MAHOGANY GLAM

Window Shopping At Bloomingdale's

I'm telling ya Bloomingdale's can cure the shopping blues. With my curbed shopping habit and my credit card frozen in a block of ice, I've found myself lusting for obnoxiously priced yet fabulous finds. These budget busting must haves make my palms sweaty to shop. Tibi Big Sur dress is $385 plus 30% off, Tory Burch Francesa sandals $425, Cole Haan Phoebe Triple Zip handbag a mere $498. I can totally picture myself in this entire ensemble at a hot summer soiree. (sigh) Ahhh the joys of faux online shopping at Bloomies!



photos courtesy: bloomingdales.com

Skin Perfection With Per-fekt

 
I walked into my happy place Sephora and one of the over made up divas were pushing Per-fekt Skin Perfection Gel. I couldn't resist the opportunity to indulge my inner product junkie. This stuff is like a primer that also doubles as a skin perfector. It evens out your complexion and preps your skin for makeup. I love that it's chocked full of vitamins A & E which fight environmental damage. Plus, it's oil free and super lightweight. I thought it really made a difference in my complexion. It could easily be worn alone too, and it comes in four different shades for every mahogany skin tone. Decadent worked for me. The theatrical diva said "Per-fekt also minimizes pores and fine lines." Of course I told him I clearly don't have fine lines and how dare he insinuate that I did." By now he was groveling, and in a quivering voice said that I was right. Sephora was my happy place for chrissakes! He better get his lies together. I was ready to buy until he told me the one ounce bottle was $57.50. I said, "What!!! hello we're in a recession." The travel size is $17.50 but they were all sold out. He quickly made me a sample which will last about two months. 

photo courtesy: sephora.com

Rimmel London Sexy Curves Mascara Not So Sexy

 

My mascara addiction led me to Rimmel London Sexy Curves. My beauty buddy was wearing it one day and it made her lashes look super long, like she could fly with them. I ran out to buy my own tube cause I wanted my itty bitty lashes to look the same. First of all, the tube is really cute and it's my favorite color, purple. The kooky brush looks like tractor tires with spikes, which I'm fine with, if it actually made my lashes 70% curvier and longer like they claim. My lashes weren't supermodel fabulous. They were a little clumpy cause the brush couldn't grab all my lashes. I tell ya there was nothing sexy about it! It's not the worst mascara I've ever encountered, but it's not worth the $8.69 I spent at CVS. I think it worked on my friend because she already has semi-long envious lashes. Since I only have five lashes per eye, Rimmel London Sexy curves was essentially a hot mess! I'll stick with my DiorShow Iconic mascara that makes me look like I belong on a runway in Milan!

photo courtesy: drugstore.com

NARS Lip Gloss vs. L'Oreal Juicy Lip Gloss

 

 

 

My fellow fashionistas my new favorite lip gloss at least for the next week or so, is "All Night Long" by NARS. It's the perfect plum for my pouty pucker. I've never used NARS lip gloss before, sure I own a few of their exquisite eye shadows but now I'm enamored with their sheer gloss. It's a sweet wash of color that goes from day to night. It's sheer and shiny just the way I like it. The color stays true for hours and it keeps your lips cashmere soft. Not to mention I can't help but sing Lionel Richie's song "All Night Long" when I'm wearing it. Is that weird... I guess I'm a total dork. Of course, NARS will set you back $24. Ugh a little steep right. Well L'oreal's Sheer Juicy Lip gloss in Grape soda is a sweet deal for $8 bucks. The color is just as sheer and glossy as NARS, but not as pricey. Love it!

photos courtesy: sephora.com & cvs.com

Spring 2009 Sizzles with Snake Skin

I can't stand snakes, but they sure make great shoes and handbags. For Spring 2009 everyone can be a chic stylista by wearing anything faux snake skin. It slithers with such style and sophistication that you won't mind having a cold-blooded reptile in your closet. It really doesn't matter whether it's anaconda, python, or cobra it all looks fabulous. I think I'm gonna get a pair of snake skin shoes, fake of course because the real thing would cost too dang much. Every store as reptilian options for Spring right now, it just depends on how much you wanna spend. Macy's and Nine West always have excellent deals when it comes to must have trends. Now, don't go crazy and wear an entire snake skin ensemble, pick one thing like a clutch or pumps and go for it!

FOR SPRING 2009 YOU GOTTA GET A JUMPSUIT

 

Pam Grier aka Foxy Brown really knew how to rock a jumpsuit during the seventies. For Spring 2009, you can too. Rompers, jumpsuits, or whatever you wanna call them are the In thing this season. My passion for fashion partner in crime is always ahead of the trend, she's been wearing jumpsuits or some variation of said style for a few years now. Of course she always looks fab, so now I totally want to get one. I think a one shoulder or a strapless jumpsuit would be quite flattering on my petite frame. I've been checking them out at Forever 21, Nordstrom, and Urban Outfitters to find the perfect one. Fabric is key. It can't be flimsy or you'll look like a two dollar tramp. The jumpsuit must be lined and for the love of god not be too tight, nobody needs to see a situation in the lower region. With that said, I'm gonna get a flowy one shoulder jumpsuit as soon as I find one that's not gonna cost an arm like the black Derek Lam jumper below. I really need the other arm to complete the one shoulder look. It's sooo stylish and chic I just need it to be like $40 bucks. C'mon stimulus check!





photos courtesy: thelondonpaper, ardenb

MCQ BY ALEXANDER MCQUEEN AT TARGET

Everyone has been yipping and yapping about designer Alexander McQueen's McQ line at Target. I stopped by my neighborhood but kinda outta the way Target to see and feel the clothes for myself. The stuff is a tad throwback eighties with a 21st century edge. There's definitely some pieces I need in my life. The bikini (above) is way cool and is pretty reasonable too $19.99 a piece. I tried on the white top with the gray sleeves and it was really flattering. The fit I think will complement all body types, but for $26.99 I can wait for a sale and pray they have my size. However, I will dream a little dream about the Harness dress. Soooo cute and couturesque. I feel like my friend Alex designed it for me. The draped neckline and double stitched detailing is uber hot. The belt around the waist is the coolest thing because it makes you look skinny. Score! Unfortunately, it's $44.99 but it should be $34.99 cause it's like T-shirt material.  You'll definitely have to pay attention to undergarments with this versatile dress. I still think it's a good deal though. If I wait til it gets marked down they wont have my size. Then I'll have to drive all over LA looking for it. The McQ collection was launched this week, but we all know the designer stuff goes fast so hurry!

photos courtesy: Target

Glamour Magazine Celebrates American Icons

Actress Paula Patton as Billie Holiday
“You can imagine that women at home hearing
her songs on the radio felt her vocalizing their
emotions and their struggles.”

Glamour Magazine celebrates their 70th Anniversary with an homage to fearless female icons. In the April issue of the fashionable glam mag entertainers such as Paula Patton, Chanel Iman, America Ferrera, and Alicia Keys all portrayed American risk takers who've succeeded against all odds. I couldn't put my copy of Glamour down, it's one of their best issues in a quite sometime!

Supermodel Chanel Iman as Althea Gibson
“She showed women…you can be sweaty,
be gorgeous and do a great job.”

Actress America Ferrera as Dolores Huerta
“She saw her own opinion and voice as
[something as] powerful as any man’s.”

Singer Alicia Keys as First Lady Michelle Obama

“She has worked hard for everything she’s
accomplished, and done so with grace and
humility. So many women and girls can
identify with her story.”

photos courtesy: glamour.com

SEPHORA BEAUTY SALE

LORAC Snake Charmer Face Palette
 (Original Price $35), $19.99 

Bare Escentuals Renegade Chic ($89 Value)
(Original Price $60), $39

My fellow fashionistas just because we are in a recession doesn't mean we have to lower our beauty standards! My happy place Sephora is having a beauty sale that will help all of us continue our beauty routines. I've been using some of my Mom's old school remedies to continue my flawlessness. Now thanks to Sephora, I can pick up a few absolute must haves because there's tons of sweet deals that include makeup and girlie products that are up to 75% off! Just think, it's all the fancy schmatzy stuff you've always wanted to try but didn't want to spend a gazillion dollars on. Sephora.com is also offering free shipping will purchases over $50. It's a good time to stock up if you can afford to splurge a little. We all know the saying... beauty knows no pain! 

Fusion Beauty Skin Fusion Medium To Deep Set ($70 Value)
(Original Price $56), $28

CARGO Lip Gloss Quad - Tijuana

(Original Price $24), $16.80

photo courtesy: sephora.com