remixing fashion and luxury for reality

I’ve known the hype but never actually broke down and tried anything on at American Apparel. The clothes there look so cheap and tawdry, and not to mention everyone who works there looks like they are coming back to haunt me from my hair bear days. Not that I don’t dig the look (because there is a very strong appeal to the look) but I’m just not sure I can pull that look off head to toe.

Last Sunday I had a change of heart, or maybe it was because my girlfriend I was with dragged me in there,  but I tried on the whole store. The little sales guy was so cute in his earnest attempt to tell me I looked great in everything and no.. I didn’t look fat in the leggings that gave me muffin top.

I walked away with 4 great pieces though, one of which I’m sharing with you now. Go out and grab a pair quick before everyone you know has it. Think about it.. they are like skinny jeans without the wedgies and much more forgiving after overeating.

@ American Apparel.com for $44.00

As I get lazier and lazier, there seems no end to how lazy I can get!… but now I am getting more picky about having my hands free while out and about. Alas my dreams are being answered with all the new sling style bags out there this season.

This one from See by Chloe is a winner by all accounts in my little book. The practical shape can be worn across the body keeping your hands free, and the silver color here is always a neo-classic favorite of mine since it matches with nothing and everything. The big flap makes it convenient to quickly turn up and rummage around for your phone or wallet, and those handy zippers are calling out for my chapstick and lipgloss.

@ Tobi.com for $675

Was this fad was a consequence of buckling down and recycling old goods from your man? Because unless you are dating a manorexic I don’t see how his old blazer would work for you. It’s more like “Old Mom’s Blazer” if anything.. (I managed to find some decent blazers in my mom’s stash). Well either way I think it’s worth the while to try to rummage up old some old blazers — the longer style that we wore back in the 80’s!

Ways to Wear It:

1. Over a long flowy dress. If you bought into the long flowy dress trend in the summer, squeeze a few more wears out of it by throwin on some leggings underneath and a thin turtleneck and blazer.
2. Over slacks or jeans. Add some flavor to the look by folding up the sleeves of the blazer (like so).
   
3. You could also try to pull it off over leggings, maybe add some cute knee boots. Haven’t tried it myself though so you’re on your own if it fails miserably

Shop for the Boyfriend Blazer

Luxe for Less Options

1. Frenchi $21.00
   
   
   
2. Silence & Noise Boyfriend Blazer $49.99
   

Luxe Options

1. Elizabeth and James Blazer $394
   
2. NILI LOTAN Black Boyfriend Blazer $644
   

Who’s a real Obama Mama?? Whoever shells out $70 for this baby! While I’m a bit disappointed at the overall chic factor to this bag.. it’s the gesture that counts here. Proceeds go towards the Inaugural committee. I wish it went to the Barack Obama Fan Club!

Available now at DVF.com

When it comes to skin care and beauty products, I think it’s best to change it up now and then. I have a self-made theory (who knows, maybe it’s scientifically legit) that after using a beauty product, especially face cream, for long periods of time your skin starts to reject the ingredients or just doesn’t absorb into the skin as well. It makes sense right? Everything (and everyone) loses it’s magic touch after long enough…

Which brings me to the topic of the day — a new skin care line I had the opportunity to test-drive last month, called Marie Louse. My dear girlfriend Lillian is helping to bring this Japanese-based brand to the US. As you may know, women all over the world are flocking to Asian-brands in beauty and skin care. I was excited to try out a new line of skin care, not only because my existing regimen was starting to lose it’s effectiveness, but also because I love trying new stuff that I wouldn’t normally see at the mall or at the spa where I get my facials.

Overall, the Marie Louise line is very pure and clean… no frills, perhaps just good clean stuff that does the job well. Everything I used seemed practically odorless. While sometimes I like the fresh scents of other asian skin care lines it does concern me whether all the fancy scents and aromas might not be as healthy for the skin. I’d definitely use Marie Louise again… hopefully they start retailing this stuff somewhere I can grab it from, although ordering online might work too since they have a full e-commerce website.

Here’s a summary of the products I sampled.

Cleansing Clear Gel
This was some good stuff! It glides on smooth and worked away my makeup nicely. They have a foaming cleanser option which I didn’t opt for since my skin is oily and foaming face wash is too harsh on my skin type. Normally gel cleansers are too thin for my liking and I can never seem to get a good rub on my skin, but the Marie Louise Clear Gel felt satisfying and worked surprising well. This didn’t feel drying at all either, which a lot of cleansers do to my skin.

Creme a-VC
This was my next favorite product. Clean and pure! This cream felt soft on the skin and absorbed nicely. I hate it when creams leave that greasy I-just-oiled-myself-up shine to your face. The Creme a-VC did no such thing… leaving my skin moisturized and clean feeling.

Moistraiser a-VC
I’ve gotten good about using toner, hopefully you have too. This toner glides on smooth, and doesn’t leave that stickiness a lot of toners do. Again, it’s odorless which is great, very organic-ish. I wish more skincare lines were more natural like this.

Overall.. skin’s been behaving nicely… it feels soft and smooth to the touch. Marie Louise is definitely getting added to my rotation of beauty skin care.

Learn more at Marie Louise.

The in-laws just left — it’s been an exhausting holiday break if you can imagine (always good to be with family but just as good to get your life back!)… so now just breaking into some deep winter cleaning. When the weather is muck out and I’m feeling the need to purify, I go straight to my closet and start purging! BTW I may say purge but that doesn’t mean I actually ever get around to throwing the clothes out of donating them away. Will have to explain my issues with getting rid of my stuff in another post someday. For now let’s just say I clear out space to make room for the new kiddies.

One look at my closet and I realized that I’ve held off much too long in re-stocking on clothes hangers. I’ve got way too many of those cheap metal hangers you get from the cleaners. Tssk Tsssk Jenni… after preaching this and that to others about the importance of keeping an orderly closet. Is it just me or do hangers seem to disappear like socks evaporate into thin air? Well before anyone comes snooping into my closet I’ve got to do something about my metal mess and wanted to see if anyone had any suggestions or recommendations. I keep hearing about those velvet hangers that help prevent your clothes from slipping off. Ingenious or gimmick? Who has them? Anyone have anything bad to say about then?

I read a review online for one brand called Joy Mangano Huggable Hangers in which one customer said they bleed color onto clothes, while others said they loved them. They are selling on HSN.com so that’s gotta mean they are pretty well vouched for.. right??

I also see this brand everywhere called Karen Rhodes Velvet Hangers (pictured above), which seem to have the most color options and widest distribution which makes me think she might be the orginal velvet hanger. Hers are also the most expensive, at $39.99 for 24 being the best price I could find at Overtock.com.

A cheaper alternative I found were these “flocked hangers” from a no name brand at Overstock.com. $99 for 120 of them!! The reviews on the site said they are comparable in quality to the more expensive brands. I don’t know whether I trust those reviews completely… I’m also wondering whether I need 120… but too scared to start counting my closet inventory.

Lastly, I’m also considering staying with the natural wood hangers I’ve already got, and instead using these non-slip rubbery stickers you can apply to the hanger to prevent slippage. In actuality you only need non-slip for about 20%-30% of your clothes if even that. I’m kinda turned off by the thought of having mixed hangers in my closet so if I go velvet I gotta go all the way!

Looking for thoughts! If anyone has any feedback on their experience with velvet hangers please do me a favor and share!