This week Cindy of Prime Beauty is hosting Fashion Flash. I think Prime beauty is one of the prettiest beauty sites on the web. It certainly gives me confidence in the recommendations of a beauty site if it is well, beautiful. What I think sets Prime Beauty apart is the focus on “indie” brands. The big brands like L’oreal and Oil of Olay get the lions share of ad and editorial space, but the true innovation is often in the smaller personal product lines. But which one can you choose? Prime Beauty explores them for me.
I’m looking for a new bathing suit and the stores are filled with fall sweaters and boots. And as usual, I feel overwhelmed. Everything looks wonderful, yet Idon’t know what I want. This weekend I picked up a used copy of The One
Hundred by Nina Garcia. Quite simply, in alphabetical order, it looks at the 100 pieces that every woman needs to feel well-dressed for all situations.
Ms Garcia, the Fashion Director of Marie Claire and judge of Project Runway, came up with the idea when she had to pack up her closet while her apartment was remodeled. She realized that she kept choosing the same items over and over and as long a she could rely on them, she always felt good. From the A-line dress to a zippered hoodie, Ms Garcia explains her choices and why they are fashion basics. I especially liked her approach to animal prints. They can crank up a plain black dress ike nothing else, but need to be used in small doses or in her words ” you”ll look like road kill”
The One Hundred makes it clear that great style is in the details. According to Ms G, a boyfriend sweater should have four buttons and two pockets on the front. A pair of black opaque tights should not show any skin. And a camel coat looks equally wonderful over jeans or a little black dress. My favorite thing about this book is that it lets me “shop” in my own drawers and closets to come up with great looks with what I already own.
No Nonsense Beauty Blog
