Thanks to our friends at Get Sugar, Boston’s best online catalog of local luxuries, we’re changing those indelible Def Leppard lyrics (what do you mean you hate Def Leppard?!) to Shower some sugar on me. Shower, as in “Vichy shower.”

Pour some Sugar on Me

Thanks to our friends at getsugar Boston’s best online catalog of local luxuries, we’re changing those indelible Def Leppard lyrics (what do you mean you hate Def Leppard?!) to Shower some sugar on me. Shower, as in “Vichy shower.”

Rain showerheads are nice, spraying wall tiles are cool, but until you’ve experienced a Vichy shower, you haven’t really showered. A Vichy shower has five to seven shower heads, pouring out soothing, cleansing water on to the spa-goer who lies on a customized wet table. Spa treatments are administered while the shower is on, creating a unique experience. Rather than having to get up and rinse off the salt or mud or mask from the treatment, the lucky customer just lies under the cascade of warm water.

Doesn’t that sound sweet? Well getsugar is showering Misstropolites with love by passing on a special deal which makes the Vichy even more delicious.

Enjoy a 60 minute body polish plus the Vichy Shower at 50% off, only $55 at Alexander’s Salon and Spa in Wenham.
Plus, you get to say you had a Vichy Shower…

A darling of Daily Candy: “The little-known, adorably sized (read: located in a quaint Victorian home) oasis may be a bit off the main drag, in Wenham, but what it lacks in proximity it so makes up for with highly personalized service;” and the Boston Globe, Alexander’s Salon and Spa also won Best of Boston, north in Boston Magazine last year.

The treatment should be enough to ease that migraine-inducing tune right out of your head.

Oprah Winfrey has brought a lot of previously verboten topics out into the open – and one of them is near and dear to my heart, literally. It’s my breasts. Or as Oprah calls them, “the girls.” Thanks to Oprah’s forthrightness, and the entrepreneurialism of Susan Nethero, founder of Intimacy, the premiere bra fitting specialists, we now know that 85% of us are wearing the wrong size bra. And that almost every woman has breast issues.

My problem was breasts that were too big. My boobs enter a room before I do. They have been the bane of my existence for decades. And now that I’m middle-aged, post-menopausal and carrying too much weight, it’s even worse. I was the first girl at school to wear a bra at my school, so I discovered early on that the wrong boys were attracted to women with large breasts. On top of that, clothes never looked as good on me as they did on other people. 

I’ve suffered from straps that slip, backs that ride, underwires that jab or sit halfway down my stomach, cups that overflow and an overall look that is not terribly attractive. Since Target and Marshall’s usually carry only up to 40-42 DD, I have grabbed those and called that my size. But the truth is, my bras didn’t work. My breasts hung out at elbow level, and I wasn’t comfortable until I came home and sprung free, slipping on a comfy worn-in (and worn-out) cotton jersey old thing.

Then I caught the Oprah re-run where breasts were the subject. Nothing was off-limits for discussion, and suddenly I longed for the liberation of a properly fitting bra – whatever the price. I was very excited for my appointment at Intimacy – and yes, making appointments is recommended, though they will take everyone; you just might have to wait a while. 

Every sales person there is sensitive to each customer’s level of modesty and potential discomfort during this fitting process. I was comfortable just getting down to it. The Intimacy approach is “holistic,” meaning no measuring, and the staff is intuitive and informed. To my great surprise, my bandwidth went down – and the cup size roared into an area of the alphabet I didn’t know existed when it came to bra sizes. (But I believe it goes up to ii.) I learned that the band provides 90% of the support, the straps merely hold up both flesh and well-constructed cups.

The first two bras I tried were too tight – they made red impressions right under my breasts within two minutes, and I wasn’t comfortable at all. Then came, “I think this will chafe as my arms move against the bra,” and “too jiggly” and a bunch of other negative comments that made me feel like I was being difficult. But these are the things that matter. It helped determine size and style. 

The bras I’d been trying were nude, white and black – the utilitarian variety I was accustomed to. Then Joanna came in with a mesh bra with embroidered flowers on it. I instantly voiced my fear of itchiness. But this bra was soft. And there were “the girls,” halfway between shoulder and elbow. They were neither conical or smooshed. And, wonder of wonders, it was a PRETTY BRA. That was the least of my considerations going into this experiment, but I cannot tell you how long it’s been since I even uttered those words in relation to myself. 

So what if it was French and perhaps the most expensive piece of clothing I’d bought in light years. I walked out wearing it, noting the wastebasket full of tired bras in the back of the store. And it’s true, I looked lighter, younger, and probably ten pounds thinner – but more important, I felt balanced. Like I’d found my center, my core.

My next appointment, with Irene Rodda, personal bra fitter and shopper, was equally informative and actually fun. She met me at the Natick Collection, and after a quick perusal of sizes in Macy’s and another store, realized we had to head to Nordstrom’s. Like many entrepreneurs, Irene has been doing this for 10 years for friends and family, then last year made it an official business. Perfect timing for her, now that everyone wants a perfect fit.

She uses a tape measure, first right under the breasts for bandwidth, then over the fullest part to give her a range for cup size. But she knows all too well that bands aren’t standardized. Neither is cup size, which makes trying on a variety of bras imperative. Her biggest piece of advice is, “Don’t be afraid of salespeople,” and “Don’t get talked into anything.” Irene knows that if it doesn’t fit, it won’t get better.

But she also advises against “sister sizing.” That’s when you compensate with a bigger bandwidth and a smaller cup – or vice versa. The band should fit tightly – and you always want to start on at least the middle hook. Never use the hooks that give the greatest width because all bras stretch and if you begin there you have no place to go. 

Getting fitted for a bra isn’t rocket science, and does involve some artistic leeway. Finding a well-fitted bra will depend on the brand, the materials, the style and how you are shaped. And ultimately, comfort and the way you look in clothes will be the deciding factors. 

So, don’t let your breasts down – go get fitted! 

Irene Rodda, personal bra shopper & fitter, 617.997.1705; personalbrashopper@gmail.com (call for appointments)

Photos courtesy of Intimacy

With the first whiff of hyacinth it becomes impossible to get an appointment at the nail salon. Toes everywhere are getting ready to see the light of day. And where last week there were empty chairs and pigeon feathers there are now sun soaked café tables teeming with people wearing sunglasses and the grateful expressions of prisoners just released from solitary. 

Things get casual this time of year.

With the first whiff of hyacinth it becomes impossible to get an appointment at the nail salon. Toes everywhere are getting ready to see the light of day. And where last week there were empty chairs and pigeon feathers there are now sun soaked café tables teeming with people wearing sunglasses and the grateful expressions of prisoners just released from solitary.

Local ice cream shops closed for the winter suddenly have lines out the door and blossoms miraculously dot the landscape – urban and suburban alike. Weekends are filled with lacrosse and soccer game, al fresco meals and vodka tonics.

The black pants that elegantly took us through dinners at B&G and post-work cocktail parties seem too hot, stiff and uptight. But denim...now that feels just right. Denim is made for springtime. Or is it that springtime is made for denim? Either way, there’s a veritable denim frenzy taking place right now, because everything and anything goes this season.

What you’ll see: organic denim, wiskered denim, raw denim, drainpipe, bootleg and everything in between. Many of us have already embraced the Laurels and Hardys of the genre: the skinny and wide leg cuts. But there are some new kids on the block worth considering, and I don’t mean the ones on their reunion tour.

Ripped denim circa 1980 is back courtesy of Martin Margiela. They remind me of a pair I customized for myself my freshman year of college.

High-waisted, bleached out styles like Dolce Gabbana’s throw back even farther to the 70’s and scream Ali McGraw in Love Story. Done carelessly they can ruin a perfectly good lunch date, but they can look fantastic if polished off with a tee, a tailored blazer and heels.

The extra young or daring among us might try some of the new vibrant colors - electric blue and cherry red are all over recent fashion spreads.

My seasonal favorites though are white jeans. Fresh, crisp and ultra-flattering, they take denim to a welcome new place post winter. Pair them with everything you own and embrace the feeling that summer is nearly upon us.

Heels, flip flops, spring boots or ballet flats all look great with jeans- and a simple change in footwear can transform a beloved pair over and over again.

With all these readily available options and increasing opportunities to wear them, no one should feel guilty about spending $150.00 on a pair of jeans anymore… except now they cost 250.00. Think twice before splurging on electric blue.

As an “expert” in the skin care industry, Misstropolis came to me and asked, “If you were stranded on a desert island, what products would you want to have with you?” Not only did I make a list, but I liked the question so much I decided to offer a special deal to Misstropolis readers. Read on and print this out if you want to take it shopping. Special offer information is at the bottom.

First on my list and an absolute must have is the best sunscreen known to womankind. In fact, if I only had ONE product available to me, that is what I would choose. (More about that in a future article.)

Other items I would not want to live without are, in order of preference: Cleanser, Anti-oxidant cream or serum, Moisturizer, Peptides or retinol cream and Glycolic acid night cream. That would be my bare minimum. If I was lucky enough to be stranded with more of my luggage intact, I would want my toner, eye serum, rejuvenating mask, and so on.

Why are these my choices? Here’s why…

Cleanser. Well just imagine living without a cleanser that is right for your particular skin? Yuck!

Anti-oxidant green tea and/or vitamin C cream or serum. If I go a day or two without my green tea or vitamin C cream I start to go crazy. My skin doesn’t look the same. I need them. My skin breathes a sigh of relief when I apply them. A good anti-oxidant product does four things for skin: 1. it neutralizes free radicals caused by sunlight, pollution, pesticides and chemicals by stopping the chemical chain reaction of free radical damage which leads to cell destruction; 2. It helps our immune systems protect us from damaging UV rays from the sun; 3. It reduces the effects of inflammation; 4. It helps maintain the skin’s connective tissue and stimulates collagen synthesis.

Not all topical anti-oxidants are created equal. Vitamin C and green tea are two of the most potent. Vitamins A, E and CoQ10 are other important antioxidants for the skin. The level of antioxidants found in products sold in department stores and drug stores often do not contain a high enough level of antioxidants to have the desired effect. 

A good quality, medical strength anti-oxidant cream or serum with a high percentage of antioxidants will help to slow the formation of new fine lines, slow the loss of collagen and improve the elasticity of the skin, helps to reverse previous photo-damage from the sun and leaves your skin noticeably healthier looking.  That’s why these products are so high up on my list.

Moisturizer. Next up, a moisturizer to hydrate and soothe my skin. Serums are best for oily skin and creams for dry skin (like mine.) Combination skin does best with a serum or light cream. It should be non-comediogenic, which means it does not clog pores or cause break-outs. Moisturizers without chemical fragrances are the best choice.

Peptides or Retinol cream. These help to keep skin supple and stimulate new collagen growth. Peptides are protein fragments and there are many types of peptides, each of which does something slightly different. (Just like each vitamin does something slightly different.) The gold standard for retinols is a prescription from your doctor for Retin A or Renova, but some people find these hard to tolerate (including me). The best alternative is a cosmeceutical grade retinol or peptide from a respected company.

Glycolic Acid night cream. I like to use glycolic acid in a 10 to 20% concentration a few times a week at bedtime as a night cream. During the night, the glycolic acid (which is a fruit acid) dissolves dead skin cells that give our skin a dull appearance. Glycolic acid exfoliates, allowing new skin to breathe, and once skin is exfoliated, other products, such as anti-oxidants, can be absorbed more readily.

Sorry my list of “must haves” isn’t shorter. There are some good combination products that combine several of the categories, but each item on the list has a different, and crucial, purpose. 

If I am stranded with my favorite skin care products, I will be happy. If I have some great books, even better. Some wine and food provisions, things are looking up. My ipod, now we’re talking. My women friends, I’m ecstatic. My husband and children, I’m set for life.

Cheryl Clarkson is the Founder and CEO of SkinHealth in Wellesley Hills and on Newbury St. in Boston, MA. For more infomation visit skinhealthcenters.com.

Special Misstropolis Offer! 15% off total purchase of SkinHealth brand products during the month of April in the stores or via phone or web orders. Just mention Misstropolis when you place your order, and receive 15% off! Now that otta make your skin glow!

HUDSON, Boston’s most beloved home decor boutique, has recently opened a second store in Wellesley, MA.

Please join us to celebrate the opening at a Misstropolis Private Shopping Event

Wednesday, April 16
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Shopping, Sushi, Wine…
and a special Misstropolis discount

~Spend at least $200 and get 20% off your total purchase~
Guests will have a chance to win a “by Hudson” vintage flour sack pillow ($125 value) or one of a selection of exquisite decoupage plates ($95 value).

~Please r.s.v.p. by Thursday, April 10 to jo@themoxieagency dot com.~

Hudson has been touted as Boston’s most eclectic, most chic and most inviting home boutique by Lucky Magazine, Boston Magazine, The Improper Bostonian, The Boston Globe and many others.

Hudson specializes in Fine Home Furnishings, Lighting, Bedding, Vintage accessories and furniture, Floorcoverings, Children’s blankets and toys and unique gifts. Owner Jill Goldberg also offers interior design services by appointment.

Read Misstropolis’ July 2007 article on why we LOVE Hudson here.

Hudson Wellesley
61A Central Street, Wellesley, MA 02482
phone: 781-239-0025 fax: 781-239-0075
www.hudsonboston.com
Join Us!

Congratulations, mommy-to-be! You most likely have stacks of books at your bedside describing the fascinating changes your body will undergo on this 40-week journey. Yet few will offer details about some of the most glaringly obvious changes that will face you in the mirror: the ones on your skin!

Pregnancy-related hormone changes can induce new bumps and spots to appear on your skin, or may alter pre-existing conditions. Use the following guide to help decipher these changes and learn how to treat and prevent them.

Acne
Some women find their skin actually improves during pregnancy. Not you? If you were prone to breakouts pre-pregnancy, your acne may worsen as pregnancy hormones cause your sebaceous glands to secrete more oil. Many prescription acne medications are unsafe during pregnancy, but there are strategies to help you fend off breakouts.

Doctor’s Orders: Use gentle soapless cleansers, such as Cetaphil Cleanser, twice daily and resist the urge to scrub or use astringents frequently. These will merely irritate your sensitive skin. Use non-comedogenic facial moisturizers, such as Neutrogena Facial Moisture. If your inflammatory acne persists, your dermatologist can prescribe topical medications that may be safely used during pregnancy.

Melasma
Almost 70% of pregnant women experience the “mask of pregnancy”, or melasma, which appears as mottled brown pigmentation on the forehead, cheeks, and upper lip. Elevated levels of estrogen, progesterone and melanocyte-stimulating hormone work together to produce this increased pigment in response to sun exposure. Melasma often subsides after delivery, but in some cases can be persistent.

Doctor’s Orders: Ultraviolet light exposure worsens melasma. Use a broad-spectrum, high-spf sunscreen, such as Aveeno Positively Radiant spf 30 Daily Moisturizer. Applying this on a daily basis, even on cloudy or wintery days, may prevent or lessen this pigmentation. Your dermatologist may prescribe a combination of tretinoin, hydroquinone and topical steroids to treat persistent post-partum melasma.

Stretch Marks
These dreaded pink, red, or brown depressed streaks can appear on your belly, buttocks, thighs, hips and breasts. The straight truth is that there is no way to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy. If you are genetically predisposed to develop them, they will appear.

Doctor’s Orders: Enjoy your pregnancy and motherhood! We know of no treatments that are medically proven to diminish stretch marks, so don’t worry about them. If your stretching skin is itchy, then by all means apply an emollient. Rest assured that most stretch marks fade into faint, silvery lines post-partum and after delivery, your dermatologist can treat resistant marks with tretinoin cream or a pulsed dye laser.

Itchiness and Rashes
As your belly and breasts enlarge during the second and third trimester, your skin may become itchier. Pregnancy-related hormones may also trigger increased sweating, which can cause heat rash or irritation in the skin creases. You may notice small, itchy bumps around the hair follicles on your upper arms. This benign condition, called keratosis pilaris (KP), is often worsened or triggered during pregnancy.

Rarely, women in their third trimester can develop an itchy, hive-like rash on their abdomen. Called pruritic, urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (or PUPPP), this rash can produce maddening itching for women in late pregnancy.

Doctor’s Orders: Hydrate your skin at every opportunity, particularly immediately after your shower. Cerave Lotion is particularly good at restoring your skin’s barrier function, and Am-Lactin Cream (which may be ordered by your pharmacist) can work wonders at smoothing KP. Speaking of showers: use the least amount of soap possible! Even so-called moisturizing bars can be irritating. If itching persists contact your dermatologist, who may prescribe anti-inflammatory lotions or creams that are safe during pregnancy.

Hair Loss
Your hair, which grew so lush and thick during pregnancy, is now falling out! You have a lovely 3 month-old infant at home, but are despairing at your hair shedding, or telogen effluvium. The hormonal changes of pregnancy and delivery trigger a shift of your growing hairs into the resting, or telogen, phase. 1-3 months later, these hairs normally shed.

Doctors Orders: Never fear! Your hairs are normal, they are simply resting. After they have shed, they will most likely go back into their normal growth phase and will regrow. In the unlikely event that your hair loss persists beyond 6 months, a dermatologist may be able to evaluate and treat other causes of hair shedding.

Changing Moles
Pregnancy-related hormones can cause skin darkening, particularly along the linea nigra, the areola, and any freckles. Occasionally, moles will also enlarge and change with pregnancy. Although most of these changing moles will be benign, they should be evaluated by a dermatologist to ensure that they have not evolved into melanoma, a dangerous and potentially deadly form of skin cancer among young women.

Doctor’s Orders: Any changing mole during pregnancy should be evaluated by your dermatologist to be certain that it is benign. Some enlarging moles that become irritated along the neck or under the arms can be easily removed in your dermatologist’s office to help you feel more comfortable as your pregnancy progresses.

Robin Travers is a doctor who can make even the most derm-challenged mom to be (or just plain old derm-challenged) feel dazzling and flawless. To read more about her, click here.

Lately I’ve been hyper-aware of my friend’s skin. She looks all glowy and fresh, like she just got back from Sardinia or just met the man of her dreams, and he’s straight and available. What was going on? I had to know. Luckily she was willing to reveal her secret.

Alas it was not a far flung adventure or a man, it was Microdermabrasion. My friend admitted she had been going once a month, and seriously her skin hadn’t looked that good since I met her when she was 19. I wanted to get some of that glow for myself, but being a super low-maintenance girl in all things beauty I was apprehensive to just jump right. What if my skin ended up looking like I had a nasty run in with an electric sander?

So I went to the expert, the genius behind my friends glow - Dr Phil Ellerin a North Shore dermatologist who has been in practice for years and who has seen it all. Dr. Ellerin shares the ins and outs of the seemingly countless options on the cosmetic dermatology spectrum, and who should do what, when.

AN: What is the difference between a microderm and a peel, and who should get which?

PE: Microdermabrasion uses crystals to lightly exfoliate the surface of the skin and is attached to a vacuum which gently extracts the loosened layers of skin. This removes the stratum corneum, the dull, sun-damaged layer of skin on the surface of your face. A microdermabrasion treatment benefits anyone from young acneic teens to elderly sun damaged adults. It leaves you with a shiny, healthy glow and with repeat procedures can continue to even out the skin tone and soften the texture of the skin.

A chemical peel can be similar to a microdermabrasion or much more aggressive, depending on the strength of the acid. Certain acids can penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin (such as TCA) and therefore can help with deeper lines and pigmentation changes more so than microdermabrasion. Any adult with normal, aging skin, sun damaged skin or problem skin, as well as teenagers with acne issues can greatly benefit from microdermabrasions and chemical peels.

AN: How long before you see results from the above?

PE: You may see results with a single treatment, however the results are cumulative and the more treatments you have at regular intervals the more benefits you will see. Ideally having a series of six monthly treatments is best and then perhaps quarterly for maintenance. However, the regimen can be flexible to fit the patient’s schedule.

AN: What are some of the most popular procedures for women in their 30’s 40s and 50’s?

PE: 30’s: For people just starting to see the signs of aging or wishing to prevent these signs all together, getting started with a good at-home procedure is very beneficial. AHA acids (20%) and retinol are great starting points, as is getting in the habit of using daily sun protection with a physical barrier such as zinc or titanium dioxide. Skin hydration is also key with a good moisturizer, perhaps one containing hyluronic acid which acts like a drink of water for the skin. At this age people can also start in office procedures such as a microdermabrasion or a light chemical peel. Also, as important is that they obtain professional skin care advice, guidance and direction toward an organized and well-balanced home care program.

40’s: As the skin ages and more wrinkles and sun spots appear, more aggressive treatments can begin both at home and in the office.  Products to use at home which contain actual human growth factors such at the TNS Recovery Complex by SkinMedica can really help turn back the clock. More extensive antioxidants such as Vitamins C & E and an added ferulic acid will help keep the skin glowing. Continuing with daily sun protection and skin hydration is of course essential at any age. A chemical peel might be considered at this point and there are many mild peels which can be offered with almost no “down-time” including glycolic peels or retinoic peels; stronger peels can later be added depending on budget constraints and how much “down-time” a patient can allow for. Prescription products are also available such as Triluma for skin pigmentation.

50’s: Botox, Juvaderm, Restylane and Perlane can be very beneficial for deeper wrinkles and creases.
Botox is best for the fine wrinkles in the upper aspect of the face (crows feet, frown lines and the glabellar lines). 
Juvaderm works very nicely for creating fuller lips and for the deeper lines above the lips. 
Restylane and Perlane work very well for the deeper nasolabial lines and the marionette lines. 
Perlane is typically slightly more expensive however it is a larger molecule and therefore you may need less to fill the same area and can end up being very cost effective.

AN: How do you recommend getting rid of sunspots and keeping them from returning?

PE: Sunspots, if they are very superficial and light, can be removed either by home therapy such as the prescription cream TriLuma or other Hydroquinone products which can be compounded to higher strengths than the 4% found in Triluma. It can often take 12 weeks to see the results. For the deeper, darker spots, in-office treatments such as certain chemical peels (retinoic peels or TCA peels) can reduce or sometimes eliminate the spots depending on just how deep and dark they are. Treatment with liquid nitrogen which blisters the skin thereby sloughing off the damaged layers is very beneficial and certain lasers can destroy sunspots as well.

It is IMPERATIVE that you use a DAILY sun block with Zinc Oxide and/or Titanium Dioxide or the spots will come back. Limiting sun exposure by wearing a wide brimmed hat when out and about, avoiding the sun at its peek (10am – 2pm) and avoiding tanning booths is of utmost importance in preventing further sun damage.

AN: Any new cutting edge procedures or products that have recently hit the market?

PE: The newest products are those with the human growth factors such at the SkinMedica TNS or the NeoCutis line. I think what is cutting edge is that now we can offer a combination of less invasive procedures such as Botox, Restylane, Perlane and Juvederm giving the effects of a “liquid face-lift” so that people do not need to be as aggressive as “going under the knife” to get the desired results.

AN: Are there any bargains out there that we should know about?

PE: Most offices, including ours, run monthly or seasonal promotions… but keep in mind, “you get what you pay for!”

AN: What about patient dangers or concerns?

PE: Make sure that whomever is providing your treatment knows what they are doing! In Massachusetts a tech can perform laser treatments and may not know what signs of damage to look for that a nurse or a physician assistant or a doctor would. It seems that every spa and salon is offering Botox and Laser therapy, so just be smart and check references before you book your appointment. Better yet, stick to physician’s offices… even if it is a little pricier it may be safer!

Ask lots of questions so that you are fully informed of you choices but make sure that your answers are from an experience professional!  “Caveat Emptor!”

Now that I know what I need, I am off to book my treatments. Next time you see me wear your sunglasses, cause I’ll be glowing.

Ellerin Dermatology
172 Cambridge St. Burlington, MA 01803
781-272-7022.

Let’s face it girlfriends, even the most likely to moisturize among us is suffering a cracked heel or two at this point. Forced hot air and icy cold winds conspire to leave our lips chapped, skin flaky, nails cracked and hair full of static. I won’t even mention what a season in snow boots does to the toes…

This is no way to welcome the season’s new fashion, full of bright colors, floral patterns and gladiator sandals. It’s time for action.

Over the next month, Misstropolis will address this winter mess with The Misstropolis Beauty Guide, a series of articles on four different areas of Beauty with an emphasis on holistic care, eco-conscious ingredients and mind-body balance. We’ve been scouring the state for the latest ideas so that you don’t have to do any more than click and pick.

You’ll hear from doctors, aestheticians, healers, makeup artists and beauty experts. You’ll get the latest on new technologies and ancient procedures, and hear about area experts and facilities. We’ve unearthed the best products on the market and we’ll tell you where to get em. And of course we’ll have special offers each week, exclusively for Misstropolis readers.

Here’s a sneak peek at what the Beauty Guide has in store:

Week One: Skin Treatments
-A guide to age-appropriate procedures
-Laser treatments
-Light Therapy
-Ultrasound
-Hydro-therapy
-Dermabrasion

Week Two: Products
-Super-enzymes
-Anti-oxidants
-Serums
-Label Reading 101
-Sunscreen myths
-Self Tanners

Week Three: Spa treatments
-Best, cheapest, fastest, longest lasting mani/pedi
-Acupuncture and acupressure
-Mud Baths
-Reflexology
-Understanding different massage traditions
-Options for facials
-Balinese Bodywork
-Spray Tanning
-Waxing/Threading/Laser Hair Removal

Week Four: Makeup
-How to wear Spring’s new colors - pinks, blues and technicolors(!)
-New application ideas and handy tools
-Makeup bag shortcuts
-The best buys from the best makeup counters, and what to buy at the drugstore
-What to stay away from, no matter how many times you see it on a model!

It’s always surprisingly fun to force myself to look with new eyes at something I think I know like the back of my… credit card. Newton Centre is close and familiar, therefore easy to write off for those who live west of the city. But as I spent the day exploring its unique stops, I realized again how many great things it has to offer - enough to fill a whole day. You just need to know where to go.

9 am. Johnny’s Luncheonette is buzzing and our stomachs are growling. We grab a booth and pore over the menu which has it all, from omelets to oatmeal and everything in between. It’s hard to find a great diner these days and Johnny’s even accommodates all the diet crazes or crazies that pass through. I LOVE the crunchy French Toast; but with bikini season fast approaching, I stay strong and order a Highlands Omelet - egg whites, fresh spinach, tomatoes and mushrooms, with cantaloupe wedges instead of home fries. My companion attempts to sabotage me by ordering the 18 Wheeler. I can’t even describe this thing - you have to go to check it out for yourself.

Though we’re sans kids today, another thing I love about Johnny’s is that it’s great for little ones. They provide games and coloring, fast service and a happily rambunctious atmosphere, so no one notices too much if your two-year-old climbs under the table to eat crayons. At least no one eating an 18 Wheeler.

10:30am. Nourished and ready to go, we head left out of Johnny’s and go into National Jean Company. We figure if we can still look good in jeans after stuffing ourselves at breakfast it’s going to be a great day. They pretty much stock it all at National Jean and not only do they carry it but they actually know about the product too. We work off some of our breakfast squeezing in and out of 30 pairs of jeans including Raven, Earnest Sewn, Paige Premium, Sevens and Citizens. We finally decide on the J Brand Love Story (a favorite of Kate Moss).

12 noon. We convince ourselves that we can take a quick peek into Alan Bilzerian, without actually buying anything; it is a test of will. The store, which originated in, believe it or not, Worcester, has a cult following of rock stars and fashionistas. The Newton store carries all the same merchandise as its sister location on Newbury Street, except for the men’s department (sorry fellas). Alan Bilzerian is the place to go to find interesting forward-thinking fashions from Yoji Yammamoto, Lanvin and Rick Owens, including their in-house label by Be Bilzerian. They also happen to have one of the very best selections of James Perse around.

The staff knows their merchandise inside and out, and is helpful and approachable while never clingy or pushy. The customer service is excellent (within a day they can get a size from the Newbury location if necessary.) I lose the battle and walk out with two tissue thin turtlenecks by James Perse. They are going to fill in so many wardrobe gaps for me, that I don’t even feel guilty.

1:30pm. Breakfast is a distant memory and the smell of pie is too hard to resist. We pop into Pie for a slice. I never could resist a great Strawberry Rhubarb and this one doesn’t disappoint. I have them wrap up two Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes for my girls. Read more about this cozy new eatery in the Misstropolis Table section today.

2:30pm. The Jessica Kagen Cushman bracelets in the window catch our eye, but the thought that we haven’t had a manicure since New Year’s makes us almost sprint into Mini Luxe. We could spend an hour browsing the shelves full of cute gifts, jewelry and luxe products, but the manicure itself takes only 25 minutes. Joy. We’ve waited longer for a latte at Starbucks.

3pm. The pie was delicious but we need substance in order to forge on, so we head into Big Sky Bakery for a warm bowl of soup and some whole grain bread for dipping. We leave with a bag of their famous Granola.

It’s getting late but we have enough time to drop into three of our favorite boutiques on Union Street. It’s kind of amazing when we stop and think about it that on a very small stretch of a very small street we can go into Stash for edgy rock-n-roll accessories hard to find anywhere else in Boston. The owners Stacey and Tracey are always in LA and NY scouting hot trends before they hit the streets and the merchandise moves fast so there is something new every visit. From LA glam trends we go into the colorful, southwest Asian calmness of Karma. We’re greeted with the most genuine smile of the day, and we loathe the clock because we could hang for hours. True, the “global” look is very hot for Spring, and Karma is a great place to pick up jewelry, clothes and housewares from the far reaches of the globe.  The best part about Karma though is the message. The owners, Daja and Puni Meston, work to find small artisans in women’s co-ops all over the world. It is their mission to bring awareness to human rights and ancient traditions. Look for more on the Mestons in an upcoming Spirit piece in Misstropolis. We leave with two things: a necklace and good Karma. Since we’re on an accessories roll we stop into Folklorica, where jewelry is raised to the level of high art and yet there is something for everyone at every price range.

When it’s time to head home we do - no traffic, no tolls, no buyers remorse. Just gorgeous new nails, stroll treasures and amazing Karma!

Where we went:
Johnny’s Luncheonette - 30 Langley Rd.
National Jean Company - 34 Langley Rd. nationaljeancompany.com.
Alan Bilzerian - 1217 Centre St. alanbilzerian.com.
Mini Luxe - 792 Beacon St. miniluxe.com.
Big Sky Bakery - 105 Union Street, bigskybreads.com.
Stash - 63A Union Street. shopstash.com.
Karma - 57 Union St. cometokarma.com.
Folklorica - 61 Union St. shopfolklorica.com

“Physically, it is impossible for a woman to cower in high heels. She is forced to take a stand, to strike a pose, because anatomically her center of gravity has been displaced forward.” (Linda O’ Keefe, author of Shoes: A Celebration of Pumps, Sandals, Slippers and More, p71).

It’s hard to say exactly when it started. I guess it was always there, buried somewhere down deep, waiting for me to come around. I must have been really distracted, or stubborn, because when I finally gave in to the feeling, that was it. I was hooked.

It was a few years back - the good old days when one could still get a great pair of shoes for under $500.00. I was strolling through Barney’s, enjoying the heat of birthday money from my Grandmother (from whom I inherited my love of shopping) burning a hole in my wallet, when suddenly they winked at me from across the room.

I wasn’t shy. I went right over to get a closer look.They were a glitter encrusted high-heeled sandal from Mui Mui. My heart was all fluttery before the salesperson could get back to me with the right size. I slipped them on and there it was - LOVE. Not just love, but LOVE. The crash over you like a wave, heat rising to your ears kind. Lust, desire, passion, loss of control – all of it happened that day. I was in love. I had to have them.

They were my first, but there were many others. I guess I have a really big heart - it just keeps expanding and appreciating each new flame for it’s own special qualities! Prada silver platforms that I teetered around Paris in during summer 2006; Balenciagas which made themselves impossible to resist at the Gretta Luxe basement sale (sheer divine intervention); white patent Costume National sling backs that get along with everything in my closet; peep toe Margielas with the Lucite heels, that make my heart flutter every time I slip them on my tanned feet; Lanvin silk strappy sandals, a surprise Christmas gift, (I had thought the box contained Converse sneakers); Mayle grey knee high boots; Dries Van Noten pumps; and my latest Fendi patent booties, for which I had to be so patient and bide my time, and which were so definitely worth the effort. Cause now I’m in love again.

Simon Doonan, creative director of Barney’s in New York says “High heels create a level of authority.” I suppose that’s true. There is definitely something empowering about being that much taller, and everyone feels more confident when they are in love! But there’s also the sheer aesthetic pleasure that defies all reason and explanation. There’s just something about a beautiful pair of shoes that makes a girl happy. Carrie Bradshaw didn’t stop dead in her tracks in front of a window display of Manolos to say “Look, shoes.” She said, “Helllooo Lover,” and she meant it.

So to celebrate my love this Valentines Day, I will slip into my cherry red Marc Jacobs sandals and march over to the MFA exhibit “Walk This Way,” where the curators have rightly deemed shoes “highly ornamented objects of obsession.” Up until March 23, the exhibit includes an eon-spanning range of shoes from ancient Egypt to last season, all on display throughout the museum creating quirky juxtapositions with carefully selected works of art.

If that doesn’t take the Hallmark out of the holiday, I don’t know what will.

Everyone was abuzz about the Oscar-esque Gucci party that Madonna had hosted the night before to benefit UNICEF and Raising Malawi. The President of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, Caryl Stern, along with Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, a preggo J. Lo and Marc Antony, Aston Kushner, P. Diddy, Martha Stewart and above mentioned Anna Wintour were there. Madonna’s co-chairs for the event included Gweneth Paltrow, Salma Hayek, Lucy Lui, Sting, Trudi Styler and Adrien Brody.

The Vera Wang show on Thursday was packed with fashion industry heavy hitters like Anna Wintour and Andre Leon Tally from Vogue, Nina Garcia from Elle and Project Runway and author Plum Sykes.

Everyone was abuzz about the Oscar-esque Gucci party that Madonna had hosted the night before to benefit UNICEF and Raising Malawi. The President of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, Caryl Stern, along with Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, a preggo J. Lo and Marc Antony, Aston Kushner, P. Diddy, Martha Stewart and above mentioned Anna Wintour (among so many others) were there. Madonna’s co-chairs for the event included Gweneth Paltrow, Salma Hayek, Lucy Lui, Sting, Trudi Styler and Adrien Brody.

But despite all the talk of the glitterati the night before, the tent fell silent save the amazing music once the Vera Wang show began. Inspired by “social portraits” of Dutch artist Kees Van Dongen, Wang sent out 46 incredible looks with dazzling antique crystal bracelets, crystal tassel necklaces and felt fedoras.

Here are some of our pictures…

*Photo of Anna Wintour by Robin Hauck

Wed. Evening, New York Fashion Week

At 9pm we forced ourselves off the couches in the Lycra-sponsored reception and with SWAG in hand, (including Spanx - and who can’t use a pair or two of those?) we marched our tired feet into the Promenade Tent for a special Peter Som Spring/Fall collection show, sponsored by American Express.

Som’s show started on time - which by fashion show standards means only 20 minutes late. (The Temperly London show at 7pm started a full hour late but was worth all 360 seconds of it). This show was more about giving people who had never attended a fashion week show an authentic, inside-the-tents experience.

American Express knows that many of their biggest customers are crazy about fashion and style. The Peter Som show was just a small piece of their entire effort. Inside the tents, they had a stage where their correspondents Robert Verdi and Roshumba Williams interviewed fashion hotshots, and a huge flatscreen playing runway video all day long.

Very convenient for those of us who can’t be in Bryant Park all week, they’ve also created an interactive way to stay up on the action: the ”American Express Fashion Network”. A remarkably groovy, robust site about all things Fashion Week, the Fashion Network has videos of all runway shows, interviews with designers, models and industry insiders, and occasional advice on how to take runway into reality.

They also partnered with YouTube whose FashionWeek 360 plays lots of the videos taken by American Express. Check it out, there are zillions of runways shows, interviews with designers, and ideas about how to take the runway into your reality.

The Peter Som show was hosted by Verdi and Williams.

Som, beloved by his loyal Upper East side clientele for his elegant American sportswear, showed softer, pastel colors than the other designers whose shows we saw. True to his reputation, there is a “ladies who lunch” feel to much of the collections, appropriate for his new role designing women’s wear for Bill Blass.

He also showed some flowy evening dresses like this one from the finale.

Christian Louboutin, whose shoes were also seen on the runway for Diane Von Furstenberg and numerous others, provided the shoes. We love Loubies, but these were so high, that the models had trouble walking, one (a teenager mind you, with the ankle width of an ostrich) lost her shoe and had to hop one-footed down the end of the runway.

I love this notion from Jessica Igoe, director of sponsorship marketing for American Express, New York: “Fashion is important to us because it represents a distilled sense of identity, and really empowers women...” We feel the same way, and so much of what we saw was empowering. The childish, emaciated models however, represent where the industry still has a long way to go. Hopefully Roshumba Williams’ gorgeous curves will inspire designers to find models closer to the shape of their customers. We can always hope!

Yesterday was day Six of Mercedes Fashion Week at Bryant Park in New York. We hit the Alice Temperley show in the main tent along with Julia Stiles, Perrey Reeves (Mrs. Ari), Joy Bryant and Christy Turlington. From our front row seats, the models looked younger and thinner and the clothes looked even more amazing and opulent. Temperley paired her feminine aesthetic with dominatrix edge. The designer says the collection was inspired by the famously bewitching spy of the early 1900’s, the Mata Hari.

Last night American Express hosted a special cardmember show for American designer Peter Som. More on that in a bit.

Off to Vera Wang right now… keep checking back for more pictures of fabulous fashionistas.

Over coffee at her favorite neighborhood stop, the South End Buttery, the successful lawyer turned restaurateur and I chatted about two of her favorite things – fashion and art - and the ways they blend together in her life.

Next time you’re having a drink at The Beehive, check out the bar you’re leaning over. Notice the blue board and the rulers? The bars – both upstairs and downstairs – were special commissions by artist Jeff Smith who used reclaimed wood to create them. And the bars are only the beginning. Art is literally everywhere at the Beehive, thanks to the tireless efforts of co-owner/curator Jennifer Epstein.

Over coffee at her favorite neighborhood stop, the South End Buttery, the successful lawyer turned restaurateur and I chatted about two of her favorite things – fashion and art - and the ways they blend together in her life.

Jenn spent her childhood surrounded by art – her parents were passionate collectors – and she has dedicated much of her time as an adult to supporting the arts in and around Boston. She is on the Board at the ICA and the Boston Center for the Arts, as well as being involved with smaller galleries and art schools. So when she and her husband Bill decided to join forces with Darryl Settles and Jack Bardy to open The Beehive, she saw a great opportunity to introduce local, up-and-coming artists to the public in a new and interesting way.

“The Beehive supports the arts on our stage, in the finishes that make our restaurant design so unique, and on our walls,” she explains. “Our goal is to highlight innovative, emerging and largely local artists and provide them with an opportunity for public attention and exposure. We hope to present outstanding contemporary artists working in all media, including visual art, music, video and performance.”

One such local artist is Nabila Zoraya Santa-Cristo, a student at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) whose eight-by-six-foot painting Domestic Beast: Shizuka, 2006, looms gloriously over the lower bar.

All of the art at the Beehive is for sale – just ask your server to get you a catalog and you can shop and marvel as you enjoy your night.

When it comes to fashion, Epstein has always preferred the simple contemporary style of designers like Alex Wang, Society for Rational Dress, Rick Owens and Mike and Chris, and she admits that the art she has in her home follows that aesthetic. Confidence in her style choices and knowing what works on her petite frame have helped her to cultivate a look that is stylish without being trend driven. Her feeling when buying both clothing and art is to buy what you love and buy what you want to live with - good advice for those of us who have just begun to dip our toes into the waters of the art world or are feeling nervous when seeing images of Balenciaga’s spring collection.

What’s so inspiring and so much fun for her and for Hive visitors is that she uses a completely different eye and philosophy when choosing the art that will hang in the Beehive. 

The raw, industrial space needed warming up, she says, so she looks for a wider variety of genres and mediums than she would ever use in her own space. It’s as if The Beehive lets her alter ego come out. Take her personal favorite, for example – the hyper-real, large format photograph of the Boston Derby Dames, Arrival at Aleppo by Sakakini/Burkhardt that hangs along the staircase wall (see title image). It’s art, fashion, music, style and pop culture all blown up into a single image, and once you see it you’ll never forget it, or The Beehive.

When asked if she shops – either for art or clothing – with the live music that The Beehive is famous for in mind, Epstein says not directly; she is not looking for vintage Duke Ellington t-shirts or paintings of musicians playing, but that the vibe always creeps in one way or another. Just go see for yourself (and don’t leave out the men’s and women’s restrooms, both decorated by contemporary artists). “To me,” Epstein says, “art and fashion are both tools for tapping into personal expression, a means for surrounding oneself with objects that inspire. At The Beehive, we hope for the same, to set a stage that appeals to all of the senses; the food, the music, the wine, the art, it’s all about inspired expression, which of course leads to a really great evening.”

The Beehive celebrates its one-year anniversary this May. Check the website for info on celebrations and other events.

It’s here again, the time of year when frost decorates the windows and stepping outside feels like walking through the wardrobe into Narnia. If you’re like me you’ve hit the January sales hard and your credit cards are feeling it. What better time than now to enjoy the frost designs from inside the house, throw some logs on the fire and curl up with a great book (on fashion of course).

In Vogue: The illustrated History of the World’s Most Famous Fashion Magazine is a look inside of, and back in time with, the world’s favorite fashion magazine. Illustrated with hundreds of covers and inside page photographs of Vogue editions, the book is a who’s who of some of the twentieth century’s most exciting artists and photographers. All your favorites from Richard Avedon to Mario Testino, Irving Penn to Herb Ritts, Toni Frissell to Bruce Webber, and world-famous writers like Truman Capote, Federico Fellini and Aldous Huxley are in there. The story of the arrogant yet intrepid New Yorker named Conde Nast taking over the struggling society journal and transforming it into Vogue would be fascinating all by itself. But with the hundreds of deliciously familiar yet exotically unattainable images, it’s enough to keep even the most Nordic shopper at home and offline all day. Written by Alberto Oliva, Norberto Angeletti, Anna Wintour and published by Rizzoli.

A Photographer’s Life by Annie Leibovitz is a beautiful collection of photos and thoughts from her personal and professional life, spanning the whirlwind years between 1990 and 2005.
“I don’t have two lives,” she writes in the Introduction. “This is one life, the personal pictures and the assignment work are all part of it.”
The Brooklyn Museum organized an exhibit which features original prints from the book. Upcoming dates include:
The Corcoran Gallery, Washington, D.C. October 13, 2007–January 13, 2008
de Young Museum, San Francisco February 9–May 11, 2008
Maison Européenne de la Photographie, Paris June 17–September 21, 2008
National Portrait Gallery, London October 16, 2008–January 25, 2009

Lanvin by Dean L. Merceron, Alber Elbaz, and Harold Koda is just one of those books you can’t stop touching or flipping through. Since 1909 Lanvin has survived as a couture house of highest esteem in the minds of those who matter all over the world. A true art book, Lanvin is a definite Don’t Miss.

Balenciaga Paris: I saw the accompanying exhibit at the Musée de la Mode et du Textile in Paris, two summers ago and it was was a highlight of my trip. Balenciaga is a study in adventure and sophistication, much can be learned about nurturing a sense of confident individual style from this book.

Talking Fashion by Sarajane Hoar. “Talking Fashion, Hoare’s first monograph, is a lively treatise on the inner workings of the fashion industry, delivered with Hoare’s unflappable wit and wisdom, and illustrated by scores of spectacular images by today’s most celebrated fashion photographers.” (from Amazon).

Sex and the City Kiss and Tell – Dubbed “the ultimate fan-bible” by publisher Simon and Shuster for those who characterize themselves as such. I watch the repeats just to see the magic of Patricia Field whenever I can.

Stylist: The interpreters of Fashion is another fun read, especially if you want to know more about what I do and the crazy tradition of stylists the world over.

There, don’t you feel smarter (and more stylish) already?