What I've Been Up To/Loving

Recently I have been watching a lot of beauty and hair videos on Youtube, which I really have never done before. I have friends who live by watching tutorials in order to learn a new technique of how to apply a certain make up look or master new tools and I always just got by with doing my own thing...that is until now.
Right off the bat, I need to share that I've been watching mostly British vloggers, there's something very comforting about listening to them speak that makes me want to pay attention. My favorite videos are those that show new products, especially ones that I haven't heard of. I must warn you, it has made my wish list grow immensely long and of course the products shown are all big name brands and cannot be found for cheap.
One product that a lot of vloggers and beauty lovers in general have been talking about is the Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate. A lot of big words, I know, but this serum really does big things. This product helps to fight signs of aging and keeps out harmful toxins in the air from getting into your skin, all while making it super soft and glowy. With the runways showing dewy skin as the "must have" canvas for spring, Shiseido can help us get there without having our own backstage makeup artist. For a little bit more on the concentrate, it is formulated to "Restore skin’s powers to resist, protect, regenerate, and strengthen, leaving skin smooth and deeply nourished." It can be found at Sephora, Birchbox and other beauty retailers.

Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate $65 for 30mL

Some other things that I haven't tried yet, but I have my eye on are:

MAC Lip Pencil in "Soar" $16
Apparently this is what Kylie Jenner uses to get her unreal lips to look the way that they do.

bareSkin Perfecting Brush $28
bareMinerals recently came out with liquid foundation and this brush to accompany it. What's unique about this brush in particular is the circular opening amongst the bristles where you place a drop of foundation and then the application process is seamless.

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Lightscapade $32 available at Macy's
For a subtle glow and an added polished look, this light highlighter can be applied all over or on typical highlight spots, but this seems to be less sparkly and have more of a natural glimmer.

Fresh Glow in Nude Radiance $48

I'm on the look out for a really good foundation. I'm currently mixing MAC's Strobe Cream Hydrant (it is hydrating and has some sheen to it) with Clinique's Moisture Sheer Tint in Neutral to achieve a somewhat dewy base, but I am sure there is a better product to get me that look. I had bought and then returned (because I felt guilty) Burberry's Fresh Glow Fluid in Nude Radiance. It sounds exactly like what I want and when I did test it, it had a very nice glimmer to it, so I think I've made up my mind that my next purchase will be that.

It Starts With An Idea

"Let fashion be a reflection of who you are. Don't copy others. You'll spend your childhood trying to be the same and your adulthood trying to be different. So embrace being different now." If that's not advice to live by, I don't know what is. Caggie Dunlop, who captured our hearts and gave us closet envy on Made In Chelsea is an innovator and an inspiration. Her clothing brand, ISWAI (It Starts With An Idea) is an outlet for fresh designs by designers with an eye for fashion as well as an edge that I feel is lacking in other clothing collections. I was lucky enough to score a spot at ISWAI's launch party last night in the posh neighborhood of Chelsea where I got to rub elbows with some of the line's designers as well as other Made in Chelsea stars.

This is my last week in London as I'm sure pretty much everyone knows by now, but going to launch party for Caggie's pop up shop definitely tops the charts of my time here thus for. Little did I know that when I started watching the show that not only would I be frequenting the spots that the cast dined and clubbed at, but I would also have a chance to see what they're like when the cameras aren't rolling. I have been a Caggie fan from the start, with her charm and good natured personality, who wouldn't be? But honestly, she may be one of the nicest people I have ever encountered.

My girl Caggie Dunlop and i

I arrived to 261 Kings Road at 6:15, I had gotten my hair blown out earlier that day at Hersheson's and I picked out a romper that I thought could work its way to either a casual or cocktail event (luckily I fit right in and was not too over or under dressed, I was freaking out before I got there!) As the cab drove up to the pop up shop venue, I got a little bit nervous about the fact that I was alone, but all of that went out the window once I stepped foot inside. I was greeted by someone checking the guest list and when she heard that I won the invite on Twitter, Caggie's mom came right over to say hello, Caggie's charming personality definitely runs in the family. Her mom was so inviting and brought me right over to see Caggie, when she hugged me, I thought "this can't be real," it was as if we were lifelong friends!
The ISWAI collection was displayed on turquoise hangers around the room; my favorite color!
I managed to make a few friends throughout the night who are from England, another accomplishment that I thought I was going to leave London without achieving but all in one night I was able to make friends and meet one of my style icons! Shortly after arriving, Proudlock, another MIC cast mate came and after that a few more strolled in. First was Hugo and then Spencer came with Stephanie Pratt! As an avid fan of Laguna Beach and then The Hills, seeing She Pratt was definitely an added bonus.

My new friends and I with Oliver Proudlock (wearing his iconic cross earring of course)

Me with Stephanie Pratt and Hugo Taylor

Spencer Matthews and I

A little bit later on, I had some one on one time with Caggie where she revealed that she wanted everyone to have a good time and there I was, reassuring Caggie Dunlop that her launch party would be a success. She said, "well as long as people keep drinking." I swear, I felt as though I had known her forever. She asked where I was from and that gave way to a conversation about her time in New York and how it made her more aggressive but then she spent time in Australia that softened her up again. We agreed that maybe it was time for her to come back to NYC. She inquired about my time here and whether or not I would ever live here, if we were friends, I definitely think my permanent residence could be a possibility!

I joked saying I was going to buy this. If I didn't have to take a plane on Monday, I might actually be serious...

Cags singing with boyfriend Nicky on guitar

Never did I think that I would see/meet Caggie, but not only that, I got to hear her sing! She performed an acoustic song called "Latch" with her boyfriend playing the guitar. It's completely unfair how this girl has so much talent! But now that I have met her and have seen that she is a normal, compassionate person, I am happy for her and impressed that a girl who has so much going for her is still just a person who wants to succeed.

Enough about her personality, and quite frankly I think I have made it clear to see I have a bit of a girl crush on her now. Onto the ISWAI products! I have my eye on one specific t-shirt, it is a white oversized crop top with a line drawing of a skull on it appropriately labeled, Rebellion. I'm either going to go back to the pop up shop before it closes on Saturday, or I am going to order it online. Other pieces include distressed overalls that are not online, which Caggie was wearing in an ever so fashionable way with her Religion tshirt that has a bunch of crosses on it and a blazer with cut outs on the arms. The ISWAI jewelry is very cool and I also would love to get my hands on the ear cuff with the dangling crosses. We all received goody bags with ISWAI flip flops, I will definitely be wearing mine and remembering what an amazing night I had. Maybe I will even wear them on the plane home! When I said goodbye and thank you to Caggie, she wished me a safe flight back, seriously, WHAT A SWEETHEART! As if London didn't already have enough brownie points in my book...

Caggie told us, "Do the Miley," referring to her VMA performance where her tongue was out the entire time.

Some of ISWAI's beautiful jewelry.

Me and my new friends Sophie and Eleni. Eleni is a designer of one of ISWAI's tshirts.

 

Amy, Hannah and Eleni with their tshirt designs!

Always Choose Paris

I’ve been a little bit lax with this blog because I was in Paris for the weekend and then had to move from my other flat in London to a new one. I have a little bit less than two weeks left here, but first I am going to Amsterdam tomorrow! Paris was everything I could have wanted and more! The shopping is unbelievable and the whole city is absolutely gorgeous. Sure, I’ve seen pictures of the Eiffel Tower, but pictures are nothing compared to being there in person and seeing it light up at night.

My first time at the Eiffel Tower- so beautiful!

One day, that luggage will be mine!

The Avenue des Champs-Élysées is the mecca of shopping. We started off by going to the Louis Vuitton flagship where I had to use an immense amount of self control to not buy a trunk, I have long lusted after Vuitton’s iconic luggage and trunks. There is just something about the LV print on a suitcase or even a hat box, for some reason I have an affinity for hat boxes and yet I don’t even wear hats! Maybe if I had a Louis hat box, I would start! I left the store with three DVDs and a book. I just couldn’t go on if I left empty handed. The book is called Parisian Chic: A Style Guide by Ines de la Fressange which features a drawing of a Parisian girl; the color of the book is red and that was also a selling point for me. Fressange is a French model, aristocrat, fashion designer, and perfumer. She was named to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1998. I trust that once I am done with the book, I will be ready for my next trip to Paris which is inevitably going to happen sooner rather than later!

New book to get me on the fast track to becoming a chic Parisian!

I am an avid fan of firstly Laguna Beach and later on, The Hills. When Lauren chose to stay with Jason rather than go to Paris, every girl watching reacted with a sigh. Sure, love is amazing but in my own experiences and after being to Paris, I would say that “The City of Love” is even more amazing than love itself. We saw how Lauren regretted her decision later on and that is one driving force that has always inspired me to go to Paris; however I can’t say that LC was my only inspiration, it all goes back to my girls Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Passport to Paris is up there with my fave MKA movies and I went to Paris hoping to find my Vespa riding boyfriend to show me the sites. Although that didn’t quite pan out, I still had a blast and even reenacted the infamous, “The America Girls, they are like this: Bonjour! Bonjour! Bonjour! Oh My God!” scene. 

The Olsens and I at their Elizabeth & James pop up store in NYC. 2010.

Inside the Hermes store.

Other stores that I went to while in Paris include the Chanel, Hermes, and Christian Louboutin flagship stores. Trust me, if the conversion rate wasn't so high between the Euro and U.S. dollar, I probably would have come home with more than just a book and some DVDs! Regardless of my lack of purchases, I know that I will be back to Paris someday and at that point, I plan to make a nice dent in my bank account (this will be when I have a job and I'm not a poor college student). As it is, I've bought enough during my past eight weeks here in London that I needed to buy another suitcase and my move from my last flat to where I am staying currently was less than pleasant. 

 

Nothing like those interlocking Cs!

Oh hey, Moschino! (significant because I spent my whole last term at school working on a project that featured an imaginary Moschino for Kohl's collection.)

                                        

No explanation needed. Red Soles.