SICKA THAN AVERAGE

Secret Garden: Clinique Fresh Bloom Eye Shadow

It took me a second to sweep my eyeshadow brushes onto these Clinique Fresh Bloom compacts — the pressed, two-toned floral designs are so beautiful that it's hard to fathom messing it up (it's kind of like that stinging tinge of guilt you feel when you dig your fork into a particularly handsome dessert). But, since you're not likely to hang these up as miniature works of art, you eventually just go for the kill. And the results are well worth it.

These limited edition eye shadows come in four two-toned hues: Apple Blossom, which includes a pale moss green and a sightly darker olive green; Tiger Lily, a pale bronze paired with a darker rusty hue; Maple Blossom, a silver-y gray paired with a deeper brown-gray hue; and Cherry Blossom, a daint carnation pink and a darker, French rose.

When applied, the colors are much paler than they appear in the compact, giving you a fresh, dewy look (the shades also have a bit of shimmer, which accentuates that fresh, clean look). You can, of course, apply as many coats as necessary for a more intense look, but the focus with this collection is a natural, gentle, subtle look.

With just a hint of color, your natural beauty will bloom and dazzle like the most precious of flowers.

Clinique Fresh Bloom Eye Shadows in Orange Blossom, Tiger Lily, Cherry Blossom and Apple Blossom, $16.50 each. Visit Clinique.com

Posted at 06:02 PM in Beauty | Permalink | Favorite This | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

February 28, 2009

Inked In

Forget all those stuffy leather or cheap-o latex iPod case If you're an Apple fiend then, chances are, you have at least some degree of admiration for their products' sleek design. And. when you have such a fine piece of machinery at your disposal, you don't want to conceal its beauty — you want to play it up (the same way we jazz up our features with a few sweeps of eyeshadow).

This new collection by Contour Design consists of crystal clear cases etched with designer patterns (from basic circles to cheeky zebra stripes to fanciful swirls). Each Contour Design iSee Inked case measures a mere 0.7 ounces and is made of polycarbonate. These scratch-resistant cases feature two sides that snap together once the iPod is in place — but, of course, you still have access to all of your iPod's controls even when it's snug in its sassy case.

Do note, however, that the cases are clear so that the hues pictured above are the result of the iPods' colors and not of the iSee inked cases. That being said, whether your iPod is pink, green, black, or white, it will surely look cooler in one of these, don't you think?

Contour's iSee Inked cases for the iPod 4G Nano, $24.95. Visit ContourCase.com

Posted at 02:35 AM in Web/Tech | Permalink | Favorite This | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

February 27, 2009

Chloe Dao for Nuo-Tech Laptop Bags

After beating out competitors Santino Rice (who can forget Santino’s Tim Gunn impersonation?) and Daniel Vosovic, with her astounding Fall 2006 runway show at New York City’s Bryant Park, Chloe Dao was crowned the Project Runway Season 2 winner.

Since then, she’s upgraded her Lot 8 boutique in her hometown of Houston, Texas, produced Simply.Chloe Dao, a more affordable collection for QVC, and continued creating exquisite clothes that make women feel feminine, young and sexy.
Now, Chloe Dao is bringing her fresh aesthetic and flair for color to a line of computer bags by Nuo-Tech, a company specializing in functional but stylish carrying cases: from messenger bags to backpacks, camera cases, mobile cases, laptop bags, and more. Featuring interesting textiles, eye-catching geometric patterns, and high-quality leather accents, the Dao Chloe Dao by Nuo Collection hits stores this Spring.
Look out for the Dao Chloe Dao by Nuo Collection at select retailers like Offie Max and Best Buy. For more information, visit Nuo-Tech.com

Posted at 12:04 AM in Fashion, Web/Tech | Permalink | Favorite This | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)

February 26, 2009

Discovering the Muse Behind Rebecca Wynne Jewelry

Ever stared at a beautiful piece of jewelry and wondered about what inspired its creation? That’s what Rebecca Wynne‘s pieces do for me — they incite me to ponder about the books, artwork, music, and natural wonders that functioned as her muse.

There’s a clear respectfulness and wonderment in regards to Mother Nature evident in pieces like the Clover Sapphire Earrings (pictured fourth from top), which feature 18k gold vermeil and three clustered white sapphires (0.12 ct), and the Large Leaf Earrings, available in silver or gold vermeil (pictured at top).

Pieces like the stackable, 18k white gold Eternity Diamond and Sapphire Bands, pictured third from top (available in pink sapphire, yellow sapphire, blue sapphire, champagne diamond, and white diamond), and the 18k white gold Diamond and Sapphire Eternity Bracelets, pictured at top (available in white diamond, yellow sapphire, blue sapphire, and pink sapphire), suggest an admiration for Byzantine mosaics and Venetian glass art.

The White Diamond Cocktail Ring, pictured last from top, and the Linx Bracelet with Black Diamond Details, pictured fourth from top, both convey an appreciation for Gustav Klimt‘s paintings, particularly works like “The Tree of Life” and “Adele Bloch-Bauer II.”

There’s a soulfulness to Wynne’s pieces that makes them all the more special — you can actually imagine her brainstorming designs and giving each piece the necessary TLC. Hers is an artistic approach to jewelry and that’s where the soulfulness lies.

Rebecca Wynne Jewelry Ultimate Diamond and Sapphire Eternity Bracelets, price available upon request; Large Leaf Earrings in 18k yellow gold, $140; Clover Sapphire Earrings in 18k vermeil, $175; Ultimate Diamond and Sapphire Eternity Rings, price available upon request; Linx Bracelet with Black Diamond Details, $650; White Diamond Cocktail Ring, $1200. Available at RebeccaWynne.com

Posted at 07:07 PM in Jewelry | Permalink | Favorite This | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

February 26, 2009

Marion Cotillard’s Oscar Hair

Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard, who nabbed the Best Actress award last year for her performance as Edith Piaf in La Vie En Rose once again made a splash on the red carpet (though this time it was because she looked so stunning in her Haute Couture Dior dress, instead of last year's questionable, fishscale-like silver gown). But apparel debates aside, the one area where Cotillard hit the perfect notes both times around was her hair.

This year, celebrity stylist Robert Vetica once again tended to Cotillard's tresses for Oscar night, creating a modern take on the French twist which he says was inspired by the Cecil Beaton's portraits of fashion icons of the 40s and 50s.

Here are the steps Vetica took to create the look:

1. Vetica blow-dried Cotillard's with a round brush, applying Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream to detangle strands and prevent frizz. He then created a low, side part.

2. Next, he teased the hair, focusing particularly on the crown and the back of the head.

3. The teased hair was then brushed and shaped it into a full French Twist, which he rolled and pinned in place. To lift the crown and add volume, he used a rat tail comb.

4. To give the sophisticated, demure look long-lasting shine, Vetica finished with a light spray of new Moroccanoil Gold Glimmer Shine.

Now, like Cotillard, you too can look like an icon from a bygone era, an artist's muse, and a cinematic queen all at once.

Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream, $24, and Moroccanoil Gold Glimmer Shine, $30. Visit Moroccanoil.com

Posted at 01:03 AM in Beauty | Permalink | Favorite This | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)