Merry Christmas, 2025!

Merry Christmas Eve and happy holidays everyone! It’s hard to believe that it’s already Christmas, and that next week marks the end of 2025!

As 2025 winds down I’m excited to amp up my creativity in 2026, so this week I’m sharing some of my favorite outfits, makeup looks, and photoshoots from 2025!

Outfits

Earlier this year I saw a post on Lemon8 where a girl had created Lizzie McGuire-style cartoon versions of her killer outfits. I was literally smitten with the idea, so I immediately started compiling my fav looks from this year! Without further ado, I present my (AI-created) avatar, and our best looks from 2025!

New Year, New Hair!

For the first time ever, I braided my hair myself! I didn’t do the neatest job, but it looked really cool, especially in these shots! Here I’m wearing a faux fur jacket from Charlotte Rousse over a mesh bodysuit that has little velvet spider web accents!

Pop of Color

In the first half of the year I did a simple winter inspired makeup, but I this all-white-in-winter look is so striking!

Sassy Chic

When I challenged myself to style this red floral print maxi dress I came up with several fun ideas, but pairing it with this Theory blazer and tutu skirt from Renee’s Resale was my favorite of the set!

Monochrome Brown

There is something so versatile about this Astoria Activewear lounge set – it’s super comfortable for traveling, and can be dressed up as I wore it for the February 2025 Beauty It’s Everywhere New York Fashion Week show!

Environmental Warrior, But Make it Fashion

And speaking of Fashion Week, there’s no way I could forget this amazing two piece set I wore to close the show for ArtLoveLifestyle Attire!

It’s All in the Details

Similarly, I bought this pearl headpiece off the runway from S.Maxx Designs! Here I’ve paired it with a white knit crop top and a pair of red satin trousers.

Girly Grunge Hybrid

I never knew how much my wardrobe needed a tutu until I had one! Here I’ve layered it over this plaid Zara dress to attend a pageant send off party!

Autumnal Slay

If I had a “Shoe of the Year” it was this pair of Franco Sarto boots. I wore them so many times since buying them in February, that I had walked through one of the toes by October. Here I’ve paired them with a fringed cardigan (that happens to be the same exact color) and an LBD from Gypsy Warrior.

Spring in the City

Here I’ve paired the boots with a skinny jean from FashionNova, the white knit crop top, and an orange blazer-cut vest!

Office Dressing with a Twist

This blazer was one of my all time favorite finds at this year’s Vintage Market Days of CT! I draped it over this LBD, added some dainty gold jewelry, and my favorite Steve Madden platform sandals.

Dopamine Dressing

Purses were my accessory of the year, and this Kate Spade bouquet bag is the cream of the crop! For Mother’s Day brunch at a vineyard I paired her with a sheer metallic top, red satin trousers, a vintage Escada coat, gold Louboutins, and red statement sunglasses.

All That Glitters Isn’t Gold

I bought this linen dress – by VAV New York – while I was in Florida, both in this color-way and in the opposite, tan with black trim!

Preppy with a Purpose

There is nothing more essential to a wardrobe than a white shirt, and I think this look explains why: I’ve owned this skirt for five years, and this was the first time I’ve worn it because I couldn’t find an appropriate top!

The Good Witch of the North

My Glinda-inspired Halloween look may have been my favorite of the year overall. Everything about this picture came together perfectly – I was walking my dog, Dante, one evening when the sunset hit this field in the most Ozian way, I just knew Glinda needed to be photographed here at sunrise! And that’s exactly what I did, at 7:00 am on a Sunday, in my wedding dress and an old pageant crown!

Fancy Nancy All Grown Up!

When I’m not competing, I love judging pageants! In the spring I broke out one of my favorite pairs of shoes – these ShoeDazzle peep toe boots – and paired them with a classic LBD and a pink faux fur jacket.

Vintage, But Make it Sexy!

This spring was my first foray into a fashion show press pit, where I shot my own photos for Fashion Week Connecticut and Middlesex Fashion Week! For my last night of shows I paired distressed flared jeans with a vintage blazer and statement sunglasses.

Cozy Grunge Office Wear

About a month ago I started a new job with a business casual dress code. I’ve been leaning into my inner Blair Waldorf and I’m loving it! These trousers were a Dazzle Boutique closing sale grab, and I just recently got these boots at Windsor!

“Blair Waldorf” Chic

And much like their predecessor, I’m sure these boots will be well worn before a year passes! Here I’ve styled them with a simple black & white dress and opaque tights.

Makeup

Originally this post was going to be dedicated solely to outfits, but some of this year’s makeup looks were too good to ignore! And as always, you can find all of these products link on my Benable list, “The Makeup I Swear by as a National Pageant Winner!“.

Wrapped in a Ribbon

I detailed all of the products used for this look in it’s own post, but I still love this look! It’s a simple way to be creative and festive, and the colors can easily be adjusted to suit whatever gathering you attend!

Frost Makeup

Created using: e.l.f. Cosmetics Poreless Face Primer; Clinique Even Better Makeup Foundation; Tarte Shape Tape Concealer; translucent setting powder; Sailor Moon x ColourPop blush in shade “From The Moon”; ColourPop Gliterally Obsessed in “Moonlight Legend”; e.l.f. Cosmetics Brow Laminating Gel; Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Duo in “Ebony”; About Face Beauty Fluid Eye Paint in shade “White Noise”; ColourPop Of Quartz eyeshadow palette; NYX Cosmetics Eye Pencil in shade “Electric Blue”; House of Lashes x Sephora eyelashes in style “Marigold”, customized with Le Mini Macaron gel top coat; Huda Beauty Lip Contour 2.0 in shade “Rich Brown”; M.A.C. Cosmetics Lip Glass Lipgloss in shade “Lost Invite”; Jovani Lip Gloss in shade “Blush”; and, Benefit Cookie Highlighter.

Winter Forest Fairy

Created using: e.l.f. Cosmetics Poreless Face Primer; Clinique Even Better Makeup Foundation; Tarte Shape Tape Concealer; translucent setting powder; Sailor Moon x ColourPop blush in shade “From The Moon”; ColourPop Gliterally Obsessed in “Moonlight Legend”; e.l.f. Cosmetics Brow Laminating Gel; Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Duo in “Ebony”; About Face Beauty Fluid Eye Paint in shade “White Noise”; Aora Mexico Mirame eyeshadow palette; House of Lashes x Sephora eyelashes in style “Marigold”, customized with Le Mini Macaron gel top coat; Sephora brand clear lash glue; and, sticker pearls from Michaels Craft Store.

Celestial Goth

Created using: elf cosmetics Poreless Face Primer; Nars Light Reflecting Advanced Foundation; Tarte Shape Tape Concealer; Morphe Micro Manager brow gel; About Face Fluid Eye Paint in Art of Darkness, Inner World, White Noise & Scream of Consciousness; Juvia’s Place The Zulu palette; NYX Ultimate I Know That’s Bright eye & face palette; ColourPop Cosmetics BFF Volumizing Mascara in shades Purple Prose & Blue Ya Mind; elf Cosmetics Big Mood waterproof mascara; Kylie Cosmetics Dead of Knight lip kit; Aora Mexico Mirame palette; House of Lashes x Sephora false lashes in “Marigold”, that I customized using Le Mini Macaron Gel Top Coat

Honorable Mention

These looks weren’t necessarily outstanding, but they were featured on the House of Lashes website!

The Top Photo Shoots

I think this section speaks for itself – these are my favorite photo shoots from this year, as every element came together in perfect harmony to create these unbelievable photos!