December 2007

Blue Floppy Hat

The title of this post will probably mean something to you if you are a hardcore fash-blog reader as Blue Floppy Hat aka Drusilla has been a long time reader of Style Bubble.  It therefore bought a smile to my face when I picked up this ‘Blue Floppy Hat’ (such a blog-nerd I am that those three words need to be in inverted commas with caps) in the Topshop sale (sadly sold out online now), because I a) am now in posession of a hat that will brighten up most dull days and b) it will remind me of the intelligent and complimentary commentary of a wonderful fellow blogger.

I don’t normally wear new things straight away but today, combined with a Marc Jacobs AW07-8 palette of blues, oranges and yellows and some layering fit for a windy day, it really had to be done. 

Source: Blue Floppy Hat

What’s a Plus-Size Essential? [Dapper Diva]

I got to thinking about what makes some plus-size woman look so great. Do you think they have a secret? Is it the whole “package” and impeccable grooming?

When it really comes down to it, my theory about other well-turned out plus women is that they make use of the very best foundation garments to smooth. Whether you’re a size 22 or a 32, if you have a smooth physique, you’ll look inifinitely better. Case in point: the gorgeous models over at Les Modeuses Rondes.

So tell me: what do you consider a plus-size essential when it comes to looking good?

Photo (c) Les Modeuses Rondes

plus size fashion, plus size teen fashion

Source: What’s a Plus-Size Essential? [Dapper Diva]

Back To M.A.C. Holiday Story

Over the holidays, I took the opportunity to clean out my overflowing makeup kit or should I say suitcase! I was horrified to find rancid smelling foundations, glosses, lip balms, lotions, and concealers. I had empty cases upon empty cases of fake lashes that still had the old lashes in them with dried-up crusty mascara. Pretty picture isn’t? When all was said and done I had 42 M.A.C. containers to bring in for free product! Now that I don’t work at M.A.C., I can participate in their wonderful Back to M.A.C. program which I think all cosmetic companies should do. And if you don’t know already, you have a choice of lipstick, lip gloss, or eyeshadow when you bring your empties to a free-standing store (this is not reflected on the M.A.C. site so be sure to check with your location if they support this). I assume M.A.C. decided to make this change due to complaining customers. When I worked there, I used to get women who complained about how they preferred gloss over lipstick. Well, your complaining was all worth it!

I was a little annoyed with the artist that helped me because she opened almost every product and was surprised to see that most were still pretty full. I didn’t know anyone at this location because I just moved to the area in the summer. I had to go through this long winded explanation about how I’m a makeup artist, used to work at M.A.C, and how I had so much product that all of it ended up going bad. She even opened a few lip balms to see if they smelled bad and she disagreed. Are you serious?? Hey, if you want to use something on your lips that smells like old rotting wax instead of M.A.C.’s signature vanilla scent then go right ahead. Count me out. Anyways, after all that she finally ended up getting me my 7 free products + 2 additional products that I needed. To top it off, at the register she gave me what felt like a mini quiz to see if I really used to work at M.A.C which is fine because it’s only natural to be curious especially if you’ve never seen each other. But what really annoyed me was how shocked she was when she found out I quit after my maternity leave. “Why would you ever do that?”, she asked like M.A.C. is the end all and be all. Hey, I loved working for M.A.C. but I knew I had to leave to do what I really wanted to do. I never like to be mean but I wanted to stick it to her just a bit. So in the nicest way possible I said, “Because I was bored and freelancing is so much more exciting!”. I smiled, grabbed my bag, and wished her a Happy Holiday!

I had been dying to try their Matte 2 eye shadows so here is what I got:

1. Signed and Sealed (black maroon)
2. Typographic (asphalt black)
3. Graphology (dark black grey with a hint of purple)
4. Flourishing (rich moss green)
and 3 Love Nectar Lustreglasses.

Does anyone else have any makeup holiday stories you’d like to share? Stay tuned for new makeup reviews in the coming new year! This holiday has just been so busy so I apologize for the lack of updates! Have a fantastic New Years!

Source: Back To M.A.C. Holiday Story

75% off = No Guilt Shopping

Ok. I think I bought enough bath products today to last me until August. It all started at the Pure Beauty boutique in West LA on Wilshire. The entire store was 75% off because they are closing down. (Tomorrow is the last day they are open) Sure, you have to dig through the Matrix and Paul Mitchell shampoos but a little patience will find you some Rene Furterer and Terax goodies at 75% off.

I bought some leave-in conditioner (above, $5) since my hair is in bad need of TLC. I was torn between the Hydrate Botanica and the Life Drops but settled on Botanica because the Life Drops smelled as bad as Frederic Fekkai’s Protein Rx.

I also stocked up on some Sweet Spot Labs Gentle Wash for $3 a bottle. They are typically pretty hard to find — the only other store I’ve seen them in is Planet Blue Beauty so when I saw a bunch sitting on a shelf, I pretty much cleaned them out. =)

Later on I found myself at Bath and Body Works (Westside Pavillion). My mom told me earlier this week that they were going to have a massive sale so I popped in. Big mistake, this is where I did most of my damage. There are only a few Signature items I ever use, because sometimes too much of a fragrance isn’t a good thing. I stocked up on Cranberry Anti-Bacterial Soaps ($2) and Juniper Breeze Creamy Body Wash ($4). Wallflowers were $5 for a set of two… so I picked up a few of those as well. The more pleasant surprise, though, was that other brands were 50-75% off too! I picked up some Frederic Fekkai Creme Luxueuse, MeBath! lotions & bath bombs (my fave is the Hawaiian Lei), Apitiva firming masks and a set of St. Tropez tanners. (Hey– it’s been a long winter)

All in all, I did pretty good. =)

« Happy Holidays Everyone! | Home

Source: 75% off = No Guilt Shopping

Meghan in the Prada Sport lookbook

Photographed by Mariano Vivanco

Source: Meghan in the Prada Sport lookbook

How Didn’t You Waste Money This Christmas? [Christmas Lists]

Oh horrors! It looks like people may have actually spent less this holiday season than they did last season? Is that possible? What happened, did the value of the average American household’s assets fall in half or something? Did you finally listen to reason and start to pay off your credit card debt? Join the Church Of Stop Shopping? Or are you just over it? Over the it bags, the it new electronic communication devices, the it the new unflattering cut of jeans you’re supposed to wear that eventually you will see by repetition to be not-as-unflattering as it seemed at first? (Interesting dude query over the break: “So, who decided to make skinny jeans cling to girls’ calves that way?” A: The same dark forces trying to get you to invest in wide-leg pants. Stop the insanity!) Or did H&M just suck this year? (Yes.) There’s another theory, of course…

That barely keeping pace with the core rate of inflation isn’t such a travesty for the retail business. That some years you’re going to learn last year’s lesson and cut back a bit and Target just has to learn to live with that.

Whatever. What did you get for Christmas, what do you still want, and what would you like to return to pay off that hospital bill you keep getting all those calls about?

Retail “Tipping Point” May Be Ahead [CNBC]
Christian Louboutin’s Red-Soled Shoes Are Red-Hot [USA Today]

Source: How Didn’t You Waste Money This Christmas? [Christmas Lists]

Someone wants to get into the Fondation YSL

I do apologise if this is all old news for you and if you’re tired of SS08 ad talk but seeing a mag addict like myself is going to be flicking through these ads for the next five months or so, it pays to be a little bit aware.  Inez & Vinoodh have shot the Yves Saint Laurent ads again for SS08 and it features Kate Moss peering inside the window of the ‘Fondation Pierre Bergé / Yves Saint Laurent’ in Paris.  Let’s forget the question of does Miss Moss look good blah blah blah as I have no particular interest in whether she should be doing the ad in the first place or whether her fringe is working… seriously I mean it… zero interest whatsoever. 

Instead let’s look at the delectable combination of acrylic star necklace and an immaculate grey jersey strapless dress.  It’s these two seemingly naive and non-lux materials that I’ve always had a bit of a love affair with and though YSL’s SS08 collection didn’t floor me, the ad highlights how Stefano Pilati has skillfully crafted these materials into something that doesn’t suggest ‘naive’ at all.  Grey jersey and acrylic - two definite check list items for me to accumulate in the coming months.       

Source: Someone wants to get into the Fondation YSL