JUDGEMENT DAY

I have come to the conclusion that I'm an a**hole. I came to this conclusion after reading one of Gwyneth Paltrow's GOOP posts with quotes from people like Deepak Chopra about not judging people, and how, if you do, it really says more about you than them. We all tell this to our kids and while I agree it's an important message to spread around, I secretly believe that anyone who can't judge an idiotic thing someone says or does, has either had a lobotomy or is an idiot themselves. I mean, isn't judgement just another word for being discriminating? Don't you rely on being judgmental to pick a good mate? Make a good business decision? Pick out a great skirt? Judgement is helpful and even funny (would Dennis Leary even have a routine without judgement?) and even Santa is judging....all year long, or so I tell my kids. So judge away.

MIDDLE OF THE ROAD

Are things really that bad in the fashion world that we need to resort to following Pippa Middleton for fashion trends? I'm not saying I don't love the Middletons, quite the contrary, but fashion, I'm afraid, is not really their strong suit. If inspiration is needed, please reference real fashion icons like Kate Moss, Blake Lively, Alexa Chung, Chloe Sevigny, Michelle Williams or even Victoria Beckham! Pippa may have the rear but the rest is rather....flat.

TRANNY WRECK

Remember when you were a kid and begged your mother to let you wear high heels? Chances are she gave you the standard-issue response, "You're too young; wait until you're older." It's good advice, but it could use some amending. How about....."You're too young. There will be a period of your life from maybe, 23 until 45, that you can, and should, teeter around in shoes that are impractical, overpriced, yet fabulous and sexy as hell. But after that (and this is the really important bit) YOU'RE TOO OLD FOR SUPER HIGH HEELS!!! I say this so emphatically because on a recent buying trip to Bergdorf's with a client, I witnessed gaggles of women in their late 50's to mid 60's hobbling around in 7" heels. That's right, SEVEN INCHES. It took everything I had not to approach the woman in this picture and say, "Ma'am, you really don't want to do this. Please take off those tranny shoes and let's go find you a sensible pair of 2" Ferragamos. If you won't do it for your arthritic ankles, do it for your grandchildren." Class is sexier anyway, so act your age, not your shoe size.

LET IT REIGN

Tory Burch 

They're so back. Not that they ever completely left, but statement earrings are starting to reign again over the statement necklace. The bigger, longer, wider, the better. (Yes, we're still talking about earrings here.) Tory Burch, Prada, Missoni... they all showed them on the runways but you can get just as fabulous a pair at www.shopstyle.com

D DAY

Remember how you used to put any top, no matter how fancy, with your jeans and high heels and you felt perfectly dressed up/down? Yeah, well, we're all pretty sick of that look too but luckily there's a replacement. The denim shirt (I know you know this already but just in case....). If you're trying to modernize those dress pants or unfuss that tweed skirt or make that taffeta ballroom skirt casual, a denim shirt is your solution. Denim lives.
http://www.madewell.com

HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO

Ahhh the holidays. Parties. Dressing up. EATING. Sometimes the fashion doesn't quite coincide with the waistline but luckily with this Vince sparkle dress you can have both. Comfort and rockin' style. Music to my ears.
http://www.net-a-porter.com

PHOTO SHOOT

Check out more photos from this shoot at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sparkle-Inc-Larissa-Mills-Makeup-Artist/55634525727

SAVE FACE

It's been said that you should apply your foundation first, eyes second. The idea being that once you solved your complexion issues you might not need as much makeup on your eyes. But most women are slaves to habit and regardless of the state of their skin, they're applying the same amount/look on their eyes anyway. And no matter how careful you are with your shadows, they inevitably fall on your face. So, given this is the case, apply your eye makeup FIRST. I use this technique on models, brides and everyone in between. Saves time and creates a more flawless look. 

WHEN SPARKLE MET AMSTERDAM

During a recent trip to Amsterdam, I became obsessed. Not with the architecture (which was charming) or the food (which was delish...hello fat jeans) but with the women. I could not stop staring, and then shooting, (with my camera), the women. Young, old, single, with kids, without, didn't matter. They possessed a quality that is unattainable through money, latest clothes or coolest haircut. They just look... happy. Effortless. Undone and yet perfectly put together at the same time.
I'll have what they're having.

HIS HAIRNESS

Raymond McLaren

I got some serious words of wisdom yesterday while working alongside famed hairdresser, Raymond McLaren (Creative for Bumble and Bumble/ hair stylist for the covers of Vogue Italia, Vogue, Numero, Glamour, Elle, Spin, to name a few) during a 10 hour photo shoot. He was there for the shoot, as well as to mentor some very talented stylists at The Parlor Salon in Wellesley, and while technique was a big part of his lesson, so was his message. Be present, be confident, take a chance. It applies to hair, to makeup and certainly to life. It wasn't just his directive of "give me panda eyes!" that had me beaming, it was also his obvious love of the work and creative spirit that made a 10 hour day seem like 2. As soon as I get pictures from the shoot, I will share. In the meantime, if you're hankering for a new look his talented crew at The Parlor Salon in Wellesley can get you there.
www.theparlorsalonandapothecary.com

HAIR TODAY, GONE TOMORROW

I think most people think that once you've found a hairstyle that looks good on you, you should keep it. Forever. I am not one of those people. No matter how good something looks, at some point, it's got to change. Even if the change isn't flattering, it's still interesting because it's different.
I am personally in phase 1 of a 2 phase cut. It could be pretty horrendous when all is said and done (I am going for short, bangs, and layers the length of a matchbox) but hair boredom will be cured....at least for a few months anyway.