Get Scarved

I love scarves. I love how the French know how to wear a scarf just so. I love that a scarf can dress an outfit up or down. And that you can wear one in pretty much any season, any weather.

You can wear it wound all up around your neck:


Or as a hair accessory:

You can spice up a plain t-shirt for a fun and casual vibe:

Or you can wear it with a blazer for a multi-layer look:


You can use it to stay incognito:


Scarves can have so many different prints, they can be made of silk (ooh la la) or soft and comfy cashmere or chunky wool. I also love that scarves can have such a history behind them- each comes with a story.

Tomorrow I will show pictures of a few of my favorite scarves- most of which were gifts from my mom!

Do you have an accessory you find so versatile and useful? How do you wear your scarves?

Latest Topshop visit

So, the trip on Sunday to Topshop was not as successful as I had hoped, but it DID result in a purchase:

I can't find a picture on the site, but this will give an idea of the style. It is a cross-body bag with a long strap, and with a flap that folds over on the front. It is purple, not blue, has the same type fringe, with big metal grommets (I am OBSESSED with metal hardware lately, on EVERYTHING.) And it is suede. I am loving the boho-chicness.

I also tried on both this macrame vest:





as well as this little jacket.


Both were well made and looked nice on the hanger, but just didn't fit me as well. I also tried on a few pairs of shoes, none fit well enough to buy though. *Sigh*

More to follow on the weekend activities. What was your weekend like?

Chicken or the egg?

If it weren't for Michael Jackson, Sargent Pepper Jackets with severe shoulders by the likes of Balmain may never have gotten so huge. Which came first? You decide.....



Will anyone influence our fashion and culture the way MJ did?

Suit of armor

How crazy beautiful is this picture? Part of it (most of it) is because this is Kate Moss. But a small part of me feels like I need this little cropped jacket.

Here is a shot of the back:


Doesn't it kind of remind you of body armor??? Love it. I am adding this to the list of things I will have to narrow down and choose from when at Topshop....

A beauty and fashion legend

Today, Farrah Fawcett died after a long hard battle with cancer. In addition to her memorable career, she pioneered high-waisted pants, feathered wavy hair, bed head, and that image of a natural California blonde. I found these pictures to commemorate her- I think she looks the most beautiful and natural here.

British Invasion

I first found out Topshop was coming to the US through- what else- the blogosphere. I can't remember exactly where or which blog exactly, but I remember thinking "what is Topshop, what's the big deal?" But I kept reading about it and hearing about it in all things fashion, and I guess the frenzy was infectious. When it finally came here, namely to NYC on Broadway, I knew I would have to pay a visit on my next trip there.

I walked out of the store with the following:


It may be hard to tell how cool this jacket is, but let me tell you, I feel pretty badass wearing it.
I also got heart shaped earrings and a heart shaped ring with the British flag, but they don't have those online and I don't have a good picture of me wearing either, other than the following:

(My friend Mike got a Michael Jackson-esque jacket the same day, and wanted to show it off. And no, we don't normally wear sunglasses inside, I don't normally smile weird like that, and I don't normally wear the matching British flag ring and earrings at the same time.)

This weekend I will be going to NYC again, and hopefully going to Topshop again. The store will probably have different things to choose from than the website, but just in case, I prepared myself with a little online window shopping:



The vest on Kate Moss is black macrame, and all the purses are big enough to hold all my stuff and either leather or suede. And the glasses are just fun. Now, obviously I can't get all these things, much as I would love to, so what do you think I should get if I were to choose among these things?

Spring/Summer makeup vs. fall/winter makeup

Until recently, I thought I had the kind of skin where it didn't matter the season or how I did my makeup- I was still going to need to blot, blot, blot. I could keep Clean and Clear in business all by myself, since I need to buy those darn blotting sheets so much and I have even tried strange potions like "mattifier," whatever that is.

But within the past year, I found that my skin was getting super dry in cold months while it still gets oily in the warmer months. To compensate for the lack of moisture in the winter I started using very emollient lotions for both day and night (and of course, I always use SPF 15 or 30 during the day, year round.) I haven't found a liquid foundation that doesn't make me look like I am wearing a mask, so I have been using Bare Escentuals/Bare Minerals. It gave me even, natural looking coverage, blended well, never looked cakey, and was buildable so I could use more as needed.

However, as it started getting warmer, and I started using my blotting sheets again, I did not like what I was seeing. I would put my makeup on in the morning, get greasy looking by 11am, blot, and I would be left with cake face. It would be noticeable (at least to me) that I was wearing a powder on my face. I am the type of person that doesn't want to look like I am wearing makeup, I just want to appear as though I have good skin!

So, I decided that maybe I needed makeup that was a bit lighter for summer, maybe an all in one product. I never tried a tinted SPF moisturizer that I liked from the drugstore, so I figured I would try some from Sephora, which has a great return policy. I always try to read reviews of products at Sephora I am interested in before buying, and my results showed that Benefit, Philosophy and Laura Mercier would give me the best bang for my buck. So far I have only tried the Benefit one- You Rebel, but I kind of love it. It gives me a little bit of color and evens me out, it moisturizes, and it has SPF built right it.

Since I was changing from a mineral powder to tinted moisturizer, I thought this was the perfect excuse to try a different blush. I was using an Estee Lauder (I forget the name) or Nars Orgasm- both in powder compacts. I had tried Nars cream blush in the past. But I had been dying to try an all around stain- like Benetint, although there are others. You can use it on lips AND cheeks, but so far I really only use it on my cheeks. You kind of have to play around with it to get used to it and see what works best for you. But I can best describe the effect you get as a "glow from within." It just looks like you are naturally blushing, which was exactly what I was looking for.

Do you have different makeup for different seasons? Do you like Mineral makeup? How do you feel about tinted moisturizers? Love a certain one and think it beats out my Benefit You Rebel? Ever try Benetint? Love it as much as I do? Share!

The no!no!

In the summer, most women strive to be as smooth as possible, so hair removal is a necessary evil. We pluck, we wax, we shave, etc. But the end result is almost always the same- it doesn't last long enough. This is why I thought I would give the no!no! a try.

This is what Sephora says about the device:

"no!no!, Sephora's exclusive next generation hair removal system, is changing the shaving routines of women around the world. Portable and sleek, it utilizes revolutionary Thermicon technology, a gentle heat wave that destroys hair without pain or irritation, to safely reduce hair re-growth up to 64%. It gives professional removal treatments, like lasers and electrolysis, a run for their money. Over time, you'll notice decreased hair density, a lot less stubble and a lot more time spent not shaving. Created by Radiancy Ltd., it's a whole new concept in hair removal, in the privacy of your own home. Like any professional hair treatment, it takes time and dedication to achieve your desired results. The same holds true for the revolutionary no!no! hair removal system; with all the right moves, stubble-free, smoother skin will be yours. Be sure to follow the directions closely for the safest, most effective results."

Chris surprised me with the no!no! one day since he remembered me mentioning it and how it might actually work. (To those thinking this is one of those gifts you might be insulted in receiving, this wasn't the case- I had been wanting to try it out for a while, but I thought it was too expensive.)

It says to be patient with it, giving it months. So I was prepared for that. But the problem I had with it was that it doesn't get so close to the skin, it leaves you with some stubble. I know "thinning" out the hair would not be instant, but the immediate results should be similar to those of shaving, in my mind. I even used the buffer after going over an area as much as possible.

By the way, the buffer is a foam (like styrofoam) disk. Cheap, much?

There is also a smell that lingers. It smells of burning hair. Chris noticed the smell an hour after I had used it- and I had the windows open and a fan on. I could have put up with the smell in the name of hair removal though, as long as the results were smooth.

The good news is that the no!no! does not burn you. The heat (Thermicon technology) is conducted to a wire filament that is suspended on a sort of blade. When you glide the no!no! on your skin, the filament is just a hair shy of your skin. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.) But since the filament doesn't come in contact with skin, this explains why you don't get a close "shave."

In other good news, Sephora has the best return policy I know of. I was able to return the no!no! without any problems. I am thinking this technology has good potential though- maybe they will come out with a new model in a year or two that gives better results.

Have you tried the no!no!? What did you think?
Have you ever bought a device that seemed too good to be true, like from an infomercial? Did you ever fall for a gimmick?

I want I want I want

Lately, I want more clothes, more shoes, more purses, more accessories- this is bad. First, my money should be going elsewhere, like my vacation fund or to pay down debt. Second, I have nowhere to put more stuff. My husband may kill me if the weight of my clothes breaks another closet rod. Third, I don't NEED any of this stuff. And it creates a lot of pollution, manufacturing all these things. And a lot of these things are made from leather, so animals are raised and killed just so I can have another belt. So, let's see if I can satisfy my urge to shop by showing instead of buying, shall we? Let's see how long this lasts.

Orion Ankle Boot at Bakers- it has a 4 1/2 inch heel, it is open toe but still an ankle boot so it could work for multiple seasons, and it is real leather, so it feels like it might last. I will admit that sometimes, the shoes I have gotten at Bakers in the past have just fallen apart- but lately I have had better luck. Plus, the prices are decent and some of their styles are just so bad ass, and I love them.

Professionnel Platinum Angled Foundation Brush #51- Right now I have quite the mix of makeup brushes. I have the ones I got in the Bare Escentuals Starter pack, and I hate those. They are made with real goat hair I believe, but the hairs fall out all the time, especially during makeup application. Annoying. I have a great one for powder foundation from The Body Shop- really soft fake hairs and it has held up very well. And then I have a bunch of drugstore ones, and they are all pretty crappy. The bristles are rough and feel scratchy.I have been doing my research on what brushes I want to get when I am ready, and I think this line is it. It looks like they come in real hair and fake, but I think real hair may be over-rated. It absorbs more of the cosmetic and the hairs seem to fall out more easily. These brushes are made with nylon hairs, which are tapered just like real hairs, and they are super soft to the touch. And the nylon isn't porous like hair is, so less makeup is absorbed into the brush, which I think makes for better application and less cleaning.

For a while I was saying I didn't want any more tshirts because I already had so many and my job is kinda professional so I thought they wouldn't be appropriate. But we don't have a dress code and when in doubt, just throw a blazer over it! I really like the ones I have been seeing at Forever21- they are tissue thin, and the fit is just loose enough. I thought these two were cute (among others)- I really like the simple black and white design and the rocker-chic feel.

I don't think I have the confidence yet to wear the skinny jean but I am thinking maybe I could work up to it. I think they are so versatile and can be flattering if worn and styled correctly. I am hoping by fall, I can wear them without feeling so self conscious.

There's more, but I have to stop somewhere. What have you been wanting lately?

Lady Gaga is insane and I love it

"Gaga called me and said she wanted to be in a wheel chair. She wanted
me to design it and not the prop department. I took it upon myself to
drive to East L.A. and exchange the wheels for some low rider ones. I
ordered some Gucci fabric and handed it over to my genius
friend/designer Michael Schmidt so he could embellish it with Swarovski
crystals. " Lady Gaga's stylist B. Akerlund on the wheel chair in the
"Paparazzi" video, Anthem via Jezebel

I've finally done it

Hello Everyone! I have been trying to get this started for a while now- try months. My husband Chris is always saying, "So WHEN are you going to get on the whole blog thing" etc. I am always talking about it, but this is finally it. I have been reading a lot of blogs, trying to get ideas for what I want it to say, what I want it be like/about, and definitely what I DON'T want it to be.

I want this blog to have a lot of focus on fashion, but that does not have to be it. Fashion, to me, is an art. Many people do not understand fashion, they think in terms of "Do's" and "Don'ts." I will concede there are rules to fashion, just as there are certain rules in art in general. But sometimes it is ok for those rules to be broken. Sometimes, what comes down a fashion runway won't necessarily be worn on the streets or to work, and that is ok. It is ok to just appreciate fashion, even if it is not functional. That is how I view it at least.

Other ideas I have for this blog: I love thinking and planning when it comes to money and (my personal) financial situation. However, I could see where this could be limited, as I don't want to share too much information in that regard. I love thinking, planning, and researching health, wellness, exercise, and living more naturally and organically. (Although, I will admit, I don't always follow through. Maybe this blog will keep me accountable on that front?) I love travel, but I am not necessarily jetsetting all over the world, or the country for that matter (but only for lack of money.) I do go on short weekend trips to RI and NY often enough, and I have been to Italy and Canada. It sounds like I may have a male contributer- Bill- who will give us the guys perspective on many things, including fashion!

And of course, ideas and suggestions are welcome. Thanks for reading!