Oxblood?

This is an article I wrote December, 22nd 2012 for The Campus Companion

It’s this season’s trendiest color. Oxblood has been all over runways, television, magazines, catalogues, shops, and blogs. You see it everywhere, or at least you think you do. This season has absolutely abused the color Oxblood, which you’d think you couldn’t get anymore abusive than calling something “Oxblood.” I don’t think any other color has been as misunderstood as Oxblood. Designers and merchandisers have been running amuck this season by taking any hue in the red family, calling it Oxblood, and it will sell, sell, sell. I’m not so easily fooled and now you wont be, either! I’m going to show you what the color Oxblood truly looks like:

Not everyone looks fantastic in this shade of red, myself included, so here are some ways you can stay on trend without “drenching” yourself in Oxblood.

Accessorize. Keep your classic winter wardrobe, that you already own and love, then just pop in whatever color trend happens to be hot at the moment with some fun and cute accessories. I’ve put together a collection of 10 truly Oxblood suggestions for you. Now, the shade you see in each image may seem to vary from fabric to fabric and because the pieces are shot under different lights, but I am confident that all the pieces I have chosen represent true Oxblood. Happy Shopping!

 

These are just a few great examples of Oxblood, but now that you know what true Oxblood looks like, you can go out and shop for this color trend with confidence. Hope you enjoyed!

To see the original article click HERE.

It's Been A While...

As many independent bloggers so often do, I've unfortunately let my blog go unattended for quite some time (sorry). I've honestly been writing for so many other publications that I haven't had time to keep up with my own blog. Also, I've been super busy living, writing and studying in Florence, Italy. I've decided to upload some (most) of the articles I've written over the past year (2013) on to this blog as an archive. Some will be cut and pasted and some will just include links but they will all be written by, Yours Truly. Once I've successfully created an archive, who knows, maybe I'll resurrect Scottie's Paper Dolls? Until 2014, I will just be slowly adding post from other publications. 

Ciao!

-Scottie

The Crimson Pout

Amanda Seyfried

Red lips are such a staple in fashion. Whether it's summer or winter there's nothing more beautiful than a plump, red pout. Red lips are bold. They absolutely scream femininity and high fashion. When a beautiful girl walks into a regular place wearing bright, perfectly applied red lipstick, it seems as though she is from another level of sophistication. My mother, who is one of my style icons, never went anywhere with out red lipstick on. My mother was always very cool and not at all fussy about hair and make-up, but red lipstick was a must. I remember, she always had red lipstick and black wayfarer sunglasses, maybe nothing else special, but those red lips made the outfit.

Queen Elizabeth I

Women have been adorning their lips in bold, red colors for thousands of years. Archeologist often refer to the red lips of women (and sometimes men) found in ancient Egyptian art as "The Kiss of Death" because of the highly toxic nature of the ingredients used to create such bold colors. Cleopatra was known to crush up beetles and ants and spread them across her lips in order to tint them red.

Marilyn Monroe

Queen Elizabeth I, who is famously known for her bright red lips and pale white face, was said to
have worn these cosmetics because
she believed it would ward off death.Which, is why her hand maids continued to apply her make up even days after she'd been dead, believing that the make up might bring her back to life.

Red lipstick, obviously, cannot bring a dead person back to life but with out a doubt it can certainly put some life into a dead outfit. Pour yourself in to that same, old, black dress and swipe on some gorgeous crimson and you're suddenly channeling Marilyn Monroe with devastating sex appeal and class. 

Rihanna

Okay, so red lips are good. They're sexy, they're sophisticated, classy and high fashion. They are all those things only if you wear them right! Here are a few tips to achieve a beautiful, crimson pout.

1. Choosing the correct shade for your skin tone is paramount to pulling off this look. First you need to decide if your undertones are warm based or cool based. To determine your undertones, look at the veins in your wrist. If the veins are more blue based you have a cool undertone and should choose a blue red. If your veins are green based you have a warm undertone and should steer more towards orange reds. If you're not sure what your undertone is, you can't go wrong with a true red. It typically flatters most skin tones.

2. You must line your lips. Red lipstick smears. Always line your lips prior to applying the lipstick to keep that red under control. Try lining your lips with a nude pencil, rather than

Kat Dennings "Queen of the Crimson Pout"

trying to match the reds. Matching reds is nearly impossible. To ensure one smooth color throughout your lips, line with nude instead.

3. Most women are familiar with the plight for long lasting lip color. For extra wear time try applying your liner and lipstick first. Next, blot with tissue paper and apply a light dusting of face powder. Seal in color by applying your lipstick one more time and you're done!

Hope this was helpful! Enjoy your beautiful, red lips! 



“Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick.”

― Gwyneth Paltrow

Hair Myths Exposed: Part II

Myth #2: I found this new shampoo that will make hair grow longer and faster!

No, you did not. Have you ever seen an advertisement for a shampoo that will make your hair grow longer or faster? Well, it's impossible for any topical product to have an effect on how your hair grows! Hair growth is all about what's happening inside your body. I've got 4 tips on what will actually make your hair grow longer and faster:

1. Eat Right

Healthy food promotes healthy hair. Your diet is so related to having long, healthy hair. Our hair is made of protein, so getting enough protein in your diet is essential for hair growth. Proteins such as chicken and turkey, fish, eggs, soy products, beans, and nuts are good choices if you're wanting your hair to grow. Fats (yes, I said the "F-word") are really good for your hair. But make sure you are eating the right type of fats: Omega 3. Marine and plant oils like salmon, flaxseed oil, sardines, walnuts, and spinach are all very rich in omega 3 fats.

2. Relax

Stress can actually cause your hair to stop growing. When you are under extreme stress, your body can go into something called "survival mode," in which it will only produce things to help you stay alive. You don't need hair to live, so your body may stop producing the proteins needed to grow hair. Exercise is a fantastic stress relief! When you exercise, your body produces endorphins, which is your own natural "happy-chemical." Yoga is the perfect choice for a stress relieving exercise.

3. See a Doctor

There are a host of medical conditions that can stunt hair growth and they're not all that rare. For example, blood count, thyroid conditions and hormonal imbalances can all contribute to stunted hair growth. Normal hair grows 1/2 inch - 5/8 inch per month. If you really feel like your hair isn't growing like it should be, speak with your doctor about what could be causing the problem.

4.Take Your Vitamins

This, in my opinion, is the best and fastest way to get your hair to grow faster. You should be making sure that you are getting Vitamins A, D, E, and K in your normal diet. Those are all vitamins that are necessary for hair growth. On top of those vitamins, I recommend taking a couple supplements that you can find in the vitamin isle of any grocery store. The first one is Biotin. I recommend this to all my clients (especially brides) that are trying to grow their hair long by a certain date. It will dramatically increase your hair growth, and also your nail growth. The second is fish oil pills (beware, they smell terrible). Fish oil pills containing B-complex will speed up the growth of hair follicles. Be careful about taking both supplements at the same time because they both contain vitamin B. As always, consult your doctor before adding any supplements to your diet.

Check back next week for Hair Myths Exposed: Part III, in which I reveal the truth about "Wash, Rinse, Repeat" and how you should actually be washing your hair!