Aldo's Bakker Fringe Platform Sneakers Are My Best Shoe Purchase Of Q2 (Plus: Sponsored Video)

(Note: This blog contains a sponsored video! Click it, or don't! I'm low-pressure over here!)

I hate to play favorites when it comes to shoes -- I love all of my children equally. But, really, every parent has a secret favorite, and Aldo's Bakker wedge platform sneakers are my own little golden child. Don't tell your sister though, okay? (This is SO "Prince Of Tides" dysfunctional! Also, any time I can make a "Prince Of Tides" reference when writing about fashion deserves a hair flip, don't you think?)

I know it's basically summer, but I recently bought these in brown, and I've worn the ish out of them. And they kinda feel like Isabael Marant wedge sneakers, but they're essentially what you'd pay in tax on a pair of those bad boys. And black boots are a year-round staple. (But then again, I don't wear flip-flops, and I generally consider shorts a crime against nature, so what do I know about seasonal dressing?)

($60, Aldo)

Furthermore, you have to admit that Aldo's Spring/Summer 2012 campaign, shot by Terry Richardson, featuring Anais Pouloit, is cheerfully "Teenage Dream"/ Betty & Veronica kitschy-cute with the heart sunglasses and the Popsicle. Matchy-matchy lipstick and Popsicles totally work, IMO. And, if you can pull off an all-white bathing suit, then God bless.

YOLO Rings By Wendy Brandes? Because, Why Not?

$415 for the set, Wendy Brandes

The hilarious and talented Wendy Brandes, jeweler and blogger in one, made YOLO rings. (Google it.) Because someone had to.They're $415 for the set. Get 'em. Because really... # YOLO. (Or, as I like to say, YOLOL.)


Also, in related news, Zac Efron has a YOLO tattoo. I'm pretty sure that's all you need to officially cement your douche status for all eternity.

Credit: Zap2it.com

Also, sorry, Drake, but I'm giving YOLO to the Strokes.

DKNY's Quinn Ankle Strap Heels Are Sex On Fire

$254, DNKY, My-Wardrobe.com

You. Guys. I CAN'T with DKNY's taupe and silver Quinn ankle strap heels. I simply cannot. I refuse. To accept how shit-hot modern they are. Totally sex on fire. And don't act like the inner red-cup, white-hat frat boy doesn't doesn't fucking secretly love Kings Of Leon.

Creepers Are Creeping Back

$92, BC Footwear

Yes, way. Creepers -- those steadfast stalwarts of the flatform family -- are back. They've crept their way from the '70s, '80s and (un petit peu) '90s into the '00s, and, quite frankly, I see no problem with that. They're so bulky it's almost bonkers, and they're like Oxfords on steroids.

I'm partial to BC Footwear's Creepers. Wear them with a little babydoll dress for a variation on the Kurt-and-Courtney '90s look (everyone will expect you to wear Docs, and you'll throw them for a loop-de-loop). Or, do a menswear look with a pair of rolled-up baggy black pants -- hi, Zara's excellent trousers -- and a simple black and white striped shirt. OR, do yourself a favor and try a fitted, bright silk blouse (I'm sensing mustard, because fluorescent is too overwhelming in this case) and a blazer with a few gold chains and some big bangles for a Duckie-meets-New Jack Swing variation. Man, New Jack knew where it was at with color.

$69.99, J. Crew

$59.90, Zara

See? The one on the far right knew what was up. Those patent work boots were all wrong. All that kept these bros from greatness were four pairs of Creepers. Didn't they almost have it? (BTW, what's the guy on the far right doing these days? Prison time? I'll feel bad if he became a cancer researcher.)



Okay. Do the creep. And don't forget to smile...

DVF's Blue Bucket Tote = She Is Beautiful

$545, DVF.com

I've been trying to incorporate more color into my wardrobe -- specifically fuschia, burgandy, mustard, orange and aqua (duh not all at the same time). And I've been trying to get out of my kneejerk "just pair it with black" response, instead mixing khaki and camels and other neutrals with bright bolds. Who am I kidding? I'll probably just wear black and shit forever. Regardless, this beautiful Diane Von Furstenberg leather "Drew" tote in Matisse blue is the holy grail of fall blue hues. It's so beautiful, in fact, that only one song properly captures the true essence of its allure. And that song is "She Is Beautiful," and that man is Andrew W.K., obviously.

ALOHA FROM PORTLAND!

Ahoy! I'm in PORTLAND (and blogging because I just I had an un-lazy moment before I left and purchased a very adorable Asus Eee mini notebook -- it's actually called Eee! Nothing is cuter!) I've not yet put a bird on anything, but I have eaten raw pigeon and played pinball in a REAL ARCADE. Portland's pretty great. Everyone is really kind, lots of people say "man" a lot, and people TRULY seem to give a shit that you can find your way around easily, know which things there are out there to see and do and that you have a great time in their city. I know. Weird, right?

Anyway, I'll bwog more when I get back, but until then, please enjoy a video I shot for work. It's me in Times Square, asking passersby what they think about Someday, Justin Bieber's new fragrance for the laydeeez.

Tags: MTV Shows

Seneca Rising's Junction Tunic Is En Vogue Loungey-Sexy

($167, Seneca Rising)

This Seneca Rising Junction tunic is just so dreamy and drapey and like loungey, lived-in, lazy-afternoon, slightly-crunk-off-rosé sexy. It feels the way En Vogue's "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" sounds, you know?

The Tucker Blouse Is An Injustice

This Tucker Hummingbird Nectar silk top is an injustice. WHY? Because it's perfect and because it's not mine. I should've gone into shoplifting after all.

($335, Tucker)

($276, Tucker, Piperlime.com)

Appropriate songs: Katy Perry, "Hummingbird Heartbeat"


The Smiths, "Shoplifters Of The World

Hand Me My Leather... Dress From The Gap

Via FashionETC

To quote the sage words of Tori Amos, "hand me my leather." Gap just had their Fall 2011 preview, and it looks like leather dresses are on tap (which means hopefully they'll be in stores in jut a few months?). Which is perfect, because I've have a leather dress on my wishlist since 2009. Meaning that a leather dress is still very much on my own little Maslow's hierarchy of unfulfilled non-needs. WTH? I'm slacking on satisfying my non-basic needs! Also, my plans to find the perfect black leather mini skirt fell spectacularly on its little ass, so the time has never been nigh-er to get my shit leathered up!

Sam Edelman's Spiked Lorissa Shoe Will Cut You

($209, Sam Edelman, Solestruck.com)

So, Sam Edelman's stud-covered Lorissa heels are hurting me real bad... in the real-good way. The kinda bad Fiona Apple meant when she was sloshing around in that hot tub back in 1997. That's it. Sam Edelman's studded heels = the Fiona Apple of footwear.

($209, Sam Edelman, Solestruck.com)

And the close-toed Yuma? Seriously? I'm 'bout it 'bout it.



(And PS: This is totally my all-time favorite karaoke song.)

It May Be Tuesday, But It Sure Feels Like Friday

Hai! I'm out in Austin for SXSW, so I'll be back soon. Until then, I leave you with the BEST THING EVER WRITTEN OR RECORDED AND SHARED ON THE INTERNET EVER. The Rebecca Black "Friday" video. THIS SHIT IS REALER THAN UNICORNS.

Also, here's a pic of me jumping up in the air like a 1980s Toyota commercial. FUN FUN FUN FUN! WE SO EXCITED!

The Year In Beauty: These Are My Favorite Things, Part 4

Welcome back!

You, like me, are probably sitting around in your sweatpants, so what better time to check out the fourth installment of my and Beauty Blogging Junkie Amber's favorite beauty products of 2010. I've been writing about beauty every week for Naag.com, so there are plenty of lipsticks, perfumes, eyeshadows, mascaras and wine to cover.

Let's get right to it.

Here are the beauty products we covered in this video:

Me: Davines Number 1 Finest Oil Non Oil For Wizards (a miraculous anti-frizz serum), Revlon Retro Fire and Ice nail polish in Siren, Miss Pucci Perfume and Tom Ford Black Orchid Nail & Lip Set.

Amber: Keratin Complex Serum, Immunocologie Skin Care, and CND Effects Line polish.

 

Watch Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.

The Year In Beauty: These Are My Favorite Things, Part 1!

Happy between-Chanukkah-and-Christmas time!
Beauty Blogging Junkie's Amber and I got together, pooled our favorite lip glosses, hair goops and mascara wands, opened a bottle of red wine, and made a couple of videos of us discussing our favorite beauty products of 2010.

I learned a lot from doing these videos! I learned that while my outfit looked adorable in person, it came off as positively uncute on camera. I wore a high-waisted circle skirt whilst SEATED ON MY SMOOSHY COUCH! I look like I was born without a waist. Ugh. Live and learn, people. I learned that making videos is insanely time-consuming, and while I already respected bloggers who regularly devote their time to making their own videos, I now pretty much think they're Jesus. And I learned that Windows Movie Maker was put on this planet to destroy me.

Anyway, hope you like it! There are more where this came from!




And check out my Naag.com review of MAC's Haute & Naughty Lash
and C.O. Bigelow Protein-Enriched Conditioner for Dry & Damaged Hair. Amber hyped up Tokyomilk Bon Bon Shea Butter Hand Cream and Panthera Ultraflesh Mascara, which is SHAPED LIKE A PANTHER. I got excited about that, you'll notice.Who even cares how it works when it looks like that?

I Dream Of: Wren's Leopard Fur Coat

($795, Wren, Shopbird)

The leopard fur coat. It's so classic, so decade-unspecific. So Anne Bancroft-classy and at the same time so old-lady-with-a-cigarette-hanging-out-of-her-mouth-and-waving-a-flyswatter-around crazy.

But mainly, I just love how dreamy a leopard print coat can be. What's under it? Who cares. The coat is the outfit.

I Found The Ugliest Shoes MAYBE EVER!

($35.69, Wild Rose, Cutesygirl.com)

I was JUST talking to a friend about how online shopping addictions have become truly problematic. And then THIS landed in my inbox. HALLELUJAH! I'M CURED! These freak-nasty boots are like methadone to my shopping addiction.

Mad Men's Christina Hendricks Sexies Up London Fog

OHAI JOAN! Christina Hendricks, who is the actual person who plays Mad Men's Joan Holloway, who is NOT a real person, is the new face of London Fog's fall 2010 outerwear and accessories campaign. Because she can make even a suitcase look sexy. It's absurd, I know.












CATHERINE SEZ: Too bad they Photoshopped the sass out of her. Sad. She's not a skinny bitch! Why make her one?

Check out Christina Hendricks talking London Fog sexy times!

Doc Martens Fall 2010 Gold Flocked Floral Boots

($120, Dr Martens, Dmusastore.com)

I asked myself WHY would I want gold, glittery, flocked Doc Martens boots. But then I asked myself the more revelant question: why WOULDN'T I want flocked floral Doc Martens, hmm? They're perfect for fall mornings when you wake up late, don't really feel like "getting dressed" and just throw them on with black leggings and a solid black dress. One of those "your shoes ARE your outfit" outfits.

Look, I know they're wackadoo and look like a couch your parents probably have in the basement no one ever goes into anymore, but while my head is saying "no," my heart is saying "let's go." Oh yeah, get 20% off Doc Martens with promo code FALL2010 through 9/15/2010. You're WELCOME.

Risto Bimbiloski, I'm A Cosmo Girl!

Lately I've been all space cadety and dreaming of Pink Floyd-referencing, cosmic, marbley watercolors and photo prints. Sometimes they're pieces that are actually tie-dyes, but they're so not hippie-chick at all. They're intergalactic pieces that look like they're in a dark and stormy mood, a la Peter Pilotto's Fall 2009 collection and much of Risto Bimbiloski's signature celestial notes.

($99, Laeken, Revolveclothing.com)

I'm lovin' Laeken's pieces and their more of-this-earth prices.

($150, Laeken, Ssense.com)

This Laeken top is the perfect wear-anywhere, layer-with-anything piece.

($759, Tsumori Chisato, SSense.com)

Has there ever been an edifice moodier than the Eiffel Tower?

($75, Risto Bimbiloski, Opening Ceremony)

($384, Risto Bimbiloski, Assembly New York)

A LIGHTNING-PRINT boyfriend blazer = thunderclap of genius.

Now check out more from Risto Bimbiloski's blog, and listen to Metric's acoustic version of "Twilight Galaxy" and just TRY not to cry.

Milla Jovovich Continues To Win At Being Beautiful

Milla Jovovich, seen here at the Schumacher show at Berlin Fashion Week, continues to own being beautiful. I need to unlock the secret to having the kinda wet-look bun that falls halfway between tousled and "done." Oh wait. The secret is having a beauty team. Sigh.

I hereby dedicate DJ Khaled's screamo-Tuned "All I Do Is Win (Remix)" (also my current theme song/ motto) to Milla's perpetual win.

Ann-Sofie Back For Cheap Monday = Oh Lord.

I TRULY love Cheap Monday -- they make edgy and affordable staples. But their Ann-Sofie Back collection is like bad on top of bad.

($65, Ann-Sofie Back for Cheap Monday, Alexandchloe.com)

($85, Ann-Sofie Back for Cheap Monday, Alexandchloe.com)

These destroyed jeans are perfect for your community theater's re-imagining of Grease set in the post-Apocalypse.

($60, Ann-Sofie Back for Cheap Monday, Alexandchloe.com)

And this Duct tape dress just pains me. PLEASE just save up and get the Alexander Wang cut-out leather sweatshirt dress! It's on sale!

($437.50, Alexander Wang, Net-a-Porter.com)

Now please go watch Robyn wear hers in her "Dancing On My Own" video.

Robyn - New Music - More Music Videos