StyleWhipped

Steven by Steve Madden Adeson Boot

Boots used to be viewed as utilitarian and necessary. You had your snow boots, your rain boots and maybe a pair of dress boots for work or going out. Then came riding boots, motorcycle boots, ankle boots, over-the-knee boots...today endless.com has almost 20 different categories of boots! And I want them all. I swore left and right and the end of last winter that I was "all set" with my boots. I've got plenty and in enough varieties that will keep me looking great for a little while. Unfortunately, like shoes in general, I'm learning that you can never have enough boots.

The latest pair of boots that are sooo different from everything else in my shoe closet and that I would totally wear all the time are Steven by Steve Madden's Adeson Boot. These are just so chic and cool, I can't wait to get my hands on them. They fit in flawlessly with the must-have military trend, but with the distressing, they look like something you've had forever. They'd look great with leggings and denim, as well as with winter-weight mini's with tights. And what I really love is that the top buttons are actually functional so you can always undo them and fold down the flaps for that artfully undone look. 

- Cindy

Oonagh by Nanette Lepore Rodolfo Dress

While I'm so not ready to tear myself away from the Summer and head into Fall, I find myself irresistibly drawn to the deep and rich earthy colors gracing the Fall lines as they begin to make their way into all of our favorite stores. Far from boring or dull, these earth-tones are strong, lush and vibrant.

The other day I fell in lust with Oonagh by Nanette Lepore's Rodolfo Dress. The asymmetrical neckline and beautiful pleating that creates a flattering drape across the body already make for a lovely dress. But add in the fact that it's made out of a bronze metallic jersey and you have perfection! I'm totally loving Oonagh, the luxe basics line from Nanette Lepore. Not only does it offer the Rodolfo Dress at just $169, but many other dresses and separates as well at super reasonable price-points that will have you looking stylish and fabulous year round!

- Cindy 

Imju Fiberwig Paint-On False Lashes

I tend to be skeptical when it comes to mascara. All these promises of longer, fuller lashes using xyz technology that add drama and mystery to your look that will be ready for the runway. After a while it all starts sounding like empty promises. That's why I tend to stay loyal with certain mascaras I find to be exceptional like Shu Uemura's Mascara Basic, and that's why it takes a lot for me to give new ones a shot.

Recently I was told about a new Sephora exclusive, Imju Fiberwig Paint-On False Lashes. I knew nothing about the brand (although I was more than a little intrigued by the "High-Tech Cosmetics from Japan" note on the package), and alarm bells always go off whenever mascaras promise to give the look of false eyelashes. That said, I was drawn in by the claims of smudge-proof wear paired with an easy removal with warm water. So I picked one up, brought it home and applied. I was pleasantly surprised with the results. My lashes looked longer and fuller, without the clumpy tarantula effect. It didn't necessarily look like I had false eyelashes on, but that's not really what I was looking for anyway. I tend to like my lashes to look more on the natural side, and the separation and definition from this mascara did the trick. There was not a smudge in sight after an entire day of brutal NYC summer heat and humidity, but the best and most surprising part was the removal. The mascara actually did just come off with warm water. There was no smearing and smudging or racooning of the eyes. I didn't have to scrub or rub or do anything that beauty experts warn you against doing that might pull and prematurely age the skin around your eyes. And for contact wearers or people with sensitive eyes, that means chunky bits of mascara won't be crumbling into your eyes when you wash it off. I was really glad I gave this mascara a chance, and you will be too!

- Cindy

Nars Pure Sheer SPF Lip Treatment

In the summer I tend to wear super sheer lip color. In fact, since it's a given that any makeup will melt off my face on a really hot day, I tend to be fairly minimal with my makeup routine in general. I recently tried Nars' Pure Sheer SPF Lip Treatment and absolutely loved it! The shade Aurore was so lovely and light. Just a sheer kiss of color that kept my lips hydrated and feeling yummy all afternoon. The other thing I really love about this lip product is that it has SPF 15 to keep your lips protected--something so many people forget to consider when they think about protection their skin from the sun. It's not a Nars Multiple, but it is like having a lip color and lip balm with SPF all in one!

- Cindy

Stella McCartney Knickers of the Week Pack

I'm a true believer that you should have fun with fashion. Sometimes this means going all-out glam, sometimes this means pushing yourself well past your comfort zone, and sometimes it means being a little silly.  But even when you're being silly, you should still push for fabulous! That's why I love Stella McCartney's Knickers of the Week Pack.

Sure, there are some of you out there who would value these for more, um, practical reasons. And some of you crazy rebels out there who love staring convention in the face would enjoy wearing your Saturday drawers on Monday. But for me these hark back to my very early days of sporting my super cool Garfield days of the week undies (Yes, my dorkiness reaches back to just about birth!). I don't necessarily feel the need to relive those days exactly, but this more grown-up version somehow manages to remind me to take life a little less seriously and to have more fun. Who can resist that?

- Cindy

BCBG Open-Shoulder Cover-Up

So it's barely June and I find that I'm already falling into a lazy summer uniform of jeans or denim minis on the bottom, with some form of t-shirt on top. It's easy, I have loads of denim and tees, and I don't have to think too much about it. The problem is, in addition to being a bit boring, I realized that I'm also starting to look, well, sloppy. With distressed denim and over-sized tee's as top trends right now it's horribly easy to look like I didn't put much thought into what I'm wearing. The truth is that lately I don't have a lot of time to invest in picking out that perfect outfit every day. Between work, work and work, I don't have a lot of "me" time. And this is why I'm eternally grateful for t-shirt dresses like BCBG's Open-Shoulder Cover-Up.

It's modal so it has the comfort and ease of a tee, but the open shoulders make it a little more interesting and stylish. I'd feel totally comfortable wearing this with flats to walk the dog, and I can throw on a belt and some heels if I need to look a little more put together. It doesn't matter if I end up spending the day working from home or have to run out for a quick lunch meeting- this works either way. Now realistically, I know I'm not going to ditch wearing jeans and tees this summer. But with a few pieces like this dress to rotate in, I can ensure that I look and feel a lot better!

- Cindy   

Daily Devotion: Trina Turk Violin Tank

Yellow is a color I turn to every Spring/Summer. It's bright, it's sunny, it's happy and it looks great with a tan (real or fake!). It's an instant mood lifter, and let's face it, if it's gorgeous out and you're sitting inside your home or office reading this, you're probably in need of a little emotional sunshine!

Trina Turk's Violin Tank caught my eye instantly. This silk tank has a lovely yellow hue "curry", and a beautiful scoop neck and a cool racerback embellished with sequins. I want to wear it with dark denim and my strappiest sandals, or I can go even more casual and pair it with skinny cargo pants and those little leather flip flops I got last summer with the thin metallic straps. Perfect for a low-key weekend slumming in my neighborhood, and looking fab doing it!

- Cindy 

Daily Devotion: AKA Silk Floral Print Jumpsuit

Rompers have made a big comeback this season, and why not? Like dresses they can range from super casual to professional to dressy, and can suit virtually any style. And as hemlines continue to go higher and higher, they also serve the more practical purpose of keeping you from flashing innocent bystanders!

I love AKA's Silk Floral Print Jumpsuit. In addition to representing the romper trend, it also covers the floral print trend which I'm a big fan of. It's certainly a very soft and feminine piece in silk with a bit of ruffle along the neckline, but the modern silhouette easily enables you to play this up into different looks with the help of accessories, shoes and a layering piece or two. You could go boho chic with some simple but dangle-y jewelry and gladiator flats, throw on some pumps and a structured jacket for a more polished look, or go all-out glam with statement jewelry and platform sandals. I always look for versatility in pieces and this one really fits the bill!

- Cindy 

Daily Devotion: Burberry Prorsum Osprey Leather Tote

Every now and then as I'm running around the city, something will stop me dead in my tracks. Sometimes it's a great pair of shoes, sometimes a hot dress, and this time it was a bag. Burberry Prorsum's Osprey Leather Tote is the perfect bag. It's super luxurious in silver metallic leather with fine, delicate fringing and ruching on the sides. And while this can absolutely dress up an outfit, it can just as easily go casual.

With the cool monotone color of the leather and hardware, and the subtlety of the fringe detail--this bag is as comfortable paired with a pair of jeans and a tee-shirt as it is with a power-suit. We all have a grab-it-and-go bag, but let's face it, they tend to be boring. Plain and dull enough so that it goes with everything and no one really notices it. Well here's one that fits the functionality bill, but is far from boring. Instead of hiding and blending away into the background, this gorgeous bag stands out and amps up your every look. There's never a need to settle, especially with your every-day bag!

- Cindy 

Daily Devotion: Alex and Ani Dancing Queen Earrings

I'll admit that I don't go out of my way to be eco-friendly when it comes to fashion. That said, I do get alittle excited when I find something I love and find out that it is. Partly because I do care about the earth, and partly because, well, frankly it's unexpected. Most eco-friendly clothing, shoes and accessories are very basic. And while basics are great and necessary, they don't necessarily make my heart skip a beat.

Well, eco-friendly has certainly translated to eco-chic with Alex and Ani's Dancing Queen Earrings. Made with recycled metal, these earrings defy the eco=bland stigma. These 4.5" earrings are made up of teardrop shaped chains anchored by a series of three little etched rings. They're fabulous and can go with a whole slew of looks-- glam, rocker, boho, etc. They look great, they're good for the earth and they're versatile. And if that's not enough to grab you, they're called "Dancing Queen Earrings"! How could you not love that??? So respect the earth and stay fabulous doing it. Happy Earth Day everyone!

-Cindy