Bobbi Brown @ Sephora

World famous make up artist Bobbi Brown now has a line at Sephora! Someone known for her beauty tricks and flattering collection, Brown is now offering her wonderful products at one of our favorite stores.

Starting out as a makeup artist, Bobbi Brown couldn't find shades that looked natural on a wide range of complexions. So in 1991, she teamed up with a chemist and ushered in a new era of natural-looking makeup with her debut collection of 10 universally flattering lipsticks. Now having expanded into a full range of cosmetics, skincare, and professional tools, Bobbi continues to change the face of makeup with a simple philosophy: "Women want to look and feel like themselves, only prettier and more confident."

She has everything to offer from primers, to tools, to lip color, and even her scent "Bobbi Brown Beach Fragrance" is available. With products ranging from $10-$100, there's something for everyone.  And with Sephora's great discounts and free samples with their  online orders, you can't really go wrong with ordering some of Brown's new line and allowing yourself to get an understanding of her acclaim.


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Who Is Michelle Brent?

For all you music lovers out there, here's word on the new rising star: Michelle Brent.  Not to be confused with the similarly sounding Michelle Branch, Brent is a young singer-songwriter and guitar player residing in Los Angeles.  Working for an independent jewelry line by day, Brent dropped her debut album in March of this year;  the young singer Brent plays shows in LA, Florida and NYC and I got a chance to see her perform last week at the famous LES spot Piano's (think exposure to the music world a la Gaga back a few years ago).  While the set itself was fairly short, anyone could tell from her line-up that she puts her all in. With a soulful, almost haunting voice and beautiful guitar playing, she's sure to do very well for herself in the future. Check her out at michellebrent.com to learn more about the artist and her scheduled shows.


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NAIL COLOR OF THE WEEK: Sew Psyched

This week's color, Essie's Sew Psyched, is a fantastic army green (gotta pay homage to the soldier, special shout out to the NY National Guard, hooah!) that I was automatically drawn to, despite having a yellowy-olive undertone in my skin. I have to say, its better on than in the bottle. The slight white glimmer to the paint helps to keep it pretty while still channeling the masculine theme. Although green was a big hit last year around this time, I'd say it still works for Fall 2010. Do yourself a favor and go pick up a bottle, asap ;-) Pin It

Food Tech: There's an App For That

Quick rundown of my daily things I need: Coffee, food (of course), my blackberry; and my ipod touch. Basic needs you say right? Of course because they all revolve around food. With me, the food doesnt stop for me at the end of the fork and knife. I enjoy it everywhere, Blackberry and iPod included.  Third party applications are HUGE and  Apple told it to us best. The rise and interest in the culinary world is equally as huge, so why not combine them both? Need a recipe quicky while in the grocery store? Theres an app for that. Out with friends and need to make dinner reservations for 8 at 6pm? Theres an app for that.  Im on 8th street and I need starbucks? Theres also an app for that. On apple.com foodies live and eat  well with a section dedicated to the top 42 apps for foodies. There you can download apps ranging from butchering meats and seafood, cocktail recipes, personal assistant grocery lists, to the basics of sushi 101. Ive checked out the new app from Chef Mario Batali and it is cool! Easy classic Italian favorites and recipes included, so dinner decisions are right at the palm of your hand. Check out a few food apps, that I use personally and I also recommend having on your gadget of choice!

The NY Times -Dining and Wine Section

Open Table - Make reservations at the hottest restaurants instantly

UPTOWN - City Guides to restaurants, bars, etc

FoodSpotting - See who's eating what and where

Locavore - Eat whats in season on locally

A food and wine pairing app - to complete your meal from start to finish Pin It

NAIL COLOR OF THE WEEK: Ski Teal We Drop

I love, love, love, love, love blue nailpolish. And OPI has just released a new winter collection including Ski Teal We Drop, a gorgeously rich and deep teal thats reminiscent of a great denim wash.  While a dark hue, its not drab in the least and will guarentee a compliment or two from friends and strangers alike. PLEASE indulge in this. Pin It

Fashion Week Spring 2011 - Wrap Up

Although there was a loooot going on this past week and there were some events the Masque ladies were able to go to, there were some we were not privvy to. No matter! I wanted to 'showcase' some of what a few of my personal favorite designers unleashed for Spring 2011:

Tracy Reese: LOVE HER. The amazing Tracy gave a little bit of her standard easy-going and wearable style with a dash of bohemian chic.

Marc by Marc Jacobs: With his more basic line, Marc definitely played up bright, Spring-y colors and playful lines.

Michael Kors: Crisp whites and neutrals, with pops of floral hues, Michael Kors shys away from his personal preference for black and created a shabby meets country club line.

Christian Soriano: One of my favs from ProjRun!! He's always known for his fierce designs and his glorious dresses and he doesn't disappoint here. Pin It

TREND WATCH: Ethnic Print

As Fashion Week NYC is coming to a close, the ladies of Masque and I have come together to share notes on the apparel from the fashion shows that we love, hate, and are still waiting the jury to come back with a decision on. :D

Currently, I'm on a "trend watch" for a style that has been slowly creeping into mainstream fashion circuits: colorful, African print.  I personally love the style. It's fun. It's trendy. It's versatile. And I don't always have to match my accessories and shoes to the "T". *sigh of relief*

Watching a Bey or a Rih Rih video may have introduced you to BOXING KITTEN. As seen in "Put It In a Love Song" and "Rude Boy", respectively, the label on the rise is becoming more popular with every new season.  Solange, Alicia Keys, Fergie, DJ Rashida, Kelis, Estelle, and many other divas have donned Boxing Kitten and are doing it well. With a wide array of dresses, "onsies", tops and bottoms to choose from, the brand has mastered making a traditional look into a modern fashion craze! Without sacrificing style and taste, this logotype is not going to fade away anytime soon.

This past week, the L.A.M.B 2011 Spring/Summer collection was introduced and many of the pieces compliment my "trend watch". Clean cut, ready-to-wear tops, bottoms, and dresses screamed "buy me now!" as they floated down the runway.  L.A.M.B. totally understands the key to a bold fabric: pairing it with a simple garment or mixing and matching the patterned cloth with subtle patches.

At the NOLCHA fashion show, I met a young designer, Pacy KADIO-MOROKRO, who was showcasing her line, YALERRI. What captivated me was the intricate beads and sparkles that added just enough glam to the line.  Pacy explained to me that most of her pieces are hand woven and the detail that I admired were added by hand. We exchanged information, as we're going to work with one another for my special order.  The main regret we had is that her official website has not been launched yet, however I will keep our readers posted when it's up and running.

The only bad thing I can see about ethnic pieces is that they can become dated like parachute pants and big, curly hair. Either way, I'm going to follow this trend and embrace it because I love it!

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NAIL COLOR OF THE WEEK: Deborah Lippmann My Old Flame

Whenever you're in the mood for classic and sultry, Deborah Lippmann's My Old Flame is the way to go.  I found myself a little stumped when trying to decide what hue would make me smile this week and after the image of a true red popped into my head, I automatically went for My Old Flame. A true red is so versatile: it is for any age and any season. Always in and always sexy, be sure to My Old Flame one of your new favorites!

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Popluxe by Richie Rich S/S 2011

Such an entertaining show! Ballerinas, violinists and tons of glitter balanced assless chaps, drag queens, and Ellen Degeneres.  Inspired by his muse, pop singer Kristine Elezaj, Rich uses beautiful ballerinas set the stage while Caitlin Moe and DJ Mia Moretti really got the show pumping. Our favorite from Ru Paul's Drag Race, Jujubee, even stomped down the runway! The vintage feminine frocks were a nod to the victorian era, with ruffles and rosettes galore. Capped off with to-die-for shoes, this show was truly a party. It's a must-see!

Part 1:

Part 2:

The girls of Coco & Breezy! Love their couture eyewear as always!

Naima Mora of America's Next Top Model fame was stunning! Such a beautiful and warm personality.

This cute little girl was a fashion writer, and she's only 11 years old! If anyone knows who she is, please let us know!

Scallywag & Vagabond did an excellent piece on this show, check it out here.

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MASQUE Out + About: Fabsugar x NYFW x Elizabeth & James

What's sugary sweet and fashionable to beat?

The MASQUE girls took some down time from all the Fashion Week hysteria to catch some R&R will the women of FabSugar. At 632 on Hudson, we dipped into a candy bar, had some cotton candy and delicious Sofia champagne while the DJ spun tunes. We even watched as women got glam courtesy of Bobbi Brown and coifed courtesy of Sally Hershberger Downtown.

The event was hosted at the Elizabeth and James Pop-Up Shop. Such functional and fun clothing!

Knee length boots, platform mary janes, and booties? Yes please.

Fabsugar models in Elizabeth and James. Absolutely smitten with the silk olive dress in the middle.

Steph's fave? A sequined sweatshirt (worn by the model on the right in the picture above this one). Love that it can be dressed up or down - perfect for a work-to-play transition!

Who wouldn't want cotton candy from him?! He was super charming!

Nom nom.

Dolled up!

Fabulous times with sweet women!

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Fashion's Night Out 2010

In case you're dead or seriously just came back from a part of the world where the only inhabitants were sheep, here's a newsflash: September 9th was the beginning of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Friday, September 10, was the public's introduction to the Week with Fashion's Night Out, a celebration of fashion and all it's accompaniments.  FNO is a mix of events, promotions, and introductions of a new products not limited to strictly fashion but incorporating food, music, and general fun.

Some of the Masque gang and friends went exploring NYC starting in the Meat Packing District, wandering to Bloomingdale's and then back down to Soho to end the night. Here's a little of what went down:

We started at Pop Burger (Ninth Ave between 14th and 15th) where Dev the Fabulous and Bossman Kelly were already chowing down. I came in just before our friend Jess and after a few more moments of chit chat, we were off and running.

We wandered down Ninth, where a few beverage companies were promoting their newest libations, including Arizona's twist on Vitamin Water and some health elixir that was supposed to have cosmetic benefits.

And who doesn't love free cupcakes, courtesy of Street Sweets?

Annnnd we ran into Tineey! (Never mind the alfalfa hair :/)

Tory Burch (Little West 12th Street, off Washington)  was our first in store stop -  super crowded and hectic but a corona doesn't hurt.

And upon her friend's insistance, La led us into Jeffrey (14th between Washington and 10th Avenue) after we passed by DVF (@ 14th and Washinghton) which was too obnoxious to attempt.

Fashion Icon; Rest In Peace.

We were LUCKY enough to happen upon a much under-advertised appearance by none other than Robin Thicke! @ Hugo Boss (14th off Ninth). Now if you haven't seen this man live before, you're mad. He. Is. Amazing. And too sexy, it's almost unbearable. We were fortunate enough to get a spot right on the edge of where he needed to enter and exit their little stage.

And this chick got a kiss on the cheek from him!!!!!! UN. FAIR.

The MASQUE girls and friends had a great time, this was one of our biggest stops!

After all that excitement, it was onto Bloomingdale's, where we were joined by Erica and Allie; despite her bum foot, Eri came out for a bit, trooper! Not as exciting as one might like, due to the hour of day, we mummed about for a bit, just missing a sighting of a member of the Black Eyed Peas and went onwards and upwards into night. Nothing's more New York than the subway, so there we went.

There were, however, VW cars giving free rides in certain areas all night and Greyline tour buses doing the same.

We found Soho in an uproar due to an appearance of Gwen Stefani in Sephora (Broadway between Spring and Prince streets). I'm sorry, since when was it okay to climb on top of other people's vehicles just because they were stationary in the street? SMH.

Barely escaping with our lives (hahaha, but it was actually pretty bad) we started towards Patricia Field (Bowery between East Houston and Bleecker Streets), which Jess and I had been looking fowards to alllll evening.

Such cute Vivienne Westwood's Lady Dragon Heels with Orb!

Patricia Field was a bit of a mess and certainly very drag queen/transvestite friendly.  There was a mob of people outside, it being one of the venues open the latest and being attached to the likes of SATC (Field was the stylist on the show, duh) so needless to say there was a bit of a wait but it could have been worse.  Once inside, it was probably crazier than expected, with not too much wearable for the everyday, for the everywoman, but there were some fun things in there:

In the end Jess and I had a purchase: the same pair of leopard platform booties, haha.

This was only $2100! Yeah?!

With a case of the "nom nom", we stopped by Rice to Riches (Spring between Mott and Mulberry Streets), which is a rice pudding only eatery with all different flavors - LOVE! I sampled "The Edge of Rum Raisin" and it was delicious. To boot, the shoppe's creative department is hilarious:

There was an art instillation? Which was basically a huge wall on Bowery that was just tagged all over with rocks placed in front of it but it was definitely cool and definitely New York.  Some of us were able to find our names, like your friendly neighborhood stranger who stopped to chat with us about the wall (his name was Josh) but alas I couldn't find anything other than Chico.

And so ended the night.  If it weren't for my blasted day job, I would have had more energy but after an evening of wandering around and being shoved a bit, it can escape you.  Some tips/lessons learned for next year's FNO:  you need a plan, even if you don't follow it to a T.  And you need options because the venue of choice may not always be what it's cracked up to be and may be overwhelmed by people.  Be sure to RSVP for the locations that require it and definitely stick to an area before going to the next.  Early show, followed by a department store and then the lower regions of the Manhattan seems to be the way to play it.  Hope to see you out there next year! Pin It