50 Shades Darker

On Wednesday I had the opportunity to attend an advance screening of 50 Shades Darker with a few friends. The screening was a lot of fun; we all received masks similar to the one Anastasia wears to the Masquerade Ball and I made sure to get a big cup of wine because you definitely need it to watch this movie with a theater full of strangers.

If you haven’t read the books, I highly recommend that you read them before seeing this movie. They had to cram a lot into the run time and they left out a lot of the backstory. So if you didn’t already know Christian Grey’s story you might think he was crazy and possessive. One of the main things they left out was Christian’s therapist Dr. Flynn. Anastasia even gets to meet him and talk to him and he explains why Christian has a need to control everything. It does sound like he makes a cameo in the third movie, but he was definitely referenced multiple times in the second book.

Here are a few ways you can get your 50 Shades fix in case you want more:

1.Masquerade Mask ($15.90)

You can get the exact mask that Ana wears to the masquerade party and it’s affordable!

2. Ana’s Lipsticks

According to @evelynenoraz, the 50 Shades Darker makeup artist, “They were a liquid lipstick from Mac Cosmetics for the red ( plus Mac lip liner ) and from Anastasia for the deep berry color ( liquid lipstick as well ) or Glossier lipstain.”

Based on that statement here are my guesses for the exact shades:

MAC Cherry Lip Liner ($17.50)

MAC Cosmetics Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolor in Feels So Grand ($21)

ILIA Lipstick Arabian Nights ($26)

MAC Burgundy Lip Liner ($17.50)

Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick in Heathers ($20)

 

Glossier Generation G in Jam ($18)

3. Ana’s Eyes from the Masquerade

According to Evelyn, she used Dior’s Diorshow Fusion Mono Eyeshadow in Lune and Millenium ($31/each).

4. Jimmy Choo Lang Patent Strappy Sandal ($795)

During that steamy dinner/elevator scene, Anastasia was wearing the Jimmy Choo Lang sandals.

If these are out of your price range, you can try the Pleaser brand shoes that are an exact match for only $52.95:

5. Anastasia’s Masquerade Dress

The dress Ana wore to the masquerade party was stunning. Custom designed by Monique Lhuillier and the 50 Shades Costume Designer, Shay Cunliffe, it is one of a kind! Women’s Wear Daily shared more details here on how this dress came about.

I found a few options for the dress and the beautiful feathered cape she wears. For the dress, Forever 21 has two different options with a Satin Maxi Dress ($34.90) and this Selfie Leslie Halter Neck Dress ($44.99):

I also found two options for the cape/jacket, the first is the Jayley Luxurious Stripe Faux Fur Jacket ($234) and the second is the SB Tipped Fur Jacket ($107.50):

6. 50 Shades Darker Prize Pack

I’m giving away a 50 Shades Darker Prize Pack complete with masks, tea lights, lip balm and a Large sweatshirt.

The winner will be announced on February 26. You can enter via the Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have you seen 50 Shades Darker yet? What did you think?

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2016 Capsule Collection Part 2

I previously drafted my Capsule Collection Part 1 post with all of my must have clothing pieces; but the list wouldn’t be complete without some of my favorite accessories. I think capsule accessories are more fun to buy because you can really invest in getting nice pieces as they are more timeless. I don’t mind saving up for a pair of diamond studs for example because you know you will wear them forever. With accessories you can take a cheap t-shirt and jeans from blah to fabulous at a moment’s notice. Here are my top accessory investment picks:

1. Black Pumps

You can buy black pumps anywhere, and I like to have at least five pairs in rotation at a time. Mostly because I am a hard walker and go through them quickly, but then you can get slightly different styles and heel heights and change it up a bit. I just snagged amazing Coach pumps at the outlet store for $50 with an original price of $200, so I would say I’m already crushing it for fall. I would love to add a designer pair to my collection like these Jimmy Choo Romy 100 Patent Leather Point-Toe Pumps ($575). I love the gold accent to the bottom as well.

Jimmy Choo

2. Diamond Earrings ($1200)

I have been dying for a pair of real diamond studs and what is more timeless and classic than these pair from Tiffany?

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3. Tom Ford Whitney Sunglasses ($450)

I was in love with these sunglasses the first time I saw Sarah Michelle Gellar wear a similar pair on Ringer (she wore the Charlie in case you were wondering). I just had to have them; and then my amazing husband surprised me with the similar Whitney version one Christmas. I’ve had them for a few years and no other pair will ever compare, they are just perfect.

Tom Ford Whitney

4. Prada Bag ($2980)

I once had a real nylon Prada bag. I loved it. I carried it everywhere, until I left it unattended and it got stolen (let that be a warning to you ladies-this was many years ago). Ever since then, I have been dying to get another bag and it doesn’t help that Olivia Pope carries gorgeous Prada bags on almost every episode of Scandal. I just LOVE this version with the red interior, it is smashing!

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5. Chanel Necklace ($1750)

I really fell in love with these watching Kate Walsh play Addison Montgomery on Private Practice. She would wear these all the time and they were stunning and elegant.

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6. Tory Burch Reva Flats ($225)

I never wore flats before I broke my foot, but when I was forced to buy some these were at the top of my list.

Tory Burch Reva

7. Shinola Watch ($800)

I was so delighted to receive a Shinola watch in The Canfield 38mm Pink Watch. It is beautiful and elegant, a timeless piece that compliments any outfit.

Shinola Canfield

8. Tory Burch Bombe Reva Black Leather Clutch ($275)

I’ve been eyeing this clutch for years. One of our friends has it and it is stunning in person.

Tory Burch Bombe Reva Clutch

9. Burberry Giant Check Cashmere Scarf ($435)

I’ve always wanted a classic Burberry cashmere scarf, but I think I would rather make it my own and go with the Ash Rose instead of the traditional camel. I would probably wear it a lot more in the winter as I typically wear a lot of dark colors.

Burberry Scarf

10. Tiffany Amethyst Cocktail Ring ($1,200)

I remember when Tiffany was my client and this ring first came out. That was a number of years ago and it is still on my list. A fun cocktail ring should always be at hand and this one is so pretty.

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11. Badgley Mischka Evening Shoes ($116.99)

You may be familiar with Badgley Mischka for wedding dresses, but they have the most beautiful evening shoes. Strappy evening sandals are a must have and these Badgley Mischka Lowry Sandals are perfect. My wedding shoes were Badgley Mischka and I danced the night away in them. Great quality for buying a designer pair of shoes.

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12. Statement Necklace ($88)

I am IN LOVE with this Treasure Trove Brooch Necklace from Banana Republic! Statement necklaces are amazing and take a simple dress into a power look or evening attire. I love unique necklaces that reflect personal style.

Treasure Trove

13. Louis Vuitton Luggage ($4,000)

So I would never buy Louis Vuitton luggage that I was going to check (no way would I risk losing that). But a chic carry on may actually get me to pack light (HA! Who am I kidding). This is the perfect size to carry on and is so glamorous!

louis-vuitton-pégase-légère-55-business-monogram-canvas-travel--M20013_PM2_Front view

14. Pearl Earrings ($225)

Pearl Earrings are a MUST. I love this classic pair from Tiffany & Co.’s Ziegfield Collection.

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15. Chanel No. 5 ($100)

I sort of feel like you’ve arrived when you have a bottle of Chanel No. 5 available to wear at anytime. If it’s good enough for Marilyn Monroe you can’t go wrong…

chanel-5-paris

What items are on your Capsule Collection accessories list?

For more fashion posts, click here.



5 on Friday: Corkswoon Edition

It’s time for another edition of Five on Friday with A Liz AdventuresThe Good Life BlogHello Happiness and Carolina Charm.

THE GOOD LIFE BLOG

1. Celine Dion’s New Album – You Loved Me Back to Life 

The new album is here and it is awesome!! I can’t wait to jam out to Celine on a long drive I have this weekend. She has also announced more Las Vegas concert dates for the summer and I am looking forward to seeing her in concert again. I have seen Celine Dion three times live and she is amazing! Watching this video just makes me love her more, she is such a beautiful person.

2. Clinique Bonus at Nordstrom

Nordstrom’s Clinique bonus is still going through November 16th with a $30 purchase.

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With your bonus you get:

· Tracy Reese for Clinique Cosmetics Bag
· Moisture Surge CC Cream (0.5 oz.) in Your Choice of Very Light, Light Medium or Medium Deep
· Eyeshadow/Blush Palette in Starlight, Starbright and Fig
· Dual-Ended High Impact Mascara in Black (0.07 oz.) and Long Last Glosswear in Bonfire (0.17 oz.)
· Long Last Lipstick in All Heart (0.14 oz.)
· Repairwear Laser Focus Eye Cream (0.17 oz.)
· Moisture Surge Intense Skin Fortifying Hydrator (0.5 oz.)
· A Different Nail Enamel in Happy (0.17 oz.)

3. Clinique Eye for Colour

Von Maur is hosting a special Clinique event: Eye for Colour to learn about their new eyeshadows. You can make an appointment at your nearest Von Maur store through November 17th.

Just for attending you get a 10-day supply of Clinique’s Happy Perfume Spray mini and your choice of Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle Correcting Eye Cream mini or All About Eyes mini.

 

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4. Jimmy Choo Look for Less

Now, let’s pretend for a minute that my foot’s not broken and I’m not in a walking boot. The Jimmy Choo Leila shoes have been on my list for quite some time. They are pretty much the hottest shoes I have ever seen. Unfortunately, they are sold out. I have scoured eBay for them but they only have the brown ones. Fast forward to last night, when I was out at an event and saw a girl wearing them. Of course I went up to her and asked her if those were the Jimmy Choo shoes and where she found them. She told me that they weren’t Jimmy Choos and she got them on sale at DSW. I immediately went online to hunt these amazing look-a-likes down. They are the Caparros Dalton Sandal for $39.94. Just take a look – on the top we have the Jimmy Choos and on the bottom, the Caparros:

Jimmy Choos

5. Kate Middleton’s Stuart Weitzman Blue Suede Corkswoon Wedges

Big news! Zappos has just re-released Kate Middleton’s Stuart Weitzman blue suede Corkswoon wedges. You can read about them in my Kate Middleton style post here. Make sure to get them at Zappos while you can.

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How to Find Your Signature Scent

Like any girl, I want to smell nice, but not overpowering. Lately, I have been experimenting with different scents and mixing different them for different occasions. There is no bigger compliment then having a man say you smell nice. That is one of my favorite things to hear.

This got me thinking, how do you determine the right scent? I think it helps to understand the basic choices:

Perfume

Perfume has a 30-40 percent perfume oil concentration which is meant to last for 6-8 hours. This is the most expensive type of fragrance and you want to use it sparingly. You should focus it on your pulse points.

Eau de Parfum

Eau de Parfum contains 15-20 percent perfume oil concentration and lasts about 5 hours. This is a great scent to spray on your hair or clothing.

Eau de Toilette

Eau de Toilette has a 10 percent perfume oil concentration. This only lasts for a few hours.

Eau de Cologne

Eau de Cologne has a 5-7 percent perfume oil concentration which is meant to last 2-3 hours. You can reapply this frequently without being overpowering. This is usually a great body spray.

The strength of the scent determines its price, so that longer it lasts the more expensive it is. Once you know what type of scent to get you then need to figure out what scents you like.

Here is the standard fragrance wheel, created by Michael Edwards. The four main scents are Floral, Oriental, Woody and Fresh. Each of these are divided into sub-groups on the wheel:

The Fragrance Wheel

The Fragrance Wheel

Floral – Floral fragrances can be from the scent of one particular flower or several flowers.

Oriental – Oriental fragrances include animalistic scents comgined with vanilla, tonka bean, flowers and woods

Woody – These typically include agarwood, sandalwood, cedarwood and patchouli.

Fresh – These include citrus, green and aquatic notes.

Now that we know a little bit more about the different types of scents I thought I would share my favorites with you and my newest purchase.

One of the first fragrances I remember wearing in high school was a Peach Nectar Long Lasting Body Fragrance from Bath & Body Works. They have long discontinued this, but I still have the bottle in my cabinet. I don’t wear it frequently, but when I do the scent takes me back to when I was 16. I love it just for that reason. I love the way different scents can bring back old memories.

Peach Nectar

Peach Nectar

In college I upgraded to Victoria’s Secret Dream Angels Halo which was launched in 2000. This is a floral fragrance from Ilias Ermenidis. The top notes are poinsettia, fig leaf, freesia and tiare flower. The middle notes are orchid, pepper and vanilla. The base note is sandalwood. One of the reasons I love this scent is because my husband complimented me on it when we first met, before we started dating. I usually save this for a special occasion with my husband.

Dream Angels Halo

Dream Angels Halo

This is an Eau de Parfum and has been discontinued from Victoria’s Secret. Sometimes they re-release it into the stores, but I usually find online at Sears or eBay.

After college, I started selling Mary Kay for a while and discovered Embrace Dreams Fragrance Mist. I remember getting so many compliments on this one from my tour groups when I worked at Pewabic Pottery. This is a creamy floral scent containing bamboo, decaffeinated red tea and sandalwood. I still love this scent, it is great to wear every day. It has been discontinued, but I like to get it on eBay periodically.

Mary Kay Embrace Dreams

Mary Kay Embrace Dreams

Once Embrace Dreams was discontinued I went back to Victoria’s Secret and tried Dream Angels Heavenly. This is usually my standby when I can’t get the perfume I want. It is $45-60 depending on the size you get. It was created in 1999 and has notes of quince, cardamom, ivy and mandarin. The heart includes lotus, white peony, freesia, iris and violet. The base contains white musk, sandalwood, orchid and vanilla. This was also created by Ilias Ermenidis and is an Eau de Parfum.

Dream Angels Heavenly

Dream Angels Heavenly

I have also enjoyed the spin off to this, Dream Angels Heavenly Kiss, which was introduced in 2008. They don’t always have this in the stores as it’s a limited edition scent, but you can find it on eBay. This is an Eau de Parfum and has top notes of red currant, red fruit and watermelon. Middle notes include the heart of freesia petals, guava, apricot nectar and jasmine. The bottom notes are soft vanilla, creamy notes of wood, English toffee, marshmallow and sensual musk.

Heavenly Kiss

Heavenly Kiss

This brings me to my current scent, Jimmy Choo Eau de Parfum, which debuted in 2011. I am still on my first bottle, so I haven’t decided if this will be my new favorite scent yet. This can be very overpowering, so I have to be careful not to spray too much. This is a floral fruity composition with a deep woody base. It opens with ginger, pear and green accords. The heart includes exotic tiger orchid and is blended with tea rose. This was created by Olivier Polge.

Jimmy Choo

Jimmy Choo

After going back through all of my scents over the years I realized that my signature scent needs to be a floral Eau de Parfum. Now that I know what to look for, I can’t wait try out some new scents.

Let me know if you have any fragrances that you can’t live without, I would love to try them.

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