If you want a cute dress then Motel is the brand to look to – especially if you’re looking for body con silhouettes and bold colors.  The English line has imported its unique brand of fun, vintage-inspired “killer-style” clothing.  These dresses, high-waisted shorts, and crop tops are made for fun in the sun. This spring whether you’re heading to the board walk, pool party or city streets Motel truly Rocks!  See more Motel at MotelRocks.com.

I’m a big fan of Rojas and whenever I visit the trade shows in Vegas I always make sure to stop by the Rojas booth.  Freddie Rojas is as charming as he is talented.  He always seems to know exactly what a girl wants – peplums, pink acid wash, jumpsuits, Native American prints and bow ties.  I also loved the line of holsters that he made – some of the styles are unisex – and I can’t wait to wear one!

Move over crackle polish, it’s time for magnetic polish to take the spotlight! Magnetic polish has made a comeback once again, providing nail polish addicts with a chic new way to change up their tips. It’s shown up everywhere from makeup boutiques such as Sephora, to drugstores such as your local Rite Aid! Today I’ll be showing you Layla Magneffect Magnetic Effect Nail Polish in #12 Black Metal, in addition to providing some of my thoughts on this particular polish. I picked it up at a local beauty supply store for about $14.

I had no problems with the consistency of the polish whatsoever. It wasn’t too thick or thin and the brush was easy to work with. Even though it’s a metallic polish, it didn’t leave terrible brush streaks like some polishes do. I also love the finished results,  because it’s unique yet sophisticated looking–something I would totally wear to a nice event!

The application process was simple enough. I started off by coating all of my nails with one coat. For the second coat, I applied the polish, then quickly placed my nail next to the magnet that came with the polish, repeating this step for each nail until my nails were complete.

Something I noticed right away is that the polish is really sensitive to the placement of the metal. Placing your nail extremely close to the metal and holding it very steadily gives you a more pronounced design, while an unsteady hand or further placement of the metal gives you a more blurred effect. You need to work quickly, or you may not get the design at all. I totally messed up and had really inconsistent designs on my first try with this polish, so the pictures show my second attempt.

I noticed that I couldn’t get the design on the sides of my nails, but that might be due to the fact that my nails are extremely curved.

I think this polish would look better on short to medium length nails, because the design looks really odd here on my thumb nail that’s quite long.

PROS:

• Polish has a good consistency and applies like a normal polish.
• It’s a fairly easy way to get trendy nails.
• Effect is unique and quite sophisticated looking.

CONS:

• Magnet takes a bit of getting used to.
• A bit pricey for a polish.
• People with really curved nails may not be able to get the design evenly across the nail bed.
• More ideal for short to medium length nails.

Have you tried this trend already? What are your thoughts on it?

Silence is golden, so I've heard

Dear MISSter Simms,

I have a little problem.  If I didn’t why would I be writing to you?  Anyway, I have what I like to think of as two different personalities.  When I’m out with my friends I’m like a loud party girl who isn’t afraid to speak her mind or even be a little crass.  When I’m with guys I like, though, it’s the exact opposite.  I act really shy, don’t say much, and become (I think) very boring.  However, I’m with a guy now that I met out at a club a few nights ago, and initially he saw more of my wild side because I didn’t really seriously like him like that.  Now my feelings are starting to change and I find myself become the shy girl again!  What can I do?

Silent But Deadly

Dear SBD,

Lil Wayne may hate shy chicks, but I personally LOVE them!  Really, there’s nothing inherently wrong with being a shy, quiet girl.  You just have to use it to your advantage by filling up all that time used not talking with something else.  A giggle, perhaps!  Or a witty one liner (while talking, it is only one line) that’ll have him LHAO-ing on the floor for days.  Or you can just look cute and twirl your hair around while licking an ice cream cone.  It’s been my experience that people love to talk about themselves, anyway, so I’m sure during your quiet times your boo won’t mind blabbing away about how awesome he is and how his day was while you sit there intently listening.  It’ll help later on down the line having things to talk about when you, say, start living with each other or something, but until that day comes make like Depeche Mode and enjoy the silence.

Need relationship advice?  Send your questions over to ronsimmsjr at gmail dot com.

If you love street style and you love flash sale sites then you will love PLNDR. You may already be familiar but if you’re not, PLNDR is Karmaloop’s flash sale site where you can find your favorite designers’ pieces for up to 80% off! Ridiculous, I know (in a good way!). The folks at PLNDR asked me to pick out my favorite pieces for a MISS curated sale – check it out – I hope my favorites are your favorites too!

Shop the MISS curated PLNDR sale here.

Attending PROJECT and blogging on site means that I needed all of my tools of the trade with me. Even if I wasn’t blogging on site I would need all the same tools but I wouldn’t be lugging around my computer with me. All professionals have their tools of the trade – here are my blogging tools of the trade…

Bag: Chanel Coco Cocoon Tote
Computer: MacBook Pro
Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Camera Strap: Sarah Frances Kuhn
Case for Cords and Chargers: LeSportsac
Notebook: Moleskine
Business Card Holder: Not sure I picked this up in a boutique in NYC years ago that was selling Japanese imports
Organizer: Muji
Phone: iPhone
Case: Incase tortoise shell case

and I always bring extra business cards and my press bagde!

I love where this line is going. Each season gets better and better. Spring 2012 is a Spring dream – I can’t wait to pack my suitcase full of their light airy dresses and lady like pieces. No frills here; each piece is clean and easy to wear without losing that romantic picnic-in-the-field feel.

I’m enamored with the dresses and materials, and really dig their color and fabric choices. The simple cuts make me feel like I could probably live in some of their pieces all summer and then try to add leggings and boots for the winter. I also love that the feminine edge of the line will allow me to throw a cardigan or blazer over them for work and slap on some heels afterwards for dinner. With great price points, too, I can’t wait to stock up before Spring/Summer jet-setting begins!

“All the pieces are strong but not overbearing. I wanted the girls to look like they are really lit from within, in gorgeous dresses and hats that my mother, a milliner, created.”

- Designer Fabiola Arias on her Fall 2012 collection.

To help bring this inspiration to life, Arias turned to NARS to create the look. “Fabiola wanted a look that was strong, but sophisticated at the same time,” said Lead International NARS artist, Uzo. “We created a very rich, ombre eye with warm shades complimented by gold tones. The inner corners of the eyes are meant to look like they are illuminated, and to balance the look, the lips have color but are tinted rather than full-on.”

Below are the key products used to create the look:

FACE

·         Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF30/PA+++

·         Sheer Glow Foundation

·         lluminator

EYES

·         Skorpios Soft Touch Shadow Pencil

·         Key Largo Duo Eyeshadow

·         Kuala Lumpur Duo Eyeshadow

·         Kilimanjaro Duo Eyeshadow

·         Vent Glacé  Duo Eyeshadow (New for Fall 2012!)

·         Eyeliner Stylo

·         Larger Than Life® Volumizing Mascara

LIPS

·         More Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil (New for Fall 2012!)

All products, except where noted, are available at narscosmetics.com

Now you know I had to try to recreate this look. To really test myself, I took a good look at the close up photo of the lovely model on the left (above), went to my bathroom mirror, and tried to recreate this look in my own way. The only item I own listed is the Kuala Lumpur duo, a lovely duo of rose gold shimmer/boysenberry with gold glitter. I turned to my Urban Decay Naked 2 palette because it contains lovely metallic bronze shimmers (dark and cool toned) that would help me recreate this look.

My interpretation:

I first applied MAC Indianwood Paint Pot (metallic, antique bronze) from lid to above crease. I used a damp dense shadow brush and packed on the right side of NARS Kuala Lumpur (boysenberry with gold glitter) from mid lid to outer corner of eye. I then took a crease brush and applied Urban Decay’s Suspect (light gold beige shimmer) in the inner corners of my eyes and I took the color up above my crease. With the same crease brush I took Urban Decay’s Snakebite (dark chocolate bronze shimmer) and applied in the crease. With a damp pencil brush, I used UD Suspect again on the bottom lash lines. I made the bronzed bottom lash line smoky. Blend the lid and crease well with a big, fluffy brush and end with many, many layers of black mascara.

I left my brow bone bare. I also decided to go without the liquid liner on my top lash line. You really focus on the bronze and berry shadow on the lids. Ugh, I really need to stop being lazy and do some clean up after I apply mascara. In my mind, I apply mascara well, whereas in the close up photo of my eye I really don’t know who I’m trying to fool! I need to also work on my ombre skills, gradation of colors. I think I did a pretty decent job.

Other notable products:

Face:

Chanel Perfection Lumiere, #44 Beige Ambre, NARS Illuminator Copacabana (pink pearl), NARS Bronzer Irresistiblement (blush).

Lips:

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil, Bahama (nude, pink brown), NARS Sweet Revenge Lip Gloss (sheer grapefruit)

This was a fun look to try to recreate. As you know, I love trying to recreate luminescent skin; I’m slowly getting there. I know blush wasn’t listed with products used to create the runway face but in the picture it looks like the model has some color on her cheeks other than just the Illuminating cream. It could be a different shade of cream used so I decided just a touch of terracotta bronzer on the apples of my cheeks would be all I needed. I really loved the lip color I went with – Bahama is my favorite dark nude lip shade and the gloss is my holy grail nude gloss. It works so well by itself on my naturally dark pigmented lips.

Not exactly sure if I’d wear this to work because it’s a bit too much metallic shimmer before 8AM. It would be a fun date night look – the illuminating cream would be awesome in darker light settings. Or this could be a great wedding look – your skin always photographs better with just a touch of shimmer on the tops of your cheekbones.

Last note, do not get down on yourself if you cannot recreate runway or even editorial looks. You are working from a vibe, an inspiration. Your own interpretation could be different from what I came up with and that’s exciting. I get a child-like rush when I try to recreate any looks I see and admire – like I’m playing with my mother’s makeup. I have lots of fun and that’s what matters most!

The day after showing her collection in New York City Betsey Johnson made an appearance in Las Vegas at her booth at MAGIC.  She has endless amounts of energy and she is so wonderful to her fans.  There was a very, very long line waiting to get a glimpse of BJ and take a photo with her in her booth.  Thanks for all the beauty you bring into the world – we love you Betsey!

While walking the POOL trade show I stopped in my tracks at the Tawapa booth.  I’m a sucker for hoop earrings – especially BIG hoop earrings and Tawapa hoops are statement makers.  Designed by Phoebe Minona, Tawapa started out as a line for stretch ears but now Phoebe designs jewelry for non-stretched ears as well.  Spending half of her time in Bali, Minona’s hoops take inspiration from nature and geometry and span moods from romantic to modern.  You can purchase Tawapa on the Tawapa webstore.