As above, so below, as within, so without, as the universe, so the soul
Hermes Trismegistus
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50 Shades of Red: How to Choose the Perfect Red for that Beautiful Pucker
Hands down Red Lipstick has got to be my absolute favorite go to color for lips, and has never disappointed. Red lipstick has always been there for me when I paired a white t-shirt with some jeans and needed a touch of glam, or when I’ve gone all black and required a pop of drama. It’s been there for me during the holidays and complimented my agenda for seduction. If Red Lipstick was a girlfriend, she’d be the one who knew all your darkest secrets and be the one encouraging you to live your best hoe life. Red lipstick, like many of us girls has had a checkered past, carrying reputation with the harlots, hussies, and courtesans -victims of slut shaming. Perhaps that is why I feel wearing Red Lipstick is my tribute to the women before me who paved the way to paint my face as I see fit, without prejudice.
In the article Empowering, alluring, degenerate? The evolution of red lipstick it mentions that “Until lipstick was popularized in the early 20th century, red lips were often associated with morally dubious women: impolite, sexually amoral, even heretical. In the Dark Ages, red lips were seen as a sign of commingling with the devil. The makeup “was associated with this mysterious, frightening femininity,” says Rachel Felder, author of last year’s “Red Lipstick: An Ode to a Beauty Icon.
Red lipstick also has its roots in political movements throughout history, so wear it loud and wear it proud!
Here are some of the Reds I have come across and use!
Best Reds For Every Skin Tone
Shiseido’s most popular lipstick is a long-lasting, full-coverage lipstick that features a special gel technology that is weightless on the lips and also delvers full-coverage. The shade name is really something special to the brand too; Shizuka translates to “quiet” or “calm” in Japanese.
$26 (Shop Now)
When it comes to universal beauty, Fenty Beauty does best. The vibrancy and high pigmentation of Uncensored make it a favorite in Lagos, says Nigerian makeup artist Joyce Jacob.
$24 (Shop Now)
This luxurious lipstick may seem like a stretch, price-wise, but there is a reason it’s Net-a-Porter’s best-selling red in Paris, the city of red lipstick.
$90 (Shop Now)
Fair Complexions
“In general, the lighter your skin, the lighter the hue of red,” explains Murphy. “Light and dark don’t only refer to skin tone, but also hair color and eyes; think of the overall impression.” If your skin is on the paler end of the spectrum, look for a red with a touch of pink for a playful take on a crimson lip.
$7 (Shop Now)
One of Murphy’s go-to reds for paler skin tones is Tatcha’s Kyoto Red Silk Lipstick, which looks like a garnet in lipstick form. “It’s a balanced, bright, perfect red,” he says. “It’s classic yet modern, and works on light-to-medium skin tones.”
$55 (Shop Now)
Everything about Tom Ford’s limited-edition red lipstick — reimagined in a sleek noir tube — is impossible to ignore. From the intense color payoff to the decadent texture and the bold name, it’s no wonder it’s a makeup artist’s favorite.
$60 (Shop Now)
Medium Complexions
“Nars Mysterious Red is a full-throttle, punchy blue-red,” describes Murphy, who recommends it clients with medium skin because of its highly-pigmented depth and wear time.
$27 (Shop Now)
If you’ve got golden or warm undertones, a fiery orange-red will be your new calling card. Rimmel London’s red lipstick (made in collaboration with iconic supermodel Kate Moss) costs roughly the same as a chai latte and delivers a seriously punchy finish.
$5 (Shop Now)
As if Rihanna would ever do us wrong. Fenty Beauty’s range of lippies includes everything from black, forest green, and Ma’Damn, a brilliant, royal red that looks incredibly rich on medium skin tone.
$18 (Shop Now)
Another formula with the makeup artist stamp of approval is Giorgio Armani’s Rouge D’Armani Lipstick in 400, a high-octane red with a velvety matte texture. “It’s a perfect red,” Murphy says. “[It has] a great balance of blue and orange, the formula lasts a long time, and is sumptuous.”
$38 (Shop Now)
Dark Complexions
Few beauty looks are as unapologetic as a bold red lip, but if you want a subtler take on rouge, try a semi-matte formula like Nars’s lippie in Shanghai Express, which Henney loves for its warm, brick hue that glows on dark skin.
$28 (Shop Now)
“Darker skin tones can play with deeper, warmer reds,” says makeup artistMorgane Martini (who happens to be a Marc Jacobs Beauty Global Artistry Ambassador). “But I believe that ultimately you can rock any red because it also depends on the desired lipstick application and texture – for example, sheer or very defined.” Case in point: A glossy tinted balm which gives red lipstick a casual, versatile twist.
$28 (Shop Now)
For deeper skin tones, Oquendo recommends taking inspiration from the red carpet for your perfect red lipstick shade. The Lip Bar Matte Liquid Lipstick in Red fits the bills with its lush, stay-put formula. And a major plus is it’s from a black-owned beauty brand.
$13 (Shop Now)
The Melted Matte formula from Too Faced is a lipstick lover’s dream come true. It applies like a gloss but dries to an ultra-matte finish, providing a super easy way to achieve opaque lips. Not for the faint hearted, Lady Balls is a vibrant true red that really pops against warm and deep skin tones and is easy to pull off. Shop Here
My Top 9 Winter Boot Wishlist: Style + Warmth is a Sure True North Win!
Winter Footwear is probably the most practical investment you could make if you live in Frigid Winter Climate like myself. And if you are one of those folks who willingly vacation to places like where I live (Rocky Mountains/Banff/Lake Louise) then you will definitely thank me later. Winter here in these parts, you can get away with a far more casual look as life doesn’t miss a beat here despite the minus temperature. So I’ve included some of the boots I have been eyeing for my new Winter boot purchase where style needs not to be left behind in the fall and summer months.
Flashtrek GG ankle boots $1168.00
$ 190.00 CAD
$756.00 CAN
Celebrating Satin & Sequins: Fashion is the Armor to Survive Everyday Life
By Mid-November the last of the fall colors here in Calgary have been covered by the frigid snow and ice, revealing a prism of deep and rich romance. Velvety navy blues and crimson reds paint the morning skies as our breath kisses the air; the warmth is transformed into a dimension of little crystalized diamonds. It is the time of year when wearing Satin and Sequins help emulate magic as they capture the glow from the twinkling lights that dance throughout our homes and city scape during the festive winter Months.
And as Christmas winds down, the next event many of us look forward too is New Years Eve, whereby we can drape ourselves in decadent sequins and Sexy Satins. This year was unlike any New Years we have ever endured, as many slept their way into the New Year, cloaked in cotton jammies. I on the other hand was working a night shift and can only remember wearing the drool that had dried on my cheek during a lapse of mid-shift narcolepsy.
Glamorous I know.
So you can imagine I missed the pomp and circumstance that I anticipate each year when I get to have my Cinderella Moment, glass slippers and all.
I can appreciate not everyone feels comfortable wearing something that demands the attention of a room, as we all have our own version of what we feel good in. For myself I don’t believe I can wait for another year to bust out my sequins, I need glamour, and I need it now.
Many shy away from wearing sequins and should not save these little textile gems for just the holiday season or for ones children’s dance recital costumes. According to Meghan Nesmith who wrote A HISTORY OF SEQUINS, FROM KING TUT’S TOMB TO YOUR NEW YEAR’S EVE OUTFIT, Sequins have been around since since Ancient Egypt. They have been unearthed in archeological sites from Pakistan to Egypt. The earliest versions were gold nuggets, hammered into thin circles and pierced through the center. Heaps of them were found scattered across Tutankhamun’s tomb, some deeply colored by iron deposits in shades of red and purple, or sewn in shapes of flowers along his ceremonial robe, both to indicate his importance and keep the king tricked out in the afterlife.
Like the sun god himself, King Tut literally beamed. He was the drag queen of his time in my opinion!
I figured there is no time like the now to still adorn yourself like Cleopatra, and unleash your inner queen. Here are some of my fave’s I came across:
ASOS Editionus.asos.com$67.60
So Lets not delay my friends, the Satin and Sequins are feeling neglected these days. Whether its a trip to the fridge, or your home office is tired of seeing you in the same dirty sweats- there is no wrong time to be glamorous!
I’ll leave you with this:
Don’t forget to Like, Share and Comment Below!
Saving Savvy: A Guilt Free Approach to your Online Shopping Addiction
We all have been guilty of trying to hide the evidence of our impulsive online shopping. I’m a heavy subscriber of the Treat Yo’Self Tribe and have been caught a few times. Its usually a minimal response by the witnesses such as a head shake or an unsolicited opinion on if I really need more shoes. Uhhhh Duh! Yes.
I believe the first thing we need to ask ourselves is what are my shopping habits when it comes to personal style. Are you more likely to buy high end whereby your focus is namely on a feature piece that you style around. Do you stay with the current trends often buying the up to date items then ditching within months to make room for the new ones. Do you get bored easily and seek to wear new stuff on the regular but regrettably left with items in your closet you’ve worn once having moved on to the next best look? I tend to be the last one which requires a more strategic shopping approach.
I’ve compiled a few of my favorite online clothing and beauty stores that have the best loyalty rewards programs that you can optimize your savings but also get free dollars to spend!
Loyalty Rewards + Sales = Free Stuff!
Be prepared to tell those Shopping Shamer’s “Look what I got for free!” and stop lying about that outfit you’re wearing is old and has been sitting in your closet for awhile. They’re not buying it anymore babes!
1. Shein
I love this website and currently have an ongoing cart with over a 100 items in it. The quality varies but I’ve never gotten one item from here that I wouldn’t wear and didn’t fit. The sizes are accurate, and the clothing is priced perfectly for someone who likes variety and changes their look up often. What I love about this site the most is that they have so many opportunities to earn reward points that wont take forever to build up for free items.
One of my favorite things to do on the Shein App is creating Look Books of outfits you can create with their items. You can submit the looks you create to win and earn points.
This is an example of one I created and was awarded Editors Pick Points:
2. American Eagle Outfitters
For the longest time I never went in this store because I thought they didn’t have jeans that would fit my Big Ass. Boy was I wrong! They have some of the softest and best fitting denim for the ladies with smaller waists and luscious goddess curves. At AEO you earn ten points for every dollar spent at American Eagle and Aerie in-store or online, and 2,500 points equal a $10 rewards. Bonus, earn a 15% off birthday coupon, and for every 5 bras or jeans purchased, you get one free! Spend more to level up, and if you spend over $350 a year, you could earn free shipping on every order!
3. Urban Outfitters Rewards
This online store lets you earn rewards by not only purchasing from Urban Outfitters, but you can also earn points by sharing, entering contests, visiting store events, connecting your social media accounts and more! With VIP status, you get a birthday reward and tons of chances to win signed merch from your favourite artists! You can redeem your points to get deeper sale discounts, early access, and tons more.
4. The Bay
The Bay is no longer your moms department store and has an amazing online selection of high end designer items. It’s “Canada’s Iconic Department Store” that has been often underestimated in terms of the clothing lines they carry depending on what store you’ve visited in person. They are notorious for their Bay Days whereby you can find that one item you’ve been holding off for a significant discount.
With the Bay’s HBC Rewards, you can earn a point for every dollar spent at the Bay in-store or online, if you spend up to $399.99 a year. If spending more than $400 a year, you can earn 1.5 points for every dollar spent and 2 points for every dollar spent if you’re spending over $1,200 a year. You can redeem your points for The Bay gift cards, Air Miles rewards, and even donate to charity! HBC Rewards isn’t the fanciest or the best of the rewards programs out there, but you’re probably spending money at The Bay anyway, so might as well sign up!
5. Simons
I love this store for all the essential basics that are needed to pad your wardrobe. Everyone has a “favorite white t-shirt” that gets worn weekly whereby their quality works in your favor for this exact reason. Simons rewards lets you earn one point for every dollar spent. You earn a $10 rewards card for the first 500 points earned, and $1 for every 50 points following that. It’s not the most lucrative program for earning and spending, but The Simons also lets you earn 2X the points for your birthday month, exclusive online contests, and an extended return period. Keep spending to level up, where you could earn free delivery and free alterations!
Shopping Addict Pro Tip:
I’ve never loved selling my barely worn clothes on Facebook Marketplace as its time consuming and hit or miss. Consignment stores can also be picky and selective of what they are looking for making a trip out there a waist of time. Below are a couple sites I’ve used to put money in my pocket and keep my wardrobe fresh and exciting with each new season.
ThredUp
Here’s how ThredUp works. You send your high quality clothing that you no longer want to ThredUp. When they receive it, they’ll assess it and give you a credit to ThredUp so you can get clothes for free.
You can also get credits for referring others to use ThredUp – up to $10 per referral. With ThredUp you’ll only find items in excellent condition, so you can be sure you’re getting quality clothing at a great price – especially if you get it for free by using store credits!
Rehash
Rehash allows you to list the clothes you have that you want to swap for something else. When you list, you can give specifics about what you want to trade for. Another option you have is to simply put “anything” in that section and see what kinds of offers come your way.
There aren’t any fees to join Rehash or to list or sell your items, however you may have to work out shipping plans and costs with other swappers.
