TOP SHOP - Thursday, April 2nd

Are you ready?

Last week, I ventured to the LES on my lunch break and lo and behold- I was greeted by the Top SHop Hearts Challenger 2. 

About a year ago I had the pleasure of meeting Ben of the Heartschallenger at a Paper Magazine party hosted by Jeremy Scott. So seeing the van made me happy. Though the Heartschallenger was not on board, I did get a free tote bag that had some Top Shop schwag in it. yay!

So next week, it looks like there will be DJ's ( I can't wait for Andrew Andrew's set!), Makeovers by Makeup forever, Manicures and blowouts!

I probably won't make the Thursday grand opening as Ariel Pink will be in town and I don't want to miss his show..Friday definately!

Movie Review: Tokyo!

Directors: Michel Gondry, Leos Carax, Joon-ho Bong

Last weekend I had the pleasure of seeing Tokyo! Initially what drew me in was Michel Gondry, I love his work! The three vignettes presented were about life's unspoken treasures, natural or not, moral or not.

Gondry steps away from the youthful approach that we have seen in Eternal Sunshine and most recently Be Kind Rewind  and captures love, loss and sadness in "Interior Design"

"Merde" was very french cinematically with Carax as director, what first appeared quite humorous became tragic and downright mind boggling.

" Shaking Tokyo" by Bong was my fave, can a socially awkward being find his route to happiness?

Overall, it was great, the first and last stories were entertaining but the whole movie left me wanting a bit more.

Givenchy moin cher?

I first saw these when Nitrolicious posted them.

Is haute couture and ready-to-wear designers catering to the shoe masses? Tis true, it is the end of the it bag and on with the it shoe, as they are damn-near difficult to replicate.

I'm on the fence this one as YSL has a jelly strappy sandal like this that retails for $195, this is their second season of doing it.

Now, Givenchy is doing a snazzy jelly gladiator at $174 on Zappos.com. Would you buy?

DIY: Lipstick

Spring '09 collection beauty were all about earth tones with a twist of metal ( Prada and Rodarte)with some coral thrown in ( Christian Lacroix). 

Plus on the clothing side, what would complement gold, nudes, bronzes and tans best?

With a little inspiration from these collections, I created my own lippie from some of the sticks ( and glosses I own). 

My creation consisted of the following:

- MAC clear top travel jar .25 oz

- MAC Instinctive lipstick ( Fall '06)

- MAC California Dreamin' ( California Exclusive summer '08)

- MAC Archetype ( from Alexander Mcqueen Collection)

- Bobbi Brown lip gloss in Suede

- YSL Golden Gloss #1

- a few shavings of MAC MSF in light flush for extra shimmer.

+ put the shavings of the colors and blots of the glosses onto a metal spoon.

+ heat a pot of water and use a glove or napkin to hold the spoon as you put it over the water vapor.

+ when solution liquifies, pour into the travel jar ( make sure it is close)

+ let it cool and enjoy your new custom lippie.

the creation ( it doesn't have a working name at this point)? a honey- nude with peachy sparkle.

I should have added more gloss or balm to it but overall I am happy with it!

House of Style 2.0

Did you check out the new House of Style? if not it's here.

My verdict: Not bad. I do miss the days of Amber and Shalom- they were fun and Molly Sims was great too.

Bar Raffielli is just as bad as Cindy Crawford, she sounds monotonous and scripted but I guess posing in the middle of talking makes up for it right? This means no seeing Naomi Campbell with zit cream on her face.. aww I miss the 90's.

Chanel as the  fashion correspondent who covered gadgets and a dinner party was fluff, I think it was mildly insulting that she go to Erin Fetherston's party yet she wasn't casted in the Fall '09 show. She should have been the backstage correspondent for a show that she was in this season.. say Marc Jacobs?

This new upgraded 2.0 HOS should be hosted by Stam, Jessica Stam as she didn't sounds as scripted even soundt relatable vs. Bar. 

MAC Sugarsweet Collection

I've been on a MAC hiatus for longer than usual..well- not true. 

HK was the last collection I was into but prior to that was CoC.

So now Spring is upon us this week and the powers that be are launching a saccharine collection March 19th- Sugarsweet!

More likely than not I'm going to skip out on 95% of what this collection has to offer. 

Why? because now is not the time ( realistically).

But, I have to say I will be getting the re-launch of Bubbles lipstick. I remember when this was featured in Seventeen Magazine back in 1997 when MAC created the lipstick for Issac Mizrahi's runway show!

It was dc'd as of 2002-2003, and if you wanted - pay a boatload for Bubbles on ebay. 

Well now here is your chance to stock up.

The other item, Peppermint Patti- a mint green nail polish, a great spring staple plus something to look forward to considering Chanel's fall  09 makeup collection won't come out until the years end.

Additionally, the campaign is great! It reminds me of Marie Antoinette in a way and the contrast of colors is bold and wearable to those who dare.

to check out the collection- temptalia.com has promo pics and descriptions.

Barney's Warehouse Wrap-up

Yes, I'm tres late on this- but whenever I look at my Miu Miu Calzature Donna Paillettes, I'm in heaven!

These shoes were in Miu Miu's Fall 2008 collection and one of my finds at the Barney's Warehouse sale that just wrapped about 2 weeks ago. This was my first experience at BWHS and it was eventful to say the least.

I've had my eyes on these shoes during the sale and decided to get them at %50 off the sale price! It was a great deal at less than $200. My justification for the purchase? A staple item to dress up my laid-back weekend wardrode and after work attire.

Some tips for sales like this? Be prepared to wait!

The line to get in : 8 minutes 

The line to check out: 30 minutes

Dealing with crowds and clothing:

*Don't get discouraged if you can't find your size- they are probably hidden in other sections where other shopingistas have stashed their finds.

*Also, ask people who are finished with their hauls what sizes they don't want- if you can judge your size versus theirs, you could be in for some treasure if the clothing fits.

New Phoenix! -1901

No, this post is not cosmetically related but it could be to your oracular benefit as it relates to FREE MUSIC!

My heart has gone out to Phoenix since I heard " Too Young" in  Shallow Hall

 (don't get me started). 

"1901" their current single takes them from Alphabetical and United's "beachy pop"to a twist of electro.

 Their current album " Wolfgang Amdeus" will be released May 25 and if you visit their website www.wearephoenix.com you can download their first single and a multi track.

Enjoy!

Chanel Fall '09: Is Mint the New Black?

All of the models in Chanel's Fall '09 look had mint green nails! 

It's excitement when you can see that the shade will work for all as Karl did have some diverse beauties in the show ( including my fave Karen Elson).

More Paris Fall '09 posts to come..

Your Fave Purple Hued Lippies

Today Blogdorf Goodman shared her favorite Purple hued Lippies.
I added my two cents- YSL's Rouge Pur Transparent in #25 Black Orchid

 (Discontinued but a sheer eggplant that mirrors as a wearable YSL Rouge Pur Black Gloss) and NARS Damage (Grape tone).
Last year I made my own matte lavender lippie that I wear on the regular.

Last season designers like Zac Posen started to incorporate purple onto the beauty looks and even before then- MAC's Violetta was sold out because of the popularity of the wearable shade.

What is your favorite purple/violet/lavender tinged hue?

Photos: Style.com

Dior Iconic Diva To Go- Sephora Exclusive

How I love thee….
I recently ordered this kit and am in love with it. Dior Iconic was a mascara I was trying to avoid- why? I love my Givenchy mascara and could do without another- or so I thought.
Dior Iconic separates and curls- fine and dandy with me, but this kit has a mini Dior Addict High Shine lipstick in Catwalk Mauve- a sheer plum color that is universally flattering ( I seriously thought I was going to have to either give it away or toss it because my initial thought was “ ugh, this isn’t going to work”).

To be honest and frank- I have been on the fence with Dior Cosmetics. They don’t offer a wide range of foundation tones ( more on that later). And Glitter and Sparkles scare me.
Now after trying the Addict High Shine Lipstick- I love it! Its not as glittery and scary as the tubes suggests and the colors [lipstick] are flattering.

Dior Diva to go is available at Sephora for the price of a Dior Iconic Mascara.

NYFW: Erin Fetherston, Fall 2009

This NY Fashion week I had the pleasure to attend Erin Fetherston Fall 2009 show at Bryant Park.
Amid the Barbie 50th Anniversary fun, was the subdued chill tone of EF's collection.
Whimsical would be the operative word, beginning with a circus like theme ( complete with Pee Wee's Big Adventure music) and complete with marching jackets over tea cup skirts, and dresses. The final looks wrapped with capes and cocktail dresses in lavender silk tulle and twill complete with rhinestone animal masks by Hedi Ferjani.

The makeup was by Bobbi Brown with a heavy emphasis on the chocolate cherry lips.

March: In like a lion

and onto some well over due coverage!