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fragrance friday: agent provocateur

Friday, February 24, 2012

No stranger to the world of sexy — heck they might as well have invented sexy — Agent Provocateur will be launching three new perfumes, based off of its most celebrated fragrant editions: Agent Provocateur (2000) Maitresse (2006) and L’Agent (2011). The trio of new scents are lighter and fresher but still have the enticing allure about Agent Provocateur is known for.

Agent Provocateur Eau Provocateur is easily the freshest of three perfumes with notes of orange blossom, lily of the valley. At the base lies gentle accords of myrrh, vanilla and tonka bean to add softness and sensuality. Meanwhile, Maitresse Eau Provocateur blends notes of rose, iris, jasmine sambac and green notes of Acacia (a thorny shrub). This floral arrangement is rounded out wit amber, sandalwood and Tonka bean.

My favorite, however, has to be L’Agent Eau Provocateur. It starts of with fresh citrusy accords of bergamot, mandarin orange, and green leaves, complemented with fruity aromas of peach, apple and melon. At the heart of the scent, you get the more floral notes of ylang-ylang, jasmine, rose, tuberose, magnolia and freesia. Finally you’re left with the seductive combination of a woody and oriental base consistent of amber, musk, sandalwood and patchouli. If you could bottle me up for an everyday fragrance, I’m pretty sure this would be it.

The new ‘Eau Provocateur’ Collection from Agent Provocateur is available April 15th in select department stores.

Disclosure: sample provided for editorial consideration. Please don’t forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

| Tagged Agent Provocateur, Fragrance, perfume | Comments (1)

M·A·C Viva Glam 2012

Friday, February 24, 2012

It’s no secret by now that Nicki Minaj and Ricky Martin are the faces of Viva Glam 2012 (I posted about it here) but now it’s time to get up close and personal with the products! The Viva Glam products are special not because of their celebrity collaborations and endorsements but because 100% of the proceeds go to the M·A·C AIDS Fund. Not ten or twenty-five but every. single. cent. It’s the mission of the M·A·C AIDS Fund to support men, women and children affected by with HIV and AIDS. Last year alone, they raised $38 million!

Sidenote: be safe. Know your status. Get tested

The Products

Ricky Martin’s product is the colorless (and gender friendly!) Lip Conditioner ($15) in tube format and has Ricky’s signature across the front. While it isn’t anything new or groundbreaking, everyone needs an everyday lip balm so why not get one that goes the extra mile? Ricky is known for is humanitarian efforts and there’s no better partner for M·A·C - a brand who truly celebrates all ages, races, and sexes. The lip conditioner is smooth and non tacky. It hydrates without leaving my lips feeling greasy.

Nicki Minaj’s product is - shocker - pink! Although she’s already collaborated with the brand for her Pink Friday lipstick (which sold out immediately), she’s back for more. Viva Glam Nicki ($14.50) is described as a bright yellow pink shade and has a satin finish. It’s different from Pink Friday as that was more of a blue-based pink. Viva Glam Nicki has hints of coral, though not overt. It glides on effortlessly and opaque (be careful as more than two applications and it gets thick!).

I’ve seen some chatter around the blogosphere as a few women of color have been disappointed by the shade. True, it seems kind of “pale” for women with dark skin but I firmly believe it’s all about application. It can look milky/ashy if you don’t exfoliate properly and/or apply too much. Nicki Minaj is known for wearing these types of pinks (this is the woman who declared her love for Pink Nouveau). That said, I wear this lipstick with a slightly warmer color underneath (a raspberry gloss or pencil). Can I apply this without a mirror on a crowded train? Probably not. Was I hoping this lipstick would be more of a fuchsia? Yes. Will that stop me from wearing it? Hell no. Heck I wore in this outfit post and you guys loved it!

Ricky & Nicki for M·A·C Viva Glam is available now through February 2013.

P.S.: M·A·C held a launch party for Viva Glam at the tail end of fashion week and while I may have missed Nicki and Ricky, I did get to meet (and fangirl over) Alexander Wang. YOU GUYS! I DIED (and live tweeted the whole thing). Clearly I was excited.

I’m wearing Viva Glam Nicki layered over Revlon’s “Raspberry Ice” lip butter. Thanks Sarah for capturing the moment!

Disclosure: Sample provided for editorial consideration. Please don’t forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

| Tagged MAC Cosmetics, Nicki Minaj, Ricky MartinMAC, Viva Glam | Comments (2)

wind blown

Thursday, February 23, 2012

coat: H&M; blouse and jeans: Forever 21; shoes: Jean Michael Cazabat; bag: Alexander Wang

chain bangle: Bauble Bar; “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” bangle: Kate Spade; Tiger bangle: Bauble Bar; heart bangle: Forever 21; watch: Juicy Couture

Today we hit a high of 59 degrees in the city and, though windy, New Yorkers have no behavior — myself included. I’m seeing so many bare legs and short skirts one would think it’s actually summer. I’ve practically lost my mind and decided to break out my new peep toe shoes, which I scored at the Barney’s Warehouse Sale on opening day. Major! They retailed for $400 but at $130 I knew it had to be mine. I’m so excited for spring — can’t wait to break out these bad boys more often.

Happy almost Friday!

Pin It Please don’t forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

| Tagged Alexander Wang, Bauble Bar, Forever 21, H and M, Juicy Couture, OOTD, outfit post | Comments (1)

peplums for spring!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

blouse: Joe Fresh; Skirt: ASOS (no longer available); boots: Zara (no longer available); bag: Alexander Wang; coat: H&M

jewelry (L -R): JewelMint, Kate Spade, Alexis Bittar Ring, BaubleBar, Juicy Couture watch

perhaps it’s the lighting but these photos really doesn’t do this skirt justice. That’s what I get for waiting until 5:30pm, eh? It’s definitely orange and not pink as it may seem. But I am in love with it. Ever since spotting it on Atlantic-Pacific, I immediately purchased and have worn twice. Expect to see it multiple times throughout the warmer weather

Pin It Please don’t forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

| Tagged Alexis Bittar, ASOS, Bauble Bar, H and M, JewelMint, Joe Fresh, Juicy Couture, Kate Spade, Zara | Comments (2)

perfect for spring — m·a·c vera collection

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

No stranger to collaborations, M·A·C Cosmetics has released a limited edition collection inspired by the art of textile designer, Vera Neumann. Neumann is best known for her brightly colored patterns and items signed with her distinctive signature, and often a ladybug.

Brilliant butterflies, flashy florals and gorgeously geometric graphics…A colourful collaboration between M·A·C and the artist known worldwide as Vera, who merged fine arts with linens, murals, textiles and silk scarves in her punchy, painted patterns. Now in shades plucked straight from her most lavish prints, M·A·C Vera embraces the luxe, lighter-than-air spirit that delivers the kind of startling, look-at-me statement that defines what it means to be an instant classic. — M·A·C Cosmetics

Each of the colors in this collection is said to have been named from a design in the Vera archives. Much like her art, this collection boasts bright, cheery, playful colors that shout spring from the rooftops. I love how delicate this looks with its pretty pinks and summer-esque corals.

Midsummer’s Dream nail lacquer ($16) - described as a pale pink lilac ($16)

sets one and three come together; sets two and four are packaged together — I got them all shuffled when taking pictures! These cost $34 USD and $40 CAD

- Crushed Metallic Pigment in Strawberry Patch (light blue pink) and Moon Rose (a vibrantly dark pink)
- Crushed Metallic Pigment in Rain Drop (metallic teal) and Moss Garden (metallic silver green)
- Crushed Metallic Pigment in Star Crystal (pink champagne) and Rose Light (metallic yellow pink)
- Crushed Metallic Pigment in Butterfly Party (bright lilac) and Desert Cloud (deep blue purple)

Plushglass ($19.50) in Butterfly Dream (a md-tone violet with blue pearl), Pretty Plush (extra soft pink with white pearl), and Confetti (a bright orange coral with soft pearl). All of these go on slightly sheer with hints of color (and smell like candy!)

Pearlglide Intense Liners ($15) in Industrial (periwinkle grey) , Lord It Up (bronze with pearl), Black Swan (black with pearl), and Petrol Blue (deep navy with pearl). These glide on and have amazing pigmentation. I love how intense it makes the eyes, though they are prone to smudging a bit.

Pearlmatte Face Powder ($28) in Flower Fantasy. This is one of two beauty powders in this collection and is described as a pale coral with slight gold pearl/slightly blue pale pink/soft pale salmon. That’s a lot of colors that basically means it’s a salmon/pink color that makes for a great blush. My one issue is that it’s SO beautiful in the pan, I don’t have the heart to swatch it, much less swipe a brush and use it on my cheeks. This looks like a total brown girl friendly color that can be used to liven up the cheeks a bit.

The full M·A·C Vera collection is currently available in stores/ on counters and online.

Disclosure: samples provided for editorial consideration. Please don’t forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.