Paint Plum

On my walk home from the 6 train last night I stopped in Ricky's and bought this adventurous plum polish; Bahama Mama by Essie $8. It is the perfect compliment to your fall wardrobe. Pair it with a beautiful floral scarf or with a statement ring in a jewel tone.

Tarnish Square Ikat Print Scarf $98; Rebecca Citrine Dome Ring $640

Badgley on a Budget

Badgley Mischka's feminine yet edgy look from the Fall 2008 Ready-To-Wear collection grabbed my attention. The tulip jacket, simple black turtleneck, and sharp accessories are all within your reach. Recreate this look to fit your lifestyle and budget. I have replaced the cropped suit jacket with a long trench for more versatility and suggest wearing the ensemble with your favorite black skirt or pair of skinny jeans.

Left to Right: Large Floppy Hat - Banana Republic $69; Tissue Turtleneck - JCrew $39.50; Shimmer Weave Trench - Nic + Zoe $196; Pyramid Stud Satchel - Mossimo $24.99; Cheyla Suede Boots - Steve Madden $189.95; Multi-chain necklace - Forever 21 $6.80

Red Hot!

Red lipstick is a beauty staple that will heat up any look. Some of today's hottest stars including Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani, and Scarlett Johansson rock red lips - and you can too! Follow these fool proof steps and find your inner vixen!

1. Red lips demand attention.

Be confident in yourself and show off your pearly whites.

2. Always prep your lips.

Start with clean dry lips and a sharpened lip liner to match your lipstick shade. Always apply red lipstick with a lip brush for the most precise application.

3. Keep the focus on the lips.

Skip heavy eye makeup when wearing red lips. I suggest a neutral eye shadow in taupe to keep the attention on the lips.

4. Make it last.
To keep your lipstick lasting all night long, follow these steps. 1. Apply lipstick. 2. Blot with tissue paper. 3. Lightly powder lips. 4. Apply a final coat of lipstick. VOILA!

This season, grab a new tube of red lipstick in cherry and berry hues. Check out these shades: Benefit silky finish lipstick in Frenched, MAC mattene lipstick in Rapturous, and Sephora plumping lip gloss in Red.

xo Nat

I Love My Bootie

My booties are hot! Are yours? Ankle boots from oxford to platform are a "must have" this fall. With so many varieties in style and color this season, you can find the perfect bootie to fit your personality. Show off your booties with skinny jeans, dresses, and skirts! I suggest wearing leggings or tights that don't match your booties. For instance, try pairing the perfect little black dress with deep purple tights and black patent booties. Bootielicious!

Left to Right: Isaac Mizrahi for Target $25.89; Miss Sixty $163; Nine West Boutique 9 $160; Steve Madden $109; Moschino $549.

Musical Romance

Curl up at home with a glass of Merlot, light a vanilla candle, paint your nails the newest shade of plum, and listen to musical romance Mario Spinetti. Mario popped up in my Facebook account a couple months ago and since then I have been frequenting his MySpace page to listen to his Debut EP. One of my favorites, When you Say My Name, is delicately passionate.

Here is an excerpt from When You Say My Name:

Slowly

Surrender

You don't have to be afraid of where

You are

When you say my name

And you know I'm there

When you say my name

And you fall into my arms

Falling when you say

My name

And you know …
And you know …
And you know

I'll be there

I'll be there …
I'll be there

You can fall into my arms

"Are those your lashes?"

As a young competitive figure skater, my mom swiped mascara on my lashes for the first time at age 6. She was then left wiping the black smudges out of my eyebrows while I sat dolled-up in my sequined costume ready to take the ice. In the 3rd grade my best friend tried to persuade me to trim my lengthy lashes with the scissors in Mr. Forsythe's Art class. Luckily, I trusted my instincts! When I started wearing clear mascara in middle school I was teased by the girls at my lunch table because they thought my long lashes looked like "spider legs." By the time I reached high school I fully embraced my "spider legs" and used them to my advantage. Flirting with your eyes should not be underestimated!

Over the years I have tried almost every mascara on the market and I always come back to my faithful companion - L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara. The brush is superior because it enables you to lift the lashes from the base of your lid, creating sky-high volume and length. The texture of the mascara does not smudge after a night of dancing, nor does it get crusty and leave debris on your face. The greatest thing about this mascara is that you will only need one coat!

Other tips:
Always remove mascara at the end of the day with a moisturizing eye makeup remover. I suggest Neutrogena Oil Free Makeup Remover because it is gentle and will not clog your pores.

Vaseline will moisturize and thicken brittle lashes. Take a Q-Tip with a small amount of Vaseline on the tip and wand it through your lashes before bedtime. Make sure to avoid using too much Vaseline to prevent getting it in your eyes. Always remove the Vaseline before applying mascara.

Happy Batting!
xo Nat