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It's all about Guerlain - and Saks!

I've always known Guerlain as a famous old perfume brand from Paris.  But wandering through Saks Fifth Avenue this summer, I was stopped by an intuitive salesperson who told me about Guerlain's brand new double-ended mascara, Le 2 Two Brush in a gold tube, for $35.  I fell in love with the mascara right away - the larger brush applies a great coat of mascara to your upper lashes and lengthens them, but it also does not clump - at all.  The bottom tiny brush is for lower lashes, and for refining all your lashes and making them pop.  It looks like you've got falsies on - false lashes, that is.  But the realest, most expensive ones.

Last weekend, I made another trip to Saks Beverly Hills, and headed straight for the Guerlain counter.  There, I had a field day with the Kiss Kiss Extreme Lipstick ($29) in Chocolate Kiss and Rose Salsa, and the mosaic blush and eyeshadow duo that includes a wet eyeliner for $52.  I even fell for the foundation.   And the lipliners.

Needless to reiterate, I am now a Guerlain junkie.  So when I learned that TheFind is doing a promotion with Saks were you can win a thousand dollar gift certificate at the new Guerlain spa at the Waldorf Astoria in NY on Park Avenue, I wanted to find out - what can you use that thousand for if you win?  Well, a fabulous customized facial, a massage, and yes - makeup!!!  So ladies, I say to you - take a few minutes and enter this contest, because the win is big - and you get to be creative in the bargain. 

To win, simply write your own blog post of a minimum of one hundred and fifty words that talks about Saks "Want It" promotion and link the post here:   blog.thefind.com.  You may want to include a mention of the exclusive Marc Jacobs makeup kit that I'm going to tell you about, but it's not required.   Then, send a link to your post at wantitpromo@thefind.com and they will send you an entry confirmation....and you're done!  TheFind will randomly choose a winner from the pool of qualified entrants.  One entry per website, please.

Here's the deal on the kit:  Saks Fifth Avenue has unveiled the latest iteration of its award-winning Want It! campaign, which highlights Fall 2008's most notable trends for both men and women.  Saks has chosen the "Polished Face Kit" as its Want It! beauty item for the Fall, and in turn Saks has created "The Polished Face Kit" for customers.  The Polished Face Kit brings together products from top brands to get the look of the Fall Season. 

The Polished Face is about being perfectly put together.  Seen on all the Fall 2008 runways, the trend is the perfect look of the season.  All of these items come in an exclusive Marc Jacobs Italian leather clutch for the retail price of $198 and will be available in all Saks stores and saks.com beginning the first week of September.  To get that defined eye, the kit contains the AWESOME Guerlain Le 2 Mascara - that two-brush mascara that enables you to get every last lash to create the fullest lashes possible . So get busy writing your post!

HOT NEW COUPLE ALERT!!!

THEFIND AND ELLE.COM HAVE HOOKED UP BIG TIME!!

There's about a zillion ways to shop on TheFind.com, as you probably know - whether it's by item, price, chic shopping neighborhoods (Rodeo Drive and Madison & Fifth Avenues), or even by color. (I wanted a red trench coat and found several, in price ranges from about 50 dollars up to a thousand today, and it saved me driving from store to store for hours.)

And now there's another, even more specific shopping option. TheFind and Elle.com have created a synergy on Elle's website: just go to Elle.com and punch the "Elle Shopping Guides" link. Once on the Elle Shopping Guide, go to SEARCH ONLINE STORES, and there is a brand new Elle-edited branch of TheFind, which includes all kinds of items from two hundred stores that Elle features in the magazine. You get all the benefits of TheFind, edited down by Elle. You just type the thing you want in the box, and you can refine by price ($120 up to $1700) - or by store (Saks, Neimans, Bergdorf's, etc). There is even a viewing option in which you can choose the order in which your items come up (lowest up to highest price, etc.) It's a super-shopper's dream come true, and it sure is THIS super-shoppers dream come true.

Now, this is a hot new couple I can get behind - cause they obviously have a whole lot in common other than simply looking good. We won't be reading about their breakup in US Magazine anytime soon.

The April issue of Elle, just out, concentrates heavily on a whole new jacket and pant style look. New tailored jackets, with sharply cut silhouettes and colorations - these are not your old preppy blazers, although some combine elements of prep with Parisien chic. One jacket on the pages of Elle shown is black stripe on white background by Smythe ($595)- type in "Smythe jackets" in TheFind's highlighted box, and all kinds of tantalizing shapes come up for spring: Smythe's pale grey "tulip coat" for $395 at Saks is long and rounded with tight sleeves. The Smythe "trumpet sleeve" jacket is $570 in a beautiful turquoise at Saks. Just by adding these two jackets to your already existing wardrobe will launch your black pants, white shirts and grey dresses into spring with aplomb. (Plums, too, which will be in season shortly).

Another Elle fave is a yellow plaid blazer by Brit designer Luella Bartley ($450). Type in "blazers" in a lit box, and a huge array of this slightly boxy, but still fitted, topper that looks very now with your skinny jeans, a white shirt or t, or over a vest and the new jophur style trouser. The $25 Old Navy grey blazer is killer for the price. Polo Jeans has a black blazer with a black and white trim that looks oh-so Balenciaga, for $138 at Yoox. Yoox has some especially good buys on classics that are great for now, and great for later: a Krizia jeans wheat colored blazer for $340, a brown MaxMara cinced at the waisted for $390, and an Acne jeans black blazer with bell sleeves for $318.

Elle's spring jacket faves featured in April are by YSL, so try typing in "YSL jackets." A pale grey beauty ($3345.00 Neiman Marcus) has the incredibly cool combo of a nipped waisted and short embellished sleeves. A pale khaki short sleeved safari number that's belted (safari being a big Elle trend for spring, and as Yves St. Laurent might have said, "Safari is forever") for $1700 at Bergdorf Goodman. Elle's hottest trend of the season, the sleeveless jacket, can be found also at BG, the "boyfriend jacket" for $2160. - MG

Aviators

Aviators make men look like pilots and women like they’re in a Michael Kors ad, boarding the private plane the pilot is flying. Just type “Aviator sunglasses” and this comes up: RayBan makes some of the best aviators out there ($99 at eluxury, in gold). Emporio Armani offer up a lady’s pair for $79.99 at Smartbargains.com.

White Frames, Grey Frames

White is the new black in sunglasses this summer. Sure, they’ve been saying that for two years – but this summer, it’s actually true. Gelila Puck, the ultra-chic wife of uberchef Wolfgang Puck, has been wearing oversized white plastic frames all over L.A. this spring.

Type in “white sunglasses” at TheFind.com and you’ll find some fab Fendi’s at Bloomingdales’ for $295; the Chanel gradient grey and white frames for $339 at Popularglasses.com. If you type in “Marni sunglasses” (the chic playful Italian line), there are cute white ones for $340.00 at Marni.com.

Grey is the cool neutral,  a great hue for everything these days – except hair. In sunglasses and handbags right now, it’s subdued but unusual – a great combo. Type in “grey sunglasses” on TheFind.com and check out the Kenneth Cole black/grey gradient pair at  Overstock.com for $39.99 – a bargain anyway you look at it (even through grey colored lenses). The Gucci grey round frames on Bluefly are $150 – Nicole Richie, eat your heart out.

Retro RayBan Shapes

Remember the movie “Mississippi Burning”? These are the ultimate sixties style, with the added element of “cool geek,” The traditional black ones are great classics ( $109.95 at Lenscrafters for men, a tortoise unisex pair is $139.00 at Blue Bee), but the new RayBanWayfarer in white is really the bomb - $139 at Blue Bee. One can imagine Jackie O or Audrey H in these, in striped t shirts and white Capri pants.

Here Comes the Sun(glasses)

The sun has been making a very major star turn in my hometown, Los Angeles, this week, along with shell-colored toes, gladiator sandals, and all the other obvious signs of summer. The thermometer is meant to go back down to a nice brisk 72 this week –as opposed to the high 80’s it’s been – and the toes might take a hike for a month, but the new summer ‘08 sunglass shapes, styles and colors are not going anywhere- but right in our faces. And, no doubt, ON our faces.

In L.A, having the newest, newest sunglasses is as necessary a status symbol as one’s car – or one’s body. And sunglasses are more on display than either of those.   Sure, you’re ready to plunge on the pink, orange and green print dresses that are turning up in the stores right about now– but my advice is, start with new sunglasses. The Cannes Film Festival is only six weeks away, and the new “Batman” movie and “Sex and the City” a few weeks more. Holy Cosmo! Blockbusters are the official start of summer. You can wear old jeans, a white shirt, new sunglasses, and a little coral lipgloss, and you’re this summer’s Carrie Bradshaw 2.0 - new and improved, upgraded and uploaded.

This year’s eyewear look is not the same-Nicole Richie- Rachel Zoe-Olsen Twins style. Sure, that look won’t totally go away – not while US Magazine is still in business – and young girls are still convinced that dwarfingly large frames make them look thinner. But if there’s one truism about sunglasses, it’s that - like Paris’ Hilton’s boyfriends - every season they MUST change.

So instead of black and tortoise giant square or rectangular shapes, get ready for the return of the RayBan Kennedy-sixties Clark Kent look. If you think it’s geeky, check out Julian Schnabel in his square black frames with citrus lenses –he always wears them.   

There are also new round shapes, grey glasses, aviators (especially hot for men), and two-tone gradiant lenses glasses that are smokey as opposed to a full-tilt black out. This means you can wear them indoors when you’re holed up watching the Olympics this summer. Turn to TheFind.com to find stores in your area have the new looks – or you can just look at all the delicious options while dreaming of St. Tropez or Capri or the Hamptons (or the backyard grill). Or you can order them up now, given that they will most assuredly sell out soon – and you will be left out in the heat...

NY Fashion Week - Ports 1961 and Morgane Le Fay

The palette at Ports 1961 was more earth tones. There was a series of coffee colored dresses that were very form fitting - only to be worn by gym goers, and consistent ones, at that. They were layered with fur pieces, and in one case, a floor length black opera coat - which seems to be a NY must have for fall. And why not? How many women do you know with a floor length black coat? Everyone will have to go out and buy one. Ports showed the dresses with flat hair bows that are another huge fall trend - and their new shoe line of Mary Janes with gold tipped heels and rubber bows - very modern. These dresses are mostly worn with gloves - and the good news, they aren't very winter-y: so you can wear them in the spring, too.

Ports 1961 Runway - Fall 08 MBFW (Getty Images)

Morgane Le Fay, best known for their filmy wedding and black tie fairy-tale style dresses, showed a fall collection that was trend-on, and reminded us why these clothes are not just for nighttime. In mostly blacks, whites and reds, the skirts did volume in a more Japanese wrapped and origami way. The jackets were military and fitted and buttoned and in longer lengths than at most designer's shows - and therefore, more flattering. And the cocktail and long dresses were spectacular in their crafsmanship - floating chiffon pieces, laser cut bodices, and shoulder ties of chiffon that are dramatic and sweet at the same time. And they cost a lot less than Oscar de la Renta gowns - and weigh less, too.

Morgane Le Fay Runway - Fall 08 (Getty Images)

 

NY Fashion Week - Marc Jacobs and Doo Ri

Marc Jacobs, always the rule breaker-and inevitable rule maker - made his Marc by Marc line almost all about dresses -but a rather newish, or at least, oldish but revived look: short, tight in the bodice, belted and waisted, and then poufy and a-line but still quite short. It's sort of a bubble dress -but the hem doesn't curve in as much. It's a sweet look worn over black tights and boots - and he did them in pink and black and orange and black giant houndstooth. But if you're over 30, you might want to think twice.

Marc Jacobs Runway - Fall 08 MBFW (Getty Images)

Doo Ri, a rising star in the N.Y. firmament, showed sheaths in black or white in all manner of lengths - but the one that looked best was the slightly over the knee look - even when it had batwing eighties kimono sleeves. The short short dresses, particularly when they're tight -look a little yesterday. Some people in NY this week have been talking about a comeback of "the Robert Palmer video girls": tough overly made up girls with ballerina buns in skin tight short dresses. Doo Ri nearly got there - but it looks a little camp for the normal working woman.

Doo Ri Runway - Fall 08 MBFW - Getty Images

NY Fashion Week - Halston sees mixed success

Halston's brand new designer, Marco Zanini, also showed a variety of dresses that fell fluidly over the knee, too. This was Zanini's very first outing with the brand, which has had a variety of designers at the helm over the years -with mixed success.

Because the name Halston has been purchased by Hollywood super mogul Harvey Weinstein (whose wife Georgina Chapman designs Marchesa, an upscale dress label from London) and Jimmy Choo's Tamara Mellon, expectations were high - but results were mixed.

Women's Wear Daily and the New York Times gave it a thumbs not doing anything. But a black satin fluid turtleneck dress looked good, and do did the long cashmere stone colored long sleeved monastic dresses, that reminded us of early Donna Karan. But he should stick to dresses - his pants were cut way too tight, almost obscenely so. In an era of pop stars who don't wear panties, we don't need trousers that are anatomical - particularly in orange satin. The major pants trend for fall is either a forties style boy-trouser - or skinny and soft and black.

Halston Runway - Fall 08 MBFW (Getty Images)

NY Fashion Week - Catherine Malandrino

One of the questions that inevitably gets asked in the midst of New York Fashion Week's showing of fall collections is: what will the skirt and dress lengths be? What will the silhouettes be? Will we want to wear short or long, wide or slim?

Well, one very strong look on the New York runways this week is a short-sleeved or sleeveless square-necked sheath dress that is clingy but not excruciatingly tight, and goes over the knees. It's often belted, but other versions in knit over softer and skim the body. Catherine Malandrino showed this look in grey, black and pale mint green, often with crunchy rosettes at the hem to create a kind of "fishtail" over the knee. The dresses were the basis of the Malandrino wardrobe, and then were layered with nipped jackets and woolly sweaters - again, often belted. The look was donned with pumps and short socks, so the leg look here had the effect of a bootie. They come in solids and in prints.

Catherine Malandrino Runway - Fall 08 MBFW (Getty Images)