If you’re constructing a new closet for your insane amount of makeup, you may need to edit your strategy a bit. All the magazines point to seasonal makeup trends (remember, they need to ink some news!), but who’s dictating your closet has to keep up?

Case in point: the lipstick. Many women think lipstick colors are as seasonal as the episodes of Desperate Housewives. The general rule is that in the cooler months, the emphasis is on dark red tones. Warmer months bow down to lighter pink tones. MORE »

From the ten-mile stretch of golden beach to the sizzle on Ocean Drive, Miami has enough heat to keep you warm at night, even if you’re unattached. The city is the most popular Memorial Day destination by far. “Miami is happening right now because South Beach is exploding,” says Larissa Papouban, President of Aria World Travel in New York City.

America’s Sexiest Playground? Very likely. From the buff sunbathers to the tanned swimmers, the sandy stomping grounds are a haven for people watching. And if you’re a single gal, you don’t have to cross this glitzy city off your list. 

Shop on trendy Lincoln Road or enjoying an authentic mojito at Lario’s on the Beach on Ocean Drive (Gloria Estefan’s world-famous restaurant). “We have the best mojitos in the world,” laughs the bartender, who wouldn’t share the secret ingredient with us. You will swoon over the authentic Cuban food there – we promise! MORE »

You love clean skin. You hate your veggies (well, who doesn’t?) but you shop at Whole Foods. But how well do you know your cleanser? Seriously?

One look at half the ingredients found in the standard bottle would make my cat run for the hills. Scary sounding ingredients like “parabens” and “diazolydinyl urea” make algorithms and calculus sound so easy. MORE »

What do Brigitte Bardot, Jane Birkin and the Bolshoi Ballet have in common? They are all unflinching devotees of the famous French shoe company, Repetto.

They cost a pretty penny, are hard to find, and it's all so very hush hush. Like the Hermès Birkin, the shoes have a cult following because of their impeccable craftsmanship. MORE »

So you love -- yet hate -- beach season. You love the sand, the salty water and those beautiful parasols poetically fluttering in the sea breeze. But swimsuits are not your thing.

Sound familiar? MORE »

 Green is so in that if you don’t recycle, you can exit planet Earth. Forever. 

The top three greenest cities in the U.S. may surprise you (this comes from a Popular Science magazine survey). 

At the helm is Portland, OR, where half its power comes from renewable resources. The second is San Francisco (no surprise there!). Check out the city’s Hotel Palomar if you’re planning a trip to SF. It uses eco friendly cleaning products, soy inks for printing, organic drinks and no Styrofoam cup policy, among others.   MORE »

Full of poise and a true lady, Holland Taylor is surely one of America’s beloved actresses. Ever since she lit the silver screen with her role as Professor Stromwell in Legally Blonde, this lovely ageless actress is a joy to watch and a spirit to admire.

Currently, she stars in Baby Mama which just rocked the box office a week ago. MORE »

Ireland is a place for many things: that pot o’ gold; the four-leaf clover; castles; agrarian poetry etc.

Surfing doesn’t come to mind, does it?

But if you travel to the wonderfully craggy western coast, prepared to be dazzled by all things outdoors-related. For the gal who loves her equestrian, there are Atlantic beaches, moors and unblemished forests. Check out “Donegal’s Equestrian Center” or www.deanesequestrian.ie MORE »

Some pieces, like Faberge eggs, are heirlooms. They are meant to be admired in a quiet, reverential manner, not unlike witnessing the Pope walk down the aisle for a packed Easter Sunday service. 

Take, for example, the Hermès Birkin.  

Acquiring this bag is like acquiring treasure. There is a two to six year wait list for the most elusive bags, especially if the leather supplier has run out leather ingredients like white bull calf, fuchsia goatskin etc. needed to make them. Even if you had the money for such a purchase you will likely have to wait; Birkins typically sell out the moment they are received. Some retail for over $60,000. 
MORE »

Emblems or embellishments, who cares as long as your shoes look like a slice of heaven?

Marcello Toshi has shoes with delightful eccentricities that will make Aunt May's quirks seem forgivable. From crafted silver roses to wire lined petals, the shoes mingle elegance with oddity so seamlessly. MORE »

Skip over Filenes. Gloss over a few pre-eminent cafes, and find yourself at the doorstep of high-end beauty’s next home: Bluemercury Apothecary & Spa.

Founder Marla Malcolm Beck personally picks each product she carries in her store, which is testament enough to her due diligence. MORE »

Buddhism is becoming fashionable again.

The Dalai Lama was in Seattle just a few weeks ago; engravings by Japanese sculptor Shinjo Ito surfaced in Chelsea in February; and celebs like J Lo and Kate Bosworth are staunch aficionados of the religion. MORE »

Pearls commingling with contact lens cases? Pure solid silver paired with milk bottle caps?

Couture jewelry has come a long way since Cartier debuted the Love Bracelet. With all the attention the "green movement" is getting (more than Britney Spears, that's for sure!), it is not surprising that a few smart jewelry creators have capitalized on the trend.

And beautifully. MORE »

If there was such a place, I imagine it to be a pure sprite of a place, with brooks and mountains and some really soft pillows.

Perfect Earth Tours may just have the ticket.

The untarnished alpine region of the Yukon territory in Canada boasts the only five star eco-sustainable resort and spa in North America. MORE »