Chase Your Dreams in High Heels!

Chase Your Dreams in High Heels! by divadebbi

I think this going to be my new Mantra!!! At 5'7, I always feel short and dumpy in flats!  So welcome again to my new home! Mary Jane Denzer in White Plains NY.  Oscar de la Renta is just one of the fabulous designers we carry. xoxo

DD

My Next Chapter Begins...

Anastasia Cucinella and Debra O'Shea
Co-Owners of Mary Jane Denzer

Mary Jane Denzer
7 Renaissance Square
White Plains, N.Y. 10601
914-328-0331

I am delighted, to announce, that I am the new Co-Owner of Mary Jane Denzer, in White Plains, with my esteemed partner, Anastasia Cucinella. 

Mary Jane Denzer has been a tri-state destination, for exquisite  special occasion clothing for nearly 40 years.  2 years ago Mary Jane built her dream space, a magnificent 5,000 square foot store, adjacent to the Ritz Carlton in White Plains, just 15 minutes from Greenwich. (Valet parking is always complimentary.)

Sadly, Mary Jane passed away last December, (I remembered her fondly in this memorial blog.) Anastasia and I are honored to carry on her legacy, of offering the most beautiful clothes anywhere, for women to wear to the important occasions in their lives. 

Additionally, we will be scouring NY and Europe, to add fabulous ready-to-wear lines to our collection.  Our goal is to cover all your needs for day and night, so you will always have a reason to visit us at Mary Jane Denzer, (and of course, I will be doing house visits!) 

We look forward to partnering with the community on events that matter to you and increasing our social media presence via DivaDebbi.com, Facebook and Instagram. 

I have thoroughly enjoyed 23 years of servicing my lovely and loyal clients at Razooks, Saks and happily, for the last 16, at Richards, for the Mitchell family. The opportunity to co-own and buy for, my own establishment however, was an irresistible opportunity, and the true pinnacle to my retail career. 

I so look forward to sharing this next chapter with you! Please visit our website at mjdenzer.com to see our beautiful store. I will be in on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, and full time, beginning January 9th.

I would love to think that my beautiful Mom, Joan Lieberman, who passed in June, and w was President of her own fashion jewelry business, is smiling proudly.  She would have loved this...

xox,
DD

Remembering Zsa Zsa

Zsa Zsa Gabor (at the height of her beauty)

Long before Cher, Madonna, Adele, and other first name only stars, there was Zsa Zsa. The Hungarian beauty, approximately 99, died yesterday in Los Angeles.  The N.Y. Times remembered her this way:

Zsa Zsa Gabor, the Hungarian actress whose self-parodying glamour and revolving-door marriages to millionaires put a luster of American celebrity on a long but only modestly successful career in movies and television. The cause was heart failure, her longtime publicist Edward Lozzi said.

Married at least eight times, calling everyone “Dahlink,” flaunting a diamonds-and-furs lifestyle and abetted by gossip columnists and tabloid headline writers, Ms. Gabor played the coifed platinum femme fatale in plunging necklines in dozens of film and television roles, many of them cameos as herself. Her career, which began with the title Miss Hungary in 1936, was still going strong in the 1990s, outlasting those of her sisters, Eva and Magda, celebrities in their own right. She was the last surviving Gabor sister.

I remember her best from my childhood as Lisa Douglas, gorgeous wife of Oliver Douglas, played by Eddie Albert, on the show Green Acres.  Douglas, kidnapped moved Lisa from her Park Avenue Penthouse, so he could pursue his dreams of country life on a farm.  Even then, my heart was heavy for her and I pitied her for having to give up her glamorous life to cavort among hay stacks and farm animals. (Don't even get me started on The Beverly Hillbillies!!! What a waste!!! LOL!)

***Mea Culpa! Several Lovely readers pointed out, that I mixed up my Gabor beauties! It was Eva, not Zsa Zsa, who was kidnapped to that farm on Green Acres!!!

So I bid a fond adieu, to a fabulous Diva, born and bred to enjoy the good life, and enjoy she did...


xox,
DD

Bare Minerals Gen Nude Radiant Lipstick

BareMinerals Gen Nude Lipstick
Here in Mantra $20

Have I gone daft??? Three things;  1) Are BareMinerals and BareEscentuals the same brand???  I still don't know... 2) It took me 15 minutes to figure out that "Gen" alludes to "Generation".  I'm pretty, pretty sure, nude lipstick has been around since Ultima II launched The Nakeds, but perhaps, to a new "Gen", everything old is new again. 3) Do you ever think it's a good idea for a company to describe a color as " dirty mauve"??? It almost made we want to wipe it off and go return it!

Silly, daft me, I was at Ulta today gift shopping, and actually hoped to replace a shade I love, from BareSomebody, called Marvelous Moxie Chase Your Dreams.  No such luck, Gen Nude is the new iteration of Marvelous Moxie. (Dermstore.com to the rescue, I found it online.)

All gripes aside, Bare Minerals Gen Nude Radiant Lipstick,is a very buttery, balmy lipstick with rich, medium coverage. I knew my pick, the "dirty" Mantra was more brown hued then Chase Your Dreams, but thought it would be a pretty winter shade, so I'm glad I purchased it.

Flashback Friday: Instanatural Vitamin C Serum

Instanatural Vitamin C Serum
Amazon.com 16.99

The first time I ever heard the term, "serum", was in 2008, when I watched a fascinating PBS fundraising special, that featured the beautiful Hungarian Dermatologist Dr. Denese. She is now also a bestselling host, on QVC, where she sells her extensive skincare collection.

I learned a lot that night and literally, took notes.  Dr. Denese believes in cleansing, toning, exfoliating with glycolic acid and then applying a serum and a fatty moisturizer as a binder, to finish your regime.  Back then, it was not easy to find a serum.  I bought several of her products that night and I don't even recall if she had one to purchase.

Now there are so many, it's hard to know which one to buy...A few thousand dozen later, I have my Holy Grail serum, which I stumbled upon
while trolling Amazon.com.  It very much reminds me of Skinceuticals Ferulic Acid Serum, a fabulous, but very pricey product.  My dupe???

Sally Hansen Gel Shine 3D Top Coat

Sally Hansen Gel Shine 3D Top Coat
$11.49 at CVS Greenwich  (cheaper anywhere else)

I have completely given up on nail polish with color...love it for the first 24 hours until the chips and nicks kick in. I use the same shade, Essies Pinking Up the Pieces, week in and week out.  Exciting? No. But I can get through an entire week, with a coat of top coat or two, without looking like I worked on a sword boat.

I am blessed with nails like granite.  A few years back, I gave into the gel nail craze out of the desire to have perfect, glossy, chip free nails.  Unfortunately, they also reduced my natural nails to the thickness of rice paper.  A failed experiment that took 6 mos. to reverse.

I spotted Sally Hansen 3D Top Coat on a CVS run. Normally, I use Nailtiques Formula #2 as my Holy Grail. (Though it should be sold with a hospital mask, the Formaldehyde fumes might be fatal.)  This seemed a good idea; wouldn't it be nice to have that beautiful glossy shine, without having to bake my nails and then destroy them?

IT Celebration Illumination Foundation

Jamie Kern, IT Cosmetics Founder

Talk about American success stories!  Jamie Kern, is former news anchor, who started creating her own cosmetics when nothing would cover her Rosacea. With the advent of HD TV became the norm exposing every flaw, finding a fix became Jamie's passion

Fast forward 10 years, this past summer L'Oreal purchased IT Cosmetics, for over $1 billion dollars!!!  Allure did a great feature on Kern if you would like to read more about her inspiring tale.  I recently blogged about IT's new Bye Bye Eye Illuminating Waterproof Concealer (in Medium, which is nicely, on the light side.)  I am IN LOVE with it, and I am now using what's left on my finger pads as a shadow primer.)



I happened upon Jamie, doing what she does very well, on QVC one night...selling her brand.  I really appreciate that she uses models of all ages and ethnicity's to demonstrate her cosmetics on. What caught my attention???

The way every pore and flaw disappeared on every models, with just a few swirl of IT Celebration Illumination Foundation.  I am very much enjoying my Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, but I thought, "wouldn't it be nice to have something portable, that might provide enough color in the "Tan" shade, than having to apply Stila 3 in 1 Bronzing Mousse on top of it?"

It Celebration Illumination Foundation
$34  at ULTA  (I purchased it on QVC and got the brush with it
for the bargain price of $48 for the set.)

Tom Ford's Nocturnal Animals

Amy Adam's NOT in Tom Ford, in Tom Ford's
noir thriller Nocturnal Animals

A funny thing happened on the way to see Manchester by the Sea...My husband and I were astonished to see a line a block long.  This is not a common suburban experience, in fact, I have no memory of ever having seen this outside of NYC.

Unfortunately, it was sold out.  (*Unfortunately, we made a trip back to see it.
This is singly, the most over hyped film of the year. Bleak, meandering and depressing.  I'm not familiar with Casey Affleck's work, but this laconic, dull performance is NOT Oscar worthy.  Do skip this...)

Fortunately, since it was a small theatre, that tends to book smaller films for thinking people; our fallback was the critically acclaimed Loving or Tom Ford's stylish, neo noir thriller Nocturnal Animals.

Given the choice, how could I resist see Ford's new film? Inevitably, no matter what the plot, there would be gorgeous interiors, attractive people and stylish clothing, beautifully worn. (A stunning contrast to the film's opening scenes.)

It is all that, and more, simultaneously, a thriller and a tale of how empty all of those expensive trappings can be, if loveless.

Interestingly, Ford, made the deliberate choice not to feature his own clothes in the film, though the polished, sleek aesthetic of designs by Chanel, Gucci, Dior, Miu Miu, Celine and Marc Jacobs, could easily be mistaken for Ford's own.

Ford deliberately did not want the film to appear as an advertorial for his brand, choosing to keep his creative and intellectual talents as Designer and Director, separate.

Smart.

Of course that doesn't rule out the stylish cast, which includes Amy Adams, , Isla Fisher, Ellie Bamber (clearly Ford loves his red heads; Julianne Moore also starred in his first film A Single Man) and Laura Linney from appearing in Ford's clothes at the Premiers for Nocturnal Animals.

It's a good film, that like what the good ones do, keeps you thinking about it, long after you have left the theatre.  In addition to Manchester by the Sea and Loving to look forward to,  there is also Jackie, starring the magnificent Natalie Portman as Jackie Kennedy, they day after her husband's assassination.

After a dearth of good films, it's a pleasure to have something to look forward to this holiday season. Today's treat?  The Greenwich Ballet Academy's production of the Nutcracker at the White Plains City Center.  I'm glad we purchased tickets for it ahead of time, since it is completely sold out.

Greenwich Ballet Academy's production of the Nutcracker
White Plains City Center

Note to self...buy those movie tix ahead of time too.  Seems I'm not the only one starved not just for eye candy and popcorn, but brain candy too...

xox,
DD

Happy Thanksgiving and Great Beauty Steals and Deals

I love Thanksgiving, don't you?  Family, food, traditions and did I mention FOOD???  This definitely the one day of the year that I don't think about resisting anything.  TG is pretty much a carb and savory feast, and if you are going to slip one day a year, I think this is the one to go for.

This is our first Thanksgiving without my beloved mother Joan. I remember all of my life waking up to the smells of her gorgeous turkey. In those days we were an enormous group with bigger appetites.  How is it possible that we also had turkey soup, antipasto and a pasta course in additional to a traditional dinner and enough desserts to rival your average diner? Wonderful memories!

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are not just about flat screen T.V.s and down vests.  The beauty biz wants their share of your wallet too..

The Huffington Post did a nice, alphabetically listed, round up, of Black Friday and Cyber Monday Beauty Steals and Deals. O.K., there were a few brands I've never heard of...plenty I did.  Click here  to see them all.

A few more:

Clinique:  25% off plus free shipping, with code 25OFF

Tarte Cosmetics- 25% off plus free shipping on all orders over $25 with code FRIYAY.

Stila- 25% off plus free shipping.  The perfect time to buy my new and forever Holy Grail Mascara Stila Huge Extreme Lash Mascara.

Dr. Brandt Skincare- Is offering a whopping 45% off for Black Friday. If your a fan, here's your opportunity to restock and and enjoy amazing savings.

So many online temptations abound!  I'm going to enjoy my guests and put my little hand held magic machine away for the day...remember when people actually made eye contact and had conversations??? I'm thinking about collecting everyone's smart phones at the door while I hang up their coats.

That would truly be nostalgic!  Wishing you all safe travels, Happy Turkey, a moratorium on politics and a wonderful day. I'm thankful for most of my family, my amazing friends and colleagues, and you, my lovely, loyal readers...



xox
DD

Think You Can't Wear Red Lipstick??? Think Again...

Anne Hathaway

Penelope Cruz

You know who....

I could never figure out why red lipstick looked so garish and ghoul like on me. Plenty of blondes, and some notable brunettes, like the ones above, look stunning with a bold red lip...What was I doing so wrong???

Saturday night was the Greenwich Hospital Gala. This years honoree, was Dr. James Sabetta.  Apparently, this incredibly skilled Dr., is the Sherlock Holmes of infectious diseases.  When everyone else is flummoxed, Dr. Sabetta is your dude. Good To Know.  The theme for the event was "Moulin Rouge", which in my mind, could only call for a red dress and conversely, a red lip.

What to do???

Georgia On My Mind...

Georgia On My Mind... by divadebbi 

Mary Katrantzou a line dress, $2,040 / Gianvito Rossi suede shoes, $710 / Chanel bag / Renee Lewis pearl jewelry / Givenchy eyeshadow / Nest Fragrances perfume fragrance / 

THIS is HUGE!!! Stila HUGE Extreme Lash Mascara

Stila HUGE Extreme Lash Mascara
$23

Suffice to say, "HUUUGE" is not one of my favorite adjectives...let's just leave it at that...

I was at Sephora the other day to take advantage of my VIB Rouge 20% off perk. I ''needed" nothing, but figured I would stock up on a few faves, one of them being Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara.

I will never pass up an opportunity to sample a new mascara, so I asked them to use some of my beauty points towards a sample of Stila HUGE Extreme Lash Mascara.

belif The true cream-aqua bomb

Belif  The True Cream-Aqua Bomb
$38 Sephora

Are you familiar with the term K-Beauty?  K-Beauty refers to the trend of Korean skin care products, often in the form of 10-step nightly rituals, followed by a 20 minute mask....and I thought I spent a lot of time doing my toilette!

I received a sample of Belif The true cream-aqua bomb, with a Sephora purchase and some of my VIB Rouge points. (Brilliant marketing. I've boomeranged dozens of times to purchase the full product of my samples.)

Well, this was a delicious find!  This fantastic gel refreshed my skin, hydrated it deeply with zero residue and left me glowing...all day.

I already knew I wasn't going to risk running it out of it, so I went running back to purchase it.  The packaging and font made me think that what I sampled was actually something from Philosophy.  When I couldn't find it, I asked for assistance and was directed to the K-Beauty section of select products from different brands....Interesting...

"Uh oh", I asked..."what am I in for?"  I'm both familiar and comfortable with Philosophy's price points...what was I in for???  Imagine my delight, to find out that Aqua Bomb is sweetly priced at $38!!!

Done and done.

Maybelline Brow Precise Fiber Volumizer

Well, that's a mouthful...but I can look past it.  I'm a fan of Maybelline's brow products, as well as Benefit's Gimme Brow, because it's fiber infused.  What I don't like about is the price.

Maybelline Brow Precise Fiber Volumizer
About 10.99. Available in 5 shades

I've been waiting patiently for someone from the mass arena; L'Oreal, Maybelline, Revlon, Cover Girl et al, to create a brow product with fibers. It's such a no brainer...don't most women want fuller brows?  And Gimme Brow was an quantifiable hit.  Finally, it's here.

TY budget beauty Gods!

15 Fabulous Celeb Makeup Looks for Fall

The beautiful Joan Smalls.  At first glance I thought it was J.Lo.
E tu?

I like Allure.com.  I tired of the formulaic glossy years ago, but online, its quite a nice read and I check in on it often. Today they ran an article on 15 of the best celebrity makeup and hair looks for Fall.

It makes a good case for considering things like matte lips in shades of burgundy and brick,  smokey eyes in scarlet hues, moonlit skin, glossy bangs, platinum bobs and gold washed lids. Overall, they looked fantastic! Faves, besides Joan, included Anna Kendrick, Mandy Moore and Brie Larson.

Blue lips??? Ya, well, let's all just take a pass on that one, shall we???

Worth a peek. It all looked very fresh and as promised, inspiring. I have already been dabbling with plum and claret shadows...Who knows, maybe there is a matte lip in my future.

E tu???

xox,
DD

THIS IS IT! IT Bye Bye Eye Under Eye Illuminating Waterproof Concealer

 Bye Bye Eye Under Eye Illuminating Waterproof Concealer

                                                           4 Shades $24

Okay, Okay, I know...I might be starting to lose some cred with all of you Lovelies about flip flopping about my favorite concealers.

I thought I was loving Tarte's Shape Tape, but I noticed lately that I was looking tired, midday, requiring a touch up.  It was almost like the concealer was breaking through.

When I was at Sephora the other day I asked Marlene, the Assistant General Manager for some recommendations; I wanted full coverage, but none of the creasing and caking.  She recommended a new product from IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer.  An upgrade that brightens, if both full coverage and waterproof.

I tried the Medium, which is on the lighter side, always my preference.  The creators recommend choosing Medium if you are unsure, since it's the most popular shade.

Blogger Closet; Love/Want

Blogger Closet; Love/Want by divadebbi fea

The Science of Color Matching Makeup; Color iQ at Sephora

Marlene, educating me on the science
of Sephora's Color iQ system at Sephora in Greenwich, CT.

I learn quite a bit from friends and readers.  Just last week, my friend Linda Levy told me about her "Color iQ" consultation at Sephora.  It's a brilliant marriage of science and technology and it couldn't be simpler;  Clean skin on your cheek and neck is scanned and imaged.  (It is actually the same technology that is used at hospitals to help match skin tone for burn victims.)  Linda had it done, and was matched, impeccably with the perfect shade of Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation.  

I've known Linda for more years that I care to mention and she never looked better. Her new foundation looked both luminous and flawless and definitely was the right shade for her skin tone.  I couldn't wait to try this for myself. Wouldn't it be great to take all the guess work out of shopping for foundation, lipstick and concealer? 

DivaDebbi trying on lipstick shades in real time after being
'diagnosed', so to speak, as a 5Y08. I could flip through with my finger and see how each shade looked on.
So cool!!!

Blogger Closet

Blogger Closet by divadebbi featuring a pearl dress

Thierry Mugler pearl dress / Maison Margiela checked coat, $3,405 / Gianvito Rossi black pointy-toe pumps, $635 / Versace genuine leather purse / Tom Ford fragrance

Sunday Brunch

Sunday Brunch by divadebbi featuring a flower stem

Burberry sweater / Balmain mini skirt, $910 / Isabel Marant ankle boots, $670 / Gucci handbag / Linda Farrow tortoise glasses, $380 / Heretic Parfum eau de perfume / Pier 1 Imports flower stem

Blogger Closet

Blogger Closet by divadebbi featuring lip gloss makeup

Victoria Victoria Beckham multi color dress, $590 / Gianvito Rossi lace up peep toe boots / Dolce Gabbana flower print handbag / MAC Cosmetics lip gloss makeup / Byredo perfume

DivaDebbiThrowback Thursday: RejuvadermMD at Home Microdermabrasion

 Microdermabrasion System

RejuvadermMD Microdermabrasion System
$159 (20% off at Lovelyskin.com)

My friend Monica called me last week and asked whether or not I have used a home microdermabrasion machine and if so, could I recommend one?

I have been using Trophy Skin's RejuvadermMD at home Microdermabrasion system for close to 3 years.  Originally, they more cumbersome and expensive system.  Smartly, they stream lined it, so it is now portable, includes an extraction head and a large diamond tip head suitable for use on the body and lowered the price.

It's simple to use, lightens freckles and age spots, minimizes pores and fine lines and is, in my estimation, equal to the pricey salon treatments I have enjoyed. (Below are the details.)

Lovelyskin.com is offering a 20% discount on their Trophy Skin Products, including the one I have achieved excellent results from.

Styling Hillary

Styling Hillary by divadebbi 

I so wish, as a Stylist, that I had the opportunity to dress Hillary Clinton. It's not so far fetched...she lives in Chappaqua N.Y., which is about 15 miles from Richards of Greenwich, where I work as their Personal Shopper.

Mrs. Clinton has a tricky figure. Many women do. Few of us are perfect and even my loveliest of clients have specific figure flaws that recede, as we accentuate the positive...Tromp l'oeil.  Our french counterparts have it down to a science.

Above, is how I would have liked to have seen Mrs. Clinton dressed last night for the debate. The body dictates ALL, and hers would look best with a longer jacket, with a good shoulder, a lapel, a blouse with some softness and interesting details, a slim cut trouser and a good looking pump.


The Nina McLemore suits that Mrs. Clinton favors is not her best silhouette.  I looked on her website and found one that would be better far better for her.  Look how different the same style jacket looks, in a solid vs. a herringbone, sleeves turned up or down and with different underpinnings.  This jacket with a slim pant should be her uniform.

For evening it could be done in a beautiful velvet or silk brocade.

So, If you know anyone who knows anyone, do tell them Diva is available for consultation.  No need to mention I mentioned the "C" word..."Cankles"

We've heard enough derogatory phrases lately to last us for quite some time. The Man in the Red Sweater should win the Noble Peace Prize...He even facilitated a closing handshake. Amazing what showing a little kindness can do...

xox,
DD

Allure's Best of Beauty 2016: Lips

I love, "Best Of" lists, and Allure's are among my favorites.  They are always fairly comprehensive covering a lot of categories including skin and hair care, so I often read them in chunks and take a break.

I was curious what lipsticks and glosses were anointed into the Allure Best of Beauty 2016 Hall of Fame.  We are in a, "matte" phase again, one I've never cared for or bought into, then or now.  Dark, nearly black shades, and brights like marigold and sapphire have also surfaced as trends, I was curious if they were included, (yes,) and if there might be a lipstick that I might actually wish to purchase.  

There was, Bare Minerals Gen Nude Radiant Lipstick.  Surprise! Nothing gimmicky, just plain pretty.  

Are you curious to see who made else made the grade?  Take a look at the link  to see if you are inspired to try any of them.   My pick is below.


Happy shopping...

xox,

DD

Bare Minerals Gen Nude Radiant Lipstick

 I'm a sucka for brown hued lipsticks
with mauve undertones

Review: Vita Liberata Body Blur

Vita Liberata Body Blur
$45 (ouch)

Vita Liberata is best known as a company that produces self tanning products.
The only one I ever tried was a self tanning bronzing powder for the face.  I love, love, love multi-tasking products.  Even more so, when they work.  This one didn't.  It was a lovely enough bronzer, but I didn't get even a hint of a self tanning element.  I hoped to wash it off and essentially, look like I did 3 minutes before...

No such luck and back it went to Sephora.

I often have a boat load of Sephora points, which nicely entitles you to deluxe samples upon checking out.  I spotted Vita Liberata's Body Blur, and instantly requested it.

It was love at first swipe...

Tarte Double Duty Shape Tape Concealer

Tarte Shape Tape Concealer
10 shades $24

OK, for starters, I have no clue why this concealer is so peculiarly named. I don't see how it's performing "double duty" and I don't know what "shape tape" means.

I had tried Tarte Shape Tape Concealer a few weeks back at Ulta, where it is being sold exclusively at retail. They only offered 6 shades, and mine, Light Medium, was sold out, as were most others.  It is also available on Tarte's website...sort of.  Any of the shades most of us would choose are perennially sold out. I asked to be notified by email when it was back in stock.  A few days later, my dreams came true.  By the time I got to ordering it about 9 hours later, I was back to square one.



Don't we all want more, what we can't have???  I had recently thought I found something pretty special with Too Faced Born This Way Concealer.  Once I tried Shape Tape I could see I got more significant coverage and the hunt was on...

Today I finally got lucky. Tarte Shape Tape was restocked at Ulta.

By mistake, I picked up the Medium, yet it seems just about perfect, not too dark or light.  I also bought a concealer brush, having read that the chubby sponge applicator, was hard to manage.

It is...

This. Is. Really. Good. Stuff... Total, creaseless, coverage that somehow seems to diminish the look of fine lines.  If is what, "shape tape", refers to, I want a formula for my knees.

It also looked completely fresh, 12 hours and a Pilates class later. Today TotalBeauty  happened to run a step by step on how to completely cover dark circles.  Though the model did not have what appeared to be problem dark circles, the step-by-step had some interesting points, starting with a concealer brush.

I intend to try it tomorrow.

I'm delighted with my new purchases (which was made with my return of Born This Way Concealer. Always save those receipts Lovelies.)  and received a few compliments about both my makeup and how rested I looked. All credit to Tarte Double Duty Shape Tape.

I'm hoping if you find it, you will both find it and then love it as much as I do...

xox,
DD

Get the Look; Milan Street Style

Get the Look; Milan Street Style by divadebbi featuring ankle wrap sandals

Michael Kors white cotton top / Chicwish a line plaid skirt / Sophia Webster ankle wrap sandals, $635 / Long silver necklace / Gucci silk twill scarve, $235

NYC Early Fall

NYC Early Fall by divadebbi featuring a wrap-around belt

Massimo Alba blue double breasted blazer / Erdem floral cami, $1,245 / Acne Studios 80s pants, $445 / Gianvito Rossi high heel bootie / Christian Dior zip purse / Renee Lewis white pearl earrings / M Co wrap around belt, $7.78 / Byredo edp perfume

Anastasia Eye Shadow Quads: Create Your Own

Anastasia Eye Shadow Quads
$12 each/ 4 for $40 when you purchase the quad pan

I don't remember ever looking at an eye shadow quad, no matter how luxe, ie. Chanel, and thinking yes! Every single one is just the right shade for me. 2 maybe perfect, 1 meh, and the last a complete dud.

Boo hoo.

Another thing I've learned,  is that if you are beauty bargain hunting, eye shadows are not best scrimped on.  A beautiful, finely milled powder will glide on evenly, have more pigment and last longer.

London Fashion Week: Christopher Bailey Changes the Fashion World

The Internet has forever changed the way we shop. Instagram and Street Style has fueled the desire for instant gratification. The age old disconnect of looking for a fresh pair of white jeans in July, only to find stores filled with cashmere and suede, motivated Christopher Bailey, Burberry's CEO and Designer to set in motion a radical change; See Now-Buy Now Fashion.  Why, he reasoned, create all of the buzz, only to have it all fizzle and burn, till the clothes arrived in stores 6 months later?  Is the key to keep customers happy, engaged and more importantly, spending again?

What would happen if he did his runway show in real time...instead of showing Spring 2017 this fall, he showed his freshly crafted women's and men's Fall 2016 show yesterday.  All of the merchandise shown on the runway was available in Burberry stores today. A few of my favorite looks are below:

DivaDebbi's Red Carpet Report Card: Emmy's 2016

Can I please start off by asking, who are these people???  I just went through 147 Yahoo Red Carpet photos and I have never seen half of them.  I feel a little bad about critiquing people whose identities are unknown to me, but it balanced out when two of them made the A List.

I was at a dinner party, so I missed all the Red Carpet hoopla as well as Jimmy Kimmel's opening monologue, but he seems to be doing just fine, affable, funny and relaxed.

Did everyone get the same memo or simply use the same stylist?  A preponderance  of white, black, cutouts galore and as if ripped from the Spring 2017 runways, some seriously pretty marigold yellow and leaf green dresses.

There was a lot of simplicity that was pretty, but did not excite, like the fabulous Emmy Rossum in a low cut white gown, slit to there and Julie Bowen in Lela Rose. Viola Davis also looked lovely in a fuchsia Marchesa, but lost crucial Red Carpet Olympic points for the ill fitting darts in the bust area.  Judith Light looked lovely and Maisie Williams was sweetly charming.

Misses for me that may win raves by others were: Taraji P. Henson, Tracee Ross, Julia Louis Dreyfuss (I LOVE JLD and howl at VEEP, but seriously, 5 consecutive wins??? I'm all for some term limits being put in place), condolences though, for the loss of her beloved father.  We feel ya Julia. Amazing that you attended. Sophia Vergara. Once,  just once, I'd die to see her in something that didn't look like it was painted on at an auto body shop.  Ditto, Laverne Coxe.The jury is still out on exactly what it is that Keri Russell was wearing.  I don't know who designed it and I can't tell if I love it or hate it, until I see it from all angles.

A few, who initially made the F List, moved up a notch compared to atrocities that followed. D Lister's include: Constance Zimmer, Maura Tierney, Ellie Kemper and Ariel Winter, who forgot to look in a full length mirror, before leaving the house.

I am delighted to put Sarah Paulson, Tina Fey, Claire Danes and Michelle Dockery on the A List, as they often disappoint. So without further ado, my DivaDebbi 2016 Emmy's Loves and Loathes:

The A List:

Tom Hiddleston
Auditioning to be the next James Bond.
Well played. 

Priyanka Chopra
Stunning again on the RC, this time in Jason Wu

Amelia Clarke
Atelier Versace

Mandy Moore
A fave and a knock out in Prabal Garung

Sarah Paulson in Prada
Congrats on your winning and making the A List

Claire Danes
Schiaperelli

Tatiana Maslany
Congrats on your win.
Spectacular in Alexander Wang

Kristen Bell
Fresh and lovely in Zuhair Murad

Michelle Dockery
Oscar de la Renta

Felicity Huffman
Designer Unknown.
I. Love. This. Madly.

Tina Fey
Yay Fey.  I knew you could do it.
Oscar de la Renta, hair from this century

Abigail Spencer
I don't know who she is,
but she looks stunning in this
Jenny Packham gown

The F List:

Xenia Warrior Princess

Carly Chaiken
Xenia Warrior Princess

Gaby Hoffman
Channeling Ebeneezer Scrooge

Kerry Washington in Brandon Maxwell
He is GaGa's go to guy.  'Nuf said.

Anna Chulmsky
in a mylar mullet monstrosity 

Amy Poehler
in a PF Chang Lettuce Wrap

The same Pamella Roland
dress looked divine on the model.
On Amy the proportions are terrible .
A fashion tragedy 

Heidi Klum in Michael Kors
for the Bellagio

Sarah Hyland in Monique L'Huillier
A clean sweep

I think it would be a better idea if Red Carpet reporters wore nice, safe uniforms, do I hear a second???

Giuliana Rancic
Romeo, Romeo...Where for art thou Romeo?

Nancy O'Dell
Fresh from her Dancing With the Stars tryout 

So my Lovelies, there you have it...who did I miss??? Who did you love and who did you loathe??? Shall we agree to disagree???

Lemmeknow...

xox,
DD