What We're Wearing

Today I am wearing a must have: MOR Cosmetics Lip Macaron. One of the most moisturizing products. I have trouble admitting my faults (surprising, right?). But I have to be honest: all winter long I suffer from chapped lips. It's awful, basically debilitating. No, I am NOT being dramatic. Moving on... I have finally found the magic answer in Lip Macaron. They come in a variety of delicious flavors: Sorbet, Peach Nectar, Rosebud, Blood Orange, Cassis Noir and Lychee Flower. My absolute favorite is French Vanilla: amazingly sweet and my lips smell good enough to eat. Most importantly, something that finally lets me say goodbye to chapped lips that isn't a gross chap stick made for skiers. (I can say that because I am, of course, an amazing skier. Speaking of which why hasn't Daddy called me to let me know when we leave for Vail? Don't worry I'm on it.) Go have hydrated, kissable chap-free lips.

$10.00 MOR Cosmetics Lip Macaron

www.morcosmetics.com

Perfectly Glossed (not chapped) Kisses,

Sutton

HI I AM STILL DEAF BECAUSE I STOOD NEXT TO THE SPEAKERS AT A SHOW LAST NIGHT AND NOW I’M PRETTY SURE I’M SHOUTING AT EVERYONE SO APOLOGIES IN ADVANCE TO ANYONE I ENCOUNTER TODAY - but I’ll spare you the e-shouting. Anyway, I’m not sure when different variations of a school girl look became my go-to, but it’s what I do when I oversleep or have like no time to get ready. I reach for a button-down shirt, a sweater and a skirt, in any combination. Since most of my clothing is a little edgier, I like to think I’m making this grunge-meets-French-girl-chic thing happen, but it probably just looks like I’m getting nostalgic for my private school uniform days. Whatevs. So today’s combination is built around my Opening Ceremony cat sweater – one of my favorites. It’s layered over a technicolor Navajo-inspired flannel shirt from Urban Outfitters and because I felt like there still wasn’t enough chaos in the neck area, I added a rainbow-hued crystal necklace. Topped off with more look-at-me in the form of my gold-plated YSL loafers. Sixteen-year-old uniform-wearing me WISHES she had these.

Handbags and Hugs,

Astor

Fashion Gift Guide: Secret Santa

We all have one, whether it's at work or you do it with your third cousins, twice-removed - Secret Santa. It might seem irritating, having to shell out for someone you don't know that well, having to search high and low for some kind of gift that works for any age, man or woman - I mean, what gift is that? But think of the alternative. What if you didn't know when to stop buying gifts for people - if you buy one for your boss, you have to buy one for your cubicle mate and then then the IT guy and WHERE DOES IT END? A Secret Santa is really the easiest, most affordable way to gift-give, if you think about it, not the reverse. To save you hours of wandering the aisles of Target, here are a few fun ideas you can just click on over to and be done with it -but still have a cute gift.


For a fun foodie gift that's pretty quirky, head to Fred Flare whatever your budget. This bacon candy is just $6.50: 

Or there's this hot chocolate on a stick for $15:

If you know you're catering to a fashion-appreciating or even cultural crowd, there's nothing like a good coffee table book to please the masses. Everyone loves YSL. And if they don't, I have no idea why you're associating with these people, please stop. This book - I have a copy myself - is actually chock full of interesting info, unlike most coffee table gems. And it's on the lower end of the price spectrum for this type of thing, $25 from Assouline at Net-A-Porter.

Who isn't on the search for the perfect chunky scarf. Seriously, WHO? This versatile, classic scarf from Old Navy is just $14 and will make anyone happy. And warm. 

If you hang with a bunch of modern cats, they probably appreciate a touch of the minimalist, a hint of the avant garde. And they all need to write stuff. Ergo, this notebook from Maison Martin Margiela by L'Atelier D'Exercices is one cool gift. They will remember you and your hipness for years to come. $25 at Net-A-Porter. (I know it doesn't look like it from the picture, but it opens, I promise.)

Handbags and Hugs,

Astor

Beauty Gift Guide: Secret Santa

Secret Santa shopping can be so hard to accomplish. What can be a more challenging task: you must spend a certain amount and you don't know exactly what the recipient wants? Don't worry, I am here to help with some perfect ideas.

$19.99 Eclos Starter Kit

www.freemanbeauty.com

This Eclos Beauty Starter Kit is a great buy. Eclos Beauty skin care contains stem cells extracted from a rare Swiss apple. This kit includes a cleanser, clay mask, eye cream, serum, scrub, cream and a headband; basically everything you need for beautiful skin. The products are free of parabens. This kit is perfect for all skin types and great for travel. I have this Starter Kit and I saw a major improvement in my skin's texture, so I promise you will be thanked graciously for this gift.

$14.00 MOR Black Cherry Plum Soap

www.morcosmetics.com

This is one of my favorites! Not only is the packaging so cute (not even necessary to wrap this gift) but it's also affordable. I love the Black Cherry Plum scent, but there are ten other delicious scents for you to choose from. It gets a great lather and doesn't dry out your skin the way some other bar soaps do.

$10.00 Aromafloria Stress Less Inhalation Beads

www.aromafloria.com

These Inhalation Beads are a perfect gift for someone at work. They come in six different types but I recommend the Stress Less. Who do you know at work that is never stressed out? That's what I thought, no one. The aromas of lavender, chamomile and sage are very calming. Let your co-worker fill the included pouch or their favorite container, inhale and relax.

$15.99 Yes To Carrots Color Balm Set of Three ($5.99 Individually)

www.yestocarrots.com

Everyone loves lip balm. Depending on what you are looking to spend you could buy an individual balm for $5.99 or the set of three for $15.99. Better yet, get the set of three, give two as gifts and keep one for yourself. The set comes with Rosy Bloom, Peachy Keen and Soft Plum. Each balm has a light tint and is very moisturizing. This gift works for chap stick, lipstick or lip gloss wearers: everyone will enjoy it, no matter their needs.

$15.00 Cynthia Rowley Mini Slant Tweezer & $.005 Cynthia Rowley Filemate

www.tweezerman.com

Tweezers and a nail file might not seem like the most exciting gift but it is when it's designed by Cynthia Rowley. How cute are these? I have the nail file in my bag right now, it comes in a plastic case. The tweezers are mini and easy to bring with you everywhere.

Perfectly Glossed Kisses,

Sutton

Holiday Nails

So it's officially the Holiday season and I'm ready for some seasonal nails. Not quite ready for a Christmas tree or a Menorah but need to get in the spirit!

 

$8 Color Club Polish in Disco Nap

http://www.birchbox.com/

$14 Julep Polish in Demi Bombshell

http://www.julep.com/

I started my painting my nails in Julep Demi Bombshell which is a deep oxblood color and makes me feel merry. Seriously merry.

 

After letting those dry, I stuck on my tape to make a straight line. I painted a very thick French manicure with gold. I used Color Club Disco Nap

 And yet again dry time... I was very productive shopping online.

Then I used my tiny gems bought at a craft store. In case you haven noticed, I am newly obsessed with gemming my nails. 

Paint a coat of clear nail polish on your ring finger and apply the gold gems just above the French manicure. I picked up the gems with tweezers to apply them. I used the Point Tweezers by Tweezerman. These have a super fine point which makes the gems easy to pick up. On that note they are also amazing at grabbing teeny tiny super fine hairs!

$22 Tweezerman Point Tweezer

www.tweezerman.com

Of course you want to put a top coat on your nails to make them shine. Pay close attention to your ring finger where the gems are. You will want to do a thick top coat over the gems so they don't fall off. Enjoy the daily compliments you are sure to get on your beautiful holiday fingers.

Perfectly Glossed Kisses,

Sutton

What We're Wearing

Thanksgiving. Spending time with your family, laughing, talking, creating new memories. Or, is it yelling, arguing, wishing you were with your friends? Maybe a little of both. Just because you're stuffing your face while wearing your most stretchy pants and not seeing anyone to flirt with doesn't mean you can completely look like a slob. You don't have to go all out and look super glam but don't put in zero effort. Yesterday I wore Napoleon Perdis DéVine Goddess Lipstick in Aphrodite. Red lips are perfect when you don't want to put on a full face of makeup. They are my go-to when I want to look great and don't have a lot of time: moisturizer and red lips. I'm ready to walk out the door. No, I can't see you but yes, you can definitely pull off red lips. Anyone can with the right shade.

Napoleon Perdis DéVine Goddess Lipstick in Aphrodite

http://napoleonperdis.com/

Perfectly Glossed Kisses,

Sutton

Well, I survived Black Friday. I don't want to tell any of you who live in the New York area how surprisingly calm and non-nightmarish Woodbury Commons was - I was told by everyone it was a total massacre and now I think that's something Woodbury shoppers tell newbies to keep them away. Smart move, shoppers, smart move. I'll join you in that. Anyway, you don't even want to see what I was wearing last night. It involved Uggs, which meant breaking a lifetime ban of the shoes I hate so much. But it was desperate times, I was serious about getting my designer discounts. I couldn't let the cold I would have felt in my YSL loafers or the eventual ache from standing so long in my rag & bone boots distract me, or worse, interrupt me. But I made it through successfully - I got this Carven jacket and Thakoon Addition dress plus two wallets I'm giving as holiday presents all for $200. Like WHAT? I'm going to be riding this shopping high until New Year's. 

I'm through my dark period of dressing now, and heading to the Boyfriend's for Thanksgiving Round Two. I'm wearing my new beloved but oh-so-painful gold-plated YSL loafers with a gold Topshop sweater, my vintage leather jacket, Asos jersey skirt and Reed Krakoff Mini Standard bag. Oh, and I'm also wearing my hair in my face. It's windy.

Hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving and good luck with your discount shopping madness.

Handbags and Hugs,

Astor

Fashion Gift Guide: BFF

Your best friend is unlike any other friend. She has the decency to tell you that yes, you do look ridiculous in that dress so that you don't wear it out and look like an idiot all night. She comes with you to the sample sales for designers she doesn't love because she knows you need someone to hold all of your belongings while you're trying stuff on - and she knows you'd do the same for her. She understands and covers for you when you miss the knitting/dance/home-brewing class you guys are taking together because you need to camp out overnight for the next biggest chain store x designer collaboration. And the holidays are just the time to tell her thanks with the perfect gift. 

Downtown-Cool BFF

Splurge:

Your fashionably rocker-chic friend will get tons of use out of this effortlessly cool Zoe Karssen sweatshirt - it's as comfortable as it is stylish. At $160 at Net-A-Porter, it's in a good price range for a dear ol' pal.

Save: 

This nail necklace from Obey is just $31 at 80s Purple. It's cool in a very not-trying-too-hard, Brooklyn-chic kind of way. And the nails could kind of be like you and your buddy. If one of you is significantly taller.

Modern Minimalist Friend:

Splurge:

Everyone loves Commes des Garcons. Everyone uses a wallet. If your friend is a sharp-dressin' minimalist, she will officially consider you the best friend in the world if you get her this wallet at OAK, for $205.

Save:

This Fort Standard bracelet is perfection incarnate. It's so understated, but so chic and striking in its simplicity. With its little knot detail, it's kind of like a grown-up friendship bracelet, only much more timeless and fashion-forward. Plus, it's just $40 at Need Supply.

Park Avenue Prep BFF

Splurge:

I'm kind of addicted to Kate Spade's tongue-in-cheek bags. They're THE perfect gift for any BFF, really - they're chic, timeless and have a little inside joke built right in for you two. This "Knock On Wood" shopper is rich and sleek but still quirky. $148 at Kate Spade.

If your BFF has a preppy streak, she can't deny her love for J.Crew's wear-forever sweaters. Classic, versatile, clean and polished, these knits are a true wardrobe staple. Make sure to get a great bright color - $60 at J.Crew.

Handbags and Hugs,

Astor

Beauty Gift Guide: BFF

Your BFF... need I say more? She is always there for you; how many nights have you spent laughing and crying with her? Now it is time to treat her. Face it, you can be kind of a snot, a bit bossy and sometimes selfish (okay fine, that's me), BUT I also know you can be an amazing friend. So show how awesome you are and get her something she will love.

Beauty Obsessed BFF

Anastasia Want You To Want Me Kit. No, this is not just a cute clutch-shaped box. This is a full kit with everything your BFF needs to look beautiful. It includes a nine-pallette eye shadow in shimmery colors suited for all skin tones. There is a two-ended brush (usable for many looks), black liquid eye liner and brow mousse. I want to just carry around this kit at all times, but in a pinch you can remove the eye shadow pallette to toss into your purse. The shadow kit works for so many looks, from natural to smoky and more.

$34 Want You To Want Me

www.anastasia.net

Now that you snatched up the eye kit for only $34, you need to get your hands on the Kisses On My List Lip Gloss Kit with six gorgeous shades. I honestly cannot get over these... umm... I don't even know what to call them, 'gloss' just doesn't to them justice. They are a collection of matte, shimmer, satin and chap-stick glosses. No matter what make up look she is trying to accomplish, one of these will definitely do the trick.

$30 Kisses On My List

www.anastasia.net

Don't worry beauty lovers I'm not finished. I am also loving Vapour Organic Beauty’s 3D Holiday Collection. This collection includes three amazing products. The Siren Lipstick in Bold is a perfect rich red for the holidays. Want to show up to your office holiday party in drop-dead red lips?  Yes. You do.  I must admit that I suffer from chapped lips basically all winter long, lucky right? Well that doesn't make wearing lipstick easy for me because as soon as I put some red on my lips the lines and peeling disappear instantly. Siren Lipstick is also moisturizing so dry lips be gone! The Mesmerize Eyeliner/Smoky Eye Tool in Black Velvet is also a winter must. I am ALL about smoky eyes for the winter. Finally, the Elixir Plumping Gloss in Bolt is a smooth and silky - never sticky -  plumping gloss for big pouty kisses.

$52 Vapour Beauty 3D Holiday Collection

www.vapourbeauty.com

Jet Setter BFF

It can be difficult gift-buying for you traveling BFF now that airports won't let her carry on all of her fav products. Not to fear!  I have a perfect solution, and can guarantee she won’t only travel with this kit on a plane she will travel with it every time she goes into the bathroom to wash her face. It includes everything she needs to keep her skin gorgeous all winter long. (Winter is especially horrid for your skin. It’s super drying and makes it even tougher to come back from a humid beach vacation to the arctic NYC winter). She will keep her skin clean and glowing with the Pure Cloud Cleanser while pumping up the moisture with the Arctic Hydrating Balm. My personal favorite is the Icelandic Relief Eye Pen. Click the pen like a lip gloss to dispense the eye cream and dab under eyes to moisturize and enjoy a nice cooling sensation. But it doesn’t stop there! Skyn Iceland didn't forget a night time treatment: using the Oxygen Infusion Night Cream will recharge her skin while she sleeps.  

$45 Skyn Iceland Quench Kit

www.skyniceland.com

Spa Loving BFF

Of course you love your BFF, but let’s face it you can’t bring her on weekly spa trips. But you CAN let her have the spa experience at home. I am obsessed with microdermabrasion treatments. Microdermabrasion uses teeny tiny crystals to buff off the top layer of dead skin cells and brightens and smoothes your skin. Beauty Society's Crystal Ball is an AMAZING at home treatment. 

$34.59 Beauty Society Crystal Ball - Microdermabrasion Treatment

www.beautysociety.com

  

Moving on to making her bath experience luxurious, the best way to do that is to buy her Absolis Patyka Body Lotion and Body Wash. Both of these products smell amazing and used together, the scent will last you all day. Many soaps and gels can really dry out your skin, which is something you do not want in winter, or anytime for that matter. This Shower Gel is very moisturizing, it creates a 'silky foam'. Your skin will drink up the body lotion and keep you smooth all day. These products come in a variety of amazing scents;: Precious Woods, Mandarin, Spearmint, Neroli and my favorite, White Grape.

 

       $55 Absolis Patyka Body Lotion and $45 Body Wash

Happy Shopping!

Perfectly Glossed Kisses,

Sutton

Holiday Dessert Nails

I wanted to create a festive manicure for Thanksgiving but didn't want one that looks too Christmas-y (don't worry, those manis will be coming soon). So I came up with this one:

I used Sephora by OPI in The Way Tutu His Heart polish, Julep in Vivien American Beauty and some gems from the craft store.

I started by using two coats of the pale pink on my nails, after a base coat of course. I left those dry while I started making my list for Santa.

This step was super easy. Apply the glittery polish to the tips of nails similar to a French manicure. No need to do a perfect line, it looks much cuter when it is messy. Like you dipped your fingers in gold.

Finally, I applied some gems along the top moon of my nails. This is a bit tedious, but well worth the effort. Paint a coat of clear polish on one nail and then stick three gems along the top, and continue with all ten fingers. Apply 1 to 2 coats of clear polish to make sure that the gems don't fall off.

Now you have a glittery, sugar-coated manicure that looks good enough to eat. Your Thanksgiving guests might confuse your festive nails for the dessert! Which could get awkward...but at least you have pretty, glittering nails.

Perfectly Glossed Kisses,

Sutton

What to Wear on Thanksgiving

The holidays are here already and that is terrifying. We all know this is the most challenging time of the year for eating anything close to healthy, but it's also one of the best times of the year. I mean, presents are coming soon. I'm never sure what to wear for Thanksgiving - I mean, you're supposed to look nice, but you are just sitting in the house all day. (And last year I made the unsettling mistake of wearing my new Alexander Wang sleeveless tuxedo jacket while helping my mother prep some tortes and it resulted in floured lapels so aprons are crucial, people.) I actually have two Thanksgivings, one with the family and one with the Boyfriend's family. Mine is pretty dressy, but Boyfriend's is pretty casz, or however you spell half the word "casual." So, I figured, I'd suggest both types of T-day outfits in case you're stumped. 

Here is a dressier option:

$120 at TopShop

This dress is perfect because it's modern yet opulent, and its trapezey shape is ideal for overeating.

$17.59 at Asos

You could just wear plain black tights, or you could go bold and do a li'l print clash. Depends on how conservative your T-day is, I s'pose. But the results of this contrast could be epic.

$34 at Frock Candy

These gold-tipped shoes are perfect for this outfit, and you'll get tons of use out of such a classic pair all year round.

$38 at Urban Outfitters

We're going bold, right? Take this look in a baroque direction with this bauble.

And for a more casual look...

Graphic sweaters are all the rage, and the cutest form of the trend are the sweet animal sweaters popping up from all different brands. You could splurge on an Aubin & Wills one, or you can get the look for just $30 from Old Navy.

Skinny corduroys are a casual wardrobe must anyway, so you might as well get them in a great autumny hue. This 7 for all mankind pair is $125 at Piperlime.

These tweed ankle boots are a textural departure from their expected leather cousins - and will definitely add a kick of tactile cool to your look. $68.99 at ModCloth.

Handbags, Hugs and Happy Thanksgiving,

Astor