How to Find & Wear the Perfect LBD

Rumor has it, every girl needs a little black dress.  Usually it's for dressy occasions or a night out, but the LBD needed to be redefined in my book.  I have the stereotypical little black dress, for formal occasions.  But let's be honest, how many formal events can someone go to?  I think I've only worn it three times in the three years I've had it.

To me, a black dress hanging in your closet, isn't the job description of a little black dress!  It's fun, flirty, formal, functional, in a word, versatile!  So, I've been on the search for just that, a versatile little black dress.  That search has proved to be easier said than done though.  Every dress I've come across has either been super formal, super "friendly" or too casual to be anything else.  In my opinion, the perfect little black dress is one that can be worn to a party, a night out, a cook out,  to work, to church, or a day around town, any time of the year.

Too Friendly

Too Formal

Perfect!

Too Casual

Don't get me wrong, the other dresses are just fine for their occasion, but for me the perfect dress would suffice for any occasion.  Finally, after months of searching, I found my perfect little black dress on modcloth.com!  When choosing a versatile dress, you have to consider everything from cut, to silhouette, to the fabric of the dress and the textures on it.  You need a material that isn't too formal like satin or too casual like cotton.  A blend of rayon and spandex make for the perfect versatile fabric.  It's like cotton but not quite, you can dress it up or dress it down and it hangs beautifully.  The only down side is that it can wrinkle easily, but those wrinkles fall out in no time.

Ways you can style the perfect LBD:  

Winter:  Pair it with deep colors like blues, browns, or silver.  Add your favorite cardigan, leggings/statement tights, boots or flats, and a casual belt at the waist.

Spring:  Pair it with pastel or vibrant colors and florals.  Add flats or sandals and a belt that fits your formal or fun occasion.  And maybe a fitted, cropped button-up sweater, if it's still a bit chilly out.

Summer: Pair it with bright colors and fun patterns.  Add sandals or wedges and accessorize according to your occasion with belts, necklaces, and/or bracelets.

Fall: Pair it with jewel tone colors or animal print.  Add a burgundy or leopard cardigan, some patent or pattern flats, and a patent, metallic, or woven belt and leggings if desired. 

You can add nude, black, red or any color heels and accessorize any time of the year if you have a formal event to attend, or just add flip-flops if you're going to a cook out.  You can wear the perfect little black dress to work with a cardi and flats, then transform it into a sexy classy look for a night out.  And yes, if done right, you can wear brown with black!

Happy searching & good luck finding your perfect little black dress!

xoxo, L♥

Birchbox: November

Hello ladies!  Today's blog is all about Birchbox!  What's Birchbox you ask?  Well it's a monthly subscription service that's all about beauty products.  You go on the website, answer a few questions, and then wait to receive your box!  For $10 a month, you get a box filled with 4 to 5 luxe sized samples from skin care to makeup to beauty tools, all from top or up and coming brands!  You also get a "free" prize in each months box too. Now when I say sample, don't think of those whimpy-little-one-time-use samples, we're all familiar with.  No, these have a least 3 uses in them, usually more!  From full sized Stila eye shadows to Laura Geller blushes, Birchbox includes full size products from time to time too!

Birchbox arrives to your mailbox in a bright pink box, with this little cardboard box inside.  Once you open it up, you'll find a card that describes the theme of that months box, and on the other side of the card is a list of all the products, how to use them, and their prices.  If you happen to love a product from that box, you can go to the Birchbox website and purchase the full size with free shipping.

Underneath the card, you'll find pink tissue paper hiding your goodies!  I don't ever look online or at the product card before opening the tissue paper, I just love the surprise of discovering my samples for that month!  Pictured right, you can see some of the products and a little ribbon wrapped package with your smaller goodies in it.  Who doesn't love unwrapping a lovely surprise each month?!

Okay enough with the details, let's get into this month's box!  Oh and everyone's box is different, depending on your skin type/color, preferences, etc.  In this months box, I received, from right to left, Borghese Fango Active Mud Face & Body Mask, LaRocca Champagne and Shimmer Supreme Creme, Zoya nail polish from the 2011 Holiday Collection in the color Izzy, Two Paper Dolls Coasters, Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensee Cologne Absloue and postcard, and a special prize of a Bauble Bar Bracelet.   

I've been receiving Birchbox since July and have received some good ones.  But to be honest, this wasn't my favorite box.  The silly coasters and vanilla cigar smelling cologne did not make the cut.  My favorite things from this box are definitely the bracelet and the nail polish, the mask and body shimmer creme are nice too.  The nail polish is fabulous, Zoya is a great brand and "Izzy" is the most perfect shade of metallic fuchsia ever!

Birchbox is definitely worth the $10 per month, in my opinion.  You really do get introduced to some great products that you might not have ever come across otherwise.  Also, you earn 10 points each month, and 100 points equals $10 for you to spend in the Birchbox store.  You also get points when you purchase from the Birchbox store and review products.  You can go onto the website and review the products from your box each month, and receive 10 points for each review, that's 40 to 50 points a month.  In just 2 months, you've earned at least $10 to spend in the Birchbox store!  Earning points seems daunting at first, but they really do come easily.  If you're a girly girl and into makeup, skincare, and all that fun stuff, you should give Birchbox a try!  You pay only $10 per month, no more, no shipping, no tax, just $10, and if you end up not liking it, you can just cancel it, no harm no hassle.  So signup for Birchbox today, they even have one for men too!

Happy Birchboxing!

xoxo, L♥

Leopard Print: Love it or Lose it?

When it comes to animal print, I've always been a bit standoff-ish.  Some people think it looks cheap, some think it looks chic, but it all really depends on how it's styled.  I think my style is pretty feminine and animal print just hasn't worked into it too well.  But this season, something changed.  I'm not a big fan of zebra but I'm all about leopard print right now!

A while back, I was on the search for the perfect leopard print scarf, not too tan, not too orangey, spots not too big, not too little.  How cute is a leopard scarf and a red peacoat, or black, blue, or brown?  Very!  I've considered a leopard cardi, but haven't found the right one yet.  I don't think I'd be brave enough to wear the print on a shirt, dress, or pant though.  It does go great on accessories like belts, bags, jewelry, flats, and especially heels!  My rule is, only one animal print piece per outfit; it should enhance your attire, not over take it.

While there are "rules" to consider when it comes to fashion, at the end of the day, fashion is what you make it.  It's about taking the trends and making them your own, no matter how subtle or shocking that may be!  In the past, animal print has seemed a bit risky, but this season it seems chic.  Tell me what you think of leopard print in the poll below, located at the bottom of the page, at the top of the gray section!

Happy Accessorizing!
xoxo, L♥

Grail or Fail: Mascara

In this edition of Grail or Fail, I'm going to be telling you about two mascaras, Physicians Formula Organic Wear Jumbo Lash mascara and Rimmel London's Day 2 Night mascara.

I don't know about you, but I find that my mascara is at its best when it's a couple of months old and has had a chance to dry out a bit.  This is not the case when it comes to the Physicians Formula Organic Wear Jumbo Lash mascara.  It's perfect the moment you open it!  It's already a drier formula, so you don't have to wait for it to dry out!  It lengthens and volumizes without clumping.  While giving an effect that's between natural and dramatic depending on how many coats you apply.  The formula is of natural origin, so it doesn't have a weird chemical smell. to me, it smells like fresh green tea leaves.  The formula isn't 100% natural but 100% of the total ingredients are from natural origin.  Companies can get away with including some chemicals by using this phrasing.  The formula also contains OrganiSoy which moisturizes and nourishes lashes and EcoOlive(r), a natural antioxidant to shield your lashes from "environmental aggressors."  This mascara does exactly what I want my mascara to do without the wait.  Grail or Fail?  Grail!

Now lets talk about Rimmel's Day 2 Night mascara.  This is a unique product as it contains two brush options in one tube.  There's a length option that's recommended for day use and a volume option for night use.  Depending on which lid you pull, depends on how much product is left on the brush, more for night, less for day. This formula is more of the typical mascara formula, more wet than dry.  The length end is great in my opinion, as it gets all the lashes, including the little ones.  The volume end, isn't my favorite though, too wet, too much product, and clumping.  Grail or Fail? Grail length. Fail volume.

Have you ever had that friend with the perfect lashes, so you go out to buy the same mascara hoping for the same results, but you don't get them?  Well that's because what mascara works best for you depends on the type of  lashes you have.  If you have thin lashes, a wet formula is likely to be too heavy causing your lashes to droop, lose curl faster, and clump.  If you have thinner lashes, I recommend trying the Physician's Formula mascara mentioned above.  If you have thicker lashes, a wet mascara, like the Rimmel mascara, will work best for you, allowing you to build your lash look longer and longer with little clumping.  Regardless of lash type, if you want your curl to last all day, opt for a waterproof mascara.  The waterproof formula is made up of more wax than a regular formula, so it holds your curl longer!

Happy Glamour-eye-zing!  :P
xoxo, L♥

Be Enchanted: Signature Scent for the Season!

Much like the weather, my fragrance choice changes with the seasons.  In the spring and summer months, I smell sweet and fruity, in the fall and winter months I still reach for those sweet scents but they're usually a bit darker than say a berry, more like pomegranate or something along those lines.
In the past couple of months, I've noticed that I'm reaching for scents like my Escada perfume, in Moon Sparkle or Bath & Body Work's newest scent, Be Enchanted, which I am currently obsessed with!
Bath & Body Works describes their newest scent as frosted florals, sweetened with sparkling sugared pomegranate.  Yum!

At a previous visit to BBW, I picked up the trial size lotion at the register for $1 and knew that I had to have the full size once it came out!  So I made a visit to BBW a few days ago, with coupons in hand.  I took advantage of their buy 3 get 3 free sale they were having along with the 2 coupons I had to get more free stuff.  I didn't just get all Be Enchanted products, but they made up the biggest part of my purchase.  I ended up with a bubble bath, a body lotion, a body creme, a mini shimmering body butter, a body wash, and a travel size body spray.  I never go this fragrance crazy over any scent but to me, Be Enchanted is perfect for the next few months!  It's young, it's sweet and fruity, not too bright but not too dark.  It's my perfect signature scent for this season!  What's yours?!

Here are some BBW coupon codes for ya!
Get 20% off your online order until Nov 13th with the code CABIN20HOLIDAY
Get $10 off $30 and free shipping over $50, until Nov 20th, with the code TENSHIP50

Happy Signature Scenting!
xoxo, L♥

The "Mints" : A New Way to Shop!

I don't know about you, but I love to shop!  Online shopping is a particular favorite of mine.  So in my endless searches of the net for the perfect this or the perfect that, I've stumbled across many companies.  Take BeachMint for example.  BeachMint is a new venture in something called  "social commerce."  Currently, the company is comprised of four celebrity studded "Mint" companies, that you sign up for via email, take a style quiz, then get a showroom tailored to your style preferences, and pay a flat fee for, each month.

JewelMint, the first company, was launched one year ago with the inspiration of Kate Bosworth and her stylist Cher Coulter.  Each month you pay a flat fee of $29.99.  You can spend that on any one piece from the website worth the same amount.  The site offers many designs of quality made jewelry fitting for any style.  Use promo code "Retail" to get 55% off your first piece!

BeautyMint is the newest company to launch.  This company is all about skincare and takes it's inspiration from Jessica Simpson.

Next up is, StyleMint.  Launched in July 2011, this company is a venture with Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.  Acclaimed designers in their own right, the twins have designed a line of trendy, effortlessly chic shirts.  Free shipping and the same flat fee of $29.99 per month per shirt.  New customers use promo code "YT20" to receive 20% off and existing customers use code "TY10" to receive 10% off your purchase.

The fourth and best company, in my opinion, is ShoeMint!  Launching this 2011 holiday season, ShoeMint is designed my Rachel Bilson and Steve Madden.  This line will display Rachel's personal style and taste as well as the craftsmanship synonymous with the Madden brand.  I'm really excited to see these shoes!  Keeping my fingers crossed that they sell for the same $29.99 price!  ;P  Sign up early, sign up now!  If you sign up now, you'll get pre-launch gifts and guaranteed access to the limited debut collection!
Just click here and enter your email address to know exactly when the site goes live!

I''ll be back soon with an updated fragrance collection and even sooner with my "Beauty in the MailBox" blog!  Thanks for stopping by and Happy BeachMint Browsing!

xoxo, L♥

Blog Launch!

Hi everyone!
I just want to give you a special welcome to my new fashion and beauty blog, This Vintage Kitten!  I'm so glad you're here!  The previous posts are from a different fashion blog I used to write on, but I've added them to this site so we can have everything in one place!  I'm so excited to get back into the world of blogging by sharing my fashion, beauty, and shopping tips with all of you!  Subscribe or follow me on Twitter to know exactly when I post something new!  See you soon!

xoxo, L♥