This past weekend, Eye4Style and I packed up and left NYC for Chicago. Our trip had one focus - to hang out with one of my best friends from college - and of course there was the requisite drinking, eating and shopping. The flight from Laguardia was super quick, which made the hour and a half cab rides to and from the airport feel excruciatingly long. Note to self: next time, take the train.

We stayed at The James Chicago which felt like it was in the center of everything (to be fair, my friend Michael did such a great job of planing our itinerary). We drank at Pops for Champagne (where he is the mayor on Foursquare natch), had mind-blowing pizza at La Madia, brunched at Bistronomic, and binged on fantastic cupcakes from More. I've been to Chicago many times, but i was genuinely surprised at how fashionable the city has become. Guess Second City Style was onto something!

Outfit details:

Top: Old Navy (no longer available)

Skirt: Evans (similar available here)

Jacket: Torrid (no longer available)

Flats: Nine West (no longer available)

Bag: Rebecca Minkoff MAC (other colors available here)

Necklace: Forever 21 (no longer available)

Lipstick: NARS Pure Matte in Carthage

Photo by Dina Fierro

NARS 'Spring Color Collection' Pure Matte Lipstick

$25.00 by NARS at Nordstrom

If you're anything like me, you get so excited for the Spring collections by mid-January that the concept of a dark lip seems so....last year (literally). Between the newness of Fashion Week and the influx of Spring products, I just can't (and won't) anymore. I was so pleased to discover NARS Pure Matte Lipstick in Valparaiso, a true seasonless berry. It reminds me of MAC's Rebel, but with a pinch more depth and (obviously) matte.

Valparaiso is named after a city in Chile quickly becoming renowned as the country's cultural capital. It's home to Chile's first volunteer fire department, first public library and the oldest Spanish language newspaper to be consistently published in the world. Who knew product names could be so educational?

As for the Pure Matte formula, it goes on quite emollient and dries down to a smooth satin finish I wore it out all days hopping on Saturday with no need for lip balm and only reapplied four times (in 8 hours including a brunch, two cocktails and a snack).

How do you defeat the pre-Spring blues? Do you opt for seasonally inappropriate shades or stay inside the lines?

(Editor's Note: While CoverGirl is compensating me for my time to create this series, please know that all opinions and experiences are my own.)

Colors from left to right, clockwise: Hot, Delish, Tempt and Euphoria

I knew that I was a makeup whore - ie, someone who loved all different kinds of makeup, across categories and price points, but until I wore the same brand of lipsticks for 7 days straight, I never realized how fickle I am. I won't lie, it was pretty tough to stick with my Lip Perfection challenge, but I am please to announce that another lip product did not touch my lips during Fashion Week. (I chronicled most of the days on my Tumblr.)

Because of my new red hair and complexion, I chose to wear Hot, Delish, Darling, Sultry, Spellbound, Tempt and Euphoria for the challenge. These colors are from the Runway Collection, however the entire collection features 15 colors that complement a wide range of skin tones. I also paired a couple of the colors with Lip Perfection liners in Seduce and Passion.

What surprised me most about the challenge was that I didn't feel like I had to constantly reach into my bag for lip balm. With the exception of Sultry and Delish, the formula didn't need any additional moisturizers (I mixed a teensy bit of balm to keep the more nude colors from laying a bit too flat on my lips). Even more surprisingly, Hot and Tempt lasted dearly all day without needing to be reapplied. Those are some serious pigments!

After a bit of research, I learned why CoverGirl's Lip Perfection lipsticks are so different - the formula uses olive oil as an active moisturizer, plus white tea for it's anti-aging properties, a "butters complex" (ie, shea avocado and aloe) for that smooth finish and a silk protein that helps to improve the condition of your lips over time.

The Runway Collection, which I was focused on for this experiment, features 15 of Lip Perfection's expansive 44 shade collection. I know some of you ladies have had to try these lipsticks. Which shades are your favorite?

(Editor's Note: While CoverGirl is compensating me for my time to create this series, please know that all opinions and experiences are my own.)

When the team from CoverGirl reached out to me about wearing their LipPerfection lipsticks exclusively for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, admittedly I jumped at the chance. I've been a longtime fan of the product (and Drew Barrymore's gorgeous ads, clearly), plus I'm truly interested in seeing how the LipPerfection's silk protein can transform my lips over a period of seven days.

I'll be focusig on The Runway Collection, a series of 16 shades hand selected by Pat McGrath for not only the colors themselves but how they played an integral role in the latest looks straight from the runway. Some of my favorites are Hot (worn yesterday at Lucky Magazine's FABB conference) Delish and Divine.

Keep an eye on my Twitter timeline for more info about what shades I'm wearing daily, plus I'll circle back at the end of next week with a challenge recap. Do you think I can stick with it? And, more importantly, will my lips look (and feel) better? Only time will tell!

Earlier today, I hopped up to 59th & 3rd to check out Shiseido's pop up store to see what they have in store for Spring - let me tell you, it is glorious! I was so excited by the new lipstick shades that I immediately threw on the new Shimmering Rouge lipstick in Golden Dragon (RD601). The texture is super smooth and the formula is hydrating. I'm in love (more on those later)!

In celebration of their fall & holiday collections, Shiseido has opened a pop-up store for one week only - November 12 through November 19th - at 59th & 3rd. You can check out the fall & holiday collections, receive signature services and even pick up a few goodies of your own. At the pop-up location, you can score:

• Gift cards for complimentary facial massages at Bloomingdales (right across the street!)
• Deluxe samples of signature Shiseido makeup and skincare products
• Information on the latest collections

Get a jump on holiday shopping or pick up some goodies for yourself - but whatever you do, make it to Shiseido's pop-up shop!

Over the course of the past week, the weather in NYC has been moody...to say the least. We've been subjected everything from sunny skies all the way to random sleet/snow/hail - you never know what kind of "experiences" the weather is going to throw at you. Not only does this make getting dressed a challenge, but you have no idea what your hair or makeup will have to endure. The only way I can survive the day is to turn to my power color - red - and push through the day. These three lip products have been my most recent go-to's:

Cherry Lip Pencil

$13.00 at M·A·C

No red lip is worth it's color without a good foundation. MAC's Cherry Lip Pencil is a classic blue-red, perfect for pairing with almost any red shade.

To keep your lip color looking sharp, start by lining the outer edges of your lips and filling inwards, following the natural shape of your lips and enhancing the points at your cupid's bow (the points at the top of your lips). Carry a lip brush with you for precise reapplication, but just know that it's easy to smudge your look. Bring concealer & a concealer brush to clean up the edges if you're planning a late night. No one likes a hot mess!

Fusion Beauty LipFusion Infatuation

$29.00 by Fusion Beauty at Sephora

Don't get thrown off by this product's gloss-like appearance - it performs like a liquid lipstick. Screen Siren (the color at left) is a gorgeous, glossy, opaque cherry red, perfect to bring a shine to even the gloomiest day. Check out the lip color in action in this video from a recent Fusion Beauty event with Kim Kardashian (more on that soon). PS - this gloss won't sting or burn.  You just get a delightful tingling/numbing sensation.

The Infatuation Liquid Shine Lip Fattener uses the same AmpliFat technology as the Lip Fusion glosses to increase the surface of your lip area within 15 minutes. Based on clinicians' studies, Infatuation was the only plumper that long term results, increasing your lip's surface area within 28 days. Fancy, no?

Ruby Woo Lipstick

$14.50 at M·A·C

Glossy lips are fun, but they can be high maintenance. For a no fuss, low maintenance look, try a matte.

MAC's Ruby Woo is one of the most iconic reds, seen on everyone from Dita Von Teese to Gwen Stefani. It's beyond what is normally thought of as matte - it's a retro matte, matter than matte. While some matte shades can be drying, avoid chapped lips by properly preparing your pout with a lip primer or moisturizing balm before applying.

Do you have a favorite red lipstick? Is there another color that is your go-to when the skies are dreary?

Holiday Armanisilk Lipstick

$38.00 by Armanisilk at Giorgio Armani

If you follow On The Plus Side or my DailyBooth photos, then you're probably aware that no lip color is too intense for me. I'll wear the brightest fuchsia or the deepest burgundy and any shade in between. A good lip color can make your entire face look like it's been lit from within.

I knew the instant I pulled Giorgio Armani Beauty's Holiday Armanisilk Lipstick in #95 from it's felt pouch and opened the tube that it was going to be the lipstick dreams are made of. The vividly opaque blue-red shade, the texture and right down to the crystal-studded end all make this lipstick absolutely perfect. I've worn red lipsticks, heck I've even dreamed about red lipsticks but none of them come close to this particular shade of red.  You have to see it to believe it!

Perfect for Holiday parties, events or even general hotness, Holiday Armanisilk Lipstick retails for $38 and is limited edition this Holiday season.