She’s quirky. She’s cute. She’s played at Carnegie Hall.
The Village Voice calls her piano technique “awe-inspiring.” And today her first solo piano CD, “Place To Be,” is out.
Hiromi Uehara. Photo by Muga Muyahara.
I’m a big fan of Alexa Chung, the 26-year-old Chinese-British It-girl who hosted “It’s On with Alexa Chung” on MTV. (Too bad it got cancelled.) There’s just something about her that is so off-hand cool. I love her ever-undone hair and barely-there makeup look, regardless of whether she’s in a tiny cocktail dress or a neo-preppy getup.
Alexa Chung. Photo by Thomas Giddings.
Now Madewell, J. Crew’s heritage denim label, has just announced that Alexa will be designing an exclusive collection for its fall 2010 collection.
Maybe it’s sparkle overkill from the holidays, but my nude obsession continues.
This time, it’s Estee Lauder’s latest collaboration with Michael Kors called Very Hollywood Color Collection. The limited edition collection comes in gorgeous nude packaging that is the exact combination of matte and shine that you want in your spring nude lipstick. I love it just decorating my vanity.
Need a boost? How about a new ‘do?
We noticed it first when designer Phillip Lim sent his models down his Fall 2009 runway donning bowl cut wigs. Hmm. Kinda cool.
Emma Pei in 3.1 Phillip Lim, fall 2009.Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a model from Japan named Tao Okamoto walked practically every runway. The adrogynous, bowl-cut topped model donned tweeds and furs at Ralph Lauren, quirky separates at United Bamboo, and sparkling minis at Emilio Pucci.
“Nude” looks were all over the spring runways. From sporty khaki at Alexander Wang to aggressive minis in barely-there hues at Jen Kao to twisted and knotted nude chiffons at Burberry Prorsum, you’re going to want to run out and get something in this naked hue as soon as the dust settles from the mad rush that is the holidays.
A hard silhouette done in such soft hues at Jen Kao.
Estee Lauder may have a reputation for being an “older woman’s” makeup line, but I’ve always been a fan. To me, the brand is very nostalgic. My mother’s vanity was always filled with their products and I’d watch her tap and smooth and massage on the various creams with envy. As a teen, I would follow my mother to the local department store and we invariably stopped at the Estee Lauder counter. The gleaming gold jars, the pastel hued bottles … to me, that was glamour. Not to mention all the mini-sized freebies my mother would give me every time Estee Lauder had a free gift with purchase promo (which was fairly frequently). Every gift with purchase promo meant we’d be having a mother-daughter shopping date.
Since my teen years, I’ve branched out and dabbled in all sorts of different skincare brands. But I may have to return to my first skincare love, now that I’ve discovered Estee Lauder’s Hydrationist, the company’s newest moisturizer.
Totally not greasy or oily, it does what I never thought I could do — moisturize my T-zone without breaking out or developing an oil slick by midday. The scent is absolutely addicting — they actually took a note from an undersea coral that no human being has ever smelled! But most of all, I love seeing that gold-topped jar on my vanity. It reminds me of home.
Estee Lauder Hydrationist Creme for Normal/Combination Skin, $38, www.esteelauder.com.
Your girlfriend has always got your back.
Jittery about that first date? She helps you pick out the perfect outfit.
Two a.m. phone calls to gush about how sweet and gentlemanly he was? She’s ready to analyze every little move.
It’s been two weeks and still no phone call, email or even a text? She’s got a shoulder, a martini and a VIP guest list plus one for the hottest club in town.
This Global Girlfriend’s got your back, too. She’s making sure you rack up on some major karma points and look good doing it.
Global Girlfriend is a fair trade fashion company that works with more than 50 cooperatives in more than 20 countries, including right here in the U.S. They offer stylish, fashion-forward clothing, accessories and beauty products, all while empowering women throughout the world with self-sustaining work. And for each purchase, Global Girlfriend donates a portion of the proceeds to Camfed (Campaign for Female Education), dedicated to education and empowerment of girls and young women in rural Africa.
There are really only two times a year when you can go really crazy without raising any eyebrows: Halloween and New Year’s.
If you missed one chance to get yourself tricked out, treat yourself this coming NYE. Take a cue from the spring runways and try a pop of color in your makeup palette. Just a swipe on the eyes or a dab on the lips will make you stand out (no black light needed).
The easiest way to freshen up your look is with a new lip color. The hottest looks on the spring runways were a shade more fuschia or tangerine. Just keep it matte-ish and your look will look fresh, not dated.
Tao Okamoto in Bottega Veneta.You’ve been so good this holiday season. Treat yourself with these special deals.
Julianna Rae
AA designer Juli Lee offers luxurious lounge wear and lingerie, because the ultimate luxury is looking your best even when no one’s around.
Get 20% off at www.JuliannaRae.com. Use promo code AUDREY20 until January 15, 2010.
Julianna Rae “Butterfield Flirt” silk pajamas in mulberry, regularly $152.This time of year, I’m always prone to at least one over-indulgence, and I’m not talking about shopping. Whether it’s food, drink, late nights, or all three, I’m bound to find myself one morning looking and feeling like I’ve aged five years in eight hours.
That’s when I make a point to take a day to rejuvenate and pamper my long-suffering body. Some of my go-to bounce-back methods:
Avon Anew Rejuvenate Mineral Rinse-Off Treatment
First thing’s first. Detoxify! The best thing about Avon’s Anew Rejuvenate Mineral Facial Rinse-Off Treatment is the aesthetician-inspired brush applicator it comes with. Just like they do in professional spas, the brushing action is pure luxury in and of itself.
And with blue mineral clay infused with biominerals zinc, copper and calcium, you’ll detoxify, purify and speed up cell turnover all in one stroke.
Avon ANEW Rejuvenate Mineral Facial Rinse-Off Treatment, $25, 800-FOR-AVON, www.avon.com.
