Back to the Fuchsia

I’ve been feeling a lot more renegade than beauty for quite some time now. I’ve always phased in and out when it comes to doing myself up or going au natural and I’ve been in a serious off phase this year. Spontaneously tonight, I indulged in a little home mani-pedi action. I was reaching for orange when I came across the Sally Hansen Back to the Fuchsia polish I had received as a baby shower favour in May. I’d traded someone at my table for it, strictly for the name—and yes I have enjoyed many a book I’ve judged by its cover, but I digress. It actually is bright, even brighter than the bottle! I’m impressed. I hate it when you think have the most awesome color ever, but then you slap it on and it’s sheer and boring as hell. I wasn’t too crazy for the extra thick brush, but it went on smooth and dried quickly. Now, the flash of color on my nails from my impromptu polish session reminds me that summer’s not over yet. Best not waste it.

What I learned new today: The color fuchsia is named after this gorgeous wee flower here, the fuchsia. 

Health, happiness, and all that jazz...

Here's to 2013 kicking 2012's ass into oblivion. Cheers xxx

Alright, SOMETIMES A Bow Tie Is Sexy

Photo Credit: The CW

We're winding down to the final episode of the undeniably stylish saga that is Gossip Girl, so I suppose it's finally time to admit it: A bow tie can be sexy*, but only when worn by that one-of-a-kind scoundrel with the heart of  platinum-coated diamond, Chuck Bass.

*Shh...don't tell Teagan, she'd never let me live it down after mocking her affection of the symmetrical knot for the past, well...all our lives. In all fairness, this is different--this is Chuck.

Top Five Free Poncho Knitting Patterns

In through the bunny hole.

Where do ponchos sit on your cool scale? Me? I am completely enamoured with the concept of ponchos. They encapsulate the impression of warm, cozy, safe and nestled. And how easy are they to wear? Crazy easy. And talk about versatile. Dressy, smart, casual, homely, patterned, plain, Nordic, cabled, hoods, cowl necks, chunky knits, fine knits, long or short. The list is endless for this 70’s throwback. The poncho made a comeback in the last decade and has managed to hover in the periphery of modern sweater trends. I am automatically drawn to those ponchos that are a soft and chunky knit. I have a predisposition for cable knits. I also love a hood. I adore them for their simplicity—you just throw it over your head as you run out the door. I love them for their forgiving nature—there’s nothing nicer than looking cute and tidy even when your skinnies are feeling a little tighter than usual. This fall, I’m going to love pairing a cosy poncho with some adorably knit arm warmers just to keep the chill at bay. In fact, my love of ponchos has planted the seed in my mind that I should learn to knit so that I might one day be able to produce the poncho designs I have blasting through my head this time of year. Are any of you well versed in the knitting pattern vernacular? 

My Top Five Free Poncho Knitting Patterns:

1.     High Neck Fashion

  I adore the high neck and inset slits that allow more range of motion.

2.      Pompom City

  How sweet are those oversized pompoms and the hood?

3.      Asymmetrical Fun

  Lovely cables and the asymmetrical collar adds unusual detail!

4.      Cable Chic

  Horizontal cables running the whole breadth of the poncho give it a unique and expensive look!

5.      Fab Fringe

  Classic fringed poncho with a mix of stitches to create such visual impact. Perfect for tweedy yarn!

Off course, there's always Nordstrom for the ready made version.

Top Five Must Haves For Fall 2012

Fall 2012

How quickly this year has flown by. At least, the summer has disappeared remarkably fast. Admittedly, this is hardly upsetting since the only thing I enjoy about the summer season is how lovely the gardens grow. But not this summer, we had so little rain, everything was dried up and sad looking. Now autumn, that is my favourite season. Always has been, always will be.

Now it’s mid September, the nights are finally cool, even if the days are still questionably warm for my liking. Fall is when I become obsessed again with fashion, with makeup, with hair. An unbridled urge to destroy my credit card on unholy numbers of boots, shoes, heels and discounted summer sandals nearly brings me to my knees. Every. Single. Year. And denim? What is it about fall that triggers this unerring need to acquire one or five new pairs of jeans? Am I somehow cleansing myself of the past year? As if whatever new jeans I set my sights on somehow set the scene for the year to come? I’m not satisfied until I appease these urges. So what is it to be this year? While perhaps a tad late to the trend, I’ve just acquired a sleek pair of cherry red Celebrity Pink skinny jeans. They’re pretty freaking adorable, and are just waiting impatiently to be paired with my adorable tuxedo jacket I procured earlier in March. Thinking on it long and hard, I believe I can narrow down my fall needs to this list:

Top Five Must Haves For Fall 2012

1.       Wedge booties in either black or chocolate suede (they just look so adorable with skinnies.)

2.       Dark nail polishes in burgundy, navy, espresso, or mahogany (I can’t wait to retire the summer neons for more serious tones.)

3.       One or two Equipment shirts in either solid or patterned fabric (I’m feeling reds, purples, liberty prints or perhaps a bird theme.)

4.       Boot socks (I love my all of my boots and I’m loving this new boot sock trend to freshen up their look! Perhaps cables, argyle or fairisle.)

5.       A tartan blazer (something loud and lively to pair with jeans and a plain white tee.)

And purses! I’d almost forgotten my best friends in the world! All signs are pointing a cool oversized satchel (think British schoolbook bag. Probably in tan. Distressed tan would be perfect!) Now, if I’m able to obtain this short list, in addition for a few new pairs of skinnies, then I will be a happy Renegade! Now where did I leave that Visa card...? 

Am I Ginger?

Red In A Box

Once upon a time, I was an elitist bitch about do-it-yourself boxed hair dye (though I still believe you can’t beat a pro colorist, unless she turns your hair a putrid shade of pink, then beat her all you like—kidding!) Until one day, when motherhood, marriage, career, and a recession, had shaken and baked the hell out of my finances. What’s a Renegade to do when desperado for a color change? That’s where L’Oreal Superior Preference Intense Copper came in last Sunday night. Although I’ve been white blonde, golden blonde, black, all shades of brown, and had red highlights (and once all at the same time—it looked phenom) this is my first time as an official redhead.

I had hoped for a bit more of the “intense” promised, but overall I’m happy with the results. Stand back, there’s a new red-haired bitch  in town! 

A England? A+!

Mine, mine, mine at last! 

I’m so excited—as in positively bursting at the seams ecstatic! My A England shipment has arrived! I’ll admit I am a little behind the times, as I’ve been coveting these for well over a year, but as they say, better late than never. By some cosmic miracle, with only hours to spare, I had discovered that A England was having a £5 sale on the inaugural collection, The Mythicals. Naturally, I had to seize the opportunity. Although it was difficult (as in nearly impossible), I narrowed it down to three: Tristam, Merlin and Lady of the Lake and they sparkle, sparkle, sparkle. The consistency and coverage is absolutely lovely. Now I must wait impatiently until fall to showcase these sultry little gems. Check out the A England site. They are soon releasing a new collection, The Gothics, and so far, the swatches are rather alluring. They also rock the free shipping so the cost hurts far less!