Alice and Olivia Charity T-Shirts

When fashion benefits one of our favorit charities, it's always a win-win. Check out these new Awesome T-shirts from Alice + Olivia. 100 percent of the profits go towards the Children's Defense Fund. The idea behind the shirt is to remind that: giving back is awesome. We couldn't agree more.

The shirts are $88 and are available at Alice + Olivia.com.

Britney Spears' Line at Kohl's

When we first heard about Britney Spear's designing a line of Candies' clothes and accessories for Kohl's, we were tempted to laugh. But then, we rememberd how much we like Lauren Conrad's collection, so maybe we should give it a shot. BettyConfidential gives us the inside look at Britney Spear's line for Kohl's.

Ojon Leave-in Glossing Cream

We're big fans of Ojon's natural hair care products, especially their dry shampoo.  Our latest discovery is the Ojon Leave-in Glossing Cream which can be used on damp hair as a styling cream to add shine and control, or on dry hair as a finishing cream to add texture.  We loved the scent (somewhere between nutty and vanilla); the way it control our static and flyaways; and the smoothness and shine on our ends.

You can find Ojon's Glossing Cream at Sephora, Ulta, QVC and www.ojon.com/. $30 for 4.25 oz.

Kim Vo's Hair Travel Tips

The other week, we had the chance to interview celeb colorist Kim Vo about his styling secret for girls on the go:

Coach Poppy

Although simply put, they are just scents, fragrances have distinct personalities and just like best friends, the personalities of a perfume must match that of the wearer.

The Coach Poppy handbag collection embodies youthfulness, color and a vibrancy. Coach’s new Poppy fragrance complements all parts of the collection so perfectly that it essentially captures its youthful essence in a bottle. I’m lucky to have gotten a sneak peek at the fragrance although it will officially launch in July, 2010.

The fragrance has many layers but its main identity is fruity and floral. At first whiff, it opens with the smell of juicy cucumber flower petals and mandarin top notes. Then it goes deeper to give a candied red rose petal and creme brulee flavor and finally leaves you with a delicious woody smell of whipped marshmallow.

Coach’s Poppy Fragrance is deep and lasting yet fruity and punchy, which makes it a great summer spritz. Created to embody the Poppy girl, you don’t have to be young to wear this fragrance, just young at heart.

Available starting July 2010 at Coach stores at $60 for a 1.7 ounce bottle.

Contributed by The Stylester.

This review was based on a free sample.

Easy Travel Dresses

Casual dresses are great for travel, because they're easy to pack and accessorize. We're always on the lookout for ones that don't wrinkle and are cute but comfortable. On her recent trip to Chicago, Hope wore a little black Michael Kors dress on her eight hour bike tour of the city. It looked great at lunch, as a beach coverup, and even at the Cubby Bear for a mid-afternoon beer break. Activewear companies have taken notice and designed technical dresses with good looks. Here are a few we found:

Merrill Lily dress with UV sun protection, quick dry material and built in shelf bra. $55

Patagonia's Corinne Dress has great style and quick dry nylon fabric. $75

Athleta's Sundry dress is a travel-girl's dream, it comes in six colors, is made of moisture wicking Tectel, and can be worn three different ways: as a halter, strapless, or as a skirt.  It's perfect apres beach or just window shopping in the afternoon on Lincoln Road. $59

A Peek Inside Carolyn O'Neil's Carry On

On our recent girls' getaway press trip to Montreal, we had the pleasure of traveling with the oh-so chic Carolyn O'Niel (That's her, far right.). In addition to travel writing for the Atlanta Journal and Constitution, among other publications, Carolyn is also a registered dietitian the author of The Dish: On Eating Healthy and Being Fabulous!

Here's what's in Carolyn's carry on:

Even though I check a bag when I travel, my carry on is my life line just in case my luggage is lost or I need something en route.

I always have a
1. A black cashmere cardigan.
2. A neutral toned grey/gold/cream large pashmina scarf which matches everything to add an extra layer on a flight or dash of fashion on arrival!
3. A Cole Hahn rain jacket with hood, which folds up into its own little pouch.
4. Digital camera...just in case something exciting happens or I spot a food trend!
5. Moleskine notebook - for jotting down great ideas or observations.

6. Today's newspaper...really!
7. A copy of this month's Journal of the American Dietetic Association. I am a food/nutrition writer and need to keep up on the latest science. 
8. Travel cosmetics I can't be without include: Aquaphor healing ointment for cuts, dry skin and perfect to protect heels if wearing new shoes; Pond's Cold Cream - women in my family have been using it as makeup remover for four wrinkle-free generations!

Magnifying mirror to see myself better and ensure correctly placed lip liner and eyeliner, sunscreen with at least SPF 30, I like Neutrogena.
Chanel lipsticks in rouge and lip gloss to tone down the red! Chanel powder compact.
9. Almonds or walnuts to snack on.
10.  If I really feel at risk of losing luggage ( ie. tight connections ) I throw in a jersey knit black dress and dressy flats to wear to dinner with the pashmina and black cardigan!

Hotel Thrillist Fontainebleau Miami

When we first received the invite to the Hotel Thrillist weekend at the Fontainebleau in Miami, we had no idea what Thrillist was or why we were invited. However, we're not the type to turn up our noses at a free weekend stay--especially at a hotel we have been wanting to check out--including parties, food and all the Bacardi Torched Cherry cocktails we could drink. The weekend was sponsored by Bacardi, Corona, Klondike and Nerf among others.

Upon arrival at the Fontainebleau, we quickly learned that Thrillist is like a unisex Daily Candy for the cool people. You can sign up for a daily email in 17 cities, including NYC, Los Angeles, Miami, Austin and more. Everyday the site features a hip new bar, restaurant, clothing line, event, gadget or the like that is just ever so slightly under the radar and definitely up and coming.

The site also offers deals like discounts on hotel stays (currently 20% off at NYC's Gild Hall) and throws parties and events, like the Hotel Thrillist weekend, that you may get invited to or win a chance to join in. On our weekend, every third person we met was a contest winner, so it really can happen.

The Hotel Thrillist weekend was packed with fun surprises like a buffet dinner featuring all the hotel's amazing restaurants, J. Cole performance at the Fontainebleau's Liv Nightclub and poolside concert by Kat DeLuna.

But hands down, our favorite part about the Hotel Thrillist weekend: The people. Not that we don't love our usual crew of beauty and fashion blogging cohorts, but it was really refreshing to meet a new mix of people including TV producers, advertising girls from Portland, Nerf PR folks, and a whole group of people who have no idea who Bethenney Frankel is -- and don't care. Figuring that the Hotel Thrillist crowd is indicative of who reads Thrillist, well, that's who we want to hang with regularly!

So sign up for Thrillist today and enter every contest you can. Who knows, we may just be seeing you at the next Hotel Thrillist weekend.

Sponsored Post: Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 Advanced Anti-Aging Body Wash

Two of my main focus areas in my Year I Stop Aging are my arms and my decolletage. While I always use moisturizer on my face, I haven't always been so good about taking care of the rest of me, and, it's starting to show. Both have plenty of freckles and sunspots, but what's really worrisome is that the texture is starting to change. While the skin on my face still has good laxity (when I pinch it, it quickly snaps back into place), the skin on my arms is looking tired and old. As if I need another reason to be concerned, a recent study indicated when judged independently from the face, your body skin, if maintained, is perceived up to 10 years younger.

Part of the reason I'm bad about taking care of these areas is that when I'm in a rush to get out of the door in the morning, I don't always have time to use moisturizer and let it soak in before getting dressed.

Enter Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 Advanced Anti-Aging Body Wash. Using Olay technology, it promises to:

• Improve elasticity
• Relieve dryness
• Deeply moisturize
• Brighten dull skin
• Even skin tone
• Smooth rough skin
• Minimize the appearance of dry lines

I look forward to testing it out and reporting back on results!

Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 Advanced Anti-Aging Body Wash are available where Olay products are sold. The suggested retail price is $5.99 for 8.4 oz. and $7.99 for 15.2 oz.

The Year I Stop Aging

I had a birthday a few weeks back and determined that this would be the year I stop aging. When I look in the mirror, I feel as though I aged more in the past year than I did in the past five years combined. I'm sure some of that has to do with stress--I was married last November and lost my father recently. Then, I read an article in Allure that said a woman's attractiveness peaks at age 36 and a 50-something dietitian friend told me we go through aging spurts, just like growth spurts, so I suspect what's going on is more than just life changes.  Uh-oh.

I realize, of course, that I can't actually stop aging. But just how I know it's time to cut back on chocolate and margaritas when my regular jeans start getting tight, I can tell it's time to take serious action. By serious action, I don't mean that I plan on pulling a Heidi Montag. Simply that I plan on eating those 5+ servings of fruit and veggies everyday, exercising regularly, using sunblock from head to toe (my arms and decolletage are particularly sun damaged), rigorously testing the many skin care products that get sent my way and occasionally dabbling in laser treatment to clear up my brown spots and a spot of Botox here and there. Follow along this year as I investigate how to stop the clock.

That's me, above, in April, about 6 months from my last Botox treatment.

Read about my current anti-aging skincare regimen that I already see making a difference.

Get Ashley Greene's Look for the Eclipse Premiere

Artist Vanessa Scali used mark cosmetics to create Ashley Greene's look for the the Twilight Saga: Eclipse premiere at the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival. “We wanted to create a soft, glowing goddess look to complement her beautiful Alexis Mabille Couture dress. The overall look was golden skin, soft blushed cheeks, champagne shimmer and a softly lined eye.”

Face
”I prepped Ashley’s skin by applying mark Primed for Perfection Face Primer all over Ashley’s face to create a nice, even canvas. I like the skin to look flawless but real, so I always use foundation and concealers sparingly. With Ashley, I used mark Speedway Do Everything Makeup in Natural. I applied it with the mark Foundation Brush and then blended it with my fingers. Using my fingers to blend heats the product just a bit and leaves a seamless finish. Next, I applied mark Good Riddance Hook Up Concealer in Light/Medium under her eyes.”

Cheeks
“I wanted to create a nice luminous glow, so I started by applying just a touch of mark Get Bright Hook Up Highlighter in Natural to the top of her cheekbones, down the center of her nose and the bow of her top lip. Next, I applied mark Bronze Pro Bronzing Powder in Pro Glo to her temples, under her cheekbones and under her jaw line to lightly enhance the bronze in her natural skin tone. Lastly, I used mark Just Pinched Instant Blush Tint in Peachy on the apples of her cheeks for the perfect healthy flush.”


Eyes
“For Ashley’s eyes I started by using mark I-mark Custom Pick Eyeshadow in Nomadic to create a champagne shimmer all over her eyelids and under the bottom lashes. Next, to define and elongate the lash line, I lined her upper eyelids with mark Keep It Going Longwear Eyeliner and Shadow in Entourage (Black Shade). For a touch of added depth, I used mark Get in Line Hook Up Waterproof Eyeliner in Painted Black at the very base of her lashes. I finished with a few generous coats of mark Lash Splash Hook Up Waterproof Mascara in Black.”

Lips
“For Ashley’s lips, I started by using a dab of mark Kiss Dry Goodbye Lip Smoother to give her lips a touch of moisture. I then used mark Kissink Liptint Marker in Berry to define the outer edge of her lips and smudged the color into the center.”

Best Celeb Up Do's

With temperatures soring early this summer, we're looking for ways to wear our hair up.  Here are eight great celeb styles, some easier to emulate than others.  Lauren Le Vine of Daily Makeover came up with this great selection. "These ballerina buns, sloppy-sexy chignons and other sleek styles add an instant glamour and chicness to any look. See which celebs have rocked easy up dos that work everywhere from the red carpet to a casual weekend bbq."  Follow here to see the styles.

Related Links:
Miley Cyrus' Fresh & Flirty New 'Do

Crazy Busy Beautiful

Get the Look: Jessica simpson's Summery Blonde Locks

Summer Music's Glam Girls

We love summer concerts and this year there's a number of glam girls on tour. Check out Meghan of Daily Makeover's picks. From hippie-chic style on the music festival circuit to crazy hair colors and costumes at the world concert tours, we rounded up our fave beauty looks from the stars of the summer music stages. Check them out now!



Read on:
Miley Cyrus' Fresh & Flirty New 'Do

Top 8 Celeb Updos

Crazy Busy Beautiful

Get the Look: Jessica simpson's Summery Blonde Locks

Web Snob June 25th, 2010

Stiletto Jungle test drives the much anticipated Living Proof Full Thickening Cream.

Allie is Wired takes a first look at Madonna’s 'Material Girl' fashion collection.

Bag Bliss put together a "neutral rainbow" of top purse picks for summer.

Bag Snob advises to run to the store right now to buy this bag!

Beauty Snob has the answer for that time of the month when you need to get back the bounce back in your step!

Coquette loves the fresh, feminine take on menswear with cut-out oxfords.

Stuart Weitzman for fall 2010 is a must according to Fashion Pulse Daily

The Jet Set Girls get excited for Chanel's Fall 2010 Makeup launch especially the must-have nail color for fall!

KRISTOPHER DUKES is wanting Rimowa special-edition “Topas” suitcase.

Manolo says, the loss of the hat as the fashion accessory elevates the shoes to the place of prominence? This theory is so simple and elegant, it must be true.

Ah, Second City Style thinks there's nothing quite like Style in the City this summer!

Shopping and Info loves looking taller and leaner in these K. Jacques nude wedge sandals for July 4th.

Want to know what the StyleBakery editors are loving this season? This week, they each share their top 10 favorites.

StyleCaster had New York’s premiere matchmaker, Richard Easton, tell us the10 quickest ways to turn a guy off!!

The Beauty Stop shows how to replicate Ashley Greene's party look.

The Shoe Goddess loves this sexy pair of Christian Louboutin Clou Noeud Spike Pumps!

eye4stle composes an ode of sorts to a Wardrobe Workhorse - the stud earring!

Bobbi Brown's New Denim & Rose Palette

If your go-to outfit for day and night is a sexy pair of jeans, then you'll be excited as we are for the new Bobbi Brown palette.

“Everyone looks great in jeans— and anyone can pull off a dark denim eye. To make it wearable, I’ve paired inky blue shadows with pretty roses for lips and cheeks. The combination is casual and put-together, rock and roll but romantic, and modern yet classic all at once.” Bobbi Brown

The limited edition Denim and Rose Palette is packed with deep, shimmering blues, icy grays and pinks for eyes and fresh rose shades for lips and cheeks. It's perfect for a girls' getaway because you have the option of wearing a soft daytime look or a smoky dramatic look for evening.

Priced at $60.00 and available July 2010 at Bobbi Brown counters and BobbiBrown.com.

On Our Radar: Seeing the City from Your Bike

We figured out long ago that one of the easiest ways to see a city is on two wheels.  There's less traffic in bike lanes, no taxi or train fare, and it's great exercise.  You also don't miss anything because it's going by too fast or because your feet are too tired. We've both scoured our home towns of NY and DC of course; but more recently Anne was in Montreal and Hope in Chicago and both spent a day in the saddle.

Hope started her ride at the Hotel Sax and headed towards Millennium Park.  She rode her own bike; but you can rent them throughout the city with Bike Chicago. The newish park is home to the gorgeous Pritzger Music Pavilion (eat your heart out Jiffy Lube Live)

and the psychedelic bean (aka Cloud Gate); both of which pose brilliantly for your camera.  She stopped by the Festa Italia to feel out the fancy cars. 

From there she headed up the shore past Navy Pier, through the throngs at North Avenue Beach.  Chicago's beach goers were looking good on this sunny Saturday, even if towel space was at a minimum.

And finished up at Wrigley Field.  Sadly, the game was already in the 8th inning and with the score as it was, headed to the Cubby Bear across the street for some beer with some super happy locals. 

No bike? No problem if you're staying at a Fairmont or the Tribeca Grand in New York, which are among the many hotels that offer their guests bikes.

Chanel Fall 2010 Collection

The Chanel Fall makeup collection is inspired by Coco Chanel’s contrasting style. She boldly mixed black and white, masculine and feminine, classic and modern, according to Peter Philips, Global Creative Director of Chanel Makeup. The Chanel Fall 2010 collection "brings bold emphasis to the eyes, and keeps lips soft and delicate."

Included in the collection are two new eye shadows Taupe Grisé, a chocolate grey, and Vert Khaki, a cool khaki green.

Soft lip colors, like, Glossimer in Coral Love and Rose Dilemma and Rouge Coco in Chintz

And what is sure to be the must-have nail color of fall, Paradoxal

Win a Milly Beach Outfit

Milly Cabana by Jet Set Girls on Polyvore.com

Just looking at the Milly beach collection makes us want to plan a beach vacation. Her bikinis, cover ups, totes and beach blankets are made for lazy days on the sand.

You can enter to win the above collection--a $1,200 value--on Milly's Facebook page from now until July 2. Plus, for every Facebook friend you have who likes Milly, you'll get $1 credit on Milly.com.

Stila's Road Trip Palettes

Whether you're road tripping this summer or hopping on a jet, don't leave home without Stila's Road to Radiance Palette. Across the U.S.A. (shown) is the first of the series of travel-themed palettes. Each will include four eyeshadows and a convertible color in a handy, easy-to-pack kit. A new one will be introduced each month through November.

Be sure to check out Stila girl Kylie's travel journals to get inspiration about where to go and what to do when you get there.

Each palette is a wallet-friendly $10 and is available on Stila.com.

Rent the Runway Part 2

Our second take with Rent the Runway went as well as the first. To recap: with Rent the Runway, you choose a designer dress at a fraction of the cost, which you have for four days. The dresses come pressed and ready to wear and when you're finished, mail them back in the pre-paid envelope. It couldn't be easier!

We even convinced our friend Heidi to give it a go. Her Herve Leger dress was a hit on a trip to NY (even if her hubby thought it was a bit too sexy for their crowd). See how she wore it with the zipper in front like all the cool girls! She was so impressed she rented two more dresses since the Herve.

I chose a Rebecca Taylor silk dress for the Hotel Palomar's Dress for Success event in DC (that's me on the far right with Rebecca). It was such a beautiful pattern-the photos don't do it justice- and it was so easy to wear, I was sad to mail it back. Plus, I used a $25 off coupon that RTR sent me making it even more affordable.

Now that Rent the Runway has been featured in InStyle, watch out that your favorite dresses will be harder to reserve. You can schedule your rentals months out, so think ahead for special occasions.  Also, since our girls' trips usually go from Thursday to Sunday,  if I find a great dress, I'm going to have RTR send it straight to the hotel.  No packing, no ironing, and I can send it back before I leave the hotel. 

To further sweeten the deal, CoverGirl is teaming up with Rent the Runway. Rent a dress and receive a free CoverGirl Smoky ShadowBlast with expert tips from CoverGirl’s Creative Design Director, Pat McGrath. while supplies last

Hudson Hall at the Hudson Hotel

Last week, we had the pleasure of dining at Hudson Hall in the revamped Hudson Cafeteria space at New York's Hudson Hotel. The restaurant looks pretty similar to the former Cafeteria, with some communal tables and the same dark wood goth chairs. It's pioneering "modern collegiate mess hall" chic, meaning the food is served old school cafeteria style with self service trays and food options. Lemon drop shots and woo woos are on the menu, hearkening back to the frat parties we went to back in the day.  But that's where the similarities to college end.

The menu, which changes daily, features items like tuna tartar, heirloom spinach salad, Waygu beef sliders, Chilean sea bass and artisinal pizzas. For dessert, there's fresh fruit (cherries on the night we were there), peanut butter pudding and cheesecake. Dorm food was never like this!

There's a video installation (a giant sized TV broken down into sections). Though we're told it's not intended to be a sports bar, the NBA Final game between L.A. and Boston was on the night we were there and we heard that the hotel's many European guests have been watching the World Cup.

She's Got Game

Ever wished you had a little more grasp of your favorite game? Melissa Malamut has got you covered with her new book, She's Got Game: The Woman's Guide to Loving Sports (Or Just How to Fake It!).  Malamut not only goes over the basics of football, basketball, baseball, golf and more; but she recommends when to cheer and when to stay quiet (as in when your team is shooting a free throw).  She even goes into the best outfits for each sport (basketball with its climate controlled arenas is the best sport to dress up) and the best time to leave your seats for a snack or a bathroom break.  Malamut is a veteran journalist and sports reporter.  This would be more fun (and less humiliating) than picking up a "Dummy's Guide" if you're looking to impress your man before the next big game.

A Peek Inside Lori Goldstein's Carry On

We had the opportunity to look inside the carry on of Lori Goldstein, stylist extraordinaire and designer of LOGO Instant Chic available on QVC. Here's how Lori travels:

I find it easier to carry one carry on with wheels. I bought this Louis Vuitton camo for a big birthday present to myself. Many of my trips are overnighters and everything fits in here.

I never leave home without my good luck shatoosh shawl. It was a gift many years ago from a very special person, before they were illegal.

Lip lip lip balm...I cannot travel without lip balm.

Thank god for the MAC air. It really makes such a difference for travel. I love it!

I collect Hermes pill boxes.. and use them! Vitamins...and anti anxiety pills. Have I mentioned I hate flying?

I never travel without a my sox.. these paul smith make me smile when I look down.

I wear my LOGO Instant Chic Tee. Comfort in the air is almost more important than comfort on the ground--and everyone knows that one of my first rules. You should be able to sleep in your clothes theyre so comfortable.

Finally, I carry every magazine under the sun. I've had people sit next to me and wonder, "What is the lady doing? I love to carry on tons of mags. I tear out what i love and give the magazines to the flight attendants. I get special attention after that! =)

Room With a View

Looking for the perfect hostess gift or perhaps a birthday gift for your favorite JSG? Check out Conde Nast Traveler's Room with a View. It's a compilation of TDF hotel rooms like the Sun Suite at Jade Mountain in St. Lucia

and the El Venado Suite at Hotelito Desconocido in Mexico

The book could double as your bucket list!