A Tartan Tale

MAC Cosmetics released the first phase of its holiday collection today, nationwide. A Tartan Tale is a series of eye, cheek, and lip products inspired by the colors of Scottish tartans. The plaid detail is carried across the collection from the bags to the imprint on the shadow palettes. I was able to visit my local MAC counter and get some scoop on the new collection. I tried out a bunch of the pink colors, thank to Saul and David, my wonderful artists at the Thousand Oaks Nordstrom in California.

My favorite MAC items are always the eye shadows, and these ones are especially smooth and creamy. The plaid detail is done in a contrasting color, so when you run your brush across the palette, you get just a tint of the detail color. I was also pleasantly surprised by the hot pinks featured in the collection. I choose a blush, and Saul showed me how to control the color so it is not a full on 80's look. Best of all, the holiday collection always includes the gift sets which are perfect for everyone on your list. The brush sets are my favorite. They have five brushes for $49.50, less than half the price of buying the brushes individually. 

Mellow Mood Lipstick, Baby Sparks Dazzle Glass, In Synch Lip Pencil

"She's Got it All" Apply, Define, and Line Brush Collection

Eyeshadow in Follow Your Fantasy

The tin gift sets (shown below) come in three colors, but have exclusive locations where they can be found. The purple base set will only be available at Nordstrom's MAC counters, and the pink and gold base sets will only be available at MAC's stores and website. They include a lip glass, eyeshadow, paint pot, and mascara. The second phase of the holiday collection will be released next week.

"My Scottish Fling"

PS: This is what I wore today and a way to take it from day to night. 

Cardigan: Express

Leopard Dress: bebe

Tights: The Gap

Boots: Nine West

To dress it up:

Remove the cardigan.

Add choker: Versace

Switch to heels: bebe

Gift Bags are Fabulous

Last night, I celebrated my birthday with most of my closest friends. We had drinks and dinner. It was wonderful. To thank them all for coming and being a part of my life, I made gift bags for a little treat to take home. Everyone loved them and they doubled as decorations for the table, too! They are great addition to any party, and are so easy to do. Here is my pumpkin themed adult bag from last night:

Blue Moon Pumpkin Ale: 12 pack for $7.99

Pumpkin Peeps: 2 for $1

Chocolate Covered Pumpkin Peeps: 3 for $1

Reese's, Kit Kats, and Skittles: 1 bag for $2.50

Peanut Butter "Eyeballs" and Chocolate "Zombies": 1 bag for $1

Final Cost: About $3!

As I mentioned above, these were adult goodie bags, so if you did not include alcohol they would be even cheaper. I do have a few tips for creating party favors. #1- Pick a theme or revolve your bag around one item. Mine was pumpkin/orange because I knew I wanted to include the pumpkin beer. (It is one of friends' favorites.) You can choose anything: a holiday, a sport, a color, a culture.  #2- If you can, plan ahead. There are coupons galore and candy sales all the time! If you know ahead of time what your theme is, you can pick items up as they go on sale, saving you money or getting your guests more stuff. #3- The bolder, the better. What ever you use to fasten your bag should be big and bright colors grab more attention. #4- Have fun!

PS: This is what I wore today:

Jacket: bebe

Thermal Tank: Club Monaco

Jeans: Paige Denim

Shoes: Guess

Sex and the City 2 DVD Out Tuesday!

The second movie installment of Sex and City will be released this Tuesday, October 26th, on DVD and Blu-Ray. I for one am so excited to see the new fashions once again! This film follows Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte to Abu Dhabi for a girls vacation in the lavish, excessive world of the Middle East resort lifestyle. 

The film, inevitably was compared to the first, and critics "killed it" (according to Chris Noth), but reviews were mixed amongst my girlfriends, as well. As far as fashion was concerned, I loved the over the top looks of the movie. There were a few glitches here and there (i.e. Charlotte's camel ride ensemble) but for the most part the jewels, accessories, patterns, and fabulous cuts were perfect. Sex and the City has always been a bit unobtainable, as far as clothing goes, and Patricia Fields, the franchise's costume designer, does a miraculous job and at matching the personalities of each character and giving the audience an escape to fantasy fashion. My more conservative girlfriends, especially the mother's, preferred the more translatable fashion of the first film, but that makes perfect sense.

I am a huge fan of movies, and I see quite a few, but going into the midnight premiere of Sex and the City 2, I was not expecting a film to change all films. 

This is what I wore to the premiere night:

On me (left):

Dress: Club Monaco

Belt: Ann Taylor

Shoes: Aldo

Clutch: Club Monaco

Earrings: bebe

On Amber (right):

Dress: ANGL

Shoes: Steve Madden

Belt: Forever 21

Cuff: Borrowed

It is a film about fashion, women's troubles, and sex. Yes, sex. It is not supposed to be serious. I was sad to see critics tear the movie to pieces when it was meant to be a fun gift to the fans. Sarah Jessica Parker answered back perfectly, "It’s less about the reviewers than it is about the audience, and they’ve been pretty true, so we tend to listen to them more than anybody else." The film does have its poignant scenes. I was almost in tears when Charlotte was in the pantry crying because she was dealing with two kids driving her crazy. And Carrie's struggles with Big and Aiden were realistic struggles that are more common than people might think. 

All and all, the film is worth the $20 to own, if not only for the witty conversation and fabulous collection of clothes. If you are really into fashion, pick up a copy of Sex and the City 2: the Stories, the Fashion, the Adventure. It breaks down every outfit, head to toe, and tells you where it came from. A must own for any SATC fan. 

PS: This is what I wore today.

Blazer: Hinge

Camisole: The Limited

Skinny Jeans: bebe

Boots: Nine West

Earrings: The Limited

Necklace: Forever 21

Cheap Halloween Thrills

Halloween is almost a week away, and if you are like me, you love holiday festivities. Here are some inexpensive ways to spend some time before the holiday and enjoy the spirit of the day of the dead.

Bake yummy goodies! Cupcake, brownie, and cookie mix is super cheap and there are always coupons in the paper or online. There are tons of ways to make them festive, as well. Martha Stewart Magazine is a great place for inspiration, but look no further than your local candy isle for some ideas. Holiday M&Ms, candy corns, and "chocolate eyes" are great. And everyone loves sprinkles! Target usually has holiday sprinkles in their dollar deals. For my first batch, I went for a pumpkin patch feel:

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing, 

Green Sugar Crystals, and Pumpkin Candies

Attend local fundraisers! A lot of schools and churches host fall festivals or Halloween carnivals. They usually have rides, games, haunted houses, and treat booths. The proceeds all benefit a local cause and usually $10 or $20 bucks will get you far. This is especially great is you have kids or other little ones to entertain. Make sure they always say thank you! The festival planners work very hard!

Carve pumpkins! No matter how old you are, pumpkin patches are always fun. If you go to a large patch, they may have hay rides, a petting zoo, face painting, and other activities. Also, the food is usually very yummy. I love warm apple cider and home made corn bread. Of course the challenge of picking the perfect pumpkin is always most important, and carving the image just right. And do not forget to save your seeds! Pumpkin seeds are delicious and so easy to make. Here is a recipe:

Preheat over to 400 degrees.

Separate seeds from stringy insides and clean.

Boil seeds in salt water about 10 minutes.

(1/2 cup seeds, 2 cups water, 1/2 tbsp. salt)

Spread a little olive oil on cookie sheet.

Spread seeds evenly on sheet and bake for 10-20 minutes.

Let cool completely before eating.

Enjoy!

PS: This is what I wore today.

Sweater: H&M

Camisole: The Limited

Tights: The Limited

Boots: Sam Edelman

Unisex Clothing

In the November issue of W Magazine, Lee Carter features an article "She's a (Fabulous) He" about sexuality, especially homosexuality, cross-dressing, and transsexuality being on the forefront of fashion right now. The article also showcases Luis Venegas' (Editor in chief of Candy publication) new trio of unisex blouses. This all struck an idea in me: in a culture where menswear is a leading women's trend, and men wear women's clothing, why not design a unisex collection? I am not talking of the ill-fitting unisex tee shirts of high school club days, but a cohesive trendy line of separates that anyone can wear.

I know countless men who wear women's pants, and Katie Holmes got a lot of credit for wearing Tom Cruise's jeans, so why not? Venegas' blouses are an example of the future of fashion, and how open mindedness can get you far. There's no word yet on an expansion of the line, but I sure hope so. Other designers should take advantage of marketing to a broader audience, and as long as the lines are trendy and well made, success is inevitable.

On a related side note, GLADD (The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) is asking Americans to wear purple today in support of ending anti-gay bullying. I recently posted about bullying and am asking everyone to help support this cause. Being men is never right, despite your personal views or opinions. All you have to do is wear purple. :) I had to work today, so I did what I could.

PS: This is what I wore today:

Purple Tie: Express

Purple Makeup: MAC Cosmetics

Resort is in Full Swing

The November issues of fashion magazines are arriving and resort wear trends are the topic of choice. Resort season always makes me smile because it is an escape, literally and fashionably. People all over the world vacation religiously during the months of January, February, and March to escape the winter blues and relax in the magical paradises that await them in the coastal fronts. Resort collections all bring along a playful disregard for reality, making statements with costume like looks.

The 2011 resort season brings back the ever classic gingham and nautical looks, staying modern by carrying on the ruffles and lace of fall's trends. The preppy look is being updated with polka dots and scalloped edges, and everything is being shown in the sweet shades of pastel pink, baby blue, and mint green. Floral returns, but with a soft edge, think peonies, freesia, and gardenias, and the silhouettes are retro and fabulous.

I am in love with the collections from Christian Dior:

 And Oscar De La Renta:

PS: This is what I wore today.

Sweater: H&M

Skinny Jeans: bebe

Boots: Sam Edelman

Crystal Flower Ring: Love Diva

Male's Fashion Confusion

A couple of days ago, I was telling a friend about She-Q. He proceeded to suggest subjects for future posts. His number one choice was "Tights are Not Pants." I was confused and said he was correct, tights are indeed not pants. The conversation continued and he explained that he meant he thought it was wrong when girls wear tights with just a tee shirt over them and call it a day. I was inspired. 

What my friend meant by tights was leggings. I explained that tights are sheer and require additional coverage (i.e. a skirt or a dress) for the private region. Leggings, however, can technically be worn without assistance. He never seemed to grasp that there was a difference, (he also needed thigh high stockings explained) which lead me to the conclusion that much of men's fashion confusion comes from misunderstanding terminology. Comparisons like flared pants versus bell bottoms scare men off sometimes because they think any non-straight pant must have a costume aesthetic and be worn to the local disco. 

Once we got past the vocabulary lesson, I expressed that I sometimes wear leggings with just a top over them, and that the style is very popular, and often very stylish, right now. I gave him a random example and he replied that that female in particular looked cute, so leggings and a top was acceptable. Point number two: men make fashion exceptions for women they are attracted to. A trend that he was appalled by moments before, became a "great look for a great butt" as soon as there was a pretty face attached. I agree not every look works for every person, but the chauvinistic approach does not work for trend analysis. I realize I am not unveiling some miraculous discovery, but the conversation made me laugh. And when it was over he said, "but tights are not pants." Indeed.

PS: This is what I wore today.

Dress: H&M

Boots: Nine West

Scarf: The Gap

Birthday Festivities Under Wayl

My 25th birthday is officially October 16th, tomorrow, however, in true girl fashion, I started celebrating two days early. Last night I had a fabulous dinner at BLT steakhouse on Sunset, per a recommendation from my manager. It was fantastic! We were lucky enough to have the sommelier, Mark, as our server which resulted in a great wine (Fiddlehead "Oldsville" Pinot Noir) and an even more fabulous port (Alcyone) which tasted like Tootsie Rolls. I was treated to dessert for my birthday (cinnamon donuts with espresso ice cream and peanut butter/chocolate mouse... to die for!) Everything was absolutely delicious, service was great, and the people at the table next to us even shared their appetizer (charred bacon strips).

This is what I wore last night:

Dress: The Limited

Shoes: bebe "Mariah" pump (See Designer Shoes for Less)

Earrings: bebe

Otherwise, I have some updates from previous posts for you! I took a trip to the Betsey Johnson outlet on Monday and picked up two pairs of earrings for $25 including tax! They are currently having buy one, get one free on all apparel, jewelry is an additional 40% off, and select shoes are only $59.My nail color of choice last night was "Bad Fairy" from MAC's Disney Villians line. It is fabulous! One note: apply three coats to make sure all the pigment is evenly distributed. And last but not least, I got a couple more free "birthday gifts" from my favorite stores. Victoria's Secret ended up send me a $10 gift card, and Pep Boys (not fashion, but a gift is a gift) sent me a $20 gift card. All went to good use!

PS: This is what I wore today.

Jacket: Hinge

Tank: bebe

Jeans: Paige Denim

Shoes: Guess

Owl Pendant Necklace: Forever 21

Bullying on the Forefront

This issue has been everywhere recently, and it makes me sick to my stomach that bullying is happening so young. Celebrities, like Ellen DeGeneres, Elton John, and Ricky Martin, are doing their part to campaign for support from home and the classroom to turn this path around. So, I thought I would do my part. The attacks have been primary focused around homosexual teens and preteens, but it only starts there. No bullying is ever okay, at any age and over any prejudice. 

Whether or not you believe homosexuality is right or wrong, good according to your religion, beautiful or disgusting, being mean is never right. If you have children, teach them everyone is equal, no matter the color of their skin, their sexual orientation, who they are friends with. Teach them to stay strong and have pride and self esteem. Open communication can work wonders between children and their parents, and home is the first step to making this evil cycle stop. Please, do what you can to help this cause.

Sick Days

Today was a sick day for me. I slept in until almost 1 pm, ran one errand, took and hour nap, and then went to work. I work at a restaurant, so what I mean by sick day is I was sick all day. I do not mean I was sick and therefore, stayed home. I hate being sick, not only because I feel ill, but because I look ill. My favorite feeling during my downtime, is right after a shower. I feel like I have washed all the germs away. I managed to dry my hair and put myself together to run to Costco to get my prescription. My managers were sweet enough to let me go early, so I made this purchase and here I am eating my chicken noodle soup.

One trick I have learned that helps makes "functional sick days" easier, is wearing glasses. To save time, and also to save me from messing my makeup up from itching, I do not wear eye makeup and just wear my glasses. It is fast usually results in some compliments, which are always nice when you are feeling under the weather. If you wear contacts, break out the prescription frames. If not, invest in a good pair of fakes. They come in handy for geeky chic, as well. :)

PS: This is what I wore today.

Sweater: Express

Jeans: Paige Denim

Shoes: Guess

Glasses: Michael Kors

Betsey Johnson Jewelry

I have previously advised you to accessorize as an easy way to amp up any outfit. My favorite jewelry comes from the Queen of Fun herself, Betsey Johnson. Her earring, bracelets, and necklaces are almost cartoon like, but feminine, and really quite charming. If you really searched, you could probably find any theme you were looking for. My collection alone includes charms shaped like bows, hats, glasses, flowers, crowns, crosses, and hearts. Her pieces add fun and color to any outfit, and I have often based my entire ensemble around one of her pieces of jewelry. These are the earrings I wore today:

Betsey Johnson can be purchased from her flagship stores, as well as most department stores. (PS: Her perfume smells great, too!) For budget shoppers, like myself, Betsey has outlet stores that sell her clothing, shoes, and accessories at more that half off. California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Vermont are lucky to house these great stores. I always take advantage of the jewelry section, scoring earrings as low as $5. I even got an evening gown for $15. Happy shopping!

PS: This is what I wore today.

Dress: H&M

Boots: Sam Edelman

Bag: Michael Kors

Earrings: Betsey Johnson

MAC Makeup is so Villainous

I love MAC Cosmetics. Absolutely LOVE! They have the best array of colors, the widest variety of products, and each collection has enough inspiration to get even the most timid makeup user to try a little sparkle. For those who think there is no difference between makeup brands, there is. MAC uses more color pigment, so your makeup lasts longer, the colors are more saturated, and you can blend and layer to create different shades and depth. 

MAC's special collections are always awe inspiring, but their most recent collaboration with Disney has put them in another realm. Venomous Villains is inspired by the evil likes of Cruella De Ville, Maleficant, Evil Queen, and Dr. Facilier and includes lip, eye, cheek, and nail colors to please all of our inner evil. My favorites include:

Her Alter Image (3rd from right) and Vile Violet (2nd from right)

Heartless (2nd from left) and Wicked Ways (4th from left)

Brash and Bold (3rd from left)

Bad Fairy (Far left)

The collection is available at MACCosmetics.com, MAC stores, and MAC counters at departments stores everywhere. But hurry! Some of the items are already sold out. And for your information, the collection is so limited, they are not available as freebies through the recycling program. 

Coming soon, details about Nordstrom's holiday pre-sale for MAC. Scottish tartan inspired!

PS: This is what I wore today.

Jacket: bebe

Snake print tank: MetroPark

Jeans: bebe

Boots: Nine West

Lanvin for H&M

Lanvin's collection for H&M will premiere in less that one month, and the anticipation is high for the collaboration. The pieces will be shown in a fashion show November 2, 2010, and will hit the H&M stores November 23. I hope the collection will resemble Lanvin's pre-fall and fall 2010 ready to wear shows. I love these looks with plenty of leopard, lace, and urban and tribal inspiration.

    

In the meantime, I took a trip to H&M for a bit of fall shopping. I cam across this fabulous frock and had to have it! It is very retro chic and the best part is it will work all year round. And it ca be dressy with heels or casual with boots. It was just $35, too!

PS: This is what I wore today.

Red Jersey Dress: H&M

Necklace: MetroPark

Tights: Gap

Boots: Ninewest

Running Errands

The end of last week and this past weekend has been a whirl wind of running errands and working. Even with a busy schedule, it is easy to stay fashionable if you just take a few small extra steps. Try these tips and look at ease and fabulous all at the same time. 

1) Accessorize! The most basic outfit can be amplified with great accessories. Headbands, jewelry, funky sunglasses all help. :)

2) Be comfortable! 

3) Be functional! Dresses with pockets are a lifesaver. Use a reusable carry all to hold all of your purchases. It is less to carry and is responsible too! I scored this great bag from ModCloth for free last week:

4) Smile! It is amazing how far a smile can take you. It prevents downer wrinkles, and makes you appear less stressed.

PS: These are a couple of my errand ensembles.

Cardigan: The Limited

Tank top: bebe

Jeans: Paige Denim

Mary Janes: Guess

Leopard Print Headband: bebe

Wood Bangles: bebe

Dress: Urban Outfitters

Sandals: Banana Republic

Aviators: bebe

Necklace: MetroPark

Test Your Color Before You Commit!

Ever have a hard time deciding which nail color you want? Ever wanted to try one of the new trendy polish colors, but you are just not sure how it will look on you? Now, there is an app for that! 

OPI Nail Studio has created an app that holds a database of all their colors. You simply selected your skin tone, and it shows you what each color will look like after it is painted on. It is great! I have been wanting to try the new blues, greens, and purples, but was nervous it would look like cartoon hands. So I tried the app, and voila! I found the right shade for me. The best part: It is FREE! Just go to your app store, search OPI, and the first one that pops up should be it. Have fun and get your nails done with confidence. :)

PS: This is what I wore today.

Tank: bebe

Skirt: H&M ($6!)

Flipflops: Target

Sunglasses: My boyfriend's Marc Jacobs

Necklace: Forever 21