Vampy Lips Go Violet

As with so many things, the key to purple lipstick glory is proper context. Pair it with heavy eyeliner and fishnets and you may as well park yourself in the food court with an ironic lunchbox full of rejected Smiths lyrics. Pair it with a bare face, a tailored ensemble and a dash of Tammy Faye mascara and you're fashion.

Since it's a trend (yes the vampy lip gets a re-up every year, but far more frequently in red), I'd recommend a cheap tube for your test run. For a matte version, check out MAC "Night Violet" ($14.50), for a laquered look try the latest shade from Revlon "Va Va Violet" ($5), pictured right.

The Look:
- Apply liquid foundation to even out skin tone and skip the blush
- Dab highlighter on eyelids concentrating at the inner corners and blend outward
- Carefully line lower water line (above lashes) with white eye pencil
- Add several coats of mascara to top and bottom lashes, sweeping alternately inward (towards the nose) and outward to create irregular "points" or clumps
- Fill brows with a neutral pencil (as I have mentioned, I live for MAC Lingering)
- Line lips with a dark berry lip pencil (like Revlon Colorstay in Plum) and fill in with lipstick

Warning: Violet doesn't do your teeth any favors - catch up on your Whitestrip applications before you go making this your shade of choice. Also- be prepared for dudes and townies not to "get it." This look might be a bit much for their untrained eyes to handle.

Good Girls Need Badass Boots

Combat boots are definitely back, clearly obeying stylist's orders to subdue the explosion of floral tea dresses and tulle that have cropped up the past few seasons. Dr. Marten definitely wins the combat boot popularity contest, and it is for this reason I'd prefer to see my stylish minions in anything but. My choice is among the boots above - each pair puts a different spin on the style and won't leave your bank balance in the trenches.

Forever 21 "trooper" boot, $29.95; GoJane combat boot, $32; Seychelles "meteor shower" boot, $149.95; Steve Madden "axee" boot, $159.95;

30% Off Friends and Family Sale at Nine West

The Nine West Friends and Family Sale is 30% off full price, 20% off sale price shoes with code NWFRND6. Expires Sunday, Oct. 18th at midnight.
My picks:

Boutique 9 Charissa $285 $199.50; Lunia $139 $97.30

Demode (pre-order) $89 $62.30 ; Ambelu $79 $59.99 $47.99

Deanna $160 $112 ; Nyek $79 $55.30

The Best of One Shoulder Dresses

The one-shoulder dress is categorized as a "trend", but it's a good investment because it comes back pretty frequently (unlike, say, Hammer pants.) Check these out, organized by price range:

UNDER $100

ASOS folded one shoulder dress ($82.07); ASOS frill empire dress ($69.30); Gianni Bini lila dress ($47.40); T by Alexander Wang ($85); Aqua one shoulder dress ($88)

UNDER $200

ASOS Black corsage dress ($136.78); Aqua Couture peplum dress ($155); ABS one shoulder gown ($129.90) also in wine; Alice & Olivia Joyce dress ($130); Tbags print one shoulder dress ($134)

UNDER $300

Rachel Pally Aphrodite dress ($246) also in black; Tadashi ruched matte jersey dress ($298);

Over $500

Alexander Wang slinky one-shoulder dress ($575)

MAC Style Black: Fierce, Not Food Court

I was in Nordstrom today and fell fairly obsessed with MAC Cosmetics "Style Black" collection. I was skeptical of a Kat von Disaster when I first heard about it, but it's truly a line of versatile and wearable items (save the black lipstick, which I can't imagine will be a big seller.)

The mineralize eye shadows are particularly stunning - Cinderfella and Blue Flame are on my wishlist. They go on smooth and rich, and the glitter is ultra-fine. There are several products in the line that aren't new, but just mesh well with the collection so they are included (Mattene lipstick in Night Violet is a re-issue) - below is a list of the items that are really debuting.

Cremesheen Lipstick ($14)
Black Knight - Creamy true black
Mattene Lipstick ($14.50)
Midnight Media - Dense matte black

Glimmerglass Lipgloss ($18)
Bling Black - Sheer black with gold pearl
Blackfire - Sheer black with pink purple pearl
Blackware - Creamy true black

Mineralize Eye Shadows ($19)
Cinderfella - Black with silver pearl
Young Punk - Black with pink purple pearl
Gilt by Association - Black with gold bronze pearl
Blue Flame - Black with blue pearl

Grease Paintstick ($17.50)
Black - Intense black

Nail Lacquer ($12)
Seriously Hip - Black with gold particle pearl
Baby Goth Girl - Black with pink and purple pearl

MAC Make-Up Art Fall 2009

[Images via MACCosmetics.com]

In addition to a new collection of purple nail colors, a forthcoming burst of electric eyeshadows, a collection of screen-ready falsies and a collection rooted in the absence of color, the color wizards behind MAC Cosmetics recently handed the reins over to three contemporary artists who each created 2-3 looks using a mix of new and old favorite MAC shades.

There were a few peacock-y eyeshadow looks I wasn't feeling, and a couple of "been there, done that" compositions, but I thought these two were outstanding. What a great way to take this summer's vivid palette into the colder months - by marrying them with a smoky eye. For those fearful of the flamboyant, this is a way to pop your bright eyeshadow cherry without feeling clownish.

Get the list of products and how-to tips (in printable PDFs to tape to your bathroom vanity) for both of these looks at the official MAC site.

Trend Alert: Metallic Snakes

Clockwise from top right: Pave snake earrings, $30, emitations.com; Vintage Snake Belt, $9.99, eBay.com; Coiled snake necklace, $12, Torrid.com; Dereon snake bracelet, $68, MaxAndChloe.com; A.B.S. Snake ring, $75, MaxAndChloe.com; Blu Bijoux snake bracelet, $48, MaxAndChloe.com.

If you're unsure whether the snake trend is "you", give it a test run and rent one of these cute Kenneth Jay Lane cuffs in black ($14/week, $30/month) or white ($17/week, $50/month) at Bag Borrow or Steal. Non-member prices are a smidge higher, but not by much, and shipping is free.

Know Your Fall/Winter 2009 Color Trends

[Image via Pantone.com]

According to Pantone, creators of the design industry's most popular standardized color matching system, the above were the most commonly used in the Fall/Winter 2009 collections. (For more detail, you can view the Pantone Color Report in detail here. It's actually not boring, and loaded with fashion sketches.)

The least universally flattering among them would have to be the pea soup-esque shade warm olive - people who aren't dark or olive skinned should avoid wearing it near their face, except for maybe in a piece of costume jewelry.

DIY: Get Dior-esque Half Moon Nails

It's been a long time since I've seen a trend in nails that I've had any interest in. Maybe it's because they usually involve long nails, which are so corpse-esque and trashy I can't even look at them. I do, however, love the retro film star nails the models were rocking on the Dior Fall 2009 runway (they're sort of like a reverse French mani) and to get them you don't need horrific bird talons.

Though the manicurist at the show claims the look can't be tried at home (trying to keep the trend exclusive, perhaps?), Jessica at Stylelist put up a great post a couple months back about how to get the look.

Basically, just paint your nails like normal (using a dark color for drama) and then carefully remove a half-moon shaped strip at the base of the nail using polish remover and a little tiny paintbrush you can probably nab at a craft store.

Smashbox's Tudor-Inspired Fall Color Collection

Smashbox put out a fairly classic palette for Fall 2009 with foliage-esque gold, russet and pine shadows paired with complementing liners and a neutral lip and cheek. I'm loving the colors (and I'm a huge fan of their products in general - total quality) but I'm confused. The collection is said to be inspired by the English Tudors. According to what I've read, the rage quite consistently from the Crusades up through the Elizabethan era was rosy red on cheeks and lips. I can only assume they're referencing fabrics.

Nonetheless, I'm dying to get my hands on the deep green shadow! At $42 the set is a little steep. To the wishlist it goes...