Marc Jacobs Bang



Above: The tame Bang ad



Above: Full frontal Bang! Whoa!!



A bottle of Bang

 Hello Marc Jacobs! The MJ newest fragrance for men, Bang features the designer naked. It's very in your face and does get your attention. I haven't smelled Bang yet but it does have a nice blend of: three peppercorns, primal masculine woods, benzoin resin, vetiver, white moss, and patchouli.

Would you buy Bang for your husband or boyfriend? What do you think of the ad?

Lip Gloss Love: C.O. Bigelow Green Tea Glossy Lip Balm

Oh C.O. Bigelow can you do no wrong? I am loving the Green Tea Glossy Lip Balm. It's infused with green tea which everyone knows is infused with antioxidants and that equals a healthy lip gloss!

Grean Tea Glossy Lip Balm has a light green tea scent and has a great shine that is fairly moisturizing. This is definitely one to check out and keep in your makeup bag!

For more information click here

Lanvin for H&M

The above image of four Lanvin for H&M looks just hit the web. If I don't get anything from this collection but the ruffled black dress on the end, I will have sheer joy coursing through my veins and I will dedicate my life to sharing that joy with the world.

What do my fellow fashionistas think about this first look at Lanvin for H&M?

Haute Bag Lady Bag of the Week Lauren Merkin Clutches

                      
This week’s Haute Bag Lady Bag of the Week is the gorgeous Lauren Merkin clutch, Allie. This version of the Allie is a wine colored snakeskin with gold shimmer piping.

Lauren Merkin clutches were recently featured on Access Hollywood and it was love at first sight for me. I logged onto her website and fell more in love. My favorite bags are the snakeskin clutches. I think they add a little edge to a basic black dress or basic top and jeans.

Check out all of Lauren Merkin’s bags on her website: http://www.laurenmerkin.com/

Get Organized: e.l.f. Studio Large Brush Holder

My makeup brushes are housed in two large coffee mugs on my mini vanity. The coffee cups have served me well but I need something different. Something like e.l.f.'s large brush holder. I really need (want) this.

Both the top of my mini vanity and dresser are a mess. Time to get organized and find a place for everything.

How do you store your makeup brushes?

For more information:

e.l.f.

My Nordstrom Nightmare...

Last Friday I went to Nordstrom to purchase a new fall fragrance. I had in mind a few fragrances that I wanted to sample but I was really looking forward to browsing and seeing all the new items in person. Upon walking over to the fragrance department, I was bombarded by two sales people. They greeted me, asked if they could help me and what I was looking for. I stated that I was looking for a fall fragrance. Immediately these two women became glued to my right and left side, talking quickly, grabbing bottles and spraying various scents onto strips of paper, and shoving them under my nose.

My good mood quickly went downhill. One of the ladies backed off, but the other one stayed attached to my hip. She was really annoying the hell out of me but I remained calm. I nicely but firmly explained to her that I was heavily into beauty products and knew what all the latest fragrances were and that I just wanted to take some time and look on my own. Did she take the hint? Of course not, she kept right on, walking right next to me and going on and on and on. Everything I said she agreed with. I told her one musky fragrance that she sprayed on my hand didn’t mix with my chemistry and she agreed. I tricked her a few moments later by saying the same fragrance was really soft and pretty. Again she nodded in eager agreement. I just shook my head at her desperate attempt to make a sale. She was paying no attention to me or what I said I was looking for in a fragrance.

Finally I could no longer take it; I said to her that I just wanted time to browse alone. I thanked her and asked her to please allow me time to shop. She seemed extremely offended but at that point I did not care. Shortly after getting rid of the initial pest, another woman came to the sales floor and started her sales pitch. Granted she was nice and she was just returning from her break but still... How many times and how many ways can I say I’m just looking? A representative from one of the fragrance brands soon joined in and it was right back to the ordeal I was having before. At that point, I had had enough and left the store. I was so irate. Not only was I frustrated that I didn’t get my perfume but I felt disrespected as a customer. A good sales associate should know how to turn their pitch on and off. I don’t understand what was wrong with the ladies at Nordstrom but their tactics were way over the top. They were so pushy and hungry for a sale. I understand there are sales quotas to meet when working in retail. And not to toot my own horn but when I worked retail, I always met or exceeded my quota because I knew how to allow my customers time to shop. I knew when to step in and offer my honest opinion, and I knew how to nicely tell my clients when something was not for them while offering a suitable alternative. I was never hungry for sales or pushy.

Once I calmed down, I called Nordstrom (Yes, I have their number saved in my contacts) and spoke with the manager of the fragrance department. She listened and sympathized with me. She apologized for her team’s lack of professionalism and assured me that she would speak to them about my complaint. I am very proud of the way I handled the pushy sales lady because I have a very bad temper and that situation could have really gone another way. As I get older, I am learning not to react in anger. It is better to walk away, calm down and then follow up with a phone call or email to a higher up.

The manager invited me back to shop with her personally for my fall fragrance. I will take her up on her offer because I love Nordstrom and this was my first bad shopping experience in nine years.

Pink Velvet Designs Gunsmoke Bib Necklace

How haute, haute, haute is Pink Velvet's Gunsmoke Bib necklace? This is a bold statement necklace that deserves to be the centerpiece of your outfit.

Check out the rest of Pink Velvet Designs collection here.

Mascara Showdown {Maybelline, Neutrogena, & Rimmel}

Top to bottom: Maybelline Falsies, Rimmel Maxx Volume Flash, Neutrogena Healthy Lengths

There are are probably 500+ mascaras on the market all promising unbelievable lashes that command attention and if you look at the ads you'll be expecting nothing short of Chinese fans for eyelashes. Yeah. We all know that is rarely the case.

My mascara needs are simple; I want lots of volume. There are three mascaras that I have had in heavy rotation for quite some time.

• Maybelline Falsies - Falsies is just okay for me. I'm not getting stopped on the street "Do you have on false lashes?" In my opinion, this is an average masacara that does not live up to the claims in their ad.
• Neutrogena Healthy Lengths - I was very surprised at how well my lashes responded to NHL. A fair amount of volume with a nice lengthening effect. I reach for this on days when I am in a hurry. It's a great mascara to keep close by because you can apply a couple of coats without a lot of technique.
• Rimmel Maxx Volume Flash - Rimmel mascaras have always worked well for me. MVF is the best out of the three. It gives insane volume. I can't wait to see how my lashes look after a few more weeks using Rapid Lash and using MVF.

I rarely repurchase the same mascara but I'm trying to get better at learning what products work for me so that I can cut back on spending. Rimmel Maxx Volume Flash will definitely be a repurchase though.

Oh before I go! Stay tuned to The Stylish Life this week to find out how to win a gift bag filled with some of the products mentioned this week!

Getting My Anna Wintour On {Chicago Fashion Focus Week}

I am so excited for next week. Chicago Fashion Focus Week begins Monday night with an exclusive invite only kick-off party hosted by the Mayor's Fashion Council. Sadly yours truly isn't on that guest list (yet...) but I am attending some shows, hence the title of this post. I will be getting my Anna Wintour on. Too bad I don't have an Andre Leon Talley-esque partner in crime to accompany me.

Chicago Fashion Focus is our own version of New York Fashion Week. As much as I enjoy NYFW, it will be great to see fashion through the eyes of local designers. For those of you who may not be aware, Chicago is a very fashion forward city. We are not lacking in amazing design talent and stylish people who know how to put it all together.

This will be my first time attending any of the shows as working press. Woo-hoo!! I'll update my blog everyday with pictures and commentary, so check back often. If you're attending the fashion festivities let me know.

Here's where The Stylish Life will be:

• Tuesday, October 19 - Macy’s presents the Chicago Fashion Incubator Designers Past & Present with CS Magazine
• Wednesday, October 20th - Mario, Make Me A Model
• Thursday, October 20 - Dress Code
• Friday, October 21 - The Art of Fashion

Besides the shows, there will be shopping events, parties, and a full day of fashion seminars on Sunday.
Okay, I have a schedule to finalize and outfits to plan!! See ya' later!

For more information:
Fashion Focus 2010 Full Schedule of Events

Melodies by MJB

The Queen of Hip Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige is launching her much anticipated Melodies by MJB sunglass collection.

My favorite from the collection: Red Carpet in Brown/Horn Laminate

Melodies by MJB has four very haute designs with twenty color options, the MJ's, Incognito, Red Carpet, and Showtime. With a moderate price point, ranging from $165 to $225, I think Mary J. Blige is on the right track with her premium sunglasses collection.

If you're in the Chicago area, be sure to stop by Nordstrom on Monday, October 18th, Mary J. Blige will be there to officially launch Melodies! Click here to RSVP

Which Melodies by MJB strike your fancy? I hope Santa slips a pair of the Red Carpets in my Christmas stocking - I've been really good this year ;)

For more information:
Melodies by MJB

The Stylish Life Mailbag {Longchamp Eiffel Tower Bag}

I have received several emails about my beloved  Longchamp Le Pliage Eiffel Tower Duffel. Everyone wants to know the same thing: How much does it hold?

I recently got to test out just how much it can hold when I spent the weekend at my mom's house.

Here's what I packed:

 --2 pairs of jeans
-- 2 tops
-- 1 cardigan
-- 1 pair of ballet flats
-- 2 pairs of tights
-- 1 pair of thick socks (much to my chagrin, my mother keeps her house ice box cold)
-- 2 pairs of jammies
-- 4 sets of underwear
-- 1 black dress (in case I decided to go to church with my mom & no I didn't go, lol)
-- 1 book
-- 3 magazines (all September issues)
-- 1 large case filled with my toiletries
-- Flat iron & curling iron
-- Black pashmina
-- My satin jewelry roll

I left my mom's house with a few more items than I came with and they fit inside the bag with no problem. So dear readers, this size Longchamp is perfect for a weekend getaway.

Currently Testing: Rapid Lash {Does it work???}

I squealed with delight when I was contacted about sampling Rapid Lash Eyelash Renewal Serum and when it arrived a few weeks ago I couldn't wait to start using it. Rapid Lash has been on my product wish list for a while. My eyelashes are okay in length but the volume isn't there and I've grown tired of the misleading mascara ads where false lashes are used to sway poor innocent beauty junkies such as myself.

Rapid Lash claims:

• Improved condition of your lashes
• Healthier, Fuller, Appearing-Looking Eyelashes & Brows
• Proteins and vitamins help replenish and fortify lashes & brows

I've been using Rapid Lash on my eyelashes every night for about two weeks. Stay tuned to find out if  Rapid Lash delivers!

For more information:
Rapid Lash



The Stylish Life was sent a complimentary product for review. There will be no form of compensation for a favorable review.

The Dilemma: My Fall 2010 Bag

Hello Stylish Ones!


The hunt for my fall bag is on and I'm way behind schedule in choosing something. There are some amazing bags out this season and I’m tempted by them all. Too bad my budget isn’t in the position to buy them all. As always dear readers feel free to contribute to my handbag fund, lol!

All jokes aside, my bag needs are changing as many new and exciting opportunities come my way. In the past, I just required a bag to be designer and cute. Now I need functional, cute, and yes I still love a designer bag – I can’t help it. I’d also prefer a bag that I can carry across my body to keep my hands free as well as deter purse snatching. Safety first!

Here are a few bags that are in the running for my fall bag campaign:

Coach Madison Patent Leather Sophia Satchel - the red would be a nice pop of color during the drab fall & winter days.

Coach Madison Gathered Leather Sophia Satchel - the grooves give this style a bit of edge.

Hugo Boss Star Patent Handbag - Very cute. I saw this in person but I really need a bag that can go on my shoulder. I love the color too - I don't have any blue bags...

Tory Burch Verona. Doesn't the leather look buttery soft? Gorgeous color too!

So which bag should I get? Let me know what you think in the comments section! Thanks =)

A Mean {comfortable} Shoe Game

I'm vertically challenged and need a little boost in my day to day life. I'm a hair short of 5'3" so I need heels in the 2.5" to 3.5" range. I would love to rock a pair of 5" Louboutins, YSLs, Giuseppes, like my favorite celeb divas but I’m smart enough to know those ladies are getting dropped off at the front door then being ushered right back into a car or SUV. How much navigating the concrete jungle are they REALLY doing? Right.

One Friday after work, I decided to go browsing down Michigan Avenue. Michigan Avenue on a Friday night is a mix of couples in love (so what!), tourists, and random local pedestrians. I saw a couple walking together and I just shook my head at the woman. She was struggling with every step. She was rocking a killer pair of Aldo's version of Christian Louboutin's 5" platform pumps (it's kinda sad that I know that, huh?) Anyway, with each step she took, I could see a piece of her soul leave her body. Poor girl was in agony.



The Aldo platform pump {bet she won't wear these for a long time, lol}

 Meanwhile her date seemed oblivious to her walking struggles as he strutted and talked. She was hobbling to keep up with him. I was walking behind them and we all ended up going to Zara. She told her guy she was going to browse on the lower level (How nosey am I????) He went upstairs and as soon as he was gone she leaned against a table of tee shirts to give her feet some relief. Honestly I'm shocked she didn't crawl into a fitting room and cry. Again, I just shook my head. I couldn’t understand her reasoning for buying a pair of shoes that were difficult to walk in and so obviously uncomfortable. She just wasn’t ready for those types of shoes. Instead of looking sexy and confident she looked clumsy and miserable. I hope that wasn’t their first date because if I noticed how uncomfortable she was, I’m pretty sure the guy picked up on her discomfort at some point.

I know men like (prefer) women in high heels. Women like wearing high heels. Women like (love) shoes in general but that’s a whole other post. Anyway, these are my tips for a managing a mean yet comfortable shoe game.

1) Only buy as much heel as you can manage. Why are you spending $500+ on a pair of six inch stilettos when you stumble in a half inch wedge? That’s a waste of money and you will be that girl hobbling down the street grimacing the entire time. Don’t be that girl.

2) Walk the length of the shoe department. I always do this when shoe shopping so I can get a feel for the shoe and know if it’s too high for me. Every shoe is made different and one high heel may be easier to walk in than another pair. Don’t walk on the carpeted part of the floor.

3) Place a padded insole in your shoes. One thing I noticed about the troubled walker was that her shoe had a lot of room in the back. Her foot slid to the front of the shoe so you know her toes were all jammed together in the front which caused her clumsy walk. A padded insole would have kept her foot in place.

4) Buy the best quality and most comfortable shoes that you can afford.

5) Beware of shoes with really steep insteps. The heel is super high and the arch and instep are so steep that you feel like you’re leaning forward close to tipping over. If you happen to have shoes that are made like that invest in a pair of instep supports.

6) Keep a pair of foldable ballet flats in your purse. I am not too proud to take a pair of heels off and put my flats on. When your feet hurt you are miserable. Men just don’t understand. Standing and walking in high heels for long periods of time is not fun, but it can be done provided you know how to pick shoes and learn what heel height works for you. The goal is to always look confident and effortless not hobbling and ready to crawl.

Gap Foldable City Flats