Pajama Pants

Finally, pajama pants are now acceptable for everyday wear. I have been crazy about printed pants for a while now but finding the right fit, feel, and print is key. I was graciously given these pants by eShakti.com, a website that offers customizable clothing. Finally, all of us who feel we are the in between with sizes can confidently order something off the internet. Regarding the fit and quality of the pants, I have no complaints. They are not see through in the slightest - aka I can wear my bright pink underwear proudly, like the obnoxious nineteen year old I am. I customized the height to fit me perfectly and the drawstring detailing at the top is nicely done and makes the pants immensely more flattering. The pants are definitely a statement piece so I paired them with staples: a basic black crop top, my typical black structured bag, and my leather mules that still confuse some people. The sunglasses made me feel cool, which is one of the most important qualities I look for in a pair. 

Brief discussion of some thoughts~

I do not think I am compatible with accounting. 

I recently realized that the full body mirror I have hanging in my room is slightly warped and makes my body appear thinner than it actually is. This is my first finding of blissful ignorance, because I do not need to know the actual appearance of my body because all that matters is how I feel about it. It's easier to write that out than to actually convince myself of it. 

"If nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do." If I am so incredibly insignificant, then there is validity in what I do just because that's what I do. I have to believe this. 

That is all for now. Hope you enjoy! 

xx Michelle

Use the coupon code "lifeonlotus" for 10% off your order on eShakti.com

Photos by Justine Solan.

Nineteen

This past Saturday, August 16th, I celebrated my nineteenth birthday. Nineteen is somewhat of an insignificant number to me and my busy schedule made me unenthusiastic, so I opted for a simple day at The Huntington in Pasadena. I genuinely enjoy museum visits and it was so nice spending a day with my family wandering through the different gardens. Later at night, I was treated to a nice dinner at Bottega Louie in downtown, consisting of carbs and desserts. I'd say it was a pretty nice celebration.

Similar to last years birthday post, I wanted to put on a cute dress and take some blog photos. So here we go. White has been the color of summer and considering the fact that I have a summer birthday, a white dress was suitable for the occasion. I picked up this beaded frock from the Zara sale recently. It was significantly reduced in price and I knew I would find an occasion to wear it. Being inland in August, the weather was close to triple digits and the loose fit made the outdoor actives more bearable. My new H&M hat was the perfect accessory, adding style and functionality. I topped off the look with an old Rebecca Minkoff cross body bag and some lace up sandals. Hope you enjoy!

xx Michelle

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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

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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

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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

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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

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photos by Missy. 

Boy

Oh, boy. In this look, I was wearing boyfriend jeans while simultaneously wearing my favorite Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in the shade Boy. See what I did there?

My last few posts have really made me realize how basic my style is. When I mean basic, I mean a style made up of extremely wearable pieces. I do love a statement item, but I think you get so much more out of your wardrobe if you invest in items you can wear with so many different looks. Specifically for this outfit, I wore my new Topshop "Boyfriend" Jeans with a Nasty Gal blush tank top. I have always underestimated the importance of a good basic tee, especially in a wearable color like blush. It is so easy to style and instantly adds a casual-cool feel to an outfit. To balance out the not-so-figure-flattering ensemble on top, I paired the look with a more delicate shoe. These Steve Madden sandals with the stacked heel follow one of my favorite trends for the summer. Let's all thank Isabel Marant for introducing us to the "Carol" sandal last summer, which I think has inspired a lot of the shoes I've seen in stores this season. The look was topped with minimal jewelry and minimal make-up, strictly including glowing skin and supple lips. 

Hope you guys enjoyed this one! I especially loved the way these photos turned out. Thanks for reading.

xx Michelle

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Check out this post on Teen Vogue Fashion Click here. 

photos by virginia.