LookBook|February 2015

Hello my lovelies! It has been way, way too long! This last month, I have had a swift kick in the pants to really reconnect with my passions and I see this as my first opportunity to dive back into the little world that I have created.

So the other day I went and had some pictures taken for what has kind of become the "My Go-To" LookBook. I had so much fun doing this shoot, and it made me realize that this whole beauty and fashion thing is one of my most loved aspects of life! With all of the craziness that is school and working and sorority life, I had completely lost sight of these things. And here I am, talking to the two people that have ever read this blog. I am making a promise to you and to myself to commit to something that I want to...us. I want to invest in you and share myself and my thoughts on fashion and beauty with you. It's only taken me 5 years, so why not? I need for you to hold me accountable and make sure that I follow through with this. The first, is my YouTube channel, the beauty that started it all. I'm filming my first video this weekend. I want for all of you to go and watch it. Even if you hate it and only watch 30 seconds of it. That 30 seconds would mean the world to me. I'm so excited to see where this goes. And even if I am only reaching the two of you, that's to more people that I'm reaching than I am now.

But back to this LookBook. I hope to take pictures often and update you on how I like to keep up with trends and deal with the weather that is Texas. I only put three looks together, but they are three looks that I run to every week, or at least parts of them. I wanted to showcase the different ways you can take certain pieces of your wardrobe and dress them in a different way. For me, this piece was my faux leather leggings. They can be worn with any outfit in place of jeans or even take the place of shorts in your favorite summer look to transition into the colder months.

This first one is a new twist on an old "Hayley Classic."

Every winter I live in flannel tops and leggings. But I realize, that sometimes [most times] cute has to come before comfy. However, why not add comfort into every look while still displaying your style and personality? 

I paired an Old Navy men's flannel shirt with leather leggings to add something a little more exciting and to dress up the look. For me, winter is all about layering. Here in Texas right now, its not too terribly cold, but I have to have my layers! I put on a J. Crew quilted vest and a camel scarf to pull out the colors of the plaid and tie the whole look together. Instead of wearing a pair of solid flats, I put my Steve Madden studded and rhinestoned flats, again in the nude/camel color to complete the look.

I LOVE all-black outfits. It is so sophisticated and classic and chic and everyone, EVERYONE can wear it and look amazing simply because it is so timeless. I love to add an element of comfort to every look, so again leather leggings were are great way to do this, as well as this Brandy Melville tank top. It is so light weight and soft and so, so comfortable. To add some interest to the look, I threw on this black chiffon kimono, also from Brandy. It is so simple, but so interesting. To add some spunk and sass to the look, I layered my three most worn necklaces. The top is a simple arrow that is so delicate but adds just the right amount of flair. I then put a triangular druzy quartz under it. These two together are literally a match made in heaven...and I may or may not wear them everyday [woops!]. My favorite necklace of all time is this spike necklace. I have it in three colors so that I have an option for every look I could wear. I want for all of you to try a piece like this. Even if your style is more traditional. The spike is definitely on trend, and adds a touch of interest to your outfit. 

Now like I said before, winter=layers. So here we are with this beautiful faux fur vest from NastyGal. The colors in this particular vest make it able to be worn with any color possible. I paired it with an Ann Taylor Loft chiffon top with some crochet detailing on the sleeves and neckline. The crochet adds a hint of something special to the whole look in such a subtle way. And then there's the hat. She was the focal point of the look for me. I am absolutely OBSESSED with her! I feel like the hat by itself can take any look up to the next level. Felt hats are always, always, always in style for the fall and winter. Invest in one and you will always be on trend! For the shoes, I had to stay true to my Texas roots and throw on a pair of boots! 

Random Obsession: Supermodel

This week I found Foster the People's album "Supermodel." If you haven't listened to it...you haven't lived. There isn't a single song on the album that I'm not obsessed with. The first two songs are sheer magic. I don't think there has ever been such a strong beginning to an album. There is so much energy  that you can't help but get excited for what is to come. The next few songs dial the power down just enough to keep you intrigued. And then it is picked back up at the end. I can tell you right now that this album will be the soundtrack of my summer. Complete with crop top, cut-offs, Sam Edelman sandals, RayBans, winged eyeliner and curled hair. Hello boho life! I'm ready for you!

ReBirth

So...this the third time that I am restarted this blog. There have been so so many distractions from maintaining her. I have made a schedule of videos and blog posts that I'm super excited about! I'm so glad that I'm finally fully diving into this dream that I've had for the past five years!

Within the next couple months, I'll be moving out of the dorms and into a house! I'm planning my filming and blogging station and I'm so stoked for it! Desk, makeup collection, hair station, nail polish collection, perfume collection, and clothing rack! It's going to be beautiful and organized and probably the main focus of my room. I'm, in all honesty, probably going to be focussing more on this than on school..whoops! This has been such a dream of mine for five years, so why not dive all in?

Stay tuned for the fun!

Love you,
    HayleyKatherine

Collective April Haul!

Alright you guys...this is a little embarrassing. I have so much stuff that I have gotten over the course of this month! I've had several events this month that I had to get a basically new wardrobe for. Just kidding, but really. I've gotten a ton of clothes and shoes and basically anything you can imagine. Be watching for a video on YouTube that corresponds with this post!

Clothing

I'll start off with shoes: I've gotten two pair of Steve Maddens! The first is literally the epitome of "Hayley." The color, style, sparkle, and spike. They're the most beautiful nude/beige color loafers. Covered in topaz crystals and have gold spikes all over them and around the edges to line the foot opening.

The second are the perfect simple summer wedge. Again, beautiful nude color! They are all braided leather. The straps: wonderful and so on trend. There is one that goes across all of the toes, and then two that cross over the arch of the foot and buckle under the ankle bone. They are so sturdy and fit my narrow feet so well.

Pants: I got the cutest pair of denim shorts by Element. I was shocked that I liked them as much as I did considering that they are such a light wash and by Element. I never expected to like anything by them, but I fell in love with these shorts the moment I saw them. They are distressed, very light washed, with crochet on the sides of the leg. I have to limit myself to the number of times that I wear them, because I could literally wear them everyday and be totally content with myself. And that's huge! I can't repeat pants in one week, but these I wear at least once if not twice a week.

Tops: I went to Old Navy with my best friend, Megan, and caught a glimpse of the perfect summer shirt: my fabric and in my shape! Its 100% rayon and boxy with short sleeves. They had it in black and white, but I decided to go with black, considering I have enough white tops (love them) and have been wanting to regrow the black section in my closet.

While at Old Navy, I spotted the cutest Texas Tech shirt I've ever seen. Its a red v neck, with the Tech logo on the left front, and "GUNS UP" vertically on the back. I almost went to Tech and so I had to get it for myself.

Dresses: I've been loving dresses this month, and basically doubled my collection.

I got a purple floor length dress from Dillard's that is stunningly simple. I love when designers take a simple pattern and make it something really special with the little details and the bold color choice. That is exactly what Gianni Bini did with this one. It crosses in the front and acts as a halter top, but has the back panel also attached on the tie. Beautiful.

I also got an orange/coral/red dress that is so my style from Dillard's! It's a very standard chiffon shift dress with the most amazing shoulders and sleeves. The shoulders have pleats to add some volume and the 3/4 length sleeves make it perfect for a summer day. I love the color too. It's the one where you can't tell if its pink, or maybe orange, or maybe coral...or red? It keeps you guessing, so its sure to stick with people. I also love that it's 3/4 length sleeve so that I can rock my signature stacked bracelets!

I got a color-blocked dress from my favorite boutique here in town. The main body is white with black at the skirt and up the sides. The hem has the same orange/coral/red color and its so bright! The sleeves are the white, with black, and the cuff is a blue/gray color. Its fabulous.

Then I also got a navy blue dress at the same boutique. It has a peachy-coral accent around the waist, on the collar, and for the placket. It buttons up the front and fastens with navy buttons. It's very modern and on trend, but has a little hipster flare to it which is a little different for me. I also really appreciate the fact that it's sleeveless, but has a collar. Perfect for summer!

Nails

I have been really good this month and have only gotten two, count them: TWO, bottles of nail polish! Both are by Butter London. The first is Fiver. Its a wonderful cross between Tiffany Blue and Mint. Its a little streaky on the first coat, but opaque after the second. The second is Macbeth. Its the orange/red/coral color, but in nail polish and its fan-freaking-tastic.

Hair

Batiste Dry Shampoo. I literally don't know how I've lived without this. I wash my hair every other day, and this product makes your hair look and feel freshly washed. And it smells absolutely wonderful! It doesn't leave any nasty residue or feel gross as the day goes on. It also adds a substantial amount of volume, which is amazing. It keeps your roots lifted so that your hair doesn't lay on your head and get any nastier than it already is.


Well...I think that might be it, I probably left a crap load of things out! I'll go through everything and add items as needed! Again..be watching for this video on YouTube! I'll have a post announcing it's arrival as my first video! I'm so excited! I'll more than likely add some May items in there as well! Love you guys!

First Obsessions Post!! March 2013

Yay!! It's around the start of a new month, and that means my Monthly Obsessions! I'm not going to be like the typical "Beauty Guru" and give you all of my makeup favorites and my hair favorites. I mean, that's only half of my life. I'm going to share me with you..that means all my randomness too. Like it might be this one pair of socks that I'm obsessed with that I am so excited about and can't contain my love for them any longer. If that I'm feeling that way, I'm gonna share. I can almost 175% guarantee that I will never post something about my love for a pair of socks. No worries there.

I'm going to start off with a pair of shoes that I've been wearing like everyday since December when I got them. My Leopard flats. I got them on super sale at Dillard's right before Christmas and haven't seemed to fall out of love with them yet. They're Kenneth Cole Reaction. They're so comfortable and so my style. They have a black patent leather toe and the rest are leopard. I would post pictures, but I'm afraid to get too close to them, cause they're in crazy bad shape. What can I say, I just love them too much haha. You'll for sure see them in upcoming fashion posts.

The biggest one for me this month is country music. I can't tell you how long I've hated country music and now it's all I listen to. I'm not going to lie, I was a little ashamed at first, but now I just have this love for it, well "Texas Country" at least. So maybe I'm a little more of the Texas girl that I never have been. I'll probably make a Spotify playlist of all of my favorite country music so we can all listen together! Okay.. so maybe I got too excited, but that should show you just how much I'm loving it!

Oh my gosh, you guys. I am freaking loving brown smokey eyes this month too! I haven't worn consistently smokey eyes since my Junior year in high school. Granted, that was only two years ago. I started wearing a variation of my "junior year everyday" look. So here it is: Lancome Latte, Lancome Volcano, Lancome Mochaccino, MAC Concrete. I love it! It adds a different twist and edge to my overall look everyday. The little edge and rawness mixed with the delicate and feminine is literally my life. Which brings me to my next point.

A look that I've been loving is an oversized band shirt with black skinny pants. Yesterday it was a black Led Zeppelin shirt with black Miss Me skinny jeans. Somedays its Beatles, others its Rolling Stones or Bob Dylan. I just love the edge of it. Especially when it's paired with my signature stacked jewelry, chunky pearl necklace, and big pearl earrings. It was warm yesterday so my black leather jacket wasn't needed, but my leopard flats were!

One of my just, lifetime really, seriously obsessions is "That 70's Show." I absolutely love Eric Foreman. This past month, I saw Steven Hyde in a whole new light and really came to appreciate him. I really loved the trademark Hyde style of...band shirts. I especially loved his black Led Zeppelin shirt. I went to Target and found one. It is almost the exact shirt that he wears. I died a little inside when I saw it. Had to buy. Had to. I literally had no other choice. But anyway, words cannot express my love for this show. I refer to the characters as if they were like real life. My friends have even begun to do the same so that I understand what they're talking about and using show scenarios to apply to current Hayley's life situations. Classic.

The weather here in Texas has been warm, until today, but anyway..I've gotten to wear shorts and my favorite summer time shoe: Chaco's. If you don't know what these little beauties are, please Google them. I seriously live in shorts and Chaco's during the summer. Perfection really. I have the solid black double strap with toe strap. Every summer I try to build up my "Chaco's tan," which is basically a zig-zag tan-line on your feet. T-shirt, Nike shorts, Chaco's = me in the summertime. Then, when you take them off, it looks like you still have them on! Best day of your life.

The colors that I've really been loving are shades of Lavender and Red/Coral/Orange. Like the color that could pass for any of those mentioned. "It pulls red, but orange, but wait..could it also be coral?" That kind of a story. I have a lot of it in my closet. Lavender however, I have to be really careful with. I've never really liked purple, like ever, so I don't have really any purple in my closet. I'm very pale with yellow undertones, so purples, especially lavender is something I have to handle with care. I either look like sick yellow, or super washed out. So, I wear lavender on my nails. OPI's Do you Lilac it and Essie Lilacism and Play Date are the three that I've been reaching for. I think I can wear them because they are more of a blue-based purple as opposed to a pinky purple.

Food...well...I think I've eaten at Chick-Fil-A twice a week all month long. At least its healthy fried chicken right? False. No such thing, but I tell myself that to make me feel a little better. But then, once you take the first bite, you don't have to tell yourself anything anymore, you're just filled with love and the greatness that is Chick-Fil-A.

I've also been loving the Simply Smooth Magic Potion. I spray 4 pumps into the palm of my hand and work it through the ends of my hair every other morning. So basically when I straighten my hair. Then I follow with spraying my entire head so that my hair can really soak in the love. It's a keratin treatment that does wonders for your hair. I'll probably have a review on this one pretty soon. I think its something we all need in our lives. It's that good you guys.

My life..now.

Well, quick update:

I have taken down several of my previous posts for the simple reason of "Life changes." I felt that the content of them was completely irrelevant...so...they're gone. A lot has recently changed for me. I am at a point in my life to where I can strictly focus on me, hence this post. Here pretty soon, my YouTube channel will be up and running! I'm seriously so so excited to start this new chapter and you guys are going to be along for the ride. There is so much in front of me right now and I'm so ready to dive in and do what I love most...talking and fashion. 

Beware world, I'm coming for you! Get ready to see a lot more of me. Whether it be a blog post, YouTube video, or even a vlog. You never really know with me, because, quite honestly, I never know with me. 

I'm in the process of getting together ideas for posts and videos. So be patient with me..it might take me awhile to get everything together. My first will be a haul of the purchases I made this weekend. I'm so excited for these new pieces and to spread my love of all things Hayley with you guys (and my reasons behind my craziness). 

And remember 1 Samuel 16:7 "The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."