Pumps and Lipstick

A Cranberry Moment

2014-12-07T23:07:00.001-08:00

The Best Hair Ties Ever: Snappee

2014-10-08T19:57:00.000-07:00

Most of the time, people cannot believe that I can wrangle this curly mane into a pony or bun. Please believe that this can be achieved! Along with strategic finger placement and grasp, a trusty hair tie is key. For many, many moons I have purchased thousands (no, seriously) of hair ties that have butchered my strands on a daily basis with tough tugs, pulls and friction created from tying up or taking down ponies and buns. Thankfully, my friend, Keziah Okonkwo, created Snappees and has come to save the day!

Snappees are the next generation of hair ties that save your hair from damage and keep your ponies high and tight. Instead of ripping your hair tie out of a bun, just simply unsnap the Snappee and you're set!

Still confused? Check out below:

Here's me and my big hair about to work out.

Here's my trusty Snappee!

Tame the mane...

tie it up...

and voila! A bun!

Unsnap Snappee to take down.

To get more info on this amazing product and learn how you can create more looks with Snappees, click here! Quit stalling and get yourself a pack...or 30!

Wine Time in Chevron

2014-07-20T06:54:00.000-07:00

Two things I never thought I'd love: coffee and wine. I don't know about you, but I think the perfect pairing for Sundays is wine— my parents think so too!

We went to our favorite wineries in Clarksburg, which are conveniently located 15 minutes away from my parents' houses. Our first stop was the good Old Sugar Mill Winery that's a one-stop hub of a wonderful group of wineries. It was so sunny and warm out, I had to sport a dress, so I opted for a bright coral, chevron printed fit and flare dress. Strapped a tan leather belt around my waist and added studded sandals to finish off the look.

Draconis.

Mr. Too Cool.

I get it from my mama.

Starting Summer with a Lace Romper

2014-07-01T00:30:00.002-07:00

It's my favorite time of year...summer! Bring on the long hours of sunshine, the heat, and outdoor BBQs. Oh! And my birthday :) More importantly, bring on the easy, breezy, lightweight summer styles.

With the weather warming up in the Bay Area (and everywhere else), I got inspired to buy a new romper from one of my favorite boutiques in Sacramento, Heart Boutique. I'm loving the lace detail and the off-the-shoulder style. This is definitely a unique piece and it's so different from what's currently in my closet.

I chose a more relaxed look with a curly bun mixed with dramatic chandelier earrings in gold and black. Then I added some height with black espadrille wedges. Left the neckline bare to show off the off-the-shoulder style.

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Adventures at the Getty Musem

2014-05-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

Ever ventured up to the Getty Museum in LA? Finally, I made my way up there with my bestie, Lorraine. You'd think a Californian like myself, who's visited SoCal year after year would have been to the beautiful establishment perched on the mountain, overlooking the LA skyline and Pacific Ocean. Nope. Not until last weekend.

When they say it never rains in Southern California, it's mostly true. On this day, we couldn't ask for more perfect sunny weather. Heck, even a nice breeze kicked in too, which was perfect while we were touring in the garden.

Being in SoCal, I had to keep it relaxed and casual with a striped maxi skirt and high slit. Threw on a black tank and called it a day. Watch. Beaded bracelet. Loose curls. Ray Bans. "That's it. I'm done!". Comfort was the name of the game.

Nope. No fan. Just wind.

Look of the Day: Black and White Stripes in Santa Barbara

2014-04-29T08:54:00.000-07:00

(Reader Advisory: following blog post contains an extreme amount of bragging on the glorious state of California.)

Living in California has many, many perks: endless coastlines, lush mountains, laid back and friendly residents, wine country, acres and acres of agriculture, and even beautiful, serene deserts. As an outdoorsy girl, this is the state for me! Luckily, this is the second year in the row where I took a road trip down the coast to bask in California's backyard treasures. This time, my mom and stepdad took me along for the ride-- working remotely as a stylist has its benefits! Santa Barbara was our first stop of the trip, which has to be one of the prettiest cities in Cali.

Since we were trekking down to SoCal, I had to fill my bag with easy, relaxed pieces. No fuss, just effortless and casual. Even my hair was fuss-free in a side braid!

Keep scrolling to see what I mean...

Gap white ankle length denim, black and cream striped sweater, Mossimo studded neutral sandals, and Express gold chain and beaded necklace.

Natural makeup with Bare Minerals foundation, M.A.C. blush and eyebrow pencil, Clinique mascara, and Makeup Forever lipstick.

This sweater makes me want to sing, "Miss Mary Mack, Mack Mack..."

Who knew a courthouse could be so beautiful?

My mom (right) and her friend, Marta (left).

View from the bell tower.

Yum!

A Day at the de Young Museum

2014-03-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

I am a lucky girl to have visitors come to the Bay Area to visit me. A couple of weekends ago, all three of my parents (yes, three parents) came to spend the day in the bay. My mom, dad, and stepdad drove down together (yes, they are all friends and get along just great) and we whizzed over the Bay Bridge, into SF, and through the narrow streets to the de Young museum. I've lived in SF and Oakland for almost a decade, stomped around most neighborhoods, toured most exhibits and museums, but still haven't made the stop at the famous de Young. Crazy, right?

Anyway, we had an amazing family day at the museum and ended up heading over to the Mission area, compared/contrasted Mission vs. Valencia, took note of the rise of gentrification, and shopped a little too ;)

I chose to sport a super casual look with a striped sweater dress, leopard print scarf, vintage utility jacket, textured tights, tall boots and a custom-made leather bag.

Keep scrolling...

Sweater dress: Old Navy, scarf: H&M, tights: Nordstrom, boots: Enzo Angiolini, jacket: vintage, purse: custom, hand-made in Ethiopia.

Look of the Day: Metallic Meets Camo Meets Glitter

2014-03-02T10:12:00.003-08:00

Who knew combining metallic, camo, and glitter could be so comfortable and not look like a disco ball?! When I first threw on this outfit, I didn't think it would work, but then I was pleasantly surprised. What made it all flow together is the balance of shine on top and bottom. The camo is subtle as well with deep purple shades and black.

See what I mean below:

camo khaki pants: Gap, glitter sneaks: Toms, metallic sweatshirt: Gap, chunky knit scarf: H&M, leather messenger bag: custom made in Ethiopia.

Seeing Red: Valentine's Day Inspired Mashup

2014-02-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

Seeing Red: Valentine's Day Inspired by pumps-and-lipstick showing how to wear perforated boots

Tabitha Simmons perforated boots
boutique1.com

I love Love. Yeah, I said it! And I'm not talking only about mushy-mushy, romantic, The Notebook type of love. I mean all of it. The love between you and your parents, your gal-pals, your furry friends, and your lover. I'm talking about the love you have for your passions in life. Whatever makes you happy: food, fun, anything and everything that makes us smile and enjoy life to the max.

I roll my eyes when Valentine's Day is propped up as 'Singles Awareness Day' because it points out the lack of love in your life, when it's only a portion. It's discounting the fact that love exists in so many other areas and makes people feel bad about what's missing. I say F that. Take this day (and everyday, really) to be grateful and show the people you love how much you love them. Whether it's a batch of group texts to your nearest to dearest to sending your mama her favorite flowers-- we've all got love in our lives. Just show it and embrace it.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Overcoat Overload

2014-02-03T22:21:00.001-08:00

Winter is certainly chilling my bones some days. As a Bay Area commuter, part of my journey to work every day consists of walking a couple miles in bustling downtown SF and along tranquil Lake Merritt in Oakland. The early morning breeze and evening chill makes me shiver with goosebumps.

To keep me warm and brave the icy wind, my coats have gotten longer and longer. Peep a couple of my favorite overcoats below:

Overcoat Overload by pumps-and-lipstick featured in lauren conrad style

Haider Ackermann white wool coat
farfetch.com

Purple wool coat
$155 - modekungen.se

Pink coat
euro.dorothyperkins.com

Betsey Johnson lip earrings
amazon.com

Green gemstone ring
$8.71 - target.com.au

Look of the Day: Tribal Inspired

2014-01-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

What a beautiful winter, isn't it? Well, not everyone lives in (the best state ever) California. Here in the Golden State, we're experiencing a rather warm winter. The sun shines so bright and I can feel the envy from my friends shivering on the East Coast. #sorrynotsorry

I will say though, the weather has been creating difficult winter wardrobe choices. Numerous questions like, "Is it going to be warm or chilly today? Should I wear a longer jacket? Will I be too hot in boots?" and the like, run through my mind during my daily morning 'get ready' routine. On this day, it started out gloomy with overcast and then leaded to lots of sun with a cool breeze. I screamed, "Make up your mind, weather!"

So finally, I put together a Native American inspired tribal dress that's thick like a sweater plus tall black boots with exposed zippers paired with patterned black tights. This way I could stay mostly warm with thick pieces and exposed arms and neck to keep me cool and balanced. With this casual look, I played down the number of jewelry pieces and narrowed down to my favorite, Bobbi J earrings. Hair and makeup are simple and sweet with half up and super straight a neutral brown eyeshadow by MAC named Corduroy.

Get your scroll on...

Monday Motivation: Attack Your 2014 Goals With a Plan

2014-01-06T07:17:00.001-08:00

Happy 2014! I hope everyone's holiday season was amazing and filled with lots of love, joy, and laughter. Didn't it seem to pass by really fast? Like, there was so much commotion before the holidays with all the crazy sales, white elephant and ugly sweater parties, and Christmas dinners? And then boom, it's the December 26th and everything is done? Yeah, that's how I felt.

Anyway, now with the new year in full speed, it's new years resolution time, right? Really, we can make resolutions any time we please, but the new year makes it much more exciting and motivating. So, I've started drafting my 'official' list of goals I will accomplish (notice my word choice there), and I noticed one major thing: I needed a plan. This is why most new years resolutions, or goals for that matter, don't get accomplished-- because there's no plan of attack! How are we going to set a goal, but not have a way to get there? We must make a plan.

For instance, one of my goals is to read one book per month. My main excuse is that I 'didn't have enough time', which is complete BS because I definitely had enough time to watch Scandal, Real Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, Boardwalk Empire, Homeland, etc. Ultimately, I found productive free time while I'm commuting to SF every day-- duh! I found while I'm on BART or casual carpool, I have 15 minutes each way to dedicate to reading. That's at least 30 minutes of reading each day for 5 days a week. Surely I can finish one book per month.

So when you look at your list of things you will do this year, ask yourself how you're going to get there because that is your ticket for accomplishing your goals. For a plan of attack for goal setting and accomplishing, I really enjoyed Refinery29's post by Gretchen Rubin. Click here to kick 2014's ass.

Look of the Day: Miss Mix-a-lot

2013-12-02T10:31:00.000-08:00

Before today, I couldn't tell you the last time I wore a leotard. The only time that comes to mind is during my short-lived ballet days when I was 5 years old. This time around, I ditched the pink tutu.

I'm a big fan of mixing textiles and in this look, I did exactly that. Leather, canvas, cotton, wool, denim— the works! I kept it casual with a hint of edge pairing RACHEL Rachel Roy denim, Nasty Gal jacket, Forever 21 lion leotard, H&M infinity scarf, and Franco Sarto motorcycle boots.

Monday Motivation: Get Excited!

2013-11-18T12:57:00.000-08:00

I used to dread Mondays. I would even get sad on Sundays because Monday was right around the corner. What a terrible way to start the week, right? Right. So how did I turn this around? I started to get excited about what was approaching in my near future: girls night out, my favorite gym class, date night, Scandal, etc. The more I focused on what got me excited and happy, the less I thought about the long commute to work and the job in general. It even taught me how to get excited about the things I really liked about my job so I wouldn't even focus or dread about the tiny things that really urked me at work. Heck, the more excited I got about my favorite things and upcoming events, the week flew by even faster. By the time I actually looked up at the calendar, it was already Friday!

Adjust your focus. Stay excited!

Happy Monday!

Mixing Prints: Leopard + Pinstripes

2013-11-12T17:26:00.000-08:00

I'm trying to branch out and step out of my comfort zone. Of course, this takes baby steps. Mixing prints is my newest endeavor. It's easy for me to mix textures and all, but prints is a newer arena for me. To start, I figured it'd be easiest to start with less extreme prints and then graduate into larger, bolder, louder colors and styles.

For this look, I was going for a casual-Saturday feel that didn't require much work: chambray pinstripe collared shirt and tan/brown leopard print infinity scarf. The thin pinstripes add a little more dimension without causing too much distraction. Tall leather boots and distressed denim added more lax into this relaxed look. A fuss-free high bun keeps the crazy curls tamed and dainty gold jewelry adds light gleam and shimmer.

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Look of the Day: Leopard and Lime

2013-11-09T11:05:00.000-08:00

Once again, I took a nice little stroll to my neighborhood botanical garden near Lake Merritt. All year long, beautiful blooms and bushes sprout about and fill the air with refreshing fragrances. With winding trails and secret mini gardens, it's pretty easy to get lost...in a good way!

Obviously, I wasn't ready to get down and dirty to start digging and planting in this getup: black Else denim, Gap lime green infinity scarf, Old Navy tank, Style&co booties, and t/o black and silver leopard cardigan.

Flop Top Galore

2013-11-02T10:23:00.002-07:00

Who said you can't wear a floppy hat in fall? Reminiscent of their summer, straw cousin, these wool floppy babies add the perfect mix of drama and sophistication. I still cain't wait for it to be cold enough to pair with a long coat, tall boots with a chunky heel and dainty hoop earrings. Bad hair day or not,

Check out some looks below...

Flop Top Galore by pumps-and-lipstick

Wet Seal hat
wetseal.com

Gucci woolen hat
net-a-porter.com

Floppy hat
amazon.com

Brixton floppy hat
swell.com

Element Eden floppy hat
lulus.com

Images via polyvore.com, isfashiondish.com, chicismo.com

Mid-week Motivation: Stop Comparing Yourself

2013-10-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

Yes, I hate it when I do it that to myself. It's so annoying, utterly counter productive and just really makes me feel poorly about myself. As I change gears and position my focus elsewhere from my sad and pitiful feelings, I came across an awesome blog post on one of my favorite sites, Pick The Brain. I'm really digging this particular point it makes:

"1) Your own situation at hand

Are you constantly wondering, “Dang, I wish I was at the bar now” or “I sure wish I was watching the game now”?

Wish all you like, but what you’re actually doing is comparing your situation at hand with an unreachable state.

Continue with this comparison, and you’re just going to increase your boredom or even make you dread what you’re doing.

It simply cannot be helped if you stuck at work or well, just doing something else!

Think about it: If you’re washing the dishes, you’d definitely, without a doubt want to be somewhere else (unless you really love washing dishes).

Is there a point thinking about it? Not really.

Be present at your moment instead. Quiet your mind. Eliminate distractions. Get the work done and be on your way!"

For the full read, click here. Enjoy!

Sweaters Only

2013-10-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

Do you feel it? That crispness in the air? Chilly breezes raising goosebumps across your skin? Oh yeah. That's fall alright. And you know what that means...sweaters, baby! You don't know how much I've been waiting for this day to arrive. Here in the Bay Area, fall weather starts a tad bit later than the norm, but with recent dips on my thermostat, I think summer is finally over!

Looks like I'll be prancing at the pumpkin patch in a big ol' sweater, tall boots and chunky scarf after all. I'm super into bold graphics and prints, off-the-shoulder, and cutie-patootie animal sweaters. Take a peek at some sweaters I'm diggin' right now...

Sweaters Only by pumps-and-lipstick featuring Alexander Wang

French Connection sweater
usa.frenchconnection.com

Alexander Wang sweater
$285 - theoutnet.com

Off the shoulder dolman top
alloyapparel.com

Blade Rubber Stamps Newspaper Scraps
$22 - bladerubberstamps.co.uk

Monday Motivation: You Get What You Give

2013-10-21T10:12:00.001-07:00

I always hear, "Karma's a bitch." Is that really true? I don't think so. You get what you give so maybe the other person was a not-so-nice person first and received exactly what they gave out to the universe? Who knows for sure. All I know is that life treats me pretty well when I treat it the same.

Happy Monday!

Cranberry Love

2013-10-18T16:08:00.000-07:00

As the leaves start to change shades and fall to the ground, that warm and fuzzy feeling of seasons changing from summer to fall arises and memories of cozying up next to the fire with a hot chocolate flood my mind.

What I also love about seasons changing are the sultry and warm fashion and beauty colors. One of my favorites this season is a deep cranberry hue, which has been majorly trending in stores and magazines this fall. Dark lips are the 'it' statement for beauty followed by cranberry accessories, dresses, and sweaters for fashion.

Check out some of my fave choices below:

Cranberry Love by pumps-and-lipstick featuring Butter London

Butter London nail polish
beautybar.com

Vegan purse
$48 - shopmozzypop.com

Elizabeth Arden cream lipstick
beauty.com

Matte finish lipstick
etsy.com

Friday Feature: PUSHunderground - Sportswear With A Purpose

2013-10-11T08:16:00.003-07:00

As a current graduate student at FIDM, I get introduced to new brands, designers, and technologies on a daily basis and I love it! I'm simply amazed on how new fabrics are created from the oddest materials such as seaweed, coconut shells, bamboo, and much, much more. One of the newest brands I was introduced to by a good friend and classmate of mine is PUSHunderground based out of Santa Cruz, CA.

PUSHunderground is a sportswear brand that produces athletic apparel out of water bottles! Yes, you read that correctly, water bottles! So, you know, I wanted to learn more about the budding company that is currently fundraising for their launch via Indiegogo.

Take a peek at their awesome athletic apparel below and get a good read about the company that's making a positive statement for the American workforce and the environment with an exclusive interview with the owners of PUSHunderground and Pumps and Lipstick:

Xiomara: What is PUSHunderground and where did the inspiration to launch come from?

PUSH: PUSHunderground started with a mission to do something great and powerful. We wanted to explore the idea that people can build a successful company and make a difference in the world at the same time. We are a sportswear company that started off with a question... How can we create amazing sportswear and still be mindful stewards of the Earth?

We all liked the idea that crowdfunding can allow others to become part of our journey. They get to grow with our company at the very start.

Indiegogo is a truly awesome vehicle for small businesses. It allows us to manage our own funding and be the authors of our own stories. It allows American people to restart our own economy. We decide what we want to fund. We decide what is important, what seems viable, what is worth supporting. Indiegogo and other crowdsourcing ventures allow the American people to fund the businesses they value. Indiegogo allows small businesses like PUSHunderground to go straight to the people and ask them to take a look at what we have to offer and determine if it’s worth their time and money. And if it’s worth enough money to enough people, the project gets funded and everyone wins; no bank necessary. Americans taking back our economy.

Xiomara: What are some of the benefits of the performance apparel line?

PUSH:
·      Cutting edge
·      Comfortable
·      Functional
·      High Quality
·      Looks Good
·      Gives Back

Xiomara: Why American made?

PUSH: There are so many Americans that are out of work and it just feels good to know that our clothes can help put Americans back to work. “There's no question that manufacturing still has a major impact on our economy and on the nation's workforce. The United States has fewer manufacturing jobs now than we did in 1941, but if every American spent an extra $3.33 on U.S.-made goods, it would create almost 10,000 new jobs in this country.” (http://abcnews.go.com/WN/MadeInAmerica/mailform?id=12912252)

Xiomara: Recycled water bottles...how did that concept come into play?

PUSH: … So a fateful day comes and Meaghan and I (Logan) are sitting talking after a yoga class in Santa Cruz, CA and they are just watching all the plastic water bottles getting tossed into the recycling or even the trash. We counted hundreds of bottles. Meaghan is a yoga instructor teaching all over the Bay Area; in one day over several studios, there was no doubt in her mind that she saw a thousand bottles getting used and tossed. Sitting there outside the hot room they ask themselves and each other…what can we do about these bottles…? And so began the bigger questions…is it possible to use these water bottles to make clothing? Yes! It is! Recycled fabric made from post consumer water bottles makes better material for yoga clothes; it’s better for any sports clothing that requires wicking away moisture, superior bendability, resilience and extreme comfort. Okay, so Meaghan and I think, this is something special…we can actually take those water bottles that people are tossing into the landfill and create amazing fabric and design clothes from that fabric that will not need tugging, rearranging, manipulation and babysitting, so you can just sweat or play or practice.

Xiomara: Future projects on the horizon?

PUSH: We are very excited to see where the crowdfunding will take us. We believe we can do a lot of good one acre, one bottle, and one drop at a time.

Xiomara: Where and when can we buy?!

PUSH: You can buy our first production run on Indiegogo. Together, we believe we can make amazing things happen. We can put Americans back to work; we can give water to those in need, and we can do all this while making an excellent product from repurposed, landfill- bound plastic. We are so grateful to you for coming along with us on this journey and we know that we can’t do it without you. Please Tweet us, share us on Facebook, on Instagram, on Pinterest. We promise to work every day to make you proud that you stood behind PUSHunderground. We want to do great good in the world, and we believe we can do it together.

Please visit our Indiegogo page to help us meet our goal. Every dollar counts!

For more on PUSHunderground, click the links and help them meet their goal!

Indiegogo: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/pushunderground-sportswear-with-a-purpose

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PUSHunderground

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PUSHunderground

Instagram: @push_underground

Mid-Week Motivation

2013-10-09T02:08:00.001-07:00

Start your day off thinking happy thoughts right when you get out of bed. The slightest shift in your morning mood can have an amazing impact on the rest of your day and it all begins on what's goin' on upstairs in your head. Try it— you'll probably have an amazing day (if you allow yourself to).

A Trip Down Memory Lane

2013-09-16T18:03:00.001-07:00

Every month or so I head back to my hometown, Sacramento. It's always nice to visit family and stroll along areas where I used to get into get into trouble (ok, not that much trouble). I start to feel really old when I catch myself saying, "I remember way back when..." We passed by the state capitol and memories started to flood my mind of my days as a State Assembly intern when I was 15 years old.

On this day, I wore one of my favorite maxis with a mermaid bottom and an open back detail. The material is super thin so I have to pair a cover-up for no nip sightings— a sheer, black, collared blouse with gold studs and front tie definitely did the trick! I showed off the deep plunge in the front with one of my fave gold pieces by Bobbi J.

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Look of the Day: Cut Your Heart Out Cut-Outs

2013-09-13T09:31:00.000-07:00

As I'm yearning for fall weather to hit my thermometer, it's still hot as you-know-what. Thanks to end-of-season sales, I still get to buy summer looks for half the price.

While in Vegas a month ago, I spotted a long, flowy maxi dress from S.Y.L.K. with the type of cut-outs I've been craving for-- cut-outs in the front! I'm a sucker for prints so, this one right here just reeled me right in and straight to the cash register.

For shoes and accessories, I kept it as balanced as possible so I wouldn't overpower one with the other. I wore gold chain feathered earrings, a bare neck so I wouldn't compete with the cut-outs, custom Bobbi J stone and Swarovski crystal bracelets, and leather, strappy studded sandals that I've owned for years and years.

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