Stores/Brands I'd Like To See in WV

Here is a really long list of stores and brands I'd like to see.  My list tends to be WV Metro Valley-centric, so there might be some of these stores in the Eastern Panhandle somewhere close to DC, or around Morgantown.

Now, I like Macy's, but I think the selection is much better at Nordstrom.  The prices at both stores are mostly the same, but the selection at Nordie's is larger, and with more contemporary designers, like Milly and Tory Burch.  Both of which West Virginians seem to have no idea who they are, which is a shame.

Anthropololgie is one of my favorite stores.  It's very retro, very wordly.  My dream job is to be a buyer for Anthro.  If you're looking for something different, I'd recommend it.  However,  people either seem to love it or hate it, there's really no middle.  I get most of my purses from here, and they never fail to get compliments.

Brooks Brothers is quite possibily the best clothing you can buy.  It's classic, timeless, and will get last you on a trip to hell and back...and it's still in the same shape you purchased it in.  The sweater or dress you buy today you'll still be wearing in twenty years.  The quality is that good.  If you're looking for a gift for a graduate, get them a gift card from here and let them pick out some professional pieces. 

H&M is a flash fashion store that is all sorts of incredible.  It offers decent quality clothes at amazing prices, around that of Old Navy's (it's just much, much more fashion foward).  It's teamed up with everyone from Karl Lagerfeld, Viktor & Rolf, Stella McCartney, Jimmy Choo, and currently, Lanvin.  Based out of Sweeden, it hasn't offered online shopping to the US yet, but will be towards the end of this year!

It's hard to find the words to describe Zara, other than a more sophisticated version of Ann Taylor Loft.  The clothes are sophisticated, goregous, and well-made, with decent pricepoints.  The styles tend to lean towards professional rather than casual.

 

A good solid choice for wardrobe basics.  Is somewhat pricey, but the quality is good, and you'll get tons of use out of everything.  Offers a great selection of both classic and trendy pieces.  Good for professional and weekend wear as well.

A mecca for makeup addicts.  Is it pricey?  Yes.  But the quality of the products, ease of returns, trained staffed, and a great selection makes it worth the money.  Look into joining their free Beauty Insider program, you can get free samples and great deals.  Blue Mercury would be great as well.

Honorable Mentions

Lilly Pulitzer
Banana Republic
Kate Spade
Coach
Lacoste
Urban Outfitters
Longchamp
Vineyard Vines
White House Black Market
BCBG
Forever 21

I can almost guarantee this list will grow, but it's a good place to start.

So Many Decisions!

So, I'm sitting around listening to the Seu Jorge album "The Life Aquatic Sessions," which is based from the music in the Wes Anderson movie The Life Aquatic with Steve Zizou, and one of my absolute favorite movies.  The songs are all acoustic David Bowie covers, sung in Portuguese.  It's simple, it's beautiful, and it reminds me of a lazy summer night watching fireflies dance in the maples in my backyard. 

I'm currently being stared at by three loads of laundry that need to be folded.  And yet, I just can't find the energy.  Gimme a few minutes, clothes, you'll get put away.  Later tonight.

There is an actual blog post about fashion coming up as soon as I stop dreaming of summer nights, swimming, and strong fruity pink drinks.  The topic: stores/brands that need to come to West Virginia.  I've already got a long list, but I'd love to hear your suggestions!

Keep Your Clothes Lookin' Good

Laundry detergent isn't exactly the most exciting thing in the world.  Sure, friends will share that one brand is better than another, but from what most people have told me, it comes down to price and what the soap smells like.  For the longest time, I was using Cheer's free & clear powder, which is becoming harder to find.  I also moved in with my older sister a few months ago, and she has mild eczema, and we have to be careful about what sort of cleaning products we use as to not irritate her skin.  She has found that the organic or more natural-based cleaners are much kinder to her skin, so we've been using stuff like Seventh Generation or Method around the house.  The Seventh Generation is okay, but I've been really impressed with the Method cleaners.  So one day while grocery store, I came across Method's super-concentrated detergent.  It comes in a fairly small bottle, about the size of a one liter soda* bottle, and it supposedly covers 50 loads.  Four pumps of the stuff takes care of a single load.  I was leery about that claim, but it's true.  I'm very happy with the Method detergent.  Obviously, it cleans well, but my darks look like new, and my whites are whiter.  I've also noticed less stretch with my clothes.  Due to my job I don't spend a lot of money on my work clothes, hence why I own so much Old Navy.  Old Navy jeans are prone to stretching out a good size bigger than what they started, so less stretch is a good thing. 

This detergent is also excellent in those front-load HE (high efficiency) washers.  It even says it on the package.  The only other one that I've seen say that is Tide powder, which stinks to high heaven.  Using the incorrect detergent could be why my clothes were stretching out, darks fading, etc. 

 *I hate, hate, hate the word "pop" and refuse to use it.

Brain Droppings

I have a nice entire post I'd like to finish on makeup, but I'm currently waiting for my camera's battery to charge so I can upload them.  So, that will get posted when that bad boy is all charged up...and I do some minor Photoshopping...

-If you agree with my post on moving on from graphic tees, my fellow style blogger Phoebe over at stylecapsulate has a great post on embellished tees.  Embellished tees are great if you want the simplicity of a tee, but want some more style oomph.  She also has some amazing Polyvores in the section called The Closet.  Be sure to give those a look if you need some ideas. 

-If you're not sure what a Polyvore is, it's a website that allows you to make images that are similar to a digital scrapbook page.  It's mostly used for putting together pictures of outfits from different websites, but a lot of people use it for other artistic pursuits as well.  Here's a quick example:

 This was just a quick something I came up with, a simple look for a date night.  I kept the accessories simple because the dress has a lot going on, between the one shoulder, rose print, and ruffled skirt.  I added nude fishnets to give the outfit a little bit of an edge and  keep it from being too sweet.

-I bought one of those "As Seen On TV" thingys called a Shoe Under.  It's nothing new, just a regular shoe keeper for under the bed with a catchy name.  Here's my review in one word: meh.  I wear a size 11 shoes, and this thing barely fits my flats.  It's made out of that same fabric that all the reusable grocery bags are, and there is no structure to it.  When you see the pictures of it, it looks sturdy, but there's nothing that makes it stiff.

When I got mine, it was a hot crumpled mess.  It still hasn't "ironed" itself out, and I did this three weeks ago.  If I really feel like overacheiving anytime soon, I may make some inserts from cardboard to help stabilize it.

Is Spring Coming Soon?

I work in the construction/contracting business when not going to school.  Even though I don't actually build the houses or wire them, I still spend a fair amount outside mucking around job sites (come to think of it, every season is mucky in these parts).  But with spring I get to get out of the office, out of my clunky Colombia snow boots, leave the Carhartt behind, and embrace color (and flowers!).  Spring through fall, I get to focus almost entirely on landscape design, which I was never into before I took this job.  After a gray winter, there's so much cheer on the faces of the pansies, the delicate lilac of a crocus, or the bright yellow of a daffodil.  In short, I love spring.

In the winter/spring of 2009, I was doing some research for a personal project, and ended up spending massive hours at the Charleston Town Center.  One of the things that stood out to me the most were the lack of pastels for the spring lines, and the introduction of lots of citron green and a bright colbalt blue.  The citron green, which is similar to the color of Mountain Dew, took some time to grow on me, but it was love at first sight for the colbalt blue.  I'm happy that these colors have stuck around, although I haven't seen as much as I would like to for this upcoming spring.

Once there's not quite so much snow on the ground, or I can write about dressing for spring without sighing, I'm going to do a week's worth of posts featuring shots from the Spring 2011 Fashion Weeks, and how to get the look without dropping too much money.  Already starting to shop?  Here's a short list of what to look for:



Pantone is a company that more or less regulated the science of colors.  For example, if I were a fashion designer and wanted to paint my house the same color as a dress from my collection, I could tell the painters the Pantone code like the one above, and know I'll get the exact same color.  Pantone has taken to naming a color of the year, and basically, that will be the color you'll see all year long on everything.  Last year's color was turqouise, which to be fair, was already in vogue.  This year is honeysuckle, a reddish pink that I'd actually call rose.  My coworker calls it "coral minus the orange," which for some reason the guys in my office seem to understand.  Because this is the "in" color, expect to see it for all seasons this year.

-Not into Honeysuckle?  Look for citrus-y oranges and yellows as well. 

-Still not into fruit salad colors?  Fleshtone neutrals are another big trend.

-And if you're not into any of that...well, feathers are big.  I really haven't looked at the malls or online, but they were all over the runway shows.

Time To Move On

There's no easy way to say this, but for the 22+ crowd:

There comes a point in everyone's life, usually after college, when it's time to put the graphic tee's away.  What was once the staple of high school and college has aged itself out.  Now, I'm not saying ALL graphic tee's are bad and need purged from your closet, but really, it's time to move on.  By the time you're in your mid-twenties, like I am, you've moved on into the real world.  There's much more selection and style out in the real world.  When you're in high school/college, your wardrobe dollars are fairly limited and graphic shirts were cheap, cute, and easy to take care of.  Yes, many of us self-described are jeans-and-tees kind of people, but you don't have to resort to a graphic tee, ecspecially a graphic tee that declares a store brand.  A simple solid color tee will get you the same ease, and can even work with your more professional wear for your job.

FAUX PAS #2

Yet another post in a long-winding series of faux pas.

I've been trying to come up with several ways to open this post, but I can't.  I mean, a picture is worth a thousand words, but I just can't find them.  So I'm just going to show you the picture and let you make your own words:

There are some things that should  be orange, like Florida oranges, the Oregon State Beavers football uniforms, and the Dutch Oranje football (soccer) team:

Please, do take a minute to look.  I'll wait.

It's one thing to desire a sun-kissed glow, it's universally attractive, and can be worn no matter your size.  However, orange is not sun-kissed and sexy.  You're the same color as an Oompa-Loopa from the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (the Gene Wilder version is so much better*).  The only thing being orange proclaims is that you've made a bad decision somewhere. 

I could discuss the dangers of tanning heavily, but I feel the public is well aware of them.  I also understand that some people do get addicted to tanning, but I'm not a mental health professional.  I'm just a fashion and beauty blogger.  It's your decision if you want to tan or not. 

What really gets to me is the pictures posted.  Not only is the woman in question orange (strike one), but she's wearing frosty white eyeshadow circa 2002 (strike 2), and to strike out for the inning, she's making a duckface.  A duckface is less kindly term for making a kissy face, often with the subject's eyes looking back over her shoulder.  From what I understand, this started in Japan with girls trying to imitate the Anime cartoons, and it spread over here.  It's not attractive at all.  If you're under 20, it's forgivable, but beyond that, you just shouldn't do it.  It looks stupid, and makes you look stupid. 

The second picture is just all sorts of wrong.  Beyond the citrus-hued skin, her top is simply too small, her lipstick is too bright, and with more frosty eyeshadow, it's just too much.  If you're heavily tanned, you should not wear frosty pastel eyeshadow.  It's too garish and often makes you look older than you are.  Also, if you're going to wear bright lipstick, go easy on the eyes, and vise versa.

*I do not idolize Johnny Depp.  He's a good actor, but I don't think he's anything close to attractive.

Once Again Consignment

[caption id="attachment_73" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Photo from the Once Again Facebook Profile"][/caption]

While running some errands up around Gallipolis, OH, on Monday, my mom and I stopped in adorable downtown to see what was there.  Mostly offices from what we could see, a small craft store* or two, and a consignment shop.  My mom has instilled in me a great love of the secondhand shop, be it consignment or thrift.  "Every trip is an adventure," she says.  The shop we wandered into is Once Again Consignments, located right across from the park in downtown Gallipolis.  If you're not sure of where that is, it's about 30-ish minutes from Huntington and right across the river from Point Pleasant, WV.

Don't let its location in a small town in Ohio scare you, Once Again is impressive.  It is meticulously sorted out by size, so you don't have to spend forever looking for your size.  It's brand  selection is pretty good, tends to lean towards the AE/Aeropostale/Hollister stuff, but there was lots more to choose from.  It also sells shoes and handbags, selection was small but good.  I took the time to look over them, the purses were almost new, and the shoes showed signs of minor wear, but none of them were scuffed or looked bad. 

Like I said, I'm impressed with this little store.  There was a small selection of kid's and men's clothing, it was mostly women's wear.  Current styles and brands.  The place is so packed, I honestly think they could do well to move to a larger building.  The cashier working that day told me they move a whopping 2,000 pieces a week.  I can easily see why, the only thing I saw more than $20 was a coat.  I bought sweater in one of my favorite shades of grass green for $5, which is only about 2-3 bucks more than what it would sell for at Goodwill.  Most of the prices weren't much higher than a thrift store's, my mom walked out with 7-8 shirts and a blazer for under $40. 

I don't have much in the way of complaints, other than a small one with the handbag section.  First and foremost, they were selling fakes.  Here's a quick lowdown to tell the difference between a fake and knockoff:

• A fake will present itself as a brand.  For example, Coach tags, or a Prada or Kate Spade logo plaque. 


• A knock-off might be a similar style or print but doesn't carry a registered name brand logo. 

There was some fake Coaches, Kate Spade, and a Prada.  The money that is generated from sales of fake bags goes to support organized crime and terrorists.  An American solider's life isn't worth a freakin' purse.  Think about that next time your coworker sponsors a purse party. 

The cashier overheard me and my mom discussing my rather large bag collection, and gave me a brochure detailing their policies for selling stuff.  It says that "look-a likes [sic] and knock-offs are ok, too."  While it doesn't explicitly say fakes are okay, it implies it.  And the bags I looked at were definitely fake.  Even the plainest of mid-level designer bags have details that fakes and knockoffs lack.  A real Kate Spade, like the barrel bag I looked at, will never have a plastic zipper.  If you doubt me, call Kate Spade's customer service line at (866) 999-KATE.  Think about it, if you're going to spend $400 on a purse, wouldn't you want better quality zippers?

Aside from purse digression, I will be going back to Once Again often.  Great stuff, selection, and prices, what's not to love?

Once Again Consignments is open Monday-Saturday, 10:00-6:00.  Parking is plentiful downtown and is free, but it can get crowded at times.

They also have a Facebook page for more information. 

*You shouldn't be allowed to call yourself a craft store if the "primitive crafts" you sell come from a distribution company and are made in China.  Just sayin'.

First Impressions #1

Sunday afternoon, I went on my usual post-payday shopping errands, and while in Target, I picked up the Olay Pro-X Advanced Cleaning System.  The picture is pretty much self-explanatory, it's a rotating facial brush.  This is not a new idea, rotating face brushes have been around for years.  The idea behind them is to help exfoliate, remove makeup more throughly than a regular washing,  and help face products penetrate the skin more easily. 

A couple of years ago, a facial brush called the Clarisonic hit the market and became huge.  What really set it apart from the previous models was the fact it was able to rotate over 300 times a minute.  Most of the other brands couldn't do half that.  All sorts of folks declared it a miracle product, and no other company has been able to replicate that sort of success.

Olay has entered the rotating facial brush market with their Pro-X Advanced Cleaning System.  They claim on their commercials that it performs as well as that "$200 brand brush," which is a reference to the Clarisonic, whose most popular model retails for around that price.  I've never used a Clarisonic, so I really can't do a comparison.  However, I've only used the Olay Pro-X once, and I'm very impressed.

The brush face is about the size of a half-dollar coin.  You're supposed to wet your face, and use either the enclosed exfoliating polish sample, or your own face wash.  You then glide it all over your face, and follow-up with a moisturizer.  The brush has two speeds, high and low.  I can see people with very sensitive skin having irritation problems with the high speed, but I had none.  My skin feels amazing, very clean and beyond soft.  All of my makeup was removed, verified by the lack of residue on the cotton rounds I use with my toner after I cleanse. Some reviewers of the Pro-X on various websites mentioned having trouble using it around the nose, but I didn't have any.  The brush seems to have a bit of give to it, and I was able to rotate it around with ease. 

At $29, this brush is very affordable and a good idea no matter your skin type.  If you're like me and are starting to worry about aging (despite the fact i'm 26), the Pro-X can make your anti-aging products work better.  I'm not sure about the "miracle" results the Clarisonic has provided will happen with the Pro-x, but if it keeps my skin exfoliated and cleaner I'm satisfied.

Quick Acne Tip

If you've been breaking out on your cheeks or temples lately, here's why: your cell phone.  Cell phones have become one of the largest harborers of germs, and you put this device right next your face!  Here are some quick tips to help keep technological acne away:

• Wash your iPhone case.  Do this at least once a week if possible.  It's gross to think how many germs are hiding in silicon that is protecting your phone.  Use dish soap, hot water, and let air dry overnight if possible.


• Take a damp antibac wipe (I like Method's antibac wipes) to your cell phone as well.  This is more important if you have a Blackberry or other phone with a QWERTY keyboard.  Try to do this several times a week.


• If you have an office phone, antibac wipe that sucker down everyday.  When I was waiting tables back in college, I noticed I was breaking out on my cheeks towards my chin.  When I started to suspect the phone, I made sure to keep it clean, and I cleared up in about a week. 


• Also make sure to keep your computer mouse/laptop keyboard/other heavily used items clean as well. 

While you think to wash your hands after playing with your dog, your phone which never leaves your hands actually has more bacteria on it.  I've heard some arguements for not using antibacterial products on everything (thus creating superbugs), you can't clean your cell phone with plain soap and hot water.  And using another cleaner, such as glass cleaner, may harm your touchscreen.  But no matter what method you use, make sure to keep your phone clean, and your skin should follow suit.

Yes, Glee Nail Polish

Okay, I like the TV show Glee as much as the next gal, but seriously, I'm tired of all the Glee-branded merchandise already.  In Walmart around the holidays, there were gift sets containing a compact and travel brush with the Glee logo.  Really?

Over the past couple of years, OPI has teamed up with Sephora and some of the colors that have come out of those lines have become instant hits, such as last year's turquoise Ocean Love Potion.  The Sephora line is often jokingly as the $OPI line, because at $9 a pop, they're more expensive than the regular OPI line.  And now, Gleeks everywhere can rejoice and sing the praises of Sephora when the Sephora by OPI line of polishes releases its special Glee colors. 



Quite honestly, these colors aren't doing anything for me.  I already have colors similar to the purple on the left end, the silver, the blue, and the coral on the right hand side.  The green is interesting, and I'd like to look at it up close, but it's nothing I haven't seen before.  It's hard for me to wear sky blue nail polish, since I wore it just about every day for my freshman/sophmore years in high school. 

I haven't seen a release date for these yet, so keep an eye out on the Sephora website.  There is a Sephora in the Ashland Town Center, which is about 20 minutes outside of Huntington in Ashland, KY.  It's a small one, but has a good variety and plenty of testers.

FASHION FAUX PAS #1

The first in a long series of posts of fashion faux pas. 

 
When it comes to wearing clothes, ignore the number that's printed on the label.  It's a suggestion, plain and simple.  It's not an ideal or a wish.  It's not a solution to a fractional geometry math problem.  It's nothing but a suggestion.

Wearing clothes that don't fit is a problem for all sizes, no matter if you're a 2 or 32.  A size 6 is not the same as a size 8.  Different clothing companies have different sizing guidelines they follow.  Just because you might wear a 10 at American Eagle doesn't automatically mean you'll be a 10 at Gap.  You might even be an 8 at Aeropostale.  Take your measurements with a tape measure, and memorize them or write them down.  Use the company's clothing size guidelines to see what size you are for them.  A lot of places use vanity sizing, which can make you seem bigger or smaller than what you really are.  That's why I say a clothing size is a suggestion. 

Sizing will even differ within the company.  Dress pants and jeans the same size are probably cut entirely differently, and that can distort the sizing.

In fact, wearing clothes that don't fit properly makes you look bigger.  Rolls should not be seen.  Your rib cage should not be countable.  Just because you can wrestle a dress on in the fitting room doesn't mean you should take it home.  If you have to fight with clothing, there's actually only a small chance you're going to wear it after you purchase it.  If you have even the smallest doubt in the fitting room, it's not worth buying.

Clothes will shrink or stretch out even with the best of care.  Just because your size whatever jeans are seemingly too big, it's more than likely they've stretched out.  Always take a variety of sizes with you into the fitting room.  Try on the middle size and go from there. 

It doesn't matter if your dress is Chanel, Shosanna, Marc Jacobs, or from Walmart.  If it's too small, people are going notice that it doesn't fit, and not the great print, or how lovely it is. 

If anything, it's okay to go up a size!  You can always get it tailored to fit you for a small cost (to get a pair of jeans hemmed is less than $10).  A tuck here or there is about the same amount.  When you have clothes tailored to your sizing, it makes them look a million times better.  A white button down from Macy's, when tailored, can make it look and fit better than a shirt from Brooks Brothers.

Just don't be afraid of the numbers.  You haven't failed if it's not what you normally wear.

TREND:Shatter Polish

For those above the age of maybe 22-24, back in the late '90s Cover Girl brought out a "groundbreaking" polish dubbed crackle polish, due to the crackled effect.  I can remember discussing it with my girlfriends and looking at it in the Phar-Mor in the Huntington Mall (I miss Phar-Mor so much!  It was the BEST place to buy makeup cheaply).  Our general consensus was that it was cool, but not something we were sure we'd buy, although I seem to remember one of my friends getting it and not being too impressed.  I don't recall it being very popular, and it disappeared from shelves fairly shortly.  I'm a nail polish junkie, and have been since I was a tween.  That being said, I can't think of any crackle polishes that have been on the market since then, unless they existed in a very small niche market. 

This year, OPI is introducing a shatter polish to go along with several of its celebrity collaborators, such as Serena Williams and Katy Perry.  Unlike the Cover Girl crackle polish (as seen in the picture at the top of this post), OPI's shatter polish cracks into much smaller pieces, giving it the effect of broken glass shards.  Here are some examples featuring Simply Smashing! from the Serena Williams line:

[caption id="attachment_48" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="Images taken from All Lacquered Up"][/caption]

 It's also a part of the Katy Perry OPI Collection:

[caption id="attachment_49" align="aligncenter" width="494" caption="Picture from All Lacquered Up"][/caption]

 Seeing as the nail art trend that was very popular in 2010 will continue into this year, I can see shatter polish becoming popular to a certain extent.  The only reason I don't see it very doing very well is due to the fact it's not very professional looking.  While I can get away with it at my job, I don't find it very suitable for most professional jobs. 

Aside from the shatter polish, I'm excited for the celebrity collections from OPI.  I love the color chartreuse, so the Simply Smashing! polish from the Serena Williams line is right up my alley, and currently doesn't match anything I own.  I'm also loving the entire Katy Perry collection.  I love glitter polish, and these colors look amazing for the spring/summer.  As an added bonus, they don't overlap anything I own, either!

The Serena Williams collection and black Shatter polish are supposed to be available sometime this month, although OPI just recently announced the release date has been pushed back.

I also haven't heard when the Katy Perry collection would be available.

OPI polishes are available at trades stores such as Trade Secrets, Regis Salons, and JC Penney's Salons.  They retail for $8.50.

 

The One That Got Away

In life, there's always something that got away: a love, a childhood teddy bear, a favorite book.  From a fashionologist's point of view, it could be the bag, or the shoes that you were never able to acquire.  Sure, you can come close with a Plan B or a second best, but yet you still yearn for the one.

Of all the fashions, shoes, bags, beauty products, etc., there's two that come to mind.  First off is the Coach 10508.  This was the Hamptons Perforated Satchel, khaki Jacquard with white leather details.  I have this purse, actually, but instead of the white leather details, I have it with tan khaki details.  This bag has sentimental qualities to me, it personifies a certain time in my life when everything was seriously all rainbows and unicorns and sober Lindsay Lohans.  This time in my life might also be called college  (What also reminds me of college: Danity Kane.  HUGE guilty pleasure of mine). I still hop on eBay about once a week to see if they have it.  Sigh.  I'll have it...one day.

The other was a beauty product.  In paticular: Chanel's 407 Jade nail polish.

This polish came out in the fall of 2009.  Of course, it was limited edition and sold out quicker than whores when the fleet pulls into port.  As as usual with highly sought-after items, it's currently going for a ridiculous amount of $299 on eBay.  I spent months trying to find a decent dupe (shorthand for duplicate) shade.  No joke, I probably spent damn near $50 and went through 8 bottles of polish trying to get something similar.  It was just this past November Avon came out with a polish named, of course, Jade that is the closest dupe possible, just minus the soft shimmer Chanel is known for.  Personally, I think the mint green polish look is a little dated now, but I will wear it a few times, because it is a great spring color.

I tell you this story because another possible "one that got away" has entered the picture.  It's another Chanel polish that has been all over the news and magazines:

Chanel Black Pearl Polish, $25, Chanel.com

I've already spent several hours looking for dupes.  It's hard to find dupes for Chanel polishes because there are so many details that make them unqiue.  One I've already mentioned is the subtle shimmer in them.  Another one is the undertones in the polish.  Black Pearl has a greenish-blue undertone that other dark gray/black polishes are lacking.  So while you may be able find a similar look, it really isn't the same satisfaction. 

Instead of buying countless more bottles of polish and spending another $50, I bit the bullet and bought Black Pearl.  I do realize spending $25 just for a single polish is stupid, but I don't want to let another one get away from me.  According the UPS Tracking, my polish just arrived in Ashland, and will be delivered tomorrow!  Of course, I'll be polishing my nails tomorrow night after work.  Enjoy your weekend, and watch for my Chanel Black Pearl review on Monday!

BARGAIN:Nude Heels for Under $30!

Nude heels have become an essential shoe in the fashion world.  First and foremost, they make your legs look longer.  And seriously, if they can help make your legs look like Lara Stone's...how are these not sitting in your closet already?



What nude heels (flats don't give the same effect) do is give the leg a long line, meaning someone's eyes don't focus on the shoes and are instead drawn up to your dress.  This is the reason that ballet slippers are that soft pink color, to make the leg longer.  Nude heels are typically worn with dresses and skirts, and shorts if you're into that look.  You don't get the same long leg look when you pair them with pants or jeans.

I've been on the lookout for a pair of nude heels for quite some time, but haven't been able find some that are close to the Casper-equse shade of pale my legs are.  However, while out shopping with a friend the other day, I was pulled into the fashion wasteland that is Fashion Bug.  And lo and behold, guess what I found?

Beestow Heels, Fashion Bug, $27

According to the website, these are called "Tulip Pink."  They are more beige than they are pink.  I love the unique heel on these!  That's what originally drew me to them.  They're surprisingly comfortable, and seemingly decently made.  Since these are so nice, I'll give Fashion Bug a pass for the time being.  Or until I see the next horrorific polyester nightmare.

Unfortunate: Roses Really Smell Like Poo poo poo*

*The lyrics migh actually be "boo boo boo."  Half the lyrics websites I looked at said "boo," the other said "poo."  My friend and I even listened to Outkast's "Roses" several times to figure out, and we think it's "poo."

Ahem.

While doing research for my brown handbag search, I came across the following from Dolce & Gabbana:

 

Dolce & Gabbana Miss Lipari Floral Tote, Saks Fifth Avenue, $795

Cabbage roses?  Are you kidding me?  If you're older than 23 or so, you might remember every couch in the late '80s thru '98 or so that was either a horrible color (hunter green or mauve) or a horrible print (cabbage roses or some faux Native American design).  Your grandma probably still has a couch in this print, covered in plastic.  However, if you like this print (really?) here's a much cheaper alternative:

 

Classic Tote in Red Floral, Abercrombie & Fitch, $48.00

My Uber-Sparkly New Year's Manicure

While hopefully many of you were bedecked in sequins and sparkles on New Year's, I was stuck home in bed, sick as all get out.  In fact, I'm still sick, and hope to breathe one of these days.  While I really didn't have any big plans for NYE, I did prepare a manicure just in case something came up.

Behold, in bad photographs, my sparkly purple and blue manicure:

 

Yes, I am that pale, thanks.  And sorry about the claw hand, I took probably 10 pictures and that one was the best. 

This manicure was made possible by Savvy Nail Lacquer in Amethyst and Nicole by OPI in Gone Wishin'.  The Savvy polish is from Sally Beauty Supply, and runs in the $4 range.  It's also a pretty close dupe for the fashionista polish fave Nars Purple Rain.  I used two thin coats of the Savvy as a base coat.  I then used Nicole for OPI's Gone Wishin' over it.  Gone Wishin' is a purple and cobalt blue glitter suspended in a clear polish.  The Savvy polish is a great deal.  It wears like iron, and I've gotten manicures that last up to two weeks from it.  However, the color selction is fairly limited, and they don't come out with new colors very often. 

With few exceptions, I hate the Nicole line from OPI.  The formula is very thin, doesn't cover well,  and chips very easily.  For an extra buck, just buy the regular OPI line.  Gone Wishin' is one of the rare exceptions, along with Razzle Dazzle, a matte black with silver shimmer and tiny bits of glitter.

 

BGP: "Wait, Payless Sells Makeup?"

BGP stands for Beauty Guinea Pig, a feature in which I write reviews for various beauty products.  In short, I try before you buy.  In regulation with FCC guidelines, I will disclose if products were given to me by the maker of the product, retail establishments, etc.  Mostly, though, I buy things because I'm hopeless addicted to beauty products.

I wear a size 11 in shoes.  In the general West Virginia area, it is damn near impossible to find my freakishly large size.  While killing some time in DC this past October, I wondered into the Metro Center Payless and found my happy place.  They not only had my size, they had a HUGE selection, and they had the Lela Rose flats I'd been eyeing for months.  And on sale for $7.99, no less.

 While I was waiting in line to check out, I noticed I was standing next to a display of makeup.  I mean, I had nothing better to do and wasn't going anywhere, so I checked it out.  The selection was sparse, some lip glosses, eye shadows, and nail polish.  There was a really pretty bronze polish that caught my eye, and for around 3 bucks, I decided to try it.  It was a great buy.  The polish is gorgeous on nails, and I wore it from mid-October through the end of November.  It wears well, although you'll probably want to touch up the tips every 2-3 days.

A few days before Christmas, I was in the Charleston Town Center finishing up some shopping and stopped in their Payless to browse.  They had a sale on their makeup, so I thought why not?  Five bucks for a decent palette isn't bad at all.

I purchased two palettes: Soft Petals and Stormy Sky.  Both palettes feature four eye shadows with two eyeliners.  They also include a duo ended brush, one end is a liner brush, the other a eyeshadow applicator.  Like most other palette included brushes, they're crap, just pitch them.

  
Soft Petals contains two shimmer eye shadows (#3 and #4) and two matte (5 & 6) with #1 and 2 being liners.  The first liner is a nice shade of violet.  When applied, it looks like brown and violet liner that had been mixed together with some purple shimmer thrown in.  The second liner is a basic brown liner.  It has good staying power but is otherwise unremarkable. 

The Shadows:
#3 is what I would describe as a irridescent shell pink.  #4 is a mauve shimmer.  #5 is a matte mauve probably 2-3 shades darker than #4 shimmer.  #6 is matte off white.  These colors are well pigmented.

The Verdict:
I've worn the colors out of this palette several times, and with neutrals being hot for the spring, I can see myself using this palette a lot.  #6 off white shadow, which is used over the entire eye area, fades pretty quickly, even with an eyeshadow base, but it does help the other colors pop. With the exception of the off white, I only needed 1-2 coats to get the color I desired. Either liner looks good, although I prefer the violet liner because it gives the look an added kick.   Other than the off white shadow, the colors lasted all day.  There was a bit of shimmer fall out, but adding an eyeshadow base will help prevent most of that.  I have grown to love the violet liner, and have been using it with other eye shadows. 

  
The Stormy Sky palette features two metallic liners, three shimmer shadows and a matte shadow.  The two liners are both metallic, a silver and the other is what I would describe as a "dirty gold."  It looks like there's some brown mixed in with the gold, it's a pretty effect. 

The Shadows:
#5 is the matte gray.  #4 is a shimmery turquoise, #3 is a silver shimmer, and #6t is a shimmery white.  All of these shadows are much more sheer than the ones in the Soft Petals palette.

The Verdict:
I'm not sure how I feel about this look.  I really do like the look, but there's something that I can't quite put my finger on that is keeping me from really loving this palette.  I wear a lot of navy blue, and I can see this looking great, but I also have a lot of bright pinks and fuchsia that will not look good at all.  As I mentioned above, this set is much more sheer than the Soft Petals.  To get the turquoise to show up, I had to apply 4-5 coats to get the intensity I wanted.  I foresee myself maybe wearing this a handful of times this spring/summer, and then never touching it again.
 
O-V-E-R-A-L-L...
I'm impressed.  The only issue I had with either palette was some slight shimmer fallout, which a primer can help prevent.  The palettes themselves are well made, they're cardboard with magnetic closures to keep from opening up.  They're about 4"x2", which makes them great for tossing in your purse.  Depending on the color selection, I would be more than willing to buy another palette.  They retail at $7.99, which is very reasonable.  They're worth checking out, especially if you're on a budget.

Much Needed: A Brown Leather Bag

One of my resolutions in 2011 is to redo my wardrobe.  This basically includes weeding through my stuff, getting rid of whatever doesn't fit, or I haven't worn in a long time, etc.  A few months ago, I weeded my once 200+ purse collection to about 40.  And before you get too excited, a good quarter of those were Vera Bradley purses (more on my love/hate relationship with Vera Bradley in a later post).

Anyways, I have discovered I need a good brown or dark khaki leather purse.  Can I afford any of these?  God no.  But can I drool over them?  Yes.

 
BE & D Gable Bag, ShopBop, $1,095

MICHAEL Michael Kors Large Hamilton Handbag, Macy's, $298

 
Marc by Marc Jacobs Saddlery Loulou Bag, ShopBop, $558

 
Marc by Marc Jacobs Saddlery Sophie Bag, ShopBop, $478

 
Michael Kors Skorpios Shoulder Bag, Saks Fifth Avenue, $995

 
Chloe Partay Large Tote, Saks Fifth Avenue, $1,995

 
Gucci Marrakech Shoulder Flap Bag, Saks Fifth Avenue, $2,190

 

First and foremost, I want all of these.  But if I had to choose, it would probably come down to the Gucci, BE & D, or the Marc Jacobs hobo.  While the Marc Jacobs is the chocolate brown I really love, the Gucci has tassels.  I love tassels.  I will gladly pay an extra $20--if not more--if whatever I'm looking at has tassels.  So in the end, the Gucci would probably win.

Welcome WV Fashion Lovers!

Typically, when folks think of WV, style and fashion probably don't come to mind.  This pains me, as there are plenty of men and women in the Mountain State with great style and taste.  And just so we're all down with it: great style doesn't mean expensive clothes or accessories.  I love me some 3.1 Phillip Lim or Prozena Schouler, but I simply can't afford it.  Nor can anyone I know.  But that doesn't stop me from lusting over it (and George Clooney) and searching for something similar (such as jeans or a Clooney lookalike). 

In the meantime, enjoy your recovery from sparkly dresses and sparkly drinks.  Moi, on the other hand, will be recovering from the sinus infection from hell while wearing Old Navy yoga pants and a purple tank.