V-Style

A Personal Stylist Purchase - Diba Sandals

I am a broken record when it comes to the talk of shoes: comfortable, comfortable, comfortable. Oh, and don't forget styling too.

I went on a hunt for a flat sandal that I could wear while walking fast and furious as I torture the mall with my presence and I found these fantabulous babies by Diba. They are Grecian, they are modern, they have a unique color pattern that will go with so many of my outfits. Plus, they are one of the most comfortable pair of open toe flats I have put on in a long time. In fact, I can't remember a sweeter shoe.

New Trendy Trend - Clogs with Studs

Here is a bit of fashion advice from me to you. Do not indulge one minute or one penny in the trendy (yet dated) costume-y look of "fashionable" clogs. I know they are showing up in some of our most trusted fashion mags, but I repeat: stay away my doves. Particularly those with studs on the side like this TopShop clog pictured above. That is all I have to say about that.

Product Review - Mascara & Liquid Liner By Lashfood

   

When I attended one of the Gifting Suites for the recent Oscars I was given a variety of products to try out from a handful of companies. One of those products was mascara and eyeliner by Lashfood. As you may already know, the Lashfood brand is an eyelash conditioning system that claims to have zero side effects like other eyelash growth products. 

I have been using the mascara at least every other day for over a month and I have used the eye liner about five times. I am a huge fan. As you know from my other mascara posts I am hard to please. Mascara is a staple for me and a constant hassle to find the perfect one. Hence my joy at this discovery. Their mascara doesn't clump or bunch my lashes together even after a couple coats. They lengthen my lashes, divide them and make them look fuller - although a natural looking fullness. I prefer that, but I know many women prefer a faker thickish look. So, I am not sure of those women will like this.

As for the growth factor, it does look like I have longer lashes and more of them, but it is a subtle difference. 

The one con of this product is the difficulty of removing it. It is seriously hard to remove. It comes off in chunks and litters your face with giant flakes and partial tube shapes. I have actually lost a couple eyelashes trying to take off this mascara when I used ponds make-up remover. I find the soaked eye make-up remover pads work better. Just be careful. And get ready to have black chunks all over your cheeks if you take a shower without removing it first.

As for the Lashfood liquid eye liner. I adore it. It is so smooth to put on: the brush is the perfect size and distributes the liner incredibly well. I usually hate liquid liner because of my darn paw like hands. I end up screaming at the liner and wiping it all off. This Lashfood liner is so easy - it has to be the brush. It also dries quickly enough and is very easy to remove, by the way. 

 

 

How To Add The Color Grey To Your Wardrobe

I am loving the amount of gray available in stores right now. From freshwater pearl to charcoal, incorporating the right shades of gray to your look can really add a sense of chic sophistication to your wardrobe. I find gray is more unique and fresher than black and edgier then the colors of the rainbow. Spring is going to shower everyone in cheery colors, which is all well and good, but sometimes you want to look and feel a little more bad ass with a touch of gray. What? Am I the only one who feels like a cool babe in the color?

Here are some stylish gray items you might want to put in your closet:

 

Banana Republic 215 Martin Grey Trouser Pant

 

Grey Patent Leather RSVP Janis Heels

Elizabeth & James Grey Top

Joie Tee

 

Grey Suede Gabriella Rocha - Mylie Pump

L.A.M.B Terry Cropped Pants

Product Review - Hana Professional Flat Iron

I have never used a straight iron before last week. Shocked? Me too. Especially after being sent a Hana Professional from Misikko.com, a family owned retail website that specializes in flat irons and hair dryers. The Hana Professional ceramic flat iron from Misikko is a 1 inch wide 100% ceramic iron that reaches 450 F and is safe for damp hair styling. I have been missing out.

I never really thought I needed one because my hair is "straight," but it is thin and unruly "straight" hair that never looks that good. My short hair sticks out one way, goes flat here and has volume there and has other asymetrical issues. Before I had short hair, I always had my hair up. I never wanted to deal with the lifeless, limp locks.

Here is what I love about this Hana flat iron: it fixes my lopsided limp issues and eliminates my blow drying stress. Before the Hana, if I didn't blow dry it properly (which is every day) I would be stuck with hair flipped out the wrong way on one side. Now I just fix that with a couple swipes of the heated plates. I can even give my flat side more volume by starting at the roots with the Hana and moving up. Another fabulous perk is I don't have to wash my hair everyday because I can fix bedhead with the flat iron. Before I had to get it wet and start over if I wanted to look decent. And you know I hate wasting time in the morning.

So, I have learned that straight hair that has asymmetrical issues can be solved with a flat iron. It is not just for curly or wavy haired ladies. Thank the freakin' hair fairies I finally discovered this.

Fashion in Reality TV: America's Next Top Model...

This minute I am watching the current season of America's Next Top Model and I am horrified. I know I am the farthest thing from a realty TV show's audience: I detest the shooting style and I have less than zero interest in people insulting each other and complaining. But I am sure even realty TV lovers have to be over this - I had to watch these insecure girls play a game show on a bus for a good 10 minutes. Do you want to watch that? Is anybody out there viewing this program and enjoying it?

I want to watch fashion focused shows for the fashion, not tears, fears and jeers. In the past, I was able to watch some of the episodes of ANTM, but Tyra Bank's taste level a la producer is sharp cheddar cheesy. Not that she was known for her good taste in the past. I know she has a lot of good personal values, but when one of the models notice that the content of America's Next Top Model has less than 50% modeling - "Most of this experience is about the drama and I did not expect that" - that ain't good.

Another soul sucking show is the Rachel Zoe Project. I have never seen such frowns and unprofessional behavior. Where are the fittings? Where is the work? Where is pulling for the shoots? Where are the conversations with art directors and photographers? Where is the advice for stylists and fashion lovers? Very disappointing. I just saw it for the first time last month. Watched three episodes in a row and felt filthy afterwards.

A fashion oriented show I am watching? Project Runway actually. I find that the last two seasons have a respectable focus on the job at hand - design and construction - and very few minutes are used on personal spats. In the past that was not the case. There was so much coverage given to "drama," I was not able to watch it before. As of now, I have watched every episode of the last season and now the current one. The only other show I have been able to watch with such loyalty was Sex And The City. So, cheers Project Runway, for being watchable!

Kristen Davis, Carey Mulligan, SJP In Bedazzled Dresses

I adore adorned dresses, bedazzled frocks, embellished garments; however you want to say it, they are stunning and timeless. A couple ladies spotted in some stunning embellishments are Kristin Davis and Carey Mulligan of late. (Side note, these dresses have a very similar vibe. Kristin Davis is wearing Pre Fall 2010 Oscar de La Renta and Carey Mulligan is in Prada - season unknown to me even after 30 minutes of research.) Another incredible "small things attached to it" dress is on Sarah Jessica Parker in Lanvin at ShoWest last week.

Aren't they all just delicious! And yet I will never buy anything like this. Although I do own a few items with embellishments, the upkeep and disaster factor is too high. Disaster factor? You loose pieces of the dress and it never looks the same again. Upkeep? Well, sewing the pieces you lost back on and of course the dry cleaning. And by the way it never really gets clean because you can't actually clean something with little things sewn onto it.

I find dry cleaning to be annoying, expensive and something I just don't want to deal with. I go to the dry cleaner maybe twice a year. I try at all cost not to buy items that need to be dry cleaned. I just don't like the idea of having to continually pay for an item I already own. It is the old imigrant woman inside me. So farewell gorgeous dresses, you will not be hanging in my closet. Efficiency dictates.

Vanessa Valiente Discusses Groom Fashions on FOX

 

I recently went on FOX news last week to discuss fashion and accessory trends for the modern groom. Click play to hear about feather boutonnieres, Spanx for men and bold colors.

 

Different Ways A Woman Can Wear A Blazer

I adore a good blazer. It makes me feel strong professional and basically fabulous. It gives a sexy masculine edge to everyone who dons it. Here to show you innumerable ways to wear a blazer are various celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Charlize Theron, Sara Jessica Parker and Sienna Miller... to name a few.

 

 


 

A Personal Stylist Purchase - Forever 21 Tank & Skirt

My favorite cheap store, including Thrift stores, is Forever 21. I adore the little finds in there. Yes it is swarming with way too many teens, burst of trends, color and just stuff, but with a judicious eye and patience you can leave there with an incredible loot, having only spent a few dolars. On my most recent trip, I bought some basics ( leggings etc) and scored this retro print swing tank and this high-waisted skirt. Do you notice I adore blue patterns. Both are fabulous versatile items that brought some fun prints to my wardrobe. Is it wrong how happy I get when I pay so little for something so adorable? Probably.