MTV EMAS 2017 Red Carpet: Rita Ora, Demi Lovato, Camila Cabello, Jared Leto, and Travis Scott
Category: Accessories
Style + Life + Fashion Women’s Gift Guide 2017: Blanket Scarf, Stainless Steel Coffee Mug, Studded Leather Clutch and More
I am really excited to share the latest Women’s Gift Guide 2017. This particular guide has a variety of items from several different price points.
There are gifts ranging from $8.99 and beyond. Use this post (and print) to share with your significant other or family members. Feel free to tweak it a bit to help everyone know exactly what you would like this holiday season!
It’s also great to use in terms of shopping for the special women in your life. Don’t worry, the next gift guide will include items for men!
Supermodel Martha Hunt x Pluma Capsule Collection Inegal
Supermodel and Scoliosis survivor Martha Hunt teams up with PLUMA to create the capsule collection “Inégal” which debuted in June 2017. Together Martha and PLUMA have created two beautiful and inspiring designs sales from which will benefit two charities: The Scoliosis Research Society and The Curvy Girls Scoliosis Foundation.
Caroline 1 in Rhodium
($515.00 in Rhodium, and Gold)
Caroline 2 in Rhodium
($440 in Rhodium and Gold)
The “Caroline” necklaces in the Inégal collection benefit The Scoliosis Research Foundation. The two special edition designs are available in rhodium and 24 karat gold, is handcrafted in Italy and made of plated brass plates with leather straps. Interlocked, the plates emulate vertebrae creating a metallic spine choker. The designs themselves are named “Caroline” after Martha’s mother who gave Martha the love and support she needed to battle the disorder. “Caroline 1” has scales or vertebrae that are 2 inches in length while the “Caroline 2” has 1 ½ inch vertebrae.
Alyson in Gold
($39)
Alyson in Silver (Gunmetal)
($39)
The “Alyson” necklaces in the Inégal collection benefit Curvy Girls Scoliosis Foundation – an international network of peer-led support groups for girls with scoliosis. Two special edition “Alyson” necklaces, available in gold and silver (gunmetal), are named after Alyson Gerber who is the author of Braced, a novel about a twelve-year old girl’s first year in her scoliosis brace. With one side emblazoned with “Inégal” and the other with “Resilient,” the piece is meant to celebrate and honor those who have scoliosis.
Martha Hunt wears the Alyson in Gold
“We created pieces that would honor the beauty of the spine, its simplicity, and genius. The design also calls to mind how integral the spine is to human life and the burden that Scoliosis causes to the people who suffer from it with elegant simplicity, which is also reflected in the name “Inégal” meaning unequal or uneven.” – Brendan Cannon, PLUMA Creative Director
“Brendan Cannon is a friend of mine and has a pure heart. Together we discussed the idea of designing beautiful jewelry, inspired by the experience of having Scoliosis, the Inégal Collection. As 100% of the proceeds of this portion of the collection will benefit Curvy Girl Scoliosis Foundation, I want women who wear the “Inégal” collection to feel beautiful and empowered.”- Martha Hunt
The Caroline necklaces from the Inégal collection are available online at LUISAVIAROMA – www.LUISAVIAROMA.com
The complete Inégal collection is available online on the
About Martha Hunt
Raised in North Carolina, Martha moved to New York City to pursue a full-time modeling career in 2007. She has worked with many high-end brands and designers, and has been featured in top-tier magazines such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Glamour. Martha has the distinction of being a Victoria’s Secret Angel since 2015.
Martha dealt with Scoliosis from the ages of 14-18 and finally had a spinal fusion at age 18. It is a physical and emotional burden during adolescent years Martha felt lonely and insecure throughout the process and being able to relate to the thousands of people that undergo treatment for the condition, she’s passionate about spreading awareness. The need to bring awareness combined with how much research has evolved and needs to improve sparked her interest in becoming an advocate.
She visited Capitol Hill during the last two years, on behalf of The Scoliosis Research Society, asking Congress for more funding for all orthopedic research, through the National Institutes for Health (NIH).
About PLUMA and Creative Director Brendan Cannon
Brendan Cannon is the Creative Director of PLUMA, a collection of chic and elegant accessories produced in Italy by some of the premier luxury artisans in the world.
Cannon’s designs reflect the multifaceted lives and sophistication of women who covet and wear luxury accessories. The precise combinations of luxurious elements like brass with molded resin, high-grade leather, and enamel give an elegant sensuality, allowing the jewelry to become a wardrobe staple.
PLUMA debuted as a capsule collection that was shown alongside designer Jason Wu’s Pre-Fall 2013 collection. The ‘Oro’ suite, collaboration between Cannon and Wu, featured the brand’s signature gold links, brass, black enamel and molded resin. PLUMA officially launched with a full collection for the Spring 2014 season. PLUMA has attracted the attention of celebrities including Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Robert, Vanessa Hudgens, Halle Berry, Jennifer Lopez, Sharon Stone, Kate Beckinsale, Lily Collins, Jessica Paré and Julianne Hough, among others.
About The Scoliosis Research Society
The Scoliosis Research Society is a non-profit, professional organization, made up of physicians and allied health personnel. Our primary focus is on providing continuing medical education for health care professionals and on funding/supporting research in spinal deformities. Founded in 1966, SRS has gained recognition as the world’s premier spine deformity society. Please visit www.srs.org for further information.
About Curvy Girl Scoliosis Foundation
Curvy Girls is a network of peer-led support groups that reduce the emotional impact of scoliosis by empowering girls through mutual support and acceptance to become leaders, make healthy lifestyle choices, improve self-esteem while giving back to the Curvy Girls community. The organization was founded by Leah Stoltz when she was 13 years old on Long Island, NY and now there are about 90 chapters in 13 countries, all led by girls with scoliosis between the ages of 11-22. Learn more at www.curvygirlsscoliosis.com.
The Holiday Shopping Season Starts Now! Amazon Opens its Black Friday Deals
Amazon today announced the opening of its Black Friday Deals Store, officially marking the start of the holiday shopping season. The Black Friday Deals Store, available at www.amazon.com/blackfriday, offers deals across every category now through Black Friday. Customers can find deals on everything from toys and electronics to holiday entertaining essentials and wardrobe must haves – all in one convenient location. Today, customers can save up to 30% on favorite toys including Baby Alive Sweet Tears, Dropmix, Tickle Me Elmo and more. This holiday season, customers can also expect great deals on premium TVs from brands like LG, Samsung and Sony, as well as popular toys from LEGO, Melissa & Doug, Nerf, Paw Patrol, Star Wars and more.
“We’re excited to officially kickoff another holiday season, bringing customers better deals than ever before on everything they’ll need – from electronics and toys to clothing, home essentials and more,” said Doug Herrington, Senior Vice President of North American Retail at Amazon. “Customers shop Amazon year-round for our great prices, unbelievable selection, and free shipping on over 100 million products. During the holiday season, customers love to discover great deals and must-have holiday gifts for friends and family. Some of the most popular starting points for holiday shoppers are our Black Friday Deals Store, Amazon’s curated Home and Electronics Gift Guides, the Holiday Toy List, the newly redesigned Gift Finder, our Handmade Gift Shop, and Interesting Finds.”
More Ways to Shop than Ever Before
- Voice Shopping: Customers can voice shop with Alexa for tens of millions of Prime-eligible items, including many of the products available in the Black Friday Deals Store and featured in the 2017 Holiday Gift Guides. Available on the Alexa family of devices including Amazon Echo, Echo Plus, Echo Dot, Amazon Tap, and Amazon Dash Wand, as well as screened devices such as the all-new Amazon Fire TV, all-new Fire HD 10 Tablet, Echo Show and soon to be released Echo Spot, it’s as simple as saying, “Alexa, order [product]” and Alexa will find a top-rated product that ships with Prime. Just say, “yes” to buy it. Changed your mind? No problem, any physical product purchased with your voice is eligible for free returns. Customers must be Prime members with default payment and shipping information.
- Amazon App: The Amazon App is designed to make your holiday shopping fast and easy. In fact, last holiday season, more than 70% of Amazon customers worldwide shopped using a mobile device. Customers can find where their holiday packages are in seconds, use camera search to quickly and easily find the items they want by pointing at an item or barcode, and never miss a deal by setting Watch-a-Deal alerts. Customers can also search and reorder with Alexa. Once Amazon boxes begin to arrive, customers can use the Amazon App’s Package X-Ray feature to scan the barcode and see what’s inside, allowing them to wrap gifts without ever opening the box or spoiling the surprise.
- AR view: Amazon’s latest augmented reality offering within the Amazon App launched today for customers with iOS 11 installed on their iPhone 6S or later. Using Apple’s ARKit, AR view helps customers make better shopping decisions by allowing them to visualize the aesthetic and fit of products in their own living space. Customers simply open the Amazon App, click on the camera icon and choose AR view. They can then select from thousands of items – from living room, bedroom, kitchen and home office products to electronics, toys and games, home décor and more. Whether customers are buying a sofa or a kitchen appliance, they can overlay it onto their existing living space, move it and rotate it to get a full 360-degree peek in a live camera view to make sure it fits their style and aesthetic.
- Amazon.com in Spanish: Since adding the option for customers to set their language preference earlier this year, millions of customers have chosen Spanish as their preferred language to shop on Amazon.com and in the Amazon App. Customers can shop, browse and search for millions of products, view their shopping cart, and place orders in Spanish. Customers can update their language settings in their Amazon App, as well as visit Amazon.com and click the ‘globe’ button – located in the navigation bar at the top of their Amazon home screen – to set and begin shopping in their preferred language. Preferred language settings will be saved for future site visits under ‘Your account’ settings.
- Treasure Truck: Now available in 25 select cities, Treasure Truck is a new way for customers to shop this holiday season. Customers can opt-in to receive notifications from the Amazon App for special must-have offers from Treasure Truck, order the item, and pick-up at the truck all season long. Each time the truck rolls, one hand-picked offer will be available including gifts for the adventurer, foodie, hostess, kids and techie, as well as delicious seasonal food items, and more. Look for the truck at various locations this holiday season.
- Amazon Books: Now open in Seattle, New York City (on 34th St and at Columbus Circle), Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston (Dedham and Lynnfield), San Diego, San Jose, Portland, Bellevue (Wash.) and Paramus (N.J.), Amazon Books integrates the benefits of offline and online shopping to help customers find books and devices that they’ll love. Whether customers want to discover a new book for the holidays or test-drive an Amazon device, Amazon Books offers gifts for everyone. Browse in-store deals and holiday features like Most-Wished-For-Gifts, Hidden Gem Gifts, the Holiday Toy List and customer favorites like Page Turners: Books Kindle Readers Finish in 3 Days or Less, Local Bestsellers, 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime.
Shop with Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs
Half of the items sold on Amazon worldwide are from small businesses and entrepreneurs, many of which will be offering deals on their products throughout the holiday season. Some of the small businesses and entrepreneurs offering deals include Sleepyheads, Furbo, Lightaccents, Owlee and TigerSecu.
Inspired Gifting for Everyone on Your List
- Curated Gift Guides: Thoughtfully curated and inspired by Amazon product experts and influencers, Amazon’s 2017 Holiday Toy List, Electronics Gift Guide and Home Gift Guide take the guesswork out of gifting and offer customers quick and easy access to the top gifts for everyone on their list.
o Customers can browse more than a thousand of the most sought-after products for kids of all ages and interests on the 2017 Amazon Holiday Toy List, available at amazon.com/holidaytoylist.
o Those who want to shop more than 500 of the season’s hottest technology products, from TVs to gaming systems, can do so while shopping the 2017 Amazon Electronics Gift Guide, available at amazon.com/electronicsgiftguide.
o And customers can browse the 2017 Amazon Home Gift Guide, available at amazon.com/homegiftguide for more than a thousand products for inside and outside the home.
o New this year, the 2017 Business Gift Guide by Amazon Business is a curated list of more than 200 items designed to make holiday gifting easier for office employees, company clients and colleagues. Available at amazon.com/businessgiftguide, Amazon.com and Amazon Business customers can shop from numerous categories, including Electronics, Grocery, Entertainment, Audio & Accessories, and more. Shoppers can also discover white elephant gift exchange and budget-friendly gift ideas in the Business Gift Guide.
- Handmade Gift Shop: Support small businesses and entrepreneurs this holiday by shopping Amazon Handmade where all products are handcrafted by local Artisans from around the world. New this year, the Amazon Handmade Gift Shop, available at amazon.com/handmadegiftshop, allows customers to shop handcrafted products for every occasion.
- Gift Finder: For those in need of additional inspiration, the redesigned Gift Finder helps identify gift ideas when a customer doesn’t have a particular idea in mind. Gift Finder, available at amazon.com/giftfinder, offers a diverse collection of unique, but universally appealing gift ideas across categories. Shop gifts for men, women, teens, kids, toddlers, babies, pets or holiday fun.
- Amazon Lists: Customers can find and shop friends and family’s Wish Lists at www.amazon.com/yourfriends to give them what they really want this holiday. To customize your own list, click ‘Add to List’ from any product detail page or go to www.amazon.com/yourlists to add multiple items in one convenient location. To save a gift idea in the Amazon App, customers can simply press down on any product image to fling it to the bottom of their screen.
- Interesting Finds: Interesting Finds, available at amazon.com/stream, is an endless stream of beautiful products that inspires customers daily. There are a number of categories that customers can scroll through including “holiday toy list,” “gadgets,” “workspace” and even quirky customer-curated collections of products like “Nautical or Nice,” “Talk Nerdy To Me,” “Dog Gone Cute Dresses,” “Rock Your Socks Off” and “Happy Glamping.” Customers can ‘heart’ products they love and we’ll get better at showing them more items like those. Customers can access Interesting Finds via the banner above the search bar on Amazon.com and in the ‘Programs and Features’ section of the Amazon App.
Free Shipping + Convenient Delivery
All Amazon customers can choose from more than one hundred million items that are eligible for free shipping this holiday and all year long. This includes eligible orders of $25 or more shipped by Amazon, as well as free shipping offers from the millions of small business and entrepreneurs selling on Amazon. For customers who prefer to pick up their packages when it’s convenient for them, Amazon Locker is a safe and secure way to receive Amazon packages. Available in more than 50 cities across the U.S., Amazon Lockers are strategically located near offices, major convenience stores, grocery stores, apartment buildings and malls across the country. To learn more about Amazon Locker, visit amazon.com/locker or to find the nearest Locker visit amazon.com/findalocker.
Fast Shipping, Deals and More with Prime
Prime is designed to make your life better every day including the convenience of fast, free shipping and great entertainment. Prime members can shop thousands of Lightning Deals with 30-minute early access and, with the Amazon Prime credit card, members will earn even bigger rewards this holiday season. Members can also enjoy Free Two-Day Shipping with Amazon Prime, as well as Prime FREE One-Day Shipping and Prime FREE Same-Day Delivery on more than one million items in orders of $35 or more available to members in over 5,000 cities and towns. And, withPrime Now, Prime Members in more than 30 U.S. cities can benefit from one-and-two hour delivery. In addition, starting on November 8, Prime members in 37 cities and surrounding areas across the U.S. will have access to Amazon Key, the new service that radically improves the convenience of receiving deliveries. Amazon Key will allow Prime members to have eligible packages securely delivered inside their homes without having to be there.
About Amazon
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.
Magic City Fashion Week 2017 – Streetstyle Thursday and Macy’s Brookwood
For those that may not know, Magic City Classic is one of the largest HBCU football games celebrated in the south. It’s the tailgating rivalry between students (and alumni) from Alabama A&M and Alabama State University.
In connection with the tradition, Daniel Grier and Derek De Anre launched Magic City Fashion Week 2017 to recognize the Birmingham fashion community. MCFW showcased the artistic efforts of designers throughout the week of October 24-28, 2017.
Last night featured Streetstyle Thursday at Macy’s Brookwood in the IMPULSE Department. Christine Lee from Sober Culture served as the host along with runway styling from Magic City Fashion Week Team members Emma Ford, Portia Nichole, and Aliscia Marie.
Free People, Kensi, Rachel Roy, and Jay Walker were the highlighted designers worn by models. The fashion show was amazing and proceeds/donations supported the Birmingham Aids Outreach Organization.
High Fashion Jewelry for Apple Watch and Fitbit
The Ultimate Cuff is a selection of high quality, patent pending, modern technology jewelry for the Apple Watch and Fitbit Charge.
With the new Apple Series 3 out, women are going to need a stylish cuff option so they can accessorize their smart watch – which is why the Ultimate Cuff is perfect because it’s affordable, and the interchangeable metallic jewelry cuffs serve as an everyday functional piece of jewelry.
It ranges in price from $98 – $142, and is a great alternative to the basic leather band, multitude of color silicone bands, or designer straps often costing an upwards of $360.
Whimsical Winter Luxuries from Ann Taylor
Impress loved ones with a chic gift fit for the season – and maybe snag one for yourself – with Ann Taylor’s new collection featuring sparking jewelry, cozy sweaters, and cold-weather accessories to top off your whimsical winter style.
Featuring celestial elements, luxurious faux-fur and velvet, bold reds and elegant details from bows to bell sleeves, Ann Taylor’s winter gift selections will satisfy any wish list.
Konstantino Jewelry Trunk Show | Loring & Co. Fine Jewelers
Konstantino will host a trunk show Saturday, October 21st at Loring & Co. Fine Jewelers in Huntsville, Alabama.
Stop by between 10am-6pm to view the many stunning collections; hand-crafted in Greece using ancient Byzantine techniques, all Konstantino pieces are expertly detailed giving them a distinct identity.
Where: Loring & Co. Fine Jewelers – 800 Airport Rd SW, Huntsville, AL 35802
33rd Annual Southern Women’s Show Birmingham: Girls Day Out Recap
The Southern Women’s Show is an annual event that takes place in Birmingham, Alabama. It’s a local tradition for women to view live shows; shop with vendors, and taste delicious southern treats.
This year, I attended the show with my mom and her two girlfriends. We had an amazing time walking the pink carpet and snapped pictures at the SWS photo-booth. Of course, we shopped at the Belk perfume booth, purchased jewelry, and tasted authentic Cajun candy.
The trade show also included live shows from The Firefighter Fashion Show Benefiting the American Cancer Society and entertainment from The Six Sliders Line Dance / Fitness Ministry.
Attendees registered for fun prizes and participated in cooking demonstrations. As stated on The Southern Women’s Show website, “the real excitement begins when you arrive!”
The Ultimate Holiday 2017 Gift Guide For Every Personality
Coming up with gift ideas for everyone on your list can be tough – to make the process a little less stressful, I compiled the ultimate gift guide filled with new Holiday 2017 launches. See below for botanical based and celebrity adorned gift sets for every personality type in your life!
Whether you need something big for your best friends, meaningful for your mom, lavish for yourself, or heartwarming for that special someone, I’m here to help!
FOR THE BEAUTY LOVER
Flawless Brows & Lashes Limited Edition Set, $100 at Nordstrom.com
Skin Research Labs, the leader in effective beauty enhancing treatments and adorned by Hilary Duff, Kelly Ripa, Huda Kattan and more! Brings the ultimate holiday kit this season with the launch of their limited edition Flawless Brows & Lashes Set. The luxurious cosmetic bag contains a 2mL neuLASH®, 6mL neuBROW, and the brand new neuBROW brow defining pen!
Blossoming Beauty Gift Set, $48 at arbonne.com
Let your beauty shine with a new Sparkling Body Powder with a built-in brush and a prismatic Lilac Lip Gloss to show your inner sparkle on the outside too. Super cute pouch that can double as a pencil case included!
Starlight Glow Palette, $75 at arbonne.com
These shades were plucked from the sky to deliver a celestial glow! These multi-use powders can be used to highlight, blush, bronze, or contour with an array of warm to cool pigments to sculpt and shape a starlit glow. Featuring three brand-new shades and guest starring our fan favorite Anniversary Bronzer.
Rosé All Day to Night Lip Set, $70 at arbonne.com
A trio of dual-ended lip colors in blushing nudes, pinks and mauves that keep you rocking that rosé all day and night. This lip bouquet features Arbonne’s new favorite matte lip cream on one end, and a shiny lip gloss on the other. Wear alone or mix-and-match for a full bloom effect!
Spiced Vanilla Chai Candle, $40 at arbonne.com
This artisan-crafted, hand-poured candle made with a coconut wax blend combines sweet cinnamon, baked vanilla, and spicy chai aromas. Slow and clean burning, the scent will have you reminiscing about your favorite holiday moments.
Olive Blossom & Eucalyptus Gift Set, $58 at arbonne.com
Give the gift of fabulous and luxurious personal care with this shea butter, olive and coconut oil infused gift set. The set includes a softly scented cleansing body polish that exfoliates and whipped body butter that moisturizes with natural essential oils and fragrant blossoms, topped with a cool eucalyptus touch.
FOR MEN
RE9 Advanced® for Men Grooming Kit, $75 at arbonne.com
The perfect set for a clean and confident man, complete with our brand new Charcoal Soap Bar that invigorates with spicy notes of turmeric and bergamot, as well as a full size of the best-selling RE9 Advanced® for Men Shave Cream and After-Shave Soothing Lotion. The set is conveniently packaged with a dopp kit that makes traveling and grooming on-the-go a breeze.
FOR THE SKINCARE EXPERT
Youth Soothing Crème ($74.95, DearbyRenee.com) Infused with the skin healing, Arnica Extract, which is known to soothe and calm skin disorders like eczema this soothing crème contains several active components that target chronic itchy, red or problematic skin leaving a radiant and hydrated complexion.
Skin Renewal Serum ($79.95, DearbyRenee.com) offers rejuvenating benefits of five bio-sourced epidermal growth factors from BioPlacenta. This premium rejuvenating serum reduces fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots.
FOR THE NATURAL HAIR GURU
Heavenly Halo Herbal Hair Tonic and Soy Milk Deep Hydration Collection, available at Target.com is a hydration savior for thirsty hair. Experience the benefits of highly concentrated hydrating ingredients such as Burdock Root Oil, Palmarosa Oil Umutanga Oil and Yucca Root that help to promote hair growth, soothe a dry scalp and strengthen the hair strands. The key ingredients saturate the hair with intensive moisture, locking it in for ultimate and deep, long lasting hydration. Includes six products: Shampoo, Conditioner, Pre-poo, Softening Milk, Serum Oil Mist & Mask.
- Herbal Hair Tonic & Soy Milk Deep Hydration Pre-poo, which gently melts tangles to minimize breakage, decreases moisture loss during cleansing and protects hair from cleansing manipulation. $14.99
- Herbal Hair Tonic & Soy Milk Deep Hydration Shampoo, which thoroughly cleanses without stripping, restores hydration in dehydrated hair and reduces breakage. Hair is left soft and tangle-free. $15.99
- Herbal Hair Tonic & Soy Milk Deep Hydration Conditioner, which helps to reduce breakage, restores natural luster and shine and replenishes moisture without buildup. $15.99
- Herbal Hair Tonic & Soy Milk Deep Hydration Mask, which penetrates the strands to restore lasting moisture, visibly calm frizz and improve elasticity, minimizes shedding and breakage and leaves hair feeling soft, supple and tangle-free. $19.99
- Herbal Hair Tonic & Soy Milk Deep Hydration Softening Milk, which deeply penetrates to restore dry thirsty hair. Assists with styling, restores natural luster and shine and improves texture and manageability. $15.99
- Herbal Hair Tonic & Soy Milk Deep Hydration Serum Oil Mist, which imparts lightweight shine to finished styles and aids in nourishing, soothing and supporting scalp health. Lightweight and non-greasy, it seals in moisture and enhances texture while reducing frizz. $14.99