Stylish with Substance

See, this top is lovely. So me right now, but sheer.

I wear a lot of tank tops underneath my v-neck shirts, and my most versatile colored ones are getting old. I went shopping trying to find supplemental tops, and everything's sheer. Listen, I need to cover myself. Even when layering three on, my little "bumps" are seen. If I wanted sheer, I'd work hard 3 hours, five days a week on getting a six-pack. And if I wanted my flaws poking through fabric, I'd wear silk (hate that silk).

Is this a Spring trend? (I rather hope not, but I also would hate it to last.) Have I missed reading about this? I know my reading material has been less fashion and more journalism / creative writing / sociology. (I know, what a waste!)

So; what the sheer?!

Shock! There is an old-school part of me that loves the feel of those old phone receivers, shaped long to fit your hand on just right. See what I'm talking about with an actual receiver for the cell phone: Fred Cell Phone Receiver.

It works with most cell phones, but comes with adapters (just in case). If you're wondering how this is useful, I've just got to say, "sometimes I feel like I need to relax more than holding my (relatively) tiny phone in my hand or stuck on my shoulder. Sometimes I want to lay back on my bed and groove, baby. This phone handle looks down-right comfy!" Plus it's cute! In red and---ooh, pink!!

(I want that!) $20 from FredFlare.com.

Mallory Road gave the the idea for this week's featured designer: Fendi. With their IT bag's instantly-noticeable belt buckle, accessories other than the purses with the same buckles can be just as hot.

That goes for these shoes, the Fendi Patent Buckle Slides, which she didn't feature, but linked to. Well, I had to feature them.

They're perfection!

And we must not forget that Fendi B. Belt, seen on celebs, everywhere, but which can't be found to purchase online. Big bummer. Not that I would even think about purchasing the extravagant accessory, but I can complain about the unfair life of the civilian. Oh!

Belt picture courtesy of Fashion Tribes.

A L'Oreal store in Hartford Connecticut has come out with great technology: a room with changing lighting, reflecting the changes of scenery women are in throughout their days. The goal is to help women make better makeup choices.

You spend all that time in front of the bedroom mirror, perfecting your crimson-colored pout and camouflaging a restless night's sleep. But for some reason, that flawless face you had when you left home looks nothing like the train wreck greeting you in the morning sunlight of the rearview mirror, nothing like the droopy mess blinking back at you in the bathroom at, say, Max Downtown.

Just last week, I realized my concealer was, while a bit light on my face, really dark under my jaw---once I was out and about. We all face this problem, and it's caused by lighting.

Hartford's L'Oreal Paris Living Lab has

the TrueLight lighting pod, this closet of a room replicates the range of lighting that might grace one's face in the span of a day. A free, permanent fixture of the store ... A high stool sits before a large mirror, flanked by two illuminated columns and overhead lighting.

This "pod" even plays music. Hmmmm ... when are they going to come out with a portable, or "mini," version for the home or our purses?

Better yet, can they create something that changes the lighting around us women at all times---our best lighting.

A girl can dream! Till then, if you can get to the Westfarms mall in Hartford CT, be sure to visit the L'Oreal store!

source: Courant.com