Bay Area Fashionista

Packed for New York Fashion Week fall/winter 2014/2015

 in General Fashion  tagged fall 2014 / new york fashion week / winter 2015 by

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Snapshot of what I packed for New York Fashion Week!

Blue Printed Dress / Ivory and black sweater / Sequin jacket / Skirt

New York Fashion Week is here! As you read this, I am on a plane to New York where I will be able to witness the new fall/winter 2014/2015 collections first-hand. I am thrilled to be able to bring to you the newest trends for the upcoming cool weather season hot off the runway. I am also looking forward to seeing what has influenced designers for the fall/winter 2014/2015 season.

Since fashion is influenced by the culture of the day, what social and economic issues will impact what designers create for fall? As we move through 2014, our economy is due for a change. With the impending slow-down of the economy from 2014 into 2015, we are looking forward to increased interest rates and inflation. The west coast is currently immersed in the worst drought since the 1800’s which could affect the nation’s food supply; thus, increasing food prices. We are looking at a continued social battle throughout the country regarding equal rights and its’ relation to God versus State. Technology has exploded into the daily lives of children and adults throughout the nation and is starting to fuse with fashion. How will these large topics influence the fall/winter 2014/2015 runways? Since fashion is wearable art, it generally reflects society’s attitude of the moment.

It should be interesting to see if designers take on our nation’s issues and show more serious designs for the fall/winter season than we have seen in the past few years. Or, will designers decide to use fashion as an outlet and create more lighthearted, whimsical collections to keep society in a more uplifted mood? We shall see on the runways of New York this week!

What do you think are the biggest societal and political influences of the day which may impact the collections this week in New York?

Le Angelique Curling Star 3 in 1 Set review

 in Beauty / Hair Care  tagged curling irons / hair tools / le angelique / reviews by

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 Photo: Curling iron: c/o Le Angelique “Curling Star 3 in 1 Set.”

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Photo: 32mm barrel used to curl ends under.

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Photo: 25mm barrel used to create wavy hair.

I have dry hair, so using a curling iron is not always my first choice when I decide to style my hair. So, I was thrilled when Le Angelque contacted me to test out one of their products. The “Curling Star 3 in 1” curling iron set is fabulous because it contains three different sized, clipless barrels which use Ceramic technology. The curling iron itself also has two heat settings which is perfect for creating a loose or tight curl.

I tested out Le Angelique’s “Curling Star 3 in 1” curling iron set on the low heat setting. The curling iron was gentle and did not dry out my hair. The Ceramic technology kept the heat soft and gave me the exact curl I was looking for. I used the largest barrel which is  32mm, so that I could curl my ends under for a clean hairstyle. The heating process was extremely quick and easy. Normally when I use a curling iron with a clip, it can take ten minutes to get my ends curled under and perfect. With Le Angelique’s “Curling Star 3 in 1” set I was able to curl all my ends in three minutes! The curl also stayed without falling which is always a plus.

Next, I wanted to create soft waves. I used the medium sized , 25mm barrel holding each wrap for about six seconds before releasing. This gave my hair a wavy look which offers subtle movement. The waves also lasted without falling! Love that! I was able to make my whole head wavy in about five minutes. That is a record!

This was my first time using a clipless curling iron and I have to admit I was a little scared. Without the clip, the whole process looks like a burn accident waiting to happen! Thankfully Le Angelique makes it easy to use a clipless curling iron by providing a thermal protection glove. You can grab the curling iron with the glove and feel a little bit of heat, but you will not burn yourself. 

Unlike a curling iron with a clip, in order to make a ringlet or tight curl you start wrapping the hair close to your head and wrap your hair around the curling iron out to the ends. Then, when you let go of your ends, your hair falls out of the curling iron without needing to be unwrapped. This leaves the curls tight. 

I am really excited to have Le Angelique’s “Curling Star 3 in 1” curling iron set. I know the clipless style will help me do more with my hair than I was able to do with a clipped curling iron. This set is incredibly handy too since it has three sizes.

Le Angelque’s “Curling Star 3 in 1” set is on sale for $99.99 and can be found online at LeAngelque.com

Dolce & Gabbana Fuchsia nail polish review

 in Beauty / Nail Polish  tagged dolce and gabbana / reviews / spring 2014 by

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Photo: Nail Polish c/o Dolce & Gabbana “Fuchsia” / two coats of color, one base coat, no top coat. Photo taken in overcast weather.

Dolce & Gabbana’s 1960’s and Sicilian influenced spring 2014 collection offered bright colors, mixed prints and bold accessories. To blend into the collection’s theme, Dolce & Gabbana’s beauty collection has been designed to match with warm hues and classic tones. “Fuchsia” from Dolce & Gabbana is a playful, orange-pink nail polish hue which works perfectly with the designing duo’s spring/summer 2014 color palette from the runway while offering a bright yet classic hue which is easy to wear on a daily basis. 

Dolce & Gabbaba “Fuchsia” nail polish is a beautiful, slightly sheer nail polish hue with tinges of pink and orange blended together. The polish offers dimension and looks bright pink outside and inside; at night, the polish appears to be a medium, soft orange. The soft sparkle sheen within the nail polish offers dimension and a playful attitude. Love that!

I tested Dolce & Gabbana’s “Fuchsia” nail polish with one base coat and two coats of color; no top coat. The nail polish application is more sheer than a tranditional cream polish, thus leaving three of my fingers needing a third coat of polish. The end result is a beautiful, multi-dimentional color which changes from pink to orange in varying light sources. I also love how the light catches the subtle sparkles within the nail polish. As with all of Dolce & Gabbana’s nail polish colors, “Fuchsia” is long-lasting. The nail polish lasted a full seven days before one small chip appeared. The edges showed slight wear at six days. Love it!

I am looking forward to wearing Dolce & Gabbana’s “Fuchsia” nail polish as the weather warms up this season. The color will look amazing with the season’s pinks, yellows and blues. 

Dolce & Gabbana’s “Fuchsia” nail polish is priced at $24 and can be found online here or here.