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This post, which I am finally committing to typeset having had it rattling around in my brain for weeks, was originally going to be all about how I seem to have developed a late-stage predilection for kick flares. Then Hurricane Milton happened, and I got distracted. Almost exactly two years after Hurricane Ian landed in our laps , SW Florida property owners were staring down the barrel of yet another behemoth. I hasten to add here that just like with Hurricane Ian, we are fine. We got away with very little damage (a few shingles lost), zero flooding, and nobody in our neighborhood got hurt (as far as I know). I was in Scotland for this one so watched it coming in from afar on my NOAA app (nerd alert) and on CNN - we call this style of obsessively watching the path of an approaching storm "hurricane porn" in our house. So once again, we got incredibly lucky. And yes, we've got some cleanup to do, and that has left us scrambling a little bit to try and reconfigure what we thought this next few months into the festive season was going to look like. If there was ever a time you thought you might like to buy something from one of my shops...nows the time peeps...nows the time. Now, let's talk about something fun. I'm kind of digging kick flares right now I'm actually not even sure how this, my latest infatuation with kick flares came to be. I remember them being about in the 90s, but as someone who has always struggled to find long enough inseams on trousers, I was suspicious of them. I think my newfound interest is because this time of year, everything is wet in Scotland, always. My predilection for ultra-long flare leg bellbottom jeans becomes a soggy liability. I also am a prolific wearer of boots, and kick flares allow you to showcase your boots a bit more. I suppose I should qualify here that when I refer to something as a kick flare, I am talking about the ankle-grazing version. When you plug the term into the internet, you get a lot of different lengths popping-up. The pair in this photo is a simple pair of thrifted Levis flare leg jeans that were too short an inseam for me, so I sliced them just a teensy bit more to distress the hem and was very pleased with the result. So if you're in the mood to try doing this, it's a really great little style hack that's an affordable way to see if you like a kick flare. Side note: If you happen to like this partocular pair of jeans and are round about a US size 10-12 (about a size 31, UK 14), at the time of this writing I actually have a pair of Levis just like this in my UK eBay shop . They're a US juniors size 13, high-waisted and button-fly, so they have a slightly shorter than average, non-disressed inseam. If you're not a secondhand kind of person, The Shadow Split Seam Kick Flares that are in stock right now at HF Mercantile are also a pretty darn cute option. They have a 31.5 inch inseam, so if you have a long inseam like I do they will fit like a slightly longer kick flare, but even at a longer length these jeans are pretty cool. The split on the side seam is great for letting your cool boots peek out. Or whatever shoes you want. The strappy, square toe heels paired with the kick flares in the photo here are serving some serious 90s vibes! My 20-something self used to spend all night in shoes like that. Y'all GenXers, remember how much these hurt!? It was like putting your feet through an intricate web of wire cheese slicers. Figuring out what to pair with kick flares One of the things I really like about kick flares is that they actually work with just about everything. A fitted top, tee, or a tailored blouse tucked it in to highlight the waist works really well as a base layer, when just start trying things on to see what works. Kck flares also look good with blousier tops, chunky knitwear, and oversized blazers. Whatever you choose, the key element is balance if you do decide to layer. It was warm out when I took these photos, so I just went with a lightweight, loose-fitting blouse ( the Zoe blouse, also from HF Mercantile ). But I'm looking forward to wearing this look when it gets colder with some of my chunkier knitwear. I think that a kick flare looks particularly cool with a chunky turtleneck sweater and boots, so stay tuned for that!

By now we've all seen Yellowstone 's Beth Dutton in action. Played by the inimitable Kelly Reilly, who recently described Beth to The Wall Street Journal as "having no edit button", the character is at once passionate, vulnerable, and perhaps most importantly, angry as Hell. While perhaps we wouldn't trust her enough to borrow our truck, we would have all the time in the world for her if she said she wanted to help us throw a few outfits together. Even if you're not a fan of modern American Western fashion, you have to admit that Beth Dutton's wardrobe has some serious game. Of course, the credit here really goes to film and TV industry veteran Johnetta Boone , the costume designer behind the character. Boone has been working her magic in the biz for the better part of 30 years, and in her expression of Beth Dutton, has managed to give us just the right amount of Western flavor without over-seasoning it into heavily saccharine "buckle bunny" territory. Beth Dutton's style on Yellowstone is often traffic-stopping (remember that gold dress!?), but equally, like a lot of Western-inspired fashion, it's also upbeat, functional, translates well into most geographical environments, and can upgrade from casual to fancy pants with just a few adjustments. Best of all? It's accessible; you can throw a look with Western-inspired elements together on a budget. There are endless examples of what we enthusiasts would deem pitch-perfect Beth Dutton style, but today, I'm narrowing my focus to look at one particular, seasonally appropriate (if not downright necessary) piece - the faux fur jacket. This is a piece you can easily add to your rotation without taking out a second mortgage, and in a pop of color, it really sings! While most of the original branded items Kelly Reilly wears on Yellowstone tend to sell out with lightning speed, there are still plenty of options out there. Hover over the photos if you want more info on any of these pieces, all of which ship internationally! Beth Dutton's Faux Fur Wardrobe on a Budget

**This post was been updated on August 17, 2024 to reflect the changes in available products on the market and provide some additional options** I freely admit that I never fully appreciated the whole eyebrows thing until I got older. I've always had plenty to work with in the eyebrows department (too much, actually), and only really started thinking about it when I had to. Now that I am quickly approaching my 45th year, I feel like my caterpillar-like natural brows are starting to show their age. I never thought it could be possible to have brows that look at simultaneously bushy and patchy, but as we all know, age can be a cruel mistress indeed; hair tends to thin out where you want it and migrate to places that you would have never dreamed would need hair. Eyebrows have therefore sort of become my new obsession. In lieu of a lot of other fancy makeup, which I feel looks kind of strange on me the older I get, brows are actually a really easy way to really enhance the look of your face without having to smear a lot of goop all over it. However, if you have grey, white, or salt and pepper hair like me, it can be a really frustrating thing trying to find eyebrow pencils that are not too warm in shade. Everything you try, even those with the universally-accepted labels of "ash", "taupe", or "charcoal" tend to have ruddy undertones, making them look strange when up against the cool tones of my salt and pepper hair. Sometimes, you don't even realise it, thinking you've found a good product, until you find yourself out and about and happen to catch your reflection in the bright sunlight. I've had several of those moments (I used to feel that way about my hair as well, which is why I stopped dyeing it). There's just something so off-putting to me about catching a glimpse of myself with mismatched, brownish-red brows; like I plucked a couple of wooly bear caterpillars off of the road and adhered them to my face. In my trials with every shade of eyebrow pencil on the planet, I've found a few that I like (so far). While everybody is different, even those of us with grey hair, these are a few that are worth a looksee if you are a salt and pepper brunette like me. Or perhaps for some of you, even if you're not. Lorac Pro Brow Pencil in Slate - $19 / £11 This is my hands-down favourite. The consistency is easy to work with and the line is nice and thin. Best of all, the color is a great greyish-taupe without overly reddish undertones. The little brush on the end is nice and firm as well, making it easy to blend.  The downside - it doesn't last nearly long enough. **UPDATE AUG 2024** This version of the Lorac Pencil is becoming very difficult to source. A great alternative is the Sephora Collection Retractable Brow Pencil , which has three different shades of a grey-brown variety. Those of you who are completely grey may also want to try the budget-friendly NYX Micro Brow Pencil in grey, which has a true grey option. Their Ash brown and blonde shades are also worth a look as well if you still have a bit of your natural color. NYX Auto Eyebrow Pencil in Charcoal $10 / £8 This one is a bit smudgier and the brush is a bit softer, making it a bit more of a filling-in tool than something for making short little strokes with. The charcoal color is a true grey, and it works well for dark brunette hair, although I found the color to be almost a little cooler than I would have wanted. Perhaps in another five to seven years when I am more grey than I am now, this will be my go-to. I use brow gel to help set everything once you've got your brows the way you like them. **UPDATE AUG 2024** This product is getting increasingly difficult to source. A reliable alternative is the Benefit Gimme Brow Volumizing Fiber Brow Pencil , which has a cool grey option. Like the originally recommended NYX Auto Eyebrow, this product is great for filling-in and adding volume to sparse brows. I daresay, the Benefit actually does a better job of this, albeit at a higher price point.

Calling all thrifters and wardrobe-sifters, treasure-hunters, estate sale mavens, and all other manner of sartorial secondhand bargain-lovers! The time for a closet clean-out is once-again upon us here at Highland Fashionista HQ, and I've recently stocked the shelves in both my US and UK Ebay, Vinted and Depop stores with goodies on offer for you to take advantage of! In this virtual thrift sale I've got designer items from the likes of Lilly Pulitzer and DVF, as well as a plethora of high street brands and lesser-known treasures to sift through. This week I have the ability to ship from both the US and the UK, and international shipping is available for most of these items should you happen to see something on one site or the other that you simply cannot live without! Links are provided below - choose your favorite platform! Additionally, for the next week (until I have to go back to the UK), readers of the blog can also take an additional 20% off of items from Highland Fashionista Vintage on Etsy! Use code: VIRTUALT20 Virtual Thrift Sale Highlights & Links! Thrift on Ebay USA Here 🔗 • Thrift on Depop USA Here 🔗 Thrift on Ebay UK Here 🔗 • Thrift on Vinted UK Here 🔗 Happy Shopping!

Sure, this dress is maxi length and has long sleeves, but do not be fooled . It is nowhere near warm enough to be outside without a jacket and a hat. But when you rely on the natural light of the great outdoors to light your photoshoots, you take what you can get when in the west of Scotland. This time of year, if you can get it when it's not raining and/or "blowin' a hoolie" as they say over here, you just kind of have to go for it. I had been stalking this empire-waisted Tasha Polizzi dress online for a while before I pulled the trigger. I fell in love with the colors and Southwestern pattern, and liked the promise of how versatile It could be; it buttons down the front, so you can wear it as it comes, or as a duster - both of which I have done for you here today. I'd been searching for a fuller, longer dress to wear for quite some time, as they seem to be making a comeback. However, I kept coming up short. This is probably as much to do with my comfort level in a long, full dress as it is on how they actually look, but with my salt and pepper hair, every time I looked at myself in the mirror in something with full sleeves and a full skirt, all I could see staring back at me was someone who appeared to be a sister wife who had wandered away from the compound. When this baby finally went on sale, I pounced. And you know what? I feel like my instincts were spot-on with this one. Instead of suggesting that I might be a member of a polygamous cult, this longer, fuller dress dress announces that I just might have a knife in my boot.  In fact, that this dress does not make any bones about being bold is sort of the sentiment that underscores how I find I'm defining my style as I get older. I find that as I age, things look better on me if they don't look like they are in the middle of issuing a half-assed apology. Tasha Polizzi Sonoran dress / Gap jeans / Dingo Laurel boots (old), similar / turquoise necklaces (old), similar , similar /  Turquoise and silver concho earrings, similar / Nine West Boots (old), similar , Ariat belt (old), similar Shared with: Not Dead Yet Style , A Labour of Life , The Fashion Canvas , Away from the Blue

Howdy fashionphiles! I've been staring at a lot of high-low hemlines of late...not because they are particularly new or innovative, but because I've been testing shop samples like a mad woman, I've recently come to have a deeper appreciation for them. High-low hemlines offer a little slice of lots of different things; a little more coverage than miniskirts, a decidedly sexier silhouette than a maxi or even a midi skirt, and quite frankly, they feel like a million bucks to wear. They swoosh when you walk and show off your legs and footwear. In this case, the footwear is a pair of vintage Tony Lama boots that I found for $14 at a thrift store! High-lows can be styled in a myriad of different ways. Take the above specimen - the Señora skirt from HF Mercantile. This skirt is about as simple as they come, a floaty rayon blend with a wide elastic waistband. It's crazy comfy, and really a piece that was probably designed wth a warm summer beach day in mind. However, the moment I saw it, I envisioned it styled the way you see it here, as more of a Southwestern look. That's what I love about the design. It makes that kind of transition seamlessly, and whether you're someone who has to straddle different climates due to travel or lives somewhere with unreliable weather (In my case both of these things are true), a high-low skirt solves a lot of sartorial problems in one go. If you want to dive (briefly) into the historical origins of the high-low hem, you can read more about it over at HF Mercantile in the latest edition of The Mercantile News.

I get a lot of samples from suppliers through my door, but when I opened the package containing this dress, I emitted a little squee of delight. I knew I'd found something that struck a good balance of fun, versatility and affordability. This is The Nuala dress, a lightweight, silky-matte poly blend boho minidress with flare bracelet sleeves, a three button top closure, and an elasticized tie waist. This dress works on its own or accessorized to the hilt, and is perfect for layering under just about anything imaginable, extending its usefulness well beyond the summer season. I am in love with this thing, and think I'm gonna wear it to the Morgan Wallen concert later this summer. Maybe probably, we'll see. Oh, and it also comes in red. Pretty sure I'm gonna ask them to send me that one too, so I can "inspect" it. You know...for science. You can read more about the origins, inspiration and pitfalls of boho style on the HF Mercantile website . The Nuala dress | The High Sierra Western Fedora | denim boots (old), similar , similar | leather and turquoise belt (old), similar | squash blossom necklace (old), similar , similar

I've got a quick Outfit of the Day post for you today, and as the label says, it all happened by accident. Having picked up a night shift at the hospital, I arrived home on this morning determined to do something more productive than just sleep the day away. I decided to refresh and reshape a few of my felt hats that were respectively a little snug and had a few dents in them from lazy storage on my part. I also decided that I would film my efforts for a bit of "educational" social media content. True to form, I did this in the laziest possibly way, donning a pair of post-night shift sweatpants and the above sleeveless tee. Once I had finished, I decided to snap a few photos of one of the hats (yes, the one in the photos), since it was a fairly new addition to my online shop (when possible I prefer to use original photos instead of media packs for my inventory). I pulled on the first pair of jeans in my denim pile, threw on some accessories, and stepped into my dog walking boots. During the shoot, I realized that I actually really like the colorful Western-inspired look I sort of accidentally created with my laziness! It's colorful, has a fun boho-Western vibe, and is rugged enough to withstand Highland weather and the antics of a very active 6 month old puppy! Sometimes just throwing a look together without thinking is a perfect lesson in relying on your instincts and impulses to crowd out that little second-guessing voice in your head. The result will undoubtedly make you smile! The Desperado Western Fedora | thrifted Vans sleeveless tee, similar | Ariat belt (old), similar Grace in LA Jeans | Grace in LA shearling jacket (old), similar | concho earrings (old), similar Ariat Fatbaby boots (old), similar

I've got a quickie OOTD for you today; a simple dress and boots look. This has been my go-to casual look for a while now, and has become my version of "classic casual", although I hesitated to use the term "classic" here. In my age bracket I find that the word "classic" invokes something entirely more high-end and conservative than this look. Classic is a term that evokes sartorial images of loose, camel trousers, nautical striped tees, loafers and pearls, a really expensive and understated watch, or some other such uniform of wealth and respectability that is often associated with those of us "of a certain age." That's not really me these days. While (depending on who you ask) an argument could be made for the respectability part (albeit definitely not the wealth), generally speaking I am not a person with a heavy day to day need for such understated refinement. I have come to prefer things I can easily slide in and out of, that will stand up to the weather, to having a big dog, to the countryside, and to my insatiable appetite for thrifting. And when it's time to get dressed, ultimately I still want it to be fun. I guess that's how I landed on this particular floral minidress and cowboy boots combo. Well, that and of course my love of all things Western. This dress is my sample of The Jackie dress from HF Mercantile, layered underneath a vintage 90s Lee Jeans denim jacket from the vintage shop. The boots are a pair of thrifted hand-stitched mens Tony Lama boots that quite frankly are long past their prime, but I cannot bear to let them go, and use them as my "it's gonna be messy out there" pair that I don't mind getting beat-up. This look has become my go-to for vacations, travelling, day-to-day, and just about everything in-between. It layers well from colder to warmer climates, works well for a casual vibe but is easy to dress-up in a pinch if need be.

Greetings intrepid fans of all things beauty and style-related! This affordable makeup recommendations post has been rattling around inside my brain for months. I've been somewhat behind the curve since the launch of Highland Fashionista Mercantile, but there is something even more exciting that has entered our lives here at Highand Fashionista HQ that has caused me to veer off course a bit. Those of you who subscribe may remember a post from this past summer about how we lost our nearly 16 year old bearded collie Fergus. Fergus was truly one of those once in a lifetime kinds of dogs, and we felt his loss very deeply. However, we are overcome with joy to announce the arrival of a new bundle of bouncing bearded collie joy in our lives (yes, we are ride or die beardie people here at Highland Fashionista.) So everyone...meet Oskar. Oskar is going to be helping out around here from now on. Oskar also happens to be of the same bloodlines as our beloved Fergus, so we are thrilled for this little bit of shared DNA that carries on the Fergus legacy, which is considerable. So for your viewing enjoyment, and also as a means to give visual credence to my excuse for not being able to get anything done because for God's sake look at his little face... please enjoy this gallery of weapons-grade cuteness to help usher-in the era of Oskar the Beardie - Chief Operations Officer (Chewing Division) at Highland Fashionista. And Now the Affordable Makeup Recommendations While I am a fan of cosmetics and the magic that they do, I am equally not someone who likes to pile it on indiscriminately. Something like a bottle of foundation rarely gets past the halfway point in my collection before I either feel compelled to throw it away because it's too old, or more likely because it wasn't ever quite right to begin with. The products on this list of recent favorites are not new; most of them have been widely available for some time now. However, they are special in that they have not, to date, met with the usual fate of being tossed out, unused after a half dozen or so uses. Not only have I been regularly using these products, as it turns out, I have been using them up! All of these products are from the drugstore, and can be obtained easily and affordably, which you may have noticed is the point of the exercise. I have included options for both sides of the pond where I can so that everyone can play along. This post does contain a few affiliate links, but the opinions in the piece are mine and mine alone! Let's get to it. Maybelline Super Stay 24 Hour Skin Tint (US) | (UK) Skin tints are kind of a thing right now, and I am here for it. Not being a person who has ever liked, or even felt comfortable in a full-coverage look (unless there are camera and lighting crews involved), I'm an absolute sucker for any product promising me a natural finish, some sort of glow, hydration, breathability, or even the most basic suggestion of an even, lit-from-within complexion. Some people may be easy marks because they believe anything they see on Facebook, but me? I believe anything you print on the side of a foundation bottle. All kidding aside, this stuff is pretty amazing for 13 bucks! I get complements on my skin nearly every time I wear this stuff. Not complements on my makeup, mind you. My skin. to me, that's the ultimate mark of a good foundation. It should be a leg-up, not a cover-up. Historically I have disliked makeup formulas with long-wearing claims attached to them. I am still traumatized from the early formulas of 90s drugstore matte Revlon colorstay lipsticks and long-wearing foundations that used to turn to chalk the moment they left their containers and hit the atmosphere. However, things have advanced since the 90s. The formula of this skin tint goes on elegantly and has a tiny bit of pearlescence in it to give your face some depth (don't worry, it doesn't look glittery or overly shiny.) I do think that when you put this foundation on straight from the bottle, or even with a foundation brush, it comes off with more coverage than the name "skin tint" might suggest. However, I get around that by prepping my face well with moisturizer (or sometimes a primer, or both), then using a damp sponge to apply the foundation, so I don't get too much product at once. This is how I feel this product looks best. This makeup is very buildable, so you can always add more if you're a full coverage gal. While I cannot vouch for whether or not this foundation does what it says on the bottle and lasts a full 24 hours, I can attest to it lasting for 12! I've worn this both for a 12 hour hospital night shift and on a long transatlantic flight, and while I'm not going to claim I looked fabulous after either of those events (who does), the skin tint certainly did remain - if not in its original permutation, certainly to a level I found respectable. The above photo is what this product looks like on the skin, applied with a wet sponge and set with a hint of powder. For reference, my shade is shade 220, and yes, my hair is still a little wet here. It is what it is. Collection Filter Finish Gorgeous Glow Illuminator & Primer (UK) This product, by UK-based brand Collection, is supposedly a dupe of the much sought-after Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless filter. While I've never tried the Charlotte Tilbury version (because £40 for a primer/highlighter is far too rich for my blood), if it is anything like the dupe it must be amazing. I use this stuff a lot. I use it under foundation, mixed with foundation, and perhaps most often I use it all by itself, without any foundation. The product has a lightweight feel and a subtle, glowy presence on the skin that melts right in and makes everything look more even glowy, and just all-around better. When I don't want to look too "done", I use this, some concealer, blush and mascara and call it a day. The photo on the left is from my previous winged eyeliner post, so I'm wearing a bit more eye makeup and concealer, but all I have on as a base is the Collection Filter Finish! I use the shade medium, although you could easily use any of the shades for various highlighting purposes. Personally, I feel like the weight and feel of this product place it more in the illuminator camp than the primer camp, but regardless of how you want to use it, the thing we can all agree on is the price tag; this stuff is a mere £6.99! I suspect that Collection cosmetics are not available in the USA, but worry not my fellow Americans, ELF Cosmetics makes their own dupe of Tilbury's cult classic with their Halo Glow Liquid filter. I have tried this product and it is very similar to the Collection version. If I had to tease-out the differences between the Collection version and the ELF version, I'd say that in addition to having significantly more shade choices, the ELF is slightly more reflective with the glow particles. That said, the formulas are very similar and if you're planning on mixing this product with another foundation or tinted moisturizer, I sincerely doubt that you'd be able to tell the difference at all. The ELF Halo Glow filter comes in at just over $13.00. Honorable Mention Products I have a few more drugstore products that are in my current rotation that are showing promise, and in the following photo I'm wearing all of them at once! Revlon Illuminance Skin-Caring Liquid Foundation (US only) I found a single bottle of this foundation the last time I was in the States while I was pawing-though a sale bin at Target (pardon me...Targée (pron: TāR - JAY). I imagine that perhaps this is because it might be being discontinued or phased-out or some such thing but I grabbed this random bottle in the shade 301 "Cool Beige" for four bucks. I am not really a "cool" undertone person but for the sake of four US Dollars to try something new, I decided I could pretend to be cool. In a perfect world, I would have gone for shade 317, "tan sand." This is a really lovely foundation. In the photo, I put on a bit more than I might normally wear so I could really test it properly, and I used a dry beauty blender sponge to apply it, instead of my normal wet sponge. This foundation feels light and moisturizing on the skin (its claim to fame is the hyaluronic acid and squalane in the formula). It also claims to be medium coverage, and I would say that claim is exactly right. This foundation still has enough sheerness for me to feel comfortable in it, but you get a nice even complexion with it, and it doesn't feel drying or tight. It also isn't overly luminous, glittery, chalky or matte. I'm quite pleased with this foundation, and think you might be too. And hey, if I'm wrong, you're only out $13! Or $4 if you can find it in a bin at your local Tār- Jay like I did. Sadly UK friends, I was not able to reliably find this product in any quantity in the UK. Hard Candy Marilyn Monroe Beauty Marker Winged Eyeliner Stamp I found this product at my local Walmart on my last trip to the States and I absolutely love how easy it makes getting a (near) perfect winged liner. Winged liner is sort of a new obsession of mine, as you may remember from my recent post about easily creating a winged, "puppy" liner look. Unfortunately as I write this, I'm finding it very difficult to source this item. Hard Candy, while once a coveted 90s brand known for their funky nail polishes, eyeshadows and lipglosses, now only serves-up a handful of products, mostly shadows and liners, and the stamp liner must have been limited edition. If you can find one in stock at your local Walmart good for you, but luckily there are other options out there that are pretty much identical. The cult favorite of all the options is this Lottie London Stamp Liner (USA) & (UK). this is a very popular product, available on both sides of the pond, and is likely here to stay. While these stamp liners do leave you with a one size fits all "wing", don't be put off if you feel like the wing is too much for you. You can easily modify your wing with a damp q tip swab or angled brush, and soon you'll develop your own personal method and wonder what any of us were thinking trying to do the whole thing freehand! Revlon ColorStay Creme Eyeshadow in Espresso I've spoken at length about this product over the years on the blog, and my favorite was always the shade Praline, a peachy pink that goes on more like a highlighter shade. This is quite literally a stick your finger in and go product; I am drawn to anything that gives me a quick and easy option to make myself up (I never leave enough time). This formula not only goes on easily, it's also buildable and works well as an eyeshadow base. As I've gotten older, I have adjusted my shade selection. The Praline shade (along with most of the other shades in this Revlon creme shadow collection) has quite a bit of reflective pearlescence in it. I felt like it was starting to wash me out a bit and accentuate my 50-plus lines. I also think that all that highlight on the lid looked a bit dated, and I was looking to update my look bit, while sticking with something really natural. The espresso shade is really lovely; it has a bit of sheen to it, but isn't as shiny and reflective as some of the other shades - just enough to provide a bit of depth. This has become my everyday go-to one and done product. You have to move quickly with the formula to get it even (it dries down really well) but it is sheer and buildable, and I find that I can apply it with my finger better than any fancy brush I might have been tempted by in the past; the warmth of your finger does make it much easier to get an even blend. This is a great color that will work well on most light through medium olive skin tones, and even on darker skins this would add a bit of depth and act as a lovely one and done or a base for a more complex look.

This oversized shacket (if you're new here, that's shirt + jacket = shacket) was an unexpected pleasant surprise. Having ordered it as a sample for the HFmercantile boutique, I had relegated it to the "wait and see if it's any good" pile to await further review. Despite the very serious look on my face in the above photo (!?) I was very pleasantly surprised by this piece; it's essentially the sartorial equivalent of wearing a very lightweight but cozy blanket; it's soft yet sturdy, casual yet unique and memorable, and as it turns out, a fantastic option to wear over a pair of stretchy leggings or jeggings on a long-haul flight. There really is no better trial run you can do with a garment than to wear it on a long travel day. If it comes out the other end looking good, it's a win in my book. This shirt, officially called The Renegade shacket on the website, kept me cozy all the way from Edinburgh to Minneapolis last weekend, and I think it has more than earned its place in my closet as a reliable cold climate travel piece; especially nice in the winter when the long, dark, cold days tell our natural instincts to curl up in a blanket and hibernate. In classic fashion, I completely forgot/was too lazy to snap a quick airport selfie so you could see the garment "in action", but the look was pretty much identical to what's posted here, but with a pair of Durango harness boots instead of the tall Fryes shown here, and the Charlie One Horse hat stayed home. Added bonus - the shacket washes up beautifully, although full disclosure, I have not, and probably won't put it in the dryer. I rarely put things in the dryer these days if I can air dry it. I feel like that practice helps my clothes look better for longer. I do feel though that since it's a poly blend it will likely be just fine if you do like to throw things in the dryer. Naturally, the grey plaid pictured here is no longer available (because of course it isn't), but if this shacket looks like it might be your vibe, it's still available in pink, black, and khaki (the khaki is nearly exactly the same as this grey one only warmer in tone, and would look great if you're blonde or "bronde"). I think I may be hitting up the supplier for the pink one as well. You know....because I need to test it. For science. Feeling the vibe? Use code WMERC15 for a discount!

Greetings loyal readers and new arrivals to the blog! I'm pleased to report that the reason I've been so sporadic in posting of late has now manifested into something that I can finally talk to you about. So to that end..... TA DAAAAA! (jazz hands) Highland Fashionista Mercantile is my long-awaited e-commerce website - now operational! You can click the photo if you want to check it out; HFmercantile is the shortened domain name. You may recall a post I made (what feels like ages ago now) where I shared my plans to merge my blog and e-commerce ventures into a single platform. I've had this blog for a long time (over 12 years!), so trying to figure out how to accomplish this type of merge without diminishing any of the involved assets has been a real mind-bender. For now, I have decided the easiest way to accomplish this was with branding. The blog and the new venture are still separate platforms at the moment, but with the same branding, voice, and style sensibility. The secondhand marketplace still lives on the blog and links out to Etsy and Ebay, while HFmercantile is a standalone site. Eventually they will all be under one roof, but it's a big job, particularly considering all the vintage inventory is one of a kind, so consider this a large and purposeful step in that direction; part of Operation Work Smarter Not Harder, if you like. So that's me officially launching my soft opening of the HFmercantile website. Many of you loyal readers have been with me for such a long time (and thanks for that, by the way...love you guys), I figured you would have already noticed the steady changes in the overall branding of the blog, and I wanted to read you in. What does this mean going forward? Ultimately, I'm hoping for a more streamlined, cleaner, sophisticated (grain of salt there, it's me) user experience. But to address the specifics of what the plan is, I thought it would be easiest do so in a Q&A section, which appears at the end of this post. But first, I'm going to ask for a favor. One of the most helpful things you could do for me at this stage would be to take a moment to leave a review on the Highland Fashionista Facebook page. Whether it's a review of the new website (again, link in the photos), or the blog, it matters not. By leaving a review it lets the internet mind hive (better known as the Facebook algorithm) know that there are in fact real human beings here doing real human being things. New websites often fall into an algorithmic black hole because to an AI tool, a quiet webpage is a bot. Please and thank you. For your trouble, you can use the code WMERC15 for 15% off at checkout on the new site, should you see anything in your browsing that tickles your fancy. Highland Fashionista Mercantile Launch Q&A Q. Will you still be continuing with the blog? A. Yes. Absoluely. There will inevitably be a few gaps in posting here and there while I manage the growing pains of a new offshoot business venture, but I will keep the blog until the day they have to pry the laptop out of my icy hands. And even then, I might still continue. Q. Where do the clothes you sell at Highland Fashionista Mercantile come from? A. All over the place, really. But when people ask me this, often what they're really asking me if I am using Chinese fast fashion suppliers. The answer is no, but also yes. I currently work with several different suppliers ranging from a few small and midized indie brands to larger, commercial suppliers. These suppliers have stock in the USA, Spain, Italy, and yes, China. I order as many samples at a time as I can afford to, but inevitably some things will likely fall through the cracks. Also, pieces can change over time due to the availability of materials, so it's a constant process of evaluation. As someone who spends most of her days searching for, cleaning, prepping and photographing old clothes, I feel that I am uniquely qualified to assess a garment's suitability for the shop. Q. Will you still be selling on Etsy? A. 100%. I have been an Etsy seller pretty much since the beginning of Etsy, and I have no desire to leave, even after I am to a point where I have vintage offerings on the new site. Etsy has gone through a lot of permutations over the years, and if you've ever been in a seller forum you'll know that sellers love to complain about it, but I will always love Etsy, and I will always have a presence there. Q. Isn't it sort of hypocritical for someone who is such an advocate for shopping secondhand to have modern clothing website? (Yes, this is an actual thing someone said to me recently) I don't see it that way. Not at all. As I've often stated, I'm not anti high street fashion, but rather I'm anti wastefulness. The practicality and promise that any garment offers its wearer is way more important to me than provenance. As with life, our sartorial choices are never completely made up of all one experience. While I do everything I can to ensure that the things I pick are vetted, equally I feel that as someone who loves clothes and loves to make other people happy through clothes, its my sacred sworn duty (too much?) to show people the potential in things that they might have otherwise ignored. To do that, you literally have to consider all the options. To that point, I'm not looking for a shop full of expensive, high-end, branded material, but rather an eclectic mix. Most of my wardrobe is still thrifted, and probably always will be, but woman cannot live on thrift alone.