SICKA THAN AVERAGE

DC x Kendo Double Label Retailer Project: The Spruce Kendo

It's finally ladies' night in Sneaker Land.

After some exciting men's sneaker collaborations (which some of you ladies with larger feet got to enjoy), DC Shoes is giving female kicksaholics a treat with the DC Shoes x Kendo Double Label Retailer Project "Spruce Kendo" sneaker.

The first women's sneaker in DC's Double Label Retailer Project, the "Spruce Kendo," features reptile skins and leather in rich copper, bronze, gold, tan and brick red hues that shimmer in the light. Due to the lenticular technique used to apply the animal skins, the material has this gradient effect that makes it look a bit different with every glance. The Kendo logo is featured on the heel and the insole, while a metallic accent on the side of the sneaker captured the DC logo.

The way these fabrics are manipulated so as to create an intriguing mosaic of textures and hues speaks to the concept Kendo was hoping to convey with this sneaker: the idea that women have versatile and ever-changing style needs and constantly evolving aesthetic sensibilities.

The Spruce Kendo is available starting tomorrow, April 1st, at Kendo-LA.com and Store.DCShoes.com as well as retail locations in Los Angeles and Soho.

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March 31, 2009

A Different World: Origins Expands Its “Make A Difference” Line

The latest additions to the Origins "Make A Difference" collection, the Skin Rejuvenating Treatment Lotion and Ultra-Rich Rejuvenating Cream, both owe their replenishing power to a flower like no other: the Rose of Jericho.

Known as a resurrection plant for its ability to withstand even the harshest droughts (and to bounce back to a beautiful state after appearing dead during any such dry period), the Rose of Jericho is indigenous to North African desert regions. Interestingly enough, the plant is often used in Santería (and other African and Afro-Caribbean religions) to bring about prosperity and success — some even believe that this plant can absorb the negative energy surrounding a human being.

Now, while I can't personally vouch for its otherworldly powers, I can assure you that its ability to soothe and replenish skin is, well, out of this world. If you add these two products to your skincare regimen, you'll soon notice that your skin appears brighter and more supple, the complexion more even, and any lines and wrinkles are significantly minimized.

Use the Make A Difference Skin Rejuvenating Treatment Lotion as you would a toner (it has a very liquid consistency, so it's easiest to think of it as a toner rather than a lotion), dabbing a bit onto a cotton swab and sweeping over your clean face. Your skin will feel cool and refreshed instantly, like it's been doused in crystalline water. Allow a few seconds for your skin to absorb the treatment lotion and then apply the Ultra-Rich Rejuvenating Cream, which incorporates Padina Pavonica, a brown algae found in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, which helps to restore the skin's barrier and increases elasticity by naturally stimulating the skin's collagen production.

Prepare to give your skin a new life!

Origins Make A Difference Skin Rejuvenating Treatment Lotion, $21, and Origins Ultra-Rich Rejuvenating Cream, $36. Visit Origins.com

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March 31, 2009

Spring 2009 Beauty Trends

This season’s beauty trends are rife with contradictions. On the one end, we have the innocent charm of rosy cheeks and the prim femininity of pink lips. On the other, we’ll find bold surges of punk-rock-meets-’80s-pop color: mascaras in electric blue and purple, faux eyelashes covered in playful glitter, and Crayola box-worthy eyeshadows that practically scream in their irreverent flamboyance.

Here, you’ll find a breakdown of some of the hottest beauty trends for Spring 2009 — and the products you need to pull these looks off perfectly!

EYES

BRIGHT SHADES, BOLD STROKES

Want to have more swagger than M.I.A. in her most audacious outfit? Then check out these vibrant mascaras, liners and shadows, all of which will make you the life of any party. Opt for a wee bit of adventure by experimenting with green or blue mascara, or bring on the fireworks with easel-ready eyeshadow shades like taxicab yellow, pea green, and taffeta pink. Either way, you’ll razzle dazzle ‘em.

Napoleon Perdis Lash Patrol Mascara in Ultra Marine, Emerald Forest and Blinking Violet, $19 each. Visit NapoleonPerdis.com

DEX Mineral Loose Pigment Eye Shadows in Battery Park Brick Red, Radio City Yellow Gold, St. Patrick’s Olive, South St. Seaport Metallic Green, Top of the Rock Royal Blue, and St. Mark’s Place Purple Haze; $22 each. Visit DEXNewYork.com

Smashbox Muse Cream Eye Liner Artist Pencils in Lapis (Deep Blue Ocean), Slate (Dark Charcoal), Antique Gold (Deep Gold), Imperial (Deep Violet); $36 for set of four. Available at Smashbox.com

Foxy Mineral Makeup Eyeshadows in (from left to right and from top row to bottom row): A Mermaid’s Tale, Pink Hologram, Princess and the Pea, Cheeky, Chikadee, Deep, Yes Your Majesty, ’65 Mustang, and Pink A Boo; $7 each. Visit FoxyMineralMakeup.com

A NEW TAKE ON SMOKEY EYES

Who can’t appreciate the seductive quality of smokey eyes? Contouring your lids with deep charcoal and slate grays, you can create an irrestible aura of mystery, then add hints of white, light gray and silver to complete the magnificent enigma.

This season, however, the smokey eye is modified a bit. Rather than sticking to the gray scale, makeup gurus are experimenting with grayish purples and pinks for a slightly less severe take on the look (check out Rock & Republic’s Eye Colour Trio for some color ideas). Other makeup artists, on the other hand, are upping the drama factor by using thicker black eyeliner that they can diffuse and smudge as much (or as little) as they desire. Try deviating from your tired and true formula, and you might just be all the more satisfied with the results.

Rock & Republic Eye Colour Trio in Scene 1, $65. Available at RockAndRepublicCosmetics.com and at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Bloomingdales stores through April.

Givenchy Magic Kajal Eye Pencil in Magic Black, $21.50. Visit Sephora.com

BeautyADDICTS SolutionEYES Eyeshadow Quad in SeduceEYES, $35. Visit BeautyAddicts.com

Styli-Style Smokey Liner, $7.50. Available at beauty supply stores and Styli-Style.com

PURPLE LIDS

Purple is the color du jour for eyelids — from soft lilacs to pretty lavenders, rich plums, cheeky mauves, and bold prunes. Perhaps Prince (who, coincidentally, is releasing three albums this year!) has been influenching cosmetic companies this season?

N.Y.C. New York Color “Color Wheel Mosaic Eye Color” in Purple Rain, $3.99. Available at drugstores and mass retailers nationwide. Visit NewYorkColor.com to find a retailer near you.

Tarte Cosmetics “Indelible” Wink Liquid Liner & Shadow in Plum, $22. Visit TarteCosmetics.com

Prescriptives U-Pick Eye Color in Orchid, $16. Visit Prescriptives.com

NYX Trio Shadow in TS6 (Purple/Deep Purple/Prune), $8. Available at NYXCosmetics.com

Tarte Cosmetics emphasEYES Eye Pencil in Plum, $18. Visit TarteCosmetics.com

Korres Sunflower & Evening Primrose Shimmering Eyeshadow in 77S Plum and in 75S Purple, $16 each. Visit Sephora.com

CREAM EYE SHADOWS

It’s no wonder why so many consumers are tossing their cluttersome eyeshadow brushes away! Several cosmetics brands have finally mastered the art of the cream eyeshadow, offering them in hues as inticing as those available in traditional powder-based models, perfecting their formulas (as with Too Faced’s Lockdown cream eye shadows) so that the cream quickly dries out (hence eliminating the smudging problem previous incarnations faced), and including mess-eliminating applicators (like the flocked applicator in Urban Decay’s Cream Shadow) in their packaging.

Too Faced Lockdown Ultimate Creaseless Cream Eye Shadow in “Bedroom Eyes” and “I’m Guilty,” $18.50. Available at TooFaced.com and Sephora.com

Urban Decay Cream Shadow in Grass, Radium, and Moonshine, $17 each. Available at Ulta.com, UrbanDecay.com, and Sephora.com

GLITTERY EYE MAKEUP

You don’t have to be trek to Río during Carnival season (or moonlighting as a showgirl) to add some festive sparkles to those lids and lashes. Rediscover the love of glitter you had as a child through these funky liquid liners, precocious faux eyelashes and shimmering mascaras.

NYX Fabulous Eyelashes, $4. Available at NYXCosmetics.com and beauty supply stores across the nation.

Urban Decay Heavy Metal Eyeliner in Stagedive and Groupie, $18 each. Available at Sephora.com and UrbanDecay.com

Xtreme Lashes Wishful Blinking Eye Shine in Diamond Dust and Arabian Nights, $20 each.Visit XtremeLashes.com to find a retailer near you.

Styli-Style Liquid Metals, $7.50. Available at beauty supply stores and online at Styli-Style.com starting in July.

Givenchy Precious Sari Glittering Eyeshadow in Maharani Silver, $26. Visit Sephora.com

LIPS

PINK LIPS

Indulge your inner girly-girl (yes, the girl who once drew hearts over her “i’s” in there somewhere!) with a bevvy of lip colors in coquettish pinks ranging in intensity from cotton candy to cherry sorbet.

Shu Uemura Gloss Unlimited Pink Collection lip glosses in Clear Baby Pink, Pale Pink Sparkle, Sheer Melon Pink, and Sheer Rosy Pink; $22 each. Available at ShuUemura-USA.com

Smashbox Lip Paint in Luminary, Artiste, and Virtuoso, $21 each. Visit Smashbox.com

Givenchy Rouge Interdit Satin Lipstick in Maharani Rose, $27. Available at Sephora.com

Liplicious Tasty Lip Color in Watermelon Sorbet and Cherry Vanilla, $5 each. Available at BathAndBodyWorks.com

Jouer Hydrating Lipstick in “Kiki,” $22. Visit JouerCosmetics.com

Purple Lab “Huge Lips Skinny Hips” Lipglosses in Worship Kate and Love Your Thighs, $20 each. Available at Scoop and Space.NK. Visit ScoopNYC.com for store locations.

Korres Guava Lipstick in 27 Mauve, $22. Visit Sephora.com

FACE

ROSY CHEEKS

After many seasons of being shelved in favor of bronzers, blush is making quite the comeback. The goal is to give your cheeks that just-pinched or just-in-from-the-cold surge of color, so you want to apply the blush in such a manner as to suggest a fresh, dewy quality.

Estee Lauder Vivid Garden Illuminating Powder, $32. Available at EsteeLauder.com

N.Y.C. New York Color “Color Wheel Mosaic Face Powder” in Pretty in Pink, $4.99. Available at chain drugstores and mass merchandisers nationwide.

Givenchy Sari Glow Iridescent Blush in Maharani Pink, $42. Visit Sephora.com

glominerals glotint for lips and cheeks, $14. Visit GloSkincare.com

Smashbox Muse Blush Rush in Masterpiece, $24. Available at Sephora.com

NYX Cosmetics Powder Blush in Dusty Rose, $7. Visit NYXCosmetics.com

Origins Brush-On Color in Pink Petal, $18.50. Visit Origins.com

Jouer Mineral Powder Blush in Peach Bouquet, $24. Visit JouerCosmetics.com

NAILS

PINK PETALS

This is definitely one of those “Pretty in Pink” seasons when we can toast Molly Ringwald and coat our nails in garden-inspired rose, peony and carnation pinks.

Borghese Nail Lacquer in Primrula Primrose and Peonia Blossom, $8 each. Available at drugstores nationwide.

PURPLE HAZE

From Paris Hilton to Rihanna, trendsetting celebs have named purple one of the “it” nail lcaquer hues this season but, unlike the deeper, more rockstar-esque hues we saw in the fall, this season the volume gets turned down a bit with pastel shades inspired by lush flowers and berries.

Borghese Nail Lacquer Vernis in Campanula Bellflower and Argento Mist, $8 each. Available at drugstores nationwide.

Nailtini Nail Lacquer in Grappa and Parfait-Amour, $12 each. Visit Nailtini.com

OCEAN-INSPIRED HUES

Let your nails venture off on a relaxing trip to the Bahamas or to Turks & Caicos with these breezy maritime-esque shades of aqua and seafoam green. The laid-back vibe of these colors will have you practically reveling in the ocean mist.

Essie Cosmetics “North Fork” collection: Shelter Island, Greenport, and Sag Harbor, $9 each. Visit EssieShop.com

TOOLS

Trish McEvoy “The Ball” Sponge Makeup Applicator, $16, and “The Point” Brush, $40. Visit Nordstrom.com and SaksFifthAvenue.com, as well as Neiman Marcus, Henri Bendel, and Bergdorf Goodman stores.

Posted at 12:24 AM in Beauty | Permalink | Favorite This | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

March 30, 2009

Bold as Lightning: DSquared2 Flash Pumps

There's something so exciting about lightning — it's bright, fast and, yes, it's dangerous. Watching those bolts of electricity surging through the sky on a stormy night, you'll feel both intrigued and frightened, aroused and intimidated. That pretty much sums up how I feel when I look at the dainty, sky-high heel on DSquared2's Flash Boots, Open Toe Pumps and Pumps.

As you'll note on the picture above, the elegant, modern shoe collection consists of three styles that all share a sharp, pointy, lightning-shaped heel. There's no way to look at these shoes and not be filled with a sense of awe but, at the same time, the idea of walking in these can give the bravest heel aficionado a case of vertigo. Well, everyone but the style powerhouse Victoria Beckham — the ever chic Posh Spice, who manages to even run errands (with her boys in tow at that!) in 3-inch heels, has been spotted wearing the DSquared2 Flash Open Toe Pumps (most recently on March 12th at London's Claridges Hotel).

Hey, call me a daredevil or just a devotee to the Posh Spice life and style philosophy, but I'll risk tripping, slipping and even taking a forward dip onto the floor if it means slipping my feet into these masterpieces.

DSquared2 Open Toe Flash Pump, $588. Available at Zappos.com

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March 30, 2009

Life Is Like A Beach Chair in Cameron Hawaii

Spring seems to be procrastinating this year, making its entry on island time and hence leaving us to freeze our little (or ample) booties for longer than expected. But ladies, the season of blooming flowers really is right around the corner — and then, before you know it, we'll be basking in the glory of summer. From the cookouts to the sunbathing at the beach, summertime is all about enjoying beautiful weather, hitting up outdoor concerts and festivals, dancing into the night, hanging with friends, cruising in the car, sipping on piña coladas, catching waves, lusting after cute boys, and just enjoying being alive.

But, of course, you need the right gear to switch into summer chill mode. When the temperatures start to rise, you need to stock up on some casual T-shirts, shorts and beach-ready apparel that will keep you feeling and looking cool. Enter Cameron Hawaii, a surf-inspired line meant for young women with a colorful sense of style and an even more vivid and brisk lifestyle.

Pictured here are some of Cameron Hawaii's offerings for Spring 2009: the Wayfarer Kimono Top, a tropical-feeling turquoise T-shirt, which features a lightly rolled collar and a wide waistband featuring, plus a funky graphic of the timeless Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses style; the Flower Pedal Shorts, a pair of surf-ready drawstring shorts featuring a pastel floral design; and the Yellow Hoodie, a yummy 3/4 sleeve zip-up piece in a funshine yellow.

Doesn't the mere sight of these pieces transport you to a gorgeous beach with rippling waves and golden sand?

Cameron Hawaii Wayfarer Kimono Top in Turquoise, $32; Cameron Hawaii 3/4 Sleeve Easy Hoodie, $54. To buy, visit TheArchrival.com

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