RVAfashionista.com

I am a firm believer that the right shoes and accessories can "make or break" an outfit. However, one pair of shoes every woman needs is a great black peep toe pump. If you don't hair a pair, get a pair. A classic black peep toe pump can be worn with dresses, skirts, jeans, etc. It's a shoe you can wear for work or play. My personal favorite is the Enzo Angiolini 'Merryann' Pump which retails for $79.95 at Nordstrom. I currently own the black leather version but I may add the black patent to my shoe collection at some point. I can't wait to wear them this fall with patterned tights and a sweater dress but they also look cute with a great pair of jeans and a fun top to go out on the town.

After spending a fair amount of time at the pool this weekend, I decided I must share my favorite sun protection products with you all. I'm planning to share a product a day this week to encourage practicing safe sun.

I've always rocked the pale glow and while I have aspirations of being tan, I also know that I can easily become burnt to a crisp. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunblock is my "go-to" sunscreen. The spray can makes application easy and I don't have to worry about rubbing it in! The best part is that it doesn't feel sticky or slimy like most sunscreens. I use the SPF70 version to keep up my pale glow but I prefer at least a SPF of 30.

Check back tomorrow for another sun-friendly product review! Be safe and rock the sunscreen!

Today I'm wearing my hammered silver metal cuff bracelet from Target and earrings from Need Supply Co. as my JOTD (Jewelry Of The Day). I picked up the cuff bracelet at the beginning of last year and the earrings I purchased last summer. Both pieces are "clearance goodies" that I found for under $5 apiece!

What's your JOTD? Have a fabulous Friday and Memorial Day weekend!

Well, maybe it's not top secret since I'm sharing it with you. . . Either way, it's a great deal on a product you need everyday! For a whopping $5 at Target you can find this three pack of Secret Invisible Solid pH Balanced Antiperspirant/Deodorant (each is 1.6 OZ) and it also includes a mini purse size (0.5 OZ) antiperspirant/deodorant. Due to my fast-paced job, I feel that constantly breaking a sweat but the Secret Invisible Solid has 19% of the "anti-sweat" ingredient which is a higher percentage than most antiperspirant/deodorants which works great to help me "keep my cool."

Every fashionista needs a fabulous pair of sunglasses to complete her look. Luckily my favorite vintage shop Halcyon has a few pairs of great vintage shades in stock. I picked up these funky Ray Ban-esque ones retailing for $10. Who doesn't love snazzy sunglasses with flair that are a "steal" price-wise?

Halcyon is located in The Fan on 117 N. Robinson Street, Richmond, VA 23220.

Dear friends of RVAfashionista.com,

Please pardon my lack of posts as of late, it's as if if my fashionista mojo muse jumped ship when I was "spring cleaning" my wardrobe and shoe collection. While spring cleaning, I acquired a new rule per one of my friends, for every pair of shoes I buy - I must rid my massive closet of a pair. It's hard for me to say goodbye to shoes because some resemble old friends. I admit I'm a bit of a packrat when it comes to my wardrobe but it sure felt good to clean out and rid my closet of things that didn't fit or were too well loved to consider wearing again.

I will share my "Jewelry Of The Day" from a couple weeks ago - I need to start incorporating more of what I tweet about into more of what I should write about on here.

Please e-mail me at RVAfashionista.com with ideas or follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/RVAfashionista.

xoxo,
Lindsay a.k.a. RVAfashionista

I'm always on the run so I appreciate beauty products that serve more than one purpose in my purse or makeup bag. Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 is a fabulous lip balm with a sun protection of SPF 4 but it's also great for moisturizing my cuticles and nails. A teeny-tiny dab is also great for taming unruly brows in a pinch. A 0.5 fl. oz. tube is $6.50 but it's a better deal to get the 1.0 fl. oz. jar for $9.50 - either way a great product for under $10! While I'm not the best multi-tasker in the world, Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 is a multi-tasking genius!

My friends Melissa and Sid from Q94 asked me to do a segment on the hottest trends for spring on a budget! In times like these, we're all pinching our hard earned pennies and making financially friendly fashion choices aren't easy. My "Bargainista Babe" segment from the past has turned into a new Recessionista segment for Q94 that we hope to continue on a monthly basis. Don't forget to check out Melissa's Fashionista Files as well!

Bright colors are a big focus this season especially in shades of pink, orange, yellow, coral, and fuschia. The easiest way to add a little bit of bright in your wardrobe is with your accessories. Forever21 and their "sister" accessory store For Love 21 always have a fabulous selection of inexpensive accessories. I love that you can get a bundle of bracelets from Forever 21 for under $5. It's an inexpensive and easy to add color to the classic combo of a white tee and jeans.
Payless has a great pink patent t-strap wedge sandal that also comes in a wide width for under $20. The key to brights is to not overdo it - just add a pop of color and go simple with the rest of your look.

Going "green" is the big thing nowadays and it has taken over the beauty world as well. Physicians Formula was one of the first drugstore brands to go green with their Organic Wear line. Most of the Organic Wear products are certified by Ecocert which is an internationally recognized firm for organic certification. Almay has followed the green trend with their Pure Blends line (www.almaypureblends.com) which feature products with over 95% natural ingredients. Both the Organic Wear and Pure Blends lines have packaging containing post-consumer-recycled content and the packaging is usually recyclable as well. To go with your "green" and eco-concious makeup, you need the right tools and makeup brushes for application and Eco-Tools has affordable brushes with bamboo handles and synthetic bristles that are super soft yet durable. The Eco-Tools line can be found at Target and most drugstores. Even if you aren't buying "green" makeup, do your part to recycle what you can of the packaging that your makeup comes in!

Platform sandals with either a wedge or chunky heel are a summer trend that keeps coming back so dust off your pair from last summer or head over to Target and pick up a new pair. I love all of these styles at Target but the Mossimo Petrova Gladiator Sandals are my favorite. These shoes look great with a pair of the "boyfriend" jeans - use a pair of older jeans that are either too big or go to Goodwill to try to find a pair there. If you'd like to buy "new" - Target also has a great boyfriend jean on clearance. Roll up the bottoms into a loose cuff and voila - insta chic for instant cheap. The style is carefree and casual so your denim doesn't need to be super snug or fitted. Pair with a tank and you're good to go!

In this tough economy, a diva like myself enjoys a cheap yet chic "beauty splurge" once in a while.
CoverGirl OutLast Lipstain fits the budget for around $8 and lasts for hours.

The felt tip "marker-like" applicator lends to quick and easy application - color your lips in and go! The lipstain works best applied on clean, dry lips and if you desire a deeper shade, reapply after your first coat dries. I applied lip balm once the the stain dried but I also paired the lipstain with some gloss when I went out last night so it's another way to wear it. I chose Teasing Blush #415 as my color of choice, which is a "my lips but better" color (also resembles that post-smooch-fest lip color which is hard to acquire unless you've had said smooch fest). The CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain has been "field tested" through dinner and a glass of wine. I have yet to "smooch test" the CoverGirl OutLast Lipstain but I have a feeling that it will survive that too!

PHOTO CREDIT: CoverGirl

First of all, I wish a Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! We should all be thankful every day for all things great or small but Thanksgiving does remind us of all the good things in life. Lately I have a lot to be thankful for and I definitely feel very blessed! In addition to my friends and family, I am also thankful to have a job. For a number of reasons, things didn't work out at the financial planning firm I was working at the last six months. I ended up asking my old "retail gig" for a job and I am so happy they welcomed me back with open arms. So I am back to what I am doing best - sales and providing excellent customer service. It's in my heart and I feel rather silly now for leaving a company I had been with for almost five years.

Yes, retail is not easy but it is what it is and I love it! Let's just hope I "survive" Black Friday and the post-Thanksgiving weekend!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

xoxo,
Lindsay a.k.a. RVAfashionista