Benefit Makeup

I'm hooked! My mother and I embarked on a little shopping trip last week and we couldn't resist stopping by Sephora. We were planning on just doing a little browsing, but if you know Sephora like I do, you know it's almost impossible to not walk out of there with a little black and white bag stuffed with red tissue and products!

I'm a hardcore Chanel makeup fan, and I just wanted some Dior gloss and maybe a new eyeshadow. Well, the girls from Benefit plunked me down in a chair and gave me an incredible makeover, and I have to say, I'm completely hooked! I looked so light and natural when they were done-- and they made over my mom, too-- that we spent $500 that afternoon on a mad Sephora/Benefit spree. While $500 sounds like a lot, my mom and I got at least ten products apiece, everything we needed to achieve the look the girls had given us, and we had a blast! What's better than a makeover day with mom, anyway? Among my favorites:

ThatGal Brightening Face Primer. The only primer I've ever used is Chanel Le Blanc, and I like ThatGal so much better. I just click up the stick and dab the pink liquid under my eyes, over my cheekbones and jawline, and over my forehead. Then I rub it in. It gives me great, healthy-looking, smooth skin, and its' light, clean fragrance is really refreshing. It's the first time I've ever used makeup and felt refreshed!

Some Kinda Gorgeous, the Foundation Faker. This product is incredible! It blended evenly and flawlessly with my skin, and while it's not full coverage, it hid my splotches and small blemishes very well. Some Kinda Gorgeous gave me a fresh, natural-looking glow; it didn't even look like I was wearing makeup! All you see is flawless skin. And even my significant other, who referred to my Chanel foundation as "paint" and wouldn't touch my face if I was wearing it, can't help but touch my face when I wear Some Kinda Gorgeous. My skin is silky smooth and airbrushed flawless.

I also love their Creaseless Eyeshadow, Brow Zings mini eyebrow grooming kit (mini brushes and tweezers and brow color in a tiny compact-- perfect!) and their HighBrow brow defining pencil, which makes me look awake and energetic even if I've been up late the night before. I also love their BadGal mascara-- unlike DiorShow, it doesn't end up on my cheeks halfway through the day!

Benefit is just fun! The packaging is cool and creative, the products aren't expensive at all for what you get, and the results are incredible. I highly recommend it! This has been the Redneck Fashionista, coming to you from the muddy streets of the hick town.

The Holy Grail of all Handbags - Hermès Birkin

Hello all-- the Redneck Fashionista is back! After a nasty bout of bronchitis that nearly took a turn into pneumonia, I'm back in action, sucking on an albuterol inhaler and praying for warmer weather.

This post is dedicated to THE BAG. You know the bag of which I speak. It arrives lovingly wrapped in an orange box from Hermès, inside a buttery soft dustbag that smells of the world's finest leather. Yes, I'm talking about the Birkin. The holy grail of all handbags. Seen on celebrities from Jennifer Aniston to Eva Longoria to Victoria Beckham and everyone in between, this is the accessory to end all accessories-- the bag of bags. According to many fashion and gossip columnists, "you're nobody in Hollywood if you don't have a Birkin," and we can see why.

Each Birkin is handmade by specially trained craftsmen at Hermès with years of experience. That's right, hand-made. Over 2,800 hand stitches go into each bags, and one Paris atelier only turns out an average of 6 bags per week. That may answer some of your questions as to why there is a need for the notorious "waiting list" which is rumored to be between 2 and 5 years. In actuality, in most US and UK stores, there is a call list an an order list, and the names that are on it are people who have made special relationships with sales associates and have either ordered a bag or requested a call when a Birkin that fits their criteria comes into the shop.

Dozens of different animal skins are available for Birkins-- including basic leather, ostrich, crocodile and alligator. The base price of a Birkin is around $7500, but the price can go up to six digits-- that's right, over $100k USD, depending on the leather, hardware and size. Hardware is available in palladium and gold and the highly sought after, almost unavailable ruthenium. You can even get diamonds! For example, a 35cm Porosus Crocodile Birkin with diamond-encrusted hardware will be well over a hundred thousand US dollars. Hardware is available in palladium and gold and the highly sought after, almost unavailable ruthenium.

I'll be getting mine soon-- within the month, hopefully, if things play out as I've planned-- and you can guarantee I'll be posting pictures. Until then, I'm off to dream of sumptuous leather and hand-made luxury.

This has been the Redneck Fashionista, coming to you from the middle of Nowhere, where cow print is, like, sooooo in right now. *Blech!*

Chanel Blue Satin and Chanel Azur Nail Polish / Lacquer - "It" Colors for Spring?

The Redneck Fashionista generally doesn't do dark nail polish. I wasn't big on the Chanel Black Satin craze of last year-- if you'll remember, it flew off the shelves, and was seen on every runway model and every young starlet last year. Well, Chanel has done it again-- this year's new "It" polish? Blue Satin, a deep Navy blue with a subtle shimmer in different lights.

Luckily, I live in a small town, and was able to stop by the Chanel counter at Dillard's and pick up a bottle of the Blue Satin; they had two bottles left. Apparently, the color is sold out everywhere except EBay, where resellers are getting a premium. It's already $19 a bottle, but on Ebay, some people are paying upwards of $65. For nailpolish. Ridiculous, even to the Redneck Fashionista.

Since I've never worn dark blue nail polish, this is a completely new experience for me. I applied one coat and got the shimmery deep blue, but with two coats, it looks more flat, still glossy but almost black. I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to get the "gothic" comments tomorrow at work. We'll see!

I also picked up a bottle of Chanel Azur-- which is a very translucent, light shimmery blue. It's absolutely beautiful, and layered over the Blue Satin, it gives the color added depth and shimmer. It's also lovely on bare nails. Check these colors out-- if you can find them-- at chanel.com, and also at most major department stores.

More money for gasoline=less for fashion?

So I just found out something amazing, and it has nothing to do with fashion, but we're going to try to make it relate. Send this to your friends, link them here, whatever. But everyone should know this!

Many discount retailers such as Costco, Sam's Club, Wal-Mart and even grocery stores, offer discounted gasoline. You think you're getting this great deal, saving 10 cents (5p) a gallon, filling up at Sam's.

My boss let me in on a little secret, and I did a test to see if he was full of it or not. Apparently, there are so many additives in discount gasoline that it ruins your gas mileage. I thought he was nuts, but I did a test-- filling up at Shell (paying 8 cents more a gallon than Sam's) and compared the gas mileage.

I got 40-50 miles more out of a tank of gas, fueling up at Shell. So the $1 I save by fueling up at Sam's Club is completely negated-- I'm saving $8 or more by getting my fuel at Shell, BP or Phillips' 66. The refineries that output gasoline for these fuel stops don't put nearly as many additives in their fuel-- according to the guy at Shell, "Murphy Oil fuel is garbage." (Murphy supplies Sam's, Wal-Mart, etc etc with their fuel).

So $8 a week (I use a tank a week in my TrailBlazer) times 4 is $32 a month. Multiply that by 12 months and you're looking at SERIOUS savings, in the neighborhood of $384 a year.

$384 is a GREAT accessory from Louis Vuitton or a cute bag from Coach. Think about it! Don't we give those discount retailers enough of our money anyway?

Patchwork: Fab or Fug?

The big craze in the past couple of years in accessories has been patchwork. You see patchwork bags, shoes, hats-- even patchwork clothing! While small leather patch pieces-- for example, boots-- are fine in my opinion, as long as the fabric type is consistent (for example, suede) and the colors complement each other. But some designers are really taking it too far! I know patch was huge in the 70's and I know fashion this season and last has all been about 70's throwbacks. But enough is enough, people!

See two fug examples below: Coach's Summer '06 Patchwork Hamptons Tote, and Louis Vuitton's LE Patchwork Tribute Bag from last year.



Give me your thoughts here. Patchwork-- fugly or fabulous?

This has been the Redneck Fashionista. Where I'm from, potato sacks and old quilts could be the next hot patchwork skirt!

Heaven is a place on Earth?

After be-bopping to that song in your head, check out Future Fashionista! Seen on celebrities like Jennifer Garner, Hilary Swank and Taylor Dayne, the jewelry offered at Future Fashionista is chic, affordable and unique-- perfect for the Redneck Fashionista! And the Future Fashionista herself, Elana, donates $1 from every purchase on the site to the charity of the month-- a great way to look good and help others.

The Future Fashionista's designs are unique, fun and trendy, and she offers items to fit every budget. Some of her luxe pieces like the Prehnite earrings below take my breath away! The jewelry is extremely high-quality, too. Some of my personal favorites (see below, top to bottom, L to R) are the starfish, fleur-de-lis and disk necklaces, along with the gorgeous, rare pink gold and green Prehnite earrings and the stunning 14k Pearl Bar necklace. There are so many ah-mazing designs, I want them all! Check out www.futurefashionista.com for more details and hundreds of beautiful designs.

Designer Jewelry on the Cheap

If you're anything like The Redneck Fashionista, you love jewelry. But the price tags on designer pieces from Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Tiffany's can definitely make you pause if you're on a budget!

This is where Coach comes in. Known for their affordable yet fashionable handbags, they branched out to jewelry in '07, and in the Fall introduced a full line of great pieces at reasonable prices. While some of their silver pieces are a little pricey (for $998, I'll buy Tiffany), the enamel bracelets and leather jewelry are very reasonable!

I picked up a black and silver 1/2" signature bangle at the boutique shortly before Christmas, and I've gotten lots of compliments on it. It's simple and elegant, and it goes with pretty much anything-- for only $78! The 3/4" are $98, 1" $128, and so on. This is compared to over $400 for similar bangles from Hermés-- though there is a quality difference, obviously. Coach bracelets palladium-plated solid brass, not silver or solid palladium, but they're definitely worth the price. Just make sure they fit over your hand before you buy them! They only come in one size-- something that confuses me-- and that size is pretty small. For an array of colors and sizes, check out coach.com.

Hermès Fuchsia Croc: The Holy Grail of Boots

Alright, so don't tell Hermès that cowboy boots are "going out." When I saw these boots on the runway for Spring '08, I fell in love! Some are saying that they're crocodile-embossed leather, but this is Hermès we're talking about. These incredible boots are real Porosus crocodile, a specialty from Hermès, and though I don't have a retail price, I can say with absolute certainty that the price includes no less than 5 digits.

Eye candy for you and me alike... *girly sigh*

Spring '08 Trendwatch

Now that the holidays are over, fashionistas everywhere can start looking forward to a new season and new wardrobe updates! I always keep an eye on trends, even though I live in Nowhereville, and I have to say that this year's crop of Spring fashions is promising.

DRESSES
They're big for spring. I know, you're thinking, "How groundbreaking." But puffed sleeves, solid colors and jersey dresses are big for Spring, as are (as usual) khaki/white, florals, volume skirts and flowing excesses of fabric.



SHOES
Wedges are in, bigtime. High or low, whatever you're comfortable with. Pointy, spiky heels are on their way out, and cowboy boots? So last season, though equestrian boots continue to be popular.



ACCESSORIES
Think belts, again, for Spring. Whether high-set or hip-riding, wide or narrow, embellished or plain, belts are it. Also eye-catching this year were the re-emergence of grandma's kiss-lock style bags and framed satchels or doctor style bags (think Louis Vuitton's iconic Speedy) as well as totes and messengers-- think classic Prada. Oversize jewelry and chunky costume pieces, as well as anything lucite, are also big hits for Spring. And unfortunately, they're still pushing leopard print. I don't know why.



COLORS

-Silver Gray, a base color; you can pair it with almost anything and it's the basis of a lot of the Spring ready-to-wear looks we saw on the runway.

-Yellow, pink and lilac florals.

-Vibrant red & blue as well as khaki/white.

-Muted olive green and deep yellow.

To sum it all up, 50's-60's-70's throwbacks, again, with some much-needed updates and retouches, set the tone for Spring '08.



Looking for ideas? Check out the highlights of the Spring '08 shows; photos courtesy of style.com (check out their killer spread and Spring '08 RTW fashion show coverage!)

This is The Redneck Fashionista, coming to you from where overalls are haute couture.

Bubble skirts: Fab or Fug?

Alright, I'll admit it. I can't STAND bubble skirts. I think they look sloppy and unfinished, and I think they make normal people who wear them-- we're not counting supermodels here, ladies-- look like a mix between a dowdy, drab prep schooler and a little girl in her grandmother's idea of Easter finery.



See the above pictures, courtesy of bluefly.com, and let me hear what you have to say. Pictured from left to right: a hideously green bubble dress that screams "80's Prom" in the worst way, even though Vera Wang is a talented designer; a cotton BCBGMaxAzria bubble skirt with black embroidered embellishments that might be bearable with a turtleneck and pointy slingbacks; and what looks to me like an unfinished nun's habit from Robert Rodriguez.

What is the appeal? Why are we still seeing them from runway to sidewalk? I'm hoping this trend is dying; I really am. I know, you say, "they've been around for decades!" and that's fine. If done right, they're not that terrible to look at. But hopefully, with Spring '08's new, more sleek styles, we're done with this trend and can bury it in the trend graveyard until it resurfaces again in a decade or two.

So what do you think about bubble skirts? Fab or Fug?

This has been The Redneck Fashionista, coming to you from the land where Jeff Foxworthy is king.

Equestrian Boots-- A Trend With Staying Power

Love 'em or hate 'em, they're here to stay! I don't really know anyone who hates them, but I'm sure you're out there. The ones above are Michelle D, purchased at Dillard's in November of 2007 for $119.

Knee-high boots tucked into jeans have come in and gone out dozens of times throughout history, and right now is what we'd call an "In" period. I have to admit, i think there are few things that say "casually classy" better than a pair of Seven or Citizens Jeans-- or even some from Old Navy!-- tucked into tall brown riding boots. These are a staple everywhere from New York to LA, still seen on the runways at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York.

Issues with getting your jeans tucked into your boots just right? If you don't want to outlay the money for the elastic jodhpur straps that attach to your jeans, then go under your heel, try wearing knee socks and tucking your jeans into them, or do what I do; fold the inner seams and slide your foot into the boot, then zip the lower part of the boot up while holding that folded seam against your leg. It works great! You can also try the 80's fold, where you make a wide folded cuff of your jeans and continue to fold and cuff up until the cuff is at the top of the boots.

Of course, you don't need great jeans to make these boots work! They look equally fabulous with midcalf-length or above-the-knee dresses, adding a touch of western chic that works really well for the Redneck Fashionista!

If you have any tips or tricks or ways to wear tall boots, please feel free to chime in on the comments page! This has been The Redneck Fashionista, coming to you from a place where leopard and cow print are always in-- no matter how much you might hate it.

Louis Vuitton's Speedy-- What's So Special About This Bag?

There are literally hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions, of different handbags out there. They come in all colors, materials, shapes, and sizes, and they suit all kinds of different personalities. Whether you're a 40-year-old mother of 2 or a 22-year-old college student, there's a handbag out there that expresses your sense of style and your personality.

Now, I know some of you are saying that you don't need fashion to show who you are, but let's face it. What you wear conveys a wealth of information to the people around you before you even open your mouth. And that's where Louis Vuitton's iconic Speedy comes into play.

The bag is a classic. Carried by celebrities from Hilary Duff to Audrey Bepburn, this bag has been around for decades, and it's not going anywhere anytime soon. My current Speedy of choice is the Damier Speedy 25-- a style less often faked than Louis Vuitton's iconic monogram, but just as gorgeous and possibly even more servicible.

Why, may you ask? Well, let's start off with a description of the bag. a Speedy 25 is a handheld bag that's similar in shape to Vuitton's travel bag. 25 means 25cm-- the length of the bag. Speedy bags are also available in 30cm, 35cm, 40cm and even larger if you want a travel bag.

Personally, I find the 25 is the perfect size for me. I'm 5'7'' and weigh between 130-140lbs on a good day when I haven't been binging on starbucks and chocolate. The 25 size holds everything I could possibly want to carry and never seems to be full! I usually carry my digital camera in its case, a big Kenneth Cole envelope wallet, a cell phone, keys and a Coach makeup bag. All of this, and more, fits into the 25 with ease.

The reason I prefer Damier at the moment (though I'm about to purchase a monogram Speedy) is because it's less faked-- there are still fakes, but not as many. NO FAKES! Don't even get me started on that. I also love that it has a gorgeous red canvas lining, and it's an all weather bag. It doesn't have vachetta like LV monogram canvas Speedy bags-- the trim is chocolate leather that doesn't spot up or stain in rain or if something gets spilled on it. It's durable as well as stylish and I can carry it whether i'm wearing jeans or something a little dressier. The 25 is a perfect size for an office-to-cocktails bag. I can't say enough about it!

If you're interested in learning more about the Speedy I highly recommend The Purse Forum: http://forum.purseblog.com/louis-vuitton/. Their Louis Vuitton section is a must-read for anyone interested in Louis Vuitton bags! Also check out http://www.louisvuitton.com. Don't just go buy one off E-Bay thinking it's real without having it authenticated first!

This has been the Redneck Fashionista, coming to you from a place where women pronounce Hermes "Herm-eez."

Brand discussion-- Louis Vuitton or Hermes, anyone?

When I was in college, many of my sorority sisters were big into fashion. Coming from a high school graduating class of 58 people, I wasn't really in a position to express myself fashionwise without making a total arse out of myself, so I took notes. I saw what people wore, I learned designer names. I was a diligent student in college-- and most of my studying had nothing to do with core curriculum classes!

So why are some of the biggest brands the biggest? Why are they so cool? Why is everyone dying for that limited edition Louis Vuitton bag or that gorgeous Chanel coat? The answer to that is good marketing.

Everywhere you look, you see logos. Everywhere from New York City to Naples, FL-- Los Angeles, CA to Tokyo. In marketing, I learned that people are exposed to an average of over 1500 advertising messages a day. Of course, you don't absorb all of them, but if you think about it, it makes sense. Every car you see has a logo/brand name. Billboards. Store fronts. Newspapers, magazines, television. There are advertisements everywhere. What separates the big fish from the minnows is who they market to, where, and when.

Louis Vuitton is huge. there's no denying it. You can't walk down a big city street without seeing someone carrying a Louis Vuitton bag. In fact, the brand is so prolific, there are estimates that only 1% of all Louis Vuitton you see is actually REAL. Go look on E-Bay. 99% of those bags are fakes. Sure, they look good, but when you pay for a brand, you're paying for so much more than a logo. You're paying for style, quality and integrity. I should know, because unknowingly, my first Louis Vuitton bag was a fake. It fell apart fast!

Have another look, at Chanel. Chanel is a little more subtle than Vuitton. The back-to-back C's are a fashion icon nonetheless. Many movies you see feature stars wearing Chanel, but unless you're the redneck fashionista or someone else with a good eye, you'd never know!

And you want to talk about an exclusive, low-profile brand? Check out Hermès! One of my labels of choice, you're no one in Hollywood if you don't have an Hermès bag. Be it a Birkin, a Kelly, or even a Victoria, these bags are classic style that has serious staying power. But if you're The Redneck Fashionista, and you live in a pretty small town, nobody even knows what Hermès means-- except some college-educated folks who might refer to him as the Messenger of the Gods in old Roman mythology.

Point is, brands are big, and there is no getting around it. Each brand has its' own limited edition items, its' own signature items, its' own way to make you feel as cool as you want to be. In the following blogs I'll be discussing specific items as well as broader trends and styles; some involving fashion houses, others you can recreate on your own without spending a fortune. Stay tuned.

This has been The Redneck Fashionista, coming to you from a place where Old Navy is Haute Couture.

I am the redneck fashionista!

And welcome to my blog!

I'm 24, I'm in Marketing, and I live in the lower Midwest-- somewhere that most people have never heard of Louis Vuitton, Chanel or Prada. I've been a fashion slave for years, thanks to much traveling and meeting all kinds of new people.

Here I'll discuss everything from trends to classic styles, and hopefully things that everyone from big-city divas to small-town girls will appreciate.