All Black Everything

Bostonian Vibes

This past weekend, I finally got to check off the last city on my east coast bucket list- BOSTON! I'm sure some of my IG followers figured that part out since I tend to post multiple times when I'm on vacation but hey, isn't that what IG is for? Boston is a pretty cool city, it is pretty laid back compared to Chicago and I loved all the history that comes with it! It is definitely a city I need to visit again in the summer :)

This time around, I wanted to change up my fall wardrobe and by that I mean, stay away from the basic fall look of boots, jeans, utility jacket + Starbucks in hand. As you have seen in stores, fall collections have been on a whole different level this year. SO MANY OPTIONS. From suede to denim to fleece/shawls, the combinations and pieces are endless! This H&M shawl/poncho is one of my favorite pieces for this season, it was perfect for the slightly chilly weather! I paired it with AE Tom Girl jeans and a fall fedora (in my opinion, hats are not my thing) to give it an all around cozy look. 

Green Ivy

Californication

(Ugh the wind was truly ridiculous, everything was flying everywhere!) 

FIRST THINGS FIRST, I AM MOVING TO SAN FRAN ONE DAY. Ok phew.

I've spent a big portion of the last year in California and I can easily say it has changed my life in more ways than one but let's just focus on the wardrobe aspect of things! California has a very chill vibe when it comes to clothing. You'll see a lot of people wear different things but things are still chic. Although Nor Cal and SoCal fashions are quite different, I think I am able to wear both pretty well for a Chicago girl. 

In SF, we mainly wore neutral and dark colors. I picked some greys, whites, navy's and army green for the day and night outfits. The tourist outfit was special though, I definitely was looking to bring together a couple summer trends to make my outfit pop. Obviously denim shirts and long maxi dresses have been in for a while but I loved the lemon yellow color of the skirt! It definitely brought something to the table.

Shout out to my gal pal Ann Glasgow for being my photographer this weekend! :)

Napa Diaries

NAPA VALLEY. Oh my goodness, where do I begin. I was really excited for the Napa leg of our trip mainly because the weather was good and everything is so picture perfect I wanted to make sure I brought my best vineyard outfit. Summer is obviously the time for maxis and white is usually my go to for events. This maxi was beautiful in its own way, it was so light and fitted nicely and VERY FLOWY which was just what I was looking for! I topped it off with some Fendi Sunnies and a black hat from Forever 21..very Jackie If I do say so myself :)

Photographer: Ann Glasgow

Location: Domaine Carneros/Darioush Winery, Napa Valley

Maxi: Agaci Boutique

Hat: Forever 21

Watch: MK

Jumpsuit Apparatus

Jumpsuit: Topshop                                        Hat: Forever 21                                       Shoes: Vince Camuto

I've always been a big fan of jumpsuits! If I remember correctly, jumpsuits really took off the summer of 2013 and they've gotten pretty creative with it since. If worn correctly, these pieces definitely give off a chic look for any occasion. I often find myself being able to wear the same jumpsuit during the day and then again to dinner/bars at night! It all depends on how you accessorize it :)

This particular piece is from Kendall + Kylie's collection at Topshop! I don't shop at this store very often but when I saw this, I fell in LOVE. The cut is so nice and slim fitting and the color combination is on point. Had I been on vacation somewhere or a place more casual, I would pair this jumpsuit with flats and light jewelry!

Check out some of my favorite jumpsuits for the summer below!

(Click on the picture, it'll take you directly to the site!)

Photographer: Arush Vij

Saturday Saturday

MY FIRST SOLO BEAN PIC. (totally butchered it)

River view that never gets old 

Yesterday was the first day in Chicago that I got time to myself (HALLELUJAH) after a very long long trip and it was so relaxing. The weather was very nice and warm enough to pull out the shorts and kimono. While I was in Los Angeles the past year, I got to explore LA boutiques and happened to stumble across ANGL which is where I got this lovely kimono from. I would say my outift was better suited for a festival rather than walking around downtown, but eh, there is always Coachella next year :)

5:2 Skin Diet: Good Skin Starts From Below Your Foundation

So there has been a lot of buzz about the 5 days on, 2 days off makeup diet in the past couple months. The original 5:2 diet, which involves limiting yourself to 500 calories a day for two non-consecutive days per week and eating whatever you like for the rest, was 2014's most popular way of slimming down fast. 

And now, leading dermatologists are suggesting that the 5:2 approach can also be applied to our beauty regime. 

According to skincare experts, going completely make-up free for two (consecutive or non-consecutive) days a week can result in younger, healthier looking skin in under a month.

I think in today's day and time, we tend to spend a lot of hours trying to perfect the "natural" look where we basically put on a bunch of makeup just to make it look like we are not wearing any. What's the point of that? Most girls in their 20's (actually 18+) wear makeup everyday to class/work and then even more on Friday/Saturday night, which is a given, but in reality, it is detrimental to the health of your skin.

Parabens from makeup accumulate within the pores and the outer layers of your skin throughout the day. This accumulation can lead to the breakdown of collagen and elastin in the skin. Collagen and elastin are the things that make our skin look youthful! 

The state of my skin is my biggest insecurity, I've been battling eczema since I was a young girl and it seems like it will never go away. Having said that, I've tried so many "skin friendly" makeup/facial products that end up making me look worse than I did before. After hearing about the 5:2 diet, I decided to change things up a bit and try it for myself! Instead of wearing makeup 5 days a week, I flipped it to no makeup 5 days a week and apply it on the weekends. LET ME TELL YOU- my skin has been glowing! I used to use so many different acne products, facial scrubs and scar treating creams to clean things up and now I barely use them. Giving my skin a break from makeup has promoted skin cell turnover, which means there is a faster formation of new healthy cells. 

So there ya go, the inverse 5:2 Diet was a success for me and something I will definitely continue to practice from here on out. I forgot to take a before and after picture but believe me, this routine is worth it :)

About Me

Nicole Mehta

I started this blog back in 2011 with the intention of sharing my love for photography and fashion but now in 2015, I have much more to offer than just pretty pictures and random posts. I hope to build Perfect Ensemble into a lifestyle blog with fashion still being the core foundation. Enjoy :)

Sequins Though

(Sweater: Tobi; Skrit: Charlotte Russe; Tights: Target; Boots: Kardashian Kollection)

So this fall post was definitely overdue! Towards the end of August, I was totally ready for fall but when it came I feel like mother nature didn't give us enough time to ease into it! It's SOO cold now! ugh. Anyways, the best thing about fall is obviously football and then apple cider and thennnn sweaters! I love sweaters and layering clothes to keep warm. Whats cool this season is that more and more people are wearing sweaters over skirts and shorts instead of jeans which I think is pretty hip. I also have a slight obsession with sequins stuff, it's def something u can pull off in the summer as well as the winter time depending on what you're pairing it with.

And We'll Never Be Royal

Hi. Royal Blue is my favorite color. Bye.

TRIBAL.

(Tank: H&M, Pants: Forever 21, Stone Necklace & Bracelet: Costa Rica, Ring: Etsy, Shoes: Aldo) 

 Besides floral and paisley, I never really ventured into prints when it came to my wardrobe. All that cheetah, leopard and chevron intimidated the hell out of me which is why I've been playing it safe for a very very long time. But in recent times, due to the growing popularity of tribal print, I decided to give it a shot and boy, am I happy! What I like most about this pattern/trend is that it is very different and gives off a great energy. The colors and patterns are so vibrant, you can wear it during the day or even out at night! I know patterned pants have been up and coming in the local markets for a while now but as summer is coming to an end, I figured it was time to dedicate a post to this fascinating style.

Colors and Stripes

                   (Dress: Forever 21; Shoes: Fergie Footwear; Jewelry: Shopper's Stop-Mumbai) 

Brain is out of order, I don't feel like writing anything.      

Betches LOVE Mint

(Dress: Wet Seal, Jewelry: Forever 21 & Charlotte Russe, Watch: Kenneth Cole, Sunglasses: Betsey Johnson) 

Pastels are especially popular right now. We see them advertised in all stores for colored jeans, nail polish, and shoes. The green-mint color is not only one of those colors but definitely one of the most known. The hue is bright yet calm and not gloomy; the perfect way to move from spring into summer! Initially everyone was on that tiffany blue high, even me! (my bedroom walls were that color), but I think mint works for every occasion and is refreshing.