trendier

I Like, You Like, We Like

Being in Australia has made my passion for online shopping very difficult. Even with a plethera of shopping options in New York City, I still loved finding bargains online.

My favorite way to online shop is using Googles “shopping” option, which I no longer have access to living in Australia. Instead, I have stumbled across a website that does something very similar if not more.

Like, which launched in 2006 and was recently acquired by Google, is a website that integrates Computer Vision and Machine Learning technology in order to search the web to find exactly what you are looking for or something very similar to it.

You can search for a specific color like “yellow dress” and it will pull every yellow dress it can find.



If you are searching for something specific and it's no longer available then just hit the “visual search” key and it will find everything available that looks like it.

This site works for everything, not only apparel and it can not only help complete and outfit or home but help get you the best price. Pretty awesome in my books and worth checking out if I say so myself.

Compact Desk - customization for your jewelry box

Being in Australia has given me exposure to a whole new world of fashion, accessories and beauty products. One such Australia born company is Compact Desk. Created by Stefan Kahn, it offers a wide variety of sleek looking product for your home and office.

My favorite so far is the Kbox jewelry box system. Simple in design but unique in its setup. This modular system allows the consumer to design the jewelry box to his or her specifications.

First, choose the size of the box. You can choose the solid black or a limited edition print like the one below.


Second, choose the felt insertions. They come in 3 colors with a few different layouts. My favorite is the magenta. It's absolutely amazing in person. Here are 2 examples.

                      

They fit securely in like so...


Third, and final, choose any add-ons and extras. This will complete the Kbox jewelry system. The sleek look and architectural design allow for them to sit beautifully on any coffee table or dresser.


With aerospace technology, these boxes are designed with unique micro dot rubbers attached to the underside so that they will not slide or move around. Here is a close-up picture of them.


These boxes are perfect for traveling as well because each box can store 2 layers of felt which ensures that your jewelry will not move around during travel, a problem I am having with my current jewelry box.

Here are a few other geniusly engineered products from the Compact Desk range like the iphone and Blackberry cases. With great price points these would make great gifts for the holidays.







 
 

 

Shop online or check out where to buy in your country. Click here.

Wiping away Frownie lines with Frownies!

As we inevitably get older we realize that time is one thing we can’t get back. With that we notice all the things that come with getting older. Things like “recoup rate” after a long night of drinking or sighs as we get up and down are just a couple.  One sign of aging that is particularly aggravating for me are wrinkles!

So, in addition to my sunscreen, eye cream, and night cream I have now incorporated Frownies into my regular routine. Frownies? You might say. Yes! Frownies! A line created to help smooth out wrinkle lines over night in the most unconventional way. Through a system of stick-on facial patches, Frownies are able to hold muscles in place throughout the night. Therefore, lessening the appearance of wrinkles in the morning. A more thourough explanation can be found here.

Granted, I do feel absolutely ridiculous wearing them but they do work! This line has tons of great components. I have been using the Gel Eye Patches, the forehead and between the eyes facial patches along with the Active Immune Perfect lotion and am loving the results. The Gel Eye Patches help rebuild collagen and therefore, reduce puffiness as well as under eye wrinkles.


 

Believe it or not but Frownies were actually created back in the late 1800’s. Who knew? Plus, I have to say the prices are very reasonable. I have spent way more money on other product and not seen the same kind of results.  You wont have to break the bank with this line because the most expensive item is still under $40.

I recommend checking them out! You can buy online or for all my lovely New Yorkers you can find them at any Rickys NYC store. I also suggest checking out their free health and beauty newsletter. There is tons of great advise on there.

Thanks to Frownies for providing product for this review. I was in no way compensated for this post and all opinions are my own.

Absolutely Audrey- For the Carrie Bradshaw on a Budget

If you’re anything like me, you saw the first Sex In They City movie and instantly fell in love with Carrie Bradshaw’s famous blue satin Monolo Blahniks. Well, just like me my girlfriend, Kendra did too and decided that she would have to have those pumps for her upcoming wedding day which we happily celebrated this past August. Kendra was thrifty; she found a way to by-pass the $945 Monolo Blahniks with a pair of beautiful Martinez Valero pumps for only $160.

Well ladies… I am here to do even better than that! Inspired by Audrey Hepburn and her mothers sparkling vintage pump’s, Crisa Barriball decided to create Absolutely Audrey, shoe clips for your dressed-up occasion. Created back 2003, these shoe clips have received great praise while appearing in many magazines, on The Today Show and Daily Candy, just to name a few. 

Now of course, Absolutely Audrey isn’t for every lady but for those looking to not spend a fortune on shoes then this is for you. With these shoe clips you can mock up a $200 pair Badgely Mischka pumps for only $82. With an average price point of $20 they are sure to dress up any pair of plain shoes. Can you tell which ones are designer and which ones are wearing Absolutely Audrey?

These can be located at various retails around the world including my soon-to-be new home, Australia. Too far? No worries, they are available online as well. The choice is yours ladies and I am here to help!

PocketFlops… you can thank me later!

To all my high heel wearing ladies out there! I have one word for you… POCKETFLOPS!!

I recently heard about this amazing product and personally had to seek out the ingenious designer. Created by Maria Pantazes and prototyped on the floor of her Los Angeles apartment, she began with her roommate’s old flip flops to create folding flips flops.

Made completely from recycled tires and all organic materials, PocketFlops are regular flip flops that happen to fold in the center for easy storage and transporting. They are of great quality, cute designs and fold downward as to not dirty up your bag. Plus, most importantly, they DO NOT fold when you walk. You would never know the difference between these and a pair of Havaianas.



WHAT AN AMAZING IDEA! Why didn’t I think of this! Countless times I have gone out at night with my sexy high heels on and ended the night with my feet in serious agony. I don’t lie when I say I have ended the night short just because my feet were hurting so bad. Hurt feet no more!

Put on your dancing shoes but before you leave the house put PocketFlops in your purse!

PocketFlops is picking up speed and gaining a following in places like Oklahoma, British Columbia and Australia. What surprised me the most is that these aren’t the big metro cities like NYC where walking is a must.

Want to see for yourself? Go online buy a pair! You wont regret it and you can thank me later!

Follow PocketFlops on Facebook and Twitter as well.

Everybody had a voice with Voz

I love clothes and I love accessories! One major reason is that it allows me to express myself through medians other than my body language and tone. What you wear can show people when you want to be sexy, laid back, professional or even funny. What you wear gives you a voice and everybody has a voice.

It’s been about 3 years now and Voz Jewelry does just that. This unique line of pendants, rings and bracelets help to express and convey every kind of person. While most jewelry compliments color or style Voz tries to make a statement about the person wearing the jewelry.

Just a few examples are these pieces.

Peace Pendant

                                           

Music is My Boyfriend Necklace 

Tree of Life Ring $10

After speaking with one of the two designers I see that one of their biggest advantages is the ability to make custom pieces. The biggest challenge, which seems to be consistent among all the companies I interview, is finding a balance between pursuing what you love and being financially profitable.

Voz is based out of California and can be found at various craft shows as well. In the LA area then definitely look them up. Their product is always changing and never the same. Find them on Twitter and Facebook!

A bloke is a bloke is an UrbanBloke

A bloke, as defined by Wikipedia, is a British slang term for a man, also commonly used in Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. So, as one of my blokes tells me I haven’t written about something for guys in awhile, I decided to do just that.

Attention all men looking for great clothes, great prices and readily available sales just like all the women get! Here is a website that is targeted to…yup you got it… MEN!

UrbanBloke, which has only been around for the last 2.5 months since their launch on March 16, is an online flash sale site geared towards men. With over 40 vendors on board in less than 3 months, you gotta give these guys credit. With names like Ralph Lauren, Joseph Abboud and Calvin Klein you might as well check it out. (and let us know what you think)

Granted, they are still small with limited amount of product but with the help of my readers there is no reason why this cant be the next Gilt or Ideeli!

Use this link to login in and shop!

UrbanBloke Invite Code

No hostile aquisition at this Fourth Crusade

While browsing through one of my new regular websites, Wikifashion, I stumbled across an online store called Fourth Crusade.

No hostile acquisition at this Fourth Crusade, only unique avant-garde jewelry from small designers straight from Italy.  Founded by Diana Taranto, she uses her experience from working with an assortment of designers as well as her year spent living in Italy to spot these immaculate  jewels.

Take a look at some of them! Too rich for my blood but the Shakespeare rings, by Loepp & Nagai, are a personal favorite.

Shop by artist or by product but either way definitely stay in the know by signing up for their Friday afternoon email blast; nothing extensive, just a quick note with the latest news on websites, product and brands to hit the streets.

In a World Going Green… Go Shumaq!

Everywhere I turn everyone is talking about going green and as many of you know I do just that. In addition to recycling, I am trying to use little electricity and buy more organic and locally grown produce.

So after hearing from my friend, Little Miss Judgemental, about a clothing label that is doing just that, I knew I had to share! Shumaq, a women’s clothing line, was founded by two sisters from Lima, Peru and is taking every step to be a socially conscious line. Shumaq, which means beautiful in their native tongue, tries to use eco-friendly materials as much as possible but is really focusing on the workers that make the clothes.

Shumaq only employs women from small factories in their native land of Peru and when they say small they mean it. Most of the factories only have 3-4 workers, most of who are struggling to work independently and make a living.  By dividing the production among many of these small factories they are able to offer fair wages to many local businesses.

I am seriously impressed! Not only do I love Shumaq’s business model and all that they are doing for the women and economy of Lima but just look at their clothes… BEAUTIFUL!




The two sisters, Vanessa and Jacqueline, get most of their inspiration from their travels, their music and vintage pieces they find along the way. For their Fall 2010 collection their inspiration was Imperial Russia and the Romanovs royal architecture and jewels.

Reasonably priced and easy to find! Starting this fall they can be found here in New York City at Anthropolgie, Plum, A Tempo, Montmartre and online at BlueFly, just to name a few.

Put your money towards a good cause!

MyNines: My Bloglines for Sample Sales

Every morning I wake up, get the coffee pot going and sit down in front of my laptop to start reading all the bloggers and websites that I follow. Luckily, I use Bloglines to help roll everything into one so I don't have to type in each website individually to see who's posted.

But that hasn't been the case for my online shopping until NOW! A new website that JUST launched does just that. MyNines brings together all the online sample sales in one place. Just like Kayak does for flights, it gathers, sorts and organizes. What a great idea!

With 50-90% of all things ranging from jewelry and handbags to wine and travel, this site is good for the whole family, maybe even the dog. With phones that bring everything together in one, why not have MyNines do the same for you?

Look what TechCrunch is saying here.

Business Insider called it one of "The 20 Hot New Startup Website to Watch"