Creativity Rules - More Spring 2010 Fashion Week

Hard to keep up with all of the events! Ran from event to event all week and made it back to Washington, DC in time for back to school night for my first grader.
Here are some more highlights:
1. Francois back in a big way. NARS faces at Thakoon, Philip Lim, and Marc Jacobs.
(left to right: models at Thakoon, Philip Lim and Marc Jacobs.)











2. Bobbi Brown's creative side came out at TIBI – Magenta eye shadow, green liner – what a fun side of Bobbi to see!
(top to bottom: Marla Malcolm Beck with Bobbi, a TIBI model and TIBI owner Amy Smilovic)
Marla Malcolm Beck and Bobbi Brown










Marla Malcolm Beck and a Tibi model








Marla Malcolm Beck and Tibi's Amy Smilovic
















3. Went to book party for new thriller out by Harvard Business School friend Norb Vonnegut.(yes, there is a relation to the other Vonnegut). Top Producer is Wall Street meets the Da Vinci Code.

Fashion Week Craze

Back stage with Bobbi at J. Mendel, ran to Thakoon show (NARS did makeup) and then ran back to see J. Mendel presentation.
Spent some time with Bobbi. I asked if she had any life lessons for her clients (like me). She said, "It goes fast. Be present." So appropriate. I love Bobbi.
Just about every major fashion editor you could imagine at both shows. Some of my favorites - Nina Garcia, Kate Betts, Amy Astley.
Will report on Spring trends later. We haven't even hit the cold weather of fall yet!

Bobbi & Marla Malcolm Beck backstage at J. Mendel













Fashion editors waiting for Thakoon show to start












Model from J. Mendel Spring collection - hair, makeup, dress & jewelry to die for.

Jeans, Intermix, and Why I Love Boutiques

When I was in Chicago visiting our Lincoln Park store last Friday, I spent a little bit of time and walked the neighborhood. I popped into Intermix and was reminded about why I love boutiques so much.
I asked a simple question, "what’s the whole legging thing this season?" A great staffer proceeded to show me 7 different leggings at a huge range of price points.While I was looking for black, I ended up with a pair of J Brand’s new lightweight legging jeans. I adore them and I never would have found this pair on my own. Thank you, Intermix! It is only at a boutique where you get great advice, the best fashion, and great service.

This is why bluemercury was created 10 years ago too! I wanted to create the neighborhood store where you could get friendly, expert, honest advice. Case in point, when I stopped by bluemercury and mentioned that I was looking for the perfect fall every day brown eyeshadow. In two seconds the team picked out Bobbi Brown Copper Sand Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow for me. They also grabbed the T. Leclerc Lip Pencil in Tendre – a completely wearable mauve-brown nude which goes with almost all of my lipsticks and glosses.

Want to see talent in action? Check out a video of our fabulous Lincoln Park team doing makeovers at a makeover party at bluemercury. Also mark your calendar and book complimentary appointments for upcoming fall makeover parties featuring experts from Bobbi Brown, Trish McEvoy, Laura Mercier and NARS all showcasing what's new this season.

P.S. A shout out to Jessica Teas of Beauty Woo Me for completely “getting” why bluemercury is special.

Too Old to Club?

Grammy award winner Mya with Marla Malcolm BeckOur friends who own Dusk (a club at Caesar’s in Atlantic City) in partnership with the late DJ AM convinced us to stop by last Friday evening. Mya, a Grammy award winner, was showing up to sing a few songs and launch her new album Beauty and the Streets. Me, clubbing? I’m usually in bed by the time Mya was supposed to go on stage, so after putting the kids to bed, wandering around the house looking for something to do at 10 p.m. on a Friday night before it was time to leave, and trying to figure out what to wear, we showed up. Spectacular club, spectacular performance and Mya is so nice. While I was one of the few over 30 in the club and the only one in a pantsuit as opposed to a super-mini-mini-mini dress (seemingly today's club uniform) – I had a blast. Clubbing (is that what people even call it?) has come a long way since the late 80s/early 90s techno days. The whole DJ-as-star thing is fascinating. In fact, DJ Morse Code, who was there that night, got the crowd riled up with his amazing artistic skill. As I am still recovering from being out past my bed time, this will probably be my first and last club experience. Lack of sleep is bad for the skin, but if I were younger. . .

Skin SOS - Sun Damage

Definitely got too much sun this summer. Despite my slathering of sunscreen, I was examining my skin in the rearview mirror while I was in traffic and I noticed some new brown spots. Am trying decide what I am going to do to fix it. Have not decided yet. Here are the options I am thinking about:

1. Phyto + Serum by Skinceuticals. Has Kojic acid and other botanicals that lighten. Used it last fall a lot. Was good. I just put it under my C and E Ferulic.

2. Revive Peau. Yes, this is outrageously priced and I am very lucky that Revive sent me a sample. I have to hide it from my husband because he uses it under his eyes. This is like a face lift in a vial. Tightens and brightens. I do love this and have been saving my most recent stash for an emergency like this.

3. Darphin Stimulskin Plus Cream. Also pricey, but the A, C, and E combined retexturize and brighten. For a less expensive option – I do like Remede Alchemy Lotion – but I need extra hydration when I use this.

Not sure what I am going to start next week, but I definitely need to undo some of the damage.

Another Celebrity Picture

Went to Capitol File White House Correspondents Dinner Party in the spring. Washington D.C. is the new New York City. Talked to so many superstars I thought I was in L.A. Christian Slater, Eva Longoria, Ludacris, and Forest Whitaker. Washington has not been so glamorous since the Kennedys!


Forest Whitaker and Marla Malcolm Beck

Summer Foundation Fix

Ok – so nothing is looking good on my skin. Not my Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, not my Bobbi Skin SPF foundation. It is too heavy, too pasty for this time of year. Enter MD Skincare’s Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15, my color is Light-Medium. I think this is a little bit more hydrating and absorbs into my skin a little better. That is why it is working so well. I have already gone through one bottle this summer, so it must be working!