Financial Services is not Fashion

Chanel Summer 2012

2011-12-18T17:22:00.000-08:00

Chanel Les Jeans de Chanel Collection

2011-09-03T08:17:00.000-07:00

Bergdorf Goodman in NYC had the samples to try out yesterday. Here's a quick swatch! I love Blue Boy. Not loving Coco Blue (a bit of a pearl).

Thumb: Riva
Index: Blue Rebel
Middle: Coco Blue
Ring: Blue Boy
Pinkie: Blue Satin

Papyrus RGGH City

2011-06-16T16:17:00.000-07:00

My Papyrus Rose Gold Hardware City finally arrived from HGBagsonline.com. I love this combo! I think it's a pretty moist batch but could use a bit of moisturizer. Now I'm imaging papyrus flats with mini rose gold hardware.... I don't think this exists but would be so cute.

My Cities:

JCrew flip flops, Chanel Quartz nail polish

Chanel Fall Ombre Collection Swatch

2011-06-14T19:24:00.000-07:00

Middle finger: Chanel Quartz 525
Index finger: Chanel Graphite 529
I tried on Peridot at the store and it didn't flatter my skintone. Beautiful gold tone but could not justify it- at least in the summer. I absolutely love Graphite. Packed with sparkles and reminds me of Deborah Lippmann polish. Quartz is fantastic! I did a mani of it right after swatching. Beautiful metallic. A mix between khaki and silver metallic.

Chanel Khaki Platine liner is a darker version of rose platine liner with less sparkles. I think Khaki is a good description of it. It went on smooth and gave good color - I prefer rose platine over this though. Also swatched is Chanel's illusion d'ombre long wear luminous eyeshadow in epatant. I wore it out to dinner and came back with a bit of a crease line. It's very hard to apply evenly and I probably wouldn't repurchase.

Balenciaga Cyclamen RGGH City Fall 2011

2011-06-02T13:30:00.000-07:00

She's here! She's here! On a random thought, without surfing TPF all day, I called up my sales associate at BalNY and inquired about the Fall 2011 colors - low and behold they JUST got them in and were unpacking as we spoke. I ran down after work to compare and contrast. Coquelicot, the red, had the most amazing leather - silky soft and smooshy - in classic hardware and was a gorgeous true red. Blue Lavande, was not purple enough for me but also had gorgeous leather - pillowy and smooth - in the Giant Silver Hardware City I saw. I saw Papyrus in Rose Gold Giant Hardware and Classic Hardware. It is a gorgeous color in my opinion and looks best with Rose Gold. However, the City style leather was too distressed and dry for me. The part-time's leather was perfection - smooth and almost glowing! I am waiting for a City with that type of leather. Cyclamen however... She was a dream. The perfect pink. I saw her in Rose Gold and Classic Hardware. In looking at both, I could not take my eyes off of the Rose Gold combination. The leather was also significantly better on the Rose Gold than either of the Classic Hardware combinations I saw. To save myself from the Blue Roi mistake of last season, I had my sales associate hold the bag for a day so that I can sleep on it. I surfed TPF and stared at the photo then surfed TPF some more. I could not pass up this gorgeous leather!

Tweed Jackets

2011-05-19T19:48:00.000-07:00

I ran into JCrew a couple of weekends ago in search of a perfect mix and match blazer. I've long stopped buying pants and jackets together- I just don't get much use out of the jackets. Blazers tend to get in the way and are a bit too stiff when typing - but are necessary for meetings. I like to keep a couple in my closet to throw on when needed. However- when I stopped in JCrew I was disappointed that they did not have any tweed summer jackets this year... well I guess I was just too early because I found exactly what I was looking in JCrew's new arrivals:

From the photo, the Platinum tweed jacket looks like it would go great with black, brown, tan, and navy pants. Fingers crossed it fits well :)

I'm also a huge fan of the Cropped Silk Blazer which is now on sale for $99.

JCrew stripped silk tee

2011-05-19T19:37:00.000-07:00

I thought the shirt I posted here: jcrew-head-to-toe had been posted on the jcrew.com site but it must have previewed early at JCrew's Garden State Plaza store. It just got rolled out in JCrew's new arrivals:

buy it here

I love it to death! I know some women love cotton t-shirts under their blazers but I prefer something dressier. A silk tee fits the bill perfectly. I wear it with my pink JCrew pants or navy blue pants tucked in.

Summer Cheeks

2011-04-30T08:59:00.000-07:00

Nothing is worse for me than finding blush and bronzer. I'm fair skinned with pink undertones. These are all swatched pretty heavily but create a nice glow to the face. I'm still debating Chanel's new bronzer in bronze rose which would also double as a blush as it is pretty rosey.

(clockwise)
DiorSkin Nude Glow Healthy Glow Summer Powder 001 Aurora
Chanel Blush in Rose Petale
Dior Shimmer Star Pressed Powder Rose Diamond

Summer Eyes

2011-04-29T06:40:00.000-07:00

Nars Soft Touch Shadow Pencil Hollywoodland (swatched heavy and then in the middle light)
Soft Touch Shadow Pencil provides smooth, long-wearing eye color with easy application. It can be used for shading the lid, smudging along the lash line, or highlighting the brow bone or inner corner of the eye. It can be easily blended, making it the ideal base for layering with a powder shadow for increased color intensity.
I'm a big fan of putting it under the lash line on Sundays for a bit of a brightening affect. It's super easy.

Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliner in Rose Plantine
This new waterproof eyeliner formula delivers long-lasting definition with a twist of the wrist: Color winds up when you need it, winds down when you don't. A built-in sharpener at the opposite end detaches for quick refreshes.
I wear this everyday and bought two back ups since it is limited edition. I can not speak highly enough about it.

Butter London - all hail the queen, lady muck and snog

2011-04-27T08:32:00.000-07:00

Ulta is finally stocking Butter London - so I picked up a few shades:

I absolutely LOVE all hail the queen. I thought it would be too sparkly but it's very neutral and safe for work. Lady Muck is also great. It applies better than China Glaze Sea Spray. I'm not really feeling Snog. I don't think it applies very evenly.

Summer's Hydrating Lipsticks

2011-04-25T17:18:00.000-07:00

So many choices in lipstick this summer! They all seem to be hydrating and somewhat sheer. I purchased the Chubby sticks a few months ago but added some Chanel and Dior during the various friends and family sales. Saks just launched their friends and family- Friend2 for 10% off cosmetics! Here are my favorites:

(up to down/left to right)
Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Monte-Carlo - great for a beige summer outfit
Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm Super Strawberry - currently being ignored due to my obsession with monte-carlo
Dior Addict Lipstick It Pink - very bright and fun!
Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy - a bit neutral for a neon outfit
Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm Woppin Watermelon - addicted to this one!

Beauty Coupon Codes!

2011-04-17T08:08:00.001-07:00

Sephora has 15% off with the code "Chic". I picked up all of my favorites to stock up :)

Lord and Taylor has 10% off cosmetics with the code "Friends". This is best in stores as they have Chanel counters. I stocked up on the latest spring arrivals :)

Chanel Miami Peach swatch

2011-04-10T11:27:00.000-07:00

I picked up Chanel Miami Peach exclusive to Neiman Marcus this weekend. It applies like a dream and is a bit of a jelly. I love the gold sparkles.I am thinking of layering it over a pinker polish. Possibly Essie Peepshow for Jcrew since it is also a jelly.

JCrew head to toe

2011-04-06T19:23:00.000-07:00

I am super confused why these pink pants are in the JCrew Fall 2011 Collection... when I already bought them, but they are. I broke them out this week with a silk striped shirt and navy blazer - due to the amazing NYC weather (minus rain.)

Dior graphic berry and rock coat

2011-04-04T17:03:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the horrible lighting.....

Dior Graphic Berry and Graphic Berry with Dior Rock Coat.

I found Graphic Berry to only be that perfect shade of pink in subway lighting. In the office and at home it looked too red. Rock Coat was gorgeous over it. Very shimmery with the pink/red peeking through.

New Nail Polish

2011-04-03T12:12:00.000-07:00

New purchases! On a pink kick! and threw in a perfect red for good measure:

(Dior Masai Red, Dior Graphic Berry, Essie Exotic Liras, Essie Fruit Sangria)

Essie Peep show for JCrew is on my nails today as it hit high-50s this weekend. It's a bit jelly-like which I love:

Nail Polish Storage

2011-03-27T18:13:00.000-07:00

I've been collection nail polish for a little over two years now. In the beginning it wasn't really collecting, just grabbing a polish or two a month. However with the discovery of Ulta and nail polish blogs, I've gotten a bit out of hand. I needed a great way to store the collection and finally settled on this tray from Target. It was about $20! I was very inspired by the west elm trays in Cashmere and Cupcakes but could not justify the cost.

I also picked up this very very cute little soap dispenser from Bath and Body works! Makes me smile every time I use it :)

Deborah Lippman Happy Birthday and Believe

2011-03-26T18:20:00.000-07:00

I'm not a sparkles girl but I had on Deborah Lippman Believe during the week and on Friday night I slathered on Deborah Lippman Happy Birthday over it for fun. I've been staring at my nails all day! Party on my nails!:

Is it Spring yet?

2011-01-30T18:30:00.000-08:00

I am seriously craving Spring. I stopped by the mall for moisturizer and boots but left with Spring... in the vain hope that we can skip the next couple of months.
1. Peepshow by Essie for Jcrew is a perfect watery neon pink, bright by not overwhelming.
2. Timex® traveler watch with shocking pink watch strap to add a pop of color to this snowy winter.
3. I picked up the Matinee trench after trying it on and not wanting to take it off! So upset to put my heavy coat back on.
4. Clinique Chubby Stick is my favorite new lip product. It's the perfect combination of chapstick and lip gloss. I have the watermelon and strawberry.

Scarf: Les Cles

2011-01-06T05:45:00.000-08:00

Hermes dip dye scarves are incredibly soft and beautiful. They have been on my wish list for quite some time. This one is called Les Cles and is the start of a wonderful collection :)

What hermes.com says about dip dye: "A great classic revisited in a vintage spirit, the Surteint / Dip Dye carré plays with colour on an emblematic House design. The fruit of an innovative technique and the result of an artisanal procedure, the carré is immersed in a dye bath that covers it with a colour filter and gives it the velvety feel of washed silk."

And the velvety feel is what attracted me immediately.

Bag Love: Lanvin Amalia Crinkle Cabas Tote

2010-12-28T06:03:00.000-08:00

I was strolling around Neiman Marcus one saturday a few months ago, admiring the Lanvin Amalia Crinkle Cabas Tote, when I received an email from hgbagsonline letting me know that Erica just received a shipment of Lanvin in. I quickly placed an order and received this beauty a few days later. It was originally quite stiff but has softened up nicely:

This bag fits all my winter needs and I love that the strap has two different lengths. You can find the Amalia Crinkle Cabas tote at Barneys for $1,735.

Get the look: Banana Republic Nylon drawstring tote $59.50

Beauty: Perfume Obsession

2010-12-27T05:58:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas! I survived the insane blizzard outside to get back to my apartment yesterday morning and only witnessed a couple of accidents. One thing I love to get as a Christmas gift is perfume. I don't have a signature scent and prefer to mix it up based on how I feel each day. The one issue I find is when I want to go out after work, my perfume has disappeared. I picked up Flower Bomb by Viktor and Rolf in rollerball form a few months ago. My Mom and Brother gave me Chanel Chance and Coco Mademoiselle purse sprays this year and I LOVE them! It's also a great way to try out expensive perfume without paying for a huge bottle that might never get finished.

You can find mini perfumes at Sephora.