Vintage Blog

I really love this blog.  I have some vintage French postcard reproductions up in my bedroom and in my cube, so I love going on this blog to see the various pictures, ads, and illustrations mostly from the 1860's to the 1930's. 

These pictures are just a minuscule sample of what is  on the blog.  When I first came across it I made my way all the way to post #1!


Check it out!

Shop Blast: booties

OK, I fail at being decent blogger. But work and school comes first. On to some stuff!

If you don't have the cash to spend on the Burberry Aviator boots, pictured above, TopShop has a very reasonably-priced alternative called AMORE with a shearling detail.  $190

You can satisfy any craving you may have for 70's glamour with the large platform and gold detail on these ALLY boots, also from TopShop.  $160

Noletta - a super cute basket bootie with a cap toe from Nine West.  Available for pre-order
now, $99.

Frye Engineer 12r.  Classic and heavy duty - mine got a lot of use during the Snowmageddon last year!  Order a half-size larger than what you normally get to have some extra room for thick or multiple socks. $208

Y'all know I love wedges.  I think Alejandro Ingelmo is the newest hotness to hit the shoe scene and this style Cece is totally my speed.  $995

If you are a size 8.5 I hope you can snap up these 3.1 Phillip Lim Orchid booties! $220.50

photos lifted from style.com, topshop.com, ninewest.com, thefryecompany.com, endless.com, and theoutnet.com

Music - Buju Banton "Love Sponge"

tune! I gotta concentrate on homework for the next few days so I will post music.

Music - Jah Cure "Unconditional Love"

love it

Wishlist - beauty products

What a busy week!!!! OMG.  Ok, enough about me, how was your week?  Just kidding, this blog is all about my discussing what I want and what I like.  I had to restock my Dr. Eckstein night cream ( I usually use Krauter Supreme, but this time I ordered the Krauter balm and the Azulen night cream) so flipping through the propaganda Beauty Habit sends, I started putting together a mental wishlist.  Some from the site, others I have been wanting to try.


Jao goe oil - an oil disguised as a balm??? I love how the skin on my face and body looks and feels after using oils, so this immediately caught my attention.  Oh, and the scent is like monoi oil? Sounds heavenly!

alba botanica kukui nut body cream - I am starting to get my annual dry patches :-(  This was the only stuff that has worked.

Molinard Creme 24 - I used this a while ago, but never rebought.  It is a great lemony-smelling cream, and I need something to keep at my desk to moisturize my hands - cheap industrial hand soap is drying!  I want something in a jar version because I hate to waste product that is left in pump or tube containers.

 Confession: I don't wake up looking like a bronzed goddess.  And I sleep better at night assuming Beyonce doesn't either, lol.  Winter is around the corner which means my skin is going to look greyed and dull.  I think  nice way to combat those bad superficial effects is to have a summery glow by using bronzing oils.  The two that were featured in the pamphlet were Paul & Joe and Lucy B.   Paul & Joe has a shimmering body lotion and Lucy B has an oil with gold particles.  Nars and Nuxe have pretty well-known formulations too.  This will go nicely with a slight self-tan. The problem is too see what shows up on my skin tone.  DuWop's Revolotion in deep is on sale at Beautyhabit now, but check out DuWop's website to see how to best wear this product.

 

 

Clarisonic Mia - I read a review on a forum where the person said that after using this everyday she didn't need to get any more extractions.  Um, sold.  Well, not yet technically!  Skinstore.com currently has a 15% off all tools promotion.

patent leather headband - I have been wearing my hair straight lately, and I like to wear headbands to keep my flyaways down for the whole day.  This look from Karl Lagerfeld F/W 2010 is fantastic.

 photos lifted from jaostore.com, albabotanica.com, luckyscent.com, narscosmetics.com, beautyhabit.com, clarisonic.com, and style.com

Shop Blast: casual, flat shoes

pastel + punk rock: Converse All Star Slim in gray violet, $55

nice color for fall: Converse Chuck Taylor in rust, $45

buy a pair and one will be given to a child in need of shoes: TOMS Siebe Perforated Nylon in red orange $48

raw fabric ballet flat: Lanvin Bow Ballet Flat in fawn $550

a variation of the cap-toe ballet flat: Nine West Sketchpad $69

studded cap-toe ballet flat: J.Crew studded ballet flats $138

wool-lined mocs: Quoddy Wool-lined ring boots for J.Crew $300

"Everybody haffi ask weh mi get mi Clarks": Clarks Wallabee boot (this is the women's boot, but you can check out the men's section for different colors and styles if you can fit a Men's 6.5) $110

photos lifted from converse.com, toms.com, barneys.com, ninewest.com, jcrew.com, and zappos.com

Busy Signal - One More Night

TGIF!!!!! Oh God, it is Friday isn't it??? 

More island music! Been pumping Selectah AJ's Rocksteady mix all week on the commute.  Lately I have been singing loudest to this reggae song with Busy Signal's deep, satiny voice.  Sounds familiar? It samples Phil Collins' "One More Night" but of course with a Jamaican twist with plenty patois.

St. Tropez for Brown Girls

This is going to be quick, because I have only used the Gradual Tan for body.  I bought the self-tan spray too, but I haven't used it yet.  Well, I sprayed it on one foot and didn't see a difference the next day, and it leaked all over the place so I wasn't pressed to give it a full test run.  I heard about it on the Beauty Counter blog (as always) when a tan specialist said that he uses St. Tropez for his black and other darker-skinned clients.

My skin tone is about the same as Tracee Ellis Ross' (My hair is very similar too!).  I ordered the Gradual Tan lotion in medium/dark and loved it.  The only bad part is that I had a few red pimples on my chest and upper arms, but the area from my chest and upper arms to face is extremely sensitive.  What I liked best about using this lotion is that I applied it to my inner arm to even out my skin tone.  When it wasn't way lighter than the rest of my arm like normal, I started applying the lotion to my whole body.  It made me browner and looked very natural - not a huge difference but I was very impressed!

I haven't used it in while, but I figured I would bring it up now just in case someone wants to try this brand's tanning products because I got an e-mail about a promotion.  When you like their Facebook page, you will become privy to a 20% discount code!  The offer ends Sept 12.  I still have products to work through, so I don't need the code, so I hope it helps someone out!

OMGOMGOMGOMG

Check out how these nail polishes are stored- in dollhouses!! How cute! Style.com's Beauty Counter blog posted a link to this post from Dia de Beauté.  According to Beauty Counter, Adriana Barra has these in her store with an on-site manicurist.   And I am loving the colors she has!! I spy Model's Own (never heard of this one), Deborah Lippman, Chanel, Paul & Joe, butter London, Dior, I think Illamasqua, Essie, MAC, and some more. 

Check out all of Dia de Beauté's nail polish posts under the category "unhas"

woo hoo! I found a new blog to love :-)

Ok, did some digging and Model's Own is available at ASOS.  

the pictures are from diadebeaute.com

Music - Jalena "Wuk Meh"

This music artist from the British VI recently released her soca album.  Her song "Wuk Meh" is on regular rotation during Dr. Jay's Soca Therapy that I listen to every Sunday.



Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/jalenarocks
Follow Dr. Jay (D Soca Prince) on Twitter: http://twitter.com/socaprince

Styling tips from Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian always looks great - she has great sense of style and she shared some tips with In Style on how she looks her best sartorial-wise.

She dresses to show off her curves, or at the very least make her clothes look body-flattering.  The only think I really love about my body is my small waistline.  I am not a fan of my legs or arms, so that doesn't leave too many options!  She listed Azzedine Alaïa as a maker of some of her favorite belts - I have seen the laser-cut leather designs on many people photographed on street-style blogs.Linea Pelle usually has a great selection of waist-cinching belts.  I should really invest in some belts.

Alaïa belt:

Linea Pelle belt:

The tip I plan to invest in is shapewear - so simple, yet so forgettable.  She said that she uses Body Wrap's  long leg panties.  Not exactly glamourous, but it will be covered by a great dress or pencil skirt.

Kim also advocates using a tailor.  I wholeheartedly agree and this is where my sewing lessons come in handy!

photos lifted from kimkardashian.celebuzz.com, net-a-porter.com, lpcollection.com, and herroom.com

Fragrances for fall

Well, it is really chilly here in the mid-Atlantic region.  Before I concede and give up flat sandals, I will wear some heavier perfumes.  I want to talk about a few bottles that I own, as well as one that is on my wishlist.

I am not sure if I sensed the cooler weather coming, but I wore Dior Addict two or three times last week! And I hardly ever repeat a scent in the week,but after the first day  I could still smell it at the end of the day,and  I realized that I forgot how much I love this one.  I think I had it 2-3 years now.  Another fragrance from Dior that I want (other than Dior Homme) is Hypnotic Poison - another dark and sexy scent.  Comes as an eau de parfum and starts at $75.

top note - mandarin
heart note - queen of the night
base note - vanilla

The perfume I spritzed on today after I bathed was Gucci by Gucci edp concentrée.  The joys of having a sister in the beauty industry - part of her"swag" so she gave it to me a few years back.  Although it is a concentrated edp, it sits really close to my skin and is subtle but lingering.  Retails for $275.

top notes of pear and guava accord
heart notes of lily of the valley, tiare flower, and orange blossom 
base notes of patchouli, musk, and honey

 Impérial Opoponax by Les Néréides.  Very simple, yet very luxurious, unique, and sensual.  Although it is an eau de toilette, this has some serious staying power.  After trying a sample at Lucky Scent I had to have it. $65!

notes: opoponax (sweet myrrh), amber, vanilla, sandalwood, benzoin, citrus

Another sample I got from Lucky Scent which is now on my full-bottle-worthy wishlist is Serge Lutens Fumerie Turque.  I was sooooo saddened when I read the review in Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez's "Perfumes: The Guide" about how Caron "instituted a smoking ban" on Tabac Blond.  The next time I went to NY, I tried it and it definitely was not the same as before.  So now I have to live my life not owning that scent.  So I have been trying out different sweet, tobacco leaf scents, and Fumerie Turque is absolutely wonderful.  $150.

notes: Corinthian raisins, white honey, candied Turkish rose, Egyptian jasmine, smoked leather, beeswax, Balkan tobacco, Peru Balsam, patchouli, tonka bean, styrax, juniper tar oil.

Last, but not least, is mark. Karmala, which has sadly been discontinued.  But that is the nature of Avon's products, so one can't cry too much.  If I remember correctly, this was up for a fifi when it came out a few years back.  I like to spray this on my bed before turning in for the night.  It is very heavy and comforting.  Another Avon fragrance I want to try is Christian Lacroix Absynthe.  Don't sleep on Avon perfumes just because they are cheap!

Karmala notes:
Turkish myrrh
clover leaf
Tahitian candole flower
white heliotrope
white pepper
pink cassis


pictures lifted from sephora.com, nordstrom.com, luckyscent.com, and makeupalley.com

Raspberry for fall?

I noticed a small, but exciting presence of red, burgundy, and raspberry in some of the Fall 2010 presentations.  Some looks were head-to-toe, and others were more subtle as a pop of color.


In the Burberry Prorsum collection, in the sea of off-white, mustard, black, and army green were pops of royal blue and raspberry.  This look came off as very fresh to me.  The economy in the US and other places are still slumping, and from what we have seen in the past few years is that people are wearing color in spite of the dreary economic forecast (overcast for a long-ass time).

In Dior, we saw in the sea off pretty chiffon, ruffles, and soft pastels some darker-toned raspberry accessories and clothes (as well as mentally-unstable-heiress hair *love*). 

After an army of black, Altuzarra presented quite a few all-raspberry and all-red looks.  I am also really like high slits and visible underthings lately. I think we may see more of this next year, though.

I loooooooved the peek-a-boo red from Ann Demeulemeester.  Her and Burberry's were among my favorite collections for Autumn/Winter 2010.

Like Dior, Balenciaga had a very pretty, fresh-faced, light-colored palette.  The darker colors, like this pair of dark raspberrypants and a few black pieces were stand-outs because of the spring-feeling show.

Well I hope you enjoyed it, I hope to see raspberry as the unexpected color to make an outfit.  There were shades of yellow and pastels that were unexpected as well for the presentations as well.

photos lifted from style.com

DIOR HOMME advert

Hypebeast posted the first part of a series for the DIOR HOMME fragrance.  It stars Jude Law being dressed in a very dashing manner and then meeting with  a mysterious woman.  In the first minute or so, I was unconvinced and thought it seemed like a stupid campaign (I am not a fan of Lady Dior campaign), but this flick won me over.  I've only seen one Jude Law film (Alfie, and I watched it a month ago!), but I think he is sensuous, and boy oh boy, he can wear a suit!  I always find some enjoyment in Dior's ads because I am a huge fan of the brand and the styling is always on point.

Anyways, check it out HERE.

I just checked Sephora's site and there is a DIOR HOMME fragrance for sale, so I suppose that this ad is for that.  I have yet to smell it, but I will check it out when I get a chance.  You know I do not discriminate when it comes to masculine/feminine fragrances - all are fair game to a perfume lover!  Great reviews on basenotes.com and sephora.com. 

Summer skin care - water retention

Yes, I realize that summer is over, but this tip I received yesterday when I went for my facial can work year-round. I have been breaking out like crazy lately and my facialist explained that although my skin had oil on it, all the water evaporated and something else about alkalinity and acidity...I dunno.  The point was my skin needs hydration in the form of water.  I expect not to have enough hydration in winter too - I go through bouts of break-outs then too.  I am going to go over some products which may help.

Yes, you could just spritz plain water on your face, but it's just going to evaporate quickly.  Use a spray that:

1. contains minerals that are good for your skin;
2. contains hyaluronic acid, which binds moisture to your skin; and/or
3. sprays in a fine mist.  You don't want to look like you just got out of the shower.

I did some research on glycerin's role in moisture retention, but some people (on the internet) say that glycerin will draw water from the inside of your skin to the surface, so although you will appear hydrated superficially, the inner layers of your skin will suffer.  I am not sure how much and in what quantities this occurs, though.

1. alba botanica rainforest Refreshing Mist Toner (pictured above).  I can't exactly remember WHY I bought this, but I have this in my stash.  ab's rainforest collection uses antioxidant rich oils from the rainforest and is Rainforest Alliance certified, which I think means that the rainforests of South American were unharmed in the sourcing of the raw materials.  Some of the ingredients include water, glycerin, aloe leaf juice,  hyaluronic acid, tiger nut extract, and several fruit seed extracts.

2.  MAC FIX +.  Many make-up aficionados will already have this in their arsenal, but you don't need to use it only to set your make-up or blend your foundation with a sponge (which is what I do).  It contains water, glycerin, caffeine, and extracts of cucumber, chamomile, and green tea.  I wonder if the caffeine and glycerin dries out skin though... I don't use it often enough to have noticed anything funky with my skin.

3. Avene Thermal Spring Water.  Ahhhh oui, one of the many French thermal spring water sprays.  Other popular brands that produce this  include Evian and La Roche-Posay.  This stuff is not tap water - thermal springs have been celebrated for years for their skin benefits because of the minerals found in the water.  These come in a very fine spray and in portable sizes to carry with your or keep in your desk drawer at work. 

photos lifted from albabotanica.com, MACcosmetics.com, and drugstore.com

Alaine - Without You

I love this reggae joint...



And damn it's girls like this who make me want to pierce my nose! I won't look as good, though lol

Nail Polishes

Quick post on some polish pics I have snapped on my Blackberry. 

Zoya "Envy" - GORGEOUSSS blackish-green.  One of my many from this year's annual Zoya swap program.

Zoya"Perrie" - One of my favorites from the S/S 2010 collection.  Oddly, I can best describe the "Flash" collection as "neon pastel"

And this is what I wore this week, OPI for Sepora "Metro Chic" - Yep I got this during the craze a few years back! Odd picture, but it is actually fairly  accurate on my computer screen and on my phone - it some lights it looks grey (middle finger) and in other lights it looks dusty purple (pinky). 

I just changed colors tonight - now I am wearing Ginger + Liz "Hold the Drama" I will try to remember to snap a pic tomorrow.  I am terrible at painting my nails so I wait until the next day when the polish peels off of my cuticles!