Latest Obsessions: November Edition

Aquazzara Shoes 

         True life: I’m in love with lace-up heels. Ever since seeing the Alaia pair from several years ago on the feet of every street style star from New York to Paris, I’ve coveted some for myself. Unfortunately, the Alaias are nowhere to be found on Ebay, and other brands iterations are just not as cute. Thankfully (well, thanks to the fashion gods), I discovered Aquazzura’s resort shoe collection in both November’s Marie Claire and Harper’s Bazaar. Available at Saks and Shop Bop, this expensive but not outrageous shoe line is just what I’ve been looking for. Some of the best lace-ups I’ve seen. Now, just to save my money and patiently wait for resort to hit stores…

Jennifer Fisher jewelry

        I’ve been lusting after Jennifer Fisher’s jewelry for years, her make-your-own charm necklaces and slightly morbid charms are unique and perfect for everyday wear. Now that she is a CFDA/Vogue fashion fund finalist, I expect her pieces to be popping up at stores all over. While I save up for the perfect charm necklace, spider bangles, and several of her super cool rings, (probably for the next few years), check out her pieces at her appointment-only SoHo boutique or Barney’s Co-Op stores nationwide.

Sachajuan Volume Powder 

        I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: I’m obsessed with dry shampoo. High to low, I’ve tried them all. Just a few days ago, unpacking my mammoth beauty product collection into my new bathroom shelving, I unearthed this gem. While I later found out its quite pricey ($32 a can), it is easily one of the best I’ve used. It’s a spray powder that mattifies, and really stretches your blowout for a few extra days. Sachajuan is a Swedish brand that is carried at salons, I recently saw their products and Fox + Boy Salon on Mulberry Street when I got a hair cut.

Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain in Gothic

         I believe in beauty destiny. What does that mean you, ask? Well, if I read about a certain product in multiple publications, see it on Youtube, have it pop up on Facebook and on some of my favorite blogs, then I am meant to own it. The latest product to find its way into my hands via “beauty destiny”? Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain in Gothic, which is not even a new launch so if I’m reading so much about it, it must be amazing. And it is.  After storming the Duane Reade across the street and finally finding the only Gothic stain on the furthest reaches of the shelf, I’d say I worked hard for it, too. This dual-sided lip marker in a deep cherry red is ideal on its own for a Snow-Whiteish stain (with just a touch of mascara and dewy skin to modernize), or layered underneath a deeper red lipstick to extend lasting power and darken the tone.

My Custom Bedding

I saved the best for last. When I was in Delhi in April, I went to an amazing fabric bazaar and went a littttttle crazy. Well, not that crazy if you consider I spent under $100 and got stunning wedding sari fabric that would go for far more here. As I was frantically buying it, I came up with a plan: I would make it into bedding. Mostly since I don't have any fabulous events coming up to wear custom made gowns to (that would have been nice). So, I found a woman who created a duvet cover and some pillows for me. There are still a few more coming, but I'm so happy with how they turned out!

 I'm now on Tumblr. Check it out here: 

http://charlottespiderlashes.tumblr.com/

It Was All Done in Vain

          Behold the vanity – the heart and soul of every girl’s bedroom, bathroom, or closet. This is the place where us females (and some guys, too!) take themselves from tired to glam, from simple to stunning, or from ho-hum to ravishing. It’s not to say that we don’t look smashing without the addition of makeup, but there is something about the application of a little powder and rouge that makes you feel much more ready to face the big, beautiful world.

          Upon my arrival in the bay area in June, my mom surprised me with this fun vanity she won in an auction at the Alameda Antiques Faire and painted. The mirror is also from the auction, and you may remember the Virgin Mother pictures from my antiquing post back in January. The rest of the items have come together over the past few months. The lamps are from Target, the jewels on top are from my vintage collection, the silver box was part of a Godiva gift set, and the rest of the accessories are vintage from various little antique/flea markets all over.

          When seated upon the white, frilly stool, I get a rush of joy: it’s my favorite time of day – makeup time. I keep most of my cosmetics, hair accessories, and nail polishes in the drawers (the pulls are from Anthropologie) but allow my brushes and prettiest cosmetics to sit on top. It is a delight to have such a wonderful space for daily “beautification”, and I think it will become the site of filming for future Youtube tutorials.

          Oh, and sorry about the looooooong absence! Essentially, I had very little to blog about, as my life at the moment is quite a makeupless non-event. Thankfully, things are getting back in gear, and I will share some updates as soon as I can!

June Favorites: Color Theory

It’s June already? Crazy how time flies. In just a few days, my month spent on the East Coast will be over, and I will be basking in the California sun for the rest of the summer. Hooray! This will be the longest span I’ve spent in the Bay Area (2 months!) and I’m quite excited to explore.

This gets me to another topic, what I will be wearing. Unless you are living under a rock, it’s clear that brights are this year’s “thing”. Here are a few of my favorite pieces I’ve picked up recently.

J Brand 811 Mid-Rise Jeans (in several colors) – J Brand makes my favorite denim, hands down. They always fit me perfectly. In fact, I’d say 95% of my “denim wardrobe” consists of J Brand, with some odd pairs of Citizens of Humanity and True Religion thrown in. The 811 is my ultimate: mid-rise (no risk of underwear peeking out) and skinny. The fun colors they had this season were an extra bonus. I’ve been wearing these with everything – boxy tee shirts, silk blouses (J. Crew’s are my fave, and much more affordable than Equipment!), and neutral colored sweaters on chilly nights.

Zara TRF Floral Pants – I bought this pair back in India, but Zara still has an awesome selection of floral pants. Ever since I spotted prints like this on the Celine S/S runway, I was obsessed. This pair fits well, has adorable tuxedo detailing, and best of all, was super affordable, since unfortunately, I don’t think floral, skintight pants are exactly considered a classic.

Multitude of colorful tees – Joe Fresh, Aritzia (my favorite store for basics), James Perse, Alternative Apparel, J. Crew,  Leslie Fremar for Fruit of the Loom. I love plain tees, and stock up on them every season. There is nothing like a well-fitting tee shirt to wear with everything from boyfriend jeans to pencil skirts to tie-dyed cutoffs a la Isabel Marant (I picked mine up from Forever 21). I am currently loving H&M and James Perse’s mens tees, which I buy in a size small, for that effortless “boyfriend” look, tucked into pants and worn with an oversized rhinestone necklace.

Fun, citron heels from Thailand – Ever since Miu Miu’s polka dot platform sandals from last spring, I’ve been hunting down an affordable pair that uses dots as an accent. I found this pair at Zen Department Store in Bangkok, Thailand, in April, and I love how they add a touch of whimsy to an otherwise simple outfit.

My favorite jewelry right now – Woven Skull bracelet (unknown brand), Tai Shell Bracelet, and Tiffany & Co. Key necklace with additional charms by Dyanne Bell.

The best part about the “brights” look is that dressing is as easy as one, two, three – pick a bottom, add a contrasting color top, and finish with fun jewelry (vintage rhinestone necklaces from Ebay are my go-to).

Back in Action, and This Time, I'm Adorned

          I apologize for the lack of updates! After Goa, I was back in Mumbai for two days before I headed to Delhi and Agra, to see the Taj Mahal, the Sikrhi Fort, and a few other cultural heritage sites. I also hit a bazaar in Delhi where I picked up a ton of gorgeous brocades, silks, and cottons to be sewn into bedding for my future apartment. Will elaborate more on this in a future post.

Gazing at the Taj

The Bahai'i Lotus Temple in New Delhi

       Since my return, Bombay has gotten hot. And when I say hot, I mean, a minimum of 95 degrees farenheit every day. The weather leaves everyone quite fatigued, as walking down the street leaves you drenched in sweat. All I have to say, is thank god for air conditioning. Although I do note that my skin loves humidity, I think the sweating clears the toxins out of the pores.

          On the beauty front, I’ve been going very minimal for day – almost everything melts off or just looks awful by the time you end up arriving at your destination after sweating like mad in a cab. A touch of moisturizing lip balm – my current favorite is Sara Happ Lip Slip – and I’m good to go. Anything else just looks silly.

          So, without makeup, how am I to bedazzle myself, you ask? Jewelry. India is obviously a haven for everything sparkly, and a walk in Bandra down Turner Road will reveal some of the most over-the-top diamonds you have ever seen. Since I don’t exactly have the champagne-and-caviar budget, I’ve had to settle for what is called “art jewelry”, sterling silver, handmade pieces dipped in 22k gold. I recently bought a pair of earrings that is just to-die-for, far more intricate than anything you would find in the U.S. for the same price.

          Another way I’ve bedazzled myself? Well, after seeing the awesome earrings all of the women here wear from their earlobes to their noses to their cartilidge, I thought it was time to take the plunge. I headed to a small shop in my neighborhood and got two more holes put into each ear, just beyond my typical earlobe piercing. The verdict? I love it! I think it gives me the right amount of Givenchy-esque edge, and also allows me to wear some of the gorgeous second-hole-only Indian earring designs. I don’t think I will get anymore piercings, but I can’t wait to check out the fabled New York Adorned when I return to the states to see what they can offer me on account of my new, punk-ified (OK, not really…) look.

Photo courtesy of my own Instagram account

Oddities Abound at the Alameda Antiques Faire

Strange, strange troll

           New Years Day is typically spent comfortably in bed, soaking up the last bit of holiday relaxation and nursing a hangover. Instead of rising at 12:00PM or later this year, however, I was up bright and early and 4:00AM and in a car heading towards the tiny, naval base island near San Francisco called Alameda. Every first Sunday of the month (which just so happened to be New Years Day) a gigantic antiques fair with over 500 dealers is held on a large lot on the island, and diehard antiquers (and giddy newcomers, like my mom and I) arrive before 6:00AM to get first access to the best goods.

The scene, Oakland docks visible

         We ended up arriving around 5:30 AM – which allowed us primo-parking and a few minutes to apply a tiny bit of makeup before getting on line. A word of advice – don’t forget your flashlight! We ended up walking around looking at antiques in complete darkness until 7:00AM hit, which can be a little difficult. However, since I have properly trained myself to apply makeup in complete darkness, I was able to get a feel for the “good stuff” and scooped up a bunch of vintage rhinestone necklaces – which I’m planning to paint electric colors a la Tom Binns – bright and early.

            As the sun rose, we realized what a wonderful event we’d discovered. From the picturesque view of San Francisco to the unbelievable deals ($50 for a full set of stunning antique silverware, complete with box! Still kicking myself for not picking that one up), it’s an event to remember, regardless of whether you buy anything. This sheer oddities of the place are enough to make your mind begin to wonder the stories of the people who once owned such strange little things…

I ended up finding some fun little items:

•        -  Two vintage pictures of the Virgin Mary in hand-decorated frames – I love the sparkly, handmade quality and I’m always attracted to art featuring Mary. Blame Catholic School.
•           A lipstick holder in the shape of a girl – as a makeup artist, I’m always looking for new storage ideas. My grandmother gave me several mirrored trays that hold lipstick and perfume beautifully in a bathroom or on a vanity, and I think that this fun, sixties girl will compliment them well in the eerily-cute sort of way
•        A bunch of vintage rhinestone jewelry – Love vintage rhinestone necklaces! I own a ton in weird colors and shapes and I love to layer them. The clear ones in this batch I want to paint with neon nail polish for even more of a Tom Binns look, as I mentioned before. The poodle and rabbit pins were just too cute (and cheap - $4 for both!) to pass up, and the snowflake pin would make a great pendant on a necklace once painted. The green and crystal earrings reminded me a lot of the over-exagerated, toy-like jewelry Miu Miu has for spring. 

          The biggest find of the day was this vintage MCM men’s leather overnight tote. MCM has recently had a bit of a revival, and I adore how this bag is worn in and it’s size and shape (which you can’t tell in this photo). I think it will be great to take with me to India.

It was a unbelievable steal at $40!

If you live in the Bay Area or are visiting San Francisco on vacation, I recommend checking the Antiques Faire out.

Alameda Point Antiques Faire, operates the first Sunday of every month. Located at 2900 Navy Way, Alameda, CA, 94501.