Clinique’s Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector
Jul 28th
Let’s face it; we all are guilty of mistreating our skin from time to time. Whether you used tanning booths in college or have a tendency to poke and prod blemishes instead of just leaving them alone, we are all guilty of subjecting our skin to potential damage. The results of this damage often appear as dark spots due to the extra melanin that is produced at areas of trauma.
Wishing you could turn back time and erase those dark spots? Well, now you can!
Clinique’s Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector is a fragrance free skin cream that can be used by all ethnicities and even by people with the most sensitive of skin. Visible improvements should be noticed in as little as 4 weeks and major improvements should be noticed in 12 weeks. Best of all, it lacks the harsh chemicals that many prescriptive creams contain, but will produce comparable results without the Doctor’s visit or the discomfort.
All of the reviews on Sephora.com corroborated the claims made by Clinique and sounded very positive. As a result, I recently purchased some for myself at Sephora. I haven’t been using it long enough to see a change in my complexion, but it is a gentle face lotion that is moisturizing without being greasy.
So far, so good…but I will keep you informed…
~Marisa, Director of Styling, Second Time Around
Spotlight On: Dharma Imports
Jul 26th
Oh, summer! We never thought it was possible to have such a love / hate relationship with anything other than pop music or ridiculously high heels … but year after year you prove us wrong. Hidden scenic colors are highlighted by an otherwise scorching sun; the joy of discarding our layers becomes trumped by blankets of humidity. This season may well be the most difficult time of year, fashionably speaking. How on earth is a gal supposed to feel fresh yet remain fashionable?
Portrait 1
Lucky for us all, Second Time Around houses a unique and independent summer fashion line — Dharma Imports! Dresses, tanks, skirts… you name it, Dharma Imports provides it, and it can be found exclusively at select Second Time Around locations!
Ralph Davis, the man behind Dharma Imports, visits India and Thailand annually to scout new designs and textiles for use each season. Beginning in 1987, Davis’ team of tailors worked out of their homes, using their own sewing machines, to create the showcased designs. As the years passed and demand for Dharma Imports grew, the seamstress operation evolved into a series of small factories that now employ up to fifty people per location!
Based out of Portland, ME, Dharma Imports first appeared on the racks of Second Time Around in 2005 after Davis staked a vending tent at one of Harvard Square’s May Fair block parties. A chance purchase by a staff member of Cambridge’s Second Time Around led to a consignment relationship that has since blossomed to encompass ten stores across the East Coast! Each summer, Dharma Imports can be found at our locations in Burlington (VT), Burlington Mall (Burlington, MA), 219 & 324 Newbury St. (Boston, MA), Harvard Square (Cambridge, MA), Georgetown (Washington DC), Portsmouth (NH), Providence (RI), Portland (ME), and Philadelphia (PA).
If you’re in need of a fabulous frock this summer to help you stay cool (both in temperature and in tailoring!), look no further. Help yourself to a little style for your soul, while you’re at it — by shopping both STA and Dharma Imports, you’re supporting local fashion and independent international economy!
Check out the looks created by the fashioniSTAs over at the shop where it all began, Harvard Square!
~Kim, Manager, Harvard Square
Portrait #1: Strapless Dharma Imports Dress — $36 / Sofia Tartufoli Sandals — $42 / Oscar de la Renta Sunglasses — $78
Portrait #2: Embroidered Dharma Imports Tank — $18 / Theory Skirt — $38 / Kenneth Cole Reaction Sandal — $24 / Cole Haan Sunglasses — $40 / Hattie Carnegie Vintage Bag — $52
Portrait #3: Halter Dharma Imports Dress — $38 / Cole Haan Sandals — $42 / HOBO International Bag — $52 / Jade Necklace — $12
Portrait 2
Portrait 3
Get That Summer Glow, No Sun Required!
Jul 23rd
You don't need UV rays to get a tan like this
As the palest person this side of Iceland, I have become an expert at sunless tanning. If you are like me and your skin will never bronze past an unflattering shade of red, sunless tanning products are going to be your new best friends this summer. From a subtle glow to an all-around tan, there are a multitude of methods you can take to make sure that your faux glow is fabulous (and non-orange).
If you are a tanning newbie, don’t fear. I was once fair and unaware 24/7 (instead of just the days I’m lazy and put zero effort into not looking like a member of the undead). My advice would be to go all out your first time to see if you like yourself with a tan, which I’m willing to bet money that you will be. The safest bet to your first tan is with a custom airbrush, which generally runs between $25 and $65. Not every tanning salon does this, so call in advance to ask about their services. Airbrushing is not the same as a spray tan booth. This is when a trained professional takes an airbrush machine and sprays it on you. This is the first class version of tanning. The most expensive option, but it is definitely worth it, especially for a special event. The professional will talk you through the process and make sure that your tan is even and natural looking. If you get lucky, the airbrusher might also spray your tan on to contour your abs or make your legs look thinner. So count the extra cost of the airbrush against the money you’ll be saving on dieting.
Another option is a Mystic Tan booth, which generally costs $20-$30 a session. Instead of a person airbrushing you, you will stand in a booth while it mists you with tanner. On your first time, one of the tanning salon employees will walk you through the process, but the most important thing to remember is the barrier cream lesson. The salon will provide you with a thick lotion – known as a barrier cream – that you will put on your hands, feet and nails to prevent them from tanning. Apply thickly to your nails and palms, and then put a thin layer on the back of your hands and on your heels (or any other dry area, such as your elbows or knees).
Clarins "Delicious" Tanning Cream
If leaving your house isn’t high on your priority list – and with the multiple heat waves, I don’t blame you – there are great at home options as well. The best one, in my humble and sun-kissed opinion, is Clarins “Delicious” Self Tanning Cream. It has a small amount of bronzer in the cream which allows you to apply it more evenly because you can actually see where you have already applied. Tanning gels and mousses usually go on clear, which makes it difficult to apply evenly. There are also drugstore brands that you can use, just make sure you rub them in completely in a circular motion to ensure a no streak tan. Also, after any of these products, you need to scrub the palms of your hands with a wet washcloth so you don’t look like you were finger-painting with just the orange paint.
After any sunless tanning, you need to wait for the tanner to sink in. This will generally take around 6 hours, but I leave it on overnight for the best and most even tan. The most important steps in any sunless tanning method: exfoliate and moisturize. Before any sunless tanning, exfoliate your entire body and apply a water-based moisturizer where needed. Once you shower, moisturize religiously, it will extend the life of your tan significantly. At any tanning salon, you can buy a lotion designed to help you maintain your tan. This lotion is the best option for maximum results, but any moisturizer will do.
Finally, if going gradual is your M.O., you can always go with a lotion that offers a hint of self tanner. Word to the wise: choose a lotion for skin one shade darker than your natural color. For example, although you might be considered “Fair,” go for the “Medium” lotion. It won’t look unnatural and your glow will be a little more noticeable. You will still have to apply once or twice a day for a continuous period of time to maintain a subtle glow, but with a lighter shade you might not even notice a difference. I also like to use L’Oreal’s gradual lotion because it has a hint of sparkle in it, but maybe you’re not as drawn to glitter as I am, in which case any drugstore brand – like Neutrogena – is a great pick. For a quick fix on your arms or legs, apply an airbrush tanner like from Sally Hansen, it’s a great pick when you’re in a rush.
Remember, nothing completes a summer outfit like a summer tan!
~Ashley, fashioniSTA, Second Time Around
The Most Stylish Bag is a Reusable One
Jul 21st
Anya Hindmarch's Reusable Tote
Re-usable bags are everywhere – as they should be! In fact, their use has become so prevalent that even high-end designers are creating them.
The first high-end reusable bag came from London-based designer Anya Hindmarch. The canvas totes that she created, emblazoned with the words “I’m not a plastic bag” in 3-D appliqué script, sold out at participating grocery stores in mere seconds and re-sold on Ebay for upwards of $200 in some cases. The buzz created by these bags most certainly helped to start the re-usable bag trend.
Marc Jacobs sells numerous reusable bag options ranging from nylon to canvas in a variety of price points. All are colorful and useful and even showcase some of the famous tongue-in-cheek Marc Jacobs humor. A few read “Jacobs by Marc Jacobs for Marc by Marc Jacobs in collaboration with Marc Jacobs for Marc by Marc Jacobs,” poking fun at their designer status and others showcase Marc’s loveable cartoon mascot “Miss Marc.”
Prada recently came out with their take on a reusable tote. The bags are simple, useful and come in their trademark, easy-to-wash, lightweight, foldable nylon. And the prints are to-die-for. My favorites are the sunshine yellow bag with cartoon boat and the kaleidoscope orange floral on purple background. Gorg!
Shop in style with Hermes
Finally, no conversation about high-end merchandise would be complete without talking about Hermes. Eternally stylish and well…expensive, Hermes does not disappoint even when reusable bags are concerned. Their “Silky Pop” bags are made of a silk-like fabric, resemble the fashion house’s famous scarves and fold down into their own pebbled leather case. Truly fab, but I doubt you won’t see too many at the grocery store since they go for roughly a $1000 a pop. Yikes!
Stay tuned for STA’s own reusable bag! We hope to debut them shortly along with some great bag-related discount and bonuses… 
See you soon!
~Marisa, Director of Styling, Second Time Around
Alexander McQueen Resort 2011
Jul 19th
Sarah Burton showed her first autonomous collection as creative director for Alexander McQueen on Monday, June 21st and – in the words of Tim Blanks, contributing writer for Style.com – “proved she’s the only choice to expand on Lee McQueen’s legacy.”
Burton drew from the rich history of the McQueen archives, but introduced a feminine touch to the collection that informed it with a more delicate sensibility. Lee McQueen’s calling cards were still there – brocades, heavily detailed embroidery, a fascination with the morbid, the juxtaposition of hard and soft and the allure of high-wattage glamour – but she also incorporated a calling card of her own; the fusing of two fabrics into one which the fashion world first saw in the Fall 2010 collection that she completed following McQueen’s untimely death.
All in all, the collection was a success – a true “best-case scenario.” Not only did it show reverence to the history of the label and to its creator, but it also displayed the personality of its new designer. A nod to the past and a glimpse of the future and – I dare say – reason enough for a deep sigh of relief from the fashion world.
Congratulations Sarah Burton!
~ Marisa, Director of Styling, Second Time Around
A Summertime Romp
Jul 19th
Romper by YSL
Rompers (aka jumpsuits or onesies) first appeared on the fashion radar two summers ago. However, the trend has been slowly but surely picking up steam instead of gaining early momentum and then fizzling out. In fact, from the looks of the 2011 Resort runways, the trend is here to stay…at least into the next year.
With designers like Jill Stuart, Bottega Venetta, Chanel, Vena Cava, Alexander Wang, Marc Jacobs and Yves Saint Laurent including rompers in their collections – and in many cases more than one – rest assured that your purchase will not go to waste if you are considering adding one to your wardrobe.
Having just shopped for and purchased one myself during my trip to Madrid, Spain where tiny rompers on bra-less beauties is more the norm than the exception in the hot, hot weather, I feel informed enough to give some advice to those interested in taking the plunge.
Piece of Advice #1: Beware of the fit.
If you are tall or long in the torso, it may be hard to find the romper for you. (I think that this may be the first time in my fashion life that I have suggested that an item may not work for someone who is tall. One point for the short girls! But, I digress…)
Please make sure to try on any romper of interest! Waist detailing should fall at the natural waist, not dragged down to the hips or up to the bra-line due to an ill fit. Also, please make sure that there is ample breathing room so that there are no wardrobe malfunctions a la Janet Jackson in strapless rompers and so that your nether regions are not cradled so tightly that nothing is left to the imagination in rompers with straps.
Piece of Advice #2: Guidelines for casual rompers.
When you select a romper for casual-wear, I prefer them in a looser fit and a longer length. Also, I think they are best in a fun and of-the-moment print such as sailor stripes or feminine florals.
Pair them with bohemian strappy sandals, oxfords or booties, thin waist belts and fedoras. Throw on a cross-body bag or a drawstring bucket bag over your shoulder.
Piece of Advice #3: Guidelines for dressy rompers.
When you select a romper for dressy occasions and nights out on the town, feel free to go a little tighter and a little shorter to turn up the sexiness. (Or you can opt for the romper with full pant for head to toe drama…) Also, I would recommend solid colors such as black, bold jewel tones and fluorescent brights.
Accessorize with large envelope clutches and platform heels and wedges in metallics and patent leathers and embellish with collarbone-grazing statements necklaces and eye-catching cocktail rings.
Still not sure? Stop by your local Second Time Around to check out our wallet-friendly selections and get additional advice from our fashionable sales associates.
Happy Shopping!
~Marisa, Director of Styling, Second Time Around
Splurge Now, Save Later
Jul 15th
Greetings fashioniSTAs! Do you want to get paid to shop? Today through July 25, when you spend $50 at any Second Time Around location, you will receive $10 in STA cash for use in August.* How great is that? It’s simple – shop with us in July, and at the end of the month, we will be email you $10 in STA CASH. So don’t miss out – come visit us today and see what fabulous finds you’ll discover!
Happy shopping.
~Jeanne, Director of Marketing, Second Time Around
*Coupon will be emailed July 31st to email address provided by customer during check-out. Customer must provide valid email address to participate. $10 STA CASH valid on the purchase of a single item over $20. Coupon good for 50% off the purchase of a single item under $20. Expires 8/31/2010.
The Long and Shorts of It
Jul 9th
With the warmer weather finally upon us, it’s only a matter of time before summer comes full-swing and pants no longer become a viable option. While skirts and dresses are clear favorites for the summer months, a new contender has blown into town: shorts. This casual summer staple has taken on new superpowers, making it work-appropriate as well as red-carpet-worthy.
Working It Out
Wink Shorts - You'd Never Know They Weren't a Skirt!
No longer just for lazy weekends, shorts are popping up in the most unexpected places. What was strictly a “no-wear zone” has taken a dramatic turn to office-friendly. While I wouldn’t recommend wearing this trend if you work in strict office environment, if you happen to work in a fashion-friendly zone, wearing shorts to work will make your summer approximately a billion times easier. To keep them work-appropriate, stick with variations on the classic short. Go for a pair of knee-length, straight-leg shorts in a dark neutral with a tucked in blousy tank to slim a pear shape, or try out a pair of blousy harem shorts to create curves. Quick tip: harem shorts are a great way to indulge in your Sex and the City 2 movie fashion fantasy without committing to the overly-indulgent harem pants that the stars sported in the movie. However, the shorts version is not for the fashion faint of heart, but if you are a risk-taker, they are a great way to complement a basic tank. Wear with metallic gladiator flats for a true statement outfit.
Another way to rock this trend in the workplace is to go with shorts that almost look like a skirt. These definitely work best in a creative field, but with designers like Diane von Furstenberg and Nanette Lepore paving the way with this trend, consider yourself in good hands. While you can go down the skort route with this option from Marc Jacobs, if you prefer to not revisit the ‘90s just yet, going with a patterned or textured pair is the perfect alternative. Try out the floral pair from Nanette Lepore, or the tiered, ruffled version from Wink. Going with a pattern or a texture will minimize the shorts element and maximize the element of style.
Eveningwear
Tired of your usual jeans and tank combo when you hit the town? Try a pair of short, tailored shorts in a neutral color – like black, white or metallic - to spice up your night out. Opt for a sleek pair from Winter Kate, Alice + Olivia or Theory, paired with one of your usual embellished, loose tanks or a fitted, black button-down. This is the only time that stiletto heels with shorts is permissible, so try out your highest pumps with the first option, or your strappy sandals with the latter. You can also add a cropped, lightweight blazer for cooler nights.
A dark denim short is also a great alternative. This cuffed pair from Joe’s Jeans can easily be paired with metallic flat sandals and a tank for a more casual night out.
Should you be feeling a little Lindsay Lohan crazy, you can try out sequin shorts from Gryphon or Diane von Furstenberg in place of the sequin leggings you wore during the colder months. Clearly not for the faint of heart, you can pair it with a matching sequin top to create the look of a romper, or go for a flowy, black top in a lightweight material that still fits close to your torso. You don’t want to look like you’re wearing sequined board shorts about to hang ten.
Lauren Conrad's Weekend Shorts Look
Weekend Chic
When the work week ends, anything goes on your days off. This is a great time to explore what I think is the greatest trend known to (wo)man: nautical. Play off this trend with a pair of cuffed, denim shorts from Joe’s Jeans or Citizens of Humanity, pairing them with a conductor-striped top and chunky, gold link bracelets or a necklace. Or go with a blue seersucker pattern with a red tank and metallic sandals.
You can also channel your inner Daisy Duke with denim shorts, either cutoffs or cuffed. Pair with a floral top for a hippy vibe, or try out gingham on top for a retro feel to your look.
For extra comfort, try a pair of paper bag-waist shorts. Go for a pair in an earthy neutral to create a safari look. Complete your ensemble with a tank in a complementary neutral and pair with gold accessories and oversized, tortoise shell sunglasses.
No matter where you go, remember that shorts with more spandex than your tights are reserved for biking or in-house lounging only!
~Ashley, fashioniSTA, Second Time Around
Forget the Fashion Rules! Volume IV
Jul 7th
I sort of already addressed this topic in the blog entitled “Prints Charming” because breaking this fashion rule is a big trend this season. But, let’s touch upon it again, just to drive the point home.
Fashion Rule #4: An outfit should have only one pattern. The rest of the pieces should be solid colors or neutrals.
In addition to the louder juxtaposition of bold patterns like those discussed in the “Prints Charming” blog, one can also use a subtler combination of patterns to create a pleasing and interesting ensemble.
For example, in an office setting, either a man or a woman can easily mix a pinstripe suit with a striped or patterned shirt or a classic argyle sweater or vest with a striped or patterned shirt. Simply make sure that the two elements of the outfit have a color or colors in common in order to maintain cohesion.
Accessories and outerwear can also be a great way to add and mix patterns. If you aren’t comfortable mixing patterns all day long, the addition of a patterned bag or coat to an otherwise pattern-mixing-free ensemble can be a pleasantly unexpected addition to your outfit during both your commute and your lunch hour.
I hope that you have enjoyed breaking fashion rules with us! Resisting authority is always fun, and this time it even earned you some more fashion options! And who doesn’t love that?? Lord knows that I certainly do!
~Marisa, Director of Styling, Second Time Around
Forget the Fashion Rules! Volume III
Jul 3rd
This fashion rule is not only a very limiting one, but it can cause endless frustration for the perfectionist in all of us. What better reason to kick it to the curb?
Fashion Rule #3: When putting together an outfit, the colors much match exactly.
When searching for the right pieces to pair with a patterned article of clothing – a solid top with a patterned skirt, for example – it has been practice to select only colors that match EXACTLY to the colors in the pattern. However, I am here to tell you that you need no longer be restrained by this practice.
While it certainly is thrilling to find the perfect match, especially when the discovery is made at a different retail location, relax in the knowledge that it doesn’t HAVE to happen. Instead, feel free to pair colors with slightly lighter or darker versions of themselves. They still technically match and the subtle variation in color will add more depth and interest to the outfit.
My only recommendation here is to select colors with the same strength in order to maintain cohesion. For example, if the patterned skirt is composed of bright, punchy colors, be sure not to venture too deeply into the pastel shades when pairing something with it. Of course, you can go slightly lighter, but muted tones won’t look quite right next to the saturated ones.
Check back soon! There is one more fashion rule still to break…
~Marisa, Director of Styling, Second Time Around