What We're Wearing

Today I'm wearing something that I always carry around with me in my bag: Evo's Love Touch Shine Spray. Let me start by making a very bold statement - it is one of the best smelling things in the world. To be totally honest, I would spray this product in my hair everyday even if it only scented my hair and did nothing else. But, of course, because Evo makes it, the product itself is amazing. A few sprays of this weightless shine spray and running a brush through my hair leaves my locks glossy, yet not greasy, and revitalized. The fact that it protects dry and dull hair from the elements is another added bonus. If it's possible, I am even crazier about this product in this horribly humid weather - frizz be gone! I need my hair to be perfect so that it doesn't distract from the Van Cleef & Arpels earrings I borrowed from my mom!

Perfectly Glossed Kisses,
Sutton




Okay, fine, my outfit shot today is from when I was still in LA. So sue me for being nostalgic. Here in New York, the weather went from cold and rainy to a humid 90 degrees, completely bypassing that 75-and-sunny sweet spot that is so typical for LA. I'm pretending I'm there now, in that ideal weather - where on one day, I was wearing this foil-flecked top/pleated chiffon bottom dress from Last Call Neiman Marcus and a bad-ass art deco necklace I got as a gift. Here's to hoping we have some kind of nice-ish weather this weekend.

 

 

 
Handbags and Hugs,

Astor

Picks from the Net-A-Porter Sale

I don't even know my own name right now. There are currently sales happening at Bergdorf, Ssense, Barney's - I'm feeling dizzy. But one of my favorites is the Net-A-Porter sale. Net-A-Porter is a holy grail site of high end fashion that most of us can't normally afford, but twice a year it becomes a little more accessible. We have our chance to strike. And while most sales start at up to 30% or 40%, Net-A-Porter starts at up to 50%. The selection is mind-blowing. So I thought I'd share a few ideas.

Really sharp, modern and minimalist, but still has some soft flow to it. It's all in the cut, which Helmut Lang is known for. Now $364 from $520.

These 3.1 Phillip Lim sandals definitely qualify as among this year's hottest shoes. They have the cool factor of statement shoes but the comfort factor of flats, yay! And they're 50% off! $375 from $750.

Yes, this is still a splurge but armor rings have proven their staying power as timeless statement pieces, and this version from Pamela Love is especially intricate and beautiful. $385 from $550.

I have this Mini Standard from Reed Krakoff in fuchsia and I'm obsessed with it. It fits more than it looks like it does, and it's so modern, minimalist and bright. Now, it's down from $590 to $413.

This rag & bone jacket is just amazing. WHY ARE THEY SO GOOD AT JACKETS?! And its price is falling, currently $556 from $795.

Handbags and Hugs,

Astor

Major Beauty Haul Giveaway - Win a Whole Bunch of Beauty Supplies!

UPDATE: We have a winner!!! Congratulations to @KateBHarding!!! Yay!

Giveaway Time!

Because you all loved the last giveaway so much, and we love you so much, we couldn’t help doing another one! This giveaway is jam-packed with some of my favorite items- from samples to full-size (we know, we are amazing). Full-size Essie nail polish? Brush Guards? Headband? Sunscreen? Yes, all of that and so much more are included in this giveaway!

Don’t worry, entering is very easy!

Starting today, simply tweet "Gimme free beauty stuff!" @SobbingOnFifth to enter! After you tweet, e-mail us your information at SobbingOnFifth@gmail.com, letting us know your Twitter handle and email address so we can contact you if you win.The contest is for US residents only (sorry, shipping's a bitch) and goes until Wednesday, June 5th. Tweet away and good luck!

Handbags, Hugs & Perfectly Glossed Kisses,

Astor & Sutton

Site You Should Know - and Shop: Urban Philosophy

You know me, I'm addicted to sites I can score fast and cheap - but still amazing - trends on. I HAVE to introduce you to Urban Philosophy, in case you didn't already know about it. This is one of the sites that doesn't come along too frequently, full of true statement pieces that are so on trend but so different and bold. And everything is SO affordable. It's definitely a one-stop shop for revamping your wardrobe. Turn here for a dose of high-voltage print, head-turning silhouettes, stand-out jewelry and trendy bags. Here are some of my top picks on the site now:

Cropped jersey, $27

Art Deco necklace, $28

Baroque dress, $40

Floral-print tunic dress, $49.50

Black and white skinny pants, $47

Tiger-print shirt, $29

Floral-print skirt, $39

Studded clutch, $40

Handbags and Hugs,

Astor

What We're Wearing

This morning I used NATUROPATHICA'S Sweet Cherry Brightening Enzyme Peel. This peel is phenomenal! It's strong enough to make a difference yet gentle enough that it's not irritating. I applied a thin layer of it this morning, left it on for a few minutes, rinsed it off and was in awe at how clear and bright my skin is - applied some moisturizer and was ready to walk out the door. It smells like mashed up cherries and is hard not to want to eat - but don't do that! I will definitely be using this mask every week, maybe twice a week come to think of it.

Perfectly Glossed Kisses,

Sutton

I found this dress for $12 - that's TWELVE DOLLARS, y'all - at Buffalo Exchange last week, bless that store's soul. Now, I have sworn off mullet hems. I think they got a little played out, or a lot played out, like to the extent of "Achy-Breaky Heart," so now both kinds of mullets (skirts and hair) are over-played and leave a bad taste in my mouth. But this dress was just SO good, and for the price? I'm a total sucker for a white dress because I think you can literally do ANYTHING with it. This can go so edgy or so ladylike or so bohemian. I can wear it with heels somewhere fancy-schmancy or I can wear it to the freaking beach, for Pete's sake (Pete is a dear friend who begged me to wear this to the beach. Okay, just kidding.). Here, I added a tribal necklace I got for Christmas, my Urban Outfitters utilitarian jacket, a bad-ass vintage brocade belt that was my mom's, and these sandals from Urban OG.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend, guys! I hope as many of you as possible can hit the beach but if you're in New York, like me, you'll be bringing in summer in a cable-knit sweater drinking hot chocolate because DUMB CLIMATE.

 

Handbags and Hugs,

Astor

THIS Jacket, COME ON

And Acne said LET THERE BE LIGHT!!! Or...GRAPHICS! MONOCHROME STRIPES! OR SOMETHING! SOMETHING AMAZING!

Net-A-Porter, $1550 (aka WAH)


Handbags and Hugs,

Astor

What an Andrew Jackson Gets You at River Island

It's been a while since we've done a "What an Andrew Jackson Gets You at..." post, but frankly, now's the time. I'm still recovering from the spring sample sale rush - on my fainting couch with a cold compress and my phone turned on silent to avoid the calls from the credit card companies - and summer's travel plans are kicking into gear. Any of my shopping NEEDS to be cheap, but that doesn't mean it can look cheap. Today, a fast, easy and cheap accessory update from River Island.

I love a little dose of the classic anchor motif for summer - it's less commitment than a nautical, pin-up-y tattoo, but just as cool. And these earrings are only $3.00.

We all know by now that midi rings are a must-have complement to your regular ring routine, and that fingers look just plain naked without them now - oh you did NOT know that? Well, I'd like to extend a warm welcome to you! How does it feel to have emerged from that rock you've been living under for so long? Anyway, simple, thin, minimalist is the way to go, and these pointed rings are perfect - plus you KNOW how I feel about getting more than one of something for this kind of price. TWO for $4.00? DUH.

I've been slow to embrace the earcuff trend simply because even though I LOVE so many of the styles I see, I just don't know if I'd look ridiculous wearing one. But THIS one - so sweet, so simple, yet still statement-making - it's perfect. And it's only $6.00, so even better.

Simple, delicate, pretty yet cool - the kind of bracelet you never have to take off. And just $6.00.

So, that brings us to $19.00 - for four items that can reinvent your everyday look. OR, I found a few awesome sets for $10.00, so you could get any two of these for an equally amazing transformation at $20.

Color-pop, graphic friendship bracelets, set for $10.00!

Double necklace, double global-traveler cool, $10.00.

Sweet yet tough ring set, $10.00.

Ring party, meet earcuff party - a set for the effortlessly accessorized girl, $10.00.

Handbags and Hugs,

Astor

DIY: Revamping Tired Furniture

The days of picking up a great bench or armoire at a Christie's auction are completely over. I loved redecorating my room during high school and Pratesi had my credit card on file. It was so easy to pop in for brand new sheets, throws and pillows. Those day are over and now I'm left to my own devices.

 

 

I went to a garage sale in East Hampton and bought a cute little bedside table. For $10 how could I say no? Anyway, it was clearly in bad shape but I decided I would restore it. No, I have never done this before and do not know why I thought it would only take me an hour. It didn't, by the way.

I knew that I would need to sand it so I stopped by a hardware store after work (I had never been to one before - no it wasn't full of great shopping). I went to a local one near my job - but you could also get everything at Home Depot. So I bought the sander and some sand paper and felt quite proud of myself at how handy I’d become. I went home and cut a piece of sandpaper and put it on the sander. After a few minutes nothing was coming off- obviously I had purchased a broker sander! Just to make sure I knocked on my super’s door to ask his opinion. He informed me that no, it wasn't a faulty sander, I had just inserted the sandpaper upside down. I marched back to my apartment annoyed - don't you agree the directions really should have been clearer?! Anyway, now that my sander was set up correctly I was able to easily sand the top and drawers after removing the gross, broken knobs.

 

Not planning ahead, unsurprisingly, I went back to the hardware store to buy some paint. After asking a million questions to my new friend, (no, he was not particularly interested in the before picture of my table, but I showed him anyway) I finally purchased some white, glossy paint and paint brushes. Back home I went to paint - it took two coats by the way. At this point I pretty much consider myself a professional painter so feel free to email me if your apartment needs painting.

 

 

Finally the fun part - buying the drawer knobs! I scoured the Internet for the perfect knobs and found them at Urban Outfitters.

 

I couldn't help myself and bought a little bowl to match the knobs.

 

 

I was finally ready to screw in the knobs and enjoy my new bedside table. After doing this with my hands I realized I needed a tool to tighten the bolts on the inside of the drawers. I went, yet again, back to the hardware store (I consider myself a regular). Apparently, I needed a wrench for this step and no, sadly, they didn't have any pink ones.

Finally I was done! So I moved my finished piece next to my bed AND IT DIDN'T FIT. I called my mom in tears - and her advice was to measure furniture before purchasing it. First of all, that was obviously not helpful at this point. Second of all, I can guarantee she doesn't even know what a measuring tape looks like, Harold, her interior decorator, handles that.

 

 

Not to worry, I moved the table to the other side of my apartment and turned it into a makeup table! I now need a tiny stool - I will keep you (and Jose, my BFF from the hardware store) posted.

Perfectly Glossed Kisses,

Sutton

L.A. Photo Diary

Sutton and I are embarking on a mission to become bicoastal - we've decided it's the next step up in our fake-it-til-you-make-it high-end lifestyle. LA and New York go hand-in-hand, what one has, the other doesn't. New York has its fast pace, biting attitude and grit, LA has sunshine, laid-back easy-goingness and...did I mention sunshine? And so, some photos from the latest LA trip...

I'm not a food-grammer, but these pancakes were ridiculous. They were actually bigger than my head - and delicious. I valiantly made my way through almost one. (At the Griddle Cafe on Sunset)



Did something a little touristy and took a tour of Warner Bros. studios just for fun - and found the Central Perk set from "Friends"!

Stumbled on the Bluth car at The Grove...

And that controversial statue in San Diego.

Handbags and Hugs,

Astor