bargain news

Makeup manufacturers and beauty gurus have declared BB creams so last year. But what new product could possible take their place? The CC cream, of course.

While BB stands for “beauty balm,” CC is short for “Color Control” and is considered an improved and refined version of Korea’s innovative, life-changing BB cream that makeup artists raved about.

The primary difference between BB and CC cream is that the latter focuses more on color correction and concealing. It still has the lightness we love about BB creams, but is a bit more dense to help cover fine lines and wrinkles while evening out the skin’s pigmentation. CC creams still moisturize, reduce pore size and protect skin from the elements just as their BB cousin does.

As we go further into the new year, CC creams will become more widely available. At the moment, however, you can find the product at both drug and department stores in various price categories.

For example, Olay’s Total Effects CC Tone Correcting Moisturizer, a forerunner in the CC Cream craze, has been a hit since its fall 2012 debut. Another early, mid-end CC cream comes from Juice, who calls their version the Beauty Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream.

Olay Total Effects7-in-1
Tone Correcting UV Moisturizer

Juice Beauty
Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream

Wei to Go
Ideal Skin Perfect Finish

Wei East — affordable sister to Wei Beauty — is one of my personally favorite brands, so I’m delighted to see they’ve also hopped aboard the CC train. Their recently launched CC cream, dubbed the “Ideal Skin Perfect,” promises an effortless, perfectly blended finish with every use.

Brands such as Chanel, Smashbox, Luisdina and Clinique have also launched their own CC creams. And just like all the makeup lovers out there, I can’t wait to see what other brands bring to the makeup table in the coming months.

So — what’s your take on the CC cream? Are you eager to test out this new product, or will you clutch tightly to your BB creams and never let go? We’re eager to hear your thoughts, so share them with us in the comment section below.

By Wendy Rose Gould

We know that even women who don nothing but designer labels and the season’s hottest trends love finding a good bargain on their duds. But now, it is   The New York Times writing about. They followed the footsteps of a handful of fashion savvy women who hunt product/clothing sales the way a hound hunts raccoons: ferociously and with determined, focused eyes. After all, an in season Alexander McQueen frock priced down 40 percent is like a trendy gift from the style gods. Only it’s not a gift that’s handed to them randomly. It takes real work — and plenty of time shifting through racks — to find these kinds of brag-worthy steals.

Says Annelise Peterson, a fashion consultant, “I fare-track for fashion.” However, instead of getting alerts in her e-box a la flash travel sales, she’s built a human network consisting of salesclerks who call and text her when the price and product are right. “It’s important to find a great source, a salesperson to point you to pieces that match your taste,” she noted.

The New York Times also interviewed affluent shopper and society figure Natalie Leeds Leventhal, who’s no stranger to Barneys sales racks. While inarguably wealthy, Leventhal still adheres to a strict set of buying rules when shopping. In fact, she says she refuses to pay full price on anything unless the item is so hard to come by it’ll disappear in the blink of an eye. Any other time, though, she scouts out a good bargain.

Like Peterson, Leventhal also has a network of salespeople who contact her if they get a product in she’ll appreciate. Read more about the steps fashionable women take when seeking designer goods at a fraction of their MSRP. We’ve said it for a long time, but now that The New York Times wrote it, you have to believe us.

By Wendy Rose Gould

The Bitta Design Group Sample Sale began this morning at the luxurious Cassa New York Hotel. Please note the sale is located on the 10^th Floor and down the hallway on your left hand side, once through the elevator.

Imaginative designs, dazzling jewels, and vibrant diamonds occupied the display cases offering 75% off retail prices. If you’ve yet to find the perfect holiday gift, or still don’t know what to write on your wish list that your procrastinating significant other has been begging you for, then your solution lies within the Bitta Design Group Sample Sale.

It isn’t often that a jewelry sample sale impresses us, but between the outrageously good discounts and stunning pieces, this sale certainly gets our two thumbs up. When you first walk into the 10^th floor sale, there is a display case of sapphire and ruby pieces. If you’ve yet to find your young adult daughter the perfect gift to WOW her, check out the Ruby and Diamond Long Skull Necklace set in 14K White Gold ($1,620, orig. $6,482) as well as a Large Sapphire Ring with Diamonds set in White Gold ($1,765, orig. $7,063)

Next up, is an extraordinary array of emeralds, blue topaz, black spinel, and black diamonds, featured in styles such as drop earrings, rings, and statement bracelets. The eye-catchers of the bunch included a pair of 18K White Gold Diamond and Emerald Drop Earrings ($3,613, orig. $14,455, pictured), a pair of Black Spinel Double Circle Diamond Drop Earrings ($2,863, orig. $11,455, pictured) and a beautiful White Gold and Aquamarine Ring with Diamonds.

A few pairs of Bitta’s most popular earrings were on hand — a simple drop earring encircled by diamonds and set in white gold or yellow gold, available in a variety of colors such as Smokey Quartz and Aquamarine with Black Diamonds ($1,184, orig. $4,739, Smoke Quartz).

Before you start narrowing it down to your favorite piece, don’t overlook the Rose Gold pieces with Kunzite, the 48” chain of Rose Gold and Spinel ($1,680, orig, $6734), the bracelets with German Cut Stones in 14K Gold, or the blinding case of simple diamond bands, diamond tennis bracelets, and classic diamond studs for as low as $740. 

A diamond really is a girl’s best friend, and with Bitta’s reimagined classic pieces combined with wonderful semi-precious stones, there is no going wrong with opting to shop for last minute gifts for your loved ones at the Bitta Design Group Sample Sale.

WHEN: 12/19 – 12/20; Wed-Th (10-6)

WHERE: Cassa NY Hotel
70 West 45th Street
New York, New York 10036

By Caitlin Colford

Last night, we ushered in the end of an era. One of luxe opulence, high drama and, of course, really great styling. Gossip Girl was meant to fill the empty Louboutin’s Sex and the City left behind when the HBO show went off the air, but this teen/20-something centered prime time soap opera was in a whole league of its own.

Naturally, the finale was a highly anticipated one. It goes without saying that all finales are, but long-time fans of the show had even more invested in this particular series closer.

From the very beginning, the TV show’s audience had no clue who the main character of the show even was — “she” was an anonymous blogger who somehow knew every juicy detail of gossip on the Upper East Side. Since the show’s inception, we all wanted to know who was responsible for torturing these poor little rich kids. Really — finding out who posted under the moniker of Gossip Girl ranks right up there with finding out who Ted Mosby’s wife is on How I Met Your Mother.

SPOILERS AHEAD

I’m just going to go ahead and say it: Gossip Girl was none other than Lonely Boy Dan Humphrey. In a twist of irony, the outsider — who’d seen his fair share of upturned noses, rolled eyes and plenty of insults — was the one pulling the strings all along. In short, he decided that if he couldn’t get inside the Upper East Side’s world, he’d write himself in. And he did.

Dan put it perfectly as he explained to the audience why he became Gossip Girl:

“The Upper East Side was like something from Fitzgerald or Thackeray – teenagers acting like adults, adults acting like teenagers, guarding secrets, spreading gossip all with the trappings of truly opulent wealth. And membership into this community was so elite you couldn’t even buy your way in. It was a birthright – a birthright that I didn’t have. And my greatest achievements would never earn it.

All I had to compare it to was what I read in books. But that gave me the idea: I wasn’t born into this world … maybe I could write myself into it. I overheard enough conversations to mimic the voice of the Constance girls, but every writer needs his muse and it wasn’t until that photo of Serena in the white dress that I knew I had something strong enough to actually create a legend and launch a website.

Within weeks I was getting dozens of emails with stories about Upper East Siders, so I posted them anonymously. And then I got more. Before long it was a monster. Everyone was sending tips … When Serena came back from boarding school, I wrote my first post about me, Lonely Boy, the outsider, the underdog. I might have been a joke but at least people were talking about me.”

The end was admittedly a little corny, but Gossip Girl is endearing in that way. And to be honest, sometimes those warm and fuzzy endings are nice to have. The show concluded with Gossip Girl (aka Dan Humphrey) marrying his Serena while an already married (with adorable child) Chuck and Blair looked on with other friends and family. We also saw that Nate was thriving at The Spectator and contemplating a role as Mayor and that Lily and William (Serena’s father) were back together while Rufus was with a brunette.

In celebration of Gossip Girl’s long run (and what a fun run it was), I suggest gifting yourself a little something from Natori. After all, the show’s stylists seemed to have quite the obsession with the brand. Try a luxe robe or chemise and saunter around your house a la Blair Waldorf, or perhaps spritz a little of Natori’s soft and sexy signature EDP anytime you’re feeling nostalgic for S and B’s shenanigans.

Gossip Girl lovers can only hope that another NYC-centered TV show comes onto the air. The only catch is finding people as absolutely breathtaking to look at GG’s main characters — and creating the kind of juicy drama and mystery to keep people hooked. New York City certainly serves as a great backdrop for a fashion-forward drama.

Blair Waldorf Wears a Josie Natori Robe
Season 3, Episode 15: “The Sixteen Year Old Virgin”

Blair Waldorf Wears the Josie Natori Glamour Lace Chemise
Season 4, Episode 9: “Witches of Bushwick”

Blair Waldorf Wears the Josie Natori Dyansty Pajama Set
Season 4, Episode 18: “The Kids Stay in The Picture”

Blair Waldorf Wears the Josie Natori Nanami Dress
Season 5, Episode 7: “The Big Sleep No More”

Blair Waldorf Wears the Josie Natori Beguile Chemise
Season 5, Episode 15: “Crazy, Cupid, Love”

Blair Waldorf Wears the Josie Natori Silk Empress Robe
Season 5, Episode 19: “It Girl, Interrupted”

Blair Waldorf Wears the Josie Natori Beguile Tunic
Season 5, Episode 20: “Salon of the Dead”

Blair Waldorf Wears a Vintage Josie Natori Robe
Season 5, Episode 21: “Despicable B”

By Wendy Rose Gould