55 Secret Street

Ne Plus Ultra: Tiffany & Co. Fall 2010 Collections

 There were yellow and white diamonds, turquoise, rubies and gold.  And yes, there was a 20.01-carat, D color, internally flawless diamond worth $7 million.  But did I mention the cupcakes?

Kidding!  They haven't made the cupcake that can touch these gems. 
 

The stunning turquoise and diamond pieces by Jean Schlumberger caught my eye and I was very taken with the selections by the legendary architect Frank Gehry.  That is the Leaves ring of diamonds with 18 karat yellow, rose and white gold on my finger. There is also a bracelet. And a brooch.

Heavenly...

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55 Summer Favorites: Turquoise, Teal & Green Nail Polish

En route to Tiffany's Fall Preview wearing MAC + Alice + Olivia's nail color in "Morning After" and a bracelet I received from a Tiffany event eons ago. More on Tiffany later.

I tend to stick with the tried and true when it comes to nail polish but, thanks in large part to being a beauty blogger, I am constantly nudged out of my comfort zone in this area.  Last year, Jin Soon Choi, owner of Jin Soon Hand and Foot Spa, stopped me from trying a more conventional color in her limited edition collection for MAC.  I ended up trying a khaki green color called "Dry Martini" and I was pleasantly surprised.  This season, MAC has collaborated with Stacey Bendet, the designer behind Alice + Olivia for a new collection of lip glosses, eyeshadow and nail polish.  At the recent launch party at Beauty Bar, I went with... teal.  "Morning After" to be exact. I'm surprised at how much I loved it - and how it randomly matched just about everything I wore for the next few days!  And then, I see this:

Look closely.  Michelle Obama has a green pedicure! Or is that teal? Anyway, I'm sold...

MAC alice + olivia nail lacquer in Morning After $12.00.

Pretty Edgy, a vivid palmetto green by Essie $8.00.

Turquoise & Caicos, a tropical aqua by Essie $8.00.

Leaf Him At The Altar, an opaque metallic vine green from Sephora by OPI,  $9.00.

British Racing Green, a dark hunter green by butter LONDON, $14.00.

Sam Fine on How To Apply Concealer

I was lucky enough to catch up with makeup genius Sam Fine recently as he helped CoverGirl introduce the new Natural Hue Concealer from Queen Latifah's QUEEN Collection (yep, he does her makeup for the ads!)  The collection which includes pressed powder and bronzer, should be arriving in stores now.

 

55 Summer Favorites: Harlem Toile de Jouy Plates and Glasses

I am a longtime fan of designer Sheila Bridges's gorgeous Harlem Toile de Jouy designs, so I'm sure you can imagine my excitement that she has expanded the collection, which includes wallpaper, bedding and fabric, to include these beautiful plates.  And then, as if I were not already verklempt enough, I see that limited edition glasses will become available next month. 

Sheila has said that she designed Harlem Toile de Jouy "to tell a somewhat satirical story about African-American life as seen through the sometimes distorted lens of the media."  In other words, to make people think a little harder about enduring stereotypes that are continually associated with African-Americans from all walks of life. Can you achieve that with plates, glasses and wallpaper? Absolutely. Take a closer look -  it's all in the details.

Harlem Toile de Jouy Set of 6 Limited Edition Plates: $82.50. Set of Limited Edition Glasses (pre-order).