January 15, 2010

Preen Spring 2010 RTW–Get the look

Preen is a line I heard about within the past year. Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi launched Preen more than 10 years ago in London but they did not become recognized internationally until more recently. I am kind of obsessed with Preen’s Spring 2010 RTW because it had a little bit of everything without going over the top. So, I decided to blog about it 🙂

Here are some of my favorites from Preen Spring 2010 RTW:

There was a lot of grey, which not everyone may like but I loved how the dull color was paired with the neon yellow accents. Other theme colors of the show included white, black, nude, and a light-rose-colored pink. These pieces were mostly flowy and sheer with various texture accents which I thought was amazing. However, there are some tighter dresses throughout the collection that I loved. Lots of asymmetry and straps…fabulous!

Although most of these pieces were simple in color, their textures and structure were quite complex which I absolutely loved.

Click Here for the complete Preen collection

Here are some looks I chose based off of the Preen runway show:

Top Row (left to right): Forever Unique Stud Detail Asymmetric Dress ($68 at asos.com), McQ Rope Print Silk Bouble Dress  ($373 at zappos.com), Sheer Cowl Dress ($92 at lagarconne.com), Lanvin Sandals ($368 at barneys.com)

Bottom Row (left to right): Shirred Cross Back Formal Dress ($60 at gojane.com), Vamp Citrine Shoes ($58 at next.co.uk), Juicy Couture Drop Shoulder Dress ($198 at shopbop.com), Sheer Cowl Boatneck T ($85 at lagarconne.com)

So, what do you think? Do you like the Preen Spring 2010 collection? Do you like the trends they’re showing? I want to hear from you!

January 12, 2010

Makeup Essentials

This differs for everyone. Some people can’t live without foundation, others (like Snooki from the Jersey Shore) cannot live without bronzer…lots of bronzer. This all depends on your skintype, how you want to look and what you feel most comfortable in. However, there are certain cosmetics that every girl always should have.

First and foremost, a brightener will change your life. I used to use concealer under my eyes for years and I never understood why you could still see my circles. I think concealer is great for a breakout here and there (remember, too much caked on draws more attention!) but a brightener or corrector is the way to go. I’ve used the corrector pens by T. LeClerc and Dior which were good but I am currently using the Bobbi Brown Corrector (in Bisque) and it has made a huge difference.

**Note: Keep in mind you should be using an undereye cream  too! You can cover things up all you want but isn’t easier to prevent them? I use NARS Nourishing Eye Cream which is amazing. Depending on what you’re looking for in an eye cream (fix dark circles, reduce puffiness, decrease wrinkles, etc.) you should check out your favorite brands or your local Sephora, Blue Mercury or C.O. Bigelow.

When people ask, “what’s the one product you cannot live without?” my response has been (and will always be) MASCARA.  I think it truly makes all the difference. Curled and thick lashes make your face look more lively and awake which is always a plus. Before applying mascara, always use an eyelash curler. It not only looks better once the mascara is applied but it makes applying the mascara much easier and it looks more smooth. Curling the lashes can only help you. Not hurt you. Trust me. Currently, I use two mascaras. I first apply a coat of CoverGirl LashBlast Mascara for the volume then a coat of NARS Larger Than Life Lengthening Mascara for the length. I personally don’t mind taking that extra step and it’s worked better than any single mascara I’ve used in the past (and I’ve used a lot).

**Note: Using mascara can dry or damage your lashes. To prevent this, I use Shu Uemura Lash Repair It strengthens and conditions lashes to prevent future damage. It can also be used as a primer for mascara.

My last essential is blush. This is another item that really brightens your face all around and a little goes a long way. I currently own two different blushes and which one I use depends on my mood or the occasion. I have a matte blush and a shimmery blush. The shimmery blush is  BareMinerals Blush in Vintage Peach. My other blush isn’t completely matte but it’s definitely less shimmery than the BareMinerals one. It’s T. LeClerc Powder Blush in Brun RosĂŠ . I’ve used this one for much longer and it’s my go-to blush for everyday…it’s never done me wrong!

I hope you can see the method to my madness…of makeup essentials. I believe a brightener or corrector, mascara and blush are essential because of what they do. Individually, they can transform your look to make you seem more lively and awake. Altogether, they can do wonders. If you don’t get at least 7 hours of sleep every night, it can negatively affect the way your skin looks. These three simple cosmetics can help you “fake it” and can make you look fabulous everyday.

Keep in mind, a great skincare routine is important in the success of your skin. See some of my favorite skincare picks from my NARS post.

So, what do you think? What are your makeup necessities? Have you tried any of the cosmetics mentioned? If so, do you like them? If not, what do you use? I always love to hear from you!

January 11, 2010

Celeb Style: Chloe Sevigny

Chloe Sevigny: Actress. Model. Fashion Designer. She really has it all going for her. Her style is made up of neutral pieces (dresses or separates), sometimes paired with a great blazer and darker (usually black) shoes and bags. It’s a great combination of light/flowy with an edgy accent. Her makeup is always flawless. A nude eye, sometimes with a little eyeliner, and a red lip…she’s good to go! Her hair is either down and wavy or up in a messy do. Either way, it’s an effortless look that makes Chloe the “effortless-chic” woman she is.

Here is a taste of Chloe’s style:

She tends to stay away from crazy prints but she isn’t afraid to step out of her comfort zone and take risks, which I find to be an admirable quality.

Want Chloe’s look? You can get it!

Chloe’s Look (left): Dress is Missoni ($714 at luisaviaroma.com), Blazer is Donna Karan ($718 at theoutnet.com), Handbag is Marc Jacobs ($1,021 at farfetch.com), Ankle Booties are Givenchy ($990 at net-a-porter.com), Bracelet is Jamie Joseph ($760 at ylang23.com), Lipstick is YSL in No. 137 Star Red ($32 at yesstyle.com), Eyeshadow is Benefit in Gossip ($19 at benefitcosmetics.com)

Chloe’s Look For Less (right): Dress ($51 at missselfridge.com), Ankle booties ($56 at debenhams.com), Handbag ($73 at generalpants.com.au), Earrings ($2.80 at forever21.com), ARTDECO Perfect Color Red Lipstick ($16.50 at beauty.hsn.com), Eyeshadow by Shimmer New York in Sunlit ($9 at yesstyle.com)

As I mentioned earlier, Chloe is an actress, model and fashion designer. Normally, I’m not one for celebrity-designed clothes (except the Oleson twins’ Elizabeth & James and The Row…so amazing!) but Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony has a great edge to it that I just love! Here are some of my favorite pieces from the collection:

Black & White Sweater $157 at collete.fr, Blue Cardigan $380 at lagarconne.com, Shoes $650 at shopbop.com

What do you think of Chloe’s look? Do you like her style? Who are your style icons and why? I want to hear from you!

January 9, 2010

So Many Boots, So Little Time

It’s winter, what else would we wear? It’s the best way to stay warm and look fabulous. The difficult part of boots is that there are so many different types! Which should we choose? No wonder guys say we have too many shoes. We need to have at least one of each type, right?

There are ankle booties (a newer, trendier craze), flat boots and heeled boots. Then there are mid-calf, knee-high and over-the-knee. Top it off with an array of fabrics (mostly suede or leather) and you got yourself a perfect accessory…the boot.

I’m a fan of all sorts of boots. I love love love ankle boots! You can do so much with them and there are so many different styles and colors! There are even different heights to these as well. You’ve got your Christian Louboutins (see picture below) that hit right at the ankle, then you’ve got others that go 2-3 inches higher up the ankle, like the Dolce Vitas (see picture below).

Besides ankle boots, I am a also fan of flat and heeled boots, but I believe the most flattering kind does not depend on the heel but where it hits on the leg. Knee-highs, flat or heeled, are my favorite. If the boot hits anywhere below (like a mid-calf), the boot might look a little tighter on the leg and depending on the shape/size of your legs, that may not be the most flattering. I like my boots to have a little room at the top, not only to tuck jeans in but to give the illusion of a smaller leg. Who wouldn’t want that, right?

Here are some of my favorite boots from this season:

Top Row, Ankle Boots (left to right): Dolce Vita Flash Bootie ($190 heels.com), Urban Studded Bootie ($27 forever21.com), Brian Atwood Mini Leather Ankle boots ($785 net-a-porter.com), Christian Louboutin Miss 120 Platform Ankle Boots ($1,075 net-a-porter.com)

Middle Row, Heeled Boots (left to right): MICHAEL Michael Kors Kincade Slouch Boot ($198 zappos.com), Britany2 Over Knee Boot ($210 topshop.com), Giuseppe Zanotti Suede Platform Boots ($1,225 at net-a-porter.com), Slouchy Faux Suede Boot ($78 ardenb.com)

Bottom Row, Flat Boots (left to right): Loeffler Randall Matilde Leather Knee High Boots ($695 net-a-porter.com), Burberry Leather Knee High Boots ($895 net-a-porter.com), Chloe flat Knee High Boots ($895 net-a-porter.com), Alexandra Neel Twinset Suede Over the Knee Boots ($732 shopbop.com)

My favorite of all these? The MICHAEL Michael Kors Kincade boots. Why? Because I have them…also because they’re a great color (they go with everything), they’re really comfortable, they’ll never go out of style, and I believe slouch boots to be super flattering. What’s not to love?

Now you see what I mean by “So Many Boots, So Little Time.” What are your favorite kind of boots? Do you prefer ankle, mid-calf, knee-high, or over-the-knee? Do you prefer a color or a neutral? Suede or leather? Flat or heel? I want to hear from you! Let me know what you think.