❧❦ 5 Things I'm Loving Right Now ❦❧

I never got around to filming an April Favorites video, but I just had to share some of my favorite things right now:

Balenciaga Pencil in Raisin - 2009

The perfect, compact little makeup bag that fits just the right amount of makeup.  Check out the latest versions at Balenciaga.

Betsey Johnson's It's My Pink nail color - Sephora by OPI  

It's a gorgeous, ripe, berry-pink that is scented with her Too Too fragrance. It lasted 4 days without chipping (no top coat). After wearing this for 5 days straight  I could still smell the fragrance!  

It is a limited edition, so be sure to pick one up now.  It's a Sephora exclusive.

Black 15in1 Miracle Hair Treatment 

The company claims it does all of the following: 

- adds shine

- softens and smoothes

- detangles

- prevents frizz and fly-aways

- moisturizes

- protects against humidity

- repairs dry

- damaged hair

- protects against heat styling

- enhances natural body

- seals and protects hair color

- protects from UV light

- strengthens hair

- adds volume

- soothes dry scalp

While I can't speak for all of the above (like the dry scalp claim), it has done pretty much everything else for me.  The real test was when I used the product on my newly colored hair and spent hours swimming in the ocean.  It really did protect my color.

It has now become a staple in my morning beauty routine, and even after several weeks of use find I have far less color fading than I've had in the past.  

Available here.

*Antipodes Deliverance Kowhai Flower Hand Cream

I love the soothing, silky, texture of this hand cream that contains avocado oil.  Non-greasy, instead it feels like you are feeding your skin.  It's on my desk at work, and I reach for it several times a day.  It's almost finished, and I'll have to replenish it soon.  It smells faintly of tonka beans and an orange scent that lingers.  A little goes a long way.  

Available at Hip Apotheca.

Chembur by Byredo 

This is a sophisticated, spicy unisex fragrance that reminds me of being in a room filled with carved wood panelling, covered in a rich patina that comes with age, where incense has been burning.  

It was inspired by the home town of founder Ben Gorham's mother in the outskirts of Mumbai, evoking memories of a Hindu temple. It is a pungent, haunting fragrance that leaves the skin scented with ginger, musk and lemon.

Available here.

Until next time,

- The Sassi Wench

*This hand cream was sent to me by Hip Apotheca for review. The honest opinions expressed are completely my own.  

Tis the Season... not to be Shopping?

To say that I am a little behind on my Christmas shopping this year is an understatement!  So yesterday we decided to head out to Woodbury Common Premium Outlets in Central Valley, New York.

Woodbury Common Premium Outlets

We realized our mistake as soon as we arrived! Even though the photos look pretty, it was a frigid and blustery 31°F!!  There were even flurries!  This meant that waiting in line for 30 minutes outside the Coach Factory Outlet was pure torture!

Even as early as 10:45 A.M., the line outside Coach was long!

To make your shopping experience even more enticing, Coach was offering an additional 30% off coupon on already discounted prices inside the store!

30% Off Coach Coupon

Needless to say, the store was a complete wreck!  So many people had been in there that some of the leather on the bags and wallets had been scratched!  People were grabbing items then discarding them around the store.

Low Prices at the Coach Factory Outlet

The wallets were tossed into a heap and not neatly stacked as they usually are!

This was crazy!  I didn't see as many people in any other store there!

It was so crazy here that we left.

After wrestling through the crowds for about 20 minutes, we decided to give up.  I couldn't really find anything I liked.  A lot of the latest arrivals at the Coach outlets are made-for-outlet bags and honestly, they don't look good at all.  I would have bought a wallet as a gift, but the only one I found that I liked was scratched.

In fact, the only exciting find was the Julia Small Leather Bag in purple that Britney Spears has been carrying around for months, on sale for around $98.  

Coach Julia Small Leather Purse

In the end, I was not going to stand in line for another 30 minutes waiting to pay for a scratched wallet, so we decided to make a hasty exit.

Our next stop, was Longchamp.  And what a pleasure - what a difference!  The store was busy and bustling but not nearly as chaotic as Coach.

Longchamp Outlet at Woodbury Common

I spotted some gorgeous overnight bags for around $1,000 each, although that is way over my budget!  Maybe one day, sigh...

Longchamp Leather Bags

They had a cute selection of Longchamp makeup bags and coin purses, but I didn't find these in the colors I like.

Longchamp makeup bag and coin purse

The Longchamp Pliage bags are so popular that even the outlet store was selling them at full price!

Longchamp Pliage Bags

 I fell in love with this little lovely, on sale for $225!  But once again, it was not budget friendly.

Longchamp Planetes

Next stop Balenciaga!  Balenciaga is my Holy Grail designer of bags!  I am completely obsessed!  Regretfully, even I have to admit that this store is rather underwhelming.  It is immaculate (the polar opposite of the hot mess that Coach is), but it is very uninspiring, as is their scant purse selection.

Balenciaga Outlet Store

Unfortunately, the staff in this store are less than friendly (maybe because I wasn't carrying one of my Balenciaga's this day?), and they followed me around, hovering annoyingly at every turn, so I was only able to snap one little photo when someone came into the store and started to ask a few questions.  Although, they did have two of their infamous motorcycle bags there with Giant Silver Hardware.  One was a 2008 Vert Gazon & Pink Floral SGH City for around $970.

Balenciaga had an additional 20% off select handbags

I wasn't able to snap any photos at the Prada store, but they have recently revamped it and there was a decent selection there.  It's much better than it used to be.


After more looking around, we decided to head out to one of the malls instead, because the selection at Woodbury Common seemed very limited this year.  In the end, we only ended up purchasing some baking tins from William Sonoma, at 40% off at Woodbury Common.  I don't think I've ever been to these outlets and bought so little!


I did buy a few little things at the Mall, but more about that in my next post.


Until next time,
- The Sassi Wench!

Review - Balenciaga Coin Purse with Giant Silver Hardware

My review on the Balenciaga Coin Purse with Giant Silver Hardware in the color Pivoine (Peony/Pink).

GIANT PURSE

186191D940N

Zip coin purse 

• soft vintage crafted lambskin 

• palladium plated metal hardware 

• top zip closure 

• front zip pocket 

• fine textile lining 

• Balenciaga embossed leather tag inside 

• 5.7'' x 4.3'' x 0.8" 

• made in Italy.

$355.00 from Balenciaga

I love it - versatile, functional, pretty!


You can use this to store any number of small items - from money, to makeup or even jewelry.  I could even fit my iPhone in here.

Balenciaga GSH

Balenciaga Palladium Plated Metal Hardware.

Balenciaga Paris - Made in Italy!

Balenciaga Coin Purse in Pivoine - Pretty in Pink! 

- The Sassi Wench

What's my Purse? Balenciaga

My dream purse - a look at my new Balenciaga Part Time in the color Sahara.

The Balenciaga Part Time in Sahara

Side view of the Part Time.

The particular Balenciaga is quite a long bag.

I chose the original brass hardware for this Part Time Balenciaga.

The embossed leather tag inside the bag.

It has a front, zip pocket.

My calico cat Persia peeking in the mirror!

This is my first Balenciaga purse, and it is absolutely stunning!

It's quite a long bag and so it can hold magazines and books well.  Not to mention, makeup, hair spray cans or anything else you care to throw in it!

It's undeniably an exceptionally beautiful bag.

www.balenciaga.com

- The Sassi Wench