Before this week's post begins, check out the beautiful Slovak copy of Lessons from Madame Chic, which was sent to me by my Slovakian publisher, Ikar. What a treat! I look forward to connecting with my Slovakian readers very soon.


Spring is officially here and this week I wanted to talk about getting your spring ten-item wardrobe ready. Many of you have probably already started this. I know I have as you are expecting a video to come out very soon :)



If you have been practicing a ten-item wardrobe, this should be easy and fun for you. You already know what to do. Store away your winter items that you no longer need. Keep any sweaters or lightweight coats on hand in case the weather turns (and these days, the weather always seems to be turning!), bring out the clothes from last spring/ summer that you plan to use again this year and mend anything that needs to be mended.

At this point you should write down a list of anything you need to purchase for your spring wardrobe. (All of my readers in the southern Hemisphere who are not going into spring, you can do this for your fall wardrobe.) Keep in mind the colors you'd like to wear this season and plan what would go nicely with what you already have. Don't forget to include the "extras" (like tee shirts) and accessories on this list. Keep your list handy and your budget in mind when you're out shopping and slowly, like you're on a treasure hunt, you can tick items off your list. This part is so much fun.

Hang your items proudly in your closet and just enjoy yourself this season.

If you haven't yet started your own ten-item wardrobe, it's never too late to start. Don't be intimidated by the number TEN. Ten is just a guideline. You can have twenty core items if that works better for you. It's not about the number, it's about your fresh new mentality about your wardrobe. You have chosen to think of your capsule wardrobe as art and you have decided to not let another day go by where you aren't wearing something that is authentically you. So just start wherever you are. You are not behind. For more information on the ten-item wardrobe, check out my book, Lessons from Madame Chic.

I will be shooting my spring ten-item wardrobe video this week so it will be out soon. As you'll see in this week's video, I'm really feeling blue (in a good way). If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or check out my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur


In The News

Hamilton's Real Style magazine has given Lessons from Madame Chic a fabulous review.

Jenny of JenEric Generation blog discusses her favorite style points from Lessons from Madame Chic.

I have finished my second round of edits for book two and have sent it off to my publisher at Simon & Schuster. Hurray! Check out my 14 second facebook message here.


If you like the "le no makeup look" I'm wearing in this week's video, stay tuned next week for a video tutorial.

I would love to know... how is your spring ten-item wardrobe coming along? On your social media sites, be sure to use the hashtag #TenItemWardrobe.


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This week we are exploring the world of hair. I have received a lot of requests to recreate the curls I wore in my New Year's Message video as well as an update on current hair care products I'm using. This week's video gives you both. We start with the tutorial, in which you'll note that the secret to having soft, voluminous curls (I think perhaps the Duchess of Cambridge employs this look every now and then?) is to alternate the direction of the curl with the curling iron.


Check out this week's video to see the entirety of the tutorial. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or check out my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur



Here is a list of the hair care products discussed in the video:

Pureology Super Smooth Shampoo

Pureology Super Smooth Conditioner

Pureology Super Smooth Relaxing Hair Masque I use this once a week or so in lieu of regular conditioner.

Maijan Pure Argan Oil & Mint Hydrating Shampoo (Amazing stuff! check out the giveaway below to win your own)

Maijan Pure Argan Oil & Mint Hydrating Conditioner The mint provides a tingling sensation shortly after applying. You feel as though you are really nourishing and cleaning the hair.

Living Proof Primer Style Extender This is a primer for your hair that, I find, makes styling last so much longer.

Pureology Colour Stylist Anti-Split Blow Dry Cream A great heat protectant to apply before blowdrying your hair.

Pureology Colour Fanatic Multi-Tasking Hair Beautifier This heat protectant is so great because you don't need to keep reapplying it if you use different forms of heat. One application and it does the job.

Mason Pearson Boar Bristle Hairbrush An investment piece, but one that makes the hair soft and smooth. It's worth saving up for one...


Giveaway
Maijan have kindly offered to give away one Pure Argan Oil & Mint Shampoo and Conditioner to a reader of the Daily Connoisseur. This giveaway is open to US residents only (apologies to my international readers, but I do not set the guidelines). Please enter via the rafflecopter widget below. The winner will be announced on the widget in one week's time and directly contacted by Maijan. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



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After our intense month discussing The Untethered Soul, I thought it would be fun to do a get ready with me video: makeup edition. In this video I'm getting ready to attend a casual business luncheon for the Harvey Mudd Entrepreneurial Network (remember when I spoke to them last fall about artistic entrepreneurship?).

I hope you'll check out this week's video to join me for a chat and glean some makeup inspiration. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or check out my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

Here's an image of the pink Zara blazer I wore that day. You know I love my blazers! This is a new edition to my spring ten-item wardrobe, which you'll be seeing soon...



Here's a list of the makeup I use in this video:

YSL Top Secrets BB Cream

MAC pro longwear concealer

MAC studio finish concealer

MAC blot pressed powder

Urban Decay primer potion**

Urban Decay NAKED palette**

CHANEL kohl eyeliner in ambre

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush** in mood exposure

Sephora eyebrow editor in Honey Blonde

MAC lip liner in Strip Down

Hourglass Femme nude lip stylo** no. 6

Cruelty-free makeup
Did you know that not all of your favorite makeup brands are cruelty-free? Thank you to Jessie, a reader of the Daily Connoisseur, who sent me Peta's cruelty-free search index. Check to see the status of your favorite brands and make your own informed decision about the makeup you use. The products listed above with the ** at the end of their name are all cruelty-free. Going forward, I feel inspired to review, support and seek out more of these conscious brands.

Madame Chic Around the World


Here is the fabulous Czech cover for Lessons from Madame Chic, which will be released this April from Mladá Fronta. I look forward to connecting with my Czech readers very soon.


Would you like to see more of these videos? I love to hear from you! Leave me a comment below letting me know.

See you next week xx

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Before we jump into this week's post, I wanted to share the new author photo for my upcoming book with you. Thank you to Kevin McIntyre for another great photo shoot!



Ten-Item Wardrobe Chat

The ten-item wardrobe continues to be the most popular topic of discussion from Lessons from Madame Chic, and the questions continue to come in. Many of you are asking the same questions so I decided to do this chat video to answer the most popular ones for everyone to hear.




The first half of the video is shot in my parents' home. I had a dreadful cold (that felt like it was never going to end!) and was staying with them while I recovered. The second half of the video is shot back in Santa Monica.

Here are the topics addressed in the video:

Winter wardrobe updates I haven't purchased much since I showed you my fall/ winter ten-item wardrobe for 2013, but I do show you the the purchases (mainly tee shirts) I have made, including a lacy Zara tee that I simply adore!

Should I have a ten-item wardrobe for both work and home? This is the question I receive the most. It all depends on what you need to wear for work. If you have a drastically different dress code to what you would normally wear on your down time, you will need to have a separate work wardrobe.

Should my children have a ten-item wardrobe? This is the second most popular question I get. With the little ones it is harder to be as minimalistic because they change sizes so often (especially the baby/ toddlers) and they have so many outfit changes during the day due to dirt and spills, but yes, our kids can have a capsule wardrobe. The most important thing is to instill the values of a ten-item wardrobe in them so they don't grow up with the same shopping neurosis we did!

I also address other topics in the video such as: the ten-item wardrobe is not a diet (I like that, don't you?) and limited thinking.

Check out this week's video for the full chat. Thanks for all of your get well soon wishes on twitter. As you can see in the second half of this video, I am feeling much better!

If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or check out my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

Please let me know in the comments section how your ten-item wardrobe is coming along. I love to hear from you on twitter, facebook and instagram too! Use the hashtag #TenItemWardrobe to send me your pictures and/or feedback.

Have a marvelous week. Our Untethered Soul Book Club starts next week! See you then.

For more on Kevin McIntyre, visit kevinmcphotograph.com

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Over the Christmas break I posted a picture on instagram that features some rather unique lighting (no filter) courtesy of the winter Southern California sun.

Many people asked about the scarf I'm wearing in the picture, which happens to be this gorgeous pale pink Alexander McQueen scarf I received as a Christmas present from my mother and father-in-law (thank you! xx).

This week's video shows you how I pair the scarf with neutrals (and the simplicity of this outfit must work because when I wore it, I received no less than three compliments!). I also introduce you to a new sweater that has replaced my older sweaters in my fall/ winter ten-item wardrobe.



Outfit featured in this video:

Alexander McQueen Scarf
Ann Taylor Loft sweater
Paige Skyline skinny jeans
London Sole Henrietta ballet flats in nude patent

Please check out this week's video to see the outfit up close. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or visit my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

News

Thank you to the oh so chic fashion blogger, Maritza Morales, of Vanity Youth, for featuring Lessons from Madame Chic in her post titled, Le Maroux.

Next week's video will be a ten-item wardrobe chat (along with winter wardrobe updates) and then we are starting our Untethered Soul book club. I hope you will join us!

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This week's video was shot on my iPhone. Who knows what happened, but the viewing window is very narrow. Nevermind, you still get to see what's on my vanity and I also have written it out for you on the side panels (handy, that). I have a terrible cold this week, which is why my narration sounds so nasally and subdued. But enough about the backstory... let's get into the discussion!

I tend to only keep the products I use in heavy rotation and/or the most beautiful products I have on display on my vanity. The rest goes in the drawers in the vanity or the cabinet underneath. So you will see makeup/ haircare and beauty products in this video, but those aren't the only ones I use, they just happen to be what I am currently using the most. We don't have a lot of storage in our bathroom. In fact, this vanity is all we have (no shelves, no medicine cabinet, etc.) so I have to make it work.

Please Note** This is probably the most I've ever had on top of my vanity. Half of the products shown in this video are normally stored away in my drawers but I kept them out to show you what I'm loving lately. So this is a bit of a dual-purpose blog post.



Everything in this video has been purchased by me (except for the perfume, which was a gift from Mr. Connoisseur). I am including links where necessary.

Here's what's on my vanity:

Orchids! (of course)

Various orchid pots to store makeup brushes/ tooth paste

Mason Pearson Hairbrush (Investment piece but nothing compares. I mean nothing. Let me know if you want me to do a video on mine.)

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer spf 20

Aquaphor (I have had some eczema on my hands this winter... total bummer. This helps.)

Sephora eyebrow powder in blonde

MAC Prep & Prime natural radiance base (I'm loving this primer!)

Jurlique Redness Rescue Calendula Cream (You know I love calendula. This cream is wonderful.)

YSL Top Secrets BB cream (I've tested a few BB creams... this one is my favorite by far.)

Epicuren Volcanic clay face mask

Éminence Coconut Age Corrective Moisturizer (The most magnificent moisturizer ever. Is that being too dramatic?)

Éminence Clear Skin Probiotic Masque

CHANEL Perfection Lumière Foundation

NARS Dolce Vita lipstick

MAC Dazzleglass in Bare Necessity

Hourglass lipstick in Vintage

Theodent Fluoride-free toothpaste (I get this at Whole Foods.)

Balenciaga Florabotanica (A present from Mr. Connoisseur. Gorgeous scent. Perfect for spring and, dare I say it, is rivaling my beloved Stella.)

Éminence Calendula Oil (and my love affair with calendula continues...)

Living Proof Prime Style Extender(for hair)

Simple cleansing facial wipes

Ecover lavender hand soap (I love this soap!)

Voilà! If there's anything you like the look of and want to know more about, leave a comment below and I'll try to do another more in-depth beauty video discussing it.

Check out this week's video for a closer look. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or check out my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur .

Book Club
If you'd like to join our book club in February, make sure you read The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer.

News


Last Friday I reunited with photographer extraordinaire, Kevin McIntyre, to shoot the new author photo for my next book jacket. The fabulous Rita Montanez did my makeup for the day. She airbrushed my foundation... it was pretty amazing.

I can't wait to show you the finalized pictures. Thank you Kevin and Rita!


This week I would love to know... what's on your vanity? What are your most used beauty products? Tweet, Instagram, or facebook me pictures of your vanity and/or most used beauty products using the hashtag #DailyConnoisseur

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I can't believe I've been blogging for six years and this is my first outfit of the day (OOTD) post! Better late than never though, eh?

This video was shot in mid-December for a girlfriend lunch (Hi GinaMarie and Sandy!). It was a casual lunch at Fig restaurant in Santa Monica.

Outfit:


Blush silk Equipment blouse (a core item from my Ten-Item Wardrobe Fall/ Winter video)

Royal blue blazer from Banana Republic (you'll recognize this from many posts over the past few years)


Paige skinny jeans (featured in my fall/ winter Ten-Item Wardrobe video)

Camel suede Ferragamo pumps (another old favorite of mine that have lasted over 5 years now)

Long gem-stone necklace

Please keep in mind when you view these fashion videos: it is not the brand or the price of the clothing that matters. In fact, I've considered not mentioning any brands because they are not important. We all have different styles, budgets and ideas about what we'd like to wear. The purpose of these videos is to show you what one woman (me) does. They are meant to inspire, not to instruct. Most of the fun is figuring out what works for you budget-wise and style-wise.

Check out this week's video for an up close look at my outfit. If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or check out my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur.

And please let me know in the comments section if you enjoy these type of videos and would like to see more of them...

News

♛ I'm really happy to announce that both Italy (Piemme) and Poland (Literackie) have picked up the rights to my second book. I'll be officially announcing the title soon. For now it is maintaining its air of mystery... x

See you next week :)

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Happy New Year 2014!

I hope you had a great holiday with your loved ones. I had such a wonderful break. I got a much needed rest and caught up with so many family members I haven't seen the whole year. It was truly fabulous.

In January 2013 we talked about the tipping point to changing how we live. No longer content with the status quo, we have gone searching for a path in life that is teeming with light and that brings us closer to who we really are.

Continuing on this path, my New Year's message to you is simple. I am focusing on this philosophy this entire year and I hope that you join in with me:

It's not what you do, but how you do it.

I'll repeat that again...

It's now what you do, but how you do it.

It's a concept that is explored in Lessons from Madame Chic, one that I will continue to explore on this blog and one that is even further discussed in my new book that will be out at the end of this year.

It's not what you do, but how you do it.

This year let's set aside the negative thinking, let's work on ourselves from the inside out and let's enjoy what we're doing, no matter what it is we are, in fact, doing. Let's change our perceptions and most important, LET'S HAVE FUN!

If you are unable to see the video above, click here, look in the sidebar of this blog, or check out my channel: www.youtube.com/TheDailyConnoisseur

Thank you for joining me this year on the Daily Connoisseur. I just know it's going to be a great year...

Notes

♚ Thank you for all of your messages! I get dozens of reader messages a day and am not always able to respond. I read and appreciate every single one. Thank you, thank you, thank YOU!

♚ We will be starting our Untethered Soul book club in February. Be sure to pick up or check out a copy so you can join in on the discussion.

News

I am featured in France's L'Express newspaper, in an article about the feminine ideal of American women. The article is in French, but you can likely translate it via google translate.

Testimonials

Agnieszka from Poland writes of Lessons from Madame Chic:

I really recommend that book. It is one of the best books I have ever read. It is amazing and it makes my life better. Thank you:) Greetings from Poland :)

Thank you Agnieszka ♥︎

Please send me your testimonials for either my book or blog. I would love to publish your comment on the Daily Connoisseur.

See you next week :)

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