You are currently browsing the monthly archive for August 2009.
Fall’s Trendiest Nail Color
If you’re not quite ready for fall’s plum shadows and lip colors, try this hot shade on your nails first. Nail colors for the upcoming season are dark and jewel toned, with endless finishes in violet, eggplant, and royal purple.
Try Revlon’s Dark Pleasures Nail Polish in Blacker Lacquer, which is destined to be a jewel-colored fall favorite. Or make a statement with NARS nail polish in Purple Rain (a gothic purple shade).
If you love cult favorites, try Purple Revolution from the Dior Vernis collection. This dark violet nail color in a new formula adds high drama for your tips to your toes.
For the latest nail trend, make sure to apply a base coat to avoid yellow-stained nails. Choose polish that is chip resistant and your nails will stay pretty in purple.
Free People
Link-embellished accessories for fall
The resurgence of glam rock is impacting not only music, but fashion as well. You can see its influence this fall especially when it comes to accessories with chains. Chain accents are everywhere from chain strapped purses to layered oval link necklaces. Put your style on lock with link details in silver, gold, and pewter as seen on multi-chain bib necklaces and classic quilted Chanel handbags.
For an extreme edgy look like Rihanna’s, try a motorcycle jacket with dangling chain earrings and studded platform shoes. Or make a chained accessory the centerpiece of your outfit by teaming it with your favorite dress and jacket. Whether it’s around your waist or attached to your fall ankle boots, your linked look will definitely start a chain reaction.
Juicy Couture
Guess
Aston
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Toothpaste for Dinner
What to do When Your Favorite Product is Discontinued
We’ve all been there. You love a cosmetic product. It works perfectly for you. You’re so fond of this product you decide to stockpile it.
Except when you get to your favorite makeup counter, you find out that the product that has seen you through job interviews, new romances, and lunches with perspective mother-in-laws has now been Discontinued.
In my case, this happened with Benefit Cosmetics’ Kohl Eye Pencil in Sable. The color is perfect for my hazel eyes and the line it produces is pure perfection. I’ve got half of the pencil left, but what to do after it’s over? I’ll have fun trying to replace this pencil liner, but it’s disappointing that it has been eliminated from Benefit’s product line. I still love Benefit for their great kits and happy packaging, but I know better now than to get “too attached.”
Elle Magazine offers some tips for coping with lost beauty loves.
Has your favorite product been discontinued? How did you cope?
Use Skin Cleanser as Shaving Cream
If you run out of shaving cream and don’t want to spend money on a shaving cream or gel, look no further than your skin cleanser.
Deep, Dark Colors for Fall
Get ready for dark, matte lipstick for fall. Celebrities like Catherine Zeta Jones, Jessica Alba, and Christina Ricci have all been spotted wearing darker shades.
Although wearing dark lip color may seem intimidating, you don’t have to be a vampire to pull off the look. You just need to find the depth of color that works with your lip tone.
If you’re fair, try Mac Viva Glam, perfect for pale skin. Darker complexions can experiment with deeper berry shades like Givenchy Rouge Interdit Lipstick in Black Plum. To avoid lipstick bleeding, use a matching lip liner.
When it comes to the rest of your makeup, go for a more subtle look. Apply neutral eye shadow or go bare so the color on your eyelids doesn’t compete with your lips. Eyeliner and plenty of black mascara with your power pout works just right to balance the look.
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Dark and Edgy Purple Nail Polish
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Mad Men Fashion and Recap
At Sterling Cooper, Ken Cosgrove’s ad team is discussing Pepsi’s new diet soda, originally called Patio Cola, aimed at helping women “reduce.” To the delight of the men, the client has asked for a frame-by-frame knock-off of Bye Bye Birdie’s opening scene starring Ann-Margret. Peggy wonders about Ann-Margret’s appeal as she mocks “her ability to be 25 and act 14.”
Peggy is struggling with Ann-Margret’s role in the ad but Don sets her straight when he tells her: “Men want her and women want to be her.” Don’s instincts prove to be right when we later see Peggy singing the Bye Bye Birdie tune as she imitates Ann-Margret in front of a mirror using her hair bush as a microphone. Read the rest of this entry »
Master the Boyfriend Look
You love it when your boyfriend lends you his blazer on a cool evening. The blazer is so cozy, you’ve even wondered whether he’d notice if you just took it home for good.
For those who don’t have a boyfriend or just love jackets with a menswear touch, fashion designers showed off masculine blazers with rolled up sleeves in several fall 2009 runway shows earlier this year. Ralph Lauren embraced the boyfriend blazer by topping it over a chiffon dress, while Yves Saint Laurent’s paired an oversized jacket with a miniskirt.
To get the look of this 80s trend, all you have to do is invest in a classic blazer with the right fit for your body type. Even though the size of the blazer is exaggerated, make sure the jacket is not too large otherwise it will overpower your look. If you’re petite, consider getting your tailor to adjust the blazer so that it balances the pieces you intend to wear with it. Read the rest of this entry »
Shrink your stomach and your waste by following a green diet
If you’ve recently embraced the green lifestyle, you’ll probably want to check out The Girl’s Guide to Eating Green in the latest issue of Marie Claire magazine. This healthy, eco-friendly action plan is for people who want to make changes to their diet for their “own well-being and the Earth’s.”
The guide offers three levels of going green when it comes to your diet: low maintenance, up-and-coming, and hardcore greenie. Whatever level you decide to pursue involves changing where you shop and what ends up on your green grocery list. Read the rest of this entry »
DIY Mask Leaves your Skin Feeling Baby Smooth
You don’t have to go to a spa to clear up spotty, uneven skin. Just look in your bathroom cabinet for a bottle of asprin, and whip up a non-irritating aspirin mask. With the same acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) found in many exfoliants and acne creams, aspirin can help calm your skin leaving it smooth and soft.
Whether your skin type is normal to oily or acne prone, you can use this mask for clean, fresh skin. For very oily skin and severe blemishes, use once or twice a week. Other skin types can apply the mask once a week or twice a month if you have dry or sensitive skin.
How do you make the aspirin mask?
Crush four to six ASA tablets using a mortar and pestle or spoon. Add enough drops of water to form a paste. Smooth it over your skin, and keep it on until completely dry (approximately 10 minutes). Rinse with plenty of water and follow with a light moisturizer.
Tips: Do not apply the mask near the eye zone or overuse as it can be drying.
What do Canadian kisses taste like?
If you’re out of the country and crave a little Canadiana, take out your maple-cinnamon glaze Kiss Me! I’m Canadian lip balm ($3.49) from Shea Butter Market for a taste of home.
Made with organic shea butter, jojoba oil, beeswax, cinnamon leaf, and maple syrup, the natural moisturizer in this balm heals your lips whether they’re chapped, sunburned, or just dry. With a high content of cinnamic acid, it also provides natural UV protection from the sun.
To get the most from this lip balm, melt it first using your fingertip in a swirling motion on the surface of the product. Then apply to your lips and the corners of your mouth. You’ll be humming the tune to O Canada in no time.
Get Your Bling on and Smell Good Too
Michael Kors has launched a new floral fragrance called Very Hollywood Michael Kors, available at department stores next month. The sophisticated scent features extravagant ingredients including mandarin, iced bergamot, wet jasmine, and ylang-ylang.
Traditional perfume lovers can experience Hollywood glamour with Michael Kors Fragrance Very Hollywood Eau de Parfum ($45) in a glass bottle reminiscent of the flashbulbs of 50s and 60s photography.
If you’re looking for something a little different, try Michael Kors Very Hollywood Solid Perfume Cocktail Ring. An impressive pink gem creates a special sparkle and discreetly hides a solid of the scent ($40) underneath. For all red carpet occasions, the Very Hollywood Solid Perfume Cocktail Ring is the perfect accessory for taking control of the spotlight.
Add Volume to Your Hair with Natural Movement
If you love the bombshell look but have trouble getting the height, OSIS Dust It Mattifying Powder by Schwarzkopf Professional offers texture and separation all in a matt effect.
With its unique powder consistency, OSiS’s Dust keeps the natural consistency of your hair but with light texture control for that “second day” look.
How do you dust your hair?
Sprinkle a small amount of powder into your hands, then rub together. Comb through your hair using your fingers, lifting for volume.
If you want extra volume, apply directly to your roots. Or, apply more powder in small amounts for extra separation where you need it.
Unlike fairy dust, OSIS Dust It Mattifying Powder won’t change your life but it’ll keep your hair looking great even when there’s high humidity.
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Clever Ways to Cover Your Roots
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Out of Town: Drama and Fashion
The season premiere opens with Don Draper preparing a hot drink for his pregnant wife, Betty. As he works the spoon through the milk, he also stirs up the past with clues to the mysterious night he was born and handed off to another family.
New beginnings highlight this episode. Sterling Cooper is in the midst of restructuring with one third of the office being handed pink slips and current employees vying for promotions. Don and Betty are trying to revive their marriage and prepare for the birth of their child. Salvatore Romano is newly exposed to the distractions of business trips when he jets off to Baltimore with Don.
Fresh starts don’t always bring what you’re hoping for, though, as newly promoted Pete Campbell soon finds out when he realizes he’s splitting ad accounts with co-worker Ken Cosgrove as accounts manager. Meanwhile, Don easily slips back into old philandering ways with a flirtatious stewardess on a flight to Baltimore. Read the rest of this entry »
Weekend Style Roundup
- 
25 Star-Tested Beauty Tips & Tricks (People StyleWatch)
- LUSH: Wash your hands of palm and give back to the rainforest (The Organic Beauty Expert)
- Fabric Necklaces: Fall Fashion Guide 2009 (The Budget Fashionista)
- MAC works with three renowned artists for the Fall Colour Collection (The Life of a Ladybug)
- New Generation of Shoes Helps You Lose Weight (The Blush Stops Here)
Inspiring Vintage Styles from Mad Men
With Mad Men returning for season 3, fans of the AMC show are waiting not only for the dark-suited drama that takes place at a 60s Madison Avenue advertising agency. Devotees of vintage fashion, including high-end designers like Michael Kors, will be looking for inspiration from the three female leads on the show. Expertly costumed by designer Janie Bryant, each of these women represents a style that speaks loudly from her character’s point of view whether it’s preppy, sultry, or sophisticated.
Peggy Olson, junior copywriter, cares more about her career at the Sterling Cooper ad agency than getting married. She’s matured over the last year and updated her bouncy ponytail with a bolder 60s flip. For season 3, look for Peggy’s collegiate look to grow into skirt suits with high necklines and a touch of color, as she climbs the corporate ladder. Read the rest of this entry »
Even When You’re US Secretary of State
Everyone is speculating why Hillary Clinton recently blew up at a student in a press conference in the Congo.
Some say it was because she was jetlagged from an eleven day tour of Africa. Others suggest she was angry that Bill hogged the diplomatic spotlight (again!). However, most of us knew what was going on just by taking one look at her bedhead. Hillary was having a bad hair day (Tina Brown of the Daily Beast was the first to propose this theory).
Whether you’re Secretary of State of the world’s most powerful country or Secretary-Treasurer for your local school board, here are some well-kept secrets for taming hair that’s out of control. Read the rest of this entry »
Image: Amazon.com
Latest Calorie Burning Footwear
For those who have tried just about anything to shed unwanted pounds, now you can count on your feet to win the weight battle.
Several footwear brands have jumped on the weight loss bandwagon by develping specialized shoes that can help create a sleek physique.
How They Work
The technology behind most fat burning shoes involves weighted soles that make you walk harder. The soles also curve towards the back creating a tilt that encourages the use of additional muscles. Due to the unique design of these shoes, manufacturers claim that you can lose weight and tone your body while performing regular activities or power walking around the neighborhood.
FitFlop – These sandals are engineered to help tone your leg muscles while walking. The sandal includes a sole made of multi-density material that imitates barefoot walking. Every step you take while wearing FitFlop sandals challenges the foot and creates extra tension in the leg and bottom muscles, causing them to work harder and become more toned. With updates styles since its launch in 2007, fans of this sandal include Oprah Winfrey, Jessica Biel, and Heidi Klum. Prices start at around $50 (US).
Skechers Shape Ups – These toning shoes feature a soft wedge insert, a dynamic rolling bottom, and a dual-density midsole that simulate walking barefoot on a surface like sand. As you walk in Skechers Shape Ups, your heel sinks to the ground and you roll forward as your weight shifts to its center, then push off with your toes. All of these movements create toned legs, firm buttocks, and stronger back and abdominal muscles. You can also burn calories, reduce cellulite, and improve your posture. Learn more about Skechers Shape Ups work by checking out their video. Prices start at around $100 (US).
MBT – The antithesis of a shoe, MBT call their footwear the “anti-shoe.” Offering a diverse selection including Mary Janes, a specially designed rubber sole improves your gait and posture and reduces pressure on your joints and back. As it helps exercise a large number of muscles, the MBT anti-shoe stimulates your metabolism and burns extra calories. MBT anti-shoes also distribute pressure on the foot evenly, which prevents ailments that can be caused by the concentration of pressure on individual points. Prices start at around $100 (US). Update: To get into character for a power-walk in her new movie, The Joneses, Demi Moore wore MBT Trainers. Moore thinks the shoes work: “Just in shooting the scene I was feeling it in the legs and the old butt.”
Update: If you want to try a fitness shoe similar to Shape Ups, Payless Shoes has a cheaper version which I’m trying right now . . . no weight loss yet but I can feel the resistance while walking. Most important, the shoes are pretty comfortable.
Use Baby Shampoo to Remove Waterproof Makeup
Eye makeup remover for sensitive eyes can be pricey, and some may not even remove all of your makeup. A cost efficient alternative to expensive eye makeup removers, baby shampoo is often recommended for contact lens wearers as it doesn’t leave residue on your lashes that may irritate contacts.
To gently remove eye makeup: Read the rest of this entry »
Weekend Style Roundup
- Who looked hot this week (InStyle)
- Pump up Your Eye Color (The Blush Stops Here))
- Wear Fall Trends Now And Later (StyleBakery)
- David Yurman’s newest addition to his fragrance collection, Luxurious Body Cream (A Girl’s Gotta Spa)
Reid Rosenthal Back in Philadelphia
If you’ve been wondering how former Bachelorette contestant, Reid Rosenthal, has been coping since the reality show ended, he’s doing just fine.
Life in Philly is looking good and so is Reid modeling for Where Magazine in Philadelphia for their September 2009 issue. For this fall fashion issue, Reid is wearing the latest in menswear plus he reveals his favorite hometown shops. Click here for photos of a party thrown for Reid for his cover of Where Magazine in Philadelphia.
Reid recently did a Q&A with Glam.com in which he described his ideal mate, the culture on the show, and what he’s working on now.
Update: Now that Jillian Harris and Ed Swiderski have split up, will Reid and Jillian get together?
[Image: TV Guide]
Image: Elle Magazine
Long, Soft Curls for Fall
If you’re not up for the partially shaved hair seen on the edgiest celebrities, you’ll be happy to know that long, soft curls will still be bouncing their way through the fall season. Celebrities like Jennifer Annison and Kate Hudson make their curls look easy with round-the-clock stylists like David Babaii, creator of WildAid hair care products. However, you can achieve carefree curls the same way celebrities do: using a ceramic flat iron.
The latest flat irons are designed for a lot more than straightening. Flat irons with curved edges let you maneuver the barrel of the flat iron, while evenly distributed heat helps to make the curls last from the inside out. Read the rest of this entry »
FranBrand line set to debut on HSN
Fran Drescher , star of “The Nanny,” has created a a line of skin care products to be sold exclusively at HSN.
The natural and eco-friendly skin care collection is part of Fran’s mission as a cancer survivor to teach women how to live preventively. A percentage of the sales will be donated to Fran’s organization, Cancer Schmancer, dedicated to helping women fight uterine cancer.
Created in partnership with HSN, FranBrand is a nine-piece collection that uses carcinogen-free natural technology and ingredients to create more youthful and healthy skin. The collection includes facial skin care products for day and night with prices ranging from $16 for lip balm to $32 for facial cream.
The FranBrand collection will expand to hair care, makeup, sun care, and bath and body products next year. All products are natural and packaged in recyclable material. What would Mr. Sheffield think?
Here’s Fran giving the scoop to People on FranBrand skincare. Her favorites so far are the Luscious Lip Balm, Beautiful Body Cream, and Sensational Serum.
Another unique product is the Terrific Toner Gel, which doesn’t require using a cotton ball or pad, so that you cut down on non-reusable products. The Classic Cleanser ($19.90) is a cleanser and makeup remover that works without using a cloth, so that you cut down on detergents and water. Check out all the products in the FranBrand collection here.
Latest Colored Mascaras
If you’ve ever wanted to pump up the intensity of your eye color, you don’t have to wear a pair of colored contact lenses to do it. For deeper color, all you need to do is apply colored mascara in the right hue for your eyes.
The latest colored mascara products deposit color pigment on individual lashes to create subtle or dramatic effects for your eye color. For a natural day look, colored mascara with a neutral eyeshadow will get you noticed when the sun reflects the color off your lashes. At night, colored mascara on the tips of lashes will add even more drama to smoky eyes. Read the rest of this entry »
Weekend Style Roundup
- Elizabeth Moss of Mad Men talks about Peggy’s style and her own (BlackBook Magazine)
- New “pheromone-infused” Dial for Men Magnetic Attraction Enhancing Body Wash (New York Magazine)
- Oversized earrings: The bigger the better (The Blush Stops Here)
- 4 Tips From Madonna’s Makeup Artist (Allure Magazine)
- What Hairstyle Are You? quiz
Lip Products Inspired by Michelle Obama
Not only is Michelle Obama making waves on the fashion front, she’s now inspiring lip colors for several lip collections.
The First Lady’s focus on classic but neutral fashion pieces translates well into lip shades that are sheer and natural with just a hint of color. For First Lady wanabees, these lip products will keep you glossed up whether travelling on the campaign trail or hosting a luncheon to honor a foreign dignitary. Read the rest of this entry »
