Kate Spade Store Coupon 20% OFF, DIY of Marni Runway Look!!

I really need to organize my blogs into tags/categories so it will be easier for you girls to navigate on. But right now, thanks to Google for its incredible searching mechanism that I hope you still can find something useful here other than seeing me fancy and vain in the pic. haha....!!!! lol.

This season, there is one more thing in my never-ending clothing wish list: A Cape!!!

I never really want ONE since it never occurs to me that it is a stylish staple in one's wardrobe. :P However, I know I am always enamored by its sophisticated look!! :) Maybe one day I will indulge myself w/ a classic piece like those on the mag.

Aren't those 3 capes classic n' gorgeous!!!!

I want to share a store coupon w/ you girls. This deal is better than its offered 15% off for joining in their email list. You just have to go to "store location" page and print out the coupon and use it in different stores if you have more than ONE item that you like!!! (Please don't tell SAs that I pass around this deal. :P)

Click it if you want to save 20% off from Kate spade!!

I know my friend, Yu, was looking kate spade short sleeves white shirt w/ bow at both shoulders one day. Now I think she can take the plunge!!!

This is the damage I made today for myself. A look between cape and military inspired wool coat. I think it also is classic enough.

I like the lining very much cause' it makes me feel YOUNG and chic!! hee~~

What else is this season's trend that I didn't get ???!!! Ah~~ Studs!!! Something or anything w/ studs!!! You know, I did a touch up on my overly teared True religion jeans just to get a flavor of studs for fun!! :)

When my in-laws were here, my mother-in-law sewed a piece of denim fabric underneath of every tear of my true religion jeans.
I must admit, she is awesome doing those sewing things for me and my 3 kids whenever their visits here. She also made clothes for them by herself. :)

All I need to do afterward is to iron those studs wherever I want!


You know it costs a lot when jeans have that underneath patches of denim look.

Done!!


Now I have a new pair of jeans w/ dispersive studs!! :)

You know what's so special today?! Today is FRIDAY again!!!! I love Fridays as much as I love holidays cause' it's followed by Sat. and Sun. which DH and I don't have to abide by schedules in general except for Heidi's piano lesson on Sunday!!

I went shopping for Kids in GAP. As you might already know that Stella McCartney designed a collection for Gapbaby and Gapkids!! I am too late to get a military inspired jacket for my son, otherwise, we could wear the same style ensembles!!!! That will be cool!!!

I add a metal zipper on my Moschino cheap and chic cropped pants to get the LOOK ALIKE of Marni's runway look!!






Now, I need a pale look like her!!


I use both YSL no. 2 and Mac gloss!!


Ok, I should have applied some foundation to pale my skin too. :P


Accessory is another key for the look. BR $19.99!!


Viola~~~ everything is recycled from my wardrobe except the Michael Star tunic is new!!



My ODJ.

1. Top:

• Orange Boss mustard color ruched turtleneck n' slightly belted sleeves
• Michael Star (15% cashmere) tunic w/ belt

2. Bottom: add 2 metal zippers on Moschino cheap and chic cropped pants

3. Accessory:

• Polka dots charcoal socks
• Marni platform mary-jane heels
• Banana Republic ivory plastic necklace (on sale $19.99)
• Hermes Gris T. 35cm Birkin

I love the golden metal zipper details!! Fun!!

Have a great weekend,girls!!

Oh, I will pass down those two rewards during this weekend!!!
So watch out, you maybe the one! :O Rach, xoxo

Project Runway Nick Verreos Recap on MyLifetime.com

Nina's Stilettos Stayed On!

It's the Last Challenge on Season Six of Project Runway! I cannot believe this season is almost over (insert sad face). But I already heard from a little Birdie that production has already finished for Season Seven (which will be back in NY) and those designers are getting their collections ready for the next NY Fashion Week. But until now, we must discuss the "Top Five". This final challenge involved getting inspired by the J.Paul Getty Museum. Tim told the final 5 to "Blow" the Stilettos off of Nina's feet! Unfortunately, this did not happen. In the end, it was OUT for Christopher Straub and Gordana Gelhausen and IN for Althea Harper, Irina Shabayeva and Carol Hannah Whitfield. It will be an ALL GIRLS Bryant Park Finale, once again on Project Runway.

Here are my Highlights (and lowlights) of this week's episode:

--Gordana's Miss Universe Gown:I loved it! It was so ethereal and romantic and so close to the Monet painting which inspired her. If only it wasn't GRAY!!!!! Gordana will now join the list of designers who have been ROBBED on Project Runway...welcome to the club Gordana!
Natar looked regal. Like...a former Miss Universe from Russia, the gorgeous Oxana Fedorova (who was dethroned unfortunately).

--Road Kill IrinaThank Goodness for Tim Gunn and his wise suggestion to Irina: Keep the rabbit fur AWAY from the silk chiffon. After a closer look at the painting which inspired her, I could see what she was thinking but yes, it was a runway-away from looking like Fashion Road Kill.

--Odd Duck Christopher:Oh Christopher, how much do I just want to hug you and not let go. The "Odd Duck" of this season, yes you are. You love them waist-cinching corsets and you've never met a Gathered Halter Top you did not lik. And don't get me started on the fabulous Prom Dress business he could have in Minnesota after this! Your "Rock Fountain"-inspired look from this week's challenge was not one of your best. Why the stiff skirt? It's a fountain, think liquid-like...charmeuse, jersey...SOMETHING! The skirt almost reminded me of this denim Prom gown. This has Christopher ALL over it!
I just wished he would have done THIS:Andrae Gonzalo's beautiful dress, inspired by the NYC gutter water. It's the NY version of the LA Getty Center/Museum Rock Fountain. Liquid, silky, flowy--all things "fountain" and water-inspired.

For more on what I really thought of this episode, Click HERE for my entire Recap of Episode 12 on MyLifetime.com and be sure to tell me what YOU thought!

Michael Kors for Estee Lauder!

The lovely Shangri-La (http://shangri-la-beauty.blogspot.com/) tipped me off about an upcoming limited edition Michael Kors and Estee Lauder collaboration due to be launched in January next year called 'Very Hollywood'! How exciting!

So I got on the case and found these pics:

Alot of people have commented that some of it looks very 'Barbie' but I quite like Barbie shades!ha ha. I love the look of the lipglosses and lipsticks! The range has been split into two camps...Bel Air Beige which will consist of nude shades with with shimmery peaches for cheeks and lips, beige and warm browns for the eyes, and an opaque beige nail polish, The Rodeo Pink collection consists of vibrant pinks, grey/silver eye duos for smokey eyes, whilst lips and nails will be shades of hot cerise. There's also a loose shimmer powder in pearly pink for the signature 'Kors glow'.Each one will feature two lipglosses, two lipsticks, one blush, an eyeshadow duo, an eye pencil, and a corresponding nail lacquer.

I dunno about you, but this really appeals to me! There are nude shades to suit everyone by the look of it and you can't go wrong with pink. Maybe it's because I'm such a girly girl, but the nudes and browns also sound great. Due to my recent rediscovery of Estee Lauder, I can't wait for this to launch so I can run down to my nearest counter and swatch to my heart's content!

Will you be checking it out?

Review of Estee Lauder Goodies

This post is a review of the following Estee Lauder products pictured above:

Bronze Goddess Soft Matte Bronzer

Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara

Double Wear Zero Smudge Liquid Liner in Black

Maximum Cover Camouflage Makeup in Light/Medium

Double Wear Stay In Place Shadow Creme in Antique Gold (no.4)

Bronze Goddess Soft Matte Bronzer - As I have said before, for daytime use, I much prefer matte bronzers as they have a more natural finish (shimmery does not equal natural!). The Estee Lauder website describes this product as a "silky, luxurious powder bronzer.Works with virtually any skintone. Sweep it on and the smooth, oil-free powder gives face, shoulders and décolletage a seductive bronze look.Unique oil-control complex keeps skin shine-free and comfortable". The first thing I noticed about the bronzer is that it's in the Barry M bronzer colour category in that it has a mauve undertone to it. This ensures that it doesn't look orangey on the skin and gives a much more subtle effect. The powder is extremely finely milled and silky smooth to apply. It didn't leave any streaks and the colour is perfect, my skin looked golden without being over the top, it's incredibly natural looking. I love the fact that it's matte (if you look VERY closely there is a teeny tiny amount of shimmer particles in the powder but this is definitely not visible on the skin). It created a lovely matte finish without looking powdery or cakey. Here's a swatch of the product...

You get quite alot of product and there's a brush provided that feels really soft and of high quality (as I've said before, some brushes that come with these type of products can be scratchy). I prefer to apply this bronzer with a big bronzer brush but I would definitely use the big brush provided in the compact for touch-ups during the day. I must say though that the powder is very long lasting as I haven't have to re-apply it yet. There is a plastic lid that fits over the bronzer to avoid any messiness. The powder felt comfortable on my skin and wasn't drying in the slightest. I LOVE this bronzer!

Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara - I had heard alot of good things about this mascara from other people (I think Aleksis a.k.a. Alpha Blonde had also tried a small sample of this product). I am always on the lookout for a good mascara and I generally have two categories...daytime mascara that gives good length and staying power but doesn't have to create much volume as I like a clean look for work. My nightime mascara has to be deeply black, lengthening, volumising and basically make my lashes look false. This is where Sumptuous comes in. Normally I have to apply a lash primer to achieve the false eyelash look but this mascara gives amazing lift and volume without the need for another product. This has all the benefits of YSL Faux Cils but without the short lifespan (YSL one dries out way too fast as we all know). The website describes Sumptuous as having an "unprecedented Bold Volume™ formula that has ultra light, lash-thickening fibers. Lifts and plumps even sparse lashes into big, lush lashes that are all lightness and flirtatious curl. Exclusive BrushComber™ thickens like a brush. Defines like a comb. Wraps your entire lash in air-light volume. Lashes soar with 360° lift and curl". Here's what the brush looks like...

I really love this mascara and I would go as far as to say that I have found my new holy grail of mascaras! It's perfect - it gives my lashes loads of length and volume, it doesn't clump or flake off, it doesn't smudge even after 12 hours of wear. You can also layer it to your heart's delight so you can control how much drama you want to add to your eyes. I can't fault this mascara! The packaging feels expensive and the formula is just the right consistency, not too wet and not too dry. Because of this formula, it doesn't dry out like the YSL one AND it's cheaper! This is the effect it gives....
I am really starting to wonder why on earth I have neglected Estee Lauder for so long!

Double Wear Zero Smudge Liquid Liner in Black - I have been looking for a black liquid eyeliner that I can really rely on for long-wear and with a non-smudge formula. I have tried MAC Liquidlast and GOSH Extreme Art Liners and they are good but these have proven to be a nightmare to remove at the end of the day! They also have brush applicators which can be tricky to use at times. I much prefer the felt tip style liquid liners as they are alot easier to use when you are in a rush and there's more chance you will get a straight clean line as there are no brush fibres splaying out everywhere. Here's what the applicator looks like...

This liquid liner lasted the whole day without running into my inner waterline and without smudging. The colour is a very intense black and the firm felt tip applicator gives you alot of control to create a precise clean line. The main reason I love this liner is because even though it refuses to budge during the day, it's easy to remove at night with a makeup remover wipe. I personally hate it when I have to scrub my eyes to get a product off and it's certainly not good for the delicate eye area. If you are a big fan of black liquid liners like me then you will love this product!

Maximum Cover Camouflage Makeup in Light/Medium - I have been happy with my Revlon Colorstay Foundation of late but fancied a change to check out maximum coverage foundation. I wanted to see how the consistency and coverage differed from other foundations. On the website this foundation is described as a foundation that "Has SPF15, conceals skin imperfections, including surgical and acne scars, birthmarks, sun spots and varicose veins, with this soothing, natural-looking makeup.Full Coverage, Natural-looking, Long-wearing, Waterproof, Non-transferable. Ideal for post-surgery use as directed by your physician. Dermatologist-tested, Non-acnegenic, Non-fragranced". I have the Light/Medium shade which looks like this:

Let me first explain that I don't have acne or any scars to conceal, however I like to have this type of product to hand in case I get a bad breakout of Psoriasis. This isn't a foundation I would wear every day but it's handy to have in case you have a bad breakout of spots etc. The formula is incredibly light and I was shocked at how weightless it felt on my skin!You only need a tiny amount of this product and the coverage is fantastic. The formula is very unique because on contact with the skin, it sort of transforms into a light powder without sacrificing any coverage. I think that's the reason why it feels so light. This product could also be used as a light concealer. It lasts all day without budging at all and to be honest, I would even go as far as to say that the formula is lighter than that of Revlon Colorstay. It's certainly a thinner consistency. I was super impressed with this foundation and I can see how it would be so useful for anyone with scars or acne. Obviously if you don't suffer from any of these problems then this foundation may not be for you but for anyone with something like Rosacea (a condition that causes extreme redness) then this product could be a life saver. Top marks to Estee Lauder for coming up with such a great product and addressing a part of the consumer market that is rarely explored by other high end brands.

Double Wear Stay In Place Shadow Creme in Antique Gold (no.4) - I am a big fan of MAC Paint Pots however I sometimes feel like there isn't enough colour choice (or at least ones that suit my skintone). As you know, I am a big fan of golds and bronzes and this product definitely falls into that category. The website describes the product as a "cream eyeshadow that delivers intense colour that lasts up to 15 hours and goes on fast, stay-true colour at your fingertips with matte to demi-pearl finishes, creamy formula goes on smoothly, blends easily. Seamless coverage won't crease or fade. Can be worn alone or layered under powder eyeshadow". Generally, I would use these types of products as a base for my powder eyeshadow to create a good base and intensify the colour. However, I have been wearing this cream eyeshadow alone as the colour is so gorgeous (can be seen in my last FOTD). Here's a swatch of the product...

It really does live up to it's description and it's definitely on par with MAC Paint Pots. The reason why this range has the edge is purely because the shades are more flattering and varied.

The main thing I have realised through trying these products is that I shouldn't have dismissed the Estee Lauder brand for so long. I loved every single product. I had assumed it was a brand for more mature ladies as the marketing seems to be driven that way. However, they have alot to offer us younger ladies and the quality of their products is second to none.