Ask LDiva
Got a question?? This is no place to be shy! Ask me at divaliciousblog(at)yahoo(dot)com. I will post your Q and my A.I am the hardest person in the world to shop for…. at least that’s what I’m told.
Which is so unfair. I love mostly everything I ever get.
Unless it’s from an unthoughful boyfriend.
But the truth of it is, I’d rather give than receive in the gifting department.
I don’t know if it’s just that I love to shop. Or if it’s my one-for-you, three-for-me approach to it. But it gives me such a high to find something I know the recipient will absolutely die over.
And this holiday season, I’m loving me some of these, which means possibly some of yous will be receiving them.
1. Nothing quite like Guatemalan love.
2. If it has the word sexpot in its name, you know I’ll all about it.
3. Good scent = good mood. (scroll to #3)
4. Germs… You may have gotten your shot, but has your bag?
5. Who couldn’t use a little hanky panky?
6. Your tunes should travel if you have to.
7. Who says you can’t buy happiness?
9. We all have our baggage.
10. Mix tape goes modern.
11. Sometimes you gotta let off a little steam.
12. It ain’t easy being a working girl.
13. It’s always wise to bag it up.
14. Something up your sleeve?
15. Hot studs wanted.
In October, I got these two beautiful lip kits from Lauder as part of their month-long campaign to raise money for breast cancer research in partnership with the BCRF. Not only are they for a great cause but they are also great colors for brides, so I was thrilled.
What I didn’t realize was how much time I would spend thinking about whether knowing whose was whose affected my choice in which kit to use – or if the colors just so perfectly represented their namesake and her unique (and couldn’t-be-more-different-than-the-other) image - or if I just happened to like the different shades for different women as I do all shades when doing makeup.
Then I started wondering if women who didn’t work in beauty would even immediately recognize that Elizabeth is for the insanely gorgeous Elizabeth Hurley and Evelyn is for the insanely powerful Evelyn Lauder.
And then I started thinking about names of products in general and how I myself was a little put off buying a lipstick called Shy Girl from MAC’s new collection even though I loved the color on me. Shy Girl? No way. “Not once, Not never.”
Which boils down to – would a rose by any other name smell as sweet? Or look as pretty on your lips?
When choosing a color palette and makeup look, I consider a woman’s face – it’s structure, skin tone, lip color, eye color and then I consider her personality and self-image.
But with these kits, I couldn’t even see them as individual lip products. They were the Elizabeths versus the Evelyns.
One set was boldly screaming sexy, confident, look-at-me.
The other was eloquently articulating traditional, polished, sophisticated.
Call me crazy, but soon enough I was looking at all women and assigning them a kit. With no middle ground in between, it wasn’t always an easy task.
Check it out for yourself. Starting with you - Are you an Elizabeth or an Evelyn?
And if you’re makeup-mental like me, I recommend this game for the subway, train, bus, plane, classroom, business meeting. Seriously. Great for all ages. No batteries required.
I’ve been wearing a whole lot of little black dresses lately – accessorized with either a major statement necklace or chunky cocktail ring, heels or OTK boots, red lips or smoky eyes.
Some are asymetrical one-shoulder goddess styles, some are micro mini requiring stockings or leggings styles, some are frighteningly form fitting styles and some are simply strapless styles.
But whatever the style, there is always some skin.
And while I keep that skin as tight as I can come summertime, it’s not always its tightest come seasonal soirees.
Which is why I love working where I do.
Right in time for holiday season, we are launching an iphone app just for girls like us – who work out to look good (and sometimes begrudgingly).
Our latest app, called The LBD Workout, is available now on itunes for $1.99. It brilliantly offers area spot-training so that no matter what your little black dress reveals, you’ll have all the confidence to show it off.
Why stress over getting into perfect shape head-to-toe? Little Black Dress provides 12 total body strength training and cardio workouts specifically designed to sculpt, shrink, and strengthen a women’s figure in all the right spots — ideal for slipping into whichever little black dress style you desire this holiday party season.
Slipping out on the town in a halter? Select the workout plan that promises the sexiest shoulders and back.
Hitting the party circuit in an asymmetrical one-shoulder LBD? You’ll be given step-by-step instructions for getting your biceps and triceps in tip-top shape.
Rocking a mini? We’ve got the lower-body moves to flaunt those gams.
Any true diva knows fitness is a means to fashion.
And I’m so excited because this is the first-ever app that delivers custom fitness AND fashion advice together. It’s like having your very own personal trainer and stylist right there in your pocket.
LBD features step-by-step still images AND video/audio content to make workouts easier than ever. And, all our apps include tools that enable users to log, track and share their fitness programs with others.
The only bad thing about it is that you can only get it on the iphone and ipod touch!! I may just have to make the switch…
NOTE: I can’t stand when people have nothing to talk about other than their jobs, but lately my life has been my job with the upcoming launch of SHAPEbride on Valentine’s Day and now these amazing iphone apps - so I apologize… But if I didn’t LOVE it, I wouldn’t share it. Bible – as the Kardashians would say.
In reviewing past and present obsessions, it’s clear my affinity for studs is nothing new.
(See previous post. I am referring to hardware here!)
However, the ones I was LUVin me some of in ‘07 were large and in charge and high shine to boot.
Date back to ’08 they were somewhat smaller, sure, but scattered allllll over. And none to subtely I may add.
So……. since the economy is the scapegoat de jour and topic de annoyance, I can’t help but wonder if my current preference for the flat-finish, petite pyramid studs is somehow influenced by the lingering socioeconomic sitch.
Meaning, is over-the-top simply over??
Some gold glitters.
And some gold… doesn’t.
And that’s more and more often the kind I prefer.
To complement this fall’s lip trend, I’m loving the season’s matte gold.
Because sometimes dull is really diva-lish in disguise.
Like these hot little pyramid studs I ordered online.
They arrived at the office today and made me smile.
And even though I had but a nanosecond to enjoy them before getting back to the bottomless pile that is my current workload :) , it was a well-timed reminder to appreciate the small and subtle things.
If you’re here, chances are you’re a hot tamale indeed.
So make the most of your goods by entering to win a 5-year modeling contract with Wilhelmina!!
The search is on to find the next Hot Body. And there are only a few weeks remaining to enter, so act NOW.
Applicants can enter through on-line sign up or in-person casting calls or by mailing in headshots and resumes.
Not sure you’ve got the stuff??
Ideal contestants will have the potential to be icons of health & wellness — The next Hot Body is not super-skinny but rather fit, toned and strong, representing the changing standard of beauty.
Plus, a panel of judges consisting of Wilhelmina talent scouts (including Sean Patterson, President of Wilhelmina), Shape magazine editors and Men’s Fitness magazine editors will review all entries, providing contestants unparalleled exposure to key executives and editors. You never know who will be the one to discover you!
10 finalists will receive:
- A 3-day all expenses paid trip to New York City to participate in the finals
- Spa and beauty experience by a leading NYC salon
- A day of personal training with top Wilhelmina fitness experts
- $200 gift card to The Vitamin Shoppe
- Participation in Finals Judging (with prominent Shape and Men’s Fitness editors and Wilhelmina agents)
- The hottest ticket in town as a VIP guest at The Wilhelmina Hot Body Model Search Finals Party
2 grand prize winners (one male and one female) will each be awarded:
- A 5-year modeling contract with Wilhelmina Models
- Photo shoot for Shape and Men’s Fitness Magazines
- A vacation for two at a Beaches Resort
- A Bulova watch
- $1,500 Vitamin Shoppe gift
- A 1 year membership to Gold’s Gym
…and many more valuable prizes
What’ve you got to lose??
It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity! So stop reading and go sign up!!
Q from our girl Marley:
I was putting on my makeup. My eye makeup was perfect…even you [ldiva] would have been proud. As I applied mascara, for some reason, I twitched. Aside from my fear of developing facial turrets, I was livid!! My mascara was still wet so my upper & lower lids were covered with black lash marks. I had to wipe off my eye makeup & start all over again…and it NEVER looks the same. Sometimes something better can come out of accidents but that just wasn’t the case last night! Is there anything I could have done instead of wiping it all off and starting over?
A from LDIVA:
This happens to the best of us from time to time and it KILLS me. You’re right, it hardly ever looks the same when you start anew. And sometimes it looks even better but then doesn’t match to the other, untouched eye. Of course, this always happens when you’re already running late. Grrrrrrrr.
There is one main product I use religiously to avoid starting fresh, which if you must, I personally feel you should do then for both eyes even if only one gets smudged – especially if the eye look is anything more complicated than simple liner and a single wash of color. And even still, I might clean the slate on both sides. So if you follow rules, the rule is if you’re going to fully redo one eye, save yourself the heartache and just redo the two.
But back to the alternative…
Many mistakes would be fixable if there was only a way to precisely remove the exact affected area and no more. What usually happens is that, without the proper tools, the whole area becomes a hot mess. Women use their fingers or tissues or traditional, dry cotton swabs and they rub to correct, which only makes matters worse.
These MAC professional cleansing swabs have oil-based make-up remover in them (so even waterproof or longwear will come off) and they are small enough to get into corners and creases. The key benefit here is control. One end has a round shape while the other has a fine point. I cannot tell you how many times that fine point has come in handy when I’m applying longwear eyeliner or waterproof mascara to a cannot-stop-blinking bride who needs to make it to the church on time. The MAC cleansing tips allow me to fix any smudge with precision and ease. I then fill in the small areas with the color products I had been using and make sure to match both eyes. This is usually all I need to fix mascara and other mistakes on the eyelid.
As for under the eye, it’s more about adding than removing. So instead of stripping the area fully (and giving myself the near impossible task of perfectly matching the rest of the skin), I press with a tissue - or finger if I’m really pressed for time – to pick up as much product as I can. Since it’s usually wet and hasn’t set in, I can cleanly lift it. The key is to press and not rub. For whatever is left (if anything), I super lightly dot the round tip of the swab to pull up, using minimal pressure and releasing minimal remover. Lastly and most importantly, I pat on the concealer I used for the under-eye in the basic face stage. For the best coverage, I prefer a cream (pot) concealer to a liquid (tube) concealer. I then tap what is left of the concealer on my finger under the other eye to make sure it’s even.
You can pick up the swabs, which come 30 to a pack, at any MAC PRO location as well as various MAC stores.
I hope this saves you time and eliminates future frustration, Marley!!
xo, me
This was finally announced on Friday.
I got a sneak preview of the line while it was being developed and let me tell you, it’s INSANE.
It’s what I would consider a nearly perfect palette.
Lately I’ve been getting into bolder colors and more mattes as the trends have been dictating, but I’m truly a sheer lip and glowing cheek kind of girl. I long to be a year-long bronze goddess with perfect little pops of pink and peach and coral. Michael Kors got it right, right out the gate.
Well done!!!
As an addendum to my latest Can Anything Navy Ever Be Hot post comment, I’d like to show you some of my favorite bebe belts this season…
There’s this one.
This one. (the inside of the bow is hot pink)
This one. (i personally wouldn’t suggest it be worn over a white tee)
And this one!
Oh, the joys of accessorizing. So much fun I need a nap. Or maybe I just need a nap.
My favorite little devil came to visit me this weekend!
And, no, this is NOT a halloween reference, as we think halloween is best served for girls who are dying to be sexy but don’t have the guts every day.
Since we bring it on all the time, we don’t need a special occasion to dress up ;)
We also recognize sexy has nothing to do with whether you’re a nurse, a schoolgirl or a french maid… again. And definitely doesn’t not equate to how much skin is showing. Desire to look super sexy most often ends up looking super desperate.
Sexy is all about confidence and attitude. Modern day swagger.
Which is why even my little devil can look sexy parading around my apartment in this little gift I got her, as kind of a punishment and kind of a joke.
It’s her very own cherry red shower cap, complete with corn-on-the-cob yellow devil’s horns. Trust me, it’s quite a look.
She has to wear it when she visits and wants to extend her blowout because when she borrows mine – get this, ladies – SHE DOES NOT DRY IT for when it’s my turn to shower. And somehow, this mischevious lil devil gets water not only on the outside but also it’s dripping wet on the inside. I mean, what the….???
Two words: Un. Acceptable.
So now she has to don this instead and leave my fabulous Spa Sisters bouffant shower cap to me and my other besties who know how to properly care for it and who respect who’s next in line for showering at our girls weekends.
So this little gift is really one for myself, a little devil in other ways I suppose :)
I was online shopping very late last night. Don’t ask me why. It’s a sickness.
I’ve been looking for a gold skinny belt and have had no luck at Bloomies or Saks or any of the Soho/Nolita shops. Which makes me that much more intent on finding one.
Rather than search through a million sites, when I know exactly what I want I use ShopStyle.com. ShopStyle doesn’t have its own e-commerce but links directly to the retailer’s site once you’re ready to buy. And they have EVERYTHING there at every price point from Forever21 to Ferragamo. It’s the most comprehensive shopping site I’ve ever experienced. Sometimes even I am overwhelmed by it and I live for this stuff.
So, at about 2am, I found myself perusing ShopStyle for belts. They currently feature 3,113.
ShopStyle allows you to refine by Brand, Store, Sale, Price and Color. And my tired eyes and I wanted so badly to narrow down by color – Gold – and limit my options to only 187.
But the shopping bug paralyzed me. What if there was a gorgeous belt in black or silver or chocolate or camel that I would never know I wanted if I tailored the search to only what I needed.
3,113 belts later, I ended up buying 3.
Of all the belts and brands I reviewed – from YSL to Gucci to Prada to Alexander McQueen to Valentino – the gold belt I ended up liking most (without considering brand or budget) was from………… OLD NAVY????
The fleece capital of the world that in no way reflects my personal style, despite being a destination for affordable practicality and functionality loved by the masses.
But believe it when I say, I liked their belt so much I got it in TWO colors.
WHAT is this world coming to?!
I got this simple double-wrap metallic bow belt in Gold, as shown above, and in Rosegold – which they call Rose Pink so as not to confuse their consumer.
I liked it for its simplicity, since I need something versatile that my outfits would pop around. And I always appreciate a good bow plus the double-wrap element was on-trend. I did find it amusing though that Old Navy used the words “sassy” “funky” and “fashion-forward” to describe it. But perhaps to the Fleece Fashionistas, it is all those things. To each her own.
So anyhooooo – Old Navy won the online belt battle, but the moment of truth will be when it arrives. For $14.50 (!!!), will it be soft, will it be durable, will it look… cheap??
And most importantly, will I follow-up to even let you know?? ;)
My favorites from the NYC Couture Bridal shows this week…
And for the nonconventionalist like myself….
In summary and in the words of my good friend F, Is it bad to want to get married just to wear the dress?!?!?!
