W Magazine and Aspen fashion Week

Hello Adoring fans.... Working with W magazine this week here in beautiful Aspen Colorado.  They are key sponsors in the second year of Aspen Fashion Week.
Working with Trina, W's fashion editor on a shopping segment which will air on Plum TV and W's web-site beginning April 24th.  I will be certain to post a link for all to check out.
So on our shopping adventure we visited some of the finest boutiques in Aspen. Our first stop was the locally owned Gallerie. They carry such fabulous designers as Aiko, Alexander Wang, Catherine Melandrino, Nicole Farhi and many more.  Trina picked up a few things there and the we moved on to Theory, Optika, Prada, Montclair, and Louis Vuitton. Needless to say we had a blast.  The weather was gorgeous and the shops gracious.
For those who want to know what I used to perfect Trina's flawless face; We started with a make-up primer from YSL and followed with an oil free foundation from Sisley. On Trina's cheeks, I dusted a soft peach color from MAC and highlighted with a soft ivory.  Her eyes we kept simple and trendy with a bone eyeshadow from Bobbi Brown and a gold shimmer eyeshadow from Smashbox.  We finished off the look with a violet/brown kohl eye pencil and a soft plumy lipgloss from NARS.
Tomorrow it's video editorial for W with Diesel and Chloe.  Stay tuned.....

An Icon Rediscovered - Coco Chanel

It's New.  It's Fabulous.  It's Cult Worthy.  The new daring lipstick from Chanel - Rouge Coco.
It has been a while since I have been excited about a one item launch, but this one is worth all of the attention it has been receiving. The perfect basic; it defines, it shines, it looks good on everybody. Not since MAC introduced Twiggy lipstick and Spice lip pencil did a product capture the imagination of a nation. Well this one has mine and it should have yours too. Bring out your joie d' vivre, alegria de viver, gioia di vivere or in plain English - Live Your Beauty.

What Was She Wearing?

I love the Academy Awards.  It's a time for fantasizing, speculation and glamour. I enjoy the Red Carpet fanfare, the raw energy of the moment and the delicious triumphs as each winner takes the stage to claim their prize.  It is an evening filled with mystique and allure and every year I excitedly tune in to watch my favorite talent being honored.

The 82nd Annual Academy Awards were held last evening.  And WOW!  What a surprise!  Best Director Kathryn Bigelow - first woman to win an Oscar in that category.  Incredible -  and wasn't she living her beauty well! Excitedly strutting to the stage in her very chic Red Carpet Worthy Gown, Kathryn looked absolutely radiant.  Was it the thrill of creating something truly amazing and being recognized for your achievement or was it Maybellene?  Either way...Congratulations Kathryn and many thanks for being such a trailblazer.  We owe you one!




Sandra Bullock was another surprise win.  Her portrayal of Mrs. Touhy was remarkable.  The movie was definitely an A+, as was Sandra's dress and make-up.  Her gown was vintage Paquin and her face was nothing less than fresh and glamourous.  I loved that classic eye and bold mouth.  And didn't we all love her acceptance speech?  What grace she showed towards her talented peers.  Speaking of...







It wouldn't be The Academy Awards without our lovely and uber talented Ms. Streep. And we know she is talented with an incredible 16 Oscar nominations and two wins.  Year after year she entertains us, amuses us and inspires us to continue to live our dreams.  Her gown was designed by Chris March and she wore it well.
Meryl lives her beauty while keeping with current fashion both in dress and make-up.  Her style was clean and sophisticated and I loved it.

Sarah stunned us with her gorgeous Chanel gown. A style setter for a least a decade now we love how she can show up and be herself.  I admire Sarah for her bold beauty and fearless forging without surgery.
Thank you Sarah for giving us Carrie, Sex In The City and Jimmy Choo.
One day she just may be an icon.







Charlize arrived on the carpet in a whimsical Dior Couture gown much to the chagrin of several style setters. I say bah humbug to them.  I adored the fun and color which showed off her porcelain beauty.  Her makeup was fabulous as well in the classic Hollywood genre.  Thank you Charlize for living your beauty so bravely. .

And Penelope...What a true International Star. Cast among the likes of Sophia Loren and Catherine Deneuve.  Such poise and elegance. The Donna Karan Cotoure gown she chose draped her stunningly. And her choice of neutral makeup completely complemented her look.

Another fabulous show was wrapped and we will gossip and discuss, debate and drool over the fashions, the looks, the nominations, the winners.  We will revel in the diversity and NetFlix the films we have yet to see.  And next year we will tune in to witness these historical moments all over again.

Spring A New Thing?

We are not even out of our winter wardrobe and the buzz on the street is all about Fall Fashion Week 2010.  Can you believe it?  I am just beginning to pull out my yummies for spring 2010.  That said, what is yummy for spring?  Well, not a whole lot.  Hate to say it, but there is not a wink of fresh hitting our favorite cosmetic counters.  I have seen it all before - several times.  Bobbi Brown has new color palettes out that she calls Strips.  They come in 3 color schemes: Blue, Neutral and Violet and remind me of the color palette eyeshadows from Cover Girl that were popular back in the 80s.
MAC, Laura Mercier, Trish McEvoy, NARS, Stila, Shu Uemura, YSL, Georgio Armani, and all the rest, have spring color palettes that are all similar.
Blue and Gold seem to be the go to colors.  All the collections have the standard neutral colors as well as violets and wine.  Blush, bronzers and lips are the colors of 2009.  Is it the recession that is killing R&D? Or just the companies' creativity?
You can, in this tight economy, get by with the stash of make-up you have from the fall or even last spring.  Just check the expiration dates to ensure safe use.

Just when you thought I was going to be a total Negative Nelly there are two products that I am really excited about.

From Chanel - temporary skin art.  So FUN!  I can just see it now... walking along the beach in a cute bathing suit with a darling sheer cover-up with some of this bling peeking out around the ankle, mid-drift or wrist.

From NARS - Easy Lover lipgloss.  Love the vibrant pink!  Probably because I don't already have one.









Certainly stay tuned because I know there are some fabulous new skin care products launching that will make spring fling.

Valentine Shine

Looking for a little of that Valentine shine to parade around this weekend? Several companies have just the right bling thing for you.

To have and to share a special value Tarte lipgloss variety pack from Sephora. With every possible color to imagine plus a few more you'll find something for yourself and something for your gals.

From Trish McEvoy a fantastic lip kit designed special for the special day. Containing two lipsticks in our favorite heart day colors - red and of course pink - and a gloss all wrapped up nicely in a tiny little go bag, your lips will be set to kissable all night.

MAC has some new

deliciousness out for this Valentine's Day as well. A whole new collection of lip products you didn't even know you needed until now.

Last but not least, Shu Uemura has a very special Valentine Gift for you this weekend only. A set of 3 delectable lip glosses. Free with purchase.

So pucker up this weekend ladies with a new fantastic gift for yourself and one for your friends.

Valentine's Wishes

Want to make that special someone's heart go "pitter-pat"? Let them know how special they are with these pampering gift options. In addition to diamonds and pearls, bath and body treatments make wonderful unique gifts that say to your loved one "You're worth it! Pamper yourself." You can also get creative by mixing in a facial or massage gift certificate with your display of goodness so your sweet-heart can really splurge and feel the love.

A favorite option for this Valentine's Day is the perfect body care duo from La Mer.

La Mer says luxury and will speak volumes to your sweetie about how much you care. The Body Refiner and The Body Crème work in tandem to polish and soften the skin. Since The Max

Huber Research Labs began engineering their first body treatments, they have incorporated the most luxurious ingredients. A multi-faceted treatment which utilizes precious ingredients—including 1.75 carats of pure diamond dust— the Body Refiner delivers a cushiony resurfacing treatment the instantly lifts away dull cells, gently retexturizing skin to reveal a smooth and supple new surface.

Follow with La Mer’s “seaweed-wrap in a jar,” The Body Crème, to saturate skin with a wave of long-lasting hydration. A true treat and lavish skincare experience.

Stay tuned throughout the week for more pampering gift ideas for your Valentine.

Foundation Frenzy

Want your skin to look even more flawless than it already is but have trouble finding that perfect foundation? Well, no wonder, there are so many foundations out there. Different textures, different brands, different colors; it can be a nightmare trying to find one that suits you perfectly.

Here are a few tips to finding that perfect foundation meant just for you.

First you will want to decide how much coverage you want from your foundation. Do you like something sheer - evens out skin tone but allows the natural beauty of your skin to shine through. A medium coverage foundation - evens out skin tone and addresses minor facial blemishes, or a full coverage foundation - really masks whatever is going on with your skin.

Then you'll need to decide on a texture - liquid, cream or powder. Liquid foundations tend to be more on the sheer to medium side while creams and powders tend to be on the medium to full coverage side of things.

Once you have decided on a coverage and a texture the next step is to find a perfect color match. This can be tricky especially when purchasing from a drug store that doesn't always have testers out for sampling. I recommend a little help here either from a friend or from a cosmetic department sales person. Find 3-4 colors in your shade range; colors that most closely match your own skin tones. Swipe the colors in vertical strips down your cheek to your jaw bone. These don't have to be big color swatches, but enough for you to see them on your skin. Gently blend the swatches into your skin. careful not to rub so hard that the product disappears. The color that does blend into invisibility on your face is the perfect color for you. Color sampling on clean, well moisturized skin is optimal and remember that foundation is not a replacement for self tanners and bronzers. Your foundation should exactly match your skin tone. If you want added color, use a blush or a bronzer.

Lastly, when at a department store, always ask for a sample of foundation or two to take with you before you buy. That way you can be certain you are getting the color and texture that are perfect for you.

Favorite Foundations:

On the Sheer side of things I love - La Mer Tinted Moisturizer, especially good for dry skin

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer

Chanel Teint Innocence Liquid

Make-up Forever HD Foundations - so light and lovely, great for a slightly oilier skin

Medium Coverage Craveables -

Revlon Oil free Colorstay foundation, a nice even matte finish

Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick, medium to full coverage and portable

Dior Skinsculpt line smoothing foundation

Fantastic Full Coverage -

MAC full coverage foundation, truly acts like a skin eraser or Studio Fix Powder Foundation

Smashbox Camera Ready foundation

Cle de Peau Silky Cream Foundation

Cover-up, be happy and let your natural beauty shine through.