TTFN

Yes, ladies, it's been quite a while since I've posted, and with good reason.

Lemme 'splain. No, is too much. Lemme sum up.

As many of you know, for a while I've been blogging not only for this site, but also for the good ladies at online lingerie shop Graffiti Pink. Well, several weeks ago, they approached me with an offer of payment in exchange for a commitment to post daily.

Unfortunately, La Parker has only so much fabulousness to go around, and given my commitment to Graffiti Pink, I feel that continuing to divide myself between two blogs would do justice to neither.

So I’m putting Hellooooo, Gorgeous! on the back burner for now—you’ll still see the occasional product review or rant that’s too controversial for my day job, but posts will be fewer and further between, at least for the time being. Down the road, who knows?

In the meantime, I invite you to visit me often at Graffiti Pink. With the increased frequency of postings, we’ve expanded the subject matter to include fun topics like entertainment, lifestyle, technology—ya know, a lot of the cool stuff we covered at Hellooooo, Gorgeous! You’ll have to sift through the occasional product pitch, but hey, at least it’s pitching super-cute lingerie! So visit now, visit often, leave tons of comments, and let me know of any ideas you have for future topics.

Ta-ta for now, ladies. Thanks for visiting and stay fabulous!

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SaTC movie update: the boys are back!

Those of you who are counting the days until the movie version of Sex and the City releases (May 30, 2008—mark your calendars now!) will be jazzed to know that shooting is now in full swing.

I'm also pleased to report that the male side of the cast will feature not only Mr. Big (Chris Noth), but also favorite boytoys Smith Jerrod (Jason Lewis), Steve (David Eigenberg), and Harry (Evan Handler). Sadly, no sign of Aidan (John Corbett) yet.

And, in an odd but potentially delicious casting move, the luscious Jennifer Hudson will appear in the new role of Carrie's assistant. (Assistant? I'm guessing the last four years have been kind to our gal!)

Stay tuned to Hellooooo, Gorgeous! for more updates to come.

(Thanks to Buzzsugar for the 411.)

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Product review: Beautiful nails for a beautiful cause

As you may or may not know, the only thing I love better than a good nail product is a free nail product. In this case, I just happened to get both.

Recently the good folks at Nubar Nail Products contacted the gals at my other blogging gig; while nail products really don’t fit into their product offering, they did agree to give Nubar a spot on the blog. Which is where I came in. So grateful were the Nubarians that they sent me a Support the Cure 4-pack for my trouble.

Having used my kit a couple of times now, I’m quite impressed with the results. From the base coat to the two lovely lacquers—Pink Cami and Je T’aime—to the Diamant Top Coat, I found good consistency (neither too watery nor too goopy), excellent color, and nice, subtle shine. But that’s not the best part: the durability is insane.

I’m quite rough on my hands, and it’s not unusual for me to start seeing chips as soon as one day after a manicure. But I used my Nubar kit six days ago, and the only casualty is a teeny-tiny chip on my right thumbnail (my “worst” one), with no retouches or extra top coats during the week.

As you’ll see from my original blog entry, each Nubar product is free of many harmful ingredients often found in commercial polishes. And best of all, 10 percent of each Support the Cure’s kit's purchase price will go toward St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Cancer Treatment Research Foundation, and City of Hope.

So if you’re looking for a truly impressive nail product and want to support a worthy cause at the same time, click on over to Nubar and pick up a Support the Cure 4-pack. Or check out some of their terrific shades for fall. Either way, you’ll get a beautiful, not to mention healthier, manicure that’ll take you all the way to next weekend.

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Quote of the week for September 21

Life itself is the proper binge.”

– Julia Child

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2007 Emmy Awards: Fabs and Fugs

Those of you who know me well know that I never watch award shows, but on Sunday night, I honestly did give the Emmys a try.

Four minutes after tuning in, the combination of inane banter, canned laughter, and self-congratulating in-jokes had rendered my eyes glazed, my brain reeling, and my hand reaching for the remote, thumb pre-poised to reach the Off button with optimal efficiency.

Truly, from a purely pragmatic standpoint, there’s absolutely no need for award shows in today’s info-on-demand culture. In less time that it takes a bubble-headed starlet to make an ass of herself, the results could be posted to a Web page in one swell foop and we’d all be done with it.

They do serve one gleaming purpose, though: giving celebs the chance to strut out in their latest finery ... and giving us mortals the chance to dish about it.

And with that, I present my choices for this year’s Fabs and Fugs at the Emmys. (Click on the thumbnails to see larger photos.)

First, the Fabs: Kudos to the delicious, daring divas who decided to give basic black a rest and wow us with color!

Heidi Klum. Gosh amighty, Miss Heidi! Clearly here’s a woman on a mission to prove she’s one hot mama: first those smokin’ hot topless ads for Jordache, and now this devilishly glam slit-up-to-there Dior gown. (Love the hair and makeup, too!)

 

Helen Mirren. Would it be a Hellooooo Gorgeous! red-carpet review without a little Helen Mirren love? My well-documented girl crush aside, I think she looks stunning in this shiny deep-periwinkle creation (couldn’t track down the designer—anybody know?), which she paired with her lucky “stripper shoes.” (I would have gone a bit bolder on the makeup, though.)

More after the jump.

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TV review: Tim Gunn's Guide to Style

Okay, it's no secret that I have a huge crush on Tim Gunn. He's my one and only IBF (Imaginary Best Friend). We go shopping together all the time. Why, just the other day we were enjoying lattes and biscotti at Starbucks when he shared the funniest—oh, um, sorry. Did I say that out loud?

Anyway, my point is yes, I was predisposed to liking, even loving his new show, Tim Gunn's Guide to Style. (Thursdays, 8pm Central, on Bravo). But I do have an obligation to my readers to approach all reviews with a degree of objectivity, and I made every effort to do so here.

Even with my most stiffly-starched skeptic hat firmly in place, I found very little not to like about dear Tim’s latest contribution to the fashion-loving public. (Which ties in neatly with the release of his book, Tim Gunn: A Guide to Quality, Taste, and Style; stay tuned to Hellooooo, Gorgeous! for a review.) Here we have what the reality show universe has been crying out for: a makeover show that can boast both credentials and heart.

More after the jump:
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I. Am. In. Love.

It all started innocently enough. See, I get these regular e-mails from Payless touting their latest lines. Usually I just peruse them with a casual interest and a glancing nod to their commitment to affordable chic. But that's usually about it.

Until today.

Today I received my Payless "check out our new line from Lela Rose" e-mail and—as a fashion thought-leader—I dutifully followed the link. Which is when I found this wonder.

Never mind that this delicious creation, the "Birchin T-Strap Pump," combines two of Fall 2007's hottest trends—menswear-inspired accents (the tweed toe and heel) and patent leather (hellooooo, Sarina!). But it ties the whole package together, literally, with a sweet, ultra-feminine bow at the ankle. And at $30, they're incredibly tough to resist.

Which is why I don't plan to.

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Quote of the week for September 14

Funny thing about life: if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.”

– W. Somerset Maugham

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Fall trend alert: Dark (not black) nails

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Back and better than ever!

Buenos dias, mi bonitas!

I'm back from my amazing yoga retreat at the fabulous Pura Vida Wellness Resort and Spa in Costa Rica, and words can barely express how wonderful it was. I had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know 12 extraordinary women—including excruciatingly fabulous retreat leader Kimberly Wilson—with whom I shared six glorious days of vinyasa yoga, meditation, creativity work, hysterical laughter, storytelling, rain-watching, journaling, and spectacular rainforest adventures.

All my photos are now up on Flickr; if for some reason you didn't get my e-mail with the link, just leave me a comment and I'll zap it over to you.

Click below for a complete (sorta) recap of my sojourn:

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Costa Rica bound!

No posts for the next week, my dears. I'm off to faaaaabulous Costa Rica for a week-long yoga retreat with the awesome Kimberly Wilson (a.k.a. Hip Tranquil Chick)!

We'll be staying at the magical Pura Vida Wellness Resort and Spa (that's their main yoga studio at left—ain't it divine?) for seven days of yoga, meditation, creativity work, and even a couple of eco-adventures. Should be loads of fun and I can't wait to share my enlightenments with you when I return next weekend.

'Til then, be well and stay gorgeous!

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Quote of the week for August 31

It is only possible to live happily ever after on a day-to-day basis.”

– Margaret Bonnano

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Fall trend alert: passionate puckers

The "it" look for Fall 2007 is pure glamour—and what could be more glamorous than a sexy red pout that just screams "bombshell?"

No question about it, ladies: this is a bold look that takes skill and strategy to pull off. Fortunately, Julyne Derrick of About.com: Beauty is here to demystify the perfect crimson pout. Just stick to Julyne's five simple rules and you'll do just fine:

Rule No. 1: The secret lies in the rest of your face. Go easy on the eye makeup and blush to avoid the circus-clown-slash-aging-drag-queen look.

Rule No. 2: Line inside of lips. The bolder the color, the more vigilant you need to be in preventing bleeding, else your carefully crafted pout will quickly melt into a hot mess. Start by filling the lips in with liner; this creates a matte foundation that helps color stay put.

More rules after the jump.

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White out?

As we head into the Labor Day weekend, the "official" end of summer (yeah, tell it to the weatherman...), that most ancient of style questions raises its often-revered, often-reviled head.

I'm speaking, of course, about whether or not it's acceptable to wear white shoes after Labor Day.

Let's consult no lesser an authority than Manolo the Sheblogger himself to set us all straight on this age-old question.

Here's the gist:

Certainly, the Manolo is the traditionalist, one who believes that our standards of dress and comportment have slipped badly in recent times, but the Manolo is also the realist one who recognizes that this ancient and petty dictum had outlived it usefulness in the modern age.

So, unless you are having the high tea with the ladies of the Biloxi Garden Society, this is the rule you can safely ignore well into the fall, but only if the weather remains hot and sunny, as white shoes are indeed summer weather shoes.

So there you have it, ladies. As long as the sun is shining and temps are high—which in Texas should take us well into mid-October—you can slip on your fave white footwear and rock it with pride.

Personally, I'd recommend a sweet little two-toned number that can ease from floaty summer dresses into the more structured styles of fall—like the ultra-delish Whisper from Charles David. Pair them with your flirty black-and-white sundress for Labor Day festivities, then with soft gray (this season's hot neutral!) trousers as the season wears on.

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Calling all mommies!

If you're the fabulous mommy of an equally fabulous bambino (or will be soon), have we got news for you!

The eternally superfantastic Manolo has expanded his blogging empire yet again—this time into the world of parenting with Teeny Manolo.

So if you're looking to swath your bundle of joy into the latest and greatest fall fashions—or if you're just curious which celebrity mom almost dropped her kid this week—cruise on over and create a bookmark right now.

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Getting into character

Ever wonder what you'd look like as a Simpsons character? Wonder no more.

Visit the Simpsonize Me website to upload a photo and turn yourself into Springfield's newest neighbor. You select the hairstyle, clothing style, accessories, and other details, then save and download your creation.

That's me over at the right. I think she's pretty cute.

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Quote of the week for August 24

To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.”

e.e. cummings

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Fall fashion buzz from Elaine Turner

Houstonian Elaine Turner has come quite a long way since the year 2000, when her lifelong love of accessories inspired her to open her own handbag business. Now her work has earned the patronage of Hollywood fashionistas such as Debra Messing, in addition to appearing in such hallowed publications as Elle, In Style, and O.

Elaine recently appeared on Great Day Houston to unveil her Fall 2007 line and enlighten us about some of the season's hottest trends. Two things she says we can keep an eye out for:

• While they never seem to go away altogether, metallics are particularly in this season. Look for golds, silvers, bronzes, and other shinies to be gracing the season's "it" bags—especially silver. And don't worry about matching your jewelry to your bag; since all metallics are neutrals, you can feel free to mix and match.
• Expect to see lots of hardware—chains, buckles, charms, you name it—like the link-chain strap on this ultra-sweet Alice shoulder bag pictured here.
  

To see the video, just go to the Great Day Houston website and select "Bag It Up in Style!" from the list of clips at right.

So where can you snag one of Elaine's fab-tastic creations? See them up close and personal at Tootsie's and Nordstrom in Houston, or at her flagship store in Dallas. And of course, you can always shop at her website (the new fall line isn't up yet, but I'm sure it will be soon).

Thanks to the fabulous Tammy and her buddy Lauren—one of Elaine's fabulous deisgners—for the tip.

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Dressing well ... the nerve!

The fabulous Manolo recently posted a link to an interesting editorial in last week's Washington Post, "The Risk of Overdressing," which author Robin Givhan opens with the following provocative observation:

"It has become common practice among the self-righteous burlap-and-sandals set to indict a woman for being too perfectly turned out. Interest in fashion, at its highest and glossiest level, is seen as shorthand for self-absorption, vapidness and thoughtlessness."

The article goes on to present the treatment of Laura Linney's character in The Nanny Diaries as a metaphor for the disdain often showed toward women who obviously put time, effort, and money into their appearance. And while I found Ms. Givhan's commentary both relevant and thought-provoking, I think she neglects the fundamental question of where this prejudice against polish came from in the first place.

Personally, I feel it's inextricably bound with the "don't give a damn" vibe that has so pervaded our society's sartorial sensibilities over the last few years. As the masses dress down to unspeakable lows—case in point: crocs—those who take a more elevated approach to their image are increasingly portrayed as shallow, conceited, and, often, just too dumb to spend their time on anything else.

(continued after the jump)

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Fall trend alert: gray expectations

Buh-bye espresso, taupe, and nutmeg—the hot neutral for this fall is cool, classic gray.

Synonymous with both cozy sweaters and sophisticated suiting, gray is making a huge comeback across the board, from easy knit dresses like this honey from The Gap (pictured) to Ralph Lauren's menswear-inspired tailored pieces.

Also look for gray flannel accessories galore, like this delicious "Emily" t-strap flat from Michael Kors. Just the thing for strolling down a leaf-covered park pathway on a crisp autumnal day. (Again, I know it's effin' stifling right now, but work with me here ...)

I for one am thrilled to see gray back in the limelight, and not just because it's a refreshing change from those oh-so-predictable autumnal earthtones. Gray's been a fave standby of mine for years, and believe it or not, this understated hue actually has extraordinary sentimental value. (Find out why after the jump.)

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