Shoe-spiration for a Gloomy Day

kaitlinwithak — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:15:53 +0000

Today in New York, it’s absolutely disgusting out. It’s one of those days where, if I were still in college, I would’ve skipped classes and spent the day with my friends on the couch, watching our favorite girly movies and drinking coffee. I had a pretty fail morning: my umbrella broke, my hood wouldn’t stay on because of the wind, etc. But the sight of these shoes made me forget about my bad hair day.

Kate Spade Charm Shoes

Nothing like a pair of sparkly, pink, bowed heels to cheer me up on a rainy day! These would be perfect for the upcoming holiday party season. But with a $325 price tag, I’ll have to admire from afar. They’re beautiful, aren’t they?!

My Perfect Fall Boots

kaitlinwithak — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 01:42:36 +0000

I have been searching high and low for the perfect pair of boots for the fall. I couldn’t decide between short or tall, flat or high heeled. I came across this pair today on Piperlime, and I knew instantly that they were what I have been searching for.

Piperlime

The Kenneth Cole Reaction Lead Actress boot in black will be the perfect accompaniment to my fall/winter uniform of dark/black jeans, blazer or cardigan, & scarf. They shape is feminine, but the details are bold and edgy. I love the lace up front and platform heel. Anyone can tell you that I’m not one for high heels… But since I got my Barney’s Warehouse sale Lanvin’s, I’ve been warming up to the idea of wearing heels on a regular basis. I can totally see these transitioning from work to dinner and drinks at night.

These beautiful boots are on the top of my Fall Must-Haves list!

Anna Dello Russo’s Watermelon Hat

kaitlinwithak — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 21:31:19 +0000

Anna Dello Russo is definitely my favorite person to outfit-stalk. As the Editor at Large and creative consultant for Vogue Japan, she always looks the part, dressing in couture on a daily basis. She’s a favorite subject of famed fashion photographer Scott Schuman and for good reason.

While I haven’t seen any watermelon hats on the runway lately, leave it to ADR to sport one while watching the spring 2011 fashion shows during New York Fashion Week.

Patrick McMullan

This is amazing for two reasons. 1) Who doesn’t love watermelon? Especially SPARKLY watermelon. 2) ADR doesn’t take herself too seriously to wear a watermelon hat.

And I’m pretty sure she’s the only person who could show up to fashion week with a watermelon on her head. Period.

Blake Lively at Fashion’s Night Out: The Show

kaitlinwithak — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 02:48:33 +0000

On Tuesday, September 7th, New York City made fashion history with the world’s largest fashion show ever – Fashion’s Night Out: The Show. Fashionable celebrities and editors were on hand to witness this exciting moment. Blake Lively was definitely the best dressed of the evening in a beaded, tribal print Marchesa cocktail dress and Christian Louboutin heels.

I love the print of this dress because you would expect to see it on something more casual, like a flowy top or a scarf, but it works phenomenally and unexpectedly on a cocktail dress. Obviously, I love the shoes. And for Blake Lively, this is a rather modest look. This is the kind of dress a girl could have a good time in, and I love it!

Happy New York Fashion Week Everyone!

Memoirs of a Barneys Warehouse Sale

kaitlinwithak — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:34:38 +0000

Last February, I was introduced to the Barneys Warehouse sale madness by one of the most fabulous and fashionable people I know. My dear friend R is a seasoned shopper, to put it mildly. He has the best luck at the Warehouse sale. While my first Warehouse experience was mostly a spectator sport, this time around, I got VERY lucky . I scored a ridiculously gorgeous pair of Lanvin heels for a ridiculously LOW price.

These shoes are so sexy, the more I stare at them, the more I love them. The copper color is very versatile and would look fantastic with anything. The cone heel is dramatic. They’re a great basic, but bold, shoe. And they cost me… $85. They were originally $850! Everyone knows that while the Warehouse sale might have the biggest selection on the first day, as the sale is ending, the prices drop drastically. All shoes were an additional 75% off, dropping the price of these babies from $339 to $85.

What’s even crazier than that is that I ALMOST PASSED THESE UP! I waited on line, got to the cash register, and then decided I didn’t want them. Upon trying them on just one more time, and getting scolded by R, I decided to purchase them. And I’m so glad I did! We all came home with Lanvin shoes that day, and it was spectacular.

My New Favorite Lip Colors

kaitlinwithak — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 16:03:31 +0000

In the past, I’ve been one to shy away from lip color completely. I would wear nothing brighter than my Nivea Chapstick or a nude MAC lip gloss. Whenever I put on a colored gloss, I felt strange, and I would never dare to wear lipstick. Lately, that has entirely changed.

Back in June, I went to a beauty event with my roommate, and Maybelline was the sponsor, so they were giving free makeovers. I sat in the chair and told my makeup artist that I wanted to try a red lip, and she was delighted. “You’re my first person who wanted that today!” she said. A few minutes later I had the perfect red pout, that shockingly, lasted through the night. The next day, I went to Duane Reade, purchased ‘Red Revival’ and red lip liner from Maybelline (all for under $10), and began to practice.

Once I mastered red, I started experimenting with other lip colors. With my complexion, hair color (dark brown), and eye color (green), the possibilities are endless.

MAC Lipstick in Toxic Tale

This bright, fun, pink is my go-to for a night out. Jeans and a black tshirt feel instantly more glamorous with this color on my lips. It’s definitely a bit look-at-me for a day at work, but I think it’s perfect for nighttime. It glides on smooth and stays put! It’s part of MAC’s Venomous Villains Collection, which should hit stores this month, but I scored it during a beauty sale at one of the magazines at work!

This Tarte lip tint in Friday, layered lightly, is my at-the-office lip color. The deep plum seems to instantly brighten up my face, and the formula is smooth and conditioning. A couple more coats, and this color gets darker and more dramatic. I love the versatility!

I’m obsessed with this Cover Girl lipstain. The felt tip is mistake proof, the formula is long lasting, and this color is totally wearable for every situation. I love that I can apply it on the subway without having to worry about whether or not I have lip color all over my face. I definitely recommend this lipstain, and at $8, it’s a steal!

This ‘lipstain’ from Mark has more of a glossy texture, and in Lolli, it’s the perfect red for when I don’t feeling like doing a full red lip. It’s easy to apply on the go, and the colors lasts for hours!

And finally, the lipstick that started my lip color obsession, Maybelline Color Sensation Lipcolor in Red Revival.

If you’re shy about wearing color on your lips, I recommend heading to your favorite beauty counter and requesting a red lip! The makeup artists will know what reds work on you, and you’ll be amazed by how glam you look!

Anna Paquin at the 2010 Emmy Awards

kaitlinwithak — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 01:30:31 +0000

Anna Paquin, everyone’s favorite vampire-loving Southern belle, looked phenomenal at the 2010 Emmy Awards in a dramatic Alexander McQueen number.

Image - Just Jared

At awards shows, there are always beautiful women floating across the red carpet in beautiful dresses, but I was immediately drawn to this dress because it’s not like anything I’ve ever seen on the red carpet before (perhaps because it is McQueen). There’s always a ton of Marchesa, Versace, Oscar de la Renta, etc. and while these dresses are always breathtakingly beautiful, I prefer this look.

Anna Paquin looks equal parts glamorous and fierce. I hate to use that word because I think it’s a bit cliche, but that is the perfect description for this dress. The bust reminds me of a sexy version of Viking armor, with a bit of Ancient Egyptian Princess mixed in. It’s flawless.

Rebecca Minkoff Launches Shoe Collection for Spring 2011

kaitlinwithak — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 23:10:38 +0000

Ever since Rebecca Minkoff busted onto the scene a couple of years ago with her collection of perfect, buttery classic leather bags (with a twist of course), she’s gained quite a cult following. These days, you can barely open a magazine without seeing one of her bags featured as an Editor’s pick. It goes without saying that I’m very excited for the launch of Rebecca Minkoff’s line of footwear, which promises to be classic yet sassy, sweet… with the perfect amount of edge.

Rebecca Minkoff

I could totally see myself living in both these tan leather ankle boots with a modest heel, and these completely unique perforated tan flats (love the zippers). The black wedges are the perfect amount of drama for a night out. They would look amazing with skinny jeans, a black tee, and an arm full of Rebecca Minkoff bracelets. The shoe collection will be priced from $160-395. If Rebecca Minkoff’s shoes are anything like her bags, apparel, bracelets, etc, they’ll be on the feet of every fashion-forward celebrity, and made to last.

Rodarte for MAC Juarez-Inspired Collection Controversy

kaitlinwithak — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:45:54 +0000

Everyone knows I love my Rodarte girls, but this latest controversy has me feeling a bit uneasy. When I originally heard that MAC and Rodarte were pairing up to create a collection, I was, naturally, counting down the days till the September 1, 2010 release. Once wind of the ‘inspiration’ for the collection caught on in the beauty blogosphere, that changed.

The Rodarte girls said that their MAC collection was inspired by a road trip that they took through the Texas area, more specifically, the city of Juarez, Mexico. Shade names from the collection included Ghost Town, Factory, Quinceañera, and Juarez. The problem with being ‘inspired’ to create cosmetics collection based on the city of Juarez is that the city is known mainly it’s high rate of sexual homicides and rape of women ages 12-22, and the police’s lack of response to this ongoing problem. Something about exploiting human suffering to sell cosmetics doesn’t sit well with me, or other bloggers.

Rodarte for MAC Ad Image

Luckily, MAC listened to complaints and the names throughout the collection are being changed. They also announced that they will be donating $100,000 to benefit the women of Juarez. At least some good came of this distasteful “inspiration.”

MAC and Disney to Release Makeup Based on Disney Villains

kaitlinwithak — Wed, 26 May 2010 00:55:37 +0000

I could not be more excited for the latest MAC collaboration. MAC is teaming up with Disney to bring us beauty junkies a line of cosmetics inspired by Disney’s greatest bad girls. The collection is called Venomous Villians and will be in stores in September 2010.

Combining makeup and Disney is a genius idea for many reasons. But creating a collection based off of the Disney villains tugs at my heart strings even more. I LOVE the Disney villains as much as I love the Princesses. They’re all incredible, evil, and chic.

Disney

Image: Disney

Disney

My favorite villain is inexplicably Vanessa, the pretty version of Ursula in The Little Mermaid. Her role is minor, but boy is she evil!

I can’t wait to see the makeup collection inspired by these ladies. One thing they all have in common: red lips. I’m hoping to find the perfect red lipstick for me. Even better if it’s named after Malificent.