Trends

Being under 5′ 4″, I try to avoid shoes with ankle straps for fear they will make me look even shorter — but I simply can’t resist the Spring 2013 ankle strap sandal trend! My choice for short gals? The elegant Elizabeth and James Toni Ankle Strap Bare Sandal in Nude. Its thin, flesh-colored cowhide leather straps don’t break the line of your leg like a thicker printed or black sandal would.

At $298, they’re a bit of an investment, but here’s how I look at it: They have a curved 4-inch heel (with a .25-inch platform), so they’ll be slightly easier to walk in than say, the $45 Michael Antonio Jaxine Rep, which has a straighter 4.25-inch heel and no platform. (FYI, I strongly considered the latter.) And ultimately, a shoe like this is worth an investment. The style will last for years and go with everything. I plan to pair them with pastel cropped skinny jeans and practically every cocktail dress I own.

It’s always fun to see a fellow blogger snag a modeling gig with a cool brand. In this case, I’m referring to actress, model and Trop Rouge blogger Christina Caradona, the new face of Ready to Wear designer Valentina Shah‘s Spring-Summer 2013 collection, which debuted this month.

Already seen on celebrities such as Alicia Keys and Cindy Crawford, Valentina Shah clothing is an sexy hybrid of old world beauty, inspired by Valentina’s days in Rome uncovering her grandmother’s vintage pieces, and modern chic, likely inspired by her 10+ years as a fashion executive. I was immediately drawn to this collection — her second thus far — because of its timelessness and versatility. (more…)

What do you think when you hear the term “sexy hair”? Soft, beachy waves à la Victoria’s Secret Swim Catalog? Yeah, me too. But how does that explain gals like Charlize Theron, Anne Hathaway and Miley Cyrus? IMHO, they look just as sexy now — perhaps even sexier — than they did with long, flowing (and dare I say … generic?) locks.

For those of you who agree, consider checking out what Sexy Hair has to offer come June. The Chatsworth, Calif.-based line — perhaps best known for Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play, the hairspray in the big red can — is releasing a new product line dedicated to helping edgy hairstyles hold up. (more…)

From Academy Award winner Jennifer Lawrence to Vanity Fair Oscar Party show stopper Selena Gomez, smoky eye makeup was all over the red carpet last night. (Love!)

Now, how do we get these sultry looks at home? Well, step one is to invest in a good, creamy long-wear liner. My favorite as of late is Tarte Skinny SmolderEYES Amazonion Clay Waterproof Liner. Celebrity makeup artist Jenn Streicher used it in Moonstone Brown on Gomez (above left), while celebrity makeup artist Kayleen McAdams used Onyx yesterday on Channing Tatum’s wife, Jenna Dewan-Tatum (aka the luckiest girl alive). (more…)

What do the Grammys, Downton Abbey and Valentine’s Day have in common? That’s right: Dandy details! This Valentine’s Day, take a cue from Justin and Jay-Z in “Suit & Tie” and let your man get dandy. Try pairing one of these gentlemanly accessories with a dinner out (or request a private fashion show, if you know what I mean):

Gallant & Beau London Customized Dandy Box Set — As TDO’s Kathleen recently said, every dude needs a pair of socks. I couldn’t agree more. Inspired by “the original ‘dandy’ Beau Brummell,” these socks are the perfect excuse to experiment with color. And, for $48.50, you can customize your own box (shown: Sloane Red, Westminster Black and St. James Red). (more…)

Ah, cleanses. It’s been over a year since I did my last cleanse — mainly because, well, I’m not a huge fan of cleanses. But leading up to my latest vacation, I decided to do a short one to prepare myself for the days of decadence ahead (and yes, lose a quick few pounds). That and I was curious about Kaeng Raeng, an affordable vegan and gluten-free detox cleanse developed by entrepreneur, writer, certified personal trainer and animal rights activist Lindsay Reinsmith.

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Celebs like January Jones have let spring’s bright colors go to their heads, and now you can too! Certain salons are now offering color bars, where you can get a temporary flash of color added to your hair via hair chalking or colored clip-in extensions. The best part? There’s no commitment.

I recently got to check out The Color Pop Bar at The Private Room in Beverly Hills, Calif., where they use non-toxic 100% pure pastels from France “to ensure vibrancy and optimal coverage.”

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Just got a tip from green celebrity nail stylist Jenna Hipp that she used HIPPxRGB Nail Foundation F2 topped with Nail Tint T1 on the lovely Scarlett Johansson at The Avengers premiere this week. (See “More” for a photo of Scarlett’s nails.) The result? A perfectly matched nude polish.

If you’re as deeply in love with nude nail polish as I am, this is amazing because it’s often really hard to find a nude polish that matches your skin tone. This is also why I’m obsessed with the HIPPxRGB collection. It’s the first line of skin-tone specific, full coverage, all nude nail color, conceived with the idea that nude polish should match your nails—kind of like foundation or tinted moisturizer matches your face. (more…)