REDKEN’S UPDO-FRIENDLY HAIR POWDER

If there were one word to describe the hair at Jean Paul Gaultier’s spring 2012 show, it would be gravity-defying; Redken’s creative consultant Guido Palau created ‘50s-style sculpted rolls that circled models’ heads like crowns, adding a bit of height and some edge. It’s the type of coif that works on the runway, but risks falling flat—literally—when you try recreating it at home.
Since cloning Palau isn’t an option, Redken did the next best thing: They created Powder Grip 03, which gives tresses enough texture and fullness to handle dramatic updos. The product, which launches this month, is like a grittier version of hair powder, with just a little bit making a difference. “To me, Powder Grip 03 mattifying hair powder is genius—it creates maximum hold and volume, yet is so lightweight it feels like there’s nothing in your hair,” explains Redken’s Brand Ambassador (and owner of Cutler/Redken salons) Rodney Cutler. “The result is this larger-than-life texture that I could normally only create for my clients by layering in both a volumizing product and a hairspray. It’s the perfect solution whether you’re trying to achieve beachy texture and separation or build the base for a long-lasting updo, yet is easy to apply at home or on-the-go.”
To get overall matte texture (ideal if you’re not headed somewhere tropical for the holidays but want to look like you spent all week in the ocean), rub a small amount of powder into your hands before working it through your hair, with an added focus on the ends. For something a bit more dramatic—like the Gaultier greaser rolls or the French twist at Louis Vuitton (another Palau creation)—shake the product directly on your roots before styling. And if you’d just like to milk your blow-out for a few extra days, Powder Grip 03 can help with that, too: The matte finish makes it easy to go an extra day or two without washing.

News: Alessandra Ambrosio Is Pregnant

Alessandra Ambrosio is four months pregnant!  Which means she was already with child on the catwalk of November’s Victoria’s Secret Show, taking Miranda Kerr’s trimestrial turn at Balenciaga just one step further.  {The Cut}
These Oscar de la Renta earmuffs work double-time as headphones. {The Moment}
For those of you who crush on Marc Jacobs (the man, not the clothes) here’s a slideshow of swimsuit shots taken while the designer was vacationing in St. Bart’s with Rachel Zoe last week. {Fashionista}
If you’ve been dreaming of an Into The Gloss close-up without much understanding of how to get one, take inspiration from this French fashion student.  The innocent (though stylish) bystander drew attention for her fur coat outside of a popular downtown restaurant.  Easy as that!  {Into The Gloss}
Somehow it comes as little surprise to hear that this year’s most pirated films are also among some of the worst. {Gawker}
Ferragamo will exhibit 14 pairs of  Marilyn Monroe’s shoes in their Florence museum.  {WWD (Subscription Required)}

The eyes may be windows to the soul, but that’s all null and void if they’re sitting sadly under short lashes. There’s a reason why women slather on mascara, glue on falsies, and pay oodles of cash for extensions: long eyelashes are stunning.
LA’s Dionne Phillips kick-started the natural-looking extension trend when she applied custom lashes one-by-one on a very pleased Paris Hilton (Victoria Beckham, Katherine Heigl, Renee Zellweger, and Regina King followed). Now, the expert has launched a new D’Lashes “Lash It” Kit, which—in a handy cosmetic case—includes instructions and tools for attaching either “soft delicate” or “thick Sexy” options with special illuminated tweezers, a mirrored case, and hypoallergenic adhesive.
“This is the only kit like this out there,” explains Phillips, who worked tirelessly perfecting it. “The tweezers you won’t find anywhere else and it comes with two lash styles so you can go for a more natural look or pump it up.”  The best of both worlds!

Prada’s Girly Greased Lightning

Prada‘s just released their candy colored spring campaign. It’s less sweet than Louis Vuitton‘s sugary shots; Miuccia carried over the retro, Grease-like feel that dominated her spring collection, dropping her models into a thoroughly American gas station.  Six faces landed the huge campaign: Kati Nescher, Meghan Collison, Natasha Poly, Elise Crombez, Ymre Stiekema and Katryn Kruger all posed for Steven Meisel’s camera. A release said, “The gas station is cast as a central symbol in this post-modern crossroads of new horizons and economic fulfillment, a stage set where fashion, fantasy and the promise of new discoveries collide.”  Now we need a painted hot-rod to go with our flaming sandals…

Babies Are On A High Fashion Roll

Babies are living life in the fast lane thanks to an onslaught of miniature collections released this month.  And it’s about to get a whole lot better: WWD has reported that Fendi just signed a deal with chic Italian children’s manufacturer Inglesina. The partnership will include a line of strollers, prams, and baby carriers, all bearing the Italian brand’s “F” logo.
Rather than going with the traditional pink and blue colorways, Fendi’s baby products will come in the far more sophisticated shades of cream, mahogany, and blue.
The carriers are yet another score for the under-10 set, following Lanvin’s childrens’ launch that includes over 20 spring ’12 pieces for pint-sized girly girls.
In addition, just last week it was announced that Oscar de la Renta is about to design pieces for (highly discerning) stylish munchkins. And let’s not forget the Stella McCartney for Gap Kids collection, which had fans like Carla Bruni squeezing into the British designer’s pint-size military jackets and printed dresses.  Kids these days, they’re just on a roll.

Be Naughty! The Best Coal-Based Skincare

Perhaps this year you were more naughty than nice.  Well fret not!  And though you may be anticipating a stocking full of coal, it turns out that the dark, ashy rock is great for your complexion.  Not only does it reduce inflammation and normalize skin cell turnover, it also absorbs excess oils and acts as a natural exfoliator.
According to Dr. Joshua Zeichner, Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research at the Mt. Sinai Medical Center, coal is a type of resin that’s been used as a dermatological treatment for over 2,000 years.
So in the spirit of the Grinch, we’ve rounded up a list of coal-laden products for you to try out this season. -Anna De Souza
Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask draws out pore clogging impurities. {Sephora}
Boscia’s Revitalizing Black Hydration Gel absorbs excess oil with the help of charcoal – so it’s a great makeup base for those with oilier skin {Boscia}
Sumbody’s old school Coal Train Acne Cleanser powers away blemishes. It also purifying pores, soothing irritation and eliminating bacteria. {Cosmetic Mall}
Lush grinds up sustainable charcoal that’s imported from the UK for their Coalface Cleanser which helps absorb excess sebum and offers gentle exfoliation. {Lush}
Dab Dr. Ci:Labo’s Basic Black Charcoal Gel onto your T-zone twice daily to control sebum production. Created by renowned Japanese dermatologist, Dr. Shirono, this paraben and mineral oil-free gel minimizes the appearance of blemishes {Beauty.com}

Good Touch: 4 Touchscreen-Happy Gloves

It’s a vicious cycle for urbanites: Once we slip off mittens to use our iPhones, our fingers get too numb from cold to type properly. Thus, gloves are no longer perfunctory stocking stuffers.  Instead, the new touchscreen versions are so must-have that lines like Muji have sold out until next year. Luckily, the below are still around:
Echo They were the first company to print labels on a scarf in 1923, but their new Touch Gloves, which come in everything from a basic wool/nylon blend to leather and cashmere versions in rainbow colors with metallic pointer and thumb tips, are the wave of the future.
From $32
Agloves
Super conductive silver-nylon is woven throughout sparkly Agloves (in original, sport and new bamboo), so they’re responsive with touchscreen technology and also don’t leave smudges.
$23.00
Etre
The pointer finger and thumb are free for texting (and in the open air) with UK brand Etre’s lopped off woolen or cashmere Touchy options or, for typing with gloves on, choose the FIVEPOINT version with “Pearl” tips.
From about $55
Burton
For the slopes, skiers may covet Burton’s Touchscreen Liners in black (skip an iffy floral print!) for under bulkier gloves with fingerprint illustrations on thumb and pointer.
From $17.95

Sneak Peek: Kate Somerville’s Facial in a Bottle

They say it’s all in the delivery—that’s definitely the case for Kate Somerville’s new patent-pending DermalQuench Liquid Lift Advanced Wrinkle Treatment, launching this March. The celeb aesthetician gave ELLE.com a preview of this unique plumping product, designed to mimic the results of her LA Skin Clinic’s Dermal Quench facial. Here’s what we found:
First, this isn’t shaped like any product we’ve ever seen; it looks almost like a machine.  You’re meant to shake the bottle and from a half-inch or so away, spray this cool, fizzing serum-like product in lines across your cheeks and forehead from a long protruding spout. (If you’ve ever had an oxygen facial, the chilly burst-of-air sensation may feel familiar.)
We used it in the morning and night for a week and saw a noticeable plumping out of lines around the eyes, as well as increased glow.
Apparently, with this newfangled delivery system, the special Hydrafill combination of oxygen, antioxidants, hyaluronic acid (for hydration) and something called perfluorocarbons, or PFCs (that act like temporary fillers) seep deeper into the skin.
It may be the holiday eggnog speaking, but we’re still thanking Kate.

Can You Blame Your Partner For Your Drinking?

You already know that the key to surviving things like office holiday parties and meeting the parents is a strict, two drink limit.   Among other things, it guarantees a sense of control as well as a lack of regret come morning. But when your significant other’s downing one drink after another, it turns out you’re more likely to follow suit.  According to a new study conducted by researchers at Dalhousie University, your romantic partner can have a powerful influence on how much you binge drink.
The researchers studied 208 non-married, heterosexual couples in their early 20’s. Each couple had to be dating for at least 3 months, have face-to-face contact at least 5 days a week, and one had to be a college student. On average, couples were dating for close to 2 years.  Over a 28-day period, the researchers were able to predict one partner’s binge drinking based on the other person’s excessive drinking.
Surprise! They figured out that binge drinking in college students occurs in both men and women—but neither is more or less responsible than the other.  “Studies with married couples show that men have more of an influence on women, but in our study, we found both young women and young men influence their partner’s binge drinking,” researcher Aislin Mushquash said in a statement.
It sounds like a clear case of a “but everyone’s doing it” kind of mentality, but there’s also a sense of comfort when partnered with someone you know so well.  “In some respect this is a cautionary piece of research: pick your friends and lovers carefully because they influence you more than you think,” says Dr. Simon Sherry, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology.  In other words, birds of a feather need not flock together—careful who you take to your holiday parties this week!

What to Buy A Fashion Freak: Lanvin Doll

When we check Net-a-porter first thing every Monday, Wednedsay and Friday morning, we expect to find brilliant treasures like this neon Christopher Kane dress or a Proenza Schouler beach towel.  But sometimes there’s an extra special find, like today’s Miss Lanvin doll.
The porcelain figurine is selling for $585, just a fraction of the cost of this Lanvin pajama set, but enough to score you this cute polka dot clutch.  The porcelain is adorned with faux pearls and crystals, and Miss Lanvin’s accompanied by a pink flamingo on an emerald encrusted chain.  There are only 800 of the dolls, and each comes in a blue box with a certificate of authenticity (is there a growing market of fake designer dolls?).
So if you have one crazy diehard fashionista left on your holiday shopping list, you’re welcome.

Dolce & Gabbana Will Not Be Courting the Masses

It’s been an interesting year for Dolce & Gabbana. The brand’s produced one successful collection after another—including one of the most photographed—but its designers, Domenico and Stefano, were sued for tax evasion. They shuttered their D&G collection, not because it wasn’t profitable but so that they could focus on their mainline, while most designers are scrambling to add contemporary lines to their portfolios.  They talked to WWD about their 2011; we’ve highlighted the most interesting points below—and don’t hold your breath for a high street collaboration.
On closing D&G: “To have a stronger brand, it must be one and the focus must be on that alone. Yes, some may think it’s a brave decision, but it came naturally to us, and we had been thinking about it for the past three years.”
On the possibility of couture: “No, not really. We just launched a jewelry line, and there are other products in the pipeline: a project we will present by March or April, and many with [beauty licensee] Procter & Gamble for example, and much more…but I can’t say anything now.”
On youth: “We have young assistants in their 20s, we toss them in the midst and they help show a different point of view. It’s the ingenuity or “ignorance” of youth that should be heeded in every field because it helps you see things in a different light. We always ask young people for their opinion. It’s very important.”
On elegance: “Recently, it’s all “trusciume” [in Sicilian, cheap, trashy] — there’s no quality, these fast-fashion companies churning out looks. People thought it was cool, but it’s cheap. You can’t expect quality at 20 euros [$27]. It’s like good codfish at 5 euros [$6.70] — how can it be? But it’s not a matter of price. Elegance is intellectual; it’s about good taste, the cut, proportions, quality, how you carry yourself.”

RICKY’S GIVES IT TO YOU STRAIGHT

Between the gift buying, present wrapping, eggnog partying, and flight-home wrangling, the last thing anyone wants to deal with this month is getting their hair shiny and straight. So consider Revolver Salon at Ricky’s NYC’s latest promotion an early holiday present: This month, all blowouts are just $25.  While Ricky’s is technically celebrating the opening of two new Revolver Salons—one is in the East Village, the other is on the Upper West Side—you probably don’t need a reason to indulge in this deal. Blowouts normally go for $35 to $45 at the beauty supply store-cum-salon, depending on the head. The salon now has 11 locations, including one in Miami and another in New Jersey (the rest are scattered throughout three of the five New York boroughs), so it shouldn’t be too hard to squeeze in an appointment before heading out to your office holiday party or kicking off New Year’s Eve festivities. Plus, it makes multitasking easy; pick up stocking stuffers and TSA-approved mini bottles of your favorite products on your way out.
Just choose your moment wisely: There’s a limit of one specially priced blowout per customer, and there’s no return option—once 2012 rolls around, the deal’s done.

' Hunger Games’ Gets Its Own Parody Site

The fashion blogosphere has stumbled upon The Hunger Games‘ parody site, The Hunger, but Mainly Death, Games, now that they’ve whipped up a batch of hilarious nail polishes to go along with their other jokes. The site’s gone all out, mocking the apocalyptic young adult series with fake trailers, book covers and even full chapters of alternative novels.  “I mean, this thing is a death tournament, I have no idea why they call it the Hunger Games,” says a voice over on the video clip, “Ok, act scared!” while an opening chapter reads: “My quilt is missing. I lie there in the dark, rubbing my eyes, trying to think of where it could have gone.  I hope it didn’t disintegrate, I think. After all, it’s only some pieces of wet newspaper. I reach out through the gloom, and find my answer: Pigrose, the disgusting little street urchin, has stolen it from me. Pigroseis also my beautiful little sister. As I lie here, shivering in the cold, I am left with one thought: Could life get any worse? Actually, it could. Because all of a sudden, I remember that today isno ordinary day. Today could end my very existence altogether.”
But it’s the nail polish line that will probably garner the most laughs—even if you plan on buying the actual Hunger Games polishes.  Nervous Tribute Yellow is inspired by Reaping Day while the disturbing Greasy Sae Surprise looks like brains.  Haymitch Silver is just a flask and Katniss’ Magenta is struck by an arrow, but Reminder Purple is our favorite.  The bottle says, “Reminder, this is a death tournament, not a fashion show.”

Elizabeth Taylor Auction Sets World Record

Last night, Christie’s held part one of their Elizabeth Taylor auction, selling off her extensive jewelry collection in New York City.  In total, the jewels sold for $116 million, more than twice that of any other private jewelry collection.
Taylor wrote in her book, My Love Affair With Jewelry, “I never, never thought of my jewelery as trophies. I’m here to take care of them and to love them. When I die and they go off to auction I hope whoever buys them gives them a really good home.”  If nothing else, their homes will be lavish.  The first item up for sale was a gold charm bracelet that sold for more than 13 times its estimated worth, a trend that continued as Cartier necklaces went for 20 times their worth and Bulgari bracelets eighteen.  As Constance Francesca Gabor Hilton, Zsa Zsa Gabor’s daughter, told The Telegraph, “If you’ve got money, why not?”
The 33.29 carat diamond ring that Richard Burton gave Taylor in 1968—and that she wore almost daily—fetched $8.8 million, but it was La Peregrina, a 50.6 carat drop-shaped pearl hailing from a line of Spanish kings that Burton bought for $37,000 in 1969 that earned the highest bid: $11.8 million.  The auctions will continue today with more jewels and Taylor’s collection of haute couture.

Versace’s Fruity Cruise Collection for H&M

That second Versace collection, the colorful cruise one that’s only launching in the select countries in which H&M has ecommerce, is finally here.
It’s full of the bright berry print seen on Abbey Lee Kershaw at left, as well as pastel dresses and stretchy tops with gold buttons (very 90s supermodel).  The men’s shirts feature the classic Versace print, and there’s jewelry, too.