Vagina :: The Zine

Brights for Spring! 

Good evening, beautiful babes! Now that spring is in full bloom, we can put away our somber gray and black clothes and add a jolt of color to our wardrobes. At first, it can seem daunting to wear bold brights, but they can really make you glow. And while I have many problems with the incredulous Southern mama’s handbook, “Suck in Your Stomach and Put on Some Color”, there was certainly some truth to that last bit. 

So how do you mix color? Depends on how you feel! Blue plays nice with pink in a youthful cotton candy way. Mustard orange and blue and pale pink and yellow is as yummy as a peach cobbler. The rule of thumb is to keep the silhouettes in proportion. With a full-circle skirt like the one I’m wearing from Forever 21, it’s important to wear a top tucked into the waistband to focus the volume on the bottom and streamline the top. With a straight skirt, however, like this designer one I scored from Buffalo Exchange, I added a bit of volume with the knotted peach top with polka dots from Forever 21. You can also pair down any of these brights with a pair of skinny jeans, like these black ones from Urban Outfitters. A neon yellow belt is just extra credit. I paired all these looks with two pairs of shoes, cream raffia espadrilles from Banana Republic and simple yet stripy nude heels from Zara. 

For the makeup look, I like to stand up against the bright colors. I’m wearing my cult-favorite NARS lipstick in Shiap with a thick winged liner. I was inspired by one of the beautiful ladies I shot for SXSW Street Style, who wore this makeup look with bright yellow cut-off shorts (and you thought I was pushing the envelope)  If you just want to experiment with a bright look, go to Sephora and try this lipstick on. Just trust me here. The hair is best kept loose and wavy to offset the bright tones. It also looks cute with a simple, messy bun. Oh, and heart-shaped sunglasses for a true Lolita vibe, and to ward off UVA rays, of course. 

So don’t be afraid to mix brights this season! If you have any style questions you can always ask meby tweeting @TheVaginaZine or emailing yours truly at RachelM [at] TheVaginaZine.com.

—By Rachel Martino, Vagina Style Editor, Beauty//Fashion Guru and stylish YouTube star  

*This article appeared in Vagina’s Spring 2012 issue, now for sale on our Etsy as well as at Domy Books and MonkeyWrench Books in Austin!

Le “Je Ne Sais Pas” :: Classic French Chic

If I learned one thing from my study abroad in France, it was this: French women are well-dressed mysterious creatures. There is something about them that reads relaxed glamour. Yes, I realize that is an oxymoron, and so is the perfect style they employ called “décontracté chic” casual, yet elegant. Little by little I was able to pin down how French women create their messy yet sexy fabulousness.

So here’s what you need: a liquid liner pen you can master (I love the L’oreal Lineur Intense Felt Tip Liquid Liner Pen, $8), a perfect red lipstick (I have three favorites— Smashbox in Lavish, $22, mark in Cha Cha, $9 and L’oreal Colour Riche, $8 in British Red). These makeup products are for two separate occasions. When wearing the red lip, it is almost an after-thought worn with very minimal makeup (French women tend to have perfect skin) and a light coat of mascara, nothing else. As for the liquid liner, it’s applied thickly à la Brigitte Bardot with a nude lip. A light shimmering apricot eye shadow like Stila in Kitten is extra credit.

As for clothes, French women veer toward somber tones; navy blue, black and gray are among their favorites with splashes of cognac and deep red. Pair a sheer navy blue polka dot blouse with a black pleated skirt, red oxfords and a sexy cat eye. Mix it up with a striped shirt (the French call these marinières) with black skinny jeans, messy waves and a bold red lip.

French beauty swings in the balance of coiffed and messy, made-up yet just-rolled-out-of-bed-with-my-lover. So try throwing on a coat of red lipstick tonight with some messy waves and see where French chic takes you. 

Read More:

How to be impossibly French by Helena Frith Powell.

Parisian Chic: A Style Guide by Ignes de la Fressange

Vogue’s Street Style Slide Show from Paris Fashion Week

—By Rachel Martino, Vagina Style Editor