Posted by Stefanie

Some disturbing info: The FDA only bans 9 ingredients for use in makeup products produced in the United States. In Europe, 1,300 substances are banned, including additives that are thought to cause cancer. So why are we short 1,291 banned ingredients?

To see if your favorite mascara, foundation, or moisturizer contains harmful ingredients, check out this website. They rate the danger factor 0-10, zero being the safest, and, you guessed it, 10 being the most hazardous. My favorite lip gloss, for example, has a danger factor of 2 (phew), but the mascara I used to wear all the time has a danger factor of 8! Glad I don't wear that brand anymore...

The skincare line I use, which claims to be completely organic, has a danger factor of 2-3, depending on the product. Guess it's not that bad, especially since compared to a lot of other skincare lines, the one I use is pretty safe. However, one of the products from the same line has a danger factor of 3, yet it contains ingredients that are thought to cause cancer. That doesn't sound like it should be in the "3" category to me!

From the EWG's website:

Given the incomplete information made available by companies and the government, EWG provides additional information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature. The chart below indicates that research studies have found that exposure to one or more ingredients in this product -- not the product itself -- caused the indicated health effect(s) in the studies reviewed by Skin Deep researchers. Actual health risks, if any, will vary based on the level of exposure to the ingredient and individual susceptibility -- information not available in Skin Deep.

So there you have it. How does your makeup score?

Posted by Stefanie

Stila is offering 15% off all eye shadows from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. PT today!

My personal favorites are Kitten, Oasis, Wheat and Twig. The best part about their eye shadow is you can wear it either wet or dry! Wet will give you a dewy, shimmery look. Just spray your eye shadow brush with water, dip your brush into the product and apply all over the lid. Happy shopping!

Posted by Stefanie

The famous duo who made lazy sweatpants luxe, Gela Nash-Taylor and Pamela Skaist-Levy, are officially leaving Juicy Couture , the company they founded. The girls sold the line to Liz Claiborne in 2003 and have netted more than $200 million since, so don't feel too bad for them. Apparently, the reason they're leaving isn't because of poor sales; rather, they're leaving to persue new endeavors, which include a TV show, a movie and a book.

(photo: benbakerphoto.com)

According to the NY Post, Liz Claiborne says although they're stepping down from the brand, the girls are still expected to stay on as consultants.

Some also speculate the girls may be leaving due to the direction the brand is heading. Juicy definitely has come a long way since I bought my very first pair of ink blue velour lounge pants with "Juicy" emblazoned on the rear. Yes, I admit, I had a pair of those annoying sweatpants everyone owned. Now they're branching out beyond velour and terry and into peacoats, dresses, and denim.

But despite the company's efforts to branch out of the ordinary, profits have dipped 7.8% in 3rd quarter.

See, told you I had some Juicy gossip...

Good for spray tanning also...ie the only artificial tanning you SHOULD be doing :)

Print it off and take it in...easy as that. Go and get yourself some color!

Posted by Stefanie

Want to help those in Haiti but don't know where to start? Local boutiques are doing their part to provide aid to Haiti:

Theo Chocolates

Love chocolate like I do? Pick up one of Theo Chocolate's 45% classic milk chocolate and 70% classic dark chocolate bars and 100% (yes, you read that right, ALL of the proceeds) will go towards CARE, a humanitarian non-profit providing aid to the Haiti relief effort.

Julep Nail Parlor

This chic nail parlor is donating 10% of every Beauty Head to Toe package (includes a Porch pedicure and a Julep organic facial) to the Red Cross for Haiti Relief fund through February.

Edie's Shoes

Stop by Edie's shoes TODAY because they're going to donate 20% of their sales to the American Red Cross' relief efforts in Haiti.

Pagliacci

Hungry? Stop by your local Pagliacci Pizza tomorrow, Thursday, 1/28, for a slice of pizza (or pick up an entire pie...delicious). All proceeds from that day will go to the Red Cross help for Haiti effort.

Remember, every little bit counts...do what you can to help!

Hello shabby chic wonderfully fun spring summer tees and tanks...extra 30%...GO! Jcrew.com - markdowns for whole fam!

Sample look...

$19.99 - $29.99 Online. University Village store has tons of the embellished t-shirts left that are already sold out online.

Crewcuts by the way...top three favorite kids stores. She can dress just like mama...C'MON!

Darling...

Savings code...Extra 30. You are welcome!

Posted by Stefanie and commented on by Lisa

(photo courtesey of christianvsiriano.com)

Christian Siriano, the fierce, animated winner of Project Runway Season 5, unveiled his footwear collection he designed specifically for Payless.

The insanely expensive footwear that debuted at his last runway show (pictured above) are the inspiration for his new line of footwear. So...tell me, would you buy these?

In my humble opinion, I love that they're different than any shoe you'd find at Payless, but the sequins make them look pretty tacky. I do like the blue pair from what I can see in this photo, but I'll have to wait until the spring 2010 collection is rolled out so I can see them in person. And another thing I like about these - they're high. So many shoes you find at inexpensive stores like Payless don't have high heels, which I so adore. The highest heel you'd find would be 2"...maybe 2 1/2".

The shoes will debut in March and will retail for $79.99.

I'm hopeful that these shoes will be fantastic and fly off the shelves, but based on what Siriano has unveiled in the past for Payless, I'm not so sure they'll look quite like how they're pictured...

Lisa - These shoes are runway and not meant for everyday usage. I can't imagine a shoe of this height made of "pleather" for Payless being remotely comfortable. These look like less than 10 minute shoes. I am with you Stef...gonna need to see to believe.

Posted by Stefanie

When you watch a runway show, I'll bet it's nothing like you've ever seen. Svelte, lanky models glide down the runway, wearing fabrics in nearly every color, structure and form. The clothes themselves are pieces of art and are carefully constructed using very expensive, high-end fabrics and time-consuming stitching. Haute couture pieces are hand-executed and are most definitely one of a kind.

Melania Knauss (above) wore this exquisite, hand-beaded haute couture gown to her million dollar-plus wedding to business magnate Donald Trump. The dress was designed by Dior Haute Couture and is rumored to be valued between $100,000 and $200,000. The dress had a 13-foot train and almost 300 feet of material and 1,500 crystal rhinestones and pearls. It took 28 seamstresses over 1,000 hours to make and over 500 hours to hand-stitch all the crystal beading and rhinestones. It's even been said Melania had to sit down most of the time prior to walking down the aisle because the dress was so heavy.

Melania's dress was so absolutely beautiful and it practically glided over the runway (sorry, aisle). It truly was a piece of art that no one can else can replicate. That's true haute couture.

And so is this:

This dress was designed by British designer John Galliano for Dior Haute Couture (yes, the same design house that created Mrs. Trump's stunning wedding gown in 2005). One might think this is truly not a work of art, but rather a crazy mismash of fabrics, colors, and outrageous style no one in their right mind would wear. But that's why it's haute couture. It's not meant for the "real way". It's meant for the "runway", or the extremely wealthy and fashion-forward client.

Most designers strive to achieve an avante-garde look that translates into true haute couture. Once achieved, the designer's creation is awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping and incredibly conceptual. So conceptual, it inspires other designers to base a lot of their ready-to-wear designs off the garment they saw sweeping down the runway. And a lot of the time, these avante-garde designs eventually translate into a ready-to-wear piece that anyone can pull off. For example, if an avante-garde gown has a lot of ruffles and layered fabric, you'll probably see just a pop of ruffles on a skirt hanging on the rack at Macy's. That crazy chartreuse gown you saw at the Paris runway show a couple seasons ago probably inspired the Gap to start producing simple cardigans in chartruese. It all trickles down from that outrageous garment you see at runway shows in Paris, Milan, New York or Hong Kong.

So the next time you watch a runway show and wonder, "who on Earth would wear this horrendous, ridiculous dress?", remember that these pieces aren't meant to be worn to work, a nightclub, a first date, or anywhere in "real life." Rather, they're works of art that inspire other designers to create pieces that work for a "real" woman in "real" situations.

Besides, who wants to pay $100,000 for a dress? I think I'll save that for a down payment on a house.

Posted by Stefanie

Sales galore this week! Grab your most comfy shoes, a girlfriend and a filtering eye (and don't forget your wallet). There are so many sales around the Puget Sound area every week and I don't want any of you fashionistas missing out! Be sure to check back every week for updates on the latest sales in the Seattle area!

REI

Save 30-40% on outerwear, clothing, footwear and accessories at REI's January Clearance sale! You'll have a chance to score some great deals today through January 31st.

Hip Zephyr

This Greenwood boutique is stocked with adorable tanks, handbags, belts, tops and accessories. Save up to 30% through February 28 on fall and winter merchandise.

Promesse

Promesse in Kirkland has incredible deals on denim, with a huge selection under $100! And these aren't small, no-name brands either, you'll find savings on Rock & Republic, Hudson, and AG Adriano Goldschmied.

Clutch

Save 30-50% on the hottest handbags by Rebecca Minkoff, Kooba (one of my favorites!), Botkier and more! I love that Clutch, the only handbag boutique in Seattle, carries both independent and famous designers!

Happy shopping!

Posted by Stefanie and commentated by Lisa

The 2010 SAG Awards have come and gone, and you know what that means...more analyzing and picking apart some of Hollywood's best and worst dressed! So much fun.

Picks for the Best Dressed:

Christina Applegate

Stefanie -Simply stunning in her flowy, silver-blue dressed. Her overall look gave her a beautiful glow.

Lisa -She is a show stopper. Only thing icy here is the dress...looks like an angel.

Kyra Sedgwick

Stefanie -I. love. this. dress. So absolutely beautiful, even if it looks like a wedding dress. I love the mermaid silhouette and detailing on the waist.

Lisa - I WANT this dress. In fact, may be waiting for site to knock it off. Incredibly flattering!

Diane Kruger.

Stefanie -This photo doesn't do her justice. The color, makeup, hair, accessories, were all so unbelievably stunning. It reminds me of old hollywood glam.

Lisa - A bold color choice with a big payoff...very Mad Men.

Kate Hudson.

Stefanie -She looks great in nearly everything she wears, but I really love how elegant this dress is, and the plunging back made it a little less ho-hum. The backwards necklace added something extra to her overall look. In a way, it's similar to the famous blue dress Hilary Swank wore in 2004.

Lisa - The dress is a stunner. Beats the paper doll dress at Golden Globes. The repeated and overused sex kitten look is however wearing on me.

Marion Cottilard.

Stefanie -Marion Cottilard's dress is flirty, innovative, and elegant. The cream shade is beautiful against her skin tone, and the feathered detailing on the bottom is gorgeous.

Lisa - Stylish and fun...not overly form fitted so I would imagine comfortable also. One shoulder which seems to be her signature look...lets branch out a bit shall we?

Lisa - I have to say a full redemption made by Mariah in this red carpet run...THANK GOD!

Stefanie - Agreed, and I'm so glad she chose this color. I was worried she'd wear another super low-cut dress and take the name "SAG Awards" to a whole new level.

And now for the fun part...the WORST dressed category:

Patricia Arquette

Stefanie -My friend, you've done it again with the horrendous red carpet ensemble. Why, oh why, did you think a sequined green gown with a weird shoulder cutout and plunging neckline would look good? No, no...and no.

Lisa - Holy mermaid this is hideous!

Sophia Loren

Stefanie -What is this? Did a rat sneak into your house overnight and eat away your gown? Or did you go through a car wash before your red carpet appearance?

Lisa - I believe this may have been an art project for a grade school class on hole punching...WOW!

Anna Paquin

Stefanie -It could be cute for a night out, but there's just something off about this dress. Most likely it's the pattern and blend of colors. Definitely not for the SAG awards, though.

Lisa - Uh nightclub NOT red carpet. Too mini.

Catherina Russoff

Stefanie -She clearly thinks she lives in 1710, not 2010. And why is she wearing black gloves? The shrunken cardi-wrap she has paired with this heinous gown is so outdated, and the materials look cheap. Gross.

Lisa - Amen sister.

Helen Mirren

Stefanie -Perhaps if she lost the wrap and the long necklaces, she might look decent...? No, sorry, take that back. She isn't dressing appropriately for her age, the pattern is just driving me crazy and she looks like she's auditioning for the Wizard of Oz in that getup. Can someone give her some oil?

Lisa - I have to agree that there is too much happening here and you are not sure where to look. However, I want to look this good at 64 and outshine those half my age whether it be good or bad.

Lisa - One fashion disaster that I believe goes beyond worst dressed into outright ridiculous...

Nicole Kidman

Stefanie - The accessories really did her in. I can't figure out what the design aesthetic is either...

That's all we got to say 'bout that...