The New Shoe Review (Miz Mooz)

 I’m completely crushing on a shoe company I stumbled upon recently. It’s funny, I was actually in North Carolina when this NYC brand caught my eye.

I was doing my “new town shopping tour”, when my eyes fixated on these slouchy, leathery, oddly shaped sandals. I was intrigued by how imperfectly cool they looked. I decided right there I couldn’t leave the store without trying on these little gems. Read More

Making Sense of Scents (A lesson on fragrance)

How long have you been sporting your fragrance? Would you say you have a signature scent?

Much like the clothes we choose, our perfume/cologne is another form of expression that can set us apart from the pack. Sense of smell is the most memorable sense of all the senses. It’s amazing how one sniff of something can bring you back to any point of time in your life.

Recently, I was in a store and passed by the men’s cologne section. As I was picking up bottles and taking a whiff, I realized what read Polo, Drakkar and Obsession was actually registering Tom, Dick and Harry in my brain.

It’s amazing to me how a scent can hold memories. It made me smile because sometimes I can’t remember what I had for breakfast, yet the smell of cologne brought me back to being 16 years old in an instant.

This got me thinking about the scents we choose. What draws us to our favorite scents?

Most people find one they like and stick with it. My grandmother has been wearing Chanel No. 5 since Coco Chanel herself put it on the market. This, to me, is without a doubt her signature scent.

I love the idea of having a signature scent, yet the thought of committing to 95 years of the same perfume seems a bit predictable or even boring. I believe your scent can and should evolve in time, like your style.

What is it about a scent that draws us in? What turns us on or off about different smells? Did you know that men are predominantly visual,while women are overwhelmingly guided by scent? Sense of smell is actually 150,000 times stronger than vision.

Sometimes a person will pass by or be in close proximity and the smell of their cologne seems intoxicating, while some colognes or perfumes seem like air pollution or a punch in the face. Nothing is worse than being in a movie theater or an elevator with someone doused in an awful smelling scent.

When you apply fragrance, it mixes with your skin’s chemistry. Things like sweat, environment, pheromones and diet are what make your chosen fragrance unique to you. I suggest spraying your Cologne or perfume once and quickly walking through the mist. It spreads easily, evenly distributes and doesn’t overpower. Let people wonder what you smell like up close by giving them a faint preview. Nobody wants to smell you a mile away. Plus, keep in mind, not everyone likes the scent you choose as much as you.

So, are we sugar and spice and everything nice?

Actually it’s not that far off. Most fragrances are made up of raw materials of natural or synthetic nature. Mood altering scents, like lavender, are often used for relaxation. Food scents have been known to trigger the feelings of comfort and home.

Fragrances are elixirs made from extracts, alcohols and oils. Perfumes and colognes consist of top notes and base notes.Top notes are delicate and fade, while base notes linger and are more long lasting. When I think of top notes I imagine floral, fruity or citrus. Examples of base notes would be musk, smoke, moss and leather.

Whatever your aroma footprint may be, I hope it reflects your personal style, is memorable and leaves a lovely impression.

When Not to Take a Trendy Fashion Risk

Ever notice someone rock a vintage look so well it can propel you into a specific point in time, nailing the vibe and the look effortlessly? Meanwhile, someone else wearing the exact same garment might just appear to be stuck in a time warp. This is where knowing when not to take a trendy fashion risk would come in handy. Read More

How to Wear Ripped Jeans

They are back! Every brand has em’, and people are wearing em’.

People have been asking me the same questions about wearing the beloved ripped jean. The most popular questions are, “How do I wear them?”, “Where and when is it appropriate to wear them?” Read More

Sexy Hair from the 80’s

 

If you are old enough to remember 80’s fashion or young enough to revive an iconic look, then read on.

Ladies, I’m talking hair! For years now it’s been all about straight and sleek dos. We’ve flattened, ironed, Brazilian straightened and chemically altered for this popular look.

But let’s face it, how many people have naturally straight, shiny, no frizz hair? Not many. I feel like the world has been stuck on straight manes for way too long.

I’m loving Dove’s new ad campaign. I applaud their determination to sway little girls into embracing their curls. I always felt as if girls with curly hair were bursting with personality and never really understood why they feel the need to tone their curls down. “Go girls with curls, let your mops flop and your ringlets rule your manes!”

Besides, what’s hotter than untamed, tousled hair? How sexy was Kim Basinger’s beachy shoulder bob in 9 1/2 Weeks circa 1987? Or Meg Ryan’s sun-kissed sassy waves in When Harry Met Sally in1989? Yup. Almost 30 years ago I’m afraid. But seriously, if you were there, you remember how incredibly effortless and chic that hair was. I’m bringing back sexy wavy tresses. Who’s with me?