Man Candy Monday: The Fashion Edition

Woohoo, here we are, friends! Not only is it a brand-new week, it’s also one of my favorite weeks of the year: Fall Favorites Week! For the fifth year in a row, I’m pumped to share my favorite trends in fashion and beauty. So get ready for lots of moody hues, cozy outfits and general autumnal awesomeness. To kick things off right, I thought I’d pay homage to some of the world’s most fashionable men. These guys know how to wear the season’s best. They believe fashion is a lifestyle. And some of them have even made their mark with brands of their own…

FASHIONABLE MALE CELEBRITIES!!!!!!!!!!

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE…

PHARRELL…

JOHN LEGEND…

JON HAMM…

RYAN GOSLING…

BRADLEY COOPER…

Way To Go, Lane Bryant

Have you seen Lane Bryant‘s new ad campaign? The clothing retailer first debuted their #PlusIsEqual campaign in seminal fashion bible Vogue’s September issue, which featured top models wearing the brand’s fall 2015 collection.

The fashion-forward ads feature taglines such as “Let’s Represent,” “our size women” and encourages all of us to picture a world in which labels don’t exist.

“We’re proud, strong, fashion forward, stylish,” says model Candice Huffine. “Same as anyone else, with extra curves.”

AMEN!!! In a world made up of far too many Nicole Arbours and just general bullies all around, it’s so refreshing to see a clothing brand step up and step out like this. I hope it will set a precedent and usher in a new era of body-positive clothing and body-loving thinking. We most definitely need more people like this going to bat for women all around the world, surely not just in the realm of clothing. It’s all about filling the conversation with positivity to drown out all that negativity.

Wouldn’t you agree, friends? xoxo


[Via POPSUGAR]

Family Photos: Life Lately…

I was going through some recent photos over the weekend and started to notice something: I tend to let photos pile up before I share them. My mom’s the same way, which is probably the reason I’ve been known to snatch her phone away while she’s not looking and sneak a peek at all her photos. What can I say? I’m a curious journalist at heart…HAHAHA

Maybe you do this too? Anyway, I came to the conclusion that this batch of Family Photos is all sorts of random, so consider it a look at our life lately, in visual form…starting with my favorite pepperoni pizza…

Stella deep in concentration trying to capture an elusive fly…

The cats being brave at the vet…can you spot Stella? The cats got a clean bill of health too…

Have I mentioned lately how spoiled Harry is? He sleeps in my mom’s arms every single night while we’re watching TV…

Because I’ll never get tired of my mother’s cookies…

…or her summer fruit salads…

She was also VERY proud of her summer garden this year, with her plump, red tomatoes…

Hello, fall sunrise…

I’m going to miss these green tress of summer…

…and LOOK!!! The leaves are starting to change their hue already…

So, friends, what’s happening in your life lately? What would your life look like if you were to describe it visually? Hope you’re doing well… xoxo

BIC Back-To-School Giveaway!

I’m SO excited to be partnering with BIC on a Back-To-School giveaway today! For the fourth year in a row, I immediately fell in love with everything BIC has to offer (they are the leader in school and office supplies, after all), including pens and pencils, markers, sticky notes and erasers.

BIC is continuing its Fight For Your Right campaign this year, which seeks to educate and energize parents, teachers and students about the importance of lifelong writing. During 2015, you’re invited to visit BIC Fight For Your Write and sign the online petition. For each e-signature collected, BIC will donate pens and pencils to students in need across the country.

“Parents play a key role in a child’s development and can act as ambassadors for their right to write,” said Pam Allyn, Fight for Your Write spokesperson and founder of LitWorld, a global organization that advocates for children’s rights as readers, writers and learners. “BIC’s mission shines a light on the crucial role of writing in our lives, and more importantly, gives parents and schools the tools they need to join our movement.”

This year’s Back-To-School prize pack includes an awesome futuristic highlighter and colorful pencils. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll be adding to your office arsenal if you win…

BIC’s 2015 Back-To-School Line Up…

*BIC Xtra-Fun #2 Pencil: The only #2 pencil with two-toned color barrels. The product features ultra-solid, break resistant lead and is easy to erase with its latex-free erasers.

*BIC Xtra-Craze Mechanical Pencil: The BIC Mechanical Pencil is celebrating its 30th birthday in style with new, fun, custom-designed patterns that are sure to make any student stand out this school year. Whether taking a test with its strong, #2 lead or simply doodling, this pencil is perfect for any type of writing!

*BIC Brite Liner Erasable Highighter: The BIC Brite Liner Erasable Highlighter features a highlighter on one end and an erasing ink tip on the other end for fast and easy edits. The florescent yellow ink makes bold, vivid highlights; perfect for the diligent, note-taking student.

*BIC Cristal Stylus: The BIC Cristal Stylus gives you the best of both worlds! One end features a lightweight stylus that easily glides across tablet and smartphone screens, providing fingerprint-free precision and control. The other end is an iconic BIC Cristal pen!

*BIC Atlantis Ultra Comfort Pen: New to the popular BIC Atlantis pen franchise for 2015 is the BIC Atlantis Ultra Comfort Pen, which features BIC’s exclusive ink system for even smoother ink compared to BIC’s classic ink system. Students will find their ideas flowing freely with this pen, which also includes an extra soft silicone grip that conforms to your hand for the ultimate writing experience.

For your chance to win, simply visit BIC, and leave a comment below telling us your all-time favorite back-to-school memory. For additional entries, you can (please leave a separate comment for each entry)…

*Fan BIC on Facebook
*Follow BIC on Twitter
*Fan So About What I Said on Facebook
*Follow So About What I Said on Twitter
*Follow So About What I Said on Pinterest
*Follow So About What I Said on Instagram
*Follow So About What I Said via GFC

You can also Tweet about the giveaway — just make sure to mention @melissablake + #BICBackToSchool in your Tweet!

A winner will be chosen at random on Tuesday, September 15th, so you’ve got two weeks to enter. Have fun, friends! xoxo

**Please note: The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

(Thanks again to BIC for sending me an awesome Back-To-School package and thank you for continuing to support So About What I Said’s wonderful sponsors! Have a great year, friends!)


Update: Congrats to winner Erin! Thanks so much! :)

Style Guide: Too Cool for School

Yesterday, it was all about the brain — all the tools you need to help you stay organized and succeed — and today, it’s all about the best looks for back-to-school. There are so many fun styles to choose from, but I’ve always been a fan of the crisp, simple look. Maybe that’s why I love polo shirts so much? Here are my seven favorite fashion and beauty finds…

1. Short sleeve pink polo, $19.99.
2. Orange leather watch, $69.99.
3. Ice disc studs, $24.
4. Classic red lipstick, $4.97.
5. Sunglasses, $8.39.
6. Printed culottes, $68.60.
7. Initial necklace, $28.

Your turn, friends: What’s your favorite back-to-school look? Understated? Bright and flashy? Lots of accessories? Share your favorites in the comments, and here’s to a fashionable new you! xoxo

[Top photo via We Heart It]