Tis’ the season for all editors, bloggers, and fashionistas. This year’s NYFW  A|W was a grand ol’ time. I was fortunate to attend a few shows this season, so here’s just a collection of photos from my past week! Fashion week truly is a dream for any aspiring designer or editor, plus, a great opportunity to go beyond the bounds of your comfort clothing zone. I was planning on taking a photo of everything I wore to attend the show, however, that did not work out with my “busy” schedule. Really, I just was too lazy, haha. If you are a fashion lover of any kind, try to get to NYFW at some point, it’s a really quite memorable & fun. 

I can’t even begin to tell you how many girls I saw slipping and sliding over this ice with their Louboutins. 

Yes, those are JC moonwalks <3…

Jacket: XOXO

Skirt: Forever 21

Cardigan: Urban

Scarf: Anthropologie

Bag: Nordstrom’s

Shoes: JC 99 Tie Wedge

Miss Lindsey Marie and myself. 

Miss Lilly and myself

Lindsey, Lilly, myself & my friend Jack attended Saturday night’s show, Venexiana. It was a pretty good collection, I especially loved the metallic gowns!

Hair for Venexiana- cred to Miss Lindsey Marie ; Thank you for doing my hair!

Miss Lindsey Marie and I pre-show.  

Final Walk

Maybelline Booth in the Tent:

AND pretty lights in the courtyard of the tent :)

And that’s a wrap ladies and gents. I had a ton of fun this week. It’s totally inspired me to keep blogging and to always dress to kill. 

Check out Lindsey’s Youtube Channel for VLOGS of our weekend!!

cheers,   x

A

It’s a blessing and a curse to live in a chaotic city, but I’m so grateful that I was fortunate enough to attend some shows at Fashion Week this month. (Also, quite fortunate that I live a whopping one block from Lincoln Center, so getting to the shows required minimum effort). Instead, the effort was put into the outfits. This is my part 2 of my NYFW post: Betsey Johnson’s show!

My mind was blown leaving the venue after BJ’s show: her new sportswear line was entitled “BJ Kicks A,” and damn, Betsey did kick ass. Here’s some photos from the show, it was quite opposite from the normal grave solemnity that comes with a normal fashion show. What a better way to show off a new sportswear line then by having the models work out in the clothes on the runway? WITH the magnificent Betsey herself. Quite, genius. Three items needed: BJ Kicks A workout clothes, pink sweatbands, and some of that Betsey Bubbly (which she proceeded to use as dumbells) 

… and there she is…

Betsey, her daughter and granddaughters. I’ve never seen her daughter so horrified by her mothers insane workout on the runway.

Well done, BJ. really fab and I love how she brought out the true fun of a fashion show, sans the critiques and the stiffness. 

enjoy, x

A       

Mac’s Spring 2013 Collection was just released online yesterday, and lucky for us New Yorker’s, it came out in store early! I purchased a couple of things, so here’s a little review of what I got and how I like the products. 

So I purchased a few things from the collection, and the first thing I want to talk about is the new- formulated Eye Kohl’s! The ones that came out with this collection are described as “Pearlglide Intense Eye Liner’s”- and I purchased the color “Lord it Up” (A really pretty creamy bronze color) 

Let me just say, I LOVE this product already and I’ve barely worn it once. The consistency of this pencil is nothing like the normal eye kohl’s, it’s a lot creamier, and has the pay-off of a paint pot. The girl at Mac recommended to me that this shouldn’t be used on the waterline, cause there is glitter in the pencil that may be sensitive to eyes, but overall, I’m so far loving this eyeliner!

The next two products I purchased are two lipglasses from the Betty Collection, Summer Sweetheart and Kiss & Don’t Tell. (left-right) 

Both beautiful spring colors, Summer Sweetheart is a nice peachy nude with no shimmer, and Kiss & Don’t Tell is a deep bubblegum pink that is also not shimmery. 

Some swatches:

»» I can’t get over how perfect these colors are for SPRING! 

I did purchase one lipstick (which I didn’t swatch because it is a gift) but I did take a picture of it with the packaging and without-

This lipstick is also from the Betty Collection, and is called Betty Bright. It’s quite reminiscent of Mac’s Viva Glam Nicki, a bright bright bubblegum gorgeous color, a flawless pop for the spring and summer. 

Overall, I’m loving these products from Archie’s Girls, (plus the packaging!!) and I think they are definitely worth the purchase. Well done, once again, Mac Cosmetics. 

enjoy    x, 

-A

my pretty much daily makeup look & products i use…..

beginning with the basics…

Makeup applies a lot easier when on a clean canvas. That’s why it’s important to cleanse your skin before applying makeup. It’s often said that makeup clogs one’s pores, and that it may ruin youthful skin. I believe that these two problems will be come apparent if you don’t take care of your skin beforehand- and this is why priming is key. 

step one: a blank canvas

After applying moisturizer (I like to use either Philsophy’s Hope in a Jar or Neutrogena’s oil-free Moisture for combination skin), I prime my face with Benefit’s Porefessional primer. I adore this stuff, because it gives your skin a nice smooth finish before you’re ready for your foundation. It’s job is to minimize pores, so you want to apply this in your T-Zone, on your nose/ sides of your nose, forehead, and chin. These areas are most likely problem areas, since the majority of redness exists towards the center of your face. Next, I use Tinted Moisturizer as foundation. Crazy? I know. I don’t need a lot of coverage the majority of the time, so I always opt for tinted moisturizer over foundation. I believe that since I’m still only 18, it’s better to use a lighter product on my younger skin, as opposed to caking it with foundation. The idea is to have coverage, but also to let your skin breathe! I find that Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer [Sand] is the best of both worlds: it offers coverage, while still maintaining an airy quality. Next, for concealer, my two favorites of the moment are Makeup Forever’s Full Cover [8] and Benefit’s Erase Paste [M2]. These are a perfect combination for my skin tone. I use the erase paste as a concealer for dark circles under my eyes only, and the Makeup Forever for spots and discoloration (this stuff covers EVERYTHING, legit). After that, I go back in with my mac 188 and stipple/blend it all, and finally, I set my face using my Sephora #50 fluffy brush with Mac’s Mineralize Skin Finish [Medium Plus]. For my brows, I’ve been loving the Anastasia Brow Powder [Brunette/Dark Brown] with my Crown Eyebrow filler brush. To prime my eyelids, I like to use both Too Faced Shadow Insurance and Mac’s Painterly Paint Pot. 

A Quick Brush Guide: 

From Left to Right: Sephora 50, Mac 129, Mac 160, Mac 188, E.l.f Angled, Mac 217, Crown C422, Mac 224, Mac 129, Crown Eyebrow

After the canvas is now blank, onto the color. 

step two: the eyes

For my eyes, I’ve been loving natural/shimmery shadows with a nice winged liner lately. I love to use Mac’s Naked Lunch on my lids, followed by Mac’s All that Glitters blended into my outer V. I’ll usually use Mac’s Woodwinked or Satin Taupe in my crease, and finish the shadow off by blending with my Mac 224 brush, and highlighting my brow bone with my Crown C422 brush with Mac’s Brulé or Ricepaper. I then line my waterline with Mac’s Fascinating Eye Kohl, to really brighten and widen my eyes- and I finish it off with L’Oreal Telescopic’s Liquid Eyeliner [Black]. Finally, I curl my lashes & apply my Lancome Doll Lashes mascara. 

step three: the glow

I love highlighting my cheeks with Dior’s Amber Diamond, and I then contour with NARS’ Laguna. I like using my E.l.f. Angled brush to highlight, and my Mac 160 to contour. For blush, I’ve been loving Mac’s Plum Foolery and Warm Soul as well as NARS’ Oasis, so I usually pick one of those three and apply it with my Mac 129. 

step four: the gloss

My two go- to lip combinations include Mac’s Hue and Mac’s Love Nectar Lustreglass [The outer ones] or Mac’s Creme Cup with Mac’s Baby Sparkes Dazzleglass [The inner ones]. Both create a beautiful glossy finish- perfect for everyday. 

step five: SPRITZ !

Finally, to set the makeup, I like using a spritz of Urban Decay’s De Slick, and occasionally I’ll use my Mac Fix+. 

and there you have it- age appropriate, pretty, clean, and glowing makeup. 

enjoy, x

-A

Maleficent (adj.)-causing or capable of causing harm or destruction. Origin: Mid 17 C Latin

as you may have noticed, i posted 2 sketches previously - entitled “Maleficent.” If you know me well, you know I love villains. (partly because I always seem to be typecast as them in theatre, but that’s another story). I decided to create a portfolio of avant-garde gowns inspired by the evil queen herself, as well as the colors of Maleficent’s makeup from Mac’s “Venomous Villains” Disney Collection of Fall 2010—                                                

[Temptalia]

The deep reds & plums create a gorgeous collection.

For my first official part of this collection [the previous sketches were first drafts], I present to you- Sketch number 1,  The Evil Queen:

Strong geometrics, yet ever so danity. [Chiffon& Canvas]

enjoy, x

-A

_____________________________________________________________________________________

—— a start of my “inspiration” makeup wall over my desk. love those three face charts, i really need to make some more!

so january went pretty fast, mostly because 2 weeks of it was basically break , but i’m back in the city at school and these are some of my favorite products & purchases of this month-

first off, my arm isn’t actually purple… that’s what you get for attempting to edit photos to make the product look good. so this is a brand new “every-day” makeup case i purchased from victoria’s secret, when lindsey and i went “post-christmas” shopping. yeah, cause we’re that ridiculous. anyway, i saw this and LOVED it! (it sure beats carrying around my 500 pound train case…) — Victoria’s Secret, $24

First Aid Beauty, Sephora, $18— one of my new all time favorite facial cleansers! It immediately cleared up my skin and left it radiant with a nice glow. i highly recommend this one, guys. 

Anastasia Brow Powder in Brunette, Sephora, $22- powder builds color well and it really helps your eyebrows frame your face!

Dior Shimmer Powder 002 Amber Diamond, Sephora, $45— a SPLURGE! but this product is absolutely beautiful and quite versatile (you can use as eyeshadows or highlight, gorgeous colors!)

Blush in Plum Foolery, Mac Cosmetics, $20— beautiful pink color with purple undertones and gold shimmer, perfect for the winter months.

OPI “Samoan Sand,” Duane Reade, $8— funny, I was reading about the Samoan culture in Anthropology and all I could think about was this nail polish color. super milky & pretty.

Basic Bow, American Apparel, $14— overpriced, but super cute.

Suspender Tights, Urban Outfitters, $14— overpriced, again, but très chic.

Off White- Chuck Taylor Converse, $55- i think i’m in love.

Jean Jacket, American Eagle, $50— every girl needs a jean jacket, right? I mean, especially if they want to resemble Jay Leno or a native Canadian of the 90’s. but even if not, they’rea quirky addition to any closet, and they look super cute over lots of layers. 

Guns N’ Roses Crew Neck, Urban Outfitters, $60- got it for $39— love this & it was on S A L E

from one of my new favorite stores, Brandy Melville, $22— love this graphic.

and finally, Cutoff high-wasted Lavender dyed shorts, Urban Outfitters, $59- a SPLURGE! but this is probably my favorite January purchase. so excited to wear these in the spring and summer..

enjoy. x -A

(Source: january2013favs)

Zara

Urban Outfitters

Forever 21

JC “99 Tie” Wedge

Steve Madden “Jazzhan”

mac’s “Rebel” lipstick

TheBalm’s “Balm Jovi” Palette

mac “Indianwood” paint pot 

mac Holiday 2012 Pigments in “Ever Elegant” + “Silk Stocking”

Crown brushes [Angled/Eyebrow, C433, C422, C411]

TheBalm’s “CabanaBoy” Blush

x,

A