January 2012
3 posts
I'm in Hibernation...
Dearest readers,
I apologize heartily for my neglect of Bellabusta. I’m taking somewhat of an extended break, but I hope to be back soon.
If you want to stay in the loop and find out when I start blogging again, you can either subscribe to my blog (there’s a space to enter your email on the right sidebar) or “like” Bellabusta on Facebook. You’ll receive an update...
Your Skincare Q's - Answered!
In my last column I asked readers to submit beauty questions for skincare expert Judith Rubinstein. Continue reading for her answers to your questions on topics such as anti-aging, acne and dermatologist treatments.
Q. When it comes to moisturizers, are the more expensive department store brands really worth the money? Or are the ones they sell in the pharmacy just as good?
A. There are many...
"Year of the Vintage Photo" CONTEST CLOSED
This contest has ended. The year this photo was taken was 1949 - Congratulations to Ruthy for winning!
Here’s another “Year of the Vintage Photo” contest!
I’ve done a couple of these contests on Facebook where I post an old family photo and whoever guesses the correct year it was taken wins a prize. Now, I’m opening up the contest on my blog so that everyone can...
December 2011
10 posts
Elizabeth Taylor Collection Auction (I was at the...
Earlier this month, Christie’s held an auction of Elizabeth Taylor’s famed jewels, her glamorous wardrobe and other memorabilia. My mother and I attended the preview which was held the week prior to the auction.
Andy Warhol’s “Liz” an offset lithograph in colors, 1964, that Warhol dedicated to Elizabeth Taylor. Price realized - $662,500.
Beholding such a vast collection of valuable items that...
More Advice from a Shaitel Macher: "How Much...
This is the second part of tips from expert shaitel macher, Gitel Rosenzweig. In the first “Advice From a Shaitel Macher”, Gitel shares tips for choosing a stylist and a wig.
In this portion, you’ll see how much you should really spend on your wig and more advice on purchasing one:
-How to budget:
Mothers making weddings always ask me: “Why should I spend tons of money...
How to REALLY Wear Color – And Love It!
Black is safe. Every woman feels comfortable with her go-to black skirt or jacket knowing that it’s simple to throw on, will go with everything and blends in with the crowd– it’s the easy choice.
But leaving black and going all-colorful once in a while can be an utter thrill. If you read fashion magazines, you probably see the very fluorescent and very unwearable color combos being promoted....
Buying a New Wig: Advice from a Shaitel Macher
Buying a new wig is overwhelming - even for those who have been married for decades! After all, it’s a huge investment and there are so many factors to consider (and so many things that can go wrong!)
Gitel Rosenzweig, a Brooklyn-based shaitel macher, has lots of experience working with shaitels - and she gives great advice too!
Here she shares her tips on choosing a wig stylist and...
Ask Bellabusta: “What Fashion Items Should I...
I started a new fashion advice column in The Jewish Press. Here’s the first one!
Q. What key fashion items are worth splurging on that make a big difference and can transform your whole look from looking nice to looking fabulous? -Miriam W.
A. Deciding what clothes or accessories to spend more on than you normally do is mostly an individual matter. It depends on your budget as well as...
All That Glitters: 3 Ways to Wear SPARKLE!
We are currently in the depth of darkness; the shortest days of the year.
In the spirit of creating light (and looking forward to Chanukah, where we bring the ultimate light into our homes), here are ways to incorporate glitter and shine into your wardrobe - I hope this will “spark” your desire to dress de”light”fully!
In the same vein as my “Levels of...
Buttoned Up Shirts, Nerdy Glasses and Other Geeky...
A curious trend has been making its way around stylish circles. Clothes that were once the exclusive territory of nerds is now fair game for the most fashionable. Vests, shoes with socks, shrunken jackets, pants that are a few inches too short, and those really clunky black glasses make up what is now called Geek Chic.
JoannaLadrido
So what exactly is the allure of looking...
Introducing SHOP! Bellabusta
My Amazon boutique has officially launched!
SHOP! Bellabusta carries a carefully chosen selection of fashion accessories, shoes, costume jewelry, makeup and fragrance. I handpicked every item based on what I would buy - things that you can get a lot of use out of and don’t break the bank!
Additionally, I only feature cosmetics and fragrances that I’ve actually tried and loved.
...
On Chocolate Chanuka Coins & Chocolate Eyeshadow.
Have you ever fallen in love with a color? Whether it’s a captivating violet from a floral bouquet or that perfect red lipstick, a beautiful shade is something you want to capture.
Thankfully, Three Custom Color Specialists, a NYC based cosmetics company, can do just that. (Click here to enter the $50 gift card giveaway on Facebook - This CONTEST IS CLOSED!)
I was privileged to work with Three...
Dazzle Dry GIVEAWAY with Fashion-Isha! CONTEST...
Sharon from the Divine and Refined Fashion-Isha blog and I are doing a giveaway together!
You can win a 3 piece quick dry nail kit from Dazzle Dry and a Paparazzi Pink nail polish. These would make a gorgeous Chanuka gift!
Enter the giveaway on Fashion-isha HERE! This CONTEST IS CLOSED!
November 2011
7 posts
Do Cosmetic Surgery and Frum Women Mix?
I recently set eyes on a Barbie doll of a woman in a Brooklyn restaurant. At first glance, she looked drop-dead gorgeous. Tall, super-thin, great clothes and a flowing shaitel, the works… But when I saw her face, I was shocked.
She looked like a plastic doll and clearly had more than her share of cosmetic plastic surgery. Collagen-plumped lips, an all-too-perfect button nose, false...
(Not So) Natural Beauty: How Manufacturers Falsely...
In recent years, the words “green”, “all-natural” and “organic” have been penetrating every area of our lives. New breeds of cars, cleaning products, food and even clothing are being manufactured to meet the demands of the new green consumer. It only follows that cosmetics manufacturers are trying to make their products seem “natural” and good-for-you as well.
But buyer beware: There are no...
What I Did For Kim Kardashian
A couple of years ago, I spent hours working for Kim Kardashian. Well, not for her, but for her eponymous perfume.
(Wait, did you think she actually wouldn’t have a fragrance with her name on it? I would be surprised if there’s an object in this world that doesn’t come Kardashian-branded.)
When I was in the Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing program at FIT, we were given an assignment to develop...
"Mad About 60's Fashion": My LadyMama Guest Post
Do you love the fabulous and feminine looks from the 1960’s?
Click here for my LadyMama guest post “Mad About 60’s Fashion” and see how you can bring the 60’s into the 21st century.
(The best part, it’s inspired by characters from the 60’s era show “Mad Men!”)
For inspiration, humor and everything in between, LadyMama is one blog...
Fashion Equation: How to Wear Booties + Skirts
Ankle boots are cute, hip and perfect for fall. But pairing them with skirts can be tricky. Here are some inspiration pictures and ideas for finding the best skirts to wear with your new booties!
A simple rule to remember: The heavier the boots, the slimmer the skirt. The opposite is true as well; with daintier boots, try a wider skirt. There are always style exceptions, but this rule makes...
The Big Beauty Debate: Drugstore VS. Department...
Are luxury brand beauty products worth the price or can mass market versions do the same job?
As a former student of Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing, I was taught by professionals in the beauty industry with a real knowledge of product formulation. They knew what ingredients go into makeup, skincare and fragrance to make it a successful product. SPOILER ALERT: Many of them claimed that the...
The Bellabusta's Guide to Colored Tights
Nothing takes the doldrums out of cold-weather dressing like a fun pair of tights. Say goodbye to black with these 3 ways to wear colored legwear!
1. MONOCHROMATIC - This style is easy to pull off. Just match your tights to the rest of your outfit to create a very of-the-moment look. This all-over matching works best with dark muted colors like gray, plum or...
October 2011
8 posts
MAMMA MIA! Looking Great Postpartum
This post is dedicated to the talented Jamie Geller, of the “Quick & Kosher” cookbooks and Joy of Kosher magazine, who recently had a baby girl. And, of course, to my sister-in-law Mimi who just had a baby boy (and always looks fabulous, by the way…)
Many women wish that the weeks or months following childbirth can be spent indoors, in a semi-hibernation state with their...
My Most OUTRAGEOUS Teenage Fashion Faux Pas! (PART...
Believe it or not, I have more ridiculous, horrifying, embarrassing and splashy clothes from my adolescence to share with you all in PART II of my OUTRAGEOUS Teenage Fashion Faux Pas!
(Click here to the stunners in PART I)
PUNK PLATFORM CAMO HIGH-TOPS
WHERE: Daffy’s
WHEN: Age 15
WHY: I was in awe when I laid eyes on this pair of bizarre high-tops. I purchased these...
My Most OUTRAGEOUS Teenage Fashion Faux Pas! (PART...
I have a confession.
I have a thing for ugly clothes.
Sure, I crave haute couture and the straight-from-the runways designer duds just as much as any other Bellabusta. But foreign, over-the-top, horrendous, tacky, and outdated threads are also part of the fun world of fashion. And I find them irresistible.
For your viewing and mocking pleasure, I have compiled photos of the most outrageous...
A Luxury Etrog Perfume & a Chance to WIN IT!...
As a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology, we had a class on the science of fragrances. Our professor asked each student to choose a natural product such as cinnamon sticks or rose petals and learn how to extract fragrant oil from those substances. My choice, however, was an etrog. I just couldn’t wait to capture the exquisite smell of a Sukkot citron in a bottle.
Unfortunately, my...
Gorgeous Outerwear Trends for Right Now
Fall fashion brings us some delightful outerwear trends. Some are classics that come back every season (hello, fur trimmings!) and some are more edgy and fashion fickle (punchy colors and capes!).
Meet my favorites of the bunch:
CAPES! Yes, capes. The little red riding hood look is cute and comfy and currently a “fashion do”. I can’t guarantee they’ll be as hot next year,...
The Value of Vintage
About 10 years ago, my brother played an unusual prank on a certain Jewish newspaper. He submitted a fantastically out-of-date picture of my parents from 1977 for the paper’s “Engagement Announcements” section.
The funniest part wasn’t that he captioned the photo with fake names, or that he also sent in his Bar Mitzvah picture (he was 22 at the time). It was that the picture was actually...
Blingy Things + Giveaway. CONTEST CLOSED
Who doesn’t love a dose of sparkle, glitter and shine?
Blingy things are amazing ways to add some zest to ordinary things.
Mont Bleu Glassware is an online retailer of cosmetic implements and jewelry that are crystallized with genuine Swarovski crystals. And… they are sponsoring the latest Bellabusta giveaway!
Their reasonably priced accessories make unique and glamorous gifts...
The London Look: A British Bellabusta on UK...
It is fascinating to see how the finer points of fashion vary regionally. What’s über trendy in Germany is not necessarily très chic in Paris, even though general clothing styles are similar. Even more intriguing is how frum fashion differs by location.
I interviewed Sarah Herskine, a frum and fashionable Londoner, who fills us in on Orthodox Jewish fashion in the UK. Sarah is my former flatmate...
September 2011
8 posts
Spots, Stripes and Tznius: THE CONSENSUS
Via Joanna Ladrido
(This article originally appeared in the Jewish Press column “Beauty and the Bellabusta.”)
Last week I discussed the rising popularity of animal prints in fashion and inquired as to the inherent qualities of wearing them. (See the “Spots, Stripes and Tznius: Animal Prints and Modesty”) Are they intrinsically immodest because they...
2 tags
Levels of Leopard Print: From Tame to Fierce!
Leopard is the hottest animal print for fall - it is EVERYWHERE.
As with any trend, there are varying degrees that you can take it to. Your decision depends on what you’re comfortable in.
(See “Spots, Stripes and Tznius: Animal Prints and Modesty”)
You can tiptoe into leopard with a belt or shoes or dive right in with an all-over print. What’s your “Level of...
Win a Statement Necklace from Envy Jewels! CONTEST...
THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED
Be stylish this Succos and enter to win a statement necklace from Envy Jewels!
CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE FACEBOOK CONTEST TO WIN A STATEMENT NECKLACE OF YOUR CHOICE!
Envy is a jewelry boutique that carries very affordable costume pieces for women and girls. Most of their items range from the $20-$30 range with nothing over $60!
Envy Jewels is giving away 1 gorgeous...
4 tags
"Spots, Stripes and Tznius: On Animal Prints and...
Via The Styling Dutchman
(This article originally appeared in the Jewish Press column “Beauty and the Bellabusta.”)
Ever since God clothed Adam and Chava in animal skins, humans have been delighting in the use of animals for both utilitarian and decorative purposes. Ancient Roman military wore animal skins as a sign of strength. In the 1950’s, Christian Dior...
2 tags
Statement Jewelry to Match EVERYTHING in Your...
Via TheStylingDutchman
A practical piece of statement jewelry might sound like an oxymoron. Usually, when jewelry is substantive enough to be called “a statement piece”, it’s rarely worn because it’s so hard to match with your wardrobe.
BUT this does not have to be the case! No matter how oversized, patterned or unique a piece of statement...
2 tags
Minimal-Effort Makeup for a Simcha: MavenMall...
It’s so easy to get into a makeup rut . You know what looks good on you and so you stick with it.
But why not experiment with something new, like this glam yet subtle winged eyeliner that Michal is sporting?
Click here to see 4 minimal-effort makeup looks for a simcha (with pictures and how-tos) on MavenMall.com!
3 tags
Rosh Hashana Wardrobe: 3 Nights, 3 Outfits
(This post is the sequel to “Rosh Hashana Wardrobe: 3 Days, 3 Outfits.”)
This year, Rosh Hashana (and Succos, too!) begins on a Wednesday night. This means we’ll be having quite a few 3 day yomim tovim. When the holidays are long, we all want to be comfortable yet still look put together.
Maxi-dresses are the perfect solution for those long yom tov afternoons and nights. For...
4 tags
Fall Fashion: Modestly Modified
(This article originally appeared in the Jewish Press column “Beauty and the Bellabusta.”)
I am always amazed at the frum women around me. So many women gracefully balance being beautifully in fashion with being balebustes as well – in other words, they’re Bellabustas! Even the most current fashions can be modestly modified. Let’s have a glimpse at four off-the-runway fall trends that...
August 2011
12 posts
1 tag
I Wear My Shoes...with SOCKS
Sometimes I wear my shoes with socks. Once I started doing this, I got so comfortable with this look that I’ve forgotten it’s not exactly mainstream.
Me in one of my favorite pairs of shoes and socks!
I’m surprised it’s not more common than it is. One part retro and one part rebellious, this trend is so much fun. Not to mention comfortable. And so cozy in...
3 tags
Rosh Hashana Wardrobe: 3 Days, 3 Outfits
This year the Jewish calendar is bringing a few 3-day holidays. It happens when a 2-day holiday falls out on a Wednesday night and it’s conclusion is immediately followed by Shabbos on Friday night.
Here you’ll find 3 outfits that Chavi and I put together for Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year. The featured fashion sets are complete with two pairs of shoes for each (heels for shul and...
2 tags
Classy Plus-Size Party Picks
The following fashion sets feature fabulous plus-size outfits for a dressy event, a night out, or for anytime gorgeous. Everything is modestly priced and styled, too!
compare & contrast =
The color blocking and purple/yellow combination make this look edgy and ultra-modern.
Everything’s Coming Up Roses =
This dusky rose sequined sweater and A-line skirt is enhanced with...
2 tags
French Dressing: Frum Parisienne Speaks Fashion
Meet Ruchel: a French frum fashionista. Born in Paris, Ruchel’s family has been involved in the fashion industry for generations. Her father, a retired fashion designer, actually designed clothes for film star Brigitte Bardot. Ruchel shared some photos of her personal style as well as insight into the Jewish French community. Some of the pictures include her adorable 4 year-old daughter, Mati,...
1 tag
Links à la Mode (Bellabusta is Featured!)
Each week, Independent Fashion Bloggers publishes a weekly roundup of the 20 best fashion blog posts. This week Bellabusta’s “Knockout Color Combos for Fall (+ Styling Tips!) post is featured! Continue reading to see the entire list of the IFB’s Links à la Mode.
The seasons are changing and as fashion and or style bloggers, you know what that means? Time to switch stuff up!...
3 tags
Giveaway: 8 Piece Dazzle Dry Nail Polish! CONTEST...
Hey busy Bellabustas! Do you love painting your nails but hate the waiting time? Is it hard to find a period of 20 minutes where you can be hands-free (no diaper changing or dishwashing)?
Dazzle Dry is sponsoring a Bellabusta giveaway of their quick-dry 3-piece nail system (Nail Prep, Base Coat and Top Coat) and 5-piece summer nail color collection.
The Dazzle Dry nail care system speedily...
5 tags
Knockout Color Combos for Fall (+ Styling Tips!)
The Pantone Fashion Color Report puts together the most popular colors in fashion that designers are using. These rich shades are where we are headed for fall, and you’re likely to be seeing many of them every time you shop.
Not only are these colors stunning, they also synchronize beautifully. I fashioned 3 different fall outfits based on two coordinating colors from Pantone’s...
4 tags
Feather Hair Extensions... in Wigs!
Fashion trendsetters are embracing the look of feather hair extensions - that is, dyed feathers that are applied to hair to create a trendy bohemian look. Bling Strands, a hair extension and accessory company, sent me some of their Fancy Feathers to try. With the help of Gitel Rosenzweig, a gifted and creative wig stylist from Brooklyn, we attempted this trend on my shaitel.
And the results?...
2 tags
The Coolest Beauty Products from Cosmoprof Las...
Ready for some more super creative and visually appealing beauty products from the Cosmoprof trade show?
This shaving kit is from barista bath and body, a personal care company with coffee-infused products. The entire product line has java-inspired names; “grind” (coffee face polish), “room for cream” (body creme), “make mine black” (black bar soap), and...
2 tags
The Coolest Beauty Products from Cosmoprof Las...
Cosmoprof is the premiere trade show for beauty products. This week was the Cosmoprof show in Las Vegas. Are you ready for some highlights? Here are some of the most unique, beautifully packaged and just plain awesome products that were showcased.
A pedicure chair for little girls by Pretty-Salon USA. For just $680, you can have the most spoiled child on the playground!
White Sands...
2 tags
Giveaway: EclipseSpa Vanilla Mint Sugar Scrub...
How many of us Bellabustas would like the day off for a spa vacation?
I’m guessing most of all would but our circumstances don’t allow for such indulgence. Well, we’re in luck! EclipseSpa makes all-natural bath and body products that bring the spa experience to your home – and they are giving away one Vanilla Mint Organic Sugar Scrub to a Savvima reader!
EclipseSpa sent me one of their...
4 tags
Oversized Handbags for all Your Mommy Essentials:...
I compiled oversized stylish handbags that can carry everything an overloaded mom needs (without the teddy bears and pastel patterns.) Read the article at Fashion-Isha for a selection of carryalls for the Classic Mom, the Sporty Mom and the Artsy Mom. All are under $75!
July 2011
10 posts
What I Wish I Was Wearing
There are a million reasons why we don’t always dress the way we wish we could. Money, courage, opportunity (or lack thereof) can stop even the most veritable Bellabusta from dressing to her heart’s content.
That being said… this is what I wish I was wearing.
Earth Laughs in Flowers by bellabusta featuring high heel pumps
I am not about to spend $1,500 on an Alexander...
5 tags
Go Shell-less
Layering is the perfect way to make an outfit modest. Any tznius issue can be easily fixed by adding a shell, cardigan or even an extra skirt. But layers + summer = a sweltering combo. So I challenged myself to come up with modest and trendy outfits with no shells required. I built nine outfits along three shell-less themes. Every piece was chosen with a mind to budget, varying style preferences...