What women in their 20′s want

I was given the great pleasure to attend “An Evening of Rhythm and Romance” hosted by 1-800-Flowers.com and Robin Thicke.  After entering the Gibson Guitar Showroom on West 54th Street, I was immediately greeted with a friendly face and taken through a room filled with all the beautiful flowers and goodies available for the quickly approaching Valentine’s Day on February 14th. 

While waiting for Robin to perform, we continued through to a room that had staged ideas including the absolutely beautiful “Altar of Love”.  This idea is a unique and creative way to remind your significant other of the many reasons you love them.  Simply type up (or better yet, handwrite) meaningful quotes, inside jokes, past date mementos, etc and in this case they used a beautiful tree branch and hung them all with beautiful satin ribbon.  This idea is a creative way to say, “I love you” without spending a fortune.

I spent the remainder of my time speaking with the other guests that were invited, and eagerly waiting for the anticipated performance to begin!  If you can get invited, (which isn’t always an easy task) these events are the perfect way to network with your peers and make connections for potential future business. 

Soon Julie Mulligan, famed floral lifestyle expert, was on the microphone taking all the guests through the two featured bouquets: The Sweetest Love Bouquet that features a dozen red roses (inspired by the hot new single by Robin Thicke) and a creation of her own, True Love. This arrangement of red roses, pink spray roses, purple lisianthus, white dendrobium orchids, blue limonium and pink wax flowers features a keepsake ceramic heart tattoo charm, which will last well beyond the candy and flowers. Each arrangement of fragrant flowers retails for under $100 dollars and feature modern, yet romantic touches.

Immediately following Julie Mulligan’s demonstration, Robin Thicke took the stage with his signature gold microphone.  (Yes, he’s as cute in person as in pictures!)  He performed three songs on one of the most beautiful baby grand piano, including “The Sweetest Love.”  Well worth the wait, the mood of the room was filled with romance and love.  Later that night I left the event feeling absolutely ready to celebrate true love and I was full of great ideas for Valentine’s Day.

Both Bouquets, along with many other beautiful options including chocolates and baked goodies can be ordered directly from www.1800flowers.com.

-Lindsey  

Red lips, supposedly seductive and glamorous, can make a 20-something cringe and run for the safety of the nearest clear gloss.  A smeary, scarlet pucker reminds us of stern high school principals past who chided us for cutting class, of kissy grandmothers who want to know when we’re finally going to settle down and get married already, and, of course, of Sarah “I can see Russia from Alaska” Palin.  Truth be told – and Katy Perry aside – we avoid red lipstick for fear of looking, well, too grown up.  Military coats:  cool.  Military mouths:  not so hip.

Fear no longer, oh, glossy girls of New York City.  Through my own trials and tribulations, I’ve created a list of a handful of shades that are both flattering and wearable – and, of course, affordable.

First, I must pay proper homage to Chanel’s Glossimer in Spark, the venerable brick house of lip glosses.

If you’ve got $28 to fork over, go for the good stuff.  Chanel’s Glossimers, much like their namesake, are luxurious and decadent, right down to the tissue paper packaging that comes with each tube.  Spark, a sheer red with flecks of gold (karat unspecified, though I wouldn’t put it past Karl Lagerfeld to use the real thing), stands well alone or layered on top of a nude lipstick (my personal pick for the office), and flatters olive toned skin without washing you out. 

If, however, you’d prefer to buy groceries this week (anorexia is so 1997) MAC’s Lipglasses pack a mean punch at $14 a pop.  Red Devil (reddish-orange) and Russian Red (bluish-red) look scarier in their tubes than they do on, but are equally flattering.  

 

Stay away from unnecessary primers and lip liners that MAC salespeople infamous for pushing; the goal here is a hint of color, not like you’re trying out for a carnival. 

Drugstore divas will adore L’Oreal’s Colour Juice in Cherry On Top, a fruity-hued sheen that flatters cool and warm tones alike.  At under $9 a tube, you can buy your groceries and pay your electric bill.  Living on the edge has never looked so good.

Of course, the prettiest thing you can do with your mouth is smile, knowing that while testing trends is fun, slaving to them is never fashionable. 

–Karyn Polewaczyk