A Book You Absolutely Need To Read, Right Now.

So how was your Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanzaa/whatever you celebrate? My clan are Christmas celebrators, and we had a good one.
It has been so nice to finally get a break and just stop. One of the things I love about the Christmas break is curling up on the couch with a good book.

I do believe the book I just finished (minutes ago!) is essential reading right now for all females living in the west. 

The Girl Who Escaped ISIS: This Is My Story  by Farida Khalaf is an incredibly important book. 

On some level I think that we in the west, with our comfortable lives, our busy lives filled with work stress, our exhausting lives, our complicated lives, our simple lives, we don't really connect to the absolute horror of what is happening to women in other parts of the world.
We see the reports of women being taken by ISIS and sold into slavery and sexual abuse and we find it awful and offensive, but the actual reality of the lives and communities that are destroyed, the devastating reality of what actually happens, doesn't necessarily hit our stream of consciousness. 

I am so ashamed to admit that when I would hear about it on the news I would think "oh God how awful!!", but then I would think about something else, and not necessarily connect to the full force of what was happening to these girls.
I'm not ashamed to admit that this book had me in tears, and now that I've finished reading it I am sitting here just shell shocked.

Farida Khalaf is a Yazidi girl from northern Iraq. She excelled at school, particularly in mathematics, and had been thrilled at the prospect of becoming a math teacher when she finished school.
She was close to her parents and siblings. She had friends and relatives and a strong community living all around her.
Farida and her family were living a lovely, normal life. 

And then in the late summer of 2014 ISIS attacked her village.
All the men and many of the boys were taken and killed in the school yard, and the girls were taken and sold into slavery.
The 9 and 10 year olds fetching the highest prices. (Let that sit with you for a minute.)

Farida was transported and held in a slave market in Syria, from where she was sold and resold to ISIS soldiers, over and over, brutalized to near death, then eventually sold to an ISIS camp in the middle of the desert.

Farida tells her story in devastating yet crucial detail. Somehow despite soul crushing abuse and torture she is able to maintain her resilience, find hope, and ultimately plan and execute an against all odds escape for both herself and 5 of the other girls held captive with her. 
Her bravery should inspire you. And devastate you.

Freedom has it's burdens for Farida too. The girls who do make it to the relative safety of refugee camps are shamed for having lost their virtue. They have to deal with sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancies and the trauma of what has happened to them.

There are multiple reasons to read this book.
This memoir lets Farida make sure that what happened to her was not for nothing. It is a way for her to make you see what ISIS really is, and to let them know they didn't break her spirit.
It is a way for you to see what is happening over there and to find a way to help.

You need to read this book.


“As gripping as it is appalling…a compelling testament to the suffering of ordinary people caught up in violence far beyond their control—and to the particularly terrible price it exacts from women.” —The Guardian

Love Relentlessly ~ Tory Burch

I believe in love.

Love affairs can be brief and fleeting, or can last an eternity. 


Maybe your love affair works, maybe it doesn't, all that really matters is that you loved, and that you gave it your all.

Love fiercely. 
Love with complete abandon. 
Love relentlessly.

Love Relentlessly is the new fragrance from Tory Burch.
It is available online and in-store at Bloomingdales

Have you been to Barnes and Noble and picked up a copy of Luca Magazine yet?
I have an article in this issue (just in time for all your holiday parties) that is all about how to apply the perfect red lip.

All images in this post were photographed by Kelly Cappelli,
Hair by Lisa Marie, Makeup by Corinna Cooke

HOW TO APPLY THE PERFECT RED LIP

Nothing says "hello, gorgeous," quite like a sensational, bold red lip!

Red lips are the perfect accessory for winter. They're fun and flirty! Once the new year arrives with its bleak, dull, gray days, and spring feels like it's never going to get here, a feisty red lip adds excitement to your look and your day.

Red lips make such a statement; you barely need anything else. They look fantastic with a pared down makeup look for day, then add a cat eye and structured brow for night. They dress up jeans and a white shirt, compliment an all black ensemble, and pair up perfectly with a party dress and faux fur.

Check out these 5 steps to perfect your pout and wow the world!

1. Exfoliate

Dry, flaky lips don't look good in red. To pull off a red lip, you need to have silky smooth lips, so the first step is to exfoliate. You can use a store bought lip exfoliator, or you can make one at home. A super soft baby toothbrush makes a perfect lip exfoliator,  as does a warm washcloth. Just remember to be very, very gentle. If you rough your lips up, they'll still look dry and flaky.

2. Hydrate

After exfoliating, and ideally, a couple of hours before you get ready to go out, apply liberal amounts of lip balm, and let your kisser soak it in. Your lips need to be nicely hydrated so that your red lipstick looks smooth and luscious. Before applying your lip liner, you'll gently blot the lip balm away.

3. Line Your Lip

Red lipstick needs to know its boundaries, and you want to color inside the lines. Use either the lip liner that matches your lipstick or one that's a shade or two darker, (for a little extra dimension), to give your lip a perfect, crisp outline.

4. Stain and Apply

The perfect red lip has more than one layer. Apply your red lipstick, then blot with a folded tissue to help set the first coat into a stain. This step is super important because it stops your lips from looking patchy as the top coat wears off! Now apply a second coat, making sure to stay inside the lines.

5. Get Precise

Run the edge of a lip brush through your lip liner, making it disappear into your lipstick while giving your lip a crisp, fresh edge.

My Favorite Red Lipsticks

In this story I use Infared Matte from Smashbox

I'm all kinds of crazy for Charlotte Tilbury Red Carpet Red

One of the greatest blue based reds ever made is MAC Ruby Woo

9 Reasons Why You Should Visit Florence In December

I absolutely love Florence. 

I spend time there every year, and every time I'm there it's as though it was the first time - it never loses its magic.

Last year I was there twice leading private tours (The Glam Italia Tours), but then I snuck back by myself for a little vacation in December and fell in love with the city all over again.

Florence is spectacular any time of the year, but December is just sensational.

Here are   Reasons why you should visit Florence in December

1. The Tourists Are Gone.

December mornings in Santa Maria Novella 

I try to avoid Florence during the busy tourist months of July and August, but during the spring and the fall there are still throngs of enthusiasts getting themselves some map time in the middle of the sidewalks, cluttering up the view of the statues, generally getting in the way. 

Piazza della Signoria in December

December gives you a whole new city. The streets are wide open and clear, you can stroll all over town and not have to move to avoid a tour bus full of people walking down the street. You own Florence in December - the city is yours.

Strolling Ponte Vecchio

2. The Prices Go Down.

Take out the tourists and the cost of everything goes down. There are deals to be had in all the stores, restaurant prices go down, accommodation costs less. Even the airfares are reasonable.

It's fantastic.

3. The Lines Evaporate.

Palazzo Vecchio museum in December. Not a tourist in sight!

No matter what you want to see, there are no lines and no crowds. 

In December everywhere I went including the Palazzo Vecchio and the Ufizzi there were no tourists in sight. This meant I had the museums and art galleries all to myself. There was no wall of people to try and see through, everything was there just for me. 

Looking down on David from the Palazzo tower

I was able to view the greatest works of Renaissance art from up close, then step back, take in all the angles, and not have a single soul get in my way.

Looking down at the statues outside the Uffizi from the Palazzo vecchio tower

4. People Are Even More Friendly.

Without mindless throngs of rude tourists being demanding, criticizing, and no doubt just being plain annoying, the locals can focus on you when you are there in December. They have more time to chat, have space to tell you about interesting things to do, can linger over coffee or a glass of wine and give you so much more quality time.

5. Christmas Is Amazing In Florence.

The Corsa at night

Santa doesn't show up in Italy. 

Christmas is about Jesus. 

Precepe outside Santa Maria Dei Fiore

Regardless of your religious beliefs it is so refreshing to walk around at night and see all the gorgeous lights, with no sleigh bells jingle-ing ring-ting-tingle-ing too. 

No elves, no Ho Ho Ho, no candy canes. It feels so authentic and so legitimate. 

Walking in and out of stores you aren't assaulted by looped cheesey Christmas carols or made-for-Christmas wares. The Christmas season runs from around December 8th until January 6th, and the stores start running end of year sales with discounts ranging from 30% to 70% - and who doesn't want amazing Italian clothes and shoes at 70% off??

walking back to my apartment at night

Florence is a gorgeous city to walk around anytime, but the golden evenings with holiday lights are just beautiful.

Palazzo Vecchio by nght

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6. The German Market.

Piazza Santa Croce becomes a German market in December. Stalls selling wooden German toys sit next to knick knack stalls, Sicilian marzipan stalls share walls with vendors selling hot German sausages. There are all kinds of European foods available, hot drinks and cold beer. It smells wonderful and it is particularly lovely to stroll around at night.

7. The Sunsets Come Sooner.

Hazy December evening in Florence

As much as I just love those long, soft, summer evenings in Florence, sitting up at Piazzale Michelangelo watching the sun set over the Arno, I also love bundling up for the December chill in the late afternoon and catching the sun setting for the evening at 5 or 6 pm. It's wickedly romantic!

8. The Food.

The food in Italy is pretty fantastic at any time of year, but there is something so divine about spending the afternoon out and about in the cold afternoon air and then wandering into some little restaurant filled with happy, boisterous locals and sitting down to a bowl of Tuscan tomato and basil soup and a big fat glass of local red wine under the gaze of a wall of frescos painted 600 years ago. (much more enjoyable without the crowds of tourists during the summer!)

9. The Hazy Mornings And Afternoons.

I probably wouldn't enjoy the grey spells if I actually lived there, but as a guest I found them completely beguiling. Wandering through Florence and  surrounding Tuscany, looking at the castles rising up through the fog, looking out the train windows at fields bathed in grey mist you discover a whole new Italian romance. It's so beautiful.

 Winter cappuccinos in the piazza on a grey morning before the sun breaks

through are sensational.

I'm a little heartbroken that I couldn't be there this year in December, but I'm planning on going back for a pre-Christmas visit next Year. Florence in December is just fabulous. You might just want to add it to your bucket list...

How To Transition Your Look From Work To Cocktails

I was asked this week about transitioning from work to cocktails.
Of course this is super pertinent right now with all the Christmas/Holiday parties and events that we have to run to straight from work, with no time to go home and get changed.
In fact I had to do it myself today.

I'm a big believer that you need to plan it out beforehand, and you need to keep it super simple, very chic, and always make it look effortless.

A key piece in every closet is a killer pair of black pants. 
Find a pair that is the perfect cut for your shape, in the best fabric you can afford. Take them to a tailor and get them altered to fit you exactly. There are a million ways to style a great black pant.

While writing this I am feeding my Revolve.com addiction, so here are 2 great pairs of black pants that I just clicked the heart on.

This first pair is a new arrival, the Lurelly Flared Pant. It's perfect if you need a little swish to your step. You can see it here

The second pair is a Biker Leather Pant from Anine Bing. 

Isn't this leather pant just killer??? See it here

With your black pants as your base, start your day with a simple, clean makeup, wear your hair loose and free, and throw on a simple but cool t-shirt or top.

For the flared pant try a slim fitting t-shirt like this white Ramones Seal T. Simple, cool, chic. See it here

For the biker leather pant try something flowy like this LA Made Portabella Turtleneck T. See more here.

Seal the deal with a cool boot like this Magdalena Ankle Zip Boot from Doc Martens. See more here.

So now that your day look is easy chic lets look at a super quick transition to cocktails.

Using your black pants as a base choose either a body suit like this Rachel Pally Coty body suit

Or try a blouse with some drapey movement that looks both effortless and incredibly chic, like the Sophie blouse

Keep your jewelry simple and understated with this wickedly sleek and sophisticated Gold Bar Necklace from Rachel Zoe fave, AUrate.

You need to change into an evening shoe, so choose something sky high like this "So Kate" Pointy toe heel from Christian Louboutin. 

I found this shoe on Nordstrom.com

Sweep your hair up into a high pony, bun, twist - any easy updo that takes about 2 minutes to do.

After a long day at work one of the best ways to revitalize your look is to add a glow to your complexion. Juice up your cheekbones with Smashbox Halo Highlighting Wand. 

Once you have your glow on add some color with a cream blush such as Charlotte Tilbury Beach Stick in Formentera 

and then set the night on fire with a bold lip. Try Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips in Hel's Bells

The Most Searched Lipstick Shade Of 2016

Do you follow The Zoe Report?
I get it in my inbox every day, I follow The Zoe Report on Instagram, and at the beginning of each season I receive the Rachel Zoe Box Of Style.

I recently read this article written by Andrea Navarro on The Zoe Report, and thought it was fabulous.

Red has long been the reigning lipstick color in the beauty world—it has the uncanny ability to take nearly any makeup look from plain Jane to bombshell status in an instant. However this year, a new shade has given the classic rouge a run for its money. According to an annual report conducted by Polyvore, searches for nude lipstick skyrocketed by 553%, making it the most searched color this year. This trend could mean that consumers are opting for more toned-down beauty looks, as nude hues are meant to resemble one’s natural lip color. To honor the newly crowned lipstick shade, we’ve compiled some of our favorite nudes for you to shop now.

image via @bitebeauty

Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Hineycomb $32

Liquid Lipstick In Ashton, Anastasia Beverly Hills, $20

Yves Saint Laurent Pur Couture Lipstick In Beige Ingenue, $37

Be Legendary Lipstick in Famous, $21

Giorgio Armani Lipstick in 202, $37

Stay All Day Matte'ificent Lipstick in Palais, $22

Sinner Lipstick in Bare Nude, Lipstick Queen $24

Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G. Lipstick in Hepburn Honey, $32