Spring Cleaning

As you know it's spring time! As excited as I want to be, I'm just not ready! I have spent the last several weeks trying to spring clean my life. Cleaning out my beauty and garment closets, moving, finding work that I truly love! Not all so successful... what can you do? Very happy that I completed my beauty challenge: Not buying new products and finishing the ones that I have already started. There are still tubes and jars to squeezed product out of but I am surely on my way to a streamlined and lighter beauty possesions. One day at a time. It is not easy to ignore all the new products, the promotions and the old brands simply repackaged. Contentment (I loathe that word) had to be found with what I currently own to better enjoy what will be purchased tomorrow. So deep! LOL! I guess it's a lesson I can apply to other aspects of my life. It's only normal that I love the beauty industry so much, it changes constantly. It is always new. Every bottle, tube or jar is a promise. A promise to make your hair shiny. A promise to smooth out your wrinkles. A promise to be beautiful!
I can't get enough of the promises. And sometimes they're fulfilled.
This season I want to start fresh. My winter was spent hibernating but now that spring has sprung, I will spend this time blooming into a better and happy me. So cheesy but it must be done. I guess this is a new challenge. Spring clean my material (taxes, debt, clothes), spiritual, physical and emotional life. Whoa! Six days down, sixty six days until this girl blooms into Venus by the summer solstice.

Kate Moss is BB with a London Twist

(And Dieu crea la femme une seconde fois.)

When asked who their beauty icon is, most women will give the same and oh so boring answer: Marilyn Monroe. Eye roll!!! With at least a century of photography and film, this is propably the most recurring name. This is not a debate. Marilyn Monroe had serious sex appeal and... That was it! At least in my opinion.
Growing up, I was more fascinated by Raquel Welch, Sophia Loren and Brigitte Bardot.
Ah, Brigitte. Not another icy blond like a Catherine Deneuve or a Grace Kelly although I also happen love them but for different reasons. She had an earthy, warm sex appeal. She was beautiful and she knew it. She loved sex and we knew it. Beautiful without the fuss of primping. Always feminine but sexily disheveled like she got all done up, had sex and rolled right out of bed. Pouty baby pink lips with black liner on her bedroom eyes, finished off with voluminous hay colored hair. An air of nonchalant arrogance that is rare and very difficult to replicate and imitate. Part French Bohemian, part Coy Sex Kitten and part Rock & Roll Femme Fatale.
While reading this description, doesn't it remind you of someone?
KATE MOSS!!!
Kate Moss is my new BB (Brigitte Bardot)but with a London twist. They even look alike. She's everything like her predecessor: sexy gamine, rock chick, posh Brit and always disheveled. She has gotten even better with age. Not fair! The industry can't get enough of her and I never tire of her either. She inspires art, fashion and music. She is a living muse. If I wrote a book she would be my heroine. If I were a designer, she would be my inspiration. And if I directed a movie, she would be my leading lady. Sounds like I'm a fan and I am!
Who is your Muse and why? I believe the answer to that question says a lot about a person. So think about it and please, try to think outside of the box. Although, all these women are conventionally different they all have something that is original and different. That is the point. Push yourself to find what makes you special and unorthodox and cultivate it. I guess this is an introduction of the women who influence my views on beauty and fashion.
So let's toast to Kate Moss for being all of what makes her Kate Moss.

Cheerio!

Ms. Lynn

Spring Nights by YSL: Mood Indigo

I can't wait to wear this look on the warm spring/summer nights in New York City. Cocktails with the ladies or hot date? Both! You decide which order to have them.

Welcome To America

One of the things I love most about traveling is exploring all the different beauty brands. Paris was a non stop beauty excursion for me. If you can't go that far, Canada is the next best trip to take. Montreal is a mix of North American and European beauty philosophies. Many hard to find "niche" french brands are easily found there. Mass market brands also develop products there first! Like a pop star, it needs to be tested in different markets before being launched in the U.S. Apparently, we are a difficult bunch to please and picky! Don't act surprised?
The worst is when you fall in love with a product and it is not available in your homeland. Lately, a few of my international faves are now available.

1. L'oreal Elnett Hairspray
Glossy hold and shine! Never have you heard these two words to describe the very same product.

2. Aveeno Positively Nourishing Body Wash
Well, not so foreign but these products were just released last month. I bought the three different kinds from my last trip to Montreal which was six months ago.

3. Nivea Touch Of Body Washes
I used to go to independent chemists to find really good Nivea products. I don't understand why this brand is so under developed in the U.S. market. The best quality/price ratio you will find.

I am always on the look out for new imports. I will be bringing you new updates very soon!

Bisou,

Ms. Lynn