Sniff it Good

One beauty component a lot of people take for granted is fragrance, which is a shame. Perfumes should be personal, carefully selected to match the wearer. Besides, shopping for fragrance is fun! Price ranges, ingredients and forms vary widely, from spices to flowers to fruits, and splashes, mists, parfums, oils, and toilettes.

Another shame is even though you may have chosen the right scent for you, not everyone knows how to wear it properly. To get the full-bodied effect of the fragrance, you have to apply it to certain places on the body that will release the scent uniformly. French women know how: they spritz inside both their ankles, behind both knees, inner thighs, cleavage, pulse points, and the nape of the neck. Twelve squirts may seem like a lot, but the scent payoff lasts all day, and inevitably someone will tell you you smell good.

Here are some of my personal favorite scents. Try them for yourself, or something new!

I went through 3 bottles of this because I was complimented on it constantly!

It's a nice balance of citrus and floral.

A musky floral blend of rose, jasmine, sandalwood and powder.

Fruity. A lot of guys like this scent.

A very light fragrance with a hint of coconut, perfect for spring.

The intense form of the original. A heavy floral.

Happy sniffing!

Fashion Don'ts #2

I love band t-shirts, specifically vintage ones, but please, for your own diginity, DON'T wear a tee of a band you don't listen to! This will avoid embarassment when someone starts to talk to you about the band you are promoting, and trust me, someone will. You don't want to be called a poser, do you? You can wear one everyday if you want, but at least try to know a song they sing. I know it can be tempting sometimes, if a shirt just looks extra cool, in which case (now, I know this sounds weird) you should try to familiarize yourself with the band! If their design appeals to you, their music probably does, too! You'll be updating your wardrobe and iTunes library simultaneously.

Fashion Don'ts #1

SOCK BOOTS...DON'T.
I don't care if they are the new Uggs, they just look weird. I don't care if they are comfy, or warm. There are plenty of cute boots out there that do the same thing. Find them.

Oh, I think you should know...

In Katy Perry's video for her new single "Thinking of You," the ever-stylish songstress wears some gorgeous vintage fashions. The hair and makeup is beautiful too. Watch it! It made me cry!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw-nsH0obK0

"Comparisons are easily done
Once you've had a taste of perfection
Like an apple hanging from a tree
I picked the ripest one
I still got the seed

You said move on
Where do I go
I guess second best
Is all I will know

Cause when I'm with him
I am thinking of you
Thinking of you
What you would do if
You were the one
Who was spending the night
Oh I wish that I
Was looking into your eyes

You're like an Indian summer
In the middle of winter
Like a hard candy
With a surprise center
How do I get better
Once I've had the best
You said there's
Tons of fish in the water
So the waters I will test

He kissed my lips
I taste your mouth
He pulled me in
I was disgusted with myself

Cause when I'm with him
I am thinking of you
Thinking of you
What you would do if
You were the one
Who was spending the night
Oh I wish that I
Was looking into...

You're the best
And yes I do regret
How I could let myself
Let you go
Now the lesson's learned
I touched it I was burned
Oh I think you should know

Cause when I'm with him
I am thinking of you
Thinking of you
What you would do if
You were the one
Who was spending the night
Oh I wish that I
Was looking into your eyes
Looking into your eyes
Looking into your eyes
Oh won't you walk through
And bust in the door
And take me away
Oh no more mistakes
Cause in your eyes I'd like to stay..."

My Picks #4: Smashbox Photo Finish Primer

Any makeup pro will tell you, you need primer in your life. Apply it after moisturizer/before foundation to fill in lines and pores and create a smooth canvas. The one and only primer I've ever used and ever needed is PHOTO FINISH, by SMASHBOX.

I use the light formula since I have acne-prone skin, but they also make bronzing and color correcting formulas for every other skin need.

This stuff makes your skin feel like velvet and keeps your makeup from sliding all over your face. $36 may seem a little steep, but 1 oz. will last you well over a month and the quality of the product alone is worth it.

Smashbox also makes an amazing lip/lid primer duo. My lipstick and eyeshadow lasts for HOURS with this stuff! I highly recommend you add both of these products to your daily beauty regime!
Find them at Ulta, Sephora, or http://smashbox.com/.

Spring Fingers

Let's talk nails!

I recently got a manicure with my mom. I have only gotten fake nails a few times before, for the odd formal dance, but this time my dear mother insisted that I do something different. So I went a little crazy and got...

these!

If you can't tell, the tips are neon pink with black & white zebra stripes and silver glitter. Very different from my usual short black, gray, navy or purple nails!

They're my shout out to http://missbehavemag.com/, which does a feature on wacky manis. Check out the pics!

A trend in nail color that's been cropping up is minty green. You could see it on the runway at Chanel's most recent show.

Peppermint Patty, the polish from M.A.C's spring line Sugarsweet, is already sold out-and it just debuted yesterday!

Hopefully you can still find some in stores!

Pretty Kitty

I realize this is old news, but better late than never, right?

I thought I was pumped about the M.A.C/Fafi collection...

I thought I was stoked about the M.A.C/Heatherette collection...

but NOTHING is more exciting than M.A.C + Hello Kitty!!

Well, at least for me, anyways...

That's right, it's been in stores for a couple weeks now. The collection is packaged in glossy black, and Kitty is looking very mod instead of her usual colorful self. There are two lines, Mild and Wild, to appeal to every kitten. Lots of pink (of course) and a bit of blue show up in glitter, lip gloss, powders and shadows. Get it before it's gone!

I must have this brush kit!

& I am dying to get my paws on that white nail polish! Or get some white polish on my paws rather, haha.

Watch the ADORABLE promo video at http://maccosmetics.com/!

Fall Fashion Week 09

Fashion week has come and gone again. My apologies for not keeping up with it better! I'm just going to talk about my favorite of the few shows I did look at:

ANNA SUI

Her collection for fall this year was SO great--it was hard for me not to post a picture of every look! The looks were inspired by a vintage Parisian boudoir. Of course there was a lot of black, Anna's fave color.

Almost every girl wore some kind of fabulous headpiece. It really made me want to make some of my own. Anna's had rhinestones, jewel-toned plumes, and a few floppy knit hats.

I loved the star motif!

HOW gorgeous was Jourdan Dunn?!

Another fantastic accessory in this line were the tights. Some were colorfully printed...

but the best in show definitely went to the pairs that shimmered at different angles. They looked solid black, but as the models walked down the runway you could see flashes of blue, purple or gold in the light.

To top it all off, my favorite Brit-Girl, Daisy Lowe, walked in this show!

To watch the show in all its glory, go to http://http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASiaxiGl5vI&feature=related. Pictures courtesy of http://style.com/.

My Picks #3: Cowboy boots

I owe you readers an apology for such a long unannounced hiatus! A break from school makes you want to take a break from everything!

I'm going to pick back up with another of my personal product picks. The third one is...

Cowboy boots

Now, I know what some of you are thinking. I promise you though, the right style can really make a look, so long as you don't let it look costumey. I got my first pair for Christmas when I was about 5. They were bright red, and even then I appreciated their fashion power!

My pair of vintage-looking brown leather Ariats are actually for riding horses, but you can find fashion pairs in any department store. They are actually my most expensive fashion piece, but it was definitely a wise investment, as I have probably worn them over 100 times in the 3 years I've had them, and get compliments on them very often.

Country singer Taylor Swift has made pairing boots with formal dresses her signature look.

If you're not sure of how to wear them or if you're just not sure if they're for you, put on something you like to wear a lot and go shopping. Try them on with what you think you'd wear them with. I wear mine with shorts (try to avoid the Daisy Duke look), with skinny jeans tucked into them, or with knee-length or shorter dresses.

Be adventerous! But if you don't feel comfortable, don't waste your money on something you won't look forward to wearing.

Happy shopping!

Make-Up Must Haves

Yet another list from Rachel Zoe, with my alterations. If these products aren't sitting on your vanity, they should be...

moisturizer
(with SPF!)

ALWAYS before your makeup.

concealer

To hide undereye shadows and imperfections. I really like The Eraser, by Tarte. It's super smooth.

http://sephora.com/

cream blush
(yes, cream)

I use M.A.C Blushcreme in Posey and I have been on the same pot forever. A little dab'll do ya.

http://www.maccosmetics.com/

shimmer stick or cream

Why, you ask? A subtle shimmer (NOT stripper glitter) reflects light and attracts the eye. Swipe some in the arch of your eyebrow and on your cheekbone, above your blush. I like Smashbox's Artificial Light for its iridescence.

http://www.smashbox.com/

mascara!

This product is my biggest and best beauty secret. I get compliments on my eyelashes all the time, (I've been asked if they were fake more than once) and I owe it to this mascara. The primer adds visible extensions to your lashes and the comb that applies color separates them. If you want natural looking lashes, this product is not for you.

&
a glossy, moisturizing lip balm

My gloss of choice is C.O. Bigelow's Mentha Lip Tint. It adds color, shine, moisture, AND a minty scent to your kiss. It comes in multiple colors, but my fave is the more cherry-tinged No. 1138.

http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/

Seeing Spots

So I thought this was cool...I work in an outdoor mall, and right across the parking lot from my store is the Express store. Walking in to work one day a furry leopard coat in the window caught my eye. I thought to myself that I should go look at it sometime. A day or two later I got my beloved Nylon in the mail, and low & behold, my Express coat is in a story about the leopard print trend. At the bottom of the page the prices for all of the products were listed. The coat I wanted was a whopping $168! No way I could afford that. I cut the picture out & posted it on my bulletin board so I could admire it. Maybe I would find one cheaper somewhere...

A week or so later, I got to work a little early, so I thought I'd go in Express just to see if the coat was even still there. It was, & there was only one left in my size. I tried it on & immediately fell in love (which is not common for me). I knew I had to have it, so I put it on hold & called my mom after I got off work that night. I offered to pay for half if she & Dad would pay the other half for an early Christmas present, or strike some sort of deal. I really needed a thick coat since I'm going to Chicago next month! She put me on the phone with my dad, & he said "Well if you love love love it, you've gotta have it then, huh? Just go ahead & put it on the credit card." What a nice daddy! I picked it up the next day!

I just had to share that story, because it makes me so happy : )
Here's the story my coat was in:

Pretty

NYLON is my favorite magazine, so when they released their beauty book, Pretty, last year, I knew I had to have it. It's over 200 colorful pages packed with product suggestions, looks to try, and inspirational beauty icons throughout the decades. I refer to my copy whenever I am in the mood to try something new. It hasn't failed me yet! Get yours at http://www.amazon.com/Pretty-NYLON-Beauty-Editors-Nylon/dp/0789315394.

Jewelry Box Essentials

Not everyone wears jewelry, but it is one of the best ways to add to your style quotient. Accessories can transform an outfit and make a big statement.

This list of key pieces to own is inspired by celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe, and tweaked by me...

diamond studs

(real or fake)

Use them to brighten a more basic ensemble.

metal hoop earrings

You can wear them with anything!

a special cocktail ring

This doesn't have to break your bank-costume jewelry can sometimes look just as nice.

statement-making chandelier earrings

pearls

EVERY girl should own pearls!

a bangle or cuff

a "wow" necklace

Never underestimate the power of jewelry as a conversation piece!

All of the examples in this blog are Betsey Johnson pieces (because I am a huge fan!) If you liked these, check out her website http://www.betseyjohnson.com. Happy shopping!