Polka dots were all spotted all over fall’s runways, from Gucci, Paul Smith, and Marc Jacobs, this classic print was all over. Now, if you don’t want to run to the next Gucci boutique to snag some new clothes, we’ve got a solution for you that’s both chic and affordable. Motel, the coveted UK brand, has some über cute pieces that would incorporate well into your fall wardrobe.

Sticking with classic black, Motel gives us the Savvy knee length skirt, the Savannah Dress, and the Sissy Shirt. If you’re looking for a more indie vibe throw on the Savvy and pair it with a crop top and a cardigan. With fall’s other trend of full, longer skirts, this kill two birds with one very fashionable stone!  Try the 40′s inspired Savannah on date night paired with a gorgeous coat and red lips. This will definitely give you that screen siren look, without being costume-y.

Finally, the Sissy shirt is one of our favorite pieces. With its sheer design, it would be perfect to wear with a bandeau. Also, the versatility of the piece means that you can pair is with jeans, tuck it into some high-waisted pants, or wear it with a mini skirt for a night out.

As you’ll see in the shots from the runway, polka dots don’t just mean Minnie or your niece’s favorite party dress. This fall brings a sophisticated take on the classic polkas and throws them with both men’s inspired pieces, as well as mixing it with textures. Be creative when putting your outfit together, try anyone of the Motel pieces for a subtle transition into this trend, and see where it’ll take you!

Peep more from the Motel collection as well as some runway shots to get some inspiration:

To get the Motel pieces, visit their official website

The good folks from Rodan &Fields Proactiv Solution sent me a lovely gift of one of their latest products - Proactiv Makeup Removing Cloths. Now, normally I am a makeup remover and cotton ball kind of gal but I cannot resist the sheer laziness I can allow myself by wiping off my makeup with a wipe.

The first thing I notice is the size:

It is half the size as my Target brand wipe:

But the plus side is that there are 45 wipes in the Proactiv pack vs. 25 in the Target pack.

On the first initial swipe, it did remove my eye shadow easily but it did take some work to get off my mascara - regular mascara, too. Judging from the work and second sheet it takes to remove regular mascara, I  wonder how many sheets would it take to remove waterproof mascara? I then used the second sheet to also remove my foundation and lipstick/gloss.

Alright let’s talk about ingredients, shall we?

I apologize if this is hard to read. Here’s the breakdown in order: water, butylene glycol, lavandula angustifolia (lavender extract), allantoin, laureth-9, disodium EDTA, methylparaben, ethylparaben.  I am no skincare expert. I was also a really bad chemistry student so please bear with me. I did some research on these ingredients and here is a brief breakdown on the ingredients:  allantoin is known for skin softening and cell proliferation. laureth-9, next in the lineup, is known to have anti-itch properties while promoting a moisturizing effect, disodium EDTA is a penetration enhancer: allows other chemicals to penetrate the skin. (www.natural-skincare-authority.com) Which allows the last two ingredients: methylparaben and ethylparaben, contains anti-fungal properties and can kill unwanted bacteria, to really do their jobs!

My eyes did feel mild stinging after the first use and I would attribute that to the second ingredient listed: butylene glycol, a small organic alcohol that is a solvent (dissolves makeup). It wasn’t too bad but I did notice it. These wipes are also unscented despite containing lavender extract (lavandula angustifolia). In this case, lavender is only present to aid in relaxation.

Since this is basically a soap-free cleanser, you really don’t need to add another step of washing the face with another cleanser or even rinse with water. Just wipe till all your makeup is removed and you’re done but since I am an old-fashioned kind of gal, I still rinsed with water. Hard habits are hard to break with me. My skin did feel pretty comfortable at first but since I rinsed with water and I have dry skin, I did feel dryness within minutes after using. I am willing to finish the rest of the pact to really see if my skin benefits from this new type of cleanser. It’ll get taking used to not rinsing with water after removing my makeup but if it means gaining more sleeping time then I’m sure I’ll adapt quickly!

I love the portability of wipes and I’m thinking about bring this with me to the gym to remove my foundation and blush before a grueling workout session. I’m sure my skin will thank me for actually remembering to do so!

Disclaimer - These were sent to me by Rodan & Fields Proactiv Solution group for consideration.  I am not a regular user of the Proactiv Solution Skincare System. This review is based upon my initial reaction to my first time using a product from this very popular and successful skincare line.

All the ladies (and gentleman) of M.I.S.S. wish you a Happy Halloween! Stay safe and spooky and eat lots of candy

She's Crafty: Zombie Costume

OMG!  Halloween is right around the corner and you are not trying to be a hoochie-out-the-bag, so what do you do?  DIY!

There’s  no need to buy anything, because if you’re a crafty gal already, then you’ll have everything you need on hand to make this zombie costume inspired by the Thriller music video.  It just takes some guts (yummy!), a little muscle (mmmm!), and some brains (delicious!) to turn you into the walking dead without even walking out of the house.

I remember that the stylist in the making of the Thriller video crafted the zombie costumes from old second-hand clothes.  After a quick roll in the mud, she baked them in the sun.  It looked amazing but I’m not wearing any dirty clothes, no matter how dead I’m supposed to look.  Try out this method for a more clean and sanitary zombie approach.

Materials Needed:

• Old, funky clothes (cleaned, of course)
• Scissors
• Acrylic or fabric paint in red and brown
• Paper plates and paper towels
• Hot dark tea (optional)
• Black eyeshadow and brush
• Red lipstick

Pre-Step:  If you have white clothing, give it an aged look by first soaking it in some hot dark tea.  Brew a cup and throw it in a bowl with the white clothes and let it dye overnight.  Make sure it’s completely dry before you begin Step 1.

Step 1:  This step requires GUTS.   Some people are scared to cut clothes because they are afraid of mistakes, but with this costume, there are no mess-ups!  Take your scissors and randomly cut the clothing.  I balled up a collared shirt and just snipped into the fabric over and over.  Make sure to cut near the edges of the fabric too, like the hems of pants, so items look more worn-in.

Step 2:  This step requires MUSCLES.  For a look that just screams that zombies have been attacking you, rip apart some of the shreds that you first cut into the fabric.  Some areas may be easier to rip than others.  Leave some holes larger and some smaller.  The more you rip, the more zombie you are.

Step 3:  This step requires BRAINS.  You will have to think about where dirt and blood goes so your look is totally deadly.  On a paper plate, squeeze out some brown paint.  Dip a crinkled up paper towel into the paint and randomly blob it on your freshly cut and ripped clothes.  Smear the paint in some places and re-crinkle and re-dip as needed.  Repeat this with a new paper towel and this time the red paint, but try to focus the bloody red paint on the areas with the large rips.  Those are where flesh-eating zombies attacked you after all!

Step 4: This step requires NO SKILL.  Seriously, I’m not a make-up artist, but since zombies are ugly, it’s not hard to do up an ugly face.  Using an eyeshadow brush, apply black shadow all over your eye sockets.  Next, suck in your cheeks and apply more shadow under your cheekbone.  Blend this shadow as much as possible.  Last, carefully apply some red lipstick, and after it looks perfect, take your hand and smear it all over your mouth and chin.  Believe me, it looks legit.  For your locks, just rat it out…the messier, the better.

Now, you’re ready to go out and feast on some flesh!

If you go for a zombie this year, link us to a picture….we’d love to see how you rock it.

Happy Halloween!

My Way // William Okpo + MadeMe // Arcade44 Original Video from Arcade44.tv on Vimeo.