ELLE News Blog

Cheap Thrills From CVS's Essence of Beauty Products

ELLE.com — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:15:00 -0500

I don't discriminate: when it comes to beauty, I could spend just as much time perusing the shelves at a drugstore as at a high-end boutique (I go into cosmetics-coma either way). And now I can tack on another twenty minutes of lost time thanks to CVS's affordable yet chic Essence of Beauty line, which I sampled recently at an event at Robert Verdi's Luxe Lab in NYC. I can't keep my hands off of the Jasmine Ginger products, which carry the light price tag of up to $6. Our beauty assistant, Janna, is equally smitten. She
keeps the all-at-once invigorating yet comforting hand cream at her desk. I'm putting my stash on surveillance...

—Maura Lynch, Associate Beauty and Fitness Editor

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Rachel Ashwell’s Shabby Chic

ELLE.com — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:00:00 -0500

There are few who will declare their love for squeaky cupboards, wonky drawers, and dripping faucets like Shabby Chic’s Rachel Ashwell. In an era full of luxury apartments and McMansions, Ashwell remains a breath of fresh air with her belief that every imperfect trinket not only “adds to the quality and honor of a home,” but also has a story that should be passed on from owner to owner.

In her new book Shabby Chic Interiors: My Rooms, Treasures, and Trinkets (Cico Books), Ashwell opens her studio, sunny California house, and Malibu beach cottage revealing overflowing interiors full of magical chandeliers, whimsical good luck elephants (“trunks always up for maximum fortune”), and enchanting royalty china. Since the launch of Shabby Chic in 1989, Ashwell has created a world of blissful make believe, and it’s clear that being a savior to all things tarnished and broken will forever remain her design philosophy (she confesses to asking for forgiveness when chopping down legs of paint-chipped tables during restorations).

This past January, Shabby Chic filed for bankruptcy, but Ashwell has since been able to buy back the Shabby Chic name with the help of Brand Sense Partners (an investment and marketing company), and she will soon begin designing a lower-price-point collection that will be sold in furniture stores nationwide.

Ashwell’s Simply Shabby Chic collection at Target became my go to décor when I moved into my first apartment a year ago. Everything from my shower curtain to my vanity table are from the collection, so my fingers are tightly-crossed that Ashwell’s dreams of opening her own hotel and designing a line of wallpaper will one day come true!

For more on Shabby Chic visit shabbychic.com.

—Natasha Clark, Associate Fashion Credit Editor

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Society For Rational Dress Dresses A Secret Self

ELLE.com — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:22:59 -0500

Last Saturday, the Santa Monica Museum of Art hosted hundreds of guests, as their first Halla Gala went off without a Halloween hitch. As reported earlier, in addition to co-hosts Leonard and Susan Nimoy, the dress as your secret self event had some pretty big fashion names attached to it as well, one of which was Corinne Grassini, owner and design mind behind the line Society for Rational Dress. “I loved the twist on the traditional costume party, “ Grassini said. “Each person’s look created a conversation, and it was interesting to see all the different ways the concept of ‘secret self’ was interpreted.”

How did Mimi Wheeler, the woman who purchased the ticket package that included Corinne’s assistance—and Society for Rational Dress clothing—interpret the night’s theme? “Well, she was quite pregnant,” Grassini laughed, “so instead of dressing her up in the traditional Halloween sense, we had her outfit mirror how she felt at this point in her life: comfortable and happy—very at peace.” The designer started with a dark, roomy silk dress, added an oversized alpaca pullover with a bright, multicolored turtleneck (both pieces from her FW09 collection), and then incorporated the color palette into Mimi’s dramatic eye makeup.

With a successful turnout and many happy secret self customers and designers, not to mention awe-inspiringly executed décor (inanimate and human!), here’s hoping the museum makes the Halla Gala an annual event.

Santa Monica’s secret self partygoers (left to right): Society for Rational Dress designer Corinne Grassini with Mimi Wheeler, party atmosphere, designer Brian Lichtenberg and a futuristically chic friend

Photos: Courtesy of Stefanie Keenan

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ELLE News Quiz: 11/6

ELLE.com — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:55:54 -0500

How well do you know this week's most stylish happenings?

1. What Brit model was just named a Victoria's Secret Angel?

2. What designer teamed with Baileys Irish Cream for a holiday shoe auction?

3. What museum just opened an exhibit featuring photos of rock icons?

4. What shoe designer just rolled out a customized line of Barbies?

5. Leighton Meester wore a floral frock by what designer to the NYPL's Library Lions Gala?

6. What stylish songstress hosted MTV's European Music Awards?

—Erin Clements

Answers:

1. Rosie Huntington Whitely

2. Patricia Field

3. The Brooklyn Musem

4. Christian Louboutin

5. Prabal Guring

6. Katy Perry

Photo: Getty Images

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Rosie Huntington Whitely Now a Victoria's Secret Angel

ELLE.com — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:02:41 -0500

Rosie Huntington Whitely has just been named a Victoria's Secret Angel, and as it stands right now, she is the only Brit to currently hold the heavenly title.

The doll-faced model has been steadily climbing the ladder to supermodel-dom and now that she has the ultimate trophy, her angel wings, the future will only get brighter for the 22 year-old. But for the English rose, who has already been the face of Burberry and holds the 2009 Model of the Year title from the ELLE Style Awards, how much more is there is to conquer? We will just have to wait and see.

—Rebecca Suhrawardi Austin

Photo: Getty Images

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Wardrobe Chic: Shop Amerie's Closet

ELLE.com — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:24:57 -0500

Amerie is known for her can't-get-em-out-of-your-head songs, though, after spending the day with the R&B star for ELLE.com's Wardrobe Chic shoot, I soon realized her eye for style and thoughtful approach to fashion are just as infectious. The self-proclaimed accessories junkie has amassed an impressive collection of edgy-chic jewelry—from Pamela Love dagger necklaces to Bliss Lau body chains (most of which she buys online). The Grammy-nominated songstress, whose fourth album just hit stores, follows one simple style rule: "Getting dressed everyday should be fun." Here, she wears a hot-pink See by Chloé dress paired with her highest (and most comfortable) Gucci booties. Shop out her look below.

—Violet Moon Gaynor

Michael Kors dress, Armani Exchange belt, and Forever 21 booties

Photo of Amerie: Kelly Stuart

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Street Chic: New York

ELLE.com — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:00:00 -0500

A fur vest adds a luxe touch to an LBD.

Photo: Lee Satkowski

Think you are Street Chic? E-mail us your photo and you could appear in ELLE.com's Street Chic Daily.

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Collection Crush: Cushnie et Ochs SS10 (and FW09 and SS09…)

ELLE.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:16:36 -0500

Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs, the minds behind emerging line Cushnie et Ochs, have been getting a lot of attention for the bold, cutout-heavy designs they’ve sent down the runway the past three seasons. What’s interesting about their signature as opposed to Preen’s or Ohne Titel’s or Elise Øverland’s—newish designers whose Aeon Flux eveningwear aesthetic aligns with Cushnie et Ochs’—is that, collection to collection, you still sense Carly and Michelle are crossing the river by feeling the stones. In other words, the duo knows what they like and what they’ve been successful at (cutouts, illusion sheer, asymmetric fabric contrasting), but they aren’t relying on what they’ve been lauded for in the past to dictate—or limit—where they’re going in the future. Instead, it seems they’re experimenting, synthesizing, refining an already stunning product.

As much as I look forward to seeing what new take on futuristic chic Cushnie et Ochs will present in February, I just pray the girls keep the sheath you see below on Alexis Bledel in production for years to come.

The many unique cuts of Cushnie et Ochs (clockwise from top left): Alexis Bledel in a cutout sheath this past April, a one-sequined arm woman in the FW09 show, contrast colored structuring at its finest in the SS10 show, Rumer Willis in a bead-intense sheath in August, an Alejandro Ingelmo shoe from the FW09 show, Michelle and Carly after the SS10 show, racy racerback from the FW09 show, four-way peekaboo jacket from the SS09 show

Photos: of Imaxtree, Getty

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Patricia Field Partners With Baileys for Holiday Shoe Collection

ELLE.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:47:21 -0500

Patricia Field has gotten into the holiday spirit, teaming with Baileys Irish Cream to present a collection of one-of-a-kind shoes inspired by the frothy liqueur, to be auctioned for charity between November 11 and December 2. Designers participating in the whimsical project for a worthy cause—proceeds benefit nonprofit Clothes Off Our Back—include Alejandro Ingelmo, Farylrobin, Rafe, Shree Moni and Vanessa Noel. In addition to this limited-edition line, a heady array of designer footwear will be sold for just $75 a pair at pop-up shops in New York and Los Angeles. At last night’s launch party, I chatted with Field, whose costumes for Sex and the City 2 caused quite a commotion after photos of the fabulous foursome decked out in ‘80s garb recently surfaced (“Carrie is meeting her friends to go shopping at Bergdorf’s and thinking about when she first came to New York; it’s her reminiscing while they’re all approaching,” she explained.) So what was Field’s reaction upon casting her inimitable eye over the shoes on display at the event? “I’m very impressed with their quality and workmanship, and the achievement of these designers—some of whom are very young. I think this is a wonderful idea, and it should grow.”

—Erin Clements

Me sharing a cocktail with Field

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All Saints to E-Commerce

ELLE.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:28:11 -0500

The Brits love All Saints. It's a mid-priced brand of fashion that says rocker meets Ricks Owens meets pretty girl. All Saints is the place to buy great everyday pieces to layer upon layer, like asymmetrical sweaters and biker boots, to create a hot London look that would make even Kate Moss proud.

So if you are looking for a new place to get good basics that are original and likely not worn by anyone else in U.S., then their new e-commerce site will rock your world. The gem of a site will offer collections for men, women and children, and includes free shipping nationwide.

—Rebecca Suhrawardi Austin

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Hollywood Hearts Roland Mouret

ELLE.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:07:16 -0500

Last night, Cameron Diaz. Four days ago, Olivia Wilde. Two Mondays ago, Julianne Moore and Michelle Monaghan. Roland Mouret, the man whose sculptural sheaths have personified modern elegance for almost a decade (his first collection hit runways back in 2000), seems to be having the busiest fall of any designer this red carpet season. Mouret’s design signature is unique in that it is equally classic as it is fashion-forward; his most well-known dresses hit at or just above the knee, bare no cleavage, and frame, as opposed to flaunt, the feminine form. His necklines and sleeves are works of art, often bearing some permutation of asymmetry, structured sculpturing, and origami-style pleating.

The array of women who have embraced RM by Roland Mouret collections is wide, surprising, and includes everyone from loyal ladies Victoria Beckham and Jennifer Connelly to Kelly Ripa, Katy Perry, even Amber Rose. And evidently Gwyneth, too, who was fortunate enough to wear a dress from the designer’s most recent SS10 collection only weeks after it showed in Paris.

Roland makes all the ladies look like ladies (clockwise from top left): Cameron Diaz in the Electra, Olivia Wilde in the Scirocco, Julianne Moore in a belted coral sheath, Michelle Monaghan in the Traverse, Jennifer Connelly in the Diablo, Jennifer Garner in the Brise Noir, Penélope Cruz in the Daphne, and Amber Rose in the Mona

Photos: WireImage and Getty

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Bruno Pieters' New Limited-Edition Candles Make Scents

ELLE.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:05:15 -0500

Bruno Pieters is bringing his first scent to the world and it's in candle form. The candle is suggestive of the designer's aesthetic towards clothes, best seen through the slick black glass container, black wax, with a scent that is both sweet and spicy with notes like bergamot and black pepper. It's woody, it's leathery, and it's amber-y, all at once.

The candle is limited edition and not available everywhere, though you can get it at the Convenience Store in London, so if you want it, you'll have grab it before it's gone.

—Rebecca Suhrawardi Austin

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Ashish Sequin Tank Pops Against Black Basics

ELLE.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:22:46 -0500

As winter starts to settle in, I look for ways to give my nearly all-black wardrobe a little pop. One of my favorite things to do is to wear a printed tank with black skinny jeans and a black blazer. While perusing Net-A-Porter.com, I stumbled across this gorgeous Ashish sequin tank—cue my uncontrollable desire to input my credit card details and use priority overnight shipping. Can you blame me?

—Kristen Shirley, Fashion Assistant

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Judith Leiber Teams with Breeders' Cup for Custom Silks Handbags

ELLE.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:10:30 -0500

Judith Leiber has joined with Breeders’ Cup in offering horseracing aficionados the opportunity to reinterpret their racing silks into a custom-made crystal minaudière. Leiber's meticulously crafted bags are the thoroughbreds in the luxury arena and perfectly punctuate any outfit. They’re forever chic and are a glamorous option to carry your day to evening essentials in.

Prices range from $6,300 to $12,000. To create your own visit any Judith Leiber boutique or http://www.judithleiber.com. See you at the races!

—Kyle Anderson, Senior Accessories Editor

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DVF's Cool Winter Whites

ELLE.com — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:44:00 -0500

To celebrate Diane von Furstenberg's Journey of a Dress retrospective in Moscow, Kate Bosworth wore an angelic winter-white dress and jacket from the designer's spring 2010 collection. The style-savvy star combined looks 31 and 32 (shown below), making for an inspired, and weather-appropriate, evening look. Here, chic winter-white options starting at $55.

—Violet Moon Gaynor

Chiffon rose vest, silk bustier gown, shearling vest, embroidered cotton blouse, and cowl-neck sweater dress

Runway photos: Imaxtreee

Kate Bosworth photo: Getty Images

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