Yves Saint Laurent – Beautifully Invisible™

Friend Friday: What’s in your Makeup Bag?

Beautifully Invisible — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 19:08:52 +0000

Image via Funny Cats

I am a self-admitted beauty product junkie. It all started when I was a little girl. I would watch my beautiful mother as she applied her makeup each morning. At first I was fascinated by the faces she would make as she applied her mascara and lipstick, but eventually I was drawn to how her makeup enhanced her natural beauty.

Images via CartoonStock

This weeks Friend Friday questions focus on beauty and the products we can’t live without. I have my beautiful mother to thank for my product addiction. She never used a ton of products, and still doesn’t, but she always used just enough to move her from “mom” status to “most-beautiful-mom-in-the-world” status. And who doesn’t want to be just like their beautiful mother?

Now, on to the questions!

1. What’s your favorite drug store makeup product and your favorite higher-end product? Somewhere along the line I became a make-up snob. I wasn’t always that way – I used to be perfectly content with my L’Oréal and Cover Girl makeup. Then, one day, I tried my first higher-end product and there was no turning back.

Today, there are actually few – if any – drugstore makeup products that do it for me. You know the adoration that people feel for Maybelline Great Lash Mascara? I don’t get – it flakes like crazy on me. After a couple hours I look just like this little guy. Only not as cute.

This is what happens when I wear Maybelline Great Lash Mascara. (Image via Flickr)

I have had similar experiences with other popular products. Either the color pay-off isn’t as good, or it wreaks havoc on my skin. The one drugstore product I truly love is actually from Target, and that is the whole line of Sonia Kashuk professional brushes (the ones with the black handle). I adore them – they are just as good as any Bobbi Brown or MAC brushes I have tried.

Two of my favorite Sonia Kashuk brushes

As for high-end, I can’t just pick one favorite product. I have a triumvirate that I can not live without: my MAC Studio Fix Powder. This is a pressed powder with the coverage of a foundation. No matter what other foundations or powders I may try, I always go back to this one. Next is my YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils Mascsara. ADORE this and never flakes on me! Finally, my lipgloss. Brands change, but currently I am loving my Josie Maran Argan lipgloss. The argan oil keeps my lips moist and the colors are beautiful.

YSL Mascara, MAC Studio Fix and Josie Maran Lip Gloss

Honorable mentions go to Urban Decay Primer Potion – it is a MUST for anyone who ever wears eyeshadow – and the perfect pink of NARS Orgasm Blush.

2. Is there one type of product that is your go-to, can’t live without? My mascara is my go to product. I will skip the powder and lipstick and blush on occasion, but I will never, ever skip my mascara. I think my eyes are my best feature, so I love to play up my lashes as much as possible. The YSL is my favorite, but I also adore tarte’s Lights, Camera, Lashes! Both do wonderful things for my eyes.

3. What’s the best hair product you’ve ever used? Hands down, MoroccanOil. This is the stuff hair dreams are made of. I raved about it briefly a few months ago here and my opinion has not changed. When I started using MoroccanOil I was able to get rid of 90% of the other styling products I used.

The Holy Grail of all Hail Products

I have fine but thick hair, and all I have to do each morning is take a nickel size amount and run it through my damp hair pre-drying. It protects my hair from the heat and makes it smooth and frizz-free. The only other product I use is a volumizing mousse, and that isn’t even daily. That is it – nothing else needed. My hair has never been healthier and it smells unbelievable. I swear the smell of this product is worth the price alone. Seriously.

4. Fess up, what’s the worst beauty look you’ve tried to rock and look back at now with a little shame or apprehension that you actually did that? Is it bad that I actually don’t have a look I am ashamed of? Most of my life I have actually gone for a more natural look. You know, the “is she or isn’t she wearing makeup” look. I never wore really crazy colors or caked my makeup on. No Mimi moments for me.

Mimi from the Drew Carey Show (Image via BreBeauty)

The last few years I have actually gotten more adventurous with it and started experimenting more but the look is still more classic. If I do up my eyes I keep my lips more neutral, and vice versa. I did have a few scary hairstyles growing up, mostly due to out of control bangs that were at war with my cowlick, but who didn’t?

5. When it comes to beauty products, we all use the same basic products. What do you use that helps show off your personal flare and personality? This goes back to my eyes being my best feature. As I mentioned above, I try to play up my eyes as much as I can. Sometimes that is just with a heavy coating of mascara while sometimes it is with eye shadows (I can’t get enough of Bobbi Brown, MAC and Global Goddess shadows combined with the Urban Decay Primer Potion of course!). I love by Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On eyeliners – the colors are amazing and they STAY PUT. My personal eye trick? I line the inside of my eyes with a white liner – it makes them pop even more!

Yes, that is me. Baby steps, people. Baby steps.

What about you – what is in your makeup bag?

**********

To see what other bloggers are saying about this topic, click here.

For more info on ModlyChic’s Friend Friday series, click here.

Me Wants It: Designer Boot-y Call (and some other shoes too…)

Beautifully Invisible — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 17:56:39 +0000

Last week marked the beginning of “Designer Sale” season. Net-a-Porter, Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus, among others, all began the month of December by kicking off their big designer sales. Many items have already sold out, and sizes are limited in others, but there are still a ton of goodies available.

Although I have added more than a few accessories to my various shopping bags, this post focuses on some of the boots (and other footwear) still available. Being that I want them ALL, I have some decisions to make!

First, let’s revisit a few pairs that I have already featured in the “Me Wants It” series (or in my boot-related guest post on The Fabulous Life of the Not So Rich Infamous) that are now on sale.

These fold-over boots were one of my favorites this season, and they are still available in all sizes on Saks Fifth Avenue, and limited sizes on shopbop (6.5 and 10.5). If you wear a 9.5 or 10 you can buy them at net-a-porter for an even better price!

Belle Sigerson Morrison Fold-over leather boots. Original price $450, Now $314.99 (also available in size 9.5 or 10 ONLY at net-a-porter for $270!)

These Lanvin boots are still pricey, but if you can afford them, now is the time to buy them! They are a great color and will work for the Fall and Winter seasons.

Lanvin Knee-high leather boots. Original price $1,640, Now $1,148

Not everyone can rock thigh-high boots, especially this color and material. If you can, you can’t beat these Stella McCartney boots for great quality, look and price!

Stella McCartney Thigh-high satin boots. Original price $1,045, Now $522.50

I just recently posted about these Alaïa sandals, and now they are on sale! Still love them. Still can’t really afford them.

Alaïa Chain-link leather sandals. Original price $2,680, Now $1,608

Although I haven’t featured this particular pair of YSL Tribute Sandals before, I have featured other styles. The stud detailing on these gives them a bit of edge while still looking classic. These would become a staple piece in any wardrobe.

Yves Saint Laurent Tribute studded leather sandals, Original price $1,250, Now $875

I first spotted these OTK boots on one of my favorite fashion bloggers, Tiffany of I am Style-Ish. If I buy anything from this post, it will probably be either these or the Belle by Sigerson Morrison fold-over boots.

Roberto del Carlo Over-the-Knee Boot, Original price $725.00, Now $439.00 SALE

These Chloe Boots are another great option. I love the strap and buckle details, and all sizes are still available at Bergdorf Goodman!

Chloe Wrapped Strap Boot, Original price $1,195.00, Now $836.00

What makes these YSL pumps so fun is the design. They aren’t really a pump, and they aren’t really a wedge. You’d definitely make a statement wearing these!

Yves Saint Laurent Clunky Suede Pump, Original price $780.00, Now $522.00

I’ve mentioned my love for Brian Atwood before, so it is only fitting I include these cute ankle boots. All sizes are still available at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Brian Atwood Helix Suede Ankle Boots, Original price $835.00, Now $583.99

Finally, these nude platforms aren’t on sale. But they are Brian Atwood. And they are nude. With black mesh detailing. What’s not to love about these?!

Brian Atwood Dante leather platform pumps $640

Have you done any shopping at the Designer Sales, either for yourself or gifts?

Or is there something you have your eye on but are waiting to see if the price drops further?

Me Wants It: Antik Batik, Temperley London, YSL, John Hardy and more.

Beautifully Invisible — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:45:00 +0000

Happy Monday everyone!

Yet again, another weekend comes to an end all too soon. I hope everyone was able to relax and have some fun!

Before I get completely lost in work today, I had to take a moment to bring you this week’s edition of “Me Wants It.” Pretty things always make me smile

First up is this olive-colored shirt from Elizabeth and James. I love this take on the military-inspired trend because the silk-charmeuse material gives the shirt an unexpected touch of femininity.

Temperley London’s Vida silk minidress is absolutely stunning. Black silk, gold studs, and that dramatic back – perfection!

I am absolutely in LOVE with the color of these Yves Saint Laurent Palais pumps. I need more fuschia in life.

Normally I don’t go for bags that are shaped like animals, but this Judith Leiber clutch is adorable. The price? Not so much. But it is embellished with hand-placed fine crystals…

Now, this John Hardy ring I would buy in a second. I love big rings. Alas, it is sold out already!

Finally, the beauty of this Antik Batik Anka beaded suede necklace speaks for itself. SERIOUSLY coveting this piece. Hope it doesn’t sell out before I save enough pennies.

As Fall approaches I seem to be coveting more accessories, shoes and bags than I am clothing. What about you? Have you started your Fall shopping yet?

All images courtesy of net-a-porter.

Size 14 Is Not Fat Either… It’s Invisible

Beautifully Invisible — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 20:38:00 +0000

Blogging is a new thing for me. I am learning as I go, and have just started to tell a few of my closer friends that I am doing it.

As you can probably tell, I am trying to keep my blog fairly anonymous. That may change down the line somewhere, but the main reason for that is my identity. My parents are both European, and although I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, I have a very unique name as a result. Chances are, if you Google my name, you’ll find me. Heck, if you were to Google my first name with some key words, you’d find me. So anonymous it is!

The few friends that are aware I have a blog have asked what the name, Beautifully Invisible, means.

When I started this process selecting a name was actually one of the toughest things for me.

I wanted something that would reflect the content of the blog, but also reflect me, as a person. The name came to me one evening as I was exploring a few sample sale sites. It seemed like every time I clicked on a skirt, pair of jeans, or dress I was interested in, the sizes stopped at 10.

Me? I am a pretty consistent size 14 with the occasional 12 thrown in.

At my smallest, I was a 9/10 and that was back in my college days. And I thought I was big back then.

Today I am confident in myself and who I am. Could I stand to lose some weight? Yes. But I regularly work out and eat healthy, and it isn’t happening. I’ve grown to accept the 14 I am now. I know I am nice-looking, and being a size 14 doesn’t take away from that. In fact, I am a curvy size 14, and I think that just adds to my looks if anything. If I lose weight down the road, I won’t complain, but I am happy in the skin I am in. Usually.

I haven’t read this novel, but I love the title!

Back to the title of this blog. So there I was, trying to spend my money on some gorgeous new clothes with no luck because of my measurements.

The same thing has happened to me while checking out certain pieces on shopbop, net-a-porter, intermix and countless other sites.

The same thing happens when I walk into certain bricks and mortar stores (especially boutiques!).

I am out-sized of so much of the great, fashionable clothing I love.

To make matters worse, there are some great sites out there for plus-sized woman, but my measurements are generally too small for the items they sell. Seriously?

So here I am, your average American size 14 wannabe-fashionista, and I can’t wear half the things I love and lust over.

I love you Alexander McQueen Cashmere and Silk-Blend Sweater Dress

I am completely invisible. How does that happen? Is this only my imagination?

I started doing some research online and came across a great Los Angeles Times piece by Emili Vesilind that addresses this every issue: “Fashion’s Invisible Woman.”

Turns out it’s not my imagination after all.

This quote is from the LA Times piece:

“ When Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld, who spent most of his adult life battling a serious weight problem, created a capsule collection for H&M in 2004, the newly svelte designer was incensed that the retailer manufactured the collection in larger sizes. “What I designed was fashion for slender and slim people,” he said. And in an interview in the March issue of Harper’s Bazaar, he sniffed, “The body has to be impeccable . . . if it’s not, buy small sizes and less food.”

This, my friends, seems to be the philosophy that too many of the designers out there follow today.

Yes, there are designers out there who DO have lines for us “bigger” girls. But not enough.

Yes, there are non-high fashion brands I absolutely adore out there that sell size 14s.

Like H&M and Ann Taylor Loft for instance. But make sure you buy what you want ASAP because that size 14 will be out of stock very quickly.

I love shopping at Nordstrom, but I am usually sized out of items in their high-fashion Savvy Department.

There are some great boutiques in the Cleveland-area as well, like Banyan Tree, but again, I am often sized out of clothing because the designer simply doesn’t make the item in my size.

There are so many blogs out there that I admire, and blogger’s whose style I admire, but sometimes I am too afraid to even try to buy from a new source because of the sheer possibility I will be disappointed.

So I stick to what I know works. And I have mile-long lists of things I want to buy but can’t because I am invisible.

Guess I’ll have to stick to spending my hard-earned cash on accessories and shoes!

I love you Proenza Schouler PS1 medium leather satchel.

I love you Yves Saint Laurent Tribute Suede Sandals.

(All images either from google images or net-a-porter)