A Snow Bunny's Guide to: Waterproofing

Hello again, snow bunny. Now that we’ve covered base layers, we should talk about outerwear. I would recommend that you get waterproof pants and jacket. Here in the Northwest, we’re notorious for having wet weather—even in the middle of the winter. I recommend making sure your pants and jacket are fully taped and seamed, not just critically. What does this mean?

If the seams on your outerwear are only critically taped, then this means that they are only taped where wetness will most likely contact, thereby rendering them not 100% waterproof. Fully taped seams mean just that—they’re completely taped, ensuring a fully waterproof garment.

Another feature you might want to consider is the waterproof rating of the garment. The most common ratings you’ll see are 5K, 10K and 20K. What do these represent? A 20K rating, sometimes also displayed as 20,000mm means that a jacket can withstand almost 66 feet of rain (or 20,000mm) in 24 hours before the person wearing the jacket gets wet. Though, again, make sure that the seams of that 20K jacket are fully taped. Otherwise that 20K rating makes the waterproofing of the jacket pretty much pointless.

The 20K rating is a little extreme, though according to backcountry.com “A 20K jacket will keep you dry in nearly any condition. A manufacturer that bothers to make a jacket from 20K-rated fabric with a membrane is probably going to cover every seam and use waterproof zippers and storm flaps. I would feel confident in any coastal snowstorm in a 20K jacket.”

Though, remember 0K, 5K, 10K and 15K ratings also exist. So unless you plan to be pummeled by rain in a Typhoon or Hurricane, I would recommend a waterproof rating of at least 10K. 0K represents that it is able to withstand 0mm of rain, so obviously not waterproof. 5K represents water resistant or rain proof, but if there was any sort of pressure, you’d probably get wet. Additionally, a 5K jacket probably wouldn’t manage to keep you waterproof for an extended period of time. 5K is usually what you would expect for low end, cheaply manufactured ski and snowboard garments. You might also find a soft-shell jacket that has 5K waterproofing. This rating is more ideal for spring conditions. Do you research before you buy!

A 10K rating means it’s simply 5K doubled, so you might expect a more waterproof jacket. 15K + equals a garment that is totally waterproof, even under serious pressure. The Gore-Tex manufacturer usually makes garments with their product that has at least a 15K waterproof rating or higher.

A Snow Bunny's Guide to: Base Layers

So, you’d love to head up to the slopes, but have never set foot on a mountain before? Read on, my dear snow bunny. I am about to share tips and tricks that will save you time, energy and most importantly… money!

The first thing you need to do is assess what you need for the slopes. Dressing for the slopes is a little different than dressing for the city streets. You will need a thermal base layer for both your top and bottom. These base layers serve as almost a second skin. You want to choose a baselayer made of synthetic fabric, never cotton. Cotton is a no-no on the slopes—once it gets wet it stays wet and could cause you to become hypothermic as a result. Although the outside of you and your jacket may be dry, if your base layers or clothing inside are wet, that is just asking for trouble. I would recommend silk.

 For your base layers, go for Terramar Silk. The cheapest way to obtain these is at Sierra Trading Post online. You’ll find outdoor gear marked up to 80% off the retail price. The following quote is from the product’s description, “experience silk's warmth, lightness, natural wicking action and luxurious comfort.” Silk is a wonderful next to skin fabric for outdoor activities. These silk baselayers are so comfy they could double as pajamas to keep you warm and insulated under the sheets on a cold winters’ night.

At Sierra Trading Post, you’ll end up spending less than 20 bucks on your silk bottoms (above). They normally retail for $38.50, but at Sierra Trading Post, you can pick them up for $19.95. That’s 48% off the normal purchase price! These bottoms are quite a steal. They are pictured in Pink Pointelle, but they also come in Natural Pointelle and Black if pink isn’t quite your color.

You won’t spend more than 20 bucks on your base layer top (right) as well. These tops also normally retail for $38.50. Fortunately, you can pick one up for the same price as the bottoms: $19.9 5. This is an extraordinary deal, as most base layer tops and bottoms I’ve browsed while shopping retail closer to $50. Terramar’s EC2 system is the key to what makes these beauties such a joy to wear during high physical activity in the winter. From the product description, “EC2 technology enhances comfort with its quick-drying, thermal regulation properties.”

Nicole Ritchie's Wedding Gown

 

I don’t really care about Nicole Ritchie, so it should follow that I don’t care about her wedding dress at all, either. Except I do. I just saw one of her possible wedding dresses on Fashionista and I have to give the dress—designed by Marchesa-- a big “I”.

 

“I” is for “Icky”. 

 

A wedding dress should never be compared to a longer, uglier tutu. And while the Fashionista blogger actually liked “the frou-frou” aspect of the gown, I have a hard and fast rule that frou-frou like that should be limited to ballerinas and little girls under the age of six. No exceptions. 

The poofiness of the bottom half of the dress doesn’t seem to suit someone with Nicole Ritchie’s frame. It just doesn’t. And the lace on the arms reminds me of Molly Ringwald’s dress that she made from hand in “Pretty in Pink.”  I just don’t think the lace has aged well at all.

 

Of course, as Fashionista points out, the dress is in keeping with current fashion. Again, “I” for “Icky”. Maybe the tulle and lace trend is really only for the rich and famous amongst us—most of the bridal fashions that I see around here aren’t quite as “Icky” thankfully and don’t seem to have quite as much “poof” as this dress.

 

Of course, there is the distant, but meaningful hope that poor little rich girl Nicole Ritchie will choose a different dress—the Internet is abuzz with rumors of two other Marchesa designs that she had to  choose from—I’m just not certain she made the right choice.

 

I just find it hard to believe that with all her money and supposed stylist support, she can’t find a prettier wedding gown. Do you think that someone is trying to push the dress on her in a subversive move in order to wreak havoc on her reputation as a not-so-delicate fashion plate?

 

Or is the dress truly beautiful? Am I just missing the obvious fashion of frou-frou and poofiness that every girl should have on her most memorable of days? What do you think? Does the dress suit her? If not, what designer would you have chosen for the beauty to wear on her wedding day?

 

Nicole Ritchie will hit news stands tomorrow on the cover of German magazine “In” showing off her dress. Maybe the Germans liked the dress better than I did. Who knows?

Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2010

Are you ready for some sexy, lingerie fashion? Stay tune tonight on CBS at 10 pm for the new premiere of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2010! Featured guests include Katy Perry and Akon as musical guest performances ready to rock out the runway action! The runway stage will certainly be tuning into rocking music by these smoking hot musical guests. Katy Perry and Akon are extremely talented and can rock any stage in style!

Returning new mothers, Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosia, and Karolina Kurkova will be strutting down the Victoria’s Secret runway. The most beautiful angels of Victoria’s Secret have been secretly working out prepping themselves before the live fashion show. Adriana Lima stated that she worked out close to 50 lbs. off her body to look her best ever since giving birth to her daughter, Valentina in November 2009. Wow! This angel will certainly be strutting in model-wear lingerie style for sure! Karolina Kurkova and her man, Archie Drury, welcomed their first baby boy, Tobey, late last year as well. Brazilian beauty, Alessandra Ambrosia will be walking down the runway in style in tonight’s fashion show as well. This angel bombshell is also a new mother giving birth in 2008 to a beautiful daughter, Anja.

And sorry folks, you won’t be seeing Miranda Kerr in tonight’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. This 27-year-old soon-to-be-mom will be absent tonight. Kerr recently married Orlando Bloom earlier this year and will be proud parents very soon. But this gorgeous Australian beauty may appear in next year’s fashion show. Heidi Klum recently stated that she had departed from the famous brand name empire to venture into new opportunities. So don’t be disappointed if you won’t be seeing Klum in tonight’s fashion show. Stay tune to more of Heidi in the future!

What are viewers to expect at tonight’s live Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show? I actually don’t know. I am looking forward to watching a fun-filled live show event with beautiful, fashion lingerie pieces on beautiful models strutting down the runway in pure beauty and exquisite style. Many of the fashion you will be viewing tonight may be “over-the-top” high-end style. So be sure to prepare yourself for that! And of course, the angel’s will be decked out in fabulous big-hair, gorgeous shoes, and covered in VS (very sexy) make-up. If you love high-end, lingerie fashion, this is the fashion show for you! So grab a comfortable seat in the house and enjoy the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2010!

What Not To Wear

Have you ever thought about what not to wear at moments in your lifetime? I am sure we all have. You can finally tune into your television tube and watch TLC’s What Not To Wear! Starring Stacy London and Clinton Kelly, these professional fashion stylists are prepared and ready to freshen up new looks for hopeful women. Since 2003, What Not To Wear has been traveling the nation searching wide and hard for women who have trouble in the fashion, styling, and clothing department. Not only are Stacy and Clinton helping women’s fashion style, but changing their lives as well. Stacy London had been styling for celebrities and designers for years and been on commercials for Riders by Lee Jeans. Clinton Kelly started his career in fashion as a freelance writer. Besides co-hosting with Stacy London on What Not To Wear, Kelly still writes furthering his fashion knowledge and experience in the fashion consulting industry.  

Each week, What Not To Wear features different women nominated by their loved ones to win a chance at changing the look of their fashion and style. Some of the women on What Not To Wear have a messy fashion appearance. And some are in desperate need of a fashion wake-up call. Stacy and Clifford surprise the chosen woman to make over in What Not To Wear. The lucky woman is given a $5,000 shopping spree card to spend on whatever clothes they want to spend on. But…….there’s a catch. She must follow all of Stacy and Clifford’s fashion rules in order for any shopping to start.

Stacy and Clinton meets with the lucky woman at their New York City studio to help revamp their new stylish looks. They ask to see the woman’s current wardrobe to get a clear glimpse of what kind of clothes they have been wearing. The individual is asked to wear different looks in front of the 360-degree mirror. For each outfit the women chose to wear in front of the mirror, Stacy and Clinton give their hopeful candidate a better fashion attire to wear instead. They may agree or disagree. But mostly, the women do agree with Stacy and Clinton’s fashion advice. Revamping new looks for these lucky women are not an easy job for Stacy and Clinton. They are helping them with different fashion attires and looks that will work in their everyday lives- work, play, etc.  

The individual are then shopping for clothes appropriate for their style and everyday look. Stacy and Clinton watch on from a hidden TV making sure their shopping experience is well worth it. With their hard work paid off, the individual is taking into the beauty department to update their hair and make-up. Fun! They are then taking into the dressing room to try on each new beautiful fashion piece for Stacy and Clinton. The final part comes when they walk in front of their loved ones to show-off their new look, figure, and fashion!

Stay tune for What Not To Wear every Friday at 10 pm on the TLC channel. For a short clip, please click here.  

 

 

 

Heel Liners

I have found a new shoe accessory. Its heel liners! I must say…I love shoes and came to find out that every woman should own a few pairs of heel liners for their gorgeous shoes. Heel liners are a life saver for your beautiful shoes! If you love wearing fashionable, high heel shoes, I suggest inserting some heel liners into the back heel of your shoe for comfort and support. This will help prevent your back heels from forming blisters and “boo-boos.” It sounds disgusting, eh? You may not want that to happen to your beautiful heels. Of course, it is not very comfortable to wear high-heels, but its part of a beautiful fashion accessory as part of your clothing wardrobe. Why not add shoes into your collection? And extra pairs of heel liners?

Placing heel liners into my shoes have literally saved my “heels” life. Trust me, if you want to avoid those nasty, painful blisters and cuts behind your heels, investing in a few pairs of heel liners will save you. It works for me. You can purchase heel liners at many neighborhood drugstores. For a pair of heel liners, you’re pay about $5. It’s not a bad price since this will be inside the back heel of your shoes for a very long time. You want to stock up on extra pairs in case your old heel liners are too worn out.

I did notice a very huge difference after placing the heel liners perfectly into the back heels of one of my shoes. My shoes felt more comfortable walking in them. I had a lot of cushion and support while walking with no feel of pain. It’s amazing. Ladies, if you wear high-heels all the time, you will love this product. Before I even found these remarkable heel liners at the store, I had always walked in pain with sore blisters on my heels. That’s a no-no. And believe me, blisters on your heels hurt so badly. I vow to never walk out in public in painful blisters ever again. Walking in high-heels can be comfortable if you insert the right type of insoles for your shoe type. Placing insoles or heel liners into your shoes is easy. Just be sure to have a marker and scissor nearby in case you need to trim the edges. You will absolutely love this product because it is a fabulous shoes accessory build for your back heels comfort, care, and support. You do not have to worry about blisters or any painful cuts. Purchase a heel liner that feels like a soft cushion. You may want to stay away from the clear heel liners because they might easily slip off. For pain-free heels, try heel liners.

Winter Cardigan: My Top Three Picks

The cardigan is a popular staple this time of year. I usually reach for one when I want a soft layer between my winter coat and t-shirt or tank top. 

They also look fantastic of their own paired with jeans and slim tunic top.

A cardigan is a sweater that opens from the front, not to be confused with a pullover sweater which must be “pulled over” the head to be worn. The cardigan got its name from James Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan who was a British military commander in the Crimean War.

Personally, I prefer classic tailored styles and usually leave the trendy short sleeved, open and asymmetrical styles on the rack.

I love this cardigan (left), because it’s long enough to cover your whole torso from the elements. It’s soft enough to please those who hate those itchy sweaters. It has a classic, yet sexy styling so you, your best friend and your mother could all wear it and be happy! It also has functional buttons and pockets that hit right where you’d need them. It retails for $79.00 and is available from Eddie Bauer.

I love the look of an old school classic cardigan. This one (right) is made with an updated style by attaching a hood and opting for invisible snaps versus the standard buttons so commonly found. There are side pockets that hit right at the hip line for ease of access. This sweater cardigan looks warm and soft; something I’d definitely enjoy wearing when the bitter chill of winter suddenly hits my arms or torso. The price is right too. It retails for $39.00, now on sale for $29.00 and is available here.

For those with a few more bucks to spend looking for an original, gorgeous piece, try on this cardigan (below) for size offered by Free People. The material is a wool/acrylic/nylon fiber blend. The wool and acrylic give it a warm and soft feel. The colors are vibrant and the patterns depict retro snowflakes so commonly found on your stereotypical ugly, itchy Nordic ski sweater from the 80’s. Fortunately, the nylon in this cardigan allows for that sexy body-hugging effect that we all crave. 

The price is steep, but for such a gorgeous piece, I can’t complain. This cardigan retails for $188.00. Though I have seen similar pieces also offered by Free People at Nordstrom Rack for 50% or even 70% off the retail price!

Even though it’s winter and you’ve gotta stay covered to stay warm. It doesn’t mean you can’t look smoldering and soft and sexy! Happy shopping!

Fake it with False Lashes!

False lashes are in. I love false lashes. I have found that many ladies wearing false lashes are a huge fashionable, beauty statement. Why not? I have seen in many beauty articles, fashion, and live runway shows where beautiful gorgeous models are always strutting in style with amazing, long natural looking false lashes. Many famous celebrity starlets such as Fergie, Lady Gaga, and Eva Longoria are a fan of these gorgeous fake lashes. But what really makes these lashes oh-so-sexy?

I have always been very curious about false lashes. So I decided to go to the local beauty drugstore to purchase some beautiful fake lashes and lash glue. The fake lashes and lash glue were marked retail price at about $5 each. It’s not really a bad price, since you can reuse the lashes over again. The nice thing about the lash glue is that you don’t have to use a lot of glue to apply on the lash line area. You just need a very small dab of lash glue, use a toothpick for easy application, and voila- you are ready to go! I have always been very afraid of applying fake lashes on my own natural lashes before because I was scared of poking my eyes. I thought to myself, “It shouldn’t be too hard.”

My friend and I made plans to meet up for lunch yesterday. So I decided to wear the false lashes that I bought at the store the previous week. I was anxious and excited. I did watch a You Tube video on applying “fake lashes.” It didn’t seem that hard. I applied all of my basic make-up on my face before placing the lashes on my natural lashes. I squeezed out a small dab amount of lash glue and gently, but sparingly used a toothpick to apply the glue along the lash line. It was a very easy application. I waited about 10 seconds for the lash glue to set. Then I gently placed the false lashes on top of my natural lashes. It was a bit tricky, but the false lashes definitely made my eyes instantly “pop.” My eyes looked bigger and fuller with the beautiful dark fake lashes on top of my natural lashes. The You Tube video tutorial on fake lashes was extremely helpful.

In many burlesque shows, false lashes are beautifully worn by burlesque performers for live stage shows. Fake lashes give the appeal of a more elegant, old-Hollywood movie star look from beauties such as Marilyn Monroe and Bettie Page. It is also a favorite “beauty accessory” amongst make-up artists in the beauty industry. You Tube’s make-up artist guru, Michelle Phan is a huge fan of big, fuller false lashes. She has demonstrated a few “false lash” tricks in many of her make-up tutorials on You Tube. False lashes are great to wear on a date, concert event, fashion show, dinner with friends, clubbing, or simply anywhere! Do also remember that false lashes come in all different colors, shapes, and form. You can wear anything from a very dramatic, elegant look, natural, or something simpler to suit your style. For whatever the occasion is, rock your fake lashes in style!   

Winter Coat: My Top 2 Picks for 2010

Goodness! The holidays are already almost upon us once again! This is the time of year where the air has turned cold, the days are shorter and the nights are longer. With chilly temperatures outside, it’s nice to think of the thick luxurious coats stores will be selling this season.

T

his year anything goes with regards to style of coat. Long or short, both can be flattering silhouettes on almost every body type. The Tulle Marley coat by Nordstrom is a classic short shape with flattering details.  This coat is plush and soft to the touch.

The Marley coat is a wool/viscose and rayon blend with a polyester lining in a very cute coordinating fabric that matches the color you choose! The collar is just big enough to make a statement. With the adorable hood attached you can shield your hair and face should you find yourself in the middle of a downpour or blizzard. The peter-pan style and curved yoke are two details that really give this coat a feminine, sexy appeal.

This coat is available in a whole spectrum of colors. The colors available are: black, aqua tint, clover, cosmic, cream, eggplant, heather (pictured), hibiscus, hot pink and navy. Try pairing it with your favorite tall boots and skinny jeans.

The long coat of the season is the Tulle Walking Coat by Nordstrom. The length will hit you at mid-thigh or go past your knees depending on your height. The cuffs feature big button detailing. The pockets are over sized, yet even when you’re covered from the winter chill you can still look sexy. The waist features a classic feminine nipped-in styling. This coat is also a wool/viscose and rayon blend with a polyester lining. This coat is available in black, charcoal, clover, cosmic, cream (pictured), heather, heather olivine, hibiscus, hot pink, navy and yellow.

Both of these coats were found on a recent trip to the department store during Nordstrom’s Half Yearly Sale. I picked up the Marley coat for $33.90, which is 50% off the original price (regularly $68.00). I chose the color hibiscus which is a deep red. It reminded me of the kind of coat Little Red Riding Hood would wear. So adorable! My best friend bought the walking coat for 50% off the original price too! The color she chose was cream. Her coat was $42.00 (regularly $89.00). She is very happy with the classic cream color.

J. Crew Hates Ewe

Or they act like they do, at least. A while back, I wrote about the cruel practice of mulesing, a cruel practice in which young sheep are mutilated with shears in order to protect them from contracting diseases. There are other alternatives to the practice, but some areas—particularly in Australia—refuse to stop harming the sheep, foregoing compassion and mercy for tradition and savagery.

You would think that companies would condemn the practice and refuse to conduct business with such unsavory, cruel people; but J. Crew continues to use Australian sheep as a source for its clothing lines.

Come on, J. Crew—it’s bad enough that you send out a million catalogs to people who don’t want them (our home included) and waste resources in the process. It’s bad enough that you have a history of getting your materials from sweatshop labor and that you’ve discharged company waste into the environment. But mutilating sheep? I doubt that anyone would consciously want to do that—let alone be associated with it. It’s got to be bad for business. Isn’t sheep mutilation something that aliens are supposed to be notorious for, not clothing companies?

Mulesing is a pretty brutal practice. Sheep who are sliced often cannot walk for days because it’s just that painful. Once they’re finally back on their feet again, they still aren’t even able to walk correctly; instead, they move along sideways in crablike fashion in order to help alleviate the pain. Honestly, if you were given the option to protect your child, pet, or other loved one from acquiring an illness and your choices were some nonsurgical means, inoculations, or a violent slash to the skin, which would you choose? Why intentionally make animals suffer (more than we already do) when there are simple preventative measures that can be done?

I also have to wonder at the people who cut the sheep and hear them scream. Do they have nightmares? Are they like The Silence of the Lambs?

Please write to J. Crew today and let them know that you don’t support this cruel and unusual practice. Tell them that if they didn’t know about the practice or  understand how violent it is, that’s one thing—but now that they are aware and have customers who want their clothing sourced elsewhere, we want them to make sure that they stop using these violent wool providers until the practice stops.

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