The perfect tint is hard to find
What’s Cracking Good — Lip and cheek stain
Vincent Longo’s Cupid’s Breath lip and cheek tint was my desert island beauty product.
With a swipe of the sponge-y tip, a natural-looking shade of color appeared on my lips and cheeks like magic, waking me from the dead in under 15 seconds.
Now, however, Cupid’s Breath is nowhere to be found. Amazon lists it, but claims it’s out of stock. I had a brief moment of hope when I saw it listed in In Style Magazine — but still, my favorite color is elusive.
I’m now scraping the contents out of my current tube. I’m going to have to come up with an alternative.
Here are a few I’m looking at:
1.) Sephora Lush Flush Lip & Cheek Stain , $12 in Red Wine and Rose
2.) Vincent Longo’s My Sunshine Lip & Cheek Stain, $22.50
It’s the same formula in a different, more orange-y tint. This is the one I actually purchased. It’s okay, but I kind of look like I got into some Kool-Aid.
3.) Mark Gloss Gorgeous Stay On Lip Stain, $9
You can afford to try several of the stay-on shades.
4.) Jemma Kidd Rosy Glow Lip & Cheek Tint, $28
Super-sheer color
5.) Marry Me Lip & Cheek Stain, $22.50
Any suggestions?
Barraged by cross-body bags
What’s still Cracking Good — Cross body bags
You know, last year I searched far and wide for a decent cross-body bag…and while I found a few, they were pretty elusive.
This season, however, I’m not looking, and they are EVERYWHERE.
Isn’t that always the way?
1.) Deena & Ozzy Leather Cage Bag, $68
2.) Tano Thin Lizzy, $190
3.) Nine West Crossbody (more colors), $49.99
4.) Back in the Saddle Bag, $59.99
5.) Cantina Mini Bag, $99
More Products Online
July 4th-wear
Celebrate the country’s independence with a little festive red, white and blue (and vintage):
- July 4th Sundress, $169
- Jennifer Sunglasses, $12.50
- Barcelona Espadrille Sandal, $92
- Edgartown Quinn bag, $228
My personal space is in New Times
A friend interning at New Times this summer sent me an email asking to take pictures of my house for a new section called “Personal Space.”
I like my house…so I agreed.
My husband stressed about it.
“I’m not worrying about it — it’s how we live. I like it when they aren’t all perfect,” I told him.
That said — I still put the ratty cat-scratch ottomans and some superfluous knick-knacks in the “junk room.”
Summer style for the boys
My husband is one of the most stylish people I know.
He’s always been that way. Even in high school, he pegged his slightly baggy jeans, untucked his shirt just so, and had an easy way of carrying his backpack that made his whole look seem effortless and cool. You never get the idea that he stood in his closet for hours wondering what he should wear — or whether his jeans make his bum look big (for the record, he’s never done either of those things).
When my guy friends ask me about men’s fashion, I often point to him as a model of what I think a boy should wear: equal parts rumpled prep school student and street kid, with a dash of nerd.
Here are a few things that are in his summer rotation:
Tops:
- Polo shirts, $8
- Button-down shirt (in blue and white striped, white or blue), $59.50
- Madras shirts, $95
Bottoms:
- A not-so-baggy khaki, $54
- A not-so-baggy jean, $54
- A thin-legged short, $41.99
Shoes:
- Sneakers, $30
- Saddle Shoes, varies
- Oxford Laceup, $245
- Flip- flops, $22
Accessories:
- A giant watch, $135
- A preppy tie, $45
- Belt, $18
Favorite men’s stores:
If money is no object:
Room for a romper
If you’re patient and believe, you too might find the romper of your dreams.
I recently read a blog post about romper fear. I related. I, myself, have yet to get on the playsuit band-wagon. Maybe because Jessica Simpson kicked off the trend wearing one that reminded me of my mom’s terry-cloth number from the late ’70s. Perhaps it makes me feel like an infant (romper/onesie — same thing?)
I’ve featured one or two on this site…but I haven’t actually purchased one.
But today, I found one I might eventually own.
1.) Vintage Pattern Romper, $19.50
2.) White Tank, $8.50
3.) Silver Stud Bangle Set (6), $13.99
4.) Raffia Bangle Set, $12.99
5.) Bernardo Women’s Morocco Flat Sandal, $139
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Long live preppy style
When I was middle-schooler, The Preppy Handbook was my Bible. Pink and green were my favorite colors, and I really felt my name should have been Buffy for less cool reasons than would later present themselves. I was sad that both duck boots and rugby don’t naturally occur in Phoenix.
I vividly recall wearing my sweater over knotted around my shoulders. What a douche.
Then things changed. I found black, baby doll dresses and beat writers and The Handbook was tossed aside.
I recently dug up a copy of The Preppy Handbook (yes, I still have it), and realized that there’s a lot of Buffy still in my wardrobe.
Oxfords, Tretorns, wrap dresses were all preppy staples, and still are very much alive and well in my wardrobe.
Here are some I’m liking:
1.) Madras Plaid Sundress, $119
2.) Madras Boyfriend Short, $69.50
3.) Nautilus One-piece, $138
4.) Pink Cardigan, $39.50
5.) Tretorns, $52.27
Pretty feet
My heels are disgusting.
Now that it’s officially hot, my shoes of choice are my island sandals. Unfortunately, the open shoe has meant dry heels that no amount of soaking will soften.
A pedicure might help, but who has the time or money to do that every week?
I searched the Internet for some help:
1.) Zim’s Crack Creme, $23.50
The name is kind of funny, but the product has a 5 star customer review on Amazon.
2.) Foot Works Therapeutic Cracked Heel Relief Cream, $4.99
Several blogs cited Avon products as the best for soft feet
3.) Diamancel Tough Buffer, $48.75
The Rolls Royce of foot buffers
4.) Softening Socks, $48
Sleep your way to soft heels.
5.) Flexitol Heel Balm, $6.99
Results in one day
Finding vintage-style swim
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1.) Twist Knot Bandeau Top & Bottom, $58/$56
2.) Pins and Needles Shirred Ones Piece, $14.99
3.) Wild Watermelon Two-Piece, $59.95 each
4.) Vintage Bathing Cap, $59.99
5.) Gil Howdy Vintage Swimsuit, $70
Where to find vintage or vintage-style swimwear locally:
- Blueberry Deluxe Vintage
702 Montecito Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85013 - Retro Ranch
4303 N 7th Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85013
Where to find vintage swim online:
Steal Carrie’s Sex and the City look
I have to admit, I’ve never been much of a Sex and the City fan.
It feels a little blasphemous to write about fashion and say that, but it’s true.
It’s not that I have anything against it. I enjoyed the show from time to time, but I missed entire seasons (Aidan, who?). And as far as the outfits go, I think most are trying too hard.
But on a recent online shopping excursion, I found this dress looks like a girlier version of one Carrie wears in the new movie. The movie looks pretty ridiculous, but I kind of like this bright, spring-y look:
- Let’s Flounce Dress, $49.99
- Clover-style Pendant, $28
- Teardrop T-Strap Heel, $88
- Red Mimi Hobo, $200.70
- Ray-Ban Cats 5000, $135
