If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shopping I'm Giving Myself $500 to Spend on Fashion and Beauty Essentials for My Birthday Month Here's what made the cut. By Jailynn Taylor Jailynn Taylor Jailynn Taylor is a Beauty News & Deals Commerce Writer for InStyle and Shape. She covers fashion, beauty, and wellness beats via reviews, celebrity sightings, trends, new launches, and interviews. She leverages her industry experience as a former fashion designer and freelance writer to offer authority to her pieces along with quality recommendations for readers. InStyle's editorial guidelines Published on March 7, 2024 @ 09:00PM Photo: J.Crew / Chanel / Merit / InStyle It’s officially Jailynn season, aka my birthday is this month. Even though it isn’t until the end of the month, I use the weeks leading up to it to celebrate, and that includes spending time with friends and family, throwing a spectacular party, and buying myself whatever my heart desires. Last year, I did go a bit overboard and spent nearly $1,500, but this year, I’m putting myself on a strict $500 budget — and not a penny more! I rounded up the eight fashion and beauty items that I plan on gifting myself, and the total came up to $499, it includes the TikTok-viral tweed mini dress from J.Crew, a matte lipstick from Chanel, and a pinstripe skirt from Topshop. 8 Fashion and Beauty Editor Birthday Picks: J.Crew Sophia Sleeveless Dress, $248; jcrew.com Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Nuit Blanche Lipstick, $50; chanel.com Merit Great Skin Extra Glow Serum, $38; merit.com Merit Solo Matte Eyeshadow, $24; merit.com 392 Lee Legendary Mid-Rise Flare Jean, $21 (Originally $35); amazon.com Topshop Tailored Pinstripe Maxi Skirt, $53 (Originally $79); nordstrom.com Madewell Split Crewneck Cardigan Tank, $52, nordstrom.com Chanel Le Vernis Ballerina Nail Polish, $32; chanel.com Lee Legendary Mid-Rise Flare Jean Amazon Buy on Amazon $35 $21 I don’t usually need an excuse to shop, but the fact that Lee’s Legendary Mid-Rise Flare Jeans are on sale for $21 during my birthday month means I just have to add them to my cart. They come in black, medium, and dark washes, and in sizes 0 through 18 in both short and long fits. They feature a snug midrise fit, a classic button and zipper closure, and a flare leg that would pair well with both sneakers and a heeled boot. The 99 percent cotton denim includes one percent of spandex that allows for a bit of stretch to give the butt a nice lift while also providing all-day comfort. Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Nuit Blanche Lipstick Chanel Buy Now $50 During my birthday month, I love to wear a bold lip. So when I saw an ad with Margot Robbie wearing Chanel’s Rouge Allure Velvet Nuit Blanche Lipstick, I knew I had to have it as my new signature for the month. It comes in eight highly-pigmented shades ranging from pink to warm brown, and comes in a minimalistic black-and-white case. It’s formulated with shea butter and jojoba oil that leaves lips feeling moisturized despite having a classic matte finish. It offers long-lasting wear, while feeling like a second skin on the lips. J.Crew Sophia Sleeveless Dress J.Crew Buy on Jcrew.com $248 One thing I love about March is that the weather finally starts to switch from frigid to warm, and I can treat myself to fun spring-ready dresses like this J.Crew Sophia Sleeveless Dress I’ve been drooling over since it came across my TikTok feed. It comes in black with white accents and pink, with sizes ranging from 00 through 24. The dress has a classic square-neck design, buttons along the front, a zipper closure in the back for easy on and off, and contoured seaming so the bodice fits close to the body. It opens up to an A-line shape, and falls at about mid-thigh depending on height. It’s made from a warm, wool-polyester blend and is completely lined for added coverage. Shop more of my fashion and beauty birthday picks, below. Topshop Tailored Pinstripe Maxi Skirt Nordstrom Buy on Nordstrom $79 $53 Merit Great Skin Extra Glow Serum Merit Buy Now $38 Madewell Split Crewneck Cardigan Tank Madewell Buy on Nordstrom $52 Shop More InStyle-Approved Picks A Shopper’s Skin Has “Dramatically Tightened” Thanks to This $10 Firming Body Lotion This Tone-Correcting Concealer Effortlessly Camouflages My Sleep-Deprived Dark Circles Kate Hudson Uses the $22 Hydrating Concealer Shoppers Say Eliminates “Wrinkle Creases"