My New Girl Crush: Stacey Bendet of Alice + Olivia

Stacey Bendet is one of those girly girls you just can't help but adore!  I say that as if I know her, as if we've lunched together, shared mojito recipes or went bikini shopping together. No, no ... true, she could be a biotch to work for, a harlet with a gaze so deadly no weapon dare take her on, but I just have a reeeeeally hard time believing that could be so.

I became interested in learning more about her when she was headlined as a young millionaire entrepreneur having started the early foundations of her own clothing line at the tender age of 19.  It got better from there.

Bendet, now 32, started alice + olivia with her University of Pennsylvania friend Rebecca Matchett.  The women's lifestyle line is so successful it now reportedly brings in an estimated $50 million a year and is sold in over 800 stores internationally. She's expanded her initial offerings to now include party dresses, coats, embellished t-shirts, jewelry, scarves, a children's line inspired with the birth of her daughter Eloise, and yes, of course, pants (more on that in a sec).

Stacey in a pair of her famous pants

The success of alice + olivia (named after Bendet's and Matchett's mothers) is said to rest upon Bendet's unique creativity. Her first stroke of genius was in designing pants with bold colors, bell-bottoms, groovy textures, striping, denim (of course) all perfect-fitting; well, not your typical business suit pant, right?  Nicknamed "Staceypants" her idea took flight. Requests began flocking in from young trendy celebs all over, and Barney's and Fred Segal soon picked up her designs. Matchett has since gone on co-found another clothing company, Rebecca & Drew.

Google her, and you'll see she's no wallflower in front of a camera.  Here's what I adore ... her enthusiasm, passion and joie de vivre just spill out onto film, the page, cloth material, whatever medium you use to reflect her essence. I imagine what it might be like to have maybe 1/10 of this woman's energy. What mountains could I conquer? What ills could I cure? What fashion genius might I create? Where might I travel in my renovated Airstream camper with a bunch of other girly-loves spreading the contagion of my fashion must-haves (yes, she's touring)? And might I find a soulmate to marry who just happens to be the son of a corporate magnate - perhaps even one as fantastical and magical as, oh I don't know, let's say The World of Disney? Yet let's have him successful in his own right, maybe with a film production company of his own with international contacts, don't you think?

Whew .... I'm exhausted. Stacey-"Pants" Bendet, well Stacey Bendet Eisner since her wedding in 2008 to Eric Eisner, son of former Disney head Michael Eisner (yes, with his own Sundance Film Festival winning production company) has just got the fairytale existence and the energy needed to pull it off. She is the proverbial "It Girl!"

Not that you need one more reason to take interest in Stacey Bendet Eisner, but ....... hey, it involves MAC, you'll want to know!  As reported by WWD in April of this year, she has teamed up with MAC Cosmetics to create an alice + olivia limited edition color cosmetics collection that will hit stores July 8th. The concept is intuited, "As if Alice in Wonderland fell down the rabbit hole and met a makeup artist instead of the Mad Hatter — think deep turquoise shimmer pigments, purple nail polish and yellow Dazzleglass Crème lip gloss."

Can hardly wait!  Oh, and Stacey, I understand you're also philanthropic.  Should you want to donate just an eensy bit of that energy and glow you've got going on, please don't hesitate in the slightest to send some my way.  xo

For a cool Q&A with Stacey Bendet, check out the brief transaction by Fabian Basabe. I thought this was lots of fun to read.

images/sources: getty images, wireimage, wwd, alice + olivia, aol

Teaser: Erno Laszlo Blue Firmarine Treatment Bar Giveaway Coming Soon!

Coming soon to For the Love of Beauty readers, Erno Laszlo Blue Firmarine Treatment Bar GIVEAWAY!

Why might you want this lovely, blue bar of coolness?

• Well, it's a gentle cleansing bar that provides long term skin rejuvenation.
• Its unique delivery system releases ingredients gradually over time to ensure activity long after cleansing, strengthening skin’s barrier and allowing visibly firmer, smoother skin.
• Spirulina Maxima and Algae Extract to firm skin by helping cell renewal and improving skin’s texture.
• Vitamin C and E providing long lasting anti-oxidant protection.
• Glycerin, Soribtol and Palm Kernel to help hydration and retain moisture by binding water to the skin.

One more reason?

 It's made by Erno Laszlo Skin Care

For more information about the Blue Firmarine line of skincare, please visit Erno Laszlo online today.

Fragrance Ideas for Father's Day

Cards and wrapping available at Redstamp.com

Having a tough time figuring out what to give Dad for Father's Day?  Treat him to a new scent that suits his personality.

The Tough, Courageous Dad
If dad is the man who always takes a stand, celebrate his bravery with a daring, classic scent. Inspired by visionary artists, icons and rebels who overcome adversity and make their mark, Diesel Only The Brave is a fragrance about making an impact. The scent represents the qualities of the brave, symbolized by a fist that tells several stories: facing forward, the fist evokes power and energy; upright, it stands for self-affirmation; raised, it signifies victory, success and engagement. The powerful, provocative scent blends lemon blossom, mandarin, amber and ebony wood for a fresh fragrance that dad will love. 50ml EDT, $55; 2.5oz EDT, $67.50  Available at Diesel boutiques, Diesel-fragrances.com, Macy’s, Dillard’s and other major department stores.

Know a dad with a love of comic books or a fan of Iron Man films? Celebrate his superhero bravery with a Diesel limited-edition Iron Man version for the comic book loving dad!

The Confident, Fashion-Forward Dad
If dad is constantly updating his look, give him the ultimate accessory. A bold new scent, Express Honor captures downtown edge and big-city cool with one spritz. A watery, fresh and aromatic scent, Honor blends energizing top notes of fresh water accord, peppermint and basil, leading to a heart of grapefruit, fig and green ivy. The smoldering fragrance dries down to a base of musk, vetiver and a hint of vanilla. The fragrance is housed in an edgy, flask-shaped silver bottle which is emblazoned with Express’s signature lion logo.  50ml EDT, $44.90; 100ml EDT, $59.90 Available at Express.com and Express stores nationwide
 

The Art Lover and Pop Culture Enthusiast
If Dad is a patron of the arts, give him a fragrance worth collecting. Inspired by legendary artist Andy Warhol’s summer forays to Montauk, Long Island, Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol Montauk marks the fifth in Bond No. 9’s series of Warhol collectible eaux de parfum. Not your typical summer fragrance, Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol Montauk takes a new approach to the genre of beach scent: It riffs on the duality of country and city, rural and urban. The fresh and tangy initial flavors of blueberry and wild bergamot give way, first to sultry, sexy hyacinth, lily of the valley, and honeysuckle, and then to rich, clean forest-by-the-sea aromas—silver maple, red oak, driftwood, and amber. Choose from 2 bottle designs, each displaying two of Warhol’s iconic Sunset paintings dating from 1972, truly making this fragrance a piece of art. Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol Montauk makes its timely arrival on-counter in June, just in time for Father’s Day.
50ml, $145; 100ml, $220. Available at Bondno9.com

The Old-School Allure of The Gentlemen's Club Dad
Sacré Coeur (sacred heart) by perfumer Laurent Bruyère for the line Ego Facto gives the classic citrus-leather accord a new twist with an original and utterly unexpected Chablis accord. The tart, fruity-flinty aroma spills over an aromatic herbal blend before seeping into a rugged patchouli, tobacco and leather base. Think old-style gentlemen’s club – cool wine, a whiff of Havana from the humidor, a deep leather chair and the comfortably musty smell of old books – perked up with a dash of humor. Intoxicating.
50ml, $90. Available at Luckyscent.com

The Dad That Exudes the Heroism of a Greek God
The lucid composition of Peloponnesian Eau de Parfum by Strange Invisible Perfumes is built with the ancient perfumes of the Greek peninsula. Salted Aegean winds glide through the branches of cypress, lime, and orange trees, lifting their epic aromas into the Peloponnesian mountains. A reception of mountain sage honey collects each gallant perfume as it rises from the vineyard-patterned earth of the Peloponnesos. Strange Invisible Perfume's first exclusively male eau de parfum exhilirates and renews with its dry down of fresh botanical musk. 50ml $160. Available at siperfumes.com and Beautyhabit.com

The Nature Lover and Organic Devote'
Honoré des Prés Chaman’s Party is an explosive unisex fragrance with aphrodisiac properties. Inspired by a tree-house experience and total immersion in the heart of the virgin Amazon forest. Intended for those who know, be they women or men, how to breathe in the earth’s strength. Vetiver root from Haiti, sacred basil from Egypt, Wood of Life from Venezuela, dried clove flowers from Madagascar.
100ml $145. Available at SpiritBeautyLounge.com

Happy shopping, lovelies! xo

The Melancholy Beauty of Agonist Parfums ~ The Infidels

AGONIST is a Nordic fragrance brand inspired by the melancholy and beauty of film, poetry and literature from Bergman, Boye and Garbo and other iconized characters from Swedish Culture.

AGONIST creates pure fragrances inspired by the Nordic climate. Raw materials and product give form to the Swedish but even more Nordic clarity – fresh with a vigourous weight and beautiful low tones.

In close collaboration with professional perfumers in Grasse, France, unique Eau de Parfums are created for the individual rather than for men or women. The fragrances are carefully embraced by handcrafted Swedish glass created in collaboration with glass artist Åsa Jungnelius at Kosta Boda, - Swedens most prestigious glassworks in use, founded 1742 and situated in the forests of Småland, Sweden.

And new for June 2010, AGONIST Parfums introduces its exquisitely luxurious The Infidels Eau de Parfum.

“If it were only a gleaming fantasy, gushing in the darkness, It would have dried up in the day. But it became a play with smiles, hesitation, and glances, which grew into a desire. The desire blossomed into a shivering flower of lost control, breaking a solemn promise and doing apart. Cutting love in half.”

Presented in an unlimited edition handcrafted flacon designed by Åsa Jungnelius for Kosta Boda. Every bottle is unique and a natural development out of the first two editons by Agonist Parfums.

Top notes: black currant, green cumin and bergamot

Middle notes: magnolia, tonka and lavender

Base notes: patchouli, amber, labdanum

 
AGONIST The Infidels is available in a 1.7 oz edp bottle and retails for $495; it is available this month at Aedes de Venustas.

GILT GROUPE: Makeup Powerhouse Laura Mercier on SALE Today!

Luxe Lip & Eye Collection 5 Piece Kit & Case - $37.50 (Original Retail: $75)

Wow! Laura Mercier on sale!  Really? Yes.

World-renowned painter turned talented makeup artist, Laura Mercier combines her Parisian beginnings and New York expertise to create a beauty and skincare line that is praised by fashion and beauty insiders the world over. Known for her signature flawless face, Mercier brings effortless chic to makeup with expertly crafted shades and palettes designed to help every women achieve her ultimate beauty potential.
Today, Gilt Groupe helps bring Laura Mercier’s intrinsic touch to your daily beauty routine by offering a variety of products from the coveted line. From lip and eye collections, to delicate bath and body combos, Laura Mercier has your beauty regimen covered!
 

Shown on Left: Spring Blooms Collection 6 Piece Set and Tote - $48 (Original Retail: $114)
 
Laura Mercier's color palettes for lips and eyes are blended into just-right shades and include professional-grade brushes. Dual-use pots deliver luminous yet subtle highlights — a makeup artist’s secret for creating multiple eye looks. These lip plumpers enliven with grapefruit extracts, while the mineral powders deliver a flawless finish. The travel brush set can get you ready for your close-up anywhere and anytime, while the candles and bath sets scented with coconut milk and almond complete the Laura Mercier luxury experience.
 
 

 
Laura Mercier will be available on Gilt Groupe beginning this Thursday, June 10 at noon EST.
 

Click HERE for the Laura Mercier SALE now!

The Dazzling Allure of Chanel Limited Edition Orient Extreme

Have you laid your eyes on these visions of gorgeousness (my word)?

Well, darling, you simply must! The Orient Extreme line was introduced back in late March following Chanel's PreFall 2010 Paris Shanghai Expo which took to the runway in December 2009.  A bit of geisha with a chic, golden allure.

Opulent nail and eye shades, sophisticated and surprisingly versatile, are this season's must-have colour accents.  Though certainly statement making shades and shimmers, these are very easy to play with and one may delight in the variety of artistic options here. Each product in the line deserves a little exporation, at the very least.

LIGNE ET OMBRE DE CHANEL
Eyeliner and Eyeshadow Duo - Limited Edition $45
A dramatic pairing of eyeliner and eyeshadow for a decidedly glamorous makeup look. Jet black eyeliner glides on with a deep, matte finish, while shimmering gold eyeshadow imparts a lush, luminous glow.

Nail Color - Limited Edition $25
LE VERNIS BLACK VELVET, LE VERNIS GOLD LAME, LE VERNIS ILLUSION D'OR
Brilliance to your fingertips with must-have colours from the runways of Paris. State-of-the-art formula strengthens and moisturizes nails. Unique patented non-spill bottle with wiping action for easy application.

Chanel Orient Extreme is available at Chanel Beauty Boutiques and online at Chanel.com.

photos: Chanel, Luscious Babe

HAUTELOOK: Badgley Mischka Swimwear SALE Today!

Favorites of Hollywood stylists and fashion icons alike, their designs are always the highlight of the red carpet and continue to inspire trends. Mark Badgley and James Mischka elevated their burgeoning fashion brand to include a bridal collection, elegantly detailed evening bags, and footwear, swimwear, all to rave reviews. Badgley Mischka continues to grace the covers of countless magazines including Vogue and Women's Wear Daily. 

They became instrumental in the fashion of Hollywood and society, dressing Halle Berry, Jennifer Garner, and presidential daughters Jenna and Barbara Bush, among others. Most recently, Kate Winslet chose Badgley Mischka at this year's Oscars, and Megan Mullally, Jaime Pressly wore Badgley Mischka gowns at the Emmys and Carrie Underwood wore Badgley at the Emmys, all looking the definition of glamour. Hailed by Vogue as among the "Top 10 American Designers" and the darlings of the young Hollywood set, Mark Badgley and James Mischka have made their mark with the most glamorous and stylish evening wear.

Gorgeous by night and by day with these stunning swimwear pieces, you can't go wrong in style here!

HauteLook's Badgley Mischka Swimwear SALE, where upwards of 60% will reign, begins Wed., 6/9/10 @ 10 a.m. PT.  As you know, wears go quickly in these sales, so shop as soon as you're able to for the biggest selection.

Click HERE for Badgley Mischka on Sale Today!

SpaceNK's Six Hottest NOW Products!

New and hot at Space.NK Apothecary, seriously luxe sun protection, a sparkling scent, hydrating hair care and more. This fresh chic boutique keeps getting better with its fine selection of the newest products from the top brands in skincare, cosmetics and haircare. Just persuing their catalogs or walking the store aisles will render your lemming list, um, well let's just say "well-populated". Weeeeee .....

After Sun Repair by Institut Estherderm $49
An after-sun face cream, ideal to comfort the skin after sun exposure and to extend a golden tan

• Dextran sulfate soothes and calms reddened and irritated skin
• Centenella asiatica firms the skin and reduces fine lines and wrinkles
• Glycerin leaves skin feeling soft, supple and comfortable

Neil George Pure Shot Intense Repair Treatment Spray $55
This spray restores your hair from root to tip in just 60 seconds and is the answer for hair damaged by chemical processing, the sun and styling. The amount of time to blowdry your hair will be reduced due to the repair of split ends leaving you with extra soft and silky, smooth hair, increased color longevity and shine, free of fly-aways and less breakage.

This haircare brand is so hot right now stores can't keep their products in stock. This item, as an example, was out of stock last time I checked, but they promise they're bringing more in.

ReVive Filtre de Soleil Face Protector SPF 45 $95
An intensely moisturizing lip protector provides an anti-aging formula with UVA and UVB protection, as well as soothing relief for dry lips to keep them soft and supple. An exclusive blend of MoistureLips and plumping ingredients help plump and moisturize lips to soften lines while optical diffusers hide the look of imperfections. Suitable for all skin types, lips are left younger at application while advanced ingredients work to help renew and protect skin.

Elemental Herbology Eye Elixir $57

This has become one of my favorite skincare brands of late; I'm totally hooked on their illustrative packaging and the gorgeous goodness inside.

A triple-action, advanced eye-serum that helps to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, puffiness and dark circles. Combining innovative cosmetic technology with active botanical ingredients, it will help to firm, tighten, lift and nourish the delicate eye region to transform weary, parched or weathered eyes.

Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Bergamotto di Calabria Eau De Toilette $106
Fresh, crisp top notes of essential oils of Sicillian oranges and tangerines, Sorrento lemons and grapefruit. In the heart notes essence of petitgrain blends with the intense fragrance of mate leaves, while essential cardamom oil expresses its resolute, original character. In the base notes, a slight hint of caramel blends perfectly with the more sensual notes of musk which warms the frangrance so that it lingers on the skin. 120ml

TOCCA SPF 30+ Sunscreen Towelettes in Stella $28
How brilliant is this? Scented in the slightly sweet, fresh scent of Italian blood orange, these towelettes are pre-moistened in a gentle, sweat resistant, broad spectrum SPF 30+ physical sunscreen that’s enriched with Vitamins E and B5, aloe and marine silk. The individually wrapped towelettes make it easy to be sun savvy no matter where you are - on the beach or on the go. Each pack contains 8 towelettes.

• SPF 30+ Physical Sunscreen
• Water - Sweat Resistant
• Provides UVA/UVB Protection
• Hypoallergenic and Clinically Tested
• Broad Spectrum Physical Sunscreen
• Natural ingredients include: Vitamins E and B5, Aloe, Marine Silk, Oat Extract, Grape Seed Oil, Avocado Oil
• Not tested on Animals

 
For more information and to shop these fab little finds, visit Space.NK.

HAUTELOOK: Juice Beauty on SALE!

Juice Beauty Skincare has a 100% certified organic juice base. Some organic skincare uses only a few organic ingredients in a water base, making the total organic content diluted and often less than 5%. Instead of the typical water base that cannot be “organic or pesticide free,” Juice Beauty puts over 60 active organic ingredients (all USDA certified organic) into their 100% organic juice base (made from over 26 different certified organic fruit juices). This brings their total organic content up to 98%.

Their team searches the world for the purest, most effective organic ingredients, including their juices, aloe vera, honey, botanicals, plant oils, and raw cane sugar from farms that specialize in sustainable and organic farming. Juices are farmed by indigenous people in the rainforests of Costa Rica, Guatemala and Honduras. Their 26 organic juices come from organic family farms in the Great Pacific Northwest and from sunny California. The organic plant oils come from family farms in the plains of Canada and the U.S. Their ylang-ylang is farmed from the spectacular flowers in Madagascar, myrrh from the Ethiopian resin and blue chamomile from special blossoms in Northern Morocco.

Juice Beauty’s pure organic ingredients are packed with age-defying potency…powerful antioxidants and polyphenols, essential vitamins, vital phytonutrients and age-defying hydroxy acids. Juice Beauty's antioxidant technology combines alpha-lipoic acid, coenzyme Q10, DMAE, peptides, fat soluble Vitamin C, and essential fatty acids for optimum age-defying results they've validated by clinical studies that have shown an 85% reduction in free radical skin cell damage.



No pesticides, petroleum, toxic preservatives, parabens, harsh surfactants or sulfates, artificial colors or dyes, synthetic fragrances, phthalates, or toluene. Juice Beauty has a strict no animal testing policy and 100% vegetarian ingredients

Are you chomping at the bit to get your hands on some of this juice for your skin?

HauteLook's Juice Beauty skincare sale begins Tues., 6/8/10 @ 10 a.m. PT.

Click HERE to shop the SALE now!

Items go fast at these sales, so don't delay

Aveda Rocks the Braid Trend at Jason Wu's Decidely Parisian-Aired Resort 2011 Collection

It's all in the details at Jason Wu Resort 2011 so on each guest's chair sat a box of macaroons made by Alain Ducasse's restaurant Adour, downstairs at the St. Regis Hotel, New York.

"Resort should be like dessert," Swarovski Womenswear Award nominee Jason Wu said. Specifically, a French one apparently as a Parisian flavor floated through his collection; from the Coco-esque straw boaters to the tweedy skirtsuits to the sailor-stripe sweaters and full menswear pants, it was there. On the garçon-ish side of the equation, Wu had a couple of the shorts suits that have quickly turned into a big Resort trend reported Style.com's Nicole Phelps.





Master Stylist Jenn Chiminiello at Aveda Vandam Street Lifestyle Salon in New York City, created an updated braid using Aveda Control Force™ Hair Spray (launching the month) at the Jason Wu Resort 2011 show in New York.

“The Jason Wu hair look for Resort 2011 is a slightly tousled, modernized braid that is both innocent and sexy. The freshness of the braid complements the romantic florals and pretty plaids in Jason’s collection.”

—Jenn Chiminiello for Aveda

HOW TO GET THE LOOK

1. Prep damp hair with Aveda Brilliant™ Damage Control™ to add shine and protect hair from the hazards of heat styling. Then massage Aveda Phomollient™ Styling Foam from roots to ends to add body. Blow-dry with a round brush, curling the ends of hair under as you dry.

2. Use a comb to create a messy part wherever hair parts naturally. For extra volume at the crown, backcomb the roots with a fine-toothed comb.

3. Divide hair into two side sections and one back section. Create a tight braid with the back section of hair and secure at the end with a clear elastic band.

4. Take the left section of hair and lace through the braid, securing at the bottom with a clear elastic band, on top of the elastic already holding the braid. Repeat with right section of hair.

5. For layered hair, take any flyway pieces near the front of the face and secure with bobby pins at each side of the braid, behind the ears. Secure other loose strands into the braid as needed.

6. Finish by spraying the braid liberally with Aveda Control Force™ Firm Hold Hair Spray to keep hair steadily in place.

 

AVEDA PRODUCTS USED

Aveda Phomollient™ Styling Foam (S.R.P. $14)

Aveda Brilliant™ Damage Control™ (S.R.P. $15)

Aveda Control Force™ Hair Spray (launching in June 2010; S.R.P. $26)

Q: What was your inspiration for this look? How did you collaborate with the designer to create the look?

“Jason’s collection was inspired by the look of the dewy pixie girls who graced the covers of 1960’s fashion magazines. The updated braid we created for the show reflects that fresh and youthful feel.” —Jenn Chiminiello for Aveda.

Q: How could a woman achieve this look on her own?

“This style looks pretty and fresh for daytime and super romantic for evening. To keep the look from going flat, apply Aveda Phomollient™ Styling Foam to damp hair, massaging from roots to ends, and blow dry with a round brush. Then divide hair into two side sections and one back section. Create a tight braid with the back section of hair, securing with an elastic. Wrap pieces of hair from each side through the braid, securing with an elastic at the bottom of the braid. To keep the style in place, spray liberally with Aveda Control Force™ Firm Hold Hair Spray.” —Jenn Chiminiello for Aveda.

Who else rocks the braided look?  My own baby girl!  Here she is braided and ready for the pool party she went to Saturday night, a "Sweet 16" b'day party if I'm not mistaken.  Wish my phone camera took better photo detail as she did such a great job styling, but you get the idea nonetheless. 

source: styling and images - Aveda
fashion photos: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images