Membership Has Its Privileges: Ideeli.com

Look at my luscious new handbag. Don’t you just love it? For the past few weeks, I’ve been tempted by quite a few pretty purses. But something told me to hold out…to wait for true love. And as soon as I laid my eyes on this heavenly handbag, I thanked that little voice inside my head.

The “Laguna” bag from Abaco, a hard-to-find French label, retails for $750. But I scooped this baby up (in dove gray) for just $250 – thanks to Ideeli.com.

Ideeli is a members-only shopping community for trendsetting women. The website offers authentic, luxury handbags, jewelry, sunglasses, and more…for up to 90% off the original price! There are 4 to 6 shopping events per week, plus incredible giveaways – like this Tessuto Multicolor Tote by Prada (original price: $1650.00).

Ideeli has been featured in O Magazine and The New York Times. And here’s what cnet News.com had this to say about Ideeli: "It's Woot.com meets 'The Devil Wears Prada.'"

If you love the idea of paying $239 for a $600 pair of Christian Lacroix shoes, or $110 for $350 Gucci sunglasses – get thee to Ideeli. There's just one catch …Ideeli.com membership is by referral only. Lucky for you, I’m a member. If you want to join the club (membership is free), email me at spoiledpretty@gmail.com - be sure to include the email address where you would like your invite delivered.

You’re welcome.

New Trend: Imperfect Polish

According to the New York Times, chipped nail polish is the new thang. But not everyone can get away with it.

"A girl with skinny jeans and a great bag looks like she did it on purpose," said Deborah Lippman, a manicurist who has worked on the hands of Gwyneth Paltrow, Mary J. Blige and Madonna. "Those damn skinny girls can get away with murder."

My nails typically look jacked, so I suppose I'm ahead of the curve.

Click here to read the article in its entirety. I dare you not to laugh at the absurdity of it all.

Photo: nytimes.com

Death By Blogging

This past weekend, The New York Times ran an interesting article on how the round-the-clock, sedentary lifestyle of bloggers can have a detrimental effect on their health.

CNN picked up on the story, and chatted with Perez Hilton about the risks of being a blogger. Click here to watch the video.

Girly Girls: The Growing Trend of Marketing Makeup To Children

In today’s New York Times, the paper takes an interesting look at the growing phenomenon of pre-pubescent makeup use. Analysts say this is part of a trend called KGOY (kids getting older younger) – a trend which is only enabled by pushover parents.

Years ago, I was shocked when pre-teens started carrying Dooney & Bourke handbags and wearing 7 For All Mankind jeans. And don’t get me started on the sweatpants with “Juicy” splashed across the ass. I used to find fault with just the parents, but the article points out that retailers are also to blame.

“Today, cosmetic companies and retailers increasingly aim their sophisticated products and service packages squarely at 6- to 9-year-olds, who are being transformed into savvy beauty consumers before they’re out of elementary school.”


According to the article:

*In a study last year, 55 percent of 6- to 9-year-old girls said they used lip gloss or lipstick, and nearly two-thirds said they used nail polish, according to Experian, a market research company based in New York. In 2003, 49 percent of 6- to 9-year-old girls said they used lip gloss or lipstick.

*Sweet & Sassy, a salon and party destination based in Texas for girls 5 to 11, includes pink limo service as a party add-on, which starts at $150 a ride.

*At Club Libby Lu, a mall-based chain, girls of any age can mix their own lip gloss and live out their pop idol fantasies. Last year, the chain did about a million makeovers in its 90 stores nationwide.

*Dashing Diva franchises often offer virgin Cosmos in martini glasses along with their extra-virgin nail polish, free of a group of chemicals called phthalates, for a round of services for a birthday girl and her friends.

Virgin Cosmos?!?!?! Huh?

I don’t know about you, but I am sickened by this. It doesn’t quite rise to the level of Big Tobacco marketing to adolescents and teens, but it’s pretty damned close. And the parents who can’t say no just add fuel to the proverbial fire. I’m all for buying your pre-teen some Bonne Bell Lip Smackers (that’s what my mom did, and I turned out just fine)…but limos and faux cocktails? I think this trend will only lead to bad things – like girls begging for rhinoplasty and boob jobs to commemorate their sweet sixteen.



Photos courtesy of The New York Times.

Beauty Turns Ugly

Yesterday, the New York Times ran a particularly scathing piece about beauty bloggers. In a nutshell, the 'expose' likened us to beauty whores – posting for free products.

There are so many inaccurate allegations in this article that I have neither the time nor the energy to set the record straight. Luckily, fellow BBN member Christina posted a retort on her blog, Bon Bons in the Bath…and I wholeheartedly agree with her assertions.

So Spoiled Pretty readers, please be assured that I am solely motivated by my love for all things beauty – and the opportunity to converse with you all everyday. Product samples and industry events are wonderful perks; but essentially, these benefits are what enable bloggers to compete with 'traditional' beauty media – and provide you with the unbiased reviews, breaking news, and tips you crave, in real time.

If you have any questions about the beauty blogging biz or the product review process, I am open to questions. Please feel free to email me, or leave a remark in comments section below.

You Don’t Have To Have Bad Skin

Head on over to the New York Times' website for an interesting article entitled, "Why Should Kids Have All the Acne?" Journalist Natasha Singer discusses pimples, product marketing, and ProActiv.

In a nutshell, the story contends that people's quest for perfection, coupled with Guthy-Renker's marketing genius, has resulted in a windfall ("five million active customers and annual worldwide sales of about $850 million") for a product that's actually not much different from Clearasil.

I've never used Proactiv, so I'm curious about whether this really is a miracle product or if it's just all talk. Have you tried Proactiv? Share your Proactive experience in the comments section of this post.

FYI - Did you know that Jessica Simpson just renewed her contract with Proativ Solutions for a rumored $3 million? Look for new infomercials to air this holiday season.

Monochrome Models

Yesterday, the New York Times ran an astute piece about the lack of diversity among fashion models. Despite the fact that 30 percent of Americans are non-white, and although African American women in the U.S. spend more than $20 billion on apparel each year, ethnic faces have been few and far between on the runways of New York, London, Paris, and Milan; they are even more noticeably absent in magazine fashion editorials.

Jezebel.com took a thorough look at the October issues of nine of the largest American women's fashion/service magazines, and found that that black models are far more common in advertisements than fashion editorials; their report is quite alarming:

Black Models In Advertisements, October 2007:
Marie Claire: 10, 1 of whom is a celebrity: Walgreens (3), Olay (1), Johnson's Soft Lotion (1), Diesel (1), CoverGirl (1), Puma (2), JCPenney (1).
W: 3, 1 of whom is a celebrity: Target (1), L'Oreal (1), Turks & Caicos tourism board (1).
Vogue: 6, 4 of whom are celebrities: Revlon (1), American Express (1), Diesel (1), JCPenney (1), Vaseline (1), Avon (1).
Harper's Bazaar: 2, 1 of whom is a celebrity: Make-A-Wish Foundation (1), CoverGirl (1).
Glamour: 3, none of whom are celebrities : Aquafresh White Trays (1), Liz Clairborne (1), Lee Jeans (1).
Cosmopolitan: 0.
Allure: 8, 4 of whom are celebrities: Diesel (1), Revlon (1), Sephora (1), L'Oreal (1), Revlon (1), Aquafresh White Trays (1), CoverGirl (1), Olay (1),
Lucky: 9, 4 of whom are celebrities: CoverGirl (1), Target (1), American Express (1), MAC Cosmetics (1), Dillard's (1), Puma (2), Sephora (1), Avon (1)
Elle: 13, 3 of whom are celebrities: Target (1), MAC Cosmetics (1), Diesel (1), Puma (2), Benetton (1), Avon Foundation (1), House of Dereon (4), Secret (1), Botox (1).

Black Models In Fashion Editorial, October 2007:
Marie Claire: 1, starring solo in a 6-page fashion editorial
W: 1, appearing on 1 page of a 20-page fashion editorial
Vogue: 0
Harper's Bazaar: 0
Glamour: 0
Cosmopolitan: 0
Allure: 0
Lucky: 0
Elle: 0

In the wake of New York fashion week, fashion photographer and ANTM judge Nigel Barker was reported as saying, "Everyone is always talking about the weight issue, I think they should be talking about race."

To read Guy Trebay’s New York Times article, click here. For Jezebel.com’s insightful commentary, follow this link.

PS, I Love You

What will be on every woman’s lips this fall (the lucky ones, at least)? If beauty buzz is any indication, it’s bound to be Lancome Color Fever Lipstick in P.S. Kiss, the latest runway-inspired shade in the Pout-à-Porter series. Created by Lancome’s Artistic Director Gucci Westman and designer Peter Som for his Fall 2007 runway show, this gorgeous garnet lipstick will be the most sought after scarlet of the season.

“My fall collection was all about rich textures and deep saturated colors – P.S. Kiss is the perfect bold stroke to go with the clothes, but it is still elegant and easy,” says Som.

“Peter is such a gentleman and he’s so talented, so the process was really delightful,” says Westman. “I think the color we came up with is reflective of his clothes – modern and sophisticated, and very pretty.”

On October 1st, P.S. Kiss will be available in limited quantity exclusively at Nordstrom, Bergdorf Goodman, Lancome’s U.S. boutiques, and lancome-usa.com. The New York Times is reporting that the Bergdorf’s waiting list will open on September 1st, but those in the know have been calling 212.872.2740 for months – putting their names on the pre-waiting list, waiting list.

Thakoon is the next design house to create a Pout-à-Porter lipstick. Following in the footsteps of Proenza Schouler’s Proenza Pink, Behnaz Sarafpour’s Behnaz, and Peter Som’s P.S. Kiss, the shade will debut at the Thakoon spring 2008 runway show at New York Spring Fashion Week runway this September 7, and is due to hit counters early next year.

There’s not much room left on this beauty bandwagon, so if you find yourself sans Som – fret not. Three Custom Color Specialists will custom blend lipstick for you and ship it within a week.