Thursday, May 26, 2016

Summer accessory trend

This week I received the perfect cage style cropped black tank top. It is the perfect summer accessory. Already placed an order for a white one and then two colors in a similar style. These are amazing for wearing under wide neck and off the shoulder tops, tee and tanks, under a tank or off the shoulder dress and romper. It is the perfect accessory no doubt. What do you think? They are in expensive costing around 6-12 depending on where you order from. I went with a US shipper and it was $11 with shipping for one. I ordered more and saved on shipping and $4 off. 


Here seen in a selfie shot under a wide neck off the shoulder graphic tee. 


What I love about this top is that it isn't a bra or bralette style top, it is in fact a cropped tank top. It doesn't have padding and it isn't too small for someone larger busted. I have a few similar tops and bras with cute Criss-cross style straps but they are all a little small, this top was one size fits all and worried me but it fits my larger bust fine and can be worn without a bra. I am not going to say the same for the white I'm sure lol, but the black under another top is not an issue.

Found the same style at Forever21 for $9.90 (link below)  mine is a little longer then the one I found but the straps are the same style.  If you are larger busted I would go with the style I have and will get link from eBay for below in where to shop section.  


My graphic tee is by Weekend Up Tees on Etsy. Necklace is Fawning in Love on Etsy also, then bracelets are Simply Quinn's, Rocksbox sample sale arrowhead turquoise silver bangle by House of Harlow 1960 that I got last summer, and some Rose Gonzales blue and turquoise arm stack pieces. The caged black crop tank I found on eBay searching caged cropped tank. I will post a link below tomorrow. 

Hope everyone has a fun and safe Memorial Day weekend. XOXO


Where to shop:


Graphic tee is from Weekend Up Tees on Etsy

Necklace is Fawning In Love on Etsy 

Links in Favorite shops on sidebar.

Caged Cropped Tank eBay Shop Link





Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Pam & Gela look for the airport, comfortable and chic.

Pam & Gela look for the airport, comfortable and chic.

Pam Gela cotton sweatshirt
$300 - harveynichols.com

Pam Gela graphic top
shopambience.com

Pam gela
shopambience.com

Gucci tote
$2,405 - net-a-porter.com

Ettika 18k earrings
$40 - shopbop.com

Happy Plugs earbud headphone
$58 - selfridges.com

Sonix tech accessory
nordstromrack.com

Summer accessories

Hello everyone and happy Tuesday, hope everyone had an amazing weekend. It was gorgeous here and the beach just keeps getting nicer. The water was crystal clear and flat still, hoping it stays this way but once storms starting coming in daily it will bring in the seaweed usually around mid June. For now enjoying every moment of the gorgeous waters and weather. 

Accessories are my favorite items, I love to style my daily outfits often around my accessories. From amazing purses, shoes, jewelry and more, I love unique and eclectic styles with a passion for hand made pieces. An inexpensive summer accessory every woman should have is a bandana or scarf. You can find them almost everywhere, I got several colors and patterns at Target and Walmart a few months ago, I had to lighten my hair to color mettalics and I bought them to cover my hair in the sun but soon was using them around my ankle, wrist and neck not just for my hair. 


Picture from last week with a white and black bandana around my neck styled with a scoop neck Pam & Gela tee and layered necklaces. The upside down moon or horn shape is a double necklace from Forever21 awhile back and the handmade tassel piece is from 31ements on Etsy. Link will be included below. Also can be found in my favorite shops in side bar. 


I love to layer up on my neck and wrist, my necklaces start with a turquoise choker by Ettika Jewelry which I am proud to announce I was contacted to become a product review ambassador for them. I will have two new pieces soon to show you all and style into my summer outfits.  The handmade Opalite piece is by FawninginLove on Etsy one of my favorite stores for jewelry. My turquoise bar pendant is by House of Harlow 1960 and was in my Rocksbox with the gold cross ring. Use code MelissaBFF10 for your free trial month today. 


Custom pieces made for my daughters and I by Fawning in Love on Etsy. The handmade beaded and tassel bracelets go perfectly with these gold trimmed white shells with starfish pendants and lovely coral/blue accents. Great bridal party jewelry for a beach themed wedding. I was so touched by the thoughtful pieces. She has such an amazing talent and eye for details. 


Two more handmade pieces by Fawning in Love again, she really is a favorite of mine for some time now from Etsy. Infuse found here shop over a year ago valentines day time looking for a Bison ring for my Texas summer trip. I love buffalo and bison or cattle skulls, she had the most amazing pieces and her shop caught my attention which I have been going back often for more pieces to add to my collection. The long blue beaded piece has a shell finished horn shaped accent. 


Close up of the Indian headpiece in gold and statement blue beaded necklace. They look amazing together and couldn't wait to wear them.


More accessorizing with my pineapple pendant necklace from Old Navy a couple of summers ago, a tusk from Fawning in love in turquoise and also have a royal blue color in same pendant, then my horn moon double layer chain from Forever21, my friend at Fawning in Love has the same pendant on single chain in gold, silver and rose gold.


Blue is my favorite color so own a lot of turquoise, opalite, blue agate, and other blue gems, crystals or stones. These beaded necklaces and bracelets are all mostly older pieces I have collected styled with a beaded oil diffuser bracelet with black lava beads and turquoise by Simply Quinn's and the turquoise bar necklace with silver tassel ends is by Fawning in Love. 

Hope you enjoyed some of my recent favorite accessories. Happy almost summer and enjoy shopping for your summer accessories. 


Where to shop: 


Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Silver hair **Updated**

Good evening all and hope everyone is having an awesome week so far. Only a couple more days and the weekend is here again. I can't wait. Tomorrow I am going back to the salon again to keep working on my silver hair. I have been trying to go silver since I made the choice to try the color. I have been all kinds of fun and different colors from purple, blue, red, pink, turquoise and now the metallic family. I currently have metallic pink. Lavender, blue and silver in my hair. I started with mostly silver which wouldn't stay. To get the hair silver it has to be white, you can not have any darker or yellow tones it must be white and it was so damaging to the hair after all I have done over the years I lost some length and still haven't had a successful stick on the silver end. That first time when it was mostly silver I had purple in it the purple stuck but within a few weeks the silver had faded from my hair being striped so much and having no color it was just dropping that color any time it got wet or styled. 


My hair colors over the last two months. Before this I spent two months removing a red ombre from pinkish red, red to violet dark red almost burgundy tone. Very angry I didn't do the silver when I wanted, last summer I removed my blue ombre to go silver but had to have a peach orange to counter the blue that didn't want to remove, the peach orange was almost gone and I went red on a last minute whim liked the tones, felt like darker would be fun but now kicking myself. It's good it was time to trim the hair it had gotten so long it needed a fresh start. Looking forward to the silver being bold the first week. That's the best time for the color, considering going a darker silver so it will fade slower and be the silver I want maybe longer and have added some silver due to my shampoo and conditioning products I do use when I wash at home. 




I loved my second colors with the link, purple and blue metallics that have a really pretty almost pastel tone to them. I had the grey again for my main color and the fun colors as low lights sort of. Now I'm back to having some blonde, not as much as the first time but have some. My main focus is my roots, I was attempting to go ombre and have the balyage look but I don't like the contrast of my blonde roots with the silver hair. Considered doing the darker grey roots but then would have to lift more and I am trying to stay away from removing color or lifting(bleaching) the hair. 



I will update this with some photos and my after pics from my appointment I have tomorrow. Excited to have her lighten and match my roots using silver. I also love the Fusio dose condition treatment she uses from Keratesse next to Olaplex it's the best. Olaplex is still my favorite and probably the only reason I have the hair I have and it's healthy. Having an amazing and talented stylists who cares not just about how it looks but the integrity of your hair and maintaining a healthy head of hair in the end. Excited and will post pics tomorrow. 

Hey there and happy almost Friday, it's only 9 minutes until friday and I'm excited. Looking forward to a beach weekend and some retail summer shopping therapy. As promised got my hair done today and not only colored it but my stylist did an amazing angled bob. The underneath of my hair was the most damaged from my last color transformation from red ombre to now silver and metallic colors. It only made sense to leave the back short and take off any length I tried to hold onto with a thin top layer that looked okay except after a few days of not washing then it looked off, anyways have her bob that in the back then leave the front long but with an angled cut. She texturized my cut and added some shape to the area around my face as well. I love my hair and it is getting healthier every trip to the salon thanks to my stylist, Kenra dyes, Olaplex and Fusio Dose by Keratesse. 

We finally lifted my horrible roots that didn't want to take the dark grey even and we didn't want to lift right away and have the overlapping to damaged areas touch and cause worse breakage on the top, which thus far has remained in good shape. My amazing stylist coated the already lightened pieces with some conditioning mask and Olaplex, then she painted on the bleach to the roots only on the crown of my head, very front and sides in front. The middle and underneath is staying for now since it's the damaged area underneath I am trying to rebuild the most. I miss my length I won't lie, but it is refreshing to have a cute and short hair style. I loved the longer angled bobs similar to mine a few years back but my hair was long and refused to cut it. Now that over bleaching and coloring one area has left its mark it is time to leave that hair alone and let it grow it. This cut is fun and stylish. Looking forward to braiding the linger front parts. 









Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Grace & Stella

Tonight I have a great online shop Grace & Bella to share with you. Recently I was sent this amazing Argan oil mask for my hair and I love it. I started using it on my youngest daughter's hair first, which is thick and super curly. I used it on her hair first because I don't wash my hair often and a good percentage of the time it is being washed at the salon, but when I do wash my hair at home this mask is the best. I have used it three times in my hair as of tonight and every time it just feels softer, easier to comb and smells amazing. 



In my youngest daughter's hair I used it as a mask first then the second time I decided a few days after to use a small dime size drop to run into the ends of her hair before combing it out since it tends to knot badly. It worked amazing and the next morning her hair didn't need any mousse for styling, her curls were soft and no frizz. I have to say I was so excited to sample this product in my own hair but still had a week before I would be using it myself so I asked my oldest daughter  to try it on her hair. She has wavy, frizzy hair that is thick and damaged from flat ironing or sun, beach and pool water or ocean water which all help the drying out process of the hair. She loved the product also and has used it weekly since. 

We all saw noticeable results for making the hair softer, more manageable, less frizzy, shinier and smelling good. I would highly recommend this product for all hair types and especially for damaged hair. 

Use code Melissa20 for 20% off your order. 

Visit their website at www.graceandstella.com for a large selection of hair and beauty products. 

Happy shopping and here's to healthy and soft summer skin and hair. Xoxo

Friday, May 13, 2016

Friday the 13th looks of the week

Happy Friday the 13th, in honor of the kick off to the weekend I have a few outfit inspirations and of course a recap of some of my fave styles or looks from the week.


Hello weekend graphic tee from Sweet
T's Designs, jeans are boyfriend cropped jeans by Silver Jeans, white Converse, Opalite necklace by FawninginLove, bracelets are Alex and Ani and my tie dye Wanderlust towel by Sand Cloud. Use my code Wanderlust25 for 25% off and free shipping. 10% of proceeds are donated to saving marine life. 



Alex and Ani gold bangles and wraps. Jeans are from Silver Jeans, boyfriend style. 


My outfit flat lay is a chambray top and linen striped shorts from Maurices.com. Puravida, Lacey Ryan and Alex and Ani bracelets. White tusk necklace is also a Lacey Ryan piece, part of her collection with Maurices. Feather necklace is by Pandora, also have matching ring, charm for bracelet and earrings. 


PuraVida Bracelets matched with some Alex and Ani and Lacey Ryan bracelets. You can use my code MelissaSep20 for 20% off PuraVida Bracelets. Help provide jobs for local Costa Rican artisans.





Pam & Gela new graphic Frankie peace tank with their a line faux leather skirt. Necklace and some bangles by Rock n Republic, paired with some Alex and Ani bangles. 


Love the new Pam & Gela graphic tanks every season I think they can't beat the previous seasons styles but these are my faves. Love how they not only pay attention to cool graphic designs but love the addition of edgy details like beads and rhinestones. They never disappoint. 

My May Rocksbox pieces by House of Harlow 1960, Slate and Kendra Scott. You can use the code MelissasBFF10 for a free trial month. No obligation month of jewelry you can wear and return or if you love a piece you can keep them and buy. What a fun box. Love accessories they are the icing on the cake for every outfit that last detail to complete every look. 


Another of my new Pam & Gela summer graphic tanks. This one has a summer vibe with the refreshing ice cream cone graphic and blinged out details in the jewelry. Paired with Miss Me pink linen shorts, eBay scored kimono, necklace is my Slate piece from Rocksbox, and Alex and Ani bracelets. 


This top I have wanted since the beginning of the year when Pam & Gela released their spring collection. I was happy to be able to get it finally and on sale, always love their sales. My necklace is a two layer gold tone, triangle and Hamsa hand piece from BooHoo.com. 

An outfit from my daughter's multi cultural event this week for the school. Paired this wrap style top from Maurices.com with a cream tank from Target, mom frayed bottom jeans and gold tone necklace from BooHoo.com, Floral, fringe bottom kimono from Buckle.com and of course more Alex and Ani pieces. 


Some of my spring faves from Alex and Ani, their feather painted charm, my birthstone for August, and the UNICEF butterfly charm. Paired them with some colorful PuraVida Bracelets, don't forget you can use my exclusive promo code MelissaSep20 for 20% off with PuraVida. 


Black Bardot, off the shoulder cropped top, and gold tone necklace by BooHoo.com worn with this denim patchwork pencil skirt from Citizens of Humanity. 


Turkish coin necklace and matching bracelet I got for $10-12 for the set off eBay awhile back, worn with this sexy and comfy Pam & Gela tank dress with ruched skirt bottom. Love this dress, yes you read my description of it correctly it's not an error, this dress is both comfortable and sexy. It is made of the softest cotton, and the ruched bottom and curve hugging design really accentuate the body nice. One of my favorite things about the brand, all Pam & Gela styles are stylish, trendy, chic and comfortable. 


Woke up to rare cool morning here in Florida for this time of year, grabbed out this bomber jacket I got off Poshmark for $12 love it. Ring is a bohemian silver engraved wrap ring from Bohemian Vibe Boutique. 


Last outfit I will share don't want to bore you with scrolling, you can always follow me on Instagram @cr8tivewanderlust for all my daily fashion and style posts. This romper is from Target, paired with a lace kimono from PacSun and Lacey Ryan necklace. 


Hope you enjoyed my scroll down outfit lane of some of my faves from the past week. Be sure to check out some of my favorite shops in my side bar on the right side of my blog, I update my promo codes and any exclusive links I have weekly. Have a wonderful weekend, and next week some more Memorial Day and summer fashion styles to highlight. Xoxo 

Where to shop:




My Alex and Ani Collection:

Some of my bracelets are a few years old and have been retired or no longer made, I have then linked similar styles or looks.  I have a large collection so I'm sure I have left some out but wanted to just have some of the styles for anyone interested.  If there is one you see and want please feel free to message me anytime to ask...



Overalls are Back and Just in time for Summer styling fun

OVERALLS
Summer Trend





I know everyone remembers the 80's and overalls. I even have some photos from the early 90's of myself wearing overalls. I use to love my overalls and a loose tee with some converse, they were my go to style when I wanted something stylish but comfortable. Working as a stylist and curator I see a lot of trends as they are starting to make a come back, usually from looking through look books, portfolios, ads, magazines, blogs and photos from fashion week for each season and of course the samples.  All the high end designers have some style of overalls in their summer lineups and a lot of them have been rocking overalls for a while now, but they really are making a come back this summer in full force.  I have already styled several types of jobs from swimwear lines using them as a coverup, bohemian shoots using a vintage, distressed, embellished or embroidered style overall with boho chic top and accessories. This is a trend you are going to see in all the shops and all over this summer, from Forever21, Asos, BooHoo, Wet Seal, Macy's, Nordstrom's, and then by designers like Rag and Bone, Levis, Current Elliott, Lucky Brand and many others...



                 Current Elliott Overalls 

The passed two weeks I have really seen and taken notice of the huge come back trend in overalls. Not just denim or jeans but cropped styles, shorts, culotte overalls, then linen, cotton, and so on. Being larger busted but small in the waist overalls aren't always flattering on my body. Denim tends to be the least flattering unless they have a smaller top section with thinner straps, and some have an adjustable waist for those who need to buy a larger size to fit larger chest areas. I will say that from trying on samples at work there is a style for everyone.  My coworker is 4'9 and she looks good in the really short, short overalls, and then skinny leg longer overalls.  I look best in a boyfriend style fit, something with a looser leg, and I really like the cropped or capri length or mid thigh length shorts. I also love styling them with all types of tops, sneakers, sandals and heels.  It all depends on the vibe or look you are going for.



Link for this dress in photo above: 
Forever 21 is always the first store I check when doing a blog post because they always have a large selection of the latest style trends and affordable prices for everyone's budget. 


Both of the top style denim overalls I could wear since the top is slimmer with thin straps, then I like them rolled up and loose like boyfriend style fit jeans on the bottom. Also like the culotte and skirt or dress versions. They have a ton of shorts from shortie shorts to bermuda length.


Some of my faves from higher end designers like Rag and Bone, Joe's jeans and Current Elliott. Love the patched dress by SYJP with tie straps super cute and right now multiple tone patched style denim is a big trend or wearing denim on denim. 


Asos.com has some super cute short overalls and an embroidered pair that look great with a loose tee or tank, then like I mentioned and added to my polypore looks above, I love them with an off the shoulder cropped top. You can wear shorter cropped style tops with overalls because they hid the midriff area for anyone who doesn't want to show too much skin. Overalls are even a good coverup for the beach. 

Below are some shopping links where you can find most of my favorite styles along with some other options for everyone. What do you think? Did you ever think you would be wearing overalls again and not for painting in? If you find the right fit, which there are so many options out there you will find a good fit no matter what body type you have. I put together some styling ideas like above, loose tees and tanks, cropped tops, off the shoulder and bardot tops, the styling choices and possibilities are endless. Great summer look that is effortless but cute. 

Happy Friday hope everyone has an amazing weekend,
 Peace and Love to all. 


Xoxo 


Where to shop: