Archive for November, 2010

Every time Gwen Stefani comes out with another set of Harajuku Lovers fragrances, I’m compelled to own them all.  The bottles are adorable and for scents that are so different and unique, I’m constantly surprised by how much I like every single one of them.  The new Wicked Style Harajuku Girls collection has the girls sporting brightly colored hair and wild outfits (well, wilder than normal!) and I think they might be my favorite bottles yet.  (The hairstyles they’re wearing are totally adorable).  Here are the five scents you’ll find in the collection:

• Love – A fruity floral with notes of Nectarine, Orangeflower and Blend of Woods
• Lil’ Angel – A sparkling floral with notes of Succulent Plum, Blooming Lotus and Satin Wood
• Music – A woody floral with notes of Juicy Apple, Jasmine and Swirling Cedarwood
• Baby – A vanilla floral with notes of White Peach, Pink Plumeria and Glowing Amber
• G – A fruity floral with notes of Green Apple, Watermelon and Raspberry

As always seems to be the case, my favorite of the bunch is Lil’ Angel.  No matter what incarnation of the scent I pick, I love it equally as much.  It’s light and energetic and the perfect pick me up on a gray, overcast winter morning.  My second favorite Wicked Style scent is a tough call, but it’s probably G.  Her bright yellow hair is perfect for the zesty, fruity fragrance.  (I mean, how can you not love a scent with Watermelon and Raspberry notes?  It’s impossible!)  If you like vanilla-y fragrances, Baby if the one for you.  It’s sweet and pretty in an innocent sort of way.  (She even has light pink hair!)  If you want to try all the scents without making a commitment yet, I suggest the Wicked Style Mini Rollerball Coffret.  It’s only $15, so the rollerballs are definitely tiny, but you’ll be able to figure out which of the girls you like the most and they’re also super convenient to throw in your bag for a quick fragrance touch-up during the day.  They’re just too cute to resist!

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This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Omega Watches. All opinions are 100% mine.

I’m still waiting for the right occasion to come along for me to make my lifetime watch investment (I’m thinking MBA graduation if that ever happens) but I’ve long had my eye on OMEGA.  Now I know exactly which model I’m lusting after- the new Ladymatic.   I absolutely love the rose and yellow gold hues of the watch which looks much warmer on me than silver.  And who can say no to all the diamonds that encrust the face plate and on the dial?  With so much bling, the watch has a lot of potential to look tacky- but instead comes across as dainty, ladylike and very very luxe!!  In fact, if I were a high powered businesswoman, I would definitely choose this very feminine watch to wear with my power suits and sky high heels. (more…)

Well, in denim form, anyway. Thanks to new premium denim line Rue de…, I’ve been lounging in comfort all day in their Boyfriend Jeans in Mademoiselle (a roomy, medium blue pair with faux rips and optional cuffs similar to what the model above is wearing), $187.

With the goal to deliver a “custom, comfortable fit that adjusts to the ups and downs of your day” without sacrificing quality, Rue de… has managed to keep their jeans almost as comfy as sweatpants — but much better looking. (The secret? Great fabric and a patented logo on the waistband that allows for up to two inches of stretch.)

Inspired by European style circa the 18th century — and creator Cindy Yun’s desire to wear comfortable jeans during her many plane trips, the line is named after the streets of Paris (“rue” means “street”). The core focus is on three main fits — skinny, straight and flared bootcut — but there are several shades and styles to choose from, along with limited-edition styles. The jeans are priced from about $105 to $280 and available in Hong Kong and specialty stores in L.A., N.Y.C. and Orange County. Find out where to try them on at their website, ruedejeans.com, and keep up with this blossoming line’s latest news on Facebook and Twitter!

If you’re looking to sparkle and shine this holiday season, I highly suggest checking out Dior’s new collection.  The two new eye palettes are so pretty – they’re all about shimmer and lighter colors with a dark shade to accent – a great look for a night out or even for the daytime if you make sure not to go too heavy-handed.  The Five Golds palette has five different shimmer shades in it – shimmering black, copper shimmer, silver shimmer, light gold shimmer, and bronze shimmer.  (more…)

Recently, I took a ill-timed, direct red-eye flight from Los Angeles to New Orleans for a wild wedding weekend, only to regret not taking a nap before the three-and-a-half-hour trip. (Anyone who was there during Halloween/Voodoo Fest weekend might know that it was practically impossible to check in to your hotel early.) Unfortunately, this was my first time in The Big Easy, and wandering sleep-deprived through the French Quarter at 8 a.m., fueled only by a cup of chicory coffee and a plate of beignets, was — well, not so easy.

Imagine my elation when I literally stumbled upon the charming Kinetix Spa and Salon (formerly Ofadean). On a whim, I asked owner Michael Mikolajewski if there was a “quiet room.” He smiled and gently said the prettiest word I’d heard all morning, “Yes.” I then asked if he could accommodate me and my delirious husband, despite the fact that the salon was bustling with some of what must have been 100 bridal parties in town that weekend. Again he said, “Yes.” (He really had that southern hospitality thing down.)

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As I type this, an exclusive state-side preview auction is concluding at Sotheby’s Beverly Hills for a one-of-a-kind Lalique “Cire Perdue” Decanter containing the oldest and rarest Macallan ever bottled, a 64-year-old Macallan Single Malt Whisky.

Reportedly “history in the making,” the event, hosted by The Macallan Brand Ambassador Eden Algie (yes, he’s really Scottish), gives the winning bidder the chance to be the first person in the U.S. to own The Macallan 64. (And, can we just note how gorgeous the crystal artisan bottle is?)

For a scotch connoisseur, this is a big deal. For a gal like me who likes to watch “Mad Men,” sit in vintage leather wingback chairs and engage in witty conversation with scotch connoisseurs, this is a thrilling pipe dream. And for charity: water, a nonprofit organization that brings drinking water to people in developing nations, it means more than $100,000 of support collected at auctions throughout the world over the course of eight months.

Discerning New Yorkers out there who want to contribute to this great cause and catch a glimpse of the bottle above before it ends up on someone’s private bar can still attend the charity: water grand auction event at Sotheby’s New York on November 15. Interested in bidding? Send an email to cireperdue@mbooth.com. Or for more information, go to http://www.charitywater.org/themacallan/. For the rest of us, here’s a quick scotch lesson:

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Last year when Thymes retired their cult favorite fragrance Filigree, they had so many customers begging for them to bring it back that they decided to listen to all of the demands and have it make a return appearance.  I hadn’t tried it before, but now that I have, I can see why so many people are hooked on it.

Filigree is a really unique scent – it has notes of rich amber, juniper berry and warm cedarwood, and it layers them with neroli and white willow.  It’s a rich, almost spicy scent – definitely one that seems more fitting for colder weather, which is a nice change for me because I feel like I have a ton of scents that are more summer appropriate and only one or two that I want to reach for exclusively in the winter.  I also like that it’s clean smelling, but with the added punch of the amber and juniper berry.  It’s something that seems like it would be equally as perfect paired with jeans and a sweater as it would be with a dress and heels.  When you order it online, it comes packaged in a pretty white box with silver detail on it, so it would make an easy and elegant hostess gift during the holiday season.

Right now, Filigree is available for pre-order here.  Orders will start to ship in November, but the quantities are limited and it will only be available while supplies last, so if you’re a Filigree fan, don’t wait.  You’ll be kicking yourself when it’s all gone.