Monday, April 16, 2012

Elie Tahari Spring 2012 Sample Sale




Mira Dress and Chelsea Mini Bag

Leather Mercer Jacket and Roni Flat

WOMEN'S
WAS / NOW

Leather Jackets
$998 / $279
Wool Dress Coats
$728 / $199
Luxury Fur / Shearling Jackets
$1498 / $499
Evening Dresses
$498 / $129
Day Dresses
$398-$498 / $99
Classic Knit Sweaters
$298-$398 / $49
Tailored Pants
$178-$198 / $59
Skirts
$248-$298 / $59
Knits
$98-$198 / $19-$29
Blouses
$168-$298 / $59

MEN'S

WAS / NOW
Leather Jackets
$1298 / $279
Cashmere Jackets
$398 / $199
Long Coats
$328 / $199
Short Coats
$648 / $149
Woven Jackets
$398 / $99
Pants
$198-$248 / $49
Sweaters
$248 / $69
Knit Shirts
$168 / $39-$19

SHOES

WAS / NOW
Ballet Flats
$198 / $79
Leather Pumps
$398 $99
Spring Sandals
$598 $199

HANDBAGS

WAS / NOW
Clutches
$448 / $79
Small Handbags
$398 / $139
Luxury Handbags
$598 / $199

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Spa Week Media Party Spring 2012


On Wednesday, April 11th, guests celebrated the 16th season of Spa Week at the Spa Week Media Party, held at The Alman Building at 135 West 18th Street. From April 16th - 22nd, hundreds of spas, yoga and pilates studios, fitness centers and other health and wellness practices will offer up to three signature treatments for just $50 each. You can book see participating spas/services at SpaWeek.com.

Spa Week is the perfect time to try out a new spa/service or make an appointment with your favorite spa and treat yourself to that well deserved massage or facial.

During the media party, I visited with Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spas, who were offering hand massages and Satin Smooth SmoothSculpt demonstrations - a skin rejuvenating process that removes cellulite, reduces wrinkles and releases built-up toxins.

During Spa Week, Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spas will be offering the Spa Week Stress Melter Body Treatment (50 minutes) which includes a deep body exfoliation, relaxing aromatherapy body wrap and pressure point scalp massage. Also offered is The Spa Week Facial (50 minutes). The Diamond Tip & Organic Flower Peel Microdermabrasion or Oxygen Blast can be added to the facial for an additional $50 ($85 value). The last treatment offered is the Spa Week Magnolia Pedicure (60 minutes).

The five-star Red Door Spa Flagship has relocated to a new state-of-the-art facility at 663 Fifth Avenue. Schedule a treatment and check it out!

Spa Week's Exclusive Cosmetic Sponsor, Christopher Drummond Beauty, provided makeovers. Christopher Drummond Beauty offers natural, organic based and vegan products. I can't wait to try some of their products, including the Duo Phase Concealer, Veludo Velvet Foundation, Finale Finishing Powder and Saude Pele Radiance Booster.


The Exclusive Book Sponsor is Where We Belong by Emily Giffin. Emily is known for her first novel, Something Borrowed, which had sold three million copies and was adapted to a major motion film starring Kate Hudson. Attendees were able get an autographed copy of Giffin's new book, while enjoying hand massages.
Michelle Joni Lapidos (left) interviewing Emily Giffin (right)

So great to see Cindy Barshop and the Completely Bare team. Completely Bare's $50 services during Spa Week include Laser Hair Removal for Basic Bikini, Laser Hair Removal for Chin, and Laser Hair Removal for Lower Stomach Line.
Michelle Joni Lapidos interviewing Cindy Barshop, CEO of Completely Bare


Keri Glassman's Nutritious Life Meals delivers 3 freshly prepared gourmet means and 2 snacks to your doorstep daily. Meals include Goat Cheese Salad with Balsamic and Roasted Lamb with Red Wine Reduction.

- Kim Weling

Friday, April 13, 2012

Spa Week - April 16th - 22nd

Spa Week starts on Monday! Have you booked your appointment yet? Visit SpaWeek.com for a list of participating spas and $50 treatments.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Agent Provocateur 'Eau Provocateur' Launch - A Trio of New Fragrances



Launching next week is the Spring 2012 'Eau Provocateur' Collection from Agent Provocateur. I had a chance to preview this trio of fragrances during the launch party at the Agent Provocateur store at 675 Madison Avenue.

The 3 tantalizing day fragrances have a beautifully shaped, sensual bottle each with its own pretty soft shade to signify its distinct personality.

'Eau Provocateur' is light and feminine, a modern twist on the original Eau de Parfum, Maitresse and L'Agent.

Agent Provocateur 'Eau Provocateur' opens with citrus notes and red fruit. The heart of the fragrance reveals an array of fresh new florals such as muguet and orange flower. Gentle base notes of myrrh, vanilla and tonka bean add softness and sensuality.

Agent Provocateur L'Agent 'Eau Provocateur' is a fresh floral fragrance, opening with subtle citrus accords of bergamot, leaf accord (fresh cut green leaves), mandarin, apple, melon and peach, which gives way to a heart full of rose, jasmine, tuberose, magnolia, freesia and ylang. Base notes include musk, patchouli, sandalwood and amber crystals.

Agent Provocateur Maitresse 'Eau Provocateur' includes fragrant accords of rose, jasmin sambacand iris with delightfully light, green notes of Acacia (a thorny shrub). A green note of Granny Smith apples makes this a lingering scent so fresh and floral. The delectable base is made up of amber, sandalwood, tonka and gourmande elements.

Agent Provocateur 'Eau Provocateur' Collection will be available in selected department stores as of April 15th, 2012 at $70 for the 50ml Eau de Toilette Spray.









- Kim Weling

L.L.Bean Signature Spring 2012


Cotton madras print shirt (Men’s) $69, seersucker high waist short $59

I never pictured myself wearing L.L.Bean, but I quickly changed my mind during the L.L.Bean Signature spring 2012 preview. L.L.Bean Signature is actually a sub-brand of L.L.Bean that first launched March 2010. The clothing is both young and fresh, with a mix of neutrals, pops of color and fun prints.

The Spring collection features poplin dresses, cotton madras shirts and seersucker high waist shorts. L.L.Bean Signature also carries petite sizes starting at 0, so you know I'm happy about that! The last thing I need are more handbags of any kind, but the medium saltwash canvas totes, quilted bag, small sport canvas and small duffle bags are the perfect size if you're petite. The nylon purse looks great around the waist too!

I do like the woven-leather pumps, coral reef/hot coral sandals and suede open-toe wedge boots, but unfortunately for me shoe sizes start at a size 6.

Check out the behind the scenes video of the Spring lookbook shoot, styled by The Glamourai.

Shop the L.L.Bean Signature collection at llbean.com/llbeansignature.

Left: Poplin stripe dress $119, nylon purse $45, suede heel sandal $169
Right: Linen modal stripe tee $59, Blue Hill rib tee $34, seersucker high waist short $59

Left: Shawl collar print cardigan $139, cotton madras check shirt (Men’s) $69, boyfriend jean short $59, Bryant sandal $169
Right: Tie neck crepe dress $129, georgette skirt $159, stacked wedge $179, canvas & leather hobo bag $129

Left: Poplin print dress $119, Downeaster sport canvas small print duffle $69, stacked wedge $179
Right: Cotton madras dress $79, Hampton pullover $79, twill button front skirt $89, suede heel sandal $169
Above lookbook images provided by L.L.Bean Signature

Here are some photos I took at the L.L.Bean Signature Spring 2012 preview





Men's collection



- Kim Weling

Monday, April 9, 2012

Jimmy Choo Sample Sale! April 12th & 13th

If you plan on hitting up this sale, get there early! I heard the line usually wraps around the block. In the past, shoes were priced at $250 for one pair, $450 for two pairs and $600 for three pairs, so I expect similar pricing this time around. Let me know how it goes if you get to this sale!

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day® Launches 68 Load Laundry Detergent


I can't say I look forward to doing my laundry every week, but when you have designer pieces in your wardrobe you have to make sure you do your best to take care of them. I was recently introduced to Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day® aromatherapeutic, earth-friendly cleaners and laundry supplies, including the newly launched 68 Load 4X Laundry Detergent.

My first impression of Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day® - I really love the fragrances! Bluebell and Rosemary scent collections are all-natural fragrances, made with essential oils and other natural ingredients. I've done laundry with the Bluebell laundry detergent, which has a delicate floral scent and a burst of blue-violet. I love garden fresh scents like Rosemary and Basil, so I can't wait to try those. The fragrance is a major factor when determining what laundry detergent I use, as I'm looking for unique scents that are invigorating and refreshing, and not your average, generic scents.

Aside from loving Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day® scents, the laundry products are phosphate-free and are energy/cost efficient, especially with the new 68 Load 4X Laundry Detergent. I'm still getting used to it, but all you need to add in is 1 tablespoon of detergent, because of the concentration. I'm used to pouring in a 1/2 cup to 1 cup of detergent. Using too much detergent can cause reside on the inside of the washing machine that can get on your clothes. There are also two ways to pour your detergent - by using the flip top cap or using the clear cup. It also works as a great stain remover. The packaging size makes it easy and sufficient to transport and perfect for those urban, smaller spaces.

I picked up some interesting tidbits from Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day® Laundry Survey, like the average American does 4 loads of laundry per week and more than half find doing the laundry is their most time consuming chore.

Here are some of the statistics:
  • Nearly four-fifths of Americans do full loads of laundry to save time and money.
  • More than half of people carefully measure out their detergent to make it last longer.
  • 44% would give up Facebook for a year, in exchange for not doing their laundry chore.
  • Almost 4 out of 10 (38%) people have bought new underwear/socks to last another week in order to avoid doing laundry
  • One third of Americans will wear dirty clothes that they knew were smelly and/or stained in order to get out of doing laundry again. Men were the bigger culprits! (Eeeewwwww gross)!!!
  • If their partner/spouse did their laundry, 55% of men and women would be so happy they'd want to put those clean sheets to good use!
  • Not surprisingly, Americans typically have a "bigger is better" mentality. 4 out of 5 Americans think that big packages/bottles of detergents are cost efficient. - 1 tiny bottle (34 oz) handles 68 loads of laundry, which is just $.24 a load
**For the above statistics, background and Methodology for Mrs. Meyer's Clean Dat Survey Statistics have been provided by Leiflin Associates, Inc.

The 68 Load Laundry Detergent retails for $15.99, along with dryer sheets ($7.99) and fabric softener ($7.99). Some of the other scents include lavender, lemon verbena, and geranium.

I can't wait to try some of the other Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day® cleaning products, such as liquid dish soap ($3.99), liquid hand soap ($3.99), countertop spray ($3.99), all purpose cleaner ($7.99) and glass cleaner ($4.99), toilet bowl cleaner ($4.99), bathroom cleaner ($3.99), surface scrub ($4.99) and surface wipes ($3.99). They also offer an air care assortment of scented soy candles ($9.99) and room fresheners ($4.99).

You can shop online at mrsmeyers.com or at your local Target, Walmart and select grocery stores.







During the launch, we were introduced to Mrs. Meyer's Clean Home book, complete with shortcuts and tips for the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living rooms, as well as Shop Your Closet: The Ultimate Guide to Organizing Your Closet With Style by Melanie Fascitelli. During the event, Melanie had provided some great closet editing tips and mentioned the Ten Commandments of Hanging, which is stated on the back of her book. I can't wait to read both books and pickup some more helpful tidbits!


- Kim Weling