Cutouts & Tan Lines

Something big has happened this summer, something so strange and new to me that's changed the whole way I view myself. I have always accepted myself as a perpetually pale person, until now; I have actually gained a tan. Now this a tan that is subtle compared to most summer tans, yet so obvious to me. Just to clarify, I obtained this tan while wearing sunscreen and no, it is not fake. 

Now onto the outfit. I purchased this dress from Nasty Gal at the beginning of summer, but I have been stumped on what bra to wear with it until now. I would like to thank my trusty sticky bra for making this look happen. These awesome sandals are a recent purchase from Pixie Market, and they are actually a lot easier to put on than you would think, thanks to the zipper in the back. I find outfits harder to style in the summer due to the heat, which makes layers completely impossible. That's where my appreciation for these gladiator sandals come in, for they are just an amped up summer staple. 

I shot these photos at one of my favorite spots in Orange County, The Lab in Costa Mesa. We ate lunch at The Gypsy Den and I scored an All Saints sweater at the Buffalo Exchange there. If you are looking for unique shops and restaurants, I recommend this "anti-mall" as they call it.

I would like to give a quick shout out to the band Tanlines, which I have been listening to while writing this.

Hope you enjoy! xx Michelle

Follow me?

instagram @michellegilbertson

twitter @itsmemichelleg

photos by Carly. 

Check out this post on Teen Vogue Fashion Click here. 

Mountain Halls

On a recent family trip to Lake Tahoe, I took advantage of the scenery to showcase yet again, another unflattering pair of boyfriend jeans. Yes, they may make my butt look flat and they give me the stereotypical "mom" look, but I don't care. They are comfortable, chic, and they make me feel cool. This look may not have been the proper attire for climbing through trees, but let's get real, I wouldn't really describe myself as "granola". 

Alright, let's get down to the details. The boyfriend jeans I already discussed are from Topshop and feature a medium colored wash with all the rips I could ever wish to have, just to further perplex the older generation. The sweater has already been worn in this post, from Urban Outfitters but thrifted from a local Buffalo Exchange. It seems like a basic striped sweater, but it features two diagonal seams that shifts the stripes off course. Not so basic now, huh? I then added a black hat from Urban Outfitters and some flats from Steve Madden. My bag is my usual Kate Spade Saturday Mini A Satchel and my jewelry is a mix of my tortoise shell Fossil watch and a flea market stone bracelet. 

Remember, you should always dress for yourself and no one else. Hope you enjoyed!

xx Michelle

follow me?

instagram @michellegilbertson

twitter @itsmemichelleg

Check out this post on Teen Vogue Fashion Click here. 

Repurchased Beauty Items No. 1

Because of my obscene obsession with beauty products, I am constantly reading other reviews and discovering new products. Due to this, I rarely make impulse purchases and there are often other products I would like to try out with the hope that they will be even better. With that being said, it is a big deal for me to repurchase an item because that means that I was so pleased with the product, I am confident that I will be displeased with any other alternative. It is for that reason I have decided to start a new blog series, documenting the rare beloved products that I have happily repurchased on numerous accounts. 

~

The first product I am featuring is the Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch. In the age of people contouring their faces Kardashian style, there has been an outbreak in the beauty industry of products aimed to give you that chiseled look. This has been my go-to under-eye concealer for about a year now. It covers up any darkness under my eyes with minimal creasing and if I am feeling bold, I will also use it to highlight the rest of my face. I originally tried this because I thought it would be the drugstore version of the coveted YSL Touche Éclat. In fact, Maybelline and YSL cosmetics are both owned by L'Oréal, so it would make sense that the products would be similar. Whether you are thinking about trying the highlighting/contouring look or you are just looking for a great under-eye concealer, I definitely recommend this product. 

Next up on my list is the CHANEL Vitalumière Aqua foundation. When it comes to my complexion, I can completely justify buying high end foundations because of the stark quality difference. There is nothing like a CHANEL foundation and I have never been disappointed with any. The Vitalumière Aqua is my absolute favorite everyday foundation. The coverage is light, but build-able, and it just gives my skin and even and natural looking texture. Because I like to wear certain foundations for different occasions, this foundation is expensive but lasts a pretty long time for me. Just a little tip, you can also get a tester of any foundation from the counter for free. If you get a decent sales associate, the testers are usually a pretty generous size so you can really wear the foundation before actually purchasing. 

Last but not least is the Maybelline The Colossal Volum' Express Cat Eyes Mascara. A long name, but I would definitely like to place an emphasis on the Cat Eye formula; the wand is much smaller than the original and features a curved shape which I find makes application easier. Opinions on mascaras are so subjective, but the reason I like this one so much is because it holds curl extremely well, both the waterproof and non-waterproof formulas. My lashes are lacking in length and volume, but no matter how much mascara I put on it doesn't make a difference if my eyelashes aren't curled. Waterproof mascara formulas always hold curl extremely well, but they are hard to fully remove and not ideal for everyday. The reason why I continue to go back to this mascara is because it holds the curl in my lashes without me having to wear the waterproof formula. 

Hope you enjoyed. This one was especially for my readers who like the beauty posts! 

xx Michelle

follow me?

instagram @michellegilbertson

twitter @itsmemichelleg

Tropics

My sister and I found ourselves in an empty parking lot at golden hour and voilà, I am here to show you some of my favorite summer pieces. This tropical print Zara skirt is one of my top closet items this summer; i've worn it so much lately it has definitely been worth the twenty dollars I paid for it. 

Now, let's talk about these sunglasses. I have been lusting after reflective lens sunglasses for so long now, specifically the orange Ray Ban aviators. But yet again, my student budget proved to be a hindrance and I found these pink Mink Pink beauties from ASOS to be a close substitute. I couldn't be happier with them and I may be a little too excited over some colorful reflective lenses. I am loving the print on print trend this season, but for this look I paired the skirt with a basic black chiffon tee. As for accessories, I wore my new sandals from Zara and a fringe cross body bag.

I have to admit I am currently having a summer fling with blogging. I have a lot more content planned ahead including an upcoming beauty post. I wonder which my readers prefer: fashion or beauty posts? 

xx Michelle

follow me?

twitter @itsmemichelleg

instagram @michellegilbertson

photos by Missy.