Monthly Archives: July 2011

Rambo’s Picks – Week of July 25, Tales of a Beauty Editor at Large

Text, Rambo

Edited by: VK

I feel sorry for humans, because try as they might, they’ll never have lashes as long and beautiful as my whiskers or hair that’s as soft as my platinum  gray colored fur, but I love them because they just keep on trying.

I applaud my owner for finally finding a hair color that succeeds in leaving her hair ALMOST as soft as mine. Before VK found John Frieda’s color mousse, every time she colored her hair I’d run to the garage to get away from the NASTY chemical smell, and I don’t like the garage – I’m afraid of the raccoon monster who sometimes breaks in to eat out of my dry food out of the big bag in there.

Last weekend, I discovered the solution to at-home hair coloring for you guys and girls who don’t want to deal with a trip to the salon and would rather hang at home coloring with your favorite cat. It’s called John Frieda’s Precision Foam Colour. We liked the 5N shade – medium brown.

WHY Rambo loves John Frieda’s Foam Colour- the 5

1.  It’s mouse – oops! Mousse and fun to put in your hair, kind of looks like you sprayed a whole can of that delish whipped cream on your head. Yum.

2. It’s designer hair color and as I’m a fashion writer’s cat, I like designer anything. After all, I spent my first year of life rolling around in Fashion Week swag: MAC Cosmetics, Make Up For Ever, Douglas Hannant fragrance…. Makes me purr!

3. It smells nice. You wouldn’t believe how nasty some of the hair color VK has tried-out in our bathroom smells. That Clairol she bought had me hightailing it out of the room even though I was curious and wanted to watch. Peuw!

4. It made VK’s hair glossy, almost like mine- everyone who comes over oohs and aahs about my shiny coat. [Just between us, her hair was looking wiry and I hate this word – frizzy – even, before I discovered this mousse color.] Shhh!

5. I found it at CVS – one of our go-to places for beauty because there’s so much fun beauty stuff, AND it was on sale for $9.99. Even at the regular $14.99, it’s a paws-up. Like Cybill [Shepherd] said, “Because I’m worth it”. Right?

I’m signing-off now ‘cause I’ve got to tunnel through the mascaras we’re trying to pick the best one for you guys next week.

Ciao Meow!

RK

Meet Hello Kitty’s New Little Sister, “Rebecca Bonbon”

Text, Vivian Kelly

Today, a dream came true – I got to meet Hello Kitty’s creator. I invited fashion friend and die-hard Hello Kitty fan, L. to come along. We slid into the very tail end of the meet and greet at the Royaltie$ Brand Showcase, at the Altman Building. True, it was a complete hassle getting parking – lunchtime on a July Tuesday – but 110% worthwhile in the end.

Hello Kitty’s creator, Yuko Shimizu, turned out to be a tiny woman with a neat bob, Betty Boop Mary Janes and a big smile. She’s also a creative genius who’s a bit shy and very modest. The tip sheet I scanned before meeting her revealed that her favorite fashion designer is Coco Chanel and that she admires illustrator Osamu Tezuka, who she calls “one of the greatest animation artists of all time.”

Ms. Shimizu started a licensing empire in conjunction with Sanrio on the back of a little white cat who never smiles. Her Hello Kitty character was part of a collection of petite purses she created 36 years ago. Kitty “blew-out” as retailers like to say, to the point where she became an independent character, who’s from the London suburbs because Ms. Shimizu was inspired by the UK’s “lovely English gardens and romantic novels.”

Since then, Kitty’s mug is on everything from toasters, to vacuum cleaners to clothing children and adults, thanks to the Sanrio company’s considerable clout. She’s even had a TV show and acquired similarly adorable friends including “chocolat”. You can see Kitty and her pals in life-size form in front of the W Hotel’s Miami Beach entrance. Too cute!

The latest addition to Kitty’s family we came to the Altman to meet is little sister, “Rebecca Bonbon”, Ms. Shimizu’s idealized version of a French Bulldog. This dog star, does however possess some catlike characteristics. No wonder – the character was inspired by a French bulldog Ms. Shimizu saw in a Magazine crossed with  her own black and white cat who  she says, “reminded me of a French bulldog”.

And the Story is….

“Rebecca Bonbon’s character is the most stylish Bulldog on the planet. She is from Paris and currently lives in a fabulous New York apartment overlooking Central Park. She has a charmed life, wears, chic outfits, loves to shop with her friends and adores sweet treats.”

Who WOULDN’T want to be Rebecca Bonbon? Apparently, just about everyone. She is popular worldwide and appeals to fans in Japan, Paris, Brazil, the UK, Germany, Norway, Russia, South Korea and now, she’s extending her fan-base to include the  USA. She’s even got a brand ambassador - Jennette McCurdy, star of Nickelodeon’s iCarly as her brand ambassador.

Unlike Hello Kitty, Rebecca is not in the Sanrio camp but has given her licenses to FME [Freemantle Media Enterprises].

As we left, L. said, “I had to hold myself back to not hug her, she was like a little doll!” Ditto for me. We squealed in delight over the little gifts Bonbon gave us: a tiny pink and black fan and stamp set. I’m looking forward to the weekend, when I can hit Kmart, and stock up on Rebecca Bonbon tees and accessories. They’ll be great to wear with my skinny black suits and to give away as fun gifts to my gal pals.

The High Waisted Hot Pant at Norma Kamali=Incomparable Old Hollywood Glamour

Text, Vivian Kelly

While stuck in traffic on I-95 heading South to Greenwich, I started filling my editor in about the content I’d be delivering as this season’s contributing writer for The Fashion List.

R.Scott French asked me what I liked at the Mercedes Benz Miami Swim Shows I’d just attended. I didn’t have to think hard and rattled-off: “Molly Grad’s Gottex, Mara Hoffman Resort, Norma Kamali and for accessories, Melissa Shoes.

With the exception of Mara Hoffman, all of these shows and presentations took place off-campus, ie: not at the Raleigh.

He replied, “Right, the biggies, yes, they’re good.”

The item I probably liked the best was the retro high-waisted hot pant the designers proposed as a bikini bottom. Granted, these three were not the only places I saw it but I was smitten by the Norma Kamali Resort models, PR Manager Sari Rifkin showed me at the laid-back trunk show on the roof of 1111 Collins Avenue, at the Dream South Beach’s Highbar.
Sari operated at New York City hyper-speed, despite the stultifying heat and I saw a lot of suits in a little time. These are the best kinds of presentations – they’re intimate as in you can talk to the models and ask them to pose just so [and they oblige minus the eye rolling you tend to get backstage at a big show].

Norma’s been designing beautiful pieces you want to LIVE in since she started out in 1974 and is known for her flattering pieces that are easy to pack and can be worn seemingly umpteen ways. True, she does magic with Poly Jersey, and those were great, but there was a gorgeous mesh with rhinestones that was irresistible in natural and grey. The Tie Swim Bottom looks vaguely diaper like but it’s sassy and offers coverage at the same time. As such, it qualifies as a high waisted hot pant.

I go into greater detail in my post for The Fashion List which will be going live in the next week or so, but in the meantime, here’s a pictorial of what I saw up on the rooftop.

Enjoy!

Groovy Gadgets- Benny Rosset’s Cia. Maritima Microsoft PC

WHAT & WHERE: The Windows PC Summer Showcase 8:30 -10 – the Raleigh Penthouse

Text, Vivian Kelly

Once upon a time, tech was geeky. No more – hipsters shell out big bucks to have the latest gadget, whether it be a Blackberry, IPad, Iphone, digital camera or a computer. It’s gotten to the point that you are starting to become defined by what tech toys you possess. My computer is like another body part considering how much I use it, so it’s got to be fun and fashionable. Tech, like cars and designer handbags, has become a status symbol.

Like many of you, I constantly change my laptop’s screensaver and will probably order the Twelve South computer case Theadora carries around when she’s reporting in Paris for Euro Cheapo.

While going up to the Penthouse, I thought that Microsoft was going to be showing us screensavers of exotic prints from Cia. Maritima and wondered whey they would do an event for this. Cool screensavers onto themselves are nothing new.  Last year, Microsoft gave us some designer stickers to adorn our laptops and those were fun but stickers start to peel and then you have to deal with getting the sticky residue off.

What was actually on display upstairs was much more exciting: limited edition Cia Maritima laptops!

This latest fashion meets tech collaboration between Microsoft and Cia. Maritima features Benny Rosset’s eye-popping turquoise/blue or purple/pink designs. There’s nothing like a limited edition of – fill in the blank – to get my blood going. Remember the Limited Edition Diane Von Furstenberg phone? It sold out as soon as it became available. I wasn’t quick enough and missed out.

No, we didn’t get a laptop, but Windows gave us a little candy – a wireless Press Lounge in the Raleigh Hotel Lobby, equipped with some PCs to work on in-between shows. I was happy to take advantage of the convenience and to take mini breaks to gaze at black and white photos of my favorite style icons on the lobby’s wall of fame: Kim Novac, Jackie and John Kennedy, Greta Garbo etc etc. Heaven!

Rambo’s Picks-Week July 18-MakeUp ForEver=The Cat’s Meow

Text, Vivian Kelly

Pick of the Week: RAMBO – Beauty Editor at Large

Rambo writes, “Our Editor in Chief, Viv, went to Miami to cover Mercedes Benz Miami Fashion Week Swim for our friends at The Fashion List. She was gone for  48 hours and came home happy and impressed by what she saw AND with 1 extra suitcase [purchased a.m. of departure]. I couldn’t wait to investigate. It was loaded with show paperwork [boring], an In-Styler Rotating Ironthat is truly amazing [more later on this and makeup – lots of it. Mmmmm.”

RAMBO made a beeline for my stash of Make Up For Ever samples the minute I threw them on the home office floor. Maybe he liked the peppy tagline on the packaging, “Created for Pros Perfect for YOU” or the selection: lip gloss, lipsticks, HD blush, primer or makeup remover, and the piece de resistance – #26 EYELASHES/Faux-Cils – ooh la la! Ours are red white and blue perfect for Bastille Day and/or the Fourth of July.

Of all of these he’s finally chosen a favorite: Make Up For Ever LAB SHINE STAR COLLECTION GLOSS IN S-2.

WHY RAMBO LOVES STAR SHINE GLOSS

1. My Editor wore it on the plane and it was still on when I welcomed her home with my signature paws up and headbutt.

2. It matches the YSL color our BFF, Theadora Brack, the cool Paris Correspondent for Euro Cheapo gave us. I love when things match – that makes me purr.

3. It’s the purrfect consistency. My whiskers didn’t get gloppy when I touched it. Like those Three Bears say, “It’s Just Right!”

4. When we run out, it’s easy to get – available at Sephora. What mall do you know that doesn’t have a Sephora? It’s one of our fave beauty bazaars. I heard they even allow dogs into the Paris one?!

5. It was free, which means, maybe I’ll get groovy Feline Tree House I’ve been jonesing for in the   Hammacher Schlemmer catalogue I’ve been rolling around on since Christmas! It’s only $799.95!

Mid-Summer Diary – The Mercedes Benz Miami Swim Shows: Miami Madness

Text, Vivian Kelly

On the last leg of my journey to this year’s MB Fashion Week Swim Shows, I had some time to kick back and organize my calendar for the next 3 days in South Beach.

That’s right – this is not a typo –  I needed to seriously organize my calendar. No, it ISN’T NYFW, but poring over my show calendar I found that I was triple booked upon arrival – not including the compulsory dash over to the Raleigh lobby, home of IMG’s Miami Command Center to pick up my badge to be able to gain access to the Raleigh Show venue.

I promptly tweeted this phenomenon out while waiting for my connection to taxi to the runway and get me out of Charlotte, NC and to SOBE.

Accustomed to being a live ping pong ball during NYFW for season after season, I actually considered if I could: hit the Inca/Warren Tricomi Presentation at the W South Beach on 22nd and Collins [4-7p.m.], the Khloe Kardashian/Nivea Tweet Up Event at the Soho Beach House on 43rd and Collins[6:30 sharp tweeting with K.K], and make the 6p.m. Caffe Swimwear Show at the Cabana Grande and the 7p.m. Dolores Cortes/Oasis Show, both at the Raleigh, 17th and Collins.

I forgot to mention that I’m backstage at my favorite show of this Fashion Week, Mara Hoffman, and have an interview scheduled post-show, jammed before the Aqua di Lara/Oasis show, starting at 9, another show also at the Raleigh at 10. It all ends with the Mara Hoffman after-party at the W’s Wet Bar, where I’ll get to have a close look at the limited edition cans Mara designed, and another shot at the interview if it doesn’t happen as scheduled at 8.

If all of the above sounds unrealistic, it turns out that it was.

A few hours later – WHAT Actually Happened:

I missed KK’s Tweet Up, the Caffe Swim Show, and the Inca/Tricomi event, due to renovations going on at the Hotel Shelley, up on 8th and Collins. I’d booked the cute boutique hotel to get some peace and quiet post shows. It was already cutting it close, but  all plans derailed when the Manager sent me in a cab [on them] to another South Beach Hotel Group property.  The result was an upgrade to the 3-star Catalina, directly across the street from the Raleigh.

That got me there in time to get to the Raleigh press credentials office and just make it into my seat at Dolores Cortes for the 7 p.m. show.

7p.m. Dolores Cortes Show was an animal print and feather story.

Yes, I’m referring to those ubiquitous Steven Tyler feathers he wore on American Idol that became the trend of the summer of 2011 with the teen set.

The main themes here were wild animal and tribal prints mixed in the shades of a Keywest sunset; fuchsia, lavender, orange and teal. As far as silhouette, there were loads of one pieces with enough cutouts to give you less coverage than a bikini a one-piece.

NEXT UP: Images from Mara Hoffman’s Resort 2012 Collection, which was undisputedly the show of the evening and Rambo’s Beauty Pick of the Week.

Hint: As I started unpacking, he made a beeline for the Makeup Forever lipsticks and glosses. Tune in tomorrow to see what he loves most.

Vacation, vacation! Via Spiga’s “The Vacation That Keeps On Giving.”

Text, Vivian Kelly

When this email from Alison Brod PR hit my Blackberry, I had an LOL moment.

It said:             “Need a vacation?” 

Uh, yes, but….we all need to keep on working and MAYBE we can EVENTUALLY take a really great one.

No worries. Via Spiga’s just launched a contest that gives you the chance to play at being part of the jet set if you win. It’s called, The Vacation That Keeps On Giving Facebook Contest

All you have to do is: Share photos from a past getaway for a chance to jet-set off to another fabulous destination

Ready, my frugal fashionistas? 

Here are the directions:

Upload your very best vacation photo to the Via Spiga fan page

(image does not need to include Via Spiga shoes)

What You Can WIN:

1st PRIZE: One lucky Grand Prize Winner will receive a $500 American Airlines voucher, plus a pair of Via Spiga shoes

 2nd PRIZE: One runner-up will receive two pairs of Via Spiga shoes

WHEN: Contest begins Thursday, July 14th at 9:00am EST and ends Wednesday, July 20th at 1:00 pm EST.

VISIT:  http://www.facebook.com/ViaSpiga

www.viaspiga.com

 There’s only one question left – where will YOU go if you win? 

On my list: Cap D’Antibes, and Capri,  because I fell in love with those two designations after daydreaming over the books, Hotel du Cap EdenRock Cap D’Antibes and In the Spirit of Capri at the Assouline Shop at the Plaza Hotel last night. Bon Voyage et Bonne Chance! 

The Cat’s Meow: Rambo’s Beauty Paws’ Up for July 12: Body Shop Body Butter Duo

Text, Vivian Kelly

As we all know, cats are finicky. What you might not know is that cats are a favorite; I’ll dare say, the animal of choice with many fashionistas. Vogue’s Grace Coddington even co-wrote a book with partner, Didier Malige. Check out THE CATWALK cats on Amazon.com, and you’ll see what I mean.

Back to our beauty pick of the week. I say “our” because FE  furry darling, RAMBO, is the first to jump on the Fedex boxes that comes into the office, but not any old Fedex. There is a SELECTION PROCESS in play here.

This week, Rambo’s purring about  the Body Shop’s  Body Butter Duo Beure Corporel in Macadamia.

Cats have a notoriously short attention span, so Rambo’s reasons are short and sweet.

WHY we love Duo Beure Corporel in Macadamia

  1. It smells delicious.
  2. The jar is easy to slip into your gym bag or even your purse if your skin is feeling particularly dry after a weekend spent on the beach or at the pool. That kind of exposure requires lots of hydration. If you skip moisturizing that beautiful tan you’ve gotten will flake right off. Ugh.  The jar is slim, compared to the copycat brands – you know who you are!
  3. We already liked the Body Shop’s regular body butter but even THAT is not always enough. More specifically, my heels are always dry and Eucerin is great but just to greasy for sandals. Same goes for my cuticles. Half of Body Duo is just for “Dry Skin Areas”.
  4.  It’s rich – even the  ½ that’s for “Normal Skin Areas”
  5. This jar of skin relief was free, courtesy of our friends at Bratskeir & Company. Thanks!

If Macadamia is not for you, consider the other flavors: Acai, Vanilla, and Sweet Pea.

I’m sticking with the Macadamia because Rambo says, “This is the cat’s Meow!”

Boo! Meet your scariest bad guy at the Aldrich Museum’s “Barrier and Trigger” Installation by Type A

Text, Vivian Kelly

As I make my final preparations for the babes and bikinis trip to Miami [Mercedes Benz Miami Fashion Week Swim] I wanted to discuss something a little more high brow. The Culture Vulture in me loves one of the Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art’s latest exhibits – TRIGGER by Type A.

 We made sure to meet the artists who created this installation, Adam Ames and Andrew Bordwin [together, they = Type A]
which addressed the topic of fear – a universal emotion, if there ever was one.

Type A’s  installation had us hooked so much so that we were the last to leave, after a nice chat with the artists and Aldrich’s Exhibition Director, Richard Klein.

The purpose of the project, the duo explained, was “to explore the reasons Americans feel the need to arm themselves.” This mixed-media installation is comprised of an ongoing series of targets, 35 x 23 inches arranged in neat rows which simulate the feeling of actually being in a target range.

FE friend, Helmut Brenner and I compared notes and came to the conclusion that the “bad guys” in the target range posters reminded us of the scariest stereotypes from our favorite Seventies’ cop shows an movies: Kojak, Mannix, The French Connection.

Richard Klein’s poster was the #1 seller in May.

We were each fascinated for different reasons. Helmut, a businessman who runs the Brenner Foundation] liked how the artists had combined notoriously non-paying art with a very commercial endeavor. The photographic images the artists produced  have actually been printed and sold as commercial gun targets by Law Enforcement Targets, Inc., a Minnesota-based company.

Me – I loved seeing all of my scariest bad guys all in one place and facing up to them and finally – FINALLY – putting those bogeymen to rest. It may sound silly, but the walk through was cathartic.

We’re all afraid of SOMETHING. Maybe it’s of the sketchy/scary guy hanging out in a phone booth, or a Rottweiler walking down the street with what “must be”  drug-dealers. Maybe your bogeyman is more “out there” .  Perhaps  it’s something out of “Night of the Living Dead”?

This is worth a walk-through. You have until December 31 to face-up to your scariest baddie.*If one of the targets really strikes your fancy, you can order one of your very own through Law Enforcement Targets, Inc.

To learn more about Type A, visit the Aldrich.org.