I picked up this skirt at ASOS recently, and while trying to figure out how to wear it by day with a white, rocker T, I ended up throwing it on classic style, with a little, black sweater and heels.
There's something supremely easy about pairing a traditional, evening jacket with a pencil skirt. (Especially if that skirt happens to be covered in sequins). You can take it high or low with a simple change of top.
Skirt: ASOS, Sweater: Magaschoni, Jacket: Tahari
I'm gonna try it with a casual tee and biker boots next. But in the meantime, I'm feeling girlish enough to go out for dinner with the hubs in the classic manner...
We celebrated Valentine's Day late this year at a boutique hotel in Palm Springs, and the weather finally warmed up enough to allow me to wear my new pantsuit for the first time.
I'm in love with the wide legs and deep pocketing. For evening, I threw on a chiffon ASOS jacket with an open back, but I barley needed it until nightfall.
After years of the Hubs trying to get me to wear it, I've suddenly blossomed into a lover of red. I guess tastes are like palettes. They can change every 7 years too. Maybe this one just felt as romantic as the time we spend together.
I had the privilege of working last week with what I deem, "The best darn Glam Squad" in the biz.
I can't reveal what we worked on, but I can say that this group of gals, (and a couple of choice guys) contributed to what was by far one of the the most rewarding experiences as far as team efforts go. I can't begin to thank them enough for all their beautiful and arduous work. So I'll leave it at that--simply terrific. (You all know who you are).
A few face charts I mapped out during my prep week...
The adorable crew!
Left to right: Ryan, JJ, Lisa, Jamie, Cheryl, Angela, Me, Leah
You're all so special. A warm, hearty thanks to all!!
I have a favorite trench coat that I truly love, but the color has been fading rapidly and it became time to replace it with a newer model. (More to come next week when I detail how to renovate an outerwear piece).
I picked up this trench at a Bloomingdale's sale last week, and it has the perfect mixture of stretch and twill.
What
attracted me to it are the sleeves, which are a knit, sweater material,
(so very snuggly). The rest of the coat is a traditional, cotton sateen
fabric. Perfect for this mixed, LA weather, the weight is just right to
layer. I was going to pop it with some color this morning, but decided
to opt for a wash of neutrals instead.
Heels: B. Makovsky, Dress: American Apparel, Belt: Mango
I threw on this AA dress and a backwards belt to top it off. There's nothing more casual and easy than American Apparel for weekend wear. Never fussy, always clean. It was the perfect dose of neutrals. When you don't want to wear a t-shirt but need something equally comfortable, reach for American Apparel. They do it just right.
I've been a makeup artist for about 15 years, and without fail, one of the first questions I always get is: "I'm on a budget, what can I get for $100"?
To this, I've compiled a simple list of what every woman should have in her makeup arsenal for around $100 and how to make the most of it! Here are some basic points to keep in mind:
--Make sure you use products that perform double duty, like a cleanser/toner or a blush/bronzer.
--Make sure the items you invest in can all be applied in ten minutes or less
--Make a budget and stick to it. Don't be talked into something you can't afford by department store salespeople. If you're worried about having a problem saying "no", leave the credit cards at home and walk in with cash only.
With that said, here is a list of the seven, "basic" items not to skip. These affordable, must-haves can be purchased for roughly one hundred bucks. Because you don't have to break the bank to look and feel great!
Step 1: Invest in a good, basic foundation or base product that does everything in one, fell swoop. Any easy way to go is to skip base in favor of tinted moisturizer, all-in-one, powder products, or BB Cream, all of which contain SPF and general skincare. I recommend Boscia BB Cream for most fair skin tones, available here and Becca Mineral Powder Foundation in Ravish or Enchant, available here for darker skin: These Retail for $39 and $38 respectively.
Step 2: Cream blushes are great for all skin types and tones. Try NARS the Multiple Stick in Orgasm, available here. You can use it for cheeks, lips, and eyes, so it performs triple duty. The peachy color makes it user friendly for virtually all skin tones. For a powder double agent, try NARS, highlighting bronzing blush duo in Sin/Casino, available here. Both retail at $39 and $40 respectively. And since you can wear them as shadows too, you save on an additional product!
Step 3: For a groovy drugstore brand, setting and blotting powder, try L'Oreal Translucide in light, medium, or dark, available here for $9.99.
Step 4: For Mascara, Rimmel Extra Super Lash, available here, Clinique Lash Doubling available here, or L'Oreal Voluminous available here, all do a great job from between $3.50-$14.
Step 5: For a cheap brow filler, try #648 from Wet and Wild, available here for $1.94.
Step 6: For lip-liners on a budget, try NYX.com's array in every color here for $4.50. For a lovely and inexpensive lipgloss/lipcolor combo, try NYX's wide array of hyper thick and shiny glosses, here. Combined with their retractable pencils, they make a great pairing and at $5.50 apiece, they can't be beat.
Step 7: Finally, for eyeliners in both shimmer, glitter and matte, try Sephora's house-brand pencils available here. For 8$ they seem to last for months, and they're waterproof and brightening. Plus they come in a wide array of colors and can be smudged all over the eyelid, making them another good, double agent.
So there you have it. A new year, a fresh makeup kit. And it's all available to you for roughly $100. So go to town, and keep the piggy bank in tact!
This past weekend I participated in my first flash-mob. A small affair, but those of us brave enough to do so all wore "forever lazies", (yes, the info-mercial, adult onesy-wear).
This is what I wore under my forever lazy, and promptly stripped into after we had all paraded out of the Culver Hotel in West Los Angeles. A simple, bell sleeve, chiffon dress.
With one of my favorite, vintage necklaces. A silver bird of peace from Israel.
It was definitely a night to remember. And it made me brave enough to consider even doing it again in the near future. However for now, I'll stick to heels and dresses for my nights out and leave the ones-ies until next Halloween.
At a cavernous Goodwill store on the island of Oahu, I found a little, 80's, polka dot dress with pleating and an asymmetrical drape that I've been dying to pull out. I finally got a chance to wear it when my good friend hosted an 80's themed, birthday party.
When I stumbled across it, the silk was in flawless condition, and the gathers recalled my favorite, 40's style dresses. Quite the hybrid. Since it was already a mish-mosh of eras, I paired it with a modern, leather jacket and an 80's style, beaded belt.
I added nude heels to elongate my legs. I'm obsessed with these BCBG's because they have a 70's vibe to them and they're comfy enough to stand in for hours.
What I love about sourcing thrift and vintage is that sometimes the gems you find are so inexpensive, yet they can make you feel like a million bucks. This dress came with the remarkable price tag of $4.50. I think as investments go, it was a good one.
There's a longstanding debate that goes on between me and my stunningly beautiful, 67 year old mother.
Whenever she comes to visit, I have to remind her that all liquid makeup should be "set" with powder to keep it from moving and fading. But my mother has convinced herself that women with "mature" skin shouldn't wear powder. (But doesn't she look great with just a smidgen of it here? Talk about natural beauty)...
Well, here's my answer to the powder-less theory--wrong! The ingredients and polymers used to make today's powders just keep getting better, so here's a few items I can't live without that will never make you feel like your face was just dusted with confectioners sugar! Whether you're 16 or 96, these are the sure-fire rescues.
The Ingenue: Becca Loose Finishing Powder, in any and all colors. This amazing, talc based product only has two ingredients: Talc, and color. That's it! No additives, no harsh chemicals. Just gorgeous, sheer powder to set makeup from the lightest to the heaviest finish. I've never seen this stuff cake or crevasse on a single client. What's more, it makes the makeup virtually touch proof in all weather.
The Classic: Yves Saint Laurent Poudre Sur Mesure, or Semi Loose Powder in Shade #2. I just bought this item and I'm over the moon! It's so crazily sheer it's like gossamer. A dusting of this and all traces of shine vanish. Plus, it's got that ever so chic, YSL packaging that every woman can feel kind of "MadMen" about carrying. Best of all, it's got a dial system which allows you to sift out only what you need without product being wasted or getting all over your bag. Vive La France!
The Modernist: Makeup Forever HD Microfinish Powder. A friend used to say that when we brushed this product along our client's skin, it looked like they were on fire! This is because the product is so lightweight that it basically disappears into the air with a "pouf", like smoke. But talk about invisible. This isn't a true setting powder, but as a loose blotter, it's one of the best!
The Rock Star: MAC pressed blot powder in shades Fair, Medium, and Dark. This oil controlling, sculpting powder can revive your skin to look creamy and smooth under lengthy conditions. I also love that this simple, pink based powder can help balance out foundation that has "turned" and become too light or too yellow. A good, goof-proof staple to consider for touch ups!
The Bombshell: Ever want to affect that beautiful, Marilyn Monroe-esque, pearly pink pallor? I know I did after watching Michelle Williams just play her in "My Week with Marilyn". To get that rosy glow, try Makeup Forever, Super Matte, loose powder in shade #2, Pale Pink. It will take you all the way back in time.
Well, that's all for today. If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times. Don't neglect your powder! Once on, you'll look and feel so polished you'll wonder why you rallied against using it.
There's something supremely easy about pairing a traditional, evening jacket with a pencil skirt. (Especially if that skirt happens to be covered in sequins). You can take it high or low with a simple change of top. 
