Interviews

To amp up for summer, I’m now going to the gym about 6 times a week.  But as I started paying more attention to working out, I realized that I didn’t know the answer to some very common exercise questions.  So I turned to David Kirsch, celebrity trainer to the uber hot and uber famous to settle once and for all those nagging concerns.

Kirsch has shaped some of Hollywood’s hottest bodies including Anne Hathaway (did you see how amazing she looked in her post-breakup pictures), Liv Tyler and Ellen Barkin.  He is also famous for getting Hedi Klum from baby weight to runway ready in three weeks for the Victoria Secret fashion show back in 2005, just eight weeks after birthing her child.  (The show was recorded November 9 and Kirsch arrived in LA to train Klum on October 13.)

Kirsch has also developed a series of workout related products.  His newest book, David Kirsch’s Butt Book, is out July 13, but we’re giving you a sneak preview of how to do one of his signature butt exercises. Read below for the tips this master trainer shares with TDO readers to make your own workout more efficient: (more…)

Zoe Sakoutis and Erica Huss are the beautiful, energetic ladies behind Blueprint Cleanse,  the juicing sensation that took off in New York a few years ago and is now popular around the country.  I did the cleanse a couple of times, first last November and again this April when I realized that I was still craving their green juice!  (It is much tastier than the stuff I try to make myself.) A three day, delicious menu of fresh bottled juices was everything I needed to shake off the lethargy that had developed and this time I even dared to work out while juicing on the Blueprint Mind Body Cleanse program, offered in conjunction with Exhale Spa.  I was skeptical of exercising while juicing, but as it turns out, Exhale’s yoga and barre method classes were a perfect complement as they focused on toning and muscle definition (rather than cardio).   Three days and 18 juices later, I was sore but energetic and happy.

“Detox” and “cleansing” can be confusing buzz words you may hear in beauty and health media and I took a moment to speak with the ladies to get the DL on their personal experiences, the Blueprint philosophy, and a sneak peek at what the dynamic duo is up to next. (more…)

A few weeks ago I met Dr. Lisa Airan, a familiar face from the pages of Vogue,  Style.com, and various other media outlets,  either noted for her impeccable sense of fashion or her expertise as a nationally recognized dermatologist.  She was speaking at a press luncheon on behalf of BOTOX® Cosmetic, one of the most well known facial injectables on the market and one of Dr. Airan’s most popular requests at her office.

I learned some pretty cool things about BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic.  For example, I had no idea that BOTOX® could be used to treat anything from eye muscular dysfunction that results in crossed eyes to oversweating.  I also learned some important safety information.  Now that the market is flooded with different types of injectables, if you choose BOTOX®, it’s important to know that you should not mix BOTOX® with other botulinum toxins.

As I’m still in my early 20s, I haven’t seriously considered BOTOX® Cosmetic and passed on the opportunity to receive the treatment myself.  However, I have always been curious to learn more about the product.  I am not opposed to cosmetic dermatology, dentistry, plastic surgery, or any other kind of procedures as long as the consumer has been properly educated and makes the decision on his own terms. Truth be told, I believe that looking and feeling healthy and youthful brings a lot of self empowerment and there’s nothing wrong with seeing a dermatologist to blast away a wrinkle if the consumer feels that is the right option.

Below, Dr. Airan talks to TDO readers about the safety, effectiveness and even some alternatives to BOTOX®.  Plus, we also got her beauty secrets to how she, herself, always looks so amazing! (more…)

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of having Armani Beauty’s Celebrity Face Designer and National Director of Creative Artistry, Tim Quinn, do my makeup for an event.  Tim has been with Armani Beauty since the line launched in September 2001.  Almost a decade later, it has become one of the most luxurious cosmetics brands even within the prestige market, and in no small part due to Tim’s leadership.  When I first met him, I wasn’t sure what our rapport would be like but Tim mixes his celebrity stature with a such a generous dose of warmth and practicality that we were Facebook buddies within the hour. Over conversations of mascara and the Met, I snuck in a few questions for an exclusive TDO interview.  Below are his answers: (more…)

Most material I came across while prepping for my interview with Kilian Hennessy described his disposition as ”Byron-esque” and after seeing a few pictures of him, I understood why: he looked like the epitome of tortured poet.  He wouldn’t look out of place scribbling furiously away on an unrequited love poem in an attic garret somewhere in the darkness of Paris. But one thing I didn’t count on was his ardent and intense love of fragrance, which I immediately detected from his passionate and sincere replies to my interview questions.

Kilian Hennessy may be a new name in luxury fragrances, but no stranger to luxury– it is entrenched in his bloodlines, as grandson to the founder of the LVMH group. Since his childhood, fragrance has been a huge part of his life.  Some of his favorite childhood haunts included the family cellars in Cognac, where the sugar in alcohol and wood of cognac barrels serving as the inspiration of many of his scents today.

He joined the corporate world of perfumery by working for some of the most famous noses in the business like Christian Dior, Giorgio Armani, Paco Rabanne, and Alexander McQueen.  With experience like that and a envious luxury pedigree to boot, it would have been easy for him to stick to the corporate path, but Kilian decided to create his own line of fragrances, By Kilian.  Read on to get some additional insight into his reason for creating his own line of fragrances, his creative process, and the sexiest place is for a woman to apply her fragrance: (more…)

Editor’s Note: We sent one of our Fashion Week correspondents to get the scoop from design maven Yigal Azrouel. Read on to find out what the designer has to say about his current work and of course, his obsessions.

By Christine Cameron

The Daily Obsession: First of all, I love your work. How do you feel when you see women wearing your clothing?
Yigal Azrouel: I find it really rewarding when I see that women are relating to my designs and going out and buying my pieces. It is such a good feeling.

TDO: What is it like designing in this economy? Is it difficult to find inspiration in these trying times?
YA: I have given this question a lot of thought actually and I think that during a recession, for me as a designer, I push myself more. I look at it like a challenge and like to take it to another level. As far as inspiration, when it comes to each collection, I try and weave in the influence I get from traveling and experiencing different cultures. But, it also comes from the fabric. I love to start out by draping right away and experimenting by mixing and matching materials and fabrics. Like I mentioned before, I am very hands on and very visual, so I don’t just work from my sketches, I need to feel the material. I need to go visit showrooms and see it for myself, and then it just begins to evolve from there. It is a very exciting process for me. (more…)

Will Kate Winslet finally take home an Oscar this Sunday? Back when Winslet was just 22, she became the youngest actress to receive two Oscar nominations – an honor (and a curse perhaps) that she’s repeated for her next four nominations.  Already a double winner at the Golden Globes and SAG, this year could be her year. But as she told TDO, she doesn’t really have an acceptance speech planned.  “One thing I’ve learned this award season is that I’m not really cut out for it,” she said.  “I’m too emotional to lose and I’m clearly too emotional to win.”

I caught up with Winslet a couple weeks ago while she was taking a breather in between shows. When I mentioned to my friends that I had been granted the amazing opportunity to interview her, they all responded in the same way – by declaring their own regard for the actress. In fact, it’s hard to find anyone who doesn’t like Kate.  Often described as an actor’s actor, Winslet’s rise to fame has been a result of her truly becoming an expert in her chosen craft.  Her genuine  demeanor and level-headed nature are also incredibly admirable.  While watching clips  of Winslet’s interviews to prep for my own, I never saw the actress be anything less than warm and gracious…humble even.  And when we talked, Winslet was incredibly nice, funny, honest, and self deprecating. (more…)

We’ve featured Rebecca Minkoff bags multiple times here at TDO, and for good reason; her bags have the perfect blend of style, wearability, and functionality that make them a must-have for any contemporary, modern woman.  We’ve delved even deeper into our obsession with Rebecca Minkoff bags by scoring an interview with the woman and namesake herself behind the line!

It’s widely known that Rebecca Minkoff first got her break designing bags when her good friend, Jenna Elfman, asked her to design one for a movie.  It was from this request that the famous Morning After Bag was conceived, and soon after, it was seen on the shoulders and arms of Hollywood starlets such as Lindsay Lohan, Hayden Panettiere, and Kristin Cavallari.  Rebecca originally started out as a clothing designer, and even founded her own clothing line in 2001.  From our interview, we found out good news for you Rebecca-aholics — a Rebecca Minkoff clothing line is in the works (see below for details)!  TDO was grateful for the chance to spend some one on one time with Rebecca, as we talked about everything from her process to designing, celebrity inspiration, and plans for the future: (more…)

At just 16 years old, American gymnast Shawn Johnson has already made a huge splash in the worlds of sports and beauty. She won multiple medals during the Summer Olympics in Beijing and has also been busy outside of the gym as a spokesperson for Cover Girl and Crest. We had the amazing opportunity to meet her while she was in Chicago to work with Feeding America (formerly known as America’s Second Harvest). Shawn took time out of her busy schedule to chat with us about her charity work, beauty obsessions, and her future goals.

The Daily Obsession: Tell us a bit about what you’re working on with Crest and Feeding America here in Chicago.
Shawn Johnson: Crest actually just donated $1 million worth of toothpaste to Feeding America. Especially during times like these, a lot of families’ first priority is to put food on the table, and people forget about dental care. I’m going to be giving out food and toothpaste and hopefully raise awareness about food donation shortages and health. (more…)

The first time I met Kathleen (aka joie), she came strolling into brunch with a SpaceNK bag and her first box of Eve Lom Cleanser.  Although I’ve long heard of this cult fave, I’d never tried the product so I intently listened to her explain the changes she saw in her skin for the next few weeks.  We also jumped at the chance to interview Eve Lom and find out from the creator herself what makes that product so iconic.

The Daily Obsession: How did you formulate the cleanser and develop the idea of a cleanser designed around the lymphatic drainage system?
Eve Lom: Developing the cleanser did not happen overnight; it was a process. When I lived in LA, I met renowned skincare specialist Georgette Klinger, who inspired me to become a facialist. I became fascinated by the therapeutic side of beauty, studying lymphatic drainage, cranial osteopathy and nutrition. When I moved to London and started practicing my facial, I also started to develop a cleanser to be used during my facial. I mixed my own concoctions in yogurt cups using ingredients I remembered from my childhood growing up on a farm in Czechoslovakia: natural ingredient such as hops – a natural rinse aid, clove – antiseptic for clear skin, eucalyptus and chamomile – soothing, and cocoa butter. (more…)