Pajama Dressing Dream Outfit #2

Pajama Dressing Dream Outfit #2 by pinkcowboyboots-mariacaquino featuring a blue denim jacket

Pajama Dressing Dream Outfit #1

Pajama Dressing Dream Outfit #1 by pinkcowboyboots-mariacaquino featuring dark denim skinny jeans

Super Affordable Junior's Website: urban1972.com

I just put away my Summer outfits and replaced them with my Fall Jackets and outerwear.  Although I was not impressed with this Fall's trends and looks (not loving the very 70's vibe going on everywhere and the crazy busy navajo and ikat prints seen everywhere,) I still look forward to the layering opportunities that the cold weather will bring.  What I will wear that are this Fall's trends are pops of red and leopard prints.  I will mix it with my love of horizontal stripes.  I'll also give color-blocking a try.

As I perused the September issues of magazines, I came across a fluffy white jacket being sold on a Website called Urban 1972.  Sienna Miller was photographed wearing a similar white fluffy jacket by designer Isabel Marant.  The much less expensive version being sold on urban1972.com for $32.90 is already sold out.  BOOOOOOO, but I'm glad I have a similar one that I bought last Fall from sears.com .

Urban 1972 offers clothing and accessories for juniors (or adults like me who haven't quite grown up or foster a young spirit.)  Most of the items are under $100. and many are under $50.  Great for any fashion-forward individuals on a budget.  However, not everything on the site is fab.  You have to sift through the site to find items worth buying.  There are plenty of finds though.  Check out some of the items I've placed on my Wish list.

Love & Peace T-shirt ($9.99)

Laissez Faire Pants ($32.90)

Clocked In Watch ($12.50)

Music is Over the Rainbow T ($12.99)

Faux Fur Bolero Brown ($40.)

Nicky Leopard Leggings Blue ($22.)

Their sizes are S, M and L.  I couldn't find a size chart anywhere on the site;  I'm praying I fit into the L.  We'll see when I place an order and receive the shipment ...

Make-up Inspiration for Summer 2011: A BRIGHT LIP

When it is hot, like it is now, as it is Summer in the U.S., you probably don't want to wear a lot of make-up.  I live in Miami, so it is very HOT, and the last thing I want to do is put on gobs of make-up.  The solution to maintaining a pulled together look without a lot of make-up is a bright lip.  LUCKY MAGAZINE shows us how celebs pull off this look.

 

You can easily pull off this look by keeping your face clean:  just moisturizer with a minimum SPF 15 (if you have really good skin,) or a tinted moisturizer with SPF (if you have moderate good skin,) or a liquid foundation of your choice, on top of moisturizer with SPF (if you have some imperfections you'd like to cover up.)  Go ahead and apply your choice of bright lip color.  Add a cheek stain -- a little will go a long way, since you don't want your cheeks to compete with your lips.  (I prefer a cheek stain over blush because it looks much more natural.  Blush is powdery and sits on top of your skin -- it can look obvious.)  If you want to add an extra touch, go ahead and apply some mascara.  Remember to keep it simple -- the bright lip will be plenty to look at.  No need for eye shadow, and definitely do not mix with a smokey eye.

Starting this Spring, a bright pink or an orangey-red has been very on-trend.  I love this look, and I have been wearing it out since then.  I mention it on a previous blog, Fabulous Inexpensive Lipstick: Covergirl Lip Perfection.  This has been my go-to look, especially when I am in a rush or just plain lazy.  Give it a try.  You're going to love that it takes little time to look so pulled together.  Mwuahhh & Kisses...

Limited Edition TRUE BLOOD Cosmetics by Tarte

 

Already available online is Tarte's collaboration with "True Blood" creators and on-set lead make-up artist, Brigette Myre-Ellis.  Perfect for tomorrow's season premiere of Season 4 on HBO.

Launched on June 22nd, this is a Limited Edition Collection, so be sure to grab your vampire-inspired beauty products before it runs out.  There is an eye-shadow palette (perfect for smoky eyes and lurking in the dark,) a cheek tint and a lip tint (both blood-red.) 

True Blood by Tarte is available at Sephora.com.  It is not available on the HBO-True Blood Homepage!  I checked.  I don't know why not.  They sell everything from the actual True Blood drink to Fangtasia bar stools.

Tarte uses all-natural ingredients.  Although I have never used any Tarte products, I will gamble that it is good.  The cheek and lip tint are priced mid to high-end at $30 and $24 respectively.  The eye-shadow palette is the real buy at $52.  It is a kit valued at $331 and comes with 17 eye-shadows, an aqua-gel eye liner, a mascara, and an eye primer.  I'll be buying this for sure!  Don't need the cheek and lip tint as I am fully stocked on red cheek stain and many, many red lipsticks.  

I'm looking forward to doing a smokey eye for Fall, so the Tarte for True Blood Limited Edition Palette will be perfect !!!

OMGosh. THIS IS SO FIERCE !!! Raja's New Music Video.

So fierce that I had to do a second blog post for the day.  This is rare, since I have been uninspired and preoccupied this year.  Don't think that I don't have a life, and that I'm on my computer all day.  O.K.  So I don't have a life.  Well, I wasn't on the computer all day on my day off.  I did just work out for 2 and 1/2 hours.  Hellooo...

Anyyyyyyyhoooo, the music isn't all that, but the VISUALS !  OH, THE VISUALS !!!  Not the slutty, oversexed images, but the fashion and the make-up and the plastic wigs.  Oh, so fahhhhboohhhhhlooossssss!  If you are a prude, I suggest you NOT watch this.  If you love fabulocity in all levels and genders, then please do.

 

Did you see Raja's armpits???  I mean, how does she get it that smooth?  Did she put make-up on that?  I am so hating on her armpits right now.  I am soooooo jelly!

I do love me some drag queens, honey!  Raja is fab.  And Raven is oh so FAB -- my favorite queen from RuPauls Drag Race.  Do you love the all out leopard print outfit?  How about the white?  And the pink tulle?  And how about the nude dress with the beading?  Oh I LUV IT ALL !!!  Give me more face!  Work it ladies!!!

Thank you to all the drag queens around the world.  You make me want to be more WOMAN.  I learned how to blend my eye shadow thanks to RuPaul's Drag Race.  Thanks for all the inspiration you give me drag queens around the world!!!

I am Officially Obsessed With Jewelmint !!!

O.K Got my first shipment from Jewelmint four days after I placed my first order, and I was soooooooo happy with what I saw and received.  It definitely looked more expensive than the $29.99 I paid for each piece, and it came beautifully packaged.  And here is the update I promised if you want to get more than one selection for the month, since each month you can choose your favorite for 1 credit, which is the $29.99 monthly fee you pay for if you like a selection (again, you pay NOTHING if you don't like anything from the selection they choose for you based on the answers to the style quiz you took.)  If you like more than one selection, you simply pay an additional $29.99 for each piece.  Simple as that.  When you do that, the following month, you get 0 credits, I guess that means you don't have to choose a piece, but like I mentioned previously, you are never obligated to choose a piece if you don't like what you see.  However, I predict it will be rare that you will not like anything, since the designs are so modern and unique.  I haven't seen these designs in stores or anything similar to it.  YOU ARE GOING TO WANT TO TAKE THEM UP ON THEIR OFFER.  As for me, my first month, I ended up selecting four pieces AND I WANTED MORE, but I think I am a freakish case, since jewelry and accessories are my "obsession."

The bummer is that when the next month's selection comes around, the items you have in your "Showroom" (that's the page where they feature what pieces Jewelmint has selected for you) from the previous month disappears = (  That means if there were items you were thinking about getting also either are no longer available to you or you have to fish it out of their selections by clicking on the "show me more" button or the "Our Designs" quicklink.  I did both several times but were not able to retrieve pieces that were in my November Showroom.  I was very sad that December creeped up on me and I did not order all the items I wanted from my November selections.  I guess, in a way, it's a lesson in being greedy for me.  But how can I not be greedy?  Their jewelry pieces are so AMAZING !!!  I want more and more Jewelmint!  I think it's officially "my precious," and I am now the crazed Gollum from "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

Check out my two other precious selections from November.  I am rubbing my hands together as we speak, as I wait for its arrival via USPS.

Celestial Wreath Necklace

Deville Cuff

Will You Wear Your Red, White & Blue ?

Happy Fourth of July Everybody!

What will you wear today to show your patriotism?

I will wear an all-white outfit and wear my "USA" belt from one of Target's first designer collaborations, Stephen Sprouse, from 2002.  I've never worn this belt, but now is the time and today is the day.  I'm about to get ready now for work.  Well maybe, I'll wear it with a nautical striped light tee.  I'll see what looks best, but the Stephen Sprouse for Target belt is a must.

I hope you too will show your spirit and support for one of the greatest countries to ever be.  Go Team U. S. A. !!!

 (This was my RED, WHITE and BLUE.)

Neutrals is What Fall 2010 is All About

Grays, camels and taupes is what's cool for this Fall.  Wearing these colors (choose one) in a monochromatic color scheme were featured by many of the designers during Fashion Week in all three major fashion capitals.  Many of the looks that walked down the runway were very reminiscent of the minimalist 90's.

Will the next decade make a move toward cleaner, sleeker looks like we saw and wore during the 90's?  Perhaps the heavily embellished, predominantly boho looks that we have enjoyed during this decade are headed towards the back of our closets and into donation bags to be given to Goodwill or The Salvation Army?  Hmmnnn, makes one wonder and look forward to fashion for the next decade.

However, I'll miss 80's inspired looks that were so popular this decade.  I hope the 80's inspired look will not be relegated to costume parties.  As we've seen in previous decades, fashion does a turn-about and does exactly the opposite of the decade that just passed.  We saw the opulent 80's with it's voluminous silhouettes make way for the body conscious, sleek minimalism of the 90's, and from that to the heavily embellished, often ethereal boho looks of the 2000's.

Yes, this decade's style was a hodge-podge of decades from the previous century with it's heavily 70's influenced bohemian looks, sprinkled with 80's spirit of neon, big jewels and lots of everything.  It only makes sense to rebel from all that and go boring again.  Although I did enjoy the 90's minimalist looks, it's so much more fun to get all funky and accessorize A LOT.  Oh, we shall see what the next decade has in store for us...

Back to Fall 2010.  The difference with this Fall's collection to the 90's is the different dimensions that layering was done.  Fur was out in the 90's, but not this Fall.  PETA must be losing it's stronghold because feathers and fur were plenty to be seen on the runway.  Yes, the color scheme was monochromatic but layering was about texture and adding multi-dimensions to an outfit.  It was far from boring indeed.

To see what I am talking about, check out the best of the runway footage from harpersbazaar.com's "The Front Row" videos of Fall 2010.  This was by far the best compiled footage I found on the Net.

The Front Row: Videos from Fall Fashion Week 2010

How to Achieve the Rachel Zoe Look

I've been channeling Rachel Zoe's look lately. I wore a tie-dye chiffon-like top with white cotton/linned slacks to my cousin's wedding late in June. Of course, I was decked out in a lot of jewelry -- multi-necklaces in gold and gold-tone and an estate piece cuff with matching ring in 18K gold, borrowed from my Mom. I had gold hoops on for earrings, a little simple since I already had a lot of jewelry going on.

For the Summer, I die for long maxi dresses with a denim jacket thrown on over. Of course, oversized sunglasses are great for protecting yourself from that Summer glare.

The following video shows you how to achieve that Rachel Zoe look.


http://www.bravotv.com/the-rachel-zoe-project/videos/fashion-cents-the-rachel-zoe-look

Season 3 of "The Rachel Zoe Project" Starts Tuesday, August 3rd.

I am soooooooooooo excited for August. What an awesome Summer. Right now, I'm enjoying "True Blood." And soon I will be enjoying "The Rachel Zoe Project!" I can't stand it, I AM GOING BANANAS !!!

Fashion week, Brian Weir, pregnancy, "Oh my!" And what's up with Taylor??? We will find out...

Check out the preview...



http://www.bravotv.com/the-rachel-zoe-project/videos/prepare-to-die-for-the-third-time

MULBERRY for Target in the Fall

Watch out for Mulberry handbags hitting Target stores in October 10th of this year. Each Designer collaboration keeps getting better and better and soon, the luxury brand of handbags, Mulberry will have exclusive designs for Target.

I am so excited for this October! Can't wait to even see photos (none yet on Target's Pressroom page online) of the handbags soon to hit Target stores and Online this Fall.

Ever since Isaac Mizrahi left his collaboration with Target, we have seen premier designers share their vision with the rest of us through affordable clothing with their signature flair. We saw Alexander McQueen and Anna Sui last year, and earlier this Spring, we saw Jean Paul Gaultier (which was my favorite out of the three I just mentioned.) I snapped up pieces from each Target collaboration that looked good on my plus-sized frame of size 16.

I'm also a fan of up and coming designer collaborations through Target's GO Collections, but a bit peeved that size 15 is only available online. Also, the sizing is in juniors sizing, so finding pieces that fit me are a bit challenging, not to mention annoying.

Not to worry, however, with Mulberry. After all, handbags fit everyone!

To see what Mulberry is about, check out the Spring/Summer 2010 Collection below.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75Zx07xIcgQ

My Discovery of Style.com

I just discovered Style.com where you can view current and previous Runway Looks. I love this site! You can almost skip reading fashion magazines and view almost all the designers' runway looks, if it weren't for the fact that magazine editorials are also great for getting ideas through their mix of designer pieces, creating a fashion story and highlighting current trends.

Another feature I like from Style.com is that you can create LOOKBOOKS and create your own fashion story by using runway photos of the designers you like. I had so much fun viewing the runway looks and creating my Lookbook. Check out my Lookbook for Fall 2010 by clicking on the link.

http://www.style.com/community/mylookbooks/

HOW TO WEAR JEWELRY

Here are some tips from LUCKY Magazine on how to wear current jewelry trends such as

1.) Layering necklaces

2.) Oversized earrings

3.) Multiple bracelets

Anna Sheffield for Target Now Available. Yay !

It is Thursday, September the third, 2009 and Anna Sheffield's jewelry line for Target is now available. Yes, I know... Let's all celebrate!

I want everything in this new jewelry line for Target, unlike the Erickson Beamon and Subversive collections for Target where I had certain picks, not because of the design but because of the quality of the materials used. Of course the Target lines can't be as good as the designer's original collections -- something has to give, but nothing is lost in Anna Sheffield's interpretation of her collection for Target. Most, if not all, is 14K over sterling silver. It looks 100% real though. Anna Sheffield uses yellow, white and some rose gold. Some alone but many are combined colors. There are quirky rings, fun earrings (posts, hoops and dangling styles), on-trend necklaces made up of multiple chains, a charm bangle (very unique) and other charm bracelets. This collection runs the gamut, unfortunately for me because I want everything from it! YIKES ! I am really in trouble now.

I didn't cave in today though, so I showed some restraint. I got one item -- the "white cubic zirconia bird ring" for $19.99. It looks like an engagement ring, so since I am single, I give it to myself. I promise to be true to myself. There... And I am sending to the Universe that I will get married someday (if you follow The Secret, you know what I mean.) A girl has got to dream... Well, you got me. I'm way into womanhood, but it is never too late...



Prices for this collection range from $19.99 to $79.99. Even though Target offers amazing stuff at affordable prices, it still adds up. I guess my car will remain somewhat functional (it takes a while to start up) and my broken molar (recently broke a tooth with a filling) will just have to wait. I know it's sad...

I am definitely a "frugalista" (Target's new coined term) on her way to being a "brokalista" (my own coined term.) Wish me luck!

Norma Kamali for Walmart

I ordered 3 items from Walmart.com from it's new line by Norma Kamali, and was extremely pleased. I got a pair of pencil jeans in navy blue, a boyfriend blazer in black, and a spotted jersey skirt (black and cream.)

The price points are incredible! Fifteen dollars for the jeans and skirt and $20. for the blazer. And that's regular price !!! Well, the downside is that jeans didn't fit, I have to return that one, but that's about it. I was surprised by the quality of it. No threads sticking out or any other irregularities or lack of quality that could be indicative of the price of $15 for jeans. The sizing just ran smaller than what I'm used to. I'm usually a size 16 in mass market brands such as The Gap and Target. I sure wish the jeans fit though, it would have been very slimming with it's narrow leg and navy blue color.

The blazer fit, although a tad snug in the arms, but nothing that losing a few pounds will fix, which I need to do anyway for my health! The quality is superb for $20. It looks better than some boyfriend blazers I've seen over the $88. pricepoint. It's lightweight and is perfect for a Fall season in Miami.


The spotted skirt was my favorite buy -- it fit me perfectly! I don't know how to call the waist-band, bit it didn't have zippers or buttons and it wasn't elastic either -- it just had a band of fabric. Anyhoo, I was very excited about the fit. It didn't constrict my size 16 waist, and the pencil shape gave me a narrower contour. The jersey is of good quality, and the print is to die for. I paired it with a black cowl-neck shirt and was ready to go to school and then work a couple of hours (retail.)

Ahh, I love quality finds for dirt-cheap prices...