If fashion is one thing; it’s fun! Whether fashion bloggers are chronicling their ensembles, spring cleaning their wardrobes or finding the perfect colored jean they are loving their clothes. In IFB we discuss fashion from so many angles we often forget the fancy of style and what keeps us blogging: our passion for fashion. This week’s Links A La Mode features advice for the perfect poolside ensemble, a comprehensive Q & A on San Fran style and a walk down fashion’s memory lane. At the heart of each post are the lovely clothes we wear and adore.
Links à la Mode: May 26th
Britt & Whit: San Francisco Fashion Bloggers Respond to Danielle Steel
By Anika: The art of not feeling threatened by the beauty of others
The Arizona International Festival (iFestAZ) will take place Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29, from noon to 10 p.m. at the Arizona State Fairgrounds in Phoenix.
InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa in Paradise Valley is launching a new event series, Sunset Cinema, kicking off Sunday, May 29 at 7:30 p.m. with a showing of Much Ado About Nothing.
From Hermes, Givenchy and Madam Gres, to Mariano Fortuny and Charles James, you’ll peruse more than 60 ensembles from Taylor’s enviable wardrobe.
But, this woman was much more than a socialite with a designer’s dream closet; she was a licensed pilot, Olympic skier, championship tennis player, wife, mother and skiwear designer. Her clothing and her story are extraordinary.
The exhibit makes up one of the largest fashion exhibits Phoenix Art Museum has had to date and is on display now through May 22 so be sure to stop in! In fact, it’s so large it’s housed in the museum’s lower galleries instead of the usual fashion gallery upstairs. The clothes are positively lust-worthy.
Forget the savings, that’s just an added bonus when it comes to these top 5 can’t-live-without beauty buys. I’m as big a fan as any when it comes to luxury beauty items (you pay for what you get, right?) but these 5 items get it just right. And, I don’t have to shuffle over to the mall or my nearest Sephora to get them.
This eyeliner is truly the best of both worlds; like a liquid it glides on and you’ll never have to sharpen. Like a pencil, you’ll have precise control over application. I stock up on Black Onyx which is awesome for creating a smoky eye look when you use the smudge tip on the end. Plus for a mere $6, it can’t be beat.
I am a mascara addict. I’ve tried just about every brand under the sun and buy a new one monthly so it’s nice and juicy. But nothing ever beats Maybelline mascara. Even when I’ve dropped $20+on luxury brands. Makeup artists swear by it and I’ve heard there’s even a patent on their formula–obviously for good reason! My current obsession is their new Maybelline Volum’Express One By One Mascara in Glam Black. Trust. You can’t live without it.
Whenever I go in for a facial two things happen: The aesthetician asks what products I’m using and I always fail to remember! As a beauty editor, I get sent tons of products to try. But one tried and true product I always go back to is the line of Neutrogena moisturizers.
Throughout the years, I’ve had the opportunity to interview some highly-admired beauty experts, and one product line they’ve always referred me to is Olay Professional Prox and the Olay Regenerist line of anti-aging beauty products. Again, these aren’t exactly the cheapest items you’ll find at Target but they are the closest you’ll get to their department store counterparts
–> Tip: Costco now carries Olay Regenerist creams and eye serums. I’ve tried them both and they’re awesome. They come in a pack of 2.
I’m not sure why anyone would spend a bundle on eye makeup remover when you can get an awesome one at Target for just $5. L’Oreal’s formula has been my go-to product for years. It gets the job done without needing to use 100 cotton balls.
What are your must-have drugstore beauty buys? Add to the list!
For constant style and beauty chatter, follow me on Twitter.
This weekend, I took my boyfriend to the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort to celebrate his birthday. We got cocktails, laid around in the lazy river and it got me thinking about poolside glamor. Or, more specifically, the lack thereof.
The pool at JW Marriott Desert Ridge
More often than not, people wait around for glamorous events when really, glamor is what you make of it– wherever you want, whenever you want! But unless you’re at a resort like the above, there seems to be a huge lack of style and glamor at most any Scottsdale pool party.
Yikes!
I’m pretty sure these guys could write the book on how to dress like a douchebag or how to dress tacky. And sure, it’s just the pool. But, why wait for a resort vacay to look stylish and chic? There are plenty of poolside outfits to be made that don’t include sporting tribal tattoos and tans so orange Oompah Loompah looks yellow.
First, start by brushing up on these tips for rocking a bikini bod with confidence, no matter your body type. Then, stock up on some swimwear at one of these top 7 swimsuit shops. Finally, don’t wait for a special event! Channel resort-chic wherever it is you go with these 5 must-haves for poolside glamour.
1. Sunnies
A fabulous pair of sunglasses is a pool season must. Oversize is totally glam. Or for a sexier vibe, go for aviators. Try a silver-trimmed frame if you have a lighter skin tone or gold-tone frame if you are more olive.
2. A giant hat
Tres chic!
Any chance this woman doesn’t look stylish? I want to be her shopping buddy. I picked up the below white and gold metallic floppy hat at Target for a mere $12. They have tons of styles right now that are cute and affordable too!
My giant floppy hat-Target
3. Wedges
Libby wedges from Sole Society
At 5’4″, I am definitely a wedges kind of girl. Plus whether you’re sporting a coverup or your swimsuit, they’re awesome for elongating legs and making them appear thinner. I got these wedges for $40 from Sole Society.
Not a fan of poolside wedges? There’s tons of awesome sandals this season too. Try one of these 5 summer sandals under $50.
4. Accessories
Gorjana lace hoop earrings-$80
You don’t want to look like you’re trying too hard. But an accessory as simple as earrings goes a long way for your look. If you’re a bit unsure, try studs or some silver or gold hoops. Gorjana also makes some pretty accessories that are classic and not at all over-the-top.
5. Cute coverup
Calypso St. Barth for Target
From long, flowy maxi dresses to short, sheer shifts, there’s tons of fun coverups to choose from. Calypso St. Barth for Target has a pretty sweet collection out right now that definitely captures the essence of summer chic.
My poolside look
Did I miss any? What are your essentials for poolside glamor?
For constant style and beauty chatter, follow me on Twitter.
Catwalk by Scorpius Dance Theatre is returning to Phoenix Theatre May 12-21, 2011, with shows every Thursday, Friday and Saturday for the two weeks. Staged on a runway, this original contemporary dance production fuses funky, local fashions, sexy athleticism and the distinct choreography of Lisa Starry.
The Project Ethos red carpet event featuring the “Flavor Fashionista Challenge” will take place at Axis Radius in Scottsdale on Friday, May 20, 9:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.
The Inaugural Run, Walk, Shop Race, presented by Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, will take place Saturday, May 21 at SanTan Village in Gilbert. Participants can enjoy a 5K run or a 1 mile fun run with refreshments, awards and goody bags.
As I was selecting my posts for this weeks Links A La Mode, I realized how important it is to have attractive and original images in your posts. I noticed that I would open a post and close it promptly if the images looked rather….. what’s the word… meh.
Here is how to have your blog posts chosen by me [Denimology] for LALM:
Images Are The Main Course — A great image will draw in your reader. The image might be beautiful, odd, heartwarming, instructive or just curiosity-provoking, so long as it keeps the reader wanting to read your post.
Don’t Forget To Use an Image — It’s better to use a generic image than no image at all but ultimately your image should represent what the subject of your post is about.
High Quality Images Are Best — We’ve all heard the saying “Pictures speak a thousand words”, but in the blogging world they speak even more. Adding HQ pictures to a blog post will visually stimulate your readers and help them identify with you, the writer.
Resize Your Images — While images can make your blog looked polished and professional, having images that hang over into the margins or that are cut off is sloppy blogging.
Links à la Mode: May 19th
And She Loved: How to DIY more– list of resources for DIY projects and ideas
Everyone’s all a Twitter on Twitter about some Apocolypse nonsense apparently happening next week. Yes, it seems the end of days is just around the corner on May 21, 2011.
O.K., I’ll bite. If it really is all said and done, I might as well look good right? It’s apparently time to max out the credit cards and buy some lust-worthy items. I’d prefer going out looking totally fabulous.
I tend to wear white for special occasions. These white gowns do not disappoint.
Then again, if you’re anything like me, what’s underneath matters too. After all, if we do survive the Apocolypse and my clothes end up all torn and tattered, I couldn’t possibly be caught in granny panties right? No, no.
OK. Forget the clothes. Maybe what I really need to worry about is the shoes:
I could probably fend off the end of the world altogether in these Christian Louboutin studded leather pumps. Yes, they’re like armor. Fashion armor. I need them.
What are you wearing to the Apocolypse? Any fantasy outfits I should have included?!
For constant style and beauty chatter, follow me on Twitter.
My closet, probably like yours, is not harmonious to my life. At all. It’s a constant work in progress and no matter what I stock up on I’ll inevitably reach in, gaze upon racks of clothing and declare that I have absolutely nothing to wear.
Can we ever stop this from happening? We’ll always want more, but you can at least build a better wardrobe so the feeling of having absolutely nothing to wear happens a whole lot less often. Here’s your four step guide to a better wardrobe and some gorgeous closets for inspiration to get you started.
1. Survey your lifestyle
It’s likely that the items you have in your closet aren’t at all proportionate to the lifestyle you live. If you reached into my closet, for example, you might think I go to nice restaurants and posh events everyday since it’s overflowing with sky-high heels and cocktail dresses. But that isn’t the case. And it’s totally wrong.
Survey your lifestyle and determine what types of activities you spend doing most; your clothing should be equally proportionate. If you spend 60% of your life at work, for example, about 60% of it should be clothing you can adapt to the office. As much as I love stocking up on coats, ballgowns and stillettos, I am not a socialite. So my closet shouldn’t be. You’ll be much happier in the morning when you realize your closet is realistically in line with your needs.
2. Survey your surroundings
Just like your ratio of clothing should be proportionate to your life activities, it should be proportionate to your surroundings too. Specifically, seasons. My personal weakness is coats. I love them. I totally stock up. But I live in Arizona and this kind of hoarding I do is admittedly, totally unreasonable. My closet should be stocked with desert lifestyle basics, not resemble a winter wonderland. Make sure your closet lives in harmony with the seasons where you live.
3. Survey your remnants
If you haven’t worn it in 6 months to a year, you probably won’t! Definitely donate, and for those designer duds, check out local resale shops where you might even earn a few bucks.
4. Rinse and repeat
Building a better wardrobe is a constant process. You’ll want to survey your closet every few months. Purge, rinse, make a list of new items to stock up on and repeat! You’ll be on your way to building a better wardrobe in no time.
What are your tips for keeping your closet in tip top shape? Share them below!
For constant style and beauty chatter, follow me on Twitter.
I’m usually not one to keep up on nail polish trends. Mostly because I like to keep things classic with some sheer shade of nude or short, dark nails for fall. Sure, some things like the shape of the nail and the dreaded French Manicure are totally over. But this season’s patterned nail trends have me totally intrigued.
By patterns, this is not that little flower they draw on your pedicure. You can chock that “trend” away right along with French manis and the little Swarovski crystals glued as an accent on just one nail. No, the new patterns are totally fresh, fun and funky. And, I’m kind of excited.
The above is Sally Hansen’s Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips, little packets of painted pattern you press on to your nails. If you’re a DIY girl or have tried this, I’d love to hear about it. I ended up buying a box myself and have yet to test it out. But for just $10 a box (which is sold out quite often, apparently) I figured it was worth a go.
What do you think? Would you rock some patterned nails this season? Have you tried the Sally Hansen Nail Polish Strips? Leave a comment below!
For constant style and beauty chatter, follow me on Twitter.
. At almost $20, it’s a bit of a pricier drugstore beauty buy but it’s non-greasy, non-smelly and lightweight–all hard to find in a daytime SPF.
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