Designer Accessories on the Cheap!

Oh, Target!  I want to shout my love for you from the highest building in New England!  The store has always been my top pick for basics, but ever since they started getting awesome designers to do collections for them, I'm even more addicted to the place.

Currently for sale?  Accessories and clothing by Missoni for Target.  I love love love Missoni.  The Italian fashion company has always left me drooling over their latest collections.  The colors and patterns used in their designs just tickle my fancy. The problem?  Prices.  Even a simple scarf by Missoni is a steep $175.  This near-identical (ish) scarf by Missoni for Target is under $25! And I actually think I like it more! Eeeee!!

What I was surprised to find in the collection was hair accessories.  I literally have a huge basket dedicated to hair doodads, so upon seeing some Missoni/Conair bundles, I almost had a seizure of delight.  There are a couple different sets, but the black and white bundle looks classiest to me--plus the accessories will match virtually everything.  Each combo set comes with a thick headband, bobby pins, and barrettes and is under $25. 

The sad thing is that most of the Missoni for Target products are sold out online, so you need to find a Target near you to look for any Missoni scraps. The collection should be available until mid-October.

Yippee!

Freeze Your Jeans!

I found a random tip that I thought I'd share with you lovely readers.

Here's the dilemma:  you find a pair of kick-ass jeans and you want to wear them constantly, but washing them all the time makes them fade and lose their awesomeness.  With enough washing, your gorgeous dark denim can end up looking like farmer's dungarees.  You def want to make them last as long as possible, so stretching time between washings is super important.

The solution?  Freeze 'em. 

Neatly fold and put them in a super-sized ziplock bag and freeze them for 24-36 hours.  Freezing the denim will kill all the germs, eliminate odor and shrink the stretched areas back down to size.  No washing needed!

How cool is that?!

Hair Salon Defends Domestic Violence-y Ad

This ad for Fluid hair salon in Alberta, Canada has been written about virtually everywhere.  It's crazily controversial and everyone seems to have an opinion about it.

Generally speaking, "Look good in all you do", is not a slogan you'd expect to see next to an image of a woman with a funky hairdo and a black eye sitting on a couch, while an attractive man in a suit stands behind her holding a diamond necklace. It's basically saying that even if you're in an abusive relationship, you can still have fabulous hair.

That's really not okay. As a side note, the gal's 'do isn't even attractive.  It's frizzy and she's got a good inch or so of roots. It's not a look anyone should strive for (hair-wise, or visible abuse-wise).

The salon is now defending itself.  Owner, Sarah Cameron told the Edmonton Sun, "Everyone is getting so sensitive.  Anyone who has a connection or a story behind anything can be upset or have an opinion. We are not trying to attack anyone. Please interpret the ad as freedom dictates --that is your right --just as artistic expression is our right. If survivors of abuse interpret this ad to make light of any abusive situation, we sincerely apologize.”

She's right, of course.  But the ad is still unacceptable in my eyes.  And anytime “artistic expression” is thrown around, it usually means that there's no real defense.

In the end though, I'm pretty sure the ad did exactly what the salon wanted:  got people talking about them.

OPI Glam Slam US Collection

I've been LOVING OPI's Serena Williams Glam Slam collections. The latest one, Glam Slam US, contains a couple of gorgeous colors!

Love is a Racket is a fab candy apple red with fuschia-like shimmer.  It's a truly unique color and is perfect for fall.  It's a red that flatters most skin tones (even my ridiculously pale skin!) In some light, the shade looks almost florescent.  The picture doesn't do it justice. After a couple coats, I found the polish to be extremely well-pigmented.  The hue is my new go-to red!

Pros & Bronze is an orange-ish/gold/bronze shimmer.  Almost pumpkin-esque.  There's a lot of color and shimmer packed into this polish.  I'm absolutely in love with it! It looks really crazily cool on. I found that you can wear it a few different ways.  One coat leaves you with a really pretty sheer shimmer, and three coats gives you a highly pigmented look.  You can also use it as a top coat over other polishes.

Both colors are super pretty and I'll def be using them tons this season!

The polishes are available at professional salons and spas nationwide including national chains Beauty Brands, Beauty First, Chatters, Dillard’s, JCPenney, Pure Beauty, Regis, Trade Secret, and ULTA for about $8 each.

Disclosure: This post contains a product sent for review consideration. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

Scent Screw Up: Justin Bieber's Someday

You've GOT to be kidding me.

I was lounging around the other day, reading the new Cosmo, and stumbled upon this ad for Justin Bieber's perfume, Someday.

This kid is ridiculous!! First, he had his own nail polish collection, and now this?!! I'll be the first to say that I hate Justin Bieber.  I don't really have a particular reason--I just find him annoying.  And I hate the fact that he makes women's products. 

It'd be one thing if he was just making a men's cologne; everyone's doing that lately.  But to make a sultry scent for women is beyond crazy.

I don't know what the deal is, but if one more girly Justin Bieber product comes out, I'm officially declaring him gay.

If you want to try out the scent, I'll hate you forever.  But you can get it at Sephora for $18-$45.

That is all.

My New Fave Read: Classy

Even though I'm sassy,  I still like to think that I'm classy.  From the quiz at the beginning of Classy: Exceptional Advice for the Extremely Modern Lady, I am literally defined as classy (yay!)

The book is absolutely fabulous and has everything you need to know about everything classy.  It provides everything you need to know about fashion, socializing, dating, and etiquette.  There are oodles of tips and tools for learning how to flaunt what you've got, loads of how-to's and tons of blunders that even the smartest girls make.

Because the book is written by a man, the perspective is different from your normal fashion read.  Derek Blasberg really knows his stuff.  I thought that I knew everything there was to know about fashion and class, but I actually learned a lot from this book.  It's also set up a bit like a magazine, so it's a super easy read.

You can get a copy of this fab book for under $10!  Def a worthy buy!

Fashion Faux Pas: White Leggings

As most of you know, I don't make millions of dollars writing (gasp!), so I work in retail part-time for some extra cash.  The other day, someone came into my store looking for WHITE LEGGINGS.

WHAT??!!?

Take a moment to think about that.

Okay.  So, I'm basically over leggings in general, but I understand black leggings.  They make your legs look slim and are great to wear with short skirts or tunics.  Black is just a slimming color, so it makes sense.

But white?  Well, it adds bulk for starters.  It shows every imperfection that you might have and makes your legs look five times larger.  If you wear white leggings, be prepared to get a new nickname:  Thunder Thighs.  And that's regardless of your body shape.

The only time white leggings or tights are acceptable are on little girls for Easter.  Other than that, the world simply doesn't need white leggings.  If you own a pair, please throw them out!! 

And finally, if I see anyone wearing them, I might just have to punch them in the face.  Just a warning.

Stay Frizz Free with Living Proof's Straight!

When it gets humid out, like it's been the last few days, my hair seriously turns into an afro.  It's horrible and totally cringe-worthy.  Sometimes I try to throw in a bunch of curling products, which only makes the frizz worse, or I brave it out and flat iron it only to have my hard work ruined within an hour! My hair has constantly been an issue for me, so I'm always looking for new ways to "fix" it.

My latest find?  Living Proof's Straight.  It's a ling-lasting, sleek making, style extending hairspray.  And it's my new fave hair product.

I used it yesterday, which was a particularly humid day and there was no frizz to be found.  I sprayed the product on after flat ironing my hair, and the result lasted all day!  My hair still feels amazing and I don't feel any of the build-up that you usually get with a hair product (especially sprays).

Straight is anti-build up with no oils, silicones, or resins to weigh hair down (yippee!!!). The PolyfluoroEster it contains repels dirt and debris, so you can go longer between shampoos (double yippee!!!). Best of all, Straight is SAFE, it contains no toxic chemicals and will not damage your hair.

All in all--it's Sassy Fashionista approved!

Disclosure: This post contains a sample product sent for consideration by a PR firm. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

Katy Perry Red Carpet Look Tutorial (Featuring Proactiv Products!)

When I think of Katy Perry, I instantly think of old Hollywood--glamorous features complete with liquid eyeliner and bright red lips.  I decided to try giving the look a go myself.  The result? Not bad! I'm no Katy Perry, but the red carpet look might come in handy next time I have a fancy event to attend!

Now when you're trying out a new makeup look (or anytime, really), it's super important to have a clear canvas--and I'm talking about skin.  You can only cover so much up before you look like a crazy prostitute with caked-on foundation! SO, that said, skincare is definitely the most important thing to work on.

I'm hopelessly in love with Proactiv products.  I have ridiculously sensitive skin, and yet the line still works for me!  When I first gave it a try, I figured it would dry out my skin and leave behind a ton of red blotches.  But, no!

The products I used before this particular look were the Refining Mask and the Green Tea Moisturizer.  The mask was great.  I felt a wonderful cooling sensation upon application, and after I let it sit for 10 minutes and washed it off, I was left with nice smooth skin.  The moisturizer was applied next and it worked perfectly after the mask.  I felt like it kept in all the great things the mask did for me, and kept my skin hydrated at the same time.  I like to use a moisturizer before applying makeup anyway, and since this one is oil-free, it just might be my next go-to product!

After my skin was prepped, I moved on to makeup.  Here's how to get the look yourself:

Start by applying concealer to the eyelid as a base.  Then, brush on a light shimmery shadow all over the lid up to the brow.  A silver hue works well.

Next, apply a slightly darker shade only up to the crease.  Matte brown or taupe is good for this.

Here's the tricky part--apply black liquid eyeliner.  Check out my tutorial on how to apply it if you want a more detailed technique.  Tug lightly on the outer corner of the eye, and draw a line from the inner corner out thickening it as you go.  I really like Wet 'n' Wild's H2O Proof Liquid Eyeliner in Ultra Black.  It stays in place all day and doesn't flake off.  Plus it's under $5.

The line should look like this. 

No matter how skilled you are at applying liquid liner, chances are it won't look perfect.  I suggest going over the liner with a high-pigmented pencil liner to make the line look smooth. L'Oreal's HIP Color Rich Cream Crayon Eyeliner in Perfectionist won't simply flake off all your hard work (like lots of other pencils will).  Because it is so soft, it basically just adds a thin layer over the liquid liner.  Make sure it's dry before doing this.

Using the silver eyeshadow again, apply it to the inner corner of the eye and blend in towards the middle.  You can do this on the bottom lashline as well.  Then, brush mascara on (two coats on the upper lashes, one on the lower).  Because the liquid liner on top is so thick and dramatic, wearing anything more than mascara on the lower lashline doesn't look great.  Also, only lining the top makes your eyes look huge!

Don't be alarmed by this picture.  Before applying any dark lipstick, it's a good idea to apply a thin coat of foundation to the lips.  It makes the lipstick look the same as it does in the tube, and is brighter than wearing it over your already-pink lips.  If you want to use a lip stain instead, don't bother with this.  The foundation will only work as a repellent for anything liquid.  Regardless of which method you choose, you should apply foundation to the outside of the lip line.  This prevents bleeding color.

Using a lip brush (it's more accurate than just using the tube), brush on a layer of bright red lipstick.  Apply a small amount of translucent powder to the lips and apply the lipstick again.  This gives the color staying-power.  If you use a stain, simply brush it on your bare lips.  I like Benefit's Benetint or Stila's Pomegranate Crush Lip & Cheek Stain.  Both are deep cherry reds that flatter most skintones.

Apply a layer of gloss to finish the lips and give them a bit of shine.  I like to use a red-tinted gloss to give my lips a multi-color look.

 



This is the final result! I think it def has that old Hollywood/Katy Perry feel to it, don't you? Since both the eyes and the lips are dramatic, keep the blush simple and use a matte peach or pink cream blush.  Normally, bold eyes are bold lips don't work together.  This look works because the eyes actually don't look overdone since we didn't line the lower lashline, or use dark eyeshadow.  The lips more or less take center stage. 





And there you have it! A gorgeous look, with gorgeous skin to boot!

Check out Proactiv.com for more info on their products.

Disclosure: This post contains sample products sent for consideration by a PR firm. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

My Latest Obsession: Rosie Flo's Coloring Book

Doodling is one of my absolute fave things to do when I'm bored.  The problem is that I'm not really great at drawing (other than the 3D cube, crappy flowers and butterflies).  So when I saw Rosie Flo's Coloring Book, I was intrigued to say the least.

The book contains tons of fashionable outfits to color in.  All you have to do is add the heads, legs and arms (if you want to--I prefer just having the pictures of pretty clothing).

Included in the book are two postcards that you can send out, which I think is utterly adorable.  I'm definitely planning on sending those out to some special people ASAP!  Other than that, my envious coloring techniques will either stay in the book, or be cut out and displayed in my apartment.

Rosie Flo has a bunch of other coloring books, all with trendy outfits to color in.  There's even a sticker book that allows you to color in your very own stickers!  Woohoo!

Each coloring book is under $8.  I actually found this particular one for $1 at Borders since they're closing in a few days, so it's worth trying your luck there too.

Piggy Ankle Socks

Pigs are my favorite animal.  Ever.  I've been collecting pig things since I was born.  I was given a piggy bank as a gift on the actual day I was born--so, literally straight from the womb I've been encouraged to love pigs.  Since then, I've acquired a ridiculous amount of pig paraphernalia.  I'm probably a little too obsessed.

Bit I digress.

These adorable Piggy Ankle Socks from Forever 21 really tickle my fancy. They have everything I could possibly want in a sock.  They are:

• pink
• have polka dots
• the pigs are wearing little red bows
• and did I mention that they're pig ankle socks?!

I love them.  The best part?  They're under $1 per pair.  I might just have to stock up and wear a pair of them daily.  Too much?

Beauty Boo-Boo: Sticker Eyelashes

There was a time when I was super obsessed with fake eyelashes.  I had a huge crush on a guy in my public speaking class in college and I used to wake up my roomie, Caitlin, to apply full-on fake lashes before my 8am class (she was way better at it than I was).  Looking back, I know I looked ridiculous.  Now, I only wear faux lashes for super special occasions, and even then, I only use a couple individual ones on the outer half of my lash line.

I was shocked and horrified when I saw these Paperself Eyelashes on Sephora's site.  I can see wearing these maybe for Halloween...but even for the fanciest nights out, there is no way that this look is acceptable.  The description even states that you can use them to "accentuate the corners of your eyes for a subtle daytime look".

WHAT?!! SUBTLE??? Are you kidding me?!

If I ever saw anyone wearing these during the day (or at night for that matter), I'd be forced to either issue them a fashion citation or punch them in the face.  The black eye they would end up with would be more acceptable than the "lashes".

If you feel like looking like an idiot (too harsh?), you can buy the lashes at Sephora. Each set is about $20.

Style for the Home: Ice Cream Sandwich Pillow

I'm all about having quirky items in my apartment.  I'm always looking for new doodads to add to my already huge collection of unique decor.

I found this ridiculously amazing Ice Cream Sandwich Dessert Pillow from Fred Flare and literally did a dance of delight!  How cute is it?!  I mean, you can either have a boring body pillow, or you can have an ice cream sandwich one, inspired by one of the world's tastiest treats!  The choice is clear.

This is the perfect pillow to snuggle with, or just leave on the couch for a bit of flair.  And I'm absolutely in love with it.

Each pillow is $30.

Get Your Glow On!

Bronzers, shimmer lotions, tanning sprays...they pretty much got me through this summer.  St. Tropez has some fabulous products that help give your skin a natural bronze look, year-round.

Personally, I tend to tone it down a little once fall comes around.  My naturally Scottish heritage makes looking tan year-round difficult, as it looks super fake and a bit weird.  That said, I still like to have a healthy glow and St. Tropez has a great product that does just that!

Their Skin Illuminator gives me exactly what I want--a bit of a glow sans an overly tan bronze hue. As summer comes to an end, I've been using the product daily to add some sheen to my skin.  My plan is to mix it with my regular moisturizer as it gets cooler out to cut back on the color, while still giving myself a hint of luminosity.

The Skin Illuminator comes in three shades:  gold, violet and rose.  Each has a distinctly different finish to it, but they all illuminate and create a gorgey glow.  For now, the gold tube is my fave, but I have a feeling that I'll be switching over to the rose version for fall.

I'm so in love with this stuff! Each tube is $22.50, but a little goes a long way (especially if you're mixing it with your everyday lotion).  I highly recommend it to anyone out there who wants to give their skin a glowy boost!

Disclosure: This post contains a sample product sent for consideration by a PR firm. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.

Kamibashi Cares GIVEAWAY!

It's no secret that I absolutely LOVE Kamibashi products (especially the String Dolls).  Everything on the site is utterly adorable, crafty and unique.  Everything I own from the site gets me constant compliments and the cute little dolls always brighten my day.

The cool thing about the company is that they donate oodles of money to great causes.  The International Fund for Animal Welfare is one cause they give special attention to.  Kamibashi donates 50 cents to the cause for each sale of a few select animal String Dolls.

I have a few of their animal String Dolls to give away to a few lucky readers! The following are the do-gooding animals that I have to give away:

How cute are they?!  I'm partial to Ellie the elephant myself.

To enter the giveaway, send an email to sassyalana@gmail.com with the subject line reading "KAMIBASHI".  In the email, indicate which string doll you'd like to win.  The giveaway ends 9/12 and the winners will be alerted via email.

Good luck, ladies! If you want to purchase them yourself (and do some good for animals!), each String Doll is only $10.  They're great for gifts, or just fun to collect for yourself!

Disclosure: This post contains a product sent for giveaway consideration. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest! If you have any questions about this, please email me.