Not sure why it still comes as a shock to me, considering I have several pairs of Timberlands (and by this point definitely considered a fan), but each time I get a new pair I’m surprised by how insanely comfortable they are! 🙌🏼 Do they have special insoles or something? 👀 I feel like an old person saying this haha, but I do notice the difference and meeee likeeeee.
Inspired by my recent (and soon to be return, hiiii NYFW) trip to Manhattan, I decided to make a Manhattan Transfer after work one night this week. I loveeee a good sipping cocktail, especially after work because I’m most likely just having 1 to take the edge off, so the slower I can sip it and the higher ABV are both wins!
I’m not that well versed in the beauty game but one thing I can say that CHANGED MY LIFE was, the creation of my “to-go” makeup bag. 🙌👛💄
Living such a busy life and always on the go, I found myself getting super stressed in the morning trying to grab my essentials before heading off to work so that I could freshen up before whatever lunch date, blog event, friend dinner, date night etc etc. I knew there had to be a better way… and there was….
Keeping a makeup bag with all the favorites in my backpack/work bag, hellloooo! Seems so obvious, no? Well, it took me awhile to realize how crucial my to-go makeup bag really is and even more so to realize I needed to pass along this tip! So here’s how I created the perfect little kit…💅
1. Double up on your must have makeup. Yesss, just sack up and buy duplicates…You’ll thank me later. For me, that means mascara, concealer and bronzer (+ mini Kabuki brush). The blush & eyebrow pencil are “nice to haves.” 😉
TIP: Check if they make travel size versions of your faves, lot’s of companies make minis! I was so shocked to find this mini Hoola! (Actually, MAC has an entire travel size section! Perfecttttt for to-go bag needs).
2. Every time you get a sample (lipstick, perfume, eyeshadow etc) stick it in there!! It wont happen overnight, but if you start today you’ll have a killer kit on your hands in no time! (💄🔝 = yes, all samples!!) 😄😄
3. Don’t forget the other random beauty needs.👆👆 I always carry bandaids for surprise blisters and who doesn’t need an extra hair tie more often than you’d like to admit?! Instead of a small hairbrush, carry a mini comb. Way easier to fit and can totally get the job done.
*Optional* small makeup brush set (ditch the casing). If you’re carrying any eyeshadows or eyebrow fillers, don’t overlook this ahah! Finger is not a good substitute.😆 Either way, *not optional* is a Kabuki brush for powders/bronzers.
Pssssttt!! Don’t forget a compact mirror! So crucial, I’m not trying to be the person sitting in the front seat of an Uber using their mirror. 🤣🤣 Basically, the entire key to this “to-go” makeup bag. ✔️✔️
I just leave mine in the backpack I carry most days, but grabbing it to move it elsewhere is sooooo much easier than grabbing all it’s individual insides. One of my main goals in life is to constantly adjust my daily patterns to relieve stress, and this definitely saved a lot of gray hairs 😅
💋💋💋,
Kendall
SHOP TRAVEL SIZE MAKEUP BAGS
SHOP MY FAVORITE ESSENTIALS:
Well the weather has plummeted lately, hasn’t it? I literally froze walking to lunch in the surprise rain yesterday.But I suppose I’ll live because that means, time for snow ahead! ☃️ Aka a new category of dressing: retro snow chic. And here’s how to get it. 🧣🧤💯
It’s no secret I love going up to Tahoe and hittin’ the slopes, the more pow the better! 🏂💕 But my other favorite part about mountain vacations are the vintage cabin vibes! I get to pack all my fun, cozy, retro looks; they always just work so well in Tahoe, or any mountain environment. Yes, even the fancy ski resorts. 💁🏼🎿✨ ⛷😝
You gotta have the right après ski gear, even if you don’t ski!
Whether you’re heading up to the mountains to ski or just hibernate in the cabin, I’ve pulled together my favorite snow-ready pieces to shop! Now, I use the term “snow ready” loosely, it’s more like snow chic, as most of these clothes are anything but blizzard appropriate. 🙅🏼❄️🤣
KILLER COATS:
Toss these babies over anything and you’re ready for that après ski drink.
One of my favorite cold weather styling tricks, is having fun socks scrunched and peaking out of my boot. The other is, layering turtlenecks under sweaters (even better if the turtleneck is your pop of color).
MOUNTAIN CHIC & CASUAL COOL:
The perfect blend of standout + comfy, go for a jaunt around town or the ski village in these looks.
SKI GEAR-ISH:
Warning: not suitable for double black diamonds.😛 But the closest thing to ski wear while still being the cutest snow bunny evs.
COZY IN THE CABIN:
Fuzzy slippers, retro joggers and the coziest sweaters… Maybe we’ll all end up just staying in these!
PRO TIP: Each of the 6 items of one full panel in the above carousels, can be combined for the entire look! (Besides Cozy in the Cabin paired in trios)
👉👉👉 For even more cozy things, “ski-ready” gear, and unnecessary coats hit my brand new Winter Shop.
PS: This is the first time I haven’t gone skiing, or traveling at all, on MLK weekend…yikes!! ⛷😯 How dare I not take advantage of the extra day off work?!?! Trust me, it’s a continuous personal struggle, but I gottaaaaa get some rest and work done after the psycho holiday season and b2b vacations. 😴 Wish me luck!
So the countdown begins! Well, not quite at the 10 seconds to midnight BUT my countdown for end of year goals, deadlines, and most importantly a new years outfit is most definitely here. 💯
Yayyayyyy – It’s almost New Years Eve! And I found the perfect outfit literally all at Topshop. Gotta love a one-stop-shop for outfit selection, making this busy AF time of year just a lil bit easier! 🙏😴😁😁
I’ve never been typical when it comes to style, so when I set out on my hunt for the perfect ‘fit I knew I didn’t want to just grab some festive dress and be done with it. *Enter this metallic crop top, metallic plisse pants and matching shoes* SCORE! ✔️✔️✔️
Now all I need is the perfect NYE night to accompany it…. If I had to make it up?
Step 1: Grab a stand-out look, just the right amount of sexy + fun + comfortable (like these low heeled shoes). It’s going to be a longggg night!! 🙃👍
Step 2: Ditch my car for the evening (driving? nonsense). 🚫🚙
Step 3: Head downtown. I gotta be around an area with lots of lights!! I get so exhilarated and inspired by city lights, both neon signage and the city scape – they’re just so festive! ⭐️ 🌟⭐️ 🌟
Step 4: Find a swanky hotel to get some drinks and kick off the night. I decided to make my champagne a bit more “heavy duty” if you know what I mean 😉👉 A.K.A. French 75 is the way to go. 🥂🍋🍸👌
Step 5: Find a dance floor and shake it, shake, shake it. Shake it, shake, shake it. (not pictured — such a wreck). 🤦♀️🤦♀️
Step 6: Stay out until sunrise. Life may currently be a mess 🤷♀️, but it’s a new year, I can just start over now right? As long as I’m still dancing, the fun continues. 💃✨💃
2017. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
Shop my entire NYE look here – https://go2b.uy/@chasingkendall/0
Get Topshop coupons here – https://stylinity.com/coupons/@topshop/@chasingkendall
Special thanks to Stylinity and Topshop for this collab.
Photography by: Barbara Jayy
‘Tis the season! And how do I typically celebrate? By getting all dolled up and doing bougie things because #holidays — It’s a great excuse, am I right? 😉💄 No other time of year can I justify going to historic SF restaurants in black tie (👈 literally my family tradition every year). Feeling festive with a martini in hand is just how I like to send off the year… and in style of course! 💁🍸
Which brings me to my next point, holiday style. How good is this tux cape though!? Never seen one of these until this year, and immediately when I laid eyes upon J’Amy Tarr’s cape it I knew it would be the perfect piece to complete my stand out holiday look. 🙌🙌🙌
Shop the look:
Scroll to the end of this post for where I celebrate the holidays (aka eat and drink my face off) in SF!
You can’t go wrong with the trio of fancy hotels surrounding Huntington Park: The Mark Hopkins Hotel (with a gorgeous city view at Top of the Mark) , The Fairmont and the Scarlet Huntington. The latter, home to The Big 4 Restaurant, which is where my family dines in black tie every Christmas season. Black tie obviously not required, just festive and fun. 😛
Katie and I actually went on a early holiday dinner there a few weeks back and it was fabuloussssss!✨👯🍷 PRO TIP: Bring your own bottle of wine to make the meal more affordable but don’t skip out on a martini or gimlet first! DEF get the chicken pot pie and desert. YUMMM. Walking in the restaurant feels like stepping back into old time San Francisco, I love it.😍😍 Plus the added live pianist really sets the mood. ✨🎹✨
Shop the look:
Wearing // Robert Clergie via Lexington Standard Boutique (similar: here, here) / Pants: The Kooples (similar: here, here) / Shirt: Iorane (similar: here) / Tux Cape: J’Amy Tarr / Bracelet: Miansai / Purse: Chanel / Earrings: The 2 Bandits //
Colors (left to right) // Pantone 538 C / Pantone 642C (50%) / Pantone 419C / Pantone 5605C / Pantone 410C //
I released my holiday wishlist last week after going on countless internet spirals hunting for everything I wanted, because let’s face it, it’s important to know what to ask for too! Heheheh. That attainable yet slightly undesirable price point, that balance between things I don’t really need but want so bad… receiving gifts is quite the skill too, ya know!! Joking. 😜😬👉🏼🎁
But my hope in releasing my holiday wishlist is that others may use it as a source of inspiration, a gift shop for their own present buying dilemmas. Honestly speaking, I don’t really know your sister or boyfriend well enough to tell you what to get them 🙊🙊, but I can offer some of my favorite finds in hopes that you find something in there for that special person on your list. 🤞🏼😁💕 At the very least, maybe you can find something extra cool to ask Santa for. 😏🙏🏼🎅🏻
GIFTS UDER $50
GIFTS UDER $100
GIFTS UDER $200
🖖 PRO TIP:
Dec 16th – several brands offer Free Shipping to meet Christmas deadlines
Dec 18th – usually last day to standard ship
Dec 19th – usually last day to rush ship
