I keep an eye on things I love using ShopStyle and a number of items I’ve been watching have popped up due to ShopBop’s newest sale additions – here are a few of my picks but you can check out the full sale here!

DVF is still my fave – love this sleek sheath dress for work and this printed romper for play!

I’m also smitten with this Rachel Zoe maxi dress and this Issa kimono – perfect for the hot summer nights ahead.

Speaking of sales, I checked out the new T.J Maxx in downtown DC last week and was pleasantly surprised to find a number of designer bags in the “runway” section from Proenza Schouler, Fendi, YSL, Stella McCartney, Balenciaga, Lanvin (you can see a few photos on my instagram) and more all 20-60% off! It’s definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area…

]]> http://wonderfelleworld.com/2012/05/15/wonderfelle-wants-shopbop-sale-picks/feed/ 0 wonderfelle dvf rachel zoe - issa http://wonderfelleworld.com/2012/05/09/wonderfelle-wants-tibi/ http://wonderfelleworld.com/2012/05/09/wonderfelle-wants-tibi/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 12:30:43 +0000 wonderfelle http://wonderfelleworld.com/?p=4263 ]]> Ever since I saw this dress in a Saks email last week, I’ve been dreaming about it…

Tibi Silk Maxi Dress

Seriously… need.

But for $675, not happening.

]]> http://wonderfelleworld.com/2012/05/09/wonderfelle-wants-tibi/feed/ 1 wonderfelle tibi-front tibi-back http://wonderfelleworld.com/2012/04/24/drugstore-beauty/ http://wonderfelleworld.com/2012/04/24/drugstore-beauty/#comments Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:00:38 +0000 wonderfelle http://wonderfelleworld.com/?p=4240 ]]> Who knew blogging was going to be more difficult when I committed to “really invest in classic, quality pieces that I will keep for years” a couple months ago. I’ve been trying to avoid aimlessly trolling the interwebs for beautiful things I don’t really need and recent clothing/accessory purchases have been limited to 1) a Chanel flap bag 2) a little black Tahari shift dress and 3) Cole Haan peep-toe flats. Exciting, I know.

Somehow avoiding clothes shopping has sparked an obsession strong interest in beauty/ skincare. Ever since I started using Le Métier de Beauté ‘Peau Vierge Anti Aging Complex’ Tinted Treatment SPF 20 I’ve been on the hunt for other products that promise luminous skin/smooth-as-silk hair/the fountain of youth/etc. While most of my purchases tend to be from retailers like Sephora, SkinStore or department stores, I’ve found a hand-full of drugstore favorites recently that I thought I’d share:

Maybelline Illegal Length Fiber Extensions Mascara: Fiber extensions mascaras have been completely hit or miss for me and I’m happy to say this one is a hit! It supposedly builds up to 4mm of measurable extensions – which I can’t confirm – but it does noticeably lengthen my lashes. What I really like about it is I can use several coats without it clumping and it still looks natural. The packaging leaves something to be desired but I suppose its what’s in the tube that matters. Its not particularly volumizing but it is my favorite fiber mascara for now and for the price its definitely worth trying.

Olay Regenerist Micro-Exfoliating Wet Cleansing Cloths: I used to not really have a preference for make-up removing wipes. I’d buy generic CVS brand or whatever was on sale – until I tried these. I don’t really know if they help at all with anti-aging but they are super gentle yet remove all traces of my makeup (including waterproof mascara and MUFE aqua eyes), they are thicker than other wipes and they smell amazing. My skin feels noticeably softer after using these and so refreshed. Yes, they are a bit pricy usually but I’ve found that soap.com almost always has a e-coupon for these and you can get 2 30-packs for about $10 which is comparable to other wipes. Honestly, even if I had to pay full price, these are a necessity and I wouldn’t settle for cheaper wipes now.

Olay Quench Plus Touch of Sun: Once tights-season ended, I was a bit terrified at baring my legs which hadn’t seen the light of day in months! Being too lazy/cheap to get a spray tan until it was really Spring, I decided to try this on a whim and was pleasantly surprised. I’m usually not a fan of regular at-home self tanners but this was my first time trying a lotion with gradual sunless tanning. Its streak-proof, smells better than other self-tanners and the color is really natural on my medium, yellow-undertone skin. Bottom line its cheap, it works and I’m still using it…

New York City Ballet Collection by OPI: I don’t really like drawing attention to my hands with bright nails so I’m a big fan of almost nude nails. I saw this review from Scrangie with swatches of this collection and couldn’t resist trying the collection for myself! The soft gray (My Pointe Exactly), lilac (Care to Danse?) and cream (Don’t Touch My Tutu!) shades are even better than expected (haven’t tried the others yet) – application is so smooth, easily layerable and I love that they’re jellies. They do take several coats to get a completely opaque look, but I like that you can play with how sheer you want them to be. Also sometimes lighter shades look weird on with my skin tone but I think these are versatile enough to look good on most people. I purchased a mini set of these but fully intend to purchase the larger size bottles soon!

Suave Professionals Keratin Infusion Dry Shampoo: I have fairly dry hair and try to only wash it every other day so in between I rely on dry shampoo to keep my roots looking fresh. I’m a fan of keratin hair treatments so I thought I’d try this on the off-chance that it happened to be better than my go-to dry shampoos (Oscar Blandi Pronto Invisible Volumizing Dry Shampoo or Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk). On the plus side, it smells great and works pretty well at absorbing oil from my roots. It actually feels like its working too – like a cool burst of refreshing air. It does however leave a bit of white residue sometimes so you have to be careful to really rub it in well and brush the excess out. Not a deal breaker for me though and it is hands down the best <$10 dry shampoo I’ve tried. Is it better than higher end dry shampoos? No. Would I buy it again, absolutely – especially for the price.

Have you come across any great drugstore finds lately?

]]> http://wonderfelleworld.com/2012/04/24/drugstore-beauty/feed/ 1 wonderfelle 51z4KXe0ooL._SL500_AA300_ 300 400 OPi-ballet 500 http://wonderfelleworld.com/2012/04/02/daily-commute-3/ http://wonderfelleworld.com/2012/04/02/daily-commute-3/#comments Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:15:32 +0000 wonderfelle http://wonderfelleworld.com/?p=4233 ]]> Spring has barely begun and I’ve already been grossly offended by seeing women on K Street wearing rubber flip flops with unpolished toes with their suits. NOT. OK. I recommend the $50 mani/pedi special at Logan 14 and the Cole Haan Air Nadine flats for your warm weather commute (they look even cuter in person, promise).

Cole Haan Air Nadine Flats ($158 +7.5% cashback)

5 things to stock up on…

Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes -  Hands down my  favorite waterproof, smudge-proof pencil liner. It’s literally the only eye liner that I’ve found to last all day/night long even in DC summer humidity, TRUST. I wear it pretty much daily in Mat Black (OL) or Black Purple (6L) and also use Champagne (23L) for my lower waterline.

YSL ROUGE PUR COUTURE Vernis À Lèvres Glossy Stain – Described as “a revolutionary new lip product that combines the texture and shine of a gloss with the long-wear of a stain” – and that’s exactly what it is! (this review from Fleur shows the incredible lasting power and you can find great swatches from RAEviewer here + here). My favorites are Brun Cashmire (3), Corail Aquatique (7) and Beige Aquarelle (19).

Clarasonic Replacement Brush Heads (assuming you already have a Clarasonic, because you should.) – these are kind of a no brainer. You’re going to need to replace the heads eventually, so you might as well get them on sale! I use the sensitive heads normally, but I’m kind of curious to try the deep pore cleansing heads since I don’t use it every day…

Josie Maran Argan Oil Hair Serum + Argan Hair Mist – I love argan oil products and am a bit partial to MoroccanOil but the ease of buying a bulk of my beauty products from Sephora (and on sale in this case) makes these a winning combination. I use serum primarily on the ends of my hair when its still damp and hair mist when I’m not heat styling for smoother, shinier natural waves.

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15 – Everyone seems to love this lip balm and while I’ve only purchased the clear version I’m looking forward to trying Sugar Coral and Sugar Honey tinted versions. It’s so moisturizing (but not sticky) and I love the fresh citrus scent!

and 5 things to try…

Edward Bess Quad Royale – I’ve loved everything I’ve purchased from beauty prodigy Edward Bess (including foundation, blush, lip gloss) and can’t wait to try his highlighing quads. After seeing swatches/reviews on The Beauty Lookbook for all 3 options (South of France, Monte Carlo, Summer in Capri), I had a hard time choosing just 1! I ended up purchasing Monte Carlo (golden coral shimmer) because it was unlike anything I already own – I have a feeling I’m going to love it.

Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer – A relatively new tinted moisturizer that has gotten rave reviews and “promises” to  hydrate, condition, and help encourage natural cell renewal while improving skin’s overall condition in 4 weeks. It also has SPF 30 and with temps warming up I’m curious to see if this product lives up to its hype…  Side note: I never really used tinted moisturizers (hated Laura Mercier’s) until the BB Cream craze started in the US and I started researching tinted moisturizing products that offer skincare benefits as well. The reviews for Le Metier de Beaute’s Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Complex Tinted Treatment were overwhelmingly positive so I tried it – and (somewhat unfortunately) I am obsessed with it. I do think  it’s worth the steep price tag ($125 for 1oz) and may even be my holy grail tinted moisturizer… that said, I’d love to find a cheaper one!

DDF Sulphur Therapeautic Mask – This mask is described as “a clarifying treatment armed with the antiseptic properties of eucalyptus, the anti-inflammatory properties of aloe, and the absorbent power of purified clays.”  I sort of have face mask ADD and am always on the lookout for a new once a week, pore deep clean treatment – this mask gets great reviews and supposedly works well as an overnight spot treatment too – bonus! I’ve been using  DDF Glycolic 10% Toning Complex and DDF Retinol Energizing Moisturizer and loving them both so why not try another DDF product and hope its a winner.

DiorShow Heat Curl Heating Lash Curler – It takes at least 3 goes with my lash curler to get my lashes to hold a curl (curl + lengthening mascara + curl + volumizing mascara + curl) but a friend of mine with the same issue swears by using a heated curler. I love the look of long, curved lashes and though the idea of a heated curler is a bit terrifying, I’m willing to give it a try…

Urban Decay Eye Shadow Sets: Naked and/or Naked2 – If you haven’t pulled the trigger on one (or both) of these, now’s the time! They are the best collections of neutrals and work beautifully over the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potions. Though I love my Chanel eyeshadow quads, I find I reach for these especially on days when I’m feeling particularly lazy about my eye makeup.

Have you purchased anything exciting from Sephora lately?

[a few instagram shots taken while packing (click photos for detail): Kate Spade Nell flats and Charm heels (my wedding shoes!) /  Hermes Birkin, Louis Vuitton Palermo GM, Celine Mini Luggage / Miu Miu shoe collection: jeweled ballet flats, spectator pumps, pleated back platform pumps, platform sandals]

It did make me really think about committing to really invest in classic, quality pieces that I will keep for years. I’ve tried to do this more over the past couple of years, but I’ve definitely been guilty of making impulse purchases on a bad day, pulling the trigger on an item because the deal was “too good” to pass up and buying something from H&M/Forever21/etc. because “if it’s less than $25 it doesn’t count” – tell me I’m not alone here… anyway, I’m going to really try harder to only buy things I need or at least really really really love.

With that said, I’ll hopefully be buying less on a regular basis and saving more towards investment items – in taking inventory of my bags I realized that I need to be more strategic in my purchases – because I don’t need a 6th medium sized hobo style bag when I lack a great clutch!  I’m taking notes from Bag Snob’s 5 Essentials and trying to build a well-balanced “bag wardrobe” – so here are my picks for the 5 styles right now:

tote: I recently added the long-coveted Celine Mini Luggage tote to my collection (it is everything I hoped it would be!) so I’ve got that covered for now.

travel: For as much as I’ve blogged about Proenza Schouler bags here, I still don’t own one. The PS1 Large Travel bag is my ideal travel bag – at 12″ x 19″ x 9.5″ its roomy enough to carry all I need for at least an overnight trip and the optional shoulder strap makes it that much more convenient.

treasure (exotic): The Chloe Paraty Medium Python has been on my wishlist for so long, but I’ve never been able to pull the trigger. I’d love to add an exotic leather piece to my collection some day though (so in case anyone wants to buy me a present…)

trendy: I don’t really believe in spending a lot of super trendy items, so when I think of this trendy category of bags I really want to stay away from anything that I won’t love years from now. My current pick is the Chanel Boy Tote which is a bit different than your classic Chanel but still timeless. I also love the smaller Boy Flap but it might be just a bit small for my preference.

clutch: I hate having to hold a clutch bag, so a chain strap option is ideal. My mother turned me on to Chanel’s Wallet on Chain bags which are perfect for when you only need to take the essentials for a night out. Now I just need one of my own :)

What would your 5 essentials be?

for work: 1) Vanessa Bruno cardigan 2) Elizabeth and James top 3) Soixante Neuf ring (this has me wanting a ring with my new monogram!) 4) The Row laptop bag 5) Isharya grid cuff  6) Pour la Victoire patent pumps (now 55% off!)

for weekend: 1) Leather leggings (similar) 2) Elizabeth and James top 3) Kevia bracelets 4) Proenza Schouler PS1 Pouch 5) Kenneth Jay Lane ring 6) H&M ankle boots (such a steal!)

1) Sephora Collection Pro Foundation Airbrush #56 and Pro Concealer Airbrush #57: I’ve been using these Sephora Pro Collection brushes which are supposedly designed to create “a flawless airbrushed finish.” The bristles are made of synthetic, three-tone Taklon fibers and are densely packed. I originally purchased these as part of a set that had gotten great reviews, but these are the real standouts for me. I’ve used the foundation brush with both MUFE Mat Velvet liquid foundation (no. 65 golden beige) and Edward Bess Sheer Satin cream foundation (natural) and been pleasantly surprised at how smooth and even my foundation has looked. I don’t usually use concealer but I find the concealer brush is excellent for subtle highlighting to blend in YSL’s Touche Eclat (luminous honey).

2) Burberry Beauty Light Glow Natural Blush in No. 5 Blossom: I’ve always thought Burberry Beauty packaging was stunning but after seeing The Beauty Look Book’s swatches of Burberry blushes I finally caved and purchased Blossom. It’s the perfect coral-pink for my (medium/tan skin with yellow/olive undertones) skin plus its finely milled and easy to layer. Like the name says, it makes my skin glow with a very slight light-reflecting shimmer – coming from someone who hates overly shimmery blushes – it is a definite contender for one of my favorite blushes ever.

3) Edward Bess Sheer Satin Cream Compact Foundation in Natural: This. Is. Amazing. According to Bergdorfs – it’s “So lightweight, so sheer. Unique cream-to-powder texture enhances the complexion with a radiant, long-lasting satin finish.” I’d say it provides light to medium coverage but is very buildable and gives me that ideal “my skin but better” glow. Unfortunately the current color selection is a bit limited – I’m usually not the very darkest shade of foundations but my best match by far is No. 05 Natural which will probably be too light in the summer. I’m crossing my fingers there might be a wider range of shades by then because I’m completely hooked!

4) Chanel Les 4 Ombres Quadra Eye Shadow in Eclosion 34: As you may know, I love Chanel’s eye shadow quads and this new quad for Spring is no exception. The three lighter colors (a peachy-pink, light gold, medium golden taupe) are gorgeous when used across the lid, layered and as highlights while the plum color actually appears more brown on me (in a good way). All of the colors have a decent shimmer but as with most of Chanel’s eye shadows it’s a very refined shimmer – and unlike my blush, I do prefer a little shimmer in my eye shadow.

5) d.j.v beautenizer Fiberwig LX: In my never ending quest to find a magical mascara that transforms my eyelashes into something amazing, I purchased this mascara after a makeup artist described it as the best fiber mascara. It’s not bad, but not anything special. While I like the glossy formula and it does add considerable length to my lashes, it doesn’t do much in the way of volumizing and I feel like it takes too many coats to get the length I want. I think my trusty L’Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lash is a much better pick, especially for the price!

6) Oribe Moisture Control Shampoo and Conditioner: For the price, I really wanted to love these. For reference I have really thick, relatively dry, long, never been color-treated hair and need moisturizing products that tame my wavy texture prone to frizz. I’ve never been satisfied with drugstore shampoos and have tried everything from Bumble & Bumble to Kerastase to Frederick Fekkai to Aveda’s Brilliant line to various Keratin treatments and have yet to find something that smooths and moisturizes enough to let me get away with not heat-styling (or putting up with a dry, frizzy mess). Oribe is one of the pricest options I’ve tried and unfortunately it’s just meh. The packaging is really pretty, but the conditioner bottle has an annoying shape and I found it difficult to get the product out after just a few days. Overall I wouldn’t purchase it again… and I’m still looking for a holy grail shampoo/conditioner so let me know if you have any suggestions!

7) Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc in Pink Mosaic (also Golden Mosaic): I fell in love with Laura Mercier’s limited edition Rose Rendezvous Illuminator a few months ago and ended up getting a couple of the full size Shimmer Blocs for Christmas. Too bad the formula doesn’t seem anything like Rose Rendezvous – its much more of a frosted highlighter and the colors settle on my skin in an unflattering way. The pigment is substantial and some of the colors definitely work better as a blush/bronzer than a highlighter, but similar to Bobbi Brown’s Shimmer Bricks, they’re just too shiny for my taste.

Any beauty products you’re loving/hating right now?

Kate Spade Juliana Too Flats

A few weeks ago I came across the DVF Mini Harper Bag in Neon Leather and was instantly smitten…

This is the perfect sized weekend bag for me – just big enough for the essentials and a chain shoulder strap for hands-free ease! The colors are all fabulous but I do love the pink especially… and in case you’re not a fan of the tassel, its detachable. For a limited time save $50 with code DVFINSIDER!