Beauty Beat: 3floz.com

The Mr. and I are taking a flight to Spain tonight for a few nights in Barcelona and Valencia (can't wait to share pictures with you soon!). One of the most stressful things about packing for a trip for me are TSA rules for carry-ons. It's always difficult to economize and squeeze my products into bottles of 3 fluid ounces or less. Luckily, there's a new e-commerce site that addresses these issues. 3floz.com carries a wide range of beauty brands in TSA-approved sizes, including Blow, DDF, Dr. Hauschka, Jack Black, Malin + Goetz, Molton Brown and more. Here are a few selections of deluxe sample sized beauty goodies that would be ideal for a week-long trip abroad:

Archipelago Botanicals Grapefruit Body Lotion

DDF Erase Eye Gel

Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Gel

Jonathan Silky Dirt Shine & Define Cream

Dr. Hauschka Cleansing Cream

How do you deal with limitations on beauty product carry-ons? Do you carefully select carry-on beauty products or do you bring it all and check in your baggage?

Accessorize This: Bella Umbrellas

Bella Umbrellas

by Denise Grayson

There’s no better way to brighten a gloomy, rainy day than to open up a big, gorgeous umbrella. And the idea of a pretty lace parasol to shield us from the sun is irresistibly romantic. A stunning selection of both can be found at Bella Umbrella, a Seattle-based website run by Jodell Egbert whose passion for beautiful umbrellas is evident at first glance. She takes a simple instrument of utility and presents it as a covetable and exquisite fashion accessory, of high quality construction, in a variety of high-end styles, prints and colours. Each is finished with ornate handles which makes for a truly extraordinary umbrella.

A long-time student and collector of umbrellas, Egbert used her extensive collection of over 300 vintage umbrellas to launch Bella Umbrella in 2001. The website is now the largest source of vintage and vintage styled umbrellas in the world and also offers a rental service for events such as outdoor weddings and garden parties. But you may be tempted to rent one just for yourself to make your next stroll something special!

Here is a preview of some of the lovely styles available for sale at the Bella Umbrella website:

From the Designer collection: Bella Pagoda Pinwheel

From the Vintage collection: Silk Blossom Sun Parasol with jeweled handle (top) and handpainted Japanese Parasol from the 1940s

From the Parasol collection: Battenburg Lace Parasols in ecru and pink

Photo credit: Bella Umbrella

Denise Grayson is our Accessories Editor and also writes about Fashion at The Swelle Life.

Preview: Meadham Kirchoff for Topshop

I was super excited to receive some preview images of the new capsule collection by the London-based design duo Meadham Kirchhoff for Topshop in my inbox. This is the second collaboration by the dark romantic label for the high street retailer, and it couldn't come at a better time... I'm feeling the flesh, navy and black dresses and separates, especially all the chiffon, tulle and sequin layers. The label is known for expertly juxtaposing the raw and refined, and this collection delivers their aesthetic at relatively affordable prices.

Check out the release of this collection online and in Topshop boutiques later this month... (Can someone please hold one of those nude long-sleeved tunics for me, please?)

Accessorize This: Sleek and Sexy Dressing for Gadgets

Sleek and Sexy Dressing for Gadgets
by Denise Grayson

You reach into your of-the-moment, covetable, patent leather bag to answer your phone and you pull out a scratched, battered and smudged object that resembles something you found on the ground and not so much that expensive piece of cutting–edge technology you lusted after for so long.

Why such shabby treatment of your trusty little friend who is always there for you? You could be easily forgiven, we aren’t quite overwhelmed with stylish choices for carrying around our essential and expensive devices these days; the selection where you bought your iPhone or Blackberry probably made you cry (you know what I mean, the kinds that look right at home hooked on a belt). And those inside pockets of your handbag don’t always hold it in (I swear my bag throws up my phone every time I put it in that dinky little pocket).

Designer Jill Partain recognized the need for high quality gadget cases that look great and set out to create them for us. Plia Designs offers a collection of high-quality, hand-crafted small accessories for handheld devices.

“Modern technology has become another facet for one to express their personal style, “explains Jill. “I wanted to celebrate this idea, while still honoring the traditions of Old World craftsmanship and construction.”

Now that’s more like it! You can view the entire collection and range of colours at www.pliadesigns.com.


Jill says: “Our pastry collection first started with the macaron. We loved the vibrant colors and flavors of this famous French treat (although some claim the first macaron actually came from Italy.) From there we decided to create an iPhone case collection inspired by several French pastries. Aside from macarons, we created the very pink religieuse and fluffy whip cream topped Saint Honore.”


The Bellini clutches made exclusively for the iPhone 3G and 3GS


Dress up your iPod Touch with these adorable cases of handstitched python and snake print leather, inspired by vintage dinner jackets


iPhone and Blackberry luxe hardshell case

Denise Grayson is our Accessories Editor with an eye for dreamy accessories and also writes about fashion at The Swelle Life.

Sabina Les Trunk Show at Bloomingdales

Introducing Tia Bonds Schryter, a gal about town who will be covering events from time to time on Dream Sequins. We recently had a chance to visit a scarf trunk show for designer Sabina Les. Hope you enjoy her writeup and photos!

Sabina Les Trunkshow
by Tia Bonds Schryter

We recently visited designer Sabina Les at Bloomingdales Soho for her trunk show and had a chance to view her colorful new collection of scarves. Sabina’s designs combine a modern aesthetic with timeless designs, and luxe pieces at modest price points. It was a pleasure to view the silk accessories in person, and the lovely designer was on hand at the two-day trunkshow to demonstrate the versatile styling options of scarves, which may be worn as a headband, necktie, belt, skirt and even a sexy summer top.

One of our favorite designs was the “animal stud” print scarf, with three dimensional trompe l’oeil studs over a subtle leopard print and fishnet pattern background. All of the scarves in the collection included similar characteristics, with designs that strike the eye and stand out, as compared to a traditional, flat design.

Since the trunk show took place on the week before Mother’s Day, we asked Sabina whether customers were snapping up the bright accessories for their mothers, and she told us that many of them were buying one to gift and one to keep. The designer develops each of her unique prints each season, and they certainly appeal to the young and the young at heart.

Sabina will be hosting another trunk show at Henri Bendel May 17-20! For more information about the label and to learn some handy scarf styling tricks, visit http://www.sabinales.com.

Tia Bonds Schryter is a contributing writer for Dream Sequins.

Accessorize This: Stylin' in the Rain

Stylin’ in the Rain

by Denise Grayson

Rain boots, or Wellingtons as we call them in the UK, offer more than protection from the rain these days. We saw a chic slant-cut nude pair take the first three looks out on the runway at Ports 1961 for A/W 2010 at New York Fashion Week, and you’d be hardpressed to think of one of those outfits as rain gear. With more and more designers getting in on the wellies game we’re spoilt for choice with fashionable options, and we’re putting them on when the skies are barely overcast because they’re just too cute – or hot, depending how you wear them.


Photo credit: Style.com

With England’s hugely popular festival season just ahead we’ll be seeing everything from the quaint DIY handpainted wellies to the traditional but cool Hunters (Stella McCartney’s choice) to the latest designer styles, stomping through the muddy fields.

There are so many style, colour and design combinations available that you could have an entire wardrobe of wellies! (If you have the room, that is. They are not the most space-efficient footwear.)

Here are a few of the pickings:

The Designer Wellies


Clockwise, starting at top right: Jimmy Choo for Hunter crocodile print; See by Chloe lace-ups; Burberry with stamped designer crest; Marc Jacobs quilted with heel. At www.net-a-porter.com

The Lovely Wellies


L-R: Cath Kidston and Laura Ashley. At www.wellieart.co.uk

The Traditional Wellies


L-R: Le Chameau ‘Anjou’ (Sophie Dahl is wearing these on the cover of her cookbook), at www.thewellyshop.com; and Hunter Original Gloss in turquoise (I have these to brighten up rainy days – be warned, they fit snug in the calf!), at www.ASOS.com

The Smart Wellies:


L-R: Thomas Pink pinstripe and Tamara Henriques tartan. The latter available at www.wellieart.co.uk

All product photos credited to their respective websites.

Denise Grayson is our Accessories Editor and also writes about dreamy fashion at The Swelle Life.

Beauty Beat: Beauty in Rotation

Since I'm a big fan of "What's In Your Bag" type posts, I thought I would share some of my current beauty obsessions and recent buys.

From Top:

Eyeliner from Lancome in Gris Noir (the perfect, smudge-free pencil)

Eyebrow Pencil from T. LeClerc in Gris Noir (the spool at one end of this eyebrow pencil is genius)

Tweezerman Matchbox Itty Bitty Files (an emergency gem, petite enough to tuck into your purse for quick nail fixes)

Lancome Color Design Lipstick in Sheen (finally a free sample that works! the perfect pop of plummy pink)

Bottom Row (from left):

Diorshow Waterproof Mascara (won't give me raccoon eyes)

Maybelline Ultra Liner (an easy flexible applicator)

Red Flower Organic Perfume in Guaiac (a refreshing summery orange)

Wet n Wild Natural Wear Pressed Powder Compact in Natural (100% free of parabens and available at the drugstore)

What are some of your recent beauty obsessions?

Disclosure: All products pictured in this post were purchased or obtained with purchase.