Fashion

“clearly, retailers have to lower prices to get recession-spooked shoppers into stores again. Magazines like Vogue and Bazaar can’t ignore the fact the even their wealthier customers are being more careful with what they spend and have to respond accordingly, while still promoting the idea of sprucing up one’s wardrobe—especially key now during the all-important back-to-school and upcoming holiday seasons. At the same time, designers have realized they have to create more affordable clothing lines to keep consumers in a buying mindset, even if they’re not spending like they used to.”

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I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity for a phone interview with actress Angela Kinsey, best known for her role TV’s Emmy award winning comedy “The Office”.

She is also in Clairol’s Nice ‘n Easy commercial as “Gigi” – your “Guardian Girlfriend” helping you to keep dark roots at bay! Ms. Kinsey was kind enough to answer a few questions for us at The Fashionable Housewife. She’s sounded like such a down-to-earth person and like many of you, she is also a busy mom.

Marie: Angela, what made you decide to be a part of the Clairol Nice ‘n Easy Campaign?

Angela: I grew up in Indonesia and my mom used to stock up on Clairol products to bring there so we’d have them. She did my hair during college and throughout my youth growing up. We’ve always used Clairol because it’s accessible, inexpensive and a really great product.

Marie: Do you have any favorite hair coloring tips you could recommend for those of us that color our hair?

Angela: First off I would leave the ends alone and concentrate on the roots. To extend the color, trying washing your hair every other day or longer if you can go without it – wear a ponytail if you must. I also deep condition once a month and I also use Aussie 3 Minute Miracle. I basically try to use products that are accessible in drugstores or stores like Target. I’d rather spend my free time with my baby than sitting in a salon, which sometimes can turn out to be a long commute, so Clairol is great for me and like I said, I’ve been using it for years.

Marie: What would you say are your top 3 beauty product must haves – those items you’d take with you if you were stranded on a desert island?

Angela: Naturally, I’d take Clairol so I can touch up my roots; can’t have roots showing on a desert island! Second would be Lancome Juicy Tubes and third would be Oil of Olay Moisturizer.

Marie: So, what’s it like being on The Office – it must be interesting and exciting!

Angela: It’s the most fun and best job I’ve ever had – it’s like lightning in a bottle. It’s a very family like atmosphere and everyone is a great. I’m very thankful to have such a great job.”

Angela also offered her own personal beauty tip / secret !

Angela: Ladies, if you have a zit and it’s at the beginning, you know, when it’s big and pulsing, take an aspirin and make a paste of it with water and apply it at the beginning of the zit and leave it on and the next day the swelling will be gone!!”

Thanks to Angela Kinsey for taking time out of her busy day to chat with me! And thanks for the great tips!

Click here to see Angela in the Clairol Nice ‘N Easy television commercial.

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The trend of the moment is early 80’s rocker style inspired by Joan Jett, the original rebel herself. Of course having a jet black shag haircut will definitely help with this style, but it’s not required!

Want to recreate this look for yourself without a total makeover? Here’s how you do it – pick your favorite pair of Skinny Jeans either in a dark shade like black, charcoal or indigo. Add a thin black studded belt with that. Next, try a metallic silver or gold tank to wear and add a Cropped Leather Jacket over that – a lot of them have a motorcycle style / feel to them this season. Now, if you’re thinking, who can afford a leather jacket this season, not to worry. There are plenty good looking faux leathers out there you can find at Macy’s, H&M, Forever 21 and Mandee even unless you already own one from a past season.

L to R: American Rag – $89, Apple Bottoms – $98, B Hip by Me – $70

Accessorize your outfit with a Resin Bangle or leather wrap stud bracelet. For footwear, you can experiment with either a pair of black heels or a black boots leaning more towards a pointy toe to get the rocker look.

L to R: Report Julian Heels – $95, Harley Davidson Boots – $130, Mia Sterling Boots – $99

For a dressed down look, try Converse sneakers. While many like leggings to recreate this look, personally I’d steer clear of them because you don’t want to get too costumey or look like a goth hooker. Remember you’re trying to achieve a variation on the look, not copy it head to toe or dress like someone from a metallica group!

Another easy, simple and inexpensive way to get this look is simply to wear head-to-black — a pair of black skinny jeans, black tee and pick one item to stand out like a pair of fabulous studded sandals like the Jeffrey Campbell Mel.

L to R: Black Tank Top – $38, Black Skinny Jeans – $50, Jeffrey Campbell Mels – $164

Twilight Star Kristen Stewart is currently filming a movie “Runaways” playing the role of Joan Jett, so we should be able to spot some more 80’s style outfits on her pretty soon!

Will you be trying this trend?

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Feel the love with boho-inspired pieces this Fall. Looking like a hippie is “in” this season… as long as you look like a rich hippie! Look for rich paisley prints in multicolor, jewel or earth tones. Embroidered details give your outfit a homespun look. Flowy dresses, embroidered tunics, paisley prints and maxi dresses worn with boots, also give the rich hippie feel. Be careful not to overdo it with too much at once though. For jewelry, try a pair of dangling chandelier earrings or simple gold hoops with your outfit or add a stack of thin bangle bracelets to your wrist. You might try to layer two or three thin necklaces, but again – choose one or two area to focus one, not all three at once, otherwise you run the risk of hippie overkill. Lucky Brand Jeans have a great selection of boho inspired clothing and their online sales aren’t too shabby. Free People is another great brand for bohemian inspired pieces.

Outfit Ideas
If you are wearing the hot trend of distressed jeans with boots, try pairing a simple rich brown suede hobo bag with your outfit and tie a paisley print scarf around your neck or around the shoulder strap of your bag. The key is to not overdo it so you don’t look like you walked out of “Woodstock” or the Broadway production of “Hair”.

Looking for stores to find accessories for your rich hippie look? Try H&M stores for scarves, earrings, and purses. For tunics, tops and maxi dresses, check out Urban Outfitters. Brands like XCVI, Free People and Edun have great boho inspired pieces. For footwear, check out Zappos.com for a huge variety of styles. Lucky enough to splurge? Then you can’t go wrong with a simple pair of classic brown Frye Boots. You can wear these with jeans, dresses, skirts and the workmanship / quality of them will certainly give you your money’s worth.

Makeup Ideas
Play up your eyes with a smoky shadow and liner. Maybelline Expertwear Quads tell you exactly where each shade goes. Use just a light flush of color on your cheeks (berry, rose, pink) and a nude lip color for your lips, or, better yet, one of those lip colors in “your shade of lips but better” colors. What that means is to find a shade of lipcolor that is one shade darker than your own natural lipcolor. A color that will enhance your lips. You don’t want a strong lipcolor since you are playing up your eyes with this look.

Look to celebs like Nicole Richie and Lindsay Lohan for outfit inspirations. Both ladies seem to have the rich hippie look down pat. Also spotted wearing this trend: Kim Kardashian, Rachel Zoe, Demi Moore and Vanessa Hudgens to name a few.

The rich hippie look is a fun weekend look to experiment with for Fall 2009! Will you be trying this trend?

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I wanted to share a review with you about a Clinique product that I have been using for years but haven’t really heard or read much press about. I consider it a well-kept secret but one that should finally be revealed in hopes that they never discontinue it!

Clinique Touch Base is a small compact of cream that comes in several tints which can be used as a shadow or a primer to prevent eyeshadow from creasing. What I’ve discovered is that for me it works as an excellent concealer too. I always try to stock up if I am able to, especially whenever Clinique has their “Gift With Purchase” specials going on. My preferred shade of Touch Base is “Nude Rose”.

This little product is wonderful and after using it, I find that my eyeshadow doesn’t crease especially in the hot, humid weather and it also conceals my undereye circles without that white, circular look that some undereye concealers often do. Their shade of “Nude Rose” blends perfectly with most fair to medium skin tones. It does come in six shades: Nude Rose, Up-lighting, Petal, Canvas, Canvas Light, and Buff Lighting. After testing a few shades, I’ve settled on using only “Nude Rose” – a natural looking combination that looks “pinkish-peach/beige-flesh” type of shade which is perfect for my skin tone. It’s also ophthalmologist tested which is perfect for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.

This item has become a staple in my makeup case and if you have the opportunity to try it, I highly recommend it. On Clinique’s web site it is $14.00. Click here to purchase Touch Base for Eyes.

Get a chic beach tote—FREE!—plus complimentary shipping with the purchase of 2 SPF or self-sun products. (No Offer code needed. While supplies last!)

Check it out and let me know if it works as well for you as it does for me!

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I passed by an Old Navy store Thursday morning on my way to a job fair and I stopped in to have a look. I saw that their basic tee shirts are on sale (solid colors) for only $5.00 each! Besides basic colors like black, white, brown and gray, they had some beautiful bright colors as well like bright green, coral, purple & turquoise!

The other thing I noticed is that their denim shorts are only $5.00 too! I mean, you can get a complete summer outfit for like $10.00!

This reminded me of the radio interview with B101.5 WBQB – Chris & Dee in the Morning that I did for The Fashionable Housewife a few weeks ago. In the interview I mentioned that getting basic cotton tees in bright colors can liven up an interview suit if your limited with your cash flow.

I just thought I would alert you in case you ladies wanted to stock up! For $5.00 you can be beat. That is an amazing savings!!

Have a great day!
Marie

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Review on Cover Girl’s New
“Exact Eyelights” Eye-Brightening Mascara

I couldn’t wait to buy this because of the claims that it brightens your eye color because accentuating my eyes is one of my favorite things to do with makeup. Sadly, I was very disappointed. I bought the shade “Black Pearl” because I have brown eyes and there are certain shades for certain eye colors; but when I applied it, I did not see any difference from any of my other tubes of black mascara. Ok, so I thought, maybe this was a “fluke” tube and I went and bought another shade, this time I bought “Black Gold” which is for hazel eyes. The same thing with this one – it didn’t look any different, it wasn’t noticeably brighter nor could I see any color difference. It just looked like I had on black mascara.

The one positive thing about this product is that the mascara did not clump on my lashes and the brush is pretty decent and has a long handle. But I was hugely disappointed at the claims Cover Girl makes that this will make your eyes pop – because on me – it most certainly did NOT. I would love to see it on someone who claims it does.

Click here for more info on the new mascara >>

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If you have a pale/fair skin tone like me, most bronzers don’t look right on your face. They either make your face look dirty or give it that fake orange-y tan look. I’ve tested several bronzers for my face and I finally found one that is PERFECT for pale/fair skin tones like me. If that’s you too, read on….

Cargo Cosmetics makes a whole line of bronzers/blushers called Beach Blush. Their newest shade is called “Sunset Beach”. This particular shade is not too bronzey, not too brown or tan, and not too bright. I tried another shade on their line that is new called “Tenerife” and found it to be too matte and too dirty looking on my skin. Their Sunset Beach shade is the perfect mix of a pinkish-flushed glow with just the right amount of bronzer in it.

Test it on your face at a Sephora store near you. Click here for a glance at the shade from their website.

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Since I work in NYC, I pass by the “tents” at Bryant Park almost every day where they are currently holding “Fashion Week” and it prompted me to write about how to interpret runway fashion.

As you are probably aware, the fashion industry shows the next seasons trends way in advance. Right now, Spring 2008 is being shown on the runways of fashion week while the rest of us are still wearing summer 2007 clothing.

I wanted to offer an interpretation of “fashion week” for real people out there who are either stay at home moms, students, working mothers, single mothers or regular, normal career women who wonder when they heck would they ever wear some of the far-out designs that runways and magazines show.

Some of the fashions you see and read about on the runway are simply for theatric purposes and really not meant to be worn on the street for everyday life. Besides forecasting upcoming trends, some of the styles are the chance for the designer to “go crazy”, get publicity and showcase some of their wild and far-out stuff for the press and fashion insiders who visit these shows. You’ve probably seen some weird looking hats or outfits on models that have been photographed at these runway shows and wondered, “who the heck would ever wear that?” Well, I’ve often wondered that myself until I worked in the fashion industry and learned it was not to be taken so literally.

There is a way to interpret these far-out designs into our normal everyday life. For example: a designer may show models strutting out on the runway dressed like 1930’s gangsters with pinstripe suits and huge fedora hats, machine guns and suspendered high-waisted pants. This is not to tell us that this is how we should go to work or on a interview. It’s more of a humorous way to interpret menswear-inspired fashion for women. First of all, look at colors. Are they showing mostly greys, flannels, stripes or solid colors? That tells you that grey may be that seasons new black along with pinstripe patterned trousers with a loose fit reminiscent of the type of trousers that actress Lauren Bacall wore in the 1940’s. Think “old Hollywood glamour”.

Is another designer showing a model wearing clownish bright shades with a goofy hat and garish makeup? Interpret that to mean jewel-tone brights (think jewel tone colored sweaters, for example, in royal blue, ruby red, or emerald green). Or, to spruce up your predominantly black wardrobe, add a pair of gloves or scarf in one of these bright colors. See how it works? It certainly doesn’t mean that you should go out and buy a huge tunic or oversized trapeze dress in circus clown colors. But, you just might want to pick up a couple of bright inexpensive throw pillows to liven up your living room couch. It even relates to home furnishings.

Runway shows are a lot of entertainment and flash and should not be taken too literally meaning — as far as what the models are wearing, walking down the runway with their shirts open and braless — so please don’t!

If any of you have any questions or comments concering runway fashion, feel free to e-mail us or comment. We’re here to help.

Happy Shopping!

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The other day I did my weekly drug store run to check out the new makeup and nail polish displays for fall and it’s apparent that dark polish is the trend for Fall 2007. Black, navy and dark plummy shades are the season’s trend and so is the ever classic shades of red.

Reds, this time around are rich and vibrant – jewel-like and some with frost or subtle sparkle. Sally Hansen Lacquer Shine Nail Color has some gorgeous dazzling red shades to discover and would look equally nice on both finger and toe nails.

OPI is showing rich navy (like the sky at midnight!) and black returns this season but with a slight red sparkle to it. Check out OPI’s Russian Collection. I picked up four shades from their collection: An Affair in Red Square, (a gorgeous jewel-tone red), Vodka & Caviar (a darker shade of red minus the sparkle), Midnight in Moscow, (an almost black shade with a sparkle of maroon/red) and Russian Navy (a gorgeous shade of sapphire blue that I’ll wear on my toes!).

On the upscale side, Chanel’s fast selling nail color for Fall 2007 is “Tulipe Noir”, a deep plum shade which is their *it* color for this year.

The Lippmann Collection has “Rehab”, an ink-dipped blue, and “I Want Candy” a lollypop red.

Rescue Beauty Lounge Nail Polish shows us “Au Chocolat”, (the color of melted Godiva), “Film Noir” (a black orchid/dark violet) and “Black Russian” (black polish with ruby red flecks)

These dark shades look best on short, well-manicured nails and they may not be for everyone, but if you’re the conservative type, you can always try them on your toes instead of your fingernails.

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1) High waisted pants. I don’t care how tall or thin you are, I’ve never seen a pair of high waisted pants that look good on anyone. They make your boobs look like they are growing out of your waistband. Please do not buy into this nightmare of a trend.

2) Colored denim jeans. The 80’s are over and while certain styles from certain decades return, this is one trend that I hope no one takes hold of. Colored jeans remind me of punk rockers and bad movies from the 80’s. Besides, blue denim is a classic and with all the different washes of blue denim available, why venture into the crayon box of denim? Yikes! Pick up a pair of dark denim jeans this fall. Now THAT is something that is flattering to all. All the better if its a wide leg pair of dark denim pants.

3) Baby doll tunics. Enough of this. I’ve tried wearing this style different times and it all looks like maternity wear to me. I’d rather throw on a satin or silky trapeze dress with some high heels than a baby doll tunic.

4) Oxford shoes. These remind me of my Catholic school days. Which reminds me of nightmares. There is nothing feminine, funky, hip or cool about oxford shoes, especially oxford high heels. There’s just too many other stylish options out there in the way of comfortable shoes.

5) Feathers, edwardian blouses or fussy ruffles. Unless you’re trying out for a scene in “Amadeus” – this is another trend that will only make you look foolish and increase your chances of becoming a Glamour “Don’t”.

6) Cropped baby doll blazers or jackets. Again, these are not flattering even to thin people. The minute I saw one of these in a store recently, I thought to myself, “hmm, it looks like a bed jacket!”

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Ebay is a great place to score bargains and to sell things in your closet you don’t use anymore. I have bought and sold on there myself. Sometimes, though, the fees can be not worth your time to auction off something.

The blog “Outfit Kit” alerted it’s readers to a website that allows you to sell your clothing WITHOUT FEES! THANK YOU OUTFIT KIT!!!! Yes, it’s true, and if you don’t believe me, see for yourself >>

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Recently I stumbled across a blog that I find both interesting and funny. I like the way Mindy Ephron’s blog “Things That I’ve Bought That I Love” reads. She’s very entertaining in her writing style and always makes me laugh.

Read it here: http://mindyephron.blogspot.com/

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Fall makeup is certainly rich and luxurious this year! I always look forward to fall makeup shades more than Spring / Summer. Here’s a brief summary of some Fall 2007 makeup trends from top brands:

Bobbi Brown shows eyes in stonewashed nudes and to the other extreme, metallic shadow palettes.

Chanel shows rich, deep burgundy-toned lips and nails. Tulipe Noire, Chanel’s “it” nailcolor for Fall 2007 — is a deep plum flecked with gold, is selling out quickly.

Clinique makeup takes a dramatic turn this season. Deep, smoky eyes, richly glossed lips.

MAC – lips enter the next dimension with the extreme pearl, multi-reflective finishes of new 3D Glass. Limited edition from what I’ve read!

NARS smolders with a moody palette of warm metallics for a look of “mythic sophistication and strength”. Eyeshadows in gold and rose hues and lips in shades of red, pink and beige.

Now is when the September issues of fashion magazines start coming out and I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait !

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I bought Revlon’s new lipstick called “Renewist” lipcolor at the drugstore yesterday. The drugstore I went to didn’t have testers and all the lipsticks were sealed. The only guide to the colors were those plastic strips on the display which you all know is different than the actual shade. So, I decided to “wing it” and bought shade #010 in “Naturally Revealing” (the shade that Halle Berry wears in the magazine ad) figuring how bad can a light shade be? Well, it was bad (for me) that particular color was way too light for my lips. Bad choice on my part, but that aside, I wanted to review the actual lipstick and I’m giving it high scores. I paid $8.99 but other drugstores may have it for less and if you are able to print a coupon off the Revlon website, you can get it for less. Strangely, I did not find this product on their site although I did find it in Duane Reade, CVS and Eckerd Drugstores.

This lipstick is very moisturizing, smooth and makes your lips soft. It has a collagen core, the ad claims and while the case isn’t fancy (it’s clear see-through), the ingredients in the lipstick make it a good choice to keep your lips soft and supple throughout the day. I would recommend this if your lips have a tendency to dry out during the day.

But how you figure out which shade to get, if your drugstore doesn’t have testers, is another thing!

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