CRIMSON TIDE

 

At Bottega Veneta, Redken Creative Consultant Guido went for a look that was slightly androgynous, yet sexy at the same time. "The inspiration was an '80s take on a classic '40s Hollywood look," Guido says. Meanwhile, makeup artists paired a smoky eye with a blood-red shade of lipstick. A mouth this strong isn't for everyone, but there's no disputing the glamour quotient. —M.D.

 

GREEN DAY

 

Makeup artist Damone Roberts—you've seen him on TLC'S 10 Years Younger—just got a bottle of OPI nail polish named for him. Damone Roberts 1968 will be sold exclusively at Roberts' makeup studios in Beverly Hills, CA, and New York City. Why 1968? "It was a major year for fashion, music and movies, but it's also the year I was born," Roberts says. We predict that everyone will be green with envy. —M.D.

 

Iconic Beauty

 

The Marilyn Brush recently debuted a line of brushes inspired by one of the most iconic beauties in history. The Marilyn Monroe Signature Collection includes four brushes, each featuring Monroe's image or signature. The Flat brush, shown here, has reinforced natural boar bristles, which make it ideal for daily brushing and suitable for use with hair extensions. themarilynbrush.com —L.M.

 

All Washed Up

 

Ec-Oooh-Chic is a new collection of organic and all-natural bath and body products from Ooohlala of Beverly Hills, CA. Bohemian Blue Organic Body Wash is formulated with coconut and sugar, plus a combination of certified-organic ingredients like aloe vera, lemon verbena, lavender flowers, shea butter and blue bohemia chamomile, a special blend with strong calming properties. ecooohchic.com —M.D.

 

WHERE AND WEN

 

Fans of Chaz Dean's holistically designed Wen haircare line can now purchase Wen Soy Candles in 11-ounce glass and 2-ounce travel sizes in the products' signature scents: Fig, Sweet Almond Mint, Tea Tree, Cucumber Aloe and Lavender. chazdean.com —L.A.

The Comfort Styler from Belvedere's Welonda Comfort Line is functional and stylish. belvedere.com

 

It's a Matte, Matte World

 

This fall, nail polishes are eschewing high shine in favor of matte colors that add some edge and distinction to nails. OPI has reinvented some of its customer favorites, such as Russian Navy, Lincoln Park After Dark and You Don't Know Jacques, as matte colors, while Zoya has introduced the Matte Velvet line, a collection of shine-free colors with a little shimmer. Essie has taken an entirely different approach to the trend by coming out with Matte About You, a unique topcoat that will give any color a matte finish. While matte polishes may be trendy, they can be a bit tricky to apply because they dry quickly and can come out uneven. "You have to really prepare and buff the nail bed before applying the matte colors because they will show every flaw," says manicurist Claudia Vieira of SalonCapri in Newton Highlands, MA. "Use very light strokes to avoid streaks." While OPI and Zoya don't recommend using a base coat, Vieira finds that a very thin layer won't ruin the ultimate effect. —L.M.

 

 

 

 

Under the Net

 

For CATHERINE MALANDRINO's fall '09 show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City, Odile Gilbert for Sebastian Professional created mysterious netting-wrapped chignons inspired by photographer and painter Man Ray's work. Gilbert used human-hair extensions that were hand-painted with Wella Professionals haircolor by Wella spokesperson Eva Scrivo. —L.A.

 

On Your Feet

 

Skechers new Shape Ups have made it more comfortable for female stylists to work on their feet all day, but come September the popular shoe will be available for men, too. The shoe's soft kinetic wedge insert and rolling bottom simulates walking barefoot on a giving surface to strengthen, firm and tone muscles and reduce stress on knee and ankle joints. The shoes are available in three styles. skechers.com —L.A.

 

WHAT'S ON YOUR IPOD?

 

We asked David Cotteblanche, lead stylist and owner of Red Market, a late-night salon in New York City, what he's been listening to.

"La Ritournelle" by Sebastien Tellier. "This is a great example of French pop music. It's very sensual and mellow, which is my favorite way to start the day at the salon."

"Sur un Trapeze" by Alain Bashung. "This is another great French song with a strong base melody. It helps me chill out and get focused for the day ahead."

"Paris Paris" by Benjamin Biolay. "Benjamin is considered the new Serge Gainsbourg in France. I especially enjoy the instrumentals on this track."

 

You Can Take It With You

 

Mélange Roll-On Perfumes are formulated with a natural base of coconut oil fractions and Hawaiian kukui nut oil, a natural antioxidant. The Orange Box Blends are heavier and warmer fragrances, while the Blue Box Blends are lighter. The .25-ounce size is perfect for travel, too. melangeperfume.com —M.D.

The Tantrum Bag has 10 unique pockets with specific uses, and it's fashionable to boot. tantrumbags.com