3 Steps to a Cheap & Easy Outfit for Oktoberfest

It's that time again, lovelies! It's become tradition for us and friends to go to a local Oktoberfest. Sometimes we dress up. Sometimes we don't. Sometimes we eat in the festhalle. Sometimes we host our own pre-fest feast.

8 Outlander Inspired Everyday Outfits

I just started binge-watching Outlander and—though I'm just beginning Season 2—I've been sucked in. The sweeping, scenic views of Scotland. That ginger-haired laddie Jamie. And, of course, the gorgeous costumes. Lately, I can't stop wondering how I could get away with dressing like Claire every single day. I would love to go frolicking about in lavish gowns. And working from home, the most judgement I'd probably face would be a side-eye from my cats—and some level of complaint from G, who'd probably get stuck helping me with all that buttoning and corset-lacing.

But realistically, I need a more modern approach.

Get a Free Summer Skincare Set from Burt’s Bees & Grove Collaborative

You guys, I'm so excited about the new Grove offer I get to share with you today. I always feel like I'm raving about Grove because of the great deals on Mrs. Meyers and Caldrea products. (It's for good reason—good smelling cleaners make the chore so much more enjoyable.) There's more to Grove than cleaning supplies, though. They're my go-to for skincare products like rose argan oil and facial wipes, too. And now, they carry one of my favorite brands ever: Burt's Bees. 

Ideas for Gathering: How to Host a Girls' Night In

This post brought to you by Burt’s Bees . The content and opinions expressed below are that of The Lovely Side.

Somewhere between college and the real world, good old-fashioned girls' nights went from being a weekend given to a special occasion. Girlfriends grow up, move part, score "big girl jobs," and get our own places. It's so much fun to look back on the memories though. Gathering at a friend's apartment. Getting gussied up. And going out for a girls' night on the town.

My New Stay Fresh Essential: Dove Dry Spray

So excited to partner with Dove in spreading the word about their Dove Dry Spray antiperspirant. 

My love for Dove is no secret. Their soap bar is always in my shower and it's my go-to for washing my sensitive face. So I jumped at the chance when Dove invited me to #TryDry - as in, try out their award-winning Dove Dry Spray antiperspirant in my beauty routine.

You might not think of your antiperspirant as a beauty item, but it's definitely part of mine. If I had to leave the house with only three beauty items on... it'd be: antiperspirant, mascara, and a bold lipstick. In that order.

The verdict on Dove Dry Spray? Smitten.

Here's why Dove Dry Spray is now a staple on my bathroom vanity and a must-have in my purse:

Style How-To: Dress Your Glasses Up (and Down)

Thank you VSP Direct for sponsoring this post. Be sure to enter the #VSPStyleSweepstakes on Facebook for your chance to win a style consult and designer sunglasses!

I basically live in my glasses. They're my favorite fashion and beauty accessory. I often wake up and plan my entire outfit and makeup look around what pair of specs I want to wear that day.

Treat Yourself this Valentine's Day with Scent Trunk

Romantically involved or not, Valentine's Day is a perfect excuse to spoil yourself a little bit. One of my favorite things to treat myself to is a nice fragrance. It's one of those things that I like to pick out for myself because I have a picky nose and a family member, friend, or significant other might not know which scents I love (almond, vanilla, peony) and which I loathe (powder, rose, patchouli). 

The downside to standing in the beauty department trying out perfumes? For one, it's overwhelming. I try on fragrances, get them mixed up, and can't remember which was which. And two, it does take out the element of surprise. Would it be fun if you could treat yourself and still be surprised?

Winter Dry Skin Solutions: Dr. Teal's Lavender Epsom Salt

Winter wreaks havoc on my skin. The cold air and dry heat join forces, leaving me with dry, flaky, itchy skin - especially on my arms and legs. One day, I looked at my arm and saw legit scales flaking off. Horrifying. I tend toward dry skin anyway. (So much so that I actually love summer humidity... it makes my skin feel so soft!) But in these harsh Iowa winters, I have to take extra care to make sure I don't dry up by springtime.

My go-to methods: exfoliating and moisturizing. I was thrilled to be selected for Influenster's recent Cheers to You VoxBox because inside, I received a full-sized bag of Dr. Teal's Pure Epsom Salt Soaking Solution - the lavender "Soothe and Sleep" scent!

Burt's Bees Lipstick That Loves You Back

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Burt’s Bees. All opinions are 100% mine.

I've been a Burt's Bees devotee since buying my first little tin of the minty-fresh lip balm in high school. Nowadays, you'll find everything from Burt's Bees balms to bath and body products scattered throughout my bathroom. (And I never go a day without the Radiance Day Lotion.) Mostly, the lip shimmers and lip balms have served as daily go-to products. But I've been missing something. Because, you see... I'm a lipstick girl at heart.

So my heart when pitter-patter when I glimpsed the new Burt's Bees Lipsticks in Target. And then it nearly skipped a beat when I was asked to offer up my honest review. 

JORD Wood Watches + 10 Ways to Style Wooden Timepieces

I love wood jewelry and watches for two reasons. 1) Wood is such a gorgeous and unique alternative to metals. And 2) I'm allergic to a lot of metals, so the less I can expose myself to whatever makes me red, itchy, and scratchy, the better! In the last few years, I've accumulated a little collection of wooden necklaces, bracelets, and rings, but I was missing one key piece: a watch!

JORD is a company that hand-makes luxury, wood watches. When they offered to send me one of their timepieces to review on the blog, I picked out the Sully model in red sandalwood. I love my watches to be either tiny and dainty or big and bulky. The Sully model is a big, eye-catching watch and the red sandalwood color is a rich, auburn-toned hue. (If big watches aren't your thing, JORD offers smaller watches, too.)

Filene's Basement is back! (And you can shop from home!)

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Filene's Basement. All opinions are 100% mine.

Love on-trend fashion, accessories, and home goods curated and customized to your personal taste? And at a discount?! Me, too. 

Ladies, Filene's Basement is making a return as an e-commerce website launching this Fall 2015. 

$25 Gordmans Gift Card Giveaway | New Year, New Outfit (and a 20% coupon!) (Closed)

This giveaway is now closed.

Please stay tuned for future contests and giveaways.

Happy holidays, lovelies! I've partnered up with one of my favorite stores for another gift card giveaway. Gordmans provided me with two $25 gift cards - one for myself and one for a lucky reader - to spend on a closet revamp for 2015. (Click through to enter the giveaway and score a 20% OFF coupon.)

Last-Minute Halloween Costume Round-Up

I know this is very last-minute - in fact, I'm literally throwing my costume together today: dress + red cape + red hoodie = Little Red Riding Hood. (And the bf is the Woodcutter.) ;) Here are all The Lovely Side's Halloween costumes from the last few years:

Working Girl Wardrobe | Carolyn: Mechanical Engineer

Working girl Carolyn is a Mechanical Engineer who designs and builds robots. Her time is evenly divided between attending meetings, designing at her desk, and building in the lab so her workplace wardrobe needs to be professional, versatile, and comfortable - while still reflecting her girly girl style.

Working Girl Wardrobe | Chloe: IDEALS Grant Coordinator

Working girl Chloe York is employed as IDEALS Grant Coordinator in the Community Education department at Memphis College of Art. She manages and recruits for the IDEALS grant, which allows low-income students to attend any of the college's community education courses at no charge. 

"I also plan activities for these budding artists to take part in for college planning and portfolio building with the hopes of eventually leading them to a career as a successful artist in some capacity." - Chloe

Little Red Riding Cape | What would you wear with it?

I meant to share this thrift store score weeks ago when I found it, but it somehow slipped off of my radar. Whilst browsing the coat rack at my local Goodwill, I came across the above red cape. And with its $5 price tag, I couldn't resist taking it home with me. I have a big soft spot for Little Red Riding Hood and even though this cape is minus the hood, it feel fairy tale-like all the same. With Iowa's autumn turning cold and rainy, winter is right around the corner. So I'm trying to figure out how to style this lovely bit of clothing. Here are some ideas:

Autumn Beauty Arsenal: Gems + Copper + Baked Goods + Wine

Hands down - autumn is my favorite season to dress for. The layers, the colors, the textures... it's all so warm, cozy, and romantic. So it should come with no surprise that I'm also partial to fall beauty. I get to revel in my fair skin, match my auburn hair to turning leaves, and pull out the deep burgundy and berry lip-stains. Oh yes, fall is splendid.

I rounded up my arsenal of autumn beauty items, so without further ado...

Jewel Tones
O.P.I.'s Pompeii Purple is my new favorite nail color. It's a vibrant metallic fuchsia that I just can't get enough of. You'll also catch me wearing lipstick as red as rubies and eyeliners in hues of emerald, amethys, and sapphire - but not all at once. I like to let these showstopping shades shine against neutral backdrops.

6 Oktoberfest Ensembles for your Fall Festivities

Hammerschlagen, dirndls, and lederhosen - oh my! 'Tis the season for Oktoberfest, which I'll be celebrating in the Amana Colonies this weekend. I can't wait for a day of eating hearty German food and drinking Millstream's bier with my boyfriend and friends.

But before I get ahead of myself, I have to decide what to wear. Last year, G and I went all out by making our own Oktoberfest costumes. (You can check out the post about our thrifted, DIY dirndl and lederhosen here.) This time around, we're playing it down with some cozy autumn clothes. (Side-note: It's fall here in Iowa and absolutely gorgeous right now.)

Whether you're toting your stein to an outdoor festival or indoor themed event, I pulled together six Oktoberfest-inspired getups to complement your activities:

Using Statement Pieces to Start Conversations While Networking | Guest Post

Millennials know that networking is a necessary evil in getting ahead in the workplace. It’s a crucial tool for building new relationships and forging connections with influential industry members - and it’s also incredibly awkward. It’s a dance where everyone knows the steps, but still fumbles with the footing. We know to anticipate small talk, but that doesn’t make it less boring; we know we can join in laughter shared among any group of strangers, but that doesn’t make it feel less forced. 

Common interests are a saving grace when they finally make themselves known. From European vacations to number one sports teams and favorite local vendors, having a jumping off point for conversation not only makes the back of forth of dialogue easier, but also makes you a more memorable acquaintance and allows you to speak more confidently. Unfortunately, it usually takes a few minutes of chatting about the weather to uncover these commonalities. So why not make your interests more visible using attire as a tool? Observe:

Style Jargon: Business Casual vs. Corporate | Guest Post

With the school year in full swing, undergrads and young professionals will be pounding the pavements looking for internships and employment. If you’re one of the Chosen Ones lucky enough to have a position, I tip my oversized sun hat to you. Whether you’re handing in resumes or handing in your timesheet it’s time to get down to the business of office dress codes. 

Many have tried to break down business casual vs. corporate work wear, but there still remains some confusion. Otherwise known as the question, to wear pantyhose or not to wear pantyhose? Think of it this way, if you work in a more creative environment (i.e. fashion or the arts) you are mostly likely going to err on the business casual side of things; with a bit more liberty to wear colors and prints. If you work in a typical office setting (think high-rises and cubicles) you’re mingling more with the corporate dress code.