­

Gift Guide: Jay-Z Approved, Gifts with No Budget

By |December 20th, 2014|Gift Guide|

jay z beyonceYou know the lyrics (and if you don’t, you should), “In the Ferrari or Jaguar, switchin’ four lanes with the top down screamin’ out, ‘money ain’t a thang.”  Perhaps you’re not Jay-Z, but you did get a particularly large bonus this year and you have a very deserving individual on your gift list.  Bless you.  If pinching pennies is not something you must do and budgeting is a word that is reserved strictly for the government, I’ve got a heap of indulgent gifts for the most discerning recipients.  And if you’re feeling particularly generous, I’ll happily accept any of the below suggestions.  It is far better to give than receive, after all.

over the top holiday giftsKimberly McDonald 18 Karat Rose Gold Diamond Slice Cuff, $24,330La Perla Pizzo Lace Paneled Silk Satin Silk Blend Satin Nightdress, $970Givenchy Ostrich Mini Antigona Duffel, $7,900Saint Laurent Leather Biker Jacket, $5,290Fred Leighton 1930’s Platinum Diamond, $55,000Tom Ford Limited Edition Lip and Nail Box, $656Carine Gilson Aurelia Printed Silk Satin Robe, $2,005Brunello Cucinelli Mink Fur Backpack, $7,830Jennifer Meyer 18 Karat Gold Diamond Drop Earrings, $17,000Kevyn Aucoin The Essential Brush Collection, $650

xx,

WhyDid

Beauty Buzz: Fresh Face- Spring 2014

By |February 27th, 2014|Beauty Buzz|

spring 2014 beautyIt’s probably difficult to even begin thinking about your spring beauty regimen with lips scratchier than sandpaper, snot encrusted nostrils and eyeballs that won’t.stop.watering.  I’ve basically thrown in the towel on a full face of makeup at this point… eyeliner is entirely out of the question unless I want to look like it’s the morning after while it’s still the night of.  Sure, the winter is brutal for beauty, but let’s not forget that there comes a point in New York ladies’ lives, say around July, wherein we give up on makeup altogether again as it will have run down our faces and right onto our blouses before we’ve even completed our commutes.  Therefore, spring is just about the only time where we can be playful with our makeup palette and anticipate our faces staying in place for most of the day.

The makeup and hair for spring this year was sort of divided into two camps.  While some designers like Michael Kors and Alexander Wang went for clean, fresh, bronzed barely there faces and “I woke up like this” hair, others like Rag & Bone painted lips and eyelids with bright pops of colors.  Most notably was blue for eyes and while red and berry lips were still very much trends, the most prevalent pout was lacquered up in orange.  This isn’t the first time we’ve seen orange lips on the runways and I’m still not sold, but perhaps you can make the look come across as something other than having housed a bag of Cheetos.  If you didn’t wake up with Olsen hair, a low sleek ponytail seen at Jason Wu or braided crown a la Naeem Khan are good ways to camouflage a potentially bad hair day.  Wide cloth headbands at Vera Wang as well as flowered accoutrements at Zac Posen adorned updos as well.  The cat eye remained strong.  So strong, in fact, that makeup artists continued the bold black liner all the way around the eyes.  And speaking of cat’s, claws were kept quite simple.  Many opted for soft shades accented with silver space age stripes and others chose the reverse French manicure, both proving that nail art is here to stay for at least another season.  So schedule your facials, ladies.  It’s time to prep your canvas for a very colorful spring. If you would like to look for great makeup find out here how to obtain it.

spring makeup trends

 

1.  Sally Hansen Salon Effects Reverse French Manicure Strips, 2. Smashbox Baked Fusion Softlights Baked Starburst, 3. Tarte EmphasEYES Waterproof Clay Eyeliner in Black, 4. Mr. President & Co. Instant Cool Ponytail Holder, 5. NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Timanfaya, 6. RMS Beauty Living Luminizer, 7. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Colour Pencil in Pool Boy, 8. nails inc. Fibre Optic in Hampstead Court, 9. Givenchy Ombre Couture Cream Eyeshadow in Bleu Sole, 10. Kevyn Aucoin Set of Four Loose Shimmer Shadows, 11. Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Polishing Serum, 12. Chantecaille Lip Chic in Rose Délice, 13. Karina Black & White Headwrap Duo, 14. Bumble and bumble Thickening Dryspun Finish

Beauty Buzz: Find the Light

By |December 18th, 2013|Beauty Buzz|

metallic eye makeupDuring the holidays and especially with New Year’s Eve quickly creeping ’round the corner, some of us look for ways to amp up our standard makeup routines for swanky evenings out on the town and special seasonal celebrations.  Some may opt for the classic statement making bold lip (good choice) and others go for the more “Golden Girl” approach (also a great choice).  But beauty beware: there is a big difference between glowing like the lights of Paris (the city, not the socialite) and glaring like the neon signs of Las Vegas.  Let’s keep glitter where it belongs: on art projects, Halloween costumes and strippers.  Strippers can wear glitter.

Come to think of it, a guy I was dating once showed up late one night after work, which should have been reason enough to dump him, but he was covered in glitter.  Seeing as he doesn’t work at a Michael’s craft store, he must have procured his shimmering accents somewhere.  Hanging out with another lady is bad enough but, hanging out with another lady who dons glitter is grounds for permanent exile.  But I digress…

To achieve a glowing holiday look, invest in a few beauty products with flecks not flakes of shimmer in them.  You could go for a dramatic foil for your lids, a metallic manicure or something as simple as adding some extra shine to your tresses.  Be sure not to go overboard with your gilded look though.  A gorgeous glow is one thing, but looking like a greased up walrus won’t get your dance card filled up any faster… if at all.

nye makeup1. Caudalie Divine Legs, 2. ELLIS FAAS Light, 3. Ulta Metallic Automatic Eyeliner, 4. Kevyn Aucoin Set of Four Loose Shimmer Shadows, 5. Philip B Oud Royal Forever Shine Shampoo, 6. Ilia Gold Box Illuminator and Lip Gloss, 7. Formula X for Sephora Sparklers in Light My Fire, 8. Illamasqua Liquid Metal Cream, 9. RMS Beauty Living Luminzer, 10. Stila Magnificent Metals Foil Finish Eyeshadow, 11.Leighton Denny Hynotic Nail Polish

 

xx,

WhyDid

 

image via

Gift Guide: Book ‘Em, Danno

By |December 19th, 2011|Gift Guide|

Oh, hey, bookworm here.  You may think that doling out books as holiday gifts is pretty lame and something your Uncle Arthur might do, but I’m here to let you in on a little secret.  You’re wrong.  Yes, yes, it’s true… I’m partial to books… especially of the non e-book/iBook variety… so you may argue that I’m biased.  And let’s be serious, you may very well be right, but have you ever thought about how thoughtful a book can be?  Selecting a book for someone is personal enough to show that you are paying attention to his or her interests without being so personal as to shed light on your stalkerish ways.  Also, just like reality shows, there’s a book out there about just about anything under the sun.  If you find yourself feeling stumped over what to pick out for someone on your list, perhaps you head to your closest Barnes & Noble and start skimming.

California Design, 1930-1965: “Living in a Modern Way”, $49.98, Jonathan Adler on Happy Chic Colors, $13.22, Black and White (And a Bit in Between), $33.50, The New French Interior, $33.50

Home Made, $26.66Momofuku Milk Bar, $23.92, Silver Book of Cocktails: 1,001 Cocktails for Every Occasion, $25.61, Sparkle Cupcakes: The Little Black Book, $13.17

The Art Book, $18.71, Pantone: The Twentieth Century in Color, $26.06, Mario Testino: Portraits, $68.08, Helmut Newton: Polaroids, $59.99

 Making Faces, $13.89, The Fashion Questionnaire, $35.05, Jacques Helleu and Chanel, $125, Carine Roitfeld Irreverent, $100

A lot less geeky than you thought, huh?   Could the bookworm be the new black?

xx,

WhyDid

I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar, $9.99, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, $15, I’m So Happy It’s Happy Hour, $21.95