Happy New Year from MissWYA!!!

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I know I've been MIA this past week and it was totally unplanned! Oops! I needed the week to clear my mind, set some goals and prepare for the new year.

As 2010 peaces out and I reflect on all the accomplishments (and -err mishaps) of this past year, I welcome the New Year and what it has to offer. 2010 was, overall, an amazing year for me. Allow me to share a few of the highlights, shall we? I'm writing this now to avoid the subsequent breakdown of the Internet as everyone tries to log on to every site at the stroke of midnight...

• I GRADUATED COLLEGE!!!! (and avoided being another statistic about Black youth in America).
• I got a JOB after graduation. OHAI real world. And nanny nanny poo poo to everyone who doubted me
• I discovered the Clarisonic. Washing my face will never be the same again.
• We celebrated THREE years of MissWhoever You Are. I may not be featured in Vogue or have designers clamoring to work with me but I've had some amazing experiences, met amazing women (and a few dudes too) who I now call friends.
• Fashion Week a.k.a the Super Bowl of fashion
• The birth of my niece

Here she is at 8 months!!

As you get ready to fête the night away, don't forget your must haves mmkay?

-- False lashes: Revlon Fantasy Lashes are pretty damn amazing
-- Bright lipstick: MAC's Stylish;y Yours collection has got you covered
-- Flawless skin: with all of the pictures that will eventually land on Facebook, it's imperative your skin look flawless. Revlon PhotoReady foundation is your guy. It got me through 2010 and I've stocked up for 2011.
-- Blushing beauty: I'm a huge fan of blush but with the bright lips going on, you don't want too much blush and end up looking like a clown. Grab IMAN Cosmetic's "Afterglow" for cheeks that will be subtly highlighted and contoured as you wish.

Happy New Year dolls! Thank you for reading, subscribing, tweeting and logging on with me in 2010. Now let's go get ready to ring in the new year ;)

Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

Watch: First Aid Kit

Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

Why Don't You...Vol. 13

Happy belated holidays MissWYA fam!!

I temporarily lost my laptop charger so I couldn't log on Christmas.

I woke up this morning to a wonderful sheet of snow that had Canarsie slightly white. Now that sheet has turned into several inches and we in NYC are in the midst of a blizzard. Yay! Call me crazy but I love when it snows I just hate the aftermath -- muddy streets, blankets of ice)

Feeling particularly lazy today, I find it super hard coming up with new ideas for this weekly column.

• Make your way to Bath & Body Works Their sale just started and it is B-A-N-A-N-A-S. Travel sized lotions are going for $1. yeah...
• Speaking of shopping... Victoria's Secret PINK bras are buy one, get one 50% off. Forever 21 has the most amazing deals for basic long sleeve tees ($4.50)
• Run through the snow like you're a kid If you're fortunate enough to have some snow in your area, enjoy it while it's still clean. I'm five seconds away from making a 5'10" snow angel
• If you want to act like an adult stay inside with some hot chocolate and read a novel you haven't read since school days (Pride and Prejudice anyone??)
• Say thank you
• If, for some strange reason, you don't like drinking hot chocolate head on over to Carol's Daughter for a haute chocolate pedicure ($36). Feet are soaked and scrubbed with cocoa, brown sugar, peppermint and honey. Cocoa lessens the appearance of wrinkles, protects your skin with antioxidants and gives you a serotonin boost. Carol's Daughter, 24 W 125th St between Fifth Ave and Malcolm X Blvd (Lenox Ave) 212-828-6717.
• Donate a coat to those who really need it
• Go ice skating
• Smile more
• Go shopping for you New Year's Eve outfit!!!!

Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

MAC Stylishly Yours: Official Information

As a lover of all things brightly colored and pigmented, my heart skipped a beat (slightly) when news of M·A·C's Stylishly Yours collection hit my inbox. I immediately raced to my nearest M·A·C counter only to realize that the collection isn't out for another couple of days.

Available December 26, Stylishly Yours is all about taking what's essentially "your" look and reworking it a bit. It's about giving your signature look that extra bit of oomph to take it from nice to wow! So whether you're like me and can't leave home without your bight pink lipstick or if a raging red is more your thing, get ready to dramatize the way you werk.

It's time to get gorgeous ladies.

CREAM COLOUR BASE $16.50 U.S. / $20.00 CDN

Virgin Isle - Vivid bright coral (Cream)
Tickle Me Pink - Poppy creamy bright pink (Cream)
Movie Star Red - Medium toned blue red (Cream)
Madly Magenta - Vivid pinkish purple (Cream)


FLUIDLINE $15.00 U.S. / $18.00 CDN

Dark Diversion - Blackened Plum
Blacktrack - Solid flat black

BRUSH $17.50 U.S. /$21.00 CDN

209 - Eyeliner

ZOOM LASH $14.00 U.S. / $16.50 CDN

New Hue - Blackened burgundy

ZOOM FAST BLACK LASH $14.00 U.S. / $16.50 CDN

 Zoom Fast Black Lash - Deepest Black

LIPSTICK $14.50 U.S. / $17.50 CDN
Neon Orange - Bright clean orange (Amplified)
Something New - Creamy bright blue pink (Amplified)
Cockney - Sheer yellow red with multidimensional pearl (Lustre)
Style Curve - Bright clean violet purple (Cremesheen)

LIPGLASS $14.50 U.S. / 17.50 CDN

Clear - Clear

PIGMENT $19.50 U.S. / $23.50 CDN

Electric Coral - Bright coral with small pearl particle
Madly Personal - Bright Pink
New Fixation - Bright fuchsia red with soft pearl
Violet - Vivid bright violet purple

BEAUTY POWDER $22.00 U.S. / $27.00 CDN

Play It Proper - Pastel soft pink with sparkles
Too Chic - Soft peachy cream with fine shimmer

Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

MAC Cham Pale for Holiday 2010 pt. 2

model Alla Kostromichova

I've already discussed the beauty aspect of M·A·C's Cham Pale collection and now I'm here to bring you their four piece skin collection - also being released as part of the full collection. In it is MAC's famous Fix+ this time with lavender. I've never used it before (felt like it would be a waste of cash) however as a fan of lavender everything, I just may have to check this out.

Check below for full product details!

Every sensible person knows having a bottle of good Champagne on ice at all times is a must! So too this premium skincare collection, inspired by the sublime simplicity of the finest quality pale cuvée, the care and nurturing required to get it right, and the extraordinary satisfaction that comes with an appreciation of the ultimate luxury: Introducing new Complete Comfort Creme, an ultra-riche facial moisturizer that relieves visible redness immediately, for a gentle, soothing, calming, hydrating formula that makes life prettier, like only the best Champagne can do. The soothing properties of French lavender enhance well-being, body, mind and spirit. M·A·C Fix+ Lavender, Lip Conditioner SPF 15 + Lavender and Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15 + Lavender round out the collection.

FIX+ LAVENDER $18.00 U.S. / $21.50 CDN

COMPLETE COMFORT CREME $32.00 U.S./$38.50 CDN

LIP CONDITIONER SPF 15 + LAVENDER $14.50 US / $17.50 CDN

TINTED LIP CONDITIONER SPF 15 + LAVENDER $14.50 U.S. / $17.50 CDN
Calm Mode - Light neutral beige

What say you, are you ringing in the new year with Cham Pale?

Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

MAC Cham Pale for Holiday 2010

When news of M·A·C's Cham Pale collection hit the interwebs, I wrote it off as yet another collection for my fair skinned friends. There was something about it -- perhaps it's because when I see a makeup product titled "Champagne" or anything remotely similar, it does not fare well on my dark skin. It's often too, well, pale.

And then I saw one of the promo images featuring model Lyndsey Scott. I've taken to Lyndsey in recent months,especially after meeting her backstage at fashion week. Not only is she a darling but her facial features are bomb.com. So as a fan of Champagne (the drink), I present to you one of the many collections M·A·C is releasing this holiday season.

The collection -- available December 26 -- is a toast to all things neutral and sparkly. Cham Pale is a cuvée colour collection that’ll highlight, gleam and glam anyone who rocks it. M·A·C describes it as a Champagne smash, shimmering with all the bubbly optimism and golden glow of the best that’s yet to be...

Cheers!

STUDIO FIX LASH $14.00 U.S./$16.50 CDN
Black Fix - Black

EYE KOHL $14.50 U.S./$17.50 CDN
I Get No Kick - Metallic nude

KOHL POWER $14.50 U.S./$17.50 CDN
Feline - Rich black

CHROMAGRAPHIC PENCIL $14.50 U.S./$17.50 CDN
NC15/NW20 - NC15
NW25/NC30 - NC25

SPECIAL RESERVE HIGHLIGHT POWDER $28.00 U.S. /$33.50 CDN
Chez Chez Lamé - Soft gold with silver shimmer
Rosé Ole - Soft pink with gold shimmer

PAINT POT $16.50 U.S./$20.00 CDN
Chilled on Ice - Frosted white gold
Let Me Pop - Frosted light copper
Vintage Selection - Frosted dirty peach
Dangerous Cuvée - Frosted cool grey

NAIL LACQUER $13.00 U.S./$15.50 CDN
Soirée - Sparkly light bronze gold (Frost)
Very Important Platinum - Dirty platinum (Frost)

LIPSTICK $14.50 U.S./$17.50 CDN
Tanarama - Pale Beige with golden shimmer (Frost)
Flustered - Frosted pale bronze (Frost)
Quiet, Please - Frosted pink champagne (Lustre)
Gel - Sheer metallic beige (Frost)

LIPGELÉE $14.50 U.S./$17.50 CDN
Luxure - Off white with pink pearl (Frost)
Sin-tillation - Sparkly pale icy pink (Frost)
Bubble Lounge - Sparkly pink peach (Frost)
Straight to the Head - Sparkly bronze brown (Frost)

EYE SHADOW x 4 - CAVIAR DREAMS $36.00 U.S./$43.00 CDN
Brule - Soft creamy beige (Satin)
Et tu, Bouquet? - Frosted pale pink gold (Frost)
Caviar Dreams - Dirty frosted pewter (Lustre)
Retrospeck - Beached blonde (Lustre)

Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

Lady of the Night

I've been so busy dealing with an epic sitch at work yesterday that I didn't have the chance to properly document my outfit yesterday, which resulted in a picture taken at night (at a party no less). It's slightly disappointing considering I really loved my outfit and would have loved to show up close details. There wasn't anything fancy - no maxi skirt or cashmere sweaters - but it was the most comfortable outfit I have worn in weeks. Without looking like a total slob.

I'm convinced it's possible to look very well put together while donning jeans. Denim gets a bad rep of looking sloppy and lazy but I'm here to try and fix that. The key, in my opinion, is fit and accessories. As a woman of extremes, I either like super skinny jeans or super wide leg - a slight bootcut doesn't do it for me anymore. Combine that with a slim fit top and an oversized cardigan (I prefer men's cardis) et voila!

Let's talk about the sweater for a mo' shall we? I got it at the Alexander Wang sample sale last week where I temporarily lost my mind and bought as many things I can carry. You'd be amazed. The more I try to search for it online, the more I curse myself out for not grabbing more. It's actually the Tencel French Terry Batwing Dress from his T by Alexander Wang line that I find too short to be considered a dress so I wear it as a cardigan.

I am a big fan of Alexander Wang. At first, I thought his clothes were "too cool" for decidedly feminine style (or what I'd like to think of it as). I favor bright pinks, corals, purples and turquoises in my wardrobe whereas he only designs in black, gray, white and sometimes peach. However his street meets luxury approach reeled me in as its casual yet maintains refined silhouettes in each of his designs. The T by Alexander Wang line offers the same ideals but is centered around tee shirt dressing and updating your everyday basics.

In other words, it's me.

Le Look
Tencel French Terry Batwing Dress worn as a cardigan: T by Alexander Wang
Top: Ferosh Cheetah Tunic, Forever 21 (seen in my Forever 21 Haul post)
Pants: Forever 21 Jeggings (live for this!)
Shoes: Cuidad Boots from Shoe Dazzle
Bag: Stam Bucket Bag, RACHEL Rachel Roy

Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

Sex & Glamour: MAC Peacocky

Arrogance or elegance? The showy display, the undeniably sexual spectacle, the iridescent irreverence...it’s awe-inspiring. We fetishize the exotic peacock as a symbol of extreme beauty, an act of elaborate nature, raging against everything simplistic. Peacocky fans out in a foray of intense colour for Lips and Eyes, exotic and sophisticated with a touch of ’30s F. Scott Fitzgerald glamour and mesmerizing metallic sheen.

In this collection, on counters January 6th, is the new Kissable Lipcolour ($18.00) which combines full flash with creamy comfort. It’s molten, with elastomer technology that leaves lips with a velvety feel without sacrificing shine. Available in 12 shades.

The new Kissable Lipcolours

Enchantée - Light blue pink
Woo Me - Light pinky nude
So Vain - Muted dirty coral
Vanity Fair - Mid-tone blue pink
Exxxhibitionist - Red-toned coral
Strut Your Stuff - Bright true red
Scandelicious - Blue fuchsia
Peacocky - Sky blue with red pearl
Super - Muted neutral brown
Temper Tantra - Mid-tone reddish brown
Flaunting It - Grey mauve
Love Peck - Blackened blood red

Known for their intensely pigmented eyeshadows, MAC is releasing Mega Metal Shadow ($19.50). These guys are said to gleam like chrome, with light-reflecting properties all while maintaining a creamy, crease-resistant formula. Dramatic doesn’t even begin to describe the girl who knows she’s Peacocky.

Peek-at-You - Frosted yellow white
Dalliance - Light champagne
Prance - Frosted mauve pearl
Top of the Posh - Frosted white pink
Tweet Me - Gold bronze
Mating Call - Dirty frosted violet

Odalisque - Deep teal
Sexpectations - Metallic burgundy
Paparazz-she - Deep copper bronze
Ego - Forest green
Noir Plum - True purple with silver pearl
Dandizette - Navy with silver pearl

Spectacle of Yourself - Deep bronze
Centre Stage - Frosted chocolate brown
Unflappable - Frosted black with purple pearl

Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

CND Shellac: A Whole New Mani Experience

When it comes to manicures, I like doing them by myself (cost effective) however if I want a truly polished look (read: decent looking) I have to go to the pros. My biggest problem, however, comes when my freshly painted nails smudge and/or chip within hours days. Why waste money getting them professionally done, right?

Now I've found the secret to success- CND Shellac!

nails- no flash

I'm sure you've heard the hurrah behind it and I say to you BELIEVE it! For those who have been in hiding this year, Shellac is CND's latest innovation in the world of nail care. Hypoallergenic and 3 Free (meaning it does not contain formaldehyde, toluene or DBP), this salon service gives you the option of getting your nails done without worrying about drying time and duration.

This is no regular nail polish my friends. It blends the strength and mega shine finish of a gel treatment with the easy application of a nail polish. Unlike gels, however, this is easy to remove and does not damage, ruin or harm the actual nail- no drilling, filing or cutting necessary!

How's it work?

The manicurist applies a UV base coat, two coats of the color of your choice (I obviously went with the brightest pink I could find- Tutti Fruity) and a UV top coat. Hands are placed inside of a UV lamp drier in between each coat, all taking about 10-30 seconds to dry. There are currently 12 color selections available with 12 news ones being added to the line in March 2011.

le UV lamp

et voila!

Now, I must confess- I gave in a couple of weeks ago and got acrylic nails. While the design was hella cute, the damage it reaped was not! I was slightly highly embarrassed with the state of my nails. My actual nails were growing but was still suffering the effects of the powder from the acrylics- basically my nails were weak and damaged to begin with. This could be a - and I bet it is- why one of my nails chipped! A week in, I smashed my finger into a display at Forever 21 (punishment for breaking my shopping ban?) and my nail chipped, taking a piece of polish with it. Imagine the look of horror on my face. I will say that after filing it down, the polish still hasn't peeled off!

The good news? Shellac can be reapplied as many times as you like. There's no need to "let your nails breathe" because the process isn't damaging to the nail- it's like getting a mani every two weeks sans filing or drilling the nails.

The removal process takes about ten minutes with acetone-soaked wraps that are exposed only to the nail. No soaking your nails in acetone (and no dry, icky feeling later!).

my nails starting week two!

How did I cope with the broken nail? File it down and I'm done. I'm currently on week two and no other incidents have occurred. Tip: apply CND's Solar Oil on your cuticles to prevent your nails from getting dry. I was told that any peeling or chipping that occurs is basically your nails crying out due to dryness.

Have I learned my lesson? Heck yes! No more acrylic/ faux nails for me! I'm sticking to my Shellac!! Shellac runs between $40-$60 and is only available at a salon, click here to find a salon nearest you.

Disclosure: manicure was provided gratis for editorial consideration. Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

Kiki Kang; Harper's Bazaar Singapore December 2010

Can we discuss the gorgeousness that is Kiki Kang in the December 2010 issue of Harper's Bazaar Singapore.

source

This Chinese stunner has been modeling for two years and is currently signed with Supreme. At the age of 21, she's walked for Diesel, was the face of Topshop's S/S 2010 campaign and has been in countless editorials.

Her 'Midas Touch' editorial for Harper's Bazaar Singapore's December issue is simply gorgeous. Between the clothing, epic winged eyeliner look and her face, this is giving me life in all sorts of ways.

All editorial photos from Fashion Gone Rogue. 

Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.