Hamptons Magazine, 7.2–8.10
My Shower Caddy Must-Haves
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I love to try new bath and shower products, and I keep my shower caddy stocked with new discoveries and long-time favorites. Here are a few of my must-have lotions and potions.
L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil
Buy L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil, $22, at Beauty.com ________________________ Kiehl’s Gently Exfoliating Body Scrub (Coriander)
Buy Kiehl’s Gently Exfoliating Body Scrub, $25, at Kiehl’s |
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Wella Color Preserve Smoothing Shampoo and Wella Color Preserve Hydrating Conditioner
Buy Wella Color Preserve Smoothing Shampoo, $15, and Wella Color Preserve Hydrating Conditioner, $17, at drugstore.com Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Cream Cleanser
Buy Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Cream Cleanser, $7.34, at Amazon.com For more great bath and shower products, read Our Picks: Shower Caddy Must-Haves |
By Melissa MeyersThe Huffington Post 5.10.10
“Take new entrant Page Daily. Started as a hobby and passion for magazines and collecting and sharing information, Melissa Meyers just had to tell all her friends every time she found any hidden gem. Her email to friends turned into a weekly email called AskMelissa. This local email quickly grew to tens of thousands of followers, regular appearances on NBC and an active social life for this mother of two (she was recently spotted in cameo appearances on Real Housewives of NYC). But Melissa wanted more, she wanted a national platform so set her sights high, sold her Hampton’s House to fund her business (and her husband’s hedge fund he was launching at the same time) and put a big chunk of her savings into Page Daily.”
“With a staff of 7 including Editor in Chief Nancy Rotenier, former staff writer at Forbes and a former head of Ad Sales for Daily Candy as strategic adviser, Page Daily delivers a page of original content in a magazine format to your email box every day, allowing you to click and buy every single item on the page including, thanks to technology from an Israeli company called Qoof, straight from video. While one of their revenue models is affiliate sales, Rotenier swears to me up and down that when writing about or including items in editorial content she has no idea if they have an affiliate arrangement. This means you’ll find independent designers next to mass retailers, and you can buy everything. According to Meyers ‘this whole concept is not pay to play, it is designed to save women time by giving a quick bite of digestible information and allow a quick click to purchase.’”
“As online advertising sales surpass print will magazines quickly follow suit in an effort to compete? According to Meyers ‘traditional media companies are in a tough position because they don’t want to completely cannibalize their print model.’However, as these ventures prove successful she is under no illusion that they won’t follow suit, or even set out to acquire more online properties to enter the marketplace. None of that matters much to Meyers, she is setting out to create a ’360 brand,’this launch with Dita Von Teese on the cover is just the beginning.’”
Read the full article on The Huffington Post (Ran 5/10/10)
Night of Stars
By Melissa Meyers
A Star-Studded Night of Fashion
It was wall-to-wall celebs at Fashion Group International’s “Night of Stars” benefit. Held at Cipriani Wall Street, the event drew A-listers from the worlds of fashion, beauty and entertainment to honor their peers. The plumage was on full display, starting with event emcee and Barneys’ Creative Director, Simon Doonan, sporting one of Sammy Davis, Jr.’s old shirts and a fabulous oversized Victoire de Castellane for Dior ring.
Giving Mr. Doonan a sartorial run for his money was the lovely Dita Von Teese in a vintage dress and a Stephen Jones head-piece. Von Teese also stood out among Cointreau’s expert mixologists, collaborating with them on a delicious new cocktail.
I asked the always-radiant Iman her secret to staying so gorgeous. She credited old-fashioned shut-eye, but admitted she doesn’t get nearly enough. Actress Emmy Rossum, dazzling in Donna Karan, shared her own beauty secrets: Bikram yoga and satisfying her sweet tooth with sugar-free Jello topped with fat-free Cool Whip.
Vogue‘s Creative Director, Grace Coddington—elegant in an Oscar de la Renta gown—described him as “an amazing designer” of gorgeous, intricate and versatile clothes. No wonder he received the evening’s highest honor.
The highlight of my evening was speaking with de la Renta himself. The elusive designer talked of the thrill of designing for the modern woman: “I feel privileged to be working at this particular time. . . . There has never been a woman as in control of her destiny as a woman today. And I think that . . . trying to fulfill that woman’s aspirations and dreams, that’s what the job of a designer should be.”
Also spotted:
• Gwen Stefani
• Kenneth Cole
• Jon Bon Jovi
• Tommy Hilfiger
• Mary J. Blige
• Evan Rachel Wood
• Eva Mendes
• Aerin Lauder
Parties and More . . .
By Jennifer Wright
• The vibe was Moulin Rouge meets Studio 54 at the National Arts Club as guests capered about in sequins and tutus. The occasion? Betsey Johnson received the National Arts Club’s Lifetime Achievement Award. She was adorable in a bright purple tutu and neon yellow jacket and seemed positively giddy with pride, as did the rest of her family. The fabulously flamboyant Johnson revealed that some of her designs stem from her cheerleader days.
Rah, rah!
• If only the preview of Simon Hammerstein’s Purgatorio could have been half as exciting. The latest club by The Box impresario is part haunted house, part nightclub. Guests pass through a haunted house and a cheesy lounge act (Hell) and move on to Purgatory (as far as I can tell the world’s most unexciting strip club) before finally entering Heaven (a rooftop dance space adorned with twinkling lights). Maybe, given that Raven O, The Box’s scandalous MC, has left for greener pastures at Quo, Hammerstein’s magic has evaporated? Everyone seemed to agree that their preview of Purgatorio was just that.
• The launch party of Oceana, on the other hand, was downright heavenly. It all felt so decadent—models in mermaid outfits, mountains of truffles and Patrick McMullan snapping candids—that it prompted some guests to recall those golden pre-Recession days. No wonder the evening lured Tommy Hilfiger, Sam Waterston and Jeff Goldblum.
• Uma Thurman seemed to be taking the notion of Motherhood seriously at the movie’s after party at The Gates (doesn’t everything seem to be there lately?). With her mother as her guest, they lingered by the fireplace well past midnight.
• Geralyn Lucas, breast cancer survivor and author of Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy, opted to forego her signature shade of red for “Nancy,” the new lip gloss shade from Purple Lab’s Sealed With A Cure (SWAC) line. Each gloss in the new line will be named for a breast cancer victim, and a portion of the proceeds goes to fighting the disease. PurpleLab’s Karen Rabinowitz hosted the launch party at Norwood.
Jed Saves
By Jennifer Wright
We live in an era where we tend to be comfortable discussing many diseases and debilitating conditions. However, suicide – or thoughts of suicide – still remains something of a taboo topic. When people tell us they’re depressed, we’re often inclined to tell them to snap out of it, or simply brush the idea aside by saying that “everyone feels that way sometimes.” Raising awareness of the signs of depression and suicidal tendencies and developing tools to cope with these leanings is a challenge for our times. Work done by foundations like Jed, that, along with supporters such as Pete Wentz, hosted its 8th Annual Gala and Awards Dinner recently, is vitally important. Little wonder that Ask Melissa Founder Melissa Meyers and husband Michael Meyers (a recent Jed board member) purchased a table.
The Jed Foundation was formed after Donna and Phil Satow’s son Jed, a student at the University of Arizona, took his own life. Their mission is dedicated to decreasing the rate of suicide and emotional distress among college students. This is a critical age; anchorman Stone Phillips noted at the dinner that 1 out of 10 college students reports signs of mid to moderate depression. In addition to facts and figures, Stone also made the challenge of coping with depression more personal when he explained that his father suffered from the disease, and that he saw “the stigma associated with seeking help for mental illness.” Fortunately, today his father at age 90 is doing well.
Stone Phillips was hardly the only notable personality in attendance whose life had been radically altered by depression. Well known figures such as singer Pete Wentz, the most recent Gossip Girl feature Brittany Snow and actress Heather Matarazzo all turned out in support of the cause. Kevin Bacon even performed along with his brothers (their band is aptly called The Bacon Brothers) as did Kristy Cates of Wicked renown.
Brittany Snow discussed her own issues with mental disorders in the past and had advice for any people dealing with these struggles today stating, “I really think that just knowing that you’re not alone is a huge thing. It’s really scary to think that you need help and you need support, but that’s the only way. I feel like getting better means reaching out to other people. And also know that you’re not crazy, you’re not this thing that nobody can touch, you’re really normal.”
As a lesbian, Heather Matarazzo was particularly concerned with the issues facing gay, lesbian and questioning youth. She explained that “homosexual teens are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers,” and also touchingly and honestly recounted how her own difficulties coming out of the closet drove her to attempt suicide. Knowing that depression can afflict even those who outwardly seem to have very successful lives serves as a harrowing reminder that it can happen to anyone.
Fortunately, the Foundation is doing a great deal to help young people suffering through these difficulties feel less alone. John Sexton, the 15th President of NYU, spoke of giving out his personal phone number and offering to stop by any time students needed a hug. He was also pleased to report that while colleges average seven suicides a year, NYU has gone years without this calamity. Representatives from the Department of Veteran Affairs also spoke of – and showed videos about – the effects of post-traumatic stress on veterans returning to college.
Lesley Stahl was on hand to present an award to HBO’s Sheila Nevins. The evening provided a showcase for HBO’s upcoming documentary “Boy, Interrupted” which details the story of a 15 year old who committed suicide, and the effect it had on those who loved him. The film will air on HBO in August.
Everyone’s heart surely goes out to anyone facing these difficult issues. Fortunately, attention raising groups like Jed help us all remember to be aware, to offer help and hope, and to know that mental illness can be overcome. To learn more about the work visit them at: www.jedfoundation.org/
Photos of Stone Phillips, Lesley Stahl, Kevin Bacon, Sheila Nevins courtesy of Robin Platzer, and John Sexton on NYU.edu.
Backstage at Rag and Bone
By Jennifer Wright
It is Fashion Week and I am ready! I am excited – the shows, the parties, the fashionably clad people running madly across town. So, for my first event for the week, I was delighted when Ask Melissa founder Melissa Meyers asked me to join her backstage at the Rag and Bone show. As I would have expected, Melissa saluted the designer’s taste, looking fashionista fantastic in a bright green slouchy Rag and Bone dress.
Backstage is a wonderful education on how tall, young and thin women can be transformed into runway models. No sooner did we arrive than we met the dashing Frenchman Teddy Charles, the lead stylist representing Frederic Fekkai. (“I am working for Frederic for the next three hours,” Teddy remarked.) In addition to the Rag and Bone show, you can see his work featured on the Yigal Azrouel runway. Collaborating with the designer, he had a very specific vision for the models’ hair in this show. Teddy wanted every model to look “like she quickly threw up her hair . . . but still the look should be beautiful and elegant, with personality and style.”
Stylist to the stars Marshall Lin of Frederic Fekkai, seconded the notion of elegant hair, stating that this season, “bangs are in, as is long, elegant hair, with strong lines and without too many choppy layers.” Marshall is well qualified to make such a trend-setting statement as he has five years of experience at Frederic Fekkai. (Look for him at the SoHo salon.) Marshall has also styled for the Proenza Schouler and Rachel Roy shows.
The models not only had great hair for the show, they also had terrific make-up. I learned how many issues arise when hair, makeup and beautiful clothing must seamlessly combine. Yes – there were signs reminding the models to put on turtlenecks before their make-up was applied! Fortunately, Revlon’s artistic director, Gucci Westman, had the situation under control. Gucci began by affixing a white paper mask with eye and lip cutouts to each model’s face. She then applied lipstick followed by eye shadow, before removing the mask. Many of us wondered precisely what function the paper masks served; Gucci explained that “when they’re removed, they provide the dewy glow that we’re trying to create.” Ms. Westman would know – she’s applying her considerable talent for the Jason Wu and Max Azaria shows as well. You might also want to check out her upcoming, specially formulated lipstick called Mori Red.
Being backstage allows you to browse through the designer’s upcoming collection as though you were at Barney’s. If you’re anything like me, you’ll love Rag and Bone’s new pieces. The colors are the same slate grays and blacks that Rag and Bone specializes in, but the styles all have a certain 1960’s flair to them. There’s a black, one shouldered cocktail dress that is absolutely to die for.
A glimpse at the people doing the work behind the scenes at the shows helps us understand the enormous effort that goes into a successful fashion event. Thanks to Teddy and Marshall and Gucci and all their staff, the models walking in Rag and Bone were polished perfection rather than raggedy.
