All That Glitters...

There's something about sequins, glitter, and sparkles that instantly attracts me. Incorporating sequined/glittered pieces into my outfits makes me feel glamorous, sexy, and so fun. I love pairing structured items like a conventional blazer with a frilly, girly, sparkly piece, which brings balance to the entire outfit, especially if it is worn during the day. Yet when I go out a night, I enjoy letting the sequined item take center stage. For instance, I have a sequin skirt that I love wearing, so I pair it with a neutral shirt, black heels, and only small earrings so that everything evens out.

Sequins and glitter have an amazing ability to bring a woman's sexy and feminine side. Wearing such a stand-out piece like that makes you feel like you belong in Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. It truly embodies the vision of glamour. Winter is the perfect time to wear sequined items, especially at New Years. This time of year is filled with twinkling lights and sparkling ornaments, so it's natural that these have inspired today's popular fashion trends. Many brands are incorporating this trend in their stock, including ASOS (great for dresses!), Express, Loft, and H&M. I think everyone needs at least one glittery piece in their wardrobe and should at the very least wear it out for New Year's Eve. It's a look that is fun, eye-catching, and totally flirty! Looking for inspiration? Check out Glitter Guide for some great photos!

All That Glitters... by historyandhighheels

Gold evening dress
Anya Hindmarch flap handbag, $445
Dannijo crystal jewelry, £655
Kate Spade handcrafted jewelry, $78


If you are not wanting to spend any money on a new item, think about updating a piece already in your wardrobe! Glitter Guide featured a fun and cheap tutorial found here to create sparkly ankle booties! I'm definitely thinking about trying this out.

My First Ever Makeup Tutorial

So after a few requests from friends and followers, I've decided to do a makeup video tutorial! It's just on my normal, everyday makeup look with golden/brown eyeshadow. Sorry for the rambling at the beginning! I got a little nervous with posting my first video! If you have any questions, comments, or requests let me know! Maybe next time I will be a bit more eloquent!

Keeping Warm on Chilly Nights

I've found that one of the problems that many of us girls run into as we go out on weekend nights is dressing appropriately for chilly weather. While it may be 40 degrees outside with a wind chill of 20, the bars and clubs heat up near to summer-like temperatures. So the issue ends up being whether you want to wear a coat/jacket for the walk in, but know that you will have to hold on to it while on the dance floor. Or else you could freeze your tush off on the walk in and out of the bar, but be comfortable inside.

The solution I have found to this problem (if you don't want to pay for checking your coat) is to choose a lighter jacket/blazer that is appropriate for evening wear that coordinates with the outfit well, but can stay on while inside. I particularly recommend getting a fun blazer or tuxedo jacket to wear because these two pieces easily compliment most evening outfits. They look great with skirts, dresses, and leggings. Also, I very much recommend wearing tights under skirts and dresses because they keep you fairly warm, but don't cause you to overheat. Today tights come in a variety of styles that are so great for evening attire. I especially love lace patterned tights because they are so girly and fun, but practical as well. Also, if you don't like the look of tights, but want to keep a bit warmer, I really recommend nude fishnet tights. They are a modern take on the nude tights our grandmothers wear, but have the advantage of making your legs look great while keeping a natural look. (Beyonce loves them!) These two pieces will really help you keep warm on those weekend nights, while keeping up a fashionable appearance!

date night - fancy by historyandhighheels 

Quiksilver viscose shirt, $74
Stella McCartney twill jacket, £732
J Crew elastic waist skirt, £84
Armani exchange, $19
Tory Burch leopard print heels, $325
Valentino tahitian pearl necklace, $545
Dorothy Perkins stone belt, £4

Women of History: Marie Antoinette

Four days ago was the 256th birthday of renown female historical figure Marie Antoinette. She was christened Marie Antonia Josepha Johanna, the youngest daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Francis I of the Habsburgs in Austria. In 1765, Francis I died of a stroke leaving his wife Maria Theresa to co-rule the Holy Roman Empire with her son Emperor Joseph II. In order to strengthen their position in the world and prevent war with France, Antonia was betrothed to the Dauphin of France, Louis-Auguste. Their ceremonial wedding took place in 1770 in the Palace of Versailles, which was supposed to be followed by the long awaited consummation of their vows, but this did not occur and caused friction for many years to come. After the death of King Louis XV in May 1774, Louis and Marie Antoinette ascended to the throne as the King and Queen of France.

Recently I read a book of historical fiction on Marie Antoinette and found this enigmatic woman incredibly interesting. Her influence on fashion and love for dressing in rich finery was almost unparalleled at the time. She loved creating and naming new colors for the seasons. One I remember was a grey color called goose droppings that was particularly popular for women's dress colors. She also dictated one season that feathers were the new item in style and that next day women were seen sporting bird feathers in their hair and bought out the stock of feathers in Parisian stores nearly as quickly. Her extravagant taste and exuberant passion for style is inspiring for fellow fashion lovers.

Marie Antoinette serves as a reminder to all of us for the need to indulge in our feminine side. Also, it also reminds us that fashion is supposed to be a fun part of life and never should become something just routine. Let fashion be an art form and you will quickly begin to experience the excitement that comes from actively engaging in the art community. So go out and throw on several chains of necklaces, wear a sweetheart dress, indulge in sequins (great for this holiday season!), and put a big bow in your hair. You're a woman so embrace it!

Women of History: Marie Antoinette by historyandhighheels 

Miss Selfridge bodice dress, £65
Alexander McQueen t strap sandals, $795
Monsoon drawstring bag, £12
Ben Amun tahitian pearl necklace, $655
Valentino diamante jewelry, $645
Ranjana Khan chain jewelry, $475
BCBG Max Azria floral necklace, $118
Filigree Bow Anywhere Clip, $55
For You, Anything Ring, $9.99