Hi Ladies,

 

Like any other day, I chatted (or at least corresponded) with a few girlfriends yesterday. At some point during our communication I posed these simple questions, “Have you purchased Father’s Day gifts yet? What did you buy?”

 

I wasn’t surprised to learn that while they all look forward to indulging the men in their lives, few, with less than 72 hours ‘til the “big” day, have put their dollars or credit cards where their hearts are.

 

The answers were entertaining…to say the least.

 

Friend #1:

“Mrs. M” (35 years, Married 4 years, 1 child and very pregnant) said, “I find this to be a very interesting question that intrigues me…”

 

Clearly she hasn’t made a purchase!

 

Friend #2:

“Mrs. J” (31 years, Married 4 years, 2 children) said, “Yes. Of course! I actually gave it to him last night. He loved his giftsssss: a French-cuffed shirt, Paul Smith cufflinks, and  tie. He’ll wear them to an event where he’s being honored this Saturday."

 

Good for you Mrs. J!!! She’s the sweetest, superwoman-mother-wife I know. (Really!)

 

Friend #3:

“Miss B” (31, In a Relationship, no children) said, “Oh my gosh! Shucks! I need to buy something!! Any ideas?”

 

Of course, Miss B! In fact, I have ideas for you and Mrs. M.…and all the Mrs.-es, Misses, and Ms-es, A-Z.

 

Three tips to last-minute, stress-free shopping for him:

• Keep him at the forefront of your mind…of course. (You don’t want to get sidetracked when shopping.)
• Consider his likes, dislikes, wardrobe and valet needs, his lifestyle…of course.

 

And the not so obvious:

• Think about you, too!

 

After all (in the case of a stylish but practical gift), what’s good for the gander can be great for the goose. The perfect gift for him is one that you can borrow.

 

The Every-Man-Will-Like list:

 

Acqua Di Parma Capri Orange EDT, 2 oz. Spray, $64, Saksfifthavenue.com. I don’t usually suggest a woman wear a man’s cologne or vice versa. But Acqua Di Parma scents are gender neutral. This scent will transport anyone to a citrus grove in Capri. Call it a vacation in a bottle.

 

 

 

 

Cole Haan Duffle Perri Collection, $250, colehaan.com. Whether he’s stopping off at the gym or spending a few days golfing with the fellas, this nautical-hued carry-all is equal part handsome and chic. He’ll throw it over his shoulder for his trip, but when you jet set, you’ll carry it in the crease of your arm.

Enter code: MENSALE at checkout for 20% off.

 

 

Banana Republic Slim Fit Geo Floral Dress Shirt, $59, bananarepublic.com. Striped shirts are a safe choice. There’s something so sexy, sensitive, and confident about a man in a delicately patterned shirt. When it’s your turn to wear it, pair it with a wide belt worn high on your waist.

 

 

 

 

Locman Tremila Watch in Orange, $795, barneys.com. Paired with a polo or oxford shirt, this time keeper is sooooo GQ. On you? It’s oversized face and band looks sporty but feminine when matched delicate bangles.

 

 

 

Ray-Ban Original Aviator Sunglasses, $129, macys.com. Up the cool factor of any guy in your life while keeping his style clean and traditional.

 

Man-ly and Pedi-cure, $95 at Bliss Spa, blissworld.com. I know, I know…most guys are slow to admit it…but who doesn’t enjoy being pampered (just a little bit) every now and again? Bliss’ signature Man-ly Cure was created with him in mind. If Bliss hasn’t come to your town (just yet), you’re favorite local nail salon will serve him the royal treatment, too.

 

Good luck, happy shopping and happy Father’s Day!

 

Tai

Hi Ladies,

 

The sky is as crystal clear as the reflection of an Asscher-cut diamond. (I’ve never seen an Asscher diamond in person, but I hear they are as clear as water.) The sun is beaming more than a mom at her child’s first recital. The waves are gently crashing the shoreline creating a sound that mimics the angels’ celestial chorus. And I lie here (veiled in SPF 30, of course, because no sun is too good for me not to be well protected) looking like a golden goddess: even-toned, bronzed, radiant, sun-kissed. Ahhh…I love St. Barth’s. Okay, Santa Monica. I mean, Miami.

 

Okay, really, I’m on the rooftop deck of my Jersey loft building. But I’m more tan and golden than I have been in years without the tropics. And I owe it all to Givenchy’s Tan To Go, Limited Edition.

 

Now, wait! Before you recite (because I’m sure you already thunk it), “She’s-got-to-be-kidding-me!,” know that I am so sincere. Seldom will I recommend one product for a task. But, last Wednesday (after several Fed-Ex delivery attempts) I received a package in the mail from a friend with “ties” to the house of LMVH’s Givenchy. Never, never, did I expect the contents of that package to make me smile, make me coo, make me imagine frolicking on a white sand beach.

 

I’m a tan-in-a-can skeptic — and for several reasons: 1) I’m naturally melanin-ed. I am of African-American, Caribbean, Native American and French ancestry. So any tan I get, I admit, is extra, 2) most faux tans I’ve seen, well…look very faux, and 3) I, like most, think orange (not bronze) when I think tan in a bottle. We’ve all seen an “orange” woman before.

 

Today, however, I’m a convert. For the last five days, I have forgiven my typical complexion smoothing routine. I’ve ditched mixing one part of a slightly-darker-than-my-natural-skin-tone-liquid foundation with my daily face hydrant to create a delicately tinted moisturizer. I haven’t applied concealer to camouflage the signs of sleep deprivation. (That’s my trick to flawless looking skin.) Instead, I’ve followed the directions in the pamphlet that accompanies Givenchy Tan-to-Go face spray.

           

Avoid spraying in eyes. Hold eight inches from face, spray. Let dry. Spray until desired complexion…

           

Or something along those lines. The point? I’m sold. I’m a believer. I’m buying Shade 02 in large quantities this week since Givenchy decided that this clever and effective invention should be available only for a limited a time.

 

It dries in less than two minutes to a powder so it won’t rub onto your (or your significant other’s) clothes. I wish it came in 5 instead of two shades, but I asked friends, some darker and others lighter than me, to try, and the shades were pretty compatible.

 

So, as I head to a lunch meeting in not-so-tropical New York City, I’ll look fresh, clear-skinned, and St. Tropez-ed. Thanks to Givenchy.

  

 

Givenchy Tan To Go, $45, sephora.com

 

 

Have you ever had a tan-in-a-bottle or spray-tan mishap? Or is there a product or method you absolutely love? Do tell!

 

 

Tai

The birds in the Northeast are finally chirping (loudly). Flowers are budding, tree branches are sprouting leaves, and I’m feeling good. It’s been a terribly long winter. During this unpredictable season of chill, snow, ice, and rain, I continued to frequent a few of my favorites boutiques and stores: Intermix, Tracey Reese, J. Crew,  Barneys,  Anthropologie, and New Jersey’s Ruby almost weekly, absorbing the season’s best looks and hoping and praying that the Sun gods would smile down on us soon.

 

Despite my pleas and regular boutique-drop-ins, until now — when the temperature has seemed to settle itself above 59-degrees Fahrenheit — I wasn’t able to wrap my mind around purchasing a sleeveless blouse, sandal, or sundress.  Just last week, I finally felt 1) inclined to change over my closet, emptying it of cashmere sweater dresses, platform knee boots, and the dismal hues, 2) motivated to make a spring fashion purchases and 3) it justifiable to ask my Starbucks barista to add ice to my Grande-Triple-shot-skim-latte.  Say goodbye, winter.

 

Spring fashion trends are many. There’s the safari trend, the animal print (zebra or snake) trend, there’s the floral trend, the bold print and color block trend, there’s the white shirt trend, the gladiator sandal trend, the peep-toe shoe boot trend…the list goes on. One of my favorite style trends this season is classic, bold, bright, and, of course, statement-making — literally, paying homage to the Mother Earth.  I decided, my wardrobe should catch up with my recycling, shopping, and homemaking behaviors…“I’m going green!”

 

Whether a vibrant emerald or a more subdued khaki designers and style experts alike agree that green looks good on all skin tones. Here are a few of the green purchases I’ve made or hope to make. The trick to pulling this and any trend flawlessly? Don’t go overboard. Take it one green at a time.

 

What fashion trend puts an extra little spring in your step? Do tell!

  

 

Diane Von Furstenberg Tuvallu Zig Zag dress , $325, dvf.com

I love how casual, yet feminine, this tunic looks. And it’s versatile! If you’re feeling especially flirty, forgo the jeans on the bottom and wear it as a dress. Add the safari trend by pairing it with platform gladiator sandals.

 

 

 

Zagliani Metallic Python Handbag, $3600, intermixonline.com

I’ll be the first to admit, this bag (and its price) is my guiltiest green pleasure. I haven’t purchased it yet; but it’s certainly on my wish list. (I’ll need to save some green to go this green.)

 

 

 

 

Martine two-color satin heel, $245, jcrew.com

A sling back shoe adds vavavoom to any simple look. Pair these with a simple shift dress, khaki shorts, or skinny jeans –— all probably in your closet. A little unexpected? Maybe. But definitely stylish. They come in ballet flats as well.

 

 

 

Amulet Glass Necklace, $24, urbanoutfitters.com

Even when I revert to my winter-dressing ways by wearing all black, this necklace and the J.Crew shoes will brighten up my look. 

 

 

 

 

 

Ladies,

 

Believe it or not, I am a beauty buff who rushes away from the fragrance section of a department store as if escaping a pack of wild skunks. No, I am not one of those women who prefer a “more natural” body scent. In fact, I loooove perfume. I can tell top notes (what gives a fragrance’s first impression) from bottom or base notes (the heaviest and longest lasting note that gives a fragrance its “defining” aroma). I can categorize a fragrance pretty accurately. (There are six basic categories: floral, fruits, woods, greens, oriental, and aquatic—usually determined by the heart or middle note.) And I’ve even been told I have a great “nose” by one of the world's most revered perfume aficionados, Laurice Rahme of Bond No. 9, formerly of Creed.

 

Still, I have always felt overwhelmed by the lovely salespeople who flood passer-bys with of-the-moment sprays.

 

As personal as fragrance is—it’s the one thing that can make an entrance before you do and linger post your physical exit—I usually try new fragrances only when:

a)       One is purchased as a gift

b)       I take the suggestion of a trusted beauty editor who waxes poetic about it in a magazine

c)       I feel intoxicatingly mesmerized after inhaling a scent strip advertisement in a magazine

d)       I build up the courage to ask the lady standing next to (darn near on top of) me on the subway what she’s wearing

What do all of my fragrance-finding practices have in common? Though it’s love after first spritz, I don’t choose my “love in a bottle,” they usually happen to find me.

 

But this season, I decided to venture outside my eau de toilette comfort zone. I wanted a few new scents that would let four of my most sprayed, warm-weather classics, rest easy on their shelves. Here are some of my new favorites.

 

 

 

 

 

My Floral Classic: Creed Spring Flowers EDP, $190, neimanmarcus.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Newcomer: Bath & Body Works Enchanted Orchid $19, bathandbodyworks.com

Why: It’s a fresh floral with blends of orchids, gardenia, and iris. Not to mention, it’s a tenth of the price. You can’t beat that!

 

 

 

 

 

My Fruit Classic: Calypso Christiane Celle Mimosa, $85, calypso-celle.com

 

 

 

The Newcomer: Lavanila Vanilla Coconut, $65, sephora.com
Why: I’ve always been a little skeptical of vanilla, but the coconut blend gives this all-natural fragrance crisp freshness

 

 

 

 

  

 

  

My Green Classic: L’Artisan Parfemeur The Pour un Ete Eau de Toilette, $95 bergdorfgoodman.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Newcomer: Prada Milano Infusion D’Iris Eau de parfume, $70, neimanmarcus.com

Why: It is technically a floral scent, but it’s also complex, lush, very green and clean smelling. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Aquatic Classic: Marc Jacobs perfume, $65, sephora.com

 

 

  

 

 

The Newcomer: Missoni Acqua, $75, at Nordstrom stores

Why: It’s airy, fluid, and alive. Seriously, with every inhale, feel the ocean’s breeze.

  

 

 

So what’s your aromatic pleasure? You can click and purchase one of these for yourself. Or even better, just in time for Mother’s Day (or even Mother-To-Be-one-day-sometime-in-the-future Day), drop a hint (or this link to Compacts & Vignettes) to your significant other or children.

 

Be sure to come back to share your likes (or dislikes). In the meantime, do tell what fragrances you consider warm-weather must-haves.

 

Tai

 

Hi Ladies,

 

So, tell me, do you gloss or stick? Every day? In the evenings when you’re headed out on a date with your sweetie? To a PTA meeting or an after-work mixer?

 

Exactly!

 

Now that I’ve hit my thirties, I’m ready – not to mention it’s time – to occasionally abandon my fascination with (and extremely dedicated resolve to previously wear only) the slippery, even gooey, ultra-glittery textures of Bonnie Belle-type lip glosses. Refined women, like us, should punctuate our look with seductive, creamy, smooth lip color instead. Right? But how does a woman graduate from lip gloss to lipstick?

 

I’ve pondered this conundrum for a while…several years actually. As a twenty-something-year-old in the beauty industry with a room full of seemingly wiser, more experienced, more sophisticated, more fashionable and well, more…or shall I say, “better lip-sticked” women, I always felt my glitter-flecked, strawberry-toned gloss was out of place. It made me feel like an awkwardly and accidentally placed kid soooo completely out of her league.

 

But truth be told: On weekends, when you’re rushing from Lowe's to Whole Foods to your son or daughter’s soccer match, a sheer lip gloss with a tinge of color like the infamous Lancome Juicy Tubes, $18, (I loooove Miracle) will fit the bill.

 

Still, Monday through Thursday, you need some color, better yet a texture and application that speaks sophistication rather than sweet sixteen. Ladies, a natural progression is an order.

 

Just in time for spring: I’ve discovered and “moved-on-up” (at least a few days a week) to lip colors that offer youthful application PLUS the rich and creamy textures of an all grown-up, chic lipstick. Bingo!!!

 

Check out a few of my favorites, and let me know what your lip color favorites are, too! 

 

Tai

 

Josie Maran, $18,

josiemaran.com

I was pleasantly surprised when the caramel-smelling (not usually my thing) sheer color went on as luxuriously as a silk Philip Lim blouse. Radiance (a soft pink) and Confession (a coppery gold) are perfect for spring and extremely wearable on all complexions.

 

Bonus: These babies are close to being all natural! 

 

Stila, $22,

stilacosmetics.com

For those of you who thought you couldn’t wear red, Stila’s SPF 20 Lip Color in Chelsea adds a perfect, pick-you-up wash of color that transitions from office chic to after-work drinks effortlessly.

 

 

 

Lancome, $23, department stores

Lancome’s new Color Fever Gloss offers high impact color with a delicate sheen. I love the rich and moisturizing texture. What it feels like? Imagine swiping on a coat of a hydrating, petroleum-rich balm that’s colorful and goes the distance.

 

 

 

Hello, Beautiful!

We’ve all heard about having a beauty regimen, but what about a beauty mantra? You know, your own personal ideals about what beauty is? As we travel together through the world of Compacts & Vignettes, it will be important to remember what I call my 7 Beauty Mantras:

 

1. Beauty is [indeed, absolutely, unequivocally] in the eye of the beholder.
2. Rouge (color and application) is NOT universal. One woman’s blush can be another woman’s clown face.
3. Don’t feel obligated to purchase everything (or anything) when the makeup artist (A. K. A., ahem, "salesperson”) at your local makeup counter or beauty bazaar says, “Oh, you must-have…” It’s all about your comfort level.
4. If you feel confident about your look, trust me, you look even better. (This is what I call the Beauty Theorem.)
5. Beauty is way deeper than your skin! Unhealthy skin is a reflection of what‘s going on inside. Healthy skin is an extension of what’s going on inside. Eat well. Stay fit. Look beauty-full.
6. Beauty can and should be found in everything! The laugh of a child, the stroke of a mascara wand, the star-bright glisten of your significant other’s smile, the spritz of a spring fragrance and the list goes on.

 

Drum roll, please. My ultimate beauty-full motto:

7. Beauty is as beauty does! This means, when you buy yourself a new lip gloss, buy one for a friend. When you pick up a new scent, grab a sample for a colleague, and when you book a spa appointment, or better yet, spa getaway, EMAIL ME to see if I can join you. (Ha!)  Okay, I’m just kidding…but not really.

But truly, even beauty companies are keeping and making us look good while doing good. So today I’m giving some shine to a few of the most deserving brands that are beauty-fully standing for something. Check out a few “look good, feel good, do good” glam products I’m feeling. And don’t forget to let me know what you think, feel, or want to learn more about. In order to be truly beauty-full, this blogging thing has to be a two-way street. So let me hear from you!

Tai

 

 

 

MAC  Fergie Viva Glam VI lip glass, $14. www.maccosmetics.com

Every cent of the selling price goes to The MAC Aids fund to support men, women, and children living with HIV and AIDS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dove Go Fresh Collection, Drugstores nationwide.

While no proceeds of the sale of this collection are going to a charity, the cause is still evident. The genius of Dove, the brand that encourages all women to love the skin we’re in, is targeting younger women to do the same with this yummy scented line.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MTV and The Body Shop’s Guarana Butter “Move Your Lips” Lip Balm, $8 http://www.thebodyshop.com/bodyshop/. (I looove the trés-hip packaging!) Proceeds will also go to help fight the spread of HIV and AIDS

 

Welcome, ladies! It’s a pleasure to have you here, and I hope all of the great finds in Compacts and Vignettes will keep you coming back again and again! But before we get started, I have a confession: I am a beauty girl! No, really. I mean, I love fashion, I love style, I love interior design; but I liiive for all things beauty. And quite frankly, isn’t beauty found in all of the above?

I’d happily (well, maybe not “happily”) forgo purchasing the season’s It-bag or shoe for a fabulous perfume or face cream that makes me feel ten years younger. I have held my standing hair appointment at Styles New York Salon for almost a decade, and I indulge in weekly manicures and bi-weekly pedicures whether it’s gladiator sandal or platform knee boot season. And while I’m a little embarrassed to admit it, I rarely (except to walk my insanely cute and equally hyper Jack Russell Terrier, Abdul, at 6:30 AM) leave my Jersey loft without concealer, blush, tinted lip balm, and mascara. A little high-maintenance by some standards? Perhaps.

But here’s the thing, whether you’re a beauty buff who can’t get enough or a woman who just appreciates the new Olay moisturizer or L’Oreal lip color, you deserve to feel beautiful at all times. That’s what Compacts & Vignettes is all about—delivering the best beauty options for you, and showing you that you don’t necessarily have to spend a fortune to look and feel like a million bucks. It’s all in the selection, and I’m here to help sort through the choices. Beauty products, treatments, trends, tips, news, discounts, exclusives—you can expect to find it all here in Compacts & Vignettes!

So, what’s your beauty must-have? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment here and we'll talk soon!

Tai