Friday, January 29, 2010

Trend: Pinned Scarf

I've seen this trend pop up in Lucky magazine, in Glamour and now I'm seeing it in catalogs, so I'm convinced it's the real thing. Designers everywhere are showing scarves pinned with oversize brooches or pins. Simply find an oversized pin or brooch and match it to your scarf.

First, find a suitable scarf to use. I don't recommend satin or silk, as the pin will leave a permanent hole in the fabric, but cotton, poly-blend or knit should be fine. Wrap the scarf around your neck and either pin the ends in the front, or toss one end over your shoulder, leaving the other hanging in front. Pin it to secure it to your neck. Voila. I love the chic, Euro-French style of this trend, and I expect it to be hot, hot, hot this spring.
(from blackhousewhitemarket.com)

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Tip: Cincinnati Boutique Sale Starts Tomorrow!


For every single fashionista I know, the start of the annual Cincinnati Boutique Sale is something akin to a national holiday. First there's the scramble to figure out where the sale is being held and how to get there. Then there's the rush to be the first in the door, so as to find the primo deals on designer merch. Finally, there's the elation when you score an amazing ensemble for a fraction of the cost, all while supporting local boutiques. Yes, holiday is very apropos...

Here are the deets for this year's sale:


Cincinnati Boutique Sale
January 29-31
The Old Circuit City Building on Ridge

Special Fashion Happy Hour
Friday, January 29 from 5-7
at Pachinko in Covington

Since I'll be out of town juding the ADDYs in Michigan, I'd love it if you'd share any of your finds with me. I'll post them on the blog - whether you take modeling shots or you lay your new outfit out on a table and take a snap!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Tip: The Best Way to Put on Lipstick


Don't you just envy the women who always look like their lipstick is perfect, day in day out? Me too. A few years ago I asked a makeup artist/friend for her secret to long lasting beautiful lips. Here's what she shared with me.

1. You can't work with flaky surface - if your lips are chapped, run a chapstick over them, and then gently exfoliate them with a warm washcloth or a toothbrush.

2. Before putting any lipstick on, line your lips! This is the real key. Try to find a neutral tone liner that matches your lip color. Line your lips from the middle out, and fill in once you've created your outline. The full color of the liner gives you a better base for your lipstick.

3. Swipe on your lipstick. If you're going for a deep, pro-level look, use a lip brush to apply. Once you've done the first coat, dab your lips with a tissue, then add a second coat. DONE!

OPTIONAL: If shine is what you have in mind, add a dab of gloss on top of your lipstick to give it high power gleam. Warning though, hair seems to always wind up stuck to gloss, so don't go overboard on how much you use.

MWAH!


Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Find: Whiskey Rocks


Want to make your next cocktail the center of discussion? Whiskey Rocks are just the thing. Soapstone cubes that can be chill from freezer to drink...what could be cooler? Best part? They don't melt in your mouth or your hand (har, har, har).


Monday, January 25, 2010

Find: White House|Black Market Rocks!


Have you been in White House | Black Market lately? If you haven't, you should go...immediately. Not only do they always carry uber-trendy clothes in my most favorite colors, but as of this past Saturday I'm convinced they have the best customer service of any clothing store in Kenwood Towne Center.

This past Saturday, my friend Cee and I went to WHBM on a shopping trip with the goal of spicing up Cee's wardrobe. A new mom, Cee wanted to add fun back to her outfits without breaking the bank. She's a big fan of black dress pants, so WHBM was a logical idea.

Walking in, we headed straight for the clearance racks to see what we could find. Cee, who hadn't been shopping in a while, was a little unsure of what she should be looking at, what would be appropriate for a business attire environment.

Enter Laura. Laura Knoll is the best sales associate I've encountered in a long time. As Cee browsed through the racks, Laura introduced herself and offered to help pick out a few key pieces that worked together, and then guided Cee to a fitting room. In the span of 25-30 minutes, Laura had Cee kitted out with a new jacket, leggings, a sweater and two tank tops. Perfect wardrobe building pieces. At no point did Laura ever try to talk Cee into any pieces that didn't work for her, and she never made any over-the-top suggestions of expensive merchandise.

As Cee tried on her clothes, I chatted with Laura outside the dressing room about the upcoming Krewe party (password: krewe10) on Feb.13th, and I told her that I'd be shopping for a splashy new dress soon. "Why wait?" she asked, and handed me the newest WHBM catalog. I flipped a few pages and there it was...my perfect dress. Even though the store didn't have the dress currently on-hand, Laura was able to help me order it, and ensure free shipping straight to my house. Score!





White House|Black Market hosts "Girls Night Out" parties on Sunday evenings in the store. If you book a party and bring 5 friends, the host receives 25% off purchases, and guests receive 10%. If you know you're going to do a black/white shopping spree, a party might be the solution to shopping and not spending too much. Ask for manager Jayme Dawson at Kenwood if you book a party...she'll hook you up.

The moral of this post is, if you've not gone to White House| Black Market at Kenwood Towne Center lately, drop by and say hi to Laura and the rest of the staff. There is no incentive for me to promote the store. I did not receive any free merchandise or any special discounts. I was simply impressed with the service, and I hope you'll be too.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Find: Marimekko

Growing up in a Finnish household (mom is from Rovaniemi), I have a love and appreciation for all things Marimekko. In case you're new to the name, Marimekko is one of the oldest, most respected textile houses in Finland. Since 1951 the name Marimekko has been synonymous with unique prints, fabric design and modern home decor.

I love that Marimekko has gradually made it's way to the US, via Euro-retailers like IKEA, and independent shops like Mica/12v, in the Gateway quarter. In fact, Mica/12v is only one of two shops in the entire state to carry Marimekko wares. Products range from unique umbrellas, raincoats, purses, clothes to fabric for sale by the bolt.

Get your Marimekko fix here: 

Always Mod
Kiitos Marimekko (kiitos means "thank you" in Finnish)
Finnstyle
Marimekko Corporate


Thursday, January 21, 2010

Find: The BEST cards ever


Have you ever been at a loss as to what kind of card to send for some of life's most tricky situations? Lucky for you, there's a website for that. Divorce, Jewish Christmas, coming out....check. Jack Cards has made it okay to send a card for just about anything.

Register on the site and create your free Planner. You pick cards out ahead of time for all of your important dates, and when it's time to send, Jack Cards will mail the card to you to sign and mail. In fact, they will even stamp and address the card for you. Does it get any easier?



Special thanks to Cincy Chic (@cincychic) for the tip!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Find: Cat's Eye Glasses



I wish I had an oval face! I'm totally in love with the fabulous vintage cat's eye glasses I found at Vintageous. Call it my inner Mad Men diva, but I'd love to be able to wear these glasses at work, in the sun...I'd even give up the "glasses as a headband" look to be able to rock these specs.


 from Vintageous.com (Jodi Ebony)


If you're a fan of vintage glasses, but don't want to go all-in for anything prescription, Bleu Dame has an amazing variety of vintage sunglasses. I'm thinking these in Black/Purple.


from Bleu Dame
2469 Vintage Deadstock Cat Eye Sunglasses 

How daring are you? Can you rock a new/old look?

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Find: 40% off Sale (this week only!)


Thanks to our friends at Lucky Magazine, we can shop for all the new LBDs,  we could want at uber-cute Chicago boutique Eskell.com. This week only (through 1/25) every single thing on the site is 40% if you enter the code "luckyweek2". 

Pour moi?


Wish Vamp Dress

Monday, January 18, 2010

Tip: How to take care of your jeans


Jeans. We all own them, but do you really know how to take care of them? A few simple tips will keep your jeans looking (old, new, distressed, stretchy, saggy, insert your jeans type here) so that you can wear them for years to come.

1. Do not wash every single time you wear your jeans. Sound gross? It's true -- denim was not made to be washed after each and every wear. The longer you can go between washes, the more likely your jeans will stretch and mold to your shape. Consider this -- if you buy raw denim, it's recommended you go six months without washing. Yuck. The only caveat to this is if your jeans are stretchy jeans. Stretch jeans need to be washed after one or two wears, simply because they lose their shape.

2. When washing your jeans, turn them inside out. This will help preserve the color, and detail work on the pockets, etc. Speaking of pockets, check them for gum, change, bar napkins with phone numbers...

3. Cold water. 'Nuff said.

4. If you are concerned about dark denim color bleed, add a cup of white vinegar to the wash. I promise you won't smell like vinegar when you wear your jeans.  Adding vinegar should also stop them from leaving those annoying blue stains on your skin. (As a note, some experts recommend running an empty machine with vinegar BEFORE you wash your jeans, since the vinegar will clean the soap scum from the machine. The scum could wind up on your jeans...which would not be pretty.)

5. Dryers are not your friend. Do not put your jeans in the dryer, instead let them air dry. Dryers cause jeans to shrink, leading to unhappiness when they won't fit. Instead, hang using a pants hanger, and smooth out any creases. If you have stretch jeans, disregard the previous statement and throw them in the dryer. Leave them in for about 40 minutes then take them out to finish by air drying.

6. Once your jeans are fully dry, they'll be crunchy and stiff. Toss them in a low warm dryer for 3-5 minutes to shake the stiffness out. If you leave them in longer, they'll shrink, and you'll be forced to do Jeans Aerobics.

Considering I've spent $100 or more on jeans, I swear by these tips. I hope they work for you too!

DISCLAIMER: I am not a trained laundry professional. I'm not even fond of laundry.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Find: Alice In Wonderland OPI Collection


In celebration of Tim Burton's highly anticipated new release, "Alice In Wonderland", OPI has released a whimsical collection of nailpolish shades inspired by the movie. The colors are as bold and imaginative as the movie, with reds, blues and glitter shades. Available individually, or as a mini kit. Off with her red!


Thursday, January 14, 2010

Find: The Regard Ring

Valentine's Day is mere weeks away...aren't you looking forward to the 24-hour love fest? If you're expecting a ring this year, consider this alternative to the too safe friendship ring, or the too meaningful engagement ring. The Regard ring is the Victorian equivalent of an engagement ring, minus the stress and the $25,000 wedding. The Regard ring is comprised of six stones: Ruby, Emerald, Garnet, Amethyst, Ruby and Diamond (get it?) and is a token of love and commitment.

Another twist on this concept is the Dearest ring, except the stones used are Diamond Emerald Amethyst, Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire and Topaz. I prefer the Dearest ring, mostly because I adore Sapphires and Emeralds. Who said diamonds had to be a girl's best friend?

Check out the fabulous Regard and Dearest rings designed by the London Victorian Ring Company.


Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Find: LUSH Massage Bar


If you've ever traveled and attempted to not check a bag and carry-on instead, you know what a pain it is to fit all of your make-up and liquids into the quart-sized bag (the mini bag from hell) they allow. The TSA clearly doesn't understand women, otherwise they'd realize how unfair this rule really is.

I'm always on the lookout for items that I can carry on that are solids, not liquids, so as to avoid taking up precious space in my bag. So far my only successful sub has been switching from liquid facewash to the Neutrogena Facial Bar.  I've tried solid perfumes with no success, as well as dry shampoo, which works in a pinch but won't keep your hair clean for too long.

Over the weekend I made a fantastic discovery. If lotion is one of the things that you include in your carry-on beauty kit, I highly recommend trying the LUSH Body Bar. It's a fantastic substitute for liquid lotion, and it's a solid bar, so no squeezing it into the ridiculosly small Ziploc baggie. I bought one over the summer at the LUSH event at Blogher '09, and hadn't realized the full potential of the bar, since it's called a Massage Bar. In actuality, you can use it to moisturize your skin from head to toe.

What products do you use that have unexpected uses? Makeup? Cleansers? Share your tips!

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Trend: The Mittenberry




With the advent of touchscreen phones and the onset of winter, it's a true nuisance to have to take your gloves off to use your Droid or iPhone. Thanks to the geniuses at Mittenberry, you can now tweet, text and talk to your heart's content, . The little flip-top thumb frees you to do your thing, while keeping your fingers toasty warm. Order soon and you can get free shipping.




Thanks to @michellelentz aka Wine Girl for the tip!

Monday, January 11, 2010

Tip: The Dreaded Red Eyebrow


Ever notice after you get your eybrows waxed, you look overly surprised for the next couple days, as you deal with redness and bumps? Specifically the redness...nothing's worse than looking like you've developed a weird rash...right between your eyes. Never fear, a tip a day will keep the redness away.

• Aloe gel - the simplest remedy, grab some aloe gel (you likely have it if you've had a sunburn recently) and smooth it over the red area. Aloe sooths your skin, as it's a known herbal remedy for promoting healing as it moisturizes.

• Milk on a cotton ball - just dab it on the red skin.

• Diaper rash cream - I can't vouch for this one since I don't have any diaper rash cream laying around, but a friend swears that it calms the redness immediately.

Whatever you do, don't use hydrocortisone (it'll dry the skin out) or rub and wash the area repeatedly. Rubbing it will make it redder.

If none of the above tips work, try a green concealer. Yes, green. Green cancels out the redness. Physician's Formula makes a duo of green and skin tone concealer.

One quick tip...after you get a wax, gingerly dab your brows to see if there is any remaining wax. If there is, ask your stylist to use a wax remover to get rid of it. Nothing's worse than wax stuck to your face.

Friday, January 8, 2010

Tip: The Shedding Sweater


We all have those sweaters that drive us nuts, leaving little pieces of yarn and lint all over coats, pants, car seats...everywhere. It's enough to wish for a lint roller in every room of your house and office. My friend Kat Woman of Steele (@katwomanofsteel) gave me this handy tip for dealing with the ever-shedding sweater:

"I have a tip (yes me!) that you may or may not know about re: big fuzzy angora sweaters that can shed like mad. Put it in a big zipped bag ziplock or garment or otherwise and freeze it for at least 24 hrs. It sounds crazy but it realllly works!"

Give it a shot and let me know if it works for you. And check out the new Share form on the blog...I'll share your fashion tips and finds too.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Trend: Ribbon-Accented Hair


From Glamour.com - 2010 Hair Trend Alert: the Ribbon-Accented ‘Do

Glamour is reporting that ribbon accented 'dos are the next big thing, and based on the high cuteness factor, I'd have to agree. Braid in a ribbon through your hair, or try twisting two pieces of hair together, running the ribbon through as you twist. There's no wrong way to run the ribbon through your hair, so have fun with it. For short hair, try braiding two small side braids through with ribbon, then pin them back with funky bobby pins. Voila! 

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Trend: Purple Purses for Winter

Everywhere I look these days,the arm candy du jour is the large purple purse. Why? Because purple handbags are the HOT item of the winter season. Get yours here:

1. DeGroot - www.degrootstyle.com - Sign up to receive access to her gallery of purses and to get info on specials and trunk shows.

2. FENNO Fashion - www.fennofashion.com- Inventory changes fairly often, so check back if there isn't anything for sale. Megan's UREC bags (upcycled, recycled, eco-concious) are fab!

3. Posh Purse - www.poshpurse.com (follow her on Twitter for info on specials and sales)

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Trick: How To Unstick A Zipper

While elementary, it's crucial for any self-respecting fashionista to know how to unstick a zipper. Just so that I can be sure you're "in the know" I'm sharing a few of the easy tricks to unstick a stuck zipper.

For history buffs, the anatomy of a zipper.

1. Candle Wax - rub it over the zipper tracks.

2. WD-40 - spray it on a paper towel and carefully rub it over the zipper. Be cautious about getting it on the surrounding fabric...it could leave oily marks.

3. Lead - rub a pencil over the zipper. I personally don't use this one since inevitably I get lead dust all over my clothes.

4. Soap - use a bar of soap or dishwashing liquid to work the zipper lose. Especiallly good if you have a thread stuck in the zipper, as it'll help loosen it too.

5. Take it to a tailor - if it's a favorite piece, take it to a tailor and have him/her replace the offending zipper. I do this for more expensive cocktail dresses that always seem to lose the zipper pull.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Tip: How To Keep Slouchy Boots Up


There is literally nothing more annoying than knee-high boots that insist on slouching down your leg, making for a sloppy looking shoe. Some of my favorite suede boots have let me down by behaving in an inappropriately schlumpy way! So, here are a few tricks to keep your shoes at attention.

1. CHEAP BOOTS: If there's enough suede you can use the binder clips found in any office supply closet to fold over and pinch the excess suede together. If you try this, use the smallest clips you can find or you'll find yourself getting stabbed in the leg by the clips.

2. EXPENSIVE BOOTS: If the boots in question are expensive and worth it, take them to a shoe repair store and ask to have them taken in so they fit your calf.

3. CHEAP BOOTS: Try starch. The cheaper the suede (preferably faux suede if you're trying this) the better you are in the event that the starch discolors the boot. I tried this on brown ones and it only darkened the faux a little...I was fine with it. Or, apply starch to the inside of the boot. You can also try fabric stiffener (but I have not).

4. EITHER: Hollywood Tape is touted by other bloggers to be a great solution to this problem. I've not tried it, as I've always been afraid to put a run in my tights or stockings, but if you're wearing cheapie stockings, give it a shot.
 
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