Congratulations RemChic Giveaway Winners!

I'm really excited so many people entered the RemChic Giveaway! Congratulations to the winners: Danielle Zion, Sasha Piton, and Tina Renee Barker! I will be in touch early next week about mailing you guys your prizes, so be sure and check your e-mail. Woohoo! That was fun =)

Oohs and Awes for Anndra Neen Metal Clutches

I never thought I'd see the day where an an accessory screamed medieval-meets-cage-dancer. Oh, how fashion continuously surprises me. This Anndra Neen clutch du jour was designed by acclaimed sister act Phoebe and Annette Stephens and has won my approval. This "bag" definitely plays into the motorcycle trend we're seeing this season, although I would like to see it juxtaposed with a swank LBD. What do you think? The clutch retails for $695 and is available on roseark.com

RemChic Giveaway: Stila Eye Shadows!

Yesterday I featured eight of my favorite makeup products, and today, I'm happy to announce I have obtained three Stila Sweet Steals Eye Shadow Palettes! This particular eye shadow set is a special edition and is no longer being produced, so getting your hands on one of these now is a definite must.

HOW TO ENTER

1. You must be a fan of RemChic on Facebook.

2. You must have a continental U.S. mailing address. I will not be shipping prizes outside of the continental U.S.

3. You must comment below on this post with the following information (in order!) The comment link is at the end of this post where it says the number of comments.

first and last name (I need both to verify you are a fan on FB)

e-mail address

your favorite childhood clothing/accessory item

example
Kristina Remy
info@remchic.com
I wore baby pink ballet tutus as skirts ALL the time 

4. Bonus entry: If you post a Facebook status announcing this give away and tag RemChic (use the @RemChic feature) you will receive one (1) additional entry. Let me know if you have posted a Facebook status announcing the contest and I'll keep track of your extra entry. You can either write on the RemChic Facebook wall, write it in a comment below, or e-mail me (info@remchic.com) and I'll log your extra entry. Thanks!

OTHER BUSINESS

Contest ends November 30, 2010 at 11:59pm. Entries submitted after this time will be considered invalid. Results will be generated via random.org. Winners will be announced December 1, 2010 and will be contacted via e-mail. Winners will also be announced on RemChic. Questions? E-mail me at info@remchic.com! Spread the word and have fun!

photo credit: http://www.weddingobsession.com/2008/05/31/stila-marchesa-backstage-beauty-2008/

RemChic Essential Makeup Products

I recently received an e-mail from a RemChic reader asking what kind of makeup products I use. I used to wear a lot more makeup than I do now, so I'm going to stick with 8 products I've continued to use for a while. As always, remember the most important thing to do is to prep your skin before wearing makeup (cleanse, exfoliate, moisturize) and properly remove your makeup as soon as you can. No hot messes allowed on my watch. After a night out you better march your tooshie to the bathroom and wash your face before hitting the sack!

Essential Makeup Products

These are my list of deserted island must-haves. If I could only use four products for the rest of my life, these would be them.

1. Tarte Cheek Stain in Rose
This is hands down the best blush out there. You will never have to reapply and it's really natural and sunkissed looking.  I also use it on my lips for a little color and then put chapstick or clear gloss over. Make sure you go for one of the natural colors because some of the other cheek stain colors are too shimmery.

2. YSL Singulier Mascara in Deep Black
I used to be a huge Diorshow fan, but I found that the tube dries out after 2-3 weeks, so I made an experimental switch to YSL Singulier and I will never go back! I first tried it at Sephora without an eye lash curler and I was thoroughly impressed. If you have straight, stubborn lashes like me, this is the perfect choice for you.

3. Stila Perfecting Concealer in Shade D
This is the most amazing concealer in the entire world. If you layer enough of it on you can even cover tattoos. It's ridiculous! It's sort of pricey, but it's so concentrated you really only need a little bit. I use the Bare Escentuals concealer brush to apply. It rocks!

4. Bare Escentuals Bronzer in Warmth I am so sad because they discontinued this color; however, I bought this bronzer my sophomore year of high school and there is still about 1/3 left. It's a really good investment and like the Stila concealer you only need a little bit. Another bonus is that it's suitable for all skin tones. My roommate uses it pretty frequently and she has ivory skin, whereas mine is olive/tan. I also use Bare Escentuals face powder in medium beige- amazing brand.

Other Favorites 

These are some of my favorite makeup products.  For some reason I couldn't find very good images of the liquid eyeliner, nor the eye shadow palette, so we will have to make due with the photos below, sorry!

1. MAC Full Lash Curler
This is hands down the best eyelash curler out there. If you are going to try and vouch for the Shu Uemera you can take your opinions elsewhere. Also, this one lady at Sephora taught me an amazing eyelash curler trick years ago, which I'm going to share with you now. If you put your eyelash curler under your blow drier for 10 seconds before using it, it acts like a curling iron on your lashes. Just make sure you test it before hand, or you might fry your lashes. Ick!

2. Too Faced Shadow Insurance (primer)
Another amazing product, this one will make even the cheapest eye shadow stick for days. This is another super concentrated product and the tube is huge. It's transparent, too, so no worries in the color department.

3. ULTA Precision Liquid Liner in Carbon Black
I've tried a bunch of different liquid liners and this one is not only friendly to the wallet, the wand and tip style is friendly to the face. I usually line my top lids with a thin line of carbon eyeshadow by MAC then put this over the top. Works like a charm!

4. Stila Sweet Steals Eye Shadow Palette
This was only $10 at Urban Outfitters and all three colors come in this convenient palette. They are easy to mix, match, and blend, and are suitable for both day and night looks.

Sample Sale Highlights: Marc by Marc Jacobs, Balenciaga

Well, I am finally off to Tucson after being in Sedona, Arizona for almost 3 months. It will be strange to go back to city life after being immersed in dark, starry nights. I can say, however, that I'm looking forward to seeing my roommate, Torrie, and having the ability to get a meal after 9:00pm (for those of you who don't know, the town of Sedona is completely shut down after 9:00pm unless you want to visit the gap toothed creeps at the gas station). One thing I do want to take from Sedona is the fact that nature and serenity still exist. There is so much stimulus in a city that it's hard to remember that someone actually laid out the concrete and distorted the view of the night sky with lights and noise. I also cannot and will not forget the experiences I gained in Sedona this summer. The highlight has definitely been my internship with Sedona Monthly. Through my internship I was able to get a true taste of journalism, and let me tell you...my palette is forever changed. My favorite day was when I was able to attend the photoshoot for the October issue's cover. Although we blew a few fuses and the bracelet chosen for the model was about five sizes too big and secretly secured with duct tape, in my eyes it was still a very awe-inspiring, glamorous experience. Between Erika, Joe, and Debbie I've learned I want to do it all. Erika makes me want to buy an old fashion typewriter and write until I'm either buried in balls of crumpled thoughts or have carpal tunnel syndrome from writing into the wee hours of the night. Joe makes me want to expand my vocabulary to include words like "haughty," so when I'm creatively directing during a shoot I can describe exactly what I want from my models. I think I also need to practice saying "chin up! chin up!" a few times. Debbie makes me want to change my exercise regimen from morning jogs to hauling around portable lights and tripods, just so I can get the perfect shot. It's bittersweet, but I know I will continue to work with Sedona Monthly for a very long time. Now I have about a 4 hour drive ahead of me, but tomorrow I'm getting my hair done and maybe I will bid Sedona adieu with a little bit of retail therapy. Here are some great upcoming/ongoing sales that I'll definitely be checking out:

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click the here for the Gilt Groupe invitation link

Monday. August 9 2010.

Alice + Olivia opens at 9:00am MST
Missoni opens at 9:00am MST
Vera Wang opens at 9:00am MST

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 click here for the Hautelook invitation link

Monday. August 9 2010.

 Mario Badescu opens at 8:00am PST

Tuesday. August 10 2010.
Steve by Steve Madden opens at 8:00am PST
Elie Tahari opens at 8:00am PST

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click here for the ideeli invitation link

Tuesday. August 10 2010.
Marc by Marc Jacobs opens at 11:00am EST

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click here for the Rue La La invitation link

Monday. August 9 2010.
New York Fashion Week Festivities sale opens at 11:00am EST

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click here for the Beyond the Rack invitation link

Saturday. August 7 2010.
Designer Bag Boutique open till August 9 (sorry I missed this originally- feat. Balenciaga and Dior)

70% Off Boutique (feat. William Rast, Gucci, and more) opens at 11:00am EST

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Sample Sale Highlights: Converse, Lacoste, Juicy Couture

Okay so I'm making another change to Sample Sale Highlights. Thanks for baring with me while I go through this trial-and-error process with this series. Anyways, instead of trying to post something every few days on sample sales, I'm moreso going to focus on the kinds of sales as opposed to the date of the sale. Of course, I'll only post upcoming sales because it doesn't make sense to post sales that have already passed. However, if you notice above I've changed the title to showcase the products, not the dates. Hope this helps!

Here are some great sales that will take you into the weekend! This Sunday, my mom and I are going to take my brother and sister back-to-school shopping in Scottsdale. I'm not gonna lie...I have definitely purchased a few headbands and bracelets from the Children's Place, so there is a possibility I might wind up with a few trinkets for myself! And I love shopping vicariously through my sister. She has such an eccentric sense of style and is totally in this girly punk phase with bright pink peace signs and plaid vests; its pretty adorable. Hope you all have a great weekend!

click the here for the Gilt Groupe invitation link

Saturday. July 31 2010.

The Classics Sale (Keds, Converse, Sperry) opens at 9:00am MST

Sunday. August 1 2010.

Summer Tees and Tanks Sale opens at 9:00am MST*
 Nina Ricci and Christian Lacroix Scarves opens at 9:00am MST

*was originally scheduled for Saturday

Monday. August 2 2010.

Moschino Signature opens at 9:00am MST

click here for the Hautelook invitation link

Saturday. July 31 2010.

 Saturday Blowout opens at 8:00am PST

Monday. August 2 2010.
Back to Cool Sale opens at 8:00am PST

Sunday. August 2 2010.

Haute Hippie opens at 8:00am PST

click here for the ideeli invitation link

nothing to report. sad face.

click here for the Rue La La invitation link

Saturday. July 31 2010.
 Nicole Miller opens at 11:00am EST
opens at 11:00am EST

Sunday. August 1 2010.

Skullcandy opens at 11:00am EST

Sunday Night Styleathon opens at 8:00pm EST

Monday. August 2 2010.
TechnoMarine opens at 11:00am EST

 click here for the Beyond the Rack invitation link

Saturday. July 31 2010.
Prada opens at 11:00am EST
Juicy Couture opens at 11:00am EST
navoh opens at 11:00am EST

Sunday. August 1 2010.
N.Y.L.A. shoes opens at 11:00am EST
Guess opens at 11:00am EST

Monday. August 2 2010.
True Religion opens at 11:00am EST
Menswear Event (feat. Dolce and Gabbana, Lacoste) opens at 11:00am EST

Sample Sale Highlights: July 25-28, 2010

I have mentioned on more than one occasion that I often start my morning by opening my internet browser and pulling up the following tabs (in no particular order): my personal e-mail, RemChic's e-mail, my Facebook, RemChic's Facebook, Hautelook, Gilt Groupe, Rue La La, Beyond the Rack, and ideeli. Yes folks, you heard right, somehow my sample sale site perusing has replaced even my morning fruit and tea on the routine list. Why? Because looking through sample sales is like starting the day with opening Christmas presents. YSL bags that were originally $2,995 on sale for $1,500. Oh, and that amazing camel colored knit cardigan by Michael Kors is somehow $25 from $150. Who needs caffeine when all the adrenaline you need is just a click away?

Anyways, I had a reader e-mail me asking for some more information on these sites, including information on their sales and invitation codes for the sales. All of these sites are by invitation-only and the sort of member-only society lends itself to a luxurious shopping experience without having to get dolled up to shove your fellow shoppers out of the way to score a good deal. Although don't get me wrong, it's on my bucket list to go to a New York warehouse sample sale. I just need to buff up a bit first.

I will be periodically posting what I call "Sample Sale Highlights" where I will showcase the most anticipated online sample sales, what time they will go live, and invitation codes for everyone to join! I'd love to hear about your amazing designer buys, so be sure and comment if you have any sample sale success stories!

Okay, so it only behooves you if I post the sales prior to when they go live, so make sure you mark your calendars if you are going to shop! Additionally, I won't be listing any sample sales from brands I'm not familiar with. There will probably be other sales in addition to the ones I've listed, but as the title says, these are highlights.

click the here for the Gilt Groupe invitation link

Sunday. July 25 2010.

Pour la Victoire opens at 6:00pm MST

Monday. July 26 2010.

Alexander Wang opens at 9:00am MST

Alexander Wang accessories opens at 9:00am MST

William Rast opens at 9:00am MST

Tuesday. July 27 2010.

Diesel Black Gold opens at 9:00am MST

Noir jewelry and handbags opens at 9:00am MST

Wednesday. July 28 2010.

Kain Label opens at 9:00am MST

click here for the Hautelook invitation link

Monday. July 26 2010.

HARAJUKU LOVERS opens at 8:00am PST

Hautlook's Handbag Blowout opens at 8:00am PST

Tuesday. July 27 2010.

decades/decades two blowout opens at 8:00am PST

Wednesday. July 28 2010.

Free People opens at 9:00am PST

click here for the ideeli invitation link

Monday. July 26 2010.
ideeli's Back to School sale opens at 12:00pm EST
ideeli's Back to College sale (feat. Lacoste, Harajuku Lovers) opens at 12:00pm EST
repetto sale opens at 12:00pm EST
C&C California opens at 12:00pm EST
 

Tuesday. July 27 2010.

Report Signature opens at 12:00pm EST

click here for the Rue La La invitation link

Sunday. July 25 2010.

Sunday Night Styleathon opens at 8:00pm EST

Monday. July 26 2010.

PUMA opens at 11:00am EST

 

Tuesday. July 27 2010.

MICHAEL Michael Kors opens at 11:00am EST

 click here for the Beyond the Rack invitation link

Sunday. July 25 2010.
Shu Uemura opens at 11:00am EST
Designer Bag Boutique (feat. Dior, Miu Miu) opens at 11:00am EST 

Monday. July 26 2010.
Tom Ford sunglasses opens at 11:00am EST
Levi's opens at 11:00am EST
Designer Accessories Event (feat. Coach) opens at 11:00am EST

Old Navy swim sale is a pleasant surprise!

 Photo Credit

Actress Donna Drake taking aim with a rifle on the balcony of her home, dressed in a two-piece swimsuit, her dog lying on a cushion nearby.

Life Magazine, 1942. Photographer: Peter Stackpole.

My younger sister's birthday is in a few days, and for her gift I promised her I would take her swimsuit shopping before the end-of-the-year pool party at her school. Of course, being in 6th grade any party is a fashion war between all of the girls in her group. It's like Mean Girls junior high edition, but hopefully not that bad.

Anyways, we decided to hit the usual prospective stores for swimwear for a girl her age...Pac Sun, Dillards, Target...all unsuccessful. The suits we found were way out of budget ($100 for a girl whose shoe size changes every full moon, no thanks!) or just not fashion-forward enough for her (she strictly told me no pink, no flowers).

I was seriously about to give up when we decided to checkout this new marketplace that had recently opened with an enormous Old Navy. Enormous. This place was the Mecca of all the other Old Navies I had ever seen. Literally.

We opened the recently Windex-ed doors and trekked straight back for the girls’ swimwear section. It was a goldmine! There were two pieces, one pieces, tankinis, pink, ruffles, sparkles, and polka dots galore. To top it off, there was a little yellow tag that read “All Swimwear $10.” Score!

My mind started wandering, and I thought hmmm I wonder if there are any cute swimsuits in my size. My sister grabbed about six suits to try on, and we headed for the women’s section. In the women’s section there were about 8 rows of swimwear for every shape, in every style and color imaginable. Additionally, the same yellow, plastic tag adorned the bar of swimwear, “All Swimwear $10.” A complete adult suit for $20?!

About 5 minutes later, I told Lauren, my sister, we were going to need a shopping bag. About 5 more minutes later, I told her we were going to need a cart. About 10 minutes after that, we headed to the fitting room with 30 suits to try on. Remember, 6 of them where my sister’s.

Anyways, I ended up with three complete suits, and the moral of the story is…expand your shopping horizons and you fill find high-quality merchandise at low cost. If you are interested in the Old Navy swim sale, check out their website or contact a store near you!

Here are three really cute example suits, all from Old Navy!

Fierce L.A.M.B. shoes brighten my day

This morning I woke up with the finals week blues and was in desperate need of a pick-me-up. It thankfully came only a few hours later in my e-mail's inbox. In my previous article on shopping outside of the mall, I expressed how I frequently shop via online sample sale sites, such as Hautelook, Gilt Groupe, and Rue La La. Well, just about every morning these sites send me updates on their active sales.

Today, I received notification that L.A.M.B. shoes, bags, and watches were available on Gilt Groupe for a fraction of their regular retail price. I could not get my fingers going fast enough as I typed away at the keyboard. Of course, my anxiety tricked my fingers into spelling G - L - I - T - . - C - O - M instead of G - I - L - T - . - C - O -M perpetuating my excitement. Oh the power of fashion. Anyways, when I finally signed into my Gilt Groupe account I felt like a kid entering an online candy store.

Here are some of the shoes I thought were really interesting/fabulous. Let me know what you think!

ZANE SANDAL

VALORA PLATFORM SANDAL

JONA PUMP

TANSY PUMP

all shoe photos are from Gilt Groupe

I hadn't really taken Gwen Stefani seriously as a designer until her recent Fall 2010 RTW collection (click the link to view- it's worth the browse...trust me). This collection showcases that after seven years, Stefani is finally narrowing in on her fashion niche. Her collection plays with more of a vintage-meets-boudoir-meets-military vibe. I noticed this collection had a lot of belts, harem pants, and leather, and the overall color pallet is subtle with mostly blacks and grays. Of course, the collection has rocker undertones, which makes sense considering Stefani's experience in the music industry.

Here are a few of my favorite looks from her Fall 2010 RTW collection:

 photos from style.com

Not to mention how humble Stefani is. Romney Leader of style.com writes:

"She pointedly didn't name the label after herself, because she wanted people to buy the clothes for their own merits and not 'because of me.'"

What do you think about L.A.M.B.? Do you like the shoes I posted? Why/why not? Let me know =)

4 fabulous reasons why you should try shopping outside of the mall

 Time to fill your closet with amazing clothes =)

Photo Credit

Oh, the mall. Don't get me wrong, I love grabbing a smoothie and venturing from store-to-store; however, sometimes the florescent lighting and stale air conditioning really just turn me off. Lately, I've been shopping more and more outside of the mall, and I definitely think it's something everyone should try.

Here are a few reasons why you should try shopping outside of the mall:


1. Support the Local Economy

 Photo Credit

There are always really cute local boutiques in every city, and if giving back to the local community means shopping it's really a win-win situation for everyone! Plus, it's never fun walking through the Student Union and seeing another girl wearing the exact same dress, so why not go for an eclectic find?! When you stop by any local shop ask if they have a mailing list- chances are you will nail some great promotions! Above is the logo for one of my favorite boutiques, Marchesa's Fine Shoe Salon in Sedona, Arizona. They are always so nice, their products are adorable, and the interior decor is to die for.

2. Get Name Brands for Cheap

Photo Credit

Although there are daily sales at the mall, sometimes you can find even better deals outside of the mall. I've been using a lot of invitation/sample sale sites such as: Gilt Groupe, Hautelook, and Rue La La. These sights feature a wide range of brands from Rag and Bone to American Apparel for 50-85% off. Want more info? Check out this article by College Fashion.


3. Practice Keeping an Open Mind

Yesterday, my roommate and I went to Ross to try and find a cheap scale for our bathroom (random, I know). Anyways, I kind of always kind of stereotyped Ross as a dirty/poor quality store, but I ended up buying the Guess platforms above in bronze for THIRTY DOLLARS! They retail at over ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS! Needless to say, we didn't find a scale.

4. Give a Little and Get A Little 

Photo Credit

Have you accumulated a pile of clothes you haven't worn since 2001? Bring your unwanted clothes to your local exchange retailer, such as Buffalo Exchange (above) and get a little in return. If you aren't familiar with these stores, they basically allow you to bring in gently worn clothes in exchange for either store credit or cash. If you aren't keen on getting used clothes, opt for the cash! Bonus: most of these stores will donate the items they can't take to local charities if you don't want to lug them back home.

What do you think? Do you stick with the mall when it comes to shopping? Do you ever shop online or at local boutiques? Share your insight!