Candy Corn Nails - Just in Time for Halloween

Today is Halloween - don't worry, you still have time to dress up, even if it is just your nails. This manicure is one for those with a sweet tooth...

You will need a yellow and orange polish. I used these two from Sinful Colors. You can get them at most drug stores.

I started by painting my nails with the yellow and letting them dry.

Following the yellow, I used some tape and put it over my nails about 1/3 of the way down and painted the orange below the tape. (Scotch tape will also work.)

Once that is dry, repeat with a new piece of tape and while polish.
 

Now you have perfect candy corn nails. (You could also use this technique with three of your favorite colored polishes for an easy, cute mani any time of year.)

Perfectly Glossed Kisses,

Sutton

Post Hurricane Sandy

We hope everyone is safe and sound today. The devastation in and around New York City, upstate, New Jersey, Long Island, Connecticut, etc. is beyond terrible, and something probably none of use could have imagined even being warned of just how bad this storm would be. We truly hope everyone you know is safe. A lot of people are complaining of cabin fever - we're guilty of that, too - and we just hope that is your worst problem, too, because that means you're okay. We know this will be yet another example in history of how New Yorkers come together in times of need, and are encouraged by people's ability to become generous and selfless. We know we will all get through this together!

Fashion Does Halloween

Thank goodness power is still on here in New York and I can blog on important things like Halloween - I hope those of you who plan on celebrating are able to because that means this rude hurricane has blown over. 

I’m not really sure when Halloween costumes started to be sold at prices that imply these companies think they’re designer or something. I mean, they’re poorly made, as far as women’s costumes they require little to no fabric – and really, they’re not actually made of fabric but more the kind of material you would use to cover a lawnmower in a rainstorm. I’m pretty sure they’re all highly flammable. And you can only wear them once. I miss the good old days when I was younger and costumes were priced appropriately for one-time, garbagey wear, or when I had the time and energy to put into making something. I was a kickass Liza Minelli in Cabaret one year. Although, no one else in my fifth-grade class got it. Anyway, if you’re a socialite, celebrity, mysteriously famous scenester, etc., and you have money to burn on a costume that won’t burn – and amazing parties to be photographed at in it – dressing up for Halloween can be quite the festivity. The sky’s the limit. Some stars, or their teams, are super creative – surprising for some, not for others like fashion designers. And they have the world at their fingertips when it comes to supplies and props and such. In celebration of Halloween, I thought it would be fun to look at some of the best costumes that have been donned by fashion stars.

Marc Jacobs' costume parties are notorious, so it's no wonder that he goes full-on wackadoo for his own get-up. I don't know what's going on here but it's disturbing and elaborate and I like it. And while it's not of Jacobs' or Robert Duffy's doing, the mask that's photo-bombing in the back adds extra horrifying points.

This one of Agyness Deyn and Alexa Chung speaks to me because my best friend and I did this costume duo in high school, and it excites me to see models/fashion-multi-hyphenates have a sense of humor and geek out like us plebeians. 

Have to include Twiggy. Because it's Twiggy. And she makes the chicest Morticia.

I hate to let Alexa Chung sneak in here twice, but this costume is everything. It is the costume of my wildest dreams. A gorgeous Marie Antoinette that's opulent and rich instead of the "Sexy Marie!" flammable ones sold at Party City? AND the beheading wound? Brilliant. Genius. Bravo.

Gotta love Giles Deacon for kicking it old school. There's something ironically brilliant in this simplistic, child-during-the-1960s costume.

Believe it or not, I'm not one to normally pay attention to Brooke Shields, but what a good sport. She looks totally bats**t as Fester, but in a good, well-planned costume sort of way, and she's doing it to go trick-or-treating with her kids. Which is awesome. What a good sport.

This one's out of left field: Michelle Trachtenburg. This costume is expertly executed. And it happens to be from one of my favorite movies (She's Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas if you didn't know, but you should, so go watch it, nerd). She really committed, I give her major props - I wonder if she did Sally's weird rag doll walk, too.

* Images from http://www.fashionologie.com and http://www.harpersbazaar.com.

Handbags and Hugs - and stay safe everyone!

Astor

Lazy Beauty Sunday

It's that time again... when I take one full day and pamper myself. And yay that day is today! I really need it, last night Astor and I went to Via Quandronno for cappuccinos and I was up late.

Now that it is chilly enough I needed to soak in the bath, a girl can get so sore from carrying around all of my shopping bags. I love the bath at my parent’s apartment... almost as large as a Jacuzzi. Unfortunately I only have a regular-size tub, which in NYC I suppose I have to be happy I don't only have a shower stall. Don't fret; I was able to turn my normal-size tub (ugh) into a spa experience.

http://aromafloria.com/default.aspx

Stress Less Bath Salts $16; Bubble Bath $13

After pouring in half a cup of each the bath salts and bubble bath (both with a lavender scent, my favorite), I was ready to hop in and soaked for a good 20 minutes until I felt completely relaxed.

 

http://www.malinandgoetz.com/

Malin + Goetz moisturizing shampoo, intensive hair mask $25 each

Sometimes I need some moisture, lucky me I have oily hair... that's also dry. I need something to really clean it while ALSO replenishing it. These both do all of that, smell great and leave my hair soft and shiny, what else could one want?

http://www.iomaparisusa.com/

IOMA Absorbant Mask $125

I have an obsession with face masks; you can find at least eight in my medicine cabinet, not including the armoire that I keep full of beauty supplies - no, that’s not weird. This IOMA mask has to be one of my favorites: it zaps bacteria to leave you with clear radiant skin, plus it tightens up my pores. I use it twice a week: apply on skin, leave for ten minutes and rinse off, easy peasy.

http://www.browhaus.com/us/

http://strip-usa.com/

 

I had to leave my apartment yesterday to go and get some waxing and threading done... sorry if this is TMI, but you were the one who wanted to read about my day.

I went downtown to Strip Ministry & Browhaus on Spring Street. They are the bext waxers in NYC, and I have tried so many places. All technicians are fully trained from the original techs in who opened the Singapore location.

I started with my brows, THERE IS NOT A BETTER PLACE FOR BROWS EVER. (And I so want you to know where I go, I can see your caterpillar eyebrows from here!) Saying I went to get a 'brow threading' would be the understatement of the year. I get the Bowgraphy: threading, tweezing and brow tinting. I naturally have lovely almost invisible eyebrows, so I love getting them tinted. I'm not sure if they use a measuring tape or something but they always turn out perfect. Lay back in the reclining chair while they work away. You're leaving a totally new person. I work hard on my eye makeup and messy brows totally ruin that.

And next... Daddy if you happen to have visited the blog and are reading this post I suggest you tune out now. If you are still reading I will be expecting a call later this week, that's when the Amex bill comes right? Anyway, where was I? Oh right, my Brazilian. If you ever wax anything below the belt, live in NYC and are not going to Strip Ministry there is seriously something wrong with you. It is actually very simple. Hygiene: they never double dip the applicator sticks, that is so disgusting. And they always wear gloves (they even have hygiene wipes for you to use when you enter the room). Speed & pain: face it, no one wants to get a wax and be there forever, awkward much? This is the most painless Brazilian you could possibly want, they use a hard wax instead of a strip wax. The wax is applied and hardens in a few seconds and is then taken off. No strips required, they cause so much pain and that tugging sensation. Their wax is chocolate, only made for the Strip Ministry locations, so you will not find it anywhere else, and smells so yummy. (They are actually launching a new scented wax for the winter, Gingerbread, I'm so excited, don't worry I will let you know more when they launch it, I honestly believe this wax deserves its own post!)Now go make your appointment and tell me all about it 212.431.1121

Perfectly Glossed Kisses,

Sutton

What We're Wearing

Today I am wearing Pacifica's Color Quench Lip Tint in Blood Orange. Every time the weather changes I get chapped lips, which is a huge pet peeve of mine. I have been in the process of trying to find something that heals my lips but isn't a skier's chapstick. This is the perfect product for moisture and leaves a lightly tinted sheen of color.

$9

http://www.pacificaperfume.com/

Perfectly Glossed (And moisturized - and tinted) Kisses,

Sutton

It might not be that sunny but I’m wearing my heart-shaped sunglasses from 80's Purple anyway, clouds be damned. They’re too cute to hide in my bag. Heart-shaped shades are a cheeky way to finish a tougher look – keeping it feminine – but I especially love these because they remind me of my favorite movie ever, True Romance. Here, they’re lending their sweetness to my vintage biker jacket, Eddie Borgo necklace, Markus Lupfer sweater, Asos skirt, Alexander Wang bag and I-don’t-remember boots.

Handbags and Hugs,

Astor

The Top Five Best Labels This Year

The longer you love fashion, the more designers start to become like bands to you. You have your favorites. There are the ones you love no matter what they do, you stick by them through even questionable seasons. There are the ones you freak out over for one amazing season, but maybe not the next. There are the ones you just never seem to care about. I definitely have my perennial favorites, but then there are the ones I suddenly am surprised I love, some even that might be older and that I had all but turned my back on. Here are my top five favorite labels for this season - these are the labels that I am busting my you know what to be able to wear for fall.

Kenzo

Kenzo has been around the block, and went from fashion favorite to a little bit forgotten. Opening Ceremony wunderkind Humberto Leon and Carol Lim brought it back to life with a surge, though, thanks to saturated color palettes and retro-tastic details. It’s French cool with an ‘80s-inspired twist and decidedly downtown in a luxe way. Their prints are obsess-worthy, the colors are mandatory for a wardrobe update, and that tiger sweater – enough said. I never thought I'd be so excited about an older brand showing up with some new duds.

3.1 Phillip Lim

3.1 Phillip Lim is a romance that's been blossoming for a while now. I didn't love the line at first, but my affection has just grown every season. For FW12, its signature clean and concise minimalism got the graphic treatment, adding statement-making appeal to the sharply contemporary aesthetic. It's still understated, still so sleek and city, but it's got a dose of modern art appeal. And it didn't hurt that I was even more over the moon for the SS13 collection, with its irreverent prints and feminine-meets-grunge attitude. So, this label will most likely be in my top five for spring, too.

Carven

Sometimes at night I can’t sleep because I’m just lying awake crying over how good Carven is. My brain just can’t comprehend how a brand can be so amazing, and I think it’s that thing like how the human mind isn’t supposed to be able to comprehend the existence of God. It’s just so perfectly tailored into sharp silhouettes, so feminine but sophisticated, so French, so understated yet striking, so smart. The colors that are almost ‘70s-reminiscent, the crisp menswear-inspired classics, the structured skirts, the cutouts. And FW12 was just one of the best examples of the label’s amazingness. That Renaissance print? I mean, really. Are you kidding me? You’re just going to let that print loose on the streets? It’s too good. That chartreuse color? I don’t care if it makes my skin look like I’m in need of a Dramamine, I’ll be wearing it. 

Balenciaga

You can bet your Darth Vader nun hat that Balenciaga will be jaw-dropping good every season, but FW12 really touched my soul with its contrasting fabric and pattern splices, and obviously those sweatshirts. I don’t even really understand them, but then I guess Balenciaga’s power does somewhat lie in its status as an enigma. Do we always understand why something is amazing? No. We just have to know what it is. And I know I need gorgeously cut minimalist coats, cobalt dresses, and leopard jacquard jackets. 

Dolce & Gabbana

To first understand my obsession with Dolce & Gabbana’s FW12 collection, you must know that I am an enormous history nerd. I’ve been drowning in volumes on Marie Antoinette, Catherine the Great, Nicholas and Alexandra, and the Medicis since I was nine. This collection was like my worlds colliding to the most harmonious results. These pieces are what Catherine Medici would have worn if she were alive today, or perhaps even just in her own time, but with that luxe, fashion-forward twist. I really had given up on Dolce & Gabbana. They were so incredibly mainstream that I thought they’d gone the way of the guido, to be honest. But this line restored my faith in them and then some. It is the line I covet the very most, I would gladly start working my way down a list of organs to sell in order to own it in its entirety. I don’t even care that it’s unrealistic, I’ll make use of every piece everyday, wearing that needlepoint lace dress to work like it ain’t no thang, and choosing the sheer corset dress for drinks at dive bars downtown. I just need to wear it, all of it, in its rich, opulent, baroque beauty. I think this is Dolce & Gabbana either back with a bang or at its pinnacle – however you view the line. The elegance is unabashed and artful without ever teetering on tacky, backed up by the incredible craftsmanship.

* Images from Style.com

Handbags and Hugs,

Astor

Apple Manicure

FALL, FALL, FALL! In case you were wondering, fall is my favorite season. Apple picking, hot cider, leaves changing colors, sweaters and boots, does it get any better? I needed my nails to reflect my love of fall.

I wanted to do some apple nails I saw somewhere before the season was right. I was a bit nervous as to how hard this would be, but fear not, it was so simple. I started by painting my nails with CND Gold Shimmer which just creates a shine gold sheer base color.

Then I used CND red polish in Fireberry and started to paint the apple. Make a half circle on the corner of your nail.

Now do the same thing on the other side.

Now I used the nail pen to draw the stem. I only had a black one which seemed to work fine, but you could do a brown color with a pen or free hand if you prefer.

Now it is time for the stem, I used a green nail polish (Forever21 polish) and a tooth pick. Just dip the tooth pick in the polish and paint on the leaf.

To really make these nails really pop I put on a curved white line (using NYC Nail Enamel - bought at a drug store) to make the apples look as if they are shiny. I used another toothpick and white polish to draw on the white line.

Perfectly Glossed Kisses,

Sutton

Portrait Surgery: The Launch

Portrait Surgery has been quietly working up a storm since September 13th, but Thursday night celebrated its official launch, letting those who weren’t already clued in know that Portrait Surgery is ready to give your photos the flawless treatment. Guests feted the site and its already flourishing success at King’s Cross, a low-key bar with rock attitude on the Bowery. Every guest was given a mug with Portrait Surgery’s clever slogan, “Fix My Pix” and tubes of Yu-Be Skincare’s Moisturizing Skin Cream inside. The skin care product is a perfect tie-in with this retouching site’s approach: be the best version of yourself. This is not a site that will airbrush you into oblivion, instead, it will make your images beautiful, perfect, yet realistic. It’s a unique and refreshing option that this market was in need of.

Those in need of personal and professional retouching are already lining up, so head over to Portrait Surgery now to benefit from the incredible experience and expertise, at amazing prices. And as if it could get any better - it did: enter promo code FIXMYPIX at checkout for a whopping 75% off your first order. 

Handbags and Hugs,

Astor

October Birchbox

I have always loved getting mail. Sometimes I shop online instead of going shopping just because I would rather have something arrive in the mail. Receiving mail, beauty products and surprises are three of my favorite things, so it's no wonder I ordered and am obsessed with Birchbox. For $10 a month I receive a box of beauty samples in the mail. One of the things that I love about Birchbox in particular is that they send four to five deluxe samples each month and include one non-beauty product (last month I got Earbud headphones). You will usually get items that work for you: when you join you fill out a questionnaire asking you ago, hair color, skin color/concerns and how advanced your makeup skills are. They also have tips on how to use their products, and cute video how-tos.

I got two of the LA Fresh nail polish remover wipes which is quite convenient for me as I change my nail polish so often. This is a great product to keep in your bag, they are orange scented which is definitely less obnoxious then regular remover, but I will not say that it doesn't smell like remover. I tried one on regular polish and it worked quite well, then I tried one on a glitter polish and was able to remove some of the polish but needed to switch to regular polish remover and cotton balls, a trick we showed you here.

I love products that have more than one use. This highlighter, the Balm from Mary-Lou Manizer, brightens and widens the eyes when applied along the brow bone and in the inside corners of eyes, and can also be used as an all-over shimmer. This product is a great example of why I love Birchbox: I discovered a new product that I now love and the packaging is so cute, about the size of a box of matches.

Another sample product in an adorable size (I truly believe wonderful things come in small boxes, Tiffany's much?): Naked Shine Luscious Lip Gloss. It's light, works for all skin tones, and isn't too sticky. Gave me a "bee-stung" lip without burning (But it does have a little tingle).

https://www.facebook.com/willaskincare/app_254553244581393Thanks

I was of course happy to get another Willa product - I've been obsessed before and after the launch at Bendel's. This moisturizer is great, lightweight, has natural ingredients and is always paraben-free. Won't leave you greasy and absorbs on contact. (Honestly, who doesn't love an inexpensive product, $11.50, which actually works?) PS: get a TON of Willa products for free by going to their webpage and sending a pic of you in your Halloween costume!

The Luna bar was the non-beauty product in this month’s Birchbox. I happen to like Luna bars because they are pretty healthy and are rather delicious. I always carry some kind of snack in my bag at all times, I am not enjoyable if I'm hungry (Astor refuses to leave the apartment with me unless I have some type of food in my bag).

Perfectly Glossed Kisses,

Sutton