Currated Looks: Nanette Lepore meets Forever21

I'm trying something out. I'll search the interwebs to come up with looks (if you ask for something specific like a party outfit, or something for a job interview I'll focus my search) and report back to you with chic, wearable, and reasonably priced finds. For this first one I wanted to go a little bit high end mixed with the fabulousness of Forever21 but let me know what you think. I can always find better bargains if that's what you're interested in.

Option 1: I like this look because it feels luxe and fashionable without trying too hard. The apple earrings are adorable. The dress is a simple sheath which should flatter a lot of body types and that pin and bow detail keeps it from being boring. It's also a bit forgiving if you've got a slight belly pooch. I love the blue high heels or the cream ones. They both feel young and fun but the shape and material keep it subdued and appropriate for anything from work (if you're in a creative but business-oriented industry) or a wedding.

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=acc_jewelry&ProductID=1000029801&VariantID=

http://www.nanettelepore.com/sale/take-a-bet-dress.html

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=shoes&ProductID=2064786543&VariantID=

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=shoes&ProductID=2085523510&VariantID=

Option 2: This option is both more formal and edgier. The suit has so many lovely feminine details from the cut of the lapel to the buttons to the flair of the jacket and the detailing on the skirt. I also love the color. I'm not a huge fan of brown myself but the richness of this chocolate truffle color would look gorgeous against medium/tan skin or very pale skin with a rosy flush. The necklace is edgy and very much on trend with what I've been seeing from small-scale designers. The delicacy keeps it feminine and the gold complements the brown. The shoes are just a suggestion as any black pumps would do but I like the shine of the fabric and I think the bow helps soften the sharpness of the suit and the necklace.

http://www.nanettelepore.com/coats-jackets/sultry-jacket.html


http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=acc_jewelry&ProductID=1087532295&VariantID=

http://www.forever21.com/Product/Product.aspx?BR=f21&Category=shoes&ProductID=2070220537&VariantID=

Christian Dior Spring 2012

Christian Dior Spring 2012 (photo credit nymag.com)

Christian Dior Spring 2012 (credit nymag.com)

Christian Dior Spring 2012 (credit nymag.com)

Christian Dior Spring 2012 (credit nymag.com)

I just thought I'd share some of my favorite looks from this collection without really going into why I love them. I just have a thing for girly, ethereal fabrics, clean design and silhouettes, and black and white.

25% 1 Item at H&M Stores in the US

Just found out about a great coupon from theskint. You should follow the newsletter/website if you don't already. You can print out a coupon from H&M for 25% one item of your choice provided you purchase in store and that store happens to be in the US. I'm not a fan of everything H&M produces and personally I think the quality hasn't risen in proportion to the prices but every once in a while I find something really special that I wear so many times it seems like there's nothing else in my closet.

Here's the link. http://www.hm.com/us/columbus-day-coupon

Happy shopping!

Sales to Skip (Week of October 3)

The Hugo Boss Sample Sale running until Friday. Skip unless you are a guy, want to collect menswear, need business attire, or are planning on going to a job interview or a wedding. The menswear section was a vast multicolored array of crisp, clean tailoring and polished looks. The womenswear section was a sad rack of shiny, dull, or damaged clothing mainly in sizes 4-6. I ended up with two skirts in size 4 at $45 each and ended up choosing to go home with only one once I got to the register.

Benefits to going to the sale if you are not a guy and not accompanying a guy? Well, the showroom is pretty gorgeous to the point where I almost wanted to sit down with the mannequins. I don't know if it was the environment or how well-dressed they were but they seemed almost real. Maybe it was the hallucinations setting in after trekking through the vast unknown space between the showroom and the nearest subway station. The other benefit...or detriment? The changing room overlooks the water...and the highway. I'm about 90% sure that no one can see you from their cars or the Hudson River but it made for some nice photographs.

 The one nice dress I spotted while I was there. It was also a size four but the kind of size four that didn't fit me...in the bust...which is always the weirdest thing when it happens because I have a small bust.

The Charles Nolan Retail Sale happening at their Meatpacking District location. Just...no. I've already vented about it but essentially there's nothing to see and the salespeople are incredibly rude. Don't waste your time trekking out here either.

Review of Covergirl Natureluxe SPF 15 Gloss Balm in 205 Tulip

I picked this up over the summer during one of my random drugstore wanderings (this time in KMart...the one near the Astor Place subway station has a really good selection of these). It is the Covergirl Natureluxe SPF 15 Gloss Balm in 205 Tulip. OK, yes. I got sucked in by the pretty light green packaging and all the brainwashing advertisements in my fashion magazines and the SPF 15 and the assumption that it's somehow natural/organic. So basically I'm saying "congrats, advertising and marketing teams!"

Amount: 1.9g of product
Color: Tulip: true pink/dusky rose
Benefits: SPF 15/Moisturizing/Shimmer/Light Formula
Drawbacks: Scent/Shimmer/Lack of Pigment

I tend to blather on and on so I thought I'd do a little summary before getting into my thoughts. The gloss balm is packaging in this nice sleek, slender tube that's about the length of my palm making it easy to toss in your bag but I think I'd like a bit more product for the price. In NY, when it's not on sale, it'll run you around $7-$9 which is good for a lipstick but bad for a lip balm a comparable size of which should be around $3-$4. I think the color is very pretty but it's also very sheer so it doesn't really matter which shade you choose unless you go for something in the red family which might look different from all the pinks (I haven't tried any). The color is a little bit brighter than my natural lip color (a "my lips but better" shade)which is something I've been looking for. It good for a no-makeup natural look and also makes your lips appear fuller because if it matches the color of the inside of your lips, the eye sees that entire area as your lip and your lips appear larger. Unfortunately, as it is a gloss balm it isn't so sticky that my lips stick together but my hair does get stuck to it on a windy day if I don't tie my hair into a ponytail. I love that it has some kind of SPF protection because as we age our lips age and are a good giveaway that we haven't been taking care of ourselves. They lose collagen and get thinner, and besides in winter they can really dry out. You can help with these problems by using a lip product with SPF just like you use products with SPF to protect the skin on your face. It is very moisturizing without weighing my lips down or feeling thick and waxy like the EOS lip balm I tried. The slight bit of shimmer makes lips look fuller without looking shiny and tacky or too youthful.

The drawbacks are if you want a lot of color like with a lipstick. This is very sheer. I can't even really do a swatch on the back of my hand because all you see is shimmer and a little bit of pink. Think of it as a sheer highlighter for cheeks. I would do a swatch on my lips but we all know my camera is terrible. Also, if you don't like shimmer, you probably won't like this product. It isn't too intense and it doesn't look like a frosted shade but it is there and apparent. The last thing is the reason I kept this product in my makeup kit for so long without using it. THE SCENT. It's very waxy and sweet. I've gotten used to the smell and you don't smell it once it's on your lips but I thought it was going to be as awful as Revlon lipsticks so I hid it for a long time before giving it another chance. It feels like a very young scent. I think I used to have lipglosses or balms from Smackers that smelled like this if that helps. If you want something completely unscented or have problems with waxy, crayon smells you probably won't like this.

On the whole, I recommend this product. It's moisturizing and looks natural. I could do without the scent and I'll probably wait to buy it on sale for the amount of product but I will likely repurchase it when I run out.

Update and Review of Essie's Carry On

Update on Me: Sorry I haven't been blogging as frequently lately. Life, you know. I don't think I use many makeup products on a regular enough basis to really review them. I'm getting there though so soon you're going to be flooded with reviews. Also, the boots I bought turned out to be really uncomfortable so I returned them. Sigh...

Essie's Carry On from their Fall 2011 collection is incredibly difficult to photograph. It is a red-based dark purple but sometimes it looks like the color in the bottle, sometimes it looks brown, sometimes it looks darker, sometimes it looks like a vampy purple leaning towards black. I would have been happy with the color in the bottle and instead I was left with a color I liked some of the time. If you don't already have something like this in your collection I would recommend getting it though as the formula was great. Two coats to get it opaque. Three coats to get it perfect and fix any mistakes. This is one of those formulas I like to call "self-correcting". Not too thin or thick, it just glides over the nail and eases over any mistakes, filling into the corners the way you want it to. I wore this for two weeks (had to do some touchups at the beginning of week 2 b/c my nails grow like crazy) and I was pretty happy with it for those two weeks. I think this is a solid dark nail color to get you through fall and winter if you aren't really in the mood to mix things up.

This is against my dog's fur. I don't know why put I love all my nail polish color choices when I hold it up against him. Maybe I should do this for makeup swatches so you could imagine the colors against blond hair.

This is the red/brown I mentioned. It can look even more brown than this at times.

All the shots are indoors or outdoors during the day with some kind of sunlight as all my indoor shots at night or in the bathroom came out terrible and looking nothing like the actual color. This is the purple/black I was talking about.