Quick and Easy Hairstyle for Late Nighters

I know we all have at least one of those crazy teacher's that thinks they deserve more time on homework than the rest of our teachers so they decide to give us a ton! This is basically my life right now, so to get my hair out of my face when I am doing the endless homework I go for a simple side braid. This is not only adorable but you can make it your own very easily by adding a bow or flowers or by braiding it differently such as fishtail, dutch, 4 strand, normal, etc. Leaving a couple of strands out to frame your face gives the look the extra windswept style. Not only is this hairstyle great for late nights but they also work for those days we hit the snooze button too many times! Do you like rocking the side braid? What do you do to make it your own? Comment below or email us (address on the side!)

XOXO

Colleen

This Blog Is Not About Looking a Certain Way...

With going back to school and a lot of us defining or recreating ourselves, I feel that it is necessary to say that it doesn't matter what you wear or how you wear it, all that matters is that the clothes you choose to put on your body makes you feel like you. It shouldn't feel as though it is a chore or that with society's outlooks today, that you have to dress a certain way,because it shouldn't have to be. You should be able to walk down your school hallways or strut through your office or downtown feeling confident and ready to take on the day! If you are trying to impress the boys at your school, my advice is to wear what you want and just go for it. Guys don't care whether you wear the newest fashions or not; they like to see us feeling confident with a smile on our faces. The one for you will like you just the way you are. Looks only last so long, but personality will be by your side forever.
If you are trying to dress in a certain way to fit in. I promise you, it isn't worth it. I discovered my freshman year of high school that the minute I started branching out and defining myself through fashion, I got more compliments and I was just all around happier.
To me fashion is an art. Everyone's interpretation is different and that is the beauty of it.
Moral of this post is to be you and to discover who you are through something you love whether it be fashion or painting or sports or band or whatever else! Love what you do, and you won't ever regret it.

XOXO
Colleen

Wake the Sleeping Beauty Please!

I know how it is in the mornings when all you want to do is go to school in your comfy PJ's to get that little extra shut-eye. This quick and easy bold skirt with a graphic tank is your way to go during these last couple of hot days before fall! As for makeup do something simple, maybe just a bold lip and some mascara 'cause during passing periods you can throw on those sunglasses for that extra sass. Obviously switch out the purse for a backpack if you are wearing this to school, but otherwise the gold clutch adds that finishing touch to the look as it matches the pink and gold bracelets. So roll out of bed and throw on this cute number, maybe it will even catch the eye of that dreamy guy in math class ;)

XOXO
Colleen

Grab and Go Coffee Before Class

With school starting, you may need to start up your mornings with a pit stop to Starbucks with your friend before heading off to first period. Let's be honest, whether you wear this look out to lunch or to school (might need to opt for different shoes depending on your comfort zone) you will be rocking the runway! Also, I don't know what your dress code is like but add an easy cardigan and make sure your shorts are finger tip length before meeting eye to eye with the dean for a dress code referral. Have you gone back to school yet? What are some of the looks you want to try out this year? Comment or email us your responses!

XOXO
Colleen

School IDs Don't Have to be Painful, Here's How!

Okay, so I know I am a little late for some of you for back to school ID photos. Since I go to high school, I will be getting mine before school starts, but I do know that at my middle school at least, we had gotten our IDs when we had taken our yearbook photos which would be the same picture.

Since most of the time the photo is taken from your neck up for your ID, I figured I would post an outfit like this! The tank top is not to eye-dropping, but at the same time can be cute if it fits your well. (Also I tend to wear a fitting tank or one with a slight floral design just in case the ID photo shows a little more than the neck.) Obviously since it is still summer, you can opt for jean shorts instead of pants. However, the jewelry/accessories are just right. :) I love wearing either classic diamond or pearl studs which will be subtle enough for some attention but not at all overwhelming as drop earrings can be in photos. (Don't wear the sunglasses during the photo of course!) Since getting all the school stuff done doesn't take all day,  go out with some friends for lunch so they can see your cute outfit as well!

As for hair, do something simple, even if it is just your natural hair down with no details. (Probably what I will end up doing anyway.) A definite must-NOT is to do a bun/ponytail in the back of your head or focus all the details to the back when you won't get to see it in the picture anyway. I suggest going for either a basic half-up do, a side braid, or your hair down (straightened, curled, or natural) with a french braid only on the front couple of pieces like your bangs. Here are some ideas to get inspired for your hair from:

XOXO

Colleen

Back To School Shopping: Clothing Essentials

Hey! So Robin and I are doing this post together :) This is our first time posting together, and this is our second in our back to school series! Yay!
Today we thought we'd go through our absolute must haves (clothing-wise) for back to school this year! We went shopping yesterday, and definitely have a few things to share! Let's get started!
Comment or email us about what your must-haves for this school year are :)

Robin's Top 5:

1-Beanies: Not only are these perfect for bad hair days, but they're super comfy and really easy to throw on to finish out an outfit. Also, this way you never have to worry about second day hair! One of the best ways to wear these are with braids- I LOVE the look of pigtail braids with a beanie!

2- Flannel: Maybe it's my inner hipster but flannel shirts make me go crazy. I feel like the right colored flannel never really looks bad, provided you style it right. I think that they make it way easier to feel like I look good because they're comfy but they fit well. DEFINITELY a must :)

3-Leggings: I'm not really one for wearing leggings as pants, but I think that leggings are awesome for school, especially for under dresses when it gets colder or over-sized sweaters. My personal favorite that I got recently are my burgundy/maroon ones, which I'm (sadly) really excited to wear :)

4- Scarves: I feel like a good, plain (or printed) scarf can really make any outfit look like you put effort in. Paired with flannels and beanies they make outfits look a bit more polished! Plus, they're warm. Which is always kind of fabulous during school. It helps that they go with literally everything.

5- Boots: I have to have my combat boots for back to school. They're crazy comfortable, easy to walk in, and, if you still have to do gym, mine zip off so they're soooo easy to get off! I really recommend them because they literally work with every single outfit! Plus, you won't find yourself worrying about whether or not you're going to get blisters from your flats.

Colleen's Top 5:

1-Blazer: This is probably my absolute favorite thing I got this year! Not only does it fit my style (and might I say, body as well), but it is going to be the eye candy of my jazz performances, but will also look incredible with dark wash skinny jeans, a lacy tank, and some colorful wedges!

2-Comfortable Wedges: As of last year, I have started to wear heels to school to fit my looks, and I always got compliments when I did so. So to switch it up, I figured why not go for a comfortable wedge that is colorful enough to be an accent piece, but also gives length to my legs as all the eyes will be drawn. ;)

3-Loose sweaters: Needless to say, (if you haven't noticed already!) I am head over heels in love with loose sweaters especially those that hang off the shoulder or have studs. These are perfect to wear with those big chucky necklaces and skinny jeans with boots, or even over dresses for a new look! And let's not forget, those lazy days when we roll out of bed and grab those leggings, an over-sized sweater, and a big patterned scarf.

4-Casual skirts/dresses: I am a huge dress girl at heart, and whenever I like to admit it or not, I love to ditch those tight skinny jeans every now and again for that loose yet form fitting dress that has been calling my name. Although guys say they love to see girls in tight leggings, and skinny jeans, try to throw them off-guard by wearing a skirt or a dress every once in a while; it will give you the attention you deserve!

5-Loose (preferably v-neck) short sleeve t-shirts: These are just perfect to pair with yoga pants, jeans, or even with a tight bandage skirt. it keeps the look casual but can easily be dressed up with a pretty scarf or with jewelry. Simply a must-have for back to school!

XOXO
Robin & Colleen
<3

Back to School: For Your Backpack!

So Robin and I have come up with our back to school series plans recently, and honestly, we couldn't be more excited! Although, neither one of us wants the summer to end, we are seriously looking forward to fall fashion and getting to see our missed friends again. As for our series, we will post something every Saturday and Sunday. On Saturdays, Robin and I will be posting a conjoined blog post about something we feel needs two sides or opinions on. And as for Sunday, we will be switching off every weekend so you get a mix of each of us. Hope you enjoy! Please comment or email us at loveanditslooks@gmail.com if you have any questions, would like us to post about something in particular, or have comments of your own! We would really appreciate it; it seriously makes our day. :)

So this is a little look into my backpack for my sophomore year of high school! I doesn't look like a lot, but honestly you want it as simple as you can get. Obviously, there is also a pencil pouch (shown farther down in post), and eventually a survival guide of what I believe is important to have in either your backpack or locker for emergencies or just things that are useful to have around. (This will be a future post whenever I have actually gotten mine all together.) I personally like the normal style backpack because I carry a purse with me as well and messenger or one-shoulder bags tend to look like there are too many straps around my body. Plus with carrying heavy books around, these are honestly the most comfortable. The backpack I got new this year (my other one finally broke because these bags are durable for a long time) was the High Sierra brand in the color navy blue (I recommend choosing a color that is neutral instead of going for that all out bright pink or patterned bag since it will most likely clash with what you are wearing a lot.)  So basically, the contents of my bag include 4 spiral notebooks (one for each of my academic classes), a simple two pocket folder (used for band), a composition notebook (it is good to have one of these on hand just in case your English teacher decides you need one. If you don't end up needing it, you can do what I will be using it for: making lists of things I need to accomplish, and taking notes for things I am doing outside of school such as this blog!), two 1-inch binders (In my experience, teachers tend to want these.), one 1.5-inch binder (I will be using mine for Symphonic, Jazz, & Marching band), and most importantly for my bag, an expandable folder (I love using either this or a 10-pocket regular folder, because all your papers are in one place and let's face it, you won't lose things as easily)! Obviously, you will want to have labeled everything with your name and the classes and/or teacher's names. Lastly, a water bottle. I can't stress this enough, bringing a water bottle with you to school is good for your body and will help keep your brain awake and alert. Plus, you won't have to get up in the middle of class and miss something just to walk around school trying to find the nearest water fountain.

Of course, can't forget the pencil pouch! I tried to keep mine fairly simple while supplying everything I needed. First off, I got my black, floral print pencil pouch (makeup case) from Forever21. And all the supplies, I either had already or I got at Walmart. Inside the pouch, I have 5 cheap mechanical pencils (I guarantee someone will ask you to borrow one and you can give these away since you can easily get them in a pack of around 25 for a couple of dollars.), 2 good mechanical pencils (comes with 2 extra long erasers which is always nice.), a little container of lead, a normal eraser (not shown), colorful gel pens (optionary, but I love to decorate and take notes in different colors to keep it organized and pretty), 2 red pens, 2 blue pens, 3 black pens (all gel due to preference. They write easier, but also have a tendency to smear.), a black sharpie, 2 yellow highlighters, 3 expo dry erase markers (some teachers prefer for you to have your own instead of wasting the ink of theirs), a small glue stick, small scissors, a pad of post-it notes, a flash drive (I love ones with designs which staples and office depot carry), and depending on your math class either a regular or graphing calculator.

Comment below if there is anything you carry that I don't! What do you prefer to have in your backpack? What style bag are you sporting this school year?

XOXO

Colleen

Bandanna Anna Anna

I really love the bandanna trend lately, and have been sporting it religiously, and you can bet next time I'm pulling out one of these lovelies I'll definitely be styling it like this. This would be perfect to keep my hair out of my eyes, which is always a plus. It doesn't hurt that the bandanna is one of the only kinds of head-wear that I think every one can wear.
Give it a try, send us a picture, or comment below if you do! We love hearing from you, it makes our days :)

XOXO
R

Flannel Round The Waist?

Guess today we're playing the uncertain card- what's your opinion of the flannel around the waist? I think it's really cute, but I just can't see myself wearing this to school. What about you? Would you wear this to school? I think this would be an excellent way to hide leggings, so maybe I'll have to think about that!
What's your opinion? Don't be shy! Hit us up in the comments!

XOXO
R

I'm On The Fence On This One

I've been struggling with this for a while. I can't decide when it's appropriate to wear these age-wise, like when someone's old enough for tights that are pretty sexy like these. I really love them and the way they look, but I'm not sure if it's good for someone of my age to be wearing them. What do you guys think? Something for older people, or, if styled appropriately, could they be worn by teens?

XOXO
R

Sweater Socks: Yay, or Nay?

I'm so excited for this kind of trend right now! I absolutely love the way this looks and think it's an easy way to add in an adorable little touch to an outfit without sacrificing any comfort! I really like cute things like this, but don't really love dressing too cutesy all the time, but I think this can definitely find a place in my wardrobe :)

What do you think? A nice touch or tacky?

XOXO

R

Rock on through the School Year!

Wanting to recreate yourself this year? Going for that soft grunge/rocker/don't care kind of look? *cough cough* Robin ;) 

Well I honestly don't know a better look than this for you! Slip into dark wash jean shorts, a loose slightly distressed gray tee, and those combat boots, cause here you come! Finish off the look with a over-sized plain (unbuttoned) shirt, and how could we forget? Of course add that awesome beanie!

As for accessories, try to keep it light with a couple of simple rings and a bracelet, and go for the shades and a crossbody bag. 

This look can transition from this September weather outfit into the fall/winter by adding black tights under the jean shorts :)

Would you wear this look? What is your style?

XOXO

C

Dark and Mysterious Makeup

These summer nights are filled with bonfires and crazy parties, and this look is sure to make you the center of attention. This lip color is an obsession of mine right now, and I think the purple smokey eye is perfect for evenings! This look will look sexy on very hair color! Definitely would look awesome paired with a lace skater dress for those girlier girls, or shorts and sparkly top for those who are a bit more daring!
What do you think? This lip color going to be all the rage for fall?

XOXO
R

Time To Party?

If you're headed to a cool party for a friend's birthday anytime soon, this outfit is definitely a great idea to recreate. It's really comfortable outfit that would work for a huge amount of things! You could definitely wear this to perform, or to go to a party, or even a bonfire :)
What do you think? Recreating this look any time soon?

XOXO
R

Trend Alert! BANGLES

Surprisingly, a lot of guys don't mind a little jingling when you walk by, and these bangles are definitely awesome. Each one has a different meaning, which is also crazy cool. My boyfriend gave me one from this brand for my birthday last year and it mean Aphrodite (an inside joke). He got it from a boutique, if you were wondering. They're really cool, and totally stylish :)

XOXO
R

Hair Cut?

I want my hair to look like this.
That's basically all I had to say on the topic.
What do you think, could I pull this off?

XOXO
R

Pajama Day! Feeling Wisdomy?

So, this seems like the perfect post to be doing. Because I'm currently stuck in bed.

So I'm sorry for being gone for so long, but I had camp with no computer for two weeks then I got my wisdom teeth out yesterday which, by the way, is hurting like no other right now. So, what better to do then blog? Anyways, I have a feeling I'll be wearing this all day. Although, I'm wearing a shirt with the bat symbol on it (Thanks, Colleen!) and striped pajama pants.

XOXO

R

Meet The Band

If you're as musically inclined as I am, or if your friend's finally introducing you to those people she's been ditching you every Saturday for for months, this outfit  is perfect if you're about to meet the band. I'm really hoping to get one up and going soon, and I've been dying to find the perfect outfit to wear when I do. This is definitely the kind of thing I want to start wearing more, so... Yay! What do you think? Something you'd wear to a concert?

XOXO
R