Maine Girl

What I wore : ~ TALBOTS blouse ~ Banana Republic floral skirt ~ TALBOTS pearl earrings and gold chain link necklace ~glass ring from Mexicali Blues ~brown pumps by Clarks "The statements and views expressed in this posting are my own and do not reflect those of my employer." ~Laura Lynn Michaud

{Jeans by Ralph Lauren } Dude, are you still sporting those baggy dungarees and thinking all this time that you are Mr. Cool? Well, you may be Mr. Cool, but your oversized jeans certainly are not making you appear that way. I am totally for anyone who loves expressing their personal style, but baggy jeans seem to express just one thing. Sloppy, careless, lazy, boring, mindless, fool. Ok, so that was six things. Six bad things that I know you do not want to be my man! What's wrong with showing the world that you are a smart, intelligent hard working man who knows how to wear his jeans?! Jeans that fit a man are not that hard to find. Try on a few styles to get an idea of the different fits that are offered and opt for something that sits at your natural waist. A good way to find your natural waist is to take notice to where your underwear come up. Use that as a guideline. Your jeans should come up to at least that line. Not below. No one wants to see what color boxers you ar...

I was lucky enough to be able to spend a couple of days in Rockland, Maine last week. This photo was taken from Rockland's Breakwater which was built using 700,000 tons of granite. I was able to get some beautiful shots of the almightily Atlantic Ocean including this one of a beautiful sailboat in the distance. The day was perfect with the most utopian offshore breeze. It's difficult for me to explain just how amazing this experience was. I have just one word. Heaven.

What I wore : ~ TALBOTS blouse , tomato red chinos and belt ~earrings from Target ~nautical rope bracelet from Anthony Johns Day Spa & Boutique ~glass ring from Mexicali Blues ~black leather t-strap pumps by Beautifeel "The statements and views expressed in this posting are my own and do not reflect those of my employer." ~Laura Lynn Michaud

As much as I love wearing color, I tend to only purchase neutral eyeshadows. They seem like a more reasonable choice for me. I like keeping a more natural look on the eyes so as to be able to wear a brighter lipstick and nail polish if I should choose to do so. This palette is actually slightly different than the neutral shades that I normally gravitate to. It's more of a cool palette versus the warmer colors that I am usually more inclined to wear. I recently purchased this  Boudoir Eyes  eyeshadow palette by   Too Faced   and even though the colors look like non colors, there are so many looks you can create with them. I especially love the How-To Glamour Guide that this palette came with. Below you will see the results of the "Fashion" look I created with this palette.  These eye shadows go on well and have a good amount of pigment. It stayed on all day without reapplying. I highly recommend Too Faced eyeshadows. You can find this Boudoir Eyes pale...

Wrigley's gum billboard, with illustration by Otis Shepard, 1939 There was a time when mint was only thought of as a flavor. When I think of mint, for some reason the Doublemint Twins come to my mind. You may still find Wrigley's Doublemint chewing gum on the shelves in a few convenience and grocery stores among many other flavors and brands. As far as I'm concerned, there are way too many choices out there, and not just in gum flavors. But, lets get back to my point, which is the color mint in fashion . Mint happens to be a hot color to wear this spring/summer 2013. Last week I purchased my first mint tee-shirt of the season from TALBOTS .  To me, a tee-shirt usually isn't that exciting. But this one has navy stripes and is nicely fitted with a neckline which isn't cut up too high. I decided to mix my minty stripes with another hot pattern we are seeing this season, polka dots. Both stripes and polka dots are classic patterns, but we tend to see ...

Guys, are you thinking that you are too manly to wear pastels? Or is it that you are not man enough? While you are trying to decide what kind of man you are, I am going to tell you that pastels are HOT and on men, they are even HOTTER. You must learn how to wear them properly. You don't want to enter a room looking like the Easter bunny. When wearing pastels, think minimal. Try one pastel piece at a time to look on trend without looking trendy.  Here are some ways to integrate pastels into your every day look guys : 1. Try wearing a pastel shirt and going neutral with everything else 2. Try a pastel shoe. Keep it masculine by keeping the design of the shoe rugged. 3. Try a pair of pastel socks. You know that us ladies always look to see what you have on your feet! 4. Be brave and try a pastel chino style pant. Wear a chambray shirt and tan nubuck or suede shoes to neutralize your look. 5. When all else fails, throw on a pastel tie. This will take your look fr...

{All photos in this blog post were taken at the Antique Marketplace & Café in Downtown Bangor, Maine.} I would never refer to myself as an antique expert. Nonetheless, I do appreciate a visit to my local antique store from time to time. I feel as though I am taking a walk through generations past. I don't always understand what the items I am looking at were used for, but between my husband and I, we usually can figure it out. It is incredible to me the details in which these items possess. You would think that in the past these items would be produced less decorative, however it seems to be just the opposite. Now it seems that we are more into what an item can do versus what an item looks like. We make something look simple on the outside, but it's actually more complicated on the inside, which can be very deceiving. We have so many more buttons to push these days! It's not until I visit my local antique store that I come to my senses about the day and age that ...

What I wore: ~everything from TALBOTS except gold sequin ballet flats are Donald J Pliner Couture "The statements and views expressed in this posting are my own and do not reflect those of my employer." ~Laura Lynn Michaud

Shorts have never been my favorite fashion statement. I just can't help but feeling a little bit boyish in them. Not that "borrowing from the boys" isn't fashionable. Everyone knows I love mixing masculine with feminine, however that style tends to work better for me in the fall. I love wearing vests and tailored shirts and mixing them with more feminine accessories. But there is just something about shorts that I feel just doesn't work with "Laura's Style." Now, that doesn't mean that they couldn't work for your style. As I browse through Pinterest , I see a ton of ways that girls are wearing shorts and they look so fabulous! They are even wearing shorts with their Louboutin's and they look great! Okay, so it could have something to do that these girls are under 25 years old I suppose .  I wore my shorts on a really hot night to a casual dinner and a movie with a great friend. While she rocked a maxi dress, (she looked great...

I have worked in retail for many years and I assist ladies every day who come to me and say, "My friend says I wear too much black. I need color!" I don't disagree. I believe that everyone needs a little color in their lives. However, in my opinion, there is nothing classier, cleaner, or more modern looking than black and white. I find it unfortunate that some feel ashamed to have so much black in their wardrobe. There is so much you can do with black! Add a splash of color here and there with accessories if that makes you feel better. One of my personal favorite color combos (or favorite anti color combos, if you must) is black and white.  Below you will find my black and white collection: And below you will find me wearing my most recent black and white purchase from TALBOTS . The black and white circle diamond ponte sheath. ~dress, necklace and bracelet from TALBOTS ~shoes by BeautiFeel ~ Essie nail polish in "cute as a butto...

What I wore: ~ TALBOTS floral print dress ~hoop earrings by Mixit from JCPenny ~vintage plastic bracelets ~glass ring from Mexicali Blues ~ Clarks wedge sandals ~ Essie nail polish in "cute as a button" "The statements and views expressed in this posting are my own and do not reflect those of my employer." ~Laura Lynn Michaud

It can be difficult for my brain to get into work mode on some of these gorgeous days we experience during the "lazy days of summer." That's why I simply try to let the beauty around me inspire my lovely look of the day. It was so difficult to get into the car and head into the city yesterday. It was sunny and 80 degrees. A most perfect beach day. Watch for my lovely look post tomorrow, and see how I dressed fashionably and tastefully for work (no flip flops!), but I also made myself feel like I was a lady of the tropics. I hardly even remembered that I was at work! "Fashion is the armor to survive every day life." ~Bill Cunningham {Photo via Harper's Bazaar Spain}

What I wore: ~ TALBOTS tee, khaki slim cropped cargo pants, coral dangle earrings and bamboo handle black patent leather handbag ~animal print ballet flats by Aerosoles ~rope & anchor bracelet from Anthony Johns Day Spa & Boutique ~glass ring from Mexicali Blues "The statements and views expressed in this posting are my own and do not reflect those of my employer." ~Laura Lynn Michaud

 I am always looking for a blush that isn't too pink and isn't too peach. This custom color blush by Stila in self adjusting coral seems to be perfect. They claim that this blush reacts to your skin to to create your own one of a kind custom color. I feel like all make-up changes color once it gets on my skin depending how oily or dry my face is. But I do love this color on me and I do feel like most anyone would be able to wear it. Is it the best blush I have ever tried in my life? Well, no. I am still on a quest for that. But I do highly recommend it!

What I wore: ~Everything from TALBOTS except gold pearl spoon ring from Etsy and tan suede sparkly loafers by Kenneth Cole "The statements and views expressed in this posting are my own and do not reflect those of my employer." ~Laura Lynn Michaud

What I wore: ~TALBOTS Cabana Stripe Tank, Heritage fit slim ankle jeans in Lapis, and bead cluster necklace ~BCBG patent ballet flats ~vintage earrings found at local thrift shop ~beaded ring from Etsy "The statements and views expressed in this posting are my own and do not reflect those of my employer." ~Laura Lynn Michaud

Since I was trying so hard to come up with something that you guys might need help with and was failing miserably, (This Manly Monday thing is new for me!) I decided to ask my husband for a little help. He didn't struggle for too long before he came up with an idea. He said "How about, should you match your partner when you are going out?" I thought that was a good idea. I hope you do too. Because that's what today's Manly Monday is all about. So, should you match your partner when going out? I say you definitely should coordinate, but not necessarily match. For instance, if she is wearing stripes that doesn't mean that you must wear stripes. It just simply means that you would wear something in the same color family as her stripes. You don't want to look the same, but you don't want to clash either. Haven't you ever seen that couple who enters a room and everyone notices them. They are like the breath of fresh air that everyone comes up f...

It all began with collecting stickers when I was nine. By age eleven I graduated to a stamp collection. Now I collect the spring and fall issues of VOGUE , Harpers Bazaar , and Style.com magazine .  Are you a collector?

You may say that you love the prints, patterns and oh so comfy soft fabrics that the "Boho Chic" fashionista wears. But why aren't YOU wearing them? Do you think you are too young? Too old? Is your style more tailored and preppy? I may have been thinking a few of these thoughts too. But Julie, the store manager of Mexicali Blues  located in Downtown Bangor, Maine, has proved me wrong. "I have decided that everyone has a little Bohemian inside of them just waiting to come out." ~Laura Michaud Bo·he·mi·an     [ boh- hee -mee- uh n ]   noun 1. a   native   or   inhabitant   of   Bohemia . 2. (  usually   lowercase   )  a   person,   as   an   artist   or   writer,   who   lives   and   acts   free   of   regard   for conventional   rules   and   practices. 3. the   Czech   language ,  especially...