Fashion and Beauty

Showing posts with label Fashion and Beauty. Show all posts

Join me at Elleffe Design's U.S. Launch Showcase Reception

* This is a Sponsored Post*

Elleffe Design, a luxury home decor brand from Italy, has invited me to host a “divertimento” tutorial on the art of the tablescape to celebrate it's US launch.

The tutorial and reception will be held on Wednesday, August 17 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at the Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica.

Besides learning how to create a beautiful tablescape concept – in the vein of chic modern with a touch of whimsy - guests to this exclusive event will be treated to a viewing of the Elleffe Design collection, receive 20% off Elleffe pieces, as well as take home several other special gifts and prizes.

I would love for you to join me and learn how to easily create beautiful table decor at home, and ask that you RSVP here to confirm your attendance by Tuesday, August 17.

Ana Lydia

Svelta Luxe Coffee & Raw Sugar Body Scrub

* This is a Sponsored Post that Includes Affiliate Links *

The shorter skirts, itty-bitty sleeves, and lighter fabric used for hot-weather styles calls for silky soft skin, and a lighter fragrance as the foundation of a timeless summer look.

While moisturizing is a big part of my summer routine, I like to start my beauty foundation with a weekly body scrub. I have found that exfoliating my skin maximizes the benefits of my moisturizer as well as prepares my skin for skin bronzers.

Lately I've been told my skin glows and feels velvety to the touch, and it's all thanks to Svelta Luxe Coffee & Raw Sugar Body Scrub.

Svelta Luxe Coffee & Raw Sugar Body Scrub has a base of organic raw sugar that leaves my skin glowing, while the Arabica coffee diminishes the appearance of cellulite on my thighs. The olive and almond oils soften and nourishes my skin, while cardamom adds a luxe aroma that is perfect for the summer.

This 100% vegan scrub is made in the United States, free of parabens, phthalates and sulfates, and NOT tested on animals.

Svelta Luxe Coffee & Raw Sugar Body Scrub is easy to use. Just wet your skin and take a small amount of the scrub in your hands. I like to "melt" the scrub before I apply in a circular motion on my wet skin.

While you can remove the scrub with water immediately after exfoliating your skin, I like to leave it on my skin for a few minutes while I wash my hair, then rinse off. You can also remove with soap and water for that added feeling of freshness.

Ana Lydia

Meet me at the Ontario Mills 'Accessorize Your Spring Sale' Makeover Event

*This is a Sponsored Post with Images Courtesy of Simon Center*

As most mom/daughter relationships go, we have a thing: We LOVE to go shopping! As in, shopping is not just something that we have to do, but is instead an all-out event that we look forward to.

Shopping to us always includes breakfast, lunch and dinner....in between checking out what's in, hot and now...and of course some much needed mother/daughter bonding time happens in between the racks.

Sometimes we shop for an event, say a wedding, while other times we just look through aisles in the hopes that we find something that we "need."

I tend to be all over the map with my style inspirations (blame it on my inner creative), while my mama has a classic style that is so uniquely her...so shopping is always a great time because I give her options that she might not otherwise think about; and mom, of course, has made me fall in love with accessories. Or, in my mom's own words, I have learned to live by the motto that "a pair of shoes, purse or accessories, will instantly elevate an outfit."

Now it's my turn to share my love of shopping by giving moms accessory styling tips during the Ontario Mills Accessorize your Spring Sale on Saturday, May 7 starting at 1 p.m.

When you stop by to meet me I promise to also share a gifting ideas for the moms in your life and hand-out a few $50 Gift Cards when you follow my tweets, Facebook updates, and Instagram photos...And just in case you can't meet me on Saturday, don't worry - the sale runs until May 31st!

With a wide selection of jewelry, bags, shoes, hats, sunglasses, tech gear and accessories, moms, and those shopping for moms on their special day, can shop effortlessly to find stylish accents for spring - with my help, of course!

Savvy shoppers (you!) will also find additional savings at all of the centers’ over 200 brand-name retailers, including Polo Ralph Lauren, Steve Madden, Brooks Brothers, Tommy Bahama Outlet, Tommy Hilfiger, J.Crew and more with deeply discounted spring merchandise and a sneak peek of summer arrivals.

Make sure to find your #founditatsimon accessory finds by tagging them with #accessorize so I can check them out and like them on social media.

Ana Lydia

Ana Gutierrez Wearable Art

*This is a Sponsored Post*

The summer has finally left Los Angeles to welcome my favorite season, Fall. With that, my breezy maxi dresses and swingy tops have lovingly been stored to make room for the many layers I will be wearing to avoid being blown-away by the Santa Ana winds.

But regardless of what season it is, my personal style, weather spring, winter, fall or summer, is based on Euro-inspired classic pieces that can be easily mixed and matched, and complimented with my colorful scarves and jewelry.

I have found out that jewelry is the most classic way to update my style; and one piece of jewelry that I have been gravitating towards are long-strand statement necklaces, like my Ana Gutierrez Unique Scarf Necklace.

My Ana Gutierrez Unique Scarf Necklace in amazonite has been an easy piece to transition from Spring, to Summer to now Fall and Winter.

The light weight and organic texture of this piece makes it quite wearable, while the unique Oceanic style that's inspired in the coral reefs of Coco´s Island National Park, makes it a subtle statement piece.

I feel great wearing my Ana Gutierrez jewelry knowing that I'm wearing a piece designed by a Costa Rican designer, who is recognized for celebrating her country’s commitment to environmental preservation and fairness.

As a socially responsible designer, her provocative boho chic style is both unique and contrasts high polish materials with others in their natural rough state. The organic shapes of her jewelry reflect nature with a contemporary twist.

With the holiday season fastly approaching, Ana Gutierrez Wearable Art jewelry pieces also makes a unique gift alternative for the fashionistas on your shopping list.

My readers can view the complete Ana Gutierrez Wearable Art collection here, and enter “discover” at check-out to receive free shipping.

You can also feel good shopping for Ana Gutierrez Wearable Art piece purchased knowing that 9% of the purchase price is donated to non-profits that protect National Parks and combat illegal fishing.

XOXO,

Ana Lydia

My slow watch

*This is a Sponsored Post that also contains an Affiliate Link*

Like everyone else that has a career, attends school and has family, I'm a busy woman.

My life is a constant juggling act, and many times obligations tend to win over the beautiful things and opportunities that life presents to me.

But I'm learning to take life a bit slower to enjoy each moment by glancing at my slow watch to remind me how much I have been able to accomplish throughout the day, instead of stressing about the time - whether it's fun or part of my routine.

My slow watch has also helped me appreciate everything I do...and while it initially was uncomfortable to give-up my minutes and seconds, I have since gained so much more by looking at the big picture.

While the slow watch is an unpretentious piece of modern Swiss technology that is more of a sundial than a traditional watch, my slo mo 05 in Rose Gold Steel is also quite beautiful to look at; and has become the timepiece I favor over any other piece of jewelry for my daily use.

My friends have noticed that since I started wearing my slow watch, I've been resetting my mindset to value time more.

While I've noticed that I'm learning to enjoy every moment, while measuring time more naturally, instead of feeling the treadmill anxiety that a traditional timepiece gives me.

You can also be inspired by the slow watch movement by following them on social media, or buying your own here.

Facebook
Twitter #theslowwatch
Instagram #theslowwatch
Pinterest

Ana Lydia

Naked Chick Organics

This is a sponsored post.

My skin is hypersensitive.

If it's cold or windy, it will flake. If it's hot or sunny, it will blister. As you can imagine, my skin is constantly in a state of repair or the dreaded in-between stage.

I've tried many beauty and skincare products to either calm what the elements had caused to my skin or to prevent causing more damage.

From medical grade, to the counted few mass-produced beauty products, you will see me using one, or a few brands and products at any given time.

Some products I buy once, then I move on. But others, like the Naked Chick Organics Sea Grass Body Oil and the creamy Salted Coconut Orange Body Scrub are the kind of products I will buy after I run out of my generous gift from Naked Chick Organics.

Naked Chick Organics is a woman-owned skincare company that prides itself in only using the finest 100% USDA Certified Organic and Vegan ingredients, but only only works with cruelty-free suppliers that use environmentally friendly practices.

An added bonus is that Naked Chick Organics never uses milk, honey, or beeswax in any of their products.

This attention to the quality of both the ingredients and production of this artisan beauty brand allows someone has skin sensitivities, like me, to use a scrub in the shower without worrying about skin breakouts or rashes.

While the body oil has been a major reason as to why everyone asks how I have maintained my skin so supple and hydrated during back-to-back trips in such moisture-sucking environments.

Both products have hydrated my skin without leaving it greasy, while at the same time leaving a light fragrance that layers nicely with any of my perfumes or other beauty products.

I invite you to follow Naked Chick Organics on Social Media to stay updated on their seasonal products and promotions:

Website: http://www.nakedchickorganics.com/

Instagram: instagram.com/nakedchickorganics

Twitter: twitter.com/nkdchkorganics

Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/nfd9ztm

For my Toronto, Canada friends: learn more about Naked a Chick Organics and their fabulous founder on 10/23 when you watch Breakfast Television.

Ana Lydia

Introducing Totah Designs Jewelry

This is a Sponsored Post. All photography my own Unless Otherwise Noted.

Model wearing Totah Designs Jewelry and Michi Knitwear

Last weekend I was invited to attend Phoenix Fashion Week's Shop Garment District event, by Yolibeth Totah, the Arizona-based jewelry designer and owner of the award-winning Totah Designs.

Totah Designs began as a hobby ten years ago, and has now become one of the most coveted accessory brands in the Southwest.

Necklaces, earrings and bracelets highlight precious gemstones. Some pieces also use silver or other metals, while other pieces were created with a more budget-conscious woman in mind.

So it makes perfect sense that Totah Designs has been nominated as an Emerging Jewelry Designer by Phoenix Fashion Week!

One of the many reasons that I love Totah Designs is because Yolibeth understands the need to create beautiful accessories for any budget, and for all of the special moments in a woman's life.

Some of her many fans at the event mentioned how a pair of Totah Design earrings or necklace can easily transition from day, to work, to evening, and look perfect for each of the three separate occasions.

With that in mind, Yolibeth priced her pieces from $10 for a pair of silver and crystal drop earrings, to a timeless double-strand freshwater pearl necklace for only $120, while most pieces are priced at $50.

It seems unfathomable to find hand-made jewelry made with precious gemstones at this price, but Yolibeth has partnered with industry professionals to source the best stones for the lowest possible prices - and passes on the savings to her customers.

Yolibeth shared with me that "all women deserve to feel beautiful," and "at any occasion," and with that mantra behind everything she makes, it makes perfect sense that we do - feel beautiful when wearing Totah Designs.

For my readers in Arizona, I invite you to meet Yolibeth at her solo fashion show, this Saturday, August 22 at Saturday, at Dressbarn Anthem Outlets, located at 4250 W Anthem Way, Phoenix, AZ, from 7 - 9 p.m.

You will be able to preview Phoenix Fashion Week 2015 jewelry designs upcoming, enjoy yummy refreshments and enter to win one of the many door prizes raffled that evening. Admission is $25 for the VIP Seating and free for standing-room admission. Proceeds benefit St. Jude Children’s Hospital. For more information, contact totahdesigns@gmail.com or buy your tickets here.

If you can't attend the show and absolutely MUST HAVE one of Yolibeth's beautiful pieces from Totah Designs, you can also use the code "2015DC20" for 20% off your online order when you enter this code at checkout.

Ana Lydia

Misty Copeland Is Promoted to Principal Dancer at the American Ballet Theater

Infuse your life with action. Don't wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own love. And whatever your beliefs, honor your creator, not by passively waiting for grace to come down from upon high, but by doing what you can to make grace happen... yourself, right now, right down here on Earth.

Bradley Whitford

Congratulations Misty Copeland on this monumental accomplishment!

Your promotion to Principal Dancer at the American Ballet Theater has inspired a generation (and future generations) of girls (and women) that feel like that they don't belong to continue on their path to greatness.

Ana Lydia

Miss Asia Kinney models for Coach

I'm excited to get reacquainted with COACH by way of Lady Gaga's ADORABLE French Bulldog Miss Asia Kinney, the first furry baby star in a series of Steven Meisel COACH ads launching July 2015!

As a proud furry baby mama myself, I'm happy to see a Lifestyle Brand celebrating the love and beauty of our beloved furry baby's, while at the same time giving to the Chicago French Bulldog Rescue (frenchieporvous.org).

This new ad campaign will also introduce #coachpups, a series of online activities for fellow dog lovers, opportunities for Instameets, special talks and other events hosted for the good of our furry babies.

I'm sure Princess Maya Candice will be participating in one, or several of these meet-ups...maybe on our way to get ourselves one of those pretty new COACH handbags ;-)

Ana Lydia

Elie Tahari Spring Fashion at Saks Fifth Avenue

(Part 2)

When I agreed to attend the Imagine LA fundraiser and Elie Tahari trunk show at Saks, I wasn't expecting to fall in love with a designer I knew so little about. But after a short introduction by both the Saks and Elie Tahari rep, I not only fell in love with the brand for it's multifunctional and easy to wear pieces, but also because of the story behind the iconic American brand and their recent Elie Tahari Sport collection.

The Elie Tahari & Elie Tahari Sports Collection, are unapologetically simple.

The wearability of the separates are ingeniously designed to be interchanged throughout seasons and worn with existing pieces in any woman's closet.

While mostly classic, the Elie Tahari separates are made with a mix of laser-cut leather, imprinted natural materials, and cutting-edge fabrics that modernizes wardrobe stables.

The spring pieces are available in classic colors -black,white, grey and navy- while the unique fabric choices and asymmetric shapes gave a simple skirt a nice drop, a reversible jacket visual interest, and the little black dress a modern, and flattering, shape.

Prints were few and far, but the oversize florals on the black background gave the classic spring dress after-five wearability.

I very much liked Elie Tahari's spring collection and the new Elie Tahari Sports division; and especially like how both lines meet the needs of the active and more casual Westside woman.

What do you think?

Ana Lydia

Old Navy Celebrates it's Emily Current + Meritt Elliott partnership

This past weekend I was invited to celebrate Old Navy's partnership with Emily Current + Meritt Elliot, as the brand's official style ambassadors for the spring '15 season.

The afternoon celebration was hosted at one of my favorite Westside restaurants, Fig & Olive, which created an Americana-style lunch menu, including orange-infused vodka drinks, chicken and waffle sandwiches, and sliders.

Entertainment included a blue-grass band and hands-on activities, including a key-chain stamping table, hair braiding station, and my favorite, a map-art table.

I was happy to see that most of the pieces are made with classic American fabrics but updated with modern styling and flair.

Shorts are shorter, dresses are swingy, and the classic crisp white shirt has a modern-fit; while the fabrics for this collection were overwhelmingly solid colors, the textures gave whites a fun twist while the patterns were whimsical and fun.

Unfortunately, as it's the case with most fashion events, clothes were only shown in straight sizes; so trying to figure out which pieces would translate well into larger sizes is left pretty much to our imagination...

Since this collection is fitting of my current and more casual Westside lifestyle, it's fitting that I add the bird dress, blue-line jacket and white swing top to my closet - if it's available in my size :)

What do you think?

Ana Lydia

The Sue Wong Spring 2015 Collection

Tiers, sparkles, and headpieces OH MY!

The Sue Wong Spring 2015 collection channeled vintage frocks from prohibition with the swag of the Victorian era. Intricate appliqué’s, swinging fringe, delicate tiers, and glitzy head pieces adorned swan-like models as they glided down the runway last Wednesday at LA’s The Reef for Style Fashion Week. Paparazzi and the red carpet, celebrities including rocker Dave Navarro, and the Queen of Contrast herself, Sue Wong were all a part of the 900+ people who were there to swoon over her latest collection.

Having come to LA right out of college to make my own name in the fashion world, I have never been on the media side of a runway show nor have I been fortunate enough to have worked on a production at this level so even I was bright-eyed and bushy tailed getting my Media pass and being escorted into the tent. Swarming with productive worker bees, I was placed in the photographers area and quickly made friends with other bloggers and professionals, all of whom knew that this show was the show to see during Style Week. Bonding over our love of good food, Hank West offered to share the beautiful photos he captured from the professional platform that little ol’ bloggers like myself could not inhabit, so we have Hank to thank for these striking images, thank you Hank!

Fairies & Sirens was the name of the collection but nothing about the looks said mystical woodland creatures and singing temptress’s BUT it was a stunning collection of elegant gowns and dramatic headpieces. Tiers were huge on this runway. Tiers of ruffles, tiers of fringe, tiers of flowing fabric, tiers of applique, tiers, tiers, tiers! Reminiscent of the 1920’s, the tiers created great movement in each garment that was slightly mesmerizing to watch. fringe, delicate tiers, and glitzy head pieces adorned swan-like models as they glided down the runway last Wednesday at LA’s The Reef for Style Fashion Week. Paparazzi and the red carpet, celebrities including rocker Dave Navarro, and the Queen of Contrast herself, Sue Wong were all a part of the 900+ people who were there to swoon over her latest collection.

Fairies & Sirens was the name of the collection but nothing about the looks said mystical woodland creatures and singing temptress’s BUT it was a stunning collection of elegant gowns and dramatic headpieces. Tiers were huge on this runway. Tiers of ruffles, tiers of fringe, tiers of flowing fabric, tiers of appliqué, tiers, tiers, tiers! Reminiscent of the 1920’s, the tiers created great movement in each garment that was slightly mesmerizing to watch. fringe, delicate tiers, and glitzy head pieces adorned swan-like models as they glided down the runway last Wednesday at LA’s The Reef for Style Fashion Week. Paparazzi and the red carpet, celebrities including rocker Dave Navarro, and the Queen of Contrast herself, Sue Wong were all a part of the 900+ people who were there to swoon over her latest collection.

The dropped waist was also a huge trend that these slender models wore beautifully. The silhouette a dropped waist creates is classic and elegant. And the headdresses! Absolutely stunning! I am actively looking or a job where I can rock these dramatic headpieces on a regular basis. The detailed Victorian-esq fabrics in muted shades of peach and caramels were a direct contrast to the hard rock music the models bounced down the runway to. Sue Wong is a proclaimed ‘study in contrasts’ so this juxtaposition was received well by the varied audience members. She breaks up the collection with a serious of colorful, whimsey gowns that scream spring but it was the opulent and ornate gowns that the collection was all about. Breathtaking to watch come down the runway and even more so up close where you could really see the hours and hours of work that went into each piece. Another contrasting moment was when Dave Navarro, known for his music and tattoos joined Sue Wong on stage. I am not sure the connection these two have but I am sure of one thing ladies; Dave Navarro is the new black.

One of the most creative and passionate designers in the industry, Sue Wong shows who and what she is with each collection. She is an inspiration not only to fashionistas but to every women in need of letting their inner goddess shine. An amazing and unforgettable experience, Sue Wong floored not only me but everyone in her presence that night.

Contributed by Candice Sola

Ana Lydia Monaco

SLIDER

Join me at Elleffe Design's U.S. Launch Showcase Reception

Svelta Luxe Coffee & Raw Sugar Body Scrub

Meet me at the Ontario Mills 'Accessorize Your Spring Sale' Makeover Event

Ana Gutierrez Wearable Art

My slow watch

Naked Chick Organics

Introducing Totah Designs Jewelry

Misty Copeland Is Promoted to Principal Dancer at the American Ballet Theater

Miss Asia Kinney models for Coach

Elie Tahari Spring Fashion at Saks Fifth Avenue

Old Navy Celebrates it's Emily Current + Meritt Elliott partnership

The Sue Wong Spring 2015 Collection

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