Twenty Tees

Taking everyday basics to a sophisticated level, Twenty Montreal has some comfy luxe knitwear for your daily outfits. Many of these pieces can be easily transitioned from day to night (or summer to fall) with the right accessories and layering schemes.

Credit: Raquel OlivoMy favorite is the Long Sleeve Open Linen Cardigan. It's an open design (no buttons) so you can wear it several ways. Wear it with both sides hanging down, or take one side and flip in over the opposite shoulder for a faux wrap effect. The flowy draping is fantastic, making you look about 5 pounds lighter. Their unique fabric blends are also exclusive to the brand, such as the durable 70% Cupro/30% Linen mix in this cardigan.

Linen Tank Mini Dress The thin and über-soft Ribbed Cashmere Tee felt so snuggly I wish I could sleep in it. This is perfect for warmer days or if you're wearing a tight fitted jacket. Wouldn't it be great if the brand could design some thin cashmere PJs? The Linen Tank Mini Dress is a great layering piece with some skinny jeans and high, high stilettos.

Ribbed Cashemere Tee

Available at Neiman Marcus, Intermix and Nordstrom. Prices are $65-$175. Find more styles and retailers at twentymontreal.com.

Photo credit: Raquel Olivo

For editorial consideration review samples were provided for this post.

Brick & Bottle

Scott Howard's new venture, Brick & Bottle, is a welcome addition to Corte Madera. The convivial atmosphere (it was totally hoppin' on a Thursday night) and sleek large bar add a neighborly charm to the huge space. Go sit near the open kitchen if you want people watching and lively chef action.

The menu is high on comfort food and local produce. The crispy Deviled Dungeness Crab Cake is excellent with the Smoked Bacon Potato Salad. The La Quercia Ham is well-balanced with juicy nectarines, parmesan and wild arugula. The pizzas are also popular. I need to go back and try the other pizzas because the duck on the Duck Confit Pizza was a tad dry. I'm sure they'll work out the little kinks as it just opened six weeks ago.

Dungeness Crab Cake at Brick & Bottle

One of the most popular mains is the Petrale Sole with Lemon Beuree Blanc. Now, I'm very cautious of many Petrale Sole dishes out there as it can be bland and dry. To my delightful surprise this rendition is moist and very tasty. The Dungeness Crab Potato Puree that came with it was all kinds of delicious. For red meat lovers, the Double "G" Ranch Petit Beef Tenderloin will really whet your appetite.

As for the sweets, the famous Butterscotch Pudding seems so light and creamy during the first several spoonfuls. Your brain doesn't register that it's actually a rich dessert until your spoon is literally scraping the bottom of the dessert bowl. Totally worth the gym penance the next day. The other killer dessert was the Rum Cake with Rum Raisin Ice Cream. Based on a recipe from Howard's mum, this is definitely a rich, intense cake. I can see myself coming back here just for that.

I'm always happy to see a restaurant that's open past 9pm in Marin. As an added bonus, their late night happy hour menu is available until 2am. Score! Being a total night owl, this fact alone makes me wanna do a little jig.

Check out the menu at www.brickandbottle.com.

For editorial consideration, a press visit was arranged for this review.

Avitalin Skin Care

In the massive sea of natural skin care lines, Avitalin is one of the no-nonsense brands.  Founder Marina Volod developed her own small-batch skin care after discovering the products she used at her skin clinic were not completely ideal for her clients. She also has over twenty years of skin care experience under her belt.

Their Everyday Face Wash is a gel cleanser that contains Rosehip, Blueberry, Chamomile, Aloe and a proprietary essential oil blend. This has a minty, herbal smell, so if you want something fruity or pretty-smelling this is not for you. I do like how gentle it is  - I used it after a long day in direct sun and it didn't dry up or irritate my face. For those who need a creamier texture and prefer a floral scent, the Calming Cleansing Milk has a nice rose essential oil blend.

The firming and anti-aging Time-Defense Day & Night Complex is just a wee bit rich upon application but it's fully absorbed after 5-10 minutes. I think it'd be great for me during the wintertime. I prefer the Youth Essentials as it feels less heavy on my skin.  If you want something more fast-absorbing, the lovely Skin Rebalance Cream (great for sensitive skin) might work.

To learn more or to purchase, head over to avitalin.com.

For editorial consideration, a product sample was provided for this review.

Nature's Agave

As a proud sweet tooth, I'm always curious about alternatives for processed sugar and high fructose corn syrup. I got a chance to test the new agave nectars from Nature's Agave and I'm pretty impressed. I've tried other blue agave nectars from other brands and a couple of them have a slight bitter aftertaste.

These 100% USDA Organic syrups come in three flavors: Clear, Amber and Raw. All three are great on French toast, pancakes and scones. The extra-filtered Clear has a clean, light taste so it's ideal for hot or iced tea and coffee. If you don't want any additional color or flavor to your food, this one's for you.

I personally prefer the Amber (lovely butterscotch and caramel notes) and Raw (deep molasses tone) flavors. For the raw food purists, both of these are produced below 118 degrees Fahrenheit to retain the nectar's natural enzymes. All three flavors are made from mature, hand-harvested Weber Blue Agave plants to ensure their premium quality.

For more info, head over to naturesagave.com. You can purchase it at select regional Whole Foods and on Foodzie.com.

For editorial consideration, a product sample was provided for this review.

Beauty Giveaway: Lancôme Définicils Precious Cells & Tropiques Minérale

Here are some great news if you're a Lancôme mascara addict. If you can't wait for the national launch in August, the new Définicils Precious Cells High Definition Amplifying Mascara is now available at Nordstrom.

This is the brand's first mascara that's designed to regenerate and condition your lashes. It contains the same nourishing Swiss apple extract as their Absolue Precious Cells skin care. Boasting a creamier texture, it's supposed to be much easier to remove (yay, less tugging!). The new multi-faceted brush is also designed to deliver an optimal amount of mascara to the lash line. In a panel conducted by the brand, 101 women reported a noticeable reduction in lash loss and found their lashes to be more conditioned after four weeks.

Giveaway Time!

Curious about it? Well, we have one Définicils Precious Cells mascara in black (value $29) to send to one lucky reader. To make it even sweeter, we'll also include a Tropiques Minérale Mineral Smoothing Loose Bronzer ($38.50) in the Natural Golden shade. What a great way to look posh for the summer huh?

Julia Roberts - ambassador for Lancome Definicils Precious Cells.

To Enter:

Step 1: Tweet this on Twitter (RT @feteafete Lancome Definicils Giveaway http://tinyurl.com/29eo25a). If you don't have an account, leave a comment below on which Lancome product you love. Please, no generic ones like: 'This sounds cool!' For an extra chance to win, please go to our Facebook page and 'Like' us! New followers to our Twitter feed will also get an additional entry.

Step 2: Email your name & mailing address to feteafeteswag@gmail.com. Enter 'Lancome Mascara Giveaway' in the subject line and your unlocked Twitter link (or comment) in the body. DO NOT forget to email your name & address after you comment/tweet, or you'll be disqualified automatically!

One winner will be chosen at random. Deadline is Tuesday, July 20, 2010, 11:59pm EST. USA residents only.

The new mascara is available all all Nordstrom stores and Nordstrom.com. It will be on Lancome counters nationwide and on www.lancome-usa.com starting in August 2010.

For editorial consideration, a product sample was provided for this review. Giveaway sponsored by Lancôme.

IFB Links à la Mode: Questions, Questions

Edited by Jennine of IFB

They say the only dumb question is the one you don't ask, and these days the questions keep coming and the answers? Well, we try. In the fashion world: Lady Gaga - is she really doing it for the girls? What does working with Terry Richardson do for/against her cred? Should we question the ethnic headdress trend? Has fashion blogging become overloaded and narcissistic? What’s the real price of our clothing? And more importantly, what should we wear to a movie date?! Oh man, the questions, they keep coming. Luckily this week’s roundup has some answers.

365 Fashion Rehab: Nautical Stripe Shorts 4 Ways

Denimaniac: Paris Fashion Week SS11 Denim Looks

Fashion Butter: Beach wear, street wear

Fashion Cents: What to wear to a movie date.

Fashionista Lab: Traveling light: Plan ahead

Fete a Fete: NARS Cosmetics - Summer 2010 Colors

Hello Beauty! Urban Decay Summer of Love set: gorgeous sparkle & vibrant pops of purple

Holier than Now: The New Hipster Headdress – fun fashion or not-funny appropriation?

I’m the It Girl: Master Control: Q&A with Design + Conquer

I like socks: The price that we are willing and able to pay for our clothing.

Oranges and Apples: My fiancee made me a dress! Lots of pictures & thoughts on gender divisions in the crafting world.

Rocker Repro: Lady GaGa - Yeah, but what is she doing for her female fans?

Rah! Rah! Style Revolt: Information Overload: 2010 & The Blogging Revolution

Retro Chick: Love yourself, Love others, Love Vintage Challenge

Return to Sender: Losing some weight! (but not from where you’d think)

Shrimp Salad Circus: Greta Pollman handmade feature and giveaway

The Coveted: American Living Preview

The Fish Tank: Gothic, grunge Jewelry

The Thrify Poet: Is fashion blogging narcissistic?

Wicked Whimsy: Fashion & Accessibility

{cocoa} - New Flavors

With three new flavors and a rebranding tweak, Jewel Zimmer's {cocoa} pavés have garnered a cult following from day one. I got to try the Natural flavor, which is a blend of two pure origin beans from Africa and South America. This flavor contains notes of red fruit, coffee and tobacco.

I can't wait to check out the new Honey 70% and Cinnamon 70% flavors. These are a bit precious at $22 per box (16 pieces) - all the more reason to enjoy them slowly. They just launched the 8-piece mini box so be on the lookout for it.

Available at Boulette's Larder in SF or cocoacollectionsf.com.

For editorial consideration, a product sample was provided for this review.

Fringe Studio

It's a good thing I don't need these trinkets from Fringe Studio or I'd be in serious trouble. Just look at their beautiful vases and glass trays. You can snag a few items from this brand and your living room, bathroom or bedroom can be instantly transformed into a romantic boudoir or chic tea salon.

Fringe Katrina Tea House Vase

This darling Mariposa cloche made me swoon. It reminded me of the butterflies that surrounded me at the CA Academy of Sciences. It's going on my wish list!

This small Pink Rose glass tray is perfect for collecting loose change or small pieces of jewelry. A couple of these will bring such colorful accents to the home, n'est-ce pas?

Available at Bloomingdale's, Elizabeth's Embellisments and fringestudio.com.

July 4th Cocktails

July 4th is just days away - have you planned your BBQ menu yet? To get into a party mood, here are two summer cocktails that feature Bluecoat Gin. Whether you pick the refreshing American Beauty or the signature Empire Cocktail, sparks will set off this weekend!

American Beauty by The Rickhouse, SF

American Beauty
By Erick Castro, The Rickhouse, San Francisco 

2 oz Bluecoat Gin
1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
.75 oz Simple Syrup
3 Fresh Raspberry and 3 Fresh Blueberries
4-6 Mint Leaves

Combine lemon juice, mint and berries into mixing glass and lightly muddle. Add the remaining ingredients into mixing glass along with ice and shake vigorously. Fine-strain over the rocks into a double old-fashioned glass and top with a splash of soda. Garnish with lemon wheel and one raspberry.

*To make simple syrup combine one part hot water to one part sugar.  Stir until all sugar is dissolved and allow to cool. 

Empire Cocktail, served at the Empire Room, NYC.Empire Cocktail
By Jonathan Pogash, The Cocktail Guru.

1.75 oz. Bluecoat Gin
.75 oz. Dolin Dry Vermouth
.5 oz. Royal Combier
.75 oz. fresh lemon juice
Top with 1 oz. Moet & Chandon Champagne
1 heaping barspoon raspberry-orange marmalade

Directions: Shake all ingredients except for champagne very well with ice and strain into chilled special cocktail glass and top w/ Champagne. 

IFB Links à la Mode: Oh, Brave New World

Edited by: Ashe Mischief of Dramatis Personae

This has such a bloggers' spirit in it! From a ballsy and confident “I Like Being Fat” at Return to Sender to Awakened Aesthetic's post on greenwashing & buying American to Cake Not Coke’s expose on Venus Williams’ controversial courtside fashion, fashion bloggers are brave and bold. Just the way I like them.

Awakened Aesthetic: On Independence Day, we’re told to “buy American.” This eco girl is telling you to think twice.

Bonne Vie discusses online auction sites; Are they frauds or a fair gamble?

Cake Not Coke: Venus William’s Daring on the Court Fashions…

Dedicated Follower of Fashion: Interview with Actor/Activist: Adrian Grenier & TV Producer: Peter Glatzer creators of SHIFT, and eco fashion media platform.

Dramatis Personae: What’s so Dazzling about Shoe Dazzle?

fête a fête: Atelier Cologne – new French luxe fragrance house

Grechen Blogs: do you read blogs about blogging? do you find the helpful? are the relevant to the fashion blogging community?

haute.halifax: A review of several collections inspired by women of the G8 by local Nova Scotian designers

(IT Hunter): ‘Alice Springs’ pseudonym used by June Newton, Helmut Newton’s wife, to sign her photos first international retrospective

Miss Jones & Me: Boyfriend Booty

Ode to Awe: After months of being unable to locate them online, Japan’s Transvestite brand is found

Oranges & Apples: Is it worth buying more expensive nail polish?

Pixie in Pumps: My take on jewelry storage, creative but not cluttered or tacky.

Profresh Style: Daily Makeup Routine!

Retro Chick: The meaning of Vintage

Return to Sender: I Like Being Fat

Speak Femme:While rummaging around in my grandmother’s sewing room, I found the most amazing guide to sewing and style, courtesy of Vogue.

Sugar & Spice: To Friendship

The Coveted: Pull up a chair, we’re flipping through Elle’s Music Issue

The Curvy Fashionista: What do you do when your shoes do not fit? Opt for a custom pair with Jen+Kim Shoes!