Archive for February, 2011

I’m the queen of lip products (I seriously carry around at least 15-20 in my bag on any given day) but even when I’m just looking to condition my lips and don’t want a lot of color, I like to use something fun.  My go to product for that recently has been L’Oreal’s True Match Naturale Gentle Lip Conditioners.  They’re super moisturizing, with Sweet Almond Oil and Vitamin E, so they’re perfect if you’re currently living through crazy winter weather and need to make sure your lips aren’t suffering.  They’re available in ten different shades – none of them are super pigmented, but you do get some color with them – and they go on with tons of shine.

My favorite color is Soft Peach.  It’s a great nude, glossy shade to go with a dramatic brown smoky eye, but it’s also perfect just for running errands on the weekend.  Best of all, each one retails for under $10 and you can get them at drugstores, so you can pick one up as a treat the next time you have to do something boring, like picking up paper towels.  I’m all about making errands fun!

I have a bit of a girl crush on Natalie Portman and not in a Mila Kunis way.  She’s been winning my heart stylistically with her support of Rodarte and Lanvin (one of my favorite designers) and the Lolita book clutch that she brought to the Black Swan premiere a few months ago. I’m a self-proclaimed bibliophile (my dream dwelling one day involves lots of high ceilings with wall-to-wall bookcases), so I love this blend of Dewey Decimal and fashion. Since the premiere, it’s been discovered via various blogs that Natalie’s particular version is by French designer Olympia Le-Tan, who sells in select US stores like Opening Ceremony, and designs a limited collection a few times a year.  Natalie’s version retails upwards of $1,000+.

Luckily for those of us with smaller pockets, Kate Spade started their own book-of-the-month clutch club, transforming classic titles like The Great Gatsby and Great Expectations into laminated silk twill clutches with 14-karat light gold plated clasp hardware. In classic Kate Spade style, expenses aren’t spared to the interior detail, with a contrasting silk faille interior zip pocket with space for 6 credit card slots.  Can’t afford the$325 price tag?  I’ve culminated a few alternate options, including a do-it yourself.  This month’s choice, in line with February, is Romeo and Juliet,

1. A DIY option, with optional handles, which you can personalize by selecting your own favorite book.

2.  A polished looking version from Etsy, with a vintage cover of the Ernst Hemingway classic, For Whom the Bell Tolls, $46

3.  This elegant, vintage one, of The Works of Conan Doyle, set on a delicate, thin gold chain $41

4.  A modern cover of Emily Dickinson Select Poems, with a beaded strap $48

What do you think? My favorite is the Romeo and Juliet cover, followed by the Ernest Hemingway version on Etsy.

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Another holiday, another panic attack: What on earth is there left to get for the man in your life? Well, a good home-cooked meal should work, but if that’s not your idea of a special gift, I suggest you say “I love you” with:

… a Hot Shave
I recently got the chance to check out Alexander’s for Hair, a mid-range, family-owned, all-in-one spa and salon in west L.A., and I thought, “What a great place to take my [insert any family member here]!” Formerly the male-targeted Reeder’s Barber Shop, complete with beers and flatscreen TVs, Alexander’s for Hair has undergone a recent makeover to suit its growing clientele base, offering more services for both men and women as well as eco-friendly hair products by Eufora and high-quality GRAM skincare by Dr. Bernard Gramlich (you should see his skin!). Helmed by new owner Krissy Smith and her mom Jeanne Phares, the salon has both a small-town feel and a cosmopolitan flair — perfect for those who want luxurious treatment but find super-high-end salons and spas either intimidating or just not worth the extra dough. Best of all, while you’re loved one is getting his Signature MVP Hot Shave, you can indulge in a Eufora Deep Conditioning and Scalp Treatment (free this month with any color service), a fantastic facial, a mani-pedi or a delightful (and affordable) deep-tissue massage (ask for Barbara!). Ah, the perks of co-ed bliss.

Alexander’s for Hair is located at 11515 W. Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles. Call (310) 473-0462 to make an appointment. Readers, mention the code AFHGO through February and you’ll get 30 percent off your service!

… Custom Kicks
If the love (or like) of your life is a label-savvy jet setter who frequently blends street style and upscale threads (or just likes any of the aforementioned), he’ll appreciate the new G3 collection by Ryz, the brainchild of former president of Adidas America and Adidas Japan Rob Langstaff. (more…)

I’ve recently gotten very into NARS, so I’ve been stalking their counter at my local Sephora waiting for the new spring collection to show up.  I know the rest of the country is freezing and covered in snow and ice, but here in L.A. it’s a balmy 78 degrees as I’m writing this, so it’s the perfect weather for starting to think about spring shades.  (Even summer shades!)

So far, I’ve gotten a chance to play around with the two new eyeshadow duos and I’m loving them both.  Nouveau Monde is super pretty.  It’s an interesting combo of metallic silver lilac and an olive gold that at first glance doesn’t seem like it would work, but somehow just does.  The other duo, Bateau Ivre, is a sky blue and a denim blue – the denim blue almost looks like a light purple at first glance, but they’re both such gorgeous deep, rich shades.  What I love about the NARS shadows is that they’re all so pigmented and creamy.  They go on fabulously and blend easily and you’re never forced to use half the pan just to see the color.  (That helps me justify the $33 price tag, which I know is a splurge).  I can’t wait to try the rest of their spring collection!

Need a little help for Valentine’s Day? Here are our suggestions for this year!

Annie Band – We fell in love with Annie Band’s Vintage Coral Glass Cabochon Ring at first sight. What makes it even more desirable? This made to order ring has “live” inscribed inside the band, custom inscriptions also available to ensure a personal touch. This comfortable fit ring gives off subtle glamour with its intricate vintage details and femininity. Available online at www.annieband.com for $368.

Olia – Everyone should have a personal mantra close to their heart! Olia’s Make Love Necklace, is an affordable and adorable keepsake. Simple yet statement making, this necklace is perfect for your former flower child mother whose heart will melt when she unwraps and discovers this special token on Valentine’s Day.  Have a new mother to shop for or a friend expecting? The Make Babies Necklace will make them smile. Each hand stamped charm necklace is $47, available in gold and sterling silver.

Knock Knock – Knock Knock has plenty of playful and witty giftables under $5 this Valentine’s Day that are guaranteed to please. Already committed? Spice things up with their Sweet Nothing notepad ($3.75) and let your loved one know exactly what you’re thinking in one concise sticky note! Looking for love? The Paper Pick Up pad ($4.50) keeps things simple – the paper version of speed dating that allows you to show interest while saving face.   (more…)

I don’t think I’m going out on a limb by saying everyone probably likes flowers, chocolate and/or fragrance as a Valentine’s Day gift. But do they LOVE it? Well, “mind-blowing” might not be the first thing I’d think … more like “predictable, but sweet. I’ll take it.” Leave it to Strange Invisible Perfumes to prove me wrong. Their creative take on the ol’ tried and true is simply eye-popping. (Oh men of our lives, are you reading this?!?)

A team effort with floral designer Holly Flora and San Francisco-based chocolate artisan Cocoa Absolute, SIP’s “ultimate Valentine’s Day delivery” offers four options of drop-dead gorgeous, creative bouquets paired with limited-edition organic, botanical perfumes and a delectable box of hand-crafted chocolates. (Just outside of L.A.? Call and see if they’ll make the trip.)

While pricey ($205–$542), the results are absolutely swoon-worthy. In addition, the flowers can be customized by request (if what you want is available), and since the chocolates are optional, you can always adjust according to your budget.

P.S. If you’re in the neighborhood, drop by SIP’s Venice, Calif., boutique tomorrow (Feb. 5) for a trunk show. There will be champagne, cupcakes, jewelry and plenty of limited edition fragrances to sample before you take the plunge!

Strange Invisible Perfumes is located at 1138 Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice, Calif. To order a V-Day delivery, call them at 310-314-1505 by February 11, 2011.

It’s been a year or two since I’ve tried Habitual, and while I liked the denim line enough back then, I totally love it now. Well-known for their high quality premium denim and their signature Maltese cross on the back pocket, they have some fantastic classic styles for spring.

If it hasn’t warmed up where you’re located, skinny jeans are probably a must-have since they tuck perfectly into boots. I’m obsessed with the Alice Mid-Skinny in Venus – the ideal skinny leg jean since it doesn’t hug too tightly. I love the softness of the jean (much more than previously), yet the denim has a medium weight for structure and sturdiness. The medium dark wash slims legs, and has become one of my go-to pairs. (Tough to do, since I live in jeans practically!) I’ve been wearing this pair everywhere with ballet flats.

Also, I tried the Amber Straight, which will definitely become a classic since a straight leg should be a staple in every woman’s closet. If you’re not comfortable with the skinnies, the straight leg is a great alternative since it hugs curves but has a looser fit. This style is a dark sleek denim with a bit of whiskering, so it’s perfect for more casual occasions – like brunching with friends or a morning at the farmer’s market. If you haven’t tried Habitual in awhile, like myself, or are in the market for a new pair of jeans, it’s definitely a brand you must try. You’ll love these styles!

I can be kinda hard on my hair, what with the two showers a day (I know it’s bad to wash it that much, but I hate getting into bed feeling dirty and Los Angeles is so hot that it’s impossible not to most of the time).  Plus, I blow dry it every day and occasionally put it up, so I feel like it deserves a pick me up every once in a while.  Recently, I’ve been turning to Kerastase’s Chroma Reflect Masque whenever I want to get it back into shape.

The masque is specially formulated to bring radiance to color-treated hair, so it’s absolutely perfect for those of us who want to condition our hair without affecting the shade in any way.  It smells yummy too – fresh and clean, which I love in my hair products.  You apply it to clean, damp hair, massage it in so your entire head is covered, then relax with a magazine or a glass of wine for approximately 10 minutes while it works.  When I rinse it out, my hair is so soft and it doesn’t have a knot in it (which is really great for me because my hair knots like crazy).  Once it dries, it’s shiny and just looks overall much healthier.  I’ve been using it about once every week or 10 days or so and it’s really helped my hair get back into shape and kept it looking good.  It’s a little pricey at $58, but those of you who have used Kerastase products before know that they’re worth it.  Everyone needs healthy hair!

Amazing hospitality, I’ve discovered, truly starts from the very top- so it’s no surprise that the Windham Hill Inn, with sophisticated veteran Katja Matthews at the helm, is one of the most luxurious, pampering and elegant destinations in the Northeast. As the innkeeper, Matthews oversees everything from the day to day operations to the nightly dinner menus to the small romantic decorations that adorn the 21 guest rooms and suites.  Her thoughtfulness, attention to detail and natural warmth creates a personal and intimate experience for every guest.  Matthews is so memorable, in fact, that many visitors who review the property make a special point of calling out her graciousness in their comments.  It is certainly no surprise that under Matthew’s leadership, the Windham Hill Inn joined the ultra prestigious Relais  & Chateaux association in 2009.  As someone with the goal of visiting every Relais & Chateaux property in the world (they are certainly some of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen), I made a point to check into the Windham Hill Inn for a night last December.

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I’ve been obsessed with all of the different Clarisonic Skincare Brushes for awhile now (ask any of my friends and/or relatives – I’ve told all of them to buy one at some point).  So when the new Opal Sonic Infusion came out, I was dying to try it.  I finally got my hands on one after reading several glowing reviews of it online and it was totally worth the wait.

The Opal is an oval shaped device that uses something called sonic infusion to help soothe and firm your eye area.  It’s very simple to use – you put in one of the serum dispenser caps and charge the device, then when you’re ready to use it, you simply dispense a few drops of the serum onto the cap, press a button to turn it on, and then move the device in a circular motion around your eye while it does its work.  It’s really mistake proof (pretty much the only thing you could do to make it not work is if you decided to use it on say, your neck or something.  Which would be crazy).  The serum contains a hand-selected blend of marine and botanical extracts and by using the Opal, it gets infused into your skin much better than if you just massaged it in.  It also feels really good when you’re doing it.  I think my eye area is probably the most neglected part of my face, so it’s nice to give it some extra attention.

When I’m done using it, the area around my eyes feels smoother and tighter.  If you use it for a long period of time, it’s supposed to lead to a decrease in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, but since I’m crazy face product girl, so far I’ve managed to stave those off, so I can’t vouch for that claim.  (At least, not yet.  When I told my mom about it, she made me promise I would let her try the Opal for awhile, so once I hand it off to her, she should be able to tell me what her results are.  Stay tuned!)  I just really like how much more awake it makes my eyes look – I hardly ever get enough sleep, so anything that can make me look less like a zombie is a hit with me, and the Opal really accomplishes that with barely any effort.  (I love making barely any effort!)  Definitely a product worth checking out.