VaVaVaVEGAN » NYC

Birthday Cake & Boobie Tassels

jen — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:07:14 +0000

Yesterday, I reached the quarter of a century mark in my life, so I thought why not celebrate French Quarter style with a risque burlesque extravaganza – except this one was a little less overblown, a whole lot more modern, and located in the East Village.

I didn’t have overly high expectations for the little dive in Alphabet City, but I was immediately taken by Bar on A with their orange and black decor, complete with synthetic snakeskin detailing around lights, poles, and other subtle spots. It was casual with no cover – and the show only had a $5 buck bill.

I had already decidedly given the Kitty Nights gang of girlies kudos for the super catchy catty show name. There were the usual scenes – a mix of sultry and silly, which I quite enjoyed. Plus, this particular night also included a special act by the fierce little lady who ran the show – Ms. Fem Appeal. While I’m not sure exactly how I felt about the Little Red Riding Hood reenactment, I can safely say the fur costume that was flung around were totally faux. And what a fabulous time it was overall. The motley musical selection combined with a little bit of glamor, sauciness, and striptease was just the right amount of entertainment and excitement I was looking for to take on the big two-five.

Here, kitty kitty…

I Like To Moove It, Moove It

jen — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:37:52 +0000

I used to be pretty down with Three Dog Night, but after my recent search and rescue request mission for a size 11 heeled vegan boot, I must seriously disagree with them about one being the loneliest number. I think my pal/web designer extraordinaire Jenn Schiffer can definitely attest that, in fact, 11 is the loneliest number – or I bet it certainly feels that way when you’re stranded solo in a shoe store surrounded by a sea of sevens and other so-never-gonna-fit-me sizes. Luckily, Moo Shoes stepped out onto the scene at the turn of the century to toss you leggy ladies a life preserver – and a complimentary lesson in size conversion. (An American size 11 equates to a European size 42.) Find my picks below.

You take the high road…

And I’ll take the low road…

…and I swear I’ll stop making silly song puns before the next post (total lie). Check out MooShoes.com ASAP before the size sells out, or if you’re kickin’ it local, stop by their flagship store in NYC.

[$149.95 Elizabeth Boot by NOVACAS at mooshoes.com]
[$139.95 Betty Boot by NOVACAS at mooshoes.com]

The Home Job

jen — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 06:23:48 +0000

List of things to do before I die. Just kidding… dye.
Of course, I would definitely recommend seeing a professional stylist over a home hair dye job, but I get it – times are tough. Ok, so let’s try this again.

List Of Things To Do Before I Dye

The Obvious Tip: Pick a color that compliments your skin tone.
The Most Overlooked Tip: Choose a tone that will also match your wardrobe. If you mainly stick to neutrals, then you’re on the fairly safe side. But if you incorporate a lot of bright yellows, blaring oranges, and super warm tones, you probably don’t want to go with a fire engine red do. It’s just a bit much.
When doing box comparison, don’t just compare price tags. Look at the ingredients, the label, and the name behind it to choose a reputable vegan brand. You can go ahead and Google to your hairs’ content, or just trust my quick picks. Naturtint Permanent is exceptional for looking perfectly natural. Or you can indulge your wild side with Manic Panic N.Y.C. Both are 100% vegan.
Don’t forget the importance of aftercare. Invest in a top-grade color-stay vegan conditioner like ABBA Pure Color Protect.
After you’ve dyed and dried, brush out gently with synthetic bristles. This a fairly simple one, since vegan hair brushes are the most commonly manufactured kind. Just be sure to stay away from “natural bristle” brushes – because “natural” is really just a naughty euphemism for animal hair.

Naturtint Permanent

Cool In Your Code

jen — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 21:11:59 +0000

You bet I just ripped off the title of one of NYC TV’s hippest shows. But they can keep their clever concept, because I’m talking dress codes – not zips. Along with a few beauty bonus perks, my swanky new gig also came with a prescribed apparel policy: put-together, professional, and predominantly black. While the hue played right in to my usual palette, I was sort of lacking in the adult-age attire. But with a little help from my go-to online gallerias, I was able to assemble a working wardrobe that actually worked for me.

And when I’m feeling extra fierce, I like to jazz up my basics easy-bake style with man-made synthetics from Hollywood Mirror. Every modern maven needs a punchy power tie and trendy belt to secure her smart status.

Now you got it, girl. And I think I’ve got it down too. Just one quick tip for sure success: Don’t take any lip – unless it’s from New York Color (or maybe a critical client – P.S. they all are) – ’cause they know what they’re yappin’ about. N.Y.C.’s Retro Red lipstick sends me off with enough moisture and shine to make it through my dizzying day. And although they put in a lot of lab time in order to pop out these top-notch tubes, they never test their products on animals.

[$41 Liquorbrand cardigan at greasegasandglory.com, $15 cap-sleeved shirt at oldnavy.com, $39.50 low-rise trouser at delias.com, red leopard tie and silver skull belt at hollywoodmirror.com, $0.99 ultra-moist lipwear at newyorkcolor.com]