Seeing Red

This season my favorite, go-to, have to have it, put it in my shopping cart, find your place in my closet, color is RED. I have never been one to gravitate toward red clothing. Probably because I change my hair color so much and red is a really hard color to wear when you have burgundy hair (that's a topic fit for a beauty post). Anyhow, this year, I have been loving everything red and you know what, I think red loves me back!

I saw this skirt at Express (for 60% off a clearance price, obviously, it was fate) and thought it would be perfect for so many reasons. First, I love the a-line cut. I am so accustomed to wearing a pencil skirts that this shape was a refreshing take on a skirt for me. Secondly, it has a buckle detail, which I can never pass up! A buckle detail adds a certain edge to any piece of clothing. Thirdly, I could picture so many ways to wear it while standing in the store. If I can create more than two outfits with a piece of clothing in a store than I am SOLD!

This look is great for a holiday or after holiday get together. The hat adds some Polish to the look, not to mention is perfect when it starts to snow! I also have paired this skirt with a button-up top and a flat boot or a stiletto and polka-dot tight. Any way you style it, you really can't go wrong with a festive red skirt! I always feel Polished when I put a skirt on, but this one makes me oh-so-happy!

Outfit details: Skirt-Express (Similar here without buckles, but adding a belt can accomplish the same look!) // Sweater-Express // Boots-Nine West (Similar here) // Necklace-Target (I found mine in store for $6!) // Hat- Target // Watch-Michael Kors // Bracelet-TJ-Maxx (Similar here) //  Lipstick -Rimmel Bordeaux

Enjoy!

--Courtney

P.S. Dont forget to check out our Instagrams for more Polished looks! Courtney_m_b & Kelseymkipp

Taming the Mane

Hair is an inherited trait that, unfortunately, cannot be permanently changed. Believe me, like any woman, I have tried. My natural hair (something my parents can actually be blamed for) is more like a lion's mane-coarse curls. Bad news-I have curly hair. Good news-low maintenance: the texture holds for days.

You can, however, make temporary changes--with a cut, extensions, a perm, chemical straightening, coloring, highlights--which last for several weeks. On the daily, heat tools, like curling and straightening irons, make quite a difference. Even non-heat products like sponge curlers and even, a braid, can drastically change your style.

Check out my hairstyles through the years...



The bob taught me how to use a straightener.

These are my natural curls!

Mastering the curling iron and my first color!




 

Of course, the clothes, jewelry, and shoes help create a fabulous outfit, but we must tame the mane in order to have a Polished look. So, I want to start with the basics, healthy hair. It's impossible to have a great hair day with brittle, dull, or greasy hair, right!?



Washing & Conditioning

We have all seen those girls that went a bit too long since their last wash. However, washing too often is not the answer!

 

My hair has always been a conversation piece among friends, who, by the way, are always shocked to know how little effort I give to maintain it. When I tell them it has been  5-6 days since my last wash, they always claim their hair could never go that long. I disagree!

 

Much like everything in life, just take baby steps. Start small by skipping 1 day between washes. Then, 2, and so on. Why is this important? Your hair follicles produce oils necessary for hair growth. Since hair is actually dead, lathering up every day strips the root of those natural oils it craves.

Added bonus-skipping the wash, also means skip the blow dry, which may be one of the most damaging things you can do to your locks. Less heat, the better.

 

Styling & Polishing

Now, making your hair last 5-6 days without a wash can present some challenges. Here is a loose guide and helpful tips to making your washes last.

Day 1-3 (Just Washed): Down and Styled

I re-heat my hair each day (in different ways) but I try to leave all of my hair down, I switch up the part, the amount of curl, etc, but my goal is to leave it down.

 

Day 4-5: Hiding the Problem Areas

For me, the front top layer of my hair is the first to misbehave, probably since I touch it the most. So, I try to pull that hair off of my face. I clip back the front pieces, pull it all back with a clip, or bust out a headband.

 

Day 5 or 6: The Last Leg

It has to go up, all of it! Mostly, I use a sock bun or low pony tail. When my hair has lots of curls, I simply take some bobby pins and pin it up. Tossing my hair up helps change up my whole look.

 

 

Bringing It Back to Life
Personally, I do not use dry shampoo. Many people love them, but I don't find them necessary for my hair. Instead, I start with a paddle brush. When waking up, my hair can look like something is living in it um... snarly. Take some time to brush through each strand and smooth everything out {getting the tease out from yesterday}, this also helps bring the shine back.

**Tip: Often, it is when I am brushing my hair out that I realize when a wash is a must or that I can squeeze another day out of it. If I can't make the roots look clean, it's time for a wash.**

When styling, it's the tease that makes it work. {Check out Courtney's tips on teasing hair here.} Teasing adds texture for all day hold. More importantly, it takes away shine from the roots.

And, if I am really pushing it, I add a drop of oil to the tips. It's like using a dry conditioner that allows you to mold and move your hair again, especially after 5 days of product sitting in it. That splurge of hydration gives me smooth hair again. Steer clear of the roots-this can make it look greasy.  

Weekend Wear
I RARELY {like almost never} wash, dry, or heat my hair on the weekends. I really try to keep my hair pinned up and give it a rest. It's a break for me and my hair--what else are weekends for? Reserving at least 1 day a week to let my hair recover from the heat used throughout the week keeps my hair healthy and strong.

Shirt from here ON SALE! // Earrings Brina Box // Necklace here for $17! // Headband Francesca's Collections //

I hope you found this helpful :) Thanks for reading!

--Kelsey

Follow Us On Instagram: Courtney_m_b & Kelseymkipp

 

Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time two twenty-something, style loving, graduate students met in a college class. Upon starting a conversation about a Fossil watch and a hair style, a friendship was formed, and the two lived happily ever after.

Haha. But seriously, that is how we met, and some could call it a fairy tale! 

We met a few years ago and immediately bonded over our love for life, style, makeup, jewelry, clothes, fashion, hair, and just about any other girly thing you could think of. It became clear quite quickly that although our friendship began through a mutual love of riding boots and statement necklaces, it was one that would develop much more substance and last a lifetime.

We talked about starting this blog for years! We live such different lives, (Kelsey is married and Courtney is...not) but we continue to share the same thoughts about style and being Polished. Now that Courtney lives in Maryland and Kelsey in New York, this blog is a perfect way for us to continue to build on our friendship. We have been LOVING sharing our style and beauty tips (not to mention the hours we have spent on the phone recently planning out this journey). We thought it was only fitting that we share a little bit about our style history with you all.

Let's start with "Sweatpants Saturday." Like we mentioned before, we met in graduate school. Our program met on Friday nights and Saturdays (ALL DAY-boo). As a group, we all decided that Saturdays shall be called "Sweatpants Saturdays," and that we would all dress comfortably in...sweatpants. You all know how we feel about wearing sweatpants (unless to the gym or bed) so obviously we both showed up with our version of sweatpants (leggings), a great sweater, tall riding boots, and some great jewelry. From then on, we knew we were kindred spirits!

With our new love for each other's style and closets, we began to meet outside of school to do what else but...get our nails done or shop. We really valued this time to get to know one another through something we both loved! I mean, we even got our nails done on Courtney's birthday one year instead of studying for an exam (we aced the exam, don't worry). And how did we celebrate our last graduate class? A trip to Francesca's is clearly the only answer.

So, now that you know how we met, we hope that you will enjoy reading our thoughts and sharing our love for all things Polished. Hey, thats where fairy tales start, right?

Here we are at a comedy show...also something that we have in common...being hilarious!

Our fabulous graduate school co-hort...where it all began! (Are you loving our animal print scarves?)

All dressed up for Legally Blonde!

Celebrating Courtney's birthday at Sister Act the Musical in Buffalo (post Francesca's trip!)

We love this picture because it shows how different, yet similar our style is!




Thank you so much for reading and supporting our blog! We look forward to all of the Polished looks to come and we hope to stick around!

Much love-- Courtney and Kelsey

Date Night

Thank you to all of my fabulous followers who are asking about my Date Night Look. Below are all of the details! Feel free to leave your comments below :)

 

 

Dress from Express // Tassel Necklace Brina Box // Bracelet here // Shoes (obsessed) from Daily Look // Stockings similar here //

I am loving this necklace--I think I have worn it everyday since I bought it :)

{Not Too} Casual Friday

First, let's talk about what causal is NOT--casual does not mean sloppy. Or lazy, messy, dirty, undone, mismatched, or, the most overly misused word, "comfortable"--basically... casual does not mean UNPolished. 

So, to begin we are banning all yoga pants, sweatshirts, and gym sneakers from Casual Friday attire. Also, add logo or print t-shirts and hoodies (especially, ones that look like are your husband's) and, must I add... pajama pants to the list. All rules have an exception-a jersey, for example. If you are a sports fan and are supporting your local team ON game day, then do it! But, Polish it off with all of the right accessories--which, could be another post.

You may be wondering, what is the definition of Casual Friday?

Causal Friday implies swapping your trousers or pencil skirt for a pair of fit flattering denim, yes to be more "comfortable", but not mistaken for an 'overslept-have no time to get ready employee'. You may kick off the stiletto pumps and opt for a pair of ballet flats or knee high boots. Even, add a bouffant pony tail rather than your well-kept curls. Or, go for a more natural make-up look by losing the glitter eye shadow and using a peachy blush.

 

Hear me out... Causal Friday attire does differ from your work week basics--just ever so slightly! However, you are still AT WORK, and so is your boss. So, let's dress like it!

Jacket here -- and now on sale! // Top from Express-not sold online but similar here  // Denim here // Necklace from andRuby but also here // Bracelet Old Navy (no jewelry online) and Brina Box // Shoes (obsessed) from Cathy Jean // Bag (old) Olivia and Joy //

What makes a Polished Causal Friday outfit?
A) Heels-I will say it again...they are magical! Instantly, they dress-up any outfit, especially one for the office. Adding a pop of color keeps these beauties "fun" enough for a Casual Friday look, but still work appropriate--just the right height & a closed toe.

B) Blazer-What is more professional than a jacket? A suit jacket is a classic work piece. However, choosing a boxy crop cut **in plaid** makes it work appropriate, while staying trendy.

C) Dark Denim-We all should own our fair share of boyfriend destroyed denim, right? Reserve those for weekends. Dark Denim is the "dressy" denim. Select denim that is dark all-over color, not the white-bleached area around the thighs and bottom.

Seeing a trend... professional and appropriate?! All of these pieces are made for work (heels, jackets, good fitting pants), but have a trendy twist (pop of color, plaid, a bow on a classic heel), making this combination the best way to walk into work on Fridays.
 

 

P.S. Don't forget about patterned or colored denim, as these are both great options for a Casual Friday look.

 

Thanks for stopping by! Please feel free to add a comment sharing your favorite Casual Friday tips!

 

--Kelsey

'Tis the Season to SPARKLE

The holidays are a great time to mix sparkle! 

Outfit details: Chambray blouse-American Eagle (now for $20!) // Sequin sweatshirt-Loft (Similar here on clearance!) // Red jean- H&M (Similar here on sale!) // Necklace-Target // Watch-Michael Kors // Bracelet-TJ-Maxx (Similar here) // Sunglasses-Ray Ban // Lipstick -Rimmel Bordeaux // Boots-Coach // Earrings-Forever 21 (I bought these years ago but I LOVE these from Bauble Bar!) 

Flashback to Courtney, age 3, stepping foot into my first dance class.  In the middle of learning the truly complicated moves to my "Spunky the Monkey" dance, I caught a glimpse of my red and gold sequin costume (not to mention the feather tail, but that's another post). This is the moment that I fell in eternal love with SEQUINS. Imagine my joy to see sequins all over everything this year! 

I have dove head first into this sequin trend and I am not ashamed that many most of my items of clothing have at least a sequin or two. For me, this is a really great trend because if worn correctly, it looks oh, so Polished! 

A sweatshirt is a really hard piece of clothing to Polish (because really, a sweatshirt has it's place and it is a really specific one, aka, the gym or bed). I don't know about you, but there are days that I feel like spending my entire day in a sweatshirt. But, in true Polished style, I am not one to follow through with this feeling. Until one magical day, I found this sweatshirt at the Loft (on clearance of course, I always make a beeline straight to this section). Not only is it a great color, but hello, it is FULL OF SEQUINS (3 year old Courtney is dancing inside).  What I really love is that a touch of sequins can make a regular outfit a special outfit. I always feel a little more spunky with some sequins on. Must be my roots as a sequin, tu-tu wearing "Spunky the Monkey" dancer...

Sparkle away!

--Courtney

P.S. Dont forget to check out our Instagrams for more Polished looks! Courtney_m_b & Kelseymkipp

Eyebrows Change Lives!

This is one (of the many) fashion mantras I live by, like could carve into my gravestone because I say it oh so often... Eyebrows Change Lives!

Since brows are natural elements on our face, they are often overlooked. But, don't ignore them! Once you see how to Polish your brows, you will see how it changes lives! Best part, brows draw attention to your eyes and create an ideal face shape. Let's be honest, no one--even Heidi Klum, can/should rock a unibrow!

Brows can be tamed in a variety of ways--first off, the trusty tweazer. This is one shopping investment I will never have buyer's remorse over. Invest in a great pair of tweazers {with a angled edge}. Use these for general maintence and/or in between waxes or threading.

Caution: IF teasing is your main source for brow maintence:

• give a little pluck pluck, then step back (out of that fun house-magnifying mirror) & check your progress.
• pluck both brows simultanelously--a little from the left, a little from the right. Balancing your brows as you pluck, prevents making a mistake you are forced to "even out" on the other side--Yikes!)
• just to begin, you may want to think about a wax or thread...just once! Leave it to a professional to find the natural shape that you can maintain with your tweazers.

Which brings us to other brow options--waxing and threading! I find these the quickest way to clean up any brow(s). I often sqeeze this in when I am getting my nails done for a measly $9!? Tip-try applying a little lotion after the wax to alleviate the redness and the sting! Much like waxing, threading is quick, affordable, and relatively painless with HUGE results. Good news--no redness when you leave the salon :)

Now that you have two clean and well-shaped brows, let's look at how to incorporate them into your daily make-up routine. Here are my tools: an angled eyebrow brush, eye shadow (to match my hair color), and a highlighter.

Side note: there are products that are made specifically to brow coloring and brow wax--I think they are overpriced and overrated. Basically, a glorified eye shadow. So, save your cash and use/buy some eye shadow you can use for both eyes and brows.

Using brow brush {great investment-short angled bristles}, dip a little eye shadow and brush, in the same direction as the hair growth, into your brows. Follow the natural brow line to the edge of your eye.

 

Then, go back and use your highlight. This is a BareMinerals product called Well Rested, but you can use a light shimmer eye shadow, white highlight pencil, or a cream like mine. Highlight the top brow bone and the under arch. Blend-and viola!

Truthfully, this tacks a whole two one minute to your existing make-up routine and it is SO worth it! Check out the difference --which brow looks Polished?

Look at the difference!

Brows that are colored in...



Thanks for stopping by! Feel free to leave a comment with any questions, comments, or suggestions :)

 

--Kelsey

Have any brow before and after pictures, comments, or stories? Post them here!

Tease Me

My sad, tired hair.

What's a gal to do when her hair is looking a little tired in between blowouts? I certainly do not jump for joy every time I have to re-start a hairstyle (drying my hair is my least favorite beauty task BY FAR).  My go-to quick fix is a little teasing. I normally tease on a daily basis to add a little life to my hair look. I know that some people don’t like to tease on a daily basis and that's fine. My hair hasn’t been damaged by daily teasing, but to each her own hair. Anyhow, when I tease my hair, I think…”the higher the hair, the closer to heaven.” Kidding, I absolutely DO NOT live by that mantra. I believe that there is a fine line between voluptuous volume and well…a bee’s nest. Sorry, someone has got to say it and it might as well be me. 

No, just no.

When I tease my hair, I use a backcomb similar to this from Ulta that cost less than $5. I keep one of these combs in my car, at work, and I tend to find them in every purse I own. What can I say, my hair is my “thing” and I come prepared. I like to have a comb like this around because it can work some serious hair magic even if I don’t have hairspray on hand.

My favorite hair comb.

First thing first, I style my hair if needed. Sometimes I tease without using a heat tool on the bottom of my hair. In this case,  I was in serious need of a curling iron.

After curling my hair, before teasing.

After styling, I skip the hairspray. I save that for the end because I don't like to weigh my hair down or dry it out with spray. Okay back to the fun part! Take inch thick sections of hair starting at the crown of your head using the pointed end of the comb. I tease the hair near the root using 6 strokes. I count it out so I don’t over-do it (cue bee's nest reference). Keep working forward, repeating these steps until you reach the front of your hairline…and VOILA. You’re done!

This is about where I start teasing my hair, working my way forward.

Haha, so pretty!

Haha, I am sorry but no matter how many times I tease my hair I laugh a little LOT at this step. I mean come on, hair and beauty is fun, it doesn’t hurt to laugh at yourself. After I create this beautiful bouffant, I use the comb to smooth everything out and part my hair. This is really important because it is at this point that you smooth out any knots that are showing from the teasing. This step really Polishes the look.

Combing Polishes the look.

Also, don’t ignore that ends of your hair. I find that backcombing the ends throughout my hair helps add some volume throughout. I don't wear extensions, so I count on this step to add some texture to my hair.

Add some volume to the ends of your hair by brushing upward.

Finally, shake it out and spray it. I tell my friends all the time and I will say it again, DON’T OVERSPRAY. Unless you are on your way to tryout for Hairspray the musical, there is no excuse for creating a hair helmet. And think about it, how is a certain someone supposed to run their fingers through your hair if you put a spray shield over it? Trust me, just don’t.

All done!

I'm wearing NYX Extreme Lip Cream in Dolly Girl.

For those of you who don’t like to tease I have used a powder product to add some volume. Powders such as this one by Got 2 Be, add some volume to your hair with just a little sprinkle. A hairdresser once recommended this to me to give my hair a break from teasing and I use it every once in a while. I can’t help but stay loyal to my trusty backcomb, which has never let me down. The only problem I have with these powders is that they make my roots really dry and when I touch my hair I can feel the powder. It leaves almost a rubbery feeling to my hair that I don’t love. However the look is great and is a good alternative to traditional teasing.

If you already tease, you know how much it Polishes a look. If you don’t tease, I hope that this helps you to get started adding that finishing touch to your look. Just like a great necklace or bracelet, a great head of hair can make you look and feel like a million bucks!

Enjoy!

--Courtney