Fashion Pulse Daily - Part 351

December 20, 2012

Great Gift Ideas: Still Stumped? We’ve Got Your Solutions!

by

Everything about the NARS Andy Warhol Collection is pretty amazing, so why not make a gorgeous presentation and gift some of the items to your bestie? Kiss Mini Larger Than Life Lip Gloss Coffret (on sale for $45)  is enclosed in this great pop-art inspired soup can shape, or choose from a single producty, such as the Flowers Eyeshadow Palette. (P.S. – check out the NARS Andy Warhol Collection film collaboration with Fabien Baron of Baron & Baron, answering the question, “What would Andy do today?”)

2(X)ist Times Square Pop-Up Store is happening now through Christmas Day (located at 40th Street and Broadway), with 25% off all merchandise, along with all the sales going to Hurricane Sandy relief. Pretty swell, don’t you think? You can always shop the brand online or at your favorite retailer as well, but we thought this was certainly worth a mention, particularly since FPD stopped by and had a grand ‘ol time!

Alex Blake has a dizzying array of fashion tights are a GREAT stocking stuffer and will be the fashionable gift that just keeps on giving (well…until you rip them, that is!).  I recently tested some of Charnos brand tights, and was smitten with the thickness, durability, stylishness, and affordability of them.

Elizabeth Arden Red Door Aura Eau de Toilette Spray is a modern re-interpretation of the iconic scent that made fragrant waves years ago, and now is revitalized with luscious notes of raspberry and Italian Bergamot ($65 for the 3.3 oz bottle)

Dove Body Washes make great stocking stuffers; I can’t lay claim to coming up with this idea though, as it was my Mom who put some in my stocking last year, and it ended up being the most practical gift I received! I recently tested and loved the Dove Purely Pampering Body Wash in Shea Butter with Warm Vanilla, but you can choose from 13 other varieties to suit your, or the gift recipient’s skin needs.

VMV Hypoallergenics has something for everyone, for her, him, and baby, as well as more specifically haircare, toothpaste, body wash, sunscreen and more. Round up some of those items with the brand’s affordable holiday gift sets for all of those special people on your list. I will certainly be picking up a few of those, with some of my favorites pictured above (For All Ye Merry Gentlemen, $25, Sniffle-Upagus, $40, and My VMV Favorite Things, $35).

Freeman’s Foot Creams, lotions, and scrubs, such as the Peppermint & Plum Heel & Callus Balm and theFreeman’s Barefoot Lavender & Mint Foot Cream($3.79 each), coupled with a super cute pair of Ped-Sox (my favorite are the  Pedi-Sox Mary Janes make a great spa DIY treatment gift! Who doesn’t want baby soft feet , kept warm by a pair of socks with the toe part missing, while they paint their toes?!? Count me in.

-Julia DiNardo

December 19, 2012

Great Gift Ideas: Birchbox For Him & Her

by

Opening a box full of unknown goodies can simulate the surprise of Christmas morning as a kid; ripping open packages, emptying out of stockings, and jumping up and down in delight. Although the feverish excitement may not feel exactly the same as an adult, the joy of getting a package full of unknown goodies still remains. This holiday, treat yourself, or provide a subscription gift of Birchbox to one of your friends or loved ones. The subscription service, which creates well-packaged monthly kits in the categories of womens, mens, and now home, is certain to elicit oohs and ahhs from the recipient.

Besides the monthly boxes, that range in price depending on how many months are committed to, (from $60-$195 for 3-12 month subscriptions), you can also purchase a Birchbox e-card for the giftee to hand-pick items in the Birchbox shop. On a recent visit to the Shop tab, I found polishes from Deborah Lippmann, a Kate Spade Twirl fragrance rollerball, Borghese Fango Mud, a Caudalie gift set, and a Ouidad curl cream.

Who would you gift a Birchbox to this holiday season?

-Julia DiNardo

**Birchboxes were provided to Fashion Pulse Daily for editorial review

December 18, 2012

Great Gift Ideas: For Him (and Her); Comfy, Stylish Acorn Slippers

by

I like playing “twinsies” with Fashion Pulse fiancè, which, after much coaxing, he begrudgingly complies if I buy us both the same tshirt or hoodie and insist on us wearing then out at the same time.  One thing that he doesn’t seem to mind wearing is an identical pair of slippers in the comfort of our own apartment; thank goodness since our heat only seems to come on for 15 minute spurts four times a day! Luckily, the amazing Acorn double-faced sheepskin slippers (provided courtesy of the brand) are so warm and cozy that the frigid temperature indoors (or out) becomes obsolete. While both the Acorn Camp Moc Slippers for Men ( on sale for $67.50, was $90) and Acorn EWE Slippers for Women ($90) have a non-slip waterproof outsole (great for running outside to greet visitors, taking out the trash, or taking a pup for a walk), the men’s version feature a memory foam midsole while the women’s version has a contoured footbed with an enhanced heel and arch for extra support. So couple up this holiday season, and indulge in an ultra warm and comfy pair of slippers for him…and for you!

-Julia DiNardo

 

December 18, 2012

Rock the Earthy, Rich, Metallic Jewel Tone Look from Le Métier De Beauté Bauhaus Eye Kaleidoscope for Holiday 2012

by

Are you into creating a striking eye makeup look this holiday season? I certainly am; I prefer to spice things up with a dose of stunning eye makeup, rather than wear a Christmas sweater or sequins. If you’re with me, then you may want to try the Le Métier De Beauté Bauhaus Eye Kaleidoscope Kit for holiday 2012, which utilizes the brand’s signature Couches de Couleur application technique. It is essentially a layering of color to create a gorgeous, artful, prism of shades, which actually goes hand-in-hand with the aptly named combo of colors for this holiday season, Bauhaus, an architectural design movement from the 1920s and 1930s with an aesthetic toward mixing influences and disciplines into one.

The Bauhaus kit colors, from top to bottom, include:

  • Axiom: sublime bronzed umber
  • Graphic: silver liquid metal
  • Crucible: rich pomegranate
  • Genre: deep gun metal

The brand, Le Métier De Beauté, whose name translates to “the craft of beauty,” certainly makes putting on makeup an artful experience with the stacking compact and flip-top mirror of their kaleidoscope eye kit, which is handbag and travel friendly, which easily slides out to access one or all of the colors.

Purchase the Le Métier De Beauté Bauhaus Eye Kaleidoscope Kit for holiday 2012 for $95, available at Neiman Marcus and select Saks and Nordstrom stores.

-Julia DiNardo

« PreviousNext »