: Chanel Le Lift eye cream, Dr. Brandt Infinite Moisture, and for daytime events, Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Moisture Defense Lotion which is an oil free sunscreen.

To give my skin a more even tone I apply Chanel CC Cream all over and then use a small amount of the Chanel Correcteur Perfection Concealer under my eyes and around the edges of my nose.

Next I apply the powder and blush. I really like MAC Studio Fix and use it everyday. When doing a heavy eye I go a little lighter with blush and for this look I used the Bobby Brown Shimmer Brick in Rose.

Now its time to focus on my eyes. My first step is to apply an eyeshadow paint as a base. My current party favorite is Chanel Fantasme which provides a nice shimmer! I bring the Fantasme all the way to my brow line. Next, my entire lower lid is “painted” with a dark blue Chanel shadow called Swing. To achieve an even darker look and also maintain better control of the shadow I wet the brush before applying. A little water goes a long way.

At this point my lower lid is dark blue and my upper lid is a shimmering white and I’ll need to blend them. To do this I used MAC Gesso Matte which is a white shadow with no shimmer and applied it to the middle area of my lid. I used MAC Pigment Powder in Vanilla to highlight the corner of my eye.

Applying dark shadow can be tricky and it makes perfect sense to do your eyes before completing the steps above. If you do experience a little powder fallout, a q-tip works great to sweep up any excess!

To finish my eyes I applied eyeliner to my upper lid using the Chanel eyeliner pen in Noir. If you’re not sure about using liquid liner this is the one for you! It’s just like drawing with a felt tip marker! For the lower lid and waterline I used a MAC eyeliner pencil in Black Swan which has a tiny bit of shimmer to it. I use a brush to smudge the shadow under my eyes.

Recently I discovered mascara primer and I love not only the length it gives to my lashes, but how easily the mascara goes on after using it. I am using Chanel, but MAC also has one available! The final touch to my eyes is Chanel Inimitable mascara in Noir.

Last but not least, lips! It’s the holiday season, so I felt red was in order, but again because I went with such a dark shadow I didn’t want it to be too over powering, so I toned it down with a gloss. I used MAC Luster in Cockney and a MAC lip gloss from the Cinderella line.

The Finished Look

Here is my finished look! I hope you like it and whatever your plans I wish you a happy and healthy New Year!

November 20, 2015November 19, 2015

Boots! Hilarystyle!

July 15, 2015July 15, 2015

Scarves! They Aren’t Just for your Neck!

Living in both Southern and Northern California for the better part of the past 14+ years my coat closet has become pretty sparse. Of course there are a few weeks a year when I wish I had a warmer winter coat, but more often than not a thin jacket or hoodie paired with one of my many scarves does the trick. The various weights and styles make them an accessory that can be worn all year round! I always have one in my bag!

Beyond keeping your neck warm and adding a little something extra to your outfit scarves also make great travel pillows or blankets, shawls, poolside cover ups, shirts, stroller blankets, elegant wraps, and even picnic blankets! In addition to everything else on this list I’ve also used mine as a hood in unexpected rain, a blanket in the movie theater and as a chair cushion. When traveling I bring at least two, one in my carry-on and another in my suitcase! Since suitcase space is extremely limited I tend to stick to solid colors when traveling so I know for sure everything matches and can be worn multiple times!!

There are many different styles available, infinity or circle, rectangles, neckerchiefs, and pashminas. My favorite is the Lululemon Vinyasa Scarf and I have it in multiple colors and weights. It’s basically a customizable infinity scarf. Its made with snaps so it’s not a permanent circle and can be worn in nearly endless ways. They have a lot of fun little details and are made with incredibly soft fabric that is often reversible and easily machine washed. It’s also a great gift!

Vinyasa Scarves

Notice the fun snap details and ribbons

Another style I like a lot is the infinity scarf. I have this in quite a few colors and a number of them in cozy winter weights!

Winter weight

Summer weight

Bamboo

mid-weight with a twist

I have pashminas, neckerchiefs and rectangle scarves in my collection too! As well as some more formal scarves that are fun to wear when getting dressed up!