CHEAP SIGMA BRUSH MAT DUPES FOR UNDER $8!!! (Uh...what's a Sigma Brush Mat?)

Parc Monceau

I never in a million years would have thought that French Tonal Impressionism and Women's Makeup would ever intersect in any way, shape or form.

Impossible.

But I must humbly admit eyeshadow consultant Zabrena has proven me wrong, big time.

I am an accomplished French Tonal Impressionist painter. It's a passion of mine.

So much so I found it hard to sell my paintings at first. lol...

What's French Tonal Impressionism? That's a long subject for another blog.

The point is when it comes to my brushes, I'm a bit of a nut. I once spent 25 dollars on a single paint brush! :O

I love to go to an art store and handle all the different shapes and sizes and see how they move by pressing them against my palm.

And when it comes to cleaning I have no problem spending an hour working the brushes till they are spotless which is not so easy when you are using oil based paints. You need to use lots of hot water to get far into the bristles.

Then somehow I came across My Eyeshadow Consultant Zabrena. OMG! She's is as passionate about women's makeup as I am about painting and as accomplished as well.

In one of her vids she actually talks about using a complementary color to tone down another color that is too bright.

 Zabrena! You're freaking me out!!!

And in this video she really blew my away! She is using all these great cheap ideas to clean make up brushes.

And the oven mit is exactly the solution I've been looking for to clean my brushes for all these years.

So for all the Makeup lovers or brush junky Artists like myself out there, this video is for you! :D

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Insider's Paris Fashion Guide: What to Wear Essentials

She thought it was amusing at first. No matter where she went they spoke to her in English.

A Parisian waiter can feel a tourist before he sees one.

But at the supermarket, the Brasserie, the Tabac it was always the same.

They said 'Bonjour' to everyone and without even hearing her speak she always got the 'Hello'.

How did they know? It soon became an obsession.

She tried a new hair style, less make up, more make up, different shoes.

She even tried to walk slower while pretending not to care.

'Bonjour....bonjour...bonjour...oh, hello, what would you like?'

It was maddening.

Then after some time and strategic clothing changes she decided to test her 'ensemble nouveau' on the French-ist of French, hole-in-the-wall Bistrot she had coveted to go to for years.

The place was packed.

In slow motion she adjusts her scarf with one hand, takes her sunglasses off with the other while approaching the open door. The waiter passes and says,

"Attendez, j'arrive.."

He comes back and faces right up, 'Bonjour Madame'

'Bonjour Monsieur.'

Hearing her accent, '"Would you like a menu or are you here for drinks."

'For drinks, thank you and for this' she says and then leans in close and kisses him French style on both cheeks.

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The New Sneaker Space at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann

Geeper peepers have you seen those sneakers? A few thoughts...

• Wow! What a refreshing down to earth departure for the upscale Galeries Lafayette to launch their new 'Sneaker Section' in such a lighthearted and informal way. Bravo! GLH 

•  I don't know about 'all around the world' but Paris is certainly going through a loud color, neon, sneaker craze. I thought neon died with the early 80's but hey, what do I know :D

• The plus size woman in the video is very interesting. 

• There has been alot of uproar lately in the fashion world about anorexia, the pressure models are put under to look skinny and the possible causative relationship with the Paris runways and fashion culture in general. Is the plus size model purely a marketing move or is this a way to tell critics, 'Hey look. We're different!', or both? Hmnn...

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France Just Banned Super-Skinney Models

The French legislature voted for a bill Friday to ban excessively skinny models from working in the ultra-chic country’s fashion industry. France to became the latest country joining Israel, Spain and Italy to try to stamp anorexia out of the fashion industry. Fashion agencies that are discovered using models with a BMI under 18, which is approximately 121 pounds for a 5 ft., 7 in. model, could look at up to 6 months of jail time and a be fined 75,000 euros ($82,000)

To find out why some are loudly protesting the legislation click here.

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From Paris to Tokyo: Obsessed With Shoes? Vive la Différence

Paris is as shoe obsessed as any other fashion capital of the world. But Les Shoesenists de Tokyo have the bravado and flair of comic theater which borders on the ridiculous. And if you are French, ridicule is something you are highly allergic to. 

WWD-Womens Wear Daily held their laughter and trained their lenses long enough to capture the amusing boot and shoe choices worn by show goers and city residents during Tokyo Fashion Week.

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