Madonna is planning to launch her own fashion brand, MG Icon. The line will include clothing and accessories. MG Icon is also launching the “Material Girl” junior collection to be sold at Macy’s.  The label is inspired by Madonna’s 13-year-old daughter Lourdes, who was heavily involved in the development of the products.   The line should be in the department store chain by back-to-school time. Price range:  $12-$40 — very reasonable. Look for footwear, jewelry and handbags all reflecting Madonna’s and daughter’s good taste.  We shall see…

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Ever heard of Kronos hair care products?   Kronos Hydresse hydrating conditioner and shampoo actually penetrate your scalp, unlike other products that just coat your hair.   Hair aging is not just a result of age. There are many factors that cause hair to age, often prematurely ( Think Lindsay Lohan)— from environmental stressors that strip hair of its color and shine, to styling tools that leave hair dry, fragile and damaged.
 Click here http://www.kronoshair.com/?action=home.how_old to find out everything these products do. I am testing the shampoo, conditioner and a product called Liquid Theory that’s a spray-on conditioner used before styling. 

At first I didn’t notice a difference, but now I am sold.  My hair does look better — shinier and softer.  Let me know what you think.

 shampoo $35.00

 conditioner $40

 Liquid therapy $40

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Most women are now suffering from dry hair either from late winter weather or aging or both.  Here are some  products that I have tried that really do a good job of hydrating. 

1.  Frederic Fekkai mosturizing shampoo and conditioner:  This famous NY hair stylist has not just slapped his name on any old product.  His products really do add moisture to your hair. Could be the Shea butter ingredient. About $22.50 in stores, but I have found it at Loehmann’s for $17. www.fekkai.com 

2.  Joico K-Pak Moisture Intense Hydrator

 Leave this product on in the shower for 3-5 minutes and you will not believe how great your hair will feel.  I find its effect lasts for several shampoos and I only use it about once a week. $22.50 at Amazon.com, Also available at Ulta. http://ulta.com/

3.  KMS California moistre repair revival creme:  Leave this in your hair and style as usual.  You will not believe how smooth and soft your hair will feel. $10.89 at Amazon.com. Also available at Ulta

  Tomorrow–a brand new hair product I just found on the web.

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Check out this recent photo of Joan Rivers.  Is she channeling Michael Jackson?  She’s the pin-up gal for plastic surgery gone wild.  If the newest study on plastic surgery is to be believed,  American women are not rushing to the cosmetic surgeon the way they used to.  The number of surgeries in the U.S. decreased for the second year in a row, down 17 percent from last year.  The economy could account for this.  Even use of injectibles was down.  One uplifting stat:  boob jobs beat out liposuction sa the most popular surgical procedure for the second year in a row.  Butt lifts and augmentations are growing in popularity.  Looks like women want more junk in their trunks.

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Gabourey Sidibe starred in “Precious.”

The big news to come out of Oscar’s red carpet fashion parade was color.  Color is back big time.  We saw reds (Sigourney Weaver); navy blue (the “Precious” gals and Maggie Gyllenthaal); and pink and pale lavender (Jennifer Lopez, Anna Kendrick and Demi Moore). 

Anna Kendrick

 Maggie Gyllenthaal

Style Matters Winners  

Sarah Jessica Parker: Very original.  Parker turned her nose up at the Oscar uniform of strapless ruffled gowns and instead went for a Chanel Couture full -length silver and yellow satin sheath with a neck strap that swept behind her back. One suggestion:  Next time hem it very short.

Rachel Adams: Loved the gown –a mélange of gossamer pastel colors.

Kate Winslet: She wore a flattering silver gown by Yves Saint Laurent and accessoried with an incredible diamond pendant. Cameron Diaz: This dizzy dame finally got it right.  She was the epitome of Hollywood glamor.  Usually she shows up at awards shows looking like an unmade bed.Demi Moore:  Don’t know how she keeps up her looks.   It could be a potent combo of plastic surgery and fanatical exercise.  Whatever she does, it’s paying off.

Style Matters Goofy Gowns

Charlize Theron: She chose a pink dress with decorative flowers circling her boobs.  The look was an ice cream sundae with florettes of whipped cream on top.  Where were the cherries?

Vera Farmiga:  She told her stylist how about an electric violet strapless gown with crazy pleating every where.   Looked like she was a refugee from an escalator factory explosion.

Zoe Saldana wins the award for the silliest dress of the evening.  It looked like a home ec. project gone bad. A pale lavender degrade gown darkened to deep purple at the bottom where a frou frou trim snaked up and around her legs and hips.  It was bizarre to say the least.

Jennifer Lopez:  This was a dress concept gone bad.  Someone kept adding fabric to the side train so that it finally looked like a dress sidecar.  What was that thing growing out of her hip?

Other observations:  Miley Cyrus is still dressing too old for her age; Kristen Stewart wore a dreary black dress that she managed to make look goth; Sandra Bullock’s lipstick looked like it took her to the Oscars; wanted to see more necklaces — too many bare necks with tiny earrings. Seemed out of proportion.

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Has this girl thrown away her career or what? What a waste of talent.  I actually liked Lindsay in those early Disney flicks.  She was adorable in “The Parent Trap.”  Now she is little better than a high-class whore.  An Austrian billionaire paid her $270,000 to “accompany” him as his “date” to the Vienna Opera Ball. Right.  But the last laugh’s on Lohan. She never showed up.  Why?  She had to be in traffic court!  Remember all her driving arrests?  Guess she plea bargained down a few points. But that didn’t stop the little minx from spending the money anyway!  Ha.

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Full, separated lashes are the holy grail of mascara manufacturers.  Clumps are the bane of their existence. Women will go to great lengths (pun intended) to free lashes from clumps — even using safety pins to separate individual lashes  Ouch!  Some women use toothpicks and paper clips.  What happened to usin an old mascara wand?  That’s what I do.

Some facts about mascara and mascara users:

1.  The average number of strokes per eyelash–6;  mascara-obsessed women apply 30-40 strokes.  I can’t see how they can see!

2.  Many women reapply mascara during the day. When I do this, I get more clumping.

3.  CoverGirl’s LashBlast is now the top-selling mascara in the country according to recent market research.  It has what’s called in the business a “single-stroke payoff.”  Only apply once.  I tried. Didn’t work for me.

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Age and time hits us all, ladies.  It’s nice to know that some famous beauties are accompanying us on the same road.  I am fascinated by how they manage the aging process.  Those to watch as they hit the big 4-0 are:

 Minnie Driver

Uma Thurman

Tina Fey

Kelly Rippa

Jennifer Connelly

Claudia Schiffer

Queen Latifah

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Lubna Hussein, a 43-year old journalist, challenged Sudanese police and courts since her arrest in July for wearing pants by insisting the case go to trial. The prospect that she could get the full sentence of 40 lashes - drew an international outcry. The judge tried instead to fine her $200.

Geisy Arruda revealed the hypocrisy of Brazilian society when she was arrested and escorted off a college campus in the capital city of Sao Paulo.  This from a country who invented the teeny weeny bikini and the bikini wax! 

With the fall fashion shows kicking off yesterday in NYC (the last time Fashion Week will take place in Bryant Park; next year it’s schedded for Lincoln Center), it’s timely to note how politicized fashion has become all over the world.  According to Marie Claire magazine, women are fighting globally to wear what they want. Unfortunately, most of these battles are taking place in Islamic countries.  In Sudan, journalist Lubna Hussein was arrested for wearing pants: the punishment - 40 lashes.   In Somalia, women are publicly whipped for wearing bras (unnatural firmness and  support violates a radical interpretation of Sharia law).  Indonesia passed a law that as of 2010 women are officially prohibited from wearing pants.  Religious police distribute modesty skirts.  In non Muslim countries, such as Brazil, female college students are arrested for wearing mini-dresses and in Britain, the largest labor union banned high heels in the workplace. When will men give it up?

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 Just happened upon this great fashion tip in the Febuary edition of More magazine.  For all you working women who want to expand your wardrobes, try this:  First, take advantage of the President’s Day sales and shop for some suits on sale.  Second, When you find a suit you like, buy two in complimentary colors.  Then switch the jackets and slacks.  If I have done my math correctly, this will give you six professional looks for the price of two! Now that’s saving some cheddar!

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