Fashion Trends

Most beauty posts last week focused on the Academy Awards dress, jewelry, make-up and hair. But take a second look and you might notice white. Ubiquitous, er rampant, white. Maybe celebs lathered on sunscreen during their winter vacations so the rest of America wouldn’t feel raging jealousy that their monetary status lends blizzard escapes. Or they are trying to show Jersey Shore lovers that guns don’t kill people, tanning beds kill people.

But seriously, the amount of red carpet white was stunning. Skin looked exfoliated, scrubbed and very well protected from the big bad sun. The cheeks were quite bare – just a swipe of shimmery pink or the teeniest hint of tan. “It’s an entire movement towards a more pure lifestyle,” said my favorite Bliss facialist. Keeping skin safe from UVA rays (see also: anti-melanoma trend) is a lifestyle choice. And as much as we love J Wow and Snookie, skin cancer, we don’t want age spots and wrinkles in our future. We’re fine with glowing white faces for our gala’s this spring. So as the sun starts to show it’s pretty face, lather up liberally ladies. Lather up.

Emma Dinzebach

You dream you’re Brittney, holding tight to Tyson Beckford speeding through Malibu or Pink with a chainsaw, carving up your ex-boyfriend’s lawn. You dream you’re Megan Fox. A girl can dream… Leave it to Chanel to find an acceptable outlet for your inner Angelina Jolie making those dreams a reality. Chanel Body Transfers are temporary tattoos inspired by models walking Karl Lagerfeld’s hay-strewn Spring 2010 runway. Oh, wipe away your Jersey Shore mental image. These are dainty-chic and actually, pretty rad.

Model Daisy Lowe sported a Chanel double C-linked chain around her thigh at the launch of her her Swarovski crystal jewelry collection in London in January. (Who ever thought we’d write that? Coco Chanel is rolling over in her grave!) But Chanel tats are delicate, whimsical and artsy. Come spring, they will be all the rage. And you’ll have to wait until then because Chanel “body transfers” won’t be available at Chanel boutiques until March 1.

Emma Dinzebach

So maybe it’s the oldest stereotype ever that Jewish people eat Chinese food on Christmas, but when we asked our friends, the stereotype held true about 50% of the time. A quarter didn’t eat Chinese food, and the last quarter celebrated with gentile friends. Where’s the best place? we wondered. Apparently for a cultural experience, you head to Peking Duck House in Chinatown and for a more posh version, eat at Tao on 58th Street.

At Peking Duck House, a cozy elegant haven tucked away on the grungy part of Mott Street south of Canal, you have to order peking duck. Um, duh. The house made pancakes and eggplant in  garlic sauce are amazing. But take it from the website, it’s all about the duck. They slice it at your table, and it just might be the best peking duck in Manhattan. There is actually a midtown Peking Duck House too, but for some reason it doesn’t taste as good sans Chinatown excursion.

Peking Duck House 28 Mott Street  212.227.1810

At TAO, the Peking duck is also delicious. The vast former theater houses a coy fish pond, a third level private room and hands-down my favorite dessert in the city. But for the main course, the sea bass, lobster dumplings and short ribs are crowd pleasers. Keeping with Christmas tradition, the Peking duck rivals Peking Duck House. And afterward, enjoy the dessert tray (you only need the small) of mouse filled fortune cookies, Mochi, chocolates and sorbet. A small dessert tray feeds up to five. If it’s the weekend, go later because TAO has live roaming musicians on the weekend nights starting around ten.

TAO Asian Bistro  58th Street between Park and Madison  212.888.2288

And toast to a Merry, Merry Christmas.

Emma Dinzebach

It’s been a hard year. Your brain is overloaded with numbers sporting nasty minus signs, your hair missed its 6 week appointment about 3 weeks back, and your skin desperately needs it to choose a season already. As if your current state isn’t dull enough, you look around to see that you are actually outshining all of your loved ones. You feel badly for them. But it’s Christmas and Hanukkah and stuff, so you decide it’s time for everyone on your list to get their glow on and start 2010 shining brightly.

For your visiting bff: Gilt.com is offering Equinox spa specials on massages, facials, training sessions and more. Each purchase includes a 3-day trial membership where out of town visitors or you (because oh, you forgot, you canceled your gym membership in April) can take advantage of the gym, classes, steam room and more starting at just 100 bones.

For your niece: Fourteen year-olds aren’t stressed! Save the massage for yourself and visit blissworld.com. There you can customize a gift box of goodies for your loved ones. Choose from staples like body scrubs and lotions or these way cool hair removal strips. Spend $25 and you get…free shipping! Your niece loves her smooth upper lip, you love the black numbers in your checking account.

For him: Your brother – Head downtown to Freeman’s Sporting Club where you can give him a $25 trim, $40 straight razor shave or a $25 hangover treatment. You don’t know what that is, but it sounds cool.  Your brother-in-law (why do you always pick him?) – Choose John Allan’s because he might be eaten by anorexic hipsters if you send him searching for Freeman Alley. A “Full Service” includes a scalp massage, shampoo, condition, hot towel, manicure and shoe shine. Your sister will thank you.

And if you have any scrilla left over, buy something for yourself something to get your shine on. Glow on sista. Glow on.
Emma Dinzebach