All over Italy in 2 carry-ons Part 2: Makeup and Jewelry

When packing for a big vacation to somewhere fabulous, your first instinct will be to cram as much clothing, accessories and beauty products in you luggage as you can. I addressed overpacking clothes in my last post, but two other things women tend to overpack are makeup and accessories.

When you're in an exotic, foreign land, there are so many more wondrous things to think about than your eyelash curler. Granted, individual cosmetic items don't take up much room in and of themselves, but it's important to make the most of your makeup bag's space. Pack wisely and you can fit shampoo, deodorant, floss, and other handy things in there, leaving more room for souvenirs.

When packing beauty supplies, like clothing, it's important to bring multitaskers. Benetint doubles as blush and lip color, and Benefit 10 Bronzer has both bronzer and highlighter to use anywhere on your face. Now is not the time to try trendy makeup or to paint layers on your face. In my case, Italy will be very warm and I'll want to keep it simple and pretty, as well as lightweight.

The Ideal Travel Makeup Bag

• Tinted moisturizer with SPF
• Concealer
• Night cream
• Mattifying powder
• 2 eyeliners
• Mascara
• 1 eyeshadow palette
• Bronzer
• 2 lip products (1 dark, 1 light)

I like to bring one black eyeliner for night, and one brown or violet for daytime. The right moisturizers are crucial, to avoid sun damage and keep your skin looking as good as usual. The eyeshadow palette is key for blending and flexibility in a small package. I like Clinique's Spicy Eyeshadow quad, with a gold, a pink, a medium brown and a chocolate brown.

Next: the jewelry. Few women love jewelry more than me. Costume jewelry, inherited silver, modern pieces from Boucheron... I love 'em all. But again, when traveling it is necessary to streamline and pick your most loved and versatile pieces. Keep in mind that one great statement necklace can easily dress up a tank and shorts, but how many do you really need to bring?

The Ideal Travel Jewelry Case

• Pearl or diamond studs
• Simple hoop earrings
• Watch
• Silver necklace or pendant
• Coordinating bracelet
• 2 pairs big earrings
• 1 statement necklace
• Handful of bangles
• 1 cocktail ring

The statement necklace should be interesting, but not too memorable. Tortoiseshell, amber, neutral beads, seashells and thin long chains are great. When considering the statement necklace, hold it up to all your tops or dresses and see how the colors work to make sure it's a good choice. And like the statement necklace, big earrings or a cocktail ring go a long way as well. For the earrings, I'd take one silver-based pair and one really funky pair. Once you get to your destination, you won't even miss the other clutter in your jewelry box.

And finally... accessories. Scarves, purses, belts... I love 'em too, girls. But once again, streamline. Pare down. Stick to neutrals. I mentioned purses in my last post, but when it comes to other accessories, this is where our bags tend to runneth over. A scarf or belt adds a lot to a simple sundress or solid outfit. Just keep these to a minimum. One wide belt, one skinny. One warmer scarf (pashmina), and one gauzy one, in neutral colors or patterns.

And if you get nothing else from this advice, remember this:

The more you pack, the less room you have to take home fabulous jewelry, scarves, purses, shoes and souvenirs. And the fewer items in your closet for which you can say, "I got this in Rome."

Cheers,
Hayley

My new favorite accessory!

Anyone who's been at school in the northeast, taking brisk walks across the quadrangle wearing wool sweaters and boat shoes, used an extensive makeup routine consisting of lip balm, mascara and natural freckles, and at times felt most comfortable in a polo and white skirt will appreciate the New England-inspired bracelet collection at Kiel James Patrick.

What a J.Crew rep stripe tie does as a belt, these bracelets do for your wrists. All KJP bracelets are made from vintage and recycled materials (old ties and blankets, for instance), and close with an oversize button. There are dozens and dozens of styles, and you have several button color choices with each order. They're made at the time of order in a few different sizes, to let you wear them loose or tight, and are unisex.

I just received my first Kiels, one a navy/yellow stripe with a lavender button, and the other a multicolor plaid madras with a bronze button. They're a bit hard to take off when the material is still, but they look great and are totally comfortable. I'm wearing one while typing right now! They also come wrapped in adorable plaid material and deliver fast.

The latest additions to Kiel James Patrick are sweatshirts and pocket tees, and I'm not sure if I'm going to try them, but I will definitely be ordering more bracelets. At $20 - $35, they're unique (at least for now), and the kind of accessory I'd like to change day to day. My only regret is that they're too informal for work. Unless I wore it in a throwback, ironic way with a tweed blazer and wool pants. But with spring on the way and our economy still in the tank, these accessories are fresh and inexpensive. And for something that makes you smile and costs $25, that's not bad.

Hayley

PS: Thanks to Nautical by Nature for linking the website!

Looking Forward to Autumn?

I'll admit it: I'm about as ready to leave summer behind as an angsty teenager, about to enter a junior year full of SATs, APs and other uncomfortable, pressure-cooker acronyms. Every summer I relish the days and nights outside, love seeing my skin less pasty, and gobble up as much fresh fruit, margaritas and crab cakes as possible. Then inevitably, Labor Day looms ahead, bringing with it a goodbye to linen pants, and a return of the three-season pressure that weighs much more than its companions of leather, wool and tweed.

But autumn, I'm trying to convince myself, need not be a death or a goodbye. In summer, I always forget how much I love the season, so busy am I mourning the expiration date on 85+ days, flip flops and the sunroof being open. This year, for some reason, my autumn dread is worse than usual. So for you, and for me, I am compiling a list of reasons to look ahead to autumn. Perhaps composing and reading these comforting, fresh thoughts will get us excited to be in closed-toe shoes and uninstall the air conditioners.

And please, call it autumn. It sounds so much lovelier than fall, which is almost always a negative thing: an unexpected drop for which you aren't prepared, with some sort of a thud to come next. Plus, autumn is a longer, more sophisticated version of the word. My geography teacher would say "autumn" is "the two-dollar word for fall," much as "communism" was the two-dollar word for "everyone share."

I'm still not sure about that last one, but what I am sure of is this: just like flirting with a new guy helps you get over a break up, finding the positive in autumn helps you let go of summer's warmth and bright colors, welcoming a brisk breeze while in your new, cute, cropped trench jacket.

Looking Forward to Autumn!
Exclamation Point!*

A - apple-picking! Followed by baking and mulling. Mmm.

B - boots with jeans and skirts, in black and camel.

C - cashmere. Sweaters, coats, scarves, cardigans, gloves, socks. Love.

D - designers return to structure and substance, which feels refreshing after flowy and relaxed.

E - equinox - the sun setting earlier might be depressing, but makes it easier to sleep early.

F - foliage, one of the best things about New England in October.

G - government days off (Veterans, Labor, Columbus) = long weekend trips!

H - hair is easier to style with less humidity, and it's more comfortable to keep it down.

I - inventing a new fall style for you and your home.

J - jewelry is silver, gold, and sensible again. Turquoise and costume jewelry optional.

K - kids, as in, off the street, off the beach, and out of restaurants. At least during the week.

L - lattes are hot again!

M - meat and potatoes taste good after three months of salad and Evian.

N - nail colors return to dark and sexy.

O - ordering ski passes to be used ASAP!

P - pumpkins! Carving, baking, painting... endless fun with the best gourd ever.

Q - quiet walks on the beach. Wearing a fleece is a welcome trade-off.

R - rallies and tailgates for college football!

S - Sales! Labor Day, Back-to-School, Summer Clearance...

T - tweed jackets and pants, with bright accessories!

U - under the bed, as in, where your bathing suit will be for the next nine months!

V - viewing much-missed fall TV (Entourage, anyone?)

W - weddings - a reason to dress up on the weekend, and cooler temps make them bearable.

X - xcessive hair removal no longer necessary!

Y - you. September and October, void of major holidays, allow you to spoil yourself for once!

Z - zoos. Seriously, the Bronx Zoo is so much more fun in cooler weather, when the leaves change and the monkeys smell less!

So if you're sad about leaving summer behind, listen to a little Bryan Adams, enjoy your Rainbows while you can, and make your own list of things to look forward to beyond August. Your mind and body will thank you!

Cheers,
Hayley

* - Can you name the source of this? Leave it in a comment :-)

Shecky's Girls' Night Out

If you live in the NYC, Boston, or Philly areas, or any other major city in this great land, and haven't heard of Shecky's Girls' Night Out, I feel bad for you!

You can get more details here, but this is an event held several times throughout the year. In NYC at the Puck Building, the event consists of four floors of vendors selling clothing, shoes, bags, and lots of jewelry. The tickets included free drinks, and they often have 2fer ticket specials, making admission $15 apiece including a goodie bag. The best part is the up-and-coming designers that you see, and the unique pieces that will be copied in Claire's 6 months later. Not everything is cheap, but it's always fun to browse while sipping a mango martini.

Long story short, my Europe trip ended up conflicting with my ticket for June's NYC event, and I couldn't get rid of the ticket. Fortunately, my friend who went took home the goodie bag for me, which is a haphazard, hit-or-miss bag of beauty stuff. Some are sample size, some are full size, and in the past I've also gotten hair bands, earrings and tissues. It's like the proverbial box of chocolates, but if you get the $15 tickets and drink that much in booze (pffft, easy), the goodie bag is a nice bonus on top of a fun night of cocktails and shopping.

Here's what was in this goodie bag:

• Alagio Rock Hard Hair Spray, 11oz. OK, never heard of this brand but supposedly it keeps flexible control. Cool.
• Alagio Fast Freeze Hair Spray, 11oz. Aerosol style reminds me of Aquanet. Could be good for updos or smoothing my ponytail for the gym.
• got2b Smooth Operator Smoothing Hairspray, 1.7oz. OK, guess I don't need to buy hairspray for a while.
• Redken Satinwear 02 Blow-Dry Lotion, 1oz. Redken stuff is usually awesome, so I'm glad to try one of their protectants. Just wish it wasn't sample size!
• Schick Intuition Cucumber Melon, one razor. I love the Intuition razors but hate paying for the expensive cartridges. This will be a good stand-in between razor purchases.
• Dove goFresh in Grapefruit/Lemongrass, 1.8oz body wash and 1oz body mist. I like grapefruit and the sizes are good for travel.
• Avene Tinted Compact, SPF50. Looks like a cream-to-powder formula, and actually might match my skin. SPF is good, just hope it doesn't wreak havoc on my pores.
• RoC Daily Microdermabrasion Cleansing Disks, 1 pad. I won't be able to draw any conclusions after using something once, but I have been considering cleaning pads for late nights when I'm too tired to wash my face, so if it feels nice I might buy more.
• Biore Blemish-Fighting Ice Cleanser, 2oz. If it cleans and cools, sounds nice for summer. Another good travel-size product.
• Aquafresh White Trays, 7 upper/lower pre-filled trays. A week's supply and probably costs more in drugstores than the $15 I paid for the ticket. Couldn't hurt!
• Dentaburst Freshening Teeth Cleaners in Cinnamon, 12. Haven't tried these, but might be great for garlicy dinners, midday refreshment and mornings-after. Wink wink.
• Glade Plugins Scented Oil Light Show, including standing light show, outlet night light, and 1 fragarance for each. The light show is something I'd say aloud is tacky, but probably enjoy for a few minutes at night in my room.
• Shine to Go Shoe Polishers, 2. I rarely feel the need to polish my shoes midday, but they could be good in the office in case of a lunchtime scuff.
• Borba Skin Balance Water Mix in Guanabana Fruit, 1 packet. Again, hard to say if it'll work after trying it once, but if it tastes good and it's sugar-free, I'll give it a whirl.
• EBoost Daily Health Booster Mix in Natural Orange, 1 packet. I'm skeptical of energy drinks in general, but I'll give it a shot before a night out and see how it goes.
• Shecky's Fashion Map of NYC and Beauty Map of NYC. Both are great if you have never shopped or spa'd in NYC before, or if you have but don't know where to start, or what's in the area you'll be hitting. I'll take time later to make sure they didn't leave anything pertinent out, but they look complete and are laminated!

The next Girls' Night Out in NYC is in mid-October. Sign up for their email list and grab 2-for-1 tickets when you see them. It's worth a try and while the goodie bag is kind of random, the free drinks and pretty things are reason alone to go. It's a great night in the city with the girls, and if you like accessories, especially jewelry, this is your Mecca!

The Best of Lucky Jeans

Summer is officially here, now that Memorial Day is behind us, and I am completely ready to trade in my stilettos for thongs and my blazers for babydolls. For those of you who are ready to shift your look into a calmer, but still stylish gear, check out my latest favorites from Lucky Brand Jeans. This brand isn't over-worn (Anthropologie, anyone?) and has great pieces for laid-back, made-in-the-shade guys and girls who want to express their inner flower child. The prices are not exactly hippie-friendly, but you can hunt through vintage shops for similar items, or pick up just a few things to accentuate the classics in your wardrobe.


Sundown Wide Leg Jean, $130
Great basic jeans with more flare than usual, for a nod to bellbottoms without bringing back 11th grade.


Inspirational Charm Bracelet, $52
I love the way this bracelet drapes over the top of my hand, and the charms really are beautiful. I wouldn't wear it while trying to type, though!


Peace Heart Tee Shirt, $34
Modern, yet ornate and beautiful.


Rosary Raw Edge Shirt, $48
A cool version of those jewelry shirts your aunt used to wear. The rosary graphic makes a statement, but the shape of the shirt is classic. Just don't clutter the graphic with necklaces - try a bracelet instead.


Stained Glass Peacock Earrings, $38
Stunning! You can pull these off at work with an understated outfit, or with jeans and a breezy top.


Sultana Belt, $58
The pattern of this belt reminds me of the paint on those swings at carnivals... the white looks clean against jeans and adds style to a basic outfit.


Cap Sleeve Sud America Tee Shirt, $38
Made of organic cotton, and has lots of colorful illustrations to look at. Wash it inside out!


Chain Link Ring, $38
I've always thought masculine rings look beautiful on slim fingers with manicured nails. This chunky ring makes a cool statement with a feminine outfit.


Daisy Crochet Babydoll Shirt, $130
Perfect for an outdoor concert, or with skinny jeans at a trendy bar. Also feels great against your skin!


Denim Mimosa Wide Leg Pant, $120
Combines the new wide-leg look with the flared look of the 70s. The dark wash keeps them easily dressed-up.


Horseshoe Ring, $38
Another big, manly ring looking hip on girlie fingers. The turquoise is best in summer.

Peace, Love and Style,
Hayley

In a Sentimental Mood

Everyone has played that word-association game - someone says a word to you and you give the first associated answer you can think of. Summer? Flip flops. Beer? Bottle. Fire? Ice. Britney? Crash.

You get the idea.

Well, being the sentimental sap I am, I have associations for almost everything in my life. The Jupiter flute I bought in high school reminds me of the European tour my college wind ensemble did, and the dried flowers in a vase on my bookshelf remind me of my first apartment. And naturally, I have pieces of clothing and accessories that have strong sentimental associations. Not like a Sweet 16 dress or engagement ring, which are sentimental by design, but select items from my life that, somehow, have become reminders of times gone by. Some will make more sense to you than others, but even if they make zero sense to me, they still hold the power to take me back to a nicer place, a simpler time or a tackier fashion choice.

Abercrombie & Fitch Wool Sweaters circa 2001*: young college girl in cold New England.
I'm talking classic A&F, which resembled prep school gear more than the destroyed, suggestive pieces of tightness they market today. Before it was cool, I loved my classic, simple wool sweaters and still have a few today that have become practically retro.


Bath & Body Works Cucumber Melon Lotion: summer in high school.
Don't you get nostalgic thinking back to the days when a scent designed like a salad was your go-to choice to seem sexy in the summer?

North Face Denali Jacket: older college girl in cold New England.
Yes, they were ubiquitous, and still kind of are, but it was the jacket to have 4 years ago, and I wore mine within an inch of its pilled, over-washed life.


Chandelier Earrings: my favorite college bar.
This was one of my favorite trends ever, for the fun factor and easy-on-the-wallet nature of the trend. I had dozens of pairs, and wore a new pair out to the bar every night. When even Beyonce moved on, I did too, paring down my collection to a handful of understated pairs, but whenever I feel heavy door-knockers on my lobes, I can still taste the Long Island iced teas.


LL Bean Monogrammed Boat-n-Tote: Lake Shaftsbury, Bennington, Vermont.
This adorable little town in southern VT is a great weekend place in the summer, and my mom and I would go together to do the lake and go south to Tanglewood. I've had this tote for around 3 summers, and it's come on every trip to the lake with me.


Black letter sweatshirt: pledging madness, freshman year.
My house isn't shown, but after going through a very chaotic period of "membership education," the right to finally wear this sweatshirt was a big deal. Until sophomore year, of course.


Hot Tools Hair Iron: sophomore year dorm.
Pre-party, I would wake up from an energizing nap with the most cow-licked head of hair you can imagine. While my 3 suitemates would struggle with hair driers and the like, I would, as my roommate B would say, "Go into the bathroom looking like a mess, and come out with the silkiest straight hair ever. It's so unfair."


Blue Floral Kimono Dress: Vegas, summer of 2007.
I wore this dress with my first (I know, right) experience with Gray Goose, at Pure in Caesar's Palace. Mistaking smoothness for weakness, I was eventually tricked and ended up having quite an interesting night. Woke up in this dress (and shoes and jewelry) in Mandalay, at 8:30am, ready to gamble.


JCrew Terry Popover Hoodie: Jones Beach, NY.
Walking on the boardwalk, in the sand, playing volleyball, drinking and grilling, this hoodie's been there.


What's on your list?

Cheers!
Hayley

*- Yes, I'm aware this sweater is Bean, but this is what A&F sweaters looked like when I shopped there, around 94-02. Spring of 2002 started the tight, bright, message tee shirt era and I haven't looked back.