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.

Isla Fisher is always tre chic, and she didn’t let us down at the UK premiere of her guy (Sacha Baron Cohen)’s new movie, Bruno. This look matches, without going overboard: necklace and clutch are the same shade of grey, shoes and dress are both a lighter shade of the same color, and all this head-to-toe monochrome looks anything but dull when paired with Isla’s red hair and fire engine lips. The breastplate necklace is a major trend for this summer!

Lipstick: NARS Lipstick in Jungle Red
Clutch: Jessica McClintock Rectangle Fold Over Box Clutch
Shoes: Haru grey leather sandal by L.A.M.B.
Necklace: tuleste market Large Hammered Squares Choker
Dress: Ponte Pleated Tube by Silence & Noise

Check out my Isla Fisher Style Guide for more of the celeb’s red carpet look.

And don’t forget to keep checking back to my June Finds list for unique pieces that have been catching my eye this month!

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

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.

I was born in January. I’m a Winter baby. So naturally, I look forward to this season all year long. Plus, who doesn’t love the holidays? There’s so much celebrating going on this time of year, but sometimes the primping and prepping is what I love most about it. Even though I always complain of the anticipated extra-dry skin and dull hair that comes with the season’s frost, I enjoy pampering and protecting my skin and hair with beauty products that have extra moisturizers, color tints, and SPF that keep me glowing through the new year.

Speaking of glowing, I won’t lie; when it comes to wintertime makeup, I load up on as much glitter, shimmer, and sparkle as I possibly can. Along with reflectively shiny eye shadows, bronzers, and blushes reminiscent of holiday tinsel, dark nail polish and spicy perfumes are essentials that define “Winter beauty” in my mind. I don’t go a day without my Urban Decay Urban Ammo eye palatte and a spritz of my current signature scent, Burberry’s The Beat. Check out some of the other products I’ve dubbed as “Winter Beauty Must-Haves” on my Kazowie buyer’s guide list: Winter Beauty Must Haves