Knee Boot Trend

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Dress - MissGuided
Boots - Zara
Sunglasses - Polette

Who doesn't love a good pair of fall boots? It's one of the things I look forward to when the season returns.  On top of that, I'm perfectly content with the fact that the knee-high and over-the-knee boot trend is everywhere now.  I found this beautiful pair at Zara, but there are plenty of other variations to choose from, and to help you I've listed several below-- all under $350!  Wear them with anything from cozy sweater dresses, which I find so easy to throw on, to jeans and chunky knits or dressier tops.  It's still warm enough now to wear them without tights.  

Personally I enjoy a little online browsing while I'm waiting for my turkey.  Hope all of you get to spend the day with those who are near and dear to you.  
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! <3
xxx

Stars & Ruffles

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Birthdays can be funny.  One may get caught in a slump about getting older (usually that happens sometime after...hmm..21?) and need a bit of a self-reminder that there's plenty to be grateful about.  Something that often helps: A fabulous dress and a pair of treat-yourself shoes.  

I was lucky enough to be the first to wear this incredible dress from Layana Aguilar's gorgeous Spring 2017 collection.  Layana debuted her lovely pieces back in September at her New York Fashion Week presentation.  Recently, I got an up-close-and-personal look during a visit to the store where she currently carries her collection in SoHo.

The idea behind the collection revolves around the power of the female spirit, as represented by the hummingbirds you can see on my dress, and incorporated throughout the pieces.  Small but resilient animals, this little bird was the designer's icon for the collection.

Layana cut her neoprene in a perfectly thought-out way which makes the wearer feel just that- happy yet powerful.  The structure of the dress perfectly hugs the female body; ruffles act as waving vessels through which the woman exudes feminine vibrance. 

 

I could go on about her gorgeous, cool, fun pieces, but you can also go and check them out for yourself.  This dress and the rest of her spring collection will be available in a few weeks for preorder, but you can head to Flying Solo now and check out her fall clothing, like this amazing tie front skirt.  While you're there, scope out the other awesome designers that are also housing their current collections in the concept store.

Circling back to birthdays...  All I have to say is celebrate yourself.  The people in your life who are near and dear to you will always celebrate you, but in the end, the most fulfilling thing is being able to appreciate yourself.  To be honest, this is not about a birthday, it's about the everyday.  

xx

 

Photos by Greg Routt

Jord Watches + Giveaway

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I've been slowly adding to my watch collection.

To be honest, I had stopped wearing watches for a bit.  But in the past year, I've rekindled my love for the accessory and now have been building a new, classic, collection that I'm loving.  

My newest addition is from Jord Wood Watches.  These gorgeous pieces are super cool because they're made from different, high quality wood variations, matched with faces of varying beautiful colors.  The watch I chose is a rich dark sandalwood mixed with a lovely emerald green face.  I love that Jord takes something as natural as wood and is able to turn it into classic, beautiful, sharp-looking timepieces.  Talk about natural beauty.  A perfect way to up your fall arm candy game.  

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The great thing about this accessory is that you can dress it up or down.  It's material is naturally casual, yet its finish is refined, with its sleek glass cover and gold accents.  Wear it with jeans and a classic button down, or to complement a sleek all black look and fun shoes like I did.  Options are limitless. 

And the BEST part about all of this is that I've teamed up with JORD for a fun giveaway!  This one is awesome because you are basically are guaranteed to win something no matter what.  And it's SUPER easy.
Here are the deets:

  1. Just fill out your name and email to enter.
  2. Contest winner gets a $75 e-gift code to the shop, and will be automatically selected and emailed.
  3. All other entrants receive a $20 e-gift code automatically emailed to them, just for entering!
  4. Contest closes 11/20/16 at 11:59pm.  $75 and $20 codes will expire on 2/28/17.

What have you got to lose, except time?  Sorry, I couldn't help myself.  Enter below - Good luck!

>>GIVEAWAY LINK: https://www.woodwatches.com/g/stylophyle

This would make a great holiday gift too, especially with the extra discount off.  Just sayin'.
 

*Edit* Winner has been chosen.  Congratulations to Scott, and thanks to everyone who participated! Enjoy your codes!

Shop all Jord watches: https://www.woodwatches.com/#stylophyle
Women's shop:  https://www.woodwatches.com/shop/women/#stylophyle
Men's Shop:  https://www.woodwatches.com/shop/men/#stylophyle
My watch: https://www.woodwatches.com/series/frankie/dark-sandalwood-and-emerald/#stylophyle

 

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 Photos by Dennis Christians

 

This post was sponsored by JORD Wood Watches.

Travel Diaries: Colors of Hong Kong

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Hello all!

It's time to share some of my current travels with you.  I have been enjoying my first few days in Hong Kong this past week.  I haven't been back here in seven years, so there is plenty to see and do that is fresh and new to me.  It's actually been nearly a week here, but the flight is so long that the jetlag takes quite some time to adjust to. 

As you may know, Hong Kong is a huge city, bustling with people and sometimes even more crowded than New York City.  The food is certainly a main highlight, as well as rich history and culture.  I do have some relatives and friends of family here, so we started the first couple of days having meals together and catching up.  On our third day, we visited a great island called Lai Chi Wo, more about which I will write about below.  Enjoy part I of my Hong Kong travel diary.
 

Victoria Peak

A must when visiting HK.  The tallest peak in Hong Kong, naturally you will enjoy the best views in the city, with options of doing so by hiking up to panoramic views, or sitting at restaurants for dinner and dessert, or, like I did, visiting the renowned Tsui Wah for traditional breakfast toast and milk tea.

Pottinger Street

One of the oldest streets in the Wan Chai area, you enter by walking up centuries-old stone steps, and pass the many stands selling everything ranging from threads & ribbons to Halloween costumes and shoes as you ascend.

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The Look

As for what I'm wearing: the weather here is still quite hot, but luckily when we arrived, the rain cooled things down a bit.  However this time of year here, it still feels like summer.
Knowing this, I had to pull my sandals and shorts back out from my summer clothes, which was something I was happy to do.  Also, in case you were wondering, the sleeve trend is not going anywhere anytime soon, so you might as well embrace it.  There really are some great options though, take a look at some I've listed below, and let me know if you don't find one that you like :)

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The Island: Lai Chi Wo

This 400-year old UNESCO Heritage site is an island off the coast of Hong Kong and closer to China where the ancient Hakka people chose to settle, and somehow to this date have been able to preserve their land and culture with minimal outside disturbance.  A total of 20 people live on this entire island.
The only time visitors are allowed typically is on weekends.  It's amazing to see how they continue to get along without the disturbances of the technology and noise the rest of the world has developed in efforts of becoming more efficient with time.

Living Quarters

They do have electricity, but after dark still rely on gaslamps if they need to get up in the middle of the night when nature calls.  And I do literally mean "nature," if you catch my drift.

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The Meal

An incredible lunch prepared by the local chef, consisting of the locally and organically farmed ingredients they typically consume.  The dishes were cooked in sauces similar to what we often use in Chinese cuisine, but with the chef's own style, and much lighter than what is typical.  The meats and vegetables were so fresh that the quality minimized the need for further seasoning.
Afterwards he came out to talk with his satisfied patrons, and to answer the many questions people had about his ingredients and preparation methods.

Getting to the island required a ferry ride that took an hour-and-a-half each way.  Though as you can see, the views were lush and scenic, and the destination was well worth the time.

More to come, stay tuned.

x

Dark Lip Tutorial + Sephora Giveaway

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Of all the new beauty trends for this fall, I think one of the trickiest to pull off is the super dark, almost-black to black lips.  Until recently, I think the last time I wore a lip this dark was for my middle school Halloween costume, so I was a little unsure of how I'd feel about it.  You really don't know how you're going to feel about this color until it's actually on, and I don't think I'm the only one who feels this way about the trend! So I thought I'd do a quick little tutorial for those who are apprehensive as well.  
I tried this new look out with a great color called Squid Ink by Bite Beauty, and the reason I chose that one is because out of the box, it looks like an opaque black.  But in reality, it's actually a very deep navy.  So you're getting the look with a little lighter depth to the color; it's not just a flat shade of black.  And hey, if you end up not being into it, you can wipe it off and go back to your classic reds and nudes.  But you may just end up liking it.  Just don't try this for the first time before a big date night!

Blue-Black Lip Tutorial
 

1.  Line your lips with a clear lipliner.  I'm using the Sephora Universal Liner.  

Another product that's been around for a long time with tons of great reviews is the Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in Ozone.

2. Apply.  I used Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Squid Ink.

3.  Use a brush for cleaner application.  Try Mac 316,or Sigma Precise Lip Brush for an even more budget-friendly version.

4.  Everybody messes up!  Clean up uneven lines and mistakes with a concealer.  

I'm not one to use tons of brushes, so I love my Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer with built-in brush.  Two steps in one.

Also highlight the cupid's bow above the center of the lip.

Voila!  Nice clean lines, no bleeding edges.

Before

After

Now…it’s time for a fabulous giveaway! I’ve teamed up with an amazing group of bloggers to give THREE WINNERS a chance to win: a $175 Sephora Gift Card! Simply enter below by completing the rafflecopter. You’ll receive one entry per completion. This giveaway is open internationally and runs until 10/17. Winner will be announced here. Good Luck!

$175 PayPal Cash Giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway