Back To School Must Haves: Under $100

photo credits noted

Emmys 2010

Unfortunately last night I missed the Emmys, I was enjoying a much needed girls night out to see Takers!

I searched through to find who were the fashionable winners of the evening however, I didn't find very many. This years fashion was very simple and a lot of people played it safe, none the less here are a few looks I enjoyed

Kim K was defiantly someone who I think played it safe. While I think everyone should choose what agrees with their body type oppose to following trends, I'm getting bored with this look, she did look amazing however. Kelly Osbourn's dress at the after party looks great as well.

Glee star Amber Riley 

Rutina Wesley (drooling over her skin)

Heidi made worst dress on about every fashion site but I didn't think it was that bad, in fact it wasn't bad at all *shrugs*

Nicole Ari Parker and Boris Kujo

Kyra Sedgwick

Guba Mbatha-Raw

Mariska Hargitay

Photos courtesy of Google and People Style Watch

I'm Baaaaaack!

Hey guys!!!

I know I have been gone for a minute, I went on holiday and forgot to put a little going away post up! My Lover Man and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary this past week. I missed blogging heck, I missed technology period! I didn't have my Crackberry, iTouch, or laptop...the INSANITY!!!! lol

I had an amazing time none the less. 

I'm going to attempt to catch up on posting over the next few days please bear with me school starts soon as well. 

Prior to leaving the girls and I attempted to get tickets to Fashion's Night Out: The Show, unfortunately we were unsuccessful, despite the fact that I waited by the computer and logged in at 10a on the dot!

Those damn Amex cardholders bought all of the tickets a week prior! If any of you are attending the show let me know how amazing it was!!!

I will be making my way around FNO so if you see me defiantly stop me and take a pic. I'm going to post all the pics on the blog and have a fun giveaway for the first reader I run into.

I'm currently preparing to relocate to NYC, all of my spare time goes to apartment and job hunting.

Also, I've been getting some great emails from you guys please keep them coming I love chit chating however I'm ok without any more emails about a possible love connection o_O

Enough of me rambling here are a few more pics from my trip.

Marie Claire Spain

Marie Claire Spain

August 2010

Photos from Knight Cat

OCM

So I've gotten a few emails asking about my skincare routine (thank you *waiving*) so I have to share the best thing that has ever happen to my face, the oil cleansing method! I've known about this method for a few years know because of LHCF but I was always skeptical of it because I have oily skin and the idea of adding more oil on my face was sketchy. 

Now I've always had super oily skin but lately its been really dry around my mouth and nose area, I believe its due to using product to strip the oil. The dermatologist prescribed Differin gel for my breakout however my skin began to purge. 

So about a month ago I decided to give the OCM a try and I'm not looking back! My acne cleared up within 2 days and I'm glowing. Now I'm not saying my skin is flawless however its much better and continuously getting better so I will never buy face wash again! 

I use 50% castor oil and 50% olive oil currently, however Nikole from Moptop Maven recently posted some great oils I have to try. 

The only drawback of this method for me is that I use a new washcloth on my face each time I wash it, usually thats twice per day, so I really dread doing laundry even more.

So check out Nikole's regi below.

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For the past few months, I have been experimenting with more natural alternatives to incorporate in my skin-care regimen. As some of youmay remember, I ditched my trusty store bought cleanser some time ago, and started relying solely upon the use of natural oils, plants, and extracts. - So far so good, my face has never looked better, and my pocket-book thanks me. 

Gather your bottles, some oils, and read on for the deets! 

A More Natural Alternative - The Oil Cleansing Method

Cleanse Using The OCM Method: Simply put, this method involves cleansing your skin with oils versus surfactants. Cleansing with oil is a gentle way to remove dirt, bacteria, and excess oils from your pores. Did you know that water does not dissolve oils [however, oil does]? This is why most facial cleansers on the market today are comprised of harsh surfactants. It is worth noting that products containing these surfactants can strip your face of it's natural sebum leaving your skin dry, and irritated.

Most oil cleansing formulas are 50% Castor Oil to 50% Extra Virgin Olive Oil, however you can pick the best ratio/oil type for your skin. Castor Oil is used as a base in most OCM formulations because it helps to draw out toxins, slough dead skin cells, excess sebum, and dirt from your pores, while the secondary oil acts more or less as a moisturizer, and carrier oil to deliver therapeutic properties deep into the skin. - I have very oily acne-prone skin so I use Hazelnut Oil in place of the Extra Virgin Olive Oil because it is much lighter than Olive Oil, and acts as a natural astringent/moisturizer. Hazelnut Oil is also purported to tighten and tone your skin, which is also a major plus.

My formula consists of: 60% Castor Oil, 20% Grapeseed Oil, 20% Hazelnut Oil [I also add several drops of Lavender, and Tea Tree Essential Oil] 

Oils For Certain Skin Types

Oily, Acne Prone Skin: Grapeseed Oil, Hazelnut Oil, Jojoba Oil, Flax Seed, Neem Oil
Dry, Mature Skin: Evening Primrose Oil, Olive Oil, Avocado Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil
Sensitive Skin: Meadowfoam Oil, Apricot Kernel, Rosehip Oil

Extra Additives [Essential Oils]

Acne Prone Skin: Tea Tree Oil, Bergamot Oil, Clove Oil, Lavender Oil, Rosewood Oil

Dry Skin: Cedarwood, Rose, Myrrh, Chamomile, Patchouli
Oily Skin: Lemongrass, Clary Sage, Frankincense, 

How To Do The Oil Cleansing Method

1. Gently massage oil mixture into your face
2. Place a clean towel under a stream of hot, running water. Lightly wring towel, and drape it over entire face for about 1-2 minutes. This opens your pores [and gives you a mini steam treatment] allowing the Castor Oil to draw the toxins out of your skin, while the secondary oil/essential oils permeates deep into the skin, lending it's moisturizing and therapeutic properties. 
3. Remove towel, rinse thoroughly, and begin to wipe excess oil from face
4. After removing oil cleansing mixture, rinse face with cold water to close pores!
Cleanse face using OCM in the morning, and repeat at bedtime.  

Tone Skin

Here are two of my favorite toner recipe's:
ACV + Green Tea Toner
2oz Apple Cider Vinegar
2oz Distilled Water
3 Green Tea, teabags [high in antioxidants]
5 drops Tea Tree Oil [anti-fungal/microbal properties]
10 drops Jojoba Oil [a wonderful moisturizer that closely resembles the sebum in your skin's structure] 

Boil water, add tea bags, and allow to steep for 20 minutes. Allow tea mixture to cool, and pour into a spray bottle. Add ACV, Tea tree Oil, Jojoba Oil, and mix well.

Tea Tree Toner 
2oz Witch Hazel
5 drops of Tea Tree Oil
10 drops of Jojoba Oil 

Mix all ingredients well, and pour in a spray bottle.

Moisturize Skin

I use about a dime-size amount of Grapeseed Oil to moisturize my skin; you can use any of the oils mentioned above that are best suited for your skin-type. 

Where To Find The Materials?

Essential Oils - Texas Natural Supply - From Nature With Love - Whole Foods 
Carrier Oils - Texas Natural Supply - From Nature With Love - Whole Foods 

source

Steven Meisel

Here's a great article I found on The Fashion Spot about legendary fashion photographer Steven Meisel. I first learned about Steven when I worked in creative services and attempted to book him for a shoot. This was around the same time the Vogue Italia black issue hit newsstands so I'm sure he was being pulled in many directions. From there I began to study his work and to this day I really admire him. As I was doing a little research for this post I came across a Tumblr page dedicated to Mr. Meisel, how dope is that! (Click Here )

If you don't know his name I'm sure his work may be familiar.

So I said all of that to say please read this article and tell me what you think lol

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Born in 1954, Steven Meisel’s obsession with aesthetics took seed early in his life. He sketched, observed, and researched everything to do with beauty and form.

Pouring over pages of magazines, his fascination with models grew along with his fixation with images.

Meisel spent his early teens delving into fashion,  educating himself on topics like illustration and photography.

His cousin, ad exec Diane Rothschild, took him on a shoot with photographer Melvin Sokolsky, and his passion for models was born.

Upon graduating from the New York High School of Art and Design, where he had met and been inspired by the innovators of the time, Meisel enrolled in Parsons School of Design where he majored in Fashion Illustration.

While attending classes, he also met and developed close relationships with artists and designers in the school, becoming especially close with Designer Anna Sui.

His first job after leaving Parsons was as an Illustrator for Halston, which led to connections that garnered him a position at Women’s Wear Daily. It was at WWD where Meisel truly was exposed to all facets of fashion communication, and also where he was introduced to his mentor, Kenneth Paul Block.

Being surrounded by artistic talent influenced Meisel, and led him to start photographing test shoots. He contacted Elite NY and began shooting tests for their new faces, one of which, Phoebe Cates, would help kick-start his career in editorial photography.  

A test that Meisel had shot with Cates landed on the photo desk of Seventeen magazines, and that led to his first real editorial shoots. From there, he went on to work for companies like W, Self, Lei, Per Lui, and WWD.

It was through Lei and Per Lui that he met Franca Sozzani, an editor who would become a long-time contributor of his. When Sozzani became Editor-In-Chief of Vogue Italia in 1988, the legendary partnership began and Meisel has shot every cover and most main fashion stories for the magazine ever since.

His reportage-style shoots and clear vision have contributed to his fame in the avant-garde photography world, and his relationship with Sozzani has become legendary.

His partnership with Sozzani and Vogue notwithstanding, Meisel also contributed to a number of other publications and projects - most notably Madonna’s controversial book,Sex. 

In addition to earning and maintaining a reputation for being one of the greats in modern photography, Meisel also has a reputation for being a pioneer of new talent.

His relationships with up-and-coming models, make-up artists, stylists, and hair stylists have been instrumental in the careers of people like Linda Evangelista, Jessica Stam, Coco Rochas, and Pat McGrath.  

His reclusive nature and reluctance to give interviews makes him one of fashion’s most elusive celebrities. 

 Written by Sarah Joynt

Images from Google and TFS