SHOP WITHOUT THE DROP

Janie Rose takes pride in her keen sense of style; she provides shopping and wardrobe styling services for men and women who want to get their image and wardrobe in fighting shape.

Some people would rather spend money, than time and patience when it comes to finding the right clothes. Think of all the times you've spent scrambling in your closet searching for the perfect blouse or accessory that you knew wasn't there. 

Janie can take the frusturation and time-sink out of a wardrobe makeover--she's a fashion insider who can offer you styling advice suited to your budget, lifestyle and personality.

Janie Rose, janierose.ca 

BUTTER ME UP

Butter London nail lacquers might be a luxury buy if you haven't purchased salon-quality polish recently ($15-$20). 

But there's more than meets the eye behind these cutting-edge and designer-inspired colour palettes.  Butter London collections are cruelty-free, vegan and 3-free: no formaldehyde, no toluene, and no DBP.

Butter London has been creating buzz around their latest colours: All Hail McQueen, in honour of designer Alexander McQueen--and No More Waity, Katie--a tribute to the recently-engaged Kate Middleton.  

Butter up!

Available at Skin Deep, 154 2nd Ave N (306) 955-5744, $17

Crowdsourcing for image consulting

It's a fact: once in a while we want to tap into the collective wisdom of our BFFs for appraisal on our personal image and style. 

"Should I cut my hair? How do I look? What should I wear to my interview? Is this a good picture to post to my online dating profile?" 

These are common dilemmas, especially in this era of branding our personal image online. The reality is, if you have a presence online you are branding your personal image in some way or another.

Since friends and online pals may not be objective enough to provide an honest and unbiased appraisal to questions about our image, you might consider leaning on opinions from impartial strangers. 

Checkyourimage.com harnesses the power of crowdsourcing to provide image consulting services. The website displays in German but you can select the "translate" feature on the browser bar to get a mediocre English translation (I had a good chuckle on some of the translations). 

If you can swallow the raw truth from a stranger who doesn't appreciate your witty sense of humour or know your sweet, soft side--then submit your photo to the masses and wait for your image analysis to arrive in your inbox. You can have as few as 30 or as many as 1,000 anonymous consultants answer any of your questions. Users are allowed one free trial question each month or you can pay for a complete list of services. The consulting services are packaged uniquely for men or women, as well as for career or dating interests.

Unlike some online dating sites that spin personal opinions into a "hot-or-not" contest among other users, checkyourimage.com keeps your consulting results private from the critics and other subscribers. 

Crowdsourcing 2.0 has market researchers hungrier for data, more than ever. Will you try checkyourimage.com? Let us know!

Mini perfumes make scents

Viva La Juicy by Juicy Couture 0.25 oz Eau de Parfume Roll-On

One of the reasons so many women like to ask for perfume samples is because of the size and convenience of having fragrance "go wherever you go." Let's face it, what sensible woman wants to lug a $100 bottle of Gucci Perfume around in her purse? Packing fragrance in your luggage is even a little questionable (the safe arrival of your perfume may depend on how many t-shirts you can safely wrap it in).

But it appears that Juicy Couture is on to something: Voila!, Viva La Juicy. Not only is the mini roll-on size a brilliant invention for convenience-sake but the investment is sensible, especially if you like variety.

You'll pick up on the wild berries and mandarins, honeysuckle, gardenia, and jasmine--and you might catch the subtle amber, caramel, vanilla, sandalwood, and praline sweetness. 

Available at Sears, Midtown Plaza, $18.

Sandy Beach in the Hamptons

Essie Sandy Beach is a pale neutral colour that’s a great compliment to all skin tones. This glamorous sand colour adds a natural touch of sophistication to any look. 

Essie has a chip-free reputation when it comes to nail polish--quality formula, durability and a massive product offering each season makes choosing just one Essie polish a difficult task.

Available at quality salons and London Drugs, $9 - $15.