The styles that both Fatima and I have are unique and reflect our personalities pretty accurately. Achieving personal style takes a lot of practice in order to get right, and although it took us a couple of years in to get our own styles down, we are still trying to figure out what works with us and what doesn't. There have been a lot of incredible fashion steps that we took to get to where we are today, as well a couple of bad fashion decisions that are certainly questionable. For this post, we're going to explore those.
Starting off with Nicole...
Yikes. What makes these particularly interesting are my choices in certain colors and patterns.
Outfit #1: I was not only obsessed with this sweater, but my flare jeans and my black formal flats were such a go-to for me back then.
Outfit #2: This was when I started to grow interest in circle scarves. Clearly my excitement to wear it has caused me to overlook what other tops I should have probably chose to wear with this outfit.
Outfit #3: I wore this to a class picture. I chose to wear neon to stand out in a 400 person crowd. It worked out in the photo, but in real life, not so much. Not only was I a walking hazard because I could have blinded someone with this extremely neon (dimmed in the photo) pink sweater, the tights and brown combat boots should have been switched for something else.
These outfits represent first times I wore pieces that definitely worked out.
Outfit #1: This was a Valentine's Day outfit and one of the first times I've styled a denim jacket. The pink floral print and the belt were a good choice. I'm pretty sure that I wore either flats or white converse.
Outfit #2: Such a throwback. Wearing gold accessories has started from the beginning and is still going on strong.
Outfit #3: First time I wore a maxi skirt - and this one was designed and had mini slits up the sides. It was a birthday outfit and it made me feel confident. Choosing the black crop cop worked well with the outfit, and of course, the gold accent was a must.
Outfit #4: This was the first time I wore all these pieces for the first time. It was the outfit that began the shift over to the style that I have now. It's very simple, in terms of colors and all.
Now Fatima...
Thank god for growing up! Am I right?
Outfit #1 & 2: Yes I was obsessed with Hannah Montana. No that is not the point of these pictures. Haha. I wore the grey hoodie in the first picture way too much and apparently I though a giant photo of Miley's face went well with any outfit I could think of. In the second picture, although you may be distracted by the incredibly spot on costume, the point is for you to notice the black leather boots I'm wearing. They had a chunky wedge and I wore them absolutely everywhere, I still get mad at my mom for allowing me to wear them out in public.
Outfit #3: Plaid jacket, striped scarf, and doggy print vans just do not work well together. Why didn't anyone tell me mixing so many patterns is a fashion faux pas?!
Outfit #4: Flower power? More like no. I'm not sure why I thought wearing headbands like a hippie was an acceptable everyday look.
Fatima the fashion queen since 1999.
Outfit #1: The metallic and leather vibes of this look are currently super trendy so props to 2009 Fatima for predicting the future. Definitely something I would wear today!
Outfit #2: Personally, I feel like bright colors work really well with tan skin so I think this yellow dress really did wonders for my complexion. Even now I always try and make sure I have bold colors in my closet.
Outfit #3: Whenever going to a party or important event I always try and wear pastel or neutral colors because I feel like they look very classy and are super easy to style. This was my 8th grade dinner dance and one of my favorite dresses I've ever worn!
For most people, romantic comedies tend to be a hit or miss. Here at Virtually Vogue we LOVE a good rom com. Over the years we have watched hundreds of movies and with a lot of difficult thinking, have managed to make a list of our 50 favorite rom coms of all time. Let us know which ones you love and if you haven't seen some of the ones one here, get some popcorn and have your own mini marathon! So here they are, in no particular order:
- Maid in Manhattan
- The Wedding Planner
- Just Go With It
- Bridesmaids
- How to lose a guy in 10 days
- The proposal
- Never been kissed
- What to expect when you’re expecting
- 50 first dates
- Blended
- Couples Retreat
- He’s just not that into you
- Friends with benefits
- 27 dresses
- 10 things I hate about you
- Crazy, stupid, love
- When in Rome
- 13 going on 30
- Sex and the city
- Monster in Law
- Sweet Home Alabama
- Mamma Mia
- Sisterhood of the traveling pants
- Life as we know it
- She’s the man
- Spanglish
- The notebook
- High school musical 1, 2, & 3
- Teen beach movie
- Revenge of the bridesmaids
- Confessions of a shopaholic
- Because I said so
- The back-up plan
- Hitch
- Valentine's Day
- Stuck in Love
- Clueless
- Shall we dance?
- Grease
- Silver Linings Playbook
- Love Actually
- This Means War
- The Other Woman
- Mr & Mrs Smith
- The Killers
- Breakfast at Tiffany's
- The Ugly Truth
- Uptown Girls
- Playing for Keeps
- Recién Cazado
Throughout the years, I have tried so many different hair styles and as of recently, different hair colors. I believe someone's hair expresses a lot about who they are as a person, and I absolutely enjoy changing up my hair frequently for many different reasons. One, adding hints of color adds to any look. Two, being open to new looks gives me the opportunity to see what works for me and what doesn't. Three, it stands out. Last but definitely not least, HAIR WILL ALWAYS GROW BACK.
This was me back in 2013 - bangs and a blue ombre. This was the first time that I colored my hair and went through the process of bleaching. This was a done at home job. I used Manic Panic Semi-Permanent Hair Color Cream in VooDoo Blue and it faded into a sea-green color. I cut it off all the blue my the end of 2013.
In 2014, when my hair was long enough, I went back to bangs and an ombre and it was once again done at home. I bleached and used a permanent brown hair dye from Revlon to achieve this look.
When 2015 came around, I got highlights professionally done. It's important to go to a professional if you're going to do a first time all around hair job to avoid mistakes. I went to get highlights twice, where the second trip was in September to refresh and brighten up the second half of my hair more. Highlights make your hair look fuller!
November/December 2015 - I had my hair lightened a lot more, added more highlights, got it toned with silver and lavender color. As much as I loved this color/look, it only lasted for a month.
This is what the previous hair color faded into. It was a really nice color - very light - but overtime, my highlights began to look very uneven.
A couple days ago I decided to take a bold move and use Ion brilliance demi-permanent in midnight blue black. It's so dark and resembles a little bit how my hair used to look like back in 2010, without the blue of course. I am currently loving it, but I know that I'll want to change it up again after some time.
I know that it damages my hair when I color, but don't worry, I do deep-conditioning treatments whenever I can just so that my hair is kept looking/feeling as shiny and healthy as it can be.
If you are considering to color your hair, the decision is yours. I have had people support my decisions on what to do with my hair, and there were people who completely looked down upon the idea completely. Don't let others limit the ways you want to express yourself. If you like it, wear it. Wear it confidently.
Even though it has been quite a while since last December 2015, we wanted to tell you all what our favorites for that month was. *Disclaimer this post is not sponsored by any of the brands mentioned, we love these products all on our own.
FATIMA'S FAVS
Makeup
MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation (NC37) - 8/10 Price: $32.00 this product is very full coverage and has a nice creamy texture that moisturizes my skin but doesn't add any unwanted oils. It doesn't come with a pump and if you want one it costs $10 which is annoying.
Naked "Flushed" Contour Kit (Strip) - 8.5/10 Price: $32.00 so I bought this kit because I really needed a good blush and highlighter combo, although this comes with a bronzer I've only used it once and wasn't entirely impressed with it. I love that they have three different kits so you can choose the color of all 3 products, and definitely enjoy the way it goes on and how long it lasts.
Makeup Forever Sensitive Eye Cleanser - 9.5/10 Price: $11.00 removing eye makeup can be such a painful and tedious task but this cleanser takes it right off and doesn't irritate my eyes. Such a good product!
ColourPop Lippie Stix - 10/10 Price: $5.00 I am absolutely obsessed with ColourPop's products and they are such high quality for an incredible price. The Lippie Stix are so silky and the color lasts for a long time! I recommend getting the lip liners to match because they're amazing as well!
Fashion
Capes/Ponchos - 11/10 Price: vary- $129+ @ Zara. Capes have been one of the it statements of this season and with good reason. They're so cozy, chic, and can make any outfit go from drab to fab in seconds. My blue cape from Zara, which is featured on our Instagram, was a Christmas present and absolutely my current favorite piece.
Longline vests - 9/10 Price: vary- $39.00+ @ Zara. Also featured on our Instagram is one of my outfits with my white vest from Zara. They can honestly be styled in so many ways and just look so trendy on everyone. Definitely a must have!
Air Max 90's - 10/10 Price: $120 @ Nike. Also another Christmas present and featured on our Instagram, is my new rose gold Air Max's. They are honestly the most comfortable sneakers I've worn and all the styles they have are so so cute! I want more!!!
Brow Bar Sunglasses - 10/10 Price: vary- $30 @ Express. Many of you have probably seen these on your favorite celebrities as they are the most trendy sunglasses of the moment. They were originally designed by Dior and Olivia Palermo also has her own line, but as most things many other stores have created their own budget friendly pairs. I'm obsessed with the style and honestly think they look amazing on any face shape.
Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac Crossbody Bag - 9/10 Price: $195.00 @ Bloomingdales. My sister gave me a RM bag in maroon for Christmas and I am in love with it. The key detail is adorable and the bags can go with absolutely every outfit, for any occasion. For a small bag, they fit a lot and the different leather markings and details ensure that everyone has a one of a kind bag!
Technology
Phhhoto App - 9/10 Price: Free! This app is very new and not many people use it, but the basic idea is that you get to make your own gif style photos and share them with your friends. It's similar to Boomerang but this app is not connected to Instagram. I just think it's really fun and the different filters they have are always so cool!
NICOLE'S FAVS
Throughout the whole month of December, I was able to try out new styles/routines that I haven't tried before which mainly include: hoop earrings, ankle booties, and many lip scrubs.
Makeup
Makeup Forever Ultra HD Concealer 9/10 Price: $27.00 @ Sephora The month of December meant a lot of nights staying up because of studying and assignments, which also meant very minimal sleep! Finding the right concealer has been a journey, however I found that this one was fairly easy to work with every morning and the coverage is incredible. Definitely pricey, but worth it. I'm still on the hunt for something cheaper, yet just as high quality. I'll keep you all posted once I find it!
Lush Lip Scrub (Mint Julip and Bubble Gum) 9/10 Price: $9.95 each @ Lush The worst thing besides dry skin is DRY CHAPPED LIPS. No matter how much chapstick I put on, it was a constant battle against the cold weather. Lip scrubs were my saviors for December and kept my lips super nice and smooth. If you don't want to invest in these amazing smelling scrubs, honey and brown sugar works just as great.
Fashion
Forever 21 Round Sunglasses 10/10 Price: $7.90 @ in-store and online @ F21 Sunglasses in the winter? I instantly fell in love for three reasons: 1. I was in dire need of a new pair of sunnies since I had broken my last ones 2. they compliment my face shape really nicely 3. the color. They were also very reasonably priced and they have been my go-to whenever I head out of the house.
Gold Hoop Earrings 10/10 Price: $3.00 @ F21 I haven't worn earrings in such a long time, so when I started wearing them again, I couldn't resist going for hoops. I don't regret the decision and it automatically dresses up any outfit. I can't lie, it does make me look a bit older too.
Circus by Sam Edelman Jolie Bootie 10/10 Price: $80 @ DSW I adore these. Not only do they are they comfortable and add height, but they match and dress up any outfit. These were my go-to shoes of December and are my favorite in my whole shoe collection.
J.Crew Matte Chelsea Rain Boots 8/10 Price: $68 @ JCREW As much as I love regular tall rain boots, I appreciate how these short rain boots managed to be so light, stylish, and protect my feet from the rain. These are very casual and very easy to slip on and off.
A&F Meg Sherpa Lined Parka 10/10 Price: $80 (on sale) @ A&F Big jackets, especially olive green parkas, are basically a must have in anyone's closet. Rain or shine, they are SO comfortable and SO warm.
A&F Down Series Hooded Lightweight Puffer Jacket 10/10 Price: $140 @ A&F This has been the first time that I have ever owned puffer jackets and let me tell you, THEY ARE AMAZING. They are so light, not too hot and not too cold when outside, and the burgundy color made it that much more perfect. Still wearing it throughout January, it still looks brand new. I'm in the process of ordering other colors. Big thumbs up from me.
Throughout the whole month of December, I was able to try out new styles/routines that I haven't tried before which mainly include: hoop earrings, ankle booties, and many lip scrubs.
Makeup
Makeup Forever Ultra HD Concealer 9/10 Price: $27.00 @ Sephora The month of December meant a lot of nights staying up because of studying and assignments, which also meant very minimal sleep! Finding the right concealer has been a journey, however I found that this one was fairly easy to work with every morning and the coverage is incredible. Definitely pricey, but worth it. I'm still on the hunt for something cheaper, yet just as high quality. I'll keep you all posted once I find it!
Lush Lip Scrub (Mint Julip and Bubble Gum) 9/10 Price: $9.95 each @ Lush The worst thing besides dry skin is DRY CHAPPED LIPS. No matter how much chapstick I put on, it was a constant battle against the cold weather. Lip scrubs were my saviors for December and kept my lips super nice and smooth. If you don't want to invest in these amazing smelling scrubs, honey and brown sugar works just as great.
Fashion
Forever 21 Round Sunglasses 10/10 Price: $7.90 @ in-store and online @ F21 Sunglasses in the winter? I instantly fell in love for three reasons: 1. I was in dire need of a new pair of sunnies since I had broken my last ones 2. they compliment my face shape really nicely 3. the color. They were also very reasonably priced and they have been my go-to whenever I head out of the house.
Circus by Sam Edelman Jolie Bootie 10/10 Price: $80 @ DSW I adore these. Not only do they are they comfortable and add height, but they match and dress up any outfit. These were my go-to shoes of December and are my favorite in my whole shoe collection.
J.Crew Matte Chelsea Rain Boots 8/10 Price: $68 @ JCREW As much as I love regular tall rain boots, I appreciate how these short rain boots managed to be so light, stylish, and protect my feet from the rain. These are very casual and very easy to slip on and off.
A&F Meg Sherpa Lined Parka 10/10 Price: $80 (on sale) @ A&F Big jackets, especially olive green parkas, are basically a must have in anyone's closet. Rain or shine, they are SO comfortable and SO warm.
A&F Down Series Hooded Lightweight Puffer Jacket 10/10 Price: $140 @ A&F This has been the first time that I have ever owned puffer jackets and let me tell you, THEY ARE AMAZING. They are so light, not too hot and not too cold when outside, and the burgundy color made it that much more perfect. Still wearing it throughout January, it still looks brand new. I'm in the process of ordering other colors. Big thumbs up from me.
Hair
CONAIR Instant Heat 1-1/4" Curling Iron @ Target 11/10 Price: $26.99 Since my hair has been fading into more blonde from silver/lilac, I have been needing to curl my hair to hide some of those awkward fade lines. Conair has been such a trusty brand to me for years and it doesn't fail t okeep impressing. So easy to use, heats up quickly, and gives you effortless curls.
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Life just keeps going and it's important that each of us are able to enjoy it. As cliché as it sounds to "live your life to the fullest," the ability to make most of the things we choose to do, with the kind of people who we choose to surround ourselves with, is a great opportunity that we all have.
