Indian Summer

By Katrice 

I'm not quite ready to let go of summer, so I decided to pull out my favorite white blazer and keep things light today. Thank goodness for lingering warm weather in Georgia. I'll take Indian summer over fall any day. 

Blazer, Apostrophe

Tank and Skirt, H&M

Bib necklace, Loehmann's

Shoes, Forever21

You're Invited: Beauty Chat w/ Makeup Artist AJ Crimson

By Katrice

Join MVL for a special 1-hour real-time chat with celebrity makeup artist and luxury cosmetic designer AJ Crimson on October 6th from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. right in the comfort of your own home {or office}. Crimson, noted for work with Brandy, Fergie, Hillary Duff, Amerie, Keyshia Cole, Eva Pigford, Forest Whitaker and Sean Combs, will join us on the My Vicarious Life Facebook fan page to chat one on one and answer your makeup questions, offer beauty tips and talk about Kissable Couture, his fab lip gloss line. 

Here's how it will work: Have questions about your foundation, choice of color palette or the basics? Get them ready now. Then, during the chat, type your question on the fan page wall and AJ will answer you directly! 

As a beauty expert and luxury cosmetics designer, AJ Crimson is one of today's premier influencer in beauty, fashion and entertainment. With an established reputation for clean yet luxe makeup and skin techniques, AJ's attention to detail combined with his innovative and creative beauty solutions make him first choice for artists, celebrities and magazines across the country. This will be the perfect opportunity to get an expert perspective and improve your technique. Exciting! Right?

RSVP here and be sure to join the chat next Thursday!

About AJ Crimson

Along with having a bevy of devoted clientele such as Grammy Award winning musician Estelle, Grammy Award winning vocalist Letoya Luckett and many others, AJ Crimson has quickly become one of the foremost authorities of celebrity beauty and is widely requested for key campaigns with artists and celebrities. Editorially, he is an oft-quoted beauty and cosmetics media expert. His analysis and work is regularly featured in fashion and lifestyle magazines worldwide such as Glamour, Harper's Bazaar Espanol, InStyle, Real Simple, Essence, Vibe and many others.

Currently the young co-founder and creator, Crimson, spearheads the collaborative efforts of the widely popular luxury cosmetics line, Kissable Couture with business partner and co- founder Keisha Nash Whitaker.

Burberry Prorsum Spring 2012 RTW Goodness

By Katrice

Burberry just made me a fan of purple. And ethnic prints ... I'll take them every season. But the brand's delicious upgrade of the classic trench, heartily woven totes immixed with bead-dazzled wedges, and meticulous color play have left me simply awestruck. Spring 2012, notes taken.

{The bag}

{Loving this jacket}

{I'll be seeing these stripes in my dreams}

Images from Vogue.com

Inspiration Found: Bottega Veneta Spring 2012

By Katrice 

I'm inspired by Bottega Veneta Spring 2012 RTW to dive into mingling colors, patterns and texture. Very feminine ... extremely daring. I didn't love everything. But, the standouts -- especially the bags -- made me forget about the rest. I already have a few ideas for remixing what's already in my closet.

Images are from Vogue.com.

I ❤ San Francisco

By Katrice

I recently traveled to San Francisco for the first time and spent a long weekend getting to know the very East Coastesque city in the west. As soon as I arrived, I set out on what I expected to be a 20-minute errand to the drug store. Instead, I walked the SoMa {South of Market} district surrounding my hotel for two hours. I was in love. Beautifully mild weather, libations from The Coffee Bean and a quick trip through the Union Square shopping area ... San Francisco had me at hello.  

{The view from my window first thing in the morning. Lovely fog.}

Stay here: InterContinental Hotel San Francisco is one of the city's most eco-conscious luxury hotels featuring rooms with floor to ceiling windows, i.e. an abundance of natural light. I never drew the curtains on the wall window that ran three quarters of the way around my room and only needed to use the lights at night. Loved it. ICSF is primly located in proximity to the Union Square, the Museum of the African Diaspora and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, so there was plenty to see from the 28th floor. The hotel is also home to Luce restaurant and arguably the best brunch in the city. 

Eat here: Roy's San Francisco 

Its menu features an eclectic choice of entrees from the Crunchy Golden Lobster Potstickers and Teriyaki Cheeseburger to Smoked Tomato Soup, Bravo White Cheddar & Winchester Gouda Grilled Cheese with a Waimanalo Greens Salad.

{Crispy Crab Cake Salad Sundried Tomato Pesto, Citrus Vinaigrette}

Go here:

Drop by the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market on Saturday for lunch and take in a cooking class or just grab some fruit courtesy of certified California farmers to take back to your room for a snack. 

Visit the Contemporary Jewish Museum for the Black Sabbath exhibit -- a musical journey through a unique slice of recording history, the Black-Jewish musical experience from the 1930s to the 1960s. Visitors will learn about how Black artists treated Jewish music as a resource for African-American identity, history and politics.  

There is great boutique shopping in the various districts of SF. On my way from the Ferry Plaza I walked through Chinatown and then Union Square where you can find everything you're looking for from Zara to Hermès. Love.

Wear this:

Layering is a must. Pack a lightweight scarf or pashmina, a blazer and comfortable shoes. 

{Started out in layers and ended up in a light cardi by the afternoon.}

Win SheaMoisture Organic Coconut & Hibiscus Curling Soufflé!

By Katrice 

It's no secret that I'm a fan of SheaMoisture products. They're all-natural, effective and very light on your wallet. So, I'm excited to have them sponsor a giveaway of their newest offering -- Organic Coconut & Hibiscus Curling Soufflé (Gel) with Agave Nectar & Flax Seed. 

Formulated without the use of chemicals, alcohol and silicone, the gel is an easy-to-rinse-out and light-weight alternative to other curdling defining styling aids on the market. Coconut and Flax Seed oils nourish and hydrate the hair, seal the hair shaft to protect against external pollutants and assist in natural oil retention. 

Want to try it? Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway or "Like" the My Vicarious Life page on FB and you're in. 

A random drawing of all participants will be done using a third-party draw service on Monday and the winner will be announced Monday afternoon. 

Good luck! xx

MVL Radar: Leather Leggings for Fall

Kanye West, Sienne Miller, Gemma Arterton, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

{Source}

I'm loving the leather leggings lining the front row of the Burberry Spring/Summer 2012 Womenswear Show in London. I scoured stores midwinter last season for leggings with faux leather patches on the knees -- to no avail. I'm glad the trend continues and I've already located a few look for less options. Winning. {Will you wear them?}

H&M MAMA stretch jersey legging, $29

Soaked in Luxury Leather-Look Legging, $61

Topshop Faux Leather Panel Legging, $56

Jackpot Casy Leather Look Leggings, $120

Stella McCartney Falabella Woven Tote

By Katrice

Falabella Woven Faux Nappa Small Tote
Stella McCartney, $1,435

Love at first sight.

A Lesson in Afrology

By Katrice

At least once every few weeks, I hear someone who is so discouraged with her natural hair say that she is thinking of reverting back to a chemically straightened coif. And I feel like jumping into action with every tip I have learned by trial and error or heard in my three years of getting to know my own hair the way it grows out of my head. 

I feel like I should do something, not because I am against straightened hair -- because I'm not; but because I don't want us to give up on our "selves."

Going natural is not easy. It's not always beautiful and revelatory ... And every woman's process and reasoning is different. But, the stark reality is our hair, the way it grows out of our heads, is a fundamental part of who we are. We just haven't seen that part of ourselves since we were girls and we have gotten so out of touch that we reject it.

So many times, I hear women say that hair is just hair, i.e. a non-factor. I have said it myself; But, that is only true situationally. We are deeply affected by our hair's response to our desires for it and subsequent manipulation. While we tend to see our hair as more an accessory than an appendage, it is actually more of the latter. For some of us, it is just as essential and affected as our skin. It is just as sensitive and responsive as our nails. And unless, you make the ultimate decision to shave it all off -- it can be a major factor in how we feel every day.

WE are heavily influenced by Western ideals of beauty. Straight is more feminine. Straight is more professional. Straight is easier to maintain. Straight is more beautiful. Straight is more civilized. Straight makes others more comfortable with us and in turn us more comfortable with ourselves. 

Why? Because anything other than straight takes us back to our "primitive" days.

"Late in the 18th century or early in the 19th century, Americans in the southern U.S. began to refer to negro slaves as nappy heads, comparing some tightly curled negroid hair to the nap on some cloth or fur. It was not a compliment." - Bill Casselman

Inspiration Found: Kourtney K. Rarely Disappoints

By Katrice 

{Source}

{What she's wearing: clutch, Vintage Chanel; Lace sweater & skirt, Ted Baker; shoes, Christian Louboutin}

Missoni Haul

By Katrice

I was lucky enough to get a few lovely pieces from the Missoni for Target line today. I wasn't there when the store opened but sauntered in at lunch to find a sales associate restocking a few goodies and hinting of more. I went specifically looking for the coffee mugs ... the ballet flats, makeup bag and journal were the bonuses.

Inspiration Found: Rachel Roy SS 2012

By Katrice 

{Source}

The inspiration for Rachel Roy's spring presentation was drawn from colonial Vietnam in the '20s and '30s, according to Stylecaster contributor Jessica Hoppe. Lovely. 

The World Needs Your Passion

By Katrice 

My Own Little Handbag Heaven

By Katrice 

To say that I love handbags would be an understatement. Ever since I was in tween, they've been my favorite accessory. Interestingly, I don't do a lot of posts around what's new or has caught my eye but purses are the most profound portion of my wardrobe. So, I thought, why not dedicate a blog to my own little piece of heaven.

Hope you enjoy the pics.

{I don't usually like wild prints, but I thought the purple House of Dereon bag and Betseyville tote were cute.}

{This Louis Vuitton mens toiletry bag has been in my collection more than 20 years. I use it as a clutch.}

{Large totes and carryalls are my favorites.}

Most cherished handbag: Vintage Louis Vuitton toiletry pouch

Best find: A vintage cream and cognac Dooney & Bourke leather tote, $2.89

Most trendy: A candy-toned purple bag from Aldo {I wouldn't normally give a second look to anything purple but color is fun}

Favorite designer: Louis Vuitton, of course

Fantasy handbag purchase: A vintage Hermes Birkin

Most affordable brand favorite: H&M

Favorite place to shop for handbags: TJ Maxx

Secret to keeping my bags in good shape: Careful storage and stuffing