Aug 242009
 

I have to admit, I’ve never really been a Payless shopper. But with the new collection by Christian Siriano, I decided I needed to pay a visit over there and see what was up. I was surprised to find quite a few things that I would be willing to purchase, and the price was well within my recession-friendly budget.

AOP- BLK ROBERTSON JEWELED BOOT-S3_8.5



alice + olivia for Payless Robertson Jeweled Boot
, $49.99. Now these don’t look comfortable at all, but who needs comfortable if you’re looking good? Okay, it does say that there is a padded insole, but it also mentions a one inch platform and a five inch square heel.

AOP- BLK MADISON BIKER BOOT-S3_10.0


alice + olivia Madison Biker Boot
, $49.99. This time we’re only looking at a four and a half inch heel with a one inch platform, but that doesn’t make them any less awesome.

AOP- RED SUNSET SLOUCH BOOT-S3_9.5


alice + olivia for Payless Red Sunset Slouch Boot
, $49.99. They are red. They are slouchy. They are awesome.

CSP- BLK PAT SLITHER ZIP BOOT-S3_8.5


Christian Siriano for Payless Black Slither Boot
, $49.99. This is what I came for, and sadly, was the only thing out of the (very small) collection that I found worth considering. The sole is turquoise, which is fun and features a padded insole with a four inch cone heel. I like the zipper pull as well – it’s the whole Egyptian theme that Christian has going on lately.
I should mention that I haven’t been able to find any of these locally – only online. Now I just need to decide which one I’m going to order.
Aug 232009
 

Originally from Ecuador, Claudia Estrada has traveled around the world in the name of fashion. Claudiae is the fashionista’s namesake line, featuring her personal aesthetic, which favors shimmering fabrics, bold prints, and feminine details. The collection includes textured leggings, loose tunics and blouses as well as the season’s latest retro throwback, the romper. The minis are versatile from season to season when paired with leggings and offer various options for day or night. The entire collection is feminine and fun, emphasizing the waist, with drawstring ties or belts as well as drop waists and high-waisted options. A believer in showcasing every woman’s individual beauty the line is created to be worn with ease, comfort and a fashion-forward attitude.


While I’m not a huge fan of leggings and jumpsuits, I think these are actually well done and quite unique. I love the mod prints and the definitive 80′s influence.

Aug 232009
 
visit us at www.billiondollarbabes.com

  • Monday 8/24-Tuesday 8/25 – American Vintage, ella moss & little ella
  • Wednesday 8/26-Thursday 8/27 – Splendid, Splendid Mills (men’s), Splendid Littles, Altru (home fragrance colletion) & Hobo International Handbags
  • Friday 8/28-Saturday 8/29 – Falls, Sheri Bodell & The ProportionofB
All sales start at 8am PST/11am EST and end at 11:59pm PST/2:59am EST.

Aug 232009
 


Eyebrow maintenance has always been a headache for me. As you all know, I have some Italian in my blood which translated into caterpillars sleeping on my forehead, right above my eyes. I had no idea how pretty my eyes were until I sculpted those bad boys into shape! Now, please understand. This was not an overnight change for me. It took many trial-and-errors to really get the system down. But I wouldn’t had known how to create the most flattering brow line for my face without the help of some beautiful ladies (and one beautiful man!) Come along with me and enjoy my story of transformation from an average girl to a confident woman. Sit down and stay a while!

I should start by discussing the numerous options one has nowadays for eyebrow care. First, we have the old reliable – tweezers. Not my favorite option because I yelp like a baby yet the quickest and least expensive option out there. We have waxing, salon or take-home, and a new technique called threading. Now, although I have not tried the third option, I have heard it works well with duration between sessions. It is more costly and the process does take longer than a tweezing or waxing.

Regardless of your method, the theory is the same. To find the optimum eyebrow shape for your face, follow these simple steps:

1. Use a white pencil to line up your inner brow with the inner corner of your eye. Once you’ve done that, draw a white line vertically straight as a guide. You do not want any hairs inside those white lines. Extract those buggers!
2. For the length of your brow line, use the same white pencil to line up at the outer corner of your eye and hold at a 45 degree angle towards your temple. Draw another white line and use this as a guide. No hairs beyond the white line!
3. Now for the arch. This can seem intimidating because this part is really what matches the shape of your eyes and face. You want the brows to be thickest at your inner brow and gradually get thinner towards the outer brow line. Your arch should peak at the middle of your eyebrow. You can find this by lining up the pencil with your pupil vertically and drawing a dot below the brow line to reference the middle. You determine the thickness and thinness. Although I would suggest starting slowly and chipping away until you find the shape you like. It’s better to take more time and have a perfect brow than overzealously yank out more than enough and have to draw them on. Yikes.
4. One more thing! I always keep a toothbrush handy for makeup purposes. It’s a great tool to use to brush and straighten your brows out! Remember to keep all the hairs in an orderly brow!

My thoughts on which technique works the best are varied. I get mine waxed every once and a while to treat myself. This way, I can maintain for a few weeks with tweezers until my heritage comes creeping back through and my brows start to form a UNI-BROW. Thankfully, because I’ve been pulling tweezing the same area for so long it started to grow back baby fine and blond. However, this makes it that much harder to grab them with your tweezers. So once the peach-fuzz starts showing, I say it’s time to visit the salon. I hope this tutorial on brows has cleared up some confusion. Tweezing, waxing, hell…extracting hair from one’s body is torture. At least make sure you’re getting the look you want by doing it!

Aug 222009
 


Have I mentioned that I will be covering Fashion Week this September in New York City? No? Well, I think I’ve told everyone else, because I am REALLY EXCITED about it! I’m also part of Inside the Tents, put together by the Style Coalition. Inside the Tents is a group of bloggers who are hand picked to bring you the most interesting coverage of New York Fashion Week from – you guessed it – inside the tents.


I’ll be able to access the tents, and a few shows. I’ll be attending some workshops as well while I’m there, so I’ll come back with lots and lots of things to share with you. But one of the things that I am most excited about is Fashion’s Night Out Friday, September 10th all across the city.
Fashion’s Night Out (FNO) is an unprecedented global initiative created to celebrate fashion, restore consumer confidence, and boost the industry’s economy. In the United States, the program is a collaboration between American Vogue, the Council of Fashion Designers of America, NYC & Company, and the City of New York. On September 10, 2009, more than 300 stores will stay open late to put the fun back in shopping, with designer appearances, live windows, celebrity guests, and other special events. In addition, two important New York charities—the September 11 Memorial and Museum and the NYC AIDS Fund—will benefit from the initiative via the sale of a charity T-shirt and a citywide clothing drive, respectively. On the same night around the world, and led by twelve international Vogue editions (United Kingdom, Greece, Italy, Russia, France, Brazil, India, Spain, China, Germany, Japan, and Taiwan), each country will tailor its Fashion’s Night Out celebration to appeal to its city’s unique retail environment.Stores and boutiques will be open late and all sorts of fun and special stuff will be going on.

The complete list of retailers and designers participating can be found at the Fashion’s Night Out website. Click on each one to find out the specifics, if any, for the event.
Now, there are so many stores and salons participating that I’m having a super hard time figuring out what I want to do, but I think I’ve got a general idea of what I want to hit. Here are my picks:
  • Barneys New York: Designer personal appearances and special events are planned. From “lip readings” by Lipstick Queen Poppy King to knitting circles to salsa lessons. I’m not missing this.
  • Bergdorf Goodman: A cookoff with Padma Lakshmi from Top Chef, an exhibition of extreme beauty photographs from Vogue, and a game show hosted by Andre Leon Talley with teams lead by Donna Karan, Linda Fargo, and Robert Verdi. Customized t-shirts by Alexander Wang and a “conversation” with Issac Mizrahi. Can a I get a holy crap on this one?
  • Space NK: I’m a beauty junkie first and foremost, and I’ve never been to Space NK. So, I want to join them for cocktails and treats and watch eyelash applications and and prepped for all the shows the next few days.
  • M.A.C: I don’t want to miss the preview for Style Black, their upcoming collection focused on black eyeliner and gothy 80′s looks. Can. Not. Wait. At the Soho location a special celebrity guest will appear. See you there!
  • Magnolia Bakery: Not to be outdone, the Magnolia Bakery will be creating a special FNO cupcake and donating a portion of the proceeds to the 9/11 Fund. Buy lots. I plan to.
  • Bond No. 9: Next door to the Magnolia Bakery, Bond is offering 20% off all items. That’s crazy, y’all. You can also blend your own fragrances and enter to win an I Love New York Double Decker Sampler Box. Celebrate NYC!
  • New York and Co: My favorite “mall brand” will be showcasing their new Red Label collection and Carson Kelly will be on hand at the Lex Avenue store. While you can chat up Carson on fashion tips, you can also score goodie bags and exclusive event discounts.
There are so many more fun and exciting events to choose from – this is by no means even close to being a complete or comprehensive list. Go check it out and tell me what you would like me to cover!
Aug 222009
 
HauteLook.com - Members exclusive premium online sample sale
Some beauty brands coming up on HauteLook that you might be interested in:
  • Kings and Queens, beginning August 24, 8 AM PST
  • Juice Beauty, beginning August 26, 8 AM PST
And some fabulous fashion brands worth checking out:
  • M Missoni, beginning August 25, 8 AM PST
  • Julie Haus, beginning August 26, 8 AM PST
Aug 222009
 

WWD has an interesting article today about the upcoming Twilight makeup line. While you have no doubt heard of DuWop Twilight Venom, there is going to be two other separate lines to be launched soon.

A teen line, called Volturi will launch at Ulta, Hot Topic, and Torrid. The pricing will run from $9 to $19. Another line, called Luna Twilight is aimed at older girls and their mothers and is launching at Nordstrom and Dillards next month. The price points are between $18 and $34.
Let me know if it makes you sparkly, okay?
Aug 212009
 

I was contacted recently by NeoStrata, the brand behind Exuviance with an offer to try out their anti-aging and anti-acne kit. I was very excited to even know that there was such a thing. It seems that often if you’re in the market for anti-acne, you have to look to the young person’s section of the drugstore. If you’re in the market for anti-aging you aren’t even in the same aisle. Exuviance is here to help with all of that, combining ingredients that work simultaneously on the anti-acne and the anti-aging front.


The kit contains Moisturizing Antibacterial Facial Cleanser, Sheer Refining Fluid SPF 15, Night Renewal HydraGel, Purifying Clay Masque, and Matte Perfection. I tried everything in the kit, so I’m going to break it down by product.

First up is the Moisturizing Antibacterial Facial Cleanser. This is a very gentle cleanser with an active ingredient of triclosan (0.3%), a common antibacterial agent. It also has PHA’s, or polyhydroxy acids which are also supposed to provide anti-aging benefits. According to Skin911.com, PHA’s “are the next generation of AHAs in skin care, are natural and nontoxic. In the polyhydroxy acids category are lactobionic acid, galactose and gluconic acid. A special type of AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) known to
  1. Modulate keratinization, cell development in the top layer of skin.
  2. Normalize stratum corneum (outermost layer of skin involving the last stage of cell development) exfoliation and thickness. Aging slows the exfoliation process down allowing cells to remain on the skin causing a lack luster appearance.
  3. Distinct advantage when used on sensitive skin due to a larger molecular size allowing gentle topical penetration, decreasing sensitivity and discomfort.
  4. Sensitive skin, such as rosacea, atopic dermatitis, eczema, seborrhea and in hyperkeratosis (abnormal cell turn over) associated with psoriasis, ichthyosis, and keratosis pilaris are skin conditions benefiting from this advantage.”
All of which are fabulous on the anti-aging front, but for those of us with breakout issues, there isn’t much exfoliating power there. I actually had to discontinue my use of this cleanser because it just wasn’t exfoliating off the sebum on my skin, leading to breakouts. However, if you are only mildly prone to breakouts, this product may very well be the answer to your oily skin/anti-aging dilemma. It just didn’t work for me.

The next product in my kit that I used on a daily basis was the Exuviance Sheer Refining Fluid. This is similar to a moisturizer, and should be used as such. It has a broad spectrum SPF 15 level, which is key in any anti-aging product, in my opinion. It also has a unique botanical blend called Phytotal, which is supposed to help control surface sebum over time. To boost the anti-aging properties, it has another unique ingredient balled NeoGlucosamine which is designed to smooth the skin while fading dark and pigmented spots on the skin. I liked this moisturizer a good deal. I don’t know that it really controlled my oil, but I haven’t found a single product that actually does that, no matter what the claims are, so I don’t have high expectations in that area. But it certainly wasn’t greasy at all, and it didn’t feel like I had a veil of thick cream on my face.

The Night Renewal HydraGel was designed to be used only at night. This light gel has a combination of PHA and AHA’s to help exfoliate the skin, which refines and repairs it. It also has Phytotal to help control sebum. This was also a very light product that I liked a great deal for nighttime use. The gel formulation wasn’t greasy at all, and it didn’t cause breakouts.

Designed for weekly use, the Purifying Clay Masque has kaolin clay to absorb surface oil and packs a punch with more PHA’s for hydrating skin. This is a great clay mask, and there are so many on the market right now. It might be my favorite product out of this whole line. My skin felt really refreshed after this application, and I tend to use these about twice a week, depending on what sort of state my skin is in.

Matte Perfection is one of the new formulations that are designed to go either underneath or over makeup to give the skin more of a matte look. It is also formulated with AHA’s and PHA’s for skin benefits. I think this is a perfectly lovely product, and will probably work well with most skin types – except for mine. It just didn’t do much to mattify, and I like these types of products to be formulated with salicylic acid, or BHA’s to really help remove the oil. Again, my skin is really finicky, and requires a bit of beating down, so don’t think that my experience is universal.

All in all, I think this is a great system for those who have oily skin but don’t tend to have breakouts. If you’re more interested in anti-aging versus anti-acne, this is right up your alley, and you should certainly give it a try. As for me, I’m back to my anti-acne regimen before things get really bad!
All products can be found at Amazon, Ulta, and SkinStore.com.

Aug 212009
 

Torrid has chosen 26 finalists and needs your help narrowing it down to 6 lucky winners that will walk in the fashion show on September 24th.

Head on over to Torrid.com and place your vote! Check back on September 2nd to see who will strut down the runway.
I’ve already placed my vote. I’ll let you know if she shows up on the runway!
Aug 212009
 

Unity Marketing has put together the most popular brands purchased the first half of this year by those who have a household income of over $250,000, and the results are surprising to me. I expected to see a completely different list, although there are one or two that aren’t surprising (hello, Chanel).

Here are the top five prestige brands:
  • Clinique
  • L’Occitane
  • MAC
  • Chanel
  • Nars

The top five mass market brands are:

  • Olay
  • Maybelline
  • Cover Girl
  • L’Oreal
  • Nivea

Read the entire article at WWD Beauty. It’s really quite interesting.

Aug 212009
 

I’ve been known throughout my lifetime, all 27.8 years of it, to have the right instincts about things. Not always. But on occasion, I have totally had my finger on the pulse point of style and hipness. Those of you who know me are laughing at this to be sure. I have my own funk, yes, but I also have great instincts about what trends are seasonal and which ones are classic and everlasting. My most recent discovery was more than that. It was a premonition. How exciting! By just playing around with my makeup and colors one morning, I created and wore THIS FALL SEASON’S COLORS! Yes. You heard it here first. I had a vibe that these three colors would be a hit, a smash, even. I wanted to fill all my ladies in on this fall’s trio and give you guys some hints and tips on how to sport them on any occasion! I’ve recently become brave with my eye makeup. I have been told by my most trusted makeup guru, “G“, that I never put it on dark enough. Right when I’m starting to feel like I might’ve gone overboard, G chimes in with, “Darker!” What can I say? I have always been under the DISILLUSION that because I’m a minimalist in most areas of my life that I must be in my beauty life as well. How wrong was I! How amazing is it when you discover a color that makes your eyes ignite? Don’t you giggle with glee when you find the exact color lip gloss that you’ve been looking for at half the price you planned on? I now bring you my complete gigglefest of 2009. My Fall Color Trio Review, Ladies. Read it and cackle!

The first color of this fall is TEAL. I am overjoyed by this. Teal is truly a fabulous color that is overlooked much too often. I bought the richest shade of teal I have ever seen last year. It’s called “Plumage” by MAC. I don’t think I could describe this in a way that would do it justice. It looks like velvet. It is such a deep color that it makes you feel like you could just wrap yourself in it. Yes, ladies. I love me some teal. However, I am also a chicken. Remember, I said recently became brave. So, it was just two months ago that I put my big girl panties on and played with the teal. What a rush! It creates the perfect smokey eye while inticing you with green undertones. MAC eye shadow pots normally retail for approximately $28, so it is a bit of a penny pinch. However, you all know how strongly I believe in spending a bit more for a better quality product. I’ve seen the light. But I also understand that Momma can’t always buy MAC. So I did some more research (playing!) and found a drugstore brand substitute that gives that same teal bite. Cover Girl made a pallette called “Tropical Fusion” (#205) which has a beautiful shade of teal in it. It is lighter than the Plumage and more on the turquoise side, but if layered well, it creates a fantastic punch of color! This pallette retails for $6.99 at most drug stores. There is another beautiful color within this pallette, ironically, that is the second fall color!! Papaya is a deep orange that falls in between burnt orange and melon. It is a warm color that is great for an enhancer in a smokey eye and even wears well alone! Now ladies, I know some of you are shaking your heads right now and chuckling at me, “Sweet girl, she’s just too ambitious.” Ha! This is where I tell you to break out of your shells and explore and experiment with color! Papaya is incredible, really. It is a shade that at first glance, one thinks it is too much. But once you try it, you see that it has so many different options for all types of makeup wearers. Worn lightly, it adds just enough warmth to a brown eye, making it glow. Worn layered and darker, it is a nice orange/bronze look, great for summertime and warmer weather. I was pleasantly surprised by this color and it is definitely a staple color for me now. It goes well with teal for a funky eye, great with brown for a more neutral eye and fabulous by itself for a soft look. Papaya is one versatile color…
…which brings me to the third fall color, Amethyst. Let’s all have a moment of silence for Anna’s first love with eye shadow. I began my journey through the eye makeup world with a dark purple eye shadow that was made by Jane. It stuck it out for two years. It was my old reliable. But then I expanded my horizons and paid a visit to Sephora and realized I could do so much more with purple! Enter my favorite purple to date, Frigid , made by Urban Decay. I first found it in a color quad, a present from G, of course. It made me sigh with relief to see it, like coming home after a long trip. I love familiar things. And with the teal and papaya being a huge leap for me, I needed the third color to be something tried and true. I have always used my dark purple with smokey eyes or even as a simple liner for a smudged look. But imagine my sheer joy when I reached my pinnacle of courage and wore THESE THREE COLORS TOGETHER!! I felt like I had arrived. It was the most beautiful trio I have ever seen on my eyes. I have included a picture of this trio on my eyes. Please enjoy! It’s very simple to do. I lined my eyes with the Plumage and started at the outside corner of my eye, working my way in with the Frigid and then ending at the inner corner with the Papaya. Then I line the bottom lash line from the inner corner half a centimeter out with the Papaya and the blend it in with the teal on the outer bottom lash line. Sweep a highlighter under your brow and dab a tiny bit on the inside corner of the eye. Finish with a fabulous black or dark brown mascara and you’re ready to rock! Remember, there are millions of ways to work this trio into your style this fall. The eye shadow was just my first taste! Next I will be experimenting with accessories and jewelry. Just by adding a teal scarf, some purple nail polish or papaya tights, you’re showing your fashion forward side and maintaining your own personal style. And that’s what it’s all about, yes? Use these colors as inspiration and let your creative juices flow!

Aug 202009
 

Don’t have time to head to the counter to try on the latest collections? Estee Lauder knows you’re busy, so they’ve developed a desktop widget to help you explore all the latest and greatest they have to offer.

Just download to your desktop or social media page, upload a photo of yourself, and play with color! From foundation to eyeliner, you can experiment with everything the Estee Lauder counter has to offer. You can also try on “one click looks” from a collection or mix it all up.
I’m off to download mine now! Visit EsteeLauder.com to get yours.
Aug 182009
 


I am fortunate enough to be attending a workshop on hair color while in NYC for Fashion Week, and have been asked to come prepared with questions for the experts. So, I turn it over to you, dear readers. Tell me, what would you most like to know about coloring your hair at home? What are your most pressing issues? What keeps you from trying out home hair color?

We desperately want to know!