Sometimes Yaya

Paperself Lashes

I love writing about beauty and fashion, and as my knowledge and skills expand, so does my awareness of all the products around the world. What is beautiful, what is accepted, what is taboo, who sees what how. It was a similar AHA moment that occurred when I was at the Makeup Show (yeah a little tardy with the news – don’t judge!) and met the folks from Paperself.

Have you ever wanted eyelashes that were in shapes of things, rather than just intricate strands to elongate your lashes? Yes, we’ve all seen and tried feathers, but actual designs? Horses and peaches? Are you ready for this?

What is Paperself and who is behind it?

“Paperself is a platform for the innovative exploration of paper for contemporary product design.

Since the time of the ancient Egyptians, paper has enabled the world to communicate. It has bought continents closer together, educated millions and for centuries has provided a canvas for creation, experimentation and the realization of ideas. Paper is everywhere and now it is evolving into a new dimension.

Launched in 2009 by London based designer Chunwei Liao, Paperself unites artists, designers and manufacturers from East to West. Challenging conventions of product design, Paperself offers a stylish alternative in furniture, homeware and accessories for eco-conscious living.“ (source site)

These made me think of Alice in Wonderland…

These lashes are the regular size of lashes by the way. The designs are tiny and beyond intricate!

A little blurry, but these are zebras.

You can have either full length or shorter length. For just a little oomph at the sides of your eyes.

Some of the ladies behind the brand’s table were sporting the lashes. So of course, I demanded (ok asked nicely…) to take a photo of them.

The lashes are beyond interesting and intriguing and I love that a company that creates items for the house can also create beauty items. The delicate designs absolutely rock my world but I do have reservations.

First – this is completely new and I need to wrap my mind around it. That’s not a negative, it’s more like that commercial about being “emotionally unprepared” for a package coming to your door so quickly. I’ll get around to it. Next there’s the look. I am digging the mini option, because I can totally imagine rocking out the corner of the eye designs but I don’t think I can rock the full eyelid length. Do you think you can?

Lastly, these babies cost a pretty penny. Eighteen dollars a pair to be exact. Before you hang up your Paperself dreams, think about how much work must go into creating such a delicate design. Then think about how much you already shell out for beauty products and save up for these babies if you want to rock em. They are sold in very few places and are working on a direct e-commerce site. I found them as an online exclusive to Urban Outfitters in the US.

What do you think? Would you rock a pair of these?

http://widget.shopstyle.com/widget?pid=uid4724-679582-60&look=1992341&width=3&height=1&layouttype=0&border=0&footer=0

More Urban Outfitters…

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Shecky’s Does It Again

I am working on making my summer a bit more memorable with every year. This year, my summer started with a hitch as I was taken underwater with my temporary job.The hours and the workload worked well together to keep me complaining, working, catching up on sleep, and bills.

For some people that’s not a problem, as a matter of fact, it is a way of life. But for little Miss Yaya? Doesn’t work! I am the type to brood and whine until things change.

Funny you mention wine…

Known for their wine tasting trips and Girl’s and Beauty Nights Out, Shecky’s is back with Toasts and Tastings. A night out for wine and food tastings from restaurants and brands all alike in being scrum-diddly-umptious :). The event is going on tonight and tomorrow night from 5-10pm, at the Altman building on 135 E18th St, between 6th and 7th Avenues. I will be attending tomorrow and hope to see you there!

The tickets were originally selling for $45, but of course I got the discount for you. If you enter ‘SHECKYS‘ your tickets will be $35. It usually doesn’t pay to be tardy to the party, but this time it does! Once you sign up with the site, you will also get points for attending events and keeping an up to date profile. What will the points get you? Awesome freebies varying from goodie bags to tickets to various Shecky’s events.

I’m super excited and will come back with all the delicious feedback and news. Will I see you there?

Have you ever been to a wine/food tasting?

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Men Have a Get Out of Jail Free card?

As I was channel surfing on this lovely Monday evening, I stumbled across the Teen Choice Awards 2010. I am not as avid watcher of awards shows as I used to be in my younger days (I remember when I timed the MTV VMA’s for 9/9/99), and I believe they got a little (or a lot) less interesting than they used to be, but with that in mind, the red carpet (or in this event’s case – for the sake of being earth friendly – the green carpet) and the fashionable walkers of the carpet never fail to pique my interest.

(photos: courtesy of Getty Images graphics: courtesy of MyOwnJudge)

A perfect fit to the shows, the fashion police of various channels and television networks usually show right after the ceremony or the day after, mercilessly criticizing the attendees. Now those shows, I rarely miss.

While looking at the photo coverage of the green carpet at the Examiner.com, I found the same disconcerting (okay not that disconcerting) fact pop up. Men have a ‘Get out of Jail Free card’ at awards shows! Think about it – nearly every awards ceremony has more than a handful of male celebrities arriving in denim and tees. The ones that decide to wear a leather jacket or blazer up top still keep it super casual on the bottom. Sure, the Oscars and other higher end awards call for more black tie etiquette, but everywhere else, the fashion police just doesn’t pull over as many male offenders as they do for females.

Females love to dress up and I will not be the one to say that if men don’t find an event invitation enough to bust out the heels and makeup (imagine?) that we shouldn’t either, I’m just huffing and puffing a little about them getting away with it.

What do you think? Do males get the free pass to be lazy?

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Last of the Six

As promised, here are the last of the photos of the six NOTDs from the Zoya Flash color collection. The colors are bright summery shades that make me think ‘this is what the nail polish version of a bag of Skittles would look like.’ The shades just evoke happiness.

Dana is a grown up bubble gum pink. It’s safe enough for work and flashy enough for the bright color hungry fashionista inside of you.

Maura is a bright red that has two great features: it doesn’t stain your fingers and it goes on creamy with no streaks.

All of the polishes in this collection are amazingly smooth and need two coats to look exactly like the bottle promises it will. That’s really no surprise though, because Zoya is notorious for delivering on their promises.

Do you have a favorite from the Flash collection?

Disclaimer: This product was sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on MOJ remain unbiased and unpaid. For more info, feel free to contact the author.

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Eyeko NOTD

Following the debut of the new colors for Eyeko, the company keeps pushing out new colors to keep the first few less lonely.

Nothing could be more interesting to hear of course, so when these three petite bottles landed in my mailbox, I could’ve sworn my mailbox was as excited for them as the one in Blue’s Clues (fess up y’all – everyone has seen an episode or two!).

Trying to choose from the three for an NOTD, I couldn’t make up my mind. I settled on the Coral Polish – for resort nails (don’t you love the descriptions?) and was pleasantly surprised.

On the left is without flash under fluorescent light, and on the right is with flash. Below is without flash or bright lights. The color is a pleasant bright red. The kind where you can tell something is fresh and ripe – can you tell I have tomatoes and strawberries on the brain!?

I’m not a red polish gal but this is a color I haven’t seen many companies pull off, this one is as vivacious and in your face as I would expect a red polish to be, and really, every girl should have it.

I’m in love. How about you?

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More Eyeko…

Disclaimer: This product was sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on MOJ remain unbiased and unpaid. For more info, feel free to contact the author.

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I’m Growing a Poppy Garden!

Have you noticed the pop up bar on the top right of the screen every time you visit MyOwnJudge.net? Partnering with Coach, MOJ is one of the many sites trying to grow a Poppy garden.

Are you all familiar with Poppy? It is a younger and more colorful line for Coach, which features less expensive items for their younger clientele, or the broke clientele (see me raising my hand?). This line is also great for people who like their monogram Coach items but want something with bright colors.

Now on to the fun stuff:
Help MOJ grow the Poppy Garden. To help, you can do any of the following:

Visit MOJ (www.myownjudge.net)
Click on the Poppy Trail to find other interesting blogs
Use the hashtag #MyOwnJudge on Twitter. If you use keywords like colors, those colors should pop up in my garden – aim for purple, pink, yellow, and green, they’re awfully pretty!

What’s the benefit?
You can win stuff! Just look out for a handbag in the pattern and click on it when you find it! Plus, I’ll have the most awesome Poppy Garden, thanks to you. Isn’t that great too?! 🙂

Good luck!

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Deborah Lippmann Sale

What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t let you know all about the Deborah Lippmann sale going on at Gilt right now? The nail and skincare company offers top notch products which usually come with top notch prices. I like to dabble in the brand but have to either save up and use every coupon in sight, or wait for sample sales and shows for a discount. So don’t delay and take advantage of the offer, and let me know if you get anything! Here’s your invite: Gilt – Join here!

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What’s on Your Reading List?

What’s on your summer reading list my dear readers? Maybe a cocktail party or two?

Kate Spade has a new collection of handbags in the style of literary classics. How would you like to don your librarian get up and a Gatsby clutch on your way to brunch on Sunday? What a novel idea!

I love all the cute little details, such as the “Kate Spade Publishing” on the bottom of each “spine.” I love unique clutches that stand out but can be relevant regardless of the trends. The description seems to promise more titles to add to their library, and I can’t wait because unfortunately, I am not a fan of these three titles.

Do you like these? What title would you want to come out in the Kate Spade book clutch collection?

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Inset Lace Here

That’s not a typo y’all. My constant obsession is the peekaboo lace surprise in nearly all items of clothing.

As I grow older, I am trying to stay away from the obvious simple lace back of a shirt and look for more original variations of the style. A peek of shoulder, rib (lower… 😉 let’s not be too risque yet), etc.

There’s something about how gentle the designs of lace are, especially in a tightly knit garment, and the little sliver of skin it displays is also nothing to turn your nose up about.

Pops of lace are also great for layering and showing some color. It’s awesome to see a black sweater with neon colors peeking out of the lace inset, no?

I took a quick look around the net for some affordable and fresh versions of my favorite go-to garment and hope y’all enjoy it.

http://widget.shopstyle.com/widget?pid=uid4724-679582-60&look=1975641&width=4&height=2&layouttype=0&border=0&footer=0

More Express…

Do you have a favorite?

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Fall is Entering the Building!

Fall usually starts on my birthday. The wool coats, dark stockings, boots, and hats slowly trickle in as the leaves gather on the floor.

But alas, in my e-mail inbox, fall has a jump on things and is starting in early August. Ports 1961 sent me a blast about the autumn season being in the building and I was super excited.

Ever since going to their show during Fashion Week, I was looking forward to it hitting stores and websites with the dropping temperatures. The heat may not have subsided, but the clothes are here!

The website has models wearing each outfit and walking away from you down the invisible runway only to show right back up to walk towards you. First I thought it was just for gimmicks, but honestly, it gives a very good look at how the garment looks and hangs on the body while standing and in movement.

The only two downers for the online presentation were the absence of diverse models (although they had one for the promo!) and the big hair from the promo picture and the actual fashion show. My favorite part of the show was the big fluffy heads of hair the models were sporting, but unfortunately, that didn’t stick.

Some of my favorite looks from the collection:

What’s your favorite?