Posted on 9th March, 2010 | | No Comment

Love her or hate her (I, personally love her), Ramona is definitely one of (if not THE) most talked about Housewives on the popular Bravo show. But when she’s not hanging with the ladies, she’s hard at work on her business endeavors, which include a jewelry line for HSN and a skincare line.

I got the scoop on Ramona’s fabulous AND affordable estate-inspired jewelry line, which is available on HSN.com.

Tell me how you got inspired to start your line… What inspires the designs?

When starting out to do my first collection for HSN more than a year ago now, as my show this March was my 1-year anniversary, I really wanted to incorporate my love for estate and art deco jewelry. I had some really lovely pieces from Mario and stuff that I’ve collected and that was my first inspiration. The designs are all pieces that I would hand down to my daughter, Avery. These pieces are timeless and she isn’t going to want a trendy piece of jewelry when she’s older because it won’t be in style. Estate jewelry will always be in style and women will always want to wear it.

You have such vibrant stones and a beautiful mixture of metals, such as rose gold… and it seems on-trend, yet classic at the same time. How does your jewelry line relate to your own personal style?

Personally, I like to dress in trendy clothing that’s sophisticated and classic and still a little edgy. I might wear something really basic, but it will be in a bright color. Each season when I choose colors for the gemstones and metals, I am paying attention to the runway shows I attend and current color forecasting, but I always go with my gut and the colors that are inspirational to me.

The great thing about jewelry in bright colors or interesting shapes is you’re more likely to wear it over and over again with lots of different looks. If you buy a trendy top or printed cocktail dress, you’re much less likely to wear that more than a few times than say a Rose Vermeil Cuff Bracelet with Pink Amethysts, Rubies & Diamonds and a matching cocktail ring. I wear my rose gold cuff and bracelet all the time and it never seems to be enough!

Why would housewives in the ‘burbs love your jewelry? J

The wonderful thing about my HSN collection is that it is all exceptional quality and looks like it cost thousands, but everything costs between $200 and $600. The pieces are made in sterling silver and rhodium plated which is an alloy of platinum. This means that the metal is going to look as beautiful as the day you bought it for years to come. And of course, everything is made with real gemstones and real diamonds. And what housewife doesn’t love the way they feel when they’re wearing real diamonds?!

Pink Amethyst and Gemstone Rose Vermeil Cuff from Ramona Singer Jewelry for HSN, $549

Posted on 8th March, 2010 | | No Comment

How to Get an A-List tan in just a few easy steps – Tips from celebrity spray tan artist Sinead Norenius

Summer is finally in view and with that, so are shorter hemlines and bright bikinis and if you are as pale and pasty as I am, that can be frightening! But fear no more, getting a gorgeous glowing A-list tan is easy with a self-tanner! Long gone are the days of horrid orange “Oompa Loompa” shades and terrible streaking if you use a reputable product and one that has a dark guide color so you can see exactly where you put the product and where you missed! Also there is a new SMELL RIGHT Technology that actually encapsulates the yucky processing smell (Malodor Counteractant) so you don’t have to smell like raw chicken or a biscuit while your tan is developing!

Here are some of the top tips I have come to learn after years of tanning celebrities:

1. Exfoliate, Exfoliate! Use exfoliating gloves and a body scrub together to really get the job done and remember to focus on extra dry areas such as your knees and elbows.
2. Preparation is key! Apply a tiny bit of regular body lotion to those dry areas so the body absorbs that first, instead of the self-tanner. Grab a pair of tight fitting disposable gloves to apply the product so your palms don’t turn dark brown and you don’t have to constantly wash your hands!
3. Mirror, Mirror on the wall! Make sure you stand in front of a full-length mirror so you can see exactly where you have applied the product or any potential streaking (I picked my mirror up at Target for about $5.00’s).
4. Break it up! Apply the product to your body in sections starting from your legs, moving upwards. I have made eight “How-To” videos here if you need extra guidance:
http://www.antidoteskincare.com/How-To-W14.aspx
5. Buff it out! Take a dry wash cloth and gently buff trouble areas such as the elbows, knees and the back of the heels. You can also use a Q-Tip to wipe product away from dark spots on your face so they don’t get darker.
6. Dark and Comfy! I always prefer to self-tan at night that way I can put on dark loose fitting clothing such as sweats or PJ’s and just go to sleep and process through the night. When I shower off the guide color in the morning my gorgeous tan is revealed and I can wear what ever I like.
7. Maintain that glow! On the days following your self-tan application put on a light moisturizer and pat dry your skin after a shower vs. rubbing. About four days later start gently exfoliating your body so the color fades more evenly.

Achieving a gorgeous, A-list tan without the harmful effects of the sun is easy it just takes a few foolproof pointers and a little guidance! So get those gorgeous gams out in the daylight and give that little itty bitty bikini a run for it’s money!

Sinead Norenius is a celebrity spray tan artist and Editor of www.SelfTanningQueen.com the number one self-tanning and spray tanning blog. She is also the founder of ANTIDOTE Skin Care www.antidoteskincare.com (soon to be Beautisol – www.beautisol.com) a luxury sun care brand with a personal touch. Sinead is a licensed aesthetician and skin care educator.

Posted on 6th March, 2010 | | No Comment

‘Blushing Bride: A Bride’s Guide To Looking Her Most Radiant’
Written By Holly Doss

While encouraging brides to make diet and fitness changes, strictly adhere to a skincare regimen, and create a look based on the �wedding type� is sound advice, the wealth of information and tips Doss provides makes for a priceless beauty bible whether the reader is a bride-to-be or not.

As in her previous book, �Celebrity Style Secrets�, Holly Doss does not limit the content to just what the book title suggests, but rather provides a wealth of motivating information spanning across the skincare, fitness, diet, and makeup industries.

Doss takes readers step-by-step through her proven successful radiant bride process, including a skincare diet and regimen tailored for every type, a fitness plan sure to tighten and tone within a few short weeks, rules for disaster-proofing the bride�s look, products made for grooming and controlling mishaps, and creating makeup looks based on the bride�s particular �wedding type�.

An insightful, motivating, and sometimes hilarious guide for brides who want to be their most radiant, �Blushing Bride� provides solutions for everything relating to wedding beauty and beauty, in general.

*�Blushing Bride: A Bride�s Guide To Looking Her Most Radiant� can be purchased at http://www.hollydoss.com/beautysecrets.aspx or on Amazon as a Kindle Downloaad. The Amazon link is http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0038YWO36.

Posted on 6th March, 2010 | | No Comment

So, as the author of The Bra Book, naturally, I’m sensitive to the challenges faced by larger busted women. So when I came across Carissa Rose, a designer who caters to these women, I had to have her as a guest blogger. Enjoy!

A big thanks to Jene for inviting us to guest post today. My name is Carissa Brown and I’m a designer entrepreneur. Our clothing line targets the niche full bust market (misses sized body 4-16 with D+ bra cups) with crisply tailored styles.

Being well-endowed presents its own set of wardrobe challenges. Having a full bust is a blessing, but admittedly it is tricky to make those D+ cups look their best in shirts, especially when one’s waist is smaller. The perfect clothes for larger busted women have three main components:

Ample room to fit the ample bosom.

• If you see pulling across the center bust (the center bust is where one’s nipples are in a bra) the top needs more room to accommodate your prominent bust. We want people to remember you for your pretty smile, not for a bustline is so large it needs a bigger shirt.
• Similarly, if buttons gape and show tension, then they are either poorly placed for your proportion, meaning if that button was just 1/2″ lower, it wouldn’t gape, or you need more room in the chest.

No pulling or gaping

Women of large breast need details that give vertical direction.

• This is most commonly found in the neckline. One can choose a deep V, a moderate Y or sweetheart neckline, but choose a neckline that is not straight across, nor up to your neck. A neckline with the right balance of skin exposed (positive) and fabric covering (negative) does wonders for creating the visual illusion of length. Christina Hendricks does it wonderfully with this look.
• Princess seams and vertical darts also give direction to cause the on-looker’s eye to travel up and down, thereby thinking you go up and down (as opposed to you being out and round in shape). Bonus is finding a waist seam with vertical direction in it, like an inverted V or even a bell shaped inset waist. They are fantastic body shapers.

Inverted V Inset Waist

Finally keep it cut close to the body to gracefully skim your silhouette.

• We advise our clients to have the shoulder seam come in to their natural shoulder line (yes, a padded shoulder makes the waist appear smaller). And on sleeveless tops like shells and camisoles we cut-away the straps just enough to expose the shoulder bone. This post offers advice on how to tailor your current tops to fit the full bust better.
• And of course we want to keep a nipped in waist, lest the bustline and waistline line look combined into a heck of a lot bigger. mass Having a defined waist, be it high, mid or low, helps show the body at its best.

Cut in Shoulder

Keep these tips in mind when you’re shopping for tops and dresses for your D+ bustline. In addition to our line, Carissa Rose, the following brands also fit the full bust well: Bravissimo, AJRumina and Rebecca and Drew.

Posted on 6th March, 2010 | | 2 Comments

Beyonce (a client of Kimble’s): To achieve this look, begin by blow drying hair straight using a flat paddle brush. Create a very deep side part and flat iron the hair bone straight. Complete the look with Kimble Hair Care Systems Hair Polisher and Kimble Hair Care Systems Retrospective Workable Hair Spray. Then add a little extra sparkle by tying Bella Via metallic ribbon strands into hair.

Drew Barrymore: For this bouffant bob, apply volumizing mousse and texture cream to wet hair, finger combing it through to apply. Next, blow dry the hair with a round brush to create volume. Then curl sections using a jumbo barreled curling iron and pin the curls to the head with bobby pins. Let the curls cool and comb it out. Finish with Kimble Hair Care Systems Retrospective Workable Hair Spray.

Katie Cassidy: To create this sexy side braid, start with clean, straight or wavy hair. Apply a little product, such as Kimble Hair Care Systems Hair Butter, to create texture. Then brush hair to one side and braid it. Comb out bangs in the front.

Olivia Wilde: For this glamorous up-do, start with straight hair. Tease at the crown with a fine toothed comb and spray with Kimble Hair Care Systems Retrospective Workable Hairspray to hold the volume. Pull back hair and roll it into a French twist. Secure with bobby pins.

*Kimble Hair Care Systems products are available at Target stores and target.com

Posted on 26th February, 2010 | Tags : bra book jene luciani neiman marcus fashion rules event louboutin trunk show | No Comment

NM White Plains
Thursday, March 4
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Neiman Marcus Fashion Rules
Enjoy spa treatments and makeovers from your favorite cosmetics and skincare lines

Christian Louboutin and Yves Saint Laurent Trunk Shows
Shoe Salon

Paul Morelli Trunk Show
Precious Jewels Salon

Exclusive collection of trends and styles for Prom 2010
Dress Collections

Meet Jene Luciani, nationally known fashion expert, as she signs her book The Bra Book

Cocktails and light bites

Reservations are limited
Please reply 914.989.4908 914.989.4908

Posted on 26th February, 2010 | Tags : fashion trends gucci spring 2010 | No Comment

WRTW Spring/Summer 2010 Collection

MOOD
For Spring Summer 2010 Creative Director Frida Giannini presents a double-faced collection that exposes both Gucci’s noble traditions as well as the House’s firm view towards the future. Using iconic elements of Gucci’s storied past as well as the most classic of wardrobe essentials—the Little Black Dress—as a launching point, Giannini offers her own dynamic and coherent vision of modern femininity. Shot with the adrenaline of extreme sports and their technical details, these classics have been reborn and contemporized, emphasizing the dual forces of tradition and innovation. The collection is unapologetically confident and resolutely sexy in its mood, yet grounded in the complex workmanship techniques and impeccable craftsmanship for which the House of Gucci is known.

SILHOUETTE
A body conscious silhouette runs throughout the collection, underscored by curved seams, anatomical cuts and taut lines. The key piece is the short, figure-hugging dress deciphered in a new, sexy athleticism and not-only-black variations. The dresses, as well as slim pants and precious python or leather jackets, have been carved into, leaving slices of skin exposed. Straps and jewel-like harnesses featuring intricate metal embroideries cage in compact dresses, knit tops and jackets, underscoring the focus on the body and adding a subversive touch. The new suit is a buckled jacket with a zippered pencil skirt or tight pant. Also noteworthy are a super high-waisted, slim pant and featherweight, mesh-lined leather bombers. Gucci’s famed horsebit, reinterpreted as a mechanical cord belt, cinches the chest or waist, while elements of extreme sports—latches, cinch pulleys, technical clasps, and vertical panels of looped cords, are rendered in total luxury.

PRINT AND MATERIAL
Nearly every garment offers an elaborate collage of contrasting materials. Precious perforated leathers are patched together with technically treated silks, wools or cottons. Mesh or nylon inserts are cut into the waists and backs of dresses or sleeves of jackets while rubber piping, metal buckles, carbon fiber and geometric constructions contribute to the collection’s sport undertone. The bold patterns of traditional ikat prints gives a highly graphic edge to the collection while their meticulous workmanship underscores Gucci’s technical excellence. One ikat pattern is entirely crafted from micro-strips of woven leather while another features sliced printed fabric reapplied as an embroidery. A silk jacquard has been lacquered and polished for a chinz effect. Black crepe de chine, featured on the reverse side of the dresses, acts as a visual opponent to the brilliant front shots of cobalt blue, reflector orange and magenta. Crisp whites and shades of grey complete this strong, feminine palette.

EVENING
The concept is enlivened and illuminated for evening when the jewel-like harnesses become more precious with large crystals and black metal beading. Sharp cocktail tuxedos, slashed through the legs and with open jacket backs, have a dangerous air, as do black silk jersey columns with sexy cut-outs. The double-faced little black dress continues its evolution with short grey and black dresses in techno-crepe de chine featuring knife-thin metal embroidery, and with body skimming dresses caged within metal and crystal embroideries that have a touch of rock n’ roll.

ACCESSORIES
A combustion of House tradition and cutting edge techniques leads to a rich and luxurious variety of accessories. Gucci’s famed Bamboo bag, first introduced in the late 1940s, is reborn as the New-Bamboo with a leather-wound handle, new shoulder strap and innovative materials such as stoned pigskin, stoned crocodile, and bonded neoprene GG. Crocodile, the noblest of Gucci’s historic skins, has undergone a radical transformation – fading from a smoked, opaque surface to a hand-polished brilliance in a web effect on flat clutches or oversized bags. The mechanical horsebit cinched with ropes of braided leather has become a key feature on the handbag handles. Metal embroidery appears on white calfskin handbags, silver rope necklaces, and on evening platform sandals that climb up the ankle. Platform shoes, grab the ankle with a buckle while a spliced knee-high boot dramatically spirals up the calf.

Posted on 26th February, 2010 | | No Comment

We believe in perfect lashes for all! Or rather, perfect lashes at any price point. Eyelashes are one of the most subtle ways to enhance your eyes, and give them an instant lift. Here are two ways to enhance the lashes you already have.

False Lashes
False lashes, or temporary lash strips, are the final step of your beauty routine. Once you have finished all your eye makeup, including curling your natural lashes and applying two coats of glossy black or brown mascara, you’re ready for your strips. Most people need to trim the strip to fit on their eye, so measure first and make proper adjustments. Always trim the outer corner of the lash strip.

Once you have applied your false lashes, softly line the lash line with black or brown eyeliner. This will hide the seams of the false lashes making them undetectable!

Eyelash Extensions:
If you are a true lash addict, indulge in a set of synthetic eyelash extensions. They are waterproof, long lasting, completely natural looking and simply beautiful. For the perfect lashes, it’s very important to find a certified lash artist, who specializes in just lashes. I recommend Xtreme Eyelash Extensions Lash Stylists. Because of the semi-medical nature of this process, this is not a service you want to skimp on, trust me!

Your lash artist will apply one synthetic extension at a time to your natural lashes, and the service typically takes about an hour and a half. It is completely relaxing, and most clients fall right asleep.

It’s important to maintain your lash extensions by brushing them daily with a lash brush (yes they exist!) and keeping them free of dirt and oils. Also see your Lash Artist every 3 to 4 weeks for a touch up to keep your lashes looking full and flirty.

Georgio and Mikaela Fernandez, owners of LadyLash Studios, are based out of South Florida, but frequently travel throughout the country to accommodate their clients. You can learn more about them at www.ladylash.com.

Posted on 26th February, 2010 | Tags : shoes trends sex and the city carrie bradshaw | No Comment

Here at Hot Pink Style, we have a mild shoe obsession. Who are we kidding? It’s a full blown shoe fixation. We love shoes, and we’ve been collecting shoes since we were teenagers in our mom’s high heels.
But in order to make sure you always have the right pair of shoes for any occasion, whether you are running a board meeting or meeting your girlfriends for cocktails, there are a few simple guidelines to follow.
Of course, you can never go wrong with a staple heel such as a classic closed toe pump, in a cooperative shade of black or brown. The same goes for a high strappy sandal. These are selections that you can wear over and over again for years, and therefore should feel better about splurging a little more for these picks.
Definitely always have a great dressy flip flop on hand for days at the park or afternoons on the yacht. Carrie Bradshaw may not have worn heels, but some occasions are simply not stiletto-friendly.
While the staple shoes are a must, your collection wouldn’t be Bradshaw-esque if you didn’t have a few wildcards. Go for a trendy style that is affordable even if you might only wear it once. Every woman needs a few crazy shoes in their collection, and you can always pair a fun, colorful shoe with one of your go to pieces, like a little black dress.
When it comes to your shoe collection, don’t be afraid of color and new styles, be open minded to new looks and edgy details. Hardware, texture, and bright colors will make any shoe the focal point of an outfit.
If we’ve learned anything from Ms. Bradshaw in her 6 seasons and first feature film, it’s that you’ve got to be willing to take a risk. Sure you could become fashion fodder, but you just might stop the show.

For more information on the Shoe Fairy God Sisters, Jamie and Jenna DeBrino of Hot Pink Style, visit www.hotpinkstyle.com.

Posted on 26th February, 2010 | Tags : spring beauty trends dimjtri james | No Comment

Spring color cosmetics are so pretty this year! Where make up typically becomes softer and pastel in the spring, this year it’s bright and clear.

Eyes are bright with every shade of green, purple, blue and rose brown. The trend of the darkest shade on the lid, wrapping around the corner of the eye and lining underneath is still current but, again, the colors are brighter.
The tropical look with blue, purple and bright pink (like Marie Osmond wears in her new Nutri System ad) is hot for spring.

Cheeks are becoming bright and circular. Mix a clear bright pink and orange blush together on the brush and placing it on the apples of your cheeks.

Lips are bright and glossy. Shades of bright pink, clear red, orange and fuchsia dominate. One great trick is using a cherry red lipstick with a heavily pigmented bright orange gloss over it. This is the hottest shade now and you can do it yourself just like that. Think blond bomb shell, cotton candy pink, and tropical this spring. Don’t be afraid of color! It’s in again.

Dimitri James is an international TV personality, author of “Becoming Beauty” and Founder & mfg. of SKINN Cosmetics. www.skinn.com