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

Soft knits and white light

Purple cardigan: Gap
Denim capris: Winners
Gladiators: from Taiwan

Picking this sweater up at Gap a few months ago was such a great idea as its now become one of my favourite items! The color is a great vibrant purple and is of the softest knit that almost makes it feel like cashmere (but for the price it most certainly isn't!). This photo looks over-exposed, but the light at the time was actually a very pure white, which incidentally is a great contrast to purple! I love a nice, soft, white light that illuminates, but doesn't make you squint like full-on sunshine will do.

In other news, I recently received this press release for a new-ish online boutique called Eye Candy Buy Candy. Started just last September, this boutique seeks to bring the latest trends to women with real bodies and real budgets - just my kind of philosophy! They even offer consultation services if you just can't decide what items to go with your shape. I haven't tried out their services yet myself, but upon perusing the site I came across some very tempting options:

The Siren top, $31

Jersey maxi dress, $48

Melie Biano contrast clutch, $44.99

As well, BHMnB readers are being offered an exclusive discount code! Get 10% off at checkout by entering in "highmaintenance" - happy shopping!

Lust of the Week: fresh mangos

I haven't had a food lust for awhile, but after a week of heavy meat-filled dim sum lunches and a meat-filled bento box last night, the desire for light, fresh, fare is strong. Enter in one of my favourite fruits, the humble mango. Juicy, sweet, melt-in-your-mouth textures all combine to result in a tangy fruit sensation party! Nothing says summer like some ripe fruits and this tropical beauty is certainly worth picking up. Sorry 100-mile dieters, look like you lose out again ;)

Weekly Shopping and Goodies - tons of giveaways!

The Fashionable Housewife is having a Lands’ End Summer Beach Giveaway this week! Enter before June 21st at midnight.

A Few Goody Gumdrops is fluttering her lashes over this eye opening giveaway from Rapid Lash.Enter to Win!

Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy gives help for hour-glass figures

Couture In The City offers a sneak peak at Inge Christopher fall handbag collection

Puma has released an incredibly awesome (seriously, all kidding aside, this bag may just define awesome.) limited edition bag on Revolve Clothing, and Fashion Fille tells you all about it! You need to see this thing.

Handbag du Jour gives you the details on Bulga's upcoming online and in-house handbag sample sale event!

You can Win These Fabu YMI Skinny Jeans! Log on to Princess Dominique now to find out how!

Quinta Trends talks to Chilean designer behind Ananda Tienda (wool accessories)

Shopping and Info is giving away a python hobo bag made by celebrity designer Tylie Malibu.

SomeoneSpoilMe.com has some last minute gift ideas for Dad that can be shipped up until Friday (for all the procrastinators)

The Bare Skinny has Fifty Fierce Shoes for the rocker chick!

TheFind Blog is getting all wrapped up in FALL shoe shopping and especially loving the strap embellished boot trend.

Live in Southern Cali? Unfunded gives you the details of 2 killer sample sales you could go to this weekend and lets you in on a little shopping secret – TheTopSecret.com (Southern Cali zip code not required).

What's Haute Magazine wants to know if you love or hate Rihanna's Gorilla dress by Christopher Kane.

Product Revew: Dove Go Fresh Burst Body Wash

The Product
Looking for that perfect pick-me-up in the morning? For some, that means a steaming mug of coffee, or the smell of fried eggs in the morning, but for others, waking up begins with a cleansing shower. Nothing wakes me up like that first hit of warm water on my face and if my shower can not only cleanse me, but make me smell great too, then even better!

The Guts
Today's product review features a body wash that promises cleansing power, plus the use of stimulating scents to perk your tired body up. Grapefruit and lemongrass burst out of tiny invigorating beads to deliver a tangy fresh scent, while moisturizers like sunflower oil soften skin. This body wash's gel formula lathers up quickly to cleanse and moisturize simultaneously, and like all Dove products, contains 1/4 moisturizers.

Price & Packaging
Only around $10 for a very large bottle - an awesome price! Its oval-shaped bottle is a little slippery to pick up in the shower with soapy hands due to its wider middle, but it does feature a great little flip top.

Effectiveness
The gel formula lathers up nicely, although you have to use a generous amount to really get it going. In fact, this body wash didn't lather as much as most others I have tried, which was slightly disappointing. However, it does get big points for its luscious fruit scent, which was rather intoxicating and as refreshing as claimed. It rinsed away quickly and effectively and didn't leave my skin dry. Since using this product, my boyfriend even claims my knees have gotten smoother!

Buy it or ditch it?
I might buy this product again, just because it smells so good and cleansed well.

Final Verdict: Great citrus scent that left skin squeaky clean and smooth, however you need to use a lot of product.

Ask MizzJ: Help for hour-glass figures

Hello there,

I'm a newbie to your blog. I saw that you help readers find clothes. I need help!

I a size 8 and have a 34 H bra size. It makes looking for clothes difficult. I was wondering if you could help me with the following:

1. What dress cut is best for those with huge breast and small waistline. I'm not perfect and I do have a belly pouch.

2. What websites have pretty/modern looking swimsuits for large breasted women?

3. Also, are there any retail stores you can suggest I browse for finding dress/tops in NYC?

I look forward to hearing what you find,

Thanks!

- ND from NYC

Thanks so much for asking ND! I always love to help people find fashions just right for them. After some further questioning of ND, I found out that she has what she describes as "typical downtown New York" style, that she leans towards more conservative items for the office, and that she is curious about color! Measuring at size 8, with a 34 H bust line, she has a much emphasized hour-glass figure. This figure is touted as the most enviable figure as it is classically desirable to men (just listen to any rap video and you'll quickly learn that boy figures just don't cut it), but how does one wear items that will flatter instead of flash all those luscious goods? Here are some tips I found for hour-glass figures:

• GET A BRA THAT FITS. This is absolutely, positively the most important factor here, especially for large busted women. The wrong size bra not only will not support, it may actually make you look bustier! The majority of women do not wear the proper size bra, so it is important to find a bra that fits. Many department stores and higher-end boutiques offer bra sizing assistance. Victoria's Secret sales associates are great for offering help too.
• scoop and v-necks slim the face and chest
• wide-leg, low waisted, pants with a straight leg, hide calves and thighs
• A-line skirts
• fitted, flowing, fabrics
• anything with a defined waist
• dark bottoms with lighter tops
• bias-cut dresses, and shirt dresses with thin belts

With these tips in mind, here are some great day and night dress options for the hourglass figure:

Day-night dresses for hourglass figures by mizzj featuring Bailey 44 fashion

These dresses are great for the day with their simple details and accentuated waistlines. Simply throw on a light knit cardigan to cover bare shoulders for the office, then whisk it off and pair with some jewelled heels for night. If you're new to wearing colors, shades of grey and navy are close enough to black to have the same slimming effect, but still stand out from the masses of LBDs. Finally, if you're ready to advance to full-fledged color, red is the perfect stand-out color and warms ones complexion; like the perfect red lipstick, a red dress screams sexy!

Evening dress for hourglass figures by mizzj featuring Christian Louboutin shoes

For strictly post-sunset occasions, try utilizing color and patterns! These eye-catching silk dresses feature again, defined waists, a flirtatious length, and necklines that don't overly highlight the chest. Halter necklines are very flattering on hour-glass figures and one-shoulder tops and dresses are edgy and modern.


In regards to the swimsuit question, I would recommend sticking to shapes that highlight that envious itty-bitty waist. Go for halter or triangle shaped tops, and high-cut, dark bottoms. Boy shorts are your enemy as they will hit right near the widest part of your body! Hour-glass figures are otherwise blessed in the swimsuit department as any classic swimsuit design will look great on you. Lycra and support tops will tuck, and lift, whatever bits need support. Here are some great picks from Victoria's Secret that fit the bill:

Swimsuits for hourglass figures by mizzj featuring Victoria's Secret

One-pieces and mono-kinis are super hot right now, as are retro styles. Coral is also the hottest color of the season, making the coral swimsuit in the front of this collage utterly ideal! Ruching on the sides of swimsuits also hides flab, but if you're feeling sexy then definitely go for a mono-kini with side cut-outs that will show off your fabulous hour-glass waist.

Sadly I'm not from, nor have visited New York City, so I have no recommendations for stores to visit! The answer to this last question I leave to my savvy readers - what are the best places to shop in NYC?

Need help with your closet or your beauty product drawer? Shoot me an email at mizzjblog at gmail.com! I'm always glad to help!

Preggers or perfect?

White tee: American Eagle
Striped babydoll tank: Bluenotes
Leggings: Urban Outfitters

Here is me trying to look tall in this photo, and not quite succeeding. This tank top was super cheap as I used my employee discount at the time. One thing I've discovered thru this series of outfit posts is that I really am quite a fan of stripes! There is something so chameleon-like about stripes to me as they can embody a variety of looks from nautical, to European chic, to cool hipster, to preppy. My look here I would say is something of a cross between casual-coolness and neo-maternity wear as I could imagine an expectant mother would wear this outfit in order to maintain comfort and stylishness. Does it bother me to compare my outfit to a pregnant woman? I'd like to think I'm secure enough with myself and my body to admit it and be ok! Have you ever worn anything you could compare to maternity wear?

Lust of the Week: S.W.O.R.D Volterra motorcycle jacket

Scary model wearing hot motorcycle jacket, via ShopBop, $814

After sculking around ShopBop for awhile looking for this week LOTW, I realized something: I'm really really in love with the juxtaposition of toughness and prettiness, which explains why I love the boho-rocker look so much! Fitting into this trend like well, a motorcycle glove, are motorcycle jackets and this jacket by SWORD in particular fits very well.

The key attributes to any motorcycle jacket are a tailored fit, a smooth yet loved-in look to the leather, and of course the snap-tab collar. The Volterra is both functional and fashionable with its practical zippered pockets and reinforced elbow patches, and its cropped length would look great with longer tees, and of course floral dresses. Finally, the cool sable color offers a softer look than traditional black, while still maintaining the versatility enjoyed by neutral colors. This jacket is the perfect finisher to achieving that effortless tough-girly girl look.

Weekly Shopping and Goodies

The Fashionable Housewife is giving away a Twisted Silver Empress Necklace worth $100! Enter to win before Sunday!

A Few Goody Gumdrops dishes on the greatest trend! The Love Quotes Scarf.

Fashion Fille informs her readers now about the awesome Alexis Bittar jewels that Creative Contrast is now selling- and an exclusive coupon code! Get on it, babes!

Handbag du Jour wants you to own a piece of Project Runway history with the Korto Momolu Tote.

A sustainable fashion view by Pitti Palacios in Quinta Trends (English subtitles)

Raging Rouge posts a list of great gift ideas for Dad, with all budgets in mind.

Shopping and Info loves Kellie Pickler’s silver platform shoes from the Taylor Swift concert.

Someone Spoil Me hopes you will enter our Father's Day Giveaway and check out our great gift ideas for Dad! Enter to Win!

Style Eyes is desperate to get her hands on some jumpsuits and playsuits this summer, they are a ready made outfit

The Bare Skinny wants to know if you will follow this canvas heel trend?

TheFind is mad for plaid with with summer's prettiest gingham sundresses and Repetto flats.

Unfunded reviews and gives away Avon's New Summer Lip Sensations! Each product is under $10 and is a brand new release for summer! Winner announced on 6/20!

What's Haute Magazine wants to know who you think looked hotter in the Alexander Wang Corset dress - Rihanna or Paris Hilton?

Like monkeys?

Who: Paul Frank
What: Paul Frank warehouse sale - 1st in Vancouver!
Why: Get up to 80% off all merchandise: bags, hoodies, sleepwear, shoes, accessories, t-shirts and more
Where: 7731 Alderbridge Way, Richmond
When: Thursday, June 11, 10am to 9pm - Saturday, June 14, 10am to 6pm
Payment: Cash, Visa, Mastercard, debit

Happy Shopping and thanks to EC for this tip!

Good girly times: champagne, makeup, cupcakes and deals!

Your heels click on the cool tiled floor and your ears perk up as you hear the distant buzz of excited female voices. As you round the corner, a bevy of pink and magenta balloons waft gently in the air-conditioned breeze, beckoning you in. Welcome ye pilgrim of fashion consumerism. These were the thoughts in my head this weekend as I embarked on a shopping frenzy with Lisa to not only one, but two Style Spy exclusive shopping events this weekend! If you've never heard of Style Spy, it's a Vancouver style blog featuring the hottest new boutiques, products, and events around the city and is definitely worth checking out!

The first event put on by Style Spy was at Ishara boutique in Oakridge Centre. This boutique features designer fashions by Susana Monaco, Rich & Skinny, Graham & Spencer, and many more fabulous designs, the majority of which were outside my price range! It was still fun to peruse the racks though, especially the dress rack by the change rooms. Though my intentions were to be chaste and deny myself of buying anything, when I saw this cute orange dress, I couldn't resist its punchy color and sexy draping:

Yes, that is a toilet in the background

The worst was yet to come for my wallet however as the next day we headed out to Wink Beauty Lounge in Gastown for their massive 40-50% off sale! The walk to Gastown was breezy and colder than it has been the last week in Vancouver, but eventually the sun came out:





Gastown is a very interesting and picturesque spot in Vancouver, filled with delicious restaurants and fashion forward boutiques, however it also has its bad spots, such as one block where Lisa and I literally rushed through holding hands to our faces to stifle out the smell of old pee! Once we passed piss block though, we arrived at Wink!







Wink specializes in lash extensions, but they also offer spray tanning, and sell a wide variety of beauty product lines such as O.P.I, Decleor, and Pupa Cosmetics, as well as their own in-house brand of makeup.





Most items in the store were at least 40% off and there was a giant spin wheel offering more free prizes and discounts on your purchases! Champagne and a rather impressive spread of pastries and cupcakes were also to be had - sweets, alcohol, and makeup, surely this was MizzJ heaven.





Below you can see me with my basket busting full of items. In fact I had the dubious honour of being the only one in the store who had so many items that they broke their plastic basket! I maintain that thing was defective to begin with.




And here is the entire haul: Dominance Bio-Active night cream; OPI nail polish; in-house makeup brush (so soft it's like rubbing my face with a hamster's butt), gold eyeliner, and all-over baby pink cream shadow; OPI makeup clutch, Decleor face cream and Kiss Me liquid eyeliner were all freebies provided upon purchase.





Though in pictures this may not seem an entirely unreasonable amount of items, one must also take into account this was all in 48 hours! This haul makes me shiver in fear for when Sephora and Forever 21 arrive in Vancouver. I will literally become the most fashionable person to ever live in a box because I'll have spent all my money on makeup and clothes instead of practical things like food and shelter. Hmm, I wonder if Chanel makes dog house sized boxes?

Introspective blue

Sweater hoodie: Garage
Jeweled top: Mantique
Denim Skirt: unknown
Tights: Urban Outfitters
Booties: Spring

I really like thin, 3/4-length sweaters in spring and summer as they provide coverage without being overly warm and are perfect for stuffing into a tote during the day. The exposure in this photo is a little over done, but I'm still learning how to fiddle with my camera. It was a perfect spring day when this photo was taken, one where the sunlight was a pure golden color and the air felt its freshest. I remember really enjoying the click of my heels against the stone pavement as I walked home from work, and feeling a quiver of anticipation for summer. On these types of days, royal blue is the best color to wear as it really is the perfect shade to express thoughtfulness and quiet reflection. Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

Ghetto-fab, or just fabulous?

Remember the famous "Carrie" necklace worn by Sex and the City protagonist, Carrie Bradshaw? This simple little necklace sparked a craze for name necklaces with its flirty, curvaceous lettering and delicate gold chain. Well that necklace wasn't made by a huge designer name, nor does it have a huge designer price tag! The makers of these and other personalized pieces is MyNameNecklace.com, an online retailer of hand-crafted, customized, jewellery services, including the famous "Carrie" for prices ranging from $30 to as much as $140.

Styles include the "Carrie" style, Vinyl Crush (on acrylic), Swarovski crystal necklaces, name rings, and the Love collection, which features the intertwined names of couples on a single piece. As well, you can choose from 14k gold, 18k gold plated, 14k white gold, or silver, and a variety of chain lengths.

Other celebs love it too!

As an extra bonus, MyNameNecklace was kind enough to send me a product to review! I was pleasantly pleased with the range of chain length options offered, and was very eager to receive my necklace as I've never been able to find anything with "Jordana" on it before. Delivery was very prompt, with the package arriving in a matter of weeks, which is pretty commendable considering it was specially made just for me!



As seen below, the necklace is perfect! It lies just beneath my collarbone and is a very pretty silver color. The chain is rather delicate, but I wore it straight for a weekend with no mishaps, so I'd guess it's stronger than first thought. Overall this was a very satisfying product, and wearing it instantly makes me feel girly, flirty, and all sorts of sexy, just like that other famous name necklace wearer.



If you like what you see here, or you're a person with an unusual name like mine, then jump onto this opportunity right now because MyNameNecklace has a special coupon code just for Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy readers!! Right now, just use the discount code MIZJ at checkout to get an automatic 8% off your purchase! Happy Shopping!

Lust of the Week: Anthropologie's Old-and-New necklace

via Anthropologie for $245.15

Missing those eternally fashionable upper-Eastsiders of Gossip Girl? Who isn't! Take a glimpse at this vintage pearl necklace and you'll be sighing too for those comfy Monday nights spent cozying up with some hot chocolate and some good, juicy, gossip. Made up of several strands of vintage cultured pearls and finished with a sweet ivory muslin ribbon, this necklace evokes the classic grace of Blair Waldorf. If only it came with a matching Nate Archibald too!

Weekly Shopping and Goodies!

• A Few Goody Gumdrops is stepping out in style with the must-have Jeffrey Campbell Gladiator Sandals!
• Being High Maintenance, not Bitchy gains fashion inspiration from the Canadian fashionphiles on LookBook.nu
• Couture In The City IMAN exclusive global giveaway finale! Enter Now!
• This week, Fashion Fille has an awesome interview with the designers of the Garbo bag- Be and D! Check it out for some surprising answers!
• Handbag du Jour discovers Ashlee Simpson-Wentz is moving into Melrose and loves her new Chanel handbag!
• Fashion in a scarf by Quinta Trends
• Shopping and Info loves this terry ruffle dress found on sale from Juicy Couture.
• Style Eyes has just been on holiday and is loving seaside style
• See what the celebrities wore to the MTV Movie awards at The Bare Skinny
• TheFind Blog is loving the new Melissa Odabash bikini bag. It'll keep our soggy bikini from soaking the rest of our beach worthy essentials.
• What's Haute Magazine's beauty editor shares her experience at Trish McEvoy's Cosmetics Master Class: The Power Of Make-Up!

Lookbook lusciousness

After taking a no-blogging weekend to relax at the beach (and humiliate myself playing beach volleyball), work (and sweat) it out on the dance floor, and sleep, I arrived at my computer today refreshed... and to a jam-packed inbox. I thank you all for your awesome comments, but please forgive me if I'm a little behind on visiting you back! In the meantime I was utterly distracted from catching up on my ever-growing to-do list by my recent email invite to Lookbook.nu from friend and reader SW! I had actually received an invite from Lookbook.nu long long ago, but stupidly had deleted it thinking I could just join whenever I wanted to later - OOPS was I ever wrong! Apparently LookBook.nu is by referral only, or you must apply with a full-on letter stating exactly why you should be allowed to enter.

Once you've signed up, there are lots of other rules too stating what sort of photos you may and may not post. If you've never heard of Lookbook.nu before, I highly suggest you visit because it is filled with amazingly artistic photos taken by regular people in poses and outfits more suited to a glossy fashion magazine than a "little" website! After perusing a few profiles, I am now highly intimidated and will have to up my photography and outfit game to keep up with these other inspiring Canadian fashionphiles:

Wanderlust by Bo M.

Bo M. has the loveliest poses and a very cool hipster vibe to her looks. The way she pulls at the skirt at this photo makes it look as if there's a breeze, when there isn't.

I believe it was Tuesday when I caught your eye, by Bianca V.

A perfect vision of spring with the flowers, green grass, and golden light. That funky feather necklace is pretty sweet too!

Grey la la land, by Sagaji S.

Here's one for the guys: a shining example of clean, crisp, preppy looks joined with a trendy cuffed pants twist.

April by Samantha M.

I really like the tough vibe of this photo against the rustic natural setting. Although her pose is a bit "don't show-cha your chocha" it still works!


If you want to check out my profile on Lookbook.nu, it's right here. I only have one outfit posted yet, but keep checking back as I'll start updating more soon!