BellaSugar

December Must-Haves

BellaSugar — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 14:55:41 PST

Even though stores are filled with people seeking gifts for friends and family, let's be realistic: Most people pick up a little something for themselves, too. And why not? It's been a long year, and a bit of pampering won't hurt.

For this month's must-haves, I've found items that will help you primp and prepare for end-of-year festivities-along with a few that'll help you decompress from the stress of the holidays. To see my picks,

If there's any time to have shiny, shimmering hair, it's in December. I'm planning to pick up Fekkai Sparkling Shimmer Spray ($13.50), a mist that has microscopic diamond crystals to lend a subtle golden glimmer to your hair. Paired with good tools like this T3 mini flat iron ($119), it would provide a professional-quality hairstyle for New Year's and beyond.
Urban Decay's holiday kit is worth considering. Midnight Cowboy Rides Again ($32) is spot-on with the metallic trend. It includes a golden, shimmery beige eye shadow, Eyeshadow Primer Potion (so your color will stay put), an eye pencil in a deep coppery shade, and glittery gold eyeliner. Worn all at once, these items would be too much. But adding just one item to your regular look will be a gild-y pleasure.
If you're visiting family during the holiday season, you'll need portable, flight-friendly body care supplies. You may also need to de-stress. (Just sayin'.) This gorgeous Red Flower Hammam Set ($56) lets you do both. It contains travel sizes of these 100% natural goodies: Moroccan mint tea silt purifier, lemon coffee blossom olive stone scrub, jasmine rose rhassoul clay polish, orange quince steam room mist, cardamom amber oil, tangerine fig butter cream. Just reading about them makes me want to relax and unwind with a cup of tea.
Bonne Belle Smackers ($2.95) are a favorite from my childhood, and since 'tis the season for chapped lips, I figure it can't hurt to have a few extra lip balms on hand. I'm a fan of the Dr. Pepper flavor, which takes me way back to junior high.

Happy Hour: Jalisco Flower

Susannah Chen — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:18:53 PDT

There's no better hair of the dog after a long night out than brunch filled with bottomless mimosas. But if you've grown weary of that mundane combination of orange juice and bubbly, switch up your drinking routine with another Champagne cocktail that's twice as exciting to sip, but just about as easy to prepare.

The Jalisco Flower is a combination of ruby red grapefruit juice and sparkling wine - with a bit of tequila and St-Germain added in to throw your taste buds for a loop. Tart tequila pairs well with the sweet-sour grapefruit juice, while the elderflower liqueur adds complex floral notes and softens the spirit's aggressiveness.

For a delicious new fizzy beverage, read more.

Kate Middleton Stuns in Teal, Twice!

Allison McNamara — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:20:06 PDT

We always love a good Kate Middleton sighting, especially when she gets glam for the red carpet. The duchess kicked off her weekend in a beautiful teal Jenny Packham gown for the Our Team Rises Gala dinner in London. The gorgeous pleated chiffon dress showcased delicate lace detailing on the sleeves and back and an embellished crystal and flower waistband. Kate also selected teal for a casual day at a Berkshire polo match later in the weekend, choosing a prim and proper Libélula frock for the occasion. Watch today's Fab Flash to see Kate stun in teal, twice. On Allison McNamara: StyleMint top, Topshop blazer.

Met Gala: Shailene Woodley

Marisa Tom — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:43:17 PDT

Ever the eclectic styler, Shailene Woodley opted for one of Christopher Kane's slick floral-infused column dresses. The retro flower pattern paired with the designer's more futuristic, edgier leather detailing and high-low sheer proportions showed off Shailene's youthful spirit and penchant for red carpet gowns that need little else in the way of accessories. To polish off this look, Shailene wore her hair back in a sleek ponytail, donned diamond stud earrings, and kept her makeup Spring fresh and dewy. Does she get your best-dressed vote?

Met Gala: Dakota Fanning

Hannah Weil — Mon, 07 May 2012 17:35:20 PDT

Dakota Fanning gave us a true fairy-tale moment on tonight's Met Gala red carpet. The actress showed her sweet style sensibility in a princess-worthy, lavender Louis Vuitton gown. The confection spoke perfectly to her youth with soft textured rosettes and a romantic off-the-shoulder neckline. Her accessories were equally feminine, comprising a glittering bracelet and flower barrettes tucked into either side of her hair. We love that Dakota mirrored her gown's dreamy hue with a metallic lilac manicure and coordinating box clutch. What do you think of the actress's glamorous arrival?

Trendy Ingredient: Hibiscus Flower

Camilla Salem — Mon, 07 May 2012 05:30:00 PDT

Drinks that use hibiscus have been around for quite a while, but more and more I'm noticing the brightly colored, beautiful flower being used in cooking (hibiscus loaf cake, anyone?). But what's the scoop on this trendy floral ingredient? Find out when you keep reading.

The Brooch Is Back - See How Celebrities Style Up This Ladylike Accessory

Chi Diem Chau — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:22:59 PDT

Brooches are back and better than ever, and this latest batch of celebrities are showing us exactly how it's done. Opting for a more modern look, Freida Pinto made a striking arrival at the Tribeca Film Festival wearing a sharp red Gucci suit accessorized with a black and gold butterfly brooch. We love how Freida tempered her masculine pantsuit with such a feminine accoutrement, but if you're looking for a more ladylike appeal, look to Kate Middleton for inspiration. The Duchess of Cambridge styled her blue tweed Rebecca Taylor skirt suit with a red crystal flower pin - a look you can easily replicate for work. Furthermore, Elisa Sednaoui pinned her vintage-inspired Chanel brooch to a cropped top for a new twist on the button-up top. Click on to see more celebs showing off their beautiful brooches, then shop the look in the slideshow.

Fab's Top 10 Celebrity Looks of the Week - Scarlett, Emily, Ginnifer, and More!

Hannah Weil — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:01:31 PDT

This week, we're switching gears from the dressed-down festival fashion of Coachella to full-on red-carpet wear. We couldn't help but be drawn by the glamour of the Tribeca Film Festival, where we spotted the likes of Emily Blunt and Leelee Sobieski, while LA film premieres drew out style setters like Ginnifer Goodwin. Across the pond, Scarlett Johansson donned a flower appliqué Prada strapless for the UK premiere of The Avengers. Inside, there's more from our style stars - like Nicky Hilton showing off a printed Topshop frock. Click on for the rest of the standouts.

Adventures in Ingredients: Aloe Vera

Camilla Salem — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:42:59 PDT

For weeks, I'd been eying these spiky succulent leaves at Berkeley Bowl. I always knew that aloe vera came from this common plant, but never thought I would actually need or want the opportunity to work with it myself. And then there's the whole issue of cooking with it and how to harvest it. It's popular in coconut water these days, but other than that, ingesting it is somewhat uncommon. But those who regularly eat or drink this strange succulent rave about its supposed health benefits, from healing acne to curing cancer.

I did a quick scan of the Internet on how to cut and prepare fresh aloe vera right from the leaf. I found several recipes for smoothies featuring fresh aloe vera pieces and one that served it poached with lime juice. A smoothie sounded more appetizing. Honestly, I got a little bit nervous when I found out that the dark red sap that apparently seeps out should not be ingested or it will cause unpleasant digestive issues. Still, I went for it.

Filleting this piece of aloe vera was a strange experience: I was on the lookout for that dark red sap, though I didn't ever encounter it. The aloe vera gel looked sticky and mucous, not delicious (or even edible). I'd read in a few places that aloe vera on its own is kind of bitter, so of course, I immediately cut off a piece and took a bite. It tasted like nothing, but I did notice a strange sensation in my mouth and my tongue went a little numb. To find out what I did with the fresh fillet of aloe vera, keep reading.

Dress Coding: Girls' Night Out

Lauren Conrad — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 07:40:34 PST

We are thrilled to share this story from Lauren Conrad! The TV personality, writer, designer, and style maven has started LaurenConrad.com, a social networking site that features daily posts by Lauren on all of our favorite topics - fashion, beauty, food, party planning - and Lauren will be sharing her latest fashion finds with Fab every month. This week, she's sharing her styling tips for every girls' night out scenario.

While Take Out Tuesdays are great, sometimes us girls just need to get out (and more often than not, dance!) . . . So leave the boys at home (they’ll want you even more when they know you’re having fun without them) and plan a girls’ night out!

It’s often said that women dress for other women. And I couldn’t agree more. We all know girls pay more attention to clothes and accessories, so putting together the perfect “girls' night out” look is essential. Below are seven of my favorite looks for ladies' night that will have you covered from casual dinners and movie nights to drinks at the hottest club in town . . .

The Chic City Slicker

All Saints Herero Jacket, ASOS Chunky Link Bracelet, Splendid Cowl-neck Dress, SM Luxe Dare Edge Bootie, Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick

The Casual Chick

mark Get in Line Eyeliner, LC Lauren Conrad Platform Sandals, Topshop Unlined Blazer, 7 For All Mankind Roxanne Jean, Send the Trend Aileen Smooth Gold Bangles, LC Lauren Conrad Floral Ruffle Camisole, Lauren Conrad Flower Stud Earrings

The Sleek Sophisticate

Urban Outfitters Rhinestone Bib Necklace, Benefit Benetint, Elizabeth & James Laurette Blouse, Topshop Glitter Double Clutch, Jimmy Choo Private Sandals, Paper Crown Serena Pant

Keep reading for the rest of Lauren's super cute outfits!