Outfit Ideas: Meet the Heat

Posted on June 14, 2013 by Jensy

Photo courtesy of blog.denimtherapy.com

It is scorching in Texas! We’ve been in the high 90′s all week. And while this Long Island-born tanorexic has never shied away from warm weather, there’s a major difference between hanging poolside in a minimal amount of fabric and having to put on an actual outfit, go to an office, and be a professional person. Eek!

Breezy summer dresses are fun but we need to make sure our hemlines aren’t too short. I’ve seen some pretty interesting looks going on lately in the corporate cafeteria. If you’ve got the legs and the confidence and want to rock a micro-mini skirt to work, girl, go for it. But I am just a tad too buttoned-up in the personality department to wear the same thing to the office that I would at a barbecue. Call me provincial if you must.

How to survive the summer heat and still look stylish? I’m learning by experience and am certainly no expert yet. While those New York summers blazed, and the subway was truly unbearable, I’ve never lived in a place that reaches 110 with any frequency. Here’s what I’ve picked up from the chic locals:

1. Open-toed shoes are a must, but keep them classy. Flip flops have no place in your office, so leave them at the door. But sleek sandals with plenty of room to breathe will keep your look professional and comfortable at once. I recently nabbed these BCBG numbers at the Bloomie’s outlet and I’m obsessed:

Harry never misses an opportunity to jump into the photo…

2. Cotton. Cotton. Cotton is your very best friend. It breathes, it forgives you if you sweat, and it cleans easily in the washing machine for frequent wear. One of my current go-to’s is a Joe Fresh trapeze dress from JCPenney that’s white with navy stripes and does not hug the body at all. Perfect for the scorching temps and totally cute with a low pump and red lipstick. I also like to dress it up with a punchy pair of platforms.

Now on clearance for only $13.99, jcpenney.com.

3. We’ve spoken about maxis and the fact that I don’t like them. Well, if politicians can change their stances seasonally, I see no reason why this fashion blogger can’t. And so I will now reveal that I am developing a rather massive crush on the maxi. I still believe that one must always turn around and check out her toosh in the mirror before leaving the house in her maxi–many of them are made of such clingy fabric, you can see everything on the rear-end. Yikes. But a nice sturdy material and great fit? Perfect for summer heat at the office and can be professionalized instantly with the right accessories.

This is a great fit in a maxi for a more casual work environment. If your dress code is stiffer, pair with a black cardi or cropped blazer and heels. Still more comfortable than sweating in a poly blend fitted number! Aqua, $88, bloomingdales.com

Here are some more inspirational photos of summer looks that work at the office. Share yours with me, too!

Try Something New: Knuckle Rings

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Jensy

Jewelry has taken so many exciting turns down the catwalk in recent seasons, from earrings that are more like ear-cuffs to glorious metal mixing, pearl-encrusted hair ornaments (consider that jewelry for your tresses!) and beyond. This morning, in the 90-degree heat, my poor fingers were a little swollen, but I had a strong desire to wear one of my grandmother’s gold rings. This chunky masterpiece was scooped up on one of the last trips she ever took with my grandfather to Italy, and its sentimental value is even greater than its monetary one.

Solution? I wore the ring higher up, right below my knuckle. When the finger is straight, the knuckle is totally covered. Kind of a cool look! There was no puffing or strain, and it was easy to spend all day typing (hey, that’s what we writers do!) without a second thought. I received a ton of compliments, too. Any tricks you love for reinventing your fave jewelry items? I want to hear!

On Summer Skin & Other Things

Posted on June 10, 2013 by Jensy

Thrilled about the onset of summer? You’re not alone. But while you look forward to tan legs extending out of short shorts, gelato dripping down the sides of a cone, and brunches that last hours while the easy breeze floats on by, your skin is entering panic mode. Let’s be kind and take a listen.

Sunscreen is important all year round, but especially from June to September. If you’re beach-bound, you must also remember that hazardous rays reflect off the sand and back onto your pretty face, meaning you have wrinkle-enhancers coming at you from multiple angles. Get yours prepped and protected with some of my favorite products:

$55, chanel.com

If there’s ever an excuse to splurge on product, the health of your skin is a great choice. I adore CHANEL’s UV Essential Broad Spectrum SPF 50 for the face. This powerhouse product blends in smooth and creamy for an instantly moisturizing feel. It goes on to protect your face from the dangerous rays of the sun all day long. Also serving as a protectant against free radicals and pollution, this oil-free, lightweight sunscreen is an excellent choice for city girls. My face sees it every morning, first thing, all summer long.

Moisture Surge CC cream, $35, clinique.com

Shellacking on the makeup is another opportunity to improve the health and tone of your skin. But try lightening up and ditching your heavy winter foundation as the temperature rises. If you haven’t settled on a BB or CC cream yet, now is the time to experiment. Ask the cosmetics girls at the counter for testers; most brands are pushing these right now and should have samples for you to try. The idea is to find a product that helps improve your skintone while delivering minimal coverage and a healing effect. I’m really into this Moisture Surge CC cream from Clinique right now.

starting at $84, esteelauder.com

Got a burn? Don’t fret, my pretty. Every girl messes up sometimes. My oft-tested and 100%-approved method for healing skin post-sun is Estee Lauder Advanced Repair Night Serum. You should be using this product anyway; I have recommended it to countless women who all report back with glowing reviews–and skin to match. I’ve been known to slather on this product periodically throughout the day when suffering from a sunburn, and it works actual miracles. Trust.

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a true obsession of mine… $9.50, kiehls.com

Complement your gorgeous summer skin with a fresh lip color or shiny balm. Remember that the skin on your lips is susceptible to damage and burns just like elsewhere on your face; invest in a good product with SPF to keep your pout perfect.

PS. Your summer complexion is a canvas for all the exciting makeup trends you’ve been dying to try. But remember you can look just as gorg by keeping things simple. My favorite thing about summer is the freedom that comes with deciding whether to amp up the volume on my eye makeup or keep it really clean and natural with just a coat of mascara. Have fun! And make sure that beautiful tan is faux.

Loomstate Sample Sale: Fashion for Everyone

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Jensy

Ready to stock up on some great basics for the change of seasons without breaking the bank? I’m about to be your new best friend because I’ve got the info on one of the best sample sales happening in NYC this month. If you haven’t heard of Loomstate, check them out here. From organic tees to reversible dresses, they’ve got everything for guys and girls to achieve casual cool with a conscience. Other brands available at the sale are listed below. Loomstate’s Sample Sale is happening next weekend, so mark your calendars!

Brands Available: Rogan, Loomstate, Surf Bazaar, Ulla Johnson

When: June 12, 13, and 14 from 10AM to 6PM

Where: 54 Bond St (Lower Level)

Discounts: 50-80% off

Have fun and tell them Jensy sent you!

The Spaces Between Fun

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Jensy

Do you get out enough? It seems these days that no vacation lasts as long as it should, no weekend is filled with enough adventure, each special plan is marked by its ending. My mom and I call it the Sunday Blues, and unfortunately they can come on at any time, not just Sundays. I feel it when a date with my fiance is coming its end, and believe me, I cried before we hopped the plane home from Paris.

So, how do we solve this? I have a fantastic job and a fulfilling extracurricular lifestyle as a freelance journalist. We have a lovely home and two sweet pets. And I don’t need to tell you how much I adore my fiance. So, what is the secret to staying jazzed up about life on the in-betweens? You need to make a fun plan. And then make another. And another. You will not be jetting off to Paris at a moment’s notice (that was wonderful, but it was a one-timer!)

But there is brunch and there are parks and sweet cities to discover and dog parks to wander about. If it’s not in your budget or allotted vacation allowance to take a trip anytime soon, add something fabulous to your calendar, ten days from now or less, and that night after you’ve unwound from the day’s adventure, start to plan your next one. Here are some ideas that work in any city:

Throw a sweet party. These do not need to break the bank. My brother once hosted a cupcake tasting for which he purchased cupcakes from Manhattan’s top competing bakeries, cut them into quarters, and had guests vote on their favorite. Beer and wine were kept cold over ice that filled the bathtub. Guests snuck out to the rooftop for cigarettes, listened to music and swayed about in their summertime cocktail dresses. It was a truly divine evening, one I’ll never forget. And the party cost next to nothing. You can do this just as well by baking them yourself, and having some guests bring baked goods, too.

Top Tip: Invite a couple friends to crash at your place, and let them help you clean up in the morning.

you can find the recipe for this super-yummy lavender lemonade at http://www.sophistimom.com

Do a “spa day” with your girls. You might not have the cash for a full-on day of nails, massage, facial and so on, but you can still make a spa day happen. Gather up your best girls, a bottle of polish and a flatiron. Take turns doing each other’s nails and hair outside in your backyard or at a local park. Snap lots of pics and Instagram like crazy. You’ll get some sun in lieu of a spray tan, and this Long Island girl never shied away from that!

Top Tip: Make a refreshing and delicious beverage for your girls like lavender lemonade.

Eat popcorn for dinner with your leading man. Dinner and a movie can run you a good $100 these days. If you just need to get out of the house, and don’t want to spend a fortune, plan a movie date night with your guy and skip the dinner portion of the program. Popcorn and soda are loaded with cals, so if you swap it for dinner, you’re saving money and your girlish figure. Josh and I are doing this on Friday night, and we can’t wait!

Top Tip: Dress up all fancy like you’re going for a night at the opera. Or just throw on a pair of heels with your jeans. Your guy will love it, and you’ll feel like a million bucks.

So these are just a few of my favorite things to plan when I need an escape from reality. What are yours?

Best Bralette

Posted on June 5, 2013 by Jensy

For my readers with big boobs, I apologize. This post is not for you. Though I’m not really sorry because, hey, you have big boobs. Good for you!

No bra, as usual.

But this is the blog for the girls like myself with nothing much going on up top. I have been known to skip the bra entirely (who needs it?). They’re uncomfortable and in many cases unnecessary. If a particular dress or sweater looks best with some cleavage, I’ll throw on a push-up, but for the most part, I’m happy with my little boobs and fine to just let them be, well, little.

But what about the sheer or tight tops that show a little too much you-know-what? Pasties are a sticky mess and have no place in an office environment. If you’re wearing a shirt that suffers from turkey’s-done syndrome, you might consider my favorite little bralettes.

This top is a little itchy, so it requires my favorite bralette.
Seriously, though, can you believe how flat my chest is?

American Apparel makes a fantastic lace bralette that is super-comfortable, gives just enough coverage that you can barely feel, and doubles as a cute look for, you know, your significant other. I own this in seven colors and am seriously contemplating buying more.

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floral lace bralette, available in 14 colors. americanapparel.net, $18 each.

Someday, after I have my babies, I probably won’t be able to get away with these barely-there bras. I might even buy myself a bigger pair that require actual underwire. But for now, I’m happy in my little lacies. And hey, my fiance is not complaining either. At least I have a booty!

Liptastic

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Jensy

My maid of honor and best friend ever was visiting me this weekend and she made a serious life change in Dallas. A true creature of routine, she favors one sweep of mascara, a narrow bit of brown liner top and bottom, cover-up when needed, and a deep rose or nearly-naked lip. Every day.

Pookie is absolutely beautiful and doesn’t need a drop of makeup to turn heads. However, as you beauty junkies know, it isn’t about need but want. Similarly to yours truly, she has turned a corner recently and has arrived at a point of confidence wherein she craves change in the routine. And while my instinct was to force her into purchasing a mint green eye shadow or metallic liquid liner, we instead went armed to Walgreens on a mission: fresh pink lips for summer.

For her job at an elite girl’s boarding school in Connecticut, Pookie has to err on the safer side with cosmetics. No blue toe polish, wild neons on the lips, etc. But we did commit to getting her a few fresh lip shades that will brighten things up for the change of seasons and take her from the office to cocktails with her husband.

I recommended Revlon, as I’ve let you all know that they are my hands-down favorite in drugstore lip options. She settled on a creamy strawberry lipstick, bold pink stain, and airy, peony-hued gloss in the end. Sometimes a few new options can give you a totally different outlook. I could sense her joy as she applied that bright pink lip in the car on our way to the airport. So, this was not the weekend on which she was destined to find her way into a color-me-bright eye shadow palette. But her new lipstick is pink and pretty and makes her feel beautiful. How much more inspired could anyone want to be?

Giddy for Gold

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Jensy

whole lotta gold! necklace & earrings from peter messina in huntington, new york. green and gold ring is a family heirloom. long gold chain belt from chanel worn as second necklace. this was a fun night of accessorizing!

Since I was a teen, I’ve preferred silver over gold. It’s not necessarily because one looks better on my skintone than the other; I believe it was mostly out of habit and trend. I adored putting on my grandmothers’ gold pieces that had been handed down, but if given the choice between the two colorways in my metal accessorizing, I’d go with silver over gold nine times out of ten.

Then something changed. I’m not sure if it was when the price of gold started to skyrocket a couple of years ago, or if it’s just a matter of growing up and reaching for classics. Either way, these days, I’m on board with the gold trend and my appetite can’t be sated. However, my engagement ring, and the band we’ll get to match, are platinum. For some reason, white metal remains a classic in bridal jewelry that I would not want to change.

So, if you’re going for gold and don’t have the fundage to invest in the real thing, here are some items I suggest you nab stat. From footwear to headgear and everywhere in between, gold is major right now, and it looks grand on everyone.

Sara Designs gold-tone chain wrap watch is a great choice for dressing up your office look or adding an extra touch to any cocktail dress. $330, bloomingdales.com

oh, yes you can! at on sale for only $6.99, this goddess headwrap is an absolute steal. urbanoutfitters.com

two pieces and countless stares… this adorable lurex bikini by Tooshie is a great shape to flatter many body types. $195, calypsostbarth.com

the streets are lined in gold when you strut your stuff in these fab golden oxfords from sam edelman. normally $150, i found them at a super-low $99 from karmaloop.com

a lovely gold cocktail dress solves that age-old question of what to wear in lieu of your lbd. this shoshanna number with painted rose motif and POCKETS is amazing. on sale from $340 for $102 at shopbop.com

Making a House a Home

Posted on May 30, 2013 by Jensy

this stage was rough on everyone!

When Josh and I first moved to Texas, we had a lot to do in a short amount of time. The apartment we’d selected was gorgeous, on the twelfth floor of a highrise in Uptown Dallas, with stunning city views and plenty of space to spread out. But he started work right away and I was working from home, lost in a sea of boxes. I had no local friends, no one to talk to between the hours of 8 am and 6 pm, and nothing to do but unpack. And clean. And cook. And unpack some more.

In addition to the pounds that gathered around my waist (thanks to My Fitness Pal and daily yoga, they’ve disappeared), I never really felt we got it right with the house. For all Joshy’s efforts at hanging our beloved art on the walls, and the sweet dining table and chairs we purchased, things never came together. By the time he returned from a day at the office, we were both tired and just wanted to spend time relaxing together. Eventually, things got organized, but there remain bits and bobs in boxes from one corner to the next that never found a place to stay.

Then, we started hunting for a house and all bets were off. I suddenly didn’t care as much about getting things in order in our current home. After all, I’m planning a wedding, working full-time, and we have a puppy in addition to our sweet cat. It’s chaos in this apartment!

an open space for storing cosmetics has made me a very happy beauty blogger indeed. however, i would prefer something lower and easier to maintain. adding that to the list for the new place!

When we got home from Paris Sunday night, we both felt it right away. The disorganization we’ve been living with for the past few months feel unnatural and frustrating to both of us. Despite my efforts at cleaning (remember this post?) the tasks are never fully accomplished and we both would rather just snuggle up with Law & Order an a 100-calorie ice cream bar and chill at the end of the day.

So, new goals. Because this is a home, but it needs some help. We’ve hired a new cleaning service to come once every two weeks and do what my mother calls the “deep clean.” I hereby promise to do more laundry and to fold that laundry, and then put it away soon afterward. And I will do my very best to keep paperwork filed and knickknacks up off the floor and in their allotted places.

And tonight, as Josh experiences his first evening of bachelor party festivities in a foreign land, and I await tomorrow’s arrival of my Pookalina Ballerina, I will be organizing the closet. Arranging my new treasures from last week’s trip to Paris, lining up my swimwear in rainbow order, and so on.

When we move to the new apartment next month, a storage unit will be necessary. I can’t unload anymore important items now — last year’s purge is still too recent. But I will make more of an effort for the house that we will live in as man and wife, and if he chooses to start picking up his dirty socks off the floor, that will also be grand.

our brooklyn apartment, which we still own, is lovely. small, but filled with character.

Looking Up

Posted on May 29, 2013 by Jensy

I’ve always been told I look like my mom, which I hold as one of the highest compliments. Sorry to brag, but my mom is truly gorgeous… I’m lucky to have an ever-so-slightly traceable likeness to her. So, how does she look this amazing? (Note: I would never reveal this goddess’s age, but she was not a teen mom).

In her high school and college years while her friends laid out in bikinis wearing oil and hoisting reflectors up under their faces, my mom wore sunscreen. It was not the cool thing to do, but she did it. When she was broke in her early twenties, living in Manhattan and eating boxed macaroni with ketchup for dinner alongside my dad, she squirreled away to buy high quality face and eye cream. Mom has also never smoked a cigarette in her entire life, which clearly hasn’t hurt that gorgeous complexion.

Of course, the big blue eyes, thick golden hair, lovely nose, etc were just given to her. Don’t hate! But taking care of your skin, hair and bod are important if you want your beauty to last. My mom moisturizes day and night, gets deep conditioning treatments on her golden locks, and does Pilates. She also visits the doctor for frequent check-ups and eats tons of heart-healthy leafy greens (but of course, no one can be blamed for the occasional sweet treat or glass of wine).

When I had my first facial at age 15, Mom bought me some of the products the technician used. At the time, I thought it was a little silly, but I used them because my mom suggested I get a head start. I remain a strong believer in looking up to our mothers’ beauty routines. What you don’t like, throw out. (I prefer a TON more eyeliner than she does, and bronzer over blush any day). But what works, heed. You’re likely to have a similar chemical makeup of the skin and hair to your mother, and keeping her beauty secrets close to your daily routine will only help you to have a chance at her glory.

Thanks for the inspiration, Mommy!

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