Beauty Maven Spotlight: An Interview with Karen Robinovitz of Purple Lab NYC

Many of you know that I'm obsessed with the beauty brand Purple Lab NYC. What many of you don't know is that the brains behind the operation, Creatrix Karen Robinovitz, is also a personal friend. Writer, fashionista, beauty maven, social media maverick, television personality: whatever you want to call her, anyone in her presence can feel her creative energy and powerhouse personality. I figured it was time for all of you to know a little bit more about the tiny creative power plant we all know and love, so when Karen agreed to let you in on the woman we all know and love, I jumped at the chance. Here is the fabulous, amazing braintrust behind the Next Big Thing In Beauty in all her glory:

FSB: So, we all know how Purple Lab was created but what were your inspirations for the new products? Do you actually have a mood board? If so, what's on it?
Karen Robinovitz: My mood board is full of chic, glamour and fun. A little Jeff Koons, Marilyn Minter, Anselm Reyle, some Dita and Kate and Cowboy Kate; images that conjure style, succulence, deliciousness and fabulous which really represents the DNA of Purple Lab as a whole. I attached an image of it! 

FSB: Who is the Purple Lab customer?
Karen: Purple Lab has a psychographic, not a demographic. It's any woman who wants effective, science-forward products with a pop of cheeky fun and glam. There is no age - it can be a 14 year-old girl who responds to color and personality or a 65 year-old woman thinking of anti-aging makeup. The kind of girl who likes products that multitask to save time, energy, and money and wants to feel empowered, fun, and fierce.

FSB: You are a self-described fashionista and one of my own personal fashion inspirations. Describe a day in your life and how your cosmetics work with your busy schedule and fabulous wardrobe.
Karen: There is no one typical day because every day is different, as I'm "balancing" (in quotes because I have no real balance) Purple Lab with a day job as a social media consultant. Because I'm always running around, I love having products that are double duty beauty because I can get my skin care and my color at once.

I'm up by 7a.m. and probably online before I even use the loo.

My day typically starts at 8:30a.m. with a breakfast meeting at Pastis. I never leave home without Huge Lips Skinny Hips lip gloss in Worship Kate and Goji Berry Smoothie (a new shade, due end of April) and Luvah lip stain and gloss in Mama's Boy (the most perfect nude).

Horrible dark circles under my eyes are taken care of, thanks to Luxury Squared which has beta glucan, a good anti-inflammatory. It helps me look way more fresh than I feel!

I usually have about 3-5 back-to-back client meetings, peppered in with desk side meetings with magazine editors.

More often than not, I'll have a lunch meeting and if I'm lucky, it's at Fred's at Barneys, which is good because it's always nice to do a quick spin on the 4th floor shoe department. Too bad I have no product to help curb my sartorial cravings!

By the end of the day, I'm back in the home office to go over things on the Purple Lab front, look at new products and components, and blog.

6 or 7p.m., I'm likely off to an event that I'm planning for a client and if not, I'm working on newsletters for Purple Lab, brainstorming new products, or going over business budgets with Todd (my least favorite thing to do).

9p.m., Try to relax... while blogging!  And my makeup lasts all day! No smudging of mascara, thanks to tubing technology! Love that Lashionista Modelista, I have to say!


FSB: The line is now available on HSN. What's it like being on television? Spill!
Karen: It's amazing and scary at once. So much is going on and the pressure is out of control. While I'm doing my thing, I have to be aware of the flow of it all. There is a very short, designated amount of time per product. So I may have three minutes to get out ten minutes worth of information on one product! I have an earpiece in and the producer gives me cues - when to look at a certain camera, when to go to the before/after shots or an animation, when someone is calling in, etc. And there are three screens on view at all times - one shows what viewers see, another shows what's coming up and a third shows the sales. I try not to look at the sales - too scary and distracting. It's live so I cannot mess up. I have to be aware of the models, when I talk to them to show how products look on their skin and when not to do so. There is so much to think about! My heart is racing and I fear I am going to break out in hives every minute. It's a total rush, though. I love it!

FSB: What has been your greatest moment so far in your career? Describe your greatest accomplishment.
Karen: It is, without a doubt, creating Purple Lab and getting it off the ground in a down economy, when all odds were stacked up against me. I never put the dream aside, not when thirty-thousand components came damaged and I had to start over. Not when I was approaching personal bankruptcy. Not when I was trying to raise money after the stock market crash. Getting to HSN was the culmination of it all, everything I have always dreamed of doing and hoped for. To do it with my husband makes it even better.

FSB: What are five fun things that people don’t know about you?
Karen: I'm dying to have a home in the mountains with a teepee in the backyard and a massive tree house. Todd and I plan to name our future kids Rossi Wolf Jacob and Sivan Alaia. I love being in sweats more than anything else. Young, Fabulous & Broke Wide-Leg Zen pants are my favorite and I wear them every day. I have a weakness for Truffle Tremor cheese. OMG! Beyond. I have been known to bring it to the movies with spelt pretzels. Love a movie picnic. I'm an Aries with a Scorpio moon and an Aquarius rising. Makes total sense when you know me.


FSB: Actually, that explains a lot to me, believe it or not. ;) What’s the next move for the Purple Lab empire?
Karen: The focus is on new products and steadily growing the company. All of our energy is on HSN at the moment and we just want that to be the biggest success we can imagine. And I have a HUGE imagination so there are high standards to live up to.

Be on the look out for Pearlesque Show, a silicone-free primer with crushed pearls, honey, and kiwi at the end of the month along with a new shade of Lashionista Modelista called Modern Classic (navy) and four shades of Huge Lips Skinny Hips. I'm also working on two new eye products for July.

Look for Karen and Purple Lab to go back on HSN live next week on April 29th and 30th, where you can learn all about her and Purple Lab's fabulous products! Be there, people!

FSB On the Scene: Alice + Olivia By Stacey Bendet Shop Opening at Saks Fifth Avenue New York

Who doesn't love a fabulous party, especially when you get to party and shop at the same time? Everyone knows I love a good soiree, so when I got an invitation to celebrate the launch of the new Alice + Olivia by Stacey Bendet store at Saks Fifth Avenue, you know I was there to check out the scene. I mean, when the designer who does the cutest party clothes on Earth invites you to a party, you go.

This was an amazing evening. The Fifth Floor at Saks' New York flagship was transformed with a DJ station, a bar and a step-and-repeat where celebrities galore posed for photos in support of Stacey and her amazing store launch. The drinks were flowing and we were treated to one of the coolest things I've ever seen or heard in my life: DJ duo Mia Moretti and Caitlin Moe turned the party into the hottest nightspot in town with their live DJ / electric violin hybrid performance.  Seriously, everyone at the party gathered around to check out this amazing scene. It sounded absolutely fabulous and you could hear all of us saying, "This is a department store? This is AMAZING!” They added such a vibrant accent to the party and the clothes.

Celebrities galore arrived in style as well. Melissa Joan Hart, Shiri Appleby,Tinsley Mortimer, Shontelle, Richie Rich, Fabiola Beracasa, Byrdie Bell, Becca Diamond, Cory Kennedy, and so many others arrived in - what else? gorgeous Alice + Olivia clothes.

 Designer Stacey Bendet with Gossip Girl's Kelly Rutherford and Matthew Settle

 Hold onto your hats, Gossip Girl fans: Kelly Rutherford and Matthew Settle arrived for a cocktail and with all the mixing and mingling, I wound up chatting with Matthew. See photo evidence of how gorgeous and nice he is in person here.

Gossip Girl's Kelly Rutherford and Matthew Settle

 But what would an Alice + Olivia party be without the stunning clothes! The shop at Saks is truly gorgeous, with rows of the Spring collection just ripe for the picking. I personally have my eye on just about everything, but some personal picks for everyone's wardrobe would be the Sequined Crochet Shrug ($484) for instant glamour and this Cowlneck Silk Dress ($242) for day-to-night glamour. I personally have my eye on about twelve things from the collection, but that shrug and I have to become friends very soon. So amazing.

The hilarious and very sweet Richie Rich, formerly of Heatherette

Even though you couldn't make it to this fabulous evening with Alice + Olivia and my beloved Saks Fifth Avenue, I definitely encourage you to slip into some of designer Stacey Bendet's gorgeous clothes. After all, life's really a party if you think about it. Dress accordingly.

Legendary Style: The CFDA Barbie Basics Tweet-Up and Doll Collection

We get a lot of invitations as fashion and beauty bloggers but there are some that make you giddy for days. Especially when they involve the world's most famous doll. I received a pretty pink invite for one of fashion's legends and dropped everything to be there. Oh yes, folks, we're talking about original style icon: Barbie.

The CFDA had twelve designers create their version of the eponymous LBD (Little Black Dress) as part of the Barbie Basics collection in collaboration with Mattel. In order to mark the occasion, fashion and beauty's bloggerati arrived dressed in Little Black Dresses to honor our favorite doll. We had a chance to view the swoon-worthy dolls in person and if you're a lifelong fan of the Barbie like me, you'll pass out. Let's take a look, shall we?

 

Kate Spade's Barbie has her legendary uptown chic style and it comes with a fabulous necklace.

 

The Lorraine Schwartz Barbie is covered in almost $10,000 worth of diamonds, including the insignia "B" pendant and diamond insteps on her shoes? And you thought your shoe collection was expensive.

 

The Devi Kroell Barbie comes with sequined leggings and a signature bag by the designer. As a HUGE Devi Kroell fan, I came close to passing out.

 

My favorite Barbie of the night was from one of my all-time favorite accessories designers, Justin Guinta, who happened to be on-hand at the event to discuss the doll he designed for his line, Subversive. I even had a chance to speak with him briefly about his Barbie and he essentially translated his mixed material luxe style into something that his customer, Barbie, would wear. It was a dream come true for the designer and, of course, if you buy his Barbie, it comes with one of his signature necklaces. More from Justin coming soon. I feel you need to know more about this designer and his magical confections.

So many other designers, so little time! Betsey Johnson, Phillip Crangi, Alexis Bittar, Isaac Mizrahi and others donated time and efforts to design these amazing dolls. Unfortunately,the auction has ended but it's not too late to get your hands on a Barbie Basics doll for yourself or a budding fashionista you might know for just $21.99, available at Toys-R-Us locations around the country. The dolls are amazing and come in different skin hues, hair lengths and cute LBDs. 

What a night: LBDs, Barbies and my fellow fashion and beauty lovers. It was an occasion that was worth getting all dolled up for.

FSB on the Scene: M•A•C Pro-to-Pro Body Painting Networking Event at the Pro Store in NYC

Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce FSB's new Contributing Beauty Editor, the fabulous Eileen Dautruche from the fabulous site, Miss Whoever You Are!  Eileen hit the scene for FSB last Friday night and here's her report from the fabulous M.A.C party:

Last Friday, Manhattan's boldest (and myself) stepped into the colorful world of M•A•C Cosmetics to witness the art of body painting done right. With bubbly in hand, I "oohed" and "ahhhed" my way around the M•A•C Pro store where 12 models stood in nothing but body paint (defintiely not a job for the meek!) This year's showcase was a typography theme.

Nothing short of amazing, each model was styled in such a way that the writing covered them head to toe. According to M•A•C Senior Makeup Artist Keri B (MAC_Keri_B on Twitter), it took several hours to perfect each model and many days of practice.

It was in this setting that one sees why M•A•C is the often preferred brand for makeup artists and consumers alike. Below are some more snaps of the evening's festivities (and my personal faves)...

On The Scene: The Fine Art of Family Blogger Party with Monica Rich Kosann

I recently attended a party for Monica Rich Kosann's project, The Fine Art of Family, and it just warmed me to the core. Monica, a fine-art portrait photographer and fine jewelry designer, has launched a project that explores the memories that are most precious to us and the unique stories behind how these memories are expressed and celebrated through prized heirlooms, photographs and collections. The event was held at the gorgeous Town and Country Showcase Apartment in Soho and was co-hosted by actor/director Tony Goldwyn (one of my favorites of all time). It was a glamorous, lovely evening.

Each of us was asked to bring an heirloom and we shared the memories around our treasured items. Many people had such lovely stories and it was so nice to see how inspired so many of us become when speaking about these photos and treasures that are so near and dear to our hearts. And talk about lucky, my friend Dina from eye4style won a locket. Check it out!

If you want to learn more about The Fine Art of Family, you can discover more about the project here. Monica has also published a book based on the project, The Fine Art of Family (MRK Fine Arts, 2004), which contains her amazing photography and thoughts and is a fabulous coffee table book for yourself or a loved one. You should also peruse Monica's brilliant name-brand fine jewelry, which is sold in more than seventy select stores across the country, including Bergdorf Goodman, Barneys New York, and Neiman Marcus. This gorgeous Large Vine Image Case Pendant ($465) is an amazing way to start an heirloom jewelry collection.

A lovely night was had by all and has inspired me to make a toast: here's to the making, capturing and treasuring of many more good memories to come for us all. Cheers.

On the Scene: MAC Viva Glam VI Launch Party with Cyndi Lauper and Lady Gaga

Last night, I attended the announcement of M•A•C Cosmetics’ new spokeswomen for the next Viva Glam campaign and guess who it is? Cyndi Lauper and Lady Gaga! LOVE IT!

The fabulous ladies will be the faces of the newest campaign, entitled “From Our Lips,” and it will come out on Feb. 25. Each star will have their own lipstick and M•A•C Viva Glam Gaga Lipstick and Viva Glam Cyndi Lipstick ($14 each) will be available at your friendly neighborhood MAC counter here in the states on March 18, then globally throughout the month. 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the M•A•C AIDS Fund, which has invested an amazing $150 million since its inception in 1994.

More information closer to the launch but get excited about this launch for 2010 because these fabulous colors are definitely for girls who wanna have fun, especially when they wear it on their poker face. :)

On The Scene: Inside the YSL Parisienne Launch Masquerade Ball

Last week I crawled off my post-flu recovery bed to don a mask and hang out in style with the Pretty People at the YSL Parisienne Masquerade Ball/ Perfume Launch Party. Held at the Angel Orensanz Foundation on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the venue was sexy sweet, complete with blush pink backlighting, antique-looking chandeliers with glowing candles and hundreds of vases of blush roses.



Models, editors and other industry types (and those who hang with them) came out to dance to Leigh Lezark and The Misshapes throwing down on the turntables while Alexandra Richard played consummate host. The "mask required" mandate on the invite didn't keep anyone from showing up; the line to get in was around the block and security kept some latecomers at bay for what seemed like hours.



My crew was inside right as the party began and amid macaroons, freely flowing champagne and videos of Kate's seductive commercial playing all around the venue, we partied well into the night to celebrate the launch of this seductive fragrance. Have you seen this commercial? The video is below but let's me warn you: it's steamy. Get the kiddies out of the room.





I have to say, it was quite the celebration and the perfume is to die for. Go check it out at your local Sephora. You might be inspired to give someone a little French kiss. Yes, like the party inspired by the fragrance, it's just that sexy.

Fashionable Cause: Hey Guys, Throw Away the Razor and Sign Up For MOVEMBER!

Just so you know, we're not all about the ladies here on FSB. We love the guys as well so when we got an invitation to attend the kick-off party for MOVEMBER at the Openhouse Gallery in NoLita, we jumped at the chance. Tons of cute guys, cocktails and a silent art auction for a great cause? Sign us up!

What is MOVEMBER? Ok, a little backstory here. Once upon a time (2003 to be exact), some guys were hanging around a bar in Australia talking about how it was time to bring the moustache back. Looking for a reason to explain the facial hair revolution, this lovely group of gents decided to grow their mos (Australian for "moustache") as part of a fundraiser to raise money and awareness for prostate cancer. What started as a little initiative between friends has now turned into a worldwide movement to raise money for all cancers affecting men.

How does it work? Well, first of all your favorite man (and that could be you, dude) should register on their website. Then it's really simple: you start the month of November off completely clean-shaven and work on your masterful facial hair all through the month as part of a fundraiser. At the end of the month, there's always a huge gala and all of the Tom Selleck/Joaquin Phoenix look-alikes posture in a costume that best suits his moustache style for the ultimate prize, Man of Movember. The money raised as part of the initiative is split between the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the Lance Armstrong Foundation.



So, gents, sign up to raise money (and finally cultivate that fine Tom Selleck moustache you've been wanting all this time) and ladies, you can participate by sending this post along to your guy friends and recruiting participants. It's for a great cause, folks. Sign up to participate in MOVEMBER and let's kick prostate cancer where it really hurts.

Beauty Buzz: Lipstick Queen Wants to Get You Fired Up About Your Fifteen Minutes of Fame

Last night, I was invited to the headquarters for the amazing cosmetics line Lipstick Queen with a select group of bloggers (that's us above, l-r is me, Jamie Allison Sanders, Carolyn Hsu, Lipstick Queen's Poppy King, Felicia Sullivan, Amber Katz and Dina Fierro) to see what new and fabulous lip products are coming forth. I am a HUGE fan of this label and was honored to have a chance to meet and chat with the brand’s founder, the fabulous Poppy King. Even though I was running slightly late (thank you again, F train), I made it just in time to get the scoop on what’s forthcoming.


Inspired by Andy Warhol’s comment that everyone in the world will be famous for fifteen minutes, the brand is launching their Fifteen Minutes of Fame Lip Gloss Collection ($16.50 each), a range of pop art-inspired colors that have gorgeous hues and incredible staying power. Each lip gloss is named for one of the fifteen minutes you’ll be famous and if you wear it, I dare say you’ll be ready for your close-up.


The other fabulous item they’re launching is this gorgeous Fired Up Power Gloss ($14), an event carpet-ready sheer red that is meant to inspire you to go out and conquer the world (Poppy is all about girl power, ladies.) Even better, 100% of the profits from the product will go to Count Me In, an organization that promotes and supports women's entrepreneurship and their financial independence. It's not available yet but like everything this fabulous, you can put yourself on the wait list...and you should.



I’m really a huge fan of the brand and even more so after reading Poppy’s book, Lessons of a Lipstick Queen, which tells how she founded her brilliant lipstick brand and gives tips and tricks to inspire you to follow your own dream you’d care to see fulfilled. Her charm and spirit really comes through in this book so if you're looking for inspiration to follow your dreams, look no further than this worthy tome.

Between the brilliant packaging, the stays-on-forever formulas and the gorgeous hues, Lipstick Queen is one of my favorite beauty brands and it’s bound to be yours as well. Nab a tube or two of this amazing gloss or one of their mind-blowing lipsticks and you too might discover your inner Lipstick Queen.

Friday Fun Time: Sumo Wrestling and Cupcakes Will Make You Love Your Thighs

Want to see something hilarious? OK, so earlier this week, a bunch of us were invited to a Tweet-Up with Purple Lab NYC at the Church Street Boxing Gym (which, let me just tell you, is chock full of sweaty hot guys - I need to go back soon). This little event was to enjoy some girl bonding time with Crumbs cupcakes, FYXX Energy Water and...sumo wrestling!

Yes, that's right, the double-duty beauty company that brought you Huge Lips, Skinny Hips lip gloss decided that it's time for us to take one of their lip colors literally, so in celebration of the color Love Your Thighs they wrapped us in sumo wrestling suits and had us throw it down in the ring. I'm the second match, where I take on Felicia Sullivan (@felsull on Twitter) and even though it appears I beat her, she smoked me in the second two rounds (never make a Brooklyn girl take off her earrings.)

As you know, I'm a huge fan of the lip glosses, so I would advise picking up some Love Your Thighs lip gloss right about now. After all, if you don't love your thighs (and I got into a sumo suit to prove you should, so give me a break), most likely nobody else will.

FSB On The Scene: Private Screening of "The September Issue"

Last night I attended a fantastic private screening of the long-awaited fashion and publishing documentary, The September Issue, a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Vogue's September 2007, which, when published, was the largest magazine issue ever released. The event was held at the super sleek Bryant Park Hotel (where most of us live and breathe during Fashion Week) in their private screening room and the well-dressed crowd included online media and a fun celebrity spotting: Jeff Lewis and Jenni Pulos from Bravo's Flipping Out were there as well!



The evening began with a quick Q&A with the film's director, RJ Cutler, and then the lights went down. You notice unlike most posts, there are no photos from the event. That's because this movie is under such tight wraps to protect it from piracy that there was no flash photography or video allowed inside. This is fine because this is a movie that is truly best viewed on a big screen, popcorn in hand and surrounded by your favorite fashion-mad friends. There's drama, intrigue, fashion, squabbles with photographers and a copious amount of behind-the-scenes access of Anna Wintour's life that has never been allowed on camera before. The movie has drama, comedy (Grace Coddington is truly hilarious on camera) and jaw-dropping footage of what it takes to make such a film. There's even footage of the editing of the cover, where they try to figure if the neck of one shot works better with the head of another (Vogue airbrushing at work). I'm quite the connoisseur of fashion documentaries and I must say that when I left the screening, I was extremely satisfied. If you've not seen the trailer, you can watch it here:




I don't want to give too much away but I must highly recommend you see this film. The film will be playing in limited release on five or so screens here in New York on August 28th, then on September 11th it will open in wide release in Los Angeles and other cities. You've heard the hype and I'm here to say that it's well-earned: go see this movie!

FSB On the Scene: Isaac Mizrahi for Liz Claiborne Fall Ad Campaign Party

Last week, the fashion and beauty bloggerati were invited to the Liz Claiborne showroom in the garment district for a private party with Creative Director Isaac Mizrahi and the team to preview the fall collection and watch some extremely entertaining behind-the-scenes documentaries of the making of the Fall 2009 ad campaign. We dined, we had cocktails, we had a blast! That's me with Glam's Nola Weinstein, Isaac Mizrahi himself, Tracy Lomrantz from Glamour and Aly Walansky smiling in the background.



Here are some showroom shots of the fabulous clothes and accessories available for Liz for fall. The clothes are good classic, wearable silhouettes but with Isaac's love of vibrant color and discerning eye for details. All of the wit and impeccable details you've loved Mizrahi for are now available at Liz Claiborne and it looks good, people.



The accessories are also to die for. See that slouchy silver hobo in the middle and the structured red weekender on the left? Those are must-haves for Fashion Week for me. Sumptuous materials in the use of these bags, amazing construction - a fantastic merge of the classic Liz Claiborne style but with the style and panache that is all Isaac Mizrahi.

There were amazing martinis, snacks, popcorn and beanbag chairs for movie viewing, then cupcakes and a take-away candy table from my all-time favorite, Dylan's Candy Bar. There was even a weekend tote filled with fun giveaways and I'm giving it away this week so stay tuned!

Time at these super fun soirees are never as much without your besties there and we were out in full force that night. From l-r, we have Dee Nuncio (TheCandidCommentary), Aly Walansky (eBeautyDaily), me, don't know the two people at the top, Dina Fierro (eye4style), Felicia Sullivan, Sarah Conley (StyleIt) and Carolyn Hsu (The Daily Obsession). Thanks to Karen Robinovitz, Purple Lab NYC's Creatrix and party planner extraordinaire, for throwing such an amazing party!

Please do view Isaac's picks from the collection on the Liz site, then get ready to add to your wardrobe. The kids may have back-to-school but these Liz Claiborne pieces for Fall '09 will have you back-to-fabulous!

FSB On the Scene: Ted Gibson Celebrates His New Gig on "What Not To Wear"

No doubt you've heard the news that TLC's What Not To Wear has a new hair guru and it's none other than legendary stylist Ted Gibson! Oh yes, ladies: not only will Clinton and Stacy be unfrumping (yes, I made that up) hapless folks across the country but their hair will now be in the capable hands of the mane man for Anne Hathaway, Angelina Jolie, Diane Von Furstenberg and countless other media mavens, socialites and fashionistas. Last night, Ted had a little soiree at his Fifth Avenue salon to celebrate his new part time gig and Fashion.Style.Beauty was on the scene. When I tell you that Ted is not only the consummate host but one of the nicest, most genuine people you will ever meet, I'm not overstating matters.

When I asked Ted why he decided to take on the TLC gig, he said that it's all about bringing the experience of luxury to everyday people, that you shouldn't have to be wealthy or a celebrity to know how to look your absolute best. He's putting his money where his mouth is: his amazing line of hair products are now available at Target! I'm obsessed with the Ted Gibson Hairsheets ($24.95), a quick conditioning treatment you can simply wipe on, brush and go. Perfect for the gym bag, people.


So learn a little more about the genius that is Ted Gibson, then tune in tonight to watch What Not To Wear. Things just got a little more fabulous around here.

FSB On the Scene: Runway Training with Purple Lab NYC

I've already told you my love knows no bounds for Huge Lips, Skinny Hips, the lip-plumping-appetite-suppressing-attitude-enhancing lip gloss from innovative cosmetics brand, Purple Lab NYC. Last week, some of us online media mavens put our stilettos where our mouths were at their Runway Training event. Oh yes, you heard right: the media who judges the catwalk stunners received training from legendary runway coach and model industry legend Drew Lineham on how to get a catwalk-worthy strut. Why, you ask? Well, simply put: if you're going to wear cosmetics that enhance your sex appeal, you should really know what to do with it. I personally like to think of working what you got as handing someone the keys to a really fabulous sports car - of course it's sexy, but you gotta know how to drive it.

But it was truly fantastic: a bunch of fun ladies giggling with cupcakes, slathering on their Worship Kate lip gloss and discovering their own runway stride. Video and photos from the event are forthcoming but I must report that yours truly was told that she has runway potential (as did Purple Lab's Creatix Karen Robinovitz, seen in the photo with Drew, our coach)! Evidently, the trick is to pull your spine straight, throw your shoulders back and walk in long, even strides before you strike a pose at the end of the runway. Try this anywhere you like and create your "signature walk." I personally like to try this at the grocery store: the long aisles give me plenty of room. You think I'm kidding, but I'm not. :)

Want to work your own attitude complete with thick glossy lips and thinner hips? Get your own tube of Huge Lips, Skinny Hips online at online at bglowing.com or head to fab retailers like Scoop, C.O. Bigelow and a personal favorite, Bliss.

Look for more videos and coverage from this event to come!

FSB On The Scene: Red Flower Rooftop Party

When I got the invite to attend the Red Flower Rooftop party to launch the gorgeous new scent, Wander:Lust, I had to admit that even though I tend to stay on top of the scene in NYC, I honestly didn't know that the Cooper Square Hotel existed. Was I ever surprised to walk into this sleek venue and hit this fabulous party! The gorgeous boutique hotel is actually built into surrounding structures so you almost can't see it but for a cocktail, dinner or just generally being fabulous, this hotel and its penthouse (which is where the party happened) was well worth the trip. I highly recommend taking it in.


During the course of the event, I got a chance to speak with Red Flower creator Yael Alkalay about the sexy Wanderlust scent she designed for the Cooper Square Hotel amenities. A mixture of water, steel, violet, white woods and resin, the gorgeous candles are under production and will be available via the hotel mini-bar soon but the super sexy body wash and lotion are already in rooms now. Did you get a shot of that bathtub above? Add these products and you're looking at one hot night in the city.


Red Flower's products make for an amazing vibe in your own home. Because we all know about my proclivity for a fabulously scented abode and body, I recommend the Moroccan Rose Petal Topped Candle ($34) to transform any space and my new favorite body wash, the Japanese Peony Purifying Body Wash ($20) to create a gorgeous shower experience.

All in all, whether it's sexy time atop the Manhattan skyline or a staycation at home with exotic scents, Red Flower is the go-to label for all things scented and fabulous.