May Favorites 2012

It feels like forever since I've done a favorites video! I've finally found some great new products that I've been obsessing over and thought you'd might like to see them. Hopefully this video helps you find a new piece or two to get you excited for summer :) 


Products Shown
1. Maybelline Color Show 'Green With Envy'
2. Revlon 'Charming'
3. L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Self Tanning Lotion
4. Lancome Teint Miracle 370 Bisque
5. Lancome Shadow Palette 'Kissed By Gold' 
6. MAC Mineralize Skin Finish 'Soft and Gentle'
7. Enamel Necklaces: Nordstrom [Similar ones sold at Aldo]
8. Forehead bands: Shopbop
9. Bralette: Urban Outfitters
10. Pink Jean Shorts, Size 0: Victoria's Secret PINK

The shirt I'm wearing in this video is from Free People, if you're interested you can see more of it in this haul video.

If you like posts like this, make sure to check out my most recent one with all of my summer essential pieces! Make sure to let me known down below if you've found any new products or styles you've been loving this month!

My Summer Essentials

I just posted a video featuring how to style one of my favorite summer pieces [pink pants!] so I thought I would show you a little collage of some of my summer essentials. 

The great thing about them? You can wear most of them all at one time! 

1. Colored Jeans

I'm partial to pink, but I also love coral, orange, tiffany blue, etc. Wear them with other solid colors to create a true color block look, or pair them up with my next favorite summer style-

2. White Out

White is always a safe yet sexy bet for summer. It's clean, fresh and looks great on pretty much everyone. I love wearing all white combinations, or pairing them with this season's bright jean. You can still accessorize your look without competing for attention with the bright color! Best of all? You can re-use these neutral pieces with hundreds of outfits! 

3. Sheer Details

Sheer paneling or elements are great in the warmer months. This kind of top or style is perfect for you if you want to show a little skin in a less revealing way. It's light enough to wear in the heat, but way more covered than a tiny tank or swim top. 

4. Nude Heels

Nude Heels are a constant staple, but they're especially great when you have your legs exposed. The skin tone visually lengthens your leg, and the neutral color doesn't compete with any of this season's loud colors. 

5. Mint Nails

I am obsessed with bright nail polish this summer. If you're a little neon shy, this is a great way to still incorporate color into your wardrobe. It's also a fun way to complement and combine shades! My favorite combo? Mint polish with pink pants!

6. Oversized Sunglasses

We know this is a year-round essential for me, but now is definitely the time to invest in the perfect face-concealing pair if you haven't already. Now you can say you're preventing sun damage and eye wrinkles as well as being just plain fabulous. 

I'm always getting questions on how to create imagery on a blog like the picture shown above. I created this fun blog set on Polyvore [I'm sure you already know of the site, but it's basically a fun, online fashion scrapbook where you can make collections like this online and even post them to your sites]. I highly recommend using this site for personal enjoyment, but also it's a GREAT tool for bloggers- especially if you don't have photoshop!

All of the pieces pictured in this set can be found at Nordstrom [you can win a gift card to Nordstrom right now on Polyvore through this contest] [<--click to check it out!]

If you liked my essentials, be sure to check out some other fun summer must-have sets created by a few bloggers on Nordstrom's Polyvore page. I'd also love to hear what YOUR essentials are- let me know down below in the comments what you're loving right now!

Speaking of Nordstrom's Polyvore page, I'm on there! Woo-hoo! I've teamed up with Polyvore to bring you some of my favorite trends and must haves throughout the months and I could NOT be more excited. I loved working with Polyvore back in February for Polyvore Live and I'm so excited to continue blogging with them and you :) 

How To Wear Pink Jeans!

My hunt for pink jeans in size baby giraffe is finally over thanks to these lifesavers from DailyLook. They fit like a true ankle length jean on me, so these would probably fit like a regular length skinny pant on you if you happen to have a less-than-skyscraper inseam. My favorite part? They aren't painfully tight like most of the colored jeans I've tried on. They fit and stretch more like a jegging. so they're light and comfortable for the warmer months. I thought I would show you guys a video with different ways to style this fun trend! 


Look 1: [Linked If Possible]
1. Tuxedo Shirt- Free People
2. Necklace- Nordstrom [a subscriber of mine said she found the same necklace for cheaper at Aldo, search there too!]
3. Pink Jeans- Dailylook [size 2] 
4. Nude Pumps- [Ill have to find the brand for you] 
5. White Sunglasses- Prada Baroque 


Look 2:
1. Floral Top- Dailylook
2. Pink Jeans- Dailylook
3. Gold Spike Bracelet- Dailylook
4. Raj Bracelet- Jewelmint
5. Gold Headband- Walgreens [regular stretch headband placed over forehead]
6. Gold sandals- SO OLD. And uncomfortable. You don't want these.


Look 3
1. Sweater- Rag & Bone, Size: L
2. Pink Jeans- Dailylook
3. White Sandals- [Old] Tory Burch

Nail Polish:
Maybelline Color Show "Green With Envy"- Highly recommend! 




Long time viewers of mine will remember my love for DailyLook, but if you've never heard of the site I'm happy to be the one telling you about it!  It's basically a shoppable look book that posts head to toe outfits every day. Great for inspiration, even better in case you fall in love with any of the pieces [they sell everything they show]! This is NOT a subscription site- you can sign up purely to spark your fashion creativity! Click here if you're interested in joining [my subscribers receive 20% off by using this link] [No, I do not receive anything from you clicking this link/signing up/purchasing, etc. I'm just happy to play my part as the discount fairy].


Which look was your favorite? Did you like this type of 1 piece-multiple-ways style video? Are there any other items you'd like to see featured this way? Let me know down below! 

What's In My Little Black Bag?

This month I was able to try out the Little Black Bag subscription site && thought I would show you the pieces I received!

Check out Little Black Bag here: http://littleblackbag.com/v/carlycristman

Use the code CARLYLOVE10 to receive 10% a first time purchase

*Note- I do not receive anything off of you clicking the link or using the code. These are only provided for your benefit!

What do you guys think of Little Black Bag? Are you signed up on the site? Do you have any favorite subscription services? I feel like there are SO many available right now. I don't have any that I'm signed up for on a month-to-month basis. If you are, which ones do you like? I'd love to hear which ones you've tried and the pros/cons of them :)

Bright Summer Haul!

I decided to make a haul of all the clothing I've been instagramming these past few days! And, of course- no haul of mine would be complete without a few nail polishes :) 

Items Shown:

1. Pink Shorts- PINK, Size:0

2. Pink Top- TJ Maxx

3. Orange Polka Dot Shirt- Free People, Size: S

4. Turquoise Bandeau- Free People

5. Tribal Crop Top- Free People, Size: S

6. Teal Shirt Dress- Ralph Lauren, Size: M

7. Polishes- China Glaze 'White on White', Essie 'Van D Go', 'Haute as Hello'

    Butter London 'Trout Pout', Revlon 'Charming'

Do you have a favorite way to wear color for spring/summer, or are there any other trends you've been loving? Let me know in the comments!

My First Meet Up at Charming Charlie

This past Sunday was my Mother's Day event with Charming Charlie! You are seriously missing out if you've never been to a Charming Charlie before- it's a color-coded, HUGE accessory store [perfect for all trend obsessed, over organized girls like me]. Obviously the perfect place to hold my first meet up! I was pretty nervous getting ready for it -seriously- I didn't expect anyone to come! I wanted to show everyone some clips from the day and say thank you so much to everyone who came by. I loved meeting each and every one of you- you're all incredibly sweet and your continued love amazes me every day! 

My Style && Hair Diary: On Wednesday's, We Wear Pink

Long time, no blog! The past few days have been crazy to say the least. Now that I have a few spare moments, I figured what better way to come back than with a combined Style AND Hair Diary? 

If you're guessing from the title that today's post has to do with some variation of pink, you'd be correct. All those who follow me on twitter know of my well exhausted hunt for neon pink jeans [since JANUARY!]. I've since come to terms with the fact that they are unavailable in size baby giraffe, so I've settled with this fantastic pair of shorts. [I couldn't find hot pink pants... so I settled with just hot pants] [#typical] [#hashtaginablogpost]. 

I've paired them with the shirt and necklace combo seen in this previous style diary video [if you're interested to see more of this set]. The conservative nature of the shirt balances out the tiny shorts quite nicely, but is still interesting itself with the sheer panelling. I have mint green nails [Maybelline's 'green with envy'] and all white accessories to complete this white-hot-pink look. [#BeforeAndAfters] [#NobodyGetsMyWheelOfFortuneJoke] [#WhyAmIStillHashTagging]

What I'm Wearing: 

Shorts: PINK

Shirt: Free People 

Sunglasses: Prada Baroque 

Necklace: Nordstroms

In true Mean Girls fashion, I wore this pink ensemble last Wednesday when I was invited to the Maxine Salon downtown Chicago. The salon offered to give my hair a much needed strengthening and conditioning treatment from one of my favorite product lines, Kérastase! [My hair is that obviously damaged, people are now offering to help fix it for me] [#Itsfine]. I had already been using their Cristalliste Collection [the Bain and Lait Cristal line && the Lumiére Liquide] [which also happens to come in pink bottles!] since receiving it last February at NYFW, so I already knew I'd be obsessed with the results. 

Maxine Salon Downtown Chicago is gorgeous- and HUGE. The salon itself spans three floors in all black, white and silver goodness. Can you tell I enjoyed myself? And, of course- what kind of blogger would I be if I didn't take a few pictures? 

My pictures definitely don't do the space justice! I arrived to the salon half an hour early [so notable, I'm including it in this post. This is MAJOR]. If you don't believe me, ask Cliff, my stylist. He found me hovering over MacDaddy, happily importing files while waiting for my appointment. Thankfully, my progress could continue during my treatment because the salon just so happens to have a perfect laptop spaced compartment at each station.

The treatment I had done strengthens and restores protein to your hair- an awesome thing for me, considering all of the heat and abuse I consistently expose mine to. The even better part? It's extension-safe! 

After treating and washing, my stylist blew out my hair and styled it with waves- mid blow out. How he created perfect waves with simply a blow dryer, I'll never know. I'd like to think I'm fairly adept at hair techniques, but blow drying is NOT my forte by any means. I'll leave that styling to the professionals. 

Overall results? My hair was left shiny, bouncy, and incredibly soft- almost awkwardly soft, since it was eerily reminiscent of how my hair used to feel before I started bleaching my feelings. I would definitely recommend getting an in-salon treatment, or the product line itself to anyone who is interested! 

Dear Maxine [and Cliff!]: I thank you for the experience, but my hair thanks you even more :) 

Have you ever used Kérastase? Do you have a favorite product, or a general favorite hair treatment? If so, make sure to let me know!

It's a party, it's a party

Make sure to come by Charming Charlie on Michigan Ave if you're in the Chicago area on May 6th! I'll be there styling and offering gift tips for Mothers Day ['styling', aka, 'making googly eyes at all things sparkly and hanging out with friends'] [There's going to be a few cool people, and you better be one of them, bee-atch!']

Charming Charlie is giving away gift bags to the first 100 guests, filled with beauty products, accessories && other fun things to help you get your glam on. Make sure to RSVP if you know you can make the meet up! [You can still come without RSVPing, but emailing will make sure you receive a bag!] Can't wait to FINALLY meet some of you! 

Even if you can't make it to the meet up, you can still get in on the sparkle! I've taken my twitter obsession to new levels by legitimately throwing a pre-party on my favorite site [gasp- did I just admit my preferred social media outlet? Don't tell facebook]. While I can't hand out martinis, I WILL be giving out sequins! I know it says 'win a piece of jewelry', but I couldn't stop with just one item. I'll be giving out gift bags filled with my favorite styling essentials from Charming Charlie! 

The twitter pre-party starts today [5/3] at 7pm CST and lasts for an hour, gifts given out every 15 minutes- stop by && tweet me for your chance to win! See you there, tweethearts!