FBFF: Do You Care About Your Hair?

For me, the not so simple answer to this question is kinda. While I understand that good hair is quintessential to helping you look your best, maintaining mine usually takes a back seat to everything else.

This week's Fashion Beauty Friend Friday questions look deeper into this issue.

1. How often do you get your hair cut? Not as often as I should.  I am actually terrible at getting it cut on a regular basis. I hate taking time out of my routine to do it.  I know I should though.

2. Do you go to the same stylist each time, try someone new, go to the cheap hair cutting chains or live it up in a salon? If I'm getting my hair professionally colored (which I don't do often since I'm a brunette) I will go to the same girl at a very nice salon.  Since I have fairly straight hair and usually get it dry cut I'll just run into a random Hair Cuttery for a trim.  I don't want to spend anymore than $20.00 if I'm just getting rid of split ends.

3. Do you color your hair? How often? What’s your natural color? Yes, I do color my hair. I've actually been coloring my hair since high school because my hair gets brassy which REALLY bothers me.  I don't have to do it too often, just when it starts to look bland, brassy and dull.  Then I usually just grab a box kit from somewhere and touch it up myself.

4. The one thing you always do to keep your hair looking great is: Use Frederick Fekkai Glossing Shampoo and Conditioner. It's amazing.

5. What hair trend do you love and wish you could rock? I can't say that there is just one hair trend I'd like to rock other than the one I'm rocking now (which is long hair that I can wear straight, wavy or curly and do various different styles with.) However, it would be fun to be a celebrity and have the ability to cut your hair shorter and then get extensions whenever you wanted longer hair again.  That would be awesome.

What about you? Do you take time to care for your hair? Or does it take a backseat to other things like my poor hair?

XXoo

All That Glitters Isn't Always Gold...

Sometimes it's crystal!

Ever since SWAROVSKI created those small crystal animal keepsakes, I've been hooked. My love of their top notch crystals has stayed with me throughout my life. (I even wore a SWAROVSKI covered net jacket during my wedding ceremony.)

SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS helps bring these glorious crystals to everyday elements - fashion (both garments and accessories,) interior design and lighting.

They are truely one of my favorite things.



Inspired by Dancing With The Stars (anyone voting for Kirstie? I AM!) SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS has partnered with USA Dance to support 10 of our countries best ranked dancers at the USA Dance 2011 National DanceSport Championships.  They created one-of-a-kind costumes and accessories for these dancers and they are absolutely stunning!

To view all of these amazing costumes and vote for your favorite on Facebook, click HERE.  They will be posted until June 8, 2011 when fans favorites are announced.

Let me know which one is your favorite! It was too hard for me to pick just one!

XXoo

P.S. To view more of the amazing things available by SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS check out their website.

This Season's Crop of Tops

Inspired by a lack of comments and a new found obsession with Polyvore and corset/bustier tops, I decided to do a follow up post and share more of my favorites with you.

1.Myla corset top, $305.00
2.Corset top, $40.00
3.TopShop corset top, $40.00
4.All Saints corset top, $120.00
5.Marc Jacobs crop top, $310.00
6.Corset top, $32.00
7.Preen tank top, $355.00
8.Mara Hoffman corset top, $260.00
9.Corset top, $318.00

Given crop tops are such a huge trend would you (have you) dared to bare your stomach this season?

XXoo

Monday Musings

1. B by Ted Baker flower top, 25 GBP
2. Yves Saint Laurent clutch bag, 470 GBP
3. H&M slim leg jeans, 30 GBP
4. Qupid court shoes, $26
5. Dominic Jones rose gold jewelry, 140 GBP

Happy Monday everyone!  Thanks to the possibility of having a post published this July as a guest blogger for Envishoes.com, I have now become obsessed with Polyvore.  I had heard of it before but never knew how fun (and easy) it could be to use! (So my apologies in advance, there might be a lot of posts featuring Polyvore collages!)

Anyhow, I decided to do a post for today featuring one of my favorite obsessions for summer - the bustier/corset top. Paired with jeans and heels, these tops add the perfect amount of feminine sex appeal while staying on top of the trend.

Do you Polyvore?

XXoo

FBFF: Outside Influences

Today's Fashion Beauty Friend Friday questions once again focus on where our fashion inspiration comes from.  In a world where fashion is everywhere and everything (or so it seems) and is constantly in your face, how do you choose to let it inspire you and where do you turn for inspiration by choice?

1. What magazines do you subscribe to? I don’t subscribe to any.  I enjoy reading Lucky, Vogue and Elle though.

2. Do you watch any fashion TV shows? Does The City count as a fashion TV show? Probably not but when it was on I loved to watch it for the fashion so I’ll count that.  I think Whitney Port and Olivia Palmero have great style.  (I’ll probably get some slack for this answer.)

3. Beyond blogs, what websites do you frequent for fashion
inspiration? Honestly, I can’t say that I frequent any public (online or in print) on a regular basis but when I am looking for inspiration I’ll read TheDailyFrontRow.com, CocoPerez.com and InStyle.com.  I’m a huge fan of blogs though.

4. Advertisements play a huge role in forming public opinion about a product or brand… what ads do you like and why? As someone who works in advertising, I LOVE this question.  I’m always analyzing ads and ad locations and campaigns to see which ones really get me.  I think Guess has always done a fantastic job of creating visually appealing ads and keeping a consistent brand image.  Michael Kors print ads do a great job of selling a luxury lifestyle brand and Tommy Hilfiger runs great TV spots by playing on American stereo types.  Every time I see those commercials it makes me think of the Tommy Hilfiger bikini I had to have in high-school and then I think, “I like what they are selling here; maybe I should buy another one.”

5. Do you own any fashion books? No but I do keep a binder of pages that I rip out of magazines and use for inspiration.

Just curious, what are some of the most effective ads you have seen?

XXoo

Suit Up

This time of year always tends to be an epic struggle for me.  Should I have that beer? Those chips? Those carbs?  I know it should be crunch time (literally) but I can never bring myself to be as disciplined as I should be.  I'm probably not the only that goes through a serious self debate the entire month of May trying to get ready for [the dreaded] bathing suit season.

Since I can never guarantee that I will be able to stick to an intense workout regimen and a diet made for celebrities, I always like to have a few bathing suit choices that will flatter my figure no matter what kind of day I am having.

Here are some of my favorites.

Splish splash

(One-shoulder Cutout One-piece available @ Alloy.com, $35.90)

Build a sandcastle

(Billabong Daniella Bikini available @ Konasports.com, $74.00)

Hang ten

(Pistol Panties Heart-detail Multiway Bikini available @ TheOutnet.com, $71.75)

Hit the boardwalk

(Missoni Mare Banares Crochet-knit Bandeau Bikini available @ NETAPORTER.com, $475.00)

Fun in the sun

(Zimmermann Whisper Crochet-trimmed Underwired Swimsuit available @ NETAPORTER.com, $345.00)

Summertime and the livings easy

(Ralph Lauren LaceOptic Triangle Bikini available @ MyTheresa.com, $198.00)

What’s your swimwear style?

XXoo

"You Can't Have A Bad Day Wearing Good Choos"

FBFF: Shoes….

1.What is your go-to pair of shoes? I actually have three pairs of go-to shoes.  For winter they are patent semi-round toe black Stuart Weitzman pumps, for spring and summer I always find myself pulling out my Jimmy Choo peep-toe sling-backs or my Christian Louboutin black peep-toe closed back heels.

2. What goes into your shoe buying decisions? I fall in love easily (with shoes) so when I see a pair I love, I have to get them and can't rest until I do. 

3. The majority of the shoes in your closet are what color? Just like the majority of the garments in my closet, the majority of my shoes (in their very own shoe closet) are black as well.  Of course, I have shoes in other colors to go with outfits that might need a shoe other than black but I'd say 40 out of 50 or so pairs are a form of black.

(My linen turned shoe closet. All the boxes are full and the floor is covered.  Almost impossible to capture the entire closet using just the camera on my phone but you get the gist!)

4. When it comes to designer shoes what are your favorite brands and why? I think of shoes as investment pieces, heirlooms.  I'm a sucker for a quality shoes that won't go out of style.  If I put money into a pair they will more than likely be a pair I can wear 5, 10, 15, 30+ years from now.  (I don't wear certain pairs in certain types of weather and I am very specific about what I am walking on when I wear them.)  So I guess to sum this question up - my favorite designers are Jimmy Choo and Christian Louboutin.  Both designers make footwear that fills all the above quota. (Side note - if you are looking for a mid-priced quality shoe Nine West makes an amazing comfortable quality shoe that won't break the bank!  I own a TON!)

5. If price wasn’t an issue, you’d own which shoe? This is a tough one.  I spend a lot of money on shoes and don't show much constraint.  Honestly, they are one of the main reasons I work. (Well that and bills!)  It might be some outlandish pair of Giuseppe Zanottis.  They are fabulous fun shoes but for the price I'm not sure I could justify the one time wear! I'd have to be a millionaire!

What are some of your favorite go-to shoes?  Tweet me pics @TMHessler.

XXoo

Dressed To Impress

Spring and summer bring great weather which is usually a great excuse to get outside and celebrate.  No matter the celebration, a great dress is perfect for every event. (Dresses are one of my favorite summer go-tos mainly because they allow you to remain comfortable all day no matter how much you may have eaten!)

Here are some of my favorites:

This is the ULTIMATE summer party dress.  Perfect for going from a BBQ to a night out.

(Tibi Long Dress available @ Zappos Couture, $583.00)

This is another dress that looks great for any summer occasion.  It’s easily dressed up or down and with its simple fabric, it’s a classic.

(Velvet Tamra Dress available @ Shopbop.com, $106.00)

Perfect for evening parties.

(Leyendecker Sail Away Long Dress available @ Shopbop.com, $320.00)

I love James Perse for various reasons.  The main one being that he makes quality garments at affordable prices.  This dress looks great with flats, belted or not.  Perfect for a day full of fun.

(James Perse Striped Scoop Neck Dress available @ Shopbop.com, $105.00)

I love the ballerina-like feel of this dress.  With a dress this fun, it’d be hard to have a bad time!

(Theyskens’ Theory Dotta Dress available @ Shopbop.com, $435.00)

While I didn’t plan it this way, almost all of my favorite go to dresses are available at Shopbop.com.  Shopbop provides a wide array of great clothing, accessories and shoes.  It’s the perfect place to look for the perfect outfit!

XXoo