online shopping Archives | Page 4 of 29 | Dressed For Time | Top Fashion, Beauty & Lifestyle Blog Tips | Best Popular Chic Fall & Winter Style Outfit Inspiration in Chicago

Saturday Blogger Brunch & Viewing at La Jolla’s The Lot

October 6, 2018

This post is sponsored by The Lot and Pink Blush. It contains affiliate links. Purchasing items through them may provide me with a small commission. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Dressed for Time.

Hi, loves!
I hope everyone is having an amazing start to their October. The weather in Chicago has just now started to turn to rain and gloom, but that month of relative calm after we arrived was much appreciated to kind of ease us in! A little life update – We just heard back last night that they’re agreeing to our terms and we should have keys to our new house by the middle of this month! So exciting!!!!
Full disclosure, this brunch took place a couple of months ago, but we had an issue uploading the pictures and then moving, so it regrettably has taken me longer to get up than I anticipated. Apologies for the delay! Thankfully, the weather in the San Diego area is still about the same, so unlike where I am now, the patio at The Lot is still an amazing place to spend your Saturday morning and afternoon, followed up by watching a movie in one of their luxe theaters.
ICYMI, I also hosted a brunch in LA a couple months prior, that you can read all about here. I just enjoy so much being in the company of amazing creatives, sharing ideas and struggles, and kind of strengthening the bond in our community. Not to mention, gorgeous views, and tasty food and drinks! Those never hurt ? I chose Saturday because I think it’s the best day for brunch.. I’m not sure why people haven’t caught on yet, but when you brunch on Sunday, all of that champagne makes Monday all the more rough to handle. I like to brunch on Saturday to allow my body and mind a day of rest and to recharge before the new week begins.
I’ll get right in to it now with some fun shots of our meetup for Saturday blogger brunch & viewing at La Jolla’s The Lot!

The crew! From L to R : @lilbitsofpau; @collectivelychristine; @matalasi; @thehackerette; @lifeandstylebyap; me!; @modernn.milliee; @kelsslayt

Outfit deets – Dress c/o Pink Blush (similar) // Sandals / JustFab // Glasses (“Warren” use code IF7ZQCUZNP at checkout for $10 off!) / EyeBuyDirect // Bag / vintage // Necklace / Kyle Chan Love Initials & Rocksbox

Let me first talk about the vibe at The Lot in La Jolla. Think of the chicest outdoor patio, surrounded by planter boxes full of lush greens, immaculately clean tables and grounds, tons of nature-inspired elements, and just a sense of luxe calm, if that makes sense. It never got too noisy, but people were still having a great time and enjoying themselves. My kind of place, for sure!
90% of us ordered this fun cocktail which turned out to be the most vibrant shade of pink from the muddled blueberries. Our food arrived and out came the phones so we could be *basic* bloggers and take shots before digging in. I ordered the eggs Benedict, as I frequently do, and it was quite delicious. Just the right amount of cooked for my eggs (yolks still runny but no runny white), and the arugula gave a nice little peppery bite.
After we wrapped on our meal, we headed inside to watch Mamma Mia. Not only did I enjoy the movie immensely, (which was a surprise, because I generally despise musicals), but the leather reclining seats were SO luxurious and comfortable. I’m pretty sure Mark almost fell asleep a couple of times. Another perk of this theatre is that you can order drinks right from your seat! The servers are very inconspicuous so you don’t feel like you’re bothering your neighbor, and I was amazed at how quickly my drink was delivered after ordering.

All in all, another successful outing!
A HUGE thank you to the sponsors of our gift bags:
GoSili Silicone Coffee Cup
Pic’s Peanut Butter
Sarabecca Hand Cream
Eliza J halter tank
Ettika Jewelry Collection

Now for a fun little outtake that I can’t stop laughing at!

Shot by MDMS Photography.

Hope you enjoyed this post! I’d love to hear in the comments.. Where is your favorite place to brunch?
xoxo

New Skincare Review

October 2, 2018

This post contains affiliate links. Purchasing items through them may provide me with a small commission. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Happy Tuesday, loves!
I hope everyone is having a great start to their week. With this new chapter of my life starting after moving to Chicago, I decided it was the perfect time to give my skincare routine an overhaul as well! I was sent all of these products to test out and wanted to share my thoughts on them after using them for several weeks. Side note, I’ve linked the least expensive version of the products I could find online! Keep scrolling to read my new skincare review! 😀

1) From Neostrata, I received three products to test out, and I’ll start with the Skin Active Retinol + NAG Complex. Quite a name and quite the price tag to match. At $78, it is definitely a higher end product, but I don’t mind paying that much when the product WORKS. I’ll admit, I have skipped a couple of nights using this product (you know those nights when you’re so tired that just getting your makeup off feels like the most you can do), but even with skipping a bit, I still have been able to notice a difference. I think continued use will yield even more reduced lines and wrinkles, because I’m already noticing them lessened on my face. I will caution though, because of the retinol ingredient, make sure you up the sunscreen use during the day.
2) Next up is their Oil Control Gel. This product is also on the more “luxurious” side price-wise at $42, but again, this stuff is saving my skin from looking dewy by noon. The Chicago humidity is more than I anticipated, and when I layer this product over my moisturizer and under my foundation, I notice my skin staying nice and matte until at least dinnertime. I took it with me to NYFW and I think it worked well in a pinch as a primer since I forgot mine at home!
3) On the moisturizer side of things, I was sent several of the items from the new Hydro Boost collection from Neutrogena, and haven’t found a bad one in the bunch. I wanted to especially highlight the Water Gel with Hyaluronic Acid ($20), which I truly look forward to applying every morning. I think it gives my combo skin the right amount of moisture and doesn’t feel heavy or tacky. I can’t stand those types of creams, especially when it’s warm or humid out. My trick with this type of tub is to shake the product with the lid on, so that some product distributes on to the lid when you open it, saving you from dipping a finger into the bulk of the product and getting it under your nails or contaminating it.

4) From a brand called D’OR 24K Cosmetics, I tested out their Regenerating Facial Cleanser, and I unfortunately don’t have the most favorable things to say about it. The scent is the first thing that struck me, like a very fake strawberry aroma. It gives me a little headache and seems very cheap. The cleanser is OK to use in the shower, but every time I used it with just rinsing off over the sink, I’d manage to discover the little pink beads near my hairline, ear or chin. I also didn’t feel the beads did much in terms of exfoliating, or regenerating as the name would suggest. Can we also talk about how underwhelming the packaging is… Their website was not in operation when I was writing this post, so I’m not sure exactly how much this retails for, but regardless of price, I’d pass!
5) Another gem from Neostrata (how had I not used this brand before?!), their Sheer Physical Protection SPF 50 ($37). I’ve actually switched to using this product as my face base instead of foundation on days when my skin is blemish-free. I love that it’s two steps in one.. A VERY sheer layer of coverage, along with a high number SPF. I actually wasn’t expecting the tint for some reason, but I do think it would work on 90% of skin tones. I think on very dark skin, it might leave a little ashy cast, but from very fair to medium-dark, it should just give a very faint evening of tone. I’m quite fair and this wasn’t yellow or orange on me. Definitely great to use when you’re in a time crunch to get ready, and this will definitely be my go-to product come next summer for the beach, pool, camping, etc.
6) In the mask realm, I’ve been testing out the Farmacy Bright On Massage-Activiated Vitamin C Mask. I’ll admit, the color-changing bit did seem slightly gimmicky, but the more I thought about it, I realized it’s actually helpful so you know you’ve massaged in the product enough. I leave it on for 10 minutes (recommended is 5-10). After each use, I’ve felt my skin tighten and there was a visible brightness to my skin’s tone. I think I need to up the frequency though, because I’ve been trying it once a week and I feel that the brightness/glow doesn’t last that long between uses. I also wouldn’t recommend this one for dry skin, because of the tightening element; I think it’s best for combo or oily skin. It’s $38, so not the cheapest, not the most expensive out there for this type of product.

That’s it for now, babes! I actually have a new crop of makeup to review as well, so I’ll be working on that post soon. Hope everyone has a great rest of the week!
xoxo

NYFW Spring/Summer ’19 Final Days Recap

September 30, 2018

This post was created in partnership with Pink Blush, Kestan, The Haute Society & 50 Bowery, Bond 45, Aldo, Blank Slate Tea, Eliza J, Rent the Runway, and Gorjana. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. It also contains affiliate links. Purchasing items through them may provide me with a small commission. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Dressed for Time.

Throwing you right back in to the action! Check out my earlier coverage of NYFW Spring/Summer ’19 here and here.

The morning following our GNO, I had my appointment with Glamsquad for a blowout that I had tried to push back later but 8:30. I ended up getting roughly 4 hours of sleep so that morning was less than fun for me waking up, but the blowout was SO worth it, because even in the rain, my curls lasted until that night! Side note, (and full disclosure as always, I will get a $25 credit as well), if you use my code ktaylor6816 when booking, then you get $25 off your service! My blowout with tip was $40 and for not leaving the house, that ain’t bad. Will definitely be considering them next Fashion Week as well.

@gracefullyglamblog and I, waiting in line to shop! On me – Top c/o Pink Blush // Jeans / Black Orchid Denim // Boots / Jeffrey Campbell // Bag / Cambridge Satchel Co. // Necklace c/o Kestan // Earrings / Zara

After getting glam, most of my group headed to the She In pop-up sale. I didn’t have any experience with the brand, so I was pretty shocked to learn that they we’re offering 20% off the already pretty freaking low prices. I picked up a cape, bag, t-shirt, sunnies, and dress. We grabbed a quick cup of coffee (decaf mocha for me!), and headed down to the Haute Society influencer party, held at Hotel 50 Bowery. It was so lovely to meet some of my fave girls that I’ve been following for YEARS on Instagram, as well as be introduced to some amazing creatives that are definitely on my radar now.

Cheers-ing some Sauvignon Blanc with @innabose. Shot by Courtney Pecorino Photography.

OK, with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background?! Such a quaint little spot to dine or just sit and chat.
We actually had two shows confirmed to attend this day, but ended up un-comfirming because we just didn’t have it in us. I think I may have mentioned this in an earlier post, but DON’T overbook yourself! We certainly did and it took a toll mentally and physically. I never thought I’d be saying this, but there comes a time when you’re just like yeahhh.. I don’t really even want to deal with going to a fashion show right now. It’s just a LOT to attend, so make sure you’re pacing yourself throughout your trip.

After the event, we ubered back to the apartment and took a 30 minute cat nap before getting ready to dine at one of my fave NY spots, Bond 45. We visited them last season, and I’m always blown away by the level of service, not to mention the fantastic and authentic Italian food they delighted our tastebuds with.

So, now that everyone is in a visually-induced food coma… You can imagine we poured ourselves in to an uber and headed back home. But not before I tried to get a shot of myself in my lovely $14 H&M satin gown.. In the rain.. In the middle of traffic.

Dress / H&M // Bag c/o Aldo // Necklace / Rocksbox

What you don’t see are the Fast Flats I was forced to wear because my blister-ridden feet were having none of the heels I tried to force them in to. Little did I know, the flats had multiple holes in them from previous wearings and they flooded with water as soon as we stepped out of the uber. I was literally drying them off under the table and trying to get my feet warm throughout dinner. Super classy, I know. Oh, and side note, and this is important to mention because it happened multiple times. We had to walk about 2 blocks because the uber driver convinced us that the restaurant was just up the street… No. He was lazy and didn’t want to drive through Times Square traffic so he let us off prematurely so we would have to walk two blocks in the rain. What a jerk!!!

On Monday, while everyone else went out to shoot or attend events, I actually managed to sleep in until about 9 o’clock. It was blissful being in a quiet apartment, just resting. It didn’t last though, because we had a very full afternoon to look forward to! Our first stop, Blank Slate Tea. So, I had been following their social account for a while and always wanted to visit the super girly (not to mention Insta-worthy) space to see it for myself. I definitely was not let down. The owner treated us, and everyone else in the restaurant, like royalty, walking around to check in on the patrons throughout the various stages of their meal. We were craving some veggies after all the heaviness, so we opted for salads and sandwiches, along with their dreamy lattes.

Dress c/o Eliza J // Necklace / gift show find // bag / vintage

Next up, we all headed over to the Foley & Corinna open house collection preview. Can I just say that I wanted every single bag! Many of them were floral print or mustard, which are current obsessions, and a lot of them were in really interesting shapes.

Myself and @lauryncakes posing with a few of our favorites.

A couple of the girls wanted to try to get that infamous shot at the Flatiron building, and I was totally game, so off we went in the pouring rain to try our luck!

Dress / Forever 21 // Sneakers / Superga // Bag / vintage // Necklace / Gorjana

The shopping bug was creeping up again, so several of us headed to the Rent the Runway sample sale. I’d previously visited their warehouse in Seacacus, New Jersey when it was still open to the public, and this was very similar. Well, except for the public dressing room, and the bags and jewelry being in less-than-stellar condition. I did find this cute Kate Spade fan style, along with 4 gowns that I probably didn’t need but felt I had to have. Following the hour+ of shopping, we headed to a little Mexican restaurant around the corner called Habenero Blues. Their queso and chips were TDF, but my enchiladas were very underwhelming, borderline gross, and really expensive for what they were.

Back to the apartment to knock out. Some of the girls had already left or were getting ready to leave, so there was kind of a sad vibe in the air. I started packing to be proactive, and actually had to buy a new rolling bag when we were out to fit all of my New York finds and gifts. Some of us said our goodbyes that night, due to some particularly gnarly early morning flight times.

As promised, I wanted to share some shots of our gorgeous apartment that we booked through Domio. They’re a new way to book luxury apartments and have some gorgeous listings that I keep browsing in New Orleans, San Diego, Austin, Nashville, Boston, and Honolulu. We stayed at one of their first New York properties, and even though I got my workout walking up and down three flights of stairs throughout the day, I definitely would return.

Well, my dears, that is a wrap!
I’d love to hear about your experience at NYFW, or why you’d like to attend next season!
xoxo

NYFW Spring/Summer ’19 Day 3 Recap

September 24, 2018

This post is sponsored in part by Pink Blush, Kestan and Cleo Restaurant NY. It also contains affiliate links. Clicking on them or purchasing items through them may provide me with a small commission.

Whew! Days 1 & 2 were so jam-packed, I honestly could have called it there and been completely satisfied with the trip. That was so not the case, as we were just getting started with our New York adventures! Keep reading to see what I got up to on day 3…

Our first show of the day was at Pier 39 Studios for the Custo Barcelona runway. Legit, you guys, this was my favorite show of the season. So many mixed metallics, pastel rainbows, swingy dresses, bomber jackets.. Enough trying to explain in, check out these images of some of my favorite pieces from the collection!

Pictures courtesy of Custo Barcelona

After Custo, even though the next show was in the same building, we had to go back outside to check in for it. Kind of annoying, and I wish they could figure out a way to check you in for both at the same time, but I digress. Next up was the Oxford Fashion collection of designers, which admittedly included a whole bunch of designers I’d never heard of before, but I didn’t find too many pieces that I was like “oh, yes, I would totally wear that!” Nothing against the designers, some of the looks were just a bit high-concept for my taste. I was SO excited to run in to Rachel from @racheloffduty and Summer from @summerlebuchanan before the show started! We met through a blogging community back in Southern California and I was missing my girls so much! We had planned on all going to lunch together, but got pulled in different directions in the end. Thankfully, I believe they’re both attending next season!

A couple of the girls and I wanted to play proper tourists and check out The High Line, and let’s be honest, take some cool pictures. We tried to make it there last season but OMG was that the coldest, windiest day in existence and we just couldn’t handle our lives. So thankful that the sun came out, if only briefly, for us to grab all of these amazing shots!

Dress c/o Pink Blush // Booties / Target // Bag (on sale) / Shop Daily Belle // Bracelets / Rocksbox & Trending Above // Necklaces / Forever 21 (sold out but linking similar)

@racheloffduty; @blondeblissblog; @dear.kindred; muah!
Shot by @courtneypecorinophoto

The rain started coming back so we left the High Line in search of our first meal of the day. After mobbing through the cluster that is Chelsea Market, Rachel and I decided on bagel sandwiches, and then I met up with the rest of the ladies and we headed back to the apartment for a well-deserved rest. I say rest, but it was really about 30 minutes of laying in bed on our phones and then starting to get ready for dinner!

Dress c/o PinkBlush // Necklace c/o Kestan // Bag / Shop Daily Belle // Earrings (under $12!) / Amazon // Sandals / Who What Wear Collection for Target

Shot by Courtney Pecorino Photo

Our amazing photographer, Courtney, was so excited when she heard we were dining at Cleo because she’d dined previously at their Las Vegas location and LOVED it. I absolutely understood why because literally everything I ate or drank while dining with them was delicious. Standouts were the Passionfruit Margarita, Roasted Cauliflower, Lamb Shwarma, and the Brussels Sprouts. OMG the Brussels Sprouts… I’ve never tasted anything like them and am currently sitting here craving them. If you go to Cleo, GET THE BRUSSELS SPROUTS, OK?

After dinner, a few of us headed to a local rooftop bar for a bit of drinking and a whole lot of dancing. I’ll admit, I probably overdid it this night. A couple cocktails and glasses of wine at dinner, and a couple of cocktails at the bar/club had me feeling pretty toasty. We cabbed it back to the apartment and crashed hard.

Alright, so I was initially going to make this post include days 3&4 but they were both pretty full so the rest of my trip will be coming in the next post!
Hope you enjoyed following along, babes!