FASHION FRIDAY: MAXI LOVE - How to dress up an oversized black maxi dress

It has been a LONG while since my last Fashion Friday post - too long actually (my last post was back in Sept 2012, say whaaaatttt?). BUT, I kinda make up for being a #badblogger since I am whipping up a post on a FRIDAY night, right? ;)

I have always been a fan of maxi dresses (although I don't wear them often enough) - casual yet "glam". Maxi dresses make a great staple in a girl's wardrobe - perfect for your weekly Sunday brunch sesh or you can flaunt it at your local pub during the usual Saturday night bevs time. 

 I decided to finally put on this black maxi dress that I got from CLEO over a year ago that's slightly too long & a tad too big. I could either shuff it back to the lonely corner of my wardrobe or make it work #likeaboss.

And, HERE is how I did it: 

1. Tie the knot: Too long? Just because you're not blessed with J Hawkin's height, doesn't mean you can't buy that gorgeous maxi dress that might be a tad too long for you. Simply tie a knot at the corner and VOILA - the perfect length & additional edge to an otherwise simple dress.

2. Add a POP: The good ol', fail-proof colour poppin. Add a bright, bold colour to your plain maxi for that contrast and I chose a skinny, red belt!

3. Plus the STATEMENT necklace: Statement necklace is my favourite icing to my outfit cake, especially corporate wear as it instantly dresses UP an otherwise boring outfit! So, start investing in a few statement necklace today!

4. Finish off with a COLOURED cardigan: With the temperamental Sydney's weather, it's always good to bring along a cardigan as it could be 46 degrees now and drop to 26 degrees 2 hours later. #truestory So, instead of the traditional black/ white/ grey/ beige cardigan, why not spice up your outfit with a coloured cardigan? 

5. BONUS - Add some colours to your FOTD: Swap your usual black liner for an electric blue eyeliner. I am wearing Face of Australia Bulge-proof Gel Liner in Brilliant Blue* here!

(These babies are awesomesauce and cost only $9.95 a pop - coming soon at your local drugstore!)

Maxi dress: "Seduce" (FREE with CLEO)

Red belt: Malaysia

Studded bag: Dotti

Sandals: Sports Girl

Cardigan: ZARA

Necklace: DIVA

Sunnies: Ray Bans

"Don't let your fear of striking out prevent you from never playing the game"

"Focus your conscious mind on things you desire not things you fear. Doing so bring dreams to life"

Outfit photo credit: my LOVELY babysis (@zoweexoxo)

I am by no means a fashionista with some mad sense of fashion - but I do enjoy mixing and matching and hunt fir clothes that suits my bodyshape, especially at a bargain! So, I hope you girls (and guys) enjoy this post. :)

PS: Although the Fashion Friday series have been forming cob webs here, I have been quite diligent with quick OOTD shots on Instagram. Follow @ThroughBeautyEyes for more of my outfit quickies. ;)

PPS: I might be a little floaty from the Panadeine Forte I just consumed 2 hours ago - so my apologies if there's any grammatical error or if it doesnt make any sense. :P

Do you own any/ many maxi dresses in your wardrobe? 

What are your dressing/ styling tips?

Disclaimer: Products marked with asterisk* were sent to me for consideration purposes. I was not compensated for this post. All opinions stated are 100% honest. For more information, please refer to Through Beauty Eyes disclosure policies.  

XOXO,

A

FOTD - ABSOLUM WONDERLAND

So, it has been a while since I last posted a "colourful", outside the norm FOTD. Mainly because, I barely go out on Saturdays anymore and on Fridays, I have work during the day. Being in the professional line doesn't really give you much room to be creative when it comes to eye make up. Hence, I always make an effort to have more "special" make up whenever I have event to attend to on the weekends. 

Here is the look I wore to my best friend's wedding 2 weeks ago - a mixture of green, blue and purple

On my EYES

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Urban Decay Alice in The Wonderland Palette:

Absolum

Alice

Underland

Urban Decay Black Palette:

Jet

Maybelline Eyestudio Drama Lasting Eyeliner in Black

Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil in Flipside

Gypsy Eyelashes in #96

Shu Uemura Eyebrow Pencil in Hard

STEP 1: Apply Absolum all over the first 3/4 of your eyelid.

STEP 2: Apply Jet at the outer corner /V of your eyelid, creating a "V" shape.

STEP 3: Apply Alice all over 3/4 of your crease.

STEP 4: Gently pack on Underland at the 1/4 of your outer lid, overlapping Jet. 

STEP 5: Using a clean blending brush, blend all the colours together. You may always pack on more Absolum if you think the colour faded a little after all the blending. 

STEP 6: Apply your favourite gel liner on your upper lash line and a turquoise eyeliner on your lower lash line. I used Maybelline Eyestudio Drama Lasting Eyeliner in black and Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencil in Flipside respectively. (Milani Liquif'eye Metallic Eyeliner Pencil *click for review and swatches" is an awesome and way cheaper dupe for Flipside!)

STEP 7: Using an angled brush, apply Underland on the outer half of your lower lash line and Absolum in the inner half of your lower lash line.

STEP 8: Apply a generous coat of mascara and put on your favourite pair of falsies. I am using Gipsy Lashes in #96. Don't forget to coat your lower lashes with mascara too! It does make a difference! 

On my FACE

Face of Australia Mineral Therapy Liquid Foundation in Beige

Australis Liquid Concealer Pen in Light Beige

MAC MSF in Medium

Face of Australia Translucent Powder

MAC MSF Blush in Hang Loose

MAC MSF in Candlelight

Sports Girl Oh My Goddess Bronzing Powder

On my LIPS

Rimmel Royal Gloss in Candy (refer to swatch above)

MAC Viva Glam Gaga Lipstick

( I had it on in my first and second photo below)

*please ignore the gross sleepy look*

I chose a simple black dress since I decided to go colourful with my eye make up.

Gaga's puffy sleeves is absolute love!

Dress from Valley Girl/ Stockings from Malaysia/ Heels from Charles & Keith/ Ring from DIVA

Hope you guys enjoyed the quick FOTD (and the blog-torial) and the outfit of the day!


What's your favourite "outside the norm" colours combination?
Would love to get some ideas and inspiration. :)


XOXO,
A

FOTD - Plum Wine

I know I am not exactly the best blogger in the past couple of weeks with the inconsistent updates. I blame it on my laptop for chucking a psycho at me everytime I try to edit my photos on Picassa. By chucking a psycho, I mean shutting down completely and shutting down again moments after I log into my lappie. I know I should be harassing the customer service representatives rather than whinging here on my blog but I am so attached to my laptop and rely on it so much that I am still not ready to send it to the hospital. =.="

 Anyways,

how's your week been so far? It's Thursday already, that means another day till the weekend again! Gonna have a quiet and healthy weekend this week for the sake of my liver. =P Should start my detox plan soon and start getting ready for summer, which is in another 4months! Can't wait!! It has been getting ridiculously cold in Sydney lately. =/=

This was my EOTD over the weekend - wore this look on both Friday & Saturday =P

I was wearing black on both days so I thought it did be nice to add some colours on my eyes, just so I don't become Lady in Black who looks like she's attending a funeral.

* Please ignored my extremely disgusting & gross eyebrows. I didn't have the time to trim them before Aunty Rose's visit. Just a friendly reminder here (for those who don't already know), your skin is extra sensitive right before your period so unless you have to, try not to wax/ tweeze before your Aunty Rose's visit.*

On my EYES

ELF Mineral Eyeshadow Primer 

NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Slate

Barry M Dazzle Dust in 88

Urban Decay Alice in the Wonderland BoS Palette

-Queen (all over lid as a base prior to applying the pigments)

- Mad Hater (Outer Crease)

- Curiouser (Inner Crease)

- Javverwocky (Outer V)

Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Eyeliner in Black (Upper Lash Line)

Urban Decay 24/7 Eye pencil in Zero (Lower Lash Line)

Model 21 falsies

Cover Girl Lash Blast Waterproof Mascara

ELF Eyebrow Kit in Medium

On my FACE

Revlon Photo Ready Foundation in Natural Beige

NYX Concealer in a Jar in Light

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder in Ivory Light

Prestige Baked Mineral Blush in Pink

Chi Chi Mosaic Bronzer in Dark

Benefit High Beam

- With Flash-

- Without Flash- 

On my LIPS

Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Soft Nude

Because I love my eye make up that night and I was in a camwhoric mode, hence the following shameless luvo pic LOL

I pained my nails with alternate colours, using both of my current favourites - China Glaze For Audrey and Refresh Mint 

:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:

Also, I did mention on my twitter that I am now semi red-headed after getting some highlights done a week ago. My lovely hairdresser friend offered to highlight for me for only A$20 *win*

After experiencing a traumatic experience of having the WORST allergic attack (think deformed face - my entire face was swollen; my eye lids became 3 times thicker; my eyes could barely open and I had shitloads of blisters on my scalp . yes, it was that bad) after getting my hair dyed last year.

Had anyone of you have an allergic attack before due to hair dye?

Although I did *kinda* swear never to colour my hair ever again, I was really tempted after seeing all my in growns and realised how much I love my mahogany red colour I had. I wasn't sure if I should risk fucking around with my face again, so highlights in the best option and I LOVE how it turned out to be. =P

- Without Flash-

- With flash-

It looks like I have dyed my hair instead of highlights. :D :D :D

Outfit of the day (Friday)

Tunic Top: Cotton On

Bandage Dress (worn underneath) : Cotton On

Guitar Necklace: Diva

What's your favourite Saturday Night Out Look?

ps: I have also emailed the lucky follower for my micromini surprise here. Don't forget to check your inbox =P

xoxo,

A

Collective HAUL #2 - LUSH & DIVA

Hello lovelies, 

How was your weekend? Hope you had a great one and make Monday less dreadful. Sorry for MIA in the past couple of days and here I am, blogging while watching Germany V England clash. (GOOD GAME! I shall not bore you guys with the details and my random rants during the match, which can be seen on my twitter too. )

I was meant to blog about this haul right on Friday but I find it hard to pull myself away from this awesomeeee TV series called:

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES =P=P=P

Ian Somerhalder as Damon Salvatore

Am I the only one who find him drop-dead-gorgeously HOT and is WAY better looking than Stefan in The Vampire Diaries?

There's something about his pair of mesmerizing eyes, his signature wink, his body and the way he dresses. And of course, the bad boy vibe that emanates from him.

Michael Trevino as Tyler Lockwood.

He is the other eye candy that caught my attention after Damon in The Vampire Diaries. I think I see a "common traits" in these 2 guys that I find attractive- the bad boy vibe and buff body =P

ANYWAYS,

I shall not bore you guys further with my temporary celebrity crush and lets move on to the more interesting part of the post - My mini haul from LUSH and DIVA =P

I think I have gone past my make up addiction phase and it has now moved on to LUSH.Not sure if it's a good sign as their products are slightly on the expensive side.

Nicely wrapped :)

I bought their 

I purchased their Big Hair Affair Trial Kit and they all came in this cute takeaway-like box.

$14.95 for 3 shampoos, 2 conditioners, 1hair treatment and 1 styling gel.

Pretty good deal, I reckon.

Big Buffy - a moisturizing soap bar which works well as an exfoliator as well. It leaves your skin moisturized even after washing it off. I am lovin' it so far, will do a review on it after trying it for a longer time. :)

         

My "Ice Blue" sample.

DIVA was having a further markdown,hoping to clear their old stocks before the End of Financial Year I suppose - 4 for $10. Love the great sense of satisfaction whenever I snatched a good deal like this =P

Pink Butterfly Bangle & Ring for lil sis.

*I knew I had to get it for my babysis the moment I saw this. Pink + Butterfly = GEM. Lol!*

THIS GORGEOUS Spring Enamel Diamond Snake Clamp was originally priced at $19.99! 

Isn't this bracelet elegant?

Retro Guitar Necklace 

On top of the 4 pieces of accessories I got, I got this cute pink rose ring too. For $1! :D

HOW CUTE THIS RING IS???!! And it has lipgloss when you open the rose =P

Sorry for the lack of words and flow of this post as it is 2am in the morning and I had a mere 5 hours sleep last night due to my Vampire Diaries marathon and work is at 9am tomorrow. GG. I forsee a very cranky Adeline tomorrow. :( 

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD, LOVELIES =P

xoxo,

A