In case it weren't clear from the rampant appearance of bold, bright lippies in my OOTD posts, I consider my lips and nails to be accessories. I love nothing more than adding an insanely bright (say pink) lippie or neon (perhaps purple?) manicure to an otherwise neutral look for a little pop and a little shock.
A great example? Today's manicure...which includes a single accent nail in a bold, bright neon blue. Ridiculous? Mayhaps. (I did have to answer more than one "Are you sure?" question at the salon!) But this little splash of color brings a smile to my face whenever I look down - and you really can't ask for more than that from a mani, can you?
Base Color: M·A·C Cosmetics Wham, Glam, Bam (from Riveting, no longer available - note that this is actually a matte polish, however I had a normal glossy topcoat applied over it.)
Accent Color: Milani Dude Blue
After evaluating my wardrobe, I've come to the conclusion that Wonder Woman has been a major influence on my style. No...wait...just listen. From my love of blue and red (paired together - that's key) to my adoration of large cuffs, the DC Comics superhero epitomizes power, strength and style.
So, imagine my excitement as I perused Women's Wear Daily today, and spotted the news that M·A·C has partnered with DC Comics to create a limited edition (of course!) color cosmetics collection featuring the illustrated superhero.
"Set for a spring 2011 launch at all MAC locations worldwide, the lineup is expected to include lipsticks, eye shadows, blush and nail polish ranging in price from $13 to $49.50. (No word on whether metal-deflecting bracelets are part of the collection.)"
Will you be lining up at your counter for Wonder Woman-insprired beauty?
Yesterday was, to say the least, a DAY. A dreary, rainy and UNBEARABLY humid day, that is. In fact, when I stepped out of the office to hit the LOFT Fall 2010 preview, my sunglasses fogged up in a matter of seconds. Terrifying.
While, in retrospect, I dressed a little "heavy" for the day, I was inspired to build a look around my new Nicole Miller Glass Chandelier Necklace. Big and bold, with a multi-layered silver chain, the perfect showcase for this star seemed to be tone-on-tone gray and a simple, but perfect pair of jeans:
After meeting countless makeup artists and experimenting with more beauty products than I could count in a lifetime, I'm convinced that a flawless look is all in the tools and the technique. And while it's worth splurging on quality brushes (after all, if you take care of them, they'll last for YEARS), if you don't have to spend a ton, why would you?
A question for the ages, I know. And it's finally been answered by Sonia Kashuk, whose Target-exclusive beauty collection really excels in the brush category, most notably with the new Out of the Woods Brush Set.
Tucked in a borderline chic, reusable cork clutch are 6 high quality brushes, comprised of natural wood and soft synthetic hair (perfect for you animal lovers and veggies in the world!). For under $20, your proverbial application bases are covered, from eyes to cheek to lips. While I still use a mix of brands (including Laura Mercier and M·A·C), I've been using the large blush brush from this collection daily, and thus far, it's holding up beautifully!
Snag yours online for just $19.99.
Everything M·A·C does, I need to be part of, and that CERTAINLY includes the JUST-announced Venomous Villains collection.
Slated to release in late September, the limited edition color collection will feature four Disney characters, though mums the word on exactly WHICH villains have inspired Creative Director James Gager.
A short teaser video provides some clues (if you pay close attention, that is!) Take a look here and tell me, which Villian would you like to see immortalized in makeup?
Blogger, social media consultant and Style Coalition founder Yuli Ziv is the very definition of a "girl about town," in my eyes. Not only is she perennially polished, she's also gorgeous, funny and wise, to boot. Her site, My It Things, is on my must-read list and every smart fashionista that I know feels the same. So, you can imagine my excitement when Yuli agreed to participate in "What's in HER Bag?"
In her own words, here's what she's toting around in her Isabella Fiore Harlow satchel:
How does your bag compare to Yuli's?
Like any human being on planet earth, I love a good laugh. And if I can marry a good laugh with some fashion inspiration, I'm even happier. That's where the gals at Fashion Binge come in. Penned by my pal Tamar Anitai (and her equally-as-delightful friend Catherine), this blog lives up to it's tagline, with "so much style, you'll want to vom."
Tamar and I are soul sisters when it comes to fashion details, in particular, jewelry and accessories (we love a good stud, what can I say?) So, I was particularly keen to sneak a peek inside her bag. In her own (very colorful) words, here's what she's packing:
The bag itself is from Eryn Brinie. I love it because the studs are kind of subtle, but even empty, the bag is REALLY heavy. It isn't real leather (meaning I could afford it), and when I first got it, it smelled so chemically. It was like something that grew out of Three Mile Island or something. I thought I was going to air it out overnight on the porch I don't have -- the smell was THAT intense.
- Wallet: It's kitschy and plastic (two of my favorite attributes!), by "Darling Dynasty," and I got it at Exit 9 (one of my favorite gift stores) after the turnlock on my Hayden-Harnett leather wallet broke, and they wouldn't fix it! So after that, I was like fuck it. I'm off leather wallets for a while.
- Dooney & Bourke coin purse: My "work wallet," which holds my work ID, receipts, whatevs. Handy because it always has extra change or a surprise forgotten dollar!
- Eyelash curler: I just bought a new one from Sephora. Still box fresh!
- Raybans: ice blue!
- Point cards: I have one for Sephora and one for Chop't. I get unnecessarily excited about accruing points. It's sad. I know I can eventually get a free salad, but I keep banking the Sephora points, and I don't even know what I can someday redeem them for. Like, perhaps if I rack up enough points, they'll make me the CEO or something? That'd rule.
- Lipsticks and stuff: A SPRAYPEN hand sanitizer (gah! so smart!) I got when I did the Avon 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer this past October; my Laura Mercier black gold eyeliner; My Elie Faas bullet lipstick (blood red! BRILLIANT blue-red shade); Stila Kajal liner in Topaz -- my daytime liner -- it's like a big, fat, opaque nude/ peach and brightens and widens my eyes (seriously, if this is the ONLY liner you EVER buy, then it should be the only liner you ever buy); Maybelline Shine Sensational Watermelon Punch gloss, and this random but excellent lipbalm from Denim of Virtue. They make excellent denim AND a great lipbalm. Weird, right? Oh, and MAC "Way to Love." My biz-casual shade.
- Hayden-Harnett coin purse: holds my subway card. My co-blogger, former roommate and all-around bestie Catherine gave me this as a bridesmaid gift. SCORE!
- Aleve. So strong it oughta be illegal.
- iPod and BIG-ASS HEADPHONES. Matador the beef jerky people sent me these. I have no idea why, but thanks! I had amazing Senneheiser ones that JUST broke when I tried to plug them into the headphone jack on a recent flight. SCREW YOU, CONTINENTAL AIRLINES! Oh, and to make matters worse, I plugged them in to watch The Blind Side. My time would've been better served watching two straight hours of local car dealership commercials or credit rating commercials or something. THAT'S how bad The Blind Side was.
- Tiny Sanrio mirror: A little gift from my little sister!
- Cloth-covered notebook: Got this at the Brooklyn King Con comic book festival when I volunteered there. I used to record my workouts when I was going to Crossfit somewhat regularly, but lately this thing's been enjoying a run on blank pages!
- CO Bigelow lavender peppermint hand lotion -- because I be ashy!
- Bowery Hotel pen -- I stayed there the night of my wedding, and don't think for ONE SECOND that I didn't walk off with every pen in the room.
- Work Blackberry
- Real-life Blackberry, because I'm paranoid work's reading my emails. This one is exclusively for texting, personal emails, and, of course, cat videos.
Read more of Tamar's genius and hilarity over at Fashion Binge and (some small entertainment site I've never heard of called) MTV Buzzworthy.
I'm hard pressed to choose one single must-have makeup item...I mean, how can a girl choose between eyeliner and lipstick, mascara and lipgloss? Ce n'est pas possible! Yet, if I had to name the one product that makes the most impact on my look daily, that's SIMPLE. Blush. Hands down, a beautiful cream or powder blush brings life to my face.
My new Spring favorites come courtesy of MAC's Too Fabulous collection. These delicious, swirled Mineralize Blush Duos pair two complementary hues in one chic, abstract powder. Applied with a big, fluffy blush brush, these Duos deliver a delightful, yet diffused, pop of color and, yes, LIFE to your look this season.
My personal pale-girl favorite is Two Virtues, a bright pink/purple (above, bottom), but regardless of your skintone, you're sure to find a blush to suit.
Shop Too Fabulous at www.maccosmetics.com.
Felicia Sullivan is firmly ingrained in my life, and I'm luckier for this. Not only is she a fabulous friend and a writer to ADMIRE, she's also my partner in crime by day, as we work together in social media.
Despite all of that together time, I never tire of her enormous brain, voracious wit (can wit be voracious? I think so) or intense passion for all things stylish and delicious. It's for these reasons and more that I'm excited to have a sneak peek inside her GORGEOUS Miu Miu deerskin tote today. Here's what she's packing:
- Weleda Skin Food
- Bare Minerals Sugar Plum lip gloss
- MAC’s Ruby Woo
- MAC’s Russian Red
- Payot Hydration Lip Balm
- Julie Hewett Lip Balm
- Kleenex tissues
- Lodis Wallet
- Iphone/charger
- Antonya Nelson’s Nothing Right (stories) -- always a book or magazine in my bag
- Keys/Gym Pass
- Scarf – always carry a scarf in my bag. Lately it’s Nepali by TDM Design
Read Felicia's musings on life, literature, food, style and beauty at FeliciaSullivan.com.
For almost as long as I've been reading blogs, I've been reading The Beauty of Life. With an enthusiastic take on products and unfettered good taste, writer Jamie Allison Sanders has since become a member of my treasured 'circle of trust.'
After years working in fashion and years writing about beauty, I knew that a jaunt in Jamie's bag would be interesting, to say the least. But even I was unprepared for everything that she's toting around in her chic Tano bag! Here's the rundown, in her own words:
- Kate Spade green leather wallet
- Audio Chi headphones (I won them and I'm in LOVE! They drown out everything!)
- Ralph Lauren glasses
- Bayer Aspirin (the only thing that keeps my migraines at bay)
- Stila brown suede cosmetics case (part of a set that I got YEARS ago, I don't even remember what came inside of it!)
- Altoids (because, as Anthony Michael Hall says in Sixteen Candles, "Fresh breath is a priority in my life.")
- iPod 80GB with red hard case
- Bumble and bumble multicolored ponytail holders
- House keys with my Indiana University keychain (Go Hoosiers!)
- Boscia Fresh Blotting Linens in Green Tea (perfect before I head into an event!)
- MetroCard (I walk most places, but I have it just in case!)
- Business card case from Laila Rowe (no longer available)
- Blackberry Curve
- BCBGeneration Dania Purple Suede Pumps (no longer available)
- Forever 21 hooded cardigan (no longer available)
- Shu Uemura Replenishing Eye Gel
- Shiseido #5 Eyeshadow Brush
- Stila Lip Glaze in Fruit Punch
- Sally Hansen Lipnotic Gem Gloss in Rich (Without at LEAST two of these in my makeup bag, I don't feel my lips will have adequate sparkle!)
- M.A.C Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15 in Fuchsia Fix
- M.A.C Eyeshadow in Banshee
- Dior Addict Lip Polish #002
- M.A.C Dazzleglass Creme in My Favourite Pink
- BonneBell LipSmacker in Kiwi (I always have at least one of these in my purse!)
- Bobbi Brown Sheer Color Gloss in Sailor
- Sonia Kashuk Sheer Lip Color and Sheer Glossy Tint in Paradise (For those gals who want a red lip without intense commitment!)
- Sally Hansen Lipnotic Gem Gloss in Sparkling
- Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara (My mascara of the moment. Can you say lash drama?)
- Sonia Kashuk eyelash comb (Better than any other comb I've tried -- and I've tried a LOT.)
- M.A.C Blush Ombre in Azalea Blossom (I've been using this as an eyeshadow -- the purple and pink shades swirled together make the most unbelievable shadow combination!)
- M.A.C Lustre Lipstick in A Rose Romance (The absolute perfect pale pink lipstick)
- Givenchy Hydra Sparkling Magic Lip & Cheek Balm
Whew! That's quite a bounty in Jamie's bag....I'm curious, how does yours compare?
