The midriff and side waist have made an appearance on the runways via strategically placed cut outs on dresses and one pieces. However, the sexiest show of skin on the runway this spring/summer is the shoulder, and this is a godsend for those not blessed with such trim frames.

Oscar De la Renta romanced us with a strapless, fringed ensemble while Etro offered a dramatic artistic interpretation of the trend, adding a nude section to one of their round necked dresses giving the illusion of a decorative, off the shoulder look. Other designers such as Erdem gave us retro inspired off the shoulder dresses while Lanvin showcased elegant, one shoulder looks.

To get the most from this blade exposing trend, invest in a good strapless bra, prep skin with plenty of exfoliator and slather on sheen enhancing moisturizer to add glow to your dácolletage. And why not pin up your hair in a high bun to expose your blades to the most divine effect!

Don’t fear the cold shoulder and try out our three shoulder loving looks below.

Crazy people and beauty products: These are a few of my favorite things. And both merge beautifully in Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soapbox, a documentary about eccentric soap master Emanuel Bronner.

I was thrilled when I discovered that this movie, which had a very limited release in 2007, was streaming on Netflix. It was the perfect time-passer while I tested a new at-home tooth whitening system and indulged in my favorite facemask. (“Who are you to call this guy crazy?” My husband noted when he arrived home and saw me on the sofa. “You’re the one covered in green clay, with a big bite plate in your mouth.”)

Good point, my love.

Anyway, back to Dr. Bronner. The former chemist—and escaped mental patient— gained a cult following in the 1960s with his all-natural, vegetable-oil based soap. The peppermint infused, multi-functional formula became a counterculture favorite, as did the brand’s rant-tastic blue-and-white labels. To this day, each bottle is still emblazoned with Bronner’s pleas for peace, love and protection of “Spaceship Earth” (otherwise know as our planet).

To say that this man was quirky would be an understatement. I always assumed that some kind of madman—albeit a genius one—was behind this brand. I mean, what other kind of mind would mix rambling moral messages (“Teach friend and enemy the moral ABC that unites all mankind free in our Eternal Father’s great All-One-God Faith”) with how-to tips for best use (“Lather up, scrub down, rinse off, and tingle fresh and clean”)?

But it wasn’t until I saw this movie—and was given an inside look at Dr. Bronner’s bizarre brain—that I realized the full magnitude of his mad-scientist approach to social enlightenment. And the effect it had on his children, who grew up second fiddle to their father’s unrelenting activism.

Regardless, you have to hand it to Bronner (and his neglected sons, who nonetheless took over for their dad) for creating a company so socially and ecologically sound.

Today, all of Dr. Bronner’s Magic All-One products are 100% natural, fair trade and USDA certified. They are never tested on animals and their bottles are made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic. The business participates in profit sharing plans for its employees and—get this—the total compensation for all upper echelon executives is capped at five times that of their lowest-paid worker. (Um, excuse me a second while I go work on my resume.)

Personally, I’ve always liked the classic peppermint soap for its tingling sensation, as well as the lotion and lip balm, which produces a similar effect. And I’m totally loyal to Bronner’s Organic Lavender Hand Sanitizing Spray, which is effective but not at all overpowering, and clearly chemical free. Plus, the scent is super soothing.

Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soapbox is as entertaining—and offbeat—as the man the movie profiles, and I think any fan would find it interesting. It’s also a wonderful reminder that socially conscious business models can still exist—and turn a tidy profit—in today’s competitive and cutthroat market.

If you’ve never given these ethically sourced soaps a try, I’d encourage you to do so. They smell great, get you squeaky clean and leave next to no negative impact on the Earth.

So what if a total whack-a-doo invented them?

Bond No. 9 celebrates same-sex marriage with unisex fragrance (via Racked)

Tomorrow, Refinery 29 will give free beauty makeovers at Washington Square Park from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Madison Square Park from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. (via Refinery)

MAC goes military glam with Ahoy, Sailor! MAC Hey, Sailor Collection (via Makeup & Beauty)

Christian Louboutin expands to beauty  (via Elle)

Why wearing bangs might be bad for you (via HuffPo)

Acne-fighting foods (via BellaSugar)

If you ‘re looking to buy a statement bag, Spanish designer Inás Figaredo’s collection of handbags might just be for you.

Much like Judith Leiber and Timmy Woods, each whimsical bag from Figaredo’s line is handcrafted.

We have some personal Figaredo faves here at Meets Obsession, which include a doctor’s bag complete with a man and a ladder, a skull bag and a golden hand with dangling digits (nail polish included).

As much as we love  Figaredo’s collection of handbags, they are a bit pricey with her bags retailing from $1,000 to $4,000.

And if you’re like us, without a couple of thousand dollars to drop on a bag, you can still take an internet stroll to her website to check out Figaredo’s entire collection, which is equivalent to a trip to an art museum.

While Nicole Richie was busy mentoring contestants to create Fashion Star-worthy collections for retail stardom, she was also busy at work creating a capsule collection of her own for Macy’s Impulse.

Following in the footsteps of Kinder Aggugini, Matthew Williamson, Giambattista Valli, Karl Lagerfeld, Doo-Ri Chung and Alberta Ferretti, Richie will be the seventh designer for Impulse, which means that we can expect to see the elements we’ve come to know her for: easy, versatile and comfortable.

According to WWD, her iconic textiles from her past collections, such as jewel colors and prints, like the peacock print, will be incorporated into the line. The 30-year-old designer states that music is the main driving force of  her designs, which is not surprising at all—considering that her dad is, after all, the cool, slick Lionel Richie.

The collection is made for real, modern women and their ever-changing roles. Easy to layer, masculine and feminine pieces, such as chiffon and faux leather will make a large part of the 24-30 piece collection.

With a wide appeal in mind, Macy’s Chief Marketing Officer Martine Reardon believes the collection will sell out in less than two weeks. Not bad for a designer who launched her first House of Harlow 1960 accessories line in 2008 and expanded her business two years later with her Winter Kate women’s line. In only four years, Richie built a loyal following.

The limited edition Nicole Richie for Impulse collection will be available mid-September and will debut in 100 Macy’s stores and online.

Today’s Sweet Streams:

The Static Jacks  — “Spray Tan” EP  [Stream it Here]

Gossip — “Joyful Noise” Album [Stream it Here]

Best Coast — “The Only Place” Album [Stream it Here]

Bedtime attire is moving into daytime with celebrities like Rhianna and Jessica Alba embracing the questionable pajama suit look.

Designers such as Emilio Pucci and Salvatore Ferragamo added looks to their 2012 collections that were more appropriate for the bedroom than for public consumption.

We say, to each their own, when it comes to this trend.

However, in the case of OPI, a nail app is their latest line of nail strips.

Sally Hansen’s nail strips were the top selling product for the brand in 2011, and the fact that OPI is finally jumping on the nail craze bandwagon is a savvy business move.

In addition to OPI, the UK- based beauty brand Models Own is also releasing their own line of nail strips, which ultimately is a great thing for those of us that  like to take our nail art to the next level.

Can you imagine how many design options will be available over the next several months?

OPI’s nail apps come in both cream and gloss finishes with fun patterns such as snakeskin, pink and yellow peacock, and zebra.

The strips will sell for $12 a set and will be available where OPI products are sold.

Target sets their next collaboration with NYC’s Kirna Zabete (via Stylite)

Schiaparelli label will recommence in two new ways (via Telegraph)

Eye candy, a photographic preview of Christian Louboutin’s exhibition at the Design Museum (via Guardian)

Fashionable makeover for Royal Mail (via Telegraph)

Opening Ceremony magazine in the works (via WWD)

Nicola Formichetti,aka Mr. Lady Gaga, must certainly be busy being behind some of fashion’s biggest names, as he is, after all, fashion director for Haus of Gaga, Uniqlo, and Vogue Hommes, and is the creative director for French brand MUGLER.

However, like many great designers, the half-Japanese, half-Italian designer is finally pursuing his own line—a high-tech and digitally enhanced one, to be more specific.

Formichetti told WWD that he wants to create clothes that could incorporate solar technology, charge cell phones, or even mold to the wearer’s body.

He’s venturing into the world of fashion meets function. This digitally fused aesthetic comes as no surprise, as we’ve seen Gaga’s futuristic outfits and MUGLER’s minimalistic modernity.

The future line, whose team is based in New York, is simply named Formichetti and is expected to launch mid-2013 with apparel and accessories. But don’t expect to see models strutting some solar energy pads on the runway anytime soon, as the line, which is break for Formichetti, will be launched online and possibly not in the fashion order of by “seasons.”

There’s no doubt that fashion and technology go hand in hand— this season, we’ve  seen laser cut apparel, LED-lit dresses and digital printed fabric on the runways,  but this is the first time a brand will be wholly tech-based. The stylist brings up a good point by stating that fashion is stuck in time due to its redundancy of the same fabric choices, and with all of the technological advances, it’s a surprise we haven’t seen more tech based looks.

Nicknamed affectionately as Nicopanda by fans, the designer currently has a pop up shop of that same nick name at the Lane Crawford luxury department in Hong Kong, which features his cartoon design logoed onto gifts and apparel, in addition to an exhibit of 20-plus looks worn by Lady Gaga. And while we won’t see models wearing Formichetti pieces, we wouldn’t be surprised to see Gaga wearing a piece in the future.

Formichetti may be venturing out in front of his labels, but he isn’t ditching Gaga, as they are forever connected by their similar aesthetic and work ethic.

And can you imagine Gaga shows being anymore theatrical than it already is?

We certainly can.

Over the past few of weeks, we’ve lost some truly amazing talent, many of whom played key roles in my childhood.

As a toddler learning to toddle during the late 1970s, I spent hours dressed up as Really Rosie, singing Maurice Sendak’s Chicken Soup With Rice.

As a native New Yorker coming of age in the eighties, I grew up with the Beastie Boys’ (most obsessively, “Paul’s Boutique”) as one of my major musical backdrops. In fact, I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the untimely death of Adam Yauch, a man who blended compassion, courage, hard rhymes and humor in a way few entertainers ever have.

But as a beauty editor, the passing of Vidal Sassoon marks a monumental moment in the industry I’ve come to love as an adult. The hairdressing pioneer paved the way for women to wash and wear—and look all the more marvelous because of it. From Mia Farrow’s very public pixie cut to Nancy Kwan’s killer bob, Sassoon created simple, chic styles that freed women from the hell of hot rollers and endless hours at the salon.

“It’s Vidal Sassoon,” said Rosemary Woodhouse of her new cropped cut in Polanki’s 1968 smash Rosemary’s Baby. “It’s very in.”

Sassoon was also one of the first celebrity stylists to become a celebrity himself, setting the stage for hair-care heavies such as Sally Hershberger, Frédéric Fekkai and John Frieda. His ingenious branding of tress-taming products brought salon luxury into home showers, establishing a major market for stylist stamped product.

And now that I think of it, Vidal Sassoon did make some small appearances in my upbringing. The window by my mom’s shower was lined with bottles of this now defunct finishing rinse; all I have to do is take one look at that brown bottle with it’s oval logo and it’s like I’m transported back in time.

Also, the man certainly knew how to advertise, and as a kid who watched a ton of TV, I remember this 80s ad well. I wasn’t even old enough to really care about my hair, but I did know this: Vidal didn’t look good unless I looked good.

Thank you, Vidal!

Ke$ha and Iggy Pop to collaborate in shirtless glitter fest, or some kind of song (via Flavorwire)

In another unlikely, but intriguing combination, watch Jon Hamm slow jazz rap about “Taxi” with Reggie Watts. Think So I Married an Axe Murderer (via Huff Po)

It’s not so much the breastfeeding on the cover of TIME that bothers us, or the fact that the kid should have stopped sucking on his mom’s lady lumps 3 years ago, but the ‘tude of the mother. Why does she look so malicious whilst shoving her breast in her toddlers face? Let the Freudian theories begin (via Styleite)

Speaking of strangely, disturbing sexual things, poor John Travolta might just be getting his “Saturday Night Fever” from naked hugging cruise ship employees (via Gawker)

Happy Mother’s Day everyone! Here’s to mom being accidentally, constantly ironic in her fanny pack, oversized glasses, and high-waisted light jeans (via BuzzFeed)

Country and soothing adult contemporary joined perfectly for Chris Isaak’s 1989 hit song, “Wicked Game.”

The hazy melody coupled with Isaak’s dreamy baritone made for the ultimate, slow-burning chart topper. And let’s not forget that music video — a smoky-eyed and scantily-clad Helena Christensen rolling around on the beach with Isaak, all directed by legendary photographer Herb Ritts.

In the summer of 2011, chillwave artist extraordinaire, Washed Out, produced his own unique, standout version of “Wicked Game.” Ernest Greene, the man behind the “Washed Out” moniker, kept the song essentially intact, but bumped the song up into the new millennium of chill electronica, adding a few echoey layers and backup vocals.

Australian electronic indie band, the Koala Bears, add their own spin to the Isaak country song by giving it a faster pace—thanks to a drum machine—and by adding an original spacey electro background against female vocals, which gives the song a whole new feel.

If you had mentioned the name Solange Knowles two years ago, most would associate it with her older sister Beyonce’s accomplishments.

Since breaking out on the music scene at the age of 16, Solange has never seen the commercial success her sister has had as a singer/songwriter, and, up to this point, Solange seemed to be still struggling in finding herself in the entertainment industry.

But in the world of fashion, Solange is earning a name for herself as the one to follow.

Having been announced the new face of Rimmel London in 2011, as well as having guest blogged for Vogue’s “Today I am Wearing,” Solange has sealed her place among the ranks of the fashion elite.

Solange, considered a risk taker in her fashion choices, is a constant among many “best dressed” lists. And when we spotted Solange in this sensational summery look, we were reminded as to why Solange’s style is emulated by aspiring fashionistas everywhere.

While Solange may be no pop star diva, she is making her way to fashion icon status. And in our eyes, that matters.

Why We’re Obsessed: Everything about this look just works.  From the proportions of Solange’s slouchy halter, to the red midi skirt and the pop of yellow, this outfit is an effortless summer “do.”

How to Get This Look: If you love this look but don’t have the budget to pull it off, try our version, which consists of a Bold Flame Skirt from Modcloth, strappy sandals from C Label Dita-21, a GIOVANNINI MIRCO Belt and a Sparkle & Fade Double Layer Cami. To accessorize, add a bold bangle, like this ASOS Hammered Pyramid Stretch Bracelet.

Total cost to our look: $146.51

Product Links:

Bold Flame Skirt
C Label Dita-21
Giovannini Mirco Belt
ASOS Hammered Pyramid Stretch Bracelet
Sparkle & Fade Double Layer Cami

Photo Credit: Solange Knowles (Getty)

Need a break from the highly saturated brights that are everywhere this season?

Apparently so does Acne, the Swedish based label.

The brand’s S/S 2012 capsule collection is comprised of white-only pieces. Jonny Johansson, creative director of Acne, describes the monochromatic collection as being “urban, but free-minded,” and the departure from highly pigmented shades is certainly refreshing.

The capsule collection features some of Acne’s classics (think poplin shirts and light t-shirts) in summer friendly materials such as sheer jersey and denim twill.

The collection made its debut in May, just in time for rising temperatures—and we couldn’t think of anything better than adding crisp white pieces to our summer wardrobe.

Head to Acne’s website to purchase the collection.

Every once in a while, we come across a quintessential look for the season, and for S/S 12, it’s the romantic sundress.

Summer is nearly upon us, and there are few women who can do without a dress to keep them cool and comfortable. What better way to enjoy the warm sunny weather than in an easy, breezy sundress?

Between lace, crochet, quirky prints and florals, there’s an abundance of choices!

Styled in cotton, silk or linen—which we recommend wearing to help your skin breathe during those stifling, hot summer months—and embellished with a little frill, lace, eyelet and crochet, they’re the ultimate feminine, flouncy, light as air, must-have to get you through the summer.

Sophisticated looks were spotted on the runways at Oscar De La Renta, Daks, Moschino, Blumarine and Dolce and Gabbana.

Whether your look is vintage-inspired, modern, or classic, we’ve found the perfect sundress for you.

Check out MO’s picks and breeze your way through the season of the sun.

I’m not sure what’s stranger: a smile-line smoothing face belt or a big pink mouthpiece that wards of wrinkles.  Although I have to admit, if I knew for a fact that either of these items really worked, I’d probably be wearing one (or both) of them right now.

These bizarre beauty buys—as well as many others—can be found at the Japan Trend Shop, an online store that I wasted hours on the other day. It’s amazing just for entertainment value alone, as I believe this vibrating nose clamp makes clear.

And I defy you to find anything as ridiculous as this face-slimming mouthpiece, which— lets face it—looks just like a sex toy.

But I also find this site to be oddly intriguing, and I can’t help but wonder if these silly-looking specs really can de-age my face.

Or if this Beauty Voice Trainer really can get my vocals into prime karaoke condition.

Do I dare to take a chance and find out?

After the 2009 Lindsey Lohan debacle at Emanuel Ungaro, Designer Esteban Cortazar is back with an exclusive Net-a-Porter- collection  (via Fashion Etc)

Anna Wintour pays a visit to “The Colbert Report”  (via HuffPo)

Iris Apfel goes into the handbag business (via WWD)

A Piperlime store is coming to NY’s Wooster Street (via Racked)

Your first look at Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein at Macy’s (via Catwalk Queen)

Left to right: Giles S/S 2012, Prabal Gurung S/S 2012, Givenchy S/S 2012, Giles S/S 2012

In the midst of the pastels and the bright color blocking, the cut away to all that colorful solidity is the leather laser cut-out trend.

The look made a strong  resurgence on the Spring/Summer 2012 runways of Givenchy, British designer Giles Deacon and Prabal Gurung in the form of dresses, skirts, shirts and two-piece ensembles. The intricate patterns are made to emulate dainty lace borders, however, this season, looks were much bolder with bigger cut-outs in dominating leather.

The intricate looks have left the runways and have entered the streets, as bohemian gal Nicole Richie, singer Natalia Kills and other celebs have been spotted wearing the laser trend.

This look is worn best when its kept minimal, so don’t layer up, or over accessorize. The complexity of the leather cut-outs say a lot on their own.

So this spring, change it up a bit by ditching some color and harness your edgy side with these pieces.

Photo Credits:  Giles S/S 2012 (Alessandro Viero/GoRunway.com), Prabal Gurung S/S 2012 (Prabal Gurung Monica Feudi/Feudiguaineri.com ), Givenchy S/S 2012 (Yannis Vlamos/GoRunway.com), Nicole Richie (Getty)

How could anyone forget Rick Genest, aka Zombie Boy?

Thanks to Lady Gaga and Nicola Formichetti, Genest rose to fame with an appearance in her Born This Way video and as the muse of Mugler.

After disappearing for several months, Genest is back with stealthy zombie-like return as the latest model to grace the May/July issue of Factice, a French fashion magazine with a focus on photography and interviews.

Shot by French photographer Stephane Roy, the inside editorial has an unsurprisingly dark theme, which includes a crown of thorns, blood-red roses, studded leather and a BABY?!

Here’s to hoping that the baby isn’t scarred for life with images of Genest’s face forever ingrained in his head.

And if you’re wondering what Genest looks like sans the tattoos, check out a campaign video he did for Dermablend.

Your diet soda might not be as healthy as you think (via You Beauty)

Butter London goes for gold with new Olympic-Themed nail polish set (via Racked)

What you should know before scheduling your next pedicure (via WashPost)

Like the smell of wine?  Now there’s a perfume inspired by the notes of Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Cabernet, Merlot, and Chardonnay (via Refinery)

Today’s Sweet Streams:

Garbage — “Not Your Kind of People” Album [Stream it Here]

Beach House — “Bloom” Album [Stream it Here]

Joey Ramone — “What Did I Do To Deserve You?” Free MP3 Download [Download Here]

The Bec & Bridge summer swelters with a flowing and rich collection made of clean whites, floral Amazonian prints, and blue and gold Mediterranean style cross motifs.

Designers Becky Cooper and Bridget Yorston stated that they drew inspiration for their S/S 2013 collection from “the island of Capri, beautiful landscapes, textures, flowers and that really healthy, 70s, sexy girl.”

The ten-year old label has certainly come a long way from Cooper and Yorston’s Sydney fashion school days. After enjoying the hype on Aussie glossies soon after their launch in 2003, Bec & Bridge is now a celebrity favorite and their Australian Fashion Week show opened to a full house main stage this past week.

Sheer, sapphire-printed, long-sleeved dresses perfectly designed for a woman with summer wind in her sails were cut high on the thigh and naturally fluttered through the legs of models.

However, not to err on the over-feminine, dresses were given just enough precision with collars that opened to the chest. A flouncy silhouette of a pure white peplum one-piece was quickly followed by white geometric sheaths and precisely-cut white, boxy blazers. Altogether, it was an extremely well balanced collection which offered innovation to summer basics and revitalization to 70s summer chic.

Models walking against the enormous Grandiflora backdrop on the catwalk had healthy, sun kissed skin, that in it’s own right has caused a stir amidst beauty features.

M.A.C. styled the beauty portion  Bec & Bridge show and creative director Nicole Thompson explained the Almafi-inspired makeup, “The Bec & Bridge girl has just stepped out of the Mediterranean and is glowing and gorgeous. We’ve used really nice, natural tones like sun-kissed bronzes with a little bit of a rusty edge.”

Anna Dello Russo is a bird of another color, but it depends on what day you see her.

The Vogue Japan editor-at-large is usually caught on the pavements of fashion week wearing all sorts of eclectic pieces from ostrich feathers to glittery cherry headpieces. This is not surprising as she has an apartment just for her clothes.

But ADR claims her true love is accessories, which is fitting because Dello Russo has just unveiled her latest jewelry collaboration with Swedish retail giant H&M.

The Dello Russo and H&M jewelry collection, which will go on sale in H&M stores worldwide on October 4th, will consist of approximately 50 items, including shoes, handbags, jewelry and sunglasses.

Each piece is incredibly opulent with the typical vibrancy that Dello Russo exudes.

And in true H&M fashion, prices for pieces within the collection will be affordable for most, with earrings retailing at only $26 to shoes retailing at $196.

Not only is Dello Russo Meets Obsession’s “Most Intriguing” in fashion, but from the looks of it, she’s also a talented accessories designers.

So ladies, prepare yourselves for the H&M madness come October 4th.

Photo: Allison Michael Orenstein

So much great music is being filtered out of Brooklyn these days, and the visionary pop-rock group and performance art collective, JD Samson & Men is no expectation.

Men is bringing profound lyrics in a dance-friendly fashion onto the scene with their new EP entitled “Time,” which is set to be released this Tuesday May 8.

JD Samson & Men combine rock sensibilities with an electric dance beat throughout their newest record, and songs like “Time” show the comprehensively versatile style of the Brooklyn-based duo composed of JD Samson (of feminist, electropunk band Le Tigre fame) and Michael O’Neill.

The energetic musical pair has made a living out of combining different art forms meant to inspire and intrigue—and such is the case with their track “Time,” which captivates the feeling of the passing of time and articulates our human obsession and fear with this inevitable passing.

Musician Johanna Fateman and visionary artist Emily Roysdon provided assistance on the EP in creative invention and songwriting, while Alex Suarez of Cobra Starship produced the EP.

Songs like “Make Him Pay,” off “Time,” bring up stark questions about our current modernity. However, the pleasingly high-energy appeal of the song is not lost among fascinatingly profound lyrics.

“Take it Away,” on the other hand, proves that Samson and O’Neill are not only magicians of sound and beat, but that they’re also verging on becoming social activists through music.

Anna Wintour said it a year ago at the Webby Awards, “Sometimes Geeks Can Be Chic,” and TEXTILE by Elizabeth and James’ new, comic book-inspired Fall 2012 collection is definitely what we would call, chic.

Designed by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, the collection’s denim and pants appear as if  they came out of a Marvel comic book — the bold colored pants are induced with different colors such as, black and red pinstripes, a bright red and green flat-front plaid, replete with stripes that multi-angle toward the shins, and a two palette camo of the usual earth tones, blacks, whites and grays.

To go along with the pants, there are matching camo shirts, while the other t-shirts are solid bright reds, greens, whites and blacks. The elbow patch sweaters are wide-necked with a contrasting patch color that highlights the piece.

And of course, what is a comic book inspired collection without some classic comic book typography? Some of the shirts  from the collection feature a “BAAANG”  explosion across the chest making it a design that would make Stan Lee proud.

TEXTILE by Elizabeth and James is the Olsen twins’ casual line that aims to modernize sportswear by incorporating a casual, tomboy look into traditional, classic, clean American fashion— and they did just that.

The collection will be available in the fall, but can be purchased early next week at Bergdorf Goodman and Denim Habit.

Stress sucks. And I don’t have a history of dealing with it very well. But I’m learning, and recently I’ve found my favorite aromas to be incredibly potent tensions tamers.

I’ve already spoken about my obsession with vanilla. However, I should also mention that I really love lavender, especially when it comes to calming my nerves. So I was psyched when I received this Less Stress Is A Gift set last week. It’s from Aveda and contains a bottle of body lotion, a tub of bath salts, and a calming, roll-on concentrate from the brands’ new Stress Fix line.

In addition to lavender, lavandin (which has been proven to ease anxiety) and clary sage are combined to give these products their soothing scent.

I’m a big fan of the bath salts, which can also be used as a scrub. I’ve also been using them to stuff sachets, because putting on a Stress-Fix-scented t-shirt or tank most definitely helps mellow me out in the morning.

I really like this line because while the smell is effective, it’s also light, so I don’t feel like a walking bowl of potpourri. And that’s important, because I find that a lot of “calming” products tend be over the top odor-wise. These three anxiety easers most definitely do not offend.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to escape into my own Stress-Fix sauna (i.e. a super hot bath, sprinkled with salts). It’s Monday, after all.

This summer, put your best foot forward and step out in style with the classic, open-back shoe.

The old is new again with a decorative makeover for the new season.

On the S/S 12 runways, Oscar De la Renta revealed reinvented mules that were adorned with intricate gold beading in renaissance-reminiscent silhouettes, while Fendi had their models stepping out in slick, sailing stripes, and Missoni opted for their signature chevron prints.

Louis Vuitton matched their pastel collection to pointed mules with silver, metallic straps and toes, while Rochas and Acne showcased their styles in chunky platform mules with a seventies vibe.

So this summer,  forget the old dated mule that your mom wore back in the 70’s, and slip into spring’s new shoe trend with our picks, all of which will ensure that your tootsies get the attention they deserve!

Dearest Cee-Lo,

While the flannel and satin capri pants are brilliant in that “lumberjack-meets-soccer-mom” kind of way, they are only overshadowed by the magic of your socks and sandals duo.

And while we’ll give you a “Cee” for confidence while wearing this look in your best “I’ve arrived, look at me” pose, the outfit itself is unfortunate.

MO’s verdict: Cee-Lo, your stylist hates you more than a Lennon fan hates your rendition of “Imagine.”

Photo: Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

Dear Nicki,

Your stylist hates you so much that he is probably hiring a hitman right now to kill your ass.

Several outfits that we have seen you in lately come off as playful, colorful and quirky, and because you’re Nicki Minaj, we’ve let some things pass.

This tragedy, however, now confirms that you are a crazy person…covered in melted tropical Skittles.

MO’s Verdict: Nicki Minaj, your stylist hates you more than your archenemy Lil’ Kim hates your song, “Stupid Hoe.”

American director Stanley Kubrick has captured some of film’s most iconic moments for over four decades.

His unique cinematography captured human life at its grittiest. Before his directorial debut, he was a staff photographer for LOOK Magazine in the 1940s. During that time, Kubrick received a photo assignment which required him to photograph New York commuters on the subways.

Recently, the Museum of the City of New York released Kubrick’s collection of subway photographs from the 1940s.

The Museum has an archive of 7200 photos taken by Kubrick, and the insightful subway shots are part of the collection.

The shots’ expositions are impressive, as Kubrick captured the people in their total natural habitat—the usual avoiding eye contact, sleeping, and other banal activities that we tend to do when taking public transportation. With the exceptions of today’s mp3 players and cell phones—nothing has really changed.

Kubrick had an eye for small details in human actions, and it’s easy to see where the director got his influence. Each photo represents a director in the making, as many of the angles, subjects and expositions found in the photos can be found in his films.

Here are some examples:

Right photo:  Stanley Kubrick. Life and Love on the New York City Subway. Woman waiting on a subway platform. 1946. Museum of the City of New York. X2011.4.10292.81Bt:

This “2001: A Space Odyssey” scene features the character Dave Bowman in the endless ship controlled by the super artificially intelligent HAL 9000.  The other is woman all alone waiting for a subway; both shots feature an isolated feeling away from society.

Right photo: Stanley Kubrick. Life and Love on the New York City Subway. Women in a subway car. 1946. Museum of the City of New York. X2011.4.10292.11E

This shot of the women sitting squashed amongst each other is the reverse angle to this one with the ruthless “A Clockwork Orange“ anti-hero Alex and his goonies. Each shot both feature their subjects not looking or interacting with each other. The woman, who is awake, may not invoke the same creepy evil feeling Alex gives us, but it nonetheless reveals a being independent from the citizens around her.

Right photo: Stanley Kubrick. Life and Love on the New York City Subway. Couple playing footsies on a subway. 1946. Museum of the City of New York. X2011.4.10292.90E

Similar to “Lolita’s” Dolores “Lolita” Haze’s trademark, flirtatious feet that drive Humbert Humbert insane, we get a sense of that in the following photo with the young couple playing the classic, teasing game of footsie in the subway. Kubrick had a subtle way of capturing a female’s affection via her body language.

Kubrick did more than capture the world; he created a universe that embodied the deep psyche of our society. His films were an art that revealed a truth to human society that we would have never ventured into on our own.

And based on the Museum of the City of New York’s archive, that once young photographer had the same eye and vision.

You can view the entire Kubrick 7,200 photo collection, here.

Mother’s day is a just week from Sunday—how do you plan on celebrating?

Check out the following gift suggestions, which are perfect for bringing out the beauty in any woman—particularly a mom.

Erbaviva Pregnancy Gift Set
Mommies-to-be will love this trio of pampering products, which includes a back rub oil, milk bath and stretch mark soother.

Mom & Baby Eco Beauty Box
Zoe Organics and La Bella Figura have created such a sweet, eco-conscious gift set for new moms. The beauty basket is filled with goodies for both mother and baby, as well as an elegant, etched-glass water bottle.

Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist
Being a mom is a balancing act and this refreshing, moisturizing mist is perfect for quick pick-me-ups any time of the day.

Deborah Lippman Get Nailed Manicure Essentials Set
Treat the mom you love to many at-home manis with this clever kit, which comes with a super handy, compact travel bag.

Bliss Softening Socks
Busy moms will love taking a load off with these skin-softening socks. Infused with olive oil, grapeseed oil and vitamin C, the gel lining soothes overworked soles and helps get feet sandal-ready for summer.

Fresh Cannabis Santal Candle
Who says moms can’t mellow out? Give her permission to sit back, relax and inhale the soothing scents of patchouli, sandalwood, vetiver and—of course—cannabis.

Blessedly, we can measure just how much of an a-hole those defriend-ees are on  Klouchebag, Klout’s evil stepbrother. (via Laughing Squid)

Want to date a celeb?  Fox may have your chance with their new dating show “The Choice.”  Can someone please recruit Ryan Gosling for this?  (via The Hollywood Reporter)

Here’s why you’ve never seen David Bowie and Tilda Swinton in the same place. Tumblr “Tilda Stardust” confirms our suspicions: Tilda Swinton is not only a man, but is also David Bowie. (via Fashionista)

Jessica Simpson beats Paltrow’s “Apple” and Beyonce’s “Blue Ivy” with the worst baby girl name, ever.  (HuffPost) “Max Johnson” is a balding man who does my taxes. Get with the program, Jess.

Nika Roza Danilova, better known as Zola Jesus, has the exuding power to create worlds of mystical experimentalism in her music. She’s ambient and endearing in her lyrics, and in her ethereal voice.

Growing up in the remote city of Merill, Wisconsin, she developed a strong love for nature, its sounds, and its spirit.  Some of the most interesting aspects of Zola Jesus’ music are its philosophical undertones. Drawing influence from such existential thinkers as Dostoevsky and Nietzsche, Zola Jesus exudes sophistication far beyond her 23 years in her music and in her stage presence.

Zola Jesus’ track “Avalanche,” off her album “Conatus,” is prevailing, eerie and full of vigor.  Take a listen!

Marvel’s “The Avengers,” written and directed by Joss Whedon, is kind of begrudgingly good. Not good in the sense of having a clear and defined antagonist or rational plot points—but made almost enjoyable by the committed performances of some of our favorite actors (Mark Ruffalo fans stand up!) as well as smart, snappy dialogue courtesy of the “Buffy” and “Firefly” creator himself.

I was apprehensive about reviewing this movie, since my last experience with cinematic comic-book cardboard candy (“Captain America: The First Avenger”) was so awful.

However, Whedon may prove to be the greatest hero of them all for breathing life into this somewhat stale genre.

Characters from across the Marvel universe come together to save the world from an unlikely combo of aliens and Norse demi-god, Loki (Tom Hiddleston).

Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) marshals all of our favorites for the defense: Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Bruce Banner/The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and Captain American himself, Steve Rodgers (Chris Evans). The group is rounded out by Scarlett Johansson’s martial arts mercenary Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, Jeremy Renner’s bow-and-arrow expert Clint Barton/Hawkeye, and Colbie Smulders (Robin, of “How I Met Your Mother” fame) as S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Maria Hill.

The performances are compelling, and the group dynamic is infectious. The characters we’re so familiar with really come to life with Whedon’s script. Even Captain America, who I thought couldn’t be any duller, was fun to watch.

Lost in a cloud of twee pop culture references that obviously fly over his head, Whedon cleverly ends the running gag with a character mentioning “Wizard of Oz’s” “flying monkeys.” Finally, something he gets!

Though pleasantly surprised, there were still some elements of the film that just didn’t work. Our heroes spend an awful lot of time fighting with each other, though it’s clear they all have the same goals and common enemies.  These fight scenes—especially an extended scene where Thor, Iron Man, & Captain America fight each other, while Loki watches—felt like a waste to me.

Additionally, much of the movie is spent with the characters fretting over Bruce Banner’s destructive alter ego (he’s gone over a year without an “incident” in this film). Is he going to lose his temper? Does he put them all at risk? It’s explicitly explained multiple times that he cannot control what he does when he’s The Hulk.

Scarlett Johansson’s even gets quite the workout defending herself from his smashing fists. Yet in the final battle sequence, Banner curiously displays control over his reckless alter ego as he fights alongside the team at will.

Despite a handful of critiques, this was the most fun I’ve had watching a comic book adaptation in quite some time.

With some of today’s best actors embodying the most iconic characters of the 20^th century, all while delivering perfectly-timed comedic zingers, “Marvel’s The Avengers” has made me reconsider what I thought was once a lost-cause genre.

The Avengers opens today in theaters everywhere, click here  for theaters and showtimes.

Photo courtesy of Threadflip

Threadflip, an online consignment shop, made its debut a few weeks ago, and at first glance, it seems to be part e-commerce retailer and part social media vehicle.

The interface is very reminiscent of Pinterest, which is to say it is very clean and visually appealing.

If you’d like to buy or sell on Threadflip, you have to create an account on Facebook.  After that, you simply upload photos and list prices and descriptions for your items.

After your pieces sell,  Threadflip collects a 15% commission. They then send you packaging materials along with postage to send your goodies to their new home.  It’s a no fuss way to consign your gently used, unwanted clothing.

You may be wondering what sets Threadflip apart from eBay and other consignment stores.

The answer is that Threadflip strives to offer a unique boutique experience that connects buyers and sellers, which all can be done from the comfort of your home.

Threadflip is also currently testing out its White Glove Service, which is an even easier option of consigning your clothing. They send you a box and you simply return it with your pieces and Threadflip takes care of listing, pricing and selling your items.

A fun feature on the site is the ongoing Threadflip Tastemakers spotlight, which includes individual shops from popular bloggers and figures in the fashion world. Catching a glimpse into their wardrobe is fun, and you can ultimately take away something stylish to add to your own closet.

If you’re ready to make room for an entire wardrobe or shop for one, Threadflip is a click away!

Raising the bar on beauty standards for women (and men) isn’t necessarily new, but a recent commercial has raised more than a few eyebrows. The advertisement currently playing on the TVs of India is for “Clean and Dry Intimate Wash,” which portrays a noticeably unhappy couple ignoring each other over morning coffee. The problem—apparently—stems from the woman’s darker complexioned vagina. But once she showers using said product, the husband/boyfriend/male is once again in love and attracted to her. “Clean and Dry” is a vagina-bleaching product.

This is not the first time a beauty product like this has been created, marketed and successfully sold. Women (and men) are frequently told they’re not skinny enough, or hairless enough, or white enough. And now even our genitals aren’t safe. All women—because, let’s face it—women are consistently at the forefront—are pitted in this race towards near-impossible beauty standards. The most common of which in these standards is paleness, or more correctly, whiteness.

As Marie Clare magazine pointed out, there has been a recent upswing in “ethnic-specific” plastic surgeries, including double eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty, and calf reductions.

“With this commercial, we might think this is a new trend, or happening solely in India, but really this is a fashion staple,” says Dr. Marcia Alesan Dawkins, a visiting scholar at Brown University and author of Clearly Invisible: Racial Passing and the Color of Cultural Identity to Meets Obsession. “This has been going on for a long time. It cuts across nations, eras, historical groups and gender.”

The defense spouted by the “Clean and Dry” male ad executive, Alyque Padamsee, is that fairness cream simply makes skin fairer. Like lipstick makes lips redder. “I don’t think any Youngistani today thinks the British Raj/White man is superior to us Brown folk,” Padamsee wrote in Open Magazine in March. “The only reason I can offer for why people like fairness is this: if you have two beautiful girls, one of them fair and the other dark, you see the fair girl’s features more clearly. This is because her complexion reflects more light.”

And like many things, this is not only affecting women, but men too.

In 2005, Emami launched “Fair & Handsome,” a skin lightening cream targeted at Indian men.  Meanwhile, American-based company, Vaseline, also markets these products for men, (though its only for face and neck currently, not their genitals).  “They can also download a phone app that will show them how much the cream will lighten their skin over time,” explains Dawkins. “This cuts across gender lines, it’s racism; even if it’s not the way we in the U.S. generally think about it. It’s the way we think about race on a larger scale that greatly impacts the beauty and fashion industry.”

Another interesting theory is that women are not necessarily striving for “whiteness” but that everyone is trying for a “multi-ethnic” look.

In 2007, ABC News conducted an interview with plastic surgeon, Dr. Amiya Prasad.

He claimed that most of his clients of color “don’t want to want to change their appearance so radically.” It was also argued by several plastic surgeons that Caucasians are also striving for a melting pot look.

	Top to bottom: Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Angelina Jolie

Dawkins noted this as well. “There’s an increasingly new idea of what beauty is. Girls are being told that tan and beige are the skin colors that reflect everybody, but they don’t. And with marketing, telling even white girls that tan is what’s beautiful, it affects them too. It’s changing the way we look at white women, too,” Dawkins said. Specifically, she pointed out superstars Angelina Jolie, Beyonce, and J.Lo, all of who tend to have a similar skin color these days. But she also noted that this does not affect white privilege.

“A Caucasian person of maybe Irish descent, who typically would have thin lips, is coming in to have Restylane injections to enhance their lips,” Prasad noted in his ABC interview. “That’s a really interesting blending of ethnicity that is also considered very attractive.” However, when Dr. Melissa Johnson, a Professor of Anthropology of Race and Gender, heard this argument she scoffed.

“Bigger lips is not necessarily a non-white feature, it’s usually regarded as a youthful feature,” Johnson explained to Meets Obsession. But she did agree that these intense standards of beauty are affecting all women. “White women do this as well. While we haven’t heard much about vaginal bleaching here in the U.S., I’m sure it’s happening, and anal bleaching is quite common among all sets of women.”

Both professors believe that on small fronts, the idea of beauty is being challenged. “Though there is a global desire for whiteness, there are counter forces too, and people are fighting it. There are feminist movements and body image groups, even beauty pageants are fighting to bring the idea that black skin IS beautiful to the foreground,” says Johnson. “But I don’t know if the overarching idea of ‘what is beautiful’ is being challenged as a whole.”

Dawkins took it one step further. “I urge you to really think about this idea of passing as a fashion trend. One that yields real results for the people and is something that eventually becomes an issue of class & politics.”

Photo Credits: Beyonce photo (Parkwood Pictures Entertainment LLC, Management Company of Beyonce Knowles, Tony Duran), Jennifer Lopez photo (Universal Music Greece), Angelina Jolie photo (Georges Biard).

Photos: Megan Friend

From electro house-pop to Americana, cinematic post-rock to hip hop, and everything in between, on paper, Saturday’s Sweetlife Festival sounds like a classic case of ‘apples & oranges,’ but the third annual food and music festival felt like anything but that.

Produced and curated by salad/frozen yogurt tycoon Sweet Green, hordes of neon-clad teenagers and festival junkies braved the drizzly weather and somewhat sub-zero temperatures (at least it felt so considering it’s already May) to catch a, to put it lightly, “eclectic” of lineup of performers.

With headliners like Swedish house sensation Avicii and crooning hip-hop stalwart Kid Cudi, the crowd drawn to Merriweather Post Pavillion was “colorful,” no doubt, but alas, quite inebriated and obnoxious.

Kicking off the day’s festivities were car commercial/current “it” band Fun., whose blend of rousing indie pop-rock and current chart-topping single “We Are Young” was a fitting and topical opener to get the early arrivers moving from the get go.

Of course, as a food festival, a cavalry of popular D.C.-area food trucks were lined up at the back of the festival grounds, providing much-needed — if not food coma-inducing — break for festival goers to fuel up in between sets.

With such buzzworthy trucks as Jose Andres’ Pepe Truck, Shake Shack, Baked + Wired, Big Cheese, and of course, Sweet Green, among others, the festival was no doubt the Bonnaroo of food festivals for foodies, if there ever was such a thing.

But the draw of the massive festival was the music, which offered something for all tastes.

Rounding out the main stage acts were rapper A$AP Rocky, soul revival act Fitz and the Tantrums (whose overused neo-soul routine felt more like an “American Idol” house band than anything), post-rockers Explosions in the Sky (who put on one of the more sensational performances of the day), and twee indie popsters The Shins.

But the day was closed out with sets from  Kid Cudi and Avicii, whom I didn’t stay for because I’m not 17 (also, my wardrobe wasn’t nearly neon enough to pass for an Avicii show).

For those looking to avoid the crowds of the main stage found themselves delighted to an especially enticing lineup at the festival’s smaller Treehouse stage. Discovering new acts like the sisters L.A.’s Haim, whose sound is somewhere along the lines of Fleetwood Mac meets Wild Flag, as well as the incredible crooning of LP, became one of the delights of the festival.

Indeed, with acts like roots-rock darlings Delta Spirit and U.S. Royalty, electro goth-pop sensation Zola Jesus (who put on my favorite performance of the entire fest), and Baltimore’s Twin Shadow, the Treehouse stage became a welcomed hangout for those over 24 fest fans seeking a refuge from the masses of drunken teenagers.

By the end of the day, the sun began to set, the temperatures dropped, and the rains came down, but it didn’t stop the crowd from finding a reason to keep partying throughout the festival grounds.

Because, just like the diversity of culinary offerings the festival had to offer, if hip-hop, house, post-rock, or pop wasn’t your thing, there was plenty of options to find your flavor and have a good time.

Stop the presses! I have big news. Huge news. And you need to know about it.

A few weeks ago, while shopping at Sephora, I had wandered over to the skin care section looking for a new regimen for my uber-dry skin when a sales associate introduced me to KP Duty from the Dermadoctor line, which I ended up purchasing with their Wrinkle Revenge Facial Cream.

KP Duty, which sounds a lot like a Navy punishment that you’d get when you did something bad, is actually a product for those tiny, annoying bumps that we often get on the back of our arms.

And for someone like me, who has been dealing with these bumps, a.k.a., Keratosis pilaris, my entire life, this was my hope in a jar to finally get rid of those pesky bumps on my arms, which, as a result, make my arms look similar to that of a chicken.

KP Duty is the brainchild of Dr. Audrey Kunin, a Board-Certified Dermatologist, OSU Buckeye Alum, CEO of Dermadoctor and generally all-around awesome chick. Of course it took a woman to figure this out.

The line includes an exfoliating scrub, a priming serum and a moisturizing lotion, which makes the backs of my arms feel smoother than David Beckham’s glistening abdominal skin.

(I made that last part up, but trust me, after three weeks of using this stuff on a regular basis, I am sold!)

Also on my list of awesome Dermadoctor products is a deodorant called Gorilla Warfare, which inhibits armpit-hair growth. Excuse me while this genetically hairy Italian girl faints from excitement.

Break out your tank tops, girls, it’s all just in time for summer.

Photo courtesy of Oxygen

Fresh off of the heels of the shocking news that Tyra Banks fired longtime “America’s Next Top Model” judges J. Alexander, Nigel Baker and J. Manuel, comes an announcement from Oxygen that Banks’ rival, Naomi Campbell, is set to star in her own reality model competition series, which will air at the same time as Banks’ “America’s Top Next Model.”

And although we’re pretty much over the fashion reality shows, which are fast becoming ubiquitous downers on televisions across America, we will tune in to see Naomi Campbell, while secretly hoping that we get to see her lose her sh*t on TV with a phone-throwing tantrum.

Oooh, think of all the potential delicious drama, darlings.

All kidding aside, Campbell’s new Oxygen show, which is called “The Face,” will search for the next face to represent a “national brand” by putting hopeful models through weekly challenges and eliminations.

So far, the Oxygen series has named Naomi Campbell as one of three supermodel coaches. The other two coaches are yet to be named.