Archive for April, 2011

Fashion – “I visualize it in my head and I just do it”

Friday, April 22nd, 2011

“I don’t do sketching” designer Sigal Benabou reveals, “Clients will give me an idea of what they want, I visualize it in my head and I just do it.”

Creativity has always been Sigal’s greatest gift. She grew up in Israel and moved to the United States at the young age of 14 where her whole family was in the garment industry. Fashion was her destiny. “I always envisioned designing beautiful things as a child.”

Sigal began creating swimwear in 2007 and later extended to couture dresses and gowns. Her custom made designs first appeared in a gift shop at the Beverly Hills Peninsula. It wasn’t long before they caught the eyes of some of pop culture’s most stylish celebrities. “The first year I started designing my swimwear, I designed for Paris Hilton,” she recalls.

Sigal’s first suit sported a money print. She envisioned Paris wearing it because it was “Pink, Shiny, and Glittery.” She recalls the excitement of showing her new creation to her daughter Briquelle, after whom the company is named. A few months later, Sigal was indeed designing suits for Paris!

Sigal also fashioned attire for Japanese Rock Star Toshi Deyama of X-Japan, Whose 2010 North American reunion tour introduced Sigal’s attire to the nation. The fact the two diverse personalities like Paris Hilton and X-Japan are attracted to her work demonstrates Sigal’s aptitude and confidence. “I can create just about anything,” she adds.

Sigal’s label Briquelle by Sigal collection embodies the diversity, energy, and elegance of L.A. and Hollywood. In a town where wearing the same outfit twice is lethal, Sigal responds with reversible-print interchangeable swimsuits and 5-in1 dresses that can be worn as a strapless, skirt, or gown. “I work with all stretch fabric” she says, because the fabric embraces various body types that make you look and feel amazing!

Briquelle by Sigal designs personify a radiant sophistication for women who desire the finest hand made one of a kind couture who want to stand out on the cutting edge of fashion yet maximize the value of their purchase.

Sigal is currently launching her designs in Las Vegas’ MGM, Bellagio, and Venetian hotel boutiques. This summer Briquelle by Sigal will also debut in Europe! “God willing, I hope to see my art make it up there in the upper echelon of fashion. That would be a dream come true!”

Briquelle by Sigal designer couture is exactly what the fashion industry has been waiting for!

SIGAL BENABOU
Interviewed by: EDGAR AVENDANO
Interview date: March 29,2011

A heads up for a cure…

Friday, April 22nd, 2011

In honor of Mother’s Day, Hayden-Harnett, the luxury accessories brand, has created a gorgeous silk summer scarf using an excerpt from New York Times bestselling author, philanthropist and mother of five Brenda Novak’s upcoming novel INSIDE. Size is about 40″ X 40″.

The scarf will be sold on Gilt.com during the month of May (Gilt $60.00 sale price/retail price $120.00) with proceeds going toward the charity, Brenda Novak For The Cure of Diabetes. This organization, founded by Brenda, has raised over a million dollars for diabetes research in recent years, and she is continuing to fight the good fight. Her youngest son suffers from the disease.

Buyers of the scarf will receive an autographed copy of Brenda Novak’s upcoming beach read, INSIDE as their FREE gift with purchase.

Blossom Watch!

Thursday, April 21st, 2011

Lady Speed Stick by Mennen Fresh Infusions Antiperspirant & Deodorant Solid, Enchanted Cherry Blossom. Love it!

drugstore.com

Makeup and creams, Needles and lasers, Scalpels and sutures

Sunday, April 17th, 2011

Today, there are endless options to improve, tighten and refresh your complexion –O Magazine’s May issue reveals the best solutions/treatments for the categories listed below.

Makeup and creams
Needles and lasers
Scalpels and sutures

For each category, the in-book story features a beautiful woman with half her face au natural alongside the other half to reflect the after image.

In May’s iPad edition, the before image morphs into the after image as the user swipes to each category (as listed above), allowing users to see the aftermath of these beauty fixes.

How Far Would You Go?

See below for the breakdown of treatments and solutions included in each category.

Easy Does It: Makeup and Creams

A retinoid cream will help your skin build collagen and soften lines around the eyes and on the forehead.
$46 for 20-gram tube of generic tretinoin (brand name Retin-A); $21 for Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night

Slightly arched brows make your lids look more lifted.
$7 for Sally Hansen Raise Some Brows Slant Tip Tweezer; $14 for Nyx Eyebrow Kit

The fat pads under your eyes thin with age, creating shadows. A creamy concealer one shade lighter than your skin tone helps illuminate your undereye area.
$35 for Mally Beauty Cancellation Conditioning Conceale

Nasolabial folds (the lines running from the corners of the nose to the corners of the mouth) are the result of volume loss in yourcheeks. They’ll be less noticeable if you create the illusion of higher cheekbones: Blend a cream blush above the apples of your cheeks.
$10 for Revlon Cream Blush in Berry Flirtatious

A chin-length hairstyle that’s slightly shorter around the face than in the back will give your face a lift. A few shorter layers at your crown create height that offsets drooping in your lower face.
$50 to $500 for a great haircut.

You can fade brown spots with a lotion containing hydroquinone. And if you don’t want the spots to return, sunscreen is a must, every day, rain or shine.
$39 for Glytone Fading Lotion; $30 for 28.35-gram tube of prescription hydroquinone; $10 for Coppertone Oil Free Foaming Sunscreen SPF 75

The Middle Way: Needles and Lasers

Botox can soften the grooves between your brows and across your forehead. If the lines are deep, your doctor can also inject a hyaluronic acid filler, like Restylane, in the lines to achieve total smoothness.
$400 for Botox; $600 for Restylane

Botox injections can make your crow’s-feet disappear.
$400 for treatment

A hyaluronic acid filler with a very soft consistency (like Juvéderm Ultra) can be injected in the tear troughs to plump sunken areas under the eyes.
$600 for treatment

Injecting a hyaluronic acid filler (like Juvéderm UltraPlus and Perlane) in the cheeks will lift that area and soften the nasolabial folds. Results last six months to one year. Injections of your own fat sometimes last longer but require a two-part procedure— the fat must first be suctioned from your thighs or buttocks.
$600 for hyaluronic acid filler; $1,500 for fat transfer.

Fillers can add definition to a softening jawline.
$700 for Radiesse; $600 for Juvéderm or Perlane

To improve moderate sagging, some doctors also recommend a noninvasive tightening procedure, like Thermage or Titan.
$1,000 to $2,000 per treatment (Thermage requires one session; Titan requires three)

Hydrogen peroxide gel, followed by exposure to blue light, whitens teeth in the dentist’s office. At-home whitening now works almost as quickly with good results.
$1,500 for professional whitening; $55 for Crest 3D White 2-Hour Express Whitening Strips

A series of three to six monthly chemical peels or microdermabrasion treatments helps lighten dark spots and smooth rough patches.
$150 per treatment

Three to five monthly intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments even out diffuse freckling and redness.
$500 per treatment

Concentrated dark spots can be zapped with a Q-switched laser.
$200 to $600 (depending on size and number of dark spots)

No Holds Barred: Scalpels and Sutures

Botox is your best bet for smoothing forehead lines, but surgery is necessary to reposition a drooping brow.
$400 for Botox; $3,000 for browlift

One treatment with a fractional ablative laser can dramatically smooth deep lines around the eyes.
$1,500 for fractional ablative laser; $1,000 for fractional nonablative laser (per treatment)

Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) removes excess sagging skin above and below your eyes, If that’s not possible, some surgeons also inject fat (harvested from the patient’s thighs or buttocks) under the eyes.
$3,000 for blepharoplasty; $1,500 for fat transfer

A facelift can smooth deep lines and add fullness to the cheeks by repositioning sagging fat pads and tightening underlying tissue.
$7,000 for procedure

Mango Tree Fitted Bangles

Friday, April 8th, 2011

Mango Tree Fitted Bangles are my newest fashion accessory addiction. They are available in over 50 colors with some limited editions. Each bangle comes with a gift pouch for pretty gifting and storage. They are hand crafted, hand painted and made from organic mango trees. The bangles are nicely fitted. I love them! They make me happy:)

Like Mango Tree Bangles on Facebook! www.facebook.com

Bring it Home Beauty

Friday, April 8th, 2011

Easy step by step instructions…’gotta love them! Bring it Home Beauty created 2 instructional do-it-yourself DVD’s. A hair care DVD & a nail care DVD. Millions of people do their hair and nails at home. These DVD’s show us proper techniques, safety and sanitation tips & more. $9.95 each/$17.95 set.

www.bringithomebeauty.com

Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

Friday, April 8th, 2011


So cool & so country! Available exclusively at Walmart, Coty offers limited-edition fragrance & DVD sets from country music superstar and actor Tim McGraw & his lovely wife Grammy-award winning artist Faith Hill. A portion of proceeds from the purchase of these limited edition fragrance & DVD sets will be donated to The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee for ongoing flood relief in Nashville. Thanks Tim & Faith for your generosity and your great music!

www.coty.com

Dr. Murad is my favorite teacher!

Friday, April 8th, 2011

Dr. Murad is my favorite teacher at Murad’s Reform School for Aging Skin. Yes! I said “aging skin” and “my” in the same sentence. Murad’s Age Reform line of skin care products are designed to reform and reveal younger looking skin by targeting the effects of genetic aging. As with all of Murad’s products, the formulas are rooted in the Science of Cellular Water, a proprietary system for optimizing cell hydration & overall skin health. Murad’s Complete Reform with Glyco Firming Complex gets an A+ in my book! The other products in Murad’s Age Reform line passed the test too! Check out Murad’s website to see what they are and how they do it!

skincare.murad.com

Beauty products & services using Amazon white clay

Thursday, April 7th, 2011

Mineral rich Amazon white clay decongests pores and lifts impurities. It is rich in mineral salts such as calcium, iron and potassium. Amazonian white clay is used in soaps, facial cleansers, masks and body care. This natural clay has been used for centuries as a stress-relieving, detoxifying therapy for skin cleansing and to combat free radicals. Amazon white clay is gathered from the banks of the Amazon River in the beginning of the dry season. After steeping in leaves, fruits and seeds it is dried by the sunshine.

Système 41 Rejuvenating Masque, tarte Amazonian Clay Infused Liquid Foundation, Taya Amazon White Clay Thickening Mist for hair & Kiehl’s Rare Earth Pore Refining Tonic are some examples of beauty products that offer the benefits of Amazon White Clay.

Many day spas offer Amazon white clay treatments including foot baths, hand wraps, full body wraps, facials and more.

To find a spa in the Tampa Bay area that offers Amazon white clay treatments visit spa50.com

(pictured: Système 41 Rejuvenating Masque )

“My Purse” with Kari Whitman

Monday, April 4th, 2011

Genlux magazine calls Kari Whitman Hollywood’s Designing Woman for good reason. Kari is one of the most in demand interior decorators for Hollywood’s Hottest. Consider that Jessica Alba entrusted Kari to design her first baby nursery and rock icons like Don Henley won’t paint a wall without her. But Kari has attained a celebrity in her own right, hosting TV design shows and gracing the covers of magazines. An ardent animal rights patron, Kari spends her free time (what’s that?!) working hard for Ace of Hearts – her non profit that rescues dogs and finds them homes. Running her thriving business and non profit you’d think she’d look frazzled. Think again. Kari dresses to perfection with clothes that cling to a knock out figure. What furnishings can we fish out of her purse to discover her she does it? Read on to find out!

1. My favorite purse is a Stella McCartney faux patent leather with a double zipper. She’s an animal rights activist like I am and I love that her designs are hip, stylish, ethical and humane.

2. My dream purse is the new Prada Jean purse. Or Stella McCartney’s new tote bag!

3. The oldest purse I own is a macramé hippie bag from my high school years in Boulder, Colorado. I now use it as a beach bag.

4. The newest purse in my closet is a Stella McCartney clutch. It’s soft and velvety in a gorgeous turquoise blue color.

5. When I switch purses, I always move my business cards, my Ole Henrickson eye cream and at least one of my Lip Smackers first.

6. One thing that is always in my purse is Lip Smackers, Dr. Pepper flavor! I never have fewer than three at a time in my purse.

7. People would be surprised to find Scoopies Poopies eco-friendly clean-up bags. I run Ace of Hearts Dog Rescue and have two rescues of my own, so I never know when I’ll need them! I also never leave home without an assortment of mini-Sharpies in literally a rainbow of colors. I can’t even write with a regular pen anymore.

8. My favorite on-the-go beauty product is my Neova Ti-Silc sheer sunscreen. An absolute must for taking care of and protecting my skin.

9. I wish my dogs and girlfriends fit into purses! I LOVE my large rescue dogs, but they’re a Bulldog/Pit mix and a Pit/Pointer mix, which aren’t exactly little breeds! I’d also love to take my girlfriends (and their energy) everywhere I go.

10. Every woman should have condoms in her purse. Do I really need to say why?

Kari’s purse: