words_beth whiffen

How cool are these Alex Wang sunnies? I love the zipper detailing – there’s even a faux zipper pull at the temple. If you’re looking for a way to add a little hipster-chic twist to your look, these are the ticket. I’m planning to pair them with everything from bikinis to brights this spring.

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Fresh and clean were the first words that came to mind when I spritzed a light mist of Chloé’s latest fragrance on my wrist. Here’s the scoop: “An original interpretation of the Chloé Rose created in 2008 by Michel Almairac (Robertet), Chloé’s signature fragrance attained classic status in a few short seasons. This city-chic rose scent, so instantly recognizable, now reveals itself in a new and different light.”

Close your eyes and this petite bottle will take you on a stroll through a rose garden. L’eau de Chloé owes its refreshing scent to distilled rose water and a hint of patchouli. I can’t describe it any better than the brand does in their press release: “Light as dew, this chypre rose seems suffused with pure oxygen. A delicate citrus harmony recalls summer’s luscious ice-cool lemonades. At once spirited and elegant, airy and ethereal, the rose leaves a subtle presence on the skin. Little by little, patchouli appears in sophisticated touches, evoking the luxury and perfection of wearing a flawlessly finished garment. Layers of chiffon in bright sunlight. Bare feet brushing long grass. The glow of dawn on the skin. Chloé’s signature scent opens a new chapter in its story. An aura delicate as a breath of air. Like the original fragrance, this unique eau suggests rare elegance and surprising modernity. Free, spontaneous, radiant femininity.”

As always, I’m  excited to be among the first to sample the new fragrance. It’ll be available in stores in mid-February. French beauty Camille Rowe-Pourcheresse, actress and model, is the new face of L’eau de Chloé. The ad campaign, which includes a film by Mario Sorrenti and photography by Camilla Akrans, captures Camille in a sun-drenched beauty field of tall grass. Here’s a short “making of” video from the shoot, followed by some fun behind-the-scenes pics from the photo shoot.

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If you’re a Karl Lagerfeld fan, but can’t quite handle Chanel prices (who can?), get over to Net-a-Porter—stat—because KARL, Lagerfeld’s new lower priced line, just rolled in and is already selling out. There’s lot of sparkle in the collex—from silver-sprayed skinny jeans to sequined shorts and dresses—that can be toughened up by the label’s biker-chic pieces, like leather moto jackets, vests and sweatshirts with PVC sleeves.  And who doesn’t need one of KARL’s classic collars? Here’s hoping a new shipment is on its way.

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Score some Riller at their upcoming LA sample sale. Obviously I’m a huge fan of the brand and LOVE working with them. Needless to say, my closet is well stocked with Riller gear but even though I have an in with designer Marlena Ruiz, I still shop the sample sales. Last time I bought four pieces that were immediately put into heavy rotation. The sample sale prices can’t be beat so consider yourself super-lucky if you’re in LA and are able to take advantage of this event. Happy shopping!

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Handbags are my thing. I’m all about the casual chic look of jeans and t-shirts (admittedly of the luxe variety), and I rely on my obsession with cool bags to bring some excitement to my otherwise laid-back ensembles. Lately, I’ve been focused on adding some statement bags to my collection, including Stella’s Falabella and some beauties from Alexander Wang. Now my Lanvin lust is kicking into high gear and I’m thinking that a Happy bag would make me … well, very happy. There are many variations of this style and I’m currently coveting this leather and suede version. But here’s the problem… it’s beyond a splurge. We’re talking one month’s rent here. So for now I’ll keep coveting and you better believe I have my eyes peeled in hopes that I can snag this beauty on sale soon.

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Beautiful is an understatement! I love the color palette of black, navy and tan here. Plus, the combo of textures is rad—patent, canvas, leather, and the woven espadrille detailing. We’re talking instant classic, wardrobe staple, your go-to wedge for spring/summer. They are so incredibly versatile. Oh how I would LOVE to slip my freshly pedicured toes into these beauties. Get them online at Forward by Elyse Walker.

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I have almost completed eyebrow rehab, thanks to Kristie Streicher’s Beauty Bar at Warren Tricomi Salon on Melrose. I’m one more visit away from having the brows I’ve been coveting for years, and I have Kristie to thank for that. You see, my brows were overwaxed many years ago and my arch was in the wrong place. So for the past few years I’ve been seeing the best brow mavens in LA in hopes of fixing my eyebrow situation. But I wasn’t seeing the truly incredible results I was hoping for until I met Kristie Streicher. She’s an eyebrow shaping master but what really made the difference for moi is that she was the first person to tint my brows. Turns out I had a decent amount of hair up there but it was simply to light—Oh what a difference a brow tint makes!

In the past, I’ve had great brow shaping experiences and walked out feeling fabulous but the truth of the matter is that part of the allure of those services was that they were doing miracles with a brow pencil that I simply couldn’t recreate on my own. Not to mention, my beauty routine needs to be 5-mins or less and the brow pencil often didn’t make the cut. Kristie’s henna-based tints for brows and lashes turned out to be exactly what I needed.

She’s basically bicoastal with clients in LA and NY. So if you’re lucky enough to call either of those cities home, LIKE Kristie Streicher Beauty Bar on facebook to keep tabs on her sched. And if you live elsewhere, consider this yet another reason to visit La La Land or the Big Apple.

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If you dig the rock ‘n roll luxe of Balmain but aren’t as down with the price point, I’ve got good news for you. The label has launched a lower-priced diffusion line – Pierre Balmain – for Spring 2012. Heady prints are mixed with pops of neon, leather jackets and vests, and even a few super-feminine dresses. This could be very bad for the old bank account. Here are a few favorite looks from the forthcoming collex.

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I’m still a devoted fan of Shu Uemura, despite the fact that it’s no longer available in the US. And while I greatly miss popping into Barney’s or the Shu boutique to stock up, I now rely on my PR contacts to keep tabs on what’s new and order online when it’s time to replenish. This little secret weapon arrived on my doorstep about a month ago, along with a selection of other “ultimate eye essentials.”  The set included their new ultimate natural mascara, cult-fave eyelash curler, new lash builder serum and this roll away instant eye fatigue career. I have a 3 year old, a two month old, this fabulous + fun website and I own a social media agency, so this fatigue-fighting product was a welcome addition to my beauty arsenal. In fact, after the first application, I stashed it in an easy access pocket of my handbag to make sure it’s always within reach. I use it at least twice a day, sometimes more if I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and notice tired-looking eyes. Designed to nix puffiness and dark circles, the red phyto-ingredients (Amalaki, Pomegranate, Lycopene Capsule) and metallic roller ball applicator utilize traditional Shiatsu massage methods. It also cools the temperature around the eye area for an instant refresher. I’m totally hooked.

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Kind of wish I could just get dressed at Heidi Merrick’s studio every morning. Would be so easy to just pull something off the racks with the guarantee of looking chic all day. Yes, dear readers, I still heart Heidi and always will. The Spring 2012 collex is now available and my wishlist is very long. Check it out:

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