It really can be hard to find gorgeous bras with an impeccable fit in larger sizes, especially at a good price. Ordinarily a quality bra in my size would cost between $70-$200+ depending on the brand and its workmanship. But the good people at QT Intimates sent me their stunning Colette bra, $34, and answered all my prayers.

The fit is spot-on; the support is all there; and the comfort is perfection. Designed by Liz Marrell, above, of QT Intimates, this bra, which was a year in the making, is a hidden gem! The price is Playtex, but the look is La Perla! Liz cites as her influences the corsetry of Jean Paul Gaultier and the tailoring of Alexander McQueen, and it shows.

I cannot begin to explain what an incredible deal this is. Like I said, a bra of comparable quality would easily cost double this price. It’s an absolute beauty in dusty purple with gorgeous embroidered lace and a large crystal pendant in the center! It really looks like a high-end European brand. The attention to detail is rare and something you just cannot get in an American brand…until now.

The matching boyshort panty, above, is only $18.50, and it comes with the same spectacular embroidery as the bra!

I am usually reluctant to purchase lingerie via the internet, but this Crème Bralée bra is incredibly constructed and true to size. Awesome! Liz really focused on the fit, and this bra stands up against the best names in lingerie, and at an unbeatable price.

I recommend getting sized at a high-end boutique by a knowledgeable fitter, and then ordering your Crème Bralée bra on QT’s website. This price makes it easy to have more than one, and although the Colette bra only comes in this deep lovely lavender, I have heard through the grapevine that the set is also being fashioned in a rich plum! Can crimson be far behind? We would also love to see a matching thong and garter belt for this set…QT, are you listening? Please, Liz, get right on it!

Art as Fashion

If you’ve ever traveled to the Near East or opened an art history book, you’ll be familiar with the Byzantine mosaics that influenced Dolce & Gabbana’s Fall/Winter 2014 collection…not even in stores yet! Laden with lace and glistening in gold, it really is a breathtaking and brilliant display of the art that dominated ancient Istanbul–art which is still in existence today. Here’s a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the wondrous fall collection by the inimitable Italian fashion designers, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana.

The models wear intricate crowns fashioned boldly in gold, encrusted with gems, and their dresses sparkle with the decadence of shimmering mirrored tiles.

The rich and opulent colors of Byzantine art are the essential element on the runway.

Backstage are lace dresses with swirling patterns and beaded renditions of saints.

The collection includes intricately etched jeweled handbags.

The models wear heavily-gilded Eastern Orthodox cross earrings and necklaces…

…which shine brilliantly against modern scarlet red lace frocks.

The designers include some pieces that are more traditional, such as this tweed herringbone coat, but the Byzantine influence is clearly evident through their ornate gold accessories.

Still, our favorite picks are the golden mosaic dresses with bell sleeves…

…and the slinky, celestial-meets-sexy column dresses like the ones pictured above and below.

The Herbst Manor is an interior design triumph as part of the annual San Francisco Decorator Showhouse. An 8,000-square-foot, three-story Georgian mansion in the Pacific Heights neighborhood got a major makeover with the combined talents of 27 of the West Coast’s best artists and interior design firms.

With room after beguiling room of creative, brave, welcoming designs, all I could imagine was what it might be like to wake up in the mansion in the mornings to have my breakfast in the front courtyard, surrounded by the beauty of Living Green’s vertical garden, above.

Titled ‘Birds of Prey,’ it’s a space painted with more than 1,500 plants. The reflections of Jane Richardson Mack’s églomisé panels hanging on the left–each a rendering of a predatory bird–glisten like Versailles, bathed in the morning light.

The penthouse retreat and its terrace were created by Villanueva Design. A serene spa aesthetic is punctuated with an intricate, hanging Turkish lamp. The perfect space for in-house masseuse and morning yoga. Pictured below is an elegant sitting area and wet bar in the penthouse entryway.

The European-style kitchen below, designed by Alison Davin of Jute, features herringbone flooring in neutral tones that are reiterated in the terra cotta tiles behind the stove. It’s an ideal spot for family meals or homework.

A whimsical room for all ages, “The Danger Zone,” below, features orange teepees with lucite rods and a modern, eye-popping rug. The space, both bright and friendly, was designed by Martha Angus and Eche Martinez of Martha Angus, Inc.

A neon sign and funky blue bubble chairs for seating contribute a playful vibe to the atmosphere.

Darren Waterston’s bold lava sculpture sits majestically at the base of the home’s staircase, a fearless tribute to nature that contrasts the home’s architectural characteristics.

Heather Hilliard Design’s classic yet modern dining room features contemporary furniture and restrained pops of black for graphic interest.

The first room you see when you enter the home is Catherine Kwong Designs’ brilliantly imagined and executed tribute to Mick and Bianca Jagger, the early years. The highly-glossed floor design, inspired by the iconic paintings of Cy Twombly, adds a sense of unapologetic rock and roll chic to this classic space. Floor to ceiling drapes in glamourous silver emphasize the height of the stately room.

Catherine maintained and emphasized the detail of the intricate gilded ceiling with a pair of vintage Italian light fixtures and an ornate gold mirror above the fireplace.

Designed by Kevin Hackett and Jessica Wiegley of Siol Studios, a living wall of plants behind the bathtub in the upstairs bathroom needs no further embellishment. It’s ripe and alive in verdant brilliant greens.

The master bedroom, designed by Phillip Silver of Bigelow + Silver, challenges traditional sensibilities of furniture placement and engages the senses with pale neutrals and opulent textures.

These are just a few of the more than 20 rooms that were so expertly conceived and executed by San Francisco Bay Area’s finest artists and interior designers.

The San Francisco 2013 Decorator Showhouse is open to the public through May 27.

Hi guys, you absolutely must subscribe to my friend Jillian’s brand-new video blog! As you know, Jillian owns Jillian Wright Clinical Skin Spa, a fab spa in New York City, and she’s performed nearly 10,000 facials during her illustrious career. Jillian really knows skin…a consultation with her costs big bucks, and she and her accomplished staff deliver their trademark glow to the rich and the famous.

Imagine talking to Jillian about all your skin concerns…well now you can! Subscribe to her video blog and you can watch as she answers the most common skin care questions with the knowledge of a master. Her first video, above, deals with the serious issue of pigmentation. Jillian breaks it all down in language that’s easy to understand.

She has lots of cool topics in store for us, so subscribe and learn!

Hi guys, I’m rallying everyone I know to help support an important cause. It’s for my friend Britta Aragon, pictured above, safe cosmetics expert, makeup artist, and author of the blog Cinco Vidas. Britta’s blog is dedicated to providing valuable information for cancer sufferers, and her skin care products, CV Skinlabs, are safe and natural solutions for the educated consumer, beloved by top makeup artists, beauty editors and doctors alike.

If you’ve ever lost a loved one to cancer, or if you’ve seen the horrible aftermath of cancer treatments that can leave the skin dry, fragile and unbearably itchy, you will want to participate in this important campaign.

Britta’s goal is to deliver a sampling of all CV Skinlabs products to every hospital in the nation so those who need it most will have access to them, and she also wants to start a marketing campaign to get CV Skinlabs into cancer centers nationwide, where sensitive skin conditions are common.

Pretty & Smart

Britta discovered her passion for safe skin care while helping her father during his eight-year battle with cancer. After experimenting with high-end creams that only exacerbated his condition, making him further inflamed, Britta was inspired to create products for truly sensitive and chemo-damaged skin. “Sometimes in tragedy we find our life’s purpose,” she stated.

Author of When Cancer Hits, Britta herself was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease at the age of 16 and founded the Cinco Vidas blog in 2008, dedicating her work to her father’s legacy. Both the blog and the book provide innumerable precious resources on everything from wigs and skin care, to alternative therapies and tips on how to reduce and prevent hair loss. You can even learn where to find oncology aestheticians, organic spas and all kinds of other valuable specialists in your area.

How You Can Help

Remember that every penny counts in a campaign like this, and the fundraising ends tonight at 11:59 Pacific time, so click this link to read more and make your donation now. Even as little as 10 bucks makes a big difference, and you can receive Britta’s award-winning products to try for your loved ones or yourself depending on how much you donate. Her products are great for sensitive, overworked or sunburned skin, too. After all, you don’t have to have cancer to love intelligent, non-toxic skin products. That’s pretty smart.

If you are looking for a luxe personalized gift to give Mom this Mother’s Day, look no further. Charlotte Olympia’s Birthday Zodiac Suede Smoking Slippers, $695, are a perfect fit.

All you need to know is her size and her sign. Charlotte has created 12 styles to choose from, one for each sign in the Zodiac, uniting luxury and whimsy in these embroidered, jewel-encrusted slippers.

My Scorpio horoscope predicts a smart purchase in my near future…

Orange is Everywhere

I love this Zac Posen fitted dress, $2,690, crafted from lustrous duchess silk satin in a beautiful paprika tone. Perfection.

When you want to get your brights on, opt for the nearly-neon sorbet oranges that you’ll find in all the boutiques and stores, like these tangerine latticework halter sandals by Giorgio Armani, $550. Worn with denim or an all-black ensemble, orange takes on its role as the new neutral.

Lace is Loaded

Summer’s essential lace dress gets a pop of color. Combining trends is always fun, and doing so is a snap in Josie Natori’s Lace Tank Dress, $395, above. But remember that a little orange goes a long way. If you’re wearing an orange dress, go easy on the accessories, and vice versa.

Valentino’s lace espadrilles, $475 at Nordstrom, bring a Latin flair to easy summer dressing. In basic black, these versatile flats can be worn with anything from shorts to jeans, capris to dresses. A wardrobe must!

High-Voltage Prints

It all started with our love for dots, but now all kinds of prints are charming the pants off everyone!

I’m wild for Roberto Cavalli’s floral print sheath dresses like the one above, $925 at Saks Fifth Avenue.

In Love With the Laser

Laser-cut fashions are going to be hot, hot, hot. Designers are just beginning to scrape the surface of this hi-tech trend.

Rebecca Minkoff’s ‘Lasercut Perfection’ Leather Tote, $495 at Nordstrom, is the perfect accompaniment to all that is orange. You can fit everything you need in this roomy laser-cut bag, whether you’re hitting the beach or hitting the books.

Sweet Sachets, $38. Gump’s department store has a beautiful collection of sachets to keep in her lingerie drawer or cedar chest. I am especially fond of the triplet above, made from textiles used for Japanese children’s costumes and scented with a blend of roses, orange blossoms and violets.

Sea Sponges, $8.97. A real natural sea sponge elevates bathing into something nearly sacred. Remember, faux sea sponges, like the kind you find at Target, are not the same as real sea sponges, which are harvested conservatively from the ocean floor. A natural sea sponge will last for years if properly cleaned and cared for. NaturalBathandBodyShop.com sells a sea sponge sampler for under $10. You get three sponges, which make great gifts, especially if you bundle them with a shower gel or bubble bath. Throw in a natural loofah for an additional two bucks; it’s the perfect tool for exfoliation. Read more about sea sponges, including how to clean and care for them, here.

Zoya Professional Nail Lacquer, $8.99. Zoya nail polishes are free of formaldehyde, toluene, dibutyl phthalate and camphor. Even better, the polishes are super shiny with a long-lasting chip-free formula, and come in a seemingly endless array of tempting juicy colors and finishes. At this price you can afford to give her more than one! Buy them at Whole Foods when you pick up your organics, or go to Zoya.com to see the full collection.

Pacifica Tahitian Gardenia Value Collection, $30. The price point on this gift set from the eco-conscious Pacifica brand makes this an irresistible choice for Mom. A $50 value, it includes a luscious body butter, fabulous body wash and the convenient one-ounce perfume spray to spoil Mom completely, and all at a bargain price. Buy it now and you get free ground shipping on orders of $25 or more through Mother’s Day!

Eucalan Wrapture No-Rinse Delicate Wash, $13. This gentle wash comes highly recommended by my friend Luis Paredes, publisher of TheLingerieJournal.com. Made for lingerie and other delicates, it’s a no-rinse formula, meaning one less step in the washing process for Mom; plus, with night-blooming jasmine, it will scent her hand-wash-only items with the intoxicating essence of the flower. Perfect for lingerie-lovers and knitters alike!

Branché 22 Momme 100% Silk Queen-Sized Pillowcase, $84. Where luxury meets necessity. A silk pillowcase from BeyondBeds.com has real, documented beauty benefits, plus it’s a super-luxe way to spoil her with something she’d never get herself–unless you’re me. They come in 10 beautiful colors, but the gold is so shimmeringly gorgeous I can hardly stand it!

Brighton Coin Purses, $52. I love the whimsical leather coin purses by Brighton. They come in many witty designs, but this kitty is so cute that I just may buy it for myself!

With a French clip top closure and clever leopard lining, Mom can keep track of all that loose change neatly and fashionably.

UGG Fluff II Flip Flops, $79.95. I absolutely have to have these insanely comfortable-looking UGG house slippers from Nordstrom, even though I’m not a mother. In flamingo-pink shearling with a gossamer ribbon bow, they’re perfect for spa days. Add a gift certificate for a pedicure for a truly swank gift.

Tangle Teezer, 16.99. This beauty essential detangles even the craziest snarls and backcombing, so that broken hair and split ends will be a thing of the past. Because it’s so darned cute, it’s almost hard to take the Tangle Teezer seriously, but it seriously works! A must for all Moms, kinky and straight alike! Read more about the this cool invention by celebrity hairstylist Shaun P. here.

Sisley Soir de Lune Eau de Parfum, $188. A lingering romantic floral, Soir de Lune is not a new fragrance by Sisley, but it is new to me and I love it! Perfect for spring and summer, it’s light, sweet and elegant. In a heavy crystal bottle with an art nouveau cap, it will look sublime on her dressing table. The perfumed shower gel, $89, and perfumed body cream, $128, are pure decadence!

Philip B. Mother’s Day Gift Sets, $28-$275. Enjoy a fat 20% discount on all Mother’s Day gift sets by Philip B. She’ll love working up a lather with Philip’s pampering elixirs–unmatched in quality–that will spoil her from head to toe! Right now there’s something on sale for every woman.

Paper Source Custom Stamp Gift Set, $39.95. As seen in Real Simple magazine, this custom stamp is a best-seller and the elegant way for Mom to leave her mark.

With endless design options to choose from, this stamp will dress up invitations, return address labels and all her other correspondence, and all at a smart price.

Pepper Passion Custom Salt and Pepper Mills by Bruce Morgan, $120-$600 each. We saved the best for last! As featured in Gourmet and Sunset magazines, these fabulous salt and pepper mills, hand-crafted from luxury exotic woods, elevate any table setting to an art form. The mills are both functional and beautiful, making a grand conversation piece. Each mill is signed by the artist.

I love my pair of Zebra Wood mills so much…

…but check out the beauties above, crafted from Rosewood Burl, $600 each!

And of course Mom would love to try Bruce’s sampler packs of exotic salts and peppercorns from around the world. Spice up her life with these uncommon condiments!

There you have it–13 Unique Presents of Greatness for Mom on Mother’s Day!

I am so bummed out that I can’t make it to The Makeup Show in New York City this year, May 5–6. I’ll be missing Dick Page’s keynote speech, which is the highlight of the two-day event!

Of course the show will also feature 20 seminars, 14 hands-on workshops, and more than 75 beauty brands, like Make Up For Ever, Eugenia Weston’s Senna Cosmetics, Crown Brush, Nars, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, Stila, Smashbox…etc…! I’m absolutely crushed that I’m going to miss it.

If you can’t make it to the show, you can at least check out this great interview I did with Dick when he came to Nordstrom in San Francisco, California last September. You don’t know makeup if you don’t know Dick.

Most women are wearing the wrong size bra–or the wrong type of bra–for their needs. Doing so can make a woman look saggy, old and fat.

“Well-fitting lingerie should be the foundation for every great outfit,” said fit expert Margaret Mullany. Margaret works at Charmelle 28, an upscale lingerie boutique in the San Francisco Bay Area, with stores in Palo Alto, California and Burlingame, California.

“There have been ladies who have dropped dress sizes just from wearing the right size and shape bras for their figures,” she said.
“A good fitting bra will improve your posture,” she continued. “Your clothes will sit differently and it’s proven that you look slimmer, enhancing your silhouette when your bust line is where it should be.”

In addition, the weight of a breast should not be underestimated. It is necessary to wear a bra in order to support the breasts, avoiding neck and back problems.

“Customers come in complaining of an aching back, shoulder ache, a sore ribcage and a sore chest from badly-fitting bras,” Margaret stated. “It is important to ensure if you are wearing a bra that it fits you correctly. Remember every woman is an individual so what works for you may not work for the next woman. This is a good reason to see a specialist who works with women of different shapes and sizes all the time,” she added.

As if all that is not reason enough to invest in a quality bra wardrobe, consider this: Your breasts are composed mainly of fat tissue and over time they lose elasticity; wearing a bra every day can help prevent stretch marks and sagging. You should know you are wearing a bra but you shouldn’t feel extra pressure or discomfort if you have an excellent fit.

When To See Your Bra Specialist

In addition to the bras wearing out, another reason to see a specialist is the fact that a woman’s body is constantly in flux.

These changes are due to a variety of reasons–from having children, to changes in lifestyle or general hormonal imbalances. Therefore it is recommended that you should replace your bras on a regular basis, every six months to a year according to Margaret.

Factors to consider on this time frame are how many bras you have in your rotation and how well you take care of them. Remember that bras should always be hand washed in cold water with a delicate detergent such as the classic powder Forever New, or Eucalan’s Wrapture, a no-rinse wash that’s spiked with the delicious essential oil of night-blooming jasmine.

“You should get professionally fitted once or twice a year and have at least four basic bras in rotation all the time,” Margaret said. What is meant by rotating you bra? Your bra has lycra in it, if you do not let it rest it will lose its elasticity. “Think of it as a rubber band. If it is always stretched it does not go back. It’s the elasticity that gives you support.”

In addition, it’s a good idea to have more than one style of bra. Why? “Look at how many different necklines women wear,” Margaret said. Believe it or not, every style of bra gives us a different shape, which enhances each neckline.

“For example, a balconet bra goes great under a sweetheart neckline; a plunge bra works with a low V neckline; a demi-cup bra gives a clean line to a square-neck top…So if you are ever wondering how many bras you should have, think of 2 for each different neckline you wear…and don’t forget your basic, ‘everyday’ bra or your t-shirt bra,” Margaret explained.

How To Find A Good Bra Fitting Expert

I hate to break it to you, but if you think that Victoria’s Secret is high end, or that you’ll ever find an employee there who knows how the hell to measure you for a proper fit, you are sadly mistaken. Victoria’s Secret is not status lingerie. It’s the fast food drive thru experience for disposable pieces that are never going to look or feel good in the first place.

Victoria’s real secret is that they use brilliant marketing to appeal to an inexperienced audience that doesn’t know the difference between good lingerie and bad lingerie in the first place. And if all that is not enough, can you believe that this empire of undies does not sell anything higher than a DD cup? Shame on you, Victoria’s Secret, for having hoodwinked the public so completely!

In reality, Victoria’s Secret makes their bras from the most pathetic laces and dismal materials, with the shoddiest construction known to mankind. And as for an experienced saleswoman who knows how to measure you, if you’ve stepped into one of these help-yourself buffets of tacky lace and ill-fitting garments with a one-size-fits-all mentality, I need not say one more word. You must, and I repeat must find an experienced woman who is versed in measuring and fitting.

If you shop at Victoria’s Secret, I urge you to seek out an intimate lingerie boutique in your area, like the aforementioned Charmelle 28, pictured above, where they fit from a size 30A up to a 46H! And the greatest thing about it is that they have beautiful designs in a plethora of jewel tones for all sizes!

We ♥ a Great Fit

Nordstrom department stores also have an excellent lingerie department equipped with knowledgeable, trained fitters and backed with a good return policy. Today and tomorrow is the Nordstrom We Heart a Great Fit event in stores. Nordstrom’s fit stylists will have the very latest lingerie styles available, and can help you find a bra that fits perfectly. In addition, for every bra sold during this event, Nordstrom will donate $2 to the Young Survival Coalition, a charity devoted to young breast cancer survivors. It’s a great way to start your weekend.

Once you have experienced the way a quality bra feels and looks, you will be so thrilled with the results that you’ll never walk into Victoria’s Secret again!