Beauty & Fashion Tips - Rags & Rouges Style Tips

Well you heard it here first folks, it’s the grand opening of an online boutique and Ragstyles Readers have been gifted with some serious shopping coupons! The boutique is called Ooh La Luxe, and it is exactly what it sounds like. A high end online boutique that carries the hottest up and coming designer labels. Here you will find the cutest, and the most stylish pieces that even at full price are an unbelievable bargain.

And because you all are such devoted readers, AND shoppers, you’ll be happy to know that only YOU Ragstyles readers can become some of Ooh La Luxe’s very first shoppers at 20% OFF! That’s right…go and have a peek around, grab a few items of interest and enter RAGSTYLES as your coupon code at checkout.

The owner of Ooh La Luxe is a sweetheart, her name is Kim and Ooh La Luxe is her dream come true. Kim is a 22 year old fashion school graduate who is living the dream of taking fashion to retail and opening her own high-end fashion boutique. She’s got the goods with the education to back her up which you will see with her beautiful selections. And she’s got the impeccable taste that no education can provide.

What you will LOVE about Ooh La Luxe:

• The PRICES! Even without your coupon, these items are a giveaway!
• The DESIGNERS! The biggest up and comers are featured here – Va Va Voom, Egoist, Plastic Island, Voom, and Jae Basilio.
• The FASHION TIPS! Yes! Each piece comes with instructions on how it should be worn, how the item will fit, and what to pair your selections with. Gotta love shopping from a fashion school grad!

What You WON’T Love:

• The choices you will have to make. Each item is SO CUTE!

Here are some of my faves…..

What are you waiting for? It is not often you all will get sales created JUST for you! Go on and shop, and don’t forget your coupon code….what else? “RAGSTYLES”

Linday Lohan to Launch New Leggings Line! ~ Fashion Updates

Check out the Opening of Kim Kardashian’s Store Dash ~ Gina Angelina’s Fashion Fitness and Skin Care Tips For Models

Pedicure Tips from NailTiques ~ 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic

Chanel Preview The Robertson Boulevard Collection ~All Lacquerd Up

Zac Posen the L’il Zac Handbag LOVE LOVE~ Bag Bliss

OOOOH, Emilio Pucci’s New Sandal!!! It’s an Ankle Wrap, AND a thong! ~ The Shoe Goddess

A Bird’s Eye View of Australian Fashion Week ~ Trendinista

A New UTT-erly Awesome Online Boutique! ~ Urban Socialite

Ah yes, another gentle marriage of fashion and art once again. We spoke quite a bit last year about how big the ballet flat thing was, and how many designers were working towards more functional, yet pretty, shoes that looked and felt like dance shoes. Bloch London has picked up on this to show us that the dance shoe craze is not leaving us any time soon. And even better, they are getting prettier and prettier. If you are worried about functionality, worry no more, these are the real deal. In fact, Bloch International has been creating professional dance shoes for both prima and principal ballerinas for almost an entire century. Bloch saw a need for pretty dance shoes that were street friendly and this is Bloch’s first true line of mainstream dancewear. Classic Bloch style is jazz, pointe, ballroom, ballet, and even tap. Creative director here is Jozette Hazzouri who using her feminine and fantasy inspirations in this beautiful selection of shoes that are so delicate, yet so easy to wear every day. Whether you have two left feet or not, you too can wear these pretty things. Your biggest problem will be in deciding which ones to buy!

These, and others like the
Bloch Luxury Ballet Flat
are available at Shop Bop!

Well with temps climbing, skin care is at an all time high in terms of importance. You want to eliminate the orange peel look of your pores, remove blackheads, and smooth down the rough texture the winter has given your face. The best thing to do for this is a microdermabrasion, and start NOW. It will take a few weeks, but the end result, smooth, bright, and tight skin. Perfect for getting all your glow on this summer. Contrary to popular opinion, this is NOT something you need to hit the clinic for.

What is Microdermabrasion?

It’s basically the quick fix without spending the big bucks. A microdermabrasion will give you similar effects of a chemical peel without the expensive cosmetic surgery or spa prices. It is also called a mini-peel. For any kind of scarring or discoloration you may have on your face, a series of microdermabrasion treatments will make a huge difference. And you can do this right at home.

The treatment is non-invasive, and it ultimately removes any damaged or dead skin from your face to reveal the new, and much healthier skin cells underneath. What this does is stimulate those deeper skin layers to produce more elastin and collagen, thus revealing the younger looking you. Your skin will look younger, feel more supple, and even feel firmer to the touch after a few treatments.

You will also notice that any acne scars you may be dealing with are smaller, or minimized; your pores will be tighter, and yes, those fine lines will be reduced substantially as well. No matter how busy you are, it’s really worth the 15 minutes or so it will take you. And why not in the comfort of your own home, with the comfort of your own budget. While these kits don’t look all that cheap to start off with, when you consider that an in spa treatment that provides you the same results will run you around $100 per treatment, you will see the affordability I am talking about. The key to the microdermabrasion really is in having repeat and consecutive treatments to ensure all of the dead skin is removed.

And well, who doesn’t want to look younger. Take the time and splurge on you. You totally deserve it!!

You can grab a microdermabrasion kit from the local drug store, or try the Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Polish + Moisture Kit, Normal to Dry Skin ($140 Value) . This at home kit is what the celebs are using when they are on the road and away from their fave spa. Dr. Brandt’s skin care line is FAMOUS in Tinseltown. This lovely version offers you not only the scrub, but the softness of chamomile and aloe as well. Chamomile is great for reducing puffiness and water retention in the face, and this combination is a very soothing one that your face will love you for.

Beauty Tip – At first, you will notice some redness on your skin, and I know, you all are picturing Samantha from Sex In the City and that horrid scarring. No. Unlike a chemical peel, microdermabrasion will leave some redness after the treatment, but it won’t last longer than an hour or two, so do this before you go to bed at night.

The temps are a-climbing…WHEEE! This means of course that we will be showing more skin, and soon! And if you are trying to figure out what to wear this spring and summer that is flattering, start with your neckline. There is no body type that can not work with this very delicate feature. Show it off girls, this is the one part of the body that men will actually shy away from saying they love. But you know they all do….What clothes are going to flatter what features for YOU?

1. V Neck when all else fails. The V Neck will flatter ANY figure. For the thinner girls, this draws the eyes down and away from narrow shoulders and bony collarbones. For the heavier girls, same thing, but the eye is drawing down instead of across. The beauty of the V neck is that it elongates the body for the heavier girl, and also creates the illusion of curves for the slimmer girl. The V Neck is great for framing that pretty face of yours as well. And no, not too cold here. Pair with some jeans and throw a sweater or coat over top.

2. And then we have the Boat Neck. And this year you want to look for boat necks with cute little cowls like you see dipping in the front here. The girls with no shoulders will like this as it will elongate your shoulder line, but yet the heavier girls will like this one too because it minimizes your waist in a HUGE way. Ideal cut for pear shapes, petites, and anyone without curves. If you are heavy in the bust, opt out here or you will be going overboard on the volume.

3. And let’s not forget strapless shall we? There is no prettier way to show off that neckline than with a strapless number. And this can be worn by anyone, with a little caution. If you are bottom heavy and top tiny (or medium), this will look great on you. If you are pencil shaped, stay away from pencil dresses or you will go on the scary skinny list fast. A pretty strapless top with a skirt that flares will flatter just about anyone however, as it will maximize your top, and draw attention away from the bottom. And it’s not true that the heavier busted girls can’t pull this off. You need more control up top, yes, do wear a strapless bra, and draw attention to your neckline, and not your bust, by throwing on a pretty necklace.

Time for some Sunday window shopping! Net-A-Porter has just released an all new collection from our, sorry my, shoe god Christian Louboutin. So whether you are just looking to ooh and ah over the Christian Louboutin collection in some easy breezy Sunday window shopping, or still haven’t figured out where to put that tax refund, go and have a look and Shop the Christian Louboutin extravaganza at NET-A-PORTER.COM.

My personal fave? The Christian Louboutin Clichy Painted pumps. So chic!

Going to throw in a little bit of a melting pot today. Yes, Rags and Rouges has been on yet another hiatus due to health, life, work, and all of it. So let’s ease back into the swing of things with some giveaways and FREE samples.

ELLE magazine is highlighting a summer getaway before summer. You know how it is, summer is so close you can almost smell the beach, yet you’re still forced to throw on that boring, but pretty trench coat every day still. How ‘bout a beach visit before the temps start to climb? Nice! Enter here!

MAX Factor Cosmetics is sponsoring a Customize Me Blend in and Stand Out contest. And who couldn’t use a little pick me up makeover right before summer hits? Enter HERE.

Who doesn’t want a free wardrobe from DKNY? Answer this small survey (took me less than 5 mins) about your exercise routine and what fancy threads you wear when working out and you’re entered. Check it out HERE.

Happy Face Sweepstakes sponsored by ELLE and St. Ives. Hey, it’s bridal season and if you are looking to score a free honeymoon, this romantic trip to Hawaii may be just the ticket. Enter HERE.

DOVE is giving away a bunch of FREE loot. I LOVE Dove products and use them everyday. And who doesn’t want FREE stuff? Check it out here.