The FUMI Purse Hook

Now that you’ve got that $1,000+ ‘It’ bag, you want to take good care of it (i.e., not hanging on the chair or resting it on the filthy floor). At home of course you can store it in it’s labeled dust bag but what about when you’re out and about?

There’s the purse hook. And then there’s the FUMI. The FUMI is a new kind of purse hook. It’s a “Fashionable, Unique, Multipurpose Innovation” purse hook that triples as a handbag hanger, handbag accessory and bracelet. The FUMI comes in silver and gold tones, as well as with leather reptile or animal prints and you can accessorize with handmade purse charms. And with names like ‘Vibrant’, ‘Glamorous’, ‘Courageous’ and ‘Confident’, the FUMI brings good luck and positive energy to you and your bag!

$24.95, Purse Hook.net

Art as Scent: Wode by Boudicca

I read about the new scent paint called Wode by Boudicca, and was very intrigued. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it!

Wode is described as a revolutionary art fragrance. It comes in a fancy spray paint can and sprays on blue. Yes, blue! Within minutes, the color disappears and all that remains is the delightfully woodsy scent with hints of spicy herbal notes.  The scent is really nice, and lasts all day. But what I love the most is just the whole allure of the product. I have been wearing this scent every day since I received it, because it is just so fun to come fresh out of the shower and spray this cobalt blue (disappearing) paint on. It is a really great concept, and has a great mythical story about Queen Boudicca as its inspiration. You can read all about the scent paint on the Wode website and if you are in Manhattan, you can purchase this fragrance at Project 8, a really cool store with wonderfully friendly staff. They are located at 138 Division Street, New York, NY.

If blue’s not your color, Wode also comes in a traditional fragrance as well. If you’re looking for a unique Valentine’s gift for the beauty addict that has it all, I’d recommend picking up a can of Wode scent paint. Your Valentine will surely love it!

The Cube: Marshall’s “Hip to be Square” Boutique Concept!

Huey Lewis said it was hip to be square but he had no idea just how hip! The hippest square around now is The Cube at Marshall’s. The Cube is a mini boutique – sort of a store within the store.

I was already a fan of Marshall’s – I love off-price shopping! You wouldn’t believe some of the designer pieces I’ve found in the past (like Dior sunglasses and a Valentino dress). So I was excited to receive a Marshalls gift card to go and check out the Cube. I headed over to my nearest Cube location (find yours here) and spied the Cube concept right away.

The items in the Cube are for a bit younger demographic than myself, but still had some great deals to be found. I spotted junior lines like Roxy, Baby Phat, Billabong, Express, and Seven Jeans and accessories - bags, sunglasses and shoes. The Cube is great for those of you who lack the patience of scouring the store and digging through the racks to find those special gems. For me, that’s part of the fun – the thrill of the hunt. But the Cube rounds up all the goods in one place to make your off-price shopping experience that much easier.

In the end, I only picked up a pair of Steve Madden boots. What can I say - it was a slow shopping day. But I can assure you it’s not my last trip to Marshall’s, and I’ll be revisiting the Cube as well. You never know what you might find!

No One Else is MoMoFalana

The single most effective thing in standing out from others is how you dress. It is entirely possible to attract the attention of dozens of people by simply walking into the room wearing the right thing. The woman who commits to having a style that truly expresses herself without fear will have a huge advantage in getting noticed. In a city as vast and varied as New York it’s very difficult to be unique…oh wait actually it’s not; just go to the corner of Avenue A and East 3rd Street.

MoMoFalana has occupied that address for 9 years. They have been carried by Henri Bendel’s & Barney’s and adorned the lovely shoulders of Sarah Jessica Parker in an episode of Sex and the City. Most recently they have caught the eye of Nicole Richie and will be featured in ad campaign for her new perfume. The designs of MoMo Falana’s dynamic duo of Maureen Roberts and Mike Lublin are so stunning because that was priority one, from day one. “We didn’t want any attachment to an established aesthetic”, said Roberts.

Lublin and Roberts are incredibly accomplished dye craftspeople. Their saturated colors and vivid designs are carefully planned out and painstakingly executed. Gorgeous long silhouette dresses that fit and envelop a woman are another hallmark and goal of these dynamic designers. “I encourage women to stop dressing like everyone else, to dress like they have always imagined.” Another testament to their skill is that although each MoMoFalana design is one of a kind, they are the best in the business at matching colors so they can give you the same look that you coveted on your friend!

To wear a MoMoFalana dress is to be unforgettable, their designs create impact. They do all of their own alterations so a flattering fit is a guarantee. Unique, bold and beautiful - all in colors so rich, you could get drunk on them. If you are in NYC be sure to head to the corner of Avenue A and East 3rd Street, where MoMoFalana has cornered the market on stunning.

Photos by Vered Koshlano

Four Gladiators and What to Wear For a Date with Craigslist

Don’t get me wrong, I love a gladiator. I wish I had one that worked.

I spent $650 on these Giuseppe Zanotti Women’s Gladiator Sandal last year and they just never worked. They always made me feel like Big Foot when I put them on, Maybe its the size 9 I sport, or the skinny ankle/wide foot ratio I was born with.

But a gladiator with a high heel, like the Sergio Rossi Momo Bis Painted Python Gladiator Sandal - that’s a different story. Now we’re talking sexy and tough, edgy and dangerous. Put these on and you will attract some very expensive attention.

In my dreams I am the woman who wears these Sergio Rossi Monochrome platform sandals with a short chiffon dress and a very important handbag to a very important job. These are for the few people left in the world who haven’t been bamboozled by Bernie. They won’t be buying them. Expensive shoes are going to be sitting on the shelves until sale breaks earlier than usual this year.

So I’m settling for these Dolce Vita Atlas Stud Banded Thong Slides. They’re tough and sweet and the color is different than the usual black/silver/gold gladiators I’m sick of. I’m buying these for the girl who got her ‘a$$ kicked’.

While I search Craigslist and hope that my horoscope is correct and things will change, these sandals seem sane.

Ginger Body Souffle…On sale!!

I am not usually a fan of spicy fragrances; I tend to go more for the sweet ,fruity scents. Recently I got a sample of the Body Shop’s Ginger Body Souffle and wasn’t sure if I was going to like the scent. After a shower, I opened the soufflé and the texture and scent was just delightful. It is like gliding silk onto your skin, so soft, light, and moisturizing. The scent is incredible and there is effervescence to it that is really refreshing. It is subtle, but long-lasting, and blends well with your fragrance. I regret not trying the Ginger line sooner, as there is also a scrub and shower gel too. There is no excuse not to give this body soufflé a try, as it is on sale for $10 right now, which is a total steal!

Beauty, Organized! Trish McEvoy Makeup Planners

As a self-proclaimed makeup addict, I probably have more cosmetics than I need. I currently store it all in a large train case, which is wonderful for organization, but not the easiest to access every time I need a touch-up. I recently went looking for a more portable solution, and I came upon the Trish McEvoy Deluxe Planner Makeup System. It is exactly what I have been searching for, and I wanted to pass on the info to fellow make-up lovers.

With Trish McEvoy’s planner system, you buy the planner, which come in a few different sizes, depending on your needs, and then you create makeup ‘pages’. I chose the petite-sized planner, as it is not too small, but still able to fit nicely in my handbag. There are a variety of colors to choose from, and they all have a two-ring binder inside, as well as cute pockets for brushes and sundries. I felt so excited just purchasing the planner, as I now had portable makeup within my reach.

I went to Nordstrom to create my first makeup page. Trish has these really cool black cases, that have holes to accommodate being set into the binder in the planner. You then choose all your own colors and all the make-up is magnetic and sticks right into the page. It is totally refillable too! You can create a page of powder and bronzer, another page with eye shadows and definer, and yet another with lip colors. The combinations you can create on a page are endless, and it was a lot of fun to get started.

If you are interested in this makeup planner (which you should be!), you can check them out at Nordstrom. Seasonal, petite refillable makeup pages are available often, which affords you all the colors to make a particular look. The planner system is so ingenious, I keep wondering why I didn’t get one sooner!

Haute Off the Red Carpet: the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards

Stars shined on the 66th Annual Golden Globes red carpet. Kate Beckinsale looked stunning in a sleek white J. Mendel gown that could easily be worn as a chic wedding dress.

Drew Barrymore looked astonishing and all grown up with a Marilyn Monroe hairstyle and a haute pale blue silk organza Dior gown.

Eva Mendes also looked amazing in Dior wearing a strapless white gown with a surprisingly flattering oversized bow down the front right side. A tiered turquoise choker accented the dress and her skin tone beautifully.

Beyonce wore her usual beaded creation but looked gorgeous as always with a diamond choker and her hair pulled back in a simple chignon.

Demi Moore and date, hubby Ashton Kutcher looked mismatched as they always do, but Moore looked pretty in a salmon pink dress with a crisscross neckline.

What were they thinking? With all of the stylists and designers clamoring to dress celebrities, I always wonder why some wind up on the red carpet looking like this! Here are the night’s fashion misses:

Anne Hathaway’s Giorgio Armani Privé royal blue silk gazar strapless gown, embroidered with Swarovski crystals looked bland against her pale skin and red lip and the absence of jewelry elongated her neck, giving her an overall look and feel of a peacock.

Maggie Gyllenhaal’s one-shoulder leopard print Lanvin dress didn’t follow the ‘less-is-more’ fashion rule. The print, mixed with the poufy shoulder plus the belt resulted in an overdone red carpet look.

Jennifer Lopez tried to channel her old self showing up in a barely-there liquid gold Marchesa gown. But the former ‘Fly girl’ is too old and not as toned as one should be to wear such a revealing dress.

Renee Zellweger aged herself twenty years with her bird’s nest hairstyle and this morbid sheer-bodiced black chiffon top and satin skirt duo by Carolina Herrera. And if you’re going to wear a sheer top, something other than a visible strapless bra is preferable and highly suggested.

Heidi Klum spent the past several years judging designer on Project Runway so you would think she would look stunning on the red carpet. Instead she opted for ’school prom’ with this print strapless sweetheart dress with a several seasons ago oversized flower.

Check out the award winners at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
Bucci/Granitz/WireImage

Pick Platinum!

With awards season in full swing, it’s time for celebrities to bring out the bling! And with Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, it’s time to start thinking of gift ideas. Diamonds may be a girls’ (and guy’s) best friend but diamonds set in platinum shine like the stars. But you don’t need to be a star to sport your own platinum baubles. Platinum has long been a status symbol – think platinum records, platinum awards, and of course, platinum jewelry. I personally love it because of its color, purity and durability. It’s naturally white like silver and white gold but its luster is much more brilliant. Platinum is typically 95% pure so it never fades or tarnishes like silver. And it is resistant to wear so even if your platinum jewels get scratched, you won’t lose much of the metal. The best part is it’s rarity – its actually 30 times more rare than gold, which adds to its exclusive and distinctive allure. If you’re thinking about a gift that can’t be matched, or just want to treat yourself to something special, think platinum! 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 
For more on platinum, check out the following resources:
Wedding Channel
Precious Platinum
W Magazine