Holiday Gift Guide 2010: Estee Lauder Pure Color Extravagant Collection

Hey Glamazons! So, we've previously discussed how much my social calendar has managed to explode over the last couple of weeks (hence my need to consistently change up my makeup look with fun eyeshadow palettes and the like) but we have yet to touch on the topic of holiday beauty products. Or, maybe I should phrase those last words to say "holiday beauty products that you should be giving or getting." (Yes, I do like that verbiage much better!)

Because of the beauty blogging junkie that I am (cc: Amber Katz, the head honcho of beauty blogging junkies) I've somehow managed to amass all of these great products and press releases about fun holiday collections. And, of course, it is imperative that I share all of my faves with you as soon as possible so that you can go ahead and start purchasing. Let's start with the luxe Estee Lauder, shall we?

Never one to shy away from the most beautiful, opulent packaging out there, this season their holiday collection is all about "extravagant indulgence." In the words of my makeup loving mentor (and honorary Glamazon!) Mikki Taylor "How fabulous!"

Designed by my makeup BFF/Creative Makeup Director Tom Pecheux (Side Note: Yes, he beat my face once as evidenced above in that picture of us which gives me butterflies everytime I look at it!) each product in the line "wraps your features in alluring holiday elegance" as quoted from the press release which just so happens to be totally true!

This collection features:

-Pure Color Five Color Eyeshadow Palette in Extravagant Gold ($42)

-Pure Color Five Color Lip Palette in Extravagant ($42)

-Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in Extravagant Red and Extravagant Berry ($22 each)

-Pure Color Gloss in Extravagant Plum; Star Ruby; and Electric Ginger ($20 each)

-Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Extravagant Pearl and Extravagant Night ($18 each)

My personal faves?:

The Pure Color Lip Palette in Extravagant is a must-have for any cocktail clutch. The color is rich enough to be worn alone and there's a nice-sized mirror attached so you can see (and adjust) everything in one fell swoop.

The Pure Color Gloss in Star Ruby (it's the red shade on the right) has somehow turned into my everyday wear lip gloss for the month of December! I just love the sheer juiciness of the color and every time I whip it out on the train for re-application I always notice multiple curious stare from the girls seated around me. It's also the perfect shade to layer over the red lipstick you see above in Extravagant Red.

The Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Extravagant Night is the perfect shimmery/shiny shady of plum that contains loads of glitter but in a sexy, grown up kind of way. (Side note: I'm not really one for a bunch of glitter on my nails. Although I admire it on others, I just don't like it on mine for whatever reason.)

The Estee Lauder Pure Color Extravagant Collection is available for purchase now for a limited time at an E. Lauder beauty counter near you or www.esteelauder.com.

Anyone tried any products from this line yet? Or, after reading this, are you now dying to?!

xo

Ferocia

Is The Rage At ESSENCE Hiring A White Fashion Director Validated?

Alright, Glamazons: by now we're sure that you've read all about the news of ESSENCE magazine hiring Ellianna Placas as the new fashion director. What's the big deal?

Well, Placas just happens to be a white woman and ESSENCE just happens to be a publication for black women by black women.

Can you see how this could be a bit of a controversy now?

As two former of employees of the mag, you'd be correct in thinking that Coutura and I were immediately saddened upon hearing the news. (Heck, Coutura even worked in the fashion department!) Since Agnes Cammock left the post several years ago, the mag has had some difficulty in finding a new hire. However, Coutura and I know for a fact that some of the top people in black fashion voiced that they'd never take that position due to its many restraints.

Finally one was found: Billie Causieestko, but she lasted for less than a year before being let go. The position has been open for quite some time and an interim person was placed in by Time, Inc until a replacement could be found.

Enter Placas, who apparently has several years' magazine experience at pubs such as O Magazine and US Weekly.

According to a post on The Fashion Bomb, Michaela Davis (a former fashion director at ESSENCE) expressed feelings of hurt and disappointment at the hiring of Placas.

ESSENCE's former Beauty and Cover Director Mikki Taylor told The Glamazons that she'd heard of the news about Placas' hire while in Los Angeles but had no comments to make about the matter.

What do I think? I think that it's a known fact that the fashion department at ESSENCE has been in shambles for a long time now. If Placas can come in and use her contacts in the fashion world to bring in more money for the mag, then that's a good thing, right?

However, when you think about the historical aspect (as Davis points out) that should be upheld by ESSENCE by hiring only black women, then it is a rather sad thing. This could never be possible anyhow considering that it's owned by Time, Inc which (by law) is an equal opportunity employer.

What do you think about this, Glamazons? Will you continue to read ESSENCE knowing that there's a white fashion director?

xo

Ferocia

A Day in My Life: Why Did I Get Married Too Premiere with Janet Jackson and Tyler Perry

Partying with Janet Jackson! Catching the movie with Maya Angelou! Sitting near Cicely Tyson! I've had quite the night, Glamazons, due to the star-studded Why Did I Get Married Too premiere that took place in NYC yesterday.

Despite the dreary, rainy NYC weather, the glitterati came out in sequined and sheer frocks, crisp suits, blazers and fitted caps (yes, Tyler Perry wore a blue Yankee cap and I love him for it) to celebrate the film. I wore a military jacket, my Jimmy Choo for H&M necklace, a black ruffled dress, a chain Chanel purse and leopard print boots. Fierce!

Here's me in the cab with the glamazing Jeannine Amber, who works at ESSENCE Magazine. Sidenote: I died inside when she, and another editor who I admire, said they thought I was a great writer! So sweet =)

When I arrived, I was pleased to learn I was sitting in the forth row, next to my girlfriend, Candice Frederick, who has a fab movie blog you have to check out, Reel Talk. Click the link for an awesome review she did of the film.

Here's a shot of Tyler speaking before the film from my seat.

I was honored to be in a room with such legends as Maya Angelou, Cicely Tyson and Janet Jackson, as well as luminaries like Al Sharpton, Tasha Smith, Sharon Leal, Malik Yoba, Lamman Rucker, Gayle King, Jessica White, Lynn Whitfield, Blind Side actor, Quentin Aaron, Ashford and Simpson, Fabolous, Ice-T and Coco and more. And everyone looked ravishing! Here are pics from the red carpet:

Love the Yankee cap and blazer look on Tyler! P.S. His journey from homeless man to one-man empire is an endless source of inspiration for me.

Janet Jackson brought along her sister, Rebbie, to see what is arguably her best acting performance to date!

Is it me or does Jill Scott look glamazing?! Her dress accentuated her curves perfectly. And I live for that hair and told her as much at the afterparty.

Tasha Smith wore a red sequined one-shoulder number that was everything! She steals every scene she's in, and looks even more beautiful in person (what is her fitness plan? I need it for Spring)

The legendary Cicely Tyson was amazing in the film. So honored to be in her presence! 

The boys of the film, Malik Yoba, Richard T. Jones and Richard Jai White plus producer Roger Bobb

Boys being boys! Lamman Rucker and Richard T. Jones joking around on the red carpet

The legendary Ashford and Simpson showed up in all their black and leopard print glory

Lamman Rucker. Yum.

The gorgeous Sharon Leal in a lovely nude, sheer and embroidered one-shoulder frock.

Jessica White, what is this? Did you get out of bed and go straight to the premiere? And get your lingerie ripped in a cat fight on the way? I cannot.

The lovely Gayle King.

Fabolous made an appearance on the red carpet.

Terri Vaughn showed her support. I told her at the bar how much my Dad and I love her character on the Steve Harvey show. She's a riot!

The Blind Side's Quentin Aaron meets Ice T's Coco

The movie was just as exciting as the red carpet! I won't give away too much except to say it was an emotional rollercoaster, vacillating between bouts of laughter (Tasha Smith is hilar!) and moving dramatic scenes (Janet Jackson's performance is epic!). Prepare for plenty of twists and turns, new famous faces (like Cicely Tyson!) and an event that changes all of their lives forever. Click here for a full review.

It was such a great experience to watch the film with the director, writer and producer, Tyler Perry, and the actors and actresses that starred in it. We clapped to show our appreciation for emotionally-charged scenes, hilarious lines and even Tasha Smith's amazing bikini bod.

At the afterparty at the Bowery hotel, I made sure to tell them each how proud I was of their performance. Well, everyone except Janet Jackson.

For her, I was truly starstruck. (I'm a Janet Jackson fanatic. I can do the Pleasure Principle dance with my eyes closed and The Velvet Rope is one of my fave albums of all time!) And the fact that they were playing the Jackson Five in the background made it all so surreal.

I was barely breathing when she squeezed past me in VIP, which says a lot because it's hard for me to get starstruck. (The only other people who could move me are a reincarnated Michael Jackson, Oprah and Stevie Wonder...the latter two, I already met. Does this mean I'm jaded?)

I nearly fainted when Janet agreed to pose for a picture. Unfortunately, I hesitated and was immediately bumrushed and elbowed by photogs from every direction! Sideeye. See the pic I was able to get of Janet Jackson and the Why Did I Get Married Too crew (Tasha Smith and Michael Jai White) below in the VIP section.

While sipping Chardonnay from the open bar, and going in on chocolate brownies, I chopped it up with Jill Scott, who was rocking the coolest hairstyle, Lamman Rucker, who is even finer in person and remembered me from when we met at The Magazine (This clearly made my night!) and Mikki Taylor, who chatted with me about her exciting plans following her retirement after thirty years at ESSENCE Magazine.

What a fabulous night! Be sure to check out the film when it debuts on April 2nd and comment here to tell me what you think.

In the meantime, here's the trailer. Enjoy!



Kisses,

Coutura

Honorary Glamazon Mikki Taylor Leaves ESSENCE Magazine

Hey Glamazons! Breaking news in the magazine world: Mikki Taylor (beauty and cover director at ESSENCE magazine; that's us pictured above!) is retiring after 30 years. According to a statement released to wwd.com, Taylor will continue to work for the brand as editor at large, but her main focus will be on expanding her businesses Mikki Taylor Enterprises which includes Satin Doll productions (an image consulting firm) and MT Communications (a strategic communications and branding firm).

"I'm going to continue to showcase women in all our glory," she said in a statement. "There is work to be done across multiple platforms and it's important for me to bring the message of inner and outer beauty to new generations of women."

Former Real Simple executive editor Corynne Corbett will be temporarily overseeing Essence's beauty department until a successor is found.

xo

Ferocia