The Arriviste

Wooing Over Jason Wu for Target

2012-01-30T15:12:00.000-08:00

By Laura Medina

Jason Wu Styles DJ Harley Viera-Newton for his Target Launch Party.

Celebrity fashion editors...in Manhattan...are wooed by Jason Wu's Target collection.

These girly but office-appropriate pieces are a great starter wardrobe for the newly hatched gallerina or gallery-assistant or a fashion editor's second assistant/intern.

What they are grooving is the price range. It fits comfortably within a starter's wallet.

Here are some backstage scoops...

Jason helped Harley get ready at the Target Studio. Polka-dotted prints and delicate designs popped against the all-white loft as Jason and Harley raided a rack of outfit options.

Jason Wu Styles DJ Harley Viera-Newton

Jason, how will you prep for that night’s event?
JW: I’ll work right until the last minute, and probably get ready in five minutes. It’s all about being a good host. I think it will be a lot of fun – I’m excited!

This night is sure to be memorable. Do you have a favorite fashion memory?
JW: When my mother gave me my first sewing machine when I was ten.

Harley, you’re spinning tonight. What is your ultimate pump-up song?
HVN: “Close to Me” by The Cure always works, and Frankie Valli “Oh, What a Night.”

Making a guest appearance as guest stylist, just for Jason Wu for Target, Marie Claire's fashion editor, Nina Garcia makes her picks then mixes them up for the young girls in the city...

Quintessential Jason Wu:

A playful print in posies and poppies gets toned down for more transitional wear in classic navy. Draw attention to the daisies by colorblocking with a bold Mossimo top in coral red.

The feminine frock on holiday:

I’m always impressed with Jason Wu’s ability to toe the girlish line. This dress is a perfect example: cap-sleeves, nipped-in waist, jeweled collar – with a little edge in the form of a dark, cartoonish print. Perfect when topped with a straw fedora by Mossimo

Ladylike meets biker chick:

Who says you have to be one or the other? Delicate lace gets grunge-cool when screen-printed on a tee and paired with Mossimo skinny jeans and moto boots (and a leather jacket, of course!).

Nina Garcia...

"His look is ladylike yet playful; his designs wise beyond his years, showcasing painstaking attention to detail and craftsmanship and an innate knowledge of what a woman wants.

A Jason Wu look is about well-place risks: a splash of citron, an illustrative print, a delicate fabric or an asymmetrical hem. One of the reasons I’m so drawn to his young talent is because he naturally understands balance in design: not too little, never too much."

"What especially excites me about Jason Wu’s designs (and this newest collection) are their versatility: each piece brings ladylike looks to women of all ages for outfits for all occasions. Whatever your style, a Jason Wu design can be the perfect part of your unique look, whether you choose to pair your Jason Wu dress with scuffed-up boots or a buttoned cardigan. And I hope that’s what 2012 will be all about: a brave, bold, fashion-forward you."-Nina Garcia.

Here are the key pieces that really impressed Ms. Garcia and why...

THE CLASSIC WHITE SHIRT:
Nothing stiff and starched about this look: using the shirt as a drawing board, cross Jason Wu’s ladylike pleats with punk moto boots

HiLo SKIRT:

Asymmetry adds instant interest — and the tapered hemline is surprisingly flattering. Add a bomber and booties for now; lose the layers come spring

KILLER HEELS:

A ladylike skirt packs a stronger punch when worn over a bold platform and a biker jacket.

PALAZZO PANTS:

Don’t be intimidated by this ’70s throwback! Pair this wide-leg shape with a nipped-in military jacket for a look at once retro-chic and fashion-forward.

Skirt Power:

A new study shows that women are seen as more confident and that they make more money when they wear skirts, not a pantsuit, to work. You don’t need to dress like a man to be taken seriously. Instead, be 100% positively, brilliantly, passionately you. It’s like they say: you go, girl.

How to Actually Look Taller, Thinner, & Sexier on the Red Carpet

2012-01-25T11:06:00.001-08:00

By Laura Medina

Charlize Theron in Christian Dior Haute Couture and Brilliance NY Age Defying Eye Serum, eyes & chest.

The Golden Globes had came and past. The Oscar nominees have been announced. The Grammys is arriving soon. The Red Carpet race is officially now on.

The starlets and the actresses are now sweating it in the gym with their trainers and fueling with their microbiotic chefs' meals to get super sleek and sexy for a storm of award shows...Screen Actors Guild and the Independent Spirit Awards...or...

They are burning and sweating off the calories skiing up in Park City, Utah at the Sundance Film Festival.

Either way, they all have to look fabulous under all that flash and glare for the whole world to see.

What to do? What to do?

Here is the way to enhance all that hard work. What it is called, "Gliding the Lily," props and serums soothing that sleek and sexy glow to amp up the wattage. Truth be told, these are really easy tips to follow for this year's holiday and New Year's Eve parties, Summer socials, and any cocktail party further down the line. What's even better...you have the rest of the year to follow these tips than doing it in two weeks time like these stars.

Dermatologist to the stars, Dr. Jessica Wu, took tips from numerous celebrity stylists and suggests to look tall, thin, and glamorous, take a risk then dip into plunging necklines and thigh-high slits to lengthen and slim the body.

To soften the chest, ok the cleavage, and boost confidence, stylist, Emilio Uribe smoothed Charlize Theron's eyes and decollete by applying Brilliance New York Age Defying Eye Serum to the delicate but exposed chest area. This peptide enriched serum plumps up this delicate, thin skin area. This scribe loves multi-purpose beauty products. Brilliant, a double-purposing serum for the eyes and chest.

Mr. Uribe, “My all time favorite beauty product is the BNY Age Defying Eye Serum. A little secret tool for any Red Carpet Event… I also use it on the neckline area as this is where you can see the first signs of aging.”

Intimia Chest Pillow

To really get ready for Summer weddings and parties and further the down line, holiday galas, preventive is the measure.

Like any other skin, the chest area ages when the collagen breaks down then wrinkles appear. Since people tend to neglect their chest versus their face, the chest ages quicker due to the lack of sunscreen and nourishing creams and serum and constant squeezing and compression.

To tackle this problem, Irene Komsky, a San Francisco cosmetic nurse, invented this chest pillow to stop chest wrinkles in their tracks, the Intimia Chest Pillow.

She invented this pillow, not only to stop chest wrinkles but to ease the pain for women suffering from breast tenderness and post-breast and/or cardiac surgery.

With adjustable bra-like straps in the back, women of all shapes and sizes can fall asleep, toss and turn while the Intimia Chest Pillow separating the breasts, stopping new lines from forming and smoothing out any existing wrinkles.

The Intimia Chest Pillow made an appearance on The Today Show.

If you take a whole year to follow these tips: sunscreen and moisturize then pamper the chest, you will be red carpet-ready within a year.

It's a Super-Duper Debut of The Moods of Norway with Paul Stolper Art Gallery at LA Art Show

2012-01-19T17:45:00.000-08:00

By Laura Medina

The infamous the Moods of Norway blue limo parked in front of the boutique where they got a parking ticket.

On January eighteenth, smacked dabbed in the middle of Los Angeles' official Art Month, the Moods of Norway debut their art collaboration with London-based art gallery owner, Paul Stolper and his cadre of generation-defining artists, such as Damien Hirst, Sex Pistol-graphic artist fame, Jamie Reid, and Gavin Turk.

Thanks to the Moods of Norway, these generation-defining artists and taste-makers will make their Los Angeles debut at the LA Art Show later that night.

This is also the first time the Moods of Norway's 1947 tractor and pitch fork, dipped in sky blue, will make its official debut at the LA Art Show...under disco lights, in the West Hall in the B Area, numbered C181.

Since Damien Hirst is Mr. Stolper's client, the Moods of Norway proudly displays Mr. Hirst's two, new latest collection, the foil-print collection of butterflies, "The Souls," and the gold-foil block print of skulls, "The Death or Glory" series, inside the boutique and the storefront.

In honor of this cross-cultural exchange that is the LA Art Show. Stefan Dahlkvist (one of the Moods of Norway trio) and Stopler sat down, inside the party limo, explaining how their collaboration come about...

Paul Stolper rocking on inside the Moods of Norway party limo.

When they met a few years ago through a Norwegian photographer, they felt a vibe good enough to do their first collaboration together when the Moods of Norway did their fashion, music, and art festival in the Norwegian countryside, "Go with the Flow" Art Festival where Paul displayed his clients' art alongside the Moods of Norway's clothes. It was a hit...and they want to continue the love at the LA Art Show.

With the Moods making in-roads in Los Angeles' fashion, music, and culture scene, they figure this will be a great introduction for Stolper in the Los Angeles art market. It is ripe for Mr. Hirst's gorgeous but dangerous foil prints in butterflies and skulls. If not bought, they'll make great fashion prints...and trends.

For Dahlkvist, this is a great place for showcase Norwegian heritage and culture in a modern and international setting...the post-modern, agricultural blue tractor under the fun-loving disco lights.

Jamie Reid's fundraising poster to save Mr. Stolper's local library. $50 at the Moods of Norway boutique.

For Stolper, it is also a fun way to raise funds for his neighborhood library that recently shut down.

By asking Jamie Reid, the man behind the Sex Pistols' graphic album covers and posters, to specially design affordable prints, costing only $50, this enables free education to the people, a very punk idea.

He said it is his purpose in Los Angeles to save his library. Both Dahlkvist and Stolper believe that decent education is international and a birthright.

Stolper, "We deserve a free and decent education. Jamie Reid did all the artwork for the Sex Pistols. That's why it so super-duper of him to do this print for us. It's so great to jump on the tractor wagon again...to let us seize that beautiful window space on Robertson to highlight the Jamie Reid again."

That being said inside the Moods' party limo, the city issued a parking ticket...another cross-cultural exchange.

Whether you purchase a Damien Hirst at the LA Art Show or donate a couple of dollars for a limited-edition Jamie Reid poster to save Paul's local library, you will be participating in a cultural crossroad that is the LA Art Show.

Pre-primp, During, & Post-Recovery Party Skincare

2012-01-17T11:19:00.000-08:00

By Laura Medina

Now that the marathon season of partying has officially begun, with the Golden Globes setting it off, the most of the attendees are now recovering from nights...and afternoons...of socializing and partying...and it have not stopped yet.

There is the Grammys Awards then the big one, The Oscars.

These state-of-the art skincare brands are here to rescue folks from "skin hangover" and get them ready for the next rounds of socializing and networking...or just plain having fun.

The rose-infused VBeaute is making a splash here for the jet-setting actors and actresses running around with jet-lagged skin, needing instant skin recovery that they can stash in their messenger bags and purses as they circle around town, making the rounds of luncheons, benefits, and award shows.

A big hit at one of the most prestigious Golden Globe gifting suites in Beverly Hills, VBeaute is the modern woman's...or modern man's skincare. As a busy executive by day and stylish socialite at night, Julie Macklowe used the most advance botanical technology by injecting the beautiful but durable Swiss Alpine Rose for a lightweight, effective, and multi-purpose skincare.

Using herself as a guinea pig and product tester, Ms. Macklowe actually slided her chic silver travel kit through numerous TSA check points without trouble; and she introduced a fair and friendly customized restocking system when you can refill on what you need and want. You can have as many mini-tubes of creams or scrubs in the kit.

For the truly time-pressed and budget-squeezed, the Eye Never Nourishing Eye Cream perks up your peepers, as well add a rosy glow on your lips as a matte lip cream. The Buying Time Everyday Cream brightens your weary eyelids while it refreshes your face. Both are matte and moisturizing, no oil slicks or drying. As a mom/business woman/socialite, Ms. Macklowe knows the importance of multi-tasking.

Another discovery at a Golden Globes "spa" suite is actually a spa and Beverly Hills standby, Kerstin Florian.

Keeping their faces flawless under the bright, warm Southern California sun, Kerstin Florian Serum C+ Infusion brightens up the face after long nights of partying while fading sun spots and building collagen...to the point that people can never guess you were up all night before...or a couple of nights.

A new comer to the arsenal of luxurious but speedy skincare is Sella Skincare. This indulgent but quick line debut at the TASTY Awards, knowing attendees will need it for another round of socializing.

Idebenone-based, this antioxidant skincare eases over the wrinkles and crinkles around the eyes for a fresh and plump appearance. The facial cream and serum quickly corrects the bad habits of smoking and drinking from the night before.

If the fashion and the makeup in Awards Season set the standard for the Summer Social Season and the partying Holiday Season later in the year, these soothing but durable skincare set the standard for primping and post-recovery for a "skin hangover."

They will give off an appearance of wide and awake skin when your head is not.

The new survival party kits.

How the Stars Really Do It, Updos & Makeovers Studios & Salons

2012-01-16T10:40:00.000-08:00

By Laura Medina

Makeup/Over Beauty Studio, Blushington on Sunset Plaza.

Are you envious enough of those stars' gorgeous looks? Dying to know how your favorite actress get that immaculate hair and flawless makeup? Just plain frustrated that you spent all this money and you don't get that same result?

Pssst, the secret is out...celebrities and starlets...and actors...go to these accessible, open-to-the public salons and studios that just specialize in blow-outs, updos, and makeup applications. Each service costs no more than $35, adding up to under $100. What's even better, they pamper you silly while they do all the work, so you do not have to fret for that party or that gala...or being under the mega-watt glare of an awards show.

On 8591 Sunset Boulevard, at Sunset Plaza, conveniently parked next to Dry Bar with three hours free parking, Blushington is already the go-to makeup studio for Emma Roberts and Jamie Lynn Sigler. Boy, it was bustling with Golden Globe attendees-celebrities and publicists-getting all fixed up for the start of Hollywood's High Society Season. Yes, East Coast. Awards Season is the West Coast's Society Season and the Golden Globes kicked it off last night.

At Blushington, they have a menu/lookbook of makeup looks, ranging from pretty, girl-next door for everyday to smoldering to the cutting edge off the runway. These professional, industry makeup artists use brands, such as Stila and Kevin Aucoin, to create these looks. While patting your makeup, you will learn new tips along the way. But, if you are too tired and lazy, each application session is only $35 flat fee. If you do like the products, they are for sale but the vibe is pressure-free. No need to buy, just apply.

Since Blushington removes the klutz out of makeup application for under $50 and it is open to the public, actors do pop in for a "natural and smooth look" to be camera-ready for that audition and on-camera appearance...in a last minute in a protected, salon atmosphere. They will smooth over the cracks and divets, making him camera-ready in a snap.

Next door to Blushington, at 8595 Sunset Boulevard, is the hair version...Dry Bar.

In fact, my Blushington makeup artist, a.k.a. "Makeup Whisper," Michelle asked me did I had my updo at Dry Bar, also $35 for a service, whether it is a bubbly blow-out, sleek ponytail, or regal updo.

No cuts. No color. Just straight up hair styling. They, too, offer a menu of various hair styles. They also take out the klutz out of your hands and do the twisting, the pinning, and the roll and curl...so you don't have to.

Less stress.

Other hair salons are jumping on the blow-out bandwagon.

Carlton Hair now offers special, limited-edition coupons for updos for $24.50 but take advantage soon because they'll expire soon.

What happens when you add up one updo session with one makeup application?

For under $100, klutz-free, an average Jane is red carpet/awards show ready...without the fret and stress...all done in a relaxing environment.

Remember, these salons are open year-around. Never be afraid to pop in right before your party and let the professionals fix you up.

Easy Glam.

Michelle Phan's Red Carpet Makeup Trends

2012-01-10T15:13:00.000-08:00

By Laura Medina

YouTube Cosmetic Sensation and Lancome Spokesperson, Michelle Phan.

Making a South California appearance at Glendale's Sephora, Michelle Phan predicts what makeup trends will hit the red carpet for the upcoming Awards Season.

Having designed Lancome's limited edition Glamour Eyes Makeup Kit, she included purple which was seen everywhere on last year's red carpet for the majority of people.

For this time, she suggested using the shimmering gun metal silver shadow in this compact because the camera flashes ask for something reflective and glittering for under the intense glare of the strobe lights.

Another Lancome team member, Chris, knows of another red carpet trend using the whole kit. Here is what he might do for the People's Choice Awards the ...

Again, he said that the flashing cameras and the intense spotlight demand the "popping of the eyes" where the whole eyes and the upper eye lids flash out to meet the flash. This is similar to the past Fall trend of Seventies' Ziggy Stardust of popping glitter in the middle of the eye lid to make it pop out.

After covering the entire upper eye lid then rimming the lower eye lid with primer to make the eye shadow stick to the skin, Chris sweep the whole upper eye lid, from brow to lash line, with the peach/pink shadow from Ms. Phan's Glamour Kit as a base.

He added depth in the crease by swishing back and forth the taupe shadow for a natural depth.

This is where he adds on the glitz. From crease to upper lash line, Chris covers the whole upper eye lid with the shimmering gun metal silver shadow for that pop.

Then, he pulls in the focus by dabbing on a "V" at the outer corners of the upper eye lids, using the purple.

To polish the whole effect off, he used the liquid eyeliner with the felt tip and the mascara, all included in the kit, to refine the intensity.

With Michelle Phan's easy and complete Glamour Eyes Kit, do not be surprised to see these looks at the red carpets for the upcoming award shows.

Golden Globe 2012 Preview

2012-01-05T13:49:00.001-08:00

By Laura Medina

Ananya Fantasy Kaftan Gown & Cocktail Tunic/Dress.

The party season may be over for the majority of people with the snow storms approaching.

But, here in sunny, warm Hollywood, the entertainment industry is gearing up for the Awards Season, the industry's high society season.

It is also the time when nominees and thespians start shopping and picking their gowns, hair, and makeup for all these galas and soirees and those televised award shows.

The Arriviste had the privilege back in November to gain a sneak peek of what the nominees and guests may wear within a week on the Golden Globes on January 15th or the Grammys in February.

Since it is still poolside weather and the climate is easy, London designer, Ananya provides the right amount of ease and glitz with her glimmering sequin kaftans doubling as late-afternoon "twilight" gowns that speed directly into night.

A favorite of Kate Moss, Kylie, Madonna, and Kiera Knightley, this is new Brit Cool style or Brit Ease where Indian culture meets Hollywood glam, making it approachable for Spring and Summer Eveningwear.

You get the point already.

It is not Awards Season or Hollywood High Society Season unless someone tosses in some spangle.

Think Holiday glitter refined into sexy and sleeker silhouettes...or incorporating it into unexpected forms...as in garden wear gone glam.

These prim and proper sheath dresses get dipped in sequins, with a slash of chiffon, by Alexia Admor and Blue Tassel.

The fabrications may be fierce but the price tag is friendly, ranging under $200.

Expect more red carpet fashion and style soon.

Time for this scribe to prep the outfit and primp that hair and makeup.

A Star-Studded Holiday Edition

2011-12-15T11:09:00.001-08:00

By Laura Medina

Nicole Richie at her House of Harlow Pop-Up Shop at Fred Segal on Melrose.

Like this scribe has been saying recently, it is not the holidays until the celebrities bust out of the woodwork.

Once the Victoria's Secret Angels have descended from lingerie heaven, Nicole Richie appeared with her holiday-only pop-up shop, House of Harlow in the home decor section of Fred Segal on Melrose. Her clutches and purses can be pre-ordered for Spring while her home decor on the left side of the stores are ready to be wrapped and ready for the holidays. Like Santa Claus, it will disappear immediately after Christmas.

You know how the majority of people string up teeny-weeny bulbs of red, white, and green light brights then call it "Christmas."

Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills does it differently.

Under the guidance of Mayor Barry Brucker, Swarovski Elements built a crystal double helix that doubles as a Twitter post board where people twitt their holiday cheers...or blahs on the message board.

Jessica Alba and Jennifer Hudson were the lucky honorees lighting up the double helix.

In cosmopolitian Beverly Hills, they "Let It Sparkle."

It is not just the ladies who are enjoying the glittering festivities.

The emerging young gentlemen from HBO's "Boardwalk Empire" and "True Blood" were pampered and polished at The Art of Shaving Barber Spa /Boutique opening.

Watching "True Blood" Kevin Alejandro and Sam Tramwell having a hoot while getting a proper shave. "Boardwalk Empire" stars Jack Huston and Vincent Piazza were soaking up the luxurious lotions, aftershave, and the fine bourbon and whiskey being served at the two bars, at the front boutique and in the rear barbershop.

Since Tis' the Season of Giving, Shannon Elizabeth is offering her perfume essentials "S," for the holidays. Rich in historical scents from the Middle East, "S" retraces back to the origins of scents given on that first Christmas, frankincense and myrrh.

This was also a multi-launch with Michael Antonio Shoes. Supermodel, Angie Everhart; actress, Bai Ling; and Efren Ramirez...yes, Pedro from "Napoleon Dynamite,"...made guest appearance at the launch.

Now, this is this scribe's holiday gift to the readers...stars galore!

2011 Divine Design Gala, Holidays in Beverly Hills took off with a Blast!

2011-12-09T18:41:00.000-08:00

By Laura Medina

Upper Left, "Victorious" Victoria Justice & Ariana Grande. Upper Right, "Mad Men" Bryan Batt.
Lower Left, Hank Baskett & Kendra Wilkinson. Lower Right, Patricia Fields.

This year's Divine Design Sale's Opening Gala, for Project Angel Food, took off with a blast.

With this much stars from film, television, food, and fashion, it is hard to believe that this is a Beverly Hills holiday tradition. Twenty years going strong. Now, stronger than ever.

Since stars are just like everyone else, cost-conscious but with an eye for quality products and under the pressure of shopping for everyone in a limited time, this scribe simply asks them, "What do they want for Christmas?" Or, what they're looking for at the Divine Design Sale with it's continuing deep, daily discounts of fresh designer goods, supporting a worthy charity that nourishes the stomach and soul of sick people in Los Angeles.

Some of the responses are short and witty while others are deep and meaning, in the keeping with the holiday spirit.
Bryant Batt of "Mad Men" is looking forward to shopping and browsing the Kiehli's pop-up boutique inside the old Robinson-May Department, now the de facto location of the Divine Design Sale Marketplace. Perhaps, have some refueling sips of Ketel One Vodka during the shopping marathon.

When asked what Sal would buy at the charity sale, Mr. Batt answered, " I would think a flask because he likes to keep things hidden."

As for past attendee, Christina Hendricks, he informed that she is filming tonight and could not be here. He loves her.
"Reno 911" Niecy Nash was just honest and straight-forward, "Everything because my husband brought his wallet."
Divine Design Sale stalwart, womenswear designer, David Meister, cannot get enough of it.

As a Barbie fan, he needs his annual fix and wants to add more to his Barbie collection, "Everything. I'm a shopholic. I love to shop. I have a lot of gifts to buy yet. I'm an impulse buyer. If I feel if it's right for me or somebody else, I go for it. So, I really don't make a list. I have to feel it...you can never have enough Barbie. I have a collection in my office. Barbie is such a great supporter (of Divine Design Sale and Project Angel Food).

Why he always support Divine Design Sale each and every year? " They always have great stuff. They have great home stuff. They have great men's stuff. So, I'm sure I'll do a little damage."
Kendra Wilkinson's other half, Hank Baskett, was true and deep about what he wants for Christmas, "Just my family to be happy. As long as I wake up and see my son and see my wife...that's all I ever want. I'm not a needy person. As long as I have family, I have everything. The rest is all details." However, he is keeping an eye out for little boy's clothes.

The fabulous Patricia Fields was startling simple about what she wants for Christmas...this trip and this appearance in Beverly Hills for Divine Design Sale, "You know what...this pre-Christmas trip to LA is a Christmas gift to me." For this uber-New York fashionista, coming out to LA to be honored with the Iconic Fashion Visionary Award is not a bad excuse.

Chef Thomas Keller gets to the heart of the matter. As a chef and restaurateur, he reminds people that the profits from this charity sale, feeds and nourishes sick people who need the nutrition to be better absorb their medications. This is what Divine Design Sale means to him, feeding the heart and soul.

For such a hip chick and Divine Design faithful, "NCIS" Pauley Perrette is not too keen on the idea of shopping year-around. It is more of an act of charity.

"I'm not a big shopper because they always have a shop, here; and I want to say everything. We're so grateful. I work with Project Angel Food. They donate everything. All the money goes to such a good cause. It's amazing. Tonight, I'll just come wander and buy something. It's my big shopping night."

She commented she loves this scribe's lip gloss. Pauley, it is NARS Cruella lipstick topped with NARS Larger Than Life lip gloss.

Two angels from Nickelodeon's "Victorious" descended upon the holiday red carpet, Victoria Justice and Ariana Grande. They blessed the ceremony with sassy vitality.
2011 Woman of Style Award goes to "The Help" Viola Davis.
Patricia Fields is not the only fashion luminary. "Mad Men" costume designer, Janie Bryant tied up the line up of stars, wrapped up in Christmas trio of red, green, and gold.

You know it is the holidays when a galaxy of stars descend upon Beverly Hills.

Expect more star wattage to come soon.

Have a Full & Uplifting Holiday with Victoria's Secret and Wacoal Bras

2011-11-30T19:53:00.001-08:00

By Laura Medina

On November 29th, the day before the airing of the Victoria's Secret Runway Show on CBS, South Coast Plaza displays the $2.5 Million Fantasy Treasure Bra. It is their Gorgeous Push-Up Bra embroidered with 3400 precious gems of white and yellow diamonds, pearls, cirtrines, and aquamarines, set in 18 karat white and yellow gold.

A mermaid inspiration, the centerpiece tassel adorned with two exquisite white diamonds, over 8 carats each, and two yellow 14 carats diamonds. Overall, the bra features 142 carats of diamonds.

Due to the intricate engineering of the scallop bra, they have to inspect 10,000 stones worldwide for the right color, size, and shape. It took master craftsmen, of London Jewelers, 500 hours to chisel the gems.

Following in Gisele Bundchen's, Heidi Klum's, Adriana Lima's, Marisa Miller's, and Claudia Shiffer's footsteps, Miranda Kerr is one of the latest Angels to have the honor to model a multi-million dollar, gem-encrusted bra that Victoria's Secret presents every year.

Before the official airing of the fashion show, Victoria's Secret throw an exclusive viewing party at the Segerstorm Center for the Arts in Orange County.

Miranda Kerr and two of her fellow Angels, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Lily Aldridge, hosted the viewing party, coated in violet French macaroons, rock candy, red velvet cake pops, and strawberry popcorn.

The Fantasy Treasure Bra is one of the highlights in the company's Christmas Dreams and Fantasies Catalogue.

Wacoal Bras.

If all these glitz is bedazzling you silly, let a bra consultant from Wacoal guide you in what to search for in a bra.

When it comes to underwire bras, make sure the wire falls on the intersection of where the breast matter meets the rib cage. Make sure the wire is not too short, that it will poke into the breast itself or make sure the wire is not too long that it will stick out for a loose, awkward fit.

When that wire properly cups those breasts, that bra will be uplifting as it is comfortable.

If the bra fits, there is no need to that extra tug of the strap....

and it not necessary to crush your rib cage in a size too small band.

With proper wire support, strap placement, and the correct band size, your breasts can rise and lift with each breathe.

Now, isn't how it suppose to be.

Thank Franklin + Gower for Giving Us a New Holiday Tradition...Customized Blazers

2011-11-24T10:10:00.001-08:00

By Laura Medina

The Franklin + Gower Atelier has opened in the heart of Hollywood.

What has been an online-only operation for two years, the founder, Christopher "Paco" McCauley, realized he needed to open Franklin + Gower headquarters into an atelier to better fit customers' needs for customized blazers, sassy shorts, and swim trunks.

In addition to snappy clothes made with traditional preference for quality fabric and built with respect for crafted construction and modern fit, he want to bring back quality service in order to deliver quality clothes.

By giving customers a personalized, hands-on experience, McCauley is not only bringing East Coast Prep heritage for quality fabrication with West Coast dashing casual hipness, he is giving customers the hands-on experience of English tradition tailoring of personalized fittings and customerization by adding and mixing collar and cuff linings, lapels, trims, and pipings.

At 6671 West Sunset Boulevard, Suite 1510 in Los Angeles, this is where American heritage (The McCauleys have been in the apparel business since the American Revolution War) and bespoken fittings meet modern-day Californian contemporary sportswear.

To experience couture sportswear, one has to call (866) 323-0213 or (323) 308-1141 for an appointment first, once it is set, you are set.

Paco McCauley modeling lightweight, corduroy russet orange "Own the Room" Blazer from the men's line. His look crosses over from office to outdoor.

Paco's wife, Sally Horchow, is the model of the new and true Modern-Day Preppy Lady, a sharp purple "Look at Me" Blazer, simply accessorized with a pocket scarf. The ladies' jackets have a more tailored tuxedo construction to skim over a woman's more shapely torso with shorter 3/4 quarter sleeves to better fit a woman's shorter arms for an ease of movement and comfort.

Katie Holmes is the latest celebrity to join Franklin + Gower's growing legion of celebrity fans, whether it's Robery Downey, Jr. trotting around in trousers with customized piping to Katie jaunting around town in this jaunty red corduroy blazer, Franklin + Gower is the pioneer of "Haute Hollywood," where Hollywood Hip meets Bespoken Tailoring with East Coast quality.

Customers can sip from the Tiki Bar/Changing Room while trying on samples and prototypes to get a general idea of what she or he is looking for in an outfit.

From there, a stylist can jot the basic construction style then go over with her or him swatches of shell, lining, lapel, and collar linings, cuffs, trims, and piping choices for any size and body shape.

Before they know it, they can have a one-of-a-kind blazer that is unique her or his own.

The ladies samples/prototype rack of tuxedo blazers and shorts is on the left side of the atelier...

while the gentlemen's sample/prototype rack of jackets, trousers, polo shirts, and swim trunks are on the left side.

With the holiday shopping madness fast approaching, save yourself the headache and use Franklin + Gower's 15% discount towards the end of November and give a new family heirloom that future generations will be fighting over, a soon-to-be cool closet classic.

Why regift the novelty Christmas sweater that will spend eons being passed over, when you can start a new holiday tradition of giving friends and family...and yourself a well-tailored Franklin + Gower Blazer that can be worn year-around and beyond.

Rocco Leo Gaglioti, Just an All-Around Good Guy

2011-11-15T14:05:00.000-08:00

By Laura Medina

Rocco Leo Gaglioti, The trifecta host of "Fashion News Live," "VidBlogger Nation: New Jersey," & "Miss Deaf International"

EXT. PATIO. OUTDOOR CAFE IN NEW JERSEY.

"Fashion News Live" host and creator and "VidBlogger Nation: New Jersey," host, Rocco Leo Gaglioti on a blind date with a Taiwanese lady.

Both exchange a pleasant conversation and sipping champagne from flute glasses.

She reaches toward her itchy ankle.

Extending his hand, he offers to scratch it for her.

Offended, she tosses her glass of champagne in his face.

"Plenty of Fishes" episode from VidBlogger Nation: New Jersey, Season Three.

The lesson learned in the episode of "Plenty of Fishes," in Season Three of VidBlogger Nation: New Jersey? Champagne burns.

Photo, on right, by Andrea Hanks.

This is one of numerous projects; Rocco Leo Gaglioti is juggling, in addition to hosting and producing "Fashion News Live" and "Miss Deaf International" Beauty Pageant.

In developing storylines for each and every episodes of Comcast's VidBlogger Nation: New Jersey, Executive Producer and Creative Director, Marc Scarpa and host/tour guide, Mr. Gaglioti, will get together and brainstorm twenty-four ideas then narrow them down into a manageable set of twelve storylines. One storyline sets the theme for one episode. A set of twelve plots represents a season for Comcast's VidBlogger Nation: New Jersey.

When Mr. Scarpa came on board to produce Comcast's local, insider travel show, VidBlogger Nation, utilizing social media, he was hunting for hosts/local goodwill ambassadors that will take the viewer deeper into more intimate, cultural settings in a particular locale. Each VidBlogger host showcases the uniqueness of each locale, whether it is a state, a region, or a city, spread out across the nation.

In searching for the appropriate host for VidBlogger Nation: New Jersey, Scarpa approached Gaglioti about being the host/guide for the Garden State. Despite being born in Winter Park, Florida, Gaglioti spent this childhood summers and vacations in New Jersey with his extended family. Both want this show to be the antidote to "The Jersey Shore." Redeeming the state in a good light, they want to showcase the full spectrum of the state, from the mountains to the local farmer.

They also use cultural events and unique settings to put the glamorous Gaglioti in a different light, away from the flash and dash of "Fashion News Live." This is Rocco being Rocco, set in various quirky situations that happens all the time in the normal life of the Garden State, from doing yard work for "The Real Housewives of New Jersey"s Kim G. to hunting for pumpkins on a farm.

In the "Plenty of Fishes" episode, utilizing Comcast's OnDemand Dating, Gaglioti goes on a series of blind dates. In the face of having champagne burning his eyeballs, he eventually continues onto a second date with another woman in the following episode.

In another episode, his most nerve-wrecking one, he did stand-up in a local comedy club and endured being heckled, a comedian's necessary evil.

This is where Gaglioti proves he is a good guy.

He knows, from his career trajectory as a model to TV host and producer, being out there then interviewing celebrities or putting himself in all sorts of situations...on television. It is not easy as it looks.

Photo by Andrea Hanks.

Gaglioti always goes out of his way to make everyone comfortable, in front of the camera and behind it. He is consistently conscious about being in somebody else's shoes.

He constantly repeats, doing a television show is a team effort, crediting his crew for making him look good and making the shows look easy. None of his shows are a one man show. He needs his team. He really gives credits to his camera operator/video editor/associate producer, Juliana Shadlen. He wouldn't be where he is without her.

"She works with me on everything I work on. Doing these shows is a group effort."

"It is my team that built me into a brand. If it weren't for my first show, "Fashion News Live," Comcast and Marc Scarpa wouldn't be asking me to host VidBlogger Nation."

As a favor, Gaglioti returned to the runway for Polish designer, Eva Minge during this past recent New York Fashion Week. Even though, he retired the runway almost a decade ago, after strutting the catwalk for Giorgio Armani, Vivienne Westwood, and Jean Paul Gaultier. Despite, being asked the day before...without time to train, he went ahead anyway, opened then closed the show. "I'm a giver."

As another form of giving back, Gaglioti co-produces and hosts the Miss Deaf International Beauty Pageant. In two years running, they already live streamed to an audience of 40,000 viewers worldwide.

As a son of a deaf woman, he knows first-hand the demoralization and the degradation of being handicapped and being a woman.

With his mother as the president of the organization and his brother co-executive producing,
they are using the show as a platform to empower deaf women, not just recognizing their physical beauty but for their inner beauty, boosting their self-esteem through classes developing their talents, skills, and education. Subsequently, they return home as role models.

None of this, whether it be "VidBlogger Nation: New Jersey" or "Miss Deaf International," would had happened, if it were not for his first baby, "Fashion News Live." If it were not for his first online television show, Marc Scarpa would not have approached him to host "VidBlogger Nation:New Jersey."

Being tagged, "Staple of New York Fashion Week" by Getty Images; Gaglioti lists the distinctiveness of each fashion weeks he covers...

Fast paced New York Fashion Week may be the Holy Grail of fashion weeks with A-List celebrities from fashion and Hollywood but Miami Fashion Week is more laid-back. Fashion shows starting in the afternoon and the atmosphere is hot and sexy.

Paris Fashion Week is risque and very European.

Milan Fashion Week, surprisingly, is where a lot of New York designers have their textiles and clothes made. The style there is flashier.

Los Angeles Fashion Week is for the upstart, risk-taking designers. A smaller market but new things are bubbling up.

Rocco in Peru.

Peru Fashion Week is the most startling. How the designers incorporate their culture and heritage into their textiles and tailoring, it brought his associate producer, Ms. Shadlen, to tears.

Speaking of New York, Gaglioti covered the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, airing on CBS on November 29th at 10pm. Ruffling through all that pink and joking, "Lingerie-the most expensive piece of clothing for the least amount of time wearing.," he always interview CEO, Sharen J. Turney. "They always put on a good show."

Having run the gamut from modeling to hosting television shows, they all have one thing in common; Gaglioti constantly putting himself out there. What advice would he give to someone aspiring to be a media personality or celebrity?

"Good one. My advice...because when you put yourself out there...make sure you are really ready. I've been called 'f*ggot.' I've been called every name in the book." He is one of the very few heterosexual males in a very feminine industry. "Your taste in style has nothing to do with your sexual preference."

"It is easier to be mean. Apollonia Kotero (of Prince's "Purple Rain" fame) told me this very early in my career, 'Gaglioti, you can't read every comment. You can't respond to every comment because people are just plain jealous. Just focus on your work and move on.' People love to rag because you put yourself out there. Don't get caught up in it.' Focus on the good and the fun stuff-who wants to be miserable?"

He reminds people that it takes a team, a crew of people to make him, actually everything to look good. He cannot do this all by himself.

What keeps him going, regardless of envious people or having accolades, such as Gen Lux Magazine tagging him, "The Next Ryan Seacrest," are his team and fans worldwide...and the chance to do some good in the world, discovering fashion talent, showing a state in a good light, or enabling deaf women.

As Gaglioti mentions, why be miserable when you can focus on the good stuff?!"

Move over October, it's time for Movember

2011-11-01T14:07:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

Banana Republic's Leather Jackets-Bomber & Blazer.

With October aka "Women's Health Care/Breast Cancer" Month and Halloween passing on, it is time for the guys, specifically, Men's Health Care Month..."Movember."

Banana Republic arrived just in time to attire the natty gents for Autumn.

Shot at Medlock Ames Winery in Healdsburg, California, the breathtaking environment set the ideal scene for a season that’s beloved for its simple pleasures—changing leaves, abundant harvest, and cinematic landscapes. Placing versatile signatures against the season’s soulful backdrop, the result is a new crop of polished, tactile separates tailor-made for the modern hero.

The foundation is the layering of necktie, button-down shirt, and pullover or v-neck sweater. A new white shirt is the reset button for your wardrobe. It's the most essential of the essentials and few things look better right out of the package. This Fall, as always, Banana Republic offers a range of white shirts to choose from. Soft washed textured white for him. The pattern that the Scottish call tartan and American call plaid has become the most classic item to incorporate into the your menswear look. Whether it's a touch of plaid with a tie or making a bigger statement with a shirt, it's just that simple jolt of pattern and color that can freshen up your Fall look.

Chunky camel sweaters and iconic camel peacoat coat for the gents.

For Fall, Banana Republic's Creative Director, Simon Kneen did variations on the tried-and-true blazer. There's the Safari Blazer and there's a blazer with a shawl lapel. A tweak here and there.

Tweed is a trend that will never leave us. Men can wear it as a blazer, separate pants, together or wear with a plaid shirt or herringbones-it goes with just about everything. Women will be swooning over our tweed wide legged cuff pants-paired with our range of harvest colored cable sweaters to add that pop of color to your Fall wardrobe.

For most gents, it is far simpler and more subtle to accesorize with shoes.

Sperry Topsiders teamed with All-American Penfield for a tweed-worthy collaboration.

High tops, sneakers, and deck shoes in cozy herringbone and camoflauge loafers for the "Prep-neck," Southern preppies who are proud of their Southern heritage by marrying their love for classic shoes and hunting-mixing fashion with functionality.

Very manly.

Get "Cirque" for Halloween then open up your "Iris" to new ideas

2011-10-26T11:56:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

The Praxinoscope Girl & Ze Hybride Cameraman then makeup technique.

Want to put some extra "oommphh" to your Halloween costume?

Tired of the Hollywood, mass-manufactured "tramp" in that shrink-wrapped package?

Or, your kid is one of many "princesses" because you and your family friends bought the same costume at the same chain store?

Inspired by a recent outing to Cirque du Soliel's "Iris" and Los Angeles County Museum of Arts' Tim Burton Exhibition, let the artsty "Arriviste" help you out.

Take a cue from Cirque costume designer, Philippe Guillotel, in whipping up some breathtaking costumes.

Zoetrope Tutu Girl & Ze Hybride Cameraman.

The celluloid skirt or the "Zoetrope Skirt" is, in fact, a Praxinoscope tutu to represent the early Twenties' beginning of the movie industry. Basically, he turned film strip into a skirt...but this "Zoetrope Skirt" spins like a movie reel as the stills animates or moves.

Mr. Guillotel built it from carbon fiber and metal covered in lightweight foam. This cage skirt enables the performer to control how and when the skirt spins, the same way a movie projector reel controls the speed of a film spool as the images move. Of course, Mr. Guillotel does not go into deep details about the machinery or the motor but you can use hoola-hoops and some celluloid film to form your own Zoetrope Tutu.

Simpler but no less intriguing is the "Ze Hybride Cameraman." It consists of a corset, harness, and a large wooden treasure/cigar box as the movie camera headpiece over black turtleneck and trousers.

But no costume is complete until you paint on the right makeup. Actually makeup is the easiest and cheapest part of Halloween or any "fancy dress"/costume party. You can buy basic foundations and brushes from the neighborhood drugstore or chain store for under $10; or if you really want to take care of your skin, you can go all out with M.A.C.'s light and breatheable but protective and durable Styledriven foundations in three shades:one light, one medium, and one dark.

Cirque's Makeup Concept Designer, Nathalie Gagne breakdowns Ze Hybride Cameraman's makeup into steps. Originally, early film or Twenties makeup is all about light and shadows to highlight and sculpture the face for black and white movies.

Simply, paint your whole face matching foundation. Then, you sculpt out the cheekbones, jaw, nostrils with one shade darker foundation. To bring out the drama, highlight the peaks of your cheekbones, the nose bridge, the chin, and forehead with one shade lighter foundation.

Simple as that...black and white makeup base.

Cover the entire eye area with matching eyeshadow or foundation to your skin. Shape the crease with either dark gray, purple, smudged black or blue. Smear white eyeshadow over the brow bone. Color the lid with beige, brown, medium gray or purple or blue. Then, line and blend everything together with black, dark brown, gray, purple, or blue eyeliner to tie the eyes all together. Top them off with mascara.

To make it last well into the night, set the base with clear powder. Add hot flashes of color over the highlighted cheeks and lips to bring them to life.

If painting on the face is hard enough work and you just don't have the energy or all thumbs to sew, you simply go to http://www.heavyred.com/ for your Tim Burtonsque/Victorian/Twenties Goth get-up. If you want something special yet simple, Heavyred.com provides you with fishnet and naughty stockings and devilish masquerade masks that will carry you for New Year's Eve soirees and other fancy dress parties.

They even have laced-up corsets for those fabulously club kids, who top them off with black leather jeans and boots.

Better than pulling out a stale, medicore costume from shrink wrap.

LA Fashion Weekend makes Halloween colors chic.

2011-10-24T12:43:00.001-07:00

By Laura Medina

Anthony Franco dress on the red carpet with Mikey Koffman.

To commerate the bigger, better, and more efficient Los Angeles Fashion Weekend under The Gallery LA's Mikey Koffman with Redlight Public Relations, the veteran Angeleno fashion designer, Anthony Franco launched it with an unconscious nod to the upcoming Halloween holiday, a collection drench in evening purple and autumn pumpkin.

He took the jack-o-lantern out of the squash then made this shade of orange chic in both womenswear and menswear.

Pumpkin is no longer a vegetable or a pie filling or an Halloween decoration, it is fashion.

Inquiring about how he came about for his sixth and final Los Angeles showing before splitting for Mexico City or Vancouver, Mr. Franco and his partner took a break in Mexico to recharge and refresh their batteries. They were welcomed by the perfect sunset.

The color palette and the patterns came from the ombre of colors of pink, red, and orange from the sky and the ocean blue...and the inky night.

The ocean waves also influence the textiles and the construction-a lot of flowing fabrics and ease of movement.

For the women, the gowns are built everything on corsets. That is the foundation and in keeping with the history of haute couture.

He is really into tailoring. Since he is has combined both womenswear and menswear into this collection, Anthony wants a cohesion to tie them together.

For the men's blazers, he used silk nubby or double-spun silk.

On the catwalk, Mr. Franco incorporated crystal bodice or jewel-encrusted wide, clinched-waists to deflate the puffiness of the billowing chiffon gown, giving them shape. For the men, he kept the nubbiness of double-spun silk for that neccessary roughness for Fall but kept the weight light and crisp due to silk's nature.

The pumpkin was balanced out with the bewitching violet from the Mexican sunset and evening sky. The best example was this stunning chiffon dress with the ruffled collar and the plunging V neck. The chiffon breezes with the wind, just like the ocean waves. This dress was outstanding enough to be profiled on the red carpet...with Mikey trying to take a bite out of it.

Without him knowing it, Mr. Franco took the kitsch out of Halloween Night's colors then subdue them down into a sultry palette, resembling a Van Gogh painting.

Thanks to The Gallery LA's operating the tent and the catwalk and Redlight PR managing the red carpet, Mr. Franco's last Los Angeles show was as elegant and smooth-rolling as the ocean waves. This is the respect and unfortunately, the final good-bye before he moves onto new markets.

Mr. Franco may move onto wider horizons but do keep your eyes on Los Angeles Fashion Weekend. With cooperation from Hollywood's top fashion agencies, it morphs and improves each and every time. A contender to IMG's long-ago LA Fashion Week?

Can't forget Women's Health Month-October

2011-10-20T11:59:00.001-07:00

By Laura Medina

Mandi Lodge & Emma Powell of "Busting Out."

Thank goodness, the majority of folks will and do always remember the month of October as Breast Cancer Month.

Which has come to encompass Women's Health Month...and the fine ladies from Down Under, Mandi Lodge and Emma Powell of "Busting Out," are here to take away the titilation from breasts and the sad victimization of cancer and satirize the appeal, the imagery, and the functions of the mammary gland.

As "Busting Out" ridicules the sexualization and functions of breasts, the production has raised $50,000 for breast cancer research and care, especially when they did a skit on mammograms.

Broadway veteran, Emma Powell, sets out to demystify them then shows what real breasts are like underneath. By peeling off the sexual appeal, she hopes people will feel comfortable about them and take better care of their health.

If you want to see real-life, middle-aged women making hoots over their hooters, "Busting Out" is at the Hayworth Theatre on 2511 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90057.

After making fun of your breasts then being at peace with them, Spreegirl's pink-0f course-Relaxed Modern Collection Lounge/Sleep Wear will donate 25% to Pink Envelope, a non-profit organization raising funds fof the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation. Check out the full collection at: http://spreegirl.com/Product_MainPage.aspx?collectionID=178 . For more information on the Pink Envelope Project visit www.pinkenvelopeproject.org.

Shazam! Foxy Disco Suits with Fierce Seventies Makeup

2011-10-10T12:41:00.001-07:00

By Laura Medina

Tracy Reese's Fall 2011 bold, mixed stripes pants suit, hot now.

This Fall is going to be a foxy and fierce mama. She is bold enough to strut directly into Spring 2012...in all white at the Diane Von Furstenburg show.

Tracy Reese detoured from her usually demure self and went bold and hot, reaching back into the Seventies, mining Glam Rock and Disco for fake furs, sultry wrap dresses (homage to DVF), and tunics.

MAC did the coordinating eye makeup for these fashion shows for a year now, bolding stating this trend, "Discotheque."

Thanks to collaborating with Lady Gaga's stylist, Nicola Formichetti and her makeup artist, Bill Brasfield on their sizzling latest limited edition collection, "Posh Paradise," David Bowie's aka Ziggy Stardust's lightning bolt of an eyeshadow strikes back.

Lady Gaga's theatrical makeup brings back the zany fun of playful cosmetics and paint, but this is intricate makeup painting that can be a little daunting for most. All right, it can be time and money consuming for those on the go.

MAC is here to simplify the "lightning bolt" to accessorize your "fierce" self.

Using the Mod Sixties' "The Modernist" nude and sculptured face as the base, MAC jazzes it up by builing "columns" in darky, moody colors. One column inside the inner eye lid corner then another column on the outer corner to the temple.

With a stiff eyeshadow brush, you can design the outer shadows of a empty "zigzag" center where the iris is located.

Using an iridescent eyeshadow from the glittering, gem-inspired Posh Paradise Collection, you paint in the lightning bolt, zigzagging across the center of the eyelid. Recreate the similar effect on the lower lids, line the inner and outer corners with the same smoky color then line the center lower lid with that same neon eyeshadow.

Shazam! This creates a special effects of "strobing"-popping out the eyes and flashing a bolt of color while blinking those peepers.

Keeping the cheeks bare and easier for you, move onto the lips.

Balance the look with a bold lipstick from the Posh Paradise Collection for that feminist Disco Diva look.

If you go a little wilder with these techniques and the makeup, you already have your Halloween makeup, either as a cross-dressing Glam Rocker or as an "Mad Men" extra.

A dramatically cost-saving holiday look. Now, get on with your fierce self!

Mod Clothes & Makeup thanks to Space Age Technology...Oh so '60's.

2011-10-06T13:30:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

In an ode to "Mad Men," "The Playboy Club," and "Pan Am," set in the early to mid-Sixties, Pink Tartan and MAC paid homage in Mod clothes with Space Age technology.

Kimberly Newport's Pink Tartan Spring 2012 Collection was buoyed by bouffant hair and nude and smooth makeup and complexion.

According to NPR's "All Things Considered," this is Girl Power in a Girdle, controlled, polished, and focused. Perfection as a shield.

The crisp, swingy A-Line trapeze dresses, the silver pailette sheath dresses, and curveous and streamlined cocktail dress with cut-outs in shiny satin and mod polka dots proudly flashed the mid-Sixties. The silver was influenced by the Space Age and Race. The naughty cut-outs signals the upcoming Feminist Movement, beauty and sex as strenght and liberation.

In keeping with the Mod Sixties' yearn for Spage Age technology, MAC implemented state-of-art chemistry in concocting durable and adjustable but lightweight products for that ideal suede skin with sculptured features that could never be achieved in the Sixties but was idealized then.

MAC's senior makeup artist, Ms. Callahan discovered that one of the prevailing trends on the runways of New York, Paris, Milan, and London was the natural face refined back to the Sixties' more matte and sculptured appearance, a matured take on the natural face.

Ms. Callahan coined this Mod Sixties' makeup, "The Modernist."

Perfekt Beauty's founder and CEO, Richard Anderson, taught this holistic fashionista this classic technique of using three foundations to bring out the cheekbones. The middle range foundation matches the all-over skin. One shade darker contours the cheekbones. One shade lighter to bring out theose cheekbones.

MAC brought this trick back for it's long-lasting Styledriven, a new permanent line for fashionistas on the go and MatchMaster, their Space Age foundation that's light and adjustable for all sorts of skintones.

With the basic of products from Styledriven and MatchMaster, "The Modernist" look is attainable and easy. Essentially, "The Modernist" is built on using those 3 related skintone foundations from MatchMaster and using Styledriven cream eyeshadows and lipstick for a semi-matte but durable color.

Technology is always the consistent trend in makeup.

MAC is the only one with the patent for the MatchMaster Foundation. It is a smart foundation that all the work for you. It looks like skin. There is no need to powder. The demi-matte texture stays on, even on oily complexion such as Ms. Callahan's makeup model, Sylvia.

Using the MatchMaster Foundation on the face is like painting foundation on glass. It still covers the face but you will still see the skin. This SPF 15, Ph ++, and vitamin E and C infused formula has 1/3 clear particles. When the light hits the skin, the skin still shows through as the foundation reflects the light. It is true to the skin without the heaviness of a tinted moisturizer. This is the most natural foundation in MAC's foundation line. It is two steps above a tinted moisturizer.

MAC calls MatchMaster, "shade intelligence." An invisible foundation with coverage influenced by your own skin tone.

On the makeup model's face, Ms. Callahan used a MatchMaster one shade lighter than the model's skin tone, in the center of the face to emphasize the cheekbones, nose bridge, and eyebrow bridge. To add definition, sculpture, and shape, an one shade darker MatchMaster to hollow in the cheekbones and temples to bring out the cheekbone.

Using foundation a shade lighter and darker is simpler to remember for most people, as this also harkens back to the flesh-toned Mod Sixties and old black and white movie makeup. This replaces the complicated issue for using too dark and too light blushes which gets confusing.

Another technological trend is durability. This another request from MAC's customers, long-wearing makeup that are standing and versatile for the busy fashionista on the go.

Ms. Callahan, the senior MAC artist is also a mom on the go. She doesn't have the time to reapply and touch up her makeup.

Their new permanent makeup edition, Styledriven compose of long-wearing cream shadows, liners, and lipsticks, lasting six to eight hours.

Another demand from time-pressed customers, versatile products for simpler, quicker application and a lighter load, Styledriver lipstick and blush are interchangeable. Both can be used for cheeks and lips.

Four products for a prim and proper look without the caked-on powder: two MatchMaster foundations, one shade dark and one shade light. Maybe, one or two products to add a touch of color to the cheeks or lips.

There, a soft, polished Modernist Look in Space Age flat minute.

LA's true answer to NY Fashion Week, Macy's Passport Fashion Show 2011

2011-09-28T16:16:00.001-07:00

By Laura Medina

Videos courtesy of Macy's & Showbiz Networks

In a quick breather immediately following New York Fashion Week and the Emmys, Macy's Passport Presents Glamorama charity fashion show sprint out of the gate, fresh on their fashionable high heels.

Dame Elizabeth Taylor originated this true blue Los Angeleno society tradition, with Macy's help, as a fun fundraiser to support AIDS research and awareness.

Now, in its 29th year running, it is Hollywood's not-to-be missed tradition. Every invitee say it is an honor to be invited, participate, and watch the latest of this year's Fall fashion being paraded firsthand, happily provided by Macy's.

Many of the celebrities being interviewed on the red carpet, feel like as though they are carrying Ms. Taylor's torch for AIDS support, awareness, and education while upholding this local-only tradition of the City of Angels doing an Hollywood-worthy fashion production.

From the left: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sara Rue, Nick Verreos, & the Far East Movement.

Red carpet videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPefwmoRkWk, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st4Q74UuBxw&feature=related, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeQKOBw9Wso&feature=related

Jennifer Love Hewitt attended as a promise to a dear friend who had passed away a long time ago to AIDS. If there is anything she can do for the cause, she will do it. Plus, she is really excited to see Cee Lo Green perform. She is a big fan. Ms. Hewitt call this a great night for a great cause.

Sara Rue is thrilled to follow Elizabeth Taylor's footsteps...

"When I think about Elizabeth Taylor, I first think about her beauty, her talent, and her works in AIDS Awareness. She was one of the pioneers. She was one of the first actors, one of the first celebrities to say have to do something in the community."

For Nick Verreos, it is another form of awareness..."There's education to let people know about the Fall Fashion trends...the entertainment...all the high fashion...the models. Los Angeles is the biggest red carpet and the biggest catwalk in the world. In this historical theater, the Orpheum Theatre, Macy's is the place to be."

For Far East Movement, this is the best of both worlds. Not only do they find it a great honor to be invited to perform at the city's best fashion production, they live a few mere blocks away from the Orpheum Theater. After being on tour for three to four months, they find it a relief to be able to roll out and rock.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBlHu297we4

This year's theme for Macy's Passport Glamorama is ARTrageous where each designer or brand is paired with an artist that best suits the brand's or the designer's mentality.

The show opens with models in life-sized picture boxes and the models, obviously, are life-sized dolls strutting in Tommy Hilfilger's current varsity/collegiate pullovers, sweaters, caps, scarves, and knits.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBlHu297we4

Nevertheless, the dominating theme on the stage is the "Foxy Femme Fatale," best strutted out by Rachel Roy and Tracy Reese.

Rachel Roy sexed up the early to mid-Sixities "Mad Men" factor by jazzing up sheath dresses in today's sequins and tweed trimmed with (hopefully faux) fox fur. Most of the outfits are topped by pill box hats.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGDTQK519PM&feature=related

Tracy Reese amped up the foxiness factor by spotlighting on what was fierce about the Seventies and the Women's Liberation Movement-strong, sultry, and sexy.

Again with the fur trim, but the powerful leopard prints brings out the Diva from the Disco Era.

Far East Movement provided the much needed break between the fashion marathon but Mr. Cee Lo Green brought down the house as the finale. Macy's saved the best for last.

Cee Lo Green's "Big City, Big Lights," http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW89OKUqS9Y & "Forget You/Smells Like Teen Spirit," http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_g2zbvnyu0.

A children's dance troupe, decked in Day-Glo Keith Haring graffiti-squiggled sweats, accompanied Cee Lo belting "Forget You" then rocked the house with his version of "Smells Like Teen Spirit."

This spectacular night was tied up with a bow of an after-fete and much-needed refreshment and food. There is only so much a dashing fashionista can go on an empty stomach. Glory be! Stations of gourmet Americana hamburgers and crispy straw french fries and Japanese barbecue of grilled steak and wheat noodles fueled the party late into the night.

Macy's Passport Glamorama fed the heart, the soul, the eye balls, and the tummy. A night to remember.

Lisa Perry fete ABC's "Pan Am"

2011-09-24T12:05:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

With "Pan Am" debuting tomorrow night on ABC at 10pm, the modish Lisa Perry feted the cast on Fashion's Night Out.

The stars, Christina Ricci and Karine Vanasse, were the guests of honor in this apparently Pan AM themed party with flight attendants on site handing out snacks to attendees. The first 50 guests were given an authentic vintage Pan AM Explorer bag and the show’s stars flaunted Lisa Perry designs.

Eva Minge knows Menswear

2011-09-21T11:03:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

Fashion News Live's Rocco Leo Gaglioti, carrying the designer, Eva Minge.

As a special favor, Fashion New Live's host and executive producer, Rocco Leo Gaglioti, went out of his way to model in Eva Minge's runway show during New York Fashion Week.

It was a rare treat, Mr. Gaglioti returning to the catwalk...and this scribe was there to personally witness this.

Among the most notable celebrities was the CW's "90210"s Annalynne McCord.

In the plenitude that swung between womens eveningwear to womens active to her corporate blazers then mens activewear, the basic foundation was black and white.

Ms. Minge hit a homerun with her mens activewear subcategory.

It was as tight as her male models and the focus was intense as their brooding stares.

She renewed and refreshed mens activewear from windbreakers to pullovers. Ms. Minge removed the stiff sails out of the tired nautical wear and made it ship shaped.

Unlike most women designers, Ms. Minge has a strong grasp on menswear, especially activewear.

It was here that she only displayed paunchy primary bold colors, adding zest to a traditional black and white collection.

The reds and yellows added pop to an already reliable collection for men.

The highlight was Mr. Fashion News Live himself, Rocco Leo Gaglioti.

Making a rare turn on the catwalk, being rehearsed, prepped backstage, then strutting his stuff brought back memories for him...and he was a professional bringing back his muscle memory.

Mr. Gaglioti sported two outfits. A basic boatneck white pullover and simple gym shorts. Then, a pinstriped, asymmetrical zippered windbreaker over striped tee paired with green bermuda shorts-not preppy but very European.

As the finale, he was a gentleman to carry Ms. Minge down the catwalk.

Gee, what a guy.

Perry Ellis makes the Southwest Desert look crisp.

2011-09-20T10:29:00.001-07:00

By Laura Medina

John Crocco, Perry Ellis' Creative Director.

Backstage, warming up to the runway show for the brand, Perry Ellis, John Crocco, the company's creative director was kind enough to be open to a backstage interview.

In keeping the brand's heritage alive yet current, Mr. Crocco explained he has

entire history of Perry Ellis in archives and his head, "It’s always in my head. I just try to infuse new things in there, based on different influences."

Explaining that the brand has a very casual air towards fashion, he tries to keep the Perry Ellis elements alive by taking down the dressier things then making them a little more casual and not so serious. At the same time, Crocco does the opposite of that, lifting up the more casual pieces and making them a little more meaningful.

Making the more casual pieces then making them more meaningful, as in the current trends we’re going to see..."In a number of places, you’ll see a swim trunk with desert cactus print on it. In his case, he’ll pair it with a great chunky sweater. You’ll see it paired with a beautiful, supple suede shirt, like with safari details. So, it’s a different way to wear things."

Perry Ellis, over the years, is more of a transitional collection than a definite seasonal collection,

"We have a very broad customer base. We’re in a lot of different markets, South, East, West, International. So, I want to make sure there are things for the Northeast and also things for the Southwest."

"In this particular collection, this was more inspired by the Southwest sensibilities, so you’ll see lot of it in prints."

"Yeah. I want to show guys how to incorporate new pieces into their wardrobe and wear them confidentially."

About the show's general theme, "Look for dehydrated colors mixed with neutrals. Look for "American Safari” details."

Keenan Echols, Perry Ellis’ Sexiest Guy Next Door.

Originally from New York, Mr. Echols spent part of his childhood in Syracuse, NY and Jamaica, Queens.

He moved to Atlanta to be a web designer, returning to NY as a supermodel.

It’s a little backwards, I’ll admit that. Atlanta’s fashion market is up and coming.

Fashion has always been an interest of mine,

"Run across the Sexiest Male Model Next Door Contest. Gave it a shot to see what America thought. Friends and family thought I can do. Friends in the industry said I can do it. Then won. For now, it’s a great experience for me to be here. To see everything first-hand. What goes down."

He hopes this will lead to acting eventually.

Perry Ellis is his only show, "Technically, I’m not a model. I’m just the Sexiest Guy Next Door.

As of now, I’m just a full-time web designer."

Mr. Crocco always kept in mind this is a Spring/Summer collection he is designing and used crisp linen through-out the collection.

He used the black-gray-ish iron ore/graphite as a stand-in for black. The safari jacket was reworked into a safari shirt layered over a henley.

The collection focused on tonal and tactile fabrics where seersucker was bleached bone white but the puckering is still there.

Airy linen peacoats and lightweight knitted pullovers give new meanings to evening White Parties in early Spring, when the air is cooler but the wearer yearns for something lighter.

Despite the fact Crocco was influenced by Southwest Desert, the color palette and textile do not feel so hot as it is soothing, cool, and relaxing.

The sporty, preppish elements are intact but colored in with Southwest minerals.

Another set of closet classics on their way.

Believe It or Not! Classic, Everyday Pieces from the Heart of Hollywood.

2011-09-16T05:57:00.000-07:00

There is more to Hollywood fashion than Cinderella-sque eveningwear.

Hollywood's secret and emerging brand to watch out for, Franklin + Gower, is injecting vitality back into the classic blazer, incorporating British tailoring into sexy fabrics of satin and velvet in fabulously fresh colors.

Eva's white Franklin + Gower blazer is a great add-on for Summer White Parties by itself or a slip or a camisole underneath or a great Winter White topper.

Shaunie O’Neal of "Basketball Wives," sports a new kind of preppy cute with a Franklin + Gower Marmont + Navy satin collared seersucker blazer for $345 at www.franklinandgower.com paired with Level 99 denim shorts $68 at www.level99usa.com.

Minka looks naturally chic in her simple and seasonally appropriate ensemble as she enjoyed a casual stroll with her adorable pooch. Get this look easily for under $120 with the following designer pieces from Peppermint Park:

1. Sweater – Sutton Cashmere – $28

2. Tote Bag – Murval – $18

3. Cargo Shorts – Incotex – $55

4. Flats – Miss Me – $15

All these fabulous pieces are available at www.peppermintpark.com!

Leighton Meester wore the Forest scarf from Skinny by Jessica Elliot while heading to the Gossip Girl set. This gorgeous, super soft scarf retails for $60 and is available at www.skinnystyle.com.

Hilary Duff was recently spotted leaving Healthyca after grabbing a quick bite to eat. Having just announced a baby on the way, this A-lister makes being pregnant look chic in her hip belt and black boots. Here’s how you can steal this look easily for less:

1. Fringe Messenger Bag ($29.50, FlirtCatalog.com, www.flirtcatalog.com )

2. The “Hillhurst” Belt ($90.00, Skinny by Jessica Elliot, www.skinnystyle.com )

3. “Walkon” Knee High Boots ($69.99, Jellypop, www.shoes.com )

Super Model Alessandra Ambrosio always makes looking stylish simple. She was recently spotted looking casually chic while having a mommy and me day with daughter Anja:

1. Jellypop Shoes: ($20.00, Jellypop, (www.6pm.com/jellypop)

2. The Marissa Tote: ($253.00, Peppermint Park, www.peppermintpark.com)

3. Solid Grey Scarf with Hand Woven Tassels: ($24.00, Skinny by Jessica Elliot, www.skinnystyle.com )

4. Clear Oversized Iridescent Sunglasses: ($17.00, FlirtCatalog.com, www.flirtcatalog.com)

5. Gold "4 Corner" Bangle with Opal Crystals ($ 28.00, Skinny by Jessica Elliot, www.skinnystyle.com )

Now, you can be LA easy chic everyday anywhere without being self-consciously glitzy.

Get ready for the Emmys...within your price range.

2011-09-16T04:58:00.000-07:00

For those who are either jonesing for something glamorous and chic after devouring New York Fashion Week or for folks burnt out from it, there is a reason to dress up...the Emmys.

Don't get down. Don't fret. Eveningwear designer, Dalia MacPhee creates celebrity-inspired outfits that can fit into an everyday woman's closet, wardrobe, and carry-on for anywhere, like Madonna's sleek, chic little black dress. Dalia's version is a sensible $260 that can travel from Hollywood to New York to Paris, without missing a blink. Wink. Wink.

Need a break from New York chic and classic black?

Give this sassy number, modeled by Cameron Diaz, a chance. Peppermintpark.com provides the whole kit and cadboddle for this entire outfit:

1. Cult Candy Dazzle Dress - $43

2. Chan Luu Mixed Nugget Wrap Bracelet on Black Leather - $121

3. J.J. Winters Distressed Leather Clutch - $121

4. Kelsi Dagger Frayne - $84

For far less than Cameron's original dress, Peppermintpark.com gives the whole look for a fraction of the price.

Beyonce is among many current celebrities who prove you can fabulous and pregnant...and there is nothing wrong with it. In fact, show your pride and accomplishment in Dalia MacPhee's $298 version, which is way cheaper than Beyonce's Lanvin creation. With Dalia's, you still have can enough cash to kit out the kid's room.

Dalia MacPhee has grown beyond being influenced by the more established designers and brands, the star of "Wizards of Waverly Place," Maria Canals-Barrera, met and collaborated in creating two true, haute couture creations for the ALMA Awards and the Creative Emmy Awards, all for one special night.

Yes, Ms. Canals-Barrera was Wonder Woman, switching from a floor length magenta gown while attending the Creative Emmy Awards earlier that same night then switching into a Dalia MacPhee's Style 3550, later, winning an ALMA for Favorite TV Actress.

You don't have to be a celebrity to personally consult with Ms. MacPhee.

She already has an array of dresses, ready to be picked for special events anywhere, each and all within a reasonable price point.

Her pieces are an elegant option for debutante, Sweet 16 or 15s or that arriving soiree.

Never feel left out.

Saving Time & Face with Fun, Clean Arcona Skincare + Healthy W3LL People Makeup

2011-09-01T11:09:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

Arcona Skincare cranberry & wine-based line.

This scribe knows that sleeping in the previous night's makeup is not healthy but when crunched for time, there is a line up that can protect, nourish, and style a face into the next day by packing in the skin with a wallop of organic antioxidants.

After cleaning and prepping the face then pop on some color, this scribe made it blemish-free the next day...then cleansed. After washing off the night and day, this scribe's face is remarkably smooth and bright, no residue of the night before and an all-day press junket.

If you are still skin-conscientious-the scribe will not blame you-you can have glowing skin with Arcona's Wine Hydrating Mask nourish and replenish dry, dehydrated, depleted skin as it stimulate cellular renewal, reduce wrinkles, firm and smooth by accelerating skin’s natural defenses with grape seed and wine extracts and reserveratrol.

Triad Pads,drenched in cranberry toner, protects and clarify skin with antimicrobial cranberry, containing vitamins, phyto-nutrients and essential fatty acids. Neutralizes free radicals with vitamin E tocopherols and tocotrienols. Nourish and heal skin with omegas 3, 6 and 9 and rice milk.

All these fruit acids eat at the grim and residual skin cells as they feed the skin with vitamins.

Primping then furthering protecting the epidermal, smooth on some Magic White Ice. A Daily hydrating gel moisturizes deep within the dermis without clogging pores, to protect against environmental damage, moisturizing skin with white cranberry complex, hyaluronic acid and mucopolysaccharides,neutralizing free radicals with proprietary mineral complex of beta-carotene, vitamins B-5, C and E, clarifying skin with anti-microbial totara extract and grapefruit complex.

Polish off all this primping and prepping with W3LL People's rooibos, rose hip and white tea-infused makeup.

This wholesome makeup line not only shields with nutrient-rich but light mineral powder but the Universal Multi-Use Stick can be used on the eyes as eyeshadow, blush for the cheeks then lipstick for the lips...and it's purse-friendly too.

Great for busy journalists going from last night's cocktail party to today's all-day press junket without skipping a beat.

A Trio of Fashion Candy, Petro Zillia, Onch Movement & Traver Rains

2011-09-01T09:43:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

Nony Tochterman of Petro Zillia with her confectionery of her current Spring Collection.

It was a rare star alignment in the Los Angeles Fashion galaxy when Nony Tochterman of Petro Zillia, Travers Rains, formerly one-half of Heatherette, and Onch of Onch Movement team up together for one night at the quirky and spacious Royal/T.

Fueled by candy and snack cakes, Nony displayed her Life Savers-toned Spring Collection of dresses. Hector Pocasangre from Plaid Salon in Hollywood whipped the models' hair into cotton candy and Sharon Gault frosted on the makeup.

Asked what inspired her current collection, Ms. Tocheterman simply said, "I’ve always been obsessed with the rainbow and colors, this kind of presentation was something I always wanted to do and this seamed like the perfect occasion and venue to do it."

Onch of Onch Movement with Traver Rains then Nony with Traver

Then when asked how she did a collaborative fashion presentation with Onch Movement and Traver Rains, Ms. Tocheterman explains how this rare conjunction occurred...

"I met Traver through Onch, as he is good friends with both of us and wanted to host both our brands at his pop up shop, we all agreed that it would be fun to have it all together at the same time."

Traver Rains' Western-inspired fashion installation and with Sharon Gault.

When it was Mr. Rains' turn to explain how he got here, he simply stated he is now a Los Angeles resident.

His fashion installation may reflect his Montana childhood of Western Frontier, Native Americans, and Ranching, but he's not afraid to say that Los Angeles is worlds away from Montana.

A wacky but light-hearted event in Los Angeles' Fashion galaxy.

Behind the Scene Interview & Video of Missoni for Target Ad Campaign

2011-08-29T11:37:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

While you are watching your "90210" episodes and the recap of "Gossip Girl," you will see snippets and sneak peeks of the television commercials for the Missoni for Target collection.

Let this scribe whet your appetite for all things Missoni.

In this behind-the-scenes video, third-generation Missoni and current Creative Director, Margherita Maccapani Missoni, gives a rare interview explaining the history, who the company is now, why collaborate with Target, and what the collection is all about.

In this video, Target offers a glimpse of the arriving television ad campaign.

Margherita wanted the commercials to reflect the Mod mid-Sixities Italian films. It was that era when her family's business burst out of Italy then onto the international scene...when they were beginning to be popular in the United Kingdom and America.

The Missoni Family back in the Eighties.

According to Margherita, the company really started when her grandparents, Rosita Jelmini and Ottavio Missoni met in 1948. Three years later, they married and founded the company in a basement.

Grandma was the fashion lady and grandpa was the color man. With this family arrangement, this established the company's image and family tradition. The family tradition of the mother being the creative director has been passed down from grandma Rosita to second-generation, Angela, Margherita's mother to Margherita, today as third-generation Missoni Creative Director.

With the tradition of passing the Creative Director torch down to the latest and newest adult generation, Missoni manages to be revelant for each era while keeping the family tradition alive and strong through the decades.

This one of many reasons why Missoni decided to join up with Target.

To strengthen the bond with America, Missoni felt it is important to reintroduce the brand to a new generation, a new audience, and a new market in America by teaming up with Target.

For their Target collaboration, they reintroduced classic graphics and prints from the family's archives then redid them in a bold and fresh manner that encompasses multi-generations and markets.

This is the largest designer collaboration in Target's history, 400 pieces huge.

This collection ranges from womenswear to menswear to childrenswear to kitchenware to home decor.

If you want to learn more about the upcoming Missoni for Target campaign, click on the link,

"Missoni for Target Tradition Video with Margherita," http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwqFCax7iUg&feature=player_embedded.

**If you are really anxious for Missoni for Target collection and you're in Manhattan for Fashion's Night Out on September 8th, next door to Bryant Park, Margherita and Target are going to throw open a pop-up party to celebrate their collaboration. A full week before the line hit the stores. Nothing snotty. It's open to the public. Remember, this is Missoni for everyone until October 22nd.**

Perry Ellis Black & a sizzling new face on NY Fashion Runway

2011-08-22T11:49:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

The Perry Ellis Black Collection.

Perry Ellis has gone leaner, meaner, and sleeker, what they call "the color of urban sophistication, no-nonsense utility and nights on the town..."

Basically, it has gone where Brooks Brothers Black Fleece has gone..."Gone to Black," as in practical, not dull, but more of the roving global urbanite who needs a travel-worthy wardrobe taking him from New York to London to Milan to Paris then over to Los Angeles, doing a photo shoot in the desert with an up-and-coming starlet.

By incorporating the name and color, "black," both brands are signaling a shift towards a classical European flair while keeping their All-American roots.

Paraphasing Perry Ellis' creative director, John Crocco, "Black is a versatile and practical shade to wear. There are few colors men can wear head-to-toe while looking masculine and modern. That insight led us create an edited collection of perfect black pieces that every guy should own."

Knowing that the majority of men need a quick and efficient dressing guide, Perry Ellis will make then release a viral video in September, showing men how the Black Collection is an easy way for men to dress up, displaying the models dressing in the dark in regular clothes and Perry Ellis Black.

Perry Ellis even wants the guy-next-door to "get dressed in the dark." They are running a makeover Facebook contest from September 19th to October 7th where the winner will win a full Perry Ellis Black collection.

Even if you don't win, Perry Ellis Black will be sold nationwide at Dillard's and Macy's starting September 15th and on perryellis.com.

If you want to know more about Perry Ellis Black, at http://youtu.be/E4wXX6Kb1c8.

Kennan Echols, Perry Ellis’ Sexiest Guy Next Door!

If you are lucky enough to be invited to Perry Ellis runway show on Monday, September 12th at 7pm, you catch the sexiest guy next door, Kennan Echols. He is the winner of Perry Ellis’ Sexiest Guy Next Door Contest.

25,000 voters on Facebook, during a two-weeks period, picked Echols over twelve contestants.

This ex-New Yorker turned Atlantan won 12, 144 votes to be the Sexiest Guy Next Door.

This all-around male of former collegiate football and basketball player turned full-time web designer will be returning back home to strut the runway for Perry Ellis Spring 2012 fashion show on Monday, September 12th. He will also be treated to a private backstage tour and be featured in a live runway pre-show.

Arthur Kulkov, Thiago Santos and Parker Gregory

Kennan isn't the only star in the Perry Ellis galaxy.

Perry Ellis' Fall Collection signals a shift, from one main star, to a trio of top male models.

They are using Arthur Kulkov, Thiago Santos and Parker Gregory, to expand the range of what the brand is...the contemporary, modern-day All-American male who value the traditional uniquely All-American preppy attire but retailored for today's lifestyle.

“The group is more diverse when it comes to their look and personality, which reflects where we are as a brand,” said John Crocco, Creative Director for Perry Ellis. “We also wanted to highlight this idea of friendship and ‘real’ approachable guys. It’s sort of our nod to ‘bromance.’”

“The resulting imagery,” said Charles DeCaro, Creative Director of Laspata DeCaro, who directed the shoot, “is three-dimensional with exaggerated crops and studied proportions. The group dynamic allows us to show the breadth of the collection as well as communicate a more cohesive narrative.”

The beach once again served as the background for the shoot, reprising a long-standing tradition for the brand. This season the Perry Ellis collection was shot on location in Sarasota, Florida.

Perry Ellis also produced two videos to celebrate the campaign’s launch: one gives a behind-the-scenes look at the photo shoot and documents the creative process and personalities of the models; another image-driven video highlights a new, yet-unannounced curated collection hitting stores in September. Both videos will be featured on perryellis.com as well as Perry Ellis’s YouTube channel and Facebook page this fall. The behind-the-scenes video can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyndUQA69Ak.

There's a Missoni for Everyone at Target

2011-08-17T11:03:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

Half of the entire Womenswear Collection.

Of course, everybody is hot and bothered about the womenswear set from the Missoni for Target Collection for Fall 2011...and that was the first thing that came out of the gate. That is to be expected.

Not that there's anything wrong with doing that. Matter of fact, the womenswear knits are downright adorable. There is a reason why the collection is going to be released in the middle of September-these knits are right for the more mature high school student or the college student who needs cool but dressier duds.

Come to think of it, the Missoni for Target is a great cross-over investment in transiting from high school to college to young adulthood in twenties.

Infused with Missoni's trademark zig-zag striped knits, they are quirky enough for that cuteness factor but stylish enough to cross over into the early adult market. The mix-and-match shorts, rompers, miniskirts, and tunics/minidresses keeps it youthful. Add the longer, maxi skirts, the longer cardigans, and a halter, knit maxi dress, they will lend a more edgier, mature look.

It is not all about the women.

Missoni for Target insert some stalwarts for the men. A very traditional striped cardigan and socks in muted Fall tones of heather, gray, and brown. Silk neckties punched up with teal and signature zig-zag stripes. The caps and scarves add a dot of dash to the wardrobe.

There are some big items here, proving that this collection is meant to encapsulate a whole lifestyle beyond the closet. The most expensive iten is the mesh wire patio set with lounges and a coffee table. The most popular is the bike. The travel set of the carry-on bag and the wheeled suitcast are the most attainable of the big item sub-set.

Target proved that going downmarket never meant losing an eye for quality or design.

The pumps are Prada-sque from a mile away. The zig-zag ballets flats jazz any ole pair of jeans. The rain boots are just plain adorable in a downpour.

Looking closer, Target's Missoni lifestyle collection is just plain dorm-ready or first apartment/home ready.

The orange/brown/blue zig-zag tote is great for textbooks, iPad, and notebook. There is still room to stash a Missoni Target makeup case with coordinating brushes. The black and white weekender briefcase makes a great traditional purse with room-again-for an iPad or a notebook.

This collection is ready for the young lady on-the-go, dashing about.

If the Italian zany psychadelic stripes are not your idea of fashion sense, then you sneak it in subtly in office supplies to punch up a drab homework alcove or office desk.

The office supplies are great for anyone at any age, whether it's for the teenager or the middle-aged office drone. The punchy patterns and color patterns are enough liven up anyone's long work days.

For those who moved onto the first apartment, the condo, or the first house, Missoni for Target provides gifts, an elegant cocktail set, espresso set, and kitchen set for more grown-up desires.

The wine boxes are great gift alternatives to the gift bag. The frosted cocktail glass and etched silver cocktail shaker are so streamlined Art Deco, that it is debonair for a man while chic enough for a woman...at a reasonable price.

Jaunty striped appetizer platters make great portion-controlled plates for wontons, sushi, and tapas for you and your friends.

Target's Missoni collection goes beyond the closet and the kitchen. Some of the bigger items are still within a reasonable double-digit price range.

The Murano-sque glass vases and bowls look pricey but not. They're affordable to both dress up your abode and give away as gifts...without busting the bank.

Still little too mature for the clothes? In addition to the kitchen ware, you can jazz up your home with throw pillows, a bathroom set, then toss in some throw rugs for the livingroom and hallway.

Missoni for Target collection shows that Target's limited edition designer collections have grown beyond outfits to encompassing a lifestyle that was only attainable in ELLE Decor to a point where one can live that lifestyle on a reasonable budget for anyone.

It is not just clothes anymore.

Banana Republic's Mad Men Collection with Janie Bryant, Fabulously Fierce

2011-08-12T13:10:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

Banana Republic's Mad Men Installation, both women & men.

Most fashion journalists are just happy to have the chance to interview a legendary designer once since it is a rare opportunity.

It is much rarer to interview the same designer twice...less than one year.

During last year's Christmas season, this scribe was fortunate to interview the influential and fashion legend in the making, Janie Bryant, "Mad Men" costume designer about her style book, "The Fashion File." A book that is part fashion psychological breakdown of the television drama, "Mad Men," part style guide, part fashion history book, and part costume textbook.

Just chatting with her, at that moment in time, was good enough...until last night.

Janie Bryant in "Mad Men" navy houndstooth dress.

Last night, Thursday, August 11th, was the official debut of Banana Republic's "Mad Men" Collection.

It was a homage to the Mid-Twentieth Century style and a collaboration for the show's costume designer, Janie Bryant.

This launch was the fruition of Ms. Bryant's childhood influence, fashion designer background in New York, and knowledge of costume history.

Throughout this journalist's second interview with Ms. Bryant, the designer stressed this collection for the modern body in today's modern lifestyle.

It is just vintage-inspired.

She made this point, sauntering in the collection's navy houndstooth dress, resembling another modern woman character, "Sex and the City" Charlotte York, symbolizing the collection's goal of being classy yet chic.

A little bit of Joan, Betty, & Peggy. Mad Men's Women Collection.

Using her previous experience as a Manhattan fashion designer, Ms. Bryant stresses this is first and foremost a modern collection for the modern woman and man, using modern cuts, bustline, current body measurements, and fabrics for the modern lifestyle, that yearns for that touch of vintage.

She was very conscious not to make this collection, "costumey," but adaptable and attainable for today's fashionista and fashionisto, who are fans of "Mad Men."

Even though fans and fashionista crave to have that Joan/Betty/Peggy attitude and Don Draper/Roger Sterling/Pete Campbell jauntiness, Ms. Bryant makes sure that these vintage-inspired pieces can be incorporated into today's existing wardrobe.

As a style consultant, she suggests that each piece can broken down and mixed in. The lace shell tops can be paired with wide-legged and skinny jeans to refresh a look.

Bryant used vintage techniques (that are still being used in haute couture) to bring back that mid-Twentieth century "Mad Men" sly sex appeal to the wardrobe standby...the little black dress.

For the black laced tipped dress, she sewn in a weight inside the neckline to subtly drape the neckline over the collarbone and the shoulder joint and keep them in place so the wearer does not have to fuss over it.

Seductive but elegant...that "Mad Men" effect.

In fact, Ms. Bryant stated this was common practice in the garment industry back then, sewn in weights so jackets and dresses can hang properly. Coco Chanel was known for this.

If you think you can switch the swoop, Ms. Bryant quickly added that the Black Lace Tipped Dress is one-shouldered and cannot be switched back and forth.

Another dress with vintage-inspiration but with modern tailoring, the Begonia Dress.

The print may be vintage but the asymetrical, inverted bodice pleating gives it that razor-sharp late Fifties/early Sixties feel for today's body.

Janie's assistant proves you can still be modern and "Mad Men" chic in the cream lace shell under the animal print cardigan and the leopard print pumps. Janie Bryant shows you can be "Mad Men" fierce in the modern world.

Cynthia Rowley & a Bunch of NY Designers Pop Up in Hollywood.

2011-08-08T10:32:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

Arts & Leisure at Space 15Twenty on 1520 N. Cahuenga Blvd. and Erin Krause & Chrissie Miller.

Last year it was the Cynthia Rowley "Fashion Truck" making various stops in Southern California.

Now, Cynthia Rowley is resting her feet, along with other notable Manhattan designers such as Proenza Schouler, Rogan, Sophomore, Three as Four, Vena Cava, and Imitation by Tara Subkoff, at alternative shopping center-cum-art space, Space 15Twenty at 1520 North Cahuenga Boulevard in the heart of Hollywood, across the street from ArcLight Cinema.

Cynthia Rowley's Limited Edition Print Dresses for Gagosian Gallery.

Truth be told, Cynthia Rowley and her fellow designers are a part of a month-long collaboration between Sophomore's Chrissie Miller and Donald Baechler Studio's Erin Krause.

From today until August 28th, Miller brings the best of New York fashion while Krause curates an art gallery and magazine shop, all inside a pop-up fashion boutique/art gallery space, tagged "Arts & Leisure" for the entire month of August.

In addition to her limited edition Gagosian Print Dresses, Miller and Krause also stocks California-appropriate ruffle bikinis and sundresses with gold foil overlays.

For the Do-It-Yourselfs, Arts & Leisure also sells Cythnia Rowley sewing kits.

Hollywood's smart set came out in droves to celebrate the shop's opening.

Not your stereotypical Hollywood nightclub set, this crowd brought some innovations and effort.

These fuzzy, high heel pink bunny slippers are the max in style and comfort.

The smart set enjoying the edgy book and magazine section.

If Sophomore's Chrissie Miller and Donald Baechler Studio's Erin Krause brought a little bit of Manhattan into Hollywood, then Hollywood's smart set and style subset returned the respect in their finest.

The skater kid with skateboard strapped to his back. Black lace palazzo trousers replaced jeans. The white fur vest never goes out of style. Sequins turn into a sweater dress.

It is nice to see true Hollywood style inject some intellect while welcoming Arts & Leisure.

If you want to fulfill your Manhattan fashion fix, hurry on over to Space 15Twenty on 1520 North Cahuenga Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90028.

It is open Wednesday to Sunday from 12pm until 8pm. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Last until August 28th.

Paul Frank is giving away 2 tickets to Lollapalooza

2011-08-03T16:05:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

How to enter: Go to our Facebook and post your favorite song lyric from a band playing at Lollapalooza this year and tag whoever you would like to bring with you. The post with the most “likes” wins! So tell everyone you know and get them to vote for your post!

The winner will be announced at 6pm PST on August 3, 2011.

Put down the mic and get your lyrics posted!

Official Contest Rules

21 Drops for 21 aches, pains, and aliments in the 21st Century.

2011-08-03T14:22:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

21 Drops' founders, Cary Caster & Amy Rosenthal.

Cary Caster is a clinical aromatherapist and a medical massage therapist.

In the twenty years as an aroma and massage therapist, horticulturist, and entho-botanist, the creator, Cary Caster, researched and recorded her clients' health concerns and medical wants through surveys and questionnaires then compiled notes and recorded data into a more stragetic, medical 21 vials line targeting the most common health aliments using a more scientific methodology to aromatherapy.

After twelve years of scientific and hands-on practice and copious data, Caster, with Amy Rosenthal, developed 21 Drops for the 21st century's most common 21 aches and aliments.

They are here to demystify aromatherapy and taking out the pouf out of the New Age image.

As a clinical aromatherapist and medical massage therapist, Caster knows that just because something smells good, it never means it is good across the board. Aromatherapy is more than an olfactory decoration.

During her studies, Caster studied the molecular structure of essential oils and the homopathetic/holistic practices in various cultures-what others call traditional home remedies. Then, she continued to study the direct effect between pressure points in the limbic system in medical massage therapy.

She wondered if she combined entho-botany/horiculture and apply homopathetic remedies to the pressure points, will there be a more direct ease of aliments? Amy Rosenthal felt the direct correlation between 21 Drops' pressure point aromatherapy when she experienced a rare headache.

Caster brought up a tried and true essential oil combination of rosewood, peppermint, and lavender oils for headaches. Then, Rosenthal applied this to the pressure points for headaches at the temples, back of the neck, and the jaw line as Caster instructed. By doing so, the stressed out blood vessels relaxed, easing up for enough blood to flow freely, relieving the throbbing headache.

As a woman of traditional medicine, Rosenthal was in wonder. Mind you, she recommend using 21 Drops as a supplement to your existing medications, not as a substitute.

To make 21 essential formulas for 21 Drops available for people's most common 21 aches and aliments in this fast-paced 21st Century lifestyle, Rosenthal replaced the vanity table amber decanter for a pocket-sized rollerball pen, encased in a non-slip silicone rubber glove for an easy and quick grab and roll for running, walking, and driving.

Batch number card and a specific number for aliment with corresponding formula.

Each aliment and formula comes with its each own number, as in #5 for headaches.

To make it fun and lighthearted, Rosenthal embossed each box with unique prints and sayings inside the top lid, along the instructions for proper applications.

Emphasizing that their essential oils are theraputic grade, not food or cosmetic grade, and the integrity of the oils, each box comes with a batch number card.

Just in case a customer has problems with a certain vial, Caster can trace the origins of the oils to a certain batch using this card for quality control and for her records.

The entire 21 Drops Collection.

In celebration of Los Angeles' notorious 405 Freeway shut down and traffic jams, 21 Drops' Caster and Rosenthal specially created and released their only non-numbered essential oil formula for traffic jams-CARma Relief.

The spikenard and roman chamomile calms the nerves while the peppermint opens up the blood vessel. It is still in their signature nifty rollerball vial for easy stashing in the cup holder for easier rolling on the wrists, temples, and under the nose while stuck in traffic.

Fred Segal/Ron Robinson Apothia may have a special hold on this limited edition scent but you can go to www.21drops.com for the whole 21 Drops collection for the 21 aliments in your life.

From Bracelet to Clothing, Babakul Always Give Back

2011-07-25T11:00:00.000-07:00

When Kym Gold wanted to branch out from True Religion four years ago, she simply wrapped around strands of leather bands, strung some beads, and entwined them into bracelets then used them to support various charities.

For the next two years, that simple leather bracelet morphed into a full jewelry then stayed that way until 2008 when Ms. Gold’s best friend, Sophie Wizmann, came on board.

With Ms. Gold’s expertise in denim brand building of True Religion, Hippie Jeans and Bella Dahl and Ms. Wizmann’s background as the Vice President of Antik Denim and Tavarniti Jeans, Babakul the clothing line was set in motion.

Assouline's "Gypset Style" Book defining what it means to be "Babakul."

Babakul the clothing line was not fully fleshed out until Ms. Wizmann injected her French Bohemian childhood and background into the line.

In fact, the word and namesake, “Babakul,” is a French word for “hippie,” and Ms. Wizmann is a living incarnation of it. It is also Kym’s affectionate nickname for Sophie, since Ms. Wizmann is the living definition of it.

Born in Morocco and raised in Canada and France, Ms. Wizman is what Julia Chaplin call a “Gypsetter.” Ms. Wizmann is the walking embodiment of Ms. Chaplin’s book, “Gypset Style” (published by Assouline). According to Chaplin, “Gypsetters are artists, designers, and bon vivants who live and work around the globe.” Most are of French descent who either live or raised in one of France’s former colonies, living a very laid back but very cultural lifestyle due to their constant traveling and thirst for knowledge. What Chaplin call “cultural nomads.”

Jenny Lesser & Michelle Vink layered in Babakul, left. Sophie Wizmann & Kym Gold, the epitome of Babakul, right.

Infused with a worldwide upbringing with a French heritage of good fashion construction, Ms. Wizmann is the behind-the-scenes muse of Babakul.

Her French Hippy style is reflected in the fine detailing of the pleated bibbed, swinging babydoll blouse. Camouflage-printed camisole coated in clear sequins, giving a mermaid glimmer. Lightweight, skinny jeans stretchy enough to do yoga in. Washed leather cargo vests balancing out a sweet peasant tank top.

Kym Gold stresses the practicality of Babakul’s French Hippy style, it is easy enough to wear on the beach yet it is dressy enough for a walk over to Nobu or a decent restaurant, such as a washed halter silk dress with a beaded scarf in place of jewelry.

"French Hippy" may reflect the ease of a well-traveled life but it never means being a slob. A "French Hippy" or a "Babakul" is always ready for any occasion at anytime or climate. Pulling a well-constructed leather vest or jacket over a beach-friendly cami or a draping a sequinned shawl over a silk chemise or topping stretchy skinny jeans with a sequin tee or tank with a back of a closet blazer...now, that is cool.

But if it is jewelry you want, Babakul still keeps its roots of its jewelry line, backed up with satchels and bags.

The $39 Babakul tee for In a Perfect World Charity.

Seeing as Babakul begun as a charity bracelet, Babakul, the clothing line, still supports good will.

For In a Perfect World charity, Babakul specially designed an affordable chic, draped, crew neck tee-shirt with capped kimono sleeves. The charity’s name is subtly tagged behind the neck, lending a cool factor without being logo-blatant.

One hundred percent proceeds from the $39 shirt goes into rebuilding schools-cum-community centers in Haiti recently and increasing enrollments of girls in developing countries, such as rural Nicaragua.

In around-about way, Babakul’s good will work returns to the meaning of French Hippy. After spending a lifetime traveling and living in tropical but underdeveloped countries, Babakul wants to return the good will and support those communities that influenced and formed the French Hippy into Babakul.

Giving back where credit is due.

Sienna Miller's Twenty8Twelve, what stars really wear off-duty...and it's attainable.

2011-07-21T10:54:00.001-07:00

By Laura Medina

What do celebrities actually wear when they are not posing in haute couture at film premieres or upscale film festivals or award shows?

Fellow actress/celebrity, and jet-setter, Sienna Miller, knows what her fellow celebrities want.

Her Twenty8Twelve clothing line reflects a chic, fast-foward and fashion-forward sensibility that adapts easily to any locale and climate. Not extremely warm. Not extremely prim. Not extremely cloaked for the freezing cold. It is just right transitional layering great for tossing on while on the go.

Recently, Taylor Swift was hanging out with a friend in Central Park, in a Twenty8Twelve Daisy Dress that can be had at $295 on www.shopbop.com.

Back in May, Naomi Watts was tooling around town, in Manhattan, with Liev Schreiber in a Twenty8Twelve Spring 2011 Laurie T-Shirt. Www.revolveclothing.com sells this for $135.

What is truly cool about Sienna's Twenty8Twelve line is how effortlessly and how seasonlessly it is. It perfectly plugs in the gap between too summery sultry and too winter chilly. Just right.

Her line makes some great and cute crop leather jackets.

Zoe Kravitz rocks her crop leather motorcycle Bohemica Jacket at "X-Men: First Call" London premiere, over a simple white tee and black mini circle skirt.

Sienna pulled herself together in her own aviator-influenced, tanned brown, leather Spring 2011 Dok Vest with wool shearling, over basic lycra black tank and leggings. Www.zappos.com has it at $699.

Twenty8Twelve also does sleek basics that can anchor accessories and shawls and wraps.

Here, Sienna models her Autumn/Winter Titon Dress in Black that retails for $448.

Now, you can rock it like a celebrity, thanks to Sienna.

Wearing American History on your Chest...and you don't know it.

2011-07-20T09:30:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

http://www.youtube.com/v/cH_fqfOHmgI?autoplay=1

With the frenzy for the impending school season heating up during the hottest weeks of the year, Target's textile designers want to make the kids cool...with integrity.

The company's textile and graphic designers trek to The Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum in Two Rivers, Wisconsin.

Culling through vintage and antique turn-of-century and early twentieth wood blocks and typography and font prints, the designers found inspiration in America's heritage.

In a collaboration with the museum, Target used Hamilton Wood Type and Printing's one hundred hand-craved and pressed blocks as the basis then played with scale, layering and color
on t-shirts, hoodies, leggings, sweatshirts, sweatpants and totes for men, women and children.

In digging out these significant relics out of the trays, Target is making them even more accessible by offering a drawing on it's Target Style Facebook page, where fans can win a one-of-a-kind Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum collection tee by sharing a location they think is unique and special.

By doing so, loyal Target fans unintentionally are building a map of historical American sites that build and define American heritage and style.

If you are too busy shopping for school supplies, you can download the $2 coupons for select graphic tees from the brand's "Cool Never Fades" campaign based on the Hamilton Wood Type Museum's archives.

Your kids are going to wear American History without knowing it.

W Hollywood, stylish platform for a pool party and a stylish performance art.

2011-07-18T13:11:00.000-07:00

The W Hotel in Hollywood recently played host to two fashion happenings for two nights in a row.

What started out as a sampling of Rhythm Clothing’s contemporary surfwear with a touch of rugged plaid shirts and denim splashed into a free-for-all pool party.

Since they can’t bring the party to the water, why not bring the water to the people…and that’s what they did.

What innocently started as an idle toe dip in the water, splatter into a freewheeling pool party where clever party folks, stripped down to their maillots and their Rhythm boardshorts or what the heck, just dive right into it, clad only in their mini, tunic dresses.

Reminiscent of the Seventies’ legendary, decadent Studio 54, Rhythm Clothing’s Sunglasses at Night pool party was a discotheque in water…if Manhattan’s late, great Studio 54 simply wished, they could (if they had the space and thought of installing a pool but didn’t) yet only Rhythm Clothing did.

Rhythm Clothing accomplished something a Manhattanite party planner can only dream of…a wet bacchanal in the middle of summer.

Immediately as soon as the Rhythm Clothing party dried off, W Hollywood segued right into a performance art/fashion installation with one model, by the cutting-edge boutique, Stanton James.

The women attendees at the Rhythm Clothing pool party can gain an idea or two from this Stanton James’ fashion installation in how to layer at arrival then how to strip down to their stylish swimwear.

Broken down into five segments, translated into five outfits on one model, the show morphs as the model tastefully peels off one outfit while revealing another underneath.

The second segment is the one most directly related to the previous night’s pool party.

What started as a Hollywood appropriate streetwear of a fake fur-trimmed houndstooth trench over a vintage rock tee-shirt and heirloom cut-off jeans, transform into rocker glam with a yellow, satin drape shawl jacket, concealing a cut-out, black and white stripe maillot.

This could had been a great Hollywood pool party combo.

The last set was also rocker-meets-pool, another vintage rock concert tee over crochet maxi skirt over a black lace boot-leg pants with a flesh-toned mesh lining. A swimsuit or a matching crochet bikini or camisole as the foundation garment.

Keep your eyes out for the W Hotel in Hollywood, you might never know what you’re going to spot.

Miami-Tested, Oribe's new Haircare Line

2011-07-13T13:38:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

If your once luscious, wavy locks puff up into a cotton candy frizz while choking in Summer's humidity, no need to slick on more grease.

Oribe's humidity-taming and Miami-tested new hair care is here to rescue your tresses from being stressed.

To tame the frizzies, start out the Moisture and Control Shampoo and Conditioner as the foundation. Depending on how laidback you are or in a rush, the frizz can be tamed either way.

Creme for Style only requires a dab to control the craziness. It can be used on both dry or wet hair, basically anytime. It is an equal opportunist for straight and curly hair.

Want to put the bounce back into your curls?

After soon you're done shampooing and conditioning your locks, rub in this curl activator for shiny, healthy curls without the crunch. As they air dry, the waves will bounce right back.

Want Oribe's client, Jennifer Lopez's golden look? A dab in the hair then a dab here and there, or any where on the body, from his new gold pomade adds that golden goddess glow. A multi-purpose hair and body highlighter, not bad.

Can't stand the sticky residue of melting hairstyle and gel down your shoulders, neck, and face then into your stinging eyes?

Oribe thought of that, too.

He replaced the spray with his Impermeable Anti-Humidity Spray shielding the strands from frizz on the sultriest days and nights while protecting those labor-intensive blowouts and those bouncy curls.

If you want to refresh and fluff, you can spritz his Dry Texturizing Spray, regular and purse-sized, a cleaner choice to dry shampoo without the grayish, powdery residue. It adds UV protection for the strands as it lifts the locks.

Now, you can be South Beach sexy, not Summer Hot Mess.

GAIA, Vacation photos from Space

2011-07-13T12:26:00.000-07:00

After tiredlessly creating, building, and franchising the groundbreaking Cirque du Soliel, Guy Laliberté decided it was time to take a breather and became the seventh space tourist at the International Space Station.

Arts/culture/lifestyle publisher, Assouline, was kind enough to take his vacation photographs taken 220 miles up and away from the Earth's atmosphere then compiled them into a thought-provoking coffee table book, GAIA.

In a swanky fete thrown in honor of the book at the SLS Hotel, Laliberté wanted to use his vacation photographs where deserts resemble contemporary abstract paintings, cities rise up like mini mountain ranges, and faces and figures are revealed in nature, to display the awe of Mother Earth and the continuing concerns of climate change.

As he snapped away on his Nikon D3S and Nikon D3X digital-SLR cameras, orbiting at 17,500 miles per hour and revolving at 16 tours of the earth every day, he wanted the proceeds from his 300 photographs to raise awareness of water issues.

Calling his break, a “poetic social mission” in space, he wants to fight poverty worldwide by ensuring that everyone across the planet has access to clean water, now and in the future.

The water charity, One Drop, will benefit from this debut party and future proceeds.

Not bad for vacation photos.

Crossing Over, Cynthia Rowley Fall 2011 & Resort 2012

2011-07-13T11:53:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

Olive & Ruby Red Maxi Tunic Dresses Fall 2011, left. Poppy Blouse & Palazzo Pants & Yellow Floral Jumpers Resort 2012, right.

Resort Collections have always been ignored or put down upon due to their transitional nature.

Not exactly Fall or definitely Spring but folks are fools for overlooking their versatilities-style, budget, and climate wise.

With the majorityof the American population moving to the Sun Belt or Southern Californians shifting to the Southeast, Resort is the go-to wardrobe that eases into all those environments without being regionally restrictive or seasonally stereotypical.

Nobody gives Cynthia Rowley enough credit for having sharp eyes for spotting exactly what folks need.

Then again, she is one of the first to jump on a bandwagon before anyone else.

With the Duchess of Cambridge, a.k.a. "Kate," being the muse of maxing your wardrobe, Cynthia Rowley's Fall 2011 and Resort 2012 Collections prove you can mix it up and maxing it out without shame or awkwardness.

Ms. Rowley's Resort Collection is a smooth collection, as in a smooth transition where Spring/Summer wardrobe can glide easily into Fall with a touch of leather here and heavy silk there.

Her loose Maxi Tunic Dresses in olive green and ruby red from the Fall 2011 Collection are light enough and protective enough for Summer's heat yet the rich colors move it forward.

The poppy elephant sleeve blouse and matching palazzo are bright for now but the pumpkin tone is so Autumn appropriate...and so is the palazzo pants.

Summery ruffle petal dress and top on the right, in silk twill, can be toughen up by simply topping them with this classic leather Army shirt as a jacket. This qualifies as closet classic...doesn't go out of style.

Top of the line contemporary never means budget-busting, disposal clothing but components that can gradually, be built upon season by season or once or twice a year.

If you want to see these pieces upfront and personally, due to past popularity from last year, the Cynthia Rowley Fashion Truck is making a return visit to Southern California later this month until the end of August.

Watch for it.

Marky Ramone's Marinara Pasta Sauce

2011-07-12T09:05:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

Marky Ramone, aka Marc Bell, proudly holding a jar of his Brooklyn Marinara Pasta Sauce.

When Marc Bell moved out of his parents' home at eighteen years-old, one of the few, trusty things he took with him was his grandfather's top-tier, classy marinara pasta sauce as a survival gear.

Asking why pasta sauce, he replied, "Well, we musicians gotta eat." Explaining his grandfather's pasta was the perfect go-to sauce for anything. Whether it was back in the days as a traveling drummer before becoming a Ramone with The Ramones, surviving on classic
spaghetti pomodoro or fast-forwarding to today, where college students smear the sauce on bagel pizzas, Marky's grandfather's pasta sauce recipe is as timeless and classic as The Ramones' songs and their all-black attire.

Marky Ramone's Pasta Sauce is good for the whole family.

In bottling his grandfather's pasta sauce, it is his way of keeping his grandfather's legacy alive and share it with future, emerging, and current rockers.

His grandfather was a chef, ten years at the 21 Club then twenty years at the Copacabana Club where he personally cooked for Jackie Gleason, a steak no more than a certain inch thick.

Marky recounts growing up as a boy, watching his grandpa stir and stew that sauce...and it helped him survive as a struggling drummer to being a Ramone then now, as a Sirus Radio show host. Just like the Ramones' songs in describing his grandpa's sauce, "Technology change but people stay the same."

In spite of memorizing his beloved grandfather's recipe to heart, Marky Ramone had to taste-test the sauce during a six-months trial period before launching it into the market. Sometimes, it was too sugary. The other times, it was too spicy, too hot, too garlicky, until it was well-balanced and just right.

Back in the days as a struggling drummer, he couldn't afford the best ingredients. He can only buy whatever was in his budget at that time.

Now, as an established musician and rock star, he can afford to put out his grandfather's sauce in its best foot forward, using plum tomatos and extra-virgin olive oil imported from Italy. Doing grandpa proud, the Wall Street Journal voted this as the second-best pasta sauce in the United States.

Why Whole Foods? Simply stated, "I like Whole Foods." Straight-forward, honest, but sweet...just like his sauce.

Debie Mazar bumping into Marky by accident.

This is not a purely commercial endeavor. Ten percent of the net profits go to Autism Speaks. Hearing about all these horror stories about autistic kids being beaten up, The Ramones always speak up for the outcasts and he wants to educate people what it autism is all about.

Regardless if it is the hard-core rock fans, rock families, conventional families or one or two celebrities grocery-shopping, Marky Ramone is always there educating folks about his grandpa, the sauce, and autism.

On this average Sunday afternoon, celebrities in the neighborhood were pleasantly surprised to see Marky. First, a Suicide Girl happily posed with her rock idol then Debi Mazar just popped up for her family's groceries.

From there, she greeted her old friend from the neighorhood then asked him if he can guest star on her cooking show, "Extra Virgin" on the Cooking Channel. Stay tune folks, Marky Ramone is in Italy now and nothing is set.

Suicide Girl then Debi Mazar with Marky Ramone.

Now, what to do with the pasta sauce. Other than topping it on pasta, pizza crust, and bagels or using it as a dipping sauce for his favorite pretzel rods. Here is one simple breakfast recipe.

Top it on spinach. Stew them. Then, crack an egg and poach it. This a simple but gourmet way to have breakfast. Shoot, cook it longer, it will be an omelet.

From Brooklyn to West Hollywood, from being a struggling drummer to being a rock star, Marky Ramone and his Pasta Sauce never fails. Like the black tee-shirt and black jeans, this is the new rocker survival gear-Marky Ramone's Marinara Pasta Sauce.

The painting, "Ordinary People, William and Kate"

2011-07-07T10:36:00.001-07:00

"Ordinary People, William and Kate," the painting by Steven Vaughan.

With the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge touching down in Southern California tomorrow, British Royalty has reached fever pitch.

Fit for the President of the United States of America, Santa Barbara and the city of Los Angeles imposed numerous street closures dotted up and down the southern Pacific Coast.

The painter, Steven Vaughan.

In honor of their arrival, a former tv director-turned-sunglass designer-painter, Steven Vaughan sketched, dabbed, and stroked metallic gold paint and other enamels nonstop for 298 hours, all in anticipation of the arrival of the royal couple.

This is one of many gifts to the William and Kate going to be bestowed upon them on their visit.

As the news of the royal couple’s visit hit, Mr. Vaughan automatically mediated on what should be his gift to them.

With their nuptials fresh in his mind, Vaughan instantly thought about capturing this couple in this moment of time as not just the next generation of British royalty but as a modern newlywed couple who enjoy everday outings. He viewed them, “as any newlywed couple you might pass on the street, showing the joy and power of love between them.”

Like any other person watching the wedding, he thought it would be nice to have the late Diana be there to witness her son being married-this is when the inspiration struck him. Imaging that William always keeps her in his heart and brain, especially in marrying Kate, Vaughan wants to represents her presence in her son’s life.

Using Greek Orthodox Icons and Greek mythology as inspirations, Vaughan combined Hyper Realism and Conceptual Art to flesh out the trio of Lady Diana and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as real people in realistic skintones.

Using the bronze statue of the goddess, Winged Victory as a muse and the Union Jack as the sky, Lady Diana is an angel blooming out of the sky, radiating rays of golden light, bestowing her blessing upon the union of her son, William, and his wife, Kate. Symbolically, Diana hands them a rose since she was once called an English rose herself. It is Vaughan’s way of portraying Diana passing on that title onto Katherine.

Vaughan used metallic gold paint for the halo and the rays. As George Luca’s former television director, he knows a thing or two about special effects.

This original painting will be given directly to the royal couple’s London residence at Kensington Palace. Vaughan noted that, when William passes by this portrait in a dim room lit by candle light, the golden rays subtly glow in the dark.

Gallery owner, David W. Streets, Dame Nadya & Sir Golden Koscuik of The Masterpiece Dance Theatre of Bel-Air.

If this original painting is bought at $25,000 or the 15 hand embellished and hand-signed large giclee prints on canvas sell at $2,500 each or the 190 smaller giclee sell at $850 a piece or the even smaller paper prints are bought at $50 a pop, the profits will be donated and split three ways among three charities.

Dame Nadya and Sir Golden Koscuik were at the unveiling, representing their charity, The Masterpiece Dance Theatre of Bel-Air, giving ballet scholarships to underprivileged children.

The second charity to benefit is the one close to Vaughan’s heart, Generation Rescue for Autisim. Founded by Jenny McCarthy, her organization helped Vaughan’s autistic daughter immensely. He’s grateful for what they done to help his daughter and this is his way to return the favor.

The third charity will be a children’s charity selected by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The unveiling had been performed by British celebrities and Beverly Hills dignitaries, standing in behalf of the royal couple.

Expect a plentitude of British stars, dignitaries, and other royals hosting, debuting, and playing honor to the royal couple.

This Saturday alone, the royal couple will start the day with William playing for charity for and at the Santa Barbara Polo Club then they are going to end the night at the British Academy of Film and Television Art’s “Brits to Watch” gala in historical downtown Los Angeles’ Belasco Theater, being greeted by Britain’s forty-two hottest and youngest stars.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are and will have an amazing summer vacation, with plenty of splendid souvenirs.

From Mt. P to Sherman Oaks, Welcome Eleanor Jean

2011-07-04T16:53:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

Eleanor Jean sitting side by side with Lisa Rinna's Bella Gray. Happy local with Eleanor Jean's proprietor, Jacey.

In a blink of an eye, it was only last year Charleston's/Mt. Pleasant's Powder Puffs to Brushes was the place to go for lash tinting and exquisite beauty products...with mobile beauty services that started in Charleston that soon expanded to Southern California.

Managing a growing clientele and expanding geographical demands, it was easier for the proprietor, Jacey to consolidate her services, pack up and move then follow the growing demand to Sherman Oaks, California.

As soon as she touched down in the Valley's low-key but hip Ventura Boulevard in upscale Sherman Oaks five months ago, Jacey rechristened her beauty boutique/salon, Eleanor Jean in honor of her grandma. The neighborhood quickly adapted her as their own.

Lisa Rinna's clothing boutique, Bella Gray, happily split itself in two, put up a wall then gave the new space to Eleanor Jean.

The low-key but glamorous celebrity locals quickly made it as their own, making Eleanor Jean a local neighborhood haunt among Lisa Rinna's Bella Gray, Tory Spelling's Inventori, and local bakery/cafe/market, Sweet Butter Kitchen, a cozy, chic corner where neighborhood celebrities primp, pamper, shop and nibble.

Eleanor Jean started a charity fragrance of the month program, "A Scent for Humanity." At the first of each month, Eleanor Jean will customized a fragrance for a new celebrity then sell that limited edition fragrance for that particular month, donating a precentage to that celebrity's choice of charity.

Once the month is over, the cycle begins again.

Jacey blended a customized a perfume for "The Voice" contestant, Lily Elise for the month of July, in cozy boutique nook where the fragrance bar is stocked. Then, come next month, it is "Dancing with the Stars", Louie Van Amstel.

A parade of tween and teen actresses and actors stormed the fragrance launch party, nibbling on cake lollipops and sipping on HINT Water on this hot and sweltering Summer day in the Valley. The tween actresses love playing around with Eleanor Jean's one of a kind makeup brands, slicking on lipglosses and swirling blush.

Appearances are deceiving. On the outside, it looks like a quaint, little shop but wait and behold when you step inside. Jacey makes full use of the long and lean space, creating a full-service beauty emporium where a mini loungewear nook, a screened-off waxing section, and a spacious manicure/pedicure salon crop up. This long and lean newcomer sure packs a wallop of primp, pampering, and goodies.

In the front main department, vanity table and chairs make up the makeup station where a makeup artist can apply a new look for the day and night.

likes of MOR, Lafco New York, and Tocca, with fashionable but exceptional cosmetics that are difficult to find, even in Los Angeles, such as Girlacktik, Tinte, and Besame.

The local Sherman Oaks celebrities quickly adapted Eleanor Jean as their own neighborhood hang-out, making it Ventura Boulevard's ultimate beauty destination. From Mt. Pleasant on Shem Creek to Sherman Oaks, welcomed to the Valley, Eleanor Jean.

It isn't Summer until it's July the 4th!

2011-06-30T16:40:00.001-07:00

By Laura Medina

A pair of Franklin + Gower swimtrunks doing a backflip.

On July the 4th, we celebrate what's good and fun and great about America.

The French art book company, Assouline, celebrates American heritage and culture...and style, of course,...in three of its Summer time offerings.

" Coca-Cola, the Book", profiles the art, advertisement, and how it both influence and transforms, not just American culture, but how it spread this nation's image throughout the globe.

A pictorial history of twentieth-century Americana. In tune with today, you can also down the book's app.

If it took nearly a hundred years for Coca-Cola to define American culture, the Council of Fashion Designers of America's "American Fashion Travel," spotlights current members' favorite places and their travel essentials for packing. An inspirational scrapbook.

It isn't Summer unless we have eye candy, whether it's on the sands or in the pages or both.

If you follow the seasons, you know Summer means hitting particular festivals and parties at certain spots, such as the Hamptons. Let "Hamptons Gardens" bring the ripe blooms to you in the comfort of your own air-conditioned room.

Traveling aboard or trekking within the country or for a few miles, it isn't complete until you pack a couple of boardshorts and swim trunks.

Franklin + Gower keeps it lean, mean, fun, and functional with its latest addition to its collection.

Elastic, pull-string cord at the waist. Waterproof fabrics and ribbon piping, the brand with preppy roots has grown into a retro-All American style with a dash of dapperness. Franklin+Gower remedy the imfamous American baggy sloppiness then refined the floppy boardshorts into objects of sleek and lean and clean while bringing back Americana sportiness.

Now, celebrate July the 4th, drink Coca-Cola, grab some travel ideas from Assouline then surf in Americana Franklin+Gower swim trunks.

Summer-It's Festival Season!

2011-06-28T12:23:00.001-07:00

By Laura Medina

Paul Frank's Julius & Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros say "Hi!"

You know it's Summer when festivals and fairs hit the scene.

Karson Photography of this scribe's 3 favorite people at Spoleto SCENE's White Party: Larry James, Chris Clark, & Maggie Winterfeldt.

Speaking of scene, the Spoleto Festival USA's junior art patron group threw their annual White Party in honor of Andy Warhol's 13 Most Beautiful Screen Test performance.

The Summer Festival cruised in when they took over a derelict wharf, pop up a glowing, white tent, and commemorate the season by launching a boat cruise around Charleston Harbor and the Ravenel Bridge twinkling in the background.

This White Party was one of four big bashes thrown in honor of the festival's hottest performers: hip-hop poet, Lemon Andersen; jazz starlet, Sarah Jarosz; Andy Warhol's 13 Most Beautiful, and saving the last for the best, the rocking Trombone Shorty, from HBO's "Treme."

These ignite the party festival season with major blow-outs. All for good causes. The Spoleto SCENE parties generate funds and a new generation of art supporters for Spoleto USA. The Billabong/VH1's Street Fair lives it up for Save the Music Charity; and Paul Frank wants to get to know you by kickstarting its nationwide traveling block party.

As soon the Arriviste rolled back into Hollywood, this scribe jumped into Billabong/VH1's Save the Music charity street fair, taking over Paramount Studio's New York City backlot.

VH1 provided the Skullcandy vendors, the food trucks, the art gallery, the graffitti artists, three of the hottest bands, with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros headlining.

Billabong threw in the sizzling swimwear fashion show and the surfboard workshop and its own photography studio.

Like the SCENE parties above, all that glitz goes into a good cause, VH1's Save the Music fund musical education for children, filling in where public musical education was.

Can't forget the little ones...and the big ones.

Paul Frank kicked off its national tour by doing an all-ages fair in the Pacific Design Center's backyard in the heart of West Hollywood's Melrose District.

Little kids and big kids slide off the inflatable slide, gobble copious amounts Korean/Mexican tacos, hot dogs, and mounds of ice cream.

They soon burnt them off bouncing from playing ping pong, cheering on the puppy pageant, and the two concerts.

What is really cool...is that the whole family can share in this. Unlike the two previous fairs and parties, Paul Frank wants the whole family together. Plus, this is a good way to know what the hipster parents and their cool kids want.

If you feel left out reading this, don't despair.

The Paul Frank Tour is coming to you soon. Traversing left to right, up and down, everyone can jump into fun by checking the tour's schedule at http://academyofawesometour.com/mobile-schedule.

Not only is it for the whole family, the Paul Frank Tour is free and open to the public, to all sorts of kids, young, old, big, small, plus-sized, and petite-sized.

The previous two festivals and fair, Spoleto SCENE and Billabong/VH1 Save the Music are foundations and a charity. Your donations and membership fees are tax-deductible.

Now, Summer is the time to party!

Italy's freshest foot and arm candy.

2011-06-22T16:38:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

Ballin feather and rhinestone-encrusted pumps.

In the week-long celebration of Italian art, culture, and design, the second, third, and fourth days shifted towards something the majority of women...and girls can understand, use, and dream about...the freshest and the most current pumps and bags coming from Italy today.

During the 150th birthday and unification of Italy, it is being used as a launching pad for the latest and newest in Italian design, the trade commission are holding an open fashion house where Italy's hottest brands are making their first official United States debut.

These past three days are the first time these brands have been shown anywhere in America.

The multi-colored feathered and bejeweled Ballin pumps are worn by Italy's hottest young starlets, hoping they'll be worn by Hollywood's hot, young, things.

Balla Billa bike saddle bag/purse.

Since the majority of Italians still bike around town, it makes sense to design a dual purpose saddle bag straddling the rail then swung away as a double handbag with a very long strap.

A great accessory for your Vespa-riding high/college student or girl about town.

These adorable rosette pumps, sandals, and flats are by Manas Lea Foscati, Italy's Nine West...fashion-forward and reasonable.

These snake-skin pumps are by Italy's most high-end brand, Mauri. They specialize in exotic hides and tans. At first, the attendees thought they're made out of wood. Nope, it's python.

The Italian Trade Commission thinks it is easier to introduce new brands in Los Angeles than it is in New York.

Wearily, unless you are a big, established brand like Versace or Dolce and Gabbana, New York is a tougher market to crack. If you do an open house during the day, nobody comes because everyone is working. If you do an evening event, then it has to be the major brands because they can afford the bashes and parties. An effort most young companies and talents cannot accomplish.

But here in Los Angeles, the entertainment capital, it is easier to break new brands into the American market place.

Movies and television shows' costume designers and stylists are always hunting for fresh brands to provide fresh looks to the shows or their celebrity clients. Being exposed on a movie or a tv show is great awareness.

These Hollywood starlets love being the first to wear the latest products.

Again, during a calming, warm, sunny afternoon, costume designers and stylists are available to walk in and inspect the latest trends at a much lower cost.

La Dolce Vita displays the freshest foot and arm candy in the heart of Rodeo Drive.

July 9th's Prince William's Polo Match in Santa Barbara

2011-06-22T12:35:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

In a press conference detailing July 9^th’s historical charity polo match with Prince William playing, Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club chairman, Ambassador Glen Holden never imaged the hoopla celebrating the club’s hundredth birthday.

Prince Harry & Prince William

In honoring the club’s centennial, he politely and modestly wrote Prince Charles, whom he had played with and against, a letter asking if his sons can play in a polo match celebrating the club’s hundredth birthday.

Ambassador Holden was not aware of Prince William’s and the Duchess of Cambridge’s engagement and their royal wedding. All that residual excitement certainly took him by surprise. He is honored to be hosting the royal’s first American and California trip.

Duke of Cambridge in action on the polo field.

He welcomed the royal and media hoopla in bringing attention to this prestigious club and enthusiasm to the sport of polo, itself, wishing that the Duke of Cambridge can bring awareness of polo, as David Beckham did to soccer in the United States.

He hopes the anticipation of the charity match will inform the general public that the Santa Barbara Polo Club is considered one of the top four polo clubs in the world. Two of the world’s best polo players call this home. That polo is open to anyone who wants to learn and play. During the winter, they operate a polo school. In April, they gradually warm up the season with matches. Then around July to August, they attracted the world class teams to its tournaments, cumulating in the big Pacific Coast Open where the gold and silver Pacific Coast Open Trophy is hoisted and housed in the club house.

Everything has been approved and run by the royal palace. The police will closed side streets for extra security and crowd management.

Ambassador Holden found the palace staff to be accommodating and responsive and surpisingly easy-going. They immediately return his phone calls and emails.

The Duke of Cambridge will play on the Royal Salute team while the opposing team is sponsored by Audi and American Express. Jack Wills supply the jerseys.

The Duchess of Cambridge will present this unique Tiffany & Company trophy, created specifically for this event. A sterling silver cup with 18K gold accents with polo pony handles. She will give this to the winning team.

Ambassador Holden lets it be known that this is not a royal and dignitaries-exclusive event. It is a charity match open to the general public; and that there are many common people who do play polo. The tickets are available to purchase on the club’s site, http://www.foundationpolochallenge.com/.
There are two levels of admission. The VIP attendees will lunch on Polo Field 1, across from the club house, on Tiffany table seating. Giada de Laurentiis created the menu for the luncheon, highlighting California produce and cuisine. The attendees have a pick of one of the two options, non-vegetarian and vegetarian. The non-vegetarian offers chicken curry in a pita pockets with cole slaw both dotted with dried cranberries. The vegetarian has avocado sandwich with goat cheese and a pasta salad. Both have lemon-glazed scone and chocolate-chip/cranberry oatmeal cookies as desserts and treats.

As one of the sponsors and the trophy creator, Tiffany decorates the luncheon tables in Tiffany blue linen while white flower bouquets resemble the white bow.

The club attendees will eat the same lunches in boxed meals.

The polo match is essential fundraiser for The American Friends of the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry, supporting children, conservation, sustainable resources, and military and veteran families, and the Polo Training Center of Santa Barbara.

An once in a lifetime, historical event.

Viva Italia! Art of Italian Motoring, Injecting Fashion into Automobile Engineering

2011-06-20T10:12:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

The centerpiece of Course D' Elegance by La Dolce Vita in at Beverly Hills' Geary's Jewelry Boutique.

150th years ago, the fiefdoms of the Italian pennisula came together and became the nation of Italy.

To celebrate Italy's birthday, Beverly Hills used it's annual Concour D'Elegance on Father's Day, it's annual fashion show of luxury coups, sedans, and sport cars to honor the best in Italian car design and engineering using Rodeo Drive's and the world's best boutiques as glamorous backdrops.

In celebration of the creation of Italy, Italy's Consulate General, the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, and the Italian Trade Commission descended upon the heart of Beverly Hills on Rodeo Drive to cheer the 150th Birthday of Italy by throwing a week-long bash of the best of Italian design, fashion, art, culture, and cuisine.

What a way to honor the dad in your life by showcasing the best of Italian automobile design and engineering in an upscale car show lining the entire length of Rodeo Drive, creating a Concours d'Elegance to display the best of "The Art of Italian Motoring."

Italian manufacturers, designers, and trade groups welcomed Beverly Hills with open arms by gifting the boulevard with the rarest, the oldest, and the newest of Fiats, Ferraris, Alfa Romeos, Lamborghinis, Lancias, and Maseratis...can't forget the Ducatis and the Vespas.

This was not for appearances for appearances' sake. It is the timeline of Italian industrial design, heritage, and engineering. Basically, it is respecting Italians for injecting their history and love of arts, culture, and design into the automobile innovations since the inception of the car.

The newest and latest Bugatti.

Italy's Consul General Nicola Faganello, "From fashion and automobiles to cinema and dining, the very best of Italy will be highlighted throughout this week-long celebration in Beverly Hills...This is an exceptional way to help celebrate the 150th anniversary of the reunification of Italy and allow Beverly Hills residents and visitors to experience the very best of Italian culture without leaving the city."

Umberto Vattani, the Ambassador and Italian Trade Commission's president is "honored to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Italian Unification, and pleased to seize the opportunity offered to by such an ideal scenario to promote Italian excellence...the ITC is implementing a new and integrated system for promoting Italian lifestyle, bringing our movie industry and luxury goods manufacture all together in Beverly Hills."

Pietro Celi, Director General of the Ministry of Economic Development, thinks Beverly Hills is the best platform to display the best of Italian design and culture.

Beverly Hills Mayor, Barry Brucker, and Thomas J. Blumenthal, Rodeo Drive Committee president, are honored to be chosen to hold the celebration of Italy, the culture, and the best of Italian art and design.

Mr. Brucker, "Our city offers many of Italy's finest fashions, automobiles, and culinary tastes and this celebration is a wonderful way to showcase those great businesses."

Mr. Blumenthal, "Partnering with the Italian Trade Commission to celebrate Italy's 150th anniversary was a natural connection as Rodeo Drive is home to many of Italy's most famous designers and the world-class Rodeo Drive Concours d'Elegance."

The Piece de Resistance at the Concours d' Elegance is a yellow Ferrari balancing on gold-glided Richard Ginori porcelain espresso cups, under all four wheels, at GEARYS Beverly Hills.

In its 18 year history, Beverly Hills' Concours d' Elegance has this traditon of debuting the latest and newest in high-performance sports cars.

This year is no exception.

Father's Day 2011 was the official launch of the McLaren the sports car to the general public.

It went from being strictly a Formula 1 racing car to an high-end sports car.

It still keeps the strong but light carbon fiber chasis and engine. For the driver, there are two knobs that adjust the powertrain and handling of the car. A first in automobile engineering.

The Launch control system consists of two knobs changing the powertrain and handling, each have three settings for normal, sport, and high performance driving modes. Again, a first in automobile engineering.

Concours d' Elgance is one of the few events where limited edition and unique one-offs are in their best display.

There is a lot of automobile history here. One of them is the Scaglietti, a former competitive car designer to Ferrari. Eventually, Ferrari bought him out then owns it. This particular Scaglietti/Ferrari was a rare collaboration between Ferrari and Corvette in the mid-Seventies where Ferrari would design and build the highest end sports car for Corvette. The union didn't but the Petersen Museum has two of them. Imagine that.

Concours d' Elegance was not all about cars. It also showcased the best in motorcycles and scooters, such as Ducati and Vespa for those who want to zip around town, running errands, not speeding down the motorway.

This past Father's Day is only a start to a week-long celebration of Italy art, culture, and design, culuminating in a mini-Tour d'Italia bike race encircling Beverly Hills through Malibu then back to Rodeo Drive and Wilshire Boulevard. In between, enjoy the fashion, the jewelry, the cuisine at reasonable discounts, and the cinema.

Ciao Bella!

2011-06-17T17:43:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

Let's start with the basics-the upscale basics...

Caswell-Massey offers the any man in your life some fine basic facial care from their 1752 line. For this year's Father's Day, they introduced a new scent, the reinvigorating eucalyptus.

With the bracing scent of eucalyptus with the soothing texture of coconut oil, glycerine, chamomile, and thyme, Caswell-Massey 1752 line strikes a yin-yang balance between sharp and mellow.

Father's Day strikes in the middle of Summer. He's more in the mood for hitting the surf than the boardroom and a vacation, surf and sand. Be more thoughtful and surprise him with Perry Ellis boardshorts for $59.50, affordable attire he'll be pleased with or some top-notch shorts from Franklin+Gower, their latest addition.

If he's in a mood for a mental vacation, these sly tees and hoodies might be the key to a mental break, give him a Hoodiebuddie tee and hoodie.

Insert in the seams and plackets are MP3 wiring and cords and headphones that you can plug into your player while you can plug in your headphones.

Not your usual tie for Father's Day.

Giorgio Armani's character studies in film.

2011-06-16T11:15:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

Sean Penn in Terrence Malick’s “The Tree of Life."

Since dressing Richard Gere in softly-tailored suits reflecting his louche character in “American Gigolo,” Giorgio Armani has tailored movie characters-physically and personality-wise for thirty-one years.

He continues with Sean Penn in Terrance Malick's "The Tree of Life" and Cate Blanchett for "Hanna."

Penn's brooding character is expressed in his stoic uniform of two-button notch lapel suits, shirts, and neckwear in steward black and somber charcoal grey

Costume designer Jacqueline West, nominated for an Oscar for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, continues: “I've found Mr. Armani to be one of the most dedicated and inspirational designers I could ever hope to work with on a film. In ‘The Tree of Life,’ the grey suit we first see Adult Jack wearing is beautifully architectural. The suit represents the grey, ultra modern cityscape of present day Houston, the starkness and the bleakness that imprisons him, the grey glass and steel of his home and life. The black suit that Sean wears, for me, represents the clash of the present with the ancient prehistoric landscapes of nature. The lines of that perfectly crafted suit delineate modern man confronting mankind's beginnings. For me, nothing could have helped tell the tale of Adult Jack better than these brilliantly constructed suits.”

Mr. Armani comments: “What a pleasure to find myself working alongside this creative conclave. My professional relationship with Jacqueline has been a sartorial success story. Her exquisite talent makes film wardrobe key to the cinematic experience. Her work reminds me how clothing plays a leading role on screen.”

For further character development, Mr. Armani expresses the single-minded focus of Cate Blanchett's character in "Hanna."

To drive the point that her intelligence operative, Marissa Wiegler, is the villian, Armani designed her as a modern Ice Queen.

Lucie Bates, the costume designer, describes her as the "Wicked Witch," "her colors would be red [for her hair] and green [in her attire]."

Expressing the character's professionalism and focus...and efficiency, both Ms. Bates and Mr. Armani reflected that in her elegantly tailored suiting and a striking green-colored cashmere overcoat.

Mr. Armani's uses Ms. Blanchett's professionalism as an actor as a foundation for her character's wardrobe, "Working with Cate Blanchett, on and off the screen, has always been a highlight for me," notes Mr. Armani. "She embodies the perfect combination of consummate actor and world-class fashion icon”

Don't expect Giorgio Armani to set the fad of the week or the trend of the month when he designs costumes for movies. The clothes are part of the character...and this is why his creations stand the test of time. They're as strong as the movie characters he designs for.

Faster, Sleeker Prepster, Franklin + Gower

2011-05-31T09:45:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

Headquartered in the heart of Hollywood and named for the intersection where the Hollywood sign is located, Franklin + Gower is a reflection of the current, modern-day preppy.

The founders, Eduardo Braniff and Christopher "Paco" McCauley, are real-life preps who moved west to Los Angeles and worked in advertising, entertainment, and media.

Eduardo Braniff, a former movie producer and media creative director, and Christopher, "Paco" McCauley, a sports producer for cable television, were dismayed by the devolution of preppy attire suffering from bad workmanship, poor fabric quality, and dismal tailoring at elevated prices.

They decided to join up then they took a leap of faith in bringing preppy attire to its former glory by offering top-notch craftsmanship and quality that stands the test of time while reflecting the authentic, modern preppy.

The one who jet sets from city-to-city and hops the globe. That same preppy who isn't above clubbing it, whether it is in Hollywood or Vegas. Then again, she or he probably owns the place...and can't live without her or his IPhone/smartphone.

Franklin + Gower's Eduardo and Paco offer customized insets, pipings, stripes, and linings in light-hearted patterns and prints for their Bermuda shorts, khakis, trousers, and blazers in light-weight, micro-wale corduroys and seersucker for Spring/Summer and decadent velvet for Fall/Winter.

Making preppy dandy.

But, they keep steward functionality...with a touch of Lilly Pulitzer-like playfulness and whimsy in their roots.

They just recently added a board short collection for those who sail and surf.

Celebrities are opening up to Franklin+Gower's new found preppisms. Here's Paco helping "Mad Men"s Jon Hamm at their launch party last year.

Robert Downey Jr. sporting a pair of Franklin + Gower's piped corduroy trousers.

Mindful of what the modern-day preppy gent wants, they even tailored interior pockets for smartphones and IPhones/IPods, nestled in lined pockets.

Franklin + Gower Bermuda and Sassy Shorts in action.
They do not forget the ladies.

For their women's collection, they took the androgynous preppy frugality of stealing from your brother and father then streamlined the Bermudas into tomboy, tuxedo shorts in velvet with piping; and sassy, but respectful short-shorts, ok hot pants contouring curves and hugging the seat, as sporty substitutes for miniskirts.
They took the boxy blazer, sharpened it into a comfortable classic, a lean, mean jacket that adds pizzazz to the simple camisole and jeans ensemble.

Considering they're nice guys, Franklin + Gower was very generous at the start of this Summer.

Can't forget the groom during Summer's weddings, they collaborated on a contest with stylemepretty.com where the groom and his groomsmen can win a prize of a whole, customized wardrobe for that wedding day.

The prize consists of them picking one, some, or all of the following: blazers, trousers, ties, and pocket squares.

For those not getting hitched, Franklin + Gower also teamed up with grungegentleman.com where they can kick off Summer by winning two Summer suits, one khaki and one seersucker.

How generous.

Revamped and renewed, Franklin + Gower is one of the new epicenter of preppy chic.

Ciao Summer! Italian, Preppy Style, Flair at Ron Robinson on Melrose

2011-05-23T09:03:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

A pair of Sundek Models serving wine and coconut sorbet.

Italian Summer arrived at Ron Robinson on Melrose just on time.

An American/Californian ex-pat, Sundek Surfwear, returned to home turf. They showcased classic Sixities Californian madras and teal with sunburst in Italian fabrics and tailoring by former Prada menswear designer, Neil Barrett. American sporty roots grown and refined by Italy, where it grew into that country's hottest swimwear brand, only to return home as an American brand done good. Welcomed back.

To complement the Italian beach feel, Missoni popped up a home decor trunk show in Ron Robinson's interior decoration section, outfitted by lush towels and decadent knit swatches for shoppers to pick, choose, and customize through Missioni's fashion executives, above.

They modelled true Italian style-it is the preppy stand-bys of white polos, white jeans, the navy blazer, the lilac button-down and necktie. However, they jolted their ensembles by topping it off with a Missoni knit pullover or switch the khaki for the classic Americana Summer classic, seersucker.

It wouldn't be an Italian Summer with Ducati, the Ferrari of motorcycles.

They may be not hunking huge as our Harley-Davidsons but they're like Italian design themselves-lean, mean, agile, quick, and nimble, decked out in see-through engine chambers and suede seats.

Ahhhh, Italian Summer....

Get some real feathered hair, courtesy of Sean James

2011-05-21T10:41:00.001-07:00

By Laura Medina

Sean James of Fred Segal Santa Monica.

Hair stylist to the celebrities, such as Conan O' Brien and New York Fashion Week veteran, Sean James rattled off the top three Summer hair styles: highlights, of course, the top knot, and feathers in your hair.

Not feathered, layered hair or the Shag. Nope. He talked about something organic as it is high tech.

If highlights makes you yawn, why not glue real feathers into your hair?

Doable. While he chatted, Mr. James deftly combed and detangled this scribe's tangled mess of a rat's nest, smoothed, and flipped the hair in flipped tiled sections, the ultimated Farah Fawcett Feathered Flip. This was just the start.

By selecting a section, the same way you pick a highlight, he placed two feathers on top of the hair section, applied organic glue then heat-sealed with an iron.

Protein on top of protein by protein. Healthy.

Instead of a the normal and expected highlight, do something truly bohemian and highlight your hair with feathers for that earthy but sophisicated look for Summer. A leap up from clipping roach clips to your hair.

Look closely, the fluffy, green feather subtly adds an iridescent highlight that is surprising yet natural.

21st Century Infusion Hair Conditioning & a Quick Touch-up from Pros for Time Pressed Moms/Women

2011-05-19T07:01:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

JOICO K-PAK QUADRAION BLOW DRYER

Debuting on the day before Mother's Day, Joico Hair Care launch the most innovative hair products on the market for today's real and really, really busy moms who are literally pressed for time.

Can't deal with the kids tugging on you while trying to fix your hair, iron in one hand and styling/conditioner in the other so you can look presentable and polished first thing in the morning then go-go nonstop?

This is why Joico brought out two 2-in-1 infusing hair care tools, an hair iron that either curls or straightens the strands while conditioning them; and a blow dryer that conditions while the heat dries your hair.

Called infusion technology, both tools have wells or reservoirs that hold concentrated conditioning lotion or serum that, when turned on, the heat from the tool either infuses and seals the conditioner directly into the hair shaft like the K-PAK ReconstrRx VaporIron; or it infuses the hair strands by blowing heated air onto the strands like the K-PAK Quadraion Pro-Dryer.

K-PAK ReconstrRx VaporIron

With the above K-PAK Quadraion Pro-Dryer, it works by first, filling the well inside the nozzle with keratin-rich conditioning serum. When you turn it on, the warm/hot air from the engine will drive through the nozzle and the well, carrying with extreme fine mist of the conditioner onto the wet hair. As you dry the hair, the more likely you'll condition the hair strands richer and deeper since the heated air drives the conditioner deeper into the strands and the core, making them softer and manageable. All done with one hand. You can either use the other hand to wash the kid or put on makeup while the kid is tugging on you.

If you want beach wave ringlets or a sleek and smooth hairdo, you can apply the same infusion technology with the K-PAK ReconstrRx VaporIron.

This is more direct than the Quadraion Pro-Dryer which blows conditioner deeper into the hair strands.

By actually touching then sealing the hair strands when the iron directly holds, clamps then either wraps/curls or straightens the strands themselves, the keratin conditioner directly passes from the well into the hair shafts then the cores through the irons them. As the heat from the irons shapes the hair, it also conditions the hair. Again, you can either use the free hand to fix your face or fix the kid.

Whichever tool or method you pick, both Joico's latest styling tools are innovation in deep conditioning. Using direct, heat-infusion conditioning technology, the soft manageability is actually durable, longer-lasting since the inner hair shaft is already deep conditioned with keratin, making your hair easier to comb and brush yet also durable and strong.

No more of this coating which drags hair down while clogging skin pores.

Think of K-PAK ReconstrRx VaporIron and the K-PAK Quadraion Pro-Dryer as EZ Pass for hair styling and hair conditioning two-in-one.

If you're a luxurious luddite and can't bear or handle two-in-one high tech tools or you have more pressing matters-hair dye and touch-ups and you're all thumbs in that department, there is an one stop pit stop, TINT.

They do more than a simple tint. This hair dye depot takes the complications and rigid formulas out of your bathroom and towels into their chic salon where a person can get $350 quality dye and touch-ups for a mere $47 touch-up to $55 highlights.

The owner, Frank, wants to the modern hair salon more nimble than the traditional salon where a busy mom can drop by, running errands, and get hair and dye fixed. No appointments required but you can, if you want to be formal about it. The customized hair color is made from scratch. Let the staff at TINT fuss over your roots or refresh your hair so you don't have to...and they take the guess work out of the equation of which shade is right for you.

It's an oil change for your hair color.

If you're a more tactical person but can't stand the whole routine of wash n' dry, Wella has a very simple solution for you.

Need a quickie touch-up with dry hair, dap a pinkie of this Smooth Brillance Pomade, just smooth it over the ends, not the scalp then style your hair anyway you want. Spinky, finger-styled or shape and seal with an iron. Wella's Smooth Brilliance Pomade fixes your strands in a jiff.

From the high tech to the low tech, Summer 2011 Haircare aims at improve the durability and health of your hair while making hair care quicker and faster to fit today's moms-and women.

Anchor's Away, Randolph Duke's Cruise Collection Sets Sail into Summer & Resort Season

2011-05-18T09:52:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

Beverly Hills' society mavens hosting the Fourth Annual Women of Distinction Luncheon, benefiting Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, were in for a treat.

Los Angeles-based and former Anne Cole and Gottex designer, Randolph Duke, reached back into his swimwear roots and presented a shimmering sea of a Cruise Collection for Summer that can set sail straight into Resort during Winter.

The most steward of pieces were classic nautical, lightweight knits in Navy Blue and calming cream, such as the trio above.

Mr. Duke proved that he mastered easy chic, the navy knit halter top with a gold anchor emblem then continued the naval color scheme into bold but stand-by geometric diamond patterns on dresses and skirts.

Naval chic would not exist if it weren't for Coco Chanel. Hence, he paid tribute in navy tuxedo suits, blazer and trouser without or with a shirt then topped with creamy strands of pearls necklaces.

Mr. Duke's Cruise Collection was not strictly nautical strict.

He glided into swimwear swimming into eveningwear by the pool or airy attire for sultry Summer nights.

Not one drop of sequin was wasted, the glittering but discreet shimmer showcased the models as stylish mermaids ready for cocktails or the elegant soiree.

Chiffon sarongs made the sequined sarongs nighttime ready. The ocean-toned,ombre sequined gown emphasized the collection's aquatic theme.

Underneath all this glamour, Mr. Duke slying deploy cruise and resort wear as double-duty, possible if constructed in quality fabrics and texture with a single tie of a sarong, turning the swimsuit into a summer gown. A method he learned working as a swimwear designer for Anne Cole and Viewpoint by Gottex.

He further delved the point of swimwear as eveningwear by taking the cover-up and loungewear into nighttime worthy cocktail dresses and gowns-in black. The sheer, ruffle wrap cover-up turned dress, so Seventies fierce yet so easy to wear. For this black subset, he stretched luxurious Cruise wear into one shoulder sharpness with severly sexy, asymetrical draping with black leaves that could easily mistaken for daggers. Who says resortwear is sloppy?

This scribe does admit this, it wouldn't be Cruise/Resortwear if there wasn't a bikini tossed in there.

For this, Randolph Duke reached into the tropics, say the Seychelles where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are honeymooning it right now.

Halter top bikinis and bandeaus literally went green in rainforest verdant and olive. He breaks it up with a black and white speckled swimsuit. However, he never left a bandeau without a sarong or a wrap skirt in rainforest prints or matching sun hats for sun protection.

For those who want to celebrate Summer with no intentation of hitting the White Parties or you want alternatives and flexibility in your travel-light carry-on, Randolph Duke gave an ocean of double-duty maillots and sarongs as evening gowns and cover-ups as dresses, sprinkled with cute, warm weather-friendly knit halter tops.

White, Hot Nights for Summer's White Party Circuit

2011-05-16T10:01:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

Whether it is in Palm Springs, California or Palm Beach, Florida, consider yourself lucky to participate in the White Party Circuit.

It is no longer exclusively, seasonally parties. The circuit grows and moves wherever the climate is warm and sunny or sultry and stylish at night.

As a matter of fact, in non-traditional "White Party" cities, such as Hollywood, the White Party gives people the excuse to dress it up and practice some form of deportment. Hollywood's White Party provider, F.A.M.E. LA's London Moore always include instructions in how to dress for his White Party...as in please, wear flesh-toned undergarments due to the sheer nature of some fabrics. His may be the first to launch the season but his is not the only one in Hollywood, in the United States or the world to celebrate White Parties. In Miami, you know it is Winter when there's a White Party.

For my White Party go-ers, here are some refreshingly new way to dress white, without drowning in a sea of cloned cotton eyelets and lace.

In fact, the hottest trend is satin. During the African Channel's Music Awards/White Party, white satin was rocking in various and unexpected forms..;and the dudes were still prepping it.

Above, make it like Jecca Craig and do it African Safari style. The style is casual enough to survive Summer's humidity. The cut-off jeans are wallet-friendly and back-of-closet attainable. But, that white satin button-down shirt makes it sexy and figure-enchancing, not slutty or predictable. Then top it off with a white bush/cowboy/fedora hat to shield you from the sun, sporty sexy-this is nice. However, don't make your cut-offs too tight or too high. Just because it's sticky sweat, it never means it is hot.

If you insist on something more prim, again bust out of the eyelet and go pouf with strapless cocktail dress with pouf skirt or a lean and mean evening gown-again in sleek satin.

The African All-White party offers a plethora of all-white menswear, ranging from European Dapper to All-American prep to African camp to traditonal dishiki.

Left, layer it on with lightweight v-neck, sleeveless sweater over white button-down and necktie, rocking that East Coast Prep. Or on the right, go Euro in all-white, lightweight, three-piece suit. Both used a dot of black to accent their outfits.

Too much effort? That camp/safari shirt on the left is travel-ready, from Miami to Vegas. Good wardrobe investment for both men and women.

Another option that the ladies can steal from the boys-the traditional African shirt/tunic, the dashiki. If your man is too chicken to don this breezy tunic, steal it from him and wear it either as a shirt or a mini-dress. Two outfits in one-proves him.

Too old to wear a miniskirt or too young to know how to wear a miniskirt? No fear, the fine purveyors of West Coast preppiness-this is not an oxymoron (more on this later)-Franklin & Gower is here for the rescue. They knew, as preppies, that androgyny is economically-sensible style that women have been using since they have fathers, uncles, brothers, and sons. For the sporty but chic girl, Franklin & Gower took the man/boy blazer and shorts, streamlined them for a girl-friendly fit then redid the whole ensemble in lightweight white.

Now, you can show off those legs...without showing too much.

Now is the time to hit Calypso for Target. Their beach-t0-bar limited edition collection hits all the right price and party points.

Other publications swoon on the double-duty over these all-white pieces.

The ruffle wrap dress makes for a time-saving but elegant cover-up. Spend all day at the beach then wrap this dress over your bikini, you're ready to hit the bar.

This adorable ruffle camisole is actually a pajama set that is cute enough to pair with white jeans for the other night activity-white partying it.

What to wear with the white ruffle cover-up/wrap dress and the ruffle camisole?

You can wear the white bikini set under the ruffle wrap dress and nobody will know while you can pair the ruffle camisole with these pair of white beach trousers.

Calypso for Target got you covered.

Want to stretch your White Party wardrobe beyond Summer and the white parties, here's a crisp white, cowl neck, wrap sweater that can keep you snug when Autumn's chill breezes in.

Level 99's white jeans become Winter White and makes a great and glamourous choice for the holidays with a blazing white or silver sequinned or bedazzled top.

There are aplenty of ways to play white, not just for Summer, not only for White Parties but beyond those, way into the Winter's White Parties.

Stuff that the busy mom really wants.

2011-05-06T12:05:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

Ipad/notebook/laptop, check. Iphone/smartphone, check. Wallet, check. brush/comb, check. Water bottle, check. Makeup kit or a tube of lip/check, check. Snacks for you and the kid, check.

Don't irritate another mom with wilting, overpriced flowers or odd-smelling perfume that makes her sneeze. Give her stuff that she needs.

The multi-talented and multi-tasking Cynthia Rowley and MCM give what anyone, mom or not, needs and wants...good, strudy, chic, and roomy purses to stuff daily essentials. Rowley's Charlotte Frame Bag comes in gray, coral red (above), and reliable black. MCM's First Lady Bag is an easy drawstring bag for in-and-out access and grabbing.

Now, that you graduated from "Chicken Soup for the Soul," you need mantras to give yourself an excuse to...take care of yourself. "If You give a Mom a Martini..." book helps you first before you can help others. It's $11 from Random House and can be found on Gilt.com.

Once you're done giving yourself an excuse for that martini, you need Jee Vice sunglasses to shield your weary eyeballs from the harsh sun and comfortable but stylish Jellypop sandals to keep you running without stumbling.

Keep it styling for you all moms out there.

For the Stylish, Hip, & Active Mom

2011-05-06T11:40:00.000-07:00

By Laura Medina

Alo's eco-sports cami, halter polo & pleated skirt. Divine Wear Scuba Jacket.

Get a jump start on Mother's Day by honoring both your mom and Mother Earth.

She will like you better if you give her Alo's ecologically-minded activewear and Divine Wear Scuba Jacket for her yoga and Barre classes than a box of chocolates.

Target has Calypso for Target for an one-month stay from May First until June 11th. Here is the sneak peek of the Bohemian-Jet Setting line.

Inspired by lounging on a beach, somewhere in India, the Calypso for Target home and jewelry elephant-based line make chic but carefree gifts for mom. She will find them adorable.

Jessica Elliot "Just Like Mama" Jewelry and Guy & Eva necklaces also make special trinkets.

They go well with Franklin + Gower's sporty, tomboy-inspired but fashion-forward preppy blazers and lean, mean bermuda shorts in chic fabrics and trims.

Your mom will appreciate these easy but urbane black cami maxi dresses from Bella Luxx, on the left, and the Urban 1972, on the right. They can be dressed up with the above jewelries from Jessica Elliot and Guy & Eva or the arriving Calypso for Target collection on May First.

Think out of the candy box, the perfume, and the flowers. Give her stuff she wants to use.