Pantene and Bret Michaels??

Yes, I'm sure that most of you are just as confused as we are, Glamazons! I was super stoked when I received the e-mail stating that Pantene would be announcing a new spokesperson live via a webcast at noon today. I tuned in and there was the current spokesperson, the fab Stacy London, and Bret Michaels. Huh? Then the announcement that YOU could be the next Pantene spokesperson. The brand has a casting call out for the world's first reality hair star (click here to enter). Oh, so Bret was there because of the tie-in with the whole "reality" spin. But, does he even count as a reality star?! Not in my book; and (call me a hater), but I totally don't think that's all his hair (like maybe he has a track or two up in there haha). What about Snooki from Jersey Shore? Or Natalie Nunn from Bad Girls Club? I would have much rather seen these reality stars like the above mentioned. Not Bret Michaels. Ew.

But (all rants aside), the contest looks pretty awesome! Good luck to all who enter!

xo

Ferocia

Call the Glambulance: Lindsay Lohan to Design for Ed Hardy

We're scratching our heads too, Lindsay. Why? Because a rumor has hit the internet that you have moved from designing poorly for Emanuel Ungaro to penning a handbag line for Ed Hardy.

There goes breakfast.

This is a disaster (c) Beyonce. I'm not a Lindsay Lohan or Ed Hardy fan (the latter may have something to do with the Jersey Shore cast) so the two fashion offenders together is just too much ugg for me to handle.

Lindsay Lohan's design skills are questionable, to put it nicely (though in all fairness, she makes decent leggings). But that's not even the biggest problem here. What's worse is that Ed Hardy is just so six years ago. Kind of like the heart sequined pasties Lindsay sent down the Emanuel Ungaro runway. Dated.

While the thought of the three handbag collections they've threatened to design scares me, Ed Hardy and Lindsay Lohan are a perfect match---a match made in Fashion Hell---but a match nonetheless.

And seriously, I don't hate the girl. Actually, I agree with Micah Jesse in that she needs help and a genuine support group around her. But can't she just stick to acting?

What do you think of the collaboration? Am I being harsh? Are you excited for the new handbag line?

Kisses,

Coutura

Magazine Sham: Jersey Shore in Harper's Bazaar and Interview Magazine

If I knew all I had to do to make in a major Fashion magazine was live in the tanning booth, wear an exorbitant amount of hair gel and fist pump, I would've done it a long time ago.

The alien species of Guidos and Guidettes is now, sadly, the toast of the Fashion world, being shot by the industry's most renowned photographers and landing features in Fashion Magazines.

Is tacky the new trendy? Judging from Interview Magazine's photo shoot, shot by (gasp) Terri Richardson, and Harper's Bazaar's spread featuring Snooki & cohorts, the answer is a resounding Yes.

Sidenote: Apparently, J Woww tweeted she was shooting for "Harper's Bizaar" from her Twitter account. Bizaar?! (I'm currently giving the most vicious sideeye I can muster).

Maybe fashion insiders think orange skin and gelled-down bouffants are the new hot trends of the Summer season (barf). Maybe the industry tastemakers believe they can transform Snooki into a polished, fashion darling who wears clothes that aren't made with 75% spandex and lycra and sold in a cheap store that smells like polyester on the boardwalk. Maybe we're so shocked that functional human beings have no problem being seen, and filmed, in trashy clothes that we can't stop staring at it.

No matter the motive, the fact remains that your favorite magazines will run shoots with the Jersey Shore crew in the following months. See pics below...and weep.

Vinny, Pauly D, Ronnie and Mike "The Situation"

Mike "The Situation" with Bar Rafaeli

J Woww and Snooki posing for Harper's Bazaar (or Bizaar according to J-Woww)

Someone, make it stop.

Kisses,

Coutura aka "J-Pow" (My Jersey Shore name...hey, if you can't beat em...)

GLAM OR SHAM?: Kim Kardashian for Bebe Fall 2010

Hey Glamazons!

Like we warned you weeks ago, Kim Kardashian's designs hit the runway for the first time as a part of the Style 360 Fashion Week series. A young crowd, including Rob Kardashian's ex, Adrienne Bailon, watched as a parade of chic, ubertrendy looks came down the catwalk.

The styles, which ranged from a pink one shoulder dress to a black wrap jumpsuit, were a bit safe and dated---but keep in mind, these designs are for a mall store as opposed to a high-end fashion brand. The look stayed true to Bebe's signature style (form-fitting, sexy, young, trendy) while appearing as if each piece was designed specifically for Kim Kardashian's body. Curves were exaggerated with petal draping and cinched waists, and the silhouettes were all body-skimming and flattering.

The color palette was monochromatic with blacks and grays, interspersed with vibrant pops of pink. All the trends of last season were incorporated into the collection: sheer, cut-outs, one shoulder, statement necklaces, jumpsuits, white blazers, blah, blah, blah. The shoes---some platform sandals, some booties, all open-toe---troubled me.

Kim wore a hooded sweatshirt dress under a leather corset with matching black gloves. In my opinion, it just didn't seem to fit her style (it was more bad-girl than L.A. socialite chic) but her body still looked amazing (is that Quick Trim?! wow!). Oh and did we mention J-Wow from Jersey Shore was there (sideeye)? Check out the looks below and give your verdict:

Glam or a Sham?


Kisses,

Coutura

Photos Courtesy of OK Magazine

The Kardashians and Jersey Shore Take Fashion Week. Yuck.

In a short time, Kim Kardashian has managed to make her way from an X-rated home video to TV screens across the country---and she has successfully infiltrated every corner of the industry along the way.

If you walk past a Macy's fragrance counter, there's Kim in a 50's style lingerie pushing her new perfume. Turn to the E! channel and there's Kim and Co. making their family squabbles public for our weekly viewing pleasure. Catch a football game on Sunday and there's Ms. Kardashian's megawatt smile on camera whenever Reggie Bush scores a touchdown. Buy some gum at the newsstand, look up and smack in front of your face is Kim on the cover of OK! Magazine (every week!) dishing about her romance, her life as an Auntie, her new hairspray, anything!

It only makes sense that her next territorial conquest is the Fashion industry, starting with its most celebrated week. Yep, that week. Word has it that the Kim & Co. are trying their hand at designing with a collection for retailer, Bebe, which will make its debut during New York Fashion Week. So in addition to playing celebrity in the front row of shows like Tracy Reese and Badgley Mischka and being the spokesperson for Shoe Dazzle, Kim Kardashian will be hosting the launch of the Bebe store in Soho and showing as part of the Style 360 Fashion Week series.

And I'm NOT mad (I'm sure you're either surprised or outraged by that fact. Hear me out.) It's not like she's designing for Emanuel Ungaro with little to no experience (hi Lindsay Lohan!). A privileged, wealthy socialite living in LA who spends her days shopping on Rodeo Drive and nights showing it off on the red carpet knows a little something about mall retail. Now, add to that someone who lives in outfits that show off her Armenian curves, and who's better than Kim to design the club staple that is a spandex Bebe dress?

Not that I want Fashion Week to be overrun with porn-turned-reality stars or even mall retailers (History lesson: every year a show like this slips in somewhere between Oscar de la Renta and Michael Kors. Study She by Sheree), but I'm not angry at the collaboration. Kim, or better yet, Kris, knows what's she's doing. Now, will the collection sell with Kim & Co.'s endorsement and designs? That remains to be seen.

Ugh. Update: My amazing roomie and I found it comical that on E's Fashion Police Special last night, Khloe Kardashian asked why MTV's Jersey Shore castmember, Snooki, was at the Grammy's. Umm, same reason you are on TV right now, Khloe. Paris Hilton has arguably started a regrettable trend where non-celebrities are the new celebrity.

That said, I have news that would make a designer vomit their Starbucks coffee. Our beloved Page Six has disclosed that the MTV's The Jersey Shore castmates, yes Situation and Snooki, may not only attend but...I'm cringing...MODEL in Fashion Week shows. Now, I'm crying. I'm from Jersey (and proud. It's an amazing place that Jersey Shore does not fully represent in the same way "Real World Brooklyn" didn't capture all of BK and the "Harlem Heights" cast didn't speak for all of Harlem, but I digress). There were times during my visits to Seaside Heights (everyone goes, not just the guidos) while scarfing down chicken fingers and fries at the boardwalk that I didn't want to even SIT next to a greasy-haired, fist-pumping, tattooed guido for fear of their horrible fashion sense being contagious.

Now, years of slaving in the Fashion Closet, at photo shoots and juggling the demands of running Fashion websites have earned me the privilege of sitting behind one of them at a fashion week show...when my days consist of interviewing designers, visiting showrooms, reviewing collections and diligently searching for the next 'It' designer...and theirs consist of "Gym. Tan. Laundry?"

Unless the show involves a makeover that includes washing the grease out of their hair (can you imagine what the sink will look like after?) and the pounds of make-up off their faces, I don't see the point. Clearly, the designers are inviting the Jersey Shore castmembers, and the Kardashians for that matter, for the inevitable press they'll receive as a result (that ironically I'm facilitating by writing about this now...yes, I understand the irony).  Is press worth associating Jersey Shore-esque reality stars with your brand? Quite frankly, any designer that thinks Snooki has fashion sense worth endorsing is not a designer I want to support.

And not only have they infiltrated modeling and appearing at shows, they're designers too, as is the case with Kim Kardashian. Does Kim deserve a chance to design and show at NYFW with only shopping experience under her belt? Bebe shoppers, what do you think about this collaboration? Is it a good business move for the company? And would any of you wear Kim Kardashian's designs?

Discuss.

Kisses,

Coutura

In Search Of Tan

Hey Glamazons! Confession: I'm dying to get out of here. By here, I mean this crazy concrete jungle known as NY. I'd love to just be lying on a beach with a good book and a Corona. (Yeah, I'm country gal and prefer a beer over a fruity drink any day! lol) My skin is dying to soak up some sun. Ok, maybe I over exaggerate just a bit, but I could definitely use a tan. (Disclaimer: I'm a firm believer in wearing an SPF of 30 or higher at the beach. I also don't go to tanning beds since they're so dangerous for your skin.)

While I don't exactly want to look like Snooki from MTV's the Jersey Shore (who does go to tanning beds and professes that they should be in every home...ew), I would like to have a bit more color. So, here's a couple of my fave products that I use as a shortcut to achieving a great (faux) tan:

I start in the shower with an amazing exfoliator. My fave of the moment? Clinique's Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliating Cream. The little granules smooth and polish your skin to perfection and the scent is nice and refreshing. It's also gentle enough for daily use.

Then, I move on to applying a self tanner. Right now I'm fluctuating between two (I don't know if that's legal or not lol): Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer in Medium-Tan and Clarins Delicious Self Tanner . Both work quickly and provide a natural looking glow (ie I never look orangey).

For my face, I'm in L-O-V-E with MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish in Comfort. It's the perfect mixology of goldish, bronzish shades and I use as a blush, eyeshadow and bronzer.

All of the above combined make for this look below! (That's a nice and golden me in Mexico lol)

Tell us which products give you the best faux tan!

xo

Ferocia