While we’re enjoying the tail end of summer and glorying in the sun, don’t forget that it’s also time to start planning your fall look. So, you’re sitting in the sun, wearing a flirty skirt, but it never hurts to think ahead.

Tweed is going to be hot. No, not in that fusty professorial way, think high heeled tweed boots in great color combos, tweed accessories, and cute shrunken Chanel type blazers that you go well with jeans or office looks. Chiffon is transiting to fall in long sleeves or layer it with other pieces. The 40′s look has been updated for this fall, so look for tailored pieces that are feminine and flowing, with nifty little accents to give the clothing a modern edge.

If you’re lucky enough to own some vintage 40′s pieces, this fall is the time to show them off. If you’ve got a vintage item that needs to be tailored or fixed, if you have an idea for a fabulous ensemble, but can’t sew, or just have a few alterations lying around, you need to meet up with Hannah Nordgren. She can design anything from lingerie to the dress of your dreams. Hannah can make sure you don’t trip over your pants or need a safety pin to keep your skirt up. When she sees fabric, she sees endless possibilities.
Hannah graduated from Pratt in 2000 with a BFA in Fashion Design and a minor in Art History. She then picked up her masters at FIT in Museum Studies, but realized that curating wasn’t wanted she wanted to do. She wanted to play with clothes!

For the past three years Hannah has been freelancing in the field-everything from being an Assistant Designer, production co-ordination and tech design. “After a while though, I began to miss doing the sewing and tailoring work, so I started to take in sewing work and it’s been an incredible rewarding time. There are some really interesting designs that I get to work on and the people are pretty flexible since I usually work full time as well.” Hannah told me recently. She understands the romance of fabric and how designs can speak to a woman.

She’s created some deceptively simple yet elegant outfits. The dotted dress in the picture was created for a customer who wanted a body conscious look but didn’t want princess seaming, so Hannah created the dress with two side panels instead and it looks incredible on. The grey dress was realized from a design student’s sketch and the garter belt was one of Hannah’s own innovations.

Her rates are as follows:

Consulting rates: $30 an hour/weekly rates available
Tailoring rates: $25/hour up to 10 hours, negotiable after that.

Fittings and consultations: Free
Patterns: $25- up, depending on how complex they are

Muslins: $50-up, depending on how complex they are

To make an appointment, you can send her an email at Hannah_nordgren@yahoo.com or call 917-637-0655

Fabulosity is just moments away!

The most important accessory for any season is your skin. No matter what time of year, it’s important to have a glowy healthy complexion. Lacote USA has come out with two incredible products to maintain delicious skin and help repair minor sun damage and work on evil cellulite. Both products have seaweed, natural ingredients and scents that make you feel relaxed and happy.

Their GUAM Seaweed Algascrub imported by Lacote USA is a definite must have item. Some of the ingredients are sea salts, algae and nutritive body oils and pure essential oils. This combo helps stimulate circulation, eliminate toxins and the scent is intoxicating. I tried it and it was so easy to use. I slathered it all over my body, especially on my feet-sandals can cause damage! I felt so wonderful afterwards; I almost skipped out of the bathroom.

Lacote USA also has GUAM Seaweed Mud. This is a treatment for cellulite that is so easy to use at home. Simply apply to the areas where cellulite is showing, wrap some plastic wrap around it, wait and rinse off. The mineral and vegetable content is over 50% of the product. Other ingredients include algae, clay, chestnut phytoextract, and seaweed phytoextract. After a few applications, you’ll notice the difference and oh the scent! Intoxicating.

You can find GUAM skin care products at www.lacoteusa.com or call 888-528-3030.

Check out the G.M Collin Paris dermo corrective skincare line. The line is designed to protect the skin’s assets by using active ingredients that harness free radicals and to reactivate the skin’s physiological mechanisms. The active ingredients are used to fight aging.

The line was co-created by Dr. Eugenia Lapinet and Monique Moreau in France in1957. Dr. Lapinet is a dermatologist and Ms. Moreau is a renowned aesthetician. Together they created a unique skin care line created from botanical, biotechnological and marine ingredients. The products are not tested on animals and yes, the containers are recyclable. The line has everything from cleansing to treatment to protection.

I’ve road tested three products from the line; The Native Collagen Gel, Hydramucine Cream and SPF 30 Total Sun block.

Sun block needs to become second nature to us all; whether you’re at the beach or just wandering down Madison Avenue. G.M. Collin’s sun block is water resistant, strong enough for almost any climate, and it’s very gentle on sun sensitive skin.

I love the Collagen Gel. It’s lightweight, absorbs easily into the skin, is non greasy and after a few days, my skin looks better. It can be used for normal, combination or oily skin. Some of the ingredients are; honey extract, grapefruit essential oil, hydrolyzed actin and DNA and glycogen and arginine and RNA, and a host of other things that rejuvenate the skin.

I’ve been topping that off with their hydramucine cream as a day and night moisturizer. It was created to improve skin’s moisture. Ingredients like milk hydrolysat, soybean sterol, soya lecithin, essential oils of lavendin, lemon, eucalyptus and juniperus and lots of other goodies help remoisturize your skin, giving you a healthful dewy look. The moisturizer works for normal to dry alipidic skin.

Go to www.gmcollin.com to see their entire line of quality skin care or give them a call at 800-341-1531 (US) or 800-361-1263 (Canada) to find out where you can purchase the line in your neighborhood. Your skin will say thank you.

Summertime and the shopping is easy, with sample sales!

Meg 312 E. 9th Street (212)-260-6329 is having the Dirty Sale, where you can pick up goodies 50% off.

Azaleas 223 E 10th Street (212-253-5484 is having a Swim Super Sale 25% – 75% off on suits by TNA, Lisa Curran and more.

SSS Sample Sales – 261 W 36th Street (bet 7th & 8th Ave) 2nd floor, 10 AM to 6 PM. Closed Fridays. Here are some of the brands on sale for the first week of August; Juicy Couture and So Low ($20 – $50), other designers like Smith’s Miss Sixty, Blue Cult, Lacoste, Paper denim and cloth, Hudson and more… prices are as follows… tank nk tee’s – $10- s/s & l/s tee’s – $15 & $20- pants, skirts & blouses – $30- jeans & dresses – $50 There are sneaks, sandals, men’s and children’s wear too. This sale is too hot to miss!

30vandam – 30 Vandam St, between Varick and Avenue of the Americas (212)929-6454 Sales are on over 60 of the city’s hottest designers with deals like T shirts $10 – $17, tops $25 – $50, pants $20 – $65. You’ll also fond one of a kind sample pieces and get to much on Belgian chocolate and sip coffee while you shop. When you’re there, don’t forget to enter to win a makeover from a New York’s designer, valued at $1000.00. Sale ends 8/31

Anbar Shoes – 60 Reade Street between Broadway and Church, one block north of chambers Street (212)227-0253 Sale ends Sunday, August 7th. Fall shoes, regularly $400 are $129 and less. Brands include; Kors, D. Pliner, Prevata, BCBG, Sacha London and more. We’re talking over 10,000 pairs of shoes. You don’t have to worry about salespeople taking forever to grab your shoes or boots, its self service, so dig in!
Judith Leiber – Woodbury Commons Premium Outlet, Grapevine Court, #912, Central Valley, New York (845)928-4318 her bags are always the last word in evening bag elegance.

Each creation is an instant classic. She’s having her only sample sale for the entire year! You can pick up everything from a Judith Leiber pillbox to one of her minaudieres. Prices range from $99 to $3,000. Sale starts 8/15 and ends 9/7/04.

Zelda – 550 7th Avenue, between 39th and 40th Streets (212) 764-0020 Zelda is a sportswear line that’s inspired by vintage clothing. You may have seen some of their creations on the stars of TV shows like “Friends,” Law and Order,” and “Dateline” among others. Their two day sample sale is at the end of August- 8/26 – 8/27. Start planning now. Sizes are 2 – 16, and there will be vintage pieces, one of a kind and more.

Who says you can’t buy love? You can! You can get slobbering kisses, happy purrs and a thumping tail or two that shows you how much they love you. What am I talking about? I’m talking about acquiring a pet. Trust me; a cat or dog in your life brings you joy, laughter and an occasionally mauled shoe, but it’s worth it. If you are leaning towards having a fur child, seriously think about looking for one from a rescue league.

Mighty Mutts has been around for almost twenty years. It was started by John Contino, who at the time was a line repairman for the phone company. On his rounds he noticed abandoned and stray animals and decided to do something about it. Now Mighty Mutts has a band of devoted volunteers who roam the streets saving abused and abandoned animals. There isn’t a central shelter; instead there is a network of foster homes where dogs live until they are adopted.

Over the years Mighty Mutts has taken in hundreds of cats and dogs as well as an occasional chicken and bunny. The animals range in age from pups to senior citizens and come in all breeds and sizes. When you go to their website, http://members.tripod.com/~MightyMutts/frame.html, you’ll see all the animals that are up for adoption. If you’re not ready to open your home permanently to a pet, but would like to listen to the patter of claws on your hardwood floors, you may want to be a foster parent. If you are thinking that way, please understand that fostering a dog is not for a week or a month, it’s until the pet is adopted. While you will have to pay for food and toys, all medical bills are covered by Mighty Mutts.

Each animal has been altered and are up to date on their shots. If you do want to help Mighty Mutts out, but don’t want a pet or have the space for one, you can become a volunteer.

Every Saturday they show off their charges in Union Square, right by the Gandhi statue. Become a volunteer and sit with a pooch under the sun and answer questions from prospective parents. Or you can work at Ollie’s Place at 203 East 26th Street (right off 3rd Avenue) 212-532-0330. It’s completely owned and operated by Mighty Mutts and has healthy treats, toys and food for your furry one. There’s also an onsite cat adoption center. It is completely staffed by volunteers.
The adoption/fostering process takes a long time. I’m talking phone interviews and home visits, but it’s worth it. You can’t just take a pet home from Mighty Mutts, they want to make sure that you really will care about your charge and that it’s a good fit for the two of you.

One of the nicest things on this planet is being greeted at the end of the day by a wagging tail, a friendly meow or even a hop or two (that’s from the bunny contingent!)

I’ve got the lowdown on some more places where you can get fabulous cut and color at the fraction of the cost.

Arrojo Studio www.arrojostudio.com is on Varick Street, between King and Charlton, (212) 242-7786 is run by Nick Arrojo, who can be seen nationally on TLC’s “What Not To Wear.” The salon has an apprentice program which is taught by master stylists and colorists. Cutting classes are on Monday and Tuesdays at 9:30 AM. Color is done Fridays at 10 AM. Cut (including wash and blow dry) $20, color starts at $30 and it’s cash only. They are looking for male and female participants. While each apprentice is responsible for finding their own model, there is a book at the front desk for people who are looking for an apprentice cut or color. I do have one apprentice’s phone number that I would be happy to share with you. D. J. Kornell, Jr can be reached at 914-668-3783

John Sahag 425 Madison Ave (212) 750-7772. The first five people to call 212-826-3305 at 8:30Am on Mondays will get an appointment for Tuesday at 6:15 PM. Cuts $40, color $30, single process highlights $60

Vidal Sassoon 90 5th Ave (212) 929-9668 or 730 5th Ave (212) 535-9200 Walk in Wednesday night from 6 to 6:30 PM and get a consultation, hair will be done the following week. It’s cash only, cuts $20 – $40, color $30, highlights $60, perms and relaxers are free.

Next month, vintage shops, a few killer cafes and more!

Hello Mamas. How are you? Surviving? Not too much longer sweet mamas, let’s lean on each other here. This is when I do a lot of stopping other pregnant women in malls, grocery stores, bathrooms, who cares where and I engage, invigorate and throttle empathy from them. I have 59 days to countdown and blastoff – yeah!!!!! So here we turn around the most difficult bend in the road. Gravity starts to pull at your groin, helping Mother Nature with her task. Meanwhile, you feel like your doing everything you can to keep the baby from dropping out. This can wreak havoc on your sense of equilibrium, both mentally and physically. That’s why we are going to talk about the most important topic in my prenatal series – physical therapy.

Get An Early Start
Here I should apologize. This subject should have been discussed in the first trimester. The sooner the better, and before the larger increase of weight gain is the ideal here. But anytime is still a good time. Ok, now to it. Many of us get some aches and pains during the 9 months of pregnancy. It’s natural that 25-65 (mas o menos) pounds of extra weight is going to shift things around a bit and cause some discomfort. But some of us unlucky ones find ourselves truly, physically challenged. Common limitations come in the form of Sciatica, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and Lumbo-Pelvic Instability problems. I won the good odds bet with 2 out of 3. But if I have said anything at all of value in these months of prenatal chit chat, my enthusiasm and belief in physical therapy, has me rolling on the ground and jumping up with ease and agility singing “Amen sister, Amen.” I’m not kidding. Listen up.

To help me write this article, I have used my own mystical healer, prophetic savior, Paul Ullucci of Ullucci Sports Medicine (www.risportsmedicine.com) in East Providence, RI (remember ladies, I am at my summer house). So any Manhattan ladies, summering in Rhode Island within the areas of Newport, East Bay, Little Compton, get yourself to the “Master” at 1235 Wampanoag Trail, East Providence, RI, phone 401-433-1500. Not to worry, I will have a list of New York City savants below. But first, let’s talk pain………

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Cat: Ow ow ow double triple ow! This woke me up during my pregnancy with Jax 2 and 3 times in the middle of the night, the pain was so bad. It also made my fingers and hands go numb so that when I was breastfeeding Jax in the middle of the night, I was scared I would drop him, so I would prop him on a Boppy pillow as an added safety measure. Thank God, I got into therapy with you, the relief was instant.

Paul: Thanks Catherine. Actually, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is caused by swelling in the hands, tightness in the joints, and looseness in the ligaments, which allows the wrist to collapse causing pressure. The goal here is to work the swelling out of the hands and reduce the pain. The treatment prescribed is ice, ultrasound, soft tissue massage and stretching exercises.

Sciatica

Cat: Paul, this one I don’t have a personal experience with.

Paul: Well, the truth is, many pregnant women suffer from false sciatica caused by tightness and spasm in the piri formis. But that doesn’t mean the pain is not excruciating. The treatment here is aggressive stretching of hamstrings, piri formis, gluts and lower back, lots of massage and ice.

Lumbo and Pelvic Instability

Cat: This for me has been really tough. Again, I don’t know how I could have made it through without this therapy.

Paul: Well first of all, you had a complete LCAC (Complete Left Anterior Ligament Repair) surgery on your left knee within a year prior to your first pregnancy. Injuries and surgeries close to your pregnancy can be very relevant in how your body and posture will shift during a pregnancy. If you have had an injury or surgery, you should be proactive with your doctor and physical therapist before any trouble starts to occur. But once there is a sign of pain, the sooner you come in for therapy, the better the results. Once the weight gain increases and the hormone relaxant releases in the body, things get trickier to adjust and stabilize. In the case of your first pregnancy, I was able to get you adjusted, strong, and flexible in the first trimester. Your second pregnancy, you waited a little too long.

Cat: I know, I know. I’m bad, I’m bad, and now I have had to work twice as hard with twice the pain.

Paul: But you’ve worked hard and had pretty terrific results considering the time lapse. The treatment that I prescribed for you has been stretching of hamstring, hip flexor, gluts, piri formis, and back. If we catch it early on in the first and second trimester we can try to adjust the lumbar and pelvis for alignment. If too late in the pregnancy, your body will be too loose to do the adjustment and there is a danger of premature labor. So then, we will work more with core strengthening of the lumbar and lower extremities. We want to keep a balance between muscle strength, muscle flexibility, and alignment of lumbar, spine, and pelvis.

Cat: Thanks Paul, you’re the “Master.”

As promised, some Manhattan savants:

Body Tuning & Physical Therapy 881 Seventh Avenue Studio 862 Floor 8M NY 212-246-7308

Marianne Ryan and Associates (specializing in pre/post partum) 6 E 45 St Suite 1205 NY 212-661-2933

Hands On Physical Therapy (multiple locations in NYC) Manhattan West 57 221 West 57th St 12th Floor NY 212-399-3800

TLC Physical Therapy 84 Bowery St 5F NY 212-925-8183

Pain-Free Beauty

Now, let’s talk beauty. Ladies, mamas, dear sisters. Pregnancy is a Mount Everest Climb. It can offer beautiful sights at the top, but it can almost kill some of us getting there. I for one, refuse to be defeated at the onslaught of higher weight gain and body temperatures, terrible swelling, avalanches of fatigue, and hideous physical pain. If you want to end up with a beautiful baby and a beautiful you, you need to face the challenge head on. Remember, ride this boat with the tide, not against it. The waves may be a murderous vertical drop. But don’t give up. Sitting with physical pain during pregnancy can cause further weight gain, which can cause further pain. This will of course make the post-partum recovery of the body, frustrating at best. And very importantly, a body ravaged from physical pain can be stiff and terribly weak. It can disadvantage us during our marathon labors and deliveries. If we stretch and strengthen so that we are stronger and more flexible, we might enable an easier birth process. I believe strongly that with my wrist pain, numb hands, and awful pelvic pain, had I not done the therapy, instead of a half-hour of pushing and a porpoise baby birth, I might have had a troubled labor. I think beauty comes not just from makeup and clothing and great hairstyles, but peace from the big 3 – mentally, spiritually, and physically. Peace to you, and please, feel good, beautiful and strong.

Love, Mama

Indeed, I had a wonderful story lined up regarding the art of shaving, but unfortunately my contacts failed to follow up. But this is a blessing in disguise since I can now use this as an opportunity to vent my frustrations, as well as offer up my humble opinions, regarding fashion dos and mostly don’ts that I have witnessed this summer. Please understand that if my comments do apply to you, I am speaking out with your best interests at heart (and with the backing of numerous beautiful women that heartily agree with my statements). So without further ado….

Summer Faux Pas #1:
“Don’t do that with your polo.”
Ahh, you know what I’m talking about, especially if you’re from Long Island, Staten Island, New Jersey, or Westchester County – what the heck, let’s throw Connecticut in there, too. Here’s the setting: handsome young man walking down the street with a great pair of tastefully styled cargo shorts and Cole Haan sandals, clean-shaven, sporting a nice textured haircut without too much product in it. He’s also wearing a bright orange polo shirt. There’s nothing wrong with the color; bold colors are in and make strong, positive statements as you walk down the street. EVERYTHING is negated by the mere fact that he has his COLLAR TURNED UPWARDS. Don’t do that. You look like you’re trying too hard to be cool, or you could be overcompensating for a sheepish neckline (whatever that could be). Most importantly, it is a retro fad from the 80′s that should never have resurfaced. Aviator sunglasses are good. Bootlegged jeans are good. Polos and Henleys with collars turned up are very, very bad. That fashion statement died with the Members Only jackets, and we should keep it that way. Women love men with a strong, defined neckline. If you have it, show it – don’t hide it.

Summer Faux Pas #2:
“Combat humidity with showers, deodorant, and antiperspirant.”
I apologize in advance if this seems basic to many of you, but smelling under your armpits to see if you need deodorant is about as effective as breathing into your cupped hands and inhaling quickly to see if you have bad breath. It doesn’t work, and besides what you smell like to yourself is not the same as how others perceive your distinct aroma. As a resident in the northeastern United States, one needs to understand that during our humid summers, odors (particularly bad ones) permeate the air faster and hang around longer, one will sweat more profusely in lower temperatures than one might expect (even in the high 60s), and one needs to take AT LEAST one shower a day. You will be surprised to know that a large number of men (and women for that matter) do not shower on a daily basis. If you twist my arm, I might concede such a habit is allowable during colder, more tepid weather; but during hot, sweaty summers, you might as well put a gun to the nose of every commuter in the subway during rush hour. And regarding antiperspirant, I understand that it is impossible not to sweat, but at least try not to appear like Patrick Ewing in the fourth quarter of an NBA Final game (have the Knicks even gotten that far?). If you’re afraid of staining (ie. bleaching) your clothes, use a non-gel based deodorant right when you’re dry after a morning shower. Then do the rest of your morning routine shirtless, letting the product settle and the excess dissipate. I promise you that you won’t get bleached armpit stains on your shirts if you follow those simple steps.

Summer Faux Pas #3:
“When’s the last time you shined your Ferragamo’s?”
I am willing to bet that 8 out of 10 men don’t shine their shoes on a regular basis. Furthermore, 9 out of 10 men probably don’t even use wooden shoe trees to maintain the quality of their fancy footwear. It boggles my mind how some New Yorkers, despite the wildly diverse weather we experience, will shell out $500 for a pair of shoes and choose not to take care of them properly, thus shortening the life of the shoes by as much as 75%. Here are some tips I HIGHLY recommend that you follow: 1) Shine shoes at least once a month. Cream shines are great in drier weather (ie. winter). A regular shoe shine will give you shinier shoes and protect well against humidity and rain. Yes, believe it or not, a quick shoe shine before a summer shower will help protect the peccary or deerskin on those shoes. 2) Shoetrees should be wooden, though crumpled pieces of newspaper shoved inside could do the trick. Shoetrees don’t only help maintain the shape of your shoes, but they also help eliminate foot moisture and odor. Shoe shine = good moisture. Foot juice = bad moisture that can degrade the leather on the outside and corrode the interior at exponential rates. 3) Cycle between your footwear. We all have our favorite pair of shoes, but the constant pounding of the heels and scraping of the sole on hard New York concrete will take its toll if you don’t alternate footwear on a regular basis. Follow these rules, and that pair of Hogan’s will last you twelve years instead of merely three.

Summer Faux Pas #4:
“No more Speedo’s!!!”
OK, if you’re European, I can understand why wearing Speedo’s might not be a big deal. I’ve seen more than my share’s worth of Speedo’s all around Europe. But seriously, no one (and I’m rounding up from 90%) wants to see a camel hump strutting around the Great Lawn or Sheep’s Meadow in Central Park. Yes, you can get more body surface area tanned while wearing Speedo’s, but how often are you going to yank up your shorts crotch-high at a bar to show the lady friend you just met how tan you are? Tan lines aren’t as taboo as they used to be (unless they’re really tacky), and even that fashion trend was directed more toward women than men. Speedo’s are small and tightly fitted to the body for one reason – SPEED. Unless you’re a competitive swimmer or a Chippendale dancer, Speedo’s are serious fashion don’ts. Besides do you see a swimming lane or catwalk anywhere in the middle of Prospect Park? I think not. You might be proud of your package, but modesty really is the best policy in this regard. Save the tightey-blackies for your private gym’s sundeck (here at least you paid for the right to be flamboyant).

For 2004, summer fragrance is something of a whirlwind, as there are dozens of new, trendy scents (some divine – others just plain silly) and as many “summerized” editions of perfume classics. It’s enough to leave a stylish girl in the dust, staying with that trusted favorite fragrance for the third year in a row. While I’m definitely a proponent of the signature scent, I do believe it serves any woman to experiment with what’s out there, just in case her signature has spontaneously changed.

Fragrance is fashion, another expression of style. Even if you’re sure you won’t change your mind, below are a few tempting new and classic possibilities, for any time of day or night – all Beauty News tested and approved!

It’s 7:00 a.m. and you have two hours before catching the train. You love your neighborhood, especially in the morning , and want to indulge before the day-long day begins. You brush your teeth and pull back your hair, slip a sundress over your pajama bottoms – you’re ready to go. But something is missing… Oh, that’s right, you want to smell good too…but not too good. Something light, almost undetectable. After all, you just rolled out of bed, right?

Pretty a.m. au naturals: ~ Dior “Sweet Sun” Perfumed Treatment Water (limited edition, www.parfum1.com) ~ Van Cleef & Arpel “First” Body Oil Spray (www.perfumeshop.com) ~ Shiseido “Relaxing Fragrance” (www.strawberrynet.com)

It’s 10:00 a.m. and you have an impromptu date with a new boy. Well, not a “date” exactly, he’s a cutie you met a mixer who called you to say “hi” and now you’re meeting him in thirty minutes. You want a fragrance that suggests a little extra effort, but doesn’t shout at the guy. What’s a subtle beauty like you to do?

Gorgeous almost-date elixirs: ~Clinique “Happy” (www.strawberrrynet.com) ~Estee Lauder “Pleasures Summer In Bloom” (limited edition, www.nordstrom.com) ~Cacharel “Amor Amor” (www.perfumeemporium.com)

Work, work, work. When will it end? You’ve been staying late at the office, and coming in early, and there’s not a free day in your planner for two more weeks. Maybe a sweet new perfume would lighten your mood? And with any luck, your coworkers’ as well…

Uplifting, soothing bouquets: ~Ghost “Serenity” (www.fragrancenet.com) ~Aqaba “Spring” (www.mirani.com) ~Marc Jacobs Perfume Solid (www.sephora.com)

Guess what? It turns out that impromptu meeting was a date after all! Tonight you’re having dinner with him, and there may be romantic business to discuss. You want a perfume that creates a strong second impression, and lingers all night long. Sigh. If only it were always summer…

Irresistible magic potions: ~Agent Provocateur Parfum (www.abeautifullife.net) ~Ghost “Deep Night” (www.nordstrom.com) ~Chanel “Coco Mademoiselle” Fresh Bath Gel (www.perfumeshop.com)

You know that friend you have who always looks great, has beautiful skin, and a treasure trove of cosmetic knowledge (and products to boot!)? Sylvie Chantecaille is that friend to the tenth power. This New Yorker, by way of France, has most probably already been a part of your life and you don’t even know it. After starting a small cosmetic company with Diane von Furstenberg, Estee Lauder asked Sylvie to create a new line for the modern woman, and in 1979 Prescriptives was born. After 20 years of developing the custom blend system focused on the individual as well as the first antioxidant on the market (Line Preventor in 1984 for you history buffs), Sylvie decided she wanted a line focused on health and wellness with pure ingredients. She teamed up with her daughter, Olivia who stepped into the role of Creative Director. Her background is in modeling and European art history. It’s an interesting team because they bridge the generation gap as well as different areas of proficiency. The initial result was three fragrances and a new line named Chantecaille.

Chantecaille was about exclusivity in all aspects – ingredients, scale, and sales. After a year Neiman Marcus asked for a makeup line and Sylvie asked herself, “Do I really want to say anything new?” Turns out she had a lot of things and knew the right people to make it happen. After years of researching product development all over the globe, she knew she wanted to work with fresh technology from Japan. It allowed for new pigments that were weightless and felt like you were wearing nothing at all.

Included in a full cosmetic line, standouts are hard to pick, but I have some favorites. Real Skin is a lightweight gel foundation with an SPF of 10, amino acids, and vitamin E that increases hydration by 60% with no lanolin or mineral oils. It’s so natural that Brad Pitt and David Beckham (pause and sigh) have been known to sponge it on. For the oilier girls, or boys!, there’s Future Skin, an oil-free gel foundation with 60% charged water and seaweed. Full of yummy ingredients like soy, aloe, arnica, and green tea, this is the foundation of champions and claims to reduce sebum production by 26% after one week. Chantecaille’s foundation is held as the best in the business by all of my fellow makeup artists based on its adjustable coverage, wearability, and quality ingredients.

But the fun doesn’t stop there! Anyone who knows me knows that I am a sucker for eye shadows, and these are some of the most high-tech around. Available in 48 shades – yes, 48 – isn’t that lovely?, nanopigments are enrobed in ginseng and the result is a powder so smooth it meshes with the skin, never creasing, fading, or causing allergic concerns. Lips don’t get left out either – lipsticks contain beeswax while glosses have green tea, aloe, gingko Biloba, and SPF 15.

Continuing in our history lesson, 2 more years passed and the customers wanted more from Chantecaille. Based on the quality of the cosmetics and the trust they had in the line, they wanted skincare. So the mother/daughter team decided to go the extreme route and work with small handmade batches of 85-95% botanical ingredients and essential oils. They lowered preservatives and emulsifiers, cut out fragrance, and focused on calming and balancing the skin. All of their skincare products replace water with live, pure rosewater, which acts as a rich source of hydration without clogging pores.

The Biodynamic Lifting Cream is one of their top sellers. Created to address key problems associated with aging, the cream has 4 main functions:

1. to energize cellular activity (with biodynamic plankton from the Sahel Desert and Borage Oil) 2. lifting and hydrating (with an Australian desert plant Imperata Cylindrica that effectively doubles the skin’s volume with hydration) 3. wrinkle repair and prevention (with anti-wrinkle hexcapeptide acting as a “botanical botox”) 4. repairing the barrier functions (with tocotrienols, which fight free radicals with 50% the potency of vitamin E)

Sylvie has a pretty specific goal with the line, “We want women to be surprised with the quality. If we don’t love a product we don’t launch it, and really, why do it if it isn’t better? Our customers are knowledgeable and they’ve usually tried it all before. We have all generations – daughter/mother/grandmother and they’re all smart.”

Chantecaille’s next venture is to extend the flower waters and delve deeper into aromatherapy so, take it from your new friend who knows, this is the next big thing. Chantecaille is available at Bergdorf Goodman (Nikki is great) and at www.neimanmarcus.com.

Fall colors are on the way, and guess what? Every new eye shadow seems to be a shade of green. Who can wear it? Anyone. This month’s color story is a quick “how to” on Autumn’s upcoming palette. To make things ultra easy; create a look based on your complexion.

If you are an Ultra Fair Nordic Goddess:
Try to find a shade like sea green, pair with a sheer pinky or apricot lip gloss. Trish McEvoy’s Eye Shadow in Mint, is a perfect shade for lighter skin tones. It is a delicate, shimmery shade that washes over the lid, and just melts into the skin. Pixi Triple Eye Colour is a striped trio of sheer shadows in ivory, pale sage, and khaki. For cheeks, try a wash of neutral rose, or peach. Pixi also has lovely pots of gloss that enhance your lips natural color, leaving a sheer, minty shine. The key for the fair skinned is to use color subtly and gently.

If you are a Golden Girl:
Women with medium toned beige to olive complexions, have some more options.. Try pairing a champagne beige eye shadow with a rich olive green, or even a forest green liner. An easy way to add modern color without overwhelming the face is keeping the eyelid neutral, then use a green liner. Pur Minerals makes lovely jewel toned creamy pencils that easily blend right into the lash line. Try LORAC IT KIT in Love& Money,it’s a golden khaki shadow paired with a rich green shadow. The green shadow can double as liner. Both colors are soft enough to wrap around the eye for a sexy, smoky look. Couple it with a glimmering nude gloss by Trish McEvoy called natural.

If you were born Born Bronze:
Go for the gold, baby. Rich khaki shadows and high shine eye shadows will make for an electrifying face. Look for eye shadows that have a rich, silky texture. They’ll really ly pop on your lid. Deeper skin tones can absorb color; look for bright and shiny gold tones for the shadow and rich jewel toned liners. Trish Mc Evoy’s Definer in Clover is a tantalizing teal. It’s a fantastically textured shadow for darker skin tones. Stila Eye Palette in Fierce Sage creates a perfect neutral look for day. Stila’se Oasis/Moss is a fierce gold and green combo worth its weight in….you guessed it….gold! for lips so deeper yet stay sheer. Try wine stain glosses or chocolatey lip glazes by Iman, or Prescriptives. Keep skin dewy and hydrated, yet neutral- the emphasis is on the eyes.

It’s All About Hue
When it comes down to it, we can all wear color. Just be selective in choosing the hue. It you are fair skinned, look for cool, sheer shades of green. Medium skin tones look best in warm shades of khaki and forest. And for the deepest of skins, always pair olive, or hunter green with a rich, warm gold to enhance the eye, and to create dimension on the lid. For the rest of the face, keep skin polished with your favorite foundation, powder, or tinted moisturizer.Just a hint of color to the cheek. With the drama of green eye shadow, you do not need to pump up any other features, just perfect them.

I am not one for bandwagons. That is why I hesitated to jump upon this one, but I could not take another summer of breakouts and melted makeup that only masks the problem. In the market for a solution, I tried Sonya Dakar’s acne mini-kit. Not only does this perfect trial size, travel companion hide in my purse during trips to my boyfriend’s house, but also I am happy to report that it works.

Having problem skin all my life, I take this endorsement very seriously. The whole self-conscious endeavor is rather time-consuming. I have spent many days thinking that co-workers, the man at the deli, or even my friends were staring at the zit on my chin. Being one of those disillusioned people who has tried just about every product on the market, only to lose faith in all the manmade acne fighters God has to offer, the acne kit finally offered something that even my non-metrosexual boyfriend was impressed with.

The kit contains six jars of blemish banishing goodness, and one extra special little bottle labeled for emergencies. The system takes a session or two to get used to, this is due to the number of products, but the result is worth it if you hang in there.

I am addicted to the three-step program: washing, repairing, and hydrating. It all begins with cleansing. At night the Triple Action Organic Scrub exfoliates skin, and gives it a noticeably smoother feel after the first use. The Enzyme Peeling Cream and Mud Lavender Mask should be used two to three times a week at nighttime. Using one at a time, both mini-facial treatments stay on the skin for a few minutes before removing with water. You will know it is time to wash them off when skin tightens. To repair freshly scrubbed skin, the Omega-3 Repair Complex may look like olive oil, but is essential to red, stressed skin, which like mine, always seems to be a shade away from my neck. Top it off with the Hydrasoft Lotion to moisturize and keep skin in balance. In the morning, the Mud Lavender Wash reveals smoother, healthier looking skin that heals, and replaces the need for heavy makeup.

The ultimate secret weapon is the Drying Potion. It was nearly lost to my boyfriend’s medicine cabinet last weekend, after he noticed the improvement in my complexion, and for the first time in weeks, I felt confident enough to leave the house without makeup. Sonia Dakar’s products may by found at Barneys New York, www.sonyadakar.com, or call 1-877-72-Sonya.

People are always hoping to uncover a prospect for skin perfection. It’s like searching for a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, and it rarely comes to fruition. However, the California gold rush was one example of “when there’s a will, there’s a way.” And Dr. Howard Sobel, a renowned skin specialist who runs a successful Skin & Spa Cosmetic Surgery Center Uptown, may have found some answers for us in Elos – a new superior skin renewal and hair removal process that he has implemented for his clients as part of his daily practice.

“I have been using the Elos technology (electro-optical synergy) for two years,” says Dr. Sobel. “Our decision to implement this technology as part of our practice is due to its uniqueness. It is the newest, most innovative, effective and comfortable technology available. It is beauty without pain.”

For skin conditions such as rosacea, sun damage, and age spots – as well as general skin rejuvenation – the idea of beauty success without suffering is superb. “The benefits include the following: for rosacea control (decrease in flushing, redness, ruddy complexion, broken capillaries and spider veins),” says Dr. Sobel. “for sun damage and aging signs on hands, neck and chest, and for age spots and multiple freckles – the results have been positive and have proven to be so effective that it encourages our patients to return for further treatments.”

Elos utilizes a technological combination of radio frequency and light. By using these two energies, instead of one, the outcome is more effective results for the patient with lower overall energy output – which, in turn, equals the highest level of safety and comfort. The gentle pulses of targeted energy isolate the treatment area and leave the surrounding skin free from potentially dangerous side effects. The only side effects Dr. Sobel has noted from his cases may include mild erythema (redness) and slight peeling.

Elos is an effective treatment for most skin types, and a superior solution for removing hair as well for every color on every skin type – even tanned shades, though tanning and even self-tanner can increase pigment and make these processes more sensitive and difficult.

In general, skin becomes smoother, clearer, even-toned and healthier-looking with Elos, and the application process is easy. First a numbing cream is applied to the area to be treated for a half hour. Then gel is applied to the face; this acts as a conductor. When one of our staff members had a session experience for her face, she felt a mild stinging sensation – but nothing more.

Dr. Sobel and his patients overall have elicited a positive reaction to Elos. And in the future, he plans to implement other advances in skincare that Elos continues to develop. “Elos has just come out with a new skin-tightening laser called the Polaris,” he says. “This stimulates the collagen production and tightens facial muscles. We have been using these lasers together, which has been an exciting advance in skin treatment.”

More excitement and advancement is definitely on the way from Elos, and if you are seeking solutions to the skin problems mentioned, you may want to take trip over to Dr. Sobel’s. It may definitely be worth a try!

Dr. Howard Sobel’s Skin & Spa Cosmetic Surgery Center
960 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10028
212-288-0060

Tivo, Lasik Surgery, and Japanese Thermal Reconditioning. These are just a few of what I consider to be the underestimated “miracles” of modern technology and science. My decision to splurge for the Japanese Thermal Reconditioning Straightening Treatment in April of 2003 was made after much deliberation, having heard rumors of irreversible destruction to my hair. But to my pleasant surprise, my hair was silky, shiny, and stick straight for a good four months and was considerably easier to straighten for months thereafter. Wasting what I’m sure amounted to months of my life spent blow drying my frizzy curly hair into frizzy pseudo straight hair, the ability to “wash-n-go” and have my hair actually look great was nothing short of a miracle. But if you’re in the midst of deciding whether or not to redo this potentially dangerous hair treatment, then read on. Both my hair and I have lived to tell the story (again).

1) Are the rumors true? Many hairdressers have ceased performing the treatment for fear that their clients’ hair will fall out. I apparently haven’t met any of these hairdressers. Instead, I’ve met the ones who scoff at this notion and proclaim that people with hair in far worse condition than mine (I had a few low bleach highlights done in February) have had the treatment done on numerous occasions. Disclaimer: This article is based on my personal experience, and I hereby relinquish all responsibility concerning your treated hair. A.k.a. – if your hair falls out, I am not to blame. For the record, I have a lot of hair of medium thickness that has not been chemically treated, save for the few highlights. I recommend your getting at least 3 reputable opinions before proceeding with the treatment.

2) Is the cost astronomical? Even in the wake of trendy ringlets, women are still putting their names on long waiting lists to receive this treatment and these same women have no qualms about spending $1000 for the coveted frizz-less low-maintenance hairstyle. But let it be known that there are women out there who are willing to brave the shady and super cheap salons in Chinatown or take advantage of relatively low prices (as low as $250-350) at authentic Japanese Hair Salons such as Mannish Salon in the East 50′s. Mika did my hair. She is fantastic and professional. Call her at 212-755-2623.

3) Is it really permanent? We’ll never know if I got some sort of generic version of the chemical treatment my first time around because the guy who treated my hair last year went back to Spain, unfortunately. But I can say that after about 7 months, my naturally curly hair came back. Yes, it was a tad drier than usual but my entire head of hair, and not just the roots of new hair growing back, was totally back to its old ways. However, according to Mika, until the hair is physically cut off, the hair should remain stick straight. In other words, the treatment is totally permanent if done correctly. This includes waiting the requisite 2 days before shampooing or putting your hair in clips and/or behind your ears (doing so can cause kinks). However, you can always get the roots touched up or spend 2 minutes blow drying the roots or kinks if need be – actually, you may welcome the extra body and styling flexibility.

4) Bottom line, should I have the treatment again? I say, yes! Sure, I was nervous about it and had the unavoidable nightmares of waking up bald. Sure, I felt like that Christine Taylor scene from “The Craft” was appearing on my TV screen a little too frequently (FYI, it’s the scene where she’s pulling out chunks of her hair in the locker room). And though I was convinced the first treatment had grown out, I still fretted over the fact that I had color-treated my hair with a few highlights mere months beforehand. I was also fully aware of the whole, “it looks healthier than ever before, but really it’s severely damaged” phenomenon. But I did it anyway. For 5 excruciating hours I sat in that chair, inhaling chemicals, staring at magazine pictures of countless celebrities who “went curly” and wondering why the heck I was doing this to what most people consider my beautiful curly hair! But I did it, and throughout this past month since the treatment, I haven’t second-guessed that decision once. As we all know, the greener grass on the other side of the lake can be oh so alluring!

I’ll admit that I miss playing with hot rollers; it’s depressing to see my checking account a tad lower than usual; I hate reading the many articles about how in style tousled, wavy hair is now (even though I know it’s no easy task to achieve that look!); it’s a bitch sticking to my diet so that my flat hair doesn’t reveal my chubby cheeks; and I live with the fear that someone, someday, will get to say “I told you so!” But for now, I’m sleeping a little later, staying a little cooler, living amidst a little less clutter, meeting friends a little earlier, and most importantly, feeling a little more beautiful! Who can argue with that?

I’m a bit of a tomboy, thanks to my dad who made me assist him in home improvement projects. When I was eight, I remember putting together a speaker fashioned out of plywood, egg cartons and my sister’s old dress…I can’t recall if I was punished for cutting up her dress. All I remember is how excited I was when the darn thing actually produced a decent sound. So it really peeves me when I’m in a hardware store or home improvement center and I hear comments that power tools are supposedly the sole domain of men.

The popularity of home makeover reality TV is slowly shedding this skewed image with shows starring female carpenters and handymen …or handywomen as this case may be. The stereotype still persists, and a new line of female friendly tools have recently entered the market, trying to capture the dollars of fans of programs like Trading Spaces. These power tools have squishy pink handles and come in cutesy cases…apparently to appeal to our delicate sensibilities. But what many fail to realize is that most women have been wielding a monster power tool way before they hit puberty, probably several times a week. This device spews serious heat and is all of 1,875 watts of power … I’m talking about the hairdryer.

We know how to use a hairdryer, it’s a pretty straight forward appliance … turn on, heat hair till dry, turn off. But all that heat and wattage can cause some serious damage, especially since we’ve been using it for years. We try to protect our fragile locks with thermal shampoos, penetrating conditioners, hair masks … the list is endless. Another approach to treating our hair kindly is preventing it from being fried in the first place. That’s the stance of Brookstone (www.Brookstone.com) with their Ionic Hair Dryer.

I was given an Ionic Hair Dryer a couple of years ago at Christmas. It didn’t seem like a very exciting present when I un-wrapped it and I was a little skeptical about the benefits of charged ions bombarding my hair. I’ve since grown very attached to my hairdryer, and I take it with me when I travel … I find the little hairdryers in hotel bathrooms extremely annoying. Conveniently, Brookstone’s Ionic Hair Dryer is true dual voltage, which allows for use around the world in both the high and low settings. Most dual voltage hairdryers only work in one setting in the 250v mode. It also folds and comes in a drawstring travel pouch.

Perhaps it’s my hair type but I really did feel an improvement after I started using the Ionic Hair Dryer. According to Brookstone, our hair is saturated with harmful positively charged ions from the environment, and conventional hairdryers rough up the hair’s cuticle. The Ionic Hair Dryer produces negative ions, which counteract all these harmful effects, leaving hair smooth and strong. My thin hair has a slight wave and tends to frizz, but after I started using my new power tool, it’s never a problem getting my hair frizz-free and razor straight. There are two settings and the cool shot button is great for setting my style. The cool option is also very handy for drying a home-manicure!

If you’re still a little apprehensive about the hype of ions, Brookstone has a Commercial Hair Dryer with 1,600 watts. This is lower than conventional hairdryers, so it’s much healthier for your hair. The professional grade AC motor in this hair dryer delivers a focused stream of high velocity air so it doesn’t compromise on drying time. It has three temperature settings and two speeds, as well as a cool shot button.

Now as I remember helping my dad around the house, he used the hair dryer many times … peeling old wallpaper, defrosting the deep freezer, shrinking insulation film on the basement windows, heating a nail before driving it into a plaster wall to prevent cracking … I guess he thought of the hair dryer as a power tool too!

Ionic Travel Hair Dryer and Studio Commercial Hair Dryer available online at www.Brookstone.com

and the following locations:

West 57th
20 W. 57Th Street
New York, NY 10019
212-245-1405

Rockefeller Center
16 West 50Th Street
New York, NY 10020
212-262-3237

Manhattan Mall
901 Sixth Avenue; Space 168
New York, NY 10001
212-947-2144

Seaport Marketplace
18 Fulton Street
New York, NY 10038
212-344-8108

All NYC area airports