Stoping Motion

Once again I am returning from Designland, where endless amounts of homework and lack of sleep have kept me from updating the blog. The only salvation is that I used this opportunity to create a promotional video for myself and PAPER+BOWS branding. The process may have been taxing, but in the end, it was worth it. I absolutely fell in love with the final product,which has more to do with my (secret) fall launch.

Weekly Crop/ 3

A friend requested I do a post with suggestions for how to style an outfit when you have curves (you know, boobs, hips, and a bum). I refuse to say what real or average women look like, because we come in all shapes and sizes, but there is always going to be a way to dress and get the most out of our unique bodies. I found that accentuating the smallest area of your torso (the waist) not only gives the illusion of being smaller, but hugs the hips in a flattering way. I love this dress from Aritzia because it comes in at the waist, drapes nicely over wider hips, and does not make boobs the star of the show. A couple accessories can either soften the look, a toughen it up (these biker boots are maj).

Floppy hat from Forever 21, Bennet dress from Aritzia, Biker Boot from Zara, Special Edition New York Shopper from Zara, Square bracelet from Forever 21.

Style Post/ 2

I know it has been a long time coming. I finally decided (for the most part) what I am wearing to my birthday celebration next week. Considering the unseasonably warm weather, mint color, lace layered hot shorts seem like a good choice. They added so much texture and volume, I went with a plain black body suit to streamline a touch. Lots of gold bracelets, my new Steve Madden boots, and voila, I'm ready for an evening celebrating another year!

Shorts from Forever 21, bodysuit for American Appearal, bracelets (3 different sets) from Forever 21, Steve Madden boots from Piperlime.

Speaking of celebrations, PAPER+BOWS officially received it's first 1000 views! To celebrate, I thought it would be fun to have the first giveaway! So go to PAPER+BOWS on Facebook, like the Smashbox make-up photo, and I will draw a name tonight by 9 pm!

Good Better Best: Beauty Balms

Beauty balms (or BB Creams) are the big thing this spring. When you break it down, a beauty balm is a tinted moisturizer on steroids. They boast the ability to hydrate, protect from the sun, even out skin tone, fight wrinkles, and erase dark spots. I tried five balms (Marcelle, Garnier, Smashbox, Clinique and MAC), giving them each a try for a week.

Good: Clinique Age Defense BB Cream $40
Starts creamy, and dries to a lovely powder finish. It was a moderate coverage, which was more than I was expecting considering it only has a tint to it. Overall, I found you had to blend quickly because of the finish, and it was a little pricey considering.

Better: Garnier BB Cream $21
I was really surprised with this product. I caught it on sale for $9, and it was not only a bargain, but one of the better BB creams out of all five. It was a little more moisturizing, but as a result, I did have to use a powder to set the cream in order to put blush or bronzer over top. Even though it was a bit thicker, I never broke out. The color was fine also, it lands in a neutral zone, so not too much on either the pink or yellow side.

Best: Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream $39
The BB cream was only a touch thicker than the original tinted moisturizer from Smashbox. What catches my eye first is the huge color selection. Five shades, instead of the traditional two (from all the other brands). The moisturizer soaked right into my skin, leaving a light coverage. I needed a small dime size amount, making the price point reasonable, and the SPF 35 included was a nice bonus that did not leave me with breakouts.

Eye Candy

I can't help but die a little every time the seasonal fashion shows end. The fashion world goes a little silent while everyone digests all the amazing looks, celebrity sightings, and outlandish shows. My only haven is when all the street style shots from Lewis Mirrett are posted. All the shots are raw, candid, and (let's not mince words) jaw dropping. There is no guarded smiles and practiced poses when this aficionado is at work. What gets me, is despite the many layers that came with the (cold weather) SS12 shows in the last month, there are still some many sleek snaps of my favorite things: accessories, layers, and details.
PS. I am wilting a little with envy over that silver-grey hair.

Photos credited to Lewis Mirret

Make-Over

Just dropping in for a small visit from a distant place called DesignLand. I know I have been a little absent the last few days, but it's all for a good cause! The re-design of the blog is obviously done, and the website is under development! In the mean time, sleep in and enjoy your weekend kiddies. I'll be back on Monday with proper posts.

Facelift

Today is little bit of a break from the blog for me, strictly because the new paperbows.com website is finally getting designed, and the blog is doing so well, I thought it would deserved a facelift also! In the meantime, the Steve Madden booties featured in the Weekly Crop/ 2 arrived. I released a sneak peak of an upcoming style post (layered lace shorts anyone?).