PENGUIN CLASSICS BY RUBEN TOLEDO

This year, artist Ruben Toledo illustrated the covers for three Penguin Classics Deluxe Editions: Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlett Letter, and Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights.

Ruben Toledo also illustrated ad campaigns previously for Nordstrom using the same style of drawing in the covers shown here. I’m sure you’ll recognize his style if you’ve seen the ads. They were in everywhere in American fashion magazines. Plus, did you know his wife, who was also his high school sweetheart, is designer Isabel Toledo? What a talented couple!

Although I prefer Coralie Bickford-Smith’s designs for Penguin, I’m still excited about it. I’m always open for change and new ideas. Especially when artists are being incorporated into the world of writing and books. What might seem stuffy for some people, can now be viewed in a new light. And for those of you who don't read, you can simply use these for aesthetic purposes, why not?

Images: Refinery29

PENGUIN CLASSICS

I read almost all types of books (except for science fiction - yuck!) and I love love LOVE collecting books. For me, there's nothing more off-putting about a book like a bad cover. Yes, people, I admit it, I DO judge a book by its cover. Books only.

Ever since I was a child, most of the books I read were from Penguin. To this day, some of my favorite books (and covers) are those by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake. Which is why I’m so impressed with Penguin Classic’s new design approach. Last year, Coralie Bickford-Smith, Penguin book-cover designer, designed pattern-inspired cloth-cover books as part of a 10-book series of classic novels such as Charles Dickens' Great Expectations and Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility. The books were such a hit, that the collection has expanded, and more titles have been added. Oh, what I would give to collect all of them!

Read a wonderful interview with Coralie Bickford-Smith and details behind the whole design process at Design*Sponge.

Images: Coralie Bickford-Smith

AND THE WINNER IS…

Congratulations JAIME and CHARNELL!! You have both won your bag of choice from Handbag Heaven. An email will be sent to you right away, so be sure to check your Inbox (and Spam Folder just in case). If you do not respond within 4 days, I will have to choose another winner.

Big thanks to everyone who participated in this giveaway. There will be more to come, so keep checking back!

PERFUME OF THE MONTH: FLOWER BY KENZO

I haven’t done a Perfume of The Month post in such a long time! I thought I’d bring it back into the blog. All of the perfumes I feature are ones that I’ve tried, tested and own.

This month’s fragrance of choice is a beautiful one. Flower by Kenzo is a soft powdery floral scent that is as lovely on a grown woman as it is on a baby. Upon sniffing it for the first time, you will inhale a gorgeous waft of vanilla, baby powder, musk and rose.

I really recommend it to anyone who likes soft powdery scents that are laced with floral notes. It’s very ladylike and girly. You don’t need to douse yourself in it for the scent to last. A few sprays will be enough. This one is definitely a keeper. I’ve gone through 3 bottles already!

With Notes of: Wild Hawthorne, Bulgarian Rose, Parma Violet, Cassia, Hedione, Cyclosal, Opoponax, White Musk, Vanilla.

Image: La Oruga Gritona

WIN A BAG FROM HANDBAG HEAVEN!

Today’s giveaway is double the fun, because we have two bags to give away from Handbag Heaven. Handbag Heaven offer stylish, low-priced alternatives to high-priced designer accessories. They have a large selection of bags such as totes, hobos and clutches in all shapes, colors and sizes.

To enter:

• Head to Handbag Heaven, pick the bag you’d like to win and leave its name in the comment section of this post.

• Leave your name and email in the comment.

• This item can only be shipped to US and Canada addresses.

• The winners will be chosen at random and notified via email. If the winner does not respond within 4 days, another winner will be selected.

• If you don’t follow the above rules, your entry will be disqualified.

The contest ends Sunday November 15th, 2009. The winners will be announced the following day.

GOOD LUCK!

BOBBI BROWN MAKEUP MANUAL

Makeup fans, this is for you! I had seen Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual: For Everyone from Beginner to Pro at the makeup counter at a department store but it was sold out. After I browsed through it, I realized I needed this book. Not because I don’t know how to apply makeup, but because it’s really, really useful. I was going to buy it from Amazon, but found it a couple of weeks ago in Dubai.

The book is full of photographs with detailed yet simple instructions. It is very organized, and separated into 2 main parts: Basics and Artistry. Basics includes chapters such as Equipment, Skin, Face, Lips and Eyes. Artistry includes chapters such as Essential Equipment for the Professional and Advanced Makeup Applications. It teaches you how to choose the right makeup for your skin tone, hair color, eyes, etc and how to apply it. I should point out that this book is not for those looking for tricks on how to cheat your way through a thin nose for example. I love it because it encourages you to enhance your features, not hide them.  Bobbi also includes Asian, Black, Latin, Middle Eastern and Multiethnic skin into many of the chapters. 

I don’t own any makeup book, and I don’t think it’s a necessity to have one. But if I had to choose one, this would be a great one to invest in (with a very appropriate price). This is definitely a book for everybody.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

This Halloween, go monogrammed and make your own Louis Vuitton pumpkin. Using a sharpie no less!

Image: Sweet Paul

OCTOBER COLOR PALETTE

Images (Clockwise from top left)

{ Style.com – desire to inspire - John Pomp – Unknown – Melissa Joy Manning }

THE FUTURE BELONGS TO..

So true. If only we weren’t so afraid of getting dirty..

Image: Dirt Poster by Roland Tiangco

ROXANNE PANDORA WARDER

I enjoy being introduced to new artists and artwork. Roxanne Pandora Warder is an artist I learned about from a blog I visited. I was very impressed with many of her paintings. I love how some of them have a prim and flowery wallpaper sort of background peeking through. It looks like the artist didn’t want it to be perfect so she paints over it and lets the paint drip down. It’s a lovely contrast between pretty and chaotic.

Lay, 2007

Woman with the purple rose, 2007

Time for a little change, 2008

     Rose garden, 2007

Visit the site to see more of her paintings and illustrations (plus drawings in her Moleskine notebook!).

CALLING ALL WRITERS!

I’ve written about Khaleejesque a number of times before on this blog. I’m also a contributing writer to the site, and have recently become Fashion Editor.

For those of you who haven’t heard about it, “Khaleejesque” is an online lifestyle magazine that covers everything new and talked-about  in the Arabian Gulf countries. If there is something that’s getting some buzz, you can guarantee it’s on Khaleejesque. If you’re interested in Fashion, Lifestyle, Travel, Entertainment, Art & Design, and Personal Perspectives, then you’ll love Khaleejesque.

I’m looking for freelance Fashion writers, but am willing to accept submissions from any of the above categories. Writers are paid per article after having three of their pieces published (excluding Perspective).

If you would like to contribute to Khaleejesque, or would like more information, please email me at alya@khaleejesque.com or p.patchouli@gmail.com.

Image: Khaleejesque

ALL THE WRONG PEOPLE HAVE SELF-ESTEEM

All the Wrong People Have Self-Esteem: An Inappropriate Book for Young Ladies or, frankly, anyone else by Laurie Rosenwald has the longest title I’ve ever seen, but one of the most capturing. Isn’t that so true, though?? All the wrong people do have self-esteem. And the right people don’t!

I’m going to get that book just because of the title. Or because it’s written in a direct, witty and hilarious way. Or because I want to relive my teenage years. Fun times!

Via: Design Crush

SUPERIOR SCRIBBLER AWARD

Isn’t it wonderful when you’re awarded something? Even if it’s a virtual award and not tangible, it still makes me feel good. Accidentally, Kle awarded me with a Superior Scribbler Award, and in turn I have to pass it on to 5 deserving blogs.

Please visit this post to see the rules of The Award since I don’t want to turn this post into a super long one.

I have a ton of blogs I would love to award, but I’m going to go with ones that have unique writing styles, are completely different from each other and (I hope) haven’t yet won this..

around the way girl

Aurea

Head Over Heels

One day, Paris

She’s In Vogue

WOULD YOU LIKE YOU?

What do you think? Would you? I think in my case, I would. I think I’m a pretty nice person. Really! I am!

Image: Flickr via English Muse