Rachel Roy: What Every Woman Needs in Her Wardrobe PLUS Travel, Style and Beauty Must-haves

Rachel Roy is a dynamic fashion designer whose pieces have been seen on every leading lady from Michelle Obama, Diane Sawyer, Jennifer Garner, Penelope Cruz and Kate Hudson. I met Rachel at a recent event and was blown away by her support of entrepreneurial women and charity. The gorgeous native Californian, whose personal beauty shines through every one of her designs has worked in the fashion industry since her teenage years as a sales girl– which she calls her early market research! Before designing her own line, she styled magazine shoots, music videos and was creative director for Rocawear. Since the launch of her Rachel Roy line in Spring 2005, Rachel has had a whirlwind of success including being inducted into the CFDA, appearing on Oprah, and launching RACHEL Rachel Roy, a diffusion line sold exclusively at Macy’s. Rachel shared with me what she has been up to lately and offered some of her best tips and products picks!

MM: You have a very interesting background. How has that influenced you as a designer?
RR: I’ve always loved fashion and taking risks in both what I wear and what I design as this has been a guiding principle for me. I’ve never let fear paralyze me but rather let my passion drive me. One of my goals is to help other women realize this as well.

MM: We are so excited about your new collection, what was your inspiration for FW 2012?
RR: My fall 2012 collection is inspired by the documentary Women in the Dirt which highlights the works of seven award- winning women who have made their mark in the field of landscape architecture and are changing our world. From this, the idea of modern landscape architecture and the influence of nature was really interesting to me– balancing the clean lines of landscapes and natural colors and interesting material combinations and details.

MM: What are 3 items you always have on hand during fashion week?
RR: Yoga mat- I practice yoga two to three times a week. The meditation helps me stay centered. Music- it’s one of the quickest routes to dream and always inspires me. Candles- the comforting and continuous glow of a Jo Malone candle while I work is a must.

MM: How do you unwind after such a whirlwind week?
RR: Take a breath, thank my staff and then off for some R & R. First I sleep and then I have a proper meal since I have been living off coffee and sugar for the past two weeks preparing for the show. I’ll spend some quality time with my daughters, visit the Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa at the Plaza Hotel for one of my favorite facial treatments, and lounge at home and watch re-runs of The Office or Modern Family. Then it’s right back into designing the next collection!

Filed under Blog, Celebrity Interview, Fashion, home_featured-NOT-USED · Tagged with Beach, Bobbi Brown, Brazil, Burt's Bees, California, Candles, Car Coat, Caudalie Vinothérapie Spa, Celebrity Interview, Celine, CFDA, Charity, Designer, Diane Sawyer, Entrepreneur, Estee Lauder, Fashion, Fashion Week, Fiona Kotur, Ghana, Jennifer Garner, Jewelry, Jo Malone, Kate Hudson, Knits, Macy's, Meditation, Michelle Obama, Modern Family, Music, NARS, Oprah, Orphan Aid Africa, Passion, Penelope Cruz, Plaza Hotel, RACHEL Rachel Roy, Rachel Roy, Risk, Rocawear, Seu Jorge, Style, The Office, Travel, Trench Coat, Turtleneck, Waves, Women, Women in the Dirt, Yoga

Successorize Your Look with Stylish Necklaces

I love wearing statement necklaces and layering chic jewelry to infuse style into my daily outfits– which are what I like to call “successories.” A successory (see my quote on page 107 of this month’s People Style Watch) is a special accessory that is successful at taking your look from good to glam in record time! A successory can be a great leopard bag or a fab pair of earrings. The necklaces below certainly fit the bill and here are my favorite for the season:

Dannijo Medine Necklace, BUY NOW, $495
The fabulous sister team behind Dannijo create the most gorgeous and unique statement necklaces. Their Keira Bib style is an antiqued Copper chain with marble resin beads, and the taupe and turquoise color palette make for perfect spring shades. I love the versatility of this piece from dressing up a simple white tee to a sexy cocktail dress. Dannijo is a favorite of Kim and Kourtney Kardashian, Alexa Chung, Michelle Trachtenberg and style blogger “Man Repeller” Leandra Medine.

Jennifer Miller Swarovski Crystal Horn Necklace, BUY NOW, $295
I am obsessed with my Jennifer Miller Crystal Horn Necklace and like to wear it with my Ramy Brook dresses, or with jeans and a silky top. The yellow gold-plated necklace is on a 36” link chain and falls in just the right spot. It’s chic style finishes off any outfit! Jennifer Miller has cultivated a celeb following including Beverly Hills Housewives Kyle Richards and Lisa Vanderpump, New York Housewife Countess LuAnn de Lesseps and Angelina Jolie.

T.Cyia “Atomic” Gold Multi Chain Scarf Necklace, BUY NOW, $205
The T.Cyia handmade Multi Chain Necklace is a stylish and versatile piece that can be worn as a scarf, tied in a knot or double wrapped. Mixed metals make it on-trend and easy to wear with everything including gold and silver jewelry. The talented LA-based design team Tim McElwee and Cyia Batten create these beautiful pieces that are incredibly artistic. They are also favorites of Jennifer Lopez, Kate Walsh and Melissa George.

Filed under Blog, Fashion, home_featured-NOT-USED · Tagged with Alexa Chung, Angelina Jolie, Ashlee Simpson, Ashley Tisdale, Bib Necklace, Candi Stamm, Charm, Chic Necklaces, Countess Luann de Lesseps, Crystal Horn, Cyia Batten, Dannijo, Eva Longoria, Fashion, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Miller, Jessica Elliot, Kate Hudson, Kate Walsh, Katherine Hiegl, Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Kyle Richards, Leandra Medine, Lisa Vanderpump, Man Repeller, Medine, Melissa George, Michelle Trachtenberg, Mixed Metals, Nancy Leibowitz, Nathan&Moe, Nicole Richie, Paris Hilton, Rachel Zoe, Ramy Brook, RHOBH, RHONY, Salma Hayek, Skull Rosary, Successory, T.Cyia, Tassel, Tim McElwee, Wishbone, Zara Terez

Simple Summer Hairstyles for All Lengths

Summer is approaching, and Natasha Sunshine, hairstylist and founder of Santa Monica’s Byu-ti Salon, wants to ensure that everyone has an easy summer go-to style no matter the length of your hair! Check out her top three suggestions and look stylish in a cinch this summer.

SHORT HAIR:

Photo Credit: Trend911.com

In the summer months, fresh is the operative word for hair. Using a light styler with a touch of hold like Pureology’s Colour Stylist Nourishing Nectar Sculpting Gel ($24.98 on Amazon), slick hair back while making a side part to keep the look feminine. To ensure that this style stays modern, make your part a little deeper than usual and use your fingers versus a comb to rake hair back. Let hair dry naturally, then run your fingers through one last time to break up any crunch from product. The result will be a clean yet soft summer style, like Victoria Beckham’s picture above.

MEDIUM LENGTH HAIR:

Photo Credit: WavyHair.org

Go for a natural look by skipping the blow dryer. First, apply your favorite styler. I love Pureology’s Colour Stylist Cuticle Polisher Shine Serum for Colour-Treated Hair ($20 on Amazon) for most hair types. Use a quarter size for thicker hair and a dime size for finer textures, and evenly distribute throughout.

For hair with a wave or curl like Kate Hudson (above), twist two-inch sections away from the face until your whole head has twists. Let air dry, then scrunch any product crunch away for a shiny, naturally wavy look.

For straighter hair, twist each section, then clip the end into a loop with a pin curl clip (you can find these at most drugstores). Let air dry completely or use a diffuser, remove clips and scrunch. You’ll end up with a fun, new textured ‘do.

LONG HAIR:

Photo credit: Wedding-dresses.tk

For a beautiful and easy updo, start with dry hair. Decide where your part looks best, then break the bottom section of hair into three even sections at the nape. Braid each section to the ends and secure with a rubber band. Then, take the three braids and braid them together. Roll that big braid up or under depending which way looks best, and secure with extra-long bobby pins for a classic low chignon like Jessica Alba’s (above). People will be shocked that you created such a beautiful style on your own!

ABOUT NATASHA SUNSHINE: As Founder of Santa Monica’s premier hair boutique, Byu-Ti Salon, Natasha has run her fingers through some of Hollywood’s most notable manes, including that of Ivanka Trump, Molly Sims and Eva Herzigova. Known in the Los Angeles and New York City fashion circles for her keen sense of style and unique approach to hair therapy, Natasha not only created a six-step consulting system for helping her staff identify and meet her client’s needs, she has also developed her own seven different hair care products, to supplement the line of top-notch goodies already in use at her salon. When Natasha is not helping people feel fabulous from the inside out, or making herself camera-ready for a television appearance (most recently, The Rachael Ray Show), she is working as an industry leader and educator for L’Oreal’s exclusive hair care line, Pureology.

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Filed under Blog · Tagged with Amazon, Byu-Ti Salon, chignon, Curly Hair, gel, Hair, Jessica Alba, Kate Hudson, long hair, Natasha Sunshine, Pureology, serum, short hair, Straight Hair, summer beauty, Victoria Beckham, wavy hair

Mother’s Day Gifts for Every Mom

By Melissa Meyers

Mother’s day is approaching fast which brings with it the task of finding the perfect gift for Mom. There are plenty of new products out there that are sure to suit even the pickiest of mothers. I have something unique and special for every type of mom:

1. Foodie Mom Gwyneth Paltrow’s New Cookbook – “My Father’s Daughter”
I went to Gwyneth’s book signing at Barnes and Noble a few weeks ago to pick up a copy of her new cook book to review. Thanks to Glee, we all know superstar celeb Gwyneth can sing, but did you know she can cook? In “My Father’s Daughter” she shares her recipes that celebrate family and togetherness. With a foreword by master chef Mario Batali, you know the recipes must be delicious! They are also remarkably easy for even the most gastronomically challenged Mom. Plus, there’s something for every palatte from the exotic tuna and ginger burgers to chicken and dumplings to wood oven pizza. I literally want to try every recipe in this book.
Buy Now – $30

2. Fashionable Mom
Rich Rocks Jewelry
Rich Rocks is a fabulous costume jewelry line with a celebrity following that appeals to women of all ages. The cast of Gossip Girl certainly loves their baubles–Blake Lively, Leighton Meester and Kelly Rutherford to name a few. The selection is carefully edited and there is something for everyone. For the classic mom, I love the elegant pair of silver clover hoops (very Van Cleef). The boho Mom will adore the leaf earrings with champagne crystals and the hip Mom would enjoy the oversized hanging smokey dangle earrings. Also, all of the jewelry looks luxe and the pieces have a nice weight to them.
Buy Now – Clover hoops – $75
Buy Now – Leaf earrings – $40
Buy Now – Smokey dangle earrings – $75

Jennifer Miller Jewelry
Another great costume jewelry line and designer who is always on trend is Jennifer Miller. I am crazy about their dog tag necklace engraved with the sentiment, “LUV U MOM.” I like this one for the cool Mom who lives in jeans and t-shirts. It also has a yellow gold-plated cut out heart charm disk to add to the style. Made of sterling silver on a 30” stainless ball chain, the necklace looks very substantial and is the perfect Mother’s Day gift for Mom from the kids.
Buy Now – $175

3. Pampered Mom L’Occitane Sparkling Verbena Skin Care Set
If you’re mom loves the spa, pamper her this Mother’s Day with this Sparkling Verbena set from L’Occitane. This kit has everything Mom needs to relax including shower gel, body lotion, a delicious verbena scented sachet, shea butter hand cream and shea butter soap in milk and verbena scent. It even comes with a Mother’s Day card. I am a huge fan of these products and use them regularly. It is SO nice when someone buys them for you!
Buy Now – $55

4. Beauty Junkie Mom “All About My Mother” Make-up Gift Pack
Celebrity make-up artist Napoleon Perdis “All About My Mother” gift pack comes wrapped and ready to go in a lovely gift box. The make-up kit includes a cute vintage-inspired coin case with universally flattering shades of eyeshadow, cream blush and lip color. I love the lip color because it is shiny but not sticky and the four color eye shadow palette has the hottest colors of the season. Cream blush is super easy to use and all of the makeup in the kit comes with “how to” instructions (available in two different color palettes).
Buy Now – $49 ($100 value)

5. Techie Mom PhotoOp Ipad Case
If your Mom is anything like me, she never goes anywhere without her iPad. Luckily, PhotoOp makes an iPad case that you can personalize with an adorable photo of the kids. All moms appreciate personalized gifts! Just email PhotoOp the picture you would like to use as a jpeg, and they will send you the ipad case. Available in leather or fabric.
Buy Now – Leather – $150, Fabric – $120 (Call the studio at 212-362-1911 to place an order)

6. Eco-Conscious Mom Recycled Windshield White Wine Decanter from Gifts.com
A sophisticated and modern wine decanter made from recycled auto-glass is the ideal gift for the eco-conscious Mom. What’s really cool about this decanter is that it has an open ice chamber that chills wine without diluting it. Every decanter is unique and handmade in Colombia making it a special gift that any Earth-friendly mother will love to have in her home. I would use it as a decorative piece and for chilling ice tea or lemonade!
Buy Now – $55

7. Sentimental Mom TinyPrints.com Personalized Mother’s Day Cards
A refreshing break from the ordinary drugstore greeting card, TinyPrints.com offers personalized cards that they even send for you. No need to remember to mail a card on time or waste time trying to choose the right card. TinyPrints custom-made cards are heartfelt and special. Choose the photos, colors, fonts and text to create a card Mom will cherish. Tiny Prints also offers personalized stationary as a gift for Mom. Celebrity fans of TinyPrints include Gwyneth Paltrow, Kelly Ripa, Rachel Zoe, Reese Witherspoon and Brooke Shields.
Buy Now – $1.99 – $3.99 per card

8. Organized Mom (or one who wants to be) PurseN Purse Organizers
Whether your Mom loves to be organized or if your Mom is the type who can’t find anything in her purse (sound familiar?), the PurseN purse inserts are a fashionable and functional gift. These organizers make it easy to change from purse to purse without leaving behind any of your go-to items and keep bags clean. The inserts make Mom’s life easier with compartments for everything from her phone to her lipstick and wallet–and the rest of the “stuff.” Good-bye black hole!
Buy Now – $58

9. Charitable Mom Love Quotes Scarves
Loved by celebs like Sarah Jessica Parker, Kate Hudson, and Jennifer Aniston for their luxe fabric, chic colors and charitable cause, Phyllis Wiener’s “Love Quotes” scarves make a perfect gift for the chic Mom who wants to give back. The scarves, available at lovequotesnyc.com, come in an array of gorgeous colors and can be worn around your neck, as a shawl, or on the beach as a cover up. They also happen to be the perfect size and are amazingly soft. I want them in every color! Plus, 10% of the proceeds are donated to international children’s charities. Each scarf comes with its own special quote, making it a truly heartfelt gift. P.S. Did you see Sofia Vergara in the new Pepsi commercial sporting the Regatta blue one as a pareo?
Buy Now – $75