Day of the Dead (skin)

Did you know that the day after Halloween is also Mexico's celebratory Dia de Los Muertos or Day of the Dead, to honor loved ones who have passed? Well just in time, one of my favorite NYC spa chains (about to open one here in the 'burbs as well) has teamed up with Inocente tequila and deemed November 1st the “Day of the Dead Skin,” or a time to celebrate sloughing off itchy, dry skin with a fun new scrub that combines Inocente’s tequila, with other ingredients like Dead Sea Salt.

The spa says the new treatment, called “Inocente Citrus Margarita Body Scrub,” is an exotic recipe of ingredients, that combined, will invigorate the mind, body, skin and senses – without the hangover:

4oz of Dead Sea Salt
2oz of Grape Seed Oil
1oz of Inocente Tequila
3 drops of Lemon Essential Oil

· First, the ingredients are combined and heated to be warm and soothing.
· Then, an Oasis Day Spa therapist thoroughly exfoliates the body from head to toe, using the Margarita Mix.
· Once the body is scrubbed smooth, an aloe body wash is used to remove all traces of the Margarita Mix. It is rinsed away with the exhilarating Vichy Shower.
· A “chaser” of Citrus body lotion completes this treatment.

Go to http://www.oasisdayspanyc.com/ for info on booking an appt. for this treatment which will be available only for the month of November.

Turning into a pumpkin...

I love the fall. The fresh crisp air, the changing of the leaves, the beautiful colors, and of course...the pumpkins! This beauty in the burbs, is from upstate NY, afterall. Anyway, it's always been a flavor I've enjoyed, whether in a yummy home-baked pie or a latte from Starbucks. But did you know Pumpkin is also good for your skin too? Rich in beta carotenes, zinc and vitamins C and A, pumpkin is used as the central ingredient in many skincare treatments (plus it smells darn good, too.) So when I discovered this Lamas Beauty Pumpkin Spice Polish 3-in-1 facial, I was hooked for seasons to come. It smells good enough to eat (but please don't!) and is packed with pumpkin enzymes and fruit acids to gently dissolve dead skin cells and clear away dirt and debris, leaving skin fresh and glowing all season long! Just $21, at http://www.lamasbeauty.com/

Ironing out the details...

I have many, many friends who take a straightening iron to their precious locks on a daily basis. But did you know, the type of iron you are using could have a huge effect on the overall health of your hair? I found this Izunami Ceramic iron which flattens in a flash - without putting your hair through hell. It's a stylist's favorite but you don't need a personal stylist to get one - it's just $210. Check it out on http://www.izunami.com/

A sneak peek at my interview with design legend Nicole Miller!

This will be published in my fashion column in December's issue of The Wag!

On Pins and Needles…

What do voodoo and couture have in common? Hint: it has nothing to do with traveling to Haiti in your finest clothes. But ancient cultures and faraway places are what inspired Nicole Miller’s spring collection, which she unveiled at Bryant Park in September. I sat down with the famed designer (whose gowns have graced the likes of Ivana Trump, Jennifer Aniston and Darryl Hannah) at Neiman Marcus in White Plains, where she dressed some “regular” women too, and dished about what every woman should have in her closet (and why you should toss your tweed.)

Wag: Tell us about some of the key pieces in your spring collection?
NM: well of course I’m famous for my prints, so we did these drapey dresses in silk-jersey but instead of my traditional gowns and eveningwear, I added a “daytime line,” [which is available this season at Neiman Marcus] that included separates like slouchy pants that balloon out and taper back in at the ankle.

Wag: Definitely sounds like something we haven’t seen before…
NM: Yes, I never follow the trends. Everything in the Nicole Miller collection is not reflective of what’s going on in fashion at the time. It’s truly original.

Wag: Sometimes, a woman can be in their 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, and still haven’t figured out how to find her own personal style. What advice would you give to all women?
NM: I would say focus on your best assets. If you have great cleavage, a small waist or thin ankles, emphasize that. And don’t worry about the trends. There is no one “trend” anymore. Simply dress to what suits you! Certainly don’t get stuck in the “age” mindset. When women hit a certain age, then they automatically start dressing in tweed. That sort of thing makes you look ‘old.’ There are no age limits. You can wear anything you want, as long as it suits you.

Wag: How can our readers recycle some items in their current wardrobe for the season?
NM: Don’t throw out what you think is out of style, throw out whatever doesn’t make you happy anymore. A great sweater piece is always a keeper and then something classic like a navy dress is easy to update with some colorful tights and a great scarf.

Come see me at Bloomies! 10/23

Bloomingdale's - Events
Source: www.bloomingdales.com

If you are in the Westchester area, come see me at Bloomingdale's White Plains for a personal apperance on 10/23 from 1-4!

Top 10 Hottest Hits of the Season
October 23, 2008 1pm - 4pm

Join us as we count down the top 10 Bloomingdale's most sought-after trends of the season with Style Expert and Fashion and Beauty Editor for "The Wag," Jene Luciani. Check out our play list of looks as our models rock styles from second-skin pants to siren dresses and everything in between! Jene will share with you her inside tips for making each look your own. The beat goes as our DJ plays the season?s hottest tunes. The New View, Level 3

Fashionable Geographic..

So get this - Scientists finally unveil what the first Neanderthal woman was believed to have look like. "Wilma,” (as in Flintstone?) is the first life-size, scientifically accurate reconstruction of a Neanderthal woman, based on fossil anatomy and ancient DNA. (um, it's about time)

In October's issue of the magazine, editors decided to have former Project Runway contestants "dress" Wilma (instead of BC think BS aka "before stylists." Now, we couldn't let that happen to Wilma now could we??)

From vintage fur and dinosaur teeth to leather and animal bones, designers had to work with fabrics that would have been typically available to Wilma thousands of years ago. Call it Dinosaur Couture!

Click here to see the sketches Joe Faris (season 5), Johnathan Kayne Gillaspie (season 3), Blayne Walsh (season 5), and Terri Stevens (season 5) came up with. Also see how they stack up next to the designs of two National Geographic editors.

http://ngm.typepad.com/pop_omnivore/2008/10/project-runway.html

Cinderella's slippers

Ok, so I'm just saying... those blue satin Manolo Blahniks from Sex and the City? THEY take my breathe away. And you can get them at Neiman Marcus, for a mere $900 bucks. I'll be busting open the piggy bank for this one.

Coming soon...my interview with renowned fashion designer Nicole Miller!!!!! Find out how she was inspired by voodoo dolls!!!!!! I bet you are on pins and needles.