Ack, my first fashion blog!  Don’t expect many of these, because I don’t keep up to date on trends, but I will post pieces I love!

Thanks to Twitter, I recently came across Red Panda Jewelry (click to shop) — some gorgeous chainmail pieces that have my heart soaring.

Red Panda is solely owned and operated by a lovely girl named Jessica, right out of Nashville, TN.  Her work is absolutely lovely, and I adore the uniformity that chainmail offers — as well as the durability!

Here are some of my favorite pieces:

• Tropical Sunset Niobium Bracelet
• Rainbow Shenanigans Bracelet
• Purple Drop Necklace (Purple is easily my favorite color, so naturally this caught my eye!)
• Stretchy Chainmail Cuff
• Glow Helm Flower Pendant
• Rainbow European Chainmail Bracelet
• Sterling Silver JPL Necklace
• Silver GSG Chainmail Necklace

(Family, are you reading this?  Christmas is around the corner!)

What makes Red Panda even more accessible is the free worldwide shipping.  Yes, you heard me right, free.

If you’re interested in any Red Panda pieces, be sure to sign up for the mailing list by e-mailing redpandajewelry@gmail.com.  You’ll receive coupons, secret sale information, and other Red Panda updates!

And don’t forget to add Red Panda on Facebook, Myspace, and of course follow the company on Twitter and read the blog!

Every season is changing, both the weather and what trends cosmetic companies are laying down for the season!

I’m going to share some of the trends that are going to be in hot demand this winter along the lines of cosmetics, and hope that we can all try something new that we haven’t done before.  I’ll also post product recommendations for each trend!  (If there are more than one suggestion from a brand for each category, I’ve separated the color names using a forward slash, or /.)

• Red lips.  Red lips are back in full demand this season, offering a bold, classic and sexy look for any woman.  That is, as long as you find the proper shade of red!  Orange-based reds tend to be the brightest, while blue-based reds will help make your teeth look whiter.  My favorite red lipsticks include Kat Von D’s Stiletto/Underage Red/Hellbend (Sephora), Nixie cream lipstick in Mila (Nixie), Urban Decay Gravity/Gash/Revolution (Urban Decay), and NYX round lipstick in Electra (Cherry Culture, NYX)
• Nude lips.  I know you’re thinking, “What?  Nude and red are in this season?”  And yes, it’s true.  Both colors are 100% in to go with the “in” eye look.  Nude lip colors often pale your lips, or are close to your natural lip color but add a bit of zing to your look.  Some excellent ideas to look for are Rimmel London’s Airy Fairy (Rimmel London), MAC’s Creme D’Nude/Myth/Blankety/Honeylove lipsticks (MAC).
• Silver and shimmery gray eyeshadows.  What a wonderful way to deck the halls this season than with some shimmery silver eyeshadow!  Almost all brands have an excellent silver, so here are my favorites!  Ben Nye Grand Lumiere eyeshadow in Silver (Fun-Shop), Nixie eyeshadows in Cosmic/Silver Lining (Nixie), MAC eyeshadow in Electra/Silver Ring (MAC).
• Bronze smokey eyes.  Here are my recommendations for eyeshadows to help you achieve this look!  Urban Decay deluxe eyeshadows in Underground/Shag (Urban Decay), Urban Decay eyeshadows in Baked/Half-Baked/Rush/Smog/YDK (Urban Decay), Nixie eyeshadows in Bronzo/Bronzed/LA/Ritz/Morocco (Nixie), Ben Nye eyeshadow in Bronze (Fun-Shop), MAC eyeshadows in Patina/Era/Honey Lust/Bronze/Antiqued (MAC).
• Purple smokey eyes (Can you tell smoke is in this season?).  Here are some of my favorite violets, plums and purples from different brands that can help you achieve a vibrant smokey eye, or one with subtle and subdued color!  Urban Decay eyeshadows in Flash/Last Call/Purple Haze/Ecstasy/Crash (Urban Decay), Urban Decay Deluxe eyeshadows in Frigid/Freakshow/Ransom/Fishnet (Urban Decay), Nixie eyeshadows in Violaceous/Scorpio/Grape/Zodiac/Night Falls/Jinx/Romance (Nixie), Ben Nye grand lumiere eyeshadow in Royal Purple/Amethyst (Fun-Shop), Ben Nye eyeshadow in Violetta/Deep Violet/Royal Purple (Fun-Shop), MAC eyeshadow in Purple Shower/Violet Trance/Stars N Rockets/Trax/Satellite Dreams/Beautiful Iris/Idol Eyes/Nocturnelle/Shadowy Lady/Parfait Amour/Contrast (MAC).
• Blue and navy eyeshadows (which can also be used to achieve a smokey effect).  Thinking 80′s?  Think of this is the 80′s blue with more class and sass.  Urban Decay eyeshadows in Goddess/Mary Jane/Shattered (Urban Decay), Urban Decay Deluxe eyeshadows in Peace/Adore (Urban Decay), Nixie eyeshadows in Anchored/Starlight/Blue Angel/Electric Blue (Nixie), Ben Nye grand lumiere eyeshadow in Cosmic Blue/Peacock (Fun-Shop), Ben Nye eyeshadow in Celestial Blue/Navy Blue (Fun-Shop), MAC eyeshadows in Electric Eel/Freshwater/Tilt/Deep Truth/Nehru (MAC).
• Gel or liquid eyeliner in black.  Use what works for you, everyone’s eyes are different so I’m careful in recommending for this category.  As a note, I’ve never had problems with any black gel eyeliner I’ve used, from Smashbox, to MAC, to Urban Decay, to L’Oreal.  Pick your favorite in your price range!
• Black eyeliner pencils.  I have one recommendation here, Urban Decay’s 24/7 liner.  There’s nothing better!
• Pink, shimmery cheeks!  Make sure it’s a subtle pink and not overpowering to your skin-tone!  Urban Decay blush in Quickie (Urban Decay), Nixie cream blush in Elegance (Nixie), Nixie powder blush in Elegance/Radiance (Nixie), Maybelline Dream Mousse blush in Pink Frosting/Rose Petal, MAC blush in Well Dressed/Dame/Fleur Power/Dollymix (MAC).
• Fresh, even complexion.  Of course, good skin starts at the root of good skincare.  I recommend visiting an esthetician to assist you in picking out some wonderful skincare items.  Or going to Ulta, or Sephora, and talking to one of the guys and gals there who are trained in their skincare lines.  I’m personally particular to Bioelements (nothing has worked better for me), but there are also a ton of mass consumer products if you are on a budget.  Always read the back of the bottle, it will tell you who the product is formulated for, what type of skin it is formulated for, and what it is supposed to do.  After skincare, of course comes  your foundation.  I cannot recommend more the Face Atelier Ultra Fluid Foundation (Face Atelier), it goes on so smoothly, and really evens the complexion without looking like make up.  Who could ask for anything more?  For a more cost effective alternative, L’Oreal True Match (Ulta) has a wonderful selection of shades, and blends seamlessly onto the skin.  The added SPF is a bonus!  Not to mention it’s readily available at any drug store across the nation.

Readers, do you have some products you absolutely adore?  List your top 5 at-the-moment cosmetic loves!

Mine:

1. Face Atelier Ultra Foundation
2. Urban Decay Lip Envy in Envious
3. Victoria’s Secret eyeshadow in Fierce
4. Nixie Lipstick in Mila
5. Nixie eyeshadow in Jinx

Share yours in the comments!

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Epic!