Sephora Loves Vampires Too!



Limited Edition tarte for True Blood Collection,
Available Exclusively from Sephora



If you're all about vampires these days (think: the Twilight Saga, Vampire Diaries and True Blood--just to name a few), consider yourself in good, fang-banging company.  This Saturday, August 13, Sephora will be hosting the tarte™ for True Blood™ Makeup Event.  For those lucky cosmetics-loving True Blood fans in Boston, San Francisco, and Aventura (that last one's in Florida), stop by Sephora on Saturday afternoon to test out the limited edition True Blood collection by tarte.

 The limited edition collection from tarte--the brand that prides itself on simply chic and seriously healthy cosmetics--features a vampy eye color palette, natural cheek stain, and an iridescent red lip tint.  Vampire obsession aside, the eye color palette that will be sold for $52 is actually valued at $331 and includes 17 eye shadows, gel eyeliner, mascara, and eye primer; now, how's that for stretching the dollar?  With shadow colors like "werewolf," a matte chocolate; "glamour me," a shimmery plum; and "the true death," a glittering silver, you will look tasty enough to compete with Sookie Stackhouse in all her sassy, blonde glory--hello, Eric Northman!



Paper Crown

Fashion week reports from all the online publications that I subscribe to have been pouring into my inbox lately, and so I've been trying to keep on top of the news--and, of course, the trends. However--perhaps due to an MTV/reality TV addiction slightly unbecoming at my age--one particular announcement caught my eye: the debut of Paper Crown.

For those of you Laguna-Beach-turned-Hills watchers, Paper Crown is the contemporary line from Lauren Conrad (aka the designer formerly known as LC). But if you've been craving another reality series with Lauren Conrad as star of stage and screen, you will be disappointed to learn that MTV recently dropped her new series, which was set to follow the young designer in the making of Paper Crown. Apparently it was too "high brow" for MTV viewers--but that's a topic for another day... However, it seems that all is never lost when you're MTV's darling (must be nice), and her collection will hit stores this fall.

So, rather than setting a new series recording on your DVR, how about making some room in your closet? Though the Paper Crown price point has yet to be disclosed, there's certainly no lack of wearable fashion where this line is concerned. According to Fashionista, my go-to source for Fashion Week reports and hot-off-the-press trend forecasting, Paper Crown features on-trend basics like leather shorts, silk blouses in blush tones, slouchy blazers, tight cocktail dresses, tiered ruffled maxi dresses (a Conrad staple) and short, flouncy, belted dresses. Indeed, the versatility of the Paper Crown designs are perfect for the gal on the go, transitioning effortlessly from day to night with a youthful bohemian ease.

How refreshing to see the reality star spread her wings beyond scripted fights with frenemies like Kristen and Heidi. Indeed, the lovely Lauren Conrad has grown into a fashion force to be reckoned with, and I have to say that I'm genuinely looking forward to the debut of Paper Crown for the masses. Looks like we need to mark our calendars for fall!

Psst... Click here to see Leah Chernikoff's full article on Fashionista, "Lauren Conrad’s New Line, Paper Crown: The Complete Look Book."

Images: all from the Paper Crown lookbook, thanks to Fashionista (www.fashionista.com).

The Jumpsuit Crisis

With so many of my regular TV programs off the air for the summer, I find myself watching shows like The Bachelorette with more interest than I might otherwise. Although, bachelorette Ali might be cute as a button, it seems fashion is not exactly her forte. Tuning in this past Monday, I found myself almost enjoying critiquing her appearance on multiple occasions through out the two hour time block. Yet, questions like Why would she pick that dress? and observations like Those pants look terrible with her body shape! paled into comparison to her cocktail party attire and my resultant: Is she REALLY wearing a jumpsuit right now?!

Yes, I am a mean girl; that question is (perhaps fortunately) not up for debate in this particular post. What is debatable, however, is the jumpsuit issue. It seems that what I attributed to a bad shopping choice from the likes of Bebe (whether it was purchased by Ali or The Bachelorette's producers is beside the point) might actually be more "fashionable" (gag!) than I realized. Lured to the J. Crew website earlier today by an email in my inbox announcing the last day of free shipping on their summer sale, I clicked on the link for "pants" with the hope that my pretty little plaid pants might have been marked down since last week. Sadly, that was not the case, but while perusing the styles that were marked down, I found: A JUMPSUIT?! Really, J. Crew?

The J. Crew website describes their Slub Cotton Jumpsuit as the outfit where "cozy meets cool." Debatable. However, I must admit, the jumpsuit look has seen far more longevity than I ever thought possible! When I attended a trend screening hosted by the Fashion Group International almost two years ago, jumpsuits were the hot forecasted trend, and I remember thinking, NO WAY will I be caught dead in that look! Seasons later, the jumpsuit is refusing to die, but I can affirm that I have maintained my resolution. Yet, I have to admit that J. Crew makes this look just a tiny bit tempting, with their interpretation of what I previously considered a fashion monstrosity. The clever J. Crew stylists have matched their "wear-it-anywhere slub cotton jumpsuit" with a business-chic striped oxford, a cluster of bejewelled statement necklaces, and floral-adorned nude sandals. The kicker is their model's "effortlessly" tussled Blake Lively-esque hair. Clearly, we're dealing with professionals here who know exactly how to market to the career woman who refuses to give up her penchant for fashion, even at the office.

What's more, in their description of this item, they suggest wearing "a sparkly top underneath and flip-flops on your feet," calling it "the jumpsuit for the girl who doesn't wear jumpsuits." Well, as the girl who indeed doesn't wear jumpsuits, does that mean this is the jumpsuit for me?! My entire style equilibrium has been shaken to the core, and were I not sporting a baby bump that doesn't lend itself well to the jumpsuit silhouette, I might be tempted to give it a try. I mean, it is on sale...

Clearly, I need your feedback, my dearest fashionista friends. As always, feel free to post your comments or send me an email. I mean, we are in a crisis situation here!

Image: Slub Cotton Jumpsuit in dark pewter, on sale for $49.99 from J. Crew (www.jcrew.com).

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.

Coming To A Head

In true Oberlin style, I was sitting in my afternoon dance class (which is unusual, seeing that we are usually moving!), Improvisation, which today was merged with the Collaborative Investigations class. Our purpose? To listen to Pulitzer-prize winning composer David Lang advise us on the collaborative and creative process. As I looked around the dance studio, I observed the mix of students: dancers from my class, as well as a blend of composers and musicians from the Conservatory and dance majors from the College working on projects together within the Collaborative Investigations class. It was, to say the least, a very interesting fashion mix, to be sure--from leotards to Prada loafers.

Among the sea of students, I was struck by a girl wearing the infamous forehead headband. My memory was immediately jogged, recalling London from America's Next Top Model Cycle 12, who was always sporting her headband across her forehead (much to Tyra's chagrin). Every pannel, Tyra would criticize London for the headband, but it would always come back. And I liked London! She posed well--if not fantastically--for pictures, and she was a pretty girl who believed in the good in people and thought it was kind of crazy that they chased her off one week for diet and weight issues. But I digress...

So it was this very "London" style choice that today left me contemplating... Sure, we wear belts to emphasize our waists, and use hems to accentuate other features. And of course, we wear bracelets on our wrists and necklaces too--so why not something on our foreheads? After all, the forehead is like the center of the chain, a vessel for the very minds that make us the strong, thoughtful women that we are. It's like saying, "Hey. Look right here. See what this is? Yeah, it's pretty great."

As far as celebrities go, Nicole Richie and MK have been spotted wearing the (fore)headband, a true testament to today's Boho-Hollywood feel. Relinquishing control of clothing and sporting less structured garments and hairstyles speaks to fashion's hopefully growing laissez-faire attitude, thus allowing style to develop, rather than be dictated. Always a joy to see.

The verdict for the everday girl: I think it's all too easy to make a mistake--too probable that your hair might bunch up on top (eew), or that the band could leave unsightly imprint lines. But for the goddesses of fierce among us, I say: go forth. Channel your inner Helen of Troy and draw attention to the strength and wonder of that pretty little head.

Images, in order of appearance: (1) ANTM's London, Cycle 12 (community.livejournal.com/topmodel/2403512.html); (2) London again, appearing on America's Next Top Model ( metanorn.kokidokom.net/2009/03/goddess-of-fierce/); (3) Nicole Richie and Mary Kate Olson sporting forehead headbands (http://stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com/2006/08/25/forehead-bands/).