2007 August archive at EbuyMark.com

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Archive for August, 2007

Review: Principal’s Secret Skincare

Published August 31, 2007 in Skin Care. 0 Comments

principals secret reclaim skin care
The cold hard reality has smacked me in the face this summer. Literally. I looked in the mirror, and what I used to think was youthful, dewy, smooth complexion had transformed. Overnight, it seems, my skin had gone from the skin of my early 20s to my, ahem, 30s. Where was I in the last 10 years that I didn’t notice this?!?!

There are dark spots on my cheeks that aren’t cute little freckles. I have bags under my eyes. I have crow chick’s feet (not quite crow’s feet, but the beginning of crow’s feet) at the outer corners of my eyes. I am starting to see laugh lines around my mouth.

It’s quite a tragedy.

I decided to test out skin care that is specifically designed to “turnaround” my aging skin. Okay, so I know there’s no such thing that actually reverses the aging process, but at the very least, I want to get my face looking like my actual age, not 10 years older.

Principal’s Secret is a line of beauty products from actress Victoria Principal. The skincare line, Reclaim, is supposed to reduce the visible appearance of facial expression lines and wrinkles, “attacking” four different causes of wrinkles. The line has two products called “Age Braker” that hydrate and increase elasticity.

Continue reading Review: Principal’s Secret Skincare

Late summer reading is fashionable

Published August 31, 2007 in Style in the media and Shoes. 0 Comments

For the small percentage of people who won’t be enjoying the last days of summer grilling out on the patio, shopping the Labor Day sales, or soaking in those last bits of sunshine, boy, do I have something for you.
A reading list.

Sure you probably won’t find these books on any back-to-school summer reading list, but these books are fashionable and fun reads. Isn’t that what summer is all about. Put down your US Weekly and pick up a book.

For the shoe lover, pick up this piece of “shoe porn” called New Shoes. This book will blow your mind. It’s the next best thing to designer shoe shopping spree. Another stand out from the list is Model. I read Model back in college and was shocked by how dirty the fashion industry could really be (now I know better). Speaking of college, 9 Heads is fantastic. It is actually a text book that teaches fashion illustration, so if you are into drawing this is a must have. The Devil Wears Prada was a hit on the big screen but to me it was a bigger hit in print. Read this book, it is much different than the movie.

Happy reading and happy Labor Day.

Four ways to wear wide leg jeans

Published August 31, 2007 in Jeans and Denim. 0 Comments

wide leg jeans sass and bide If you haven’t heard the news yet, wide leg jeans are super “in” for Fall ‘07. Since it’s been a while since we have worn the wide silhouette, Net-a-Porter has a guide on exactly what you should wear with your new wider leg. Now don’t get confused because skinny legs are still the number one silhouette for the season, with the straight leg trailing behind. The wide leg is just starting to surface so if you want to be the most stylish girl in your crew, please read on.

To the office: Depending on what kind of work setting you are in, this look could work everyday or for a casual Friday. Pair your wide leg jeans with a sleek black heel, a crisp white button down shirt with feminine details (like a bow), and top it off with a long khaki colored belted trench. For the accessories, go minimal with a small touch of gold jewelry and a tan bag.

Lunch date: Whether it is lunch with the girls or a casual date with your boyfriend, this look will work for you. Take your dark blue wide leg jeans, a satin blouse, patent leather flats, and a red purse. To add a little more jazz to the outfit add some silver to your wrist with a chunky charm bracelet.

Chilly fall weekend: Just because there is a nip in the air doesn’t mean your style has to suffer. Throw on a pair of white wide leg jeans, an over-sized gray sweater, a roomy tote, and round out the look with a pair of round toe Mary Jane’s.

Night out on the town: Jeans are totally appropriate for evening, especially here in L.A. Take a look that could work for day, like a pair of super dark denim wide legs and a boho-inspired top and cinch it close to your body with a body conscious tuxedo jacket. It’s not evening without a touch of bling, so make sure you put on your best metallic heels and reflective jewelry.

T-Bags Printed Bubble Dress

Published August 31, 2007 in Dress of the Day and Dresses and Skirts. 0 Comments

t-bags printed bubble halter dress Is it just me or did it suddenly become a sauna out there?

It is hotter than it’s ever been this summer, which makes it even harder to think about fashion for Fall. However, with T-Bags’ Printed Bubble Dress in a print based on fall-ish colors, you can glide through the limbo months.

The dress is 100% rayon jersey, with straps that tie behind the neck. Ruching at the bust and a loose fit keep it comfortable for the heat. There is a 6″ wide band at the bottom hem, which falls 33″. For the days when it’s 95 degrees outside, you can wear the dress as is, and as soon as it cools down a bit, add a pair of leggings or footless tights like the model in the picture.

The dress is $104 at Shopbop.

Keira Knightly is a human hanger

Published August 31, 2007 in Style in the media, Celebrity Style, Evening wear and Dresses and Skirts. 0 Comments

keira knightly venice film Keira Knightly is a human hanger. That is the only way I can describe this. When I first looked at this picture, I swore I had somehow entered a boutique and was about to flag down the clerk to ask for that gorgeous dress in my size. Then realized there was a head on that hanger and it belonged to Keira Knightly. It also struck me that I was not in a boutique, but that this was actually a red carpet picture.

Oh my stars. Eat something, Keira. Anything. Please.

This is the same actress that says magazine “airbrush the *%$&” out of out of her, but I have seen this image in many places on the web and this picture is not doctored. Girlfriend is frail. I think what she meant when she discussed her extreme airbrushing was that they airbrush some weight on her, not the other way.

She looks deliriously happy in this picture, but something is telling me she is just delirious (and hungry). Keira, please get some help. This look just isn’t natural.

On a more positive note, the dress is gorgeous. It would look even better if it were filled out a bit more. Don’t you think?

Hot look for fall: Naughty Secretary

Published August 31, 2007 in Dresses and Skirts. 0 Comments

If you are too scared to rock the menswear look this fall but still love that “I mean business” look, perhaps the Naughty Secretary look is more for you.

While most little girls were dreaming up their white wedding, I was sitting back imaginng myself all grown up in a black power suit that cost more than the salary that my silly little assistant would make. I would have on sky high heels, a fabulous leather tote (think Birkin), black framed glasses, and red lips. I never imagined myself looking dowdy with some ill-fitting boxy suit, disgusting pantyhose, square toed shoes, and some lame brief case.

This look is nothing like that.

The Naughty Secretary look is similar to the menswear look that is so hot for this Fall ‘07 except, well, it’s tighter. Much tighter. Think close fitting suits, sexy shift dresses, chic glasses, long-to-the-elbow gloves, cinched in belts, and of course … sky high heels. This look is best suited in basics like black and white, and if you are feeling extra naughty, a splash of red.

Make sure you wear the naughty secretary look with caution. You don’t want to come off looking like you are auditioning for an adult movie. Nor do you want to look like you are hungry for a tryst with your boss. C’mon, there is a difference between naughty and naughty (if you know what I mean).

Want a better butt? Try these shoes

Published August 31, 2007 in Shoes. 0 Comments

You want a better butt, don’t you? And if it doesn’t involve squats, even better, right? Well, then, I’ve got good news.

The butt-lifting shoes I mentioned in the title of this post are made by a company called Earth. What makes Earth shoes different is exactly what makes Earth shoes a perfect partner for those of you interested in lifting the junk in your trunk. Namely, it’s all about the negative heel technology.

Negative heel technology was first developed by a Scandinavian yoga teacher by the name of Anne Kals�. Kals� noticed on a beach visit that standing in sand felt an awful lot like the sensation of holding the standing mountain yoga pose. Her shoulders rolled back, her breath eased, and her feet relaxed as her spine aligned to its natural position in the compressed sand.

What Kals� had stumbled on was something she dubbed the “negative heel,” meaning that the ball of your foot is kept on a slightly highly plane than your ankle. Because of the slight incline of Earth’s negative heel shoes, you exert more effort than you otherwise would as you walk around. Like a strolling on a treadmill with a 3.7� incline, Earth’s negative heel rocking motion tones your legs, butt and even your heart. The negative heel can also improve breathing and relieve back pain since these are often symptoms of chronic bad posture.

Earth shoes might sound (and look) a little odd at first, especially since most shoes styles go to great lengths to keep your heel higher than the ball of your foot (i.e. every shoe on the market, but especially those stilettos). It looks really, I admit, by high heels come at a cost.

Doctors have been warning us for years that towering shoes are as bad for your posture as they are for your feet. Not looking like you have mile-long legs is a trade-off, but it’s not bad as you might think since these flats burn extra calories from the effort required to walk in the negative heels. Thus, Earth shoes make your legs actually better, not just look better. (Come on, the thing itself is way better than the illusion, no?)

I actually have a pair of Earth shoes that I’ve been wearing for a few months now, and while they aren’t my *most* chic flats, they certainly are my most comfortable. I can actually attest to a difference in my hips and butt whenever I either wear the shoes for a few days, or don’t wear the shoes for a few days. Naturally, things seem smaller and tighter after sustained use, and similiarly looser when I don’t.

I can’t speak for all the bod-toning shoes out there, but I can say that if you are able to find a pair of Earth shoes that fit your feet*, you’re well on your way to the better butt. Of course, doing a few squats here and there won’t hurt either, but short of that, try a pair of Earths.

*I highly recommend getting a fitting for Earth shoes. Not all styles are suited to all feet, so it’s worth asking a knowledgeable salesperson for help.

Diamond Stud Earrings

Published August 30, 2007 in Jewelry, Styles that Stick and Accessories. 0 Comments

diamond studs Every time, it’s the same routine. Getting ready to go out for lunch with the girls, cocktails, dinner — whatever requires my getting dressed beyond the standard blogger attire of pajamas –I change my outfit at least three times. And with each change, I do the deed of accessorizing. Though accessorizing is one of my favorite parts of getting dressed, it requires time and energy a focus on detail to perfectly match jewelry to an outfit. Do I go boho with wooden hoops? How about something trendy with dangling semi-precious gems? Or should I rewind to Mod with some giant white plastic loops?

When I can’t take it anymore (which isn’t all that often - some days/nights, I wouldn’t mind just scrapping the whole idea of going out altogether and staying home playing in my closet), I turn to a classic - diamond studs. You can never go wrong by wearing a pair of diamond studs, a timeless look that’s simple, classy, and elegant. Sure, each diamond might not be 3 carats, but the little bit of authentic bling that even 1/4 ct on your ears brightens the face physically with sparkle, as well as emotionally. Come one, they’re dianonds.

H Fredriksson Poof Sleeve Herringbone Dress

Published August 30, 2007 in Dress of the Day and Dresses and Skirts. 0 Comments

h fredrikkson dress What a perfect little dress to make that transition into fall.

H Fredriksson’s Poof Sleeve Herringbone Dress takes advantage of the coming season’s biggest trends: the color gray and herringbone. The dress features a short, poof sleeve and inverted pleats at the waistline that is accentuated with a wide band. Because it’s 100%, though, save this dress for the seasonal limbo days that are on the cooler side, paired with some cute black suede ankle boots.

Available from Revolve Clothing for $440.

Is high-end nail polish really worth it?

Published August 29, 2007 in Cosmetics. 0 Comments

Black Nail Polish Short answer: No, not particularly.

Yeah, it’s experience-sharing time. Recently, I decided to take a break from my drugstore nail polish and try out a taste of the good life, treating myself to a bottle of $20 Chanel “Black Satin” polish (yes, I like black nails). Since my usual nail routine consists of $1 NYC varnish and top coat, Chanel was a big step for me. I’m not entirely sure what I was expecting… Suddenly magical nails that never chip, always look perfect, and play Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A Major every time I open my hands? Naw. I guess I just expected good quality… at least $20’s worth of quality. To my dismay, the polish still chipped quickly and, most surprisingly, the coats wore thin and didn’t hold up as well as my cheap drugstore polish. Looking at my nails right now, which I painted only two days ago, the solid black has faded to a strange deep brown. With my drugstore polish, it seemed to chip more easily, but at least the color held up very well and stayed an eternally abysmal black. Maybe this is why goths aren’t known for turning to Chanel.

I suppose I just haven’t stumbled across the right brand yet… I guess it’s time for me to find the happy medium between the cheapest of the cheap and the high-end.

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