Start with the Lips

While getting dressed today, I decided to shake up my usual routine: pick out a dress, then add accessories, then put on makeup. Instead, I started with my makeup. I wanted to wear the new bright pink lipstick that I bought this weekend:


The lipstick is a lot pinker in real life.

That's a very bright color, especially for the office, so I kept the rest of my makeup minimal with just a little bronzer, a touch of gray eye shadow, black eyeliner and mascara. (Yes, that's minimal in my world.)

When it came to choosing my outfit, I found myself layering on tough metal accessories like the long twisted metal necklace, bracelet and earrings. Even my shoes have metal gromets on them! It makes sense, though, because I like the counterbalance of cold metal with the ultra-girly lipstick:


My pose and ultra-smile are making me laugh today.

The clothes:
Black cardigan - Lane Bryant
Gray & purple dress - Cynthia Rowley by way of Marshalls
Shoes - Payless
Earrings & bracelet - Lia Sophia
Necklace - compliments of Lane Bryant