I have not  read the book “Eat, Pray, Love.”  It sounded too self-indulgent and self-absorbed to waste my time on.  The film preview with Julia Roberts, who frankly is not aging well — she has the kind of looks that have tipped from pretty to homely over time — looks really boring.  It appears to be a movie without much of a plot. EPL opens Aug. 13  We shall see if my instincts are right.

Meanwhile, retailers are trying to cash in on the wardrobe Roberts wears in  the film. Check out the Home Shopping Network this Friday for a three-day shopping extravaganza. pushing EPL merchandise.

 http://www.hsn.com/eat-pray-love_c-ep_xc.aspx?cm_re=LeftNav*shop*EatPrayLove

HSN has collected 40 brands of clothing and accessories from Italy, Bali and India.  Sounds like a Pier One sale on steroids.

Look for spice collections by “Top Chef” host Padma Lakshmi, prayer beads by Indian designer Naeem Khan,

(His claim to fame? He’s dressed Michelle O.) and embroidered tunics by V by Eva.

My reaction? Big whoop.  Anyone disagree with me? 

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I have been going thru back issues of fashion magazines and found some very handy tips and some new products that I want to share with you.

1.  Sponge it:  If you don’t like the thick gooey feel of facial sunscreen, try applying it with a makeup sponge.  The lotion goes on in thinner less sticky layers.

2.  Scrub it:  If you aren’t exfoliating your facial skin several times a week, it’s time to start.  Exfoliation smooths skins, which helps makeup go on smoother.  I use Good Skin microcrystal skin refinisher ($25 www.goodskindermcare.com) in the shower for easy use.  The key to exfoliating is to rub longer, not harder.  Hard scrubing can lead to red spots and broken capillaries.

3.  Order it:  To get the most effectiveness from skincare products, you need to apply them in the right order:

                       First: lightest product such as a Vitamin C serum.

                       Next: heavier products such as a moisturizer

                       Finally: sunscreen.   

4.  Take it:   I might be the last person on the planet to know the benefits of flaxseed oil tablets. Also known as linseed oil, flaxseed is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids. Dosage: at least 1,000 mg taken one to three times daily. Go to http://www.essortment.com/all/whatisflaxsee_pfy.htm for a list of all the benefits.  Flaxseed oil does everything but vacuum your house.

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Almost everyone knows by now that high definition television shows every blemish.  A whole new line of HD makeup is bieng created for this new format.  I found the coolest product for only $15 at Sephora:  Makeup Forever High Definition Powder.  It’s white and milled finer than baby powder.  It goes on over foundation or blush and smooths and evens out skin color. It also holds in your makeup so it lasts longer and it works on any skin tone.  Sephora carries the large size  ($30) as well as the smaller.  From what I can tell, the smaller size will last a long time.  No need to pay the higher price.  Let Style Matters know if you tried it and what you think.

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Here are some recent research findings that reveal much about how Americans shop.

1.  What city showed the most growth in luxury spending?  Ready?  Detroit.  Go figure.  New York City spending? Down.

2.  Southerners bought more clothing in white, green and pink than other regions in the country. Angelenos bought more black, white and gray.

3.  Dallas women have the reputation of  being big spenders.  Not so. In reality it’s Washington, D.C. women.

4.  Finally clothing sizes.  Research shows that women are thinner in NY and LA.  No surprise there.

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   Dress for Success Denver is selling-off hundreds of beautiful clothing pieces and accessories as a fundraiser.

 Each year thousands of clothing donations pour into the Dress for Success Denver offices, but not all of clothing is appropriate for the workplace or are sized right for the women who need the clothing most. To put the excess clothing donations to good use, Dress for Success Denver will be selling these items in its annual sell-off event. Name brand clothing from designers like Jones New York, Tahari, Ann Taylor, St. John, and BCBG will be available. All proceeds support Dress for Success Denver.

This is a great event for a wonderful organization that helps women get back to work and achieve independence.

When:             Saturday, July 24, 2010 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. The event is open to the public. 

Where:            Dress For Success

1510 N. High St., 2nd Fl. 

Denver, CO 80218

SPREAD THE WORD!

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The new summer edition of ColoradoView magazine in out now. Style Matters has a column on crazy beauty products we tested:  The InStyler, Sketchers fitness footware and the “Bumpit.”  Check which ones are thumbs up or down.  We also did a fabulous fashion layout on denim using three-up-and-coming professional couples as our models.  We think the spread rocks.  Thanks to the Garment District for all their help in assembling clothing and accessories.

www.coloradoviewmagazine.com

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Pantene shampoo (The “don’t hate me because I am beautiful” product.), recently conducted a study to uncover how women are affected by bad hair days.  The study found that “bad hair negatively influences self-esteen, brings out social insecurities and causes people to concentrate on the negative aspects of themselves.”  So true.  I feel bummed out every time I have a bad hair day.  Here are some other findings that shouldn’t surprise you:

 1.  Only about a third of hair-care users say they are loyal to one brand; half say they alternate between two brands and the rest change constantly. 

2. Women said they feel less hostile depending on the hair products they use.

3.  A quarter of the women say they don’t want to leave the house on a bad hair day.

4.  Bad hair days are blamed on a bad haircut, weather or a bad night’s sleep.  But damaged unhealthy hair is a big factor.

Getting a professional blow dry always mean a good hair day and a better day than if I do it myself.  How about you?

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Just got back from two weeks in Italy. Loved observing the street fashions in Rome.  Here’s what’s hot:

1. Cotton harem pants.  Not a big fan. 

Hope they don’t catch on here. 

2.  Gladiator sandals — Natch.  It is Rome. Seen worn with skinny jeans, skirts, dresses and shorts.

3. Long hair worn curvy and wavy.

Styles are not much different than what we see in the USA.  Fashion has become universal.  I have mixed feelings about this.  On the one hand, it’s not such a packing challenge any more.  American styles now look current on any European street.  On the other, in decades past, it was such fun to see different styles, looks and accessories.

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 Actress Carey Mulligan with her messenger bag.

 Messenger bags are beginning to show up on the shoulders of celebrities and in department stores.  Trade in your big ol’ bag for something easier and lighter to carry.  Not to mention, less expensive.  However, using a small messenger bag may mean you have to get very strategic on what to put in it.  For Style Matters it means leaving more stuff in our cars. Have you got any suggestions?

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  Debralee Lorenzana is filing suit against Citibank for firing her.  Grounds:  She’s too good looking.

A 33-year old woman with a good looking figure: 5′6, 125 pounds and 32DD, got fired from her job at a Citibank branch in NY City for looking too alluring in the office.  Maureen Dowd’s column in the NY Times gives the deets.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/opinion/06dowd.html?src=me&ref=general

The woman appears to have an ironclad case, but that doesn’t dismiss the fact that many women show too much skin, read cleavage, in the workplace.  Style Matters gives seminars on building a business casual wardrobe on a budget, and we are often called in to consult with women on how to dress more professionally.  Tight slacks, low-cut tops, and exposed “muffin tops” have no place in the workplace and can adversely affect salary raises and promotions.

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