Fendi For the Label Whores in All of Us

It's no big secret that I'm a label whore. A few years ago, when I was deciding what type of car to purchase for myself, April & I were looking online at different models. Of course, we completely disregarded the list of reliable, practical, dependable cars that my Dad, the mechanic (read: expert/professional) had made for me. I was much more interested in getting her second opinion on chic, stylish vehicles that I could scoot around town in, preferably with a nice label attached to the car.

"Buy a Benz," April recommended. "It's all about the label," she said.

I ended up buying a less expensive vehicle with a great warranty, but my love of labels still persists in other areas today. Even though I might buy generic for some things, I will admit to enjoying the flash of a little label appeal every now and then, providing it's not overkill.

It's no wonder, then, that I loved these Fendi Zucca slingbacks, which are perfect for work-to-evening transitioning, and they dress up even the simplest $5.00 cocktail dress. With a label like that all over your feet, you'll have a status symbol attached to your toesies while also dressing up what you've already got hanging in your closet. Talk about a style revamp.

To pick up a pair of Fendi slingbacks for yourself, visit Neiman Marcus stores near you, or NeimanMarcus.com. These heels were $645, no small price to pay, but definitely well worth it for those of us who are self-proclaimed label whores.

If It IS Broke, Fix It...

I’m a fan of the mantra: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” When I go to my favorite restaurants, I always spend at least five minutes reviewing the menu carefully, as though it’s the first time I’ve ever studied it, but in the end, I will inevitably order the same exact dish I’ve ordered twenty thousand times before. I will be particular about how it is prepared, and I will drive the waitress (and my dinner guests) insane ordering my food. At the end of the day, it’s the same thing I’ve always ordered. When I grocery shop, I buy the same products that are tried and true and that I believe in. When I purchase jeans, I look for similar cuts and washes if I know they’ll work for me. Yes, it’s true: when something works for me, I stick with it. I am loyal and true. If there’s one area of my life where I really believe in remaining faithful, it’s makeup and skincare.

I love MAC to no end; I think they had me at hello. But for the past year, their Studio Fix foundation has made me break out so frequently, it’s made me reluctant to even apply it everyday, except that I need foundation to cover up my blemished skin. As a woman who’s never struggled with her complexion, and has always had really good skin (all over my body…yes, I’m blessed) I knew it had something to do with the foundation and concealer. (That, and my esthetician mentioned that I needed to switch products, because it was clogging my pores. Hey, some discoveries, you just can’t make entirely on your own.)

Lo and behold, I visited the Barney’s New York store at Scottsdale Fashion Square, one of my new favorite places, and while sipping bubbly, had my makeup applied by one of my favorite NARS reps, Raquel. She was showing me the line of skin care, concealers, and bronzer, but perhaps the best product I walked away with that day (and yes, there were several) was my foundation. It left me with a perfect canvas, flawless finish, to then apply a great bronzer or blush, like my tried-and-true fave, NARS’ Orgasm. (And with a name like that, who doesn’t love it?)

Sometimes it’s hard for us to try something new. But when something really is broke, you’ve gotta fix it before it gets worse. To try the foundation that fixed my skin, visit your local NARS counter at Barney’s New York, Neimans, or Sephora, and pick up the foundation for yourself today. I have a feeling you’ll be loyal, too.

Glowing Goddess

When I was a little girl, I was always darker than the other kids in my family. I was, in fact, several shades darker. I remember my family telling me once that I was adopted. I would cry & cry; in junior high, I remember I would use powder that was at least 2 shades lighter than my actual skin tone for about 2 weeks, until my nephew told me that I looked like Michael Jackson after he had gone through skin bleaching.

As a teenage girl, I started to become interested in beauty pageants; my dream was to run for Miss Arizona. I would work out and lay out and tan so that my skin would look golden. Bronze it was, and so that I wouldn’t get tan lines as a grown woman, I’d spend plenty of time lying on the beach on my vacations, by the swimming pool, or in the tanning beds. This fake baking and toasting on a towel ritual was not good for my skin, I knew, but I’ve kept up the same cycle through the years, even though I wish I could say I haven’t.

The other day, while shopping at Sephora, I met a wonderful cosmetic rep for NARS who was not only funny and personable, but also a beauty connoisseur like I am. It is no wonder we had a long discussion about my blog, writing, and my penchant for NARS products. She said, “Wow, you have a great tan, you should try our body glow!” She gave me a sample, and swore she would make me a believer.

I took it home, eager to find out if she was right. As I smoothed on the NARS Body Glow on my body, I noticed an immediate difference in my skin tone, a delicious, pretty scent that was vaguely reminiscent of pina coladas on the beach or slathering yourself with tanning oil; and it felt like it was conditioning my skin the entire day.

Although I know now that I am not adopted (although some days, when my family drives me crazy, I want to believe that I am) and even though I have cut back considerably on my tanning, I still want to be a bronzed goddess just like the next girl. Body Glow by NARS will make you a believer, and in the process, leave you looking like a Brazilian supermodel who just stepped off the beach.

Hey, a girl can dream.

**Shout out to Raquel from NARS for all her beauty advice & the sample; what an incredible representative for this company—you are an asset to the beauty brand & thank you for all your help!

For all NARS products, as well as Body Glow, check out the Neiman Marcus counters near you, Sephora, or their online website.