JUNE COLOR PALETTE

Images (Clockwise from top left):

{ Teen Vogue – Janelle Burger – The Sartorialist – Birthday Girl Blog }

I TWEET THEREFORE I AM

Just in case you’ve forgotten, I recently joined Twitter. And I tweet. And I like it.

I like it a lot.

Tweet Tweet Tweet Tweet Tweet Tweet Tweet

EYES LIKE A SHUTTER...

Image: Tumblr

THERE’S MORE TO LIFE THAN BOOKS

Image: theblackapple 

AGYNESS DEYN LAUNCHES MAGAZINE

Adding to her growing resume as model, singer and fashionista, Agyness Deyn launched an online magazine, NAAG, with friend Fiona Byrne.

Its a mish-mash of fashion, beauty, music, art and a bunch of other stuff. It’s not a traditional magazine, by all means. It looks sort of like a blog, and also reminds me of Gwyneth Paltrow’s GOOP.

Agyness is another model following in the footsteps of her fellow colleague Anja Rubik, who launched a magazine called 25 earlier this year with her boyfriend Sasha Knezevic. If we’re to judge the mags by the popularity of the above mentioned girls, then they certainly have a bright future ahead of them.

Thanks for the heads up, Sara!

2 LOVE MY LIPS

2 Love My Lips is a lip gloss and cosmetics line that offers both beauty and safety for women. The pretty lip gloss range is packaged to include a drink spike-detector kit! The gloss is a girl’s best friend while the test strips offer protection against spiked drinks.

According to a number of surveys, the number of reported drugged incidents are increasing yearly. Spiked drinks can lead to theft, rape and in some cases death.

“The Detector is designed to identify the presence of Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate  (GHB) and Ketamine in drinks in concentrations likely to have an effect on the health and welfare of the consumer. The Detector may identify other substances but will not detect Rohypnol.”

The Detector works on Non-Alcoholic & Soft Drinks such as Apple, Grapefruit, Orange and Cranberry Juices, Coca-Cola, 7-Up, Pepsi, Red Bull, Vitamin Water
Tea and Coffee. In addition to Alcoholic Beverages such as Beers, Straight Spirits, Wine and Champagne. The test strips can be used to test one drink only.

Please visit the site to learn more about staying in control. Be careful and be safe. Always, always, always.

THE A-TEAM

A couple of days ago, we went to see the The A-Team, an action flick based on the hit 1980’s TV show also called “The A-Team”. I’ve never seen the original series and know nothing about the characters except that it starred Mr.T – the guy with the famous line “I pity the fool!”. Other than that, it was completely new to me.

Directed by Joe Carnahan, the story follows a group of Army Rangers, Colonel John “Hannibal” Smith (Liam Neeson), Lt. Templeton “Faceman” Peck (Bradley Cooper), B.A. Baracus (Quinton "Rampage" Jackson) and Murdock (Sharlto Copley) who are as diverse in personalities as can be. The movie opens in Mexico, where some of the Rangers are on a rescue mission. Hilarity and action ensue, giving us a preview of what’s to come later on in the movie.

Flash forward some years later, the same group, now stationed in Iraq, is approached by CIA agent Lynch (Patrick Wilson) with a special mission to retrieve stolen U.S. currency plates and a huge amount of counterfeit currency from Baghdad. When the mission goes haywire, the Rangers are accused of a crime they did not commit and are stripped of their titles. They then set about trying to clear their names and reclaim justice. Not to mention revenge.

As for the performances, Liam Neeson (my “older man” crush) is fantastic. He plays the role well: being the leader, making plans, looking hot while doing so, the whole works. Bradley Cooper is amazing. He’s funny, he’s sexy, he’s sleazy, he’s charming and he played his role to perfection. Quinton Jackson was a nice surprise for me. I’ve never heard of him before, but he played a “don’t mess with me” character who was equally sweet and loveable. Not to mention some quite funny scenes. Sharlto Copley is brilliant as a not-quite-right-in-the-head pilot Murdock. You will just love the scenes he’s in. Patrick Wilson also plays his role well. You keep guessing throughout the film, “Is he a good guy? Is he a bad guy?”.

Now comes the bad part. Jessica Biel as Captain Charisa Sosa. She was the worst thing about the movie, in my opinion. Her acting was so bland and fake that she just made her character completely unnecessary. Someone more vibrant or vivacious could have made her character stand out. I know a little romance/love interest is needed in movies like this, but she just ruined it.

In the end, the performances by all the other characters cover up the few mistakes made. Some scenes were sooo unbelievably exaggerated that you might laugh a little. But nevertheless, they make for great entertainment.

There was a lot of humor, a lot of action and some “eye candy” scenes from a very handsome Bradley Cooper. Thumbs up, indeed!

Poster Image: Stockdisplays.co.uk

KATHERINE HEIGL IN HARPER’S BAZAAR

Katherine Heigl’s photo shoot for the June 2010 issue of Harper’s Bazaar is so fresh and lovely! I adore the whole styling, from hair to makeup to fashion. A lot of times, simplicity goes a long way. And it’s nice to see that instead of all the grunge and rock & roll looks that are everywhere. Not that that’s a bad thing, it’s just that it’s getting so cliché.

Images: Harper’s Bazaar via Pudding & Pie

AND THE WINNER IS…

Congratulations DEANNA G!! You won a $100 Shopbop Gift Certificate good towards the entire store. An email will be sent to you right away, so be sure to check your Inbox (and Spam Folder just in case). If you do not respond within 3 days, I will have to choose another winner.

Thanks everyone for participating. As always, keep checking back for more amazing giveaways. Have a nice day!

HOW TO AVOID TALKING TO PEOPLE

Image: Jim Tierney

WORK FOR FREE

 

Image:  Greyscale Gorilla

SKETCHBOOK MAGAZINE

I bet many of you haven't heard of Sketchbook Magazine, let alone read an issue. But you should. You really reeaally should.

Sketchbook is an independent quarterly magazine - established in 2009 - that focuses on fashion, design, art, illustration and culture, with a lot of creative things mixed in. It is unlike any magazine you’ve seen before. It is equal parts magazine, portfolio and sketchbook. It is filled with drawings, doodles and funny sketches, amongst the fashion editorials and brilliant interviews with emerging designers like Henry Holland and bloggers like Tavi Gevinson.

I had the privilege of interviewing Sketchbook’s creator and Editor-in-Chief Wafa Alobaidat and I was fascinated with the way she and her team think and work.

I’d love it if you read the article HERE.

HEARTBREAK HOTEL

A simply divine editorial. Despite seeing them everywhere, those Miu Miu platforms have really grown on me.

Images: Fashion Gone Rogue via Vain & Vapid

KARKOOSHA

KARKOOSHA (pronounced Kar-koo-sha; an Arabic word for a tassel) is an online exhibition platform that provides virtual space for exhibitors from all over the world. It is set up into boutiques with different time frames, depending on the exhibitor’s package. Each boutique has its own style. You can find established designers, or new designers that have just opened their doors to show off their unique talents. You can find clothing, shoes, accessories, furniture, art and lots of other things.

Exhibitions are held from 2 weeks to a year. Their services include displaying, selling, managing, marketing, packaging, customer service and delivery of the products. All the exhibitor has to do is register online or email them at exhibitors@karkoosha.com.

PS. Read my interview with Karkoosha creator Suad Al-Ghanim

Update: Register with KARKOOSHA this week and mention “Pomegranate and Patchouli” to receive a complimentary 2 weeks for free!

GOOGLE BEFORE YOU TWEET

Image: ffffound

PILE THEM ON

Image: Monica Rose

L’HEURE BLEUE

Isabeli Fontana is drop dead gorgeous! GORGEOUS!! I want everything in this editorial. Especially that last dress.. and ALL the jewels of course.

Images: Fashion Gone Rogue via Fashion Tidbits

WIN A $100 SHOPBOP GIFT CARD AND SHOP ALEXANDER WANG!

It's been a while since I hosted a giveaway on the blog, so how would you like to have your own private designer sale? Whether you love an Alexander Wang dress or something from Alexander Wang clearance, share what your favorite Wang item is for a chance to win a $100 Shopbop gift card!

Although Alexander Wang is still a relative newcomer to the fashion scene, he has made himself quite a name, and has become the go-to label for celebrities like Mary-Kate Olsen, Nicole Richie and Gwyneth Paltrow. Wang's girls are casually cool, model chic, and with a bit of a rock vibe thrown in. Wang himself initiated the "Model Off-Duty" look, preferring a stylish thrown together ensemble rather than a put-together look. His Spring/Summer 10 collection was inspired by the 80s, with a lot of sporty influences. And can we not forget about those braids?

After branching out into shoes, handbags, and a basics line called T by Alexander Wang, and becoming one of the most sought after international brands, is there anything the young man can't do?

To win a $100 Shopbop gift card good towards the entire store:

• Leave a comment below on which Alexander Wang online item from Shopbop is your favorite and why.
• Leave your name and email in the comment (a first name will suffice).
• This giveaway is open to all international readers.
• The winner will be chosen at random and notified via email. 
• If the winner does not respond within 3 days, another winner will be selected.
• Not following the above rules will disqualify your entry.

The contest ends Friday June 18, 2010. The winner will be announced the following day.

GOOD LUCK!

ANNOUNCEMENT

Hey guys! We're experiencing a little technical difficulties. Having a hard time posting, plus searching for new Internet providers. So tired of unreliable Internet connections from our previous provider.

I'll be back to constant blogging in no time.

Stay tuned for a super hot GIVEAWAY tonight!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KHALEEJESQUE!

Khaleejesque was launched on June 1, 2009. That “little” e-zine grew into something none of the team could have imagined. The exposure it has gotten is extraordinary. And contrary to many people who thought this was just a temporary thing that wasn’t going to last, well, obviously that’s not the case!

When I was first approached to join the Khaleejesque team, I was a bit hesitant. I had no idea what to expect, didn’t know most of the team and frankly wasn’t interested in a long-term deal. Boy was I mistaken!

Today, exactly a year since it’s first issue, we’ve published 300+ articles, gotten 1,000,000+ visitors, and acquired an international readership that spans more than 100 countries! For an online magazine that is based in Kuwait and covers the Arabian Gulf region, that is a feat on its own.

I’m so proud of everything we’ve accomplished, and I’m so honored to be part of the team. Here’s to 100 more years!

FOOTZYROLLS

I shop online a lot. And I’m always happy when I find new stores (credible ones!) to shop. I got an email from The-Manhattan.Net, which is an online store that I haven’t heard of before. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it’s based in Kuwait too.

Anyway, they stock these amazing affordable creations called Footzyrolls. Basically, they are rollable, foldable ballet flats that you can throw into your bag (or clutch) for those nights when you know you won’t be able to stand in your heels for a long time!

They’re designed to be comfortable, waterproof and skid-proof. And they look cute too! But best of all, they roll into a size smaller than your palm so you can stash them in your smallest bag. They come with a Footzybag to protect the interior of your bag – and to later carry your heels in .

The site is under construction at the moment – they’re being revamped. But you can contact them by email for now: info@The-Manhattan.Net