How Splendid!

Check out this week's Splendid Reads from the fabulous writers of the Splendicity network:


From the Splendicity network, comes the most splendid reads of the week.



Shopping
The Latest Luxe overindulges--yet again--with the Oscar de la Renta Larrabe bag.
The Well-Heeled Society is giving kudos to Filmmaker Andrea Wiley, for her documentary film Soulmate being featured on NBC News (along with a copy of the DVD as a giveaway).
Style Goodies has the scoop on hot and fresh store openings around the world!

Fashion
Wardrobe Oxygen answers readers questions about style.
My Wardrobe Today shares a list of her favorite fellow fashionista bloggers.The Fashionable Kiffen Asks "What Do Your Fashion Choices Say About You?"
STYLEnosh asks: Should you wear boots in warm weather?
Snarkstress puts her vote in for 3 of the cutest cuties of Young Hollywood.

Beauty
Beautiful Makeup Search kicks off it's Twelve Days of Christmas contest and you will want to enter to win some great giveaways!
A Touch of Blusher brings you Dior's spring 2008 makeup collection.
Traveling can be a hassle for a beauty! makeup loves me has tips on how to stay pretty in the air.
Teen Style Lounge gives us 6 Quick Steps to totally smoochable lips.
15 Minute Beauty Fanatic has MAC's Finery Lipstick Collections- The Perfect Nude Lip!
Ever wonder what are the best selling products from your favorite beauty brands? Well, Beauty Banter brings you the top 50 Beauty Brands best selling products!
Kyle from Face Candy says YES To Carrots!

Cold Remedies

It's raining in Southern California, which means somewhere east of here someone is freezing their hind parts off. No fear - Style Goodies uncovered some of the cutest sweaters this side of Fair Isle and they're all an additional 20% off. Of course I'm talking about Bluefly.com and the promotion they've got running today only, so hurry up and buy!

Clockwise from top left: Joie 'Kaileigh' long cardigan, Autumn Cashmere oversized cowl sweater, What Comes Around Goes Around 'Scarlett' sweater, Design History dolman tunic, 525 America chunky cable cardigan, Alice & Olivia striped long cardigan, Gabriella Vencini stretch v-neck sweater, Blu Stocking wool cardigan, Acrobat turtleneck tunic, Twelfth St. By Cynthia Vincent wool wrap cardigan, Cece turtleneck sweater, Geren Ford scarf-neck sweater

There are pages and pages of gorgeous, cozy, sweet, and sophisticated knits in every color from Generra, Marc by Marc Jacobs, L.A.M.B., Joie, Nanette Lepore, Hayden, Elie Tahari - in other words, just about every delicious, covetable, worth-every-penny contemporary label out there! Head to Bluefly.com today for the sale then come back and tell me what you got!

Who, What, Where?

New York - Mango (or MNG as it's called in the U.S. for trademark reasons) opened its first Manhattan unit on Wednesday. The 7,500-square-foot Soho flagship store is located at 561 Broadway and features a fetching mix of antique and modern furniture upon which the clothes are displayed, and a 97-foot-long catwalk bedecked with mannequins. The Spanish chain is known for its affordable and fashion-forward apparel, which is often designed by known European and American designers (unlike H&M, Mango doesn't divulge any names - isn't the anonymity just delicious?), with Limited Edition collections being designed by celebrities such as Penelope Cruz and Milla Jovovich.



London - You'll find the world's largest A|X Armani Exchange store right across the pond in jolly old London, England, the city's first store. The giant 11,700-square-foot unit at 240 Regent Street has two levels, with women's apparel on the spacious ground floor and guy's stuff upstairs. "We are very excited about opening in London," Tom Jarrold (Sr. VP of Global Marketing and Creative) told WWD magazine. "It's a city that is about everything that is new, that's next, that's now." The London store features the new A|X Armani Exchange retail design, with a mix of large spaces and "private" rooms, plus a capsule collection exclusive to the London market, including a silk bubble dress and a leather motorcycle jacket.



Mexico City - Saks Fifth Avenue is south of the border! After tiptoeing onto the international market, Saks stepped across U.S. territory to open up its first store in Mexico on Wednesday. The three-level, 150,00-square-foot store is located in the upscale Santa Fe Shopping Center in Mexico City, where the success of the unit will determine if Mexico has a market for additional stores (I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Puerto Vallarta!). Of course the store has the same luxury labels that the chain is known for, as well as shop-in-shops for Kiehl's, Salvatore Ferragamo, Hermes, and Giorgio Armani. The chain's first licensed store in China is scheduled to open in 2009, and Saks is currently eyeing Japan, Macau (YUM), Qatar, and India for possible openings.

Life of the Party

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Why not show your holiday spirit, or, at the very least, you love of rum-filled drinks and the color red, by dressing up in the season's most fabulous, most festive, and most fun party frocks!

$$$

Make some room on your Visa for one of these fancy frocks.

l-r : BCBGMax Azria Leaf Applique Bubble Dress, $360, Sunner Strapless Angelina Dress, $451, Vera Wang Lavender Label Silk Shantung Bustier Dress, $475

$$

Your checkbook will thank you.

l-r : Nine West Sequined Wave Mesh Dress, $112.50, London Times Chiffon Babydoll Dress, $80, Maggy London Belted Satin Sheath, $138

$

Shut the front door!! (This is the reaction you'll get when you tell your girls how much you paid for one of these dresses.)

l-r : Erin Fetherston for Target Layer Dress, $44.99, Smocked Satin Dress, $22.80, Magenta Teal and Gold Checkerboard Dress, $23

The Art of Shaving

Here's the thing - I love, love, love the feeling of glorious, silky smooth legs after a shave but I hate, nay, utterly detest the actual task of shaving. It is an abominable chore as far as I'm concerned and there is nothing sexy nor glamorous about it. Now, here's the answer to my hang up: The Art of Shaving. I know what you're thinking, and you may be right, but these skin softening and soothing products from The Art of Shaving are so darlingly-packaged you may just forget what you're doing and actually (dare I say) enjoy the task at hand. Just try it...

Pre Shave Oil

Packed with therapeutic essential oils and freshly picked rose petals (hello luxurious!) the Pre-Shave Oil preps skin for the closest, smoothest shave ever and the formula's pure castor and olive oils help the razor to glide easily over your skin.

Shaving Cream

This ultra-rich shaving cream not only lifts hair for a closer shave, it also moisturizes legs, underarms, and bikini lines with glycerin and coconut oil. BONUS: Your gorgeously smooth gams are left with the delicate aroma of roses.

Shaving Brush

Just too cute, no? Just like your face brush, this pure badger brush exfoliates, opens pores, and generates a thick, rich lather for an incredible shave. Plus it's contoured for a woman's curves.

After-Shave Body Milk

Better than any lotion or body cream you've ever used after a shave! This formula contains anti-inflammatory and antiseptic agents to help prevent ingrowns, chamomile and calendula to calm the skin, and tons of nourishing vitamins E and C to replenish lost moisture.

Ingrown Hair Night Cream

Trapped hair be gone! This is truly a miracle cream that soothes skin and helps ingrown hairs break free. A host of good-for-your-skin ingredients like fruit acids, African shea butter and white willow bark exfoliate and improve skin's texture.

And don't forget about your guy! The Art of Shaving has everything he'll need for an incredibly close shave and touchably soft skin.

Sweet Links

Here's what's hot and fresh on some of my favorite sites. Enjoy!

Betcha can't guess where this sweet little velvet dress is from. [Shopalicious]

Learn how to keep your hair healthy from the inside out. [Amber Mag]

Go green for the holiday! [The Goode Life]

This book could be a great gift this holiday season! [Beauty and Fashion Tech]

A fake Louis that is actually cute? Check it out! [Viva Woman]

The Quick Fix

I spent the entire weekend working a fashion photo shoot where I was able to take detailed notes on hair and makeup tips. Celebrity makeup artist Tai Young (she works with A-listers like Chris Brown, The Dixie Chicks, Nicole Ari Parker, Hilary Duff...you get the idea) shared this so-genius beauty trick with me, and because I love you, I'm sharing the knowledge:

Spritz a face brush with a vitamin-packed, softness-infusing, mineral water then gently swipe over your entire face before applying foundation, primer, etc. This helps to nourish and moisturize the skin before makeup application and the result is flawless skin(to the point of looking airbrushed, no kidding!) the camera will love! For our models, Tai used MAC Fix +, infused with oh-so-good-for-your-skin ingredients like green tea, chamomile, and cucumber. And it's $15, so getting gorgeous doesn't have to be a bank-breaking affair.

Thanks Tai!

xoxo,
Miss Angel

New Mommy Must-Have

A close girlfriend just learned that she's expecting (congrats Nik) which means I'm gonna be an auntie!! Am beyond excited about the bambino and thrilled to spend my days scouring the Internet for adorable toys and miniature clothes for the little one. As joyous as this occasion is, my friend is, quite naturally, concerned about stretch marks. In my search for the perfect hypo-allergenic blankets (the better to snuggle baby with), I discovered something that may help make my darling Nik's pregnancy a bit more pleasant.

A blend of sweet almond oil, wheat germ oil, rosehip oil and a host of other natural ingredients to keep skin soft and supple, LM Naturals Stretch Mark Oil for Pregnant Women is a miracle-in-a-bottle that actually helps to keep the skin moisturized as it stretches and makes pesky stretch marks noticeably less visible. BONUS: It works on old and new stretch marks and it's good for men and women of all ages, so you don't have to be expecting to expect beautiful results!

Girl About Town

Chicago - The stars will align, Mercury will rise under Venus, and fashion and art will collide on December 16, 2007. Okay, so I know nothing about astrology and I don't have any idea what that first part means exactly, but I do know a thing or two about fashion and that bit about fashion and art colliding is 100% true. The Fashion for the Arts 2007 show raises money for Chicago Arts Partnership in Education and gives recognition and exposure to local designers on the rise such as Triple 5 Soul and Joelle Nadine. Plus there'll be food, drinks, vendor booths from local jewelry and apparel designers, and two DJs spinning all night.

Fashion for the Arts 2007

December 16, 2007, 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Galleria Merchetti

825 West Erie Street

Chicago, IL 60622

Ticket info

Los Angeles - Holiday shoppers seeking hand-crafted stationary, jewelry, ceramics, wearable art and toys will find that and a whole lot more at the 5th Annual Moonlight Madness on November 29, 2007. The once-a-year event features goodies from Los Angeles artists, holiday-inspired drinks, yummy hors d'oeuvres, and entertainment. Get your shop on or just hang out for a chance to win one of many original works donated by each of the artists. Stop by an ATM before you head over, as not all vendors accept credit cards.

5th Annual Moonlight Madness

November 29, 2007, 5 pm - 9 pm

KI Century City Showroom

1880 Century Park East, Suite 104

Los Angeles, CA 90067

Silver Shoes..Silver Shoes, It's Wedding Time in the City

You may have correctly guessed that the above title can by sung to the melody of the classic holiday tune Silver Bells. Now on to the post...

Next July one of my very dearest friends will exchange nuptials with her man, and us bridesmaids have been given the exhaustive task of selecting matching silver shoes to go with our impossibly-chic, strapless, sage green gowns. Having survived Los Angeles summers for the past several years, I know to expect the sultriest of situations, so a dazzling, strappy little number will be appropriately stylish. (They may also distract from my hair, which is sure to be a hot, frizzy, mess after the requisite four rounds of Electric Slidin'!) I love the metallic, snake print of the Guess "Okanarra" sandal (left) and the price - $99 - is just right! But alas, I can't peel my eyes away from this ultra-glamorous Stuart Weitzman "Eiffel" sandal (right). It's, ahem, a bit more than the Guess shoe (about $350 more), but I consider it a worthwhile investment in my self-esteem. Not that I need a shoe to make me feel sexy, but c'mon, who wouldn't feel delicious in a shoe like that? Of course, the ultimate decision isn't solely mine, but maybe the Stu W's can be a special, one-time-only gift to myself. Hark, the credit angels sing...

For the Fashion Adventurous Only

World Population Day (July 11, 2007) was marked by a very interesting fashion show in Bejing...

I think this is just about the most clever thing I've ever seen. The bridal dress is actually sort of pretty. What do you think?

The event was sponsored by the Fourth China Reproductive Health New Technologies and Guilin Latex Factory.

Saturday Shopping at Sephora

No beauty junkie really needs a reason to go to Sephora, not really. We can go on any random Wednesday morning or a Sunday evening, just because. But since I had a rather generous Sephora gift card burning a hole in my coin purse, I decided today I would have a reason - to spend every last penny on beautiful, colorful, wonderful products!

I first learned of these amazing alpha hydroxy pads on Shake Your Beauty and I've been obsessed with them ever since (thanks Tia!). They're a bit pricey, so when I saw this deal on the MD Skincare website I just had to have it. Now it's available at Sephora and it is fabulous! The Alpha Beta® Daily Face Peels and Hydra-Pure™ Antioxidant Serum will make your skin glow and fine lines, wrinkles, and blemishes will vanish!

MD Skincare Team Doctor, $95 (a $170 value)

Okay, don't tell them I told you, but Sephora could actually be selling these gorgeous, fat color sticks for a whole lot more than five bucks a pop! They're brilliant and long-lasting and the colors are so fun and fresh. I picked up Flesh, a shimmering gold hue, and Purple, an silvery lavender shade that looks stunning with brown eyes.

Sephora Brand Jumbo Eye Pencil, $5

So last week I saw We Own the Night, a fantastic, edge-of-your-seat flick starring Joaquin Phoenix and Eva Mendes. The movie was great but I found myself silently crushing on the 80's makeup and clothes Eva wore, particularly a vibrant turquoise sweater and matching eye makeup. In short, I've been pining for the perfect turquoise eyeshadow ever since. Urban Decay Deluxe Eyeshadow in Peace was just what I've been looking for!

Urban Decay Deluxe Eyeshadow, $17

And since I had the perfect shadow in my basket I wanted a new brush with which to apply it. I'm no makeup artist, so investing in a $60 was not on my agenda. This one was only $5 and it blends perfectly.

TheBalm shadyLady Shadow Brush, $5

I've been desperately needing a dual sharpener for my pencils, especially my new jumbo-sized babies. This sharpener has snap-on caps to keep my fingers clean of all the colorful shavings.

Sephora Brand Dual Pencil Sharpener, $3

And of course I couldn't leave without something chic to carry it all in so I grabbed a metallic bronze makeup case to stash all my new goodies.

Sephora Brand Metallic Bronze Bag Collection, $14-38

Girl About Town

Last night's costume parties and candy noshing festivities were the jump start to the holiday season and you know what that means - SHOPPING! Do your friends and family right this year and head to one of these fabulous events.

Southern California - It's that time again! Sassy City Chicks is getting ready for their Holiday Fashion Bash, taking place in both L.A. and San Diego. Expect to see designer clothes, handbags, jewelry, makeup and more at deep, DEEP discounts. PLUS goodie bags stuffed with amazing freebies! This highly-anticipated event only comes around once a year so don't miss it! Click here to score 2 for 1 tickets for you and a friend.

Los Angeles Holiday Fashion Bash

Sunday, November 18, 10am - 3pm

Fairmont Miramar Hotel

101 Wilshire Blvd.

Santa Monica, CA 90401

San Diego Holiday Fashion Bash

Thursday, November 8, 5pm - 10pm

Stingaree

454 6th Avenue

San Diego, CA 92101

Chicago - Savvy shoppers should head to the Soko Fashion Grand Opening where there'll be no shortage of stylish wares for a whole lot less than you'd expect. The trendy boutique is offering up music, wine, and hors d'oeuvres to celebrate, plus you can enjoy 10% off the already unbelievably cheap prices (we're talking less than seventy bucks for a sweater people!). Click here to check out the duds, then head over to the grand opening for some retail therapy and a little vino!

Get to Know Soko - Grand Opening

Saturday, November 10, 7pm - 10pm

Soko Fashion

1925 W. Chicago Avenue

Chicago, IL 60622