Borghese.com Sale - One Day Only!

If you need to stock up on your beauty and skincare products, check out the one day sale online at borghese.com.

For one day only, borghese.com is offering 25% off your entire Borghese online purchase. Enter the promotional code SUMSAVS when checking out and you will automatically receive the 25% discount on your purchase.

*Offer valid on Borghese.com only from July 14th, 2009 at 12:01am ET through July 14th, 2009 at 11:59pm ET in the US & Canada. Online code limited to one time use only. No adjustments on previous purchases. Not valid for cash or cash equivalent. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts.

Go to My Borghese Beauty, at myborghesebeauty.com to check out Borghese's Community Page. Share, learn and discuss health & beauty topics with community members. Learn about Borghese news and events, hottest tips & trends, insider advice and skincare 101.

EPIC Hollister Launch – Where SoCal Meets SoHo

Epic Preview: July 13th, 6-8pm
Epic Opening: July 16th






Watch WPIX's store coverage here:

Hollister opened their 40,000 square foot epic store at Broadway & Houston, taking up three floors, referred to as ‘Pier 1, 2 and 3’, plus a basement level swim shop called ‘Under the Pier’. You could smell the clean, masculine aroma of the SoCal cologne as soon as you enter the store. The Hollister store has the same feel as Abercrombie & Fitch (except more reasonably affordable), with male and female models waiting to greet you at the stairs and in each room. It was a bit overwhelming, with their overly friendly smile, as they stood there in their beachwear and washboard abs.

From a consumer standpoint, it‘s not so easy to shop in – you may know what you are looking for but may not easily find it. Since we weren’t allowed to take pictures, I am solely going off memory here. There were multiple, dimly lit rooms made of dark wood, with a selection of t-shirts, polos and shorts for ‘Dudes’ (guys) and t-shirts, dresses, bikinis and skirts for the ‘Bettys’ (girls). I’m not sure how many different spots you could find the same merchandise, but there was a lot of ground to cover. I also remember there being a denim library with jeans galore and a room with Hollister perfumes and tiered shelves full of women’s t-shirts. As I was looking over at the t-shirts in the basement level, I did notice that many of them had the date March 19, 1922. This was when the J.M. Hollister Company was founded.

Although not the greatest shopping experience, I did absolutely love the décor of the store and each of the rooms, which really encompasses Hollister’s history and character. There were so many details, including stacked vintage valises, handmade lamps, chandeliers with mini lamps, wallpaper with elephants and a three-tier clothing rack (which I would love to have in my own apt). I loved the banister ornaments, consisting of eagle, duck and turtleheads.

What I found really interesting were the large window panes with a live video feed of Huntington Beach. It did take me a minute to realize that as I looked from window pane to window pane, the scene extended from people laying on the beach to jumping in the ocean and surfing. As I stared at the scene it really made me wish I was in SoCal.

I don’t normally shop at Hollister, yet their XS fits me just fine. I did see several cute pieces online and in-store, so I may have to pick up a sweater or supersoft t-shirt here and there.

On my way out of Hollister, I was happy to receive a gift bag including a full size (2.5 fl oz.) bottle of the Hollister cologne and a men’s and women’s t-shirt, with a print of Huntington Pier and “SOCAL MEETS SOHO” at the bottom.

Glamour & Lancôme Event at Bloomingdale's 59th Street

Nude Elegance--------Indigo Charm---------Golden Audacity

As a 2009 New York Beauty Glambassador, I am excited to keep you updated on the latest events and products in beauty. Glamour & Lancôme are hosting an event at Bloomingdale’s 59th Street in Manhattan on Wednesday, July 29th, and we want you to be there!

Be the first to try Lancôme's fall 2009 color collection, “Declaring Indigo.” Plus, two of Lancôme's top National Makeup Artists will be there to give you a two-on-one beauty session.

Please note that there is a $50 pre-pay cost to book your appointment, but this cost will be put towards your purchase on the day of the event. See event details below:

WHEN: July 29, 10am – 7pm

WHERE: Bloomingdale’s 59th Street, 2nd Floor

RSVP: 212-705-2022

From 12-3pm: Glamour’s Style Expert will be on hand to offer personalized tips on fashion & beauty.

From 3-7pm: Capture the moment at our in-store photo shoot set. Pose with your new look and have your picture revealed on glamalert.com, plus get a framed shot to take home. I already booked my appt, so hope to see you there!

Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™ Concept Store Opening Party

Blake Lively and Kim Weling


Lucy Liu


Evan Rachel Wood

Chloe Sevigny in the crowd

Staccato Opulent Necklace

Wall of precision-cut loose crystals and components

Ring display

Mary Norton handbag, CAYLA headband, Cuccinelle handbag, Roeckl gloves

Pedro Garcia shoes

Definitely one of the hottest parties of the summer was the launch of the 5,000-square-foot Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™ store on June 25, 2009.

Gossip Girl’s Blake Lively hosted the event, as she teamed up with Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™ and charity: water to unveil the special-edition Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™ Divine Rock necklace during the grand opening. 100% of the proceeds from the necklace will benefit charity: water. The necklace can be purchased for $88.00 at the concept store at 499 Broadway (between Broome and Spring) or online at http://www.Swarovski-Crystallized.com, now through the end of August. I haven’t picked mine up yet, but plan on getting one during my next store visit!

Celebrities in attendance included Lucy Liu, Evan Rachel Wood and Chloe Sevigny.

I expected the space to be tiny, but to my surprise the store stretched out from the front of the store on Broadway (right across from Bloomingdale’s Soho), to the back of the store ending on Mercer Street. There is a lounge & café as you head toward the back of the store, as guests were able to sample the delectable hors d’oeuvres and treats.

The entire left wall is comprised of precision-cut loose crystals and components, allowing customers to customize and create their very own jewelry pieces. The ready-to-wear collection has something for everyone, with pieces in the $35 range to over $1,000. Shoppers can choose from charms, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings.

Downstairs you will find a lounge area with all-over Swarovski crystal cubes, which are actually very comfortable to sit on. There are also displays including Swarovski-detailed shoes, handbags, and tiaras.

The concept store in Soho is the only Swarovski CRYSTALLIZED™ store in the United States. Other stores are located in London, Shanghai and Austria.

The Power of Leather AXE Instinct Launch Party

Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz


Lance Bass

Cheryl Burke of Dancing With the Stars

Shiny Toy Guns

AXE and Rolling Stone celebrated the launch of AXE Instinct, the new scent of rare leathers, with hints of spicy pink pepper, raw-leather accords and warm pepper wood. The scent is available as a deodorant body spray, body gel, deodorant stick and antiperspirant stick.

The party was hosted by Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz, with musical performances by DJ AM and Shiny Toy Guns, at the Hard Rock Café in Times Square, on June 24, 2009.

Celebrity guests included Lance Bass, Cheryl Burke, Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush.

K-Swiss Classic Remastered Party Hosted by Ed Westwick

Gossip Girl’s Ed Westwick hosted the K-Swiss Classic Remastered launch party at the metro level of Bloomingdale’s 59th Street store on June 18th. In celebration of the new kicks, Ed judged a dance-off competition, with music by DJ Josh Madden. Unfortunately the dance contestants were not of the likes of the So You Think You Can Dance stars. I expected to see better popping movements, unique moves or at least some natural or technical mastering.

The first 50 customers to purchase Classic Remastered sneaks got their photo taken with Ed Westwick.

Jewelry Information Center Annual Fine Jewelry Luncheon

"Ginko Leaf" cuff by Anna Ruth Henriques


Eighteen-karat gold necklace with aquamarine and
rainbow moonstone gemstones by Robin Koffler


Eighteen-karat gold handmade bangles, with or without
diamonds by Maya Jewels

"Enduring Skulls" necklace by Ruff & Cut Signature Collection

On June 18, 2009, the JIC, Jewelry Information Center, held their annual fine jewelry luncheon at the Vermilion Restaurant.

I spotted a few favorites immediately after perusing the jewelry pieces on display. My ultimate favorite is an eighteen-karat gold “Ginko Leaf” cuff with reconstituted coral and diamond accents by Anna Ruth Henriques. It’s very difficult for someone petite as me to find a bracelet that fits my wrist, but this one fit beautifully when I tried it on!

Guest speakers for this year’s luncheon included the Women of Jewelia, from the book “The Necklace”, as they explained their inspiring true story of how thirteen women shared a diamond necklace, changing their lives and the community surrounding them.

I thoroughly enjoyed the lunch itself, including watermelon salad with cilantro and basil, Caldeirada de Peixe, which is a Brazilian seasonal seafood stew with an Indian kick tomato rice and the Vermilion Hedonism for dessert, a dark chocolate flourless cake served with chili masala orange blueberry sorbet.

There were a few pieces of jewelry that were raffled off that I would have loved to win, particularly an “Enduring Skulls” necklace from the Ruff & Cut Signature Collection, featuring continuous skull links in sterling silver.

Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company and World Gold Council co-sponsored the luncheon. Jane Basch bracelets, Jewelers Mutual jewelry travel cases and Lika Behar evil-eye bracelets contributed to the gift bags.