55 Secret Street

My Little Brown Eye... Happy New Year 2008!

Whatever you do, Don't Drink and Diet!  Drunkorexia is not cute.

Chris Rock is kicking off his 2008 "No Apologies" tour tonight at Madison Square Garden in New York.   Aww, I like Chris Rock and I wish I had tickets! Maybe I can catch him in D.C. or Philadelphia.

Have you made any new year's resolutions?  I have - but I'm keeping them to myself!  I make lists and resolutions compulsively throughout the year, so January 1 doesn't always phase me.  I don't have any black-eyed peas on hand, but I will be cleaning my house before the New Year officially arrives here in Newark, which is now the Northeast's fastest growing big city.  That is fantastic, but I am still moving back to New York in 2008.  Newark is great and it's definitely rising - I can see it everyday.  But I still live 99.5% of my life in New York, so off I go. 

I am very excited about the new year as 2008 is looking very very good for me.  I hope it's looking good for you too!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Here's to 2008! {Making It Lovely}

Favorite Things 2007 - Annie of  Blogdorf Goodman leads the way as  beauty bloggers, including my buddies Lianne of The Makeup Girl and Natalie of Coquette, list their favorite beauty things of 2007.

Isn't It Lovely? - I just heard about Lovely Magazine, a fantastic, interactive online magazine out of Boston.   Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the future of magazines.  Beautifully done.

The List: What's In and Out for 2008.  Chris Rock is "out" and Tyler Perry is "in"?????  Wrong! {Washington Post} 

What Happened to New York: A History of the 00's So Far  -  A history of New York via the Metro section of The New York Times. {Gawker}

The World of Tomorrow - On January 1, 1908, The New York Times ran an article called “1808 — 1908 — 2008.”  The article marveled at the advancements of the previous century and called upon  experts of the day to give predictions for the future.  “What will the year 2008 bring us? What marvels of development await the youth of tomorrow?”   "Us," meant New Yorkers, but there were very interesting predictions from 1908 that were definitely realized.  One magazine stated, “When the expectations of wireless experts are realized, everyone will have his own pocket telephone and may be called wherever he happens to be.”  As for the year 2108, novelist Oscar Hijuelos, Mad Money host Jim Cramer and a seventh grader named Kate Kaplan give their interesting predictions. {New York Times}

Web Snob Weekend - Top 10 of 2007

 

Coquette reveals her favorite Top 10 in Fashionable Technology for 2007.

Bag Bliss looks back at the top 10 celebrities and their designer handbag moments.

Bag Snob counts down the biggest trends in bags for 2007.

Stiletto Jungle dishes the Top 10 Sites for Designer Bargain Shopping.

Fashion Indie's Daniel Saynt picks The Ten Best Emerging Fashion Designers of 2007.

Bags, Bobs & Blogs: the Top 10 Fashion Moments of 2007 - Fashiontribes.

KRiSTOPHER celebrates now, not the New Year, with an obi clutch.

My Fashion Life runs down the Top 10 Fashion Trends of 2007.

The pessimist at Papierblog looks at the ten most disappointing moments in fashion for 2007.

Stylehive brings you the top ten untraditional places to jet to for New Year's Eve!

Do you agree with eBeautyDaily's top ten beauty items she can't live without?

Last year is so passe! Here are Second City Style's 10 Fashion Predictions for 2008!

Top 10 Beauty Secrets of 2007

Can you believe that 2008 is Tuesday?  Time really does fly!

It's been a a busy, fun year here at 55 Secret Street.   My list of 55 Favorites for Fall and the Holidays never made it out of my BlackBerry, but I did want to close out the year with a list or two.  Here are my Top 10 Beauty Secrets of 2007 - in no particular order with the exception of #1.

10.) Coconut Oil - Women of color especially love it as a hair conditioner and moisturizer.   All of my favorite blogger pals were talking about it, from Tia to Andrea to the Dominican Enigma and that ranting Creole Princess in D.C.   It is constantly discussed on the Long Hair Care Forums as well.

9.) Metallic Eyeshadow- I'm still dusting it on and loving it.  Using just a little bit with my fingers makes it look like I've put in far more effort than I actually did.

8.)  Curly/Kinky Hair Care Products - Led by the ever popular Miss Jessie's, several independent beauty companies like Mixed Chicks, Curl Junkie and Blended Beauty have emerged and keep growing.  They have all created unique blends of conditioners and super moisturizing creams and constantly improve on their formulas .   Naturally Curly is a great resouce online and I've been very lucky in Ricky's in New York, scooping up Mixed Chicks and other hot products.

7.) Flat Irons-  You can't argue with the curl revolution, but bone straight hair is still very much in style.  Who has the best flat iron?  CHI?  Sedu?  T3? Conair's new Infiniti Nano Silver flat iron has also been making waves.  They just keep getting better and better.   

6.) Pretty Underarm Protection - And then some.   This is one secret weapon you'll want to keep around for 2008, starting with that sexy New Year's Eve dress you'll be wearing.  Hollywood Fashion Tape's Hollywood Nights Evening Bag Essentials will serve you well.

5.) Dr. Scholl's Moleskin Plus Padding - A Fashion Week trick gleaned from the New York Post of all places.  Happy Feet = a beautiful smiling face.

4.) Hair Mascara - I lamented about my lack of success in finding it and resorting to using regular mascara to cover my few gray strands.  Thankfully Frederic Fekkai got the memo and introduced Frederic Fekkai Hi-Lights Hair Mascara in Gold and Cognac.

3.) "Green" Beauty - Everything was green, green, green in 2007 and why not?  Personally, I am not bothered by the right set of chemicals in my skincare, but I was pleasantly surprised by Stella McCartney's new skincare line.      

2.) Lightening Knees & Elbows - Very much under the radar for some, but this is one of the top three search topics on 55 Secret Street.  Inquiring minds all over the world want to know if it is possible to lighten dark knees and elbows.  The answer?  Yes and no.

1.) The Dominican Blowouts, Roller Sets and Conditioners - While many were shocked and amazed, plenty of you were already in the know.   It was easily the most popular post this year on 55 Secret Street.  From Alter Ego to Nacidit, you just couldn't get enough.

55 Q&A with Celebrity Makeup Artist Sam Fine - Part 2

Remember this guy?

Good!

So... as I was saying last month, Sam was giving a demonstration for makeup pros at the MAC store in Harlem.  Even though the primary focus was getting tips that would be relevant in pictures and on television, many of Sam's tips can still translate to an off-camera life. 

Dermablend Cover Creme Concealer, Chroma 4 1/2 Golden Bronze 

Nichelle:  Concealer can be tricky.  What is the best way to apply it?

Sam: I always apply it with my fingers because it's very heavy - I always think 'spackle to paint'.  I rarely use primer because it can change the color and the effect, so I just take my time with the concealer and eventually the foundation.  You have to blend, blend blend.   When I apply foundation, I use a sponge because it helps regulate the product.  If you make a mistake with the makeup - it looks ashy or if it's clearly the wrong color - take it off.  It can look lighter - but not ashy.

  MAC Studio Tech in NW 50

Nichelle:  What's the best way to handle wearing foundation when you have a breakout?

Sam:  What do you normally use?  Liquid foundation?

Nichelle: Yes.

Sam: Most women do for day to day, but a breakout is the time to go for full coverage.  Just use a cream foundation directly on the problem area, but use your normal liquid foundation on the rest of your face.

My beauty-partner-in-crime Nicole, a busy working mom, had the following question:

I would like to know what is the best way to create a shape for your brows and which color to choose if you have dark hair? I see that you normally use a light brown eye brow color but I look washed out from that one.

Sam Fine:  There's no need to bleach if you don't want to.  After your brow is shaped, brush the brows upwards and then trim any remaining hairs with cuticle scissors. You can finish with a clear brow gel.

If you are interested in bleaching your brows (Sam likes Sally Hansen and  Jolen) here are the steps:

1. Mix the cream according to package instructions and leave the bleach on your eyebrows for a minute or two before checking to find out if your brows have lifted in color.

2. If they haven't begun to lift yet or if you want them a few shades lighter, then simply reapply the bleach you removed and repeat until you achieve the desired color.

Bleaching can provide a color that ranges from warm chestnut to reddish blond. If you find that you've made your brows lighter than intended, you can always darken them with an eyeshadow, pencil or brown mascara until the color begins to grow out. 

My beauty blogger pal Avin of 99 Products emailed back within ten milli-seconds!  She was not playing:

I love Sam and of course I have a question!  I would love to know if he would share his favorite trend for the holiday season.  I know that a lot of my homegirls are starting to think about corporate functions and other holiday get togethers and they have all expressed and interest in color this year.  So, what does he feel is this years best trend and does he have any application tips or techniques he would be willing to share. Don't forget to tell him how much I love his work and how unbelievable Ms. Tia Williams looked after his makeover.  In fact, I went out and bought MAC Honey Flower lipstick the very next day.  I never leave home without it. 

Sam Fine: As far as tips and techniques, stay away from anything that makes you uncomfortable.   If you're not sure about using metallic eyeshadow for instance, go to lipstick.  You can do red lips or a deep burgundy and you'll be fine.  Bronzer is another great thing to try.  It goes a long way, especially on brown skin whether it's light, medium or dark. You don't have to follow every trend.

'Tis (What's Left Of) The Season...

I hope that you have been enjoying the holidays! 

I have been trying to get a large block of time to finally update here (I don't believe that I have ever been gone this long before!) but after going from no job to two jobs (quickly!) I did not count on being so exhausted. And even when I did have time, well, honestly, I just couldn't wrap my mind around it.   I think I had a mild case of "blogger's block" if you will.  Believe me, I never dreamed in a million years that I would be away so long, but I am getting myself together to come back, so I thank you for your patience with me.

Happy Holidays!

Web Snob Weekend

WELOVEBEAUTY.com's newest celebrity stylemaker, makeup artist Fiona Stiles, dishes on how she created Halle Berry's "Things We Lost in the Fire" premiere look.

Celebrity Styleaholic Najwa Moses launches her accessory line SALTE with The Blogger Earring!

Bag Snob is drooling over Kara Ross' Cella Python bag!

Barneys is fighting for our trees, one Fendi Tote at a time. More on Bag Bliss.

Beauty Snob fights tired skin with Elizabeth Arden Prevage!

Coquette talks to Project Runway's Nina Garcia and gets the dish on her favorite new fashion designers to look out for and lots of answers to readers' questions!

Karl Lagerfeld parks his tweed-covered party bus in London and all the Chanelophiles come out to play at a time. Get it all on GlamChic.

KRiSTOPHER gives away a Fendi "Hologram" clutch.

Papierdoll weighs in on the made up model war between Agyness Deyn and Irina Lazareanu.

Stiletto Jungle features the cozy Rachel Pally Sailor Pant, as seen on Oprah's Favorite Things.  

Will you be the Slut or the Snooze? Second City Style tells you how to avoid holiday party disasters in "Are You Naughty or Nice?"

If dry hair and alligator skin are getting you down, check out StyleBakery.com's winter skin solutions.

Stylehive got a chance to chat with Rosie Hogan, the youngest - and only - Aussie designer to showcase her collection during New York’s Spring fashion week.

eBeautyDaily is wondering if she is alone in her lustful thoughts for Christmas goodies.

Fashiontribes finds the perfect pleated wool cape at Blanc de Chine, and enjoys the fact it's inspired by Chinese history.

Big Fashion Indie News!!! New York designer and Project Runway alumn Malan Breton has a new bi-monthly column on FashionIndie.com. Go behind the scenes with the fashionisto. Read "It's Malan Darlings".

Uptight (Everything's Alright)

 

Yes Lynette, Part 2 of Sam Fine is still coming along with a ton of other stuff that I just haven't been able to get to.  Thanks to you and the others that are like, "Hey! What happened?"  I am just so exhausted. Honestly, I thought I had more energy, but I just come home and turn on my computer and stare at it, only to turn it off and go to bed. I haven't really been able to thing straight with my 15 hour/2 job workdays (along with some extended, adventurous commuting - and a brand new cold...) 

And, to top it all off, I accidentally erased all of the info on my Blackberry (the dreaded 507 error - pain in the @%!!)  so I was bleary-eyed and disconnected this week.  Thankfully, it's finally back on - and I am shopping for a backup phone.  I have no idea how you blogger/writers with children, husbands and families do it but bless your heart...

I miss my Web Snob buddies too - they'll be back here next week.  I ran into Najwa Moses of Styleaholics last week and she has just launched a brand new handmade accessories collection called SALTE.  I'll tell you more about it and some other interesting stuff  that I've been just dying to get to starting this weekend as I slowly but surely come back.

But right now, I'm gonna get some sleep...