Be Mine – Valentine’s Day Want List

I’m a sucker for Valentine’s Day merch. Everywhere I look there are red and pink hearts, kisses and bows smacked on everything from cupcakes, to shoes, lip gloss, jewelry and handbags. Maybe the fact that my birthday is two days after Valentine’s Day makes me love the commercial holiday so much, but I like to think that it’s because I’m a lover of all things hopelessly kitsch in fashion, beauty and design. To celebrate Valentine’s Day, I’ve compiled some of my favourite fashion items that get my heart all aflutter.

ALDO GIRIDDIN SHOULDER BAG
This cross-body heart-shaped bag by Aldo gives a new meaning to the phrase “arm candy.” The heart candy-inspired bag comes in light pink, green or yellow and reminds me of a similar-looking Charlotte Olympia clutch, but for a fraction of the price tag.

Aldo Giriddin Shoulder Bag, $30

VON FOLLIES LINGERIE BY DITA VON TEESE
There’s nothing sexier than retro-inspired lingerie and Dita Von Teese does it right. I know most women would be hesitant to buy their lingerie online, but I purchased pieces from Teese’s Von Follies line through ASOS and found they were true to size. The quality is great, the price is pretty sweet and if you’re a lover of retro-tailored lingerie (high-waisted, slimming and smoothing) then give this collection a try.

Her Sexellency Suspender and Her Sexellency Overwire Bra, $73.71 and $80.03 at asos.com

KATE SPADE OOH LA LA TOBYN
Kate Spade is the queen of cool kitsch with a good dose of posh, upper east side, pretty sophistication. I just knew she would deliver a Valentine’s-inspired collection that would have me oohing and aaahing. One of my favourite pieces is the Ooh La La Tobyn cross-body bag with top handle, which has just the right amount of quirk and ladylike polish.

Kate Spade Ooh La La Tobyn, $348

BATH & BODY WORKS SWEET SHOP CANDLES
The Sweet Shop candle collection from Bath & Body Works not only has a range of sweet, mouth-watering scents perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth, but it’s also cute as hell. The Mason Jar Candles would look perfect anywhere in your home and the Sweet Shop Pedestals elevate your candles to chic new heights.

Bath & Body Works Raspberry Peach Macaron Mason Jar Candle, $12.50

TOO FACED TEDDY BEAR HAIR 5 PIECE BRUSH SET
Don’t be fooled by the cutesy name or heart-print cosmetic bag, because this is one fierce brush set. These five essential brushes – powder, contour, all-over shadow, blender and liner – may be made of synthetic materials, but they feel identical to real hair.

Too Faced Teddy Bear Hair 5 Piece Brush Set, $79 at Sephora

BATH & BODY WORKS VELVET SUGAR BODY LOTION
Get super soft and smooth skin that will leave you irresistible to touch and smelling good enough to eat. This shea and vitamin E rich lotion smells divine thanks to its sweet blend of red velvet crème, golden plum, sugared musk, pink jasmine and strawberry.

Bath & Body Works Velvet Sugar Body Lotion, $12.50

MAYBELLINE COLOR ELIXIR BY COLOR SENSATIONAL
To get a look-at-me pout for Valentine’s Day – or any day of the year, for that matter – look no further than this lip product hyphenate from Maybelline that delivers the colour of a lipstick, the cushiony feel of a balm and the glassy shine of a gloss. I have a few shades on rotation in my makeup arsenal right now, including Caramel Infused, a neutral rose, and Dashing Orchid, a bright purple that’s in line with Pantone’s colour of the year.

Maybelline Color Elixir By Color Sensational, $10.99 at drugstores

– Jodi Goulart

She’s A Lady

It’s no secret that when it comes to my preferred retro beauty look I gravitate towards a strong red lip and black cat eye. Lately though, I’ve been wanting something softer, but still with a retro edge and when I first saw the 1940s heroines on Carolina Herrera’s fall runway, I was smitten.

Carolina Herrera Fall 2013

The models wore satin pussy bow blouses, wide-legged trousers, tweed pencil and a-line skirts, and dresses with nipped waists and dramatic high shoulders. The look was 1940s sophistication with a touch of vixen. I thought of Lauren Bacall in How to Marry a Millionaire, a tough-as-nails woman driven by ambition whose sexiness came from her brash but classy attitude rather than a wiggle when she walked or a breathy voice – no offense to the incomparable Marilyn.

The hair and makeup was equal parts soft and strong, with hair pulled back into a low victory roll and cheeks and lips kissed with pretty pinks.

Victory rolls and pink makeup at Carolina Herrera

To create the look at home, I tracked down the products you need. For the victory roll, apply Sebastian Potion 9, which is a styling cream with flexible hold, to damp/almost dry hair. Part your hair in the middle and twist each side and pin it to your head as you work towards the back. Gather the ends into a ponytail, roll it inward and pin it in place. To give your hair some high-wattage shine, apply a couple of drops of L’Oreal Professionnel Mythic Oil that leaves hair glossy thanks to avocado and grape seed oils.

L’Oreal Professionnel Mythic Oil, $26 at salons

To achieve a pretty pink flush, I applied Lancome’s new Highlighter Blush in Rose Ballerine from the super feminine French Ballerine collection fronted by the beautiful Lily Collins. I looked to Lancome’s vast range of pinks shades from the Rouge In Love lipstick collection and went with Rose Flaneuse, a bright rose pink.

Lancome Highlighter Blush in Rose Ballerine, $52 at department stores and select drugstores in February

Lancome Rouge In Love in Rose Flaneuse, $30 at department stores

– Jodi Goulart

STOCKING POPPERS! Part 2

It’s getting down to the x-mas shopping wire so I’ve compiled a second list of choice stocking poppers or “gifties.” Read below for my top picks of items that will wow your best friend, colleague, girlfriend, etc. in a small package while making a big impact.

MAYBELLINE NEW YORK BABY LIPS ELECTRO LIP BALM & BABY LIPS DR. RESCUE MEDICATED LIP BALM
Though I’m a red lipstick fiend, sometimes all I want is a soft, low-maintenance lip. I’m all for glamour, but I leave the red lipstick at home when I’m swimming and sunning at the cottage. Not much of a demure kinda girl when it comes to lip balm – it’s gotta have colour and shine – I’m a fan of Maybelline’s Baby Lips Electro Lip Balm. It’s super soft and moisturizing and comes in toned down shades of pink, purple and orange. My favourite Strike A Rose is a soft petal pink. And just in time for winter, Maybelline has launched Baby Lips Dr. Rescue Medicated Lip Balm, which still comes in a great range of sheer colours but also has eucalyptus, menthol and camphor to soothe winter-damaged lips.

Maybelline Baby Lips Electro Lip Balm, $4.99 at drugstores

REVLON PARFUMERIE SCENTED NAIL ENAMEL
I was immediately drawn to these nail polishes by the classic, retro looking bottles alone. Secondly, I thought – wow, this is from Revlon! – which isn’t known for chic packaging. Then I was intrigued by the promise of scented nail enamel. Just a warning though, don’t smell the polish in the store because the fragrance is only revealed after it’s dried. There is a nice range of colours in creams, metallics and glitters and there are three collections in total with the first being for holiday.

Revlon Parfumerie Scented Nail Enamel, $6.95 at drugstores

L’OCCITANE IMMORTELE PRECIOUS NIGHT CREAM
I first started using this night cream when I received a sample in my Fall Luxe Box. Every time I use this it feels like I’m spreading a little bit of luxury on my face. This thick, silky cream supports natural skin regeneration while you’re catching some zzzs and contains immortelle flowers that produce an essential oil to support the natural processes of collagen synthesis, circulation and cell renewal.

L’Occitane Immortelle Precious Night Cream, $92 at Hudson’s Bay

REVLON PHOTOREADY PRIMER, SHADOW + SPARKLE
As part of Revlon’s Evening Opulence Collection by Gucci Westman for the holidays, this eye colour palette in Muse hits all the right OTT notes for New Year’s Eve. The collection itself is decadent and not for the faint of heart with rich jewel-tone purples and sparkly emeralds for eyes, lips and nails. The eyeshadow palette contains a silvery pale green primer, and three dark and shimmery purples to apply to your lid, crease and brow bone. If that’s not enough for you then there’s also a deep green to add as a sparkle top coat.

Revlon PhotoReady Primer, Shadow + Sparkle in Muse, $12.95 at drugstores

– Jodi Goulart

Boudoir Babe

Romantic boudoir dressing has officially moved out of the bedroom and into the daylight. The Fall runways saw models at Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs in slinky slips; silky, tailored pajamas; lace-trimmed velvet dresses and jackets with marabou feathers. The lush, romantic looks all embodied a luxurious languor. There are pieces in stores now that perfectly capture this look without getting too literal. See some of my top picks below and tips on how to get the boudoir beauty look.

Louis Vuitton Fall 2013

Zara Lingerie Style Dress $59.90

Topshop Floral Velvet Kimono $80

ASOS Premium Faux Fur Stole, $88.72 at asos.com

The makeup at Louis Vuitton translated into a look that made me think of a girl who painted on dark eyes and lips to go out, but then stayed in and slept face down in her makeup. Any hard defined edges were softened with lips in a washed-out matte plum and eyes dressed in smoky charcoal and soft brown that fell just a bit under the eye as if slept in.

To get this look, I used Anna Sui Eye Shadow in shades 902 and 502 from Anna Sui’s Rebel Girl Eye Shadow Collection. The shadows are available in a range of 37 shades that you can purchase individually and house in Anna’s signature black, lacquered packaging, which itself looks made for a boudoir vanity.

Anna Sui Eye Shadow Palette, $11 at select Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutiques

Anna Sui Eye Shadow 902, $9 at select Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutiques

Anna Sui Eye Shadow 502, $9 at select Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutiques

To amplify the smoky eye, I applied Maybelline’s The Colossal Smoky Eyes Mascara ($8.99) that delivers a matte finish to lashes to complement sultry eyes.

To complete the look, I used Revlon ColorBurst Lipgloss in Embellished, which is a deep, rich plum and part of the decadent Evening Opulence Collection by Gucci Westman. To get the washed-out lip look, just pat with a tissue or keep as is if you want more of a shiny lip.

Revlon ColorBurst Lipgloss in Embellished, $10.50 at drugstores

– Jodi Goulart

Stocking Poppers! Part 1

It’s that time of year again, when the stores are filled with anxious shoppers and bewildered faces. I do admit that I’m a fan of shopping for friends and family. I enjoy brainstorming gifts that will bring joy to my loved ones and I have no shame in admitting that I like receiving them as well. My family still exchanges stockings, which I love. There’s something about those little “gifties” – as my mom calls them – that are so much fun. It’s like getting a bag filled with fun impulse purchases – a weakness of mine. To help you find what to get the retro girl in your life or if you’re looking to treat yourself, I’ve compiled a list of stocking poppers. Let me know if there are any gifties out there that you’re jonesing for this season.

SOAP & GLORY A GREAT KISSER LIP MOISTURE BALM
Soap & Glory A Great Kisser is my kind of lip balm. It feels more like a lip gloss than a balm with moisturizing mango butter and apricot butter to protect your lips from the elements. A Great Kisser comes in two scents – Juicy Peach, which delivers a pretty pink shiny tint and Vanilla Bean, which has more of a warm rose sheen with a bit of sparkle. And who can resist those cute, retro tins?

A Great Kisser in Juicy Peach, $10 at select Shoppers Drug Mart locations

A Great Kisser in Vanilla Bean, $10 at select Shoppers Drug Mart locations

ANNA SUI NAIL COLOR N AND NAIL ART COLOR N
I like to dress up my nails, but don’t have the patience for nail art so I gravitate towards glittery, glitzy and bold polishes that add impact. Anna Sui’s nail polishes come in a spectrum of 45 shades and finishes spanning from gold glitter to flamingo pink and the perfect red. Plus, look at those bottles. Can you tell I’m a sucker for retro packaging yet? Available at Murale and Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutiques for $15.

BENEFIT THEY’RE REAL MASCARA
Believe the hype. Benefit’s They’re Real Mascara does it all – lengthens, curls, volumizes, lifts and separates in a long-wearing formula that doesn’t dry out. The custom domed brush tip will accentuate lashes you didn’t know you had. Check out the Benefit website for tips and tricks on how best to apply if you’re looking for a doe-eyed look or want to boost your bottom lashes.

Benefit They’re Real Mascara, $29 at Murale and Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutiques

– Jodi Goulart

Fit For A Queen – Get Dolce & Gabbana’s Regal Beauty Look

December’s almost here and with its approach comes all of the shimmery and shiny glitz and glitter of holiday fashion and beauty. Lately I’ve been drooling over the pages of December issues in wide-eyed amazement like a kid staring at a Christmas toy display.

One of my favourite gilded collections this year came from the Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2013 runway. The beauty look was inspired by sultry style icon Sophia Loren and featured a matte powdery complexion, crimson lips and a black cat eye topped off with a chic chignon with volume at the crown. Speaking of crowns, some of the models even sported bejeweled, Byzantine-inspired crowns.

Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2013

To recreate the regal beauty look myself, I turned to Lancome’s new Artliner 24H in Black Diamond. The precision-tip, foam applicator makes it super easy to create a bold line and the perfect cat eye flick. The formula boasts 24 hour staying power, which I haven’t been able to test yet, but come party season I may just have the chance.

Lancome Artliner 24H, $37 at Lancome counters

For the luscious crimson pout, I would recommend Anna Sui’s Drama Queen lipstick collection – shade 401 to be exact, which is a brilliant red. This shade is part of the Vivid Base range, which offers 17 vivid colours in an ultra-smooth and almost emollient-like texture, which is something I love about Anna Sui’s lipsticks, along with the glorious rose scent of course. As well, if you didn’t know Anna Sui cosmetics are now available at select Shoppers Drug Mart locations!! Thank you beauty fairies.

Anna Sui Drama Queen Lipstick, $29 at select Shopper’s Drug Mart locations

If you really want to bring some wattage to this look without going the crown route, then I would add some dangling, chandelier earrings. Below, I’ve included a couple favourites that I’ve found to complete the Dolce & Gabbana-inspired look.

ASOS Filigree Chain Chandelier Earrings, $22.51 at asos.com

Forever 21 Floral Chandelier Earrings $6.80

– Jodi Goulart

Dita Von Teese Continues Fragrance Domination with Erotique

Dita Von Teese continues her reign as creator of the darn sexiest fragrances around. The modern burlesque queen has just released her fourth fragrance called Erotique, which Von Teese herself describes as an “aphrodisiac accomplishment” and “an elixir of alchemy inspired by a time when perfume meant something different than it does now.” It’s this inspiration and olfactory embodiment of a glamorous and elegant bygone era that hooked me after purchasing her signature first fragrance, Dita Von Teese, at her Strip Strip Hooray! burlesque revue in Las Vegas.

Dita Von Teese Erotique

Von Teese’s self-titled first fragrance is a sophisticated floral with notes of bergamot, Bourbon pepper, Bulgarian rose, musk and smoky Gaiac wood and sandalwood. After falling for this fragrance, I quickly snatched up the second, Rouge, as soon as it became available to purchase online. Rouge is a soft, mysterious, floral musk with notes of pick pepper, magnolia, amber, bergamot and Lapsang-Souchong tea. Dita didn’t stop there and followed Rouge with FleurTeese, a lighter eau de toilette blooming with florals. I haven’t experienced FleurTeese yet as there is no online retailer that will ship to Canada.

Dita Von Teese Signature Fragrance

Dita Von Teese Rouge

Luckily for me and other Dita Von Teese fragrance fans, Erotique recently landed online at Ron Robinson, where you can also find the first and second fragrance. Erotique is the rebellious younger child in the fragrance family and one who I would imagine has a penchant for tight, patent leather. The scent is much stronger and statement-making with notes of leather, cedar, sandalwood, coriander and spicy, smoky pepper blending with Bulgarian rose.

Erotique 40ml, $50 US at Ron Robinson online

Von Teese has been heavily involved in the creation of her fragrances right down to the bottles, which are modeled after vintage flacons from the 1930s. Erotique’s faceted bottle is adorned with a heart-shaped lock and key. With her Von Follies lingerie line at ASOS, dress collection that just became available at Bettie Page in Vegas and NYC, and a fragrance brand firmly in place, I wouldn’t put it past Von Teese to continue dominating the worlds of beauty and fashion with a crystal-studded whip in hand.

– Jodi Goulart

Soap & Glory Has Me Sugar Crushing

I’ve been a fan of Soap & Glory’s bath and body products and their cute, pink retro packaging for some time. The products always leave me feeling pampered and smelling soft and sexy from the rose, bergamot and citrus fragrance in the classic Clean On Me Creamy Clarifying Shower Gel, especially when followed by The Righteous Butter Body Lotion. When I saw the new Sugar Crush bath and body line scented with sweet lime, I had to give it a try.

Marilyn Monroe in a deleted bathtub scene from “Seven Year Itch”

Wow, does the scent pack a punch! I used the Sugar Crush Body Wash followed by the Body Buttercream and the scent brought back flashes of sunny vacations in Vegas drinking lime margaritas poolside. The body wash contains lime oil, kiwi juice water and veggie oil and delivered generous, frothy bubbles and left my skin super soft.

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Wash, $16 at Shoppers Drug Mart

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Buttercream, $20 at Shoppers Drug Mart

The body buttercream, which has shea and cocoa nut balm and lime and almond oils is thick, but it’s not heavy and left my skin satiny instead of feeling greasy like other popular body butters. The scent is strong at first, but then fades just a bit, which is great ‘cause you don’t want to smell like someone dropped a tropical drink on you. I do still prefer Soap & Glory’s original Pink scent, which is softer and more sophisticated. I can see myself using the Sugar Crush line, which also includes a body scrub, in the summer before heading out for drinks at a tiki bar in a cute, Hawaiian-inspired dress.

– Jodi Goulart

Pretty Dreamy: Narces at World MasterCard Fashion Week Spring 2014

The spring collections at this year’s World MasterCard Fashion Week have been nothing short of inspirational. I’ve been adding to my list of spring inspirations daily. Runway highlights have included the pop art prints at Pink Tartan, the oodles of silk chiffon and laser-cut lace at David Dixon and the wash of navy all over the Joe Fresh runway seen everything from fitted tuxedo suits to delicate slip dresses. Another collection that I knew would be out for my retro heart was Narces.

Described as a designer influenced by iconic women of the 1940-60s synonymous with romantic glamour and who embrace a unique sense of style, Nikki Wirthensohn’s after-five and evening wear collection was a true pleasure to see up close.

Narces had me with the first look that graced the runway. A pretty, ballerina style dress in frothy white and silvery beading set the tone for the remainder of the show – one that was elegant and glamorous, but also fun, fresh and unpretentious.

It’s difficult to pick only a few favourite looks, but those that really grabbed my attention were the dresses adorned with giant pearls, the sugary pastel frocks and the long-sleeved dresses dripping in sequins.

See just some of my favourites below.

What have been some of your favourite WMCFW runway looks?

– Jodi Goulart

Photos by George Pimentel

Full Skirt Frenzy

I have a confession to make. For the last few months I’ve developed an obsession over full, midi skirts. I’ve always had a soft spot for the full-skirted ‘40s silhouette and thanks to the style having swept down Fall 2013 runways, popular retailers, including H&M and Topshop, are now offering the style in stores. This is a blessing for me as I’ve always had a tough time tracking down full skirts, except for on ModCloth which has offered the style for eons.

Prada Fall 2013

Ulyana Sergeenko, fashion designer and my current obsession

I’ve tracked down a few of my favourites that are in stores or available online now, along with some sweet sweaters that will pair perfectly with a midi skirt.

Buttoned Up In Style Skirt, $67.99 US at ModCloth.com

H&M Wide Skirt, $59.95

ASOS Midi Skirt in Animal Baroque Print, $67.52 at asos.om

Banana Republic Floral Beaded Pullover, $69.50

Gap Cable Knit Pullover, $44.99 on sale

– Jodi Goulart