Faded like an old photograph

White tee: Jacob Jr.
Dress: 3rd Moon designs
Pink tights: Urban Outfitters
Gladiators: from Taiwan

Today I was really feeling soft, muted colours, and a loose silhouette. The soft tones of grey, pink, blue, and white were perfect for this mood. I'm not sure I would have paired the gladiators with this outfit a second time around since the dark brown straps might be too much for such a subdued outfit - have any suggestions for shoe wear?

Lust of the Week: TrendyOutfitter Leopard Deep V Chiffon top

via TrendyOutfitter, $21.95

In the dusty past, one could only purchase foreign fashions by actually visiting a foreign country, or via friends living abroad, but now with the power of the Internet, the world is your shopping mall! I've always been a big fan of Asian fashions and street styles, especially their cheap prices, but unfortunately the Pacific is too large to allow me to just pop over for a weekend peruse of the sales racks. Now, with the Internet that is no longer a problem! After some in depth searching online, I found the website TrendyOutfitter. Not to be confused with another company of almost the same name which hawks laptop covers, TrendyOutfitter sells fashions from Japan and Korea to eager customers online.

Now, the prices are not going to be as economical as the local prices, but they're still not much more than buying from Forever21 and you can be pretty sure the girl down the block won't have the same item as you! I would also caution that I haven't purchased yet from this site, but it seems from the research I've done so far, that this retailer doesn't have too many complaints against it. One item I've been eyeing is this leopard print chiffon tunic top. Worn over some leggings or skinny jeans, this is the perfect top for summer days and can be dressed up or down depending on your shoes - cute wedges for day, and saucy heels for night. This top is perfect for getting your feline sexy on, without looking like a desperate housewife.

Weekly Shopping and Goodies

A Few Goody Gumdrops and Vivre are giving away a To-Die-For Beirn Snakeskin Hobo Tote! Enter to Win.

Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy featuring guest blogger DJ Deadbird on summer essentials for guys!

Couture In The City Where did she get that wedding dress? Wedding Dress Rentals Grow In ‘09

Fashion Fille is flabbergasted at how cool the models look in those fabulous Romina Karameana sunglasses. Check out what she's talking about here.

Princess Dominique Dishes Fashion invites you to Win the ECBC Eyes On Me Maxi Dress!.

Quinta Trends loves Lucila Iotti shoes.

Raging Rouge is convinced that the Beauty Guru Palette by Smashbox will turn you into a "palette-person".

Shopping and Info found the pink floral skirt worn by Vanessa Hudgens.

;"> SomeoneSpoilMe.com is loving Zodiac Sign Jewelry!

Style Eyes discusses the difficulties faced by the vertically challenged and how to find stylish clothing for petite women

The Bare Skinny found the sexy fringe tank Kim Kardashian wore recently.

TheFind Blog is inspired by sparkly sequin skirts that are tremendously more fun to than any ol' fireworks display.

Unfunded is spellbound by Shades Salon's witchcraft.

Strawberry sensations!

Is there anything more delicious in summer than fresh, juicy fruit? Strawberries are a common favourite and it's easy to see why: this heart-shaped fruit, with that vibrant red color and juicy, tender insides is almost sinfully delicious! While chomping on some delectable strawberries myself, I became inspired by the strawberry's fashion possibilities...

Rafe New York flats, $126.99

Don't these cute patent flats just evoke strawberries? From their cute eyelets to the crisp red and white combo, these flats are just as delicious as the real thing.

via Daddy O's

Go retro chic with this super sexy red dress! Featuring cap sleeves, and unique front pleating, this curve-hugging dress looks like you'd only be able to eat healthy things like strawberries to fit into it!

Fendi cherry tote, $1432

With such a bold colour as this, keep it simple like this basic leather tote from Fendi. The sleek rolled handles, soft Italian leather, and no-nonsense gold hardware keep the focus on the colour and ensure this bag is timeless, rather than trendy.

Black Halo keyhole sheath, $345

Finally, this last dress demonstrates that strawberries aren't just for sunny days and picnics, they can be darkly seductive as well. The slightly darker red tone lends this dress a more grown-up sophistication, but its demure length and ruffled sleeves are checked by a flirtatious keyhole. Perfect for a summer dinner date at a fancy seaside restaurant!

There you have it, strawberries are not only nutritious, delicious, but also stylish! Next time you dive into a bowl of fruit, try to ponder the fashion possibilities within - you never know what you might come up with!

Remember, you only have 2 more days to enter my Perricone MD giveaway! International winners are also eligible to win a secret prize pack!

Keepin' it real: summer essentials for guys

Today's guest post is brought to you by the very cool DJ Deadbird! In an effort to bring you more male-oriented content (hey, men deserve to be high maintenance too), Deadbird has kindly offered to give us his take on some fresh fashion advice for men this summer. Not only does Deadbird have cool street-wise style, this guy is also pretty sharp on the 1's and 2's - sorry ladies, this dude is taken!


So i heard the other day was the "solstice"; basically, for those of you who aren't geography nerds, it means we just had the LONGEST day of the year. While you're enjoying your long sunny days and warm patio nights, here are a few tips for the guys to keep your style crisp and clean.

First lets start with what NOT to rock.

1. Any Tap-out, Ed hardy, Affliction, or similar official douche bag wear. Unless you're in some magical world where everyone is rocking out with tight tattoo looking t-shirts, there's probably a good chance someone within a 10 foot radius of you is whispering "douche bag".
2. Polo's with a popped collar. While all the jocks in high school might be getting laid with this look, I'm really hoping the general demographic for this site is aiming higher than their little sister's best friend.
3. Cargo shorts. I don't get how the GAP was able to make these hobo shorts so popular on such a massive scale.

Now don't worry! There still is hope if you're still wearing some of these items.

The big things for this summer seem to clash a little so feel free to mix things up. At one end you've got your bright 80's-electro look with your neon yellows, bright purples, and a general palette of very bright colors. On the other end you've got the classy Cuban laid back look with neutral whites, beige, brown and blacks.

Here are some of my favorites!

"Amy" shirt by The Hundreds, $65

Pair this with a pair of simple black dress shorts and solid white or black shoes (no runners) and you'll be laughing.

"Don Mon" fedora by Livity, $37

Every dude needs at least one fedora that works for them in their wardrobe. Here's a simple one in a neutral color that you can pair with almost any shirt.

"Johnson Mid Blue" by The Hundreds, $95

One FACT of fashion is that the shoes you wear complete your look. Because these shoes are so bright, try pairing them with a pair of simple black dress shorts and a plain tee.

Now I might be a little biased since I used to work at Club Monaco way back when, but Club Monaco has siiiick summer threads. I've always been a fan. They're simple enough to put on for a casual Sunday afternoon outing, yet sophisticated enough that you can wear it out to a fancy restaurant. Although I may not agree completely with the pairing that they do on the site, this link may give you some good ideas for what summer (i think) is all about:








On a side note, linen shirts are AWESOME. This might sound wussy, but at least you'll have a great collared shirt that you can actually wear in the hot heat. Pair linen shirt with a fedora and you're good to go!

"Supercorsa" by Vans, $100

I know what you're thinking, these look weird. Every summer Vans releases some sort of a perforated shoe perfect for the summer and these are no exception. The shoe is made with extremely soft Italian leather, and believe me (I own a pair), they are the most comfortable shoe ever. Also they go awesome with any darker pair of shorts.

"Brockton" by Penfield, $70

Every time I come across any Penfield item I shed a single tear because all their designs are top notch. This shirt is absolutely perfect for the guy who wants to keep it simple, yet have a spark of flare to let everyone know you're fashionable enough to cut it around hipsters. I also need to mention that gingham patterns are HUGE this summer.

Finally, the MOST IMPORTANT thing for guys is to just wear your shit with confidence. Fashion is just following a preset standard, but style is what you make your own. I hope my likes (and dislikes) help steer you towards finding your own style this summer!



Thanks again to Deadbird and all the guest bloggers featured on Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy. If you have any ideas for future posts, guy related or otherwise, please send them to me!

Also don't forget to enter my Perricone MD giveaway - contest is open until midnight, July 1!

Black tights make me feel like a cabaret dancer

White cowl-neck shirt: Plenty
Vest: Forever 21
Black shorts: Mango
Tights: H&M
Yellow pumps: from Taiwan

Layering is such a great way to remix outfits. When I was younger I was all about the loud, graphic tees and crazy patterns - I even had a shirt on it that said "My boyfriend thinks I'm hotter than you"! Needless to say, I have progressed somewhat on from that. Now, I wear a lot of solid colors and subtle patterns, meaning I rarely go for items with writing on it. In this outfit it was a sunny day, but not hot, so I layered the shorts with some tights and the shirt with a vest for warmth and contrast. The yellow pumps keep this outfit fun and draw attention. Wearing clothes in this way is just more stylish and has better longevity since colorful graphics and text can feel dated faster than the latest Ray J song.

How would you say your style has changed from back in your youth?

Also don't forget to enter my Perricone MD giveaway!! International entries are also eligible to win a secret beauty prize pack!

Lust of the Week: TopShop Crazy Print Bandeau dress

Topshop, 50 UK pounds

As soon as I spotted this crazy, graphic dress on the TopShop website I was in lust! This funky, graphic, cartoon printed dress is not for the faint of heart! The hard punk style is softened though by a flirty bubble hem and sweetheart neckline. Pair this dress with some funky resin bangle and chunky platform cut-out booties! Perfect for a party, but also wearable during the day if you pair it with some comfy Converses and a slouchy cardigan this dress is surprisingly versatile - try it out today!

In other news, I received this lovely award from Mo of Mo-logue! Her blog is unique and honest so check her out! The rules for this award/tag are to list 10 honest things about myself and then tag a few other bloggers to pass it on so here are my 10 honest things:

1. I'm so scared of needles that I fainted when I got my ears pierced
2. When I was 6 I wanted to either be an astronaut or a dentist
3. My favourite ice cream flavour is cookies & cream
4. A psychic told me once that I would be engaged at 20, then run off with another man who would be my soul mate. None of those things came true.
5. I used to be so shy I couldn't even raise my hand in class to ask a question
6. When I was 3 I had all my storybooks memorized and I could move my finger along with the words, but I never made the connection to actually read.
7. My favourite classes in high school were choir, physics, and english literature
8. My pet peeve is line budgers and I will call out anyone who budges in front of me, which isn't very smart considering I'm small and weak
9. I really love to sing and when I'm at home, or in the car, I'm always singing something
10. One of my dreams in life is to publish a novel

And now I pass this tag onto:

Dapper Kid
Aphex Nation
A Few Goody Gumdrops
Fashion + Geometry
We Were Damsels

Weekly Shopping and Goodies

The Fashionable Housewife has the scoop on the Donna Karen Panties & Shapewear that was on Monday's Oprah with Stacy London.

A Few Goody Gumdrops loves the goddess-like look from Nicole Ritchie's House of Harlow Collection.

Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy dishes on the most amazing night cream ever!! Plus enter to win a free facial cream from Perricone MD!

Couture In The City Summer is looking hotter than ever with bright looks from Reebok.

Fashion Fille raided the awesome Shop Ruche and found some beautiful items being sold! She also has a FF exclusive coupon code for a great discount- making the already reasonably priced clothing even more affordable!

Handbag du Jour thinks the Christian Louboutin Sculptural Satin Clutch is truly a piece of art!

Princess Dominique Dishes Fashion predicts it'll get furry this Fall with Gigi Favela.

Quinta Trends shows Calzados Ruiz, a beautiful Peruvian shoes.

Raging Rouge gets a little romance in her life with MAC Rose Romance.

Shopping and Info loves the Chanel nautical stripe worn by Claudia Schiffer and Sienna Miller.

SomeoneSpoilMe.com's entire Summer Fashion & Gift Guideis 20% off!

Style Eyes can't wait to get a classic timeless and versatile piece in Summer sales - the little black dress

The Bare Skinny shows you why color is important for your outfit through Photoshop

TheFind Blog is mad about Erickson Beamon's Turkish delight jewelry collection, it's completely decadent and will look gorgeous with our favorite new T-bags maxi dress and metallic summer sandals.

Unfunded gives the inside scoop on Qi’s new cashmere loungewear line – mmmm comfy.

What's Haute Magazine features the dress Angelina Jolie wanted - the Mal Sirrah "One Dress".

Product Review: Dominance Bio-Activa Regenerative Cellular cream + giveaway!

official site here

The Product
Looking to prevent those first few fine lines and signs of aging? Your greatest defense is a good offense and this means prevention, prevention, prevention. Protect your face by using a rich night cream like the Dominance Bio-Activa Regenerative Cellular cream to replenish and rejuvenate skin while you sleep. Using a night cream is an essential beauty care step as you age since your skin is said to regenerate and absorb moisture easier at night.

The Guts
This potent cream was formulated in the advanced Swiss labs of Dominance. All Dominance products contain a rich stew of essential fatty acids, elastin, vitamin E, plant extracts, and DNA; in particular, this night cream contains RNA, DNA, jojoba oil, almond oil, vitamin C, and Mimosa tenuiflora, which creates quite the moisturizing punch! If you're a little confused on how all these ingredients work, here's a quick breakdown:

• DNA/RNA are valued for their ability to help skin cells regenerate themselves
• vitamin C stimulates collagen production and repairs free radical damage
• jojoba and almond oil are well known moisturizers
• Mimosa tenuiflora is a Brazilian shrub used originally to treat burns, but is now believed to have regenerative abilities

Packaging and Price
The cream comes in a medium-sized (50ml) jar made of sleek frosted glass and a black lid filled with a thick, pleasant smelling cream. The price of $75 made this the most I'd ever shelled out for a cream, but considering its powerful ingredient list and glowing recommendation by fellow store patrons, it seemed worth the price - after all, this is your face, so it's worth investing in!

Effectiveness
Simply put, this is the most amazing moisturizer I've ever tried! The smell of this cream is fantastic - it's light, floral, feminine, and I wish I could smell it all day long. The feel of this cream is luxurious and you really only need a dab to cover a cheek-sized area - just apply the same amount of pressure into the jar as you would to type on your keyboard and that should distribute the appropriate amount on your finger. The cream is thick, smooth, and absorbs quickly, leaving your skin with that gloriously soft feeling that you get post-facial. Apply this cream after washing and patting your face a bit dry since creams absorb better on slightly damp skin. In the morning, your face will continue to feel the love as you wake up with still soft skin. As for its anti-aging effectiveness, I've only been using this cream for a couple weeks, so I haven't noticed a perceptible change yet in the very fine lines on my forehead, but I'm using this cream as more preventative than as regenerative so I'll leave that aspect to someone else to evaluate. Overall though, I am utterly sold on its regular moisturizing properties.

Buy it or ditch it?
Most definitely buy it!!

Final Verdict: Amazing ingredients equate to one amazing moisturizer. This cream won't get an A+ since I wasn't able to judge its wrinkle treatment abilities fully, but it still gets an A!


If you can't get Dominance creams at your local beauty counter, here's your chance to win another great anti-aging product! Perricone MD's Advanced Face Firming Activator contains Alpha Lipoic Acid and DMAE that work together to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, enlarged pores, and prevent sagging skin caused by aging. This Perricone MD best seller will now be available to one lucky Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy reader! Gain one or more entries to this contest by doing one or more of the following:

1. Leave a comment on this post
   
2. Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect
   
3. Follow me on Twitter
4. Add me to your blog roll/link list

This contest will run until midnight of July 1st 2009!! Good luck everyone!

Simple Kind of Life

Music and poetry/lyrics are one of the few things that can bring me to tears, particularly when they speak to an experience, or feeling you only acknowledge within your darkest moments. The bald-faced lyrics and the utter emotional yearning in Gwen's voice are what really twists on your heart in this song. Although Return of Saturn was a bit of a flop for No Doubt, it has got to be one of their most emotionally satisfying songs and deserves more of the type of kudos given to their other most gut-wrenching song, Don't Speak. As a girl, I certainly have had my share of moments where I question how something so simple ever got so complicated, how everything pure became sullied and you wonder how you came to be at this moment. Would it be different if you could relive it, or would you just lose yourself all over again?

For a long time I was in love...
Not only in love, I was obsessed,
With a friendship that no one else could touch,
It didn't work out, I'm covered in shells...

And all I wanted was the simple things,
A simple kind of life,
And all I needed was a simple man,
So I could be the wife...

I'm so ashamed, I've been so mean,
I don't know how it got to this point,
I always was the one with all the love,
You came along, I'm hunting you down...

Like a sick domestic abuser looking for a fight,
And all I wanted was the simple things,
A simple kind of life...

(If we met tomorrow for the very first time
Would it start all over again?
Would I try to make you mine?)

I always thought... I'd be a mom,
Sometimes I wish for a mistake,
The longer that I wait the more selfish that I get,
You seem like you'd be a good dad...

Now all those simple things are simply too
Complicated for my life,
How'd I get so faithful to my freedom?
A selfish kind of life
When all I ever wanted was the simple things,
A simple kind of life...

Update: had to remove the actual video as it was putting weird formatting into my blog, but you can still view it here