Is This What We do Now?

Maybe I'm showing my age. Maybe I'm a prude and have lost my sense of humor. But is this really how we sell lip gloss now? I don't know about anyone else, but I just want to feel pretty when I buy and wear makeup.

And don't even get me started on the barely single use sample size. It's not Sephora's fault and they're being more than generous with their VIB and Beauty Insiders perks, but do brands (Buxom by Bare Escentuals and Urban Decay in this case) really think a smeared foil is enough to make us run and buy their glosses? When I'm testing something I like to give it at least 2-3 tries. In the case of lip gloss one usually needs to reapply after a couple of hours, so if the original sample is already gone I will just reach for whatever else is in my bag, and forget all about these ridiculous samples.

Photo by me.

Is This What We do Now?

Maybe I'm showing my age. Maybe I'm a prude and have lost my sense of humor. But is this really how we sell lip gloss now? I don't know about anyone else, but I just want to feel pretty when I buy and wear makeup.

And don't even get me started on the barely single use sample size. It's not Sephora's fault and they're being more than generous with their VIB and Beauty Insiders perks, but do brands (Buxom by Bare Escentuals and Urban Decay in this case) really think a smeared foil is enough to make us run and buy their glosses? When I'm testing something I like to give it at least 2-3 tries. In the case of lip gloss one usually needs to reapply after a couple of hours, so if the original sample is already gone I will just reach for whatever else is in my bag, and forget all about these ridiculous samples.

Photo by me.

Is This What We do Now?

Maybe I'm showing my age. Maybe I'm a prude and have lost my sense of humor. But is this really how we sell lip gloss now? I don't know about anyone else, but I just want to feel pretty when I buy and wear makeup.

And don't even get me started on the barely single use sample size. It's not Sephora's fault and they're being more than generous with their VIB and Beauty Insiders perks, but do brands (Buxom by Bare Escentuals and Urban Decay in this case) really think a smeared foil is enough to make us run and buy their glosses? When I'm testing something I like to give it at least 2-3 tries. In the case of lip gloss one usually needs to reapply after a couple of hours, so if the original sample is already gone I will just reach for whatever else is in my bag, and forget all about these ridiculous samples.

Photo by me.

Celebrity Snacks

If you thought celebrity perfumes were bad enough, get ready for celebrity snacks. I've always liked Elizabeth Hurley, but I doubt eating her snacks would make me look like her any more than buying her swimwear collection would have given me her body.

And am I the only one who finds that chicken photo a bit too much?

Photos: I'm Not Obsessed and The Daily Mail

Celebrity Snacks

If you thought celebrity perfumes were bad enough, get ready for celebrity snacks. I've always liked Elizabeth Hurley, but I doubt eating her snacks would make me look like her any more than buying her swimwear collection would have given me her body.

And am I the only one who finds that chicken photo a bit too much?

Photos: I'm Not Obsessed and The Daily Mail

Celebrity Snacks

If you thought celebrity perfumes were bad enough, get ready for celebrity snacks. I've always liked Elizabeth Hurley, but I doubt eating her snacks would make me look like her any more than buying her swimwear collection would have given me her body.

And am I the only one who finds that chicken photo a bit too much?

Photos: I'm Not Obsessed and The Daily Mail

PXA 2009- Perfume Expo America

Neither crazy weather nor NYC traffic were able to stop me on Thursday from attending PXA 2009, Perfume Expo America. I can't think of many trade shows that can be as exciting as one dedicated to all things fragrance. Many brands, old and new, set up booths to showcase their products and introduce them to retailers, distributors, suppliers and the media.

As a blogger who is equally fascinated with the artistic side of fragrance, as well as with the business and marketing aspects, this was an excellent opportunity to see, smell, chat and feel the pulse of the industry.

Getting acquainted with new brands is always fun. There are several interesting ones that are currently looking for distribution channels here in the US. I got samples of most and have started testing, so stay tuned for reviews of perfumes you most likely have never seen before. Other highlights were actually older brands. Weil perfumes have mostly vanished from the scene, but they are back now and ready to find new customers. Fans of the classic Antilope would be thrilled to see it back in production. According to the brand's rep, it's the same formula and nothing has changed from the original. I wouldn't bet any money on this statement and I'm not familiar with the vintage version, but from brief sniffing I really liked the new Antilope.

In a world where traditional family businesses are being sold to big corporations and losing both their identity and integrity, meeting Jean-Pierre Lerouge-Benard, the president of Molinard, and his daughter, Charlotte, was an unexpected joy. The house of Molinard has a lot more to offer than Habanita and Nirmala, including a line focused on certain notes and accords (including a bold chypre), and a new scent in honor of the house's 160th anniversary. Mr. Lerouge-Benard loves his perfumes, from the raw materials to the final product. He hates the word "juice", which he feels takes away from the mystery and the emotional reaction a fragrance should induce, and is proud to see a fifth generation join the family business.

I had a little disappointment at the Courvoisier booth. I love their EDP (labeled a masculine, but I share it with my husband) and hoped for an interesting addition to the line. While they are working on a feminine version (no release date or any other information available at the moment), their efforts have gone into making two weaker versions of the originals- an EDT and an aftershave splash. Both have lighter, airy notes at the top and are meant to smell "clean". Let's hope for something better in the future.

There were also new European skin care lines- alpine water and edelweiss flowers can only be good, right? Perfumes for kids (I admit not to get this concept. When my nieces are old enough to appreciate and enjoy scents, I'm getting them the real thing. I'm thinking a Lutens), and the house of Piguet still pushing Fracas instead of the new release, Futur.

Happy and scented, it was then time to deal with rush hour traffic back to Jersey.

PXA 2009- Perfume Expo America

Neither crazy weather nor NYC traffic were able to stop me on Thursday from attending PXA 2009, Perfume Expo America. I can't think of many trade shows that can be as exciting as one dedicated to all things fragrance. Many brands, old and new, set up booths to showcase their products and introduce them to retailers, distributors, suppliers and the media.

As a blogger who is equally fascinated with the artistic side of fragrance, as well as with the business and marketing aspects, this was an excellent opportunity to see, smell, chat and feel the pulse of the industry.

Getting acquainted with new brands is always fun. There are several interesting ones that are currently looking for distribution channels here in the US. I got samples of most and have started testing, so stay tuned for reviews of perfumes you most likely have never seen before. Other highlights were actually older brands. Weil perfumes have mostly vanished from the scene, but they are back now and ready to find new customers. Fans of the classic Antilope would be thrilled to see it back in production. According to the brand's rep, it's the same formula and nothing has changed from the original. I wouldn't bet any money on this statement and I'm not familiar with the vintage version, but from brief sniffing I really liked the new Antilope.

In a world where traditional family businesses are being sold to big corporations and losing both their identity and integrity, meeting Jean-Pierre Lerouge-Benard, the president of Molinard, and his daughter, Charlotte, was an unexpected joy. The house of Molinard has a lot more to offer than Habanita and Nirmala, including a line focused on certain notes and accords (including a bold chypre), and a new scent in honor of the house's 160th anniversary. Mr. Lerouge-Benard loves his perfumes, from the raw materials to the final product. He hates the word "juice", which he feels takes away from the mystery and the emotional reaction a fragrance should induce, and is proud to see a fifth generation join the family business.

I had a little disappointment at the Courvoisier booth. I love their EDP (labeled a masculine, but I share it with my husband) and hoped for an interesting addition to the line. While they are working on a feminine version (no release date or any other information available at the moment), their efforts have gone into making two weaker versions of the originals- an EDT and an aftershave splash. Both have lighter, airy notes at the top and are meant to smell "clean". Let's hope for something better in the future.

There were also new European skin care lines- alpine water and edelweiss flowers can only be good, right? Perfumes for kids (I admit not to get this concept. When my nieces are old enough to appreciate and enjoy scents, I'm getting them the real thing. I'm thinking a Lutens), and the house of Piguet still pushing Fracas instead of the new release, Futur.

Happy and scented, it was then time to deal with rush hour traffic back to Jersey.

PXA 2009- Perfume Expo America

Neither crazy weather nor NYC traffic were able to stop me on Thursday from attending PXA 2009, Perfume Expo America. I can't think of many trade shows that can be as exciting as one dedicated to all things fragrance. Many brands, old and new, set up booths to showcase their products and introduce them to retailers, distributors, suppliers and the media.

As a blogger who is equally fascinated with the artistic side of fragrance, as well as with the business and marketing aspects, this was an excellent opportunity to see, smell, chat and feel the pulse of the industry.

Getting acquainted with new brands is always fun. There are several interesting ones that are currently looking for distribution channels here in the US. I got samples of most and have started testing, so stay tuned for reviews of perfumes you most likely have never seen before. Other highlights were actually older brands. Weil perfumes have mostly vanished from the scene, but they are back now and ready to find new customers. Fans of the classic Antilope would be thrilled to see it back in production. According to the brand's rep, it's the same formula and nothing has changed from the original. I wouldn't bet any money on this statement and I'm not familiar with the vintage version, but from brief sniffing I really liked the new Antilope.

In a world where traditional family businesses are being sold to big corporations and losing both their identity and integrity, meeting Jean-Pierre Lerouge-Benard, the president of Molinard, and his daughter, Charlotte, was an unexpected joy. The house of Molinard has a lot more to offer than Habanita and Nirmala, including a line focused on certain notes and accords (including a bold chypre), and a new scent in honor of the house's 160th anniversary. Mr. Lerouge-Benard loves his perfumes, from the raw materials to the final product. He hates the word "juice", which he feels takes away from the mystery and the emotional reaction a fragrance should induce, and is proud to see a fifth generation join the family business.

I had a little disappointment at the Courvoisier booth. I love their EDP (labeled a masculine, but I share it with my husband) and hoped for an interesting addition to the line. While they are working on a feminine version (no release date or any other information available at the moment), their efforts have gone into making two weaker versions of the originals- an EDT and an aftershave splash. Both have lighter, airy notes at the top and are meant to smell "clean". Let's hope for something better in the future.

There were also new European skin care lines- alpine water and edelweiss flowers can only be good, right? Perfumes for kids (I admit not to get this concept. When my nieces are old enough to appreciate and enjoy scents, I'm getting them the real thing. I'm thinking a Lutens), and the house of Piguet still pushing Fracas instead of the new release, Futur.

Happy and scented, it was then time to deal with rush hour traffic back to Jersey.

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.

Barneys Co-Op Is Creative

This is what I found in my email this morning (click for full effect).

What is that and why am I supposed to want any of it? Can someone please tell me what I'm missing here? Is that makeup? Prosthetic eyebrows? I actually clicked and browsed the entire catalog, where I could see more of the same, but this photo (the front cover of their mailer) was the scariest. I guess looking good no longer sells clothes.

The ridiculous rolled/cuffed shorts on the right are nowhere to be found on the website, though. Maybe the "What Not To Wear" people got to them first.

Barneys Co-Op Is Creative

This is what I found in my email this morning (click for full effect).

What is that and why am I supposed to want any of it? Can someone please tell me what I'm missing here? Is that makeup? Prosthetic eyebrows? I actually clicked and browsed the entire catalog, where I could see more of the same, but this photo (the front cover of their mailer) was the scariest. I guess looking good no longer sells clothes.

The ridiculous rolled/cuffed shorts on the right are nowhere to be found on the website, though. Maybe the "What Not To Wear" people got to them first.

Barneys Co-Op Is Creative

This is what I found in my email this morning (click for full effect).

What is that and why am I supposed to want any of it? Can someone please tell me what I'm missing here? Is that makeup? Prosthetic eyebrows? I actually clicked and browsed the entire catalog, where I could see more of the same, but this photo (the front cover of their mailer) was the scariest. I guess looking good no longer sells clothes.

The ridiculous rolled/cuffed shorts on the right are nowhere to be found on the website, though. Maybe the "What Not To Wear" people got to them first.

The Bad Marketing Syndrome

Or: How to lose potential clients and alienate a blogger or two

Apparently, I'm lacking sass. Because I'm Jewish (it's the nose, I'm telling you). But don't fret. A press release from the PR company that handles makeup artist Ramy Gafni and his product line has the cure for me: A pink lipstick.
Confused? Don't be. Here's the brilliant pitch I received today:

What Do A Male Makeup Artist And Jewish Author Have In Common?
Author Taps Makeup Guru RAMY For Creative Spark, Inspires Limited Edition Lipstick

Do Shiksas really have more fun? Ramy Gafni, NYC’s celebrity makeup artist and brow guru thinks so. He has partnered with author Laurie Graff, to create a limited edition Shiksa Goddess Lipstick to coincide with the debut of Graff’s novel The Shiksa Syndrome. This lipstick has so much sass, you are sure to forget about the Challah!


SHIKSA: n. Yiddish
1. A non – Jewish woman
2. A quintessential blonde beauty
3. The polar opposite of the quintessential Jewish mother
4. A type of woman who instills deep longing in Jewish men
5. A Jewish boy’s dream
6. A Jewish girl’s nightmare

Seriously?

Would the lipstick make me tall and blonde? Is it going to make my nose smaller? Should I change my blog's name to something sexier for the sake of Jewish boys who dream of Shiksas?

Does anyone really think that it's a good idea to push a product with the message that one needs to hide/change/deny their heritage in order to look more appealing?
(At least they didn't mention gefilte fish. We should all be thankful)

I was asked earlier today if I'm offended by this spiel. I'm not. Ramy Gafny is Jewish and I doubt he or anyone at the PR firm had any bad intentions. I just find the whole thing beyond stupid. And challa has too many carbs, anyway.

Edited to add: Follow Up (and more bad marketing) here.

Image: from Segment no. 3 of New York Stories, Woody Allen's Oedipus Wrecks. The Jewish mother appears in the sky to berate her son until his relationship with the shiksa (Mia Farrow) falls apart and he replaces her with a Jewish psychic (Julie Kavner). Woody has made a career of lusting after blonde shiksas only to marry Soon-Yi.

The Bad Marketing Syndrome

Or: How to lose potential clients and alienate a blogger or two

Apparently, I'm lacking sass. Because I'm Jewish (it's the nose, I'm telling you). But don't fret. A press release from the PR company that handles makeup artist Ramy Gafni and his product line has the cure for me: A pink lipstick.
Confused? Don't be. Here's the brilliant pitch I received today:

What Do A Male Makeup Artist And Jewish Author Have In Common?
Author Taps Makeup Guru RAMY For Creative Spark, Inspires Limited Edition Lipstick

Do Shiksas really have more fun? Ramy Gafni, NYC’s celebrity makeup artist and brow guru thinks so. He has partnered with author Laurie Graff, to create a limited edition Shiksa Goddess Lipstick to coincide with the debut of Graff’s novel The Shiksa Syndrome. This lipstick has so much sass, you are sure to forget about the Challah!


SHIKSA: n. Yiddish
1. A non – Jewish woman
2. A quintessential blonde beauty
3. The polar opposite of the quintessential Jewish mother
4. A type of woman who instills deep longing in Jewish men
5. A Jewish boy’s dream
6. A Jewish girl’s nightmare

Seriously?

Would the lipstick make me tall and blonde? Is it going to make my nose smaller? Should I change my blog's name to something sexier for the sake of Jewish boys who dream of Shiksas?

Does anyone really think that it's a good idea to push a product with the message that one needs to hide/change/deny their heritage in order to look more appealing?
(At least they didn't mention gefilte fish. We should all be thankful)

I was asked earlier today if I'm offended by this spiel. I'm not. Ramy Gafny is Jewish and I doubt he or anyone at the PR firm had any bad intentions. I just find the whole thing beyond stupid. And challa has too many carbs, anyway.

Edited to add: Follow Up (and more bad marketing) here.

Image: from Segment no. 3 of New York Stories, Woody Allen's Oedipus Wrecks. The Jewish mother appears in the sky to berate her son until his relationship with the shiksa (Mia Farrow) falls apart and he replaces her with a Jewish psychic (Julie Kavner). Woody has made a career of lusting after blonde shiksas only to marry Soon-Yi.

The Bad Marketing Syndrome

Or: How to lose potential clients and alienate a blogger or two

Apparently, I'm lacking sass. Because I'm Jewish (it's the nose, I'm telling you). But don't fret. A press release from the PR company that handles makeup artist Ramy Gafni and his product line has the cure for me: A pink lipstick.
Confused? Don't be. Here's the brilliant pitch I received today:

What Do A Male Makeup Artist And Jewish Author Have In Common?
Author Taps Makeup Guru RAMY For Creative Spark, Inspires Limited Edition Lipstick

Do Shiksas really have more fun? Ramy Gafni, NYC’s celebrity makeup artist and brow guru thinks so. He has partnered with author Laurie Graff, to create a limited edition Shiksa Goddess Lipstick to coincide with the debut of Graff’s novel The Shiksa Syndrome. This lipstick has so much sass, you are sure to forget about the Challah!


SHIKSA: n. Yiddish
1. A non – Jewish woman
2. A quintessential blonde beauty
3. The polar opposite of the quintessential Jewish mother
4. A type of woman who instills deep longing in Jewish men
5. A Jewish boy’s dream
6. A Jewish girl’s nightmare

Seriously?

Would the lipstick make me tall and blonde? Is it going to make my nose smaller? Should I change my blog's name to something sexier for the sake of Jewish boys who dream of Shiksas?

Does anyone really think that it's a good idea to push a product with the message that one needs to hide/change/deny their heritage in order to look more appealing?
(At least they didn't mention gefilte fish. We should all be thankful)

I was asked earlier today if I'm offended by this spiel. I'm not. Ramy Gafny is Jewish and I doubt he or anyone at the PR firm had any bad intentions. I just find the whole thing beyond stupid. And challa has too many carbs, anyway.

Edited to add: Follow Up (and more bad marketing) here.

Image: from Segment no. 3 of New York Stories, Woody Allen's Oedipus Wrecks. The Jewish mother appears in the sky to berate her son until his relationship with the shiksa (Mia Farrow) falls apart and he replaces her with a Jewish psychic (Julie Kavner). Woody has made a career of lusting after blonde shiksas only to marry Soon-Yi.