From the Lab

I was recently exposed to an amazingly convenient service- beauty delivered to your door from From the Lab. This company partners with some of the best cosmetic labs around the world to acquire the most ground breaking products before high-end beauty brand introduce them to the market. This means amazing prices- members of From the Lab get access to new products at up to 80% off retail prices before these products are available to the mass market. 

Labs are located around the world in Switzerland, Italy, France, and the United States. After procuring a new formula, it is brought to From the Lab for review by consultants and experts. Only a selection of plant-based and synthetic ingredients are used. 

Finding a good facial cleanser can be difficult. I struggle to find something that leaves my skin feeling clean and refreshed, but does not leaving an oily coating or weigh it down. I was introduced to the AM/PM Cleanser No. 586 from From the Lab. This new, ground-breaking formula was created around the idea of a water-free cleanser. Yes, thats correct, washing your face with tap water can actually be removing moisture from the skin. European women have been utilizing water-free cleanser for quite some time now. 

The cleanser is very simple- just place some of the formula on to a cotton swab and cleanse face in the morning and evening. This cleanser features ingredients such as winged kelp, tomato stem cell cultures, and organically cultivated peppermint floral water to hydrate, protect, and soothe and relax the skin. 

I have been using the cleanser for about 3 weeks now and love how my skin feels soft and is staying hydrated even with the weather turning quite cold here in New York. I use it in the morning and do not notice any oil generated on my skin shortly after use which is very important for me. 

You can join From the Lab and get access to amazing products delivered straight to your door for $19.95 a month.This includes full 30-day supplies of one, two, or three products the first week of every month. 

Note: This post was made possible by From the Lab, however, all opinions expressed are my own.

Holiday Gift Selections For Men

Buying gifts for men can be very hard sometimes. The go-to options are always a tie, tech gadget, and maybe cufflinks. Below, I have curated some of my top picks for gifts that cover everything from the traditional to the very stylish man. With a week less of shopping between Thanksgiving and the Christmas holiday, it is time to start thinking about gifts! Links for products can be found in the blurb below. 

1. Ralph Lauren Cashmere Throw- A nice throw is perfect for the bachelor in an apartment or dad's mountain house. You can never go wrong with the comfort of cashmere and this classic from Ralph Lauren. Available in an array of colors with monogramming available as well.

2. Beau Ties Bow Ties- A bow tie should be in every gentleman's closet. I am loving the very preppy choices available from Beau Ties. Discovering smaller, local brands is always fun, and this company is no exception. All ties are handmade in Vermont!

3. Personalized Wine Bucket- Personalization always adds a special touch, and this wine bucket is no exception. Great for holiday parties and summer entertaining on the deck or terrace. Available from Red Envelope Gifts

4. Balmain HighTop Sneakers- Sneakers and High Top sneakers have made a big come back in men's fashion. This pair is sure to impress any fashionable guy on your list. The famous french house of Balmain makes some great pairs of shoes!

5. Randolph Engineering Limited Edition Aviators- This limited edition pair (100 available worldwide) will be available for purchase starting December 1st. I love the quality and great optics of Randolph aviators, and this pair is even more special. It features platinum coating and lizard wrapped temples. 

6. UNTICKit & RumbaTime Gift Set- Men's shirting brand UNTUCKit and watch brand RumbaTime are teaming up to offer a special gift set. A select combination of shirts and timepieces will be available for purchase for $150 from the UNTUCKit website. I love the UNTUCKit shirts, and this deal makes it even more appealing! 

If you are looking for even more holiday gift ideas, check out the array of curated gifts at Skimbaco Lifestyle selected by my colleagues and myself. 

Bib + Tuck Celebrates New App

Bib + Tuck, an online fashion company, celebrated the launch of their new app on Wednesday evening at Bar Naná in Meatpacking District. Bib + Tuck is a revolutionary concept started by friends where members shop each other's closets. Yes, thats right! Decide what clothes you no longer want, set a virtual "price" in B+T bucks and when someone purchases, you will have bucks to spend on something from another member's closet...pretty cool right?

The Command Shift event on Wednesday evening made for a fashionable night. Bar Naná offered the perfect backdrop for the celebration in conjunction with Bullet Magazine. Vanity Projects was on location doing manicures and makeup artist Eileen was creating some awesome looks.

All Images Courtesy of Anna Louise Jiongco Photography

The Cargo Pant

The cargo pant has made a strong, stylish comeback in menswear. A cargo pant does not have to be an ugly, dull, baggy pair of pants reminiscent of the sixth grade. Instead, the cargo pant can be the base to create an outfit with urban edge and refined styling. Look for a style that is slim fitting through the leg for the must up-to-date look. 

Cargo pants are all about the details so zippers, pockets, and stitching really differentiate a great pair from a standard pair. With that in mind, look for bold metal in the zippers, moto inspired stitching throughout the legs, and interesting pockets. The cargo pant lends itself to two different styles depending on the color choice. A classic tan or dark brown lends itself to an Aspen inspired ski look while olives and black create great edgy, urban looks. 

I used a pair of dark olive cargo pants to create a midweek outfit that was easy just quite stylish. I paired the pants with a merino ribbed sweater in dark brown to fight the chill in the air yet keeping with the aesthetic of the moto stitching in the pants. I finished the look off with a brown moleskin bomber for warmth, and detailed brown boots. 

Jacket: Billy Reid (similar) // Sweater: Ralph Lauren Black Label (similar) // Cargo Pants: Ralph Lauren Black Label (similar) // Boots: Mark Nason

Lafayette: French Style Patisserie in New York

It is always an appropriate time for French pastries and coffee, and being transported back to a favorite trip to Paris. We all know the famous Ladurée for its macaroons, however, there is a new player located in the heart of downtown, Lafayette. This new bakery and café has quickly become a hot spot for "it" people in the fashion industry and food and coffee lovers alike. 

Located on Lafayette street in NoHo, the location offers the perfect setting to enjoy something from the patisserie after shopping in SoHo or strolling around the village. I received some items from the bakery as a recent birthday gift and was able to finally try it....it has been on my list of places to go! The sweets from Lafayette did not disappoint! 

Fresh macaroons in flavors like chocolate, pistachio, passion fruit, birthday cake, and the "lafayette flavor." It was needless to say I ate all 5 rather quickly!

The lune d'automne pastry was highly delectable. Made with blackberry mousse, apple compote, and hazelnut financier, it was light with a touch of sweetness. Perfect to pair with an afternoon espresso. 

If you are looking to satisfy a sweet tooth, I highly recommend the bakery at Lafayette which can be found at 380 Lafayette Street, New York, NY.

Milan Memories

Instagram Travel Thursday at Skimbaco Lifestyle prompted me to start thinking about memories from my end of summer vacation across Europe. I recently saw someone post a photo from the La Bar Rinascente in Milan, and it reminded me of how much I enjoyed the Italian city while visiting. 

This week for Instagram Travel Thursday, I am having memories of Milan. It was filled with gelato, amazing architecture, picturesque beauty, and of course, amazing shopping and fashion. 

Have you visited Milan Before?

I would love to return to the city during men's fashion week or in the winter. I heard it is a lot busier than the time in August when I visited. Most Europeans go to the coast during this time, but return to the city with the start of fall. 

Meet other bloggers with a passion for travel through Instagram Travel Thrusday!

Hosted at Skimbaco

Elbow Patches

It is not truly fall or winter until elbow patches are worn. They are a must that should be in every preppy wardrobe. I love the detailing that they bring to sweaters, cardigans, and blazers. I prefer the classic suede elbow patch, however, they can be found in a variety of fabrics and patterns. 

I paired a plaid sweater with sueded elbow patches and even a suede shoulder patch with a pair of olive colored denim. The sweater is warm and cozy in wool while the colored denim in  dark olive is perfect for the season. I finished the look off with a pair of simple, brown loafers. This outfit is great for running around campus, the weekend, or even a casual Friday at the office.

Are elbow patches a fall essential for you?

Sweater -Ralph Lauren (similar) // Denim -Ralph Lauren // Loafers -Ralph Lauren

Classic Northeast Prep

There are some things that remind me of quintessential northeast prep- Ivy League quads, the Radnor Hunt, the Main Line, to name a few. There are also certain outfits that I envision one wearing at any of the above places. For me, the Barbour jacket and cashmere cable sweater are among those items. 

On a chilly day last week, I put on a cashmere cable knit sweater and a classic Barbour jacket and thought to myself, "I am so northeast prep right now." The pieces are effortless yet exude a classic, timeless sense of style. 

Is your Barbour jacket and cashmere a go-to to compete warm during the cold fall season in the Northeast?

Featured:

Jacket: Barbour

Sweater: Ralph Lauren

Philip Stein Introduces New Collection For Men

Following the launch of a new collection for women, Philip Stein is introducing a new line for men as well. The collection is the most significant launch of their Signature men's collection in the brand's history. The new models come in an array of both single and dual time zones, and of course have the Natural Frequency Technology for which Philip Stein is known. 

The models are centered around a mixing and matching of texture and color. Dials will feature woven textures with pops of black, brown, silver, and navy. Hints of the holiday season are evident with red, black, and dark brown strap options available in alligator and calf skin. The Signature collection will range in size from 50 to 56 millimeters while the Signature Round Collection will be available in sizes ranging from 42 to a new 45 millimeter case. 

Featured in a 45mm round, black PVD case with rose gold accents

Signature dual time zone dial with a dark chocolate dial and brown Italian calf skin strap.

The new holiday collection will start at $575, making them perfect gift options for the sophisticated gentleman. 

Vineyard Vines Holiday Arrivals

Holiday collections are always a yearly favorite. They are usually filled with icons of the season, namely tartans, plaids, intarsias, and fun embroidery. The new holiday arrivals from Vineyard Vines include some great pieces for the season as we get closer and closer to calendars filled with dinner parties and soirées. Included in the collection are a myriad of fun, printed ties, oxfords in seasonal colors, and fun party pants. 

Here are some of my top picks from the new arrivals:

The navy pants embroidered with wreaths and the Vineyard Vines whale in a Santa hat are perhaps my favorite...who said dressing for a holiday party meant you had to be boring? The tweed blazer will become a go-to favorite, and the oxford in navy and red is vibrant yet appropriate for the season. As always, the ties never disappoint. 

Photos via vineyardvines.com 

The Sweater Jacket

Now that the clocks have been turned and it is dark by 5pm it is really feeling like fall, and dare I say winter. There is a strong chill in the air in New York, but its not quite time to dig out the down parkas. This weather is perfect for what I like to call sweater jackets- those sweaters that are very chunky and heavy enough to be worn as outerwear. This style of sweater has become a bit of a trend, and I think that they can make for some great outfits.

Below, I have created a very New York look in all black, reminiscent of this tonal outfit I wore a few weeks ago. I paired a heavy wool Ralph Lauren Black Label sweater that has a belt similar to a trench with black skinny cargo pants and a simple black v-neck.

The sweater jacket is very versatile, and when the temperatures are still not absolutely freezing, it transitions well from the street to the office (which is always freezing!). The sweater I am wearing has a bit of the "moto" edge to it with the multiple pockets on the front, making it perfect for Fall 2013. As always, the details of a sweater really make the sweater in my opinion. 

Shown:

Sweater: Ralph Lauren Black Label

Cargo Pants: Ralph Lauren Black Label

Shoes: Louis Vuitton

Do you embrace the sweater jacket style? Share how you style yours below.

Philip Stein Launches New Watches For Women

We all know that I love a good timepiece. This time, the focus is on watches for women from the innovative brand Philip Stein. The lifestyle brand which incorporates wellbeing technology into their timepieces is launching a new holiday collection with pieces starting at $575 in both single and dual timezone models. 

Updates include the signature logo in the number 8 position on the dial and hints of rose gold throughout. The Signature and Prestige lines will be showcased with diamond accented dials and come with colorful straps in both leather and alligator. The Prestige will feature a white or black strap while the Signature collection introduces purples and greys.

The model above features the signature dual zone time displays, a trait for which Philip Stein is known. Rose gold accents throughout compliment the metallic white ostrich strap.

I love the color of the new purple being introduced. This model also features 52 diamonds around the bezel for a total weight of .78ctw completed with the Italian leather strap.

As always, both models include the revolutionary Natural Frequency Technology. This technology, similar to an antenna, channels natural frequencies towards the body for healthy living. 

I think these new models would make perfect gifts for the lady that loves watches as we (yes, already) approach the holiday season.  

Photos: Rubenstein PR