Bernardo Shines Through

From Jackie O to Halle Berry, Bernardo shoes have been a timeless favorite, and their Spring/Summer collection of ’08 is no exception. Just one look at the metallic-hued lovelies the company has to offer this season is enough to make any girl absolutely giddy. The aptly named Mojo Sandal in comes in the earthy tones of black and chocolate, with warm metallic accents that will perfectly accessorize whatever teeny bikini or chic jean you pair them with, while the Medieval Stone Sandal comes in a pewter as cool as iced lemonade.

Reese Witherspoon rocks the Medieval Stone Sandal in Black

Charlotte Tarantola’s Style Milestone

Charlotte Tarantola is celebrating her 10th year as president and head designer of Charlotte Tarantola, the company launched in her Santa Monica living room after creating a series of innovative t-shirts. With annual sales in excess of $11 million, the success of her business is the culmination of a dream that began when she was about eight-years-old.

Based in Los Angeles and with showrooms in Dallas and New York, the Charlotte Tarantola clothing company has built a loyal national and international customer base and offers a wide selection of romantic, high quality contemporary women’s knitwear including tees, sweaters, dresses and skirts.

Details inspired by Charlotte’s world travels, vintage thrift stores, and Old Hollywood glamour include Swarovski crystals, tiffany-set rhinestones, printing, embroidery, beading, laces, mother-of-pearl, horn, and hand-crochet edging. Tarantola’s architectural approach creates a dramatic silhouette while maintaining beautiful hand feel and modern fit.

Ask Anton: Dashing Date Style

Dear Anton, I’m set to go on my first date with a girl I’ve had my eye on for a while, but I have no idea what I’m supposed to wear. Do you have any tips I could follow?
-Sam

Dear Sam,
To help you get a handle on first-date dressing, I’ve outlined a few of the most common situations and what you should wear in each one. With the knowledge that you look smokin’ hot in your first-date fashion, you can relax a little and focus on letting your personality shine through.
On a first date, many people stick to the traditional lunch or dinner meeting. First impressions set the tone for the rest of the date, so it’s vital that you make a good one. If you’ve made a reservation at an uber-chic restaurant, your outfit will likely involve a slim-fitting suit along with elegant dress shoes. On the other hand, if you show up looking like you’re red-carpet ready when you’re just grabbing a hot dog, it's more than a little inappropriate, and rather than enjoying her meal, she’ll think you’re totally out to lunch.
Another standard first date destination is the movies. If you’re in the habit of dressing sharply, then put some effort into choosing your outfit. On the other hand, guys who tend to favor jeans and sneakers should avoid sprucing up too much. After all, if you wear more tailored clothing when your style is usually more loose and laid-back, you’re setting the standard for how your date will expect you to dress in the future. So unless you’re prepared to get dressed up every time you leave the house, don’t bother.
Essentially, aim to dress in a way that makes you feel comfortable and just be yourself when it comes to fashion at the movies. For a look that’s both hot and easy to wear, try a pair of dark straight-leg jeans, like the Wilhelm Jean from Monarchy, and throw on a graphic printed top, like Kentucky’s Birds Tee. On your feet, either sneakers or sporty-looking loafers are appropriate with this outfit.
Obviously, you know you shouldn’t wear a three-piece suit for a picnic-style date. However, don’t think that you can wear shorts with sneakers or ripped-up jeans and a baseball cap just because you’re spending time outdoors. Instead, focus on coordinated pieces that show her that you didn’t just pull on the clothes from your bedroom floor for this occasion.
Since picnics imply decent weather, try a khaki pant or even a pair of linen pants. Pair them with a light-coloured casual collared shirt, Like Ben Sherman’s Corgi Shirt in Optic White. Finally, brown sandals will complete your relaxed yet elegant ensemble.
Hopefully you’ll have a successful first date. If not, at least you’ll be dressed for it.
I hope this helps,
Anton

Style is Far From Black and White

Color, color, and more color are in for this summer. There are two major trends - - the nautical look and bold summer brights. Which one is right for you is a matter of personal opinion.
Look to items like Sky’s Nova Top in Purple and Max & Cleo’s Natalie Dress in Atlantic. This season is all about the bold and the beautiful.

Look vibrant in the Nova Top from Sky

Don't despair if you can't wear that daffodil yellow, super hot pink or striking green all over your body. That's okay. Choose neutral clothing options in white, beige, khaki, or camel and then accessorize with one of the hot new shades for summer. Twisted Heart’s Stripe Betty Hoodie in Baltic is a choice way to add a bit of the nautical to your wardrobe. Pair it with a set of candy apple wedges to complete the look.

Sail away in Twisted Heart's Betty Hoodie

More Indispensable than Your Little Black Book…

Christian Dior reveals the secrets of style in this charming handbook that no woman should be without. An indispensable guide that covers everything from what to wear to a wedding and how to tie a scarf to how to walk with grace, The Little Dictionary of Fashion is full of timeless tips. From afternoon frocks and accessories to traveling and tweed, Dior's expertise ensures every girl will know the three fundamentals of fashion: simplicity, grooming, and good taste. Published for the Victoria and Albert Museum's Golden Age of Couture exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of Dior's "New Look" and illustrated with delightful photographs and drawings, this handbag-sized classic is the perfect gift for style-conscious women.

Reality TV Gets a Makeover with Napoleon Perdis

Australia's leading makeup artist Napoleon Perdis will bring his brand beliefs of "Red Carpet to Reality" and "Bring out The Celebrity in You" to the forefront this August of 2008 as he takes over the television world through multiple appearances and his own reality show "Get Your Face On," debuting this summer on TLC. "Face On" will capture the realities of makeup artistry as Napoleon Perdis works to discover the world's next star makeup artist.

Ask Anton: VPL Solved!

Dear Anton,

I have a lot of outfits where a panty line is pretty obvious without the right kind of underwear, but I think thongs are so uncomfortable. Is there a more comfortable way to get rid of those embarrassing lines?

-Aimee

Dear Aimee,

I believe it’s the general consensus that thongs will never be nominated in the comfort hall of fame, but lucky for you, there are glorious alternatives! There is a whole line devoted to the problem of pesky panty lines. Spanx Shapewear offers you the whole package in the form of simple, comfortable garments. Their pieces slim, shape, and conceal for a woman’s ideal silhouette. In my opinion, their best alternative to a thong would be the Hide and Sleek Girl Short in Nude. You’ll get all the support without announcing it to the world. If you want a little more coverage and a tiny tummy tuck, you might want to upgrade to the Mid-Thigh Smoother. Either way, you’re comfortable, in control, and of course, discreet.

Though thongs might have had a bad rep before, don’t give up on them entirely until you’ve tried Hanky Panky’s Low-rise or Original Thongs. Yeah, it’s still a thong, but the fit and fabrics are so butter-soft that you’ll pretty much forget you’re even wearing underwear.

I hope this helps,

Anton

Kensie Style

Vintage looks without the ghost of previous owners or faded stains that just won’t wash
out seems to be a popular trend among today’s high-end designers. Kensie, like Chip&Pepper, trys to combine both the modern and the classic in its designs, making a line that is wearable for every age, style, and body type. Most girls out there I’m sure, will understand what I am about to explain. My hair color changes pretty frequently, and as my hair color changes my clothing color changes. When I was a brunette, my favorite color to wear was red; as a blonde it’s green. But this is besides the point. What I am trying to explain is how excited I am about two pieces in particular that we carry here at UrbanMinx. I love, love, love the funky, fun, fresh style of our circle skirt in Black Multi Dots by Kensie. This skirt boasts a retro pattern on gorgeous silk, with slimming and flattering higher waist. The reds in this piece stand out, especially when paired with my other favorite piece for darker hair, the Retro Trench in Rouge by Kensie. With capped quarter sleeves, bold airman style pockets and glossy buttons, this short jacket is single
breasted with an adorable peter-pan collar. The color is gorgeous; fun, feisty and perfect
if you’re in a hurry. Throw the jacket on over jeans, like our Dane Honey Jean in Luella
by Joe’s Jeans and you’re outfit looks immaculate, even if you just rolled out of bed.

Ask Anton: Cosmetics for Sensitive Skin

Dear Anton,

I’ve got ultra-sensitive skin and everything I’ve tried in both cosmetics and skincare (in every price range) either causes major breakouts or leave me with a gross, oily feeling. Are there any products you can recommend for someone in my situation?

- Jessica

Dear Jessica,

Every person’s skin type is wholly unique, so even top-of-the-line products that the hottest celebs swear by, may not work for you. One of the cardinal rules in taking care of sensitive skin is to keep it clean at all times. Most skin like this will react badly to dirt and dust, so choosing the right cleanser is important. If you’ve got sensitive skin, it’s important that you keep an eye out for these criteria when shopping for products: color-free, fragrance-free and preservative-free. Color, fragrance, and preservatives are irritants to your skin and are most likely the cause of any breakouts or blemishes. Instead, look for products with ingredients like aloe vera, orange oil, almond oil, beeswax. The ingredients are a gentle way for you to cleanse, smooth, and heal your skin. Napoleon Perdis offers a handful of these in their Auto Pilot Dream Cream, which contains free radical-fighting antioxidants and fig extract to help de-stress and restore moisture balance.

If you’re going to apply more make-up than your basic mascara, it’s best to go as natural as possible. Mineral powders are ideal for sensitive skin, and there are a lot of organic choices out there that are very gentle on one’s skin. If you’re partial to using a cream foundation or concealer, double check for the aforementioned irritants and choose a water-based formula that sits lightly on the skin. Heavy, thick make-up will only suffocate your pores, which leads to more breakouts, which leads to more make-up… you get the picture. The best thing you can do for your dainty skin is to let it breathe! The most highly acclaimed mineral make-up at the moment is Bare Minerals, but for a flawless porcelain finish, I would personally recommend NP’s China Doll Foundation and Concealer.

A few other helpful tips you might want to remember are 1. Touch your face as little as possible. Even the lightest little finger graze can inspire zit-causing bacteria to spread like mad, 2. Exfoliate with a gentle pore cleanser once a week to clean out all that nasty grit that’s accumulated deep in your pores, and 3. Don't forget that the health of your skin is related to the health of your diet. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day and eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. This will help the skin cleanse any toxins.

I hope this helps,
Anton

Chase Away the Blues with Hale Bob

What do you do when you get the blues, or mean reds? When I lived in the city I would hop in a cab and eat a croissant pressed against the windows of Tiffany’s (yes, I have seen that Audrey Hepburn movie just one too many times).

In lieu of ogling expensive body frosting, I would like to suggest something utterly indulgent, something so silky and sexy that you’re skin will miss it when it’s gone. I would like to suggest slipping into a dress or shirt from Hale Bob.

At UrbanMinx, we love the cuts, fabrics, colors and most of all, how we feel when we put the clothing on; beautiful, flirtatious, and vivacious! My next question - now that we have banished both the blues and reds - is if you think elegance can also be fun? The answer is definitely yes when you wear the monochromatic embellished v-neck tunic in black or olive by Hale Bob. The classic black or gorgeous deep spring green are both versatile colors that flatter most skin tones. The silk details on the hem and pockets will turn heads and the cinch neckline in adjustable for the modest to the vampish. Throw on some cute sandals, like our Medieval Stone Sandal in Pewter by Bernardo and grab a fun summer bag and you’re ready.

I also can’t get enough of our Monochromatic Embellished Knit Camisole in Watermelon by Hale Bob. You’ll look like a relaxed chica just back from Jamaica in this empire waisted camisole with silk embellishment. With a margarita in one hand (virgin or otherwise) and the perfect pair of shorts – I recommend our Cuffed Linen Shorts in black by Juicy Couture - the summer will be sizzling, and not because of the sun!!

Nashelle Jewelry Releases Sassy New Video

The artisans at Nashelle Jewelry just released an edgy new video featuring their latest summer collection. Known for handcrafted necklaces and earrings featuring sterling silver and 14k gold fill, along with a plethora of natural gems and stones, Nashelle is 100% handmade by artisans in a studio in Bend, Oregon. Chic and whimsical, Nashelle collections often feature dangling wire-wrapped earrings or lucky wishbone-inspired necklaces. You can check out the new Nashelle Lookbook online at UrbanMinx, or shop the latest inspired pieces from the summer collection.

Jessica Alba Loves LinQ Clothing!

LinQ has added yet another name to their endless list of celebrity devotees. Mommy-to-be Jessica Alba has ordered LinQ Sweater Dresses in every color and style! “These dresses are perfect for me,” the starlet gushed after leaving a local boutique with loads of LinQ loot in hand. She has been spotted in the LinQ clothing line’s noteworthy pin tuck dress, and also their Shirred V-neck Top. Halle Berry, Kristen Bell, Katherine Heigl, Cameron Diaz and Eva Longoria are all fans of LinQ.