How To

Love them or loathe them but the Kardashians have some of the best make-up looks seen today. Their features are perfectly refined, feminine, and expertly finished.

The master behind their beautiful faces is Mario Dedivanovic; a living legend and star on the rise sure to join the ranks of make-up’s elite a la Kevyn Aucoin. His trademark palettes are fresh, fun, and sexy, and you can get the dish straight from the man himself on his blog.

Following is a taste of how to get one of his masterful looks all on your own like the one pictured here, and follow his blog and Twitter for more of his expert tips and tricks to keep you looking star worthy all season long…and for all of us CheapChicas, the good news is most of the products he uses are budget friendly (the ones that aren’t give you major bang for your buck)!

Check out how he gets Kim K.looking picture perfect:

Start with Josie Maran Argan Primer Mist ($36) on the face, let dry and apply foundation.

Next, use DiorSkin Forever Extreme Wear Flawless Makeup SPF 25 ($45)-a little goes a long way and remember to blend well; set with Smashbox HALO Hydrating Perfecting Powder ($59 powder and brush set).

Brows filled with MAC’s Eye Brows Pencil in Lingering ($15), “sweep the pencil with light strokes in the direction the hair grows.  Brush through brows for a more blended, natural look.”

With brush apply Sweetheart eye shadow by Josie Maran ($20)on the eye lids, keeping it right below the crease.

Using ARTLINER – Precision Point EyeLiner ($29)by Lancome apply thin line above lash line, “feel free to extend the line out without overdoing it”

Lashes – use one coat of HYPNÔSE DRAMA Instant Full Body Volume Mascara ($24)by Lancome.  Add some individual long lashes by Ardell ($4) to the outer corners of eyes and follow with another coat of mascara on the top and bottom lashes as well.

To warm up and bronze the skin, use Laguna Bronzing Powder by NARS ($32).  Using a small shadow brush, apply a dab of the bronzer to the crease of eyes and along the lower lash lines.

To make cheeks pop and add a gorgeous glow, sweep Powder Blush by NYX Cosmetics in Peach ($6)on the apples of the cheeks. For that extra glow on the cheek bones apply N.Y.C. New York Color Sparkle Eye Dust in Opal Sparkle ($4)

Finish off with Sephora’s Nano Lip liner in Pinup Pink ($5) and follow with Pure Lipgloss in Petunia ($12), also by Sephora.

With snow already falling in Philadelphia, I can’t help but worry about the dreadfully long winter ahead…  For anyone that loves fashion as much as I do, getting dressed in the morning can be quite a challenge when the temperature barely gets above freezing and when there’s salty black mush around every corner waiting to ruin your beautiful leather boots.  So, how in the world do you look like your most fashionable self while not freezing to death during your morning commute??

For starters, if my feet are warm, then everything else is warm so start with a great pair of boots.  Although I wear my Uggs around my house and to run errands when I’m just too lazy to get dressed, they do NOT qualify as footwear.  I’m talking about a great weather-friendly boot, like these Hunter ones with the fleece liner for added warmth.  These not only make you look like a total English countryside badass, but they keep your tootsies dry and more importatnly, warm. 

Next, it’s all about the accessories.  Just because it’s grey and dreary outside doesn’t mean you have to dress to match the weather.  Pick brightly colored scarves, hats and gloves to add a pop of color to your look and inject some fun into your outfit.  And don’t be afraid to mix colors and patterns!  Also, if you plan on wearing a skirt or dress in the Winter don’t forget a thick pair of sweater tights.  These are much warmer than your average pair of cotton ones and they will help protect your legs from the frigid cold air. 

Finally, layer and layer some more.  Nothing will keep you warmer throughout the day…and you can always take something off if you get too hot.  The key here is to avoid bulky layers so you don’t end up look bulky too!  Stick to lots of thin layers, like this great thermal tee under a wool sweater dress, and top if off with a heavy belted wool coat (or cape) that will help define your shape under all those clothes.

Style Links: Hat $5.50, Scarf $8.80, Dress $36.90, Cape $49.00

the Prada Special Stones collection.  This new collection of handbags is one of their lower priced initiatives, in addition to their recently launched costume jewelry line.

While Prada customers might find a bag for $1000 a total steal, I surely do not…and my readers don’t either.  So here’s a great way to take a plain old clutch you might have lying around to the next level…add lots and lots of rhinestones!!!

You can easily pick up a bag of “flat back” stones at your local craft store.  Attach them by using a hot glue gun to your chosen handbag/clutch.  I personally like the Swarovski ones for their vibrant sparkle, but you can use just about any type of stone.

Here’s my best attempt at a “Frada (faux Prada) DIY Clutch”:

Jeans are by far, one of the hardest things to shop for.  With so many styles, cuts, washes and details, it can often be overwhelming finding a pair that’s just right for your body and that will enhance your best assets. 

Here are some tips to help you find your perfect pair:

1. Start by shopping somewhere that has a HUGE selection of denim and get ready to try and try again…NO online shopping for this item.  You can’t tell how anything will fit on a hanger or folded up on a shelf so make sure you shop on a day that you feel like trying on clothes.  

2. People seem to think that designer jeans are the way to go because of the fit, but with all of the advances in denim and fabrication, you can now get those same high-end washes and styles from budget brands.  As long as they fit you well, who cares?  No one has to know they’re not designer.  

3. If you want to avoid drawing attention to your butt, make sure you look for styles with mid to small size pockets and stay away from any kind of detailing on the rear pockets…clean and simple pockets are what you should be after.  Make sure the pockets sit high and centered to give your butt an instant lift!

4. Look for a pair of jeans that have a low-rise and that sit comfortably on your hips.  I know that high-waisted jeans and kind of “in”, but unless you’re a size 0-2, this style is not for you.  By reducing the amount of material between the top of the jean and the bottom of your butt, it will make your rear look smaller and more compact. 

5. Make lycra your best friend.  I can’t express how important it is to find a pair of jeans that have lycra in them…especially if you’re pear shaped.  This wonder-farbric will not only help you fit both the largest and smallest part of you, but it will hug all of your curves in all the right places and suck in the rest of the not-so-right places.  

6. The longer the better.  Make sure that your jeans are long enough to wear with your highest pair of heels.  Ever wonder why model’s look so good in their jeans?  It’s because they have mile-long legs and by wearing your jeans long, you create the illusion of height- even if you’re only 5′1″ like me.

7. The darker the better.  I always prefer dark washes to light ones.  They look more expensive and more importantly, will make you look thinner than their lighter counterparts.  But be careful to wash them inside out in cold water or if you can afford it, dry clean them so that you don’t lose an ounce of that rich dark denim color.

8. If you’re looking for skinny jeans, keep in mind that they don’t have to be “super-skinny” and sometimes even a straight-leg (see left) will do the trick.  Stay away from the ones that bunch around your ankles, which tend to have really small leg openings (less than 12″).  When skinnies are too tapered at the bottom, they can make you look wider than you really are by accentuating the difference in width from your hips to your ankles.

Where to look:

Old Navy: Prices from $19.99- $34.50

Forever 21: Prices from $12.50-$32.90 

Macy’s (Juniors Department): Prices from $24.98

I’ve been getting some emails about the OTK (over the knee) boots I posted a few days ago and people are wondering how to rock them without looking like a hooker or a pirate.  I too had my doubts when I first saw them, but paired with the right outfit you can come off looking oh-so chic!

Here’s a few suggestions to help ease you into them:

OTK Boots by cheapchica11

1. Since the boots aren’t black (and those are the ones you have to worry about looking hooker-y), I’m all for pairing them with a cute mini-skirt.  You should also go for a something long sleeved on top to balance out the shortness of the skirt…especially if you opt out of the tights.   

2. This is my favorite look!  I really like skinny jeans (try grey ones) tucked into the boots…and this is really what these boots were designed for!  It’s very Carine Roitfeld and paired with the chunky cardigan sweater it looks like you didn’t even try.

3. If you’re looking for a flat boot that doesn’t read pirate, make sure it’s in suede and NOT leather.  The leather ones are too shiny and way too swashbuckling for me!  When you wear them with a short flirty dress the look is feminine and really fun.  Textured tights are optional with this one since you’re forgoing the heel.

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This is one of the most versatile pieces you can buy to help add legs to your closet.  Tunics look effortlessly chic when paired with the right accessories and layered with complimentary pieces.  Being the frugal fashionista that I am, I love nothing more than being able to reincarnate one piece into several different outfits that I can wear for multiple occassions: Work, Daytime, and Night! 

Tunics by cheapchica11

Work: Pair it with cute ballet flats and tights now that the weather is cooling down for an office-chic look.  If you want to add some flair, add a great belt to help define your waist and to give the tunic a completely different silhouette.  And if you happen to work in a more conservative office, pair it with a blazer to help give it a more corporate look.

Daytime: Comfort is key when I’m running around all day doing errands and since I’m not a morning person, I don’t want to have to think when I’m getting dressed.  A tunic is a easy solution when paired with a great, flat riding boot and an oversized cardigan.  The sweater helps break up the color/pattern by adding texture and depth to your outfit.

Night: Nothing looks hotter than a mini-dress paired with sky-high platform shoes.  Add statement jewelry, like bold cuffs, a cocktail ring or layered necklaces to inject some glamour and shine–just don’t wear them all at the same time.  If you live somewhere cold, you will need to add textured tights and a shrunken jacket to make this look work during the Winter months.  Either way, you can’t go wrong! 

PS:  Make sure the tunic is long enough so it doesn’t look like you left your pants at home.