Best Beauty Buys of 2008

Celebrities have weighed in on their favorite beauty products, and here are the top five products they simply cannot live without. Selma Blair uses Joe Blasco Ultrabase Foundation in Natural Tan. She uses this product for contouring and defining cheekbones, quite successfully, I might add. . . . . . . Anna Friel’s trick with the smoky eyes is with her Smashbox Cosmetics Try Me Kit brow tech and cream eyeliner palate. She gushes, “It's got every single color you need to do a smoky eye. And the cream shadow is so easy.” And who wouldn’t want Anna Friel’s smoky eyes? That girl always knows how to look amazing. . . . . Becki Newton’s trick to looking amazing is her lip gloss. She uses Benefit Her Glossiness lip gloss in Life On The A-List. She feels that this nude color helps her to look polished without looking overdone. Becki also uses Stila Illuminating Liquid Foundation in 30 Watts to complete her natural look. . . . . . If Elizabeth Banks is your fave, you can’t miss her Sapphire Eyeliner, made by Stila Kajal. She pairs that with her Du Wop Revolotion Face Tinted Moisturizer and is instantly ready to hit the town. . . . . . . . Rihanna has always had an arresting beauty, and lucky for us, she doesn’t keep her beauty tricks a secret. She dons Covergirl Volume Exact Mascara, saying, “This doesn't clump, and it makes your lashes curl up in a pretty way. It also makes them really long.” Can’t go wrong there. She also uses Jane Iredale D20 Hydration Spray, which helps to plump skin and set makeup. No wonder this girl always looks fabulous. And now you can too!

Check out these Uber-stylish Suede Shoes

If you’re a cutting-edge fashionista, these shoes are a must. . . . . . . . . . These Suede Cleopatra beauties by Alexandra Neel will transform any outfit into a stylistic wonder. They’re available for just $795, which you can order by emailing studio@alexandraneel.com. Although you may not be accustomed to wearing platforms, an exception must be made for this pair of exotic suede shoes. . . . . . . . They’re available at Topshop.com for just $115. Don’t let your wardrobe go without these life-changing stylistic shoes! Who wouldn’t want to wear these shoes to the club to demonstrate your forward-thinking fashion sense?

Celebs Just Love Twisted Silver

Small online merchants, including those in the fashion industry such as jewelry designers, often battle for visibility in the massive marketplace that is today’s Internet. With thousands of new websites going up every day, it can be a real struggle for small-website owners to connect with their would-be customers. This is the story of how one jewelry designer uses blogging to connect with her fans – and with lots of celebrities, too! Having a WordPress blog in addition to your website is a great way to drive traffic to your site. Because blogs are dynamic rather than static like websites, the search engines love them - especially when they contain lots of content with plenty of inbound/outbound links. Blogs allow online merchants to establish relationships with their customers and interact with them in ways that are difficult or impossible with a static website. Twisted Silver (www.twisted-silver.com), a funky custom jewelry retailer based in northern California, is one online merchant that’s made it big with blogging. This boutique jewelry firm leads the market in the hot new trend of convertible jewelry, in which recycled belts become necklaces, necklaces become bracelets, and so on. Cashing in on this popular trend - and having a great time doing so - is Twisted Silver founder and jewelry designer Debra Mitchell. After finishing her degree in fashion and beginning a career as a fashion coordinator, Debra, now a wife and mother of three, took some time off from fashion to raise her family. But once her children were in school full time, she started creating again, and, according to Debra, “This time it led me from silverware wind chimes to jewelry. Who knew?!” And so Twisted Silver was born. Hints of Debra’s vintage silverware motifs still abound in her collections. Debra says her jewelry is all about creating ultra-modern designs with an unexpected twist.  “Ideas and inspiration come from the most unexpected places," she says, "from mailrooms to hardware stores to memories of my grandmother’s jewelry box.” Her wares reflect this diversity. Although Twisted Silver is known for its abundance of chain - copper, gold, brass, silver, steel, and aluminum - it is the offbeat use of vintage and salvaged gems and unusual elements that really make it stand out. “You’ll find vintage inspiration and retro-contemporary elements throughout the collections,” Debra says. This is part of the reason her designs have become so popular. Twisted Silver jewelry is often included in the gift baskets given to celebrities at the Grammy awards and other star-studded affairs. A number of celebrities, including Maria Shriver, Nicolette Sheridan, Shantelle, and Ming Na (below), are pictured on the Twisted Silver website wearing Debra’s designs. Debra’s business has really taken off since she hired blogmeister Twisted Tina, with help from Web 2.0 expert Jerry Hart (www.jerryhart.com), to set up and run the Twisted Silver blog (www.twisted-blog.com). This stunning yet functional blog has the same look and feel as the Twisted Silver website, and is linked to it. And, to keep Twisted Silver fans coming back for more, Tina has dreamed up lots of promotions including contests, giveaways, info about celebrity spottings, articles about the hot boutiques all over the country that carry Twisted Silver jewelry, and much, much more. Check out Twisted Silver today!

What to Wear to a Holiday Party

Don’t succumb traditional grandma-style holiday sweater with the giant Christmas tree on the front. If you’re looking for ideas to wear to your holiday party, look no farther. You have many different options, from fun sparkly dresses to separates with a formal bent. Many people like to wear Christmas colors to demonstrate their holiday spirit. But you can look just as trendy in wearing blue, pink, and purple. Gold and silver are also very fashionable colors, and can look very good fashionable, especially when paired with black or grey. Some new styles coming up include the Baby Doll dress, with a contrasting top and bottom, this 60s inspired pattern is best worn with black opaque tights and patent black Audrey flats. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . This bold, sophisticated red silk dress can be found at the Gap. It’s wrap style inspires a classy air of femininity and looks great on almost any shape. . . . . . . . . . . Dresses are always a popular pick among women, since it’s not always the case that women get an excuse to wear their fun fashionable gift. But don’t be swayed by that style – try wearing fashionable separates with a formal bent. A beautifully detailed blouse, such as this Silk crepe blouse with appliques, Moschino Cheap and Chic, sold for just $815, would look wonderful with a special piece of jewelry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . And it can be worn with a tuxedo jacket or with a long evening coat, worn open. This gives you options for different outfits as the night wears on. Have fun choosing your outfit! The holidays are a time of good spirits and merriment (with a touch of class), and your dress should reflect this attitude.

Satin Flats and Heels

If you’ve been craving the flats worn by Rihanna and Ashlee Simpson, look no farther. These Madison Harding satin d”Orsay flats are delightfully affordable and deliciously cute. They’re available online for $132 at winknyc.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . However, if you’re looking for a much less expensive version, look no farther than your local Forever 21 store, where you can purchase the same ribbon style on the toe, and with 4” heels. And they’re available for just $12.50 in a host of different colors, including black, blue, gold, red, and hot pink! The deals don’t get much better than that.

Five Worst Hairstyles Since the 70s

Below are the five worst hairstyles since the 1970s. But you be the judge. Do you agree? Or can you top this? 5. Women with crew cuts . . . . . . . . . Grow your hair out just two inches. It will look amazing. 4. Women with shaved heads . . . . . . . . . . . Shaved heads only look good on certain men with a strong bone structure. Not women. 3. Dreadlocks . . . . . . . . . .

. Ew. How long has it been since the hair was washed? 2. Mullets . . . . . . . . . . Possibly one of the worst hairstyles to come out of the 80s. Though it may have passed for almost decent on some people, they would have undoubtedly looked better with another style. 1. Rat tails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I’m sure I’m not the only one with a huge desire to take a pair of scissors to every rattail I see

Michelle Obama: the Newest American Fashion Icon

Not only do we have a First Lady that we can truly revere for her achievements and hard work, we can also admire her fashion sense. Her classy sense of style was identified in the beginning of Barack Obama’s campaign, and has been discussed in many articles, both in blogs and newspapers. Michelle Obama is certainly on the path to becoming the next Jackie Kennedy. From her stunning red and black Spring 2009 Narciso Rodriguez design worn on Election Night to the cute, yellow J.Crew outfit she wore while appearing on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Ms. Obama makes a strong fashion statement. And while she has already achieved much distinction in the fashion world, this is just the beginning. Top fashion designers are currently vying for the honor of dressing the First Lady on the night of Mr. Obamaâ??s Inauguration at the Inauguration Ball (as well as at the Inauguration itself). Top designers including Monique Lhuillier, Oscar de la Renta, Betsey Johnson, Karl Lagerfield for Chanel, Christian Lacroix, Diane von Furstenberg, Marc Jacobs, and Michael Kors have all submitted designs available here. I included my personal favorite by Monique Lhuillier below. Itâ??s classy, striking in color and style, and memorable. And it would look wonderful on a woman with stature such as Michelle Obama. . . . . . . . . . . . . Until we see Ms. Obama in her stunning gown, we can look forward to speculating what she and her children will wear to the Inauguration itself, in case she decides to abandon J. Crew. The gowns on the left are my personal favorites.

Cuffed Jeans for Those in Warmer Climates

If you’re looking for a new way to wear your jeans, look no farther! The hottest trend is to wear Cuffed Jeans. Originally popular in the 80s (and perhaps in the 50s when worn by guys), this fashion statement is making a comeback among celebrities. You can buy pre-cuffed jeans, made by designers such as Emily Current and Meritt Elliot of the It brand Current/Elliot, or fashion them yourself. To recreate this style, loosely roll the bottom of the hem twice into a messy, skinny cuff. Make sure that you don’t make the cuff too flat or too perfect. The roll should hit 2-3 inches above the ankle bone, so it falls lower than capris but higher than high-waters. This style looks best on jeans that already look worn, whether that be because they’re faded or they’ve been worked so they look fashionably tattered. Pair these jeans with a classic t-shirt, a scarf, or even just a plain, long-sleeve shirt. Regardless, this is a casual look, so try not to dress it up too much.

Don the Same Bags Celebrities Have

If you want to look just like the celebrities (and maybe even be mistaken for one), check out these leather slouchy bags! They are leather Gigi bags by Temperley London, and they come in metallic burgundy , blue, and black. Priced at $1595 for a large one and $1395 for a small one, these beauties will brighten your entire holiday season. Rosario Dawson, Demi Moore, and Kate Bosworth have all been seen donning this fancy new bag, and you should too! The leather is durable, and even the small one can hold a surprising amount of your daily carrying essentials.

Sequins Are In

In case you’re wondering about the new look this season, look no farther than the little details on your outfit – sequins! The once-tacky addition reserved for tacky 80s prom dresses is making a big comeback. And with style. Designers from Tracy Reese and Betsey Johnson to Oscar de la Renta and Proenza Schouler are indulging in this phenomenon that is sweeping the fashion industry. Just check out Ginnifer Goodwin’s new Yves Saint Laurent. Her simultaneously classy and modern style is emblematic of this shift towards the beautiful, bright, and shiny. Sequins can sparkle any part of your outfit from your skirt to your shoes to your clutch. Just check out this gem! They’re sequined silk satin Becky heels, for sale on net-a-porter.com for $450. These beauties would go perfectly with an opaque black tights and a skirt.

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