If you know me, you know I love to try different hairstyles. So this month’s January favorites video is all about hair products – what I like to use to set my hair and protect it from heat damage. Plus, I have a hot tip on one crafty gal who makes beautiful hair accessories.
Check it out:
Here’s where to shop* the items mentioned in this video:
Valentine’s Day is coming and if you want to wear a little something special to spice up your date night, I’ve got just the thing!
If your style leans to sophisticated seductress, there’s only one place to shop for some sexy underthings and that’s What Katie Did Lingerie* Elegant, with a nod to vintage glamour, this brand from the UK knows what makes a woman look like a woman. Try valentine-red pieces from the Rita or Marlene sets.(Search the drop down on their site under “Gold Label Collection.“)
If your style is more playful, Modcloth* is the place for you. Try the easy-fit bralett with hearts in just the right places and heart-cutout panties for a little surprise from the back!
If your New Year’s resolution was to get/stay in shape – how’s that going? I know for me, I strive to maintain my daily workout routine but some days it’s just too hard to get to the gym! So I found few simple ways to workout at home that only require minimal and affordable equipment.
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Get your outfit planned for the big night. Whether you are going out with your love or getting together with your single gal pals, it’s a night to celebrate in bright shades of red and playful hearts. Dress up, dress down or just add a fun accessory. I’ve got ya covered with dresses, jewelry, jeans, tights and shoes. Shop* some of the options below and get red-y!
Wear your heart on your sleeve – literally!
Kastle
The Wrap Dress, it’s an iconic fashion statement. Created in the 1970s by designer Diane Von Furstenberg, it was coined the dress that’s was easy to put on as well as take off! It came out in a variety of colors and the fabulous patterns that became a signature of the DVF brand.
And now you can indulge your fashion passion in an entire room of DVF’s wrap dresses in an exhibit celebrating the 40th anniversary of the wrap dress. See photos depicting the history of the dress, with images Diane and the many celebrities who have worn it. Plus, there is an art exhibit from Diane’s personal collection featuring work by Andy Warhol, Annie Leibovitz among others.
Our special guest vlogger and lover of all things ‘70s, Disco K. checked out the exhibit and brought back this special report and sneak peek. Check it out:
The winter months can not only leave your bones shaking but leave your skin feeling dry and flaky. Even here in sunny California where we escaped the Polar Vortex but not the Santa Ana winds (which can feel like walking into hairdryer) the weather can take every bit of moisture out of your skin. So put some back in! Here are some of my favorite moisturizers* for the winter – and year round!
Face – Day
Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20
This lightweight moisturizer keeps skin soft and protects it from daytime UV rays (yes, you can still get sun damage in the winter, even on cloudy days!) Plus, it has the bonus power of correcting hyperpigmentation and exfoliating to keep skin from future darkening.
Face – Night
Lancôme High Résolution Night Refill-3X™
Let your skin repair itself as you sleep, this rich cream drenches you face in triple anti-aging ingredients to improve softness, elasticity and reduce fine lines.
Eyes
Lancôme High Résolution Eye Refill-3X™
My all-time favorite eye cream! This rich moisturizer stays dewy all night and quenches the delicate skin around your eyes, gently plumps skin to reduce fine lines and improves the appearance of dark circles.
Body
L’occitane Amande Firming & Smoothing Milk Concentrate
The smell of this cream alone is reason to buy it! But it also leaves skin silky smooth, feeling nourished and lightly scented with a delicious milky almond fragrance.
Lips
Jouer Cosmetics Lip Enhancer
Go beyond the everyday lip balm to this lip nourishing moisture cream. Leaves lips super soft, with a light pink tint and offers a gentle plumping action that reduces fine lines that can cause lipstick feathering.
Feet
Soap & Glory Heel Genius™ Amazing Foot Cream
Just because your feet are covered in warm sock isn’t a reason to let them go. This specialized formula just for dryness-prone skin on your feet will fix them right up and leave them with a sweet floral scent.
Travel is one of my favorite hobbies. This year I got to spend a little extra time with my family in Houston over the holidays and decided to make a side trip to Austin. This quirky city is the capitol of Texas and an active college town, home to the University of Texas. It’s also the location of the mega South by Southwest Music Festival every spring.
Upon my arrival at a hotel along the trendy, boutique and café-lined district of South Congress (or “SoCo” as the locals know it), I found Austin to be quite charming with its abundance of artsy buildings, trailer parks converted into eateries, and old homes converted into galleries and shops, and my favorite – lots of vintage shopping!
I did some shopping along SoCo (Disco K. will be very happy with her new pimpin’ vintage faux fur stole!) and went exploring Downtown where I ventured into the State Capitol building with its massive rotunda topped with a star that spells TEXAS at the top. I also checked out “The Drag” near UT, which now lives up to its name because most of the cool shops have been pushed out for chain-style restaurants. And a trip to Austin wouldn’t be complete without tasting some local music so I caught the new band Wrenfro featuring Tony Scalzo from Fastball at the Strange Brew Lounge.
Check out the scene:
Here’s a list of vintage stores I hit in case you’re ever in the area:
New Bohemia – 1606 S. Congress, 78704
Uncommon Objects – 1512 S. Congress Ave., 78704
St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store – 1327 S Congress Ave.,78704
Room Service – 107 E. North Loop Blvd. (E. 53rd), 78751
Bertha’s Paradise – 112 E. North Loop, 78751
Ermine Vintage – 106 E. North Loop Blvd., 78751
There were so many vintage stores, I didn’t have time (or the money!) to hit them all but here’s a map of Vintage Around Town if you do.
Most lovers of fashion know certain eras are represented by certain looks. But did you know that many fashion trends were influenced by films and their costume designers? Kimberly Truhler of GlamAmor made a career out of studying the history of film and fashion. She teaches a class on it at Woodbury University and offers her vast wealth of knowledge on her website GlamAmor and now in her “Style Essentials” series of lectures and webinars.
I attended her recent event, “The History of Fashion and Film 1960s-1970s” at the Annenberg Beach House in Santa Monica where she covered the some iconic looks from films from that period. It’s fascinating to learn what influenced the style of the characters and how the looks influenced future fashion. In order to know your fashion, it’s important to know its history. You might think a look is new but it might actually be something that came from a film, created by a costume designer. Kimberly knows her stuff, that’s why she’s often called upon as an expert consultant for Turner Classic Movies and Christie’s of London.
Kimberly’s lecture features a slideshow with image of movie stars in their stunning costumes and trends they sparked. She brings a clothing rack from her own carefully curated vintage collection to show similar pieces to those seen onscreen. She also joked that many of the iconic looks from film where featured on characters that were call girls and criminals – I guess those are the ones who could take a few more fashion risks!
Here are some highlights:
Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) Designer Givenchy, Edith Head costume supervisor
“Every woman at some point in their life has tried to channel Audrey,” said Kimberly and she’s not wrong. The iconic sleek black dress and updo has been repeated in fashion over and over. Hepburn’s character of Holly Golightly may have been a call girl but her elegance and style made her an aspiration. See the full details on GlamAmor.
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) Costume designer Helen Rose
Elizabeth Taylor’s character of Maggie dresses in classic, tailored lines. Her double v-neckline white dress became a hot seller known as “The Cat” dress. And oh, that white slip! With a juxtaposition of innocent and sultry all in one, it became the signature look from the film. See the full details on GlamAmor.
Butterfield 8 (1960) Costume designer Helen Rose
“The coats were their own character,” Kimberly commented on the style of this film with Liz playing yet another sophisticated call girl character. And we again see another sexy white slip that spoke volumes in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” The little black dress she wore became so iconic, copies sold out and the cut became known as “The Butterfield 8 Dress.” See the full details on GlamAmor.
http://youtu.be/8nBIgfecD5Q
Love Story (1970) Costume Designers Pearl Somner and Alice Manougian Martin
Winter wear never looked so good! Ali MacGraw made school-girl prep a classic look with a salute to turtlenecks, mini-skirts with tights. Ali also added her own knit cap, which became an instant trendsetter. See the full details on GlamAmor.
Network (1976) Costume Designer Theoni V. Aldredge
While the ‘70s ushered in extreme looks of hippies and disco, Network was drenched in the color brown, perhaps to offer a counter of conservativeness and ground the era of extremes. Faye Dunaway’s character, with her tie-neck look can still be seen in fashions of today. See the full details on GlamAmor.
So many iconic films, so little time. There were many, many more films and trends covered in this lecture. It’s such fun seeing the chain of influence in fashion. Check out GlamAmor’s events and Style Essentials series to get a quick education – you might be surprised where some of you favorite looks have come from!
I love the ‘60s and mod/ska fashions, which consists of a lot of black and white in bold prints of stripes and checks. This playful, rockin’ look has become quite a trend in women’s fashion at the moment. This checkered shift dress is comfy and makes a big statement partnered with a pop of orange with a vintage chiffon scarf and a fun purse made from old 45 records.
I got my purse from a market in Buenos Aires from a lady who makes them herself, but you can find similar handbags on Ebay. I finished the look with a rhinestone cat collar bracelet and pair of side zip ankle boots. See the links below or click the pix to shop* the look:
If you know me, you know I love to try different hairstyles. So this month’s January favorites video is all about hair products – what I like to use to set my hair and protect it from heat damage. Plus, I have a hot tip on one crafty gal who makes beautiful hair accessories.
