Happy Blogger Tuesday, darlings! I couldn’t be more excited to share today’s look with you all. If you checked out the title of this post, you already know you’re in for a treat…

Meet Liz. She’s an American, originally from Portland, currently living in Amsterdam, taking Europe by storm with her new hubby, and doing it in the most stylish manner possible. Oh, and she just jetsetted off to Paris for the weekend not too long ago, and she’s sharing an outfit from her trip with us today. What does a girl wear in the gorgeous, decadent, ultra-chic City of Lights? Liz did it right! Let’s talk about her look, and why you can channel this sophistication any time. (And then, of course, you must check out her amazing blog, explore. dream. discover.)

Keep it classy. Skinnies. A tailored jacket. A collared skirt. Classic boots. Straight hair. All around, Liz’s look is chic and wearable. It’s definitely Paris-ready! When you’re traveling, you want to look comfortable and feel fantastic. Build an outfit from these great basics and you always win.

Dark color palettes for the win! I am a sucker for a black coat, dark-wash jeans, and only peeks of color and detail, like Liz is rocking here. There is something mysterious about the whole vibe. Mysterious, yet approachable. Don’t you agree? Although I am an advocate for rocking more color when possible, when in doubt, keep it dark. Everyone can work it well!

Buy now: Cross-body bag. I talk a lot about snapping up cross-body bags for spring, about buying small and pretty ones for just toting lip gloss, credit cards and keys. But especially for travel, cross-body messenger bags work so well. They’ll stay on your person so easily, and can hold a camera, your iPhone, iPad, wallet, keys and a small snack, among other necessities. A travel investment indeed. Just ask Liz! (Her bag is so cute…)

How to wear boots for spring. I adore Liz’s light-brown boots. Definitely perfect for the season! When it’s still cold and rainy outside, you can wear them with skinny jeans or leggings. Then, as the weather warms up, the light color will look perfect with a breezy sundress or full skirt, denim jacket and utility vest. With so many options, traditional knee-high boots are always a great buy.

Isn’t Liz’s look awesome? Check out explore. dream. discover. for more of Liz’s trip to Paris, and other stylish posts, as well.

Spill: Which item from Liz’s outfit would you steal?

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It’s nearly May, dear readers! And a great time to turn over a new leaf, yes? Summer is just around the corner. So let’s talk obsessions. I’ve got something fresh for you, motivation to get toned for the beach, and then something to wear once you do. Let’s discuss!

Fresh Sugar Lychee Eau de Parfum. I wanted a rollerball fragrance to take with me traveling, or to just whip on when I was in a major hurry. But I was expecting to get Mark Jacobs’ Daisy, or Calvin Klein, or some other big-name brand. After smelling about a billion scents, I actually fell in love with something totally different than expected: Fresh’s Sugar Lychee, which combines the namesake note with hints of lime blossom, grapefruit, amber, tonka bean and freesia, to name a few. I kept coming back to it at Sephora, and ended up snapping it up in the end. The smell was so fresh (wink, wink!) and vibrant for spring. I seriously love this.

Workout gear. I know it’s probably wrong, but my motivation for working out has a lot to do with the cute workout gear I’ve been snatching up — on the cheap! Check out these places for great finds: I’ve gotten some super-cute workout tanks from Forever 21 for less than $10 a piece, and have been hitting Old Navy Outlet like it’s my job for great running shorts, tanks with the the support of bra inserts and amazing sports bras. In all seriousness, though, I have been working on a healthier me. Part of that is working out daily, doing yoga and cardio. And if you’re going to exercise, which isn’t all that fun to begin with, it helps to look cute!

One-piece swimsuits. Bye-bye, bikini… It’s all about the one-piece this season! I was a little skeptical at first. Seeing tons of one-piece swimsuits in magazines and online, I was still hesitant to ditch my two-pieces for retro style. But in the end — and because my swimsuits are entirely unwearable; they are so old and mis-sized — I decided to pick up a couple of one-pieces on major clearance at J.Crew. I waited for them to be shipped to my house, and crossed my fingers. When they got here, I tore open the package and tried them on. Two words: So cute! Two more words: So flattering! So if you’re feeling the one-piece itch, go for it. (And maybe buy a back-up bikini… just in case you feel like reverting to your old ways.)

What are you obsessing over this week?

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Want to know my trick for brightening my eyes during the spring and summer months? I use fun colors on my lower lash line!

I used to apply the eyeliner on my upper eyelids, but because I have small eyes and a very small crease, the color wouldn’t really show up. So, now, I only apply the eyeliner to my lower lash line where it can be seen.

My favorite shades to use are blues, purples and greens, but sometimes I mix it up with gold for a night out! And the best way to get that eyeliner to stand out and stay put is to line your lower lash line with either a white or black liner first, and then go over it with the color. This helps keep the colored eyeliner from smudging and really brightens the color as well.

My top choices for colored eyeliners are Sephora’s Flashy Liner (for a very reasonable $8!) and Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil. Sephora’s eyeliners are waterproof, which is essential for the lower lash line to reduce smudging, and Urban Decay’s liners come in so many pretty colors it’s sometimes hard to choose!

Do you have any special tips for wearing colored eyeliner? Share in the comments below!

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