Hello friends! Happy Monday to you all! Today’s blog I wanted to do a little something different. It’s sort of like an OOTD, but it’s more so a breakdown of what I wore/how I did my hair/makeup for my engagement pictures! I am by no means an expert in fashion, hair, or makeup, but I do thoroughly enjoy putting looks together.

I’ve said many a times that it is NOT necessary to buy an outfit for EVERY occasion, but I will admit that I did buy a new outfit for these pictures. My clothes don’t fit very well as of late, and I wanted to feel confident during these pictures, so I did buy them new. Had I not waited until the last second, (the day before), I probably would have tried to find them at a thrift store, but alas, I did not.

I did, however, incorporate some pieces that I already had, so I didn’t COMPLETELY go off the shopping deep-end.

And off we go!

Hair.

I am not confident in my hair-styling abilities whatsoever, so I just straightened my hair. I don’t know what straightener I use, I’ve had it for years and years. I can’t imagine straighteners work all that different from each other, so this one doesn’t matter so much!

Makeup.

 I chose a pretty natural and simple makeup look, pretty much the same as the look I describe in this blog post. The only difference being that I took the color, Cyprus Umber, from the Modern Renaissance palette on my lash line. I don’t like how eyeliner looks on me, especially black eyeliner, so I choose to do a more subtle look. I like taking a little brush like this, and do a thin line along my lases. It creates a look that is both subtle and slightly  dramatic. And the brown makes my green eyes POP. I think it’s important when taking engagement pictures to choose a makeup look that is very close to your day-to-day makeup, just elevated slightly. They’re pictures that you’ll have for the rest of your life! You want to still look like YOU. It’s definitely not a time to experiment with vastly different makeup looks, because some looks photograph better than others. If you do want to do a look that is very different from your regular look, I recommend trying it out ahead of time, and taking photos of yourself. That way you have an idea of what it will look like in your engagement pictures!

Accessories.

Necklace: Bobby bought me this necklace for Christmas, so I can’t find the exact one, but here is one that is similar. I think that a simple necklace is perfect for photos.  It makes you look just a little more put together quite effortlessly. I seldom take this necklace off, so I didn’t even really think about not wearing a necklace! It’s important to make sure that your necklace matches with the neckline of the shirt you’re wearing. Some necklaces look better with a neckline than others. Just something to be conscious of!

Here is one that is similar to mine!

Pearls: I’ve always adored the look of pearls. They are so timeless, and I think it’s important for engagement pictures to feel timeless. I hope one day to own a pair of real fancy-pants lady pearl earrings, but for now, I’m a-okay with the ones I have. I believe in quality over quantity, but something like earrings, I can’t seem to justify spending heaps of money on. I’m fine with a handful of well-chosen cheap earrings. I generally opt for earrings that are more dangly, but again, I wanted to make sure things looked timeless, so, pearl earring it was! Below I’ve listed the exact pearls I  bought, and then a similar, cheaper, pair from Amazon.

The set I bought.

And here’s a cheaper alternative, using my Amazon Affiliate link!

Watch: Again, I wanted to choose an accessory that I thought to be quite timeless. I think that a delicate watch can be so striking, especially a faux white leather one. I’m not normally a fan of gold, or even a rose gold, but I found this watch to be quite charming. I think that if it were to be a silver watch, (which is generally my favorite) the white wouldn’t stand out as much. I think that sticking with one accessory on the wrists is a good idea. The star of the show should be your engagement ring! Pick additional pieces that are beautiful and simplistic so as to not take away the spotlight from that beautiful ring on your finger!

The watch I bought.

And here’s a cheaper alternative, using my Amazon Affiliate link!

Fake Nails: Speaking of the spotlight being on our rings… Arguably one of the most important things for engagement pictures: THE NAILS!!! My nails are generally in some sort of disarray.  Whether it be from me picking at the skin surrounding them, ripping them off, or even my sad attempt at giving myself a manicure. I generally go for red nails, but I thought that with my outfit being blue and white,  the red would make me look better prepared for a fourth of July barbecue, and not engagement pictures. So instead, I went with a  mauve pink color. I didn’t want to mess with with the nail salon or painting my nails myself, so I bought this pair of fake nails. I am 100% sure that I put them on wrong,  but they look better than my plain nails would’ve! So, success! I also included a nail polish color that is similar, in case you wanted to get them done at a salon or do them yourself! Not everyone is as inept at nails as me! (Ha!)

The set I bought.

And here’s an alternative, if you want a similar look with no fake nails!

Shoes: The shoes I wore are about five years old, from Cracker Barrel. I couldn’t find the exact pair that I have, so here are some similar ones that are honestly even cuter!

Option One.

Option Two.

Clothing.

Shirt: As I stated earlier, I’ve recently put on some weight. As a result, I have very few clothes that fit me correctly. I want to be able to be comfortable in the clothing I wear, especially for such an important occasion as engagement photos. When I do purchase something, I like to find items that are useful for me now, and items that could be useful to be if I were to fluctuate in weight again. A white t-shirt is such a wonderful option to have, and can be so flattering on everyone. Phew, that’s a lot of talk for saying I bought a white t-shirt.

Here’s the one that I bought.

And here’s a cheaper alternative, using my Amazon Affiliate link!

Skirt: As I mentioned previously, I want to purchase clothing that will serve me for a long time to come. This skirt is perfect for that, because it’s a true wrap skirt, so it will fit my waist at many different sizes. I also find this silhouette to be so flattering. I knew that I wanted to have a more fitted top paired with a looser bottom because I find it looks the nicest on me, especially in pictures. It’s important to know what works for YOU. These pieces that work great for me may not work for you at all, but maybe they will! Which is why I wanted to list them!

Here’s the one that I bought.

And here’s a cheaper alternative, using my Amazon Affiliate link!

And that’s about it, folks! I’m pretty sure that’s a recap of everything that I did/wore for these pictures! This is a different blog than what I usually do, but I had a lot of fun with it! I am not a fashionista, a makeup artist, or a hair stylist, but I enjoy it all the same!

If you do choose to purchase any of the products I’ve listed from Amazon, I will make a profit from it (with no extra cost to you!), as I am an Amazon Affiliate! No pressure on you to purchase anything, just wanted to give some options! ❤

Thank you so much for reading!

XOXO,

Mattie Mae