sunday best

photos: thecobrasnake

hmm, orange lipstick .
a new trend ?

well, if the cobraclones say it is so, then it is so .

how were all your christmases, by the way ?

x

jessica

yohji yamamoto, i'm hanging with the locals

mes petits cadeaux.

i received my package full of harajuku lovers goodies the other day. and by full, i mean overflowing with cute trinkets (charm bracelet, cosmetic bag) and an insane amount of perfume samples. the fragrance bottle i got was baby, which i love, but my favourite would have to be music. i'm so pleased with the size of the bottles we got - i was expecting something much smaller - and by the looks of it these products should last me quite some time.

also, an honourable mention for the harajuku lovers cosmetic bag, totally cute & kitchy as are all of gwen's products. the picture doesn't really do it justice, as it's probably twice the size you're envisioning it is right now.

matchstick really did spoil me !

cute, right ? it makes me smile.

anyways, if you read this & want to know more about the offer, visit the facebook group dedicated to it - http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=24867077169 - or take the the survey to tell them what you think of the product at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=AKExmizGfIj_2fFjBIV6lqDw_3d_3d.

zoë

young girls love automatic

throw out the nude, ditch the red, and toss your gloss: the new hue du jour is dark dark dark.fall isn't usually a season for sunny makeup, and the aw08 models reinforced this by showing off their bold lips on the runways. it's daring, edgy, and very sexy: just the way i like it.
channel the goth girls of yesteryear and pencil in your lips with mac's nightmoth lip pencil (as recommended by abby, so we know it must be good) or coat your kisser in urban decay's new deliciously dangerous lipstick in apocalypse.

team your painted pout with nothing but sheer attitude, this look is strong enough to stand alone.

x

jessica

i (haveneverbeento) ny

voila, my fall wardrobe.

sumptuous furs, greys, blood red nails and lips, complete with badass extras. these clothes embody the tough grunge chic i adore. albeit a bit fantastical (my meager budget won't allow for splurges such as those killer chanel heels), it still remains as the inspiration for my autumnal garb.

all i've got to do is add my omnipresent ripped nylons and circle my peepers with slate liner and i'm all set for the season of crispy leaves and pumpkin spice lattes.

x

jessica

a pretty boy is like a melody.

pretty pretty everywhere.

as spectators wait expectantly for the steady flow of lanky models to come cascading through the mouth of the runway, all eyes are on the woman's core. her core is where the designer's work is on exhibition - flowing gowns, structured silhouettes, brights or black - and therefore the highlight of the show itself.

however, it is very likely that the eye wanders towards the woman's face, where her expression, her delicate features and, most importantly, her makeup are all on display. it is for that reason that makeup artists go the whole nine yards, season after season, year after year, to create unique looks which fit the description of the woman wearing the clothes, the woman with all eyes on her.

this season, many of said women wore crimson lips, an illuminated visage or heavily-kohled peepers. above, a quick resumé of my favourites, from proenza's delicate take on simple glamour to phillip lim's sultry palette.
it comes as no surprise that this season, like all the rest, was a hit in the books of beauty afficianadoes everywhere.

zoë.

i heard that cali never rains.

my bags aren't packed. i'm leaving in less than two days and i haven't even begun packing. i suppose i've mentally compiled a few lists of items that will be completely necessary on the west coast, but if i could have it my way, i'd bring everything.

unfortunately, though, my dad rented a prius (an environmental gem, albeit as small as they come) and oversized luggage is unacceptable. and for that reason, i must pick & choose my garments one by one, all the while leaving room in my suitcase for everything i plan on bringing back to canada in the near future.

anyway, since i'm leaving around 5:30am on saturday, i've only got today and tomorrow left for posting. tomorrow will be fully occupied with packing & whatnot (although i will try to squeeze in some time to show you the final product before i leave), which leaves today for every last tidbit of information that i could possibly leave for you to chew on in my absence.

firstly, my two favourites on project runway season five.

also, i suddenly felt the urgent need to comment on balenciaga's fall collection (like it hasn't already been done a million times). what i like the most about nicolas ghesquière is his linear approach to fashion. his creations are true pieces of art - complex and breathtaking - all the while seeming to be molded to the woman's body, in a way that a rare few have seen done before. also, he has the talent of blending together different eras - one can automatically think modern while gawking at his designs, but can also be catapulted into the past, be it '50s or far before that.

oh, & as we cover garment trends & shoe trends & bag trends, why not take a peek at nail polish trends. for me, adorning my nails with vivid hues is just a different way to express myself. actually, i used to never paint my nails - couldn't find the time, lack of interest (which also entailed lack of ability) - but once turned into twice and before i knew it i was vigorously reapplying different shades everytime the old ones wore out. i wouldn't say i'm a nail polish junkie, but i like to think that a set of well-manicured fingertips is now a fundamental.

i love the baby blue on whitney port & rihanna, as well as eva's navy. i hope to purchase a blue-tinted opi nail lacquer sometime (soon) - either russian navy or i'm dating a royal.

lastly, i shall leave with you a little outfit i put together at a whim, something i could definitely see a girl sporting while sipping a starbucks latte on the corner of melrose & highland.

barbara bui shoes from shopjake; motif tights off of a picture on the cobrasnake; lux zipper skirt from urban outfitters, antik batik bag from shopbop; & triblend tank from american apparel.

zoë.

you're filthy but fine.

oh my goodness.
it would seem as though marc jacobs were reading my mind and granting my wishes (although in that case shouldn't i be strutting down his runways?); for he has created marc jacobs daisy in black. my only qualm with the scent was that it wore off much too easily, forcing me to reapply regularly. but with the daisy in black, this tedious and somewhat wasteful activity will hopefully prove unnecessary.think of it not as an entirely new fragrance, but merely as an upgrade, and amelioration.
a super-daisy, if you will.

and most definitely the freshest smelling flower of the bunch.

x.

jessica

you sang me spanish lullabyes.

sephora opens this friday may 30th at the rideau centre. jessica & i have made it our duty to be there as soon as possible - which means as soon as school's out - to be able to scope out the best beauty products in the country, no less. i doubt i'll buy anything right away, i think i should actually be in need of something first, but at the moment i have my eyes set on a handfull of 'sephora's best': i.d. bare minerals, nars lipgloss & diorshow mascara.

and while i'm at it ...
bustier dress - alexander wang from la garconne.
shoes - miss sixty from zappos.

bow ring - fredflare.

jacket - 3.1 philip lim from net-a-porter.

zoë.

ps - the braces are official. they suck.

strung out on homemade speed.

okay, so taryn davidson doesn't look too ecstatic in the picture, but maybe she just remembered she parked her car in an illegal space or she forgot to feed her pet fish. no matter, what i'm getting at is her visage in this particular picture (more or less the facial expression that's occupying it) is parallel with my summer makeup inspiration - completely bare. needless to say, even with a touch of mascara and maybe a dab of illuminator, she looks natural and simple.



zoe.

wake up, shake it up.

summer is undisputedly the season where makeup is of lesser importance: it's not a novelty to witness free-spirited girls sporting scraggly locks and a squeeky-clean visage during that time of year. however, a lancome case-full (or should i saw ziploc bag-full, ever since my four-year-old brother decided my makeup bag was a necessity for lugging around his crayola paraphernalia) of basics would probably still go to good use in a season where the hippie-chick look is much more valued than the glamour-puss.

nars eyeshadow for night, crest whitestrips, bright pink blush for rosy cheeks, a light fragrance like vera wang's princess, an angled brush, all-over shimmer and sephora's strass monoshadows for experimenting.

simple & efficient is key. after all, wouldn't you rather save valuable time for cannon balls & picnics rather than waste it in front of the mirror ?

zoë.

bonified hustler making my name.

certain people are associated with certain things.
marilyn monroe and chanel no. 5, paris hilton and blatant sexuality*, valentino and the colour red, ... cory kennedy and flawless makeup ?

this is coming from the hipster prodigy who has incited mimetic behaviour among teenage girls all around the world with her mismatched outfits and her trademark tangled mop.
nylon magazine revealed yesterday that cory kennedy has collaborated with urban decay to create a cosmetics line.
here, they've brushed her perpetually unkempt & disheveled hair, covered her face with makeup and tarted her up real nice. that isn't to say that she looks terrible; just different. which is the underlying problem. will her loyal fans follow her through her this change, accepting her mainstream collabo; or will they turn the other cheek and eschew her for selling out ?

who knows. what really matters though, is the makeup. to paraphrase nylon magazine, it's a bright and vivid alternative to the signature amy winehouse eye. my verdict: much like florals, i think i'd like it in small doses. perhaps a thin sliver of serpent green for a bit of added drama in your daily life instead of the thick swipe of colour they've shown in the pictures. then again, urban decay is known for being over the top. after all, if we wanted subtlety, we would have chanel cosmetics to rely on.


x.
jh


*which is the nicer & more polite way of saying cooch exposure via dirty sex tapes.

you're still kind of cute.

I want OPI nailpolish in 'Give me the Moon'. Officially, dove grey is the new black.



Zoë.

so fresh & so clean.

The new & improved makeup bag:



1. Lancôme faux-leather croc makeup case (a donation from Grandma).
2. Benefit 'That Gal' foundation primer (which I use as an illuminator).
3. OPI nailpolish, in Lincoln Park After Dark (coincidently both Jessica & I received this exact shade last Christmas, & I'm trying to get into the habit of applying it more often).
4. The Body Shop Duo Glow in a subtle bronze tone (The top is a creamy solid, the bottom is loose shimmer powder - great to highlight cheekbones & eyes).
5. Elizabeth Arden blush brush (trusted & true).
6. MAC Pro Lash mascara (when properly applied, this gem works wonders).
7. Physicians Formula concealer (this one will do for now, but I'm desperately seeking a new one I can rely on).
8. Eyeshadow blush (a basic that really is necessary).
9. Annabelle blush in light, rosy pink.
10. Dior Ultra Gloss in raffia orange (I actually did end up getting it for Christmas).
11. Philosophy 'Gingerbread Man' flavoured lipgloss (tastes so good).
12. Numerous perfume samples (Missoni, Burberry & Guess Gold).
13. GoSmile Five Senses toothpaste (this one being my favourite; mango).
Thing is, I really do want a new concealer. Better yet, I need one. Physicians Formula, as a brand, isn`t bad at all, but I know for a fact it's time I get rid of it. I'm thinking I'll use part of my fourty dollar Shopper's Drug Mart gift certificate towards a new concealer. My pick: Smashbox. The Smashbox camera ready full-coverage concealer is simple, compact, sleek & exactly what I need to rid myself of blotchy skin & dark circles. I may not need to be camera ready at all times (say, sitting at home munching on Vanilla Rice Krispies watching Hogan Knows Best), but still, it wouldn`t hurt.


In other news, it's official, I'm travelling to Los Angeles next July, & I'm already mentally configurating outfits, accessories, shoes, you name it. An upcoming post should delve into the 'what to wear?' issue a bit deeper.

Zoë.

if it makes you happy.

If you go into my bathroom, turn towards the sink counter & open the second drawer from the bottom, you'd simply be astonished by the amount of makeup it houses. To top that off, some of the stuff in there is really nasty. I have a Maybeline eyeshadow quad from at least three years ago, a broken MAC shadestick in snakeskin, quite the array of empty concealer tubes & pressed powder that I can't even remember purchasing. Sometimes I wish I had the guts to just plow through it all & get rid of, say, ninety percent of the crap in there. I mean, am I ever really going to use the empty John Frieda frizz-ease I was addicted to last year? No, I probably won't, but yet, I feel the need to keep it forever.

What can I do to solve my problem? It's simple. I have to raid through that damned drawer, and keep only the bare essentials, no more. Okay, maybe a bit more, like the tools needed for an attempt at a 'smokey eye', aswell as a bright magenta lipstick to be worn only on very special occasions. But nevertheless, the key is to lose the excess.

The perfeck makeup kit: Benefit Cosmetics Lite SPF 15 Tinted Moisturizer ($30), Make Up Forever Lift Concealer ($21), Smashbox Eyelights Palette ($34), Benefit Cosmetics BadGal Eyeliner ($18), Imju Fiberwig Mascara ($22), Smashbox O-Glow ($26), Bare Escentuals Smoky 'V' Eye Tutorials ($32), Shiseido Fine Eyeliner ($27)& Shu Uemura Natural Brush ($50). Albeit very expensive, admit it, you'd love to have these products in your makeup kit. GRAND TOTAL: $260,00.



And now, for the smaller, more realistic makeup kit: Cover Girl Line Exact Eyeliner ($7), Cover Girl Volume Exact Mascara ($8), Rimmel London All Over Jumbo Pencil ($4), Neutrogena Shimmer Sheers for eyes, lips & face ($8) & Cover Girl Smoother SPF 15 Tinted Moisturizer ($10). Okay so I'm missing a blush, a brush and any eyeshadows for this one, but I simply could not think of any particular item I've wanted, so I summed it up with those. GRAND TOTAL: $37,00.



As for hair, I want to be able to put more effort into it. But of course, it's impossible to have perfect hair without the right tools: and although I do own a hair straightener, I know for a fact that's not enough. Necessary objects: Frederic Fekkai Coiff Perfecteur, Oscar Blandi Jasmine Oil Serum, Dove Sheer Moisture Shampoo & Dove Intense Frizz-Control Cream.



Although this picture was taken before Ashley Olsen discovered balienciaga booties & stopped using shampoo, I think it's a good representation of pretty, healthy hair. I llooove the side-swept bangs.


And last but not least, smooth skin is a necessity. Personally, I'm not one to own a great amount of creams, butters & moisturizers, because quite frankly I'd set them aside one night and never use them again. The regularity of applying lotions never seems to catch on. Nevertheless, I try to apply moisturizer & body butter every now & then to keep my skin looking fresh. Another product I love is Philosophy's Cinnamon Buns, a shampoo, conditioner & body wash, all in one. It also works great as a bubble bath, and cleans and conditions in one esy step (Do I sound like an infomercial right now? I swear it's accidental). I'm longing for Dove's Regenerating Night Cream, and I've been eyeing Bliss' Lemon + Sage Body Butter for a while now, too.



It seems to me beauty products & cosmetics are getting to be more and more costly by the year, but when it really comes down to it, it's worth it. Right?

Zoë.

PS: Watching CSI reruns all Christmas vacation? No no no, if anything, watch House of Carters. Pure gold, I tell you.