Ask GTG (Looking Like A Million Bucks)

Today's "Ask GTG," comes from a Facebook friend: Rob-El. He writes: "So I wanted to know, not only about accessories..how about "dressing the part, without spending much."

I asked Rob-El  a little about his personal style and this is what he had to say: "I'm into smooth relaxed stuff...from converses and cool Ts and jackets, ...to more dressed up stuff..ties and jackets and accessories..to even more summery thing with shorts and other things."

I'm putting a budget-friendly look together for the easy going and stylish man who is Rob-El using some of this season's hottest trends.

A Casual Weekend Look:

Jacket: Sons of Intrigue Gingham Blazer
Polo Shirt: Express Modern Fit Polo Shirt
Pant: Tommy Hilfiger Twill Chino Pant
Shoes: The Men's Store at Bloomingdales Suede Penny Loafers

All the pieces in this outfit are versatile and completely interchangeable, so will get plenty of use out of them. Looking for versatile items that you can wear over and over with different pieces is the key to a functional closet.

For example: You can switch the chino pants for a nice pair of jeans and you got a casual evening look.

Wear the polo with a pair of shorts and you've got a relaxed Sunday Brunch look. 

Or you can keep the red chinos and add a tie to the mix for night out in the town as Rob-El did.

Check him out:

Red Pants:  American Eagle


Until the next fashion question!

xo GTG

GTG's Spring 2012 Men's Fashion Trend Report

Fellas-- here is your spring 2012 trend report to keep you looking sharp and stylish throughout the sizzling months that lie ahead.

This season is defined by the revival of classic looks with modern twists.

The Essentials:

• Color Pants: It's all about pops of color for bottoms: trousers, chinos, jeans or shorts. Remember to wear these pants with classic items like polos (in the summer) and cardigan sweaters (in the fall) to achieve the perfect look.

Note: This season designers have focused on clean cuts and tailored looks, so forget all about the baggy jeans as that is no longer in! And don't forget pops of neon colors are also very hot for men.

Jil Sander Cotton Blend Trousers

• The Gingham Shirt: A classic staple in any gentleman's wardrobe. Gingham  refers to  the colored checks that are spliced with white checkers. Gingham originally started as a striped pattern, but by mid-18th century the checkered pattern became the norm

Note: Buy a gingham shirt in linen for the summertime.

Hugo Boss Slim Fit Dress Shirt

•  Polo Shirts: are another classic staple in any man's wardrobe. It's easy to dress up or down. And it's the middle point in a spectrum of shirts ranging from dress shirts to casual t-shirst. They're great to pair with color trousers or your swim trunks.

Polo by Ralph Lauren Rugby Stripe Polo Shirt



• Denim Blazers: Tailored and structured but unlined, which you can easily style with every other article of clothing in this report.

Burberry Slim Fit Denim Blazer

•  Loafers: Effortless, yet refreshing. Say bye bye to your sandals and replace them with a pair of casual  loafers.

Boss Orange Witton Striped Canvas Espadrille Loafers

• Short Swim Trunks: Who wears short shorts? Hopefully you will! Swim trunks have gone short for a retro look.

Saturdays Surf NYC Thomas Board Shorts

Happy spring shopping fellas!

xo

GTG



 



GTG's Spring 2012 Fashion Trend Report

It's springtime again, although it already feels like summertime for those of us living in the Magic City.

Spring means two things:

(1) it's time to clean out our closets from the fashion articles of fall's past (to make room for happy colorful spring fashion, of course!)

and

(2)  it's time for my spring fashion trend reports!

This year's trend report is going to be a little different. As usual you'll get the hottest trends of the moment, and in addition I'm going to feature a splurge item vs. a steal item for each trend. So fun, right?!


The Trends:

• Athletic Chic- Huge trend as seen on the runways of Helmut Lang and Vera Wang. What I also like about these two choices is that they both incorporate neon colors as well as the athletic trend into a very cute and wearble dress.

Splurge: Michael Kors Wetsuit Dress

Steal: Forever 21 Zipper Front Colorblock Dress

• Neons- It's almost like a blast from our childhood pasts, but right now there's nothing as hot as rocking neon colors. One of the most fun ways to rock this trend is with skinny jeans.

Splurge: J Brand 811 Mid Rise Skinny Jeans

Steal: Asos Skinny Jeans

• Florals- We've been seeing a resurgence of ladylike looks and something that is synonymous with being a lady is florals.

Splurge: Alice and Olivia Marie Ruffle Bottom Dress

Steal: ModCloth Skip to my Luau Dress

• Crop Tops- Peek-a-boo! I see some skin. Ladies, this is a trend that not all of us can get away with. I'm still jealous of SJP when she wore it on SATC about a decade ago. Aside from needing a toned tummy you'll also need an "I can do wear anything I want and look great in it" attitude!

Splurge: Missoni Cropped Crochet Top

Steal: Forever 21 Crop Abstract Top

• Tangerine- Not only was Tangerine Tango named Pantone's color for 2012, but it's the hottest  color to wear this season.

Splurge: BCBG Cascade Front Jacket

Steal: Gibson Linen One Button Blazer

• Peplum Accents- One of my favorite trends from last season! It's even bigger now! I love peplum accents for their retro flair and the fact that they add curves to those of us who don't really have hips, while accentuating the curves of those who have natural hips.

Splurge: Jason Wu Peplum Skirt

Steal: Bebe Peplum Knit Pencil Skirt

• Pastel colors- are nature's way of letting you know that spring has arrived! So what better way than sporting the trend than in pretty pastel color shorts?

Splurge: Alice and Olivia Caddy Cuff Shorts

Steal: VS Hipster Cutoff Shorts

Happy Spring Shopping dolls!

Fashionably Yours,

GTG

"No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn."- Hal Borland

What's Birchbox?

About a month and a half ago, I was reading tweets as I do every day. Twitter has become my one stop source for news information. I follow  newspapers, as well as the local TV news stations and all of my favorite fashion magazines.

I came across a tweet from a friend of mine who was talking about how excited she was to try all her @birchbox products for the month. I had never heard of Birchbox, so I immediately looked it up to see what it was.

I was really shocked to find out what it was, but I was so much more shocked that I hadn't heard about it before. It was almost as if the beauty universe was trying to keep this amazing service a secret from me.

After getting the 411 on Birchbox, I decided to sign up for it because where else would I be able to try out at least 5 samples of brand new products or some of my already favorite stuff for $10 a month.

Because Birchbox runs on a monthly cycle you have to wait for them to email you an invitation before you can enjoy your very first birchbox. I had to wait about 3 weeks because I signed up right when they were shipping its Feburary's boxes.

Finally in mid March I received my first box!

Here are this month's goodies:

1- Color Club Neon Nail Polish in Peace Out  Purple.  Don't forget: Neon is a huge trend this spring and trying it out on your nails first is a great way to try it out.

Note: 3 days into my mani and I still can't see a chip!


1- Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint There's nothing better than a light moisturizing tint instead of a full on foundation during these hot summer months, especially here in Miami with all the annoying humidity we suffer from. Best of all it provides 20 SPF.

1- Ahava Essential Day Moisturizer. I still haven't tried this, but will keep you posted on my thoughts.

1- Orofluido Hair Elixir I swear I died and went to hair heaven when I tried this on. I used  some on my damp hair and it made my hair look superb without having to dry or straighten it with heating products. And did i mention?  It smells absolutely delish!

1- Annick Goutal Eau d Hadrien I smelled this but it's very citrusy for my taste. I might spritz some on at some point to see if I like it against my body, but I didn't really like the smell of it alone on paper.

3- sample packets of Tea Forte (Skin Smart Teas)-This is probably the only product I will not use from this month's Birchbox simply because I'm not a tea drinker. I will more than likely pass it on to a friend and follow up with her to see how it worked. Or if you want it, I'll be more than glad to send it to you just ask.

Aside from all these goodies for $10, you collect points for every purchase you make, which can help you score full sized items at little or no cost depending on how many points you have. And the more you buy the more points you get.

You also get points for referring friends, so if you would like to sign up for a  Birchbox membership please click here.  Help your GTG get some points!

What I truly consider to be the best part of Birchbox is the opportunity to sample products before you commit to buying them. It's such a great service for people like me who are always looking for the next best thing for hair, nails and skincare. And don't forget you can buy every product you try out directly from the Birchbox site.

Tip: Ladies, don't forget to fill out your beauty profile, so that your samples are customized to your hair and skin needs.
How many of you are  members?

How many of you are going to join after reading this?

Always beautifully yours,
GTG

" Beauty without expression is boring." - Ralph Waldo Emerson





Ask GTG... (Weekend Bag)

One of my absolute favorite things about being GTG is when I'm asked for fashion advice. I love that people trust my taste enough to ask for my help, but more than that I just really really enjoy the process of finding the perfect item and putting a smile on my client's face.

Today's "Ask GTG" comes from @hypergraffic via Twitter: Hey @YourGotoGal: I need a weekend/overnight bag. Any recommendations that aren't $500 and made from Italian leather? Thanks! (Can it please be masculine and classic-ish, or masculine and trendy-ish.)

Because @hypergraffic wanted something grown and masculine, I knew exactly where to look. When it comes to shopping for duffel bags or any other type of luggage your best option is to first browse online. Websites typically carry a lot more merchandise than what you would find in person at a store.

After narrowing down the search to a few options, I asked him what was his price range. Here's the thing about helping someone shop, you can't assume they are willing to pay the same amount that you would personally pay for something. People have budgets and as a stylist, you have to find out what it is before you start showing them things.

After he gave me the figure he was comfortable paying, I showed him my top picks that were all of course around his budget. He liked two of the bags,  both were Ben Sherman. We both fell  in love with the second one, and so he purchased it online and is picking it up at the store later today.

Ben Sherman Iconic Barrel Bag

The bag comes in three colors: black, white and navy. While black is the obvious choice for most, @hypergraffic has quite the sense of style. He likes colors and things that are different. The white one is gorgeous, but white luggage isn't practical for anyone. It just gets dirty too fast. We both felt the navy one worked best for him and he ended up with a bag that was not only classic but trendy as well. I personally love how navy looks against the white and red details of the strap and trims.

Here's @hypergraffic with his weekend bag!

If you have any questions, feel free to email me, facebook me or tweet me and I'll be sure to help you!

xo GTG



"All it takes are a few simple outfits. And there’s one secret" – Cary Grant

GTG Tries It (Clarisonic Mia)

Today's post is for my beauty aficionados!


I'm reviewing the Clarisonic Mia, which I got as a Christmas gift. I know it's been about three months, but I really wanted to make sure I used it enough times and that I had valuable information to share with you before I wrote about my experience with this cleaning tool.

Before getting to the review, I want to take a moment to reassure you that everything that I write about on this blog is me. These are my ideas, my thoughts and my opinions.

I don't get paid by anyone to write anything you see on this blog. I write the honest truth. I feel that as a person who consumes as much from the fashion and beauty industries as I do that I can share my knowledge to help you.

The goal of my blog isn't to persuade you to go out and buy x product; it's to help you make an informed decision if you were already considering buying something or are in the market to purchase a new foundation or lipstick.

With that said we can now return to my review!

Product: Clarisonic Mia Sonic Skin Cleansing System

Note: I received my CM in jaguar (I love animal prints!) and the kit includes a charger, one sensitive brush head and a 1 oz. gentle hydro cleanser.

Claims:  Cleans 6 times better than using hands and soap alone.

Actually: It was love after first wash. My face never felt or looked as clean as it did after that first wash and the best part was that after using it for two weeks in a row about twice a day, my face still had that really clean feeling. I immediately noticed my face looked fresher and more radiant, which is a huge plus.

I'm almost 30 and I still combat breakouts. The only reason I even remotely looked forward to getting older was for the promise of clear skin. Ladies, let's file that under "myths," along with a college education will get you a great job.

For those of you who follow my blog, you already know I also have a huge issue with the size of my pores (no pun intended) and this product has helped unclog them, which in turn has seemingly reduced their appearance.

You must replace the brush head at least once every 3 months. Trust me you'll know when it's time to change it because the daily cleanings won't feel as thorough as they did when you first started using it. You can find the brush heads online or anywhere the Clarisonic is sold.

Pros: A thorough cleaning is made simple with the CM. Use it for 30-60 seconds once or twice a day. I like that the kit brings everything you need to get you started.

You can use any cleanser to wash your face with it doesn't have to be a Clarisonic cleanser. I'm currently using Purity from Philosophy.

Cons: Battery life lasts for about 20 minutes. That means if you are using the CM two times a day for about a minute each time then that's two minutes, which means you get about 10 days worth of use. 

Here's the really crappy part about the battery: it takes 24 hours to recharge, so essentially you go on a whole day without being able to use the CM!

You're probably asking: What's the big deal about going on a day without using the CM?

Well, the problem is that when you grow accustom to using it you realize that a facial cleanser and your bare hands just don't get the job done as well. I'm completely obsessed with mine and use it every single day (except the one day of charging.)

Initially, I also noticed a change in my breakout cycle. They started occurring more frequently around the first month's use, but I also noticed they'd disappear quicker.

 

It wasn't serious enough to discourage me from continuing to use this product.

Tip: Make sure you wash your brush head at least once a week. I use a gentle antibacterial wash, which is what I also use to wash my makeup brushes!

Fun Fact: After you purchase your CM kit, you should register your product on Clarisonic to receive a savings certificate for future purchases on your brush heads and cleansers. The offer is good for 3 months!

Do you have a Clarisonic Mia? What's been your experience?

Until the next review!

xo GTG

"Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it." - Confucius

The Art of Gift Giving

Every year I struggle with buying gifts for the special women in my life, i.e. my mom, sister and close girlfriends.

At times, I feel like I have already given them everything I could buy in terms of jewelry, perfumes and clothing. It's become repetitive and boring for me. Does the same thing happen to you?

Now I know what you're thinking: "a gift is all about the thought that you remembered this person's birthday or other special occasion." And you're absolutely right, which is why you're going to love my list of  unique gift ideas.

As usual these are all small things that I have purchased and have been a total success. These gifts are not only thoughtful and unique, but they're guaranteed to put a smile on the receiver's face!


Flowers:

Receiving unexpected flowers from a loved one is a simple and sweet gesture. I feel that most people think flowers are only exchanged between a man and a woman, but I think anyone can give flowers. And believe me, women love flowers, but more so, when those flowers are a gift from a daughter, a friend or a co-worker.


Lolita Glasses:

Lolita glasses are one of my favorite things to give to my lovely ladies, whether it's for a birthday, a bachelorette party or a graduation (they literally make glasses for just about any occasion you can imagine, don't believe me check out the official website).

Usually the glasses come with a cocktail recipe, like a birthday cake recipe. The instructions can be found at the bottom of the packaging.

Whenever I give a Lolita glass to any of my friends, I make a small request that every year on their birthday, they have a cocktail in this glass.

It not only makes the perfect gift, but it starts a fabulous yearly ritual.


Philosophy Products:

Although Philosophy has been around for years, it wasn't until recently when I started using its Purity cleanser that I realized what a great brand it is.

This weekend I purchased the birthday girl gift set for a dear friend of mine. It includes 5 samples of the brand's most beloved products, which I think is a great way to introduce anyone to this brand not to mention it just makes a darling gift.

My favorite thing of the gift is what the actual case says on the back, which is the philosophy about birthdays. I read it to my boyfriend and even he was impressed with what it said, so that's a great sign!

They also have gift sets for different types of occasions such as new mommies, brides to be and just because.


Gift Certificates:

People nowadays have a very negative connotation when it comes to giving gift cards or certificates as gifts. They're not thoughtful enough or you're just being lazy.

This isn't always true. We all have that one friend, maybe it's our mom or sister, who spends her entire life working and taking care of others and has no time for herself.

This is when a gift certificate to a nice spa for a manicure and a pedicure makes the perfect gift. What I like to do is make an appointment for the person I'm giving this to as a gift, as well as for myself. I use the opportunity to make it a girl's day.

This also ensures she makes that time for herself.


Baking:

I have a friend who is awesome at baking sweet treats and about two years ago she baked me cupcakes for my birthday. I was so touched by the fact that she went through all the trouble to bake me something.

I suggest you find out what her favorite sweet is (if you don't already know it) and find a simple recipe online and make it on your own.

It's something she will love and always remember.

"The key to gift giving is attention to details." - GTG

GTG Tries It (Viva Glam Lip Conditioner)

A few weeks back, I had to attend a wedding that I wasn't too thrilled about going, so I left everything that I had to do for the last minute. And when I say last minute I mean a few hours before I had to be sitting at the church for the wedding.

After I found my dress, I decided that I didn't want to do my own makeup, so I stopped by the MAC makeup counter. If I could afford to have my own personal glam team a la Miss Kim K, I would do it in a heartbeat. I love to look pretty, but I hate doing all the work. Anyways, I digress (that happens a lot).


Knowing I'd  have to purchase an x amount of products at any makeup counter in order to get my makeup done, I took the opportunity to stock up on some of my MAC faves.

By the way, I had to purchase 4 items this visit. I thought it was only 3 items. Can anyone confirm if that number has changed or if I was duped?

See I digressed just a bit there too!

Ok so I stocked up on my usual: eyeliner, a neutral lipliner and a new nude lipstick. I love nude!

I also decided to invest in the new Viva Glam Ricky Lip Conditioner, after the makeup artist applied it  to my lips. It was as if she had injected life back into them. They were particularly chapped that day. I think I was dehydrated.


So here's the lowdown on this little magic stick:

Product: MAC Viva Glam Ricky Lip Conditioner

Claims:  Keeps lips soft and supple.

Actually: I had been in love with my last lip product, which was the Maybelline Baby Lips in Quenched, but I ran out of it and haven't been able to find it in that flavor again. (Keep in mind that I'm not a fan of fruity flavor lip balms.)

This Viva Glam did not feel sticky and as I mentioned before it seemed to rehydrate my lips as soon as it came into contact with my lips. I didn't have to put on a single dab more and even after I had eaten dinner and wiped my mouth, my lips still felt incredibly soft and moist.

Us girls do love instant gratification.

Pros: I did tell you how amazing it was upon contact, right? Aside from that-- every cent of this purchase ($15) goes to help people who are living with HIV or AIDS. It's also long-lasting and unlike Quenched from Maybelline you don't have to be constantly reapplying.

Soft kissable lips and helping those in need? It just doesn't get better than that. This is another lip conditioner you can wear on its own or on top or underneath your lipstick.

Cons: It's part of a limited edition, so it won't be around all the time.

My advice is to stock up on a few tubes before it sells out.

Ta-ta-- Until the next product!

xo GTG

It Girls Rejoice at the It Girl Expo

The It Girl Expo was the "IT" event for all of us who are fashion and beauty junkies!

I had the absolute pleasure of being invited to one of the largest fashion and lifestyle expos that I've seen to date.

As a blogger and lifestyle correspondent for Miami Now TV, I was on full duty, but still managed to have a fabulous time with my colleagues and the two ladies behind the It Girl Expo, Lori and Maria.

 

Maria is coral and Lori is in teal. By the way I loved both of these dresses!

For all of the ladies, who missed out on this awesome time, don't fret! I've got you covered with the low down.

Blogger Pass

Picture Perfect (great spot to take a minute and snap a pic of you and your gal pals.)

After walking the pink carpet, my girls and I checked in and obtained these tote adorbz passes. BTW you guys should've seen the pink velvet ropes. I wanted to take them with me and set them up in my closet.

One of the things I enjoyed most about this event was seeing how much efforts the girls behind the expo put into getting us bloggers to check it out. They even set up a section for us: the meinto.com blogger's corner.

meinto.com Blogger's Corner

As I worked the room, I stopped to much on some delicious ready to bake mini cupcakes courtesy of Ready Set Cupcake (so delish), dabbed on some LipSmart gloss that kept my lips shiny and hydrated for the remainder of my night, tried Moscato for the first time from The Naked Grape and of course chatted up a storm with Christopffre from one of my favorite product companies: Bliss.

I also discovered this new and amazing company called a+b=artisan beauty, which specializes in haute couture lip color.

Not sure about what I mean? Basically they customize your lipstick to match your skin tone and undertones. What this really means is that when you wear the red lisptick shade they blended just for you it will always be perfect. The best part is you don't have to ever play guessing games with lipsticks at the makeup counter.

Check out one of the cool whips on display at this year's It Girl Expo.

I'm so glad I was able to attend this fab and fierce event.

As I was heading out the door, I noticed Lori by the exit,  and I had to make sure I thanked her again for inviting me. This girl is the epitome of "It Girl" status. Make sure you check out her blog.

So for all of you who missed it, Lori divulged the fabulous news that she will do her best to bring it back this fall. And I'll make sure to keep all my it girls posted!

Until next time, xo!

"A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous" - Coco Chanel