StyleWhipped

Hobnobbing

Editor's Note: I had a really good time at The Makeup Show with Michelle. My one fatal flaw was wearing my (omnipresent) 6-inch heels...even though they were wedges, I was sort of hobbling by the end. However, toughing it out was worth it to see Michelle's EXTREME HAPPINESS at the end of our adventure (read on for why she was SO HAPPY...). And check out my little photo collage of us at the bottom of her article. I think we look really cute, if I do say so myself ;) ~ Alison.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One of the perks of being a makeup student was getting the opportunity to attend The Make Up Show in Manhattan. I scored two tickets to the event through my school and dragged Alison there with me. Basically, it is a trade show for makeup professionals and students that is not open to the public. There were large crowds and a lot of waiting in lines but the discounts offered were unbelievable. Some of the vendors there included Make Up For Ever, NARS, Inglot, MAC, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, MAC, Smashbox, Hakuhodo, Kevyn Aucoin, Alcone and the list goes on and on. There were workshops, demos and keynote speeches and seminars given by some of the industry’s heaviest hitters--most notably Dany Sanz, the founder of Make Up For Ever. (Swoon) All of this was possible by the incredible James Vincent, the director of Education and Artist Relations for The Makeup Show. James Vincent is an artist that I have been internet stalking for quite some time and I actually saw him while he was buying his lunch. I went right over to him and demanded that he take a photo with me. He was terribly gracious and took the photo and did not once wince in terror while I gushed about my excessive admiration for him. I also offered to pay for his sandwich considering I totally ambushed him while he was on line to pay for his lunch but he declined. I imagine he just wanted me to just go away.

One of the vendors I wanted most to visit was Kat Von D. I think I have mentioned how much I love her products several times already but the launch of her new palette has made my love evolve into (yet another) unhealthy and unproductive obsession with all things Kat Von D Beauty. About a month ago, I was doing one of my very glamorous Saturday afternoon activities (Costco) and was reading my email while I waited for my child to choose what kind of cereal she wanted. This can take hours. In an email from Sephora, I saw that Kat Von D launched a new eyeshadow palette called Shade + Light Eye Contour Palette.  The palette is all mattes. ALL MATTES!  I was so excited that I ordered it while I was standing in Costco and subsequently spent the next two days tracking the package. (I know. Such a nerd.) When it finally arrived, not only did it not disappoint, it exceeded my expectations. It is perfect. If I were to design my own matte eyeshadow palette, it would pretty much be just like this one.  I immediately started dorking out about this palette to anyone who would listen and also became anxious that the palette would someday be discontinued because I was already quite certain that I would be unable to live without it.

Fast forward to the show where Alison and I were at the Kat Von D booth. While I was waiting on line to pay for my stuff, I was talking to one of the artists working there about how much I liked everything and, for some reason, (probably because I am super cool like the Fonz)  she quietly told me that Kat Von D herself would be making an appearance in a few hours. I tried to be cool about it but on the inside I was screaming like Beatlemania. I dragged Alison back to the Kat Von D booth at the time she was supposed to appear and there she was. I waited a few minutes to meet her and when I went over to her I was completely star struck and immediately started babbling about how she made my favorite eyeshadow palette of all time (The Monarch) and how the shade “Wrath” in said palette was my favorite shimmer eyeshadow ever. I then went ahead and used the words “deep emotional attachment” when talking about her matte eyeshadow palette and shared with her my anxiety of it being discontinued. (You can go ahead and cringe. I do every time I think about it.) She assured me that it was not going anywhere anytime soon and I went on my merry way.

To be honest, I am disappointed in myself. Kat Von D is a true artist in every sense of the word and her massive success is all because of her own talent, creativity, drive and determination. I don’t often get a chance to speak to such an empowered and inspiring woman and I wish I had spoken to her more intelligently instead of shrieking about eyeshadow. Maybe next time.

Now, for The Brush of the Week. This week’s is a little beauty I picked up at the show. It is the Cozette S145 Perfect Contour Brush. I have been dying to get my hands on some Cozettes for for a very long time and I finally came face to face with them at the Alcone booth. I would like to say I practiced restraint but I bought eight of them and they are all excellent. They are very finely crafted and have the most gorgeous purple handles. The S145 is my favorite of the ones I bought. I am not usually a huge fan of angled face brushes. Many of them I have found to be too stiff or else the hair is too long and it splays on application which defeats the entire purpose. Often, they are also not angled enough to be of any real use. This one,however, is a game changer. The hair is short and dense, but soft, and the angle is just right for contouring. I love LOVE it. I fully intend to further add to my Cozette collection in the future and I  also want to purchase some for my personal stash. They’re all in my kit right now and I need some for ME.

Tune in next time when I tell you all my thoughts on the effects of social media on the makeup industry. Here’s a teaser-- INSTAGRAM IS A LIE.

See you soon, Racoon.

-Michelle (aka Kat Von D’s BFF)

(L-R: Michelle & Alison, Michelle & Kat von D, Michelle & James Vincent, Michelle & Alison)

Health Coach Stacy Crawford: Grown-Up ABC's...

A is for Amazing...

B is for Breathtaking...

C is for Culinary Masterpiece...

Going out to dinner used to be a frequent indulgence for my husband and I. Since having our daughter almost three years ago, we don't get the opportunity to go out as much as we would like, and we keep our special "alone" dinners reserved for our birthdays and our anniversary. This year, for our 4th wedding anniversary, we decided to try a restaurant that had long been on my list of places I wanted to go: Michelin-star Chef Jean George Vongerichten's ABC Kitchen in NYC's Union Square.

As a Health Coach, I love a restaurant that boasts a "seasonal menu, that is locally focused and globally artistic, and cultivating a healthy relationship on our tables for the planet." Reading a description like that makes me almost as happy as hearing the words "free shoes"! ABC Kitchen is located inside of the ABC Carpet & Home Store on 18th Street, and the lovely white-washed wood interior intrigues the dining guests as to what wonders can be found inside the store.

Shopping aside, it's the food that nearly brought me to tears. I can't believe I waited for my anniversary to finally go to this extraordinary restaurant. We started out with glasses of cold, crisp prosecco and debated over the menu like two wild animals, finding it so hard to choose because we wanted...well, everything.

Choosing a bottle of delicious sauvignon blanc was the easy part! After much deliberation we decided to share a variety of different plates. We started with the homemade ricotta with strawberry compote with grilled bread, and then the pretzel-dusted calamari, with marinara and mustard aioli. I would eat that homemade ricotta everyday and never get bored. And being self-proclaimed "pizza fanatics," we had to order the grilled pizza of tomato, buffalo mozzarella and basil, and were thrilled at the thin, crisp slices we couldn't help but swoon over. We then split an entree, which knocked the socks off of us - the black sea bass with chillies and herbs, baby market potatoes and spinach. We finished up with the infamous sundae of salted caramel ice cream with candied peanuts & popcorn, whipped cream and chocolate sauce, and just drooled over the lusciousness of the dish.

I died and went to food coma heaven.

I mean it. I couldn't even move after we finished dessert, I was so full on a physical and mental level. My happiness was bursting out of me the way I was busting out of my pants...! So while it was super indulgent, I felt so good about eating food that is local and organic and prepared with the consciousness of the diner and the environment in mind. It was a luxurious, mind-blowing experience that I look forward to enjoying again...and before my next anniversary, that's for sure!

To hear more about making healthier choices in your life, or to schedule a FREE Health History Assessment, please email me at: stacycrawfordhealthcoach@gmail.com. Also visit my website  www.stacycrawfordhealthcoach.com or visit my facebook page www.facebook.com/stacycrawfordhealthcoach.

- Stacy

Letter From the Editor: Custom Menswear from Clifton Charles

Last year, I had the pleasure of meeting Clifton Berry, who along with Wayne Taitt, is one half of Clifton Charles, an amazing custom suit & shirt destination. According to Clifton, who I finally had a chance to sit down and chat with (there we are in the photo below), they are "selling confidence." And there is nothing more of a confidence-booster to a man than a perfectly fitted suit and shirt combo. And here in NYC, Clifton Charles is THE place to go to buy some confidence...

In 2008, Clifton and Wayne, who were college friends that both ended up working in finance for 12 years, realized there was a major missing piece of American menswear, quit their jobs, and launched Clifton Charles. Not only were off-the-rack shirts not fitting them the way they really wanted, but while on his honeymoon in Shanghai in 2005, Wayne had discovered how quickly you could get custom suits made. But being the business-savvy guys they were, both Clifton and Wayne also knew that they had to somehow straddle both the luxury and value markets (we all remember what happened to our economy in 2008...). 

So they did their research and talked to endless potential clients. And they came up with a way to provide all made-in-the-USA suits and dress shirts from fabrics sourced from the UK and Italy (all of their shirts are made from sumptuous full Peruvian pima cotton) that can be made in a shockingly short amount of time (10-15 business days for shirts; 4-6 weeks for suits). There is no minimum of how many pieces you have to buy, and those shirts? 100% custom for $100-$150 (Seriously!) Wait, it gets better...their suits will run you anywhere from $895 to $1295. And in terms of quality, attention to detail and fabrication, a Clifton Charles suit at $895 is comparable to a $3,000 designer suit you'd find in a department store. Oh, and don't forget...theirs is custom...which means it is made from scratch according to your measurements...with your choice of fabrics, finishes, and free-of-charge extra perks like fabulous linings, monograms on your shirt cuffs, and more. The guys will even act as personal stylists, helping you to make your choices (wider leg or narrow? what kind of lapels? single-breasted or double?) with your lifestyle and preferences in mind. 

I know you are wondering if you fit into the average Clifton Charles customer. And while some of their clients are in fact CEO's of major banks, professional althetes, and the like, their clients are also lawyers, bankers (who aren't the CEO...) and every other type of suit-wearing executive. They come from all over the world (from as far as Australia) and flock to trunk shows the company hosts in other cities like Chicago, Washington DC, and Los Angeles. And because once your measurements and preferences are in their system, you can order new suits and shirts anytime online. No need to be in NYC...you just need to be aware that you need more of these beautiful pieces in your wardrobe! And just how beautiful are they? Well, I was personally excited enough to want to share the company with our readers here. The fabrics feel like the finest air. The details are perfectly tailored and finished. The cheeky extras (like purple iridescent silk linings...) will make you feel like a rockstar in a suit. 

My suggestion? Pay Clifton Charles a visit online or at their Manhattan showroom at 30 West 18th Street. Because that confidence? Yeah, you will have just bought it.

~ Alison.

(Check out our model starting the process of ordering a custom suit with Clifton's help...I have a feeling he is going to be very happy with the result!) Model: Kaolin Bass / All photos: Andrew Werner Photography

We say "Encore!" to CurtainCritic.com!

Here at Stylewhipped, we are huge fans of the arts. Theater, music, dance...you name it, we'll go see it. And therefore we are always looking for ways to make our theater-going experience that much easier, smoother, better...so enter the newly launched CurtainCritic.com and enter smiling faces around Stylewhipped!

CurtainCritic.com is powered by our genius, plugged-in, cultured friends over at TheatreMAMA. TheatreMAMA is a global "living media" agency based in the heart of NYC that specializes in social media, brand embassadorship, and event marketing. I have personally co-hosted events for TheatreMAMA and highly recommend you visit their site (after taking a look at CurtainCritic, of course!). Speaking of which, back to that...basically, CurtainCritic is a new theater review aggregator, which means it takes all the major reviews for each Broadway and off-Broadway show, puts them in one place, and assigns them a rating from 1-100. Then all of those numbers are averaged to give a final score. (Those scores, by the way, are then color-coded for even more user-friendly appeal...depending on where they fall from 1-100, they will be assigned a Gold, Silver or Bronze icon.) And these scores aren't just overall, seemingly-easy-to-come-by scores...they are further broken down by categories including "Overall," "Cast," "Tech," "Music" (if it's a musical, of course), and "Book/Script."

CurtainCritic.com officially soft-launched on December 1st and is aimed at everyone from seasoned theater-goers to the once-a-year tourist. From our point-of-view, this is quite simply, the Zagat of Broadway. I have a feeling that this site is going to become very quickly indispensible to anyone and everyone who would ever go see a show! Imagine being able to (with just one click) see exactly what show is #1 based on an aggregate of ALL its reviews. Not just based on the cranky critic in your local paper or the overly-cerebral one in a major national publication. You can read all those actual reviews right on the site, too, if you'd like (in other words...well, you don't have to take CurtainCritic's word for it!). And this doesn't help just you when looking for a show to go see...this is a fantastic new way to find the perfect gift (Uncle Joe only likes musicals with a great book? No problem, CurtainCritic has them all sorted for you!) and the perfect way to sound like a great tour guide for friends visiting from out-of-town ("well, you know, 'Chicago' is still the #2 highest rated Broadway show...").

Amazing, right?!

Yeah, we think so too.

~ Alison.

Fancy Meeting You Here...

Because I work from home (right now I'm watching my shih tzu sleep, worn out from a draining walk in the rain...), I tend to have a lot of meetings where "coffee" or "drinks" are invovled. Now, I don't drink coffee (I'm a tea girl) and I'm kind of cooked after two glasses of champagne (I'm also a very little girl!). So for me, it's always all about the ambiance of a place...and whether I think I'll feel comfortable enough to have a great meeting. I also live in Tribeca, so most of my world is below Houston Street (not even 14th!). So if I'm going to head all the way uptown to meet someone, it better be at a fun, fabulous, and maybe a little bit "fancy" of a spot...

So what are some of my favorite haunts? Ones that aren't too busy, that will let you linger for two hours over two glasses of iced tea, and that have food available in case your meeting runs long (and you've lingered over a few martinis!).  Often that means hotel lobby bars, but certain types of restaurants also do the trick. Downtown by me, the Tribeca Grand Hotel is my favorite, hands down. In fact, I have a meeting there tomorrow evening. A little further uptown in Soho? Like it's sister hotel in Tribeca, the Soho Grand Hotel provides the same level of sophistication and that European, stay-as-long-as-you-like feeling (and they are both dog friendly!).

If you're going to be in Chelsea, I have always liked The Park (its "scene" long over, the multiple choices of atmosphere are great for meeting new clients). Want to be super casual? The Chelsea Market and all its quirky little spots is a quick walk from two popular spots for events - The Altman Building and Metropolitan Pavilion.

Further uptown? During Fashion Week I stopped at the Bryant Park Hotel and The Morgan's Hotel much too often...! But seriously, both have fantastic lounges central to so much happening in midtown. And if you find yourself even further uptown on the west side of the city, the Lobby Lounge (really on the 35th floor) of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel is just adjacent to Columbus Circle. On the east side? Why not suggest something a little different and hold court in the upstairs lounge at famed Vietnamese restaurant Le Colonial? You can't beat the Saigon-meets-Paris feeling and the little appetizers are phenomenal.

No matter what part of the city you're in, please stop meeting everyone at Starbucks. Coffee is probably more expensive there than at a fab hotel bar, and no one is impressed with having to fight for a table and use those less-than-appealing restrooms. However, if you are going somewhere on the swankier side, don't forget to call and reserve a table because having to wait can kill a deal faster than you can say "great to meet you"...

~ Alison

Searching for a little stimulation

I've come to the realization that I've hit a wall. In December, I became aware that I was writing less and less. I told myself that it was the holidays and with the various parties, visits to family, frantic retail clients--I just didn't have the time but would pick back up in the new year. New Years day has come and gone, and still...nothing. How can that be? I love fashion, I love shopping, I love analyzing everything retailers are doing- old, new, good, bad. I've been working in the industry for years and can normally talk about this stuff for days. So why the block?

I didn't really understand until I was in a cab going through SoHo up West Broadway. The redundant visual presented the harsh truth. All of my favorite stores have shut down and had been replaced with a retail giant called "SALE". You know this store. Their branding is old and strong. They always use a big, bold font, their signature color is red, and they almost always use all caps. It all happened quickly, in the blink of an eye. One day you could do a 360-degree turn in any neighborhood, in any city or town, and realize that "SALE" has completely taken over with big signs in every window announcing it's presence. I'd become uninspired and disengaged because every store and every experience had become the same.

What happened? I know retailers are hurting and I understand the need to get through inventory and increase revenues. But why is everyone doing it at the expense of their branding and brand experience? Sure, when I was doing my holiday shopping I took advantage of price breaks and I liked it. But now...it's all a haze and frankly I'm bored. At this point, if I need something I'm just going online and seeing where I can get it the cheapest. And lately trying to get excited and inspired enough about something to write about it feels an awful lot like when teachers try to convince us that "math is fun!". Don't get me wrong, there are still things out there that I love (I do still have a pulse!), but I've got to work a little too hard to find them. So here's the scary part--if a super-consumer like me feels neglected, unstimulated and unmotivated, what's the average consumer feeling...and how are they going to react?

There is a light at the end of the tunnel. With the total takeover of "SALE" everyone is pretty much on a level playing field. This is the perfect time for brands and retailers to start standing out and differentiating themselves. This is the perfect time to be the hero and to be the one to bring the fun and adrenalin back into shopping. Pull yourself out of whatever force of desperation has been pulling you into doing what everyone else is doing, and remember why you got into this game in the first place and what your customers really want. Branding, business values and mission statements are not meant to change with the environment, they should be guiding you when the environment changes. I remain optimistic that we'll start seeing a change for the good in the new year. I just hope that it comes sooner than later.

- Cindy

Embrace the sale

I had every intention of writing a piece about how designers need to start thinking about sample sales as an extension of their brand. Meaning, customers should expect to experience the same look and feel there as they would in a dedicated store or space. It shouldn't matter that the space is temporary, the fixtures are limited, and the product is marked at 30-80% off. Sitting here at my desk with my marketing hat on...yes, this makes sense. But as I started writing, I began to hear the alarm of my trusty BS meter go off.

My goal in life is to make the world a better place to shop. Commerce is a reality of daily life and retail is a service industry. I just simply don't believe that the market should be packed in with people who have no interest in providing good customer experiences. But some of my favorite shopping moments have been at sample sales. The crowds of people, the gracelessly heaped piles of stuff, the chaos and disorder...I kind of love it. When else is it ok to run around with 10 bags looped through your arms, or with jewelry trays piled high with loot? I've decided that it's ok for sample sales to get down and dirty because people are simply in a different frame of mind and have a totally different set of expectations. You see the same women who intimidate you in chic boutiques and fancy restaurants turn into animals. At a sample sale, everyone is equal. The woman with the designer bag gets the same exact experience as the girl with the H&M bag, and it's great!

That said, there are ways to embrace the nature of a sample sale while making it a little more pleasant and stamping your own signature on it all. Make sure your staff is prepared to handle the task at hand. Make sure there are enough people there to get inventory out on the floor, to answer any questions, and to keep the flow of traffic moving smoothly in and out. Leave the attitude at home. It's amazing how a friendly staff member can calm frenzied and overwhelmed customers (Thank You Rebecca Minkoff support!). Don't forget that sample sales are often a new customer's entry-point to your brand. A good deal will keep her satisfied, but a good deal with great service will keep her coming back.

- Cindy

New Store Review: Maryam Nassir Zadeh

Earlier today, after a fantastic warm-you-up lunch at Schiller's Liquor Bar, Serge Van Lian (StyleWhipped's resident interior designer & columnist) and I visited an amazing new store on Manhattan's Lower East Side. Owned by LA-transplant (and Serge's good friend) Maryam Nassirzadeh and her fiance, Uday Kak, this is more a lifestyle experience than your average shopping destination. Maryam is a RISD- and Parsons-trained designer, and before opening this store had a successful eponymous line and worked as a designer at 12th Street by Cynthia Vincent.

In a white-brick-walled open space on the corner of Rivington & Norfolk, Maryam Nassir Zadeh (the store's name is a slight variation on her given name), customers immediately feel as if they've stepped into someone's fabulous downtown loft...with a definite ethnic, foreign twist. Maryam herself is Iranian, and much of the wares in the boutique are from all over the globe.  An entirely glass store-front leads to minimalist but warm displays of clothing, jewelry, shoes, vintage pieces, bags, belts... even textiles, art and plants.  Silk dresses from Vena Cava hang on bold iron racks next to delicate glass necklace carefully displayed on low wood tables. Over-the-top crystal-embellished cuffs from Erickson Beamon are nestled in cubicles across the room from tiny hand-made baby booties.

A tightly edited collection of vintage shoes, bags and clothing rounds out what Maryam and her fiance refer to as "a space beyond trend [and] a timeless environment." With their extremely personal aesthetic at work here, they have definitely acheived that goal...we could have easily been in another era, in another city...or right here in New York in 2008.  With prices that range from $80 for a hand-blown glass ring to thousands for designer pieces, there is something for everyone to enjoy, appreciate or admire at Maryam Nassir Zadeh.  Visit the welcoming, lovely Maryam and her beautiful space at 123 Norfolk at Rivington or online at www.maryamnassirzadeh.com.

~ Alison

           

Quiet before the frenzy

 Black Friday events and promotions are already starting, even before my turkey has even gone into the oven! This weekend is going to be a shopping frenzy like no other. Despite the fact that retailers are already promoting 30-70% off, people are waiting for this weekend to get an extra 20% on top of those sale prices and, hey, a free gift would be really cool too. Times are tough and budgets are tight. Even more reason why we must resist losing our minds and getting caught up in the swarm -- or the next thing you know, you'll have an armload of cashmere sweaters that were really good deals but no one wants to wear.

So instead of getting carried away by the power of the sale this year, I've  vowed to be more thoughtful and strategic with my holiday shopping. Instead of getting everyone a bunch of bargain throwaways, I'll get fewer gifts that are a little more special. One online shopping destination that I recently found and love is Unsung Emerging Designers. An 'online clothing boutique featuring emerging, indie designers from all over the world', they offer clothing and accessories for women (with some mens stuff as well) that can be custom tailored, one of a kind, and won't be found at your local mall. So avoid the crowds, be a holiday gifting hero, and support our indie designers!  Happy Thanksgiving!

- Cindy 

 

Sales Sales Everywhere...

With just about every retailer in panic mode, we have more sales, shopping events, and promotional offers than we know what to do with. As customers, our challenges include finding the best possible deals available, and staying focused on spending on the things we really like and not the stuff that we're only buying because it's cheap. My secret weapon? Shop It To Me. Promoted as 'your free personal online shopper', Shop It To Me's user-friendly process has you select your favorite brands (537 to choose from!) and your sizes, and will automatically send you regular emails (you decide if you want them daily, weekly or semi-weekly) telling you when your favorite brands are on sale and have your sizes available. You can even edit your settings to include a maximum price and minimum discount on your results. They organize your email content by retailer, and will also let you know if there's a free shipping or other promotional offer code available. At a time when stores are doing everything they can to drive more traffic in, but also streamlining staff...this service definitely alleviates some of the stress and frustrations from holiday shopping.

- Cindy

(sample email)