[my] style files
Fashion + Beauty + Skin Care

Happy Mother’s Day, my stylish friends and moms. While I have had the most wonderfully lazy day (isn’t that what we all want on Mother’s Day!!), I couldn’t wait to tell you about some exciting news. My girls are coming into town! Alison Raffaele of Alison Raffaele Cosmetics and Victoria Luburich of Wallett Cosmetics will be at Jeffre Scott Apothecary this Wednesday, May 14th. They will be at the Piper Glen location in the morning, the Myers Park location in the afternoon, and the new Latta Arcade location in the evening. Local gals, please plan on stopping by one (or all) of the locations to try Alison’s newly redesigned and reformulated cosmetic line and have Victoria give you a lip-over (best lipgloss around). Their products are amazing! For those of you outside of the Charlotte Metro area, I am happy to find a location near you - just contact me for help. Or, you can visit them online. Be sure to read their articles under Interview Corner to learn more. See you at Jeffre’s this Wednesday!

This is a snippet. Read entire article: Happy Mother’s Day »

May Promotion: Buy one moisturizer, get one free!
The luxurious, creamy Enriched Facial Moisturizer is specially formulated with the highest grade of cosmetic lanolin and dimethicone to penetrate the deepest layers of the skin and replenish its own natural oils. This non-comedogenic formula does not clog pores, but quickly absorbs deep into the skin, providing optimal hydration and leaving a silky, smooth feel to the skin.

The soothing, lightweight Gentle Facial Moisturizer is the ultimate solution for those with oily or sensitive skin. By delivering moisturizing ingredients such as organic silicone, mucopolysaccharides, and sodium hyaluronate directly to the cells through microscopic liposomes, the lanolin-free cream promotes a healthy skin environment to combat the visible signs of aging. This non-irritating daily face cream does not contain any dyes or fragrances. $35.00 ($70.00 value).

This is a snippet. Read entire article: Theraderm May Promotion »

In case you didn’t know, this month is the month to get serious, once and for all, about protecting yourself from skin cancer - from this day forward. Only the best SPF should be applied to your face and body. No excuses people … consider yourself educated. If you are not familiar with my position on sunscreens/blocks, read this article. I am an advocate of three ingredients: zinc oxide, titanium dioxide and mexoryl (you will most likely see the first two ingredients combined). If a product doesn’t contain one or more of these ingredients, I will not test it (and you should thank me for that). Yes, I am picky - but seriously folks, this is our skin we are talking about.

This is near and dear to my heart for two reasons. One, both of my parents are surviving cancer (my dad had skin cancer on his face, too). And two, proper sun protection is the best anti-aging treatment you can do for yourself, aside from staying out of the sun completely. It’s a no-brainer. Love yourself by loving your skin. Protect it.

This is a snippet. Read entire article: May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month »

Grab a spot of tea (or wine!) and settle in to read this month’s reviews. Thanks to the msf team of testers for their help. Enjoy!

Ulrich Lang New York Anvers candle
First off, love the packaging - very simple and elegant. Second, the scent is fantastic. Manly, but not overpowering. I love lighting this candle for just about any occasion - I reach for this one more than any of mine. Perfect for a man … but also perfect for a woman who lives with a man (so we can enjoy it, too!). An A!

Paperboy Soft Twill Trousers
Selfishly, I almost don’t want anyone to know how great these pants are because they’re difficult to find. I love everything about these. The weight, the fabric, the stretch, the muted colors. Totally fab. And even better is the price. Just please save some for me. These get a B+!

This is a snippet. Read entire article: April Product Reviews »

Sometimes, great products transfer easily from child to adult. And it certainly is the case for Tiny Tillia. London-born designer Tiffany Lerman, creator of the successful Chester collection of fashion prints found on products ranging from handbags to scrapbooking, launched the children’s brand Tiny Tillia in 2006 with a range of all-natural bath and body items. After having two children of her own, Tiffany realized that there was a lack of fashionable products for children in the marketplace. And how fantastic is it that some of her products are not only a hit with my children, but with me, as well!

Take her Boo Boo Gel Packs. Though they are touted to make the pain of minor bumps feel better for wee ones, they are fantastic for relieving puffy eyes for adults. They are made from phthalate-free pvc containing a non-toxic water based gel formula.

This is a snippet. Read entire article: Introducing Tiny Tillia »

While it may be a bit selfish at times, the quiet contest clearly serves a purpose … sanity. My kids and I play this game in the car almost every week. I am sure they don’t realize the rationale behind it, but nonetheless, enjoy every second of it. Okay, so maybe I enjoy it even more!

On that note, we are holding quite the opposite kind of contest here. Screaming and shouting at the top of your lungs is completely acceptable - and you could actually be rewarded for it! Just introduce your friends, family, and acquaintances to [my] style files. Forward the emails and encourage them to subscribe. Simply cc: mystylefiles@gmail.com on your emails to three or more people now through May 15th and you will be entered to win a fabulous clutch! The more I work with clients, the more I realize how difficult it can be for women to get a hold of the right kind of information - in a timely fashion. Let’s help by reaching out to as many women as we can, building our community and empowering women of all ages, shapes and sizes.

This is a snippet. Read entire article: Quiet Contest … Starting Now (Not) »

It’s always interesting to see how others interpret black tie. Granted, back in the day, the name was literally a formal translation. However, you don’t have to shy away from color any more … nor should you. You can even get away with more of a cocktail dress versus a long skirt or gown. But honestly, I have to draw the line at Lilly Pulitzer. Not that I have anything against Lilly Pulitzer. However, for a black-tie event, it’s just not appropriate.

I recently attended an event where half of the women got it right. Kudos to them. After all, how often do you have the opportunity to express yourself so formally. We all should take pride in it. The other half, well … I just had to shake my head. Summer dresses, both long and short, don’t count for black tie. Certainly appropriate for, let’s say, a steeple chase, pool party, picnic, evening get together with friends and dinner out.

This is a snippet. Read entire article: Appropriate Attire For Black-Tie Events »

Most of us have had one experience or two ordering internationally. And while the majority of websites and catalogs do their best to help us determine the right size, it can be daunting. Another factor which rarely is clarified is the particular fit from a particular designer, whether that be clothing or shoes. I cannot tell you how sad and frustrated I have been just when I think I have found the absolute perfect shoe in my size (high-end designer and on sale) only to realize how terribly off I was on size.

Granted, every designer is different - even within the size charts below. However, use these charts as your standard guide for converting sizes internationally. If you are purchasing clothing or shoes from a designer you have never worn before, I highly recommend taking the time to email or call customer service to provide the most accurate details in sizing.

This is a snippet. Read entire article: Size Charts Converted »

History is an amazing thing. It weaves in and out of our lives … most of the times, unknowingly. So you can imagine the goose bumps that appeared as I listened to the story unfold. Completely and utterly enveloped in the romance of it all.

What an extreme pleasure to have met with Victoria Christian, daughter of Clive Christian, by phone. I felt like a teenager listening to the latest gossip saying “tell me more, tell me more.”

Clive Christian’s vision has always been to celebrate the heart of the home - the kitchen. At a very early age, Victoria experienced the crystal chandelier (Clive’s signature) adorning the kitchen. Her father had a way of mixing classic, Victorian-esque style with modern sensibilities … in every room of their home. Soon, this began to catch on as people came to realize that you don’t have to sacrifice style for function. So when the Christian family moved into an old Victorian house, built in 1869, it certainly didn’t take long for each room to become a masterpiece in itself.

This is a snippet. Read entire article: Victoria Christian: Evoking Emotion Through Scent »

It never fails, the mornings I have somewhere to be my eyes decide to pack their bags and come along for the ride. I have a special eye mask ice pack (if it’s really bad), and yes I have tried tea bags, as well. But really, we want something a bit more simple, right? Having tested many a product, I have come to rely two fabulous eye creams that really stick to their claim.

I stumbled upon DermaRadiant Ageless Eyes a few years ago after much frustration. It’s so good, I am a perpetual member (see review). My husband even requests it! It contains hesperidins methyl chalcone which decreases fluid by strengthening the capillary micro vessel barrier, dipeptide VW which mobilizes fluid in the tissues and drains it by activating the lymphatic pump, and peptide palmitoyl-GQPR which reduces local inflammation and restores cutaneous firmness and elasticity. You can feel it working.

This is a snippet. Read entire article: Depuff Those Eyes »