The Beauty Archives: Perfect Lips

How to make you lips look perfect takes just a little more than lip gloss. To start, you'll need 3 things, a tube of lipstick, a non-waxy chapstick, and a slightly tinted lip gloss. Because it's fall, use a slightly darker shade of lipstick as oppose to a brighter shade. However, if it's for a party, feel free to use a bright festive red. Try Clinique Different Lipstick in Rose Aglow $14.00. For Lip Gloss, try BUXOM Lips Big & Healthy Lip Polish in Destiny, $18.00, sephora.com. Finally, for chapstick, use a sheer shade of Burt's Bees Chapstick.

To create the look, follow these super easy steps:

(pictures from left: BUXOM Lips Big & Healthy Lip Gloss in Destiny, and Clinique Different Lipstick in Rose Aglow)

1. Apply a thorough coat of the chapstick, on both your top and bottom lip. Then, rub your lips together to even out the coat. This will smooth out your lips, because lipstick will show any piece of dry skin on your lips, without this layer, the lipstick can look rough. The chapstick will perfect your lips!

2. Apply a layer of the colored lipstick, making sure to cover all parts of your lips. After the application of the color, scrape your nail around the outline of your lips, to clean up any messy color.

3. Finally, swipe a short line (not all the way across your lips, but half, yet centered, so there's about 1/4 not touched on each side) of the lips. Rub your lips together to spread and even the gloss.

4. Congratulations! You have achieved the perfect looking lip! Enjoy!

Is That a Guy's Shirt? Yes. Yes It Is.

Mastering the mix of masculine and feminine is key when borrowing something from the boys. You can go all out with a shirt or shoes, or, borrow smaller pieces such as a masculine leather belt or hat. For example, balance a plaid flannel & leather belt with skinny jeans & a feminine play on oxfords. Tuck the plaid flannel into your jeans- the key is to not button the first 2 buttons, for a more feminine play on the shirt. From left, Gap Men's Single Pocket Plaid Flannel Shirt in Red Plaid, $49.50,

Gap.com, Hollister Betty's Oceanside Super Skinny in Extreme Dark Wash, $39.89, hollisterco.com. Finish off the look with feminine oxfords and a woven leather belt. Try (from right) Steve Madden 'Trouser' Laceless Oxford in Brown, $69.00, nordstrom.com, L.L. Bean Essential Braided Leather Belt in Brown, $39.50, llbean.com. Also, try adding a simple piece of jewelry with a rugged feel, keeping with the masculine vibe. Try the Medium Size Spike Necklace in Yellow Gold, $560.00, lizziescheck.com. The gold in this also compliments the buckle in the belt to bring the outfit together.

I Dream of JEANie: Fall 2010 RTW

Jeans have hit the fall runways. And not the jeans that you're thinking of, patterned beauties that set the bar of jean potential that much higher. So what jeans will be guaranteed to make a statement? Just look at the Fall runways for your answer. The collaboration of J.BRAND jeans and Proenza Schouler for the Fall 2010 season is a beautiful and intricate result: patterned jeans worn at the Fall 2010 RTW show. The pants were worn with a variety of tops including sweaters and jackets; and come in both royal blue and white. The jeans can be purchased from Neiman Marcus's website for $550.00 in white and in sizes 26-29. The jeans are perfect for wanting to make a style statement and can add some color without over powering your top.

At Tory Burch, statement jeans are having their chance to shine as well. With a colorful pattern that is sure to catch anyone's eye; these jeans are not for those who want to blend in, rather, those who are having a hard time standing out. Take your pick: a matching top or a hard-core leather jacket. The jeans can be purchased online at the Tory Burch website for $225.00 and can be bought in sizes 24-32. There are other patterns on the website as well including a tie-dye pair and a zebra look-alike pattern. Each of these can be purchased for $225.00 (zebra-like) or $195.00 (tie-dye).

Which ever jeans you choose to make a statement in for the Fall 2010 season, make sure that the jeans fit perfectly. Even if you are wearing the $550.00 Proenza Schouler jeans, if they don't fit right, you won't be getting jealous looks; you'll be getting "What is she wearing!?" stares. What do you like to pair your jeans with? Email me and give your opinion; it might even end up on my blog!

Mix It Up

Trade in your boring jean-and-tee-shirt combo for something a little more interesting: a printed top AND bottom. Though fashion rookies may be calling me crazy right now, by mixing prints, you can draw attention to yourself in a good way. So the key to mixing prints? Stick to the same color palette and keep with the concept of simple and complex. Sticking to the same color palette simply means that the top and bottom of your outfit share the same shades of color. For example, if your bottom piece has blue, red, orange, white, and black; a top that would look best would be one with the same shades of blue and white, black and orange, red and white, black and blue, etc. Second, when you are mixing patterns, either choose a simple-simple combination or simple-complex combination. Just choose if your print is either simple or complex before pairing it up with another piece. Simple patterns include plaid, argyle, and dots; while complex includes prints with 3 or more colors. Finally, mix either 2 simple pieces or a simple and complex piece WITH THE SAME COLOR PALETTE to create an outcome of a flawlessly paired printed outfit.

Why Don't You Go Fall for Fall

With designers showing off their new fall lines and September issues bursting with images and articles of the new season, everyone is swapping their summer wardrobe and warming up with something a little less revealing. So how can you stay on top of your fashion game? Try one of (or all of!) Fall's Top 4 (yes, 4) trends. First, polish off a look with a newly popular accesory: geek glasses (picture clear, classic Ray-Bans). These glasses have been seen at shows that include Jason Wu and Prada. I recently paired them with dark wash jean shorts, an oversized "The Smiths" tee to look like a tank top, a straw and plaid fedora, gladiators, teal bangles, a teal geode slice necklace, and a borrowed-from-the-boys brown woven leather belt. Second, trade in your skinnies (so last season) for a pair of leg-lengthening, high-waisted flare jeans. These pants do wonders in terms of "growing" you longer legs and pair perfectly with just a simple graphic tank. Third, toss out your neons and trade them in for a calmer approach: neutrals. Tan (Burberry trench tan that is), brown, and black are all big on the runways. At Michael Kors, they were both mixed all together, as well as shown seperatley in an all-tan or all-black ensemble. If you don't want to go all out in neutral, try a hued top with jeans for bottoms, embracing the trend and putting a personal spin to it. Fourth and finally, keep it simple this season by going with a few pieces with clean lines such as a fitted blazer or pencil skirt. Avoid piling on a ton of necklaces and go for a small one or none at all instead.