Obsession of the month: are you Haute or Naughty?

Haute and Naughty mascara by MAC, $18.

I bought this mascara because my make up artist recommended it to me but I wasn't ready for what I was about to experience. I have used many different mascaras in my life but I never found one that I actually wanted to buy in bulk and store just so I could make sure I would never run out. This mascara is so versatile. One wand gives you the Haute look with thin but long lashes. And the other wand is for oh so Naughty lashes; long, dramatic and thick. And the best thing of all it does not clump! Try it and your eyes will never look the same again.

Love,

XoxO Kelie

Recessionista files: Sample Sales

You'll want to wear comfortable shoes tomorrow. Check out the new sample sales listed in the sidebar!

Love,

XoxO Kelie

Just a thought...

There is a very positive relationship between people's ability to accomplish any task and the time they're willing to spend on it.

- Joyce Brothers

Style file Q&A

Q: How do I know what my skin undertone is?

A: Determining your undertone is actually simpler than most people think. You can fall into one of the following 3 categories: cool, warm and neutral. If you are cool this means that your skin color tinges blue or red. If you are warm, your skin tinges yellow. And if you are neutral, your skin actually has warm areas and cold areas.

Why should you care? Well, knowing your skin undertone will help you determine which colors to opt for in make up and clothing. It explains why certain shades complement your skin tone and others wash you out. If you have a cool undertone, silver, blue, green, purple look great on you. If you are warm, gold, yellow, red and orange are perfect colors for you! If you are neutral, you are lucky because you can sport cool and warm colors effortlessly.

So, how do you determine your undertone? Well, you will need a well lit room, preferably by natural light and a sheet of white paper. Take the white sheet of paper and bring it up to your face. Observe the contrast between the sheet and your skin. Your undertone color will stand out. If it is red for Caucasians or blue for darker skin tones, you are cool. If the color shining through is yellow, you are warm. If you see more than one color, yellow on your cheeks and red on your forehead for example, you are neutral.

Hope this helps!

Love,

XoxO Kelie

PS: Send YOUR questions! You can email info@fashionwithaconscience.org or tweet @fashionwacny

Style file Q&A starts tomorrow!

Tomorrow we will be posting our first Style File Q&A. After launching Style File last month, we have received a ton of questions from you and the time has come for you to get some answers! Tune in tomorrow as we spill the goods on something every person should know about themselves.

Style File is like having your own personal fashion consultant giving you advice and answering your style interrogations. So take advantage of it! If you haven't had a chance to get in touch with us, it is not too late. Send in your fashion emergencies and beauty meltdowns and we will gladly offer our assistance quickly! We love fashion and

want you to love it too! Getting dressed and looking fresh is SO Fashion With A Conscience!

Love,

XoxO Kelie

Street Thread: weather appropriate!

Anastasia, 25 by Hel-looks

A lady in Milan by the Sartorialist

Blair E., 25. Merchandiser, San Francisco by Chictopia

Shala Monroque in Paris by all the pretty birds

Love,

XoxO Kelie

Make time to...make moves

As I tuned in and was tweeting about American Idol last night this thought came to me: these eleven contestants are pursuing their passion as millions are watching but what about the spectators? Do they believe that their dreams can come true as well or are they destined to be onlookers forever? Somehow millions of people watching eleven singers demonstrate obvious commitment to that which they set out to accomplish is mind boggling to me.

This year, make time to make moves. Be committed to getting ahead and achieving success. Invest in your future like never before. Be competitive and don't be afraid to prove yourself. Make time to go beyond the call of duty and when the harvest comes you will reap plenty.

Scott Reed once said: "This one step - choosing a goal and staying with it - changes everything." As you read this post, can you say that you have chosen a goal and are sticking with it? Well, regardless of your answer to this question the time for you to do so is now. Now is the time for you to walk confidently towards your best life, one step at a time. Start right away. Take a few minutes to pick a goal, grab pen and paper and write down your next step. Once you have it written down don't think about it for 3 years, do it. Do this for each step and at the end of this year, see how far you've come. You will surprise yourself.

Love,

XoxO Kelie

PS: Follow us on twitter for book suggestions, organizations and workshops dedicated to help you get to your destination stress free. Also, stay connected with us on Facebook and Twitter and let us know how you are doing!

PPS: If you missed Idol this week, check out our play by play rundown on Twitter @fashionwacny.

Recessionista files: Sample Sales

Hey guys!

Dolce & Gabbana, D&G and 3.1 Phillip Lim and more go on sale today. There's also a David Yurman sale benefiting breast cancer research! Now, that's SO Fashion With A Conscience!

Find all the details in the Recessionista files section on the right! Enjoy!

Release the Smart Shoppeuse in you!

Love,

XoxO Kelie

Street Thread

As we know fashion on the runway is inspired by everyday fashion on the streets. So let's give some street cred to the fashion on the Street Thread!

Elisa Nalin, Stockholm. By Stockholm Streetstyle.

Coco Rocha, Milan. By Altamira.

Kelly Framel, New York. By the Glamourai.

Paris, the Sartorialist.

Delmy, New York. By Fashion Bananas.

Anjelica Lorenz, Germany. Lookbook.nu

Love,

XoxO Kelie

Just a thought...

Adversity is another way to measure the greatness of individuals. I never had a crisis that didn't make me stronger.

- Lou Holtz

Just because we love it!

Ruffled silk top by Oscar de la Renta.

Orange is the new IT color for the spring. It is fresh and makes the color-bloc trend easy to achieve. Pair it with kelly green, navy or even fuchsia pink for a look of-the-moment.

Love,

XoxO Kelie

Street Thread: Tres Chic at Paris Fashion Week

As we know fashion on the runway is inspired by everyday fashion on the streets. So let's give some street cred to the fashion on the Street Thread! Here are some of the best looks off the runway during Paris Fashion Week.

PARIS

Caroline Fouquet, student, from Paris.

Caroline Issa, co-owner of Tank magazine, from London.

Natuka Karkashadze, stylist, from Georgia.

Taylor Tomasi Hill, editor for Marie Claire, from New York.

Yasmin Sewel, creative director Liberty of London, from London.

Anna Dello Russo, fashion director at large of Vogue Nippon, from Milan.

Anne Catherine, fashion student, from Paris.

Chiara Ferragni, www.theblondsalad.com, from Milan.

Christine Centenerra, fashion editor of Harper's Bazaar Australia, from Australia.

Kanye West, from New York.

Mia Stoelen, blogger, from Norway.

Et voila!

Love,

XoxO Kelie

Recessionista files: Sample Sales

New to Recessionista files: Patrick Evrell and Store 518. Check it out on the right side of the page! Enjoy.

Love,

XoxO Kelie

Just a thought...

"Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or to lose." - Lyndon B. Johnson

Recessionista files: Sample Sales

Now is the perfect time to do some Feel Good Shopping. Go to the Recessionista Files column to find out how you can shop and help Japan in their time of need. Here's an opportunity, grab it!

Love,

XoxO Kelie

DESIGNER WATCH: Tory Burch

Tory Burch made her first appearance onto the fashion scene in 2004, opening her first namesake flagship store during New York Fashion Week. For the event she and her designers invited friends, family, out of town press and fashion editors from all over. On that first day (10am - 6pm) they remarkably completely sold their inventory. "We knew we were on to something that day" said the designer. Burch's success, however, was not acquired overnight. Before becoming an entrepreneur she spent many years learning about fashion and business from some of the best designers in the field. She had the opportunity to work for fashion industry pillars such as Vera Wang, Narciso Rodriguez and Ralph Lauren where she learned all about branding. "I think every job I've had contributed to this company... I feel lucky to have had each job and I've really taken away from that." says Burch.

Her gratefulness goes beyond this sentiment. "It is so exciting to be where we are," says Burch realizing that being able to mix creativity and entrepreneurship and being successful in this society is a dream come true. For many women, achieving this level of success remains only a dream. In fact, more than 50% of the population living in poverty are women. Many of them are single mothers and entrepreneurs. Although these women are investing in their communities first hand they are more likely to be denied bank loans. So, in order to give back to women who like her have to juggle family and work Burch created in 2009 the Tory Burch Foundation. The goal: provide economic opportunities to women entrepreneurs. In February the Tory Burch Foundation partnered with ACCION USA and offered a free mentoring event to 60 small business owners with major American corporations' upper management such as AMEX, Time Warner, Inc. and Conde Nast.

This lifestyle brand came to life when Burch discovered a gap in her own closet and decided to fill it. From this epiphany Tory Burch, LLC now offers multiple product categories which are available in more than 39 free standing boutiques in 4 countries and 450 department stores and specialty boutiques worldwide.

Burch makes more than pretty clothes, she makes ideas happen. Follow in her footsteps: create, innovate and donate.

Love,

XoxO Kelie

Paris Fashion Week highlights: Chloe

Photo credits: Imaxtree

See more here.

Love,

XoxO Kelie

Paris Fashion Week highlights: Yves Saint-Laurent

Paris Fashion Week highlights: Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen

Photo credits: Imaxtree

See more here.

Love,

XoxO Kelie

Paris Fashion Week highlights: Elie Saab

Photo credits: Imaxtree

See more here.

Love,

XoxO Kelie