Coquette

Web Snob Weekly Roundup

Here is this week's Web Snob with the latest in fashion, beauty, celeb, and lifestyle:

• Shopping and Info found the best Prada bags for the summer.
• Second City Style knows it’s essential to curate the perfect swimwear ensemble that’s equal parts fashion and function in Runway To Real Way: Beach Blanket Bingo!
• The Beauty Stop gets nostalgic with Crayola nail polish.
• BeautySnob loves to start July with a few refreshed products. Find out what her Top 5 Beach-Tote Essentials are!
• Stiletto Jungle picks the must-have items for a tropical vacation -- the ones you didn't know you needed.
• Would you get a lip tattoo like Ke$ha's? See the photos at Allie is Wired.
• Show your Fourth-of-July love with a casual bag, perfect for a long day in the grass and sand. At BagSnob.
• Manolo reminds you that there are few words in the English language more depressing than Utilikilt.

What's In My Bag: Tami's Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q Fran Tote Bag

Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q Fran Tote Bag
$448 at Shopbop
(Also available in a light tan color)

Last fall, my good friend Tami from Fete a Fete was in search of a good everyday bag. I am of course a bag fanatic so I jumped at the chance to help her narrow down brands and styles. It came down at the end to two styles of Marc by Marc Jacobs bags and after testing them out in person at the department store, she was sold on the Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q Fran Bag.

As a writer and blogger, Tami heads to lots of events that range from traveling to a spa or new local restaurant (jealous, right?). Tami is a stylish, no fuss kind of gal and wanted a bag that would work perfectly for everyday use as well as for events where she needed to fit in her large DSLR camera. This pebbled-textured leather bag is perfect because the double handles can fit over your shoulder and in the crook of your arm as well. The double handles also make it easy to access the contents inside.

There is a magnetic top closure with one inside zip pocket and two inside open pockets that are perfect for your cell phone and sunglasses. Dimensions are: 12"W X 11 1/2"W X 4"D There is also a longer detachable strap.

Contents:

Guerlain Rouge G Le Brilliant in Bella B63
Rouge Dior in 741 Allegro Pink
Nars concealer (custard shade)
Day Minder planner
Nine West wallet
Katsushika Hokusai flower print notebook by Galison New York
Moleskin purple mini-notebook
Canon Rebel T3i
Samsung cell phone
iPod Nano

Tami answers a few questions about her bag. I snapped this photo of Tami with her trusty tote while taking photos for her Kohl's spring trend on white.

What is the best thing about your bag?
For a medium-sized bag it's really sturdy and quite spacious. I can stash my camera, notebook, pens, wallet, makeup, sunglasses, phone, etc., and there's still room for extra small items. The generous tote opening makes it so easy to toss things in. I love how strong the handles are.

What is the worst thing about your bag?
The inner lining is slippery so occasionally stuff will slide out if I don't set it upright. Not a deal breaker but can be a bit annoying.

How do you feel when you wear this bag?
I feel very chic, but it doesn't feel precious (nor delicate). It's a basic everyday bag I can throw around and it won't scratch or fall apart. The leather feels so sturdy and soft! It's a great value.

Is it heavy with things inside?
It can get heavy if I put my camera inside. I use it as an everyday bag, but it's not secure enough for travel.

Hope you are liking this new series! Coming up next is a peek inside my neighbor Lilian's Hermes Birkin!

Previous What's In My Bag Posts:
Coach Classic Stewardess Bag

Chanel Precision Eyelash Curler - A Little Luxury for Your Makeup Bag

Chanel Precision Eyelash Curler for $34 at Nordstrom

I've been a little obsessed with watching the beauty videos by makeup artist Lisa Eldridge. I can't remember which one I saw exactly, but in one she demonstrated using a Chanel eyelash curler and mentioned how it was pretty comparable to Shu Uemura and Kevin Aucoin.

For a little beauty pick me up, I knew I had to have this eyelash curler in my makeup bag. I have been using a trusty Sephora one for 10+ years already. The Chanel one looked so chic and so different in black. I just loved the little white Chanel logo sitting in front. I decided that I might as well invest in a really good one for the next 10 years. (The things you tell yourself to justify your purchases, right?) Well yesterday afternoon, I found myself in a deep search. I went to a few locations within Union Square SF and most were sold out since I found out that these Chanel eyelash curlers are limited edition. When I finally hit the Chanel beauty counter at Nordstrom the SA said they had them in stock. Whee!

I tried them out when I got home and I loved how my eyelashes curled! Since the curler is black and my lashes are black, it takes a bit of concentration to do it because I couldn't really see my lashes. The curler just fits in all the right places without pinching so I just let go and trusted that it was curling my lashes, which it was. I didn't put on mascara after I curled them last night and to my surprise while looking in the mirror a few hours later before bed, my lashes still looked curled and cute! I couldn't believe it. This morning, I curled them again and wore them with my new Dior Show mascara. Without any primping in the day, my lash curl still looked pretty darn good tonight!

Nordstrom seems to be the only place you can buy the Chanel eyelash curlers online. On the product page you can enter in your zip code, to see if your local Nordstrom has it in stock as well.

CitySlips Foldable Ballet Flats - Get 20% Off these Little Feet Savers

A few years ago during NY fashion week, Leigh and I were huddled on a Soho bench after the Vivienne Tam party, talking off our heels and resting our feet. We really weren't sure how we would put our heels back on to walk the five minute distance back to my hotel. At this point, the walk felt like it would take hours. She had about a million bandages on her feet so I dubbed them "mummy feet" and we laughed at the pain we go through for fashion.

Today with CitySlips, I know it would all be different. CitySlips foldable ballet flats that are so compact they can fit inside your handbag. The fold up nicely in their small square travel bag. Once you've partied on through the night and need to give your feet a rest, simply take out the flats to unfold and wear. The small square travel bag transforms into a larger tote bag where you can then also carry around your heels. Genius right?

I got a pair of the Black Snakeskin to try out and am impressed with the fit and quality. I've used these even to have in my bag as I am breaking in a pair of sandals now. Keep in mind these are only temporary shoes to let you finish off the day or evening so you don't end up with mummy feet. Since these flats have to be compact and fold up, the soles aren't really made for everyday wear (although they are totally cute enough to be). Just use these as your emergency feet savers. They come in a variety of colors in snakeskin or matte as well as a leopard print. At just $24.95 these foldable flats are perfect to get for yourself and as gifts for friends.

Coquette readers can also get 20% off CitySlips by entering the code coquette at checkout. Shop CitySlips now!

Note: Review product provided by CitySlips.

Web Snob Weekly Roundup

Here is this week's Web Snob with the latest in fashion, beauty, celeb, and lifestyle:

• Second City Style won't tell anyone if you feel the need to twirl in this Summer 2012 Trend: Skater Dresses.
• Shopping and Info wants these Burberry black riding rain boots for summer rainstorms.
• The Beauty Stop spills on the best new summer beauty product steals and freebies.
• Stiletto Jungle explores the top options for creating a bright, white smile.
• Kris Humphries claims Kris Jenner staged Kim Kardashian's sex tape -- Allie is Wired.
• Manolo the Shoeblogger warns designers: Kristen Stewart will make you clothes look bad.
• The Jet Set Girls share their Summer Reading List 2012.

Crafty DIY Roundup

I'm missing the craft community a lot lately and just had a great catch up call with Erica from P.S. I Made This... which made me remember all the fun fashion-related crafty projects I loved to read about. I'm going to try to do a roundup every other week. It's a reminder that fashion is fun and doesn't always have to be bought in a store. I also love food and new recipes so I'll try to include those as well.

I always encounter people who think they aren't crafty but it really just takes one project to make to get you hooked with the crafting bug. Find an easy one to tackle and just give yourself a hour or a few to have fun with it and not worry about the end result. For starters, I love Erica's Knot Rope Necklace (inspiration board here) which is oh so very easy to make and is totally on trend with the rope detail and bright colors. Enjoy making it and wearing it around town while the compliments pour in.

Dip Dye Ombre Ballet Flats by Amiee Santos of Swellmayde, as featured on Unique

Geek Chic iPad Case (sewing project) by Lisa Lam of U-handbag.com from her new book, A Bag for All Reasons, as featured on How About Orange

Cerviche de Vegan by Joseph Shuldiner from the book Pure Vegan, as featured on the Chronicle Books blog.

The OCD Chef Cutting Board

Do you ever wish you could chop your veggies more evenly? I love this Fred The OCD Chef Cutting Board
($17.29 at Amazon). It's the perfect way to practice your fine julienne dices to impress your friends. Just line up your veggies in the grid and chop away. As a crafter, I love the precision you can get with the detailed grids. The beechwood board is 9 X 12" and also makes the perfect gift for your favorite newbie chef.

I can't help but recall Phil Hartman's classic SNL skit of the Anal Retentive Chef. Watch it now if you haven't seen this.

A Sunny Shade of Yellow

There's something about the color yellow that feels so vibrant and happy for summer. I am loving striking yellow tops, skirts, dresses and have always obsessed over find the right colored yellow bag. Right now I'm eyeing the alice + olivia Gathered Tank ($165 at Shopbop) and the Rag & Bone JEAN Phoenix Top (On sale for $105 at Shopbop, L only). Both are great to pair over jeans but would equally looked more dressed up with sleek black pants or a skirt.

Here are more yellow things I am adoring:

Ella Moss Girl's Best Friend Top ($88 at Shopbop)

Hive & Honey Easy Belted Day Dress ($38.99 at Piperlime)

Pim + Larkin Colette Pencil Skirt

Joe's Jeans Neon Skinny Jeans ($169 at Piperlime)

Coach Leather Mini New Willis ($198 at Coach)

Rebecca Minkoff Mini 5 Zip Clutch ($195 at Shopbop)

Rebecca Minkoff Flirty Bag ($250 at Shopbop)

Sabine Twisted Multi Strand Beaded Necklace ($26 at Piperlime)

Web Snob Weekly Roundup

Here is this week's Web Snob with the latest in fashion, beauty, celeb, and lifestyle:

• The Row $5,100 Python Bag Giveaway with NET-A-PORTER : A BagSnob’s Dream Come True!
• Second City Style thinks that sometimes you want to wear something classic without looking like you’re an extra from Mad Men in Style Sleuth: A Twist On Ladylike Classics.
• Feel like a natural woman with SK-II Cellumination Essence. At BeautySnob.
• Stiletto Jungle picks affordable swimsuit cover-ups for every style, from casual to bombshell.
• Shopping and Info wants this rose Hermes Kelly bag for summer 2012 .
• Allie is Wired has a first look at Edward, Bella and Renesmee from Breaking Dawn Part 2.
• The Beauty Stop spills the deatils on Lady Gaga's new Fame fragrance.

Summer Swim Style: Colorful Patterns

(Photos: Old Navy)

Today's the last day of school for my daughter and I'm so majorly ready for summer! The weather in the Bay Area has been so nice and I can't wait to head to a swimming pool or play on the beach with the fam. It's time for a new swimsuit and with all the infusion of color from spring, I can't stop eyeing all the colorful swimsuits in gorgeous patterns. Right now, there's a huge swim sale at Old Navy going on now and it's a great chance to pick up a new swimsuit or two for you (as well as the whole family). I love bikinis and the boy short style is fun and still sexy. I love the bright striped colors in the Striped Boy Short Bikini that's pictured left (on sale for $12.50 each). The details on the Triangle Halter Tab Bikinii (on sale for $17.50 each) are luxe looking and the padded bra top gives you a little added boost, which is always a nice plus. I like that each of the bikini tops and bottoms from Old Navy are sold separately so you can get different sizes as well as mix and match patterns if you want.

Here are more of my favorite swimsuits with colorful patterns:

Splash Print Bandeau Bikini ($12.99 each)

Multi Print Crochet String Bikini ($12.99 each)

Geometric Print String Bikinis ($12.50 each)

Don't forget stylish look of tankini's either! I love mixing patterns within the same color family.

Shop the swim sale at Old Navy now through June 27th.

Old Navy brings fashion fun to the whole family: from trendy threads to trusty basics, for newborns through adults, all at prices that are oh-so-right.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Old Navy via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Old Navy.