Batting a Thousand

My mom always likes to remind me that I have her to thank for my dark lashes.  See, my father is as blonde as they come, meaning he has basically clear eyelashes and eyebrows.  While I was blessed with his blonde locks, I was also blessed with visible brows and lashes. Basically, I got the best of both worlds. Thanks, Mom! Thanks, Dad!

With that being said, too much is never enough.  I already have eyelashes long enough to make most swoon and at times have been accused of having falsies in.  I wanted even more though. Why wouldn’t I want my eyelashes to resemble furry caterpillars?  We’ve all seen the commercials for Latisse. It all sounds well and good until they get to the warning section and say this:

“LATISSE^® use may cause darkening of the eyelid skin which may be reversible. LATISSE^® use may also cause increased brown pigmentation of the colored part of the eye which is likely to be permanent.”

No thank you, sir.  I like my baby blues just the way they are.  It was only a matter of time before all the other beauty brands jumped on the bandwagon. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, of course.  Enter L’oreal Lash Boosting Serum.

L’oreal Lash Boosting Serum, $14.99

Applied both AM and PM it is said to give you visibly fuller, thicker natural lashes with less lash fall out when removing eye makeup after four weeks of use.  Centella Asiatica extract and Arginine are the ingredients responsible for said growth.  I’m a sucker for false promises so I purchased the serum a few weeks ago to give it a try.  (It is also available in tandem with a Double Extend mascara but you know how I feel about my Max Factor).  I was pleasantly surprised that after only a few weeks my lashes do, in fact, seem much fuller and fall out less (fewer wishes, I suppose).  Now I’m unstoppable.  I mean who can say “no” to a subtle bat of the lashes, especially when they’re so luscious.?

xx,

WhyDid

Just in the St. Nick of Time

Oh, right, it’s that time of year again. I guess that means I need to be less self absorbed for a few minutes and do some holiday shopping.  Luckily, like many of you, I’ve left this til the last minute, but have come up with some clever ideas that you can snatch up quickly and no one will be the wiser.

• Since I’m clearly obsessed with myself, I think a Flip Video recorder is kind of an awesome gift. Why would I not want to document my puppy’s every move? Or hilarious nights out with my friends? This is a great gift for new parents or newlyweds as well.

Flip Video Camera, $149.99-$199.99

• I got sushi making lessons as a gift once. It was actually a really fun and thoughtful gift. Do it as a couple of do it with a group of friends. The Institute of Culinary Educational has several different recreational classes that range from wine pairings to Italian cuisine.

• Clearly, I like to play games. Why not get a set of games, old classics like backgammon, Monopoly, or Trivial Pursuit? Just because we’re over the age of five doesn’t mean we should stop playing like children.  Besides, who doesn’t like a good challenge?

7 in 1 Game Compendium, $49.95

• A deliciously, wonderfully soft cashmere throw. I really can’t think of someone who would not appreciate this.  And I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a cashmere allergy.

Sofia Cashmere Fringed Throw, $300

• For your jet-setting friends, this little translator makes for an interesting gift. If you are really going for brownie points, couple this translator with a trip somewhere special where you can put this little guy to good use.

Lingo Xplorer Talking Translator, $219.99

• For your healthy friends who may not have time/access to the studios of Physique57, they now have full DVD sets of the workouts. Probably a good idea after stuffing your face all holiday season. No one likes a fatty…

Physique57 Complete 3 Disc Full Body Workout, $49.95

If these aren’t working for you, you could always reference my picks from last year (don’t forget my gift giving rules for you, fellas) since they are still relevant … well, except that painting of me and my ex-boyfriend that I received. But enough about me… Happy shopping.

xx,

WhyDid

Don’t you look Darling?

Basically, if a store could resemble my dream closet it would look like the inside of  Darling.  Owner, Ann French Emonts, a former costume designer for Broadway and theater, has really found a way to mix fashion forward pieces with chic vintage.  She has even created her own private label dress line that compliments Darling’s style.

From date tops and blouses, to dresses and skirts, Darling has got you covered.  Top off your latest fashion find with some carefully chosen accessories.  Not only will you look fantastic, you will not break the bank.  With tops ranging from $50-$225 and dresses from $98-$495, everyone can afford to look stunning. 

Feeling a little weary of your own fashion sense? The shopgirls or Darling are seasoned pro’s. They will put you in something flattering for whatever body type and whatever occassion. 

Check out Darling’s Little Black Dress Party this Thursday, December 3rd or come visit with us during Why Did You Wear That?’s One Year Anniversary party on Thursday, December 10th.

Darling

1 Horatio Street

New York, NY 10014

xx,

WhyDid

Step It Up

Dear ladies who wear sneakers on your commute,

I’ve asked you to please stop once.  I am going to ask you again. Consider it an early Christmas present for me? What if I bargain with you?

Okay, well, I have found a happy medium for us.  FitFlop now makes their amazing “workout in a shoe” in a boot style. Looks a little bit like an UGG boot, but that’s better than white sneakers. So for whatever reason you think you need to wear sneakers on your commute- whether it be comfort (ha! beauty is pain, ladies), or a physical ailment, these babies will be not only comfortable, but also somewhat stylish.

FitFlop MukLuk, $140

FitFlop Inuk, $200

Anna Sui for FitFlop Shakoha, $195

They’re not Louboutins, but they’ll have to do. Happy commuting.

xx,

WhyDid

Layers without Losing Length

When I burst through the doors of Ryan Darius salon last week, I informed Ryan and TJ that I was in need of some seriously sexy “breakup hair.”  To this statement they exclaimed, “We LOVE breakup hair!!” As you already know, I don’t believe in chopping off or dying your locks after a traumatic experience. We get it, you need change, but that’s no reason to make yourself look average! 

Originally, I was thinking about adding some sassy layers or perhaps a sexy swooping bang, but as I talked to Ryan, he realized I was actually not willing to lose one centimeter of my painstakingly long grown hair.  So, a lightbulb went off in that beautiful head of his.  He suggested we add more hair to my mane, then he would layer the hair that he added, leaving my natural hair unscathed.  He informed me this is a rapidly growing trend and then he went to work.  

In less than thirty minutes he had applied several Platinum Seamless extensions to my hair.  The color matched my hair EXACTLY and you couldn’t even see where they were attached, nor could you feel them.  After they were added in, Ryan worked his magic with the flat iron teaching me a new trick to create large curls (which I still have yet to master).  

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Take that, Olivia Palermo. To top off the royal treatment? The adorable TJ completed a perfect manicure using Butter London lacquer.  His picks for the fall? Scoundrel (below) and British Racing Green.

So, if you are in the market for some “breakup hair” or you just simply want to look hot, you need to hightail it in your heels over to Ryan Darius Salon and pay a visit to the uber talented and unbelievably fun Ryan and TJ.

Ryan Darius Salon

82 W 12th Street (near 6th Ave), #A

New York, NY 10011

212-255-3579

xx,

WhyDid

Bundle Up

A good friend of mine just moved to chilly New York from sunny Miami and she’s awfully nervous about the inevitable winter frost. Even though I’ve lived here for a few years now, I still don’t think my blood has thickened. It always comes as quite a shock as to how bitter cold it can get. 

In hopes of not turning into a human Frosty the Snowman, I have compiled a list of winter essentials to help keep you warm and happy during the snowy season:

• First and foremost, you’re going to need a warm coat. Preferably one that does not look like a sleeping bag. Here’s a great option available on Bluefly.

Marc New York black quilted fur trim hood belted down jacket, $198

• Next, you’re going to need some walking shoes to get you from Point A (your apartment) to Point B (the train/cab for all you bank rollers) to Point C (your destination).

Mukluk Objiwa Short Boots, $199.95

• And now you’ll need to go ahead and accessorize- hat, gloves, scarf.

DVF Jasmina Pom Hat, $150

J. Crew Merino Ribbed Glittens, $24.50 -(love these because you can still use your fingers for dialing!)

Magaschoni Glacier Grey Waffle Knit Cashmere Shawl, $85

• Now that you’re all bundled up, you need to care care of what’s underneath as well. The chill can take a toll on your body and nobody looks cute with chapped lips and cracked skin.

Crazy Rumors A La Mode Lip Balm, $12 for 3 or $4 each

Carol’s Daughter Love Butter, $18

• A warm cocktail can take the chill out of you after a long day. Try this delicious concoction:

Cocoa Raspberry Heaven

Ingredients:

1 oz. plus 1 tsp. raspberry liqueur (Chambord’s nice) 
1 oz. white crème de cacao 
8 oz. hot chocolate 
Whipped cream 
1 fresh raspberry (optional)

Preparation:

1. Pour raspberry liqueur and white crème de cacao in a cappuccino mug. 
2. Add hot chocolate and stir. 
3. Top with a dollop of whipped cream. 
4. Drizzle teaspoon of Chambord on top of the whipped cream. 
5. Top with a fresh raspberry.

• And lastly, the best thing to have to keep you warm during winter? A warm body!! There’s nothing I like better than a cozy cocktail, board games, and snuggling up and staying in. Luckily, I have my furry pal, Smitty. Unfortunately, he’s a great snuggler, but sucks at Scrabble- hence, I’m taking applications.  Winter is the perfect time to couple up.

So as the temperatures continue to drop, at least you will be fully prepared to stay warm. 

xx,

WhyDid

It’s JUNE All Year

As you know, a leather jacket is one of my Fall Essentials.  So I decided to go the master of cool when it comes to leather jackets, Pablo Pantoja.  He is the creative force behind the ultra chic women’s contemporary line, JUNE. 

How did you get started with the line?:

I had been designing menswear since I got out of Otis/Parson’s School of Design.  I never wanted to do womenswear. It was more selfish. I wanted to make clothes I can never find, but once I had all I wanted, I got bored. I finished my men’s career designing all of the jackets and leather for men at Kenneth Cole. It was fun and I loved working with him, but the line got repetitive and it was time to move on. 

Womenswear gave me a whole new challenge. Everything changed.  Fit, artistic license, choices, themes, and women are just so much more into designs than straight men are (myself excluded). 

After leaving Kenneth Cole, I wanted to do some sort of licensing deal with a women’s brand, and out of nowhere J-Lo (Jennifer Lopez) came to me and asked me to put together something for Jennifer. I put together presentation boards and met with her in Westwood, LA in her offices three days before her wedding to Chris, the dance. She is more beautiful and harder working than you can even imagine. Three days before her wedding? A four hour workout and dance practice, meet with me at 1pm and who knows what else? So, eventually after meeting with her again three days after her wedding in The Four Seasons Milan, on her honeymoon, while she was sick from a cold, no less. She is an inspiration to me in that sense. 

Finally after months of work and development of samples, the J-LO company, Sweetface Fashions, decided to just run a lower priced line and it didn’t match with our plans… but from that long winded story, I got the bug to do my own women’s contemporary collection!  So in the evenings and late into the night, I was putting together my own designs for a collection to pair up with a friend of mine that was also looking for something new. Et voila! Time to start my own collection!

Where do you get inspiration for your designs?:

I usually start my concepts by walking around and shopping, going out and seeing real people and what they are wearing. If something is too much, I stay away. If I see something I’ve never seen before and see it again suddenly, it’s something I pay attention to. From there, I develop my concepts. The concepts usually have something that has to with JUNE, the month. A famous person’s birthday, or an event that occurred fifty to 100 years ago in the month of June, or just flowers and friendship. Always something that happened in JUNE though. It’s such a memorable type of month. Filled with moments we cherish for years to come, so I work with that in my head the whole time.

What is the JUNE girl like?:

A JUNE girl is a friend of mine. Someone whose company I enjoy.  She’s fun, adventurous and into expressing herself and her opinions. She may be a Banana Republic girl in her office, but she isn’t that girl inside.  She needs to be more comfortable, which is my first requirement, but not my last. She is smarter than the average girl and she seeks more, sees more, and finds the beauty in the details. 

The JUNE girl is not the one that shows off how much money she has, but how much style she embodies. 

Who would you love to see wearing JUNE?:

J-LO just for the irony of it! Haha! But seriously? All of my GF’s, or is it BF’s, or BGF’s around the world that inspire me and fill my life with joy and happiness and all of their friends, and their friends’ friends, and so on and so on. Yup, that would be nice. It would be like Facebook, but only in clothing.  You would know we are all connected by what we are wearing! Hmm… a JUNE fashion social network?

What is your favorite thing to see on a woman?:

Confidence, intelligence and humor.  These are the things I see in her eyes, her smile, and her face. The rest is just a result of what’s going on upstairs. If you were asking about what I like about the body or clothing, I’d have to say the skin.  I work with leather, after all. Nothing but skin and silk linings, of course. 

What trend do you wish would just go away?:

Skinny jeans on 95% of the guys that wear them, but for girls? I like freedom of expression and individuality, so the lack of freedom of following a trend is what I would like to disappear.  If you are following a trend, you are not a leader, just a follower. Don’t dress like everyone else.  Don’t follow the trend.  Know what you like, and knowing how to wear it is the most important.  Do it so well that people see you and want to dress like you.  That’s what got me started as a designer. Back in highschool anything I wore would eventually be copied by my peers.  It’s the best form of flattery. 

Style advice for women?:

Simplicity with your overall appearance so you don’t come off as garish.  And focus on details and accessorize! Don’t be a billboard for any designer or brand unless they are paying you or give you the clothes. Wear what expresses your individuality, feel confident about it, and most of all, smile. There’s no makeup or clothing that will fix a sad look, easier than a beautiful smile.  (New Yorkers will think you’re crazy, but like I said, I don’t care what people think!)

Gossip Girl- Serena or Blair?:

Sorry, never seen the show or know who they are.  I did see the posters announcing the show though. Whoever wears my clothes… both of them? Can I make like Palin and “get back to you on that?”

Favorite place to travel?:

Brazil, any city! All over Europe and staying with friends I’ve made over the years, and China because it’s such a culturally rich country with massive potential.  Then most of all, back home to Souther California where my family is. 

Any funny stories regarding the brand? Seeing someone wearing it? Being recognized, etc?:

The first season I put my collection together, it was from the work I did developing the J-LO collection.  Ironically, one of the garments I made ended up in US Weekly in a spread called 10 Best Essential Items of the Year.  My little fur vest, which Jennifer, herself, called the “Glam Vest,” which I re-did for my line, was right there, exactly next to a photo of J-LO!   Somehow the magazine got the name from our linesheets and there it was. They wrote Glam Fur Vest by JUNE.

Do you think you’ll expand into mens again?:

I don’t think so, not in the near future. I see the brand having more meaning as June Swim, June Babies and of course, June Wedding.

Who is your style icon?:

I don’t think there are many these days. There’s too many starlets to keep track of.  I don’t read many of those magazines about stars so I don’t follow what’s happening on the Red Carpet.  I don’t do evening wear, so I choose to be inspired by the people I associate with.  Maybe when I am hanging with those Icons, I will pay more attention, but I did get to escort Audrey Hepburn when I was in Otis/Parson’s at my fashion show.  The department head told me I would be escorting her.  So I walked with her holding her arm in mine, for a little while, from table to table, as she said “hi” to all the other stars.  She would ask me if I was excited about the show, what year I was…  and then finally, I seated her at her table.  All of my friends wanted to touch my arm because I just was with Audrey, and I asked them… “Who’s Audrey Hepburn? Who is she?  Katherine Hepburn’s sister?!”  The next day someone brought me an old picture of her, and I freaked out.  I never knew her name, but had seen her before, I loved her style, but wasn’t really into old movies when I was a kid.

What’s something that every woman should own?:

I could get into so much trouble with this question, so I will keep it simple. A leather jacket that expresses the feminine and masculine side of her.

Very wise advice, Pablo. Below is a sneak preview of his Spring 2010 collection.  Check out their website for more details about where to buy! 

Bacon Looks Better Brown

Tan Towel:

Fight the white with tan towel. Each individually wrapped towelette is saturated with a self-tan formula guaranteed to leave a streak free beautiful glow.  Easy application puts even the most novice applicator at ease. I recommend a second application 4 hours following your initial application for prime color.

Pasty is not tasty, so let your bronze goddess out.

xx,

RyGuy

Skin is the New “It” Bag

I can’t figure out why everyone seems so shocked that tanning beds are ranked way up there on the list of things that give you cancer.  This really shouldn’t be news to anyone. Tanning beds increase your cancer risk by 75% when introduced before the age of 30. Now, I can’t lie. I went to college in a town where we clearly thought we lived in Beverly Hills. A day could not be complete without a stop by the gym and tanning bed (this went for GUYS and girls).  Luckily, my tanning habit ended when I received my diploma.  

Not only does excessive tanning make you prone to skin cancer, it also makes you prone to wrinkles and saggy, pruney skin.  Not cute.  With all of the products on the market, it surprises me that people are still paying up to sizzle down. 

Even though people are holding back on those new Prada shoes and Chloe bags, they are still spending their hard earned cash on something seasonless- their skin.  While not completely recession proof, the skincare industry has been riding out these tough economic times with a great deal of ease.  With that being said, you are wasting your money buying expensive skin creams if you are just following them up with a few minutes in a tanning bed.  By frying yourself, you’re completely canceling out all the benefits of your fancy face lotion. 

I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again, “Bacon looks better brown!” but this doesn’t mean you have to ruin your skin to get a golden bronze. Here’s how to fake a Hawaiian Tropic tan without out scorching your skin:

• Moisturize- Can’t stress it enough. Your face and body need to be slathered with moisture daily.  You can get wrinkles on your body too! Yuck! To keep your skin soft and supple, choose a moisturizer specifically for your skin type.  Many moisturizers also now contain SPF which makes your life that much easier. 

Clarins HydraQuench SPF 15 Cream

Dove Pro Age Cream Oil Lotion SPF 5

• Exfoliate- Try and exfoliate both face and body once a week to slough off dull skin. 

ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment

Bliss Blood Orange + White Pepper Sugar Scrub

• Bronze- Now it’s time to fake that golden goddess glow. A couple of routes here.  I switch daily between a tanning body lotion and my regular body lotion.  Another option is doing a once weekly tanning treatment at home (following your exfoliating treatment). Lastly, you can go to a local salon that does spray tanning if you don’t trust yourself (again-after you exfoliate). 

Jergens Natural Glow Foaming Daily Moisturizer

Model Co Sun Sponge

Mystic Tan Self Tanning System

• Protect- Just because you now are a bronze bunny, doesn’t mean you are safe from the sun’s UV rays.  You still need to make sure to use at least SPF 15 while in the sun. 

Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch Lotion SPF 15

Now go on, my little bronze beauties. Show off that beautiful “sun kissed” skin. Just because you didn’t buy that new handbag, doesn’t mean your skin should look like leather. 

xx,

WhyDid

“Paws”itively Stylish

Anyone who knows me is aware that the only thing I possibly love more than fashion is animals.  That’s why I was so excited to learn about the Heart U Back jewelry line.  It combines two of my very favorite things!

Gavin Kovacs created a jewelry line aimed at best friends and animal lovers alike.  It’s a collection of pendants, bangles, and friendship bracelets (a la Chan Luu) all designed with the Heart U Back logo.  The best part? A portion of all proceeds go to the ASPCA.  So you can feel good about your new purchase and know that you did something good for your furry friends today. 

www.iheartyouback.com

www.aspca.org