6.08.2011

WEDNESDAY WONDER ♥ BLACK BEAUTIES

Bravo AGAIN to Italian Vogue for publishing yet ANOTHER all-black beauty fashion story in their normal May issue (normal as in this isn't an all-black issue like they have done in the past...it's a regular issue of Italian Vogue). And it's so so gorgeous. I love how they showcase these dark lovelies...the same way they showcase anyone else. And how it really and truly proves how different all the girls are and you can't just plonk one in a story and expect her to represent all the darker girls in the world. Tribute to Black Beauties is shot by Ellen Von Unwerth and styled by Giulio Martinelli. GOR-GEOUS!

is that Leomie?!
amazing styling. amazing shoes!
gorg'...



the look on the left is awesome!


more wednesday wonder ♥ sergio zambon

all images from vogue.it (love it)

6.07.2011

TUESDAY TAILOR ♥ RIP BIJAN بیژن پاکزاد

an amazing Bijan advert from the 80s/90s featuring model Niki Khalatbari.
I had intended on doing a bit on the passing of designer BIJAN (pronounced "Bee-Zhan"...like "Zsa Zsa") earlier.  I finally had time to sit and find the adverts I wanted for the post. When I was growing up in LA, I could not avoid seeing/hearing/knowing of the designer. It was the late 80s and early 90s, and Bijan was on fire. His billboards were all over Los Angeles, his boutique was touted as the most expensive shop on Rodeo Drive and his signature fragrance was everywhere...you could not avoid it. All that on top of his being Persian (which I am), made his name very popular in my family circle.  I was never really into the Bijan brand...but I was fascinated by his popularity. And I did always hear about his model Niki Khalatbari, because someone in my family had a huge crush on her and thought she was the end-all-be-all. You can see her in most of the adverts in this post.




Bijan was part of a slew of very-bougie Rodéo (Drive) brands that ruled the world back in the 80s...another brand that comes to mind is Giorgio of Beverly Hills. Same yellows and same decadence. It's just so over the top, which is how the 80s and 90s really were. Lots of make up, lots of perfume (strong/heavy fragrance) and lots of showing your money. This was not a wallflower brand at all. I won't get into all the details of Bijan, but you can read more here about him (you'll notice there's another advert with Bijan and Michael Jordan). He was a key player in the game for a very long time, and a key figure if you grew up in Los Angeles during his reign. I read the children are running the biz now, and I hope they do well. When I looked at the website, it looked pretty bad. So dunno. Even though it wasn't my taste, I still felt blue when he passed. Bijan is a very big part of fashion history (and Persian business) from that era and from LA. (According to the 2001 Los Angeles Times Calendar Section, the Bijan Perfume and Fashion Business has brought in an estimated $4 billion in sales worldwide....uh...exactly.)♡

i remember this two-page spread in so many magazines when i was little.
and this one.

an iconic LA billboard with Bijan and Bo Derek.
more pics of Bijan on the road...
even more billboards...see i wasn't kidding!
Bijan, the boutique
inside the boutique.
one of his many cars...Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe...
even more crazy cars...i think this is the a Bugatti Veyron...
RIP Bijan
Bijan and his son (left) and daughter (right).

So 80s...so 80s Beverly Hills....




more tuesday tailor ♥ agnes b. boy

i have to find my image credits list and post it here!

6.06.2011

MAKEUP MONDAY ♥ BEAUTY SECRETS 2

After years and years of keeping my favorite things (or some of them) out of the magazine beauty stories I've written, I have decided to share some of them with you. I didn't ever really do those types of beauty stories like your top 10 eye creams or whatever. I just don't write for those kinds of magazines. So maybe that's why I never divulged these things in my articles. 

Recently I have reunited with a product I used for eons a long time ago. I don't know why I stopped. Maybe I didn't need it or maybe I was using something sent to me. But I really needed something and I remembered it and now I will never be without it. It's JASON NATURAL PRODUCTS ESTER-C HYPER-C SERUM. There's a ton of complicated stuff written online and on the box about how it works and what's in it, but it's way too mind-boggling for me to retype here, so you can read it yourself if you like. But I will say that it's obviously a concentrated vitamin C product and also has Sodium Hyaluronate in it....what's that? Well, the Archives of Dermatology said it is one of three anti-aging treatments available that are proven to be clinically effective (the other two were retinol and laser resurfacing).

ONE OF MY BEAUTY SECRETS: HYPER-C SERUM BY JASON NATURAL PRODUCTS

Aside from all of that stuff...I'VE USED THIS FOR AT LEAST 10 YEARS. I started skincare very young...as a very young teen my mother had me on a skincare program (or introduced me to a skincare program) that also included eye cream. And thank goodness for that. I don't remember when I discovered the Hyper-C Serum, but I've been using other Jason products for years...especially the Apricot deodorant. But back to the Hyper-C. I used this a lot especially when I lived in New York and was playing hard. I would go to about 2 or 3 events/parties a day/night for about 5-6 days a week. That, in addition to the East Coast weather extremes, really affected my skin. The Hyper-C Serum  fixes things on your skin....like magic. I'm not kidding. It also makes your skin supple and soft. It smells a bit of citrus, which is also nice. And then when the winter comes and your skin feels dry and cracked, you can wear it under your moisturizer and your skin won't crack or dry out. It helps blemishes and fine lines and just makes me feel like myself when my skin is acting crazy. It's about $36 a bottle (1 oz)....but you don't have to use it every day. Just when you need it in addition to a couple of times a week. I think if they did adverts for this product, it would cost over $100 because it's so good. But JASON products don't advertise and the packaging is simple. I love JASON products...the apricot deodorant, as well as the moisturizers and bath products. Try them out and C. OH....PS...the products are ALL affordable and you're getting good product...and PPS....I have normal-to-dry, really sensitive and prone to break-outs (if I don't take care of it) skin....

...and if you were wondering what was BEAUTY SECRET 1....it was when I revealed my all-time favorite perfume.♡

OTHER JASON PRODUCTS I LOVE LOVE: APRICOT DEODORANT STICK...HAVE USED THIS FOR PROBABLY OVER 10 YEARS...NO KIDDING. LOVE IT. CAN'T USE ANYTHING ELSE.

ANOTHER PRODUCT I LOVE LOVE...HAVE USED FOR A WHILE...MAYBE 5 YEARS....JASON 25000 I.U. VITAMIN E AGE RENEWAL MOISTURIZING CREME. AMAZING. THEY ALSO HAVE ONE WITH 5000 I.U.'S IF YOU THINK YOU NEED SOMETHING LIGHTER.

more makeup monday ♥ lollipop girls

images from jason-natural.com

6.05.2011

SUNDAY MATINEE ♥ BARBARA HULANICKI

I can't believe I've never seen this video or knew that BIBA creator BARBARA HULANICKI has a YouTube channel after all this time! This video below is short, but gorgeous. Why-Oh-Why can't someone back her and re-produce the entire lot from back then including the cosmetics and the accessories? And do it right by hiring her to do it? I just do not get it. Anyway, happy Sunday and enjoy! (This video is actually a promo for the TopShop collection she did a while ago.)♡




Barbara Hulanicki drawing those gorgeous fashions.
vintage biba! gorgeous. i would kill to walk into a shop and see this jacket plus the lariat and the hat with veil. sigh.
inside biba back in the day.


more sunday matinee ♥ bardi johannsson from bang gang

images are screen captures from the vid.