Hot Lips {& Shabby Apple Winner!}

So while at SXSW, my good friend & coworker, Sarah, asked me how I apply my red lipstick.  And I was like, "Durr, there are like 100 tutorials out there...why are you asking wittle ol me?" but then I realized that she's not scouring the interwebz & magazines like I am to figure out how to apply red lipstick; so I thought it would be great to post my personal steps to achieve long-lasting red lips.

Of course, just like with anything, everyone has their own go-to methods, but this seems to work for me - having a base, blotting & reapplying ensures that my lips are still intact while I eat...though I wouldn't recommend eating a burger or something where it could potentially get on the sides of your face.  NO it's never happened to me (yes it has).

Also!  I would like to say that the movies are LIARS & if you DO start making out with your bf while wearing red lips...unless it's a lipstain that does NOT move (even as you scrub your lips with every makeup remover possible), both you AND him will end up looking like...well...this.

How To: Long-Lasting Red Lips from hoisinivy on Vimeo.

What you need:
+ Foundation / Concealer (I used L'Oreal MagicSmooth Souffle in Buff Beige)
+ Loose powder (I used Physicians Formula Mineral Loose Powder in Translucent Medium)
+ Nude lipliner (I used Nars Lip Pencil in Tortola)
+ Red lipstick (I used Sephora Lipstick in Rouge R04)

Also, the winner of my Shabby Apple giveaway has been chosen!  W00t.  I've collected everyone's names, added those who were already followers (hey, I want to rewards those who have always been followers in addition to those who just started)...and the winner is...

....
Miss Kat from Dallas, TX!  So Kat, please email me {stephthuynh [at] gmail [dot] com} so I can collect your information (like blood type, social security number, and first born) & send along your fabulous Shabby Apple dress!

Thanks to everyone who entered - even those who didn't, I added you.  NO CHOICE.

questions? ask here / twitter tracker

For Japan {Corter Leather Bracelets}

While I was in Austin about to embark on SXSW, the devastating news of Japan hit the news waves. There was definitely a sense of "What do we do / how do we feel here?" feeling at SXSW - afterall, we were there to explore the best & worst of film, interactive & music, but it was hard to not have that heavy feeling in your heart for those who have lost so much.

While I know everyone is doing what they can - donating to the Red Cross, the blogger's Day of Silence, etc. I saw a post from Becs of Style with Benefits of this amazing bracelet with all proceeds going to The Red Cross.  Corter Leather, based out of New England, noted that as of March 17th, they raised over $14,000 for The Red Cross...in less than 72-hours.  Now that's some purchasing power.  My sistar, Rye Bread & I got one to show our support.

Of course I encourage you to do what you can - donate via text or online to help those in need.  Aside from the Red Cross & Corter Leather, there are other companies incentivizing people to donate.  LivingSocial.com has a "deal" where they will donate an additional $5 for the $5 you donate ($10 for $5) - they already raised $2.1M. And American Airlines & United Airlines will award you frequent flier miles for your donation.

Call Me Capt'n {& SXSW Recap}

6 hours after I landed in LA from Austin, I flew out to SF for a day trip. LIKE A ROCKSTAR. On top of that, my flight back home was delayed over 2 hours, so I didn't get home til midnight...needless to say, 5 days in Austin plus a turnaround trip to SF & back meant 12-hours of sleep the next day. HEY, BODY NEEDED IT MAN.

My favorite part of this outfit is the color combination between the coral of the trench & the navy blue of the sweater. Add a crisp button-down top under & I am looking mighty nautical. Somehow "nautical" & "radical" are always interchanged in my head...so I guess I'm looking pretty radical here too. A messy bun is great for the hair-out-of-the-face look, but to avoid looking like I'm going to the grocery store, I added a bow. Unsure if it worked.

martin + osa button-down, evie sweater, h&m trench, citizens jeans

To avoid the LONGEST POST EVAR, click {read more} to find out my 2cents on my trip to Austin for SXSW.  Read about some of the panels I went to, some personal experiences, and my blogger meet-up with IRL frands.
**UPDATE: I just added an amazing 4 second video that cracks me up***

How To: Scarf Braid

This is my 3rd video tutorial & I realize that all three have been about BRAIDS. I apparently do nothing but braids. BRAIDS HUNGRY. This tutorial though involves a scarf...ESCANDALO!

Seen here, I've been meaning to do a tutorial for this for awhile now. It's super fast & easy...all you need is: your hair, a long, thin scarf, and an elastic tie:

I absolutely love this scarf - my good friend Rhona gave it to me as a "get well" gift when I was sick last year...and I find every way possible to incorporate it into my wardrobe.

Hopefully you'll try this look for Spring & Summer! Don't forget to enter my dress giveaway! It's really easy & if you don't enter, I will take the dress myself. More of a promise than a threat.

Questions? Ask here! / Twitter Tracker

Not Too Shabby (Apple)

Hey ya'll! YES, now that I have spent 5 days in Texas, that is how I speak. Just kidding. So without this being my official recap of SXSW Interactive & Film, I wanted to let you know I have an awesome giveaway that I want you (yes YOU...and maybe your friend) to sign up for. I'm actually so totes excites for this that even before I touchdown back to LA, I wanted to post about it. Thank you wireless interwebz on planes.

I've partnered with the great folks at Shabby Apple & they requested I pick out a dress I'd like to give away to one lucky reader...HARD JOB MAN. They had a lot of great women's dresses, but when I saw this one (Cider), I was like, I need this...yesterday. To me, this simple dress is perfect for Spring; also, the orange color is unexpected but still pretty fab. Somewhat fitted with a detailed collar makes this dress easy to dress up or dress down..imagine belting it with flats or wearing textured tights & heels. I put some serious thought into this! Maybe because I was imagining myself in it.

So, what do you have to do to make me totes jelly? Here are the rules...SO SIMPO MAN. Each of these counts as one (1) entry...as many as four (4) entries total. I am that nice.
***UPDATE*** I've added a simple 5th way to enter:
1. Become a follower on my blog
2. Follow me on Twitter
3. RT or tweet about the giveaway! (THIS is the 5th way to enter)
4. "Like" Shabby Apple on Facebook*
5. Leave a comment on this post with your name & how beautiful I am (jk about the latter)
**Sorry, we can't ship internationally. :(

I will pick the winner next Monday, March 21st...so you have a full week to DO IT TO IT.

*Note: It actually is advantageous to "Like" Shabby Apple on Facebook because they give some pretty sweet deals & coupons there only. I really have become a fanboy of their stuff & have a few things in my cart...now I just have to wait for payday...and for Rye Bread to look the other way so he doesn't see a big box of new things. "Wut? I already had this dress...You never pay attention to me!"

If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I was just in Austin, TX for 5 days for the SXSW Interactive & Film as well as the Texas Style Council panels. As a hint as to what my next post will be about (sorry, not a FASHUNS post), this is one of my favorite picture of the trip:

me, sarah, lynn, & caroline -
the female denuologists WERKIN' our free Groupon headbands.

questions? ask here! / twitter tracker

Tomorrow's Outfit...Today

Do you ever put on an outfit & you think, "Shieet, this would be perfect for TOMORROW...but I'm wearing it NOW...but I'm too lazy to change...who will I see tomorrow? Will it be the same crowd? I'll just wear it twice in two days. No one will notice, right?"

No? Anyone? No? Just me? That's totally what happened today when I put on this casual (and comfortable!) outfit & realized this would be great for the airport tomorrow. It has layers to keep me warm, stretchy jeans to keep me comfortable (e.g. the button doesn't stab my stomach), and just a little of style so I don't look like I just put on sweats to go (p.s. I really do wish I could wear sweats to the airport but everyone frowns upon it). If you see me at LAX tomorrow, do not judge my copycat outfit okay!

b.d. foundry men's button-down, fruit of the loom men's wifebeater, f21 jeans, j.crew belt, toms shoes

I'll be heading towards SXSW in Austin, TX this weekend & I'm chompin' at the bit to go! Unfortunately I won't be staying for the music section (which has eclipsed the rest of the conference), but will be staying for the Interactive & Film portions. If you're interested in what my team & I will be doing, head over to our Denuology post for some tentative stuff we'll be hittin' up. Of course I'll be going to some fashuns stuff (like the Texas Style Council Clothing Swap) & also some interactive panels (MY JOB).

Feel free to tweet me or reach out to me via email if you'll also be at SXSW & want to do a meet-up! MOAR FRANDS MAN. I'll be meeting with Phi-Style for the weekend, though with her technology fast, she won't be posting any pics until like a month later. /tear.

I will be sads to be leaving this guy for 5 days:
Oh whoops, was I supposed to put a picture of Rye Bread? Yeah, him too.

questions? ask here! / twitter tracker

How To: 3 Braids & a Bun

Hey guys, did you hear? Braids are totes in right now! Okay I know they have been for awhile, but like every magazine (ever) writes, they're really versatile & easy to do. Plus braids get my hair out of my face, which is always a plus.

Worn here, I often wear my hair like this to go hiking or to run errands...why?
1. Day-old hair = I don't need to wash my hair that morning
2. No heating products = saves my hair from additional damage
3. Relatively quick to do (depending on how many braids you want to do)
4. Did I mention it gets my hair out of my face?

The lighting in the bathroom was terrible, the backlight made it look like a ghost was standing right behind me, and even though it was broad daylight, I was scaring myself...so I had to turn the camera around. Also, apologies for the video being longer than normal - I know you guys know how to braid, I just couldn't figure out how to fast-forward certain parts without the whole clip being fast-forwarded. In addition, I'm wearing this super comfy Nike sweatshirt (similar one found here)...I know, SO FASHUNS YOU GUYS.

What You'll Need:
+ 3 small elastics
+ 2 medium / large elastics
+ hairspray
+ glossing spray (optional)
+ rat-tail comb (optional)