Archive for August, 2009
NZ-made shoes + High Tea anyone?
August 31st, 2009Kosmakit store in Auckland
August 30th, 2009
Just around the corner from the MAC pro store in Auckland’s Chancery is Kosmakit - a cosmetics store full of amazing and sometimes bewildering beauty treats from Asia. I did recognise a few brands among them, like Make Up For Ever, Shu Uemura, and SKII. These are the kinds of brands that are sometimes difficult to find in New Zealand. So if you’ve lived in Asia and miss your favourite brands you could be in luck. And if you just love trying new stuff this store is certainly worth a gander.
The staff seemed really friendly too, so you shouldn’t feel intimidated by all the new products and packaging you’ll see.
Though can anyone tell me what the product pictured below does? I tried Google Translate to figure it out myself, but it gave explanations like “Using a simple hair can also replace the belt, not to destroy not crushed bangs” so I’m still a little confused…
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In the news: butt cam
August 29th, 2009stuff.co.nz reported Jeanswest is installing changing room cameras so you can see for yourself how good you look in your jeans from the behind. But it’s not clear how long it’ll take to get this in stores in NZ. It’s a good idea, but I’d personally be a little scared to try it…
More plus-size online shopping goodness
August 27th, 2009Unemployment is taking a severe toll on my credit card. Recently I have bought things from:
- Alight.com: they ship to NZ and charge a rate based on how much you spend. The wrap dress I bought in a non stretchy fabric was too small (I was pushing it with the sizing) but it looks fantastic on Megan, the stretchy bright red dress is perhaps a tiny bit clingy but still hott, and the brown cotton embroidered dress was perfect in Vanuatu. I adored wearing it, although it’s maybe a tiny bit short for me usually to wear without tights. Alight takes about a week to ship to NZ, and their dresses are generally available in lots of different colours. They’re not cutting edge fashion, and I don’t think they’re the greatest quality ever, but if you shop their sale section, you’ll do well.
- SWAK Designs: I have three words that should set your fat antipodean hearts aflame: FREE SHIPPING WORLD WIDE. And it only took about ten days too! I got this dress in grey, and now I want it in all the other colours. The edges roll up a little, but it is divinely comfortable, perfect for travelling in, and looks great with my next thing…
- We Love Color: Plus size tights in FIFTY ONE COLOURS! And they’re actually plus size! As a great big calunkingly tall person with a large proportion of her weight in her stomach, I am amazed. I finally got my tights today (turns out the post office has stopped delivering to my letterbox for the past month – long story) and oh my god, I am in heaven. I haven’t tried on my footed tights yet, but I’m currently wearing Kelly Green footless tights, and the top of them is on top of my belly, just underneath my bra. There ain’t no way these suckers are going to roll down, and the crotch is where it should be. I am in love. I have them in three colours now and will probably order more just as soon as I get a job. I used the code RUNWAY for free shipping to “Australia” – saving myself the flat rate of $15US. Seriously, so much love.
Get your roller derby tix
August 26th, 2009
The pretties whole-heartedly support the girls of Wellington’s Richter City Roller Derby. I’ve got my tickets. The next Wellington roller derby bout (is set for Saturday 19th September. Tickets only cost $12 from undertheradar. You better get your skates on soon though because the last bout sold out. Keep updated here.
Read more about the sport under ‘shut up and skate’ post on publicaddress.net.
Designer Matryoshka
August 25th, 2009
I love Matryoshka (those nested Russian dolls). And I love these designer dolls. They were made for Russia Vogue and represent some of the best international designers around.
This one pictured is Burberry, of course. Check out the rest here at ambush.
So cute and inspiring. I’m gonna have to try to crochet version of these babies…
Farmers Beauty Evening 26th August, 6-8pm
August 22nd, 2009Farmers on Cuba St, Wellington, is having a charity beauty evening to aid Ronald McDonald House. Farmers will match profits $ for $. Ticket cost $10, available in store until 25th August.
Here’s what’s in store:
- Demos from top beauty specialists
- Spot prizes
- Raffle
- Goody bags
- Help and advice
Ticket/Donation includes virgin cocktails, canapes, luxury goody bag.
Tousled locks
August 20th, 2009
I watched this vid and tried it myself. It’s brilliant. I have curly, frizzy hair and I normally pull and tug my hair straight when I blow dry. But this technique is much gentler and leaves my hair much softer and bouncier.
I didn’t use hot curlers as shown in the vid, and instead used a smaller radius brush at the end to add a few tighter curls. The tip about apply the hair spray before doing the tighter curls is a good one. If you spray after creating a curl, while hair is still warm, the curl tends to fall out…in my experience anyway.
MAC pro store
August 17th, 2009I visited the MAC pro store in Auckland’s Chancery recently. It’s a ‘pro store’ because it sells MAC’s range of professional cosmetics not available in your usual MAC counters.
You can check out the pro ranges online here, and if you fancy any of them you can call the MAC pro store (0800 MAC SHOP) and they’ll ship it to you. While I was in the store I was particularly impressed by MAC’s Lipmix - a range of bold lip colours (blues, yellows, greens etc) highly pigmented for professionals to mix and create with.
The store also offers make-up parties where you can play, drink and eat along with MAC artists. It’ll cost $100 booking fee per person of which $80 is redeemable on products.
I came away from the store with a make over by one of the talented staff. Here are my MAC eyes (using Black Track fluid liner, Copperplate shadow, Coquette shadow for the brows, and white liner).
Review: QVS shine control tissues
August 16th, 2009
It’s hard to get perfect make-up application if you’ve got oily bits on your face. Cosmetics applied to oily areas, like around the nose and eyes, tends to slide around and pool in creases. A good skin primer can help make-up and eye colour stay in place, and recently I’ve found facial blotting paper (or ‘shine control tissue’) helps too.
I bought the QVS blotting paper for under $10 (NZ) at a local pharmacy. I’ve been using it after moisturising and before applying foundation and eye shadow. It’s simple to use, just press lightly onto oily areas and the paper sucks up the oil slick.
