The Ugly Side Of Beautiful Hair

Living fabulously affordably is one thing. Living cheaply is a whole other thing. I have recently become obsessed with the Matrix Sleek collection I just picked up at Trade Secret. The shampoo and conditioner were both $14.99 each. That's on the affordable end of salon hair care. After a few days of using it, I'm walking around Target and I see it sitting on the shelf! Along with Bed Head, Paul Mitchell, CHI, Biolage, and almost all other salon namebrands?! So now I'm thinking, WTH? I've been turning my nose up to Pantene and Suave and come to find out my salon shampoo is it's neighbor!?

So, I ask my boss, Amy,who has been a stylist and in the hair care business for many years,  what exactly is going on? Playing devils advocate I ask her why I would go out of my way to a salon, pay a little exta for something I can conviently get and pay for at Target? Well, my friends, here is the ansewer:

Turn that Paul Mitchell bottle around and it will tell you everything: "Guaranteed only when sold by a professional hairdresser, otherwise it may be counterfeit, old, or tampered with"


Every salon bottle you find at a store other than a professional's will have some kind of warning like this one on it. What happens is large companys sell their product to a individual sales representative. It is these representative's jobs to sale their product to professional salons. Sometimes these shady representatives have old or expired bottles and they will sell it to these chain stores to make a quick buck. Another thing they can do: take a cheap shampoo, give it a similer scent, and market it it the expensive salon bottle. Some of these shampoos are even known to have high bacteria levels in them. Now remember, this is only worse case scenario. You could go to the store and get a perfectly good bottle. You would also be taking money away from a locally owned salon and not have piece of mind. Is the few extra bucks really worth it? I'm going with NO.

PS: My reccomendations: Matrix Sleek Look Smoothing system.(middle) This does wonders for wavy hair.
Paul Mitchell: Super Skinny daily hair care line. a.maz.ing! (top)
Purology Clarifying sulfate free shampoo.(below) Peppermint scented: So good!

Glitter!

Clear off the cobwebs, I'm back! It's been a LOOONG time since I've written, but I am so excited! Spring is here! Well, it's almost here, but Spring collections and fashion trends have definitely arrived!
One thing I'm loving: Glitter!

I have not been able to get enough of the glitter heels that have been popping up everywhere! For a girl who loves neutrals paired with crazy accessories, believe me...they are a dream! So I begin my search for the perfect pair and my ecstasy is crushed my true reality: prices. $89, $95, $129, and, wait, is that for real? 600 DOLLARS!?!? Umm..no thanks. On to plan B.

When I worked in a tanning salon about a year ago, everyone was coming in with glitter pedicures. They were to die for. Me and a friend got the name of the girl who was doing them and we found out they cost $50! Since that was out of our range we came up with a DIY version. No one could tell the difference.

So I'm thinking: Why not apply the same mentality to shoes! Steps below:

You will need:
(1) cheap pair of heels (they can even be ugly-they're getting covered!)
(2) fabric glue or super glue ( one might work better depending on material of the shoe)
(3) fine grain glitter. (try not to have the flecks too big-the shoe will look cheap. My choice-Martha Stewart brand glitter (above) , available online or at Michel's. Amazing color assortment! I'm doing aqua-so cute!)
(4)optional- clear craft sealer

Step 1:
Make sure shoe is completly clean and dry

Step 2:
Apply a thin coat of fabric glue on a large part of the shoe. Don't do too large a space-the glue won't be as sticky!

Step 3:
Sprinkle glitter! Over paper of course. Dump all unused glitter back to reuse!

Repeat steps 1-3, till your whole shoe is covered! Depending on the original heel color you might want to cover it in glitter or leave it alone. If you feel the glitter is a little loose, spray a clear craft sealer. Wait at least 24 hours before wearing them out!

Don't have a big night planned soon? Glitterize your flip flops-soo cute! Perfect for day time!

Tip: Pick a sophisticated shaped shoe to avoid looking like a hooker. Also, pair them with a solid, flowing dress for day.(a la, Carrie Bradshaw)  For night, pair with a dress no more than 4-5 inches above the knee.

Halloween Couture

"Halloween is the one day a year when a girl can dress up like a total slut and no other girls can say anything else about it"

Famous words uttered by Lindsay Lohan's character in the movie Mean Girls. As soon as we hit about high school, even college, Halloween turns into too much cleavage rather than too much candy. After shopping online and Halloween stores I grew tired of seeing overpriced cheap barely there "outfits". Would you normally spend $65 on a polyester blend dress that hardly covers your backside? Probably not. That's why this year, I'm absolutely loving the idea of "Halloween Couture".  Take inspiration from John Galliano. (below and above)

Or the 2007 Tim Burton inspired spread in Harpers Bazaar Magazine 

Super cute, fun dresses that aren't any costume in general.
Basic: Black Tulle Dress (Macys.com)

Spruce thinks up with a georgeouse orange nail polish shade

Add orange makeup

a fun head piece

Throw in whatever fabuouse detail you might want to add. Teased updo, black lace tights? Anything goes!You're Halloween ready! Best part? Chances are, the things you buy will incorporate into everyday wear, especially if it's black. You will more than likly end up spending less and get additional wear out of it!

Bring in Fall Fabulously

It's Fall! Welcomed of course by my mom and my annual tradition of pumpkin spice lattes and pumpkin scones on October 1st :) I love everything about fall! The smells, the events, the general feeling the whole season has. But most of all, I love the clothes! Anyone who lives in the Monterey area knows that this time of year is normally our warmest, accompanied of course though by our chilly nights and foggy mornings. Meaning, adorable fall clothing without all that added bulk (ugh, take your time winter). Here are my favorite fall items so far, that are fabulous and will leave some left over change in your wallet for a pumpkin spice latte ;)

Mainstays 3 wick candles
These are amazing! I'm a candle snob, but these have cured me! They are 3 wick, burn cleanly and evenly, and the smell is super strong and super amazing! They have a scent even after they are blown out! They are available at Wal Mart. My favorite scents of the season: Warm Apple Pie, Hazelnut Cream, Pumpkin Spice. The price? $3!!!

Scarves
This has kind of been a secret of me and my good friend Heidi, but I'm ready to reveal it. It's just too good (Sorry Heidi!) Walmart has the most amazing scarves! I have over 25 scarves and out of all the ones I own, my Walmart ones have been the absolute best! They are fabulously made, thin enough to not be bulky, but still keep you warm. They are even great on those inbetween fall days with boots and a slouchy short sleeve. They acually look and feel more expensive than my real Pashminas. And they are only....$5!Beware of the cheap, gauzy looking ones, you will know the ones I'm talking about when you see them.  They are always getting new colors and prints in! GO GET SOME! (always fabulous Heidi models one below)

Boots
Like my previous post on leather jackets, I was skeptical on cheap boots. That's what I thought they were, cheap. NOT EVEN!!! Target has the most amazing affordable boots!! I picked up the most fabulous tan pair, that I wear ALL THE TIME!  (Woman's Mossimo Tall Kaden Boots, Tan) I've worn them to school, work, long walks with the bf (3 hours!) and they are appropriate and comfortable in all situations. The most satisfying part? As everyone knows Target routinely knocks off Steve Madden shoes, but they acually do a pretty good job of doing it. The Steve Maddens though always have that upper edge. Saw the SM version of these at Macy's (while I was wearing them) and mine were BETTER! Half the price and way more expensive looking! While the Steve ones run for about $79.99 these were $34.99. Love!

Happy Fall! Most of all though, Happy Shopping!

Fabulously Faux

I don't care for fur. I think it's gross. Don't get me wrong- I'm not going to go stand outside Saks Fifth Avenue in Union Square and throw red paint on every woman walking out in mink coat- it just creeps me out. Hair and fur make me gag. Blach, end of story.

Ironically though, I looooove leather! The smell of brand new leather is absolutely intoxicating to me. Nothing is more beautiful than a genuine brown leather Michael Kors handbag. It even looks amazing in cars! Even better? A yummy cream leather bomber jacket! Perfect for Fall! I decided about a month ago that this was going to be my splurge of the season. So excited! I begin my search!

Uhhhhh.... wait a minute. These things are HOW MUCH?! $633?! Okay, never mind. What's even more sickening than a $600 price tag? Fake leather. UGH! They all scream, cheap, hooker, plastic, FAKES! Or so I thought...

Enter my savior, my beacon of hope for fabulous affordability....Forever 21. Cream leather faux jacket. Amazing. Flattering. Affordable. $24. I'm in love. Not a hint of fake...it even smells real. These are available online in the cream or black. The black looked okay in the store. The store itself had cream, black, and brown. Don't even bother with the brown. The cream was definantly the most authentic. ( The model above and below is wearing the cream jacket) I suggest everyone go out and buy on immediately. It also kinda feels good knowing that it's faux. I kinda felt just a little more fabulous in it. Happy Shopping!

Living The Fabulous Life

I'm a 22 year old college student majoring in Interior Design and Fashion Merchandising. Like most girls my age and you girls well into your 20's, I'm a little strapped for cash. No, I can not go out and buy fabulous  Manolo Blahniks on a whim. Unlike the fabulous Carrie Bradshaw leads us to believe, we do not need to buy $500 shoes to make our outfit unforgettable. There are a ton more options out there that will allow to look hot, strut your stuff and still allow you to eat (In case you're wondering, yes- I have skipped a decent meal for an outfit).

Okay, so you do need those shoes to feel fabulous? Well understood....I once suffered an addiction to True Religion jeans, but more on that in a later post. I'll show you how to live fabulously affordable in other aspects of your life. Home, work, the gym, going out with friends, redecorating your place...believe me, I got you covered ;)