Archive for January, 2009

I’m always open to looking for great products for my hair because I have a bit of dilemma: my scalp gets oily while my ends get dry.  I spotted Philip Kingsley’s line of hair products in Allure a few months ago and recently, got my hands on bottles of the Moisture Balancing Shampoo and Conditioner.   This product works for a variety of hair types from “medium textured wavy hair of any length, with or without chemical or heat processing…also for fine textured, limp or lightweight hair with chemical or heat processing or longer than shoulder length.”  It aims to help balance the moisture of the hair and scalp, while leaving locks soft and tangle-free.   (more…)

New Yorkers know a thing or two about exclusivity- in the sense that some things are strictly open only if you’re in the club. Pure Yoga on the Upper East Side is one of those cases…. It’s known as one of the most upscale yoga centers in Asia and I’ve been dying to try ever since they came to New York City – but it’s members-only so I haven’t had a chance to check it out yet.  Luckily for me and the other New York yogis, Pure is opening its doors to the public for a free yoga workshop tomorrow in honor of National Yoga Day.  And of course, because it’s Pure Yoga, that means they will have some of the best in the industry at the event. I for one will be there (hear it’s an amazing place) and will be reporting back afterward.   Details behind the cut… (more…)

Vera Wang’s eponymous fragrance is one of my all time favorites – a beautiful, classic scent that is always there to save the day when you don’t know what else to wear.  Since launching the fragrance, Vera Wang has created variations such as “Bouquet” and “Sheer Veil” – all nice spinoffs that don’t deviate much from the original.  So I was excited to see the company launch a modern-looking fragrance called Look, that celebrates a woman’s confidence and independence rather than simply her femininity.

From their press release, Look is a “bold, modern, captivating scent of Vera Wang Look embraces a woman’s confidence and creates a seductive effect through complex textures and layers of fragrance notes. Vera Wang Look is presented in a modern cut geometric prism with facets that have been polished to perfection. Inspired by Vera Wang’s ready to wear, contrasting proportions are architectural and refined. The slender silhouette of the clear glass cap reflects simplicity from every angle.”

My first impression is that it while it is a slightly edgier, Look still retains the signature Vera Wang “safe” scent. It’s pretty but I would wear it to work rather than out dancing. If you are a classic Vera Wang girl looking for something younger and not so formal, try Look instead. However, if you’re trying to go for something completely different than what Vera has already produced, you may actually want to look elsewhere.

Available at Nordstrom.com.

Even though it’s mid-winter, I’m craving summer-related items already! (Maybe it’s wishful thinking for warmer weather.) I recently spotted these Fin Earrings from Foxy Original’s Oceana collection and instantly became obsessed.  They are reminiscent of Linda & Harriett’s letterpressed calendar (see July) and a recent Loeffler Randall print – both of which I love.

Available in a gold or silver finish, these earrings have an oversized hoop shape and the inside is scalloped to resemble fish fins. Though it comes in a bright rainbow mix, I prefer the black and white enamel, which I think are fun and playful, but still subtle enough for more conservative environments. These earrings are also totally affordable, priced at $24.  Head to foxyoriginals.com for retailers!

Dashing Diva is celebrating 2009 by honoring the city that never sleeps, which happens to be the place where they opened their first nail spa – New York City! Dashing Diva is introducing a new collection this year called the Manhattan Collection. Each color in the Manhattan Collection is inspired by different places and aspects of New York. The first 4 shades that they’re releasing as a sneak peek are, from left to right:

• The Red Carpet: a classic, true red
• East Village: a chocolatey glaze
• NYPD Blue: dark, dark navy blue
• Central Park After Dark: plum with light burgundy tones

I got the chance to sample each shade except for Central Park After Dark, and I was duly impressed with all. East Village is a pretty brown that is a distinct chocolate shade, and the Red Carpet is a gorgeous, sexy bright red. My favorite is NYPD Blue, which really retains its true navy shade without veering to blue-black. Read more about everything Dashing Diva at dashingdiva.com!

TDO Editor Nina raved about Lush’s Emotibombs this past fall and ever since, I’ve been wanting to try them.  The one flaw of my apartment is that there is no bathtub (seriously, this was a big sacrifice on my part), so I’m always looking for things that will make a shower more relaxing and will emulate the bath experience. 

Well, for Chinese New Year (that’s January 26, folks!), Lush launched the limited edition Double Fast Luck Emotibomb and when I heard about it, I jumped at the chance to try it. Scented with their popular Karma scent, this Emotibomb is designed in the shape of a symbolic, lucky coin.  Simply place on the floor of your shower and as soon as the water hits it, it begins to slightly fizz and releases the wonderfully bright citrusy, spicy scent. By the end of the shower, there’s no trace of the product except for the scent.  

And how I adored the aromatic scent wafting through the air!  It totally energized me for the day and yet, made me feel relaxed.  Even better, my entire bathroom smelled fantastic afterward! Retailing for only $3.95, this is definitely an affordable indulgence.  Get yours at lushusa.com.

Editor’s Note: Our new monthly feature, Editor’s Closet, will take you into the closets of each editor at TDO, allowing you to take a peek at our individual styles and see what we are currently wearing!  Every month, we will bring you the top five items from a different editor’s closet. We hope that you will be inspired by our wardrobes and welcome dialogue! (more…)

When it comes to lipgloss, I’m a bit of a snob.  Sure I’ll try high end and low end, but my collection is so vast that I don’t usually seek out a specific brand unless it is really. damn. good.  Well. more than a year ago I picked up a gloss at Bendel’s by the name of Le Metier de Beaute in a very pretty, sheer sparkly pink (Ibiza). I was first drawn to its elegant packaging and posh name. But when I tried it on, I realized that this product was so much more than just a pretty package. The formula glides on smoothly and provides extraordinary moisture for the lips. The color pay off is amazing – a single swipe lasts for hours.  And the texture is incredibly comfortable to wear.  You can feel the gloss but it’s not sticky at all. The  result is silky, sultry lips without the tiniest bit of tackiness.  Sadly, after I finished that tube, I went back to my lot of random glosses.

Well, a year later, I was poking around the internet and discovered that Le Metier de Beaute has finally launched e-commerce at Neiman Marcus. Immediately reminded of how obsessed I was with my Ibiza gloss, I decided to try another one of their most popular shades: Bondi Beach. I was instantly brought back to lip gloss perfection: the color was flattering, the shine was just right and my lips have never felt better.  Bondi Beach is now a staple in my handbag as a quick swipe adds just enough polish for a cocktail party or a work meeting.  One day, I will collect all the colors!

Le Metier de Beaute lipglosses are $32, but are worth every pretty penny!

It’s no secret that pencil skirts are a universal staple in any girl’s closet. Even Nina Garcia thinks so, as it was featured of one of her must-have pieces in her book, The One Hundred: A Guide to the Stylish Pieces that Every Stylish Woman Must Own. I know I personally wear one to work at least once a week, because I love the way that pencil skirts hug a woman’s curves and make even the short people like me, have infinitely long leg lines. Because I wear them so often, I can sometimes run into a rut in terms of pairing them with outfits.  Thanks to some celebrity inspiration, I have five different ways to infuse new life into my staid normal pencil skirt outfits for rotation Monday through Friday:

1. The Classic Slim Fit with a Button Down Shirt

As Victoria Beckham demonstrates, you can’t go wrong in pairing a classic slim fit, high waisted pencil skirt with a perfectly fit button down shirt.  Although this style does work best with a high waisted pencil skirt to better accentuate your waist (even better showcased with a belt), a natural waist or low waist pencil skirt makes this look just as alluring.  The combination of a closely fit button down shirt with a snug pencil skirt elongates your body lines and perfectly showcases yoursilhouette in an captivating, yet appropriate Corporate, Citizen Girl way.  The key to making this look impeccable is to make sure that the button down that you wear is perfectly tailored and like a second skin, meaning that none of the buttons gape and that the shoulders are perfectly draped.  You can do no better in perfectly fit, classic White button downs than Parisian chic designer, Anne Fontaine, who creates hundreds of different designs of these shirts every year, riffing on classics to create contemporary designs, or creating the perfect timeless standard. (more…)

Luxurious salons are a dime a dozen in New York, but not always as easy to find across the pond in my home state of New Jersey. I’ve tried many salons in New Jersey on my journeys home, from treating myself or to find a way to pamper my mom for Mother’s Day, and hands down, one of the most luxurious and relaxing salons that I have been to thus far is Spa Chakra.

Spa Chakra is nestled in the unassuming Hilton Short Hills, just across the Short Hills Mall, making it perfect for stopping by after hard day of braving the shopping crowds.  Once you enter Spa Chakra through an unassuming marked door in the lower level of the Hilton, you enter a luxury spa oasis, decorated in pure whites. (more…)