Le Geek, C'est Chic

It's that time of year again. Students will know exactly what I mean - finals season! I've been spending a lot of quality time in the library with my nose in a book and my eyes watering from staring at my laptop screen for hours on end. Fortunately I have my beautiful classmates keeping my company and I'm psyched to share their beauty tips with you. Obviously these tips aren't just for library geeks, anyone working long hours or night shifts can probably pick up a new idea or two.

Your Face

As an out and proud Eye Rubber/Face Toucher/Lip Biter I've pretty much nailed my library beauty routine. I need something that takes five minutes in the morning, requires minimal touchups, and makes me look pulled-together enough that if I run into my ex on my way home I don't have to turn and run (again).

I start with BB cream to even things out a bit. I don't like a full foundation look for the library, in part because I want my skin to breathe and in part because I think library beauty should be effortless. No one wants to be that chick who spent longer getting ready than actually studying. So BB cream it is. I also leave my dark circles alone, they are badges of honour! I earned them and they make me look tough! But if you aren't as twisted as I am you might want to cover them up. I like YSL Touche Eclat because it cancels out the blue shades without looking cakey or orange.

I keep my eye makeup minimal. I know I'll be rubbing my eyes when I get tired so I like products with serious lasting power. I use Bobbi Brown's gel eyeliner with Benefit They're Real mascara. I also swipe a little bit of Benefit Eye Bright in my inner corners and waterlines to look more awake. I love the eyeliner and mascara here because they stay all day and don't flake into my eyes.

For cheeks and lips I like to go with a bright and colorful stain product. You can really use anything you like here, I alternate between Benefit's Benetint, Revlon Balm Stains, and NARS lip pencils depending on my mood. I find that having a colour on my lips keeps me from biting them when I'm concentrating. Also it makes me look a little more awake and healthy! That's super crucial for library vampires. The only product I toss into my purse is the lip product so I can reapply after lunch or coffee - see above re: potential scary run-ins.

In this photo I actually skipped the blush altogether because I felt like the lip colour was pretty bright on its own! I put a tiny bit of navy eyeliner at the corner of my eyes and lashings of mascara. The whole look takes no time at all but makes me look pulled-together and lasts all day. It's not exactly revolutionary to wear red lipstick, but around my friends a bright lip is definitely A Statement and I'm all about making statements without having to actually put in effort.

NARS Matte Velvet Lip Pencil in Dragon Girl, Benefit's They're Real Mascara. 

Your Hair

It's tempting to throw my hands up in defeat and put my hair into yet another ponytail. But a gym-ready ponytail with bright lipstick is defeatist. And that's not for us! Put on Eye of the Tiger and get your comb out, girl.

The goal here is something that will keep my hair off my face, look cute enough for humans to see, and will not give me a headache after 10 hours or so. Enter: magnificent braiding. It takes me less than five minutes to work a braid into my hair in some way and yet people give me credit for it like I'm some kind of genius. It's perfectly simple! I actually take my inspiration from vintage Lauren Conrad on The Hills - remember her pretty little side braids? In this photo I did two French braids right at the hairline, ending in tiny elastics at the nape of the neck. This basically creates the same effect as a headband would but is comfortable for hours on end and looks somewhat bohemian and deliberate. To give hair a little more grip I like to spray it with surf spray or hairspray before and after the braiding magic happens so it'll hold better. As the day goes on the braids will naturally loosen but I think this adds to the subtle IDGAF vibe and I like it.

I don't know how I look more tan in this photo than the other one. iPhone cameras are weird. 

Your Clothes

Again, the temptation is to put on sweatpants, a sports bra, and a T-shirt from your high school drama club. Resist! Unless that's your thing, in which case, why are you even here? (JOKES. Please stay) I am all about comfort and refuse to buy into the idea that comfort and cuteness are mutually exclusive. Now your outfit will vary depending on the weather and the ambient temperature of your actual study or workspace. Our school kindly keeps the library at approximately the same temperature as the surface of the sun while it is typically mid-40s F outside. That means layers layers layers. I like a pair of boyfriend jeans, comfy plimsolls, a loose top, and an optional cardigan. The whole look is effortless and just as comfortable as sweats but also transitions to dinner or the pub easily. Click through to see product info.

Library Time by callmecate. Alternative outfit: scrubs.

How do you stay cute when your instinct is to hibernate? Weigh in below. Also as I edited this post I realized that I rapidly switch between first person and second person in the narrative. If any English teachers are reading this (or, God forbid, my former English teachers) I apologize, sincerely. I haz all the dumbs from studying too much. In medicine 99% of my writing is abbreviated anyway.

xo Caitlin

Kusadasi Dreaming

In less than a month I'll be lying on a beach in Kusadasi, Turkey partying my cares away. Unfortunately in the meantime I have some pesky schoolwork and even peskier exams to get through. To make the time go faster I've been pinning my favourite summer looks and planning what stories I'll be inventing when my credit card bill arrives. The itinerary for the trip largely revolves around beach time with some bar hopping and sightseeing mixed in, so I need outfits that transition from the beach to the bar easily but leave enough room in my luggage for a few pashminas and harem pants. We're flying on some budget airline that I've never heard of, so I want to fit all my makeup and clothing into a small carryon as well. Shall we explore my packing/wish list?

Beach Lounging
Retro bathing suit styles are really "in" lately but I can't wear them at all. On me they look costume-y and weird, so I tend to stick to a more bohemian aesthetic. Since this trip is to Turkey I'm feeling inspired by images of Istanbul and the Bosphorus to guide me. That means kaftans and big hats with enormous sunglasses. I want to look like a 70s Elizabeth Taylor but with possibly more jewelry.

Here are a few of my favourites:

This Issa kaftan is appropriately called the "Ocean Print Goddess Kaftan." Unfortunately it is slightly out of my price range (694.99EU) but, hey, a girl can dream.

Anyway I'm using this kaftan as a jumping-off point. I love the vibrant colours and the relaxed vibe. I'd prefer a shorter kaftan anyway, I worked hard doing squats and spin class all winter and I want to show off my legs! 

Tunics and bikini by J Crew

Sunglasses: Ted Baker "Biotime" 

Headband: Deepa Gurnani (available at ASOS)

Bracelet: ASOS

Sandals: Stuart Weitzman at Zappos

The tunics will be perfect as beach coverups and then with a pair of denim cutoffs and those divine sandals. I'm in the market for a new salt spray, my current favorite one from Charlotte Ronson has been discontinued and I'm down to my last stockpiled bottle. Hopefully I'll find one in time for Turkey because the babely boho beach girl look is all about artfully tousled waves. I'm tempted by this Kevin Murphy Hair Resort Texturizer because it's a gel rather than a spray so I expect I'd get more even distribution through my hair. Feel free to weigh in on other favorite sea salt sprays!

Also features shimmer. Mermaid Hair?

Today was a particularly rainy gross day and only my upcoming vacations are keeping me going lately. Before Turkey I'll be headed to Tuscany on a five day cycling trip through wine country. Stay tuned for packing updates and wine recommendations. My good friend is a very experienced oenophile (okay, I've been looking for a reason to use that word, sue me) and has been emailing me nonstop with wine recommendations that I can't wait to share. 

Salt spray recommendations? Preferred beach activities? Recommendations for can't-miss Turkey experiences? Weigh in below. 

xo Caitlin

Springing Forward

Spring fashion - is there anything more typically yawn-worthy? Every year I browse Grafton Street hoping for inspiration and feeling like Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada.

Instead I've spent my time looking elsewhere for ways to up my fashion game without breaking the bank or getting caught up in the endless cycle of fast fashion and waste. How am I putting my little grey cells to work, you ask?

1. I finally caved and signed up for GlossyBox. I spent ages hemming and hawing over whether I really needed more beauty products but today I bit the bullet and subscribed! My friends in the States are very spoiled by the likes of BirchBox, Nature Box, and Wantable but as far as I can tell GlossyBox is the only option for us on the Emerald Isle. No matter! I look forward to sampling everything I can get my paws on and enduring the judgmental looks from the postman.
2. I've been looking in new and unusual places to get my sundress fix. Right now I'm obsessed with the maternity styles from Seraphine even though I'm not pregnant (unless we count the Food Baby, but shhh let's not). All the dresses are comfy, stretchy, and will easily transition to summer. I'm pairing mine with leather jackets, black tights, and ankle boots now but can't wait to upgrade to sandals and sunglasses. 
3. Can we talk 90s for a second? The 90s are clearly having A Moment, much in the way the 80s had A Moment when I was in High School. I've been using my study breaks to revisit my love for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and I'm digging Buffy and Faith's tremendously inappropriate makeup and fashion looks for school. I'm thinking this spring I'll bust out some mini skirts and Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick (available here you lazy bums). I might skip the crop tops though, due to aforementioned Food Baby. Watch this space for details on biting Buffy's 90s style. 
4. Speaking of the 90s - remember Cher Horowitz's amazing closet that was run by some sort of robotic witchcraft? Every girl my age dreamt of a closet like that. I am still waiting for Microsoft to develop the technology with the dry-cleaner railings and remote control functions. In the meantime I've been playing with Stylebook, an iPhone app that lets you catalog your closet, create looks, and then keep track of when you wore everything. It feeds my obsessive compulsive tendencies but does tend to bring out the worst in me when I realize I've worn the same black dress pants for the last 12 days. My style resolution for spring is to retire anything on the "Top 25 Most Worn" List (a depressing list of sensible ballet flats, black dress pants, and pearl studs. Oh, the shame) temporarily and revitalize my outfits and soul with some of the items on the "Never Worn" List. For those interested, the Never Worn List is a very upsetting visual reminder of my impulse buys. We must destroy it immediately. 

How are you updating your wardrobe for spring? Ponder that and weigh in! 

Also, let's play a quick Shag/Marry/Kill...

Is it obvious that I would probably kill Angel? 

Controversial, I know.

Till next time!

xo Caitlin