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Fall Favorite: Lollia – When The Leaves Turn No. 85
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Lollia’s When the Leaves Turn No. 85 candle is the perfect scent for season’s change. Truly redolent of Fall, this candle fills the air with nostalgia of time spent jumping into a pile of freshly fallen leaves.
Lollia’s candles are some of my favorite. High-quality and trustworthy, the aroma is always constant and strong. The candles burn evenly and seem to last forever. Great last minute gift idea, the packaging is simple and elegant.
Description: A flickering flame to reminisce on simple pleasures not to be forgotten. 85 When the Leaves Turn lends a Summer glow that gives way to fiery hues, leaving the aura of crackling leaves and teakwood filling the air with the rumor of Fall.
- Top notes of green tulip and water hyacinth.
- Middle notes of cut greens, bamboo, and sage.
- Bottom notes of muguet (Lilly of the Valley) and teak
About Lollia:
Created by designer Margot Elena, Lollia offers a complete world of delightful scents, bath and body treats, and candles. Margot Elena first became known for her Archive bath line, and Lollia is a continuation of the designer’s unerring skill for creating fresh, feminine scents. The beautiful packaging takes traditional motifs and reinterprets them in Margot Elena’s signature designs and color palettes.
Beauty Royalty: AERIN Beauty
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This week Aerin Lauder, granddaughter of Estée, launched her own cosmetics and lifestyle brand, AERIN. The brand kicked off the debut with it’s first line of cosmetics, AERIN Beauty. In the future, plan on appreciating new collections of accessories, sunglasses, shoes and home decor.
Stepping down from her role of Senior Vice President and Creative Director of Estée Lauder, Aerin plans on holding a less demanding consulting role. Speaking of consulting… helping her build the brand are Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and former NBC head Jeff Zucker.
AERIN Beauty is nothing short of elegant and feminine. Inspired by Aerin’s own beauty secrets, the lovely range aims to create a daily beauty routine that easily fits into a stylish lifestyle. A delicate signature Rose scent threads through the collection and is all bundled up in pretty pink and gold packaging. The collection features simple, everyday-wearable products that look and feel luxurious.
Style Your Stems: Floral Pants
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Style your stems in floral prints and patterns. A fun and fresh way to wear pants, these bold and colorful botanicals are truly statement-making.
With a little structure, these pieces look ultra fresh and modern. Don’t complicate things with a game of layers. Keep it simple. Try a cropped sweater or delicate tee for an effortless daytime look and silk cami and blazer for night. Add a great pair of sandals or heels and you have created the 1/2 & 1/2 (part elegance/part edge).
Here are a few beguiling blooms for inspiration:
Zara ~ Cropped Printed Trousers w/ Zip: $19.00 (sale)
Tibi ~ Floral-Print Silk Crepe De Chine Pants: $330.00
Ella Moss ~ Rosa Flora Pants: $148.00
DKNY ~ Printed Stretch Silk Crepe De Chine Pants: $245.00
Cynthia Rowley ~ Zigzag Floral Bonded Leggings: $225.00
Straw Topper: Club Monaco Nancy Straw Fedora
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Warm weather and outdoor fun requires a little shelter from the sun. Club Monaco’s Nancy Straw Fedora is the perfect retreat.
Made from intertwined straw, it is extremely lightweight and comfortable. It will protect your face, hair and scalp from the sun. The neutral color will complement just about anything you pair with it and has a relaxed style perfect for lazy summer days.
Simple and effortless, the Nancy Straw Fedora is the perfect topper to add some character to your look.
Club Monaco ~ Nancy Straw Fedora: $39.00 (sale) original price: $69.50
Four Favorites: Flip-Flops
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Flip-flops are not only a staple in my summer uniform, but year-round. I own way too many to admit to. I have also tried too many to admit to.
My two basic needs when choosing a flip-flop: comfort and style. I do not like a lot of bells and whistles or intricate design. I stay simple and natural in color and design. These shoes should last forever and never compete with seasonal trends. Here are my four forever favorites:
J.Crew ~Vineyard Leather Flip-Flops: $49.50
Rainbow ~ Black Leather Narrow Strap: $49.00
TKEES ~ Flip-Flop: $47.95
Havaianas ~ SLIM: $26.00
GLOW-T AWARDS: Xen-Tan Absolute Gold
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BEST OF THE BEST: Xen-Tan Absolute Gold
Xen-Tan Absolute Gold is my Summer 2012 winner for best self-tanning product. In just one application this self-tanner produces a rich, deep, olive-based tan that lasts.
The luxurious formula contains a color guard made of 24K gold leaf. Usually, I am not a fan of color guards. I believe them to be unnecessary and the reason behind messy application. However, the gold sheen in this product is very flattering and subtle. It dries nicely and does not rub-off on clothing or bed linens.
Enriched with Shea Butter, Absolute Gold is incredibly moisturizing – which is why, I believe, it lasts so long. The rich lotion feels very pampering on the skin and does not stick to stubborn dry patches. It absorbs into the skin very quickly, which cuts out drying time, but forces application to be speedy. The formula contains Xen-Tan’s innovative “Scent Secure” – a ground-breaking technology that blocks out self-tan (DHA) odor. And has a sweet vanilla scent, that reminds me of yummy marzipan.
For an easy, single-application, luxurious-feeling, natural-looking dark tan – you need to try Xen-Tan Absolute Gold.
Read my post on: Application Tips & Tricks
Perennial Swimwear: J.Crew String Bikini
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The string bikini is a staple of summer. Comfortable and versatile this style of swimwear will never stray from trend or fashion.
I purchase at least one J.Crew String Bikini per season. They are simple, honest and perennial. A straight-forward style that fit the same each year and continue to be available in trendy colors and patterns.
A string bikini combined with a mix-and-match approach to swimwear is a great combination to find your perfect suit. First, decide what you want to hide or flaunt and go from there. For instance, if you are trying to minimize a large bottom, purchase a dark color. If you want to draw attention to a flat chest, tie the string bikini in front rather than the back. If you want to elongate the legs or torso, adjust the ties on the sides accordingly.
There are so many ways to make this bikini work for you, just bite the bullet and try-it-on. Ugh… “The Dreaded First Swimsuit Try-On of the Year”. The best advice I have been given: Before you step foot into a dressing room with bikini-in-hand, make sure you are tan. Fake-it with a quick spray tan or at-home application. Trust me! It will make the experience less terrifying.
5 under $50: High-Low Skirts
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A new style trend for skirts this spring/summer features a unique high-low hemline. The high-low hemline, short in the front/long in the back, is like wearing a mini-skirt and a maxi-skirt all-in-one. This playful look shows the perfect amount of skin without being too daring.
This style is uber flattering on any body shape. The asymmetric hemline creates a lengthening effect that instantly makes legs appear longer. Showing-off a little leg can be an effective way to elongate the entire frame.
Styling these skirts is simple. Depending on the color or print of the skirt, it is always safe to coordinate with pared-down basics. Try a simple tee, tank or my favorite – a slouchy grey sweatshirt top. The high-low hemline provides the perfect showcase for this season’s quintessential shoe. Show off your favorite flats, sandals, wedges or booties.
The high-low skirt is available everywhere in a multitude of colors, prints and textures. Here are 5 under $50:
Zara ~ Skirt with Asymmetric Hem: $39.90
Asos ~ River Island Heart Hi-Lo Midi Skirt: $38.27
Express ~ Hi-Lo Hem Maxi Skirt: $49.90
Forever 21 ~ Sheer Floral High-Low Skirt: $19.80
Nordstrom ~ Rubbish – Asymmetrical Circle Hem Maxi Skirt: $42.00
Shop Your Closet: One Style/Four Outfits
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Style simple pieces of clothing with a belt and increase the versatility in your closet. From rompers to maxi dresses, a belt can effortlessly add interest to any outfit. Not only is cinching the waist with a belt figure-friendly, it can provide a more casual style to dressy pieces. Thus, enabling you to get more wear out of items in your closet.
Look for simple, subdued belts. A lot of bells and whistles will pull all the focus to `it. I love buttery-soft brown leather belts, distressed and treated to look as though you have had it for years. (Favorite Brands: J.Crew/Lucky Brand/Free People/H&M)
Next time you are in a pinch… cinch!
Revolve Clothing ~ Blue Life: All Day/All Nighter Jumper: $132.00
Net-A-Porter ~ Michael Kors: Belted Crepe-Jersey Jumpsuit: $140.00
Shopbop ~ Only Hearts: Long Gown: $64.00
Shopbop ~ Only Hearts: Keyhole Romper: $106.00
Glow-T Gift Guide: Beauty Stocking Stuffers
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Glow-T’s Gift Guide continues with beauty stocking stuffers. Fill your holiday with tradition and your stockings with tiny treasures. These simple, small, easy-to-pick-up beauty necessities are thoughtful and useful. From a washable makeup bag that will last forever to the “can’t live without” makeup sponge, here are a few stocking stuffer ideas.
Emi-Jay ~ Hair Ties (Pack of 3): $5.99
BeautyBlender ~ BeautyBlender Single: $19.95
Neiman Marcus ~ Prada Trapezoid Cosmetic Case: $170.00
Sephora ~ Sephora Collection Vanity Brush Set: $48.00
Sephora ~ Urban Decay The Revolution High-Performance Lash Curler: $20.00
Sequined Basics: J. Crew Glimmer Long Sleeve Tee
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As the holiday season approaches, sparkle is everywhere. Taken in small doses, sequined pieces can spruce up a wardrobe instantly.
The Glimmer Long Sleeve Tee by J. Crew is the perfect example of pairing glitzy items with simple toned-down ones. Available in black, stormy sea and dark khaki (pictured here), these simple boat-neck cotton tees are drenched in tiny sequins.
Pair with denim or simple black pants for an everyday look. Under a great blazer or jacket with the sleeves rolled to peek at the glittery layers. Or at night, coordinate with clean shorts, tights and textured heels.
Sparkle this season with everyday basics that shine.