BARGAIN GUIDES

With spring just around the corner and the ghost of winter past finally fading away, fashionistas everywhere are eager to don this season’s finest looks.  But with dollars stretching tighter than a bad pair of skinny jeans these days, how does a girl make a decision as to which trend to adapt and which to nix?

Luckily, many of Spring 2008’s styles are not only wearable in 2009, but are still in vogue.  We’ll show you how to revamp last year’s wardrobe with a few key accessories and a bit of attitude. 

It’s Greek to me

Gladiator sandals, passed down by Grecian warriors from yesteryear, remain strong.  With such footwear being a bit on the fussier side (have you ever seen so many straps on a shoe before?), keep the rest of your outfit on the simpler side.  These sandals pair great with eyelet cotton skirts, wrap dresses and Bermuda-length shorts.  Aphrodite who?

Ships ahoy

Stars, stripes and anchors:  a seaside inn isn’t the only place you’ll spot these classic nautical themes.  A look once favored by Jackie O, nautical pieces – a navy and cream striped boatneck sweater, an oversized canvas tote bag, washed red khaki pants – look great on just about everyone. 

Juicy

Flowers won’t be the only thing popping this spring.  Bright, popsicle-inspired colors – juicy shades of raspberry, cherry, orange and banana – have made their way down the runway once again.  To keep your look streamlined and less Madonna circa 1987, pick one piece – a blouse, a bangle or even a pair of peep toe flats – and let it stand out on its own.  Don’t be afraid to mix and match:  bright colors swirl especially well with grey and khaki tones.

If you liked it then you should have put a belt on it

Grommeted, ornate, plastic and leather:  with a seemingly endless variety of styles and colors, belts reign supreme once more as the most versatile accessory under the sun.  Wide, obi-style belts were all the rage this year, marking a vast change in comparison to the skinny belt that was wrapped around every waist last year.  Whether looped through loops or riding high on the rib cage, pick your width and make it your own. 

Pretty in pink… and lilac, and peach

Pastel shades are the epitome of ladylike.  Washed shades of rose, lavender and dusty blue gain an edge when matched with a dark, contrasting color.  Try a sunny, butter colored tunic with dark denim, or a peach knit dress over black leggings. 

Remember:  a trend is only hip if it works for you – confidence is the one accessory that money can’t buy. 

-Karyn Polewaczyk

New York Bargains

As winter’s dark lipstick kisses its way out, sparkling eyes are back in the spotlight this spring.  With a variety of colors and styles popping up from Paris to Milan, you can change your look with a few swipes and a steady hand. 

Rainbow bright

Shades of aqua, fuchsia and lime can add a refreshing twist to even the most timid of peepers.  Use a crayon liner or a Q-tip edged in shadow to line the top or lower lid – but not both.  With your eyes making such a statement, keep the rest of your skin bare by avoiding bronzer or blush and sticking with a simple clear gloss over lipstick.  Top with lots of mascara. 

Fashionista pick:  Urban Decay matte eyeshadow in Purple Haze, $16

Recessionista pick:  CoverGirl eye enhancer in Tempest Turquoise, $5

Peachy keen

Tastier than your grocer’s produce section, peach reemerged as a favorite shade for eyes of all colors.  Use a sheer, cream based shadow to cover from lash to brow, followed by a single coat of brown mascara on top lashes only.  For a triple knockout, add a light dusting of peach blush to the apples of the cheeks and top lips with a creamy peach lipstick. 

Fashionista pick:  NARS powder blush in Orgasm, $25

Recessionista pick:  Revlon powder blush in Perfectly Peach, $8

The cat’s meow

A classic cat eye is one that never goes out of style.  Skip the liquid liner and opt for a lightweight pencil in navy, grey or plum, lining the top lids from inner corner to outer edge.  Wing the ends with a slanted makeup brush, and top with mascara on top and bottom lashes.  Try a berry stain or tinted gloss on the lips to complete your look.

Fashionista pick:  Tarte EmphasEYES self sharpening eye pencil in Plum, $18

Recessionista pick:  L’Oreal Pencil Perfect self sharpening eyeliner in Paris Blue, $9

As any great artist knows, practice makes perfect.  The best canvas starts with radiant inner beauty.

-Karyn Polewaczyk

Mineral makeup has swept the beauty scene, with department stores and drugstores alike vying for a customer’s every last pore.  Put down your stick concealer and walk slowly away – The Vogue City will make a believer out of even the most diehard liquid (foundation) lady.

Bare Escentuals bareMinerals powder foundation, $25, takes the cake on quality, price and coverage. 

Originally a QVC late-night special, specialty stores took note when sales skyrocketed.  Available at almost every Sephora and some full service salons, this venerable fairy dust comes in over ten shades and is miraculously free of all of those bad things – parabens, synthetic dyes and other harsh chemicals – that can irritate skin.  While Sephora offers great online shopping specials, this is one you’ll want to test for yourself in store, in person, as the color tends to deposit darker on the skin than in the jar.

Mineral Fusion’s loose base, $33 at Whole Foods, is a hearty contender in this battle of the beautiful.  

Also free of nasty additives, this powder sweeps on easily and gently.  However, at nearly $10 more per container, we expected more of a color selection and better packaging.  Nonetheless, a little goes a long way.

Neutrogena Mineral Sheers, $8, wins in the price department, and also comes in a convenient, travel-friendly shape with added brush. 

With only four colors to choose from and availability in drugstores only (most of which don’t let you test product before you buy), it may seem like a bit of a drawback; one option is to buy two shades closest to you and mix to the perfect tone.  At $8 a pop, you can certainly afford to.

Janet Jackson is the only Nasty Girl we respect.  Keep your brushes clean by washing them once a week with gentle cleanser (baby shampoo works wonders) and air drying between use.  Your newfound glowing skin will thank you!

-Karyn Polewaczyk

The skincare junkie in me emerged early.  While friends would swap secrets before bedtime at middle school sleepovers, I was busy in the bathroom completing Clinique’s 3-step skincare system.  I concocted homemade masks of oatmeal and egg whites in high school; and in college, became obsessed with everything anti aging, sampling alpha hydroxyl acids the way Marie Antoinette tasted cakes.  My path to poreless enlightenment came to a screeching halt when my previously peaches-and-cream complexion became engulfed with cystic acne after using a high-end department store skincare line.  The only thing that brought relief was abstinence from overpriced jars of wonder cream, which, in my opinion, are packed with empty promises and far too many chemicals.  However, I still needed to cleanse, tone and moisturize, and with my cheeks, chin and nose on the defense, I had to tread carefully.  A friend recommended I try natural skincare products, a suggestion at which I initially scoffed.  I associated price with performance, a beauty blunder no matter what your budget.  I eventually came around, and five years later, haven’t looked back to the glowing plastic beauty counters where I could normally be counted on every Saturday afternoon.

If you’re a natural newbie or are just looking to test the rosewater, look no further:  The Vogue City’s beauty department has you covered like SPF 45.

The Burt’s Bees brand takes the cake for its combination of economics and capability.  Their carrot seed oil complexion mist, $10, is a must for on-the-go moisture touchups, and also works well over makeup to matte down loose powders and blushes. 

Juice Beauty’s line, in addition to being paraben, pesticide and petroleum free, packs a punch against free radicals with a potent combination of antioxidants and vitamins.  Try their cleansing milk, $22, for a gentle-yet-effective (and delicious smelling) way to remove city grit and grime. 

Say goodbye to crow’s feet with Suki Pure’s eye repair balm, $33.  Concocted with beta carotene and rose hips, this balm is gentle enough for everyday use, yet powerful enough to battle signs of aging overnight.

Last but certainly not least is Lush’s Skin Nanny moisture cream, whose namesake does just that.  This rich moisturizer literally pampers and soothes even the most sensitive skin.  Priced around $46, it’s a bit of a splurge, but Lush’s staff swear a jar can last up to eight months.

Check your local Whole Foods for these and other natural skincare lines that are good for your skin, good for the environment and good for your wallet.  And what’s not to love about that?

–Karyn Polewaczyk