Spring Cropped Pants

Spring is officially here!  And A La Mode is going to try and do its best to get its act back together and start posting more.  The cropped pant is making a comeback and it's just in time for warmer weather.  Let the springtime breeze waft around your ankles!  Also, don't be afraid to try some crazy prints!

Summer Cropped Pants

Summer Cropped Pants by mangomolly featuring joie

Travel in Stye

When I travel I want to look stylish, but more importantly, I want to be comfortable.  You can never go wrong with a comfy pair of jeans but don't underestimate a skirt or dress with leggings.  Make sure your shoes are easy to slip on and off and not to wear too much jewelery so you can make going through security as painless as possible.  I do like wearing a watch so I don't have to keep pulling my phone out in the airport and to check the time when I'm on the plane and my phone is dead in my purse.  There are more and more cute backpacks coming out that make toting them around NOT transport you back to high school.  If I bring a tote, I like to make sure it's one with a zipper so if it falls down when I put it under the seat in front of me, all my stuff doesn't fall out.  Depending on your flight time, a full face of make up might be totally useless after awhile, so keep it simple with a moisturizing tinted lip balm like Burt's Bees, Revlon, or Clinique.  Happy travels!

Dress Up or Down: London Olympics

My favorite Olympic sports are swimming and gymnastics so I've been a little wishy-washy on my Olympics viewing lately BUT that doesn't mean I can't still represent fashion-wise.  Dress up with a sporty dress, flashy wedges, and a cute hair accessory.  Dress down with jeans, tinted lip balm, and some stud earrings.  And don't forget the patriotic nail polish!

Summer Cropped Pants

Embrace pants this summer!  If you live in a climate like mine, shorts aren't always practical for summer days.  You can still get that summery look with a cropped pant.  Invest in good basics, like denim or tan, but don't forget to have fun and grab a bold pattern.  Accessorize with a pair of cute sandals or flats and a pop of color!

A Pile of Palatable Pancakes

WARNING: Do NOT view if you're trying to stick to your summer bikini diet.

Web’s Tastiest: Pancakes Recipes | Kid Crave

Review: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

I was super excited when I heard about this new product from Revlon.  I always wanted to get the Chubby Stick by Clinique or Tarte's LipSurgence but I just couldn't justify the price.  But then Revlon saved the day with their Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain.  Shaped like Clinique's Chubby Stick, they are like giant lip crayons which make it easy to apply the product.  They have a minty-scent that fades right away.  The two shades I'm reviewing today are Rendezvous and Sweetheart  For the reader's convenience, I have fair skin with pink undertones. 

The Colors:

Rendezvous - orange/coral.  It goes on super orange on me, like I-just-ate-10-orange-popsicles orange.  Then it fades into more of a coral-orange-pink color that I really like.  It's soft and summery.  

Sweetheart - bright pink.  It goes on bright-bright pink and only fades a little.  It's very true to the color you see above.  

They have a bunch of shades that I imagine would work great for all skin tones.  I recently started layering Rendezvous and Sweetheart and really like the resulting color.  It makes the Rendezvous more pinkish which really compliments my skin tone and tones down the brightness of Sweetheart making it more of a daily wearable color that doesn't stick out at work. 

Lasting Color:

Rendezvous - the first couple of times I used it, it would fade in the middle of my lips, leaving me with an awesome '90s-esque lip liner effect.  Except it was bright orange.  This doesn't happen anymore and I have no idea why since I haven't really changed the way I apply it.  Now it just fades into a really pretty coral stain.  

Sweetheart - it goes on bright and glossy and turns into a stain that's basically just as bright as the first application.  Definitely long-lasting with a bright punch of color.  I think it would be great for a night out since you don't have to worry about the color straying outside your lips or fading.  

Price:

This really depends where you get it.  At Target it's about $7 while at Walgreen's it's about $9.  Despite this disparity, it's still way cheaper than any other like-product on the market.  

Verdict: Really excited about this product.  Will be going back for at least another color.  Thinking about "Romantic," a tomato-red.  Basically, go get it now.  

 

Summer With Target

Ah Target, that mecca of affordable and trendy clothing.   You go in to buy face wash and you end up spending $70 on a whole new wardrobe.  These are all pieces that can be found at Target right now so what are you waiting for? 

Dress Up or Down: The Summer Dress

Summer dresses conjure up images of warm sunshine and a gentle breeze.  You want 12 of them, but for budget-conscious fashionistas, that isn't necessarily a good use of a limited amount of money.  An easy way to make good use of that one summer dress you have to buy is to dress it up or dress it down with some choice accessories.  With stores like Forever 21, H&M, and Old Navy, fun and trendy accessories for summer can be super affordable and spice up the wardrobe you already have. 

Dress up a summer dress with some fun nail polish and a some statement jewelery, like a colorful necklace or earrings.  Go for a bold summer lip, like tangerine or coral.  Spritz on a little summery perfume, strap on a pair of wedges and you're ready for your summer soiree.  

For a more casual look, opt for a pair of flats.  Summer scarves add a pop of color and make your look chic and bohemian at the same time.  Lipstick/balms are all the rage this summer, like above Revlon's Lip Butter, and make lip color easy and low-maintenance.  Don't forget the SPF and a cool pair of sunglasses to protect your body, face, and eyes from those terrible UV rays that keep plaguing society. 

That 70s Outfit

The 70's are back this summer in a big way and you're not hearing any protests from me.  Bring on the high-waisted bell bottoms and platforms!  We can boogie all summer long.  Make your outfit pop with a '70s accessory, like a little scarf or some big earrings or go full-blown.  The 70's embodies movements from the end of the hippie era to disco to rock n' roll.  Pick a genre and go with it!