Spring 2012 Trend - Orange You Glad?

Tangerine, citrus or pumpkin -- better known simply as orange, is one of my favorite colors/flavors and it is making a big splash in the fashion and beauty world for Spring 2012. I personally think that orange is a shade that is flattering to just about every skin tone and it really helps to add a great pop of color and pizzazz to an ensemble that could be rather bland and boring without it.

During the Michael Kors Spring 2012 fashion show, orange made a great presence on the runway.

And it's presence is still quite strong, as it is featured in several recent beauty and fashion launches.

Below I have featured new items that are on trend and budget friendly so that you can add a bit of mimosa sunshine to your life...

Bobbi Brown Cosmetics Sheer Color Lip Gloss in Citrus ($23) - from the Spring 2012 Neon & Nudes Collection. This sheer neon orange gloss will add a subtle hint of color to your pout.

Bobbi Brown Cosmetics Lip Color in Atomic Orange ($23) - from the Spring 2012 Neons & Nudes Collection. This electric orange lip color is a great Spring/Summer alternative to a red lip. It will look perfect with winged liner and mascara for a quick, yet pulled together look.

Essie Nail Polish in Orange, It's Obvious ($8) - from the Spring 2012 Navigate Her Collection, available worldwide February 2012. This nail lacquer is described as a headstrong, outspoken orange. This color is definitely a must have for a fantastic Spring/Summer mani-pedi.

Aldo Capecoral Pump in Orange Suede ($90). This platform pump will be the perfect addition to any fashionista's closet! I think this pump would look really great with a pair of dark or medium wash denim (shorts, pants, etc.), a white t-shirt or tank and turquoise/gold jewelry. Perfect for a no fuss Spring/Summer outfit!

Are you a fan of this juicy hue for Spring and Summer 2012? I'd like to know how you plan on incorporating orange into your beauty and fashion wardrobe this season.

Stay Bronzed and Beautiful!

Look for Less: Christian Louboutin Lady Daf Mary Jane

The Christian Louboutin Lady Daf pump has been a favorite of many celebrities for the majority of the year. This sky-high platform is available in both a standard and Mary Jane style pump, and comes in an array of colors and textures -- from Swarovski crystals to exotic python skin!

The latest Lady to make it's way onto the scene, and my current 'Drool Worthy' shoe, is the Suede Amethyst Mary Jane pump.



Christian Louboutin Lady Daf Suede Platform - $995

Below are a few celebrities wearing their nude leather Mary Jane Lady Daf's...

Singer Jennifer Hudson adds some flair her basic black ensemble with her Lady Daf's. She's definitely not wearing your basic nude pump!


Reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian adds some height to her petite frame with her nude Lady Daf's. She already has a lot of color with her dress and bag, so the nude pumps and blazer help to balance things out.


The Look for Less:
Steve Madden Viktoree Purple Suede Pump - $129

This is a pretty good replica of the Christian Louboutin Lady Daf, and it's absolutely perfect for Fall!

I personally love Steve Madden shoes, as they are always on trend, well made and comfortable. They're always having a sale in-store or on the website, so you can easily snag these as a discounted price. Also, if you're a student shopping at a Steve Madden store and you present your student ID at the time of purchase, you can receive an additional 10% off of your purchase...on top of whatever markdown they already have!

So ladies, which one would you go for this Fall, the splurge or the steal? One of my friends is completely against the Lady Daf, and she says it looks like a 'Herman Munster pump', lol. At times I think it can look good depending on what it's worn with, and at other times I'm not too sure.

Are you a fan of the Christian Louboutin Lady Daf, or do you hate them? Please share your thoughts!

Stay Bronzed and Beautiful!

MAC Fall 2011 Collection - Styledriven

Tomorrow MAC is launching their Fall 2011 Styledriven Collection that will be made up of new, permanent additions to the Pro Longwear line. This collection consists of 12 Lipcremes, nine lipglasses (now in a new tube very similar to the Cremesheen packaging), 10 Lip Pencils and 16 Eyeshadows.

The lipcremes are said to last for up to 12 hours, the lipglasses for six hours and the eye shadows for eight hours!


"Drive," She said...and there's no mistaking a woman on a mission to get what she wants! And in this case, that would be the ultimate in future-forward pro-longwear technology: a creamy new eyeshadow, plus ligpass that juices up gloss for six extended hours of lasting lip shine, lip pencil that won't skip-and-drag, and they go for 15 hours -- that's about the time it takes to drive from Paris to Monte Carlo...plus five hours of still looking flawless for dinner.

Pro Longwear Lipcreme - $17 US/$20 CDN (Permanent)

From L to R:
Soft Sell ~ Light yellow-pink (Cream)
Dress It Up ~ Light blue-pink (Cream)
To The Future! ~ Dirty neutral pink with pearl (Frost)
So Very Good ~ Mid-tone plum with pearl (Frost)
Till Tomorrow ~ Mid-tone dirty mauve (Cream)
Good to Go ~ Loudmouth orange (Cream)

From L to R:
Love Forever! ~ Clean fuchsia pink (Cream)
Positively Dashing ~ Mid-tone berry blue-red (Cream)
Extended Play ~ Dirty red, yellow undertone (Cream)
Prolong ~ Clean red with blue undertone and pearl (Cream)
Endless Drama ~ Deep berry blue-red (Cream)
Soulfully Rich ~ Deep dirty purple with red pearl (Frost)



Pro Longwear Lipglass: $18.50 US/ $22 CDN (Permanent)
From L to R:
Patience Please ~ Light pink-blue (Cream)
Ready or Not ~ Neutral light coral with slight pearlized pigments (Cream)
Infinitely Likeable ~ Light pink (Cream)
Show Me! ~ Mid-tone neutral plum (Cream)
Whoops! ~ Bright coral (Cream)

From L to R:
Whoops! ~ Bright coral (Cream)
Full Speed Ahead ~ Bright pink-magenta (Cream)
Driven by Love ~ Red-blue with slight pearlized pigments (Cream)
Lasting Achievement ~ Mid-tone purple with slight pearlized pigments (Cream)
Dark as Night ~ Deep mid-tone purple with slight pearlized pigments (Cream)


Pro Longwear Lip Pencil: $18 US/ $21. 50 CDN (Permanent)

From L to R:
Etcetera ~ Creamy beige
Nice 'n' Spicy ~ Pink cinnamon stick
Staunchly Stylish ~ Pinky beige
Morning Coffee ~ Mid-tone rose
Absolutely It ~ Soft burgundy
In Anticipation ~ Soft yellow pink
What a Blast! ~ Bright orange
Kiss Me Quick ~ Yellow red
More to Love ~ Intense bluish pink
Bittersweet ~ Intense brown

Pro Longwear Eye Shadow: $20 US/ $24 CDN (Permanent)

Carefree ~ pale white gold (Frost)


Fresh Flare ~ bright kelly green (Frost)


Hot Paprika ~ mid-tone burnt red (Frost)


Keep Your Cool ~ dark grey brown (Satin)


Legendary Black ~ warm almost black (Satin)


Lie Low ~ dark frosted golden brown (Frost)


Make Your Mark ~ dark chocolate (Satin)


One to Watch ~ light warm brown (Satin)


Pink Frontier ~ soft golden pink (Frost)


Plush ~ vivid purple (Satin)


Styledriven ~ pale white blue (Frost)


Sunny Outlook ~ bright golden yellow (Satin)


Sweet Satisfaction ~ soft neutral beige (Frost)


Tease with Ease ~ bright fuchsia (Frost)


Thru the Night ~ deep navy (Frost)


Weathered ~ dirty blue grey (Frost)

Do you think you'll check this collection out? I'm very interested in seeing how the lip colors and eye shadows hold up. I absolutely love the Pro Longwear concealer, so I hope that these products have the same performance level. A few eye shadow colors that I'm excited about are Plush, Fresh Flare and Thru the Night -- all great for Fall. What are some of your picks from this collection? Please share your thoughts!

Stay Bronzed and Beautiful!

Who Says A Leopard Needs To Change Its Spots?!?

This is a Fall 2011 Trend and Look For Less post all rolled into one.

Yet again, leopard print shoes are the perfect finishing touch to any Fall ensemble. Although some might consider leopard print to be too trendy, I personally think that it is very classic -- especially when done right. This means traditional, tan and black leopard print...not pink, purple, etc.

Unfortunately people like Snooki, along with the entire cast of Jersylicious and tween girls ruin leopard print for some, but not all hope is lost for the most stylish cat in the jungle.


Jersey Shore's Snooki looking soo chic in her leopard boots!

Every woman, regardless of age, should have some leopard in her closet. And the most important leopard print item that she should definitely own is a fierce and sexy pair of pumps.

My mom and I were recently on the prowl (pun intended) to find leopard print pumps for ourselves. I scored a gorgeous pair of Steve Madden pumps, while my mom found a fabulous pair of Anne Klein pumps.

Once upon a time it was hard to find a great pair of leopard pumps, without having to pay a fortune. However, things have changes and one can now find a quality pair of well-constructed, comfortable pony hair leopard pumps for a reasonable price.

Below are pairs of designer pumps, wedges and booties and their equally chic look-for-less counterparts.


Alexander Wang Alla Wedge: $650


Nina Yaneli Wedge: $109

If you prefer a platform you can always opt for the Steve Madden Wicked Wedge for $149.



Christian Louboutin Bianca 140 Pump: $995

Steve Madden Bevv-L Pump: $89 (on sale from $129)




Giuseppe Zanotti Leopard Wedge Bootie: $1,195

Bebe Cassidy Wedge Bootie: $198

I love leopard print in general, because it adds a bit of glamour and sass to any outfit. Also, the print is made up of neutral tones, so it basically works with any color under the sun!


Below are several celebs rocking their leopard print pumps/wedges/booties with various prints and colors.


American Idol judge/singer Jennifer Lopez adds some pizzazz to her nude leather dress with leopard booties.


Rihanna shows us that leopard can work with stripes! The then blonde singer pairs her red and white striped top with J Brand cargo pants with leopard pumps. This is an unexpected, yet cohesive look.


Reality TV star Khloe Kardashian is also wearing the same J Brand cargo pants as Rihanna, along with the Alexander Wang 'Alla' Wedge. Although her outfit is relatively casual, her leopard print wedges seem to dress her up a bit more.


Socialite Olivia Palermo shows us that leopard + color = gorgeous. She makes her orange Victoria Beckham frock and fuchsia clutch look fabulous with her leopard pumps. I think this is an ensemble that even Mrs. Beckham herself would approve of!


The X Factor UK judge/singer Kelly Rowland wears leopard pumps with a basic navy dress. This ensemble can take you from the office to happy hour in an instant.


Actress Rachel Bilson shows up that leopard can work with floral print! I think this entire look works, because the color of the pants complements the blouse and she stuck with a basic black clutch.


Do you think you'll take a walk on the wild side this Fall and strut your stuff in a pair of leopard print pumps, wedges or booties? If you don't already own leopard footwear, I suggest you invest in a pair. You can wear them all year round, and they will definitely pop up in fashion trend reports years after year.

Stay Bronzed and Beautiful!

The Most Beautiful Nails In The Universe...

As you may or may not know, I am a huge fan of pageants! I've been watching Miss America, Miss USA, Miss Universe and Miss Teen USA on television since I was a little girl and that is what piqued my interest to eventually compete in pageants.

Coming off the heels (pun intended) of the most recent Miss USA pageant that was televised on Sunday, I figured that this post would be most appropriate!

Miss USA 2011 - Alyssa Campanella (California). Alyssa was crowned Miss USA on Sunday, June 19, 2011 in Las Vegas. She will go on to compete for the title of Miss Universe this September in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Miss Universe 2010 - Ximena Navarrete (Mexico). Ximena is the second woman from Mexico to capture the title of Miss Universe.

This year the Miss Universe Organization named OPI as the official nail care sponsor for the Miss USA pageant. Additionally, Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI's Executive VP and Artistic Director served on the judges panel for the final night of the pageant.

OPI is set to launch the Miss Universe Collection just in time for the pageant! This limited edition collection consists of four shades that are sure to flatter the nails of every woman -- pageant enthusiast or not.

I think I just might buy all of the colors...the names are absolutely perfect! 10's all around!

It's MY Year ~ It's about time for this champagne-rose to shine! This polish is one of my favorites, because it's such a unique shade. It looks like it has some duochrome shimmer in it, so I'm sure it will sell out quickly.

Congeniality Is My Middle Name ~ And berry-wine shimmer is what I do best!

Crown Me Already! ~ A sassy silver sparkle that knows what it's worth. I love this polish...the name is perfect and the polish looks like a gorgeous, sparkly crown!

Swimsuit...Nailed It! ~ An itsy bitsy teenie weenie vibrant shiny-blue bikini.

So do you think you're going to unleash your inner beauty queen, and pick up a few of these lacquers? Or do they look like something that you've seen before? Please share your thoughts!

Stay Bronzed and Beautiful!