Author: stephaniespieker

My beauty must haves.

beauty products

When it comes to beauty products I am very loyal.  With my busy life, I also like to keep it simple and natural.

Here are a few my tried and true beauty regime that I use every day.

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This heavy moisturizing creme was developed by  Dr. Max Huber to treat his skin after he was burned in a lab accident.  It is a bit pricey, but a little bit goes a long way, and I have noticed a difference in my skin.  One tub of it usually lasts me six months to a year.

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This brow kit  by benefit changed my life!  I think that brows are one of the most important parts of a beauty routine because they frame the eyes.  My brows have a great arch, but are not as thick as I’d like, and this little kit does the trick.  It comes with 2 colors of brow shadow, brow wax, highlighter, translucent shadow and mini tweezers for those stray hairs that you didn’t see when you left the house.  One set usually lasts about a year which is great.

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The Nars eyeshdow duo called Isolde makes my blue green eyes POP!  I use the lighter color on my lid and the darker one as a wet liner.  It works with every eye color, and is subtle yet beautiful to wear on a daily basis.

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I have been using bare minerals original formula for 8 years and will never go back to any other powder/foundation.  It really buffs away any blemishes, and has a sunscreen which is great for my fair skin.

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RMS beauty’s Living Luminzer is a way to illuminate your skin without being shiny or glittery.  I put it on my cheekbones, in the corners of my eyes and on my eyelids to get a beautiful, natural glow.

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I am a lip balm addict an I use Burt’s Bees at least 4 times a day.  The hydrating formula with coconut and pear is yummy and keep my lips soft and smooth.

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Being a blonde, my hair can get really dry and brittle at the ends.  I use Kerastase Crystalliste to combat the dryness.  This product is wonderful to use once a week to get a surge of moisture in your hair.  It is expensive, but one tub also lasts me about a year, so I feel like it is an investment.  I leave it on for 2 hours and then wash it out and I definitely feel a difference in my hair.

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And finally, my signature scent!  I actually found this at a little sundry shop in Missoula, Montana and love it so much that when I ran out, I ordered a bigger bottle.  It is by Maison de la Vanille which is based in Provence, France.  They have  plethora of Vanilla scents from around the world but mine is Vanille Givree des Antilles.  It is a sweet and spicy vanilla scent that is not too overpowering.  It is my last step before I walk out the door.

Fall Heat Wave.

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I am so excited for Fall, but it is way too hot to break out my favorite layering pieces.  Getting dressed for a date night with Roger on Piedmont Avenue,  I still felt like dressing for fall so I mixed summery silhouettes with fall fabrics and color palette.  I outfitted my favorite sheer Allsaints button down with a Free People buffalo plaid skirt (that I usually pair with tights in colder weather).  I accessorized with these perfect Sixty Seven Chelsea boots, my grandma’s vintage purse and my new amazing necklace by Native Daughter.  I cannot wait for the weather to cool down so I can share my favorite fall looks with you 🙂

Outfit Details ::

Top :: Allsaints (similar here)

Skirt :: Free People 

Booties :: Sixty Seven (similar here)

Purse :: Vintage

Necklace :: Native Daughter

NYFW Standouts

Fashion Week

NYFW this year blew my mind!  There were so many amazing collections.  After poring over every single show, I have chosen my four favorite designers and the looks I love for SS 15.

First of all, I am dying over everything in Nicholas K’s line.  He was the first to show on Thursday and it was a hard act to follow.  His designs evoke Khaleesi from Game of Thrones (my favorite).  He did lush silks with interesting texture and draped them to perfection.  I loved the head wraps, belts and chic cat-eye makeup on the models.  I visualize this collection in a beautiful desert setting in Morocco.

Wes Gordon’s collection evoked simple crisp, classic neutrals with beautiful body skimming silhouettes.  The designs were minimalistic a la Calvin Klein, but the interesting fabrications added an exotic twist.  He was inspired by “the woman of the 1990’s” and paired icy blues, soft pinks and nudes with a strong black backbone to evoke the minimalism of the 90’s.  I absolutely love the silver dress above that looks like medieval chain mail  armour.  I am trying to figure out the fabrication!

One of my favorite up and comers, Swedish brand Rodebjer, was one of the most interesting collections I viewed.  It mixed loose silhouettes that flowed away from the  body with menswear details and ethnic prints.  I love the pops of sheer and shiny silks to add opulence while the graphic printed knits added warmth and dimension.  The neutral palette of grey, navy, cream, black and light pink was versatile and transcends season.  I cannot wait to see more from Rodebjer.

Finally, one of my favorites Jenny Packham.  I am a sucker for her brand of Old Hollywood glamour.  I also have a soft spot for her because my amazing wedding dress was designed by her.  The fashion show was set to a mashup of the ultimate blonde, Marilyn Monroe’s voice and songs and ended with a cover of Madonna’s “Material World”.  The collection matched the soundtrack with body hugging yet tasteful 1950’s shapes in soft pink, bright turquoise and black with her signature tasteful but not gaudy embellishments.  Jenny just won the “Best Bristish Bridal Designer” at the Bridal awards today too, congrats Jenny!

(photos from Vogue UK)

Love my city.

 Every first Friday, the city of Oakland closes off Telegraph Avenue from 27th to Grand to host an amazing night of art, food, culture and music in this eclectic city (http://www.oaklandfirstfridays.org).  On our walk from the car to Telegraph, we stumbled upon a vintage car show with the cleanest American muscle cars.  My husband Roger is obsessed with Mustangs (he has a 67′ that he fixed up at the age of 14) and we found a beautiful convertible that the owner actually let me get in and take a picture.  After the car show we entered the gates and it was going off.  There were bands playing in the street, a school bus bus full of vintage clothes (Yasssssss), jewelry artisans, painters, clothing designers, the record truck and yummy food trucks!  At the end of the night, we indulged in the best corn dogs ever and I don’t regret it.  

As for my outfit, I was feeling funky so I wore my new Cynthia Vincent tribal print silk tee, black silk pants (similar here) the Dylanlex Sienna necklace, my favorite Allsaints hat (similar here), a navy Chanel bag and navy Boutique 9 booties.  It was such a fun night and I cannot wait for next month.  Stay tuned next week for my recap of NYFW and my favorite looks and designers 🙂

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Outfit Details ::

Top :: Cynthia Vincent

Bottoms :: Leifnotes (similar here)

Hat :: Allsaints (similar here)

Shoes :: Boutique 9 (similar here)

Bag :: Chanel

Necklace :: Dylanlex

Rings and Bracelet :: Vintage

Finals Week Style.

I just registered for my last quarter to earn my graduate degree from FIDM and I am so stoked!  Regardless of how I feel in the morning, I can always find a stylish option that I can sit in class for 6 hours in without getting uncomfortable.  I love this black, sheer 1930’s cut dress from Anthropologie for when I want to look chic and relaxed (similar).  I am obsessed with chelsea boots for fall! This pair is from last fall (I have a knack for trend forecasting) and by Sixty Seven (similar).  I paired it with my LV Noe tote (my school bag packed with my computer) and my tortoiseshell Celine sunnies to contrast black and brown. My husband met me after school with my fave flowers to brighten my day.  Happy finals week to all my FIDM loves, I cannot wait for vacation… i.e. starting my final portfolio!!!

P.S. Pics taken with an iPhone at night… not the usual Nikon DSLR 🙂

 

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Outfit Details  ::

Dress :: Anthropologie

Shoes :: Sixty Seven

Bag :: Louis Vuitton

Watch :: Cartier

 

Pastel and Chambray

Fall is upon us, and my favorite transitional piece from summer to fall is a chambray shirt.  I have been rocking chambray since the 90’s (see the pic below) so it is a classic throwback for me… I found this chambray from elevenses at Anthropologie and it has lasted me for YEARS.  The shorts are vintage Calvin Klein that I cut myself years ago, and I can’t ever find a better pair.  The booties are my homage to fall and are by my fave brand Sixty Seven.  My last accessory is an LV tote that was my Mom’s in the Seventies (I love my Louis Vuitton weathered and cracked.)   It is a simple outfit, but if you have style, you should be able to wear basics without looking basic 🙂 Happy Labor Day and I am excited to share my fall outfits with you.  And a HUGE shout out to Ash at Oxenrose SF for my amazing pastel hair, I am obsessed!

90’s Throwback Chambs!

Chambray

 

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Outfit Details ::

Top :: Anthropologie

Shorts :: Vintage Calvin Klein

Booties :: Sixty Seven

Bag :: Louis Vuitton

 

Black and Blonde

I have a penchant for black leather. I guess its the inner biker in me.  My amazing mother in law is a fellow Leo (our birthdays are back to back) and we understand each other so well.  She spent the last two months in Brazil and brought me back the most beautiful woven black suede backless top that she found at an arts market in Sao Paulo.  I paired the top with my favorite Citizens of Humanity coated high rise denim, my go to Jeffrey Campbell sandals and a tan Celine luggage for a date night at our favorite little Thai spot in Oakland, Old Weang Ping.  When in doubt, I  go for all black everything, and always feel fabulous with that little bit of edge that defines me.

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Outfit Details ::

Top :: Handmade in Brazil

Coated Jeans :: Citizens of Humanity

Shoes :: Jeffrey Campbell

Bag :: Celine

Bracelet :: Hermes and Vintage

Watch :: Cartier 

Sunnies :: Chloe

Ring :: Konstantino

 

 

On Birthdays, we wear sequins.

I turned 28 on Friday and it has been a tough yet rewarding year.  I started grad school at FIDM and has been of the most intense school experiences full of all nighters and stress, but I would not trade it for the world.  At the same time, my husband (and Photographer) Roger and I bought a house in this beautiful, cultural mecca of Oakland.  Two huge changes right after we got married has not been easy.   We are pushing through this together and I know the risk will pay off.  I am so lucky to have him.  He woke me up with breakfast in bed before school and planned a beautiful date at Farallon SF that night.  This is a rare occasion with our schedules, so I decided that I wanted dress up in my favorite sequin art deco Allsaints dress, my nude Louboutins and my lil Chanel flap bag.  It was a perfect birthday. All of the little things people did, and Birthday wishes everyone sent made my day 🙂

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Outfit Details ::

Dress (similar) :: Allsaints 

Shoes :: Christian Louboutin

Bag :: Chanel

Necklace (made to order monogram) :: Eve’s Addiction

Watch :: Great Grandmother’s from the 1930’s

Mermaid Vibes

I have always been drawn to the ocean.  The water, the breeze and the soothing sound of the waves puts me at peace.  I spent the weekend at La Selva Beach with my family and it brought me back to life.   At sunset, my husband and I went down to the beach to shoot this mermaid look.  I wore my favorite white lace maxi by Andree DeLair, Cynthia Vincent sandals, a vintage bag from my grandmother in law and my favorite turquoise and silver jewels.  I felt like a mermaid about to swim out to sea.

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DSC_0440Outfit Details ::

Dress :: Andree DeLair for Anthropologie

Sandals :: Cynthia Vincent

Sunnies :: Prada

Bag :: Vintage

Jewelery :: Vintage

Turquoise Tomboy

I am all about androgyny in fashion, mixing boyish styles with luxe accessories. These coated denim, drop crotch Allsaints pants are a wardrobe staple for me.  Whether I pair them with a crop top, leather blazer and booties, or flats and a sheer button down, I always feel comfortable and put together.  The key to drop crotch is going a size up and don’t go for too intense of a drop (a la Justin Bieber).  We are trying to channel Gwen Stefani, not a little boy that let fame go to his head.  I accessorized with my new turquoise hair done by Ash at Oxenrose San Francisco, my vintage turquoise rings and a little black Chanel flap bag.  My husband (the photographer) and I drive around Oakland at dusk and find awesome industrial spots like this to shoot 🙂

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Outfit Details ::

Crop Top :: American Apparel

Pants :: Allsaints

Jacket :: Vintage, purchased at Broadway Market, London

Bag :: Chanel

Booties :: Sixty Seven

Rings :: Vintage