Happy New Year everyone.  I’m back from Colombia and busy trying to transition from speaking Spanish full time to speaking English and Spanglish (the not-so-beautiful blend of “I can’t remember the bloody word for “x” so I’ll throw in one of my other languages to cover for it).  Apparently it’s not going so well because I keep getting odd looks from the strangers that I interact with and my loved ones just smile knowingly.  Hmmm…

So with the New Year that means that everyone in fashion, in their typical confused seasonal way of thinking have already moved onto the 2008 Fall Collection while you, the consumer, are bombarded with “Spring Trends – Find out what you MUST have for Spring 2008”.  Confusing but there you have it.  I live in Southern California, and even I have difficulty thinking about Spring for goodness sakes!  Has anyone checked the weather in Boston this week?  Uhm…brrr.

That said, I want to tie in two themes in this Blog.  Those being, Spring Trends and the idea of “Authenticity”.  Let’s begin with Authenticity.  The Dictionary.com definition is: The quality or condition of being authentic, trustworthy, or genuine.  The Viviana Definition is:  the quality of knowing who you are or what your personal brand is.  To be succinct I think “genuine” is the best way to understand it.  This quality really hit me as I traveled in Colombia this year-end.  While I was there, I was struck, as I always am, at the amount of beautiful clothing and jewelry that the country has to offer and how wonderfully authentic it is. 

I look through fashion publications and read about trends such as “Bohemian inspired, or artisanal details”, and how the editor picked up that amazing red bracelet while on holiday at a 5-star boutique hotel in Morocco.  Then I think to myself, for those of us who aren’t blessed with a private jet what are you supposed to do?  Well, you could go to the many over-priced boutiques in your city where they sell these “artisanal” pieces at a 400% markup or, you could make an effort to really look for these pieces on your own while on vacation.  So you won’t always be getting these pieces at a moment’s notice but you can still capitalize on your vacation travels.  I really want to encourage everyone when on vacation to find those stores where you can find hand-made clothing and jewelry.  Not only are these pieces original but they will always hold a special meaning to you as theywill inspire memories of your trip.  This is PRICELESS. 

Items to look for and are easy to transport include jewelry and clothing, for men and women.  I’ve come away with some amazing hand-made cuff links in my travels (which actually also work for women). 

Art is also an amazing item to bring back.  It will be unique and one-of-a-kind, unless you buy something that has been mass produced.  Clothing, hand-bags and other leather items are always a great thing to collect from overseas.  Last but not least, look for furniture.  Although this makes it a more dedicated process to get it all back to the U.S.  It can certainly be a daunting process but if you ever do this, just let me know as I’ve resources to help in that endeavor.

While I was in Colombia, I spent a few days in a small town named, Villa de Leyva.  It is a very well-preserved Spanish Colonial town about 5 hours away from Bogota.  Much of the original architecture is intact and people have made it fashionable to buy homes there and refurbish them to their original grandeur as country homes.  One of the other amazing things about this town is the amount of artistic and artisanal talent.  Of course I had to indulge in some art and jewelry and I brought back some wonderful pieces that actually tie into some of the Spring trends!  

     

Here are some of the hand-made bracelets and leather purses that I brought back.  They are all for sale if you want to augment your Spring look.  Just email me at info@vivendifashionista.com if you are interested in purchasing any of these pieces.  You can be one of the few who owns truly authentic, hand-crafted/hand-painted Colombian designs!

               

This Spring there are a trends that I like and some that I will leave, or “tweak” as I am wont to do when I don’t think the trend works for people in the real world.

The feminine look seems to be here to stay for a while.  Designers showcased dresses, which makes me super happy and I encourage you to invest in dresses.  Especially for going out - Push yourself to subvert the urge to wear jeans for going out.  A trend that I am a little frightened about is the trend toward lingerie-inspired looks.  Like we don’t have enough with Paris and Britney running around in their skivvies, or sans skivvies in the case of the latter!  Here is a photo from the Cavalli Spring 2008 collection.  This dress is stunning and if you look like Kate Moss, bring it on!  If you aren’t blessed with a gamine look and a size zero, try this look with care, or don’t.

There seems to be a push toward a 70’s inspired Bohemian look which is perfect for the Colombian jewelry and bags that I brought back.  Check out this Balmain Spring look.  It’s the “I used to listen to the Grateful Dead, but now I can afford Cavalli” look. 

Also here to stay are structured suits with the boy-meets-girl type of look.  Armani, who does suits so wonderfully, has a ton of suits in its closet.  Only thing I didn’t like were the long skirts with some of them as for most women a long skirt is hard to pull off unless you are auditioning for a Jane Austin movie.

Gauze is in.  Try this with wraps, for those cool Spring and Summer evenings.  Or look for dresses like this awesome Cavalli or take a gauzy scarf and wrap it around your shoulders for an edgy business look like they did on the Cavalli runway.  One of the private clothier lines (Carlisle & Per Se) that I represent also has some lovely gauze inspired jackets and wraps.

     

Lastly, there are two trends to handle with more care.  One, neon colors…I’ve one word for you here.  Don’t.   Two, flowers.  If you can do flowers like Cavalli (see below) or in jewelry or purses (handbag below has tiny hand-painted flowers) then it’s a good idea.  The problem with flower patterns is their tendency to get dated quickly and to make you look older, so please play with care.

    

I leave you with this.  Collect fabulously unique pieces whenever you can, and on every trip overseas, look for those pieces that no one else will have (at least at home).  Look for things that are authentic and that reflect your personal brand which includes your tastes in fashion, lifestyle, and travel.  For Spring, have fun with the feminine dresses and the structured suits.  Be careful with the lingerie look, stay away from neons and be careful with flower patterns.

This year I’ll be posting my Blog every two weeks on Thursday morning rather than on a weekly basis.  So stay tuned for more!!!  If you’d like to post feedback or if you’d like to request Blog topics email info@vivendifashionista.com.

Wishing You a Joyous, Healthy and Prosperous 2008,

Viviana M. Rueda
Creative Founder
Vivendi Fashionista

Greetings from Bogotá, Colombia.  For this year’s final Blog posting I thought to write something about what to wear for New Year’s, blah, blah, blah.  Not.  Isn’t that what everyone else is writing about? 

I’d rather share something more fun. Something that might make you the life of the party (play with care folks).  Plus these tips will make you seem more worldly as I’m guessing that your other New Year’s revelers will not know these little tidbits. Just say that you picked up them while you vacationed at some Eco-Hotel in the Colombian Amazon or while you soaked up the sun while in Punta del Este.  You’ll sound so worldly, so chic, so well-traveled - Work it!

So - Here are some Colombian New Year’s traditions. Play and share with care.  Oh Stop!  This has nothing to do with any illegal substances - Not every media story about Colombia is true!

Actually, most of the traditions that you’ll find Colombians (and many other South Americans) partake in, were established by the Spanish colonists.  The following are some of the more amusing traditions:

12 Grapes:  This tradition has you eat 12 grapes for every stroke of the clock (remember when people had grandfather clocks?).  Ideally you should have six green grapes and six red grapes.  This is supposed to make your dreams for the New Year come true.

Champagne Ring:  Put your favorite ring into your champagne glass, make a wish and drink the glass…Uhm…please don’t choke on the ring or chip your teeth.  With care people…

The Run-Around-The-Block:  This is truly a hysterical tradition.  Essentially you take your suitcase and in it you put the things that you want for the New Year.  You want a date with Brad Pitt?  Throw in a photo of Brand sans Angelina.  Would you like to travel this year?  Throw in a brochure to your desired destination.  Want a new Ferrari?  Throw in a miniature replica of a Ferrari.  You get the drift.  Then you take your suitcase and you run around the block.  That’s right, you heard me correctly.  Run around the block.  The problem with this tradition in Colombia is that you don’t make it far because the neighbors keep asking you to come in for a quick New Year’s toast you end up soused by 2 a.m.  And in some parts of the world, the neighbors may think you are robbing the house or that you’ve lost your marbles.  Practice this tradition with extreme care. 

The Wedding Wish:  For every stroke of the clock you must stand up and sit down (i.e. 12 times).  This tradition is supposed to bring you marriage.  Personally I think it’s just a good attention grabber.  “Hey, why does that hot person keep standing up and sitting back down?”  Point is…you could end up meeting someone this way and well, you never know…

Economic Prosperity:  Ringing in the New Year with money in your shoes is supposed to bring you prosperity.  I highly recommend against coins, painful and just not very inspiring.  Go for a hundred dollar bill.  If anything, you may need to use it at the end of the night to pay your bar tab.

Happiness & Abundance:  Wearing yellow undergarments (preferably new) is supposed to bring you happiness and good luck.  Double bang for your money if you wear them inside-out at the onset of the evening and turn them out the correct way after midnight.  Hmmm…You could really make this an exciting tradition if  you use your imagination - Please don’t get arrested.  Here are some links for the ladies - Gold works just as well as yellow by the way…
Victoria’s Secret - Metallic
Victoria’s Secret - Sparkle Lace
Victoria’s Secret - Brazilian Cut Lace

Gentlemen - It’s just a tad more difficult to find yellow undergarments for you.  Not so surprising…My suggestion is try the large department stores.  You can cheat a little and just make sure that there is SOME yellow or gold in the pattern and I’m thinking the easiest undergarment to find with gold or yellow in the pattern, are boxers.  I do believe Sean John has some yellow satin boxers and I’m not saying that I recommend buying them…I’m just throwing it out there for consideration.

Forgot to mention that if you’d like new clothes for the new year you should also wear  your undergarments in reverse - Frankly, I’m thinking this is just a little uncomfortable but it’s your call on how badly you want a ton of new clothes…If this ends up coming true by the way, you owe me and we are going shopping together.

And with this advice I leave you.  I wish you all much joy, health, love and prosperity in 2008.  Ring in the New Year with much fanfare and make sure that you take advantage of your newly discovered South American traditions. 

Happy New Year,

Viviana M. Rueda
Creative Founder
Vivendi Fashionista

Hello My Peoples! 

It’s five days til Christmas - Do you know where your holiday shopping list is?  No?  Well, I’ve done some groundwork for you.  Check out my suggested gift ideas and for goodness sake, splurge for next-day air or you shall be ”sans gift” for Christmas!!! Oh-la-la!

The Vivendi Fashionista Gift Guide:

1.  For the travelers in your life - Get them noise-canceling headphones.  They make a flight sooo much more enjoyable and you honestly don’t feel as tired at the end of the flight if you aren’t listening to jet engines for hours on end.  Opt for the economically priced Nady’s or splurge on the mack-daddy of headphones…Bose:

Nady Noise-Canceling Stereo Headphones - QH-30NC
Bose® QuietComfort® 3 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® Headphones

2.  More goodies for jetsetters - Check out these travel accessory goodies!  www.pambee.com   This is a wonderful gift for travelers.  It includes a travel blanket, a pillow and an eye mask.  If you want to customize it for your loved one, head over to Bed, Bath & Beyond and buy the items seperately but the cool thing about The Pambee is that it is all designed to fit together in the same fabrics, matching colors and carrying case.

3.  Books - Here are some of my favorites. 

Unleash your professsional  and personal potential with the 4-hour work week by Tim Ferris.  Even if you don’t agree with his ideas, his writing is hysterical!

The 4-Hour work Week: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich

This book has touched many people and they absolutely rave about it.  Eat, Pray, Love

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia

This book is a collection of some of the world’s most gifted writers, poets, philosophers and artists.  Wayne Dyer has taken excerpts of their works and provided some commentary.  In this book you get a snapshot of some of the most talented people that have graced this earth.  A truly beautiful and inspirational compilation.

Wisdom of the Ages: 60 Days to Enlightenment

4.  Candles are a beautiful gift idea and are appropriate for all homes.  Red Flower candles are some of my very favorites.  Their scents are subtle and elegant.

Red Flower Italian Blood Orange Petal Topped Candle 6oz

Red Flower Indian Jasmine Candle

5. Bath products - I LOVE Molton Brown bath products.  They are so luxurious.

Molton Brown HYPNOTIC Winter Holiday Gift

6. A yearly magazine subscription - People love these and they think of you every time they receive their magazine (hopefully this is a good thing…).  Some options can include The Economist, Vogue, Vogue for Men, Elle Decor, Vanity Fair or The New Yorker.  Go online…it’s usually faster and easier especially this close to Christmas,  they may even still be able to send the Holiday Card for you by Christmas.

7.  A donation in their name to their favorite charity.  This is a very touching and thoughtful gift.  Think of what your friend or loved one may appreciate.  Some ideas:  Want to stop the subjagation of women and world hunger?  Donate to The Hunger Project.  Know anyone touched by cancer or brain tumors?  There’s The National Brain Tumor Foundation.  Are they involved or supportive of “Green” causes, find a charity that works with “Green” efforts.  This one is in the U.K. but there are a ton of them in the U.S. too - Green Charities.

8.  Wine Club Memberships.  Wino-philes (I hope that’s not really a dirty word in some language…) LOVE wine memberships.   This site not only offers Wine of the Month but Everything Else of the Month clubs too.  Who knew you could have a Sauce of the Month club…hmmm…Amazing Wine Club.

9.  Cooking Classes.  These are great for couples.  That is, great for couples who are getting along.  Sign a disclaimer form before giving this gift to angry couples as they could cause damage with a meat cleaver and in this litigous society you may get the blame…better yet, just stay away from angry couples-Send them couple’s counseling gift certificates via FedEx. 

Sur la Table

Chef Makers 

10.  Gift certificates.  You can get really creative here.  Think about the sports, and leisure activities that they love.  Think of the things that they say they’d “love” to do but never get around to doing it.  Think surf lessons,  kitesurfing lessons,  a session with a life coach Electric Kites, a membership to a matchmaking service, a gift membership to the local gym, Equinox Fitness or a gift certificate from Vivendi Fashionista.  How about a gift certificate for a weekend away at an amazing resort - Think Bacara Resort or The Montage, Laguna Beach, or Casa Que Canta. There are a TON of services and gift certificates that you could get creative with here - Just think of what makes them light up when they talk about it and they’ll love the gift!!!

Merry Christmas!!!  Wishing you all much joy and love in this Holiday Season.

HO-HO-HO!
Viviana M. Rueda
Creative Founder
Vivendi Fashionista

This week we are running behind schedule and I’m blaming it on a slew of Holiday commitments, getting ready to go out of the country for the Holidays and coming down with a head cold.  Yes…I know, all excuses.  Forgive me and this leads me to this week’s topic – Impeccability – And apparently I failed in my impeccability this week! 

Recently I was at a meditation retreat where this subject was broached.  To set the context, we viewed a National Geographic documentary about Arlington National Cemetery, “Field of Honor”.  As is to be expected from National Geographic, it was beautifully filmed and highly informative.  What I don’t think many people expected…it was immensely touching.  One person commented (and I paraphrase here), “I didn’t think that Military rituals could be so touching or human.”  

As we discussed the documentary and the impact it had on us, we all agreed on one clear and concise impression, that being the concept of “impeccability”.  I looked up the www.dictionary.comdefinitions for impeccable and impeccability:
Impeccable -adjective
1.  Faultless; flawless; irreproachable:  impeccable manners
Impeccability – noun
2. the quality of being without an error or fault

The way that impeccability showed up in the subjects of this documentary, i.e. the service people who dedicate themselves to care of Arlington Cemetery, was amazing.  To witness the intense level of attention that goes into preparing servicemen for duty at the Tomb of the Unknowns made such an impact on me.  Truly, every single detail MUST be perfect and the people who apply to guard the tomb are required to pass 123 points of inspection.  Could you imagine this in your regular life?  The solemn dedication, sensitivity and honor displayed by the individuals who dedicate themselves to the care of this military cemetery leave you in awed silence.  I have only seen a similar level of attention to detail displayed at The Vatican. 

Not surprisingly, the National Geographic Society also has a wonderful documentary on the rituals and traditions of the Vatican – “Inside the Vatican”.  It is fascinating to learn about the context of how these rituals came to be.  All rituals, be they in an established religion or in a military context, are based on some sort of meaning and they carry on a message or historical tradition.  Truly fascinating and I invite you to view these documentaries: 

National Geographic: Arlington - Field of Honor
National Geographic - Inside the Vatican

The more we talked about rituals and impeccability it occurred to me that this specific trait has been prevalent in my life.  For example, the way that my Mother would get us ready to go to school every morning when I was a child.  My Mother would be dressed in crisp wool pants, a silk blouse and full makeup by 6:30 a.m. and a healthy breakfast would be waiting for us as we rushed out the door - Every single morning.  As a young child I didn’t know how to appreciate her attention to detail and as a fairly typical teenager, I was much more focused on me than what people did for me.  But then one day I did notice when my friends commented on it.  They were in awe of my Mother’s commitment to perfection and observed how lucky I was to have a Mom who was so on top of things - Every cocktail party, every birthday party, every Christmas party – Flawless.  All because of my Mother’s attention to detail and high standards for how she felt her family should live and how she felt that her home should be for us.  Once I realized how lucky I was to have that, I realized that her impeccability provided me with a wonderful and fulfilling home.  Then there were colleagues over the years, for whom even a tiny discrepancy in spacing or alignment was reason enough to throw out an entire presentation at 7 p.m. (when the sales pitch was scheduled for 8 a.m. the next day).  Or my marketing associate who could tell even the tiniest (and I mean tiniest) discrepancy between fonts and colors on marketing materials.  All leading to many hours of frustrated moments and a few meltdowns…but in the end…ending with impeccability. 

You are probably asking how this relates to Image and your Personal Brand?  Well, your Image and Personal Brand is not just what you wear.  It is who you are, how you live and your word.  Ask yourself, does your impeccability show up and do you know that it matters?

I grew up with a woman (my Mother) who has impeccable taste and refined manners, these traits have in turn given me the tools to navigate through my personal and professional career with flying colors.  Her impeccability matters.  I worked with colleagues who shared my penchant for precise marketing guidelines and standards so that the company’s brand was always consistent, always of the highest quality.  This impeccability mattered when it came to generating business which in turn made money for many individuals who then shared the wealth with their families.  Our impeccability mattered to many. 

So when you have an opportunity to implement impeccability in your life, know that it matters and that it is appreciated.

Tip of the Week
No tip this week because next week is a short week and I’ll be traveling.  So I’m actually posting the weekly Blog earlier than usual and the topic will be “For the Procrastinator…Ideas for Holiday Gifts”.   Essentially, next week’s Blog posting will be one long list of tips!

Ciao,

Viviana M. Rueda 
Creative Founder
Vivendi Fashionista

In keeping with this month’s Holiday theme, I’m recapping Vivendi Fashionista’s Style Salon from November 30th.  Every other month or so, I hold Style Salons which are open to the public.   These are events where clients and friends connect for style inspiration, learn more about fashion and fashionable lifestyle, and create rewarding personal and business relationships.  I make an effort to feature Vivendi Fashionista partners, so for instance, the most recent Style Salon featured Theory, www.theory.com.   We also had some amazing participating sponsors including:  Jamah Handbags www.jamah.com and Borba Skin Care, www.borba.com.  Additionally, we raised money for the National Brain Tumor Foundation, www.braintumor.org.  It’s always such a blast to mix friends, fashion and philanthropy!  Here are some photos from the event. 

          

The theme for this particular Style Salon was “Dressing for the Holidays”.  The inspiration came to me when a client called in a panic to ask what she was going to do because she had three Holiday parties to attend in one night and no time to get home to change.  Two parties were for business and one was a friend’s party.    So I developed this Style Salon with the purpose of providing women with a few helpful hints on how to do address this dilemma.  i.e. how do you take a business look into a business Holiday party look and then into a personal Holiday party look?

The secret is “keep it simple.”  Start with considering the type of work environment you work in and your audience at the business Holiday party.  Follow the general guidelines of appropriate work attire for your corporate look.  If you work in a more creative environment such as an ad agency, again, just follow the tone of your office fashion.  And for God’s sake if image and success is important to you, don’t emulate those people in your industry who seem to get a lot of negative attention.  Look to the people that inspire your ambition and see what it is about their style that seems to work.  Mind you, there are plenty of successful people who have tremendously bad fashion sense (please send them to me).  Don’t emulate their clothing but certainly study their approach to your business and their communication styles.  If you don’t have a good fashion plate to emulate…call me and we’ll make sure you are on track.

Okay, so some ideas for you to consider.  If you really don’t like to fuss with your clothing and you are way too hyper (like me) to deal with much changing of the look, start with a tailored dress in fabrics that will transition easily from day to night.   Then pair that with a matching jacket so that you’ve a suit look.   You can also pair it with a jacket that matches in terms of color but not in fabric for a less formal look. 

This is the outfit that I modeled for my business look.  This is a Theory dress (all clothing on the models are Theory clothes) paired with a matching suit jacket.  Note that the hemline is a  tad shorter than I would typically recommend for most corporate environments.  Depending on your physique, stick to a hemline at mid-knee cap or just below the knee cap.  I for instance would not visit a client at a Law Firm or Invest Bank in this outfit.

For the business Holiday party all you do is take off the matching jacket and put on a longer, more chic over-coat and perhaps add an elegant wrap or scarf, depending on the weather.  Change out of your work appropriate shoes into some open-toe shoes and you are good to go.  Stay away from dangly, overly large or really shiny jewelry for the business party.  You are still at a corporate event and let me tell you…some of the biggest fashion faux pas happen at these parties.  Don’t be a Fashion Disaster.  

You may not want to wear strappy sandals to a work event.  Unless you are going black tie with an evening gown, you probably want to relegate your shoes to something more conservative.  Again, the caveat is that if you work in a more creative environment then you have more leeway but easy does it there too.  Unless you are going to beach bonfire party for your business Holiday party don’t go too casual.  It is always better to be slightly over-dressed than under-dressed.  

Here we’ve two examples of appropriate business Holiday looks.  For my oufit, I’ve just taken off my suit jacket.  I would probably add some more striking jewelry that would still be considered conservative such as large pearls.  For my other model, Shanna Rosen, we’ve taken off her suit jacket that she paired with her pencil skirt (which by the way, you must have at least one pencil skirt in your wardrobe) and added a brightly colored capelet to pop some color.  Although you can’t see them here she also added some open-toe shoes and some evening-appropriate jewelry.

 

For your personal Holiday party change into some strappy sandals, or edgy long boots, add some flashy jewelry and play around a little bit with your makeup. 

In terms of your makeup, you want to keep your makeup pretty conservative for both your business look and Holiday business party look.  The key is to look polished and sophisticated.  You want to wear makeup but not appear to be wearing much of it.  For your personal party, try some heavier eyeliner or play with some fun colors, like moss green.  Remember to choose one or the other, the eyes or the lips, to make more prominent.  You do both and you’ll look like you’re straight out of a Robert Palmer video from the 80’s. 

Another idea to make the look more chic is adding some accessories such as a belt around the hips, or depending on the cut of your dress, cinched around your waist to give you an hourglass silhouette.  For instance, for Shanna’s personal Holiday look we untucked her satin shirt (which by the way is a GREAT option to go from Day to Night attire), and took the skinny belt from her business jacket and cinched it around her waist.  Then we added a striking necklace and strappy sandals.

Essentially you can achieve three different looks with one or two changes of shoes, removing or adding a jacket or a coat, and adjusting your makeup and jewelry.  

You can throw all of the necessary items for your outfit changes into a tote bag in the morning before you head to work and Voila!  You are good to go!  You don’t even have to go home to change.  You can do all the changes at work or even in the car if you have to.

A last note, consider changing your handbag as well – Patent leather is very chic this season and it transitions easily from day to night.  So take a bag like this one below from Jamah.  “The Jenna” works for both the day look and your business Holiday look.  Then all you have to do is switch it out to a small clutch for your personal Holiday party.

Tip of the Week

Speaking of patent leather.  It’s my new obsession in handbags.  I love it because it can transition so easily from day to night and from business to casual.  And of course I have to brag about my new baby “The Elizabeth”.  Of course it’s a Jamah handbag.  I’m now craving some of the Winter White patent leather bags that the line offers.  Absolutely stunning.  Check them out at www.jamah.com.  They also have some amazing designs for computer bags so that you aren’t carrying around one of those black, nylon computer bags from Best Buy.  Uhm, ick!  Please tell me you aren’t’ doing that…Get yourself to Jamah immediately!!!   Or call me and we’ll work this issue out together.  Oh, la, la!

I almost forgot!  If you are interested in hosting a private Vivendi Fashionista Style Salon, give me a call.  These events are more intimate and hosted at private venues.  We pick the fashion, image or fashionable lifestyle topic and develop the program together.  For instance, I’ve a Style Salon scheduled in February that will focus on “What makes a woman sexy”.  Perfect timing for the Valentine’s Day Holiday.

Happy Holiday Dressing - Remember, don’t be a Fashion Disaster!!
Viviana M. Rueda
Creative Founder
Vivendi Fashionista

So the other day I was at a local, swanky watering hole in Los Angeles and I was doing one of my favorite things of all time – People watching.  Something that has been perfected through careful and studious training on the part of my Colombian relatives - It’s a sport to them…But I digress.  What I noticed that evening put a really big smile on my face.  About 95 percent of the women in the lounge were wearing dresses.  Hallelujah, praise the Lord!  I’d been predicting a trend away from the “cute top plus jeans” for about two years now and apparently it has now reached the Westside of Los Angeles.

It was so fabulous to see women of all styles and shapes and sizes wearing gorgeous dresses.  And so it got me to thinking about why women don’t wear dresses.  Hmmm…let’s see, there is a dress that makes EVERY woman look good.  In fact, you can hide more imperfections in a dress than you would ever realize.  So why wouldn’t women naturally reach for a dress?  Could it be because women are scared to be perceived as being too feminine?  Are they worried that they’ll be noticed too much? 

Truly, I’m confused.  The other day I was out with a client and we were discussing first dates when the topic of what to wear on a first date came up.  Now a disclaimer, obviously you dress accordingly for the activity and the occasion but in this conversation we were talking about a first dinner date and it wasn’t at McDonalds or the local Pub.  So I asked naturally, what did you wear?  And she said Jeans and a cute top…you know the drill…the standard issue uniform that’s been getting tossed around since 2001.  When I asked why she didn’t wear a dress or a skirt she looked at me like I was bonkers and said “That’s too formal”.  Hmmm…when did wearing a dress become too formal?  This, people, is evidence of the truly stellar job that the jean companies have done in the last 6 years in terms of marketing.  Jeans have become the “safe” and “fallback” solution to dressing.  By the way Ladies, looking good in a pair of jeans…harder than looking good in a dress. 

But there’s hope because this recent evening out revealed that women are reveling in a newfound freedom with dresses.  There was a time in history when dresses did indeed keep women in their “place”.  Between whalebone corsets and petticoats not only could you not breathe (which probably was very effective in keeping you quiet too), but you couldn’t be very active.

Then came the glorious 20’s.  Say bye-bye to the corset and hello to the higher hemline.  Say hello to Coco Chanel’s Little Black Dress otherwise known as the LBD. 

Ahhh…and then there were the 60’s and the mini-skirt hemline.  Now that trend has inspired a long line of Fashion Wows and Fashion Disasters!

So, while dresses started out as somewhat restrictive, these days they are liberating!  Nowadays most women are relegated to wearing Business or Business Casual so the dress actually gives you the opportunity to be creative and to savor your femininity. 

And to those who say it’s too formal.  A. Who made that rule and B. Rules are made to be broken.  So pfshaw I say!  The answer to the question, “To Dress or not to Dress?” is YES, please do! 

 Tip Of The Week
For inspiration, just look to your latest “Best Dressed List”.  Glamour women such as Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz and Reese Witherspoon know how to work their dresses!

             

Happy Dressing Ladies,

Viviana M. Rueda
Creative Founder
Vivendi Fashionista

Oh-Ye Dread of Holiday Shopping.   Admit it…you know you get a cold rock in your stomach at the thought of Holiday shopping.  Well here are my top ten suggestions on how to get a handle on your shopping:

1. Plan, plan, plan.  Uh-HUH.  I know that’s something many of you don’t want to do, but if you want to save yourself a quick trip to the salon to get rid of the gray hairs that you’re going to get from not planning ahead, then listen up (if you don’t want to listen, call me, because I’ve the perfect person to help you get rid of the grays).  The secret to maintaining your sanity is sitting down and putting some forethought to your shopping strategy before you head into the throngs of shoppers.  Ask yourself:  Who do I need to shop for?  How many gifts do I need?  Can I get most of these gifts in one spot?  Can I do any shopping online?  Try to do this right after Thanksgiving…after all, what else do you have to do other than digest your turkey dinner, especially if you’re not a football fan.   Unless of course you read my last Holiday Blog and you are going for a walk after dinner in which case, handle the health conscious walk first, then deal with your shopping list.
2. Budget.  In so many people’s minds it’s a dirty word.  Let’s make it our friend.  Try not to think of it as a restraint or constraint but rather a helpful tool to assist in quickly eliminating potential gifts and honing your gift list down.  Determining your budget will go a long way in making your shopping effective and efficient.
3.  Lay out your game plan.  Prior to going shopping, take your handy-dandy shopping list which you’ve already determined hypothetically according to your budget and map out where you need to go.  Knowing that you need to go to Century City Mall for your mother, the Third Street Promenade for your kids, and Beverly Hills for your wife will become a logistical nightmare real quick in L.A. traffic if you don’t plan accordingly.  It’s no different in any other city during the Holiday season – Traffic is just murderous, so plan accordingly.
4. Timing.  It’s different in every shopping district but in my experience, hitting the stores the minute they open is your best bet.  Do not, if you value your sanity, go shopping on a Saturday at 1 p.m.  If you have a desire to document the effect that shopping has on the human psyche sit yourself down at the local mall parking lot and have fun…People get a little tense with all the crowds, so do your best to avoid them…In fact, for those of you reality TV people, I’m not kidding, document the shopping experience, it’s really kind of amusing how crazy we all get during the shopping season, it would make for funny TV!
5. Water and feed.  Getting into a restaurant during the shopping season is as easy as getting Paris Hilton to give up “That’s Hot”.  So when you head out, either make a reservation beforehand and expect to wait a little while even with a reservation OR take some snacks with you.  Also, make sure you take a bottle of water with you, you’re going to get cranky really fast if you get dehydrated and good luck getting to the food court counter to order a small bottle of water for $5.50!  That’ll put you in the Holiday spirit real quick.
6. Gift receipts.  Most name brand stores will do this automatically but if they don’t, make sure you ask for one.  And, when you have the gifts wrapped, request that the receipt be tastefully taped to some tissue paper somewhere where it will easily be seen by the recipient.  Remember: no matter how good you are at shopping you never know if someone will want something slightly different.  Kids for instance change their minds about their favorite things at an outstanding speed.  “What?  Your favorite color isn’t black? You’re no longer Goth but Ralph Lauren-friendly?”  You get the idea.   Get the gift receipt.

7.  Return policies.  Before you buy and ask for that gift receipt, ask about the store’s return policy.  They vary all over the country.  Some stores have great policies and others are very rigid, so don’t run the risk of being surprised after you’ve already had them run your credit card.
8. Leverage Mall amenities.  This time of year is huge for malls, and mall managers know this.  So some malls will provide free or discounted gift wrapping, hospitality suites, concerts and entertainment.  You may as well take advantage of it and get into the spirit.
9. Safety.  A few words about the happy stealing season:  Do not leave packages in the back seat of your car, and do not put packages in the trunk while in clear view of others.  Put the packages in the trunk before you head to your next destination.  Don’t carry large amounts of cash. You’d be surprised at how stealthy pickpockets can be.  Women…please don’t break out the uber expensive jewelry and wear it to the mall.  This is a favorite time of year for women to be followed from malls!  If you happen to be wearing, say, a large amount of big diamonds, these folks will follow you to the next parking lot and kindly divest you of the heavy load.  And, of course, please keep an eye on your kids in the crowds.
10. Have fun.  It’s the Holiday season for goodness sake.  Have fun with it, explore your inner Mother Theresa patience, let your happy inner child out (no, not the angry two year-old inner child) and go with the flow.  Just remember that not everyone else may be experiencing your inner peace and don’t take it personally, they probably didn’t read my Blog tips.  Just wish them a Happy Holiday Season!

Up until December 27th the Vivendi Fashionista Blog will feature tips and tricks on navigating the Holiday season as well as other Holiday-related themes.  So stay tuned over the next 5 weeks.  The Blog will be on Holiday hiatus the first week of January 2008.

Tip of the Week
If you’ve read the Holiday shopping suggestions and have admitted that you still dislike shopping and are abominable at it, there’s hope, because guess what?  I don’t hate it and I’m good at Holiday shopping too!  Not to pat myself on the back, but really, I’m very good at pinpointing what you are looking for and coming up with good gift ideas.  So this year I’m offering a special package as an incentive for new clients.  I’ll work with you to figure out which gifts you want in advance of shopping and layout a strategy on how to approach it so that:  A.  You don’t lose your marbles this shopping season; B.  I’ll make it fun for you; and C. You’ll be the rock star this year with the great gifts.  So for the killer rate of the year (my existing clients are cursing me now), I’m offering this package for $350.  Okay, some disclaimers.  No, I’m not going to find a baby elephant for your daughter and have him shipped here from Mumbai for that rate.  Let’s get real.  BUT I will prepare you in advance and go shopping with you for a reasonable amount of gifts…this depends on your definition of reasonable but we’ll work it out.  SO.  Plan ahead and email me or call me soon to schedule a time: 310.901.9256, vrueda@vivendifashionista.com.  I get super booked during November/December and I want to help you and your friends.  Oh, and forward to your friends and family.  Have them join the “I give the coolest gifts and aren’t I the rock star this Holiday Season” crowd.

Happy Shopping & Happy Holidays,

Viviana M. Rueda
Creative Founder
Vivendi Fashionista
 

Call me old-fashioned but I’m still a woman who loves a man in a suit.  I actually have a relationship with the suit.  Yep, sounds odd, but then again I’m just a little odd myself.    The suit and what it represents to me was stamped into my subconscious as a child.  My first memories of someone in a suit were of my Father coming home from his office.   In my child’s mind, that suit, or “uniform” came to represent stability, reliability, and professionalism.   This was further enforced when we would have cocktail parties at our home and I would watch guests arriving, all the men in their sharp suits, with the beautiful women on their arms.  There was something so reassuring about watching the men in their dark suits drinking their scotch, and smoking cigars.  Then as a young woman it was always the “put-together” man in his suit that caught my eye.  The man who even at a young age could carry a suit and even if he was just a little bit uncomfortable in his beautiful suit, he dared you to call him out on it.  It said something – to me it said “I am here.  I am a man, and I’m not intimidated by being noticed.” 

Now, I look around and I ask myself “Where have all the suits gone?”  So I acknowledge that in the United States we live in a business era where “Business Casual” rules the roost and after the dotcom boom…Dare I be the first to say that those years were awfully scary in terms of fashion?  Board shorts and flip-flops in the office – Really?!   That era still has me in fashion therapy…EEEECK.  But enough is enough folks.  The suit has been ignored long enough!

I dedicate this Blog to celebrating the merits of the suit.  First, ever notice how much attention you get from women when you are in a suit?   That’s not a fluke, boys.  You look hot in suits!  A sharp suit speaks of a man who knows who he is and what he wants.  What more do women want than men who are confident?   It says that you take care of your appearance and that you know that you affect other people.  It says that you know that you matter to the world.  For many women (some of them won’t admit this) it represents stability and reliability, a trait that speaks more eloquently to women than diamonds (well, at least for many of us that is…there’s something to be said about diamonds, but that’s another Blog topic).

For men it’s the quintessential representation of corporate armor.  You are going out to wage hypothetical war.  I don’t want to go into the finer details of why you may view heading into the office as waging war…but I think this theme resonates with most men.  When I was in the corporate world I was always charmed and intrigued by the physical change in the room when a team of professionals (men), while preparing for a major sales pitch, would throw on their suit jackets.  All of a sudden it was all business and the bonding that would emerge without a word being said was truly astounding.  I liken it to a horse that I used to show.  His name was Patrick and he was a real professional showjumper.  This horse knew his business but when we were at our home barn he needed, shall we say, a little encouragement to get moving on most days.  Now, when we were at our home barn I rode him with a run-of-the mill bridle but on show day I’d break out his show bridle and that 15 year-old gelding would transform into a 4 year-old grand prix jumper that I could barely control in the show ring.  The minute he saw that show bridle he knew it was all business and it was the business of winning.  I have to tell you that it is no different in a corporate setting.  The suit means business.  For you corporate leaders, think about this next time you want to implement a more relaxed business-attire policy at your offices….Studies have shown that people are more professional and effective when dressed more formally rather than informally.  The suit as a “uniform” does its job exceptionally well. 

So that’s good news, right?  There’s more good news!  The range of suits available these days to everyone is remarkable.  From $50,000 suits to $400 suits there is one to fit every physique and taste.  You don’t have to be “boring guy” with suits these days.  You can dress with flair depending on what your personality can carry….Just don’t let me catch you having the suit “wear” you!  The important thing is that the suit fit your personality, your body and the occasion.  More tips on this in future Blogs.

So, in summary, next time you have an opportunity to wear a suit, please do! 

Tip of the Week
Now that I have you thinking about suits you are wondering, “Hmmm…I think I could update my suit collection.”  Et Voila!  I have a solution for you, 12 Threads Custom Clothiers.  This custom clothier works with only the highest quality fabrics, and boys, if you have never had a custom suit or shirt made for you, then you are in for a treat.  There is nothing like having a suit or shirt made JUST for you.    Call Benjamin Straub at (310) 213-4963 or email him at benjamin@12threads.com.  Tell him that you are one of Viviana’s Fashionistas and he’ll offer you one of the following specials:  Order five shirts and get the sixth free, or order one Armani, Versace or Dolce & Gabbana fabric suit, plus three shirts for $1,595.  Standard price for this combination is $2,200.

Until Next Week,                                             

Viviana M. Rueda
Creative Founder
Vivendi Fashionista

Can you believe it’s already November?  How did that happen?  I swear that last month was July.  Hmmm…Well, here we are on the brink of the Holiday Season and for most of us that means panic in terms of staying fit.   After all, how do you tell your aunt “No” for the fiftieth time as she presses you to drink more Eggnog, or when your Mother piles more turkey and gravy on your plate than you should ingest in three sittings?  Seriously, do you suppose relatives think we don’t eat all year around?  And then there’s the multitude of business Holiday engagements during the entire month of December.  It’s like managing the schedule of Tony Blair just to get to the gym once a week! 

There’s hope people.  Here are some healthy tips to prepare for the Holiday Eating Season.  Have faith and you’ll get by! 

1. Eat before you socialize – If you need to hit a couple of business Holiday parties after work, plan ahead and eat some sort of healthy snack so that you don’t show up famished and clear out the fried shrimp plate.  A.  You’ll embarrass yourself gobbling up all that cocktail sauce, B. You’ll be able to fit into those jeans at the end of the month if you avoid all that fried stuff.  And for goodness sake, step away from the dessert tray.  You think you were exhausted before you left the office?  That sugar high will drop you like an ex and have you under a cocktail table in minutes.  Heather Rider, a fitness and health expert suggests the following, “The best thing to do here is to have one or two large glasses of water.  You won’t be as tempted by the evil goodies because the water will give you a sense of “fullness” and can help curb sugar cravings.”

2. Mind over Matter – Let’s face it, even when you’ve had a snack before the party your mind wants to fool you into thinking that it’s been on a hunger strike in the Saharan desert.  So, try to not pick up a plate and load it with food.  Constrain yourself to the passed hors d’oeuvres and your tummy will thank you for it!  Heather also suggests staying away from socializing around the food table to avoid temptation and overeating.  

3. Drinkable Calories – If you are going to imbibe, try to go for beverages sans mixers and if you do mixers, stick to the diet soda.  Try a Cuba Libre with diet Cola (White Rum & diet Coca-Cola) or a Vodka Soda instead of the Cosmo or spiked Eggnog.  “A couple of things to keep in mind,” notes Heather, “More than two alcoholic beverages usually amounts to the same number of calories for an entire meal, and stay away from the scale for a couple of days after drinking.  You can add three to five pounds after drinking and that will mess with your head if you weigh yourself the morning after!”

4. Seasonal Goodies – If seasonal desserts are your thing, don’t torture yourself with extreme restraint.  Go ahead, have the pumpkin pie, but go for a little piece and sweet talk your colleague into sharing it.  A little tip, by the way, pumpkin pie is typically less calories than pecan pie.

5. Veggies are your Friend – Seasonal veggies such as squash, brussel sprouts and sweet potatoes are really good for you as long as you don’t have them swimming in gravy!

6. Healthy Gift Options – Instead of bringing a box of chocolates to your next Holiday get-together with friends, think of bringing a festive fruit basket.  Think a Harry & David type of ensemble www.harryanddavid.com.  They are healthy and unique.

7. Respect your Exercise Schedule – If there’s one thing that suffers during the holidays it’s your exercise routine.  So be kind to yourself and realize that you’ll need to make adjustments in other areas when you feel like your exercise is being constrained by social commitments and Holiday travel.  Cut back on other non-exercise related things such as watching TV so that you don’t kill your workout schedule. 

8. Implement Creativity – Your workouts may be limited during this time of year, so implement some creativity around getting exercise.   After the turkey dinner suggest a long walk.  I don’t know about you, but in my experience going for a walk always tends to alleviate any stressful moments that invariably surround Holiday festivities with the family.  If your family is more sports minded, how about shooting some hoops at the local park or playing some ball in the backyard during halftime (because we know it’s serious football-watching season).  Personally I always enjoyed skiing as much as possible during the Holidays and if you happen to live on the West Coast, rub it in that the weather is gorgeous and go surfing. 

9. Interval Training– Heather recommends incorporating interval training as a fantastic way to keep your workouts going during the Holidays.  They are shorter and more intense than your typical workout making them more effective while being efficient.  Try walking three minutes on a treadmill and then sprint for 30 seconds and up to a minute.  Do this for 20 or 30 minutes.  If you are weight lifting, intersperse some jump rope intervals throughout the workout.  That way you get some cardio and weight training.

10. I’ve Run Out of Healthy Tips - How can one have a list like this and not have a number 10?!  So here’s the last one.  Enjoy yourself, enjoy your family, and talk yourself into enjoying your colleagues (most of you won’t have a problem doing this…right?).  Use every excuse in the book to celebrate the Holidays.

Tip of the Week
Worst case scenario and you fail at all of the above.  I say “Bon Appetite, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Festive Kwanza, Happy New Year, etc!”.  Enjoy yourself and get back into the spirit of working out in the New Year.  You may need some gentle, or in my case, not-so-gentle encouragement to get back into gear.  With that in mind, I recommend a good support system in the form of a personal trainer.  If you already have a trainer that you like, make sure you are in her book for January and February because guess what?  Everyone else is trying to schedule workouts during those months too!!!  If you don’t have someone, I recommend Heather Rider who kindly offered some pointers in this Blog.  Her energy is infectious and she’ll make sure you reach your fitness goals in a realistic and healthy fashion (for those of you who are like me and want to reach runway weight in two weeks…not so smart and this is why we need the Heather Riders of the world to rein us in).  Heather is a certified fitness expert and has been quoted in magazines such as Self, Fitness, and Marie Claire. She has also released a fitness DVD and teaches at Sports Club Beverly Hills and Gold’s in Venice.  Mention that you are one of Viviana’s Fashionistas and she’ll offer you a special package of 8 sessions for $560.00 (usually $720.00). Or you and a buddy can work out with her for a reduced rate of $45 per person.  Email her at riderfit@aol.com or call her at 310.508.7827.

Happy Beginning of the Holiday Season!
Viviana M. Rueda
Creative Founder
Vivendi Fashionista

It’s Fall!  I love this time of year.  The weather starts to cool down, I start to think about the Holidays (and Holiday gifts) and every fashion magazine out there is talking Fall fashion.  But what about Fall makeup?   Yes ladies, makeup as well as clothing adjusts for the season.    According to Therese Clark, founder of Apply Yourself Consulting, a personal beauty shopper and beauty brand developer, “You should adjust your look for Fall by starting with a pretty palette of neutral shades in soothing, skin-enhancing textures (to help combat harsher weather) and simply add seasonal color accents.  For example, one of the featured beauty trends on the runway this season includes striking shades of sea-green eye shadow.  This fantasy-inspired hue speaks to my inner-mermaid, but might say something else in a more professional setting.  How about taking the green down a notch by blending emerald shadow into your brown or black eyeliner to create a more muted look? If shadow isn’t your thing, choose a more neutral eye and opt for a sophisticated seasonal crimson lip.  Think Jennifer Connelly on the cover of November’s Vogue Magazine.”  Fall make-up is under-stated glamour at its best.  Don’t let green eye shadow overwhelm your beautiful features!

Shades to inspire:
Fuji shadow by Nars – muted green with shimmer highlights.  Ivy Ink Long Wear Gel Liner by Bobbi Brown.  Cosmetics – gorgeous shade of green liner that is virtually mistake-proof.  A green shadow substitute could be metallic shades of granite, gold or chocolate.

As with clothing, there are basic makeup considerations to bear in mind.  For example, use shades and textures that work for your skin tone, your proportions, the occasion and your personality.  With that in mind, here are some Fall makeup tips:

Work Makeup
The key to your work look is polish.  Unless your job is to be in front of a camera, the workplace is not the place where you should express your creativity with makeup.   Some work environments are more creative than others, for instance an advertising firm is more lax in its dress code than an investment bank but don’t let this fool you.  As a professional woman you work hard to create and maintain your credibility.  Since your face is what your boss and colleagues will be looking at for up to 9 hours (or for those of you workaholics, 16 hours) you should make sure that what they notice is not your makeup but your professional abilities.  Remember, your goal is to look polished which doesn’t mean, don’t wear makeup.  Work with a neutral palette of soft browns, golds, peaches and toasted pinks (not girly pink, we aren’t in grade school anymore,) to accentuate your features, while creating the appearance of even, healthy skin and then tie it all together with a smart outfit.  Again, go for the natural, but not so natural that your lips blend into your skin.  Don’t go for bright or dark.  The last thing you want your colleague to say is “Wow,…YOU-HAVE-LIPS.”  Not good.  Also, those of you who skip the manicure-I urge you to re-consider and invest in regular manicures.  People notice your nails…all the time, and it says a lot about how you take care of yourself.  Some of you won’t like this, but it is what it is.  People naturally tie how you look to how you do your job.  For those of you on a budget, teach yourself how to do your own manicure.  With practice they aren’t that hard to do and you can do them while you are watching Nip/Tuck or your other guilty pleasure (I’m referring to watching TV…).  Go with pale/natural colors that match your skin color, and these shades make chips less noticeable.  To make your manicure last, use 1 basecoat of clear, 1 coat of color and finish it off with clear polish.  If you take care of your manicure (use gloves when washing dishes, etc…) it can last as long as three weeks.

Weekend Makeup
Step AWAY from the gloppy, pink lip gloss.   I know…you’ve become addicted to it.  But the rest of the world and your boyfriend/husband will thank you for updating your lip gloss.  “Splurge on good gloss!!  Good examples include Hourglass Cosmetics (found on Sephora.com or Hourglasscosmetics.com) in Beach, Truth and Search.  These gorgeous neutral shades deposit enough color without too much gloss.  The texture is luxurious, not too sticky and feels good as it glides on the lips.  “It is also water-resistant, which is perfect for coffee drinkers or wine tasters,” says Therese Clark.  Weekend makeup should be fun but natural radiance.  Try a tinted moisturizer and a multi-tasking bronzer that adds a sun-kissed tint on the cheeks and lids.  But don’t go overboard…the oompa-loopa look is not so hot.   Lastly, forgo shadow and just opt for your favorite mascara.  If you’re just not into wearing make-up on the weekends, this would be the time to refer to rule #1:  schedule a facial and have your eyebrows waxed to create the perfect canvas for when you do decide to put on the make-up.

For the Night
Here’s where you get to play, especially this time of year as we usher in the Holidays.  Think sex appeal (don’t take this to the extreme, sexy is mysterious, not look-at-me-hootchie-scream).  If you are adventurous, experiment with plum mascara for a change from black.  Step out of your comfort zone and try lining your upper lid and lower lid with something other than brown or black, dark blues and slate grays are great for blending!  Be Daring! Faux lashes can get you a kiss under the mistletoe… MAC revamped all of their lashes – from demure to dramatic, there is a lash-length for everyone.  Have a MAC girl show you how.  You can’t get a job at MAC unless you learn lash application.  Remember to choose a focal point, whether it be your eyes or lips, but don’t go for oomph on both as that can overwhelm your face and you’ll look like a Melanie Griffith backlash from “The Bonfire of the Vanities”.  Balance is key!! 

Tip Of The Week
This week we have more than one tip.  Why, because why not!?!  For those of you who are Westsiders, and seem to have trouble getting in to see the manicurist.  Invest in yourself and make it a habit to have your nails done.  Try Paris Nails at 26th and Santa Monica.  Call May at 310-829-2461.  This is not a walk-in nail parlor, appointments are needed and this is good.  Why?  Because she focuses on you and only you, for as long as your nails need it, not like the places that rush you out because there’s a bunch of stressed-out Brentwood Moms waiting for their manicures before picking up the kids from school.  And Moms, you don’t want to be rushed when this is perhaps the one hour of peace you’ll get in the week…  May will also give you a tough-love approach to taking care of your nails.  If you have problem nails, you must go see May (pronounced “My”).  Tell her I sent you and she’ll take good care of you.

The best way to get your makeup look in order is to have an honest and educated opinion.  By educated opinion I mean talk to someone who knows what is IN the makeup.  Meaning how it’s been produced and with what materials.  These experts are rare, they know how to apply makeup as well as educate you about what works for your skin, what will last and what’s worth the price or not.  If you don’t already have someone in your world like this, I recommend Therese Clark.  In addition to being a beauty brand developer, she is also one of the most talented makeup artists that I’ve ever met.   And I’ve met a few…  You can reach Therese Clark at therese@applyyourself.biz.