2 hours with Vincent Longo

No, my job does not suck. If I have to work on a saturday, it's for something so awful as a personal appearance with celebrity makeup artist (and namesake for his makeup line) Vincent Longo. So when my friend Meryl, publicist for Bloomies in White Plains, invited me to come in and work on a saturday, I jumped at the chance to interview Vincent and have my face done by him, personally!

The man is a fixture backstage at fashion week, making up the most glamorous models. And he may have just inadvertantly started a rumor that Hillary Clinton had a facelift (it was an eye pencil application technique he used on her!) But don't fault him for his brilliance. Longo knows his stuff, and that's why he's the go-to guy for celebrities like Michelle Williams, Gwyneth Paltrow, SJP and Claire Danes.

For me, he suggested the same technique...in order to "widen" the eyes...you simply rub the pencil on your hand, dab a small brush in it, and line your eyes using short, downward strokes. It makes a very wearable, everyday smokey eye. For me, he recomended lavender shadow and liner, to accent my blue eyes. While he says he wishes he could see every woman in a red lip this spring, for me, I stuck to the nudes, in what was likely THE BEST nude lip gloss I've ever tried. It's not too pink, and it's not too brown...it's just perfect. I went home with a little baggie of stuff (and believe me, I rarely buy makeup!) and even requested some more products from his PR. You can find Vincent's line at SPACE NK in Bloomingdale's in Manhattan or White Plains.

And for more of Vincent's tips, you'll have to wait for April/May's issue of The Wag!

Can't afford designer clothes right now? Drink your designer instead!

Jean Paul Gaultier has partnered with Evian Natural Spring Water to create a limited edition bottle for the fashionista who has it all, but wouldn’t mind a little more…

Fashion designers know that the key to a good collection combines the reinvention of ideas with underlying signature qualities, and Evian® Natural Spring Water is keeping true to these ideals with the release of their second annual designer bottle.

Available on ShopEvian.com for just $13.95, these Gaultier-designed bottles mark the second annual release of high-fashion creations from Evian. In late 2007, the world’s most luxurious natural spring water launched the Limited Edition Evian Bottle by Christian Lacroix, which quickly became a favored item with the trendsetting crowd. The Christian Lacroix Bottle was originally created exclusively for upscale on-premise venues, but due to its popularity, was quickly made available on ShopEvian.com and has also been found in retail stores across the country since in October.

Now that's a designer we can drink to!

You can get those cool jeans all the celebs are wearing on the cheap

Feel like he's "just not that into you?" Well, show him who's boss with a new 'do and a new you!

Fabio Scalia Salons Celebrates the Release of
“He’s Not That Into You” with Complimentary Blow-dries


The do’s and don’ts of dating…waiting for the phone to ring, the blackberry to buzz or the e-mail to come in, the movie “He’s Just Not That Into You” brings the trials and tribulations of relationships and finding a soul mate to the big screen.

On February 6th, the day the movie hits theatres, Fabio Scalia Salons – in Brooklyn and in Manhattan’s Jeunesse ‘Spas For Life’ – will run a “He’ll Be Into You Now” special, offering complimentary blow-dries between 2pm – 5pm.

White-hot stylist Fabio Scalia is eager to have women walking around with confidence, saying “All women should feel beautiful, no matter who is or isn’t calling, emailing or texting!”


Appointments are limited to first come, first serve basis.


Fabio Scalia Salons are located at:
Jeunesse ‘Spas For Life’ - 1885 Broadway @ Lincoln Center
155 Montague Street (Clinton and Henry Streets)

A muff in time....

Something about these are just so Grace Kelley.... and such a chic way to keep your hands warm this winter! yes ladies and gentleman, the "muff" has returned! Ootra makes an array of styles that are perfect for any occasion, for about $376 each. I'm predicting the muff will soon be making an appearance on the red carpet, too...

eco--chic

Ok, so admittedly, I'm just starting to be more eco-friendly. We only recently started recycling (I know, the "green" police are going to be after me soon!) and I switched to organic, earth-friendly cleaning products. I've also been eating more organic foods. As my new friend Sloan Barnett, author of "Green Goes with Everything" says, it's the little things, right?

Even your drink of choice can be eco-friendly now... there is a "green" vodka and plenty of organic wines (The Wag will have a feature on those in the upcoming March issue). And we've been hearing alot about eco-friendly fashions lately, too. What do you think of when it comes to eco-clothes? One friend said a "hemp potato sack" comes to mind, but my friend, you are sorely mistaken. In fact, one such line - Jonano, is far from it. They recently sent me a few selections from their line and I have to say, I am hooked. I love soft, wearable knits to begin with... not only are they comfy, but are appropriate for almost any situation and look great, too. In fact, with the economy the way it is and my focus on wardrobe longevity, I have been trying to incorporate more knits into my repertoire.

Jonano's Butterfly Bamboo Eco-Kashmere dress has to be one of my favorite's. Almost ANYONE can wear it - and it's great for work, play or throwing into your suitcase for a weekend away (it won't wrinkle!) Plus, while you are looking good, you can feel good too. Wear it with jeans, leggings, tights or in the summer, on its own. All of those things you heard about eco-clothes costing so much more?? This dress is just $78. A small price to pay for something you will wear time and again.

I also love the palazzo-style knit pants which feel like yoga wear, without looking like it. My mind is racing with all the places I can wear them too.

Check out their eco-chic line at http://www.jonano.com/

I am obsessed with...

The CASADEI pumps worn by Demi Moore at the Golden Globes and Eva Mendes for a recent event. Finally, celebs are putting aside the usual red carpet Louboutins and upping the glamour factor for a "fresh" foot forward...(even though the shoe brand has been around for half-a -century) and these were worth it...

We could all use some sexy secrets now and then..

Yes, I'm in this month's Cosmo Magazine, spilling a few secrets. So here's another one I can let you in on....the editors of Cosmo have released a cool new book with even more sexy secrets than their magazine offers: COSMO’S SEXIEST BEAUTY SECRETS: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO LOOKING GORGEOUS (Hearst Books; November 4, 2008).

Just a few cool tips from the book:

- Shrink a zit instantly by dabbing it with toner then placing an ice-cube (wrapped in tissue) on the bump for one minute. Last, use a spot-treatment product before dotting on concealer.

- Get the shiniest hair imaginable by using an at-home clear gloss treatment, which will infuse your strands with potent polishers like silicone, jojoba oil, and vitamin E.

- Make your eyes look larger by rimming the inside of your lids with white liner. Then define your upper and lower lashes with a charcoal liner and finish with three coats of black mascara.

- Fake the look of fuller lips by blending a thin line of liquid highlighter along your cupid’s bow so light will bounce off it and play up this curvy area.

Now go out and get it for a sexy new you this New Year...

COSMO’S SEXIEST BEAUTY SECRETS
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO LOOKING GORGEOUS
The Editors of COSMOPOLITAN
Published by Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.
ISBN: 978-1-58816-725-5
Pages: 192 Price: $19.95
November 4, 2008

Everything you need for your skin in one little stick...

The same woman who brought us Freeze 24/7 has done it again! This time, it's a micro-dermabrasion treatment - in a stick! If you don't have time for in-office treatments but want the same results, you gotta get Reversital.

And now here's your chance: On January 12-19, socialite Nikki Haskell invites beauty connoisseurs and women of the world to visit the REVERSITAL Anti-Aging Team for an exclusive trunk show at Henri Bendels. Free gift with purchase of REVERSITAL MICRODERMASTICK while supplies last.

So get to Bendel's before it's all gone!

Musings

At the dawning of the New Year, I'm amazed at just how far I've come. Yes, 2008 was indeed a big year for me, with many, many exciting changes. However, some of the "smaller" ones amaze me the most. For example, I'm opting for a nightly mug of hot cocoa in lieu of that glass (or 2, or 3) of wine per night. And I'm even foraying into cooking and shockingly, somewhat enjoying it (even if it does ruin my manicure.) I've fired my cleaning lady and begun doing it myself (with gloves, of course) and not minding it so much (perhaps taking pride in the new home that we have worked so hard for.) Either I'm becoming domesticated... or I'm simply, growing up. At 31 years old, I've accomplished many of the things I could have only dreamed of by this age. My first book is coming out at the end of the year and will hopefully help millions of women and girls. I have a great husband, lots of family, a nice house, and wonderful life-long friends. I have a career that consists of doing what I love, a blessing in itself. Yes, it's true, most of what I write about these days or talk about on the news, involve fashion and beauty. But as I embark on 2009, here's to what's behind it. For those of you who think the life of a fashion and beauty editor is a shallow one, know that this fashion and beauty editor is quite fulfilled. The lip gloss pot is more than half-full and I'm darn grateful for it.