And you’re gonna get married? Not till after your friends throw you a kicking Bachelorette Party! But is that really possible in NYC? Since most of us sophisticated “Sex in this City” gals wouldn’t be caught dead in a Strippendale’s-type scenario, what other options could make the night an outrageous adventure action-packed and full of fun? I know it’s the people who make the party, but we did a little digging on our own – and instead of giving you tips on how to take on the “Task Jar,” loveable ways to load the bride’s shirt with lifesavers for licking, or planning a “Bridal Party Survivor Island” scavenger hunt – we’ve devised our own little Top 10 to do list of fun things in the Big Apple that can help bring your bride-to-be a night of merriment and maybe a little mayhem. Check out some of these swinging suggestions for a good time around town, they range from loud to low key to basking in beauty or doing some dance-floor damage. Regardless, I’m you’re sure to will come up with some tall tales to tell, and hopefully these hints can get you going.

1) For the Dancing Queens
Ladies looking to bust a move with some bridal party grooves should become audience members of The Donkey Show (www.thedonkeyshow.com) because everyone will feel the love from this retro disco take on Sleek Willy Shakespeare’s Midsummer’s Night Dream. The story is told with a little help from some classics 70′s dance ditties – that everyone in the party will know by heart – such as “Ring My Bell” and “Car Wash.” The experience comes complete with crazy circus mirror balls, feathered divas, glittered roller skaters and hustle queens! Audience participation is definitely encouraged, and parties and groups are warmly welcomed.

2) A Traditional Take – With a Twist
A wedding day is all about sharing that special day with the ones you love – so why not give your bride a little taste of the experience by bringing together her Bachelorette Party with someone else’s? Enter “Birdy’s Bachelorette Party” (www.birdysbp.com). From the co-creator of “Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding” comes an amazing atmosphere of up-to-the minute events at… Birdy’s Bachelorette Party. Audience members are her special guests and the actors blend in so seamlessly with all the events held that nobody knows who’s part of the show and who isn’t! The evening comes complete with party favors, booty box dances, sex karaoke, an adult game of truth or dare, and much more. To top it all off – the blessed event takes place at NYC’s 80′s hot spot The Culture Club. So you can reminisce and an attempt to rock out afterwards, if the groove’s still in your heart…

3-5) Three-Part Harmony
The show entitled “Naked Boys Singing” (www.nakedboyssinging.com) is a musical revue celebrating male nudity in song, dance, and comedy. It’s not sketchy like a strip club; instead it’s just hilariously revealing. They offer several packages for bridal parties, which offers different incentives and are aptly named “12-inch,” “8-inch,” or “3-inch.” (You figure out which one gives you the most!) In addition to the show – my number 4 here – bridal parties can also get dinner packages from kitschy cool restaurants Lips or Lucky Cheng’s that include a free ticket to it. And last but not least–for number 5 – if the gang wants to get good looking before they go, there’s also an offer from the Anderson French Salon for mini-makeovers and cocktail hours (that also incorporate a free ticket) to indulge in before heading to hear the barely dressed boys belt it out.

6) Beautiful Bundles
Cheek to chic (www.cheektochic.com) is a super idea for bridal party participants all about beauty (which would be… hmmm… all of us reading and writing here!!!). The concept comes from personal makeup consultant Raychel Wade, whose makeup prep parties are all the rage. They’ve been featured on the Style channel, on “Extreme Makeovers,” in New York magazine, and Lucky. There are four fabulous options to choose from – The Foxy Lady Party, The Hog Wild Party, The Hen Party, or the Randy Bachelorette – which range in offerings of makeup lessons to full makeovers.

7) A Spa in Your Space
Another terrific trend bursting on to the bridal scene is mobileSPA (www.mobilespa.com). This is a network of SPA professionals who “travel to you.” Licensed and seasonal professionals head to your home to spoil you and your guests in secrecy. All equipment and necessities, such as tables and candles, come with the package. The Bachelorette Bash features certified skin advisors who revitalize and pamper participants as they prepare for the big day. Spa menus are also an option to be created in combination with tlc.

8) LOL
I’m a sucker for a great joke. And wouldn’t want one of your last nights as a single gal to make you laugh? Comedy clubs are key in this department. I recommend the following as funny finds for an evening of side-splitting service. Gotham Comedy Club is a Flatiron favorite that has comics coming from “The Late Show with David Letterman” and “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno. Laugh Lounge is loved by those on the Lower East Side and is frequented by funny men from “Comedy Central” and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” And the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre takes on excellent improve and super silly sketch comedy to all new high.

9) Sing Out, Sister!
Ok, I admit it; karaoke really kicks it for me. Any chance to make an ass out of myself I will surely take – especially for the enjoyment of my best bride-to-be buddies, and there are so many amazing places to sing aside from my shower! The following is a brief list of some of my favorites: Second on Second, where you can enjoy Japanese cuisine and bit of a bar scene while breaking out a few bars of “I’ve Got You Babe”; Sing Sing Karaoke Box & Bar, where plenty of rooms (some with soundproofing) makes even the most timid of wallflowers let loose with a little bit of “Wild Things”; and Village Karaoke, a place that stays open until the last note is sung. It’s BYOB, though, so if you can moderate yourselves it might make the mood more manageable – or not.

10) Ate, Drink and Be Merry!
Dinner and drinks? Always the best move for the bride-to-be, whether that’s where the night begins or ends. A fun new place for fondue would be Dip – it’s making a splash in the East 30s. A great new joint for music and mojitos – Agozar takes aim and burns brightly on Bowery. Seeking to sip champagne? Raise a glass (or more) at Flute near Gramercy Park.

Regardless of the venue, you wanna give your gal pal the best possible send off…just keep in mind that it is all about having fun, so don’t overload her (or yourself) with plans that will cause undue stress. And remember, for the love of god, to bring cover-up to the wedding the next day (all the fun you had can stay “just between the girls”)…NOBODY wants to see a bride with a green face!

Anne Bradstreet
“To my Dear and Loving Husband”

Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas did it in an intimate chapel in Mumbles, Wales. The Osbournes did it at a New Year’s Eve Party at the Beverly Hills Hotel with hundreds of guests and the Village People as the featured band – yikes! Liv Tyler and Royston Langdon did it so quietly the first and second time, who even knew they had ever done it at all? But for me and my sweetie here in New York City in the year 2004, how could we renew our marriage vows? Hello mamas, May is Bridal month around here at beautynewsnyc.com, and us ole’ married gals are not going to be left out. It’s time to start bugging the papa bears about that five diamond “will you marry me again” band and let’s party!

Some folks use this celebratory renewal of their marriage vows as a chance to break out of tradition. Andy Evans and Jori Wilkinson, got remarried on a pier in Hudson River Park here in the Big Apple. Following the short ceremony, they climbed on top of a 10 foot, 3-tier cake and went flying along the river as the live figurines atop the cake. They decided to merge their special day with their participation in the Red Bull Flugtag Competition. Evans and Wilkinson were part of 36 teams competing in this goofy, fun loving event and their team name was appropriately, “Happily Ever After.”* John and I on a cake flying down the Hudson River? Nah.

Some, take the spiritual side of things more seriously the second time around. Before the tragedy of 9/11, plans were in the works for 700 clergy and their spouses to renew their marriage vows publicly at Madison Square Garden on September 22 of that year. Post 9/11, the event was moved into the following calendar year and held at the Sheraton National Hotel in Arlington, VA. The event was presided over by Reverend Sun Myung Moon, known to the world as “the marrying man.” This multi-denominational event was meant to symbolize lifetime commitment as the bedrock of society and the common thread of all religions.** Nice, but me? Nah.

Neither of these angles fit my taste specifically. But what, what? Muddling and muddling on my own quite ineffectively, I decided to do the very quintessential New York thang – I called in the experts. When in New York…do as the New Yorkers. Instead of cooking, order in. Instead of a homespun manicure, you can get your nails done for $10 bucks on every street corner. Instead of renewal planning on my own, I called – Tentation, Potel & Chabot – New York (www.tentation.net) Ahhhh…elegance and sophistication at my fingertips. Oh yeah, and get the inside scoop on how the celebrities throw such a shindig here in New York.

Thrilled with their global reputation, I set up an interview/consultation with their leading lady on the wedding front here in New York – Paige Saleun. She was fantastic! Paige listened very carefully to all my muddlings, and then spun her magic. My wedding in 1998 had been a three day blues festival of sorts with music every night, a New Orleans theme, interesting venues, and good ole’ down South feasting that would make the Big Easy proud! My husband and I have promoted a live, blues music event here in New York City every summer for the last 10 years, so the theme and style still fit us. I posed the question to Paige of how to carry that theme through, but make it different and unique for us. She had just the solution.

First we looked at venues. I told Paige how our original reception had been held at a private club that was a mansion and I had dressed the chandeliers with Mardi Gras plumes, and the ballroom ceiling with hundreds of gold lame balloons. It was fun, it was festive. But the idea for this celebration, Paige suggested, was to maintain the colors and gaiety, but to step it up a notch in style and grace. She knew just the place to display our now wiser, but not too much older, love for one another – the Angel Oresanz Foundation Center for the Arts (www.orensanz.org). Exquisite is the word that comes to mind. This Foundation is housed in one of the oldest surviving synagogues in New York, and from every angle, heavenly. By the way mamas, Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker got married here – oh la la!

Because the venue felt both celebratory and spiritual, we decided we could do our ceremony right there at the Foundation. My husband and I are members of the Unitarian church, both here in New York and in Rhode Island (where we were originally married and still spend every summer). We would of course ask our New York minister to attend and preside over the ceremony. For ideas on the content of a renewal ceremony, I would meet with our minister. But I also did some research on the web, and found this great site, www.thisischurch.com for ideas that I could share with my readers. For help with writing our vows, I found a great book at Barnes and Nobles, entitled, Wedding Readings, selected and with an introduction by Eleanor Munro. Of course, Jax and Brodie would be included. John could hold Brodie and I could help Jax hold onto our ring pillow.

Now for the food. Both John and I love to cook and love to eat. Food is important. Every year we go to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and every year we come home talking about music acts and the food – “did you hear that set by Olu Dara?” “Yeah but did you get a load of that Crawfish Etouffee’?” Mmmmmmmmhhh. Again, Paige made a brilliant suggestion. Since we had done buffet style for our original wedding, what about a sit down for our renewal ceremony? Yes! That sounded wonderful. The Angel Oresanz Foundation accommodates a wonderful long table right down the middle of the room with beautifully lit candelabras. The menu would be four courses. First course, a Petit Trio Sampler of Oysters Bienville, Crawfish Etouffee’, and Shrimp Cocktail New Orleans style, all stuffed in a hollowed out Mirliton. The second course, an entrée dish of Collard Greens Stuffed Filet of Beef, smothered in Mama’s Gravy with Truffle Mash Potatoes and Vegetable Sauté. The third course, a New Orleans Petit Shrimp Remoulade Salad. And finally number four: dessert. Now, here’s a correction from our wedding. Although we had not wanted to traditionally make every one stand around while we cut our cake – we did want our best man to tell the New Orleans tradition of the King Cake with a toast before the chef started to pass it around. That never happened. So here for our grand finale, we would cut into a fantastic, red velvet wedding cake while we loving explained New Orleans tradition. For our guests, individual King Cakes dripping in Crème Anglaise with Fresh Berries would be passed. And, because dessert can never go on too long, after coffee, we would pass around the table a Petit Fours tray filled with Meringue Kisses, Sables, Aunt Sally’s Pralines and of course, traditional Petit Fours.

But let’s not forget about the dancing. For our original wedding, our invitations had two dancing figures on the front of the invite representing the West African tradition of dancing every evening to celebrate the day. Inside the invitation, I had written a love poem to John about looking at life from every angle together by “dancing, dancing dancing.” John and I, although not at all graceful, love to lumber around festivals, streets, and our living room, dancing. We even have a dance of joy that we dance when someone has a victory in the family. So the dancing and the music for our ceremony was critical. Who did we know who could make us weep with a ballad and jump up and down with joy? Terence Simien, that’s who. We love him! Terence has been serenading us for years! My favorite CD of his is “There’s Room For Us All.” (to find Terence, go on www.skylineonline.com). Ever hit a wall with your man, just pull him off the couch to a little “Groove Me,” and well, mamas, things will be fine.

To sophisticate our festivities of dance and celebrating, Paige thought we could dance with masks (bal masque) to make it more Old World elegant – more sexy, more mysterious. I loved it. I loved every single detail as much as my first wedding. Brava, brava Tentation, Potel & Chabot – New York. Special thanks to mama Paige (Paige has a wonderful, beautiful daughter named Ainsley).

Well Mamas, I write this latest installation of beautynewsnyc.com from my hotel room in New Orleans. How appropriate. Right now, Jax is dancing around the room in a purple, gold, and green, Mardi Gras boa – and laughing hysterically. The love of dance continues in our family. We are here to introduce Jax to our year’s long tradition of attending the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. And Brodie (that’s the name we picked for our new baby boy) is here with us as well. I plan on wrapping my growing belly in beautiful African sarongs and twirling around with the best of them! I wish you were all here with us!

Love,
Mama

* The Daily Star Online, The Newspaper for the Heartland of New York, Thursday, October 2, 2003
** THE WASHINGTON TIMES, Published 4/28/2002

Estée Lauder, beauty revolutionary, mother of two, and one of the most successful business women in history, died on April 24th in her Manhattan home. Some reports say Lauder was 95, others 97. One thing is certain, all her life she remained elusive about her exact date of birth. This mischievous biographical detail suggests something of another time – classic, charming, but also powerful and strong. All of these describe the story of Lauder, the empire she built, and the woman herself.

She was born in Queens, New York to Max and Rose Mentzer, and lived to exemplify the American dream. Her company, Estée Lauder, which includes Clinique, Prescriptives, Aramis, Lauder For Men, and Origins, is currently worth approximately 5.4 billion. About her success, Lauder said, “I didn’t get here by thinking about it or dreaming it. I got here by doing it.”

Indeed, Lauder spent her life going after what she wanted – often doing work as a one-woman show to ensure it was done well. Rather than dream of designing her skincare, the young Lauder learned from her uncle, a chemist, how to mix creams. Later, she modified what she had learned into the formulation of her own beauty products. Her packaging design – pale blue-green, to match any bathroom décor – came also from her own ingenuity.

Lauder sold her products on the street, and in beauty salons – notoriously applying creams to women trapped under hairdryers. In the 1930s she began courting the larger cosmetic world with her line. She went against the odds, and the words of her financial advisors, seeking only high-end department stores. She fully believed her products were an investment women would be willing to make, and cleverly considered only markets which allowed credit card purchases.

As for advertising, in the early days Lauder couldn’t afford it. So she created the first gift-with-purchase – now a beauty industry standard – and found that these gave her products all the ad space they needed. In a time when cosmetics were sold without product samples, Lauder pioneered the three-minute counter makeover, encouraging women to use the products at no charge, and see for themselves. Her marketing strategy was simple, “Put the product in the customer’s hands.”

Estée Lauder cosmetics were ordered first by Saks Fifth Avenue, then Neiman Marcus, and over time sold in department stores nationwide. Lauder personally trained the saleswomen who would be handling her products.

Women adored Estée Lauder, and clamored to buy her skincare. Lauder promoted the idea of luxury for the everywoman, making customers out of previously excluded women who now felt admitted to a glamorous world. The introduction of her first fragrance, “Youth Dew,” was so well-received, it is said to have sparked a wave of general perfume sales around the country.

Lauder believed all women were beautiful, and created an empire to support that belief.

“Why are all brides beautiful?” she once mused. “Because on their wedding day, they care about how they look.”

Estee Lauder’s public memorial service will be held in May.

My favorite pair of black pants have been dry-cleaned about 1.2 gazillion times. Fearing the pants will suddenly vaporize from over-use while I’m still wearing them, I called the clothing company in a panic to see if they still manufactured that particular pant style. To my dismay, I found out they discontinued it. I’ve had similar experiences when it comes to my makeup. Despite the vast array of beauty products formulated for what seems to be every skin type imaginable, women tend to find that one very special product that they will commit to forever – the “Mr. Right of Beauty products,” if you will. And though we may never forget our favorite pair of pants, or our first true love for that matter, it is possible to find a very similar and perhaps even better replacement. Giella is a cosmetics line that helps us do just that!

In New York City, Giella is located exclusively at Henri Bendel and offers the unique service of custom blending colors to fit your needs and specific skin coloration. Giella and her team of talented color specialists formulate lipsticks, blushes, concealers, foundations, powders, nail polish and countless other cosmetic necessities right then and there while you wait. Using ingredients of the highest quality, Giella products are non-cometogenic, fragrance-free, allergy-free and dermatologist-tested. They also contain a form of quartz, which has the ability to change the way light is reflected off the skin, thus minimizing surface imperfections like lines and large pores.

Because this is the bridal issue, I must make mention of the fabulous ways in which Giella can be of service with regards to your wedding day. If, for instance, your bridesmaids’ dresses are burgundy, Giella would custom blend a nail polish and makeup palette to suit each bridesmaid’s complexion so that she looks her very best in the burgundy dress. What’s more is each woman can choose how the makeup is applied. For example, the mirrored containers are ideal for shadow, concealer and blush and can stack together for easy portability and convenience. You can decide whether your lip color is best in a traditional stick form, in a tube of gloss or from a twist dispenser. Blush can come in a cream or powder. The possibilities are close to endless.

Watch as the ingredients are poured into a heating device and molded to perfection in a matter of minutes. For a very reasonable price, your bridesmaids can walk away with an adorable Bendel’s mini-hatbox full of custom-blended products as well as a professional makeup application. Giella will even provide the champagne for a unique Bridal Shower held in Bendel’s private party room. There’s also the option of having your own personal Giella color specialist come to you on the big day. After all, the full line of colors as well as the heating device is completely portable!

Check out www.giella.com for more information on how to send fabric swatches and samples of makeup color to get Giella products delivered right to your door. Each color recipe for the personalized cosmetics is kept on file for future reference and named exclusively after you!

What better gift is there, then the gift of beauty? Treat your bridal party to the fabulous Giella line and the girls will look great no matter what color the bridesmaid dress is. Transport yourself to the Emerald City of makeup, and don’t ever fret again if you’ve almost used up your favorite discontinued shade of lipstick!

The Sexy/Flirty bride loves love, and loves her shimmer. With a smirk on her face, she may look like she’s up to something? Or just was. Maybe she woke up looking refreshed? Or maybe she and the groom were caught snogging in the linen closet, just before that walk down the aisle. Either way, we know she’s been up to no good.

Eyes:
Laura Mercier Shimmer Shadows. The perfect base color is Sandstone. A neutral wash laden with shimmery flecks is just the subtle touch she wants, to draw attention to her eyes. It’s all about the implications with this little flirt!

www.lauramercier.com

Lancome Artliner. For the perfect top lash definition, our little flirt turns to the Artliner pen. This easy to use liner can get as thin or thick as you want it. It goes on sooth and has film-forming features to help it stay on.

Lancome Hypnose Custom Volume Mascara. Just what our little vixen needs, to hypnotize her man. With every stroke, your lashes will intensify. There’s no smudging or smearing. After all, it is your wedding day. You don’t wanna look like a raccoon do you? Hypnotize them. ($21)

www.sephora.com

Cheeks/Base:
Yves Saint Laurent Radiance Foundation evens out skin tone and creates an ideal canvas for their Touche Blush. The blush is made of ultra fine powder and is easy to use. All you have to do is apply your color to the apples of your cheeks. No mess, no brush to carry. With the sponge applicator attached to the container, YSL has thought of everything for you. Saks recommends Shade #3 to give your skin a healthy warm glow.

www.saks.com

Lips:
Dior Addict Lipstick. Nothing but the best for Miss Flirtation. Full of shine, these lipsticks are the ideal for keeping your lips looking irresistibly lush, and the color stays true way past “I do.” I suggest Parallel Rose for your deceivingly sweet smile.

Dior Lipliner Pencil. No bride should go without a lipliner. It helps give shape to your mouth and keeps your lipstick on longer. Heather Rose is the only color you’ll ever need. It gives your lips definition, without overwhelming color. You can use this product with your Parallel Rose lipstick, a gloss, or on it’s own-filling in your pouty little mouth.

www.saks.com

Fragrance:
Guerlain L’Instant Guerlain. Want your scent to sparkle as much as you do on this special day? L’Instant Parfum is full of light scents of sweet honey, magnolia and citrus. As you walk down the aisle, the guest will not only be captivated by the way you look, but by the way you smell as well. You go, you sexy thang.

www.saks.com

Eyes:
Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow Compact. Dior has made this a staple in their makeup line and for a reason. Because of the combination of all five colors in one compact, you’ll never need another eyeshadow. Don’t forget the three in a row rule: Any three touching will make a great color combination, “side to side, up and down, or diagonal” use the highlighter shade along the brow, the medium shade a base and the darker shade in the crease, for contouring and definition. All your eyeshadow colors, in one little container! For bridal, try colors such as Beige Massai (for a truly neutral eye) or SeaScape (for a cool spring pastel palette)

Beige Massai Seascape

Dior Crayon Liner. Use a complimentary shade to line the top lids of your eyes. The pencil is all-in-one with a blending tip and sharpener that lets the bride sharpen or smudge as much as desired. You’re classic—but you’re modern, you can smudge a little.

Dior MaximEyes.
Top of your look with Dior’s MaximEyes. It thickens the thinnest of lashes. The name says it all?

www.saks.com

Cheeks:/Base:
Chantecaille’s Aquablush. The classic bride sticks to a natural look. Aquablush is a gel stick that provides a dewy look that light to the face and touch. Easy to blend and never streaky or smudgy and lasts way past post-ceremony picture time.

Chantecaille’s Compact Soleil. In order to get a natural matte finish to your face, you must use a light powder. Chantecaille’s Compact Soleil can be used as a bronzer or a blush. It also contains gingko biloba and wild roses to heal imperfections and protect the skin from the amount of makeup on this day that you might normally wear, leaving the skin smooth and radiant and giving you the sun in a shiny container.

www.neimanmarcus.com

Lips:
Nars has the lips covered ? their lipsticks are ennriched with vitamin to increase wearability and keep the color true. Sheer finish creates the most natural, stained-looking lips, while Semi-matte produces a velvety, full-bodied look. Try Venice, Barbarella or Belle De Jour.

www.nars.com

Fragrance:
Vera Wang Women’s Eau de Parfum. Why not turn to the woman who does classic bridal for your classic bridal fragrance? It’s elegant and sensual, a modern bouquet of bulgarian roses, calla lily and opulent gardenia combined with musks and white woods. I’d trust her with my dress, I’ll trust her with my smell. Stock up on her other fabullous smelling prducts as well: soap, body cream, lotion…ooooh and shimmering powder.

pssst…now Vera does men’s frangrances too,. Nothing’s too good for the man you’re going to marry.

www.saks.com

The Bohemian Bride is unconventional, choosing bold artistic colors and the texture of glossy glosses. A Bohemian wedding would have a combination of funky flowers and glowing candles. This bride’s makeup would be as unexpected as the décor.

Eyes:
Tony & Tina Therapeutic Eye Base. We all know that no bride sleeps well the night before her wedding. This base evens out discoloration under the eyes and helps to reduce and camouflage fine lines. Remember ladies, there will be close-up pictures as well.

Tony & Tina Cosmic Light Formula. Try Vortex for an enchanting emerald shimmer. Green is the most underused eye shadow. With the right shade for your skin tone you can make brown eyes pop and blue eyes sparkle with oceanic hues. Go for a dusting across the lid and just under the bottom lashes.

Tony & Tina Herbal Eye Pencil and Mascara. We recommend black liner, but the Olive shade works if you don’t need strong definition. Mascara should always be applied subtly at first, adding and smudging where you need it for your particular eye shape and size. It’s also the first step in creating drop dead gorgeous lashes.

Kevin Aucoin Lash Curling Mascara. The protein based formula won’t flake or smudge, but it will plump up and lengthen your lashes and even give them a little curl. All eye products available at www.sephora.com

Cheeks:
Benefit Powder. You wanna take it easy here with a light dusting. A fairer skinned beauty should go for Georgia, which warms your complexion. Darker skinned babes opt for Hoola, giving you a more bronzed Hawaiian sun-kissed look. Comes with its own brush, too!

Available at www.benefitcosmetics.com

Lips:
Bloom Lipglaze. This super hydrating gloss comes in 12 different colors. Choose a subtle shimmer or a full on glaze for a polished but not too made up mouth.

Available at www.sephora.com

Fragrance:
Hanae Mori Women’s Eau de Toilette. Hanae Mori, the great lady of Japanese fashion and Parisian haute couture, introduced this fragrance in 1996. This subtle composition of berries and flowers with a distinctive tone of strawberries and almond make this a classy, winning alternative to patchouli.

Available at www.neimanmarcus.com

Estee Lauder
When you’re all about relaxing with your new husband in connubial bliss, you don’t want to have to worry about being pasty white when you’re in (or out of) your bathing suit. Thanks to the newest self-tanning formula from the folks at Estee Lauder, you don’t have to worry about that any more.

Go Bronze Plus is their hybrid formula that gives you an instant shimmery bronze tint (makes it easy to see if you missed a spot) that develops into a long lasting tan. The two best things about this formula are: the scent (none of that ‘just applied self-tanner smell) and the color (nothing orangey about either the instant tint or the actual tan). There is a facial formula, as well, packed with moisturizers and anti-oxidants.

www.esteelauder.com

Eyes: Bobbi Brown makes eyes easy with her silky, matte Eye Shadows. Choose a color like Banana or Shell, depending on skin tone, for a neutral wash of color from lid to brow bone. Try applying a darker shade, like Espresso, to the lashline…for fullness and definition without looking made up. Of course Ms. Brown provides the perfect tools for application: Her Eye Shadow Brush is top on the market, and liner never was as easy to apply as it is with her Eye Liner Brush.

www.bobbibrown.com

Awake Cosmetics helps you top off your natural-beauty eyes with some natural looking mascara. Their Stardom Escalate Lash Mascara is formulated with almond oil (for shine) and vitamin E and Gingko extract (to care for lashes). The curved wand gets to even the tiny lashes on the inner corner of your eye and the black formula leaves your lashes looking not only longer and fuller but healthier.

www.awakecosmetics.com

Cheeks:/Base:
Estee Lauder Aquablush. Stick with Lauder to finish off your bronze-goddess glow. Flecks of amber attract and reflect light with the perfect bronzed base. They have two portable new formulas, Bronzer Creme (with an SPF of 12) and Air Bronzer (loose powder that comes IN its own brush).

www.esteelauder.com

Lips:
Awake Stardom Lipstick has just the right amount of pigment to brighten up your bronzed puss without looking like you’re wearing lipstick. Long lasting brilliance and no sticky gloss feeling (presumably your lips will be plenty busy on your honeymoon). Packed with vitamins, this formula will help protect your lips from overexposure to the elements…or your new hubby! Try a gorgeous color like Flamenco!

Fragrance:
Alexander McQueen may not have been thinking about your honeymoon when he created his namesake signature scent, but you’ll imagine he was, when you spritz on this sensual fragrance with top notes of ginger and neroli. The floral middle notes of jasmine and rose settle in with myrr and sandalwood for a feminine yet earthy…dare we say “carnal” essence. It doesn’t hurt that the bottle is even sexy.

www.saks.com

Déjà  vu. It’s the only way to explain my experience with Bridal Showers. The guest lists and venues might change from shower to shower, but everything else has a strange way of staying the same. Don’t get me wrong, I love attending them in that I love all things feminine and romantic. And hopefully, all of the energy, time and creativity I put forth in planning my friends’ showers, will someday be returned to me when I get married, right? The trick is to take the elements of a bridal shower that we all know and love and make them special, unique and custom-made for the bride-to-be. Here are some things to consider when planning a shower:

1) Venue – Why not combine elements of glamour, practicality, beauty and fun by hosting a bridal shower at the Giella counter at Henri Bendel’s? With custom colors made on the spot, the bridal party will look good in any color dress they’re forced to wear! The guests can drink champagne in a private party room and walk away that day with beauty products specifically designed and made for them in minutes! See www.giella.com as well as my full write-up of this fantastic beauty line!

With more traditional bridal showers, I find myself trekking out to the suburbs, sitting at card tables set up in the dining room and waiting on the buffet line. I’ve also been known to venture to a restaurant for the bride’s favorite meal (i.e. brunch, BBQ, Deli, Italian etc.). Many restaurants and hotels offer private dining rooms for such occasions. The Metropolitan Cafe in New York City has a lovely room and an array of menu options (212-759-5600). Perhaps Dylan’s Candy Bar’s private party room would be a fun and unique atmosphere for a shower in Manhattan (www.dylanscandybar.com).

2) Theme – The theme of a bridal shower is not so apparent as it is at say, a Bar-Mitzvah. Never-the-less, themes are incorporated into bridal showers as well, however subtly. For instance, my friend went to Italy for her honeymoon and so she had her shower at an Italian Restaurant with pictures of Italy coming out of the centerpieces. Another friend’s invitation was a poem printed on a Chinese fan because it was taking place at – you guessed it – a Chinese restaurant.

Favors (which seem to be a must at a shower, even if just a token gift) can tie in a theme (i.e. chocolate covered fortune cookies in prettily decorated Chinese take-out containers).I usually receive things like chocolates, candles, and feminine goodies like sachets as favors. I’ve been to kitchen showers, lingerie showers, and ‘around-the-clock’ showers (once I went to all three for the same person!) These kinds of showers are helpful when you can’t decide what type of gift to give.

3) The Scrapbook – Without fail, a few days after the invitation arrives, I am mailed a manila envelope containing a page from a photo album and a self-addressed stamped envelope to return to the organizer by a strict deadline. I am instructed to “keep it simple,” write a letter of advice, stick a picture on it etc. Easy enough, right? Wrong. No matter how much of my soul I pour into writing a witty poem, re-writing lyrics to a song or concocting a collage of all our funniest pictures, when I arrive at the shower, I am shocked to find scrapbook pages of epic proportions rivaling the latest artwork at the MOMA! My advice is to really make it simple. If you’re the organizer, email only the other bridesmaids and immediate family members and instruct them to create a page on 8 ½ x 11 paper and tell them to bring it to the shower to enclose in a three-ring binder upon their arrival. If you’ve never done a page for a scrapbook, forget you ever even heard about it since it could be more trouble than it’s worth. But I will admit that the scrapbook usually ends up being the bride’s favorite gift and memento.

4) Games – I’ve never actually been a part of a successful Bridal Bingo game. I give up on filling in all of the boxes and end up losing interest in the gift opening routine as well as Bingo about three seconds into it. I tend to occupy my time by creating a paper plate hat of gift ribbons (or tie two plates together and use a third around the waist for a BIKINI of bows); or for God’s sake, help pre-unwrap the presents and keep the gift line moving, people! However, I recently attended a shower that used professional bridal bingo cards and Hershey Kisses as markers.

See www.badabadabingo.com for more information and ideas. Some people had the unfortunate experience of having things like “water filtration system” and “wall shelf” on their cards, but all in all, the pre-made cards did make the gift opening ceremony a bit more enjoyable for everyone. A crossword puzzle with clues about the couple might be more suitable for the hotel hospitality bags on the actual wedding day, but crosswords could also be a good ice-breaker for guests meeting for the first time.

This may not be everyone’s idea of fun, but this wouldn’t be an article about bridal showers without the mention of the toilet paper wedding dress game. Divide the guests into teams and create a wedding dress for one of your teammates out of toilet paper. A panel of judges awards prizes for the prettiest dress, sexiest, most elaborate etc.

Depending on the personalities of the bride and groom, a trivia game is also a fun addition to the shower. Keep the questions fun and interesting – i.e. No one cares if he knows what her favorite color is! Ask them where the strangest place they ever made whoopee is and watch them squirm. And don’t worry, they will both ultimately answer, “We’re saving ourselves for marriage. “Record the groom’s answers on paper or, if he’s game, on audio tape or video. To keep the guests engaged, you can pass out copies of the questionnaire and give a prize to the person who knows the most about the couple. Better yet, hand out index cards with the questions written on them and have each guest read one aloud. For another opportunity to hand out prizes, you can give hand lotions or candles to: 1) whoever has an anniversary date closest to the guest of honor; or 2) whoever went to the same place as the couple for her honeymoon and so on and so on.

5) Gift ideas – Unless there’s something very specific I’ve been dying to give the bride, I generally choose something off the registry. Lingerie is always an option, but only if it’ll evoke an “oooohhhh” from the crowd. Judaica is a nice gift (i.e. seder plates, menorahs, mezuzahs, the glass to break at the wedding etc.) See www.jewishsource.com for more ideas. One of my favorite gifts is a laundry basket filled with household cleaning products. Hold up each product as you read the item aloud in a poem (i.e. May your life be filled with “JOY” and “CHEER” as you “SNUGGLE” close all through the years). And I can never forget seeing a mop (for hair) turned upside down, wearing an apron as a dress, spatulas for arms and oven mitts for hands etc. You can add as many useful kitchen supplies to represent body parts and subsequently, a full-size person. It’s a great visual as well as a practical gift!

Planning a shower can be a lot like planning a mini-wedding. You may find yourself dealing with issues regarding the invitations, the guest list, the linens, the centerpieces, the menu, the place cards, and the transportation. But since wedding planning can be somewhat stressful, a bridal shower is the perfect opportunity to remain calm, have fun, break convention and relax a bit before the big day. It’s a challenge to make showers unique since brides generally want and deserve everything their friends received for theirs. But with a few personal touches, a bridal shower can be a celebratory social gathering that lets girls be girls. Maybe it’s all the estrogen in the air, but bridal showers can be a forum for all that is creative, imaginative and wonderful about being a woman.

Walking down the aisle in style is key for every bride on her wedding day. All of the elements that come together – makeup, hair and a sensuous silhouette – are all wrapped in a beautiful package known as “the gown” that can make or break the beauty of the bride-to-be. If the dress doesn’t work, all of the other elements can seem obsolete. So Beauty News got the scoop on some exclusive trends that are moving forward in bridal fashion for spring. David’s Bridal, the country’s leading retail source for beautiful, quality and affordable styles, has over five decades of wedding expertise and is a one-stop destination for all nuptial needs. They offer a comprehensive assortment of gowns, bridal party and special occasion dresses and accessories for the biggest day of your life – and we got the 411 from them on what to look out for!!!

Four different collections that are sure to satisfy the styling desires of any blushing bride include: David’s Bridal Collection, for a bride seeking a more traditional or contemporary appearance; the Oleg Cassini Collection, for brides seeking timeless fashions and the latest trends fashioned with satin or organza, among other regal fabrics that feature exquisite beading, lace and embroidery; the Galina Collection, for brides in search of sleek, simple and ultra-modern styles that could suit a walk down the aisle, onto the beach or across a garden; and David’s Bridal Woman, sophisticated styles that suit the preference of a plus-size bride. The company also boasts an excellent Accessories Collection that offers lingerie, shoes and shawls, in addition to gorgeous gifts for bridal party and wedding guests.

On to the terrific trends for 2004 that David’s Bridal found ruling runways…

* Two-piece styles that combine a separate bustier and skirt or the appearance of a separate top and skirt

* Subtle yet lush embellishments such as appliqués, pearls, rhinestones and sequins* Attention to special detail such as lacing, sashes, floral accents, jewels and deep décolleté* Fabric flowers, ribbon detailing and side draping to emphasize the waist

* Asymmetry in hemlines and embellishments

* Glamour and femininity

Trends that have translated over into the four David’s Bridal Collections include…
* Color – deep jewel tones like apple and indigo to off-beat colors like latte, banana and celadon

* Informal detailing – spaghetti straps, narrow ribbon belts and contrast-color stitching

* Individuality – mixing and matching of separates that come in a number of shades and shapes

* Variety – slinky silhouettes, poufy skirts and long and short hemlines

* Garden fresh – florals in a variety of flattering shades And last but not least accessories that amaze

* Gloves show a return to 50s elegance, yet are contemporary in a cornucopia of colors

* Bags become more beautiful with detailed embroidery or pleating and short handles that allow for a closer-to-the-body hold

* Jewelry is feminine and floral, classically ladylike with pearls or vintage-inspired styles that exude the appearance and emotion of the Art Deco or Edwardian era

* Shoes are adorned with jewels, ribbons, bead trim or bows

With all of these styles to choose from, a bride is bound to find something that makes her feel beautiful and at her best. And with more than 200 locations nationwide, David’s Bridal can assist in anything she needs. To locate a store nearby, customers can call 1-800-480-BRIDE or log on to www.davidsbridal.com.