Look of the Day — Coral Red Dress, Leopard Print Wedges, and Safari-Flavored Jewelry
I had a blast today at the Bronx Terminal Market’s Back-to-School Event, which featured an impromptu fashion show presented by Burlington Coat Factory and emceed by yours truly. The kids walking the “red carpet” were absolutely adorable, sporting everything from striped rompers to floral chiffon dresses with high-low hemlines, puff-sleeved shirt dresses accessorize with bow headbands, tiered skirts with tanks and ballet slippers, and skinny jeans paired with graphic tees, vests, and straw fedoras. The Bronx Children’s Museum had a booth where kids could have their faces painted, Toys “R” Us offered raffles and the chance to have one’s photo taken with Geoffrey the Giraffe, and 92.3 NOW FM provided music and entertainment (including a spin-the-wheel game where kids vied for the chance to win anything from stickers to printed shorts).
As the on-site fashion expert, I introduced all of the fashion show participants and commented on their respective ensembles, touching upon any trends seen on the runway. Given the day’s obligations, I had to dress the part while also selecting an outfit that would keep me cool in the open-air, rooftop setting, and that would look chic without being too casual or appearing like a cocktail hour ensemble. With all these factors in mind, I opted for a near-neon coral red EcoSkin dress featuring fluttering sleeves, a faux wrap front, ruching along the bodice, and a side zipper detail. I bought the dress during one of HauteLook’s Sunday Night Blowouts (which I LIVE for!) and therefore saved more than 50% on it.
To give the dress a bit of a kick, I relied on the animal print trend, slipping my feet into my Kelsi Dagger Clarabel Wedge Sandals, which feature leopard print uppers, a rounded peep toe, and an espadrille-style wedge heel. I then tied the ensemble together by wearing a gold collar necklace with leopard print accents, which I got as a gift from my parents after they went on vacation to Kenya some years ago. Working with the safari vibe established, I then opted for my House of Harlow 1960 Tribal Resin Horn Earrings. I’m a sucker for anything House of Harlow 1960, and these earrings are no exception since they have an ethnic, Bohemian, tribal quality to them thanks to the ivory-colored resin molded to resemble the shape of elephant horns and trimmed with 14k yellow gold-plated metal featuring intricate zigzagging etchings and even a crown detail along the pointed bottom tip of each drop earring.
My arms felt a bit neglected, so I added a stack of golden Amrita Singh bangles (the Indian designer is my go-to source for bangle sets), all embellished with yellow gold paillettes, and then added some statement-making rings. I tend to wear at least two chunky rings with every ensemble, and today I paired an H&M ring with an oversize coral-colored stone with my beloved Virgins Saints, & Angels PAX Square Cross Ring, a brass-toned piece with a cross etched at the center of the ring’s flat, square surface.
I finished off the look with my Treesje Bliss Hobo bag in coffee, which features ruching along the sides, a textural detail I thought worked nicely given the construction of my dress.
As for hair and makeup, I wore my hair down today (major flat iron action was required!) and opted for an earthy makeup look, which I created with Illamasqua’s Neutral Palette, Maybelline’s Illegal Length Mascara, and MAC’s Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Engraved. I gave my skin coverage by first applying the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 in Sand, followed by Philip Chansel’s Ready to Wear Longevity Anti-Aging Foundation (available at HSN.com only) and, to completely obliterate any ark under-eye circles, I dabbed on a few drops of the Smashbox Photo Op Under Eye Brightener (a miracle worker on tired eyes!). I then dabbed on the NARS Illuminator in Orgasm along my cheekbones, followed by a touch of MAC’s Lunch Away Powder Blush (from the Hey Sailor! collection) along the apples of the cheeks. To accentuate my features, I swept a bit of the peachy golden sand shade in the Sephora.com to my cheekbones, along jawline, and along the ridge of my nose. On my lips, I applied the Bobbi Brown Uber Beige Lip Color (from the limited edition Neons & Nudes collection) and topped it with Make Up For Ever’s Lab Shine Lipgloss in S24, a pearly coral color.
Below, you’ll find a breakdown of what I wore. As you can tell I’m a bargain hunter so stick with me and I’ll show you ladies where to find some hot deals!
EcoSkin Parlee Dress in Poinsettia (purchased for $44 at Hautelook.com blowout sale)
Kelsi Dagger Clarabel Wedge Sandals (bought for $40 at Hautelook.com sale)
House of Harlow 1960 Tribal Resin Horn Earrings ($70 at BoutiquetoYou.com)
Virgins Saints & Angels Pax Large Square Cross Ring (purchased for $48 during Hautelook.com sale)
Amrita Singh bangles (this particular set is no longer available but you can browse the selection at AmritaSingh.com)
H&M ring (bought several years ago at an H&M store for under $5)
Leopard print and gold collar necklace (bought in Kenya)
Treesje Bliss Hobo (purchased for $124.50 at LastCall.com)
So what do you think? Are you feeling the safari-flavored look?
