PROJECT LENA

In the sea of scrubs how do you pick the right one for you? Most of us have incorporated scrubbing into our beauty routine. We know that scrubbing increases cell turnover by removing dead skin cells, thereby improving our skin’s texture and leaving it smooth and soft. We scrub on different occasions for different reasons. We scrub for better product penetration or right before seeing our boyfriend to make sure our skin is smooth to the touch. We also do it for pre-tan exfoliation to make sure that our artificial tan looks as close to the real thing as possible.

When you take in this new step in your beauty routine for the sake of having the perfect tan, you know that there are some challenges before you even apply the tan (and worry about smudging it). You know how hard it is to get some of the old tan off so that the new tan can go on perfectly?! Sometimes you have to scrub hard to get the tan off so it doesn’t show through your new tan. This tends to lead to over scrubbing which can leave our skin red, irritated and raw. In reality the cells in our skin turnover every two weeks. The dead skin cells are there to protect the new skin cells. Skin thickness and sensitivity varies across the body. Scrubbing too hard, too often or using scrubs that are too abrasive can cause dryness, irritation, cracking and increase your risk of sun damage.

When picking a scrub make sure you pick the right scrub for the intended use and your skin type. Scrub no more than twice a week with a gentle scrub or for best results every two weeks with a more abrasive scrub.

Sugar scrubs tend to be less abrasive then salt scrubs. The sugar dissolves in the hot water, which limits the time you can scrub in one place. This makes it more gentle and ideal for sensitive skin. Sugar also contains alpha hydroxy acids, which hydrate the skin.

Salt scrubs are meant for dryer, rougher skin and can help mineralize and remove toxins. If you have really sensitive skin that gets red and irritated easily, you can use good old-fashioned baking soda as its very gentle on the skin.

Cream or oil based scrubs allow for products to come off easier which means that you don’t have to scrub as hard.

When choosing a scrub that contains granules, look for a scrub with seed abrasives verses pumice, which can scratch the skin or leave minor cuts. Most scrubs sold at drugstores contain plastic beads made of polyethylene, which is the same plastic used in a water bottle.

Here are a few of our favorite scrubs:

1. Caudelie Crushed Cabernet Scrub ($29 at Sephora)- crushed grape seeds and brown sugar. Great for sensitive skin, stubborn tan residue or weekly usage. Works great, but does not smell very good.

2. Trish Mcevoy Blackberry and Vanilla Musk ($48 at Bloomingdale's)-tiny pink sugar granules that are sure to leave your skin soft and smelling fresh and sweet. Its like vanilla ice cream!

3. Ahava Stress Melt Butter Salt Scrub ($17.99 on Amazon.com)- melts from exfoliating butter to a light lotion, leaving your skin smooth and hydrated. Nature at its best!

V.Day High-End Lingerie Guide

2011-01-31T10:53:00.000-08:00

We consider it illegal to do Valentine's Day without lingerie! In the sea of luxurious, erotic and heart-melting lingerie fashons, we have set aside the crème de la crème for your hot night. Two weeks left before the sexy day, its perfect time to shop!

1. White Muse by Kiki De Montparnasse ($275-$4,190 online): Wrap your body in luxurious french lace and finest silk with dramatic detail. This chic lingerie is designed to not only enhance a night of intimacy but also helps create it. We are huge fans of all of Kiki's instruments of pleasure, sensual accessories and fantasy collections. At one of the most beautiful boutiques in Los Angeles you are offered a glass of champagne upon the entrance to dramatic space (think claw foot tub). You can find their exquisite pieces online at http://www.kikidm.com/shop/home.php. Hurry up, get handcuffed!

2. Red Love Basque by Agent Provocateur ($180-$450 online): The ultimate agent of luxury is Agent Provocateur. Be ready to not get away from him when you reveal your hot-red decorative waist band, sensual bows and satin straps Basque. We are so lucky Valentine's Day follows Winter sales, because this seduction weapon is on sale at http://www.agentprovocateur.com/sale/info/love-basque~red. Sizes are limited, but selection of styles and colors is endless!

3. Black La Perla Gaultier Createur ($263-$523 online): Do the deadly thing wearing Femme Fatale all black overlaying silk bra and panties. Jean Paul Gaultier's exclusive creation, inspired by Madonna. Put it on in the morning before you head out to your busy day and feel like the most powerful woman in the world. Buy it online or at any Neiman Marcus, Sacks Fifth Avenue and independent lingerie boutiques nationwide.

The World Premier of Russian Ballet

2011-01-28T10:40:00.000-08:00

Reflections is the world premiere of a co-production of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia and the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in association with Ardani Artists Management. The show stars some of the most important dancers of Bolshoi Theater: Ekaterina Krysanova, Natalia Osipova, Ekaterina Shipulina, Polina Seminova (Berlin Staatsballet), Maria Kochetkova (San Francisco Ballet) with Ivan Vasiliev, Alexander Volchkov, Vyacheslav Lopatin, and Denis Savin (Bolshoi Ballet), accompanied by the Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theatre.

The Bolshoi Ballet Academy is the gold standard of classical ballet. They took a leap into exploring contemporary elements of the new production, which were both exciting and challenging for the dancer. Mauro Bigonzetti, the Italian choreographer, explained the inspiration behind this challenge “As boundaries were pushed, lines were blurred.” The music inspiration by Vivaldi came after meeting with the dancers, which we believe added that chic tone to the performance.

We were so lucky to attend the U.S. Premiere on Jan. 20 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center!!! From the first act, the ballet was pure and powerful, beautiful and arousing, and simply breathtaking. In Reflections, we are introduced to the creative mix of classically trained lead dancers with contemporary group of designers, choreographer and creative director. We also enjoyed the solo dance by Ekaterina Shipulina in the flowing chiffon dress in the second act, Dumka (a “Thought”) with the piano on stage and with music by Tchaikovsky to accompany her and us in the beautiful journey.

One Hot Night: Part One

2011-01-26T17:01:00.000-08:00

We are so oh-la-la for Valentine's Day … How sexy is it to get an excuse to turn things ON for the whole day?! But are you too busy to think about what to get him? How to spice it up? What lingerie to put underneath the LBD? What scent to seduce him with? No worries, we have put together the ultimate guide for your most femme fatale Valentine's Day yet.

Our sultry list, ranging from most arousing candle scents to fill up your love chamber to lacy heels by Valentino, is sure to get things steaming in a matter of seconds:

1. Jo Malone Red Roses Scented Candle ($65 at Bloomingdale's): Envelope your room (and him) in the voluptuous scent of fresh-cut red roses. The velvet scent will be sure to freshen things up right at the front door

2. Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Shower Gel ($42 at Sacks Fifth Avenue): Awaken your senses in the morning (or before bed) with this silky shower gel. The moment you apply it, your skin is hugged by floral explosion that will be sure to keep you and him turned on.

3. Perrier-Jouet Blason Rose Champagne ($49.99 at K&L Wine Merchants): Orange blossom and rose preserve, cherry and blackberry? A magical combination to sip by the candlelight. This historic house produces unusually fine champagnes since circa 1811. This is our personal favorite amongst many other artistic creations by the Perrier family.

4. Jonathan Adler 100% Baby Alpaca Throw ($295 at JA boutique): Cuddle up under this super soft 100% baby alpaca's wool blanket. Imagine your sexy bodies covered by this uber-soft throw..zzzzz

5. TCHO Chocolate 6 Bar Luxury Set ($42 at Wholefoods): Stunning design and anti-oxidant power of chocolate will be one of the sweetest things that night. Delight each other with pure expression of the cacao bean at its best.

Last Call For Treasures in Los Angeles

2011-01-20T13:25:00.000-08:00

Don't be sad the holiday season is behind us, there is a good side to it too. You can now finally get your hands on all of those sequins leggings, colored sweaters, suede boots and fur jackets like our favorites from Isabel Marant, that were just too pricey before. There is a reason why you love us, we are your best girlfriends that do the dirty work of browsing through the sale racks. It is a game of scavenger hunt for us and a jack pot for you. Ladies, are you ready?

Here is the breakdown of season's hottest items at the hottest prices around Los Angeles:

Satine Boutique: has a great 50-65% off mark-downs on Kaylee Tankus, Edun, Thakoon, Alexander Wang, Yigal Azrouel, and if you're lucky you might score Lanvin flats, Alaia boots, Balenciaga shoes at 60-75% off, although there are only few sizes left.

Creatures of Comfort: is the destination for all bargain babes like us. The biggest Isabel Marant inventory in town (therefore in the West Coast for sure), is now at 50%- 70% off. Also great items from Alexandre Herchcovitch, Alexander Wang, Acne, MM6 by Maison Martin Margiela, Zero Maria Cornejo, Surface to Air.

Fred Segal: Since you're right there on Melrose and hopefully still have some money left, you have to check out Fred Segal sale before its all gone!!! We will...

Not done yet? Then you must be one of us. Congratulations!!! You are officially a shopaholic and there is no cure for you...but wait we have got something for desert left for you, just because you're so patient...

Maxfield: The Holy Grail of shopping in LA, the Maxfield itself has a secret 60% off right now. That Balmain embellished leather motocross jacket just over $10,000 might just wait for you at the sweet discounted price.

Should we add more? For those of you who don't live in LA there is great chance to spot your favorites online:

www.satineboutique.com

www.shop.creaturesofcomfort.us

www.fredsegal.com

The VIP Art Fair- Just A Click Away

2011-01-19T12:58:00.000-08:00

The VIP Art Fair founded by long-time successful art dealers, James and Jane Cohan. The online art fair is the first ever to take place exclusively online. The assembly is made of 139 of the world’s leading contemporary art galleries (Gagosian Gallery, L&M Arts, David Zwikner to name a few) from 30 countries in an unprecedented live event that goes in for one week only January 22-30, 2011.

International art dealers, collectors and enthusiasts are now able to browse works by wide range of renowned artists including Franz Ackermann, Francis Bacon, Urs Fischer, Damien Hirst, Anselm Kiefer, Sarah Lucas, Takashi Murakami (make sure to check out Dragon in Clouds – Red Mutation and Dragon in Clouds – Indigo Blue), and Jackson Pollock. The fair also introduces the most exciting emerging artists today. The vibrant presentation of artwork, enlivened with streaming video and dynamic zoom, along with the ability to connect one-on-one with dealers makes attending the fair from anywhere in the world a truly unique experience. The logic behind it is simple, like everything genius, the costs associated with an online art fair are dramatically lower than the costs associated with moving art, staff, travel and lodging expenses.... Therefore, galleries have to sell far less art to start raking in the profits. However, while the break-even point is much lower, there is a real concern as to whether the customer’s experience will ever be equal of that of attending an event like Miami Art Basel.

The art world is excited and anxious to find out if this art fair will create a serious addition to the industry heavyweights like those of traditional Art Shows and Art Basel in Miami and Switzerland. We don’t have the answer for you just yet, but we are rushing to our laptops to register for it. (Source www.vipartfair.com and www.huffingtonpost.com)

The VIP Art Fair is free to browse, but a registration is required and offers an interactive and enriched viewing for VIP ticket holders. This innovative art fair takes place at www.vipartfair.com

See you by the Jackson Pollock's painting in no time...

Perfect... by Ruth Hogben

2011-01-19T12:40:00.000-08:00

Before taking her independent leap on first projects for Alexander McQueen and Topshop, Ruth Hogben shadowed the legendary photographer Nick Knight.
“My main starting point is the clothes. Every single movement conveys a message, a feeling of who the woman is. Every movement has to have an understanding of who is in it and that piece of clothing. The reason I like fashion film is that fashion is immediate: I fall in love with fashion really quickly and I fall out of love really quickly... When you are working with anyone creative, it just becomes a conversation, which flows. Working collaboratively is always very exciting because you get to see the world through someone else’s eyes. I’ve worked with Gareth a number of times and his vision is very strong, so there’s not much room for interpretation. On the other hand, he is so open and free for me to communicate that. Working with McQueen, I thought Nick pushed but Lee is just out of this world! I didn’t go to bed because I felt like I wanted to achieve making this really amazing film.” - The filmmaker herself
Here is another of her stylishly addicting creations. This video was done for the French house of Celine. Fall/Winter 2010-2011 Collection.

Givenchy- Fashion Classic

2011-01-19T12:24:00.000-08:00

Givenchy pieces are a must-buy for fashion classics with its simplicity, elegance and glamour. Indulge in Givenchy's sophisticated designs, perfect for day or night, and easily dressed up or down for any occasion. When mixing the classic black palate with white and leopard prints, designer Riccardo Tisci was inspired by Frida Kahlo's animal-filled paintings for this season's designs.

Highly creative fashion house introduces us to this season collection with this amazing video that is available at www.barneys.com. This haute video was created by Ruth Hogben. A filmmaker and director of fashion film at SHOWstudio.com, based in London, is changing the world of fashion commercials, as we know it, creating art and fashion collaborations at its purest. We are big fans of Ruth and following her work very closely.

This video works great with the Givenchy’s designer Riccardo Tisci philosophy who once said “My definition of beauty is something between extremely ugly and extremely fantastic”.

Spring 2011 just arrived and here our favorite items, and we cannot wait to try on..

Mademoiselle - Coco Chanel / Summer 62 by Karl Lagerlfeld and Douglas Kirland

2011-01-14T17:11:00.000-08:00

These photos reveal the working fashion icon, showing Mademoiselle leaving her famous suite at the Ritz Hotel, in her apartment and studio at 31 rue Cambon, and watching a défilé from the famous mirrored staircase.
Karl Lagerfeld has conceived and designed Mademoiselle, as well as written an introduction and captions to Kirkland’s photos. “Images left behind are in the end stronger than truth and facts. Through Kirkland’s images we can imagine what the famous Coco had been all about before she became the formidable Chanel.”- Karl Lagerfeld.
Whenever we are in NYC, we always visit Westwood Gallery in SoHo.
The gallery has a great collection of the Douglas Kirkland's photographs of Coco Chanel from 1962. Karl Lagerfeld created his book based on these archives photographs “Mademoiselle - Coco Chanel / Summer 62”.
For a period of three weeks, Kikrland shadowed Coco Chanel, capturing her intense schedule and daily routine of models, fitters, clients and friends.
The collection presents Douglas Kirkland’s recently discovered images from an extraordinary archive that reveals Mademoiselle’s charisma and genius.

This time we don’t have to travel far to see our favorite art pieces, the Westwood Gallery is coming to LA ART SHOW...
www.laartshow.com
www.westwoodgallery.com

This particular exhibit carries a sort of romanticism and nostalgia ... its breathtaking

The 16th Annual Los Angeles Art Show returns...

2011-01-13T11:37:00.000-08:00

We are SO excited about an upcoming LA ART SHOW.

The 16^th Annual Los Angeles Art Show returns to

WHERE: Los Angeles Convention Center

WHEN: January 19-23, 2011.

We encourage you to join serious collectors and dedicated art enthusiasts in an exploration of painting, photography, sculpture and more from over 100 galleries worldwide.

The Los Angeles Art Show will also include a significant grouping of Chinese Galleries who have never shown works outside of China, providing an opportunity for visitors to see what’s really hot in Asian Art at the show from January 19-23, 2011.

The Opening Night Premiere Party, hosted by Kat Von D will help The Art of Elysium to expand its program, to bring arts to critically ill and hospitalized children, and increase substantially the number of school children who visit the Getty through the Getty Museum’s Education Department.

Here is detailed program:

• China Today Contemporary Art Program

• The Rising Tide Film: Shot in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen in the summer of 2006, this documentary, directed by Robert Adanto, explores China’s march toward the future through the works of some their most talented photographers and video artists.

• Lectures featuring artists Robert Williams & Tao Dong Dong

• Daily live street art with artist Andrew Hem

• Rarely or never seen works by the father of modern photojournalism, world famous photographer- HENRI CARTIER-BRESSON

• Feminist Art lectures featuring Cheri Gaulke, Meg Linton, Rachel Rosenthal & Linda Vallejo, moderated by Dr. Betty Brown with comments by Peter Frank

• Book signing by Bram Dijkstra

• The IFPDA Fine Print Fair

• Print-making Demonstrations

• Screening of the Academy Award Nominated Film.

Events such as these are one of the reasons we started our blog, so we can share with our audience amazing, intellectual and inspiring events that are happening. We really hope you can make your way down to Los Angeles, and see what LA and the art world is buzzing about right now.

Q & A: Special Interview With The Solitary Man Jewelry Designer

2011-01-11T17:42:00.000-08:00

One of the more enjoyable Project Lena perks is that we get to interview fantastic and talented designers. This month we are welcoming a special guest to our San Francisco studio- the creator and designer behind the Solitary Man jewelry. We are very excited to get a glimpse into his world, where creativity and inspiration meets execution in fine jewelry metals and craftsmanship.

The Background:
Oleg Sharov’s designs are a lot like the designer himself: fun, fresh, and arresting. Born in Moscow, Russia and now living in sunny Santa Barbara, CA, Oleg's love and infatuation with fine art and design started at young age, when his family moved to Europe. He continued his education at Moscow's top art school and later applied that knowledge to graphic design. But as for all creative personalities, his true calling is to create things by hand, express his unique artistic world by giving to us, mortals, pieces of art expressed in his clothing brand 3cp Clothing, clay sculptures and his latest creation- .999 solid silver jewelry pieces. Seeing a designer’s pieces in person is a MUST. I was blown away by the intensity and complexity of Oleg’s silver quality, which doesn’t fully show up in images. The world should watch out for this major talent...

The Q & A:

projectlena: We love the fact that the Solitary Man jewelry pieces represent something that has a personal meaning to you. Can you tell us how you want your pieces to affect your clients?

OS: I see every piece that I create as art sculptures. Each one is hand molded and hand finished, which gives them all a different look. I want people to see them for what they are, unique and different art pieces. I want my pieces to relate in some way to the person wearing it, be it some odd imperfection, a lighter shade or a darker finish, thus underlining their individuality.

projectlena: Who is Solitary Man?

OS: Solitary Man is within each and everyone of us. It’s the voice inside your head, the gut feeling, the 6^th sense.

projectlena: Can you tell us a little more about the design inspiration behind the Solitary Man pieces?

OS: I believe that there are many beautiful things right in front of our eyes that we don’t notice in our everyday lives. Basic objects have beauty in them that people often overlook and take for granted. Taking an ordinary object and putting it into an extraordinary environment to change it’s visual perception is inspiring to me. That’s what I am trying to accomplish with my designs.

projectlena: Tell us about your process. Do you start with the raw materials and noodle with them until you have a direction, or do you envision a design and go source the materials?

OS: The idea usually comes to me from something I see. I then put it down on paper and try to picture what it would look like as a piece of jewelry. I then make a first “prototype” out of clay to get a three dimensional tangible version of my idea. Once I am satisfied with the “prototype” I move forward with it to get it ready to make a silver version. The last step is the polishing/finishing and engraving of my piece. I know it sounds like it’s pretty quick but it really isn’t, it could take from a few days to weeks to get from “prototype” stage to silver. I am very picky and an attention freak! If the feeling about a piece ain’t right, I will not move forward with it.

projectlena: Which do you consider more rewarding, designing for yourself, or designing for others?

OS: In a way I am designing for others because I am selling my jewelry to people. The creative and production process is for me and the product is for you. I put a piece of me into every thing I create trying to touch as many people as I can and share my vision.

projectlena: Where can people find your designs?

OS: To get the latest information on the line people can visit the online store at www.solitarymanjewelry.com or www.facebook.com/solitarymanjewelry I try to interact with people as much as possible and love feedback and comments from our fans!

projectlena: Where do you want to take your line? What is Solitary Man's dream?

OS: It would be great to spread the word about the line as much as possible and have people all around the world rocking the unique pieces I create. I would love to collaborate with artists from different countries to create something unique to their culture. For now I’ll settle for US domination!

projectlena: What is your current obsession? Anything new we should know about?

OS: That’s a hard question. I really don’t have obsessions per say. I have certain things I like and dislike. For instance, right now I am reading Keith Richards biography and I am fascinated by his love of music and his life experiences. What an incredibly talented individual with an inhuman drive, I mean the guy has NEVER missed a show! Kind of makes you wonder about what you are doing with your time.

We are looking forward to seeing the Solitary Man jewelry pieces on the pages of Vogue, InStyle, Bazaar, and celebrities internationally. We wish Oleg the best in his creations and we are sure to wear his pieces that speak so close to us too.

Interview with Karl Lagerfeld

2011-01-10T16:43:00.000-08:00

Very inspiring interview by The Luxury Channel with Karl Lagerfeld.

There is a reason why Karl Lagerfeld holds such an important position in the world of luxury products and style. This man has very genuine and sincere understanding of what is important, he is true to his calling and his thought process. We all can learn from him and not just how to dress but also how to be yourself and believe in who you are. Progress is about staying true and valuable to yourself and being in tune with your own world, being respectful and open to things around you. With great talent comes great responsibility, and we all have talents, so lets use them wisely and make the world a better place.

Club RED

2011-01-09T16:54:00.000-08:00

The Story, The Science & The Addiction of Red Lipstick:

It is official: scientists at Manchester University used eye-tracking software to show that in the ten seconds after meeting a lady for the first time, the average chap will spend more than half that time looking at her mouth. ‘For centuries, women have painted their lips red to enhance their appeal,’ says Dr Geoff Beattie, who led the investigation. This practice started in Ancient Egypt 5000 years ago. Back then Cleopatra applied the mixture of dye, pigments, oil wax, and crushed carmine to seduce and break hearts of her army of men.

Then there was the first "bullet" shaped container in 1870 designed by cosmetics pioneer Guerlain with a very sexy name "Ne m'oubliez pas", meaning "forget me not".

Half a century later, during WWII Elizabeth Arden came out with her version of the "secret weapon".

History repeats itself and to this day red lips are THE first thing men look at in us.

Our Top Winners:

1. Tom Ford Bruised Plum (available at Neiman Marcus)

2. Guerlain Exces De Rouge (available at Sacks Fifth Avenue)

3. Chanel Rouge Allure (available at chanel.com)

Whether it is Wine Red, Vintage Red, Pink-Red, Orange-Red- get the courage to try it, wear it to casual dinner with very light make-up or to fancy night out with semi-dramatic eyes. Feel the eyes of men on you, feel your power of seduction, enjoy it. You are worth it!

Marylin Monroe, Madonna, Angelina Jolie, Dita Von Teese, and now YOU. Every skin tone demands its own shade of red.

Our tip: Try out a few different shades, find the one that’s best for you, and pair it with a clean face and minimal eye makeup.

For the extremely gun-shy, we suggest easing into red by using your fingers to press one of her new offerings onto lips as a stain. Baby steps.

Expensive Obsession: Shamballa Jewels

2011-01-08T14:17:00.000-08:00

Shamballa Jewelsstarted in 1994 with a store in Paris opened by Mads Kornerup on Rue de Sevigne with the collection of ancient Indian and modern Scandinavian-inspired designs.In the recent years Shamballa Jewels have become known for their macramé braided bracelets using 18K gold balls with precious stones. Supermodel Helena Christensen was the first one out to wear a full pavé bracelet. Helena wore it at the Oscars, and this was the match, which indeed ignited the success.

Over the years Shamballa Jewels has adorned many star clients including Jay-Z, Michael Jordan, Heidi Klum, Boris Becker, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mary-Kate Olsen..We have been following the designs of Shamballa Jewels in leading fashion magazines such as: Vogue, Vogue Paris, Vogue Italia, Vogue Espana, V-Magazine, V-Man, Interview, Gotham Magazine, InStyle, Harpers Bazaar, Elle, WWD and many others.

The theme of the collections is the energy of creation, symbolized by the Star of Shamballa and the Thunderbolt. The Star represents the female creative energy of the universe and the Thunderbolt the male firepower of creation. The two symbols are present throughout the collection as a red thread, embedded or carved within the gold, and surrounded with precious gemstones.    By wearing either symbol, you invite the possibility of connecting to the energy of creation. Mads once said: “When formulating the designs, my goal is to remind the mind and body of its natural ability to open and heal. When wearing a piece you enhance the possibility of being reminded." Solid black piece is on our wish list, and even though we were only able to try it on at Barneys New York we sure have felt the energy the pieces carry, along with the price tag!

These stunning and stylish pieces are an unique mix between jewelry and spirituality. Inspired by the Buddhist and Tibetan traditions, yoga and meditation, the jewels incorporate ancient symbols supposed remind the fundamental values of the life as love, condolence, tolerance... At present date Shamballa collections are available across the United States, Great Britain, Switzerland, Russia, France, Sweden, Norway, Spain and Denmark.

Are you ready to get yours? The prices range anywhere from $3,000.00 (single brown pave diamond bead) to $56,000.00 (white gold and pave diamond bead bracelet with four solid white gold beads) and the line is available at www.barneys.com; www.colette.fr; www.londonjewelers.com; www.montaignemarket.com; www.westime.com

We can't get enough of Vanessa Bruno's Parisian Chic

2011-01-08T13:35:00.000-08:00

Vanessa Bruno grew up with fashion and started her own line at the age of 24. She is the daughter of a Danish ‘60s supermodel and the founder of French fashion house Emmanuelle Khan. Stars like Nicole Kidman and Charlotte Gainsbourg subscribe to her brand of sophisticated, clever tailoring. We adore her beautifully draped dresses in luxurious and finest wools, cashmere, leather, chiffon and silks.

Vanessa Bruno likes to say that she makes “easy clothes for difficult girls.” She designs for a woman with original taste who wants her clothes to reflect her individuality.

My personal experience at the Melrose boutique was a great one. I have been tirelessly hunting for a perfect leather pair of shorts I had no luck of finding any earlier this season. Fatigued, I turned in to my last resource- Vanessa Bruno store on Melrose. Beautiful store with a great ambiance, friendly personnel and my new favorite leather shorts were found that day. I was assisted with alterations as needed at no charged to me (which could have ended up costing quite a bit for this leather piece), the shorts came out great and I'm happily wearing it now as the weather in LA got quite chilly. Spring collection is at the store now and I'll be sure to stop by and check it out.

We love this bohemian style and effortless chic of our new Parisian in town and wish that there were more designers who can do just that.

L’elegance à la Française de Los Angeles.

www.vanessabruno.com

8448 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, CA, 90069

Le film “ Day for Night ” avec Lou Doillon et Valentine Fillol Cordier:

Finally A Perfect Bootie by 3.1 Phillip Lim

2011-01-07T22:25:00.000-08:00

First Friday of the 2011 ended up being a very productive one: scouted possible locations for our next event, tried on Tom Ford's new line of hot red lipsticks and purchased hot item from my "wanted" list- the 3.1 Phillip Lim Bowery Hair Calf Bootie.

What I love about this booties is the construction. The actual shape and design of the shoes. The toe box is perfect, the stable front platform and thick heel covered in python skin is killer! In a good sense.

I have been searching for this bootie since the day I moved to San Francisco, because as much as I love the city, finding a stylish, sexy, fashionable shoe that will let me walk the hills of this fog city is truly a challenge. I can walk in heels all day, but heels must be perfectly balanced, for that I always turn for platform front and thick, stable heel. Gimme Shoes has another pair from 3.1 Phillip Lim's collection at their Hayes Valley location. Be sure to pop in and walk out with one.

Coca-Cola Light- the Lagerfeld way

2011-01-07T19:08:00.000-08:00

Karl Lagerfeld's Coca-Cola Light Bottle.

Coca-Cola Light has teamed up with one of our favorite designers, Karl Lagerfeld to design a limited edition box set! We love how the designer affixes his style and his famous silhouette on the bottle and delivers an exclusive creation with chic lines. 

The aluminum bottle is sleek and artsy. A unique box in limited edition, accompanied with a bottle-opener discreetly hidden in a drawer.

Do YOU love it? The box set is sold out, but you can wish-list it as we did at www.colette.fr

We love it! Drink in style ala Lagerfeld!

We are melting over: Frederic Malle's exquisite line of one-of-a-kind perfumes

2011-01-07T18:14:00.000-08:00

Frédéric Malle- is famous for an uncompromising approach to fragrance creation. Once we discovered this perfume master mind we dug up some interesting history on him. Enjoy...

Born in Paris in 1962, Frédéric Malle is the grandson of Serge Heftler, founder of Dior Perfumes. Thus, he was raised in respect for the perfumer’s craft, in the very heart of its traditions. After finishing his studies at the University of New York (NYU), he was asked by Jean Amic in 1988 to work for Roure Bertrand Dupont. At the heart of this company, he was initiated in all the secrets of the craft and came into contact with the greatest contemporary perfumers. Since 1994, Frédéric Malle, as a consultant to the world of perfume, has worked for clients such as Christian Lacroix, Chaumet, Hermès International, Mark Birley for Men... Already iconic are his creations Lipstick Rose, Une Rose, Iris Poudre and Cologne Bigarade...

Here are our top picks....

Lipstick Rose- "with its rose- and violet-flavored bonbon scent. LIPSTICK ROSE is a vision of glamorized femininity. You can almost picture his girl doing her makeup in a mirror. The fragrance's rose note is enhanced by violet; the backdrop is musk and vanilla with a hint of vetiver and amber."

Une Rose- "the intoxicating, earthy aroma of a garden rose pulled from the ground with its roots...with the carnal depth of a new truffle accord laced with woody and animal notes. A fruit and honey burst of Turkish rose absolute is punctuated with geranium and wine dregs. UNE ROSE- the master's rose".

Iris Poudre- "iris expresses raw classical beauty. Tonka bean, musk and vanilla bring softness and warmth, while the base of sandalwood and vetiver adds a melodious resonance. If IRIS POUDRE were a garment, it would be a cashmere sweater- classic but personal, appropriate for most occasions, something one never tires of. It is a grand floral aldehyde."

We and all experts across the industry agree these are truly creative perfumes composed in the most uncompromising way by the greatest "noses" in the industry.

We hurried to these locations to purchase our faves- exclusively at Barneys New York nationwide, Rue de Grenelle in Paris and at the NYC boutique located at 898 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10021

The 20th Annual International LA Photographic Art Exposition

2011-01-06T23:43:00.000-08:00

artLA PROJECTS presents LA’s longest running art fair joins artLA projects Thursday, January 13, 2011 through Monday, January 17, 2011. Opening Reception benefits the Wallis Annenberg Department of Photography at LACMA

In recent years, Los Angeles has experienced a rapid growth of contemporary art galleries along with an expansion of local museum programs highlighting emerging art making it a required destination for curators and collectors. As a marketplace for the Arts, it now rivals New York City. Glenn Lowry, Director of MoMA, recently said in the WSJ, “The art world is a very fluid place, but there is no question that L.A. is very hot at the moment.”

photo l.a.XX, celebrating it’s 20th Anniversary, is the longest running art fair west of New York and is the largest photo-based art fair in the country with over 10,000 attendees. It brings together photography dealers from around the globe, displaying the finest contemporary photography, video and multi-media installations along with masterworks from the 19th century. This is the 48th art fair produced by Stephen Cohen, Director of photo l.a. XX including artLA, photo san francisco, photo MIAMI, photo santa fe, photo NY and the first vernacular photography fair in NYC.

artLA was created in 2004 as a public event bringing together a mix of national and international galleries, artists, collectors and curators for a visual dialogue on the current art scene. Its ongoing commitment to presenting the most challenging art being produced today, has led to the creation of artLA projects, an ongoing citywide program of dynamic and innovative installations, exhibitions, seminars and conversations with established and cutting-edge artists in all media.

photo l.a. XX is proud to host the benefit preview reception for the Wallis Annenberg Department of Photography at LACMA on the evening of January 13th from 6pm - 9pm.

Programming includes off site events, collecting seminars, a panel discussion, Troubled Waters, on photography’s impact on environmental issues and The La Brea Matrix Project, in addition to lectures by Uta Barth, Lyle Ashton Harris, Michael Light, Andrew Moore, and David Taylor among others.

Alex Pardeee's Opening Reception

2011-01-06T15:06:00.000-08:00

Alex Pardee is holding an opening reception for his new acrylic on wood paintings ("Sucker Punch", "Chadam", ZeroFriends) at Corey Helford Gallery . The event will feature Pardee's installation madness, free giclee mini-prints for 500 guests starting at 8PM, January 8th. The guests will enjoy free tacos from the Kogi Korean taco truck from 7-9PM, the CHG party tent and DJ Lynk. The reception will be a true celebration of art to start the New Year.

What: Alex Pardee's new paintings on wood
Where: Corey Helford Gallery @ 8522 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232
When: January 8th, 2011 7PM-10PM

Tom Ford- Spring/Summer '11 show

2011-01-06T11:45:00.000-08:00

Tom Ford’s spring 2011 secret show was his first women’s show in six years with as few as 100 invited guests and Terry Richardson, the only photographer permitted to take pictures of the show.

The presentation of Tom Ford’s Spring/Summer 2011 collection was the most anticipated fashion show during New York Fashion Week. It was a star-studded affair, but yet highly exclusive. Only one photographer was allowed to snap photos during the show, so only the fashion elite has seen the glamorous fashions until now. Beyonce, Chanel Iman, Daphne Guinness, Carolyn Murphy, Lauren Hutton, Amber Valletta and Lakshmi Menon, and other A-listers strut their stuff in a video of the show with Anna Wintour, Nina Garcia are usual and expected attendees of any major fashion show...

We love the music by is by Karen Elson!!!

Every artist wants endless attention... are you ready for you moment?

2011-01-06T10:41:00.000-08:00

Artists Wanted is a collaborative project between several New York City artists and creative organizations working to build new lasting opportunities for emerging talent. We here at Project Lena are all about innovative collaborations that let young and established artists shine through their work.

"This is an incredible era for art, photography and design. New paradigms are being explored, boundaries are broken and work is selling at record rates. However, we believe many of the best new artists remain undiscovered. Our job is to get your work seen in the most powerful way possible. Collectively we have over two decades experience within the New York City art world and our goal is to use our networks and infrastructure to bring undiscovered talent to the forefront. You did the hard part, making great work. Now let us find your audience. This is your moment to be discovered..." -

To submit please visit

www.artistswanted.org

Bangkok Tale

2011-01-04T17:54:00.000-08:00

My trip to Bangkok happened to be in the midst of the Christmas holidays haze, and proved to be a Christmas present in itself. I came to Thai capital expecting to find sea of knock-offs, cheap glitzy jewelry. But instead I found a web of tiny streets offering amazingly modern fashion pieces and mezzanines of world-known fashion brands...

I ended up in Bangkok a day after our first Project Lena fashion event in San Francisco. Being on a fashion high, I decided to leave the Grand Palace visit to the last day with my parents, and ordered a cab straight for Bangkok's finest shopping pearl- Siam Paragon Fashion Center. It was "a-ha" moment when my eye instantly landed on Chloe, Balenciaga and Alexander McQueen boutiques. So, I put on my "fashion expert" face and proudly stepped through the glass doors with hopes to find those bright tights at amazing price considering the dollar to baht rate. But no, not so fast...they were all sold out, the price tag was more than the exchange rate allowed. And, as accustomed in Thailand, a soft-toned Thai sales girl told me with the big smile "We have been sold out before they got into stores". It is 95F degrees in Bangkok, who wears tights right now?

Bangkok proved to be incredibly fashion-forward, modern, and ahead of its time Thailand's fashion center. This was the first place I actually enjoyed being stuck in traffic, because I could not take my eyes off millions of stylish street walkers, business people of all ages and races.

The treasures I brought back did not have brand names, but instead they were made of the highest quality of alligator skin in the most beautiful eye-popping colors, delicious and strong green tea, beautifying rice face masks and massage crocodile oil to keep my nails and dry spots nourished!

Our First Event

2011-01-03T23:33:00.000-08:00

Can you believe its already full speed into January? We can't. It seems we were just rolling in the racks, putting on the tunes, and dimming the lights for that perfect atmosphere that a Fashion, Art & Charity event requires.

We are happy to round up the reviews from our first event in collaboration with amazing batch of brands.

Here are some of the pix from our flashy night....

Snap shot of the event

Our marketing director in action

The hit piece

Di Pietro Todd Salon women

Martha Davis Spring 2011 collection

2011-01-03T22:59:00.000-08:00

A Funky Pair by 3.1 Phillip Lim

Be ready to stroll around the boutique isles in a hunt for funky, menswear inspired pants. They will empower you, make you feel strong but sexy, independent but romantic, edgy but classy. Touch the fabric for the silk, satin and velour hug.

The Future is White

2011-01-03T22:55:00.000-08:00

Spring 2011. Alexander McQueen.

White is the color that opened not only this but many other very interesting shows for Spring '11. I foresee white will be our dear friend this year.

First Event

2010-11-18T16:03:00.000-08:00

PROJECT LENA is pleased to announce our first collaboration with exclusive Martha Davis shoe brand and hair salon & art studio Di Pietro Todd Salon to open up its doors to first Fashion, Art & Charity event.

The event was hosted at Di Pietro Todd Art + Hair salon in San Francisco's fashionable Pacific Heights district: all tall ceilings, white perfectly lit walls, metal fixtures, velour round couches. The featured artist was Allegra Gibson . We had plenty of special guests....