Beauty Product Review:

Not too long ago, I stocked up on some make-up while Sephora was having a huge sale. One new product I decided to try was the Stila One Step Primecolor:

I purchased it in "Kitten" which happened to be the color that was on sale at the time. It's also a color of Stila's that I love for eye and lip color, so I figured it would work for me. This product is intended to be used for pretty much any area of the face- lips, eyes, cheeks, etc. I've been using it on my cheeks and eyes as a base for blush and shadow. It is amazing! Because the color is fairly neutral on my fair skin, it just adds a touch of shimmer and a great base for the blush or shadow to cling to. On my cheeks, the effect is like a dewy glow. On my eyes, it's a gentle shimmer. This product will definitely be a part of my regular make-up routine from now on- I'm completely hooked! 

Etsy Find- River of Romansk

I was perusing some items on Etsy the other day and discovered the most fabulous Etsy store- River of Romansk. I just fell in love with all the dresses- the colors, the fabrics, everything about them, really! They are also perfect for this time of year- the weather is still warm enough for light, flow-y dresses like these:

Rose Tea Party Dress, $43.80

Chiffon Flapper Dress, $43.90

Bubble Hem Dress, $39.80

Chiffon Flowy Dress, $43.80

I love all the shades of nude, pink, ivory, etc.- they are all so romantic! Chiffon can be a tough fabric to pull off, but when the dress has a nice structure to it (as these appear to), it's a little bit easier. My favorite is the Rose Tea Party Dress- I would LOVE to wear it to just about anything- a bridal shower, a dinner out, or even to work! Maybe I'll have to order one for myself... 

Go Graphic

I've written before on this blog about the importance of selecting a print that is in proportion to your body. Click here if you would like to read that post (it's still relevant and useful, after all). However, if you still struggle with that concept, or just have difficulty executing it, may I offer you another option: rather than purchasing clothing with an all-over print, go for something that has one well-placed graphic design. Here are some great options:

African Water Color Tank Dress, Karma Loop, $30

BKE Boutique Graphic Top, Buckle, $38

B. Darlin Petal Applique Dress, Dillard's $35.40

Not only is this technique great for solving the issue of "what size print can I wear?" but it also helps balance out your body if need be. For example, if you are top heavy, choose a garment that has a bold design on the bottom half. The reverse also works, or if you want to draw the eye up to your face, then select a garment with the design close to the neckline. 

Questions? Comments? I always want to hear your thoughts, so leave a comment! 

Shoesday Tuesday- Amazing Louboutins

Christian Louboutin Maggie Cap-Toe Pumps, Neiman Marcus, $995

At least now I understand my attraction to the Shoe Dazzle "Amour" shoe from a couple of weeks ago. They are a pretty blatant knock-off of these amazing Louboutins. 

Happy Shoesday Tuesday! 

Project Runway Season 9 Episode 3

Wow. I don't really have a lot to say about this episode except to say that is was whacked. Seriously- there were a lot of "huh?" moments for me. First, let's talk about how it's apparently impossible to walk even close to normal when you're on stilts. So, even the winning look, as elegant as it is, was awkward in motion because the model clearly HAS to walk with her legs spread apart. I laughed out loud when I saw it! At least it was pretty and as the judges said, it looked like a really great dress that had just been "stretched." Anyone could see how this would translate to ready-to-wear:

Laura and Anthony Ryan's Look

I'm not sure how I would feel if I'd won a challenge like this. It's just so bizarre. I really love the fact that the challenges are so creative and out-of-the-box, though. Kudos to the producers for keeping it interesting! 

Anyway, since I don't really feel able to discuss the many monstrosities that walked the runway this week, I'll focus on some other "looks." 

1.) I totally own this dress Becky is wearing (it's Target circa 2007) and I can't wait to pair it with a yellow cardigan: 

2.) Olivier's outfit reminds me of Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption. He wore his chambray prison shirt buttoned all the way up, too:

3.) Do you notice something interesting about this photo? 

I did. I see not 6, but 7 "stilt" models on the stage and one of them (to the left of Heidi) was never seen on the episode. Since this episode's runway show took place outdoors in front of a live audience, we have to assume that the two designers who have already been "auf'd" were part of the challenge as well. Or at least that's how it must have appeared to the live audience. This is common practice with PR, although up until now it's only happened for the final runway shows. Typically, when the finale is filmed at fashion week, the show has only aired to a certain point. The producers have some of the designers who have already been "auf'd" and they create decoy runway shows, too. That way, no one in the audience can know if they are seeing an actual competitor's show or just a decoy. It's kind of amazing, actually. What's not amazing is that horrific decoy design! 

Well, folks- that's all I've got this week, aside from saying that I mostly agree with the judges' decision this week. But I wouldn't have been upset if Bryce had gone home instead of Fallene. If he snarled his lip one more time and complained about how she didn't cut the fabric "on the grain," I think I might have thrown something at the TV in complete exasperation. I think he deserved to go home for being snide. I suppose it's a good thing I'm not a PR judge if I want to send people home for being rude and annoying. 

What about you? What did you think of the episode? Leave a comment and tell me! 

Accessories Anonymous: A Fabulous Fascinator!

You all know how much I love a great fascinator, right? Well, this weekend, there was an absolutely PERFECT new accessory at work and I am seriously considering purchasing it! It's available as pictured below, but also in black. Isn't it amazing?

I am seriously in LOVE with it. The design is by Sara Gabriel, who makes some really gorgeous veils and headpieces. I love this fascinator as it is in a creamy ivory, but wouldn't it also be amazing in black? I may just have to splurge on it.... 

Air Force Inspired

In honor of the Portsmouth Air Show happening this weekend, I want to focus this post on clothing and accessories inspired by the military, specifically the Air Force.

Short Sleeve Belted Military Shirt Dress, Macy's $44.99

I love the simple clean lines of a shirt dress, but I especially enjoy when there are military details like epaulets and pockets. The green reminds me more of the army, but the crispness of the look is military all the way. 

Vintage 60's Military-Inspired Jacket, Ebay, $42

The idea of military-inspired fashion is not a new one. It's a trend that comes and goes very frequently, in fact. This jacket pictured above is a vintage 1960's jacket with amazing details. I love the huge collar (very 60's), but I especially love the button detailing on the sides. It's unexpected and striking, but still has that very polished look that we expect from military-inspired clothing. 

A-Line Denim Skirt, Forever 21, $19.80 

Finally, a little bit of blue, although in this case it's denim. I like the silhouette of this skirt and the fact that it goes with just about anything. Dress is up, dress it down- that's actually one of the great things about military- you can go dressy or casual with it, depending on the accessories you choose. 

I've never actually attended an air show, but I imagine they are pretty exciting- the power of the aircrafts as well as the skill of the pilots likely makes for quite a spectacle. Unfortunately, I'll be working, so there won't be any air show viewing for me this weekend. If you happen to go, please leave me a comment and tell me all about it- I'd love to hear all about it!