Clothing Review: Qupid Katz Lookalikes

About two weeks ago, I ordered these black and white Topshop Katz from the GoJane website, and I absolutely love them! They shipped pretty quickly, but I was in New York when they came, so I'm not exactly sure how quickly they came, but definitely within about a week. Unfortunately, they are sold out from the GoJane website, but you can still find them at Amazon or Urbanog. 

I absolutely love these! I'm usually somewhere around a US 6.5 or UK 4, but since I was ordering these online and I didn't want them to be too small, I bought them in a US 7, and they fit well. I like to put them on the tightest or second tightest option around my ankle because I have pretty small ankles. I have wide feet, and they fit great around my feet as well. For $26, these are absolutely amazing! I would absolutely recommend them to anyone.

Love,

Caro

OOTD: Lazy Day with the Best Friend

I went to a Giants game last night (so fun!) and so today I'm just being lazy and hanging around at home. I'm watching Modern Family with my best friend, eating ice cream, and slowly packing up my clothes to go back to Scotland.

I got the tee shirt and the leggings from Topshop (the leggings were a present from my best friend, I love her!), and then I'm wearing my slippers from CVS, I think.

PS You should totally follow me on instagram @carrrrrrrro.

Love,

Caro

San Francisco Haul

So my cousins have been in town recently, and of course I've been being a good hostess and showing them around the area. This of course means spending a lot of time in San Francisco, and as a result shopping in lots of cool shops in San Francisco. So I thought I'd take a minute to share some cool things that I bought the other day when I was playing tour guide.

This first item is an awesome dress that I found at the Buffalo Exchange on Haight Street. If you don't know what Buffalo Exchange is, its basically a nice thrift store that's aimed at teens, so you never know what you might find! Some of the item can be more expensive, around $20 or $30, but I found this lovely little dress for only $12. It' a great color, with a really cool pattern all over it, and it just seems perfect for summer, as a cute dress or even a swimsuit cover up.

This next thing is from a totally random little store on Haight. It's one of those gag gift and t shirt kind of stores - to be honest it reminded me a bit of Hot Topic, but I don't think this one is a chain store. Anyways, I have this thing about dancing skeletons, I love them to bits. I have a little statuette of a skeleton with moveable arms and a little sombrero that sits on my desk during the school year, and I absolutely adore him! He reminds me of home. Also, I may or may not (one day) be getting a tattoo of a Grateful Dead inspired dancing skeleton on my side. Did I mention I really love dancing skeletons? So of course I had to get this awesome shirt when I saw it on the wall of this little store! Just picture it with the sleeves rolled up and paired with some high waisted denim shorts for the summer time - it would look so cool.

This last item is a crop top from the Topshop section at Nordstrom's in San Francisco. If you're in the Westfield Mall on Powell Street, you can find the Topshop section on the top level of the Nordstrom's there. Be warned though its a very small section of the store. I found this sun top in the sale, and since its really flattering on me and I have difficulty finding colorful tops that I love, I decided to buy it. I'm pretty sure I can style it for both summer and some warmer days in the fall and winter! Which is good, seeing as how I'm in Scotland for about nine months of the year.

And finally, we stopped by Amoeba and I got this awesome CD. I've been into Motown stuff lately, and The Temptations are amazing.

Love,

Caro

Clothing Review: Topshop Longsleeve Cape Blouse in Nude

A little while ago, Topshop stocked this gorgeous Cape Detail Blouse, but unfortunately I wasn't able to get my hands on it before it sold out. So I scoured ebay for a month or two, looking for it or a similar item, when Topshop decided to quasi restock it. It doesn't have the same name, and it comes in a few different colors now, so I'm not sure if its the exact same one, but it has the same look and style to it.

 

Of course, I had to try it on when I went to New York and I was finally in a place with a full sized Topshop again. The material of it was fine, I don't really remember it being particularly amazing, but it wasn't cheap either, and the size of it was fine, if a little bit loose. I tried it on in nude, and so it was a little see through, but because there are two layers of fabric on the top half, it won't show your bra so long as you wear a nude colored one. It's definitely not for hot weather, even though it looks very light and airy, as its 100% polyester, but I'm also not sure how well it would wear underneath a jacket. It was incredibly flattering though, and really the only reason that I didn't buy it was because of the sleeves - I'm really, really, really short, and even though I tried it on in my normal size, the sleeves were way too long, and there was no way to roll them or hem them because its a blouse.

 

So, if you have short arms like me, you'll probably want to wait and see if Topshop comes out with a petite version. If not, I definitely recommend this blouse! Its very pretty and girly, and very flattering.

Topshop Longsleeve Cape Blouse 

Love,

 

Caro

Find the Nomads

So I'm not sure if you know this, but I'm a bit of an internet nerd. I spend way too much time on my computer, and one of the things I love to do (like much of you, I'm sure) is watch youtube videos. There are some youtubers that I absolutely adore, and I follow them on instagram, twitter, etc. One of my favorites is Fun for Louis, which is actually the second, vlog-type channel to Food for Louis, and just started selling t shirts online, and I absolutely love them!

 

Since I'm usually very picky with my graphic t shirts, I thought Louis did a great job with these! I really like everything, but I thought I'd share my two favorites (that hopefully I'll be ordering soon) with you all.

 

The first is the Palm Tree Pocket T-shirt Grey. It comes in white and grey, but I prefer the grey just because I already have some white graphic t shirts, and most of my bras are colorful, and since I'm lazy its helpful to have some shirts that are not at al see through. I would pair this with some high waisted cut off denim shorts, some Tomes, a messy bun, and some aviators for a cute and casual summer look. For the winter, I would wear it with a pair of black jeans, some black moto boots, and my oversize cream biker jacket.

 

The second piece is the Peace Out, Enjoy Life T-shirt. I love the saying across the front, and paired with the cute yellow background and a little cartoon mountain for the A in adventure, I was immediately sold. In the summer time, I would pair this top with a skater skirt (preferably black or denim, but I honestly think any color would work), a light grey sweater, and some black t-strap sandals. When it gets colder, I would wear this with some distressed boyfriend jeans, a leather jacket, a cute white fluffy scarf, and some converse or tennis shoes in a light color.

 

 I honestly can not wait to get my hands on some of these t shirts! At around £20 each, these shirts are a pretty great deal if you're in the UK.

 

Let me know what you guys think! Are you planning on ordering some? Comment below!

 

www.findthenomads.com

 

Love,

 

Caro



Style Steal: Isabel Marant Ariana Jacket

I'm really not a very colorful person when it comes to my clothes. Don't get me wrong, color is nice, but my closet stends to stay in the darker hue range, with blue or tan being the most colorful things I wear on a semi-regular basis. So when I find a piece of clothing (that's not a dress) that is colorful and that I love, I buy it, because its a pretty rare occurrence. 

Unfortunately, this time I fell in love with a jacket that costs about the same as a months rent for my flat. So since I couldn't spend the money that I need to live on a single jacket, I started looking for a cheaper alternative.

The Isabel Marant Ariana Jacket is an absolutely gorgeous jacket that is sold out most places online, and way out of my price range. Luckily, Asos stocks a very similar blazer, called the ASOS Blazer In Pink Textured Boucle for £35. And right now, Asos has free shipping and a ten percent off coupon for everything on their website! It really is a great deal, and I can't wait to wear mine.

Love,

Caro

Makeup Review: Revlon Color Stay Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

I bought this lip stain a week or two again, and its pretty great. I have a lot of trouble finding any sort of lip product that I like that has color in it. For some reason, lip stick looks strange on me, and I don't like the shine or sparkle that comes with lip gloss, so I tend to stick with lip balms. I am always looking for something to put a little more color in my lips, because when you wear a face of makeup it looks weird when your lips are incredibly pale. I've heard some good things about this lip stain though, and so I decided to try it out. 

The color in this lip stain is very nice - it goes on smoothly, and stays on for a decent amount of time. It's creamy, and has a slight lip-balmy texture to it. Overall, I really like this product, and if you're like me and have trouble finding lip products you like, then this is a great product.

Love,

Caro

Updated July Wishlist

I managed to cross off two more things (kind of) from my July Wishlist while I was in New York.

I bought a nice silver boyfriend style watch from a random little store, and a beautiful white coat from Zara. The watch is a fake Michael Kors, and even though the image here is of a cream Topshop coat, I love this Zara one just as much (and it was a great deal).

Love,

Caro

NYC Haul!

So I just got back from New York on Friday evening, and I did a lot of shopping. I managed to find quite a few of the things I was looking for!

I found the last Topshop black crop top in the NYC store (at least when I was there) and I was so happy when it fit well! It's a little smaller than I normally get my tops, but its made with a very stretchy material and it still looks great, so I splurged on it. I've really wanted either a Topshop or Zara white coat for a while, and I managed to get this Zara jacket for only $38! It was very, very reduced, and I had a gift card from my birthday. Needless to say, I was super happy with that. I went to the American Apparel Outlet store while in Soho, and I picked up some black corduroy shorts and a pair of earrings. From H&M I found this cream satchel that I had thought sold out forever ago, so that was lucky. From Aerie I got some undies (not pictured, because, well I think you know why) and the Aerie fragrance (it has peaches in it! so good!). And finally, from some random shops, I found a pair of black and white brogues, a fake Michael Kors silver boyfriend watch, a fake rose gold cartier bracelet, and a fake tennis bracelet.

Overall, I think it was a very successful trip. I did some sight seeing, of course, but I figured you all would want to hear about this more.

Love,

Caro

Cosmetics & Etc. Wishlist

Periodically, I go through phases where I am completely in love with cosmetics or anything related to them. And of course occasionally I fall out of love with them because I'm just too lazy to be bothered. Right now, I happen to be in the stage of loving spending time pampering myself. Which of course makes me happy, but it does not please my wallet.

Anyways, here are some of the items I've been lusting after, and that I will hopefully get. 

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation

Maybelline Big Eyes Mascara

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge or Too Faced Full Bloom

Burberry Body

Organix Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil

Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray

Lush Cleanser Grease Lightning

Lush Love Lettuce Face Mask or Lush Oatfix Face Mask

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

I'll let you know what I think of these products if I ever get them.

Love,

Caro

Mom Jeans

A little while ago, Topshop started selling a new style of jeans called Mom jeans. I know, the name sounds off putting. Why would you want to wear a pair of jeans named after a notoriously un-stylish look?

These jeans are actually really cute. They're high waisted, and very very nineties in their look. I personally love them - they look adorable and super comfy. Hopefully I will be able to pick up a pair for myself, so I thought I'd show you a few different ways I'd style them.

This first look is a casual one, for warmer weather. The light cardigan looks cute and comfy paired with this crop top and these canvas sneakers. I would wear this look anywhere - to class, to get some groceries, etc.

This look is also very casual, but for cold weather, maybe around fall or autumn, but you could always throw a jacket over it for winter. I would absolutely wear this outfit to class - it's cute, and casual.

This look is very summery, with the strappy crop top and the gold sandals. Personally I think this look is a little bit nicer, maybe something to wear out to a nice lunch.

And finally, this last look is for winter. With the long sleeve crop top and the big boots and warm jacket, it's good for walking around in the winter.

Basically, these jeans look amazing paired with a crop top, or a tucked in shirt to emphasize your waist. 

Would you ever wear a pair of Mom jeans? Let me know in the comments!

Love,

Caro

Fall/Winter Essentials: Jackets and Boots

I know it's still technically the beginning of July, but I can't help myself - I love autumn and winter clothes! All of the jumpers, and the jackets and coats, and the generally fuzzy state of things makes me so so happy. So of course, as I do with anything that makes me happy, I've made a list - this time, of a few essentials that I will be saving up for and buying to keep me warm in the Scottish winter.

A classic black coat is always a must - you can throw it on over pretty much anything, be it dressy or casual. As long as you get a nice one, and a thick one, you can wear it all winter long, most likely even for several years!

Another essential is a cute (faux) leather jacket. I personally really like this style with quilted shoulders and arms and a detachable fur collar that's modeled after a jacket made by Burberry. But, as long as you pick a fairly simple one, a jacket like this is a staple that can be worn everywhere.

This winter, I'm loving the look of a giant, preferably fuzzy, hooded parka style jacket in an earthy tan color. It looks so cute paired with some black jeans, and is so easy to throw on over your clothes in the winter. Because I live in Scotland, the giant hood is a necessity - it rains a lot, and its so windy that umbrellas never work.

And of course, everyone needs a good pair of boots. Or two. Or twenty. These are some of my favorites, some of which I own, and others that I hope to own soon. Casual boots are of course a must, but nicer boots are actually really useful as well. It's much easier and comfier to go out in winter in a pair of cute boots than a pair of strappy heels.

I can not wait for the chillier weather! Comment below if you want me to make another post like this, maybe with some jeans/trousers and jumpers?

Love,

Caro

Style Icon: Edie Campbell

Edie Campbell is a British model who's style is absolutely gorgeous. She rocks an eclectic mix of boho and menswear pieces, tied in with other trends that creates a very British look.

To get Edie's look, you only need a few interesting staple pieces, paired together in interesting ways.

First, start with some palazzo pants - printed or solid. Add in a classic colored skater skirt, and you've got your bottoms sorted. For tops, Edie loves loose boho inspired pieces, so stick with some cute cropped flowy pieces. For dresses, she loves shift dresses with flared sleeves. Add in a cute oversized bomber jacket or parka, and some chunky shoes in neutral color, and you've got a nicely sized, Edie Campbell inspired wardrobe. 

Let me know what you think of her style - do you love it, or not so much?

Love,

Caro

Makeup Review: L'Oreal Telescopic Shocking Extensions Mascara

I'd heard some great reviews about this mascara from quite a few people, so I figured I'd try it out myself. After all, you can always use a good mascara.

This mascara is really good for long, thin lashes, but unfortunately not for thick and voluminous ones. It curls nicely with an eyelash curler, and even a little bit on it's own. It's a great mascara for every day, but for nights out or more exciting looks I like to have eyelashes that are a bit fuller. 

Another thing that I noticed is that this mascara is a great dupe for the Benefit They're Real! Mascara - they both do long, thin lashes like no other.

Overall, I really like this mascara. I definitely won't be throwing out my others and replacing them with this one, but I will absolutely be keeping it and using it on a regular basis.

Love,

Caro

Air

Some days, life gets tough. The stress and the pressure of everything just starts weighing on you, and you feel like you can't take it. What you need to do then, is take a break. Whenever I feel particularly stressed, or down about something, I remember this quote. It's one of my favorites, and I even had it as the background on my computer for a while.

It's a really simple, and yet really powerful idea. We can get lost in the hustle and bustle of every day life, and I think sometimes its good to take a break and remember who you are, but more importantly who you want to be.

I'm hoping you all have a wonderful Monday.

Love,

Caro

New York Wishlist

In my ever growing excitement for my trip to NYC, I've created a wishlist of some items that I want to hopefully get, or at the very least try on.

Everything is from Topshop. Because apparently I have a problem.

Anyways, some of these items have been sold out online for a little while, but I've gotten lucky going into the store for items that have sold out online and finding them there. Sometimes people buy something and return it, or the online inventory just doesn't match up with the in store one perfectly. So cross your fingers for me!

Love,

Caro

Style Steal: Black and White Cut Out Shoes

A few months back, Topshop had a pair of shoes called the Katz. They were these gorgeous cut out flats, and I haven't been able to find anything else quite like them. They came in black, navy, and black and white. The black and navy were very similar, and now Topshop has the Katz2 in their store for $50 cheaper than the original. But they didn't bring back the black and white pair. 

Which is why I was so excited to log onto tumblr today and see that a style blog I follow on there had found a pair of shoes from Go Jane that look exactly like the black and white Topshop Katz! And, they're only $26! So of course I ordered myself a pair, because even though I'm trying to save money, I'm not passing up on a deal this amazing.

Go Jane Tailored Tux Flats

Love,

Caro

New York City

On Monday, I'll be flying out to New York to hang out and shop in the city with my cousins, and I am so excited! I've already figured out exactly what I'm bringing with me.

Since I'll be in New York in July, I'm bringing an assortment of clothes for weather varying from thunder storms(I'll also bring a rain jacket) to crazy crazy heat. On a more practical note, I'm bringing shoes that are cute and good for walking, and a watch because watches are always useful. And of course, it's New York City, so you've got to try your best to be stylish. 

I'll only be in NY for five days, including the days I fly there and back, I'm bringing as few clothes as possible. That way, I can go shopping and bring back tons of cute clothes.

Love,

Caro

Pajamas!

Recently, I've developed a love for pajamas - especially adorable, super comfy pajamas. I'm the type of person who loves lounging around the house in lazy clothes - when I have Uni during the school year, I come home from a long day of classes and studying and immediately get into my pajamas for more studying. And while it can be so tempting to just get into the same old pair of sweatpants every day and every night when you go to bed trust me when I say some cute pajamas go a long way in making you feel better (and cuter).

These are the pajamas that I've bought recently. I got the pink gingham Topshop ones off of Ebay, and my mom bought me these adorable Munki Munki ones from Nordstrom that have little whales all over them! They come in a few different prints, and they're on sale for $45 here on the Nordstrom website, or in the store. And they are so incredibly soft, I definitely recommend them. 

Do you guys have a favorite pair of pajamas? Tell me about it in the comments!

Love,

Caro

My Skincare Routine

I've seen a lot of these posts around lately, and I thought I would make one of my own. My skincare routine is the same for morning and evening, and its pretty simple. Since I have really dry skin, using a lot of heavy cleansers doesn't work well for my skin. After I shower (or when I wake up if I'm running a little late) and before I go to bed, I wash my face with a foaming cleanser that I get from the drug store. When I'm in Scotland, I like to use the Superdrug Tea Tree and Peppermint Foam Face Wash, and when I'm in California I like to use Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser.

After I wash my face, I use toner. Right now I'm using the Olay Oil Minimizing Toner, but I really just use whatever I pick up from the drug store (or chemists). I apply it by putting a little bit on a cotton ball and wiping it all over my face. It's incredibly simple, and it does wonders for keeping my skin clear.

Most nights, after I've washed my face and used the toner, I like to put some lotion on my skin because it is incredibly dry. A tip for clear skin that I've learned over the years is finding a nice lotion that is specially designed to be applied to your face. I personally love this Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion from The Body Shop - it hydrates your skin and works to keep it clear. Plus its got a nice scent to it.

Occasionally if I've got a really bad breakout I'll put some toothpaste on it before I go to bed. I know that sounds really weird, but I read about it somewhere and it actually works in making the pimple less red. And every night before I go to bed I put my hair in a high ponytail with a giant scrunchie to keep my hair off of my face and neck while I sleep.

What do your skincare routines look like? If you have any more tips for clear skin feel free to leave them in the comments, I may try them out sometime!

Love,

Caro

Style Icon: Twiggy

Nineteen sixties British supermodel Twiggy (real name Lesley Lawson) was the embodiment of the mod movement. With her boyish figure and big doe eyes, she captured the hearts of photographers and designers around the world. 

Now, I felt that I should put a disclaimer in here: Twiggy has a very thin body type, and her body type is not attainable and healthy for everyone. If your body is naturally very similar to Twiggy's, then that's great. If it's not, then that's great too. Every body type is beautiful, and every body type can wear this look.

Twiggy was famous for wearing mod shift dresses or swing dresses. Depending on your body type, you will want to go for a more fitted or more loose shape (whichever you feel your best in, really). Personally, because my boobs and my hips are my widest parts and about the same size, I like to go for swing dresses. The great thing about this look, though, is there are so many different shapes and styles, colors and patterns that you can find, it will suit just about everybody. If you would rather go for pants or shorts, for Twiggy's look you would want to stick to looser fitting pieces, with higher neck lines on the top and either wide leg trousers or tailored shorts. For coats, swing coats and pea coats are your best options. Pair it with some simple ballet flats or classic chelsea boots, and you've got a great outfit. Of course, it wouldn't be a true sixties mod outfit without some oversized round sunglasses. I have a pair myself, and they are so much fun.

And there you have it. My take on how to get a Twiggy inspired look. I hope you enjoyed it!

Love,

Caro

Dance Party Time

Now, some of you might find what I'm about to say a little weird, but I'm asking you to just listen for a minute, and then hopefully try it yourself. 

I am a fan of lists. I make to do lists, lists of things to buy, I could make a list for any situation in life, ever. One thing that I always include on my day-to-day to do lists, is to have a mini dance party. And I really do it most days. There's just something about putting on a fun song, and dancing stupidly and enthusiastically around your room. It's stress relieving, and just instantly improves your mood. Plus, its a little bit of exercise, which is never a bad thing. 

So I encourage you all to balter around for a bit today. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Love,

Caro

Updated July Wishlist

So I didn't get the exact item that was on this list, because that white Topshop shirt was $60 and I've spent way too much money lately. But, I found this amazing Forever 21 shirt that looks literally exactly the same but it was only $22.80. And it is so cute and flattering! I definitely recommend it.

If you wanna see what it looks like on, I've already worn it in an outfit of the day for July 4th.

Love,

Caro

OOTD - July 4th

Top - Forever 21

Shorts - New Look

Shoes - random boutique in Santa Cruz

Watch - Macy's

Midi Ring - Forever 21

Happy belated fourth of July guys! 'Merica.

Love,

Caro

HauteLook and Buckle

Recently, I've discovered two new websites that sell various designers' items at discounted prices. I've gotten a few items from both stores - a pair of sandals and a blouse from HauteLook, and a Free People blouse from Buckle, and I love them all. 

Buckle operates like a normal clothing website, like Net-a-Porter but less expensive (because they stock different things). HauteLook, however, works a little differently. Each day they put up new deals from different stores or designers ranging from exercise clothes to dresses to jewelry, bags, and shoes. Each deal is only available for a few days, and when the items sell out they don't restock them. But if you're lucky, you can find some great deals! To be honest, I didn't love the shipping - because there are multiple sellers, they all ship things separately. I ordered the sandals and blouse at the same time, but while my sandals arrived after about a week my blouse didn't come for a few weeks which was a little frustrating. They did keep me updated though when everything shipped, so that was a plus. I can't say how long the shipping from Buckle took because I had it sent to my parents house in California while I was in Scotland. 

The quality of the items were all great, and I loved the great deals that I got on them. I would absolutely recommend them to anyone who asks!

Where do you guys find your deals?

Love,

Caro

Style Steals Part 2

So, I made a post back in June about these various pieces of clothing that I (or someone else) had found that looked nearly identical to another, more expensive, item of clothing that I wanted. Well I had so much fun making that one that I decided to make a part 2, with more style steals that I've found in my time surfing the web. 

The first style steal that I wanted to share with you guys was this black t shirt with a white contrast neck. A while ago, Topshop had this gorgeous silk shirt, but it was $90 and sold out ridiculously fast! I've been looking for a cheaper alternative for a while, and I found one the other day when I was looking at the American Apparel sale. The AA Unisex Poly-Cotton Short Sleeve Ringer T-Shirt is a different material, and has the white contrast on the sleeves as well, but I think it looks almost identical and hopefully I will be purchasing it in the near future.

And who doesn't need a pair of classic denim shorts? I love the look of the AA Medium Wash High Waist Jean Cuff Short, but I do not love the price. Luckily, the Vintage High Rise Destroyed Denim Shorts from Forever 21 have a similar look and are a third the price! That being said, you get what you pay for - i.e. if you're looking for a quality, long lasting pair of denim shorts, I would go for the American Apparel ones because I think they would last you longer. I, however, am only in California for the summer, so prefer the cheaper Forever 21 pair.

Once again, I have been in love with these AA Printed High-Waist Jean Cuff Shorts for a while now, so I was very happy when I saw that Forever 21 released a pair of shorts similar to them! The Ditsy Floral Denim Shorts are $40 cheaper than the American Apparel pair, and just as cute. While there is some difference in the color of the shorts, and other minor details, overall these two shorts have very similar looks. 

Last but not least, this is a special treat for anyone in the UK. River Island has two shorts that are incredibly similar to shorts from American Apparel! The Black Acid Wash Denim Shorts from River Island are almost identical to the AA Stone Wash High Waist Jean Cuff Shorts in black (left) and the River Island Black Tube Shorts are identical to the AA Stretch Twill High-Waist Side Zipper Short in black (right). And each pair of shorts is half the price of their AA twins! However, if you're in the US these River Island shorts are only a few dollars cheaper than the AA ones.

Let me know what you guys think! Do you want me to make more posts like this? Or do you have an item you want me to find a cheaper similar for? Let me know in the comments!

Love,

Caro