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Beauty Blog (Archive)
Saturday, November 29, 2003
posted by TheBroadroom.Net at
8:12 PM (Pacific)
Here is the second part (scroll down to read part 1 if you haven't):
well it's Sat morning and I know Susan is out for the count..... at least a while. I do my usual gig--workout and then shower and get ready. I need serious caffeine infusion and so I run to continental breakfast and pick up 2 more cups of tea and then grab a muffin for Susan. By the time I get back and make some calls to confirm things with people and
talk to others whom I had missed the three days prior, Susan starts to surface and she starts to move..... and we realize we are running behind. But we are out of the hotel and hitting pavement fast! We are meeting one of Susan's friends along with EMiriamD and Alexandra from MUA ( aka lazyoxen
for anyone who knows her ) anyway we hooked up at the great american health bar restaurant to have lunch.
EMD is a lovely tall strawberry blonde with a great hair cut and the best taste in clothing . of course if you know both of us we talked leather fashions too! (ggg). Alexandra I have known for eons since the lipstick page and beauty buzz first started.... remember Mikki's swap page? that's where
we met too. So we go way back. Susan's friend Dennis was a brave soul. Not only tall and extremely good looking , he was willing to brave the stores with four women with varied amts of beauty and fashion addiction. (truly..... we are all addicted!) anyway . Susan and Dennis chatted while
EMD, Alexandra and I talked and talked and talked! We had a great lunch and since I had more food than I was used to for breakfast (fruit, tea, and half a roll) I had a health shake (the chocolate one with non milk, non fat froz yogurt and chocolate. YUM) And they thought I was crazy. I stole croutons from Miss A's salad and it was really good.
We were just down the street from Bergdorf so we hit there to see the beauty dept and to hook up with SH (from earlier in the week and she knows Alexandra aka Miss A too) Anyway we walked in through one door and I swear each store gets better and better with the decorations for the holiday
season.. WOW ..... We go downstairs for cosmetics and I am nearly blown away with the extent of the dept. I had been there once before a long time ago and this was way different than I remember! We walked through exploring and
found some amazing things. I talked to Paul and Joe Beaute(omg you have to see this line. WAY cool. soooooooooo great and the pkging is fab too. Reminiscent of Stila but has such detail and great designs --very Japanese
influenced... like the old Japanese art work from the 19th century. The pink holiday collection lipstick I am coveting and I really want to get that one. I talked to the head MA for the line as well as the one for the little kiosk.... anyway I ran across Amore Pacific skincare which I had heard
about and wanted more information. The person, Kira, was exceptionally helpful and I was pleasantly surprised to find this was primarily a holistic/organic meets hi tech delivery system line. It's really cool and Kira was kind enough to give me samples. I made notes on the line and will be calling back! I checked out all the different lines and found EMD and Miss A talking about a great Creed scent... Tabarome Millenisme I think. EMD!!! what was the name?? It's been released to stores and I think it's a reissue. Anyway
we sprayed it on Dennis and then everyone took a whiff! OMG !! It's exceptionally sexy.... and a great fragrance. It makes you want to take a bite out of someone wearing it..... and snuggle up. Even hours later, Dennis smelled fab!!
( we all had a great time sniffing his neck! We even have photos! Of course Dennis is 6 feet and I was on tip toe and couldn't stay up there at that altitude that long!)
So EMD and Dennis each got samples and we blitzed through BG . SH and her friend Ellen (different from AF) had a great time and they got some photos of us too. It was a really fun time. Had such a blast. Checked out Jo Malone counter and more... lots of skincare, I would have to check my little bags for samples to give you a list of what I saw and liked.
SH and Ellen had more shopping to do at BG and I was sorry that we couldn't stay longer but there was a Sue Devitt PA at Barneys and I needed to get there --as well as Susan since they sold her the foundation and other stuff twice... We hustled up the avenues through a tiny bit of Central Park and watched some of the street theater/dancers.... what a hoot! We walked by the Pierre hotel and then over to Barneys and into the mens' store. We saw the most icky looking sweater and I would have to ask Miss A and EMD exactly the
design. I can see it in my mind but it was honestly one of the worst color combos in green that I had seen. (and it was on display too!) Heading down past the jewelry (sigh) and accessories, we go into the foundation and the cosmetic dept is jammed! Sue Devitt is there and we meet her (Susan runs into her again in the ladies room and they chat a long time
about some stuff) . I talk to her pr and to Sue Devitt about stuff for holiday and what's coming for Spring /Valentine's day. If you haven't seen the water tints from SD, you should check it out. It's non oil based. aka WATER based (for all those with oily skin) and it doesn't crease. I repeat,
it doesn't crease!! Susan did her return and I went over to the Susanne Lange booth that was doing quite well. Miss A picked up a single note sample of Cassis (lovely!)
and so did a couple other people. I explored more of Francesca Guerrera and picked up a split pan compact with bronzer and blush. Really pretty! Loved the Oro golden cream powder too.
We decided that Takashimaya was next on the list and so we said a sad farewell to Barneys (one of my fave stores) and started walking. Dennis and Sue were walking together and EMD and Miss A and I were all commmenting about what a cute couple they made. (they do!) and we lost them at one
light. We hung out and waited and talked about people we knew and lines and --of course for EMD and me, we talked about leather clothes! Catching up, we kept Susan & Dennis busy talking with us as we head into Takashimaya.
Oohing and ahhing over the great simplicity and unique stuff, we went up to the sixth floor. We walked down the stairs through each floor ..... and we found the best teddy bear. It was superb. It was super squishy but it also bounced back. We all wanted one but at 38 per, it's not practical. (though I
so wanted one) So if you want a new teddy bear, get this one. It's super!
We loved the jewelry, the lingerie, the furnishing. the suede crocheted shawls and more (oh those were fabulous!) and we went out the door without buying one thing (thank goodness) what a fab store! I can see why everyone loves it.
Anyway, we were heading down to Nolita to Pir and EMD had a prior engagement and had to leave. boo hoo. Wish you could have stayed with us. We will do it again EMD! I promise!! Anyway she and I need to do some serious talking as we have a lot of common interests and people!
With Miss A running ahead to grab us a cab, it's nothing flat before we are crawling into a cab and then jetting downtown.. or rather TRYING to jet downtown. The guy doesn't exactly KNOW where we are going but I gave him the coordinates and Miss A (thank goodness she knows where everything is. what a sweetie and the most gorgeous hair too) gave him some better directions. We went down the park ave tunnel and around grand central.... showed some NY people (*Dennis and originally Susan) something they hadn't seen. It was really cool. I had done it the day before and was craning my neck out the window as we winded through NYC's midsection. Anyway, as we head downtown I see things I recognize and realize I am starting to acclimate already! (what a shock) . We finally find Prince St and Elizabeth and get out and start to look for PIR -the cosmetics store. That's where I am meeting two pr people who rep the store and also Michelle 317 from Alt.fashion. I call Michelle on the cell and how funny is this..... she is standing outside the store and I am inside the store and she turns around and sees me on the cell. That was so funny! Anyway she comes in and we do a round of introductions. Dennis thinks it's SO FUNNY that none of us knew each other than from the net. He parks himself in the "husband/SO/bf chair" and promptly falls asleep. We look at all the nooks and crannies of the store. This is the antithesis of Sephora with WIDE aisles and great products and not a lot of people...... just able to look and play and touch and try out stuff. I found a fab brush set with a roll that I wound up buying for Susan as a gift since I had been staying with her gratis. She had no makeup brushes... not a single one and I thought she needed some serious help. This kit was similar to the one from Sephora for 45 but this one was black and had one brush less and it was just the essentials that Susan would need. I got to play with some stuff from tina earnshaw, kevin aucoin and also some other lines. I got a makeover courtesy of the two pr people... actually one of them is married to the owner of the store and since the owner also has 3 stores in Canada and does film make up work , he was gone and she was just checking out the store. She did a nice job and gave me some tips on working with KA foundation.... it looked so great that I bought it (42 for a tiny pot that is supposed to last a year. you thin it with some moisturizer or oil ) and it doubles as a concealer. NICE coverage that you can adjust.... and it holds up for a good long time. Got to try a nuder type of lip color and it made me think that the Julie Hewitt Nude Noir is something that I should try. (and I did.. love this color!)
We all gabbed a lot. Miss A eventually had to go and I was REALLY sorry to see her leave.... it was like meeting someone that I really knew..... and she was so cool. ( much like EMD..... you know that you know them and you feel so comfortable with them) She gave me a tiny sample jar of some skincare that her husband has dreamed up and I really like it. It can even be used over makeup!! (now that's a first!) and I am trying it out. so far so good.
Anyway, Susan has a makeover too. Dennis finally wakes up and Michelle who lives in the area finds out that she is pretty free that night and decides to join us in going back up town for dinner.... she is joining us for drinks. She has a b/f and she is leaving the next day for Fl to see her family and taking her dog..
So we walk down across NOLITA area and head past a lot of cool stores and Bliss spas and other places to catch a cab. Michelle heads down a line of cars that include a ton of cabs and snags one for us and we are off and running to catch that cab before the light changes. We pack like tiny sardines into the back seat and head up town to the China Grill. The guy messes up and drops us off early but that's ok since it's only a block or two before... so we pay him and off we go to China Grill. It's almost empty but they are totally booked for dinner BOO HOO> the food smelled divine and I suddenly realized I was hungry... So we start walking to 7th ave and 57th?? to Red Eye Grill where Susan and I had been earlier in the week. ( also past Ouidad's studio. did I mention that my hair hadn't been washed that day and still looked amazing?? WOW...... great cut, great style )They were booked solid too. however since I told the person at the desk that he had been so kind to us earlier in the week, he said for us to go to Shellys around the corner that was a sister restaurant and to use his name. And so off we went past Carnegie Hall and down to 6th ave..... or was it 5th?? anyway we go into Shellys, deliver the we were sent message and they find us a table upstairs in a corner overlooking the bar.... (and I do mean THE BAR.... where they are mixing drinks behind us)
I used the restroom and it was trippy. They even had an attendant who hands you towels ( I didn't think to bring my purse) and they had miniature candy bars in there too. How odd is that one? go use the lavatory and pick up a snickers on the way out?? no thanks!
Anyway Michelle finds out that her b/f isn't coming back till late so she is staying for dinner and we order dinner and a round of drinks and Susan and Dennis proceed to yammer on and Michelle and I are talking about what she does (freelance writer like me only she does crafts and illustrations for various magazines.. ) she's really fun. Has the nicest eyes and a great cut. She wears glasses too and she is fun, intelligent, and definitely interesting to talk with. I enjoyed talking to her about cosmetics, people, chocolate, the perils of freelance, traveling with kids and/or pets and other people we have in common... What a great meal. Dennis and Susan pass on dessert but Michelle and I cannot resist the dessert tray. We narrow the choices down to a chocolate extravaganza that looks huge and an apple tart with ice cream. The tart wins bec it is smaller and we definitely dig into it. Dennis is making fun of us since it is vanishing fast.
We head back towards the hotel after paying the bill (it's at least 8 pm now) and I spot a shop that has some duffel type bags for 20 bucks. I need one desperately since I had picked up more stuff on this trip than I had room for. Found an even better one inside the store and got it. I was so tired as I handed the guy my cc and he ran it and said it was being refused.... my jaw drops... then he hands it back to me. duh.. it was my Saks card. I smile and giggle and hand him the company mc and then it goes through. I walk off with a nice sized duffle that will hold everything I need.
We split up about 56th st since Michelle needs to go in the other direction (she had been to the Lilly Pulitzer sale in Pa. that day. I forgot to ask her what she found... ) We hug and promise to email and post! Such a great person. I really enjoyed meeting her. This trip has been so great that I really want to do it again with more time to hit museums and some sightseeing. I didn't see the Statue of Liberty like I wanted or the Empire State exc from a distance. I did pick up some pencils and post cards for the kid and her buddies..
We walk back to the hotel and walk a bit too far and have to walk back up sixth ave. We go in and get caught up in a massive tide of shiny red pants and jackets that are being worn by teens in for the macys thanksgiving parade.... and I do mean an ocean tide. There are at least 75 girls!! maybe a 100 ! The hotel is flooded with guests for the parade and I am glad I am leaving the next day. I realize that Dennis and Susan want to talk so I make my goodbyes to Dennis and head to the room to pack up. I check messages on the cell and find I have missed more people
ARGH..... so frustrating. My cell needed a charge
Anyway I decided not to call though I did leave some messages for my buds back in CA.
Oh forgot to tell you that earlier in the week at the first trip into Barneys I had a friends' Costume National scarf with me stuffed into my tote... (I do mean stuffed to cover my wallet and stuff) and by the time I head out for dinner and jump into the cab, I realize it is gone and that someone must have grabbed it since when I was there on Wed night there wasn't a lot of customers there ... and that I would have noticed it if it had fallen out.... so I scoured my brain, my NYC books and also some ads for some cashmere places. I found a great scarf with fringe in almost the same color in 100% cashmere. I got it for a great price and then carefully packed it away in the suitcase so that I wouldn't lose it.
She seemed delighted with the replacement when she got it and I was really happy about it. -relieved anyway...
Sat night I started to pack up some of my stuff and I was REALLY glad I had picked up the extra duffle. I got the hanging stuff packed and all the tights.. and the umbrella since the forecast was for clear skies
I pulled out my clothes for flying out the next day.. and I noticed that I had gotten a lot of wear from these things
grey suede pants, black leather pants, black wide leg theory low rise pants, theory jeans with no rear pockets, midnight blue valentino coat that Cofarb found me on Ebay... my Danier leather jacket, a short cropped black jacket that I got from Elke, an Anne Klein pink rayon top that had a lovely drape, a great Kenneth Cole sheer ivory shirt with pintucks (bought with Carol Corb) and an ivory camisole along with my black ariat boots and my mephisto. I wore my ferragamo pumps once during the rain (huge mistake) . and I didn't wear the skirt.... so I guess I didn't need that. I really wanted to find another top to wear to spice up things but never got the chance or found something I really wanted. didn't hit as many sample sales as I wanted to. did hit one with CK stuff on sale but stuff from 4k down to 1400 wasn't my kind of sale. saw a couple other things going on but just weren't me.
next day, I wake up early, do a modest workout and then head to the continental breakfast despite having already had 2 cups of tea. I needed MORE tea plus juice and fruit and a muffin for Susan.
I decide to finish packing up, dump a bunch of stuff that I was planning on dumping, give Susan more goodies and I am out the door earlier than expected and catch a cab where it's a quiet and lovely ride out to jfk.... and he only charges me 32 including toll and tip. I almost made the earlier flight but with 17 people ahead of me, it was unlikely I would be on that flight so I grabbed some water, magazines and a newspaper and settle in for wait with replenishment of a salad and more water and a krispy kreme. ( they need to be fresh to be good)
got home in one piece... drink a ton of water on the plane ( 2 liters) and was never so glad to see my SO and the kid.....
and then we went and picked up dinner to go... NYC Pizza and italian pasta. (am I NUTZ??) I was buzzing telling them all about what I did and when.... and I got all my laundry done that night and completely unpacked. However the emails and mail that stacked up was amazing.. not to mention the bundles. but now I have some stuff for secret santa (I have 3 to do) and caught up on one deadline, got 2 more to go. Picking up some new assignments and have to get some tearsheets out to some editors who are interested in seeing my work.
all in all a great trip. I had a blast... everyone... Susan, SH, Miss A, EMD, Michelle 317 and all the pr people were terrific... really fun, friendly and helpful.... loved the stores. next time I have to hit bendels..... which I had wanted to see ..
plus next time, time square, ground zero, century 21 and more sales!
;-)
sorry to ramble on so long!
Stevie
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