Stila's Winter Warehouse Sale coming up

Just in time to get some sparkly eye shadow and luscious lip gloss for those upcoming holiday parties, Stila cosmetics is having its big sample sale on Saturday, Dec. 5.  So if you don’t spend all your money on Black Friday, then head to Hollywood to grab some cute stocking stuffers, which are marked down 50%-80% off, in that adorable Stila packaging.

Stila’s Winter Warehouse sale, Saturday, Dec. 5, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

1161 Vine Street Hollywood, CA 90038 (between Lexington & Santa Monica)

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Image/information for the sale by Stila

Beautyzzz pillow looks to make you prettier while you sleep

Say goodbye to plain old sleep. Since most of us don’t get enough of the stuff as it is, we might as well make the minimal shut-eye we do get more effective.  No, it’s not a souped-up Ambien, it’s a pillowcase made from silk that works to boost the efficacy of the beauty products you slather on before bed, while also hydrating skin and hair -- not to mention, no more pillow case creases across the face from that scratchy cotton.

The Beautyzzz pillowcase claims to care for the natural condition of the skin and hair, balancing PH levels, promoting cell renewal and eliminating “bed head” through the amino acids found in the silk fabric, which mimic the amino acids in human skin.

At $47, I’d better see my eye bags decrease and my skin look more radiant. As for those pillowcase creases, simply not sleeping on your face could solve that for free.

The Beautyzzz pillowcase is sold at Fred Segal.

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Photo credit: Beautyzzz

Alternative Apparel celebrates its green initiative

Last Thursday night, environmentally conscious celebrities and all-around fans of Alternative Apparel’s slouchy sweatshirts and super-soft loungy pieces gathered on the rooftop of the quaint Petit Ermitage hotel in West Hollywood to celebrate the “Think Earth” T-shirt, sales of which benefit Global Green.

Model, mom and eco-friendly makeup line creator Josie Maran arrived early with her daughter in tow. Maran also appears in Alternative Apparel’s “ReThink” booklet, which highlights how various celebrities and notable names view and support the environment. Davis Factor -- also a party guest -- snapped a few of the book’s subject, such as Alicia Silverstone and Nina Clemente, wearing basics from the lifestyle line.

Alternative Apparel owner Greg Alterman, who started the line 14 years ago in his home state of Georgia, is looking to expand the brand into freestanding retail locations, so people can snap up their favorite cuts at one time. Also on deck: an expansion into ready-to-wear pieces such as the knit pants and a blazer Alterman was wearing at the party. Like American Apparel, but without all the irony.

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Photo: Josie Maran and Greg Alterman/Wireimage

Ann Taylor gets a makeover

About a month ago, a friend and I were strolling through the Beverly Center, when to my surprise she requested we make a stop at Ann Taylor.  A present for her grandmother, I assumed, but it wasn’t the case.  She, in a Balenciaga lace bandeau top and Nina Ricci ankle boots, made a beeline for a table of shiny accessories and started trying them on.  Still confused as to why we were in my mom’s favorite shopping destination, I spotted another young lady shopping, wearing beaded moccasin boots and the cover look from the Urban Outfitters catalog.  I knew right then, this was no longer my mother’s Ann Taylor.

Getting a second look at the holiday collection and a sneak peek at spring 2010 Thursday afternoon, I was again impressed and in awe of how different and good the clothes and accessories at Ann Taylor are looking.  Vintage inspired rhinestone baubles, chunky stone necklaces woven with grosgrain ribbon and decadent-looking cocktail rings are the bright spot of their holiday offering -- and everything is priced from $60 to $100, which is a lot of bling for your buck considering the high-shine impact these pieces make.  The dresses are classic and feminine,  simple shifts with bow details at the shoulders, a '40s inspired polkadot dress with side ruching and flirty black cocktail dresses adorned with delicate rhinestones at the waist can look subtle and traditional, but can easily get styled with fun and quirky accessories for an even more youthful look.

Ann Taylor’s facelift is due in part to their new creative director Lisa Axelson, who signed on starting with fall 2009 after creative roles at Club Monaco and Banana Republic.  Axelson has injected a fresh and more youthful feeling into the design of the line, but not to the point where you wouldn’t recognize it (there’s still plenty of ribbon-trimmed cardigans and practical trousers).  Also, look out for their ad campaigns -- Heidi Klum is the “face” for holiday and according to an Ann Taylor rep, the star of their spring campaign will be an even bigger surprise, someone most people wouldn’t have previously associated with the brand at all.

I’m sure the fashionable young ladies I saw perusing the Ann Taylor store at the Beverly Center won’t be the last.  The spring line is chock full of chic, silk trench coats, slim cut blazers and slouchy camp shirts in a color palette of dusty grays, ivory and plum that would suit various wardrobes and budgets.

-- Melissa Magsaysay



Photos: looks and accessories from the Ann Taylor holiday collection/Ann Taylor

Style Obsession: Striped nautical shirts

Anyone who knows me has figured out that I’ve got an obsession with navy-and-white-striped sailor tops. I wear them at least once a week, have about seven in heavy rotation, from $30 H&M to APC at $180, and am always looking for more.   

This Halloween when looking for a last-minute costume (I was a sailor -- surprise!), I stumbled upon a rack full of vintage Russian Navy shirts at the Surplus Store in Culver City. The shirts are original, perfectly slouchy and don’t wrinkle and shrink like the others. Plus, they’re only $11, which means I bought several so I still have spares for when the others are being washed.

Navy-and-white-striped boat neck shirts are so classic paired with preppy khaki slacks or second skin leggings and slouchy boots (as I’ve been wearing them lately). In the spring, I’ll tuck them into high-waisted denim shorts for a '40s vibe.

If you love a striped top as I do, stop by the Surplus store and scoop up a vintage Russian Navy shirt and let me know how you wear your stripes.

Surplus Store, 10341 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles 90034

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Photo: So happy in my stripes. Credit: Marilyn Ruiz / Los Angeles Times

Steven Alan’s take on the perfect travel bag

Getting frustrated with schlepping heavy and lopsided luggage through the airport terminal, when all you really want is to look effortlessly chic while traveling just like Angelina Jolie?  (Though come to think of it, I’ve never actually seen her toting around any cumbersome bags.)

Cool, bi-coastal retailer Steven Alan went to Australia to get inspired by the country and the travel experience.  Now he’s in the process of making the perfect bag, based on places he went while Down Under, making sure it’s got all the compartments, straps and reinforced seams he thought would make packing and lugging much easier, not to mention stylish.

He’s still in the sketching and developing phase and welcomes your feedback as to what you’d like to see appear on a perfect bag.  Visit his blog to check out the bag and comment.

The bag is set to hit Steven Alan stores and www.vaustralia.com this January.

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Sketch for the perfect travel bag by Steven Alan

Are you the world’s next top supermodel?

No, Tyra won’t be jumping out with some wacky costume for you to wear in this competition.  The Ford supermodel of the year competition is much more conventional than the sensational reality shows in which average women try to claw their way to “supermodel” status.

At the open casting, on Saturday at the W Hotel in Westwood, wannabe models will have their snapshots taken and walk for Ford agents.  This weekend's winner will represent the U.S. in the world finals in Sao Paolo, Brazil.  And the winner of the world competition will receive $250,000 and a contract with Ford.

But just like a little show called “American Idol,” you don’t necessarily have to take first prize to launch a successful career.  Past runners-up in the Ford competition include Chanel Iman and Alexina Graham -- both uber-models of the moment.

Think you’ve got what it takes to rule the runway? Register here.

--Melissa Magsaysay

Dana Davis’ pop-up shop attracts major foot traffic

Stores may be closing all over town, but last night Melrose Place got a little love with the opening of Dana Davis’ pop-up store.  The store, which took over the old Lambertson Truex spot, right next to Frederic Fekkai’s new salon, will be open until Dec. 3, selling shoes from Davis’ fall-winter collection. 

Celebrities and socialites, including Anjelica Huston, Paris Hilton, Crystal Lourd, Jerry Bruckheimer, Liane Weintraub and Jamie Tisch, came to support their designer pal and fellow social fixture.  Davis’ mother Barbara was also in attendance before dashing out to attend a concert. 

Davis was inspired to create her line of ultra-comfortable shoes when she was having trouble standing for long periods of time due to foot pain caused by her diabetes.  She and  her family  have raised over $75 million for diabetes research, with the Carousel of Hope ball fund-raiser being founded in her honor. She developed a shoe with an orthotic sole that’s as cushion-y as any Easy Spirit, but far more fashionable.  In fact, Davis has figured out how to increase the heels on pumps to almost 6 inches, while still maintaining the comfort of the built-in orthotic.  Those heels will be offered for spring and are sure to be seen on any celebrity who cares about comfort while walking the red carpet.

The Dana Davis pop-up store is open now until Dec. 3 at 8459 Melrose Place, L.A.
Hours: 11am – 5pm. Closed Sundays and Thanksgiving, Nov. 25 – 29.

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Photos: Top: Anjelica Huston, Barbara Davis and Dana Davis, Bottom: A wall of Davis' shoes/John Shearer Wire Image

IWC keeps a watch on the Galapagos

Swiss watch brand IWC showed its support Wednesday night of the Charles Darwin Foundation’s mission to conserve the Galapagos Islands, with a celeb-studded evening showcasing the photography of Michael Muller.  Large images of the Galapagos and the animals that inhabit the islands were projected on the stark white walls of a hangar at Milk Studios in Hollywood.

Eric Dane and Jason Bateman donned IWC watches while taking in the projected photographs. When IWC North America President Benoit de Clerck announced that the gift bags contained keys -- one of which will open a box with an IWC Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Galapagos at the IWC Beverly Hills boutique --   guests' focus immediately shifted from sea turtles to swag bags to claim their chance for a winning key. 

That’s an early holiday gift for whoever scored the lucky key.

--Melissa Magsaysay

Photo: From left, Benoit de Clerck, Jason Bateman, Federick Martel and Michael Muller. Credit: IWC

The 'Power' of 50’s scent

A line of several hundred 50 Cent fans snaked around a corner of Lakewood Mall Wednesday afternoon, some having waited for over 6 hours. Miguel Raygoza, 23, was the first in line. He waited nearly eight hours before getting the chance to meet his favorite rap star and have his picture taken with him -- all part of the deal for anyone who purchased a bottle of Power By 50 and stood in line.

Raygoza, along with several other young men, liked the way the scent smelled (notes of dark wood and citrus in it), but their primary reason for buying it was  the chance to meet 50 Cent and hand him their demo tapes. “I may not be the only guy here who has a demo, but I’m the best,” said Brandon Epps, who had worked an overnight shift in order to take time off and wait in line.

Whether or not they had a demo tape to promote, the crowd waited patiently for their 30 seconds of face-time with 50.

I caught up with 50 Cent in an upstairs office of the Macy’s store where he was greeting fans.  His dapper, gray wool  blazer and matching vest, worn with slim Louis Vuitton oxfords were a striking departure from the sporty style he generally rocks on stage.  “I definitely wear a lot more suits," he says. “I’m going more places where this is the dress code.”  He favors Tom Ford suits, but most of the time it’s Armani.  “I wear a lot of Giorgio Armani.”

His new scent is another thing he’s been wearing a lot lately.  But getting to the perfect blend was a learning experience for the rapper turned scent creator.  “I was always a big fan of Imperial Creed.  And I knew what I liked, but didn’t know anything about notes.”  Through working with perfumer Harry Fremont, 50 Cent learned to recognize the notes he loved, like black pepper, dark woods, coriander and nutmeg.  “I had a period where I was confused about what I wanted, because so many things had been presented to me," he says about narrowing down the scent options.  “So I started wearing this [Power By 50] and I wore it until I started getting a lot of compliments and people asking me ‘what are you wearing?’ and telling me I smelled good.”

Thus Power By 50 was created and the finished product is something he sees as the culmination of his journey to fame and success.  “I call it the smell of success, because these are the things I’ve become interested in after becoming successful," he says.  And with success comes power. “Power translates the same in every country and every language and generally people are all interested in power.”

50 Cent isn’t stopping with the release of Power.  He now owns part of Lighthouse Beauty, the company that manufactured his scent.  He has tapped Kim Kardashian to be the next celebrity fragrance from Lighthouse, with an expected launch this Valentine’s Day. 

“On many levels, fragrance is just like music,” he says.  “It marks time.  And it doesn’t just go away.  It will be there for a long time.”

Power By 50 is sold exclusively at Macy's.

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Photos: 50 Cent at his L.A. fragrance launch at Macy's in Lakewood, Jay Clendenin/Los Angeles Times, bottle of Power By 50/Lighthouse Beauty