“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.”
November 23, 2011 Leave a comment
Before you wake up and your holiday parties are mere days or hours away, here are some fabulous sparkly numbers sure to put you in the holiday spirit- and make you feel like a million bucks. From off the runway to off the rack , here are my picks for what to wear this winter on any budget. I am especially loving the sequin gowns from DVF- they are just so luxe and so glam.
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xo,
Lauren
November 14, 2011 10 Comments
I love any great organizational tip that involves items I already have. With space always an issue in my downtown apartment- especially in the kitchen, I’m always trying to find ways to utilize each area to the max. Here are some really innovative ideas I’ve come across for ways to help save space, organize and take advantage of every nook and cranny of your home. I’m especially thrilled about the ingenious use of a magazine rack as a cutting board holder inside a cabinet door- brilliant!
1. Store cleaning supplies in a shoe holder over the back of your laundry room or closet door. The products will be easy to find and access, and it saves space.
2. Mount a magazine rack inside a cabinet door to stash your cutting boards out of sight. The easiest way to mount the rack is to take the cabinet door off its hinges and lay it down. Predrill the screw holes for the L-brackets and mount the rack to the center of the cabinet door.
3. Display your stash of coins from trips abroad by turning them into funky & functional magnets. All you need is a glue gun or some super glue and a small pack of magnets (available from places like Target or your local hardware store.)
4. As someone with a raging scarf addiction who owns more than I could ever count, I’m always trying to rearrange & relocate them around my closets so they are on display while not taking up too much space. I’ve never been thrilled with how I’ve stored them but this new idea for a scarf rack involving a towel rack and shower curtain hangers is too brilliant to ignore. Plus, I love how this storage idea keeps them all on display and so easily accessible.
5. Use spare ice-cube tray’s or pick up a couple new ones to use as all-purpose jewelry holders in your top dresser drawer. No more tangled necklaces or late mornings spent endlessly searching for that second earring.
6. Salvage your broken compacts and eyeshadow with a few drops of alcohol. This will turn the broken bits back into a paste that will harden into a dry cake and be good as new.
xo,
Lauren
November 11, 2011 Leave a comment
From the Marie Antionette-esq mules, to the structured bag, disheveled blazer and bed-head locks, I am really loving this ensemble Ashley Olsen recently wore to a benefit in NYC. Her bag is by The Row and I found it on Net-a-Porter with a price tag that makes Chanel bags look like a steal. Here are my picks to re-create this look.
xo,
Lauren
November 10, 2011 2 Comments
I was fortunate to recently come across the dreamy and beautiful home design & accessories website of artist and creative designer, D.L. Rhein. I was so inspired by her design career, passion for creating beautiful things and the interior designs and decorative offerings available on her website and in her LA-based stores, I couldn’t wait to share. I also became an instant fan of her design projects which feature unique pops of colors and statement pieces through non-traditional items (such as the turquoise beaded chandelier featured below) in an otherwise neutral space. D.L. Rhein began her career crafting from home which lead to the development of homemade picture frames, which turned into a full-scale decorative, accessories business. DLRhein.com offers sophisticated and whimsical products spanning from jewelry, vintage items, furniture, artwork, apparel and entertaining essentials. She is known for producing unexpected combinations inspired by both timeless classics and the latest trends.
Recent design project, Hands On Salon Beverly Hills:
xo,
Lauren
November 9, 2011 2 Comments
I’ve been looking far and wide for the perfect nude stiletto and other than the uber-gorgeous but uber-luxe Louboutin offerings, (above) I haven’t really seen any nude pumps I immediately loved. I didn’t realize how hard it was going to be to find a great nude pump to add to my collection of dressy footwear staples until I really started looking for a pair. Not impressed with most options out there, I was slowly coming to terms with the possibility of having to settle for something I wasn’t really excited to wear, or in some extreme cases, something that resembled a dated clunky beige pump my 7th grade math teacher would have worn. Until…I recently found the Selby Multi Snake Pump in Taupe from Elizabeth & James, featured below & available here. I love any shoe or accessory with a little snakeskin- whether its kept natural or dyed, it add’s such a glam touch (ie: my favorite shoe I wear almost EVERYday are my Lambertson Treux snakeskin tipped ballet flats- bottom photo.) The Selby has the most delicate and feminine heel, at just the right height (I’m not much of fan of heel’s under 3.5 inches) and the grosgrain bow detail at the front of these pointy-toe pumps adds the right amount of sweetness and charm without being cheesy. I’m planning on using a Piperlime coupon I’ve been holding on for just the right item to scoop these up and wear them with everything from the office and beyond.
my favorite snakeskin staples:
xo,
Lauren
November 8, 2011 Leave a comment
Fashion designer extraordinar Tom Ford has successfully transitioned his high fashion offerings from one wearable art form to another- from clothes to sunglasses to perfume, so it was only a matter of time before he expanded his beauty brand to include make-up.
From the runway and now the make-up counter, Tom Ford has created a brand that is synonymous with high fashion, glamour, extravagance and beauty. Before seeing previews of his make-up collection, I envisioned something luxe, bold and highly pigmented. I had a feeling his color palette’s were not going to be for the faint of heart and with lip shades with names like ‘Bitter B*tch and Love Bruise I quickly realized how right I was.
The 132 piece line features makeup, skin care, 2 new scents and brushes. I was fortunate to receive three lipsticks which I’ve been loving and I’ve provided swatches of each below. Each shade was bright, bold and even more gorgeous and flattering on my than anticipated. Originally, I didn’t expect to be able to get away with wearing any of these during the day, but when applied with a lighter hand, they give off a gorgeous, light stain that looked really pretty and was very wearable for day. At night, the heavy pigment gave my lips a dramatic pop of color that didn’t need to be re-applied every 20 minutes- this stuff stays! My only issue is the packaging- while so glam, the tops fall off too easily and the first time I left home with these lipsticks, I discovered them floating around my bag uncovered - thankfully unharmed (but slightly dented as you can see in the first image.) My favorite shade? ALL of them.
From left to right, each photo features the lip colors Wild Ginger, Violet Fatale & Cherry Lush.
Since they look SO different on vs. in the tube or on my hand, I had to show what each looked when applied with just one swipe. On my lips, the colors alter a bit; Wild Ginger is much more of a coral, Violet Fatale is more pink than purple and Cherry Lush is just the most perfect shade of a blue red for my fair skin.
xo,
Lauren
November 7, 2011 Leave a comment
I’m really loving the flowy pirate blouse, black skinny jeans, platforms & congac belt with gold hardware Rachel from ”That’s Chic’ modeled in her latest blog post, Simplified. The accessories chosen add the perfect finishing touch and I especially love the bracelet’s she’s chosen to stack on. I would wear this exact outfit anyday.
Juicy Couture jeans, Style Stalker top, Seychelles shoes
xo,
Lauren
November 3, 2011 Leave a comment
I used to look to my favorite magazine for lessons in make-up applications but now that most celebrity makeup artist have posted their how-to’s on the web, I turn to YouTube instead and search whatever make-up look I’m trying to master. From everyday, ‘no make-up’ make-up, to high-drama editorial make-up, learning how to recreate any look you want is so much easier when you’re able to watch every little detail of the transformation instead of reading a summary of each step. I never realized how much blending was really involved in a dramatic smokey eye- or how many brushes and types of brushes you really need to achieve a certain look. All those little details are nonexistent in magazine write-ups which left most looks I wanted to recreate falling flat. I’ve become a huge fan and YouTube subscriber to several different make-up artists (some professional- some just lovers of make-up) and I’d like to spotlight each of them separately since they are all so different and fun to watch. I stumbled across each of them while searching for a specific how-to look and found myself drawn in to their large collection of videos which cover topics beyond make-up such as product reviews, personal favorites, tips, tricks and skin care.
#1 Lisa Eldridge http://www.lisaeldridge.com/
Highly regarded international make-up artist on the beauty and fashion circuits today. Her signature look is “fresh, flawless skin and an understated modern approach to beauty.” She’s worked with fashion houses such as Chloe, Prada and Donna Karen and has made up Cameron Diaz, Kate Moss and Heidi Klum just to name a few. Where can you see her work? She recently did Emma Watson’s Elle UK Cover look. Here’s a sample of some of my favorite video’s from her:
xo,
Lauren
November 1, 2011 Leave a comment
October has always been one of my favorite months- and as much as I absolutely love Halloween, the anticipation of October’s grand finale brings a sense of dread. I know that as soon as the night ends and I wake up the following morning, it’s going to be November and winter is right around the corner. Not that I don’t love winter, but fall is so fleeting in New England, I try to experience as much of it as possible during its short stay. Once October 1st rolls around, I do my best to savor all the traditions autumn has to offer- ie: treats, baked goods and more treats. I love anything pumpkin flavored and these days just about anything edible has been infused with a pumpkin spice or flavoring. Although fall may be coming to a sudden end, I am in no rush to stop baking (or eating) my favorite apple, pumpkin and cider treats. Nor am I in any rush to remove the remaining evidence of my dog Skip’s Halloween costume.
1. These delicious pumpkin cheesecake cupcakes are my new favorite quick & easy party treat. This recipe is available here.
2. Cider Donut’s are really the only donut I’ll go out of my way to have- and since they are only around a few months out of the year there’s nothing to feel guilty about. Unless you decide to start making them a little more regularly. This recipe is available here.
3. Nothing says fall has arrived quite like the perfect slice of apple pie- and no other smell makes your home more cozy and inviting. The recipe for the perfect apple pie is available here.
Happy Halloween!
xoxo,
Lauren & Skip
