Demi Moore At the Cartier 100th Anniversary in America Celebration

Maybe I shouldn't, but I really like Demi Moore (her taste in men notwithstanding). Here she is at the Cartier 100th Anniversary in America Celebration, sporting a beautiful ring and an interesting nail polish. As far as I can tell from a closeup it's quite glittery, which I'm not sure I'd pair with serious bling, but I love the color. Any guesses what polish/color this might be?

Photo: Faded Youth Blog

Demi Moore At the Cartier 100th Anniversary in America Celebration

Maybe I shouldn't, but I really like Demi Moore (her taste in men notwithstanding). Here she is at the Cartier 100th Anniversary in America Celebration, sporting a beautiful ring and an interesting nail polish. As far as I can tell from a closeup it's quite glittery, which I'm not sure I'd pair with serious bling, but I love the color. Any guesses what polish/color this might be?

Photo: Faded Youth Blog

Demi Moore At the Cartier 100th Anniversary in America Celebration

Maybe I shouldn't, but I really like Demi Moore (her taste in men notwithstanding). Here she is at the Cartier 100th Anniversary in America Celebration, sporting a beautiful ring and an interesting nail polish. As far as I can tell from a closeup it's quite glittery, which I'm not sure I'd pair with serious bling, but I love the color. Any guesses what polish/color this might be?

Photo: Faded Youth Blog

Chandler Burr on why so many new perfumes stink

"What would possess a brand to destroy its own marvelous creation, to ask
its perfumer to take a hatchet and hack out a flanker...
...The answer is, of course, money. You put cheaper raw materials in the limited editions than in the original, which lowers your costs and gives you a quick profit bump, and you sell that cheaper product on the back of your quality brand."

The entire NY Times article by scent critic Chandler Burr is a must-read for anyone and everyone who has ever bought a mainstream perfume from a luxury or designer brand. It answers the question I keep getting from people who have accidently stumbled upon this blog while trying to google and find out what has happened to their favorite scents and why they no longer like anything they sniff at Sephora or Macy's.

Chandler Burr on why so many new perfumes stink

"What would possess a brand to destroy its own marvelous creation, to ask
its perfumer to take a hatchet and hack out a flanker...
...The answer is, of course, money. You put cheaper raw materials in the limited editions than in the original, which lowers your costs and gives you a quick profit bump, and you sell that cheaper product on the back of your quality brand."

The entire NY Times article by scent critic Chandler Burr is a must-read for anyone and everyone who has ever bought a mainstream perfume from a luxury or designer brand. It answers the question I keep getting from people who have accidently stumbled upon this blog while trying to google and find out what has happened to their favorite scents and why they no longer like anything they sniff at Sephora or Macy's.

Chandler Burr on why so many new perfumes stink

"What would possess a brand to destroy its own marvelous creation, to ask
its perfumer to take a hatchet and hack out a flanker...
...The answer is, of course, money. You put cheaper raw materials in the limited editions than in the original, which lowers your costs and gives you a quick profit bump, and you sell that cheaper product on the back of your quality brand."

The entire NY Times article by scent critic Chandler Burr is a must-read for anyone and everyone who has ever bought a mainstream perfume from a luxury or designer brand. It answers the question I keep getting from people who have accidently stumbled upon this blog while trying to google and find out what has happened to their favorite scents and why they no longer like anything they sniff at Sephora or Macy's.

StrangeBeautiful- Niche Nail Polish

After 25 or so years of using nail polish and exactly three years of beauty blogging (I remembered too late that the previous weekend was The Non-Blonde's birthday!), it's not every day that I get this excited about such a product. I mean, it's stinky paint that goes on your nails, and if you're lucky, it stays there looking pretty without chipping for the better part of a week.

Jane Schub, a designer, illustrator and beauty entrepreneur, expects more than that. She launched her StrangeBeautiful line as a fashion accessory, an edited collection of nail polish colors of the highest quality. Despite my jaded view, I'm beyond smitten.

It starts with the colors. That's how the line actually began. Jane Schub had a vintage typewriter in a gorgeous and unusual red, and she thought the color would make a striking nail polish. The concept developed from that point. Every color is saturated, bold and makes a fashion statement. Even the few mellow colors cannot be ignored.

When I met Ms. Schub a few weeks ago at a Bergdorf Goodman event, her vision and passion for making StrangeBeautiful an outstanding brand were evident, so I was not surprised upon testing to see that only one coat is enough for a cream finish that is completely true to the color you see in the bottle. The brush is the perfect width, the polish is very quick to dry and lasts chip-free for over a week even without a protective top coat. StrangeBeautiful is also "3 Free", which means not containing Formaldehyde, Toluene, and DBP (dibutyl phthalate).

The colors I received are an orange red and a rich toffee-like brown. There's no way my photos can do them justice. The red (described as a lobster tail red by Jane schub) is my dream color. Red has been my signature from childhood and there are shades that my nearest and dearest call "Gaia Red". This is going to be one of them.

Now, here's the catch: StrangeBeautiful doesn't sell individual bottles, only "volumes". Each volume is a collection of 8 bottles and is only released once, meaning once the volume is sold out that's the last it would be seen. All the colors in each volume are beautiful beyond words, but I don't necessarily need to own all of them. I mean, if I were ever to wear a teal polish, I'd want the one offered in Volume 1. The same goes for the vibrant yellow from Volume 2 (I want a closet full of clothes and accessories in that fantastic yellow, just not sure about it for nails). But despite the very reasonable price (an 8 bottle pack is $79, pricing them far bellow most department store brands), I don't want to buy colors I'd never use. However, I still have a serious case of WANT when I look at most of these shades.

At the moment Volume of StrangeBeautiful 1 is still available. Volume 2 is the most recently launched. They are sold at Bergdorf Goodman (including online) and Luckyscent. The two bottles I have were part of a BG goodie bag.

StrangeBeautiful- Niche Nail Polish

After 25 or so years of using nail polish and exactly three years of beauty blogging (I remembered too late that the previous weekend was The Non-Blonde's birthday!), it's not every day that I get this excited about such a product. I mean, it's stinky paint that goes on your nails, and if you're lucky, it stays there looking pretty without chipping for the better part of a week.

Jane Schub, a designer, illustrator and beauty entrepreneur, expects more than that. She launched her StrangeBeautiful line as a fashion accessory, an edited collection of nail polish colors of the highest quality. Despite my jaded view, I'm beyond smitten.

It starts with the colors. That's how the line actually began. Jane Schub had a vintage typewriter in a gorgeous and unusual red, and she thought the color would make a striking nail polish. The concept developed from that point. Every color is saturated, bold and makes a fashion statement. Even the few mellow colors cannot be ignored.

When I met Ms. Schub a few weeks ago at a Bergdorf Goodman event, her vision and passion for making StrangeBeautiful an outstanding brand were evident, so I was not surprised upon testing to see that only one coat is enough for a cream finish that is completely true to the color you see in the bottle. The brush is the perfect width, the polish is very quick to dry and lasts chip-free for over a week even without a protective top coat. StrangeBeautiful is also "3 Free", which means not containing Formaldehyde, Toluene, and DBP (dibutyl phthalate).

The colors I received are an orange red and a rich toffee-like brown. There's no way my photos can do them justice. The red (described as a lobster tail red by Jane schub) is my dream color. Red has been my signature from childhood and there are shades that my nearest and dearest call "Gaia Red". This is going to be one of them.

Now, here's the catch: StrangeBeautiful doesn't sell individual bottles, only "volumes". Each volume is a collection of 8 bottles and is only released once, meaning once the volume is sold out that's the last it would be seen. All the colors in each volume are beautiful beyond words, but I don't necessarily need to own all of them. I mean, if I were ever to wear a teal polish, I'd want the one offered in Volume 1. The same goes for the vibrant yellow from Volume 2 (I want a closet full of clothes and accessories in that fantastic yellow, just not sure about it for nails). But despite the very reasonable price (an 8 bottle pack is $79, pricing them far bellow most department store brands), I don't want to buy colors I'd never use. However, I still have a serious case of WANT when I look at most of these shades.

At the moment Volume of StrangeBeautiful 1 is still available. Volume 2 is the most recently launched. They are sold at Bergdorf Goodman (including online) and Luckyscent. The two bottles I have were part of a BG goodie bag.

StrangeBeautiful- Niche Nail Polish

After 25 or so years of using nail polish and exactly three years of beauty blogging (I remembered too late that the previous weekend was The Non-Blonde's birthday!), it's not every day that I get this excited about such a product. I mean, it's stinky paint that goes on your nails, and if you're lucky, it stays there looking pretty without chipping for the better part of a week.

Jane Schub, a designer, illustrator and beauty entrepreneur, expects more than that. She launched her StrangeBeautiful line as a fashion accessory, an edited collection of nail polish colors of the highest quality. Despite my jaded view, I'm beyond smitten.

It starts with the colors. That's how the line actually began. Jane Schub had a vintage typewriter in a gorgeous and unusual red, and she thought the color would make a striking nail polish. The concept developed from that point. Every color is saturated, bold and makes a fashion statement. Even the few mellow colors cannot be ignored.

When I met Ms. Schub a few weeks ago at a Bergdorf Goodman event, her vision and passion for making StrangeBeautiful an outstanding brand were evident, so I was not surprised upon testing to see that only one coat is enough for a cream finish that is completely true to the color you see in the bottle. The brush is the perfect width, the polish is very quick to dry and lasts chip-free for over a week even without a protective top coat. StrangeBeautiful is also "3 Free", which means not containing Formaldehyde, Toluene, and DBP (dibutyl phthalate).

The colors I received are an orange red and a rich toffee-like brown. There's no way my photos can do them justice. The red (described as a lobster tail red by Jane schub) is my dream color. Red has been my signature from childhood and there are shades that my nearest and dearest call "Gaia Red". This is going to be one of them.

Now, here's the catch: StrangeBeautiful doesn't sell individual bottles, only "volumes". Each volume is a collection of 8 bottles and is only released once, meaning once the volume is sold out that's the last it would be seen. All the colors in each volume are beautiful beyond words, but I don't necessarily need to own all of them. I mean, if I were ever to wear a teal polish, I'd want the one offered in Volume 1. The same goes for the vibrant yellow from Volume 2 (I want a closet full of clothes and accessories in that fantastic yellow, just not sure about it for nails). But despite the very reasonable price (an 8 bottle pack is $79, pricing them far bellow most department store brands), I don't want to buy colors I'd never use. However, I still have a serious case of WANT when I look at most of these shades.

At the moment Volume of StrangeBeautiful 1 is still available. Volume 2 is the most recently launched. They are sold at Bergdorf Goodman (including online) and Luckyscent. The two bottles I have were part of a BG goodie bag.

Rouge Hermes And Parfum d'Hermes- Who's Afraid of Powdery Scents?

Five or six years ago I got a mini of Rouge because the little red bottle was irresistible and I thought that an oriental was a safe bet. But I was so overwhelmed by the powderiness and less-than-contemporary feel (said the woman who wears Caleche and most of the classic Guerlains), and ended up giving it away. I stayed away from Rouge until a few months ago, when a quick sniff at my local Hermès boutique showed me why when it comes to perfume, never say never.

I started wearing it again, first from another mini and later a full bottle and all of a sudden it clicks. Yes, Rouge is still powdery and sweet in a non-gourmand way, it's a rose-amber scent with a spicy resinous core that smells like it belongs in another decade. It's one of those scents that some discounters site would say "recommended for evening wear", but I don't really care and wear it whenever I'm in the mood, just because. Then again, I'm not exactly the jeans and t-shirt type, even when going for groceries, so I guess Rouge goes with my shoes.

Rouge is actually an updated version of the 1986 Parfum d'Hermes, which is still available (but only in EDT). My bottle is of an older (though not the 80s original) parfum extrait, which is a bit darker and richer than the current version. It starts with a vicious and malicious burst of aldehydes which make me question my sanity in buying and wearing the thing, but quickly moves past it, into a thick, sweet, playdough-ish and very perfumy realms. I find Parfum d'Hermes to be less powdery than Rouge with quite a bit of sparkle. They both feel retro, like polka dot accessories and have a plastic doll note somewhere in the drydown, but I find them pleasant and pleasing.

Both Rouge and Parfum d'Hermes smell loud on top but settle rapidly into a very manageable respectable sillage. They rarely last more than 4-6 hours and don't project too much (I tested them while working out. Everyone survived). My guess is that with the wrong skin chemistry it can be disastrous, but lovers of proper florientals have a good chance of loving both PdH and Rouge with their lack of fresh or fruity notes. The bald guy running after you, muttering that this is "an embarrassing mess" and "heavy on the stomach" is Luca Turin. Just sniff your wrist and ignore him.

Both Rouge and Parfum d'Hermès are available from Hermès stores and online, $140 for 100 ml, but at least Rouge can be found found at discounters in the discontinued 1.7 oz bottle (not to mention the mini) for significantly less. I'm talking under $40, which raises the question of Hermès involvement in the gray market, but that's a whole separate discussion.

Rouge Hermes And Parfum d'Hermes- Who's Afraid of Powdery Scents?

Five or six years ago I got a mini of Rouge because the little red bottle was irresistible and I thought that an oriental was a safe bet. But I was so overwhelmed by the powderiness and less-than-contemporary feel (said the woman who wears Caleche and most of the classic Guerlains), and ended up giving it away. I stayed away from Rouge until a few months ago, when a quick sniff at my local Hermès boutique showed me why when it comes to perfume, never say never.

I started wearing it again, first from another mini and later a full bottle and all of a sudden it clicks. Yes, Rouge is still powdery and sweet in a non-gourmand way, it's a rose-amber scent with a spicy resinous core that smells like it belongs in another decade. It's one of those scents that some discounters site would say "recommended for evening wear", but I don't really care and wear it whenever I'm in the mood, just because. Then again, I'm not exactly the jeans and t-shirt type, even when going for groceries, so I guess Rouge goes with my shoes.

Rouge is actually an updated version of the 1986 Parfum d'Hermes, which is still available (but only in EDT). My bottle is of an older (though not the 80s original) parfum extrait, which is a bit darker and richer than the current version. It starts with a vicious and malicious burst of aldehydes which make me question my sanity in buying and wearing the thing, but quickly moves past it, into a thick, sweet, playdough-ish and very perfumy realms. I find Parfum d'Hermes to be less powdery than Rouge with quite a bit of sparkle. They both feel retro, like polka dot accessories and have a plastic doll note somewhere in the drydown, but I find them pleasant and pleasing.

Both Rouge and Parfum d'Hermes smell loud on top but settle rapidly into a very manageable respectable sillage. They rarely last more than 4-6 hours and don't project too much (I tested them while working out. Everyone survived). My guess is that with the wrong skin chemistry it can be disastrous, but lovers of proper florientals have a good chance of loving both PdH and Rouge with their lack of fresh or fruity notes. The bald guy running after you, muttering that this is "an embarrassing mess" and "heavy on the stomach" is Luca Turin. Just sniff your wrist and ignore him.

Both Rouge and Parfum d'Hermès are available from Hermès stores and online, $140 for 100 ml, but at least Rouge can be found found at discounters in the discontinued 1.7 oz bottle (not to mention the mini) for significantly less. I'm talking under $40, which raises the question of Hermès involvement in the gray market, but that's a whole separate discussion.

Rouge Hermes And Parfum d'Hermes- Who's Afraid of Powdery Scents?

Five or six years ago I got a mini of Rouge because the little red bottle was irresistible and I thought that an oriental was a safe bet. But I was so overwhelmed by the powderiness and less-than-contemporary feel (said the woman who wears Caleche and most of the classic Guerlains), and ended up giving it away. I stayed away from Rouge until a few months ago, when a quick sniff at my local Hermès boutique showed me why when it comes to perfume, never say never.

I started wearing it again, first from another mini and later a full bottle and all of a sudden it clicks. Yes, Rouge is still powdery and sweet in a non-gourmand way, it's a rose-amber scent with a spicy resinous core that smells like it belongs in another decade. It's one of those scents that some discounters site would say "recommended for evening wear", but I don't really care and wear it whenever I'm in the mood, just because. Then again, I'm not exactly the jeans and t-shirt type, even when going for groceries, so I guess Rouge goes with my shoes.

Rouge is actually an updated version of the 1986 Parfum d'Hermes, which is still available (but only in EDT). My bottle is of an older (though not the 80s original) parfum extrait, which is a bit darker and richer than the current version. It starts with a vicious and malicious burst of aldehydes which make me question my sanity in buying and wearing the thing, but quickly moves past it, into a thick, sweet, playdough-ish and very perfumy realms. I find Parfum d'Hermes to be less powdery than Rouge with quite a bit of sparkle. They both feel retro, like polka dot accessories and have a plastic doll note somewhere in the drydown, but I find them pleasant and pleasing.

Both Rouge and Parfum d'Hermes smell loud on top but settle rapidly into a very manageable respectable sillage. They rarely last more than 4-6 hours and don't project too much (I tested them while working out. Everyone survived). My guess is that with the wrong skin chemistry it can be disastrous, but lovers of proper florientals have a good chance of loving both PdH and Rouge with their lack of fresh or fruity notes. The bald guy running after you, muttering that this is "an embarrassing mess" and "heavy on the stomach" is Luca Turin. Just sniff your wrist and ignore him.

Both Rouge and Parfum d'Hermès are available from Hermès stores and online, $140 for 100 ml, but at least Rouge can be found found at discounters in the discontinued 1.7 oz bottle (not to mention the mini) for significantly less. I'm talking under $40, which raises the question of Hermès involvement in the gray market, but that's a whole separate discussion.

The Mysterious Case Of Mona Di Orio

The latest online kerfuffle among the perfume-obsessed centers around niche brand Mona do Orio. There were some speculations that the house is going out of business, as the bottles were pulled of the shelves and no longer available. On the other hand, Mona di Orio's web site is up, running and lists a new fragrance, Chamarre.

I emailed the Mona di Orio rep as well as Aedes, trying to figure it out. Karl from Aedes confirmed they will no longer carry the brand. Getting a direct answer from the house itself proved to be a bit harder. First, they tried claiming that some of their US retailers do have an online service and that I should look at the MdO website for details, and by the way, did I know they have a new perfume?

Seriously? Head, meet desk.

I sent a second email, pointing them to the fact that out of the three US retailers listed on the Mona di Orio website, two (Bergdorf and Aedes) have officially stopped carrying it, and the third, Spafumerie* in NYC, does not have e-commerce or any mention of MdO. That, at least, got them to admit that, indeed, Mona di Orio no longer has a US outlet. According to Jeroen Oude Sogtoen who corresponded with me, they are now searching for a good distributor.

So there you have it. Mona di Orio is still producing perfumes. It's the selling part that's gotten a bit tricky.

*Spafumerie NYC (on 2nd Ave and 48th st.) seems like a wonderful place worth checking. It's gotten rave reviews from recent visitors, but their website takes you back to 1996 when merchants had their nephews who knew a couple of HTML tags do a little website with a badly taken photo and horrible graphics.

The Mysterious Case Of Mona Di Orio

The latest online kerfuffle among the perfume-obsessed centers around niche brand Mona do Orio. There were some speculations that the house is going out of business, as the bottles were pulled of the shelves and no longer available. On the other hand, Mona di Orio's web site is up, running and lists a new fragrance, Chamarre.

I emailed the Mona di Orio rep as well as Aedes, trying to figure it out. Karl from Aedes confirmed they will no longer carry the brand. Getting a direct answer from the house itself proved to be a bit harder. First, they tried claiming that some of their US retailers do have an online service and that I should look at the MdO website for details, and by the way, did I know they have a new perfume?

Seriously? Head, meet desk.

I sent a second email, pointing them to the fact that out of the three US retailers listed on the Mona di Orio website, two (Bergdorf and Aedes) have officially stopped carrying it, and the third, Spafumerie* in NYC, does not have e-commerce or any mention of MdO. That, at least, got them to admit that, indeed, Mona di Orio no longer has a US outlet. According to Jeroen Oude Sogtoen who corresponded with me, they are now searching for a good distributor.

So there you have it. Mona di Orio is still producing perfumes. It's the selling part that's gotten a bit tricky.

*Spafumerie NYC (on 2nd Ave and 48th st.) seems like a wonderful place worth checking. It's gotten rave reviews from recent visitors, but their website takes you back to 1996 when merchants had their nephews who knew a couple of HTML tags do a little website with a badly taken photo and horrible graphics.

The Mysterious Case Of Mona Di Orio

The latest online kerfuffle among the perfume-obsessed centers around niche brand Mona do Orio. There were some speculations that the house is going out of business, as the bottles were pulled of the shelves and no longer available. On the other hand, Mona di Orio's web site is up, running and lists a new fragrance, Chamarre.

I emailed the Mona di Orio rep as well as Aedes, trying to figure it out. Karl from Aedes confirmed they will no longer carry the brand. Getting a direct answer from the house itself proved to be a bit harder. First, they tried claiming that some of their US retailers do have an online service and that I should look at the MdO website for details, and by the way, did I know they have a new perfume?

Seriously? Head, meet desk.

I sent a second email, pointing them to the fact that out of the three US retailers listed on the Mona di Orio website, two (Bergdorf and Aedes) have officially stopped carrying it, and the third, Spafumerie* in NYC, does not have e-commerce or any mention of MdO. That, at least, got them to admit that, indeed, Mona di Orio no longer has a US outlet. According to Jeroen Oude Sogtoen who corresponded with me, they are now searching for a good distributor.

So there you have it. Mona di Orio is still producing perfumes. It's the selling part that's gotten a bit tricky.

*Spafumerie NYC (on 2nd Ave and 48th st.) seems like a wonderful place worth checking. It's gotten rave reviews from recent visitors, but their website takes you back to 1996 when merchants had their nephews who knew a couple of HTML tags do a little website with a badly taken photo and horrible graphics.

The Lipstick Effect

One of the aspects of the slumping economy is the search for industries and products that are supposedly recession proof. The lipstick effect is one of these well-known concepts. Basically, when the going gets tough, the tough buy lipstick and go to the movies (or, at least, that's what they did during the Great Depression).

WWD tried taking the concept one step further and examine the other retail equivalents of the proverbial lipstick tube. More simply put: What are people buying to feel better?

They asked leading luxury retailers, designers and chain stores. Not all who were asked agreed to participate, and some of those who did seem to be spouting a marketing script for pushing their latest crap, but it's still interesting (even if I wouldn't base my future investment decisions on this little survey).

Bergdorf and Neiman claim that we're buying Manolos and Choos. The statement show, which in a way makes sense. You get more mileage from the perfect sandals than from one Versace dress. Both retailers have a winning red lipstick, Rouge G lipstick from Guerlain. At $45 I feel like doing a lipstick face-off between this one and the $75 Serge Lutens (only available from Barneys).

Other retailers are talking accessories: scarves, belts, headbands. Nobody mentions the "It Bag", so hopefully we're over that particular craze. The Gap is trying to convince us that their boxy cardigan is the item of choice that would make us all feel good (at $44, I'd skip the cardi and go for a Guerlain lipstick). Intermix are supposedly selling jumpsuits, but I'd rather believe we all have much better fashion sense than that. Only Bernie Madoff deserves a jumpsuits.

The one thing no one mentioned was perfume. It's making me sad.

Do you think this is accurate? Are you buying red lipsticks these days? What do you purchase as a pick-me-up? Please share in a comment.

Info: WWD
Top image: Joan Crawford and a lipstick organizer, 1929
Ugly jumpsuit: Proenza Schouler, $975, intermix.com

The Lipstick Effect

One of the aspects of the slumping economy is the search for industries and products that are supposedly recession proof. The lipstick effect is one of these well-known concepts. Basically, when the going gets tough, the tough buy lipstick and go to the movies (or, at least, that's what they did during the Great Depression).

WWD tried taking the concept one step further and examine the other retail equivalents of the proverbial lipstick tube. More simply put: What are people buying to feel better?

They asked leading luxury retailers, designers and chain stores. Not all who were asked agreed to participate, and some of those who did seem to be spouting a marketing script for pushing their latest crap, but it's still interesting (even if I wouldn't base my future investment decisions on this little survey).

Bergdorf and Neiman claim that we're buying Manolos and Choos. The statement show, which in a way makes sense. You get more mileage from the perfect sandals than from one Versace dress. Both retailers have a winning red lipstick, Rouge G lipstick from Guerlain. At $45 I feel like doing a lipstick face-off between this one and the $75 Serge Lutens (only available from Barneys).

Other retailers are talking accessories: scarves, belts, headbands. Nobody mentions the "It Bag", so hopefully we're over that particular craze. The Gap is trying to convince us that their boxy cardigan is the item of choice that would make us all feel good (at $44, I'd skip the cardi and go for a Guerlain lipstick). Intermix are supposedly selling jumpsuits, but I'd rather believe we all have much better fashion sense than that. Only Bernie Madoff deserves a jumpsuits.

The one thing no one mentioned was perfume. It's making me sad.

Do you think this is accurate? Are you buying red lipsticks these days? What do you purchase as a pick-me-up? Please share in a comment.

Info: WWD
Top image: Joan Crawford and a lipstick organizer, 1929
Ugly jumpsuit: Proenza Schouler, $975, intermix.com

The Lipstick Effect

One of the aspects of the slumping economy is the search for industries and products that are supposedly recession proof. The lipstick effect is one of these well-known concepts. Basically, when the going gets tough, the tough buy lipstick and go to the movies (or, at least, that's what they did during the Great Depression).

WWD tried taking the concept one step further and examine the other retail equivalents of the proverbial lipstick tube. More simply put: What are people buying to feel better?

They asked leading luxury retailers, designers and chain stores. Not all who were asked agreed to participate, and some of those who did seem to be spouting a marketing script for pushing their latest crap, but it's still interesting (even if I wouldn't base my future investment decisions on this little survey).

Bergdorf and Neiman claim that we're buying Manolos and Choos. The statement show, which in a way makes sense. You get more mileage from the perfect sandals than from one Versace dress. Both retailers have a winning red lipstick, Rouge G lipstick from Guerlain. At $45 I feel like doing a lipstick face-off between this one and the $75 Serge Lutens (only available from Barneys).

Other retailers are talking accessories: scarves, belts, headbands. Nobody mentions the "It Bag", so hopefully we're over that particular craze. The Gap is trying to convince us that their boxy cardigan is the item of choice that would make us all feel good (at $44, I'd skip the cardi and go for a Guerlain lipstick). Intermix are supposedly selling jumpsuits, but I'd rather believe we all have much better fashion sense than that. Only Bernie Madoff deserves a jumpsuits.

The one thing no one mentioned was perfume. It's making me sad.

Do you think this is accurate? Are you buying red lipsticks these days? What do you purchase as a pick-me-up? Please share in a comment.

Info: WWD
Top image: Joan Crawford and a lipstick organizer, 1929
Ugly jumpsuit: Proenza Schouler, $975, intermix.com

Kate Moss Parties Like It's 1988

Last celeb post for tonight (I promise something completely different tomorrow):

Showing what 20 years of hard partying would do to one's face and putting the T in trashed (she actually ended the night with the dress getting ripped and falling apart), Kate Moss looks like she's paying a homage to the new Star Trek movie and going to the Final Frontier (I'm resisting making an "It's dead, Jim" joke) in this space dress with the don't-try-it-at-home horizontal stripes and scary shoulder pads.

(Kate was not the only celeb with silver padded shoulders last week. The other one was Miley Cyrus, but I draw the snark line at the underaged)

Image: A Socialite's Life

Kate Moss Parties Like It's 1988

Last celeb post for tonight (I promise something completely different tomorrow):

Showing what 20 years of hard partying would do to one's face and putting the T in trashed (she actually ended the night with the dress getting ripped and falling apart), Kate Moss looks like she's paying a homage to the new Star Trek movie and going to the Final Frontier (I'm resisting making an "It's dead, Jim" joke) in this space dress with the don't-try-it-at-home horizontal stripes and scary shoulder pads.

(Kate was not the only celeb with silver padded shoulders last week. The other one was Miley Cyrus, but I draw the snark line at the underaged)

Image: A Socialite's Life

Kate Moss Parties Like It's 1988

Last celeb post for tonight (I promise something completely different tomorrow):

Showing what 20 years of hard partying would do to one's face and putting the T in trashed (she actually ended the night with the dress getting ripped and falling apart), Kate Moss looks like she's paying a homage to the new Star Trek movie and going to the Final Frontier (I'm resisting making an "It's dead, Jim" joke) in this space dress with the don't-try-it-at-home horizontal stripes and scary shoulder pads.

(Kate was not the only celeb with silver padded shoulders last week. The other one was Miley Cyrus, but I draw the snark line at the underaged)

Image: A Socialite's Life

Brunettes In Red Lipstick

I have nothing snarky to say here, even if I'm not totall sure about Alexis Bledel's choice of red lipstick. She's absolutely stunning at the Chanel and Tribeca Film Festival Artists' Dinner, as is Debra Messing. There's no red lipstick like Chanel's, so it's all good.

Brunettes In Red Lipstick

I have nothing snarky to say here, even if I'm not totall sure about Alexis Bledel's choice of red lipstick. She's absolutely stunning at the Chanel and Tribeca Film Festival Artists' Dinner, as is Debra Messing. There's no red lipstick like Chanel's, so it's all good.

Brunettes In Red Lipstick

I have nothing snarky to say here, even if I'm not totall sure about Alexis Bledel's choice of red lipstick. She's absolutely stunning at the Chanel and Tribeca Film Festival Artists' Dinner, as is Debra Messing. There's no red lipstick like Chanel's, so it's all good.

Thursday Was Must See TV

Everyone is so busy reviving every ugly trend from the 80s, but seeing a bunch of 90s mega-celebs attending the 20th Anniversary of the National Resources Defense Council, made me remember the decade of better taste and more likable icons. Where's Helen Hunt when you need her?

All images: A Socialite's Life

Thursday Was Must See TV

Everyone is so busy reviving every ugly trend from the 80s, but seeing a bunch of 90s mega-celebs attending the 20th Anniversary of the National Resources Defense Council, made me remember the decade of better taste and more likable icons. Where's Helen Hunt when you need her?

All images: A Socialite's Life

Thursday Was Must See TV

Everyone is so busy reviving every ugly trend from the 80s, but seeing a bunch of 90s mega-celebs attending the 20th Anniversary of the National Resources Defense Council, made me remember the decade of better taste and more likable icons. Where's Helen Hunt when you need her?

All images: A Socialite's Life

Shiseido Perfect Rouge And Paula Dorf Sheer Tint- Rose Colored Lips

My choice for a fun spring lip color that does not evoke Barbie is dark rose. These two lipstick, Paula Dorf Sheer Tint in Havana and Shiseido Perfect Rouge in Rose Bronze (RS 799) have a similar pigment but a different texture.

The Paula Dorf one is a perfect daytime rose, feels very comfortable and moisturizing. The SPF 15 is a nice bonus. Shiseido Rose Bronze (the color is a Nordstrom exclusive) has a metallic finish and is elegant enough for evening. Like many metallic lipsticks, it requires a perfect canvas, so always exfoliate before using it. I also dab a little lip balm underneath, to keep the color out of the little scar on my bottom lip. Filling the lip surface with a lip pencil also helps with that task. Naturally, Perefct Rouge has a better lasting power.

Speaking of lip liners, the one I use with both lipsticks (and with many others, actually) is Shiseido Automatic Lip Crayon in LC6. It's a thick pencil, in the loveliest rose color that blends with my natural lip. The creamy texture is absolute perfection and is fast becoming a holy grail product.

Paula Dorf Lip Color Sheer Tint ($21) is available from PaulaDorf.com, which is where I bought it. Shiseido Automatic Lip Crayon in LC6 ($23) is available from Sephora and most fine department stores. Perfect Rouge in Rose Bronze ($25) is a Nordstrom exclusive. Both Shiseido products were a gift from a fabulous friend.

Both photos are mine. Apologies for the lack of cats in them.

Shiseido Perfect Rouge And Paula Dorf Sheer Tint- Rose Colored Lips

My choice for a fun spring lip color that does not evoke Barbie is dark rose. These two lipstick, Paula Dorf Sheer Tint in Havana and Shiseido Perfect Rouge in Rose Bronze (RS 799) have a similar pigment but a different texture.

The Paula Dorf one is a perfect daytime rose, feels very comfortable and moisturizing. The SPF 15 is a nice bonus. Shiseido Rose Bronze (the color is a Nordstrom exclusive) has a metallic finish and is elegant enough for evening. Like many metallic lipsticks, it requires a perfect canvas, so always exfoliate before using it. I also dab a little lip balm underneath, to keep the color out of the little scar on my bottom lip. Filling the lip surface with a lip pencil also helps with that task. Naturally, Perefct Rouge has a better lasting power.

Speaking of lip liners, the one I use with both lipsticks (and with many others, actually) is Shiseido Automatic Lip Crayon in LC6. It's a thick pencil, in the loveliest rose color that blends with my natural lip. The creamy texture is absolute perfection and is fast becoming a holy grail product.

Paula Dorf Lip Color Sheer Tint ($21) is available from PaulaDorf.com, which is where I bought it. Shiseido Automatic Lip Crayon in LC6 ($23) is available from Sephora and most fine department stores. Perfect Rouge in Rose Bronze ($25) is a Nordstrom exclusive. Both Shiseido products were a gift from a fabulous friend.

Both photos are mine. Apologies for the lack of cats in them.

Shiseido Perfect Rouge And Paula Dorf Sheer Tint- Rose Colored Lips

My choice for a fun spring lip color that does not evoke Barbie is dark rose. These two lipstick, Paula Dorf Sheer Tint in Havana and Shiseido Perfect Rouge in Rose Bronze (RS 799) have a similar pigment but a different texture.

The Paula Dorf one is a perfect daytime rose, feels very comfortable and moisturizing. The SPF 15 is a nice bonus. Shiseido Rose Bronze (the color is a Nordstrom exclusive) has a metallic finish and is elegant enough for evening. Like many metallic lipsticks, it requires a perfect canvas, so always exfoliate before using it. I also dab a little lip balm underneath, to keep the color out of the little scar on my bottom lip. Filling the lip surface with a lip pencil also helps with that task. Naturally, Perefct Rouge has a better lasting power.

Speaking of lip liners, the one I use with both lipsticks (and with many others, actually) is Shiseido Automatic Lip Crayon in LC6. It's a thick pencil, in the loveliest rose color that blends with my natural lip. The creamy texture is absolute perfection and is fast becoming a holy grail product.

Paula Dorf Lip Color Sheer Tint ($21) is available from PaulaDorf.com, which is where I bought it. Shiseido Automatic Lip Crayon in LC6 ($23) is available from Sephora and most fine department stores. Perfect Rouge in Rose Bronze ($25) is a Nordstrom exclusive. Both Shiseido products were a gift from a fabulous friend.

Both photos are mine. Apologies for the lack of cats in them.

A Walk Through Anya's Garden

Natural perfumes (when done right) have a raw, three-dimensional quality that makes them come alive on the wearer's skin. At their worst, natural perfumes are nothing but a crudely mixed essential oils you can buy at your local Whole Foods. But we're not talking about those. Anya McCoy, the perfumer behind the Anya's Garden brand knows what she's doing and has definitely got it right.

None of the five perfumes in the current line (two more, Starflower and Moondance, are about to be released soon) smells anything like what passes for perfumes at your typical department store. They don't smell freshly showered or clean laundry-like and you won't found a cotton candy accord to save your life. Instead, you are confronted by a bracing opening that leads the way to the scents' unfolding which reveals their true character, of which Anya's Garden perfumes have plenty.

Fairchild smells sweet out of the vial. On skin, you discover immediately that this is a larger-than-life lush floral with multiple personalities. Just when you think you've got it figured out and it's a salty citrus scent, you realize you've seen nothing yet: Congratulations, it's a chypre.

Temple is spicy cinnamon that turns into a mellow wood with a hint of medicinal smelling oud. It's the one scent in the range that feels less personal and more aromatherapeutic. I'd like to have my house smells of this. I have a feeling one can retain sanity through Temple.

Kaffir is a perfect example of Anya's artistry. It starts like the creamiest kaffir lime Thai curry (not to be confused with the Indian version), as true to life as I can tell from buying kaffir leaves at the supermarket. But it's not a light lime-like cologne, as you soon discover. Instead, the drydown is a leather scent, as elegant as they come. It's gorgeous.

Rivercali starts fresh. Probably too fresh for my taste. But the aggressive green florals fade away into a creamy vanilla-musk-sandalwood base that's as easy to wear as it sounds. Rivercali is probably the most modern in the bunch and can serve as a good introduction to the genre.

Pan is a dirty, dirty musk. If you like the more famous beasts in this category: MKK, Ferme Tes Yeux and CB Musk you need to smell this one. And probably own it. It will drive away unwanted guests, the evil eye and the occasional small animal. Anya Lists billy goat hair in the base notes and I fully believe her.

The samples I received are of the EDP concentration. I dabbed them, which is probably not the best way to assess sillage and longevity (unlike the case of a pure perfume), but still got a decent couple of hours wear even with the tiny amount I used each time. The packaging is adorable. True to Anya's sensibilities, the box has flower seeds embedded in it, which you're supposes to plant under a 1/2" layer of soil. I'm going to try it with mine, now that the weather has improved.

Anya's Garden perfumes ($95 for 15 ml of EDP, $60-75 for 3.5 ml of extrait, $30 for a collection of five samples) are available from the website under the same name (you can also read Anya's blog here). I received the samples as freebies for review.

Art: Garden Bulbs by Marcia Baldwin

A Walk Through Anya's Garden

Natural perfumes (when done right) have a raw, three-dimensional quality that makes them come alive on the wearer's skin. At their worst, natural perfumes are nothing but a crudely mixed essential oils you can buy at your local Whole Foods. But we're not talking about those. Anya McCoy, the perfumer behind the Anya's Garden brand knows what she's doing and has definitely got it right.

None of the five perfumes in the current line (two more, Starflower and Moondance, are about to be released soon) smells anything like what passes for perfumes at your typical department store. They don't smell freshly showered or clean laundry-like and you won't found a cotton candy accord to save your life. Instead, you are confronted by a bracing opening that leads the way to the scents' unfolding which reveals their true character, of which Anya's Garden perfumes have plenty.

Fairchild smells sweet out of the vial. On skin, you discover immediately that this is a larger-than-life lush floral with multiple personalities. Just when you think you've got it figured out and it's a salty citrus scent, you realize you've seen nothing yet: Congratulations, it's a chypre.

Temple is spicy cinnamon that turns into a mellow wood with a hint of medicinal smelling oud. It's the one scent in the range that feels less personal and more aromatherapeutic. I'd like to have my house smells of this. I have a feeling one can retain sanity through Temple.

Kaffir is a perfect example of Anya's artistry. It starts like the creamiest kaffir lime Thai curry (not to be confused with the Indian version), as true to life as I can tell from buying kaffir leaves at the supermarket. But it's not a light lime-like cologne, as you soon discover. Instead, the drydown is a leather scent, as elegant as they come. It's gorgeous.

Rivercali starts fresh. Probably too fresh for my taste. But the aggressive green florals fade away into a creamy vanilla-musk-sandalwood base that's as easy to wear as it sounds. Rivercali is probably the most modern in the bunch and can serve as a good introduction to the genre.

Pan is a dirty, dirty musk. If you like the more famous beasts in this category: MKK, Ferme Tes Yeux and CB Musk you need to smell this one. And probably own it. It will drive away unwanted guests, the evil eye and the occasional small animal. Anya Lists billy goat hair in the base notes and I fully believe her.

The samples I received are of the EDP concentration. I dabbed them, which is probably not the best way to assess sillage and longevity (unlike the case of a pure perfume), but still got a decent couple of hours wear even with the tiny amount I used each time. The packaging is adorable. True to Anya's sensibilities, the box has flower seeds embedded in it, which you're supposes to plant under a 1/2" layer of soil. I'm going to try it with mine, now that the weather has improved.

Anya's Garden perfumes ($95 for 15 ml of EDP, $60-75 for 3.5 ml of extrait, $30 for a collection of five samples) are available from the website under the same name (you can also read Anya's blog here). I received the samples as freebies for review.

Art: Garden Bulbs by Marcia Baldwin

A Walk Through Anya's Garden

Natural perfumes (when done right) have a raw, three-dimensional quality that makes them come alive on the wearer's skin. At their worst, natural perfumes are nothing but a crudely mixed essential oils you can buy at your local Whole Foods. But we're not talking about those. Anya McCoy, the perfumer behind the Anya's Garden brand knows what she's doing and has definitely got it right.

None of the five perfumes in the current line (two more, Starflower and Moondance, are about to be released soon) smells anything like what passes for perfumes at your typical department store. They don't smell freshly showered or clean laundry-like and you won't found a cotton candy accord to save your life. Instead, you are confronted by a bracing opening that leads the way to the scents' unfolding which reveals their true character, of which Anya's Garden perfumes have plenty.

Fairchild smells sweet out of the vial. On skin, you discover immediately that this is a larger-than-life lush floral with multiple personalities. Just when you think you've got it figured out and it's a salty citrus scent, you realize you've seen nothing yet: Congratulations, it's a chypre.

Temple is spicy cinnamon that turns into a mellow wood with a hint of medicinal smelling oud. It's the one scent in the range that feels less personal and more aromatherapeutic. I'd like to have my house smells of this. I have a feeling one can retain sanity through Temple.

Kaffir is a perfect example of Anya's artistry. It starts like the creamiest kaffir lime Thai curry (not to be confused with the Indian version), as true to life as I can tell from buying kaffir leaves at the supermarket. But it's not a light lime-like cologne, as you soon discover. Instead, the drydown is a leather scent, as elegant as they come. It's gorgeous.

Rivercali starts fresh. Probably too fresh for my taste. But the aggressive green florals fade away into a creamy vanilla-musk-sandalwood base that's as easy to wear as it sounds. Rivercali is probably the most modern in the bunch and can serve as a good introduction to the genre.

Pan is a dirty, dirty musk. If you like the more famous beasts in this category: MKK, Ferme Tes Yeux and CB Musk you need to smell this one. And probably own it. It will drive away unwanted guests, the evil eye and the occasional small animal. Anya Lists billy goat hair in the base notes and I fully believe her.

The samples I received are of the EDP concentration. I dabbed them, which is probably not the best way to assess sillage and longevity (unlike the case of a pure perfume), but still got a decent couple of hours wear even with the tiny amount I used each time. The packaging is adorable. True to Anya's sensibilities, the box has flower seeds embedded in it, which you're supposes to plant under a 1/2" layer of soil. I'm going to try it with mine, now that the weather has improved.

Anya's Garden perfumes ($95 for 15 ml of EDP, $60-75 for 3.5 ml of extrait, $30 for a collection of five samples) are available from the website under the same name (you can also read Anya's blog here). I received the samples as freebies for review.

Art: Garden Bulbs by Marcia Baldwin

Five Things We Can Live Without

1. Lady GaGa- All of a sudden Posh Beckham looks like a role model.

1.Ed Hardy- This tattoo-inspired line was cool about five years ago but jumped the shark even before Madonna started wearing it in public. Nothing is more pathetic than adults wearing this label from head to toe. And the perfume sucks, too.

3. Fashion and beauty "recession advice" geared to make us buy lots and lots of cheap crap.

4. Horribly scripted "reality" TV. The Real Housewives of NYC used to be a sweet spot of guilty pleasure, but it's so awfully done with the staged conflicts and the abrasive personalities I'm finding it hard to justify watching it even while sweating on the elliptical.

5. Reviving the worst trends from the 80s. You know how most of us look at photos of ourselves from 1985 and ask "What the hell was I thinking?" ? I have loved Kristen Bell since the first episode of Veronica Mars, but this look is too godawful for words.


Images: Dlisted and I'm Not Obsessed.