Dear Shopping Savage...

Dear Shopping Savage,

I have an ingrown toenail issue that I've tried to treat and its still not fungus-free. I want to wear sandals and flip flops but feel self-conscious about how the nail looks. Got any suggestions?

Signed,

Foot Fungus Fellow

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Dear F.F.F.,

If the treatment you tried before didn't work then let your doctor know so you can try another option. Ingrown toenails are a lot more common than people believe and there is more than one way to treat them. Depending on the severity of your toe fungus, there are home remedies, topical treatments and oral medicines (most commonly Lamisil and Sporanox) that you could try.

If you tried over the counter medications before consulting a doctor, then your next move should be to find a podiatrist who can assess the severity of your issue and get you started on a regimen that will work for you.

While waiting the average 3-to-6 months to see results from treatment, look into having pedicures at least twice a month to ensure your other nail beds are fungus-free and help keep them that way. Regular care of your infected toenail will also help stimulate new growth and reduce the severity of your ingrown toenail's glaring difference in appearance. If you aren't comfortable going to a salon for the service, then DIY from the comfort of your own home. The combination of medical treatment with regular pedicures should put your ingrown toenail on the road to recovery and clarity.

You could also mask the toenail's discoloration with a little nail polish. You could paint just that nail, the same toenail on the opposite foot for consistency or all of them. Its just one way you can wear sandals without feeling as self-conscious. Now that more and more guys are comfortable getting pedicures (thank goodness; it took long enough!) you can definitely get away with wearing toe polish, so pick a neutral color and go with it. Or break with convention and go for an unexpected pop of color. Either way, when someone looks at your feet you can be assured that they're marveling at how clean, well-kept and, ahem, "polished" your toes are.

For more information on ingrown toenails step this way.

Have a fashion question? Need sartorial advice? Email me: Dwaun@shoppingsavage.com

Trendy Gem: Turquoise

This week's highlighted trend can be found in the Carribean sea, a crystal clear sky or the hot dry desert. It can be as light as a feather or stiff as a board. Its non other than the color and gem stone turquoise. No summer is quite complete without seeing the color and now you can ensure you do, whether you're on vacation or on your way to work.

Women

AnnaLynne McCord wore this turquoise maxi dress to the Celebrity Beach Bowl at the W Hotel in South Beach, Florida

Kristin Cavallari made waves in Miami Beach with her itty bitty turquoise bikini.

Blake Lively and Taylor swift both look fetching in this turquoise Tibi frock. Lively with leopard-print pumps, while Swift added a metallic belt and bow-bedecked wedges for a sweet look.

Beyonce stepped out in all black and these killer Christian Louboutin Daffodile Point-Toe Platform Pumps in Turquoise

Christian Louboutin Pigalle Pumps in Turquoise

Bolaro Women's Celebrity Flat in Turquoise, Sears

Gold Simulated Circle Drop Earrings, Body Candy

Synthetic Turquoise Stone Metal Bangle Bracelet, Vista Bella

Celebrity Inspired Gold and Turquoise Link Bracelet, Shop Our Little Secret

essie Nail Color - Turquoise & Caicos, Maybelline

Lily Donaldson with turquoise eye makeup done by makeup artist Pat McGrath

Men

Egyptian Cotton Diamond Knit Polo, Hanes

Air Structure Triax 91 Men - White Black Turquoise, Nike

Turquoise swim trunks, American Apparel

Men's Turquoise Suspenders, Krisar

Men's Turquoise Skinny 2" Tie, Jacob Alexander

Men's Turquoise Silk Satin Self Tie Bowtie, Jacob Alexander

Turquoise Retro Illuminator Watch, Casio

There's nothing like a little inspiration to get you thinking about how you can incorporate a trend into your current warm-weather wardrobe. And with the numerous ways one can include this gem of a color you may wonder how you've made it this far without dawning something turquoise. If the summer is all about embracing color then this is definitely one hue of blue you don't want to forget. It may not lighten things up temperature wise, but at least you'll look cool beating the heat.

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Savage Style

This week's savage styler was found like most of them - by word of blog. Angie "I shoulda been born in the 60's" Rox is the creator of the fashion blog The Lint as well as the "BFF" and photographer for last week's savage styler and vice verse. Like her bestie, she too is into vintage clothing and thrift store finds, seeming to draw her inspiration from her favorite era sprinkled with a little grunge and a dash of rock-n-roll.

Vintage top, vest & purse

Gifted necklace from a fan

Forever 21 rings & shoes

Thrifted headband

Entire outfit vintage

Vintage purse and jeans

Forever 21 necklaces & large ring

Thrifted shoes

In addition to the blog, Angie also runs The Lint Shop, an online vintage store with her sister (another fashion blogging gem worth checking out). Her love for fashion only seems to demure in the face of her love for music, using lyrics, song names or one-liners as the name for her posts. In fact, to better understand Rox, you should listen to her favorite podcast touted as the #1 Strokes Podcast. Cool podcast for a cool 'poser'.

Vintage Coca Cola athletics tee & pants

Vintage sunglasses & jewelry

Gold pumps by Colin Stuart

Vintage purse by Carlo Fiori

Sequin pants by Caché

Vintage top, vest and clutch

Forever 21 boots

Vintage jumpsuit

Vintage belt worn as necklace

Ann Taylor belt

Vintage shoes

Bloggers like Angie, whose ambitions reach beyond their site and verge on the entrepreneurial, is not only interested in making a name for themselves in the world of fashion but also in the business world of fashion. Its only a matter of time before her style and drive are recognized on a larger scale. Until then, lets continue to sing her individually styled praise as she courteously tips her hat as a 'thank you' to all the soon-to-be fans.

Vintage top & belt

Forever 21 bag, chains, boots & hat

Think you've got enough style to be considered a shopping savage? E-mail your photos to dwaun@shoppingsavage.com with a breakdown of your outfit and your photo may be our feature of the week!

Eye Shadow Trend Alert: Metallic Mania

Metallic eye shadows are everywhere. When applied properly the finished product is a smudgy, sultry, glamorous eye that is sure to turn heads. Try one of these looks to take your sexy to the next level.

Shimmer in Silver

Fall runways were lined with vicious chrome-detailed eyes. Pictured above, Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in Epatant and Fantasme; Chanel fall ’11. The angular look comes from the silver accent in the corners of the eyes as shown on the Altuzarra fall ’11 runway.

Navy, Baby!

Navy eye shadow can be tricky to pull off. It walks a fine line between bruised-looking eyes and sexy heart breaker. Be sure not to start off applying with a heavy hand; instead, build color gradually to find just the right amount of eye shadow to compliment your skin tone. Above, the Vera Wang fall '11 models are wearing Clé de Peau Beauté Satin Eye Color in Chocolate Gold and M.A.C Cosmetics Big Bounce Shadow in Black Diamond and Clé de Peau Beauté Limited Edition Cream Eye Color in Night Brown (available in September!) Tip: for added intensity apply color towards the brow and along the lash line.

Purple Paradise

For a sexy night out with the girls or to grab the attention of the guy that’s caught your eye, take a cue from Catherine Malandrino’s fall '11 show and layer on lavenders and purples. Pictured above are Bare Escentuals Prime Time Primer Shadow in Chroma Violet, Maybelline Eye Studio Color Explosion Lumizing Eyeshadow in Amethyst Ablazed, and Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Dab.

Beauty In Bronze

Shown above are two looks from Roberto Cavalli’s fall ’11 show. These beauties walked the runway with fierce, just-weathered- the storm looks, complete with wet hair, dewy skin and dark eyes. The shimmery bronze eye shadow played into the intensity of this look. For a more wearable alternative, lightly line eyes with a black eyeliner and smudge. Next, sweep on a bronze cream eye shadow and finish with dots of gold or beige in the corners of eyes. Sultry indeed. Try using Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Shadow Pot in Beach Bronze, Cover Girl Intense Shadowblast in Beige Blaze and/or Cover Girl Intense Shadowblast in Brown Bling to achieve this look.

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Amy Winehouse Found Dead at 27 & Locally, Britton's celebrates "Christmas in July" with a Fish Fry!

You'd have to be living under one heavy rock to not hear about the sudden death of R&B crooner Amy Winehouse. It is being speculated that the songstress, who was no stranger to publicly battling substance abuse, rehabing and relapsing, overdosed on a combination of drugs - cocaine, ecstacy and ketamine, allegedly. Just hours before being found in her Camden home by her bodyguard, Winehouse spoke with both her security and record label.

Well before her death, her addictions withered away the curvy body of a healthier looking Winehouse

Metropolis Music, Amy's management company, released a statement Sunday saying: "We are trying to come to terms with the death of a dear friend and colleague, the most amazing artist and talent. We will always remember Amy as a vibrant, funny, caring young woman who made everyone around her feel welcome. We have lost a very special person, part of our family."

Her soulful sound was compared to some of the legends of Jazz and Blues that Amy herself admired: Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Shirley Horn, but to name a few. Winehouse was also credited as spearheading the British wave of female talent to wash upon American soil of late: most notably Duffy, Corrine Bailey Rae and Adele.

Many of her fans flocked to her home to see if the news was true, turning her home into a memorial ground littered with flowers, photos, cigarettes and alcoholic paraphernalia.

Her debut album "Frank" was a large success in the UK, but it wasn't till the release of her "Back to Black" album that her talent "hopped the pond" and became recognized in a large and rather fickle music market like the U.S.

In a recent strange twist, Winehouses death has sent fans into a second frenzy for the album released in 2006 that garnered her five out of six Grammy nominated wins in 2007. Sales increased a staggering 37-fold between Friday and Saturday, propelling the album onto the U.K. official charts at 59.

Amy joins another group of artists known as the "27 Club". The group includes artists Janice Joplin, Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Brian Jones who all died at the age of 27.

Russell Brand and many of Amy's closest friends have shared what this experience has done to them and the lessons it should teach us all about addiction. Amy may be gone but her memory will never fade to black.

Her funeral will be held on Tuesday, July 26.

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In local news:

"‘Twas the night before Fish Fry, and all through the store,

Not a person was stirring, no one stood at the door.

All the clothes were out, displayed with great care,

No wall could be spotted, no mannequin was bare.

There were Skipjacks and Whales everywhere one looked,

You could smell the aroma of fish being cooked..."

This past Saturday, Britton's of Columbia held its 3rd Annual "Christmas in July Fish Fry ".

This event was a fundraiser for Harvest Hope Food Bank from 10:00AM – 6:00PM. Every customer who donated 5 canned goods or made a $10 donation to Harvest Hope was given 10% off their purchase.

If you were lucky, you got a discount card from St. Nick himself.

As promised, fried fish was served, along with hors d'oeuvres and beverages.

A "Charlie Brown Christmas" inspired tree

The event not only seemed to be a success in sales but also for donations. We hope to see you - and Santa! - this same time next year for another Christmas in July Fish Fry!

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