A Pop of Pink

Photography by Alexander Smith

IN THIS OUTFIT:

Coat: Zara (similar) / Top: Zara (similar) / Jeans: H&M / Espadrilles: KENZO / 

Bag: Michael Kors

Hey, beauties! I hope everyone is enjoying the new year so far! I've definitely been taking advantage of all the new opportunities coming my way and I've been gaining new perspectives and experiences that are no doubt shaping a bright future for me. I hope the new year is bringing you as much new growth and even more opportunities for success. 

With that said, I want to share my first outfit photos of 2016 with you all. I just can't stay away from neutrals! And with all the different neutral tones in this outfit: white, black, camel brown, and grey, I just knew I wanted to add a pop of my favorite color to the mix. I figured the perfect way to cap off this look was with bright pink espadrilles by one of my favorite urban brands, KENZO. I also thought it'd be super cute to add one more pop of pink to my bag that would tie everything together nicely. 

I had a ton of fun shooting this look because not only was it sunny in Providence today, but it was 52 degrees in February! I mean, what's not to love about that? I can't wait to share the rest of my wardrobe with you all this year and I hope you enjoy it as much as I am!

5 Holiday Stocking Stuffers For Her Under $20

The holidays are finally here, and we know you might be stumped on how to fill the stockings of the special ladies in your life. Well, look no further because we have the perfect tips and insiders on what the ladies are loving this Christmas. Not only are these items great for stockings, they are affordable and they make the perfect gifts to receive from anyone. Here is our guide to the five best stocking stuffers for your favorite ladies, all under $20.


1. Essie Nail Polish $13

Nail polish is always great to put in a stocking for virtually any type of woman. They're small, pretty, and women are always happy to add new colors to their collections. There are plenty of nail lacquer brands that come out with holiday collections every year, so if you don't know what colors she'll like, why not get her a set of multiples? The Essie Holiday Hostess gift set is a perfect collaboration of hues that are lovely for winter and a metallic that's ideal for that holiday party!

2. Bag Charms $7

One of the hottest trends right now is the bag charm. They are a great way to add a pop of color and pizazz to an otherwise ordinary purse. Because they're cute and come in all sorts of colors, we think this is a wonderful accessory to stuff her stocking with this year. Amazon features this gorgeous pink pom-pom charm on their site, and if you're a Prime member, you can even get it in just two days!

3. Lush Bubble Bars $7

We love bubble bars because they're luxurious and they make a woman's skin feel amazing. And what better way to gift them than in a stocking? The bubble bars from Lush are small, fun, and festive. They don't come in your typical bar of soap, and the Peeping Santa bubble bar is no exception. This holiday bar scented with a yummy strawberry fragrance that'll remind you of summer to get you through the cold weather. Put this in her stocking and it'll be sure to please her nose down to her toes!

4. MAC Lips $18

At The Haute Topics, we are huge fans of lipstick for stocking stuffers because there's a shade for every woman. MAC Cosmetics recognized that with their limited-edition Magic of the Night holiday collection packaged in vibrant violet. They've come out with four beautiful hues of lipsticks to satisfy every skin tone, so if the special lady in your life is a lipstick lover, then she will be sure to appreciate any one of these. Shop the Magic of the Night collection here.

5. PINK iPhone Case $20

iPhone cases are a versatile gift because you can find almost anything in phone-case form these days. From VS's PINK brand, we love this drink-shaped iphone 6 case. It's a fun way to dress up her phone and it's the perfect size to fit in her stocking. If you're looking for a girlie gift for the phone fanatic in your life, this one is sure to ring!

SPLURGE or SAVE: Schutz!

Hi lovelies; it's time for a SPLURGE or SAVE! These sandals are so similar that one might confuse the two if it weren't for the tags. Steve Madden and Schutz have come out with shoes that are almost identical in style. Schutz's JULIANA sandal is relatively inexpensive for high-end shoes, retailing at about $190 while the Steve Madden version called SLITHUR is about $110. It's almost a no-brainer to save $80 and get the SM pair. They even come in ten colors and offer a shorter version for those who don't love high heels. You're bound to find something you love!

SPLURGE or SAVE: Stuart Weitzman!

Hi lovelies! Here's another SPLURGE or SAVE comparison for you. This sought-after boot creates quite the buzz come fall/winter. The HIGHLAND boot by Stuart Weitzman is a beautiful suede, thigh-high style that gives your legs the perfect height and silhouette for those cold weather outfits. Since this boot retails for $798, we have found an equally gorgeous Steve Madden version quite aptly named GORGEOUS. The SM style will cost you only $150 and the boots are almost identical on the foot. It even comes in three similar colors to the Stuart Weitzman boots!

SPLURGE or SAVE: AQUAZZURA!

Hi lovelies! Are you ready for a new "SPLURGE or SAVE?" Well AQUAZZURA has recently come out with a beautiful fringe sandal that will knock your socks off. The sandal is called WILD THING and it'll run you $785 to get your feet in a pair. Steve Madden offers SASSEY, a wonderful dupe to this shoe that will be sure to please the eye and the wallet. At $129 you are sure to get the look without the splurge.

SPLURGE or SAVE: Valentino!

Hi lovelies! This is a classic case of SPLURGE or SAVE! Valentino has, quite some time ago, come out with what we all know and love as the ROCKSTUD pumps. Though they are truly a beauty, we can't ALL afford to spend $1,000 on shoes. DSW has a dupe from BCBG called DARRON that's only a small fraction of the Rockstud price!