Magnetic Nailpolish

My friend Ashley gave me an outrageously cool gift for my birthday this year - Nails Inc. Magnetic Nail Polish (thank you!!).
I told this to a boy and he held something metal up to my hand to see if it would stick. 
No. 
Ok, listen up, because this is COOL. So what you do is paint one coat on, and let it dry for a bit. Then, you paint another layer on (do this one nail at a time) and then you hold the magnetic that comes on top of the polish over your nail for 15-20 seconds. When you reveal the magical effect, you'll see this: 

Isn't it incredible?! I felt the need to tell random strangers on the elevator about it. I think everyone should try it. I want every colour now... 

The Best of NYFW Spring 2012

Oh Gwen, how did you know the key to my heart is outrageously gorgeous blue shoes....

Alice + Olivia

DVF

L.A.M.B.

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Rachel Zoe

Vivienne Westwood Red Label

As usual, Vivienne Westwood Red Label has come out on top of my favourites list for New York Fashion Week. Take a peek at some of my favourite looks for Spring 2012:

Her looks are realistic, yet creative. Gorgeous! 

Faceless Wristwatches

"Oh, love that bracelet."
"It's a watch."
"No way."
"Way". 

This design by Hironao Tsuoi is so sleek. I love the creativity of this, although it is considered a men's watch, I think it would look pretty solid on a woman. 

Haute for Fall

Now that August is upon us I can't help but dream about fall fashion (my favourite fashion season). If you've been anywhere near a mall in the past couple of weeks, you may have noticed that it's time to get on that most important wardrobe. Here is what's "haute" this fall:


1. Snakeskin

It's everywhere. Seriously. Not a big fan of it in clothing form, but accessories look smokin' in this funky print. Lots of crazy colours are out too - like purple and orange - go nuts! 


2. Mixing Two Bold Patterns
This trend was made for me. I can never pick just one pattern to wear - now it looks like it will finally socially acceptable to match that crazy polka dot blouse with my zebra skirt. 


3. Menswear for the Ladies
Double breasted suit jackets, straight from the hips pants, small-patterned blouses, oxfords. (Think I'll be sticking with heels, but you skinny-legged chicks can try the oxford thing....)


4. Lace, Lace, Lace
Enough said. 


Guys, I wouldn't forget about you would I? 


1. Classy Hiking Boots
But please (PLEASE!) don't hike in them!


2. Lounging Scarves
Wear them loose and casually with a nice pull-over sweater, perhaps. Your lady friends will be thinking you look cozy enough to cuddle with. 


3. Bold Button-Up Cardigans
Break out your sunglasses because there is about to be some neon going on. 

Shopping the Sale Scene

If you are a serious shopper or a serious saver, shopping for sales should be high on your priority list. Paying full price is not quite as satisfying as knowing you got some great quality clothing or accessories for a fraction of what it originally cost. 


To get in the know, start following your favourite brands/labels on Twitter or "like" them on Facebook. Most companies post their sales online. Before your next shopping trip do a little pre-shop on your favourite store's website. My friend Kristen let me in on a little secret. She is a big Banana Republic fan and said she will try something on at their store, then go online and they are usually offering some kind of online sale or discount and she will get the exact article of clothing for a much better deal. Thanks Kristen! 


So next time you're looking for something specific, do some shopping around online first (or afterwards if you feel like you can't afford the piece while you're out) and see what you come up with. 


Share your finds with me! 

Nail Polish for Summer

Finally the sun is shining after days and days of clouds and rain. Sunshine makes me think of pretty sandals and painted toes. Here are some of my favourite nail colours for summer: 

Essie's Smooth Sailing

Deborah Lippmann - Lara's Theme

Essie's Big Spender

Invisible Shoes

Just when you think "what else could they possibly do with shoes?" something like this comes along. 

Andreia Chaves is an outrageous shoe designer from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Nothing quite compares to her invisible shoes in my books though... Check these babies out:

Sunglasses for my Girlfriends

Your turn ladies! 

Yves Saint Laurent square-frame sunglasses. Practical, trendy, and perfect for square/rectangular face shapes.

 

Gucci metal frame aviator sunglasses. Again, aviators are my personal favourite. They give an instant creative look to the wearer, and they are so light it feels like nothing on your face.

 

Victoria Beckham cat-eye dark glasses. Very glamorous, and the cat-eye shape gives a very seductive look. Love them!

Sunglasses for my Boyfriends

Haven't found that perfect pair of shades yet? Sunglasses are a great investment pieces to anyone's summer wardrobe. These are a few of my favourites for men!

Ray-Ban's original aviators. I'm a big fan of aviators. They feel so light-weight and block that glorious sun without giving you the "I'm actually a celebrity trying to hide from the paparazzi" look. 

These ones are for you guys that aren't afraid to be a little adventurous (by Dolce & Gabbana). The frames are plastic so they are also light, and the squared corners would be good for anyone with a more square-shaped face.

These Ray-Ban's are a little more athlete-oriented but don't look too "old" for a younger guy. Good for someone that always seem to be able to stumble upon an impromptu game of beach volleyball where ever he goes.

I really love the colour of these shades (by Arnette). I bet they'd look great with a sun-glistening summer tan!

A word of warning: Although the trend seems to have unfortunately carried over seasons, stay away from Wayfarers. Please. Girlfriends, you're next!

A Fact...

This is my new secret. 

I don't know too much about beauty tips, tricks, or products, but I do know this: Dior Blackout Mascara is the best thing I've ever spent $30 on (other than maybe an Erykah Badu album that has barely come out of my car player since the day I purchased it). I used it for the first time last night to go to a big Gala and my eyelashes touched my eyebrows. No lie! Don't wait for your current bottle to run low, don't finish reading the rest of this post. Go. 

Dressing Like Yourself

It's no secret that we all want to be the coolest cats around town. Sometimes you may think "well, who cares what I look like, only my personality matters". Although your personality matters MOST, first impressions are based 70% on appearance, so if you think someone new is going to stick around to hear the amazing things you have to say while you look like a bum, you might be wrong in your assumption. You're not a bum or lazy in your life, so why make people believe that you are with your appearance?

I've recently been working with some people that have different needs image-wise. Although they were looking to portray a particular image, I still knew it was most important to still keep them look like themselves. Have you ever seen a picture of a celebrity in a movie or part that just totally isn't "them"? You can see right through it and it is just a bad scene. The most important part of getting dressed in the morning is making sure that you feel completely comfortable -- as in "I feel like myself today", not "I love wearing track pants to work". 

Wondering how to show this if you are you laid-back and relaxed? Skinny jeans are not for you! Hop on that wide-leg jean trend train! throw a funky scarf around your neck and go for wedges. 


Control freak? Blazer. Any fabric that has lots of structure and is stiff. 


Nerd? Suspenders! Do it, they look so funky and cool. Tuck your t-shirt into your jeans. 


Funkster? Belt your dress with an opposing colour, high-heel it up and grab an outrageous bag. 


Class clown? Colour, colour, and more colour! Pass on the red foam nose and gigantic plastic shoes. 


Most importantly: have fun, and make conscious fashion decision. Don't let the snooze button ruin your morning fun! 


B

Cost Per Wear

Cost Per Wear is a formula used to determine the actual value of a piece of clothing. I think if you use this formula instead of looking only at the price tag, you could really end up saving money in the long run. 


This example truly happened to me this week (I finished two classes in a row at the gym and then a woman comes up to me and says "did you know there's a tiny hole in the bum of your pants?"). So I bought a pair of gym pants about 4 weeks ago at $30. I wore them probably 6 times. $30/6 wears = a cost per wear of $5. I also have a pair of lululemon pants that I bought for $100. I've had them since November, they are still in perfect condition and I wear them at least twice a week. That is approximately 42 wears so far, and I expect them to hold up for a long time. To date their cost per wear is $2.38 and that number will keep decreasing the more use I get out them.


I would definitely recommend investing in pieces that would like to last a long time and that are classic pieces to your wardrobe (e.g. blazers, jeans, dress pants, blouses, etc.). Do not spend a lot of money on pieces that are trendy and won't be in style the next season (maxi dresses, shoulder padded jackets, etc).   

The Top 10 Psychology Studies of 2010

So you may be wondering why I am posting this because it doesn't have to do with fashion or style. Although this is true, it has EVERYTHING to do with image. I hope you take an hour (or the entire night like I did) and read an article or two... ok ten. 

Just to entice you -- here are the article topics: 

1. How to Break Bad Habits
2. How to Make Everything Seem Easier
3. How to Manage Your Time Better
4. How to Be Happier
5. How to Have More Willpower
6. How to Choose a Mate
7. How to Feel More Powerful
8. How to Tell If He Loves You
9. How to Make It Easier to Cut Your Losses
10. How to Fight With Your Spouse

Courtesy of Psychology Today

Spring Must Haves

Although Toronto Fashion Week is upon us and showing us what to wear for Fall/Winter 2011, most of us are probably buying for this Spring and Summer season. Lucky for us Holt Renfrew has put together a list of the top ten things you can't live without this Spring. 

1. The Nude Pump
Agreed! The nude pump is an amazing way to lengthen the legs, and c'mon they go with everything! I am, however, very picky about the colour of nude. There is a fine line between what some call nude and others call beige. I personally like more of a peachy nude than a brownish nude so beware of online shopping. I like this colour from Christian Louboutin. 


2. The Crossbody Flapover Bag
Not my personal favourite trend, but I understand the attraction as they are practical to carry, but that line across certain body types just doesn't create the most flattering shapes.


3. The Perfect White Shirt
I don't necessarily see this as a Spring essential, but as an essential to every wardrobe at all times for men, women, and children alike! Banana Republic carries an amazing dress shirt that, get this, DOESN'T WRINKLE! Let's face it -- unless you are devoted to your dry cleaner, things just don't get ironed like they should. 


4. The High Colour Clutch

I'm all about the colour so this trend is really my favourite. I purchased a gorgeous Marc by Marc Jacobs clutch in orange (pictured here) that is going to be amazing this spring/summer. 


5. The Leather Perfecto
Ok I'm not going to lie... I wasn't familiar with the word 'perfecto' either. It's a bomber-type jacket. And yes, they are amazing and can take you from nerd to rock and roll in 5 seconds. Love it. 


6. The Perfect Sheath Dress
Sheath dresses are light weight dresses that generally fall just above the knees and have little detailing. This type of dress is amazing to own because you can dress them down with wedges and a blazer or dress them up with some stilettos and some jewelry. I find that H&M usually carry a few every season, or if you are looking to devote some of your budget you could get a great one at Banana Republic or Ralph Lauren. 


7. The Iconic Trench
Everybody deserves a great trench coat. Useful in the spring and the fall I would recommend a more neutral colour so that you could use it during both seasons. I know they aren't the most affordable, but Burberry Prorsum has the most gorgeous trenches in the world. 


8. The Perfect Pant Suit
Again, not necessarily a spring essential, but an essential for all seasons. Great in a bind for a last minute job interview or for a business function at night you could dress it up with a colourful top underneath in place of a blouse. 


9. Delicately Layered Gold Necklaces
To this I say gold OR silver. Not everyone can pull off gold, but it is definitely the hotter colour right now so if it works for you -- go for it! 


10. The Perfect Wedge
Of course, I just found the perfect pair. They are the Jessica Simpson 'Crepe' wedge and I found them at Winners for cheaper than they are on her website. Score! 

Spring Clean Your Closet

My friend Karyn Beacock of Spiral Into Control Organizing has kindly offered some of her tips for organizing and decluttering your closet! She is a professional organizer, how cool is that? If your organizational needs are out of your control, Karyn is amazing! Read more about her below. 

Did you know that we only wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time?

Spring is the perfect time to tackle reorganization of your closet.  But before you can organize you must PURGE! But you say to yourself, “there are so many clothes-how do I know what to get rid of?”

To start, clear your schedule for the day, and set a goal to work through your closet until your spring purge is complete.

STEP 1- Clear out your entire closet, find a good space to work in.  Look at each piece individually.  Really look at it.  Try it on if you need to. And then answer these questions.  If the answer if yes, it is time for the piece to go!

·         Is it ripped, torn or stained?

·         Does it the not fit the way that you want it to right NOW?

·         Do you feel less that fantastic in it?

·         Have you been holding on to it since 1989?

STEP 2- Sort into categories.  Be ruthless as you go through your clothes and in what you decide to do with them.  It is important at this point to think about what your image is,  what image do you want to project?  Now is the time to  make choices on your clothes which enforce this.

·         Keep- These are the pieces that you feel amazing in, they are the classic pieces. These are the clothes that flatter & complement your figure and that you LOVE!

·         Mend- These are the pieces that, if they were not ripped, you would be worn rather than sitting in a pile at the bottom of your closet. If they make the cut bring them in to be repaired. Every girl needs a good seamstress. Donate/Give Away -Do you have a favourite charity.  Do you have a cause close to your heart.  There are not for profit organizations throughout Cananda who would be very greatful for the clothes you no longer wear (from 1989 or otherwise).  Checkout  www.canadahelps.org for a charity near you.  Alternatively, do you have a sibling, a younger cousin who would benefit from your hand me downs?

·         Sell It- For those who have the patience and talent, Ebay and Kijiji are great places to make money for quality pieces.  Also, consignment stores are another great alternative, and they do the work for you.

·         Throw Away-These are the pieces tha are non salvageable. These are the pieces that are too far gone that it would be tacky to send them to donations. Make them into rags, if you are handy make a quilt but put them out of their misery now and do not pass them onto someone to have to deal with.

**Anything that you love and meets the “keep” criteria but it is out of season put away in storage for the appropriate season**

Once you have sorted through your closet there is one more trick to help with the closet purge.  It is called the “Reverse Hanger Trick”

·         As you place your clothes turn all hangers in the closet backwards

·         When you wear something, wash it and then put the hanger  forward

·         After 6 months, anything left reversed is donated!

HAPPY PURGING!  Stay tuned for tips on how to best organize your closet with the space you have. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at karyn@spiralintocontrol.org

Karyn Beacock graduated from Loyalist College with a Chemical Engineering 
Technology degree, but always had a passion and flare for organizing. Recently 
returning to Kingston after moving her husband and two children across the world 
to Australia for her job with a global fortune 500 company, Karyn decided to leave 
the corporate world, join and train with the Professional Organizers in Canada and 
launch Spiral into Control-Professional Organizing Services. 
Focusing on Home, Office & Lifestyle organizing, Spiral into Control works with 
clients to provide and implement solutions for organized living. Working together 
to create order from chaos gives Karyn's clients more time to do the things they 
want to do! 

 

DVF Summer Sandals

Diane von Furstenburg - Willie Leather Wedge Sandals

I was looking for some summer sandals to post, and I found these 3 pairs of Diane von Furstenburg's that deserve their own post. The wedges are gorgeous but also practical. The satin ankle wrap on the mules is detachable and gorgeous. Play up any level of dress with a pair of these and look cool and chic for the summer!

Diane von Furstenburg - Open Linen Wedge Sandals

Diane von Furstenburg - Eva Suede Mules

Things You Should Never Wear. Ever.

This is my list of things that should never touch your body under any circumstance. If the only choices are either one of the following things, or being naked -- choose the nude. You will probably get the same number of stares but at least people will enjoy seeing you in the buff and not hate you for wearing one of these:

1. Hoove Heels

My friend Alison just HAD to make my eyes burn by sharing these with me... On top of how disgustingly nasty these are, I would also like to share that they cost £1,300. Really? I just don't get it....

2. Patterned. Mantyhose.

Need I say more?


3. The Visible Thong

No picture necessary as I'm sure this phrase brings up enough frightening mental pictures on its own.








4. The Scrunchie

As seen on Napoleon Dynamite and Sex and the City - the scrunchie is just a known fashion faux pas.









5. Pants Worn Below the Butt

I actually found a photo where people can be FINED for wearing their pants too low. I believe this should be enforced everywhere.

Now, if you ever see anyone committing these fashion indecencies you have the right to stop them and make a citizen's arrest. Keep this world eye-sore free!

B.

You're Late, You're Late! For a Very Important.... Work Day?

Unless you are one of those super perky (super annoying) morning people that wake-up every morning before their alarm and just jump on the day, you might want to use some of these tips to save yourself some time each morning. 

Choose your outfit the night before. 

I know, in your mind you're thinking how long does picking out an outfit really take people? But, you would be surprised how much time is wasted sifting through drawers and closets (especially closets stuffed with things you never wear anyway, right?). This way you know if your blouse needs to be ironed, or if maybe the under garments you need with that particular outfit aren't clean. 

Keep your nails short and neutral. 

This is something I am a stickler on. Chipped nails drive me CRAZY! Funny side story - I was in the airport on the way home a few months ago and my nails looked like hell. I searched the entire airport for emergency polish remover but there was none to be found. In despair, I destroyed my nail buffer filing off every last bit of fushia polish from my nails. Anyways, if you keep your nails fairly short and painted with clear polish they can be chipped but no one will notice unless they are invading your personal space. Seriously, chipped nails look unprofessional and dirty. Don't let it happen to you. 

Hair

For all my straight-stranded sisters - I just learned about a new (old) technique. Why we don't all do this still is a tragic mystery. Pin curls! YouTube it, I think I may never have bad hair again!


Curly girls - well you have all the luck anyways so just keep it moisturized and you'll be gorgeous. 

Make-Up

Ok, so there's not much you can prep for make-up wise. If you just throw on the essentials it shouldn't take you any longer than 10 minutes for a day time face anyways. So what you need: clean and moisturize, primer and foundation, shadow, liner, and mascara, blush/brozers, lips. I'm no make-up guru, but... VOILA!


So other than the funny side story (funny weird, not funny haha) I hope you get an extra few minutes from this. Good luck! 


B.

Paris Fashion Week

The week of all weeks is almost over. This post will be added to following the Elie Saab show. Here are some highlights of Paris Fashion Week Fall 2011 RTW.

Chanel

Chloe

Valentino

Yves Saint Laurent

Yves Saint Laurent

Photos courtesy of style.com 

My Favourites from LFW

With London Fashion Week just over and Milan Fashion Week underway I thought I would share some of my favourites from a few of the designers that showed for Fall/Winter 2011. 

Burberry Prorsum

Roksanda Illincic

Sass & Bide

Vivienne Westwood Red Label

Hardy Amies