OH YEAH, and did I mention it’s effing SEPTEMBER?

September means: fashion month. While this humble budget fashion afficianado certainly won’t be jetsetting off to Milan or Paris this month, I still constantly crave the runway shows. it’s a true production – between the clothes, the imagery, the newness… also the clothes… Yeah, it’s mostly about the clothes. I like looking at pictures – that’s all well and good, but seeing those bajillion dollar dresses on a human, moving through air down a long runway, seeing the shoes actually teetering and clomping on real, solid matter – there’s nothing like it. You can’t get that from a photograph.

Fortunately, for we the broken down apparel whores of not-New York, there are a ton of ways to experience the shows from the comfort of your own pajamas/couch/bed. Zeitbyte is offering the 88 shows in the Lincoln Center tents (it’s so weird not to say Bryant Park tents, right?), as well as the Milk Studio shows.

For the Lincoln Center shows, visit http://fashionatlincolncenter.com/.
For the shows at Milk, go to http://milkmade.com/.

Fashion week starts on Thursday, kicking off with epic, edgy RTW designer, Nicholas K.

(Who is Nicholas K? Can we just talk about this, please?:

Hi.

Technorati Tags: fashion week, live stream, new york, nicholas k, nyfw, online, watch

She preserves the life of insane eccentric – in my mind, she helps me fill the gaps that Isabella Blow and Alexander McQueen have left in my imagination. Her aggressive and wild approach to life helps remind me that you actually can do whatever you want, aesthetically. Sure, people will talk… But you won’t die. Your life won’t be ruined because you’re not being “socially acceptable”, clothing-wise.

Jezebel posted a ton of images of Daphne, and I couldn’t resist posting some of my favorites here.

She recently released a fragrance under the house of Comme des Garcons called DAPHNE. I haven’t experienced it for myself just yet, but after watching her pennant, Mnemosyne, I really would like to. I also love what she has to say about the ties between the video and her concept of the scent.

Mnemosyne Interview with Daphne from Starworks Group on Vimeo.

She is amazing.

Technorati Tags: comme des garcons, daphne, daphne guinness, fashion, fragrance, mnemosyne, muse, photogrphy

It’s Jen! Lindsay’s bestie, co-Demoiselle, and author of the socially-conscious fashion blog, Awakened Aesthetic. You might have noticed that our blogs are getting cuddly – I’ll remove this text after we get to know each other!

In the past year, I’ve mentioned vegan leather designer Matt & Nat on Awakened Aesthetic a total of eleven times.  And yes, part of it is that they’re green, blah blah blah, leather created from plastic bottles, yadda yadda…but most of it is because I absolutely love the aesthetic.

But man, is that shit expensive.

If you don’t know who I’m talking about, here’s a blurb from the Matt & Nat website.  It pretty well encompasses what I love about them (emphasis mine).

WHO IS MATT & NAT?

In 1995, MATT & NAT Founder and Creative Director Inder Bedi was challenged by a Mahatma to become a Vegetarian for 30 days. It was during this time that MATT & NAT was conceived. A brand and movement shaped by the power of duality. Fifteen years later, he is continuously working towards this goal – exceeding norms to offer cutting edge products that are fashionable and beautiful and yet made in a socially responsible way, or as we like to say, with Compassion. MATT & NAT products have never used animal by-products. That said, the brand is more than just vegan. It has always been a trailblazer in the environmental movement. Each product contains at least one recycled element and on average 21 plastic bottles are recycled to make linings for our bags. MATT & NAT has always been a Pioneer in Eco-Fashion.

So, yes, they’re awesome.  They take recycled products – aka trash – and turn it into stuff like this:

Adore: $235

An eco-lover’s really expensive dream.

I can’t afford to spend $235, plus tax, plus shipping, on a bag.  I just can’t.  Hell, I’ll spend a hundred, sometimes a hundred and fifty, on the perfect bag (one I can wear for more than a few years) but Two Hundred Thirty-Five?  That’s…lights, and water, and internet access, for the month. Combined.  And then some.

But I look.  I torture myself.  And then today, I saw a new section on the Matt & Nat website:  Matt by Matt & Nat.

MATT BY MATT & NAT COLLECTION INSPIRATION

As MATT & NAT’s younger sibling, the inspiration for the MATT BY MATT & NAT collection is rocker/urban with distinctive design and hardware details. This season we also introduced a new vegan leather material Luster, which let us experiment with softer bohemian shapes, deep tone colors, and weaving accents. This collection is practical, yet with a modern flare and can be dressed up or down.

Younger sibling…practical…modern…are these words inferring what I think they’re inferring?  Is this label cheaper?

WHY YES, IT FREAKING IS.

Laika (in rust): $150

I know this is still too rich for a broke girl’s blood, but Matt & Nat has sales all the time (including sample sales at places like Gilt.com) so their bags are going to become more affordable than ever.

Ballad (in blue): $155

All of the selections I’m posting come in rust, brown, black and blue.  The color options are part of Matt & Nat’s M.O. – most of their collections all come in four or five different colors, so you have the same options for any style you choose.

Sedaris (in brown): $140

Remember: this is vegan leather. It looks and feels like cow hide, but with this bag, when your vegan friends give you dirty looks you can call them closed-minded.

Cambria (in rust): $140

The patchwork on this one reminds me of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.  I’d take advantage of that fact by wearing it with riding boots (to play it up) and dark denim (to modernize it).

Did I mention that MATT by Matt & Nat has a jewelry line, too?

Canary: $50 — Bragg: $16

And belts?

Monopoli: $35 — Jem: $38
Denali: $38 — Rumble: $60

Maybe I’m just obsessed, but this new line (and its new prices) seem pretty awesome.  And I am looking for a new fall bag, so my obsession is well-founded, right?

Technorati Tags: designer labels, designers, handbags, matt & nat, matt by matt & nat, recycled materials, vegan

Dowdy?

Matronly?

You tell me.

Photo courtesy Huffington Post

Oh, yes, hello.

I saw this in my inbox this morning (it was Style.com’s Look Of The Day), and just gawked at it. It’s… so… proper. And so… long – both in arms and skirt. So… high-neckline…d?

BUT SHE LOOKS AMAZING.

So now I’m crazy over these “dowdy” dresses with all the skin coverage in the world and no draping. Kind of a change. It goes against all of the ~*rules (curses to you, What Not To Wear!) about proportion and balance… If you have a high hemline, minimize skin up top, and if you have a longer hemline, bare your arms more. PISH POSH is what I say to that.

Unfortunately, finding a dress with a) these proportions, b) this much fabric with c) this much structure is probably not going to be terribly affordable. So. We may have to compromise on the full double-length aspect of this and go for a more conventional proportion… At least when it comes to dresses. You can also totally do this by pairing a long-sleeve top with a longer skirt and adding a belt.

But that’s, like, so much work.

Here’s what I dug up.

Bailey44 Mary Goodnight Dress $165

It’s a little form-fitting, but I love the idea of adding a colorful lace slip underneath, and a grey belt at the waist. (Especially with the “black” version, and there’s a stripey one, too.)

ModCloth I’ve Got The Blues Dress $44.99

Belt, again. Slight petticoat action, maybe? What do you think?

Tarmanuda Dress $135

The dress to end all dresses. (Upon sending it to Jen, she says: “I want to spend a week in it. Preferably at least half of that week cuddling with something or someone.”)

Coast Jessica Ruched Dress $143.23

Massive color – could totally work (especially on a girl with a little extra, knowwhatI’msayin’?).

The nice thing about a style like this is that, no matter how you feel about your body on the day you rock this look, people will always think, “Damn. That is one demure bitch.” before even noticing your figure. It screams elegance, and I am way down with that.

Technorati Tags: 3/4 dress, jessica alba, long dress, long sleeves

It’s Jen! Lindsay’s bestie, co-Demoiselle, and author of the socially-conscious fashion blog, Awakened Aesthetic. You might have noticed that our blogs are getting cuddly – I’ll remove this text after we get to know each other!

As I read Lindsay’s Multi Eyeliner Review Saga, I was overcome with a sudden urge.  I needed new eyeliner.  I needed not-black eyeliner.  I needed awesome eyeliner.

Not only did I need New, Not Black Awesome Eyeliner, but I also needed it to be Not in Stick Form.  My two everyday liners are pretty cool in their own right (for reference, they’re Stila Convertible Eye Color and Kajal Eye Liner) but they do have their drawbacks – mostly that they’re so…normal.  And stick-like.

When I get into this kind of impulse-buying frenzy, nothing really stops me.  So when I was next at my local Rite Aid, I steered myself toward the makeup isle.

My choice: Loreal HiP Studio Secrets Kohl Liner.  (HiP stands for High Intensity Pigments.  Not something your mother would say.)  It’s only $13.00, and I bought it in teal.

Speaking of teal, Lindsay mentioned that though she liked the Smashbox Masquerade Liquid Eyeliner and Lash Overlay, she didn’t buy it because…

“…there are only two shades – a bronze and a teal. While they’re likely very gorgeous on, I’m looking for something a little more everyday and a little less faaaabulouuuuuus!, you know?”

Instead, she wanted purple.

Oh, Blue Eyed Bestie, I hate to break it to you, but for us hazel-eyed girls (and brown- and gray-eyed girls) purple’s the faaaabulouuuuuus one.  Teal, on the other hand, is subtle and classy and “everyday.”

Well, sort of.

It’s bold, but not insane, you know?  I can wear it to the office with neutral shadow and a pencil skirt without feeling like I live in an eighties movie, but I can also wear it our to drinks with platforms and feel superior to all those black liner girls.  (I live in Seattle – we’re all a little superior.)

But that’s not the cool part.  The cool part is that this stuff does not run. Hell, it doesn’t even wipe.

Full hand-on-eye action.

Check out my hand.  See the sparkles?  That’s my eyeshadow.  See the green?  No, you don’t, because it didn’t wipe off.

I’ve never had an eyeliner do that (not do that?) before.

The one thing that sucks about Loreal’s HiP kohl liner – and pretty much any powder liner – is that until you’re a pro, you’ll often get dusted with powder in places you wish you hadn’t.  And because it stays on so well, you’ll need a Q-tip and remover (or oil, or spit) to get it off.  The first time I wore it, I had to reapply most of my tinted moisturizer after finishing my eyes.

But I’d rather have to reapply my foundation once than touch up shifting eye liner ten times throughout the day.

Technorati Tags: cosmetics, eye makeup, eyeliner, hip, kohl, loreal, makeup, powder eyeliner, review, smashbox, urban decay

I’ve fixated on yet another object. For weeks, I’ve been running into the same type of accessory… It pops up on my computer, it passes me on the street, it walks by me in restaurants – red boots.

Rachel Marie on Lookbook.nu
Not hooker, thigh-high, patent leather, stiletto boots or anything. Basic, maybe 2″, not-even-knee-high boots (but not flat – you can read about my view on flat-flat boots here). I’m obsessed. Loren from 5W sent me images these boots by Donald J Pliner today and – damnit – they’re just out of my price range, but they are stunning.

Donald J Pliner Donata Boots $295

Want. To. Tuck. Jeggings. Skinny jeans. Into. Them.

Unfortunately, $300 are not mine to spend at this time (or most times), so I’ll either have to find a brand new pair stuffed into a dumpster somewhere, or check out my other options.

Before I bought The Worst Boots Ever™, I was debating between the aforementioned boots, and these beauties:

T.U.K. A7790L Boot $49.95

Gooooodddd, they’re so lovely, right? And that price! $10 less than The Worst Boots Ever™. They are the perfect amount of color (reviews say they’re slightly darker than the photo), buckle, heel, height… WHY DIDN’T I BUY THEM?!

I might still. Someday.

What do you think? Has the summer heat gotten to my head? RED BOOTS?

Technorati Tags: donald j pliner, leather boots, red boots, shoes

I have a strong tendency to become obsessed with products by Bourjois Paris. First, it was their Praline Lip Stain (I found it, by the way. As soon as I got home, I looked on a random bookshelf and saw its little red butt sticking out. There was screaming.), then this deep purple, bold, smooth, gorgeous liner.

Needless to say, I used it every day. Rarely a day went by where I didn’t find myself looking for that little tiny tube encasing that little tiny brush (brush is very important here – not a felt tip, not a stick – a fine-tipped brush) that made definition and highlighting so easy and saucy.

Now, there’s another aspect to the Bourjois Paris eyeliner that’s worth mentioning – it was my first liquid eyeliner ever. EVER. Ever.  I expected the learning curve for such a mistake-prone and wielding product to be much steeper than it was. Sure, I learned that too-thick lines make you look like a Kewpie doll and too thin lines are a waste of meticulous, lip-biting time… But I never once did the “EFF THIS, I’m wiping this shit off” move after a failed application.

I’m not really sure how long a tube (bottle?) of liquid eyeliner is supposed to last… But mine was kaput in about 5 months – is that normal? I don’t know. Either way, I miss it horribly and have since been on the search for the perfect liquid liner.

The first one I ventured to try was a laugh. A LAUGH, I tell you. Why did I even bother, I don’t know. Some people have amazing results with Wet’n'Wild Liquid Eyeliner and swear by it. I am not one of those people, as the most I did was swear at it.

It’s like $1.99, and it’s not worth any of those 199 pennies. Maybe three. But certainly no more than that.

That experience was full of application -> mistake -> try to smudge off -> make look horrible -> more vigorous eye-rubbing -> massive string of profanities -> attempt to wash off -> Why did I buy waterproof?

Not good.

My next attempt, I decided, would be educated. I looked online for the best liquid liners and heard really great things about Revlon’s ColorStay Eyeliner Pen. I’ve always been intrigued by the whole pen idea – yes, I was a major “draw on yourself”-kid. I fully hold this aspect of my personality responsible for this entire experience.

I ripped open the package as soon as I got home from the store. OOOH, A PEN! FOR MY FACE! I stared at the sculpted felt tip at the end and imagined how smoothly it would glide. I pictured the inky black that would make my eyelashes look like they were made of well-groomed shag carpeting (a coveted look, I’m sure). I ran to the mirror, and ran the tip across my lash line.

What the f…

What I saw when I refocused my vision was a jagged, semi-transparent line with breaks where my no-longer-13-years-old eyelid had been pulled. Gross. Toss.

Okay, retrieve from garbage can and place into makeup bag in case of emergency backup needs. In order to use this pen effectively, you have to do the whole eyelid-stretch thing which I really hate because it prevents you from really being able to stylize a line, and also because, hi, it’s uncomfortable.

FINE, I exclaim to myself. I’m going to spend real dollars on a real eyeliner from a real cosmetics company (no offense Revlon – Wet’n'Wild, quit denying the truth).

I got up early yesterday morning, dropped boyfriend off at work, and headed straight for Ulta. I had no idea what brands I was looking for, I was just a cosmetically scorned bitch on a mission.

WHAT CAN YOU HELP ME FIND? OH, I’LL TELL YOU WHAT YOU CAN HELP ME FIND. A F—ING EYELINER THAT ISN’T A PIECE OF SHIT, BUDDY!

Ok, I didn’t really go that far – I was quite lovely, really, if I do say so myself. I told the adorable sales dude that I wanted a pigment-y liquid liner that had a thin, brush applicator – no felt, no sticks, no funny business – just a brush. First, he says “We have one.” He leads me to Urban Decay’s Liquid Liner in those pretty, pretty bottles.

The only thing I’ve heard about this particular product is actually bottle-related. Toward the end of the product’s lifespan, it becomes very hard to dig the remaining product out of the strangely-shaped bottle. For $18, I’d better get to use as much of this puppy as possible. However, the number of available colors was impressive, and I even spotted one that was similar to my precious Prune from Bourjois.

Salescutie then remembers – Oh! Actually, he has two more with brush tips to show me. OPTIONS ARE SEXY!

He reached for Too Faced Metal Eyed Liquid Liner. He makes  Mr. Yuck face while opening the tester. As he puts a line on the back of his hand, he says “We don’t like this one.” Oh, we don’t? “No, you almost, like, have to wear two eyeliners in order to get that bold line – see how it’s kind of jagged and transparent.”

…Ok, we don’t like that one. I’m not paying $17.50 for something that going to make me violent.

The last one he showed me was awfully tempting. Smashbox’s Masquerade Liquid Eyeliner & Lash Overlay ($19) was cutie-sales-guy’s favorite.

After sheepishly asking what a “lash overlay” was, he explained that each liner brush has ridges on the stick part (so technical) that allows you to use the liner fluid on your lashes, over mascara. “The bronze is bbeeaauuuuuutifuuuuuuuul“, he says.

Photo from MakeupAndBeautyBlog

Because they’re seasonal, there are only two shades – a bronze and a teal. While they’re likely very gorgeous on, I’m looking for something a little more everyday and a little less faaaabulouuuuuus!, you know?

So it was decision time. After testing all of the liners on my own hands, I went with the Urban Decay Liquid Liner in Crash – which is a deep, aubergine-purple. After checking out all of the available colors (MANY.), it was the closest I could find to my previous Prune. $18 later, it was mine, and I ran to my house (car) to put it on. It glides so smoothly, there are no icky creases or ugly, jagged lines. The tip was perfect and tapered and narrow… I did have to pull out a stray bristle, though.

I feel obligated to mention a touch of buyer’s remorse, though. Once driving, I kept staring at the super-inky, dark, bold black line on the back of my hand – Perversion by Urban Decay. Ugh, the line is so clear, thick, black, perfect… Next time, I will have it. For now – i’m going to enjoy success.

…for the next 3 hours. As my boyfriend and I sit at a sushi restaurant in Ballard, looking lovingly into each other’s eyes, I notice he’s not exactly looking… into my eyes – he’s looking around them.

“Are you wearing glitter?”

What.

“There’s glitter all over your eyes and stuff.”

WHAT.

Closer inspection reveals that my brand new eyeliner is purple… with silver sparkly bits. Sigh.

I cannot win this damned battle. I’m going back for the black, Perversion, ASAP.

Technorati Tags: bourjois paris, brush tip liner, colorstay, cosmetics, eye makeup, eyeliner, eyeliner pen, liquid eyeliner, makeup, review, Revlon, smashbox, too faced, urban decay

It’s Jen! Lindsay’s bestie, co-Demoiselle, and author of the socially-conscious fashion blog, Awakened Aesthetic. You might have noticed that our blogs are getting cuddly – I’ll remove this text after we get to know each other!

Hey all!  I’m fresh back from Boston, where I represented Broke & Beautiful at the TJ Maxx and Marshalls Fall Preview event, held at their headquarters in Framingham, Massachusetts.

I was surprised at how much I didn’t know about TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and the world of off-price.  There’s a lot to it, so I’m just going to jump right in.

One of the TJX buyers with some Fall ’10 trends: neutrals, grays and lots of metal, fur and lace detail.

TJ Maxx and Marshalls are off-price.  They’re not department stores, and definitely not discount stores. …and that’s not just PR bullshit.  The difference is in the way Maxx and Marshalls buy.

• While discount stores buy unsold leftovers from department stores,  buyers for TJ Maxx and Marshalls contact the designers directly.  That means no middle man, and no middle man means no markup.
• So they buy like department stores, directly from designers…but department stores buy months in advance, and TJ Maxx and Marshalls buy merchandise constantly.  That means they can go to designers about the 2010 fall trends now, and get them cheaper because the designer needs room to work on their Spring ’11 line.

(A shopping tip: check the tags.  If there are any past season or damaged items – it’s rare – are clearly marked.  Anything else is current season.)

The bloggers are salivating.  This year, jackets are going the way of long wood and short leather. Structure is definitely in.

TJ Maxx and Marshalls’ customer base is filled with…me.

• The people that shop these stores most are women in their late twenties, thirties and forties, with a middle-to-high income.
• They like shopping – they have to.  Lower price points come with a catch: skimping on customer service.  The customers that keep coming back are the ones that “enjoy the hunt.”

I was skeptical about all this customer stuff – they’re like me? yeah, right – until I went to the Marshalls by my house: Seven jeans, Calvin Klein dresses, Nine West shoes.  (I even saw some Kelsi Dagger wedge booties for 49$ – off of $160.)  I feel like a shopping failure for not seeing it before.

Price check on isle Maxx.  The buyers ran to local department stores and brought us fresh merchandise to compare.  Whoa.

You have to shop at your local TJ Maxx and Marshalls to get what you want at TJ Maxx and Marshalls. The idea is to keep prices low, so these stores only carry what they know sells.  If the only things selling out are Uggs and polyester tops, that’s what TJ Maxx and Marshalls will carry.  But if a bunch of girls bomb them with off-price Prada, they’ll carry more Prada.

Yes.  Really.  Prada.

Now that I’ve given you every reason to shop at TJ Maxx and Marshalls, here’s a silly video about how awesome Boston is.

Wondering who else, aside from me, Sandra from Debutante Clothing and Rosa from Accidental Sexiness got the inside scoop?  Check out the list below for the other bloggers invited to the TJ Maxx and Marshalls fall preview, and click the links to see what they’ve said about the event.

If you still need more reasons to shop at TJ Maxx and Marshalls, check out Target’s anti-gay rights donations, or how H&M destroys what it doesn’t sell.  (A side note: the Wal-Mart clothing was destroyed by a contractor, not Wal-Mart employees.  Wal-Mart still undermines US economy, however, so don’t shop there, please.)  Then read up on TJ Maxx and Marshalls’ charity partnerships and Goodwill donations.  I promise it will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Technorati Tags: bloggers, buyers, Designer on the Cheap, discount stores, fall trends, marshalls, off-price, sales, tj maxx

Either way, I’m back, and I’m ever so sorry for the sudden departure (which is kind of funny, now that I think about it. OkCupid totally predicted this).

Well, eat this, flimsy internet dating site – I’m here.

Also, my Mom dug out this picture today, citing divine foreshadowing – a sign of things to come.

My 5th birthday. Literally. This is what i decided to do on my 5th birthday – headband, hair clip, DOS.

There is very little relevant content in this post, I just wanted to say hi.

And I miss you.

OH, and I have some serious plans that I can’t tell you about right now that you will love immensely (or really, really hate – it’s one or the other) and I’m very excited to share them with you but I can’t because it’s a big secret so don’t hate me, k?

The end!

Technorati Tags: random pointless gibberish

Jealousy, Race, and Summer Jackets

Edited by: Thom Wong of The Sunday Best.
A veritable cornucopia of stylish reading awaits you in this week’s list. You’ll get taken on a tour of (rarely mentioned) downtown Halifax, discuss again whether any role model should be based on image, and look into doing the impossible with a dying medium. Along the way discover what tips men might have for women’s style, whether a closet can be perfectly unisex, and what Mormons might know about minimalism.

Links à la Mode: August 5th

• Amanda Lee: Avoiding Fashion Impulse Buys
• All Tumbled Down: Reflections on a year of no shopping
• An Early Life Crisis: Project 27 Completed!
• Beyond Fabric: Work appropriate: tips for being presentable at conservative workplaces
• Broke and Beautiful: You smell different.
• Clothed Much: How to create a minimalist closet
• Fashionable People, Questionable Things: Big Day Downtown: A Roundup of our shopping trip in downtown Halifax.
• Frenchleave: Who wants to wear a summer jacket
• Guacamole and Toast: An interview with The Impossible Project’s Florian Kaps
• Independent Fashion Bloggers: How to take your own outfit photos
• Mariel’s Castle: A case of unisex
• The Demoiselles: Women in the Media: Adele
• Stylish Thought: Losing Out Essence: Issues of Race in Fashion
• Modly Chic: Friend Friday: Blogger Jealousy
• Oranges and Apple German magazine bans professional models – nine months on
• Sparkle Birds: Sunday’s Best
• Sugar and Spice: Christina Hendricks: curvy role model or another unattainable ideal?
• The Coveted: Three essential beauty products under $20
• The Sunday Best: Copy Fail | Gap CORE
• The Very Subjective: The Style Thing
• Un-Stitched: Best of etsy.com

Technorati Tags: independent fashion bloggers, links a la mode