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Friday Favorites / Getting Summer-Ready

2013 May 24
by DearAndi

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I’ve been searching for the perfect aviator sunglasses for years now, but with my oval shaped face, they all seemed somewhat silly on me, exaggerating how long it is. I tried these Ray-Ban aviator sunglasses on recently and fell in love. The blue tint makes me feel like I’m not hiding my baby blues and with the mirrored lens, it’s a bit more fun than just the basic aviator that everyone has. There’s even a red tinted version, which would look amazing on a brunette. Luckily I have a birthday coming up this weekend, so the hubby took note and got them for me.

 

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I’ve been having a ton of skin issues lately thanks to a stomach bug and a product that wasn’t good for my type of skin, so I just visited my skin savior, my facialist, Sage, at Juva Skin & Laser Center’s Medispa and she’s whipping it back to shape. She told me to stop using those products that weren’t great for my skin and go back to what was working. What was working was anything by Jane Iredale, a celebrity makeup artist with a gentle line of makeup. I love everything she makes, but right now the Jane Iredale Dream Tint tinted moisturizer and “Quad” bronzer are my perfect summer makeup duo.

 

New Work Alert / The Katie Couric Show

2013 May 23
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by DearAndi

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Sure getting to style celebs, musicians and models can be fun, but there’s nothing like styling a regular person that you can make feel great with just an outfit.

T.J.Maxx and Marshalls asked me to dress a group of 10 participants that work for the city of Atlanta for Katie Couric’s daytime show, “Katie,” that were challenged to lose weight together on a 6-week program. Some of these people didn’t even own clothing to their current size just yet and they hadn’t seen what they could actually look like when dressed in their current size!

It was so touching to be thanked by them and be told they haven’t ever worn something that made them feel this good. My favorite part of the job was how they all cheered for each other telling one another how good they now looked in their new looks—and now they all only want to shop at T.J.Maxx and Marshalls!

Check out the segment here, along with the participants in the audience.

A special thanks to Robbin Ciccio and Erin Gray for their work on this!

New Work Alert / Big Flavor

2013 May 21
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by DearAndi

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Ever since I went on an open studio art walk in Brooklyn a few years back and stumbled upon Flavor Paper‘s showroom, I’ve been plotting how I could get in there again for a photoshoot.

Nevermind that the owner, John Sherman, turned building into a cool lounge-like space that you want to hang out in, but it’s filled with original designs that make wallpaper cool once again. Even Mike D. of the Beastie Boys helped design his own paper and popular NYC venues like the Wythe hotel have outfitted their walls with their designs.

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When K.Belo asked me to both style and art direct their editorial shoot and lookbook for their summer 2013 collection called “Havana Nights,” I luckily convinced them that Flavor Paper was the perfect location to shoot in the middle of winter if we weren’t going to fly to Cuba.

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photography: Ehren Joseph

styling & art direction: Liz Teich

makeup: Maria Scali

hair: Corinne Tucci

model: Melissa Baker

jewelry: etc… (some custom for shoot), Beth Lauren, and vintage

If you didn’t catch it on TV this past Sunday, I’m not the only one obsessing over Flavor Paper lately—CBS Sunday Morning did a spotlight on them and wallpaper’s comeback.

I can’t decide which wall I want to paper first.

Jump Around

2013 May 20
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by DearAndi

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Topshop jumpsuit and top / Rag & Bone jacket / H&M clutch / Christian Louboutin heels (more affordable version online) / Ray-Ban sunglasses (similar online) / Baublebar bracelet, etc… bracelets

There’s something very 70′s and Studio 54 about wearing a one piece jumpsuit that I love. It’s both classy and playful at the same time and with a blazer over it, it can even pass for professional. With a belt (or in this case, it has a black trim on the sides), it can also be quite flattering to your waistline.

It’s really the perfect way this season to get dressed up, even if your legs aren’t summer-ready yet. Though, they can be if you use this trick.

STYLIST TIP: If you’re going to wear a one piece like a jumpsuit, romper or even denim overalls—yes, they made their comeback in a chic way this season…if you dare—then try it in a more grown up way with a heel rather than a flat.

3 Friday Favorites

2013 May 17
by DearAndi

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Shopping at Sephora is one of my weaknesses. I love to try out all of the newest products that my makeup artist and hair stylist friends tell me about, so it’s great that I can do it risk-free (you can return anything from there that you used if you don’t like it…or in my case break out from it!).

What’s even better is that the more you purchase, the more points you get and the more freebies you receive. I look forward to getting older each year, not because of the amazing wrinkle products they have, but because you get an awesome free gift on your birthday. It’s that time of year again and they brought back my absolute favorites that I’m totally hooked on, the Fresh Sugar Lip treatments in Rosé and regular. Too bad they don’t celebrate half birthdays.

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As it’s finally getting warmer, I cannot wait to shed my socks. There’s nothing more effortlessly chic than a sockless shoe. Though, also as the temperatures rise, our feet get a bit stinkier. I’m so excited about these Silver Linings shoe liners that I recently got to try. They not only save the insides of my shoes, but they also save me from embarrassment of foot odor. There’s some kind of silver technology that prevents growth of bacterial odor that somehow works. You’re going to want a pair for every shoe.

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Another birthday treat, in addition to my Sephora gift, was from my dear friend and designer, Rachel of Nona E. Rose, who made me this incredibly sweet custom belt from a piece that my mother designed and made back in the day. It’s totally one of a kind, so you can’t own this one, but you can own one of her other designs that are inspired by vintage buckles.

The Secret To “Prtty” Legs

2013 May 16
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by DearAndi

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No stockings here. These are actually my legs. They haven’t seen a beach in nearly two years and they haven’t been tended to after what seemed like a never-ending winter in NYC, but now that the temperatures are starting to creep up, it was about time they made an appearance. Though, I thought I was doomed to wear pants all summer!

I’ve tried self tanners and air-brush-like makeup, but being a health nut that buys nearly everything organic and natural, I’ve been hesitant about their prolonged use.

So, I was ecstatic when I was asked to try this lotion made from natural ingredients called Prtty Peaushun. Everyone from Gweneth Paltrow to Rihanna are fans, so I thought it couldn’t be that bad.prn_8oz_light_36_1001_1

I couldn’t believe that there were no dyes or coloring. It’s just particles that actually reflect the light and make your skin glow and as a result, it actually covered up my imperfections. Yes, like a normal woman, I too have veins (the glamorous part of a job that keeps me on my feet all day) and even a birthmark on one leg.

I’m not sure about the claims to tighten cellulite, but as you can see by this picture, it is either this product or my attempt at the iPhone app “couch to 5k” that made my legs summer-ready.

The only drawback is that I want to use this from head to toe (they claim you can wear it in your hair!) and every day, so I’m trying to conserve my small pack as much as possible before I have to splurge on another…and I will have to now that I found my second skin.

In Black And White

2013 May 15
by DearAndi

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jacket: Zara / tee: James Perse / skirt: Robert Rodriguez / shoes: Christian Siriano for Payless / clutch: Michelle Fantaci for Lauren Merkin / bracelets: Baublebar (similar online), c/o Naked Label, etc… / lipcolor: Nars

I’m loving the black and white trend this season. Maybe it’s the inner NYC girl in me that’s psyched that I have an excuse to wear lots of black, but it’s never looked this chic—especially with a little bit of leather that edges up an otherwise preppy bold black and white stripe.

STYLIST TIP: A huge trend this season are hologram accessories—and it looks like after some press previews I’ve been to, it’s not going anywhere. They are a great way to modernize any outfit and the best part is that it acts as a neutral, so it goes with just about everything. Try this at home with pieces like the shoes and bracelet seen here.

New Work Alert: Style Scout

2013 May 14
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by DearAndi

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Jordan Reid of Ramshackle Glam

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Helena Glazer of Brooklyn Blonde (with model Jakenna)

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Amy Creyer of Chicago Street Style

Check out some recent work that I styled for videos for a major company with some major bloggers, who are now some of my favorites that you should follow!

Weekend of Celebrations #Instastyle

2013 May 13
by DearAndi

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  1. dress: Carmen Marc Valvo / earrings and clutch: vintage / shoes: Christian Louboutin
  2. dress: Suno NY (from Eva Gentry) / jewelry: etc… / shoes: gift from Ramshackle Glam

This weekend was filled with celebrations for me, between a good friend’s wedding, celebrating my birthday at my favorite spot in NYC, The Wayland, (a bit early, but everyone is away on my actual birthday), and then Mother’s Day.

With this whirlwind of festivities, I first forgot my camera battery and then there was a huge thunderstorm with a flash flood warning, so the camera gods were not in my favor. These Instagram/selfie shots of my party style are better than nothing!

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STYLIST TIP: Never settle with a garment off of the rack. I got great deals on both of these dresses, so it was okay with me that they didn’t fit perfectly—I could make it work. A trusted seamstress that I work with completely reworked the first dress from the inside-out, when no other tailors would touch the delicate design. It cost me $100 and some homemade cookies, but it was a $700 (I spent 1/7 of that!) dress that could have looked cheap if it didn’t fit well. The second dress just needed the shoulders taken up, which cost me $20 and made it fit perfectly. If a dress costs a lot, then make sure that the alterations can be done on existing seams, so they are not going to be a fortune.

Happy Mother’s Day!

2013 May 12
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by DearAndi

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“Andi” circa 1960′s and me a bit more recently.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you moms out there. Hope you inspire your children as much as my mother, the namesake of this blog, has inspired me. Enjoy today—you deserve it.