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Giorgio Armani Launches New Fragrance

paris - giorgio armani, in collaboration with l'oreal, is planning to launch a new set of fragrances called "onde." the three fragrances will be asian inspired and have sensuous, refined scents. each fragrance is inspired by a different part of asia - the middle east, japan, and india.

But I Thought They Sold Furniture?

www- pier 1 imports is taking a bold step in a new direction, having announced that it will soon be offering bath and body products to its customers. it will have five new specially bath lines coming out in january, including such collections as "freesia," "seaside mist," and "pink grapefruite."

Jemma Kid, Napoleon Perdis, and Petra Strand for Target

ww- target is known for offering mass-marketed fashions by designers such as issac mizrahi and erin fetherson - and now they can add cosmetics to that equation. the department store is launching collections with jemma kidd, petra strand/pixi, and napoleon perdis. each collection will range from $12 to $40, with over 80 products in each line available spanning from foundations, blushes, eyeshadows, and more! if you're balllin' on a budget, these new lines will be the perfect way to attain quality cosmetics for an affordable price.

IS "BOYTOX" THE NEW MENS BEAUTY TREND?

new york - according to new york magazine, heck yeah! whether you call it botox, boytox, or mantox : men have been lining up for the chemical fountain of youth at greater numbers. seth kugel just did an in depth article on this for the new york times. here's an excerpt:

“In general, the pressures for aging are far greater for women,” said Dr. Alan Matarasso, a plastic surgeon in Manhattan. “However, when we see a blip in the economy and how many people are going to be laid off today, you now have a 40- or 50-year-old advertising or bank or media person looking for a job,” said Dr. Matarasso, who is also a clinical professor of plastic surgery at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. “People have a tendency to look for vibrancy and youth. At times of economic downturns you will often see greater interest. It really ranks up there with an expensive haircut.”

image via nytimes.com

I WAS VERY WRONG TO NOT BLOG ABOUT THIS: TYRA BANKS & JANET JACKSON'S MAKEUP

new york - by now, i am sure you've already seen these photos. the make up is flawless and really their faces look beautiful. but there was something a little eerie about their expressions, especially janet. if i didn't know better, i would say she was being held against her will....but i could actually be right.

image via upscaleswagger.com

LASHING OUT AT SHU UMERA

tokyo - i've always loved shu umera for their lip colors, but now there's a new reason to be obsessed with them: their false eye-lashes. readers, these are the truth! i spotted them on beauty blog, www.fetefete.com, and fell in love. go to that site to get more details on each lash. these are all from the shu umera lash bar 2008 collection.


photos via www.fetefete.com

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THEIR OUTFITS, BUT THE SIMMONS SISTERS SURE HAVE BEAUTIFUL HAIR

los angeles - behold the simmons sisters at mercedes benz fashion week in l.a during the week. they are always highlighted in fashion blogs for their outfits - and i really don't know why. they never make strong statements from the neck down. but from the neck up, i've gotta say, their hair and makeup continues to be flawless. do you know who does their weave's. i'd pay a pretty penny to know.


photo via: bossip.com

A BEAUTY BOOK FOR BEGINNERS LIKE US....

new york to say this, i am awful at applying make up. luckily, so are a lot of other people. if your passion for cosmetics - or maybe, i shouldn't lump you up with me. the point is , and i am very embarrasseddoesn't quite match up to your knowledge of it, then check out this book: bobbi brown make up manual. the book is split in two handy parts. part one, which takes up nine chapters, discusses the basics of beauty. part two, which takes up the remaining three, gives you insight into "what the professionals know." look out for the tomb in january. it will retail for around $32.

ARE YOU READY FOR THE NEW BALENCIAGA FRAGRANCE?

www - ofcourse, coty prestige snapped up the license. according to womens wear daily, coty will design, develop and distribute the fragrance under the balenciaga name. this scent promises to be an instant classic. its scheduled to debut in spring of 2010.

image nichoas ghesquiere, creative director at balenciaga. image via dualite montreal fashion blog

WHICH IS MORE INSULTING, THE FACT THAT SARAH PALIN WIGS EXIST OR THAT RAQUEL WELCH IS MODELING THEM?

I DON'T THINK THIS IS GONNA CATCH ON: MENS SLIM RAZOR

london - james mcadam of london came up with this clunky contraption that is meant to give men the most accurate and comfortably close shave ever. i appreciate the idea, but the execution escapes me. where's the grace? the elegance? and functionality? trying to shave with this thing looks as interesting as it does dangerous. thoughts? in the meantime, i'm sure you are not surprised to know that its not yet on the market. there's not enough retail interest.

SO...COURTNEY COX USES BOTOX: ARE YOU SURPRISED?

los angeles - in a very frank interview with marie claire magazine the former friends' star admits to using botox, but says that it made her "miserable." 'I mean, I'm an actor, I've got to be able to move my face,' according to her, her husband loves her wrinkles and wants her to continue to age naturally. i applaud her for making such a bold statement. but she still gets the side eye from me. i'm not entirely convinced that she's not injecting some shots here and there....

photo via daily mail uk

I'M LOVING THIS: SONIA RYKIEL 40th ANNIVERSARY FRAGRANCE

usa - one of my favorite designers, sonia rykiel, has accomplished that only an elite group of fashion designers have: forty years in the industry. to celebrate this special landmark, she's debuted a new fragrance called belle en rykiel. it has notes of frankincense, lavender, red currant, and coffee blossom. its available for cheaps too: $85, at bloomingdales accross the country.

AVON GETS THE CHOP FOR FALSE CLAIMS

london - ever the sense that these beauty companies are totally fibbing about their claims? well you are right, and this time the culprit is avon. according to the daily mail in england, avon is being forced to rip down ads for their anti-wrinkle claims because - gasp - they've over exaggerated their claims about the cream removing wrinkles. apparently, it has more moisturizing than wrinkle removing properties. are you surprised?

pic via agingfabulous.com

IS IT JUST ME...OR IS THIS HAIRSTYLE NOT HALF AS FLATTERING AS JENNIFER LOPEZ THINKS IT IS....

usa - here's lopez at an event sponsored by elle magazine. this has to be about the fourth or fifth time i've seen her in this style....

IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW...BEYONCE'S RING IS....

usa - 18 karats and worth nearly 5 million u.s dollars. this is according the england's daily mail newspaper. it is also reportedly a very rare stone that is said to be totally flawless. beyonce's husband, jay-z, purchased the ring from lorrain shwarz jewelers. good for beyonce. personally, i don't necessarily require all this fabulosity. a tiffany's engagement ring and wedding band in platinum with a princess cut diamond will do just fine. someone please tell my boyfriend.

BEAUTY MARKS: ANGELINA JOLIE'S TATOOS

los angeles - the blogosphere is going crazy over these tats. like jolie i think they are strange and beautiful. how much do you want to bet though that in the next two years, there will be six more of these coming?

KEYSHIA COLE'S ADS FOR LUSTERS...I LOVE, DO YOU?

OY! FORGIVE ME!

new york, new york - it's not for nothing that i call myself a "style and beauty writer." i love grooming and beauty and love writing about it. unfortunately because of this my sched is usually filled with deadlines and it's tough to blog. continue to hang with me dear reader. this blog will only get better - and consistent - with time! xo,zb

CHRISTOPHER KANE AND SHISHEIDO UNITE

london - two lovely brands got together for an even lovelier collaboration: london designer, christopher kane and make up giant shisheido. agyness deyn and japanese celebrities, anne watanabe, chiaki kuriyama, misaki ito and yuri ebihara all modeled distinct looks by kane for the campaign.

LEGENDARY CELEBRITY MAKE UP ARTIST PAUL STARR FOUND DEAD

los angeles - angelina jolie, jessica alba, and jennifer garner are just a few of the celebs who turned to legendary make up artist paul starr for flawless beauty. yesterday, the 48 year old was found dead in his apartment. the cause of death is unknown at this time. jolie once said of him, " during the time we have spent in the make up chair, we have talked about everything but the photo shoot; global issues, babies, human rights." 

photosource: www.nymag.com

GUESS WHAT NARCISO RODRIGUEZ IS DEBUTING?

worldwide - is it the year of the fragrance, or is it that i am just now becoming aware of all these debuts? either way, i am extremely thrilled about this one: classic womenswear designer narciso rodriguez is debuting a new fragrance. no word yet on the name, price or ingredients of the fragrance, but its been revealed that it will debut in  june. 

photo: rodriguez' previous fragrances; www.sephora.com

LALICIOUS GOES COMPLETELY NATURAL

worldwide - lalicious ( i love their name!) has something special on the market: they are debuting a new line of totally natural soaps that go on the market today. the star of this line up is the whipped body soap. fans of the brand will also include "reformulated all-natural paraben-and sulfate-free products." interested? check out henri bendel which stocks the products. (212.247.1100) 

photosource: www.lalicious.com

BRAD PITT QUIETLY PARTNERS WITH KIEHL'S ON A CHARITY PROJECT

new york - leave it to brad pitt to redefine the way celebs do endorsement deals. the legendary actor has teamed up with legendary skin care giant kiehl's to launch a new product: aloe vera body cleanser, which retails for $16.50. whats so special about this one, besides having such a hot dude promoting it, is that it's 100% biodegradable. (but aren't all soaps essentially biodegradable!? tell me if you know different.) in addition 100% of the proceeds are going to JPF Ecosystems, a non profit which pitt has launched with kiehl's.

ANOTHER REASON WHY BRONZING IS BETTER: TOPLESS BATHING GOING OUT OF STYLE....

france - at least that's what those in the know are whispering in vacation hotspots in france. apparently in hot spots like cote d'Azur and pampelonne's beach in st. tropez, more and more women are choosing to cover up. it could be for decency's sake....but it could also be because implants are not safe in the sun. but what do i know....?


photo: beauty.ie

MUSIC TO MY EARS: DIOR HIRES A NEW HOUSE D.J

worldwide - this is beyond interesting...so guess who just snapped up a very dynamic title at the house of dior? harley viera-newton. the british born, l.a bred deejay will now be responsible for various music related duties including creating "playlists inspired by Dior Beauty’s seasonal color collections, consult on product launches and host and DJ events for the brand." i can't tell if this is the result of great luck, great talent, or great connections. something tells me that it's a combo of all three.

IS DIDDY THE KING OF FRAGRANCES?

worldwide - i tend to agree. maybe "king" is a bit of a bold statement, but there's no doubt that puffy, aka diddy, aka sean combs, is doing it big with fragrances at the moment. though he's relatively new to the industry, his signature mens' fragrance, "unforgiveable" is already a best seller and has won a fifi award. now he's banking on this luck with a new fragrance, which is rumored to be called "i am king." according to womens wear daily, the fragrance will debut exclusively through macy's this december and will go global next february. a companion fragrance, "i am queen" will debut in 2009 for women. i know you are chuckling (so am i.) but there's nothing funny about the coins diddy is scheduled to make from this: $100 million in the first year alone. and he don't stop.....

photo: www.nymag.com

ARE YOU READY FOR THIS SHOT!? TOM FORD'S NEW FRAGRANCE AD CAMPAIGN FEATURING ERYKAH BADU

worlwide - please discuss amongst yourselves. i think the ad is fabuloso. the fragrance debuts september 1st. my calendar is already marked. 

AN INTERNSHIP I WOULD TAKE IF I WAS STILL 18: HALSTON

new york - blaynistas, guess what i spied on fashionista.com? a post for an internship with halston. i don't need to tell you that halston is the classic american brand that was recently revived by millionaire film maker, harvey weinstein and also recently fired its creative director? well, they need interns for the show room and p.r division and they need it asap. the internship is not paid, must be for college credit and must be from 8 a.m to 2m or 2m to 7pm, at least two days a week. if you are interested send your info to lisa byrne. her email addy is lisa.byrne@halston.com. 

CAROLINA HERRERA HONORS THE NEW YORK MAN

new york - i have yet to smell this fragrance, but i'm already excited by the name: 212 Men. it is carolina herrera's new homage to the men of the big apple and beyond. the packaging, as you can see, is sleek, simple and powerful. the fragrance has notes of tangerine, pepper and musk. grab a bottle at sephora stores nation wide and online at www.sephora.com. 

TAKE A LOOK AT SHOTS FROM ARMANI BEAUTY'S LATEST CAMPAIGN

worldwide - it features model, sasha. what do you think? i loves. the pics are from fashionweekdaily.com's chic report.

FELLAS, SPEAK UP: IS "TAXI MAN" MAKE UP FOR YOU?

london - i mean, this is soooo wrong it's right and vice-versa. i am talking about "manscara," "guyliner" and other make up products formulated specifically for men by peter kelly of taxi man, a new line of make up for men. "we’ve developed essentials any guy would borrow from his other half," said kelly. "it’s about subtle make-up rather than wanting to create the drag queen look.” at first blush (pun intended) it might sound crazy, but it's catching on. large london high street retailer, superdrug, has already picked up the line which is selling in its' stores across the u.k.

photosource: russel brand in guyliner, left, from getty images. and taxi man promo shoot and prphoto.com

WHAT DOES 90210 HAVE TO DO WITH NAIL POLISH!?

usa - according to o.p.i, a whole heaping lot. the nail care company has announced that it will debut a range of nail colors this upcoming fall "inspired" by the adventures of dylan, donna, brenda and friends. the timing will coincide with the debut of the 90210, which has been revived with a blend of new and old cast members. the show will air on the c.w network. stay tuned for more deets.



photosource: popcrunch.com

GIVENCHY TRIED IT WITH THIS AMAZING MASCARA

worldwide - so the beauty blogosphere is buzzing like crazy about this amazing new mascara from givenchy. it is called phenemenon eyes and it just became available on the market. what set's it apart from from many products on the market (besides giving you all the haute couture fabulosity of the givenchy brand) is its shape. as blogger avril o'connor explains, "Givenchy has created a brand new way to apply mascara with a spherical brush that can be manoeuvred to any position, reaching even the tiniest lash to give spectacular results. There is optimal separation of lashes and no clumping. The formula is based on water and a cutting edge polymer. When the mascara is applied, the water evaporates, allowing the polymer to form longer and thicker lashes. It also contains D-Pathenol, which feeds the lashes from the inside." all that equals a product that's worth every single bit of it's $35. get it online at www.sephora.com.
photosource: http://avriloconnorsanti-agingdiary.blogspot.com/

Calvin's Secret Obsession

worldwide-
can't stop staring at Eva Mendes's ummm....face? yeah right. and the saying goes "sex sells"

the pic is an ad for Calvin Klein's new Secret Obsession women's fragrance...oh so hot and steamy...well maybe a little to HOT for TV....

TV censors has prevented Coty from running this risqué ad of the actress, which was shot by Steven Meisel (famous photographer who shot for the Black issue of Italia Vogue)

the scent is due out this fall...want to see more?
don't worry go to: secretobsessioncalvinklein.com
the site features more hot shots of Eva Mendes in the print campaign
check it out...with a glass of water...

(pic courtesy of WWD.com)

Revlon Product Re-Up

Worldwide-
Jessica Alba is a true natural beauty indeed so of course Revlon would have her as a face of their product

she is the face of Revlon's two upcoming makeup lines Beyond Natural and Almay’s Bright Eyes, which will hit stores, Launching this month at food, drug and mass chains


the lines include "a primer, foundation, two-in-one concealer and highlighter, eye shadows, eye pencils, mascara, cream lip gloss and a lip tint with SPF 15," (WWD) which retail from $7.99 for mascara to $12.99 for the primer

as of July 30th, Revlon generated $799.9 million in sales in food, drug and mass stores

continuing in its fashion, the company is also expanding its existing Revlon and Almay assortments...

looks like its going to be another busy and successful year for Revlon...

AVON AND MARIMEKKO UNITE

worldwide - oh this is sexy, especially coming from avon. but then again, maybe it's time that i stopped sleeping on this beauty giant. the american based beauty company has linked up with legendary finnish textile company marimekko for a line of make-up and eyeshadow pallettes. i love the rich colors, quality and (best of all!) price of these products. they retail for only $8 to $10 bucks and can be bought online at www.avon.com or through your local avon lady. loves it!

photosource: beautyinreallife.blogspot.com

DIOR HOMME SPORT LAUNCHES IT'S ADS WITH JUDE LAW

worldwide - yes!!! i am loving it, which is refreshing because it's been a really long time since i've cared a whit or jude law. now endorsements from clothing companies like dunhill and grooming ones like dior homme sport are making him very relevant - and cute. check out this ad. what do you think boys and girls?

photosource:nymag.com

BOYS, DID YOU LOVE YOUR GIRL IN CALVIN KLEIN'S EUPHORIA? GET READY FOR YOUR OWN!

worldwide - gotta love calvin klein (and coty prestige) for a steady stream of fabulous mens scents. and with their latest rollout, they are not about to dissapoint. their ultra popular womens fragrance - euphoria - is set to debut its mens version. the fragrance itself is described as "oriental amber," with key notes of ginger, sage and wood. it is available starting next month at specialty and department stores in the u.s. it retails at a very comfortable $65 for 3.4 oz.

KENNETH COLE CELEBRATES AN ANNIVERSARY WITH MEN

worldwide - first off, can you believe it's been 25 years since the launch of the kenneth cole label (we share a birth year!). to celebrate this milestone, they are relaunching their successful mens fragrance kenneth cole black in a limited edition silver bottle. of course, it's not just any old silver bottle. it's one with a special anniversary logo stamped on the top. why all the hoopla? well, the fragrance itself is celebrating five years this year. starting next month you can purchase a 3.4 oz version of this product for $65 ay kenneth cole boutiques all over america , and worldwide at kennethcole.com.

Ed Hardy's Love & Luck

we are all too familar with the tatoo-inspired fashion brand Ed Hardy...

just about every celeb is rockin it and and it's women's and men's scents are just as popular

last February Ed Hardy for Women and Ed Hardy for Men was an instant success breaking into the top-20 prestige fragrance ranking in March

its designer Christian Audigier plans to follow up with a duo called Love & Luck which is slated for December...

can't wait!