Self Tan

When it comes to self tanners there are so many to choose from on the market. Where do you start? I've always turned to St Tropez when my mind was wondering else where. I always approach self tanners from a cautious angle, you never know what kind of streaks you may end up with. That's why I am a big fan of tinted self tanners that provide a guide color.

There are many types of self tanners out there; gradual, instant, airbrush...the list goes on. Dry skin normally works better with liquid formulas and oily skin can benefit from a fast drying formula. It's always a good idea to purchase a tanning mitt to avoid those 'giveaway orange hands'!

Which self tanners do you like?

Robin Kassner & Hungry HD | Fantasy | CD Baby

Robin Kassner & Hungry HD | Fantasy | CD Baby

Feeling drab about your wardrobe lately?
Here are some tips to spice up your wardrobe to make your summer hotter than ever!

To keep you cool during the hot summer months, try pulling you hair back to make a ballet bun on the top of your head. This look will make you look as chic as the runway models while also keeping your hair from sticking to you when the summer heat becomes almost unbearable.

Fishtail braids are also hot this season. The messy look of the fishtail braid is more popular than ever. An easy style that can take your look from drab to fab! Take the fishtail braid out and add some gel for styling and get a sexy tousled look for a night on the town.

Now that you've got sexed up hair, its time to take your wardrobe to the next level. White jeans, which are always hot in the summer, are revamped to become ankle huggers. Pair these with some sexy stilettos and a fun, casual top to look like a fashionista straight out of the magazine.

Over sized, off-the-shoulder tops are a must have this summer. Dress it up and wear it out to paint the town red or dress it down for a fun day of shopping or lunch with your girlfriends. Accessorize anything with gold jewelery and there's no way you'll be feeling down and out about your wardrobe.

Cork-heeled wedges are making their comeback this summer. They can be worn with ankle-hugger jeans as well as with maxi-dresses.

Take these simple wardrobe tips and apply them to this season and you'll be sure to look stylish all summer long!

Chicken Soup for the Single Girl During Wedding Season's Soul

Scrolling through a friend's wedding photos she had recently published online, I found the wedding to be one of beauty, happiness and joy. She's a wonderful person and an amazing friend, which I had to keep reminding myself of as the strangest feeling came over me. After contemplating and ruling out that it was the 92+ degrees in NYC today getting to me or maybe that Lean Cuisine I ate for lunch was expired, I came to terms with the fact that this feeling was indeed jealousy.

This is not my first encounter with cant-stop-looking-through-every-photo-in-your-wedding-album-itis and I have come to the conclusion that getting married when you're 22 may look like fun ladies but after the wedding album and the honeymoon album, the 'married life' album always follows. This album includes pictures of the couple doing monotonous things with captions that they think are funny like "Mike doing the laundry...for once!" or "I <3 being domestic". The fact that these photos are the highlights of these couples lives and the moments they want to share with everyone make me want to cling to my dating years not unlike Hugh Hefner has to his.

While I may not be so ready to settle down, as long as it's wedding season (and it is up until October), I'm more than happy to use these youngster's nuptials as a platform for showing off my fashionable self to all the single men out there. Here are some things for all of the other single ladies out there to keep in mind to help you rise above the I'm-gonna-kill-myself-if-I'm-not-married-by-the-time-I'm-30 woes:

-Wear something sexy without looking slutty to the wedding.

This may seem like an obvious plan of action but you'd be surprised how often women get this wrong. In my experience, one can never go wrong with an exposed back. It's sexy and more unexpected than showing a lot of cleavage or sporting a really short hemline. This Literature Noir pink backless dress is perfect for attending a daytime summer wedding. While its hemline could be considered short, the neckline is conservative enough to make it appropriate. You can get it for $225 from www.Kitson.com. Pair it with some nude heels and skip on the jewelry unless it's a simple ring or bracelet. Style some loose waves in your hair and voila! Sexy without being slutty. Done.

Another option that's great for attending a daytime or nighttime ceremony is a maxi dress. Floral prints or bright colors are ideal for summer and this one from ASOS is $126.82. It would be great with both flats or heels in a camel color. Wear your hair in a messy side bun and choose minimal jewelry to ensure a flawless, and effortless, summer look. Find it at www.ASOS.com.

-Don't be the pale one.

Using the tanning bed is horrible for you and getting spray tanned at a professional salon can run you $30 a session. Luckily, there's an easier and cheaper way than ever to give yourself a little summer glow for a special occasion: L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Salon Perfect Airbrush Mist is available at www.Walmart.com for only $8.97 and I swear, it works. My friends and I just try on what we're wearing for the night, identify which parts of our skin will be showing and spray them. Easy as that. Anything that turns out splotchy can be blended easily with a large makeup brush.

-Remember...

You have the rest of your life to be tied down. Enjoy having no one to please but yourself while you still can!

If you haven't been to The Market...

...you need to go ASAP. The Market NYC, located at 268 Mulberry Street in SOHO, is a jem of a place that's overflowing with unique vendors willing to sell you their distinctive creations for bargain prices. From stunning vintage frocks from the 50's, to one-of-a-kind pocket watches from the 30's to original graphic tees by up-and-coming designers of today, The Market is entertaining to simply walk around and look at everything that's there, even if you don't buy anything (but, who are we kidding, you will).

I was "just browsing" and ventured upon jewelry designer Alexandra Beth's table and couldn't help myself. Her Hamsa bracelet, which is a symbol for protection used often in the Middle East and Africa, was simple and beautiful. I opted for the coral and turquoise combo and snagged it for only $15. It's great to wear on its own or stack with other pieces. She also had a bunch of very trendy studded-leather wrap bracelets that I plan on going back to purchase soon!

Another stand that caught my eye was a vintage jewelry vendor whose name has escaped me but you'll know it's her when you see her stuff. Her table was full of some of the most interesting vintage pieces I've seen, ranging from a Victorian magnifying glass necklace to a collection of discrete pocket knives in a range of forms, one being a golden peanut on a necklace chain. My friend purchased a vintage golden locket from the 30's that had happened to have a B on it, and her name being Bonnie, she just couldn't resist. She had her lengthen the chain and got it all for only $50. There are no duplicates in her collection and everything had a very original feel.

The only downside to this place was the lack of AC. I was sweating through my blouse like I was in a Spring Break wet t-shirt contest-but, it was totally worth it. I looked at it as having a poor-man's Marisa Miller moment, just rocking the sweat like it's supposed to be there, minus the abs and plus frizz in my hair, but close enough.

The Market also takes credit cards. What more could you ask for :).

Lovin' Me Some Flea

My idea of a flea market is a scary place my grandmother used to drag me to in the boonies of Florida in the deadly heat of summer; the many tables piled with belongings that had long surpassed their lifespan were being manned by toothless residents of nearby neighborhoods and the most I ever got out of these outings was a barbie with an interesting homemade haircut from the previous owner and gumballs from the 25 cent candy dispenser. Not a place I ever planned to go back to once I could make the choice for myself.

But, I've found a place that has changed my mind and, dare I say, made me a flea market enthusiast. Well, an enthusiast for the Brooklyn Flea anyway. If you New Yorkers out there haven't discovered it yet, it's one of those places that you'll spend an entire Saturday wandering around and when it hits 7 p.m. you'll wish the day didn't have to end.

Seriously, this is coming from an ex-flea market HATER. But, the vendors that set up shop on Saturdays and Sundays at the Brooklyn Flea have something for everyone. From The Good Batch's handmade stroopwafels stuffed with white chocolate filling to vintage duds by Neen for any fashionista with an eye for originality, anyone that treasures things unique and unexpected will find something to take home from the Brooklyn Flea.

High Clicks!

Natalie Massenet has just made $76 million dollars as the head of Net-a Porter, an e-commerce site that reinvented shopping by delivering internet high fashion labels, and has now sold her 10 year old company to the Richemont group. It has become a world wide phenomenon with people buying a Fendi bag in Russia, YSL dress in NYC, and Bottega Veneta sandals in Greece. Net-aPorter has been bringing in about 10,000 customers a month, even in the recession. Massenet concentrated on stocking less expensive escape products, but 20% of sales are from women who spend $30,000 regardless of the financial meltdown. Massenet , the daughter of an English Chanel model and an American movie publicist, lived in Paris, studied Japanese at UCLA, worked at WWD in the West coast office, then moved to London and worked for Tatler magazine.
She understands U.S. high end consumers and raised $1.2 million dollars by recruiting people from magazines and stores. She has made a dot.com site that is headquartered in London and NYC shine the spotlight on IT and fashion.

Swap that LBD for a LWD

No summer wardrobe is ever complete without a hot LWD (little white dress for the abbreviationally challenged). The Galway dress by Tulle is a perfect example of a day-to-night sundress that's perfect for the warmer weather that's sweeping in. Get it at www.lulus.com for only $53.

For a flawless daytime look, instead of a military inspired jacket, try the same idea but in a vest to stay cool. We love this vest from Sauce and think it's amazing enough to be named one of our splurge-worthy picks. Find it at www.NationalJeanCompany.com for $92. Pair with some metallic flat sandals and you're good to go.

For a killer night-time look, wear the dress with a pair of wedges that incorporate an exotic skin like these Jones New York 'Dance Wit It' Reptile Wedges. Get them from www.DSW.com for $49.94. Finish off the look with some simple gold jewelry and hit the town!

Memorial Day Essentials

If you have Monday off like I do (thanks Robin!) you'll be celebrating Memorial Day with some sunshine and, with our help, some very chic and affordable accessories. If a picnic in Central Park is on your agenda, tote this multicolored picnic basket from Target for only $14.99. It's practical and trendy all at the same time. Get it from your local Target store or at www.target.com.



A must-have are some fun and brightly colored shades. Don't splurge on glasses you won't wear every day and get these fun Miracle Wear Sunglasses for $8 on www.lulus.com. The detailing on the sides of the frames makes them look like they're worth more than they cost and the shape is flattering on almost any face shape.



My splurge-worthy find for a fabulous Memorial Day is this Fuji Instax Instant Camera. It's the Polaroid's younger, and more trendy, cousin. The instant mini photos come out in seconds and have a vintage feel to them that make fore a great keepsake from a fun-filled day. You can find it at www.urbanoutfitters.com for $130.

So take these picks of ours and go be, undeniably, the most stylish memorial day-er out there.

Designer Duds for a Steal

Thrifty girls rejoice! Daily Candy's blogging about the most fabulous new fashion designers and styles has come to a head with their sample sale site called www.Swirl.com. It's free to sign up and takes about 30 seconds and then you're off into shopping heaven! Swirl offers up to 80% off of clothing and accessories from our favorite established designers along with buzz-worthy up-and-comers. But if you see something you love, don't delay! The sales are on a time limit and you don't want to miss a chance to own that to-die-for Felix Rae clutch, for example, (pictured above) which will be off of the market this Saturday, so get to clickin'!

Rainy Chic

A little rainy weather, much like today's conditions in NYC, is no reason to let your chic style go by the wayside. An array of trendy umbrellas, rain boots and weatherproof coats are on the market that will have you doing the rain dance just so you can use them. We love the Bella Pagoda Pinwheel Umbrella in black and white from www.Umbrellas.net
for $129. It comes in a variety of other colors as well. Another fave is the Plask Boot in the cypress shade from Tretorn. With a mid-height wedge heel, these rain boots (which look more like a legit pair of boots that happen to be waterproof) can easily carry any fashionista from day to night in all weather conditions. Find them on the Web site www.Shoesteal.com for almost half of the original price. And our most loved splurge for weatherproof gear is the asymmetrical hooded raincoat from Smythe. It is insanely stylish and will keep you wearing it despite the conditions outdoors. You can find it at www.netaporter.com for $650, and in our opinion, it's worth every penny :).

Do Jellies Right This Summer

Jellies have been re-emerging in the fashion world for a while now, but the warm summer weather has inspired designers to add an abundance of colors and styles to the jelly sandal realm and adding more ways than ever to get in on this trend; without reverting back to those blister-prone chunky jelly sandals of your adolescent years. Steve Madden has created one example of this in a brilliant flat-style interpretation (above, left) for his Steven line. The Jellys come in a variety of colors and I recommend using a site like www.Zappos.com that lists them for $69.95. Another cute option is the Jelly Jangle thong sandal from Poetic License (above, right). It has a hint of color and the flower applique is a cute way to add a little somethin' somethin' without going gaudy. They are listed for $42.00 at www.Endless.com.

Beauty PR ♥ Haute PR

Beauty PR ♥ Haute PR

East Village :Top Shop

The Top Shop nominated by Elle magazine for the edgiest
fashions. This store carries Karen Walker, Rag and Bone, Richard Chai, Commes de Garcons fragrances, and leather accessories. Coming soon are FWK by Engineered Garments and Repetto BB flats, and Phillip Lim's neckline dress.

Baubles, Bags, Trinkets, and Treasures

J.Crew and other companies are turning to selling accessories possibly because of the economy. One can buy a new pair of earrings, necklace, shoes, sunglasses, or clutch and you feel like you have just bought a whole new outfit. J.Crew has tortoise sunglasses with Italian rhodoid with plastic lenses that retail for $250. One can do a lot with an old pair of jeans , a cute top, a scarf and the sunglasses touching off a new look and coordinating the outfit. Think movie star. A glass cube necklace made of hand set glass beads and gold ox-plated brass also add a lot to a variety of outfits, tres chic. The J. Crew gold and crystal cluster bracelet is made of 14K gold-plated brass with fireballs and glass-rhinestone beads. In addition, a satchel of stone washed leather is another alternative to add some pizzaz to ones' wardrobe.

New Gucci Watch

Gucci for FFAWN limited- edition Twirl watch with black diamonds which adds a monochromatic touch to any outfit. The watch is pricey costing $1,895, but has a famous brand name, is limited in supply, and has rare black diamonds. It is half watch and half bracelet, perfect for any jewelry aficionado.

Queen Latifiah Collection is Royally Sweet

Queen Latifah is a curvaceous award winning rapper, actress, and singer who has now debuted her own perfume. Queen is an oriental fragrance which reflects Latifah's fragrance as a natural expression of love and beauty does start on the inside. The CEO of Parlux Fragrances states Queen Latifah is excited about her scent which has exotic notes such as; Italian Bergamot, Mediterranean Mandarin, Moroccan Coriander, Indian Patchouli, Vanilla, and Tonka Absolute. The bottle is a ruby red, faceted with gold borders, and a dimensional heart emerges on the side. The collection has a body lotion, body butter, as well as two sizes of the perfume.

Clinique : Smarter than Your Average Makeup

Clinique makeup has come out with a new powder. It has a super balanced technology which senses the skin's needs. It keeps dry areas comfortable and oily areas less shiny. Equally smart, it has a no waste grinder that dispenses skin-defending vitamins with each twist. Freshly shaved mineral powder clings evenly to the skin. Lasts up to 8 hours and comes with its own antibacterial brush. To find out more about this and other products go to clinique.com

New Young Face on the Runway

With her wispy dirty blond hair and a set eyes, Alisa Matviychuk, represented the Ukraine in the Elite Model Look contest. The sixteen year old did not win, but she did sign with the Marilyn Agency. When the fall 2009 collection began, she made her debut at Nina Ricci. She also did resort collections for Calvin Klein, Oscar de la Renta, Miu Miu, and Prada. This is a new face to look out for.

L'oreal the 1st Plumping Lipgloss

The 1st plumping lip gloss that lasts 6 hours. The lip gloss has an hourglass n the ad which features the gloss and how long it will last in order to make your lips shiny and have a long lasting pout. Eva Longoria is the spokes model for this product.