MODA Blog Favorites
Welcome to MODA Blog Favorites! This is our monthly series where MODA Bloggers, photographers and editors let you know what we’re loving! From binge-worthy series, to our favorite books to some Holy Grail skincare products, the team wishes you all a safe, and healthy fall quarter. Here’s what the team is loving, hopefully bringing you a monthly dosage of inspiration!
I had always wanted a pair of affordable knee-high combat lace boots for the longest time, and these new boots deliver a vibe of fierce edginess that empowers my walk across the campus quadrangle. The day I got my order in the mail, I eagerly slipped these boots on, and have been fearlessly rocking in them ever since.
If you’re looking for a new pair of shoes to spice up your autumn fashion, feel free to check out Shoedazzle’s new member VIP deals - I was lucky enough to have stumbled upon a whopping deal that brought the price down to $10. (Just make sure to cancel the membership before they bill you the 5th of the next month, if this is just a one-time purchase.)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Since one day of Halloween is never satisfying enough, I like to extend Spooky Season into November. This month, I’ve been dragging on Halloween vibes by bingeing Buffy the Vampire Slayer. While the vampires aren’t sparkling like Twilight (queue the corny FX makeup), the late 90’s outfits are singlehandedly driving my fall wardrobe inspiration.
If you want a silly and slightly scary comfort show to cuddle up with as the temperatures drop, start watching Buffy on Hulu ASAP. With supernatural plot lines set in sunny California, this series will definitely take your mind off the fact that winter is coming.
Gossamer Garments
To be fully transparent (or sheer, in this case), I’m having a nail crisis. I started painting my nails this past summer, and I loved the various Holo Taco nail polishes I tried on—full review incoming. However, I’m unsure of whether they truly fit my personality and overall vibe. My naked nails don’t feel quite right either, though.
The current compromise is Essie’s ‘Gossamer Garments’. Most YouTube reviews included it in their “Best Sheer Nail Polishes” lists, and so far I have had favorable experiences with it. My nails have a sleek natural yet manicured look. TBD on how long this sheer phase lasts, but in the meantime, I’m giving this nail polish shade a solid 8.5/10.
Teavana’s Peach Tranquility & Jade Citrus Mint Tea
With flu season upon us and the usual Midwest winter freeze, it’s time for a nice warm beverage. I’ve been opting for Teavana’s mint tea to soothe my perpetual sore throat. Maybe it’s just the placebo, but it’s definitely been helping!
You can also create a dupe of Starbucks’ Honey Citrus Mint Tea (a sweet and comforting hot juice/tea situation) by brewing Peach Tranquility and Jade Citrus Mint Tea and adding steamed lemonade with some honey!
The Athena Nap Dress
When my roommate first introduced me to the brand Hill House Home, best known for the nap dress, I decided to dip my toes in the water by purchasing an Athena in black, as it seemed to be the silhouette and color that I would wear the most.
The rest is history.
I wear my Athenas year-round, though I particularly love wearing them in the colder months, since I’m obsessed with how they look with a pair of tights, a cardigan, and a dainty necklace under a coat. Although I wear that first Athena I bought in black the most since it’s so versatile, I love wearing my light blue one because the light shimmer to it makes me feel like a princess. And who doesn’t want that?
(Hill House Home is currently having their annual sale, and all year you can get 20% off your first purchase with a referral code from a friend).
Tula’s Glow & Get It Cooling & Brightening Eye Balm
As a skincare fanatic who’d pretty much given up on eye care, this product was a game changer. I’m currently on my third tube. When I pick an eye product, I’m looking for something I can’t get out of my daily moisturizers and serums, and this product delivers. The cooling and brightening effects are, for lack of a better description, insane. It’s like a much more subtle, much more pleasant icy-hot type experience that is now so fondly intertwined into my morning routine that I cannot start my day without it.
Plus, the ingredients are the perfect addition to my skincare regime:
Probiotic Extracts
Caffeine
Hyaluronic Acid
Rosehip Oil & Rosewater
