Fancy Fuchsia

Swiss dot blouse  - F21 (recent), Navy skirt - Gap, Pumps - Nine West, Earrings - RichRocks NYC, Bracelet - TJ-Maxx, Bag - Chanel flap

I'm not sure you can tell in these pictures, but the skirt I recently bought from the Gap is a deep navy. I'm always on the quest for skirts that fit my body well. Most of the time, skirts are too long, the material is too sheer and flimsy, and I have issues with the cut. Because I'm petite and pear shaped with a small waist, I often encounter so many problems finding the right one that flatters my body. When I do come across a skirt that meets my criteria, I snap it up right away! I wore it with a fun, vibrant fuchsia blouse from Forever 21. I wore this outfit to my best friend's engagement party and I had a great time. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend as well!

♥ Noelle

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What I've Been Reading: March

Hey everyone, happy Friday. It's time for the second edition of monthly must-reads (you can read the first installment here in case you missed it). And, it's time for this month's question, courtesy of Andi. The question is: "If you could have one celebrity's wardrobe, whose would it be and why?"

This took some thought, as a few different starlets came to mind. Rachel Bilson, Bethenny Frankel, Jennifer Aniston, the Kardashian sisters, and Kyle Richards all have a great sense of style that closely resembles my ideal. However, the one girl who always stands out, the one whose wardrobe I'd love to own is Lauren Conrad. No analyzing her claim to fame please! For the record, I liked Lauren on Laguna and The Hills. While some were quick to point out her somewhat lackluster personality, she just seemed real to me. Hell, if I had cameras following me around all the time, I'm sure my personality would come off as less then exciting. Aside from her spats with friends over jerk boyfriends, Lauren stayed above the fray.

Of course, the main reason I think we all watched The Hills was to see what she was wearing each week. She is the epitome of California cool. Mixing casual pieces with fun and feminine frocks, her style is accessable and easy to emmulate without looking like you're trying. She's chic and glam, and yet she strikes a delicate balance by staying true to her beach girl sensibility. If Olivia Palermo is New York's It girl, then Lauren Conrad is Los Angeles.

So, can you tell why I would LOVE to own her wardrobe? Designer handbags but a penchant for Chanel, skinny jeans, pumps, lace, girly skirts and dresses, sandals...a girl after my own heart!

Now here are some great posts from my fellow blogger friends:

• Beautygirl24 - Noelle has a serious crush on the color orange. See how she used it to build an outfit.
• Ella Pretty - Ella's been shopping and sewing - view her spring purchases here.
• Lilly's Style - Find out which outfit Lilly loved the most in March.
• Pearls and Green Tea - Jiye's been welcoming the warmer weather with floral shorts, a braid and sandals!
• Saltwater Dreams - Andi's going gluten-free -- and it's easier than you think. See her favorite tips, recipes and products.
• Schnelle Couture - Danielle broke out the white jeans and sandals for St. Patty's Day- be sure to check out her new favorite mint nail polish too! 
• Sequins and Stilettos - Skylette has been playing with nautical looks by picking up some fun accessories.

♥ Noelle

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To tuck or not to tuck?

Pussybow blouse - F21, Lace skirt - Express (old), Pumps - Nordstrom rack (old), Jewelry - Etsy, Michael Kors, YSL, Sonya Renee, Lips - Lancome Corail in Love

When all else fails, wear black. I don't really adhere to this rule, as I've noticed that I don't own a lot of black anymore. I'm proud of this fact, because up until a few months ago, I wasn't too into color. Black feels safe. Head to toe black? I'm bullet proof! Ok, not really. But I definitely felt very relaxed in this look. I didn't want to feel fussy, so I kept the blouse loose, flowy, and untucked. I think the question, "To tuck blouse in or not?" is one I ask myself now all the time. I think the answer to that is...that it depends. Tucking a top or blouse into your skirt or pants looks more polished, more formal, and more intentional. However, leaving a blousey top untucked looks more relaxed, like you aren't trying too hard. I often do this when I wear a super tight skirt or with my skinny jeans. The proportion looks (and feels) better because you have a looser top and are tighter on the bottom half. I know a lot of girls who follow this guideline as well. On this night, I do think the blouse would have looked better had I tucked it in, but like I said before, I just didn't feel like it. Thus, the more casual approach.

What do you girls think?

♥ Noelle

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Shades

Lace cardi - F21 (recent), Tee and Jeans - Banana Republic, Suede wedges - Target, Infinity Scarf - Express (link), Earrings - Tory Burch via Nordstrom (link), Watch - Michael Kors

Something I'm really enjoying lately is taking one color, and then wearing varying degrees of it in my outfit. Shades of blue are my favorite to play with. Aside from fashion, there isn't anything I love more than going to the beach and quietly sitting beside the one I love, admiring the waves as they crash against the shore. It will never get old, and I will never tire of it. After a stressful week, wearing blue was what I needed to breathe deeply, relax, and unwind. That, and a quick trip to a local winery where my fiance and I shared a bottle of wine :)

♥ Noelle

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New Season

A new season means...

Pretty blouses from Forever 21

Spring-worthy nail polish in feminine, fresh shades

Small pictures hanging on my wall that remind me where I'd love to go (Paris and New York, again)

What is getting you in the mood for Spring?

♥ Noelle

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Corail in Love

When I first spotted this ad in a magazine, I was intrigued. I've never tried a Lancome lipstick before, but the saturated color of Emma Watson's look had me curious. I'm always a sucker for lip products. Over the years, I've found that MAC and Revlon make the best, but that doesn't stop me from trying new (to me) brands.

I picked up "Corail in Love", a pinky coral. Alright girls - this color is amazing! That word gets tossed around loosely, but this is truly "my" coral. I've struggled with corals in the past. Most look way too orange, too pink, or just too dramatic on me. I fix this by applying a soft colored gloss to tone it down, but that can get tiring when I'm out and about. This is the first coral I've found that doesn't require anything!

I like to swipe some on, then lightly dab or press the color into my lips for a pretty effect, almost like a stain. It wears for a long time without any fading. The claim is 6 hours, but I don't know of any lip product that lasts that long on me. Talking, eating, drinking...they all get in the way. But, because this lipstick isn't super creamy, it lasts a good three to four hours on me. When I say it isn't creamy, I don't mean it's gritty though. It goes on smoothly, but then feels weightless on your lips, almost as if you weren't wearing anything. It's very strange, but I like that. No temptation to press my lips together since I can't feel a thing!

The color reminds me of crushed rose petals. Ultra feminine and supremely wearable for a coral.

No flash

See what I mean? It's definitely a coral, but it's so soft and natural. It just brightens my entire complexion, which by the way, is very pale these days.

With flash

The Rouge in Love line can be found at most Lancome counters now. They have a good range of colors, so go test one out.

♥ Noelle

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