Get Totally Kissable: Four Quick Steps to Cure Dry, Peeling Winter Lips

One thing I quietly obsess about is the texture of my lips. I have mini panic-attacks imagining little white flakes distracting my friends and colleagues as I speak. Today was such a cold and dry day, that every time I went outside my lips attempted to shrivel and I had to continuously slather balm after balm onto them with minimal effect. I decided something had to be done so I did a little research I thought you would appreciate.

Stately Adornment: Why I'll Love My Statement Necklace This Fall

I am outgoing about a lot of things but bringing attention to my aesthetic took a little practice getting used to (it's a work in progress.) The statement necklace is one that I found intimidating: it demands attention. But while perusing the Bazaar my university threw last year, I came across the above necklace from a Kenyan vendor. His stand is usually at K St, N.W (WDC) but he brings his very good stock to special events such as this.  

I had to seek validation for such a bold piece -- the centered, wooden bead is the size of an infant's fist! Reluctantly, I purchased it instead of something practical and basic. I was rewarded, because it has made plenty of mediocre outfits seem complete with the smallest of effort. LBD? cutoff shorts? business casual? This necklace can be flipped a multitude of ways and if you're like me, you like to justify each purchase with a cost per wear theoretical analysis (where you divide the amount of times you wear a garment or piece by the amount of money it costs.) Pretty soon the cost per wear will be a cool $0. Yes, this is how I rationalize my expenditures to my boyfriend, but he doesn't always take the bait. 

There are sweet times in fashion when something you adore wearing is deemed "in" and Vogue has decided statement necklaces are the move for fall. Either way, I'm rocking my behemoth bauble with pride. 

Johnny Cash Pendant

I was cruising Tumblr and saw this little gem of a necklace. It's $40.00 over at Bourbon and Boots. Check them out.

And just because today is Friday, let's add a little Cash:

In My Hometown...

Smithsonian's African Art Museum Garden -Washington, D.C.

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream in Deep Review: One Month Later

Ingenues, 


You thought I forgot about the follow up to the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream, didn't you? Well I haven't. In fact, I'm sure I can wrap this review up pretty quickly: It's been about thirty days and I am sad to report that I don't like it very much. In fact, I have stopped using it all together. I'm sure my dissatisfaction is cause by my oily skin and obsession with clear pores. 

How I applied it

I apply all my make-up with a MAC 130 stippling brush. I definitely had to use conceal or with this foundation and found myself piling it on for any suitable coverage.

Texture/Finish

The finish is extremely dewy and moisturizing. Any Ingenue who suffers from dry skin and doesn't need much coverage will think I'm bonkers for not adoring this formula. I wanted my skin to like it, but it just made me seem sweaty and melty. I never got to see if the other claims were true because it just clogged my pores so badly I freaked out and stopped using it. 

Pigmentation/Color Range

There is a great range of colors in this line and because it's so sheer it wouldn't hurt if you chose a shade slightly off  (please don't attempt that!) Pigmentation is best for ladies with minimal pigmentation & scars that need to be hidden.

Bottom Line: I love it!

I would suggest this foundation to anyone 

• with dry skin 
• who prefers dewy finishes
• needs minimal coverage

... And that's all I have to say about that. Anyone want my tube? I won't be needing it. I'm currently mixing my MUFE and Fit Me 355 until I lose my tan. 

Azealia Banks stars in a new Advertisement for Alexander Wang.

Have y'all seen my dear Azealia in a new spot for Alexander Wang? I love it!

---

"French Women Dress for Movement" & Other Observations of Chic Women

One day I was researching the main differences between American and French women and came across this tidbit of advice. Although no blanket statements are universally true, this statement surely fit the descriptions of how I spent my mornings: painting cat-eyes with a still hand, eyes opened as they would be in my everyday life -- applying highlighter and blush to suit the lighting near my window/vanity. Then I would head over to my floor length mirror and stand perfectly still in the narrow rectangular shape and gauge my outfit. This mode of dressing is fine and I certainly get lots of compliments whenever I put the effort into dressing up nice, but fine isn't chic.

Young Woman in Paris, France   Photo Source: The Sartorialist

I came across a piece of advice (on a TFS forum discussion) I found incredibly helpful with refining my wardrobe choices:

Would You Try It? The Velvet Manicure

There are so many things we can do with our nails. We've experimented with crackle topcoats and caviar talons and now, the newest Fall 2012 trend is velvet. The British cult brand Ciaté  has developed a DIY Velvet Manicure kit available from Sephora. The kit is available in three shades that are perfect for fall: Mink Cashmere, Berry Poncho, and Blue Suede and retails for $19. 

Here's how it works:

1.       Apply your first coat of color on one nail at a time, and apply a generous sprinkle of crushed velvet to each wet nail. 

2.       Use the black brush to sweep away any excess velvet, which can be captured in the accompanying tray and poured back into the bottle. Because of the 3D texture, there's no need for a top coat.

Diehard DIY'ers could go the inexpensive route by purchasing their own materials at local arts and crafts store.

Photo from www.theblackpearlblog.com

While super cute, I'll have to sit this one out as I'm highly concerned about water damage. However, I believe that this trend will be a hit this fall. You make the call, Ingenues, Hot or not? Would you rock this look? Let me know what you think.

---

This guest post was authored by my dear friend Roxy St. James. She is a writer, blogger, lover of artistic things, natural hair diva, nerd & music junkie. You can find her at The Adventures of Roxy St. James and @Imaredsoxgirl.

---

Musings on the Art of Seduction

Photo Source

On message boards and social networking sites I see women touting how mature they are for absconding “game” from their lives. But these are women with whom I spend hours  intellectualizing which fragrances will hide in the crooks of their necks for a lover to casually stumble upon. We discuss which facepaints will leave our faces matte, dewy, clearer and smoother. Although we don’t do all these things to please the objects of our affection, obviously we care a little about ensnaring them. If we are honest, most of us want someone to love and we want them to be as much of a trophy as your first pair of designer heels, your degrees and they must be the jewel of our social lives.

I think women shy away from seduction because they associate this “game” with malice. But there is nothing wrong with casting a net for the man you truly desire and care for. 

Seduction is the art of sensuality. It’s slow, burning and consuming – devoid of instant gratification. It is your natural abilities, heightened with glimpses of true vulnerability. There is little seductive about a woman wearing a full set of amour and drenched self-pity. "Game" is simply how well you can temper and deliver this heat and there nothing dishonorable with being effective at it!

Think of Dorothy Dandridge in “Carmen” opposite Harry Belafonte: Carmen is confident, self assured, vulnerable, and exciting. Her public persona is emended to perfection without lying about who she is. With a lack of self-delusion, she is able to embrace her personal shortcomings and present them honestly. Although she’s not perfect, she’s not disingenuous and she’s an interesting person. The same can be said about Marilyn Monroe in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.”

Are you cultured? Well read? Have personal style? Picked a personal fragrance? Practiced emotional intelligence? These seemingly unrelated abstractions are all tools in your seduction toolbox. Ingénues, seduction is all about knowing who you are, what you’re worth and, ultimately, why you want the target as a part of your life. In my experience, that is the only way to become a magnet to lovers and your long-term goals. 

What are your musings regarding seduction, I'd like to hear them...

How to Style a Sequined Skirt

I adore anything that sparkles, shimmers or catches the light. However, I have shied away from things with sequins, not because I thought they were gaudy, but because I thought they were extremely too glamourous for me.

Although I am not shy, I am certainly no extrovert and what says "look my direction!" more than 8 inches of shiny, liquid metal accentuating the contours of your legs and thighs? Oh yes, sequined dresses are flat out sexy! Well Ingenues, H&M had a sale two weeks ago where they seemed to try and give a variety of skirts away and a high quality, gold  number just begged to come home with me. I imagined late nights laughing with friends and dancing to my favorite DJ. My mind quickly turned to how sophisticated it would look with a tailored blazer and chic black pumps. Then it dawned on me: sequined skirts and blouses are as timeless and classic as an LDB or a trench coat. They signify a type of confidence that can't be substituted with any other piece of clothing and, as long as you don't buy a trendy cut or color, they never go out of style or season.

How to Spot a High Quality Sequined Garment 
Hopefully I've convinced you to make space in your closet for this hot little number -- but before we begin, there are two things I'd like you to keep in the back of your mind while shopping, namely: craftsmanship. A high sticker price doesn't guarantee a high quality product.

Sometimes I get such an adrenaline rush acquiring an object of affection that I revert to a primitive state -- looking over my shoulder and rushing to the checkout without thoroughly inspecting my garment.

• Sequins should be attached individually. That way if a few fall off it doesn't spoil the entire row. It is an extreme bonus if the piece comes with extra sequins. This way you won't have to worry about finding matches if you ever loose a few of your sparkles.
• It should be devoid of bald spots. Seams will look a bit funny because of the way they fold, just make provisions for this in your mind. But the continuous pattern is part of what makes sequins so effective.  

Okay, So How Do I Wear It?

Haul / Review: Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream in Deep

Just as I ran out of my Mac Studio Fix  and MUFE HD foundations  -- I was recently accepted into graduate school (yay!) so my modest pay has to stretch even further (boo!) Now,I do have my Mat Velvet +, but the formula is so full-coverage, it is a burden to wear in the warm weather months.

So I set off to do a drugstore run for something fresh, dewy, medium coverage and inexpensive! I was distracted by L'Oreal Lumi display but thought the shades didn't acknowledge my complexion ...they went from Keri Hilson to Alex Wek! A little nervous at their claim to magically match my tone I searched for the internet blogger's consensus: L'Oreal True match in N8. It seemed fine, but NC50 is for warm complexions and I hate the beige tones neutrals introduce on my naturally golden skin. Still, I needed a foundation, so I decided it was better than nothing.

$9.50 at CVS for 1 ounce of product.

On my way to the magazine rack I noticed a display of Maybelline Dream Fresh BB cream with tiny testers. I did my own little swatch test of the two foundations and compared them side by side. I found that the True Match was a bit dull and very slightly more "chocolate." There are also the benefits of a BB cream, also known as a "blemish balm." This cream/foundation claims to blur imperfections with pearl pigments while brightening your complexion, evening out your skintone and also serving as a SPF 30 sunscreen. If I am to slather something on my face religiously, I prefer it to be beneficial.

By no means is this product "green" but it evens my complexion without feeling heavy or appearing too greasy (ie. Fit Me in shade 355 -- which has a bit too much yellow pigment for my complexion) It  ran about $9.50 at my local CVS (less at Target, I've read.) 

I'll wear it for a week and tell you guys what I think.

---

Meet an Ingenue: Roxy

Q. Tell us a little bit about yourself?
A. Born and raised in Mississippi. I’m the epitome of a Southern lady. I love to write short stories. One of my goals is to turn my short stories into a book. I’m a blogger in my spare time. I consider myself a music junkie. I come from a family of singers so without music, my life would suck. When it comes to sports, baseball takes the cake! I randomly became a Red Sox fan as a teenager. Learned the rules of the game from my dad. Go Sox!

Q. How would you describe your style?
A. My style changes like the wind. When the Southern in me comes out, I tend to keep it very classy and dainty. I love textures, playful, color blocking, and edgy styles.

Special Mode by fashionnaturalista featuring a grecian dress

Earthy by fashionnaturalista featuring skinny jeans

Q. Tell us about your decision to cut your hair?
A. There are two reasons why I cut my hair: 1. Because it’s so easy to manage! Hair salons are way too expensive these days. 2. Because I’m rebellious. I know some men who hate when women cut their hair like mine.

Q.  Do you have a beauty/hair regime? 
A. When all else fails, wear lipstick and mascara. My eyes and lips are my strongest features so I make them pretty. When it comes to my hair, I usually leave it up to my sister Porsche. I call her “My Chemist” because she creates her own hair products for our hair. When I’m away from her, any of the Shea Moisture’s Black African Soap products works for my scalp. Those products promote moisture and helps with my dry scalp.

Q. What’s your beauty pet peeves?
A.

• Drawn on eyebrows. Enough said.
• Clumpy lashes. You’re applying too much mascara. 
• Caked on makeup. Wipe it off and visit a makeup counter.
• Foundation faux. Your makeup should not be lighter than the rest of your body.
• Bad hair extensions. I should NOT be able to see your track hair. Lose that!

Q. Any style or beauty advice to offer the readers. 
A.

• Never go to bed wearing makeup. You wanna keep that face beautiful! 
• Sun is very crucial to our skin. It’s been very hot this summer so invest in sunscreen. 
• Old makeup result in breakouts and bad skin. Throw all of it out. 
• Advice from my mother: Keep your knees and elbows beautiful! Apply sunscreen to them and never kneel or lean your elbows or knees on anything without protection. Research ways to take care of your knees and elbows.

Find Roxy online: The Misadventures of Roxy St. James

---

Personal Style Diary: Africana Esoterica

I have plenty of dresses and skirts, but this one is just adorable in my eyes. A classic American cut made of African fabric. I just feel so pretty in its' funky bright colors.

It was designed by Boxing Kitten, a company that I've been following for a few years now. I finally took the plunge and bought it for my graduation party; I deserved a little treat after reaching such a major personal goal. Who's your favorite dressmaker? I think I want a closet full of these dresses!

Photography: Mariposa Photography
 

---

Adidas "Shackle Sneakers"

Adidas have cancelled plans to release this lovely pair of wither slavery or penitentiary inspired sneakers due to an uproar from consumers. I don't want to jump into the "that's racist" pond too quickly, but a girl has to wonder where the inspiration for a pair of shoes like that comes from. I also wonder who was the target audience for the shoes.

From a design aspect, if there were anything other than shackles that came and decorated the leg I would rock them, but I just can't justify wearing shackles on my feet, whether we're talking about the enslaved, criminals or the insane. I'm glad I don't have to watch masses of people walking around in these "sneakers."I don't know... what do you think?

French Glamour Serves Sundress Inspiration.

 

I love everything about this look...okay, maybe I'd wear a denim jacket.