Uncategorized | Solessence

Home » Uncategorized

Posted by hillary on Sep 7, 2009 in Uncategorized | 4 comments

Clinton Kelly: From Fashion Editor to Fashion Police

I’m all about the experience. ~ Clinton Kelly

From Fashion Editor to Fashion Police, stylist Clinton Kelly has seen it all – and his eyes are burning! He sits down to discuss the current state of fashion, his Make Over America tour and the search for Worst Dressed American. Is it you?
clinton_cover

Where does fashion currently rule & why: New York or LA?
Having just returned from a week in LA, I can tell you with absolute certainty that NY rules, fashionwise. The vast majority of American designers use NYC as their home base, and fashionable New Yorkers tend to take more chances than their LA counterparts. That’s not to say that there’s a style deficiency in LA; it’s just that I found most people in the Hollywood scene to be lacking a little in creativity. Still a lot of bleached blondes with fake boobs and hair extensions. And if I saw another guy in an Ed Hardy T-shirt, I thought I would puke. Downtown LA seems to be where it’s at as far as fashion goes.

You are about 1/2 way through to your Make Over America tour with Macys. How are things going?

You have no idea how much I’m loving this tour across America, which resumes shortly. In each city I make over 15 women — all different ages and shapes and sizes — and use them as models in a fashion show. There is nothing quite like watching a woman who came to me looking like a frump-a-dump on Friday strut her gorgeous stuff in front of a thousand cheering people on Saturday. And it looks like we’ll be extending the tour through 2010. We’re working on a list of cities for that now. In the meantime, you can go to macys.com/makeoveramerica to stay informed.

You’ve been a very positive spokesperson for Macys. How did that relationship come about?
Back when I was a magazine editor, I had made many contacts in the PR world. One day about four years ago, one of those contacts called me about hosting some style seminars for Macy’s in what are called “special sizes” in the industry, meaning pluses and petites. I jumped at the chance because I believe very strongly that every woman can look and feel beautiful with the right amount of information and a little inspiration. The Macy’s customer has obviously responded to this because I’m going on my fifth year of working with the company. I love it so much, I hope it never ends.

How did you get into this field, and on television? Was it an end goal?
Six years ago (or so) TLC was re-casting the male lead of WNTW and a casting agent named Barbara Barna contacted me. I think she had contacted every man working in the fashion industry. I was working as the executive editor of a very highly regarded men’s fashion trade magazine called DNR at the time. It has since been folded into Women’s Wear Daily. I decided to go on the audition because I figured I had nothing to lose by doing so. When it was over I thought, “Wow, I just bombed that.” But I really didn’t care because I already had a good job. The next day, they called me back for a second audition, where I met Stacy and we had chemistry from the first instant. A week later, I had quit my job and was signed on to do 45 episodes. Crazy! Was doing TV an end goal? Good question. Not really. I’m all about the experience. I wanted to try something new, so I did. Every job I ever accepted, I did so because I thought it would either be fun or I would learn a new skill. With WNTW, both have been true.

The wildly popular What Not to Wear is coming up on 250th episode. Let’s talk about the “Worst Dressed American” you are hunting down.
Well, it’s not so much that I’m hunting her down. It’s the producers really. I can’t even imagine someone who dresses worse than the people we’ve already had on the show. I feel like I’ve re-styled the worst dressed American about a hundred times already. But if you know someone, you can go to TLC.com and nominate them or yourself. It’s such an honor that the American public — and people from other countries for that matter — have embraced WNTW so wholeheartedly. It’s fun to be me! When I walk down the street, people tell me they love me or love my work. It’s hilarious. Sure, they also ask me what I think of their outfits, and believe me, if you ask, you’re gonna get the truth!

Do you ever get tired of the hot mess, or does it only motivate your mission?
I do get a little tired of the frumpy mom look, only because there are polished alternatives that are just as easy. Instead of sweatshirts and hoodies, wear a cotton jacket. Instead of faded, tapered jeans, get a dark wash trouser jean. Instead of T-shirts, wear a blouse. And instead of sneakers, wear a sandal, ballet flat or boot. This is not rocket science. I feel sometimes like I’ll be giving this advice until I’m 103.

~ Hillary Fry / solessence

Posted by hillary on Sep 6, 2009 in Uncategorized | 5 comments

Natori: Eau De Parfum Spray – New

natori_perfume

This is the second release of self named scent by famed lingerie designer Josie Natori, and is found at Saks Fifth Avenue and at the Natori website. Interestingly, the first version seemed a bit of a departure from the line, and was sold through Avon. If you previously purchased Avon Natori, it is the same designer, but not the same fragrance.

“A floral oriental chypre, this fragrance opens with an effervescent bouquet of fresh rose petals enriched by deep, dark plum notes. The heart is an exotic and alluring hybrid of Ylang Ylang, Purple Peony and Night Blooming Jasmine. Slipping languidly over pulse points, Black Patchouli, Amber and a hint of Satin Musk complete this mysterious and tantalizing fragrance.”

In layman’s terms I’ll say this: This is definitely a 90’s type of perfume lite. For me, at first it is a bit powdery, then as it warms, begins to develop a bit of a candy sweetness. If you liked Dior’s original Poison, this is in the same camp, only lighter. Poison is one of the biggest selling perfumes of all time (myself as a customer included), so that’s big fan base potential.

In addition, the kicker to making it a “must have” is the packaging. Face it beauty lovers, half of the joy is the product, and the rest is what encases it. Natori knocks it out of the park with a super stunning, deep purple bottle said to resemble the opening petals of the lotus flower. It fans out at the top, yet is narrow and smooth and comforting. It is pleasing to hold, like a worry stone. Toward the bottom, the bottle indents with little glass windows. I don’t know what other purpose it provides, but it adds an interesting visual touch, and insight into how soon you will need to replace your bottle. Work. Of. Art.

The silk body creme jar also comes in very pleasing packaging, and I find perfumes often translate very well into cremes. This is worth picking up for the collector.

Posted by hillary on Sep 5, 2009 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Make Up For Ever (MUFE) HD Elixir

There are two schools of thought on glycerin for the face:

1) This powerhouse humectant is so beneficial for dry skin because it attracts moisture, keeping skin soft (think about your best glycerin based soaps and how great your hands feel after).

2)Because it is such a powerhouse at attracting moisture, there are concerns glycerin pulls moisture from deep within the skin, eventually “drying out” from the inside, encouraging the aging process.

Make Up For Ever (MUFE) doesn’t fear the latter. Their High Definition Elixir is primarily based on glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate, which boosts moisture levels and evens out the skin surface temporarily. It is often found in anti-aging products.

MUFE is genius in packaging this combination as a prep for makeup, because it does exactly what every makeup artist needs – prepares the surface of the skin to become as smooth and even as possible for application. Glycerin gives glide and hyaluronate plumps the surface. MUFE claims a hydration boost of +520% after 15 minutes that lasts throughout the day (+175% after 6 hours).

If you have ever felt pure glycerin, this Elixir has the same silky feel. There is a bit of residual product on the fingers after application, but if you allow it to sink in on the face, it is muss free. Application is via built-in pump on the bottle top. Very nice.

I’m of the school that glycerin is probably not sucking us dry, and I layer this product with my SPF & moisturizer. Only on the hottest days is this too much. This is also a product where you will see improvement in your skin texture over time as you continue to use it. For people who dread to moisturize, you may prefer this lightweight step.

MUFE High Definition Elixir is a must have for your kit to help keep your complexion at its finest.

Posted by hillary on Sep 3, 2009 in Uncategorized | 1 comment

Girl Crush Quickie: Karen Robinovitz of Purple Lab NYC

Karen - Versace Mansion

Getting the skinny from Huge Lips Skinny Hips creatrix Karen Robinovitz in four questions

Cosmetic empire building. Group Pole Dancing. Where do you get all of your energy?

OMG! I would have to say my mom – it’s in the genes. She is the only woman I know – in her early-early 60s – who is the last person to leave a dance floor, is able to work all night and function on 4 hours of sleep, run all day – everyday – and still have energy to go out for dinner at 10p.m. Her brain never stops churning!

Sex sells, and that plus a healthy dose of fun, is everything your brand is about. How does that translate to your new cosmetic line coming out? When will all of this be available?

Everything will be about sexy, glamour, fun and double duty beauty – sophisticated formulas with a twist of humor.

By November, we will have a lip color called Luvah (The ultimate dating tool) but details are still top secret. There is a fabulous mascara and foundation, concealer, highlighter. I am bursting at the seams to tell you the ingredients and stories behind them – and their names – but I can’t yet!

There are two new colors of Huge Lips Skinny Hips in September – Limo to Lobby (the clothes and shoes that are not meant for anything other than going from the limo to the lobby) and Goji Berry Smoothie (it comes with my favorite recipe).

We will have a new BCA product for October called SWAC that is a really beautiful pink gloss, formulated with Echinaccea, mangosteens which are full of antioxidants, Vitamins E and C, and vanilla which is an anti-depressant. 20% of our proceeds go back to The Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation. The color is named after a woman named Nancy who lost her battle to this horrible disease. It comes with her story which is incredibly moving.

Tell me about the fab theme music

I really can’t take credit. The brilliant team who worked on my site found it and licensed it. And it was just the most perfect fit ever.

You are in talks with MEGASUPERHOTTOPSECRET production company. Spill!

(We can’t say names right now!) We are in talks with production companies about a docu-soap. So we’ll see what happens. If it’s meant to be – it will be. It’s exciting though, to even be at the table. As they say, “it’s an honor to be nominated!”

When can we see the new colors out for fall?

September, but I can give you a sneak piece if you’d like to show some smears! Mwah!

Thanks Karen! I love this woman and I love this non-stick lipgloss. Try the current beautiful sheers at Amazon or Bliss and keep your eye out for the release of these gorgeous new colors.

Goji Berry Smoothie

Limo to Lobby

~ Hillary Fry / solessence

Posted by hillary on Sep 1, 2009 in Uncategorized | 1 comment

Mint Buffing Beads by Renee Rouleau

Verdict: Leaves skin feeling Minty Fresh!

Renee Rouleau was voted Best Spa by Allure Magazine Readers, 2008. Products are sold exclusively at Renee Rouleau Spas and website

Summer is coming to a close. That means time to start hoarding up on products to keep the skin bright throughout winter! Renee Rouleau’s ‘face polisher’ is a perfect pick for the job.

Free of artificial fragrance or dyes, perfectly round spheres are suspended in a creamy base that includes Vitamin K and Peppermint oil. When smoothed onto the skin, the result is an awakening to the senses, both through olfactory and topical stimulation. Capillary repair is said to be an additional benefit of the Vitamin K.

Effective without harsh stinging, this is certainly a skin treat that can be enjoyed year round. That just may be the case in my house, where I can’t seem to stop smelling, and using, this product.

Posted by hillary on Aug 31, 2009 in Uncategorized | 6 comments

Love Yourself Into Good Health & Great Shape – Poko Pano Swimwear, Spring 2010

pokopanoprint

Sexy Brazilian swimwear line Poko Pano shares their Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Miami collection here on Solessence.

Looking at the stunning array of 15 styles, I asked Amy Snyder Hackbart if she would provide a few tips for getting swimsuit sexy. Amy came back with something even better – a “Love Yourself” guide, a reminder that being fit by being healthy is the sexiest look of all.
Styles, L to R – Isabelle, Murango, Parker

Love Yourself Enough to Embrace Your Assets

No one loves everything about their body. It’s true. Whether young, old, famous, infamous, thin, not-so-thin – EVERY woman has something about themselves they don’t like. Accept that this is okay and that you are not alone in your dissatisfaction about whatever body part it is, and you’ll feel better about yourself – truly you will.

Find one part of yourself you are satisfied with. Once you’ve made peace with your imperfections, it is kind of nice to also find at least one thing about yourself you like. It could be your toes, or your hair, or your waist or your shoulders, but find something and then focus on it. Lavish praise upon this part you like– and maybe slowly you can become friends with the other parts that aren’t your favorites.

Enhance the parts you like. Learn to dress to enhance the part or parts you like best. This is true at work, play, at the beach or in the snow. There are SO many designs and styles of apparel available, there is certain to be a dress, shirt, skirt or swim suit style that helps you enhance the parts you like so you feel better about yourself as you are today. Once you gain the confidence that comes from showing off what you like about yourself, deciding to take care of the rest of you seems only natural.

Styles, L to R – Jayne, Hope, Sophia

Love Yourself Enough to Eat Right

Give up Fast Food. Period. There is no such thing as healthy fast food. It is as empty a calorie as cookies and chips only with tons of fats, preservatives and fillers. You deserve better, so eat that way!! Shower yourself with fresh fruits, nuts, lean meats, fish, veggies, cheese (yes cheese!) and you won’t miss that nutritionally deficient fast food filler.

Clean out your cupboards. Like cleaning out your closet of clothes you no longer wear, cleaning out your cupboard of chips, cookies, cakes, pies, pretzels etc. will help you stay on track. Instead replace these nutritionally empty snack foods with better choices. Since no one is perfect, if you do get the urge to splurge, try to limit your intake of these types of foods to ‘special occasion’ single serving sizes – and try to eat just one.

c. Drink water or tea instead of juice, soda or alcohol. By keeping your body well-hydrated, you are allowing it to operate with maximum efficiency allowing you to burn more calories and digest foods more efficiently. Hydration is crucial, but what you use to keep hydrated is just as important – fruit juices, alcohol and even soda are full of sugars that your body metabolizes as FAT. Diet soda is just as bad – it is all chemicals that still cause your body to read the artificial sweeteners as sugar that create FAT. Get bored of water and tea? Buy naturally flavored sparkling water, or buy plain and flavor it yourself with lemons, limes, berries, apples and other fruits.
Styles, L to R – Calient, Serena, Shine
- Eat more foods that are plant-based. Fruits, vegetables and nuts, should be a big part of your daily menu. They taste best when they are freshest (even frozen is okay, just not canned – too many preservatives and sugary syrups). They make you full faster and help your skin, hair and nails look better.
- Had enough on food changes? Not sure you can make them all? That’s okay, just do your best each day, keep track of what you eat and make sure each of your three meals (skipping meals equals a slow metabolism) include fresh fruits, vegetables and lean protein and no fast food or snack foods!
Love Yourself Enough to Exercise
- Exercise 30 minutes a day 3 times a week. Even 30 minutes a day, 3 times a week can make a big difference in how you look and feel. Maintaining a healthy pace as you walk, jog or ride your bike will get your heart rate up and blood flowing.
- Add some weight. No, not put on weight, but ADD weights to your workout routine. Muscle burns more calories than fat, so ideally you want to build as much muscle as possible to turn your body into a top notch calorie burner. Small hand weights of 3-5 pounds used regularly whether for bicep curls, lunges or squats make you work harder and help you build muscle as you burn calories. It’s a proven, powerful combination that really helps get you results.
- Park as far away as possible. This is the easiest way to get exercise I know. Parking far from the entrance of where you work or shop gives you the opportunity to squeeze in some extra exercise! It helps you get the extra steps that add up to the 30 minutes of exercise you need 3 times a week. Walk at a brisk pace, and you’ll be boosting your metabolism as you burn more calories. Plus, there are always parking spots!
Styles, L to R – Cabana, Mirage, Madiera
- Take the stairs wherever and whenever possible. This is the second easiest way to get exercise! Waiting in line for the escalator or elevator isn’t nearly as fun as trying to beat everyone up or down using the stairs. The added bonus is it is a great lower body (hips/thighs/butt) work out.
- At work, or when studying, get up and walk around. Lots of us have jobs that require us to sit behind a desk for 8+ hours a day. By taking little breaks and walking around for a few minutes (like to the bathroom because you’ve been drinking water throughout the day) helps you feel more awake and feel better.
Styles, L to R – Aztec, Twiggy, Chile
- Hate the idea of a ‘work out’? Get bored at the thought of the gym or weights? The key to exercise is to move your body for at least 30 minutes. Dance, swim, bike, hike, skateboard, roller skate, volleyball, tennis – the list of options is endless. Try them all till you find one or two you like and, as Nike says, ‘just do it!’ You’ll look and feel better in no time!