SICKA THAN AVERAGE

Study Up: Public Library’s New E-Boutique

As you admire Public Library's extensive archive of graphic tees, you'll hope you could check these designs in and out as you would do with books from a library. And while you can't just have some card stamped and proceed to borrow and return T-shirts at your liking, it's all for the best because, once you slip into one of these, you won't ever want to give it back.

Already a hit with celebrities like Beyoncé, Jessica Alba, and Hayden Panettiere, Public Library's tees feature bold, vintage-looking graphics that reference everything from '80s music to philanthropic efforts like the Samburu Project (which helps to bring water to Samburu, Kenya), and beloved fictional characters like Barbie, Snoopy, and Hello Kitty.

One of my absolute favorites is the "African Rain" design pictured above, which features a monochromatic floral backdrop, with a profile of an African woman at the forefront, with whimsical, oversize raindrops falling around her head.The woman's stacked necklaces provide the only bursts of color, immediately drawing the eye towards them. As you might have guessed from the raindrop motif, part of the proceeds from the sale of this tee benefit the Samburu Project.

Now, fans of the line no longer have to trek to niche boutiques to get their hands on some goodies. With the launch of their new e-commerce site, PublicLibraryBrand.com, all these masterpieces are just a mouse click away.

Creative types will appreciate the "Design Your Own Knit Top" feature, which allows them to customize their purchases by selecting their desired graphic, color scheme and silhouette.

Prices range from $23-$46. Visit PublicLibraryBrand.com

Posted at 01:00 PM in Fashion | Permalink | Favorite This | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

April 28, 2009

Home Is Where The Scent Is: New Joya for Barneys Collection

Scented plug-ins and home fragrance sprays have come a long way, but these products still lack the sophistication and the range in scents that we find in upscale reed diffusers. And, while plug-ins are limited to a contained space, reed diffusers have a much vaster reach. When you dip the reed sticks into a vessel filled with scented oil and flip them upside down, exposing the moist ends, the oil evaporates and the fragrance is wicked into the air. The result is a continuous and subtle aromatic dispensation.

New York-city based candle and home fragrance company Joya always manages to offer luxurious, titillating fragrances encased in sculptural and artistic designs. After the success of its Perfume in Porcelain and Spring Snow collections, Joya has unveiled a new limited-edition line of fragrance diffusers. Designed by Joya founder Frederick Bouchardy, the collection reinvents medical and amber boudoir bottles from the early 20th century and ink pots from 19th century England, utilizing these vintage containers as new and chic diffuser vessels. These redesigned vessels are paired with French apothecary-inspired perfume oils.

Two options are available — one for men and one for women. The feminine fragrance, "Petitgrain Sur Fleurs," contains notes of orange blossom, orange peel, jasmine and sweet almond oil. Each fragrance diffuser set also includes 10 natural reed sticks, a funnel, and a handwritten card describing the history of the "found" vintage vessel. These are all then packaged in a wooden shadowbox with a sliding glass lid.

The new Joya fragrance diffusers were unveiled over the weekend, and they're selling out quickly, with only a few dozen left. So act quickly if you want your home to have that delicious scent of a woman.

Joya "Petitgrain Sur Fleurs" Fragrance Diffuser Set, $195. Available at Barneys New York (660 Madison Avenue, New York NY). Visit Barneys.com or JoyaStudio.com for more information.

Posted at 12:08 AM in Home Decor | Permalink | Favorite This | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

April 27, 2009

Twice As Fun: Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Shadow Creme and Eye Pencils

You don't have to fancy yourself a double agent to marvel at Estee Lauder's new Double Wear Stay-in-Place Shadow Cremes and Double Wear Stay-in-Place Eye Pencils.

What makes these products so very special? Well, let's start with the Double Wear Stay-in-Place Eye Pencils. Have you ever applied eyeliner and then caught a peek in the mirror a few hours later, only to realize the eyeliner had smudged onto your brow bone or streaked under your eyes, leaving you looking like a reject from Hole (Courtney Love's group)? With Estee Lauder's Double Wear Stay-in-Place Eye Pencils, you won't have to be concerned with smudging or streaking because, as the name implies, the color will stay in place until you're ready to whip out the makeup remover and call it a day. And, as we've come to expect from Estee Lauder products, the quality is simply superb. The eye pencils glide right onto your lids, without the least bit of abrasion. The colors, meanwhile, are rich and luscious. The Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Eye Pencils are available in Onyx, Black Plum, Bronze, Coffee, Graphite, Forest and Midnight Blue.

The Double Wear Stay-in-Place Shadow Cremes, meanwhile, are as yummy as little honey pots. With cream eyeshadows being all the rage these days, Estee Lauder ups the ante with its Stay-in-Place Shadow Cremes, which infuse your lids with a burst of shimmering color. The texture of these makes the application process a breeze — they're creamy enough to smooth over the lids but rich enough (not to mention quick-drying!), allowing these to stay in place without any streaking or messiness. The Shadow Cremes are available in a range of colors: Antique Gold, Blue Velvet, Pink Blush, Precious Jade, Ivory Lace, Vintage Violet, Lilac Petals, as well as three new limited edition hues (Golden Apricot, Sea Mist and Silver Leaf). I wholeheartedly recommend the Golden Apricot hue — it's a golden peach color with plenty of shimmer, making it perfect for glistening summer days.

See? You don't need Double Mint gum to double your pleasure and your fun!

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Shadow Creme, $17.50. Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Eye Pencil, $19. Visit EsteeLauder.com

Posted at 12:20 PM in Beauty | Permalink | Favorite This | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

April 27, 2009

Hand It To Zo Skin Health’s Oraser Anti-Aging Hand Care Kit

You may be the type to dig in and get your hands dirty, but we're strictly speaking in metaphors here — you wouldn't be caught dead with crud underneath those neatly polished nails! But having beautiful hands is about more than jazzy nail enamel hues or moisturized cuticles. Once the years start creeping up on you, you'll probably notice sun spots tarnishing the skin around those lovely hands, veins starting to bulge like overstuffed bellies, and wrinkles creating deep creases around your knuckles. And what's the use of all these anti-aging face creams if your hands will ultimately reveal your true age?

Well, fortunately, dermatologist Dr. Zein Obagi is attempting to erase the signs of aging along your hands with Zo Skin Health's Oraser Anti-Aging Hand Care Program. The regimen is comprised of three products: the Oraser Microder Hand Renewal, which polishes off dead skin with sugar crystals and salicylic acid, diminishes the appearance of fine lines with retinol, and moisturizes skin with shea and mango butter; the Oraser Daily Hand Repair SPF 20, which protects the skin from UV damage, locks in moisture, nourishes the skin with anti-oxidants and amino acids, and lightens existing spots with vitamin C and a patented brightening complex said to block the enzyme that triggers the synthesis of melanin; and the Oraser Overnight Hand Recovery, a super-charged treatment that packs retinol, vitamins C and E, coenzyme-10, shea butter and avocado oil to moisturize through the night, restore elasticity to sagging skin, and brighten your overall skin tone.

So what's the verdict on the results? Well, after trying the three-part program for a two-week period, you will probably notice a slight improvement in the amount of discoloration along your hands, as well as smoother skin (the Microderm Hand Renewal product is particularly efficient). That being said, I will forewarn that, if you suffer from seriously dry hands, you'll need a stronger hand moisturizer than the Oraser Daily Hand Repair SPF 20.

Still, you'll appreciate the hands-on approach to battling age-revealing hands.

ZO Skin Health Oraser Anti-Aging Hand Care Program, $90. Available at select Nordstrom stores, the STUDIO at Fred Segal and at Nordstrom.com and ZoSkinHealth.com

Posted at 12:00 AM in Beauty | Permalink | Favorite This | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

April 25, 2009

Treasure Trove Clothing

Earth Day may have elapsed but that doesn't mean you should abandon your newly found environmental consciousness — if anything, you should be even more committed to greening your lifestyle. Trove Clothing is the perfect way to reinvent yourself as an avidly eco-friendly fashionista.

The Toronto-based clothing line uses 100% organic cotton and dishes out casual, funky designs such as this pink, zip-up hoodie, which has the words "Protect" emblazoned along the length of the right sleeve and features rounded edge along the waistline.

Trove "Protect" hooded sweatshirt. Available at Scoop NYC and Shop Planet Blue. Visit ShopPlanetBlue.com

Posted at 07:50 PM in Fashion | Permalink | Favorite This | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)