A Tee For A Cause

It's no secret that I love shopping, but I love shopping for a cause even more--especially when that cause involves the fight against cancer. Some of you fabulous fashionistas may already be familiar with Stand Up to Cancer, a charitable program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) with the goal of accelerating cancer research to bring new, life-saving therapy options to patients. Clearly, this is a good thing, and now you can show your support for their cause by...shopping!

Now available online from Delia's collection of "Change the World Tees" is this special Cancer Benefit Tee. Made as a vintage-style concert tee in super-soft cotton, 20% of proceeds from this tee will be donated to Stand Up To Cancer. I've been wearing mine like it's going out of style, which it never will. After all, standing up to cancer is always in style. So, dearest fashionista friends, I implore you: won't you please stand up?

Daddy

1954-2009

Images, in order of appearance: (1) Cancer Benefit Tee $26.50, available at Delia's (http://store.delias.com); (2) Stand Up To Cancer logo, image thanks to www.cbs.com; Lolly and Daddy.

Heart This Hoodie!

Like a proud mama, I couldn't be more excited to brag about my new baby: the Skateboarder Jersey Hoodie from brand.L by lolly.brand! How long I have been waiting for this day, wearing a plain old grey hoodie that felt so sadly devoid of graphics or attitude--and now, at long last, the wait is over... So, dearest fashionista friends, kick off those Louboutins and get ready to get cozy!

Clearly, this is not just any old hoodie; after all, lolly.brand is all about coloring outside the lines. Made of lightweight jersey (think: comfy tee-shirt material), this new style has the immediate feel of your favorite, broken-in vintage hoodie--and the contrasting white zipper tape only adds to the vintage appeal. brand.L's signature skater makes an appearance on the back, and the brand.L logo is boldly displayed along the left sleeve--muchhhh better than wearing your heart on your sleeve, don'tcha think?


Some might argue that I have to love my own brand (like I said, it's my baby), but I have to say--I truly lovelovelove this sweatshirt! In fact, one of my favorite things about the brand.L line is its unisex appeal, the fact that my brother and I can rock our new hoodies with the same degree of fierceness. In all fairness, he's the one with adorable little dog so that tips the scale a bit. But I digress... The point is this: whoever you are, guy or gal, you simply must heart this hoodie! And I'm willing to bet that your special someone would loooove to receive their very own hoodie for Valentine's Day. After all, what's not to love?





Special thanks to Ben (and Maple) for making brand.L look soooo cute.



Images: brand.L Skateboarder Jersey Hoodie $40, from brand.L by lolly.brand; available exclusively online at www.lollybrand.net. Dog not included with purchase!

Love Your Lashes

Sitting in the waiting room at the car dealership, I'm reading the current issue of Elle in a desperate attempt to distract myself from the box of Dunkin' Donuts munchkins on the table in front of me. Thank goodness for fashion magazines and glossy photos of too-skinny models, or else I would definitely be eating the chocolate glazed donut hole that is calling my name! But worry not, I'm getting much more out of Elle than donut deprivation; in fact, I'm absolutely inspired.

As you might recall, last year I raved about Givenchy's (then new) Phenomen'Eyes Mascara. This year, just in time for Valentine's Day, I have discovered there is so much more to love about this fabulous mascara. For you daring fashionistas out there, Phenomen'Eyes has released three limited edition shades: plum, khaki, and purple. As if you needed another reason to love your lashes: hello, color!

I consider myself more of a traditionalist when it comes to mascara, preferring the blackest black (surprised?) above all else. Yet, I love Givenchy's Phenomen'Eyes so much that I'm sort of intrigued... In fact, I think traditionalists like me could still make this mascara work by simply adding a layer of color over the standard, classic black. Rather than OMG! That girl is definitely rocking the purple mascara!, the effect would be more along the lines of, What is that lovely purple impression around her lashes?

New year, new rules for this fashionista, I guess. Sometimes, for love, we have to break all the rules. So go ahead, fearless fashionista friends, love your lashes.

Images, in order of appearance: (1) February issue of Elle, featuring Jennifer Lopez; (2) Limited edition shades of Phenomen'Eyes Mascara by Givenchy (plum, khaki, and purple) thanks to Sephora (www.sephora.com); Phenomen'Eyes Mascara by Givenchy $28, available at Sephora.

In the Shadows

Two weeks ago, my lovely friend Lizzie alerted me to the fact that all my recent posts were centered around the color black. Lover of black I may be, but for the sake of cheerier chicas, I have since been trying to lighten the mood a bit--an effort that includes my nail color, which has been black (or close to it) for months now. Fortunately, my fashionable Seattle friend, Miss Annie Rose, gave me a new color to try out over the holidays, and I can now officially report that I am happy to remain in the shadows.

Yet another must-have nail color by OPI for Sephora, In the Shadows is a dark and mysterious chocolatey brown. With my new black hair, I have to be careful of an inadvertant goth effect, and I'm finding this color is just the right amount of vamp without even a hint of Marilyn Manson. In the name of versatility, I should also mention that this color can be worn in two totally different ways. For the office, this luxe brown is a great contrast to a fresh, squeaky-clean look (think: skinny black pants, a white collared shirt, and hair in a slick ponytail). For more formal affairs, this sultry shade quite literally polishes off a smouldering look (think: little black dress with sky-high heels and minimal jewelry). Bottom line: take a lesson from our vampire friends, and stay in the shadows.

Images, in order of appearance: In the Shadows by OPI for Sephora $9, available online at www.sephora.com; girl with dark brown nail color, photo thanks to Chic Profile (www.chicprofile.com).

Down The Rabbit Hole

As you may have already figured out, I have a somewhat obsessive personality. One of my many obsessions is--and always has been--Lewis Carroll's Alice In Wonderland. In fact, when the story was reissued with Ralph Steadman's illustrations a couple of years ago, I thought I had died and gone to Wonderland. So you can only imagine how excited I am for the March 5 release of Tim Burton's adaptation, where (among other fantastic actors and actresses) Johnny Depp will play my beloved Mad Hatter. Fortunately, as March still seems very far away, Urban Decay has pledged to take a few fashionistas down the cosmetic rabbit hole to keep us distracted for a while...

In preparation for the launch of Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland, Urban Decay has partnered with Disney to create a limited edition Book of Shadows. True to their motto of beauty with an edge, this eye color palette includes 16 best-selling eyeshadows; a bottle of eyeshadow primer; and two eye pencils. Inspired by Alice's journey through Wonderland, the colors have been fancifully renamed. Choose from the likes of Underland, Curiouser, or Muchness (formerly Flash, Grifter, and X)--just to name a few. The best part? This special palette features a paper pop-up scene of Alice herself.

The White Queen: Can you do addition? What's one and one and one and one and one and one and one and one and one and one?

Alice: I don't know. I lost count.

Alice may have had trouble with arithmetic, but I'm confident we can work this out: (One) I am a fashionista, self-proclaimed and fabulous. (And one) I cannot function without eye make-up. Really. If I were on a deserted island, I would demand mascara at the very least. (And one) I love love loooove all things Alice. (And one and one and one and one and one and one and one) Through the caterpillar's hookah smoke, the numbers are clearly there: I need this. Down the rabbit hole I go...

Special thanks for Lauren for spreading the word about the Book of Shadows.

Psst: To see a trailer of Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland, in theatres on March 5, 2010, click here.

Quote: from Alice In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Images, in order of appearance: (1) The Cheshire Cat and Alice by Ralph Steadman, from Alice In Wonderland, image thanks to Art.com (http://www.art.com/); (2) Alice In Wonderland Book of Shadows $52 by Urban Decay, available online (www.urbandecay.com).

Scout's Honor

I've officially had enough of winter. Granted, I've reached my breaking point a little early this year, and though it may still be freezing and will undoubtedly keep snowing, this fashionista is now dreaming of warmer days...and so is my wardrobe. After all, how many layers of cashmere before a girl wear before it gets ridiculous? Okay, maybe you can never have enough cashmere, but just indulge me.

I had the pleasure of having my mother as a house guest earlier this week, and one of our favorite past-times is to go through the J. Crew Catalog together (every family has their traditions!). While perusing the pages, I fell in love with the Destroyed Scout Chino, one of the new arrivals for spring (sigh). Typically, I prefer to do my own destroying. The way I see it, why pay more for something I can do myself with a bottle of bleach and a pair of scissors? However, these destroyed duds are different. Using theirmagical destruction/repair process, the pros at J. Crew garment-dyed and destroyed these pants (for 400 minutes, no less--hello dedication!) before expertly patching and sewing them back together.

The result is an irresistibly aged pair of chinos that are broken-in, without being broken down. Yet another reason why I typically avoid manufactured destruction are the slashes and holes in the upper thigh/butt area. Not only is that look totally immodest, but it's also totally unnecessary. Obviously, that's not the case here. These chinos are as tasteful as the day is long and boast a unique repaired destruction that can't be beat. I can already see myself rocking them with a sun-bleached white tee and my Rainbows. Clearly, there's something to be said for Scout's honor.


Image: Destroyed Scout Chinos in pale surplus $75, from J. Crew (www.jcrew.com).

If You Build It, They Will Come: Bring Fashion Home

It seems the New Year has--at least subconsciously--inspired me. This past weekend, without having made any resolutions (aside from the "work out more" promise I make to myself constantly), I finally grew tired of all the blank wall space in my new house and went to work on the stacks of framed photographs and paintings collecting dust in the corner. The result? Outstanding, of course! But more importantly, the process itself reignited my passion for interior design and commitment to making my home my own personal sanctuary. So for today's post, let this be a disclaimer: fashion has (re)entered the home, along with my purported DIY wisdom.

So now the real question is: how exactly does one build a sanctuary? For me, it's all about color and balance. You may recall the Tiffany debate, which was ultimately resolved using Tiffany-inspired accents (ie. a side table and wooden chest) to contrast and compliment a black four-poster bed and wall of black and white photographs in solid black frames of varying size. As you might have guessed, the photographs went up this weekend, adding the perfect polish to my desired aesthetic.

The trouble is, every room is a process, and it's all too easy to burn out. Hello, I moved in 5 months ago, and I'm still not done "settling." So I have decided (perhaps for reasons of self-preservation) that you can't rush the process. Sometimes it takes days, weeks, or even months to find/commit to a vision. From that point on, the room becomes a work-in-progress, until one day (breathe) it is finally complete. Do I sound like I've been doing too much yoga? Maybe. But not for nothing, this can work! Let me elaborate...

My new project is our guest room. I've been agonizing over it for a while now. The biggest challenge is the fact that we rent, not own, our home. This means that, as much as I want to get rid of the white wardrober that's waaaay too enormous for such a little space, or to fix the ridiculous electrical work (who puts light switches behind a door, really?), we have to work within the space that's there. Having finally accepted that, I can move forward.

First order of business: color scheme. My adorable sister recently shared her Serena & Lily obsession with me, and a visit to their website helped me find inspiration in their Citrine Collection, a delicately fresh take on lemon/lime. I had previously toyed with the idea of a bright lime palette in this room, but since my living room is all about lime accents, I threw in the towel. Thanks to Serena & Lily, however, I now find myself in a lighter, brighter place (in so many ways), having introduced lemony yellows and sage greens into the mix to add softness and balance.

The next step: make the inspiration a reality, and this means making it your own. After all, no one lives in a catalog so it's useless to try to replicate catalog look. For instance, the intricate white bed frame in this image is lovely, but the bed in my guestroom is black wrought-iron. While I'm not going to buy a new bed, I can still make this look work for me with citrusy bedding, accent pillows, maybe even a side table or chair. Another hiccup is the black dresser housing much of my husband's wardrobe. It's anything but light and airy, but I can pull in my color palette by switching out the hardware with a mismatched collection of yellows, whites, greens, and maybe even a splash of blue for good measure.

An important part of this personalization process is to add the finishing touches that make a room feel like "home" (or a home for guests, in my case). Whether you have a penchant for painting, photography, or prints, a room can never be a sanctuary unless it tells your story. Surprisingly, this is where my home decor project began so I can check it off my list. However, this can also serve as a fabulous chance to get creative if you don't already have a collection of art to display. Grab your camera and start snapping, or dust off your easel--the possibilities are endless...

As they say, if you build it, they will come. Well, dearest fashionista friends, the time has come: ready, set, build! This year, let's do our part to bring fashion home.

Images, in order of appearance: (1) One of my inspirations in the Tiffany saga, photo from Gaita Interiors (www.gaitainteriors.com/blog); (2) Citrine Dreams, a new inspiration for my guest room thanks to Serena & Lily (http://www.serenaandlily.com/); (3) Bubbled Glass Knob in olive $8, from Anthropologie (http://www.anthropologie.com/).

The Bronzed and the Beautiful: A Love Affair

For varying reasons, I didn't get any sun this summer. I mean, no sun whatsoever. What this means: now, during the time of year that my sun-kissed summer skin would gradually become paler and paler, my already pale skin is becoming almost translucent. Granted, I do love vampires, but I'm not really trying to look like a member of the Cullen family. Thank goodness for bronzer!

For almost four years now, I've been wedded to my Trish McEvoy bronzer, after my dearest friend, India, introduced me to it shortly before my wedding (to Dallin, not Trish--just to clarify). I originally thought I would live and shimmer happily ever after with Trish, but after four years, the honeymoon is over. In fact, it seems I've grown a bit two faced--all thanks to Too Faced's bronzing power collection and my lovely friend, Annie Rose, who brought the other bronzer into my life...

Appropriately named The Bronze and the Beautiful, this special edition bronzer collection features three of Too Faced's best. Up first is Pink Leopard, a warm bronzer known for its magical skin-perfecting powers that make those cheek bones pop! like whoa. Then there's Sun Bunny, which I lovingly think of as a year-round-instant-bake. In under 60 seconds, you can channel those long lost beach days, minus the damaging effects of a tanning bed. And last but not least is Snow Bunny. My favorite of the three, this subtle bronzer incorporates a hint of silver to makes your eyes look bigger and your skin look brighter with just a few waves of the brush (which is included in the kit--added bonus!).

If you've been known to err on the indecisive side like me (nothing to be ashamed of), this collection is the answer to your cosmetic prayers. Whatever the reason or the season, you get to pick from three equally fabulous bronzers each time. Just beware, your old bronzer is bound to get jealous of your Too Faced love affair. Sorry, Trish! What can I tell you?--the bronzed and the beautiful get me every time.

Images, in order of appearance: (1) The Bronzed and the Beautiful, special edition bronzer trio from Too Faced $35, available at Sephora (www.sephora.com); (2) Me! at the beach on a sunny day looong ago (sigh!).

nOir is nice

Remember how much I love studs? Well, now I'm thinking noir is nice too--nOir Jewelry, that is. In today's email from The Cut, I was captivated by the image of the Dominque Large Square Stone Ring and soon found myself on the nOir Jewelry website from which it hails. I've said it before, and I'm sure I'll say it again--but thank goodness for online window shopping, or I might never have discovered this little beauty (stage left), the Four Stud Pyramind Ring.

This ring is just one of the latest and greatest from nOir designer and owner, Leeora Catalan. She first made a name for herself at Ralph Lauren and Oscar de la Renta before going off on her own as a stylist--and then launching nOir Jewelry almost fifteen years ago. These days, she is known for her unique style, where sophistication meets street. Like this ring, all of the nOir pieces bring a certain degree of fierce to the table without sacrificing an ounce of class.

As for this must-have ring, it is all class and punk rock (betcha didn't think you would hear those two in the same sentence!), with a neat quad of silvery Rhodium-plated pyramid studs on top of a darker Gunmetal shaft. It is the baddest cocktail ring I've seen to date, and I mean that in the best of ways. Like I said, nOir is oh so nice!

Image: Four Stud Pyramid Ring from nOir Jewelry $50, available online at www.noirjewelry.com.

Rent the Runway

Love. Wear. Return. Sounds pretty basic, right? Basic and fabulous, this is the concept behind Rent the Runway, a couture rental company that gives fashionistas of all ways, means, and especially budgets access to the crème de la crème in designer fashions. Gone are the days of obsessing over gowns you can't afford, sale and sample sizes you just can't squeeze into, and and pushy salespeople you just can't handle!

Here's the deal: Rent the Runway buys pieces directly from the designers and then rents them at 10% of the retail price. Attending a fabulous party? Shop online for cutting-edge styles from the likes of Alice & Olivia, Proenza Schouler, and Diane von Furstenberg--just to name drop a little--like you would Bloomie's or Bergdorf's, the difference being that now you can actually afford the object(s) of your desire... Then, choose a delivery date, and your pick will be delivered (in two sizes--sooo convenient!) right to your front door. After your fashion debut has come and gone, just pop the dresses into their pre-paid packaging and send them back, as you would any old return. Really.

No more "This dress is an investment..." rationalizing. You can love it, wear it, return it--AND keep your wallet (and your husband!) happy at the same time. Believe it. Are you still reading?! Fashionistas, please!--start shopping.

Psst: For a limited time, use promotional code Happy2010 at check-out to receive 10% off your order!

Images, in order of appearance: (1) Rent the Runway advertisement, from Rent the Runway (www.renttherunway.com); (2) Designer name dress icon, also from Rent the Runway.