Thursday, January 30, 2014

It's Smells Like Team Spirit, Fashionista Football Gear for the Ladies & Girls.

By Laura Medina

2014 Super Bowl may be in New Jersey but its spirit in New York, one of the world's fashion capitals.  In conjunction with Bloomingdales, the members of the Council of Fashion Designers of America are showing their love for American football by taking the football helmet then reinterpret it in their style and taste, the 48 Fantasy Football Helmets.

In the spirit of the Super Bowl, people can bid on the 48 one-of-a-kind helmets at  http://media.bloomingdales.com/fashion-touchdown/index.aspx#helmets.  The profits will go into the NFL Foundation.  For the football-fanatic woman in your life, whether it be your daughter, girlfriend, wife, or mom, this will make a great Valentine's Day gift and/or awesome family heirloom.


Women football fans have always been sidelined when it comes to supporting their team loyalty, having to make due with tied-up, knotted up oversized men's football jerseys, they borrowed from their husbands, dads, and brothers. 

Not anymore, especially in New York. the purveyor of the ultra-comfy, urban, quasi-vintage tee, Junk Food Tee has teamed up with the NFL and Kristin Cavallari to take neglected women's football fashion off the sideline.

The fashion capital is respecting the ladies with NFL team spirit re-done in stylish sweaters, chic tees, and sleek dresses where teams' logos are reinterpret into prints and bold, urban tee graphics that can be worn year-around and paired with capri denim and pleated, mini-circle skirts, making it easier for the ladies to show their team spirits all the time, all over the world, thanks to Kristin Cavallari for Junk Food NFL.

Junk Food NFL makes it easier for women to pick and shop at its interactive windows at Bloomingdales 59th street location at their CFDA Tailgate Party featuring digital, touch screen windows where viewers can choose the "winning" team by choosing the Junk Food tee of their favorite team in the play-offs. The Tailgate Party doesn't stop there as attendees will also be able to virtually try on Fantasy helmets designed by CFDA designers including Catherine Malandrino, Diane Von Furstenberg and Kenneth Cole and embrace the event alongside NFL players and CFDA designers who are scheduled to attend.

Junk Food also partner with Macy's for another NFL Retail Experience in Herald Square, taking key elements from its highly publicized NFL New York Fashion Week runway show. Junk Food unveiled an in-store pop-up shop, offering the fashionista football fan team-gear that's loaded with style.  Adorned by plasma TVs featuring footage and coverage from the runway show and black and white yard line decals on the floor to mimic the catwalk, this pop-up will offer women's products inspired by the runway show in addition to core men's and women's Junk Food NFL merchandise.  Junk Food's Vice President of Marketing, Andrei Najjar says, "Consumers have been incredibly responsive to marriage of fashion and football and Junk Food is right at the center of it. We are excited to play as a key kicker bringing fashion and football together this season as we extend our presence through additional activations at other renowned spaces including Saks Fifth Avenue and Soho House West Hollywood to further engage individuals and align them with both sport and style."



With Kristin Cavallari's help, Junk Food pushed the football fashion envelope even further by debuting Junk Food Vintage NFL Runway show during STYLE360 New York Fashion Week.


Breaking NFL spirit out of the jersey, Kristin Cavallari for Junk Food Vintage NFL Apparel, they used NFL uniforms as the base then re-worked the teams' colors, graphics, and logos as design elements in color-block, mixed-media placements.  The logos were treated as any other brand logo print.


The stuffy team windbreaker elements were re-worked into comfortable but chicer sweaters, crop, shrunken, and long, lean tunics that work equally well high-waisted shorts and pencil skirts and jeans.


The NFL team jerseys were re-tooled into statement shoulder pads with a mid-90's edge, oversized jersey dresses, vibrant team color blocking, maxi dresses, off-shoulder crop sweater, blouses, baseball raglan sleeve tees, and super cute shrunken v-neck tees with cap sleeves.

Now, women and girls can show their team color, fashionably year-around with pride.

Junk Food Vintage NFL Apparel makes it easier for the ladies for something to wear when they go to 8th annual Super Bowl Kickoff Players Party hosted by FOX Sports' Jay Glazer benefiting the Wounded Warriors Foundation and Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund last night.

Michael Strahan, Colin Kaepernick, Tim Hardaway Jr., Deion Sanders, Kurt Warner, Michael Irvin, John Elway, Brian Urlacher, Troy Aikman, Warren Moon, Plaxico Burress, Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson, and Clinton Portis celebrated the Super Bowl and showed their support for the Wounded Warriors Foundation and Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund
at Pranna Restaurant and Nightclub.

The women are no longer sidelined.







 














Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Watch Anna Wintour & Juan Carlos Obando in Action Tonight on Ovation Channel's "The Fashion Fund."

By Laura Medina

The Fashion Fund - Buckle Down and Dig In (Preview) - Ovation, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJtfo5J10eA

After years of watching a humble fashion school instructor becoming a media star-yes, "Project Runway" Tim Gunn-and other numerous entertainers-cum-fashion experts in this social-saturated media age, Vogue's emeritus editor-in-chief and Conde Nast's current Artistic Director of the entire flagship, Anna Wintour decided it was high-time for her to jump in the fray and show those minions and celebrity neophytes how it is really done.

 The Fashion Fund - Episode 102 Tonight - Ovation Channel, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpUSzRgUq4c

By "really done" means parting away of the curtains and revealing the behind-the-scene selection of how a real magazine editor picks who's going to be fashion's real next star.

 The Fashion Fund - Stress and No Sleep (Preview) - Ovation Channel, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybw78Sjxebk

Watch 10 contestants, meaning designers, sweat it out as Ms. Wintour lords over them, deciding who deserves to be Fashion Fund Designer of the Year and the reward fund of  $300,000 and a one-year mentorship with some of the biggest names in fashion.

 The Fashion Fund - 24 Hours (Preview) - Ovation Channel, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7c1_upqR4Q

There is one particular design contestant this scribe is acquainted with,..the deep, intellectual, and very polite, Los Angeles' hometown son, Juan Carlos Obando.  Despite his sweet-natured demeanor, he successful launched his own line of haircare that is as equally elegant as his clothes, No. 4 High Performance Hair Care, sold at Ron Robinson Apothia.

It'll be interesting to watch how he'll handle being on a televised competition while dealing with his haircare line and how he'll deal with the competitive pressure on television.  You can guess where this scribe's heart is going to whom.

For Santa Monica-fashionistas and stylistos, you all can watch it tonight on Ovation Channel on Time Warner Channel 138 at 10pm.

Now, you all know where to watch Anna and Juan Carlos in action.


Gifting Suites Goodies Wrap-Up during both the Golden Globes & the Grammys...So Far.

By Laura Medina

From the top, Mikky Ekko, Ray Dalton, Joe Laporta, & Chrisette Michele

Until Oscar Week arrives at the tail end of the Sochi Winter 2014 Olympics, around the last week of February and the first week of March, this semi-finalizing wrapping up of Golden Globe and Grammy Week Style and Beauty Suites will do for now.

So far, this current Awards Season is running rampant with fresh, young talent emerging out of the blue.  These talent are so fresh and young...that they need stuff like appropriate pumps, skincare, and nutrition to keep them fueled and primped.

Aligned with African Millennium Foundation targeting poverty, hunger and disease at its very root by providing African women and children with the necessary tools for achieving self-sufficiency, Red Carpet Events LA Style Lounge "kitted" Rihanna's singing-partner and producer on "Stay," the red-hot Louisiana-native singer-songwriter and record producer, Mikky Ekko.  In fact, Mikky is so hot that, even though missing due to Grammy Award rehearsals, the state of Louisiana threw "Only in Louisiana" Brunch in his honor, along side fellow Louisiana native Trombone Shorty, for continuing the state's winning streak in Grammy nominees and winners,  http://luxurist.blogspot.com/2014/01/only-in-louisiana-brunch-feeds-56th.html

Other fresh talent nominated at the Grammy Awards were...

RAY DALTON nominated with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis for "CAN'T HOLD US." 
 
Joe Laporta nominated for Imagine Dragons' “Radioactive.”
 
Chrisette Michele, a nominee for best R&B ALBUM, her fourth album entitled, Better.
  

Even Hollywood's more established talents, such as Richard "Cheech" Marin enjoyed hanging out, relaxing , and mingling with all that young talent at Red Carpet Events LA Style Lounge for the Grammy Awards.


One doesn't have to be in a restricted age demographic to be considered "fresh talent."

"Cayman Heat" author Connie Reeves, along with cast member, Kim Estes, and her husband, Clayton Cooke, made her Hollywood splash at Tilth Beauty's Golden Globe Beauty Suite where the founder, Tony Vargas instructed them on which products to use during Golden Globe Week and on location when they shoot "Cayman Heat" (it's Refresh Peptide Mist, http://www.tilthbeauty.com/store/moisturize/refresh-peptide-mist.html).

Joining Connie are, starting from the left:

Chelsea Cook of "Keele and Pete."
Lela Brown, singer
Tera Nicole Azarrian, "Mean Girls."
McCarrie McCausland, "Army Wives."
Nathan Davis, "Criminal Minds."

As for Oscar Week, we'll see who are the current crop of talent for Oscar Week in a month from now...and what's needed and what's coveted.



 



 


Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Rockin' Makeup & Hair at the Grammy & How to Do It Easy...& Healthy During Grammy Week.

By Laura Medina

Kacey Musgraves at the  Grammy Awards

It's pretty obvious that this recent Grammy Awards Week is unofficially "Party Week" in Hollywood.

There are two ways to approach "Grammy" Makeup, the more polish "red carpet" look at the awards show itself and the more "private" pre-Grammy party look, heating up towards the show itself.

First up, Kacey Musgraves' look at the Grammy Awards...

Celebrity makeup artist Kristofer Buckle offers list of items and steps in how to achieve Kacey's Grammy look.  In prepping red carpet makeup, the makeup has to match the color palette and texture of the outfit,  “I wanted to complement Kacey's gorgeous blush-colored dress with an equally soft, romantic look." 

complexion:

eyes:

lips:

  •  To complement the softness of her look, he applied power pigment in tipsy over her lips.
For a nominated musician/singer like Kacey, this was her "Cinderella" moment and remember, the makeup  has to coordinate with her gown.

Whereas with the numerous "Pre-Grammy" parties, it's a different story.  Since these are "underground" celebrations among various bands' and singers' camps, the ground rules for clothes and makeup are looser to interpretaton, depending on the party theme and your attitude.

Since the party schedule comes down hard and fast...and fun, there are times you'll be sleeping in your makeup out of convenience and out of respect for that makeup artist who does a better job than you do.  However, if you still insist on doing your own "rocking" makeup and sleeping in your makeup because you're too tired to remove it, here's some tips.

After prepping your skin the day or night before ( read "When Busting Thru that Wall, How to Sleep in Your Makeup with Tips from Ole Henriksen," http://luxurist.blogspot.com/2014/01/when-busting-thru-that-wall-how-to.html),...well, if you're gonna sleep in your makeup, make it a good one.
  
Based on a previous sleep-in-your-makeup experience (remember, only do this one night, not continuous), thank god, a lot of all-natural makeup are now becoming durable as they are healthy.  Packed with antioxidants and vitamins, sometimes in easy to apply and portable sticks, these healthy and hearty cosmetics make it less guilty in sleeping in your makeup yet they're sexy and smoky enough to hit the party circuit, which Grammy Week is.

Ole Henriksen CC Creme, left & W3LL People Narcissist Stick Foundation, right.

Of course, let's start with foundation. 

W3LL People's aloe vera-base, organic Narcissist Stick Foundation (W3LL People Cosmetics is one of the few organic makeup brands on the market) is light enough to allow your pores to breathe while seeping them in oil-free aloe vera, Green Tea, and Chamomile,  http://www.w3llpeople.com/face/narcissist-stick-foundation.html?SID=d6be9d479624c457480457045c964edf

Ole Henriksen encounters all sorts of "skin sins," so he's not going to damn you all to hell for having to sleep in your makeup.  More than anything, he's sympathetic to early morning press conferences then zooming straight on through to after-parties like Katy Perry did all day and all night on Grammy Sunday.

This is why he packed protection, perfect-ing, and brightening, all packed in one portable pump, his Perfect Truth™ CC Crème Broad Spectrum SPF 30, http://www.sephora.com/perfect-truth-cc-creme-broad-spectrum-spf-30-P379491?skuId=1529601.

The Vitamin C brightens, supports natural collagen, firms, and provides antioxidant defense. Tripeptide-5: strengthens skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines.  Ferulic Acid provides antioxidant protection and environmental defense.  Sodium Hyaluronate and Ceramides nourish and replenish moisture. Light-reflecting Pigments provide sheer light to medium coverage and instant luminosity.  Broad Spectrum SPF 30 provides UVA/UVB defense. 

As for eye makeup, it depends on how fancy the invite or how rocking or/and how many parties you're gonna hit.  With these three simple items, getting those sexy, smudgy, Bad Girl/Bad Boy Eyes is easier done as it is said.



From the fruit-rich skincare line, Mychelle Dermaceuticals, come their equally fruit-fortified makeup collection and their cute, compact, and complete three-piece kits for all sorts of occasions. 

Since it's the Awards Season, this scribe picked their "Camera Ready" Kit, a classic standard of red lips and cheeks and black eye color.  From this kit, this scribe smeared and dabbed their "eye color balm" of a mineral eye crayon, their Eye Shimmers in Smoke, a supremely sophisticated and passionate shade of charcoal gray for that smudgy but still healthy "bed eyes" look.  The Smoke Eye Shimmer, believe it or not, has fruit ingredients in it, Prunus Persica (Peach) Flavor Extract and Psidium Guajava (Guava) Flavor Extract.
 

To intensify or emphasize those peepers, rim the lids with Tarte Cosmetics' Smolder Eyes Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liner, either in plummy "Fig" and/or Brown.  Shoot, it's the Grammys, go bold and withhold with their Light, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara.  This mascara nourishes while being tough.  Plus, it imparts those sultry "bedroom" eyelashes overnight, easier done as it is said.

Also from Mychelle's "Camera Ready" Makeup Collection Kit, their portable Blush Stick in Berry imparts a rosy hot flush, great for nightclubbing and partying well into dawn, while the Prunus Persica (Peach) Extract is this moisturizing, anti-inflammatory ingredient with anti-bacterial and antioxidant properties.  The quasi-matte texture of the Blush Stick makes for a decent base for stay-on lip base color to build additional gloss on.

The "Pièce de résistance," to tie the whole "Grammy Rocker" Look, the lips.

Building upon the base lip color from Berry Blush Stick, slick on this opaque, dramatic shade in Flirt, a soft cabernet with violet undertones, also from Mychelle's "Camera Ready" Makeup Collection Kit.

 Herbal Essence's Naked Volume Dry Shampoo, left & Naked Shine Sheer Shine Hair Mist, right.

Can't forget about the hair.

Last Thursday night's Jason Derulo Pre-Grammy Party/Concert was a perfect place to launch Herbal Essence's light and fruity new Naked Line.  You don't want to feel your strands to get greasy, heavy, and icky over the day and night.  All that product can weight down and deflate an hairdo; and it doesn't take away the frizz.

What you need are products that refresh the hairdo in the same way a facial mist refreshes your makeup (like Ole said in "When Busting Thru that Wall, How to Sleep in Your Makeup with Tips from Ole Henriksen," http://luxurist.blogspot.com/2014/01/when-busting-thru-that-wall-how-to.html).  Residue-free, dye-free, and paraben-free Herbal Essence's Naked Volume Dry Shampoo, with natural tapioca, the formula absorbs oil and rejuvenates dirty hair for a clean feeling, invigorating your strands with a whiff of white grapefruit and mint without parabens or dyes. 

To revive a "do" or give your head a light hold, spritz on Herbal Essence's Naked Shine Sheer Shine Hair Mist, for that extra mileage, not over-the-top "bump pouf."

Herbal Essence's Naked Collection's light but elegant scents of champagne and mint makes it appropriate for crowded partying and clubbing, well into the night.

Mind you, you need to break away from this addictive habit to re-start your skin back to normal.  But when faced with too many parties to pick from or surging straight non-stop from early morning press conferences directly to after-parties, it's great you can paint your face in healthy makeup that fortifies overnight then imparts that post-coital "Bedroom" Look first thing in the morning.  Not a bad way to survive Grammy Week.

 

 

 










 

Monday, January 27, 2014

There Ain't No Parties like the Grammy Week Parties, 2014 Edition. Jason Derulo, Michael Sheen, Tia Babilonia, & Greg Louganis should know.

By Laura Medina



Grammy Awards Week is a celebration of music.  Basically, the lucky industry folks party down at numerous concerts, private performances, and parties leading up to the formal, televised award show itself.  Some celebrated the culture that brings the music to the Grammys ("Only in Louisiana" Brunch feeds the 56th Grammy Awards with Music, Food, Heritage, & Love, http://luxurist.blogspot.com/2014/01/only-in-louisiana-brunch-feeds-56th.html) while others use it as the showcase for the best, the brightest, and the hottest that are pushing music forward...like Jason Derulo.

OK! Magazine Pre-Grammy Party was that showcase for Jason Derulo and other new stuff debuting on that stage.

For those smart enough to arrive early, the cavernous setting was roomy enough for an Herbal Essences Hair Salon/Lounge where people can get their tresses primped, using Herbal Essences' new Naked Line.  The dry shampoo and spritzer were that was needed to refresh anyone's hairdo. 

While those already inside took the time to get their tresses spruced up, this is when the stars arrived.  This is when things are warming up...


Celebrity guests that showed for Jason's Pre-Grammy performance were Lance Bass, Nene Leakes, of course MC, Jordin Sparks, the man himself Jason Derulo, Jacob Busch with Adrienne Maloof  and Joanna Krupa.

After an hour of being warmed up by Jason Derulo's dj, DJ Spider, the man himself finally appeared.  


American Idol, Jordin Sparks introduced him as the emcee then...

the man of the night appeared with his backup dancers.

Boy, can that man step it.  Yes, they flipped, spin and formed a human pyramid; and this lasted for an hour...


The Whole Planet Foundation's Pre-Grammy Benefit (which is not affiliated with the official Recording Academy) the previous night was a simmering boil to the red-hot parties getting closer to Sunday's Grammy Awards.

"Masters of Sex" Michael Sheen.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Sj4_MvPIWM

It wasn't lean on star wattage. 

Usually events save the best for last, not in Whole Planet Foundation's case.  The celebrities that did show up were nice as they were prompt and early.  Gee, this scribe guess they really want to get into the concert early and enjoy the show.

Television's hottest actor from its television show was the very first person to arrive, "Masters of Sex" Dr. William Masters a.k.a. Michael Sheen.  Believe it or not, he wasn't the main attraction.  He was just somebody else's "Plus One," a guest.

As a Plus One, Michael just simply said he was really excited to be here and really looked forward to catching the Latin-themed concert, headlined by 2014 GRAMMY nominee La Santa Cecilia. 

Tai Babilonia, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VveooQCs5nA

The legendary skater, Tai Babilonia, made a rare appearance for a good cause, since the Whole Planet Foundation Benefit was raising funds for microfinance programs in 58 countries, including the United States.

Honestly, looking at that night's line-up, for the likes of her, Tai doesn't recognize any of the names, calling herself "old school" but she is supportive of all young talent, including the current crop of  Winter Olympians competing in Sochi, Russia pretty soon.

Ah, this year's Winter Olympians, those she knows very well.

In a motherly/Big Sister way, she expressed concern regarding their safety and security because they wants them to perform their best, so they can best represent their country without fear.

Greg Louganis, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvaVPrT5rsY

The last but not least, another Olympic legend showed up...Greg Louganis.

Oh, going to a Latin-themed Grammy party where he's gonna bust a move is old hat to him.  He educated this scribe that he used to dance on American Bandstand back in the days.

As an handsome elder man, he, too like fellow Olympian Tai Babilonia, expressed concern about the athletes' safety and security as a gay-rights advocate.  Voicing his concern, particularly for the gay Olympians, he is disturbed by the recent passing of anti-gay laws in Russia and the resulting actions coming from them.

Yes, the Grammy Awards Week was in full swing this recent week but people are looking forward to the Sochi Winter Olympics in a few weeks; and Hollywood is making room for them, delaying the Oscar to early March.

More on that later.


  









Sunday, January 26, 2014

"Only in Louisiana" Brunch feeds the 56th Grammy Awards with Music, Food, Heritage, & Love

By Laura Medina

Best Regional Roots Music Album nominees, the Hot 8 Brass Band.

In a record-breaking year, twelve Louisiana musicians and singers are nominated across the  board at this year's 56th Grammy Awards.

To honor them and Louisiana's contribution to America's cultural legacy and heritage, the state of Louisiana and Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne of Louisiana threw them an elegant down-home "Only in Louisiana" brunch buffet.  This buffet is also celebrating its history with the Recording Academy's Grammy Awards.

Louisiana's relationship with the Grammy Awards goes a long way back when the Recording Academy sent out a naming contest to compete against the Oscars.   A lady in Louisiana won when she suggested they name their award, the "Grammy," a nickname her older relative used for their old gramophone, an early record player.  From there, the name stuck, the Grammy Award.

Even though tonight's performer and nominee Trombone Shorty is too busy rehearsing, nine out of the twelve nominees did settle down to a brunch buffet that is equally representative of Louisiana's rich cultural heritage in food:

 Blacken Snapper

 Duck Confit Eggs Benedict

 Individual Jalapeno Cornbread

 Crawfish Etouffee

 Dessert Buffet of Pecan Pie and Strawberry Shortcakes and...

Banana Foster with rich caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream

 Don't forget the Shrimp & Grits and the gumbo. Washed down with Sweet Ice Tea.

While everyone, legendary and influential musicians, dignitaries, music and tv/film industry folks who film in New Orleans, and guests were buzzing around, some stood up and dance to an all-star band of Louisiana nominees rocking the stage at the Conga Room in L.A. Live.

Louisiana native, Faith Ford, played host then introduced Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne.  

Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne listed the contributions and achievements Louisiana has made to American culture and heritage that is exported to the world and influenced other rock musicians.

For such a small city, New Orleans sure pack a wallop of musical genres and talent.  He started how uniquely American instruments were developed by slaves in Congo Square in New Orleans such as the bamboula…a West African drum, gourds,  and triangles,


Zydeco was invented by Cajuns who escaped Canada.  How Jazz, like gumbo and etouffee, is a mélange of European, African, & Anglo music.

Louisiana’s musical culture and heritage is a rich and deep as its jumbo and etouffee.   

According to Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne, the pilgrams and Puritians brought hymns.  The first diverse music came from Louisiana, when the French nuns literally brought Italian and French songs and hymns to Louisiana.  The first opera house in America, opened in New Orleans in 1796.  This sets the tone for musical legacy to come thereafter.

With all that musical culture swirling, it brought up the forerunners and founders of Jazz: Buddy Bolden, Kid Ory,  Sidney Bechet, and Jelly Roll Morton, from the bordellos of the French Quarter’s Storyville to spread worldwide.

Before you know it, Louisiana dominated American genres across the board from Rhythm & Blues, Gospel, Soul, to Rock and Pop.

The finale of the "Only in Louisiana" Brunch was the Best Regional Roots Music Album nominees, the Hot 8 Brass Band, bringing down the house with another cultural music that New Orleans has contribute to America and the world-funk.

Soon, folks (including this funk-loving scribe) got down and joined the "krewe line," an uniquely New Orleans-type conga line trailing a Krewe, which happens to be the Hot 8 Brass Band, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEyeDG_B5Ow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEyeDG_B5Ow

Marching out of L.A. Live's Conga Room, down to L.A. Live's Courtyard, where they join uniquely, follow New Orleans, The Wild Magnolias Mardi Gras Indians Krewe.  Together with Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne and Faith Ford trailing and dancing behind them, the Hot 8 Brass Band and the Wild Magnolias got down and funky.

"Only in Louisiana" Buffet Brunch fed the 56th Grammy Awards with food, music, heritage, culture, and love.