April 17, 2014

Nothing’s quite like the feel of the transition from snowy, windy winters to warm, cheery spring and summer. The flowers are blooming, the sound of children playing outside fills the afternoon air, and the sight of brunch-goers delights the streets Sunday afternoons. But, as the saying goes, April showers bring May flowers!

Whether you’re headed to the Hamptons for a weekend stay, shopping with girlfriends, or enjoying a day at the beach here is a list of essentials to ensure that you’ll have the perfect time, hassle-free.

April 12, 2014

Pooch and purse in arms, Ashley Tisdale takes on her day in an fresh look for spring. A go-to outfit for running errands, a backyard BBQ or having lunch with the girls, Tisdale goes urban cowgirl with her All-American blue denim and white blouse. A nubby leather bootie with a stacked heel adds to the down-home charm, while a posh quilted purse gives this look an glam finish. To steal her look for less, pair denim blue cutoffs with a floaty white blouse, brown booties, and a girly edge, like a glam bag or stack of gold bangles.

1. Sam Edelman Petty Boot: A go-to bootie for outfits and seasons to come, Sam Edelman’s Petty Bootie is an instant classic with its olive brown color, nubby finish, and stacked leather heel. A side zipper ensures a snug fit, and an always-classic almond toe guarantees years of wearability. Pair with shorts and skinnies, even a flirty floral dress (think Taylor Swift’s sweet country style).

2. Rebecca Minkoff  Quilted Mini Affair Cross Body Bag: Go quilted to capture Ashley’s So Cal glam. Quilted bags are all the rage, from classic Chanel to this affordable Rebecca Minkoff bag. Interwoven leather traces the brushed gunmetal chain strap, which can be worn long or doubled. Pair with any look, summer to fall, for a polished finish.

3. Genetic Stevie Rigid Shorts: All-American. It doesn’t get more summer in the States than denim blue cutoffs. Whether you choose your shorts with a raw edge or roll ‘em up like Tisdale, get an ultra fresh look when you pair them with white.

4. Joie Marru Split-Neck Silk Top: Ashley's star style is yours with this split neck top from Joie. A tunic cut is fresh with a long, slim body, button cuffs and a breezy split neck. Its lightweight silk fabrication makes it an easy-breezy throw-on-and-go with cutoffs or over your swimwear.

April 9, 2014

Warm weather calls for a streamlined approach to makeup and hair. Maximize your summer beauty by minimizing your routine! I love to comb through tons of new products each season to bring you my latest and greatest discoveries. Now that summer is almost here, I've rounded up some of my absolute favorite can't-leave-home-without-them concealers, sunscreens, scents, mascaras and more. Take a peek inside my beach beauty bags before you hit the surf.
Products:

1. Josie Maran Argan Concealer Crayon
ultra-hydrating concealer crayon is infused with argan oil that makes blending a cinch. It seamlessly smoothes over blemishes, dark circles, and uneven pigment, with no caking, creasing, pastiness, or fading away. he non-cakey pigment layers for coverage as light or intense as I need it to be, with a chubby, retractable tip that never tugs, just glides like butter and leaves a veil of creamy color that erases boo-boos and matches my skin tone. Whether you color inside or outside the lines, it’s got you covered.

2. RAMY Perfect Brow Wand: As featured on the Today show! Finally! A waterproof double duty gel pen, the Perfect Brow Wand takes eyebrow perfection to the next level by combining a universally flattering eyebrow filler and pure highlighter in one easy to use wand. The brow filler works on ANY hair color, from pale blonde, silver or red to medium brown or black. The Highlighter end is colorless and adds pure light to emphasize your arches or wake up tired eyes!

3. Vincent Longo Volume Plus Mascara: Create dramatic lashes in a single stroke with Volume Plus Mascara. This luxurious, rich black mascara coats each lash for buildable volume. The specially shaped brush was designed to apply the no-flake formula from root to tip while silk fibers wrap each lash for defined drama. Create natural volume with a single swipe, or layer multiple coats of this creamy formula for a high-impact look. A signature blend of algae extracts keeps this buildable mascara soft and supple and helps to strengthen lashes and encourage growth

4. Essie Tart Deco: My go-to color as soon as the weather warms up! It's for the girl who likes bold
spring colors, not pastels. I think is is the perfect pop of color on my toes. This Essie Tart Deco Nail Polish is perfect for fun in the sun. 

5. L'Oreal BB Cream: Magic Skin Beautifier: I've heard a lot about bb creams, and was a little hesitant to try one. After reading tons of reviews about this product, I decided to give the L'Oreal bb cream a shot. I'm glad I did, because it's great! It is very lightweight and gives a matte finish.

6. Imperial Tea By Kilian: By Kilian Imperial Tea Eau de Parfum is the scent of jasmine from a brewed cup of tea that will give you a delicate sensation of refreshment. The perfect light scent for summer.

7. Shani Darden Control Correctives Oil Free Sunscreen SPF 30: Shani's celebrity clients include Jessica Alba, Rosie Huntington Whitley, Minka Kelly and countless others. They all agree that the Shani Darden Control Correctives Oil Free Sunscreen SPF 30 is a must have to protect your skin daily from the sun's damaging rays. I use this everyday, as well as the Retinol Reform and I am a firm believer in her entire line.

8. Fiji Water: Hilary Duff keeps hydrated with Fiji Water and even hosted the Fiji Days of Summer Event in Sag Harbor, NY. We all know how important it is to stay hydrated especially as the temperatures climb, so I always have my water bottle with me. It truly is the fountain of youth.

April 7, 2014

After a very long Winter, we're welcoming Spring with open arms — and a fresh set of trends. And because nothing makes us feel quite so ready for a new season as a new wardrobe, here is the must-haves from all the major Spring '14 runways. This is what you what you can expect to see in stores this upcoming season.