Classics with a twist! Straight leg jeans just got an updated touch! A flattering cut with a light wash perfect for spring/summer and a corset detail.

I love a great pair of denim!  For some reason, I haven’t had much success finding comfortable flattering straight leg jeans.  That changed when I found these Ann Taylor corset jeans!  First, they are very comfortable and have a slight stretch to them.  Second, the design is unique and very flattering.  They are high-waisted with a corset detail that really elongates the legs.  The light wash is perfect for spring/summer, and the cut is a straight leg with a lean fit through the hip and thigh.  They hug at the right places while creating a tall profile.  I can’t say enough about them!  They’re just so chic!

Corset jeans + romantic blouses = a match made in heaven!  A romantic top is a beautiful way to complement these jeans.  Unfortunately, I bought this blouse awhile back so it’s currently unavailable.  Below are a few pieces that capture the essence of romance and will pair seamlessly with jeans, skirts, and bottoms.

I love this outfit so much, I’ve worn it on repeat multiple times.  It’s easy, casual yet charming, and made for spring.  I hope you enjoy the look as much as I do.  As always, thank you so much for reading!

– OUTFIT –

JEANS | Ann Taylor corset jeans, under $100 (also love this darker wash)
TOP | old, see a list of similar options here
SHOES | Manolo Blahnik chain pumps
BAG | Elleme bag

The post Great Classics – High Rise Corset Jeans appeared first on Wendy's Lookbook.

Only twice a year – the Sephora Spring Savings Event is happening right now.  Below, I’m sharing my tried and true skincare products for healthy glassy skin!

Hi everyone!  First off, let’s get to the important details.  The Sephora Spring Savings Event is tiered: 20% off from 4/9 – 4/19 for Rouge members, 15% off from 4/13 – 4/19 for VIB members, 10% off from 4/15 – 4/19 for Insider members… all discounts with the same code ‘OMGSPRING‘.  This code can be use on multiple purchases during the entirety of the sale.

Now, let’s get to the good part!  Personally, I’m not a beauty junkie.  Meaning, I don’t collect beauty products and seeing a lot of products on my vanity makes me anxious.  With that being said, I tend to research heavily, talk to my dermatologist regularly, and then commit to trying out skincare products.  I don’t have a 40-step skincare routine.  As seen below, I have a max of 5 steps, all with purpose.

Morning and Night Routine

Above is a summary of my AM and PM routine and below is a step-by-step application order.  Not to make things more difficult, but the step-by-step instructions below also depend on if the products are water or oil based.  I always apply water-based products first and oil-based products last (the oil is the final step to create a barrier to prevent moisture loss).

My AM routine consists of a gentle cleansing with Tatcha Rice Wash Cleanser (it smells amazing too!), followed by a rotation of actives by switching from the Paula’s Choice BHA and Biossance Vit C every other day (applying it together can cause irritation), then a cushiony cream Belif Moisturizer, ending with Saint Jane Face Oil.

My PM routine is made up of the same cleanser or a gentle exfoliator with Dermalogica Daily Exfoliator (it leaves skin super smooth and polished!), followed by my favorite skin combo Paula’s Choice Niacinamide 20% Treatment and 1% Retinol Treatment, ending with the same moisturizer and face oil.

Best of Actives

Active ingredients are targeted ingredients to address skin concerns.  They are studied and scientifically backed, and most active ingredients are combined to maximize their efficacy.  Vitamin C, niacinamide (also known as vitamin B3), retinol (which is a potent derivative of vitamin A), BHA (such as salicylic acid) are all actives.  Incorporating them into our skincare routine is crucial and important (be careful not to combine too many actives at once because they can cause irritation).

Vitamin C

Vitamin C fights against UV-induced photodamage by absorbing free radicals and protecting our skin.  When applied to the skin, Vit C can encourage new collagen to grow.  It can also help maintain the collagen that we already have and protect these protein from damage.  Two of my favorite Vitamin C serums are Paula’s Choice 15% Vit C serum and Biossance 10% Vit C serum.  I find that the Biossance one is very gentle and the Paula’s Choice is more potent.

Niacinamide + Retinol

An effective active combination is niacinamide + retinol.  I love this combo!  Niacinamide helps visibly minimize enlarged pores, improve uneven skin tone, soften fine lines and wrinkles, and diminish dullness, while retinol is a powerhouse ingredient to combat signs of aging (see below for list of benefits).  My favorites are Paula’s Choice Niacinamide 20% Treatment + 1% Retinol Treatment.  Together, they help achieve healthy glassy skin!  With retinol in general, start slow and monitor any irritation that might occur.

In addition to my main skincare products, I also love companion products like sheet and face masks.  When my skin needs a boost of hydration or to soothe irritation, I rely on the SK-II sheet masks and Dr. Barbara Sturm face mask.

I pay attention to my skincare products closely, because I love tracking the results.  In the video above, I took it right when I woke up, no makeup, and still have my night bite guard on.  As you can see, I’m still treating my post-popping zit habit and dark spots.  Overall, it took me months to get here where my skin texture is slowly becoming more tight and smooth, dark spots fading, and loving my bare skin without makeup.

The Takeaway

Talking to my dermatologist over the years, I’ve learned the value of actives (retinol, retinoids, BHA, Vit C, etc) and it’s a mandatory step in achieving healthy skin and overturning signs of aging.  If I can recommend one product (my dermatologist also agrees) – it’s retinol, the Paula’s Choice 1% Retinol Treatment (if you’re not a Sephora Rouge 20% off or VIB member 15% off, I’d recommend buying it on the Paula’s Choice website because it’s currently 15% off).

Retinol does a host of things – 1) Can clear acne by unclogging pores and prevent further outbreaks from occurring, 2) Reduce fine lines and wrinkles by increasing the production of collagen, 3) Stimulate skin cell turnover (a sort of “exfoliating” effect) to reveal brighter and more even-toned skin.

With all of these actives, consistency is key!  Start slow and monitor signs of irritation.  With this retinol cream, I started by adding 1 pump to my moisturizer every other day.  Then over three weeks, I was able to increase to 3 pumps all over my face after applying niacinamide.  I’d wait 25 minutes for it to soak in, then apply my moisturizer.  I did experience irritation in the form of redness and peeling.  I backed off and slowly reintroduce it again.  After a few weeks, my skin got the hang of it and responded extremely well!

The Paula’s Choice retinol cream is basically an over-the-counter option to prescription strength retinol, thus it’s more gentle and a great way to introduce your skin to retinols.  I look forward to using it every night, because I can visibly see results!

I hope this breakdown was helpful and thank you so much for reading!

The post Sephora Sale – Tried and True Skincare Products appeared first on Wendy's Lookbook.

What to wear with purple. Building color stories and creating pairings that highlight the beauty of lavender!

Purple, violet, lavender… in color therapy, these colors have a calming effect.  Embracing the calmness of purple and carrying this over to fashion, pairing purple with certain colors can create a delicate yet impactful outfit.  Today, we’re playing with lavender and sapphire, earth tones, and pastel color combinations.

Lavender with shades of sapphire.  Soft purple with blue is a beautiful color story that blends harmoniously together and creates quite an impact.  With these two colors, I love adding texture like lace and suede to add depth and interest to this delicate color palette.

With an all-purple palette, I love incorporating movement and grounding the outfit with a neutral color such as chestnut.  A fluttery blouse paired with leg-lengthening pleated pants gives this look a relaxed and airy feel.

Another example of purple with chestnut.  Unlike black, brown tones reinforce the delicacy and lightness of purple by creating a soft blend rather than a stark contrast (the way black and purple does).  Chestnut tones add earthiness and ground lavender hues, making the color combination approachable and easy to wear.

Last but not least, a pastel combination of lavender and mint.  I love this color pairing!  It’s fresh, soft and joyful.  Keeping these two colors as the main color story, I look to neutral colors such as beige, nude, or brown to complete the look.  Nude, beige, or tan boots.  And same with a bag.  Accessories that would not take away from the principle color palette.

The post A Spring Compilation – What to Wear with Purple appeared first on Wendy's Lookbook.

Moments that feel like a little Paris in New York.  Until we can travel again, these places are architecturally stunning and help to reignite the imagination.

Glimpses of Arc de Triomphe de l’Etoile and hints of Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, this archway in Brooklyn is a true treasure on its own and also a place to revisit moments of travel.  This location, the Grand Army Plaza, is a National Historic Landmark designed for pedestrians to enjoy breaths of serenity while in the city.  Right next to the Brooklyn Museum and Brooklyn Central Library, this park is a perfect resting place and spot to people watch.

As it gets warmer, I pulled out a sweetheart neckline dress for those in between weather moments.  The sweetheart neckline, side slit and ribbed knit gives it stretch and structure while the dress itself is comfortable for those cooler early spring days and nights.  If you like this neckline, you might also enjoy this sweetheart knit top and the options below.

Happy spring and hope you’re having a wonderful week so far!  Thank you so much for reading!

– OUTFIT –

DRESS | Song of Style dress (see more sweetheart neckline options here)
BAG | Strathberry shoulder bag
SHOES | Isabel Marant (similar Tory Burch bow pumps & Kate Spade bow mules)

The post A Little Paris in New York appeared first on Wendy's Lookbook.

Last call for coats this season!  It looks and feels like spring.

Yellow Puff Sleeve Blouse, Styled Again Here Spring Colors, Winter Feel

I think coat season is over (hopefully I’m not speaking too soon!).  In the last few days, the weather has been beautiful and warm.  Before putting my coats away, I wanted to create one last color arrangement to celebrate the end of winter.  Layering my Ann Taylor puff sleeve blouse (also seen in this post) under an old Tibi dress and anchoring the look with a dash of red with my Senreve bag (color Mimosa Chili), I revisited one of my favorites – sunset colors.

Marigold and ruby colors are beautiful for spring and summer.  They bring out a sense of comfort and joy.  Below are a few of my favorite pieces in marigold and ruby.  From shoes to dresses, these pieces add brightness and cheer to casual and dressy looks.

An incredible view, sunset color dressing, and cool weather… Saying hello to spring in the best way!  Hope you enjoy the styling and photography.  And as always, thank you so much for reading!

– OUTFIT –

TOP + DRESS | Ann Taylor puff sleeve blouse under Tibi dress
COAT | Sandro orange coat
BAG | Senreve bag (color Mimosa Chili)
SHOES | Christian Louboutin pumps (similar here: Charles David pumps, under $60; Sam Edelman embellished pumps, under $85)

The post Sunset Colors – Tonal Spring Dressing appeared first on Wendy's Lookbook.

New season, new silhouette, same love for lavender.  A fresh take on spring styling with lavender and soft pleats.

Spring awakening with another dose of lavender today.  This time, with dot patterns and refined pleats.  This particular leg-lengthening silhouette coupled with gentle draping gives these pants a fresh yet familiar feel.  Because of the color and shape, I find that they invite a feeling of travel.  You can imagine wearing them strolling around Paris buying bread or visiting Santorini admiring the blue waters.  It feels relaxed, unrestricted, and peaceful.

Coupled with the dot pattern blouse, it creates a tonal look that feels light and effortless.  This blouse is also beautiful worn casually with vintage-inspired jeans or styled for the office with tailored pants (under $35, I have two pairs of these pants!).

Happy spring and I hope you enjoyed this styling!  Thank you so much for reading!

– OUTFIT –

TOP | Ann Taylor lavender blouse (also comes in ivory)
BOTTOMS | Ann Taylor lavender pants (also comes in black)
BAG | Bottega Veneta bag (best of budget, under $70 similar Steve Madden pouch bag)

The post A Fresh Take on Spring Styling with Lavender appeared first on Wendy's Lookbook.