Jet Set Girls

On Sale: The Ultimate Little Black Dresses

2009-11-22T08:32:00.000-05:00

Mark your calendar for Monday 11 a.m. EST when the Elle Little Black Dress boutique opens on RueLaLa.com. The sale features a total of 16 dresses from Carmen Marc Valvo (Shown. CMV, incidentally, designed Annie's wedding dress), Laundry, Badgley Mischka and Robert Rodriguez. The dresses were selected by Elle fashion editor, Violet Moon Gaynor, who offers styling tips for this wardrobe staple. Click here for a preview. We can't wait to see the rest!

Melissa Rycroft at Lavo Las Vegas

2009-11-20T15:00:00.000-05:00

Anne had a great party at Lavo in Vegas last month for her bachelorette, so we were excited to hear about fellow bachelorette, Melissa Rycroft, who did the same. You might remember Melissa as the latest Bachelor contestant to get jilted or maybe from her good showing on Dancing with the Stars; but she's found a new man. Personally, we're digging the dresses and the good times these girls are having together. Apparently, her hubby-to-be, Tye Strickland, was next door at Tao partying with his posse. Wonder if the two groups hooked up late night?

Photo credit: Al Powers

On Our Radar: New Moon in Italy

2009-11-20T09:00:00.000-05:00

Will you be lining up at midnight to catch New Moon? We promised our Twihard friend that we would go with her on Monday. We can hardly wait to see the gorgeousness that is Edward Cullen brought to life again.

If you're as addicted as we are, you may want to plan a trip to Volterra Italy, the home of the Vulturi in New Moon. While the movie wasn't actually filmed here (head to Montepulciano for that), the Volterra Toursim Board has embraced New Moon fever and has a New Moon Volterra blog (written in Italian) and provides this handy bilingual map with key locations from New Moon, including the Palazza dei Priori, where Edward plans to meet his end.

To totally immerse yourself in the world of the Cullens, sign up for the 2-night "Volterra, Shadows of the Volturi Tour" through Emozioni Toscane. You'll visit the bell tower at high noon, enjoy blood red aperitifs of Aro, Caius and Marcus, hit the Museum of Torture and learn about the Etruscan history of what was once called, "Tuscany's Best Kept Secret Hill Town."

If you would prefer to stay stateside, check out the Twilight tour of Forks, Washington, Bella and Edward's hometown.

Web Snob Roundup November 20th

2009-11-20T08:36:00.002-05:00

55 Secret Street checks out legendary supermodel Iman's Global Chic.

Stiletto Jungle shows how to wash cashmere like an expert.

Allie is Wired covers Oprah's decision to end The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2011.

Bag Bliss Exclusive Event: Linea Pelle Handbag and Belt Sample Sale. Get the invite!

Bag Snob's November Giveaway: OSCAR DE LA RENTA Taylor Python - click here to enter to win.

Beauty Snob has Illamasqua, a UK line that just launched in the US, that features a HUGE range of products including some of the most vibrant shades we've ever seen.

Coquette loves the many ways you can wear Donna Karan's Infinity Dress

Fashion Pulse Daily was there opening day and wonders was Jimmy Choo for H&M Worth the Wait?

The Jet Set Girls see Dita Von Teese bare it all at the Crazy Horse in Paris.

KRISTOPHER DUKES is wanting, wearing, and hating cashmere jumpsuits.

Second City Style met the legendary Albert Maysles where his Signature Style Gets Framed at Barneys.

Don't pack up your skirts and dresses - SheFinds found all the best patterned stockings and tights to keep your legs stylishly warm this winter.

Shopping and Info loves the black wedge suede books by Dolce & Gabanna.

StyleBakery is completely obsessed with sequins for day and night

Stylehive has spotted a pair of party-perfect sequined pumps, just like Badgley Mischka's but at a fraction of the cost...

The Beauty Stop addresses the hype surrounding MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator.

The Shoe Goddess still loves funky platforms, but lately she has had her eye on more classic shoes like this Yves Saint Laurent Pump!

Things are getting 'curiouser and curiouser' this season. eye4style's looking forward to the Bergdorf Goodman holiday windows!

Dita Von Teese Crazy Horse Paris DVD

2009-11-19T11:29:00.000-05:00

We once had the pleasure of seeing Dita Von Teese perform at a party a few New York Fashion Week's back. We can't recall what the fete was for, but we certainly remember being blown away while Ms. Teese did her thing in a giant martini glass.

Her new Crazy Horse Paris DVD is set to release on November 24 on French Amazon and would make a great stocking stuffer for all the naughty folks on your Christmas list. We haven't had the opportunity to see the burlesque show for ourselves, but from the looks of the sneak peek video, it's everything we wished Holly Madison's Peep Show was--and more!

Note: We earlier posted the You Tube video of the clip, which Dita Von Teese herself promoted on Twitter. The video was taken down after someone complained about its adult content. Dita's tweeted response: ...there are about 4,380 Youtubes of me dancing nearly nude, but some jackass has a problem with THIS particular one!

You can still view the Dita Von Teese Crazy Horse sneak peek on line, though now you have to register and we can't embed it in our post.

Daily Makeover's Holiday Gift Guide

2009-11-19T11:23:00.003-05:00

Our good friends at Daily Makeover put together a comprehensive list of 100 gifts in all price ranges for your holiday shopping. Check out their picks and take some pressure off yourself. Happy shopping!

CVS Survival Kit Winners

2009-11-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

Thank you to everyone who entered our latest contest. The winners of the CVS Survival Kit are Amanda H., Gail, Lisa E., Erica G., and Laura Y. We've sent you messages through Facebook asking for your contact information. Thanks for reading and participating!

Sex and the City Book

2009-11-17T14:00:00.001-05:00

We couldn't help but wonder: Why on Sex and the City does Carrie never mention her parents? Think about it, in the show we met Charlotte's brother, attended Miranda's mother's funeral and heard tales about Samantha's teenage days working at the Dairy Queen. Even in the movie, on Carrie's wedding day , there's zero mention as to who is going to walk her down the aisle or a visit from a sympathetic mom, sister of cousin when Big ditches her at the altar.

Well, all our questions may be answered in The Carrie Diaries, a new book by Candace Bushnell set during Carrie's teenage years, reports People.com. The book comes out on April 27, 2010, Sex and the City 2 hits theaters on May 28. That helps explains the photos of the 80's flashbacks from the set.

Sex and the City Morocco Hotel

2009-11-17T11:00:00.001-05:00

Thanks to the New York Post's Cindy Adams we now know that our speculation that Sex and the City 2 was being filmed at La Mamounia in Morocco was a little off base. In fact the ladies (or at least Carrie and Miranda as the leaked photos show) stay at the Amanjena Resort, part of the luxurious Aman Resorts. Annie just got back from her honeymoon at the Amanayra in Turks & Caicos so can attest first hand as to the hotel line's over the top luxuriousness.

The ladies are wearing long skirts and conservative tops in a nod to Moroccan customs: Bare skin is frowned upon in the Muslim country. We're happy to see Pat Field raised to the wardrobe challenge!

Hyatt Resorts One Day Sale

2009-11-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow only, Hyatt is having a one day 40% off sale at any Hyatt resort in the U.S. and Caribbean from November 18th, 2009 to April 30th, 2010. The sale runs from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.

Whether your looking to book a ski trip or a tropical vacay, we've put together a list of our favorite Hyatt resorts:

The Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa has one of the most beautiful lobbies we've ever seen and gorgeous gardens. The fresh water lazy river gets high marks, as does their Sunday brunch. We've stayed here twice and would go back anytime.

The Park Hyatt Beaver Creek is the best location you could ask for on the slopes: ski in ski out doesn't get any better. Plus, they pass out freshly baked chocolate cookies in the morning as you're strapping on your boots.

We didn't stay at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale at Gainey Ranch; but we did go to their Spa Avania. It is truly one of the most luxurious spas we've ever visited with a huge ladies relaxation area and multiple water treatment areas. Word of caution, once you go through the double doors and out on the patio, that pool is for men also, our technician told us they're constantly asking people to come out and put a suit on.

We stayed at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina last spring. It's a great location if you coming from the East Coast. It's also nearby the town of Easton with boutiques, restaurants, and antique stores.

How To Get Blake Lively's Hair

2009-11-16T14:39:00.004-05:00

In her recent NY Times article, Sarah Maslin Nir says Blake Lively's long tousled hair is the new "Rachel." While we didn't realize it was that ubiquitous, we'd definitely huge fans of Blake's hair.

Celebrity hair stylist and Nexxus Creative Director, Kevin Mancuso, has worked with Blake Lively and gave us his recommendations on how to recreate her style.

“Women should take inspiration from this Bohemian style and incorporate its carefree ‘essence’ into their own style," said Mancuso.

Step One: Apply a curl enhancing mousse, like Nexxus Gorgeous Curls Curl Enhancing Styling Foam, evenly throughout damp hair.

Step Two: Turn head upside down and blow dry, using fingers to scrunch hair. Once dry, flip head back up and create slightly off-center part.

Step Three: Use a medium size curling iron to create well-defined curls randomly throughout the bottom half of locks only.

Step Four: Finish the look by applying a light coating of a texturizing lotion, such as Nexxus VersaStyler Artistic Designing Lotion, with fingers, separating and loosening the curls as you go.

Purely Organic Facial at the Boutique Spa at the Ritz-Carlton, Georgetown

2009-11-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

Last week I had the Purely Organic Facial at the Boutique Spa at the Ritz-Carlton, Georgetown.

I'm always running late; but I was determined that on this visit, I'd follow the spa's recommendation to come early and enjoy the facilities before my appointment. The spa at the Ritz is intimate; but not crowded. Arriving fifteen minutes early gave me plenty of quality time in the steam room and an exfoliating scrub in the shower. When I hit the treatment table, I was already relaxed.

My esthetician, Poy, began my treatment with some modified yoga stretches and light massage, then on to the facial: cleaning, steaming, moisturizing and applying a mask. I'm interested in organic products for the obvious reasons including they're better for you skin and their production has less impact on the environment; but I'm also sensitive to scents. The ingredients in these products truly smell natural. Most memorable were the eye cream with French lavender and sunflower oil, the scrub with a papaya derivative, and the buckwheat mask with peach, apricot and mango butters.

I enjoyed my facial and my skin felt soft and smooth afterwards. I was particularly impressed with Poy's professionalism and knowledge. She went beyond explaining the organic facial and gave me advice about my individual skin issues.

For starters, regarding the different areas on my face and why they breakout. I mentioned a spot on my forehead and she asked whether I'd been eating sweets. The answer of course was yes, since Halloween just passed. Poy said our foreheads breakout when we eat too much sugar. Similarly, breakouts around your jawline are likely stress induced, and around your mouth and nose are hormonal.

Poy also gave me advice about caring for my skin post waxing after I commented that I break out after getting my brows done. She explained that our hair follicles are stressed after waxing and they produce extra oil to sooth themselves, which can lead to blemishes. Her recommendation was to use an astringent three times a day for a couple of days post waxing to control the oil and keep the pores clean. I gave it a go and had better luck after my eyebrow wax with no issues.

After my facial I treated myself to lunch at Fahrenheit, where I had their special: seared sea bass and grilled shrimp in a champagne butter sauce (pictured below). What a satisfying finish to a great afternoon! I'll be coming back to the Ritz-Carlton spa to see Poy this winter and I'll be staying for smores by the fireplace.

This review was based on a complimentary service. The delicious lunch was on me.

Product Review Ojon Winter Shine & Protect Collection

2009-11-15T07:00:00.002-05:00

We have been using Ojon's new 4 piece Winter Shine & Protect Collection. A little background about Ojon: Their secret is a rich oil extracted from the Ojon tree native to a region in Central America. The collection consists of Ojon's Shine & Protect Shampoo, Shine & Protect Conditioner, Leave-in Glossing Cream and Restorative Hair Treatment.

The shampoo and conditioner both smell great and you don't need to use a lot in order to get the full effect. That's good news for people like us with a lot of hair - it lasts a long time. They both smell good, with a natural scent, like it came straight from the rainforest. We can definitely see an increase in the shine, which is important with the coming cold months because we use our hairdryer more so we don't freeze when we walk outisde. As for the glossing cream, we've been using it as a styling cream. Whether we want waves or straight hair, we put a little bit in, and it makes our hair look shinier and healthier.

We've used the Restorative Hair Treatment twice and even given it to a few friends to try. We all have very different hair types and textures, but we all agreed - it left our hair feeling healthier and hydrated. It makes us feel better about the damage we do. Ojon is available at Sephora.

This review was based on a complimentary sample.

White + Warren Cashmere Travel Wrap

2009-11-14T07:30:00.001-05:00

In our modest two years with the JSGs, our most popular give-away to date was the White + Warren cashmere wrap. No doubt, we fought some inner demons by not keeping it for ourselves. Recently we were back on the W + W website, looking for a fresh travel wrap as ours have seen way to many air miles, when we stumbled on what could be the most helpful video-to-date on how to wear your luxe cashmere wrap. Enjoy!

2009-11-13T13:50:00.000-05:00

Bebe's new line, PH8, launches tomorrow at stores across the country. It's replacing Bebe sport; but President Tara Poseley doesn't want it seen as another casual wear line. It's for the woman who wants to be stylish and modern, sexy too, without looking like she's trying to hard.

We're excited about the line because it would make perfect travel wear. We love the thought of wearing sweats on the plane; but checking into our swanking boutique hotel in college rags is atrocious. A few of these pieces, like the hoodie above or the hip cropped pants would be much better. Save the roller skates for the derby.

Print our the friends and family discount below for extra savings!

On Our Radar: Sheraton Hacienda del Mar Los Cabos

2009-11-13T07:00:00.001-05:00

We had such a good time on our trip to Cancun in September, that we've been scouting out our next Mexican getaway. The Sheraton Hacienda del Mar Golf & Spa Resort in Los Cabos is offering a deal now where the rooms are only $119 per night if you book by November 30th, 2009 and travel before April 27th, 2010.

The hotel boasts 5 restaurants and 4 pools, most of which are oceanfront, as well as the Cactus Spa and Fitness Center. Our insider tells us the hotel is quiet, so expect to take a shuttle or cab into town for nightlife. The restaurants, while good, are pricey, so you may want to venture in town for dinner also. Lastly, the ocean can be rough, so stick to the pools or check with a guard before braving the surf.

Book your vacation on line at: StarwoodHotels.com.

Web Snob Roundup November 13th

2009-11-13T06:59:00.000-05:00

Stiletto Jungle is raving about fabulous winter tights for under $6.

Allie is Wired takes a look at Shakira's new dreadlocks.

Bag Bliss walks you through the 4 easy steps to finding the perfect Coach Wallet.

Bag Snob has a Gucci tote with a nice shape and a very discreetly placed strip of embossed logo leather for those who don't care to advertise their designer choice.

Beauty Snob has the Bare Escentuals RareMinerals facial cleanser, which is a powder activated by water.

Coquette is loving Audrey Tautou's Chanel Cometes Star Pendant Necklace from the Chanel No. 5 ads.

Fashion Pulse Daily snags an exclusive interview with Candela NYC Designers Natalia Kuks-Jacobs and Gabriela Perezutti-Isacson !

The Jet Set Girls show off the new Louis Vuitton Label Line.

KRISTOPHER DUKES is wanting, wearing, and hating Giuseppe Zanotti rubber-wedge boots.

Second City Style interviews eBay's Style Director Constance White and learns out how to give back this holiday season.

SheFinds wants to help you prepare for holiday madness by sorting out all the best dress pants, so you'll always have a chic alternative when you just can't stand to don one more cocktail dress.

Shopping and Info loves these sheepskin lined ballerina flats for winter.

StyleBakery.com shares 15 styling tricks straight from the fall runways

Stylehive is obsessed with animal prints, but these aren't your typical striped and spotted separates by any means!

Have brown eyes? The Beauty Stop found an eyeshadow kit that might be perfect for you.

The Shoe Goddess and Gossip Girl love shoe designer Alexandre Birman!

Is your closet ready for holiday? Check out eye4style to learn all about Rent the Runway, a new dress rental service that ensures you'll never be seen in the same outfit twice!

Happy Birthday Nars!

2009-11-12T14:14:00.007-05:00

Nars is celebrating its 15th anniversary tonight with the release of 15X15, a limited-edition book filled with celebrity images and photographic representations. 100% of the proceeds from the book will go to the charities designated by the celebrities in the book. Wouldn't this make an excellent gift for that beauty addict on your list?

We'll be forever fans of Nars lipsticks, glosses, shadows (the perfect smoky eye made easy), and all of the erotic product names like orgasm, permiscuous, and hellfire.

15X15 includes photos of Marc Jacobs (below), Amanda Lepore, Amber Valetta, Carla Gugino, Isabella Rossellini and many more.

The sale begins tonight at 8:00 EST on the 15 X 15 Online Gallery.

Reese Witherspoon's New In Bloom Fragrance

2009-11-12T12:00:00.006-05:00

Reese Witherspoon's new fragrance In Bloom was released this month. Below Reese discusses the development and the personal meaning of In Bloom.

I tested In Bloom at the Avon kiosk this morning. It's light and floral, but not too sweet. Personally, I lean towards heavier and spicier perfume arounds the holidays; I'd wear this is the spring. To find an Avon representative go to Avon.com.

American Express and Daily Wish Offer JetBlue's Flight of the Month Club

2009-11-12T07:00:00.003-05:00

Today only, American Express' online marketplace, DailyWish.com, will be offering JetBlue's "Flight of the Month" club. For $2000, you'll get one flight per month with no blackout dates for an entire year. Let's face it, you'd be lucky to find a roundtrip ticket for under $200 consistently.

We'd love the opportunity (and self-imposed obligation) to take a trip each month. That's about our schedule these days anyway. Plus, looking over our past several trips (New York, Florida, California, Texas), JetBlue flies to those places.

Interested in a great holiday gift for a little less money? The $100 JetBlue gift cards are also on sale on Daily Wish for 30% off. Maybe we'll buy a few for our next trip.

Sign up on Daily Wish to find out what time the sales start. Supplies are (very) limited; but worth it if you can snag them, so get to the sales early.

Happy travels!

Christine Mighion Jewelry: Eco-Friendly Jewelry

2009-11-11T12:00:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we were introduced to the new "Lustre" line of jewelry by designer Christine Mighion. We were struck first by the natural, brushed gold and usual shapes of the stones she uses. Turns out both are the strategic design of an eco-conscious artist who uses recycled gold and stones from conflict-free mines.

"Clean lines and matte satin finishes lend itself to the modern appeal of my work, while the rough stones and irregular textures created through forging metal give an earthy balance. Each piece feels special and unique in this way - distinctively beautiful, but unpretentious," said Mighion.

We are taken with the 14K Gold Rhodolite Garnet Earrings ($285) pictured above and the 14K Gold Tanzanite Stacking Ring Set ($440), pictured below. Here's hoping someone close to us is checking in on JSG for gift ideas.

Vegas Makeup

2009-11-11T08:00:00.002-05:00

We loved rocking a serious smokey eye in Vegas, but by our third night of Annie's bachelorette party, we were ready to mix it up. So we headed to the Guerlain store at the Palazzo. There, the charming Claire and Kyler did our makeup for our final night out. We actually got the party started early when they served us bubbly. Truly, they were so much fun, we wish they had come out with us too.

As for the makeup, Claire gave Annie a modified smoky eye, lining the inner and outer rim with black liner, and using a softer gray shadow. He finished her off with our old favorite Terracotta bronzer and a dusting of Sublime Radiant Powder for a touch of all over shimmer.

Hope shed her usual dark liner for a fresher palette of greens and golds. Kyler lined her inner rims with a white liner to brighten them up. The makeup was gorgeous, even more so in person. In this picture her eyes look a little small, turns out we forgot mascara, which made a big difference after a quick application. Afterwards, we dashed upstairs to watch the Yankees while getting dressed and then headed to meet the rest of our crew for dinner at Cut steakhouse.

The Ritz-Carlton Charlotte

2009-11-10T10:30:00.001-05:00

The Ritz-Carlton Charlotte is offering a package for those of you who like online shopping (we sure do!). Avoid the lines and crowds on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, by coming to the Ritz-Carlton Charlotte instead.

Available November 27, 2009, and called L3, for Laptops, Lounging and Libations. Stay at the hotel, with an extended one night stay to enjoy online shopping for your loved ones, your animals, friends and coworkers (even yourself). Just wake up, walk to the exclusive L3 lounge where you can see awesome views of Charlotte, have a mimosa and a snack, and sit with a computer.

The best part - you get hand and wrist massages in case the typing and mouse clicking gets a bit too intense during your holiday shopping! It all begins on 12:01am and goes until 7pm. A deluxe room for two people is priced at $329, which is a great rate, but avoiding the hassle on Black Friday is priceless. The hotel also features a magnificent spa in case all of the holiday shopping is wearing you out and you need some pampering; and a BLT steakhouse in case your hungry. Happy shopping!

Chocolate and Spa Services: Co Co. Sala and Red Door Spas

2009-11-10T08:00:00.003-05:00

We just learned about the partnership between D.C. based restaurant and maison de chocolate, Co Co. Sala, and Red Door Spas.

On November 17th from 6-8 p.m., they'll be hosting their first ever champagne, chocolate and spa event at Co Co. Sala where guests can indulge in champagne and seasonal chocolates like Pecan Pie and Coffee Cream Parfaits, and mini spa services like makeup applications and manicures.

Everyone receives a complimentary gift and the chance to win prizes. It's also a good time to pick up gift cards for the holidays for both Co Co. Sala and Red Door.

For more information and to reserve your spot (do so by November 10th), email events@coco-dc.com.