The Fashionist Post

Green Week Finale - Eco-Living

2007-05-02T20:46:00.000-05:00

What a week! I've talked about anything and everything on eco-products. From cosmetics to shoes, we have learned about the importance of saving the planet using products that are made in a sustainable way. To wrap up Green Week I'll bring you Eco-Living. Eco-Living is more than the ever growing trend we have been seeing lately is a way of life, a philosophy, and it seems that more and more people are getting into it. Who doesn't know about the now infamous "I'M-NOT-A-PLASTIC-BAG" bag? It can be said, arguably, that that was the bag that started it all! Now accessories house Hayden-Harnett came up with an eco-bag to support politician turned environmentalist Al Gore. The bag was inspired by Gore's documentary on global warming "An Inconvenient Truth", and the proceeds go to help environmental causes. Even big companies, like uber-chic retail store Barneys, came up now with their own line of eco-clothing. Barneys Green, a line of eco-sportswear, will continue to develop the line with collaboration of guest designers. Hot Topics is stocking in Zoe Tees made with earth-friendly fabrics. Also kudos to jeweler John Hardy who's very much involved in a bamboo reforestation project, sustainable workshops and even a complex of green villas to be built at his property. How visionary is that?! So to help you jump in the green van wagon in style here's the latest you can find in green living, from clothing to home-decor. Have a happy earth, have a happy heart.

Barneys

Loomstate for Barneys Green Slave Mini Skirt $138.00. Available at www.barneys.com

This skirt is certified organic and benefit 1% for the planet.

Green With Glamour

Green With Glamour " Perfectly Imperfect" Cami Dress $117.00. Available at www.greenwithglamour.com

This dress is made with 100% certified organic cotton.

Anna Cohen Pleated Shirt $375.00. Available at www.greenwithglamour.com

100% organic natural colored cotton.

GWG Barrel Bag Red $270.00. Available at www.greenwithglamour.com

This accessories company are redefining vintage! They reuse and re-purpose materials from other vintage designs.

Charmoné Espresso Been Ginseng Heel $315.00. Available at www.greenwothglamour.com

Charmoné Grass Print Ginseng Heel $315.00. Available at www.greenwithglamour.com

These shoes are made using a high quality Italian microfiber that feels just like leather so no cows were harmed during the making of these shoes. Vegan Power!

iWood Eco Designs Tigerwood Aviators Sun Glasses $315.00. Available at www.greenwithglamour.com

These super chic sunglasses besides from being 100% UVA/UVB protection, are also made with eco-sustainable wood.

Deana Bracken Float Like A Butterfly Pillow $175.00. Available at www.greenwithglamour.com

This whimsical pillow is made with 100% organic sustainable cotton.

Woodson and Romefield Sunset Scalloped Mirror $1890.00. Available at www.greenwithglamour.com

A beautiful touch for any room and it is finished with non-toxic paint.

Michael and Nora The cocktails and Lace Chandelier Lamp $3250.00. Available at www.greenwithglamour.com

Beautiful!

GWG Gardenia Soy Candle $23.00. Available at www.greenwithglamour.com

Deliciously scented, this clean burning candle will fill the room with gardenias, white flower and a hint of Jasmine.

The Sustainable Kitchen Cook Book $25.00. Available at www.greenwithglamour.com

Cooking responsibly never was so delicious. This book will teach you how to take advantage of locally grown products in your kitchen.

Hitoshi Tanaka Natural Edge Shallow Cherry Bowl $160.00. Available at www.greenwithglamour.com

This bowls are made with cherry tree wood from trees that had already fallen due to storms.

Esque Decanter and Cups $598.00. Available at www.greenwithglamour.com

The company making these work in a wind powered studio designed to reduce waste and gas consumption. How great is that?!

Vidreco Recycled Glass Pedestal Bowl $65.00. Available at www.greenwithglamour.com

Made with 100% recycled glass and so pretty!

Prius from Toyota Hybrid $22,175.00. For more information visit www.toyota.com

As everybody knows this baby is very planet friendly and gas efficient since it runs on an electric motor also for less gas usage and emissions.

GE Energy Smart CFL Lightbulb 13 Watts (60 watts equivalent) 12 pk $19.76. Available at www.walmart.com

These bulbs use 2/3 less energy, generate 70% less heat and if every home in America replace just one bulb we will save enough energy to light more than 2.5 million homes for a whole year and prevent green house gases equivalent to 800,000 cars!

Now the light bulbs contain mercury which can be harmful but only if you break them. Although the bulbs are quite sturdy, just to play it safe, DON'T BREAK THEM!

Now there you have it everybody. This was Green Week a small effort to help create a conscience on the need to save the planet. I hope I'd touch someone. I hope I'd at least get someone curious about what's going on so they can dig and ask and find out by themselves and hopefully they will want to do something. It can be done, you don't have to do everything just whatever you can, that's all. Even if it's just changing ONE light bulb.

Have a happy earth, have a happy heart!

My Apologies

2007-04-26T15:55:00.000-05:00

My apologies to all of you who have been very patient with the fact that I seemed to have disappeared from the blogosphere. I had a very delicate family emergency that I had to take care of. I promise I'll be back soon to resume Green Week and with all new posts. Thank you for your patience and please bear with me. Thank you all.

Green Week - Green Shoes

2007-04-21T18:25:00.000-05:00

In an effort to create a more sustainable lifestyle we have traded conventional products for green ones. Food, fuel, cosmetics and hygiene products are among the most popular. But we can do even more, now there's Eco-wear, Eco-decoration, Eco-footwear and Eco-everything! While maybe riding a bicycle to work maybe a bit out of the question for some of you, there are alternatives to keep on the quest of a more planet friendly way of life. You can start taking baby steps toward becoming greener by wearing some Eco-friendly foot wear. Conventional shoes are a great source of waste since they are made from man-made, non-biodegradable materials such as rubber and synthetic fabric. Eco-friendly shoes are made with sustainable and recyclable materials and some companies won't even use leather in their products ( good news for the vegans!). Now, an environmentally conscious shoe doesn't always have to look like a Birkenstock, not that there's anything wrong with them, but I'm aware that some fashionistas at heart hate the look of the friendly Birkenstock (I personally love them). So, here are some companies that make some lovely looking shoes and also like to keep it green.

Terra Plana

Terra Plana Helena Heels 90.00 GBP or $180.00 aprox. Available at www.terraplana.com

Terra Plana Taj Flat 80.00 GBP or $180.00 aprox. Available at www.terraplana.com

Soft Stars Shoes (for the little ones)

Soft Star Shoes $39.99. Available at www.softstarshoes.com

Greentoe

Greentoe GT Jane $85.00 Available at www.birkenstocksd.com

Earth

Earth Mirage Boot $119.00. Available at www.birkenstocksd.com

And ofcourse the One and Only...

Birkenstock

Birkenstock Madrid Silver $69.00. Available at www.planetshoes.com

Now you can walk happily knowing that your helping the ground below your feet stay forever green. Tomorrow will be the last day of the Green Week and I'm coming up with lots of great GREEN stuff. Stay tuned, you don't want to miss it!

Green Week - Cleansers

2007-04-18T20:02:00.000-05:00

Soaps and cleansers are part of our daily routine, and since most soaps are very irritating then moisturizing is also a big part of that routine as well. The more lather, the more likely the soap is to be harsh on your skin. Many soaps depend on chemical ingredients to make them sudsy which leads to irritation. Choosing a good cleanser or soap is not only about being squeaky clean, it is also about doing something good for your skin too, and if possible doing less damage to the environment. Shampoo, body wash, soap, even tooth paste, we use cleansers all day long and they always end up in our water reservoirs. The brands I'm featuring today are an all-in-one wonder since their easy on you and easy on the planet.

Avalon Organics

Avalon Organics Classic Aloe Unscented Soap $4.95. Available at www.avalonorganics.com

This soap is made with a blend of plant-based cleansers, Aloe, Shea Butter, Coconut Oil and is certified organic.

Nature's Gate

Natures Gate Tea Tree and Blue Cypress Hand Soap $6.99. Available at www.naturesgate.com

With Tea Tree to calm and soothe and Blue Cypress to cleanse this hand soap is sure to leave your hand soft and sanitized.

Pangea Organics

Pangea Organics Pyreness Lavender with Cardamom Shower Gel $12.99 . Available at www.pangeaorganics.com or www.drugstore.com

This shower gel contains Lavender, Cardamom, Aloe, Comfrey, Calendulla, Blood Orange, Centella Asiatica and a lot more to nurture your skin while cleansing, and it is organic.

JASON

JASON Glycerin and Rosewater Satin Shower Wash $11.20 for 30 oz. Available at www.jasonatural.com

Rosewater satin shower gel is full of natural oils and emollients such as Chamomile, Sunflower Oil, Apricot and Vitamin E for a delightful shower experience.

Origins

Lavender and Vanilla Bath Bar $10.00. Available at www.origins.com

Origins Lavender and Vanilla soap is a blend of calming and moisturizing ingredients that is good for your skin and you senses.

Origins Let's Circulate Salt Rub Soap $12.50. Available at www.origins.com

This soap is perfectly shaped for massaging while the Dead Sea Salt wash away impurities on your skin.

Burt's Bees

Burt's Bees Peppermint Shower Soap $5.00. Available at www.burtsbees.com

Made with Calendula, Comfrey, Ground Almond and Peppermint this bar will exfoliate and rejuvenate your skin in one easy step.

Tom's of Maine

Tom's of Maine Natural Toothpaste $3.99 . Available at www.drugstore.com

Tom's toothpaste is made with all natural ingredients and flavored with natural oils. Never dyes, artificial sweeteners or preservatives. Not tested on animals!

Evidently, taking good care of your self is close to self indulgence with products like these, but best of all is the fact that you are being kind to nature as well. Tomorrow don't miss the post on one my favorites Eco-footwear. It'll be fun!

Green Week - Hair Care

2007-04-16T20:26:00.000-05:00

The condition of our hair is a reflection of our health. However, eating well and taking vitamins alone won't do the work, you need to nurture your hair. There are countless shampoos and conditioners (specially conditioners) out there. Leave in, rinse out, deep conditioners, hair masks, color enhancing, defrizzing, you name it. Usually their are full of chemicals that you can even pronounce like Octylmethoxycinnamate or Mthylchloroisothiazolinone, or maybe Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride. So, if words like these bring back traumatic childhood flash backs from spelling bee competitions or you just don't like the idea of unpronounceable ingredients in your products there's hope. The hair care products I've found are made with all natural ingredients so you can have healthier, cleaner hair... and water.

Origins

Origins Knot Free $11.00. Available at www.origins.com

Knot Free is a super moisturizing shampoo and conditioner that will de-tangle your knotty hair in a jiffy while relaxing you with the aromas of Peach, Lemon and Black Currant.

Aveda

Aveda Rosemary Mint Shampoo and Conditioner $9.00

This beautiful duo is made with soothing ingredients like Peppermint and Rosemary to protect from environmental damage.

Natures Gate Chamomile and Lemon Verbena Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner $7.99. Available at www.naturesgate.com

This super charged shampoo is perfect for dry hair and it smells great too!

Ojon

Ojon Restorative Treatment $55.00. Available at www.sephora.com

Ojon Hydrating Styling Cream $30.00. Available at www.sephora.com

Ojon is a tree oil harvested by an ancient Indian tribe, The Tawiras, in a rain forest in Central America. This oil has the property of almost miraculously improving the condition of your hair without weighting it down. Ojon products are made with 100% pure Ojon oil and the product is 95% oil itself with the other 5% being natural antioxidant ingredients. Also, the company limits the harvest to protect the resources and ensure that the product is still hand made in the traditional way. This benefits The Tawira people who actually work harvesting and manufacturing the precious oil for this product.

Carol's Daughter

Carol's Daughter Tui Herbal Shampoo $11.00. Available at www.sephora.com

This delicious blend of botanical ingredients such as Chamomille, Mari Gold, Guava Mango and Passion Fruit is the recipe for shiny, healthy hair.

L'Occitane

L'occitane Angelica Shampoo $17.00. Available at www.sephora.com

Angelica plant has been cultivated by monks for centuries and it was use to make the "Elixir of Life" so there's no doubt this will revive your dry, color treated, damaged hair.

Don't miss tomorrow soaps and cleansers.

Green Week - Cosmetics

2007-04-15T12:52:00.000-05:00

No body really wants to know what's in cosmetics you will be surprised and not in a good way. Parabeen, chemical abrasives, preservatives, dyes and I can go on. It is no surprise why many of us go thru product after product without really finding one that won't clog our pores or irritate our skin. Products come with beautiful promises that many fail to keep. Today natural products are the fastest growing market in cosmetics. We are really looking for products that will deliver, products that will keep their promises of beautiful, healthy skin. The latest trend in natural beauty is the revolutionary mineral make up. Brands like i.d. bareMinerals are all the rage now. Who doesn't know about the swirl, tap, buff? Natural cosmetics are made to not only make you look pretty, but to also improve the condition of your skin. After all, if your pores are going to suck in your make up, then make the most out of it and put on the right full-of-benefits products. The following cosmetic brands are not only packed with natural ingredients but are also made to be easy on the environment so you can swirl, tap and buff you way to a healthier more beautiful you.

Dr. Hauschka

Dr. Hauschka Translucent Make Up $32.50. Available at www.drhauschka.com

This foundation is sheer to enhance you not hide you and it is made with Anthillis, Carrot, Witch Hazel, Avocado and Jojoba for super moisturized, dewy effect perfect for dry skin.

Dr. Hauschka Eye Shadow Duo $20.96. Available at www.drhauschka.com

Beautiful eye shadow duos with Rose and Camellia extract to nurture eye's delicate skin.

Origins

Origins Full Story Lash Mascara $13.00. Available at www.origins.com

I can't stop telling anyone who's willing to listen how much I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this mascara. It leaves my lashes looking full and totally clump free thanks to their gel formula that goes on very smoothly. The pH of the formula is almost identical to your own tears to ensure zero irritation and it is safe for contact lens wearers like me!

Origins Silk Screen Powder $23.50. Available www.origins .com

Silk Screen Refining Powder will give you a flawless complexion, poreless , picture perfect skin.

Dr. Hauschka Flower Fusion Lip Color $15.00. Available at www.origins.com

This lippy is made with flower wax from Jasmine, Lavender, Rose and Violet to soothe and perfect your pout.

Burt's Bees

Burt's Bees Blushing Creme $9.00. Available at www.burtsbees.com

This super soft creamy blush goes from butter-like to a powdery finish, but it doesn't feel dry and it gives you a very natural, flushed look. With Vitamin E, Coconut Oil and Rosemary to help treat acne this blush is a naturally good option.

Real Purity

Real Purity Eye Shadow Duos $13.99. Available at www.realpurity.com

This eye shadows are full of Vitamin E and are rated five stars by users who swear by this products.

Ambodi

Ambodi mineral Blush $12.50. Available at www.purebodysolutions.com

This mineral powder blush it's so safe it can be used on your eyes and mouth. It comes in 15 different shades so you can get creative.

Earth's Beauty

Earth's Beauty Pure Complexions Mineral Face Powder $20.95. Available at www.purebodysolutions.com

Earth's Beauty mineral face powder goes on like silk and it contains organic arrowroot.

The Organic Make Up Company

The Organic Make Up Company Lip Gloss Shines $13.99. Available at www.bewellstaywell.com

This organic lip shine is made with ingredients such as Candelila, Jojoba, Castor Oil and Shea Butter for soft and velvety lips, and it is also vegan!

As you can see looking good never felt better. All these products are made following the highest quality standards to improve not only your looks, but you health. As a consequence, growing the plants used in this products organically ensures a low environmental impact which is good for the planet.

What's next on Green Week? Hair care and soaps. When you wash your hair whatever you use go straight to out water resources; therefore, we must be particularly careful about the products that we use. The last thing you would like to drink in your water is all those chemicals in your shampoo. Stay tuned to learn how to get healthy locks and keep water clean.

Green Week - Skin Care

2007-04-14T22:02:00.000-05:00

Natural, organic products seem to be everywhere now, but there are some that have been around since "natural and organic" wasn't considered "cool". This companies have fought really hard to sell not necessarily a product but a philosophy, a way of life, the secret to wellness and good living, be good to your self and nature. To take better care of your body doesn't stop at eating healthy the outside is important too. The skin is the largest organ in the human body, it protects you from external irritants and pollutants and keeping it healthy is vital. The reason our skin ages is due to cellular oxidation caused by free radicals that are constantly bombarding our cells damaging their structure and DNA. To keep your cells and therefore your skin healthy free-radicals must be neutralized immediately. Antioxidants neutralizes free-radicals rendering them less destructive. By using a skin care routine full of antioxidants you will be giving your skin the boost it so desperately needs to renew and repair so you can look younger longer. Who doesn't want that? The featured brands are true and tested full of good-for-you-ingredients from plant extracts that have been grown organically, which is good for the planet.

Derma E

Ester C Moisturizing Creme with E Skin recovery Complex $16.95. Available at www.dermae.com

This cream is packed with super potent antioxidant Vitamin Ester C, Vitamin E, Borage Oil and Green Tea to promote the production of collagen and elastin.

Dr. Hauschka

Dr. Hauschka Quince Day Cream $29.95. Available at www.drhauschka.com

Dr. Hauschka's ingredients for their products are grown organically in their own farms to ensure the highest level of quality. This rich moisturizer contains Quince seed extract, Shea Butter, Witch Hazel, Almond Oil among many other natural ingredients to encourage skin moisture balance.

Origins

A Perfect World White Tea Skin Guardian $32.50. Available at www.origins.com

A personal favorite of mine this serum is created to form a protective shield on your skin so external damaging agents can't get in. With ingredients like Silver Tip White Tea, Boswelia, Bergamot and Orange you skin will be well protected from youth offenders.

Aveda

Aveda Botanical Kinetics Hydrating Lotion $30.00. Available at www.aveda.com

This light weight lotion contains Coconut, Jojoba, Chamomile and Lavender for a super soft, supple skin.

Kiss My Face

Kiss My Face So Refined Jojoba and Mint Scrub $10.00. Available at www.kissmyface.com

This scrub is gentle yet effective with Jojoba beads for exfoliation, Mint to stimulate circulation and aromatic essential oils of Tea Tree, Eucalyptus and Bergamot this will be a true experience.

Burt's Bees

Burt's Bees Almond Milk Hand Creme $8.00. Available at www.burtsbees.com

This cult favorite (and mine) is a deliciously rich hand creme that contains Vitamin E, Aloe and Almond Oil to keep your hands looking forever young.

Pangea Organics

Pangea Organics Facial Cleanser $21.99. Available at www.pangeaorganics.com or www.drugstore.com

Pangea's facial cleanser is full of benefits with a never ending list of natural ingredients such as Calendula, Blood Orange, Chamomile, Lavender, Rosemary, Jojoba, Almond Oil, Rose, Shea Butter, Vitamin E and the list keeps going on!

Pangea Organics is very serious about their commitment with the environment, even their packaging is recyclable and a portion of their profits go to help build the Pangea Institute, an organization dedicated to the researching and teaching of sustainable living and business practices.

Tom's Maine

Tom's of Maine Long Lasting Deodorant Roll-On $5.49. Available at www.tomsofmaine.com or www.drugstore.com

These deodorants like every Tom's of Maine products are made with only natural ingredients and 10% of their pre-tax profits go to charitable organizations around the U.S. Awesome, ha?

Weleda

Weleda Skin Food $11.79. Available at www.weleda.com or www.ihealthtree.com

Skin Food the name says it all. An ultra-moisturizing creme with pure Lanolin and Pansy Extract to keep skin healthy.

Nature's Gate

Nature's Gate "Light Switch" Brightening Serum $29.95. Available at www.naturesgate.com

A super charged Vitamin C Serum that is packed with Lemon, Grapefruit, Lemon Verbena, and Japanese Mandarin to help diminish the appearance of age spots and refine skin tone.

There are many more wonderful brands, I can keep going on for days about the beauty-health companies that offer amazing products and are also very much determined to have the littlest possible impact on earth, but these are my favorites the ones I have tried and swear by. Tomorrow I'll talk good-for-you-good-for-the-planet cosmetics. Stay tuned, you don't want to miss it!

Green Week

2007-04-13T20:52:00.000-05:00

It seems that be environmentally conscious is in, every magazine has a green issue, people are looking for a more natural lifestyle and big companies are doing their part (or at least pretending on their TV commercials) to be more earth friendly. It seems more like a trend than a conscious effort to make a difference but either way I say bring it on, about time! Therefore, in honor of the effort everybody seems to be putting now on moving toward a more civilized way of living, I'll give you Green Week. This next week is going to be all about earth friendly beauty products, fashion and lifestyle. You don't need to be a rasta, vegan tree hugger to make a difference, just do what you can even if it's just putting that pop can in a trashcan instead of littering. Every little bit will make a huge difference in the long run. It doesn't matter if you believe in global warming or not, if you care about extinction or not, there's a truth that no one can deny, this is our only planet our home and taking better care of it it's just common sense and fair. So let start with Nature 101 and have fun while being kind to yourself and mother earth.

Stop Global Warming!

If you really want to know how you can be pro-active and really make a difference please visit www.stopglobalwarming.org to learn more.

That's Handy!

2007-04-11T19:18:00.001-05:00

I have been miserable these days. After two beautiful summer-ish days a couple of weeks ago the weather has gotten stock in stubborn winter like temperatures. I can't take it anymore, my skin can't take it anymore! Where's spring?!? Cold temperatures are torture for my hands. They have been peeling and cracking and it is not only hurtful it's very unattractive too. So, I decided to give Skin MD a try. I got it on the mail like the gazillion of samples I get sent all the time and didn't give it much thought . But I needed something that would actually work because not even putting lotion every 5 minutes was working anymore. So I reached for Skin MD in my products cabinet because I remember reading on the pamphlet it came with that Skin MD was excellent for acute conditions like eczema and dermatitis and it is dermatologist recommended. Skin MD Natural is loaded with good-for -you natural ingredients like Aloe, Comfrey, Arnica, Yarrow, Chamomile and Vitamin E. that forms a protective shield on your skin to keep irritants out and moisture in. I've been using this product for more than a week now, but I saw results immediately. The itch, cracking and peeling is gone and my hands have never looked or felt better. This lotion feels so velvety and luxurious it is hard not to keep applying it all over my body and a little bit goes a long way. Now winter is no match for my skin.

Skin MD Natural $25.00 for a 4 oz. bottle. Available at www.skinmdnatural.com

A Day With Out Make Up

2007-04-07T18:11:00.000-05:00

My morning routine, when it comes to skin care, it's pretty simple. Not because I have found that miraculous product that does it all, but because I haven't found a good moisturizer that will actually deliver, so I don't care much. If it wasn't because my skin feels really tight after cleansing I would skip moisturizing altogether and go straight to make up application. My skin is the dreadful oily/combo which means that some days I got a shiny T-zone AND dry, flaky patches on the rest of my face, so I use a pore minimizer on my oily areas and spend the rest of the day re-applying moisturizer on the dry ones. How is that possible?!?!? That is until I discover Boots Botanics. Recently, I ran out of my blah moisturizer and thought that since they are all the same to me I will not spend more than $10 on a new morning cream. So I headed to Target ready to get any Aveeno or Olay moisturizer with SPF and there it was, the Boots display so pretty and new (I love pretty and new) it attracted me like flypaper. The first thing that actually caught my attention was the No 7 line with their high potency, age fighting ingredients at prices ranging from $5.99 to $20.00 it was a dream come true. But I have to admit that I am a natural products junkie, I love everything that says "botanical" because I believe in the power of plants. Boots Botanics claims to have very high concentrations of plant extracts in their product so you can actually benefit and see a noticeable difference on your skin. That day I got me the Complexion Refining Day Moisture Lotion SPF 12 and the Skin Brightening Cleanser. The next morning I washed my face and noticed that it didn't feel tight at all, but proceeded to apply the moisturizer with the same indifference I do everyday. I was running late so I didn't do my make up thinking that maybe I would have 5 minutes to do it at the office, the day got crazy and I never did my make up. What a surprise when I went to the restroom and looked at the mirror, my face was glowing, no shiny areas, not a dry patch, no huge pores, just beautiful skin. I honestly just stood there in disbelief, I have finally found a product that actually delivers, that is natural and that doesn't cost a fortune. Now I actually look forward to my morning routine and might as well just skip make up altogether, well, not really, but I could.

Boots Botanics Complexion Refining Day Moisture Lotion SPF 12 $12.99. Available at www.boots.com or Target.

Boots Skin Brightening Cleanser $6.99. Available at www.boots.com or Target

Bare Naked

2007-04-03T12:01:00.000-05:00

This season the fashion trends in rigour are not for the faint of heart; therefore, a conscious fashionista must proceed with caution. Recently, I read a post about layering irresponsibly, which was extremely funny and enlightening. So I felt, as a fashionable citizen, that it was my civil duty to raise awareness on another issue, color over-use. I've seen gals on the verge of leaving people color blind due to pigment over exposure. So, for the ones who are Chromatophobic ( fear of color) or the ones that just want (or need!) to tone it down a little there's a solution. Designers are taking nude color and giving them a flair. Now the latest accessories come in natural tones and luscious textures such as patent leather, lace and satin perfect to compliment high pigmented clothing pieces. You can either match a beautiful primary color dress with neutral pumps, which also has the effect of elongating your legs, or pairing a neutral outfit with colorful accessories for a bang. Either way you wear your colors just remember that balance is key. After all, you don't want to look like if a rainbow had vomited all over you ( see exhibit A below).

Exhibit A:

Fined! for color over-use AND irresponsible layering.

Josie Natori Kace Top $140.00. Available at www.neimanmarcus.com

Polka Dot Blouse $19.80. Available at www.forever21.com

DVF Crocheted Shift Dress $425.00. Available at www.neimanmarcus.com

Halter Sparkle Dress $26.50. Available at www.wetseal.com

Valentino Histore Patent Satchel $1695.00. Available at www.saks.com

Nine West Francesca Large Patent Satchel $85.00. Available at www.ninewest.com

Brian Atwood Slick Pumps $560.00. Available at www.saks.com

Nine West Lucero Pumps $79.00. Available at www.ninewest.com

Yellow !!!

2007-04-01T16:25:00.001-05:00

The weather has been marvelous lately here in the mid-west and everywhere. Flowers are blooming, birds are chirping and you just want to shine. And what's the best way to feel sunny and spring-y? Yes! flirty, playful, girly sun dresses in the color of the moment, YELLOW! This bright color flatters most complexions and gives you an instant glow. Yellow was king of the runways at the collections and will dominate the scene this season. Pair it with white and neutral tones for an easy laid back look or with black or red to dress it up. Either way you wear it yellow is sure to make you shine, you little Miss Sunshine.

Romina Lanaro RTW S/S 2007.

BCBG Max Azria Swiss Dot Bubble Mini Dress $300.00. Available at www.saks.com

Amelia Dress Forever21 $15.80. Available at www.forever21.com

Other must have in yellow:

Chinese Laundry Pumps on sale for$45.99. Available at www.macys.com

Gwen Bag Forever21 $20.80. Available at www.forever21.com

Marc Jacobs is Dead... At least to me.

2007-03-29T19:26:00.000-05:00

Today is a very, very sad in the world of fashion, or at least in my world. While reading one of my very favorite fashion magazines, In Style, I got excited at the pictures of the celebrity packed fall fashion shows. Every single A-Lister looked glamorous and sophisticated wearing the latest trends, but the horror happened, I spotted a picture of LIL'KIM... WHAT!!!??? No! I thought my eyes were lying to me so I looked again, and then the whole world crumbled in front of me. It was in fact a picture of LIL'KIM with a caption that reads as follow " Marc Jacobs muse LIL'KIM kicked back in the VIP section at the designer's post show bash..." LIL' KIM? Marc Jacobs's M U S E!? What can possibly be so inspiring about the walking fashion DON'T that is LIL'KIM? Instead of his muse she should be more like his pro-bono extreme makeover project. How did this happened? How can I ever look at my MJ Stam Bag without felling disgusted again? Why!!!??? OH, Whyyy!!!??? If that picture caption is true, then Marc Jacobs (tears streaming down my cheeks) is dead to me! I will NEVER wear anything inspired by that human atrocity that is LIL'KIM. Marc Jacobs (1963-2007) R.I.P.

Sorry but I couldn't bare the sight of LIL'KIM any longer; therefore, I'm taking down the pictures.

No Chip, No Kidding

2007-03-27T17:21:00.000-05:00

Now, I'm not a nail polish fan. Why? Well, because despite all of my efforts and the gazillion nail polish brands I've tried, my manicure doesn't last me two days. I've found that my Chanel polish is as good as my Wet N Wild and that OPI may last me a little longer, but nothing to fuzz about. Although, I must confess that I've learned some tips to make your manicure last, like buffing your nails since the ridges actually make them chip faster and having an oil free nail base since your natural oils prevent the polish from really adhere to the nail. But all this may only make a very little difference until I discover Sally Hansen NO CHIP 10 Day Nail Color. At first I was skeptical, but at $4.49 it was worth the try, so I put this top coat up to a challenge. If it lasts me at least 5 days I would be more than happy. Well, I painted my nails with a beautiful, but cheap, Cover Girl pink color and coated it with Hansen's No Chip Top Coat. Today is the fourth day and it looks as fresh and shiny as the first one, I'm not kidding, my nails are so shiny they actually look like patent leather. How awesome is that!?! Sally Hansen NO CHIP 10 Day Color is keeping its promise. So far, so good. I'll keep you guys posted on the final number (of days with an intact manicure), but this is the longest I've gone without my polish chipping off so I'm sold.

Sally Hansen NO CHIP 10Day Nail Color in 01 Clear $4.49. Also available in 23 beautiful colors. Available at www.ulta.com or your nearest drug store.

Spring's 9 Must Have from Saks!

2007-03-25T14:10:00.000-05:00

This spring the fashion trends are just adorable. From dresses to vibrant colors everything screams sunshine and good times. And although there are countless "must-have" lists and every single glossy grace their covers with "The-All-You-Need-This-Spring-Shopping-List" a girl can never get too much advice on how to look your best specially if it comes from our much beloved Saks Fifth Avenue. This is why I bring you Want it!, courtesy of Saks. Want it! is a line created to take trends from runway to real way that includes daywear, evening-wear, bags, shoes and much more. The line is also full of fashionista's favorites such as Dolce and Gabbana, Jimmy Choo, Valentino and VeraWang Lavender label. Even the guys can enjoy the Want it! line with the 9 top trends from Ermenegildo Zegna, Diesel and Prada Linea Rossa. It doesn't matter if you are fashion challenged or a hard core fashionista Saks has something Hauté for everybody. Happy Hunting!

The High Waisted Belt

W. Kleinberg -Krung Snake Belt $325.00

The Flat Shoe

Marc Jacobs Keyhole Skimmers $395.00

The Chic Day Dress

Burberry Chech Shift Mini Dress $430.00

The Floral Fragrance

Clinique Happy $49.50 for 3.40oz. ( Although I personally recommend Clinique Happy Heart)

The Cocktail Dress

Carolina Herrera Strapless Cotton Eyelet Dress $3490.00

The Crisp White Shirt

Robert Rodriguez Pleated Blouse $286.00

The Platform Shoes

Le Silla Crisscross Platform Sandal $610.00

The Handheld Bag

Versace Quilted Satchel $2115.00

The Shorts

Piazza Sempione Seersucker Shorts $405.00

All available at www.saks.com

Naughty Girl

2007-03-23T20:24:00.001-05:00

Have you ever felt like you just want to give someone a piece of your mind? Or maybe you're just a naughty girl who loves to tell everybody exactly what you think, but a screen shirt that says "I'M WITH SUCKER" won't cut it anymore? Well, look no further you little devils, I give you Locher's. A Parisian brand of deliciously mean clothes and accessories that will reveal exactly what's in your mind only if people get too close. The tops are beautifully embroidered with whimsical flowers and birds, and an intricate message intended for those who dare to cross the line. But don't worry about offending your neighbor, co-workers or even your boss, because if they dare to get that close to you maybe they deserve that "FUCK OFF" on your blouse. So go crazy and unleash your inner bitch while looking very ladylike.

No Time to Fuck $76.00

I Really Need A Fucking Coffee $79.00 ( My personal favorite!)

Fuck Off Pendant $66.00

All available at www.lochers.com

Candy Couture

2007-03-19T19:43:00.000-05:00

If it wasn't enough that fashion designers are partnering with mass retail chains, cell phone companies, and whoever has something to sell left and right; now they are teaming up with Hershey's, makers of the York Mints (R) for a "Designer Series". But this time is different because it is for a beautifully good cause which makes it worthwhile. The beautiful contemporary designs were created by designer Nicole Miller and Nicky Hilton to benefit the Young Survival Coalition. The Y.S.C. is an international network of breast cancer survivors dedicated to address the issues of young woman with a history of breast cancer through action, advocacy and awareness, medical research, and to persuade them to address breast cancer awareness in women 40 and under. The limited edition mint tins come in two different designs, a black and white vintage-like flower pattern design by Hilton, and a black and ivory intricate pattern created by Nicole Miller ( my favorite by the way) that will be selling for $25 each and are available only in the Internet. York Mints will make a fantastic double duty accessory since it freshens up your breath and help the Y.S.C. Now, isn't that sweet?!

Columbus Fashion Week? Why not?!

2007-03-18T11:57:00.000-05:00

This morning, while having my coffee, I went thru my daily routine of reading my favorite fashion blogs and stumble into a Coutorture's featured post via Pink Rock Candy that commented on the very first Columbus Ohio Fashion week. Apparently, Columbus is aiming high, with big ambitions of being a hauté fashion capital. Who would have thought?!? I would recommend you all read Pink Rock Candy's post since it is a very interesting, well written and well thought point of view.

This is their opinion on the matter... "As impressed as I probably should be, I'm still very skeptical. I'm originally from the Midwest, Michigan to be exact, and I just can't imagine Columbus, or any other Midwestern city for that matter, become a fashion capital. There are tons of talented people that come out of the Midwest, but it will be more than a challenge to shake the overall-wearing, cow-tipping persona that goes along with the Midwest"..."The fashion industry is just like high school; cities like NY, Paris, and Milan are the cool kids and cities like LA, Tokyo, and Madrid are their lackeys who are only popular because the cool kids say so. Columbus, or any other Midwestern city for that matter, isn't even on the cool kids radar"..."Can a smaller less metropolitan city break into the fashion world and become a fashion capital that rivals the big guns?" - Pink Rock Candy

Well! I'm surprised I never heard anything about this since I live in Columbus, Ohio. But to tell the truth I don't see Columbus being a fashion capital anytime soon, not in this century anyways. But I really have to say that since OSU is the epi-center of Columbus it nurtures from a melting pot of international students with very individualistic takes on fashion making Ohio's capital a trendier city than many people expect it to be; however, I don't think that would be enough to make it a fashion capital. N.Y., Paris, Milan and other fashion power countries have centuries of experience that can not be defeated by a small Midwest city. Also, I don't think L.A., Tokyo and Madrid are the B-list team, that would be a very narrow point of view. They are fashion power countries, as well, that didn't get the media attention they deserve until recently. Due to globalization they can easily be on the spotlight now and also because fashion is more democratic N.Y., Paris and Milan can not hold the monopoly any longer. Nevertheless I think it is wonderful that Columbus is cat walking their way out of those overall and thinking high fashion seriously enough to aspire to be a fashion capital. THAT is ambition and I respect them for having it. After all, who would have thought that a little kid from, The Dominican Republic, a third world country was going to be a highly respected, celebrity adored, fashion designer? Just ask Oscar de la Renta.

To read Pink Rock Candy's complete post visit Pink Rock Candy or Coutorture

To learn more about Columbus Fashion Week visit the website.

What do you think?

Victorian Romance

2007-03-16T20:32:00.000-05:00

For the ones who are print-o-phobic there is a nice variation to the flower print(one of the biggest trends this season), the lace. Lacy tops are romantic and feminine plus it will give you the flowery effect without too much bang. Wear it as a top a dress or layer it, and it also looks amazing in pastel colors and neutral hues. Jill Stuart did a wonderful rendition of the lace at her RTW Spring2007 fashion show where she showed how to do lace just right.

Jill Stuart RTW S/S 07.

Jill Stuart RTW S/S 07.

Forever 21 Floral Lacy Top $27.80. Available at www.forever21.com

Tracy Reese Bubble Blouson Top $275.00. Available at www.neimanmarcus.com

Rebecca Taylor Lace Trench and Shift Dress $995.00 for the two pieces. Available at www.neimanmarcus.com

Robert Rodriguez Lace Blouse $320.00. Available at www.neimanmarcus.com

Zac Posen Wave Blouse and Lace Skirt $2500.00 for the two pieces. Available at www.neimanmarcus.com

The Frankenstein of Shoes?

2007-03-16T19:37:00.000-05:00

Recently in an interview Manolo Blahnik, the shoe guru, said what he thinks about platform shoes. He called them the Frankenstein of shoes! Maybe because of their rugged-y appearance. And although platforms will never be a match for a pair of beautiful Manolo stilettos, I beg to disagree with my beloved Manolo on that "Frankenstein" statement. These very fashionable platforms below showed that they can be elegant even classy. The new designs come in luscious material such as leather and satin, and are every bit as fabulous as the iconic Manolos.

Christian Louboutin Satin Platform Pump $680.00. Available at www.neimanmarcus.com

Valentino Bow Slingback Platform $675.00. Available at www.neimanmarcus.com

Christian Louboutin Patent Leather Wedge $710.00. Available at www.neimanmarcus.com

Cole Haan Air Blanca Patent Sandal with Nike(R) technology for comfort $275.00. Available at www.neimanmarcus.com

Sigerson Morrison Strapy Wedge Sandal $450.00. Available at www.neimanmarcus.com

For the gals on a budget...

Jessica Simpson Meena Slingback Snadal $89.00. Available at www.macys.com

Jessica Simpson Mando Platform Peeptoe Pump $89.00. Available at www.macys.com

What do you think about platforms? Are they a yey or nay?

Functionality meets Style (MetStyle Handbags)

2007-03-12T20:58:00.000-05:00

With today's hectic life a girl needs to multi-task, and so does her handbags. Meet MetStyle an eclectic group of designers from the U.S., Taiwan, Japan and Thailand that have joined forces to create pieces that are both fashionable and functional to fit into woman's modern lifestyle. Now working fashionistas have a stylish alternative to those ugly luggage-like laptop bags. The line consists of totes, packs and satchels that double as suitcases (without the door-to door salesman look) that range from $29 to $89.

"Finally, we now have options from MetStyle...these bags support our business needs, but are still fashionable enough to carry around the mall" Megan Saulsbury- spokesperson for MetStyle. And I couldn't agree more. MetStyle handbags will be a great addition to any accessories collection. These puppies can take you from work to play smoothly. Now you can juggle that latte, your notebook, PDA, newspaper and wave for that taxi to pick you up, all in style.

Champs Elysees "Light and Chic" Business Bag

Milano "Smart and Trendy" Bowler

Tokio "If The Sleeve Fits..." Notebook Sleeve

All available at www.metstyle.us, just click "where to buy" for retail information.

2007-03-11T21:22:00.000-05:00

This spring all the rage is combining black and white with vivid hues, but if you want to be a little more spring like then floral patterns are perfect for you.They look just beautiful on flowy dresses and skirts as seen on Zac Posen, Alberta Ferretti and genius designer Oscar de la Renta's spring/summer and resort collections. Now, if dressing in full pattern doesn't appeal to you try incorparating florals in your accesories, Gucci's new handbags are fresh, young and summery with floral prints over canvas as well as their new swinsuit collection.Now you can blosson like a flower.

Oscar de la Renta RTW SS07

Lili Pulitzer Botanical Print Poplin Dress $218.00. Available at www.neimanmarcus.com

Harari Knit Tee Floral Skirt $395.00. Available at www.neimanmarcus.com

Betsey Johnson "Abeni" Pump $180.00. Available at www.nordstrom.com

Tell me what you want, what you really, really want!

2007-03-08T20:48:00.000-05:00

Victoria Beckham the eternal posh spice is making a triumphal entrance in the states. Besides being married to the hottest soccer player in God's green earth, she just debuted as a stylist for Bazaar's March cover girl Katie Holmes (Cruise). The result was an ultra glamorous and minimalistic Katie. The idea of making the pictures black and white was genius; it really captures the essence of the subject. Now Vicki is launching her very own line of eyewear just in time for spring and summer. From vintage gigantic frames to trendy aviators DVB line of sunglasses will make you look like a celebrity. Now you can hide from the paparazzis (or that guy from the office that stalks you) in style.

Harpers Bazaar March Cover

Heaven Sent from Fusion Beauty

2007-03-06T20:58:00.000-05:00

Recently I wrote about what are, to me, the 10 best bronzers on the market just to discover today the bronzer of all bronzers: Fusion Beauty Intuitive Active Bronzer. The only thing this poppy won't do is your laundry! One more time Fusion Beauty came up with another out-of-this-world ultra HI-TEC make up product. Glow Fusion Bronzer is a gem stone of science engineering. A cocktail of antioxidants, vitC, botanicals and M-TOX their patented muscular inhibitor formula that relaxes the facial muscles to prevent lines and wrinkles, while restoring the youthfulness of your skin and protecting it from free radicals. This product promises to not only give you a beautiful sun kissed glow but to make you look younger by increasing collagen production and evening skin tone. There you have it ladies, it's the fountain of youth in a compact!

Fusion Beauty - Glow Fusion Micro-Tech Intuitive Active Bronzer $38.00. Available at www.sephora.com.

What do you think? To good to be true?

Let's go to the park!

2007-03-06T16:46:00.000-05:00

When we were little kids going to the park was so much fun. The swings, the sand box, the slide, the excitement! Now that we are grown ups it's not any different, going to the park it's still a lot of fun. But not because of the swings but because of the fashion shows that take place at the parks. And there's not only Bryant Parks there's also North Park at Dallas, Texas where fashion shows have been presented for 15 years now. The Fashion at the Park by Cadillac will take place at the Northpark Center from March 7-10, 2007. The carté of designers is amazing from pro-players Oscar de la Renta and Carolina Herrera to first timer at Dallas Doo-Ri. The shows promise to be full of high fashion connoisseurs from Dallas Texas that have nothing to envy on New York gals. After all, who doesn't remember the uber stylish ladies from Dallas, the TV show? Don't mess with Texas baby!

Dallas very own Fashion week.

The infamous "H" shaped runway.

Patricia Field for Payless Shoe Source

2007-03-04T22:02:00.000-05:00

For all those shoe lovers on a budget (hands raised!), Patricia Field, the style guru behind the costume designs of "Sex and the City" and "The Devil Wears Prada" , has teamed up with retailer Payless Shoe Source to launch a capsule collection of uber stylish shoes. Field is a firm believer of the democratization of fashion; therefore, she has embarked on a mission to offer the latest styles for dirt cheap prices. Payless and Field have been working together for about a year and half on those super fashiony ads we've been seeing on the magazines lately and the creation of a shoe line that is expected to be released next winter. The Red Carpet Collection by Patricia Field will also include handbags and will be priced at $45.00 and under (fireworks and confetti!!!). Plus the collection will also include the now infamous pair Patricia wore for the Oscars'. Now, that's what I call giving power to the people.

Patricia Field at the Oscar's Red Carpet with a David Dalrymple's design.

Patricia's Shoes

Source: Payless Shoe Source (R) Press Release.

Oscar(R) and Academy Awards (R) are registered trademark of the Academy
of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Sunny Delight!

2007-03-03T20:32:00.000-05:00

It's that time of the year again! The sun is shiny and warm, flowers are springing everywhere and you start feeling just happy and new.Well, almost, but you're never to early to start getting rid of that chalky, pasty, milky complexion and get all glowy and sun-kissed. That's why I give you the 10 best bronzer so you can achieve the look with out the down side (wrinkles, dark spots, cancer!). Today's formulas give you a beautiful tanned glow (meaning no more carrot look!) and they're light weight, hypo-allergenic and smell great just more reasons to avoid baking your self under the sun. Now isn't that Delightful?!

Benefit Hoola $26.00. Available at www.sephora.com. This one is my personal favorite and the little brush is just adorable.

Bare Escentuals I.D.Bare Minerals Faux Tan $20.00. Available at www.sephora.com. i.d. bare Minerals is vitamin packed and has SPF for complete protection.

Nars Bronzing Powder $ 28.00. Available at www.sephora.com. A cult favorite that I want to try this spring /summer.

Allure's favorite Guerlain Terracotta $38.00. Available at www.sephora.com

Sugar Cosmetics Tropic Tan $22.50. Available at www.sephora.com

Glow Fusion Micro-Protein Tan $58.00. Available at sephora.com

Best of Sephora Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel $29.50. Available at www.sephora.com

Model & Co. Airbrush Tan in a Can $28.00 for 5.3 oz. Available at www.sephora.com. Model & Co. is an ultra-fine mist that works on any angle for a perfect, streakless application.

St. Tropez Self Tanning Lotion $37.50. Available at www.sephora.com. J'Lo's favorite bronzer and she is the queen of "Glow".

Philosophy The Big Skinny $25.00. Available at www.sephora.com.

Tough Cookie

2007-02-28T21:04:00.000-05:00

Spring's trends are girly and ultra feminine. The floral prints, dresses and colorful frocks we've been seeing on the runways are a celebration of femininity and womanhood. But for those who aren't as romantic and soft-hearted there's an alternative. The men's wear, one of the top looks this season is perfect for the chic with a rougher side. The designs presented by Ralph Lauren, Alexander McQueen and Valentina Zelyaeva showed a new take on men's wear, this time it's not just a suit, the silhouette is stronger, more manly than girly, perfect for the ones who are not excited about the dresses and the flowers. The men's pant suit speaks for itself so accessories are not necessary, just a lot of attitude, tough chic attitude.

Ralph Lauren RTW Spring 07
Ralph Lauren's interpretation of the pant suit is absolutely perfect. It looks tough without looking butchy. Perfect for that meeting with the board of executives. I am really coveting this look.

Valentina Zelayeva RTW Spring 07

Alexander McQueen RTW Spring 07

You Nailed It !

2007-02-27T20:05:00.000-05:00

Make up, hair and accessories have become as important as the clothes itself when it comes to runway fashion. As we look for ways to catch up tendencies as soon as the models set foot on the runway, trend alerts have become the ultimate source of fashion knowledge. Maybe we've gone too far , but even the nail color on models are trends worth follow. And since the nail colors seen on the runway are so attitude-packed you won't feel like you are just a fashion slave but a trend setter. Among the hottest ones are the metallic colors. Mirror shine, silvery nails are perfect to compliment that futuristic look that is so hot right now. Just remember that with such shiny nails you don't need jewelry, but if you must just keep it simple. The metallic trend will definitely make you shine, but all you need is that inner glow you get every time you spot a beautiful new trend.

To get some nail bling you can try...

O.P.I. Designer Series in Shimmer $6.50. Available at selected salons or www.opi.com

Bourjois in Club a Miami and Breakfast a Londres $6.00 each. Available at www.sephora.com

L'Oreal Bijou in Innocent $.99. Available at www.ulta.com

Home Sweet Home!

2007-02-26T08:51:00.000-05:00

Hello again everybody!

I apologize for the lack of postings, but I had to fly to Florida for a family emergency. However, I did my homework while I was away and I came back with lots of cool stuff for the blog. Please sit tight and thank you all for your patient!

Daniella

To The Trenches!

2007-02-17T22:17:00.001-05:00

As spring approaches our desire to wear lighter, more comfortable clothes increases. I can't wait to finally be able to wear one of my favorite pieces this season: The Trench Coat. The trench has gone from everyday basic to statement piece and it has become very versatile. Proof of that was the RTW spring 07 collections as seen in Lanvin, Celine, Burburry (the inventor of the trench coat, betcha didn't know!), Carolina Harrera and Michael Kors among many others. Wear it long, short, cropped, belted, single-breasted, double-breasted, with pants, skirts, dresses, leggings, or however suits your mood. This new take on the trench coat will make it the stellar piece in your wardrobe.

Burberry RTW Spring 2007

Celine RTW Spring 2007

Lanvin RTW Spring 2007

Moschino Cheap and Chic $815.00. Available at www.bergdorfgoodman.com

Banana Republic Classic Trench Coat $198.00. Available at www.bananarepublic.com

Black Rivet Double -Breasted Trench $89.00. Available at www.macys.com

More of Proenza Schouler

2007-02-16T21:44:00.000-05:00

Proenza Schouler is everywhere people. They killed the runway with their RTW collection, have their cheap chic line coming up at target and now the most coveted beauty item: Proenza Pink. This lipstick is a beautiful shade of pink that is perfect for this springs hottest look: the bubble gum lips. Lancome's Proenza Pink was on a wait list but it is available now, I just ordered mine. Just visit Lancome-usa.com to get yours and while you do that you can also pick some tips from no one less than beauty guru Gucci Westman, creator of Proenza's runway look, on how to achieve those runway-worthy lips. But hurry because they are limited edition and one per customer. I need to find a way to get two I always like to carry one in my make up bag and keep one in my make up drawer.

Le Rouge Absolue Proenza Pink $25.00. Available at www.lancome-usa.com

Proenza Schouler RTW Spring 2007

Tricky Tricks on Color

2007-02-15T21:07:00.000-05:00

This season bold colors are everywhere and they will carry into the next season as seen in Jonathan Saunders's ready to wear Fall 07 runway in London. But, how do you pair bold hues so you don't end up looking like rainbow brite? No brainer, pair those eye-blinding colors with muted ones like creamy neutral tones, black or white. Try to incorporate color in just one piece or maybe two if its accessories. You can work your palette by mixing citrusy colors with white or primary color like red and blue with black, also jeweled tones look amazing with khakis. If you're felling daring you can even wear two colorful pieces together just make sure that they have the same undertones like yellow, orange and red or blue and purple, also contrasting colors like yellow and blue look amazing together. Don't be afraid of experimenting with color just be cautious because even though the 80's are making a come back you don't want to look like Cindy Lauper.

Jonathan Saunders London RTW Fall07

Jonathan Saunders London RTW Fall07

Jonathan Saunders London RTW Fall07

Jonathan Saunders London RTW Fall07

Jonathan Saunders London RTW Fall07

To see all the collections visit www.style.com

Proenza Schouler at Target

2007-02-14T19:12:00.000-05:00

Rejoy fashion addicts! We have another high end designer coming to the ever cheap chic mass retail chain Target. Following the steps of Isaac Mizrahi, Behnaz Sarafpour, Rafe and Paul & Joe comes Proenza Schouler with their super colorful, ultra fabulous designs. More guilt-free shopping girls! Oh and by the way, for the ones who haven't checked Rafes' Target handbags I have to say they are just fabulous. The craftsmanship and material quality for the price is unbeatable and they look oh so chic! I got me the large satchel in black, it goes with absolutely everything and is unbelievable all the compliments I have received about it. It has been proven one more time that you can be Chic and Cheap. Happy shopping!

Long Sleeve Stripe Tee $16.99

Pair this cute candy striped tee with short jeans and white, blue or red patent flats (or pumps if you're feeling frisky) and you are ready to go Bombshell!

Twill Zip Pencil Skirt $29.99

This one goes easily from work to play. Pair it with a silk blouse for the office or a leather jacket for the bar.

Trapunto Bag in Ebony $39.99

How cute is this bag?! And for less than $40 you get a lot of bang for your cash.

Runway Beauty

2007-02-13T21:53:00.000-05:00

The most covetable trends in make up, as seen in the fashion shows at the fashion week, are suitable for every taste and complexion. From nude to red lips, smoky to naked eyes there's something for everyone. My personal favorite is the new smoky eye with pale pink lips. This time the smoky eye has a very interesting twist, now the focus is on the lower lid which make your eyes look deeper and the lips in pale pink looks muted with out looking dead. Best of all is a fool proof combo, kinda like make up for dummies.

Doo. Ri RTW Fall 2007

To achieve the look try...

Stila Eye Shadow Palette in Smoky Eye $40.00. Available at www.sephora.com

Urban Decay Smoke Out Eye Pencil in Smoke $14.00. Available at www.sephora.com

Dior Dior Show Mascara $23.00. Available at www.sephora.com

Make Up Forever Liquid Eyeliner $21.00. Available at www.sephora.com

Bourjois Lovely Rouge Satin Lipstick in Rose Bonheur $13.00. Available at www. sephora.com
Most suitable for fair skin tones.

Cargo Lip Gloss Duo in Okeechobee $20.00. Available at www.sephora.com
Most suitable for medium/olive skin tones.

Tarte Lipstick in Pinot Noir $16.00. Available at www.sephora.com
Most suitable for dark skin tones.

Splurge, Budget, Cheap

2007-02-11T21:36:00.000-05:00

Being a fashionista it's about style not money (ref. Paris Hilton- lotto' money, No style). There are ways to look fabulous with out spending your rent money so I give you Splurge, Budget, Cheap. This section it's about how to achieve the look at an affordable price. Because fashion should be democratic and every girl has the right to be fashion, whether you have a trust fund or a piggy bank.

Chloe SS07

Banana Republic $168.00

Forever 21 $24.80

NYFW - RTW Fall'07 - 5th Day

2007-02-08T18:48:00.000-05:00

The 5Th day of the New York Fashion Week didn't go thru smoothly. It was very disappointing in my opinion. There were designers sending mix messages about their collection and many with some ill-fitted shapes on their designs. However, some designers always stand out and really give meaning to the biggest week in fashion. The designers on the menu were:

Behnaz Sarafpour
Betsey Johnson
Bill Blass
Chaiken
Derek Lam
Do.Rii
Monique Luihllier
Narciso Rodriguez
Phylosophy
Rodarte
Temperley

Betsey Johnson really impressed me this time. Her signature playful designs materialized in the form of girlish mini dresses with very colorful prints and a lot of the trapeze shape.

Bill Blass
I loved Blass's collection. It was very 60's and sophisticated. The models were sporting an Audrey Hepburn in "Paris when it Sizzles" kind of look that was dated but very nice actually.

Today I couldn't make up my mind about who I liked the best, so it's a tie between B.J. and B.Blass.

To view the entire collections visit www.style.com

NYFW - RTW Fall'07 - 4th Day

2007-02-07T20:22:00.000-05:00

On the 4Th day of New York fashion week things got really interesting. From art galleries with a fashion models exposition to a rather spring-ish fall collection, everything had an artsy flair about it. The designers that had their models working were:

adam+eve
Carolina Herrera
Chris Benz
Isaac Mizrahi
Jill Stuart
Jovovich-Hawk
Luca Luca
Marc Jacobs
Marchesa
Maxazria
Naeem Khan
Oscar de la Renta
Thakoon

From today collections my favorites were LucaLuca and Oscar de la Renta who was, to say the least, brilliant.

De la Renta was FABULOUS! His collection was the tale of a women who lives the good life. A woman extremely sophisticated, powerful yet feminine. Someone who knows exactly what she wants from life and of course fashion (Any resemblance to Anna Wintour it's just coincidental). I really have to say that no body in the industry knows the woman body better than Oscar de la Renta. He is always so exquisit!

Luca Luca

Luca presented a very chic, clean, sporty and easy to wear line with lots of white and silver. Perfect for the ones who like to ski in style and stay warm.

To see the complete fashion collections visit www.style.com

NYFW - RTW Fall'07 - 3rd Day Part II

2007-02-06T20:23:00.000-05:00

Just to resume the third day of New York Fashion Week I'll review some of my favorite collections. As I already said 3.1 phillip lim was magistral, but there were others that came pretty close. Abaeté, DKNY, Diane VonFurstenberg and E.Fetherston had beautiful and interesting proposals.

Abaeté presented lots of black paired with white in a very modern collection. The designs look futuristic without falling into the robotic trend.

DKNY
Donna Karan's collection was extremely playful and wearable. Lots of very textured fabrics like wool, satin and tweed with some hints of color in shocking pink, blue and yellow.

Diane vonFurstenberg
Graphic prints, brocade and polka dots, dominated Diane von Furstenberg's runway in a very 60's influenced collection. The designs were ultra feminine and full of glamour and sensuality. One more time DVF proved that she is the Queen of the dress.

E. Fetherston
Beautiful, girlish and innocent is how Fetherston's collection can be described. An army of angels walked down the runway dressed in the most divine white and silver dresses with subtle hints of gold. It made me see stars.

NYFW - RTW Fall'07 - 3rd Day

2007-02-05T20:05:00.000-05:00

Today is the 3rd day of The New York Fashion Week. The day was very productive since 14 designers graced the runway with their creations, same amount as the first 2 days combined! These designers were:

Abaeté
DKNY
Dvf
Erin Featherston
Lela Rose
Luella
M. Williamson
Naum
Réyes
Sari Gueron
3.1 phillip lim
Tracy Reese
Tuleh
United Bamboo

After seeing all the shows I've got to say that I am very satisfied with today's collections. Overall, the shows were amazing in comparison to yesterday which was extremely disappointing. Some of the common denominators where the use of color black, white, red and earth tones, 60's shapes (especially in dresses) and mod prints. Splashes of color were present, blue, yellow, red, shocking pink and even aqua blue popped up here and there in some of the collections and the use of black and white in very graphic pieces was seen almost everywhere.

The king of the day was undoubtedly Phillip Lim. The execution was flawless, uber-stylish yet so wearable. Lim used very rich textures (by layering) and fabrics with a bit of a mod vibe. The collection was so beautiful some of the pieces could easily belong to a couture collection. 3.1 by Phillip Lim is my favorite so far.

To view the complete NYFW Fall'07 collections visit www.style.com.

Mercedes-Benz FRTW 2007

2007-02-04T17:37:00.000-05:00

From The Bryant Park Tents, New York Fashion Week for the ready-to-wear collection Fall-2007 sponsored by Mercedez-Benz. So far in the first two days, 14 shows have been presented from the following designers:

A. Herchwitch
Alexander Wang
Alice Roi
Bruce
Karen Walker
Lacoste
Ruffian
Threeasfour
Toni Maticevski
BCBG Max Azria
Douglas Hannant
Nicole Miller
Rag & Bone
Yigal Azrouel

The collections have many things in common in terms of tendencies. Gray and black are huge, neutral colors still in and there's some hints of color but not too much. The king for FW07 will be blue, followed by yellow and earth tones as seen in Nicole Miller's collection. Dresses and more dresses that would be and excellent piece to invest some money into because it is big for spring and it will be carried into fall. Black opaque tights appeared on virtually every show paired with platforms. So far I haven't seen anything outstanding although I think that Douglas Hannant's is very interesting, so far, the best proposal.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Just two days into the New York Fashion Show and some designers are making big waves already. Some have presented interesting collections and some... well, allow me to show you..

The Good

As I said Douglas Hannant's collection is, so far, the best in my opinion.

The Bad

Yigal Azrouel
These are so BLAH... it shouldn't be on a runway.

A. Herchwitch
Now somebody please explain to me how come these are "ready-to wear"? How do you wear these AT ALL???

The Ugly

Toni Maticevski
I am completely speechless, but if you wanna look like a banana or a popped bubble gum well, these are then ready-to-wear!

If you want to see the complete collections of all of the designers go to www.style.com and tell me what do you think about the fashion shows.

Hopeless Romantic

2007-02-04T13:04:00.000-05:00

Someone asked me the other day why am I writing so much about spring fashion when the temperatures are frigid outside. I had to admit that I'm a bit obsessed with spring's latest fashion trends, because they are so damn pretty! Top designers Marchesa, Valentino , Rodarte, Bottega Venete, Olda Capustina, and Alexander McQueen among many others caressed the runways with romantic veils and flowers. Beautiful dresses, feminine laces, floral prints, neutrals, pinks and lilacs in any of the manifestos that were seen on almost every fashion show are perfect for the heart-tendered souls that wouldn't be caught dead wearing space goggles and metal clad pants no matter how fashionable they are, Yes, it is cold outside but a hopeless romantic always has a warm little space in their heart, for fashion that is.

Bottega Veneta

Alexander McQueen

Marchesa

Rodarte

Valentino

Valentino

Waiting To Exhale

2007-02-03T20:50:00.000-05:00

Breathe my fellow breath holding, tummy-sucker friend. We have been freed, after a season of skinny jeans we can finally breath and let go. This spring skinny jeans are still in but there is hope for those who are not skinny jeans material or the ones who have been sporting a purple-ish shade of blue on their faces. Salvation has come! The wide leg pant is returning as seen in Chloe's resort collection. But don't think that you are trading glamour for comfort, even style diva Jennifer Lopez and ever-chic Katie Holmes had been seen sporting the coveted look proving that the wide leg pant is as sexy as it gets.

Christian Lacroix SS07

Sonia Rykiel SS07

Undercover SS07

Super Size Me!

2007-02-03T20:41:00.000-05:00

Plumped lips, augmented breast, butt implants, ultra long lashes, hair extensions and much more. In the era of super sizing it seems that everything is getting larger, bigger and better now days. So just when you thought that there wasn't anything else that could possibly go bigger, enter brow guru Anastasia Soare's Nu-Brow. Nu-Brow is a herbal treatment that gives eyebrows fullness and density taking them from skimpy to Brooke Shield worthy.

Anastasia Soare's Nu Brow-Brow Enhancing Serum $35.00. Available at www.sephora.com

Heavy Artillery

2007-02-03T20:17:00.000-05:00

Heavy Artillery. That's how I call my cosmetic bag. Everything I need to survive in a deserted island (or worst, a blind date) is in that little sephora cosmetic bag. Here is my ammunition...

Benefit Boi-Ing. This thing is a real cover! This super creamy formula goes on like silk, doesn't crease and stay on all day long. $18.00. Available at www.sephora.com

Too Faced Absolutely Invisible Pressed Powder. Great long lasting matte finish, but the cutest thing about this compact is the mirror that reads "Why be pretty when you can be gorgeous!" what a pick-me-up and it's packed with vitamins too! $22.50. Available at www.sephora.com.

Benefit Benetint. This one is a multi-tasker, use it as a blush or lip tint or both! $28.00. Available at www.sephora.com.

Pop Beauty Eye Cake in Mocha Eyes is the perfect blend of bronzes and browns for that sun kissed look. $19.00. Available at www.sephora.com (shown in Teal Cake).

Lancome Color Focus Palette in Radiance. Super high pigment colors that doesn't crease. $39.00. Available at www.sephora.com and www.lancome.com

Too Faced Lip Injection Plumping Collection $29.50. This is all you need to take your pucker from blah to BAM! My favorite is the lip mask, yeap! you got that right a LIP MASK. Leave it on for 3 - 5 minutes and Chazam! a super poutty mouth. Available at www. sephora.com

Sephora Cream Lipstick #51 $10.00. This is a sheer lipstick with just the right amount of color and it smells fruity, yumm! Available at www.sephora.com

Burt's Bees Lip Balm $2.49. Minty, effective and all natural. Available at www.drugstore.com and www.burtsbees.com

Dr.Hauschka Lip Care Stick $13.00. Made with all natural organic products, good on you good on nature. Available at www.sephora.com

So these are some of my favorites. What are yours? I would like to know what's in your cosmetics bag.

Rainbow Brite

2007-02-03T20:10:00.000-05:00

Remember when you were a little girl and you loved to play with your mother's make up? I do too. I also remember that I always went for very interesting color choices. I would favor intense blues and luscious greens as well as magenta colored cheeks. When did we start becoming afraid of color? When did our love / hate relationship with vibrant palettes started? Was it with the neutrals boom back in the nineties or we just forgot that make up should be fun and not one more step in the morning routine? Let's get back to our roots and bring fun back to make up and no brand would do that better than Urban Decay. With their beautiful out of the ordinary colors, super cool cases and witty names is guaranteed you'll have a blast (of color that is...). To celebrate their 10th anniversary they made this palettes containing their 10 best selling eyeshadow in the most decadent colors in a case that is just to die for. This palette is just fabulous with a very broad spectrum of colors that go from darks to vibrants to neutrals ( baby steps...). Every single one of this colors is perfectly suitable for every skin tone, just mix, match and blend to find your style. So get in touch with you inner child and rediscover color . Be bold and dare to be different you're to pretty to blend in, you were made to stand out!

Urban Decay Ammo Eye Palette $34.00. Available at www.sephora.com & www.urbandecay.com

Crayola Caddy

2007-02-03T20:04:00.000-05:00

This spring fashion has turned out to be rather expressionist, everything seems to be over the top, definitely not for the faint of heart. There's head to toe metals, futuristic fashion (ref. Balenciaga SS07) and even religious fashion (ref. Gaultier, Couture 07). In the make up department things stayed (for the most part) normal, nudes are going to be in order, but there's always the exception of the rule. This is the case of Givenchy, their new make up collection for SS07 is shocking-ly colorful (and even that is an understatement!). Their palettes reminded me of one of my childhood obssessions my beloved Crayola Caddy. I've always loved color and never been afraid of experimenting, but Givenchy's new line proved to be too much of a challenge, even for me.

So what do you think? Do you dare?

Comfort Chic

2007-02-02T19:49:00.000-05:00

Monday - Platforms, Tuesday - Tall Boots, Wednesday - Pumps, Thursday - Booties, Friday - Stilettos. After a week of trotting around in your beautiful couture footwear your feet have a clear understanding of the saying that says: beauty hurts. That's why every well-heeled girl need a pair of fashionable comfort shoes and heaven sent Gap has a perfect pair of comfy flats. This cute little things are not only comfortable they're foldable and portable so you can carry' em everywhere you go and won't take much space in your handbag (although I can fit my rain-boots in my super big bag...). At less than $40.00 a pair Gap's ballet flat are not only a relief for your feet they are good on your pocket too so you can spluge on that pair of Louboutin pumps you have your eye on.

Gap Satin Ballet Flats $39.99. Available at www.gap.com.

The Great White Hope

2007-02-02T19:47:00.000-05:00

The new handbags for the season are beautiful, clean and fresh just like spring. The oversize bag is still in full swing and the new styles are to die for. This season they're coming in every color but the big winner is white, and since the clothing is going to be very colorful nothing better to off set it like a simple yet elegant white handbag. My favorite is the incredibly chic white "My Dior" bag or the super mod "Lady Dior". Find one that fits your price range and your ready to go Daisy!

My Dior Duffle Bag $1790.00. A vailable at www.neimanmarcus.com.

Lady Dior Bag $1250.00. Available at www.neimanmarcus.com

Bobbing Up!

2007-02-02T19:44:00.000-05:00

After years of seeing long-haired models (Ref.Victoria's Secret's Models), there's a new breed of models, or should I say hair, taking over the runways. Since "The Rachel" that layered do that put Jennifer Aniston on the map, there's hasn't been that much fuzz about a haircut. On recent fashion shows several models were spotted trotting down the runway with attitude-packed bobs. The 20's silent movies star Louise Brooks first introduce the bob in her classic movie Pandora's Box and the bob has been always present with some variations ever since. This season "The Bob" isn't the usual shaggy bob or the layered bob that comes back every year with minor adjustments, this one is straight, plain and simple very close to the original 20's do. The bob is audacious for the gal who's not affraid of making a statement.

Louise Brooke

Rachel Alexander

Cecilia Mendez

Marta Berzkalna

Christian Lacroix

Tokidoki

2007-02-02T19:42:00.000-05:00

The last season LeSportsac came up with the cuttest handbags adorned with colorful japanese characters. It was the Tokidoki craze that took over, well, pretty much everything. Now it's taking over make up by teaming up with cult favorite Smash Box. Tokidoki for Smash Box is a full make up line for eyes, lips and face with ultra playful colors and the cases are just irrisistibly cute. My personal favorite is Tokidoki Dolce Vita, a golden pink all over pressed powder that promise to give you a beautiful warm glow, just in time for spring.

Tokidoki Soft Lights in Dolce Vita by Smash Box $48.00. Available at www.sephora.com

Tokidoki Eye Shadow Quad in Celebrita and Modella $30.00. Available at www.sephora.com

Tokidoki Lip Gloss in Dolcissima and Drammatica $18.00. Available at www.sephora.com

Tokidoki Skin Tint in Bella $28.00. Available at www.sephora.com

Tokidoki for Le Sportsac Bocce $88.00. Available at www.lesportsac.com

Peeping

2007-02-02T19:38:00.001-05:00

It's spring and everything is coming out. The flowers, the birds, the sun and a lot of skin, so get short shorts ready and let it out. Frilly mini dresses, painted on short, bare backs, peep-toe shoes and see-thru handbags are just a peek at what's coming this next season. Playing fashion peek-a-boo is cool now and even letting your bra peek out a little is ok. It's a feast for the eyes and you dirty little peeping Tom.

Oscar de la Renta SS07

Oscar de la Renta SS07

Oscar de la Renta SS07

Christian LaCroix SS07

Antonio Berardi SS07

Antonio Berardi SS07

Of Shaggy Dogs and Other Demons

2007-02-02T19:33:00.000-05:00

Fashion is about breaking stereotypes, thinking outside the box and self-expression, but sometimes it can go over board and be too "artistic" , if you will. Last season Balenciaga had a very controversial fall line with their bubble-like coats and super tall equestrian inspired hats so just when you thought you have seen it all, enters Prada. When I saw one of their new handbags for spring I couldn't believe my eyes, this thing is hideous it reminds me of a shaggy dog and I found my self completely puzzled. How could something like that be the creation of fashion genius Miuccia Prada? So I ran as fast as a lightning bolt to my computer and looked up the entire Prada collection for spring and summer, I thought I would die when I saw my worst fears materialized. That monstruosity and many other were in fact in the Prada's runway for SS07. It was a sad day ...

So what do you think? Is it yay or nay?

Robo Chic

2007-02-02T19:29:00.000-05:00

After a very controversial fall collection Balenciaga's designer Nicholas Guiesquiére found inspiration for the spring collection from futuristic flicks like Tron and Terminator. The new line is full of shiny metals and the accessories are Star Trek worthy. The sunglasses particularly promise to be the IT accessory if you want to go for the 2525 chic look. Beam me up Scoty!

Balenciaga's SS07 collection

Greek Goddess

2007-02-02T19:25:00.000-05:00

With the metal mania this season there are a few poor souls scratching their heads trying to figure out how to pull off a head to toes metallic look. Well I've got good news. You don't have to, just pick the accessory or piece of your choice and pair it with white for a fresh look. White and gold looks incredibly well together and it will make you look like a Greek goddess. One excellent choice for the day is a LWD (little white dress, is the latest fashion term!) with gold trimmings and gold gladiator sandals or a white and gold tunic dress with matallic heels for night. Also an all white outfit with gold accesories works too. Whatever your choice is you will look as beautiful as Venus. Opaaa!!!

Chanel SS07 collection

Chanel SS07 collection

Chanel SS07 collection

Chanel SS07 collection

Alessandro Dell'Acqua

Hermés SS07 collection

Heavy Metal

2007-02-02T19:18:00.000-05:00

It is time to shine and there's no better way to do it like wearing metals. This season metallic hues and materials are the hottest trend and no longer reserved for night or special occasions. This look killed on every runway as seen on Marc Jacobs, Narciso Rodriguez, Burberry, J. Mendel and Gucci among many others. From shoes to handbags to dress in full silver or gold you will definitely shine. So twinkle, twinkle you little star!

Burberry Prorsum

Celine

Gucci

Marc By Marc Jacobs

Narciso Rodriguez

Marchesa

Alessandro Dell'Acqua

Carlos Miele

J. Mendel

J. Mendel

Elie Saab

Elie Saab

Elie Saab

To view the entire Spring/Summer 2007 collections visit www.style.com