LOFT Fall 2010

For Fall 2010, LOFT Style Studio was introduced – an exclusive collaboration with four leading stylists – Tina Chai, Kate Young, Joanne Blades and Alia Ahmed-Yahia. These for stylists worked with the LOFT fall collection to create versatile looks from 10 fashion-forward fall essentials.

I think the pieces from this collection can easily be incorporated into your own wardrobe. Here are some of my favorite looks.

Left: Looped Ruffle Front Camisole, $49.50, Diamond Trimmed Cardigan, $69.50, Tweed 3/4 Sleeve Jacket, $148 and Fitted Lean Trouser, $79.50. Camisoles, cardigans and black trousers are staple pieces that I always look to add to my wardrobe and can last for seasons, easy to mix with what I already own. I love tweed jackets! I especially love this one because it has 3/4 sleeves. Being petite, I always have to watch the sleeve length - why spend money on tailoring when you don't have to?

The Ruffle Neck Dress, $128 (left), would be too long for my frame (though I do love how it is belted), but I can definitely go for the Ruffle Collar Anorak, $148.

At the top of my accessories list is this Gem Flower Necklace, only $39.50. The Color Block Dress, $89.50 (right), would be a great dress to wear from day to night.

I am all about Denim Leggings, $69.50 and wearing them with over-the-knee boots! You can wear denim leggings with so many things - cardigans, tanks, long sweaters or blouses with loose-fitting silhouettes!

I'm really excited about this Faux Fur Vest, $98. It's one thing I need to add to my wardrobe! It looks great with a pair of Herringbone trousers, $79.50, but would also look great with a pair of jeans. A simple tee looks good with the vest, like the Knot Front Tee, $29.50, shown below.

LOFT has some great booties/boots for fall, including open toe, $118 and lace-up, $128 booties and over-the-knee heeled boots, $168 and over-the-knee riding boots, $198. I love these brown suede booties!

There are a few other pieces on my LOFT must-haves list that I will definitely have to check out in-store come fall. Many of my favorite picks are available in petites so I look forward to finding a few great-fitting pieces!

• Pleated Waist Sweater Dress, $79.50
• Fitted Seamed Legging, $79.50
• Chain Clutch, $98
• Gold Multi-Chain Necklace with Black Braid, $34.50
• Shawl Collar Sweater, $98
• Long Sleeve Grosgrain Trim Cardigan, $49.50
• Premium Moto Jeans, $79.50
• Cropped Leather Jacket, $298
• Twisted Neck Top, $49.50

Be prepared to shop LOFT this fall!

- Kim Weling

25th Anniversary of Borghese's Fango Active Mud

On June 22nd, Georgette Mosbacher, Borghese CEO, held an exclusive event at her home to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Fango Active Mud beauty treatment.

While enjoying hors d'oeuvres and Fango Mango cocktails, guests were able to take a closer look at all the different Fango beauty treatments as well as new products.



There are five different types of Fango Mud treatments, with the face and body masks containing Acqua di Vita® Complex. The original Fango Active Mud Mask for Face and Body (middle jar, shown below) detoxifies impurities, unclogs pores and eliminates dead skin cells, leaving skin feeling firmer, hydrated and invigorated. This Italian Mud's ingredients natural botanicals - Geranium, Lavender and Peppermint Oils and Avocado and Sweet Almond Oils.

I learned that after you apply the mud, you don't have to wait until it dries - you can rinse it off after just 3-5 minutes!

Fango Ristorativo Restorative Hydrating Mud for Face & Body (left jar shown below) helps protect against environmental damage, reduces redness and fights against inflammation of the skin. It restores, replenishes, nourishes and energizes.


Fango Delicato Active Mud for Delicate Dry Skin (back jar shown below) hydrates and firms dry, delicate skin.

Fango BrillanteBrightening Mud Mask For Face and Body (front jar shown below) contains natural vitamins and mineral-rich extracts that evens out skin tone, gently soothes and refines, helps to remove dead skin cells and erases the effects of environmental debris. A blend of Vitamin A and Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract works to leave skin brighter and more radiant.

FangoActive Mud for Hair and Scalp invigorates and revitalizes the scalp while adding body to hair. It's suitable for all hair types.

Launching this October is Borghese's Perla Duale High Impact LipColour Collection. The collection includes six fashion forward shades inspired by the runways of Milan. The creamy, long-lasting, dual purpose formula delivers rich, opaque color with a high pearl finish. It's formulated with Vitamins A, E, & C to condition lips and help provide anti-oxidant protection, and Chamomile and Aloe to soothe and smooth.

Also, be sure to check out the Collezione D'Oro Occhi Eye Treatment, an age-defying gel serum that brightens the delicate eye area and helps minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Borghese's 'DO YOU FANGO' campaign features model Fernando (bottom left). Another model (bottom right) promotes the campaign, with 'DO YOU FANGO' written across his chest in Fango Mud.

As the event came to a close, guests were given a full-size jar of the original Fango Active Mud, plus a luxurious Borghese spa robe. Guests were also offered complimentary limo service to and from the event. How fabulous is that!

Thank you to Georgette for opening up her home for this special event, and a happy 25th anniversary to Borghese's Fango Active Mud - my favorite mud mask!

You can shop and learn more about Borghese's products at borghese.com.

- Kim Weling

Amangiri Luxury Resort & Spa

Amangiri resort


Amangiri landscape

If you are looking for a summer getaway, Amangiri Resort & Spa in Canyon Point, Utah is the perfect destination, with stellar service and amazing plateau views just outside of my room, I couldn't ask for anything more.

Amangiri, ‘peaceful mountain’, is located in the southwest region of the USA also known as the Four Corners, where the states of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona meet. Boasting one of the most dramatic landscapes in the USA with deep canyons and towering plateaus, the region has been home for centuries to the native Navajo and Hopi tribes yet is sparsely populated and presents the raw landscape for which the American Southwest has become famous.

Rarely do I cover any trips or events outside of New York City, but this trip was so memorable that I had to make an exception. There is a nearby airport in Page, AZ (about a half hour away), but Chris and I opted for the long, scenic route by flying into Las Vegas and driving the 4.5 - 5 hours to the resort. Be careful not to miss the Amangiri sign - it's easy to miss if you are not looking out for it. Once we got there and made our way past the gated entrance and winding road, we were greeted out front and escorted to the check-in area, while our bags immediately taken to our room. At the check in desk, we were both given an ice cold towel and glass of lemonade (which I greatly appreciated given how hot it was outside)!

As Louise took us on a tour of the resort, I was excited to experience everything the resort had to offer. My favorite area is the main Swimming Pool within the Pavillion, with a huge rock escarpment in the center of the pool. Also within the Pavillion is the Living Room, Gallery, Library, stocked with books and magazines, Dining Room, Private Dining Area and Wine Cellar. Next we were taken through the Desert Lounge, perfect for star-gazing and equipped with a telescope, Aman Spa, Yoga Pavillion and Fitness Centre.

Swimming Pool

Swimming Pool area features king-size daybeds and twin sun-loungers, hot tub and adjacent enclosed courtyard.

Living Room

Library

Open Kitchen

Spa Treatment Room

We were then taken to our suite, which is part of the Desert View suites. The entrance to our suite opens up to a private courtyard including a dining area. My favorite part of the suite is the desert lounge, with bi-folding concertina glass doors, resting mattresses and fireplace in the center. The views of surrounding dunes and plateaus are breathtaking during the day, followed by an amazing view of the stars at night. The night sky was so clear - you can see several shooting stars. The bathrooms were huge, with a spacious soaking tub, twin rain showers and a large vertical window with an amazing view. I was absolutely addicted to the Desert Sage shampoo, shower gel and bath salts, and with the conditioner, lotion and soap also available in full-size containers. When I found the gift shop later on, I found you can even purchase full size bottles of the Desert Sage, and even shampoo and conditioner pumps that are in the suite. There are so many decorative, interior pieces in the suite - what a great souvenir to take part of the resort with you and add to your own home.I was excited to hear that the entire mini bar was free, including Dagoba chocolate bars, kettle corn chips, gummy peaches, an assortment of nuts, water, organic juices and more. I couldn't help but bring my laptop with me, and was happy to hear that free Wi-Fi throughout the suites and public areas of the resort.

Our Desert View Suite was the least expensive of the 7 suites types available, at $1,000 per night. There are a total of 34 suites, including 13 Desert View Suites, 14 Mesa View Suites, one Terrace Suite, two Pool Suites, two Terrace Pool Suites, the Girijaala Suite, and the Amangiri Suite, the largest of the suites, upwards of $3,500 per night with extra features including a private swimming pool and terrace. I definitely felt that my stay at Amangiri was worth the $1,000 per night rate.

Mesa View Suite

Bathroom in Mesa View Suite

Louise had left us with a Friday and Saturday morning itinerary, which included an 8:00 am one-hour group yoga class and complimentary one-hour tour guide hike at 9:30 am. I decided to do the Friday morning yoga class followed by the hike.

The morning yoga class was calming, relaxing and meditative. The yoga studio had an amazing open view. Kate led the small 4-person class, and did a great job of starting our day right with natural and positive energy. Many thanks to her for telling me about the lemon zucchini cookies up by at Jacob Lake! The lemon zucchini and gingersnap cookies are amazing!

Yermo was our hiking tour guide and was very knowledgeable of the plateaus, rock formations and local history. He has worked as a consulting archeologist, where he has excavated, mapped and recorded sites and is also an accomplished jewelry maker. He really made our tour worthwhile, taking us on a two and a half hour tour rather than the scheduled one-hour tour. It was my first time really hiking, and Yermo made us feel very secure and safe during our hike, while educating us on the surroundings. The surrounding views were amazing as we continued to explore and hike up.

I'm really sad to say that we only hung out at the pool and hot tub on Friday afternoon since we were tired when we arrived Thursday evening, Saturday we spent the day off-site and Sunday morning we had checked out at 7am to get an early start to head out to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. I didn't even have enough time to try out any of the spa services. I would have liked to try out a one-hour massage, which was reasonably priced at a resort for $150. I think staying at the resort for one week would be ideal, as there are many things to do around the area. You can even request using the resort's BMW Z4 or 6 Series vehicles to do your own off-site exploring for the day.

Aside from hiking tours, you may also enjoy horseback riding, hot air balloon rides, private off-roading tours, private scenic aerial flights, fly fishing, boating and kayaking. On Saturday mid-morning we tried to go kayaking at Antelope Point Marina, but they didn't have any kayaks left by the time we got there and then it got really hot - so be sure to go early! So instead we ended up hiking around Wahweap at Lake Powell. If you valet your car I must point out how incredible the valet staff was - when we called for our car, we hopped in to find the air-conditioner on and cold water bottles in the front seat.

If you need to go to the store, there is a Safeway and Wal-Mart in Page, AZ, which is a half hour away from the resort, in which you also jump into Pacific Standard Time (Canyon Point is on Mountain Standard Time, two hours behind Eastern Standard Time). On Saturday night we had dinner in town, but for the first two nights we had dinner at the resort, which I thought was delicious. The first night I had the roasted chicken with polenta and vegetables ($32). It was just the right amount of food. I love sea salt, so I was happy that it was available along with pepper at each table. The next night I had the beef tenderloin ($42). In my opinion, I thought the dinner was reasonably priced. The chefs cook and prepare the food in an open-kitchen area. The first night we had dinner poolside, but upon request you can have dinner anywhere in the resort you would like. We could have even opted to have a candlelit dinner in the dining area of our suite, or in the desert lounge, which would have been nice and romantic.

Walking around the resort at night, I really felt like I was at the site of a James Bond film. The walkways were open and lighted by candles, with a wood-burning aroma nearby. The resort itself blends into the landscape, with natural hues, materials and textures as features of the design. Fire, water, and wood are also elements incorporated into the design. You can tell there was a lot of thought put into creating this resort. It was the most peaceful place I could have possibly been. It is a serene and quiet environment, with no worries of mosquitos or other annoying bugs or insects. I was surprised to see a few young kids around, but they seemed to keep themselves well entertained at the pool and in the library, which also had a supply of fun board games and chess. The minimal amount of suites creates a very tranquil, intimate environment with very few people around. I am very grateful and privileged to have experienced the complete opposite of my everyday stress, running around, pushing and shoving and crowded mobs in the city. You willingly find yourself losing track of what time or day it is. I feel as if I have only touched upon my experience at Amangiri. The resort had only opened in October 2009, and has an extremely worldly, friendly staff from all different countries. It was a very personalized stay, and it felt like the staff knew exactly who you were. I can't say I've ever experienced a trip quite like this, and I don't think I would have ever went exploring in this part of the United States had it not been for this trip. A big thank you to Amangiri for all the hospitality and thought in creating a very special place, and to Chris for taking me there.Click here to learn more about Amangiri. To learn about Ama Resorts worldwide, go to amanresorts.com.

- Kim Weling

The pictures shown throught this post are from the Amangiri website. Here are some pictures that Chris and I took during our trip:

Rock escarpement in the center of the pool

Landscape view from the Pavillion lounge area

Desert Lounge in the Desert View Suite

Landscape view from the Desert View Suite

On the wall of the Desert View Suite are useful accessories that guests can use - purse with flashlight, umbrella, hat, walking stick and tote.

Images from complimentary hiking tour

Broken Arrow movie set

Inside cave tour

View of Amangiri Resort

Wahweap

Grand Canyon - North Rim

Summer Travel Essentials

I didn't get in as much writing as I would have liked in June, but for good reason - I took time off for a much needed vacation to the Amangiri Resort & Spa in Utah, also hitting Las Vegas and The Grand Canyon along the way.

I just wanted to share some of my favorite travel essentials that I was sure to pack:

Dermalogica UltraCalming™ Treatment Kit - I don't usually have sensitive skin, but I found my skin getting irritated by the change in weather and dry environment I found myself in. This travel-size kit helped combat any redness and irritations on my face. The kit includes the UltraCalming™ Cleanser, UltraCalming™ Mist, UltraCalming™ Serum Concentrate, UltraCalming™ Barrier Repair and UltraCalming™ Relief Masque. Retail: $40.

Dermalogica Daylight Daily Defense Kit has everything I need for sun protection. The kit includes:

Solar Defense Booster SPF 30 - can be mixed with your moisturizer or foundation or worn alone.

Multivitamin BodyBlock SPF 20, a body moisturizing sunscreen that protects from damaging UVA and UVB rays.

Solar Shield SPF 15 - Very water resistant (up to 80 minutes) and in the form of a stick, acts as a sunscreen and moisture shield for the lips, ears and nose.

After Sun Repair - a treatment balm that helps repair recent UV damage while instantly soothing overexposed skin. A blend of homeopathic herbs reduces irritations, redness and painful sunburn. I'm thinking I should keep this refrigerated when possible, for a more cooling effect. Retail price for the kit is $35.

Origins Modern Friction™ - this is a great exfoliator to use 2-3 times a week, leaving skin polished, smooth and luminous. I also love the aromas of Bergamot and Peppermint. Retail: $37.50.

Borghese Tinted Lip Plumper in Flamingo Gold - I always carry this lip plumper with me. It's non-sticky, has a refreshing tingling sensation and keeps my lips hydrated, smooth and full. It's the everyday lip plumper and gloss! Retail: $31.50.

Topricin Foot Therapy Cream - For the most part I was either wearing hiking sneakers or flip flops during my trip, but I did bring a pair of heels with me to wear to dinner or a night out in Vegas. I was told it is a good idea to apply the foot cream before and after putting on my heels and it worked its magic! I noticed I didn't get any foot cramps when I applied the cream. One night I forgot to apply it beforehand, and after I got foot cramps it immediately went away once I applied it. I was so glad I brought some travel size samples with me! Retail: $19.99.

WooLoot Wave Sport Watch - I highly recommend this watch for outdoor activities and sports. The soft feel natural rubber watch has an LCD screen and is water resistant 3 atm and ultralight at 10g. It comes in multiple colors (I have a green one) in various sizes (I have an XS, which is suitable for teens and petite women) and stretches to go over the hand. It was perfect to wear while hiking! Retail: $19.99.

Youth Tagori™ in Grill/Chili color - I had to buy a pair of hiking shoes, and it wasn't easy for shopping for a size 5. I was at Sports Authority and decided to go with a children's shoe size 3 (which is equivalent to a women's size 5). I absolutely loved the Columbia Sportswear pair I found. I like the lace-and-lock system for a secure fit and the nonmarking Omni-Grip® outsoles deliver a solid foundation for the foot. I love the design as well as the trail-specific tread. It was so easy to hike and hold my balance with these shoes on - the grip is amazing! Retail: $40.

- Kim Weling