Color Me, Buy Me!

Written by: Madeleine

New research explains how color affects our purchases!

As most of you have figured out, shopping is my ultimate favorite hobby. But when it comes to shopping, new research shows that it is more than browsing items. Color drastically affects our decisions and impulses to buy. Click the image below to read more about it!

Know Your Bra!

Written by: Madeleine

The one piece that is common across all women's wardrobes around the world is the bra. Even though most women wear one everyday, they don't know much about the styles, upkeep, and wear of the bra! I was totally shocked by this when I was rehired at a lingerie store this past fall. I guess because I have been with this company for so long, I thought everyone was educated about the bra! I've created a list below of 5 things that every woman should know about her bra!

1. Always clasp your bra one the loosest hook!
To ensure you get the most wear out of your bra, clasp the hook to the loosest eye. This way the band is not stretched excessively overtime, which can cause distortion to the cups and/or loosen the fitting of the band. It helps the bra retain its shape, so it can provide the proper support.

2. Know your complimentary size!
So you can't find your size or a particular style doesn't work well with your shape? Don't worry! Try your complimentary size! Since cup sizes are proportional to the band, you can find a similar fit to your true size. Simply change your band size and adjust for cup. If you go down a band size, then go up one cup size. Or if you go up a band size, go down a cup size. For example, if you are a 34B, you could also wear a 32C.

3. Try on every style!
Based on your breast shape, different styles like demi, perfect coverage, and push-up will fit you differently. So just because it is your size, doesn't mean it is going to fit correctly. If your breasts are fuller on the bottom, but not the top, opt for a demi style. This way you won't have any gapping in the cup and you will have the correct support. If you are full everywhere (or you've gotten your breasts done), try a perfect coverage; this will ensure you stay in the bra all day without slippage. Push-ups do work for everyone, especially if you need help filling out in some areas. However, sometimes you will have to go up a cup size to adjust for the volume!

4. One to wear, one to wash, one to have.
Every woman needs three basic bras in her wardrobe to start her collection. The idea behind this is that you should have one to wear, one that needs to be washed, and one to have on reserve. These bras should be black or nude, since they are the most versatile. Opposed to contrary belief, nude is the perfect color to wear under white because you won't see the cups of the bra. Sometimes when you wear a white bra under a white shirt, the cups of the bra are emphasized. Once you have the basic three, then you can expand your wardrobe to include more fun colors and styles. (Just be careful! I suddenly have 17 different bras!)

5. Get measured every 6 months!
Just how your weight fluctuates, so does your breast size. That is why you need to get measured frequently!

Happy Holidays!

From the desk of the contributors of Locks to Louboutins...

Happy New Year, 2014! We hope all of our readers had a wonderful holiday season filled with joy and love! Even though we stayed local this year, we for sure had a special season too! In between the crazy holiday schedule of retail, we found time to enjoy with our family and friends. Brittany spent part of the Christmas season in Disneyland with her boyfriend and pretended she was Cinderella. Madeleine, on the other hand, went sea-side to visit her grandparents in Half Moon Bay.

Apparently, both of us were "nice" this year as Santa spoiled us! We are so excited to share our couture gifts with our readers! Firstly, Brittany received not one… but two pairs of Christian Louboutins pumps! Both pairs are the epitome of Brittany as a fashionista and we are stoked to feature them in a shoot! Maddie was blessed by the fashion gods as well as she received a Marc Jacobs handbag! The simple silhouette of the bag is offset by the black and brown leather combination, making the bag an edgy, yet classic addition to her wardrobe.

We are so excited to bring in the new year with all of you and cannot wait to see what 2014 has in store! As of now, there are some pretty amazing things set up for Locks to Louboutins in this 2014 year… So bring it on!

Love,
Madeleine and Brittany

Cute and Sweet to Rocker Chic

Written by: Madeleine
In Collaboration with: Brittany

How to do rocker chic when you're cute and sweet!

November in northern California is absolutely perfect. The weather everyday has that fine balance of the warm summer—like sunshine and the crisp winter breeze. Therefore, sometimes finding that perfect fall outfit is difficult. My advice is to do easy layers, so you can add on and take off. Here, I started with  simple boyfriend tee. Since the tee is a little oversized, it can look sloppy. So here's a little trick that has been come to known as "The Brittany Tuck." Take the middle of the bottom of the shirt and tuck it in right behind button of the pant or middle of a skirt. Then carefully, pull at the tuck to loosen it. Add a skinny belt if there are belt loops. "The Brittany Tuck" creates an effortless, yet chic look and it takes only a few seconds for added style.

For this outfit, I transformed a plain tee by adding pieces that have other visual interest. I wanted to do a "rocker chic" look that still fit my style. Since I am not as edgy and hardcore as other fashionistas, I stuck to staple pieces that I already had in my closet and felt comfortable in. But, I added one bold piece, the leather jacket. It is important to still feel like yourself and not to get lost in your clothes.

Like Stacy and Clinton say, make sure your outfit has texture, pattern, color, and shine. For texture, I have my Paige denim jeans on with a leather jacket, juxtaposing distressed with smooth. On the jacket, there is a beautiful, yet subtle quilt pattern. Shine plays a factor through the small hints of jewelry like my necklace, watch, and bracelets. When you layer these visual elements, a cohesive outfit unfolds instantly.

*** For more photos, visit our gallery!

Jacket: Hinge
Shirt: Gibson
Denim: Paige, "Verdugo"
Shoes: Rachel Roy
Sunglasses: Prada

Boyfriend Jeans, Season to Season

Written by: Madeleine
In Collaboration with: Brittany

Boyfriend jeans were so hot this summer. But now it's fall... Don't worry because that slouchy pant look is still in! Even if your BF jeans are a light wash, it is all about bringing that fall vibe into the outfit. Turn to the runway for inspiration! Some of the most popular fall trends include classic prints, like herringbone, plaid, and pinstripe, turtlenecks, knit beanies, folk-inspired pieces, shades of green, jewel tones, and punk-rock grunge. Find a look you love and run with it.

Personally, I love accessories. especially booties and hats. Here, I sported my summery jeans with adorable oxblood colored booties and a wide-brimmed black felt hat. I added some cute ruffle socks for a feminine, but cozy look!

*** For more photos, visit our gallery!

Boyfriend jeans: Current/Elliot, "Super Loved"
Booties: H&M
Hat: BLACK Saks Fifth Avenue

The Joy of Rachel Roy

Me and the beautiful and talented, Rachel Roy

Written by: Madeleine
In Collaboration with: Brittany


One of the best things about living so close to San Francisco is that there is always something happening. On the spur of the moment, a few co-workers and I decided to travel into the city to the Fall Fashion Festival in Union Square. For only one night, local retailers and designer stores celebrate fashion by staying open late and feature live music, free food, complimentary gifts, and host special events.

While we were wandering around, a Macy's sign caught my eye-- Special appearance by Rachel Roy. I immediately darted off to find the event, dragging my co-workers behind. Awkwardly, we were the first people to arrive and timidly entered a drawing to win a one-on-one styling session from Rachel Roy. Now, when I say I never win anything in my life, it is true. Except for this night. When they called the third name, I was shocked to here it was mine! And then a few names later, my co-worker's name was called too! I could not believe this was happening at all, even when I approached Rachel Roy, sitting quietly on a fold-out chair.

Meeting Rachel

I got to talk with Rachel for a little while and I explained what I was doing with my life currently and my aspirations for the future. Of course, she was nothing but kind and stunning and gave me some words of wisdom and inspiration.

One of her stylists took me back and we began to thumb through the racks of clothing. Such strong emotions of joy and excitement bubbled over inside me. I couldn't believe this was happening. I met Rachel Roy and I was being styled by one of her assistants! This moment, in itself, solidified the fact that I love what I am doing. After trying on a bunch of different things, I fell in love with a fit-and-flare dress and some sassy heeled booties for the fall.



As I strolled around the event after my purchases, I attracted more famous people as I ran into Katie, a blogger from Refinery 29! We swapped ideas and I picked her brain on how to make this site even more amazing! And of course, we hit up the photo op!

This night had to be the best fashion fairytale ever! Everything seemed to fall into place and magically unfold as the event developed. For such a spontaneous trip, it ended amazingly.

Get Coated

Written by: Madeleine

In Collaboration with: Brittany

Move over, leather! Coated denim is taking over! This fall coated denim is swarming the runways and department stores everywhere. Initially, coated denim only came in black, but now crimsons and red hues are being seen from several designers, such as J Brand. This twist on an American classic is easy to incorporate into your wardrobe. Pair it with a cute screen tee, like I did here, and a simple jacket for a rock-n-roll look. Or if you want a toned-down look, do an oversized sweater or loose cardigan and a simple top. 

In my experience, many women express their apprehensions about coated denim, saying that they are "too old" or "not cool enough." But once I get them into a pair of coated denim, they don't want to take it off! Mostly because it still fits the same way as your typical jean, but is trendy and stylish. Believe it or not, coated denim has the same stretchy and comfy qualities as a regular denim. The only difference is that the jean is treated with a special pigment; this pigment gives the denim a waxy finish that resembles leather, but maintains its stretchy denim feel. 

It is a must-have for the season!

*** For more photos, visit our gallery!

Coated denim: Citizens of Humanity, "Racer"
Booties: Enzo Angiolini, "Presley"
Jacket: Halogen
T-Shirt: Maison Scotch

Summer to Fall Wardrobe Transition

Summer Look

Written by: Madeleine
In Collaboration with: Brittany

With summer coming to a close, the days are getting colder and the nights are getting longer. Apart from beach trips ending and fewer pool days, the hardest thing about summer ending is transitioning your wardrobe into fall. This is why it is really important to buy pieces that are usable for multiple seasons. This includes layering pieces like button down oxfords and light cardigans.

In these shots, I am showing a summer to fall look. Obviously, this look can be dressed down or up. The summer look, which includes a J. Crew skirt and polka dot Madewell top, is perfect for a date or night out on the town. When a cardigan and fedora hat is added, the look can be worn for day during the fall. Mixing patterns, in this case polka dots and floral, is trending in magazines and shows everywhere. When mixing patterns, be sure that a common element ties them other. This could be as simple as relating colors or contrasting negative space. Also, it’s okay not to match... like most things, opposites do attract. Try a stripe with camo or a floral with tye-dye. To pull the fall look together, grab your favorite pair of booties. Booties can be your best friend during the fall and winter as they add another level of chic to your outfit!

Polka dot top: Madewell

Skirt: J Crew outlet

Booties: Rag & Bone