A New York City Health and Beauty Blog

New York Fashion Week FW 2011 Fine Jewelry Preview

If you are a lover of diamonds and lavishness of New York Fashion Week, than you are in the right place. Lipstick and Luxury attended the fabulous New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2011 Fine Jewelry Preview  at the magnificent Soho House! The Soho house was beautiful filled with Moet Champagne, sushi, and cupcakes from Baked by Melissa. The NYFW Fall/Winter 2011 Fine Jewelry Preview showcases some of the hottest jewelry collection for 2011.  The five collections at the preview were absolutely grand. From edgy skulls encrusted in black diamonds to a rose gold necklaces pair with natural materials and diamond, the preview was filled with lux! So let’s talk jewelry!

N.oor

The Riviere Necklace from the Touche Du Bois collection

Noor Fares, a talent and young Lebanese jewelery designer has develop a line that combined the beauty of nature with the opulence of 18k gold encrusted diamonds.  One of my favorite collection is the Touche Du Bois ,which means  “Touch Wood for Luck”,  uses of wooden beads and the opulence of the diamonds and rose gold. One of my favorite pieces from the collection is the Riviere bracelet and necklace. These piece to me have  great Subtle details. One example of that is the sapphire set “evil” eye in Riviere bracelets.  The Touche Du Bois is a beautiful collection. Here are a few of my favorite pieces.

Here is a look at the sapphire “evil” eye on the The Riviere bracelet from the Touche Du Bois collection

Soffer Ari

One of my most popular items from The Black Collection is the 9mm bullet balled chain necklace. The tip is covered in diamonds and can add the edge to any outfit.

I love this Cabrini green heavy ring. This ring is blanketed in black diamonds with raw silver exposed.

The Soffer Ari collection can be described in two words,Rock glam. Tons of celebrities wear Soffer Ari collection including Taylor from Beverly Hills Housewives, Singer Fergie, and epic rocker Slash. This handmade collection used the best diamonds and raw silver. My favorite collections from Soffer Ari is the Black Collection. The handmade raw artwork from the collection has subtle and dangerous beauty. Soffer Ari has a diverse line that also includes clothing and furniture.

Gayle Grenadier


With a Egyptian influence and beautiful hand craving artwork, the Gayle Grenadier is full of detail. My favorite piece from the collection is this 18k gold cuff with diamonds and emeralds. I personally tried on the cuff and the detail is skillful. I also like that the designer actually studied Egyptian hieroglyphics. The Gayle Grenadier collection is full of history and luxury.

Alex Soldier

Alex Soldier is known for designing beautiful jewelry and fine art including the Prince Rainer III Award given to Denzel Washington and his wife Pauletta. One of the premier collections is the Alex Soldier Haute Couture collection. The Haute Couture collection is full of fine art. The meticulous handmade detail and allure. Each item is hand carved with a special made tool for this beautiful detailing. Up close the Haute collection is splendid and interesting.  Every piece from Alex Solider should be in a gallery.

I love the cuffs. It is a great accessory for any wardrobe.

I tried on this diamond locket and I love the structure of the necklace and the precise work. I love the white and black diamonds.

I had a wonderful time at the New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2011 Fine Jewelry Preview. You can never go wrong with diamonds.  I had a wonderful time.

 

Concrete Runway: NYC

NYC is one of the fashion capitals of the world and known to house some of the best runway shows in the world. Many people are not aware that in the streets of New York is where you see what New York fashion is all about.  I will give you a rundown of the best place to see and shop for fashion in NYC. Today I will talk about the stellar shopping in Union Square and the fashion forward  look in Harlem, NYC. Welcome to a sneak peek at NYC Concrete Runway!

Union Square


Manhattan is full of great places to see some fabulous fashion. Though I love Fashion week, I can see some serious style at several places in Manhattan. One of my favorite places to check out some style is Union Square. Union square is full of fashion and style. From the Uptown diva to the downtown diva, Union Square is one of my favorite picks to see some serious style. Fashion around Union Square is a snap shot of the style of NYC. Union Square is the best place to find a kaleidoscope of style and fashion. The best place to see fashion is at Greenmarket farmers in market Union Square. Some of the best fashions can be seen there.  Who knew that buying veggies could be so stylish.

There are also some great stores in the Union Square area you that need to be seen in order to embrace the style of NYC. One of my favorite fashion havens is Nordstrom Rack in Union Square! This is the best place to brand names on a knockoff budget. Everyone is having money issue with this recession so this is great for all my L&L divas and divos. So if you love great clothes and designer labels but you more is a bit short, than Nordstrom Rack in Union Square is it. Yeah Nordstrom Rack!

I love Vintage shops and Union square is filled with great vintage shops! If your look is vintage than high fashion than go to the fabulous Shareen Vintage in NYC. This shop is full of fashion goodies. You can find fashion gold in the racks of Shareen Vintage. They hold some of the best designer names and classic apparel than any huge department store. When you buy vintage, you buy a piece of fashion history. There are tons of vintage shops all over Union Square, make sure you explore Union Square for all it fashion treats.

Harlem


From the runway to the Boulevard, Harlem NYC has been an inspiration to many fashion designers and stylist. Many designers in the industry use the style and essence of Harlem as a muse to their collection. There are tons of places to go in Harlem to find fashion gold but nothing compares to 125th street! 125th is home to the legendary Apollo and some of the best fashions the city. From urban to chic, Harlem has it all. Just take the A train up town, get off at 125th street and look at all the different styles, looks, and up and coming trends that Harlem has to offer. Many do not realize that Harlem is the place where many fashion trends start.

There are tons of stores that are a must when visiting Harlem. First make sure you stop by House of Hoops by Foot Lockers. This store has the most exclusive sneakers on the market. If you are a sneaker head than this is you one and only stop you will want to make.if you are a lover of urban inspired fashion than definitely check out Atmos NYC, Dj Jays, and Jimmy Jazz. These stores have a great selection of apparel.

For all my cosmetic diva out there make sure you stop by two stores on 125th street, M·A·C cosmetics and Carol’s Daughter. Both of these stores has everything you need to get your makeup tight and you hair and skin look right. There are also many great mainstream and boutique on 125th, which makes shopping a breeze. I would suggest visiting all shops along 125th. There are some huge labels that call Harlem home like American Apparel and H&M. While the shopping at all the stores in Harlem is great, some the best items you can find are on the tables of the dozens of street vendors that lines 125th. I found some chic and reasonable accessories street side. You can get just about anything from the street vendors, from hoop earring to great novels. Harlem is a shoppers dream.

Well my L&L readers, this is the conclusion of the Concrete Runway: NYC  – Union Square and Harlem edition. Later on this week I will give you a look at the infamous Madison Ave in NYC and Soho!

Photo Courtesy

How Do You Organize Your Makeup?

Okay so you look fierce when you go out– not a hair or even an eyelash out of place and your skin looks so smooth that you’re already a walking airbrushed photograph. But how long did it take to make that happen? Only a few minutes, or did you spend hours on that gorgeous face? Well how many of those minutes or hours spent are actually time spent looking for the right makeup rather than putting it on?

If you are anything like me, you probably collect your old make up and keep it forever… Even if you don’t even use or like it anymore. Well it’s time to update. It’s almost a new year, get ready for a whole fresh new you. Throw out the things that you haven’t used in at least 6 months– YES even that moisturizer that has a little bit in the bottle but you feel wasteful throwing it out.

Once you are down to the things you like the most, find a good place to store them. I like stacking all of the flat eyeshadows in one area and I use sort of a Lazy Susan type box for all of my brushes lip glosses and virtually anything long and skinny. (You can pick one up at TJ Maxx for $6.99) I can turn it easily and just pick out whatever I want.

Then there is your on-the-go makeup bag. Keep it pretty simple– it’s fine to have a few things if you’re transforming from day to night but think about how many times you really reapply eyeliner and mascara when you’re out on the town. Personally, I like leaving my on-the-go bag packed up neatly with my other makeup because some of the items in it are for everyday use. I just use it, then zip it up and throw it in my bag.

Once you remove the clutter from your makeup area, I bet you will also be able to get ready quicker and better and calmer, since you won’t be stressed trying to find your reddest lipstick.

Hey, as you can see, I’m not so perfect either, but really it makes a huge difference in getting ready. It only takes me a cool 6-10 minutes to put my makeup on because I know what I have, what I need and where to find it.

Good luck and let me know how it goes in the comments.

by Brooke B.

Style Watch: The Bib

Originally, when I thought of the word “bib” other words like, “baby” and “spit-up” used come to mind, and certainly never words like “sexy” “necklace” or “funky”. Well the tables have turned for the little word “bib” because now every time I look around I am graced with girls wearing awesome and amazing neckwear with that of the same name as a baby’s spit-up cloth.

The bib necklace

The first hot bib I fell for was in the Roberta Freymann store– a thick blue piece of fabric studded with lots of non precious jewels and stones and 2 fabric ties to close it in the back… I had to have it so badly, but when I saw the price tag– $275, I decided I would find another option. Not that $275 is such an exorbitant for an awesome piece of jewelry, but I’m a frugal shopper so I was determined to find another way. Then while having a fun little shopping adventure at Daffy’s, I found it– the perfect bib. It was a thick piece of black fabric covered in tiny glass tubes with silver coloring inside each one and lots of little goldish brown beads and studs, by Patrizia Pepe. I snatched it for only $19.95 and now I’m able to wear it with everything.

The best part about a bib is that it dresses up even the most boring and simple outfit. If you have a plain white t-shirt or a simple dress on, throw on a funky bib. Since they are usually thick, they take up a good amount of neck and chest room so you only need one, instead of layering a few heavy necklaces. Also, you can tie it to be as loose or tight as you want. And hello, they are the perfect accessory to wear to holiday parties– plenty of necklace without too much glitz, sexy without screaming SEX.

So ladies, embrace the new and improved bib.

by Brooke B.

Art de Chanel, Temporary Tattoos

Chanel Tattoo

Chanel does it again! Chanel has added “body art” to their collection of glam accessories. These limited edition temporary tattoos are called Les Trompe L’Oeil de Chanel and can be purchased on the Chanel website for $75. The collection features 5 sheets (55 designs in total) of the double CC logo, two birds holding a sautoir necklace, a bouquet of wildflowers and several chain designs.

Les Trompe L'Oeil
Source: Chanel

This exclusive set was originally created for Spring-Summer 2010 Fashion Show in Paris but is now available to Chanel lovers worldwide. I love the look and think that this would be haute fun for a night out on the town. Worth it or not – what do you think?