Three beauty products that changed my life.

Most girls have particular beauty products they can not live without.  Fortunately, mine are not a $120 Chanel face cream or a $200 botox injection (yet).  Here are my three affordable and life changing beauty products in order of life altering intensity.  

Tigi Rockaholic Hairspray I was introduced to this while observing a primping session before my (now)sister-in -law's bachelorette party in a motel room in Point Pleasant (AKA The Jersey Shore).  As usual, I had showered, put make-up on, threw some clothes on and did absolutely nothing to my hair short of washing it in the shower and combing it when I got out. Melissa, one of the bridesmaids, bless her heart, had this with her and shared the magic potion with me. I said it that night "this is going to change my life" and I'm saying it now: For a girl who's favorite hobby is vanity....this stuff changed my life.  Since then, my naturally thick, red  hair has happily rocked the beach waves look in which I chased for years countless times.  The best part...... it's easy as pie.  I wash my hair every morning and just spray the waves when they are still wet/damp and they maintain shape for most of the day....with the little help of an obessesive maintenance spray every now and then for the first few hours my hair is still drying. It's $16 at my local beauty supply store but I'm looking into cheaper options such as Amazon because I can't live without it.

Two Faced Shadow Insurance. I bought this for $18 one year ago on Sephora.com.  I'm just about due for a new one and I use it EVERY DAY.  I put this eye shadow primer on in the morning and let it dry with my eyes closed for about 60 seconds (to prevent creasing). I then apply my eye shadow, let's say at 6:30 am, and it's still intact  when I get home from sweating my ass off at the gym at 8:30pm that night.  My eye shadow would not last past lunch when I was using other equally priced but completely inadequate eye primers.  These  Irish features need make up people. Life changing.

AmorePacific Treatment Enyzme Peel I bought this the same time as the shadow insurance one year ago for $60 and I'm not even half way through it.  This is my exfoliator and I use it once or twice a week.  It's much gentler than more abrasive exfoliants but it brightens up my reflection and cleans out all those pores that I fill up with make-up every day. My pores are clearer than they were a year ago, and I haven't had a facial in about a year and a half.

Polka dots and Stripes

Sweater: Anthropologie, Skirt: Citizens of Humanity, Tights: Target, Booties: Aldo 

Here is something I wore to work at my second job at Anthropologie. Hence the high volume of Anthro clothing in my wardrobe.  P.S. I think it's time for a haircut.

I thought this coat was the perfect color to start off my March posts.  Happy St. Patricks Month!

Fall 2011 Favorites / 5 Things I Learned at NY Fashion Week

Milly

Milly

Ahh Milly........there is only one word for the first look: Perfection. The styling is amazing; the button details on the high waisted trousers, the blouse with it's ruffles and sheer panel on the belly and of course the spectacular color palette. Swoon!  Why else do I love Milly? Um hello? Do you see what I see? ....Culottes!! These particular beauties are made of cashmere corduroy. Doesn't that sound like the most comfortable and luxurious thing one could wear? I've already begun to imagine how amazing they will could feel.

Rachel Roy

Rachel Roy

Rachel Roy was one of my favorites.  This was a playful collection of textures, layering and coziness.  It felt like it was designed right after a trip to Nepal. I particularly like the braids  atop the models heads....which was seen in several shows and presentations for Fall 2011.

Yigal Azrouel

Herve Leger by Max Azria

Fierce!

Bibhu Mohapatra

Dennis Basso

Four looks from four other shows I saw.  Full maxi skirts were all over the runway...not so sure I'm hopping aboard that train but I say that now.  I could be "swooning" over full floor length skirts this time next year.  Stranger things have happened.  Below are other looks I found worthy of my world famous blog.



L.A.M.B.



Love the oversized blazer. Love the green plaid. My first born to the girl who can pull off this look. 

Vena Cava

Rag & Bone

Erdem  (London Fashion Week)

Rodarte

Michael Kors

5 Things I learned at NY Fashion Week.

1. Style trumps fashionability....but I still love insultingly expensive handbags.

2. Always bring your iPhone charger with you when spending days/nights in NYC....you don't want to take the wrong subway back to the "wrong" part of Brooklyn and have no way of getting in touch with the friend you are staying with.

3. Not all NYC taxi drivers know their way around the other boroughs...but there are lovely, patient NYC taxi drivers who will use the GPS on their phone to get you where you need to go.

4.Under eye dark circles are BEST concealed by yellow based drug store concealer. Thanks Fran:)

5. I am one blessed and edgy maven. 

NY Fashion Week Fall 2011 Part 2

The Jeremy Scott Show was at Milk Studio.  There was a tremendously long line to check in but abundant entertainment while waiting.  When I was not surveying the costumes of other show goers, I was checking out the art in the gallery space in which we were waiting so patiently.  The show was over the top with a strong pop art vibe.  I have a sneaking suspicion  more came for the scene than to see Scott's new designs.

Hmmm. I wonder what all the fuss is about?

Kanye! He's pretty cute.

 She's pretty cute too.

The best part of my trip, however, was not fashion related. It involved old friends and a humble French bar/restaurant in the Financial District.  Here we are below.

I love these guys.

NY Fashion Week Fall 2011 Part 1

 I saw several of these hats on ond off the runway.  

 Above is a prime example of my limited photographic skills but this was one of the best looks I saw.  I love the colors and originality and appreciate the lack of pretention.

Here were the photos that made it all the way home.  Somehow, more than half of the photos I took were deleted. In addition to that disappointment there were also many that were just plain blury.  It's apparent  the next time I go to fashion week, I must bring a camera I actually know how to operate or my lovely husband/photographer.  I hope for both actually.  Anyhow, seeing everyone dressed to impress had me answering the question: Is it better to be fashionable or to have style? I can, without a doubt, say that style trumps fashionability.  There were so many women who were dressed on trend with their sky high heels and super expensive clothes but those who stood out were those who had original style.....and even fewer are those I'll actually remember. However, their were a few gems who stole my heart not with their wardrobe but with their warm, down to earth personalities.  The coolest girl I met was Stacy Jordan....we had a great little conversation and some hearty laughs together.  She's a wardrobe stylist/costume designer and a very wise soul.  You can find her at http://www.divinestyling.com/, where I stole this photo of her.

Another real woman I met was Vevlyn from http://www.vevlynspen.com/. Below is not the best photograph (due to my lack of photographic skills of course) but  you can still see her style in the suede skirt (which she's had since 1994), over the knee socks, necktie, little fur vest and red lips.

More to come friends, hope you are enjoying this glorious weather.