Friday, May 20, 2011

The Yellow Fruits of Spring

Feeling fruity this spring?

Spring/summer 2011 is the season of the yellow fruit.

Banana-rama at Prada

 ...um... not so much?

 lemons at Stella McCartney
 Top to toe lemons are pretty difficult to wear off the runway,
but a chic cigarette pant, a Stella lemon top
sky high heels and a french twist
could be quite de rigeur.

I kinda love the citron dress too...

Stella McCartney silk print dress
$2,695 - net-a-porter.com
Stella McCartney faux leather shoes
540 GBP - brownsfashion.com
Stella McCartney embossed handbag
785 GBP - farfetch.com
Stella blouse in Vogue Turkey

How do you feel about fruit?

Thursday, May 19, 2011

What's A Girl To Wear To The Market In Arezzo?

Every Saturday and Sunday in the Tuscan town of Arezzo the streets and piazzas become one of the most intriguing markets you will ever have the good fortune to visit.


 (I so wanted the Red Lady lamp, but couldn't figure out how on earth to get her home??)

Largely about furniture and housewears, exquisite laces and linens, 
the Arezzo market is not to be missed if you're in Tuscany on a weekend.
If for nothing else, you'll see treasures long hidden in the attics of the giant old Tuscan homes. 
Just touching some of the pieces you'll feel the history of generations flow through your fingers. 
Its magic.

Its also Italy.

This means a girl can't show up dressed as if for the Camden or Portobello markets in London, or the Rose Bowl market in Pasadena. There's a whole different dress code here, and its nothing short of fabulous.

Armed with my camera, I stalked the fashionistas meandering through the stalls, just to show you how killer cool and glam they really are.

Fashion statements aren't necessarily about the current trends, 
but more of how a girl carries herself and presents herself to the world, 
with her own personal flair and elan.

Before we see the outfits, its important to check out the terrain. 

Arezzo-Tuscany

Its all uphill and downhill, on flagstones, cobbles and pavers,
uneven, textured, and at  times steep.

Arezzo-Market

No flat, smooth asphalt for these divas to strut their sensational stuff...

So what does the fab-u-taliana wear?

Arezzo-Tuscany

 Soft gray ostrich cowboy boots, dove gray half leg leggings, white and gray layered tanks and T's, 
trench length denim coat, Louis bag, great hair, and "the world is mine" attitude.


Arezzo-Tuscany

Do you love it??? Check out her cool shoes! Prada bag, stylish parka, pedicure.


super chic family! Even the bambini are decked out!

Arezzo-Market-Tuscany

This lady had it going on! I loved her red jacket. The gloves were the perfect finishing touch.
Notice the hairdo - nicely cut and colored.
These Italiana's don't miss a single gorgeous detail.
Slim, belted, co-ordinated.

Arezzo-Tuscany

 another peep at the family

Arezzo-Market-Italy

 I just loved this lady! We saw her everywhere, all morning. 
Looking like a million dollars, working those shoes!!
She still looked like perfection at the of market end too, not just first thing in the morning.


Arezzo-Market-Italy

 Prada-rama. 
I loved her coat too. 
She had magnificent glasses on as well, but I couldn't get a clean shot without blowing my tourista cover.
God knows I tried...




arezzo-Italy

 Channeling Marcello Mastroianni.
Even the dudes looked cool.

arezzo-italy

What would you do with that fish thing?
I loved the cabinet behind it.

arezzo-market

 Prada Prada Prada.
Endless Prada. Fabulous for Sunday morning.

arezzo-market-tuscany

 Stylin mama.
Isn't she just chic??
Looks like a northerner...


arezzo-market-italy

Burberry! A break in the Prada/Louis action - quite refreshing.
Check out how totally put together this couple is.
Age provides no barrier, gives no demarcation.
They're all just damn fab.

arezzo-market-italy

arezzo-market-italy

Skinny jeans worn with heels, a trench, fab hair, and accessorized with a cyclist.
Think he's wearing a cod piece?

arezzo-market-italy

 I love those nude heels!!
Check out the height and cut of them!
She's damn fabulous, and she knows it.
Its part of the air she breathes.

Although I do consider myself to be an Olympic high heeler,
even I couldn't cut it around the market all morning, up and down the hills in these.
No way.
And these are her Sunday morning market shoes?? I need a new goal...

arezzo-market

Sexy girl heels.
Are you seeing how high they are??? 
Remember the terrain (see above)
And sexy Italiana that she is, she saunters and glides with ease,
as if she were wearing flats.
Can't you feel her gait through this picture?
Its as if she were born wearing them.
I just loved her!


arezzo-market-italy

 I just had to get you a close up on the height.
She is my hero(ine)
The pants were very cool too.

arezzo-italy
 She eats!
Italian girls don't do the lettuce leaf, black coffee and manic hours of aerobics with a 5 mile run routine.
They eat. 
Heartily. 
And are so present in their lives, and in the pleasure of life.
They are sensational.

arezzo-tuscany

 And what did we wear? 
Pictured here in the piazza with the lovely Michelle, jewelry designer at Divinity Jewelry,
in jeans and boots, a turquoise trench and a beige pashmina, 
and the ever present aviators :)

Ciao ciao tutti!!
Baci!!


Wednesday, May 18, 2011

It's Britney, Bitches!

I love that she is sooo back!
I so enjoy drastic comebacks.
I don't play her music, but I cheer for every step she takes in the right direction.

Miss Britney Spears covers Harpers Bazaar June 2011

Shot by Alexi Lubomirski


"I'm more straightforward
AND I SPEAK UP
more than I did before..."
Britney wears white Bill Blass

Britney Spears wears Dolce and Gabbana
“I love to dance, so it’s very exciting. The tour rehearsals have been going really well. I think it will be my best show yet.”


Britney Spears in Ungaro

“I’m pretty normal, you know? Like I said, the type of day I love is just like everybody else’s. I’m like everybody else.”

You go girl!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Chanel Cruise Collection

I cannot get enough of Chanel. Ever.
Love. And love. And love.

Don't you adore this french interview? I love the music of the french language ~


Behind the scenes:


Apparently Peter Phillips used the new Chanel Perfection Lumiere Long Wear Foundation, and the new eyeshadow quad from the upcoming fall collection called Les 4 Ombres in Prelude.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Bronzer 101

Bronzer is one of those products that I have a love/hate relationship with.
It is a gorgeous, beauty enhancing product, but everywhere you go you see it used and abused - more abused that any other product out there.
CZJ doesn't normally get anything wrong. But this time? Um...

So today we are going to revisit bronzer, how to choose your formulation, how to choose your color, and how to apply it.

Scroll to the bottom of this post for a little "how to" segment from last year on SheKnowsTV, with the lovely Lisa Acquafredda.
(I forgot how much we used to laugh when we'd shoot together! Love her!)

Formulation:
These days you can get gels and creams, lotions and mousses - all kinds of different formulations of bronzing products. The problem with most of them is that they are too easy to get wrong, and when bronzer goes wrong, it goes very wrong.
So unless you are super good at application, stick with a bronzing powder.

Find your correct color.
If you have a pale skin you will look best in a bronzer with a rosy gold champagne undertone.
If you have a medium or olive complexion you will win with a golden copper undertone.
If you are a dark goddess look for something with a deeper red undertone.


A little shimmer can be beautiful, and really bring some light and life into the skin. Look for bronzers that have very small particles of shimmer. Basically if you can see and identify individual shimmer particles, they are too big, and your skin will look crazy shiny.


Application.
Don't try to color your face in with bronzer. Its need to hit your skin where the sun would. Across the forehead, the top of the cheek bone and bridge of the nose, and the chin. You can run a little along the jawline too.
Think of doing a number 3 across forehead, cheekbone, nose and chin.
If your collarbones are visable, dust them too.


Your application should be light enough that you can see freckles through it.
 
The bronzers I showed in the segment are actually from my makeup kit. 
Here is the 411 of what was on the table.


On Lisa I used Guerlain's amazing Terracotta Powder in shade 2.




Beyond brilliant, this product is the benchmark for all bronzers. Guerlain first introduced the Terracotta powders in 1984, and they were the first bronzers on the market. To this day they are the biggest selling bronzer, with one unit selling somewhere in the world every 25 seconds!!
I love these because they give the warmth and luminosity of a natural tan. They also are moisturizing, long wearing and oil controlling.


Cargo Cosmetics Bronzer in Medium


A staple in my kit and in my personal product arsenal. I love the subtle sun kissed glow it gives, slightly shimmery and sheer. This award winning bronzer avoids the overly yellow trap that many bronzers fall into. Totally gorgeous!


MakeUp Forever Bronzer


I am a huge advocate of Makeup Forever! Their products are amazing. On the table I showed their bronzer in shade #5, which has a lovely red undertone for my dark skinned girls. It comes in several shades, so no matter what your complexion is they have one for you.







 I recently got a new bronzer from H.Wood.Beauty in a shade called Dakota, which I am loving for paler skins.

I also love LORAC's baked bronzer



Friday, May 13, 2011

H.Wood.Beauty. New Products!


Although I wasn't exactly thrilled to come home from my Euro-venture, I was totally excited to find a box of new products from one of my absolute favorite lines, H.Wood.Beauty.


When a girls feeling down, missing coffee the way that only the Italians can make it, she needs a bright lip to pick her back up.
I'm all about the bold fuchsias, magenta's and hot pinks that are the trade mark of the season, making a great lip the ultimate accessory.

These two new lips from H.Wood are perfection, worn either together or alone.

Jess is a bold lipstick, yet is easy to wear, superbly flattering to skin tone, and is absolutely the couleur du jour.
If the bold lip feels like too much for you, this one can be toned down or applied lightly, taking you into the moment without too much fuss or fanfare.

Want to add to it? Double down with a smooth pink gloss? Or maybe just want a soft, sheer pink lip?

H.Wood lip gloss is easily my favorite on the market. (seen here in new shade, Ojai)
Its all about the color payoff. This gloss is so pigmented that as you swipe the wand across your lip you get an even dispersion of color, every time. Not the usual patchy waning color from basically all other glosses!
Its also very moisturizing, and has the right amount of gloss to it - it doesn't dry up on the lip, nor does it give you that hideous "porno" gloss overkill shine. It doesn't bubble up or pill up on the lip either.




All H.Wood.Beauty products are available from their website 
www.hwoodbeauty.com

So while I'm listening to Laura Pausini singing Strani Amori (from her live album) with a heavy heart, I am wearing the most fabulous, uplifting lip a girl could possibly wear!


Baci...

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Spring Fashion in Florence - La Trenchiata!

I just spent some super quality time in Firenze, and decided that while I was there I'd find you some fashion statements.

Firstly I have to say that every time I set foot in Europe I am blown away by the care, attention and pride that the average woman takes in her appearance, even when you get out of the main fashion metropolis into the smaller towns and villages. 
The women there turn it on.

But back to Florence.
There was one striking trend that crowned them all, 
and that was the divine, chic, timeless, ubiquitous trench.


in many colours
 styles and shapes

zipped up the back

 youthful in blue

ever present

effortless in beige with a white flat

ageless

 great with a simple jean and a pony.

la triumvirate, la trenchiata

perfect for a workday lunch break with the girls

perfect heading to a trattoria for lunch or to an expresso break.

Many fabrics


and leather!

I die I die I die!
The one that got away, the white leather trench I should have bought
at Toscany Pars on the Via dell' Ariento in San Lorenzo.
How did I leave that one behind???
It now rules my most coveted list.
It owns it.

As much as I love my hot fuchsia trench, my life won't be quite right until I have the white leather...