.....that still make perfect sense today.
Such is The Dress Doctor – Prescriptions for Style, from A to Z, an adaptation of the best-selling style guide by Edith Head. Head (1897 – 1981) is the most celebrated costume designer of all time and dressed some of Hollywood’s most influential style icons like Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Ingrid Bergman, Elizabeth Taylor and countless others. Over the course of her career, she was nominated for thirty-four Academy Awards and won eight times for Best Costume Design, more than any other woman to date. The Dress Doctor shared style tips and dozens of entertaining anecdotes on her A-list clients and is back in print with striking sketches by fashion illustrator Bil Donovan.
And, beginning this weekend, Lancôme is hosting in-store events in celebration of the book at our boutiques. Schedule an appointment with one of our makeup artists at the locations listed below to create your own modern-day Hollywood look inspired by the book. Enjoy complimentary cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and take home your very own copy of The Dress Doctor with any Lancôme purchase of $100.
Details on how to book your appointment are listed below, but hurry, reservations are limited!
(You can call your nearest Lancôme Boutique to book an appointment. (A $75 reservation fee is required and fully redeemable in product.)
November 15th
VALLEY FAIR – 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd. Santa Clara, CA 95050 Phone: 408-244-8334
NORTHPARK – 8687 North Central Expressway Dallas, TX 75225 Phone: 214-750-9364
November 20th
SHORT HILLS – 1200 Morris Turnpike Short Hills, NJ 07078 Phone: 973-258-0790
November 22nd
UPPER WEST SIDE – 201 Columbus Ave. (at 69th Street) New York, NY 10023 Phone: 212-362-4858
BREA – 1102-a Brea Mall Brea, CA 92821 Phone: 714-671-0267
So, try to go and if you cannot make it, pick up a copy of the book because not only is it true that everything old is new again (including the recession). Impeccable Style is always in style.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Beautiful Botanicals
From France comes Clarins’ Extra Firming Tightening Lift Botanical Serum. Touted as a “natural alternative to injections, lasers and lifts,” it has a lovely feel-- the amber-colored liquid is like cool silk gliding on your face.
This serum as a double effect—it smoothes, soothes and lifts, making it a bit easier to apply make-up. The skin has more “slip” so make-up glides on. It really does what it is meant to. It can be applied in the morning or the evening, and it is said to offer not just instant results; it keeps working over time, meaning that it helps stimulate the skin’s renewal process.
Ingredients include:
Oat Sugars, which create an immediate tightening effect
Inca Peanut Proteins, smooth and refine skin’s texture
Hibiscus Seed Proteins moisturize
Stimulen, a blend of amino acids and Vitamin E encourages skin renewal.
Silicium (derived from Brown Algae) boosts elastin and collagen synthesis
As it says on the famous white, red and gold box: “Clarins: Effective serious treatments, ensuring maximum results with the highest quality ingredients.” And, as evidenced by the comment form in the box,they care about what their customers have to say.
$75. A very little goes a very long way.
http://www.clarins.com/
This serum as a double effect—it smoothes, soothes and lifts, making it a bit easier to apply make-up. The skin has more “slip” so make-up glides on. It really does what it is meant to. It can be applied in the morning or the evening, and it is said to offer not just instant results; it keeps working over time, meaning that it helps stimulate the skin’s renewal process.
Ingredients include:
Oat Sugars, which create an immediate tightening effect
Inca Peanut Proteins, smooth and refine skin’s texture
Hibiscus Seed Proteins moisturize
Stimulen, a blend of amino acids and Vitamin E encourages skin renewal.
Silicium (derived from Brown Algae) boosts elastin and collagen synthesis
As it says on the famous white, red and gold box: “Clarins: Effective serious treatments, ensuring maximum results with the highest quality ingredients.” And, as evidenced by the comment form in the box,they care about what their customers have to say.
$75. A very little goes a very long way.
http://www.clarins.com/
Sunday, November 2, 2008
The Fragrance of Memory
The description of the newest scent from Jo Malone, the British fragrance house, is tantalizing enough: “The Thai-influenced notes of Sweet Lime & Cedar form a balanced and harmonious fragrance, as sweet lime combines with delicate hints of jasmine and ylang ylang, coconut, and the vanilla-like tonka bean.” Just the name, Sweet Lime & Cedar conjures up visions or memories of a cooling breeze wafting through a sultry rain forest
And the actual scent fulfills the promise and zeros right to the pleasure points of dreams and memory. To say this scent in intoxicating is an understatement. As the fragrance house says, the perfume is “inspired by the diverse flavours of Thai cuisine... this exotic scent balances zesty citrus fruits with aromatic leaves, delicate flowers, fragrance spices and nutty woods.”
This is a scent of heady contradictions that can be worn with ease by a man or a woman. It is at once seductive and fresh, crisp and heady, pungent and sweet.
The composition of Sweet Lime & Cedar :
Top Notes of Kaffir Lime, Blood Orange, Pink Pepper ( to name a few)
Middle Notes of Clary Sage, Coriander, Lavender and
Base Notes include Cedarwood, Amber and Tamarind
Another nice thing about any of the fragrances from Jo Malone-- Sweet Lime & Cedar, Blue Agava & Cacao, Wild Fig & Cassis, Pomengranate Noir, to name only a few-- is that the different scents can be layered like fine silk. Just anoint yourself with one, perhaps Nutmeg and Ginger Body Crème, then after a few minutes, spray on, say, Lime Basil and Mandarin. Deliciously breathtaking.
And if you are looking for an elegant and yet charming gift, Jo Malone offers a Gift Concierge to help you with your choice from among selections such as a Candle Trousseau (a leather jewel box filled with a suite of fragrant candles), or a Cologne Trousseau ( twelve colognes, selected by you or representative, presented in a stately box) or the Pine & Eucalyptus Collection that includes Luxury candles, bath oils and soaps and fragrance. Breathtaking gifts for a wedding party or holiday festivities.
Look to their fine Corporate Gift Services to assist with presenting clients or colleagues with the perfect gift at your convenience.
Sweet Lime & Cedar...........Is it a dream? .................Or a memory? ................Both.
http://www.jomalone.com/
And the actual scent fulfills the promise and zeros right to the pleasure points of dreams and memory. To say this scent in intoxicating is an understatement. As the fragrance house says, the perfume is “inspired by the diverse flavours of Thai cuisine... this exotic scent balances zesty citrus fruits with aromatic leaves, delicate flowers, fragrance spices and nutty woods.”
This is a scent of heady contradictions that can be worn with ease by a man or a woman. It is at once seductive and fresh, crisp and heady, pungent and sweet.
The composition of Sweet Lime & Cedar :
Top Notes of Kaffir Lime, Blood Orange, Pink Pepper ( to name a few)
Middle Notes of Clary Sage, Coriander, Lavender and
Base Notes include Cedarwood, Amber and Tamarind
Another nice thing about any of the fragrances from Jo Malone-- Sweet Lime & Cedar, Blue Agava & Cacao, Wild Fig & Cassis, Pomengranate Noir, to name only a few-- is that the different scents can be layered like fine silk. Just anoint yourself with one, perhaps Nutmeg and Ginger Body Crème, then after a few minutes, spray on, say, Lime Basil and Mandarin. Deliciously breathtaking.
And if you are looking for an elegant and yet charming gift, Jo Malone offers a Gift Concierge to help you with your choice from among selections such as a Candle Trousseau (a leather jewel box filled with a suite of fragrant candles), or a Cologne Trousseau ( twelve colognes, selected by you or representative, presented in a stately box) or the Pine & Eucalyptus Collection that includes Luxury candles, bath oils and soaps and fragrance. Breathtaking gifts for a wedding party or holiday festivities.
Look to their fine Corporate Gift Services to assist with presenting clients or colleagues with the perfect gift at your convenience.
Sweet Lime & Cedar...........Is it a dream? .................Or a memory? ................Both.
http://www.jomalone.com/
Friday, October 31, 2008
Chocolate Chi
Fragrance in perfume doesn’t always have to be reminiscent of flowers or musk or sandalwood. Vanilla became popular in the mid-1990s and was followed by other foody-fragrances. Men have not been left out.
For a while Thierry Mugler sold a coffee-aroma infused cologne for men and while it was well-received, according to their representatives, it is no longer available. So what in the way of an unexpected fragrance for men is available now?
Armed with research that says nearly 70% of women around the world ranked chocolates as more irresistible than shopping, jewelry, or, yes, even sex, Axe has launched Dark Temptation, an intriguing blend of chocolate with other fragrances.
The result is more complex and captivating than you might expect. A blend of red peppercorn and hot chocolate amber, the overall olfactory effect is an agreeable and different aroma.
Shower Gel and Bodyspray and the cost is an affordable $4.99 each
For a while Thierry Mugler sold a coffee-aroma infused cologne for men and while it was well-received, according to their representatives, it is no longer available. So what in the way of an unexpected fragrance for men is available now?
Armed with research that says nearly 70% of women around the world ranked chocolates as more irresistible than shopping, jewelry, or, yes, even sex, Axe has launched Dark Temptation, an intriguing blend of chocolate with other fragrances.
The result is more complex and captivating than you might expect. A blend of red peppercorn and hot chocolate amber, the overall olfactory effect is an agreeable and different aroma.
Shower Gel and Bodyspray and the cost is an affordable $4.99 each
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Color yourself prudent
Everyone with any sense is trying to spend less. Even the phrase “disposable income” seems like a definition from another decade, far, far away.
So anything you can do at home rather than in say, a salon, is one way to save a little money that can be spent on food, gas, or heat.
Consider hair coloring. Yes, it is nice to go to a salon and have someone else color your hair and shampoo and whatever, but this is something you can do at home. You can color your own hair or take turns with a friend. There are so many brands of hair color and some have very precise applicators so you really can’t go wrong.
Perfect 10 Nice’n Easy by Clairol has a selection of 20 gorgeous permanent shades and a comb-like applicator to help you (or your friend) get the color to were it is needed most. This formula has a lower PH to better protect the hair and to reduce any harsh unpleasant odor. The fragrance is a bit like a bouquet of roses and violets next to a bowl of fresh pineapple, peaches and melon. And it offers 100% gray coverage.
And when you just want to touch up the roots, whether they are gray or a color other than the rest of your head, use one of those root touch-up products. They work very well and Nice n Easy now has a more generous amount of color to really do the job. This can take as little as 15 minutes and just rinses out and can hold off a full coloring job for few weeks.
And, you know what? Sometimes going to a salon can be annoying on a day you just don’t feel like having pleasant chit-chat with 10 people at a time who, even though they be genuinely nice individuals, you know they expect some kind of tip for the services they provide. And justifiably so. Still, it is one more thing to manage.
So use the time to stay home and color your hair yourself. Or a friend’s. It doesn’t have to turn into a Makeover Event, but that might be fun, too.
So anything you can do at home rather than in say, a salon, is one way to save a little money that can be spent on food, gas, or heat.
Consider hair coloring. Yes, it is nice to go to a salon and have someone else color your hair and shampoo and whatever, but this is something you can do at home. You can color your own hair or take turns with a friend. There are so many brands of hair color and some have very precise applicators so you really can’t go wrong.
Perfect 10 Nice’n Easy by Clairol has a selection of 20 gorgeous permanent shades and a comb-like applicator to help you (or your friend) get the color to were it is needed most. This formula has a lower PH to better protect the hair and to reduce any harsh unpleasant odor. The fragrance is a bit like a bouquet of roses and violets next to a bowl of fresh pineapple, peaches and melon. And it offers 100% gray coverage.
And when you just want to touch up the roots, whether they are gray or a color other than the rest of your head, use one of those root touch-up products. They work very well and Nice n Easy now has a more generous amount of color to really do the job. This can take as little as 15 minutes and just rinses out and can hold off a full coloring job for few weeks.
And, you know what? Sometimes going to a salon can be annoying on a day you just don’t feel like having pleasant chit-chat with 10 people at a time who, even though they be genuinely nice individuals, you know they expect some kind of tip for the services they provide. And justifiably so. Still, it is one more thing to manage.
So use the time to stay home and color your hair yourself. Or a friend’s. It doesn’t have to turn into a Makeover Event, but that might be fun, too.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Mascara Madness
Mascara has come a long way over the recent years. The choices are dizzying—do you want to lengthen? Plump up? Be waterproof? Be able to remove with soap and water—something that should bring tears to most eyes--?, curl while you color? ? ? ?
Now there are at least two types—Double Extend by L’Oreal, which promises a “lash extension effect” and The Colossal Volum’ Express (with collagen) by Maybelline that swears you will get 9 X the volume in one coat and no clumps.
Double Extend has “beauty tubes technology” and has two applicators. The first step is to apply a nourishing base coat. Then the Ultra Lengthening Tube Top Coat is applied.
Testing will commence shortly.
Now there are at least two types—Double Extend by L’Oreal, which promises a “lash extension effect” and The Colossal Volum’ Express (with collagen) by Maybelline that swears you will get 9 X the volume in one coat and no clumps.
Double Extend has “beauty tubes technology” and has two applicators. The first step is to apply a nourishing base coat. Then the Ultra Lengthening Tube Top Coat is applied.
Testing will commence shortly.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Making Scents of Food Flavors
What makes a scent acceptable or even beloved for a perfume? When did Vanilla become a fragrance and not just a flavor? Some claim it all began in 1993 with Coty’s launch of Vanilla Fields.
If a Vanilla perfume, then what about Chocolate? Or Coffee? They are already here. More later.
If a Vanilla perfume, then what about Chocolate? Or Coffee? They are already here. More later.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Sunscreen
The season may be slouching towards Fall but you still need to wear sunscreen daily. It is not needed when it is raining, of course, but have you noticed how many times the forecast calls for rain and then the sun comes out or the day starts drizzly and gray and then just when you are outside exposed to the weather, here comes the sun.
Go ahead. Slather some on your face and hands just to be sure. You’ll be glad you did later.
Go ahead. Slather some on your face and hands just to be sure. You’ll be glad you did later.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Regimen Change
In the face of the current economic upheaval, we still want our faces to be clean and healthy and we don’t want to pay too much for the products. Some skin cleansing products that are affordable and pleasurable to use are include in Daily Recharging Skincare Collection from Bioré .
There not too many “steps” in this collection--just enough. This is not one of those “beauty care regimens” so often hawked in department store cosmetics departments. Who has time for regimens—never mind the regime changes--it is past the time for a “regimen change”
A favorite is the Purify Self-Heating Mask (sugg. retail price ($5.99). Just the right amount comes out of the foil capsule-like units—and it opens without scissors, unlike some other companies whose packaging instructs “tear here” and no amount of tearing will work--especially nerve-wracking if you are trying to get ready for a shower and don’t have any scissors handy. The self-heating mask fulfills the promise of a relaxing skin revitalizer…and in only one minute. And there is absolutely no mess. You just massage the mask into your skin. The warmth feels wonderful.
The collection also includes a Detoxify Daily Scrub ( $6.99) that uses rosemary, sage, nettle and chamomile to uncover freshness and soothe at the same time. Nourish Moisture Lotion, SPF 15 ($9.99) contains wild yellow poppy (just the name alone is invigorating, conjuring up images of Georgia O’Keefe’s flowers by way of Oz, rose hip, chamomile and aloe along with silicon to help keep the shine from waxing on your face. Most important is that broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection.
Who can not like the Refresh Daily Cleansing Cloths ($5.99) ? They save so much time and do a good job of getting make-up off the face…you might need to follow up with an astringent to be sure every trace of the day has been swept off your face.
(Sometimes a pre-step to using any facial cleansing cloths is to wipe off the first layer of make-up or grime with an unscented baby-wipe.)
The Restore Boosting Night Serum ( $9.99) is a nice compact dynamo to recharge your cleansed skin while you sleep and hopefully don’t dream of the economy or your job or your 401k.
Even the Bioré commercials for this line are comparatively low keyed and agreeable and the products don’t disappoint your skin or your wallet. And let’s face it, you are not going to be getting a Fed bailout anytime soon.
There not too many “steps” in this collection--just enough. This is not one of those “beauty care regimens” so often hawked in department store cosmetics departments. Who has time for regimens—never mind the regime changes--it is past the time for a “regimen change”
A favorite is the Purify Self-Heating Mask (sugg. retail price ($5.99). Just the right amount comes out of the foil capsule-like units—and it opens without scissors, unlike some other companies whose packaging instructs “tear here” and no amount of tearing will work--especially nerve-wracking if you are trying to get ready for a shower and don’t have any scissors handy. The self-heating mask fulfills the promise of a relaxing skin revitalizer…and in only one minute. And there is absolutely no mess. You just massage the mask into your skin. The warmth feels wonderful.
The collection also includes a Detoxify Daily Scrub ( $6.99) that uses rosemary, sage, nettle and chamomile to uncover freshness and soothe at the same time. Nourish Moisture Lotion, SPF 15 ($9.99) contains wild yellow poppy (just the name alone is invigorating, conjuring up images of Georgia O’Keefe’s flowers by way of Oz, rose hip, chamomile and aloe along with silicon to help keep the shine from waxing on your face. Most important is that broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection.
Who can not like the Refresh Daily Cleansing Cloths ($5.99) ? They save so much time and do a good job of getting make-up off the face…you might need to follow up with an astringent to be sure every trace of the day has been swept off your face.
(Sometimes a pre-step to using any facial cleansing cloths is to wipe off the first layer of make-up or grime with an unscented baby-wipe.)
The Restore Boosting Night Serum ( $9.99) is a nice compact dynamo to recharge your cleansed skin while you sleep and hopefully don’t dream of the economy or your job or your 401k.
Even the Bioré commercials for this line are comparatively low keyed and agreeable and the products don’t disappoint your skin or your wallet. And let’s face it, you are not going to be getting a Fed bailout anytime soon.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
The Very Good Imposter
When is it not unwise to buy an imposter fragrance? When the perfume you loved some time ago is no longer available. You have searched online for the house that once offered your favorite perfume and it is nowhere to be found. You see a few other telltale signs from others looking for this same scent and it does not look promising. So you write an email to the company inquiring about the availability of that certain scent and get the answer you don’t want. It has been discontinued.
While there are many entities that offer perfume pretenders, there is one we found can actually deliver the goods. Good Scents Ltd, based in Princeton, IL http://www.goodscentslimited.com/ was able concoct a very acceptable version of the long discontinued Princess di Borghese. When the sample arrived—you can request a sample of a fragrance and they will let you know if they can whip one up for you--it was like a door opening slowly. A door to the past. The first whiff was confusing—was it like the original? What did the original smell like—it was so long ago. After the first layer of scent dissipated the lingering fragrance confirmed it. This is the bouquet that had been locked in memory. It was so nice to have it back. Does Good Scents Ltd get a recommendation? Yes.
Good Scents offers hand-blended, natural fragrances for body, home and office. And their prices are reasonable. The selection includes more than 150 scents for women and at least 40 for men. The scents come in a variety of forms—bath salts, body powder, home scents, candle, and aromatherapy.
Good Scents. For the forgotten fragrances we still love.
While there are many entities that offer perfume pretenders, there is one we found can actually deliver the goods. Good Scents Ltd, based in Princeton, IL http://www.goodscentslimited.com/ was able concoct a very acceptable version of the long discontinued Princess di Borghese. When the sample arrived—you can request a sample of a fragrance and they will let you know if they can whip one up for you--it was like a door opening slowly. A door to the past. The first whiff was confusing—was it like the original? What did the original smell like—it was so long ago. After the first layer of scent dissipated the lingering fragrance confirmed it. This is the bouquet that had been locked in memory. It was so nice to have it back. Does Good Scents Ltd get a recommendation? Yes.
Good Scents offers hand-blended, natural fragrances for body, home and office. And their prices are reasonable. The selection includes more than 150 scents for women and at least 40 for men. The scents come in a variety of forms—bath salts, body powder, home scents, candle, and aromatherapy.
Good Scents. For the forgotten fragrances we still love.
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