Episode 13: Loving Wallis

Without a doubt, butter London is one of my favorite nail polish companies.  Not only is it fabulously British, but the colors are splendidly unique--and always well named.  To me, the name counts, and I'll admit to being sold on one nail lacquer over another simply on the basis of a cool name.  In fact, naming the colors of cosmetics would be my dream job (anyone hiring?).  So I was pretty excited when my amazing friend, Annie Rose, gave me a bottle of butter London's Wallis lacquer for my birthday a couple of months ago--and I am thankful for the surprising opportunity it provided for me to learn about the namesake of this fabulous color.

Wallis Nail Lacquer, $14
by butter London

I had read a while back that Wallis was all the rage during London Fashion Week--and one look tells you why.  I have yet to see a color quite like this one, and that's really saying something because I get my nails done a lot.  Back in the summer, I was all about gold glitter polish on my toes, but Wallis is more than basic gold.  Rather, to steal the words straight from butter's website, Wallis is a tarnished metallic olive gold that heralds from butter's Fall/Winter 2011 collection.  According to butter's Founding Creative Director and color trend expert Nonie Creme, the collection as a whole was designed to “reflect the 'luxe-grunge' moment, and burst of new era, ‘dirty’ jewel tones prevalent on the catwalk for Autumn/Winter 2011.” Indeed, there is a certain rich darkness to Wallis that makes it sophisticated yet irreverent--and I absolutely love it.


The butter website's description of Wallis adds that the color is as mysterious and regal as its namesake.  This got me thinking, what namesake?  Not being a Brit myself (shame--I would love the accent), I thought that maybe there was some trendy royal that I didn't know about.  After some investigation, it turns out that there's a good story behind the name of this amazing nail lacquer, and I'm so thankful that a nail polish--of all things--pushed me towards a juicy little history lesson.  It also turns out that my original suspicions weren't totally off the mark...

The original Wallis:
The Duchess of Windsor in 1936
Photo thanks to Wikipedia

Born Bessie Wallis Warfield in 1896, Wallis was was an American socialite whose life story reads practically like an episode of Gossip Girl--though I venture to say that the scandalous lives of Manhattan's elite have got nothing on Wallis.   Her first marriage to US naval officer, Earl Winfield Spencer, Jr. ended in divorce, though she soon married again.   It was during her second marriage, to shipping executive Ernest Aldrich Simpson, that Wallis was rumored to have become the mistress to Edward, Prince of Wales.  It wasn't until two years later, after Edward's ascension to the throne as King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom and the Dominions, that Wallis divorced her second husband--and Edward proposed to her.  


Of course, Wallis's checkered marital past was a red flag for those proper Brits; that is to say, the King's intention to wed a woman with two living ex-husbands threatened to cause a constitutional crisis in the United Kingdom and the Dominions, and so lucky husband number three ultimately abdicated the throne to be with his lady love. Following the abdication, the former king was titled Duke of Windsor by his brother George VI, and after their marriage, Wallis was formally known as the Duchess of Windsor (not quite the same ring as "Her Royal Highness"--but still).  And then they lived happily ever after.  Okay, maybe not--but they did hop back and forth across the pond, living the high life as society celebrities, surrounded by controversy and intrigue.  If US Weekly had been around then, I'm sure they would have covered the story.  


I never thought I'd learn all that from a bottle of nail polish, but knowing what I know now, the glittery darkness of butter's Wallis lacquer seems totally befitting its namesake.  So thank you, dear Annie Rose, for my amazing nail color--and for the opportunity to learn a thing or two about history and scandal.  Love it.






FYI: Nonnie Creme quote from butter London's website.  Information on Wallis from Wikipedia--so feel free to correct any unintentional historical inaccuracies!

Flair For Your Flats

We all love flats--often for their ballerina cuteness, always for their comfort. But do you ever feel like your flats are looking , well, a little flat? No longer.

Thanks to the uber stylish gals at ban.do (best known for headbands that even Blair Waldorf could appreciate), now you can add a little pep to your step with their new shoe clips. Clip 'em on to your flats for instant pop!--and of course they'll also jazz your sneakers, flip flops, and even your heels. For the gal on the go, I feel this concept is pretty genius. Some of us working girls are constrained by the dreaded office dress code, but of course our lives don't stop when the clock strikes 5pm (or 6, or 7...). Just keep your shoe clips in whatever fabulous handbag you happen to be carrying on a given day, and then you can dash from work to play--without having to stop at home to freshen up, or (shudder) to sacrifice your style.

ban.do's shoe clips come in six equally fun and flirty styles--and infinitely more colors--but my favorites have to be the ban.do heart shoe clips and the crystal bowtie shoe clips. I guess this means my secret is out: I have a weakness for sparkle. Perhaps the best part is that your look will be instantly transformed, without having to splurge. In the words of ban.do, they are indeed the perfect little party for your feet.

Psst... Click here to join the ban.do mailing list and receive 15% off your next order!

Images, in order of appearance: (1) crystal bowtie shoe clips $55 by ban.do, available online; (2) heart shoe clips in red $25 by ban.do, also available online; and (3) pom pom shoe clips in bright blue $25 by ban.do, also available online.

Episode 6, The Verdict: Loving Lively

Last week, I dared to ask you about Blake Lively's hair: love it or loathe it? Well, according to the New York Times article published earlier this month, a Google search of “Blake Lively Hair” produces 713,000 results, many of them “how to’s.” So maybe it was a stupid question, seeing that not one of you dared to utter the word "loathe." When it comes to this stunning gossip girl, we are clearly head-over-heels for her hair.

How to get the lovely Lively look is another story. The Times called her hair an exercise in studied dishevelment, which couldn't be more accurate. Translation: she manages to look like she rolled out of bed totally ready for the runway, a seemingly impossible feat. When it comes to copping her style, most of us are missing one element: the color, the length, the texture, the stylist... One of my friends has a head full of gorgeous blonde hair, but it defies her efforts to make it tussle. Another friend is brunette (like me), begging the question: can you have the hair without being a Blake-blonde?

Apparently, Jennifer Johnson, Miss Lively's stylist on the set of Gossip Girl, creates Blake's signature bedhead glam by letting her hair dry in a simple chignon. Of course, if you're not Serena van der Woodsen, I'm guessing you don't have time to wait for your hair to dry--especially when it's knotted in a chignon. A quick DIY tussle technique that I like to use is, after using a curling iron to make a few big, loose curls, I gently tease my hair at the roots with a comb. Then, I flip my hair upside down and spritz with a light holding spray. I may not be blonde, and I'm certainly no stylist--but I can tussle with the best of 'em.

Though it would be far easier to be Blake Lively, her luscious locks are actually within reach. Such is the beauty (literally) of that "All-American" look. As John Barrett, whose hair salon is located above Bergdorf Goodman in Manhattan (sigh!), said to the Times, It looks accidental, but actually it takes work. For a fashionista?--Please! It's all in a day's work.

Quotes and information from: A 'Gossip Girl' Look, Pronto! by Sarah Maslin Nir, from the New York Times on November 10, 2009. To read the full article, click here. Images, in order of appearance: (1) Blake Lively W Magazine Cover, photo thanks to Gossip Girl Insider (www.gossipgirlinsider.com); (2) Blake Lively, photo from Buzz Sugar (online at http://xoxo-gossip-girl.buzzsugar.com/).

Love It or Loathe It? Episode 6: Blake Lively Hair

Happy Monday, dearest fashionista friends! Once again, your fashion expertise is needed for another episode of Love It or Loathe It? here at She's Come Unheeled. The issue? Hair, something we fashionistas take very, very seriously.

More specifically... A recent New York Times article suggested that Blake Lively's hair is the new "Rachel," the Jennifer Aniston inspired 'do that took salons by storm during the days of Friends (sigh). Well, move over, Rachel! These days, Blake Lively's long, luscious locks seem to be the most coveted. According to the Times, everyone wants Blake's "extra long, ultra-shiny blond with a mussed-up tussle frolicking through the ends." The question for you, my lovelies: IS IT TRUE?

Blake Lively Hair:

Do you love/want it or loathe it?--and why?

Send me an email or post your comments! The verdict will be delivered when She's Come Unheeled returns after Thanksgiving.

Happy holidays, dear ones--and as always, thank you!

XOXO,
Lolly


Images, in order of appearance: (1) Blake Lively and Leighton Meester, as Serena van der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf on the CW's Gossip Girl, photo thanks to Gossip Girl Insider (www.gossipgirlinsider.com); (2) Blake Lively, photo thanks to http://fashionfeen.files.wordpress.com.

Metro Chic for Fall

For my birthday back in August, my lovely friend, Miss Annie Rose, sent me a package containing of a few of her favorite fall items. One of these fall fashion gems was a bottle of Sephora's own Metro Chic nail color. With fall very much underway, I found myself inspired to paint my nails during last night's episode of Gossip Girl. The result was so very metro chic (how appropriate) that I simply had to brag!

Probably the best thing about this color is that I've never seen anything quite like it before. Typically, every brand has it's own version of a given nail color. But not in this case! Made exclusively for Sephora by O.P.I., this autumnal shade is a smokey mix of brown, purple, and grey. As I've mentioned before, I keep my nails very short and very square--and this color works perfectly. It's dark without being too dark, and neutral enough to match nearly an ensemble. Versatility, versatility, versatility!--it's like gold in the fashion world.

Though I was hard pressed to abandon my black polish, I'm all about fairness so I simply had to take Metro Chic for a test run. And you should too! I mean, who doesn't want to look metro chic for fall?

Image: Metro Chic nail color by O.P.I. for Sephora $9, available online at www.sephora.com or in stores; photo thanks to Style Bakery Beauty (www.stylebakerybeauty.com).

ban.do--Puts Blair Waldorf to Shame

Ahhh, autumn! Hot apple cider, New England foliage, finally getting to wear boots again, and--OMGG!--Gossip Girl is back on. I may be twenty-six, but that doesn't mean I can't find guilty pleasure in the fictional lives of Manhattan's teenage elite. Serena van der Woodsen, Dan Humphrey, Blair Waldorf... And how do I love thee, Miss Waldorf? Let me count thy headbands...

As a girl with an unhealthy arsenal of my own power headbands, I can identify with Blair Waldorf--and the source of her conniving powers of manipulation. Obviously, Dan had no idea what he was talking about when he suggested that headbands have no place in college. I am walking proof that headbands have an important role in college, the workplace, and beyond. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that New York's Queen B doesn't make it out to the west coast very often, and so I can do her one better. My happy online discovery of ban.do puts Blair Waldorf to shame! Imagine.

Born of two LA stylists in 2008, ban.do is an empire of gorgeous headbands--as well as collars, corsages, and belts that define "wearable art." Despite their So-Cal studio location, their line lacks even a hint of the LA hipster vibe. Rather, working with classic materials like feathers, velvet, rhinestones, and silk, ban.do is the ultimate in elegance. They even have a special selection of delicate headpieces for blushing brides who wish to channel a bygone age.

With so many striking pieces to choose from, I find myself rather indecisive. But you know that I'm a sucker for feathers and sparkle and satin (oh my!), which is why I'm leaning towards the Vintage Cover Girl. This thin satin headband boasts a delicate cluster of peacock feathers, neatly fanning out from a vintage rhinestone brooch. It's exactly the kind of statement headpiece that any girl should have in her collection.

Yet, if handbands aren't your thing, all of the power of a Queen B can be yours with the likes of ban.do's Gracie Corsage or the Aristocrat Collar. I mean, hello!--how much more powerfully prep can you possibly get? And to think: Georgina puts so much effort into shaming Blair, when all she really needed to do was shop ban.do!

Images, in order of appearance: Leighton Meester as Gossip Girl's Blair Waldorf, photo from In Style (http://www.instyle.com/); (2) Vintage Cover Girl $200, headband by ban.do (online at www.shopbando.com); (3) Aristocrat Collar $165, also by ban.do.

Perfect Your Pout

The great Mae West once said, Kiss and make up--but too much make up has ruined many a kiss. While I don't want to put words in her mouth, in the spirit of kissing, I'm guessing she would approve of the right lipstick. So what is the "right lipstick," you wonder? For this season: RED. Definitely red.

I am a firm believer in power colors, and nothing perfects your pout more powerfully than red. It is simultaneously bold, glamorous, and utterly classic--a cosmetic trifecta seldom achieved. My absolute favorite red lipstick is Chanel's Rouge Hydrabase Creme Lipstick in Russet Moon. It is the ultimate in rich, velvety red--without being overly intense.

If you're a proud brunette like me, then you should feel especially confident rocking the red lip. Though I am admittedly biased, you can't deny that red is particularly striking on brunettes. I guess this is just one of those times that brunettes do it better! It's a fact: the contrast of sleek dark hair, a lightly powdered face, and ruby red lips just can't be beat!

But don't worry, blondie, all is never lost. If you covet a red pout circa Marilyn Monroe, the success is in the shade. While a brunette can go dark, blondes should opt for lighter and brighter reds to avoid looking overly goth girl (sorry, Jenny Humphrey, but it's true). It's the difference between Christina Aguilera (top photo, upper left) and Mary Kate Olsen (below); Christina's scarlet kisser drags her down, while Mary Kate's cherry red pucker proves that it is indeed possible to look sultry and sweet at exactly the same time. So for you blonde bombshells out there, try something more along the lines of Chanel's Luminous Satin Lip Color in Audace.

The moral of the story: if your pout is in need of a pick-me-up, be bold and go red! You will be amazed at the way this one, kiss-worthy color can transform your whole look. Kiss and make up, kiss and tell... If you perfect your pout, the choice is yours!

Images, in order of appearance: (1) Celebs in red, photo courtesy of Style Salon (http://shinymedia.blogs.com); (2) your very own Lolly, photographed by herself; (3) Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, photograph thanks to Stardust and Sequins (http://stardustandsequins.files.wordpress.com).

Are You A Poppy Girl?

With the exception of my amazing Whitney Watch, I've never been much of a Coach girl. This is a judgment-free zone so I'll just say it: if I'm going to have an item covered in the letter C, I want nothing less than Chanel. That said, I was pleasantly surprised to learn of Coach's new Poppy line.

Adapting to the times just like the rest of us, Poppy's price point is a little more manageable than your traditional Coach item. But even better is that Poppy embraces a fresh, youthful style--full of bright colors, metallics, and fun patterns. The overall look is so irresistible that I'm wondering why Coach didn't do this earlier!

In an interview in the July issue of In Style, president and executive creative director, Reed Krakoff, discussed the inspiration behind Poppy: Poppy has a preppy vibe, but with a kind of punky sensibility that comes through in the details. We mixed sequins and patent touches with Pop Art-inspired prints, for example. And there's quirky hardware and retro shapes for bags and jewelry.

Krakoff's description justly identifies the appeal of Poppy: the fusion of the preppy and punk; naughty and nice; and princess and rebel. What girl can't relate to that?

I immediately fell in love with the New Poppy Jacket, a navy wool blend jacket with oversized gold button details and a funky zebra print lining (for an added pop! to the Poppy style). While adhering to a traditional blazer aesthetic, this jacket adds just enough irreverent spirit to make the Blair Waldorfs of the world shake their heads. It's a great statement piece, complimenting a pair of faded skinny jeans and gold flip-flops just as well as it would a white pleated skirt and navy espadrille wedges.

I'm also loving the Skyla Flats in a bold hot pink, which make me think of a little-school-girl-all-grown-up. I just adore the flirty resin bow with gold detail at the toe, which makes this flat stand out from the standard line-up of ballet flats.

The cherry on top? The baubles and bangles from this collection may be the most tempting array of sparkles I've seen in some time. Just try to say "no" to the New Poppy Flower Necklace, a bib-style necklace of blooming flowers in an array of boldly colored stones with an unusual copper finish.

Are you a Poppy girl? With the same ease that Dorothy felt in an ocean of poppies, I have fallen in love with this collection. So go ahead: have your Poppy and wear it too!




Images in order of appearance: (1) Coach's Poppy Slogan, photo courtesy of Coach (http://www.coach.com/); (2) New Poppy Jacket, $398, also available at Coach; (3) Skyla Flats, $158, also available at Coach; (4) New Poppy Flower Necklace, $248, also from Coach.

Lolly Loves Leather

When Kate Beckinsale appeared for the 2009 Calvin Klein Womenswear Fall Fashion Show during New York Fashion Week in February, it seemed that everyone was shaking their finger at her little leather dress. A little too reminiscent of Underworld, perhaps? I couldn't disagree more. I loved the fact that Miss Kate--who typically embraces a sweet, demure image when it comes to dressing for red carpet events--found her inner fierceness.

I had almost forgotten about this luscious leather look when the image jumped out at me again from the pages of June's In Style, in an article on "Hot Weather Leather." The concept is certainly an intriguing one. I can't help but have flashbacks to my trip to Paris at age 15 when I toured the Palace of Versailles in August wearing my dad's vintage leather pants (can you say rock star?!). A fabulous 15 year-old to be sure, but definitely HOT in the sweaty, uncomfortable definition of the word. This memory makes me question the logic of "hot weather leather." Nonetheless, it is a fabulous look. It's bold and different, while also being timeless in a rocker/biker sort of way since there will always be a place in the fashion world for the rebel.

In order to make it a successful summer look, however, a fashionista needs to get a little bit creative to avoid melting. Personally, I love the way glamorous Gossip Girl, Taylor Momsen (another 15 year-old who loves leather!), mixed aesthetics by pairing her cropped leather jacket with an intricately embroidered ivory bubble dress--pulling the look together with black leather shooties. Conveniently, if the temperature rises too much, off comes the jacket--problem solved.

Another lovely leather look was Kate Hudson's high-waisted leather pencil skirt, which she rocked at a Berlin press event for Bride Wars. The fact that her skirt was leather added a bit of pow! to the sleek, feminine silhouette of her pencil skirt. On the practical side, even a leather skirt is still a skirt--allowing for much-needed air circulation during those hot summer months. For this look, she upped the ante with her black ruffled blouse, for nothing screams "glam" like black on black. Of course, the dark lips and bedroom hair don't hurt either.

Amazing but true: hot weather leather is totally possible--and completely fashionable. Move over little black dress! Next on my to-buy list is a little leather dress just like Kate Beckinsale.







Images: (1) Kate Beckinsale from the 2009 Calvin Klein Womenswear Fall Fashion Show during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York in February, courtesy of Reuters (http://www.blogs.reuters.com/); (2) Taylor Momsen, also photographed at New York Fashion Week, photo courtesy of fellow blogger, Style Maven (http://www.stylemaven.typepad.com/); (3) Kate Hudson in Berlin for a Bride Wars press event, photo courtesy www.catwalkqueen.tv

Battle of the (Head)bands: An Ode to Blair Waldorf

In honor of last night's Gossip Girl season finale, it seems appropriate that today's post pay tribute to the Upper East Side elite, don't you think? After all, it will be months before we can drink the Kool-Aid again (sigh!). Not to mention that GG is riddled with fashion dos and don'ts... So without further ado, let us shift our focus my favorite Blair Waldorf fashion DO, the source the Queen B's power: the headband.

Daily Intel, New York Magazine's fantastically fabulous weekly coverage of GG (if you haven't read it yet, then count your lucky stars that you now have something to do until our beloved show returns), gives bonus points for "this series of three lines in a row, in which nobody is listening to anybody else:

Nelly: What would high school be without hierarchy?

Jenny: Bearable? A nice place to spend time?
Blair: Ladies, I thought we were matching our headbands under our caps."

Ahh, Blair, this is why we love you. Of course, headbands have NEVER gone out of style. Making their first appearance when we are just itty bitty girlies to keep back our unruly--and often unbrushed--locks, they maintain their rule all the way into adulthood, particularly if your fashion sensibilities include even a hint of prep. But if we're being honest, Blair Waldorf has made headbands simply iconic.

Perhaps one of the better scenes last night included the passing on of the crown--and by "crown," you know I mean ridiculously blinged out headband. This was preempted by Blair's oh-so-Blair-ish monologue: That's the thing. You need to be cool to be queen. Anne Boleyn thought only with her heart, and she got her head chopped off. So her daughter Elizabeth made a vow never to marry a man. She married a country. Forget boys. Keep your eye on the prize, Jenny Humphrey. You can't make people love you, but you can make them fear you. For what it's worth, you're my queen. I choose you.

Let's to be clear: it is the headband that is at the very core of all fear and trembling. So if you're looking to rule the social scene--or the world--just like Blair, you're going to need your own signature headband. Allow me offer a few suggestions...

Sadly, some do not appreciate the inherent power of this iconic accessory. Take Little J--now Queen J--whose first royal decree was to abolish headbands?! Shocking. Is a queen without a crown still a queen? Is Jenny just jealous that the headband look doesn't work for her the way it did for Blair?

Regardless, I have a sneaking suspicion that we haven't seen the end of headbands on Gossip Girl. I mean, what would Blair do with her hair at college without her signature headband? I guess we will just have to wait and see. Until then, you know you love me. XOXO...Lolly

Headbands in order of appearance: (1) Valentino Headband on Leighton Meister as Gossip Girl's Blair Waldorf, photo courtesy of the CW, www.cwtv.com/shows/gossip-girl; (2)Taffeta Flower Headband from J. Crew, $22.50 at www.jcrew.com; (3) Ever-Bloom Headband from Anthropologie, $28 at www.anthropologie.com; (4) Plumage Headband from Urban Outfitters, $24 at www.urbanoutfitters.com.