Junya Watanabe

Etro envy

I've always been partial to Etro, ever since an ex-honest-to-god-Italian-boyfriend introduced me to their line.
He went to boarding school with a few of or one of the brothers. His closet was stocked with a billion variations of the blue buttoned down shirt. Checks, stripes, gingham, dots etc. etc. Even though my style ran amuck from Salvation Army to T.J. Maxx; I knew INSTANTLY that my boyfriend had a certain "old-money" class that I would never ever emulate.
We broke up eventually, but not before he taught me about Campari cocktails, Vanessa Paradis, Italian Marlboro cigarettes (very different from American cigarettes) and the importance of good shoes and earth colored make-up. He bought me an army green Etro wool wrap shortly before we went our separate ways. It still is one of my favorite articles of clothing, which is odd as it is not actually a piece of clothing but rather an accessory!
Anyhow, I still worship at the alter of Etro, although the perfume is more accessible to me nowadays.

Helen Morgan

After the peroxide

I promised to write about clothes that have S.M.A but I happened upon the latest issue of Domino this week and developed a new fashion crush: Linda Rodin. Featured on the back page, this fashion stylist turned beauty entrepreneur tells of 10 things that make her happy: seashells, vintage tortoise shell eye-glasses, vintage phones and Chanel two-tone crushable flats, to name a few. I too adore/collect/covet these things but what really cemented my crush were her looks. After googling her I found her to be 57. 57 and no obvious traces of blond highlites, tight fitting blue jeans, fake nails, fake breasts or puffy lips.
I am forever in love!
Linda, to me, equates what a woman should look like after living well. She's put together, stylish and very much unique.
Need more? Take a look at another star versus Linda.
Aren't you a bit scared?

Morgan Fairchild-57
Linda Rodin-57

Beauty Routines

In my past life, (read: before kids!) I was a make-up artist for MAC cosmetics. The best part about my job was the quarterly gratis we received. I never was tempted to purchase cosmetics anywhere else and with good reason. At that time the MAC foundations were spectacular, the eyeshadow was like gold and the lipstick stayed on through cigarettes, coffee and pasta (my unfortunate diet of my youth.)
Fast forward to today where my 2 children often are more in need of socks in the morning, after school activities are frequent and starting my own business is a wee bit overwhelming. MAC as a whole no longer offers everything I need. I need a great skincare line MORE than a foundation and lets face it, false eyelashes, which I lived in, just don't cut it at the local Kroger's.
So here are a few products that have become life-savers to me:

Repercharge skincare line has eradicated a need for heavy thick foundations, concealers or powders. This line has drastically improved my skin like no other. I simply cannot live without their cleanser, hydrating mist and opti-lift moisturizing line.

Mirabella foundation-Whether I use the loose mineral foundation or the compact mineral foundation I look like I have great skin as opposed to great spackle.

Un-Stress Vitamin and Herbal Formula-I picked this up at Whole Foods based on a recommendation from a friend and it had truely had an effect on my over-all mood. Thats code for: it kicks PMS in the ass!
Bonus, it has stopped 95% of my hormonal break-outs!!


Mirabella Custom Eyes Kit- A complete no brainer for eyeshadow placement. Plus they are customised for different colored eyes. Each kit contains 4 eyeshadows, a lash primer, mascara, liner, sharpener and a huge mirror. All for about 35.00 retail.

Tomorrow I'll share some basic clothing pieces that save my butt on a daily basis.