Thakoon for Kohl's DesigNation

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New York Fashion week is in full swing, so I think that's been getting most of the fashion press coverage in the past few days.  But I had my calendar marked for today's release: available today is the most recent affordable designer line by Thakoon for Kohl's DesigNation line.  Definitely fall pieces, with a subtle color palate of grays, blacks, blues, and burgundy, there are some great versatile, very wearable pieces that would make a good addition to any closet.

Thakoon's designs have been described as "timelessly feminine" and "as romantic and sensual as they are modern and innovative."  He has done affordable lines in the past for the GAP and Target.  

Some of my favorites:

You can view/shop the full collection below:

Classy Cut-Outs

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Hope everyone had a fun/relaxing/productive/peaceful/whatever-you-needed-it-to-be Labor Day holiday.  We did extended family time on Sunday (BBQ at the grandparent's with my sister and her family), then Monday was just our little family.  We got up early, because with a toddler there is no such thing as sleeping in, and drove to Long Beach for breakfast, then to Huntington Beach Dog beach with the vision of letting the dog off the leash and the toddler splash in water.  But we learned that even just the flow of a crashed wave up the sand is a horrifying thing, and even mommy and daddy shouldn't let the wave water get them.  Even if they're are laughing and having fun. It is not a fun thing to witness, it is very upsetting.

So the dog beach was a bit of a bust, though the dog had some fun. The little guy fell asleep shortly after departing the beach, and took a nice long nap.  Then we were able to salvage the water experience of the day by going to the pool, which little dude loves, and he and daddy splashed there til dinner time.

For the beach I just wore my swimsuit and denim cut-offs.  But after cleaning up, I was loving this new top I got (under $20!)  It is minimalist and modern, with cut outs that reveal a little skin without revealing too much. You can wear a normal bra with it, and it is so easy to dress up or down.  Here, I dressed it up with some wide leg slacks and leopard print heels, keeping accessories to a minimum, to keep with the mono-chromatic minimalist vibe.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

If you're on Snapchat, find me there at edstilettos, and you can follow my little family adventures.

My Skincare by Mary Kay

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I confess that when I first started exploring the world of cosmetics and skin care products as a pre-teen, Mary Kay was not a brand I thought of for myself. It was the brand my mom and grandma used.  While my adult self now sees that as clear evidence of what quality products they are.  Generations of women have used these great products, and I'm part of that sorority as well now.  

The company is always trying to provide us with the latest technological advancements in skin care (as we're all our quest for the fountain of youth in a bottle), and here I'm sharing my favorites that are part of my daily routine.

My daily skincare routine is essentially as follows:

Morning:

1. Rinse face with warm water only (usually just in the shower.)
2. Apply TimeWise Repair® Volu-Firm® Day Cream Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30, pat into skin.  As you know, you should always wear sunscreen.  This cream is very hydrating but not greasy, and absorbs quickly.
3. Apply TimeWise Repair® Volu-Firm® Eye Renewal Cream.  The tip is a smooth metal applicator that glides on your skin and keeps you from tugging at the delicate eye area. I usually pat with my ring fingers just to get it all absorbed before makeup.
4. Stay tuned for a future post of my cosmetics routine.

Evening:

1. Wash face with Timewise 3-in-1 Cleanser. It's called 3-in-1 because it cleanses, exfoliates and tones in one step.  I use the oily skin formula, even thought my skin isn't very oily, because I like the lather. It is not drying.  It washes away so clean, leaves no residue.  Has a very light, clean scent.
2. Remove eye make-up with Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover.  This is THE BEST. If you only ever try one MK product, this is the one.  I don't think there has ever been a person that tried this that didn't love it, nor a waterproof eye makeup that it couldn't remove.  It is safe for all skin types, won't hurt your eyes, and removes EVERYTHING without any tugging or rubbing.  
3.  Apply TimeWise Repair® Volu-Firm® Lifting Serum, followed by TimeWise Repair® Volu-Firm® Night Treatment With Retinol. Pat into skin. These are the real anti-wrinkle heavy hitters.  The lifting serum is very luxurious feeling, but absorbs well and feels light.  In all the TimeWise Repair® products is the patent-pending Volu-Firm® Complex, a perfect union of three ingredients that work to restore the look of youthful volume and vibrancy.

Special Treatments: alternating nights, I do nightly masks before my Evening product application: the Timewise Moisture Renewing Gel Mask, and the Timewise Even Complexion Mask.  Tuesdays and Thursdays, I do the Even Complexion mask. Monday, Wednesday, Friday I do the Gel Mask.  

 
 

The Mary Kay skin care lines are formulated to work with each other, but they also work just as well incorporated in a skin care regiment with other brand products (I use other brands as well. Mary Kay is my staple though.)  The Timewise Repair product line is designed to fight the signs of aging, but they have great products for acne treatment, dry skin, etc.  I use the Repair line because I figure prevention is easier than correction.  

If you're interested in trying any of these products for yourself, click the links in the text above, or click here to let me know which and I'll share a 25% off discount with you.  (Click here too if you're interested in becoming an MK Consultant yourself, and always having a great discount on their products!)  I wanted to use MK all the time, so I became a consultant years ago (but I'm a terrible sales woman, and basically just sell to myself and family, because I never promote myself anywhere else!)  All MK products come with a money-back guarantee, so if you don't like it, you can return with no hassle.

See Summer Better with Warby Parker

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I know for many people, particularly in Southern California, sunglasses are a practical necessity.  But they are also a fashionable accessory that can easily and quickly change up your look, giving a simple ensemble a glamorous vibe, or an edgy vibe, or a hipster vibe.  But due to the variety of facial shapes and features, a simple pair of frames can look completely different on two different people. 

Warby Parker is an online frames store, carrying both eyeglasses and sunglasses frames.  Since it's near impossible to pick out a pair of frames that suits your face just by looking at pictures on line, they have a great free home try-on program.  You just go to their site and pick out five frames you would like to sample, they ship them to you (free), you pick your favorite and then send them back (free again).

Warby Parker asked me if I'd be interested in Seeing Summer Better with a pair of their frames, so here are my 5 try-ons and my thoughts.

Jennings

I thought these were going to be bigger than they ended up being.  It's funny, because when I put these ones on and looked in the mirror, I didn't really like them, but in these pictures I think I look ok.  You can't really tell well in these picture either, but the frames are a dark turquois-y blue, which I liked.  Mostly these felt very basic to me.  Give me a white t, jeans and a baseball cap and I'm ready for a day at the park.

Batten

Ok, obviously you can pretty much never go wrong with a classic pair of aviators.  The only challenge I usually find is just getting the right size lenses for your face.  I felt like these were a good size.  Simple metal frames, basic grey lense.  In the online pictures I thought the lenses were more blue that they are in person, but these still look fine (come in gold as well.)

Preston

I think these were my least favorite, but only because I like bigger lenses.  Sunglasses are partial face protection from the sun, so the bigger the lenses, the more protection. And these were just a bit too small for my face.  I like the overall style, and they were comfortable, but just not my perfect fit.  They do come in this very cool blue marblewood color scheme that I liked on line, but I think I maybe was sent the wrong color combo, because I think these were the whisky tortoise style. 

Banks

The biggest frames that came, I really liked the sea smoke tortoise pattern.  These felt big and glamorous, but not TOO big, and were almost a cat eye, but not.  Classic yet modern.  My only complain with this style was that the temples were really wide, too big for my head.  This could have just been because these are the sample pair, and it could possibly be adjusted once your new purchased pair is delivered.

Downing

These ones I didn't think I would like when I initially pulled them out of the box, but this is the exact reason you should try glasses on.  While simple and black, I felt like these gave me the slightest hipster vibe, like I should be down in Venice and wearing boyfriend jeans and a vintage T.  But I could also see them with simple office attire.  Versatility is always good.

My Favorite:  Banks

 
 

As sun protection really is a big selling point for me, my favorites ended up being the Banks.  I felt like these were versatile too.  Second place was the Batten aviators.  I think with these two classic styles you have a good foundation of eye wear that covers most occasions.

Go check out Warby Parker and try some on for yourself.  I just went back to the site and see new styles that I like as well.   May have to do another round of try-ons....

Which ones are your favorites?

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