Tag Archives: chanel

SMC beauty buys: chanel vitalumiere foundation

nothing sells me on a product quite like walking into work on 2 hours of sleep, only to have my boss tell me that my skin looks “like porcelain”. seriously?

it can only be explained by one thing: this was my first day testing chanel’s vitalumiere foundation. i’ve always been adverse to a full-strength foundation, but given a recent birthday, i thought it was time to reconsider. and, after my first day, i’m officially a convert. chanel’s formula provides just enough coverage to hide imperfections without making you look “made up.” it definitely minimizes my fine lines, and i love the bright, dewy finish it provides. plus, the formula is very light, and glides right on, which is a must for me – if i’m going to wear foundation, it has to be as foolproof to apply as moisturizer, which this definitely is.

pick it up at your neighborhood chanel counter, or online – it’s the best $52 you’ll spend on cosmetics this month, without a doubt.

what i want today: luxe knits from james jeans

when a much beloved clothing line branches out, i’m always a little nervous. the potential for greatness is there, clearly, but sometimes it’s best to stick with what you know.

fortunately, james jeans’ foray into knitwear is definitely in keeping with its stellar reputation in the designer denim world. the pieces are well thought out, beautifully designed and actually unique – a triple-threat that’s hard to come by in a world often overpopulated by gorgeous knits.

a very dear, and highly fashionable friend of mine (hi, H) has a jacket strikingly similar to this, which i always assume to be chanel. i’ve seen her wear it with jeans and with a cocktail dress, and look fabulous each and every time. to me, it exemplifies the reality that buying a truly classic piece is worth the investment – H has most definitely gotten her money back from that gorgeous jacket, no matter what she paid. this style from james comes in cream and navy, and is just $350 – a fraction of what the chanel version would set you back. it also comes in a longer version and, while i love both, the cropped style is more chic, more young, and certainly more timeless. coco would be proud.

one of the biggest potential pitfalls of a classic trench is that the fabric can be a little bulky, and therefore not all that flattering. james has taken on the classic silhouette, but updated it in a gorgeous, heavy knit available in either navy or red ($462). the result is incredibly flattering, and the ultimate jacket for spring and fall. the detail on this piece is fantastic, and taken straight from the best trenches out there. the hook closures at the neck, the foldover flap at the breast, and even the front slash pockets – all are a perfect recreation of the classic trench. this one also comes in a cropped version, which has been slightly retooled to give it a stronger military vibe (front patch pockets, and a wider top placket) – it’s a fantastic way to add a little structure to your style this fall.

check out the entire line at james jeans’ website, and pick up your favorite now – i’m guessing this collection will be gone in a flash.

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what i want today: gorgeous summer nails

one of my favorite things about summer is that i get to break out my favorite bright nail colors (toes only, thank you!). since i spend more time than is at all rational debating the merits of various shades, i thought the least i could do is share the fruits of my labor by letting you in on my favorite classic colors for summer.

when it comes to fingers, i’m all about neutrals – and i’ve been wearing opi’s “samoan sand” since the day it arrived. i love that it’s sheer and goes with everything, but the hint of brown makes it more subtle and sophisticated than my usual sheer pinks.

this summer, everyone’s been talking about chanel’s “facets d’or” gold polish. and it’s lovely, no doubt. but i’ve been completely sucked in by “splendeur”, a fantastic shade that goes on fuschia, and dries to the perfect raspberry pink/red hybrid. plus, there’s just something lovely and girly about wearing chanel – even when it’s nail color. splendeur has been my go-to all summer.

for a more fun, girly hot pink shade, i’ve been loving “i’m indi-a mood for love” from opi’s fantastic new india collection. to be honest, i love just about every shade in this line – it’s well worth spending some time with.

if you’re more into reds, chanel’s “dazzling” is that rarer-than-rare flattering orange-red. what they lack in quantity of color choices, chanel always makes up for in quality. literally every shade i’ve tried is gorgeous, and i’ve never used polish that’s stayed on my nails longer, which makes it well worth the $20 pricetag in my book.

last but not least, metallics are always tricky for me, but chanel’s new “kaleidoscope” (not yet available online) is the best shade i’ve found, hands down (no pun intended). it varies from a warm green gold to deep grey to liquid silver, depending on the light. it’s surprisingly neutral, and is a warm enough tone that it won’t keep you from wearing gold jewelry. opi’s “charmed by a snake” is a very close second…the shade is this amazing bronzy brown/pink shade that’s so beautiful, i might even give it a try on my fingers when the weather cools down.

what about you? what’s your go-to shade for summer?

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