Product Review

SPRING CLEANING

I went to Ulta today and found myself gravitating toward the Clean fragrances. This happens every time I go into a store that cells the brand - a line of fragrances inspired by soap. Nothing beats the smell of freshly showered skin and hair and Clean aims to mimic that fresh-out-of-the-shower scent.

They have a myriad of fragrances to choose from including Warm Cotton, Fresh Laundry, and Lather. The one I keep coming back to, however, is called Baby Girl. It's light crisp scent makes me feel really good whenever I spray it on.The website even has airline-friendly sizes of some of the fragrances. Check it out here.

The Hills

RETURN TO LAGUNA BEACH

The Hills is quickly becoming Laguna Beach all over again. Not only is Lo back as a regular character, but now ex-douche bag, Stephen Colletti is guest appearing. On top of that, we have tension between Lauren, Lo, and Audrina in their new house. The Hills caught my attention because it focused on Lauren's career in fashion and her desire to shed all this high school drama.

Ass from the past, Stephen

Thankfully we didn't have to see much of ass hat, Spencer in this episode. His absence was replaced by Justin Bobby who walked around Lauren's housewarming party like he was some bad-ass biker. I almost didn't recognize him. He's shed his hippie look and is sporting a leather jacket, short hair, and a five-o'clock shadow. He's gorgeous, but such a silly prick that I vomit in my brain every time I see him on the show.

The best scene from the party was when someone presented the girls with a juicer as a housewarming gift and one of the girls (I don't remember who) said, "Oh, this is our third juicer!"

Stephanie (in her awesome outfit) getting bitched out by Heidi

One good thing about this episode was Stephanie Pratt's outfit. It was so pretty that it made me wish I was young with legs up to my shoulders so I could wear it. She was all dressed up to go to Lauren's party in a gossamer shirt and short shorts before Heidi guilt-tripped her into staying at her apartment to watch movies instead. I think Audrina and Stephanie should just tell Heidi and Lauren to piss off and hang out together instead.

*all photos from MTV.com

BACK IN FASHION

Sorry I've been haitus for the past week. I had family in town and life got in the way of this blogging stuff. Anyway, I'm back and ready to write about fashion reality shows and eye creams!

The Hills

TABLE FOR TOO MANY

No fashion fun on the Hills last night. It was all drama as Lauren, Audrina, Stephanie and Heidi wound up at the same table at a nightclub. Heidi said it was all water under the bridge, but Lauren couldn't let anything go and left in a huff.

Table o' drama

Audrina, who's done with all the drama, ran back to dickhead, Justin Bobby, for the umpteenth time. He was looking all modelesque in a black fedora. Later got props from Lauren for not burping in Audrina's face. Score!

Spencer, ever-the-douche, did his best to torment Heidi who stopped by the apartment looking for Stephanie. During her visit, Heidi was looking rather orange. I think she's been hitting the Mystic Tan a little too frequently lately.

Audrina considers a drama-free existence

At the end of the episode, Lauren, Lo, and Audrina had a very awkward lunch during which Lauren told Audrina that the three of them should get a house together. When Audrina didn't jump at the chance and kind of hemmed and hawed, Lauren and Lo exchanged such obvious "OMG" looks, it made ME uncomfortable. RUN AUDRINA! RUN!!

Vintage Photo of the Week

Vogue, 1959

Style Icon

PICTURES OF YOU

Today I would like to give props to Robert Smith of The Cure. The master of morbid make-up is 49 years old today. I'm sure he would hate to hear it, but he has become a fashion icon over the years despite having said that he doesn't care about clothing. He's also said that he hates the term "goth" and would never consider The Cure as such.

I've been following his career for over twenty years and there's no denying he has had an impact on the world of style. That big teased hair and red lipstick (Mary Quant Crimson Scorcher) that has become his style signature has influenced a multitude of performers and pop culture figures (The Crow, Edward Scissorhands, Neil Gaiman's Sandman, etc.). Legend has it that the lipstick look came about after an opium-fueled night with Siouxsie and the Banshees during which Robert grabbed Siouxsie's lipstick and went to town.

He's been called "pop culture's unkempt poster child of doom and gloom" so it's no surprise that he's inspired tons of goths, including yours truly, to tease their hair and wear lots of crooked red lipstick.The first time I saw him without make-up, I didn't recognize him. When talking about wearing a bare face, he has said: "Nobody notices me. Nobody thinks I'm me. But then I look less like me than most of the people coming to our concerts. "

He's still teasing his hair and wearing the eyeliner and lipstick except nowadays he's working with people like Ashlee Simpson (I must admit I love her song Get Outta My Head! This makes me wonder if he might have had something to do with that). He's even inspired a hair product from Lush called "goth juice."

Happy Birthday, Robert! Here's to another twenty years of Aqua Net and red lipstick!

dressing up dressing up

circa Japanese Whispers

Applying Mary Quant Scorcher Red

Exactly what about me says "goth" to you?

working the bird nest look

Still "Mad Bob"

Da! The 60s Rocked! That's HOT.

MOSCOW CELEBRATES 60s IN LONDON
PARIS ATTENDS

Celebrities, including Paris Hilton, mingled at a party celebrating the swinging 60s held at the Arterium Gallery in Moscow. Yves Saint Laurent and Dior were among the designers showcased on mannequins and guests alike. Sixties trends including mini-skirts and babydoll dresses dominated the party's fashion landscape.

Photos of London in the swinging 60s along with icons of the era, including the Rolling Stones, were on sale, all the proceeds going to Russian orphans. Among those attending the party was Paris Hilton, who has been in town to host the Russian MTV Movie Awards. While interviewed prior to the awards show, Paris admitted that she has never seen a Russian film. Ugh. This is who we send to represent our country at a Russian film event? Well, it was MTV after all and she looked fab wherever she went in the capital city.

Paris, looking groovy in her swank hotel room that overlooks the Kremlin. Dostoyevsky who?

Free Stuff

EU MY! SUGAR'S FRAGRANCE SWEEPSTAKES

Fresh, maker of lovely fragrances like Lemon Sugar and Redcurrant Basil, is offering one lucky winner a trip to their NYC spa to meet with Fresh's co-founder Lev Glazman to make his/her own scent! To enter the sweepstakes, you must be a Sephora Beauty Insider, which only takes a second to register for (you can do it here).

Read more about the sweepstakes here.

Fashion Rumor

NINA AND ELLE NO MORE?

Rumors are flying that Nina Garcia has left Elle magazine as Fashion Director. Apparently Garcia didn't show up to an Elle-hosted event celebrating Simon Doonan's new book, Eccentric Glamor: Creating an Insanely More Fashionable You last week. Could this have anything to do with Lifetime getting Project Runway? (Ick, btw) Nina nor her reps have commented on the rumor.

Tyyyyyyraaa Maaaaaiiiilll!!!!

GET READY FOR TAKE-OFF

During last night's episode of ANTM, Fatima was almost booted from the competition because she didn't have a "travel document" she needed. The girls are getting ready to go abroad and she realizes this just now? The last-minute crunch at the consulate almost cost her the competition because it caused her to miss this week's photo shoot.

Meanwhile Lauren almost lost her thumb while cutting an onion. This prompted both Whitney and Tyra to seriously question Lauren's intelligence. Whitney, oh queen of snotty comments, made some bitchy remark like, "Who doesn't know how to cut an onion?" Later, Tyra gave Lauren a condescending lesson on how to hold your hand when you cut.

The girls had to work a party for 7-Up (which was stressed as being all-natural now) and schmooze it up with a bunch of industry people. Lauren proved to be quite social and even chatted up Paulina's hubby, Ric O'casick, about music. But Anya was the winner of the competition and won a cool ten grand and a shoot in the nude again - this time for 7-Up.

The girls then went on my favorite photo shoot of the season so far. They had to run to catch a plane parked on the tarmac, holding retro-looking luggage and dressed in old-school glam outfits. Anya worked it, looking like a 1940s pin-up girl. And Lauren looked stunning - all legs and gorgeous pout. Whitney was criticized for looking too much like a pageant queen and almost found herself in the bottom two.

But alas, it was Fatima and Stacey Ann who found themselves in the bottom of the barrel. Fatima was criticized for not having her shit together and missing the shoot, and Stacey Ann was told she generally wasn't cutting the mustard. The judges felt she had "plateaued" and didn't have much model mojo left in her so she was sent packing. This left Fatima and the rest packed up and boarding to Rome.

Hump Day Fashion Icon

TWIGGY: HIGH FASHION SUPERHERO!

This week's Hump Day Fashion Icon is inspired by a dream I had a couple nights ago. In my dream, I was looking in the mirror over my vanity. As I frosted the rims of my eyes in thick black eyeliner and drew on big bottom lashes, I realized I was looking back at Twiggy.

No surprise that I would dream of seeing Twiggy as she's one of my all-time favorite fashion icons. After being discovered by an agent at sixteen, the skinny girl born in London was advised to change her name from Lesley Hornby to her childhood nickname, "Twiggy."

Soon after, she became one of the first "supermodels" and the "Face of '66" in Britain. Her mod look was heavily inspired by Mary Quaint and "swinging London." Now 59 years old, the former supermodel has been a guest judge on America's Next Top Model and proves she's still got style and glamour to boot.

She was never one to toot her own horn, however. Looking back she says, "At sixteen, I was funny, skinny little thing, all eyelashes and legs. And then, suddenly people told me it was gorgeous. I thought they had gone mad." Not mad at all, actually. Tall, androgynous, with big doe eyes and a kicking bob, Twiggy is a fashion superhero!

The Hills

SLOW MO TO FASHION GLOW!

Last night's episode of The Hills reminded me again of how much I love watching Whitney and Lauren work for the fashion industry and how much I detest watching Heidi and Spencer bitch about their boring relationship.

Lauren and Whitney worked a fashion show at L.A. Fashion Week while Amanda Priestly, I mean Kelly Cutrone, barked orders at them. She instructed them to round up anyone "tall with her hair done" to the runway. She said something like "act like a sheep-herding dog." Lauren did such a great job at her temp stint that Kelly offered her a job with People's Republic, saying, "You've gone from slow-mo to fashion glow!" Bye Bye Teen Vogue.


Will LC be able to withstand the talons of Kelly Cutrone? Earlier in the episode, it was obvious that KC was trying to shock someone when she asked a model who stood off camera, "How old are you?" and the girl answered what sounded like "Fifteen" and then Kelly said, "You look great in that lingerie."

As all of this was going on, Audrina was caught in a tug-of-war between Heidi and Lauren and looks like a deer caught in the headlights. From the looks of next week's preview, dickhead Justin Bobby shows up to woo Audrina back. Oh what timing as it's been reported that said dickhead is now a model working for men's label, Orthodox.

Soup's On!

JOEL McHALE LADLES THE SOUP ON FASHION

Joel McHale, the hilarious host of The Soup, and his stylist talked fashion to Street magazine. Joel always looks sharp (and gorgeous) in his designer duds so it's no surprise that he admits to being "a big, fat clothes horse." During the interview, he admits to having a closet bigger than his wife's and to being hot for former Soup host, Aisha Tyler. To read the full scoop, go here!

Marc Jacobs' Spicy Ad

BAG IT UP, I'LL TAKE IT

Victoria Beckham is the new face or "legs" of Marc Jacobs. The latest ad shows Posh Spice's legs coming out of a Marc Jacobs shopping bag he had made especially for her.

“I knew this wasn’t going to be Vogue,” Ms. Beckham said by phone from her home in Los Angeles. “I knew I had to put myself in their hands, which could be quite scary.”

She said she had a long discussion with Mr. Jacobs after he first proposed the idea, last September, and a follow-up chat with Mr. Teller, who met Ms. Beckham’s misgivings with a typical mixture of charm and candor.

“I told her, ‘You’re the most photographed woman in the world,’ ” Mr. Teller recalled. “ ‘And fashion nowadays is all about product — bags and shoes — and you’re kind of a product yourself, aren’t you?’ She was, like, ‘Uh, yeah.’ ”

*photo and quotes from The New York Times. To read more about the ad, go here.

Model Misbehavior

NAOMI CAMPBALLISTIC!

Bad girl supermodel, Naomi Campbell has been up to her old tricks again, this time on a British Airways flight from London to L.A. Last week, the supermodel was escorted off the plane in London before take-off after she went crazy over a missing bag.

Apparently she spit at a police officer and verbally abused British Airways staff. Her punishment? She's been banned from BA for life!

"Her behavior last week was absolutely shocking. She physically and verbally abused our staff and police," said a source from BA. Naomi isn't pleased with the consequences of her behavior and is pleading with the airline to forgive her.

"Naomi has been flying with BA for nearly 30 years and has been a good customer," Campbell's spokeswoman said. "She hopes this can be resolved amicably."

Now, apparently, there are allegations that she also called the cops a bunch of "white honkeys."

Product Review

FIBER-WHATEVER!

Fiberwig, the Japanese wonder mascara that I posted about a while back, has been tested out by yours truly. While in Peru, it was the only mascara I brought, so it received a thorough trial. All I can say is huh? I paid $22 for this? Fiberwig is touted as "paint-on false eyelashes" and given awards for its secret lash powers, but it made my lashes look really thin and sparse and not any longer than usual.

Once I got back home and went back to my old standby, Maybelline Great Lash, it looked like I was wearing false eyelashes in comparison. I've tried so many mascaras and can never find anything better than Great Lash. I'll never give up my pink and green!

FASHION FLASHBACK #2

SHOES. . . BETCH

Here's a "look" back at the shoes that have shaped my life and ruined my feet over the past 15 years.

FREE STUFF

WIN A PERRICONE BASKET AT ALLURE

You can win this huge basket of Dr. Perricone products at Allure. There's also a bunch of other stuff up for grab, including a spa getaway and loads of makeup.

AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL

Tyrrrraaaaaaa Maiiiiilllllll!!!!!!!
BLAH . . . BLAH. . . BLAH

Last night's episode of ANTM was the mid-season recap show so it was a bunch of blah...blah...blah... They showed highlights and never-before-seen clips and blah..blah...blah. One thing I found interesting is how funny and goofy Marvita was. She played a pink guitar and made up ridiculous songs (much to the annoyance of the girls who were trying to sleep), and loved to walk around the house naked.

She and Amis were the house clowns and performed all kinds of weird skits and laughed a lot. We never got to see this version of Marvita on the show and they made it look as if she were just pissed off all the time. On a similar note, Anya's cute, fun-loving personality was edited out as well.

The show also gave us a glimpse of Kim's "duh" moments in the kitchen and made me once again not sorry that she chose to leave the show. We also got to see bitchy Allison's weird diet of jello mixed with A-1 sauce. Also, Claire went on about her breast milk and how she was going to drink it. Yummmmm.

If you didn't have enough Dominique and her third-person observations, you'll love her quote from last night: "I wanna be like freakin' Mother Theresa but more diva, okay?" Ugh.

Another fun bit of "never-before-seen" footage showed the girls out saucing it up. There was late-night drunk wrestling at the house and a night out at a club appropriately called "Libation". At the club the girls got sauced off their buckets and danced on the table and the leather seats. Later they ended up in the limo where sweet little Stacy Ann surprised them with a bottle of vodka she took from the bar.

That about sums it up. Next week we get to see Lauren almost lose a digit and Fatima get in big trouble for something that might get her kicked off the show. Stay tuned. . .

BONUS: For some interesting Top Model news go here: Nigel Creepy?
Also, Remember the ANTM dolls?

Hump Day Fashion Icon

J. ALEXANDER

Today, we celebrate J. Alexander, also known as "Ms. Jay" on America's Next Top Model. The "runway coach and diva extraordinare" used to work as a model himself, stomping down the runway for Jean Paul Gaultier.

He has since been the go-to guy/gal for the likes of Bill Blass, Valentino, and Alexander McQueen when they want a model groomed for the runway. On ANTM he's gentle and patient with the models he trains while still maintaining his sharp sense of humor.

He has legs for miles and can work a pair of heels better than most women. He has said he dislikes celebrity and avoids the red carpet whenever he can. But that doesn't mean he avoids fashion. During his career, he's sported some wild outfits. Here are just a few. . .

THE HILLS: HELLO DRAMA

I'm not going to go over a blow-by-blow of what happened on the double helping of The Hills last night, but I will make a list of things that stood out:

• I wanted to see what Lo gave Lauren for her birthday. Lauren obviously loved it, saying, "oh, it's so pretty" but the camera never panned down to focus on it.
  

• Spencer Pratt proved that he's the biggest douche bag in television history, possibly in history in general.
  

• What was that big, ugly piece of shit belonging to Spencer that Stephanie wanted out of her apartment?

I can't believe I'm related to that douche bag

• Kelly Cutrone's (Whitney's boss) list of rules for LA Fashion Week were hilarious. Definitely very Amanda Priestly:

1) Any concepts of 9-5 LA not happening here. I would plan to be here ever night until at least 11:00 0'clock
2) You're going to wear all black
3) I don't want to see I your boobs
4) I don't want to see any piercings
5) If you have any tattoos, I don't really care. I don't want to see them
6) Do not roll your eyes at me
7) Do not question what it is we are asking you to do
8) I'm not here to be your friend
9) Emily, you're not here to be their friend
10) We really care about ourselves more.

• Lauren said working under Kelly Cutrone at People's Republic would be her dream job.

All black is the strict dress code at People's Republic

• I LOVED Whitney's pale blue nail polish in the second episode.

• Why are Lauren and Stephanie always whispering in their computer class? They do have television cameras trained on them, after all.
  

• If I have to see Spencer give the fake "thumbs-up" one more time, I'm going to barf.

• I really wish Audrina would get a personality. Her eyes are dead a lot of the time.
  

• Whitney is da bomb.

• Heidi needs to be slapped. . . hard.

• I loved that song "Hello Drama" by Kaila Yu that they played in the middle of the second episode.
  

VINTAGE PHOTO OF THE WEEK

1940s Harper's Bazaar

GWEN'S DOLLS AND SCENTS

WWD has reported that Gwen Stefani will be releasing five new scents through her Harajuku Lovers label. The fragrances, which she will produce with Coty, will be based on herself and her four back-up dancers Love, Angel, Music, and Baby.

"I didn't think this project would actually come to life," said Stefani. "The idea that Coty would let me do five different fragrances for Harajuku Lovers was a fantasy. But it really had to be five, because that's what the world is. Each girl has her own personality and sense of style. We're all saying something different with unique personalities."

Each bottle will come in the shape of a doll and each doll will have her own box with interesting facts about her printed on it.

Gwen also revealed that she would like to release a full make-up line one day (yes, please!).

"It makes sense, "she said. "I've always loved doing my hair and makeup and getting all dressed up. When I have a party or an event to go to, getting ready is just as much fun as actually going out."

THE END OF BROMANCE

The season finale of Make Me a Supermodel was a whirlwind of bromance break-ups and awkward moments after the models received surprise visits by the people they’re closest to.

Ben’s wife showed up first at the model apartment. Ben’s reaction? “What’s up?” Like he was talking to one of his buddies at the prison. When she got to meet the other half of Bronnie. Ronnie stated the obvious: “This is awkward.” Ben’s wife was sweet soft-spoken girl who kept saying she wanted a Bronnie tee-shirt. Uh huh. .

What's up, Dude?

Next to arrive was Holly’s fiancé – a middle-of-the-road good looking guy who showered her with affection. He and Holly snuggled on the couch all lovey-dovey while Ben and his wife kind of just sat opposite them looking bored.

Ronnie’s mom showed up third and the two of them were so cute together I wanted to bawl. His mom is supportive and proud, and watching her, you know where Ronnie gets his sweet personality from.

All of this one-on-one interaction was going on in the living room while Perry slouched in a chair, wondering if anyone was going to show up for him. Sure enough, Amanda, his two-timing girlfriend walked up all glamorous and ready to face her man. Perry was clearly surprised when he saw her and they did a lot of whispering and hugging.

At one point the camera focused in on their “private” conversation” in which Perry said, “Just tell me you didn’t sleep with him” (the “him” he was referring to, of course, was Britney’s man who was rumored to be “hanging” with Amanda). Amanda couldn’t hide her lyin’ eyes and just kept saying something like, “trust me.” Obviously she slept around behind his back or a simple “yes” would have sufficed.

Later on the runway, the big decision made my America was about to be revealed, but not before one last catwalk. The guys wore metallic suits and skinny ties and Holly wore a gorgeous maroon gown and a big, puffy wig that made her look like she had wings on her head.

After this photo was taken, Holly took flight.

Perry was the first to be kicked off the runway. I was flabbergasted. Honestly. I really thought he was going to take it - - either him or Ronnie. But then Ben and Ronnie were given das boot. Which left Holly. America has made you a supermodel, I really thought one of the guys was going to take it, but Holly bagged it. I think she’ll do great and book a lot of gigs. Actually, I think they all will.

That’s a wrap. Now I need to watch my mega-marathon of Britain’s version.

all photos from Bravotv.com