LOOK BOOK 2008: The Best of the Best
This year, I am resolved: I will only buy the very best. It may sound lavish, obvious even, but in the face of gloomy economic times I’m taking a vow to wait for true love before opening my wallet. Suffice it to say, 2009 is not a year for indulging in every platform shoe or designer collaboration du jour—no matter how much I crave a Lanvin for Acne denim trench. So, looking to last year’s highlights and remembering that true style is an investment, I give you my fashion and beauty favorites for 2008. Going forward, small luxuries are the name of the game.
Tights
This year, I donated my gams to the science of hosiery, experimenting with several brands and styles. My studies show that Wolford, the reining queen of the hosiery department, is worthy of her status, with a mix of touchable textures, rich hues and graphic patterns. Quality comes at a price but, like a great piece of jewelry, a hot pair of tights can reinvigorate the same old outfit. The brand’s stay-up thigh-highs are the best I’ve tried and, after a year of trotting in and out of taxis, my Wolford tights have nary a snag. But unless you opt for the merino wool, don’t waste your money on basic black. DKNY’s opaque black tights ($14.50) are as good as they get. Spanx über-slimming Tight-Ends ($26-$42) are also worth the investment.
The Corset Belt
What’s smarter than sprucing up your wardrobe while also flattering your waist? My best belt of 2008 is the take-no-prisoners corset style ($350) from SoHo’s Kiki de Montparnasse. It works equally with tank tops and sheath dresses—and my friends keep asking if I’ve lost weight.
iPhone 3G
The year’s most coveted gadget, iPhone 3G is also a handy fashion tool. Cheaper than a seat at fashion week and accessorized with designer apps—Chanel, Ralph Lauren and Style.com—iPhone’s got the latest scoop on runway shows and news. You can even digitally archive your own wardrobe with the app, TouchCloset.
Mascara
Chanel Inimitable Multi-Dimensional Mascara. When my friends at Splendora.com tested a slew of designer mascaras and declared Chanel Inimitable ($30) the winner, I took their word for it. Months later, I’d like to thank Splendora for gifting me with long, lovely, clump-free lashes.
Magic in a Bottle
Kinerase Extreme Lift Face. Personally, I’m averse to needles. For a sting-free alternative to pricey injectibles, Extreme Lift Face ($150) is magic in a bottle. Just smooth it on and watch as frown lines and brow furrows all but melt away. I don’t know how it works; it just does.
Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein is a label that I never personally identified with—that is, until Francisco Costa took the helm at the American fashion house in 2003. Costa’s lightly architectural and strongly feminine looks always catch my eye, but it’s the impeccable fit of his simply chic dresses that locked me in as a loyal shopper. I love them more with every wear.
LED Light Therapy Facial
Finally, troubled skin has long been my cross to bear. I’ve tried enough products to fill a pharmacy. If I cling to only one luxury splurge in 2009, it is hands-down the LED Light Therapy Facial ($185-$250) at Nob Hill Spa in San Francisco. There’s nothing like an Alpha/Beta peel followed by a sweep of LED light, to soothe swelling and discoloration, to help me face whatever the new year may bring.
Tags: Calvin Klein, Chanel, denim trench, designer collaboration, DKNY, fahion house, fashion and beauty, Francisco Costa, Kiki de Montparnasse, Kinerase Extreme Lift Face, Lavnin for Acne, LED Light Therapy Facial, linkedin, piece of jewelry, platform shoe, Ralph Lauren, Spanx Tight-Ends, Wolford