Goes on Like Velvet, Smells like a Blackberry

My apologies for the lack of original photos -- my camera broke last night at the Red Sox game. I'll get a new one tomorrow, but until then I wanted to fill you in on my secret weapon. It smells like liquid crack, and by that I mean that it's addicting to the senses.

Victoria's Secret Velvet Amber Blackberry fragrance has stolen my heart, and impressed me with all the compliments it snags. It's soft, but still fresh -- fruity, but still floral and feminine. Boys run to it like bacon and chicks flock to it like, well, the perfect fragrance.

Mists on softly and smells better than my Smartphone, and it's on sale right now.

the fashion & beauty guinea pig

Printed Tunic, Forever21, Orange Striped Bralette, Free People, Black Fei Vest with Brass Buttons, Anthropologie.

After Christmas in June, I wanted to brief you on some of the products I have splurged on -- because they actually have enough benefits to be worth the price (bonus -- some of them are cheap).

So tomorrow will bring a new day as well as new products from my product-junkie collection. Remember that I've worked at many retail companies with great products -- including Crabtree + Evelyn and Nordstrom -- so I have quite a pile to select from. Consider me the ultimate product guinea pig.

But for now, a little preview. The photo above came from a couple nights ago. Here, proof of the guinea pig statement: a fashion experiment, to see if the runway bra-over-plain tunic thing could possibly work in real life, and a beauty experiment to explore the results (however terrifying) of letting my hair air-dry. Results: the bra thing works with a very sporty looking or obviously made-to-be-seen bra (like mine, with orange stripes. Very non-lingerie looking). If you have a larger chest like mine, you need to wear a vest over the style concoction to avoid looking too wide. I saw the runway look in a Parisian fashion magazine, ripped out the page and put it on my wall for inspiration. Voila!

How-to hair:

1. If you have straight-across bangs like mine, always blow-dry them for styles where you're leaving them out front. Then straighten to sleeken and tame, depending on how unruly your hair is.

2. Next, mist a wave-enhancing spray (I used Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray, available at salons) all over hair, focusing on the part from the tops of your ears to the tips of your hair. Scrunch with your fingers, pushing up. You want to make a wave, so let it be as curly as possible.

3. Repeat scrunching until hair dries enough to keep the shape of the waves. If you're in a hurry, use a blowdryer to dry while constantly repeating the scrunching motion with your hands, all over your hair.

4. If desired, pin front hair back (i.e. stray strands that frame your face) with bobby pins so your face is more visible. But don't forget -- a little strandage is good because it looks soft and sultry (yes, I believe I just made up a word).

recession-proof instant attitude adjustment!

When I was little, I was a crafty little thing, and I loved free stuff (who doesn't?) One trick I came up with, which I used on a regular basis, was sending hand-written letters to companies with products I liked or was interested in.

In the letters, I would praise the product (if I'd already used it) and ask for stickers or samples I could use to share the love for _______ (enter organization name). If I hadn't used the product because it was too expensive, I said I'd heard good things but wanted to try out the product before splurging on the real thing. And guess what -- IT REALLY WORKS!! My mailbox (not inbox -- real, good old-fashioned snail mail) was flooded with responses.

Although I received the occasional thank-you letter with nothing in it but kind words (also always nice), I usually got stickers and/or samples. In some cases (quite often, actually) I got full products from the companies I'd written to! For instance, when I was in middle school I wrote to a teen clothing company and received school supplies and a hat with their logo on it. As you can imagine, this was a very trendy set of stuff for a seventh-grader to be toting around.

But as my age changed, the products I received evolved too. Once in high school I wrote to Estée Lauder and was rewarded with two Pure Color Lip Vinyl lip gloss cubes (the packaging resembled ice cubes -- very cute), a lipstick and some samples. That's a LOT of money I saved just for showing my support for the company.

So I suggest trying this as an easy way to boost your day. It's almost free (just pay for a stamp and an envelope) and gets you cool freebies. Just log onto the company's web site and look for the link that says "Contact Us" (usually at the bottom of the page) and find their mailing address. Then start writing!

One more option: I like entering contests. Again, it's free, and waiting for a response or possible win is like waiting for Christmas morning when you're a little kid. I like the ones that let you choose whether or not to receive newsletters, etc., like the Glamour magazine one, below. I don't get spam from them, ever. Bravo!

Click on the link below for the Glamour monthly giveaway. There are products given every day of the month.

30 Days of Beauty Freebies!

zingy pear

Just did my second interview with Sephora, which means:

a. I am going to be a very happy girl if I get that job.

b. I would be working in fragrances, so I will have a lot more perfume advice in the coming months.

c. I am IN LOVE with the Dolce & Gabbana perfume L'Impératrice (not just because it has a French name!) If you like fruity, this is for you. It smells like fresh pear after a spring rain. May just have to become my new summer fragrance staple.

human fish

Just stumbled on this photo of Emily Blunt from the Critics Choice Awards. I love the fish theme created here -- she has it perfect with wet-looking, slicked back hair in an updo pulled away from her face and flawless fair skin.

fishtails

I'm finally back from my own personal Tour de France, and let me tell you, driving all the way through France leaves room for a lot of fashion mag reads.

One thing I've been noticing on the runways and in normal life since a little before my London trip is the messy side braid, and I love it. I'm proud to say I've been rocking this look for years, and what an added bonus that it's in right now. My favorite is a fishtail braid, like Diane Kruger's (shown above).

sous le soleil

Here are the products of a lovely Parisian day under the sun in the Tuileries. My friend Micha, below, looked great as always, captured here taking a photo of the sunset. I also wanted to show my outfit for its mixi-ness, as I think things like that often flow magically together although by any means of logic they should look absolutely ridiculous. Case in point: gladiator sandals + leggings + shorts + bright orange bag + multicolored delicate fabric tank + black winter scarf + jumble of odd accessories = .... a good outfit? I guess fashion works in mysterious ways...

On Micha, left: Charcoal Stretch Tunic, H&M, White Ruffle Vest, H&M, Grey Multipocketed Skinny Jeans, BCBG, White Woven Flats with Ankle Strap, L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani.

On me, above right: Black bow clip (in hair, front of updo) Forever21, Black Risky Business Sunglasses, Primark, Black Scarf, Found, Multicolored Tank, Urban Outfitters, Orange Faux-Leather Bag with Gold Detailing, Big Buddha, Available at Crush Boutique in Boston, Tweed Shorts, Free People, Black Cropped Leggings, Found, Elastic Black Gladiator Sandals, Miss Coquine's Paris.

Note: When I say found, it is as bizarre/gross as it sounds. The scarf I saw on a girl at the bar, and it was freezing outside. And she left without it. Being as I was freezing, I snagged it (washed before wearing, of course). The leggings, a friend left at one of my parties sophomore year and through extensive research I was never able to find their owner, so I kept them. The funny thing is all the compliments I get on them because they're "sheer," which in fact is just because they're about a billion sizes too small for me and the fabric stretches out over my leg. Ah, style secrets.