I am going to be a perfume tester. No, not one of those annoying perfume spritzers spraying everyone who walks through the department store cosmetics counters (although the thought of that brings back memories of Obession). Instead, I’m actually gonna take part in a Fragrance Advisory Board program where I’ll be sent an unmarked bottle of perfume. I’ll fill out a survey about my impressions when I first try it on, and about my impressions after wearing it for a couple of weeks. I hope I like it!! I’ll blog about the process as I go. Just be aware, I may come up to you and stick my wrist out and ask you what you think of the scent. If you are a perfume fanatic (like me), check out the Fragrance Advisory Board’s website. It’s free to become a member, and you get to take part in online surveys and…
SHOP – Lanvin Mania at H&M
This is going to be THE fashion event of the year. At 8 am ET on Saturday, November 20, fast fashion retailer H&M opens the doors to hoards of fashionistas who will snap up every single piece of the Lanvin for H&M collection. If you are lucky enough to live near one of H&M’s flagship stores (NYC, San Francisco) you can wait in line for your chance to grab no more than two of the same item. I’m bummed that I will not have that chance, to buy a couple pieces of Lanvin for the masses. I predict the stores will be cleaned out within hours. OK I could drive up to SF early tomorrow morning and stake out a place in line. But it’s cold, and it might rain, and I’d have to leave home about 5 or 6 am to get a good spot in line. Even then…
SHOP DRINK – The tasting room comes to you
wine tasting kits The winery tasting room. Let’s face it. Often crowded, it’s not always the ideal spot to taste wine. But if you want to try a range of said winery’s offerings, the tasting room has been the place to go. Until now. You can have the tasting room come to you. TastingRoom has created wine tasting kits with four or six little bottles, each holding 50 ml (that’s 1.7 oz). This is the size of most small perfume bottles, and I say that because these kits remind me of perfume samples. You can get fragrance samples sent to you, and can try and buy perfume without ever leaving home. A terrific online fragrance store is Luckyscent. You can order a sample vial of any perfume on their website. Once you get it and try it and like it, you can order a bottle. If not, you’re out about…
SHOP – The Agony of Defeat, Project Runway-style
His pain is palpable, his dream crushed. On Thursday’s finale part 1 of Project Runway, Michael C’s elimination for a spot to go to New York Fashion Week is the most gut-wrenching of any over the past 8 seasons of the show. Whether or not you thought he should have been chosen doesn’t matter. I think we all cried a little bit with him. But man, that was tough to watch. Remember the open to ABC Wide World of Sports, where the ski jumper dramatically crashes off the ramp and into the crowd. Well now we have a replacement – Michael’s total breakdown on the runway and in the backroom. Seems many viewers thought Gretchen should have been auf’ed and I agree. WTF. Her collection isn’t just granola, it’s downright dowdy. Whatever. We all know Mondo will win, or will PR/Lifetime just screw with our minds on that too? What…
SHOP – Tim Gunn calls it like he sees it
Who doesn’t love Tim Gunn? At the end of last week’s Project Runway, he rocked our world by putting Gretchen in her place (finally!) and admonished her team, Luxe, for letting her run all over them. Wow. I had to rewind my DVR over and over to watch. It was a rare insight into what he’s seeing behind the scenes. Bravo Tim! Then he kicks it up a notch in his new book, Gunn’s Golden Rules: Life’s Little Lessons for Making It Work. Tim dishes on his observations in the fashion world, and has the nerve to call out Vogue’s Anna Wintour on her diva-like behavior. Oh no, Tim may be banished to fashion wilderness! Tim, we’ll follow you anywhere. I can’t wait to see Project Runway tonight, to see what the fallout of his scolding Team Luxe will be. At least he’s making PR interesting, something it certainly needed.…
SHOP – From Capri, custom-made sandals
I was on an Italian holiday, roaming the streets of Positano, when I happened across a storefront selling custom-made sandals. You could choose the color of the leather straps, the style — such as thongs, or toe rings, and the sole, whether it’s flat, a wedge or a heel. Several hundred feet later, there’s another custom sandal shop, with more brightly colored leather straps, and lots and lots of crystals adorning the sandals. My friend and I were trying on sandals to see what looked best on our feet, and got yelled at by the cobbler – he was impatient and wanted us to make a quick decision. We left in a huff, vowing never to buy from him. We searched Positano and Capri for other sandals, but his were the best. I went back the next day, swallowed my pride, and bought a gorgeous pair of pink sandals, with…
DRINK – Why I’m not at the Wine Bloggers’ Conference
Everything comes down to choices and priorities. That’s why I’m not attending the 2010 Wine Bloggers’ Conference (WBC) in Walla Walla, Washington this weekend. The reason is perfectly clear: Wine Women & Shoes is happening in Napa, and there was no way to attend both. Yes, shoes win out over wine. In fact, I always compare what something costs to how many pairs of shoes I could buy. An $800 bottle of Screaming Eagle? That’s at least two or three pairs of shoes. Personally I’d rather have the shoes. Oh don’t get me wrong, I love wine and spend way too much money on it as it is. But shoes you can wear more than once, and perhaps even for years. Wine is a one time deal. Once you pop the cork, it’s gone. Anyway, that’s my reasoning. Anything to justify buying yet another pair. No doubt I’ll be following…
SHOP EAT – Cartier Jewels and Chocoholics Paradise
I have to say Saturday was a great day. It started with going to the Cartier and America exhibit at the Legion of Honor museum in San Francisco. Talk about bling! More diamonds, emeralds and rubies than I’ve ever seen in one place. The focus was on American women who bought or wore Cartier jewels. At the turn of the 20th century it was fashionable for women of a certain social status to wear tiaras, whether or not they were royalty, and you’ll see a lot of them here. Seems like a quaint trend, can you imagine wearing a crown now? Some of Grace Kelly’s jewels are on view, including her 10 carat diamond engagement ring. Then there’s the set of jewels that Mike Todd gave Elizabeth Taylor — diamond and ruby necklace, bracelet and earrings. Wow. And, many of the Duchess of Windsor’s pieces (aka Wallis Simpson). Also on…
SHOP – Sarah Pacini knits and Crea Concept
It’s always so much fun to discover a new designer or line of clothing. I just came across the Sarah Pacini line (from Belgium) and I just love it! Knits are the focus, and the shapes and construction are very architectural. They’re easy to wear and flattering. Moderate price point, so one piece won’t break your bank account, but you’ll get so much wear out of it. The other line is the French company Crea Concept. A similar aesthetic as Sarah Pacini. Knits featured here too. Great layering pieces and easy and comfortable to wear. What’s fabulous about both lines is that they are unique — and not so widely available that you’ll see lots of other women wearing it. No doubt you’ll get a lot of compliments wearing these tops, dresses, bottoms.
SHOP – Lip color that lasts
While I was judging wine last week for the Mendocino Crab & Wine Days, I was also putting a lip color through its paces. I’ve tried so many lip glosses, lipsticks and stains that claim to last all day. I finally found one that lasts better than any of those. Covergirl makes Outlast, a lip stain that looks like one of those thin magic markers. My shade is 420, “Sassy Mauve,” a plummy stain. It held up pretty well after tasting 48 wines, with countless sips of water in between. My one caveat is that it makes your lips feel dry — but then I haven’t found any last all day lip colors that aren’t dry. Retails for about $8.