'Holiday Looks' Christmas & New Year's Eve Edition

Holiday Glamour!  Elie Tahari Halter Evening Gown.

Holidays are the time for over the top glamour and shine!  Rich gold and silver metallics with vibrant jewel-tones are perfect for this time of year and when making an entrance at that Christmas Ball or New Year's Eve party.  The goal is to look chic and elegant with a touch of shimmer.  When it's time to get ready, you'll need to make sure you compliment the festive surroundings.  That little black dress will need some gold or silver embellishments.  The dress shown above is by NYC designer, Elie Tahari and is simply gorgeous with beautiful rich gold flowers against a satiny background.  This particular design even has hidden pockets! I like to wear a gown like this with a light crinoline underneath which gives it a little lift and movement as it is floor-length. This is a generous women's Size 6 with a long back invisible zipper and very comfortable to wear.  Get more details about this Tahari ASL, Size 6 evening gown now HERE 

Tahari Evening Gown

Pierotucci Overnight Italian Leather Duffel Bag - Toscanella Collection #MFW

Pack this Pierotucci Overnight Duffle Bag for Milan Fashion Week! Italian Leather - Toscanella Collection, made entirely in Italy.

Milan, Italy If you are hopping a quick flight to Milan Fashion Week, here's the bag to board with! It and you will feel right at home as it is a designer leather bag 100% made in Italy at the Pierotucci Factory. You can read more here on How to Pack a 24hr Bag but suffice it to say having the RIGHT luggage makes all the difference.

Fabric interior of this Overnight Bag has a zippered pouch and key holder.

The Legend of Italian Leather
If you are in Italy for Milan Fashion Week, you might want to take the time to learn a bit about one of the country's most prized exports, their Italian Leather goods. If you come to the Florence area and want a taste of Tuscany you can receive a lovely tour of traditional leather-working at the Pierotucci Leather Factory:

The Pierotucci tour consists of the following:

• Detailed Explanation of the Type of Leathers
• Cutting and Splitting of skins
• Assembling and stitching of the pattern pieces
• And Finishing touches

Pierotucci bags all come with a custom dust cover and are beautifully presented.

Holiday Gift Idea
The holidays are coming and what could be more thoughtful than a beautiful leather travel bag like this? This overnight duffel bag is for a woman or a man. I simply added a silk scarf for day travel but for a flight or train trip you can add a leather luggage tag. Really, a lot of us are doing day trips or 24hr travel these days. My most common scenario would be to fly in the night before an event and fly right out after it was over the next day. This means I don't need a lot of clothing and accessories. The "duffel" shape allows you to pack a lot and zip it up. The interior has a beautiful striped fabric with a flat zippered pouch and is designed to hold the max amount of items.

Travel mode: Add a luggage tag and you're ready to board. Perfect for guys!

The Toscanella Collection - Description from the Pierotucci Website:

Italian Leather Duffel Bag
Ideal for an overnight escapade or perfect as your carry on luggage. This beautiful leather duffel bag can find a use in any lifestyle. With its compact, no-fuss body and sturdy yet lightweight structure it's also a great companion for a busy day in town. Entirely hand crafted in sumptuous calfskin leather with flawless stitching and detailing, it will turn heads wherever you go. Contrasting trim add pure sophistication to this bag's unquestionable quality and durability and metal feet on its bottom ensure wear and tear is minimal.

Features

Full-length top zip
One zipped inside pocket
Key holder
Metal feet for stability and durability
Striped cotton lining
Terra cotta colored accent
Average strap drop: 14 cm

Accessorize!

Don't forget to add a pop of color and personal  flair as it will help you to identify your luggage quickly. A scarf can also be placed on the seat for extra comfort and cleanliness.
Toscanella Overnight Duffel Bag c/o Pierotucci, Italy

 Silk scarf by Oscar de la Renta, green quartz necklace by Club Monaco, 5th Avenue

Natural Beauty: Purely Cosmetics & Seventh Generation Boosts

Natural together: Purely Cosmetics of CA and Seventh Generation Boost Serum are part of this look. Check out more of these all natural style secrets!  Breez'r Hat and Shirt by ExOfficio.

I can remember a time when if you wanted to purchase "natural" makeup and skincare products, you went down to the local village health-food store. There you would see only a handful of companies who used natural pigments and wholesome ingredients in their products. Now, that has all changed. You can go into Whole Foods, Wegmans, Duane Reade and find an amazing array of natural products to buy. This includes skincare, makeup and household items.

Natural Beauty ideas for fall 2013: Purely Cosmetics Skin Smoothing Foundation & Finishing Powder infused with diamonds and 7th Generation Boosts - Firming Serum.

Skin Care Products with a Green Approach
I had the opportunity to try some household products by Seventh Generation a few years ago, and many people may think of them for their "green" cleaning supplies. Now they have branched out with their new Boosts which utilize pure botanical and essential oils such as rosemary, tea tree, jojoba oil and more.

Seventh Generation Boosts Skin Serums
These Boosts come in six formulas which you can pick according to your specific skincare needs but they all contain rosemary oil which gives it a slight mint fragrance. It's not strong and quickly disappears but it is somewhat a signature fragrance for many Seventh Generation products.

Boost-Firming Formula
I've been trying out the Firming version of the Boost serum and have only used about a half a pump because it is summertime and my skin is already very moist. This product really does absorb quickly and leaves more of a glowy-plumpness than a greasy feel. I use it at night and when I awake, my skin is not overly oily, just well moisturized. No breakouts even though I have acne prone skin and use Retin-A. I like the lightness of the oil and how it quickly sinks in. Right now the Boosts are sold exclusively at Walgreens and retail for under $16.00. Definitely a bargain as you get a full 1.5 fl oz of product. I would use the Boost either alone or over a lighter, water-based moisturizer.

Purely Cosmetics Makeup 
Now for the makeup! One thing I've seen with European models is that they will spend more on skincare than makeup. They believe cosmetics should enhance good skin, not conceal highly troubled complexions. I agree with that but I do enjoy my makeup counter favorites!  However, for the fall, I am definitely going lighter and relying more on BB creams for everyday wear when I'm not in front of the camera.

Purely Cosmetics contain no bismuth, talc, micronized minerals or other irritants.

Purely Cosmetics 
I tried their Skin Smoothing Foundation which contains pure silk. It gives you very light coverage but would be great over BB cream or tinted moisturizer. The product which impresses me the most is their Diamond Perfect Finish. As the name is a give-away, it contains diamond powder. A little goes a long way and the shimmer is very subtle.  Very pretty even in full sun.

To get my "look", try these cosmetics with the Purely Cosmetics Foundation and Finishing Powder!

The finish of the Skin Smoothing Foundation is so light and airy, like wearing nothing at all. What I especially like is that I can wear it in areas where liquid foundations tend to cake up, like under the eyes. To get my "look" in the lead photo and extra coverage from this foundation:

1.) First I applied Seventh Generation Boost (Firming) and Embryolisse Lait Concentrate 24 hour Miracle Cream and L' Oreal Miracle Blur.

2. Next, Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer and Glamoflage.  

3. Purely Cosmetics Foundation in Olive Beige over the concealer. I then used a large Kabuki brush to apply and blend more foundation over my entire face and neck. Buff it in!

4. Eyes: Sephora Color Proof Eyeliner in Navy Blue, Kett Fixx Creme in Morocco. Lips: Victoria Secret Glossy Tint Lip Sheen in Manic Pink. Cheeks: Nars Orgasm Illuminator and Victoria's Secret Fresh Face Brightening Cream.

5. I topped it all of with the Purely Cosmetics Diamond Perfect Finish powder on a large blush brush.

*TIP: Warm up this look with a sheer bronzer with a little shimmer added. I am wearing Physician's Formula Sexy Booster (below) in the photo.

I've used Bare Minerals for years and while I like it, the product does not give you the opacity of cream or even liquid foundations. Purely Cosmetics says this foundation offers full coverage without looking cakey or emphasizing the fine lines and pores common to those with more mature skin. I really don't have major issues like that (except when my concealer creases) but do like a more dewy finish.

The Diamond Perfect Finish kind of gets around that by giving you a luminous glow without the oily sheen. I'm going to continue testing out this line but if you like Bare Minerals, I think you will really appreciate the difference Purely Cosmetics has to offer.

Foundation, Finishing Powder c/o Purely Cosmetics. I received a free sample of this product from Lucky and Seventh Generation for use in connection with this blog.