Jenn Falik

As the holidays approach, life seems to get more and more hectic, and the last thing you want to have to stress over is your style. Here are some of my favorite finds for maximizing style while minimizing spend.  Tried and tested by yours truly- I can vouch that these breakthroughs are the real deal.

To stay posted on my favorite finds, follow me on Twitter- www.twitter.com/jennfalik

Bluff NY- www.bluffny.com
I love all the statement shoes this season, but I am hesitant to invest in a pricey pair of edgy booties or studded stilettos. This “shoelery” collection features feathers, chains, studs and more that you can temporarily affix to your footwear, taking a plain pump from basic to bling in seconds.

2Bandits Boot Jewelry- www.the2bandits.com
With the rock and roll fashion trends for fall/winter- my basic black boots need a style upgrade. But who wants to invest in a new pair when next season, it could very well be all about classic simplicity again? Strap these around your ankle and voila- your boots are boosted.

TheRackTrap- $8 at www.theracktrap.com
It seems like the more chic the clutch, the less you can fit inside, right? So stick this in your bra and you have created a little extra storage space with no style sacrifice!

YummieTummie Tanks- www.yummietummie.com
Shoulder pads are back in a big way- and snug blazers with puffy sleeves necessitate a nipped in waist. These tanks are a MUST- they completely contour your core and never create the dreaded muffin-top effect. You are completely sucked in and sleek.

Stila MakeupPlayer- $69.90 www.stilacosmetics.com
Part makeup artist-style train case, part media player docking station with speaker system, this portable vanity gives me the tricks and tools to create even the most daunting looks. Just download tutorials from the StilaBeautyTube onto the mobile device of your choice, and press play.

InstaButton- $15 for 2 www.instantbuttonforjeans.com
Fresh out of the dryer jeans may look good, but often they don’t feel so good. I like to keep these handy in case I want a little extra breathing room- this faux-button looks just like the real deal, but can be strategically placed as needed.

As most of you probably know since I tend to bring it up often in my TV segments- I am convinced that I have a “heating disorder” (A term coined by my best friend and fellow sweat-er, Nicole)- sweating (kind of excessively) , and freaking out about it, is part of my daily routine.  Nicole actually totes a travel size deo in her bag when we go out at night (and I make fun, yet borrow when she isn’t looking.)

When I discovered these adorable Mbeze Deodorettes at the opening of the new Studio BeautyMix store in NYC (110 Wooster in Soho, you must go if you are in the city!), I swooned. They are teeny, pretty, made with natural and organic ingredients, and- best of all- effective.

They really do have everything going for them. … I am kind of jealous.

I really want to grow out my hair. I want it to fall past the usual just-below-the-shoulder length that I seem to always get stuck at before, in exasperation, I head to get it chopped in a moment of weakness after reading too many US Weeklys or something. Blowing my hair out 3 times a week is very much to blame for the lack of patience here- the fried ends break off and leave hair looking frizzy and thin, causing me to pick them off one by one, leaving a jagged mess of a mane.

In an effort to maintain full and healthy hair so as to avoid a desperate trip to my stylist, I am trying to go curly a couple times a week- trying different recipes of shampoos, conditioners and styling products every week to master it. So far, my favorite styling product is by far Blow Styling Salon’s Wavemaker Twisting Lotion.

I learned the art of twisting about 7 years ago when I was a hair model for Oscar Blandi for a CBS Early Show segment- and it really is the only thing that works to deliver perfectly tousled, loose ringlets.  Wavemaker is light so curls aren’t weighed down (since mine are pretty loose to begin with, anything heavy leaves hair straight and lifeless) but has enough holding power to define the twists into curls. And it doesn’t leave hair crunchy- which is very impressive for any curl styler that actually works. Typically, the crunch factor is just something you suck up because you kinda feel like you have to. Not true anymore!

You can get a bottle of this lovely lotion here- or, better yet, if you are in the NYC area, pop into one of the two Blow Styling Salons for their famous blowout and pick it up straight from the source. I was one of the first customers there when they opened several years ago, and have yet to walk out with anything but amazing hair.

To anyone who has spent any amount of time with me lately, or follows me on Twitter, me stating that I am on the hunt for the perfect motorcycle jacket will not be news.  It is kind of all I can talk about. Well, that and how much I love my dog Norman and how excited I am about the Today Show segment I just booked for November 2nd.

But, I digress…

So- I am convinced that the perfect motorcycle jacket is going to complete my fall wardrobe in one fell swoop. A lot of pressure for one item, I know. It is going to take a strong, tough, edgy, durable piece o’ leather to handle all that responsibility- and I think I may have found “the one.”

This William Rast Jacket (I don’t have a JPEG, so you are gonna have to click to see it in all it’s glory) fits perfectly- I should know since I tried it on at Saks today when my husband wasn’t looking. Close to the body, soft but not too soft, with just the right amount of zipper detailing and a nice, angled floppy collar.

If I continue to fantasize about it for another few days, I am gonna give in and buy it. But then, what will I have to talk about? I am sure I’ll think of something. Over-the-knee boots, perhaps?

MAC products always get me into the mood to experiment with my makeup- and hence, much of my weekend was spent trying out new looks courtesy of a package I received last week with a preview of the brand’s fall offerings.

My first favorite is the Greasepaint Stick. Just the name alone is enough to make me obsessed with it. I gave it a go on an especially humid day, and it didn’t melt at all- delivering 18 hours of intensely sexy, shimmering smudge.  And while this may sound odd- bear with me…It is the perfect product to wear on a no-makeup day, when you want to look just a little rumpled- rumpled in that mysterious “I wonder where she was last night” way.

Running errands on Saturday, I quickly swiped a lil’ grease on my upper and lower lash lines, smudged it out with a Q-tip, and voila- all I needed was a giant Starbucks to have everyone fooled that my life was much more exciting and glamorous than it actually is.