Eye Primer Battle

I'm a long time user of MAC paint pots, but recently decided to switch to Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer because I'm a person that likes change and trying new things. So, which product do I like best? Well, let's break it down...

Urban Decay's primer costs $19.00 at Ulta, which is more expensive that MAC's paint pot. It comes in four colors in a plastic squeeze tube. I like that you can't break it if you drop it (I do that a lot. Darn butter fingers!) There is 11ml in the tube, and a little dot goes a long way. It dries in about 10 seconds to a matte finish. I don't like the 10 second wait, but I do love the soft matte finish. BUT..the BIG question is, "Does it last?" It lasts for about 6 hours or so. I definitely end the day with some creases, but my eye shadow application is effortless.

MAC's paint pot only costs $16.50 and offers 9 different colors to use as your eye shadow base. It's .17fl, and is a gel consistency, which keeps you from grabbing too much primer. I don't like that you have to stick your finger into the pot or having to use a brush. A tube would avoid contamination or bacteria build up. I also don't love the glass container, but at least MAC recycles all used packaging. Application is just as easy as Urban Decay's product. It's ready to go the second you put it on your lids. Love that! As for the big question, it definitely lasts a good 10 hours. I have to take a wet cloth to my eyes and press pretty hard to get my eye shadow off.

So, in the end, I'm still a MAC fan!

944 Fashion Trailblazer

Something you should know about me is that I'm INCREDIBLY critical of myself and my work. I rarely take time to celebrate, and instead plow through to the next thing pushing myself to be better than before. BUT...TODAY...I'm taking a moment to stop and celebrate because 944, an awesome fashion, entertainment and night life magazine, included me in their picks issue.

AHHHHHHHH! (pause.) EEEEEK! (pause.) **HAPPY DANCE**

They have given me the title of "fashion trailblazer" and picked me as one to watch - words that I'm incredibly honored to be associated with. They mistakenly mentioned I'm a photographer. I would love to add that to the list of things I do, but I'm just going to stick to the styling part. =) Click here to check out the mini article or you can pick up a hard copy of 944 at one of their several locations. Click here to read the latest issue.

Pleated Skirts & Dresses

When I think about pleats ugly old man khakis and private school uniforms come to mind. However, this year I've started to see pleats in a whole new light.

Long, flowey pleated chiffon skirts, bright colored knee length skirts and origami pleated dresses have caught my attention.

Tell me, are you in love with pleats? Do you own any dresses or skirts? What are you pairing them with?

Ikat Print

Ikat, or ikkat, is a popular summer print right now, and if you're like me you may be asking yourself, "So how do you pronounce this correctly?"

Here you go..."ee-kot."

This special dying technique is somewhat similar to tie-dye, and creates soft, colorful prints that have an African and South American vibe.

I definitely love this print for home accents and can't get over the DKNY Ikat dress at the very end. To. Die. For.

Stacked.

I think I have mentioned this before, but I'm not really an accessories person. I tend to wear the same earrings and necklaces over an over again. The only rings that ever grace my fingers are my wedding bands for the most part. Even my purse hasn't changed for about six months.

That's just my personality though. I enjoy simple things, I like to "accessorize" with makeup and leave the talking to the clothes.

But just because that's my style, doesn't mean I should deprive you of accessory trends. So, if you're a lover of bracelets, start stacking them! Mix and match colors, textures and sizes. You can even throw a watch in for good measure.

If you're older and think this trend isn't for you, you're wrong. Just simplify it a bit - only stack three or four bracelets.

Here's some inspiration for you...