What women over 40 want

So it’s really super duper brrrrr freezing outside, and we have no other choice but to layer like it’s nobody’s business. And we are tired of the same look over and over. We look kind of like chic homeless people to be honest, and we don’t have much choice because eff it’s cold out there.

Our savior: the accessories. This is the best time to play around with mixing and matching our fancy accessories with our otherwise drab daily outfits. Because yes you can rock your thigh high boots with a double layer of leggings, and yes you can add your fanciest statement necklace of the season to your plain black sweater and tired skinny black jeans. Break out your shimmery scarf, use summer’s handbag for a pop of color, throw a dress over your long sleeves and stone-washed jeans, or rock a sequined beret for all we care. But by all means, put a little class into it. It’s certainly not getting any warmer.

Emma Dinzebach

Last year, the FDA approved the prescription drug Latisse for treatment of hypotrichosis. Hypotrichosis is a condition of abnormal hair growth, usually characterized by lack of hair where “normal” people grow hair. (Not to be confused with alopecia, which is characterized by the loss of hair where hair formerly existed.) For suffers nationwide, this meant the growth of fuller, thicker, longer hair in places they formerly had none – places that piqued the interest of beauty product lovers hoping to plump up their eyelashes.

In the clinical study, 78% of patients experienced remarkable increases in fullness, length and darker colored lashes. The drawbacks, because of course there are some, are as follows: Eye itching and eye redness are the most common side effects during the 16 week recommended use of the product. And most people we know experienced at least some of this during use. Increased pigmentation on the eye lids may not be permanent, but likely occurs during use. There is a risk for hair growth where ever the solution is applied (gross), but this can be prevented with proper application.

Anyway, there are a whole list of precautions, side effects, etc. that you can find here. Otherwise, it pretty much works wonders. Visit the Latisse website to see the before and after lash pics like that above from the 16 week trial study.

A majority of the last decade was doused in popping bottles, months of reservations and overpriced jumpsuits. If the 90’s were the dawn of decadence, the turn of the century ignited man’s ability to visually underachieve. Visually, I said. Defying decadence? You ask, wondering what that might mean. Allow me to clarify: this decade began with American Psycho-style bankers blowing the concept of “valuation” out of the proverbial waters. It was a nasty combination of overpriced track suits and Chinatown  handbags. The last ten years were want, want, want. While we love the SATC wardrobe, the media saturated our minds with what we needed to look like Carrie & Co. Real Housewives, Entourage, even my beloved Gossip Girl make our lives mediocre compared to what we could have. In the end, we stood drenched in materialistic messages.

So we took a step back.

Next year, decade, season, we aim to root ourselves in…well, in ourselves, and live less focused on things and more focused on And in terms of making your face the prettiest in town, think from the inside out. Sure there are great spa deals; and we understand wanting a little lift here or a teeny tuck here. How we treat our bodies, however, is the true reflection of beauty. A more organic approach – water, stretching, balanced eating habits – will make weekly spa treatments unnecessary and allow you to use your spa visits and dinners out as more special, rewarding occasions. Oh, wee will still report the best restaurants, spa deals, sales and trends. (I mean, hello, that’s our job!) However, making our purchases reflect the person we aim to become will allow the next ten years to glow more genuine.

From TVC to you, Happy New Year.

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