Entries Tagged as 'Spring 2010'
It’s no secret that I have a slight, but expensive obsession with handbags. And while I don’t particularly like Coach’s logo printed bags (Why would I want to advertise for a company that I already gave money to?), I love their plain leather satchels and totes.
Today, Coach launched a new line of limited-edition, collectible bags designed by four of the hottest bloggers on the Interwebs. Pictured top row (L to R) are: Karla’s Clutch $398 by Karla Deras of Karla’s Closet, Emily’s Satchel $498 by Emily Schuman of Cupcakes and Cashmere, Kelly’s Drawstring Pouch $398 by Kelly Framel of The Glamourai, and Krystal’s Fringe Shoulder Bag $498 by Krystal Simpson of What is Reality Anyway?.
Of course, I am obsessed with Emily’s baby pink satchel with gold chain but I also adore Karla’s clutch for that slightly rocker vibe. While these bags are a little pricey, they are chock full of style. I wouldn’t mind one for my birthday (hint, hint), and they’d make an excellent gift for a new graduate.
Even if you’re not interested in buying a bag, you should swing by the site to look at the designers inspiration boards. They’re all tres chic. And if you’re looking for a bag similar to Emily’s but in a price point that doesn’t mean Ramen for dinner, I would suggest this bag from Matt and Nat that weighs in at a more palatable $185.
h/t to Coquette for the photo.
 While you’ve probably been wearing a bra since you were in middle school, the cold hard truth is that you have probably been wearing the wrong bra. In fact, seventy-percent of American women are wearing the wrong bra. And believe me, it shows.
Every day, I walk the halls of Capitol Hill and am confronted by drooping breasts, breasts that are to close together, straps that fall down, and the worst sin of all, bras that augment back fat. Your underpinnings are supposed to help the girls stand at attention, but too many of them are falling down on the job. Some of you are even wearing bras that are five sizes too small. Thus, it’s time for an intervention.
Recently, my favorite lingerie shop, Coup de Foudre (roughly translated from the French to mean goodbye sagging mammaries), added a new feature to their website that allows you to book a free 30-minute bra makeover with one of Coup de Foudre’s specialists. If you’ve ever seen the Oprah show segment where the Bra Whisperer coaxes women into the proper underpinnings and miraculously changes their body shape, you should know that this experience will be similarly life changing.
Plus, the owner is French and who knows lacy under things better than the French?
If you’re modest or don’t live in D.C., the Coup de Foudre website has plenty of helpful tips on how to find the perfect bra for you. These include a perfect fit checklist and a handy calculator that will help you select the perfect size for you. There’s also a description of how the perfect bra should fit (ie the straps should not slip and the band shouldn’t cut into the skin).
Some people were put on this Earth to do great things, Valerie was put on this Earth to ensure that women can hold their heads and their breasts up high. So book your 30-minute bra fitting today, and treat yourself to a bra that you can proud to wear.
In addition to face shape, women should consider the complexion of their skin when choosing sunglasses. Seem trivial? It’s not. Just like hair color, the color of your sunglasses can wash you out or give your complexion vibrance. Which would you prefer?
Pale ladies should look for frames with a touch of rose or amber. Light to medium tortoiseshell frames suit fair complexions, while clear or blue hued frames tend to accentuate your paleness. A vintage-inspired tortoiseshell frame with rose tinter lenses would be lovely.
If you have medium to tan skin or an olive complexion, you will look marvelous in metal frames. Especially with an olive complexion, a gold metal aviator will pick up all the lovely warmth of your skin. If you have Asian, olive or tan skin, please wear black frames with care as they tend to look to severe.
If you are African American, you can experiment with metal frames, amber shades or funky colors. But like medium tones, you should be careful with black frames.
Many women already own a basic pair of sunglasses that they wear regularly, if that is the case with you, you might consider adding a second pair in a trendier style for a little variety. They can spice up a look or hide those hung over eyes from the sun’s harsh rays while adding a little style to your day.
Retro Styles
Ray Ban High Street Wayfarers (Nordstrom, $120)
This spring and summer, the hottest sunglasses on the market are retro-inspired styles like these Wayfarers. Not your thing? You can also try a pair of decadent round lenses that would make Nicole Richie weep with envy or a pair of 1980s inspired visor sunglasses that are straight out of John Hughes.
The Aviator
RayBan Classic Aviators (Nordstrom, $139)
The Aviator is a classic that has so many variations that there is one for every face shape and skin color. And while the original Aviator is never a bad idea, this season there are a few hot trends invading a sunglasses counter near you.
Aviators with colored rims are hot this season. Pink and red seem to be the colors of choice, though if you look around, I’m sure you can find every shade imaginable. If you want to go the opposite direction, you can try a rimless aviator with tortoiseshell details.
Thanks to Lady Gaga, the stores are also stocking all types of brightly colored, crystal embellished, crazy sunglasses this season. So if you are so inclined, feel free to partake. It’s certainly better than emulating her fashion choices as typically straight laced D.C. is probably not ready for that.
Lastly, I am a firm believer that there is never a good reason to pay more than $200 for a pair of sunglasses. Miss M and her Oliver Peoples addiction would disagree. But I highly recommend that you never buy sunglasses off the street or at inexpensive stores. Why?
Because cheap sunglasses actually do more damage to your eyes than not wearing sunglasses at all. You see the tinted lenses will provide just enough shade for your eye to open your pupil, but since the lens provides no UV protection or very little, the UV rays can penetrate deeper into the eye. Translation, eye damage.
So just remember, even if the sunglasses look fantastic on you, if they don’t protect your eyes from the sun they just aren’t worth the money.
Every Spring, I treat myself to a new pair of sunglasses. They’re an inexpensive way to add a touch of style to even the most casual outfit, and they are a necessity if you want to protect your eyes. But too often, women choose trendy sunglasses that aren’t flattering for their face shape.
Determining your face shape is actually quite simple. Pull your hair into a ponytail and stand in front of your bathroom mirror. Using a bar of soap (or a lipstick), trace the outline of your face shape onto the mirror. Now step back and examine the outline. Your face shape should fall into one of six categories: oval, round, diamond, square, oblong, and triangle shape.
Oval Shape
If you have an oval shaped face like Jessica Alba, then you are blessed. Oval shaped ladies can wear almost any type of sunglasses. So if you want to experiment with a pair of bold shields or a Jackie Onassis-inspired frame, be my guest. I’ll be over here, being jealous because…
Round Face
I have a round face like Ms. Diaz. And when you have a round face, buying sunglasses is an exercise in damage control as you try to find a frame that makes your face appear longer and thinner. This requires that you try on somewhere between 1,000 and 1,000,000 pairs of sunglasses.
Round faces need rectangular frames with soft, angular corners. Through trial and error, I have discovered that you don’t want to choose frames with narrow lenses. A slightly larger lens will be just a little bit more chic, and add a touch of glamour to your look.
Diamond Face
A diamond shape face like Rihanna’s has strong, high cheekbones and a narrow chin. To balance these sharp features, you should try oval shape sunglasses that are not wider than the width of your cheekbones. Diamond faces also look great in rimless styles or square styles with rounded corners.
Square Face
With a strong jawline and wide cheekbones, Sandra Bullock has all the markers of the square face shape. These strong features can handle the curviest and most dramatic style of all: the cat eye. If you’re not brave enough to handle this vintage style, you can also try round and oval sunglasses.
Oblong Face
The opposite of a round face, a person with an oblong face, like Kate Beckinsale’s, needs to widen and shorten the face. Oblong faces look great in round frames (like these aviators) and square shaped rims, but they also look excellent in embellished shades.
Triangle Shape
Square faces are characterized by their wide forehead and narrow jaw line like Nicole Kidman’s. Selecting the perfect shades for this face shape means softening the strong chin by softening the eye area. Try a pair of frames with a straight top line, or a pair of cat eye frames that angle outward.
Finding the perfect pair of sunglasses is a bit like a treasure hunt, but if you know where to begin it makes the search easier. Come back later today for some tips on what styles are hot for summer and some more tips on finding the best style for you.
Stella McCartney Accordion Bag (Net-a-Porter, $2,045)
I love vintage handbags that are made out of unusual materials like Bakelite, Lucite, metal and wood. They’re a great statement piece that allows you to accessorize an outfit without having to think to far outside of the box. So when I saw this wooden accordion clutch by fashionista favorite Stella McCartney was selling for more than two-grand, I knew that I could recreate this trendy look for less.
Folding Carrying Basket (Etsy, $34)
This basket could be used as a purse or carried to the Farmer’s Market. And since it can fold up and fit into your briefcase or messenger bag, it might be the perfect solution to DC’s bag tax.
Wooden Box Clutch (Etsy, $16)
Even though this clutch isn’t slotted or accordion style like, it still has a great vintage look. I love the dark wood with that gorgeous patina and strong grain pattern. Such a steal for less than $20.
Birdcage Purse (Etsy, $97)
This fabulous purse is the quintessential statement piece. It’s half-moon shape gives this vintage bag a modern twist, and if you need a pop of color, you can tie a scarf around the handle. This bag would be the perfect thing to carry to church on brunch when wearing a flirty summer dress.
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