We continue our holiday gift guide coverage with Robert Verdi’s top picks for holiday gift giving. As a tastemaker extraordinaire, Robert has a unique knack for offering suggestions that are timely, useful, on trend. Check out Robert’s gift giving hot list for 2010…and be inspired!

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This Holiday Gift Guide is for the well read bella on your gift list. You know her, right? She’s always got her nose in a book. She loves nothing more than spending her Sunday afternoon curled up with a paperback. Well here’s the ThisThatBeauty Approved Holiday Gift Guide: For the Book Worm on your gift list!

Follow The Model – Miss J’s Guide To Unleashing Presence, Poise, and Power by J. Alexander ($15.63 via Amazon)

How does a six-foot-four, Bronx born gay man become Queen of the Catwalk? In one word: ATTITUDE! J. Alexander, affectionately known as Miss J, recounts a remarkable life/ career and reveals his secrets to succeeding at what you love most (MESSAGE!). Miss J shares lots of life lessons in a rich and colorful anecdotal way that only she can!

Lessons of a Lipstick Queen – Finding and Developing The Great Idea That Can Change Your Life by Poppy King ($11.20 via Amazon)

If eighteen-year-old Poppy King’s search for the perfect matte lipstick can turn into a multimillion-dollar company, anything is possible. When Poppy King finished high school, all she had to show for herself were lackluster grades and a hundred and one ways to get out of phys ed. Within three years, however, she became the president of her highly successful lipstick brand, Poppy Industries.

In Lessons of a Lipstick Queen, Poppy reveals how she managed to launch a multimillion-dollar business, extracting valuable lessons from the experience as she goes along. Through Poppy’s’ example, you can learn how to become a real entrepreneur – from recognizing a good idea and finding financing, to marketing yourself and your brand, to approaching the media, and avoiding common pitfalls. In a world where everyone is looking to get ahead it’s essential to think like an entrepreneur. Much more than just a guide to success, Lessons of a Lipstick Queen is a candid adventure story designed to take you on a journey of self-discovery.

Stepping Out of Line – Lessons for Women Who Want It Their Way…In Life, In Love, And At Work by Nell Merlino ($11.90 via Amazon)

Nell Merlino created Take Our Daughters to Work Day in 1993. She is currently CEO of Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence. Stepping Out of Line is Merlino’s bold manifesto for women to stop waiting and get what they want in love, life, and work. She shows women how to imagine bigger lives, find support, and stay on course.

Fridays with Felicia: An intimate look behind the curtain as I share my favorite style/ beauty discoveries and ThisThatBeauty shenanigans from previous week.

Phew! What a week! This week’s edition of “Fridays with Felicia” barely made it to publish!

Most of my time this week was spent on set in Boston and New Jersey (see pic to the right) doing makeup for a really cool web-series. I can’t say too much just yet but I can reveal that Cover Girl is the makeup sponsor.

Other than Lash Blast, I have never used Cover Girl products professionally. I was pleasantly surprised with the performance one product in particular. Cover Girl Queen Collection Bronzer in Ebony Bronze is camera ready and looks great on film. I used it for performing artist Shea Rose (incredible young artist, rock n roll/Lenny Kravitz/Lauryn Hill/Betty Davis cop her CD now!) and was very happy with the color pay off, performance, and longevity of coverage.

At $8.18, Cover Girl Ebony Bronze Bronzer is a great value…its one of those mass market products that acts like its high end. Werq! Here are two pictures of Shea Rose wearing the aforementioned bronzer. The look called for classic “easy, breezy, beautiful, Cover Girl”…did I succeed?…Leave a comment! And let me go on record saying that Ms Shea Rose is as beautiful inside as she is outside. She was a pleasure!

Some of the shooting for the web-series took place outdoors. I would have been lost without Dr Dennis Gross SPF 30 wipes. These handy wipes are great on set or on the go because they are extremely convenient. Just whip out an individual packet, rip open, and apply with the pre-treated towelette. I shared my my SPF wipes with the crew…I love spreading the sun protection love! Stay tuned for an upcoming piece on June 14…I will rundown my current favorite, innovative SPF products!

Another useful artist tool for the artist on set is the DLIST Set Bag. Mine travels with me to every set. Its the perfect size for set essentials like powder, brushes, basic eye shadows, gloss, wipes, etc. Click here for my previous extensive review of DLSH Set Bag.

Hugs and kisses!

Happy Friday everyone!

xo,

Felicia

Kimora Lee Simmons has recently launched a Frugalista Friendly ($12.99-$28.00) fragrance and ThisThatBeauty’s got the full run down!

DARE ME is a floriental inspired scent with a coconut top note that blends into a core of velvety blackberry crème and vanilla orchid with a sophisticated warm drydown of crème de musk and sandalwood.

Of the fragrance Kimora says this:

“I wanted to create a fragrance that makes women feel like they can conquer anything their hearts desire. To me, DARE ME, is the absolute essence of girl power. I went from being a shy teenager to the woman I am today by daring to be bold, fearless and comfortable in my own skin. My new fragrance embodies all of these aspects of how I want women to feel and I can’t wait to share it with my fans.”

Do you dare to try DARE ME? It’s a great summer scent that’s easy on the pocket-book. Go for it!

My dear friend, Celeb Makeup Artist and MAKE UP FOR EVER ALLIANCE member James Vincent recently recreated Joan Jett’s sultry make up look for the New York premiere of “The Runaways”.

Keeping with her rock n’ roll roots, Joan wore a classic yet modern smoky eye. James used MAKE UP FOR EVER products to create Joan’s smoking hot red carpet look. Of the look, James says this:

“the perfect Joan Jett eye takes subtlety, persistence and an understanding of what’s sexy.”

Below, my dearest James shares with ThisThatBeauty a breakdown of how to get your Joan Jett on. I suggest you hustle your tail into your local Sephora, gather a few MAKE UP FOR EVER products, and recreate the look for your next night out. Its a classic look that exudes subtle sex appeal!

Complexion: James kept the skin glowing and gorgeous with Make Up For Ever HD Elixir to add moisture to and perfect the skin. He then applied a small amount of Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation #117, which provided a great canvas, as well as the new HD Invisible Cover Concealer for light, luminous, natural coverage, and a touch of HD Microfinish Powder to keep Joan looking polished all night.

Eyes: “The eyes are Joan’s most famous feature and she knows exactly what she wants to do to draw attention but still keep the look modern and fashionable,” says Vincent. Start with Make Up For Ever Eye Shadow #35 from brow to lash to create the perfect base. Next, sweep Make Up For Ever Diamond Powder #11 gets across the brow bone for a beautiful highlight, and Make Up For Ever Eye Shadow #13 to bring depth to the crease. Use the same shadow to line the top and bottom lashes for soft diffusion of the liner, which gives depth and drama and keeps the hard-edged liner look smoky and sexy.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Eyes #0L is the perfect black pencil to apply inside the eye and along the top and bottom lash lines. Then, apply a bit of Aqua Eyes #2L to add a rich, brown warmth to the look and keep it from looking hard and typical. Smudge the pencil and set with MAKE UP FOR EVER Eye Shadow #139 for even more smokiness that works for every occasion. Lashes get extra attention with a liberal coating of MAKE UP FOR EVER Smoky Lash. And James says, “put the lash curler down and let the lashes stay straight and spiky for rock chick realness.”

Cheeks: Joan’s classic cheekbones are the type you wish you were born with, but can easily fake by contouring right below the bone from temple to apple with MAKE UP FOR EVER Eye Shadow #13. Keep blush natural by avoiding strong color. Just use a touch of Powder Blush #69 on the apple and Matte Bronze #2 at the highest point of the cheek bone give life and light to the makeup and balance off the strong eye.

Lips: MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Lip pencil #3C gives every girl the ability to keep their lips looking luscious without worrying about where it’s going to end up. A touch of MAKE UP FOR EVER Fascinating Lip Gloss #9 in the center of the mouth completes the look and lets everyone know you love rock n’ roll as much as Joan.

Here I am, using the aforementioned products, and giving my best Joan Jett. Am I even close? Leave a comment

Adam Lambert, American Idol runner up and aficionado of all things glittery above the neck, is in talks to debut a line of pretty face paint for the men folk. The collection is said to be rather extensive and include staples like foundation, concealer, eyeshadow, mascara, eyeliner, lip gloss and nail polish. In a statement to New York magazine, Lambert with a straight face I assume, said that he believes straight men “are likely to experiment” with his product line. Yep, he said that with a straight face.

I don’t know about my man banging out his crease and beating the face with “A.Lambert for Men”, but I don’t discriminate….I’d try anything (beauty related) once.

More to come as this story develops…

Jessica Simpson appears on the cover of the May issue of Marie Claire…supposedly without the assistance of makeup or retouching. I struggle with the question, “Is this news”. On the one hand, it is news because clearly it is not common practice for celebrities to appear on magazine covers sans makeup. And the amount of retouching that goes on…don’t even get me started!

But, on the other hand, millions of women leave their homes everyday without a single smear of cosmetic product. So…Jessica Simpson doing what millions of women do everyday is news? I guess the distinct difference is that Jessica Simpson is no ordinary woman. She is a “celebrity”. So this minor detail makes her bare faced cover – news!

Having said all that, I have to tell you…the beauty blogger and makeup artist in me doubts that the picture is completely bare faced. I feel like I’m seeing some left over mascara/ liner on those lashes. Other makeup artists out there will understand…you always get that client in your chair who claims to have on no makeup but you can clearly see the eye liner/ mascara residue!

The lips look slightly stained to me. Perhaps the cheeks were pinched for color. And lastly, the hair seems strategically placed to cover up the sides of Jessica’s face. A sleek ponytail would have been more honest, in my humble opinion.

But what do you guys think? Is this picture makeup free and un-retouched? Leave a comment so I know y’all are breathing

xo,

Felicia

Faithful ThisThatBeauty readers know that the Arise African Collective show at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week is one of my personal favorites. For the last two season, I have had the pleasure of covering both backstage and the runway.

For the Fall/Winter 2010 season of the African Collective, unfortunately due to scheduling conflicts, I was not able to attend…and boo it up with Tyson…

(Season One)

(Season Two)

I also missed out on the likes of Alek Wek, Liya Kebede, Stacey McKenzie. Boo hoo! *real tears*

Season one of the African Collective was ushered in with a sonic boom. I confess I nearly wet myself with excitement when the iconic, often imitated, but never duplicated, Grace Jones hit the runway. The normally reserved press and celebs in attendance went absolutely bananas. You could hear folks yelling – Strange’! (Those who remember “Boomerang will get my Strange’ reference)

Even though I was not  able to attend the African Collective this season, I was able to get the rundown on the makeup. Iman Cosmetics was the makeup sponsor. I simply adore Iman and the inspiration behind her brand. I respect that the line speaks to an under represented demographic AND is frugalista friendly. March on over  to your local Wal-Mart, Duane Reade, or Tar-jay of choice, and you will find Iman Cosmetics. For a while, in my humble opinion, the brand had fallen off and did a less than satisfactory job of keeping drugstore shelves stocked with product. Over the last year I’ve been sneaking up on Iman Cosmetics in random drugstores, and it makes me very happy to observe that the company is much improved in the areas of plentiful stock, swatching samples, and new products. For these reasons, I am giving Iman Cosmetics a well deserved “atta boy”…or girl, i guess. *smile*

While I love presenting the backstage makeup run down for shows that I cover, I particularly enjoy offering my readers the run down on makeup looks that are affordable. May this montage of runway looks from The African Collective inspire and encourage you to visit your local drugstore, purchase the products, and recreate the looks! Go on…channel your inner model!

BLACK COFFEE

Fashion Inspiration was organic, un-constructed, and earthy in natural tones of sand, stone, and putty popped with muted turquoise and apricot

• Makeup Concept: Soft, ethereal, sun-blushed and feminine
• Eyes: Mixed Metals Eye Shadow Duo, Wicked Eye Defining Powder, Platinum Luxury Liquid Eye Liner
• Cheeks: Afterglow Sheer Bronzing Powder
• Lips: Rapture Luxury Lip Stain

DEOLA SAGOE
Fashion Inspiration was a precise, no-nonsense, geometric, mixed-media feel in military tones of black, pewter, grey and navy.

• Makeup Concept: Emphasis on bold dramatic brows with sheer neutral contoured face, eyes, and lips
• Eyes: Blackest Brown Perfect Eyebrow Pencil, Bewitched Luxury eye Defining Powder, Perfect Mascara
• Cheeks: Sable Luxury Blushing Powder,
• Lips: Tan Perfect lip Pencil, Crystal Luxury Lip Shimmer

LOINCLOTH & ASHES
Fashion Inspiration was a fusion of soft and architectural textures in putty, charcoal and black popped with touches of lapis blue

• Makeup Concept: The emphasis is on bronzed skin and soft earth toned eyes and lips
• Eyes: Bronze Goddess Eye Shadow Duo, Jet Black Perfect Eye Pencil, Perfect Mascara
• Cheeks: Clay Sheer Bronzing Powder & Sunkissed Luxury Blushing Powder
• Lips: Exposé Luxury Lip Shine

Which look is you fav?

This spring Estée Lauder has collaborated with American fashion designer Michael Kors to bring out the Very Hollywood collection, inspired by the glamorous world of Hollywood.

“The inspiration for the Estée Lauder Michael Kors Very Hollywood Color Collection is iconic Hollywood glamour, both past and present, interpreted for everyday life,” Michael Kors explained. The look reflects the timeless beauty of the Estée Lauder company and Kor’s modern fashion style, resulting in a contemporary American beauty image.

There are two key looks in the collection:
Bel Air Beige: a colour palette consisting of beige and coral tones with a sexy smoky eye and shimmery peach lips and cheeks
Rodeo Pink: a defined eye with vibrant raspberry tones of bright, bold lips and cheeks

Flawless skin with a satiny finish is important for both looks. A modern, classic colour palette that reflects the glamour of Hollywood. Lips shine in honey blondes or rose pinks while sparkling gold, beige, peach, vivid raspberry and coral tones make up the rest of the colour wheel.

Products in the collection:

• Shimmery Loose Powder: a lightweight shimmer powder to highlight eyes and cheeks
• Blush: Two new shades for cheeks in Sunset Coral and Sunset Pink
• Eyeshadow Duo: Arrives in Blonde Mink and Night Star
• Eye Pencil: One in Sepia and one in Film Noir
• Lip Sheen SPF15: Five limited-edition lip colours in Honey Blonde, Starlet Peach, Bungalow Pink, Starlet Rose and Hollywood Gold
• Lip Gloss: Five new lipglosses arriving in the same shades as the lipsticks
• Nail Lacquer: Comes in Hollywood Gold and Bungalow Pink

Bright knits and berets stole the show…

I recently had the pleasure of covering the Sonia Rykiel Pour H&M knitwear launch. The swanky affair was hosted by Sonia Rykiel’s daughter, Nathalie. Supermodel turned moonlighting DJ Chanel Iman blazed the ones and twos. Fashion, celebs, cocktails..oh my! If French inspired stripes, brightly colored knits, beweled berets, and bedazzled frocks float your bateau…get your wallet ready. Sonia Rykiel Pour H&M is set to launch in select H&M stores on Feb 20. See you at the cash register. Au revoir!