Restoring: Vintage Fur

Now before we begin two caveats:

1. I know fur is a touchy subject and many people object to wearing, even vintage, fur.  I totally understand and respect that position.  I don't wear new fur but don't personally believe it's unethical to wear vintage furs.  I understand if our positions differ but this isn't a forum to debate this.

2. I would NOT try these tricks below on an expensive or sentimental item.  These are things that work for me on vintage furs I've purchased where having a professional furrier clean and re-glaze the fur would cost more than the item is worth.

Ok, lets start!

So let's say you see photos like this:

And you realize your life as a glamor puss will not be complete without FUR! The good news is that vintage shops are chock a block with fur items.  Mostly you'll find an abundance of: collars, muffs and stoles and they're often less than $100.  Now, choose wisely, fur is a bitch to clean to maintain.  If that great vintage item is falling apart it will never be cost effective to restore it unless it's truly something remarkable.  Instead be sure to look for fur that is glossy, feels soft and not stiff (that's a sign the hide has dried out and it's on it's last legs), has no bald spots, is not shedding and has no weird smell.  Now, keep in mind that fur has a smell. It will always have a slight animal smell but it shouldn't stink or smell bad. If the lining is in bad shape but the fur itself is great and you can sew then don't worry about it.  Replacing or repairing a lining isn't that onerous as they're often just whipstiched to the pelt because they're designed to be easily removed, cleaned and reattached. 

So here is how I cleaned this fox collar I'd estimate is from the 1970s. Because no thank you Michael Kors I am not spending 3 grand on this when I already have a great coat I love. 

I'd say the condition on this was very good but not excellent.  There were some loose threads on the lining, the fur was a teensy bit musty, and there was significant discoloration at the edges of the lining.  Normally you could remove the lining but in this case a felt piece had been added to one side to make the collar easier to attach to a coat and this prevented the lining from coming off easily.  Frankly I was too lazy and not proficient enough with hand sewing to go through all that trouble for a lining that was still in good shape.  So not living near a furrier I wrote to the Laundress for advice and followed this  tutorial with some modifications. 

First I dealt with the lining.  Now you cannot CANNOT get the hide part of a fur saturated with water or it will shrink but you can spot clean and get it slightly damp without issue.  So I made a diluted mix of Laundress Delicate Wash and water to spot clean.  I chose delicate wash as the lining appeared to be silk satin and frankly while some of the Laundress detergents aren't that much better than regular detergent others, like Delicate Wash, work magic.  So I took a stain brush and dipped it in the soap/water mix and then blotted it on a towel and when it was just damp worked on cleaning the stained areas and then lightly over the rest of the lining.  At this point DO NOT freak out.  The lining appears much wetter than it is.  You want it just barely damp.

Then repeat the process but this time with just plain water to remove the soap.  Now, I found some minor damage to the lining using a laundry brush so you may want to test an area first and if it's really delicate use a small sponge or even cotton balls.

Next I sprinkled the fur with corn starch and let it sit, you should let it sit for at least a half hour but I let it sit for maybe 10 minutes because I'm impatient

I had my doubts about the whole "starch will pull out dirt" thing but IT REALLY WORKED! The musty smell was gone and some dirt from deep within the fur just fell out when I shook out the starch.  I also used my stain brush to VERY gently brush out the fur but I don't recommend this.  It just flattened it and a good shaking is sufficient to remove all the powder.

Next to condition the fur I did something REALLY stupid because I didn't have Laundress Crease Release but it worked! I used some silicone shine enhancer for your hair (don't judge me) and rubbed it into my hands until I JUST BARELY had any product on remaining and then finger combed it through the fur.  It did add a gloss and shine to the fur but it is VERY easy to overdo this and make the fur look oily and the smell of the shine enhancer is a little overpowering on fur. 

Then I left it to air dry.  I was AMAZED at how good the lining looked when it fully dried.  The discoloration is still there, though not as bad, but Delicate Wash left me gobsmacked.  It has a luster it didn't have before, smells clean and is so soft.  

So now the collar smells like fur not musty closet and that lining looks amazing.  I'd recommend removing the lining and cleaning with delicate wash if you can and definitely using Crease Release rather than shine enhancer as I did because it's just too easy to mess it up, but you can economically restore some fur at home I promise!

Things We Love: The Laundress

So after my last post I got inundated with emails about laundry.  I welcome this because I am legitimately obsessed with clothing care.  My go to brand for advice and products is the Laundress.  I know you're looking at those prices and thinking "are you INSANE" but believe me they will save you so much money in replacing clothing and dry cleaning bills it's worth it.  I first discovered them when cleaning out my closet and trying to decide which items could be salvaged and which had to be tossed.  Shockingly only about 10% of the things I thought were total goners don't now look as good, or better, than new since going a round with the Laundress.  One bottle of their Wool Shampoo and a sweater stone saved me $300 so far in replacing knit wear alone.  

Now I won't lie to you and tell you it's all great because they also overcharge like WHOA for their laundry bags, clothes pins, spray starch and hangers.  $15 for 12 clothespins? CHILD PLEASE, I invite you to have several seats.  You can also make your own organic spray starch by adding a spoon of cornstarch to water in a spray bottle for cheap. 

That said the liquids are AMAZING.  I swear the secret ingredient in the Laundress is photoshop because your items come out so much brighter and the colors are more intense.  Actually I know why this is, and it pleases my OCD.  Their detergents are crazy effective at getting dirt out.  So many times I've washed an item and thought it was clean then soaked it in Laundress detergent and literally watched the water turn brown from dirt that immediately came out of it.  The Laundress gives you that gross and, yet, satisfying feeling of knowing just how much of your own filth you've been wearing around.

Don't believe me?  This is my sleep mask.  I wear it every night and it was once white.  The problem is I put on moisturizer before bed and it yellows the fabric.  This is what it looked like after I washed and soaked it in regular grocery store detergent and stain remover pre-treatment.  Look, I'm showing you this because we're friends don't judge me here..

And this is what it looked like after soaking in Delicate Wash for 10 minutes and being pre-treated with their stain solution.

I seriously thought this mask was a gonner so with this one item delicate wash paid for itself.  It also got all the pit stains out of some lace Agent Provocateur bras after a go with their stain brush without any damage to the fabric.  I have mixed feelings about the stain brush though.  It does it's job like crazy but it sheds, also, like crazy.  I think it's worth $10 but I wouldn't pay more given the shedding issue.

Onto how Wool Shampoo will blow your mind.  Now, I'm a knitter so I've always known you don't have to dry clean knits and that you can wash them with shampoo.  But what no one mentions is human shampoo leaves a film on your knits and they lose a lot of their body and take on an almost "mushy" appearance.  I've been looking for a wool wash that isn't harsh like woolite but doesn't leave residue like shampoo and wool wash is the answer.  Here are two cashmere sweaters both 6 years old that I wear probably daily in the winter that had gotten so pilled and disgusting looking I just hadn't gotten around to throwing them out.  Washing them and sweater stoning them was a hail Mary and I was blown away. They look better than they looked new now:

The Laundress said you could wash suiting in the machine with wool shampoo and I said "like hell." So I decided to try it out on this velveteen and wool blazer I had that needed a trip to the dry cleaner to remove some hot chocolate stains.  I AM A BELIEVER!  Blazer was fine after being washed and all the stains were gone.  $20 dry cleaning bill averted.

I also love wool wash to make itchy and too stiff cheap woolens feel better than they have any right to feel.  For instance my college scarf was made out of the cheapest wool I think they could find.  It was stiff as a board, itchy and just meh.  LOOK AT ITS BEAUTY NOW!  This is also 6 years old and be real, it looks new.  You'd never know how much I've worn and abused it.

Finally, I was asked if the Dark Detergent really does get rid of lint, pilling and animal hair as claimed.  Yes and no. If you have a new or newish item it does make a noticeable difference in removing lint/hair.  However, if the item has already started to get that greyish film of lint it doesn't make that much of a difference. Frankly, while it smells incredible, it hasn't blow me away in terms of cleaning power like the stain solution, delicate wash and wool shampoo.

Bonus Tip!
Following the Laundress's dark laundry recipe and assorted tips from their blog I stumbled upon a way to make your t-shirts fit like they were made for you.  You know how you see t-shirts on the model on websites and they always hug their curves, are never out of shape and always look immaculate and then on you it's just a shapeless blob after about 10 minutes of wear?  This solves that!

1. Wash your cotton t-shirts inside out using the best detergent you have
2.  Hang them to dry on a hanger
3. When still damp spray with starch and steam
4. Allow to fully dry on the hanger before folding and putting it away

That's it, but the next time you put them on those shirts will cling to your body in the most flattering way possible and won't stretch out during the day.

FCC disclaimer: Some Laundress items were purchased by the reviewer and some were provided as PR samples

A Wardrobe You'll Own Forever

Everyone has their nemesis and mine is disposable fashion.  Look, I'm not ragging on you.  I get the fun of spending nearly zero dollars on something you'll wear a few times then throw away.  I'm just saying that's not my bag.  I'm very picky and have a hard body to dress due to being so enormously tall and all torso.  So when I find something that meets the holy trifecta of: fits, I like it, and is flattering I want to wear it until the day I die.  The good news is you can.  The bad news is it's not cheap.  The fact is there is NO REASON to have to buy multiple umbrellas each winter and a new pair of boots and new coat each winter.  Properly cared for, your things should last you forever.  Provided you:

1. Invest in quality to begin with
Expensive doesn't always mean quality.  Few luxury goods are still made to last forever.  Most brands are mortgaging the name for some truly subpar construction.  In contrast a lot of high-street brands are producing shockingly high quality materials.  For instance J. Crew buys all their wools from an Italian mill that provides woolens to the big couture houses.  You're getting a $800 sweater for a fraction of that price.  I have wool/cashmere sweaters from J. Crew that are 6 years old and still look brand new.

2. Get a tailor or learn to sew and a cobbler
I'm not saying you have to be able to make a garment from scratch.  What I am saying is it behooves you to know how to replace a button or fix a fallen seam on items that are still perfectly good. There is no garment repair question Vogue Sewing can't fix if you're a total newbie.

Similarly, do you have great shoes that are just a bit too tight? High boots where the calf is too big or too small?  Did you wear a hole through the sole of your favorite shoes that are otherwise still in good nick?  A cobbler can fix all of these problems.

3. Reinvent
I know I sound like a bad '80s fashion article but it's so true!  If you have items that are still in good condition and you're just bored there is so much you can do for the fraction of a price of a new item.  Dye sweaters, change the hem length on skirts, change the buttons on jackets.  I nearly dropped $200 on a new blazer because I felt it was just less than fresh looking and I was bored.  A trip to the dry cleaners and these buttons and I LOVE this blazer again.  It went from preppy to a McQueen overnight.

4. Cleaning
Laundry is my hobby.  Yes, I am that sad.  It calms me and I've saved hundreds on dry cleaning bills and tossing clothes by just taking good care of them with the right products.  For a, somewhat high, initial investment your wardrobe will last you FOREVER.  You will never again throw out a sweater due to pilling, a shirt due to pit stains or waste money at the dry cleaners.

You guys for future reference you don't ever have to take the following items to the dry cleaners unless there's some sort of special delicate decoration on them:

• Sweaters: wool just needs to be hand washed in cold water with baby shampoo or woolen shampoo then squeezed out and left to dry flat.
• Silk: all you need is a delicate wash and a sink
• SUITS, I know I know, The Laundress blew my mind on this one too

Here are basically all you need to keep everything you own looking fantastic.  Don't feel compelled to buy everything at once if you're on a budget, I don't, these things tend to last for ages so you can collect them over time:

Woolen Shampoo

You can use baby shampoo or woolite but human shampoo tends to leave too much conditioner on wool which in turn leads to more pilling and woolite smells like vomit so...

Sweater Stone


This will blow your mind.  Gently rub it on your sweaters and they look like new! Forget the electric sweater shavers as they often can eat holes into your sweaters

Clothing Brush

Sure you could buy just a lint brush but this one will last you for life and won't just remove lint but will fluff up the nap on woolens and velvets as well making them look fresh and new.
A Steamer with Creasing Attachment

I'm obsessed with this thing.  They might as well just call it "the dry cleaner alternative" you can restore ANYTHING with a good steam.  You can even use it on beds to get the wrinkles out of sheets without ironing because WHO DOES THAT? Also it's small enough to throw in suitcase.  Yeah you could buy an iron but why? An iron can't do everything a steamer can like work on woolens and silks without risk of damage.

Suede block and brush

LIFE CHANGING! I could have saved so many hundreds of dollars over the years on throwing out bags that got a little worse for wear if i had known you can just rub out stains and brush the nap of the fabric back up.  Seriously if I had known, that $4 investment could have saved me a ton.

Stain Brush and Solution

The Laundress makes a proper stain brush but honestly I just use cheap $3 complexion brushes from the drug store for this purpose.  I discovered online the most amazing stain solution recipe I now use with everything which is 2 parts laundry detergent to 1 part hydrogen peroxide.  Put it on the stain, rub it in with the brush and let it sit.  Then be amazed. 

Finally, I also could not live without The Laundress's recipes and "Can I Be Washed" chart. 

Where to Buy Glasses Online

One of the happiest moments of my life was when, at the tender of age 17, the doctor confirmed that I needed glasses.  Ok, maybe that was the second happiest, and the most amazing moment was after getting my first pair of glasses and I saw how much I had been missing as my vision had deteriorated during my teens.  My first pair of glasses were purchased after my mother said "give her the cheapest pair you have" those horrible specs broke within months and the lens would pop out every 5 minutes.  I wore them for 4 years until I saved up enough to get my first pair of fancy glasses.  A pair of men's Brooks Brothers wire frames I loved for 5 years.   The pair after that I wore for nearly 6 years, as going to the optician meant spending upwards of $250 minimum for a pair.  So it was with great enthusiasm, and doubt, I greeted these new online retailers offering cheap glasses, most $99 with shipping for lenses and frames.  I now own three pairs and have ordered from most of the biggies so let me share my WISDOM!

All retailers will be judged on the following criteria:

Speed

Price

Frame quality

Lens quality

Case

Customer service

Do they require rx validation?

Overall experience

Smartbuyglasses

After spotting these on blogger Keiko Lynn I had to have them.  

Especially after the far cooler than me Krista of Effing Dykes and Rookie fame said "bitch, yes you need them!" I do as I'm told.  The problem with the Ray-Ban RB5226 is that they are very expensive, hard to find offline, and it is only recently that knock offs started turning up.  Smartbuyglasses offered the cheapest price so I ordered from them.

Speed: 1/10

Horrible, from the time I ordered till I had them in my hot little hands was almost a month.  

Price: 10/10

The cat eyes appeared authentic and were roughly half of the cost in stores

Frame quality: 8/10

The frames arrived a little bent and required a local optician adjusting them.  However, it was an easy adjustment and most opticians will do this for you for free.

Lens quality: 5/10

The lenses are supposed to include anti-glare but they have insane glare and get dirty very easily.  They remind me of the older anti-glare coatings that were really just grease and dirt magnets.  

Case:

They provide the manufacturer's case and also an eyeglass repair and cleaning kit that has some of the best lens cleaner I've ever used.

Customer service: 10/10

Very nice and responsive, they were helpful in trying to speed up my order.

Do they require rx validation: No

You can enter your rx and they don't require you scan a recent rx or verification from your doctor.

Overall Experience: 5/10

Eyefly

Eyefly was my first stop on the internet glasses train and I was distinctly underwhelmed.  For a site claiming to offer such fashionable frames most are pretty middle of the road.  The online try-on was also pretty spotty I found.

Speed: 6/10

Took two weeks to ship

Price: 9/10

Your standard $99 all inclusive deal

Frame quality: 8/10

I ordered the Lombard and they were the most comfortable frames I've ever worn and needed no adjustments. 

Lens quality: 8/10

Pretty standard good quality lenses. 

Case:

A nice hefty leather case.  DID WANT.

Customer service: 5/10

Here is the thing: once you get ahold of them they're fantastic but to get them is a nightmare.  They aren't quickly responsive by email and prefer you to use their phone number.  But the phone line keeps banker's hours and is frequently busy.  It's a total headache. 

Do they require rx validation: Yes

Depending on your state they require your scan a recent rx or they will phone your doctor to validate.

Overall Experience: 7/10

Zenni

Whilst returning my Eyefly frames that didn't look good, and waiting for ages for the Ray-Bans, I was sans glasses for about 2 weeks.  It was the most miserable 2 weeks of my life.  I was headachey and seasick the whole time.  It really brought home the importance of the back up pair of glasses.  Also, as my Ray-Bans are a bit heavy I was looking for a cheap and light pair to be back ups or to use around the house if my Ray-Bans were annoying me. Enter Zenni and the famed $7 frames.  And you know what? They're actually really amazing! And if you're in love with the Ray-Ban cat eyes you're in luck because they've shamelessly ripped them off as the "#487621" frames. 

Speed: 8/10

Less than 2 weeks from the time I ordered until they were in my hands

Price: 10/10

Their pricing is insane, INSANE.

Frame quality: 1/10

Ok so I got the $7 frames and they are pretty much what you would expect for $7 frames but I've been told the other frames are amazingly high quality so your mileage may vary.   

Lens quality: 10/10

I sprang the extra $4 on anti-glare and these are my favorite lenses of all time.  Zero glare and they stay clean.  They're so clear and light, just amazing quality on these lenses.

Case:

The absolute worst case ever.  It's basically just a shitty piece of clear plastic that looks like it'll break in a few weeks.

Customer service: 5/10

I liked the option of IM customer service but I disliked the bitchery on the other end. 

Do they require rx validation: No

Overall Experience: 8/10

Bonlook

Keiko Lynn is driving me to the poor house.  After seeing her in these I HAD TO HAVE THEM! ON MY FACE! NOW!

I imagined swanning about in these and crisp monogrammed cotton PJs looking like Michael Caine.  Only female.  And hot.  Thus I ran to my credit card and ordered my own pair of Jungle Chic frames.  Because three pairs of glasses is NOT excessive.

ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED! These are my favorite pair of glasses of all time.  ALL TIME. If they were human I'd marry them and Bonlook.  This was one of the best shopping experiences of my life.  The shipping, the styles, and the online try-on were all without flaw.  So what I'm saying is I now need a pair of honeybadgers IF NOT ALL THEIR FRAMES, and so do you.

Speed: 10/10

They were in my mailbox a week after I ordered them.  A week. Guys, I don't even live in the continental U.S. that's unheard of for me.  Also all their shipping is carbon neutral. 

Price: 10/10

Standard $99 dollar deal but I had a $15 coupon.

Frame quality: 10/10

They are incredible and you can tell a lot of care went into these.

Lens quality: 9/10

Maybe not as fantastic as Zenni but much better than average and very light which is crucial to me when I'm buying such a hefty frame.

Case:

Black satin finish hard case.  Mine came with a tiny cosmetic flaw where it looked like it was chipped on something but that's really minor.

Customer service: 10/10

They are fantastic and obviously value their customers and their stylists will even pick frames for you!

Do they require rx validation: No

Overall Experience: 10/10

P.S.

I haven't ordered from them but if you're looking for authentic vintage frames may I please direct you to the insane selection at Vintage Optical Shop?

No paid promotion or free glasses were offered from any of these sites.  All glasses were purchased by me with my own filthy lucre at regular retail price except where a coupon code was offered to all new customers.

For B: Packing for an English Winter and Layering

B is spending the winter in London and needs to know what are essentials to pack and buy.  She also wants to know how this whole crazy layering thing works.  THESE ARE RELATED!  London has pretty mild winters, you don't have to prepare like you would for, say, a Boston winter.  So layering is your saving grace that let's you get that good not cold but not sweltering in your massive coat and sweater combo.  This is especially true during London's long fall where it's nippy out but not enough to bring a coat for bloody AGES until one day winter comes crashing through the door.

London Essentials
The thing about a London winter is, recent snow stores notwithstanding, you don't have to prepare for snow so much as for a lot of wind, hail and rain.  The rain is omnipresent and torrential so you need:

1. A good umbrella:
Note that I said a good umbrella.  A $10 folding dealie you buy in Boots will snap in a windstorm and is a total waste of money.  What you need is a gustbuster or a more pricey and stable brolly.  Fulton make a good umbrella at a reasonable price.

Fulton Folding Umbrella 

2. Rain boots

You wouldn't think of moving to Canada in January without snow boots right? Same thing here, you don't move to the U.K. in the fall without rain boots.  Unless you like cold wet feet. 

Dorothy Perkins Union Jack Wellies

Hunter Original Wellington's

Jules Evedon (on sale!)

3. Woolens or a Raincoat

Wool is naturally water resistant so unless you're caught in a torrential downpour without an umbrella it's a pretty good bet for withstanding a rainstorm and still being toasty warm.  If not, or if you like extra layers of security, a classic trench is a good option.  

Joules Monty

Forever 21 Trench

How to Layer

The best advice I can give here is to look to catalogs, why would they sell you just the shirt when they can sell you the shirt that looks so amazing with three other shirts?  J.Crew are particularly egregious in the whole "how many items of clothing can we get on this model?" game.  Also, their lookbooks always have layering suggestions. 

The only real "rules" of layering are: go from tight to loose and apply basic color theory.  Your layers should be in harmonious shades or opposite shades for a pop of color.  If this really throws you I have to suggest this book:

What you Wear can Change your Life

This book is worth the price of admission for the color combining chapter alone.  There are 10s of pages with suggested color palettes based the main color of your outfit.  They're often unexpected but stunning in practice.  I'm so in love with that chapter I actually cut it out of the book and have kept it through numerous moves when I had to otherwise get rid of my books.  I can't recommend it highly enough.

It's Hard Out There for a Poor Girl

One of the worst parts of being a poor is that beautiful things don't stop existing just because you can't buy them.  Oh no, beautiful things are merciless!  Looking all awesome and taunting you with their unreasonable price tags.  For the record I consider anything over $1 "HIGHWAY ROBBERY." So your mileage may vary.   This has been made worse by the sad realization I have very few work appropriate bags.  Those NPR totes just last forever and are so convenient you know? I didn't think I was a bag person until I started shopping for bags.  There are so many I need or. I. Will. Die. and yet so few I can buy.  So imagine my glee when I discovered Private Sale (I am inviting you friends).  From the people who brought you Bag, Borrow, Steal comes Private Sale where you can buy HEAVILY discounted very lightly used bags.  You can even sell your old bags with them too, or take old designer purses to them for cleaning, repairs and restoration.  They do it all!

 Kate spade for less than $200

An unbelievably of the moment pistachio leather bag for less than $200 is an unreal find

That's a lot of design half-off

Look Book for Ri

Today's look book is for Ri.  Ri wants to look more put together and indie-cool without going into the hipster douche category.  Basically without going the full Deschanel, you never want to go the full Deschanel!  Upon perusing photos of Ri (every day I'm creepin') a few things struck me

1. Homegirl has more legs than a bucket of chicken much like Chichi Rodriguez

2. She has a pale, delicate complexion easily washed out

Ri is also fun, she has a fun job and draws cartoons.  The obvious answer here is COLOR and short!  Color to bring some light to her face and perk up her complexion and short because long luscious legs are a gift and should be shared with the world.  Where I didn't go short I went tight so she can still taunt the world with her pins. The look is still young and fun but slightly more polished and of the moment. 

I also noticed Ri tended to be a bit apple shaped with long slim legs and slightly fuller through the middle.  Therefore, you'll see a lot of loose trapeze type tops paired with slim jeans or denim leggings.  This highlights the legs and disguises any bits and bobs. 

All purchasing info here

All purchasing info here

All purchasing info here

All purchasing info here

Other makeup/hair suggestions I would make to Ri are to go darker with her hair and putting pops of color in her make up and nail routine to bring more light to her face.  I think Ri would look amazing with the dark glossy tresses of our very own Princess Shiny Locks 

For her cool toned skin I'd suggest a medium or dark ash brown.  Going only a few shades darker is easy to do at home and since you're going darker you can go with a semi-permanent color that washes out if you're not ready for any major commitments.  Here are some favorite shades (both in our store):

Going darker automatically adds some shine as the dye fills in gaps in the hair cuticle and darker hair reflects light better.  To get the full Middleton shine though you need good products + heat.  Well, that and a keratin treatment every 3 months but BABY STEPS.  Ri's hair has a lot of natural texture so you need to stop enemy number 1 frizz.  These two products together are like crack for your hair, they give you shiny glossy locks and keep your hair frizz free until you wash them out.  I cannot rave about them enough.  

First, Lazer Straight

put it on wet hair and then let it air dry or blow dry it.  Then take a 1.5" or larger curling iron and curl all your hair under in huge sections.  

Next, Spread a pea size drop of miracle produce number 2 Aveda's Brilliant shine enhancer on your palms and then finger comb the curls out.  

Voila you look amazing and nothing short of a rain storm is gonna destroy that hair!

In terms of make up I'd keep it neutral with a rosy glow courtesy of Nars' Orgasm (do you really need a photo of that?) and some sheer hot pink lip color like Mac's Lustering to add warmth to the skin.

For nails keep the fun colors going with a pop of orange or pistachio.  Butter London's spring collection is perfect for this especially Bossy Boots and Trout Pout.