by | Jun 4, 2011 | Fashion |
Prints! Prints! Prints!
JTwisdom
This dress is a great plus to my closet. I have had this dress for about three years and it always looks so fresh and carefree. This dress is definitely one of my favorite pieces! The dress is made of cotton and it’s oh so comfortable. I enjoy wearing it and it’s so versatile! You have got to work prints into your spring and summer wardrobe. Not only do prints add spice to your wardrobe but it’s also so stylish.
I paired the Dooney and Bourke croc handbag with it and all I can say is that it works in a chic way.
The polka dot computer bag is oh so fashion forward, I didn’t want the classical computer bag I wanted a statement bag and this one suits the pic.
Outfit in Review
Dress: Chadwicks
Pink Shoes: Life Stride
Earrings and bracelet:gift
Ankle Bracelet; Diamonique
Handbag: Dooney & Bourke
Computer bag: Mango Tango
Sunnies: Vintage ala my mother.
Hair: Braided because it was 97 degrees today and I wanted to do a deep condition so I braided my hair into 4 braids and pinned the braid into a chignon.
Update
Fragrance Fridays and Handbag Feature will start back up next week. Had to do a post about prints and mixing and matching.
by | Jun 1, 2011 | Beauty |
This is my review of the New Beauty Test Tube that I purchased from QVC.
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Link to Test Tube on QVC. It looks like QVC has the price listed for $32.00 now with $6.47 to ship to you. That’s only two dollars more so that’s not bad at all.
NEW BEAUTY website still has it for $29.95 plus $8.95 shipping and handling.
QVC.com
by | May 26, 2011 | From the Heart |
It’s really been hard to even think about blogging lately because Missouri has seen some horrible catastrophic Tornadoes during the last week. I am honoring the people who have lost their lives and their family members during the devastation with my prayers and not posting any new material until Tuesday of next week.
Joplin, Missouri was hit with a deadly tornado this past Sunday and another tornado hit the area on Tuesday. At last count, 125 people lost their lives and many more people are still missing.
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Please help in any way you can.
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To make a donation by phone, please call the Heart of Missouri United Way at 573-443-4523. 100% of all proceeds will be donated directly to Joplin.
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There’s a facebook page called Joplin, MO Tornado Recovery. Please like the page because it gives information on how you can help.
St. Mary's Catholic Church, Joplin Photo Credit: Dave Buckley
This is all that is left of the church in this picture.
Tornado warning at work Wednesday, May 25th
A tornado warning sounded across the state of Missouri for another wave of severe thunderstorm and funnel clouds on Wednesday. At 3:15pm, while I was at work, we had to seek shelter in the auditorium of the museum. Staff, visitors and I were there for about 45 minutes. The security officers said it was clear and we were able to go back to work as usual well. By the time I got back to my office, a second alarm sounded and it was louder then the first. I grabbed my purse and ran to the lower level and were there for an hour and 15 minutes. I tried to call my husband, but could not get reception in the auditorium. I went to the foyer and looked up and saw the gray eerie looking clouds. I was able to send a text message, letting him know that I was okay. He sent me a message back, saying “honey keep praying.” Life is so precious and when things like this happen you value every minute. The storm was strong and funnel clouds were seen but no tornadoes were confirmed.
I will be praying for the people of Joplin and continuing to pray that we see no more storms or tornadoes.
Psalms 27:1 says, The Lord is my light and my salvation–whom shall I be afraid?
I can’t be fearful, have to be strong and stand.
Have a safe Memorial Day weekend and remember the reason why we celebrate every year. Remember all of the fallen soldiers who died for our country to give us a safe place to live in.
by | May 23, 2011 | Beauty, Fashion |
Can only a sixteen year-old have a fresh face?
Can a forty year-old be considered youthful?
Does age really matter when selecting models for ad campaigns?
I thought about these questions when I read about the recent ad campaigns for Louis Vuitton and St. Johns.
Belinda White wrote an article for the May 20, 2011 edition of The Telegraph fashion section entitled “Out with the old, in with the new Louis Vuitton”. It is not talking about old handbags or shoes. For its fall 2011 ad campaign, the handbag company is replacing its current models who range in age from 23 to 46 with younger models with an average age of 18. What is interesting is that Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss were in the Fall 2011 Louis Vuitton runway show and they are both over 30; but they look pretty fresh faced to me. The title of this article was unsettling to me because even if a woman is in her nineties they can youthfulness inside and out.
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- Nyasha Matonhodze, 16, starring in Louis Vuitton’s autumn/winter 2011 campaign. Photo: Louis Vuitton
I do not have any problems with the way the Louis Vuitton ad campaign looks aesthetically. The advertisements are tastefully done. What bothers me is that Marc Jacobs, the creative director for Louis Vuitton, decided to use these models because he was looking for “fresh-faced young women.” Mr. Jacobs, I have a question for you. Can’t you be young and fresh face at 30, 40, or 50? The ad campaign could have included fresh faced models in various ages. As long as society continues to view age in this way; little girls, teenagers and women will continue to have insecurities about their age and the way they look. We will feel that after we reach a certain age that we are old? And that we can not do certain things that the younger girls can do, like starring in a Louis Vuitton ad. Well I disagree; because I have said this before and I will say it again. All women, of all ages and sizes, should be represented. We are the ones buying this merchandise, writing about it in our blogs, tweeting and re-tweeting the latest fashion trends and giving our opinions on what we think is haute.
One of the new faces in the Louis Vuitton ads is sixteen-year-old model, Nyasha Matohodze. Matohodze is a very beautiful young lady. But let’s think about it. How many sixteen year-olds do you know who own a Louis Vuitton handbag? Not many! I know that I have to save my money to purchase a jewel such as a Louis Vuitton handbag.
In The Telegraph article, it is noted that in the prior Louis Vuitton models were in their 20s, 30s and 40s. However, for this campaign the company decided to bring in fresh faces. I wonder how faces with a variety of ages could not be represented? I am always an advocate that everyone should count. When I look at an advertisement, it is nice to see some one that has a shape like me or some one I can relate to because it will focus a lot more on my buying decision or how an outfit will look on me or how I can carry a particular handbag.
The women over-thirty market is very strong. It would be to a designer’s advantage to include all the faces of a woman at different ages. I think that women appreciate it when designers take stock in what looks good on women at various different ages.
Being over 30 can be chic and young?
For example, Kate Winslet is the new face for St. Johns Knitwear. In the article, St. John’s New Woman, by Kate Iredale, Winslet shows off sophisticated and chic pieces from the St. John collection in a vintage theatre in New Jersey.
St. John Knits has a new face (Kate Winslet), a new look (fewer suits) and a plan to conquer a new customer (she’s not as young as you think). Photo By Jayme Thornton
Kate Winslet looked so beautiful and youthful in this photo shoot. She said in the article, “I’m obviously not a model. I’m not the size of a model. I don’t have the face of a model or the shape of a model.”
To me this is so real and brings it home to the consumer. I can hear women saying wow she looks great and she looks like me. There is a place for every age of a woman because we are forever young.
St. John has had ups and downs when finding the right fit with its customers. The company tried evolve its line to be more trendy. The effort did not work, so the company changed back to its original plan. “When you’re a big, successful company, you have to be careful as you evolve,” says St. John Knits chief executive officer Glenn McMahon.”
St. John executives gave an interesting definition for “youth.” It is quite different then what one would think. According to Iredale’s article:
“But St. John 2.0 is not targeting women shopping the contemporary floor. “When I say young,” says Jim Gold, president of specialty retail for the Neiman Marcus Group (where the news of St. John’s younger-minded initiative has been met with great enthusiasm), “I don’t mean twentysomething or thirtysomething. I mean getting the fortysomething customer.”
- Kate Winslet for St. John Photo: WWD
You are as young as you feel and don’t let anyone define you any differently.
So what is fresh faced youthfulness to you?
by | May 18, 2011 | Fragrance |
This is the first installment of a new feature that I am adding to my blog. I am calling it Fragrance Fridays. I plan to spotlight my favorite fragrances, my recent additions and the ones that I would like to add to my collection. One gem about having a variety of fragrances is that no one will no what you will be wearing.
Spring is here, but there is still a bit of a chill in the air. I am loving this weather right now. Here in Missouri, we received a taste of the heat and humidity last week with temperatures topping out at 90 degrees. These crisp and cool days reaching only 55 degrees are a pleasure to me.
As the Winter days give way to Spring, I am changing my fragrance choices. I have loved perfume ever since I was a baby. In my baby book my mother wrote, “she loves the smell of flowery perfume.” I loved it then and love it now.
As Spring comes into full bloom, I am reaching for my lighter fragrances. I never want people to smell me before I enter the room. I know some people are sensitive to even the lightest of fragrance so I try to respect them. I love light florals because you smell the scent but they are not overpowering.
M by Mariah Hsn.com
For example, M by Mariah smells so good to me and my body chemistry is a great match for the fragrance. I never thought that I would like a celebrity fragrance but I have to admit that some of her fragrance smell wonderful on me.
On the Elizabeth Arden site Mariah gives her inspiration for creating M by Mariah.
“For me, creating this scent was like creating a song – it takes many notes to compose a fragrance. It’s like a beautiful melody.” – Mariah Carey
Mariah’s signature scent opens with an indulgent, creamy accord and blooms into an opulent floral heart as a rich base reveals darker, sensual facets.
- A warm and inviting marshmallow is woven throughout the fragrance, evoking a sense of comfort. This indulgent accord captures Mariah’s fondest childhood memories of being in the kitchen with her father.
- The lush floral heart of the fragrance combines a feminine veil of Living Tahitian Tiare flower wrapped in the aura of wet Gardenia petals. This beautiful blend is reminiscent of the fragrant breezes of Hawaii and the Isle of Capri, Mariah’s favorite getaway.
- The soul of the fragrance reveals a sexier dimension. Sheer amber, infused with spicy, woody accents of Moroccan incense forms a seductive accord that embodies Mariah’s sensuality, beauty and glamour.
Description: Elizabeth Arden
When I read this description above I thought to myself that this had a lot of punch for one scent. After I smelled the fragrance my hubby and I loved it. I smell the Tahitian flowers with a hint of chocolate and I feel like I am on a beach sitting in one of those blue ocean lounge chairs. This is one of my favorites in my perfume wardrobe and I have quite a few scents.
I do not layer with any other scents when I spray on M and it stands all by itself and is really not needed.
M by Mariah is a beautiful scent.
Check back on future Fridays for more posts on my fragrance collection and fab favorites.
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