TARGET AND NEIMAN MARCUS HOLIDAY COLLAB

There is nothing like designer collaborating with the main street retail stores to make luxury more affordable. The newest collaboration this year is expected between Target and up-scale Neiman Marcus who are bringing 24 American designers together to create a holiday collection. The ultimate collaboration includes Alice and Olivia, Marchesa, Brian Atwood, Tory Burch, Diane Von Furstenberg, Altuzarra, Prabal Gurung, Oscar de la Renta, Jason Wu, Derek Lam, Marc Jacobs, and Proenza Schouler to name a few. They will together create a eclectic and diverse mix of more than 50 gift collection that will range between $7.99 to $499.99. It will launch on December 1st for the eager holiday shoppers but the preview of the collection will be available this fall. If past Missoni + Target was any indication, this collaboration will lead to a lot more crazy shopper lining up comes December.

Image Courtesy: shefinds.com

HAUTE COUTURE 2012: MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA

He is known to be avant-garde, experimental and unique, Maison Martin Margiela displayed his "Artisanal" collection this past week with models going incognito behind crystal embroidered masks. The collection was a reclamation of vintage clothing and accessories.  The raw cotton sleeveless jacket (above) that opened the show was inspired by a 1905 tailcoat with it's closure came from a cystal door knobs found in New York City. Moreover, he turned an antique silk gown's Art Nouveau motif into a bomber jacket and a bolero and a vest from a vintage baseball gloves. This collection was truly unique in every way and the reason why Maison Martin Margiela is so inspirational.

SALE: SAKS CONSOLIDATION SALE

Yeah, it's that time of the year. When Saks gathers it's past season collection on the 8th floor discounted up to 70% off for it's final markdown. The sale officially starts on Thursday, July 12th, in-store and online.

Image Courtesy: new.pentagram.com

BEAUTY: QUICK GUIDE TO SMOKEY EYE

I'm no artist but I'm always looking the artist ways to the smokey eye look. Something that looks like that it took hours to do without it actually being time consuming. Although, I have actually found a routine that has worked well for me, I stumbled upon on this video by celebrity make-up artist Lisa Eldridge that shows an actual 5 minute guide to smokey eye. Here it is and apply to perfect your smokey eye. Click here to get started!

SAVE: MULBERRY ALEXA BAG

Mulberry Alexa bag in Plaster pink - now $1080 (from $1350)

BEAUTY: BIODERMA CREALINE H20

With face cleansing being the first ritual before going to bed (I hope it's yours as well), the cleanser used should be mild, non-abrasive, and gentle to the eyes. Now, many products promise all the things aforementioned, but most of them actually do the opposite of what they say. Harsh, very oily but for me, stinging eye is really the point when the product hits the trash. After looking and looking, I finally found a hero product that has not irritated my skin (honestly) even after stripping make-up off and on like four times within an hour.

Bioderma Crealine H20, ubiquitous in the French pharmacies, not easily found in America, has been the most amazing cleanser. After first use, it cleared away foundation, lipstick, eye-shadow and mascara with a sweep. Weirdly, I'm so used to oily cleansers, that the non oily base was so refreshing. It also leaves no residue behind, feels like you just cleansed with water. No dry scaly skin, just feels clean and fresh. This product is soap and detergent free, neutral pH and has essential cucumber extract which is known to be soothing to skin. It is so unique, dissolves any product on the spot and ultra sensitive, that even acne prone skin individuals also benefit from it. 

Although, expensive from the usual cleansers in the market, but little goes a long way so it is worth the investment. Even after long day of work with make-up embedded in my pores, just one cleanse and I can go to sleep in peace. Since I started using Bioderma, I have not looked back at any other cleansers in the market. If I have interested you to give it a shot, click here and share your experience if you are a user.

Image Courtesy: Icovetthee.com

ELIE SAAB *HAUTE COUTURE 2012/2013*

It's couture week in Paris with all the Parisian Couture houses displaying their fine craftsmanship. Inspired by Byzantine Empire, Elie Saab presented the most dreamy and beautiful collection till now. The gowns and cocktail dresses were dipped in beads, sequins and crystals, yet look so light and angelic to the eye. The cut and style of the dresses were nothing not seen before. Nonetheless, the collection can make any girl drift into dreams.

SALE: HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

Happy 4th of July!

Here are some current sales while you are relaxing:

SAKS: The sale section is now up to 70% off. It's in-store and online for two days only.

DVF: Diane Von Furstenberg is taking extra 20% off of sale merchandise starting today till July 6th. Use JULY20 at checkout while shopping online.

BEAUTY: SUNSCREEN DO'S AND DONT'S

Are you a daily sunscreen user or once in a blue moon about to hit the beach type of user? If you are the latter one (tsk tsk!), this post will aim to provide you with more information so you can perhaps add sunscreen to your daily regimen (time to get informed).

Sunscreen, does it help? Yes! UVA and UVB rays emitted by the sun, absorbed by the skin can create free radicals which in turn cause premature aging, fine lines and wrinkles, skin cancers, hyperpigmentation and cell damage (wow!). Therefore, when in the market for sunscreen, look out for the work broad spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen and ingredients such as zinc, avobenzone which will aim at protecting the skin from both types of rays. 

Ah, putting sunscreen on is so much work! Really, is it that painful to add sunscreen in your daily routine. We don't think so, since, let us think, about 99 percent of cosmetic companies add SPF (sun protection factor) to most of their daytime products including moisturizers, foundations, powders, etc. All is required of you is to purchase a moisturizer that has these letters indicated in the front (SPF). So, NO excuses and time to get protected.

Higher SPF means better protection? Not necessarily. Research has indicated that higher SPF only increases protection by 3%. In fact, this whole matter depends on the user's skin and the activity in the sun. Therefore, we will recommend applying SPF 15 liberally, and reapplying every two to three hours depending on the situation. Let's say if you are doing water activities or perspiring more than usual, then apply more frequently than normally. In another words, do it right and you are protected!

DO's:

• Wash your face thoroughly before the initial application.
• Apply the sunscreen liberally and massage it in.
• Allow the skin to absorb in the SPF before applying make-up.
• Also, apply to the entire body.
• Reapplication is a must!
• Do it daily with a smile (or don't smile).

DONT's:

• Not using enough product will result in very little protection.
• Being lazy and not reapplying (just going backwards on the Do's)
• Binging on the sun. 
• Just the face approach and forgetting the neck and other parts of the body.

Products we recommend: Neutrogena, La Rochay Posay, Clarins, and Chantecaille.

SAMPLE SALE: BLOWOUT SALE AT CLOTHINGLINE

You know what is better than a sample sale? A further discounted sample sale of sample sales (get me?). So here it is. This past season, we been running around sales after sales, some were fruitful while some were just plain waste of time. And at some places the wait was so long that by the time you got in, the sale was out of juice and so were you.

Now, it's mid-July mid-summer, every store in this country is gearing up for fall and most designer sample sales of spring/summer are done. Clothingline, a major sample sale location, is hosting a spring/summer blow out sale where prices will be a lot more cheaper than the usual sample sales and there will be no wait or rush and most importantly, no hoarders. In our opinion, this is the best time to actually go real hunting because you can find nice designer duds with significant discount minus all the hassle.

Clothing Line Blow Out Sale

Designers: Tocca, Milly, Nanette Leopore, Showroom Seven, Free People, Cool Change, Jessica Kagan Cushman and many more.

Location: 261 W. 36th st.
When: July 10th-11th
Time: Tues-Thur (11am-7pm)

Happy Hunting!