Tuesday 31 July 2012

Are You Ready for Blue Lashes?


When I asked Michelle from BeautyEditor.ca what upcoming trend she was excited about, she mentioned the vibrant blue lashes we saw from Stella McCartney during this year's Fashion Week.

Image via


I’ve been coveting blue mascara ever since Yves Saint Laurent came out with his coloured wands, but never felt ready to take the plunge. So I did my research hoping to find out which brand was used to create this runway look. It turns out that makeup artist Pat McGrath covered each models’ lashes with dark black mascara, followed by several coats of a custom-made electric blue gel pigment.



Beware that blue mascaras are much more subtle than the look offered by Stella McCartney. Here’s what Sephora customers are saying about my suggestions:   1. Buxom Lash Mascara Special Effects Blue Noir “I was hoping for a little more blue than black, and this is more of a black with a hint of blue.” / 2. Yves Saint Laurent, Effet Faux Cils in Sea Black “It looks a lot more natural on me in the daytime than black.” / 3. Sephora Collection, Full Action Extreme Effect Mascara in Blue “I was hoping for a nice electric blue pop on my blonde lashes. Nope. It's blue, if you're up close.” / 4. Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash mascara in Dark Blue “This blue is a nice, smoky shade, suitable for daily wear.” / 5. Givenchy, Eye Fly Lash Extender Mascara in Fly in Blue “I was really impressed with the color.” / 6. Dior, Diorshow Mascara in Azure Blue “I was so excited when I got this; the blue is just incredible on the brush... too bad it doesn't follow through on the lashes.”


If you are dead set on rocking Stella’s runway look, might I suggest simply brushing electric blue eye shadow to your still-wet mascara? You will be able to layer the pigment until you reach a satisfactory pop of colour! Enjoy & let me know!

 

Monday 30 July 2012

Fall Beauty Trend: Deep Orchid


Is it too early to talk about fall trends? I think not. Brace yourselves ladies, because this fall will be all about bold purples, earthy browns... and unexpected pops of colour... but that’s for later this week! What’s great about deep shades of orchid is that you can easily carry them from summer date-night to fall day-time. Some of you will be daring enough to rock a vampy pout – others will stick to lighter shades of violet and mulberry. Here are a few suggestions so that you can stock up early on this upcoming trend.

1. Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural in purple / 2. NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Sugarland / 3. Thakoon for NARS in Rotin Jot / 4. Make Up For Ever Powder Blush in Lavender (would you dare?) / 5. BADgal Plum Mascara / 6. Cult-classic Black Orchid lipstick by Tom Ford (How handsome is Tom Ford?) / 7. Dior nail polish in Les Violets Hypnotiques / 8. Black Orchid Voile de Fleur fragrance by Tom Ford / 9. Sephora’s Colorful Duo Eyeshadow in Gorgeous Pink


Aimee Blaut from Harper's Bazaar  touching up her Tom Ford lipstick in Black Orchid (image via)


Sunday 29 July 2012

Sick Day


Please forgive my sporadic postings – I’ve been glued to bed with a mean case of strep throat. Hubby has built a small fort of pillows and blankets so that I could write you a few lines. (How sweet is that?) I’m very lucky to have him. I could get used to being served all my meals in bed!

Image via

Not to worry, I’m in good hands and should be back in fighting shape within a few days. I wanted to let you know that I have some very exciting posts planned for you this week: upcoming fall trends, must-have hair products, a few recommended readings and much more... so stay tuned!


Thursday 26 July 2012

Interview with BeautyEditor.ca


Every woman has a source of beauty insight. It may be a colleague, friend or magazine… Mine is Michelle from BeautyEditor.ca. Michelle is fun, witty and knows her stuff! Ever wonder what’s in a beauty editor’s makeup bag? Ever wish you could ask them about their beauty routine? PartyMixtape has got you covered! In the following interview, Michelle reveals the upcoming trends and products you are guaranteed to be lusting over this fall!
The lovely Michelle from BEAUTYEDITOR.ca


How did you start in the beauty industry?
Like just about everyone in the industry I started with an internship — I was at a magazine called The Look (published by St. Joseph Media), which ended up folding in 2006. After my internship finished I was lucky enough to land a beauty editor job at the same magazine, where I stayed for two years. When The Look ceased publication I moved over to ELLE Canada, where I was beauty and health editor and later, contributing editor. For the past few years I've been a free agent, writing for magazines such as ELLE Canada, FLARE, Canadian Living, Chatelaine and FASHION, and then spending the rest of the time on BEAUTYEDITOR.ca.


What inspired you to create BeautyEditor.ca?
I started the site on a whim shortly after I left ELLE Canada. I realized that I had acquired a ton of beauty "knowledge" over the years from this somewhat bizarre career where you spend your time testing the dozens of products that land on your desk every week, swanning about at swanky media launches and interviewing all the top dermatologists, makeup artists and hair experts. I was just bursting with insider stuff to share—but the problem in magazines is that you always have space constraints. So all these great tips were going to waste! I also felt like the magazine "voice" for beauty information was so formal (and often intimidating), and that there was an opportunity to approach the topic in a much more casual, fun, conversational way.


As a beauty editor, you are constantly discovering new trends. Are there any new products and trends that you are excited about?
Always! In products, there are three newbies that I'm super excited about right now. Anastasia just came out with Lash Genius, which is a clear topcoat that turns any mascara waterproof. It's fantastic. A couple of companies are coming out with three-pronged eyeliners. I believe the one from Too Faced is already out, and another brand will launch next month. What these do is let you create a thicker-looking lash line by stamping the three dots right at the base of your lashes. The last product is a new foundation but I'm not sure that I'm allowed to mention the brand or the concept yet. All I will say is that it's like nothing you've seen before, and it blows BB Creams out of the water. In terms of fall trends, I'm loving all the dramatic eye looks. Probably my two favourites were the electric blue lashes at Stella McCartney and liner at Anna Sui. I still haven't really embraced the dark, Gothic lipstick thing—but it's going to be big, so I'll probably come around.



1. Anastasia’s Lash Genius
2. Too Faced 3 Ways Lash Lining Tool
3. Blue lashes are trending. Try Dior’s version!



What are three of your daily reads?
I check a ton of beauty sites and magazines but because I'm so immersed in the topic I usually just skim the content. Probably the one I enjoy the most is Glamour's beauty blog—for my site it's all about the headlines and I find Glamour does such a great job of writing them. They always suck me in to wanting to read the posts. Aside from that my guilty pleasures are Crazy Days and Nights and Get Off My Internets. The former is a gossip site that has wicked blind item reveals, and the latter basically just calls out bloggers on the internet for their narcissistic behaviour. It's hilarious (and keeps me in line!).


What is your daily beauty routine like?
If I'm at home writing, I'll apply a series of masks instead of putting on makeup. For events I'll put in some more effort, although I'm still pretty low-key (read: lazy). Always sunscreen, and then I spend the majority of time on whatever combo of BB Cream/primer/concealer/foundation/powder that I feel like that day. Then just mascara, nude eyeshadow, sometimes liner, blush and a lip gloss or lipstick. Because I am paranoid about my hair colour fading, I usually just let it dry naturally and spray in a ton of dry shampoo to give it texture.


Three must have products for the summer:
1. I can't live without SkinCeuticals sunscreen — it's the best mineral one out there and doesn't leave a white cast or make you greasy.
2. Bright nail polish. My pick of the season is Camera by Essie—a pinky coral.
3. That mascara-waterproofing product I mentioned above... it's called Lash Genius by Anastasia.

1. Camera nail polish by Essie
2. SkinCeuticals sunscreen


What is the best purchase you ever made?
I finally got on board the Retin-A train this year after years of interviewing dermatologists and hearing them tell me it's the gold standard for anti-aging. I'll let you know how that goes in five or 10 years, but for now I've noticed better skin texture and cleaner pores—so that's something!


What do you keep in your makeup bag?
At home I have waaaay too many products to fit in just one makeup bag (it's a real problem), but in my purse I carry fragrance, concealer, stick blush, a nail file, a hair brush/mirror compact, blotting papers and about 40 different types of lip products. (How they all get in there I don't know!)


Which modern day icons do you look up to?
I love Emma Stone for her beauty risk-taking. She always gets it right without looking overdone. Olivia Wilde is great too. For hair, I have a special place in my heart for the strawberry blondes, so I'm always saving pics of Amy Adams (and now this C-lister called Holland Roden) to take to my hairdresser.


Are the most expensive products better than the more affordable ones?
It really depends. Everyone should have an antioxidant serum in their skincare regimen, and they don't come cheap. I also think foundation, fragrance and high-quality hair tools are worth splurging on. Most other categories have perfectly fine drugstore offerings... so it's really a matter of prioritizing based on your needs. Will the Tom Ford lipstick be nicer to use than the Rimmel one? Of course. But nobody's going to know it's Tom Ford when you're walking down the street!


What are some of the biggest mistakes you see women doing?
I really wish women would get over the blonde highlight thing. It's so dated-looking now to have such obvious streaks with an ashy base. It's far more flattering for most people to do a darker, warmer all-over colour on their base with subtle, tone-on-tone highlights. I also think women wear too much makeup in general when they go out at night. When the outfit is sexy, your makeup shouldn't be over the top as well.


Name your top three songs:
Well according to my iTunes here are three that have received some of the most plays:
Tenderness by General Public (cheesy I know)
Ice Skating Girl (Linus Loves Remix) by Rekindle (I heard this in Anthropologie and Shazam'ed it)
Teenage Dream by Katy Perry (the pinnacle of her oeuvre, right??)


Tuesday 24 July 2012

Who says forever is better?


When my mother turned fifty, she was ready for a tattoo. Off we went (the loving daughter that I am) and got tattooed. Forever, I will have a tiny deep pink heart on my left foot to remind me that a) my mom is cool and b) although I love full sleeve tattoos, retro anchors and rockabilly birds, I’m not daring enough to commit to such a large permanent change. With the slogan “Who says forever is better?” Tattly temporary tattoos might be the perfect choice for me.
Just Focus tattoo by Lila Symons. Tattly tattoos last up to five days.

For the art lover in me: here is the Golden Ratio tattly tattoo by artist Josh Smith.

Get them all!  





Sunday 22 July 2012

Birthday Extravaganza


Well my dears, in but a few hours, I will no longer be in my twenties. And you know what? That’s A-okay. My birthday party was a wonderful success ...and I was spoiled rotten! Balloons, cupcakes with my picture printed on them, a full dance floor, way too much food, and best of all: being surrounded by a fantastic group of friends. It doesn’t get better than that, does it? Oh, but when your friends get together to buy you a Kate Spade camel clutch and your loving husband puts a Michael Kors watch on your wrist: it does!!!


1. As mentioned on my Facebook page, I sported CiatĂ©’s caviar nails on Saturday night. Lots of work: yes. Worth it? Umm... I would recommend going to this trouble for a day event. At night, it’s not so obvious how cool they are. After my morning shower, they were ruined. / 2. My Kate Spade beauty (Thank you to my wonderful and crazy-generous girlfriends: the Kikster, D girl, AJ, MC, Isabelle, Keren, Mel, Nicole, Carole, Suzanne, Julia and AmĂ©lie, xoxoxo) / 3. A gift from Hubs. I love you, for all of time / 4. Sunday afternoon nails – to match my birthday outfit tomorrow!


Friday 20 July 2012

Animal Print Bonanza


Did I ever tell you that at Hubby and I’s wedding, there was a strict black, white and leopard dress code? (I’m not kidding.)  It was magical – you should see the pictures! I promise to post some on our wedding anniversary in September. In the meantime, whether you are running off to date night, or heading out to the movies with some friends, try adding a touch of animal print. It will be sure to brighten your day. Happy weekend, Emily xo



Eugenia Kim Darcy Fedora with Leopard Scarf / Animal Skater Dress from topshop / Alexander McQueen Leopard Skull Scarf / iPhone Case by Kate Spade / Current Elliott Leopard corduroy low-rise skinny jeans / Madewell shoes / Equipment Blush Leopard Print Chiffon Signature Shirt / Valentino Bag

Kisses!

Thursday 19 July 2012

Currently Craving (leopard)


The great thing about cravings is that they don’t need to be outrageously expensive. Case in point: this oh-so-adorable bargain from H&M. As a leopard-lover, this little number has my name all over it! The best part is that I can easily see it transitioning from summer to winter simply by adding black tights and a cute jacket.


Tell me, what are you craving this week?

Wednesday 18 July 2012

Life According to my Pinterest – Birthday Edition


The countdown to my *birthday bash* is on! I’m feeling giddy just thinking about Saturday night! It’s no surprise that my Pinterest overflows with bright colours, fun party elements and maybe one or two wish-list-items! Check out June’s edition of Life According to my Pinterest, and be sure to follow PartyMixTape!


Tuesday 17 July 2012

Smart Shoe Packing


I just hung up with my friend Isabelle... “I read your post about packing,” she said sounding a little bit worried. “I can’t tell you how important it is to wear sensible shoes.” As it turns out, Isabelle works in a hospital, and last night, a patient came in with a massive infection due to blisters. Ish. I don’t want that. Luckily, the comments you left on Shoe Issues have proven quite helpful. Marie L. wrote that quantity wasn’t as important as versatility and comfort. (Words of wisdom!) Style coach Monica de Liz added: “Going to Germany? The calendar is your best friend! I suggest you bring 3 shoes (wear 1 and pack the other 2).”


Image via

I combined all your comments, and here is the consensus:

1x   Comfortable pair of flats for taking the plane & walking around
1x   Semi-casual wedge or flat sandal to rock with either a dress or pants
1x   Dressy peep toe for romantic nights out with Hubby
1x   Room in my luggage to bring back new shoes from Germany!


P.S. Monica wrote a great piece on smart-packing. Check it out by clicking HERE. Also, don't forget to click HERE to read PartyMixTape's interview with her!  


Monday 16 July 2012

Shoe Issues


This summer, I am planning a three week trip to Germany. Hubby and I have our plane tickets booked and hotels lined up. Although this is nothing short of amazing, I am worried about one thing: shoes. Without fail, I always pack too many. Sandals, sneakers, high heels, flip flops: you name it; I’ve got it in my suitcase. This weekend, I went for a two-night trip to Ottawa and packed three pairs. You see the problem? I vow to make things different – but I need your help! In your opinion, how many pairs would be a reasonable amount?  


1. TOMS in orange and white / 2. Tory Burch Bernadine wedges / 3. Valentino Rockstud kitten heels / 4. Missoni flat espadrilles in Coral Wave / 5. RADA beaded gladiators / 6. Tory Burch raffia logo ballerinas in blue / 7. Michael Kors white Vivian cork wedge slingbacks / 8. Rebecca Minkoff Baha sandals in neon / 9. Michael Kors Reichow sandals / 10. Jimmy Choo Nova glittered leather slingbacks / 11. TKEES Zincs flip flops in neon orange


Sunday 15 July 2012

Designer Paper Goods


I was browsing through my “daily blogging reads,” and amongst many, I caught up with Katie Armour’s new posts. Since she just introduced me to pure etsy genius (no less!) I had to share it with you! Discover 23 madison studio, a stationery shop that features the illustrations of a graduate from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Let me know what you think!
  

Nail polish stickers (I’m sorry… did you read that properly? I said NAIL POLISH STICKERS! Puppies in teacups aren’t cuter than this!)

Celine bag note card with envelop


Various cards & small prints, including a Chance perfume note card! (The artist is available for custom orders! How cool is that?)


Mini Chanel nail polish note cards (set of 12)

Tell me, did you make any fun discoveries this weekend?

Thursday 12 July 2012

The Laine Blogger Award


Yesterday, the lovely Rachel from All Things Beautiful sent me a kind email, informing me that she had nominated me for The Laine Blogger Award. Thank you for this special mention, I truly appreciate it! Rachel’s nomination came with a fun challenge: answering five questions (as seen below) and of course, nominating five other noteworthy bloggers. Here it goes! (One question remains: who’s Laine?)




1. What is your current beauty obsession?
Naked Palette 2 by Urban Decay! I never thought I would feel so committed to eye shadow – geez, even the brush feels miraculous. This palette boasts twelve different neutral shades which will help you achieve anything from a natural look to a dramatic smoky eye.

2. What is one beauty item you wished you owned?

I wish I owned the entire NARS Thakoon collection. These nail polish colours are so vibrant and summery. (The fact that it’s limited edition probably makes me want it more!)

3. What kind of posts are your favorite posts to write and read?
My favourite posts are those which give insight into a blogger’s life and lifestyle. I like to read short, humoristic posts. Certainly, I love to read anything that relates to fashion trends, art, makeup reviews... and I’m a sucker for celebrity gossip!  

4. What inspired you to become a blogger?

I decided to start blogging in January. I wanted a challenge – a fun outlet to share my enthusiasm for fashion and visual arts. Blogging is such a great way to connect with like-minded people.

5. What color nail polish are you wearing right now?
At the moment, I have orange nails. But they are chipped – so I’m switching to bright pink later tonight!


And the Nominee's Are...


Jenny - CrazyStyle Love
Shoshana & Hollis - eyebrows + lipstick


July Birthday


I am a birthday lover. By that, I mean that I love all birthdays: my own, my husband's, anyone’s... I'm the first to admit that I go a little overboard,  celebrating the whole month of my birthday (and sometimes more *sheepish grin*)! Since we’ve reached this oh-so-exciting summer month and also because it’s my big 3-0, I am feeling extra-psyched! Woot woot to my birthday wish list!

1. Ever since seeing Danina’s DIY Chanel striped top, I’ve been longing for a Saint-James top of my own / 2. Le Orange lipstick by YSL / 3. I would love a new statement necklace, this one is from JCrew / 4. I am dreaming of a gold watch by Michael Kors, because they are timeless and so chic / Chance by Chanel – my bottle is one spritz from empty / Willis bag by Coach / Cupcakes & Cashmere’s new book – hello blogger love! / Lauren Elan’s bracelet / Nail polish, this is Holiday by Chanel

Monday 9 July 2012

30 minutes: Refresh!


For the last couple of days I’ve been hitting the gym sans iPod. Bad idea! Music truly does push you further (or at the very least, makes time go by faster). So replenish your iPod with thirty minutes worth of fresh hits! Happy workout! Check out our previous 30 minute mix by clicking HERE.

Eric Zener, Cusp, oil on canvas, 42 x 48 inches, 2010


Calvin Harris feat. Ne-Yo – Let's Go   4.12
Timbaland ft. Ne-Yo – Hands In the Air   4.08
David Guetta ft. Chris Brown, Lil Wayne – I Can Only Imagine   3.55
The Wanted – Chasing the Sun   3.16 (any song with an embarrassing amount of “oh-oh-ohs” is a good workout choice.)
Chris Brown – Don’t Wake Me Up   3.47
Flo Rida – Let it Roll   3.15
Calvin Harris ft. Example – We'll Be Coming Back   3.52
Usher – Scream   3.57


Saturday 7 July 2012

All the cool kids are doing it


Ah… the copycat syndrome. I don’t think of myself as someone who wants to emulate another woman’s style, but when I see so many fashionable bloggers rocking Coach’s classic Willis bag, it makes me green with envy! I think I’ll splurge. Tell me I’m not the only one! What item do you want after seeing it on someone else? 
{ 1 }  { 2 }  { 3 }  { 4 }


Thursday 5 July 2012

Bright Summer Nails


My sister-in-law, Melanie, brought me the ULTIMATE hostess gift: nail polish! Now that’s a woman who knows me well! One of the shades was this gorgeous orange: Paisley Attention To Me. What do you think? Here are a few suggestions if, like me, you fell hard for this summer look: 
Sephora by OPI: Paisley Attention To Me is an opaque tangerine orange / Dior’s Riveria is a bright orange coral / Westbourne Grove by Nails inc. is a bright neon orange with a hint of yellow / Revlon ColorStay Longwear Nail Enamel in Marmalade is a bold coral.

Wednesday 4 July 2012

Happy Fourth of July!


Nothing screams summer like a little red, white and blue! Although I am not doing anything special on this American holiday, Hubs and I overloaded on fun activities for Canada Day. We went to the Star Wars exhibit at the Science Center (yes, we are Geek Chic), had fun biking through the Old Port, went swimming (finally, we are milk white instead of vampire white) and had supper with friends. How about you?


1. Beck Sonder Gaard blue lightning star print silk scarf / 2. Thakoon Cropped Cardigan / 3. Kate Spade iPhone Case / 4. Current/Elliott Stiletto low-rise skinny jeans / 5. Red Star Recycled Sail Bag from Sea Bags / 6. Kate Spade Penny Wedge Sandal in red leather / 7. Juicy Couture Shorts


Seeing these red shoes by Kate Spade makes me think of this lovely piece by Christina Coleman:


Christina Coleman
SĂ©rie vĂȘtement #53 (2004)  
Mix-media on paper
21 x 18 inches


To my Southern neighbors, I wish you a very happy and safe holiday!