Thursday
Sep102009
IFB Links a la Mode September 10
September 10, 2009 Shifting Gears
Edited by Jennine
It's here. Summer's (basically) over, back to school, back to work...even in fashion today is the official first day of Fashion Week madness, and New York is only the beginning. I've always thought once Labor Day rolled around, we shifted gears realizing that the year is almost out its time to start packing it all in! This week, we've got an amazing round of links...seriously, it was so hard to pick only 20. Style Amor wonders if we really need fashion week at all...Heavy Heels sense the Winds of Change, as models start chopping their locks, The Demoiselles start a getting healthy project for a bunch of ladies, kaKofonie Of si(gh)lenS gets an remarkable interview with Patricia Ayers.
Art of Accessories - Translating the Trends: Ruffles
BRICK MY LANE - The ruffled neckpiece: part 2
dramatis personae - Plus-Sized Bras for Busty Gals Fashion Hippo - Giveaway: Tory Burch Logo Clutch
Fashion Pulse Daily - FelixRey.com: Fashion Pulse Daily Readers Get an Exclusive 20% Off!
fete a fete - Giorgio Armani Beauty Fall 2009 Manta Ray & Eyes To Kill collections
Heavy Heels - Wind of Change
Idiosyncratic Style - IdStyle File: Kaitlyn Regehr
Independent Fashion Bloggers - How Important is Trust? A Review of Trust Agents
Intrinsically Florrie - Luella Loveage
kaKofonie Of si(gh)lenS - Interview with Patricia Ayres
Little Miss Makeup - Is applying liquid eyeliner your biggest beauty frustration?
Meilily - Ruffled Makeup Bag by Christian Siriano for VS Makeup
Retro Chick - Planning an Autumn Winter 2009-10 Wardrobe
Style Amor - Do We Need Fashion Week?
Style it You - Breaking Barriers
Style Symmetry - The Last Hurrah Giveaway
Stylish Thought - Stylish Thoughts on Coco, Karl & Feminism Super Kawaii Mama - Worn Wild – MSFW’s Dark Side
THE COVETED - Mahtab Azimi's Cozy Little Black Dress
The Demoiselles - We're Getting Healthy
First of all, their Triple Chocolate Truffle Brownies are beyond amazing. I couldn't believe they're gluten-free. Moist and rich, they're super packed with chocolate. If you served these to others they'd never know that it's made without wheat flour. They use a special blend of organic brown rice flour, potato starch and tapioca flour.
Their Almond Biscotti is another hit. These perfectly crunchy snacks are pretty addictive - I can't seem to eat just one piece. They're are also dairy free. For those who like dense cakes, their Sour Cream Coffeecake and their vegan Apple Spice Peace Cake will hit the spot. Again, you will not think these are gluten-free cakes. They're that good.
The gold metal packaging makes you feel like a million bucks, but the contents within is even better. With a powdery rose scent, the Classic Cream Lipstick is inspired by 1950s beauty. The formula is light yet creamy, giving the right amount of moisture on the lips. I don't normally wear bold red shades, but the cool and pearly Chromed 230 was the perfect femme fatale look for me. I love it. This also lasts for quite a long time, and it's the first red lipstick that didn't bleed! That in itself is worth buying this lipstick.
For the eyes, the Smooth Eye Colour Quad is your ticket to sophistication. All the colors are buildable, so they actually appear lighter on the lid. To get a smokier look all you have to do is add more layering. The silky texture feels great on the skin, and you can use a wet or dry brush to create various looks. The gorgeous Mediterraneo palette has warm shades of shimmery gold, forest green, matte brown, and deep silver while the Elegance palette contains shades of matte grey, steel grey, metallic green, and porcelain gold shimmer.
The Luminous Cheek Colour blush is one of the most decadent blush compacts I've seen. It comes with a sturdy mini brush that actually does a good job of depositing the right amount of color on the cheeks. The Rose shade is soft and delicate, giving a romantic wash of color that's also good for subtle contouring around the temples and chin.
With over 160 wineries offering the best regional wines, this is one of the largest epicurean events in Northern CA. You can also spend hours tasting local food from 60 restaurants. Let's just say your belly will be quite full by the time it's over.
Pulled Duck & Pork Belly Sandwich from Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar
If you had too much to eat and drink, there was plenty of chef action at the Gourmet Kitchen demos. Chef Douglas Keane of Cyrus (looove that place) was one of the judges at a Steel Chef Competition.
Being a total sweet tooth, I had to try these delish Mini Chocolate S'mores Tarts from El Dorado Kitchen. To really seal the deal, these were paired with Valrhona Chocolate Cookies topped with sea salt and white chocolate chips. Needless to say, I went home a happy camper.
In honor of Fashion Night Out, Jurlique will be offering a free, full-size cleanser with any purchase of two products or more (a $40 value). A favorite among celebrities such as Kate Moss and Maggie Gyllenhaal, their products are made with certified biodynamic botanicals. See for yourself at the Madison Avenue and West Broadway (Soho) stores.
While you're there, don't forget to smell the new and incredible Jasmine Shower Gel. It's the next best thing to having a jasmine garden! Comprised of 92% natural ingredients, this gentle body cleanser has a proprietary biodynamic blend of herbs and botanicals to keep your skin soft and hydrated. If you're in need of new skin care, the Purely Age-Defying Eye Cream and Purely Age-Defying Hand Treatment are both luxurious, high-performance products that will fight the aging process. Both items have a great moisture factor and contain ingredients such as Black Elder and Arnica to fade off the fine lines and discolorations.
If you're not in NYC, don't fret just yet. To kick off the festivities, Jurlique is doing a special giveaway with us! We're giving away the Replenishing Foaming Cleanser (retail value $40) to one lucky reader.
To Enter:
Step 1: Tweet this post on Twitter (RT @feteafete Jurlique Giveaway http://tinyurl.com/ndfpye ). IF you don't have a Twitter account, please leave an interesting comment below this post on which product you'd like to try (don't send generic ones like 'this sounds great').
Step 2: Email your full name & mailing address to feteafeteswag@gmail.com. Be sure to enter 'Jurlique Giveaway' in the subject line and your unlocked Twitter link in the body. DO NOT forget to email your name & address after you comment or tweet, or you'll be disqualified automatically!
One winner will be chosen at random. Deadline is Thursday, September 10, at 11:59pm EST. USA residents only. Good luck!
For the lips, the Armani Silk Lipstick n°92 keeps the focus right on the dramatic eyes. The grey-blue tones in this soft plum lipstick add intensity to the lip without giving a jarring contrast.
For more Fall runway variations of the smoky eye, the color purple is now the new black. The Eyes to Kill eye shadows feature a cool palette called Gun Metal Grey. This purple smoky eye can be paired with both nude and dark lips. The palette's unique bull’s eye design provide three shadows to easily line, shade, and highlight the lids. The other color palettes come in Black Steel, Brown Copper, and Red Iron. For really killer eyes, finish the look with the super volumizing Eyes To Kill Mascara.
Let's not forget about skin care! Their new Crema Nera OMC³ contains a potent Obsidian Mineral Complex, which is a patented blend of four minerals (Iron, Silicon, Sodium and Potassium). These minerals are naturally present in black obsidian stone, which gives strength to the rich soil of Pantelleria. This richly-textured cream also contains an SPF 15 sunscreen, so it does the double duty of protecting and regenerating the skin. Lines are plumped out and skin layers are restructured in no time.
Get your Fall look at 
The Eye Believe Liquid Crystal Serum is totally amazing. The rich serum contains collagen and elastin-stimulating properties to banish those pesky fine lines. You only need a pinprick worth of product for each application, so don't be fooled by the tiny bottle. You should only use this at night as it's pretty thick and iridescent.
For photodamaged skin, the Affirm Antioxidant Firming Serum is jam-packed with ten antioxidants to fight and prevent sun damage. The skin is left with a firmer, younger looking texture. If you spent too much time this past summer at the beach, this one's for you. Once you're all prepped up, don't forget to use some Serious Protection Advanced SPF 28 Sunscreen. The chemical-free cream is not greasy at all and will protect the deep layers of the skin.
I adore the limited edition Prismissime Eyes palette in Poetique Blues. The powdery texture is super silky and glides on so nicely. The shades are all buildable from sheer to opaque. The golden beige/pink shades compliment the purples so well. You can definitely end up with a light smoky look with this palette. It's going to be one of my favorite compacts to use this season.
For a dramatic eye, you can line your eyes with the Para'Eyes Liner in Poetique Lavender. The liquid liner is a dark blue shade with a metallic finish, giving it that extra ooh la la. Finally, to finish, the lips are toned down a bit for this look, with delicate pinks ruling the game. The Rouge Interdit lipstick in Poetique Iris is a pink tinged with blue, rounding out the soft and dreamy expression.
Givenchy also just launched their new men's fragrance Play. The playful scent carries top notes of bergamot, mandarin orange, bitter orange, and grapefruit. Amyris wood, black pepper, and coffee flower act as middle notes while vetiver and patchouli round out the sensual base notes.
I personally love it. It smells so nice I want to wear it myself as a unisex cologne. The cute bottle looks like an Mp3 player too. Doesn't Justin Timberlake look cute in their ad campaign? Click on the video link below and check out the behind-the-scenes ad shoot with JT.
I love the Rose 70% box. Made with Forestero beans from the Congo, this one has delicate floral and citrus subtleties. Jewel decided to pursue this feminine route and added rose essence to the chocolate. The result is just sublime and fragrant. Your palate is left with lingering notes of a rose bouquet, but it's not sweetly overwhelming. If anything, it reminds you of past love affairs or a clandestine rendez-vous.
The Brulee 66% is made from prized Criollo beans from Venezuela. This one has burnt sugar and sea salt - totally extraordinary. I liked how the salt particles played on the palate, as if quietly teasing the senses. The packaging is also sleek and sexy, matching the seductive contents within. While they make great presents for the gourmand in your life, I'd be loath to give them away.
To buy your own Cocoa Absolute, go to