Craveability, Eye Makeup Remover, and a Contemplation of Jeggings.

This post is going to be a smorgasbord of random--advance warning!

Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover, $7.99 at drugstore.com. I've never bought eye makeup remover before. I'm more of a "get in the shower and scrub with a towel" followed by "wash with Cetaphil and scrub some more with a washcloth" until everything goes away. It's worked pretty well so far, but once you add in the black gel eyeliner on top of the waterproof mascara I get out of the shower looking like a raccoon or turning the white towels black. So I caved. And I hate change, but this was definitely worth it. It's about $8 (or less at Target) for a palm sized bottle of this stuff. You shake before using, and dab a bit onto a cotton ball or pad, and then swipe away at that eye makeup. I can go from raccoon to bare faced with this stuff in 30 seconds and only using one cotton pad. I'm in love. It's non-oily, so it won't cause breakouts, it doesn't smell, and most of all, it doesn't irritate my seriously sensitive eyes. I'm sure it's not as good as the Lancome remover, but for how long this bottle will last it's a serious steal. Consider me a convert. On a totally unrelated note, Laura Laine, one of my favorite fashion illustrators, has done up two tees for H&M. I stumbled across this white tank, and for $12.95 it was a no-brainer. It's a little on the long side, but I love the idea of it tucked into a high-waisted skirt. Check out Laura Laine's website for more twisted, fashion forward illustrations.


Whitney Port, Gwyneth Paltrow, Emily from Cupcakes and Cashmere: So. Jeggings (aka jeans + leggings). I have conflicted feelings about them. When I first saw Whitney Port sporting these acid-washed, grey jeggings a few months ago, I wept (figuratively, of course) for the emotionally scarring trend I feared would be sweeping the nation. You guys know how I feel about skinny jeans and when girls who wear leggings as pants (if they were pants they would be called PANTS and no, I do not need to be that familiar with the anatomy of your derriere), and this felt like a combination of those two trends. Ack. Even Gwyneth Paltrow looks mildly ridiculous in them, and if Gwyneth Paltrow can't pull them off, who can?! Jeggings by themselves just do not work. But things took another turn. Jeggings meet boots. Boots and jeggings hit it off fabulously, as seen on the lovely Emily from Cupcakes and Cashmere. Worn by themselves jeggings look like tragic skinny jeans. Worn with boots, they suddenly solve the problem of tucking jeans into boots! They stay down, they don't bunch, they aren't bulky, and they look like regular jeans, just with a ton of extra-stretch. And thus comfiness. Having just bought a pair of boots, I already have a feeling that jeggings will be making an appearance in my closet.


Citizens of Humanity Avedon Slick Skinny Jeans, $185 at shopbop.com, Madewell Legging Jeans, $95 at shopbop.com, J Brand Audrey Mid Rise Leggings, $159 at shopbop.com: Unfortunately, jeggings are going to run you just as much as a pair of jeans. Just looking at Shopbop, there are 75 different pairs of jeggings available, but not all jeggings are created equal. The whole point is that they look like jeans, so make sure that you find a pair with back pockets, front pockets, and a button/fly, even if they're just for show. Without these real jean details, jeggings just turn into a denim-hued pair of leggings, which sorta defeats the point. Jeggings are made of a combination of cotton and spandex, with some Lycra or other stretchy fabrics thrown in. All that aside, jeggings come in a variety of colors and finishes. This first pair is the pair being worn by Emily in the previous row, and they really do look just like a pair of jeans. This Madewell pair is a little easier on the wallet, and has more of a traditional denim color. My favorite is this J Brand pair because they're higher waisted! So they're extra comfy and they suck you in. I know $159 seems like a lot for a pair of leggings, but I can see myself wearing these all the time. Since they're black they qualify as a 'wear everyday appropriate' basic, and they'd be equally fab with knee-high boots, rain boots, or even Uggs on the way to class. Yes Uggs. Boston is COLD. Don't judge me.


Lindsey Thornberg Red Burnout Velvet Holiday Red Dress, $250 at bonadrag.com, Motorcycle Jacket, $95 at bonadrag.com, Mara Hoffman Knit Mini Skirt, $140 at bonadrag.com: I know I feature of a lot of jewelry from Bona Drag, but they also stock some pretty cute clothes. This Lindsey Thornberg dress comes in two lengths, mini and floor, and in multiple burnout patterns/colors. I love it because the material is super-stretchy, so it's flattering and comfy (and you can wear the neck as a crewneck or pull it out for an off the shoulders look), and the long-sleeve/body-con cut is very on-trend. This jacket is real leather for less than $100! They flat-out say that it's crappy leather, but it is real. The cut is classic motorcycle, with 3/4 length sleeves. a short body, and a ton of zippers. This is a serious, serious steal. How adorable is that Mara Hoffman skirt? It's my favorite cut, high-waisted and semi-mini, and the stretchy fabric means it'll fit most body types without pinching or gaping (it's all about the comfy today, apparently). Add in the very on-trend, neo-geometric/tribal pattern, and you've got one seriously covetable piece.


Image Sources:
Laura Laine tee: nitrolicious.com, Neutrogena makeup remover: skinnymenny.files.wordpress.com, Whitney Port: nymag.com, Gwyneth Paltrow: mylifetime.com, Emily from Cupcakes and Cashmere: cupcakesandcashmere.com, Citizens of Humanity jeggings: shopbop.com, Madewell jeggings: shopbop.com, J Brand jeggings: shopbop.com, Lindsey Thornberg dress: bonadrag.com, Bona Drag jacket: bonadrag.com, Mara Hoffman skirt: bonadrag.com.