What Are Your New Year's Resolutions?

Did you make any resolutions, beauty or otherwise? For me, it's the usual. Get more organized, work out more, etc., etc. This year, like Michelle above, I'm adding some beauty resolutions. I had a super busy year, so I slacked in the beauty department a little bit. I learned that the best beauty products are relatively free. (Although not so easy to get or do!) Get enough sleep, drink enough water, eat enough fruits and vegetables, wear your sunscreen, remove your makeup every night, moisturize and floss! If you don't pay enough attention to the basics, it doesn't matter how much makeup you try to hide under.



We haven't done a giveaway in ages, let's do a year-end giveaway. And I'm not mentioning this in the headline, so only dedicated readers of The Lancome Blog will even get to this part! Let's give away a boxed set of the L'Wren Scott holiday collection. It has all the sold-out, limited-edition products--plus the black clutch that L'Wren designed exclusively for Lancome. (If I say so myself, it's the best makeup set EVER.) Just leave a comment with your 2011 resolution(s). Please post by Tuesday.



Here's to a great new year for all of us. I'm so grateful to have such amazing blog followers and even more grateful that I've gotten to know some of you! Thanks for sticking with me in 2010!!

Falling Up.

Yes I did recently watch "Black Swan" (which was a great film), and no, that's not really why I painted this.

She's a commission for a friend for her roommate (another friend) who used to do ballet.

Although, I can't say I wasn't inspired/influenced by the film, I also love this clip of "Amelia" (choreographer Edouard Lock's amazing film with Lalala Human Steps, the Canadian dance company). Such powerful music. When I saw this for the first time a few years ago, I loved the song almost as much as the dancing and went out and found it somewhere. Definitely played it a few times while painting this one...

eerie and beautiful.

-G

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Greetings from Snowy New York! Bring Your Wellies and Leave the Fingerless Gloves at Home!

In case you hadn't heard, it snowed in New York. A lot! I made it out of Brooklyn and into Manhattan today by taking three subways instead of my usual one subway. (That's me above. Not my typical daywear.) As expected, the city's a bit of a mess. I feel terrible for all the tourists walking around in their tourist shoes, trying to maneuver up, down, around and through the piles of snow and the puddles of slush. Those puddles are deceptive. They don't look deep and then you step in one, only to discover it's bottomless. Not fun.



Thank goodness for my Hunter Wellies. They aren't snow boots, but they're high, dry and waterproof. Unlike Uggs. What is with all the people who think Uggs are snow boots? So many girls walking around in ruined, soggy Uggs. Something else I can't endorse--fingerless gloves. They're kind of trendy right now because of all the BlackBerry users. I even saw a pair at Lanvin for something like $1,200. (I certainly didn't buy those. I sprung for the much cheaper American Apparel ones! The one's above are $1,100 from Philippe Audibert on Net-a-Porter. More Michael Jackson than cold weather.) I wore mine for a week and was able to text and email up a storm, but my fingernails and cuticles are a dry mess. When it's below freezing, wear proper gloves.



Fortunately, Lancôme makes a great hand cream, so I've been slathering that on to repair my poor nails.



If you have any cold weather beauty advice--or warnings--feel free to share. And if you're coming to New York for New Year's, come prepared!

Lady In Red

Studded Leather Jacket H&M

Zara Dress

Jessica Simpson Shoes

Kem Purse

I am relaxing in my hometown (that means I do nothing all day, but eating huge amounts of food, sleeping 14 hours a day and going out with loving friends!). I am blogging from my sister's computer, so it is a bit difficult for me to regularly respond to your comments, believe me I do my best. Last night I wore that red dress my mother got me as a Christmas present. My mum keeps the Swedish tradition of opening the presents at Christmas Eve, so Santa came early in our home.

Happy holidays everybody!

I am wishing you the best, and remember: happiness lies in small, everyday things.

Share some love, not only through Christmas time, but all year long.

xoxo,

Froso

Great Last Minute Gifts, Part 2: The Juicy, Sexy, Chic Read That Is "One Flight Up"

I've been meaning to write about this book for MONTHS. (But as we all know, bad blogger...) "One Flight Up" is a novel by Susan Fales-Hill. This woman never fails to astonish me. Wickedly funny, terribly nice, whip smart, a terrific writer, a devoted ballet patron (wonder what she thought of "Black Swan"?!), fab wardrobe, and most thrilling of all, a long-time Lancome fan!



I can't remember how I met Susan, but I had read about her from time to time in magazines like Vogue. Then her memoir "Always Wear Joy" was published. (The title refers to the legendary Patou fragrance and her mother's advice.) Someone sent it to me when I was working at Harper's Bazaar. It was a beautiful read about a beautiful family and made this person I only knew as a one-dimensional fashion magazine fixture so much more in my mind.



So, of course, I was excited to hear Susan was working on her first novel. I read "One Flight Up" earlier this year and couldn't put it down. It's a juicy, sexy, girly read that manages to be poignant and heartbreaking at the same time. It will make you question your moral compass. What should a woman put up with? Or not? You might be surprised what--and whom--you root for while reading "One Flight Up."



If you need one last gift for your favorite fashionista bookworm, brave the malls and the masses tomorrow and pick up one or both of Susan's books. As for me, I'm going to try to magically transport myself to a beachfront chaise lounge at some Caribbean resort so I can re-read "One Flight Up" while slathering on the Lancome sunscreen and sipping a tropical drink. Or two.



PHOTO SWIPED FROM SUSAN'S BLOG

DIY: The Grunge Corset T-shirt

PS1: Let me know what you think!
PS2: If you need any gift inspiration for Christmas, check my post about Christmas Gift Ideas!

Great Last Minute Gifts, Part 1: The Subtly Exquisite "Encyclopedia of the Exquisite"!

Have I not blogged in 10 days? Yikes. Well, you can figure out what's at the top of my New Year's resolution list. We'll talk more about that next week. This week, it's my favorite subject: last minute holiday gifts! Because yours truly, once again, has not shopped in advance.



My favorite gifts to give and (hint, hint) receive are books. The idea of a Kindle actually makes me sad. One book that would make a lovely present is Jessica Kerwin Jenkins' "Encyclopedia of the Exquisite." It's a fantastic book that reminds you one doesn't need to be rich to have a rich life.



If there is someone on your list who loves fashion magazines, French culture, couture, red lipstick, legendary fragrances and/or history from the perspective of, say, Marie Antoinette, this is the book for her. (Or him! Or you!)



You might recognize Jessica's name. She was a former colleague of mine at Women's Wear Daily and she writes amazing essays from time to time for Vogue. If you're a regular reader of the magazine, you'll know her byline. Make sure to check out her companion "Encyclopedia of the Exquisite" blog. She updates way more regularly than I do!



Any suggestions for great books to give as gifts this year?

Swap Not Shop Party, Thessaloniki

Fresh from the oven!

Today was the first Swap Not Shop Party in Thessaloniki!

1. We had a great time.

2. We found little fashion treasures.

3. I met my wonderful girls, Vero, Lorelai and Lou 

4. I met some wonderful people, Panagiota, Christina, Jenna and more

5. We danced to the wonderful band Poster Life

6. We ate delicious home made cupcakes!

I want to congratulate the girls, especially  Lou, for organizing that amazing event. We are waiting for the next one! (I got mostly male stuff, 2 shirts and a yellow sweater plus some accessories; be there for some outfit posts!).

PS: Check the girls' blogs for many more interesting pictures!

With Flying Colors.

All colored in. By the fabulous Rich Tu.

Love it!

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Style Matters: At The Gym

Well, when I am out and about in the city, I am quite a people-observer. I usually get inspired, like what I see or even feel like poking those girls/guys, asking them "What were you thinking?" Over the last year, I've turned into a fitness freak, and all these hours walking on the treadmill I could do nothing but look at the people around me. So, according to my hard gained experience, there are some style matters you have to be careful, when exercising:

GYM STYLE TRAPS:

1. Sheer Leggings: Please girls, make sure that, when bending, your leggings do not turn into pantyhose. It is not very Chanel to let your underwear show!
2. Many Accessories: It is nice to wear a ring, a pendant or a nice pair of simple stud earrings, but it is quite a disaster for the rest to hear you jingling, so avoid bangles and many necklaces, gym is not the place to make an accessory statement.
3. Low-rise Pants: The builder's butt NEVER looked sexy, or at least feminine. 
4. Destroyed Clothing: You don't need to walk around dressed top-to-toe in Juicy Couture velours tracksuits, but you should avoid by any means holey clothes, over-shortened pants, advertising T-shirts and pyjama stuff (oh, yes, I see those kinds of irrational things every single day).
5. Towel: Prefer a simple monochrome one, a plain white or a striped one. Avoid whatever your grandmother kept from the 70s. 
6. Sweat Stains: There are some colors that make sweat stains look even worse. If you do not like the wet look (even worse, the "I peed-on-myself" look), prefer black, dark grey, neutral tones or any kind of color that comes in dry-fit textiles (Nike is a specialist in those).
7. Heavy Make-up: Usually a concealer, mascara, blush and a lipgloss will do the job. You can also use a thin eyeliner, only in case that you have your eyes on that super-gorgeous gym guy. But, again, you have to be really careful, you do not want your make up melt and look like a clown.
8. Sunglasses: I am still searching for an answer, why some people keep on wearing shades in the gym, even if there are no sight problems?

(Style Matters is something new -let's call it a column- in Style Nirvana.We are gonna share our points of view over style and other fashion matters. You know, what I enjoy more about blogging, is listening to your opinions! So, if you want me to write about anything in particular, feel free to propose it through commenting or e-mailing me.)

Your turn! What are your style rules for exercising?

Beautybloggers.org Charity Auction Just in Time for the Holidays

Beautybloggers.org is the brainchild of the fabulous Karla Sugar.  Many of us feel very blessed to have the opportunity to do something we love (whether hobby or career), try the products we try and share that information with those who either take a gander at our blogs or have become regular readers.  In the spirit of giving back, beautybloggers.org was created to progress an avenue to give a little something back to those in need.

BeautyBloggers.org is the collaboration of almost 50 different beauty bloggers and brands. At this holiday time, we wanted to make a meaningful contribution to charity — knowing that the most effective donation to any charity is cash.

So we’re putting our makeup, skincare and other beauty items on the auction block. Winning bids will be donated directly to Doctors Without Borders.

Karla came up with the magnificent thought to make DWB our charity of choice, and I'm delighted to participate in this effort. This organization is committed to bringing quality medical care to people in crisis, regardless of race, religion, or political affiliation. They treat rape victims in Papua New Guinea; they make sure women don’t die in childbirth in Pakistan; they helped flood victims in Mexico and earthquake victims in Haiti. They work in 65 countries around the world, and your donation will make an immediate impact. Click here to learn more about Doctors Without Borders.

The auction is live now, and will close on Monday, December 20 at 5 pm CST. We are asking people to register before they can bid. This is simply to try to discourage "spam" bids. Usernames will be public (because the auction shows the username of the current highest bidder), but first name, last name, and email address will be private. They will only be used to contact the winning bidders. And, yes, international bidders are welcome, too!

Now is the time as there are only a few days left.  Pick up great gifts of beauty for those you love donated from over 50 beauty bloggers and beauty companies and feel good knowing your winning bids are going directly to charity.  Click on beautybloggers.org to see all the great options and to place your winning bid. Bloggers will be working hard to get your items shipped to you in time for gift giving. We're not taking a penny of the money. It all goes to charity!

Donating Beauty Bloggers and Companies:

Afrobella, A Girl's Gotta Spa!, AlyWalansky.com, Armani Beauty, Bay Area Style File, Beauté Cosmetics, Beauty Alchemist, The Beauty Look Book, Bobbi Brown, Cafe Makeup, Cargo, China Glaze, EnKore, Estee Lauder, For the Love of Beauty, Givenchy, Gloss Menagerie, Gouldylox Reviews, Grace Gold for AOL StyleList, KarlaSugar, KraseyBeauty, Lancome, Leonor Greyl, The Makeup Girl, Miss Whoever You Are, Musings of a Muse, My Lips But Better, Nadine Jolie, The Non-Blonde, Older Girl Beauty, OPI, Out in a Pout, Pink Sith, Prime Beauty, Product Girl, Pursebuzz, Renee Rouleau, Sasquatch Swatch, Sicka Than Average, Spoiled Pretty, Talika, Three Custom Color Specialists, and Votre Vu

Work In Progress...

Love how this sketch turned out, now debating what to do with her...

Comments? Suggestions?


I'm open.

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We're Looking for PR Interns!

The Lancome PR department in New York is looking for interns for the spring semester and for the summer. You MUST be a college student and be able to receive college credit for your internship. The internship is unpaid, but we promise the experience will be priceless. (Ask our fab former interns above.) Many of our interns work or attend college (or both!) while interning, so we can put together a schedule that is flexible and convenient for you.



We're looking for interns with a variety of interests. Twitter, Facebook, photography, design, fashion, beauty, art, video, etc. Our main requirement is that you be bright, inquisitive, mature and hard working.



If you are interested, please send us an email at thelancomeblog@gmail.com. The subject line should read 2011 Internship. We don't want any boring, formulaic emails. Instead, send us an email that tells us something about youself, why you would be a great intern and what you'd like to learn during your internship. If you have a resume, you can attach that. If you have art work, videos, articles, blog entries, etc., that you'd like to share, attach that or include links.



Unfortunately, we can't respond to every email personally. But thank you in advance if you do send an email. We sincerely appreciate everyone's interest.



If you have questions, feel free to post them below. If you have a friend or family member who might be interested, please share this with them.



Have a great weekend.

The Best Holiday Windows in New York

December is a fun time to work on Fifth Avenue in New York City. Yes, there are thousands of tourists, but you have the Rockefeller Center tree and all the holiday windows at the department stores. The loveliest windows by far are those at Bergdorf Goodman. Each year, the display team comes up with the most beautiful, fantastical creations. BG has a short video (see above) that gives you a sneak peek of this year's windows. I wish the video were half an hour long! You also can visit Bergdorf's new blog to see all the windows. You'll be amazed at the intricacy and the creativity.



If you live in New York or you're visiting, make sure to walk to the corner of 57th and 5th to see the windows for yourself. (You can also pop downstairs to the beauty floor and buy something from the L'Wren Scott collection! BG is one of the few places it's available.)



Saks Fifth Avenue is projecting the most charming video on the facade of its famous building. It's a series of bubbles and snowflakes and it's just captivating to see in person. IrisWorldwide got some terrific footage, which I posted above. Again, if you're in New York, you can stop by each night during the holidays to see the light show. Make sure to turn around and check out the Rockefeller Center tree. It's right across the street.



Bergdorf Goodman image copyright Ricky Zehavi and John Cordes

With A Little Help From My Training Shoes

Old Leather Jacket

Levi's Self-Customized Jean Jacket

White Tank

Fluorecent Skinny Belt by Monki

Paul Frank Jeans

Nike Skyline Shoes

Studded Bag Gina Tricot

Distressed Scarf by Only

After so many hours of standing in high heels throughout the weekend, I felt like my feet hated me. So, what is better than a pair of airsoles? I bought those Nike ones 3 months ago, and I am usually wearing those at the gym, but that day even my All-Stars seemed to be a pain in the ass. Dear Skylines, I would wear you forever!

Actually, I love sportswear but it is not really obvious in my blog. I spent many hours in training clothes because they are comfy and include that "easygoing" thing, I absolutely adore. So, stay tuned! Something that has to do with that is on the way!

Love you all!

Froso

Thoughts In Ink.

On the way...