San Francisco’s favorite beauty shop Benefit Boutique opened its doors in Los Angeles for the first time this past Friday. Stepping inside the boutique was like stepping inside a girly paradise — pink walls, retro mannequin heads, Lucite lamps, and lots of makeup.I met with Sara Reishman from Benefit’s corporate offices so she could give me a tour of the new shop. Though the shop was small, there was a lot to see, as the boutique does much more than just sell cosmetics. Benefit Boutique offers walk-in beauty treatments such as eyebrow waxing, lash tinting, and make-up application.
Before I took part in any beauty treatments I just had to learn more about Benefit’s fabulous products. As I have said before I often look and never touch Benefit’s beauty products because they are “too smart” for me. Good thing I had Sara there to shake my fears away.
The first item I tackled was one of Benefit’s most popular products, Benetint. Benetint is a ruby-tinted cheek (or lip) stain that gives you a natural “blushing” look. I have always been terrified of Benetint’s liquid consistency, which kept me away from the stuff all together. But after speaking to the pros, I have seen the light. To apply mark an “x” on each cheek then quickly blend upward.
When an article of clothing dates back to the 15th century and is still around today, I would say that it is a style that sticks. The turtleneck sweater’s origin is pretty spotty but we do know its original purpose was to keep people warm.In the 1890s the turtleneck sweater was seen all over town, specifically when people were riding this fancy new contraption called a bicycle. Soon after the turtleneck sweater became a staple in sailor’s wardrobes to keep them warm while they were on duty. By World War II it became the official uniform of the US Navy; the trend was then taken around the world.
Fast forward to 1950’s when beatniks got a hold of them and rocked the turtleneck with a little black beret turning this simple garment into a cultural staple. Next thing you know fashion icon Audrey Hepburn started wearing a little black turtleneck and the rest is history.
Turtleneck sweaters remain a wardrobe staple today but be warned, you must choose your turtleneck wisely. There is nothing fashionable about wearing a holiday turtleneck or cheap knit turtleneck from Wal-Mart. Opt for a black cashmere turtleneck, you will look effortlessly chic and it will last you a lifetime.
Who doesn’t love a celebrity feud, especially one that is totally pointless? Hip-hop star Diddy (P. Diddy, Puff Daddy … whatever) is challenging fellow musician Mariah Carey to a perfume challenge.
“I send out a challenge…I challenge all of my female counterparts that have fragrances…that my fragrance is better than theirs. I’m a man and I know how women should smell!” - Diddy
Sounds to me like he is challenging every bottle of perfume on the market, not just Mariah. Well, Mariah took it personally (read: needed publicity) and issued the following response:
“I heard about this competition, and I wish Puff all the best with his new fragrance, but I think we’re actually appealing to different types of women. M by Mariah Carey is about being unforgettable, not unforgivable. It’s not about a ménage à trois or a one night stand, it’s for the woman who wants the man to fall in love with her immediately, stay in love, and treat her like royalty.” - Mariah
Ah yes, perfume that makes a man fall in love with you - yeah Mariah that is what we are looking for. I think both Diddy and Mariah will fail miserably. I don’t want to smell like a rap video and I certainly don’t want to smell like a crazy person who can’t dress. I will stick to my L.A.M.B perfume by Gwen Stefani. Now that is a fragrance.
Can a 70 lb woman who has a complexion which resembles that of a raisin dole out fashion advice? Probably not.
Unless, of course, her name is Rachel Zoe. Then she can serve as much advice as she wants.
Zoe’s boho-chic style and shrinking clients (Nicole Richie and Lindsay Lohan) catapulted her into the public eye and has turned her into a fashion authority. Rachel Zoe has decided to share her expertise with the world by writing her first book which is hitting shelves October 3rd.
Zoe’s book Style A to Zoe spills insider tips on how to live a fashionable life. The book focuses on must-have accessories, wardrobe staples, when to splurge and when to save, how to decorate, entertain, and travel in style. She even taps into her fashionable friends for this book including: Michael Kors, Donatella Versace, and Diane von Furstenberg.
As much as Rachel Zoe makes me sick, I love her at the same time. I plan on picking up the book once it hits shelves. Style A to Zoe: The Art of Fashion, Beauty, & Everything Glamour $24.99
If there’s one thing I’m consistently noticing about menswear for the fall and winter, it’s the simplicity. The bright colors, bold patterns and loud graphics of spring and summer have been replaced by plain, fitted tops in gray, black, brown and a some darker Earth tones.Some of this is typical for cold-weather clothing, but I think, on the whole, we’re moving away from the loud look, and toward something that’s a little more sophisticated — more grown-up, even. Not to say you can’t keep it casual — because what normal person can really be bothered to dress up 7 days a week?
That’s why I’m such a fan of this jersey polo from Marc Jacobs. It’s low-key, and seemingly straightforward, but on closer inspection you’ll notice the little pocket detail,which is a nice touch — not to mention, of course, the perfect fit. It’s a little pricey at almost $90, but with all the layering you’ll be doing, you can get enough use out of this shirt to justify spending a little more than normal.
[via productdose]
Wish you could look cool like the kids in the catalogs, but never have the time to dig through the racks at your local boutique, trying to find t-shirts that accurately capture your raison d’être?
Don’t worry, there’s a solution. T-post, a small fashion house based in Sweden, creates hand-designed, mail-order t-shirts, and mails them to you every six weeks. What’s even cooler, is that the designs are always based on current events, and they print whatever topic they used as inspiration inside the shirt — so you’ll not only look awesome, but relevant. Amazing.
It’s like those “Buy 10 CDs for 10 cents each” music subscription services from the 90s — except way less lame. So quick — be the only one in your postal district to have all the coolest new tees, and sign up today.
This past Spring Louis Vuitton (the world leader in absurdly overpriced bags), premiered these enormous, checkered plastic totes as part of their collection. They look practical, straightforward — probably good for carrying clothes to the laundromat or groceries home from the supermarket.
Except the bags cost £1,200 (about $2,400).
What crazy person would pay such a ridiculous amount for a $5 plastic laundry bag, simply because it’s adorned with a Luis Vuitton stamp?
Why, Kelly Osborne, of course! They 22-year-old rocker was recently spotted carrying the tote when leaving her London apartment. As you can see in the photo, Kelly looks confused — just like I would be if I’d paid $2,995 extra for something just because it once appeared on a runway.
Only days after learning that Giorgio Armani is going geek chic with some sleek new gadgets for Samsung, today we find out that the world-famous designer is opening a new store — in the virtual world of Second Life. The new shop will be a replica of Armani’s flagship location in Milan, and will be opened by a replica of Armani himself (in the form of an avatar).
Sound like someplace you’d like to shop? You’ll have to sign up for Second Life, and create your own virtual character. Residents of the online community can use Linden Dollars (Second Life’s currency) to buy Armani outfits for their avatars, or get connected to the fashion maven’s new online store if they’re interested in purchasing items they can wear in real life (which they’ll have to buy with real money).
With all the design wares now available in the Second Life, it won’t be long before avatars are more fashionable than their real-life users.
I am more of a solids girl (and if you must know, I pretty much stick to a basic, neutral palette of black, white, ivory, and beige in my wardrobe), but I am beginning to think that stripes might be a good way for me to ease into patterns.
Betsey Johnson’s Sequin Stripe Dress is a standard black and white stripe, and since it’s pretty balls-y to go with a horizontal stripe, you may as well go all out and scream “Look at me!” with some sparkling sequins. Black shoes of any type are the natural choice, but with this much shine on the dress, I’d stay away from patent leather.
A girl can never have too many pairs of shoes. Some may argue with that logic, but it’s true. Shoes can make a dull outfit exciting; they can entice the opposite sex, and they can make the same sex extremely jealous. Shoes are a powerful thing. Whether you have ten pairs or 200 pairs, there is one pair of shoes that every closet needs to have — the classic high-heel black pump.
High heels themselves are a classic, as they originated back in the 1500s when their main function was to keep a rider’s foot from slipping out their stirrups. In 1533 wife of the Duke of Orleans, Catherine de’ Medici, commissioned a cobbler to make her a pair of heels for her wedding. Catherine wasn’t planning on riding any horses. Oh no, she wanted to appear taller, and then the fashionable high-heel shoe was born.
The high-heel pretty much went into hiding until the 1950s, but once it came back it stuck. The classic high heel pump can be worn with practically any outfit: a business suit, a pair of jeans, or a lovely dress. The best part about this classic shoe is you can find it anywhere and at any price range — and right now I am loving this pair from Jimmy Choo.
