Archive for January, 2009

New York Fashion Week is just around the corner and the Fall 2009 show calendar is out! We’ll be reporting live in a few weeks and bringing you our perspective on the shows, parties and fashion!

Courtesy of COACD

It’s been awhile since I’ve used a liquid-to-powder eyeshadow and until I started using Chanel’s Ombre D’Eau, I forgot just how much.  For spring and summer, you can forgo the powder versions and stick to this.  It’s the perfect consistency as they feel light and cool upon application, and dries quickly to prevent smudging.  (And yes…despite snow elsewhere around U.S., we’ve been shedding our coats in favor of tanks here in Southern California. This past week, it’s been 80+ degrees!)

Ombre D’Eau comes in a small glass tube with a gloss-like applicator.  Simple shake the liquid eyeshadow up and apply with the wand.  It goes on seamlessly, making blending unnecessary.  The shadow is buildable, as it goes on sheer to start and the color intensity is dependent on how much you layer the shadow.  It also does not crease at all and to ensure its lasting power, Chanel has included “hydro-soluble polymers” so it stays put for hours! I have these in Sand, a lovely iridescent taupe shade that I’m absolutely crazy about for everyday, and Delta, a beautiful shimmery golden hue that works perfectly for any evening events.  

Retails for $32. Check them out and order at Nordstrom.com.

It’s not easy to dress warm while looking cute, and this challenge is even more difficult when jetting away to a winter ski/ snowboard getaway.  Keeping warm on mountain peaks and on the ski lift is essential, but there is no reason to sacrifice your style for the sake of practicality.  This “How To” focuses on how to look stylish and warm both on slopes and après ski, so that you look less Abominable Snowman and more Snow Bunny.  Read on after the cut for some pictures of celebrity inspiration, and offerings from some winterwear designers who know exactly how to blend fashion and function: (more…)

Shelley Callaghan is the co-owner and creative director of the luxury fragrance brand, Antica Farmacista. Together with her business partner Susanne Pruitt, Shelley has helped expand this brand, which now produces diffusers, perfumes, linen sprays, candles, body wash and much, much more. Everyone at TDO is obsessed with their scents as they are sophisticated, complex and unique. Of course, they’re also presented beautifully in apothecary-inspired packaging.  Shelley has kindly shared her favorite items of the month with us…so click behind the cut to find out what they are!  (more…)

No vacation should be complete without some pampering, so when I decided to hit up South Beach, I immediately booked an appointment (thanks to a recommendation by The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau) at  Uhma Spa, just a few blocks from my hotel.   Uhma is located a few streets off of Collins Ave., on a low-key and local-feeling area – much unlike the flashy hotel-laden strip where I was staying.  Marco and Deborah Almeida, the owners of Uhma, chose this particular area when they passed it walking home one day and discovered that the location felt just right.

What differentiates Uhma from your standard upscale spa is it’s strong environmental focus and subsequently, it’s unique menu of green services.  Practically everything in the spa and store are 100% natural and organic.  The walls and furniture are made from sustainable wood, the paint is VOC free (non-environmentally damaging) and even the cleaning products are biodegradable.   Each treatment room is equipped with a special ambient lighting that mimics natural sunlight. The Almeidas’ commitment to sharing their green lifestyle is apparent in every single detail. (more…)

My skin is perpetually in need of intense moisture nowadays, given the subzero temperatures in Chicago as of late. So when I first saw the Kimono Rose Luxe Body Creme from Thymes, I was already dying to try it. The packaging is so gorgeous with its pretty floral patterns and origami-esque design. Did it live up to my expectations? Yes!

The creme itself is very rich and creamy. It does not feel as heavy as it looks, and absorbs pretty quickly. I like that it’s lush without being greasy, and I’ve been applying it head to toe after I shower in the mornings. It lets my skin feel moisturized all day! And the Kimono Rose scent is just divine. It’s a sheer floral built upon a base of rose, peony, and jasmine, with touches of clementine, cassis, and vanilla.

Check out thymes.com for more information about this brand and read all about the different collections. After trying Kimono Rose, I want them all!

It’s no secret that us TDO girls love traveling. We love doing it in style and sharing all our finds and secrets with you, our dear reader. Currently, we are all in between trips, but keeping ourselves informed and motivated for our next big one by reading the book Mr & Mrs Smith: Boutique Hotel Collection. Their global shortlist profiles 30 top properties around the world in a chic guide filled with decadent pictures and firsthand accounts of staying at the most luxurious hotels. I’m getting starry-eyed just thinking about traveling to these locations. Whether staying at one of these properties is a reality for you or a fantasy, this book has got you covered. In addition to hotel reviews, Mr and Mrs Smith includes concise city guides that tells all you need to know – how to get somewhere and what’s worth getting out of bed for (I, too, would have a hard time getting out of those amazing looking beds). Thanks to what I learned in the book, Mexico City and Istanbul are now high on my list of must-visit spots.

So who exactly are Mr and Mrs Smith? It’s a stylish panel of industry insiders who are frequent travelers living the good life. Contributors to this book include Dita Von Teese (burlesque artist), Bee Shaffer (fashion columnist and daughter of Anna Wintour), Anne Kornblut (political reporter with The Washington Post), and Serena Rees (lingerie designer for Agent Provocateur). They visit all the venues anonymously and then dish on their findings. Whether you’re planning your fantasy trip or just dreaming about your next vacation, Mr and Mrs Smith will let you know  what’s cool and definitely make you antsy to get your travel on.

You should always have at least one pretty top in your wardrobe that can function as a blouse for work and a top to pair more casually with your jeans. Those work for those days where you need to look professional during the day, but a bit more dressed up afterward for drinks. The Mayden Top from Joie is a piece that I think can transition from day to night really easily.

It’s a gorgeous, floaty chiffon top that would look great contrasted with a pair of black pants. Wear it with your heels and you’ll be all set for your day and night. I also like that it would look just as cute paired with your favorite jeans for a day of shopping or lunch out with your girlfriends. I’m already imagining how I would wear this top and it really is very simple, yet functional. The pleating and ruffle details make it more than just a simple white blouse.

Snatch one up for yourself at shopbop.com. (It’s on sale!)