Red Light

For many years I have been on a quest to find the perfect, universally classic, red lipstick. I tend to be picky because sometimes the "perfect" red looks a little too pink and sometimes orange-y on my lips. I have found a few that give me the true red that I am looking for. Saturday I found one more to add to my mix of choices.


An everyday red I like to use is NARS "Flamenco." It goes on smooth and gives me a nice shade of red that is occassion versatile. I've gone through a few tubes of this one already. A candy apple red that is good for pairing with your Sunday best is CHANEL's "Passion."
Saturday I found one that is a little in between. It's a dress up or down color. It's part of MAC's Disney Venomous Villian's Line. I normally don't use MAC makeup, but the sample caught my eye and I had to try it and it was perfect: "Amplified Heartless." It seems to feather a little, but I think it was my dry lips and not the lipstick. The smoothness and color are something to reckoned with.
Cheers to a classic and a lip stained glass!

Lulu's Shoes

I only own like 10 pairs of shoes.  That includes:  3 pairs of $4 ballet slip ons in various canvas prints from Mervyn's, 3 other >$8 ballet slip ons, New Balance running shoes I've used twice, 3 mid-calf boots, a pair of dark green suede Farylrobin wedges that are my favorites I found for less than $5 at a fundraiser, and a couple pairs of slippers or "flip-flops" as non-islanders call 'em.

I used to be a shoe fetisher (?).  I think thanks to my little sister.  We used to comb those mall stores looking for "funky" cheap shoes in the early 90s.  The one pair I remember loving most were these $5 wedges that had a tear-dropped shaped hole under the heel.  The whole sole was a dark colored wood and the uppers were these thick black suede straps that criss-crossed across the foot up to an ankle clasp.  You could rock back and forth on them b/c of the way the soles were shaped.  I did love shoes at one time. 

I think if I were a teenager now, I would like Lulu's.  Here are my new finds from Lulus.com...an ode to teenage shoe shopping:

These remind me of socks with heels

J. Crew for Girls

Check out J. Crew girls Fall Sale here.

Fall...In Love

Anthro's strength when it comes to catalogs is Fall...that's all I wish to say...and that looking at their Fall collections makes me proud to be a girl again, and makes me want to cry : ).

 

 

This one is my favorite:

 Isa, you could get this one to match your zipper back top!

Amy Butler Fashion & Travel Bags

Gorgeous!

They run from $90-$340.  Most are around $250. They'll be at retailers, but you can also purchase from her online store.

A little late TOAST

Have to admit, I was excited to receive mail from England.  When I received Toast's Spring II catalog a couple of months ago, I grabbed scrap paper right away and started marking outfits I wanted to blog about.  Now, I've lost some of the ideas I wanted to share, but here are my favorites (the catalog is downloadable from the website).  How nice of them.

I like the pockets and sleeves on this linen gingham dress:

Sleeves again:

The Reign in Spain

(Guernica by Pablo Picasso)

Oh how I love everything Spanish related!  Maybe it was the year and a half that I lived there?  Or maybe my discovery Spanish art when I was 17 years old?   I was in my fourth year of high school Spanish and my teacher introduced me to Velazquez, El Greco, Dali, Goya, and of course Picasso.  I was memorized.
Spain not only flourishes with its amazing art and film (I love international film) but also in fashion and design.
Designers like Manolo Blahnik, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Balenciaga, and Adolfo Dominguez to name a few.
If only we could all own some Manolos' or an amazing Balenciaga bag!
Two of my favorite Spanish companies: TOUS and ZARA.
Us commoners can more easily afford the art of  the designers from these stores. My most unique and favorite pieces of jewelery come from TOUS.

When I was living Houston there were two TOUS boutiques no more than 3 miles apart, during the crazy economic times, one closed down. There is one in Dallas, about 45 minutes from my current home, but their online shop ties you to either their NYC or LA store for awesome and convenient ordering.
Their iconic teddy bear mascot is what sets them apart.
Here are some of my favorite pieces in my collection.  I get a lot of compliments on the beetle ring.  I love it.


I'm really wanting this bracelet::


Helllooo largest ZARA in the USA.  It opened up a couple of years ago on Michigan Ave. in Chicago.  What more could you ask for on the "magnificent mile?"  A truly magnificent store!!  I'll be in Chicago in July and believe that I will be making a stop or two while I'm there.
Here are links to a couple of ZARA's current collections:
Loving this
and
This

Let it reign!