Can you believe it’s already August? It’s okay though, because that means my favorite season is almost here: FALL!! (The first day of Fall in the Northern Hemisphere this year is September 22 at 5:18 p.m.) In preparation for this crisp, bright, leafy, rainy, glorious time of year, I created an Autumn Essentials list, chockablock full of products (clocks, silverwear, apparel, art, etc.) to help get you in the spirit. In honor of Halloween, the list currently contains 31 items, but I’m sure there will be more as the autumn months get closer, so keep checking back! Cool stuff shown above (L-R): Puckered Canvas Bag, 23 Inch Roulette Clock, Narration Booties, Lipmann Collection Nail Color in Dark Side of The Moon, Gladiator Bird, Raven, Wire Spun Candelabra, Viceroy Velvet Curtain.

Are you a classic beauty or are you more of a trendy gal? Whether you’re ultrafemme or urbertrendy, I’ve added products to a personalized list made just for you, just in time for your Fall makeup overhaul! Find your beauty style using the chart below and follow the links to your beauty product page. Hot new makeup, fragrances, and more will be waiting there for you!

The Seductress, product shown: duwop tinted prime venom in tango.
The Bohemian, product shown:argan oil by josie maran.
The Trendster, product shown: vera wang rock princess eau de toilette.
The Classic, product shown: lippmann collection nail laquer in day and night.
The Bombshell, product shown:shu uemura false eyelashes in smoky layers.

Summer is about simplicity. Layering too many accessories and products makes your look stuffy and over-done. Sticking with key trendy summer essentials allows you to keep the rest of your look laid-back and relaxed, the way summer should be. My favorite summer must-haves are shown below, but there are plenty of items in several other summer categories to shop through. Happy clicking!

See all: Yellow Purses, Coral Blushes, Cork Wedge Heels, White Jewelry, Braided Jewelry, Retro Sunglasses.

Shown above (L-R): Berbenno handbag in light yellow by ALDO, CORALista blush by benefit, Mely Wedge in Chocolate by BCBGirls, Braided Magnetic Cuff Bracelet by Accessories & Beyond, sunglasses by Forever21.

OTHER SUMMER ESSENTIALS:
(Basics so easy, you’ll rock them every day!)

Baggy Tees
Beach Totes
Bandeau Tops
Charm Bracelets
Havaianas Sandals
Bronzers
Sarongs
Loose Powder Makeup
Anti-Cellulite Products

Tarina Tarantino has random taste! But so do most people.That’s why I really enjoy the designer’s jewelry line. She’s got a piece of jewelry to fit your every mood. If you’re feeling quirky, try the Labbit Hoop Earrings (part of the Kidrobot by Tarina Tarantino Collection). If you’re feeling romantic, bust out the Baroque Skull Multibead Necklace (as worn by Pink on the cover of Seventeen mag). If you’re feeling gangsta, throw on the Heart and Crystal ‘Things That Hurt’ Drop Earrings (also part of the Kidrobot Collection). Everything’s different, but it’s all girly, quirky, and fun! Totes cute! Check out my Necklaces and Earrings buyer’s guides, chockablockfull of my fave Tarina picks!

Word to the wise: It seems as if most of the Tarina pieces look smaller in pictures than they actually are. For example, the Long Peal Munny Necklace (Kidrobot Collection) looks tiny on its own, but on a model, it’s HUGE! Same with the Hello Kitty Mascot Drop Earrings. Don’t get me wrong. I love this!!! The bigger, the better! You know me! Just be warned.

Also, be aware that some of the Tarina jewelry is meant to be a surprise when you receive it. Meaning that while you (maybe) have the option to choose the color of your earrings, you’re not able to choose which charms will dangle from them (this is the case with the Things That Hurt earrings).

The Labbit Hoop Earrings, like the toys, are sold completely “blind,” a.k.a., you get no say in the matter at all. You get whatever color rabbits you get and that’s supposed to be “part of the fun!” I’m not too sure how I feel about this surprise factor when I’m dropping $120 on a pair of cigarette-smoking rabbit hoops. What do you think: Is the surprise fun or whack? VOTE NOW!

Reading the “color issue” of my beloved InStyle magazine really inspired me to branch out from my everyday blacks, browns, and greys, especially when it comes to makeup and nail polish. And WOOHOO!, the fashion pros even gave me permission to “go ahead and clash my nail polish” with my makeup and clothes. So that’s exactly what I’ve been doing! Yesterday was yellow eyeshadow and gold Keri Hilson earrings. Today, green shadow and lavender nail polish (with glitter, duh).

Color really does affect your mood, so if you’ve been feeling down in the dumps lately, I highly recommend some shimmery Diamond Powder makeup, a colorful Jeweled Cuff Bracelet, or some Oscar de la Renta Embellished Espadrille Wedges to cheer you up. Hot.

Also pictured, Lorella Satchel by Guess Handbags and Emilio Pucci Blue Napa Lame heels.

Here are some of my favorite color/mood associations:

Red: Passion
Orange: Creativity
Yellow: Joy
Green: Ambition
Blue: Tranquility
Purple: Wisdom

Check out my Colorful Spring Trench Coats buyer’s guide to see some bright, sexy trench coats that are popping up everywhere in the city this Spring! I want a RED one!

My sister recently got her makeup done at NARS for fun. The end result was tads scary (an attempt at “Mod” eyes with lavender shadow and unblended black crease lines that was promptly removed once we arrived home). I sat and looked around at the other NARS products while the unfortunate makeup session was occurring. My sis ended up purchasing a lip crayon that the makeup artist didn’t even use on her, called NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Walkyrie. I tried it and fell in love.

I have thin lips and RARELY put color on them, other than the occasional red when I’m feeling bold, but this creamy, velvety pencil/crayon thingy changed all that business. It has just enough color to look like a stain, its soft enough to feel like a lipstick, and it lasted longer than other lipsticks I’ve tried. I liked it because it gave a natural, matte look without looking overdone. And it’s made in Italy. No wonder I like it. Good purchase.

See my NARS Cosmetics guide to see other makeup that I’d like to try from the company. Apparently, my sister’s fave NARS powder blush, Orgasm, is their best selling blush, because it looks great on all skin tones.

Note to sis: I’ll be “borrowing” that lip pencil this weekend. Give it.

A friend and I were recently discussing what types of outfits are worn by interviewees for a big time fashion magazine job in New York and how these clothes compare to “appropriate” interview attire on the West Coast (a.k.a. the Best Coast). The Miu Miu outfit Jessica Alba wore to the premiere of Sugar yesterday reminded me of office attire you could rock after you land the job (the HR manager might not appreciate the mini skirt, even with dark tights).  See Dress Like Jessica Alba at the Sugar Premiere to see my Alba Outfit look-alike choices, including where to buy the actual Miu Miu Suede Peep Toe Pumps and an exact CZ replica of J. Albs’ engagement ring for cheap!)

The pieces of this look translate to an overall classic appearance with a twist of modern trends (i.e. printed blouse, skinny belt). The end result is an outfit that looks great at any occasion, by day or by night. Very cute.

I often like to go back through the Kazowie.com shopper’s guides I’ve turned out in the past to see if my taste in clothes, shoes, bags, and accessories has remained consistent. For the most part, one can tell that all the products on my various guides were hand-picked by the same person. (See: Foxy Fringe, Hot Headbands, and Tie Dye Mania!). Of course, there’s always the occasional powder pink Burberry checked scarf that has me wondering what I was thinking that day. (a.k.a. I should have had that extra cup of coffee!)

Looking through my old lists today, I was inspired to combine the trends of two unrelated guides that I created, Pretty Black Jewelry and Springtime Fresh Nail Polish, and create a cool look for Spring that I’m definitely going to try. Gothy/funky/punky black jewelry paired with girly/chalky/pastely Easter egg nails? I think it’s a pretty interesting and unexpected combo.

Been there, done that? How did it go? I haven’t tried it yet, so I’ll let you know how it works out for me.

In honor of the upcoming holiday, I have painted my nails neon pink and have gone shopping online for all things pink. I find that people either love or hate the color pink. I personally wish I owned more pink stuff. It doesn’t get much better than a pink blow dryer and you can’t feel more pretty and feminine in any other color!

Check out my Think Pink buyer’s guide in Kazowie to see my ultra-fem/punk pink picks and let me know what YOU think of pink!

Every February, all kinds of gifts, flowers, cards and candy are exchanged between loved ones.  If you’re single, you have two choices on how you spend this lover’s holiday: you can be bitter that you don’t have a special someone in your life or you can splurge on something nice for yourself (’cuz you totally deserve it).

I’ve scoured some recent online finds and put together a list of splurges.  Clockwise from top left: 14K Gold Heart Ring available at SuperMarket HQ, Daisy Gift Set by Marc Jacobs available at sephora.com,  Wood You Love Me Ring from Etsy seller blockpartypress, Betsey Johnson Candy Hearts Watch, available online only at  urbanoutfitters.com, Burnt Red Enamel Heart from Etsy seller tyza,  and for coffee lovers, A Hearty Scoop of Coffee from uncommongoods.com.