photography courtesy of retailers

1. NCLA’s “Stephanie’s Galaxy nail wraps. Each package comes with 22 wraps so you can squeeze more than one application out of them. I plan to get these bad boys gelled on to make them last longer.

2. Jennifer Meyer’s mini rose gold star studs at Ylang23. Rose gold is a trend I can groove with. These tiny diamond-studded stars are dainty everyday studs.

3. The Marc Jacobs black and white striped sequin clutch at Forty Five Ten. Trends don’t last forever, but black and white will always be a classic combo.

4. These Miista rose gold and coral sandals from Nicole Kwon. Ever stocking cool things things, Nicole Kwon now has these (rose gold!) Miista sandals on shelves. Or, rather, in these pretty cubes.

5. The “Squirt,” a mini version The Wet Brush. It slides through tangles when your hairs are behaving badly. Good for bed head, convertible head, wet pool head, and wet ocean head. Buy it at Buy Buy Baby near the Galleria or online.

photography courtesy of retailers

1. The Charlotte Olympia x Tom Binns Kitty Anarchy flats that coincide with PUNK: Chaos to Couture at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

2. Chanel’s Limited Edition L’été Papillon nail color in Azuré. See swatches here. It’s kind of magical. This will surely become a collector’s item for nail polish junkies.

3. Zana Bayne Black Leather Choker Belt. Moda Operandi’s in the punk spirit, too, with their Chaos to Couture punk shop. I imagine this paired with a full, 50s inspired skirt, ankle strap heels, and a tee. Also available here.

4. La Mer’s Limited Edition World Ocean’s Day Crème. The ultimate luxury product gets a temporary makeover each year in collaboration with Oceana, an international ocean conservation group. This year, the famous Crème will be wearing an ombre foil dress. Find it at Neiman Marcus stores through June.

5. These Ted Muehling Hematite Gem Earrings at Stanley Korshak. A bit art deco, no? Perfect for wearing to see The Great Gatsby this weekend.

photography (clockwise from top): courtesy of Elements, Sephora, style.com, Neiman Marcus, and Nest

1. This Camilla & Marc patent cocktail dress on sale at Elements. Or this perforated leather bomber jacket. Or both. Yes, both.

2. The violet Andromeda Galaxy projector from Nest. It’s pretty, it’s purple, it turns a boring room into a planetarium.

3. Punker eyeliner from Ardency Inn at Sephora. The brand is inspired by the downtown New York music scene, so, it’s perfect for an edgy inky cat eye. And I love the felt tip applicator.

4. The Alexander McQueen Metallic Sugar Honeycomb Wedge Boots from this fashion spread. True love.

5. Anything from Mary Katrantzou’s fall 2013 RTW collection. Especially something with a magical photographic print.

2. It makes exfoliating fun. How? Because you can sit in front of an episode of Pretty Little Liars (or something more mature) while you do it.

3. It’s easy. It requires very little thinking. A timer ensures that you exfoliate each part of your face for the appropriate amount of time.

4. It travels. The Mia and Mia 2 versions are small and come in suitcase-friendly cases.

5. Because the newest color collection is entirely too much fun for a skincare tool. The limited edition Bohemian Beach Bungalow Collection offers brushes in Key Lime (see above), Passion Fruit hot pink, and Sea Breeze blue. Only available through May.

6. It’s sold everywhere. Find Clarisonic at spas (Bliss, The Face Place, Equinox, etc.), department stores (Neiman Marcus, Stanley Korshak, Nordstrom, etc.), and Sephora.

photography by StyleSheet

Yes, this is a fairytale.

DIFFA hosted their big annual black tie party this past weekend, and as always, the fashion is a leading part of the fun. I found my dress on Elements’ Instagram account. One look at this “princess Dracula” gown by Michelle Mason, and my heart was pounding out of my chest. So, last minute, as I do everything, I popped in the Lovers Lane shop and tried on the dress. I felt like Harry Potter holding the right wand. We were made to be together. Two problems: the silk skirt was too long and the corset needed to zip a little snugger. That’s when my favorite shopgirl, Stevie Moore, introduced me to Irina Zhuravsky, the “Miracle Seamstress,” one of the best kept secrets in the city. Google her, and you’ll come up with very little. Step into her studio at Elements (or, as Stevie calls it, her “alterations speakeasy”), and you’ll find a rack of designer gems (Haider Ackerman, Dries van Noten, Chanel, etc.) waiting to be enhanced by Irina’s magic hands.

Typically, you can expect a two-week wait to pick up your goods from Irina, but in my case, I had only four hours. When the planets align (and her schedule permits), Irina will do an expedited job for a fee, and I got lucky. She chopped the length and tucked the bodice until it fit like a glove, and I was able to pick it up an hour before the party. But she does more than dress jobs on the fly.

Stevie tells me Irina does it all: “all of our alterations, and she has plenty of men who get shirts tailored, teenagers getting jeans hemmed, she even has this homeade stain remover.” She’s trusted with the highest of couture by ladies who lunch and beloved by Dallas’ best designer boutiques, who also rely on Irina to modify on their most precious pieces.

Want to see the Miracle Seamstress yourself? Find her at Elements from 10 am to 6 pm, Tuesday through Thursday. Call ahead to make an appointment.

photography by StyleSheet

Favorite things about Becca Cosmetics Nude Lip Liner Pencil:
1. The dual ends–one rosy neutral, one beige–make the perfect, customized nude.
2. It’s long lasting.
3. It can be used as a base layer to prevent other lipsticks from bleeding.
4. Coconut oil keeps a smooth appearance.

The row of shiny lace-ups

Dainty Melissa Joy Manning alphabet letter jewelry

The colorful felt window display hanging

The killer Lanvin wedge booties

Sweet knit Mungo & Maud cat toys

Both steps of the treatment take only a couple minutes each, and I truly walked away with glowing, hydrated, extra soft skin that suggested I just had a facial. It was almost magical. The price, alas, is not. It’s $265. But, with holidays around the corner, it’s perfectly reasonable to push this to the top of your wish list. Eventually, both pieces of the two-part system will be sold separately, but for now, it’s a duo, and after my experience, I wouldn’t recommend it any other way.

The CHEM60 Pro-Peel is applied with a smooth brush. I didn’t tell my administrator, the beautiful Andrea Kearney, an artist for the beauty brand, that I have super sensitive skin. I wanted to see for myself if the peel portion stung at all, and I didn’t want her going easy on me. It didn’t. There wasn’t even a warming or tingling sensation.

The GLOW10ai Mask, which is applied in a thin layer and peeled off when dry, is created to infuse skin with “an unprecedented concentration of antioxidants, vitamins and hydrators.” To me it was cooling and then firming. I don’t know the science behind it, but I can reassure you that whatever it’s “infusing,” my skin was highly moisturized, dewy even, and lasted until the following morning.

I highly, highly recommend getting your hands on this thing. Be it a happy-holidays-to-ME gift or a present request from a loved one. Find it at Neiman Marcus Le Metier de Beauté counters.

photography courtesy of Victoria's Secret

If your fall uniform includes leggings, chunky knits, and boots, you’ll want to hear this. I wandered into Victoria’s Secret over the weekend to refill my underwear drawer and discovered the Super Model Essentials Collection rack. I rolled my eyes at the name, but really dug the Ponte Legging with riding pant stitching, a vertical stich up the back, and gold grommets for $58. My mom forced me into taking them home, because according to her, the ones I was wearing needed to be retired. (Yes, I wear the life out of my leggings every fall and winter.) I’m wearing my new ones today and already thinking I’m going to need another pair. The fabric is thick and flattering and the waist band is nice and stretchy. Perfect qualities in a uniform. At a Victoria’s Secret near you.

CABANA
1. Current/Elliott, $728
2. Inhabit, $400
3. Collection Designed By Giada Forte, $460

ELEMENTS
1. Lionette, $246
2. Majestic Filatures, $169
necklace: Dangerous Devotion, $176
3. Yoana Baraschi blazer, $350
4. Hibitual, $264
5. Aesa, $505
6. Kelly Locke, $583

HAVEN
1. Line & Dot, $132
2. Charlotte Ronson, $235
3. Ani-Lee, $170
4. M. Elizabeth Designs, $48
5. Misha, $250

MILK & HONEY

1. Lemon Tree jacket, $46
2. Hearts, $36
3. Thml, $42
4. Zenu necklace, $22
5. Ark & Co, $90

PIERMARINI

1. One Hundred sweater, $164 and Abi & John tank, $80
2. Kymerah, $298
3. Hoi Bo, $389
4. Kathy Chong, $40-$60
5. Bohem Unique Gems, $104
6. Bohem Unique Gems, $120
7. Bohem Unique Gems, $118
sunglasses: Costalots in 83’s, $214

photographer: Desiree Espada / art direction: Charlotte Tobin / stylist: Raya Ramsey / stylist assistant: Mary Holbrook / makeup: La Bichette / model : Lailani Mekeel/Dragonfly Agency

photography courtesy of Forty Five Ten

Just had to share this insanely stunning Haider Ackermann “Gaudi” jacket from Forty Five Ten. Only $2,365. In case you were wondering.

I can’t keep up with weekly manicures, but my at-home polish changes chip too quickly. Any longer-lasting solutions you know of that I can do at home? –Julia

First of all, I envy anyone who can keep up with weekly manicures. Second of all, I’ve got the perfect solution, and I’ve been dying to share my discovery.

Skip the salon for your next OPI Axxium or CND Shellac gel session. Order the $85 Lomasi at-home nail gel kit from L.A. For a microscopic slice of the price–factor in 20 manicures for that $85–you can get the same 2-week results. Every tool necessary for application and removal comes in the kit; all you need to bring is a sturdy hand for painting.

Jump for more details.

photography courtesy of Lomasi

I’ve had my setup for a couple months and performed a handful of manicures on myself and my mom, and I’m impressed. The color is smooth, long-lasting, and the top coat gel seems to smooth over any flaws. The kit comes with a beige color, Sincerity, which I happen to love, but colors can purchased separately. Here’s the list of online dealers. I’ve looked through them all, and most offer free shipping with this price of the kit, but Peninsula Beauty will ship single colors for free. (I just bought Commune, “an glossy shade of earthen brown.”)

There are few little luxuries I find more blissful than a fresh mani/pedi from a salon, especially with a long lasting gel, but it’s pretty cool dipping your hands under the UV lamp at home. In your bed. Eating ice cream. While watching Emily Thorne take out her Hampton enemies on Netflix.

This post is based on a sample sent for review by Lomasi.