It would be easy to dismiss Zoe Kravitz as another pretty young thing, a beautiful budding starlet with a burgeoning career. After all, she has famous parents (Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet) whom she can thank for her striking looks, overflowing closet and abundant press coverage. There is an older actor boyfriend who has dated Kirsten Dunst (Ben Foster). There is, however, also the fact that she is an amazing dresser and fashionista with a capitol F and has charisma in excess, as well as an innately stylish eye. She cloaks her slim bod in loose, bohemian clothing and doesn’t go the usual Hollywood route when it comes to style, marching to her own beat in quirky but seductive looks. Kravitz is young, at only 22 years old, but has already amassed a loyal fashion following and magazine spreads galore, scoring one in Vogue even.

It seems Kravitz has inherited her parents’ famous free spirited style, an amalgam of ’60s/70s rocker chic, ’80s funk and old school glamour with an experimental approach to hair and beauty. Kravitz usually sports folky  printed dresses and flats/boots or dark skinny jeans with lots of layers for a style that’s perfection in the not trying too hard department. She also cleans up nicely, having a penchant for dressing up in oh so feminine frocks that highlight her petite, gamine frame paired with elegant and fashion forward heels.

Her beauty look stays pretty consistent. Kravitz goes for a light smoky eye, glossy black mascara, bronzer/blush, tinted moisturizer, which only serves to even out here lovely olive skin tone and a neutral lip gloss. She has the requisite hipster haircut of longish bangs and long wavy locks but likes to play around the length, opting for updos, more texture, shorter cuts and pin straight looks occasionally.

Get the look with earth toned makeup that plays up your own coloring and slightly undone, sensual hairstyles that play up your texture as well. Hair accessories are a hit with Kravitz and are an easy enough style addition. As far as clothes, vintage shopping and hunting down one of a kind and girly pieces are key, as are flats for day and great heels for night. Throw in some of that unique freewheeling Kravitz attitude and a pinch of playfulness and you’re halfway there.

read comments (0)

Lucky magazine online is a treasure trove of untapped resources. From their top eco web sites list to the women’s size 12+ one, I’ve made many visits to the site to find appropriate things for shoots, clients and my own home goods collection. Their coverage of eco companies and sites is espceially spectacular and is how I luckily found out about the eco-chic site, Green with Glamour.

The company was founded by two close friends, Deana Bracken and Kathleen Rowan, who are not only environmentally conscious but also completely stylin’. They decided to combine the two and create Green With Glamour. Deana overseens the GWG headquarters in Los Angeles while Kathleen manages from Chicago but both carefully curate a wonderful selection of sustainable lifestyle items for the site. Since 2007, it has been hosted by a carbon neutral webhost and has always operated paperless. The company also ships most of their goods in recycled packaging when possible. GWG has cultivated a global fanbase and is also a member of 1% Alliance For the Planet, a group of businesses that donate at least 1% of their annual income to envirnonmental causes.

Actress Emily Deschanel has even signed on to promote the company, listing her top picks from the site, along with links to her fave charities. Got a burning eco question or inquiry about the site? Simply ask Deana and Kat online. You can also utilize their personal shopping service, read their informative blog or peruse their press section, which is pretty impressive. Also available are gift certificates, registries and sendable wish lists.

Green With Glamour is a sleek, minimal site with white and splashes of green (of course). The merchandise is divided into chic accessories and clothing, gift ideas and assorted home goods and they carry cool labels like PI Organic and Hemptress, which are a far cry from the Birkenstock wearing past that eco style is often associated with. They also carry men’s and children’s items, managing completely to live up to  their motto, “Go Green. Stay Stylish.”

read comments (1)

I’m going to Paris, one of my favorite cities, in the fall with a stylist friend of mine and I can’t wait to check out the Opening Ceremony store there! Opening Ceremony is a “multi-faceted retail environment”, as their site touts, made up of stores, showroom and an achingly cool private label collection. Since 2002, O.C. has been busy establishing a new, global creative forum in locations all over the world, bringing together new and established designers and artists from all over. Opening Ceremony annually represents a visiting country reflected in that country’s consumer experience. They have also partnered with art and style superstars like Chloe Sevigny, Pendleton, Robert Clergerie, and all-American brands Keds and Levi’s.  Places represented include Hong Kong, Brazil, Germany, U.K., Sweden. New York and Los Angeles, Japan and France. In February of this year, Opening Ceremony opened a second NYC location at the very trendy Ace Hotel, bringing together their love for classic American heritage as well as internationalism.

All of their merchandise is carefully curated and comprised of things that will appeal to their clientele of creative professionals and culturally curious tourists. They carry both men’s and women’s items and traditional souvenirs with a twist courtesy of famous designers like Proenza Schouler, Band of Outsiders and Alexander Wang. There is also a U.S. location in Los Angeles, which is equally fascinating and hip from a conceptual design standpoint. Not an LA or NYC native? You can also visit their site which offers some goods online such as Repetto flats, designer goods, Spike Jonze flip books, jewelry, Gaultier sneakers, Ryan McGinley artwork, albums, umbrellas and more. Also take a peek at their blog, which features NYC-centric topics. Recent ones include Keith Haring and yummy local eats.

read comments (1)

The web site Etsy, around for 5 years now, has become something of a global phenomenon with buyers and sellers from over 150 countries and hundreds of thousands of virtual store fronts. For the unitiated, it is a site that’s both a community and company, with sellers setting up shop online and connecting, through the site, with buyers interested in their wares. The only rules for being a seller (it’s free to have an online store and item listing fees are dirt cheap) is that you hawk vintage, homemade or crafting supply things. Etsy’s main mission is to enable people to make a living making things, and to reconnect makers with buyers, build a new economy and present a better choice for consumers, which is something I wholeheartedly support. Not to mention most of the sellers price their things fairly and you can find something really unique.

Although it has kind of a folksy, crafty reputation, the stores on Etsy have become increasingly professional with more polished goods and styling. Each item seems to be made with love and attention to detail even if it isn’t totally your scene. Mainstream mags like Lucky have featured Etsy in their pages and the categories of merchandise available range from artwork to clothing to accessories to needlepoint and home goods. All in all, it is a wildly interesting site to explore, if a little daunting to navigate for newbies. Search options, aside from searching by general keyword, include searching by color, curated lists from other members, editors’ picks, suggested sellers, shops that are based locally, by listing time, or even sorting through the newest stores. You can also request custom items from certain sellers, which is a godsend for those who are difficult to fit or are very particular in general. Sorting through Etsy is kind of like going around your favorite flea market, with quirky treasures going for $1 and under to hundreds of dollars apiece and more. There is something for everyone on Etsy, so it is definitely worth a look! Here, my favorite pieces in a range of prices.

read comments (2)

Lots of amazing and classic things came out of the 1950s… Prim sweater sets, classic Elvis and…. great eyewear? Yup, it’s true. The sunglasses of the summer are the nostalgic cat eye frames of yesteryear made popular by Hollywood luminaries at the time like Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly who sported non-tinted versions. The specs of the past were often decorated with rhinestones and kept in a fairly neutral color palette of black and, brown, but the current craze for the cat eye look is interpreted in bolder, more pronounced shapes, thicker frames and occasionally, bright colors. Cat eye sunnies were trotted out on spring/summer runways as diverse as Giles Deacon, Sonia Rykiel and perhaps most tellingly, on design wunderkind Alexander Wang (seen in the collage) and quirky mainstay Prada.  Soon, hip models were parading the shades off-duty and faster than you could blink an eye, so were starlets like Jessica Alba, Nicole Richie and the Olsen twins.

Many designers have come out with their own style of the cat eye and the result is mostly positive. Dior’s subtle (also in the collage) take is perfect for the more subdued stylista while Betsey Johnson sticks to her rock n’ roll take on fashion and goes for fab and outlandish shades. There are also more affordable styles out there such as British retailer Aso’s cool pair and Fossil’s gentler take on the trend.

The cat eye phenomenon is not only completely of the moment, it’s also wildly flattering. The high, pointed edges of the frames visually lift the face making you look younger, higher cheek boned and, of course, more glamorous. I’m a big proponent of cat eye specs also because they look new and fresh despite their storied history and add that fashionable je ne sais quoi to any ensemble. Wang’s futuristic glasses and Prada’s colorful pairs paired with pigtails, on the runway and in eye-catching ads like the one posted here, are the perfect contemporary twist on a classic trend. I suggest wearing the look while attired in timeless looks in plain neutral colors, leaving the glasses to take center stage. Just take a look at Scarlett Johanssen recently all dolled up at an event for inspiration. I made a collage of my favorite different types of cat eyes available in all price and style ranges, below, that’ll make you purr (get it?) with satisfaction, including one non-tinted pair for those who rock specs appeal even when they’re not in the sun. Picks include shades from the aforementioned Alexander Wang, Tom Ford, Marc by Marc Jacobs, popular online retailer net-a-porter and colorful and irreverent Brooklyn-based retailer Fred Flare that are so cute they more than justify their mere $11 price tag (they actually have several cute pairs of cat eye sunglasses for peanuts).

read comments (1)

I’m sure by now, you, and the rest of the world, are familiar with the fashion site, WhoWhatWear. If not, know that it is perhaps one of the most currently read fashion and celebrity style blogs online and has scores of followers who feverishly devour it daily. Started by two friends and former editors for Elle, the site was conceived in response to a need for celebrity rag fashion coverage, without the gossip and snarky comments. The goods are doled out by two fashion experts, namely Katherine Power and Hillary Kerr, who have tons of experience in their field. Kerr acts as exacting editorial director for the site while Power is the creative director who manages to sniff out new lifestyle trends and relay them to the reader in a visually compelling way. The pictures and style collages, whether they be from the street, fashion runway, or a photo shoot, are all glamorous and cool. The nice thing about the site is also that it sticks to mostly nice copy about celebs and their outfits only and the commenters are usually well-versed and opinionated about fashion which makes for great sartorial debate. Also, by sticking to just fashion and beauty inspired by famous people, it has cultivated a distinct niche and voice. The addition of  fashion videos to the site is another big hit with readers.

Following the soaring popularity of WhoWhatWear was the release of their book, “WhoWhatWear: Celebrity and Runway Style For Real Life” in September 2009. I know, I know… I’m kind of late to be reporting this, but only lately had a good look at it and was impressed. A smallish, hardcover tome, it elaborates on such topics easily and manages to decipher seemingly difficult trends for the common person. The duo’s best style advice, tips and tricks are front and center here to good effect. The emphasis is not only on trends but how to integrate them into your personal style and make them work for you. Rachel Zoe, Nicole Richie and Rachel Bilson are all conrtibutors to the little book that could and also accompany some beautiful pictures. The book is available for purchase on Amazon as well the WhoWhatWeat site. Happy reading!

read comments (0)

As you may know, I was featured on KXAN Austin’s Style Saturday with the lovely Kendra Scott a couple of weeks ago. Not only did we suggest some great colorful summer styles while on air, I got to hang out with my friend, Kendra, and talk about what I love most, beauty and style. Kendra is a well-known jewelry designer whose work has been seen in the pages of Life & Style Weekly, O, Allure, Town & Country, Self and In Style magazines, among others, and whose charitable works make her not only a style sensation on the jewelry circuit, but also a great role model.

Kendra started the company in 2002 with the simple idea that family, fashion and philanthropy come first. She carried out the dream to fruition, building a successful business focused on flexibility and fun while also a busy mother of two and giving back to the community by working with at-risk youth, the homeless and their families. She is also co-founder of LEAP, an organization dedicated to helping business owners who also want to aid those in need in addition to being a passionate keynote speaker for the American Heart Association’s Go Red Campaign for Women.

Kendra’s designs are colorful, feminine and ethnically inspired with a touch of whimsy. Her collections usually include ornate, dangly earrings and brightly colored studs, beautiful cocktail rings, attention-grabbing necklaces and sophisticated cuffs that are sure to make you feel like the belle of the ball. Her web site is equally aesthetically pleasing, with a simple, user-friendly look and detailed pictures of the merchandise. Two innovative features of the site are the Color Bar, where browsers can affordably and easily create their own color scheme for several jewelry designs and the Bridal section which is chock full of ideas on how to add a splash of color to the ultimate LWD (check out my post on the LWD, then snatch up some of Kendra’s jewelry to add some spice to your dress).  Need further proof that Kendra’s work is amazing? Check out the “Buzz” section where press is featured. The site also offers a Jewelry of the Month Club membership as well as a style guide to help you select the perfect piece and keep you up to date on trends. Be sure to check out her fun blog, which not only details the company news, but also has cute pictures of real customers looking stunning in their Kendra Scott pieces posted.

Though Kendra is an Austin girl at heart, she also has a popular NYC showroom for those interested in carrying or featuring her line. Her work can be purchased online and at select boutiques and fine department stores, such as Henri Bendel and Lord & Taylor, across the country.

read comments (0)

I know it probably seems like I’ve been shoving the vegan lifestyle down your throat, what with the post on BabyCakes last week and now, my post on Alicia Silverstone’s book, The Kind Diet (essentially, a vegan cookbook and diet plan). I may not have committed to this lifestyle, but I believe in helping the environment in any way possible, not to mention that living this way is great for your health and a way to spice up your diet. Vegans and vegetarians have less incidents of cancer and heart disease (two of our biggest modern day killers) than their meat-eating friends and generally, maintain a slimmer weight. Additionally, going meat and dairy-free gives you an excuse to explore different ethnic cuisines, fruits and veggies and recipes you may not have otherwise. However, you can make a difference even if you’re not a vegan by going meat and/or dairy-free for a day, week or month in an effort to lessen your “ecological footprint”. After all, meat consumption is directly linked to global warming, overexploited natural resources, deforestation, wasted land and polluted water and air.

Which leads us to the book. As an ardent activist, conservationist and, perhaps most famously, an actress, Silverstone is just the person to give her own insights as to why she lives la vida vegan. She details how she was experiencing stomach problems and overall poor health, even as a vegetarian, which prompted her switch to veganism. As a result, Silverstone started experiencing more energy, clearer skin, smoother digestion and simple weight loss. Not only does the book give excellent recipes for decadent vegan dishes, from delish appetizers to luscious desserts, it also addresses the nutritional problems many vegans face. The nice thing about the book too is that it doesn’t advocate going vegan all at once for everyone, or even totally, if that’s not your bag. You can “flirt” with veganism by eating this way some of the time and still make a difference to your body and the earth, go semi-permanent vegan or go full-force and reap all the benefits of the lifestyle.

I strongly recommend this book for carnivores and herbivores alike whether they’re looking to lose weight and increase energy, help the earth, speed up their metabolism and lessen digestion problems or prevent disease. It gives you all the tools needed to make an informed decision, without being too militant about it, and offers tasty treats that taste like the real thing. Be kind to your body and the earth and check out Alicia Silverstone’s web site, The Kind Life, purchase her book on Amazon and for more info regarding the vegetarian/vegan lifestyle go here.

read comments (2)

I was kind of on the fence about flat oxfords. I know they’ve been cool, and even mainstream, for a while but I couldn’t help but feel that they might be hard to pull off and frumpy or unflattering for the majority of women. The trend keeps charging ahead, full steam, and after seeing the latest offerings from some of favorite shoe sources, I’ve completely changed my tune.

The trick to making the flat oxford work is to buy a pair that have some feminine appeal or flair in the first place. Oxfords with shiny patent lather, different textures, interesting cutouts, and bright or pastel colors all make the grade. These are much easier to sport than the plain, old-school style oxfords that Diane Keaton wore in Annie Hall (but if you’re going for that sort of look, by all means, go right ahead). If you are going for the classic brogue, I suggest pairing it with something frilly like a short ruffled mini skirt or dress. This will even out the masculinity of the shoe and be more forgiving on the figure than a pair of pants would be and feels more “now”. If you choose to wear a girlier oxford, I suggest getting a pair that show some skin on your foot or one with cutouts because it’s infinitely easier on your shape and will make legs look miles longer. I love these kinds of oxfords with rolled up boyfriend jeans and a femme top, black/grey skinny jeans or even a more subdued mini. If you’re going to wear a dress or skirt with this style of shoe, make sure it is above the knee. Flat oxfords with a knee length or longer frock visually breaks up your figure instead of creating one long, lean silhouette. I created the collage at the bottom to give you some idea of an outfit that I think works.

I especially like this trend since cute oxfords are an affordable look that jazz up an outfit easily. They add a not trying too hard, quirky, tomboy appeal to most everything you pair them with, just be sure to not go too literal with the menswear  theme. As I’ve said, I believe they work best when paired with something frothy and light to balance the heaviness of the shoe. In that spirit, I’ve selected my favorite under $150 picks that can be bought online. The top two are by Jeffrey Campbell from Need Supply (you must check out this site if you haven’t done so). The next pair are Alice + Olivia for Payless and the stylish girl in the picture is wearing Kimchi Blue tan oxfords, available at Urban Outfitters. It’s official. I’m an oxford believer now.

read comments (1)

Has skin with large pores got you down? Big pores can leave your skin looking unhealthy, unclean, aged or much like the cratered skin of an orange and no one wants that. Although it is true that there is no treatment to permanently reduce pore size, there are things you can do to make the appearance of enlarged pores less noticeable.

The two main factors that effect pore size are age and genetics. Those with naturally thicker, oiler skin tend to have larger pores. As they get older, due to less skin elasticity and sun damage, the pores become dilated and start to collect dirt and bacteria, which causes them to stretch and expand even more. Pores aren’t all bad, however, as they keep facial skin moisturized as well.

The most basic and affordable thing you can do to prevent gaping pores is to simply wash your face regularly with a cleanser (or apply medication) with retinol or vitamin C. This will increase the elasticity of the skin and help get rid of the oil and dirt camping out in your pores, making them less visible.

Exfoliation is also helpful. A store-bought facial scrub is just fine for most people, but if you’d like to work on your skin a bit more, I recommend getting microdermabrasion (a facial that gently sloughs off the dead top layer of skin, revealing the softer, healthier skin underneath) done by a professional.

Pore minimizing cosmetics are also key to getting a fresher look for your skin. Primers smooth the look of skin, making you look healthier, younger, and your pores more invisible as it keeps foundation from seeping into pores and expanding them. Both of the primers from the Ron King Cosmetics line are ideal when starting your healthy skin makeup routine. The RK Primer is a lightweight product that will reduce the appearance of pore size and is oil-absorbing. This formula is also oil-free and will leave your skin looking smooth and virtually poreless all day long. The Retexturizing Face Primer contains vitamins A and E, which act as moisture-binding antioxidants. After primer application, your skin will be clean, fresh and nourished, as well as protected due to it’s SPF 20 properties.

I suggest using a a cream or cream to powder foundation next, as it will conceal pores more. Apply with a makeup sponge and then dust face with loose, translucent powder. Not only will large pores be less visible, your skin will be more even-toned.

read comments (1)