Blog Archives
In the Know: Fashion’s Night Out
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Fashion’s Night Out, the kick-off event for New York Fashion Week, is a global initiative sponsored by Vogue and the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America).
In 2009, Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour and Diane von Furstenburg, president of the CFDA came up with the idea for Fashion’s Night Out as a way to lure recession-weary consumers back into stores. During FNO, consumers are baited with limited-edition product, sales, celebrity appearances and performances.
Many of the stores involved will not only be hosting parties in lieu of celebrating fashion, but will also be supporting philanthropies. Retailers have partnered with certain charities and will be giving them a portion of the proceeds from that night’s sales.
The New York-based event has grown worldwide, with up to 5,000 events in the U.S. alone and 18 participating countries. The official hours are 6-9 p.m. on Sept. 6.
Fashion’s Night Out is a day to celebrate fashion and shopping… So get out there!
Amateur’s View: T3 Featherweight Professional Hair Dryer
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You have seen your hair stylist use it, you have seen it in magazines and backstage at fashion shows. The T3 Featherweight Professional Hair Dryer is a professional-grade appliance built for speed and heat. But is it worth the purchase?
When shopping for a hair dryer, do you ever wonder what these words mean: ions, ionic, ceramic, infrared heat, tourmaline?
An ionic hair dryer gives off what is referred to as negative ions. (traditional hair dryers emit positive ions) Negative ions are substantially better at breaking down the moisture in the hair and making hair smoother by closing the hair’s cuticle-layer and sealing in the hair’s moisture. This is the reason they dry hair more quickly and efficiently than traditional dryers.
Different brands have different ways to create this ionic charge. Some dryers have an ionic spray coating inside of the dryer’s barrel, and others use ion generators. The T3 Featherweight Professional Hair Dryer relies on the highest quality, tourmaline, a gem that occurs in nature, to generate the negative ionic charge and emit infrared heat. When tourmaline crystals are warmed they become positively charged at one end and negatively charged at the other.
The Amateur’s Opinion: The T3 Featherweight Professional Hair Dryer is exactly that – professional. Yes, it drys your hair in seconds with super-natural speed and noticeably creates less frizz. At 13oz it is comfortably light and ergonomically efficient. If I were a professional, blow-drying a number of clients a-day, this is the necessary tool. As I am not, the main caveat is the inability to use this hair dryer and all of it’s capability. I cannot use on the highest heat setting, for fear of igniting flames and am scared to place on a section of hair for too long because it would be nice to keep my hair. In my novice opinion, it is an expensive hair dryer that I will leave for the talented professionals.
Dabbling in Depilatories: Veet In-Shower Hair Removal Cream
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VEET In-Shower Hair Removal Cream
Depilatory creams are topical solutions designed to remove unwanted hair from practically any area of the body. The #1 disadvantage of using these types of creams is the fragrant smell of rotten eggs. The odor is caused from the chemical ingredients in the creams. Most depilatories contain sulfur and thioglycoate, when oxygen is added, the chemical reaction releases an unpleasant scent. When shopping for depilatory products, marketing gurus promote their products as: “unscented,” “smells like roses,” “lemon-scented.” LIES! I have tried many different brands and have yet to find one that does not leave a trace of odor. Yes, they have done a great job to cover-up the scent, but it is still invariably apparent.
Advantages to using depilatory creams are… they work. A lotion that reveals smooth, hairless legs for days is the lazy-girl’s best (and cheaper) alternative to shaving.
My current favorite depilatory cream is Veet Suprem’Essence In-Shower Hair Removal Cream. The water-resistent formula lets you step into the shower while it works it’s magic and 3-5 minutes later, simply wash off. Veet products contain essential oils from plants and flowers to leave skin soft and mask the unpleasant odor. The scent is still evident but endurable. Also, using a depilatory in a warm shower will make results last longer. Hairs will be softer and more readily removed. Results can last three to five days depending on your hair-growth rate.
I use these creams in the colder months of the year for a couple reasons. After shaving, the “day-after stubble” seems to pop-up quicker when cold and during the warmer months, self-tanning products react strangely with these creams.
In conclusion, depilatories/hair removal creams have come a long way. If you want smooth skin for 3-5 days and can suffer the smell – dabble in depilatories.
Cyber Monday Deals & Steals: Fashion
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Happy Cyber Monday! Take advantage of these stellar sales from your favorite fashion sites around the web.
AllSaints: Take 20% off all merchandise, including menswear, womenswear, and accessories when you enter Code: ALLSAINTS at checkout.
Madewell: 30% off sale items and free shipping with exclusive Code: ENJOY
Bloomingdales: For purchases of $250 or more, take $50 off plus, free shipping when you use Code: FREESHIP11
Shopbop: Spend $250 or more, take $50 off your order; spend $500 or more, take $100 off; spend $750 or more, take $150 off; spend $1,000 or more, take $250 off; or spend $1,500 or more, take $500 off. Use Code: BIGEVENT
ADAM: 40% off sitewide with Code: ADAMBF2011, plus free ground shipping on all orders.
DKNY: Receive 28% off your entire purchase plus free shipping.
Intermix: Take an extra 15% off sitewide Code CYBER15
J.Crew: 25 percent off plus free shipping – use Code: SURPRISE
Net-A-Porter: End of season sale – up to 50% off selected items.
Steve Madden: 30% off sitewide sale — plus free shipping — when you use Code: STUFFING
Bluefly: Shop already discounted designer goods at an extra 10% off
Rachel Roy: Take 40% off Rachel by Rachel Roy and 20% off Rachel Roy all day.
Tory Burch: Limited edition tote with any purchase of $150 or more; spend $250 get 20 percent off, spend $500 get 25 percent off, spend $750 get 30 percent off when you enter Code: GETGIFTS
Proenza Schouler: Enjoy free ground shipping on all orders placed on Monday.
Glow-T 