Ten Delicious Ways to Smell Like Roses

In the month of February I've been thinking a lot about ways to get myself in the Valentine mood. Many women find fragrance very sensual and there is nothing like a good rose fragrance to make me feel like the sexiest woman on the planet! Roses have been bathed in, poeticized, and planted in gardens for centuries due to their romantic qualities. If you are new to bathing yourself in roses here are some of my favorite products and ways to indulge in this timeless art.

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1) Margarita Bloom's Wanderlust Hibiscus and Ginseng conditioner in "Roses" ($22) - this conditioner started me on a serious rose kick which is why I can't stop talking about it! I never knew how clean, sweet, and pure rose could smell until I discovered this little gem. I keep a full bottle with me at all times and reapply every three days because that's how long the scent lasts!
2) Lush's Imogen Rose perfume ($2-$70) - A gorgeous combination of rose absolute and rose oil with a touch of powder. Get the big bottle, you won't regret it.

With Jo Malone you can have a scent coffret!

3) Jo Malone Red Roses home candle ($65) - Jo Malone is known for exquisite fragrance and "red roses" is no exception. A combination of seven different roses mixed with violet, lemon, and spearmint to create a voluptuous rose fragrance to fill your home. This scent is available in various forms such as a room diffuser or cologne as well!
4) Mighty Leaf Tea Mandarin Rose tea ($12) is beautiful, aromatic, and tastes of wine, chocolate and roses. Could there be a more perfect blend for February?
5) I love the idea of drawer liners, what a quaint and simple way to fragrance your clothes! Imagine pulling a perfectly matched set of bra and panties from a drawer that exudes a lilting rose fragrance. Can there be anything more chic? Amazon.com has several options but I love the Asquith & Somerset English Rose Scented Drawer Liners ($18/six sheets) for their botany book illustrations.

Marie Antionette would approve of this salt soak!

6) Antionette's Rose Garden Himalayan Sea Salts ($18) - Another divinely scented product from Margarita Bloom! I love how this salt soak fills the bath room with the smell of roses, softens skin, and scents you from head to toe!
7) Lush's Turkish Delight Shower Smoothie ($35) - The moisturizing qualities of this shower smoothie are unparalleled! This one has a touch of jasmine for a smooth rose fragrance that won't leave your side. Smooth it on, rinse it off, sniff yourself all day.
8) Fragrance in a car is often overlooked which is why I love this Vintage Rose Auto Air Freshener ($6/pack of four) hanging from the mirror. The 3-D design is very rockabilly. You can also find this at your local Pep Boys.
9) Lush's Rose Jam Bubbleroon ($6) - I adore this bubble bar for it's rich rose fragrance with a touch of coconut for sweetness. You can get two baths out of this one too!

Excuse me while I order these with my husband's credit card!

10) A Real Bouquet of Roses! ($35-65) - Roses are great in any room of the house but I especially love them in the bedroom. They look so elegant on a lady's nightstand in colors that complement the room. After you get your roses USE THEM. Crumple a rose in your bath, scatter the petals over your sheets, or make candied rose petals for cooking.

Beauty on a Budget with Revlon

If you're a make-up aficionado like myself the drug store may be the last place you'd find yourself trolling for make-up. Stores like Sephora, Ulta, and the MAC counter are bright and vibrant and fun (with great sales people for all that fabulous free advice!) but Mid-century American women had no choice but to buy their cosmetics at drug stores or the occasional department store. Revlon has been around since make-up was first packaged and sold and believe it or not the same colors mid-century women chose are still available today! As soon as I saw this diagram I picked up a tube of Fire and Ice on my last grocery trip. I love knowing that I am wearing an authentic 1950s lip color with my anachronistic ensembles. So far I am very happy with the color, a pretty pinkish-red that glows on my lips. The color is moist and subtly wearable. The packaging leaves something to be desired, and I had to spend several minutes peeling off the unattractive price label. Also the lipstick has wear issues, I'm used to expensive lipsticks with high pigment content that last until lunch and leave a stain all day. I found that layering is key with the Revlon lipstick: use a liner to fill in lips, apply lipstick, press powder onto lipstick, re-apply lipstick. Repeat after lunch.

Overall I am happy with my purchase and plan on collecting all the colors in the chart above to achieve a retro lipstick collection. At $5 a tube I really can't pass these up even if they do need a little more work to last. After this little experiment I am more interested in trying Besame cosmetics...if I can get the same authentic retro colors with a higher pigment content, more durability and that gorgeous golden lipstick bullet? I'd happily pay the $22. In the meantime enjoy some matching nails and tips ads from Revlon featuring some of the colors above for inspiration.

Like Sweets from Heaven

Marie Claire South Africa had this jaunty little spread for January 2012. Prada Resort 2012 invites the 60s-inspired patterns, sorbet colors and bold makeup to come out and play. The silhouettes are very 40s while the Pop Art patterns make the clothes modern again. Notice how the same hat worn multiple ways ties all the images together.

Weekly Expense Report: Beauty & the First Capris of Spring

Between checking out the Fall 2012 fashion shows and my everyday life I'm afraid I've fallen off the blogosphere. Ironic how inspiration finds you only when you're busy. I've started a running tab to keep track of all my beauty purchases this year, I want to know how much it costs to be me.


I couldn't let the limited edition Carousel Gloss Collection ($65) slip through my hands. I've been drooling over swatches for months and couldn't wait to try out these crazy colors for myself. So far I've worn cherry on top and I've been very happy with it, the beautiful packaging always makes me smile! Hurry and order yours before it is gone!



When mixed with water that green mud up there becomes one of my favorite cleansers--Lush's herbalism ($28.75/8.8 oz). I love to use this cleanser in the morning to wake up my skin, tighten pores, and slough off dead cells. I use the Tea Tree Toner Water ($20) morning and night to remove leftover makeup, tighten and prep my skin. My last bottle lasted me a year!


Meet my new summer uniform. Bright capris + heels + top + bright lipstick will get me through the warm weather. If these babies don't stretch out horribly and retain their fitted pin-up perfect shape you can bet I'll be ordering the other six colors of the slim fit twill capris ($50).

Weekly Expense Report: The Cheap Edition

In the midst of life-altering financial commitments and new beginnings I've come to the conclusion that I spend too much. Like a good 50s housewife I surround myself with a material dream-world to distract from the ugly parts of life but my bank account is truly suffering for it. I'm preparing posts on financial commitments and how to prepare for the future while living an anachronistic lifestyle but in the meantime I am scaling back my spending and trying to convince myself that saving money is the way to go. Shall we see where I've pinched my pennies this week?


I finally indulged my curiosity with Margarita Bloom's Fairytales and Folklore Luxury Milk Bath Soak ($22) in Sweet Dreams. Described as "buttercream and snickerdoodle...sweet cream, caramel, nutmeg, praline, cocoa and vanilla" I am looking forward to this delicious bath! I usually use LUSH products at $2.50-$6 each bath but this 10-ounce jar will give me twenty baths for just over $1 each bath! I don't mind saving money with that cute packaging!


I had to pick up the Joie de vivre Luxury Treat Bag ($14.50) as an introduction to the brand. This baby is filled with random samples so I can try a full range of products before I invest more money! Oh, and did I mention you get 20% off with the code BEAUTIFULYOU?


I decided to scope out Maurices for some cheap fashion thrills. I found this awesome two button faux fur coat ($20 in-store) on sale. I'll be pinning my new rhinestone cherries on this one! The material is cheap but for a white occasional coat I can live with it.


My other cheap splurge is this grecian-inspired colorblock top ($26.) I love the 1930's styling and I can wait to rip off that cheap belt and add a sparkly rhinestone one. The tight bottom half of the shirt is perfect for tucking into my high-waisted pencil skirts for work! The material can be washed a thousand times and will never show wear so I feel like I got a sound investment on this one!

More More More!

This Editorial is titled "More More More!" and that's about all I know. A little dowager chic, cotton candy-colored hair, and the artful reveal of lingerie are the unifying themes of this shoot, I just wish I knew more about it.

Margarita Bloom's: Retro Vintage Beauty & Skincare

I've been on a virtual shopping spree for hours, delighting in the website design and hundreds of beauty combinations offered by Margarita Bloom's. The site is comprised of classic paintings, inspiring quotes, and delightful illustrations. Angelfood cake scrub, french milled soap, raspberry lime pinktini soak, and rich drizzle body oil have all made it into my imaginary cart. I'll be imagining opening my parcel and delighting in the scents and packaging that is Margarita Bloom's until my next payday. Has anyone else tried this lovely brand?

Weekly Expense Report: Black Friday/ Cyber Monday

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Last Black Friday and Cyber Monday I was left trolling the sample sales and door-busters online without a penny to my name, pining over sales unpurchased because it's Christmas and I should buy for others. This year I planned better.


The sequin circles cardigan in navy ($98) from Banana Republic is even more gorgeous in person with iridescent beads and holographic sequins. This is going to be my go-to Holiday topper.


I also have an eight-year anniversary this December. The dark peacock silk ruffle front dress ($140) is the dress. This fits and flatters my curves (unlike the model above.) It feels so luxuriously 1930s glamour!


A silver glitter belt ($40) highlights my waist and makes dresses that come with those cheap black vinyl belts look a little more luxe.


I finally bought the BR Mad Men Collection Stefani glasses ($98) that I've been pining for since fall. So 1960s chic!


I needed a black ballet flat with silver instead of gold hardware. The BR Brynn bow ballet flat ($110) came to my rescue!


Sugarpill always has a great Black Friday sale so I scored all these Chromalust loose eyeshadows ($12) for 30% off! I purchased from left to right, top to bottom--- Tiara, Asylum, Junebug, Darling, Starling, Royal Sugar, Magpie, Weekender, & Stella.



Shoedazzle was having a double style points sale so I scored Zahara and Rhoda ($40). I love how Zahara is a bootie that is very of-the-moment, I can mix it with my retro style to modernize the look. Rhoda is green. Seriously, that is all the reason I needed!



kate spade had a sample sale so I took advantage of a few good deals. The hot pink carnation garden scarf ($79) is so festive and girly, the perfect topper for the collarless coat I see in my future! It also looks great over a crewneck or something strapless as a necklace. I also purchased the walker park colorblock hat ($59) because I fell in love when I saw it in Lucky magazine a few months ago. I chose the teal version because I asked for this teal coat for Christmas!

Easy Retro Hairstyles 101

Work has been brutal so I haven't had much time for blogging; that's where the beauty of video-sharing comes in. Aubrey London has a great series of videos for easy retro hairstyles perfect for beginners. I love this one because all you need is hairspray and bobby pins.

Glamour Daze: An Archive of Vintage Fashion

Glamour Daze's blog is another great way to kill an hour (or more!). Explore the tags for backlogged Vintage gold including fashion and beauty from 1900-1960s. I especially love the transcripts from old videos like this one...

Too Faced Holiday 2011

I love beautiful cosmetics more than the average girl, perfectly posh packaging is a bigger seller than the product inside sometimes. Too Faced is one of those brands that combines great products and lovely packaging. Regretfully I do not own as much of the brand as I would like but the Holiday collection will soon change that. I'm in love with the rococo frames and dream-like illustrations, I might have to buy every palette. The products inside promise to be as gorgeous as the fanciful casings.