Sparkle Week, Day 4…

It’s the day when the lingering effects of the previous weekend turn into longing for the next. Thursday is the day I’m most likely to sport a ponytail and the day I inevitably wake up late with little time to throw together an outfit.

So, how do you dress up a ponytail, so it appears intentional and not as if you hit snooze three times? There is always the (semi-obvious) option of the headband, but we tried that yesterday. Another option is using a special hair-band. Whether embellished with jewels, feathers, or beads, that extra little something turns the ponytail into an actual hairstyle and a statement.

Don’t have an embellished hair-band? Try wrapping a long necklace around the base of the ponytail, covering the hair-band (those clear rubber/plastic ones will stay hidden best). You might need to use bobby pins to secure the necklace, or to pin in excess length. 

Continuing our Sparkle Week coverage…

Today, the weather is gloriously and unseasonably warm, and I am embracing it with open arms. However, with “unseasonably” comes “unexpected”, and also “unprepared”, as in, I am. With only one pair of sandals with me in Corvallis, I must embrace the pair I have (silver flip-flops).  I also am sadly devoid of most spring/summer dresses and skirts, so I’ll be cuffing my jeans into capris. On top I’ll be wearing a statement-top (mine is bright pink eyelet, but the following tips applies to any statement top).

But how, when wearing a statement top, do you also add some sparkle? It can be somewhat difficult to incorporate another high-impact piece into your look. A simple silver cuff or wide bangle would be good here. However, I think the best solution here is to take a cue from everyone’s favorite Upper-East Sider, Blair Waldorf. Add a headband!  It should be embellished (this is Sparkle Week after all) but skinny headbands work best here. Nestled in your hair (rather than actually holding it back) it shines just enough to complement, not compete with, your top. The headband I selected is silver glitter, and just ½ centimeter thick. Finish off the look with small drop earrings; your hair will hide them most of the time, catching the light every-so –often for just the right amount of spark.  And shoes? Metallic is best, but they should be minimal. Simple ballet flats or sandals will not compete with the rest, but will fit in nicely. 

Just another reason NYC is fabulous…

This week it is “Sparkle Week” in NYC.  Last month, the mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, declared April 20^th through 26^th “Sparkle Week”, to celebrate (and boost the sales of) all things sparkly, namely jewelry and diamonds. Just to be clear: this week is a governmentally-sanctioned celebration of diamonds. Fantastic. 

Because I am a lover of all things sparkly, I will certainly be celebrating Sparkle Week here in Corvallis, and encourage you to do the same. Every day this week I’ll be offering a different proposal for how to rock some sparkle of your own.

We’ll start off (semi) subtle. Today, I’m thinking a top of some kind with some built in sparkle, paired with some shimmery extras. For example, I’m wearing a t-shirt with silver leaves printed on it, with silver flip-flops and some silver bangles, along with my signature diamond studs.  You can cut-out pieces to suit your own taste/comfort level, but I would advise against going whole-hog today. After all, there are six more days to shine.