Review: Too Faced La Creme Lipstick

Too Faced La Creme
$21

I am utterly blessed with some world class Girl friends.  Life without them would be unimaginable.  One of the most special bonds I share is with the women I grew up with in Great Neck, Long Island.

Our town was very different from the one it has become. Though it was a fairly homogeneous affluent Jewish Community, we were oblivious to who had what, skin color or ethnicity.  Our biggest concern was who was going to win the annual North-South football game, (North of course...) and what party we were attending on Saturday night.

I spent part of this week with two of my GN besties, Barbara and Alison.  Alison lives in  Massachusetts, so we spent some time in the neighboring town of Wellesley, which is utterly charming.

I was amused to see how many of my DivaDebbi picks dotted Alison's dressing table. Alison is an actress and will be filming next week. She was in search of a good, lightweight primer, so we stopped into the next best thing to Sephora, a little gem of a shop called Beauty and Main.

The owner has some seriously good taste in skincare and makeup with the likes of luxurious brands like Laura Mercier, Trish McEvoy, Too Faced, Nutura Bisse, Darphin, Murad and Fresh.

Impressive.

Alison ended up with a new Laura Mercier Foundation Primer, (that I was offered from LM to review, but since I'm a little primer heavy at the moment took a pass on it.  I will definitely be getting Alison's take, particularly since it will be worn for film purposes).

Naturally, I couldn't leave empty handed either...

Jenny Packham: Fall 2013 Makeup by Laura Mercier

Believe it or not, Fashion Week is not just about the clothes.  Seasonal trends for hair and makeup are also making their debut.  None of these looks exist in a vacumn-- fashion designers collaborate with the lead makeup artists and hair stylists on their vision, working as a team to create, "The Look."

Just last week the N.Y. Times reported on the growing presence of Beauty bloggers back stage at the shows. (The Makeup Crowd Muscles In). Of course Beauty Editor's have been doing this for years, the only real change is that it's a bit more crowded with bloggers on the scene.  

I thought it was a huge generalization to say,"Beauty bloggers tend to display a certain disdain for muted, natural runway looks. Over-the-top colors and intricate hairstyles thrill them; they speak breathlessly of an orange-lined eye at Derek Lam or jeweled brows at Chanel".

Really?  Are you talking about me???  I'm the Girl who prefers everyone looking elegant and pretty, not Daliesque.

I reported on Thursday about Jenny Packham's incredible show. I so loved the ethereal quality of her gossamer chiffons and the exquisite lines of her beaded columns.  I also like the simple hair, tied back gently with satin ribbons and the soft, lovely makeup, created by Talia Shobrook for Laura Mercier.  

Laura Mercier graciously provided the best swag bag of the week which included her exquisite Radiance Foundation Primer, Caviar Stick Eye in charcoal and a stunning lip stain called Violet Sugar.

Here is how the look was created by Talia and her team  At the bottom are the finished results:

Women Helping Women-Hooray for Laura Mercier!

Women Helping Women-Hooray for Laura Mercier! by divadebbi featuring laura mercier

I posted back in August about Laura Mercier cosmetics creating the Laura Mercier Ovarian Cancer Fund.  September is officially Ovarian Cancer Awareness month, so I thought this was more than worth a second shout out.

I created the Polyvore set above in homage to Laura's great effort which includes pictures of the two products she is donating 100% of the proceeds to the LMOCF.

Ovarian Cancer is called the "silent killer" for a reason.  In its earliest stages, when there is a better prognosis for curing it, women confuse the vague symptoms with other illnesses.  In the interim, precious time is slipping away, while they visit their Chiropractors, Orthopedists, Gastroenterologists, etc... It is a travesty!

There needs to be more attention paid to this deadly disease for women and research for reliable early detection.  I am so pleased that one of my favorite cosmetics companies, Laura Mercier is take the lead on fundraising for Ovarian Cancer.

Bravo Laura!

For more information and to learn the signs, symptoms and genetic risks of Ovarian Cancer, please read my original post: http://divadebbi.blogspot.com/2012/08/laura-mercier-helping-women-fight.html.

xox and good health to all,

DD

The Thomas Crown Affair(s)

Rene Russo/The Thomas Crown Affair by divadebbi (Clothes by Michael Kors)

I remember seeing the original Thomas Crown Affair when I was young and impressionable. It starred Faye Dunaway as a brilliant insurance investigator. Some brilliantly devised bank heists were being committed in Boston and the police were stumped.  

They called in Faye Dunaway, (at the peak of her beauty,) in a desperate attempt to solve them.  It is she, who figures out that the master mind is Thomas Crown, a bored billionaire playboy, (played by Steve McQueen at his most handsome,) who for kicks, commits them to test his skill and nerve.  I was enthralled with her her brains and her chic. I thought, "that's what I want to be like when I grow up"!!!

In this film, the incredible ensembles worn by Faye Dunaway, were created by Oscar nominated costume designer Theodora Von Runkle.  Von Runkle also had designed Dunaway's memorable wardrobe in Bonnie and Clyde, as well as for her personally.

The cat and mouse games between them were delicious and so was the love affair-of heart, mind and body.  The kiss that they finally give into, during an equally matched chess game, is   still the longest one in film creation.

Mary-Kate, Ashley and Mink

A mink sweater never hurts... by divadebbi 

I have to admit, that I am a huge fan of  "The Row", the fashion label created by the Olsen twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley.  The name pays homage to the exquisite bespoke tailoring available in shops on Savile Row in London.

The "twins", (fraternal, not identical), have parlayed their personal style, a bohemian mix of vintage pieces, oversized coats, sweaters and sunglasses, with boots,  flowing skirts or leather leggings, into a coveted line of clothing.

They also have a deep love of luxe and fur, something that has not endeared them to the folks at  PETA.  A perfect example of their idea of luxurious whimsy?  A mink, sleeveless turtleneck.

That's my idea of it as well...

The rest of this Polyvore set, is how I imagined I would wear it, if I had a spare $5800 to spend on a sleeveless mink turtleneck in the first place.

What a world!!!

xox,
DD

Holiday 2011: A Few of My Favorite Things

It's that time of year again, for giving, receiving and treating yourself.  Though it seems like yesterday, literally, that we were clinking glasses toasting the end of summer at a Labor Day party, come turkey day, we have officially turned the corner into the "Holiday Season". All I did was blink.

One of the things I love most about the season, are the gorgeous Holiday Gift Sets that are created quite successfully, to tempt us.  The best marry gorgeous neutrals in pretty packaging, that offer so much value it makes no sense to leave them behind.  They truly do make beautiful gifts and take the guilt out of my favorite holiday shopping maxim,"one for you and one for me".

Here is a round up of some of my favorites that I have spied and tried:

"I'm Done"!!! Do you hear me Andy Cohen???

One of my guilty pleasures has been Bravo's Real Housewife franchise. I got hooked on the original O.C. series in its second season, when "real" girls like Jeanna, Tammi and Laurie, actually interacted as friends and supported one another. O.C. was followed by Atlanta, N.Y., N.J., D.C., Beverly Hills and Miami.

My inner snob did not embrace any of the fauxsocialites other than the N.Y. and B.H. casts.  Despite departures, new faces, cancellation, and escalated  bickering and hair pulling I still endured.

So what made me play the "I'm Done" card???

The two part R.H.O.N.Y season four finale.  Three hours of vitriol, name calling, outing, screeching, backstabbing, denying, accusing, berating and insulting.  WHO ARE THESE WOMEN???