(NEST Midnight Fleur Rollerball.)
I’m a perfume junkie, all thanks to my mom, so when I read recently that Sephora was carrying a new line by NEST Fragrances, I jumped at the chance to try it. The hardest part was picking which fragrance to try, and I decided to buy the rollerball version, just in case. While I don’t recommend buying perfume online unless you’ve already smelled it, I’m pretty good at guessing the basics of a scent by reading the description given.
So, I took a chance and ordered Midnight Fleur, because I was intrigued by the combination of Black Amber, Vanilla Orchid, and its other darker scents. I’ve worn enough perfumes in my day to remember what I like, and I typically prefer floral fragrances, with a bit of a woody undertone, like sandalwood. Midnight Fleur definitely falls into that category, and when I first smelled the tiny tube, my synesthesia kicked in, and I saw navy blue.
It’s definitely a darker fragrance, which is popular these days, and the gorgeous label and packaging really capture the essence of the scent. That probably sounds pretentious, like I’m describing a fine wine or something, but perfume definitely falls into that category, I think, and it’s tricky to describe something that you can’t smell at the same time.
When my package arrived, my mom was visiting, and she smelled it and immediately gave her approval, so I know I did a good job. While it’s a little light and needs to be reapplied during the day, NEST’s Midnight Fleur is a lovely scent for fall and winter, and the rollerball option is really affordable. Next, I’m excited to try their coffret of five perfumes.
(Stripes and jewels for a casual weekend look.)
This past weekend the humidity disappeared and it finally started to feel like fall in Central Texas. To celebrate, we went out for lunch and then headed to San Gabriel Park in Georgetown, one of our favorite places to visit in nice weather. I went through several wardrobe changes before finally settling on something fall-inspired, but still cool enough for the Texas sun.
This outfit is entirely recycled, with my homemade boyfriend jeans and an old top from Loft that was originally long-sleeved. I bought the blouse two years ago and wore it throughout the winter months, but since it’s made of cotton and I love the jewel neck, I just cut the sleeves off above my elbows so I can wear it more often. I’m not in the habit of taking scissors to my clothes, I promise, but it was an easy way to extend the life of an old top I might not wear otherwise. The shirt’s hem is already rolled and frayed by design, so the sleeves are in keeping with that style, and I didn’t even have to hem them. Too easy.
(A closeup of the top’s jewel neck.)
Of course, it’s the jewel neck that made me want to preserve this basic top, rather than donating it. I love how simple it is to wear, and the neckline adds an instant bit of glamour to a plain tee. It’s the perfect thing to wear on an early fall day, and I’m glad I’m getting more use out of this old top.
Are you in the habit of altering your clothes when necessary, or is it just me?
I really love Marc Jacobs perfumes, and when his cosmetic collection debuted earlier this year, I was excited to try it, too. I was in the market for some new eyeshadow for fall, and I decided to test the smaller color compact in the collection, Style Eye-Con No. 3 Plush Shadow in The Rebel. That’s a mouthful to say, but the compact itself is very sleek and minimal, in keeping with all of Marc Jacobs’ designs.
(Marc Jacobs Beauty shadow compact.)
Since I have brown eyes and prefer a softer look, I always gravitate toward violet and lavender shades. But the pink shadow in The Rebel compact really intrigued me, so I decided to go outside my comfort zone a little, and well, rebel. It’s only eyeshadow, after all, and it wipes right off, so no harm done.
(Marc Jacobs Beauty Style Eye-Con No. 3, The Rebel.)
My worries were put aside when the compact arrived, and the colors themselves are extremely muted and not highly pigmented. The ivory shade is a great base to apply all over the lid, and the dark purple has a definite greyish tint to it. I wet a thin brush and apply the purple shadow as liner on my upper lid, which gives the effect of liquid eyeliner. I tried using the bright pink shade as liner, but the result wasn’t what I hoped and made me look as if I’d been crying for hours or had really bad allergies. Instead, I’ve had luck blending the pink and purple shades together, and it softens the greyish tones while still adding a bit of drama.
Overall, I’m pretty pleased with the compact and I love how sleek and luxurious it feels. If the ivory shade came in a single container, I would definitely buy it as a makeup staple. The other colors are fun, but I know I’ll tire of them in a few months. It was a bit of a beauty splurge, and I’ll probably wear the colors through the fall, if not until the end of the year. Sometimes you just have to try out a new product to see if it works, and I’m curious to try some of Marc Jacobs’ lip products next.
