Every now and then I look through my collection of bookmarked links and realize that I have plenty of things I want to share with no connecting thread to tie them together. Today is one of those days. So instead of sitting on them any longer, here's a round-up of some great style-related links for you:
• More on color trends for fall at Refinery 29.
• The Budget Fashionista recommends seven fall items you can buy right now.
• StyleList has some tips on transitioning your wardrobe from summer to early fall.
• Levi's has released a new denim line called Curve ID, designed to better fit women's bodies. But there's some controversy concerning the line's sizing and promotion.
• Today was 9/02/10! Celebrate 90210 Day with the original West Beverly High class and Go Fug Yourself.
• Yahoo's style page has some cute fall coats – all under $100!
Have a great weekend, everyone! I'll be back in full swing next week, so watch this space!
Showing posts with label quickies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label quickies. Show all posts
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Quickie: Shopping Vintage Online
If you love vintage clothes but find it overwhelming to comb the web yourself looking for quality pieces, check out Zuburbia. Every day Zuburbia features a "VOPD" (Vintage Piece of the Day), and the site gives a weekly round-up of some of the best vintage buys on eBay.
From the site owner's mission statement:
From the site owner's mission statement:
I hope to share tips, hints, info and vintage shopping adventures in addition to bringing you my Vintage Pick of the Day (VPOD)—a vintage item I spied on one of the gazillions of vintage clothing sites that populate the Internet.If you prefer shopping for yourself, try Vintage Vixen or Vintageous. Both sites offer a great selection from a variety of eras and detailed descriptions of each item's condition and sizing. I've found the prices more reasonable at Vintage Vixen, but Vintageous tends to have more designer and ornate items.
Every day I’ll be visiting sites and looking for unique, eye-catching, I-gotta-have-it pieces in all price ranges.
If you’re new to vintage, I hope these items will whet your appetite. If you’re already a vintage lover, perhaps you’ll end up acquiring an item you’ll wear with pride.
Just think of me as your own personal vintage shopper!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Quickie: Free Stuff from Allure!
August is Free Stuff month at Allure Magazine. Every day of the month they give away beauty products, clothes, and accessories. You can check their website every day to find out what's up for grabs and sign up. Or if you have a smart phone you can sign up for reminders and auto-entries in a snap. You download the Microsoft tag-reading app, then scan the little tags in the pages of the magazine, and they'll send you reminders for quick entry as items become available.
Friday, July 16, 2010
A little Friday fun
Got this from my mom today (hi Mom!) and thought it was a fun way to start the weekend. Happy Friday, everybody!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Freebie Quickies!
Today I've got a couple of freebies for you!
If you have curly hair, you can sign uphere to be a hair model for Ouidad. Ouidad salons and products are targeted to curly hair and they use models to train stylists in their cutting technique. That means there is a risk since you'll be sort of a training model, but if you're willing to try it out you get a consultation (which means you get a say in what they do!), a cut, and possibly a deep conditioning treatment. You can check the Salon Locator to see if there's a Ouidad salon in your area.
Origins is offering free mini facials at their retail locations. (The online ad says 7/8-7/11, but I just got this promoted in an e-mail today, so call your store to find out if this is still a valid offer.)
If you have curly hair, you can sign uphere to be a hair model for Ouidad. Ouidad salons and products are targeted to curly hair and they use models to train stylists in their cutting technique. That means there is a risk since you'll be sort of a training model, but if you're willing to try it out you get a consultation (which means you get a say in what they do!), a cut, and possibly a deep conditioning treatment. You can check the Salon Locator to see if there's a Ouidad salon in your area.
Origins is offering free mini facials at their retail locations. (The online ad says 7/8-7/11, but I just got this promoted in an e-mail today, so call your store to find out if this is still a valid offer.)
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Quickie: The bracelet that tracks your sun exposure
So you've applied your sunscreen dutifully. Great! But what if it wears off? How will you know before it's too late? Now there's a way to tell: the UVSunSense bracelet:
Developed by a nuclear physicist, the UVSunSense wristband technology is similar in principle to monitoring devices used for personnel at nuclear power plants or in jobs dealing with nuclear medicine. But instead of measuring gamma rays, UVSunSense is calibrated for ultraviolet – or UV – radiation present in sunlight. The band’s four color stages indicate changing conditions and how a user should adapt to the sunlight. The wristband is orange when removed from the packaging. It becomes purple when exposed to the sun, indicating that it has been activated. When it transitions to a dark brown the wearer needs to immediately reapply their protective sunscreen. If the band turns a salmon color, the wearer should get out of the sun completely, having approached the recommended daily limit of UV radiation. Further exposure will likely result in painful sunburn and increase the risk of sun poisoning, also known as photodermatitis.
Here's a diagram to illustrate the color changes:
The UVSunSense band is available in packs of 7 for $6.85 (plus shipping) at Amazon. Or you can check out the "Where To Buy" link on the UVSunSense website (linked above) for local retailers.
Developed by a nuclear physicist, the UVSunSense wristband technology is similar in principle to monitoring devices used for personnel at nuclear power plants or in jobs dealing with nuclear medicine. But instead of measuring gamma rays, UVSunSense is calibrated for ultraviolet – or UV – radiation present in sunlight. The band’s four color stages indicate changing conditions and how a user should adapt to the sunlight. The wristband is orange when removed from the packaging. It becomes purple when exposed to the sun, indicating that it has been activated. When it transitions to a dark brown the wearer needs to immediately reapply their protective sunscreen. If the band turns a salmon color, the wearer should get out of the sun completely, having approached the recommended daily limit of UV radiation. Further exposure will likely result in painful sunburn and increase the risk of sun poisoning, also known as photodermatitis.
Here's a diagram to illustrate the color changes:
The UVSunSense band is available in packs of 7 for $6.85 (plus shipping) at Amazon. Or you can check out the "Where To Buy" link on the UVSunSense website (linked above) for local retailers.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
DIY Quickie: The 1-Hour Dress
Summer is the time for dresses! And if you like making your own clothes, check out this 1-hour dress at CraftStylish:
There's some argument in the comments about whether this dress can actually be made in an hour. (I don't sew, so I can't say how accurate those comments are.) But they include a detailed list of what you'll need and diagrams to help you along your way and the instructions were easy enough for a non-sewer like me to understand. I love that the silhouette is simple enough that you can make it in stretch jersey and have a comfortable day dress, or bring up the hemline and use a fabric with metallic threading for a cute cocktail look.
If anyone makes this dress at home, let me know! I'd love to post your pictures and hear how well this pattern actually works.
 |
| Image courtesy of CraftStylish.com |
There's some argument in the comments about whether this dress can actually be made in an hour. (I don't sew, so I can't say how accurate those comments are.) But they include a detailed list of what you'll need and diagrams to help you along your way and the instructions were easy enough for a non-sewer like me to understand. I love that the silhouette is simple enough that you can make it in stretch jersey and have a comfortable day dress, or bring up the hemline and use a fabric with metallic threading for a cute cocktail look.
If anyone makes this dress at home, let me know! I'd love to post your pictures and hear how well this pattern actually works.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Quickie: You're not as fat as you think!
A study conducted in London has found that the average person's body image is seriously distorted:
The scientists who conducted the study think that this may offer new insights into those affected by eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia.
I was sort of comforted reading about this study as I'm prone to anxiety about my weight and body image. I was a very skinny kid. Adulthood came along and these days I'm... not so skinny. I spend way too much time worrying about my weight and the size labels inside my clothes. The image perpetuated by the fashion industry (remember when we talked about this?) certainly doesn't help when we're surrounded by images of an "ideal" most of us will never meet. It makes sense to me that so many of us are walking around with a mental self-image that doesn't match the reality when we're constantly comparing ourselves to those ideals.
But next time you look in the mirror and feel like you're having a "fat day," take a deep breath and be a little kinder to yourself - it's not as bad as you think.
Scientists have discovered that the body image a person projects in their own brain is “massively distorted” and can be up to two thirds wider than it is in reality. The brain’s own “body model” is also around a third shorter than the body actually is, according to the study at University College London.
The scientists who conducted the study think that this may offer new insights into those affected by eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia.
I was sort of comforted reading about this study as I'm prone to anxiety about my weight and body image. I was a very skinny kid. Adulthood came along and these days I'm... not so skinny. I spend way too much time worrying about my weight and the size labels inside my clothes. The image perpetuated by the fashion industry (remember when we talked about this?) certainly doesn't help when we're surrounded by images of an "ideal" most of us will never meet. It makes sense to me that so many of us are walking around with a mental self-image that doesn't match the reality when we're constantly comparing ourselves to those ideals.
But next time you look in the mirror and feel like you're having a "fat day," take a deep breath and be a little kinder to yourself - it's not as bad as you think.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Saturday Quickies
Happy weekend, everyone! Here's a couple of quickies for your style file:
The Budget Fashionista (a great site) has some options for wearing the current skinny jean trend, even if you're not so skinny. I have a few pairs of skinny jeans (I'm a size 12 with not-inconsiderable hips) and I usually make sure to pair them with a long top that has some volume to it to balance out the proportions. Or I'll add a big, bright scarf to draw the eye upward toward my face. The trick with skinny jeans is finding a comfy fit and choosing the rest of your outfit with proportion in mind.
Stylelist investigates the idea that a "go away gray" pill might be in our near future. I hope so!
Have you heard about the new Huggies faux denim diapers? Personally I think they're a bit silly... since when is it taboo for a baby to be seen in a diaper? But one writer actually hates them so much she cites them as a symptom of a blurring line between childhood and adulthood and rising obesity rates. She even goes so far as to say that "People swollen with fat look like giant babies, the lines and wrinkles pressed from their faces." Yes, she managed to blame all our societal ills on silly-looking diapers and insult overweight people all at once. I for one am impressed.
The Budget Fashionista (a great site) has some options for wearing the current skinny jean trend, even if you're not so skinny. I have a few pairs of skinny jeans (I'm a size 12 with not-inconsiderable hips) and I usually make sure to pair them with a long top that has some volume to it to balance out the proportions. Or I'll add a big, bright scarf to draw the eye upward toward my face. The trick with skinny jeans is finding a comfy fit and choosing the rest of your outfit with proportion in mind.
Stylelist investigates the idea that a "go away gray" pill might be in our near future. I hope so!
Have you heard about the new Huggies faux denim diapers? Personally I think they're a bit silly... since when is it taboo for a baby to be seen in a diaper? But one writer actually hates them so much she cites them as a symptom of a blurring line between childhood and adulthood and rising obesity rates. She even goes so far as to say that "People swollen with fat look like giant babies, the lines and wrinkles pressed from their faces." Yes, she managed to blame all our societal ills on silly-looking diapers and insult overweight people all at once. I for one am impressed.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Quickie: Here Comes the Sun
Sun protection is important year-round, but once the weather warms up we all spend more time outside. Gone are the days when brown, tanned skin was in style – the new tans are fake and sometimes unfortunately orange. But whether you choose to fake bake or embrace the pale, you need to protect your skin from sun damage!
Most facial moisturizers and some foundations contain a sunscreen now. But the sunscreen in that facial moisturizer and foundation may not be enough and the rest of your body needs protection too.
Confession: I don't wear sunscreen every day. I use a facial moisturizer with SPF, but I don't apply sunscreen anywhere else unless I'm planning to be outside all day. And with my fair Irish skin I really should. The truth is, almost everyone is making mistakes with our sun protection.
Allure Magazine explains the nine biggest sun-protection mistakes most of us make every day. Did you know that your face should get about a nickel-sized amount of sunscreen every day? And that your scalp still needs protecting? And that certain medications can increase your sun sensitivity? I didn't either until I read this!
Most facial moisturizers and some foundations contain a sunscreen now. But the sunscreen in that facial moisturizer and foundation may not be enough and the rest of your body needs protection too.
Confession: I don't wear sunscreen every day. I use a facial moisturizer with SPF, but I don't apply sunscreen anywhere else unless I'm planning to be outside all day. And with my fair Irish skin I really should. The truth is, almost everyone is making mistakes with our sun protection.
Allure Magazine explains the nine biggest sun-protection mistakes most of us make every day. Did you know that your face should get about a nickel-sized amount of sunscreen every day? And that your scalp still needs protecting? And that certain medications can increase your sun sensitivity? I didn't either until I read this!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Quickie: Keep a Style File
A while back I was lucky enough to attend a fashion show hosted by Liz Claiborne's Creative Director and my personal idol, Tim Gunn. Those attending the event were given a free gift – a black accordion folder made of heavy, coated board labeled a "style file." The idea is that when you see a look you like in a magazine, or something you like in a catalog, you tear out the page and drop it in your style file. That way you don't wind up buried under old magazines you're keeping just for one article, and you can easily access all the ideas and inspirations you've kept when you want to update your look.
Any accordion folder will do for your own style file. Or even a binder with internal folders – anything that will allow you to keep things neatly organized. I have mine separated into these categories: fashion, beauty, social, accessories, hair, miscellaneous. I keep pictures of outfits I like, advertisements for products I want to try, makeup tutorials, trend reports, and anything else that catches my eye. That way when I want to refer back to something I have it easily at hand.
Any accordion folder will do for your own style file. Or even a binder with internal folders – anything that will allow you to keep things neatly organized. I have mine separated into these categories: fashion, beauty, social, accessories, hair, miscellaneous. I keep pictures of outfits I like, advertisements for products I want to try, makeup tutorials, trend reports, and anything else that catches my eye. That way when I want to refer back to something I have it easily at hand.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Two Quickies for the Price of One!
I'm updating a little slow this week. The truth is most of my brain power is going to mulling over the series finale of Lost. (Even fashionistas can be huge nerds.) But don't forget me! I'm still working on keeping you up to date with fashion and beauty fun and news!
For today, here's a couple of quick shots for you:
Allure Magazine has published its 2010 Readers' Choice Awards. Every year the magazine surveys readers for their favorite drugstore and designer products and compiles a list of the best. So if you want to know what works for real people instead of what beauty editors want you to buy, this is the list for you.
ModCloth is a popular site for shoppers who want a unique look with vintage flair. Their prices can be a bit high, so I usually stick to checking out what's on sale. I got a great pair of black and white tweed t-strap heels there that get compliments every time I wear them! I haven't tried their clothes, but their accessories and shoes are adorable and you can get some great deals when they have a sale.
For today, here's a couple of quick shots for you:
Allure Magazine has published its 2010 Readers' Choice Awards. Every year the magazine surveys readers for their favorite drugstore and designer products and compiles a list of the best. So if you want to know what works for real people instead of what beauty editors want you to buy, this is the list for you.
ModCloth is a popular site for shoppers who want a unique look with vintage flair. Their prices can be a bit high, so I usually stick to checking out what's on sale. I got a great pair of black and white tweed t-strap heels there that get compliments every time I wear them! I haven't tried their clothes, but their accessories and shoes are adorable and you can get some great deals when they have a sale.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Quickie: Spring's Hot Makeup Shades
Allure Magazine has a rundown of the 6 best makeup shades for spring.
Probably the least shocking news is that red lips are in. (Is this news anymore? Are red lips ever out?) Also big for spring: khaki green eye shadow, metallic purple eye shadow and liner, and flushed pink cheeks and lips. Not necessarily all at the same time.
What I love about makeup is that it's a quick, fun, and commitment-free way to give your look a little punch. You can freshen your face by switching your normal neutral eyeliner for a purple without having to embrace Lady Gaga's Poker Face. The nice thing about Allure's list is that the six shades their featuring can be made to work on just about any skin tone or face. There's nothing on their list that's so crazy you can't give it a try.
Probably the least shocking news is that red lips are in. (Is this news anymore? Are red lips ever out?) Also big for spring: khaki green eye shadow, metallic purple eye shadow and liner, and flushed pink cheeks and lips. Not necessarily all at the same time.
What I love about makeup is that it's a quick, fun, and commitment-free way to give your look a little punch. You can freshen your face by switching your normal neutral eyeliner for a purple without having to embrace Lady Gaga's Poker Face. The nice thing about Allure's list is that the six shades their featuring can be made to work on just about any skin tone or face. There's nothing on their list that's so crazy you can't give it a try.
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