The Fabu-list August 2016

 

What are you coveting this month?

Summer is nearing it's end, and although every year I hang on for as long as possible, it's time to start thinking about the transition into fall.

I've made this list a fabu-list instead of a coveted list, because I do own some of the items. But I do have a major covet going on the others...

Clockwise from top left:

Miansai Screw Cuff Bracelet in gold. I love that this bracelet is sleek and chic, and stands out as being different. You can wear it in a stack of bracelets, or in complete simplicity on it's own.

Reves de Sabine bath and body oils. I have both of these and absolutely love them. Your skin feels amazing with these beautiful oils, and I'm convinced that they are extending my tan from Italy this past June. They feel luxurious but come at a very friendly price point. Read about Reves de Sabine here.

Prada Tote  Isn't this just the perfect tote for fall? It's very roomy, the color is gorgeous, and it has a very Olivia Pope feel to it. I so want this bag!

Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips in Kim K.W. is the perfect pinky nude for the entire year, not just fall. Inspired by  Kim Kardashian West's signature nude lip it has already become a best seller, and no doubt will stay one. It's just perfect.

The Michael Kors block heeled Marina slingback sandal is about as perfect as it gets. Killer with a pair of jeans this shoe elongates your leg with a little black dress, works with skirts, pants - basically every single thing in your closet. Love.

Paris In Love by Eloisa James. I'm always in love with Paris, so I grabbed this book as soon as I saw it! Eloisa up and moved her family to Paris for a year. I dream about doing that myself, and I love reading anything set in the city of light, so this book was a win before I even opened the cover.

And it's a perfect read to close out the summer.

Chanel Illusion d'Ombre eye shadow in Rouge Brule. You absolutely cannot beat red and gold eye shadow. It may sound intimidating at first, but it is absolute magic! Want to really spark your eye color and draw attention to your eye without overwhelming it with makeup? A subtle swipe of red gold on your lid is your absolute best friend. This eye shadow is everything!

The Na Kd off the shoulder knot blouse in white is super chic! The sleeves are gorgeous, the knot detail is so stylish, and the back of the blouse has a little something extra to cover your booty.

This blouse is lovely with a skirt, killer with a pair of jeans and a tan block heeled sandal, great with a pair of pants. It's fabulous.

Chanel nail gloss in Rouge Radical. I love the concept of a red see-through gloss instead of a full red nail polish! It's so fresh and modern.

Chanel Le Rouge Collection No. 1

Color me obsessed.



The brand new collection from Chanel's brand new Global Creative  Makeup and Color Director, Lucia Pica is now available online.




Pica, who is known for her signature red lipstick, has infused the collection with red, red, red!

There is, of course, a red lipstick. But there are also other red products. Dynamic, exciting, sensational red products.

My favorite is the Illusion D'Ombre Eye Shadow in Rouge Brule.

I love red eye shadow - in fact I just taught a pro makeup artistry class on how to do red eye shadow. On top of that I just finished shooting 2 separate fashion editorials with red eye shadow. It's just the greatest thing ever! Red eye shadow brings out the color in green eyes, hazel eyes, blue eyes, brown eyes. It is just stunning. I normally balance it with gold or bronze, but this Chanel shadow has that balance already built in.
In case you a freaking out at the thought of red eye shadow, just know that it wakes the eye up and adds vibrancy to the entire face. It is divine.

Need a little more excitement? 
How about the Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Eros?


Pica has created a red based eyeliner that is just crazy gorgeous and super, super flattering on everyone. (In the same way as their Rouge Noir Vamp mascara is the greatest thing to ever happen to lashes)

The thought of red blush may feel a little extreme, but it is just beautiful. Refreshingly, tantalizingly beautiful.




Joues Contrast Powder Blush in 320 Rouge Profond is going to be your favorite new blush.

Le Vernis Nail Gloss in Rouge Radical


This redefines the sexy yet elegant manicure. It's a see through glossy red polish with just a hint of red. The new way of wearing red polish. It's everything!

The limited edition collection isn't available yet at Nordstrom.com
but you can get it at Chanel.com

No. No. Noooooooo!!!

I just read this on The Zoe Report and I am hoping it's not true!

Is Karl Lagerfeld Retiring?

According to reports by Page Six, Karl Lagerfeld may draw the curtain on his illustrious career after Chanel’s upcoming Cruise show in Cuba next month. Rumored to be 83 years old, the designer began his work at Chanel in 1983 and Fendi in 1965 and also found time to design for beloved French brand, Chloe. In today’s current climate of designer musical chairs, Lagerfeld remains somewhat of an anomaly, designing multiple collections a year for Chanel, Fendi and his namesake line, while also acting as photographer for all of his campaigns and additional editorials. Insiders claim the powerhouse is getting tired (who can blame him), but Lagerfeld has never hinted at a desire to retire and we wouldn’t be surprised if he followed in the footsteps of Coco Chanel, who remained at the helm of the company until she passed away in 1971. Regardless, all eyes will be on his Cuban fashion show on May 3rd.

The Perfect Nude Lips For Fall

image by Kelly Cappelli
mskeup by Corinna Cooke

As much as we all need a killer red lip for fall, maybe a deep, sultry oxblood, we also all need a really good nude lipstick that's perfectly toned to work the cooler weather.

Our summer nude lips don't always work so well in autumn. They can look too chalky or too bare, and instead of complimenting our complexions they can suck the life out of them.
Look for a nude lip that has some warmth to it, and that isn't too yellow.

Here is a selection of my favorite nudes for fall.

Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Isola Bella
Apart from the fact that Isola Bella is right below Taormina in my much loved Sicily, I love the satin finish to this lip as well as the pinky undertone. 
Available at Nordstrom

Nars Satin Lip Pencil In Isola bella

For a lip with a little more depth and a lovely suede finish try Charlotte Tilbury's taupe shade inspired by Victoria Beckham,
Matte Revolution Very Victoria
Available at Charlotte Tilbury.com

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Very Victoria

Chanel Rouge Coco in 402 Adrienne is a warm pinky nude that not only looks beautiful, but wears beautifully too.
Available at Nordstrom

Chanel Rouge Coco in 402 Adrienne

For a touch of luxury with a sheen try Tom Ford Beauty Lip Color Shine in Frolic.
Available at Nordstrom

Tom Ford Beauty Lip Color Shine in Frolic

One of the absolute loveliest lip glosses I have worked with in a long time is Honest Beauty's lip gloss in Generous Kiss. It's a sheer pink nude with a great color pay off and a non-tacky, smooth gloss.
Available at HonestBeauty.com

Honest Beauty Lip Gloss in Generous Nude

How To Buy Vintage Handbags

I love vintage handbags.
A great vintage bag, in a style you can no longer find, can be the most chic alternative to any season's "It" bag.
I often find them in village markets in Italy, taken from old estates that have changed hands. They don't have second hand stores in Italy, nor do they have Goodwill, so local markets are an amazing resource for finding incredible old furniture, collectibles and on a good day, vintage handbags.

One time at an arts market in my Italian home town of 
San Gimignano I found a lady selling a cache of  Louis Vuitton bags from the 70's. The bags were well worn but still in enviable condition. I pored over them, looking for every conceivable sign of a fake, but they were indeed the real deal.

If you are a lover of vintage handbags, or if you are seeking out a second hand Louis Vuitton, Chanel or any other major designer handbag, it is important to know how to spot a fake and how to identify an authentic bag.

Here in the USA everywhere you look there are girls sporting fake Louis'. I don't think people realize how disgusting the trade in fake designer bags really is. It funds terrorism, involves child labor and human trafficking - it is deplorable. Before you even think about buying a knock off Louis or Hermes (or any other designer) make sure you read this article from Harpers Bazaar magazine about 
The Fight Against Fakes. 
One of the paragraphs that has haunted me for years, and that comes to mind every single time I see a girl cruising along with her counterfeit Louis is this:

Then I read the following passage from my book, Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster. "'I remember walking into an assembly plant in Thailand a couple of years ago and seeing six or seven little children, all under 10 years old, sitting on the floor assembling counterfeit leather handbags,' an investigator told me... 'The owners had broken the children's legs and tied the lower leg to the thigh so the bones wouldn't mend. [They] did it because the children said they wanted to go outside and play.'"

It's barbaric.

So now that we are clear on why we should never, ever buy counterfeit handbags, lets look at an article I found on The Zoe Report on how to buy an authentic vintage designer handbag.

How To Buy Vintage Handbags

Red Flags To Look For

"Luxury brands will always use quality leather, so expect an even and consistent skin. Red flags include crooked stitching or lettering and gold flaking off the hardware. Dust bags, boxes, and authenticity cards aren't always included, but this doesn't mean the bag is a fake. A few examples of other authenticity markers are Chanel always has a hologram sticker listing the serial number, and for Hermès Birkin bags there is a special stamp embossed into the leather strap."

• c1990's Chevron Stripe Crossbody Bag, Chanel $1900

Coveted Styles Will Get Top Dollar

"The rarest and most coveted bags are the Hermès Kelly and Birkin. For Birkin bags, styles made of exotic skins are the most sought after, while Kelly bags from the 1970s are also constantly in demand."

• 1978 Box Calf Kelly Handbag, Hermes $5900

Only Consider Bags In Good, Excellent or Mint Condition

"Most reputable vintage dealers are highly selective. For example, at Resurrection we only carry bags that are in excellent-to-mint condition. When shopping, we recommend following our standard checklist: Make sure the bag has no stains, tears or rips; that the lining is unstained and intact; and that the hardware has no scratches or tarnishing. The corners can sometimes have slight wear, but that can always be easily fixed."

• c1970's Speedy Bag, $395

Beware Of Deals That Are TOO Good

"Always buy from a reputable source and do your research to make sure the seller has an authenticity guarantee. A common mistake is someone buying a bag online for a price that is too good to be true. Usually, it turns out the deal was too good to be true. Most vintage bags will go for around the same price across the board. If you see a Chanel bag for $200, and it is in perfect condition, be wary."

• c1970's Tote Bag, $530

All Images courtesy of The Zoe Report

Before purchasing a vintage designer handbag you can also google how to spot a fake for that brand.

If you are in Europe and are thinking about buying a knock off handbag from a street vendor (or anyone else) make sure you are aware of the penalties for doing so. They do look out for counterfeits at the airports.

A few years ago an acquaintence told me she was stopped at JFK

because traces of cocaine were found on her counterfeit Gucci handbag. She had a hard time explaining that she knowingly bought a counterfeit handbag from a street vendor in Florence, and found herself in a world of trouble.

Makeup Tips For Girls Who Wear Glasses ~ Beauty Tip Of The Week # 24

Do you wear glasses? I do. And I love them.

Glasses wearing girls are always asking me about how to do their makeup and still look and feel glam, so today's post is dedicated to all the lovely ladies of the frame and lens.

Makeup Tips For Girls Who Wear Glasses

1. Color correct your under-eyes.

Glasses tend to magnify any dark rings or dark areas under your eyes. Using a skin toned or ivory toned concealer can make the area look ashy or grey, but a peachy pink color correcting concealer will neutralize your dark circles and draw attention to your beautiful eyes.

Try Le Camouflage Stylo by Chantecaille

2. Keep Your Foundation Sheer.

You do need to apply foundation around your eye area, but you must keep it sheer. Thick foundation gunks up the nosepads on your glasses, and if your glasses touch your cheeks or the skin under your eyes you have the combination of lifting makeup off your face, and getting a gooey layer of makeup on your frames.

I'm never a fan of crushed mineral foundations anyway, but for glasses wearers they can be extra awful as the lenses magnify how crusty and dry the swirl-tap-buff products make your under eyes look. If the skin under your eyes looks dry, you look aged.

3. Define Your Brows.

Eyebrows may just be the most important feature on your face. Draw attention to your eyes by framing them with gorgeous brows. Well defined brows can offset heavy glasses frames and can create a lovely lift to your visage.

Try Charlotte Tilbury Brow Lift Shape Lift And Shade Tool

4. Line Your Eyes.

Adding some definition to the lashline can really help draw attention to your peepers, and stop them from getting lost behind your fabulous frames. Whether you are rocking a feline flick or just getting a little outer corner accent, liner is key.

Try Charlotte Tilbury Feline Flick in Panther

5. Avoid Bright Colored Shadows.

Your frames draw attention to your eyes - you don't need bright eye shadow colors to make them stand out. Bright eye shadows just confuse the issue. Opt instead for neutral shades, letting your brows and lash line, combined with your frames, to all the talking.

To add a pop of color to your look choose a brighter, more vibrant lip color.

6. Beware Of Dark Shadows.

Just as bright eye shadow colors can look clown-like under glasses, dark shadows and smokey eyes can look really heavy when magnified by your lenses. Try a mid-toned shade, and blend it well.

 I am loving the Fall 2015 Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Long-Wear Luminous Eyeshadow  in Rouge Gorge and in New Moon.

Buff and blend this beautiful creamy shadow for a soft but long lasting look.

Bridal Beauty Tip #13 Tips For Choosing Your Wedding Perfume

When it comes to your wedding day perfume you have to decide whether you are going to wear your usual fragrance, or a new one.

Jo Malone Peony And Blush Suede

Your usual fragrance may just be something you wear everyday, and that you like, or it may be your trademark fragrance, a scent that identifies you, a scent that inhaled anywhere in the world by your people will make them think immediately of you.
He knows you in that perfume. He fell in love with you in that perfume, and maybe you reason that he should marry you in that perfume.
And that is totally perfect.

Or maybe you want something new for your big day. Something new and special. Something that will powerfully link you, your husband and that beautiful dress forever, making an olfactory memory that snaps you both back to that magical day for the rest of your lives with just the faintest whiff.

Tips For Choosing A Wedding Perfume.

Choosing a new perfume for a really big occasion can be daunting. Especially for something as huge as your wedding day.
Here are 4 tips to help you choose 

1. How Do You See Yourself?
What words do you associate with seeing yourself walking down the aisle? Do you think of words like serene and pretty? Or romantic and sensual? What about sexy and alluring? Every perfume has a mood, a feel, an emotion to go with it and if you can find the words to describe your feeling, emotion or mood finding your fragrance becomes easier.

2. Match Your Theme
If you have a beach wedding think about a fragrance with florals and marine notes. Getting married in the great outdoors? Think about woodsy notes, chypres, vetivers. Is your wedding going to be candlelit and sensual with deep dark red roses? Try a sexy, spicy, musky fragrance.

3. Don't Fight Your Bouquet
Don't let your perfume fight your bouquet, especially if your flowers are fragrant. Either choose something complimentary, or wait til the reception to apply your perfume.

4. No Surprises
You don't want to be wearing and new perfume on your wedding day and find out later that he didn't like the way you smelled. If you have a new fragrance in mind consider giving him a secret sneek preview by wearing a sample and gauge his reaction. If he leans in for another breath of it its a winner. If he has no reaction or clearly doesn't like it, you may want to try another one.

6 Amazing Wedding Perfumes

Narciso Rodriguez For Her
Sexy, sensual, musky, for a modern, confident sophisticate.

Jo Malone Peony and Blush Suede
Charming and beautiful, flirtatious yet sensual.

Giorgio Armani Si
A tribute to modern femininity, a combination of grace, strength and independent spirit.

Coco Mademoiselle
Sexy, fresh, oriental, utterly feminine, refined and luxurious.

Kenzo Flower
Modern, chic, fresh oriental for a fashion forward, uptown girl

Tom Ford Neroli Portofino
A heady, sexy mix of sparkling water, cool breeze and the lush foliage of the Italian Riviera. Everything Ford does oozes sex appeal, decadence and luxury. Portofino is magnificent, so is this fragrance.

Go Totally Nude ~ The Coveted List April 2015

My favorite color palette for summer is crisp, vibrant white.
Its so fresh and clean, looks wonderful with a tan, and makes an easy transition from day to evening.
Whether the total look is white or whether white is an accent, I love it.

Eileen Fisher Summer 2015

This month's Coveted List looks at pieces to pair with whites, offsetting bright white with easy nude.

Go Totally Nude

Totally Nude Coveted List clockwise from top left:

Butter London Nail Lacquer in Crumpet
Kevyn Aucoin Expert Lip Color in Faith
Hermes Cape Cod Watch
Celine Butterfly Sunglasses in Transperant Saffron Acetate
Jimmy Choo Pledge Wedge
Scott Barnes Body Bling
 Chanel Large Tote in Nude





Expert Lip Color in Faith

Midweek Wisdom #9 ~ Black And White Chanel

Don't you just love hats?

I think they add such glamour,

especially to black and white images.

Here are some gorgeous black and whites, with hats, and a quote for your midweek wisdom:

There are some things that

money cannot buy.

Like manners, morals,

intelligence and class.

one of the women I most admire in the world, Carine Roitfeld

The Red Carpet Ready Handbag

I'm on my way back to L.A for the greatest red carpet of them all. 

I think this is my 10th time, but it may be the 11th. 
If I'm not going to be backstage with her keeping her makeup maintained I pack a little bag of goodies for my actress to touch up with throughout the night.

She will be in makeup hours before she hits the red carpet, and then probably until at least 3 or 4 in the morning at the Oscar's after parties, so she needs some good items to keep her fabulous makeup maintained and photo immaculate until she gets back home again.

Some of the items I pack her are perfect for you too to keep in your handbag on a big night out. Let's have a look at a few so that you too can keep your handbag red carpet ready.

1. I'm crazy about these super color saturated Temptu lipsticks at the moment. They give you rich color that holds.

2 and 3. When makeup is starting to feel a bit worn in you can add an instant refresh by lightening and brightening under the eyes with YSL's Touche Elcat and the patting a little life back into your cheeks with The Multiple by Nars. (I slice a piece off and put it in a little plastic container)

4. I don't like a powdery look - I prefer the skin to glow, so instead of pressed powder I pack Tatcha blotting papers. They are fabulous and being Tatcha they make everything feel more luxurious!

5. Even seasoned A listers get nervous on the red carpet, and get a dry mouth, which in turn means raunchy breath. I tell my ladies to pop in a Listerine breath strip every so often just for good measure.

6. Even if a matte lip is the biggest thing in fashion I still pack a Chanel lipgloss in her handbag. Matte lips can look dry and cracked after a while, and even if it's just placed in the center of the lip a little gloss can keep the lips looking supple and kissable.

The Most Over The Top Haute Couture Brides Ever!

 More couples get engaged between Thanksgiving and Valentine's day than at any other time of the year. Combine that with Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture this past week, and Vogue.com came up with this fabulous post on the 22 Most Over The Top Haute Couture Brides Ever.

Dior Couture, Spring 2007

I loved it! I adore Haute Couture. I had the enormous pleasure of working couture shows back when I lived in London and worked extensively on the runway circuit. Couture has the distinction of having the highest level of craftsmanship, paired with the ultimate in style, and sometimes it walks way out there on the wild side.

So for you upcoming brides seeking a dress, and those of you who love couture, here are my 10 favorite of Vogue's Most Over The Top Haute Couture Brides. Ever.

Atelier Versace 1999

Atelier Versace Fall 1993

Givenchy Haute Couture spring 2003

Christian Lacroix Haute Couture, Fall 2002

Emanuel Ungaro Haute Couture, 1991

Chanel Haute Couture, Spring 1994

Chanel Haute Couture, Fall 2003

Givenchy Haute Couture Fall 2002

Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture 1965

Don't you wonder which of these dresses were sold, and who wore them??

See the rest of the story - there are 12 more dresses! here at Vogue.com