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Comfort Shoes For The Stylish Fashionista (Spring Edition)

April 11, 2017

If you've ever struggled to find a stylish comfort shoe, you are not alone. Keep reading for a rundown of what I've tried so far. Just a heads up - Danskos did make the list, but so did a handful of others.

A few years ago, I developed severe pain in my big toes. After a doctor’s visit, I was told that I have tendinitis and that I should wear Danskos to reduce the irritation. I remember sharing the news with my husband as he turned up his nose. There is nothing wrong with Danskos, but for someone who loves fashion, it makes my shoe game very limited.

So what’s a girl to do? Look for an alternative of course! If you’ve ever struggled to find a stylish comfort shoe, you are not alone. Keep reading for a rundown of what I’ve tried so far. Just a heads up – Danskos did make the list, but so did a handful of others.

Comfort Shoes For The Stylish Fashionista

Dansko. I know what you might be thinking, but don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. Dansko has upped their game and branched out into much more stylish options. The price point is comparable to most comfort brands and trust me when I say it, if you go Dansko, you might not go back.

My first pair of Danskos were these sandals. I ended up buying them in two colors and my feet never felt better. When fall came, I bought these boots. I was a bit self-conscious of their clunky appearance but ended up getting a lot of compliments wherever I wore them.

Dansko shoes can be quite tall and a little hard on the knees. A lot of people express they have rolled their ankles in the traditional clog style. I have done this several times in the boots too. The fit should also be noted; they have a nice toe box and are normally super roomy.

 

Jambu. The pair that I own fit similar to my Dansko boot. I love the cutout floral pattern and color. The platform makes these shoes very wearable for all day wear, but the heel height did bother my knees. If you have wide feet, they might be a bit narrow in the toe box for you. I do and I have stopped wearing these for that reason.

 

Josef Seibel. I got my first pair of Josef Seibel open toe booties last summer. I am obsessed with this style and bought them in two colors. If you go back through my archives, you might think that these are the only sandals I own. The stacked heel and soft leather make them very comfortable. If it wasn’t for my tendinitis, I could wear them all day.

 

Paul Green. Last fall, I was in dire need of a pump and I was growing quite envious of all the fashion bloggers who rocked a heel. You can imagine my excitement when I discovered the Desire Pointy Toe D’orsay pump. These shoes are a bit of a luxury, made with fine Italian leather. The heel height is 3 1/2 inches but with the asymmetrical strap, they provide a lot of support. I have them in black and hope to get the Smoke Leather color soon for the warmer season.

 

Other Notable Comfort Shoe Brands

  • Miz Mooz
  • Cobb Hill
  • Mephisto

Best Retailers For Comfort Shoes

  • The Walking Company
  • Nordstrom
  • Zappos
  • Amazon

What comfort brands do you love? Please share in the comments.

Wearing: Cobb Hill sandals (old)

 Photo by Michelle Dorman

Related posts:

  1. From Business Casual to Date Night with J.Jill
  2. Styling Texture
  3. 6 Essential Ways to Start Dressing Confidently
  4. 4 Fail-Proof Tips for Styling White Denim in the Fall

Leave a Comment · Labels: Fashion Tagged: Product review, Styling tip

Bedtime Ritual with Pixi Beauty

January 24, 2017

To stick with my 2017 health goal, I have created a bedtime ritual to help me relax. One of the biggest things I struggle with is stress management. Between work, the blog, and life it can be tough to unwind. Taking a bath several days a week has made a world of a difference.To stick with my 2017 health goal, I have created a bedtime ritual to help me relax. One of the biggest things I struggle with is stress management. Between work, the blog, and life it can be tough to unwind. Taking a bath several days a week has made a world of a difference.

When I take a bath, I typically add in some bath salts and light a candle. If I’m feeling extra fancy I’ll have some wine. Then I use the following Pixi products:

Bedtime Ritual with Pixi Beauty

To stick with my 2017 health goal, I have created a bedtime ritual to help me relax. One of the biggest things I struggle with is stress management. Between work, the blog, and life it can be tough to unwind. Taking a bath several days a week has made a world of a difference.

  1. Nourishing Cleansing Balm. This balm is made with sweet almond oil and is Paraben free, keeping the skins natural oils intact. It also removes makeup and is formulated for all skin types. However, I found that it’s not great for oily skin since it’s super hydrating. It left my skin feeling greasy.
  2. Glow Tonic is a classic astringent that cleanses pores and exfoliates. It’s gentle and is suitable for all skin types. I’ve only used this toner a couple of times, and am curious if my skin will look and feel more smooth like product claims.
  3. Rose Oil Blend. With just a few drops it will help improve your skin’s elasticity and glow. For extra hydration, you can mix with your daily moisturizer. Ingredients include sweet almond, rosehip, jojoba, pomegranate seed, and rose geranium. I’m obsessed with the smell.

To stick with my 2017 health goal, I have created a bedtime ritual to help me relax. One of the biggest things I struggle with is stress management. Between work, the blog, and life it can be tough to unwind. Taking a bath several days a week has made a world of a difference.📷’s by Luba Kochubey Portraits

If I’m applying these products during the day, I’ll also use:

  1. Beauty Blush Duo (light/pastel). A blush and highlighter in one. Great for the girl on the go. This set hydrates while staying put and is light-diffusing. Use the included kabuki brush to buff the pink shade onto the apples of your cheeks. Then apply the highlighter to the high points of your cheekbones, brow bones, and down the center of your nose for some extra glow. The color palette is beautiful and super easy to use. Since the powder is hydrating, it’s not ideal for oily skin. After a few hours, my skin looked oily.
  2. Liplift Max (Honey Sheen). This pretty gloss is a lip plumper that hydrates and also looks pretty. It’s a great dupe for the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Lustre (Ibiza Nights). Love the shimmery translucent color. It can be worn on its own or layered over your favorite lipstick.

What helps you get a restful sleep? Share your tips in the comments.

See my other Pixi Reviews:  (1) Capture Your Natural Beauty with Pixi  (2) The No Makeup Look with Pixi by Petra

*Pixi by Petra provided me with these products, but all opinions are my own.

Related posts:

  1. Capture Your Natural Beauty With Pixi by Petra
  2. The No Makeup Look with Pixi by Petra
  3. Kari Gran Organic Skin Care Review
  4. Marc Jacobs Beauty Glow Stick

2 Comments · Labels: Beauty Tagged: Beauty Tip, brand collaboration, Pixi by Petra, Product review

The No Makeup Look with Pixi by Petra

December 15, 2016

I recently became a brand ambassador for Pixi by Petra beauty. So expect to see monthly product reviews from this brand. Love this company.📷’s by  Luba Kochubey Portraits

I recently became a brand ambassador for Pixi by Petra beauty. So expect to see monthly product reviews from this brand. I didn’t realize you could shop Pixi at Target. It’s such a great company and I love their mission “simply to bring out the natural beauty in all women – to make women look like themselves, only better.” I have since purchased the translucent powder, which is great for face baking and comparable to high-end options such as Tarte Amazonian clay pressed setting powder, but at a better price point.

This Month’s Pixi by Petra Products

I recently became a brand ambassador for Pixi by Petra beauty. So expect to see monthly product reviews from this brand. Love this company.

  1. Lengthy Fiber Mascara I received this mascara in my previous shipment. If you’re looking for a fiber mascara this is a great option. Your lashes will look super long and full. As mentioned before, be careful, as you don’t want to over do it and look like a furry animal.
  2. Endless Brown Gel (medium) I recently got into taking better care of my brows and am obsessed with the Anastasia Beverly Hills eyebrow pencil. So I was disappointed that I didn’t receive the pencil in black. After reading the reviews on the Pixi site, the overall verdict is that the application is nice and easy to use if you can get the color to match. However, once you have to sharpen the pencil, it was a unanimous fail. All the reviews mention how the pencil is hard to sharpen and it is left unusable when you do.
  3. Endless Silky Eye Pencil I was excited to receive this one since I just ran out of my usual eyeliner and am looking for something new, one that doesn’t bleed. This liner claims to be waterproof, long-wearing, no-smudge, no-budge. Sounds like a dream. First off I love the consistency, it’s so smooth and goes on like butter. It stays on all day but still bleeds a bit, but for $12 I’ll definitely be picking up the black option. This pencil is better than most I’ve tried.
  4. Shea Butter Lip Balm (Ripe Raspberry) I love the idea of treating your lips while simultaneously applying color. I am super picky when it comes to lip balms and I hate anything sticky. This is not sticky and the color is beautiful. It’s super pigmented and leaves my lips with a bright raspberry hue and provides great moisture to my lips. I am excited to try the other colors.

*Pixi by Petra provided me with these products, but all opinions are my own.

Related posts:

  1. Capture Your Natural Beauty With Pixi by Petra
  2. My Makeup Routine
  3. How to Find the Perfect Red Lipstick for Your Complexion
  4. Marc Jacobs Beauty Glow Stick

Leave a Comment · Labels: Beauty Tagged: Beauty Tip, brand collaboration, Pixi by Petra, Product review

Giorgio Armani – The Perfect Holiday Fragrance and Lip Gloss

November 18, 2016

I am super picky when it comes to fragrances. I find most of them to be too strong. The Giorgio Armani Sì Eau de Parfum Intense is the complete opposite. The scent is luxurious. 📷’s by  Luba Kochubey Portraits

I am super picky when it comes to fragrances. I find most of them to be too strong. The Giorgio Armani Sì Eau de Parfum Intense is the complete opposite. The scent is luxurious. I love the undertone of blackcurrant-vanilla essence, combined with silky freesia, and chypre accord. When I first tried it, it was a bit on the stronger side (you only need one spray) but did dissipate after a while, lasting all day. This is a fragrance that I will continue to wear for a long time.

I am super picky when it comes to fragrances. I find most of them to be too strong. The Giorgio Armani Sì Eau de Parfum Intense is the complete opposite. The scent is luxurious. The packaging is high-end and sleek, in a peachy-nude box. The bottle is just as stunning in rich black. I like how they used gold lettering for the fragrance name.  The look and feel of the fragrance truly embody the tagline a “tribute to modern femininity.”

Giorgio Armani Lip Gloss

I am super picky when it comes to fragrances. I find most of them to be too strong. The Giorgio Armani Sì Eau de Parfum Intense is the complete opposite. The scent is luxurious. The Giorgio Armani Lip Maestros lip gloss is pigmented and has the consistency of a lip butter. The velvety texture is unbelievably smooth and super hydrating. Keep in mind that you only need a little product when wearing. I received color 400 and 201. Both are gorgeous colors that I will wear all season long. I’m excited to wear the 201 to a black tie event. With that said, the formula is messy if you touch your lips/face. Be careful of your teeth and clothing; it will bleed. If you apply a little gloss I noticed it less likely to get on your teeth. Be sure to do the finger trick for good measure.

I am super picky when it comes to fragrances. I find most of them to be too strong. The Giorgio Armani Sì Eau de Parfum Intense is the complete opposite. The scent is luxurious. If you have a beauty buff on your holiday shopping list, look no further than the Giorgio Armani luxury Si fragrance or the Lip Maestros lip gloss. I’m sure that you’ll have them smiling ear-to-ear.

*Giorgio Armani Beauty graciously provided me with these products, but all opinions are my own.

Related posts:

  1. Skin Care
  2. My Makeup Routine
  3. How to Find the Perfect Red Lipstick for Your Complexion
  4. Marc Jacobs Beauty Glow Stick

2 Comments · Labels: Beauty Tagged: brand collaboration, Product review

Capture Your Natural Beauty With Pixi by Petra

October 20, 2016

I recently had the opportunity to try Pixi's four-part mascara application. This seems a bit much for daily use, but the end results are decent. I recently had the opportunity to try Pixi's four-part mascara application. This seems a bit much for daily use, but the end results are decent. I recently had the opportunity to try Pixi's four-part mascara application. This seems a bit much for daily use, but the end results are decent.📷’s by  Luba Kochubey Portraits

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you might know that I’m obsessed with mascara and voluptuous lashes. I’ve even contemplated lash extensions but can’t get past the hefty price tag and maintenance.

I recently had the opportunity to try Pixi’s four-part mascara application. This seems a bit much for daily use, but the end results are decent.

Step 1 – Prime & Protect

You can use the Black Lacquer Lash Primer as a base coat before mascara, afterward to set mascara, or by itself for a natural tinted look. I chose to use it as a base coat. The color of the primer is black. This makes applying mascara simple. You won’t need to spend time covering up the color like you do with white primers.

When I first tested this product, I applied two coats and the texture of the primer became crunchy. This made it hard for the mascara to take in step 2. One coat was sufficient for me.

Step 2 – Waterproof & Lift

The Lash Booster Mascara is meant to add volume with a “push-up” effect. The formula is smudge-free and waterproof. My lashes definitely looked voluminous after applying. Love it!

Step 3 – Lengthen & Tint

Fiber mascaras are interesting since you can actually see the fibers (they look like hair!). The Lengthy Fiber Mascara defines and lengthens. My lashes are long already, so I used it sparingly. I don’t want to look like a spider.

Step 4 – Define & Detail

The Lower Lash Mascara is water resistant and formulated for sensitive eyes. I did notice that the formula bled throughout the day and my eyes felt itchy, though it does do a good job of coating the lashes.

All of these products in tandem are hard to remove. My normal cleanser didn’t cut it. I recommend using makeup remover to get rid of any black residue.

Keep in mind that all of these products can be used on their own. You can also go the traditional route and use their Large Lash Mascara. Be sure to check out Pixi online or at Target.

*Pixi provided me with these products, but all opinions are my own.

Related posts:

  1. My Makeup Routine
  2. How to Find the Perfect Red Lipstick for Your Complexion
  3. Kari Gran Organic Skin Care Review
  4. Marc Jacobs Beauty Glow Stick

Leave a Comment · Labels: Beauty Tagged: Beauty Tip, brand collaboration, Pixi by Petra, Product review

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