Tips for Looking Good on a Budget

Dear Jenn,
I love to shop but I haven't been able to do as much shopping as I used to. You see I was laid off from my last job due to the downfall of the economy. After being unemployed for a while, I took a job that paid lower than my previous one. The question is what can I do to stretch my dollar when it comes to shopping? How can I look good on a budget?
-Crystal from LA

Dear Crystal,
I'm glad you asked that question as I know many people are wondering the same question due to todays economy. I'll first let you in on a piece of advice to keep for life that an ex-boyfriends mom once told me. "You can buy the cheapest clothing and look like a million dollars if your hair is done nicely, and if your shoes and purse look expensive". And she is totally right.

Give attention to your hair and accessories. Your hair and accessories are the icing on the cake. We didn't say that your shoes and purse had to BE expensive, they just have to LOOK expensive. You can find an entire outfit at target, and look designer dressed, if you have the right eye. Bring along magazine clips of looks that you like and look for similar looking items. Top them off with a hot pair of shoes and a matching purse, and you're good to go!

Stretch your current wardrobe. Bring in pieces that you wear during other times of the year, and incorporate pieces and accessories to bring you into the season. For example, we are currently in the season of fall so if you have a summer tank dress, throw on a pair of knee high boots and a buttondown cardigan and now you've got an outfit for fall.

 Back in Spring, Duchess Catherine’s younger sister wore a printed dress with

a tan leather jacket and matching ballet flats. She recently pulled the dress back out of the closet for the fall season by teaming it with a belt, a wooly cardigan, black tights and buckled brown boots.

Thrift Shops. Thrift shops are an excellent place to go shopping on a budget. I for one can say that I've donated clothing, still with tags on them, to the salvation army and other local thrift shops. I can also say that I've found excellent pieces at thrift shops too. I once paid just $3.00 for a gorgeous Michael Kors jacket!

Allow yourself some time to shop there since you might have to search through a couple of racks in order to find clothing that suites your style, but it's so worth it in the end when you come home with $300 worth of clothing and pay only $20!

Shop Online. I love taking a day off to go shopping outside, it's therapeutic for me. But the real savings come when you shop online. There are tons of coupon sites online like retailmenot that offer savings and show which stores are having sales. You can compare prices on sites like shopstyle for similar items right from the comfort of your home, and many sites offer free shipping if you purchase over a certain amount. (You also save on gas so you can spend more on yourself =)

Happy Shopping!!!

WHAT?!? NEW LASER PROCEDURE TURNS BROWN EYES BLUE!!!

So...How badly do you want blue eyes?


As posted on CBS.com, a California scientist claims to have developed a simple procedure that turns brown eyes blue. Dr. Gregg Homer of California based Stroma Medical, the company behind the experimental procedure, says that he's convinced it doesn't affect vision. But the color change is permanent, so those blues eyes will be crying if the old brown eyes are missed.

The key to the procedure is a specially tuned laser that destroys the natural brown pigment melanin in the iris, the eye's central colored portion. The laser treatment takes about 20 seconds, with the color change occurring gradually over the next two to three weeks.

You might wonder, why go through all that trouble and face risk when you can just slip on a pair of colored contact lenses?

"Nineteen million people wear colored contact lenses, but light-colored contacts on dark eyes look unnatural and the wearer can't see as well," says Doug Daniels, Stroma Medical's CEO. And contact lenses carry risks as well, including the possibility of serious infections.
Dr. Homer says that he foresees another year or so of testing, with the technique becoming available outside the U.S. within 18 months and in the U.S. within three years and the procedure is expected to run about $5,000.

So...How badly do you want blue eyes? It's a permanent commitment. Do you think you'll regret it?

Fall 2011 Eye Shadow Trends

Although it might already feel like winter for some of us - as some of us are already wearing scarves and gloves, officially it's still just the season of Fall. And just as there are fashion color trends, there are makeup color trends too.

Let's take a look at what colors people are wearing on their eyes this season:

GOLD

Not exactly wearable everyday makeup, but the makeup artist did
 an awesome job with the shimmery gold leopard-spotted eyes and deep plum lips,
representing this seasons makeup colors.

DEEP BLUE



EVE looking gorgeous in her deep blue shadow with pale glossed lips.

Angelina Jolie with deep blue eyeshadow and pink glossed lips.

PLUM



So the Golds, Darker Blues and Plums are what's hot now. Since Gold is a lighter color, opt for a darker lip color. The Blues and Plums can be worn with both, either a pale lip or a darker color. Have fun experimenting. The amazing thing about these 3 colors in particular is that they will look good with any color clothing you might be wearing so you don't have to worry about whether or not it will match, it's up to you to decide which color you want to wear that day and any of the 3 will do.

Fast and cute hairstyle ideas

Dear Jenn,
I am sooooo not a morning person, I am always late to school and work and so doing my hair takes too long for me. I'd like to know if you have any do your hair quick tips for me. I have long brown wavy hair (not that the color matters). So do you have any fast and cute hairstyle ideas for me?
-Eileen

Dear Eileen,
The fastest way to fix any type of long hair is up in a ponytail. Now you just don't want any pony, you're going to want a CHIC pony.

So here are a few easy to do chic ponytails:

Here Beyonce sports a slick-back pony with loose curls.

J-Lo wears a side part pony with loose waves.

To Get This Look: The night before, put your hair in a pony, and apply mousse to the rest of your hair. Braid it and secure the end with a rubber band. In the morning, remove the rubber band and loosen the braid using your fingers. Side part your bangs and sleek them back using mousse or gel. Re-secure your pony, finger comb your hair and there you have it! 

Carrie Underwood and Jessica Simpson chics it out with side swept bangs and Carrie adds a side swept pony.

To Get This Look:  Loosely tease the top back part of your hair. Separate your bangs from the rest of your hair. Side part your bangs and let them hang on the sides. Then softly brush the rest of your hair into a low pony and secure with a pony holder or scrunchie of your choice. Or you can do like Jessica Simpson by taking a small part of your hair, wrapping it around the pony and secure it with a clear rubberband or bobby pin. Super chic!

Jessica Alba graces her pony tail with a slight poof.

To Get This Look: Lightly spray some hair spray on the front portion of your bangs and tease. Then lightly brush your hair back along with the rest of your hair into a pony making sure not to destroy the "poof". Lightly spray again to keep it in place, but don't over-do it with the spray, you want to go for a more naturally finished look.

Ciara achieves a super sleek look here by parting her hair down the middle,
 and taking it all back tightly into a mid pony. 

Kim Kardashian successfully pulls off wearing a pony with her evening dress.
She aced it with all her hair slicked back into a high wrap-around pony.

These are all looks you can achieve fast and with very little effort. Not only that, it gives your hair a healthy break from all those hot tools you might or might not be using. Have fun and don't be afraid to experiment with your own styles.





Big butt problem...or is it???

Dear Jenn,
I recently read your post about the girl with the big breast problem, so I got enough courage to write and tell you about my "big butt" problem. I have a very flattering figure so my girl friends tell me, but sometimes I think too flattering. I have the exact figure like Kim Kardashian. Yes my butt is just as big as hers too!!!

I know you're probably going to say that I should be proud of it, and I am to a certain point. I am just tired of the unwanted attention and cat calls that I get from strangers in the street. In high school, all of my male "buddies" were not friends at all, they just wanted to get with me in the end. And now I am getting similar attention from work.

I want people to get to know and appreciate me for me, my character and personality, and not for my body, I'm tired of being treated or looked at like some piece of meat.

I want to dress differently in order to cover myself a little more, but at the same time I don't want to look baggy and sloppy. Can you help me with style tips on how I can cover up a little and still look chic at the same time?

-name withheld

Dear Withheld,
Yes you are right, I am going to tell you to be proud of it, and with a little help you will soon be accepting of your gorgeous figure. Now let's take a look at how the Queens of big butts do it, Miss J Lo and Miss Kim Kardashian.


Here Jennifer Lopez wears a pair of skinny pants with a tunic-style top. She compliments the outfit with a belt, worn very stylishly and giving off a professional yet chic look.


In this pic J-Lo is again wearing a tunic length, free flowing striped top. Wearing stripes distracts the eyes and helps to conceal the curves.


Here Kim Kardashian wears a tunic length jacket with what appears to be a basic white tanktop and tights, paired with studded boots. A great outfit for an out and about day while covering up casual chic style!


In the above pic, Kim wears a lovely loose fitting yet feminine top, along with a pair of short shorts. The rolled shorts, also loose fit, takes emphasis away from her curves. Very pretty and feminine. (I'm still wondering what the heck were the girls to the left and right of her thinking when they woke up and got dressed that morning, come on now!!!)

 
I just love how Kim puts together this outfit. She overlays the soft feminine shirt with a cropped jacket and pair of jeans. She accessorizes with a gorgeous long goldtone necklace and camel colored satchel.

The shirt doesn't seem to cover her rump completely but only halfway, again taking some of the emphasis off her assets ( pun intended =)

So the theme that seems to be running here are tunic length shirts paired with skinny jeans or tights.

As you can see from these pics, there are many ways and different styles you can put together, cover up, and still look damned good!

And always remember that the right accessories such as jewelry, belts and purses, can be used to draw peoples attention to it (as Kim does in the last photo with that gorgeous necklace) and away from the places that you don't want the focus.

So be happy with your body, and always love yourself first no matter what!

What Halloween Costume Would You Wear These With???

Only 1 week left until Halloween. If you don't have a costume yet, maybe these shoes will spark your imagination!!!

Take a look and share your thoughts... What costume would you wear these with?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

So what costume would YOU wear them with?