Neiman's Last Call: Kimberlee's Pick of The Week- Michael Kors Balloon-Sleeve Dress

Someday, I’m gonna be famous.  I’ll have a black card with no limit, and Neiman’s and Barney’s will know me by first name.  Until then…thank you Neiman Marcus for sending me this amazing little extension of your stylista loving shopping experience, Last Call. 

Typically, when I hear the words “Last Call” it conjures up images of something you are willing to settle for because the party is coming to an end.  Thankfully, Neiman’s take on the term is anything but “settle for” material.  Both an online and a store front shopping experience, Last Call is endlessly stocked with racks and racks of designer labels such as Michael Kors, Alice & Olivia, Helumt Lang and Nanette Lepore featuring trendy pieces from their breathtaking collections for prices that will make you gasp.  Out loud.  And let me not forget to mention, Last Call offers a hell of an array of coupon codes (even more if you sign up for their email list) to make your savings so amazing you will be inclined to check the quality of the garment when hanging it in your closet. 

My first online purchase with Last Call jumped out at me immediately, as I’ve recently seen variations this design in multiple 2011 collections…and when I saw the price on this little gem I simply could not resist.  Michael Kors takes slinky smooth rusty orange bliss (rusty orange is ULTRA hot this season) and creates an at-the-knee length day to evening dress, complete with style, grace and POCKETS!  The design hits the mark of a perfect spring/summer dress for 2011 with its perfect combination of the whispery light air of springtime infused with the polished and poised uniform designed for cocktail hour at the Ritz Carlton.  This dress is amazing.  I sized up from what I typically order in a dress size because MK’s size chart told me to, and I am so thankful that I did.  It’s a perfect fit, and I could not be more pleased.  Particularly that the sleeve still boasts it’s original price tag from Neiman’s with the listed price of $150.00, and my final cost was about 1/3 of that.  A perfect springtime dress AND an amazing deal…life does not get any better!

I’m so in LOVE with Last Call that I’m fairly confident that the day may be coming a lot sooner than expected when Neiman’s will know me by first name, well…an extension of Neiman’s anyway. 

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Kimberlee's Fashion Forecast: Spring 2011
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Thank You! Feeling the Love on April 14th...

How can one express the gratitude I feel after having the BEST day of all? I am humbled by the love that you all have shown and expressed and I can't even begin to thank you enough for how you have made me feel. From the moment I hopped into bed last night to now, I have received nothing but love. Here is just a taste of my special day!

***Now that I think about it, I have been celebrating since Hawaii (thanks Babe!) but who's counting? I will continue to celebrate this weekend as well wine tasting with my love, Paul and Christina (thanks again babe!). 

But today was the winner!!!

What I ate:
I was showered with love from the moment I walked into work until the moment I left. I ate 5 cookie brownies (thanks Melanie), 2 homemade tamales (thank you, Steph), 1 Kara's Cupcake (thank you Jenara) 1 TeaCake dolce de leche cupcake (thank you, Jenny), 2 scones and a latte (thank you, Carol) and one cup of coffee (thank you, Helen). And lots of random candy (Thanks Courtney). Why did I make lunch again? YUM!

A picture of the ooohhy gooey center of the fluer de sel and caramel cupcake from Kara's on the right. Delish!  Note the little duck on top... I AM the lucky ducky!

What I wore:
I wanted to celebrate in style so I tried my newly acquired trophy from the swag prize bag from Sunday's competition (Thank you, Thread and Effie's Heart). I wore barely black stockings to coordinate with the sheer top and a small cardigan sweater (Thank you, Grandma). The shoes were a patent black open-toe pump. To top it all off, I wore the over sized birthday hat (thank you, Courtney) for part of the day just to be extra festive.

The love you all shared: 
After answering 113 FB wall posts, listening to 19 voice mails and 8 text messages, I felt completely loved and beside myself - I wanted to call you all to thank you personally. Especially Carleen, Teri and Mom for singing me an awesome rendition of "happy birthday"! I was showered with love at work from my dear friends and co-workers so much so that I could not walk home, I had to hitch a ride (thank you, Jenara). I am feng shui'd out with my two new orchids (thank you, Amy and Courtney). My ears are decked with new earrings (Thank you, Carol and Baby Love). I am rockin' new socks and hot nails (thank you, Jenny). And the kicker of it all was in my mailbox when I got home...

MY VERY OWN SUGAR LIPS LIFESTYLE TIPS TEE SHIRT!!!!

SHUT.

IT.

DOWN. 

(Thank you, Kimmy!!)

L.O.V.E.

This sweet little number will be added to my super awesome family stack of clothes, belts, handbags, and jewelry (Thanks Mom, Jim, Jamie, Brent, Sally, Rhonda and Bruce). xoxo

I Whip My Hair Back and Forth: Kerestase Hair Treatments for Immediate Visible Results

Immediately add volume and shine to your tresses with hair treatments from Kerastase. I had the pleasure of meeting Jamie Arshakuni, the Kerastase Account Representative for 1688, A Hair Studio in Walnut Creek on Tuesday night. Our very own hair expert and stylist, Christina Keenan, had invited me to come by the salon for a complimentary treatment and blow out with the purchase of any Kerastase product. Hmmm... That's a $50 savings! Sounds like an outstanding value to me. While I was there, I sat down with Jamie to learn more about the treatments. Check it out!  

Cyn: What is a Kerestase Hair Treatment Event?

Jamie: We co-host events like this throughout the year to give client's a chance to experience new products. It is a pampering, luxurious way to achieve immediate visible results.

***Check out the before and after shots of one lucky recipient below.

Cyn: Tell me more about these treatments. What is it that you are looking for? 

Jamie: We check the integrity and elasticity of the hair to determine which treatment would benefit their hair best. If the strand snaps during this test, there is an issue with the cortex and it needs to be addressed. 

Cyn: What is the benefit of a hair treatment?

Jamie: The treatments are very personal.We take the lifestyle of the client into consideration as well. For example, we may have a swimmer who spends her days in chlorine water and has highlights we need a treatment that works for each. She will need a different treatment than someone who has never dyed her hair but flat irons every day. 

Before and After Shots 

 Before: Hair was wild, frizzy and dry. Her stylist chose the Oleo Fusion treatment which is designed to condition the cuticle to add moisturize and brilliant shine. It polishes the extremity of the hair and makes it soft to the touch.


After:

Courtney's Treatment: Courtney has very fine hair that tends to lay flat and lacks volume. Christina chose the Volumorphose treatment to add volume to her fine hair. It infuses texture off the root and gave her extreme volume. Her hair was baby soft!

Get your personalized treatment with Christina today by calling (925) 935-1688 and mention Sugar Lips Tips.

1688 A Hair Studio

1688 Locust Street

Walnut Creek, CA 94596

ShoeGlamm, for the Love of a Glamorous Shoe

No stranger to the spotlight or the enviable wardrobe requirements that go along with a starlet lifestyle, Vivian Weyll (now Vivian Storms) goes from Brazilian television princess to glamorous internet shoe mogul in one click of a mouse. 

Accustomed to a lifestyle of beautiful things, footwear has always been a passion for Vivian.  When fate brought her the love of family life, destiny shifted and an opportunity arrived allowing her to bring her love of beautiful shoes to lovers of beautiful shoes everywhere…at prices that remain economically friendly.   

With a cloud of pink glitter, ShoeGlamm opened its virtual doors to adoring fans this week featuring a collection of women’s footwear, handbags and accessories all priced under $50.  Each piece is hand selected by Vivian and the stylists that work with her, and added to the collection based on unique style, quality and affordability for her shoe loving clientele.  As an incentive for shoppers to register with ShoeGlamm, an opportunity to enter the elite VIP section of ShoeGlamm known as the Glamm Room (which has been stocked with a dozen or so drool-worthy selections) is not available for view without logging as a registered VIP guest. 

The entire collection features style and quality that matches or exceeds that of ShoeDazzle, Just Fabulous and other prominent names in the affordably priced retail shoe industry.  Being a ShoeDazzle junkie myself, I can attest that the ShoeGlamm line up is a force to be reckoned with.  And what’s more, ShoeGlamm does not require me to create a membership or commit to any monthly purchases. My first order included selections from both the regular line-up as well as pieces from the VIP accessable Glamm Room, and I am extremely impressed.  Not a stitch out of place, not a drop of visible glue, no misaligned fabric, and details are sincerely not ignored.  I’m in shoe heaven when I open each box.  The colors are bold, the wedges feel firm and solid and each footbed is noticeably padded for comfort.  Granted, I still drop my Dr. Scholl’s gel inserts in because I must walk like a princess at all times…but never the less the quality is nothing short of astonishingly impressive when I compare my purchases with my credit card bill.  Did I SERIOUSLY just score four gorgeous pair of spring shoes for under $150?  Yes, yes I did thank you very much and I am already working on order number two. 

My absolute favorites, and the shoe that initially drew me to ShoeGlamm’s collection, are Enrich, by Qupid.  A sky high wedge featuring a woven wedge heel with a platform toe, and vegan friendly leather tooled in a tribal inspired design in rich bold red for a pop of out of control color in my spring wardrobe. The padded footbeds are comfortable with every step (no inserts in these), completely structured to be provide stability, and look perfect from heel to toe. 

Kim Kardashian meet Vivian Storms…keep your gloves up ladies. 

THREAD SHOW Recap: And The Winner Is...

The Metreon was buzzing with stylistas from all over the Bay Area Sunday and I was one of them. Vendors were strategically arranged throughout the City View Room with a breathtaking view of San Francisco. The DJ was droppin' beats while everyone else was droppin' dollars on the up and coming designers that showcased their goods. I was one of five carefully selected fashion Bloggers to participate in the SFFAMA Live Style Series and I came home a winner. Thank you to EVERYONE who made this possible.

Whew! What a day! I had the pleasure of meeting some serious talent at THREAD Show yesterday. I arrived around 11:30 AM and was whisked away by Dara Bu of Elle Communications for a quick tour of the show and where our models would be competing.

We were assigned a personal assistant, five models, and approximately 20 minutes to style each model to create five looks. My assistant, Zohal pictured right, is a bright and talented student who has what it takes to be very successful in the fashion industry. I was blessed to have such an amazing woman helping me organize the show. The model's hair and make-up was done by Star Symmetric and Nikol Elaine Artistry.  Shoes were provided by Bay Bertea of form&fauna.

The Looks: 
I don't have a picture of my final look yet but I will try to get it.

Jessica: I wanted to create looks that reflected the current color trends. I tried to color block and use classic colors paired with bright, bold shades. Jessica (below) is wearing a beautiful bright purple shade that matched her beautiful blue eyes and pink feather extension. Shoe: Form&Fauna Palm Frond

Yasmin: This was my favorite look of all. Yasmin is such an elegant, gorgeous model with poise and class. When we created this look for her, we used a beautiful bright aqua blue dress underneath a flowy navy blue blouse. Her blue lipstick from our make-up artists was an inspiration and I had to add one feather earring to bring in a pop of trend. Shoes: Christian Louboutin

Laina: Less is more with Laina's look. I chose a lavender dress with splashes of coral and blue. I paired this look with a gorgeous Form&Fauna Havana pump. 

Jake: We had to style one male model and had a very limited selection. I layered him in two collared shirts leaving them open to expose the 80's inspired black stallion tee underneath. I rolled the sleeves to show his ink to make the look.

Coco: Inspired by gold and Greek goddesses, we layered Coco in soft shades of cream. It is two dresses combined into one. I scrunched the top of the second dress to create skirt and a belted waist. The detail on the bottom of the "skirt" was accentuated by length of the dress underneath. We used the belt from the dress to create a neck piece which you can see better in the second photo. I paired it with multi-colored shoes to break up the color monotony.

Chelsea: The final look was completed in 8 minutes flat. We had very little time and even fewer clothes. I decided to go all trend and color block loud, vibrant, attention grabbing shades and of course the ever stylish feather. I chose a denim inspired wedge shoe and bright coral lips, which was my favorite part.

What I Won: I won a swag bag filled with 2 dresses and a tote from Effie's Heart, earrings from Aya Papaya, a necklace from Coatt, a sweater from liaMolly and lots of goodies in the bottom. Zohal and I divided the looks and went home happy and styled.