Fall Jacket Guide

My Featured Article: http://theteentrends.com/fall-jacket-guide/

Get ready to bundle up! Here's a look at some of this season's best jackets.

Blazers

Still so trendy for juniors and women are blazers. These sport coat inspired jackets can really dress up an outfit, without doing too much. The great thing about blazers is that they come in a variety of fabrics, styles and colors- so you can purchase a few without feeling like you're repeating an outfit. 

The 'One Button Color Blazer' from Papaya (pictured above) is a great option. ($21.99)

Trench Coats

The essential rainy weather item.  Available in different lengths, trench coats look great on everybody. 

Forever 21's 'Belted Button Tab Trench Coat' (shown) is definitely a winner. ($34.80)

Pea Coats 

A slightly heavier coat designed to keep you warmer as the weather cools down; pea coats are fashionable for both guys and girls. Made in an array of styles and colors to please every fashion sense. 

The women's 'Belted Performance Fleece Peacoat' from Old Navy (shown) is beyond fierce. ($34.94)

Jean Jackets 

When you need something that goes with everything, a jean jacket serves that purpose. This selection is a classic, it will never go out of style- just be careful when wearing a jean jacket with jeans, as the washes should never match. 

Levi's 'Authentic Trucker Jacket' (shown) is the perfect pick. ($78)

Down Jackets 

In regions of the country that get unreasonably cold during fall months and worse during the winter, a down jacket is ideal. The feathers are great insulators of heat which is what keeps you so warm inside those soft puffy jackets. Downs also come in different lengths and styles and are perfect for outdoor activities. 

Old Navy's 'Frost Free Quilted Jacket' in Gray Leopard (shown) is utterly adorable. ($49.94)

Leather Jackets

A clear indicator that the weather has changed is signified with the leather jacket. Like the jean jacket, a leather jacket is also timeless. This item is the epitome of cool. Available in a variety of styles and colors, as well as real and faux materials. 

Nordstrom's 'Collection B Quilted Faux Leather Jacket' (shown) is just so chic. ($33.90)

Which ones will you be wearing this fall? 

Latest Articles Are Up!

So instead of posting the actual articles on my blog, I thought I'd just link the two. It's getting a bit monotonous, and I'm itching to post some original (or rather, non website related) work on here. Suggestions for topics??? Help me out. Till then, stay fabulous! And check out my latest articles on theteentrends.com. XOXO!

http://theteentrends.com/7-ways-wear-denim/

http://theteentrends.com/fun-date-ideas/

Thanks everyone (everyone that reads my blog, anyway ;) )

Crazy For Ombre

My Featured Article: http://theteentrends.com/crazy-ombre/

Made famous by celebs like Jessica Biel, Ciara, and Lauren Conrad to name a few- Ombre hair has become a huge trend not to mention, highly sought after style for most of 2012. Although the trend is most popular within the beauty community (hair and nails), it’s also crossed over into clothing and fabrics.

“Ombre” is easily defined as different colors and tones shading into each other resulting in a color scheme that graduates from light to dark or vice versa.

So what does Ombre hair look like? The answer: dark roots that gradually get lighter toward the ends of your hair. The style can also be reversed.

In my case, I ended up with Ombre hair on accident I suppose. Or rather, I had the hairstyle before it was even a trend really. It was the result of not re-dying my hair after I lightened it. Go figure! After a few weeks my roots started coming through and I was left with slightly different colored tresses. That was fun!

Now if you don’t have the patience for your hair to grow out to achieve this look the way I did, you can always visit a hairdresser to request the style. I recommend bringing in pictures of styles that you like, so that the stylist can match you with shades complimentary to your skin tone, or in whatever colors you ask for.

And just in case you need something to reference, I’ve included pictures of celebs that have also gone Ombre.

Ciara

Lauren Conrad

Jessica Biel 

What do you think? Is this trend still hot? Or has it already fizzled out?

Autumn's Hottest Shoes

My Featured Article: http://theteentrends.com/autumns-hottest-shoes/

Just because the weather is cooling down, doesn’t mean your wardrobe has to also. In fact, it’s time to start heating things up with Autumn's hottest shoes.

My favorite fashion pleasure during this time of year, are boots. You can’t go wrong with them no matter what part of the world you live in.

For an all-purpose boot this season, I suggest a flat riding boot like my favorite- 'The Montage' boot by Bamboo. Pair these with leggings or skinny jeans for a relaxed every day look. 

(*Boot is available from different retailers including online. Prices will vary.)

And who could forget everyone’s favorite…Ugg Boots by Ugg Australia? It seems like every year I’m getting a new pair because I simply can’t get enough of these adorable trendy things. Uggs are perfect for hanging around the house, going to school, and just about everything in between. They keep you comfortable and warm, which are two things I’m sure we all want to be during this time of year. 

(*Styles and prices vary. Available through most retailers.)

Do you need a dressy shoe but it’s just too cold or wet outside for a heel? The next best option, are the stylish and sophisticated flat. I can’t even begin to tell you how many pairs of these I own. Flats are perfect this season because they can be both formal and casual while at the same time practical. For a put together look, add a pair of flats with slacks and a cardigan. Think class presentation. For a more casual look, try flats with rolled up denim and an oversized sweater. Think an afternoon at the mall. I adore my Tory Burch ‘Caroline’ flats in Nude.

 ($225, Nordstrom.)

Now this next category is solely dependent on how rainy your part of the world gets. For outdoor fall activities like Trick-or-Treating or visiting the pumpkin patch, you might want a shoe that can take a beating. For these needs, I suggest owning a pair of rain boots/galoshes and/or a pair of comfortable tennis shoes for all that walking you’ll be doing outdoors. Since these guys might get a bit dirty I won’t recommend anything super pricey. Also keep in mind that comfort is just as important. So I leave this one up to you- find something you like and wear the heck out of them, if necessary.

Are you as excited about those options as I am? I sure hope so! And in the words made famous by Nancy Sinatra, or rather Jessica Simpson, as this generation is more familiar with- “Are you ready boots? Start walkin!”

Smoky Eye How-To

My Featured Article: http://theteentrends.com/smoky-eye-how-to/

Dark dramatic eyes are perfect for the upcoming holidays. Between the variations of deep shades and shimmery lids, there’s just something about this look that screams ‘Festive!’ to me. Here’s a look at how to achieve the ever so popular smoky eye.

Getting Started

-Eye shadow primer

-A neutral color for the base of your eyes

-A light-medium shade for the lid

-A medium-dark shade for the crease

-A darkest shade for the outer corners or ‘”V’s” of your eyes

-A lightest shade for highlighting

Or rather than individual colors, you could also use a palette like Sephora Collection’s “Pro Lesson Palette” in Smoky Eyes ($28, Sephora.) *As a bonus, the palette also includes step by step directions for achieving the look.

How-To

1. Begin by applying an eyelid primer all over your lids. (I use Too Faced Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue, $18, Sephora.)

2. Using a neutral eye shadow that closely matches your skin tone; apply that shade all over your lid.

3. Next, using a medium-dark eye shadow of your choice, apply that to the crease of your eye. Don’t forget to blend!

4. With a different brush, take a light-medium eye shadow of your choice and apply that all over your lid. Blend this lightly with the color you just applied to your crease.

5. To create that smoky effect, take the darkest eye shadow of your choice and apply that to the outside corners, or outer “V’s” of your eyes. Blend dark shade with crease shade in an upward motion to create a gradual smoked effect. This technique darkens the eye and adds drama.

6. Lastly, with the lightest shade you’ve chosen, apply that with a clean or different brush, to the inner corners (tear ducts) of your eyes and along the brow bone. This technique is more for illusion. Highlighting your tear ducts makes you appear more awake and livens up the eyes, while used underneath the brows- it draws them up, giving you a more youthful appearance.

The biggest tip for a smoky eye is to blend, blend, blend! There is nothing worse than being able to see where one shade ends and another begins. Also, when doing a darker eye you can’t forget eyeliner or mascara. If you have to choose only one, go with mascara but don’t neglect the bottom lashes. For the rest of your face keep your makeup light and simple, as your eyes should be the focal point of your look.

This is just a basic take on the smoky eye. Feel free to play with colors and techniques, as there are several variations of this look. Are you ready to try it out for yourself? Good luck!

10 Interesting Health & Fitness Facts

My Featured Article: http://theteentrends.com/10-interesting-health-fitness-facts/

Like the saying goes, “If you don’t use it, you lose it.” Luckily for you teens, you still have plenty of years ahead. But why wait until you’re older to worry about your health? Take advantage of your youth while you’ve still got it. Below are 10 interesting facts about health and fitness.

1. Heart Disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women in the United States. According to WebMD.com, "Regular activity strengthens your heart muscle; lowers blood pressure; increases "good" cholesterol and lowers "bad" cholesterol. Regular activity also enhances blood flow; and helps your heart function more efficiently. All of these benefits can reduce the risk of not only heart disease, but also of strokes and high blood pressure."

2. Fitness consists of four components: Your body's ability to use oxygen as a source of energy, which translates into cardiovascular fitness; muscular strength and endurance; flexibility; and body composition (Discovery Health).

3. Reported on MedicineNet.com, only 19 percent of all high school students are physically active for 20 minutes or more, five days a week, in physical education classes.

4. According to About.com, "Adolescents need 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity a day to stay healthy." Benefits of those 60 minutes include:
• Reduced anxiety, stress, and depression
• Improved self-esteem
• Boosts academic performance
• Helps establish lifelong healthy habits

5. Did you know that eating colored foods have surprising health benefits? It’s true. Aside from being high in vitamin A, leafy greens (lettuce, spinach, etc.) are also a good source of calcium. If you don’t eat dairy, be sure to load up on deeply colored greens to get enough of the essential mineral (Diabetes Forecast Magazine).

6. Certified trainer David Atkinson has stated that, “Not only does exercise improve your body, it helps your mental function.” Having trouble with homework? Take a short break, try running in place or jumping rope for a few minutes, then try your homework again. Did it do the trick?

7. Daily consumption of water (at least 8 glasses) helps you lose weight by reducing your appetite, increasing your metabolism and washing down fat breakdown byproducts (Livestrong.com).

8. Reported by Overweightteen.com, "The percentage of children and adolescents who are defined as overweight has more than doubled since the early 1970s."

9. Having a support system can greatly enhance your fitness levels. Whether it’s a friend you exercise with daily or someone you check in with weekly regarding your physical activity, having support holds you accountable and makes you more inclined to work consistently and/or harder.

10. Lastly, physical activity along with good eating habits increases your chances of living a longer life. If for no other reason than this, health and fitness should be a vital component of your every day life.

Did you learn something new? Hopefully you did, and hopefully it was this: it is our own responsibility to take care of our health. Don’t wait before it’s too late!

Fall's Latest Colors

My Featured Article: http://theteentrends.com/falls-latest-colors/

Summer fashion brought us the era of neons; the sometimes painfully loud colors that ranged anywhere and everywhere from denim all the way down to nail polish. Now…thankfully, with summer winding down, it's transition time for designers and retailers. Whether shopping in stores or flipping through magazines, a very popular trend that I'm noticing in fall fashion, is vibrant jewel toned pieces. And by jewel toned, I am referring to collections made up mostly of primary colors with hints of other hues here and there. On trend for the new season are bold, attention grabbing colors, and I just can't get enough of them! 

Color: Blue

Gem Influence: Sapphires

Color: Red

Gem Influence: Rubies

Color: Purple/Burgundy

Gem Influence: Amethysts and Garnets

Color: Yellow (mustard)

Gem Influence: Citrines

Color: Green

Gem Influence: Emeralds 

What's also on trend for fall are basic neutrals like off whites and tans, as well as darker shades such as grays and blacks. And while patterned pieces are still very popular among women's clothing, these particular items are designed for accessorizing and layering this season- while solid pieces comprise the outfit. 

Are you a fan of these colors? What do you think will be the next big trend?