Monday, June 25, 2012

Summer-crush on neutrals...

Whether you are heading to the shore or to an evening outside dinner party, a neutral palette is always pleasing.  I love neutrals year after year because I love the colors that it evokes - light taupe, pale pinks, crisp white, vanilla.  And I love the fabrics that they are associated with as well from silk to linen and cotton to lightweight wools and rayon.  I also love that you can really play up your favorite chunky jewelry or your most classic and elegant pieces.  Neutrals allow for you to adorn a beautiful scarf or wear vibrant shoes.  I love everything about them and I think that with some key pieces, you can build your own palette.  I also love the neutral makeup options for summer.  It is obviously a good time to hold back on the foundation and use a natural bronzer with some shimmery shadows for the eyes.
J. Crew Havana
Clutch ($59.99)

Banana Republic Callie Shirt
Dress ($79.99)
I've pulled a collection of pieces that I love from different designers and retailers.  In the end, you really cannot go wrong as you layer or wear neutrals minimally.  These should be staples in every one's wardrobe and you don't have to spend a fortune.  The J. Crews, Gaps and Banana Republics all have pretty neutral pieces at reasonable prices.  I also pulled some pretty images from my Pinterest* boards (below).
J, Crew Jersey Lomellina
CrissCross Bandeau Tank ($115)

Talbot's Heritage Fit
Wide-leg Satin-back
Crepe pant ($134)
Some of the staple neutral pieces I prefer include having a nice casual dress like the Banana Republic Callie shirt dress which can be dressed up with pearls or down with sandals.  A great neutral accessory for any outfit including this dress is a straw/woven clutch like the Havana by J. Crew.  It is perfect out any day or night.

Eileen Fisher Linen Delave
Jersey with Lace Trim ($258)
A great pair of cropped or full length white or cream pants are a must.  I even throw a nice white jean into this category as well.  Talbot's Heritage Fit Wide-leg Satin-back crepe pant is the perfect starting point to a neutral outfit or in combination with a bright or printed top.

I reference layering a lot, particularly in the Summer because you just don't know day to night how the temps will be and I would rather layer with light fabrics that are easy and drape nicely.  All of Eileen Fisher's clothes are like this and one piece I just love is the V-neck Boxy Tunic in Linen Delave Jersey with Lace Trim in stone.  This is a great one over a cami or tee and you will get a ton of wear out of this.

I am also a fan of a beautiful neutral bathing suit like J. Crew's are.  They are really my go-to for suits with a beautiful range of colors from brights to earthy neutral.  And I just adore the draping and flattering fits such as the Jersey Lomellina CrissCross Bandeau Tank in earth. Love, love.

Neutral accessories are great as well and there are so many options from hats to soft, light cashmere scarves and sunglasses to handbags.  J. Crew's Panama hat in neutral is a fav of mine.  It can go chic to casual and I take it everywhere.

Kate Spade Gold Coast MaryAnne
($478)
J. Crew Panama Hat ($58)
In the summer I also love a larger neutral handbag.  Kate Spade has such lovely bags and the Gold Coast MaryAnne ($478) is a soft leather with just the tiniest bit of shimmer.  The color is cashew and it goes with everything.

I could go on and on.  Neutrals can really be a standout in so many ways.  I love the understated side of them or how they can be super casual and natural with linen shorts and a tee.  A good starting foundation should have some sort of neutral.

Le Metier de Beaute'
Kaleidoscope Face Kit in
Flawless($95)

Sun-kissed neutral makeup so that
skin shows through with a contour on
cheeks and a neutral lip and eye,
mascara to widen
One last rave is a cool and chic all-in-one make up set from Le Metier de Beaute' called the Kaleidoscope Face Kit (Flawless).  Their favorite formulas all packaged in a clever stacking system including a mirror.  I love their products in general, but this packaging is ingenious and allows me to ditch all the powder, highlighter and blush compacts from my bag.  This set includes universal shades for nearly every skin tone with a translucent powder, highlighter, rouge and bronzer.  It is a bit pricey at $95 but you will wonder why you needed anything else in your bag once you try it!  Upscale department stores such as Nordstroms, Nieman Marcus and Saks carry it.  It's fabulous!

Happy summer days and cheers.

*Here are some of my Pinterest pin favorites in neutral and whether it be makeup, underpinnings or apparel - these colors weave through regardless of season making them universally appealing.

Neutral can be sexy too!  Carine Gilson
Theme Egerie Silk Crepe
de Chine Set
Fall 2012 RTW Dior



Wednesday, June 20, 2012

A Pretty Penny...and Then Some! J. Crew's Flower Lattice Necklace!


J Crew's Flower Lattice Necklace @$228


Wow.  The price one might pay for something cool, eclectic and uber chic.  J. Crew's new flower lattice necklace is one of those immediate eye-catchers, at least for me.  I am all about big, chunky, bright and layered jewelry.  But once again I am scratching my head with J. Crew's high pricing to attain the hip and cool.  This necklace is priced at $228 out of the gate!  I have statement jewelry from the likes of Ben Amun and Alexis Bittar which are priced more reasonably.  The point there being that these are well known jewelry designers who may deem such pricing, but J. Crew?  I am not sure.

Don't get me wrong, the Czech glass and rhinestones are lovely on this piece.  I just wish that they would consider the audience or minimally have built credibility in this space to conjure up such high prices. I don't usually like to "vent" but rather review or share positively, but this almost makes me mad.  I find it almost insulting that they would ask me to pay such a price for this piece.
Ben-Amun Pearl & Crystal Teardrop necklace @$245

Alexis Bittar's Pave Accented Gold
Clustered Gem Necklace
@$345
I love J. Crew's jewelry and they have done a phenomenal job breaking into the jewelry business with beautiful colors, stones and styling through layering be it bracelets or necklaces.  Jenna Lyons really captured a fun trend through her own wearing of layered jewelry.  But every now and then I feel they bop us on the heads with either a trend that has pushed the limits too far or a price that just doesn't fit this retailer.

What are your thoughts about this?  Do you feel this is over-priced or just right?  Would you buy this JC necklace full price?  Do you have other examples of this over pricing?

Cheers!

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Let Your Beauty Shine Through...

It's been awhile since I've posted and truth be told am going through a bit of a rough spot.  There have been some dramatic changes with work and I am also in need of full knee replacement on both knees...needless to say, this news has thrown me in a tailspin.  So I've returned to blogging which gives me joy and refuge quite frankly; it allows one to escape if only for a little while.

One thing that I thought most appropriate since my makeup and clothing will be far more casual than a workday would be to highlight some of my favorite products that enhance but also let one's natural beauty shine through.  I have also mixed in some of my favorite "Fresh-Faced" Pinterest boards which will hopefully inspire you to also focus on your own beautiful features.

I am not a big fan of sheer tinted foundation which is the "unfoundation" foundation but for whatever reason I can never really get the tint quite right and there are always a few areas that I wished were covered a bit more.  So even in the Summer, I like to resort to a mattifying, light foundation.  Clarins Ever Matte SPF 15 Skin Balancing Foundation is a great one.  It really tightens pores which tend to enlarge in humid, hot weather, but it is not too refining.  It really lets the skin glow-through and also cuts the shine that looks oily in warmer months.  And, it is great for all types of skin.  I also like the SPF 15 before I head out the door.  At $32 for 1 fl oz., it is a great cost and just enough to get me through Summer months.

On eye color.  This is one I could take or leave in the heat, but if you get the right primer or base, then the prettiest colors under the sun have more staying power.  I really like the Nars Smudge-proof Eyeshadow Base.  There is no cracking or running and keeps both powder, cream and liners in place.  One of my favorite Summer colors is also from Nars called Tropic and it is one of the Shimmer shadows.  It looks dark in the photo and in package, but it is so pretty.  And if this is not your color, there are 26 other options to pick from!   Use the Abbey Road color from the Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner collection.

One thing I cannot do without no matter what the season is Smashbox Step by Step Contour Kit.  This three pod kit has contour, bronze and highlight powders and its own brush making it simple to enhance your best lines and it is great to use alone as a bronzer as well.  Don't be fooled by the darkness of the contour and bronze color as it is beautiful on my light, pinker skin tone making it look flawless and I would imagine that it would be stunning on darker skin tones.  Then for a more finished, sun kissed look, I layer over Nars Super Orgasm blush.  Both of these items are in my bag year-round.  And each of them can be used without any foundation as well.  They are beautiful over skin after a day at the pool or beach.  One trick I picked up after reading one of my fashion mags was to take a dark lip pencil such as MAC's cork and enhance yours or dot in freckles to again enhance day-in-the sun looks.  It really works and I have lots of freckles so to see them as features now is fantastic.

Do you ever fall head over heels in love with a product only to find it was limited edition or special gift?  I have sort of this issue but in general for a lip color I've been searching for the longest time.  First, my love for pink is endless and it is obviously one of those colors no matter what the shade is just sumptuous for Summer.  I love Sephora's Nano lip liner in Candid Candy #4.  Here is the problem.  It is so short and I go through them so fast.  The other issue is that although thin, it does not fit in any of my sharpeners including Sephora's own!  It is the only light, cool pink I can find.  I have searched nearly ever other brand and cannot find one to match.  Nars used to make one similar but they do not carry it anymore.  Nevertheless it is my favorite liner.  If any of you know of a light, cool almost pure pink liner, please share with me.

On the pink train, but not too pink is my fav Summer highlighter.  Smashbox's Soft Lights Highlighter in Prism.  It is absolutely luminous and it lifts your cheekbones like they are perfectly placed.  It also comes in Shimmer which is a hair darker, both beautiful.  I cannot go without this little beauty and it is great with or without foundation for a quick pick-me-up.

If you have not picked up on my theme yet, then let me just say that I much prefer neutral tones in the warmer weather because whether you get a rosy red glow or freckles galore, it is the one time of year you can accentuate those features rather than covering or layering up.  And the lips are no exception.  I cannot rave enough about Tom Ford's Private Blend lipsticks.  Pricey, yes, but worth it because the texture is unbelievable.  They go on moisture-rich but hold the color beautifully all day.  The blush nude is a stunning nude that works well on all skin tones.  These gorgeously packaged lipsticks contain exotic ingredients such as Brazillan murumuru butter and chamomile flower oil which provide the ultra-rich texture.  There are 18 colors so I recommend going with a neutral first and you won't be disappointed.

They say that if you have to leave the house without makeup to at least try to brush on some mascara.  A good mascara can open up those eyes and lighten up the whole face so I have to agree with this.  A bad mascara can't make it a full day without flaking, clumping, running and who wants that?  This is another one of those items in your makeup bag that deserve a little more investment so that you get beautiful lashes ever time.  So I have a couple recent favorites being Chanel's Inimitable Intense Mascara Multi-dimensional Sophistique' ($30).  I prefer Noir, but it also comes in Brun, Purple and Rouge Noir.  This mascara pulls each one of your lashes and lengthens and slightly curls the ends.  My lashes almost look artificial when I apply and I mean that in the best way.  I can apply one application to both eyes and don't need to layer as it is that good.  I also love Benefit's They're Real! mascara ($22).  This mascara comes in jet black only and does all that it promises including lengthening, curling, volumizing and separating all in one application.  It gets rave reviews from its users and I know why.  It is fabulous!

Look, Summer is the time to feel beautiful and shed all the makeup, clothes and other things that weigh us down in the colder months.  Investing in a few key products can make such a difference in enhancing your own true beauty.

I have some rough months ahead.  Right now I am really trying to focus on the best parts of me.  Summer also provides much needed time to find some peace whether that is taking a vacation that you've long needed or reading a good book - or maybe, it is buying some new products as a pick-me-up!  Whatever it is, do it for yourself because you deserve it!  Happy Summer and let me know what your favorite products are for Summer or throughout the year.

Feel free to check out my Pinterest boards under "A Fresh Face" for other natural looks.

Cheers.