Good Vibrations on Earth Day, April 22nd

By Laura Medina

Divine Wear Separates

If the arriving Earth Day, this Thursday, April 22nd, makes you think of granola, dull dirt colors, rough-hewn sack cloths and has you making pieties in order to honor Mother Earth. Get that of your mind.

Face this ecological holiday with Spring, celebrating renewal, flowers, fresh air, and running your toes in the lush green grass in soft, comfortable clothes that are easy on the skin without depriving oneself of style.

Divine Wear Jumpsuit

Explore this vast country or your own city from forest to beach by jumping into this lightweight, airy, anti-bacterial bamboo/cotton jumpsuit. As an anti-bacterial fiber, bamboo not only cuts down on gray laundry water but reduces the time doing laundry. Now, go out and have fun without worries.

If you're in the more traditional mode of Spring Cleaning and you have to recycle more than usual on Earth Day. Why replace the old with the new then get rewarded for it.

For six straight days, H&M will run a donations program where folks can drop off “gently worn” kids’ clothes in any H&M store carrying children's clothes, from Earth Day to April 28th.

The donations program, “Clothes For Kids” support the Boys and Girls Club in local communities across the United States.

For each donation, will receive a coupon for 20% OFF their next H&M Kids purchase.

The coupon is valid through May 12th and cannot be combined with any other offer or discount.

Earth Day special on Gilt Group for the Audubon Group and The Nature Conservancy.

More good viberations coming your way.

Go to Gilt Group on Earth Day and get your hands on Loomstate, Matt & Nat, Leigh & Luca, Dr. Hauschka and EDUN to support National Audubon Society and the Nature Conservancy.

All items in the Gilt ‘Gift Tab’ will be green friendly, including organic totes and handbags, eco-friendly tees, soy candles, recycled scarves and Earth friendly make-up.

The biggest item on sale within the Gilt ‘Gift Tab’ is gifting trees through American Forests; it’s a dollar per tree, with bundles selling at $15, $50, and $100.

Now, you can get a bunch of yummy and wholesome earthy-friendly clothes and skincare without harming the earth and you still have a fresh closet and a fresh face to celebrate Spring.

Get Your Head & Toes Ready for Spring/Summer, Eugenia Kim & Cynthia Vincent for Target

By Laura Medina

Top, Fedora in Tan with Flower Appliqués $16.99

Hat Designer, Eugenia Kim

Bottom, Straw Fedora in Green with Black/White Trim $16.

Left, Belted Engineer Cap in Tan $14.99 Right, Straw Sun Hat in Tan with Blue Trim $19.99



This informer knows that everyone is in a tizzy jonesing about Zac Posen for Target that will land in stores and online, next Sunday, April 25th.


However, don't forget about these equally hip designers supplying the accessories to perk up your Spring and Summer closets. Sometimes, the best things in life are the little things that make or break an outfit.


Don't let these limited edition collections fly underneath the radar, this Sunday, April 18th.


Who had thought having a lousy hair day and being jobless would led to a stylish millinery career?


Bond 07 in Noho and Selima Optique in Soho noticed her red guinea-feathered cloche that

she made in millinery class at the Parsons School of Design. Eugenia just wanted something resembling hair to keep her bald head warm would get her first two accounts with Bond 07 and Selima Optique? Then a month later, Barneys gave her the major break she needed.


Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Lopez, Scarlett Johansson, Madonna, and "Gossip Girls" Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Gwen Stafani, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Fergi, Hugh Jackman, and Ne-Yo became fans as she steadily built her business.


Now, she wants the public to share what these celebrities have been keeping for years.


Target is partnering with Kim to launch its first ever limited-time-only hat collection, Eugenia Kim for Target.


Affordable, on-trend hats inspired by Havana, Cuba in a variety of styles are embellished with Kim’s unique details and special hardware for a collection that is both fashionable and functional and frugal.


These sunny caps and bonnets will bloom from Sunday, April 18th then fade away on Sunday, June 13th.

Cynthia Vincent

Bottom, Strappy Flats with Gold Studs in White $24.88

Left, Wedges in Multicolor Print $29.99 Right, Ballet Flats in Multicolor Print $24.99

Classic, feminine, fresh, well-conceived, impeccably crafted, timeless garments, Cynthia Vincent, of Twelfth Street, had expanded to shoes in 2003.

Created out of the designer’s innate love of shoes and the desire to offer her customer high quality, beautifully designed footwear at prices comparable to her collection, the launch was a success.

Just as the clothing received immediate attention, so did Cynthia’s heels, gladiators and ballerina flats. Scarlett Johansson, Nicole Richie and Liv Tyler are but a few of Twelfth Street’s devout shoe shoppers.

The Cynthia Vincent for Target line offers an updated twist on Vincent’s classic and renowned footwear silhouettes, at a remarkable price. This exclusive footwear collection brings wedges, ballet flats and gladiator sandals at guilt-free prices to a broader audience.

Springing up as the same time as Eugenia Kim Hat Collection for Target on Sunday, April 18th, Cynthia Vincent will last until July 1st.

Like fresh, seasonal fruits, you better get these fresh fashion before they get snatched up.

Makeup with Attitude, “The Runaways”

By Laura Medina

For you want to watch the tutorials, hit Cherie Curie's look, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bx5v_mbRPg&feature=related for the glam look or hit Joan Jett's rocker eyes on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L1rXYFpifY&feature=related to get that classic, messy, smudgy look. Both are by Makeup Forever.

Left, Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett. Right, Dakota Fanning as Cherie Currie.

When the official Joan Jett/Cherie Currie biopic, "The Runaways," released a month ago, it ushered in an unexpected rush of Gen Y-ers experimenting with colors they haven't seen in their lifetime.

For them and the Baby Boom Generation who did the first time around, this aggressive makeup stands for freedom of expression, liberation, and feminist assertiveness. This unabashed makeup is for strong individuals.

During the mid-Seventies or when times are dreary, people just want to have fun with their Glam/Disco makeup.

The color revivial arrived just in time.

"The Runaways'" head makeup artist, Robin Mathews, showcases the color and techniques that are bringing the rush back in makeup.

For folks dulled by the "natural makeup" of the past twenty to fifteen years, now it's time to jumpstart your powders, cremes, and glosses.

Since Makeup Forever supplied the film, you can easily pluck the items from them but any of the latest and boldest makeup, especially the finely-milled ones, packed with pigment, for high-definition tv will do.

Step One: Sweeping Brown Eye Shadow on Upper Lid, left and right.

The colors and shadows of Joan Jett are pretty classic and timeless. Tons of standard black and medium tone browns that a plenty of women already have in their makeup stash. To get that edgy but tough bad girl look, it’s all about technique than buying a whole new makeup. If you swish and swipe enough, you can give your existing, basic flesh-tone, staid eye makeup a new flair.

In fact, this blurry swirl of basic black and brown are the same eye makeup that Ms. Jett still wears to this day. Follow these steps and you’ll never go wrong with a classic.

Step 1: Brown Eye Shadow. No hard edges. Blend and fade out to infinity.

Line Lower Lid with tons of Black Eyeliner.

Step2: Black Aqua Eye Pencil. Generous heaping under the entire lower eye rim then do the same to the upper rim.

Step3: Take a small, flat-edged eye shadow brush and smudge around upper rim then stroke and smudge the lower eye rim. Don’t have to be neat. Remember, the messier it is, the more “Rock n’ Roll” it is. If you swipe too much of your eyeliner. Reline with the black aqua eye pencil.

Too much is never enough for impact and durability, sweating under the klieg lights. For the Rock n’ Roll Glam-Punk ‘70’s, it’s all about excess. Glam makeup was about all theatrical makeup to make you stand out to the nosebleed seats as much as it is rebellion and sexual assertiveness and expression.

Take a bigger, fluffier brush or makeup sponge then brush off the fallen excess shadow to make your peepers pop.




Step4: *Take the same brown eye shadow you did for your upper eye lid and trace it over your already blacken lower eye rim. This ombre effect pulls the eye for more attention and attraction. You see two different but similar colors helping the eye pop.

Step5: Eye Lash Curling. Lifts all the upper lashes. Prepping for the mascara.

Step6: Stroke the mascara on top of the upper lashes. Then, scissoring up, under the upper lashes. Coating the upper lashes over and under.

Cherie Currie Makeup:

Ok, you may, not have to, buy new eyeshadows and liners. But, that’s where the fun part comes in. Breaking from the tried and true but tired basic beige, brown, and black, as “The Runaway’s” David Bowie/Ziggy Stardust-influenced lead singer, Cherie (Dakota Fanning) has to stand out. In comes the glitter and flash-and color! If you already have a navy blue or a deep sea ocean blue and some shimmering powder/cream beige/brown eyeshadow or multiple, it’s time to break them out.

Robin calls this a “blue-and-gold smoky eye,” a classic technique with new colors.
As “The Runaways’” front woman, Cherie has to be the glamourous disco mirror/Ziggy to Joan’s tough but true rocker turned punker.

Cherie was all about “sparkly and glittery.”

Again, it’s all about placement and technique. Let’s Robin Mathews show you how.
With basic deep blue and glimmering beige or bronze, you don’t have to be blonde like Dakota or Cherie, anyone can wear this glam slam combo.

Step1: Stroke a sparkling, starry copper/ bronze/beige powder/cream from the inner eye corner then stopping midway in the middle of the upper eye lid, blending into an Isosceles triangle.

Step2: The same black aqua eye liner then stroke it back and forth, left and right, rimming the lower eye lid as closely as possible from inner corner to outer corner, without infecting your eyeball.

Step3: With the same aqua liner, smudge the outer lower rim for a more fluid, blended look.

Step4: With really deep blue/navy eye shadow, tap the excess, then fill in the mid-to-outer corner of the upper eye lid, filling in the missing Isosceles triangle for depth. Light in the inside. Dark on the outside for highlight and depth. With eye shadow this deep and rich, trace a little bit onto the upper rim and stroke slightly into the crease for depth.

Step5: Free of shadow, take the same flat, wide eye shadow brush and blend, blend on the upper lid. Then with the same deep blue shadow, take a smaller, tighter eyeliner brush, dip it in the shadow and trace over the existing aqua liner to make it smokey.

Step6: Curl the lashes.

Step7: Stroke the black mascara down, on top of the top lash. Up and out to elongate the eye.
Actually, the eyeliner approach is easier than it sounds. For that authentic ‘70’s rimmed eye, Ms. Mathews gave a little history lesson, back then no one lined their inner eye rim back then. This is a recent development. In those days, people just trace the edge of their eyelids, never going inside, with a thick swatch of dark or bold colors. If the risk of eye infection makes you nervous, ahem like this scribe, just do what they did in the past, just line the outside of the lids without coloring the inner eyelid.

While watching “The Runaways,” you’ll notice how bold and strong and define the blush was in the mid-Seventies. It was all about contouring but the all-natural flesh-toned beige, brown, and bronze had surrendered to the flamboyant hot flash colors of raging red, fevered pinks, and outlandish orange. They weren’t ashame of color.

If you want a bold streak of color without the old school heavy grease and oil, today’s high definition technology makes blush lighter and healthier yet bolder thanks to LCD and HD TV.
In fact, one tiny squirt of Makeup Forever’s HD Crème Blush is so pigment intense yet whipped light like a mousse, a little goes a long, long way. If there’s enough left over, you can dab and tap all over your lips for a bold but matte, matching lips.

Ok, as the official makeup of “The Runaways” movie, this is the same blush Robin used on Kristen and Dakota.

How to get that bold, streak of blush.

Back then, women (sometimes, some men) hollowed or accentuate their cheekbones by heavily stroking a thick, wide swarth of blush directly underneath the bone. First, it started with skin-friendly warm browns, peaches and apricots to highlight the popular-back-then tanned look. Along the way, thanks to British Glam Rock and Disco, it morphed into really bold reds, powerful purples, feverish fuchsia, and hot pinks.

According to Robin, when “The Runaways” were girls (they ranged from 15 to 17 for god’s sake), they trained themselves by placing a piece of paper to their skin and put their blush on against the paper to make the harsh line; this is how they brought out the cheekbone and accentuated it. For that confident blush, do not blend.

With the break-through multiple crèmes and gels, dot, dot, and dot on the cheekbone edge then blend together laterally and stroke down for that bold, diagonal streak look.

For Joan Jett, she just do the eyes sans the blush and lips whereas Cherie Currie went all out.

With Jett’s easier look, you can do the deep but natural beige and brown for the sunken cheek and no-lipstick appearance.

With Cherie’s, it fun for clubbing and socializing at the soirees.

Since it’s all about smudging, with Summer’s sweat, it’s easier done than said.
This makeup isn’t for the no-makeup, naturalistic wimps. This was and is the makeup for riot grrls, rocker chicks who kick ass, bone-crushing roller babes, and folks who want to be theatrical. This is assertive color for assertive people. Shrinking violets need not apply, literally.

It's the best makeup for Summer, the sweatier the better.

Catherine Malandrino Resort & Pre-Spring Sample Sale

By Laura Medina

Transitional Collections tend to be overlooked, awkwardedly wedged between heavy Winter Collection and the airy Summer Collection.

But for year-around gear that will carry you gracefully from mildly cool to pleasantly sunny, typical So Cal climate, you can't go wrong with Resort/Pre-Spring Wear.

Starting this Thursday until Sunday, April 18th , the Catherine Malandrino boutiques on La Cienega Boulevard and Sunset Plaza are putting their Resort Wear on deep discount, 70% off, for four days only.

You can tell from this electic collection, there are Spring/Summer-friendly pieces that can simply be turned into an early Fall or a cool Spring night ensemble by tossing on a trench or a jacket.

Through the flexiblity of switching between cool Spring nights and early Fall days in summeresque embroidered cotton tunics and printed chiffon and slinky satins for hot Summer nights, Resort is a great way to stretch your wardrobe budget year-around.

By way of her training at Emanuel Ugaro and studying Madame Vionnet, Catherine's draping and pleating keeps it modern yet timeless. Wise investment items that will be become great vintage pieces. She allows a woman to embrace her feminine without losing her individuality.

Take advantage of the 70% off sale, then you'll be able to build a whole, new wardrobe. White parties and upscale beach soirees cropping up, you can really impress folks in Catherine Malandrino. You'll have women-and men asking where you get that?!

Dash Around in Zac Posen for Target, "Ugly Betty Shades," and Norma Kamali Trench for Walmart while checking out Norma Kamali Swim on your IPad

By Laura Medina

Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater in Jee Vice Fabulous Shades in Ugly Betty episode, “London Calling”.

This could obviously be a glamourous travel article, a globe-trotting ensemble armoring you in weather-defensive sunglasses in a reliable trench coat while packing your carry-on with beach-to-bar swimwear and a cocktail/sundress.

But, these pieces go beyond that.

This article is chuck full of sneak peeks while mixing your highs and lows at accessible Target and Walmart.

Even though you wouldn't find this at either of those massive, big box retailers, in the almost next-t0-last episode of "Ugly Betty," "London Calling," Wilhelmina Slater (Vanessa Williams) shields her glaze in a pair of timeless Jee Vice sunglasses in "Fabulous."

Zac Posen for Target Sailor Dress in Animal Print

As the second jet-setting celebrity to debut Zac Posen for Target, Nicky Hilton flashed her New Wave tiger stripes in an $35 Animal Print Zac Posen for Target Sailor Dress at Nylon magazine’s 11th Anniversary Party with sister Paris Hilton at Trousdale in LA.

However, the rockin' "The Runaways" star, Dakota Fanning beat her to the punch by wearing Zac Posen for Target Tuxedo Jacket while promoting the film.

$35 Norma Kamali Trench Coat at Walmart.

You can still run from home to party to airport in this very affordable, very sensible Norma Kamali Trench Coat. Travel and Leisure Magazine voted this the best trench back in February 2009. You can get it for $35 at Walmart.

Norma Kamali's new IPad swimware catalogue in Interview Magazine's new app.

Wondering what to do with your new IPad?

Fiddling with it in the cab or waiting gate at the airport, you can download Norma Kamali's new swimwear catalogue/lookbook in Interview Magazine's new app. It starts with her normally more expensive line then flows into her Walmart collections that are downright cute.

These key pieces are like Lego blocks for any woman's wardrobe, that can be built upon and interchange seamlessly while keeping your wallet solid.

Buy 2 Empire Polo Club Tees, Win 2 VIP Coachella Tickets

By Laura Medina

This weekend is the launch of super-duper limited edition of luxuriously lush Empire Polo Club Tee-Shirts.If you buy 2 of them, which is easy since each tee only costs $48 a pop, you’ll be in the running to win 2 VIP Tickets to Coachella Music Festival. You can order the tees on www.ronrobinson.com or at Ron Robinson/Fred Segal on Melrose in West Hollywood or Santa Monica.




Better yet, join the party Saturday, April 10th at Ron Robinson/Fred Segal Santa Monica from 3pm to 6pm. Have a drink, grab 2 tees, then enter the contest. On Sunday, April 11th, the win the 2 VIP tickets to Coachella!

These soon-to-be vintage series of tees pay reverence to the very land where the Coachella Music Festival is held. For the rest of year, in between that, a recent Phish festival, and Stagecoach, country music’s own version of Coachella, it is really a polo field. The Empire Polo Club, one of the tops in the country.

In spite of being having a reputation of throwing top-tier polo matches and verdant weddings, the unassuming man behind the polo club, Alexander Haagen, is kind enough to throw major arts and entertainment festivals.

To pay respect back, casual luxury Fortunate Sun tee-shirts paired up with the club to showcase the field’s history, prestige, and present for future generations. Just in time for Coachella.

They reflect how the field adjusts to the times without losing its heritage, going from polo club to an established international music festival in a decade.

Lindsay Kraines of the Fortunate Sun duo, models Empire Polo Club Tee, the new equestrian riding gear.

Timing is everything. With buzz for the revised “Preppy Handbook,” “True Prep” due for a Fall release, Empire Polo Club may not be for Trevor the First and Senior. On the other hand, these finely washed tees with equestrian insignias are perfect for Trevor the Fourth and Muffy the Sixth, twentieth-first century prepsters and die-hard Coachellians. Like the hard-charging horses, these preppies change with the times.

It's Official! Mikey Koffman, of The Gallery LA, is 1 of the stars of Showtimes' "The Real L-Word, Los Angeles."

By Laura Medina

Watch "The Real L-Word" Trailer

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid29474209001?bclid=0&bctid=75569096001

The official poster for Showtime's "The Real L Word."

As a follow-up to most recent posting regarding Mikey Koffman's on-the-catwalk proposal during her Los Angeles Fashion Weekend in mid-March, the whispering and the "hint-hints," converged together into a confirmation-Mikey is one of the stars of Showtime's "The Real L Word."

Another official photo of Showtime's "The Real L Word."

This mousy fly-on-the-wall knew something was going on when this mouse caught fleeting sights of Koffman buzzing about Sunset Gower Studios, being trailed by a swarm of top-notch camera crews that stuck to her every step like flies to honey.

Matter of fact, this writer knew something was up while signing at press check-in, there was a disclaimer/warning posted above politely yet straight-forwardly informing media and guests by checking in, they have immediately consented to be filmed by Magical Elves, Inc. The fine folks who produced Bravo's "Project Runway" and "Top Chef: Masters."

Once in the mix, whispers were hinting to the reality show and the network and the title, with the word, "potential" being constantly linked.

Mikey's proposal to freelance makeup artist, Raquel Castaneda, as the runway show's finale only solidify the rumors and the hunches.

Mikey Koffman Headshot

According to lesbian-focused and entertainment media sources, "The Real L-Word" is another extension of Showtime's original series, the Jennifer Beals-leaded, "The L-Word."

The creator, Ilene Chaiken, sensed that telling the stories of lesbians who are influential in their industries in the City of Angels has not been told properly. She decided after the fictional story/series had ended last year, Ms. Chaiken felt it was time to expand further and showcase the real stories of not only real lesbians but real Los Angelenos in general succeeding in business while juggling their personal lives. Busting the myth and stereotypes so to say.

Mikey Koffman during one of her "The Gallery LA" runway shows.

With the production team of Magical Elves and Ms. Chaiken, Showtime will shine the spotlight on six real-life lesbians running their businesses and managing their relationships for nine episodes, starting on June 20th, on Sundays at 10pm.

Remember, these cast members are not just gay women but prominent professionals in their respected fields.

If you ever want to know what it really takes to be a top-notch producer/manager or a bonafide fashion promoter constantly planning the next-big-hit runway show, much a fashion week, catch the "The Real L-Word" in action and see if you got what it takes to be a pro in your field.

Since the reality series trailed Mikey from point A to point too numerous to count on her every move, her proposal to Raquel Castaneda on the catwalk during her show was out for everyone to see, especially us fashionistas in the audience.

Sneak Peek! Her proposal is one of the clips in the upcoming tv series. Here is the link that will be aired on Showtime for your Summer time, guilty pleasure viewing in the your air-condition comfort.

Mikey getting on her hands and knees, proposing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Laai8l_nxU8.