H&M Introduces Versace!

Earlier this evening, I was reading some fashion websites to catch up  on trends and other news in the fashion industry. I have been pretty busy lately, so I have not had an opportunity to keep up with all of the things that are happening fashion-wise. To my surprise, I came across article after article on the new ‘Versace’ line that will be available at H&M stores.

Now, I was a bit shocked when I read this news, because for some reason it seems out-of-this-world for Versace to team up with H&M for a limited edition clothing line. It seemed a lot more feasible for Missoni to team up with Target than for Versace to design clothing for H&M. Versace is such a high-end brand & normally I wouldn’t think that they would market a version of their signature line to a mainstream market.

Apparently, the new line will focus on a wide range of clothing: Dresses, Leggings, Accessories, Leather Jackets & High-Heel Boots are all set to be included in this exclusive line for the store. It really seems like they really put a lot of effort & thought behind the designs of the clothes, which I thoroughly appreciate.

I saw the preview of a few select items of clothing online & they look absolutely amazing! There is something about limited edition clothing that I’m really drawn to. Perhaps it’s the exclusivity of the pieces or just clever marketing that makes me go wild. I suspect it’s a combination of both…

Nonetheless, I am a bit bummed out that the closest H&M to me is over 100 miles away! I am really tempted to just take a trip to check it out. From what I have seen so far, it seems to be totally worth it.

Versace for H&M is set to launch in November 2011.

Posting Update!

 

It’s been awhile since I last did a post, so I decided that it would be only proper to give the  readers an update about this blog.

I know that posting has been a little slow on this website, but I will resume regular posting later on this week, so you can look for some new posts beginning Wednesday (or possibly earlier)! I have been preoccupied for the last few weeks with other matters, but now I have enough time to start blogging again.

As always, feel free to leave comments and suggestions. I also take recommendations from the readers about what you all would like to see on this blog. I am constantly searching for new ideas and topics related to makeup, fashion & entertainment.

As mentioned in a previous post, I am still in the process of getting a new camera. I have been experimenting with new ones and I am trying to find the best one out right now, so I can begin to post pictures again.

I am sure that this blog will be running at full-force very soon!

Happy October: A Mini Post!

Wow, I can’t believe we are approaching the last few months of the year. I am always excited when October rolls around because this month for me is a informal introduction to the holiday season. October most definitely brings cool weather as the fall season is coming to an end and many begin to set their sights on winter.

One of my favorite things about October is Halloween. Although I don’t formally celebrate Halloween as a “holiday” for various reasons, I do appreciate the festivities that come along with it.  I have many fond memories of carving pumpkins and trick-or-treating from my childhood. Even though I am a twenty-something adult now , I can honestly say that I still have lots of fun on October 31st!

In October, I usually start thinking about the upcoming holiday season and planning events for friends and family. I already have my mind on Christmas gifts & shopping for the holiday. I definitely put in a lot of preparation and hard work during this time of year. I literally can’t wait to put up decorations for Thanksgiving & Christmas! I always have so much fun when the holiday season comes around!

As much as I love the holiday season, I have to say that I am a little taken aback by the fact that retailers now put out Christmas merchandise so early this year! I have been inside of many stores lately, all of have holiday decorations available! This is somewhat shocking to me, because I don’t ever remember a time when holiday merchandise was displayed way before November. I don’t know about you, but something feels weird about purchasing Christmas decorations at the beginning of October…

What is your favorite time of year?

Make-up Review: Loreal True Match Foundation!

I am always looking for makeup products so I jump at the chance to try a new product! A few days ago, I noticed I was running low on my MAC foundation, so instead of just going to the MAC store nearby, I decided to go to Wal-Mart to browse their cosmetics section. I am really picky when it comes to my makeup (partially due to the fact that I have extremely sensitive skin!), so I generally stick to higher end/department store foundations, but I wanted to try another foundation.

As a person of color, it can be very tricky to find a foundation that matches my skin-tone perfectly. I have always wanted to try Loreal’s True Match Foundation, so I was excited to finally get the chance to experiment with their foundation. It took me less than 5 minutes total to pick an item, which is almost impossible for me to do because I could literally spend hours looking at make-up!

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised to find a color that was an exact match to my skin-tone! This is something that has never happened before, so I was thrilled to say the least…

I purchased Loreal True Match Foundation in C7 Nut Brown which retails for about $9. This foundation provides sunscreen (SPF 17) and is oil-free. The actual product is very light (I forgot I had any on) and applies smoothly to the skin – I really don’t have anything negative to say about this product! Perhaps one could argue that the coverage is minimal in comparison to other formulas, but I am not really a fun of “heavy foundations” for everyday use anyway.

I have only been wearing foundation on a consistent basis for about a year…but I am glad that I now have another foundation that I can wear! Up until this point, I had only been wearing MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC55, which I absolutely love. However, Studio Fix Fluid provides heavy coverage and can be a bit much at times, so I will definitely use both of the foundations to switch it up a little bit.

What brands of foundation do you wear?

*Pictures Coming Soon*

*All opinions here are my own. I was not paid by any of these companies, sent any free items, nor am I endorsing any particular products*

Must Have Item: A Great Wallet!

There is one accessory that is universal yet commonly overlooked in the fashion industry, and that is the wallet. Countless articles are devoted to finding the perfect dress, pair of jeans, and handbag, but I have yet to come across many articles pertaining to wallets. I think my interest in wallets comes from the fact that I like to pay attention to intricate details. From a clothing standpoint I pay close attention to fabric and texture, because even the smallest inconsistencies irritate me beyond belief!

I’m not going to say that I have a wallet to match every handbag that I own, but I do make an effort to buy wallets that will go well with my everyday bags. I try to stick to basic neutral colors that I can mix and match without going overboard because unlike handbags, wallets should be classic yet versatile. I tend to shy away from crazy designs, colors, and textures when shopping for a new wallet and focus instead on whether or not the item is practical.

Right now, I don’t own that many wallets by my collection is expanding. I have been using the current wallet that I have for over a year now, and I am ready to look for a new item to add to my collection. I am very picky when it comes to accessories, so this is going to be a tough challenge for me as it is becoming increasing more difficult to find quality wallets. I have roamed around in countless stores only to leave in disappointment after finding that all of the wallets were lackluster at best.

At the moment, I am tired of going to the shopping malls in my area, so I have decided to just look at the online section that stores are offering. I have a tendency to avoid online shopping for certain articles of clothing (especially shoes), but accessories are a different story. Hopefully, I can find a new wallet soon! I will update this post if I decide to get something….

Where do you find the best wallets?

Random Post: Songs on My Playlist

A previous posts, I mentioned that I would blog about a few topics outside of fashion and makeup…to switch things up a little bit. Well, I wanted to dedicate this post to music, because I am a music junkie!

It has been really stormy here for the last few days, so I have been listening to music and reading to pass time. Normally, I like to head to the beach or go to the movies in my free time, but the weather has made that nearly impossible.

There are a few songs that I can’t get enough of lately! I keep hitting the repeat button on my iPod continuously for these songs:

1. “Can I Talk To You” – Talib Kweli

2. “The Suburbs” – Arcade Fire

3. “Road to Zion” – Damian Marley

4. “I’m On One” – DJ Khaled

5. “E.T.” – Katy Perry

6. “Mr. Rager” – Kid Cudi

One of the things that I like to most about music is that you can find a song to capture any emotion. Whether I am feeling happy, sad, energetic or relaxed, there is always a song to fit whatever mood I am feeling at the moment. There is something so therapeutic about listening to music; I believe that is has the ability to invoke a deep-thought process that is very hard to obtain otherwise.

I also like following a musicians career, as his or her style evolves and a new sound is projected. Some artists have changed so much during their career that it is really quite interesting to see a complete transformation over the years. Recently, my interests have shifted towards alternative music. I literally only listen to a few mainstream artists these days, which is a complete shift for me because I used to be a huge fan of mainstream music! I am always looking for new artists, so I would to hear which artists you are listening to at the moment.

What artists are you into lately?

Glamorous Shoes: On a Budget!

One of the hardest things in life is a pair of cute shoes that are actually affordable! Ok, I might be exaggerating just a little bit, but on a serious note it can be very different to find a good pair of shoes that are comfortable, trendy and are not uber-expensive…Although I do enjoy designer goods, I realize that times are tough these days and not everyone can spend $250+ on the latest shoe fashion. So, the goal for me is to find shoes that meet 3 basic criteria:

1. Trendy. I like to update my wardrobe to keep up with the current fashion. This generally means that I will add a few pairs of shoes that are ‘edgy’ to my shoe collection, but I try not to go overboard in this section.

2. Cost. It is not realistic for me to purchase shoes that are ridiculously expensive and that may only be in style for one season. Therefore, I look for shoes that fit easily within my budget.

3. Comfort. This is perhaps the most important factor while determining whether or not I will purchase a particular item. Growing up my mother taught me the importance of wearing ‘great’ shoes, and I have held onto this wisdom as an adult. I understand that high-heels will never be completely pain-free, but I try to stick to shoes that will put the least amount of stress/strain on my feet.

One of the shoe places that I shop frequently is at Baker’s. These shoes are moderately priced, and there are a number of different stores across the United States in shopping malls. This store does a great job of keeping up with the latest fashions and trends…their shoe game is definitely on point!

Another shoe store that I visit on a regular basis is DSW. These stores are relatively large and usually found in an array of places, including outlet malls. This company is unique because their stores are warehouses, where they have tons of shoes to choose from. I like this store because they carry a wide range of shoes, from pumps to boots to trainers.  I can pick up a few items here effortlessly without running around to a bunch of different stores, which cuts down on a lot of aggravation and makes for a much better shopping experience.

It is possible to find glamorous shoes on a budget!

Target Missoni Collection: Hit or Miss?

Okay, I realize that I am quite a bit late on this topic, but I thought it was too important to just pass up.  Apparently, major retailer Target has teamed up with Missoni to launch a new limited edition clothing and apparel collection. I had previously heard about the new line while I was watching the Today Show one morning, but I was so busy that I didn’t get a chance to really pay attention to details.

I am a frequent shopper at Target by habit. For many years I lived in Minneapolis where there were literally like a million Target stores throughout the city, so I can easily say that  Target is a store that I love. (For those of you who are not familiar, Target is based out of Minnesota & it’s headquarters is in Minneapolis). On Tuesday I went to Target and I noticed that it was unusually crowded for a weekday morning; the parking lot was beyond full and the store was almost jam-packed.

As I headed into the store there were tons of people hanging around the apparel section & there appeared to be a new display of clothes. Now, I usually would have gone over to see what all the fuss was about, but I was running late and had to get in and out of the store quickly.  However, I was able to observe a some people clutching bright colored clothing with wild designs.

Needless to say, I will have to research the clothing more before I can give an adequate review. When I looked online, I saw a few cute pieces, but nothing really caught my eye. Overall, I am glad that Target is making an effort to create fashion affordable for everyday consumers!

What are your thoughts on the Missoni Collection?

Fashion Inspiration: 2011

Before I write a new post, I try to wait until I am really inspired by something.  On a good day,an idea will just randomly pop into my mind out of nowhere.  As I was in the middle of writing another post, I started to ponder about where I get most of my fashion inspiration from. Some people look to celebrities for their inspiration, some look to fashion magazines, others mimic trends they see on the streets, and a few create their own style.

Where do you get most of your fashion inspiration?

I had never really thought about this question before in a literal sense, but it is an important question to think about. Personally, I think that most people get their fashion sense from celebrities and entertainers. Personally, there are very few celebrities whose fashion sense I admire from afar. Gywneth Paltrow, Kerry Washington, and Heidi Klum are my favorites. All of these women dress in a manner that makes fashion appear timeless and effortless, which is something that  I strive for in my everyday fashion choices. I am convinced that you can bring the style & glam in any situation and look fabulous while doing it! If you are going to buy clothes and wear them, you might as make sure that you are reflecting your true style.

Most of my fashion inspiration comes from trends that I read about in magazines and those who work in the fashion industry, because this is where fashion originates.  I try not to follow celebrity trends and other styles because they tend to change too much!

Where do you get your fashion tips?

Mini Fashion Flashback 2002: The Ever-So-Popular Trucker Hat!

Every now and then, I will come across a picture or something that will remind me of a fashion trend that has long passed. I was flipping through a photo album from high school (2002-2006), and I couldn’t help but take note of the trends during that time period!

One of the biggest trends during that time was the Trucker Hat!

Back then, if you were anybody, you owned at least one trucker hat, and if you were really cool, you owned at least 3 or 4.

I remember back in the day there big debate between Ashton Kutcher & Justin Timberlake about who started the whole trucker hat trend.  To this date, I still don’t know who to give credit to as the initial trendsetter, but now that’s it 2011, I doubt anyone still cares. Sigh. I really do miss the days when this was the biggest debate that I had to worry about!

Now that I look back, I don’t know if anybody in high school has any idea of what true fashion consists of. It took me until I was in college to really figure out fashion is so much more than just sticking to ‘trends’ and wearing what’s ‘popular’ at the moment. Fashion to me is incorporating certain elements of trends so that they match with your own personal style.

Do you remember this trend?