EverSoPopular

Accessory Trends: Go Animal

2013-05-24T00:01:00.000-04:00

Fashion was born in the natural world. For as long as we can remember, we’ve worn furs, feathers, fangs, claws, and other animal motifs to make a powerful statement, both socially and spiritually.

Today, we figured we’d look at some of the biggest trends to feature fauna, from ancient accessories to modern runways. Was your favorite critter ever a style icon?

Egypt, 3000 – 332 BCE: As they found the divine in all things animal, we’re not sure the ancient Egyptians ever put an outfit together without throwing in a little creature feature – from outstretched wings to feathered headdresses to the vulture and cobra insignia on the Pharaoh’s Hedjet crown.

Central America, 250 CE – Today: Mayans and other Central Americans were almost as obsessed with animal themes as the Egyptians, creating complex and vibrant designs with deer, monkeys, jaguars, eagles, snakes, and even squirrels. You can still find their patterns in textiles woven today.

1954: Pinup girl Bettie Page showed she was one cool cat in a self-designed leopard print bikini. Since then, we’ve loved leopard print for almost every reason imaginable – it’s luxe, it’s exotic, it’s punk, it’s adventurous, it’s sexy, it’s primal, it’s dangerous…

And speaking of 1954, dare we mention the debut of the Playboy Bunny? According to LOOK Magazine’s Oriana Fallaci, founder Hugh Hefner picked the rabbit logo because “it's a fresh animal, shy, vivacious, jumping – sexy.”

(2008-Now): Designers love bringing the big cat to the catwalk, and big names like Betsey Johnson and Dolce & Gabbana have really rocked those leopard and tiger prints in the last few years. Though if you’re not a kitty person, you could always find your animal spirit in zebra stripes and snake motifs from Roberto Cavalli or foxy fashion from Jean-Paul Gautier.

Visit Chic Boutique for these styles and more!

Green & Eco Fashion Tips from Kristin Cavallari's Stylist

2013-05-23T00:48:00.000-04:00

Celebrity stylist Jacqueline Rezak recently worked with Kristin Cavallari for her Coco Eco Magazine Cover. With Kristin's newfound appreciation for living a more organic lifestyle after the birth of her son Camden, it was only natural Jacqueline opted to dress the star in green and vintage fashions for the shoot.

Below, Jacqueline gives her top tips for how to easily incorporate eco-friendly finds into your wardrobe.

How vintage and green fashions were used in the Coco Eco shoot:

Many people think the ONLY way to be eco friendly when it comes to your clothing is to buy items that are made out of earth friendly materials. While this is a great way to remain eco conscious when dressing, it is not the only way. When styling for Coco Eco, I wanted to make sure we mixed sustainable materials with vintage, "re-used" items. Re-using clothing and accessories is a great way to help the environment as it means many people can get use out of just one item- saving the earth from all of the harsh steps that go into making new clothing (i.e.: travel, energy, and more).

What to pair underneath?

When dressing in re-used or recycled clothing, the fabric is often "worn in". When this is the case you always want to have an undergarment on to make that area more flattering. Recycled materials bunch or can be slightly see through, in this case I would suggest something fitted from www.Hourglassangel.com like the AMIA Supreme Panty Shaper to help those problem areas. And because this shaper is seamless, it insures that you're both comfortable and confident with no visible garment lines.

How to get similar looks from the Coco Eco feature, what to buy:

Several of the items I used for this shoot came from online boutique Rad and Refined, where there is a large selection of incredible vintage pieces- including Chanel, Herve Leger and Manolo Blahnik. In addition, I love to mix items made of eco materials with these designer items- such as designer Lara Miller. www.radandrefined.com

How to dress "green" - What to look for? How do you find those styles?

It is much easier to dress "green" then one may think. One big thing to look for when shopping is - where is your item manufactured (this by law must be printed on the care label). If it is "locally" made then there is no travel required, where as items made in China have to be brought to the United States - emitting horrible fumes into the environment + using energy that could be saved by buying locally made items. Another way to find a style that does not harm the environment is to shop vintage, when wearing these items - it is as if you are recycling, the best way to be eco friendly.

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Fix Your #ALLERGYFACE

2013-05-22T00:09:00.000-04:00

This post is part of a sponsored campaign on behalf of Latina Bloggers Connect and the makers of ZYRTEC.

With spring in full swing for most of the country, the warm weather has begun to trigger seasonal allergies, which can affect not only the way we feel, but also how we look.

The makers of ZYRTEC have partnered with beauty and fashion expert, Carmen Ordoñez from www.VivaFashionBlog.com, to help women combat “ALLERGY FACE” –the beauty challenges like a puffy face, watery eyes and a red nose that are associated with typical allergy symptoms.

According to a recent survey by the makers of ZYRTEC, 96 percent of women suffering from allergies experience ALLERGY FACE!

In an effort to help women look their best despite their allergies, the makers of ZYRTEC® have released video one of a three-part, bilingual video series on YouTube.com/Zyrtec, in which Carmen shares her personal beauty tips to take on ALLERGY FACE beauty challenges.

In part one, “Tackling ALLERGY FACE, One Tip at a Time, With Carmen Ordoñez,” Carmen introduces her tips to help disguise a red nose, a puffy face and watery eyes.

How to Disguise a Red Nose: Use a foundation or bronzer with a dewy or shimmery finish instead of a matte finish, which will only highlight dryness.

How to Contour a Puffy Face: Using an angle brush, apply a bronzer with brown undertones parallel to your jawline to help contour your face. Make sure it’s only one or two shades darker than your natural skin tone as you don’t want to overdo it.

How to Distract from Watery Eyes: Dab a white or silver shimmery eye shadow in the inner corner of your eyes.

For product savings and rewards to help you feel better, visit Zyrtec.com and Facebook.com/ZYRTEC.

Léa Seydoux - "Grand Central Terminal" Premiere at 2013 Cannes Film Festival

2013-05-21T00:42:00.000-04:00

Celebrity makeup artist Saraï Fiszel created the look for Léa Seydoux for the premiere of “The Grand Central” at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival using Votre Vu products.

Coordinating with Léa’s stylist and hairstylist, Léa’s team decided to go for a femme fatale look, very strong and bold.

It was raining really hard the night of the premiere, so Saraï wanted to make sure that Léa’s makeup would withstand the weather and look fresh and dewy all night. Starting with the base, Saraï first applied a layer of Votre Vu’s Love Me Deux in Paris and then lightly powdered her face with a YSL pressed powder. The trick is to then apply another layer of the tinted moisturizer on top of the powder wherever needed to make sure that it stays on really well and doesn’t look cakey.

Then, Saraï took Votre Vu’s Beauté en Bronze and applied it all over the face with a thick brush that wasn’t too dense. “The brush makes all the difference when applying bronzer to the face because you want it to apply evenly and without patches.” After dusting the bronzer all over, Saraï then went back with a denser brush to contour the face and create a nicer angle.

For Léa’s eyes, because she has such gorgeous eyes with dark pupils, less is more for a fresher look. Saraï started by applying just a few individual lashes to the outer corners and then applyingVotre Vu’s Eiffel Power mascara. To create thicker looking lashes, Saraï took the mascara brush and wiped off some of the product with a tissue. She then meticulously applied the mascara making sure to coat each lash and then went back and layered the mascara several times, each time using the same method.

For her brows, Saraï took Votre Vu’s Arch de Triumphe in Warm and applied it with the Votre Vu Brow Brush & Shaper first to her hand to ensure that it didn’t apply too heavily and then filled in her brows lightly to look natural and not too defined.

TIP: Use a lip balm on the eyelids and cheekbones for a fresh, dewy look. “There’s something sexy about a little glossy eyelid and on the cheekbones to make it look like you don’t have any makeup on,” says Saraï. Recreate this effect with Votre Vu’s bébé Duette lip balm!

To finish off the femme fatale look, Saraï created a deep red lip using Votre Vu’s French Kiss Moisture Riche Lipstick in Margaux (available soon).

Goal to Brazil: 2014 FIFA World Cup

2013-05-20T23:06:00.000-04:00

As part of the one year countdown to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the Brazilian Tourism Board (Embratur) made its last stop on a global road show in New York City to report on preparations for the global sporting event and to get key audiences excited about World Cup and traveling to Brazil. The nearly yearlong series of events titled, “Goal to Brazil” aimed to provide important updates to media and members of the travel trade on how Brazil is preparing for the influx of 600,000 foreign tourists expected to travel to Brazil during the 30 days of the World Cup next year. Other stops on the tour included; Bogota, Milan, Berlin, Paris and London.
Brazilian Tourism Board’s Director of Marketing, Walter Vasconcelos, led the event, and he was joined by Ricardo Gomyde of the Brazilian Ministry of Sports and representatives from the 12 World Cup host cities.
The event highlighted each of the 12 host cities, provided progress on stadium construction and renovations in each city, gave details on hospitality offerings and outlined infrastructure improvements being made throughout the country to support both World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.
(Right to Left) Luis Felipe Seixas Correa, Counsel General of Brazil; Ricardo Gomyde, Representative from Brazilian Ministry of Sports;Walter Vasconcelos, Marketing Director from Embratur (Brazilian Tourism Board) posing with Fuleco, the Official Mascot of the FIFA 2014 World Cup in Brazil

The Key Updates:
· Last year, Brazil welcomed 5.7 million foreign tourists, a 4.5% increase over 2011. The goal is to increase that number to 10 million by 2020.
· Brazil has invested US$16.5 billion in infrastructural improvements including the construction of seven new stadiums, airport/port expansion, enhancements to transportation and telecommunications.
· 147 new hotels are under construction or newly inaugurated for World Cup travelers.
· 240,000 professionals throughout the 12 host cities are being trained in specialties related to hospitality and security to support the influx in tourists.
· Most stadiums are equipped with green technology to minimize the carbon footprint. At least seven of the stadiums will harness solar power as an energy source.

The FIFA Confederations Cup 2013, an event that happens one year before FIFA World Cup 2014, will take place next month in Brazil from June 15-30, 2013 in six of the 12 World Cup host cities.
At the event, the Brazilian Tourism Board also unveiled its new website, designed to give consumers an interactive experience. The portal includes updated content, interactive tools that will help visitors plan their trips to Brazil and fresh images that show the spectacular experience that awaits them. A unique asset of the site is that there is no traditional homepage. The content, offered at visitbrasil.com, will vary depending on the visitor’s location and time of year. The WISHLIST feature will help visitors to “collect” their favorite experiences, creating a list of interesting things to do in Brazil. When connecting with Facebook, it will be possible to share content with friends through other social media, like Pinterest, Google+ and Twitter. Additionally, the new website will be an important working tool for international press, containing downloadable materials and recent news about Brazil.
Representatives from each of the 12 official host cities also had an opportunity to interact with journalist to provide in-depth information about the unique characteristics of their city, and the “not-to-miss” attractions for tourists. The 12 host cities for the 2014 World Cup are: Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Cuiaba, Curitiba, Fortaleza, Natal, Recife, Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro (where the final game will be held), Manaus, Salvador and São Paulo.
“The Goal to Brazil series has provided a valuable opportunity to tell the world about the improvements made in Brazil as we prepare for the 2014 World Cup. We’ve traveled from Chile to Mexico, from Spain to the UK, and we could not think of a better place to finish this adventure and ignite the spirit of World Cup than New York City. We are excited about welcoming American tourists to meet in Brazil and to experience our diverse culture in a unique destination,” said Embratur’s Marketing Director Walter Vasconcelos.
For more information, go to visitbrazil.com.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire & COVERGIRL #CapitolCOVERGIRL

2013-05-18T00:01:00.000-04:00

COVERGIRL announced its first-ever major movie sponsorship of Lionsgate’s highly anticipated The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, scheduled for release in North American theaters on November 22, 2013. COVERGIRL will launch a first-of-its-kind creative advertising campaign inspired by the film, featuring new products from the brand’s upcoming Capitol Collection from The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, to be announced at a later date.

Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, and Josh Hutcherson lead an all-star cast in the second installment of The Hunger Games franchise, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. The trailer, which debuted last month, has been viewed over 25 million times on YouTube. The film promises to illustrate the exquisite splendor in the world of the Capitol in rich detail, and the film’s makeup department used COVERGIRL products on set to create the film’s luxurious, high couture looks.

"With The Hunger Games: Catching Fire partnership, we wanted to redefine cosmetics’ relationship to film with a fantasy-meets-reality beauty experience," said Esi Eggleston Bracey, VP and General Manager, Global P&G Cosmetics. "The film inspired COVERGIRL campaign coming out this fall truly will bring beauty transformation to life in an aspirational, dramatic fashion. All of us at COVERGIRL were captivated by Suzanne Collins’ novels and the first film, so we’re thrilled to collaborate with Lionsgate on such a bold beauty partnership with the release of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.”

“We are excited to announce COVERGIRL as the exclusive makeup partner for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” said Paula Kupfer, Lionsgate’s Vice President of Promotions and Consumer Products. “The exquisite beauty and style in the world of the Capitol is a focal point of this film. Partnering with an innovative brand like COVERGIRL to create an additional layer of beauty storytelling and inspiration for the fans is new territory that we’re delighted to explore.”

Over the past year, COVERGIRL has stood out in the beauty category with its addition of several new spokeswomen, including P!NK, Janelle Monáe and NERVO, who, along with the brand, embrace beauty with a sense of authentic individuality and fearlessness. COVERGIRL’s partnership with The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is the latest expression of the brand’s passion and commitment to continue to break barriers in beauty.

For more stay tuned to facebook.com/covergirl, as well as on Twitter at twitter.com/covergirl and Instagram at instagram.com/covergirlofficial.

www.COVERGIRLLATINA.com

Celebrating Baby Bumps…& Accessories

2013-05-17T00:17:00.000-04:00

Inspired by Mother’s Day, this week we decided to put a spin on two of our favorite pastimes – finding creative ways to style fashion and Chic Kitsy Lane looks and stalking (wait, did we say stalking? We meant … um … following) celebrities. The result? We’ve had a ton of fun pairing famous moms-to-be with our favorite accessories …

· Expect Elegance … Look up taste in the dictionary, and you may actually find a picture of Kate Middleton. The Duchess of Cambridge and wife of Britain’s Prince William exudes absolute elegance as only royalty can. For her, only the height of Chic would do.

· That Glamorous Glow … Much like Halle Berry, these sophisticated yet radiant looks are sure to take the world by storm with their Hollywood glamour. Also inspired by Ivanka Trump, Kristen Bell,and Penelope Cruz.

· Bold, Baby / Popping with Personality… Trendy, flirtatious, and utterly bold, Kim Kardashian proves you can still rule the style scene in a baby bump – and so do these jewels. Also inspired by Jessica Simpson and Fergie (no, we will not make a “my bump” joke – everyone else has already made it).

Expecting or not, what’s your favorite style? Sign up and see for yourself at Chic Boutique

Vegan Fashion: Backstage at the Vaute Couture Fashion Show #fashionlovesanimals

2013-05-16T16:41:00.000-04:00

Recenlty, I was invited to check out a vegan fashion show. The Body Shop had a fun “Fashion Loves Animals” cruelty free event w/ Farm Sanctuary, where they created all the runway makeup looks, using 100% all vegan makeup! The show honored Vaute Couture president and Creative Director, Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart, who made history this year with the FIRST-ALL VEGAN label to show at NY Fashion Week this past February.

What does this mean? Vaute Couture is commitmed to using sustainable materials in their line/being vegan & Cruelty-Free.

Vaute Couture only exists to push the industry forward in animal free and sustainable fashion, by creating new fabrics and apparel that are better than wearing animals every could be! Everything is 100% vegan, and cutting edge, like recycled closed loop zero waste vegan satin, organic velvet, recycled Thinsulate as a down alternative, and waxed canvas instead of leather. We want you to know that it's empowering to choose how you interact with the world as an active participant instead of a silent supporter of larger industries and societal norms.

I got a backstage look at the inspiration for Vaute Couture show.

The show was inspired by Sailor Moon- an earth girl who upon saving a cat from being abused on the streets, is given her magical powers and turned into her super self- Sailor Moon! Everyone has a super version inside themselves, that comes alive when they serve. The beauty look is a mix between earth girl tomboy and a magical super version of her, so you'll see stars over thick brows, pink cheeks, and beautiful shimmery skin.

Here is How To Get the Look:

OH DEER! BLUSH SHIMMER PALETTE BY LEONA LEWIS (no bug shells in these palettes!)

Cruelty free makeup brushes (use only synthetic)

Love Gloss (in Natural Shade)

Extra Virgin Minerals foundation

The Body Shop Vitamin E Face Mist - to set makeup

The Body Clover pink lip liner

The Body Shop brow and eye definer kit

The Body Shop Extra Virgin Minerals liquid foundation and Compact

The Body Shop white eye definer--to brighten eyes

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@KmartFashion Remix Challenge: The Look For Less

2013-05-15T00:40:00.000-04:00

Last week I hung out with noted stylist George Kotsiopoulos at the Tribeca Skyline Studios in New York. ICYDK, Kotsiopoulos is an editor, fashion consultant, stylist and television personality. You may also know him as a co-host of ‘The Fashion Police’ on E!. We spoke about his personal style, he always thinks a tie is a good idea (I don’t think we’ve seen him on TV without one). He hosted an event with Kmart an invited us to remix our looks. I must admit I was pleasantly surprised to see trendy (and well priced) pieces available.

For this style challenge I chose a maxi dress and a button down shirt for layered versatility. I had just purchased a coral maxi dress from Nordstrom from a popular designer that closely resembled the dress I found available at the Kmart event for a fraction of the price.

From there I gravitated towards colorful accessories: a Lucite coral & pink bracelet, bright pink cross body bag, blue flat sandals and a big hat (I like to think of them as an SPF-booster)…and the eye glasses/mustache necklace combo!

Once I was done it was off to shoot with fashion photographer Chris Heads.

Check it out:

Check out my style breakdown after the jump!

The final look is an easy breezy summer look I love & live in. I added a whimsically printed button down shirt to wear over the dress. Its nice to be able to add sleeves especially when you’re in the midst of summer heat and then you run into an air-conditioned destination…brrrr.

I am obsessed with this necklace its one of those pieces I’ll wear out everyone will ask about.

The fashion photographer, Chris Heads, encouraged my interaction with the accessories.

I went for it!

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Angelina Jolie's Double Mastectomy: Let’s Talk Reconstruction

2013-05-14T17:35:00.001-04:00

Angelina Jolie, know for outspoken personality, revealed in a New York Times Op-Ed piece today that she has undergone a preventative double mastectomy. This prompted a conversation on reconstructive surgery.

We spoke with Nouveau Contour Permanent Makeup's Terri L. Folker, C.P.C.P. who shared info on reconstructive options. “If you have breast reconstruction after a mastectomy, you may have been left without areolae or sometimes nipples. Alternatively, it may be that you have naturally pale or faded areolae, or you may have been left with uneven, asymmetrical, misplaced or discoloured areaole following surgery.”

In all of these cases, medical tattooing from Nouveau Contour can can be used to create stunning and realistic looking reconstructions. As the first computerized permanent cosmetics device with an Intel microprocessor "chip", Nouveau Contour's Intelligent was designed to distinguish between the varying areas of application. Software installed in the central processing unit, the operating system of the Intelligent, consistently calculates the best needle frequency (speed) needed to achieve optimal pigment retention. Skin structure varies according to the location, because the structure and tolerance of the skin is different for each area of application.

For example: For areola pigmentation, the skin structure is very dense compared to that of an eye lid, which is very thin and supple. When set on "Medical" the Intelligent will provide a more efficient way to deposit pigment in those areas, by automatically increasing the power to the handpiece and by adjusting the needle frequency.

Nouveau Contour Permanent Makeup will:

Replicate the appearance of realistic looking areolae and even create the illusion of nipple protrusion.
Reposition, recolour or reshape the overall appearance of nipples and areolae.
Reduce the appearance of radiotherapy marks.
Diffuse scarring from mastectomies, breast uplifts / reductions and other types of breast surgery.

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Men's Fashion in Film: 'The Great Gatsby'

2013-05-13T15:36:00.000-04:00

"You look so cool. You always look so cool."—Daisy Buchanan

Recreating the fashions of the Roaring Twenties—the glamour, the sparkle, the innovation—was an exciting challenge for costume designer Catherine Martin. "The '20s was basically the birth of 20th-century fashion as we know it. Just after World War I, we saw the abandonment of the heavy Victorian undergarment, we saw short skirts coming in, and a kind of sexual liberation for women that allows them to be much more scantily clad. It brought about an exuberant, decorative style that is a key point for design."

Fitzgerald's prose in The Great Gatsby is rich and full of description, and Martin mined it extensively for information on everything from what each character's upbringing would have been like, to where they lived and the clothes they wore.

"It always starts with the script, the ideas, the images and the story that Baz (Luhrmann) brings to the table. He will always have a kind of visual philosophy that he wants to follow in order to help tell the story," Martin explains. "So, certainly we did an enormous amount of literary study about F. Scott Fitzgerald, about his world, his context, his life, but we also did an enormous amount of historical study on the visual context of the world. That ranged from everything from accessing the large library at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which has a huge costume library and costume archive, to accessing all kinds of things on New York and the surrounding boroughs."

Some flexibility was allowed for the timeframe, ensuring they had some of the best fashion moments of the era to work with. "The book was set in the summer of 1922, published in 1925, and it foreshadowed the Crash, so we made a rule that we could use that decade," Martin establishes. "In the costumes, for the men, we erred closer to the beginning of the decade—because we went for a much slimmer silhouette. For the women it was later in the decade, when there was much more of a body-conscious silhouette."When he sees Gatsby's choice of attire, Tom may be in disbelief at such a preposterous choice, but it would be hard to find a more defining look for Gatsby's character—the pink suit, so incredibly stylish but decidedly out of place in the world in which he so desperately wishes to belong.

For a lot of the male costumes, Martin worked closely with Brooks Brothers, the American heritage brand, who provided more than 2000 garments for the film, including both formalwear—200 tuxedos—and daywear, helping to comprise the approximately 1200 costumes in total.

"One of the reasons we felt this association was so important is that Brooks Brothers have been the purveyor of preppy clothes, and in fact they sold to Fitzgerald," she says. "They had a huge archive of Fitzgerald's letters where he was ordering clothes by mail."

Martin researched the rationale behind every minute detail in the book—from the robin's egg blue of Gatsby's chauffeur's uniform to Daisy's tricorn hat—and she also added extra details to the costumes to help the actors get into character.

"This is an example of the genius of CM," says Edgerton. "Tom Buchanan is described as being Yale educated and part of the upper echelons of Yale society, and he and Nick were part of a secret society. The research the team did at Bazmark led them to the Skull and Bones, which is probably the most secret of those societies. So, as a detail on the costumes, CM lined my suits with a skull and crossbones print. She didn't need to do that, and you'll probably never see it, but I knew it was there."

"That's the job of a costume—the actor is the transformer. The actor with the script and the director really make the story, and the costume is there to support the process," Martin says.

Some traditional styles were slightly modernized, in particular for some of the more dazzling party costumes. "Baz is always interested at looking at the past through very modern eyes," explains Martin. "So, it's a process of making a very erudite study of costume history and of the details of manufacture that were interesting in the past, and reapplying them in a very modern, very interesting way to the clothing."

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Mother's Day is Sunday. Are you ready?

2013-05-11T00:22:00.001-04:00

With Mother’s Day (this Sunday, May 12th) just around the corner, what better way is there to show your love than with some beauty and pampering?

This Mother’s Day, make sure your gift really shows your mom how much you care (even if it’s a last minute gift). We’ve got some alternatives to the usual "flowers" that won’t break the bank.

Recession Proof Pampering

This year, The Body Shop is putting a big emphasis on custom made gifts in shop. At The Body Shop, this a unique and special opportunity to pick products that give back to different Community Fair Trade Partners which helps to spread the love/make mom proud.

If you are really pressed for time may we suggest:

The Heart Tin ($20) or new fragrances inspired by various scents of the world, created with ingredients sourced from around the globe – (plus, this is the first fragrance collection containing 100% organic alcohol!

Scents include: Amazonian Wild Lily, Atlas Mountain Rose, Indian Night Jasmine, Japanese Cherry Blossom, Madagascan Vanilla Flower

Didn’t make it to the store in time?

A gift from the drugstore can still be one given with love.

Check out Duane Reade! They now carry Demeter Fragrances in an assortment of classic and Mother's Day scents.

If you are not familiar with the brand, these scents literally smell like what they say they smell like so can give your mom roses in another form or a scent that reminds her of a tropical getaway, etc. all under $20!…also feel free to check out the website for all offerings to make truly unique – www.DemeterFragrance.com

It’s the wonderful bouquet of smells that remind us most of those cherished memories from years past, and with these fabulous scents, you won’t have to miss them! Demeter’s Fragrance Library includes an array of fun and festive Mother's Day themed scents like Daisy, Honeysuckle, Vanilla Cake and Chocolate Chip Cookie, etc.

They also have classic Demeter has classic scents such as: Pure Soap, Baby Powder, Laundromat, Tomato, Dirt, Salt Air and more sure to be a conversation piece and something mom will always remember.

For a spa-at-home experience continue down the drugstore aisle to check out Yardley of London Skin Indulgence Bath & Shower Gels.

A line of ultra concentrated bath products created for women who care just as much about the environment as they do their skin. Available in three fragrance varieties, the SeaMinerals Exfoliating Shower Gel delivers the benefits of dead sea minerals and nourishing plant extracts to exfoliate, tighten and tone the skin, while the Lavender & Rosemary Bath & Shower Gel combines lavender and rosemary extract to ease away stress & soothe your skin. The Honey Almond Creamy Body Wash - skin softening Creamy Body Wash combines healthy botanical extracts such as Honey & Almond Oil, with powdered Oatmeal to gently cleanse and moisturize. Skin will feel silky smooth, while the light honey & almond fragrance soothes the senses.

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The Great Gatsby: Film Review (no spoliers, wait didn't you read the book?)

2013-05-10T10:33:00.003-04:00

"I want to write something new, something extraordinary and beautiful
and simple and intricately patterned."
—F. Scott Fitzgerald

A grand story, a grand film! This visually captivating and exceptionally acted adaptation of the classic American book will allow moviegoers to sit back and indulge. The uniquely imaginative mind of writer/producer/director Baz Luhrmann comes the new big screen adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby. In his adaptation, the filmmaker combines his distinctive visual, sonic, and storytelling styles in 3D (and 2D), weaving a Jazz Age cocktail faithful to Fitzgerald's text and relevant to now. Leonardo DiCaprio stars in the title role.

DiCaprio looks appropriately dapper in bespoke clothing (now readily available for daring men at BrooksBrothers).

"The Great Gatsby" follows would-be writer Nick Carraway played by Tobey Maguire (real life DiCaprio BFF) as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz, bootleg kings, and sky-rocketing stocks. Chasing his own American Dream, Nick lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby, and across the bay from his cousin, Daisy (Carey Mulligan), and her philandering, blue-blooded husband, Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton). It is thus that Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super rich, their illusions, loves and deceits. As Nick bears witness, within and without of the world he inhabits, he pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams and high-octane tragedy, and holds a mirror to our own modern times and struggles.

I am a fan of Luhrmann's style of filmmaking and here the it works so well. The cinematography and 3D effects are so much fun in the opulent party scenes you can help but smile along to Jay-Z and jazzy mash-ups that in another film might feel contrived but it works so well in this context.

Just go see it (3D is fun but not totally necessary) and soak up all the gorgeous eye candy!

www.thegreatgatsbymovie.com

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The Great Gatsby: Roaring 20’s Beauty Guide

2013-05-10T01:47:00.001-04:00

We’ve rounded up a gaggle of Gatsby appropriate products to infuse some Flapper-esque glamour into your everyday beauty routine – from dramatic faux lashes to bold red lipsticks – you’ll be looking and feeling as fabulous as Daisy Buchanon in no time.

For the glamorous look of the roaring 1920’s here are our makeup must-haves…

Red lipstick: By Terry Hyaluronic Sheer Rouge Hydra-Balm in Bang Bang

Red nails: Nails Inc Polish in St. James

Lavish fragrance: The Scent of Bond No. 9 Perfume

Faux lashes: Urban Decay Urban Lash

Bold liquid liner: CARGO TexasLiner Liquid Liner

Flaweless complexion: L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Miracle Blur Instant Skin Smoother Finishing Cream (SPF 30)

Pixie cuts: LUXHAIR HOW Short Bob by Tabatha Coffey

Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Sculpting Pomade

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Home Cooking With HelloFresh

2013-05-09T00:22:00.000-04:00

Food delivery services are supposed to make our busy lives easier. In recent years, I have found some of these meal programs to be too expensive (I might as well eat at a restaurant, or hire a catering service); too restrictive (with teeny-tiny portions); or just plain limited (no vegetarian options).

Enter HelloFresh, a new way to cook. Every week, you can pick the delicious recipes you want to try (except for under the veggie meal plan) and they send you amazing recipes and all of the ingredients you need to prepare them. Simply put, they take care of your meal planning and do the shopping for you. Forget fast food and frozen processed foods instead make delicious home-cooked meals using fresh ingredients.

On to the meals…The boxes contain 3 meals and you can select meal servings for 2, 4 or 6 people. The Classic Box (containing meaut & fish), starts at $69 and the Veggie Box starts at $59 for 3 meals.

As a vegetarian, I opted for the ‘Veggie Box.’ While there were no meal selections available that was fine for me, as I enjoy trying new veggie meals.

The beauty of the service is not just the convenience. Yes, the ingredients are delivered to your door and the recipes that are easy to prepare in under 30 minutes, typically using just one pot and one pan. Also, the ingredients are pre-measured so you don’t over-buy or have to worry about fresh produce going to waste.

Perhaps, that’s just single person problems but when I look at my favorite cookbooks the recipes call for ingredients for 3-4 people. If you’ve every just tried to 1/2 a recipe you already know it doesn’t always quite work out so well.

This is a big selling point of HelloFresh for me, the elimination of waste. Additionally, the packaging is minimal for the amount of produce and ingredients in the delivery.

The recipes are created by world-class chefs and you don’t need fancy kitchen equipment. The ingredients are laid out as step-by-step photo instructions. The one gripe I had was with the detail in one of the recipes, but this is coming from someone for whom boiling water is cooking.

Overall, the recipes were easy to follow along. The variety of meals I created spanned the culinary spectrum and I was introduced to new recipes.

To recap:

1. HelloFresh creates amazing recipes

2. You chose the recipes (excludes Vegetarian)

3. They go shopping for you

4. It gets delivered to you door.

Also, its important to note that you need to order before midnight on Thursday to get your first box by the next week. For more information about the HelloFresh plans click here.

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The Great Gatsby: Daisy Buchanon’s Beauty Routine

2013-05-09T00:05:00.000-04:00

Everyone is buzzing about Carey Mulligan’s role as Daisy Buchanon in “The Great Gatsby” (premiering on May 10^th) and the beauty looks of the roaring 20’s are making a strong comeback. The film is a modern take on the classic American novel. With that in mind, we thought about Daisy’s beauty regimen (with a modern twist).

Before you cut a rug & do the Charleston, you’d need to a day at the spa to get ready for a legendary Gatsby party, right? Right!

Indulge like Gatsby at the Caudalie Vinothérapie Spa at The Plaza

The Plaza Hotel is celebrating the roaring 20s with period-inspired affairs in honor of the premiere of Baz Luhrmann’s new adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.

The Caudalie Vinothérapie Spa is offering a series of custom Grape Gatsby treatments to help you recover from the effects of any evening’s affair. Guests can enjoy the below treatments, along with the Vichy shower, private VIP room for two, signature barrel bath, Hammam steam rooms an exclusive French Paradox Wine Lounge.

Après Fête: Intense Hydration $160

Grape Marc Barrel Bath

Massage Under Vichy Shower

Joie de Vivre: Radiance Recovery $525

Crushed Cabernet Scrub

Fresh Grape Massage

Vinoperfect Radiance Facial

La Belle Époque: Divine Indulgence $628

Divine Body Treatment

Vinexpert Sculpting Facial

Vinotherapie Manicure and Pedicure

Wine and Cheese

For some DIY options check out these other Caudalie products:

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Cara Delevingne Rocks the Red Carpet at the #MetGala

2013-05-08T21:59:00.001-04:00

The Metropolitan Museum of Art 2013 Costume Institute Gala held in New York 6 May 2013 hosted international celebrities and fashion royalty at the highly anticipated event. The event marked the launch of this year’s Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Exhibition Punk: Chaos to Couture.

Supermodel Cara Delevingne was a standout on the red carpet. We asked her people at Burberry how she got this look.

Now we can dish! Here are the Burberry Beauty products used to get Cara’s Red Carpet look:

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Sleek & Blonde Cameron Diaz at the 2013 #MetGala

2013-05-08T00:41:00.000-04:00

Lona's inspiration for Cameron was “her Stella McCartney dress, which made her look so statuesque. We wanted to heighten the effect with her sleek-yet-edgy hairstyle. She absolutely loved everything about this look!” -Lona Vigi at The Magnet Agency using TRESemmé on Cameron Diaz

Here’s how Lona created Cameron’s look:

1. Liberally spray the hair with TRESemmé Platinum Strength Heat Protect Spray onto damp hair, then blow dry the hair pointing the nozzle downward to promote smoothness

2. Once hair is dry, spray TRESemmé’s Color Care Dry Shampoo at the roots to create lift and make the hair more moldable

**STYLIST TIP: Lona adds, “I'm a huge fan of dry shampoo in general, but being that I recently colored Cameron 's hair, both of these products not only protected the color, but enhanced it.”

3. Using a fine-tooth comb, brush the hair straight back, making it especially tight on the sides, and secure in a tight knot behind the ears

4. To seal the style, apply TRESemmé's TRES Two Extra Hold Hairspray which will create a natural hold that will last all night

Red Carpet Hair: J.Lo's Faux Hawk Updo from the 2013 #MetGala

2013-05-08T00:34:00.001-04:00

Get the Look of Jennifer Lopez’s Faux Hawk Updo:

· Pull your hair into a high ponytail at the crown of your head. Spray the sides and front with L'Oréal Paris Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold Hairspray and comb through it to tease your hair and give it a polished, voluminous effect. Make sure not to touch the bangs as this will be done as the last step.

· Use hot rollers to curl the bottom tips of your hair and pin them to the crown of your hair, leaving them in place for 15-20 minutes.

· Once, the hair is fully curled-comb each side very tight and pull your hair as if you’re creating a high ponytail. Spray a lot of hairspray to the sides to tighten.

· Tease your bangs and use L'Oréal Paris EverStyle Texture Series Energizing Dry Shampoo to give it texture and spray them with hairspray very lightly and twist them to the back-giving them a swoosh effect.

· Pin where needed to recreate the punk look.

· Quick Insider Tip: Marcos recommends to use the new L'Oréal Paris Feria Wild Ombré to recreate J.LO’s subtle ombre golden hair color.

Red Carpet Beauty: Elizabeth Banks at the 2013 MET Gala

2013-05-07T15:42:00.000-04:00

Elizabeth Banks wore a gilded Versace number and fabulous shoes by Brian Atwood!We had to have to the beauty rundown on her hair so we went straight to the source and asked Matther Monzon (Banks’ stylist) for the look.

“Elizabeth wore an amazing Versace gold chain dress with a custom pair of Brian Atwood Shoes (her date). With the drama of the outfit, we didn’t want her hair to be too insane, so we tried to downplay it a little bit, but keep the punk effect. We came up with a cool, sleek ponytail that had a sculptural effect when fused to the head with barrettes in the back.“ — Monzon

How To Get The Look:

Spray a generous amount of Davines Melu Shield onto damp hair. Follow by putting a healthy amount of Davines For Wizards No 3 Universal Mattering Mousse throughout the hair along with a few pumps of Davines OI/OIL on the ends.
Blow dry with a big paddle brush to try to maintain the sleek straightness, avoiding any “bend.” Add extensions, when desired.
Create a masculine, sleek square look in the front. Once the squareness is established, pull hair into a ponytail at the crown of the head. Do this by first focusing on pulling hair from the nape, then the sides, and lastly the top. Secure with a bungee band and take a 1/4 inch of hair and wrap it around to hide the band.
Use 3x 2 1/2 inch goody barrettes and secure the ponytail at the nape of the neck, holding the ponytail to the head, which gives a good, strong structural shape.

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Beauty Secrets Spilled: Uma Thurman #MetGala

2013-05-07T12:07:00.000-04:00

Silver screen siren, Uma Thurman, always looks impeccable on the red carpet. At last night’s annual Metropolitan Ball, she took a walk on the wild side for the punk theme, chaos to couture; and didn’t disappoint in a striking poison ivy green chartreuse Zac Posen gown that was simply stunning. As she crossed the red carpet her fashion was flawless, paired perfectly with a full, sleek, high pony tail, a classic up-do. She trusted her tresses to her long-time stylist, David Babaii. To emphasize Uma’s bone structure and voluminous long hair, David placed a ponytail at the crown of her head for a polished look. To ensure her hair was red carpet ready and fabulously full, David recommended she begin taking Viviscal, a supplement designed to nourish hair and promote growth.

David Babaii commented on Uma’s sleek strands, “What’s been amazing is that I notice the texture of Uma’s hair is different now, the elasticity is better, the density of each lock of hair is thicker and longer, it holds a style better and overall it has been amazing to work with since I recommended she start Viviscal. To be honest, it has made my life easier as her hair is longer, more luscious, and just amazing.”

To achieve Uma’s sultry look, David blew her hair out straight from root to tip then secured all of her hair in a high ponytail position, to elongate her gorgeous cheek bones with an elastic band.

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Get the Beauty Look: Miranda Kerr #MetGala

2013-05-07T09:46:00.001-04:00

At the Met Gala last night, supermodel Miranda Kerr wore Michael Kors and attended with his partner.

“The whole theme is modern punk. Miranda loves signature style of glamourous, so we stayed along those lines, but infused some rocker by adding two braids on the side, which wrapped around and tucked underneath the nape of the neck.” — Hairstylist David Keough

How To Get The Look:

While hair is wet, create a deep side part. Use Davines For Wizards No. 8 Quick Setting Hard Gel throughout the hair to create a solid hold.
On the side opposite the direction of the part, create 2 sections and French braid each section parallel to one another, wrapping them down around the head. Tapering down to the nape, tie them off and tuck them under the rest of the hair.
Apply quite a bit of the gel mixed with the Davines For Wizards No 3 Universal Mattering Mousse throughout the rest of the hair as it creates longevity for keeping the looks. (Mixing the products is a trick Keough likes to use.)
With the remaining unbraided hair, blow dry with a round brush.
Using a 1 inch curling iron, separate and curl large sections. Pin them up and let hair cool down, while makeup gets done.
Pull the hair out and spray roots with a bit of Davines For Wizards No. 14 Sea Salt Primer, for a bit of lift and blow dry a touch.
Finish off with Davines Defining Invisible Hair Spray to lock the look in.

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Fashion, Celebs & More: The MET Gala (Live)

2013-05-06T17:55:00.001-04:00

Moda Operandi will hold a Spotlight event in celebration of this year’s Costume Institute Benefit. The program, beginning May 7, will enable women to purchase select looks designed by Anthony Vacarello, Balmain, Delpozo, Rodarte, Nina Ricci and Wes Gordon, among others, and worn by celebrities to the event.

Indre Rockefeller, Moda Operandi’s director of ready-to-wear, has worked closely with the highlighted designers so that customers would be able to purchase their favorite looks even faster than before.

Don’t forget to watch the live stream of the red carpet beginning at 7PM EST

Check out some punk inspired looks you can put together now inspired by the exhibit at the MET!

Let’s talk fashion on twitter. Join me @LeAuraLuciano

Fashion Inspiration: All Blue Everything!

2013-05-06T10:36:00.001-04:00

We’re inspired by the full rainbow but sometime one of those ROYGBIV rays shines a little brighter than other hues. Case in point: Blue! The hue is a great anchor color or offers a little pop of color depending on how bold you’re feeling. This inspiration board features both the top & easiest ways to add this season's key color! Oh and the looks below are totally shop-able too!

Now for the fashion breakdown:

Visit me on http://pose.com/u/senseileaura/poses

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What's Your Mom's Style Personality?

2013-05-03T00:05:00.000-04:00

Does she make a sassy statement in graphic shapes and bold glamour?

Is she the picture of sophistication in timeless gold, silver, and pearls?

Is she casually cool in delicate, natural motifs?

Or does she rock that razor-edge in luxe leather and sharp silver?

For some easy gifts visit: https://chic.kitsylane.com

EverSoPopular

Accessory Trends: Go Animal

Green & Eco Fashion Tips from Kristin Cavallari's Stylist

Fix Your #ALLERGYFACE

Léa Seydoux - "Grand Central Terminal" Premiere at 2013 Cannes Film Festival

Goal to Brazil: 2014 FIFA World Cup

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire & COVERGIRL #CapitolCOVERGIRL

Celebrating Baby Bumps…& Accessories

Vegan Fashion: Backstage at the Vaute Couture Fashion Show #fashionlovesanimals

@KmartFashion Remix Challenge: The Look For Less

Angelina Jolie's Double Mastectomy: Let’s Talk Reconstruction

Replicate the appearance of realistic looking areolae and even create the illusion of nipple protrusion.

Reposition, recolour or reshape the overall appearance of nipples and areolae.

Reduce the appearance of radiotherapy marks.

Diffuse scarring from mastectomies, breast uplifts / reductions and other types of breast surgery.

Men's Fashion in Film: 'The Great Gatsby'

Mother's Day is Sunday. Are you ready?

The Great Gatsby: Film Review (no spoliers, wait didn't you read the book?)

"I want to write something new, something extraordinary and beautifuland simple and intricately patterned."—F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Great Gatsby: Roaring 20’s Beauty Guide

Home Cooking With HelloFresh

To recap:

1. HelloFresh creates amazing recipes

2. You chose the recipes (excludes Vegetarian)

3. They go shopping for you

4. It gets delivered to you door.

The Great Gatsby: Daisy Buchanon’s Beauty Routine

Cara Delevingne Rocks the Red Carpet at the #MetGala

Sleek & Blonde Cameron Diaz at the 2013 #MetGala

Red Carpet Hair: J.Lo's Faux Hawk Updo from the 2013 #MetGala

Red Carpet Beauty: Elizabeth Banks at the 2013 MET Gala

Beauty Secrets Spilled: Uma Thurman #MetGala

Get the Beauty Look: Miranda Kerr #MetGala

Fashion, Celebs & More: The MET Gala (Live)

Fashion Inspiration: All Blue Everything!

What's Your Mom's Style Personality?

"I want to write something new, something extraordinary and beautiful
and simple and intricately patterned."
—F. Scott Fitzgerald