by Wendy
For anyone contemplating a keratin treatment, here are a few notes on my experience.
After keratin appointment
Keratin Chronicles
Category Archives: Looks (fashion and style stories)
Coolest Vending Machine: Benefit Cosmetics
by Wendy
Follow me on twitter @wendylooksleaps
Until they invent a vending machine that delivers a plate of freshly made patatas bravas or croquetas de jamon y queso with a cold glass of cava, I’m deeming the Benefit cosmetics vending machine the coolest.
Have you noticed these in airports? I’ve run across 3 or 4, most recently in Reno/Tahoe and Savannah/Hilton Head, and every time I linger to wistfully admire the candy-color display. There’s something about Benefit’s cute packaging and cheeky product names that makes its brand kinda magnetic for gals who think makeup is fun. Not that their products don’t work well – those I’ve tried certainly do. But part of their allure is that they remind me of the thrill of messing about with blue eyeshadow and frosty pink lipstick as a preteen. Or wearing multi-colored fake eyelashes to a 7th grade mixer which your classmates think is weird but you feel as cool as David Bowie or Cyndi Lauper. I think Benefit celebrates that sense of play and individuality – it’s not just utilitarian makeup. Continue reading
Mother Daughter Style
by Sunny
follow me on Twitter @sunnylooksleaps
I’ve always been a huge fan of shopping. Malls, Marshalls, Target, online, I love to browse even if I don’t actually purchase. I guess this is not surprising considering my mother and grandmother’s love of shopping. I was always happy to tag along with them on their outings and owe everything I know about finding a bargain to them.
When MJ was born, the shopping frenzy took full force. Everyone loves to shop for a little girl! During her first year, I remember her having more pink frilly sleepers, dresses, and rompers then she had time to wear. At a year old, she would open her closet, look at all of her clothes, and say, ‘WOW.” She loved to dress up, loved to wear costumes, and still loves to put together her own outfits. She has a one-of-a-kind style that only she knows the rules to. Her outfits are loud, often mis-matched, and only sometimes seasonally appropriate. While I have always made rather sensible and safe fashion choices, MJ wears what she wants without a thought as to what other people may think. And while I love this about her, shopping trips and picking out an outfit can be a challenge.
Drugstore Beauty Buys
by April, Sunny and Wendy
Every gal has a few beauty tricks up her sleeve – including go-to budget products that can be found at the local drugstore. Here are some of our personal faves. Please share yours in the comments below! Continue reading
Notes on Fragrance
by Wendy
What’s your favorite fragrance? This question was posed during an afternoon spent visiting friends and family in New Jersey. The answers were as varied as you would expect – as was the general interest in the topic. After everyone else drifted back to other subjects, I enthusiastically chatted about perfume and cologne with the questioner, who works in the luxury beauty industry and is a wealth of knowledge. To hear him discuss various designer scents is like listening to a sommelier describe wine.
We talked about the fun of taking a new sample fragrance on a trip, and then forever being reminded of that time and place by the perfume or cologne. This is not a new idea – other writers have mentioned this connection. But I think we often forget how powerful our sense of smell can be, how immediate our reaction to scent can be. A fragrance can be so evocative, almost conjuring memories to the surface as if by magic. It can influence an atmosphere or give a hint of someone’s personality. Continue reading
A Heel of a Good Shoe
by Wendy
Follow me on twitter @wendylooksleaps
Jack and I met up after errands on a mild Spring evening and decided to walk to a popular French restaurant in a trendy neighborhood. We were seated at one of the cafe tables lining the sidewalk in a row. The weather was perfect for outdoor dining, and we ordered wine and steak frites. As I strolled back to our table after a quick trip to the powder room, I spotted it. A beautiful shoe. Kind of a platform, ankle strap, with a high, colorfully-striped blocked heel. Like a shoe out of those mesmerizing Dolce&Gabbana magazine ads where everyone’s wearing elegant black lace or vibrant sundresses and giant sparkly accessories while chowing down on pasta in Sicily – and it all looks impractical and totally believable at the same time. I didn’t notice the shoe owner’s outfit. She had her leg crossed and the cool shoe was dangling out there daring all of us to be jealous. I nearly stopped to compliment the shoe and in a different mood, I might have. Instead I returned to Jack and our lovely evening, a bit more conscious of my choice of ballet flats. Continue reading
Packing for the Caribbean
by Sunny
follow me on Twitter @Sunnylooksleaps
In November, Jimmy and I spent five glorious days in Negril, Jamaica at the Rockhouse Hotel to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary. As I was looking through our honeymoon photos (also spent in the Caribbean) I laughed at some of my style choices. Granted, I could get away with a lot more at the age of 23! I did most of my shopping for our Jamaica trip during the summer sales when swimsuits and sundresses are cheap and plentiful. Here’s what I packed for our low-key resort stay,
5-4-3-2-1 Fix It!
by Wendy
Just like the old television character “MacGyver” who was constantly using everyday objects to get himself out of trouble, here are a few tricks I’ve used to temporarily fix various clothes and beauty issues. I can’t guarantee they’ll work in every situation, but you may find something to inspire an even better solution. Above all don’t give up – you can pull it together before you fall apart. Usually. Continue reading
Looks and Leaps Fall Transition
By April, Sunny, and Wendy
How do you deal with the change of seasons when the weather still feels like summer? Read on to see some of our ideas for Fall transition fashions!
Post-trip Packing Post: Spain 2 Weeks
by Wendy
Follow me on Twitter @wendylooksleaps
You know we love posts about packing on Looks and Leaps. We’ve written about the summer capsule wadrobe, spring transition, and packing for a ski trip, to name just a few. My recent challenge was two weeks in Europe (mostly Spain but also 2 days in France) with carry-on only. My husband Jack and I each took a carry-on suitcase and figured we could do laundry at some point. My goals were to 1) bring clothes that I really liked wearing, 2) mix and match items for a variety of outfits and 3) avoid any fashion fails. Continue reading