One of the great things about the current state of fashion is the plethora of choices available to women of all ages and backgrounds. Being able to develop your own sense of style is now easier than ever. Here is a list that I have compiled of places that have a stylish and comprehensive inventory without breaking your budget!

H&M

I have found that H&M has many inexpensive essentials. With such a huge variety of men and women’s clothes, H&M keeps up with the latest trends but sells classic looks as well. The sizes typically run smaller-so if you’re normally a 0 look for a 2 (which happens to be their smallest size)! The store often collaborates with couture designers to create an affordable line of stylish clothes for the everyday woman. These collections sell out almost instantly-so keep your eyes peeled for upcoming collaborations! www.hm.com/us

TOPSHOP

TopShop is another inexpensive destination that offers a wide variety of clothing, shoes and accessories. With such a diversified collection of clothes, nearly every style and niche market is covered! And now, with their new LA location at the ever popular destination, The Grove, you no longer have to wait for packages to come from  our friends across the pond! www.us.topshop.com

WASTELAND

Wasteland is a destination must for most LA residents. The store offers exciting new labels along with fantastic hand picked vintage and designer resale finds! With stores all across Los Angeles and in San Francisco, Wasteland also operates an e-commerce site that is constantly jam-packed with stylish but reasonably priced shoes, dresses, and accessories. www.shopwasteland.com

THREADSENCE

Threadsence is a great e-commerce site that offers a handpicked selection of affordable and trendy clothes that are simultaneously sweet and edgy. The site also offers great deals and promotions on essential items like summertime platforms and distressed denim jackets! Check back often for great finds on all your favorite styles! www.threadsence.com

THE SANTEE ALLEY

Santee Alley is one of Los Angeles’ best kept secrets. Located in downtown Los Angeles, the district offers a breathless and exciting variety of dresses, shoes, purses, tops, and anything your heart might dream of and more. This is where you can score a pair of Jeffrey Campbell knockoffs for fifteen dollars! If you’re willing to look, every downtown metropolitan area offers trendy clothes for unbeatable prices! www.thesanteealley.com

NASTYGAL

Nastygal is another e-commerce store that offers a wide selection of stylish, on trend, and affordable clothes. The site offers their own brand as well as a comprehensively curated selection of today’s hottest brands! If you’re looking to add a touch of excitement to your wardrobe, look no further than Nastygal! www.nastygal.com

ZARA

Last but not least, I cannot emphasize how wonderful Zara is for their combination of sophisticated and chic clothes. Zara offers exciting new styles that are appropriate for all ages and unmatched prices for the quality. Zara is a great destination for wardrobe essentials like that perfect leather jacket, summertime blazer, and chambray blouse. www.zara.com

As we get older, it’s important to keep in mind that our makeup routine should be consonant with celebrating our natural beauty.  Understanding what products work best for our skin may take some trial and error. It is great to experiment with makeup so that we eventually find a routine we have complete mastery over.

To begin with, it is extremely important to start with a good lightweight foundation. When making a selection, look for one that is not too thick because a thick base can emphasize lines. I recommend a tinted moisturizer like NARS Pure Radiant. This moisturizer is great because it also contains an SPF while simultaneously providing a nice coverage.  For those areas that need more coverage use a spot concealer. KEVYN AUCOIN makes a great tried and trusted concealer that is typically a staple in the bags of professional makeup artists. His concealer comes in a small round container and lasts a long time because you only need to use a dab. Apply with a make-up sponge or a Q-tip and spread evenly to create a natural daytime look.  To complete your daytime look, apply a layer of lip gloss that contains a subtle sheen and just one coat of mascara.

NARS PURE RADIANT

At night it is generally more appropriate go heavier on the makeup. Foundations with thicker bases work well underneath night lighting because unlike natural sunlight, indoor lighting creates contours and shades that flatter your facial contours. I recommend ESTÉE LAUDER double wear stay in place makeup for total coverage. If you want to dress up and go for a more glamorous look, use a black liner to draw along your eyelash and embellish with shades of brown or charcoal shadow to create a more defined look.  The dramatic eye draws attention to that area of your face (and as we all know, the eyes are the windows to our soul!). It is usually best to wear a strong eye with a lighter lip color and vice-versa. When creating a stronger eye, opt for shades of lipstick that contain more pearly or pinkish undertones. Sweep a thin layer of powder to hold all your makeup in place and you’re all set to go!