Tights for NYE

If you already have plans for  NYE, time to start getting an outfit together.  Every fall and winter I get some new tights and I love the selection offered from British e-tailers.  I am a repeat customer at Mytights.com and I just bought some from ASOS.com last week.  They take a while to ship and clear customs and so forth, so if you are outside of the UK and need some unique tights to wear under a short skirt or dess, ORDER THEM NOW.  Be sure to check if the tights you want are in stock.

Get 20% off your purchase at ASOS with the code:

pswlovesasos

I am not sure when it expires...

HOLD-UP
If you want a solid over-the-knee look, I have and love Transparenze's Jennifer hold-ups.  They are made from wool blend so they will keep your legs warmer than nylon.  Another reason I love them is that they are comfortable, because despite my small-to-medium frame, I have a lot of weight on my thighs.  These fit! $28:

Another warm option are these ribbed angora socks from ASOS. $17:

Henry Holland designed these faux suspender tights. $28:

Another faux hold-up look featuring lace. $14:

BACK SEAM


Classic and sexy.  These were apart of my order. On sale for $7.76.

I am nuts about these hearts as a back seam.  Of course I had to order them.  You don't have to stop at a straight seem when ordering something for a sexy effect.  The gradual increase in heart size makes the eye wander...$10

Looking for some plus-sized back seams? ASOS has you covered! $14

SPARKLE

Love these Pamela Mann black tights with gold studs! $14:

Shimmery tights in 3 size an 4 color options from Jonathan Aston. $16:

SPOTTED

"Champagne Bubble" tights - how fitting for the night! $32:

A classic look with small dots.  $20:

Hearts disguised as small dots! $9

If you are looking for US-based e-tailers, check out Nordstrom, Target, sock-dreams.com (they have a lot of unique looks for great prices!), and barenecessities.com.

photos lifted from mytights.com and asos.com

From the Expert: Deep Conditioners

Earlier this month, celebrity hair stylist Antonio Gonzales listed his top 5 favorite hair masks

 

I don’t know about you guys, but my hair has been fried, dyed, and is almost ready to be laid to rest.  Oh yes, it is almost that serious! I finally found a hair color and colorist that I am sticking with (INOA and Ian at the Ted Gibson Salon) while I grow out all the chemical damage that I have going on.  I love this blog, and I found this article very helpful.  He has another article about dying hair red I will probably highlight here soon.  But for deep conditioners he emphasized the following:

 

In the past, hair masks were oil-based and potentially damaging; when used too often they stifled the scalp and made the hair limp, leaving it difficult to style. Nowadays, water-based masks are lighter, with added nutrients that are safe for the scalp, leaving your hair in mint condition.

 

I have to admit I have tried many oils and heavy oil or butter based deep conditioners and they did nothing or left my hair frizzy or with the feeling of build-up.   Out of these five, I want to try Davines’ Love Mask the most.  Antonio’s description of the benefits of this one fits me perfectly – my hair is thick, kinky/curly, and color-treated. 

Davines, $20 on amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Davines-Conditioner-Love-Smooth-8-45-Ounces/dp/B000V1DB9K

 

Kerastase, $58 on kerastase-usa.com (be sure to check out their samples and offer thru 11/30) and $50 on folica.com

http://www.kerastase-usa.com/_en/_us/resistance-masque_age_recharge.htm

http://www.folica.com/hair-care/hair-treatments/kerastase-resistance-age-recharge-masque-six-eight-ounce

 

Moroccan oil, $26.50 on amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Moroccanoil-Intense-Hydrating-Mask-8-5-Ounce/dp/B002N5MKMG/ref=pd_sim_bt_5

 

Matrix Biolage Intensive Therapy - I am not exactly sure which line he is talking about... Maybe he likes them all!

http://www.matrix.com/products/biolage/atHomeCare.aspx

Sooooo.... I just ordered the Davines Conditioner! I already love KBB and Massato, how will this stack up? 

The original post:

 

http://comessenyc.blogspot.com/2010/11/5-best-hair-treatments.html

school school school

Posts have been sporadic lately because I have been concentrating on homework outside of my day job, but the semester is almost over so I should have some steady posts starting in mid-December. 

There is light ahead! (and it include New Year's Eve outfits)

Splurges

Is there a beauty item or service you must splurge on?

I don't use this $140 shampoo, but Kim France, the founding editor-in-chief of Lucky, needs it in her beauty arsenal. I am pretty sure Jean Godfrey-June featured it in her monthly "the beauty closet" page a while ago, because this isn't the first time I've heard of it.  In order not to sound like a loon, France does recognize that its price is "certainly crazy and possibly outright vulgar."  I really liked this piece in Slate because it coincided with Lucky's 10th anniversary edition, and the first with the new editor-in-chief Brandon Holley.  Quite a few things that France needs in her life is featured among the most-loved products in Lucky's 10 years.

Phillip B.'s shampoo is certainly not the first  product to make waves for its miraculous effects and extraordinary price point. I remember ages ago when I thought that Dr. Brandt's microdermabrasion exfoliating cream was ridiculous at $75 for 1.7 oz. I still think that it's expensive but I discovered that there are more outrageous costs of beauty. And let's be honest, St. Ive's daily microdermabrasion cleanser is total crap for $5.  The whole point of spending more is to get better results.  After that, I have reports that Jennifer Lopez allegedly used La Mer's Crème de la Mer all over her body. A 1 oz. jar will set you back $130 and a 16.5 oz jar is $1,390. I think it was Lucky I heard raves about Fresh's Creme Ancienne, which costs $250 for 3.7 oz.  I sampled this when I was in a Sephora once, and I thought it was heavy, and didn't really think much else... I am sure there are other serums and conditioners that come at a hefty price tag that a lot of normal  people (but with a serious beauty product habit) use to look their best.

I think the products in my arsenal is in line with what my disposable income can afford.  I have expensive perfume and nail polish, but the price-per-wear is reasonable (plus these are my weaknesses).  Looking around, I think that the biggest splurge (other that perfume and nail polish) in weight is Dior's Crème Abricot - at $23 for .35 oz., that's about $66/oz.  And for the record, I wouldn't repurchase. To compare, the shampoo is about $9-12/oz.  Price-per-use will probably be a different figure since I have had the cuticle cream for quite a while now, I think maybe a year. 

What I do splurge on is hair color.  I started first at my local Dominican salon and I am now with  a master colorist at my local Ted Gibson salon, so you can imagine it puts a hurt on my wallet.  This most recent issue of Lucky offers tons of great tips the editors have learned and lived by over the magazine's life.  One such tip (on page 119) is to spend money on your haircut because "You. Wear it. Every. Day." I still go to the Dominican Salon for my trim (it's great), but getting the perfect shade of red was worth the trip to Chevy Chase. 

Go ahead and submit an anonymous comment and get it off your chest - what beautifying thing do you splurge on?

BTW, if you want to try the Russian Amber Imperial Shampoo, a review on Amazon.com suggests obtaining a sample from a stockist close to you.  It is currently selling on the site for $106.

photos lifted from amazon.com,  beauty.com, lamer.com, and sephora.com

Music - Destra "On Somebody"

more soca!!!

The New-again Silk Shirt

OK, first I saw it on Garance Doré's blog...

Then I see it on Tommy Ton's coverage of the fashion weeks..

Then again on Mane and chic's blog...

Well..... in the middle of this series of events, I saw a shirt in this style at H&M, but I only got one size to try on. I liked it, but I need a bigger size but I had to get outta there so I gotta go back soon to try on a size 8 and buy if it looks good.  I will try to snap a pic as well. I think it was about $40, but I am not 100% sure.

I did some research and I didn't see many, but I really like Club Monaco's "Iman" shirt (oh, and STUDENT DISCOUNT!!!) so I will try to check out that sometime soon. I think I prefer this shirt with a voluminous, A-line skirt, but Club Monaco's styling is always on point (en pointe? I dunno).  No pricing info.

You can always go for the Equipment "Signature" Silk Shirt for $178.

Reiss actually has a few nice ones!  I like this sheer brown "Charlie" print for $215:

This style "Chris" has jersey paneling on the side for $175:

If you want to show your guns, go for "Kansas" for $175:

Lastly, ASOS has a boyfriend shirt for $37.07:

photos lifted from garancedore.fr, style.com, maneandchic.com, clubmonaco.com, nordstrom.com, reissonline.com, and asos.com

Music - Lil Rick "Go Dung"

just wine and go down low

Summer Smokey Eyes NOW

Looking at some of the Spring/Summer 2011 shows, I realized a lot of these looks can work even now!  I really hate being segregated in a box - how is that interesting or exciting? For clothes, accessories, and makeup - don't be afraid to try something that was in the men's department or is widely a "spring color."   As long as you are not wearing a mini skirt with sandals, but with a coat then you should be cool. 

Some of the makeup trends for the S/S collections we saw during the past few weeks include a strong porto-colored lip, a very bare face, a bright coral lip, and a summery glow.

And of course what I am covering today, a dramatic smokey eye.  The thing that makes this look interesting to me is that it looks like only one color is used and it is smoked all the way up to the eyebrow.

Blacks, greys, or browns are usually used for a typical smokey eye.  Chanel used a dark, matte gunmetal shadow.  I would guess it is Ombres Contraste Duo in "Gris - Subtil", $42.

Purple highlighted the eyes in Etro.  A really intense, bright, and true purple I came across online was Sugarpill's Hysteric, $12.

My favorite smokey eye ever was in the Versace Fall/Winter 2006 show.

Ages ago I bought Cargo's Babylon eyeshadow to recreate the look.

Unfortunately, the shadow is no longer available.  But it looks pretty similar to the blue in their "Tahiti" palette, $28:

Check out what xteeener uses in her blue smokey eye look:




Here are some tips from a MAC artist on a blue smokey eye: 



The best instructions for an easy smokey eye is below: 




From there, you can use more color around the eye, but BLEND the edges VERY WELL with a sheer,  light-hued, shimmery color.

pictures lifted from: chanel.com, style.com, sugarpill.com, and cargocosmetics.com

Big up to Guadaloupe!

I got some hits from this French Antillean country that I hope to visit soon! so big up yuhselves!

Merci pour les visite! bisou

Kassav - "Zouk la ce sel medicament nou ni"

Music - Shal Marshall "Whole Day"

Oh gorsh, I RHELL miss Miami Carnival this weekend.  I usually go every year, but school comes first.  That's what I keep telling myself :-/

So some soca for you:

Shop Blast: Hair scarves

Remember my little hair scarf phase I went through a few weeks ago regarding music videos? Yeah, I barely do too.

Here are some more inspirations from street style photographers Scott Schuman (the Sartorialist) and Tommy Ton :

 

... and I gotta admit it was a bit tough finding some silk scarves online.

Feel for some animal print and a subtle advertisement? Coach has you covered in this ocelot print for $68:

So do all silk scarves come with logos? FENDI says "si" with this fun yellow "5 Star" scarf for $185.  By the way, only 2 left! If you want it, act quickly.

Hermes, Hermes, claro que si.  Ahem, I mean absolument! If you can’t find a vintage silk scarf, you can get a vintage-inspired design that they stock… It will run you about $305. I really love the comic-inspired print - the French love comics!

For those of you who can cut a straight line a hand-roll a hem, you can cut a piece of fabric to suit your head size and go to town with whichever print at your local fabric store.  Silk is better for your hair because it does not cause breakage, but here are two cotton ideas.  The most iconic fabrics come from Liberty of London and Marimekko.  Liberty prints are usually pretty small and you can get knock-offs at your local fabric store.  Marimekko fabrics are mostly for quirky wall art, but there are some small prints, such as the poppies.  I used a larger poppy print for a skirt that I love.  You can either leave the border unfinished to toughen the look (still stitch all around to prevent as much fraying as possible) or roll the ends under by hand sewing.

Liberty:

Marimekko:

photos lifted from thesartorialist.blogspot.com, style.com, coach.com, bluefly.com, hermes.com, liberty.co.uk, and alwaysmod.com

Music - Tanya Stephens "Spilt Milk"

This is one of my favorite songs by my favorite reggae singer:

Tortoise hair pins

I saw this pic (for Nina Ricci S/S 2011) on style.com and got curious.  So I did googled "tortoise hair pins" and these were the closest matches:

Caravan Large Crink Hair Pin Shell - a pack for 2 for $3.89.  It is 3.5 inches long.  

France Luxe 75x20mm Hair Pin for $3 each, in clear, black and tortoise.  I think the look above is elegant but the pins make it a little quirky. 

pictures lifted from style.com and amazon.com

Review - Goe Oil

OK, I've had this Goe Oil at my desk for a week and have concluded that this is the best thing I have every used for my hands and cuticles! I have terrible cuticles (it doesn't help that I pick at them) and the handsoap at my work is cheap and drying, so I need help.  This SOFTENS and MOISTURIZES my hands and cuticles! After a day I could see a difference, and it has kept up every day that I used it.

What I've tried:
Burt's Bees lemon butter cuticle cream
Dior crème abricot
Neutrogena Norwegian formula hand lotion
Trader Joe's A midsummer's night cream
Qtica cuticle cream
Karen's Body Beautiful hand lotion

...and so on.

The only con is that Goe Oil can be a bit greasy feeling for a few minutes after applying.  But I just try to rub my hands over my torso or elbows so it's not a big deal. 

It also had an herby medicinal fragrance that is covered by monoi, but the smell dissipates quickly (and I like it, anyway).

I am contemplating buying a tube for home, it will probably work wonders straight out of the shower...

Detox and Designers

The weekend is the time I catch up on blogs, and you know I love the blogs from style.com and vogue.co.uk, so the Beauty Counter blog on style.com turned me on to Conversations with the designer Norma Kamali.  She is very into personal wellness and wanted to bring inspiration to really anyone who has an internet connection. 

Check out this feature with dermatologist Dr. David Colbert.  He's not selling a product that he will make a profit on: "What makes you look good is fresh food."

So today I am not eating processed foods.  My goal is to do this once a week, and then we will see from there.  Maybe next Saturday I will pull all my money out of savings and  hit up the farmer's market! My skin has been acting up and I haven't been sleeping well.  I already know I haven't been exercising like I should, so this is something I can control.  For breakfast I had scrambled eggs and those tiny oranges (mandarin?).  And so far I haven't died yet, lol. 

By the way, I've heard her name before, but I never checked out Ms. Kamali's clothes.  I love the mesh and modal lines! I also like how the shopping site is set up and the sizing chart and I have a feeling the brand strives for great customer service.  I will have to save my pennies to get some of her clothes...


Back in July I bookmarked this "DIY Detox" post from Vogue.co.uk's Beauty Blog but never did anything about it.   Here are some sensible tips they offered after reading Jane Scrivner's book:

Detox is changing a few things for a while to learn how it feels to feel amazing.
Detox isn't 'can't have', 'not allowed' or 'giving up', its trying amazing new tastes and discovering new meals.
Don't do a month, do 4 x 7 days with a reward of a facial, pedicure or massage at the end of each week
Prepare, prepare, prepare - fill your home with Detox foods and then snack to your hearts content.
Recruit a Detox buddy; sharing recipes, moans and successes will keep you going

Beauty Sales

Any other great sales you know of?

Bliss World - Save 20% on spa services if you have a valid student ID for the month of October! Even after taking the discount, their facial prices still among the highest in the DC area, so I am still hesitant to go there, but we will see.

For their online store, save 20% on most brands (excludes lines such as La Mer, Bliss, and  Remede *boo!*) with the code SALE20  through tomorrow.

Skin Store - Save 20% with code BELLA20 - ends tomorrow (Monday the 4th)!

So I was looking around there and became interested in the Emjoi Emagine (an epilator) and I googled it to see if there are reviews, but I see that it's $85 on Amazon.com! So do a quick google search before utilizing these codes to see if you can get something for an even lower price.

Now to decide what I want to buy (if anything) because I want to stay in a budget...

Music - Bruno Mars "Liquor Store Blues"

I just heard about this guy (when he got busted for cocaine), and so far I think his songs have something we are missing in the music now - simplicity.  Know what I mean?This tune is very melodious, musically pretty, and empathetic. 

PSA: my favorite bra is on sale

This really is my favorite, and not just because they make my boobs look fantastic. Well, actually that is the reason! Instead of looking like you are wearing a push-up bra, this design seems to make my boobs have a little more weight to them - as if I were to be a "full cup" I suppose. And no gaps where there shouldn't be any. This bra has it all: fit, comfort, look, and effect.

Herroom has it on sale for $25.50. I hope they are not discontinuing the brand! :-S I already have one in black and one in nude (but I think the black looks better), so I may get another one. 32-38 A, B, and C (except 38A)

On a side note, I need to figure out a posting schedule since I ALWAYS take time out to look for the beauty and style stuff that floats around my head. It's just the pictures and proofreading that take up a lot of time.  

picture lifted from herroom.com